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Weekly News &
Business Resource Update
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This week's email includes:
- 1 New Member to Welcome
- A video Invitation to the Next Business After Hours at Happy State Bank on April 11th
- Photo and Video Link from 4 Ribbon Cuttings Last Week
- BusinessConnection Tradeshow is May 23rd -- Reserve a Booth Now
- An Invitation to Food & Beverage Members to the Tradeshow Food Court
- Information and Sponsors for DC Days in Washington Next Week
- Save the Date for Coffee with the Chamber on May 2nd
- Making the Most of Your Membership
- More Upcoming Ribbon Cuttings, Ground Breakings, Council Meetings & Events Happening Soon
- Text Message Reminders about Networking Events
- Additional Business Resources & Opportunities Including:
- SBA Thrive Program Applications Now Open through April 28
- Local Needs Assessment Survey for Amarillo College
- Main Point Monday | April 8
- Brickly eNewsletter | April 9
- The Amarillo Weekly Edit | April 9
- Chamber Job Bank -- List Your Job Openings For Free
- Online Community Calendar - Promote Your Events
- A List of Chamber Events Happening in 2024
- SSBI Partners
- A Tip About Email Scammers
- CGI Digital Offers Video Content to Chamber Members
- 2023-24 Board of Directors
- and More
On behalf of our staff, Board of Directors, and the Amarillo business community, we want to thank you for your continued support of the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce. We look forward to serving you now and in the future. Please let us know what we can do to help your business.
Penni F. Bentley
VP of Communications & Marketing
Amarillo Chamber of Commerce
1000 S Polk
Amarillo, TX 79101
806.373.7800
806.342.2005 direct
806.674.7334 cell
penni@amarillo-chamber.org
www.amarillo-chamber.org
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Welcome to this New Chamber Member | |
If you know of a business that is not a member of the Chamber, we always appreciate referrals. For more information on joining the Chamber and the costs and benefits, click here, or give us a call at (806) 373-7800. | |
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It's About Timing, LLC
Gabriel Walker
Amarillo, TX 79119
(806) 335-0373
www.itsabouttiming.com
Entertainment
Amarillo's One and Only Veteran Owned Event Timing Business.
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Save the Date for the Next Business After Hours
at Happy State Bank on April 11th
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We were so HAPPY to chat with Hunter Vagrosky, VP of Trust, for Happy State Bank about the plans for Thursday's Business After Hours. Watch or share this short video from YouTube or Facebook.
"Business After Hours" are FREE business networking events for current and future members of the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce that include free food, drinks, networking and door prizes. Click here for more information and photos of past events, and look for the event on Facebook and invite your friends!
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Recent Ribbon Cutting & Ground Breaking Events | |
Click here or the image above to view, print or share the ribbon cutting photo, and click here to watch their event video. | |
Click here or the image above to view, print or share the ribbon cutting photo, and click here to watch their event video. | |
Click here or the image above to view, print or share the ribbon cutting photo, and click here to watch their event video. | |
Click here or the image above to view, print or share the ribbon cutting photo, and click here to watch their event video. | |
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BusinessConnection Tradeshow is May 23rd
Reserve a Booth Now
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The 31st Annual BusinessConnection Tradeshow is happening on Thursday, May 23rd at the Amarillo Civic Center. We have already been signing up exhibitors who had a booth in last year's show, so if you had a booth and want your same spot back, get signed up now. You can reserve a booth online or contact Mary Garcia if you have questions at (806) 342-2009.
If you are new to the Chamber or this event, you don't want to miss out on the area's largest business-to-business tradeshow. This one-day event will feature nearly 300 businesses or booths and will have several thousand people attend the show. It's a great way to showcase your business or products and services alongside other Chamber members. Get more information on the show, our sponsors, and frequently asked questions on our website.
Stay tuned for more information on this year's show and our sponsors coming soon. As you can guess from our event logo, our theme will be patterned after a large sporting event that is happening this summer. We're going for the gold and winning for business!
