2021 July/Aug Connection

CONNECTIONS

PRESIDENTIAL PERSPECTIVES

GLEN BREWER PRESIDENT & CEO

Howdy! As your Chamber continues to help local businesses recover from the damage of COVID-19 and rebuild our workforce, we also find many reasons to celebrate. July is the month to celebrate our nation’s freedom, and to recognize and thank the many active-duty military and veterans in our community that have sacrificed to protect our unequaled American way of life and unlimited opportunity.

In this issue of Connections Magazine, you will find stories of local heroes who share the many ways that their military backgrounds make them invaluable additions to our workforce, and also the businesses in our community that actively seek to employ these veterans. The Chamber is also proud of our veteran-owned business members and we want to take this opportunity to highlight them.

There is more good news to celebrate in our community as we begin to see more and more annual events coming back. Your Chamber of Commerce Founders Night has always been an event to enjoy the fellowship of Chamber members while we honor our previous leaders whose efforts and achievements made possible the community we enjoy today. We were pleased to see everyone at The Stella Hotel on July 16, as we continued our Founders Night tradition in celebration of our twin cities.

As both of our annual Chamber leadership programs — Leadership Brazos and Junior Leadership Brazos — wrap up for the 2021 year, we want to thank all of the participants and sponsors who make these programs possible every year. This year we graduated 30 LB members and 36 JLB members. We also celebrated Royce Hickman’s 80th birthday by announcing an Annual Royce Hickman Leadership Scholarship to be given to a Bryan/College Station JLB graduate each year. If you haven’t had the opportunity to participate in Leadership Brazos, we encourage you to pick up an application for the 2021-2022 class at our annual Leadership Luncheon on July 27 at the Hilton College Station. At the B/CS Chamber of Commerce, we recognize that our businesses are stronger together than apart. Thank you for your membership, and thank you for building a stronger, healthier community through stronger, healthier businesses.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

GREG ZWEIACKER Board Chair

WADE BECKMAN Chair-Elect

PHIL SHACKELFORD Immediate Past Chairman

JASON CORNELIUS Vice Chair of Leadership

AMY RESTIVO Vice Chair of Finance & Physical Resources

DOUG FRENCH Vice Chair of Business Development

WALTER HINKLE Vice Chair of Community Enhancement

New Chamber Members

7TH INNING STRETCH & WELLNESS College Station, TX 77841 (979) 575-4295 7thstretch.com

G SQUARED PRIVATE WEALTH 1470 Copperfield Parkway College Station, TX 77845 (979) 314-4830 gsquaredprivatewealth.com

KELLY AGENT

SIDNEY BACKSTROM MONICA BROWN

AUSTIN BRYAN

JOHN BUSH

GEOFFREY CHRISTIAN

JOHN C. “JACK” CULPEPPER III

BELINDA DOBSON

ZACH ETHERIDGE

JILL GALLAGHER

JORDAN JANUSE

BO MILES

DEMOND OLIVER

BARBIE PATTERSON

HEATH POOLE

MARIE PORTALES RODRIGUEZ

ASHLEY SANDERS

PAT SHIELDS

AGUSTIN TREVINO

BARBIE PATTERSON Vice Chair of Membership Enhancement STAFF

GLEN BREWER President/CEO

ROYCE HICKMAN Community Liaison

CARRIE ARCHER Manager of Membership

TOM TILTON Manager of Finance

JORDAN PRIHODA Manager of Business Programs

TAYLOR CLARK Communications Coordinator

ALLISON BATTE Special Projects Coordinator

RYDER ROBINSON

Membership Investment Representative

SHANNON TURNER

Executive Assistant

LINDA ESPIRIQUETA Receptionist

JACK HILLIARD DISTRIBUTING 1000 Independence Bryan, TX 77803 (979) 775-9047 aggielandbud.com

