CHAMBER MARCH 2020 | VOLUME IV ISSUE IV fyi

FUN

FMARACH 27I - APRRIL 5

GETTING CONNECTED. STAYING CONNECTED. SINCE 1934. BOARD OF DIRECTORS

OFFICERS FROM THE CHARIMAN'S DESK Patricia Brown, Woodforest National Bank Chairman of the Board Dr. Rebecca Riley, Lone Star College-Montgomery Chair-Elect John Stacy, AdviCoach YOUnotes WON'T FIND AMAZON HERE... Vice Chair, Membership Jennifer Millington, Primrose School of Conroe I am constantly reminded that doing Vice Chair, Business Development business locally leaves an impact beyond Eric Lookofsky, Newpark Drilling Fluids the numbers, and that paying the lowest Vice Chair, Governmental Affairs/Community Development prices and getting ‘free delivery’ isn’t Cody Spence, All Star Catering always the better deal. Let me illustrate Vice Chair, Special Events my point. During this past holiday season, you didn’t have to look far to see boxes Cody Bartlett, Bartlett Financial Treasurer with the Amazon ‘smile’ on doorsteps, front counters, in offices and in homes. Brent Wunderlich, McKesson They were literally EVERYWHERE. Immediate Past Chair And, we heard many news reports that proclaimed the boom in online sales was DIRECTORS so good that online sales were going TERMS EXPIRING DEC. 2020 to “save” Christmas. I get it…online Randy Barcus, Consolidated Communications, Inc. (1) shopping is here to stay, BUT… Cody Bartlett, Bartlett Financial (1) Rick Schissler, Silver Fox Adviser (1) Patricia Brown, Woodforest National Bank (1) I’ve spent the last couple of weeks noticing the support that our high schools, middle Gail Cain, Keller Williams Realty (1) schools, athletic organizations, booster clubs and non-profit organizations get from Dr. Rebecca Riley, Lone Star College-Montgomery (1) local businesses. It’s mind boggling to see the results of dollars invested by Conroe/ Mark Stevens, Gullo Dealerships (2) Lake Conroe area businesses in stadiums, gymnasiums, band halls, pee wee football Brent Wunderlich, McKesson (2) leagues, soccer leagues, little league baseball. When I was a kid, I played little league baseball (not very well) and our team name was “Keg-N-Beef”! Yep, our TERMS EXPIRING IN DEC. 2021 team name was our sponsor’s name…and that sponsor paid the little league some of Matt Davis, Conroe Regional Medical Center (2) their hard-earned money to have their name on our jerseys. Call it advertising; call it Eric Lookofsky, Newpark Drilling Fluids (1) promotions…it was a local business investing in the local community. Randie Morton, Better Bookkeepers, LLC (2) Heath Melton, Howard Hughes Corporation (1) So, as I drove around Conroe over the past couple of weeks, you’ll never guess what Jennifer Millington, Primrose School of Conroe (1) I DIDN’T see? There are no Amazon signs at any of the Conroe schools’ facilities. I Ryan Morton, Conroe Welding Supply (1) didn’t see any Wayfair soccer jerseys. I didn’t see any Bank of America, Chase or Dr. Curtis Null, Conroe ISD (1) Capitol One little league signs. I DID see Woodforest National Bank, Spirit of Texas Steve Pilgrim, Entergy Texas, Inc. (1) Bank, First Financial Bank, First National Bank Texas, Buckalew Chevrolet, Gullo Ford, Wiesner GMC…along with local insurance agents, hometown investment TERMS EXPIRING DEC. 2022 companies, trophy companies, restaurants, credit unions…ALL of them have a Andrew Cantu, Spirit of Texas Bank (1) presence and commitment to support this community…and the Chamber! I get it… Jeff Dewese, The Signorelli Company (1) everyone likes the convenience of point, click and shop…but keep this in mind next Cody Spence, All Star Catering (2) time your little leaguer needs a team sponsor…Amazon won’t be there. When you Sergio Martinez, Sergio’s Landscaping (2) shop right here in the Conroe/Lake Conroe area, you’re putting your dollars into a John Stacy, AdviCoach (1) queue that trickles down to multiple parts of the community. Shopping local isn’t just a Kim LeJeune, Tiny Giant Web Solutions (1) good idea…it’s GOOD BUSINESS! Clint Nichols, Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital (1) Lauren Wiesner, Wiesner Automotive Group (1) Don’t miss the opportunity to welcome this month’s New Members, and even more importantly, look at the impressive list of Renewing Members! The measure APPOINTED DIRECTORS of a Chamber’s worth is noted in the large numbers of renewing businesses and ONE YEAR TERM THROUGH 2019 organizations. The Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber of Commerce is striving to become Nick Davis, Guaranty Bank & Trust the premier business organization in our area. Strong leadership, fiscal responsibility Bobby Finley, Finway Electric and responsive programming…three great Meredith Jurica, Makeup Junkie Bags reasons to be a part of the Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber of Commerce.

