LETTER FROM THE Chair
As we move closer to the end of 2024, I want to take a moment to recognize the hard work and dedication each of you has shown throughout this year. The year’s end is a wonderful time to reflect on how far we’ve come, the goals we set, and the strides we’ve made both as individual businesses and as a community.
At the start of 2024, many of us set ambitious goals. Whether it was expanding our services, reaching new customers, or increasing community engagement, each goal represents the commitment we all share toward growth and progress. I encourage you to take some time to reflect on your own goals and the progress you’ve made so far. Celebrating successes, no matter how big or small, gives us the momentum we need to keep pushing forward. Equally important is considering any areas for growth and identifying ways we can continue to improve and serve our community even better.
Together, let’s keep moving forward with purpose and determination. The La PorteBayshore Chamber of Commerce is here to support you every step of the way, offering resources, networking, and advocacy to help you achieve your goals.
Thank you for being a valued part of our Chamber. Let’s end 2024 on a high note and welcome the opportunities that await us in the new year.
Preston Bearden
2024 Chair of the Board La Porte-Bayshore Chamber of Commerce
EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS
Preston Bearden Chair of the Board
bayou city industrial contractors , ltd Serving Through 2024
Angela Thatcher Chair Elect of the Board air products , llc Serving Through 2024
Bob Bradshaw VP of Economic Development
ineos olefins & polymers usa Serving Through 2024
Mark Bookmyer lyondellbasell industries Serving through 2024
Beth Brady public speaker , preacher ’ s kid Serving through 2024
Scott Halbrooks oxychem la porte vcm Serving through 2024
Brenda Thompson dupont bayport Serving through 2024
Scott Gernander san jacinto college Serving through 2025
Mayor Rick Helton city of la porte
Jeff Martin President email
Amanda DeAlejandro VP of Membership Activities community first er Serving Through 2024
James Perrin VP of Business Development sulzer turbo services , inc . Serving Through 2025
DIRECTORS
Kelly Green heat plant services Serving through 2025
Ali Busch texas stress , inc . Serving through 2025
Brandon Lunsford garden of eden floral & tearoom Serving through 2025
Dausha Moore-Wright fathom realty Serving through 2025
Shannon Cotham fischers hardware Serving through 2026
EX-OFFICIO DIRECTORS
Adelina Gomez-Abshire Past Chair of the Board beacon federal credit union
Mayor Tim Harris city of morgan ’ s point
Dr. Walter Jackson superintendent , la porte isd
CHAMBER STAFF
Megan Weaver Vice President email
Michelle Thomas VP of Community Development celanese clear lake plant Serving Through 2025
Austin Lloyd VP of Marketing Development cornerstone systems Serving Through 2026
Chad Warden the wooden spoon kitchen & bakery Serving through 2026
Derrin Riddick enterprise products Serving through 2026
La’Jasmine Fitch kuraray america Serving through 2026
Clint Dubec kaneka north america Serving through 2026
Sheree Turnage mitsubishi chemical Serving through 2026
Mayor David Jennings city of shoreacres
Naomi Richison Marketing Coordinator
Jackie Olvera Administrative Assistant
Get to Know the Board
Each month we showcase a couple of our board directors giving you the opportunity to know our leadership team. What do these two directors have in common? They each own a Boxer!
Mark Bookmyer
Mark is a dedicated board member and valued employee of LyondellBasell for an impressive 34 years. Mark’s longstanding commitment to the company is fueled by his belief in the positive impact LyondellBasell has on the community every day. Passionate about community improvement, Mark works tirelessly to support initiatives that enhance the neighborhoods where his family, friends, and colleagues live and work.
His dedication to creating lasting benefits for our community makes him an invaluable part of our board and a true advocate for positive change.
Ali Busch
Ali is a committed board member who exudes care and compassion. She claims her friends and family are everything to her! Ali loves traveling whenever she gets the chance and values every moment spent with those closest to her.
She has served as the director of the annual Miss Sylvan Beach Pageant and has been an active volunteer with the Chamber since 2012. Her dedication to our community and her passion for bringing people together make her a cherished part of our team.
NEWS FROM THE Chamber of Commerce
First Responders Receive Sweet Treat In Honor of National First Responders Day
In honor of National First Responders Day, we’d like to take a moment to send a heartfelt THANK YOU to all of our heroes! In the photos, our Ambassadors and Golf Tournament Committee members enjoyed delivering a small token of our appreciation, courtesy of Nothing Bundt Cakes to each emergency department in the Bayshore community including La Porte, Morgan’s Point, and Shoreacres!