A ACTION CONSTRUCTION

3606 Tabor Road Bryan, TX 77808 (979) 219-3426

4415 Woodland Ridge Dr. College Station, TX 77845 (979) 204-7702

GENERATOR SUPERCENTER OF COLLEGE STATION 4400 State Hwy 6 S Ste 100 College Station, TX 77845 (979) 820-0162

KENDRA SCOTT

166 Century Court, Suite G-40 College Station, TX 77840 (979) 217-7585

NOBULL PAYMENTS

1107 Pamplin Ct College Station, TX 77845 (903) 641-5208

4040 State Highway 6 S, Suite 200 College Station, TX 77845 (979) 574-1373

SOUTHERN TIRE MART 1363 N Earl Rudder Fwy Bryan, TX 77808 (979) 778-8683

TRIPLE Z CLEANING SERVICES Bryan, TX 77805 (979) 721-0390

REFRIGERATION VESSELS & SYSTEMS CORPORATION Bryan, TX 77808 (979) 778-0095 rvscorp.com

BLACKWATER DRAW BREWING CO. 701 North Main Street Bryan, TX 77803 (979) 704-6191

BUBBIE’S KOLACHE KITCHEN AND BAKERY 1151 William D Fitch Pkwy, Ste 400 College Station, TX 77845 (361) 772-7223

GOPUFF 2408 C Texas Ave South College Station, TX 77840 (979) 220-7000

LAURA’S BARTENDING SERVICES 3901 Tanglewood Drive Bryan, TX 77802 (979) 220-1141

O’ BANNON’S TAPHOUSE 103 Boyett College Station, TX 77840 (979) 846-9214

RESERVE AT COTTONWOOD CREEK 501 West 31st Street Bryan, TX 77803 (979) 485-9828

THRIVE SKILLED PEDIATRIC CARE 4030 HWY 6, Suite 325 College Station, TX 77845 (979) 431-3380 thrivespc.com

BLOSSOM FLORAL DESIGNS 6497 County Road 237 Anderson, TX 77830 (979) 985-3200

COACH BLAIR CHARITIES 1228 TAMU College Station, TX 77842-1228 (979) 862-1791

HOUSTON ROOFING EXPERTS -BRAZOS VALLEY BRANCH Iola, TX 77861 (979) 574-2412

LEWIS & CO. SALON

2700 Earl Rudder Fwy, Suite A College Station, TX 77845 (979) 571-1911

PRECISION HAIL & COLLISION 2220 North Earl Rudder Bryan , TX 77808 (979) 321-0124

ROLLO INSURANCE GROUP 1500 State Highway 6 Frontage Rd S College Station, TX 77845 (979) 256-2509

zonerspizza.com

BRAND IT BANDIT P.O Box 12008 College Station, TX 77842 (979) 500-3388

CONTINENTAL

KELSEY-SEYBOLD CLINIC 1204 Copperfield Parkway College Station, TX 77845 (713) 442-0427

PROFORMA BISHOP GRAPHICS 3708 East 29th Street #212 Bryan, TX 77802-3901 (281) 758-5752

STEWART DISTRIBUTION LLC 710 Live Oak Bryan, Texas 77803 (979) 703-3502

STONE CO. CLIMBING 777 Graham Rd College Station, TX 77845 (214) 908-8320

WELLBORN LEARNING CENTER 14999 Fm 2154 College Station, TX 77845 (979) 492-5970

WELLBORN SELF STORAGE 5210 Straub Rd College Station, TX 77845 (979) 217-6101

TEXAS SIZE SELFIE texassizeselfie.com (936) 240-9606

77845 (979)

BUSINESS AFTER HOURS

The Bryan/College Station Chamber of Commerce offers monthly networking opportunities hosted by different businesses each month to connect Chamber members to each other. Socialize, engage and network with the business community from across the Brazos Valley. Our Business After Hours events begin at 5:30 p.m. and wrap up around 7 pm. See you at the next event!

