Grapevine Chamber of Commerce

2014 Annual Report

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Mission, Vision & Values Page 3

2015 Board of Directors Page 4

2015 Staff Page 5

Chamber Awards Page 5

Volunteer Awards Page

Budget Page

MISSION, VISION, VALUES

The Mission of the Grapevine Chamber is to promote business that

adds value to our community.

The Vision of the Grapevine Chamber is a progressive business

organization that brings relevant and essential opportunities for our

investors and community to grow and prosper.

The Values of the Grapevine Chamber: Excellence, Innovation,

Integrity and Community.

2015 Board of Directors

Chairman of the Board Paul Slechta – Panda Embroidery

Chairman Elect Steve Halley – Hilton DFW Lakes Hotel & Convention Center

Treasurer C.W. Higgins – Classic Chevrolet / The Thompson Group

V.C. Business Partnerships Joe Szymaszek – Grapevine Mills

Immediate Past Chair C.W. Higgins – Classic Chevrolet / The Thompson Group

CEO RaDonna Hessel – Grapevine Chamber

Board Members Toni Barron – Community Impact News

LeAnn Brown – Silver Oak Commercial Realty

Hagen Cleek – Cowboy’s Golf Club

Darla Denton – Devin Designs Florist

Cory Halliburton – Weycer, Kaplan, Pulaski & Zuber, P.C.

Susie Howell – Frost

Nathaniel Neal – NJ Graphics Design, Inc.

Eric Wang – Ming Wang Manufacturing, Ltd.

Ex-Officio Board Members Bruno Rumbelow – City of Grapevine (City Manager)

Dr. Robin Ryan – Grapevine Colleyville ISD (Superintendent)

Steve Newton – Baylor Regional Medical Center at Grapevine

P.W. McCallum – Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau

Staff

RaDonna Hessel, CEO

Marti Pevehouse, Director of Membership Development

Michael Miori, Director of Business Development

William Moore, Director of Communication

Mary Jo Tellin, Director of Program Development

Natalie Thompson-Garner, Membership Services Manager

Michael Gill, Summer 2015 Intern

Awards Presented to the Grapevine Chamber in 2015

Texas Chamber of Commerce Executives: Media Excellence Award

First Place Directories and Community Profiles

First Place – Social Media Marketing

First Place – Maps

First Place – Brochures

First Place – Websites

Second Place – Brochures

Second Place – Marketing Campaign

Second Place – Newsletter / Newspaper

Program of the Year Award Winner for Community Development – First Place

Program of the Year Award Winner for Economic Development – First Place

Chamber Accomplishments

GOAL - LEADERSHIP Awards Banquet – Over 300 attendees celebrated the recognition of the community businesses

and citizens at the Hilton DFW Lakes Hotel & Conference Center nominated for awards and

those who received them.

Leadership Grapevine – For the 8th year in a row,

the Leadership Grapevine program was sold out and

the 19th year was started with the leadership of

several active Alumni members.

Past Chairman’s Council – The Chamber continued

for a third year the Past Chairman’s Council,

bringing former Board Chairmen together to keep

them updated on the path of the Chamber, which

they impacted through their years of service to the

Chamber and its Board. In 2014 they started the Annual Casino Night event to raise funds for

the purchase of the land which was completed in 2013. It was a great event and was

immediately placed on their calendar to continue as hosts, sponsors and planning committee.

YEA! Young Entrepreneur’s Academy – The Grapevine Chamber

Board continued the commitment in 2014-2015 to support the

YEA! program for a minimum of three years in partnership with

the University of Rochester and the Grapevine Colleyville ISD.

Twenty-four students have been selected each year from middle

school to high school to envision, formulate and create the

newest entrepreneurial business in Grapevine. In 2014, Drew

DeHaven was the student who represented Grapevine in the

Regionals and Nationals, and he placed second in Washington

DC.

Best Practice Visits – In an effort to continue to grow the

strength of the Grapevine Chamber’s mission, the Board of

Directors coordinated and participated in Best Practice Visits with 5 Star Accredited Chamber –

Longview Texas. Other visits have included Lubbock, Irving & Bryan College Station.

