“Come grow with us.”

Feb-March 2011

Member Spotlight Page 2

Recent Events Page 4Chamber News Page 3

CalendarUpcoming Events. Page 6

Spring Fever by Rhonda Behnken

The Chamber is here to help you find ways to grow your business. With the spring season upon us we have events that you can participate in to help get more exposure

for your business in the local community. In March we offer the Taste of EMC & Expo as a food tasting

event and business exposition. The public is invited to come to the Yellow Rose Reception Hall on March 21st between 4-7 pm where they can taste samples of food offered by our local restaurants, catering companies, and ‘celebrity’ chefs. For the second year we will also have local culinary students competing in the BATTLE OF THE CAKES, a cake decorating contest. There will be door prize drawings and admission is FREE!

You have the opportunity to make new connections by par-ticipating as a vendor at this event. Contact Delilah at the chamber office today to reserve your booth space before it is too late. 281-354-0051

If you are looking for the best exposure in EMC, don’t miss the Texas Sawmill Festival on Saturday April 28th 10am-5pm at the EMCID complex.

Attendance at last year’s festival was 3,000-3,500. We offer the local community a fun filled day with the family of children’s activities, music, food, local history, arts & craft vendors and information about our local businesses. A standard booth is $75 and we have sponsorship opportunities to give you that extra exposure and recognition.

Don’t miss out on our biggest event of the year, the best chance to reach potential new customers.

New Members

BronzeCommercial State Bank of El Campo

BusinessBig Fish Computer SupportConroe Country Florist & GiftsDigital Network Associates, LLCGreen Bank, ClevelandK.Wood Business ServicesVogt Engineering, L.P.

AssociatesEdwards Jones/Jim CarranzaRE/MAX Rewards- David Nettles

IndividualHon. Kathleen A. Hamilton, 359th DistrictWel

com

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2 | Feb-March 2012

President’sMessage

Continued on page 8

by Andy Dill

Does anyone still teach customer service? All of us have probably have had the following thought from time to time when shopping at one or more stores, I guess they don’t know about good customer service! Unfortunately

many times in our society today customer service is not really part of a worker’s daily things to think about. Years ago I worked in a convenience store while going to college and the owner made it very clear that whatever we thought was happening the customer was always right. There were times when I didn’t agree with that instruction from my boss but I tried to remember it when a customer was getting on me for something or questioning my ability to ring up their purchases correctly. However, I really didn’t get the real meaning of that instruction to sometime later when I became older, and hopefully wiser, and realized that what the real message was that the customer is the one paying my salary, not my boss. For you see without the customer making their purchases I

wouldn’t even have a job and boss wouldn’t have had a store.

Today many employers forget to teach their employees about true customer service and saying thank you to your customers for making their purchases. I am often guilty of telling a sales person “Thank You” when they hand me my change or receipt, because more times than not, they didn’t thank me for making the purchase.

A simple thank you to your customers will go a long way in bring-ing them back to make another purchase in the future. The art of customer service has often been forgotten when we orient our new employees on how we want them to handle sales. Hope-fully more business owners/managers will revert back to basic customer service principals including thanking customers for their purchases, offering to help without being pushy, and welcoming each and every customer with a smile.

You can be the example of what good customer service really is! We hope that our Chamber is an example of good customer service and if we are not we hope you will tell us so we can improve. Thanks to each of you for the way you take care of your customers. •

by Rhonda Behnken

Oakhurst Golf Club20700 Mills Branch Dr. Porter, TX 77365www.oakhurstgolfclub.com 281-354-4653

Q. What does your company produce or what service do you offer to customers? A. We are a full service 18 hole golf course with a pro shop and food & beverage service.Q. How do you differentiate your business from the competition in your market? In other words – what is your unique selling proposition?A. In addition to the golf course we have as part of our operation an in-house bakery, Finale’ by Glenna. We are a venue for ban-quet events, weddings, reunions, birthday parties and of course golf tournaments. We are about to begin construction on a new wedding venue over looking the

lake that can hold up to 600 people. We are very excited!Q. What do you enjoy most about running your business? A. Laughs out loud..... duh! The man works at his golf course! He says he loves golf and enjoys running the club and being a part of the community.Q. Tell me about your company’s past suc-cesses or projects.A. We love hosting the Chamber golf tour-nament each year and encourage everyone to sign up. We have had several NFL Hall of Fame events here, and we do a lot of charity events for the community. We support all the high school programs here and love encouraging the young players.Q. What one tool or resource do you rely on the most in the marketing and operation of your business? A. Email marketing is our #1 tool. Then being a chamber member and being in-volved is a huge benefit.Q. What does the potential new economic

development in EMC mean for your company?A. Wow, we are very fortunate to be sitting where we are right now. I have seen the changes in this area and what the whole 59 corridor is becoming. Being involved is huge right now or you will miss the boat with the changes coming. We think we are Houston’s best value in golf and will continue to be that as the area grows.Q. What kind of challenges are you facing?A. Water! Water! We were fortunate that we have the right water system, but we can still get better at water usage and control-ling costs. The other challenge is the cost of fuel affecting everything else that we all use everyday.Q. What other issues are important to you?A. Jobs and employees. We try to hire the best staff and take pride in our people. We want jobs for the people in

