2019 Nov/Dec Connections

Unlocking Your Dreams

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Presidential Perspectives

Howdy, I hope the slight change in weather feels as good to all our Chamber members as it does to the Chamber staff. It is a gentle reminder that the holidays are not too far away. Be sure and check out what is happening this season on our Holiday Happenings page in this month’s Chamber Connection Magazine. It is also the time of year to remind everyone of the Chamber’s shop local campaign. Shopping local is something we encourage the community to do all year, but with holiday shopping just around the corner it is vital to our local businesses that we support them and encourage others to do so as well.

October was the beginning of a new fiscal year for your Chamber of Commerce. Vicki Reim became our immediate past board chair and Phil Shackelford took over as our new chairman of the board. I want to thank Vicki and express our appreciation for her outstanding leadership and guidance as she presided over yet another record year for your Chamber in membership numbers and in attendance at Chamber events. I would also like to thank Bryan Texas Utilities for its support and for allowing Vicki to lead our Chamber this past year. As our immediate past chair, Vicki will continue on the Chamber board and help the Chamber fulfill its mission of enhancing the economic well-being of the businesses in the communities we serve.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

PHIL SHACKELFORD

Board Chair

GREG ZWEIACKER

Chair-Elect

VICKI REIM

Immediate Past Chairman

JASON CORNELIUS

Vice Chair of Leadership

JAMES LARKIN

Vice Chair of Finance & Physical Resources

SUSAN GIPSON

Vice Chair of Business Development

WADE BECKMAN

Vice Chair of Communications

WALTER HINKLE

Vice Chair of Community Enhancement

BARBIE PATTERSON

Vice Chair of Membership Enhancement

RICARDO DIAZ

Board Secretary

MONICA BROWN

AUSTIN BRYAN

JOHN BUSH

SPENCER CLEMENTS

JOHN C. “JACK” CULPEPPER III

Welcome New Chamber Members

AVONLEY HOMES

3900 State Hwy 6 South, Ste. 110 College Station, TX 77845 (979) 635-4800

AvonleyHomes.com

B&B COLLABORATIVE, LLC 3501 Kanati Cove College Station, TX 77845 (979) 777-9940

BnBCollaborative.com

EMMANUEL TEMPLO DE ADORACION 4014 Stillmeadow Dr. Bryan, TX 77802 (979) 820-7153

FLAGSHIP CUSTOM HOMES 14391 South Dowling Road College Station, TX 77845 (979) 220-4198 FlagshipTX.com

ZONER’S PIZZA WINGS & WAFFLES

2305 Longmire Drive, Ste. 100 College Station, TX 77845 (979) 704-5565

ZonersPizza.com

At our Chamber Annual Banquet each year we honor individuals who have made a difference in our community. This year we are proud to award the Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year to Randy French of Stylecraft Builders. Our Volunteer of the Year is Debbie Holladay of Holladay and Associates. Thanks to their efforts and generosity, we all live in a better Bryan and College Station.

As we head into the 102nd year of your 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.

GLEN BREWER PRESIDENT & CEO

As Phil Shackelford of the Blinn College Foundation begins his year as our Chamber board chair we are excited about the possibilities, and also the challenges, ahead in the coming year. We will be working on transportation issues, legislative issues, workforce needs, business place health and wellness and many other concerns of our local businesses. We always need and want input from our Chamber members about these issues, as well as any others, as we work together for the betterment of our community.

ZACH ETHERIDGE

DOUG FRENCH

JILL GALLAGHER

JORDAN JANUSE

HEATH POOLE

MARIE PORTALES RODRIGUEZ

AMY RESTIVO

KORI RICH

TRAVIS ROLLINS

PAT SHIELDS

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

BRIAN MILLER

Membership Investment Representative

TAYLOR CLARK

Communications Coordinator

ALLISON BATTE

Special Projects Coordinator

RACHEL NAVE Executive Assistant

CHICK-FIL-A JONES CROSSING 1700 Harvey Mitchell Pkwy South College Station, TX 77845 (979) 704-5598

