​Small business Saturday is November 26, 2022. This nationwide effort is poised to direct lots of retail traffic and revenue to U.S. small businesses. And you’ll want to be a part of it.
 
Started by American Express, to support small businesses during the 2010 recession, Small Business Saturday became recognized by the U.S. Senate and all 50 states in 2011.
 
The holidays are all about giving – and the best gift you can give local businesses is your support. Get out there and Shop Small this Small Business Saturday to kick off the season in a meaningful way.
 
Click the button below to find the best spots in the greater Temple area to shop, enjoy, and explore locally!

The Temple Chamber of Commerce hosted the 38th annual Military & First Responder Salute: An American Celebration, presented by the American Legion Post #133 and H-E-B on Tuesday, October 25, 2022. The event returned to the traditional in-person luncheon at the Mayborn Convention Center for the first time since 2019.
 
Hundreds of business community members united to celebrate and honor the Central Texas military, veterans, and first responders.
 
Active-duty soldiers from Temple’s Central Texas Military Partners at Fort Hood including, III Armored Corps, 1st Cavalry Division, 13th ESC, Garrison Command, and the 1st Medical Brigade, along with the 3rd Squadron, 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment (ABCT)/Texas Army National Guard located in Temple were part of the celebration.
 
Veterans through the American Legion Post #133 and VFW Post #1820 were also part of the celebration.
 
A group of Veterans from the William R. Courtney State Veterans Home also attended the event. This group of a dozen veterans included a World Ward II Veteran, Purple Heart recipients, and Bronze Star and Silver Star recipients. Bell County First Responders led a special procession for the veterans, escorting them from the Central Texas Veterans Health Care Campus to the Mayborn.
 
Beginning in 2020, the Chamber incorporated First Responders into this annual recognition event. Local law enforcement, fire and rescue, EMS, and medical and health care professionals rounded out the honorees at this year’s event.
 
This year’s event included a special presentation by Major General John B. Richardson IV, commanding general of the 1st Cavalry Regiment/Fort Hood.
 
The Chamber was proud to bring the business community together to salute those who have given so much.
 
Through this event, the Chamber united the business community and saluted and honored those who have given so much.
 
Photos from the 38th Military & First Responder Salute can be found at templechamber.com/mfrs2022.

Every year since 1987, the Temple Chamber of Commerce has asked the Temple area business community to submit candidates for consideration to Leadership Temple.

Leadership Temple is a professional development and education program designed to help current and emerging leaders understand the dynamics of the community and the role leadership plays in its long-term success. It is a 10-month program where graduates emerge with an unprecedented level of community awareness as well as insights they can apply in the workplace.

The Temple Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and Leadership Temple Advisory Council are proud to introduce the Leadership Temple Class of 2023.

2022-23 Class President - Camryn Bintz, CPA, CCIFP
Camryn is an accounting and finance professional who oversees KPA Engineer’s day-to-day accounting, administrative, and marketing operations. She is also a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Construction Industry Finance Professional, licensed in the State of Texas. She received a Master of Business Administration Degree and a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree in Accounting and Finance from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.

2022-23 Curriculum Chair - David Shine
David Shine is a partner and financial advisor at Shine Richardson Investment Group of Wells Fargo Advisors. He is committed to offering clients a wide array of wealth management services, and holds Series 7 and Series 66 securities registrations, is licensed in 37 states and is licensed in life and health insurance. He is a Baylor University graduate and has experience in politics, banking, new-venture coaching, and construction. David was born and raised in Temple, TX and is focused on serving clients locally and throughout the country. In his free time David and his wife Morgan enjoy spending their time in the outdoors fishing, hunting, and hiking with their Malinois Ivy.
 
Leadership Temple Class of 2022-23
Amanda Alvarado
Amanda Alvarado graduated from Waskow High School in Belton, TX. She is employed by First Community Title in marketing. Amanda is the mother of two children, Nolan, and Nathaniel, and resides in Temple, TX where she enjoys spending time with family and friends.

Brooke Barron, CPA
Brooke is a 2017 graduate of California State University, Fullerton where she earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting. Brooke began her career with a public accounting firm in Huntington Beach, CA serving clients in areas of audit and assurance, tax consulting and compliance, and accounting services. Brooke joined Brockway, Gersbach, Franklin & Niemeier P.C. as a Senior Accountant in November 2021 and obtained her CPA certification in January 2022.

Jodi Brazeal
Jodi Brazeal was born and raised in Little River-Academy, TX. She has worked as a Realtor since 1998 and has worked with Magnolia Realty Temple-Belton since 2018. Jodi and her husband JP have been married 24 years and are the parents of two kids, Jenna, a Senior at Tarleton State, and Scout, a Senior at Academy High School. Her favorite pass times are watching her kids compete in athletics, Bible studies, spending time outdoors and with family and friends.
 
Amanda Carlson
Amanda joined the Temple Economic Development Corporation as Director of Marketing & Communications in May 2020. Amanda holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the University of Southern Maine. Though she may be from the East Coast she holds Central Texas in her heart after moving here while her husband was stationed at Fort Hood. Now that their time in the Army is complete, she and her husband are putting down roots in Temple and are eager to get involved in making Central Texas a wonderful place to live, work, and play.

