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; Parkview in Allen - Business Wrap Up Sponsor; Hibernia Bank - WISE Sponsor; and Sam's Club - Donation.
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
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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Our Times: The Truth is Now a Niche
March Membership Luncheon
Tuesday, March 21, 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Deception is the norm; the truth is a rarity. Being truthful isn't only ethical; it's the path to a more lucrative business.
Daniel Frishberg believes that traditional advertising no longer works the magic that it once did. In his own words, "through a hugh investment and pure stubbornness, you can probably sell just about anything". But today's savvy consumer demands respect for his/her ad-intelligence quotient. It is with this consumer savvy in mind that Dan has developed a series of marketing seminars, a web-based educational marketing tool, and numerous advertising and marketing success stories.
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.
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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Business Wrap-Up
March 16, 2006
March's Business Wrap-Up, the Chamber's monthly business after hours event, will be held on Thursday, March 16th from 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. at Tom Grisak Estate Homes, located at 103 W. Main Street in Allen.
We hope you will take advantage of this "strictly social" networking opportunity. 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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Governmental Affairs Committee Needs You!
This is an open invitation to the membership to participate in the Chamber’s Governmental Affairs Committee. The first meeting of 2006 will be held on Wednesday, March 8th from 8 – 9 a.m. at the Chamber offices. At that time we will discuss hosting the annual Candidates Forum and other activities sponsored by the committee. Committee chairman is Randy Sandifer and Chuck Hoey serves as vice-chair. Your participation is greatly appreciated. If you have an interest in serving on the committee or attending this meeting to get an overview of responsibilities, please respond by calling 972-727-5585 by Tuesday, March 7th.
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Eggs & Issues Features Identity Theft Program
by Sharon Mayer, President
Recently, the Allen Chamber sponsored a briefing on Identify Theft featuring representatives from Experian and the Allen Police Department. Identity theft is an issue that everyone should be aware of and protect themselves from. Rod Griffin and Tim Puckett with Experian provided some very good tips on how to protect yourself. Corporal Jon Felty with the Allen Police Department gave additional information on ID Theft in Allen and other ideas to assist in protecting yourself and the prosecution process for those caught stealing identities and/or unauthorized use of credit cards.
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Allen Voted Favorite Among Tour Leaders
The East Texas Experience Familiarization (FAM) Tour participants including 25 group tour leaders and independent tour operators from 15 companies and seven states voted Allen as the location of one of the top three restaurants/caterers in the seven-day, six night tour of the north region February 1-7, 2006. The luncheon was hosted and catered by the Hilton Garden Inn – Allen. The FAM guests chose Allen from among 22 cities toured, dozens of attractions, 21 meals, nine properties and 22 step-on guide presentations.
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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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Return-To-Work Pilot Program
Reimbursements Available for Return to Work
Small Employers in Texas may be reimbursed by the Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation for up to $2,500 annually for the costs of workplace modifications, equipment, tools, furniture or devices, or other related costs that you have paid for to bring an injured employee back to work in a modified duty or alternate duty capacity.
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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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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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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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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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Kudos to Michelle Miller and The Cancer Monument
THRIVE! The Cancer Monument’s half hour public health cable access television show about coping and living with cancer recently won a 2006 Bronze Telly Award for episode #13 ‘Surviving Lung Cancer.’ The ground-breaking show is the creation of Michelle Miller who also produces, writes and hosts the show which airs weekly in Dallas, Plano and Richardson and publicly supported by practicing doctors in the North Texas. Only less than a year old, the Telly Award makes the third win for THRIVE in less than a year! This year’s Telly Award competition brought more than 12,000 entries from the some of the biggest and most seasoned professionals in media production. Michelle Miller will receive the bronze statuette at an awards ceremony in June at the Waldorf Astoria in Manhattan.
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Citizens Fire Academy Accepting Applications
The City of Allen Citizens Fire Academy is a program designed for persons living
or working in the City of Allen who wish to learn more about how the Allen Fire
Department is organized and operates. Covered in this program are such topics
as department hiring, training, educational requirements, emergency operations,
fire and life safety training and much more.
The Academy is taught by firefighters from throughout the Department.
Academy participants are given the opportunity to participate in demonstrations
of emergency operations and to ride with on-duty firefighters on emergency calls.
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After Prom Needs Donations
Each year the senior high school parents host an after-prom event for students. This event is solely funded by donations and provides students with a safe place to go with their friends immediately following prom. The after-prom committee has asked for the community's help in helping to fund this event.
SPIRIT NIGHT
Bennigan's is sponsoring an After Prom Night every Thursday night from 4pm-6pm up until April 6th. All you have to do is tell your waiter that you would like to apply your dinner receipt towards AHS After Prom and we will receive 10% of all that is collected for that time period. Thanks for your support!
DONATIONS NEEDED
The After Prom/Senior night committee needs your financial donations! This event is entirely funded by donations. Please help the senior parents that are volunteering to plan this event make this a memorable time for our seniors. Go to www.allenafterprom.com for donation address and important information.
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Capitol Steps
by State Rep. Ken Paxton
Rep. Paxton discusses how governmental appointments are made. The Governor of Texas is granted the authority by the state's constitution to make governmental appointments. A Governor will typically make 3,000 appointments during a four-year term of office. With Spring Break around the corner, Rep. Paxton takes the opportunity to focus on some activities for families in Austin. The Texas Film Commission is accepting application for summer internships until April 7. The Commission was established in 1971 and is part of the Office of the Governor. The purpose of the Commission is to provide filmmakers with a number of resources and to encourage film-making in Texas.
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Committee Meetings
March
Ambassadors - Monday, March 6 - 8:00 a.m. - Elke's Market Cafe
Governmental Affairs Committee - Wednesday, March 8 - 8:00 a.m. - Chamber
Executive Committee - Thursday, March 23 - 4:00 p.m. - Chamber
April
Leadership Steering Committee - Friday, April 7 - 8:00 a.m. - Chamber
Ambassadors - Monday, April 10 - 4:00 - Location TBD
Board of Directors - Thursday, April 27 - 4:00 p.m. - Chamber
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