2020 Sept/Oct. Connections

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FAREWELL TO FLORES

BRYAN / COLLEGE STATION CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2020 COMMUNITY EVENTS Brazos Valley Gives 2020 COMMUNITY INSIGHTS Farewell to Flores CHAMBER UPDATES Board of Directors 2020-2021 REFLECTING ON A DECADE OF PUBLIC SERVICE
CONNECTIONS

Dream Loans for Dream Homes

OCTOBER 10.07.20 DELUXE RIBBON CUTTING South 40 Veterinary Hospital 09.10.20 DELUXE RIBBON CUTTING Southerns 09.30.20 DELUXE RIBBON CUTTING Stafford Barret Commercial Brokerage 10.28.20 DELUXE RIBBON CUTTING Mission Ranch Model Homes by RNL Homes and Reece Homes 10.29.20 BUSINESS AFTER HOURS The Weinberg at Wixon Valley 09.20.20 LOBSTERFEST The Brazos Center 09.21.20 GOLF CLASSIC The City Course at Phillips Event Center 10.12.20 LOCAL CANDIDATES FORUM The Brazos Center 10.15.20 LOCAL CANDIDATES FORUM The Brazos Center 10.20.20 HEALTH & WELLNESS FORUM The Stella Hotel 09.17.20 BUSINESS AFTER HOURS The Stella Hotel Calendar SEPTEMBER Features 2 PRESIDENTIAL PERSPECTIVES A Message from Glen Brewer 3 NEW MEMBERS Welcoming New Businesses to Bryan/College Station 8 4 COMMUNITY EVENTS Community First: Giving Where You Live 12 CHAMBER UPDATES Pulling Up A Chair & 2020-2021 Board of Directors 16 20 22 CHAMBER SPOTLIGHT The Floor is Yours... DELUXE RIBBON CUTTINGS Celebrate the Start of Something New in B/CS COMMUNITY INSIGHTS Farewell to Flores LEADERSHIP BRAZOS Class of 2021 YOU FIRST | FFIN.com Melanie Motley NMLS# 510014 979-260-2153 | mmotley@ffin.com Apply online at: ffin.com/melanie-motley Sierra Cunningham NMLS# 1824464 979-260-2176 scunningham@ffin.com Apply online at: Ffin.com/sierra-cunningham Melissa Keeling NMLS# 1671843 979-260-0434 | mkeeling@ffin.com Apply online at: ffin.com/Melissa-keeling
Mortgage | Construction | Investment Property | Barndominium Home Equity | Bridge | Home Improvement 1 SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2020

A MESSAGE FROM PHIL SHACKELFORD

As another year comes to a close in the 102 year history of the Bryan/College Station Chamber of Commerce, your B/ CS Chamber is even more committed to serving our diverse membership. The Bryan/ College Station Chamber of Commerce exists to enhance the economic well-being of the businesses in the communities it serves. There is no more important a time to live out our mission in service to businesses of all sizes, and our community, all facing challenges unlike any they have seen in the past.

In my last comments as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Bryan College Station Chamber of Commerce, I want to share some policy statements affirmed by our Board of Directors earlier this year without objection. I have shared these principles with the elected leadership of the City of Bryan, the City of College Station, and Brazos County. I do not envy the position that our elected leaders find themselves in with tight budgets and many competing needs, however I do hope that they will consider these items along with their research and advisors that help shape their perspectives and positions.

1. Examine all contract procedures and purchasing for opportunities to support local businesses and vendors.

2. Avoid new taxes or fees, for such time that the unemployment rate, hotel motel tax, and sales tax revenues are not equal to or better than the last three year monthly average for 2017-2019 to allow for a full recovery.

3. Avoid new regulations upon businesses that are not directly related to COVID-19 and the health and safety of employees and consumers.

4. Consider ways to reduce tax burden with cuts, credits, or temporary exemptions that would provide relief to families and small businesses.

It pains me to see small business owners, entrepreneurs, and hard working families struggle from the economic fallout brought on by the pandemic. Your B/CS Chamber is here to support you, represent you, and work to enhance your economic well-being through this pandemic and beyond.

I cannot fully express the deep appreciation and respect I have for our B/CS Chamber Staff led by our President and CEO Glen Brewer. We are fortunate to have a dedicated, passionate, and professional team who are committed to our mission and serving both our membership and our community. I couldn’t be more proud of our organization’s response to COVID 19 and service to our membership and community.