ABOUT THE CHAMBER FYI MAGAZINE

The Chamber FYI is a publication of the Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber located at 505 W Davis, PO Box 2347, Conroe, TX 77305. Published monthly it is intended as a public service to Chamber members. No part may be reprinted without permission of the Chamber. Ads in the Chamber FYI are not endorsed by the Chamber. The Chamber reserves the right to refuse advertisements.

All chamber members have the opportunity to advertise in the Chamber FYI. For pricing and deadline information contact Ashleigh Alwood, Director of Marketing, at 936.538.7116 or visit www.conroe.org and view our media kits in our Media Center under Marketing and Communications Guides.

PUBLISHER Brian Bondy, President CONNECT WITH CHAMBER STAFF EDITOR Ashleigh Alwood, Director of Marketing Membership questions? Contact Beth Shelton, Director of Membership Development, 936.538.7114. SALES Ashleigh Alwood, Director of Marketing Questions about special events? Courtney Galle, Director of Special Events, 936.538.7111. DESIGN & LAYOUT Ashleigh Alwood, Director of Marketing Advertising and publication information? Ashleigh Alwood, Director of Marketing, 936.538.7116. PRINTING SERVICES Wright's Printing & Marketing Billing questions? Contact John Sellars, Director of Finance and Operations, 936.538.7108. MAILING SERVICES Wright's Printing & Marketing Questions for the President? Contact Brian Bondy, President, at 936.538.7101.

PLATINUM INVESTORS

march CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS MARCH 3 Tastefest Committee 8:30 am - 9:30 am Conroe Chamber MARCH 25 Professional Business Development - What is the FLSA? MARCH 3 7:30 am - 9:30 am Conroe Chamber Chamber Chat 11 am - 12 pm Lone Star Community Radio 104.5/106.1 MARCH 26 Workforce Development Committee MARCH 4 8 am - 9:30 am Governmental Affairs Committee Conroe Chamber 8 am - 9 am EMERALD INVESTORS Conroe Chamber MARCH 26 Fun After Five at the Fair MARCH 12 5:05 pm - 6:30 pm Morning Mingle - Feelin' Lucky 9333 Airport Rd, Conroe 7:30 am - 9 am Sound NDT McKenzie's BBQ, 1501 N. Frazier, Conroe MARCH 27 Ribbon Cutting - Kids' World Solutions MARCH 12 1 pm - 2 pm Mobility Committee Meeting 10083 FM 1097, Willis 11:30 am - 12:30 pm HCA Houston Healthcare Conroe MARCH 31 Wall Of Honor Induction Ceremony MARCH 20 4 pm - 5:30 pm The Pulse - Coffee With The Congressman Conroe Chamber 7:30 am - 9:30 am Top Of The Tower Huntsville Orthopedic & Sports Medicine For more information visit conroe.org, call 936-756-6644 or email [email protected]. Information subject to change without notice.

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WWW.CONROE.ORG 3 chamber SIGHTS WHAT'S HAPPENING IN CHAMBER LIFE With the biggest numbers we have seen at Morning Mingle in YEARS, multiple candidate forums on the horizon and so much LOVE going around, February was a wonderful month to be a part of the Chamber. We welcomed 20+ new businesses to our ranks, blasted our wonderful resources and education for our members and community...and still have so much in store! See some of the highlights below and throughout this month's FYI magazine!

