August-September 2023: La Porte Chamber Insider Newsletter

Events at a Glance

OCTOBER 14

Kids’ Rodeo & Fall Festival

NOVEMBER 16

Purse Bingo

We Want To Know!

ending summer with a bang! We had so much fun with our community and business partners during our last events of the Summer, the Fishing Tournament and the New Teacher Luncheon. Thanks to everyone who participated!

LETTER FROM THE

2023 Officers

Chair of the Board

ADELINA gomez-ABSHIRE

Chair-Elect

PRESTON BEARDEN

EXECUTIVE OFFICER

BOB BRADSHAW

EXECUTIVE OFFICER

AMANDA DEALEJANDRO

EXECUTIVE OFFICER

BRIAN KINKOPF

EXECUTIVE OFFICER

ANGELA THATCHER

EXECUTIVE OFFICER

MICHELLE THOMAS

Ex-Officio Directors

Past Chair of the Board

NELSON RODRIGUEZ

City of La Porte

MAYOR LOUIS RIGBY

City of Morgan’s Point

MAYOR MICHEL BECHTEL

City of Shoreacres

MAYOR DAVID JENNINGS

Staff President

JEFF MARTIN

VICE PRESIDENT

MEGAN WEAVER

Marketing DIRECTOR

NAOMI RICHISON

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

JACKIE Olvera

I cannot believe that we are in the end of September already. It feels like it was just yesterday that we wrapped up the Sylvan Beach Festival. We truly appreciate all who supported our Hook, Line & Sinker Fishing Tournament. We had a great event filled with networking, extreme heat, lots of fish, and 43 excellent teams that made this possible. Your generous support and those who volunteered made this event a success with a fun-filled day!

We also had the opportunity to get connected and network on Wednesday, August 2, at our New Teacher Luncheon. The Bulldog Centre was packed full of those who came out and welcomed our new teachers. Our educators are true heroes that impact our children’s lives each day. Let’s keep them in our thoughts as they begin the 2023-2024 academic year. We appreciate all the volunteer work made by the committee and everyone who participated!

We honored our First Responders with a Golf Tournament and a Chili Cook-off on September14. Thank you for your help in making this event one of the best and showing our appreciation to those serving the La Porte community.

Now that we are approaching the second half of this year, let’s focus on the good we have accomplished and a moment to adjust our goals. Do not forget that we are still in celebration mode for our extraordinary accomplishment as a chamber celebrating our centennial year! Lets find ways to honor our La Porte-Bayshore Chamber of Commerce and showcase the fantastic achievement of serving our La Porte community for over 100 years! I will ensure Beacon Federal Credit Union has a shout-out on all our social media pages to honor the La Porte-Bayshore Chamber accomplishment. I challenge each one of your companies to do the same.

Now let’s do some awesome things in our community. I like that our philosophy in the credit union industry is about people helping people, and the chamber mimics our reason for being here to improve our members’ lives.

Respectfully and blessings,

Adelina Gomez-Abshire

2023 Chair of the Board La Porte-Bayshore Chamber of Commerce

Board of Directors

PRESTON BEARDEN

Bayou City Industrial Contractors, LTD

MARK BOOKMYER

LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES

BOB BRADSHAW

INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA

BETH BRADY

Public Speaker

AMANDA DEALEJANDRO Community First ER

SCOTT GERNANDER

San Jacinto College

MARTHA GILLETT

Houston Yacht Club

ADELINA Gomez-ABSHIRE

Beacon Federal Credit Union

KELLY GREEN

Heat Plant Services

ALI HAGER

Texas Stress, Inc.

STEPHEN HAILEY Intrepid Industries, Inc.

Scott Halbrooks

Oxychem vcm la porte

COURTNEY HEROD

F.E. Moran Special Hazard Systems

DR. WALTER JACKSON

La Porte ISD Superintendent

REGGIE JACKSON

Tolunay-Wong Engineers, Inc.

BRIAN KINKOPF

mitsubishi chemicals

JACK MCCARTHY MRC Global

DAUSHA MOORE-WRIGHT Fathom Realty

JAMES PERRIN

Sulzer Turbo Services, Inc.

NELSON RODRIGUEZ

Kuraray America-Poval

ANGELA THATCHER

Air Products

MICHELLE THOMAS

Celanese Clear Lake Plant

BRENDA THOMPSON

DuPont Bayport

July Business of the Month: Gates on Main Street Weddings & Special Events Venue

We wish to congratulate The Gates on Main St. as our July Business of the Month!