Jeffrey Clark
Jeffrey Clark has worked for the Temple Police Department for 29 years. He has worked many roles from patrol, narcotics, community policing, as a SWAT officer, and is currently a Deputy Chief over the Investigations Bureau. The bureau includes the following units: Detectives, Crime Scene, Crime Victims Assistance, Violent Crimes Enforcement, Crime Analysis, Property & Evidence, Narcotics, Traffic, COPS (Community Oriented Policing), and School Resource units.

Kevin Craven, MBA, BSN, RN
Kevin has been a registered nurse for 35 years. After serving in the Air Force as a corpsman, he attended the University of Arizona and University of Phoenix obtaining his BSN and MBA. His areas of practice include emergency, flight, and critical care nursing. Administratively, Kevin has had oversight of trauma centers, cardiovascular programs, and wound care services. Currently, he practices as the Director of Nursing of Critical Care Services at Baylor Scott & White – Temple hospital. He lives with his wife in Nolanville, TX and has 6 grown children.

Jentry Davis
Jentry Davis is from Lubbock, TX and graduated from Baylor University with a bachelor’s degree in Entrepreneurship and Corporate Innovation in 2019. She works as the Executive Officer at the Temple Area Builders Association. She and her husband, Caleb, moved to Temple in April 2021 for his residency at Baylor Scott & White Health. They are both excited to have joined the Bell County family.

Annette Farmer, JD
Annette is an attorney with West, Webb, Allbritton & Gentry, P.C., specializing in estate and business planning. In addition to holding a law degree from Baylor Law School, she holds a master’s degree in Biochemistry from UT Southwestern Medical Center. Since moving to the area in 2010, Annette immediately felt at home. That’s why, when her husband retired from the Army, they built on the roots they established in the area to raise their two sons in the community. Annette enjoys spending time with her family, camping, hiking, and exercising.

Tanner Johnson
Tanner Johnson was born and raised in Temple, TX. Tanner graduated from Salado High School with honor in 2007 and Texas A&M University with a degree in Finance in 2011. After graduation, he went to work for Goldman Sachs in Dallas as a commercial real estate loan officer until he moved back to Temple to join Central National Bank as a vice president/commercial loan officer. He is happily married to his wife, Brittany Johnson, and has two small girls (Tess: 3 & Thea: 1).
 
Christine Leal, MA
Christine serves the City of Temple as the Performance & Analytics Manager in the Department of Performance Excellence. Before joining the City of Temple, Christine served as a Quartermaster Officer in the United States Army, where she became passionate about the ethical stewardship of government funds and assets. Christine has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Texas A&M University, and a Master of Public Affairs degree from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas.

Ben Lopez, Jr.
Ben Lopez, Jr. is a 24-year veteran of Workforce Solutions of Central Texas, first as a Workforce Specialist, then as a Program Specialist, and most recently the Workforce Center Director in Temple. He has overseen and/or developed multiple programs such as the nationally recognized Welfare To Work program and the Non-Custodial Parent Choices program. A native of Rogers, TX, and currently residing in Belton, Ben is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin; is married to his wife Madonna; and has two children, Zachary (23) and Aly (20).
 
Megan Mondrik, MArch
Megan is a Designer & Project Manager for Garcia Architects (Formerly Neal Architectural Group). She is a lifetime member of the Central Texas community, graduating from Academy High School. She joined Neal Architectural Group after graduating with honors from Texas Tech University with a Bachelor of Science in Architecture. She has since gone on to receive her Master’s Degree in Architecture as part of her pursuit to become a State of Texas Licensed Architect. Megan, her husband and daughter, enjoy spending time outdoors hiking, fishing, and traveling.
 
Cassidy Revis
Cassidy currently serves as the Membership Director at Wildflower Country Club in Temple, Texas and has held this position since July of 2021. She is originally from Snyder, Texas. Cassidy attended the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, played on the Women’s Golf Team, and graduated with a B.A. in Sport Management in 2019. After graduating, Cassidy married Temple/Belton native, Kyle Revis and recently celebrated their second anniversary. Cassidy is thrilled to be involved in Leadership Temple and is excited to continue serving our community.
 
Caleb Smith
Caleb Smith is a Mortgage Loan Officer at First United Bank. Born and raised in the Belton-Temple area and has made this community his home. He attended Belton Schools and graduated from Texas A&M University (WHOOP!). He and his wife, Breanna, are expecting their first child, a son Bearor, this fall. Caleb’s pass times include fishing, golfing, pickleball, watching sports, and late-night board games. He has a passion for serving this community and is excited to be engaged in Leadership Temple.
 
Bryson Soden, MID
Bryson grew up in Canon City, CO, and lived there until he was accepted into Texas A&M. He was in the Corps of Cadets and graduated with a degree in International Studies and commissioned in the Army. Through the Army, he attended many schools including the Explosive Ordnance Disposal School; he was also privileged to travel the world, seeing four countries and seven different duty stations. Eventually, he found his way back to Texas, and after completing a master’s degree, decided to make Texas and Bell County home.