Dan Goodwin and Ashleigh Alwood had a blast with Miguel Lopez, executive director of the Small Business Development Center at Lone Star College on the Shrimp Tank Podcast! (Above.)

Our "We Love Our Members" campaign on social media brought to light the reasons our members are so special. (Upper right.)

"The Conroe Chamber is always there to support our team and our business. It's been a wonderful experience being on their board and meeting so many new people!"

- Meredith Jurica, owner of Makeup Junkie Bags (Below with a few Chamber staff members, supporting her move to a larger facility to accomodate her growing business!) February's Morning Mingle was record-breaking!

Linda Nelson (Memorial Hermann Hospital The Woodlands) and Melissa Bochat (Entergy Texas) attend Commissioner's Court as part of our Governmental Affairs committee.

4 GET CONNECTED. STAY CONNECTED. LEADERSHIP montgomery county The Leadership Montgomery County (LMC) Class of 2020 recently explored the vast amount of opportunities for education in Montgomery County at their Education Session.

The session, sponsored by Spirit of Texas Bank, Better Bookkeepers, McKesson, and Brighton Academy, gave the class a look into the various aspects of education throughout Montgomery County. The day was planned by session directors and LMC graduates Sarah Blakelock and Brian Mullen. The day began with LMC’s Leadership Development Series sponsored by Repsol and facilitated by LMC alumni. Blakelock and Mullen then provided a historical overview of education in Montgomery County. Class members spent the morning with a tour of Clark Intermediate, and a private school panel that included Julie Ambler of The Woodlands Christian Academy, Dr. Glenn Slater of Covenant Christian School, Jordyn Nail of Fusion Academy, Mike Maher of The John Cooper School, and Audra May of Legacy Preparatory Christian Academy. The class then traveled by bus to Grand Oaks High School where they heard from a superintendent panel that included Kenn Franklin of New Caney ISD, Tim Harkrider of Willis ISD, Dr. Todd Stephens of Magnolia ISD, Dr. Beau Rees of Montgomery ISD, Dr. Jeff Burke of Splendora ISD, and Dr. Curtis Null of Conroe ISD. The class then had the opportunity to learn about various aspects of education through roundtables that included topics such as the juvenile detention education partnership, mental health services, school safety, public school funding/budgeting, school communication, and K-18 schooling options.

The day ended with a tour of Grand Oaks High School and a higher education panel including Mike Krall of Lone Star College – Montgomery, Dr. Leah Mulligan of Sam Houston State University, and Dr. Stephen McKernan of SHSU – Conroe.

WWW.CONROE.ORG 5 SIX IPHONE productivity apps GET YOU AND YOUR BUSINESS ORGANIZED IN 2020

A lot of us depend on our iPhones to stay productive and stay in touch with our teams. If you’re like me, as the new year begins, you’ve probably decided it’s time to get your business and your personal life organized so that you can be more productive this year.

One of the best ways to be productive is to have the right technology and tools available to get work done. But, let’s face it–it’s not always easy to sort through all of the noise and it can leave you a little overwhelmed.

If that’s the case, you’re not only not alone–you’re in luck. That’s because I’ve put together a list of the 10 iPhone productivity apps that you should download right now to make 2020 the year you get stuff done.

1. Evernote It would be disingenuous of me to have a list of apps that can help you get organized without including Evernote. That’s because I use it for everything. I brainstorm in Evernote. I clip articles into Evernote to read later. I scan documents and save audio notes. Basically, it’s my digital brain. There are apps that do some of those things better, but none that do them all.

2. Spark I’m really picky about email apps. Admittedly, probably more so than is reasonable, but I am. And, I really want to love Apple’s Mail app, but I just can’t because it’s missing the ability to share with other apps. Which is why I love Spark so much. It’s not perfect (e.g, there’s only one line of preview), but it connects with just about every other app and service I use every day, which is why it’s essential for me.

