DEI in the Workplace Join us for DEI in the Workplace to discuss the barriers and best practices in creating more diverse, equitable and inclusive work environments. Texas Invitational Tournament Volunteers can sign up to serve in 4 hour shifts at 10 gyms across the community from November 16-18 for the Texas Invitational Basketball Tournament CHAMBERGRAM September 2023 Taste of the Town Join us for our annual Taste of the Town to experience over 30 restaurants/beverage distributors, live auction, shopping and more! Pasadena Chamber of Commerce Pasadena Chamber Calling For Nominations For 2023 Citizen of the Year
Managing your business isn’t simple. b1BANK can help make it uncomplicated. Learn more at b1BANK.com/business 877.614.7600 2 Chambergram In This Issue... 3 - DEI In the Workplace: It’s Smart Business! 4 - Welcome New Members 5 - Diamond Partner Spotlight 7 - Platinum Partner Spotlight 8 - Houston Methodist Clear Lake Hospital Ad 9 - Business Honor Roll 10 - Getting Connected 11 - 2023 Taste of the Town 12 - Workforce Center 13 - Membership 201 14 - Member Celebrations 15 - Non-Profit Network Tool 17 - CEO of Palace Social is a 9/11 Survivor 18 - Pasadena Loves Local: Automotive Services 19 - Texas Invitational: Celebrating 20 Years! 21 - Volunteer at the Pasadena Rodeo 23 - Dine Around Town Raffle Ticket 24 - Now Accepting Citizen of the Year Nominations 27 - Chamber in Action Event
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Pasadena Chamber of Commerce 4334 Fairmont Pkwy. Pasadena, TX 77504 Executive Board Dr. Allatia Harris - Chairman, San Jacinto College Kicker Cardenas, Kicker Insures Me Agency Josh Campos, Frost Bank Nick Caveness, Community Transformation Church Pasadena Fred Floyd, Jr, Bob’s Truck Care Olivia Rivers, The Bridge Over Troubled Waters Everett Smith, Kaneka North America Ryan Taylor, T & T Construction Board of Directors LeAnne Bolton, Texas Roadhouse Whitney Davis, Empower Financial Group Stacy Gillaspey, Communities In Schools Dr. Tommy Hysler, Health & Safety Council Terry Kenney, Turner Industries Heather Lambert, ClearHope Counseling Josh Pressly, Savannah Cafe & Bakery LaTonya Ross, Meador Staffing Services Danny Schnautz, Clark Freight Lines Jennifer Silva, Chevron Pasadena Refinery Lindsay Swanagan, HCA Houston Healthcare Southeast Linda Wischnewsky, Bayway Auto Group Andy Woods, Chevron Phillips Chemical Ex-Officio Directors Nelson Espitia, Harris Co. Precinct 2 Natasha Ainsworth, Port Houston Dr. Sandra Hughes, Texas Chiropractic College Troy McCarley, PISD Rick Guerrero, Pasadena EDC Dr. Natalie Pecknold, UHCL Advisory Directors Steve Cote, Brady, Chapman, Holland Alix Fox, Qualified Properties Welcome New Members! NOT A MEMBER YET? Become a chamber member today! As a member you’ll have access to our marketing benefits, exciting events & more! Join the Pasadena Chamber Platinum Members: Harris County, Department of Economic Equity & Opportunity Estella Gonzalez (713) 274-1400 deeo.harriscountytx.gov Non-Profit Members: Faith Christian Academy Phillip Delarosa (713) 943-9978 fcapasadena.org HCA Houston Rehabilitation Hospital Southeast Sean Malley (713) 904-9300 hcahoustonhealthcare.com VEGA America’s Courtney Merritt (281) 229-1047 vega.com Justice of the Peace Precinct 2, Place 2 - Judge Dolores Lozano Judge Dolores Lozano (713) 274-6100 jp.hctx.net/2-2 4 Chambergram
Diamond Partners Diamond Partner Spotlight Chambergram 5