THANK YOU TO OUR JUNE BUSINESS AFTER HOURS HOST! THE STELLA HOTEL

BRYAN AT 150 EARLY MOMENTS THAT SHAPED A CITY

Bryan, Texas. It’s a name that has meant so many things to so many people throughout its history. As the City of Bryan celebrates its 150th anniversary of official incorporation, let’s take a stroll through time and look at a few points in Bryan’s early years to learn how they help form the foundation on which our modern city stands.

ROOTS OF THE CITY

The City of Bryan’s roots stretch back to 1821, when Stephen F. Austin originally brought 300 families to Mexican Texas under a colonization agreement with the Mexican government.

But Austin didn’t just provide land for Texas immigrants. Under the Mexican empresario system, he was given large land holdings of his own as reward for successfully bringing new immigrants to Mexican Texas. Some of the colony land parcels were also never granted to any of the colonists, and those tracts of land remained in Austin’s possession. One of these land holdings is where Bryan sits today.

Austin died in December 1836 at the untimely age of 43, and his land holdings passed on to his heirs, including his nephew, William Joel Bryan.

In 1859, William Joel Bryan granted right-of-way through land he had inherited to the Houston and Texas Central Railroad. On April 9, 1860, Bryan went one step further, deeding the land for the original 640-acre town site to H&TC railroad officials William R. Baker and Abraham Groesbeck for a price of $3,200. The original 640-acre town site, was named “Bryan” in William Joel Bryan’s honor.

Bryan became the Brazos County seat in 1866, and with the arrival of the first H&TC train in August 1867, the city’s ascendancy as the hub of Brazos County was nearly complete. In just a decade, Bryan’s population increased 232 percent. The question now was, “What comes next?”

CITY AND UNIVERSITY

The year 1871 is the most momentous year in the history of Bryan. It is the year that the City of Bryan was incorporated and recognized by the State of Texas as a municipality. It is also the year that completely changed the calculus for what Bryan could, and would, become.

On April 17, 1871, the Texas Legislature approved a bill providing for the organization of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas. Gov. Edmund J. Davis appointed a commission to find a suitable location for the college. The commissioners let the competing locations know that they would accept sealed bids, termed “bonuses,” and would open them at a meeting in Houston. The location that won the bidding would be the site for the college.

Three men, Harvey Mitchell, the Hon. W.A. Saylor and Judge Spencer Ford, were tasked with going to Houston ahead of the meeting and securing the prize. But Ford didn’t make the trip to Houston, and Saylor went on to Galveston, leaving Mitchell alone to battle the other competitors.

Known as the “Father of Brazos County,” Mitchell had been an influential leader in the community since 1841 when he organized the county’s first school and served as its first teacher. He also served as a justice of the peace, minister, hotel and store owner, surveyor and blacksmith. But Mitchell viewed securing the site of the college for Bryan and Brazos County as the most vital task he’d ever undertaken.

Bryan, and it would forever be entwined with the fortunes of this new and growing municipality.

FIRSTS AND FIRES

There’s were a lot of “firsts” happening in Bryan around this time, and interestingly enough, some of the City of Bryan’s municipal firsts happened before the city was officially incorporated.

In 1869 the Bryan Police Department was formed, and in July 1871, the Bryan Fire Department was established. You’d think that the city would need to be incorporated for those two milestones to happen, but

that were settling in the Brazos Valley. The children of those first-generation immigrants would come of age in this era, and many of them left family farms to seek their fortunes in Bryan. A thriving merchant class began to take shape as many of this second generation became involved in the export of cotton, oil, grain, livestock and other commodities.

The first tax-supported public school in Bryan opened in 1880 as the Bryan Grade School on the site of the current Fannin Elementary School, 1200 Baker St. While Bryan’s first school for African Americans was founded in 1885 at E. 19th Street and Preston Avenue. Over the next 86 years, that location would support a school building for the education of segregated African American students.

According to Brown’s History of the Early Pioneers of Texas, Mitchell learned what the “bonus” bid would need to be to win the contest, and despite being unable to contact Bryan’s mayor, he submitted a successful bid that secured the college location just outside of Bryan.

