Greater Waco Business - Fall 2019

FALL 2019

A LOOK BACK AT THE 86TH TEXAS LEGISLATIVE SESSION NEVERTHELESS, SHE PERSISTED AN INTERVIEW WITH ANDREA BAREFIELD CATCHING UP WITH JESSICA ATTAS

A GREATER WACO CHAMBER PUBLICATION

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FROM THE PRESIDENT

2019 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN

VICE CHAIR

Merrill Lynch Wealth Management

Insurors of Texas

CHAIR-ELECT

Hal Whitaker

Loren Schwartz

Rick Tullis

Capstone Mechanical

VICE CHAIR

Jennifer Manning Patillo Brown & Hill, LLP

CHAMBER STAFF

Rachel Alston Jessica Attas Samantha Baker Lexy Bishop Jennifer Branch Kris Collins Gabriella Colurciello Ellen Gradel Nancy Gupton Amanda Haygood

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Samantha Baker

George Chase

PAST CHAIR

Englander DzignPak PCA

PRESIDENT & CEO Matt Meadors

Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce

Brittany Knight Keith Kusler Rachel Martinez Debbie McCutchen Matt Meadors Seth Morris Jason Powers Felicia Taylor Michelle Williams

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Gabriella Colurciello

ART DIRECTOR Keith Kusler

For advertising, contact Gabriella Colurciello (254) 757-5618 • gcolurciello@wacochamber.com

ON THE COVER

Photo by Wrench Media

Public policy is a vital strategic priority for the Greater Waco Chamber and the Waco business community, so we wanted to provide insight as to what the Chamber’s role in policy is and why it matters.

City Councilwoman and business advocate Andrea Barefield is a champion for public policy and is working to be the change she wants to see in her community.

Greater Waco Business is published and distributed to Chamber members and economic development prospects. Digital copies are available online at WacoChamber.com.

In April, the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce launched a process to modernize its economic development strategic plan. A consultant was hired, telephone interviews with stakeholders were conducted, and a series of input sessions were held to garner thoughts and recommendations to inform the development of the new plan, a plan that will guide your Chamber’s economic development work into the future. Our economic development mission statement was revisited and refined, and core values affirmed. Key areas of strategic focus were identified as: • • • • • •

Economic Development Thriving Economic Corridors Innovation & Entrepreneurship Talent, Education & Workforce Public Policy Future Economy

We are presently finalizing the tactics that will be funded and implemented to drive the success of the plan and what we will measure to ensure transparency and accountability.

This edition of Greater Waco Business provides a deep dive into public policy, one of our strategic priorities. It is vitally important for your Chamber, working in harmony with our strategic partners, to be active in the public policy space. Elected and appointed officials make decisions that impact the business climate and thus the vibrancy and profitability of our existing businesses and our ability to grow and diversify our economy and strengthen our community. All are key ingredients to creating economic prosperity in our region.

Your Chamber leans heavily on volunteers from throughout our community to help develop our state and federal policy platforms. These volunteers, working through a robust committee and subcommittee structure, are integral to the impact and success of our public policy efforts to educate and inform policy influencers and decisionmakers.

They are experts in their fields and share the common goal of building a greater Waco.

During the recently-concluded 86th Texas Legislative Session, your Chamber focused on the following policy priorities: • Business Climate • Economic Development • Public & Higher Education • Healthcare • Transportation Our 2019 federal policy priorities include the following: • • • • • •

Economic Development Business climate Healthcare Education Transportation & Infrastructure Water & Natural Resources

As you can see, these priorities are very closely aligned. The Greater Waco Chamber’s public policy work is highly focused by design, to ensure we are maximizing the use of our finite resources and our potential for success.

Thank you for you continued support of your chamber of commerce.

With appreciation,

This publication is printed on FSC-certified paper. © 2019 Greater Waco Chamber 101 S. Third St. Waco TX 76701 • (254) 757-5600 The Greater Waco Chamber reserves the right to reject editorial or advertising content in the Greater Waco Business publication, and via the organization’s full range of communications | FALL 2019 platforms, at its sole discretion.

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Matthew T. Meadors President & CEO

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CONTENTS

FALL 2019

PUBLIC POLICY EDITION WACO CHAMBER 8 GREATER PUBLIC POLICY INITIATIVE

10 A LOOK BACK AT THE 86TH TEXAS LEGISLATIVE SESSION

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NEVERTHELESS, SHE PERSISTED AN INTERVIEW WITH CITY COUNCILWOMAN ANDREA BAREFIELD

26 CATCHING UP WITH JESSICA ATTAS 6 | FALL 2019

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MCLENNAN COUNTY CHAMBER ALLIANCE

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THE GREATER WACO CHAMBER’S STATE OF SERIES

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THE LEGAL MINUTE: INVESTIGATING AN EMPLOYMENT COMPLAINT

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SMALL BIZ SPOTLIGHT: ALEJANDRA EVANS, INTERIOR GLOW

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

APPOINTED OFFICE INITIATIVE LOCAL PROFILES

ON THE MARKET MARKET REPORT ECONOMY IN FOCUS

MEMBERS

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CHAMBER & MEMBER NEWS UPDATES FROM THE CHAMBER AND OUR MEMBERS

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NEW MEMBERS ARE POPPING UP ALL OVER THE GREATER WACO AREA!

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RIBBON CUTTINGS A SNAPSHOT OF MEMBER BUSINESSES

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As an organization dedicated to the economic well-being of McLennan County, the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce actively seeks to promote policies that are conducive to the further development of our region.

Our public policy initiative includes establishing positions on issues that impact our members and the overall community and economic development of the area; informing elected and appointed officials about these issues; actively informing our membership and the community on possible policy impact; and encouraging membership involvement in the Chamber’s advocacy efforts and programs.

The Public Policy Committee provides a voice for Chamber members in economic, legislative and policy issues that impact community and economic development. The role of the committee is to be a liaison for our business community with local, state, and federal officials and various government entities. Listening to our members, we work to inform, educate, engage and advocate for businesses with our legislators on issues of importance needed for a thriving business environment. While this work will always be non-partisan, it is political in nature. We work to engage elected and appointed officials of any party to inform and advocate for our community.

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Similarly, we host events and informational gatherings to keep the Chamber membership engaged on important business issues and work to strengthen the community’s relationships with key elected and appointed officials.

These annual events currently include:

• State of the City & County • State of the State • State of the Nation • State of Public Education • Waco Day in Austin • Washington D.C. Fly-In

PUBLIC POLICY COMMITTEE MISSION STATEMENT To inform, educate, engage and advocate for the Greater Waco business community regarding relevant public policy.

PUBLIC POLICY COMMITTEE PURPOSE The Greater Waco Chamber has established a non-partisan Public Policy Committee comprised of members from diverse business and industry sectors.

The committee is responsible for helping guide the Chamber’s advocacy work by reviewing pending legislation and its impact, developing positions that will enhance community and economic development.

The committee works to support and encourage other members to participate in the Chamber’s public policy initiative.

LEGISLATIVE AGENDA The Greater Waco Chamber serves the vibrant and growing heart of Central Texas as the voice for business, with nearly 1,400 member businesses that represent over 65,000 employees. Each year, the Public Policy Committee surveys the Chamber’s membership and engages in dialogue with legislators to identify a priority list of issues that will be tracked. Individual members are invited to propose policy issues on behalf of their business or industry for consideration within the scope of the Chamber’s interests.

When such proposals are made, they are referred to the Public Policy Committee for fair and just consideration. Following evaluation by the Public Policy Committee, issues that are deemed eligible and suitable, will be recommended to the Chamber’s executive committee for timely consideration and possible action.

Every year, the Public Policy Committee develops a Legislative Priority Agenda. This serves as a public policy guide to inform our members, elected and appointed officials, and the community at large of the position of the Greater Waco Chamber on issues that impact business in Greater Waco and Central Texas. n WACOCHAMBER.COM

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by Jessica Attas, Vice President, Public Policy, Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce

W

ith kids back in school and football season officially underway, the 86th Texas Legislative Session, which ran from January through May, is well behind us. This was a highly productive session in many regards. While there remains work to be done moving forward, it is worth it to pause to assess the accomplishments of those 140 days.

Our focus and work throughout the session was guided by our state legislative priority platform, a robust yet issue-focused policy agenda. Our chamber’s public policy initiative is guided by input from our member businesses and volunteer leadership. We have issue-specific policy subcommittees that meet 2-4 times yearly in order to discuss challenges and possible legislative solutions, and to formulate policy priorities at both the state and federal level.

The governing public policy committee, guided by chair David Lacy, then does the work of identifying the key issues deemed to be of greatest impact to growing our regional economy, and articulating those in our state and federal policy platforms. Once approved by the chamber’s Board of Directors, those platforms inform and guide our work throughout the year.

This year was no different, and with over 10,000 bills filed, it was helpful to have our state priority platform to keep us 10 | FALL 2019

focused on our key issues: economic development, fiscal and tax policy, healthcare, transportation, water and natural resources, and workforce and education. It was a full session!

Before diving into legislative outcomes, it could be helpful to provide a little context as to the overall tone and tenor of the 86th Session. While your Chamber is non-partisan and focuses always on policy and not politics, policy is of course impacted by politics. It is worth noting that the 2018 elections brought some changes, and those had policy consequences.

The narrower margins in both the House and Senate sides led both bodies to have a more pro-business focus on the “kitchen table” issues of greatest importance to our communities and greatest economic impact.

Going into the session, legislators were given the good news from the State Comptroller that due to the state’s economic strength, they’d have even more money to disburse in the state budget. When all was said and done, the legislature adopted a $250.7 billion biannual budget. This is our state’s first quarter-trillion-dollar budget!

PROPERTY TAX & SCHOOL FINANCE REFORM Top of everyone’s mind and priority list this legislative session were the interlaced issues of property tax and school finance reform. While educating Texas children is a constitutional requirement for the state, the state share of perpupil spending had been gradually declining, with increasing amounts coming from ballooning local property taxes. The state share was projected to hit a record-low of 36 percent this upcoming biennium.

To lower local property tax rates and increase

investment in education (our future workforce), the legislature passed House Bill 3, also known as the Texas Plan (check out detailed info at www. thetexasplan.com). While it does not bring the state to an even 50-50 split in the cost of educating Texas schoolchildren, the allocation for implementing HB 3 included $4.5 billion in new dollars for schools, an additional $2 billion for teacher compensation, and $5.1 billion for compression of local taxes and property tax relief.

These new dollars focused on several key strategies our Chamber supported: • Increasing the per-pupil basic allotment; • Increasing focus on early literacy and full-day pre-K for eligible families; • New dollars for low-income and English-language learners in grades K-3 and a focus on third-grade literacy; • Outcomes-based funding for post-secondary readiness and access; • Strategic teacher compensation; • And an optional pool of dollars for independent school districts to enact locally-developed teacher evaluation systems.

Each one of these strategies is research-proven to increase student outcomes and be critical indicators along the journey towards post-secondary readiness and success. While we celebrate these substantial investments, there is room for continued work next session, and the most important question becomes, how do we sustain the funding boost?

While HB 3 focused on school finance and education reforms, property tax was the other top priority for the session and the focus of Senate Bill 2. HB 3 will provide marginal relief from the $5.1 billion for tax compression (it is estimated for a $250,000 home, there will be a tax cut of $200 in 2020 and $325 in 2021), SB 2 brings more transparency and reforms over property tax relief.

