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Weekly News &
Business Resource Update
| | Tuesday, September 9, 2025 | | |
This week's email includes:
- Info on the Chamber BBQ Cook-Off Happening in 3 Weeks on October 2nd
- 3 New Members to Welcome
- A Save the Date for the Next Business After Hours at FirstBank Southwest on September 18th
- More Upcoming Ribbon Cuttings, Ground Breakings, Council Meetings & Events Happening Soon
- A Taking Flight Survey -- Private Air Charter Demand for Amarillo and the Panhandle Region
- An SSBI Partner Guest Column: Texas Panhandle First Responders' Memorial:Standing Strong for Our Fallen
- Photos and Videos from 3 Recent Ribbon Cutting Event
- Additional Business Resources & Opportunities Including:
- Brickly Newsletter | September 9
- Visit Amarillo Newsletter | September 9
- WSP Fall Job Fair | October 7
- Chamber Job Bank -- List Your Job Openings For Free
- Online Community Calendar - Promote Your Events
- A List of Chamber Events Happening in 2025
- A Tip About Email Scammers
- A Reminder About Third-Party Chamber Advertising Partners
- 2024-25 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
| | Chamber BBQ Cook-Off is about 3 Weeks Away on October 2nd | | |
The Amarillo Chamber of Commerce is holding the 29th Annual Good Times Celebration Barbecue Cook-Off from 5pm-8pm on Thursday, October 2, 2025, at the Tri-State Fairgrounds. The parking lot south of the Amarillo National Center Arena at the Fairgrounds will showcase 100 cooking teams and sponsors serving up mouthwatering barbecue with all the trimmings and ice-cold beverages. The event will also feature live music from “Next to Kin” and awards for the top 3 places in corporate, amateur, and professional divisions cooking ribs, brisket, and other meat.
Tickets for this event are $35 in advance or will be $45 at the gate and include all you can eat, drink, and network with live music. Tickets are on sale now at the Tri-State Fairgrounds Office at 3301 SE 10th or online at TriStateFair.com.
Special thanks to our presenting sponsors Reed Beverage, Tyson Foods, and United Supermarket/Market Street/Amigos, and nearly 100 other sponsoring teams.
Get more information on this event at https://www.amarillo-chamber.org/barbecue-cook-off.html or by calling the Chamber at (806) 373-7800 or searching Amarillo Chamber on social media.
| | Check Out the 30-Second Promo Spot | | Thank You to Our 2025 BBQ Sponsors & Teams | | We have limited space available for 1 Silver Sponsor and 2 Bronze Sponsors. Click the button for more information and to sign up. | | | Welcome New Chamber Members | | 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 of different membership levels, click here, or give us a call at (806) 373-7800. | | Save the Date for the Next Business After Hours at FirstBank Southwest Downtown Tower on Thursday, September 18th | | "Business After Hours" are FREE business networking events for current and future members of the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce. They include food, drinks, door prizes, and networking with other business professionals! Look for the event on Facebook and invite your friends! | |
Chamber Events Coming Up Soon | | |
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10
Council Meeting: Ag & Natural Resources Council**
10:45 a.m.
Chamber Bush Room
Closed meeting for Council Members only.
More Information: Jason, (806) 342-2018
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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10
Council Meeting: Governmental Affairs Council**
11:45 a.m.
Chamber Bush Room
Closed meeting for Council Members only.
More Information: Jason, (806) 342-2018
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12
Ribbon Cutting: Amarillo Land Services
2:00 p.m.
12285 Ute Trail (Black building on the south end of the property.)
Major Renovation & New Chamber Member
More Information: Remmington, (806) 570-3652
Find this event on Facebook
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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17
Chamber Event: Head Cook's Meeting**
5:00 p.m.
Chamber Grounds at 10th & Polk
Closed Meeting for the Head Cook's of the 2025 BBQ Cook-Off
More Information: Lindsey, (806) 342-2006
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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22
Ground Breaking: Western Bank
11:00 a.m.
8611 Patriot Dr. (Corner of Patriot & Soncy)
Major Expansion / New Branch Location
More Information: Sydney, (806) 346-8323
Find this event on Facebook
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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23
Council Meeting: Business Council**
11:45 a.m.
Chamber Board Room
Closed meeting for Council Members only.
More Information: Lindsey, (806) 342-2006
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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
Board Meeting: Chamber Board of Directors**
12:00 p.m.
Reed Beverage
Closed meeting for Council Members only.
More Information: Lindsey, (806) 342-2006
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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2
Chamber Event: 29th Annual Good Times Celebration Barbecue Cook-Off
5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Tri-State Fairgrounds - 3301 SE 10th
Join us for an evening of food, drinks, fun, live music, and lots of networking. All-Inclusive Tickets are $35/person in advance or will be $45 the day of the event and at the gate. Advanced Tickets are sold ONLY through the Tri-State Fairgrounds office or their website. Tickets are NOT sold at the Chamber or any other ticketing outlet as in the past.
