Our vision: To be the indispensable resource for Allen and Collin County businesses.
Our mission: To support our members through programs that promote business development and encourage economic growth, educational excellence and legislative advocacy.
The Chamber would like to thank the following members for their generosity in sponsoring an event or by donating items or services: Bennigan's - Tuesday Morning Live Sponsor and Jalapeno's - Business Wrap Up Sponsor.
Visit the Chamber's website www.allenchamber.com to view the latest member buy member participating membership listing.
Executive Committee
Maxine Sweet
Chair of the Board
Experian
Patti McKee
Immediate Past Chair
Community Credit Union
Jim Waldbauer
Chair-Elect
BW2 Engineers
Christi Jefferson
Treasurer
Christi Taylor Jefferson, CPA
Frank O'Reilly
At Large
Sanmina-SCI
Worley Stein
At Large
American National Bank
Sharon Mayer
President/CEO
Allen Chamber of Commerce
Board of Directors
Tom Apligian
REMAX - Apligian
Charisse Bodisch
Ex-Officio
Allen Economic Development Corporation
Bruce Heller
JaRyCo Development
Crispin Hocate
Presbyterian Hospital of Allen
Chuck Hoey
Rapier, Wilson & Wendland, P.C.
Dr. Toni Jenkins
Ex-Officio
Collin County Community College
Lisa Johnson
State Farm Insurance
Dr. Jenny Preston
Ex-Officio
Allen Independent School District
Gene Rife
Stacy Furniture
Steve Rodgers
Emerson Partners
Bob Rothe
Fortune Financial Services
T. Randall (Randy) Sandifer
Ex-Officio
Attorney at Law
Peter Vargas
Ex-Officio
City of Allen
Patricia Watson, CPA
Staff
Julie Hynes
Director of Member Services
Carol Rodgers
Vice President, Operations
Josie Zendejas
Information Specialist
The Chamber would like to acknowledge and thank the following major investors
Platinum Investors
The Allen American
Atmos Energy
Comerica Bank
Emerson Partners
Experian
HIT Entetainment
Presbyterian Hospital of Allen
RCL Enterprises
Sunbelt Telecommunications, Inc.
Twin Creeks Master Planned Community
Gold Investors
Carter & Burgess
Harvey & Tully, P.C.
Regions Bank
Remedies Wellness Spa
Sage Telecom, Inc.
Sanmina SCI
Strasburger & Price, LLP
TXU Electric Delivery
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W.I.S.E. Luncheon
Need more organization in your work station?
Tuesday, February 21, 11:30 a.m.
Ladies, join us at our quarterly W.I.S.E. Luncheon. Jenny Bair is the President of the National Association of Professional Organizers and will teach us organizational tips to use at home and at work. Series Sponsor:  Location: Hilton Garden Inn, 705 Central Expressway South. Cost: $20 Chamber members and their guests; $25 prospective members Reservations: Required. Email reservations@allenchamber.com or call 972-727-5585.
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Eggs & Issues
Friday, February 24, 8:00 to 9:00 a.m.
Panelists from Experian and the Allen Police Department will discuss prevention and what to do if you become a victim of Identity Theft.
Location: Hilton Garden Inn, 705 Central Expressway South
Cost: $15 for members; $20 for prospective members
Reservations: Required. Email reservations@allenchamber.com or call 972-727-5585.
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Business Wrap-Up
February 16, 2006
February's Business Wrap-Up, the Chamber's monthly business after hours event, will be held on Thursday, February 16th from 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. at Parkview in Allen, located at 1451 S. Greenville Avenue.
The March Business Wrap Up will be hosted by Tom Grisak Estate Homes on Thursday, March 16, 2006.
We hope you will take advantage of these "strictly social" networking opportunities. Bring plenty of business cards for exchanging and to enter the drawing for door prizes. Reservations are not required and there is no charge to attend.
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Chairman's Coffee
New Member Orientation
Friday, February 17, 8:00 a.m.
Please be our guest for an informative New Member Orientation to learn more about the chamber and its services and meet the Chamber chair and staff. Members attending are encouraged to give a 30-second summary of their business and bring promotional items for prize giveaways.
Sponsor and Location: D.R.'s Neighborhood Grill, 111 Central Expressway North, Suite 102 (located inside Stacy Furniture)
Cost: None. Contintental breakfast provided by D.R.'s
Reservations: Requested. Please RSVP to reservations@allenchamber.com or call Julie Hynes at 972-727-5585.
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Marketing Plan in One Hour
Business Builders
March 2, 8:00 - 9:00 a.m.
Location: Hilton Garden Inn - *Please note New Location*
Cost: $15 Members; $20 Prospective Members
Speaker: Lynn Ellis, Executive Director, Small Business Development Center
Reservations: Required. Please call 972-727-5585 or email reservations@allenchamber.com
No marketing plan? No time do do one? Well here is your chance - Spend an hour with the Director of the Small Business Development Center and walk away with an action plan for the marketing of your business.
Here is what will be covered:
-resources to create a demographic profile of your target market
-analyze the strengths, weaknesses, opportunites and threats (a.k.a. SWOT analysis)
-features versus benefits of your product or service
-tools to create your marketing strategy
-how to determine if your pricing is right
-a flow chart detailing your marketing activity and the potential opportunities you are missing.