SB 2 lowered the roll-back rate – the amount by which entities can increase collections before having to seek voter approval for rate increases – from 8 percent to 3.5

percent for cities and counties, and 2.5 percent for school districts. Community colleges and special districts were exempt and remain at 8 percent. While the intention in seeking voter approval is sound, the reality is that an entity could easily surpass the 3.5 percent growth rate simply by increased appraised valuations (something still influenced at the state level from Property Value Studies and directives to hit the appraised values determined by the state). Next session, continued work should be done to address the soaring growth in valuations to bring more true property tax relief. Other efforts to increase transparency and reform come in the form of new realtime tax notices which display both the no-new-revenue and proposed tax rates, as well as the date, time and location of public meetings to set tax rates. Additionally, entities are required to maintain a searchable, real-time website that prominently displays the above.

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HIGHER EDUCATION While much of the session focused on the K-12 system, higher education remains vitally important for the future of our state. Over 60 percent of jobs created by 2020 will require some form of higher education, whether a credential, two-year, four-year, or advanced degree.

Alarmingly, less than 30 percent of Texas high school graduates currently earn such a degree within six years of high school graduation. Further, research shows that communities with higher rates of any form of higher ed completion are healthier and wealthier across multiple indicators. It is critically important that we strengthen the matriculation of students from high school into higher education, and that they complete their degrees.

Coupled with efforts to expand access to quality dual-credit classes, Senate Bill 25 also aimed to address completion by supporting transfer credits from community colleges to four-year colleges. Community colleges represent the largest sector of Texas higher ed, serving over 730,000 Texas students. It is vitally important that these students’ time and money not be spent in vain, and

that they have clarity and transparency in what classes will transfer for credit. There was also an important investment in funding for research, as well as a slight boost in formula funding for public colleges, and both McLennan Community College and Texas State Technical College were recognized for their success in student outcomes. Overall, most higher education partners and their associations agree it was a good year for higher ed.

HEALTHCARE On the healthcare front, there was an investment to address both the physician and nursing shortage facing Texas. The Association of American Medical Colleges ranked Texas 47th of the 50 states in terms of having enough physicians to serve its population. This is exacerbated by closures of critical access hospitals – Texas leads the nation in these closures with 16 hospitals closed statewide since 2010. Because research shows that physicians tend to stay where they do their residency, we have advocated for increased Graduate Medical Education (GME) residency slots before funding to create 12 | FALL 2019

additional medical schools in Texas. This session, we saw an expansion of GMEs to add new residency slots. We also saw additional funding for the Nursing Shortage Reduction Program. According to a study by the National Center for Health Workforce Analysis, Texas will have the second-largest shortage in the country by 2020. Paired with the demographic changes seen in the “greying” of America, as our population ages, we certainly need these healthcare professionals to tend to our aging workforce and population.

TRANSPORTATION Regarding transportation, it was quieter but significant. A bill was passed extending the life of Proposition 1, the voter-approved constitutional amendment which sends a portion of the oil and gas severance tax to TxDOT for transportation infrastructure.

Sometimes in a legislative session, the wins aren’t in what is passed as much as what is not, and while there were more than 20 bills aimed at killing Texas’ first high-speed rail project, a project funded by private capital, none of them passed and the Texas Bullet Train project remains on track.

WATER & NATURAL RESOURCES Water and natural resources saw wins aligned with our Chamber’s priorities, particularly regarding expedited permitting and water rights applications. Additionally, the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan Trust Fund was created, which will assist in continuing to lower emissions throughout the state.

OTHER NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS While the themes of property tax and school finance reform dominated the session, there were other wins for business in other focus areas. In economic development, we were pleased to see the extension of Chapter 312 for 10 years.

This is a critical temporary tax exemption an entity can offer to attract new business and economic development projects. Chapter 313 was not addressed but is set to expire just after the 87th Legislative Session, so it will surely be addressed then. The Texas Enterprise Fund and other incentives funds were fully funded, as was the Skills Development Fund, for which access was expanded so that local workforce development boards, public libraries, and school districts may also now participate in focused workforce training. This, coupled with expanded career and

NEW LAWS EFFECTIVE

SEPTEMBER 1 There are many new laws that went into effect September 1.

A few worthy of note are allowing breweries to sell cases of beer to visitors, something our local distilleries and vineyards could already do, but not breweries; the repeal of the Driver Responsibility Program, which will lead to 600,000 Texas drivers getting their driver’s licenses reinstated to be able to drive themselves to work legally; the smoking/purchase of tobacco age was raised to 21, excepting enlisted service members; lemonade stands that impart to children the lessons of entrepreneurialism were made legal; and sending unsolicited pictures of graphic or sexual nature is now illegal and a criminal offense.

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technical education (CTE) opportunities within the K-12 system, will be impactful for the future of our Texas workforce.

Another local win was the passage of the statewide tourism public improvement district (TPID) bill, which allows cities to create new public improvement districts and attract more tourism. The TPID will collect a small percentage fee from room rates of participating hotels; this legislation was supported the City of Waco, and our local hotel association.

LOOKING AHEAD While most election conversations tend to focus on the 2020 elections, the 2019 elections will bring ten constitutional amendments – we’re especially excited about Props 8 and 2. The last day to register to vote is Monday, October 7. It is your right and your privilege to vote, so don’t miss the chance!

It was a packed and productive state session, and we are

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now turning our attention to interim charges that provide recommendations for the state, as well as ongoing work at the federal level. As always, if you have policy or legislative issues impacting your business and industry, let us know!

We are happy to work with you and our elected officials to find solutions that support a vibrant and growing economy. n

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Recognizing that there are issues that will have an impact on quality of life, economic viability and prosperity of our shared economic region, ten area chambers of commerce came together to form the McLennan County Chamber Alliance (MCCA). The MCCA is a vehicle through which we can foster communication and work together with partner chambers throughout the county on issues and initiatives of common interest.

The Alliance is committed to working in a collaborative manner with appropriate partners throughout our economic region to create prosperity. The Alliance tackles the tough issues and challenges facing Central Texas, and beyond, in an effort to ensure our region is able to vigorously compete for new capital investment, talent, and desirable, good paying jobs in today’s highly competitive global economy.

The MCCA aims to build trust, encourage collaboration, and increase our shared influence and impact as we work to enhance quality of life and economic viability and prosperity throughout the region.

The Greater Robinson Chamber of Commerce was founded in 1957 and has remained constant in the Robinson community ever since. Our board is ever evolving and open to new ideas and suggestions. We welcome non-member businesses as well as member businesses and the general public to join us at our monthly board meetings usually held on the second Tuesday of every month.

The Greater Hewitt Chamber has been serving Hewitt and its surrounding communities since 1978, and we work closely with the City of Hewitt on business, economic and community development. The Greater Hewitt Chamber also works to promote tourism and serves as a visitor bureau for Hewitt.

The McGregor Chamber of Commerce is located 15 minutes southwest of Waco! Drawing on the success of our Industrial Park housing SpaceX, McGregor is on the move! New businesses are moving to town and the growth seen in our area is happening in McGregor too. Located on 84 and 31, traffic and visibility is a prime benefit for moving to McGregor!

The Lacy Lakeview Chamber of Commerce is a private, non-profit, membership-driven organization comprised of business enterprises, civic organizations, educational institutions and individuals. Its mission is to provide leadership that facilitates the creation of a prosperous regional economy and effective advocacy for our members.

The Bellmead Chamber of Commerce is a business and civic organization with a focus on stimulating the local business community and raising scholarship funds for students in the LaVega Independent School District, the Chamber fosters community spirit.

The Greater Waco Chamber leverages the talents and resources of its member businesses to improve economic opportunities for you and our community.

The Waco Chamber is a voluntary association of businesses, professionals and individuals working together to build a healthy business environment, promote economic development and work effectively to improve the quality of life in the Greater Waco area.

The West, Texas Chamber of Commerce organizes the business community of West, providing benefits specifically to businesses and to the City of West as a whole. It is governed by an elected Board of Directors who volunteer their time and energy to planning activities to boost trade in the businesses in West.

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The Cen-Tex African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc - McLennan County, was established in 2004 to develop a robust economic base by providing members access to information, business resources and activities that enhance the quality of life for all who live, work and play in our region. The Chamber is committed to the growth and progress of the African American business community.

Established in 1975, the Cen-Tex Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (CTHCC) strives to unite the Hispanic Community in Central Texas. CTHCC members and volunteers join with the community to successfully promote the business, economic, educational, and social development of the Hispanic community in Waco and Central Texas.

The purpose of the Greater Lorena Chamber of Commerce is to foster, protect and promote the commercial, industrial, civil agricultural and general interests business and development of the city of Lorena.

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AN INTERVIEW WITH CITY COUNCILWOMAN ANDREA BAREFIELD

by Samantha Baker, Marketing & Communications Specialist, Greater Waco Chamber

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If you live in Waco, chances are you know Andrea Barefield. Andrea currently serves as the Mayor Pro Tempore for the City of Waco representing District 1 and is the Executive Director for Texas Brazos Trail Region, which is part of the Texas Heritage Trails Program.

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If you’d asked Andrea when she was a teenager if she thought she’d be living in Waco serving on City Council as an adult, she probably would’ve thrown her head back and laughed.

However, the native Wacoan, born to Mae and Howard Jackson, did indeed find her way home.

Andrea’s parents, who lived in East Waco once married and at the time of her birth, decided to move the family to Chalk Bluff when Andrea was still young.

Being the youngest of three, survival of the fittest is key, so leadership came naturally. Throughout her formative years, Andrea was called to several leadership roles; she served as class president, student council, FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) and drill team manager at Connally High School to name a few. After graduating high school, Andrea left Waco to attend Sam Houston State University (SHSU), where she majored in public relations and minored in communications and marketing. During her last year of college in a biology lab, Andrea met a young track star from Bay City named Elijah Barefield III. 20 | FALL 2019

The two dated for just four quick months before becoming engaged. During that time, she graduated in December 2000 from SHSU and moved back to Waco briefly while Elijah continued studying for his master’s degree at SHSU. Shortly before she moved back to Waco, her mother Mae called her with news. Ready to see change in her community and tired of waiting to see it happen, Mae Jackson decided to move the family back home to Waco so she could put in her bid to run for City Council in District 1. “I was at Sam Houston State, and she called me one day,” Andrea said. “She told me, ‘I have decided that I want to run for office, and I can’t

do that unless I live in the city, so I’m moving. Come on home this weekend and pack up the stuff you need.’”

Soon after graduation and moving back to Waco, Andrea accepted a job offer in Austin working for the Lonestar Girl Scout Council. She made the move to Austin while her fiancée continued working on his master’s degree. “It was a great first job,” Andrea said. “I had a great time creating and developing programming for everyone from the Daisies to the Seniors, and I really enjoyed that.”

After being engaged for a year and a half, Andrea and Elijah were married in October 2002. Elijah had completed his Texas teacher certification and Andrea was working for the Lonestar Girl Scout Council. While they were on their honeymoon, an old family friend contacted Andrea with an appealing offer.

“She wanted me to move to Houston and be the marketing director for The Ensemble Theatre, one of the oldest African American theatres in the southwest region,” said Andrea.

She and Elijah discussed the opportunity, and with Austin ISD on a hiring freeze, the couple decided the timing was perfect. “I came back from my honeymoon and handed in my resignation at my job in Austin -- who does that?”

Theatre leadership was not as excited about the prospect of additional programming as Andrea was. After a shift in leadership, she again asked about the possibility of expanding their programming; again, she was told no. So she decided to take it into her own hands. “I knew I could do this myself,” she said. “So, I did.”

Andrea decided the risk was more than worth the potential gain; she quit her job at The Ensemble Theatre and created Stage Presence Performing Arts Studio, a training facility and program for youth in music, dance and theatre. “Boy I was terrified to tell my mama,” Andrea said, shaking her head and laughing. “I was so scared to call my mom - I mean, this was Mae Jackson, THE Mae Jackson.

Quitting your job like that and taking such a huge risk wasn’t logical.”