More information: (806) 373-7800
Find this event on Facebook
NOTE: The Chamber staff will be working off-site most of the week for this event. Office hours will be limited and we will not schedule any ribbon cuttings or other events the week of 9/29 - 10/3.
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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.
| | Taking Flight -- Private Air Charter Demand Survey for Amarillo and the Panhandle Region | | As part of our continuing efforts at Taking Flight to continue to explore ways of adding beneficial and convenient air travel options at the Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport, we’re gathering insights from individuals and organizations in the Panhandle region to better understand interest, trends, and needs related to private air charter services. This short survey takes 3–5 minutes. All responses are confidential and used only for market research. | | | |
Texas Panhandle First Responders' Memorial:
Standing Strong for Our Fallen
Written by Todd Beckum, Former Amarillo Police Officer
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The Texas Panhandle First Responders’ Memorial is an important project for our community. And, when I say “our community” I don’t just mean Amarillo, I mean the entire Texas Panhandle.
This Memorial represents the dedication and perseverance of the people of the upper 26 Counties. It represents the blood, sweat, and tears of the people of the High Plains over the last 131 years.
I served as a police officer for the Amarillo Police Department for 11 ½ years. I am a proud graduate of APD’s 76th Police Academy, “The fightin’ 76th!”. On the 4th floor of the Amarillo Police Department, there is a hallway lined with pictures of all the former academies. It was always fun to go look at all those pictures and find people who still worked there, and people you recognized for one reason or another. It was entertaining to see how young people looked in their academy photos, almost like looking at a yearbook of upperclassmen that you’d heard stories about. There were also hundreds of people you’d never seen and never met but had signed up and showed up for their city.
It occurred to me one day, that I had become a part of the history of not only of the APD, but of Amarillo itself, and the whole community of law enforcement. Like all the people who came before me, I was embarking on my own shift of service for the city, and my fellow citizens. I felt a sense of pride, while also being afraid of letting people down.
Through the six months of academy training, there is one constant message, stay safe and go home. You see videos of officers getting killed in gun battles, you see officers being ambushed and killed, you see officers killed in car crashes. You see all the things that can prevent you from going home. It is said time and time again, stay safe and go home.
The Texas Panhandle First Responders’ Memorial is for the 104 people across the top 26 Texas Panhandle Counties and 45 agencies who never got to go home. This Memorial is for the mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, wives, husbands, children, and friends of those who never got to go home. This Memorial is to remind people that the men and women remembered on it were also, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, children and friends to someone. They are not just a picture in a hallway of a department; they were real people with lasting stories who served their community.
Some of the fallen are friends of mine and colleagues I proudly worked with. I have fond memories of those people and am lucky to have known them, not just a picture, but the person. I believe these people deserve to be remembered eternally. I believe families and friends of the fallen deserve to see their loved one’s names etched in history, to have a place to go and celebrate heroism, a place to keep memories and stories alive. The First Responders Memorial of the Texas Panhandle is for all the Texas Panhandle.
It will stand as a reminder of the grit and perseverance of the people who came before us. It will stand as a monument of love and deep appreciation for all first responders. Firefighters who died trying to save someone’s home, or trying to stop a wildfire from spreading to a nearby town, the flight nurses and flight paramedics who have perished going to give aid to the sick and injured, the law enforcement officers who have laid down their life in the pursuit of justice and safety for you and yours; this is for all of them.
Help us salute these people and their sacrifice, help us give something back to the families that have shared their loved ones with all of us at the ultimate cost. Their last call, a sacrifice for us all.
More information about the Memorial including a full list of fallen heroes to be honored
can be found at firstrespondersmemorial.org. Donations to the project can securely be
made on the website or by contacting Friends of AJ Swope at (806) 353-2911.
| | Recent Ribbon Cutting Events | |
Sponsored Content. Click here or the ad above for more information.
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Additional Business Resources & Opportunities | | | | |
BRICKLY NEWSLETTER FROM BRICK & ELM MAGAZINE | September 9
- You’re Invited TONIGHT!
- Local Focus
- Peace Officers Conference
- Clear the Shelter Results
- Sisemore to Lead Local Fermi Project
- Historic Nurses Quarters
- Chip Chandler’s “Can’t Miss”
- Local Job Listings
- Eye on Amarillo
- Horses and Healing at Dove Creek
- Local Obituaries (Early September)
- and More
Click here to read the entire update.
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THE AMARILLO WEEKLY EDIT | September 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.
- The Amarillo Tri-State Fair & Rodeo is Here!
