2017 Bastrop Chamber of Commerce Annual Report

February 16, 2018 Bastrop Convention Center

Social Hour 6:00 - 7:00 PM Welcome & Opening Remarks ····································· Becki Womble, IOM – President/CEO Presentation of the Colors ····························································· BHS Navy Junior ROTC National Anthem ··················································· Ronald Mates, Cedar Creek High School Pledge of Allegiance ······················································· LTC, USA William M. Pina, Retired Invocation ····································································································· Rick Rivera Buffet Dinner ········································································ Catered by Southside Market Live Auction ································································· Heather Kaspar, Buck Up Auctions Introductions & Retiring Directors ······························· Becki Womble, IOM – President/CEO 2017 Accomplishments······························································ Joann Harkins, Past Chair 2017 Focus on the Future ·························································· Jolene Jaehne, 2018 Chair Award Presentations ·······················································Dr. Kristie Lee & Shane Sorenson

Award of Distinction Large Business of the Year – Southside Market Small Business of the Year – Maxine’s Café & Bakery Emerging Business of the Year – Kragh’s Jewelry

Non-Profit of the Year – Bastrop Area Cruisers Woman of the Year – Betty Rucker Man of the Year – Dale Burke Bastrop High School Navy Junior ROTC students assisting with our program tonight: Cadet Lieutenant Junior Grade Rena Richard Cadet Ensign Abegail Henrickson Cadet Petty Officer First Class Tyler Rutledge Cadet Petty Officer First Class Alec Warby

Social Hour Sponsors Brown Distributing ● Capitol Wright Distributing Hahn Family of Wines & Cam / Lisa Chavez

Loyalty Sponsors Hunt Properties / The Colony ● Living Room Books & Gifts G & C Printing ● Roy Milam Painting ● Maxine’s Café & Bakery

Table Sponsors  Bastrop Area Cruisers

Sponsor list as of press time

 Bastrop County

 Bastrop Economic Development Corporation  Bastrop Independent School District  Bastrop Lost Pines Nursing & Rehabilitation Center  Bastrop Power & Light  Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative  Bridges Real Estate Group  Brown Distributing  Chicago Title - Bastrop

Ladd's Coin and Jewelry, Inc.  LCRA - Rick Arnic  Lost Pines Leathernecks Det. 1384  LTC, USA/Retired & Mrs. William M. Piña  Maxine's Café & Bakery  McCreary, Veselka, Bragg & Allen - Noe Reyes  Medack & Oltmann, LLP  Prosperity Bank  RE/MAX Bastrop Area  RE/MAX Bastrop Area - The Janis Penick Team 

 City of Bastrop

Roscoe State Bank 

 Family Health Center of Bastrop

Roy Milam Painting 

 First National Bank  Garner & Riley Physical Therapy

Sherry Cook  Texas House of Representatives John P. Cyrier 

 H.E.B. Grocery

The Nitsche Group 

 Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort & Spa

The Oaks RV Park 

 IBC Bank  Independence Title  Kevin White Group - Keller Williams Realty

Van Zandt Properties  Visit Bastrop  YMCA 

Executive Committee

Jolene Jaehne Chair 2018 Sente Mortgage

Kevin Plunkett

Joann Harkins

Tina Fucile

Tim Garner

Chair-Elect Old Town / Piney Creek

Past Chair Prosperity Bank

Lenel Tamez

Johnny Burns Treasurer Family Health Center of Bastrop

Secretary Individual Member

Jill Lube

Christina Martinez

Ann Van Zandt

Directors

Jonah Beyer Feed the Need Missions

Independence Title

Garner & Riley Physical Therapy

Individual Member

John Otts

Zona Sweeney

Jimmy Ta

Lori Tuggle

Lowe’s

Hampton Inn Bastrop

Chamber Staff

Becki Womble IOM President / CEO

Vanessa Lindsley Membership Development

Troyanne Bush IOM Business Manager

Rick Gullikson

Communications & Events

LegalShield

Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative

State Farm

Van Zandt Properties

2016 Retiring Board Members

Jami Haney

The Oaks RV Park

Jennifer Long Bastrop Property Group

Kevin White

Kevin White Group Keller Williams Realty

“Celebrating Sweet Success for Bastrop Business” is not just the theme for the Bastrop Chamber of Commerce’s 80th annual awards banquet, it’s a pause – it’s a reminder, to take a moment to recognize how far we have come. The business community, our business community, is the foundation of any resilient, thriving community – and that should be celebrated. The Bastrop business community is strong, united, and is as powerful as ever.

