BOARD OF DIRECTORS O F FICER S P atri c ia B rown , Woodfor est N at i o n a l Ba n k C hair m a n o f th e B oard
notes
F R OM T HE PR ESI D EN T 'S DE S K
D r. R ebe c c a R iley, Lone S tar C o l l e g e - M o n t g o m e r y C hair - E l e ct Jo h n S ta c y, A dviC oach Vice Ch a ir, M embers hi p Jen n if e r M illin gton, P r im r ose S c h o o l o f Co n r o e Vice Ch a ir, Bu s i nes s D ev el opmen t E ri c Look ofs ky, N ewpar k D r illin g F l u i d s Vice Ch a ir, Gov ernmental A ffai rs / Co m m u n it y De v e lo p m e n t C o d y S pe nc e , A ll S tar C ater ing Vice Ch a ir, Sp ec i al E v ents C o d y B a rt le tt , B ar tlett Financia l Treas u r e r B ren t Wunde rlich, McK esson I mme d i a te P a s t C hai r
D I RECTOR S
T ER MS E X PIRING DEC. 2 020 R andy Ba rcu s, C ons ol i dated C om m u n ic a t io n s , I n c . ( 1 ) C ody B a r tle tt, B artl ett Fi nanc i al ( 1 ) R ick S ch i ssl e r, S i l v er Fox A dv i s e r ( 1 ) P at ricia B ro w n, Woodfores t N ati o n a l B a n k ( 1 ) G ail Ca i n , Ke l l er W i l l i ams R eal ty ( 1 ) D r. Re b e cca Ri l ey, Lone S tar C olle g e - M o n t g o m e r y ( 1 ) Mark Ste ve n s, Gul l o D eal ers hi ps ( 2 ) B rent Wu n d e rli c h, Mc K es s on (2)
T ER MS E X PIRING IN DEC . 2021 Mat t D a vi s, Conroe R egi onal Med ic a l Ce n t e r ( 2 ) E ric L o o ko fsky, N ew park D ri l l i ng F lu id s ( 1 )
FAREWELL GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT The Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, staff and membership is mourning the loss of Mayor Toby Powell last month. I am a relative newcomer to the Conroe community, and I remember shortly after his election that Mayor Powell was welcoming, energetic and unabashedly proud of ‘his’ city. And, when I was in his presence, I could feel the pride and excitement.
R andie M o rto n , B etter B ook k eepe r s , L L C ( 2 ) H eat h M e lto n , H ow ard H ughes C o r p o r a t io n ( 1 ) Jennife r M il l i n g ton, P ri mros e S c h o o l o f Co n r o e ( 1 ) R yan M o rto n , C onroe Wel di ng S u p p ly ( 1 ) D r. Cu r tis N u ll , C onroe IS D (1) S t eve P i l g r i m , E ntergy Tex as , Inc. ( 1 )
T ER MS E X PIRING DEC. 2 022 A ndrew Ca n tu , S pi ri t of Tex as B a n k ( 1 ) Jeff De we se , The S i gnorel l i C om p a n y ( 1 ) C ody S p e n ce , A l l S tar C ateri ng (2 ) S ergio M a r tin e z , S ergi o’s Lands c a p in g ( 2 ) John Sta cy, Ad v i C oac h (1) K im L e Je u n e , Ti ny Gi ant Web S olu t io n s ( 1 ) C lint Ni ch o ls, Hous ton Methodi s t T h e Wo o d la n d s Ho s p it a l ( 1 ) Laure n Wie sn e r, W i es ner A utomo t iv e G r o u p ( 1 )
A P POIN TE D DI RE CTO R S
O N E Y E A R TERM THROUGH 2019 N ick D a vi s, Guaranty B ank & Tru s t B obby Fi n le y, F i nw ay E l ec tri c Mered ith Ju r i ca , Mak eup J unk i e Ba g s
Conroe has grown and thrived over the past several years, and leaders like Toby Powell are hard to come by. They live for a higher purpose. They work harder for a better community. They make opportunities for others a top priority. In our conflicted world, Toby Powell brought unity and strength to a city that was already strong and getting better. As a business professional…as a chamber leader…and as a fellow citizen, I am saddened by the loss of our leader. He will be remembered by this person…and his legacy will live on. The Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber of Commerce…striving to become the premier business organization in our area. Strong leadership, fiscal responsibility, and responsive programming… three great reasons to be a member.