Andrea recalled the call she made to her mom about her sudden career change. “I called her and told her what had happened. She was quiet for a minute, and then she said, ‘Okay,’” Andrea said. “And then, she wrote me a check that paid for all of the build-out we needed to do in the space, and she was probably the best advocate and cheerleader for me that I could have ever imagined. My mama was firm but fair - a good idea was a good idea. She knew I had always had a passion for the arts, and my focus here was providing an opportunity for children who didn’t have as much exposure to the arts.”

The mission of Stage Presence was simple: “To Find and Make Your Mark on the Stage of the World.” Andrea was committed to providing a caring, intentional environment where young people in her community could learn and grow their passion for music, dance and theatre. Andrea has always understood the importance of relationships,

Andrea grew up with a deep appreciation for performing arts, dance, poetry and prose, and always had a passion for being in the spotlight, and the job she was offered at The Ensemble Theatre was a perfect fit for her. She and Elijah moved to Houston in October of 2005; Andrea started work at The Ensemble Theatre while Elijah secured a job as an elementary school teacher in Houston ISD. The next summer rolled around, during which time The Ensemble Theatre hosted a summer program for youth in the area. Andrea realized what an important resource the summer program was for the community, giving kids the opportunity to learn about and develop a passion for the arts, kids who may not have ever had an opportunity like this before. “I said to my boss, ‘We should be hosting this program more often. What would happen if hosted it during spring break? Or after school?’” Andrea explained.

“You’re further developing the actor or dancer or singer in that child.”

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but during the development of Stage Presence, she learned just how important relationship-building truly is. “I connected with one of my sorority sisters who was a marketing manager for Sharpstown Mall in Houston, and she mentioned they had a nonprofit wing,” said Andrea.

“She told me I should utilize that space for my business.” The first home of Stage Presence didn’t cost Andrea a penny, thanks to the offer from her sorority sister. The check her mother had written her helped cover the installation of new floors, mirrors, and the building of a big new stage.

In December 2004, before officially opening to the public, Stage Presence had its soft opening, and Andrea’s mother Mae, who was then serving as the Mayor of Waco, came to Houston from Waco to see her daughter’s new business and see what her financial contribution had helped create.

Andrea remembers how proud her mother was, seeing what her daughter had created out of her passion. Just two months later, in February 2005, Mae Jackson died suddenly and unexpectedly. Her death rocked the City of Waco and shattered the hearts of her family. “That was… that was nuts,” Andrea said. “I was in just as much shock as Waco was.” Andrea knew her only choice was to continue making her mother proud and honoring her mother’s legacy through her work and her life, so she persisted on with opening Stage Presence.

After Stage Presence opened, Andrea decided to make a bold move.

She knew that world-renowned choreographer Debbie Allen hosted an annual intensive workshop in Fort Worth; she also knew that Debbie Allen was originally from Houston.

“She was from Houston, but she didn’t have any workshops in Houston, and I decided she needed to be here,” Andrea said. She drew up a proposal and sent it to Debbie Allen’s office in Los Angeles and waited.

Andrea got an email from Debbie 22 | FALL 2019

Allen’s office that Debbie would be interested in having a conversation about coming to Houston to teach a workshop. Much to Andrea’s surprise, she soon received a call at Stage Presence from Debbie Allen herself. “I picked up the phone and said, ‘Stage Presence Performing Arts Studio,’ and I hear, ‘Is Andrea Barefield available? This is Debbie Allen,’” Andrea recalled.

It was during that conversation that Debbie Allen agreed to host the first-ever Debbie Allen Dance Institute in Houston at Stage Presence.

Starting in 2006, the Debbie Allen Dance Institute was held at Stage Presence for four summers, and each summer the program expanded more and more. The first year it was held, one student received a scholarship to attend Debbie Allen’s summer-long intensive workshop in Los Angeles. Debbie was so impressed after the first year that she decided to award two scholarships to her intensive workshop in LA and two scholarships to a tap-dance festival in New York City the second year. In the third year, eight scholarships were awarded, and the fourth year even more scholarships were awarded.

The dedication that Andrea had to the studio and the students was paying off in huge ways and her work was positively impacting the lives of the students who attended Stage Presence.

While Stage Presence flourished and grew, Andrea’s family also grew. She gave birth to her first son, Drew, in 2006, with his brother Jaxon following in 2008. Unfortunately, in 2008 the U.S. economy was hit hard by the Great Recession of 2008, and Stage Presence felt the economic downturn in a major

way. “We had to decide, did we want to keep the studio open, or keep the lights on at home?” Andrea said. She and Elijah made the difficult decision to close Stage Presence.

Shortly thereafter, Andrea began working at Lone Star College as the director of continuing education.

“That was really cool,” she said.

“Continuing education classes, it’s way more than just basket weaving.”

Being the persistent and creative individual that she is, Andrea noticed the college had fully equipped kitchens that weren’t being utilized.

Through her leadership, the college partnered with Outback Steakhouse and Starbucks to create curriculum programs for the students, including a barista program where Starbucks opened a location on campus and trained students to be baristas in the campus store.

After working at Lone Star College for a time, Andrea and her husband had a conversation about the future of their family. Elijah had earned his principal certification but wasn’t

advancing in Houston ISD the way he wanted to, and he brought up the fact that they had paid off the house in Waco. He asked Andrea why pay a mortgage when they didn’t have to, why don’t they just move to Waco and live in the family home? He talked her into making the move back to her hometown in 2015.

All of the hard work, persistence, and trials Andrea had experienced throughout her life had culminated to this point. The family made the move back to Waco, and immediately Andrea was on the hunt for a job.

She had never worked at a for-profit company, and continuing work in the nonprofit sector was important to her.

She called Virginia DuPuy, who was on City Council with Jackson and elected Mayor after Jackson’s death. Because DuPuy was and is and a very wellconnected Wacoan, Andrea figured if anyone would know, she would.

Fortunately for Andrea, Virginia mentioned that her daughter-in-law was about to leave her job at City Center Waco and encouraged Andrea to reach out to Megan Henderson, executive director at City Center Waco. Andrea quickly contacted Megan, and after meeting for coffee, Megan welcome Andrea to the City Center Waco team as the Main Street Manager.

“Waco became a Main Street City in 2014,” Andrea explained, “which meant there were opportunities to lend economic development, historic preservation, promotion and marketing opportunities for downtown businesses.” The Main Street City designations became more important after downtowns around the country began dying. “I worked for City Center for a couple of years and got really rooted back into Waco. Doing Main Street allowed me to go everywhere, even outside of downtown, and get active and involved with all aspects of what

Waco was becoming and growing into,” Andrea said. “It was a great time to be a Wacoan, and it was also a tremendous eye-opener as to what has happened and what hasn’t happened in the community, and that began to pull at me.”

Andrea knew what her mom had envisioned and set in motion for the community during her tenure in City Council and as the Mayor, but now, a decade later, Andrea realized that her mother’s vision had gone out of focus. She then realized that she was being called to continue fighting for what her mother had worked so hard to change. “Things have to happen at a policy level,” Andrea said. “You can’t change policy from the sidelines, you have to be in the game.”

is something that was missing from the process, it was missing in the way things happen in City Hall. Everyone who has a responsibility to this city needs to be able to know its truth, needs to expect its truth.”

Andrea related politics to religion: “If you were born into active political or religious families, you either embrace it, or you run from it,” she said. “I never saw myself as a person in politics; I was so surprised when my mom told me she was running for office.

But, again, there were things that she wanted to see done that weren’t being done, and my adult brain now totally gets that. If you don’t do it, you cannot assume someone else will.”

Elm Street once served as the main street into town and the history and roots in the East Waco community run strong and deep. Andrea recognizes this and recognizes that voice and transparency are absolutely vital to building trust between a councilperson and their constituents.

“To really be a champion, you have to get in there and meet people where they are, hear their stories, do your best to better the way for the entire district,” she said. “I believe I can do that, I believe I am doing that.”

In 2016, Andrea applied for thenDistrict 1 councilperson Reverend Austin’s expired term, which she did not get. But she didn’t let that small setback stop her from putting in her application again in January 2018 when the seat became vacant - in fact, Andrea was the first person to apply.

“I ran my campaign with Truth, Vision and Voice,” she said. “Transparency

Equitable economic development has become a point of focus for Andrea, and she often questions what the community as a whole is doing to attract business owners of color to establish their business roots in Waco. While the need for a more diverse business landscape is obvious, Andrea realizes that systemically and cyclically, there are many things that WACOCHAMBER.COM

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will have to be righted in order for equity to flourish and inclusion truly have an impact — things like living wage, access to capital, access to information and education, and access to quality public transportation all affect the people of District 1 much differently than other districts.

There has been a shift in the focus of the way things are done in Waco; there is more focus than ever on creating an overarching lens of equity. Andrea mentioned Start Up Waco and Hustle, the intention that went into developing that organization and the importance of creating it through a more equally equitable lens.

“We can glaze all we want to,” Andrea explains, “but equity wasn’t a priority for Waco for a long time. The ‘why,’ I can’t concern myself with, because it’s always been a priority for me. But now we’re in a position to make change. City Hall has never had equitable policy, so now we’re drafting some, because again, as Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm said, ‘if you don’t sit at the table, you’re on the menu.’ You can’t create the policies, you can’t dictate change unless you’re there.”

Change and growth take time and dedication. In 2016, Waco Foundation hosted Waco’s first ever Race Equity workshop, and Andrea, along with an impressive number of change-makers were present at that first workshop, including Waco Mayor Kyle Deaver and then-city manager Dale Fisseler.

So the majority of leadership in Waco is agreeing that race equity is important … but what does that look like in implementation? How do you roll out such big changes that are long overdue and long overlooked? What does race equity even mean? Andrea explained it very well: “Let’s say we’re in a race. Before the starting gun goes off, one of us will take three steps back. Another will take two steps back, and the third will start at the starting line. The starting gun fires, everyone is starting at the same time, that’s equality. But is it equitable? Are we starting at the same point? A lot of people don’t understand that. From a policy perspective, when we begin to acknowledge and then deal with race equity, some of the other issues will naturally rise and become better. Bias is bias, we all have it; realize you have bias and adjust. Tweak your lens until it’s clear.“ “This work is like the first time you decide to really work out. You go out and buy fancy new workout clothes, 24 | FALL 2019

the shoes, the nice water bottle - you’re ready. You go to an exercise class and you kill it, because you’re really dedicated to this workout. Then, about four hours later, you’re starting to regret your entire life, because you have pushed and pulled and run and danced and used muscles that haven’t ever been active. You go to do simple things, like sit down or laugh, and you wonder is it really all worth it? You lay down to go to bed realizing that you have to get up in the morning and do this all again. Completion of this work is like getting up again - it’s going to hurt when you go to put your workout clothes on on day two, but when you start running, it doesn’t hurt as bad. It hurts, but that muscle isn’t as challenged, you start to step up your game and challenge new muscles. You’re strengthening yourself, becoming faster, better. The more we strengthen and build our equity body, the stronger we all are, together.”

Andrea believes that as both a community and as individuals, we have to decide what motivates us to work towards equity. Everyone is motivated differently, but we all have to run this race together, so we have to find what motivates us to work towards change in a positive, collaborative way. You may be asking yourself, “What can I do to make a change? How do I go about getting involved in steering policy?” When asked this question, a big smile spread across Andrea’s face. “I’m glad you asked that question,” she said.

“You don’t have to run for City Council to get involved,” she explained. “A big problem within our education system is that kids are exposed very minimally to civics and government, and then the system expects those students to become civically-minded adults, and clearly that’s a big FAIL.” There are actually quite a number of different ways you can get involved and make change in the community, and one of the easiest

ways to do so is to join a board or commission with the city, where seats must be filled by citizens, also joining your neighborhood association. Additionally, Andrea stressed the importance of showing up to vote in every election, both big and small, and said, “It is your right and your privilege to vote! Lend your voice to the landscape of policy-makers.

