Whitney Theriot, Temple Chamber of Commerce President/CEO
As the first quarter of 2025 wraps up, I want to take a moment to reflect on the incredible momentum we’ve built and express gratitude to our Board of Directors, Chamber Members, Chamber Team, and the greater Temple community. If 2024 was a year of resilience and alignment, 2025 has roared into action—with focus, purpose, and impact. Over the past three months, we have moved from planning to execution, bringing our bold vision to life through strategic initiatives, strong partnerships, and meaningful engagement. Quarter One Wins In just the first quarter, we have: • Welcomed 31 new Members, continuing the growth of our network of over 1,000 businesses and organizations. • Celebrated 17 Ribbon Cuttings and Business Milestones, each one a meaningful celebration of the entrepreneurial spirit that defines Temple. • Hosted Salute to Business, our 118th Annual Meeting—a signature event of the organization featuring keynote speaker and documentary film maker Brett Culp, whose inspiring message of leadership and storytelling set the tone for the year ahead. • Held a successful Temple Chamber Day at the Capitol, where we amplified our voice on critical issues for our business community, bringing together our Board of Directors, Public Policy Council, and Leadership Temple Class to constitute our delegation. • Hosted the well-attended State of the City Luncheon, where Mayor Tim Davis and City Manager Brynn Myers shared a compelling vision for “Growth with Purpose.” From Vision to Action We began the year with clarity—redefining our strategic framework with three verticals: Advocacy, Member Services, and Organizational Excellence. Each initiative we undertake now aligns with these core areas, ensuring that our efforts are intentional and impactful. • Under Advocacy, we advanced with strong participation with the delegation at the Capitol, a Public Policy Council luncheon, and advocacy efforts at the local level—most recently championing Member concerns regarding commercial roll-off dumpsters at City Council meetings. • In Member Services, we introduced fresh engagement tools at our first six Business Link Lunches and Business After Hours, including interactive games like a “conversation beach ball” and a Veteran owned business showcase. Additionally, our Membership Directory in print and online continues to serve as a vital connector. • Under Organizational Excellence, we’ve begun executing key aspects of our strategic plan-- including the initial development of a dashboard to enhance transparency and accountability for our Board of Directors and Membership, along with continued efforts to align governance with our long term vision. Investing in Leadership and Legacy Our commitment to community building and leadership development remains strong. The Board of Directors green lit the Leadership Temple Spring Project, opened applications for the Class of 2026, and continued recruitment for the Launch Temple entrepreneur program. We also celebrated legacy by establishing memorial contributions to honor past Chamber leaders. Looking Ahead The second quarter brings even more opportunities to connect, collaborate, and lead. We’re excited to support upcoming networking programs, educational partnerships, and enhanced storytelling to highlight the incredible businesses that shape Temple. To our Members—thank you for your trust, partnership, and continued engagement. Your success is our mission, and together, we are building a resilient, connected, and thriving business community. Here’s to continued momentum and bold progress in 2025! Published first in the April 2025 Focus on Business - Temple Daily Telegram
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On May 22, 2024, two devastating tornadoes tore through Bell County, leaving nearly 500 homes and businesses in ruins or severely damaged. As the sun rose the following morning, our community, though bruised and battered, showed its true resilience. The City of Temple declared a disaster, and in response, hundreds of dedicated individuals mobilized. They assessed the damage, prepared meals, cleared debris, and united under the banner of Temple Strong.
The Temple Chamber staff has been dedicated to assisting affected businesses and backing the City's recovery efforts. Our team was honored to help serve food alongside the Bell County Business Group at Tarver Elementary and humbled to deliver meals to firefighters at a dark and powerless station. The Chamber served as a location for donation drop-offs and lent a hand at the Temple Strong donation drive organized by one of our remarkable Chamber members, Bold Republic Brewing Company. Led by General Manager Matt Serna, Bold Republic gathered massive amounts of clothing, toiletries, housewares, and non-perishable food for those in need. Among our other extraordinary members, Shaffin Wegener of State Farm provided 1,500 meals over two consecutive days to residents without electricity. Haute Dog offered hundreds of free meals to those in need. Our roofing and restoration members worked around the clock, providing free tarping and water removal services, often with little to no sleep. Numerous other members, including Family Promise, 7 Mares, Feed My Sheep, Paradise Nails, Texas Roadhouse, United Way of Central Texas, Wings, Pizza ‘N Things, 3 Texans Winery, Bulldog Auto Detailing, Extraco Banks, KCEN Channel 6, Texell Credit Union, Vista Real Estate and countless others, stepped up to serve the community. On May 24, 2024, the Temple and Belton Chambers issued a joint statement, a unified call for support, urging members to contribute to The Tornado Relief Fund established by the United Way. The Temple Chamber is ready to support businesses in providing information regarding operating hours and recovery updates to the public. We encourage our members to contact us for any inquiries or assistance needed. We are actively monitoring resource updates and will continue to communicate this information to our membership. If you need help with recovery, reach out to The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at