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. P U B L I S H E R Brian Bondy, President E D I T O R Ashleigh Alwood, Director of Marketing S A L E S Ashleigh Alwood, Director of Marketing D E S I G N & L AY O U T Ashleigh Alwood, Director of Marketing P R I N T I N G S E R V I C E S Wright's Printing & Marketing M A I L I N G S E R V I C E S Wright's Printing & Marketing
CONNECT WITH CHAMBER STAFF Membership questions? Contact Beth Shelton, Director of Membership Development, 936.538.7114. Questions about special events? Courtney Galle, Director of Special Events, 936.538.7111. Advertising and publication information? Ashleigh Alwood, Director of Marketing, 936.538.7116. Questions for the President? Contact Brian Bondy, President, at 936.538.7101.
october
PLATINUM INVESTORS
C AL ENDAR HI GHL I GHT S
With the constant changes in the wake of the Coronavius pandemic, please reference our calendar at Conroe.org for the latest and most accurate calendar of events. You can also contact us at 936-756-6644 or email us at info@conroe.org for any needed clarification. EMERALD INVESTORS
Sound NDT Solutions
Huntsville Orthopedic & Sports Medicine
R
Follow us on Social Media and STAY in the know!
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chamber SIGHTS
WHAT'S H A PPEN IN G IN CH A M B ER L I F E
Over the last several weeks, our focus here at the Chamber has been Lobsterfest, Lobsterfest, Lobsterfest! While we will share our photos of the event next month, we wanted to share some of the fun places Lucy the Lobster was able to visit leading up to the big day! Thank you to Guaranty Bank & Trust for being our MASCOT sponsor!
A special thanks to our friends at Fastsigns for being our Printing Sponsor again this year! Not only did they provide the signage for the to go line and at the golf tournament, they even printed the labels to adorn our Lobsterfest Ale cans! (Left)
Of course, we had to swing by Guaranty Bank & Trust to visit with Nick, Amanda and the others to deposit some GRATITUDE for being our Mascot Sponsor this year; a new opportunity for our member-businesses! (Right)
Consolidated Communications came through again this year with their Dinner Sponsorship for Lobsterfest 2020. TRIVIA: Did you know that Consolidated was a "charter member" - one of the first three members our Chamber ever had back in 1934? The other two are Entergy and The Courier. While names might have changed, they have always been dedicated supporters of our community in so many ways!
Be sure to see more photos on social media! 4 G ET CON N E C T E D. S T AY C ONNE CTE D.
Panorama Golf Club is the host for the 2020 golf tournament. Scott and his team are always so accommodating and the course is beautiful! (Above)
The Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber - get connected...stay connected.
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new members
THANK Y OU AND WELC OME! WE ARE SO GLAD Y O U A R E H E R E .
AUGUST 2020 NO N PRO F IT
Family Enrichment and Play Therapy Center BU SIN ES S
+40 Fitness and Wellness Studio Boyd Tech Solutions Branding Iron Custom Goods T-Mobile SILVE R
Harper's Preserve Dentistry TransMed Center
renewals
WE ARE GRATEFUL TO C ONTI NUE OUR RELATI ONSH IP W ITH YO U!
AUGUST 2020 EMERA L D
B US I NES S
NONP ROFI T
Conroe Professional Firefighters Assoc. Richmond Realty Group-RE/MAX The Woodlands and Spring (upgrade) Rodgers Stein Chiropractic Center
Allstate Insurance - Irene Guajardo Bill Clark Pest Control, Inc. Donna's Home Furnishings Edward Jones - Rod Allen Law Firm of Chuck Meyer (upgrade) Long Air Conditioning Mark Peters, D.D.S. Unbridled Possibilities Wags 2 Whiskers Veterinary Hospital Thomas Printing & Publishing Woodlands Wealth Builders Roy's Air Conditioning, Inc Larry L. Foerster Blossom Shop Automatic LP Gas Stitt Spark Plug Co. Tejas Bingo Easley Enterprises of Texas, Inc. Global Financial Partners Express Employment Professionals Whitestone Printing Galdisa USA, Inc The Gustafson Group, Inc.
Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District YES to YOUTH - Montgomery County Youth Services Bridgewood Farms Interfaith of The Woodlands New Danville Stronger to Serve Montgomery County Community Foundation Inc. City of Shenandoah Young Texas Artists Music Competition Montgomery County 4-H Montgomery County United Way The Rose Caiden's Hope Foundation
GO LD
Easco Air Conditioning & Heating FITNESS PROJECT: Conroe S ILVE R
Montgomery Summit Business Park NOV Brandt Landing at Seven Coves Condominium Council Spikes Group, Inc. Conroe's Incredible Pizza Company S. Gentry Custom Homes, Inc. The Landings of Conroe A SSOCIA TE
Sellers Realty Group Gail Cain - Keller Williams Realty
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I NDI V I DU AL
Tim and Kathy Reilly
EDITORIAL: HR
759
A CASE FOR A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD Why would city and county governments, chambers of commerce, economic development organizations and political parties from the Hill Country to North Texas and from Galveston to East Texas all write supporting letters and resolutions for the Alabama Coushatta Tribe of Texas when the tribe only has a facility in Polk County? Why would 19 members of the Texas US House of Representatives delegation sign a letter asking Texas Senator John Cornyn to take H.R. 759 to the U.S. Senate? Levelling the playing field is something that this Native American community has been striving for more than 20 years…currently there are three Native American tribes in Texas, two out of the three are caught in a political football game between the state and federal governments which is putting them at risk of losing (collectively) 1,700 jobs and a potential loss of almost $650 million in direct and indirect economic impact. A little background…In 2015, the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) approved the gaming ordinances to allow the Tribe and the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo (Pueblo) to operate electronic bingo facilities on their reservations. The NIGC is the federal agency that oversees and regulates tribal gaming on nearly 250 tribal reservations across the nation. However, following the 2015 approval by the NIGC, Texas Attorney General, Ken Paxton brought suit to shut down the bingo facilities citing a 1994 US Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that said federal legislation that restored federal recognition for the Tribe and Pueblo was in conflict with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA). The 1994 decision has led to decades of litigation between the State of Texas and both the Tribe and Pueblo. Coincidentally, the Traditional Kickapoo Tribe, the only other federally recognized tribe in Texas, has offered electronic bingo under IGRA on its reservation near Eagle Pass since 1996 without objections from the State of Texas. Now, COVID-19 has altered the landscape even further as the Alabama Coushatta Tribe of Texas’ Naskila Gaming facility has been closed since March due to the pandemic, but they’re continuing to pay their employees. When we talk about jobs and wages during an election season, here is an example of a business that is doing the best it can by keeping employees on the payroll; however, the uncertainty surrounding their future rests in the hands of elected officials who either don’t want to hear the message or are hearing a completely different message from somewhere else. The Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber of Commerce…striving to become the premier business organization in our area. Strong leadership, fiscal responsibility, and responsive programming…three great reasons to be a member. W W W .CO N R O E .O R G
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NEXT GENERATION
leadership
FINANCIAL LITERACY, SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP BY EMMA HILBORN, SENIOR, THE WOODLANDS HIGH SCHOOL On September 9, 2020, Next Generation Leadership held its first meeting of the 2020-2021 school year virtually over Zoom. The meeting began with a quick team building exercise where students were grouped together with a member of the Leadership Mentor Team and asked to discuss where they would choose to go in time and space if they were able to time travel. Following the exercise, Sebastian Saenz, a member of the Next Generation Leadership Class of 2021, gave a presentation about budgeting. Then, Justin Champion, a Branch Manager at Woodforest National Bank, shared his extensive knowledge of budgeting and wealth building. Specifically, he emphasized the importance of avoiding debt, creating a zero-based budget, saving money and living on less than you make. The discussion provided valuable information to the students entering college and the workforce in the upcoming year and highlighted the need to begin building good habits and saving money. Mr. Champion was then followed by a small business and entrepreneurship panel. The members of the panel included Laura Breaux, owner of the local custom sugar cookie company Butter & Love; Miguel Lopez, Executive Director for the Lone Star College Small Business Development Center; Jennifer Millington, owner of the Primrose School of Conroe; and CarrieRae Munson, founder of CarrieRae LLC and creator of the Undersummers. The panel answered students’ questions and stressed the importance of recognizing opportunities, being flexible, and using your network and resources. The Next Generation Leadership students particularly enjoyed this panel as many of them are interested in business and entrepreneurship. The meeting was concluded with a debrief from the Leadership Mentor Team and final announcements from Corinne Coulter. The students will meet again in October with guest speaker Tracey Casey Arnold.