Some of the numbers of the size of the acreage in the bid are disputed, but the final accepted total was 2,416 acres. What is also generally accepted is that Mitchell quickly got together with other landowners and they combined their own tracts of land to provide the deeds for bid. They were then reimbursed for the cost of that land by the entire community.

Mitchell’s mission had succeeded. The new college would be located just outside of

that wasn’t actually true. In the case of the fire department, it was an all-volunteer company that had to provide most of its own equipment in the early days. Bryan would not have a full-time, paid firefighter until 1921.

As it was in most places during this era, fire was the scourge of the community. With most structures being made of wood and oil lamps providing light, fires were simply a fact of life. Homes, stores, saloons, churches. No one went unscathed.

But rebuilding from fire wasn’t the only reason for new construction. Immigration from Europe continued to increase, with large numbers of Italians now joining the Czech, German and Polish populations

The Stoddard Hotel was another example of the building boom. Construction for the hotel began in April 1884, but was delayed in June, due to the supply of brick in Bryan not meeting the growing demand. The Stoddard formally opened with a banquet on Dec. 2, 1884 in which J. L. Hearne supplied “a fine crate of wine.” In 1886, the Dallas Morning News stated that the Stoddard Hotel was “the only first-class hotel in Bryan.”

The Opera House was one of the first public buildings in the City of Bryan. Located between the railroad tracks and Main Street, on the site of the current Palace Theater, this building was built in 1888 and also housed the first city hall and fire station. Ironically, it would also be destroyed by fire in the years to come.

20: Fire service in Bryan has been around as long as the town, but technology has greatly improved since the 1800s. Pictured here is a team of Bryan firemen in 1887 with their wagon-based fire-extinguishing equipment.

at least two shootouts in the 1880s where other law officers were killed.

leaders. He organized the first school in 1841 and served as its first

His crowning achievement was in 1871, when he arranged the new land-grant college in Texas to be located just south of Bryan. Today, we know it as Texas A&M University.

In 1880, the Bryan City Council voted to hire Levi Neal, an African American man, as a policeman with law enforcement authority over citizens of all races. For 20 years, Neal served the citizens of Bryan as a deputy city marshal, putting his life on the line in numerous occasions. He survived

On May 14, 1885, 40 convicts escaped from a prison work camp. Sixteen of the convicts headed to Bryan to seize a powder magazine. On May 15, Neal and four other men stationed themselves about one mile south of the city. The convicts were all mounted on mules and heavily armed, and when brought to a halt, they began firing immediately. Deputy City Marshal Levin P. Smith, Jr., was fatally shot. City Marshal A. B. Carr received several shots in his clothing and two shots in his hat, but did not sustain injury. It was reported that three of the convicts were seriously wounded, and nine of them were indicted for murder.

Neal himself would be killed in the line of duty on Feb. 24, 1900. An ex-convict,

arresting him. Neal was one of the first African American peace officers in Texas to die in the line of duty. He was buried in an unmarked grave in Bryan City Cemetery, and while his grave could not be located, a marker commemorating his service was later erected.

Though much research has been done, there is no known photograph of Deputy Levi Neal, but it is clear that he held a significant amount of respect in the eyes of all Bryan citizens.

MUCH MORE TO EXPLORE

These stories and facts barely begin to scratch the surface of the intricate tapestry that was, and is, our city. And we’re using

the power of the internet to delve much deeper into Bryan’s past. We’re creating an interactive experience that includes historic photos, documents, maps, artifacts, video, audio and personal stories to try and unwrap the different layers of Bryan’s rich history, from the beginning to today.

To find out more and see a list of activities planned, or to join us in this historic undertaking, visit 150.bryantx.gov.

