Join us for the second Small Business Connect Seminar on Tuesday, June 27, 2023, at the Hilton Garden Inn. This quarterly seminar brings together local small business owners and entrepreneurs who are eager to enhance their businesses through valuable resources and opportunities.

The upcoming seminar on June 27 focuses on "Marketing & E-Commerce Tools for Small Business." Local business leaders will share their experiences, tools, and strategies for business growth in a panel discussion.

Small Business Connect is made possible with the support of Meta, Extraco Banks, Ludwick Montgomery & Stapp, McLane Intelligent Solutions, and the Hilton Garden Inn.

Don't miss out on this chance to connect with fellow entrepreneurs, gain practical knowledge, and network with influential business leaders. Save the date, Tuesday, June 27, 2023, and join us at the Hilton Garden Inn for the Small Business Connect Seminar.

Register now to secure your spot and take your business to new heights.

The promise of Wings Pizza ‘N Things, mainly the coveted Ranch Dressing, drew a remarkable turnout from the members of the business community for Business After Hours sponsored by Ludwick, Montgomery & Stapp, P.C. and Wings Pizza ‘N Things on May 25.
 
The back half of the restaurant came alive with the spirit of networking as attendees chatted, exchanged information, connected, and built relationships in the lively and engaging atmosphere. Attendees also indulged in an assortment of buffalo wings and pizzas, showcasing the culinary delights of Wings Pizza ‘N Things.
 
Thank you to Ludwick, Montgomery & Stapp, P.C. and Wings Pizza 'N Things for their support in making this event a resounding success. This May Business After Hours is just one example of the Temple Chamber's commitment to providing valuable opportunities for connection and growth throughout the year. Stay tuned for more exciting events that will empower you to connect with like-minded individuals, support local businesses, and contribute to the continued prosperity of our community.

If you couldn’t attend, fret not! We've captured the essence of the evening in a collection of vibrant photos, allowing you to relive the spirit, fun, and fellowship that filled the air.

​Small business owners gathered at the Cultural Activities Center on May 4 for Governor Abbot’s Small Business Summit. Temple was selected as the kickoff location for the series held throughout Texas and designed to help small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs.
 
"Small businesses have made Texas the economic legend that we are today, and people from across America continue moving to our state in droves to take advantage of the unique freedom and opportunity only offered in our great state,” said Governor Abbott in a press release announcing the summits.
 
The event garnered more than 200 registrants to gain critical insights from business owners and industry experts. Emceed by Lindsay Spinetto, KCEN TV Channel 6 news anchor, the summit began with a welcome, and opening remarks from Temple Chamber President Rod Henry. Aaron Demerson, the Commissioner Representing Employers for the Texas Workforce Commission, was the Guest Speaker prior to a series of panel discussions.
 
Lindsay Francis of the City of Temple moderated the Marketing & E-Commerce Essentials panel, which featured local business owner H.B. Macey of Perry Office Plus. Macey advised that while consumers prefer cheap, fast, and good, most times, a product can only be two of the three. He also explained that while Perry Office Plus is a local business, they operate in multiple states, not just Texas, to illustrate that small businesses don’t have to limit their operations to a small area.
 
The Workforce Development panel, moderated by Susan Kamas, Executive Director of Workforce Solutions of Central Texas, included the organization’s Director of Industry/Education Partnerships, Charley Ayres, Reynolds Consumer Products Human Resource Manager Karen Poe, and Vice President of Workforce Development at Temple College, DeDe Griffith. Giffith discussed the importance of businesses partnering with local community colleges to build and maintain an educated workforce; Ayres highlighted benefits offered by the state for companies that employ student workers.
 
Another panel, Finance & Funding, moderated by University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Dean of McLane College Dr. Ken Smith, included Business Advisor of McLennan Small Business Development Center Jason Ehler, Extraco Bank Executive Vice President Jason Collier, and Coley Group President Art Coley. The main takeaway of the panel: how business owners manage their personal finances is a good indicator of how they will manage the business's finances. Panelists encouraged business owners seeking a loan to be prepared to scale back on personal luxuries to uncover already available funds.
 
The final panel focused on Cybersecurity. Moderated by McLane Intelligent Solutions CEO Tracy Morris, the panel included insights from the Texas Department of Information Resources Deputy CISO/ TX Cybersecurity Coordinator Jeremy Wilson, University of Mary-Hardin Baylor Assistant Professor of Business Information Systems Dr. Jean Baptiste Koffi, and Centex Technologies Chief Technology Officer John Hocking. With the ever-evolving landscape of tech, the takeaway from this panel was ultimately to stay vigilant when protecting yourself and your organization from cyber threats.
 
Drayton McLane, Jr., Chairman of McLane Group, provided the Keynote Presentation.
 
The summit also recognized and celebrated the contributions of four local small businesses, highlighting their achievements and showcasing their success stories.
 
With a focus on empowerment and growth, the Governor's Small Business Summit in Temple was a must-attend event for entrepreneurs and business owners looking to take their businesses to the next level.
 
The summit was sponsored by Meta, Extraco Banks, Niagra Bottling Company, and Polar Bottling Company. Guests were treated to breakfast from RosieJo Meals and lunch and desserts from Wings Pizza 'N Things.