longview chamber of commerce business magazine
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chamber of commerce bi-monthly business magizineTRANSCRIPT
Chamber Awarded Five-Star Accreditation by U.S. Chamber of CommerceWHO CAN HELP SUPPORT
PROGRAM UNVEILED 3
MS COMMITTEE IMPLEMENTS
WAYFINDING PLAN 4
LEADERSHIP LONGVIEW
APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE 5
BRINGING LEADERSHIP
TRAINING HOME 8
GEOCACHING: IMPACTING
LOCAL TOURISM 9
MEET OUR AMBASSADORS 10
Departments
RIBBON-CUTTINGS 6
ANNIVERSARIES 7
NEW MEMBERS 7
CALENDAR 11
Don’t Miss…
Also in this issue…
Leadership Longview takingapplications for new class , p. 5
Longview Progress Report is published by:
410 N. Center Street / Longview, TX 75601903-237-4000 / www.longviewtx.com
July/August 2011 Vol. 5 Issue 4
Chamber of Commerce J Convention and Visitors Bureau J Downtown Development
Good news! The Longview Chamber ispleased to announce that after a
comprehensive self-review, the U.S.Chamber of Commerce has awarded uswith 5-Star Accreditation. This prestigioushonor puts us among the top 1% ofchambers nationwide. “The LongviewChamber of Commerce has done anexcellent job inmany areas andhas implementeda wide variety ofvaluable andsuccessfulprograms for itsmembership. TheU.S. Chamber ofCommerce is proud to accredit theLongview Chamber of Commerce with ourhighest level of recognition, the 5-Starranking. Congratulations on thisremarkable achievement, stated AllisonSteely with the U. S. Chamber ofCommerce!
“I am honored that we have beenrecognized as a 5-Star Chamber,” saidKelly Hall, Chamber president. “TheAccrediting Board highlighted severalareas that were considered excellent. Theseare a few that really made me proud …
• The chamber does an excellent job ofrecognizing its volunteers;
• The chamber recognizes the benefit
that its members value most, the SensibleSolutions program, and, the chamber iscommended for making plans to ensurethat this program remains valuable andrelevant moving forward;
• The chamber is commended for itsexcellent grasp of the impending factorsthat will seriously impact the chamber in
the next threeto five years, aswell as forpreparingahead for theseissues.“
YOURChamber willcontinue to
strive for excellence and moldprogramming needs to meet the needs ofour customers…OUR MEMBERINVESTORS!”
This past year, the staff, board, andvolunteers of Longview spent countlesshours completing the Accreditationprocess. Our task: demonstratecompetency in 9 core areas ranging fromfinance to facilities. The result of our hard-work is evidenced by this impressiverating. But in truth, we should all beextraordinarily proud of this milestoneachievement. It was a true team effort.
The only national program recognizing
continued on p. 8
julyaug11 6/23/11 11:41 AM Page 1
www.longviewtx.com2 July/August
julyaug11 6/23/11 11:41 AM Page 2
Free Tool to Grow Your Business BOARD OFDIRECTORS
Richard AndrewsLEDCO Past Chairman
Edward BanosGood Shepherd Health System
Shane BestTexas Bank & Trust
Cathy CaceJohnny Cace’s
Seafood & Steak House
Jon CoxSTEMCO
Keith HoneyAEP Southwestern Electric
Power Company
Anne HugmanHugman Architecture &
Construction
Jim KendrickLongview Regional
Medical Center
Dr. Dale LunsfordLeTourneau University
David McWhorterGans & Smith Insurance
Agency Inc.
Darrell RachelsEastman Chemical Company,
Texas Operations
John RayLively Cadillac-GMC Car Co.
Dave SpurrierWells Fargo Advisors, LLC
Dianne SwankWellness Pointe
Tim VaughnTVaughn Properties, LLC
APPOINTEDDIRECTORS
Jay DeanCity of Longview
Judge Bill StoudtGregg County
Shelby SnellOleum Operating Co., LLC
www.longviewtx.com
From the President
The Longview Progress Report 3
The Longview Chamber of Commercehas partnered with
WhoCanHelp.com® to give you apowerful new tool todo business with oneanother in a fast andefficient way!
WhoCanHelp.com®is a free tool built tohelp people whovalue their time findthe right serviceproviders for everyjob. Also, it will createnew opportunities toget business fromother members as well as your localcommunity. Whether you useWhoCanHelp.com® as a busy consumer oras a service provider who wants to bid onposts from consumers, this service is FREEto all chamber members.