As a premiere wedding and event venue in La Porte’s Historical District, The Gates is proud to present an elegant event space with the flair of the Tuscan countryside. Their convenient location positioned off Highway 146 and Main Street offers a versatile space you can truly make your own; small and intimate, grand and over the top, rustic, or classically romantic - the

possibilities are endless. Plus, select from one of their all-inclusive packages for a completely stress-free event all of your guests will be talking about.

Whether you’re planning a Dream Wedding, quinceañera, large party, or corporate event, celebrate with Lettie at The Gates on Main Street! You won’t be disappointed!

Chamber staff and Ambassadors pause for a quick photo with Lettie of Gates on Main St. in front of her venue, recognizing them as the July Business of the Month.

Photo by Stephen Mendoza Photography

August Business of the Month: The Wooden Spoon Kitchen & Bakery

If you have not gone to The Wooden Spoon yet, frankly, you’re missing out.

This hometown eatery has gained popularity at an impressive rate, and it’s for good reason. Meals are made to order with fresh ingredients, and the service is always friendly. The feeling that you’re family when you walk through the door is something you can also expect, making this kitchen and bakery a popular lunch destination! Insider tip: DO NOT forget to grab something sweet from their dessert case!

Moreover, we appreciate what The Wooden Spoon pours back into their community, like appreciation lunches for first responders, commitment to local students, and participating in community events. All of this AFTER having to rebuild and regather when a fire shut them down for months! What a testament to their perseverance!

Featured Business

The Wooden Spoon

�� 1133 S Broadway Street

La Porte, TX 77571

�� (281) 941-9072

�� thewoodenspoonkb.com

Staff and chamber ambassadors gather to recognize The Wooden Spoon as the August Business of the Month.

FROM THE Chamber of Commerce

A History of Giving

Crepe Myrtle trees are symbols of love, beauty, longevity, and good fortune. For this reason, Glynda, a longtime La Porte citizen, has made it her mission to carefully craft by hand these walking sticks - so that the Crepe Myrtles of La Porte, Texas can spread its branches far and wide and continue to provide.

Select your LP Walking Stick in our office lobby for the suggested cash donation of $30. Moneys raised goes directly toward La Porte student scholarships.

Find New Interactive Features in Your Newsletters!

We’re adding all-new interactive features to each Insider Newsletter! Look for the symbol below indicating where you can discover something a little extra!

In addition to advanced interactivity, you will no longer find third-party ads on the online flipbook versions of the newsletter, making your Insider Newsletter - now, that’s an upgrade!

This shows you where to find interactive features!

Purse Bingo Registration Opens Soon!

Our popular purse bingo event sells out each year, and in order to provide the most value to our members we are opening an exclusive pre-sale for members only before registration opens to the public!

Keep an eye out on your inbox for more informtion soon!

Hook, Line, & Sinker!

Congratulations to these anglers who reeled in the prizes at our 6th Annual Hook, Line, & Sinker Fishing Tournament! It was a beautiful, albeit sweltering, day to raise money for student scholarships and community programs, but it was well worth it! We welcomed a completely full tournament this year with 48 teams participating, as well as record-high corporate sponsors.

We are honored once again to partner with our local Special Olympics program and other youth education programs, such as the Houston Yacht Club Ragnots Youth Sailing Program and La Porte High School fishing team. This year, the La Porte-Bayshore Chamber of Commerce was able to award $10,500 in prizes and another $4,000 to community programs, breaking our previous year’s record. Thank you to everyone who made this year’s fishing tournament another record year for everyone!

Team Largest Stringer (5 Trout)

$1,500 Winner

Ceres Gulf Team 2: 17.04.7 lb

$1,000 Winner

Pop’n Corks:12.00.7 lb

$750 Winner

JW Roofing: 11.11.9 lb

Individual Redfish

$1,000 Winner

Chillie May, Ceres Gulf Team 2: 9.01.5 lb

Team Largest Stringer 1st Place Winner, Ceres Gulf Team 2

Individual Redfish 1st Place Winner, Chillie May

Individual Trout 1st Place Winner, Brandon Gralheer

…continued from previous page

$750 Winner

Jeff Hellman, Ceres Gulf Team 2: 7.04.7 lb

$500 Winner

Kenny Winn, JW Roofing: 6.11.1 lb

Individual Trout

$1,000 Winner

Brandon Gralheer, Pop’n Corks: 4.09.7 lb

$750 Winner

John Winn, JW Roofing: 3.07.2 lb

$500 Winner

Chillie May, Ceres Gulf Team 2: 3.03.0 lb

Side Bet: Redfish with the Most Spots

$650 Pot Winner

Apache Industrial/Clint Hicks with 7 spots

Side Bet: Largest “Slam”

(1 Red, 1 Trout, 1 Flounder)

$470 Pot Winner

Jeff Hellman, Ceres Gulf Team 2: 12.04.4 lb

Welcome, 2023-2024 School Year!