3. Shortcuts So, technically, Shortcuts isn’t an app as much as it’s a feature of iOS 13 and iPadOS. Still, it’s incredibly useful at keeping things organized. It’s basically a workflow automation tool that allows you to create sequences that combine actions from various apps. So, for example, you can create a shortcut that emails you a pdf of all of the Trello cards on a specific board.

4. Reminders While there are better pure task management or to-do apps, (see Things 3, below), the combination of Reminders and Siri is a killer productivity combination. The ability to simply ask Siri to “remind me to call Mike at 3 p.m.,” or “remind me to send Dave the presentation when I get to the office,” is unbelievably helpful, and maybe my favorite thing about the iPhone and Apple Watch. Especially the ability to have her remind you based on your location.

5. Trello Trello is how I keep my day-to-day work organized. I use it for research, for managing content for this column, and for my design and marketing projects. I love how versatile it is, and I’m a big fan of the “card” setup since it just makes sense for my brain. One of the best parts is that it’s free for up to 10 boards, which is a great way to start getting yourself organized this year.

6. Things 3 I’m still mostly a pencil-and-paper kind of person, but if you need an app to keep track of tasks, Things 3 is probably the best there is. The iOS app is clean, simple to use, and capable of keeping all of your tasks organized. The biggest drawback is that you have to pay for iPhone, iPad, and Mac versions separately, which makes it pretty pricey. If you need something cheaper, see Reminders (above), which is free.

Do you use any of these? Do you have a favorite? Report back with what works best for you!

6 GET CONNECTED. STAY CONNECTED.

SILVER MEMBERS...WE EXTEND A SPECIAL...

