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. R Out of the loop? Follow us on Social Media and STAY in the know! 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.