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Chambergram 9 21 - 25 years H.E.B. Food/Drug - Fairmont Pkwy M & B Tools LLC Moody Bank Rosewood Funeral Home Shades of Texas / Topsoil Texas Stockstill & Associates 5 - 10 years Air Conditioning Plus Awards by Gulf Coast Trophies Candlewood Suites - Pasadena Community First ER Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector’s Office J. Broughton Design Lonestar Promo Products State Representative Briscoe Cain HD128 Texas CRES LLC United Shutdown Safety Thank you to the following businesses for renewing their membership and continuing their investment in Pasadena! The businesses below have been members with the Pasadena Chamber from 10 to 71 years! Let’s support these businesses as much as possible! 26 - 51 years Dover & Fox PC Houston Commercial Janitorial Services J. Morales Inc London Belle Apartments NDS Products Inc Pasadena Philharmonic Society Spanky’s Pizza Texas Chiropractic College Twin Arts Dance Studio Waste Management 11 - 20 years Advanced Compressor Technology DEC ABC Dental Capital Bank Kiwanis Club - Pasadena & Texas Bay Area Sarah’s House
10 Chambergram getting Connected Everyone wants to make valuable connections, and the Pasadena Chamber offers you a variety of opportunities to meet with other like-minded business professionals in our community. Networking in business is one of the best resources for career development and professional success. A good network can provide job leads, possibilities for advancement and opportunities for personal improvement. We are excited to offer you a variety of opportunities in 2023 to make the connections you want to make! Thank you to those of you where were able to attend some of our recent ribbon cuttings, committee meetings, Constituent Connection, State of Education, and more! We know some great new connections were made! Check out some of the pictures below from these events and head over to our Facebook Page for all of our pictures and posts.
Chambergram 11 The Pasadena Chamber Brings Back the Deep in the Heart of Texas Theme for the 2023 Taste of the Town Grab your boots and cowboy hats and make plans to attend the annual Taste of the Town on Thursday, November 3rd at the Pasadena Convention Center. For the 34th year in a row, your Pasadena Chamber will delight your palettes with food and beverage samplings from over 30 of our nearby favorite restaurants. As always, you can enjoy our famous live auction, which will feature 30 stellar packages for you to bid on. We will also have a Pasadena Loves Local Vendor and Shopping Market right outside the front doors of the convention center. Sponsorship opportunities and ticket packages are now available. We invite you to CLICK HERE to view the different opportunities that are ready for you to secure before they sell out. When your business makes the decision to partner with the Pasaena Chamber of Commerce as a sponsor, you are helping us fulfill our mission to promote economic development and community growth to ensure the prosperity of Pasadena’s businesses and citizens. We are #PasadenaProud and we want you to join us at this year’s Taste of the Town: Deep in the Heart of Texas. CLICK HERE to learn more, and get your tickets or sponsorship
Chambergram 12 As a member of the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce, we want you to know that your voice matters! In late 2022, we held a breakfast meeting called CEO Circle, where we met with CEO’s, business owners and executive staff from our Diamond, Platinum and Gold membership. During this meeting, there was a common theme that kept getting brought up...workforce issues. Across all industries of business, our members are having a hard time attracting and retaining quality staff, and wanted to know what we could do to help. After this event, we decided to launch a Workforce Development committee to address this ongoing issue for our members. After only four meetings this year, our new committee has launched a webpage on our Pasadena Chamber website called “Workforce Center.” This webpage hosts a user friendly job board, resources for both job seekers and employers, and a lot more. We invite you to check out that webpage and share it across your networks so we can help Put Pasadena to Work! CLICK HERE to view the webpage.