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Attention Restaurants, Caterers, Food Trucks...Show Off Your Food & Drinks at the Tradeshow Food Court on May 23rd
(Don't Wait...Only 2 Remaining Spots)
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The Tradeshow Food Court is a great way for BusinessConnection attendees and exhibitors to grab lunch and sit and visit while taking a break from the tradeshow, but the Food Court is also an excellent way for restaurants, caterers, food trucks, and beverage providers to showcase themselves and sample their products.
We are thrilled to have a number of businesses already signed up to serve, so if your restaurant or food/beverage company isn't shown below, contact Lindsey at (806) 342-2006 ASAP to grab one of the 2 remaining spots in the food court. Food Court participants must provide sample-size portions of their products so Food Court ticket holders can enjoy an all-you-can-eat lunch from 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. in the Civic Center Regency Room on Thursday, May 23rd.
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FOOD COURT PARTICIPANTS SO FAR:
Belmar Bakery
Chick-fil-A
Chicken Salad Chick
Cocina on the Go
Crumbl Cookies
Domino's Pizza (Vigil Pizza)
Desperado's Catering
Joe Taco
La Fiesta Grande
Gatti's Pizza
Macaroni Joe's
Nothing Bundt Cakes
Outback Steakhouse
Sonic
Sweets and Meats
The Lost Cajun
Ye Olde Pancake Station
Yolo's
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Tickets for lunch will be available to purchase and pick-up in May at the Chamber for just $10/person in advance, or $15/person at the show, or you can purchase them online with or without a tradeshow booth. | |
DC Days in Washington is April 15-18 | |
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A group of community leaders and Chamber representatives will travel to Washington, DC, on Monday, April 15th to converge on our nation's capital for DC Days. The purpose of this biennial event is to bring awareness of key priorities important to the Amarillo business community to national leaders including Transportation, Tourism, Manufacturing, Economic Development, Energy, Agriculture and more.
In addition to various industry and legislative personal calls, the group will network and meet at a Bell sponsored breakfast on Tuesday, and meet with representatives at Congressman Ronny Jackson's office before an Atmos Energy sponsored reception that evening. Wednesday, CNS Pantex will sponsor a breakfast before the group tentatively meets with NNSA and Department of Energy officials and representatives in Senator Ted Cruz's office.
There is no registration fee to attend this event, but you must provide your own transportation, accommodations and expenses. If you would like more information on this event, contact Jason Harrison at (806) 342-2018.
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DC Days Attendees
Kevin Carter, Amarillo EDC
Michael Kitten, Amarillo EDC
Doug Nelson, Amarillo EDC
Michael Gonzales, Atmos Energy
Peter Warrick, Atmos Energy
Mike Culp, Atmos Energy
Edward Espinoza, Atmos Energy
Donovan Clevenger, Atmos Energy
Megan Reed, Bell Flight
Sonja Clark, Bell Flight
Brian Fleming, Bell Flight
Dusty Doyle, Casey Carpet One
Lindsey Murphy, Chamber Board
Ashlee Estlack, Pantex
Kristy McWilliams, Pantex
Kristi Morrow, Rep Ronny Jackson Office
Michael Conner, Rick Husband Int Airport / City of Amarillo
Brad Baldridge, Xcel Energy
Ronnie Walker, Xcel Energy
Penni Bentley, Amarillo Chamber
Jason Harrison, Amarillo Chamber
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Thank You DC Days Sponsors | |
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Save the Date for Coffee with the Chamber
Thursday, May 2nd
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Mark your calendar and plan on joining us for a FREE Coffee with the Chamber event from 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. on Thursday May 2nd. This will be a great event of networking over coffee and light breakfast with an educational seminar from a panelist of local community leaders. Stay tuned for more details on the location and list of speakers coming soon. Special thanks to our SSBI Partners for sponsoring this free event for members. | |
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Making the Most of Your Membership | |
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Are you taking full advantage of the many ways you can grow your business? This is not “Field of Dreams” and “if you build it they will come.” If you want to be successful, you have to make yourself stand out in the crowd amid a sea of other businesses just like yours. That means more than just building a flashy website or pushing your message on the latest social media platform or buying lots of advertising. Sure, those things are important and help, but all businesses can do that. What makes your business special? YOU DO!