AggieAirConditioning@gmail.com

LOPEZ BOYZ LAWN MAINTENANCE

3715 Stillmeadow Dr. Bryan, TX 77802 (979) 204-0680

GR8 LAUNDRY 1120 Harvey Rd College Station, TX 77840 (210) 422-3690

GUGGENHEIM ACUPUNCTURE 1121 Briarcrest Drive, Ste. 302 Bryan, Texas 77802 (979) 704-5537

(979) 202-4119

J & I’S HAIR STUDIO 3601 E. 29th Street, Ste 13 Bryan, TX 77803 (979) 485-2944

DUSTY

LINDA ESPIRIQUETA Receptionist

Introducing: The Ambassador Chair

Imoved to Bryan/College Station in 2009 to attend Texas A&M University, and started working at Copy Corner part-time that same year. After graduation (Class of ’13), I came on full-time to help run our campus store at the MSC. Through retirements and people moving on to follow other dreams, opportunities continued to present themselves for me to advance here at Copy Corner. Working for a small, local business has given me an up-close look at what it takes to not only run a business day to day, but also the planning and execution it takes to achieve long-term success.

This is my 5th year as an Ambassador. I’ve served two years as a Captain and now I’ve been given the distinct privilege to serve as Chairman. My absolute favorite thing about being an Ambassador is the people I’ve met and the relationships that have flourished from this program (I had a Ribbon Cutting ceremony at my wedding!!). As a new college graduate, this program allowed me to introduce myself as a young professional to the local business community. Through that, I’ve been able to build relationships with new customers as well as strengthen relationships with our long-time customers.

My goal as Chairman this year is to continue to promote camaraderie amongst the Ambassadors, as well as to get our group further plugged into the community. As a group, we will strive to find fun and creative ways to champion our member businesses with our patronage and support. We want to continue to be a resource for the Chamber as we look to bring value to our current membership, as well as recruit new members. Come join us and see what the B/CS Chamber of Commerce is doing for our business community!

BEN CALDWELL COPY CORNER

BUSINESS AFTER HOURS

Health & Wellness

Howdy from your new Health and Wellness Committee Co-Chairs, Bunny Pratt with Brown & Company Insurance Services, and Reyann Davis with CHI St. Joseph Health Partners! We are excited to carry out the mission of the committee to provide informational resources and health-focused events that support and promote whole body wellness initiatives to benefit B/CS Chamber member businesses and employees. Our goal is to continue to build member-to-member engagements at the WaterCooler 5K, Annual Fitness Challenge, and the Health & Wellness luncheon. We are recruiting new committee members to help with these endeavors and invite you to join our efforts to make these events purposeful and fun. Read each issue of Chamber CONNECTIONS as we aim to enlighten and inform you about unique community resources available from Chamber members, build awareness of the local wellness continuum, and encourage a culture of active bodies and minds for Chamber and community members alike. If you are interested in joining the Health & Wellness committee, contact us at bunny@bcins. net and rdavis@st-joseph.org.

HOLIDAY STRESS

While many look forward to the holidays, others dread the season. If you feel stressed, obligations during the holiday season can take their toll on even the most cheerful people. Here are some tips to help you minimize holiday stress:

CAUSES OF STRESS

Ask yourself what exactly about the season makes you feel stressed. Your feelings may be triggered by the following:

• Unhappy childhood memories

• Difficult family relationships

• Negative feelings about your life over the past year

• Seasonal monotony – seeing the same faces, eating the same food and going through the same motions

• Lowered immune defenses because of colder temperatures, high incidence of the flu, eating more and sleeping less

• Financial Stress

MINIMIZE HOLIDAY STRESS

Consider the following tips to help reduce stress this holiday season:

• Enjoy the present and try not to worry about what may be lacking.

• Don’t feel you must meet all family obligations. Do not simply do something or go somewhere because of tradition, especially if it makes you unhappy.

• Ask others for assistance. For example, ask a relative to host the family get-together, or make it a potluck and have everyone contribute to the meal.

• Make a to-do list in chronological order to minimize stress.

• Limit your alcohol intake.

• Stay active and continue to eat a balanced diet.

• Create a new tradition, such as volunteering, especially if you feel lonely.