Collier Construction, LLC Fidelity National Title 5Point Credit Union Finway Electric A&H Electric Co. LLC First Christian Church- Chalice Abbey Able Glass Company Fair Trade Market Adams Transfer & Storage First Priority Title of Texas, LLC AdviCoach Five Below Advocate Direct Care Fond Memories Pet Cemetery & Alpine Yoga Crematorium Amazing Lash Studio Frontier Classic Homes AMSOL TX Galdisa USA, Inc Anatole At the Pines General Chennault Flying Tiger Baggett, Gordon & Deison Academy BBVA Compass-Montgomery Golf World Black Walnut Cafe Gordmans Bobcat of Houston Greater Houston Family Medicine Boots Appliance Repair Dr. John Adiet Brayton Construction Hadco International, LLC Bristol Park at Conroe- A Memory Hailey-Sadler Properties Care Community Harbor Shores- A Waterfront Netco Title- Conroe Team Elite Investments LLC Burditt Consultants Community New Earth Soils and Compost DBA Main Squeeze Juice Burger and Brodeaux HBI Office Solutions, Inc. New Generation Home Pro Inc. Co Conroe Cantel Heightened Leaders Next Level Urgent Care Texan Harley-Davidson Carr, Riggs & Ingram, LLC Heritage Seniors Ninyo & Moore Texas Autism Academy Cashner Funeral Home & Cemetery Herrington & Nunn Dental Associates NOV Brandt Texas Farm Bureau Cedar Lodge Restaurant, Bar and Holiday Inn Club Vacations Piney Patient First Dental Care Insurance-Angela Kinnear Event Center Shores Resort Patricia Cooper Insurance Agency Texas Port Recycling Chick-fil-A Conroe Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Pharm House Drug Co. The Annex at Omaha Ranch CIA-Kenny Speight Agency Homewood Suites by Hilton Conroe Physical Therapy Associates The Bensons Rock Hard Citizens Grill Hope & Causey, PC Pie In The Sky - Magnolia Construction, LLC Clayton Lee Plumbing HUDDLE UP with Roger Goertz Pioneer Dentistry The Blair Law Firm, PC Clear Solution Services, LLC Your Small Business Strategist Plains State Bank The Edge Restaurant & Bar CobbFendley Ideal Dental PROFESSIONAL SERVICE The Flying Locksmiths of Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages iFLY Indoor Skydiving INDUSTRIES. INC North Houston Colortech Direct Indigent Healthcare Solutions Quest Engineering The Landings of Conroe Come & Train IT Industrial Components of Texas, LLC Questar Construction The Law Firm of Blanche Comfort Inn dba ICOTEX Quick Quack Car Wash 105 West D. Smith PC Commonvest Community Assoc. Infinity Home Renovations and R&R Salvage, Inc. The Loop Apartments Management, LLC Fine Flooring Randy Roan Construction, Inc. The Marion Franke Team Conroe American Shaman J Properties Releaf Organix Third Coast Bank Conroe Dental Health and Cosmetic K. Hovnanian Homes Rick Schissler-Silver Fox Advisor Thomas J. English, Centre The Woodlands Hills River Wood Apartments D.D.S. & Associates Conroe Golf Cars, Inc. Kean Miller LLP Rivershire Plaza Tractor Supply Co Conroe Lakeside RV & Boat Storage Lamar Advertising S. Gentry Custom Homes, Inc. Travis Brown, Broker- Conroe Machine Landing at Seven Coves Saltgrass Steakhouse Garris Realty, LLC Conroe Willis Family Medicine Condominium Council Sammens Construction Tri-Flo International, Inc. Conroe's Incredible Pizza Company Link Local Living Guide / Schwartz, Page & Harding LLP Trinity Dental Coventry Homes Graphic Design FX Seasons Assisted Living & Memory Tubular Perforating Cowboy Kia of Conroe Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc. Care Manufacturing, Ltd. CST Industries Inc. Lodge Motel & Suites Shari Edwards State Farm U.S. Rubber Corp. Culvers of Conroe Lone Star Family Health Center Insurance Verge Mobile dba T-Mobile Cypress Creek Air Conditioning and Love's Travel Stops Silver Eagle Distributors, L.P. Vernon's Kuntry B-B-Q Heating Co. Margarita's Mexican Restaurant Solis Mammography Vogt Engineering, L.P. Darrel's Catering, Inc. Martinez Architects Spectrum Catering, Concessions & Vulcan Materials Denmar Commercial Construction McKenna Contracting / Events Company/Smith & DL Meacham, LP Classic Sports Spherion Staffing Company Eden Pool Service & Supplies Memstar USA, Inc. Spikes Group, Inc. Walden on Lake Conroe Edward Jones - Andrew Stahl Meraki Studios SRM Ready Mix Golf Club EHRA Engineering Merlin's Bakery Steepsteel LLC. West Creek Apartment Elmcroft Senior Living Metcalf Funeral Directors Steve Scott - The Houston Business Homes Enclave at Woodland Lakes Millennium Physicians Coach Westin Homes Encompass Health Rehabilitation Milo ABA Strattmont Group Wilkins Linen Hospital of The Woodlands Milstead PC Investments, LLC Stylish Carpets Woof Gang Bakery Encore at Westfork Montgomery County Home & Sunbelt Business Brokers Xscape at 1488 Fabritex LLC Garden Show Sunbelt Transformer Lake Conroe Splash Fairfield Inn & Suites Conroe Montgomery Self Storage FM 2854 Taco Cabana Oodles Entertainment Family Life Medical Motel 6 Taylor Morrison Home Builder Outback Steakhouse WWW.CONROE.ORG 8 NEXT GENERATION leadership VISION BOARDS FOR THE FUTURE In February, students met with leadership coach, Tracey Casey-Arnold from Whatever It Takes Consulting and a panel of business professionals from the community. Tracey challenged the students to create a 10-year vision board detailing their current, short and long term goals. The business professionals in the room offered feedback to the students on their boards and encouraged them to start taking steps now to reach those goals.

Thank you to Tracey, our panel of experts, Lone Star College Montgomery for being our lunch sponsor and First Financial Bank for being our Program Sponsor. Next month students will be visiting Crown Beverage Packaging to learn about Economic Development.

THE PULSE: STATE OF EDUCATION Thiis luncheon will feature a panel of the area ISD’s superintendents with an in-depth look at the innovative work being done in our districts to prepare our students for a multitude of career paths that will ultimately represent our region's workforce capabilities.