If you don’t vote, you’ve given away your right to complain about things happening in your city, your state and your country.”

There is also a misconception that the only elections that matter are the big ones - presidential, senate and house races. But Andrea says that is most untrue: “The municipal level is the most powerful level to vote on -- most people have that backwards. Listen, if you have an issue with one of my decisions, it is incredibly difficult for me to not talk to you on the bread aisle at H-E-B, or at church, or the car wash, wherever! The people involved on a local level are people you see every day, people you have the most access to.”

The passion Andrea has for advocating and leading change for her community is so apparent when you talk to her about it. She is confident in her abilities and strong in her convictions; she is obviously the daughter of a strong woman. Mae Jackson left big shoes to fill, but Andrea knows she’ll never truly be able to do that. “I cannot fill shoes that were not mine,” Andrea said, “but I sat at the knee of a brilliant woman and was given a birds-eye view of a blueprint for Waco. Is it her vision that I’m dealing with now? No, because Waco has changed tremendously since she was mayor. But she developed an amazing path for me to follow in my own shoes, in my own way. I pray daily that I’m honoring her legacy, and oftentimes she shows up in me, because you know, my mother was a force. I am blessed to have been her daughter, even pre-election, I was exposed to so many things and experienced so many things because of her.”

Throughout her life, often in the face of adversity, Andrea has taken big chances following her passions and has been rewarded with success and happiness. She is confident in her ability to lead District 1. She is hopeful for what the future holds for her community, and is so excited to see how her role in the future of Waco plays out. n

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by Meredith Palmer, Marketing & Communications Intern, Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce

Did you know that the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce has a professional on staff who is dedicated to public policy?

Jessica Attas is the vice president of public policy at the Chamber, and she is constantly advocating to elected officials on behalf of the Waco business community and broader community as a whole, both in Austin at the Texas State Capitol and in Washington, D.C. Jessica has formed invaluable relationships with elected officials that allow her opportunities to meet with these officials and educate them about legislation and policies that directly benefits or detriments Waco and the business community.

How did Jessica get involved in public policy in the first place? Our marketing intern Meredith Palmer had a chance to catch up with Jessica and learn more about why she’s passionate about her job and what it means to her to be an advocate for our community.

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1. Tell me about yourself and your professional background.

I have been at the Greater Waco Chamber coming up on four years. My academic background is in applied sociology. When I graduated from Baylor, I was looking at graduate programs, and sociology at Baylor was one of just a handful at the time that had applied sociology – so using research, data and analytics to look at social problems at the macro level and come up with policies and programmatic solutions.

I decided to stay at Baylor for graduate school and it really provided a solid lens and helped shape my understanding of both the issues that we need to address that impact our community and the solutions in terms of policy and programs to address them. Prior to joining the Chamber staff, I ran a local nonprofit called AVANCE, now Inspiracion. One of the things I loved about working there was using the skill set of research and analysis to look at social problems (in that case, poverty) and looking at strategies, processes and policy to address the problems. It’s been fun to get to use that skill set and see it translate here to other issues that impact Waco- such as fostering economic growth or the need for transportation infrastructure. It’s been fun to get to expand and work on a scope of issues on the policy side.

2. Why is public policy important to you personally?

I’m really passionate about our community. I think Waco is an incredible place, and we have so many great people

and leadership here. It’s been an exciting time to live in Waco – there’s been tremendous growth. Leaders in Waco have a passion and a vision for our community and for making it the best place it can be. For me, I find my work so satisfying because I get to look at the things that are impacting our community and its economy and think about policy solutions that could make it even more vibrant. This is meaningful and important behind-the-scenes work; to feel like, in a small way, that I’m contributing and getting to be a part of the good things that are happening in our community is really satisfying.

3. What role does the Chamber play in public policy, and how does the Chamber stay neutral and non-partisan when advocating on behalf of the Waco business community?

One thing that’s important to stress is that we really are neutral from a partisan perspective. We don’t have a PAC (political action committee), we don’t endorse candidates, we aren’t affiliated with any party or any party platform. We really look at all the policies through the lens of bettering the business climate and encouraging economic growth in our community. When this is the lens, it makes it easy to stay out of partisan politics – it isn’t about furthering any ideological platform or goal, it’s about helping our community develop and grow. We can be more issue-focused. We have a very robust body of work and focus areas, including business climate, economic development, education and workforce, healthcare, transportation and infrastructure, and water and natural resources.

4. What are the biggest changes you have seen in Waco over the last few years?

It has been really exciting to see how our target industries have evolved. We have a lot of new entrepreneurship, innovation and tourism in the area. It’s been exciting to see those sectors of our community develop and thrive.

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5. With the growth that Waco has experienced in the last several years, has the perception of Waco by lawmakers in Austin and Washington, D.C. changed in regard to Waco with lawmaking and public policy support?

that has led to increased valuations and appraised values.

This has been very difficult and detrimental to some of our smaller downtown business and spots throughout the county. Addressing the root causes and true policy solutions has been especially important during these last three years considering the development and growth.

We don’t want to see this growth hampered by 200 percent increases in valuations. Businesses revenue or profits haven’t increased 200 percent; their property taxes shouldn’t either.

The truth is, Waco has been on the upward trajectory for many years. Yes, the past three years have been notable, especially for the tourism industry, but the reality is that Texas was the last to enter the recession and the first to come out, and within Texas, Waco was one of the last communities in the state to enter in that recession and one of the first to come out. So, we really have been in a solid place in Waco even prior to the past three years. There’s a new excitement and enthusiasm around Waco – people’s eyes are being opened to what those of us who have lived here have known, that it’s a great place to work, live and play.

7. What are some recent big wins for Waco?

6. How has the growth in Waco affected what priorities are important to Waco? How has the Chamber’s focus and priorities changed?

Many of our issues 50 years ago, such as water, education, and transportation were important then and are still important today. The issues haven’t really changed in terms of what our priorities are, but the specific manifestations and nuances have shifted some. One thing that has emerged as being especially important to the community and the Chamber is the property tax issue. It has been exciting to see all the growth and development downtown, but

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One important thing for Waco is receiving funding for the expansion of Interstate 35 through Waco. This construction is vitally important to our community to make it easy for people to get to and from Waco. We want people to have a positive traveling experience so to have received discretionary funding from the Texas Transportation Commission for the first phase of this project is really important. The City of Waco did a great amount of work with TXDOT to secure that funding. I-35 is the only interstate highway that runs through all three North American countries. It is a vital international economic corridor. The eight-mile stretch of I-35 that runs through Waco is one of the last pieces to be expanded in Texas, so that funding will make traveling easier and more efficient.

One bit of feedback we have heard from our members was that while students are encouraged to participate in internships and apprenticeships at manufacturing businesses, they are often limited in the amount of handson work they can do because of insurance and liability risks.

So, we worked with Representative Doc Anderson and others to pass a bill that would allow independent school districts to expand their liability insurance to cover students while they work at internships and apprenticeships. It allows businesses to give student interns and apprentices real workplace training so when students apply for jobs, they’re able to say they have the skillset needed to work with certain equipment.

Another thing that we were excited about was the launching of the Construction Science Academy at the Greater Waco Advanced Manufacturing Academy (GWAMA). Chamber members voiced the need for workforce with specialized construction trainingjourneyman level training. We convened the appropriate stakeholders, and the Construction Sciences Academy was launched thereafter. This helps us develop a workforce where people who may not have a four-year degree can go on to a certificate or two-year degree and to be able to access living-wage jobs in this particular industry.

8. Why is the Chamber’s annual State of Series important for the business community?

Our job here at the Chamber is to advocate for the business community and engage them in public policy. It is also important to educate them, and to bring elected officials to Waco. The State of Series is a great way to give members of the business community an update on public policy from the local, state and national levels. The series gets members of the business community engaged and lets them share their concerns and priorities with elected officials.

9. You’re the only person on the public policy team at the Chamber, but you obviously don’t do it alone. Who are some of your key collaborators?

I am really fortunate to have an amazing public policy committee. I get to work closely with our Committee Chair David Lacy and we have been able to build it out to where we have subcommittees across all areas of focus. The committee has representatives from different sectors parts of the business community and our broader community, such as members leaders from the of the city, county, higher education and healthcare systems, as well as again, business and industry. We feel confident when we come out with our state and federal public policy platforms that all voices from the community are heard. In addition, the McLennan County Chamber Alliance (MCCA) helps us speak collectively as a voice for all the Chambers throughout the county.

10. Personally, what is the most satisfying part of your job?

I think just to be able to feel like I’m a part of the exciting things going on in the community. It’s really gratifying to me to get to be a voice for the things that will help the businesses – employers and employees alike - of the area develop and grow.

11. How can community members engage in public policy in Greater Waco?

We love to have Chamber members involved in our public policy committee or focus area subcommittees. It’s important for us to hear from members about what is important to them. I encourage people to reach out if there are laws or policies they feel passionate about. It’s always great to have local stories to share with our elected officials. We need to hear from our members to in turn go to Austin or DC and be a voice for the business community of Greater Waco. n

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D

id you know that in one four-year term, the Texas State Governor appoints over 1,500 Texans to serve our great state on various state boards, commissions, councils, and task forces? It is vitally important that the governor fill these positions with the sharpest minds – and we’d say individuals – with strong business insight.

If you don’t feel ready for service at the state level, or just want to see if this is for you, we encourage you to start by applying for a city board or commission. At the Chamber, we know our community is home to an abundance of talent, and we

want to support and encourage local business leaders to apply for a possible appointment, to let their experience and expertise be of benefit to the state.

Working with other community stakeholders, we work to identify the most talented possible applicants and support their application however we can.

We are pleased that McLennan County now has almost twenty community members appointed by the governor serving in such capacity. Read on to learn about a few who went through the application process, and what their service means to them!

Bill Dietz, Jr. | President, Dietz Financial Services, LLC Bill Dietz, Jr. first expressed his interest in serving Texans about 10 years ago.

It so happened that the Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation needed a director with financial expertise, and he fulfilled those qualities. He believed accepting his appointment with an organization targeting the housing needs of low-income families and other underserved populations could make a difference.

Since there are only five directors, he serves on an actively engaged board and can substantially influence policy.

After serving on the board for more than eight years, in many roles, he was appointed Chair by Governor Greg Abbott in February of 2018. Dietz remains committed to providing affordable housing programs to deserving Texans who otherwise may not have acceptable housing options, and to doing so without using any state-appropriated funding.

Lindsey R. Geeslin | Executive Director, Texas Masonry Council Lindsey R. Geeslin is an appointee of the Governor’s office as a member to the Texas Workforce Investment Council (TWIC) representing labor and has always considered education an important aspect of career growth and a characteristic valued among fellow business leaders. Today, the link between education and a skilled workforce is tremendously apparent: it is the key to success for the industry she is passionately involved with - - The Texas Masonry Council. As a non-profit trade association, the Texas Masonry Council advocates for a highlytrained workforce.

Coupling with her appointment, she represents the TWIC as a liaison to the Rehabilitation Council of Texas. The Rehabilitation Council advocates for Texans with disabilities in the vocational rehabilitation process. Geeslin has found that advocating and championing specific initiatives is easy because she has learned to channel her passion!

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Wes Lloyd | Attorney, Freeman Mills PC Wes Lloyd was appointed to the Brazos River Authority (BRA) by Governor Greg Abbott in July of 2016, after serving for eight years as an appointee by thenGovernor Rick Perry on two oil and gas-related boards. His service on the BRA is beneficial to Waco since he is familiar with the city’s water resources and priorities.

