{Click here to view this as a webpage.} If you missed our email on Tuesday, December 12th, you can view it here.

This week's email includes:

• Christmas & New Year's Wishes from Your Chamber Team
• An Invitation to our First Business After Hours of the New Year at Bomb City Distillery January 11th
• 2 New Members to Welcome
• Photos & Videos from 1 Recent Ribbon Cutting
• More Upcoming Ribbon Cuttings, Ground Breakings, Council Meetings & Events Happening Soon
• Travel Tips for a Happy Holiday from the City of Amarillo & Rick Husband International Airport
• A Reminder to Shop Local this Holiday Season
• A Tip About Email Scammers
• Text Message Reminders about Networking Events
• Additional Business Resources & Opportunities Including:
• 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
• Advertising Options from Cramer Marketing for 2024 Chamber Publications
• 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

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Your Chamber Team

What an amazing year we had at the Chamber this year! Thank you to each of our members, volunteers, and everyone who helped us have a successful year of events, networking, and fun. We are looking forward to an amazing 2024.

The last two weeks of the year are a slower and quieter time for the Chamber, so we will have limited hours and days of operation, so please call our office before making the trip downtown to make sure the person you need to see or talk to is available. This is also our final newsletter of the year, so watch for these to resume on Tuesday, January 2nd when we are open for normal business hours.

We hope whatever holiday you are celebrating this season, you are doing it with family and friends. On behalf of the Chamber staff, we wish you a Merry Christmas and Prosperous New Year!

"Business After Hours" are FREE business networking events for current and future members of the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce.  Click here for more information and photos of past events, and look for the event on Facebook and invite your friends!

Thanks to Bomb City Distillery for hosting our Business After Hours on Thursday, January 11th from 5-7pm.

Give Us Your Feedback Regarding Air Travel from Amarillo

Take the Short Survey from the Chamber and Taking Flight

The Chamber works with the Taking Flight Initiative to provide feedback on air travel needs and habits in and out of the Rick Husband International Airport to the airlines that serve Amarillo and airlines considering serving Amarillo. A variety of options in air service is critical for doing business in Amarillo and for travelers visiting our area. Your input on your business travel needs is valuable to those decision makers. We appreciate you taking a few minutes to answer the short survey.

Welcome to these 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, click here, or give us a call at (806) 373-7800.

BigFoot Tire & Repair

Ashwin Kumar

8351 E Amarillo Blvd

Amarillo, TX 79107

(806) 379-7161

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086152035057

We are a locally owned truck and trailer repair service company. We offer computer diagnostics, tire repairs, trailer washouts, diesel repair on all makes and models. We also offer load transfers and towing services are available. We have 24 hour roadside assistance.

Waxing the City - Wolflin

Mark Crawford

2606 Wolflin Ave

Amarillo, TX 79109

(806) 553-7900

www.waxingthecity.com

Waxing The City offers high-end full-body waxing services for both men and women. Our trained and highly skilled Cerologists will pamper you! Our custom-formulated hard and soft wax hair removal services will leave you seriously smooth.

Recent Ribbon Cutting & Ground Breaking Events

Click here or the image above to print, view or share it from Facebook,

or click here to watch the Discount Medical Supplies ribbon cutting video.

DECEMBER 21 - DECEMBER 26

JANUARY 1

Chamber Closed: Christmas Holiday

The Chamber will be closed on Thursday, December 21st through Tuesday, December 26th and Monday, January 1st for the Christmas Holiday and may have limited hours the last week of the year. If you have questions about the Chamber or need to meet, please call (806) 373-7800 or email chamber@amarillo-chamber.org to make arrangements. The Chamber will resume normal business hours on Tuesday, January 2nd.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 11

​

Ribbon Cutting: 100 Club of Texas Panhandle

3:30pm 

7480 Golden Pond Place, Suite 300

New Location & 20th Anniversary Celebration

More Information: Suzanne, (806) 676-2180

Find this event on Facebook.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 11

​

Chamber Event: Business After Hours at Bomb City Distillery

5:00pm - 7:00pm

306 S Cleveland

More Information: Mary, (806) 342-2009

Find this event on Facebook

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. (Please note, we do not schedule these events the last two weeks of the year due to limited staff and volunteer availability.)

