Parker chamber hosts organizational meeting for new veterans council

Groups discuss ideas

BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Parker Chamber of Commerce President T.J. Sullivan hosted a brainstorming session at the Douglas County Parker Library in hopes to make the rst Chamber Veterans Council.

Sullivan was inspired by another chamber executive to look into creating community councils through the chamber. As there are many specialized groups in the community, to be involved in an issue that they care about would be a way to get more people involved in the community, he said.

“We wanted a council with substance,” said Sullivan. “[To help] expand the reach of the chamber and also bring in people who identify with that particular community.”

According to Sullivan, there are many military veterans in the Parker Chamber of Commerce. e Town of Parker also has a large veteran presence as well as veteran-owned businesses, e Chamber’s mission statement is “To be the preeminent organization in the Parker area for advocacy, promotion, and collaboration of business.”

With a primary goal of supporting veteran-owned businesses, the purpose of the Parker Chamber Veterans Council is to provide professional resources to veterans in the area, promote professional programs and opportunities and to encourage more veterans to start businesses in Parker.

In attendance were 16 veterans, active duty members and family of military personnel, all of whom work in or run a business in the area, and many are part of the chamber.

Everyone sat in groups of four to discuss and write down ideas of how a Parker Chamber Veterans Council could assist Veteran business owners.

“It’s a good thing to have these things work out organically and actually ask the community that’s gathered what they want, what’s needed,” said Sullivan. “ is is literally a brainstorming meeting to see if this is something that would be useful, if we can help people and if we can do it within our mission.” e group’s thoughts crossed over one another as each had similar ideas. Topics focused around mentoring, networking, social media and marketing, preparing a resource list, having a presence at events and being a liaison to the town council. e idea of the veteran council is to provide resources for and mentor veteran entrepreneurs and veteranowned businesses who are looking

Attendees were given 30 minutes to discuss how the chamber could support veteran business owners, how they could encourage veteran entrepreneurs and what activities could a potential council do to make a di erence for veteran owning or wanting to own a business.