Member Spotlight with Dave Preisler of Oakhurst Golf Club

3 | Feb-March 2012

Continued on back page

Shop with a Chamber Member!Our original Shop Locally program is being revamped in 2012 into “Shop with a Chamber Member”. Through connections and purchases of goods and services from fellow Chamber members each of us can achieve success. Our web link www.shopemctx.com is ready to connect you to our membership page on the Chamber website where you can search by name of business or by business category. This convenient way to link directly to fellow members is quick and easy, even for us technologically challenged folks. We encourage you to Shop with a Chamber Member!

EMC Community Planning Summit to be held March 1st at Lone Star College – KingwoodThe Community Chamber of Commerce of East Montgomery County in partnership with Entergy Texas’ Team City program is pleased to announce the East Montgomery County Commu-nity Planning Summit will be held Thursday, March 1st at Lone Star College-Kingwood. The summit is open to the public and all are encouraged to attend. The summit will be held in LSC-Kingwood’s new Student Services Center at 20000 Kingwood Drive. Reserved parking for attendees will be available in the parking lot adjacent to the SSC building.

The summit is held every other year and has been on-going since 1998. The purpose of the summit is to solicit input from citizens who live and work in the East Montgomery County or those who have an interest in the growth and success of the area. Area students are also invited to attend and participate in the summit.

During the summit four group sessions will be held and will include discussions on Economic Development & Tourism, Education, Government & Infrastructure, and Quality of Life. Participants will be updated on issues from previous summits as well as current issues facing our area. From these interactive discussions action items will be identified and then reported to the summit steering committee and then the Chamber’s Board of Directors for consideration. Action items from previous

summits have been the catalyst to create new standing commit-tees within the Chamber that include; the Education Committee and Beautification Committee. Other action items have resulted in specific projects that the Chamber has worked on during specific time periods.

We invite area citizens, business owners and managers, seniors and students to attend and participate in the summit. Registra-tion will begin at 8:00 AM with the summit beginning at 8:30 AM. The summit will conclude by noon. If you are interested in attending please RSVP to the Chamber at 281-354-0051 or send us an email at info@communitychamberemc.com and tell us you will be attending. If you have any questions about the summit please call or email us in advance. There is no charge to attend.

Chamber News

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“The purpose of the summit is to solicit input from citizens who live and work in the East Montgomery County or those who have an interest in the growth and success of the area.”

4 | Feb-March 2012

People & PlacesRecent chamber events.

FebruaryLuncheon

The program at the February Luncheon was pure networking. Each attendee was introduced and encouraged to make new connections.

Thanks to Shane and the crew from Texas Roadhouse for another great lunch.

NewMembersWelcomed

Vogt Engineering, L.P. Commercial State Bank of El Campo PC Recovery of Texas Conroe Country Florist & Gifts

5 | Feb-March 2012

RibbonCuttings

Classi Ladi17926 Country Pl Dr Conroe, TX 77302

Barbara Hamlett

Texas Fast Track UDSVern Reichert

24141 Hwy 59 N. Suite C Porter, TX 77365

Kingwood Medical Center - Observation Unit22999 Hwy 59 N.

Kingwood, Tx 77339

Currin, Wuest, Mielke, Paul & Knapp, PLLC800 Rockmead Dr. Suite 220

Kingwood, TX 77339

Ground BreakingMemorial Hermann Convenient Care Center

14201 East Sam Houston Parkway NorthHouston, Tx 77044

6 | Feb-March 2012

Distinguished Investors Chamber members who go the extra mile in their support of the chamber.