River authorities like the BRA do crucial work that helps guarantee that Texas has the capacity to continue to grow and prosper. The BRA water supply system includes 11 reservoirs and supplied almost 300,000 acre-feet of water to customers in 2018. The 42,000-square-mile river basin stretches from New Mexico to the Gulf of Mexico and is larger than 17 states.

Since joining the BRA, his priority has been to ensure transparency to their bosses, the public and ratepayers, and enhance our communication with the public and strives to use his voice to impact legislation and regulatory policy at the state and federal level.

Lauren Dreyer | Senior Director, Human Resources & Business Operations, SpaceX Lauren Dreyer serves on the Texas Aerospace and Aviation Advisory Committee.

This provides an opportunity for her to have a positive impact on the industry and the state. She enjoys working with her fellow committee members – nine industry professionals from across the state – as they seek to advise the governor and assist the Economic Development and Tourism Office/Office of Aerospace and Aviation to recruit and retain industry jobs and appropriate funding levels.

Their meetings provide opportunities to learn more about the Aerospace and Aviation industry, think beyond a company-level for the greater good of Texas, share information about what is happening at SpaceX in Central Texas and across the state and learn the same from fellow committee members respective to their companies and areas.

Mike Reeser | Chancellor, Texas State Technical College System Mike Reeser was selected by Governor Greg Abbott to represent Texas on a threemember panel of workforce experts who traveled to the White House to advise the federal government on skilled workforce solutions. In another endeavor, Lieutenant Governor Patrick requested Reeser serve on the P-TECH Advisory Council, a panel assembled to inform the creation of Texas educational innovations targeting the skilled workforce shortage. As the Chancellor of Texas State Technical College (TSTC), he represented TSTC and brought their best-in-Texas know-how to the discussions of the skills shortage. He feels gratified by serving in an appointed position and contributing to real solutions; for example, the work done on the P-TECH Council led directly to new legislation in Texas creating a whole new form of technical training collaborative between high schools, colleges, and Texas employers.

Congratulations to these outstanding community leaders for their commitment to engaging with state policy and governance! To learn more about appointments at the city level, visit waco-texas. com/boards-commissions.asp. To learn more about the Governor’s Appointments, visit gov.texas.gov/organization/appointments. n

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The State Of Series is a series of annual events hosted by the public policy department of the Greater Waco Chamber. These events are designed to engage elected officials from the city, county, state and federal levels and inform our membership about a variety of topics, including current political happenings and issues affecting our business community.

by Mary Thompson, Neighborly

THE STATE OF THE CITY AND COUNTY gives city and country representatives the opportunity to present developments of the past year and strategic plans for the upcoming year with Chamber members and the Waco community. Topics covered may include area developments, legislative needs, challenges, and an overall view of Waco and McLennan County.

THE STATE OF THE STATE gives local business leadership and Chamber members to engage with elected officials from the highest levels of state leadership on issues of importance to Central Texas.

Key state elected officials or representatives present updates on the current state of the state of Texas and issues affecting our community.

THE STATE OF THE NATION is like the other luncheons but engages our local elected federal leadership, including U.S. senators and representatives as well as U.S. Chamber of Commerce officials, who share updates on policies and issues that affect the economic prosperity of Greater Waco.

THE STATE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION was developed in 2018 in response to the conversations happening around public education and school finance, particularly how our businesses can work to build a world-class workforce for the future prosperity and economic strength of the community. Local leaders and educators are engaged in a similar fashion as the elected officials in the other State Of events.

These events are quickly approaching, and we welcome you to attend!

Learn more online at WacoChamber.com/State-Of-Events.

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LEGAL MINUTE

by Teresa Schiller, Beard Kultgen Brophy Bostwick & Dickson, PLLC

W

aco’s economy is flourishing -- 1,900 new jobs have been added during a recent 12-month period. As the workforce grows, challenges in managing the workforce may increase as well. What if an employee makes a complaint (internally or publicly) about workplace misconduct? What should the business do?

It depends on many things, but one important decision is whether or not the business needs to investigate the complaint at all. For example, would a lower-level review of the complaint be sufficient? How serious is the complaint?

Does it allege a violation of company policy? Does a company policy specify particular steps for addressing it?

Suppose an investigation is needed. A successful investigation clarifies the objective facts, and then resolves the complaint and improves the workplace so that everyone can get back to business. Here are some possible steps to take in investigating an employment complaint.

1. Decide preliminary issues.

First, decide preliminary issues. For example, what should be the goal(s) of the investigation? Some possible goals are to (a) figure out whether misconduct has occurred, (b) stop the misconduct and determine how to prevent it in the future, and (c) lay the groundwork for taking appropriate action.

What status should an accused employee have during the investigation? The goal is to balance the need to prevent further damage to the complainant and the business with the need to minimize adverse action against an employee who later could be exonerated. Some possibilities are to (a) give the employee paid time off until the end of the investigation, (b) transfer the employee, (c) suspend the employee, and (d) leave the employee’s status unchanged. Depending on the type and seriousness of the allegations, the complainant may need to have the accused employee moved to a different area of responsibility, or moved out of the chain of command.

And remember the one cardinal rule – no retaliation against the complainant, even if the complaint is later deemed unfounded.

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2. Select an investigator, and make a plan.

Second, select an investigator and make a plan. Possible investigators include lawyers, human resource employees and high-level managers. Optimally, an investigator lends credibility to the investigation, communicates diplomatically, and is discreet. The investigator should be ready for the unexpected, particularly when interviewing witnesses. It also is helpful for an investigator to be knowledgeable about employment laws. A benefit to having a lawyer conduct an investigation is that the business may be able to protect some communications from disclosure based on attorney-client privilege rules, if done properly.

Business leaders and the investigator should make a plan. The plan should (a) identify witnesses and include an interview schedule, (b) include a list of common questions to ask all witnesses, (c) identify documents that need to be located and secured quickly, (d) establish a process to unearth facts that are material, and (e) proceed to reach a fair and reasonable conclusion.

3. Investigate and make a report.

Third, investigate and make a report. Conducting the investigation may involve interviewing witnesses, reviewing documents, and searching employees’ work areas and computers, if necessary. An investigation should be conducted legally and discreetly so as to minimize the risk of potential claims of defamation, retaliation, invasion of privacy, and malicious prosecution. During the investigation, witnesses and others should be given assurances that there will be no retaliation permitted with respect to the complaint.

The investigator should prepare a private report – written or oral – that focuses on meeting the goal(s) of the investigation identified at the outset. The report may contain purely factual findings, or it can include recommendations for certain actions to be taken as well.

4. Act on the results.

Fourth, act on the results. Once the report has been delivered, some hard decisions may be required. The business should act on the report – in a fair and reasonable way – to deal with the root cause of the complaint, including taking appropriate disciplinary actions. For example, the business may take action against an accused employee or clear the employee of wrongdoing. It also may implement stronger workplace controls or rewrite policies. Taking these steps requires balancing important considerations and avoiding the creation of potential claims by one or more affected parties. Fairness in both approach and consequence will go a long way toward protecting the business and the employment setting.

In conclusion, with these steps in mind, your business may be better prepared to make investigatory decisions in the event of an employment complaint. n

Teresa Schiller is a business and employment lawyer at Beard Kultgen Brophy Bostwick & Dickson, PLLC in Waco and Dallas. She assists clients with employee handbooks. Teresa can be reached at schiller@thetexasfirm.com.

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SMALL BIZ SPOTLIGHT

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mall businesses are the engine of our economy in the Greater Waco community — more than 70 percent of our membership is considered “small business.” We love introducing small businesses and their owners in our “Small Business Spotlight.” This allows us to showcase some of our local small business owners and hear from them what it’s like owning a small business in Waco and how the Chamber has helped their business.

For this quarter’s Small Business Q & A, we visited with Alejandra Evans, a retailer who is reaping the benefits of Waco’s strong economy.

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1. Tell us about how your business got started, what inspired you to open Interior Glow?

My husband, Bo, and I wanted to start a business together. We used to flip houses in Houston and I loved the interior design and staging aspect. I really just fell in love with making something ugly and undesirable, beautiful again.

My husband is a supply chain management expert and has contacts for suppliers of unique products around the world. He came up with the idea of using both of our passions to open a home decor, furniture and gift store. Our family verse has always been Mathew 5:16. We wanted the name to represent that, and that’s why we came up with “Interior Glow”. We wanted to remind others to always let their light shine.

After a lot of thought, we decided to move to Waco and start our business here. Waco has always been a second home to both of us. We both had family here and Bo’s brother graduated from Baylor, so over the years we fell in love with downtown Waco. We thought it was beautiful and with so much potential, that we decided to invest in Waco, and open our store here.

2. How has the growth that Waco has experienced affected your business? What are some of the biggest changes that have come with the growth and development of downtown?

We love all the growth and development of downtown. We have not experienced a big change since we opened our store about 3 years ago. I’m sure businesses that have been here for longer have noticed a bigger change than we have. We hope that all the new development encourages locals to come to downtown more often. Its a great place to be with so much to offer!

3. What is the most beneficial part of being a member of the Chamber?

We love that the Greater Waco Chamber provides many networking opportunities for the members. Networking is very important for all small businesses, you can find contacts in your industry that can give you great advice or you can connect with great companies that you can partner with.

They also have a great staff and website, that can direct you to the support you may need.

4. What advice would you give to someone who is considering starting a new business in Waco?

I would definitely recommend they become a member of the Waco Chamber, and to seek help from other great organizations, like City Center Waco, Start Up Waco, and many others. They are here to help new businesses in Waco. Starting a new business is always hard and having a good support system makes a big difference.

5. What does the future look like for Interior Glow?

Within Interior Glow there are many products and services we offer. In addition to our retail products, we offer tree rentals and consignment for local artists. On the services side, we offer Interior Design work for customers, apartment complexes, management companies, and B&Bs. We have always been very open to change if it is in the best interest of the overall business.

We see Interior Glow evolving into more than just a retail store in the future. We are working on a very unique project, that we are very excited about.

6. How do you enjoy Waco in your free time?

Waco has so much to offer! We enjoy going to the Zoo, Cameron Park, and Lake Waco for outdoor activities. We also, love going to any Baylor games and visit the Dr Pepper and children’s museums with our kids. There are other great places we have visited like the Waco Mammoth National Monument and the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame. There are great local shops all around Waco, especially in downtown and lots of restaurants to choose from. When we want to watch a movie, we love going to the Hippodrome, so we can watch a movie and eat a meal at the same time. Again, so much to do. It’s a great place to live, and an exciting time to be a part of the Waco community. n WACOCHAMBER.COM

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ON THE MARKET

228 South 8th Street

in the Downtown Waco Silo District

Specifications: • Located in the Waco Silo District, just two blocks from the Magnolia Market • Frontage on 7th Street, 8th Street and Mary Avenue • Redevelopment will include retail, restaurant and/or office space for lease • 9,863 square feet available, with dedicated, off-street parking • Conceptual plans are available, with flexibility in design

PA I D A D V E R T I S E M E N T

228 South 8th Street (3 Mi Radius) Population (Total; 2019) of Households Median Age Average Household Income Labor Force Employed Unemployment Rate Consumer Expenditures (Top 5) Shelter Transportation Food and Beverages Healthcare Entertainment Retail Potential (Top 5) Gasoline Stations w/o Store Full Service Restaurants Superstores Department Stores Family Clothing Stores

Value 76,900 30,889 30.3 years $54,442 31,676 35,200 4.98% Demand in $000’s $254,732 $210,264 $177,011 $100,278 $63,150 Demand in $000’s $61,623 $53,733 $52,316 $20,350 $10,103

Source: Info USA, Applied Geographic Solutions 2019

For more information on available properties, including demographic reports and surrounding businesses in Greater Waco, visit WacoProspector.com or call (254) 757-5627 FALL 2019 2019 40 | FALL

WACOCHAMBER.COM

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MARKET REPORT

New Downtown Businesses Opened!

