Martha Garcia Kampen

Our February 2011 Presenter

Born in the United States, Martha Garcia Kampen was raised bilingually and bi-culturally among a family of seven siblings. Her parents, both born in Mexico, infused a deep-rooted love and pride for the music, art, customs, cuisine and language of their native country in their family.  Kampen's paternal grandmother founded the Guadalupe Center’s Mexican Fiestas, a tradition that continues to this day in Kansas City, where a four-year-old Martha performed traditional song and dance. During the first two decades of life Kampen visited Mexico regularly with extended stays in various cities. She chose to study at the University of Guadalajara, Mexico in international marketing with emphasis in Latin American studies. This foundation is core to Kampen’s identity and focus. It is a benefit to be able to speak Spanish, but an entirely greater advantage to be bi-cultural. Upon graduating from Southeast Missouri State University with a BS.BA., Kampen pursued a job with an international company, serving as director of Hispanic marketing covering the entire U.S. at a time in history when the term, “Hispanic” was not yet fully accepted. She conducted primary market research throughout the U.S. in markets with a large Hispanic population. She produced advertising in Spanish and English, and was the public relations spokesperson and consultant for her company on Spanish-language television, radio and newspapers across the country.

In 1988, Kampen relocated to St Louis where she founded the marketing management firm of Kampen Consultants, LLC.  Because of the lack of diversity in St. Louis and misunderstanding by the majority of the corporate community, she turned her attention to specializing in strategic marketing planning for closely-held companies. Kampen’s 30 years of management experience ranges from sales and market research to strategic marketing planning.  She has consulted hundreds of start-up businesses, emerging companies and non-profit organizations throughout the U.S. in a variety of industries.  She has trained and presented through public speaking, workshops and seminars to professional organizations including national funeral professionals, healthcare providers, the National Association of Women Business Owners-St. Louis, SCORE/ACE, and small business organizations.

Kampen has served on the St. Louis Small Business Week committee and was the small business editor of the former St. Louis Marketing Magazine. She  has contributed numerous articles to the St. Louis Small Business Monthly and St. Louis Hispanic Chamber newsletter. She is co-author of “Surviving in the Jungle: How to Market Your Business Without Losing Your Shirt,” published in 1993 and distributed internationally..

Most recently Kampen was asked to direct strategic planning for The National Hispanic Coalition of Federal Aviation Employees (NHCFAE), a 600+ member-based nationwide organization comprised of Hispanic employees of the FAA. This organization focuses on advocating career placement and advancement through support, education and alliances.  Kampen worked closely with the board and membership to develop, implement and manage their new strategic plan, and successfully reach their goals.

As foretold by Kampen back in the 1980’s, we are now experiencing a wide-spread awareness of the Hispanic population in the U.S., with more than 65,000 Hispanics living in the Metro St Louis area, (according to the 2009 U.S. Census Bureau). The timing is ripe for creating more global transformative processes that will build bonds and alliances with the emerging immigrant Hispanic population in St. Louis.   Kampen understands that a more diverse work force is a more dynamic, creative and energetic population. New visions, cultural understanding, and global thinking can make a difference to the 28 percent foreign-born Hispanics in the Metropolitan St Louis area. With these dramatic changes of the St. Louis demographics, Kampen sees greater opportunities to contribute, utilizing her bilingual and bi-cultural knowledge and experiences.

Kampen resides in St. Charles County with her family, where she shares a passion for youth and seniors and enjoys working with both groups on a volunteer basis. She serves on the boards of the St. Charles County Youth Orchestra, Barat Academy Parent Council and St. Louis Senior Resource Collaborative.  Kampen is an active member of the St. Louis Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Also see her here.