• Make time for yourself and your needs, even when hosting guests in your house.

• Keep tabs on your holiday spending. Make a budget and stick to it, no exceptions.

SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER

“is a condition characterized by recurrent episodes of depression – usually in late fall and winter – alternating with high periods of normal or high mood the rest of the year. It’s normal to have some days when you feel down. But if you feel down for days at a time and you can’t get motivated to do activities you normally enjoy, see your doctor. This is especially important if your sleep patterns and appetite have changed, you turn to alcohol for comfort or relaxation, or you feel hopeless or think about suicide.

- NAMI.ORG

”RESOURCES

GriefShare Connect with others during difficult experiences – find support groups at Brazos Fellowship or First Baptist Church of Bryan! NAMI Brazos Valley Check out Mental Health Support Groups for teens and families with NAMI BV.

The Salvation Army Find resources during hard times or volunteer to help others this holiday season.

TIPS FROM LOCAL GYMS TO STAY HEALTHY & ACTIVE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

“Holidays are all about staying committed to what you have been doing before the holidays started. If the good habits are in place and you have accountability with a place you workout at every week, you will make it through and enjoy this time of year.”

WILL CHAMBERS ORANGE THEORY FITNESS

“Avoid having two poor quality meals back to back. If you have to splurge for lunch...commit to making sure your dinner meal is on point!”

BRAD TILLERY BCS FITNESS

“While everyone is busy having a FEAST, you could be working out like a BEAST in an empty gym! Don’t wait for a New Year’s Resolution to start working on being the healthiest, fittest version of yourself. #youbelong”

CAELA GIBSON PLANET FITNESS - BRYAN

“No one has time during the holidays. To stay healthy and active you have to MAKE TIME for your fitness. If not, November and December will make your January comeback that much harder. Stay ahead of the curve and stay active!”

TERRANCE SMITH SAWED-OFF CROSSFIT

“Holidays aren’t just about loving others, love yourself, eat what you love, in moderation and workout as much as you can... healthy mind, healthy body and hallmark.”

ANITA GRAZIANO DELTA LIFE FITNESS – COLLEGE STATION

“Staying healthy and active during the holidays is challenging, but what’s more challenging is getting back into the routine of a healthy lifestyle after the holidays are over.”

CALEB RILEY D1 TRAINING – COLLEGE STATION

TOURISM IS BIG BUSINESS FOR BRYAN COLLEGE STATION

works hard to market our cities as a destination for visitors, meetings, conventions/ conferences, and sports events. Unlike most destinations, we are at an advantage because we may be composed of two cities, but boundaries do not define us. We market our two unique cities as one beautiful community. In fiscal year 2019, we saw an increase in those who were interested in visiting Bryan/College Station. Our location makes us a prime destination for state associations, regional events and in some cases, national and international business. Our affordability makes us a strong contender for those same events to choose our area. When you pair that with our unique amenities like the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, Messina Hof, Aggieland Safari, multiple museums, arts and culture, stateof-the-art facilities, delicious restaurants and Texas A&M University—we are a desirable location to a diverse range of people making tourism big business in our community.

According to research conducted annually by the State of Texas, travel and tourism made a huge impact on our community in 2018. For example, the College Station-Bryan MSA saw a 9.4% increase over last year in direct travel spending at $584 million. The local tax receipts generated were approximately $20 million which was an 11.71% increase, while the industry employment generated by travel spending was 7,204 jobs which equals a 9.67% increase from the previous year. In fact, these figures put the travel and tourism business in the top five industries in Bryan/College Station.

Experience Bryan College Station witnessed great success in fiscal year 2019 in regard to bringing business to the community. The conventions and sports teams brought in/ assisted with bringing in a little over 200 groups generating more than 78,000 room nights*! How exactly do we attract this business to our community? In fiscal year 2019, we narrowed the focus of our marketing and sales efforts by focusing on digital marketing. We went to where our potential clients were. For example, you are probably familiar with pop-up ads on social media and other websites that are related to things you have viewed, or similar to things you have purchased online. Today, people want a more authentic experience that speaks to them and caters to their personal

THE LOCAL TAX RECEIPTS GENERATED WERE APPROXIMATELY

preferences. That is where we started— using data collected from digital ads. We geo-fenced events and retargeted those people once the event was over. Those event attendees were then shown our ads based on their personal preferences from Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and other websites. In conjunction with digital marketing efforts, we also conducted more site visits. Our vibrant community sells itself. By bringing the potential clients to our community and showing them what we have to offer, we were able to convince them to host future events in our community.

