The Lubbock
Business Network Vol. 19 No. 4
April 2011
TRC Members Work Toward Goal Taking Care of
OUR STARS Total Resource Campaign 2011
So far, volunteers with the Chamber’s Total Resource Campaign have raised more than $70,000 toward our goal of $350,000! Led by Linda Gaither with WestMark REALTORS, the campaign is an eight-week blitz of Chamber member volunteers encouraging businesses to get involved and make connections while assisting them with choosing
options best suited to meet the organization’s marketing needs. During the Total Resource Campaign, members will choose from a “menu” of Chamber programs, products and services in which to invest for the remainder of 2011 and through 2012. Once the member is contacted through the TRC, they will not be contacted for these programs again, which streamlines the process for both the business and the Chamber. The company only has to commit once, which is beneficial for budgetary planning.
“This is good for business in Lubbock because when you are involved in your Chamber, everyone wins,” Gaither said. “The Chamber works tirelessly to strengthen, promote and serve their member businesses, and they provide so many opportunities for the members to reap those benefits. Being a member of the Chamber has helped my business grow, and those gains turn over numerous times in our economy.” To learn more about the Total Resource Campaign, call the Chamber at (806) 7617000 or visit www.lubbockchamber.com.
“Entrepreneurs and researchers and innovators want to be around each other. They want to feed off the shared creative energy. They want access to a shared talent pool. They want to build relationships. So if a local community is able to plant that seed- if it’s able to create the climate for innovation and build a critical mass- then private investment will follow. Innovation will follow. Jobs will follow.” - U.S. Economic Development Administration Secretary John Fernandez The Lubbock Innovators Award Luncheon will recognize members of the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce for innovation in technology,
superior business practices and contribution to the marketplace. These awards will acknowledge unique contributions and advancements, promoting Lubbock as a superior place to do business. Dr. Seshadri Ramkumar, Associate Professor with the Institute of Environmental and Human Health at Texas Tech University will receive the “Innovation in Technology Award” for his invention of Fibertect®, a nonwoven fabric made of cotton and carbon that soaks up fifteen times its’ weight in oil and can hold toxic vapors. The U.S. Cotton Grower’s Cotton Incorporated recognized
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COMMERCE IN OF
Fibertect®, as one of the top seven cotton innovations in 2010. 2011 This dry decontamination wipe has proven effective in cleaning up chemical warfare agents and toxic chemicals and was also evaluated for oil spill applications in the Gulf of Mexico. Additional applications are emerging within the filtration, oil and natural gas industry. Betenbough Homes will receive the “Superior Business Practices Award” for their development of a Trade Partner website. This (See Award Luncheon, Page 3)
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Lubbock Innovators Award Luncheon:
Meghan Gandy, M.S., R.D., L.D. director of wellness
Bill Hartsfield president/ceo
April 2011 • Page 2 • Lubbock Business Network
April 2011 • Page 3 • Lubbock Business Network
C A L E N D A R OF EVENTS 4 Ground Breaking for American
April
Museum of Agriculture 2 p.m. – Northwest Corner of E. Broadway and Canyon Lakes Drive Hispanic Business Development Committee 4 p.m. – LCOC
5 Café y Pan Dulce 7:30 a.m. – Caprock Home Health Services, 8806 University Leadership Lubbock Committee 11 a.m. – LCOC 6 New Century Leadership – Economics Day 7 Agriculture Committee 7:30 a.m. – LCOC Lubbock Innovators Award Luncheon 11:30 a.m. – Scottish Rite Center, 1101 70th Community Prayer Lunch Committee 4 p.m. – LCOC Golf Classic Committee 4 p.m. – WestMark REALTORS, 4105 84th Business After Hours – Las Brisas Southwest Steakhouse 5:30-7 p.m. – 4701 112th 8 Focus Lubbock – Arts & Entertainment Day “Mind Capture” Seminar 8:30-10:30 a.m.; Wells Fargo Center, 1500 Broadway, 2nd Floor (San Jacinto Room) Legislative Affairs Committee 9:30 a.m. – LCOC 12 Leadership Lubbock – Arts & Education Day Ribbon Cutting for All Smiles Dental Center Noon – 4819 Avenue Q
(See April, Page 7)
Chamber’s D.C. Fly-In to Feature High-Profile Speakers The Lubbock Chamber of Commerce will host their annual D.C. Fly-In on May 22-25, and for the first time ever, the Fly-In will be held in conjunction with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Summit. The purpose of the trip is to meet with key elected officials, voice public policy concerns, participate in important issue briefings and events and hear from high-profile speakers including Christopher Gardner, Owner & CEO of Gardner Rich LLC and author of “The Pursuit of Happyness”; Gen. Stanley McChrystal, Former Commander, U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan; Tim Westergren, Founder and Chief Strategist for Pandora; and Thomas J. Donahue, President and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Participants also will experience an exclusive Pentagon visit and briefing.