April 2, 2020 ● 11:30 a.m. ● First Baptist Church Conroe $30 for members / $40 for not-yet members and at the door

Sponsorships available - contact Courtney Galle at [email protected].

WWW.CONROE.ORG 9 WALL OF honor JOIN US AS WE CELEBRATE THIS YEAR'S HONOREES ON MARCH 31

John P. Holmes spent 43 years in Conroe. Following his parents to Conroe in 1954 after serving in the Air Force in the Korean War, he founded several businesses in and around Montgomery County including Great Southern Tire, Rev-Tex Marine (the first boat dealership on Lake Conroe), Holmes Tire Co., Holmes Car Clinic and more. After a brief retirement from the automotive and boating industry, he was an early investor and board member of several local banks and real estate ventures.

Holmes served his community in many civil organizations including chairman of the Conroe Chamber in 1975 where he successfully lobbied for President Ford to visit Conroe in 1976. In 1973, he was recognized by Commissioner's Court as Montgomery County's Outstanding Citizen of the Year and he was a founder and past president of the Montgomery County Jaycees. Holmes was also a member, past president and Paul Harris Fellow of the Conroe Rotary Club, a lifetime committee member of the Montgomery County Fair Assocation and Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo as well as a founding member of the Conroe Industrial Park, Inc.

He was instrumental on the Montgomery County Hospital Board in building Medical Center Hospital (Now HCA Houston Healthcare Conroe) and coordinating 100% county-wide participation in the 9-1-1 emergency response system. Holmes passed away in October of 1997.

Jill Vaughan currently serves as the Executive Vice President and Southwest Regional Credit Executive for Zions Bancorporation. From 1986 to 1996, she served as the Senior Lending Officer and later President of ProBank while overseeing credit risk management and business development as the bank expanded its footprint within Montgomery County. Vaughan joined Klein Bank in 1996 and in 2004, they merged with Amegy Bank where she served as EVP and Group Executive Director for regional Commercial Lending.

Vaughan has been actively involved in various civic and community causes. She currently serves on the Smith-Hutson Sam Houston Banking Board and as Chair of the Advisory Board of the College of Business for Sam Houston State University. She has previously served as the President of the Montgomery County Community Foundation, Treasurer and Board Member of the North Houston Association, Chair of the Conroe Chamber, Chair of Montgomery County United Way and Board Vice Chair of Lone Star College Foundation. Vaughan was a charter member and second President of the Rotary Club of Lake Conroe and is a Paul Harris Fellow.

Among several awards in her storied career, Vaughan was inducted into the Texas Banking Hall of Fame in 2018 and recognized as a 2018 Trailblazer for the Greater Houston Women's Chamber of Commerce.

Dr. Don Stockton was appointed Superintendent of Schools in Conroe ISD in August of 2003. He has 34 years of expereince in education, serving 32 of those years in our district.

Prior to being named Superintendent, Dr. Stockton served as Interim Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent of Conroe ISD, Principal of The Woodlands High School, McCullough Junior High, and Knox Junior High. He was also Assistant Principal at a handful of others as well, and started his exceptional education career as a math teacher in Lafayette, Indiana.

In addition to district responsibilities, Dr. Stockton has, and continues to volunteer on numerous education-based boards and committees including Junior Achievement, Conroe and The Woodlands Chambers, the Conroe Economic Development Council, the Education for Tomorrow Alliance, Montgomery County Food Bank and many more.

In 2004, Dr. Stockton was awarded the Texas Counseling Association Layperson Exemplary Service Award from counselors, and in March of 2005, he was named the Educator of the Month for Texas School Business. Under his leadership, Conroe ISD was the largest school district awarded an "Exemplary" rating by the Texas Education Agency.

We would love for community memebrs to join us on March 31 here at the Conroe Chamber to celebrate these wonderful and generous members of our community as we add them to our prestiigious Wall of Honor. There will be a short program and some refreshments for those who attend to honor our new inductees! We hope to see you there. Get all of the details on our website at conroe.org.