We hope the sweet treats put a smile on your faces! Thank you for all your sacrifices!
Chamber Selling
Raffle Tickets for Louis Vuitton Purse
Generously sponsored by Bayside Plumbing Services, the chamber is pleased to bring back the Louis Vuitton Raffle to be held at the conclusion of our Purse Bingo event on November 19, 2024.
The cost of each ticket is $20 for 1 of 3 chances to win! The first ticket
drawn wins $250 in chamber member gift cards; the second ticket drawn wins a $500 Gift Certificate + 6 months of B12 Injections from The Next Chapter Cosmetics; and, the third ticket drawn wins a Louis Vuitton Graceful handbag valued at $1,760!
Proceeds from the raffle benefit the student scholarship fund. You can purchase tickets online at bit.ly/ LPC-RaffleTickets
Proud to support the neighborhood
Lunch Mob is a fun and casual gathering of chamber staff, ambassadors, and members where we enjoy visiting one of our food establishment members.
Simply RSVP, meet us there, and enjoy the camaraderie! Each guest pays their own bill.
OXYCHEM IS ESSENTIAL CHEMISTRY
We make essential chemistry that elevate quality of life everywhere. Our products are necessary for everyday household goods and drive crucial industrial processes. We’re proud to lead our principal product categories, and we’re known for safety, reliability and sustainability.
• Drinking water treatment and other disinfection
• Pharmaceuticals
• Medical equipment
• Vinyl
• Aluminum
• Paper and pulp manufacturing
• Environmentally friendly refrigerants
• Ice and snow removal products
• Agricultural products
For more information, visit www.oxy.com/operations/essential-chemistry/
RIBBON CUTTINGRound Up
�� 9001 Spencer Hwy, Suite F Deer Park, TX 77571
�� (346) 489-7665
�� pinchapenny.com/stores/deerparktx-290
Welcome Pinch A Penny Pool Patio Spa!
Check out this huge welcoming for one of our newest members!
Pinch A Penny Pool Patio & Spa, centrally located in the shopping center in front of WalMart, is your one-stop-shop for everything you need to keep your pool and spa sparkling! In fact, with over 280 stores across the southeast U.S., their swimming pool expertise is something you can count on to keep your pool and spa its healthiest and your family its happiest.
From cleaning supplies and fun toys to com-
prehensive repair and contemporary remodeling services, Pinch A Penny offers everything but the initial construction ... for now, but their eyes are set on growth!
Plus, you can feel good supporting some of La Porte’s own since the owner and manager are both La Porte HS graduates! Owners Ricky and Cynthia enjoy supporting our local students (their son plays in the LPHS drum line!) and giving back to the communities in which they live!
Pinch A Penny Pool Patio Spa
The Next Chapter Cosmetics
120 E. 8th Street, Suite 24 Deer Park, TX 77536
(832) 675-2099
thenextchaptercosmetics.net
We want to officially welcome The Next Chapter Cosmetics to the La Porte Chamber family!
Jennifer Dominguez enjoyed being a firefighter and paramedic for over 30 years! When an opportunity for change appeared, she took it and started her next chapter, literally! She’s been enjoying exponential growth at her Deer Park office ever since!
Currently, she offers injectable treatments like dermal fillers and vitamin injections, effective weight loss solutions, vitamin IV hydration, PDO thread lifts, and facial treatments such as dermaplaning and Aquagold facials. Going
above and beyond for her clients, she also offers regenerative PRF and PRP therapies and professional teeth whitening! Committed to your satisfaction and well-being, she is certified to utilize the latest technology to help you look and feel your best!
Not only does she go above and beyond for her clients, but also in the community by organizing donation drives, volunteering, and personally donating to worthy causes - it’s no wonder either, with decades of first responder service under her belt!
Discover your next chapter and schedule your appointment today!
Office Products
6015 South Loop E Houston, TX 77033
(713) 644-4007
challengeofficeproducts.com
We are pleased to welcome Challenge Office Products to the La Porte-Bayshore Chamber!
It’s easy to tell the representatives from Challenge Office Products enjoy what they do. That pride shines through when they share what sets them apart from the big box stores. Their family-owned company has been in business for 37 years. They credit their longevity to their excellent customer service, adaptability by offering a more diversified line of products and services, and dedicated and caring people.