Have you ever walked through a tradeshow and seen the coolest looking booth full of pictures and samples and displays with videos, but there’s no one in the booth to talk to if you have questions? All the flash in the world doesn’t make up for the human element that makes your business unique. YOU can answer questions and be a walking, talking commercial for your brand, and every employee of your business from the top executive to the hourly employee should be doing the same at every opportunity.
Of course we want you to buy a booth and participate in BusinessConnection®, that’s what those events are designed for. But we know that not all of our 1,700+ members have a never ending supply of money, and many have to make choices that line up best with their budget and marketing plan. Probably 90-95% of our members are made up of small businesses, and we never take for granted the investment you make to be a member of the Amarillo Chamber. That’s one of the biggest reasons why we LOVE being able to provide After Hours Networking events as a FREE benefit to you. We know some people just come for the free food and drinks, and if that’s the only reason you are coming, you’re missing the whole point. These events are designed to bring people together to open lines of communication. Wear your company logo proudly. Put on a nametag. Have business cards ready, and step out of your comfort zone to extend a hand and a smile to meet the guy or girl standing there waiting their turn for a drink or hors d’oeuvre. When you wear your brand, accessorized with a smile, it makes it easy for people to strike up a conversation and get to know you. Chances are the product you are selling isn’t all that rare or unique...but YOU are. And building a relationship with people is what will make them your customer and keep them coming back time and time again or giving you something even more valuable...a referral to their friends.
So get out and take advantage of any opportunity to meet people and promote your business, and not just at Chamber events either. The calendar of events in Amarillo is jam-packed with opportunities…you just need to take advantage of them.
And if networking events scare you, bring along a friend or colleague and work the room together. If you are going at it alone, grab me or another Chamber staff person and ask them to introduce you to someone new. We’re happy to help.
As always, tell us how we are doing. Give us your suggestions, feedback, and input. Feel free to write on our Facebook wall. Get involved. We are proud to be YOUR Chamber.
Reprinted in part from the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce February 2017 eNewsletter Editor’s Corner.
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Chamber Events Coming Up Soon | |
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FRIDAY, APRIL 12
Chamber Deadline: Nominations Due for the 2024 Business Excellence Awards
If you know an outstanding individual or business that you would like to nominate for a 2024 Top 20 Under 40 Award, Top Business Award or Top Emerging Business Award, click here and on the award buttons to fill out the form and submit the nomination to us by April 12, 2024. We will send nominees an official application to be completed and returned to us in May 2024. Award winners will be selected by the Business Council of the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce and recognized in August 2024.
More Information: Mary, (806) 342-2009
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MONDAY, APRIL 15 THROUGH
THURSDAY, APRIL 18
Chamber Event: DC Days in Washington
Community leaders and Chamber representatives travel to Washington DC to call upon legislators and leaders to bring awareness of key priorities for the Amarillo business community.
More Information: Jason, (806) 342-2018
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THURSDAY, APRIL 25
Club Meeting: Round-Up Club Luncheon**
11:45 a.m.
Six Car Pub & Brewery
More Information: Sydney, (806) 342-2019
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See more upcoming ribbon cutting & ground breaking events on our Week's Sneak Peek page or on our online calendar. If you would like more information on scheduling an event like this for your business, complete the online Ribbon Cutting Request Form.
**Meeting requires RSVP and is open to council/committee members only and is closed to the public. If you would like more information on the meeting or open council/committee seats, please contact the staff member listed.
* NOTE: We will help promote Ribbon Cutting or Ground Breaking events held outside of our normal business hours, however, Chamber Staff or RoundUp Club members will not be in attendance.
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Do you love networking at our After Hours Events but sometimes forget they are happening? Opt in to our text message reminders by texting the word CHAMBEREVENTS (without a space) to 40691. We send reminders of the date, time and location 2-3 hours before the event starts. It's free, but standard text message rates apply if you don't have unlimited texting. We also send out registration reminders about bigger events coming up through this special keyword. It's a great way to stay in the loop.
Please note, if you would like to opt in for reminders about ribbon cutting events, text the word REDCOAT to the same number. Note, ribbon cuttings are open to the public, but in order to be considered to serve on our Roundup Club as a Redcoat Representative, you must apply online.