As an added bonus, this year’s D.C. Fly-In Participants can take advantage of B2B National Procurement Opportunities, featuring procurement officers from government agencies & Fortune 500 companies! Appointments are required and other criteria apply. Registration fee is $350/person and does not include travel to Washington, D.C. or lodging. The fee includes most meals and registration for the Small Business Summit. The Chamber has secured a block of rooms at the headquarters of the U.S. Small Business Summit, the Omni Shoreham Hotel, at a rate of $239/night, but room supply is limited. Registration deadline is Monday, April 4. For more information on the D.C.Fly-In or to secure your lodging, please contact Norma Ritz Johnson , VP-Legislative Affairs, at (806) 761-7000 or norma.johnson@lubbockbiz.org.
Innovators Award Luncheon (From Page 1) hub of information allows Trade Partners website access to view specific job orders for each home under construction, floor plan drawings, construction reports, supply change orders, the dynamic building schedule, upcoming payments for jobs completed, a record of previous payments and a phone roster with photos for Betenbough Homes’ contacts. Also honored at the luncheon will be V-tech Environmental Services and Carpet Tech. They were among 72 companies selected across the United States by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce as Blue Ribbon Award Winners and will be recognized at the America’s Small Business Summit in Washington, D.C. May 23-25, 2011.
The Awards Luncheon will be held Thursday, April 7, from 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Scottish Rite Center, located at 1101 70th Street. Click here for event sponsorship information. Tickets to the luncheon are $30 for members and $40 for prospective members. Click here to register online for the luncheon, or call the Chamber at (806) 761-7000. Current sponsors include American State Bank, Reese Technology Center, Betenbough Homes, Plains Cotton Growers and the West Texas Coalition for Innovation and Commercialization. For more information, contact Robin Raney, VP of Business Development at robin. raney@lubbockbiz.org.
WesTex Document, Inc. 815 S. Gilbert Drive Reese Science & Technology Center Lubbock, TX 79416 CALL (806) 885-2906 or visit our web http://www.westexdocument.com Secure Vault - Imaging - Destruction & Storage Services West Texas’s most trusted source for meeting your record management needs. We offer professional storage, digital imaging, microfilming, data center services, and secure destruction of any type of records you may have; we can image and copy (print) documents up to 24 x 48”; we offfer professional record archive services, Class 350 4-hour Vault storage and consulting for all of your professional RIM needs, including disaster recovery and business continuity services. Call or come visit us to learn more and tell us how we might help you.
Lubbock Chamber Member Since 1997 Nuclear Quality Assurance (NQA-1)
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April 2011 • Page 4 • Lubbock Business Network
Leadership Division Briefs LEADERSHIP
We’re Taking Applications for Leadership Lubbock!
The Lubbock Chamber of Commerce is looking for class participants for the 20112012 Leadership Lubbock Class. As the current LL class wraps up their class year with Arts & Education Day in April and Sports & Recreation Day in May, we begin the search for interested, qualified individuals for the next class. Go to the Chamber website; www.lubbockchamber.com, click on Chamber, then on events & programs, next – the leadership development tab and there you will see Leadership Lubbock. The application is there and ready to complete. The deadline is Wednesday, May 25, 2011. Contact Phyllis Jones if you have any questions. We look forward to receiving your application. All applicants will be notified, accepted for the 2011-2012 class or not by June 30, 2011.
LUBBOCK 2011 Community Prayer Lunch “PASS IT ON” is just right around the corner!
The Chamber will again host the Community Prayer Lunch on Thursday, May 12, from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., in conjunction with the Business Expo. This lunch is the Chamber’s event to honor and celebrate the National Day of Prayer. You will not want to miss hearing from Chaplain Steve Grant and some of the Texas Tech football players! Also, the a cappella group “Legacy” was such a hit at the 2010 Prayer Lunch that they will be back this May. Sponsorships are still available. Please contact Phyllis Jones at phyllis.jones@lubbockbiz. org or call (806) 761-7003.
