April, 2015
Grapevine Chamber of Commerce Newsletter
Business Matters 02-03
Networking Opportunities Job Fair
04-05
Chamber Sponsors YEA
06-07
New Members Luncheon Introductions Ribbon Cuttings
08-09
Great Taste of Grapevine Women’s Division
10-11
Renewing Members April Calendar
Hear from Former CIA Chief of Mission: Counterintelligence at April Luncheon
The mission of the Grapevine Chamber of Commerce is to promote business that adds value to our community.
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Vision: The vision of the Grapevine Chamber is a progressive business organization that brings relevant and essential opportunities for our investors and community to grow and prosper.
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Values: Excellence Innovation Integrity & Community
The next Grapevine Chamber Membership Luncheon will feature a special presentation from James Olson, former CIA Chief of Counterintelligence, who will speak about his undercover career in the CIA. The luncheon, April 9, sponsored by First Bank Texas and catered by Love & War in Texas, will be at 11:30 a.m. at the Grapevine Convention Center. A special thanks to i5 web
works and ASDierolf Concrete, LLC for sponsoring this month’s program. In speaking about his undercover career in the CIA, Olson will share about how he was recruited, the training he received, the risks he and his wife who was also a CIA operative both faced, and the effect of this undercover lifestyle on their marriage and children. Olson will also discuss the role of the CIA in the current Global War on Terrorism and other current
issues affecting the safety and security of American citizens. There will also be time for Q & A at the end of the presentation. Born in LeMars, Iowa, Olson has bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and economics from the University of Iowa, as well as a Juris Doctor in international law from the University of Iowa. He is a member of the Iowa Bar, and he attained the rank of Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy. Olson was a career officer Continued on page 2
Welcome to the 2nd Quarter of 2015 Time sure does fly. As usual, March was a very busy month at the Grapevine Chamber of Com merce. The Grapevine Young Entrepreneur Academy held their Investors Panel Event this past month at the Palace Theatre. All the students did an excellent job in their presentations, and I wish them all success as they begin to launch these new businesses.
Special congratulations to Jewel Burleson of Custom Dance Jewels who will be representing Grapevine YEA! at Regionals in Phoenix, Arizona, May 14-15. I also want to thank all our sponsors and volunteers for this program. The Chamber staff could not do it without your involvement. On March 19, the Leadership Grapevine class and other Chamber members took a trip to the Texas State Capitol for Grapevine Day
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in Austin. I was allowed to tag along on this trip, and it was a great experience. We took a tour of the capitol and had the pleasure of meeting with Senator Jane Nelson, Senator Kelly Hancock, and Representative Giovanni Capriglione. We appreciated them taking time out of their busy schedules to speak with the Leadership Grapevine class. The trip was also a way for me to meet some Chamber members that I had perhaps Continued on page 3
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