I want to thank the members of the Board of Directors for their service and for their trust in electing me as Board Chair. This organization is enriched by the service of our Board of Directors, Ambassadors, and the various volunteers who serve our membership. Our next Board Chair, Greg Zweiacker has nothing less than my full

KELLY AGENT

SIDNEY BACKSTROM

MONICA BROWN

AUSTIN BRYAN

BUSH

GEOFFREY CHRISTIAN

JASON CORNELIUS

JOHN C. “JACK”

CULPEPPER III

BELINDA DOBSON

ZACH ETHERIDGE

DOUG FRENCH

JILL GALLAGHER

WALTER HINKLE

JORDAN JANUSE

BO MILES

DEMOND OLIVER

BARBIE PATTERSON

HEATH POOLE

MARIE PORTALES

RODRIGUEZ

AMY RESTIVO

ASHLEY SANDERS

SHIELDS

AGUSTIN TREVINO

4.0 CUTS BARBER SALON Jones Crossing College Station, TX 77845 (979) 704-6440 40cuts.com

RENEWAL BY ANDERSEN 9825 FM 2920 Tomball, TX 77375 (832) 797-9036 renewalbyandersen.com BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE CONVENIENT CARE CLINIC 1700 University Dr. E., 2nd Floor College Station, TX 77840 (979) 207-3636 BROOKSHIRE

808 TECHNOLOGIES 212 N. Bryan Ave., Ste.103 Bryan, TX 77803 (979) 314-7824

PRIHODA

TAYLOR SMITH

TAYLOR CLARK

BATTE

NAVE

ESPIRIQUETA

BCS AXE HOUSE 3601 S Texas Avenue Bryan, TX 77802 (979) 485-9993

CRYOTONICS

3121 University Drive, Suite 125 Bryan, TX 77802 (979) 485-9563

J&B PROPANE 3406 Highway 21 W Madisonville, TX 77864 (936) 348-5465

MEDIA PAYMENTS GROUP

2002 Timberloch Place, Suite 200 The Woodlands, TX 77380 (844) 674-8255

MOTEL 6 COLLEGE STATION 2327 Texas Avenue South College Station, TX 77840 (217) 208-7047

RELLIS DATA RESEARCH CENTER 5250 McCormick Mountain Drive Austin, TX 78734 (512) 695-7590

REMEDY ROOFING INC 1626 Avenue D Katy, TX 77493-3646 (281) 391-8555

THE VINTAGE CIRCLE 3828 S Texas Avenue Bryan, TX 77802 (979) 450-7782

STAMPEDE COATINGS

3810 Harvey Road College Station, TX 77845 (979) 213-4175

BROTHERS 455 George Bush Dr. W College Station, TX 77840 (936) 634-8155 brookshirebrothers.com New Chamber Members
OF COMMERCE
OF DIRECTORS
ZWEIACKER Board Chair WADE BECKMAN Chair-Elect PHIL SHACKELFORD Immediate Past Chairman STAFF GLEN
President/CEO ROYCE
Community
Manager
Membership TOM
Manager
CHAMBER
BOARD
GREG
BREWER
HICKMAN
Liaison CARRIE ARCHER
of
TILTON Manager of Finance JORDAN
of Business Programs
Membership Investment Representative
Communications Coordinator ALLISON
Special Projects Coordinator RACHEL
Executive Assistant LINDA
Receptionist Chamber Connections is a publication of the Bryan/ College Station Chamber of Commerce and a public service to Chamber members. Editorial and advertising inquiries should be addressed to Taylor Clark by email at taylor@bcschamber.org. BRYAN CREATIVE GROUP Publication Design NEWMAN PRINTING COMPANY Publication Printing
JOHN
PAT
3 SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2020 2 CONNECTIONS

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!

Deluxe Ribbon Cuttings

Are you celebrating an important milestone? Anniversary? Opened a new location? Re-branding? Let us help you! Call (979) 260-5200 or email Rachel@bcschamber.org to schedule your B/CS Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting today!