Greater Downtown Waco is booming! With more than $600 million invested in recent years and more than 2.7 million visitors, annually, Waco has become a destination city. Through implementation of a strategic vision, Waco is attracting great companies, talented people and continued interest to our distinct community.

Since 2009, more than $1.4 billion in new private development activity has been announced throughout Waco.

Restaurants/Eateries/Retail Revival Eastside Eatery 704 Elm Ave. Facebook.com/RevivalEastsideEatery Elm Avenue has a new lunch eatery!

Revival Eastside Eatery is a local counter-service restaurant serving Texas-sourced and house-made salads, sandwiches, burgers, beer and wine.

Sweet Station 425 S. Eighth St. Sweet Station is bringing a sweet place to fuel up to the Silo District!

A variety of candy, sodas and sweet treats, including Dr Pepper Cotton Candy, is available at Sweet Station.

Bittersweet Waco 608 Austin Ave. BittersweetWaco.com These colossal gourmet cookies are creating a new dessert scene in the downtown corridor! Started by a Baylor University student, Bittersweet takes your average chocolate chip cookie to the next level.

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January Letterpress Shop + Studio 700 Franklin Ave., Ste. 100 JanuaryLetterpress.com A new card shop has been added to the specialty shop mix in downtown! January Letterpress has an antique letter press in shop that they’ve lovingly named Paige that cranks out unique greeting cards and stationery.

Fabled Bookshop & Cafe 217 S. Fourth St. FabledBookshop.com Downtown is welcoming a new independent bookshop on the corner of Franklin and Fourth Street! Peruse the aisles of books and sit and stay a while in the cafe!

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ECONOMY IN FOCUS

JULY

2018

Numbers are Year-to-Date

Retail Spending Hotel Motel Spending

JULY

2019 $2,107,728,738

$36,537,468

$38,589,036

__

__

1,682

1,855

Existing Home Sales

-1.3% change 5.6% change

JULY

2019

Payroll Employment 120,645 122,285 Unemployment Rate 4.0% 3.7%

__% change

10.3% change

Economic Outlook U.S. Average Composite: 100 WACO COST OF LIVING

Source: Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER)

2018

$2,135,721,810

Single-Family Residence Permits

Second Quarter 2019

JULY

Waco Composite: 90.8

PURCHASING POWER

COMPARISON CITIES

Housing:

81.1

Chattanooga, TN:

94.9

Groceries:

80.2

Ashville, NC:

99.6

Utilities:

110.3

Greenville, SC:

93.6

Transportation:

95.3

Richmond, VA:

92.8

Health Care:

103.4

Colorado Springs, CO:

100.9

Misc. Goods & Services:

95.3

Kansas City, KS:

94.0

Talent growth and retention has transformed to include the entire community in the decision making process. WacoTXJobs.com is encompassing this multi-pronged approach to assist corporate citizens, current residents and future Wacoans connect for success.

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WACOCHAMBER.COM

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CHAMBER NEWS

MID-YEAR MEMBERSHIP LUNCHEON WRAP UP We were excited to welcome two special guests to this year’s Mid-Year Membership Luncheon.

Peter J. Holt, HOLT CAT CEO and General Manager, and Corinna Holt Richter, President and Chief Administrative Officer for HOLT CAT, joined our membership at the Baylor Club for an informative discussion about why Waco’s marketplace makes sense for their company and the foundation and culture on which the Holt family has built their business. We appreciate our sponsors for making this event possible, including presenting sponsors Fidelity Bank of Texas and H-E-B. n

TRIWACO TRIATHLON STILL GOING STRONG IN 11TH YEAR The 2019 TriWaco Triathlon was an excellent event for the Chamber during which we welcomed nearly 900 athletes and their families from around the country to Waco to compete. It was a hot July day; the weather presented no issues and the river conditions were favorable. We also welcomed over 100 volunteers and 11 event sponsors, including presenting sponsor Bicycle World. We’re already looking forward to the 2020 TriWaco! n

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CHAMBER NEWS

GREATER WACO CHAMBER HOSTS 2019 KICK OFF LUNCHEON, AWARDS TWO SPORTS LUNCHEON SCHOLARSHIPS The Greater Waco Chamber hosted the 2019 Kick Off Luncheon in August to celebrate the beginning of a new football season and welcomed local high school football coaches and Baylor University football coach Matt Rhule to discuss the upcoming football seasons.

Attendees also heard from guest speaker Bill Hancock, executive director of the College Football Playoff. Presenting sponsorship for the Sports Luncheon Series is provided by Texas Best Chevy Dealers.

Scholarships were awarded at this year’s Kick Off Luncheon to recognize two outstanding student athletes in McLennan County.

Both recipients show exceptional leadership in athletics, academics and community outreach.

The first scholarship recipient was William Leigh, who graduated from Vanguard College Preparatory School this past May where he was served as President and founding member of the Outdoor Club and as well as the Robotics Club leader. William will continue his education this fall at the Baylor University to pursue a degree in Marketing and Management.

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LEIGH

TYLER

The second scholarship recipient was Taequan Tyler, who graduated from La Vega High School where he was the team captain of the football team, National Honor Society Senior Mentor and Head Chef of the LVHS Culinary Team. Taequan will continue his education at Tyler Junior College to pursue a career in education and sports. n

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MEMBER NEWS

DREAMMAKER BATH & KITCHEN CELEBRATES TWENTY YEARS OF BEING A LEADER IN THE REMODELING INDUSTRY DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen is celebrating its 20-year anniversary with continued strength and recognition as a leader in the home remodeling industry. The company’s roots go back to 1970 in restoring existing fixtures and evolved through several generations finally arriving to a full-service kitchen, bath and interior remodeling company in 1999.

Doug Dwyer, President and Chief Stewardship Officer (CSO) of DreamMaker, led the company through this change and ultimately purchased the company in 2003.

A key part of the company’s success is its Code of Values™ - a set of time-tested principles that attracts entrepreneurs to start a DreamMaker franchise. These

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principles are rooted on biblical values.

The Code of Values™ emphasizes honesty and integrity while creating an excellent customer experience.

“At DreamMaker, we believe in people first, profit second, but both are essential,” says Dwyer. “Throughout our franchise’s history, we have sought to treat everyone with respect and integrity. We believe that our focus on Respect, Integrity and Customer Focus ensures customer satisfaction, and this results in customer loyalty, more referrals, and a sense of dedication and higher calling for our teams.”

Under Dwyer’s leadership, DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen has received nearly 20 Guildmaster Awards for Exceptional Service

and has been selected as one of over 200 North American builders, remodelers, developers and contractors recognized by GuildQuality for their superior delivery of customer care.

A tradition of innovation and strong core values are fueling DreamMaker’s growth to serve and enrich people’s lives with dignity, excellence, humility, and respect. Dwyer says. “We continue to innovate and improve to move all of our systems to a level of excellence. From the stages of growth map, mobile-first websites, detailed process flow to our electronic operating system, we are driving our company to grow across the nation. We never stop looking ahead and it’s this tireless attitude that has made us who we are today.” n

TSTC CULINARY ARTS INSTRUCTOR SELECTED FOR IKA/CULINARY OLYMPICS Texas State Technical College Chef Michele Brown has been chosen to work with a team of chefs from Canada at the IKA/Culinary Olympics next February in Stuttgart, Germany. Chef Brown will work with the Agricultural Culinary Team Manitoba on pastry arts and will be assisted by her son William, who is a culinary illustrator at Southern Methodist University and Williams-Sonoma.

“It’s pushing the limits of creativity,” Chef Brown said. “It pushes your endurance and organizational mind.”

This marks the third time Chef Brown has participated in the IKA/Culinary Olympics.

She has international experience providing support for the Epicurean World Master Chefs Society members Patrick Mitchell and Morris Salerno on the gold medalwinning regional Texas team at the 2014 Expogast Villeroy and Boch Culinary World Cup in Luxembourg.

The IKA/Culinary Olympics is the oldest and largest culinary arts exhibition in the world. At the 2020 event, the jury and guests will be able to experience creations by chefs from 39 countries. n

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MEMBER NEWS

MCC PRESIDENT JOHNETTE MCKOWN CELEBRATES 10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY Dr. Johnette McKown reached her 10-year anniversary of serving as President of McLennan Community College. In that time, Dr. McKown has overseen monumental growth of the college while focusing on the needs of students and expanding access to higher education by eliminating barriers.

Over the last 10 years, MCC has expanded access to students in the following areas:

McKOWN

• The Completion Center: The center assists students in completing their degrees or certificates and directs them to resources they use to graduate.

• Tutoring: MCC students may access free tutoring in all subjects from trained staffers.

• Paulanne’s Pantry: The free food pantry, which seeks to combat food insecurity on campus, is available to all students under an endowed gift.

• The University Center: Partnerships with Tarleton State University and Texas Tech University allow students to complete their bachelor’s degrees on MCC’s campus.

•

Dual-credit: An increasing number of local high school students take advantage of dual credit courses at MCC. Many students now earn their associate degrees alongside their high school degrees, and those numbers are expected to increase.

Dr. McKown is committed to student success and volunteering in the community and supports the campus food pantry, underrepresented students, and established the Stephen and Stuart McKown Emergency Fund.

A past Fulbright Scholar, Dr. McKown serves and represents the college and community on several local, state, and national boards. She serves on the Providence Health Network Board and the Family Health Center Board, the Texas Association of Community Colleges (Past-Chair), and previously served on the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. n

PASSAVANT

START UP WACO BRINGS NEW CEO ON BOARD Jon Passavant was raised in Pennsylvania and attended Grove City College, receiving a bachelor’s degree in Business Communication. He began a modeling career in 2001, appearing for Ralph Lauren, Giorgio Armani, Christian Dior and many others.

In 2005, Jon was signed as the first male spokesmodel for Estée Lauder, in a landmark deal which was the first contract of its kind ever offered to a male model. He went on to consistently work with the industry’s most renowned photographers, including Bruce Weber, Mario Testino, and Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin. In 2006, Jon co-founded the Model Home Project, a nonprofit focused on activating the fashion industry around national service projects.

In 2012, Jon co-founded Passavant and Lee, a luxury men’s accessories brand which was one of the first digital native luxury brands brought to market. In addition to being sold online, the brand has been carried in many of the world’s leading luxury retailers in over 28 countries and has also developed a B2B supply chain service for other DNBVs in America and the UK. The community is excited to welcome Jon to Waco and we’re confident that the future of Start Up Waco is bright. n

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NEW MEMBERS

PRESENTED BY

A-1 Tree Service 6612 N. State Hwy. 6 Waco, TX 76712 • (254) 848-9988 A1TreeWaco.com

Camp Bow Wow Lot 17, Block 10 on Colonnade Pkwy.