One of the keys to our success was partnering with other organizations in our community. By working with Texas A&M, the community hosted the Texas Science and Engineering Fair for the first time. This event brought in around 3,000 room nights for our community and has opted to return in the future. We also worked with Brazos County in securing the Texas 4H Horse Show that had been held in Abilene for the past 30 years. Tough Mudder, an event that has a national following, chose to move their event from the Smithville area to Bryan/College Station, generating an additional 2,000 room nights for the community. Another unique event that

chose to come to Bryan/College Station was the North and East Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association Annual Conference, which generated around 560 room nights. While all of these events are just a snapshot of what was hosted in our community this past year, each one had visitors who stayed in our hotels, ate at our restaurants and shopped in our stores. This in turn makes a lasting impression on our community through overall economic impact.

Now you may be asking, what will fiscal year 2020 look like? We know that our hotels are always looking for more room nights, and our restaurants and shops would like to see more people buzzing in and out. So, how do we plan to generate more business for our community and help businesses? What are some of the larger tourism events coming to Bryan/College Station? First, we have teamed up with a marketing firm to assist efforts targeting meeting planners, sports event owners and leisure travelers. We have already kicked off a holiday marketing campaign and again focused our advertisements to speak specifically to audiences that want to experience our community. In addition, the Experience Bryan College Station team is working diligently to host more site visits and client events in our community to showcase our location, affordability and hospitality.

The Bryan College Station Sports + Events Team is continuing to put our community on the map by hosting new events like the USA Pickleball Association Mid-South Regional Tournament that is predicted to bring approximately 650 competitors, and potentially 1,500 room nights for three days during Spring Break 2020. Bryan College Station Sports + Events was also instrumental in working with organizers of the MS150 that will now start in Houston and Austin and end at Kyle Field. This event alone has the potential to bring approximately 10,000 people to our community in May 2020. The best news here is that the MS150 has already talked about remaining in our community for multiple years. We also continue to work with groups who come every year, including State 7on7,

Great American Shootout, Special Olympics Fall Classic, PrimeTime 7on7 Tournament of Champions, Budweiser Softball Tournament and a multitude of others, both big and small. At the end of the day, all of these events love coming back to Bryan/College Station because of the experience they have and the memories their participants make in our community.

The Experience Bryan College Station Conventions Team has already had success in securing multiple events for 2020. The Texas Science and Engineering Fair that was held in March 2019 will be returning and expects to see growth. It generates around 3,000 room nights, and we look forward to hosting that city-wide event each year. The team has also secured three conferences with the Correctional Management Institute of Texas. The Texas Association of Counties and their associations have already booked three events as well; Justice of the Peace and Constables Association, County and District Clerks and the Leadership Conference. Each of these events will generate hundreds of room nights for our community and produce direct visitor spending.

Experience Bryan College Station is committed to making a positive impact on the Bryan/College Station community through partnering with other community organizations to market the community as a place to visit, work and live, while also attracting meetings and events that will continue to add to the quality of life of the residents and businesses in our great community. Our ultimate goal for 2020 is to attract visitors to Bryan/College Station so that we may share our love for our hometown and make tourism an even bigger business for years to come. *Room

BY THE NUMBERS

Purchases made by travelers during their trip, including lodging taxes and other applicable taxes paid by the traveler at the point of sale.

Employment associated with travel.

Holiday Happenings

NOVEMBER

4 - 22

Primrose School of College Station

Canned Food Drive

We will be having a canned food drive to fill our Primrose Bus for the Brazos Valley Food Bank. We have partnered with the Texas A&M Volleyball team to go on a Field trip with our Pre-K and Kindergarten students to spend the money they collected doing chores around the house on canned food for the Brazos Valley Back Pack Program. We are looking for local businesses who would also like to donate canned food to fill the bus, last year we collected over 1,300lbs of food for the Brazos Valley Food Bank.