10 GET CONNECTED. STAY CONNECTED. DIPLOMAT of the month KIM LEJEUNE, TINY GIANT WEB SOLUTIONS

BUSINESS: Website Development, Digital Marketing, Crystal Reporting, etc.

WHY DID YOU/YOUR COMPANY JOIN THE CONROE CHAMBER?:

We believe The Chamber has a huge impact bringing business, government and community to sit at the same table. Tiny Giant Web Solutions understands the importance and value of sitting at that table so we joined AND got involved. We grew up here, raised our family here, built our business here and want to grow and give back.

WHAT IS ONE OBSTACLE YOUR BUSINESS FACES THAT THE CHAMBER HELPS TO FIX?:

An obstacle that we faced was growing our business to the next level. The Conroe Chamber provided a platform for our buisness to meet other businesses in our area and build relationships with them. Being a Diplomat, I go to monthly meetings, ribbon cuttings and "Fun After 5" events to build relationships with in our community.

REFER A FRIEND (SHARE A STORY/REFERRAL FOR ANOTHER MEMBER AND HOW THEY HAVE HELPED YOU):

Matt Barnes with Boots Appliance and Repair joined the Chamber in November 2019 and I met him at the December Morning Mingle where he asked us to build a website to help grow his business. We also needed Matt to come out and take a look at our dishwasher that had stopped working. Matt came out fixed our dishwasher, then came out and fixed our dryer and did a diagnostic test on our washing machine. This company knows their stuff, they saved us hundreds of dollars! Please bookmark their website, like them on Facebook and when your appliance is on the fritz, reach out to Boots Appliance and Repair - bootsappliancerepair.com.

GOVERNMENTAL affairs The Governmental Affairs committee has their hands in many cookie jars this time of year as early and primary voting is upon us and it is our mission to get people REVd Up - registered, educated and voting.

On March 5 we host our Pulse Series City Candidate Forum as there are contested races for mayor, and council positions 1 and 2. On March 20 we welcome Representative Kevin Brady back to Coffee With The Congressman at the top of the Conroe Tower; a rescheduling from February's original date.

This is all in an effort to ensure that our community is provided the opportunity to learn about the issues affecting their homes and busineses, and the candidates running to represent their interests. With elections still to come on May 2 and May 26, we are doing our part to empower voters to make educated decisions through our nonpartisan events.

For more information or to RSVP to the next event, visit conroe.org. WWW.CONROE.ORG 11 new members THANK YOU AND WELCOME! WE ARE SO GLAD YOU ARE HERE. JANUARY 2020

BUSINESS SILVER

Temperature Pro The Woodlands Conroe Lakeside RV & Boat Storage Al Heilman Art Professional Service Industries, inc. Jenkins and Kamin, LLP First Priority Title of Texas, LLC Blackwood Gun Club AMSOL TX Fairwater Westmont Real Estate CST Industries Inc. Woodmen Life Gordmans Ikard & Company, LLC GOLD Paychex Cure and Associates, PC NONPROFIT EMERALD Journey School Huntsville Orthopedic Surgery & Sports Medicine

renewals WE ARE GRATEFUL TO CONTINUE OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU! JANUARY 2020 BUSINESS SILVER HEY YOU: The Strong Firm P.C. Montgomery Self Storage FM 2854 Bartletts Distillery, LLC City of Conroe YOU SHOULD Heather's Glen Premier Wedding Facility Fabritex LLC Clarity Hearing Chick-fil-A Conroe SPONSOR OUR Able Glass Company Rick Schissler-Silver Fox Advisor Simpson-Dabney, Inc. Margarita's Mexican Restaurant PROFESSIONAL Southern Star Brewing Taco Cabana Stoecker Corporation BUSINESS GOLD Texas Professional Surveying, LLC Community Impact Newpark Drilling Fluids DEVELOPMENT Infinity Texas Development Astro Fence Company BREAKFASTS. Pool Custom Iron Works, INC. Whataburger, LP Spartan Global Logistics LLC EMERALD Staff Force Trade Rite Auto Sales, Inc. Rodgers Stein Chiropractic Center Texas Renaissance Festival Primrose School of Conroe Paul Davis Restoration of North Houston RUBY Marc Fowler, CPA AAAA Discount Bail Bonds Liberty Materials, Inc. Every other month, you could Capri Villas Caldwell Companies have the visibility you want in Packard International, Inc. PLATINUM front of folks who are dedicated AmeriTex Pipe & Products LLC to learning more about business MHW Real Estate Inc. CHI St. Luke's The Woodlands Hospital in our area. Provide breakfast, get Terry J. Burkhardt Consulting, LLC NONPROFIT mentioned on social media, and have the opportunity to speak at Lake Conroe Association the start of each seminar.