In the Longview trade area, the ZIPcode-based service will give businesses areal-time connection with consumers whoare looking for their products or services.For consumers, WhoCanHelp.com helpsanswer these universal questions:
• When can they do it?• What’s the cost?• Are they reputable?Whether looking for a landscaper,
wedding photographer, accountant orcarpenter, posting to WhoCanHelp.com isfree and easy. The user simply lists thetitle and description of the service needed
and identifies a category, subcategory,date needed and ZIP code. Businesseslearn instantaneously that someone is in
need of theirservice viaSMS text oremail and canimmediatelypost an offer.The consumerthen selects theserviceprovider of hisor her choiceand has theopportunity to
write a review following the completionof the work. WhoCanHelp.com combinesthe best features of other Web-basedservices — directory services, reviews,ratings and social networks — to create acomprehensive patent-pending approachto connect users and services providers.The website also works in business-to-business transactions, with requests forproposals and generation of business forlarger firms, general contractors andgovernment agencies that requirewidespread bidding.
Just log on to the chamber’s website atwww.longviewchamber.com and click onthe WhoCanHelp icon. For additionalassistance on how to joinWhoCanHelp.com, contact the LongviewChamber of Commerce at 903.237.4000.
“To better connect local business in ourcommunity, this new tool has the power tonot only generate leads within our ownmember businesses but it will create newopportunities to get business in our localcommunity utilizing the latesttechnology.”
- Kelly Hall, Chamber President
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STAFF
Kelly HallPresident
Paul AndersonSr. Vice President
Elaine ReynoldsVP Downtown Development
Leska ParkerChief Operating Officer
Mary WhittonProgram Coordinator
Mitzi BarnesConvention Sales & Services
Coordinator Executive Director - East Texas
Boat, RV & Camping Expo903-237-4021
Amy TatumMembership and Public Affairs
Director903-237-4041
Lisa NullMembership Services Clerk
Margie HarrisTourism Services Manager
Carrie FisherDirector of First Impressions
www.longviewtx.com
Strengthening a Strong Economy
4 July/August
The Chairman’s ClubPlatinum
Silver
Longview Main Street AdvisoryCommittee members have taken the
important initial steps to implement Phase1 in a city-wide projectto improve the waypeople – and especiallyvisitors and newcomers– find their way aroundLongview. Phase 1 willbe to strategically placesigns at major inboundthoroughfares that willhelp direct people to downtownLongview. Recognizing the importance ofthe downtown district in the GreggCounty seat, the primary intent of thisstep is to help drivers and others find theirway safely and smoothly into downtownLongview. Focus is being placed ondirecting the traffic not only to downtown
MS Committee Implements Wayfinding Planbut to the public parking lots that haverecently been refurbished and beautified.
Twenty two signs are planned for thisproject. Funds for thisphase have beendesignated out of theMain Street and CVBbudgets over the pasttwo fiscal years.Depending on thelocation and theprevailing speed of the
traffic at that location, the signs will have4”, 6” or 8” lettering. In the downtowndistrict, pedestrian directories will beplaced near each of the public parking lotsand on the corner of Center and WhaleyStreets.
Past efforts to find a sign manufacturercontinued on p. 8
julyaug11 6/23/11 11:41 AM Page 4
Developing Community Leaders
www.longviewtx.com The Longview Progress Report 5
Leadership Longview: Leaders in ActionApplications Now Available for 2011-2012
Leadership Longview is celebrating 30 years ofproviding leadership development training to the
Longview community.Beginning in 1981, the Leadership Longview program
has graduated over 650 individuals since its inception.The mission and objective of this community based
program is to strengthen and transform the community ofLongview through a program of leadership development,community study, and involvement.
Leadership Longview’s 2011-2012 leadership teamconsists of Richard Lazarus, Chairman; Chris Terry,Westlake Chemical, Vice-Chair, Curriculum, DonnaKoerner, REMAX First Choice, Chairman, Alumni Affairs,and Linda Martin, Network Communications, PastChairman.
Through Leadership Longview, participants gain a betterunderstanding of our community by attending programsessions that are facilitated by Leadership Longview
alumni in the in the following areas: business andeconomic development, industry, health and socialservices, education, criminal justice and quality of life.