CommunityCalendar• March 1st

EMC Community Planning Summit Location: Lone Star College KingwoodTime: 8 an - 12 pm

Leadership EMC SessionTime: 6-9 pm @ EMCID

• March 2nd

Sawmill Meeting9 am @ Chamber

Taste of EMC Meeting10:30 am @ Chamber

• March 5th

Concerned Citizens Meeting7:30pm @ RB Tullis Library

• March 7th

Ribbon CuttingCoffee News 11:30am at Luncheon

Chamber LuncheonSpeaker: TX Agr.Comm. Todd Staples11:30am-1pm @ EMCID $15 ppRegistration Required

• March 12th

Education Committee Meeting 12 noon @ Chamber

• March 14th

Observer Connections Lunch11:30 am @ Hofbrau, Porter TX

• March 20th

Chamber Board Meeting 8am at Chamber

• March 21st

Taste of EMC & ExpoYellow Rose Reception Hall4-7pm, free admission

• March 22

Beautification Mtg @ 9 am

Wine Hawgs & Choc Committee Meeting @ 10 am

• March 27th

Spring Extravaganza EMCID, 5-8 pm

• March 30th

Breakfast Connections 8-9am @ Kingwood Medical Center

• April 28th

Texas Sawmill Festival10 am - 5 pm Free AdmissionEMCID Complex, parking at NCHS

PlatinumLevelMembersEast Montgomery County Improvement DistrictYellow Rose Reception Hall

DiamondLevelMembersHallett MaterialsTDG General Contractors, Inc.Walmart - Supercenter

GoldLevelMembersBackyard Paradise PoolsCommissioner Ed RinehartEntergy Texas Inc Kingwood Medical CenterMemorial Hermann NortheastThe Signorelli Company

SilverLevelMembersAlamo Hydraulics of Houston, Inc.Conroe/Nacogdoches Coca Cola Sales Center

Friendswood Development Co.Hearst Media Services Rosewood Funeral Home

BronzeLevelMembersAllied Power Mart Inc.Amegy Bank of TexasAmerican Fixtures Cabinet Co., Inc.ATC Home Health, LLCBuster Brown Propane CenturyLink Champion Rentals, Inc.ComericaCostello, Inc.EGA PrintingFirst Bank & Trust East Texas - SplendoraFlagship Car Wash & Lube CenterFred Haas Toyota WorldFWM Tubular & Equipment CorporationHarley Davidson - KingwoodHydra Tan

Joiner Partnership, Inc.Joslin TexasLiving EarthLJA Engineering, IncLone Star College-KingwoodMarks Richardson PC, Attorneys at LawMike Harris, CLTC,CSAMy Fit Foods-KingwoodObserver NewspapersPace Stancil Funeral HomePlains State BankPorter Kwik KarRepublic WasteRiverside Waste ServiceSalons at the LoftShank Wealth ManagementSpirit Exposition Service, LLCStarplex CinemasWells Fargo Bank of Texas

7 | Feb-March 2012

ChamberBoard

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEEAngela Allen, Allied Power Mart…..............Chairman of the BoardScott Brady, Joiner Partnership……..…........................Chair-ElectRob Burgess, Community Print & Copy….........…..........SecretaryGary Southard, RISING STAR People Concepts…..........TreasurerGary Gardner, FBTET-Splendora.………........Immediate Past-Chair

TERM Expires 2014Kenneth “Rowdy” Hayden......Pct 4 ConstableKatie Paris...............................Embody FitnessJuanita Popowitz......................Yellow Rose Reception HallDr.Rebecca Riley......................Lone Star College - Kingwood

TERM Expires 2013Scott Brady..............................Joiner Partnership Rob Burgess………………….Community Print & CopyMegan Marietta……………...Kingwood Medical CenterLeonard Rogers………………Let’s Mechanical

TERM Expires 2012Angela Allen…………………Allied Power MartGary Gardner………………..First Bank & Trust East Texas-Splendora Mike Harris………………….Long Term Care PartnersGary Southard…………........ RISING STAR People Concepts

One Year Appointees 2012Judy Hayes…………........ RE/MAX RewardsKevin Kennedy...................Kennedy FabricatingGuy Hancock.....................Guy’s A/C & Heating

EX-OFFICIO DIRECTORSFrank McCrady…………………..EMCIDEd Rinehart………………………Montgomery County Pct 4Kenn Franklin……………………New Caney ISDDr. Thomas Price…………….......Splendora ISDVikki Munoz……………………..City of Patton VillageFloyd Jackson, Jr………………....City of Roman ForestDorothy Welch…………………..City of SplendoraChuck Cardoza………………......City of Woodbranch VillageBrandon Creighton………………State Representative District 16John Otto………………………..State Representative District 18Tommy Williams…………………State Senator District 4Kevin Brady……………………...U S Congress District 8

STAFFAndy Dill……………………PresidentDelilah Lewis……………......Director of Membership/Special EventsRhonda Behnken……………Administrative Assistant & WebmasterTonie Jones.............................Clerical Assistant

MISSION STATEMENTTo promote the economic well being and quality of life of East Montgomery County.