77845 (979) 485-2887 cryobcs.com

Old College Bryan, TX 77801 (979) 353-0008 bcstogether.org

BCS TOGETHER BCS
1718
2020 NOVEMBER
OCTOBER
2020 Hosted By: THE STELLA HOTEL Hosted By: CHI ST. JOSEPH HEALTH Hosted
THE WEINBERG AT WIXON VALLEY
RANDY FRENCH, PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER OF STYLECRAFT, CONGRESSMAN BILL FLORES, AND GLEN BREWER, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE B/CS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE STOPPED FOR A QUICK PHOTO AFTER THE 2020 ECONOMIC OUTLOOK BRIEFING. CONGRESSMAN BILL FLORES GAVE HIS FINAL ADDRESS DURING THE B/CS CHAMBER ECONOMIC OUTLOOK BRIEFING FAREWELL TO FLORES LUNCHEON. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME SERVING OUR DISTRICT, CONGRESSMAN FLORES! B/CS CHAMBER AMBASSADORS, BEN CALDWELL AND JARED SALVATO, ENJOYING A FRIENDLY GAME OF GIANT JENGA AT THIS YEAR’S FOUNDERS NIGHT. FOUNDERS NIGHT MAY HAVE LOOKED A LITTLE DIFFERENT THIS YEAR WITH EVERYONE IN MASKS, BUT IT WAS A FUN NIGHT HAD BY ALL. WE HAD A FANTASTIC TURNOUT BOTH IN PERSON AND VIRTUALLY FOR OUR 2020 LEADERSHIP LUNCHEON! THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT WAS ABLE TO JOIN US. THE B/CS CHAMBER PROMISES TO ALWAYS PUT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS FIRST! THE GREAT AMERICAN BOXCAR CHORUS BAND WAS A HUGE HIT AT OUR 2020 FOUNDERS NIGHT!
A FULL PANEL OF COMMUNITY LEADERS FOR THIS YEAR’S LEADERSHIP LUNCHEON. L TO R: GLEN BREWER, WADE BECKMAN, CAL MCNEILL, KENNY LAWSON AND MEREDITH MCAULIFFE. 5 SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2020 4 CONNECTIONS
CRYO 3811
Rock Prairie Road College Station, TX
SEPTEMBER 17,
19, 2020
29,
By:
Chamber Photos

It’s a Thing...

WANT TO SEE YOUR BUSINESS FEATURED?

Gain exposure and promote your business with a paid advertorial in the B/CS Chamber of Commerce Connections magazine. Email Taylor Clark, Communications Coordinator for the Chamber of Commerce at taylor@bcschamber. org or by phone at 979260-5200.

A night out at Southerns means exceptional food, drinks, and memorable entertainment. Southerns is the only local venue to combine all three elements, into one place. The biggest names in Texas Red Dirt and Country music take the stage every week of the year.

Southerns first opened for business in January 2020, we were opened for about three months and then had to close due to the COVID-19 shutdown. Through all the tough times Southerns persevered, and we took the time to add on a new patio, change up our menu, and schedule some amazing concerts, comedy shows and other events for when we reopened. Fast forward to August 2020, and Bryan – College Station is in for an awesome line up from Josh Ward, Sam Riggs, Jake Worthington, Wynn Williams, comedy shows, novelty wrestling and much more just to name a few events coming to Southerns this year.

With Aggieland’s largest projection screen, with the highest quality in audio and video presentation Southerns is the premier destination for live music and sporting events. Southerns is also a proud partner in Texas A&M Athletics and is the ideal watch party location for all your sports! Southerns will be showing all the of Aggie Football games, college sports, boxing, MMA, Nascar, NFL, NBA, NHL, NFR, PBR and any other sports on one of our 10 TV’s or on the largest projection screen in this area.

If your hungry…Southerns can feed your cravings! Southerns offers a Traditional American food menu with anything from our famous chicken fried steaks, pub burgers, crazy cajun pizzas, salads to boneless wings, brunch and lunchtime options and more. Southerns offers delivery, curbside, to-go and dine-in options, with a limited concert menu on our concert nights. We offer Happy Hour specials on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday’s. Southerns

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

OCTOBER

Thursday, October 1st KARAOKE

Friday, October 2nd

HAYDEN HADDOCK & TYLOR BIGLEY

Saturday, October 3rd

JACOB STELLY + AGGIE FOOTBALL VS. ALABAMA

Thursday, October 8th KARAOKE

Saturday, October 10th

DAVID LEWIS & TEXAS SUNDOWN BAND + AGGIE FOOTBALL VS. FLORIDA

also offers food specials and other drink specials throughout the week, just come see us to see what is on the menu!

Do you need a place to hold meetings, host a private party or cater an event? Southerns can do that for you as well. We offer private party reservations on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday. Please contact Southerns at (979) 485-2447 to speak to our management team for more information and pricing.

Southerns is located inside Post Oak Mall at 1500 Harvey Road, Suite 2036, College Station, TX 77840. Our phone number for questions, event details or to reserve VIP tables is (979) 485-2447. So, go check out our website at www.southernstx. com for the latest updates in shows and upcoming events, we are also on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Come make us your local hangout and see what everyone in College Station is talking about.