Tuition for chamber members is $800 and $900 fornonmembers. Scholarships are available. Applications areavailable online at www.longviewchamber.com/leadership_longview or by contacting Mary Whitton,Program Coordinator, at 903.237.4003 [email protected].
Applications are due Friday, July 22.
The participants of the Leadership Longviewprogram come away with new relationships, a
better understanding of their community and newideas for personal growth. - Richard Lazarus, Leadership Longview Chairman
julyaug11 6/23/11 11:41 AM Page 5
www.longviewtx.com6 July/August
Ribbon Cuttings & Groundbreakings
Aerotek, Inc. is located at 2107Courthouse Drive. Call 972-832-6616.
Arc of Gregg County is located at 601Boyd St. Call 903-753-0723.
Big Papa’s Liquor Beer & Wine is locatedat 880 E. Loop 281. Call 903-757-7591.
AEROTEK, INC. ARC OF GREGG COUNTY Big Papa’s Liquor Beer & Wine
Cowboy Chicken is located at 3080Eastman Road, Ste. 100. Call 903-663-0777.
Cowboy ChickenLonestar Liquidators is located at 118Johnston. Call 903-234-0600.
Lonestar LiquidatorsMetabolic Research Center is located at103 W. Loop 281, Ste 418. Call 903-663-6776.
Metabolic Research Center
Mill Creek Terrace is located at 200 BosticDrive. Call 903-758-1008.
Mill Creek TerracePine Grove Apartments is located at 741Ethel St. Call 903-232-1616.
Pine Grove Apartments
Suburban Extended Stay Hotel is locatedat 3211 Hotel Way. Call 903-663-1333.
Suburban Extended Stay
www.longviewtx.com The Longview Progress Report 7
Promoting the Community
AGI ConsultingSteve Turner1804 Lakeshore DriveLongview, TX 75605(281) 507-4157Arabella ManorTeresa CrislerP.O. Box 10202Longview, TX 75608(903) 746-5461Behaviorial Hospital ofLongviewJacqueline GardnerP.O. Box 3822Longview, TX 75605(903) 291-3456Bluejean BabySierra Ray1017 N. 4th StreetLongview, TX 75601(903) 234-2229BNI Dynamic ReferralsDiane DavisP.O. Box 13032Longview, TX 75607(903) 757-2888Café Cups & ConesSnehal Patel3500 McCann Road - L10Longview, TX 75605(903) 232-2286Card & Party Factory/Wally’sParty FactoryNancy BaumanP.O. Box 1419Ennis, TX 75120(903) 663-3090Chick-fil-AChuck King1740 W. Loop 281Longview, TX 75604(903) 295-6633Chick-fil-AChuck King507 E. Loop 281Longview, TX 75605-5001(903) 663-6631Great American CoilDion FaucheuxP.O. Box 127White Oak, TX 75693(903) 297-4700Job CorpsMichael Tivet1605B Judson RoadLongview, TX 75601
July ‘11 - 1 YEARArkLaTex DKIDatcomEyeglass WorldGirling Health CareHopscotch for ChildrenLively Cadillac GMCSuzanne Cook & Company –
Lacey StevensonThe Ranch @1844
July ‘11 - 5 YEARSMarch of DimesNortheast Texas Regional
Mobility Authority
July ‘11 - 10 YEARSMcDonald Lighting &Maintenance Supply Inc.
July ‘11 - 15 YEARSClassic Homes by Sam ClarkCurtis-McKinley Roofing
& Sheet Metal Inc.Encore MultimediaSphere 2 Environmental Inc.
July ‘11 - 20 YEARSInternal Medicine AssociationMaster Audio Visuals Inc.
