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Amid the vibrant energy of Temple's Chamber scene, Matt Serna stands out as one of its most recognized and cherished figures. Affectionately referred to as "Matty" by his friends and colleagues, Matt has become a cornerstone of the Temple Chamber of Commerce, serving as a dedicated Ambassador for many years. His bright blue coat and distinctive, stylish hair make him easy to spot at any Chamber event, and his infectious personality guarantees he'll bring both laughter and a warm hug to those around him. As a Chamber Ambassador, Matt plays an essential role in fostering connections among local businesses and welcoming new members with his ever-present smile. His dedication to the Temple Chamber is unwavering, whether he's catching up with fellow ambassadors or ensuring everyone feels included at events. His presence is not only valued, but vital—Chamber events just wouldn’t be the same without his vibrant spirit. Matt’s deep ties to the community extend far beyond his professional role. A graduate of Mumford High School, where he was salutatorian, Matt went on to earn an associate degree from Temple College. After moving to Temple about 15 years ago, he quickly fell in love with the area and its people, making it his mission to give back in any way possible. Over the years, he has served as a committee chair within the Chamber and currently works as an Administrative Coordinator at MEP Electric. Outside of work, Matt enjoys the simple pleasures in life: reading, sipping a chilled glass of Pinot Grigio, and caring for his two beloved cats, Laverne and Shirley. His warmth and humor have made him a cherished figure in both his professional and personal circles. One of Matt’s most impactful contributions came in the wake of the devastating tornado that struck Temple in May 2024. As the community reeled from the destruction, Matt stepped up to lead efforts in gathering supplies and donations for those affected. His leadership and compassion helped provide relief to hundreds of families, reinforcing his reputation as someone who can always be counted on in times of need. The Temple Chamber of Commerce is immensely grateful for all that Matt Serna does to uplift the community. His tireless dedication, friendly demeanor, and boundless generosity have made him an irreplaceable part of the Chamber family. Matty embodies the spirit of Temple, and the city is lucky to have him. 
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 The Temple business community recently gathered to elevate their social media skills with a Half-Day Digital Bootcamp, held on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, at the Hilton Garden Inn – Temple. Organized under the Small Business Connect initiative by the Temple Chamber of Commerce, the event aimed to empower small business owners with social media strategies for Facebook and Instagram. The seminar began promptly at 8:00 am with a warm breakfast, setting the stage for a day filled with insightful learning and networking. Attendees received printed materials to guide them through the half-day sessions, ensuring they had the necessary resources to make the most of the training. Amanda Robinson, Founder & CEO of The Digital Gal Inc. and a Meta Certified Lead Trainer, flew in from British Columbia, Canada, to lead the boot camp with her extensive knowledge and engaging presentation style. The first session, titled Creative Optimization for Facebook and Instagram, provided a deep dive into crafting and optimizing engaging content for these platforms. Amanda shared best practices for content creation and demonstrated how to use the Meta Business Suite to test and iterate performance. Attendees left this session with an understanding of how to identify tools and creative formats that build a strong community on Facebook and Instagram, as well as strategies for increasing business awareness through posts, Stories, Reels, and Live videos. After a brief intermission, the second session, Instagram Deep Dive: Designing and Optimizing Your Instagram, delved into the creative features of the platform. Amanda revealed innovative techniques for engaging audiences through impactful posts, Stories, and Reels. Participants learned how to create visually appealing content that aligns with their brand identity and target audience, develop effective caption-writing techniques, and incorporate their brand tone of voice into their Instagram content. The seminar was not only a learning experience but also an opportunity for local business owners to network and share best practices. The hands-on approach and real-world examples provided by Amanda Robinson made the sessions impactful, equipping attendees with actionable insights to enhance their social media strategies. As part of the Small Business Connect initiative, launched in 2023 by the Temple Chamber of Commerce, this boot camp exemplified its mission to resource small business owners with expert training to accelerate and enhance their businesses. The positive feedback from participants underscored the event’s success and the value of the knowledge gained. This half-day digital boot camp was graciously provided by Meta and supported by the 2024 Small Business Connect sponsors--Extraco Banks, Hilton Garden Inn-Temple, Ludwick, Montgomery & Stapp, P.C., and McLane Intelligent Solutions. The Chamber looks forward to continuing its support of local businesses through more events and training sessions under the Small Business Connect initiative. For those who missed the event, stay tuned to the Temple Chamber Facebook page and website, www.templechamber.com, for future opportunities to participate in these transformative events designed to take your business to the next level.  The Rotary Club of Temple, the Rotary Club of Temple-South, Temple College, and the Temple Chamber of Commerce recently celebrated the completion of the third cohort of Launch Temple. Six aspiring entrepreneurs graduated from the 10-week program on July 16, 2024.
Launch Temple is part of the LaunchMyCity family of programs, modeled after LaunchDETROIT (Michigan) and LaunchRALEIGH (North Carolina). LaunchMyCity is a program of Rotary International, the community service and global humanitarian organization located in over 200 countries. The program strives to develop successful entrepreneurs by expanding access to comprehensive business training and financial and business resources. Launch Temple is a collaborative effort between the two Temple Rotary Clubs, Temple College and the Temple Chamber of Commerce, which provides training, mentorship, and networking to cultivate local entrepreneurs. The program is offered at no cost to qualified applicants and held at Temple College. The curriculum is derived through LaunchMyCity, with Temple College staff providing instruction. James Skinner, MBA, Director of Adult Education and Literacy at Temple College instructed the 10-week program. The program has training sessions with topics including Business Models, Market Research, Funding, Legal Strategy, Marketing and Branding. The participants walk away with a complete business plan to help them navigate the journey of an entrepreneur. Some of the program participants did so to strengthen an existing business. Others participated to gain a great foundation to start their business on the right foot. The Temple Chamber of Commerce would like to congratulate the graduates of the third cohort of Launch Temple! The six Launch Temple Graduates are:
For more information visit www.LaunchTemple.com. |