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Sponsored Content. Click here or the ad above for more information.
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Additional Business Resources & Opportunities | |
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2024 Cohort Location:
WT Enterprise Center, Amarillo, TX
Apply by: April 28, 2024
Starts on: June 26th, 2024
For more information visit sbathrive.com or call Matthew Jock at SBA, 806-407-0674
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ACCELERATE YOUR BUSINESS GROWTH WITH FREE TRAINING AND COACHING
Apply to the 2024 SBA T.H.R.I.V.E. program today and start building a stronger future for your business! SBA is excited to offer this MBA style, executive-level learning opportunity to Amarillo area small business owners. Valued at over $15,000, this comprehensive program offers free business training and coaching to help qualifying small business owners accelerate growth and build a thriving enterprise. This program is community-based and supported by the U.S. Small Business Administration. The curriculum is taught by experienced Subject Matter Experts and includes a mix of virtual and in-person sessions. You will have the opportunity to learn from a cohort of accomplished peers with diverse perspectives and life experiences, and to build a nationwide business network for life.
Participants who complete the program will receive a certificate of completion along with a three-year strategic growth plan tailor made for you and your specific business.
Seating is limited! Apply today! sbathrive.com
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In order to continue receiving Perkins Grant money, Amarillo College is asking for feedback from local and business and industry partners. Please help with their efforts and give your feedback.
Please respond by Friday, April 12th.
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2024 COMPREHENSIVE LOCAL NEEDS ASSESSMENT: BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY PARTNERS SURVEY
The purpose of this survey is to identify and articulate the expectations of Amarillo College’s stakeholders on:
- Opportunities to build and reinforce the relationship and engagement between businesses and Amarillo College.
- Engagement practices and activities that are most highly valued by stakeholders.
- Best practices regarding, performance monitoring, communications and reporting of Business Advisory Committees.
This survey should take you less than 10 minutes to complete. The data and information you provide will remain strictly confidential. Click here to complete the survey by April 12th.
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MAIN POINT MONDAY FROM AMARILLO MATTERS | April 8
This week's newsletter includes information on:
- The Lead: Hearings Held Regarding Recent Wildfires
- State News
- Local News
- Out and About
- and more
Click here to read the entire update.
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BRICKLY NEWSLETTER FROM BRICK & ELM MAGAZINE | April 9
This week's newsletter includes information on:
- Pinwheel Ceremony at The Bridge
- Local Focus
- Local Crime Decreased in 2023
- Amarillo College Names Finalists
- Hope the Mission Stopped in Amarillo
- In the Current Brick & Elm
- Chip Chandler’s “Can’t Miss”
- Eye on Amarillo
- New at Brick & Elm: Meet Jeff Jarnagin!
- and more
Click here to read the entire update.
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THE AMARILLO WEEKLY EDIT | April 9
The Amarillo Weekly Edit is produced and distributed by the Amarillo Convention & Visitor Bureau (CVB) that maintains the VisitAmarillo.com website. This weekly newsletter includes upcoming events and things to see and do in Amarillo.
- Join Baby Shark's Big Broadwave Tour is Coming to Amarillo!
- Happening this Week
- On-Going Exhibits / Shows / Workshops
- Texas Wildfire Relief
- Stay in the Know
- and More!
Click here to read the entire newsletter.
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CHAMBER JOB BANK -- LIST YOUR JOB OPENINGS FOR FREE
Is your company hiring? Did you know you can put job openings in our online Job Bank for FREE?
Check out our website and click the buttons for "Job Seeker" or "Employer" and you can either view job openings or post your own with an online form.
Have questions, contact Denise at (806) 373-7800.
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ONLINE COMMUNITY CALENDAR - PROMOTE YOUR EVENTS
Are you holding a fundraising event, open house, or other special events you want to share with the public? You can add events to our Online Community Calendar for FREE. Click here to complete the online form and submit it to the Chamber. Your event will not be visible until our staff approves the event, typically within 1-2 business days.
Please do not use this form to request or schedule a ribbon cutting or ground breaking event.