Legislation – The Chamber continues to monitor and share with the Grapevine Business

community legislative issues that will impact our future success. City, State and National issues

were shared on an as needed basis. The Chamber’s Legislative Committee, Legislative Council

and Board of Directors worked to create the Legislative Priorities and a brochure which was

shared with the Chamber members, City, State and National Legislators throughout the year.

GOAL – BUSINESS / PARTNERSHIPS

Chamber City Economic Development

Partnership – Continue to hold monthly

meetings with the City to inform and

educate business members on the

economic activity within the Grapevine

community. Local businesses are the

greatest advocates for future growth and

development.

Senior Services Alliance – SSA is a

consortium of businesses that provide

products and services for senior adults,

while they develop a network of quality

service providers for their clients and joint

promotion opportunities.

Chamber Luncheons – The luncheons

continue to grow in attendance. For a

fifth year in a row a joint luncheon was

held with the HEB Chamber to network

with neighboring communities and in

2014 a joint luncheon with the

Colleyville Chamber was added. New

members are now greeted, hosted and

recognized at each luncheon by a

member of the Ambassadors.

New Member Orientations – Orientations continued through the Membership Development

Group to assist new business members with an overview of the mission and goals of their

organization.

Business After Hours Mixers continue to be a great way for businesses to build their network of

clients. We all like to do business with people we know, and these events allow members to

meet and get to know others in the organization.

Christmas Season Activities – The Chamber continues to support the City of Grapevine as the

“Christmas Capital of Texas” by coordinating the annual Christmas Parade.

DFW Connector Business Task Force – Created to improve the communication between the

NorthGate Constructors, the elected officials and the business community, this task force has

proven successful both for educating and informing the impacted businesses but providing a

conduit for information and feedback to the construction company. While the main portion

was completed, the addition of Highway 2499 expansion as well as the overpasses added for

Highway 360 and Highway 121 have made the continuation a benefit for our businesses

Ambassadors – The Ambassadors have created a

team approach to improve the welcome new

businesses receive from the chamber and

community. This group of business leaders have

continued to grow and become even more involved.

Networking Meetings – Both the Business Over

Coffee and the Business Builders continue to work to

find ways to improve value of their time and efforts

to create leads and lessons.

Women’s Division – The Women’s Division has

continued to work to improve their programs and

outreach. Since 1965 their goals have been met by

cooperation and tireless efforts with school supply

distributions, Christmas Spirit donations, the Great

Taste of Grapevine and their monthly programs.

Business Retention Program – The Chamber, in cooperation with the City of Grapevine is

methodically meeting with area businesses to determine ways that these entities can assist in

improving the economic business climate in our region.

Young Professionals Council – A task force worked together to create a program that provides

the support and assistance that 20 – 39 year olds can use to build successful and long term

career opportunities in the region. Now called “AMP’T” (Advancing Modern Professionals for

Tomorrow), this meeting brings young professionals together with seasoned executives to help

their future potential.

GOAL – STEWARDSHIP / PROSPERITY

Golf Classic – this Sold Out event brought together 288

golfers to the Grapevine Golf Course with two

tournaments in a single day to raise funds for the

Chamber’s Program of Work.

Technology & Marketing – The Grapevine Chamber

continues to find ways to improve the marketing ability

of the organization and its members through the

directory, newsletter, marketing brochure and

expansion of the website and use of social media.

Concession Trailer – The Chamber continues to

support the festivals within the community

through the volunteer operations of a

concession trailer and Main Street Days and

Grapefest.

Casino Night – This Team worked with the Past

Chairman to develop the Casino Night.

VOLUNTEER AWARDS

Women’s Division Woman of the Year Grapevine Chamber Member of the Year Carolyn Lease GRACE

Don Ramey Community Spirit Award Ted Willhoite Legacy Award Theresa Mason Lou Hillman

Business Hall of Fame D.E. Box Citizen of the Year The Thompson Group of Classic Chevrolet Janice Kane

Chamber Budget

Chamber Budget

Grapevine Chamber of Commerce

Promoting business that adds value to our

community since 1952!

200 Vine Street

Grapevine, TX 76051

817-481-1522

www.GrapevineChamber.org

info@GrapevineChamber.org