Leadership Lubbock Distinguished Alumni Award
Join these sponsors: In-Kind meal sponsor – United Super-
The Leadership Lubbock Committee is looking for qualified nominations for the annual Leadership Lubbock Distinguished Alumni award. This award is presented at the annual Leadership Lubbock banquet, honoring a Leadership Lubbock graduate that has continued to support, lead and serve the Lubbock community. Check the Chamber website for a complete listing of all 35 LL classes. If your nominee is there and is currently working with a Chamber business that is in good standing, please fill out the LLDA nomination form and get it back to us. The deadline is April 25, 2011. Thank you in advance for your carefully selected nominations.
markets Gold level sponsors: Chick-fil-A, Field, Manning, Stone, Hawthorne & Aycock, Vista Bank, UMC Health System Silver level sponsors: Lubbock Power & Light, Betenbough Homes, Holly Betenbough, Aycock Mediaworks, Suddenlink West Texas, First United Bank, Medlock Southwest Management Corp., City Bank, Angelique Liles – AFLAC, Sanford & Tatum Insurance Agency, Atmos Energy, Citizens Bank, Alderson Enterprises Bronze Level: WestMark REALTORS, LLP, BBVA Compass Bank, Texas Boys Ranch, Inc., Scarborough Specialties, Inc., Bacon Heights Baptist Church, Lubbock ISD, Parkhill, Smith & Cooper, Inc., First Bank & Trust Co.,
May 5 – Cinco de Mayo Luncheon – Scottish Rite Center May 6 – Chick-fil-A Leadercast – Bacon Heights Baptist Church May 12 – Business Expo – Civic Center July 25 – Chamber Golf Classic – Hillcrest Country Club September 29 – Hub City BBQ Cook-off – Downtown Lubbock December 1 – Annual Membership Meeting and Awards Banquet
– Civic Center Want more information on any of these? Call the Chamber at (806) 761-7000!
Evans Ranked First Nationwide
Colleen Evans, the Lubbock Chamber’s membership director, recently ranked first nationwide in number of memberships sold for 3Q 2010 and for the year to date, and fifth in dollar amount for the year to date in the American Chamber of Commerce Executives’ sales contest. She competed in a category with chambers of similar size nationwide.
Steve Sypert Insurance + Chamber of Commerce + FirstCare =
www.chamberhealthplan.com
What’s new? Plenty! New health plans are available for effective dates of JANUARY 01, 2011! For those Lubbock Chamber employers who have not taken advantage of the FirstCare program, now is the time to see how your company can benefit. Groups as few as 2 employees are eligible.
Click www.chamberhealthplan.com or call 794-9330 we look forward to telling you about “what’s wh new”! steve@sypert.com y
Save These Dates for these BIG events in 2011!
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April 2011 • Page 5 • Lubbock Business Network
Mind Capture: Learn New Marketing Tips and Tactics for Your Business! Who is Tony Rubleski?
Tony is the President of Mind Capture Group. His message is designed to help people ‘Capture’ more minds and profits. He’s been called “real-world”, street smart, edgy, controversial, clever, funny, direct, but never boring. Tony focuses on referral, retention and repeat marketing strategies for a wide range of industries including real estate, insurance, telecom, casinos, retail, direct sales, banking to a wide range of entrepreneurs and sales teams. A highly sought after speaker and agent of change, his live seminars continue to receive rave reviews from meeting planners coast to coast. His core expertise, teaching and work focuses on the topic of ‘Capturing’ customers minds. His second book in the Mind Capture series titled Mind Capture: How You Can Stand Out In The Age of Advertising Deficit
Disorder went #1 in three different business categories with Amazon.com and received stunning reviews from a wide range of leaders in marketing, sales, psychology to academia, entrepreneurs and multiple New York Times bestselling authors. Mind Capture: How to Awaken Your Entrepreneurial Genius in a Time of Great Economic Change is the topic of his third book and April 8 seminar hosted by the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce.
What are people saying about Tony Rubleski’s program? Click here or here to watch a YouTube video to find out! When and Where
Friday, April 8; Wells Fargo Center, 1500 Broadway, 2nd Floor, San Jacinto Room
and $50 per person for prospective Chamber members. Enroll NOW by calling the Chamber at (806) 761-7000. For group rates or for sponsorship information, contact Robin Raney at robin.raney@lubbockbiz.org.
