2021 Board of Directors

August 3, 2020

​​Due to the disruption to the community, and the impact COVID-19 has had upon the business community with the related shutdowns, the board felt it was important to keep the stability of leadership for the Board of Directors into 2021.  Local businessman Drayton McLane III has been re-elected as Chair of the Board for Temple Chamber of Commerce.  McLane was first elected to the board in late 2017 and was elected to serve as Chair for 2020.
 
“Drayton was asked to serve an additional year, and he accepted without hesitation “noted Rick Kasberg, Chair of the Chamber’s Nominating Committee.  “He is prepared to serve an additional year and lead the Chamber forward in our efforts to inform, educate, communicate and advocate for the business community.”
 
 “Thank you to the Chamber Board for your confidence in me to serve again in 2021.  I am looking forward to a better year as a community in 2021!”  He also added, “This Chamber can be led with confidence knowing you have the wisdom and experience of the Chamber Board and the Chamber Staff to lean on.”  
 
Other Board Nominations:

• Gayle Kiger, KCEN TV Channel 6 was elected to the position of First Vice-Chair and will become Chair of the Board in January 2022.  He is in his third year on the Board of Directors.  Kiger is the President and General Manager of KCEN TV Channel 6. 

 
Elected to the Board of Directors for a three-year term:

• Bishop Shelton Rhodes, Greater Zion Temple Church of God in Christ
• Bo Harvey, Treno Pizzeria & Taproom
• Shannon Gowan, Carothers Executive Homes
• Kim Langston, 3 Texans Winery & Vineyard

 
Highlights of 2020:

• January’s Salute to Business Dinner had the largest audience ever, thanks in part to guest Speaker Governor Greg Abbott. 

 

• The formation in February of a Community Inclusion Committee.  This committee is made up of business, church, and community leaders from all demographics.  The focus of this committee is to strengthen diversity and equality in Bell County.

 

• The Chamber partnered with the City of Temple and United Way Central Texas in the development and release of the Temple Small Business Relief Grant.  The grant is to provide a lifeline to qualifying businesses impacted by COVID19.

 

• The Chamber is working closely with the Bell County Commissioners Court with the roll out of the Bell County Small Business Relief Grant.

 
 “COVID-19 has unexpectedly wreaked havoc upon all of us, but the Chamber staff has performed admirably to inform, educate, communicate, and advocate for business in the greater Temple community” McLane noted.
 
“The mission of the Temple Chamber of Commerce is to preserve, protect, and promote a business-friendly environment that is free of obstacles to growth and development.  This has never been more important than today” McLane stated.
 
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About the Temple Chamber of Commerce
The mission of the Temple Chamber of Commerce is to serve the business community by preserving, protecting, and promoting a business-friendly environment, free of obstacles to growth and development. The Chamber provides a venue where business owners, leaders, managers and staff can connect, learn and grow, acts as a catalyst for an ever-changing and evolving business-friendly environment, and works to define and develop the Temple of 2025 and beyond.