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Member Celebrations Grand Opening - HCA Rehabilitation Hospital Ribbon Cutting - VBA Insurance & Associates Ribbon Cutting - American Craniofacial Association 14 Chambergram
15 Chambergram The Pasadena Chamber of Commerce Non-Profit Network Committee is SO excited to launch the Non-Profit Network Tool, available through our website! This tool is designed to serve our community through connecting our city’s non-profit needs with available local resources. Vision: Our vision is to make this tool assessable to Pasadena’s businesses and non-profits to help bridge any existing resource gaps with a platform purposed to provide a voice for those needs here in Pasadena. CLICK HERE to access the Non-Profit Network Tool Now CLICK HERE to Subscribe I Am A Non-Profit Organization With A Need: If you currently have an organizational need, feel free to utilize this tool to help spread awareness and network among your neighboring Pasadena organizations. Here, you can post a need through your member portal, partner with other organizations to meet a need, and browse the listed community resources and organizations that are at your disposal. The Non-Profit Network is great for making a difference and getting connected in your community! I Want To Fill A Need: If you desire to fulfill the needs of one, or more, of our non-profit organizations, make sure to subscribe to this tool to ensure you receive the latest updates on recent postings so you never miss an opportunity for local engagement! Should you have any questions, or need help accessing this tool, please reach out to Kyndra Ashcraft at 281-487-7871 or [email protected]
Meet Our Newest Team Member Brooke Smith | Office Coordinator Pasadena Chamber of Commerce We are thrilled to introduce the newest addition to our team, Brooke Smith. With an impressive background in small business office management and customer relations, Brooke brings a wealth of experience to her role as Office Coordinator. Her dedication to organizational excellence and her passion for fostering collaborative environments will be instrumental in streamlining our daily operations and providing valuable customer service for our members. Being the selfless team player that she is, Brooke is eagerly looking forward to embarking on this new journey with us and contributing to our collective success. As she dives into her new role, she is excited to collaborate with everyone and explore new avenues of growth. Her unique skills, abilities, and perspectives developed throughout her career will undoubtedly stimulate new ideas of innovation and structure within our organization. Brooke’s primary responsibilities will include managing the day to day operations and administration for the chamber, assisting members with processing invoices, managing registration and greeting guests at chamber events, and serving as the staff liaison for the Non-Profit Network and Finance Committee. We believe Brooke’s expertise, combined with her heart for people and knowledge of our community, will be invaluable to our chamber. She is a Pasadena native graduating from Pasadena Memorial High School and San Jacinto College with a degree in Business. Brooke and her husband call Pasadena home and value spending time in one of her favorite roles as Aunt and dog mom. As she settles into her role, she is excited to begin this new adventure as she connects with you and other community partners! Please join us in welcoming Brooke to our Pasadena Chamber family, you can connect with her directly at [email protected] Farewell to Kyndra: We would also like to take time to share the bitter sweet news that our Administrative Coordinator, Kyndra Ashcraft is relocating with her family to North Carolina and her last day at the chamber will be September 29th. Kyndra has worked diligently and efficiently since she joined the team in January of 2022 to provide a high level of customer service for our members and oversee the administrative components of our organization. In her tenure at the chamber she was instrumental in the creation and launch of the Non-Profit Network tool, providing innovative alternatives for streamlining projects and member experiences. We are so appreciative of her commitment to excellence the last 2 years and believe our organizations is better because of her professionalism and leadership in everything she was involved with. She is going to be a valuable asset in her next adventure and we certainly our going to miss her! Welcome to our new interns: We would also like to introduce you to our two fall interns, both in their senior year at the University of Houston Clear Lake; Rosa Espitia (left) and Sara Jackson (right). Rosa will be helping with administrative and membership tasks, while Sara will be helping in our marketing efforts and the planning and execution of our programs and events. We deeply value our relationship with our educational institutions, and are so appreciative of the continued talent they bring to our Chamber Join Us For a Breakfast Reception: We will have a come and go breakfast reception on September 29th from 8:30-10:00am at the Pasadena Chamber office for you to meet our new team members and share in appreciation of Kyndra’s contributions to the chamber. We hope to see you there! 16 Chambergram
17 Chambergram Palace Social Pasadena CEO is a 9/11 Survivor He survived 9/11. Now he’s focused on bringing joy to Pasadena with a new entertainment venue. Billy Forney is trying to pinpoint the moment he realized the 110-story building he occupied on Sept. 11, 2001 — the north tower of the World Trade Center in New York City — might crumble. “I was on the 85th floor on the first tower to be hit, and the second tower to go down,” he said. Forney has the time mentally stamped at approximately 8:46 a.m., when militants associated with the Islamic extremist group al-Qaida crashed the first of two hijacked commercial airplanes into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. Forney, who was an assistant commodities options trader at the time, had arrive earlier that morning. When the sudden loud explosion shook the building, causing it to sway at least six feet sideways back and forth, Forney thought he and the others in his office could die. The thought only lasted a few seconds, but the feeling of anticipating the unexpected and the extreme has remained with him since, he said. CLICK HERE to read the rest of this remarkable story. Thank you to our partner at the Houston Chronicle, Yvette Orozco, for beautifully capturing this story and our wonderful member of the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce!