* 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. 

**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.

For Immediate Release

December 18, 2023

Travel Tips for a Happy Holiday 

AMARILLO – As the Christmas holiday approaches, Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport (RHAIA) is preparing for the increase in holiday travel. While Thanksgiving traditionally sees the highest volume of travelers at the airport, Christmas also marks a significant increase in airport traffic.

“The airport is preparing for approximately 8,900 passengers in the lead-up to Christmas Day, an increase from the 7,700 travelers during the same period last year,” said City of Amarillo Director of Aviation Michael Conner. “We aim to ensure a smooth and stress-free experience for all passengers with holiday travel tips and suggestions.”

Travelers are advised to arrive at the airport at least two hours before their flight to accommodate the expected rush. Early arrival allows for ample time for check-in procedures, security screenings and any unforeseen delays.

Airport officials encourage travelers, especially local residents, to consider alternative transportation options, such as arranging airport drop-offs with family or friends or utilizing rideshare services like Uber, Lyft, Wridz, taxis and limos. Information on these options is available at www.fly-ama.com/parking-transportation/shuttles-taxis. If parking areas reach capacity, airport staff will direct travelers to additional parking spaces.

Passengers are also encouraged to regularly check their flight statuses using airline apps or websites to stay informed about their flight statuses. Regularly checking with airlines for any last-minute changes is advised to avoid travel disruptions. 

RHAIA is committed to providing a seamless travel experience during the busy holiday season. By planning ahead and following these recommendations, passengers can look forward to an enjoyable and hassle-free start to holiday celebrations.

For more information and updates, visit www.fly-ama.com or follow Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport on Facebook.

For more information contact City of Amarillo Media Relations Manager Dave Henry at (806) 378-5219 or by email at David.Henry@amarillo.gov

'Tis the Season to Shop Local

(Actually Every Season is the Season to Support Local Businesses)

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.

• jason@amarillo-chamber.org
• lindsey@amarillo-chamber.org
• penni@amarillo-chamber.org
• christy@amarillo-chamber.org
• mary@amarillo-chamber.org
• sydney@amarillo-chamber.org
• denise@amarillo-chamber.org

or

• news@amarillo-chamber.org
• chamber@amarillo-chamber.org

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.

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.

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.

Chamber Events Planned for 2024

All events are tentative and subject to change.

Watch the online calendar for more details and updates.

2024

1/11/24 - Bomb City Distillery

1/25/24 - Street Toyota

2/22/24 - Amarillo Botanical Gardens

3/21/24 - WTAMU Amarillo Center / NWTHS / Scarborough Specialties

4/11/24 - Happy State Bank

5/2/24 - 1to1 Plans

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

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.

Thank You 2023-24 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 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, 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.

Advertising Opportunities for 2024 Relocation Guide, Membership Directory, and City Map

Cramer Marketing will once again produce our 2024 Membership Directory, Relocation Guide, and City Map and has advertising opportunities available for members. If you would like to know more about promoting your business with an ad, please contact Mitch at Cramer Marketing at (806) 371-7310.

These publication will come out in the spring of 2024, so all members who are current on their membership dues by December 2023 will have their business listing included in the 2024 Membership Directory. Cramer offers additional ways to promote your business or enhance your listing with paid advertisements.

CGI Digital Offers Video Content to Chamber Members

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

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.

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.

Rich Yohonn

ryohonn@cgicompany.com

(585) 427-0020 Ext.394 or (585) 472-2008

Associate:

Rob Shea

2023-24 Chamber Board of Directors

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

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.