If you have questions about using the calendar, or what kinds of events are allowed, contact Denise at 806-373-7800.
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Chamber Events Planned for 2024
All events are tentative and subject to change.
Watch the online calendar for more details and updates.
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2024
4/11/24 - Happy State Bank
5/2/24 - Coffee with the Chamber SSBI Event (Tentative)
5/2/24 - 1to1 Plans with co-host Snapology
5/23/24 - 31st Annual BusinessConnection Tradeshow
6/6/24 - Adobe Walls Stoneworks
7/11/24 - KT Black
7/25/24 - Chamber Open Golf Tournament
8/8/24 - Tri-State Exposition / Fairgrounds
8/22/24 - Business Excellence Awards Celebration
9/5/24 - Casey Carpet One
9/19/24 - FirstBank Southwest
10/3/24 - 28th Annual Chamber Barbecue Cook-Off
10/17/24 - Reed Beverage
11/7/24 - Amarillo Sod Poodles
12/5/24 - Street Volkswagen
If you have questions about participating in or sponsoring any events, please call the Chamber at (806) 373-7800 or email chamber@amarillo-chamber.org.
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Thank You 2023-24 Supporting Small Business Initiative Partners | |
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The Chamber is thrilled to recognize our sponsors that stepped up to be part of the Supporting Small Business Initiative for 2023-24. This program is designed to support the Chamber's efforts to serve our small business community better by offering programs, seminars, virtual events, and more for little to no cost to our members throughout the year.
Please join us in thanking these generous underwriting partners that are serving the Chamber, our members, and the entire business community with their support. DIAMOND PARTNERS: Amarillo Economic Development Corporation, Amarillo National Bank, Atmos Energy, Happy State Bank, Northwest Texas Healthcare System, CNS Pantex, Reed Beverage, and Xcel Energy. RUBY PARTNERS: Amarillo College, Adobe Walls Stoneworks, Bank of America, Casey Carpet One, Prosperity Bank, Southwest Airlines, Street Volkswagen, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, and TEEMS Manufacturing. SAPPHIRE PARTNERS: Andrews & Associates, AT&T, AW Broadband, BSA Health System, Carson Wealth Management, Edward Jones, FirstBank Southwest, Insurica, and KT Black.
If you would like to know more about this program and the benefits of partnership, contact Jason Harrison at (806) 373-7800.
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A Reminder to Check the Address BEFORE You Click Links or Open Attachments | |
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WE HATE SPAMMERS! Here's a reminder to always check before you click on any attachments or links in emails that look like they are sent from the Amarillo Chamber. BEFORE you click on html links or attachments, hover over the name that sent the email so that you can see the actual address that sent the email. Just because the name says "Amarillo-chamber," the email address was not one of our staff members. And if the email shows our name but the email address is not one shown below, delete it and mark it as junk. Any other sender claiming to be the Chamber is fake or a scammer and you should never click links or provide personal information. Even if it looks like an invoice, those would only come from one of the email addresses below.
or
Please add our emails to your address book and mark us as a safe sender. If you are unsure if an email you received that looks like it was from us is real or not, don't hesitate to give us a call at 806-373-7800. Be diligent and help us keep your information and computer networks safe.
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CGI Digital Offers Video Content to Chamber Members | |
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The Chamber is proud to continue our more than nine-year partnership with CGI Digital to offer video content to be featured on the Chamber's website to our members. CGI created a series of events for the Chamber to promote Amarillo as a great place to live, learn, work, and play to feature great parts of our community to visitors and those who may be considering relocating to the area. CGI representatives may reach out to you as a Chamber member to offer their products and services to you to be included in this program and to gain more exposure through our website. If you are considering video content for your business, we hope you schedule an appointment with a representative to learn more about the program and see if it is a good fit for your business.
For information on our partnership with CGI Communications for our Community Video Program, watch our 1-minute Press Release video from Chamber VP of Communications & Marketing, Penni Bentley. Learn more about our third-party advertising partners on our website.
View our Community Video Tour here to watch the Chamber's videos and see list of current video partners. We are thankful to these companies who have already partnered with CGI Digital and the Chamber:
- 7:12 Homes
- Accent Embroidery
- Amarillo Dental Associates
- Amarillo Snuff Co.