Thursday, October 15th KARAOKE

Saturday, October 17th

AGGIE FOOTBALL VS. MISS STATE

Thursday, October 22nd KARAOKE

Thursday, October 29th KARAOKE

Saturday, October 31st

MIDGET WRESTLING & COSTUME PARTY + AGGIE FOOTBALL VS. ARKANSAS

NOVEMBER

Friday, November 6th

JAMES LANN, DAVID ADAM BYRNES, AUSTIN ENGLISH, JASON ALLEN

Saturday, November 7th AGGIE FOOTBALL VS. S. CAROLINA

Friday, November 13th HILL COUNTRY BAND

Saturday, November 14th

AGGIE FOOTBALL VS. TENNESSEE

Saturday, November 21st

HAYDEN BAKER + AGGIE FOOTBALL VS. OLE MISS

Saturday, November 28th

AGGIE FOOTBALL VS. LSU

DECEMBER

Saturday, December 5th

AGGIE FOOTBALL VS. AUBURN

Saturday, December 12th CHAD COOKE BAND

Saturday, December 92th

TEAGUE BROTHERS

CHECK OUT SOUTHERNS ONLINE! @southernstx @southernstx southernstx.com PAID ADVERTISEMENT
PAID ADVERTISEMENT
6 CONNECTIONS

OCOMMUNITY FIRST “GIVING WHERE YOU LIVE”

BRAZOS VALLEY GIVES TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27TH

ur community is getting ready for the second annual Brazos Valley Gives day. Last year’s inaugural giving day proved to be one of the most unifying and exciting days of giving for our 7-county region. In 2019, more than 100 nonprofits participated with 100% of the nonprofits receiving a financial benefit from the $363,686 that was raised. Also, each participating nonprofit was eligible for $25,250 in prizes that were awarded during a post-celebration event. Of the 1,155 individuals who donated, many made donations to multiple organizations. Even so, 879 first-time donations were made by donors to support a local nonprofit that they had not supported before!

So, what is Brazos Valley Gives? Brazos Valley Gives is 18-hours of online giving that brings the region together on one day and as “one community” to raise critical funding and awareness for nonprofit organizations throughout the Brazos Valley. This day of giving provides citizens and businesses an easy platform to support the mission and “good works” of local nonprofit organizations that serve the Brazos Valley – strengthening nonprofits, empowering donors, and building community.

Mark your calendar for Tuesday, October 27 for Brazos Valley Gives—the second annual giving day where a donor can go online to support their favorite nonprofit(s). “To date, over 90 nonprofits have registered to participate in the 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. fundraising extravaganza,” said Patricia Gerling, president of the Community Foundation of the Brazos Valley, the organization that is powering this annual giving day. “These 18 hours of giving will provide all nonprofits with an equal opportunity to raise awareness about their programs and seek funding to support their important work. Even more, any community member can be a philanthropist, with a minimum $10 donation going to their nonprofit(s) of choice. This year’s needs are great, and our nonprofit community needs your support more than ever. That is why this year’s giving effort is focused on COMMUNITY FIRST by “giving where you live.” Donors have an opportunity to give to their favorite nonprofit as well as learn about the good works of other charities in our community --- and 100% of the donation goes directly to the nonprofit.

In addition to the online giving platform, the Community Foundation is partnering with The Eagle to host a drive-thru donation site at 1729 Briarcrest Drive [Bryan, Texas] from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. for individuals wishing to drop off a check or monetary donation on Tuesday, October 27. Given the great need within our nonprofit community, early giving will begin on October 1.

Other giving days in Texas this year have shown great success, despite the economic disruptions associated with COVID-19. Communities Foundation of Texas hosts North Texas Giving Day – the largest community-wide giving day in the nation – which raised over $50 million in one day last year. Earlier this year, East Texas Giving Day raised more than $2.3 million, according to the event’s website.

Each participating nonprofit can rally their constituency for a matching gift, which can give them a goal to shoot for. Matching gifts can give donors a goal, too. If a donor makes a match, the organization will try to raise the same amount from the public during Brazos Valley Gives. Gerling said “Brazos Valley Gives is our gift to the nonprofit community.” The Community Foundation does not receive any portion of the donation or transaction fee

associated with Brazos Valley Gives. All donations, except for a 5.2% event/credit card fee per transaction, goes to the participating organizations. These minimal fees are passed to the donor, or the donor can opt-out.

Brazos Valley Gives organizers have set a lofty goal of raising over $350,000 for participating nonprofits. Co-Chair Julie Porter explains, “The Brazos Valley is known for its generosity and support of our nonprofit community. We live here and we want to give HERE! Last year was an incredible year of giving. With so many nonprofits having to cancel their events and fundraisers as a result of the pandemic, they greatly need our support at this time.”