In addition to an extensive range of office furniture and products, you can also expect custom promotional products and various advertising specialties to cover your business needs.
We’re happy to have them back in La Porte especially since Roma, their friendly Account Executive, began her career at the old Hughes Hardware store on Main Street!
NEWS FROM OURChamber Members
International Institute of Municipal Clerks Congratulates Robin Lenio, CMC
Robin Lenio, CMC, of City of La Porte, has earned the designation of Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC), which is awarded by the International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC), Inc.
IIMC grants the CMC designation only to municipal clerks who complete demanding education requirements; and have a record of significant contributions to their local government, community and state.
The International Institute of Municipal Clerks, founded in 1947, has 14,000 members throughout the United States, Canada, and 15 other countries, and the mission of this global non-profit corporation is to enhance the educational opportunities and professional development of its diverse membership.
In light of the speed and drastic nature of change these days, lifelong learning is not only desirable, it is necessary for all in local government to keep pace with the growing demands and changing needs of the citizens we serve. Your city can take immense pride in Robin’s educational accomplishments and achievement of this milestone.
On behalf of the IIMC Board of Directors, [Lisa Garcia, MMC, President of IIMC is] honored to endorse the conferring of CMC to Robin Lenio, CMC of City of La Porte. We share your pride in this achievement and we applaud your support of the role Robin plays in your city.
La Porte Is A Reduced Flood Rate Community
You will be pleased to know that the cost of flood insurance for residents of La Porte is discounted 25%!
In 2021, the City of La Porte was certified as a Community Rating System (CRS) community. CRS is
A Thank You from Community First ER
Thank you everyone for joining us for our Trunk or Treat! We had an amazing time with you all and loved all of the creative costumes. We truly love to get involved with our community and we are already looking forward to next year’s trunk or treat!
a voluntary incentive program that recognizes and encourages community floodplain management practices that exceed the minimum requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Over 1,500 communities participate nationwide.
In CRS communities, flood insurance premium rates are discounted to reflect the reduced flood risk resulting from the community’s efforts that address the three goals of the program:
1. Reduce and avoid flood damage to insurable property
2. Strengthen and support the insurance aspects of the National Flood Insurance Program
3. Foster comprehensive floodplain management
In addition to lower-cost flood insurance, CRS floodplain management activities provide enhanced public safety, reduced damage to property and public infrastructure, and avoidance of economic disruption and loss. The City has a full page of floodplain information at LaPorteTX.gov/ FloodplainInfo.
A community accrues points to improve its CRS Class rating and receive increasingly higher discounts. Points are awarded for engaging in any of 19 creditable activities, organized under four categories:
1. Public Information
2. Mapping and Regulations
3. Flood Damage Reduction
4. Warning and Response
Currently, La Porte’s rating is Class Five, which is why residents are able to
enjoy a 25% savings on flood insurance. In Texas, there are only five other communities with a Class Five rating, and only two which are higher than Class Five. Contact your insurance provider to see if you are getting your full discount!
The City’s floodplain management efforts support the following guiding principles and key focus areas of the City Council’s adopted 2023 Strategic Plan:
Governance
The City of La Porte is governed in a transparent, efficient, accountable and responsive manner on behalf of its citizens that actively promotes citizen involvement. (1.2.3 Tell the City’s story.)
Communications
The City of La Porte will build relationships and showcase our community through communication, technology, training, and branding. (2.1 Establish a program to promote the city of La Porte. 2.1.1 Tell the City’s story. 2.1.2 Improve the perception and understanding of the city among the public.; 2.2 Establish a more robust program to get the facts to the public. 2.2.2 Define and promote the city’s authorized (not Facebook) sources of information. Establish clear messaging.)
Infrastructure and Utilities
The City of La Porte will have and maintain a strong infrastructure and up to date facilities to continue to provide superior services for our
citizens. (3.5 Communicate how La Porte can support buildout, what types of density and entertainment options are needed.; 3.8 Educating and informing the public on infrastructure issues. Educating and information the public on drainage issues. Continue working with the agencies on flooding and drainage needs.; 3.12 Address long term maintenance needs of city infrastructure.)
Economic Development
The City of La Porte will promote a strong and diverse economy that strengthens the local sales tax and property tax base while also contributing to a high quality of life. (4.6 Consider community development as much as economic development.)