We had an absolute blast hosting the La Porte ISD New Teacher Luncheon in the beginning of August! Each new school year brings with it the promise of new beginnings, treasured students, and beautiful memories that last a lifetime, and we are so proud to call our district’s new teachers and faculty family!

We wish to thank all of our sponsors, without whom none of this would have been possible, and a special thanks to our presenting sponsor, Gulf Coast Educators Federal Credit Union.

Joint Legislative Meetings Kick-Off

It was smiles all around and some friendly banter at our first joint Legislative Meeting with our neighbors over at the Deer Park Chamber of Commerce!

In attendance were business and municipal representatives from both Deer Park and La Porte, along with the best staffers we could ask for from the offices of federal, state, and local elected officials. Along with our featured guest, Christian Bionat with the Greater Houston Partnership, they delivered a summary of the 88th Texas Legislative Session including an agenda that addresses the most pressing issues facing the business community and the greater Houston region. The agenda included four executive priorities – economic development, higher education funding, flood mitigation, and energy diversification.

The Legislature passed bills that will positively impact the region, including establishing a new economic development incentive program, increased investment in workforce development and higher-education funding, and prioritized flood mitigation dollars in

the state’s budget. While not all priorities made it over the finish line, great strides were taken in advancing these key policy items during the 88th Texas Legislative Session.

Our Chamber will be rolling out new initiatives in the coming months as we work to revitalize our Governmental Affairs committee and we look forward to working with our friends in Deer Park to help keep our members informed and engaged!

Stay tuned for information on our next joint meeting hosted at our chamber! If you are interested in being involved with the committee, please let Megan know at megan@ laportechamber.org.

Thank You, First Responders

There’s a very powerful reason we host our First Responders Golf Tournament and Charity Chili Cook-Off each year; in fact, there’s hundreds of thousands of reasons.

A little over 22 years ago, heinous attacks shook our nation and the world. Through the confusion, anger, and senseless losses emerged a nation who united together

under the Stars and Stripes. The world was shown what true heroes look like when our brave firefighters, law enforcement, EMS, and more continued day in and day out in their relief efforts. Men and women worked tirelessly, putting their lives on the line and themselves last.

We seek to honor all First Responders who continue to serve and protect those who need it most. Thank you doesn’t seem adequate to express our gratitude, but THANK YOU!

With funds raised through our golf tournament and cook-off we were able to award scholarships to individuals going through local training academies. In 2018 our chamber established a memorial scholarship to honor the memory of longtime responder and victim advocate, Carol Scott. Each year we are honored to award a $1,000 scholarship to a young man or woman enrolled in one of the local training academies - this year we awarded THREE!

We wish to congratulate Sergeant Barrence Rodgers with the La Porte Police Depart-

ment as one of those recipients! Sgt. Rodgers is currently serving in a leadership role with LPPD and will be enrolling in graduate level criminal justice courses this fall. Police Chief Ditrich gave some insight into Rodgers’ dedication and commitment, and we wish him the best as he pursues mastery in his field!

We also wish to congratulate two students currently enrolled at the San Jacinto College Fire Training Academy, Ms. Sidney Montalvo and Mr. Sebastian Cervantes, on their $1,000 scholarships! Their training kept them from being present at the tournament, but we wish them well in their fire training

We were able to help purchase the Laser Shot training simulator to help continually train our local first responders. We appreciate all of our sponsors, volunteers, and participants who helped us bring our first responders a wonderful time at the Bay Forest Golf Course!

We want to formally welcome American Craniofacial Association to the La PorteBayshore Chamber of Commerce!

CUTTINGRound Up

American Craniofacial Association

�� (832)984-7616

�� acahouston2018@gmail.com

What is the American Craniofacial Association, you ask? Simply put, ACA works with cranio-communities to provide funding for medical and personal care, medical supplies, and educational opportunities.

The reality is they do so much more; they empower individuals with the right resources so they can gain the confidence to fulfill their potential! And, that can make a world of difference!

ACA understands the financial stress that can occur when people with craniofacial members have extended stays in the hospital, often in a city far from home. ACA sponsors patients, as well as families with craniofacial children, that are experiencing a hospital stay for emergency situations or surgeries. They also offer grants for medical supplies, educational scholarships, and motivational camps!