NOVEMBER 30, 4 - 8 PM

Downtown Bryan Wine & Wassail

It’s that time again! Downtown Bryan is hosting its annual Wine & Wassail holiday sip & shop event on Saturday, November 30, 2019 from 4-8 p.m. During this time of year, Downtown Bryan is covered in thousands of Christmas lights and the stores are decorated for Christmas! Each store will feature one wine tasting and one holiday beverage (hot chocolate, wassail, cider, or something warm!).

One Wine & Wassail ticket includes a keepsake holiday wine glass, a chance to sample wine at the participating locations, a shopping bag, and a map of all of the participating merchants in Downtown Bryan. Wine & Wassail is a 21 and over only event.

NOVEMBER 9, 10 AM - 5 PM

Tricia Barksdale Open House

Bring a friend and party while you shop! Have some complimentary beverages and enter for a chance to win a beautiful wreath ($125) or brimming gift basket ($200). This year, The Wild Garlic Pizza will be bringing their wood-fired pizza for our guests to enjoy. PLUS, for every in-store purchase of $50 or more, receive an extra raffle entry and FREE personal pizza while you’re here! The event will be held at our brand new location in South College Station!

NOVEMBER 22, 6 PM, GLORIA SALE PARK

Downtown Bryan Lights On

Downtown Bryan will kick off the holiday season with its annual Lights On! A special guest will flip the switch to illuminate Christmas trees which anchor the north and south ends of Downtown Bryan, along with thousands of lights along Main St. and Bryan Ave. This free, familyfriendly event will include activities such as, picture with Santa Claus, live Christmas music, bounce house, a kids holiday craft and more!

Be a part of a unique, family Thanksgiving tradition and join us for the 10th annual BCS Turkey Trot 5k and 1 Mile Family Fun Run. This is the largest non-marathon BCS Race Series race with over 1500 participants last year and has something to offer for everyone! All proceeds of the race will benefit Mercy Project, a local nonprofit organization working to rescue children from slavery in Ghana, Africa. Visit bcsturkeytrot.com for more information.

The holidays are a time when family and friends come together. As the family of KBTX prepares for the holidays, we invite you and your family to join us Wednesday, December 4th at the Brazos Center in Bryan for the 24th annual Food for Families Food Drive.

Downtown Bryan Christmas Parade

School of Rock Fall Season Showcase

Kick off the holiday season with the ONLY lighted Christmas Parade in Bryan-College Station! The parade will begin at 24th and Bryan Street heading south, turn on 28th, and head back up Main Street. Downtown streets will close at 5:30 p.m. and re-open at the conclusion of the parade. Floats, vehicles, fire engines and more, all complete with lights, of course, will join us for this night of fun! It’s been rumored that SANTA CLAUS will also be making an appearance at the end of the parade!

Street Closures begin at 5:30 p.m. Both Main St. and Bryan Ave. will be closed from 28th St. to MLK. All vehicles MUST be removed from parking spaces along the parade route by 5:30 p.m.

Sunday December 15th

The Grand Stafford Theatre Doors at 1PM. Featuring students 7Adults performing a Very 90’s Themed Set! Wear your flannel, and come ready to rock out with us! All ages welcome, $10 at the door

Saturday December 21st Hurricane Harry’s Doors open at 12 p.m. Featuring students 7 - Adults performing a Very 90’s Themed Set! Wear your flannel, and come ready to rock out with us! All ages welcome, $10 at the door SchoolofRock.com for more details

‘TIS THE (SHOPPING) SEASON

Throughout the year, and particularly during the holiday season, the Bryan/College Station Chamber of Commerce encourages its members to shop local and spend money with companies who prioritize giving back to our Brazos Valley community.

With the continuing rise of massive online retailers, small local businesses must work harder than ever to maintain and expand their customer base. Local businesses are the cornerstone of our community, and spending money locally benefits our community in a variety of ways.