Jolene Jaehne Chair 2018

This community should be inspired by the individuals that feel empowered enough to express their beliefs and values. 2017 taught us to take nothing for granted – and to always listen more than we speak. I am glad that we can work together for a common goal, for what’s important to us all. I am glad that we are making smart decisions – together. I am inspired to start the new year with energy and enthusiasm, and most importantly: hope. Hope that we, as business leaders, can continue to build each other up – and continue making Bastrop a

better place to live and work.

Your 2018 Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors is committed to being the voice of business. This year we have outlined strategic priorities and set clear written policies. We are striving to provide more effective communication tools - we want our businesses to be heard. We aim to empower the business community through education and other programs; and will continue to work to create a strong local workforce. Our commitment to engage our members to participate on a committee level will serve to strengthen our community and help our businesses to succeed far beyond their expectations.

We have some very special awards to deliver this evening; we have the ceremonial passing of the gavel; and we have a fun evening planned. I am happy to see you here; taking the opportunity to connect and visit with leaders from local businesses, nonprofits, BISD and local government.

On behalf of the Bastrop Chamber of Commerce, I want to thank you for your membership and commitment to our business community. I am honored to serve as your Chair for 2018.

The Bastrop Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet is a time to look back and celebrate our “Sweet Success” from the previous year. Tonight’s event is a truly a celebration of our accomplishments going back 96 years to 1922. This Annual Report contains past awards winners and past Board chairs. These are the men and women that gave of their time, treasures, and talents to make our Chamber and community the strong and vibrant place that it is today!

This past year, the Chamber focused on building even stronger relationships with our Community Partners such as the Bastrop EDC, Main Street Program, City of Bastrop, Visit Bastrop, Bastrop ISD and Bastrop County.

We remain in constant communication with each other to ensure we are making wise decisions when it comes to growth and strategize with these organization about how we make Bastrop an even better place to live, play and work. This has been accomplished through new, energetic leadership with fresh ideas and cooperative spirit from many areas of our community!

Becki Womble, IOM President / CEO

The 2018 Board of Directors are business leaders committed to having a strong local economy and building upon the foundation of the leaders before them. This group has a written Program of Work and is striving to build deeper membership engagement through our committees and educational opportunities. Their vision is “to be recognized as the principle advocate for business development, prosperity, and economic sustainability for Bastrop and the Bastrop area.”

As 2018 gets started, we see many opportunities on the horizon for Bastrop. There is new development – both residential to commercial. New businesses opening monthly. Visit Bastrop (our Destination Marketing Organization) is up and running and we will bring new tourism, conventions along with new and revamped local events. And who could forget the exposure the Small Business Revolution has brought us nationally and the camaraderie it has created to our community with the #MYBASTROP movement and community pride?

The talented chamber staff and visionary Board leading our Chamber is one of The B.E.S.T. you could hope to assemble. As I begin my 10th year in the industry, I am tremendously proud to be part of such a dynamic organization. This organization, your Chamber, will continue to be a united “Voice of Business” in Bastrop - your voice.

The Bastrop Chamber of Commerce thanks you for your support and we hope you enjoy “Celebrating our SWEET Success in Bastrop Business” at our 80th Annual Chamber Banquet!

