Ribbon Cuttings Chamber Celebrations

Annabrooksbridal.com aprilfolsom.sites.c21.homes

Mama Bears Cleaning Crew, LLC Ribbon Cutting 3213 S. Medford Dr. Suite 305 | Lufkin 936-238-6088 facebook.com/mamabearsccc

Mindful Nutrition Counseling Ribbon Cutting 2400 N. Stallings Dr. | Nacogdoches 936-205-1721 mindful-nutrition-counseling.com

Orange Blossom & Fig Apothecary Ribbon Cutting

118 S. First St. Suite B | Lufkin 936-899-5782 facebook.com/orangeblossomandfig

Pineywoods Community Academy Ribbon Cutting 602 S. Raguet St. | Lufkin 936-634-5515 pcacharter.net

Welcome to the Lufkin/Angelina County Chamber of Commerce. As the Chairman of the board, I hope you find the resources and opportunities to make this year successful. The past 3 years have been a true test of our community’s strength and the Chamber has been the guiding light through it all. Find us around town at an event or on social media, the Chamber does not stop. Please join us at a First Friday, Power Networking Breakfast, or a Cheers with the Chamber.

This year’s theme is “The Power of COMMUNITY.” What a great theme to bring us through the pandemic and get Lufkin/ Angelina County together. Community is defined “as a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common. A feeling of fellowship with others, because of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.” The Chamber strives to bring all investors together to make Lufkin/Angelina County a wonderful place to work, live, and play. Current and future investors have a lot to be excited about and growing our community will help make this possible. When we all come together our voice is mighty!

I have had the pleasure to serve for numerous years as a member of the board of directors, the past three years on the executive board as the treasurer, and I am honored to serve as this year’s Chairman of the Board. I know this year we will help define COMMUNITY the Chamber way. I am excited to be part of defining COMMUNITY in Angelina County and cannot wait to see what great things are in

Coretta Scott King can be quoted as saying, “The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate

By Tara Watson-Watkins

President/CEO

When Melinda and I sat down months ago I asked her what word she wanted to focus on. She threw out the word community---- that’s all it took. My mind started going in 90 directions and for those of you who work with me or have ever been with me when I have an idea for a new event—you know to just let me go. It’s like having a hamster wheel in my head that won’t stop spinning! I have to just start writing down notes and ideas because it’s like I take a shot of adrenaline and can’t make my thoughts stop from going crazy—it’s fun and I love it!

Community—It was Aristotle who first defined the word “community” as a group established by men having shared values. But to me it’s more than that—to me, it’s about life.

Community is the heart and soul of YOUR Chamber. The Lufkin/ Angelina County Chamber of Commerce may be in our 103rd year as an organization but we are STILL the organization that people trust.

Businesses are inherently optimistic. You are risk-takers. What we hear so often is that the state of your own business is strong but the state of the economy is fragile. America is a great country capable of doing big things and so are Lufkin and Angelina County.

I believe that the Power of Community is stronger than ever. Together, we have the collective wisdom to push our limits. We don’t have to do things alone—we can rely on each other while motivating ourselves to be stronger. Plus, when we work together, we not only motivate each other but hold each other accountable.

You challenge assumptions and you drive change. When you’re a Chamber Investor, you’re investing in both your business and the East Texas region. Chamber Investors help drive solutions to advance our community. Membership provides numerous benefits and keeps business leaders on top of important, everchanging issues and trends within our region.

Businesses are not competing to win today but rather to build a better tomorrow.

Several years ago, we plotted a new vision by adopting the 3 C’s and vowed to become:

• a CONNECTOR of leaders and influencers,

• a CATALYST for business growth

• and a CHAMPION for a stronger community.

We want you to drink the Chamber Kool-Aid!!!

We have some incredible things coming to you and your employees this year. Currently, we are working on bringing Toast Masters to you and your employees.

If you have not joined our weekly podcast- CONNECTConnecting Business to Community, you are missing out. My co-host, Blake Pollino with BP Media Group, and I have had the opportunity to sit down with many of you in the community, and from around Angelina County, to hear the back stories on your businesses and talk about your dreams for the future. Over the past 14 months, we have had a total of 48,853 downloads with the top episode of 2021 being Dr. Jeff Glass.

Our leadership programs continue to thrive as Leadership Lufkin completes its 39th year and Leadership Tomorrow its 30th year.

We kicked off Leading Edge last year and are in our second year of helping emerging leaders in our community be certified in board governance training with our partnership with the Non-profit leadership center at Angelina College. These leaders are paired with incredible mentors and have the ability to board shadow numerous non-profit boards for 6 months.

We are doing our best to train new leaders that will be able to one day fill the shoes of so many of our mentors.

We have a vision, not only for our team at the Chamber but we have a vision for YOU.

The Chamber wants to be an integral part of helping make your business successful.

We want to give you and your employees tangible tools to take back and implement in your business to help make it stronger.

Your Lufkin/ Angelina County Chamber strives daily to develop a culture of leadership because we believe that culture is the soul of an organization.

We also believe that trust isn’t something that is given, it is earned.

It’s something that takes hard work, and it is earned in the smallest moments. It’s built by building personal and professional relationships.

Our vision is to be a connector, catalyst, and champion. Those are more than words to us—they are actions.

Our team gets to dream daily on how to make our community a better place to live, work, and be successful.

Coming together is the beginning, keeping it together is the progress, and working together is the success.

Come dream at the table with us.