Local individuals, corporations and businesses are also taking part in sponsoring each hour of giving—to offer over $25,000 in incentive prizes for the participating nonprofit raising the most donationis per hour, or having the most donors, among other categories.

Media partners KBTX, The Eagle and Bryan Broadcasting are rallying around our community to support Brazos Valley Gives.

“All of our media partners are an essential part of promoting the day, our nonprofits and unifying our community as we encourage giving where we live,” noted Molly Watson, CoChair. “Our hope is that this online event on October 27 will transform our community giving and ensure the quality of life needs that are so important to our counties. Everyone has the opportunity to be a philanthropist to build a strong, vibrant community.”

To make sure your favorite nonprofit organization is participating and see how easy it is to donate please visit www.brazosvalleygives. org. There are multiple ways to get involved. You can host a fundraising page, provide matching funds, or sponsor a monetary incentive prize. For more details, contact Patricia at brazosvalleygives@gmail.com.

BRAZOS VALLEY GIVES

Brazos Valley Gives is powered by the Community Foundation of the Brazos Valley. We are a Bryan-based nonprofit focused on strengthening the 7-county Brazos Valley region through philanthropy as we raise and steward a $9.1M community endowment for donors and charitable organizations.

COMMUNITY EVENTS
9 SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2020 8 CONNECTIONS

At American Momentum Bank, our banking relationships are built upon the combined strengths of the communities we serve.

We are committed to helping our clients and our community by o ering nancial services, technology, and customized nancing solutions speci cally designed to build momentum right here, right now.

We welcome you to join us at American Momentum Bank today!

americanmomentum.bank or call (979) 774-1111.

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M CM MY CY CMY RMR_SeniorGuide_web.pdf 1 4/24/2019 5:35:07 PM 11 SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2020 10 CONNECTIONS
4444 CARTER CREEK PKWY STE. 208, BRYAN

PULLING UP A CHAIR

Getting to Know 2021 Board Chair: Greg Zweiacker

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF

I was born in South Dakota; but got to Texas as quickly as I could--living and growing up in Richardson, TX. In 1985 I enrolled at Texas A&M University and graduated with a BA in Political Science in 1989. I then remained at TAMU to pursue a Masters Degree in Public Administration. And I am currently the co-owner of Zweiacker & Associates Real Estate with wife/broker Jen Zweiacker--with whom I’ve been married to for 17 years.

WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS AS THE INCOMING B/CS CHAMBER BOARD CHAIRMAN

Of course the upcoming year will be unlike any year we have seen in the past, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. With that, my primary focus will be to gauge how local businesses have been affected by the virus; from lost revenues, reductions in personnel and employment as well as the overall economic impact on the community as a whole. And secondly, depending on how the nation, state and local

communities continue to respond at the health-care level, I really want to see how we can promote recovery from a financial standpoint.

WHY DO YOU THINK THE CHAMBER IS SUCH AN ASSET TO OUR COMMUNITY

Unlike other cities in Texas, where commerce seems to operate independently from all other groups (civic, education, charitable/non-profit, service organizations, etc.) the sense of “community” in the Brazos Valley tends to affect all aspects of our lives locally. And our Chamber, through events, education, promotion of growth and prosperity, continues to solidify that community connection between businesses, organizations and those of us who call the Brazos Valley home. VIEW THE ENTIRE 2020-2021 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

NEW BOARD CHAIR GREG ZWEIACKER DIVES DEEP INTO 2021
CHAMBER UPDATES 13 SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2020 12 CONNECTIONS

2020 - 2021 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

GREG ZWEIACKER BOARD CHAIR ZWEIACKER + ASSOCIATES PHIL SHACKELFORD IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR BLINN COLLEGE FOUNDATION WADE BECKMAN CHAIR ELECT 3RD ON MAIN, AMICO NAVE, ADMIRAL CATERING, SHIPWRECK GRILL KELLY AGENT CENTURY SQUARE - MIDWAY COMPANIES MONICA BROWN MONICA D. BROWN, DDS SIDNEY BACKSTROM G-CON MANUFACTURING AUSTIN BRYAN FIRST FINANCIAL BANK JOHN BUSH EXTRACO BANKS GEOFFREY CHRISTIAN BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE MEDICAL CENTER JASON CORNELIUS FROST BANK JOHN C. “JACK” CULPEPPER III CULPEPPER REALTY CO. BELINDA DOBSON EYE CARE CENTER ZACH ETHERIDGE HBI OFFICE SOLUTIONS DOUG FRENCH STYLECRAFT JILL GALLAGHER 1ST ALLIANCE MORTGAGE WALTER HINKLE LASER ANSWERING SERVICE JORDAN JANUSE AMERICAN MOMENTUM BANK BO MILES MILES CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT, LP DEMOND OLIVER NEW YORK LIFE INSURANCE BARBIE PATTERSON PATTERSON ARCHITECTS HEATH POOLE HOELSCHER, LIPSEY, ELMORE & POOLE, P.C. MARIE PORTALES RODRIGUEZ RODGERS, MILLER & RODRIGUEZ, P.C. AMY RESTIVO BREWER, EYEINGTON, PATOUT & CO. AGUSTIN TREVINO BRAZOS COUNTY RV PARK, TREVINO-SMITH FUNERAL HOME ASHLEY SANDERS ASHLEY & CO. PAT SHIELDS CAPITAL FARM CREDIT CHAMBER UPDATES 14 CONNECTIONS