Woodway, TX 76712 • (301) 785-7409 CampBowWow.com

Small Business - Gold Aloft Waco Downtown Baylor 900 S. 11th St. Waco, TX 76706 • (254) 870-4644 Marriott.com/hotels/travel/wcoal-aloftwaco-downtown/

Board of Advisor - Bronze Cardinal Financial 519 N. Hewitt Dr., Ste. 519 Waco, TX 76711

Andy’s Frozen Custard 900 S. Eighth St. Waco, TX 76706 • (417) 569-4087 EatAndys.com/Waco-TX Arthur Murray Dance Studio Waco, TX 76703 • (817) 228-2135 Asea Redox Strong Waco, TX 76710 • (806) 292-2955 AshleyUlrey.myasealive.com Baylor Scott & White Warriors Research Institute 2201 MacArthur Dr., Ste. 2200 Waco, TX 76708 • (254) 730-2672 Bear Braces 1120 Lake Air Dr., Ste. 500 Waco, TX 76710 • (254) 384-2327 BearBraces.com Behrens Condos 219 S. Fourth St. Waco, TX 76701 • (254) 224-6602 BehrensCondos.com Bio Chem Lab, Inc 4751 Tokio Rd. West, TX 76691 • (254) 829-8001 Birkeland Current 100 Research Pkwy., Ste. 2265 Waco, TX 76704 • (254) 732-1538 BirkelandCurrent.com Board and Brush Creative Studio 1201 Hewitt Dr., Ste. 106B Waco, TX 76712 • (254) 863-8899 BoardandBrush.com/Waco Brazos River Supply Co 210A S. Fifth St. Waco, TX 76701 • (254) 300-3590 BrazosRiverSupplyCo.com Brazos Trail RV Park 210 Rice Rd. Riesel, TX 76682 • (254) 277-7275 BrazosTrailRVPark.com Bulldog Auto Detailing 7655 Bagby Ave., Unit H Waco, TX 76712 • (254) 661-1641 BulldogAutoDetailingTX.com Burgett Law Firm, PLLC 5207 Lake Shore Dr., Ste. A Waco, TX 76710 • (254) 218-6288 BurgettLawFirm.com Cactus Rose 930A Austin Ave. Waco, TX 76701 • (720) 681-0676 CactusRose.biz

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Clever Guys Media P.O. Box 21681 Waco, TX 76702 • (254) 366-7209 CleverGuysMedia.com Columbus Avenue Baptist Church 1300 Columbus Ave. Waco, TX 76701 • (254) 752-1655 CABCWaco.org Coming Home to Waco 1020 Franklin Ave. Waco, TX 76701 • (254) 224-6057 ComingHometoWaco.com Construction Edge Equipment 6514 N. I-35 Frontage Rd. Robinson, TX 76706 • (254) 855-6242 Construction-Edge.com Cornerstone Plumbing 2101 S. 22nd St. Waco, TX 76706 • (254) 732-5918 CornerstonePlumbingWaco.com Critters Exotic Pets 600 Valley Mills Dr. Waco, TX 76711 • (254) 420-2577 CrittersExoticPets.com Small Business - Gold Cummings Electrical 1650 F.M. 66 Waxahachie, TX 75167 • (972) 697-3816 CummingsElec.com CycleBar Waco 2324 Marketplace Dr., Ste. 210 Waco, TX 76711 • (254) 224-6749 Waco.Cyclebar.com Diamond E Rental LLC 9124 Gholson Rd. Waco, TX 76705 • (254) 829-1744 DiamondERental.com Digital Media Butterfly 200 W. State Hwy. 6, Ste. 511 Waco, TX 76712 • (254) 297-4400 DigitalMediaButterfly.com Discovereighng with Dana Travel P.O. Box 154621 Waco, TX 76715 • (254) 744-4305 DanaLLewis.com Duck Brothers Real Estate P.O. Box 1091 Hewitt, TX 76643 • (254) 613-6326 DuckBrothersRealEstate.com EM Nails & Beauty Salon 921 S. Ninth St. Waco, TX 76706 • (254) 224-8094 EMNailsBeautySalon.com

Farmers Insurance - Schmidt Agency 4201 Lake Shore Dr., Ste. F Waco, TX 76710 • (254) 772-1111 FarmersAgent.com/WSchmidt Fellowship Bible Church 5200 Speegleville Rd. McGregor, TX 76657 • (254) 848-7200 FellowshipWaco.org Leadership Investor - Silver Ferguson Enterprises 2055 S. Main St. McGregor, TX 76657 • (254) 840-3331 Ferguson.com Small Business - Gold Ferrellgas 712 N. Robinsons Dr. Waco, TX 76706 • (512) 923-3390 Ferrellgas.com Formela 2040 N. Valley Mills Dr. Waco, TX 76712 • (254) 756-6656 FormelaWaco.com Gatehouse Media, LLC 175 Sully’s Trail Pittsford, NY 14534 • (585) 248-2631 GatehouseMedia.com Goosehead Insurance - Tonya King 410 Avenue C Valley Mills, TX 76689 • (254) 870-0369 GooseheadInsurance.com/agents/ tonya-king Board of Advisor - Bronze Greg Glime - Commercial Real Estate 500 N. Valley Mills Dr. Waco, TX 76710 • (254) 339-2200 Board of Advisor - Bronze H & B Contractors and Kasparian Underground, LLC 27443 W. Hwy 84 McGregor, TX 76657 • (254) 848-4461 H Bland Cromwell P.O. Box 8050 Waco, TX 76712 • (254) 776-0000 Harris Creek Baptist Church 401 Stageline Dr. McGregor, TX 76657 • (254) 848-4953 HarrisCreek.org Heart of Texas Dog House 601 Webster Ave. Waco, TX 76706 • (254) 224-6102 HeartofTexasDogHouse.com Helberg Ranch Events, LLC 6735 N. Lone Star Pkwy.

Crawford, TX 76638 • (559) 905-8263 TheAmslerBuildingTX.com Hemisphere Aerospace Investments 1224 Austin Ave., Ste. 110 Waco, TX 76701 • (254) 537-0707 HAIAero.com

Small Business - Silver Hogan Transports, Inc. 325 Depot Dr. Waco, TX 76710 • (254) 405-6262 Hogan1.com HTeaO Waco 820 S. Seventh St., Ste. B Waco, TX 76706 • (254) 296-8339 HTeaO.com Huckabee 100 Research Pkwy., Ste. 3264 Waco, TX 76704 • (254) 616-9723 Huckabee-Inc.com iChoosr, LLC 5868 A1 Westheimer, Ste. 601 Houston, TX 77057 • (512) 592-9723 iChoosR.com IRONMAN 3407 W. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Ste. 100 Tampa, FL 33609 • IRONMAN.com January Letterpress 700 Franklin Ave. Waco, TX 76701 • (254) 730-4586 JanuaryLetterpress.com Jennifer Grant, DDS 1601 Lake Success Dr. Waco, TX 76710 • (254) 235-4986 JenniferGrantDDS.com Klaras Cuisine 1615 Wooded Acres, Ste. C Waco, TX 76710 • (254) 715-9397 Lake Air Animal Hospital 419 Lake Air Dr. Waco, TX 76710 • (254) 772-3520 LakeAirAnimalHospital.com Lane’s On Austin 1601 Austin Ave. Waco, TX 76701 • (254) 754-3641 LanesOnAustin.com Lazy Days Pool and Spa, LLC 6922 Woodway Dr. Waco, TX 76712 • (254) 732-0289 LazyDaysPoolandSpa.com Lorenz & Lorenz, L.L.P. 7215 Bosque Blvd., Ste. 122 Waco, TX 76710 • (512) 477-7333 LorenzandLorenz.com LuAnne Butler Homes, LLC Waco, TX 76657 • (254) 715-7929 LuAnneButlerHomes.com Luxury Limousine of Waco 915 La Salle Ave. Waco, TX 76708 • (254) 716-6224 LimoWaco.com Nightlight Donuts, LLC Waco, TX 76710 • (254) 722-9729 NightlightDonuts.com Board of Advisor - Bronze Patterson + Sheridan LLP 900 Washington Ave., Ste. 503 Waco, TX 76701 • (254) 232-4604 PattersonSheridan.com/Office-Locations/Waco-TX

People Ready 1411 N. Valley Mills Dr., Ste. B Waco, TX 76710 • (254) 751-0400 PeopleReady.com Prefontaine 914 Lake Air Dr. Waco, TX 76710 • (254) 741-9794 PrefontaineShop.com Pressure Clean Solutions 648 Cardinal Dr. Woodway, TX 76712 • (254) 235-0855 KeepWacoClean.com Quality Lab Test 824 Hewitt Dr., Ste. 800 Waco, TX 76712 • (254) 732-8802 QualityLabTest.com QuickHIT Fitness Lab of Waco 611 W. Hwy. 6, Unit 113 Waco, TX 76710 • (254) 235-1140 QuickHITFit.com Ray’s Automotive Specialist 2925 MacArthur Dr. Waco, TX 76708 • (254) 235-5991 FixMyCarRay.com

Leadership Investor - Gold Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Companies P.O. Box 2689 Waco, TX 76702 • (254) 772-3030 TXFB-ins.com The Blake at Waco 5901 Crosslake Pkwy.

Waco, TX 76712 • (254) 237-2006 BlakeLiving.com/Waco/home The Containery 319 Fourth St. Waco, TX 76701 • WacoContainery.com The Cub Card 2525 Mango Ct. League City, TX 77573 • (281) 865-7096 The Oak House 410 W. Oak St. West, TX 76691 • (254) 722-1470 Facebook.com/TheOakHouse The Purrfect Paw Hewitt, TX 76643 • (254) 495-6578 ThePurrfectPaw.com

Relevant Development 319 S. Fourth St. Waco, TX 76701 • RelevantDev.com

True Course Life & Leadership Development 506 Dal Paso Dr. Robinson, TX 76706 • (254) 300-5443 DiscoverYourTrueCourse.com

Remedy Intelligent Staffing 1201 Hewitt Dr., Ste. 212A Waco, TX 76712 • (254) 732-1520 RemedyStaff.com

Tuff Shed 7705 Woodway Dr. Waco, TX 76712 • (254) 741-1899 TuffShed.com

Rule Your Kingdom 7215 Bosque Blvd., Ste. 125 Waco, TX 76710 • (254) 300-1404 RuleYourKingdom.com

US Lawns - Waco 6186 I-35, Unit 3A Waco, TX 76706 • (254) 251-3099 USLawns.net

Sironia, Inc. 1509 Austin Ave. Waco, TX 76701 • (254) 754-7467

Waco Ale Co. 806 Austin Ave. Waco, TX 76701 • (713) 517-4865 WacoAleCo.com

Skinny’s Repair Shop 618 Columbus Ave., Ste. B Waco, TX 76701 • (254) 340-8557 SkinnysRepairShop.com Snell’s General Contractors 210 N. Bermuda St. Waco, TX 76705 • (254) 633-8686 Stable Soil 1301 New Dallas Hwy. Waco, TX 76705 • (254) 732-1180 Stable-Soil.com Stumpy’s Hatchet House Waco 924 Austin Ave. Waco, TX 76701 • (254) 300-7677 StumpysHHWaco.com Board of Advisor - Bronze Sunquest Hospitality, LLC 7609 Woodway Dr., Ste. A Woodway, TX 76712 Swift Media P.O. Box 7656 Waco, TX 76714 • (254) 772-9194 SwiftOutdoor.com

Waco CBD American Shaman 2324 Marketplace Dr., Ste. 1B Waco, TX 76711 • (210) 410-2845 WB Development 3000 Illinois Ave. Killeen, TX 76543 • (484) 860-0209 WBDevelopment.com West Rentals 226 W. Oak St. West, TX 76691 • (254) 826-2033 WacoAleCo.com Worth New York - Kay Bond Ladies Clothing in Home Sales 3115 Wood Lake Dr. Waco, TX 76710 • (254) 5722-9868 WorthNewYork.com

LEARN MORE ABOUT JOINING THE GREATER WACO CHAMBER AT WACOCHAMBER.COM WACOCHAMBER.COM

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RIBBON CUTTINGS

SKATE WORLD

Member since Mar 21, 2019 • Ribbon Cutting July 17, 2019

401 Towne Oaks Dr • Waco, TX 76710 (254) 772-0042 • skatewaco.com

Barbara Lucas, Owner

Over 25 years and still rolling strong, Skate Waco is the place to go for having fun and making memories. Two convenient locations provide lots of entertainment options including skating, laser tag, and arcade games. Fully stocked concession areas and piping hot pizza keep you fueled at family friendly prices. Legendary teen lock-in’s and skate

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SKATE COUNTRY

Member since Mar 21, 2019 • Ribbon Cutting March 22, 2019

500 N Loop 340 • Bellmead, TX 76705 (254) 799-8899• skatewaco.com

camps provide holiday fun for all ages. If you’re new to skating, check out weekly classes. Skate Waco provides multiple options for birthday parties, corporate events, and fundraisers making your special occasion a breeze. For more information, a calendar of events and to book a party, visit Skatewaco.com or call (254) 772-0042.