PLATINUM INVESTOR

GOLD INVESTOR

SILVER INVESTOR         

Bastrop Economic Development Corporation Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort & Spa H.E.B. Grocery Prosperity Bank Walmart Supercenter Independence Title A+ Federal Credit Union Bastrop Lost Pines Nursing & Rehabilitation Center Aqua Water Supply

BRONZE INVESTOR LTC, USA/Retired & Mrs. William M. Piña Sherwin-Williams Kevin White Group - Keller Williams Realty Greater Texas Credit Union Roy Milam Painting Bastrop Advertiser Centex Image Designs Maxine's Cafe & Bakery YMCA

        

Membership by Type

2nd Business 1%

741 Members

Membership Tenure Individual 5%

Non-Profit 12%

3 - 5 years 118

1 - 2 years 159

51 - 400+ employees 3%

Associate 3%

6 -9 years 115

11 - 50 employees 10%

1 - 5 employees 45%

6 - 10 employees 11%

20 - 50+ years 16

< 1 year 139

10 -19 years 182

2017 Revenue Breakdown Events 22% Membership Investments 45%

2017 Revenue Total $317,540.01

Fundraisers 11%

HOT Funding 6%

Programs 9%

All numbers on this page reflect January 1 through December 31, 2017

Advertising 7%

Rentals 2%

2017 Website Statistics

Luncheon Attendance Statistics

60,802: Unique Users

350 300

250

199,542: Page Views

200 150

236,379: Member Web Referrals

100 50

8,626: Click Thru to Member

0 Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May FY 2016

Jun FY 2017

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Websites

 First Public Policy Guide approved by the Board in January, published and listed on our Chamber website as well as BastropVotes.com website  Passage of Amended Bylaws at Chamber Banquet in February  Reinstated Articles of Formation registered with the State of Texas  Successful BastropVotes.com candidate forums for Mayor, City Council and School Board  ‘We BELIEVE in BISD!’, a Bastrop Chamber initiative, named as “BISD Community Partner of the Year”  Patriotic Festival expanded to a 2-day event  Bastrop Chamber was listed #11 on the Book of Lists from the Austin Business Journal based on budget size

 Successful Audit done by Medack & Oltmann, LLC  501(c)3 established for the Business Recovery Team of Bastrop County  Bastrop Youth Career Day received a “Workforce Excellence Award”; a partnership with Bastrop EDC, Workforce Solutions, Bastrop ISD, City of Bastrop, and the Bastrop Chamber of Commerce.  47 Volunteers from the Bastrop Chamber of Commerce worked the Office of Emergency Management during Hurricane Harvey  Adopted the Rockport-Fulton Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with B.E.S.T. Leadership to assist with Hurricane Harvey relief efforts.  Chamber topped 740 members, which represents a 14.5% increase from one year ago and represents more than 6000 jobs in Bastrop and Bastrop County  Visit Bastrop (Destination Marketing Organization) established, management contract in place, funded & staffed; an initiative pushed for by the Chamber since October 2015

Man of the Year

Business of the Year

2016 ............................................................................ Mike Goebel 2015 ............................................................................... Bill Owens 2014 .......................................................................... Steve Venzon 2013 ..................................................................... Johnny Sanders 2012 ................................................................ William ‘Willie’ Piña 2011 ........................................................................... Steve Murray 2010 ........................................................................... Steve Dewire 2009 ........................................................................ Frank Huffman 2008 ............................................................................... Dick Smith 2007 .............................................................................. Reid Sharp 2006 ....................................................................... Tim Shuminsky 2005 ........................................................................... Mike Helmick 2004 ................................................................................ Al Mouton 2003 ........................................................................... Otis Jackson 2002 ................................................................... Ashley Mutschink 2001 ...................................................................... Tommy Higgins 2000 .......................................................................... Bill Anderson 1999 ................................................................................ Tom Scott 1998 ........................................................................... Bill Crawford 1997 ........................................................................ Gary Workman

2016 ......... Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort / The Sugar Shack 2015 ................................................................................. HEB Plus 2014 .............................................................................. Roadhouse 2013 ........................First National Bank / Ladd’s Coin & Jewelry