Dennis Calhoun, killed Neal as Neal was

KRISTEN WAGGENER COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING DIRECTOR CITY OF BRYAN

BRYAN’S FIRST BLACK POLICE OFFICER

Page

Left: Harvey Mitchell was one of Bryan’s most influential

teacher.

Above: Two women wait in the wagon at the G.S. Parker Lumber Co complex, which was located on Main Street between 20th and 22nd Streets in Bryan. The lumber yard was on the east side of the complex, and the cotton gin operations were on the west side.

for sponsorship information & tickets, please call (979) 260-5200 or visit bcschamber.org

LobsterFest

Sunday, SEPTEMBER 19th

The Brazos Center

Monday, SEPTEMBER 20th

pebble creek country club

Cabinets By David

B/CS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE VETERAN OWNED BUSINESSES

Mitchell & Morgan, LLP

Watson Motors

BCS Pure

THE VRSC

The mission of the Don and Ellie Knauss Veterans Resource and Support Center is to support our veterans from application to vocation. The VRSC, in partnership with the Texas A&M University Career Center, have a focus on helping student veterans in all areas, to include Career Readiness.

Idon’t recall the day I received the message from Jim Jett. However, I do recall the content. The message read, “I have a position at the Aggieland Business Park and I would like to fill it with a student veteran.” It went on to read, “I pay well and there is a two bedroom apartment attached to the main building where the student will live.” There were a few other details on the message as well. But, I was very intrigued by the offer of good pay and the fact there was an on-site apartment for the worker to reside. If nothing less, the commute would be very short. Let’s say, within walking distance.

We receive offers of employment for our student veterans nearly daily…even back then. This was different. As I found out later, Jim was offering a place to live, work, study, learn, grow, hone skills, and become part of the Jett family.

I called Jim at the number on the message to substantiate the details. You know the old saying, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” When Jim answered the phone, I introduced myself and explained my reservations of the offer. I explained to Jim that the last thing I wanted to do is to

reach out to a few of our highly skilled student veterans with an offer that may not be as good as it sounds, especially since there was a two bedroom apartment that could possibly house a student veteran family.

Jim told me a little about himself and added, “My wife Gina has met you a few times at different events, and knows the work you do out of the VRSC.” At that point, my mind was a little more at ease. The fact is that I do know Gina and she is one of the most gracious people I’ve had the pleasure to meet. We discussed the details of the offer and the possibilities of how to advertise this position. As the discussion proceeded, I asked Jim if it would be possible to speak in person and to actually visit the site and apartment. For 100% transparency, I was still a little hesitant.

Jim invited me out to Aggieland Business Park. Before going to Jim’s office, I decide to drive around the business park to get an idea of the size and scale of the area. The last thing I wanted was a student veteran to be overwhelmed by work and school. After all, our mission to help them transition from military service to a Tier One Research Institution of Higher Education,

to be well prepared to navigate college life, and to provide them the tools for a successful transition to the workforce upon graduation. After a quick drive around, I stopped by Jim’s office. I was very excited to meet Jim and very pleased with the facilities.

Jim and I spoke for more than an hour, covering all the details I needed to know. One of the best items covered was the fact that he was willing to work around the student’s academic schedule. This is almost unheard of, anywhere. Jim explained that the academic success of the student was very important to him. After all, the person or persons hired would be veterans who have made many sacrifices already. At that point, I was sold. The fact that Jim would make such an offer, be authentic, and truly have the best interests of our student veterans in mind, blew me away. Many of the students who have worked for Jim have graduated and moved on. One thing is for certain. They have gained an extended Aggie family.

Jim continues to hire our student veterans and shares his experiences with other business owners in the local community. He is one of our greatest advocates.

The mission of the Don and Ellie Knauss Veterans Resource and Support Center is to support our veterans from application to vocation. The VRSC, in partnership with the Texas A&M University Career Center, have a focus on helping student veterans in all areas, to include Career Readiness. With veteran specific career advising, that includes resume reviews, mock interviews, career fair preparation and so much more that helps student veterans accurately prepare for post-graduation and utilize their skills and leadership gained through military service. One of the foundations we talk to student veterans about is finding an employer that is Veteran-Friendly, those employers that not only recruit veterans, but also provide the corporate culture that supports veterans and their families after they are hired.