FAREWELL TO FLORES

An Open Letter from U.S. Representative Bill Flores

Serving hardworking Texas families in Congress over the past decade has been one of the most humbling and fulfilling experiences of my career. During this time, I have learned that serving in Congress is a unique challenge and, at the same time, a unique opportunity. I am thankful to my wife Gina, who supported me in my decision to run for office and has supported me throughout my service as your Representative. I am also grateful for the support and flexibility of our sons and now, our four grandchildren. Looking back to December 2009, one of the biggest catalysts of my decision to leave the private sector and run for public office was the need for a better direction for our country and a better future for our children and grandchildren.

Since being elected, I have traveled over two million miles, visited over 30 countries, including Afghanistan and Iraq, and met with thousands of constituents and businesses all over Central Texas. I have cast over 6,000 votes, from a multi-trillion-dollar COVID-19 relief package to renaming post offices. I have also been blessed to have one of the best teams of professional staff and dedicated interns who work hard on behalf of you in Texas and Washington, DC.

I am proud of the many things we were able to accomplish in Congress over the past 10 years. In 2016, I worked with my colleagues to lift the harmful 1970’s era ban on oil and gas exports. This was done on a bipartisan basis under President Obama and serves as a great example of how elected leaders can have a positive

impact on the economy when they can unite behind a common good. I also worked with my colleagues on lesser-known, but still important challenges like preserving the helium industry, an important resource that plays a critical role in our daily lives from high technology manufacturing to health care. Other important activities included the following:

• Casting over 6,000 votes on everything from multi-trillion-dollar Covid-19 responses to naming post offices.

• Fixed the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula for doctors and healthcare stakeholders.

• Our District Casework Team processed over 5,000 casework (IRS, Immigration, VA benefits, Passports, etc.) requests over the past 10 years, and successfully resolved over 92% of those important constituent issues. Each of these cases had a significant impact for a family in our district.

• Supported almost $1.7 billion of local grant requests, almost $300 million of which have been approved.

• Led the reforms to the Military/Veteran transition process for military members transitioning to civilian life.

• We have made substantial progress in helping to kickstart America’s next-generation nuclear industry – the only zero emissions, baseload source of American energy for the future.

• We added $3.5 billion into a COVID-19 relief bills to encourage public-private partnerships to manufacture massive quantities of therapeutics and vaccines. This effort recently enabled Texas A&M to partner with the private sector to be ready to manufacture 100 million doses of a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine.

Unfortunately, in today’s political environment, little of this work makes a splash in the news like impeachment, Russia collusion, whistleblowers, etc.

It is important to remember that nothing in Congress can ever be accomplished alone, it takes teamwork.

Almost everything in Congress requires 218 votes in the House and 60 votes in the Senate; so, at a minimum, any initiative needs to win over scores of House and Senate colleagues by convincing them that a proposal is worthwhile. In this regard, we have been successful at making these arguments on behalf of the Brazos Valley and Central Texas. I am especially proud that we were able to fund projects to help the Seventeenth District without using earmarks. When I was sworn into Congress in 2011, our class led the way in eliminating the use of reckless spending through earmarks; that earmark ban remains in place today.

My favorite thing about being in Congress is getting to nominate our best and brightest high school seniors to attend America’s military service academies. In this process, I am blessed to be able to rely on local leaders to identify the young men and women who can lead other young men and women to protect our national security. I also have enjoyed the opportunity to visit our troops, our

diplomats, our aid workers, and our first responders who are bringing hope, care, and opportunity to people around the world.

