CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Wylie Chamber of Commerce

STILL GOING STRONG AFTER 45 YEARS

by Deonna Osborn

Several past Board Members celebrating the Chamber's 30th Anniversary in 2007: Brian Miller, Bill Bonney, Red Byboth, Melissa Crabtree, Chuck Flesch, Ray Mullins, Lori Whitten, Toni Young, Dr. H. John Fuller, Denise Holthaus, Sam Satterwhite, Sara Holsted, Raymond Cooper, Marcia Coker, Ken Lane, Betty Poe, Dr. Chuck Kerin & Marvin Fuller.

The Wylie Chamber of Commerce, currently over 425 members strong, stands as a pillar of information and service to Wylie and surrounding communities. Members range from home services to professional businesses to restaurants. As the primary business organization for the City of Wylie, the mission of the Chamber is “to promote and support Wylie Chamber members while contributing to the growth and quality of life in our community.”

Originally established in 1977 as the Wylie Area Chamber of Commerce, the organization started with a nine-member board of directors and a handful of members. The physical location has changed three times over the course of its 45-year history. A 1987 amendment altered the official name to Wylie Chamber of Commerce, and the entity began to morph into its current form. Today, the Chamber boasts a healthy 15-member board of directors and has retained the same chamber president since 2004. Surrounding city membership has grown as Wylie continues to prove itself a viable and attractive area for commerce.

The Chamber hosts several events throughout the year and, as Chamber President Mike Agnew recently pointed out, “We have evolved with changing times.” The organization’s oldest event is the annual banquet. In the Chamber’s nearly 45-year history, 42 banquets have taken place. The second-oldest tradition, and perhaps one of the best known, is the 28-year-old Wylie Championship Rodeo. Originally started in 1994 as a ranch rodeo consisting of local ranches bringing in cowboys to compete, it changed into its championship form in 2009. This popular event corrals individuals from Wylie, Sachse, Murphy, Garland, and other surrounding areas, providing an opportunity, not only for businesses to support the community, but also for participating members, students, and other citizens to volunteer side by side as families gather for wholesome Wylie-style fun.

Recently, the Chamber hosted its 2nd Annual Women’s Conference and it has partnered with Collin College to offer customer service classes. “The people are the assets,” Mike said. The Chamber is committed to providing new development opportunities for its members and the community it tirelessly serves. Wylie Chamber's original downtown location was where Hair Society salon is located today.

As a tight-knit, diverse, and welcoming group with a family feel, all member businesses rally for each other to do well. That’s something that makes this Chamber unique. The organization also provides many valuable resources for every member of the community. The website lists member businesses, and even a one-stop-shop reference to many of the business Sara Holsted, Raymond Cooper, Marcia Coker, Ken Lane, Betty websites. Wylie is home to many unique businesses, some of which citizens may not even be aware of; explore the website to discover these local treasures. In addition, the Chamber staff always welcomes phone calls and emails with any questions about a local business or service, and is happy point you in the right direction.

The Wylie Chamber of Commerce welcomes your questions and looks forward to letting you know how you can get involved. Give them a call at 972-442-2804 or visit the website www.wyliechamber.org and check out all the ways the Chamber can help! •