How to Enroll
The session will be from 8:3010:30 a.m. The cost is $45 per person for Chamber members
Business Property • Casualty • Bonds • Home • Auto Employee Benefits • Life • Health • Long Term Care
Doing Business with people you know and trust Will & Beth Ashmore
Life & Health Division 806.745.8358 Property & Casualty Division 806.771.4368 6102 82nd St. #6 • Lubbock, Texas 79424 • www.ashmoreassociates.com
April 2011 • Page 6 • Lubbock Business Network
Lubbock Arts Festival
2011 BOARD OF DIRECTORS CHAIRWOMAN Irasema Velasquez Velasquez Insurance & Worksite Benefits CHAIRMAN-ELECT Tim Collins Collins Tile, LLP IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR Joe Rapier Parkhill, Smith & Cooper, Inc. TREASURER David Seim PlainsCapital Bank SECRETARY Eddie McBride Lubbock Chamber of Commerce VICE CHAIRWOMAN, MEMBERSHIP DIVISION Stephanie Massengale Advanced Graphix VICE CHAIRMAN, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIVISION Rick Boyd First United Bank VICE CHAIRMAN, GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS DIVISION Jay Jacobus Scarborough Specialties, Inc. VICE CHAIRMAN, LEADERSHIP DIVISION Carlos Morales Caprock Home Health Services, Inc. VICE CHAIRMAN, COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION John D. Steinmetz Vista Bank VICE CHAIRMAN, HISPANIC BUSINESS DIVISION Rudy Rosales Montelongo’s Mexican Restaurant HISPANIC BUSINESS DIVISION REPRESENTATIVE Juanita Mendoza Wells Fargo BOARD ADMINISTRATION Martin Aguirre Workforce Solutions South Plains Stephen Beasley Lubbock Avalanche-Journal Alona Beesinger Suddenlink West Texas Ron Betenbough Betenbough Homes John D. Brock NorthStar Surgical Center Darrin Camp Taco Bell/Pizza Hut Border Management Corp. Jeff Dane UMC Health System Karen Garza Lubbock Independent School District Yolanda Gonzaga Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Gary Gregory Atmos Energy Grace Hernandez Texas Tech University Sidney Hopper United Supermarkets Peter Hur RFS Financial Services Clayton Isom TAO Development Group Dan Jackson KCBD TV-NewsChannel 11 Robert Lacy PYCO Industries Gabe Martinez Telemundo KXTQ-TV 46, Ramar Comm. Brandon Mulkey Chick-fil-A at South Plains Crossing Richard Parks Covenant Health System Joe Phea African American Chamber of Commerce - Lubbock Norval Pollard City Bank Shirley Schleuse Lamar Outdoor Advertising Kelvin Sharp South Plains College Michael Shonrock Texas Tech University Frank Silvas AFLAC-Laquita Carthel Regional Sales Mark Stiff Bates-Wells Promotional Products Gabe Vitela National Teachers Life Insurance Company Gary Zheng Lubbock Power & Light
CHAMBER STAFF Eddie McBride, President/CEO Sheri Nugent, IOM, Vice President-Administration Robin Raney, Vice President-Business Development Mary Jane Buerkle, IOM, Vice President-Communications Jorge Quirino, Vice President-Hispanic Business Division Phyllis Jones, Vice President-Leadership Norma Ritz Johnson, IOM, Vice President-Legislative Affairs Colleen Evans, Membership Director Amy Marquez, Administrative Assistant Norma Gomez Bulls, Customer Service Representative Britnee Davis and Audrey DeLeon, Interns
Premiere Night invites Chamber Members Chamber members are invited to attend American State Bank’s Premiere Night at the 33rd Annual Lubbock Arts Festival on Thursday, April 7, from 6-9 p.m. at the Civic Center Exhibit Hall. The featured spotlight artist will be Ann W. McDonald and attendees also can enjoy more than 150 visual artists from across the nation, a juried gallery, invitational gallery and local demonstrating artists. For free tickets to Premiere Night, please contact the Chamber at (806) 761-7000 or info@lubbockbiz.org. The Lubbock Arts Festival will be April 8-10 at the Civic Center.