SZH

Approximately 50% of our student veterans are married, and most of those have children as well. Balancing the academic requirements with their family obligations, often takes up the bulk of available hours in a day. In order to make ends meet, student veterans tend to rely heavily on Veterans benefits, like the GI Bill. Finding a local businessman like Jim Jett, who wanted to hire a veteran, provide housing and work around their academic schedules, truly set the gold standard for being a Veteran-Friendly Employer.

The VRSC is contacted daily by employers looking to hire veterans. From locally owned businesses, to Fortune 50 employers, we continue our mission to educate, not only the student veterans, but also the employers, on the benefits of hiring veter-

ans, and why it is so important to establish a business as being Veteran-Friendly, and build upon the principle of Serving those who have Served.

The VRSC welcomes any business that would like to learn more about recruiting veterans to reach out to us at (979) 8453161 or aggievets@tamu.edu Our office hours at Monday through Friday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm.

DONALD FREEMAN, SGM (USA RETIRED)

SUSAN KEOUGH, MHR DON AND ELLIE KNAUSS VETERANS RESOURCE AND SUPPORT CENTER

Office of Shane Phelps, P.C.

Hatters & Texas Rose Boutique (in memory of Sammy Catalena)

JUNIOR LEADERSHIP BRAZOS

Junior Leadership Brazos was started in 1992 following the overwhelming success of its predecessor, Leadership Brazos. The nine-week program, sponsored by the Bryan/College Station Chamber of Commerce, was designed to expose area high school juniors to different aspects of their community. Students are given an inside look at how local government, banks, law enforcement, and other local entities operate. JLB provides an awareness of local history and resources that will interest students hoping to become future community leaders. The mission of Junior Leadership Brazos is to promote a community-based educational program where Brazos County high school juniors may gain working insight into the community.

Each JLB class typically consists of 36 to 42 outstanding students who are selected via a blind application process. An anonymous committee selects the participants based on the uniqueness of the application, leadership traits, potential, and ability to communicate

personal ideals in writing. The class begins with a mandatory Saturday ropes course at Texas A&M ChallengeWorks that introduces the participants to each other and the program. Ropes courses use adventure to enhance learning, develop trust, promote teamwork, and improve self-esteem. The ropes course is followed by 8 three-hour sessions on topics such as Leadership, Criminal Justice, Local Government, Banking & Finance, Local Economy, Arts & Culture, Local Agriculture, and Medical. The program concludes with a graduation ceremony featuring keynote speaker Brigadier General Joe Ramirez.

GOALS OF THE PROGRAM

• To help youth of B/CS become more familiar with community services and dynamic forces at work in the area.

• To assist local youth with leadership

potential to provide influence on their peers concerning the community.

• To provide an opportunity to create positive interaction among youth of all area high schools.

• To influence youth of the B/CS area upon completion of their education to become active citizens in the communities in which they settle.

• To serve as a liaison between the graduates of JLB and a variety of community activities and organizations.

When Royce Hickman joined the Chamber as President and CEO in 1998, the Junior Leadership Brazos program was still fairly new. Royce was responsible for spearheading a campaign to perfect the program and make it the best of its kind in the B/ CS area. Under his leadership, JLB was able to expanding the number

MISSION TO PROMOTE A COMMUNITY BASED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM WHERE BRAZOS COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS MAY GAIN WORKING INSIGHT INTO THE COMMUNITY.

of sessions it offered and increase the number of students who were able to participate. In honor of his dedication to the program, the Leadership Brazos Alumni Association has set up the Royce Hickman Scholarship Fund benefiting graduates of Junior Leadership Brazos. Mr. Hickman and his wife Mary continue to support Junior Leadership Brazos by personally sponsoring a JLB student each year.