July ‘11 - 25 YEARSJean Simpson PersonnelServices
July ‘11 - 30 YEARSFlower Peddler
July ‘11 - 50 YEARSAcme Brick CompanyGorman-McCracken Mazda
Volkswagen
August ‘11 - 1 YEARArk Assurance GroupCW BoutiqueCowboy ChickenCroft’s Photographic ServicesDeutsche Bankellie bee’sIntuition Fashion and
Accessories
Longview Blind & ShutterBrad Caraway306 E. Loop 281Longview, TX 75605(903) 758-4291Mountain Supply & Service, LLCJosh RodgersP.O. Box 3111Longview, TX 75606(903) 753-2400Pine Grove ApartmentsKari Davis741 Ethel StreetLongview, TX 75602(903) 232-1616Pirtle Builders/Richard PirtleBuilder, LLCRichard Pirtle206 Spillway DriveLongview, TX 75604(903) 452-6170Premier Legacy Real Estate, LLCJohnny ArcherP.O. Box 1950Forney, TX 75125(469) 556-4051Southern Home Builders LostCreek Office Center Jennifer Teague4001 Techology CenterLongview, TX 75604Sparq CreativeStephen WarnockP.O. Box 9793Longview, TX 75608(903) 235-2099Stone Bridge Heating & AirConditioningBecca Wood4202 Republic DriveTyler, TX 75701(903) 565-5414Turn-Tex Machine & Tool, Inc. Dale GriderP.O. Box 68White Oak, TX 75693(903) 759-0989Vietnam Veterans of AmericaChapter #987Don KinseyP O Box 627Longview, TX 75606(903) 984-0382
Anniversaries New MembersKool SmilesLongview DancePilgrim Oil & Gas Technical
Services Inc.Planet Beach Contempo SpaP’s GalleryRobert’s Coffee & Vending
ServiceScott’s Flower Shop
August ‘11 - 5 YEARSEast Texas Human Resource
AssociationHawkins Creek Assisted
Living & Memory CareHunters Crossing ApartmentsJohn Daniel Appraisal AgencyKZQX RadioMurray Jewelry CompanyPine Knoll ApartmentsState Farm Insurance –
Charlene Ingram
August ‘11 - 10 YEARSA/C Contractors Inc.Amchem Inc.Bob Adams Speciality
AdvertisingEast Texans Against Lawsuit
AbuseLondon’s Wrecker ServiceLube Express of LongviewMcGough and McGough PCTitanium Environmental
ServicesWest Mountain Operating
Co. Inc.Wilson Air ConditioningWomen’s Center of East Texas
August ‘11 - 25 YEARSLeTourneau University
August ‘11 - 30 YEARSMichael Guillory MD
August ‘11 - 40 YEARSTDI Air Conditioning
julyaug11 6/23/11 11:39 AM Page 7
8 July/August www.longviewtx.com
Developing Community Leaders
It is without argument in the world of Main StreetManagers and Program Directors that successful
programs are owned and driven by enthusiasticvolunteers. Beyond the volunteers that steer the overallprogram on the AdvisoryCommittee, the volunteersthat make up each of theFour Point committees orteams are the essence of andessential to making a positivedifference with Main Street.
Training of the Advisory Committee and the Committeemembers is indispensable. Texas Main Street offers severalopportunities for this board and committee training and itis always integrated with the manager and programdirector training. The winter training is held in February orvery late January each year. Different main street programsaround the state host the events. The same is true for thesummer training. This year, winter training was hosted by
Paris, Texas and summer training was hosted by Denton,Texas. Regional training is also held across the state. Theseare generally organized by one city and surrounding citiesare invited. The challenge is finding a time or training that
a good number of theAdvisory Committee andCommittee volunteers canattend.
Like Longview, Denton isan Urban Main Street
program which means that the city’s population exceeds50,000. Julie Glover, Denton Main Street Manager, hasbeen at her position since 1996 overseeing their successfulprogram. Longview Main Street has invited Glover tocome to Longview to conduct training for the AdvisoryCommittee and all committee members. The training willfocus specifically on the challenges Urban Main Streetprograms face. This leadership training opportunity isscheduled for July 27.
Bringing Leadership Training Home
chambers for their effective organizational procedures andcommunity involvement, Accreditation allows us to renew,improve, and promote sound business practices, policies,and procedures.
Local chambers are rated Accredited, 3-Stars, 4-Stars, or5-Stars. The final determination is made by the AccreditingBoard, a committee of U.S. Chamber board members andchamber executives from across the country.
For details, please contact Kelly Hall, President/CEO [email protected] or www.longviewtx.com and clickon the logo.
who was willing to accept the job has been the primaryreason for delay. The committee is hopeful that a localsignmaker who has recently purchased and installed newequipment will be able to handle the project and theproject will not have to be outsourced. Because of the earlystages of this phase, the final plan is expected to becompleted by the first of August.