3rd annual Spring into Green Conference at the Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts “Home GREEN Home” is the focus for the third annual US Green Building Council’s Spring into Green conference, scheduled for April 14-15. The event will begin at 5:30pm on Thursday in the LHUCA IceHouse, 511 Ave. J, with a talk by Brad Lancaster from Tucson, Arizona, entitled “Turning Drains into Sponges and Water Scarcity into Water Abundance.” The presentation will be followed by a reception and a car show in the LHUCA Warehouses, Mac Davis Lane at Texas Avenue, “Eco-toGo: ’57 to 2011,” featuring an opportunity to view 2011 eco-friendly hybrids, electric cars, high gas efficiency models, and the TTU solar-powered vehicle. A classic ’57 Chevy will also be on display. This evening is free and open to the public. Friday’s event, scheduled from 8:30-5:00 in the LHUCA FireHouse, 511 Avenue K, will include talks on many aspects of greening our homes and landscapes, with
notable speakers from Lubbock and across the nation. There will also be exhibits by vendors demonstrating the latest, most economical ways to improve energy outputs while lowering energy costs, as well as making the places we live as safe and healthy as possible. Friday’s event includes a luncheon, with keynote speaker Peter Pfeiffer, FAIA, who will present “Net Zero Energy Homes: Lessons Learned.” The entire conference is designed to appeal to home owners, renters, home builders, architects, engineers, interior designers, gardeners and everyone interested in providing healthy, affordable, and attractive dwelling places for themselves and others. Friday’s conference admission charge is $40 which includes lunch. Call (806) 445-4448 or (806) 780-1111 for further information. Or registration can be handled on line at www.lubbockspringintogreen.org.
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April 2011 • Page 7 • Lubbock Business Network
Free Ways to Monitor Your Business Online By James Hodgins, The Price Group Even if your business isn’t using social media, it’s still a good idea to monitor for mentions of your name. People are using these platforms to talk about everything, including your products and services. Good or bad, it helps your business to know what people are saying about you. So how can you listen in on these conversations?
“Xchange ideas, Xplore solutions” is the theme for the May 12, 2011 Business Expo, hosted by the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. A sponsorship in the Business Expo leverages branding and marketing opportunities while benefitting from Business to Business Networking with more than 200 exhibitors and approximately 7,000 attendees. Marketing for this event includes television, radio, newspaper and area billboards as well as printed brochures and tickets which are mailed to all 2,100-plus members of the Chamber. Your name or logo would be presented on at least 5,000 printed brochures and 40,000 tickets. Electronic blasts sent via Monday Memo and Thursday Updates reach more than 4,000 individuals and the Chamber website averages 5,000 visits per month. Exhibit space is limited, so please reserve your booth space today! “Restaurant Row” will return this year after a successful launch in 2010 with a dedicated section in the Pedestrian Mall available for food service vendors. For additional information regarding Business Expo, call the Chamber at (806) 7617000 or email info@lubbockchamber.org. Current sponsors include Workforce Solutions South Plains, RD Thomas, Suddenlink, Covenant Health System, Benchmark Business Solutions, Advanced Graphix, Bodyworks, Lubbock Power and Light, Hogland Office Equipment, Caprock Home Health Services, Switch I.T. Support, Dion’s, WesTex Document, Copy Craft Printers, Ranch at Dove Tree, Childress Photographic Group, Rix Funeral Directors, Humana, Laser Magic, Sam’s Club and Starbucks.
The good news is there are many free tools you can use. The biggest and most wide-reaching of which is Google Alerts. If you haven’t already, setup a Google Account, then go to http://www.google.com/alerts to set up keywords. First, use your business name and any commonly-used alternatives or abbreviations. Then, if you choose, type in your industry, competitors, products and/or services. If some of these terms seem to broad, combine them with “Lubbock” to limit mentions only about the local area. Google does a good job of monitoring the whole web, but there are other tools that specialize in certain areas. SocialMention.com is like Google Alerts, but specifically for social media sites. You can setup alerts or a running RSS Feed of mentions. There are also platform-specific tools to take advantage of. Twitter Search is a good resource of realtime Twitter mentions. Use Facebook Insights on your business Page to get detailed information about your post interactions and users, including demographics and page activity. These cover only the basics, but they are a great place to start, especially for small and local businesses. There are many, many paid services out there that offer more robust services for businesses that are more active on social media. The key is to find what’s best for your business.
