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.
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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

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.