Woman of the Year 2016 .................................................................... Barbara Caldwell 2015 ......................................................................... Molly McClure 2014 .......................................................................... Debbie Moore 2013 ...................................................................Dorothy Skarnulis 2012 .......................................................................... Jennifer Long 2011 ........................................................................ Diane Newsom 2010 ................................................................... Terry Lyne Moore 2009 ............................................................................... Terri Knop 2008 ..........................................................................Debbie Denny 2007 .................................................................. Delores Hestdalen 2006 ........................................................................Karen Halladay 2005 ....................................................................... Barbara Wilson 2004 ......................................................................... Peggy Colbert 2003 ............................................................. Diana Johansen-Jack 2002 .............................................................................. Violet John 2001 .......................................................................... Betty Gurwitz 2000 ................................................................. Dr. Desmar Walkes 1999 ............................................................................ Kay Wesson 1998 ....................................................................... Joyce Wiginton 1997 ............................................................................ Kay Wesson

Awards of Distinction* 2016 .....................Bastrop County Commissioner Clara Beckett 2015 ......................................... Bastrop County Judge Paul Pape 2015 ......................................... Emergency Manager Mike Fisher 2014 ....................... Bastrop County Long Term Recovery Team 2011 ............................................. Firefighters of Bastrop County 2011 .............................. Susan Nogues, Norm Jones, Tom Scott 2008 ................................................... Friends of the Environment 2007 .................................... Chester Eitze, Bastrop Opera House 2006 ............................................ Federal Correctional Institution 2006 ................................................................. Bastrop State Park 2006 ................................................Downtown Business Alliance 2006 ............................................................. Boy’s and Girl’s Club

Lifetime Achievement* 2016 ......................................................................... Evelyn Weilert 2015 .............................................................................. Reid Sharp 2014 ....................................................................... Dr. Neil Gurwitz * - not awarded every year

Emerging Business of the Year 2016 ............................... Scream Hollow Wicked Halloween Park 2015 .........................................................Art Connections Gallery 2014 ....................................................... Piney Creek Chop House 2013 ................................................................... Lost Pines Toyota

Non-Profit of the Year 2016 ....................................................................................... YMCA 2015 ......................................................................... Mission U-Too 2014 ........................................Bastrop County Board of Realtors 2013 ........................................Bastrop County Historical Society

Citizen of the Year 2013 ......................................................................... Christine Files 2012 .......................................................................Robbie Sanders 2011 ................................................ Chief of Police Michael Blake 2011 ............................................................ Fire Chief Henry Perry 2011 ....................................................................... Mayor Terry Orr 2011 ........................................................... Sheriff Terry Pickering 2011 ................................................. Emergency Mgr. Mike Fisher 2011 ........................................................ Judge Ronnie McDonald 2010 ....................................................................... Drusilla Rogers 2009 .................................................................. James B. Kershaw 2008 ............................................................................. James Allen 2007 ............................................. Bastrop Sportsmen Committee 2006 ............................................................... Jimmie Ann Vaughn 2005 ....................................................... Gene & Karen Jo Castillo 2004 .................................................................................. Terry Orr 2003 ...........................................................................Sam Arhelger 2002 ..................................................................... Monty Blackmon 2001 ................................................................................Les Appelt 2000 ....................................................................... Dr. Neil Gurwitz 1999 ............................................. Ronnie McDonald & Mark Rose 1998 ...................................................................... Richard Howells 1997 ......................................................................... Evelyn Weilert 1996 ...................................................................... Dr. B.J. Marshall 1995 ............................................................................... Reid Sharp 1994 ................................................................... Rev. Robert Long

Aris Cox, Ashley New, Erica Kana, James Beck, Krystal Stabeno, Jolene Jaehne, Terry Moore, Ann Van Zandt, Brenda Abbott, Jami Haney, Joann Harkins, Kathy Danielson, Sarah White

927 Main Street Bastrop, TX 78602 512.303.0558 info@bastropchamber.com www.bastropchamber.com

'The mission of the Bastrop Chamber of Commerce is to improve the economy of Bastrop and thereby, the quality of life for all its citizens through economic, community, and leadership development.'