March
(From Page 3)
13 Ambassador Monthly Luncheon Noon – TBD 19 Ribbon Cutting for Guadalupe-Sommerville Center 3:30 p.m. – 123 N. Avenue N New Century Leadership Banquet 6:30 p.m. – TBD 20 Business Development Committee 11:30 a.m. – 1301 Broadway, Second Floor Conference Room (LP&L and Workforce Solutions) 21 Executive Committee Noon – LCOC Business After Hours – Red Raider Club/United Spirit Arena 5:30-7 p.m. – “Club Red,” United Spirit Arena 25 Business Mercado Committee 4 p.m. – LCOC 26 Leadership Lubbock Committee 11 a.m. – LCOC Business Expo Committee 3:30 p.m. – LCOC Focus Lubbock Banquet 6:30 p.m. – South Plains College – Student Activities Building, Sundown Room 28 Board of Directors Meeting 10 a.m. – TBD
Chamber Offers Trip to China Flight Leaves November 2 Click here to download a full-color promotional brochure! Chambers nationwide have begun hosting trips to China to encourage business-tobusiness contacts and tourism. The Lubbock Chamber will offer the trip this year, leaving
Los Angeles on November 2. The cost is $1,999 per person (double occupancy), and includes round trip airfare from Los Angeles, seven nights in deluxe accommodations (usually Doubletrees, Sofitels and Marriotts), 20 meals, English-speaking tour guides, entrance fees to attractions, coach transfers, all taxes but not including optional travel insurance ($200). The only thing not included is the cost of getting a passport and visa, and getting from Lubbock to Los Angeles. Bookings after April 14 are subject to a $50/person fuel surcharge. The tour includes visiting the World Heritage sites in Beijing, Hangzhou and Shanghai, experiencing the world’s fastest train and free time to conduct business and explore the city. If you have more questions about the trip, please contact Phyllis Jones at (806) 761-7003 or email phyllis.jones@lubbockbiz.org.
April 2011 • Page 8 • Lubbock Business Network
Web Link Enhancements DID YOU KNOW that as a Chamber member, you are listed in our online business directory? From February 1 to February 28, our online business directory generated 470,185 referrals to Chamber member businesses! What if you could get even MORE exposure? Imagine – someone clicks on a category and a list of members comes up, but YOURS stands out! It’s easy with our new Web Listing Enhancement Program!
Click here to see what your Web directory listing could look like (hint – scroll down a little!). For just $25/year, we can link your Web site through the Business Directory, and for just $60/ year, we can not only link your Web site, but customize your listing to really make you stand out with borders and color! Contact Colleen Evans at (806) 761-7001 or colleen.evans@lubbockbiz.org for more details.
Cinco de Mayo Luncheon
The Chamber will host a Cinco de Mayo Luncheon on Thursday, May 5, from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at The Scottish Rite Center, located at 1101 70th Street. Keynote speaker will be former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. Emcee will be Abner Euresti of KCBD-NewsChannel 11.
Cost is $15/person for Chamber members and $20/person for prospective members. Sponsorships are available; contact Jorge Quirino at (806) 761-7005 or jorge.quirino@ lubbockbiz.org. For more information or to register, call (806) 761-7000 or email info@lubbockbiz.org.
Texas Tech Head Football Coach Tommy Tuberville recently spoke to students involved in the Chamber’s New Century Leadership Program. For more information on New Century Leadership, please contact Phyllis Jones at (806) 761-7003.
Business of the Month
Souper Salad
Chamber members Souper Salad recently received some huge accolades from their company. Owner and Texas Tech graduate Jamie Cofer was named the 2010 Franchisee of the Year, in recognition of outstanding business and brand performance at his Souper Salad location in Lubbock. Additionally, the store received the 2010 Momentum Award, for exceptional guest count versus the prior year. Cofer bought the struggling store in November 2009 and was able to turn it around to the number one franchise in sales in less than two years. Cofer managed a high-end resort for 12 years before coming back to Lubbock to buy the store. Three years prior to Cofer’s ownership, the store saw double-digit decreases in sales each year. Customers cited the lack of freshness of the food and the unclean store as to why they refused to eat there. “If it’s not perfect, don’t put it out to serve,” Cofer said. Cofer’s philosophy also includes focusing on the quality and freshness of the food, the quality of service and the ambiance and cleanliness of the store. Cofer says the difference in the success of the store is having an owner in the
store on a daily basis versus a manager. Cofer works from open to around four to manage the store hands on, including supervising 25 employees. Cofer says he hires staff to cover the sales they want to have, not what they currently have. Although the restaurant is not fast food, the position of the store is casual dining in which you are eating what you choose immediately. The food choices are endless and not limited to soup and salad. “For the price, no one can do what we do,” Cofer said. Customers can eat all they want for only $7.24. Souper Salad offers not only salad and soup bars, but also pasta, potato, pizza, taco and dessert bars. The large variety of menu options, along with the store’s transformation, influences customers to return, some with more frequency. The growing number of customers is attributed to word of mouth as well. Cofer’s customer base is very diverse and not only a health conscious population. “People know they have to change the way they eat,” Cofer said. Souper Salad has been in Lubbock since 1994, and is the largest salad bar chain in (See Souper Salad, Page 9)
April 2011 • Page 9 • Lubbock Business Network
Ballet Lubbock Schedules Spring Performances Ballet Lubbock announces their Annual Spring Performance, Peter and the Wolf, presented April 15-17 at the Underwood Center’s Firehouse Theatre, 511 Avenue K in Lubbock. Tickets are available at all Select-A-Seat outlets, including the main box office at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center (1501 Mac Davis Lane) and United Supermarkets. Seating is reserved at $25 for all seats, all performances. Group rates on
Save the Date!