If you or your family needs assistance, ACA can sponsor your family! Learn more on their website at www.acatexas.org

Frank Nance - State Farm Agent

�� 508 W Main Street in La Porte

�� (281) 930-7611

�� www.franknance.com

Yes, Frank has been helping La Porte area residents and businesses with their insurance needs for years, but we just had to celebrate his new office expansion! The new expansion gives Frank and his team of good neighbors four additional offices, a fresh facelift, and a much-needed storage room. Congratulations on their continued growth!

Frank Nance State Farm offers homeowners, auto, renters, life, and small business insurance. Additionally, they also provide flood insurance, health insurance, and income protection. Ultimately, they are deeply committed to education for all their customers— they want you to understand what you have and why you have it. Now, that’s piece of mind.

Bayshore Baptist Church

�� 11315 Spencer Hwy in La Porte

�� (281)471-0332

�� www.bayshorebaptist.church

We are happy to officially welcome Bayshore Baptist Church La Porte to the chamber!

Bayshore Baptist Church is a place to call home; a thriving, diverse community of real people experiencing real life together. They are a fellowship of believers who gather throughout the week to study God’s Word, live what you learn and, in the process, grow closer to God and each other. Their focus is on reaching people for Christ and inviting you (yes, YOU!) to be a part of building lives together at Bayshore.

If you’re seeking a place to call home, you’re invited to come as a visitor during Sunday morning worship at 10:30am, and you will leave as a friend!

That morning slump can be a major bummer - we hear you! Getting those kids back to school and back to good habits can be exhausting! So, go visit our friends over at Next Level Nutrition to take back your day with Loaded Teas and the most delish meal replacement shakes! Tell them the chamber sent you!

Our ambassadors, pictured here with Next Level staff at their RibbonCutting, several board directors, and certain chamber staff (we won’t say who, but their name rhymes with “schmegan”) can all vouch for their products!! Welcome to the chamber, Next Level Nutrition!

Randy Casey State Farm Agent has made their commitment to their community official with a ceremonial ribbon cutting!

Located just over the Hartman Bridge, Randy and his dedicated staff have been serving our area for over 15 years! Casey joined State Farm in 1998 and became an agent in 2008. He enjoys working with people, solving problems, and providing coverage designed to suit your specific lifestyle needs, whether those be for auto, home, motorcycle, or even health, life, and pet insurance! Additionally, his office offers multilingual support, answering your questions and concerns in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese!

Casey has a passion for helping his local community and giving

back, especially since he has lived in Baytown his entire life. He stays busy participating in multiple organizations, such as the Baytown Lions Club, Baytown Crime Stoppers, and the Baytown, Crosby, Highlands, and La Porte Chambers of Commerce.

Fun fact! Casey owns a small farm where he raises many animals including goats, cows, chickens and bees. Needless to say, their office is pet-friendly! Bring your furry friend with you the next time you visit, and receive your free custom insurance quote!

Randy Casey State Farm Agent

(281) 421-2244

The La Porte-Bayshore Chamber of Commerce congratulates HCA Houston Healthcare Southeast on the official Ribbon Cutting of their NEW Rehabilitation Hospital!!

On August 23rd we were joined by several other regional chambers to jointly celebrate the opening of HCA Houston Rehabilitation Hospital Southeast!

This new campus of HCA Houston Southeast offers inpatient rehabilitation for individuals who require a higher level of care following an extended illness, stroke, surgery, injury, or trauma, including:

• 31 private rooms that include private bathrooms, in-room visitor seating, a bariatric room, and a comfortable waiting room

• Fully equipped gym with state-of-the-art equipment, stairs ad a car transfer simulator, so our patients can practice getting in and out of a car safely

• Large dining area

• Activities of daily living (ADL) kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom training areas

• Telemetry and video sitter monitoring capability

• Inpatient rehabilitation program includes dedicated and experienced physical therapists, occupational therapists, rehabilitation nurses and speech language pathologists

Be sure to visit HCAhoustonhealthcare.com/ southeast for more information.

Morgan’s Landing Apartments

�� 3300 Bay Area Blvd in La Porte

�� (281) 962-3300 �� liveatmorganslanding.com

We are thrilled to welcome Morgan’s Landing Apartments, an absolutely STUNNING new community right here in La Porte! Welcome to the La PorteBayshore Chamber of Commerce!

Morgan’s Landing is an exclusive apartment community that provides residents with an all-inclusive luxury living experience. This community allows residents to immerse themselves in every moment and live life to the fullest in vibrant colors. The apartment’s sleek, modern interiors and designer details offer a refreshing escape from everyday chaos, creating a new way of living. How refreshing!