Five-Star Accreditation;continued from p. 1
Wayfinding, continued from p. 4
julyaug11 6/23/11 11:39 AM Page 8
The Longview Progress Report 9www.longviewtx.com
Promoting the Community
It may not be treasure hunting, exactly; it’s calledgeocaching. Geocaching is a real-world, outdoor treasure
hunting game using GPS-enabled devices. Participantsnavigate to a specific set of GPS coordinatesand then attempt to find the geocache(container) hidden at that location. Geocachescan be found almost anywhere, and there areover 1 million active geocaches around theworld.
What does this mean for us? First and mostimportantly, it is an outdoor, family-friendlyactivity and it’s free! That means whenpeople are visiting Longview, they canparticipate in an outdoor group adventurewhich will result in many wonderful andlasting memories of their experiences here. Itmeans we can also drive people to ourattractions and points of interest.
And since 2002, geocachers around theworld have been dedicated to improvingparks and other cache-friendly places.
Through these volunteer efforts, we help preserve thenatural beauty of our outdoor resources! Cache In TrashOut is an ongoing environmental initiative supported by
the worldwide geocaching community wherea geocaching adventure is included in a city-wide clean up to encourage more people(especially families) to participate.
There is also the entertainment aspect ofgeocaching such as offering a FREE seminaron geocaching as an event within a largerevent. It can be followed up with an actualgroup geocaching hunt with prizes.
The Longview CVB will be hiding ageocache in the very near future to helppromote family and group tourism inLongview. If you have never tried geocaching,we’re sure you will be hooked after you try it.If you would like more information ongeocaching, you can contact the LongviewConvention and Visitors Bureau at 903-753-3281 and Happy Hunting!
Geocaching: Impacting Local Tourism
A family uncovers ageocache in DowntownLongview using their GPS-enabled device.
julyaug11 6/23/11 11:39 AM Page 9
www.longviewtx.com10 July/August
Developing Community Leaders
Chamber Names Ambassadors of the Month
8 8
Name: Chapin MillerEmployer: CommunityHealthcorePosition: Marketing andPublic RelationsHow long have you beenan Ambassador? SinceSeptember 2010.What do you enjoy mostabout being anAmbassador? I enjoylearning about the differentbusinesses in Longviewand the products andservices the businessesoffer. How has being anAmbassador helped your
business? Being anAmbassador has allowedme to network with manydifferent local professionalsand get more connectedwithin the Longviewcommunity.
Name: Cindi-Marie LewisHow long have you beenan Ambassador? Almostone year.What do you enjoy mostabout being anAmbassador? It hasallowed me to meet somany new people anddevelop businessrelationships in ourcommunity.How has being anAmbassador helped yourbusiness? It is such a greatsocial networking tool thatprovides manyopportunities for myself
and Wellness Pointe to getour name out into thepublic and gain communityawareness for the medicalservices and socialprograms that we have tooffer.
Cindi-Marie Lewis Chapin Miller
julyaug11 6/24/11 2:00 PM Page 10
Earn a FREE trip!Are you looking for a fun way toget involved with the chamber
at no cost? Do you want to win afree vacation?
We are recruiting volunteers tohelp in our first Total Resource
Campaign. Join your colleaguesand support the chamber by
promoting our 2012 programs andservices. Volunteers will spend
eight weeks selling sponsorships,and every sponsorship you sell
qualifies you for cash prizes. If yousell enough, you will qualify to go
on a free trip! For more information,email Leska Parker at
July13 7:30 a.m. Waiting for Superman Documentary at Chamber Office
Noon Leadership Longview Committee Meeting21 4:45 p.m. Business After Hours hosted by Patterson Nissan27 11:30 a.m. One Hundred Acres of Heritage Main Street Advisory Board Training28 11:30 a.m. Member2Member at Chamber Office
August10 9-10:30 a.m TRC Training: Vice Chairman
Noon Leadership Longview Committee Meeting15 3:30 p.m. Chamber of Commerce Executive Board Meeting18 4:00 p.m. Chamber of Commerce Board Meeting23 4:45 p.m. Business After Hours hosted by The Clairmont24 9-10:30 a.m TRC Training: Team Captains’ Meeting
Noon One Hundred Acres of Heritage Main Street Advisory Board Meeting25 4:00 p.m. Waiting for Superman Documentary at Chamber Office
CALENDAR
www.longviewtx.com The Longview Progress Report 11
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410 N. Center StreetLongview, TX 75601
903-237-4000www.longviewtx.com
PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE
PAIDPERMIT NO. 82LONGVIEW, TX
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