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FROM THE
blog
HOOK A CUSTOMER ON INSTAGRAM Fly fishing is fascinating to watch. It involves a series of movements that lure a fish into biting. It’s more about the rhythm than the bait. “Landing” a loyal customer is much the same. You can easily get someone to buy from you with a discounted price or crazy offer. But that’s not sustainable. In the long run, you want that customer to keep returning to buy from you, or at the very least, refer you to others. That takes a certain finesse. And like fly fishing, it requires an ability to put it all together in a fluid motion. While looking for customers on Instagram is just one component of a marketing strategy, it can be an important one if you’re trying to increase visibility. 3 Easy Ways to Hook a Customer on Instagram One of the hottest social media platforms for the under 40 group is Instagram. Even if your business doesn’t photograph well, you can still use it to hook customers. You just need to put together a fluid effort of engagement. Keep in mind, “hooking” a customer is not just about that single purchase. It’s keeping them engaged and on the line as a loyal purchaser (or reviewer/referrer). You can do that by: Anticipating Needs Your customers need you, don’t they? There should be a reason why your business helps them better than anyone else. But before you simply tell them how you help, make sure you are aligned to anticipate their needs and are in a place where they can begin to learn more about your offerings. For instance, I post a lot on Instagram about my dogs, specifically my unruly puppy. Guess who followed me? A dog obedience trainer in my area. Even if I’m unsure whether my puppy requires a little professional help or not, this business is now in my feed and they’ve planted the seed that they can help, even if I’m not ready to admit I/we need it yet. Being Helpful Watch those keywords and not just the ones that directly mention your business or what you do. Watch hashtags that mention your town or other points of interest as well. For example, let’s say someone posts about a local hiking trail in your area. Comment on their picture and add your own suggestion such as “I love Piney Trail. Waterfall Trail is awesome too and not far from where you are.” That person is going to appreciate your advice. At the very minimum, they will look at your profile to see who you are. Hopefully, they’ll engage you in conversation. But they may just stop into your business instead. Making Them Feel Special Keep an eye out for amazing pictures of your area. Then ask the poster if you can use them in a newsletter, on your website, or as a featured picture on social media (giving them credit, of course). When someone is selected for an “honor” like that, they feel really good that you loved their image enough to use it. Even if they don’t give you permission to use it, you still made them feel special. At the very least, they will look at your business profile and learn more about you. One of the things that makes it so easy to connect on Instagram is that most people want to be told their “baby” is pretty. In this case, a compliment on a post can go a long way to establishing a connection between what they post, what they need, and what your business provides. Think about potential connections and you’ll be on your way to establishing a lasting customer base. 10 GE T CON N E C T E D. S T AY C ONNE CTE D.
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Receive up to $5,000 per employee REFUNDABLE FEDERAL TAX CREDITS AVAILABLE TO BUSINESSES THROU H CARES ACT
What is the Employee Retention Credit? Provides economic relief to employers impacted by Coronavirus (COVID-17) in the form of tax credits claimed against the employment ta-es (FICA, FUTA, Medicare) and even employee withholding each pay period. Eligible employers receive a 50% credit ( up to $5,000 ) for qualified wages up to $10,000 per employee. Any excess credit is refunded within 30 days.
What businesses are eligible?
Were your business operations fully or partially suspended? Did your business lose revenue? Did your business e-perience limited commerce, travel or group meetings?
Businesses that fully or partially suspended operations due to
orders from a governmental authority (may include work from home) OR Businesses that e-perienced at least a 50% reduction in year over year gross receipts during the quarter. *Ta- e-empt/not for profit organi/ations qualify for this credit as well.
What are qualified wages?
Then you may be eligible to receive up to $5,000 for each employee!
Less than 100 Full Time Employees: Can include all wages and
employer health care costs up to $10,000 for any employee. More than 100 Full Time Employees : Businesses can include up to $10,000 in wages paid to employee for not providing services or providing different services due to COVID-17. Employers can include wages paid between March 13, 2020 through December 31, 2020.
Why choose Synergi Partners?
Our e-perts have assisted businesses in recovering hundreds of millions of dollars from disaster relief and business incentive programs over the past 30 years.
How's my business evaluated? Synergi Partners evaluates the special circumstances affecting your business and develops an Eligibility and Impact Analysis to ma-imi/e your potential credits.
The Employee Retention Credit (ERC) provides relief to businesses who continued to pay employees during the Coronavirus (COVID-17) crisis.
“Success-based” no risk pricing! Synergi clients have no financial risk or upfront costs. Synergi charges a contingency fee after it provides an audit ready package that allows you to claim the Employee Retention Ta- Credit.
(843) 245-3703 kfreeman@synergipartners.com www.synergipartners.com/conroe
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