The property provides various amenities, such as a resort-inspired pool (complete with lounge “island”), a 24-hour stateof-the-art athletic club, an outdoor beer garden for residents to unwind and relax, and tons of activities and perks for residents! Come and create extraordinary moments that will awaken your senses and leave a lasting impression!

Book your tour today, or stay tuned for one of their upcoming social events!

What a special treat it was to hear from Yadirah, owner of BabyWowXYZ, during their official Ribbon Cutting! She has a HUGE heart and understands pregnancy can mean different things to different people. She opened BabyWow pregnancy center to help facilitate those meaningful and personal bonds between baby and family

BabyWowXYZ is a new and unique business in La Porte. From confirming your pregnancy and hearing your baby’s heartbeat to finding out baby’s gender and checking ba-

BabyWowXYZ

�� 410 E Fairmont Pkwy, Ste D1 in La Porte

�� (713) 408-7337

�� babywow.xyz@gmail.com

by’s position, BabyWowXYZ has everything you want and need at an affordable rate!

Capture magical moments with professional ultrasounds and commemorate your pregnancy with a belly casting and a 360º photo booth in their party venue next door - the perfect retreat to celebrate your little miracle with family and friends!

Create those special pregnancy memories at BabyWowXYZ!

Please help us welcome one of our newest (and cutest!) members, The Hen Haus Beauty Bar!

This little slice of Shangri-La makes for the perfect refuge from your hectic day-to-day lives. This power team of glam specialists have got your beauty services covered from head to toe including hair, lashes, waxing, and more! They’re looking toward expanding, so be on the lookout for new services coming soon!

Having recently celebrated ONE YEAR since officially opening their doors, this group of ladies have gained quite the following for their laid back but fun environment, and obviously their great work! Book a “You Day” with the works or swing by for a much needed break at The Hen Haus!

The Hen Haus Beauty Bar

�� 10408 Spencer Hwy in La Porte

�� (713) 806-0806

�� thehenhausbb@gmail.com

ADVERTISE HERE!

NEWSLETTER ADVERTISING RATES AND GUIDELINES

• Advertiser must be a chamber member.

• Advertiser will commit to run the same ad each month for a minimum of 6 months.

• Advertiser should make no reference to non-chamber members within the ad.

• Ad must be in good taste, non-political and non-inflammatory.

• Camera ready artwork is preferred however the chamber will work with advertisers to build ads if necessary.

• contact naomi@laportechamber.org to advertise

The following businesses have realized the importance of economic growth and development for the La Porte-Bayshore area and have pledged their support to this cause by investing in their Chamber of Commerce. Please support your community by calling on these businesses when you are in need of products and services.

New Members

Renewals

AAA Flexible Pipe Cleaning

Advance Services

Agape Centric, Inc.

A.M. Safety

Apex Gym

Around La Porte Community Newspaper

Assistance League of the Bay Area

Battleground Saloon

Bay Forest Grill

Bayshore Baptist Church

beAed Corporation

The Bridge Over Troubled Waters, Inc.

Burton NDT Rentals

Clear Creek Equipment Rental

CobbFendley

Code Red Safety & Rental

Comfort Suites

Commercial La Porte Ltd.

Community Matters, Inc.

Compton’s Florist

Crown Trophy

Delta Residence

DHL Supply Chain

Dove Shipping International, Inc.

Easy Source Promos

EBR Realty Group at KW Commercial/Keller

Williams Clear Lake

Edward Jones Investments

First United Methodist Church of La Porte

Gringo’s Mexican Kitchen

Gulf Coast Authority

Gulf Winds International, Inc.

Hartman Newspapers LP

Heat Plant Services

ILA Local #1351, Steamship Clerks & Checkers

David Janda

Jimmie Pierce CPA, PC

La Porte Chiropractic Associates

Main 101 Grill & Bar, Inc.

Mariposa Apartment Homes at Pecan Park

McKee Insurance Agency

Mike Cooksley Insurance Agency

Mitsubishi Chemical America, Inc.

MRC Global

Next Level Dance

Nothing Bundt Cakes - Pasadena

Pawelek Orthodontics

Pipefitters Local Union 211

Precision Auto Repair

Renovating Resources & Roofing

ROCK REALTY

The Roof Genius, LLC

San Jacinto College Central Administration

Savannah Cafe & Bakery

Schafer’s Coastal Bar & Grille

SmokeAholics

Sparks Insurance

Sylvan Shores Health and Wellness

TechSure LLC

USI Federal Credit Union