CREATE MORE LOCAL JOBS

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, small businesses account for a staggering 99.9% percent of all United States businesses and employ 47.5% of all United States employees. In 2015 alone, small businesses created over 1.9 million jobs, with 1.1 million coming from firms employing less than 20 employees. In fact, small local businesses are responsible for the creation of every two out of three new jobs nationally. Additionally, when small businesses utilize other small businesses such as plumbers or electricians, it creates a ripple effect which helps sustain even more local jobs.

KEEP MONEY LOCAL

Our local businesses invigorate the local economy by recirculating and multiplying the money spent within our community. For every dollar spent at local business, 2 to 3.5 recirculates in the local economy, creating a “local multiplier effect”. Independent local retailers and distributors tend to prioritize locally-produced and locallysourced goods and services. Many of our local restaurants purchase their meat and produce from local farmers and ranchers. Our bars are proud to serve regional craft beers and locally sourced spirits. Boutique shops and retailers showcase local artisans and unique fares. These business owners recognize the value of working with their neighbors and cultivating professional relationships based on trust and mutual respect. They enlist the services of other locals throughout each phase of business, from architecture and construction to marketing and advertising. In the Brazos Valley we are so fortunate to have quality local options for virtually any product or service imaginable, allowing us to spend our money at home.

The Bryan/College Station community is full of examples of local businesses utilizing local products. One local favorite, Mad Taco, exclusively sells sodas made by Boots Beverages, owned by Kristen Distributing, in its two restaurant locations. Bird’s Nest Gifts & Antiques, located in the heart of downtown Bryan, recently opened a vendors market to showcase unique products from local artisans. The Village Café prides itself on sourcing the majority of ingredients directly from the Brazos Valley and surrounding areas of Texas. This includes food, coffee, beer, and other products such as local honey and jams. Their walls are decorated with the works of talented local artists and they frequently offer live music by local musicians. Businesses in the Brazos Valley do an incredible job of embracing other businesses in the community.

CATER TO THE CUSTOMER

neighborhoods and the needs of people in one area might not be identical to the needs of those in another.

UNIQUE COMMUNITY CHARACTER

Our local businesses reflect the unique culture of our community, truly making

favorite restaurants, cafés, and shops are exclusive to the Brazos Valley. It creates a strong sense of pride to know that we have amazing dishes and original products that can’t be found anywhere else. It is these businesses that showcase what it means to live here. This is what makes an impression on visitors and what encourages them to come back again.

Going local does not mean walling off the outside world. It means nurturing locally owned businesses which use local resources, sustainably, employ local workers at decent wages and serve primarily local consumers. It means becoming more self-sufficient and less dependent on imports. Control moves from the boardrooms of distant corporations and back into the community where it belongs. Shuman 2000

Our local business owners know the community and the people they serve. They understand the needs of their customers and make it a priority to provide the best products to meet those needs. We are not a cookie-cutter community – we have a unique culture that is best served by people who understand us. Even within our community, we have unique

us a “one-of-a-kind” destination. When visitors come from out of town, we have the privilege of showing them what makes us special and what sets us apart from anywhere else in the world. Local polls such as “Best of the Brazos” and “The Eagle’s Choice Awards” prove that our

Our local business owners each have a vested interest in this community, and they work hard to see it thrive. They give back in so many ways, through Little League sponsorships, charitable donations, volunteer work, and pro bono services. Many are active members of local boards or run for public office in order to better serve our community. These local businesses define us, and we must not forget that their survival depends on our patronage. Make it a priority to shop local this holiday season and throughout the year. Each time you make a purchase, be cognizant of the impact that money has on our local economy. And most importantly, remember to thank our local business owners for their continued dedication to our community.

ALLISON BATTE SPECIAL PROJECTS COORDINATOR B/CS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

DREAM BUILDERS

The Floor is Yours...