Organizational Excellence
The City of La Porte will operate in a transparent, efficient, accountable, and responsive manner by preparing the organization and the staff for the future, focusing on core services, attracting and retaining the best employees and wise stewardship of financial resources. (5.3 Establish communication channels with area
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local jurisdictions. Interact with other agencies.; 5.4 Establish and communicate emergency preparedness plan to better respond to dangerous events in the community and area. Develop relationships with industrial partners, other local governmental entities, and regulatory agencies. Communicate all the city does to keep it safe and be prepared.; 5.5 Simplify Zoning Ordinance. Floodplain information. Promote on-line services. Continue communication efforts.)
Community partners work together to enhance education for La Porte ISD students
Businesses and organizations of all sizes and kinds are sowing seeds of kindness in a variety of ways as La Porte ISD Partners in Education, offering what they can in time, talents and resources to enhance education for students.
While some companies have committed to partnering with a specific campus or on special projects with the district as a whole, others have chosen to adopt a classroom or sponsor a specific team or program area. At La Porte Elementary School, for example, several small businesses in La Porte are working together, each “adopting” a specific grade level to provide help as needed. Last spring, one business owner garnered support from owners of other small companies, with each sponsoring a different elementary campus to provide an Ice Cream Day for all students. A local church group sponsors the girls basketball team, providing treats and notes of encouragement before their home games. Volunteers from other businesses and organizations have signed up as mentors through the HELPS (Help Empower La Porte Students) mentoring program. And the list goes on. The creativity and generosity of our La Porte community is astounding, and we are so grateful for the support of all of the area industries, businesses, churches, organizations and volunteers who partner with us.
If you are interested in partnering with our schools, please contact us at 281-604-7084 or cookt@lpisd.org so that we can help you find the opportunity that is right for you and your company or organization.
RE/MAX Excellence Announces New Partnership with Animal Shelter
Building on a successful adoption campaign in conjunction with the La Porte Animal Shelter, RE/ MAX Excellence is excited to announce a new program called, “RE/MAX Rescues.”
Each month, RE/MAX will spotlight two animals that can be adopted or fostered from the animal shelter. Each month, RE/MAX will produce videos spotlighting the dogs or cats for adoption. If someone adopts one of the featured dogs or cats, RE/MAX will pay all fees for the adoption. If you are not able to adopt or foster, there are still ways that the citizens can help with the care of these animals. The La Porte Animal Shelter is asking for items such as medium and large dog collars, breakaway cat collars, leashes, and food.
Citizens can drop these items off at the Animal Shelter or you can bring the donations by the RE/ MAX Excellence office, 831 South Broadway, La Porte Monday through Friday 9am-5pm. Help us clear the shelter and make an impact on our community.
Brandy Peres of Main Street Food Truck Park and Entertainment Center chats with a La Porte Elementary School third grader. She and her husband, Dr. Victor Peres of La Porte Chiropractic Associates, sponsor the third grade at La Porte Elementary.
The City of La Porte Presents
New Members
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.
CHALLENGE OFFICE PRODUCTS
David Lange
6015 South Loop E Houston, TX 77033
713-644-4007
challengeofficeproducts.com
THE NEXT CHAPTER COSMETICS
Jennifer Dominguez 120 E. 8th Street, Suite 24
Deer Park, TX 77536
832-675-2099
thenextchaptercosmetics.net
Renewals
A.M. Safety
Baker Petrolite
Bay Forest Golf Course
beAed Corporation
CenterPoint Energy
Clay Development & Construction
Coastal Welding Supply, Inc.
Community First ER
DiamondBack Works, L.P.
Edward Jones Investments
Evonik Active Oxygens, LLC
First Sip Liquor
Gas Innovations / WWS
Gulf Coast Authority
Heat Plant Services
Houston Methodist Clear Lake Hospital
Katoen Natie Gulf Coast
La Car Porte
Louisiana Chemical Equipment, Co. L.L.C.
Mac Haik Ford Pasadena
MRC Global
Next Level Dance
Sage Dental
San Jacinto Museum of History
State Representative Briscoe Cain
Straker Energy
Texas Chiropractic College
The Roof Genius, LLC
Tolunay-Wong Engineers, Inc.
Turner Industries Group L.L.C.
Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux
Thank you for your continued support!