Learn more - email Ashleigh at [email protected].

12 GET CONNECTED. STAY CONNECTED. Montgomery County Fair Chamber Buyer’s Group Each year, the Chamber forms a Buyers’ Group for the Montgomery County Fair Junior Livestock and Non-Livestock Auction. The Buyers’ Group allows for individuals to support the auction but not at the high cost of items auctioned.

Participation in the group is limited to members of the Chamber and only money donated specifically to the Buyer’s Group will be spent at the Junior Non-Livestock and Livestock Auctions at the 2020 Montgomery County Fair. No general funds from the Chamber will be used.

Chamber staff and a representative from the Chamber attend the auctions and bid/purchase the items from the collected amount from the members donations.

Money can be donated in any amount and collection starts in February. All money must be paid by April 1, 2020. Individuals who donate to the Buyers’ Group can attend the auctions with the staff and Chamber representative.

13 GET CONNECTED. STAY CONNECTED. A T T E N T I O N : NEW OPPORTUNITY! W AN T T O S P O N SO R

EMAIL BETH SHELTON AT [email protected] FOR DETAILS! STARTING IN 2020. SPOTS WILL GO FAST member OF THE MONTH Bill Clark Pest Control, Inc. “The Bugsperts” have now expanded their operations into the Montgomery County area. They are a very well established 63-year-old pest control company based out of Beaumont and currently employ nearly 70 highly trained Bugsperts. Bill Clark began his career in the pest control business in 1957 in Beaumont, Texas serving all of Southeast Texas. The company was recently purchased in 2018 by a long-time employee Josh Smith. Being a local guy having worked for the company while in high school, in college and upon completion of his degree in Business management from Lamar University, he decided to stay home and mentor under Bill Clark for 5 years before purchasing the business. “We’re very proud to extend our same great service offerings into the Montgomery County area and look forward to the relations we’ve already begun here," says Smith. The staff, which includes a Doctor of Entomology are continuously trained “Bugsperts”, it’s your assurance that they have the knowledge and manpower to provide safe and effective pest solutions.

Since the beginning, they have coped with area pest problems – if there are answers, they know them or can find them.They have proudly grown to be the area’s largest by providing dependable pest control services and fair pricing. All managers and technicians are licensed through the state of Texas. Most of the staff are Certified Applicators, the highest licensing level obtainable, and hold certification in multiple license categories. The “Bugsperts” recognize that sanitation, exclusion and structural modification are the first steps in a treatment program. They will offer advice on improvements and can provide services to exclude pests and make minor structural repairs to help keep unwanted and uninvited pests out whether it’s general household pests, mosquitoes, termites, bed bugs to wildlife and unique specialty service offerings.

BE CONSIDERED FOR THE MEMBER OF THE MONTH: EMAIL [email protected]. WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU!

WWW.CONROE.ORG 14

ribbon CUTTINGS TAKE YOUR GRAND OPENING OR SPECIAL ANNIVERARY TO THE NEXT LEVEL!

HOUSTON METHODIST PHYSICAL THERAPY AND TOPSOAP CAR WASH REHABILITATION CENTER 1720 N LOOP W, CONROE 77304 7990 HWY 242, CONROE, 77385 TOPSOAPEXPRESS.COM HOUSTONMETHODIST.ORG

Celebrate with the Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber! Contact Beth Shelton at [email protected].

15 GET CONNECTED. STAY CONNECTED.