May 23-25
Meet with key elected officials on Capitol Hill
Participate in briefings on issues important to the Lubbock area economy
Voice your public policy concerns as a community stakeholder
purchases of 10+ tickets can be obtained at Select-A-Seat’s main box office (Civic Center). Four (4) performances take place on: Friday, April 15 - 7 p.m. Saturday, April 16 - 2 p.m. Saturday, April 16 - 7 p.m. Sunday, April 17 - 2 p.m. The Spring Performance is made possible in part through grants from The CH Foundation, the Texas Commission on the Arts, City of Lubbock as recom-
Make Plans to Attend the 2011 Lubbock Chamber D.C. Fly-In & U.S. Chamber Small Business Summit! Registration Deadline is April 4!
mended by Civic Lubbock, Inc. For more information, contact Executive Director Nicholas
Dragga at (806) 785-3090 or nicholas@balletlubbock.org.
Chick-fil-A Leadercast on May 6 Chick-fil-A, City Bank and the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce are partnering to bring you the Chick-fil-A Leadercast on Friday, May 6, from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. at Bacon Heights Baptist Church at 53rd and Slide in Lubbock. Ten speakers will broadcast live from Atlanta, GA, throughout the day. Click here to see a list. Seating is extremely limited (first-come, first-serve). Cost is
$59.99 for Chamber members and $79.99 for prospective members. Refreshments and lunch will be provided by Chick-fil-A at 69th & Slide. You do not want to miss out on this opportunity to hear such tremendous speakers! Register TODAY by visiting www.lubbockchamber.com, calling the Chamber at (806) 761-7000 or emailing info@lubbockbiz.org.
Souper Salad- Business of the Month (From Page 8) the nation. Recently, the CEO came to Lubbock and was excited when he left because he saw how much people love the restaurant. If you want a great value,
unlike any other in town, Cofer asks you to give Souper Salad a try. The restaurant is open daily from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and is located at 6703 Slide Road in the South Plains Plaza.
By incorporating the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce D.C. Fly-In with the U.S. Chamber Small Business Summit, participants will also hear from high profile speakers! Just a sampling of those confirmed so far includes:
Christopher Gardner — Owner & CEO of Gardner Rich LLC & author of The Pursuit of Happyness Gen. Stanley McChrystal — Former Commander, U.S. & international forces in Afghanistan Tim Westergren — Founder & Chief Strategist, Pandora Thomas J. Donohue — President & CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce This Year’s D.C. Fly-In Participants Can Take Advantage of B2B National Procurement Opportunities as a Bonus! The U.S. Chamber Small Business Summit will include a B2B National Procurement Matchmaking session. This will connect Summit attendees with procurement officers from government agencies and Fortune 500 companies to increase small business participation in future procurement opportunities. (Appointments required & other criteria apply; register for the Fly-In early to learn how to take advantage of this opportunity!)
Interested in sponsoring or participating in this year’s D.C. Fly-In? Contact Norma Ritz Johnson, Lubbock Chamber of Commerce V.P. — Legislative Affairs, at 806.761.700032or email norma.johnson@lubbockbiz.org.
Seventeen of the Chamber’s Past Chairmen attended a luncheon in their honor at the Chamber on March 29. The group shared stories and discussed the current state of the Chamber. Here, they are shown in front of the new “tribute wall” dedicated to them in the Chamber offices.
IntegraCare Hospice is Seeking Volunteers IntegraCare Hospice is looking for people who can donate 2-4 hours a month of their time, can visit patients in person or by phone and who are friendly, compassionate and willing to listen. If you are interested or know of someone who would be, contact Tiffany Willis at 472-6900.
April 2011 • Page 10 • Lubbock Business Network
Ground Breakings & Ribbon Cuttings Sponsored By
B & J Welding Supply 50th & Martin Luther King Blvd.