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RIBBON CUTTINGS

ACTON ACADEMY WACO

Member since May 29, 2019 • Ribbon Cutting Aug 22, 2019

SPONSORED BY

APRICOT LANE BOUTIQUE

Member since Sept 7, 2018 • Ribbon Cutting Aug 2, 2019

1910 Austin Ave • Waco, TX 76701 (214) 336-4053 • actonwaco.org

2444 W Loop 340, Ste 14 • Waco, TX 76711 (817) 798-2972 • apricotlaneboutique.com/waco

Kristina and Travis Baucom, Founders

Kristin Postert, Owner

At Acton Academy Waco, children are trusted with more than simply absorbing knowledge: They are entrusted with the responsibility and freedom to learn by themselves. Our Learner Driven Community puts children at the center of their learning, allowing them to create and maintain personal goals and relational covenants where “Learning to Do” and “Learning to Be” are even more important than “Learning to Know.”

BLACKHAWK AEROSPACE

Member since June 29, 2005 • Ribbon Cutting May 1, 2019

This locally-owned women’s boutique carries a selection of clothing, accessories, and gifts unique to any other location. Our clothing is on-trend, affordable, and ever-changing to ensure you walk away with something one of a kind! We carry a curated collection of well-known brands mixed with new, up-and-coming brands; all of which are high-quality, stylish and affordable. With limited quantities and new items arriving weekly you are sure to walk away with something unique!

DR PEPPER MUSEUM AND FREE ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE

Member since June 27, 1991 • Ribbon Cutting July 5, 2019

7601 Karl May Dr • Waco, TX 76708 (254) 755-6711 • Blackhawk.aero

300 S 5th St • Waco, TX 76701 (254) 757-1024 • drpeppermuseum.com

Jim Allmon, President

Chris Dyer, President & CEO

Blackhawk Aerospace is the global leader in providing aircraft upgrades, modifications, and performance enhancements for the turboprop fleet. Founded in Waco, Texas in 1999, Jim Allmon, Dale Griffin, and Matt Shieman created Blackhawk Modifications, Inc. Since then, Blackhawk Aerospace Composites and Blackhawk Aerospace Solutions have been added to the Blackhawk family.

With more than 800 XP Engine+ Upgrades delivered, Blackhawk Aerospace is one of the largest buyers of Pratt & Whitney PT6A engines in the world.

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Built in 1906 by architect Milton Scott, the Artesian Manufacturing and Bottling Company was the first building dedicated to the manufacturing of Dr Pepper. Creating a Dr Pepper Museum was the vision of a few devoted enthusiasts of both Dr Pepper and its history. The Artesian Manufacturing and Bottling Company became the Dr Pepper Museum in 1989, then the Dr Pepper Museum and Free Enterprise Institute in 1997. Today it is the Museum’s largest artifact and a tribute to the imagination and talent that fueled Dr Pepper’s success throughout the years.

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RIBBON CUTTINGS

THE RUSTIC BRUSH -WACO

Member since June 6, 2019 • Ribbon Cutting June 28, 2019

EM NAILS & BEAUTY SALON

Member since June 4, 2019 • Ribbon Cutting June 11, 2019

1412 N. Valley Mills Dr, #340 • Waco, TX 76710 (254) 265-8777 • therusticbrush.com

921 S 9th St • Waco, TX 76706 (254) 224-8094 • emnailsbeautysalon.com

Sandra and Jesse Cantu, Owners

Chloe Vu, Owner

A family owned Texas based franchise with Headquarters in Houston; we are a family-friendly DIY wood design and crafting studio where all tools and supplies are provided. We provide guidance from start to finish. It’s all about the DIY experience! Workshops are booked online and everyone selects their own project and design. It’s a great social crafting experience for all occasions and the best part is no prior crafting experience is required! We love helping create not only great projects but lasting memories.

HAWAIIAN FALLS WATERPARK - WACO

Member since Oct 25, 2011 • Ribbon Cutting July 19, 2019

Located in Waco’s downtown area, near Baylor University, Magnolia Markets, Brazos River at I-35 highway, we are dedicated to serving Wacoans, Baylor’s staff and students, and hundreds of thousands of visitors from all around the U.S. EM Nails & Beauty Salon offers deluxe pedicures and manicures, nail art and nail design, nail enhancement (dipping and acrylic), facial and body wax, eyelash extensions and micro-blading (permanent makeup).

JACKALOPE ENTERTAINMENT

Member since Aug 27, 2018 • Ribbon Cutting June 21, 2019

900 Lake Shore Dr • Waco, TX 76708 (254) 892-0222 • hfalls.com

1813 Speight Ave, in Azbell Eletronics • Waco, TX 76706 (254) 420-3498 • jackalopeentertainment.com

Ryan Forson, Managing Director

Damon Crump, Owner

Hawaiian Falls operates five waterparks in North and Central Texas and provides Hawaiian themed, family friendly waterpark experiences in our communities. We are passionate about serving our guests by creating a clean, safe and fun Hawaiian themed environment. It is our mission to love God and love people before anything else. We are committed to Bringing Families Closer Together. Whether you’re looking for a way to relax or the best way to entertain kids on a hot, summer day, Hawaiian Falls has you covered! Our Ambassadors are fun and hardworking and want you and your kids to have fun!

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JACKALOPE ENTERTAINMENT has been providing award winning film and video production services for over 30 years. Headquartered in Waco, Texas, Damon is the head guy, and works as a director, producer, writer, director of photography and editor. We specialize in bringing you cinematic Hollywood-style production quality by combining high-end production value with a touch of creativity. This enables you to communicate your message to your audience efficiently and effectively while not spending the Hollywood dollars. We produce projects on the local, national and international level.

SPONSORED BY

PEOPLE READY

Member since July 3, 2019 • Ribbon Cutting Aug 8, 2019

QUALITY LAB TEST

Member since Aug 21, 2019 • Ribbon Cutting Aug 26, 2019

1411 N Valley Mills Dr, Ste B • Waco, TX 76710 (254) 751-0400 • peopleready.com

824 Hewitt Dr • Waco, TX 76712 (254) 732-8802 • qualitylabtest.com

Phillip Drakes, Branch Manager

Bhumi Desai, CEO/Owner

Staffing. It’s what we know. Because we’ve been providing staffing solutions, putting people to work, for nearly 30 years.

Whether you’re looking for work, or you’re seeking workers for your business, PeopleReady is the North American leader in the industrial and on-demand staffing space.

SMOOTHIE KING

Member since May 24, 2019 • Ribbon Cutting May 31, 2019

Quality Lab Test offer many services such as drug & alcohol screening for employers, DNA testing for legal and non-legal purpose, any type of blood tests, allergy tests, STD tests and much more. We offer 24/7 on site service for drug & alcohol and mobile phlebotomy service as well. Quality lab test offers the freedom to make your own choices and order the lab work you desire. We are the perfect solution for people who are does not have insurance, have high deductible health insurance plans, needing tests not covered by insurance, beginning weight loss or fitness program or simply wants to monitor metabolic progress.

THE ARBOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE

Member since April 25, 2019 • Ribbon Cutting June 14, 2019

721 S 4th St, Ste 110 • Waco, TX 76706 (254) 339-1788 • smoothieking.com

213A Old Hewitt Rd • Waco, TX 76712 (844) 560-7269 • thearbor.com

Bob Scott, General Manager

Justin Harvey, Owner

Smoothie King recently opened a new location in Waco at 721 S 4th Street. All our smoothies are made with fresh fruits and juices and are gluten free. We offer several varieties of Proteins and even Vegan and Keto options. You can customize your smoothie with one of our many enhancers that will help you reach your health and fitness goals. We offer multivitamin, immune booster, energy, probiotics, electrolyte and fibers just to name a few.

At The Arbor, our mission is to walk alongside individuals and families as they navigate the path to recovery, and know that they are not alone. Every program we offer is intentionally designed to help our clients navigate the obstacles in their life that impede long term sobriety, emotional stability, and freedom to truly live. The Arbor system of care provides a safe sanctuary for those seeking freedom from the pain of addiction.

WACOCHAMBER.COM

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CHAMBER CALENDAR Want to know what’s coming up at the Chamber?

Then visit web.WacoChamber.com/events to view and register for upcoming events.

Here are just a few signature events you don’t want to miss: Find Your Waco WEDNESDAY, OCT. 16 | 2 – 6 P.M.

Employers can connect with a talent pool from throughout the community, including college students, transitioning military veterans and their spouses, and traditional job seekers. Attendees of Find Your Waco can connect to businesses and organizations from across Waco and see why we love to call Waco “home.”

2019 Tip Off Luncheon THURSDAY, OCT. 24 | 11:30 A.M. – 1 P.M.

The Tip Off Sports Luncheon provides a preview of the upcoming local basketball season for Baylor University and McLennan Community College. This year’s Tip Off Luncheon will feature guest speaker Holly Rowe, ESPN reporter and play-by-play commentator!

Leading Waco Women Fall Summit THURSDAY, NOV. 7 | 10:30 A.M. - 1 P.M.

The Leading Waco Women Summit brings together Waco’s most inspiring women and men, and will kick-off with a half-day conference and luncheon. During this luncheon, the 2019 ATHENA Leadership Award will be presented to a deserving local female leader. The fall summit is the first in a three-part series, with two additional summits to follow in 2020.

STATE OF THE CITY & COUNTY

State of OF the City STATE & County OF Luncheon STATE WEDNESDAY, | 11:30 A.M. - 1 P.M. THE13 NATION THE STATE NOV.

This annual event gives city and county representatives the opportunity to present on the developments of the past year and strategic plans for the upcoming year.

This annual event is open to the Chamber membership and community. This luncheon features city and county representatives presenting updates on area developments, legislative needs, challenges and an overall view of Waco and McLennan County.

State of Public Education WEDNESDAY, NOV. 20 | 8 - 9:30 A.M.

This annual event includes discussions about education trends with local education leadership and how our community can build a world-class workforce for the future prosperity and economic strength of our community.

MidTex Farm, Ranch & Garden Show SATURDAY, FEB. 1, 2020 | 9 A.M. - 6 P.M.

MidTex Farm, Ranch & Garden Show offers exhibitors a firstrate forum to present their products and services to Central Texas farmers and ranchers, as well as the weekend farmers and gardeners. Visitors to the Mid-Tex Farm, Ranch & Garden show will have the opportunity to view top exhibits of the newest farm and ranch equipment, seed, chemicals and agrelated services and technologies.

The Waco Chamber works with a wide array of partners to help Greater Waco businesses grow, thrive and maintain operations in our area.

For most businesses, these economic development activities boil down to new jobs and new capital investment that strengthen the flow of dollars in our economy.

It can also mean new customers for your business.

Build your future with us!

Visit WacoChamber.com to find out more.

$5 OFF OF YOUR WACO SHIRT

Retail Price $20 Limit 2 per coupon Available at the Greater Waco Chamber office 101 S. Third St. • Waco, TX EXPIRES OCTOBER 31, 2019

101 S. Third St. • Waco, TX 76701 254.757.5600 • WacoChamber.com 62 | FALL 2019

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 30 Waco, Texas P.O. Box 1220 Waco TX 76703-1220