Looking forward, America is at a crossroads, and the decisions we make in the next few months will determine the direction our country takes for decades to come. We can continue to be a shining city on the hill, or we can descend into anarchy and socialism like Venezuela. We can return to the civility of past leaders like Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, two leaders who approached every day with a willingness to work with others to accomplish a common good for the American people; or we can expand continue the crass partisanship that is beginning to take root today. We should not tolerate murders, violence against the innocent, and mass destruction in response to a bad act. Burning down our cities will not protect the life and future of any person, regardless of race, color, or beliefs; however, it will destroy their opportunities and their families. Lastly, remembering no one ever gets everything that they want, we need to recognize that compromise and bipartisanship are not bad words – these are key concepts for progress in our representative republic.

Although the 116th Congress and my time in public service are ending soon, I will not quit working for you until the 117th Congress is sworn in on January 3rd. When the hardworking voters elected me in 2010, I vowed to run through the tape and work on behalf of the hard-working people of Texas Seventeen, and that has not changed. I will tackle each day with the same determination I had ten years ago for a better direction for our country and a better future for current and future generations. As we close the door on this chapter of public service, I do so with great satisfaction knowing that the relationships I have made with all of you and the fulfillment I have experienced working on your behalf will last forever. I am forever thankful for your prayers, friendship, and support.

UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE TEXAS 17TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

COMMUNITY INSIGHTS
17 SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2020 16 CONNECTIONS

REFLECTING ON A DECADE OF PUBLIC SERVICE

REPRESENTATIVE JOHN RANEY

TEXAS

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

“It has been an honor to work with Congressman Flores. He worked tirelessly for the citizens in his district and represented us well. There is no doubt that his common-sense approach and voice of reason in DC is going to be missed. Congratulations to him for a job well done!”

JUDGE DUANE PETERS BRAZOS COUNTY

“Representative Flores is a selfless leader who consistently places the need of others above his own. This type of leadership is difficult to find and will be missed.”

MAYOR KARL MOONEY CITY OF COLLEGE STATION

“The citizens of College Station and all of District 17 have been blessed by Representative Bill Flores’ tireless efforts to have government run by the people and for the people. From his regular and innovative town hall meetings to making annual arrangements in our nation’s capitol for local and county BCS and Waco area officials to interact with his congressional colleagues on the Hill, our congressman maintained transparency on all matters of importance. Bill also stood up and courageously addressed many hot topics such as abortion policy, veterans’ benefits, resources for

education, energy security, health care, homeland security, immigration and many more. His dedication to service will be hard for his successor to match. We do know this, at his appointed time many years from now, he will receive the ultimate honor by hearing the words, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.”

REPRESENTATIVE KYLE KACAL TEXAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

“Since elected to serve in 2010, Bill has served the people of the 17th District of Texas with dedication and distinction. I have very much appreciated working with Bill and have benefited greatly from his mentorship and guidance. He and Gina both are tremendous examples of the importance of public service and Marci and I, alongside many of our fellow Texans, extend our sincerest appreciation and best wishes.”

MAYOR ANDREW NELSON CITY OF BRYAN

“I want to thank Gina and Congressman Bill Flores for their decade of highly effective and selfless service to BryanCollege Station, our Congressional District, and our nation. Bill is a tireless and positive team-driven leader. He has also been a friend and mentor during my own service as Mayor of Bryan. I wish Bill and Gina the very best as they continue their lives after his public service.”

Rebuild Transportation & Maintenance Facility

BISD AD THIS FALL, BRYAN ISD STUDENTS NEED YOU TO BACK THE 2020 BOND! NEW C ONS T RUC T I O N & IMPRO V EMEN T S
F O R SAFET Y + SECURI T Y F O R T H E FU T UR E SAY “YES” & VOTE SAY “YES” & VOTE D I S TRI C T- WID E SAFE T Y & SE CU RI T Y .. . • New buses to ensure safe & reliable transportation •
district-wide to fire alarm systems and PA systems
fencing improvements, including Merrill
Stadium EVERY STUDENT BENEFITS ! SAY “YES” BECAUSE Yes. You read that correctly. Now, who can say “No” to that? VOTE YES! V OTE EARL Y O C T. 13–30 ! Ba c kBr y a n I S D.c o m EL ECTI ON DAY I S NOV. 3 EVERY STUDENT AND EVERY SCHOOL BENEFITS FROM THE 2020 BOND. NO TAX RATE INCREASE! if the Bryan ISD 2020 Bond is approved by voters.
• New Intermediate School #3 • Classroom additions to Rudder HS • SFA Middle School Annex Renovations •
BHS Outdoor Patio Shade Structure
Upgrades
• District-wide
Green
COMMUNITY INSIGHTS 18 CONNECTIONS