Industry Spotlight The Pasadena Chamber Celebrates Its Members While Supporting Local Businesses! As a part of the ongoing efforts to support local businesses, the Pasadena Loves Local committee is going to be “lovin on our locals” each month in the Chambergram! This month, we are showing some love to our local Insurance Agencies! Next time the need arises, we ask you to consider one of these local businesses first. Automotive Services Adaptive Driving Access Inc 281-487-1969 braunability.com All Points Collision Center 832-864-2315 allpointscollision.com Atlas Used Auto Parts 713-473-9518 a-atlastx.com Bass & Meineke Complete Auto Care 713-473-5255 bassmeineke.com Billy Lowery Automotive 281-487-7071 billyloweryauto.com Bob’s Truck Care 713-473-6879 bobstruckcare.com Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers 281-991-1100 expressoil.com Mac Haik Ford Pasadena 281-604-3673 machaikfordpasadena.com Mobile Auto Pros 832-492-4772 mobileautopros.us Quick Quack Car Wash 888-772-2792 dontdrivedirty.com Suds Deluxe Car Wash 737-328-1947 sudsdeluxe.com 18 Chambergram
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Health Expo for Seniors Morada Deer Park invites you to attend their first annual Health Expo for Seniors on September 14th, from 1pm - 4pm at Morada Deer Park, located at 201 McDermott St, Deer Park, 77536. Guests can enjoy complimentary Kona shaved ice, many amazing vendors, vaccine clinic, fall detection software, free phone for seniors, visiting physicians, and much more! CLICK HERE to learn more Save the Date: Pasadena Food Drive The annual Pasadena Food Drive will take place on Wednesday, November 15th, from 8am - 5pm at the Pasadena Convention Center. If you are interested in learning more, or finding out how you or your business can get involved, please email Lorrie Jowell with Volunteer Pasadena at Ljowell@ pasadenatx.gov If you want to find other ways you can help out with Volunteer Pasadena, CLICK HERE to view their webpage. Anchor Point’s Annual Celebrating Hope Gala You do not want to miss out on Anchor Point’s event of the year on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023 from 6pm-9pm! This year’s theme is to celebrate Hope Havana Style and will be a night to remember! Gala guests will enjoy an elegant dining experience, a stroll through the Cubanstyle Market, a Wine-Pull and Live Auction all to benefit the children and families of our community that Anchor Point serves. CLICK HERE to learn more Chambergram 20
OCTOBER 4, 2023 11:30AM - 1:00PM On behalf of the Government Relations Committee of the Pasadena Chamber and the Houston CCS Alliance you are cordially invited to a roundtable conversation with complimentary lunch provided. Reservation required. RSVP at pasadenachamber.org CHAMBER IN ACTION Join the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce and Houston CCS Alliance to connect with fellow stakeholders in a roundtable conversation to reimagine the energy capital of the world. This collaborative conversation will highlight the importance and benefits that Carbon Capture & Storage Technologies will bring to Pasadena and the entire southeast region. CARBON CAPTURE & STORAGE TECHNOLOGIES BAKER RIPLEY 720 FAIRMONT PKWY PASADENA, TX 77504 Chambergram 21
Hooray for our Members! H+M Industrial EPC Celebrates 35 Years as a Leading EPC Provider for the Energy and Chemicals Industries H+M Industrial EPC, a leading provider of engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services for the industrial sector, is proud to celebrate its 35th anniversary. Since its founding in 1988, H+M Industrial EPC has established itself as a trusted partner for companies across the Energy and Chemicals industries, including oil and gas, petrochemical, renewable energy, and power. With a team of highly skilled professionals and a commitment to delivering quality work, the team strives to provide trust and create longterm partnerships. As a result, over three decades, H+M Industrial EPC has earned a reputation for excellence in the industry. “Over the past 35 years, H+M Industrial EPC has grown from a small regional firm to a leading provider of EPC services,” said