Bodyworks Family Life Center
Chicken Express
5402 4th Street
210 Slide Road
Community Health Center Arnett Benson Clinic 3301 Clovis Road
Fountain Grass Villas at Carillon 4100 16th Street
Global Health Chiropractic A Creating Wellness Center 8004 Abbeville Ave.
American Museum of Agriculture Fundraiser on May 5
Bob Phillips
The American Museum of Agriculture will host An Evening with Bob Phillips, the Texas Country Reporter, on Thursday, May 5, at the
Lubbock Memorial Civic Center. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $75 each which include admission to the event, a prime rib dinner, live music, and door prizes. All proceeds benefit the American Museum of Agriculture. For more information, visit www.agriculturehistory.org/bob_phillips.php
Just Between Friends 8004 Indiana (Melonie Square)
April 2011 • Page 11 • Lubbock Business Network
Welcome to the New Chamber Members
Please place this addition in your Chamber Business Directory and Resource Guide! All Smiles Dental Centers 4819 Ave Q Lubbock, TX 79412 (806) 744-9999 Dentists
Hud’s Auto Service 8212 Valencia Ave. Lubbock, TX 79424 (806) 866-9898 Automobile Repair & Service
State Farm Insurance - Chris Prather 4412 74th Street, Suite F101 Lubbock, TX 79424 (806) 792-3331 Insurance
Allstate Insurance - Danny Sellers 7302 82nd Street, Suite 11 Lubbock, TX 79424 (806) 866-2702 Insurance - Life & Health
Hydraulic Shop 4315 Idalou Road Lubbock, TX 79403 (806) 781-4166 Hydraulics
Stracener Farms, Inc. 106 N. FM 2646 Levelland, TX 79336 (806) 897-4848 Farms
Angel Fire Visitors Center 3365 Mountain View Blvd. Angel Fire, NM 87710 (575) 377-6555 Convention & Meeting Planning
KW Commercial - Leigh Anne Wikle 4747 South Loop 289, Ste. 110 Lubbock, TX 79424 (806) 771-7701 Real Estate - Commercial
Teen Parents of Lubbock 2621 34th Street Lubbock, TX 79410 (806) 763-9794 Non Profit Organizations
Brigadoon Stables, LLC 8415 CR 6520 Lubbock, TX 79416 (806) 792-2744 Horseback Riding
Kwik Kar Lube and Auto Center 6310 82nd Street Lubbock, TX 79424 (806) 698-0411 Oil Change
Texas Rock And Flagstone 7401 Brownfield Highway Lubbock, TX 79407 (806) 687-0104 Landscaping Contractors
Double Dave’s - 4th & Slide 405 Slide Road #112 Lubbock, TX 79416 (806) 780-3283 Restaurants
Mulcahy Wharton Business Consultings, LLC Lubbock, TX (806) 535-5374 Business Consulting
Vandelia Church of Christ 2002 60th Street Lubbock, TX 79412 (806) 744-8439 Churches
Double Dave’s - 82nd Street 6023 82nd Street #4 Lubbock, TX 79424 (806) 763-3283 Restaurants Dr. John R. Smyer, MD 4213 85th Street, Ste. B Lubbock, TX 79423 (806) 368-9631 Physicians & Surgeons Dusty C. Farms 2580 CR 152 Fieldton, TX 79326 PO Box 897 Olton, TX 79064 (806) 285-2820 Farms GMAN Creative Lubbock, TX (806) 224-5864 Video Productions
National Hospice MedEquip 4310 Iola, Suite C Lubbock, TX 79407 (806) 598-6641 Medical Supplies & Equipment Parallel Solutions 5109 82nd Street, #7-232 Lubbock, TX 79424 (806) 560-6903 Computer - Solutions
W Brokerage Group Real Estate Lubbock, TX (806) 798-2800 Real Estate - Brokerage WesTx Packaging Company 508 Lubbock Business Park Blvd. (79403) P.O. Box 5158 Aloha, OR 97007 (806) 686-4447 Manufacturing
Property Development Solutions 2711 E. Slaton Road (79404) P.O. Box 94010 Lubbock, TX 79493 (806) 771-9780 Roofing Contractors Serenity Care Lubbock, TX (806) 792-6918 Home Health Care Services and/or Staffing
Please note – current membership information can be found on the Chamber’s online Business Directory. Members can be searched by category or keyword. Membership information can be verified online through the Members Only section. 2/16/2011 –3/15/2011