CONGRATULATIONS LEADERSHIP BRAZOS CLASS OF 2021

MELANIE BECKA SPIRIT OF TEXAS BANK KATHY BREWER THE EAGLE JIM BUTLER BIG SHOTS GOLF TAYLOR CLARK B/CS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TRACI CAMP UNLOCKED REALTY GROUP KRISTI FOX TEAM LISA COLIGAN CHI ST. JOSEPH HEALTH MAX CRAWFORD KBTX MEDIA KEN DUPRE BRYAN TEXAS UTILITIES MILYNDA HALLERMANN AMERICA’S CHOICE HOME LOANS DANIEL HAWKINS AGGIELAND AUTISM CENTER, LLC. ROBERT IRVING BETTER FIRE PROTECTION ALLISON KAY CITY OF BRYAN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES ROBERT MANDUJANO CRYSTAL CLEAR CLEANING RYAN MASON ROLLO INSURANCE LUKE MAULDIN COMMERCE NATIONAL BANK JAY RUDINGER WEST, WEBB, ALLBRITTON & GENTRY RACHEL NAVE B/CS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BARBIE PATTERSON PATTERSON ARCHITECTS JONATHAN PAWLAK PROSPERITY BANK JACK PETTY DAILEY COMPANY INC DWIGHT PRICE D. PRICE TRANSPORTATION LATAVIYA QUALLS IMPACT GROUP MARKETING TOM RONAT G-CON MANUFACTURING TANIA SANCHEZ STAFFORD BARRETT KAYLA WURTZ PRIMROSE SCHOOL OF COLLEGE STATION CRISSY SAYERS BIRD’S NEST GIFTS AND ANTIQUES ANDREW SCIFRES FIRST FINANCIAL BANK JIBBY VARGHESE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITYDEPARTMENT OF RESIDENCE LIFE
21 SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2020 20 CONNECTIONS

A CHAMBER MEMBER? WHY

The Floor is Yours...

The Chamber Spotlight shares company news with the community. New leadership, major changes, anniversaries, employee achievements

- celebrate milestones with a message!

Citizens Bank

Julie Randolph has joined Citizens Bank as the CEO of the Bryan-College Station location. Randolph has more than 25 years of banking experience and previously worked at Spirit of Texas Bank as a senior vice president and commercial lender, according to a company press release. She graduated from Texas A&M University in 1992 with a bachelor’s degree in economics.

Century 21 Beal

Two real estate agents recently joined Century 21 Beal as sales associates. Ema Quick and Teresa Nicole Garza will specialize in residential property sales in the Brazos Valley. Both have completed the company’s training and licensing course.

Spherion & FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies

Spherion Staffing in Bryan announces that it will recruit for 100 benefit-eligible positions for FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies to work on the production of the COVID-19 vaccine. Spherion will place primarily entry-level manufacturing, warehouse and quality control candidates at FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies’ College Station, Texas location. If you are interested in applying for an entry-level positions with FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies, please visit www.spherion.com/job-seekers or call Spherion Bryan at 979-846-7833.

“ ”

As a member of the chamber for over 30 years, I’ve served on countless committees from the Blazers to the Board, and what I’ve seen in that time is how the Chamber brings together people from diverse industries to promote the collective common good of the business community in Bryan/College Station.

MIKE HOLMGREEN FIRST FINANCIAL BANK

CHAMBER SPOTLIGHT
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON BECOMING A MEMBER OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE VISIT BCSCHAMBER.ORG OR CALL 979.260.5200 ARE YOU
22 CONNECTIONS
979.779.7788 What Can We Bring You? Aerial Lifts - Excavators - Forklifts - Trenching - Earth Moving - Concrete Tools - Landscaping - Electrical - Plumbing www.redtailrental.com Book Online at (979) 696-5696 Locally Owned & Operated 15001 Earl Rudder Fwy S. College Station, TX 77845 (979) 693-7655 693--ROLL Sizes from 5’x5’ up to 10’x30’ Climate Controlled & Non-Climate Units R/V, Boat, & Vehicle Storage locknrollstorage.com PLEASE Support P ease cont nue to suppor our wonderfu bus ne s par ners & res aurants at the Te as Center 25 SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2020 24 CONNECTIONS

BRYAN / COLLEGE STATION

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

P.O. BOX 3579

BRYAN, TX 77805-3579

Newman Printing Company offers the finest in large format, exterior signage solutions, custom designed to meet your specific project needs. Work with our experienced team of craftsmen to produce captivating signage that is sure to turn heads and make a big impression on your customers.

Trust Newman Printing Company, we’ve been getting it right for seventy years.

CONNECTIONS
www.newmanprint.com / ( 979 ) 779-7700 ONLINE ORDERING DISPLAYS, SIGNS & BANNERS COMMERCIAL PRINTING ON-TIME DELIVERY

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