Brandon Hogan, P.E., President and CEO of H+M Industrial EPC. “I am proud of all that we have achieved and am confident that, with our team’s continued hard work and dedication, we will continue to grow and succeed in the years ahead.” “Since joining the company, I have been continually impressed by our team’s level of expertise and professionalism,” added Matt McQuinn, Chief Operating Officer of H+M Industrial EPC. “We are in a great position to continue delivering the highest level of service to our clients, which will drive the success of H+M Industrial EPC well into the future.” “I am proud of all that H+M Industrial EPC has accomplished over the past 35 years,” said Larry Hogan, Founder and Chairman of H+M Industrial EPC. “I am grateful to our team, clients, and partners for their continued support and look forward to many more years of success.” H+M Industrial EPC will mark the occasion with various events and celebrations throughout the year, including a company-wide anniversary celebration. About H+M Industrial EPC: H+M Industrial EPC has provided endend capital project solutions to the Energy and Chemicals industries since 1988. To achieve the corporate purpose of “building our future through people and data,” H+M strives to be the preferred partner for EPC capital project services up to $50MM, providing trust, expertise, and efficiency. Uniquely, the company’s engineering, procurement, and construction services are in-house, providing a unified approach that delivers more consistent outcomes for our customers. http://hm-ec.com/ Media Contact: Robyn Hall – Sr. Marketing Manager H+M Industrial EPC 832-850-2103 [email protected] 22 Chambergram
DDIINNEE AARROOUUNNDD TTOOWWNN 22002233 TTAASSTTEE OOFF TTHHEE TTOOWWNN RRAAFFFFLLEE TTIICCKKEETT $10 WINNER WILL RECEIVE: $500+ in local restaurant gift cards Drawing date: 11/2/23 (Winner Does not have to be present to win) EACH SSccaann qqrr ccooddee ttoo ppuurrcchhaassee OOrr vviissiitt:: ppaassaaddeennaacchhaammbbeerr..oorrgg//ssttoorree OOrr CCaallll:: 228811--448877--77887711 Chambergram 23
2023 Citizen of the Year Call For Nominations Members and Friends, Citizen of the Year is named annually to someone who has exhibited a level of dedication and contributions to Pasadena above and beyond the call of duty. This is the highest honor named for an individual within the Pasadena community. Nominations can be made in one of two ways: Online: CLICK HERE to fill out the nomination form online. Mail Or Email In: CLICK HERE to download the PDF version of the nomination form. Once completed, you can email or mail it back to us. (specific mailing instructions are located directly on the form.) Nominations will be accepted until September 29th, 2023, at which time the previous Citizen of the Year recipients will make their selection. Pictured Above: 2022 Citizen of the Year recipient Melinda Torrison with her family. Pictured Above: 2021 Citizen of the Year recipient Ken Phelps with his family. 24 Chambergram
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BOOK NOW 713.920.9927 PET FRIENDLY • FITNESS CENTER • GAZEBO 26 Chambergram
RODEO Volunteers Needed! Click Here to Sign Up SEPTEMBER 15-30 PASADENA MUNICIPAL FAIRGROUNDS Pasadena Livestock Show 7902 FAIRMONT PKWY. PASADENA, TX 77507 www.pasadenarodeo.com Chambergram 27
Chambergram 28 The Purpose of the Pasadena Chamber is to ADVOCATE & CONNECT our community through SERVING & EDUCATING our members Contact YOUR Chamber Staff Cristina Womack President/ CEO Erin Webb Vice President Christian Rocha Membership Coordinator Follow The Pasadena Chamber of Commerce on Social Media! Follow us on FB, Twitter, IG, LinkedIn, & YouTube Like, share, comment, repost! Our social media pages help us spread the word about all things happening in our community! Are YOU following? #PasadenaChamber #ConnectingYourCommunity 4334 Fairmont Parkway Pasadena, TX 77504 (Main) 281.487.7871 (Fax) 281.487.5530 PasadenaChamber.org [email protected] Monday - Friday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Kyndra Ashcraft Administrative Coordinator Alyssa Ramirez Events & Programs Coordinator Brooke Smith Office Coordinator