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March Membership Luncheon
Featuring Dan Frishberg, The Money Man
Tuesday, March 21, 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Dan Frishberg, The Money Man, is a well-known radio personality. He can be heard every weekday on Biz Radio 1360 from 4 6 p.m. doing The MoneyMan Report. Dan has been sharing his money secrets for over 12 years with his popular and successful radio program in Houston and in 2005 expanded into Dallas/Fort Worth. In addition, he has been involved in many aspects of radio with a special knack for programming, advertising and sponsorship sales. Growing up in the shadows of Wall Street, Dan spent much of his teenage years on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange where he discovered a gift for being able to see where money is flowing and his destiny to become a major player in the world of finance.
Cost: $20 Members; $25 Prospective Members
Location: Hilton Garden Inn, 705 Central Expressway South
Reservations: Required. Please call 972-727-5585 or email reservations@allenchamber.com
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New Members
The following members recently joined the Chamber. Please print this list and add it to your membership directory. Remember to support your fellow Chamber members!
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Member Anniversaries
The Chamber would like to recognize and thank these members who have recently renewed their investment in the Chamber. With the support of our members, we can continue to offer programs and services to help your business.
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Tuesday Morning Live
EVERY TUESDAY, 7:30 – 8:30 a.m.
Location: Bennigan’s, 305 N. Central Expressway
Cost: $1 for members; $3 for prospective members*
Reservations: Not required.
*Prospective members may attend a total of 3 meetings.
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Market Your Business to New Residents
Do you have a product or service you would like to sell to new homeowners in Allen but not sure how to do it? Then subscribe to our new homeowners list and market your business to approximately 150-200 new residents each month. You can purchase the information in list form, on peel off labels or in an excel spreadsheet. Interested? Call Carol Rodgers at 972-727-5585 or email crodgers@allenchamber.com for more information.
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Capitol Steps
by State Rep. Ken Paxton
Representative Paxton shares information about keeping Texas safe from wildfires. He also encourages everyone to enter the Smokey Bear Song contest. In addition, Rep. Paxton discusses the increase in natural gas prices, the VOTEXAS campaign, and immigration problems in Texas. Through VOTEXAS, Secretary of State Roger Williams will educate Texans on the logistics of voting in Texas as well as encourage all eligible individuals to exercise their right to vote. Rep. Paxton joined eleven colleagues in the Texas House of Representatives in sending a letter to President Bush asking him to focus on immigration reform in Texas. In this letter, they cited the harmful economic impact and dangerous security threat resulting from the overwhelming number of illegal immigrants in Texas.
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Donnell Recognized
Kudos for Kat
Publicist Kat Donnell has been nominated for the annual Barbara Jordan Awards, Individual Contribution, given by the Governor's Committee for People with Disabilities. The awards honor members of the media for their positive portrayal of those with disabilities in the media.
Donnell, a longtime friend of the disabled community, has been nominated for her ongoing stories of those who have overcome the challenges of being disabled to make great personal accomplishments. Her contributions have included television, radio and print. The Dallas Mayor's Committee for the Employment of People with Disabilities will be hosting the state wide awards in April.
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The County Line
by County Commissioner Joe Jaynes
Much has been written this past year concerning the expansion of SH 121. However, it is important to point out that US 75 is also in a crisis situation. In addition, once SH 121 is expanded, it will be difficult to bring six main lanes of traffic from SH 121 onto four lanes of traffic on US 75.
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Farmland Protected for Future Heritage Park
The Trust for Public Land (TPL) announced that a scenic heritage farm nestled in the path of industrial and residential development has been permanently protected and is slated to become a major park site for the City of Allen. The national land conservation organization acquired the 52-acre property from Molsen Farms Real Estate LTD yesterday and expects to convey it to the City later in February. The City plans to operate the property as a public heritage farm park. The future park is considered an essential addition to meeting the recreational and greenspace needs of both Allen and Collin County, one of the fastest-growing counties in the nation.
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SCORE Counseling at Chamber
Appointments available each Thursday afternoon!
Need help with your existing small business or thinking of starting a new one? SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) can provide you valuable business counseling, mentoring and ideas, and it's...FREE.
Mel Biggs, a SCORE representative, will be in the Chamber office each Thursday from 12:00 noon to 3:00 p.m. to meet with clients. To schedule an appointment, please contact the Chamber office at 972-727-5585.
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Chamber Hosts Job Bank
Does your company have a job opening or do you know of someone looking for a job? Then, refer to the Chamber's new job bank. Simply go to the chamber's website at www.allenchamber.com and click on "job bank". You can submit a job opening online or browse the job listings.
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Food Pantry is Low
ACO Asks for Assistance
Word has come to us that the Allen Food Pantry could use your help. In the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the Pantry helped an increasing number of evacuees. These numbers remained high as they helped clients during Thanksgiving and Christmas. Because of these elevated numbers, the Pantry is now running low on some specific items. As a good community partner, ACO is sending out a call asking for your help in restocking the Pantry. If you can donate these items, or organize a food drive to help collect food, it would be greatly appreciated.
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Committee Meetings
February
Board of Directors - Thursday, February 23 - 4:00 p.m. - Chamber
March
Leadership Allen Steering Committee - Friday, March 3 - 8:00 a.m. - Chamber
Ambassadors - TBD
Executive Committee - Thursday, March 23 - 4:00 p.m. - Chamber
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