- Events this Week
- Exhibits | On-going Events | Workshops
- Win $1000: The Red Boot Affair Contest
- Hoodoo Mural Festival at Arts in the Sunset September 27, 2025
- and More!
Click here to read the entire newsletter.
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Amarillo Civic Center
October 7, 2025 10 AM – 2 PM
Booth Price on or before 9/30/25 – $100
Booth Price on or after10/1/25 – $125
Lunch will be catered, the cost for each boxed lunch is $10.00.
Click here to reserve a booth and find your next employee.
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WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS PANHANDLE FALL JOB FAIR | October 7
The Amarillo Job Fair continues the tradition of providing large-scale recruitment opportunities to the business community of Amarillo and the surrounding areas. At the last job fair, more than 100 businesses participated offering job opportunities ranging from entry-level positions to professional careers. With an average job seeker attendance rate of 1,400, employers are able to make contact with dozens of candidates in a single afternoon. This is the perfect opportunity for your business to fill vacant or new positions and showcase your business to the community.
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CHAMBER JOB BANK -- LIST YOUR JOB OPENINGS FOR FREE
Is your company hiring? Did you know Chamber Members 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 2025
All events are tentative and subject to change.
Watch the online calendar for more details and updates.
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Events in Bold have a fee to participate. Other events listed are the hosts for Business After Hours which are free to attend.
2025
9/18/25 - FirstBank Southwest
10/2/25 - 29th Annual Chamber Barbecue Cook-Off
10/16/25 - Casey Carpet One
11/6/25 - WTAMU Amarillo Center with co-hosts NWTHS & Brandability
11/20 - Coffee with the Chamber for Global Entrepreneurship Week at the WT Enterprise Center
12/3/25 - Ag Appreciation Luncheon
12/4/25 - 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.
| | Thank You 2024-25 Supporting Small Business Initiative Partners | | |
The Chamber is thrilled to recognize our sponsors that stepped up to be part of the Supporting Small Business Initiative for 2024-25. 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: City of Amarillo, Amarillo Economic Development Corporation, Amarillo National Bank, Atmos Energy, FirstBank Southwest, Happy State Bank, Northwest Texas Healthcare System, Pantex, Reed Beverage, and Xcel Energy. RUBY PARTNERS: Amarillo College, Casey Carpet One, Double U Marketing, Insurica, Prosperity Bank, Southwest Airlines, Street Volkswagen, and TEEMS Manufacturing. SAPPHIRE PARTNERS: Adobe Walls Stoneworks, Albers Aerospace, Andrews & Associates,Bank of America, BSA Health System, Carson Wealth Management, Caviness Beef Packers, Fuller & Sons Construction, KT Black, and Off the Court Property Maintenance.
If you would like to know more about this program and the benefits of partnership, contact Jason Harrison at (806) 373-7800.
| | A Reminder to Check the Address BEFORE You Click Links or Open Attachments | | |
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.
| | Authorized Chamber Advertising Partners | | 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. | | |
See our Staff Directory with photos, direct phone numbers and more
on our Contact Us page of the website.
| | 2024-25 Chamber Board of Directors | | |
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Richard Constancio
Chair
Shiver-Megert & Associates
Julie Imke
Chair-Elect
Harrington Academic Hall
WTAMU Amarillo Center
Michael Gonzales
Finance Chair
Atmos Energy
Spanky Assiter
Past Chair
Assiter Auctioneers
Dusty Doyle
Membership & Quality of Life Chair
Casey Carpet One
Jason Harrison
President & CEO
Amarillo Chamber of Commerce
Wes Wright
Business Chair
Wright Law TX, PLLC
Ed Nichols
Governmental Affairs Council Chair
Brown, Graham & Company
Brice Sheets
Ag & Natural Resources Chair
Alpha Media
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DIRECTORS
Heath Acker, Amarillo National Bank
Brad Baldridge, Xcel Energy
Patricia Bara, M&R Liquor
Travis Chaney, United Supermarkets
Sonja Clark, Bell
Julie Doty, Nothing Bundt Cakes
Tony Ensor, Amarillo Sod Poodles
Jake Foust, Whitney Russell
Joey Graham, Graham Brothers Jewelers
Jack Light, Cumulus Media
Matt Mathias, Firstbank Southwest
Brent McClure, KFDA NewsChannel 10
David Meraz, Street Volkswagen
Joby Mills, Happy State Bank
Lindsey Murphy, Education Credit Union
Mike Ohm, Lemert, Holder, Ohm
Grayson Path, Amarillo City Representative
Brady Ragland, Tri-State Fair & Rodeo
Wendi Swope, Double U Marketing
John David Terry, Elevate Amarillo Representative
Debbie Walker, Moreland Real Estate Group
Tawanna Walker, Toot'n Totum
Trevor Williams, Reed Beverage
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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