- Buxton Insurance
- Champion BBQ Supply
- Connie Taylor Group / Keller Williams
- Education Credit Union
- Experience Homes
- EXP Realty - Sabre Cofer
- Furman Land Surveyors, Inc.
- GDI - Geospatial Data, Inc.
- Gaut-Whittenburg-Emerson
- Gee Family Farms
- Grizzle Heating & Air
- Happy State Bank
- Highland Park ISD
- Price Roofing Co.
- Quality Assurance Roofing
- REV Realty Group of Fathom Realty - Frances Frost
- San Jacinto Christian Academy
- Triangle Realty
- West Texas A&M University
- West Texas Medicare Group
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Special thanks go out to local videographer, Lindsay Gomez with 41 Productions, for shooting most of the video content in the Chamber's Videos. We are also thrilled to have local chiropractor and voice-over actor, Dr. Jeff Williams of Creek Stone Integrated Medical narrating the Chamber's main videos in the program. You can check out more of his Voice-Over work here. | |
Chamber Partner CGI Communications Offers
Advertising Options to Members
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CGI Communications has been a partner of the Amarillo Chamber for a number of years. CGI handles several advertising products offered to our members including website banner ads, community videos, ReviewTube reviews, and now has a new Magellan tool for voice-activated website searching for text and videos.
Our representative and the team associate may be reaching out to some of our members to offer more information about these tools that may be beneficial for your business.
Should you want more information on any of their products, reach out to Rich Yohonn at the contact information below.
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We try to alert you anytime a third party may contact you so that you know they are a trusted and legitimate partner of the Amarillo Chamber. You may see our complete list of advertising options and partners on the Advertising Opportunities page of our website. We encourage you to always check this site or contact Penni Bentley at (806) 373-7800 to verify our official program partners before giving out personal or financial information.
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See our Staff Directory with photos, direct phone numbers and more
on our Contact Us page of the website.
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2023-24 Chamber Board of Directors | |
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EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Spanky Assiter
Chair
Assiter Auctioneers
Richard Constancio
Chair-Elect
Shiver-Megert & Associates
Julie Imke
Finance Chair
Harrington Academic Hall
WTAMU Amarillo Center
Dusty Doyle
Membership & Quality of Life Chair
Casey Carpet One
John Luciano
Past Chair
Street Volkswagen
Jason Harrison
President & CEO
Amarillo Chamber of Commerce
Wes Wright
Business Chair
Wright Law TX, PLLC
Ed Nichols
Governmental Affairs Council Chair
O'Brien-Marsh, LLC
Brice Sheets
Ag & Natural Resources Chair
Alpha Media
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DIRECTORS
Blaine Baker, Crown House Insurance
Patricia Bara, M&R Liquor
Brad Baldridge, Xcel Energy
Kevin Carter, Amarillo EDC
Sonja Clark, Bell
Julie Doty, Nothing Bundt Cakes
Tony Ensor, Amarillo Sod Poodles
Andrew Freeman, City of Amarillo
Skylar Gallop, Elevate Amarillo President
Michael Gonzales, Atmos Energy
Andrew Hall, Amarillo EDC
Jody Holland, Jody Holland Training & Speaking
Matt Irwin, Insurica DFB
Karen Isern, Amarillo National Bank
Wade King, AgTexas Farm Credit
Kevin Kuehler, FirstBank Southwest
Jack Light, Cumulus Media
Brent McClure, KFDA NewsChannel 10
Joby Mills, Happy State Bank
Lindsey Murphy, Agent Construction Services
Brady Ragland, Tri-State Expo
Chris Rhynehart, Rhynehart Roofing
Wendi Swope, Double U Marketing
Trevor Williams, Reed Beverage
Sean Wright, GVH Distribution
Colby Yeary, Pantex
Ryan Zimmer, A-1 Rocket Industries
Learn more about our Board of Directors
on our website.
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The Chamber cannot guarantee your success or your profitability,
but it can guarantee the right business climate for you to succeed.
– Author Unknown
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