VISION STATEMENTThe purpose of the Community Chamber of Commerce of East Montgomery County is to provide leadership that encourages

community involvement, economic growth and promotes local business development and an enhanced quality of life.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

8 | Feb-March 2012

RenewingMembersBusiness Best Western Inn & Suites New CaneyBig State Fabrication, Inc.Buckalew Chevrolet Inc.Coffee News of TexasComfort Suites Kingwood / Humble / IAHCommunity Print & CopyDanell’s Gifts & FloralsDog’s Day Out Bed & Biscuit - HumbleHofbrauL. Wendell Hefton, CPALindeneau Insurance Serv. & InvestmentsLJA Engineering, IncMarvin E. Jeane CPAMike’s Hobby ShopNorthland CommunicationsProdigy Insurance Group, LLCRE/MAX Rewards; Judy HayesRICOH Americas CorporationRight Sign Co. Inc.Rock’n E. RV ParkState Farm Insurance, Brian Burklow

Sterling McCall HondaSusanne Kite - Mary Kay CosmeticsThe Gilbert G. Garcia Law FirmWaste Management

Associates LevelTotal loving Care II

Individual Dean KerneGene GregoryJerry (Rickey) VernonLeon CubillasLeonard Schneider

Non-ProfitCommunity Health ChoiceEast Montgomery Co. Historical SocietyMission NortheastNew Caney Fire DepartmentRiverwalk Property Owners AssociationRotary Club of East Mont. CountyThe Friendship Center

our community. Finding quality employees is very important to our business.Q. How would you describe your involvement with the Chamber?A. I love the chamber! I wish I could come to more of the meetings and events. I am getting better at delegating responsibilities so that I can get out and be involved more. I try to give whatever I can to chamber events like rounds of golf for prizes even if I can’t personally attend.Q. What can we do for you?A. I appreciate you all keeping me in the loop on what is hap-pening in our area, I count on that information.I think this is one of the best chambers around, no question. Wonderful people, ya’ll have a great group of people wanting to make it better, to grow this community. The members are great and I’m honoured to be counted among them.

Join Oakhurst for their monthly Steak Night dinner in the club-house, open to the public. Call for details. Annual Golf Member-ships and a Summer League available.

Spotlight continued

News ...continued

Community Chamber of Commerce21575 Hwy 59 N. #100New Caney, TX 77357

Chamber Connections is a publication of the

Community Chamber of Commerce of East

Montgomery County. Published monthly, it

is intended as a public service to Chamber

members. No part may be reprinted without

permission of the Chamber. Advertisements

do not reflect endorsements by the Chamber of any product or service.

New Business Development Committee approved by Board of DirectorsA new Business Development Committee was approved at the January Board of Directors meeting. This new committee will be led by Katie Paris (Embody Fitness Center) and will focus on issues that will improve the Chamber’s ability to aide you in making your business stronger through educational seminars, promotional tools and assistance in helping you determine the value of your Chamber membership. Several individuals have been selected to serve on this committee and contacts are being made now to get the committee formed, have the first meeting and make it happen. In the Board’s November planning session this was one area that was discussed in length and we are ready to get to work with this new committee. Watch for more updates in the coming months as this committee begins its work.

Chamber continues to weather the economic downturnYour Chamber continues to weather the economic downturn and finished 2011 with a net gain of one member. If you are like me, you are probably thinking a gain of only one member. While I share your concern I also am thrilled that we had a positive gain, even such a small one, because it could have just as easily been a negative one or worse. We were honoured to welcome nearly eighty new members in 2011 but we simply lost just as many due to businesses closing, businesses simply not having the funds to

continue their membership or lack of interest. We understand all of these reasons and that is one of the very reasons the new Business Development Committee has been formed. We want to provide more and be the Chamber where you don’t have to attend lots of events to get your return on investment. We want to be the Chamber that provides meaningful benefits year round and makes it easy for you to write that renewal check on your membership anniversary date.

You may be asking how can you help us make the results for 2012 much different than they were in 2011? All of us do business with other companies in the area or even in the surrounding area that could benefit from being part of the Chamber family. The Shop with a Chamber Member program can help them do more business locally. Attending an participating in Chamber events such as the Taste of EMC & Expo and Texas Sawmill Festival can expose them to a new group of potential customers. Share the Chamber’s website address with them (www.community-chamberemc.com) and tell them why you are a member of the Chamber. If Chamber membership is important to you wouldn’t it be important to those you do business with?

We are excited about the future and are working hard to make 2012 the very best year in the twenty-one year history of the Chamber. Watch this newsletter, E-Connections and other updates from the Chamber as we move forward. Thanks for your continued support of the Chamber!