https://www.disasterassistance.gov/ or call 800-621-3362. FEMA plans to establish a disaster resource center at Tarver Elementary School in Temple. Small businesses looking for recovery support can find information from the Office of the Governor at https://gov.texas.gov/business/page/recover. We will rise from these ashes, stronger than ever, thanks to the boundless compassion and determination of those who live and work here. Together, we embody the spirit of Temple Strong. On Tuesday, May 21, 2024, business and community leaders gathered at the Hilton Garden Inn-Temple to celebrate the Leadership Temple Alumni and the Leadership Temple Class of 2024 at the annual Leadership Temple Alumni & Graduation Banquet. This event, a product of a Class of 2018 Action Team project, aims to enhance the Alumni Association and the future impact of the program. It is an opportunity to network, learn about the current class project, and celebrate the new graduates. Proceeds from the banquet contribute to the Leadership Temple Tuition Assistance Scholarship, designed to promote inclusivity and diversity within the program. This initiative supports small businesses and nonprofits, fostering a more representative community leadership landscape. Honoring a Distinguished Leader The highlight of the luncheon was honoring David Nix, a graduate of the Leadership Temple Class of 1988, the charter class of the program. Leland Gersbach, CPA, Retiring Partner at Brockway, Gersbach, Franklin & Niemeier, and founder of the Leadership Temple program, presented the 2024 Leadership Temple Distinguished Alumni Award to Nix. Nix, a dedicated community leader known for his commitment to economic development and civic engagement, recently retired as President of The David Nix Agency, which he founded in 1993. Under his leadership, the agency, now affiliated with Acrisure, won numerous industry awards for sales, service, and community involvement. His extensive civic contributions include service on the Boards of the Temple Economic Development Corporation, the Temple Chamber of Commerce, the Temple Business League, the Temple Industrial Foundation, the Temple Reinvestment Zone, and the Rotary Club of Temple, among others. “The banquet was a wonderful way to honor a dedicated community leader and alumni of the program, David Nix, and to celebrate the new graduates,” said Whitney Theriot, President of the Temple Chamber of Commerce. “It was encouraging to hear from a pioneering community leader and inspiring to learn about the work in service of the new graduates. Temple has a strong foundation of community leaders who model civic engagement for future generations. Temple’s future is bright with the new and recent graduates of the Leadership Temple program.” Celebrating the Class of 2024
The eighteen professionals of the Leadership Temple Class of 2024 were celebrated for their dedication to the nine-month program focused on community leadership, professional development, and personal growth. Led by Class President David Shine of Shine Richardson Investment Group of Wells Fargo Advisors and Curriculum Chair Tanner Johnson of Central National Bank, the 2024 graduates are: Jennifer Avery | Temple Economic Development Corporation Shane Brooks | Alliance Bank Central Texas Sydney Cable, MBA | Temple Area Builders Association Rachel Clemons, LMSW | United Way of Central Texas William Dabney | BKCW Insurance Tom Elmore | Workforce Solutions of Central Texas Mac Fairey | City of Temple - Police Department Taylor Fitzner, J.D. | Baird, Crews, Schiller & Whitaker, P.C. Lindsay Francis | City of Temple - Marketing Ben Hammonds, MBA | University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Hudson Kennedy, CPA | Extraco Banks Chase Kern | Paramount Wastewater Solutions, LLC Erin Kiella, Ph.D. | Real Property Analytics Clarissa Martinez | Temple College Logan McClinton | CentraLand Title Company Joe Rela | Materials Transportation Co. Rob Schilling | Walmart Distribution Company #6083 Bobbie Jo Young | Temple Chamber of Commerce Action Team Project: Feed My Sheep Community Farm Collaboration The Class of 2024 presented their Action Team project, a collaboration with the Feed My Sheep Community Farm, aimed at addressing hunger and homelessness in Temple. The project involved significant contributions to Elizabeth Farm in East Temple, including acquiring a greenhouse, covering an eighty-foot grow house, donating fruit trees and topsoil, and developing a production plan for produce. The class also assisted in the installation of a tiny home on the property, providing housing for a previously homeless individual. Through their efforts, the class has bolstered the farm’s resources, providing the necessary infrastructure for the farm to begin growing fresh fruits and vegetables and providing educational opportunities for Feed My Sheep’s clients. This initiative complements the City’s ongoing Arbor of Hope project, making it a promising long-term investment for the community. “The Temple Chamber leadership is immensely proud of our Leadership Temple program graduates from the Class of 2024,” added Theriot. “Their commitment to professional development and community service embodies the spirit of Leadership Temple.” A Lasting Legacy The Leadership Temple program continues to cultivate strong community leaders. The contributions of David Nix and the Class of 2024 exemplify the spirit of service and commitment to the growth and prosperity of Temple. Thank you to the 2024 banquet sponsors, including the City of Temple, McLane Group, Extraco Banks, Garcia Architects, Johnson Brothers Ford Lincoln, First United Bank & Trust, Clark Associates, Workforce Solutions of Central Texas, Materials Transportation Company (MTC), and Walmart Distribution Center #6083, who helped make this celebration possible. As the Leadership Temple program moves forward, it continues to build a brighter future for the community, driven by passionate and dedicated leaders. For more information about Leadership Temple, visit www.templechamber.com/leadershiptemple. |
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