The Stella Hotel was recognized by Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards as the #15 of Top 20 Hotels in Texas. More than 600,000 Condé Nast Traveler readers across the globe submitted a record-breaking number of responses rating their travel experiences to provide a full snapshot of where and how we travel today. The Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards are the longest-running and most prestigious recognition of excellence in the travel industry and are commonly known as “the best of the best of travel.” The 176room, AAA Four Diamond boutique Stella Hotel opened in 2017 as the anchor of the vibrant Lake Walk community in Bryan-College Station. Located next to a 5-acre lake, waterfront park and pavilion, the hotel serves as the city’s hub of events and activities throughout the year. The Stella’s management company, Noble House Hotels & Resorts, is a hotel ownership and management group with an upscale portfolio of 20 distinct properties spanning the United States. This year, eleven of Noble House’s hotels earned high rankings in the Readers’ Choice Awards, continuing to set the standard for bespoke guest experiences and high-touch service. The 2019 Readers’ Choice Awards are published on Condé Nast Traveler’s website at cntraveler.com/rca and celebrated in the November issue of Condé Nast Traveler US and UK print editions. Congratulations to The Stella Hotel!

Leadership Brazos Alumni Association

celebrated its 35th anniversary with an event on October 23rd. LBAA raises money for scholarships for Leadership Brazos and Junior Leadership Brazos.

Brazos Valley Gives

hosted by The Community Foundation of the Brazos Valley, raised nearly $300,000 for 103 local non-profits on October 22! Over 1,800 individuals donated to their favorite charities and organizations. Thank you for your generous donations!

3rd On Main

celebrated its first anniversary in October! This unique restaurant located in Downtown Bryan features an array of delicious dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This is the fourth local business for Wade and Mary Beckman, who also own Shipwreck Grill, Amico Nave Ristorante, and Admiral Catering.

The Ellison Firm

Tedi & Chuck Ellison of The Ellison Firm were honored on October 22nd for their involvement with Blinn College and the Blinn College Foundation. The luncheon also recognized the legacy of the late F.W. Bert and Mae Dean Wheeler. Congratulations and thank you for contributing to our community!

Extraco Banks announces the addition of Steve Boswell as SVP, Commercial Banker to our team in Bryan/College Station. Steve has 30 years of experience with financial services. He is a graduate of the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at SMU and holds a BS in Business Administration, Risk Management from Cal State University at Fresno. He is a USA Hockey level 5 certified coach and continues to play recreationally and coach competitive youth hockey. Steve serves as Board Member of the College Station ISD Education Foundation, is part of the Texas A&M Commercial Banking Program and the Brazos Valley Economic Development Corp., and is a Leadership Brazos Alumni. We encourage our friends to drop by our College Station branch to meet Steve.

A CHAMBER MEMBER? WHY

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

The Chamber provides a platform to interact with other business owners and community stakeholders from Texas A&M and other governmental offices, creating an environment where we all have the ability to be good community partners and support one another. All it takes is participation on our part.

LARRY HODGES COPY CORNER

STEVE BOSWELL

ABC Home & Commercial Services

ACME Glass

Aggieland Apartment Finders

Aggieland Credit Union

Aggieland Roofing

Aggieland Spectacles

Allen Academy

ANCO Insurance, Ross Gunnels

Ashley HomeStore

Barrack’s Townhomes

Baylor Scott & White Health

BCS Fitness

Bird’s Nest Gifts & Antiques

Brazos Moving & Storage

Brazos Valley Floor & Design

Brazos Valley Pediatric Dentistry

Britt Rice Electric

Bryan College Station Toyota

Buddy’s Appliance

Budget Blinds

Buppy’s Catering

BVR Waste & Recycling

C&J Barbeque

C.C. Creations

Callaway-Jones Funeral & Cremation Centers

CapRock 24-Hour ER

Casa Rodriguez

Cashion Dental Celebrity Spa & Salon

Cornerstone Home Lending Inc

Meats & Deli

Reece & Jouett Exceptional Dentistry

Rusty Surette - KBTX-TV3

Rx Pizza

Sabi Boutique

Shannon Morton Photography

Shipwreck Grill

Systek Computing

Texas Farm Bureau

The Dixie Chicken

The George Hotel The Sleep Station The Tool Guys

Tiff’s Treats

Traditions Golf Club

Tricia Barksdale Designs

Urban Table

Waggie Pet Zone Wind Dancer Retreat Wings ‘N More

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 Brian@bcschamber.org to schedule your B/CS Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting today!

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