For more information regarding Junior Leadership Brazos or the Royce Hickman Scholarship Fund, please email Allison Batte at allison@ bcschamber.org.

Above: Royce Hickman, Community Liaison, B/CS Chamber of Commerce. Right:

B/CS Chamber

The B/CS Chamber is excited to welcome new members to our team. Please help us give a big Chamber Welcome to Shannon Turner, Executive Assistant, and Ryder Robinson, Membership Investment Representative!

The Bryan/College Station Chamber of Commerce attended the Texas Chamber of Commerce Executives Conference learning how to better serve our Bryan-College Station community. Texas Chambers of Commerce are recognized each year for outstanding marketing and communications work through the Texas Chamber of Commerce Executive’s (TCCE) Communication Award Program. Submissions are reviewed by volunteer judges—peers from the TCCE community—who select a limited number of entries to be named as award winners. We are proud to announce that we were awarded Top Media Awards in the categories of Event Marketing and Print Publications!

Daniel Stark Law Be Remarkable Award

The Floor is Yours...

ANCO Insurance

The Chamber Spotlight shares company news with the community. New leadership, major changes, anniversaries, employee achievements - celebrate milestones with a message!

After 22 years as Anco Insurance President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and 47 years in the insurance industry, Kathy Gregory is announcing her retirement. Sid Cauthorn, CEO of the Bank & Trust of Del Rio and President and Chairman of the Board of Westex Bancorp, Inc. will be assuming the role of President and CEO of Anco Insurance upon Gregory’s retirement, effective July 1, 2021. Kathy Gregory said, “It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as President of Anco Insurance for the past 22 years. I am proud of all that we have accomplished in that time, and I appreciate each and every employee that has been a part of Anco during my years here. I know that Anco will be in good hands with Sid Cauthorn, and he will continue to help our Associates build on 148 years of insurance innovation and the best customer service.”

American Public Power Association Spence Vanderlinden Public Official Award

Congratulations to Bryan Texas Utilities Board Member and former Bryan Mayor, Jason Bienski,

for being recognized with the American Public Power Association Spence Vanderlinden Public Official Award. This award recognizes elected or appointed members of utility boards or commissions or public power community mayors who have made contributions to the American Public Power Association’s goals and prestige.

First Financial Bank

CEO Ivan Olson announces his retirement after years of serving the Brazos Valley. Olson has served on numerous boards for nonprofits and other organizations during his career. He celebrated his achievements Thursday, June 17, at Pebble Creek Country Club surrounded by family, coworkers, and friends. Congratulations on your next chapter, Mr. Olson!

Leadership Brazos Alumni at Thompson Derrig & Craig PC

Congratulations to Leadership Brazos Alumni AJ Taylor and Logan Kendrick on being promoted to partners at Thompson Derrig & Craig PC!

Congratulations to Amelia McCracken, Owner and Founder of Ment Marketing and Creative Services, for being awarded the Daniel Stark Law Be Remarkable Award! Twice a month, a remarkable person or organization is recognized by Daniel Stark

Law for their work to make a difference in our community. Thank you, Amelia, for your continuous work to make our community a great place to live and work. Congratulations!

2021 Top 10 Fastest-Growing Small Businesses in Brazos County

Congratulations to the Bryan Rotary 10 2021 Top 10 FastestGrowing Small Businesses in Brazos County!

• Blackrock Builders, LP

• Frogslayer, LLC*

• CR Systems Inc.*

• Impact Group Marketing*

• SmartCompliance, Inc.

• Stafford Barrett Commercial Brokerage*

• Singleton, Zimmer, Haliburton Architecture*

• Water To Wine Productions*

• FlagShip Custom Homes

• George’s Paint and Body, LLC*

* indicates that the business is a member of the Bryan/College Station Chamber of Commerce.

DELUXE RIBBON CUTTINGS

FAMILY LOCALLY AGGIE & VETERAN OWNED