NOVEMBER 2020 INSIDE THIS ISSUE Thank you Matt Doyle2 Online auction continued 3 Business of the Month/ Member Spotlight4 Member profile 5 Legislative Luncheon photos 6 Chamber Week photos 7 Ribbon cuttings 8 Shop local 9 Local gift cards 10 Board of directors 11 The official publication of the Texas City-La Marque Chamber of Commerce MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: AMOCO FCU AND TEXAS FIRST INSURANCE MEMBER PROFILE: MAINLAND PAWN AND JEWELRY BUSINESS OF THE MONTH: TELLO SMILES Get ready to enjoy a one-of-a-kind shopping experience! SEE AUCTION » PAGE 3 Get ready to enjoy a one-of-a- kind shopping experience! This ONLINE AUCTION will be held Nov. 12-19. There will be amaz- ing items donated by businesses throughout Texas City, La Marque and beyond. Bid on great items from the comfort of your home, and stay informed on your bidding activity in real time. You can re- ceive alerts any time you’re outbid. There will be festive Watch Par- ties on the closing night of Thurs- day, Nov. 19. A list of Watch Party locations will be posted that you can attend, or you can hold your own! “It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere” Online Auction will be a cool place to shop for the holidays this year! You’ll find one-of-a-kind items, ex- cursions, dining and travel packag- es — all donated by local business- Auction Committee members showcase items that are up for auction. Pictured, from left, are Jessica Spangle, Macy Surovik, Dawn Tholcken, Georgia Meyer and Page Michel. 2 | Chamber Express | November 2020 We’ve been keeping WOOFs in tip top shape since 1981, and now we’re bigger than ever! This month marks our 39th year in business, and we have Galveston County to thank for that! Thank you for all of your support, business, and valuable referrals throughout the years. Jeff Prouty began this business with an old blue pick-up truck and his co-pilot, Shasta (left). Today, the company has grown to more than 20 team members and a fleet of trucks! Shasta has since passed the torch and allowed our 2nd generation to step in. We’re dedicated to holding onto the values that have shown us success time and time again; honesty, integrity, and compassion. Thank you for supporting our familes, and thank you for putting your trust in us! Looking forward to many more years of service! - The Prouty Family 409-945-6920 A Texas General Contractor WWW.ROOFINGTEXAS.COM 39 Years in Business SERVICING YOU IS A PLEASURE 409-948-4589 My clients say I am their “Favorite Realtor”. Over forty-three (43) years servicing Galveston County Wanda Ables Realtor ® /Broker Associate wmables@aol.com 822 6th Street North Texas City, TX 77590 409-771-4775 Cell 409-948-4589 Direct 409-948-2321 Fax You are our very own Chamber Champion! On behalf of the Texas City-La Marque Chamber of Commerce Board of Direc- tors, staff and members, we wish you and “First Lady” Debbie Doyle a long and enjoyable retirement. Congratulations to Mayor Matt Doyle!November 2020 | Chamber Express | 3 Air Liquide 9811 Katy Freeway Suite 100 Houston, TX 77024 713-624-8219 www.airliquide.com lucas.feldmeier@airliquide.com Representative: Luke Feldmeier, Business Development Manager Gartner Coatings 2433 Reid Blvd Pearland, TX 77581 281-997-3500 snavarro@gartnercoatings.com Representative: Sam Navarro, Vice President Special Olympics Texas 4325 Ave. R Galveston, TX 77550 409-996-3672 www.sotx.org tsifuentes@sotx.org Representative: Tina Sifuentes Watergrove Event Venue 3920 Gulf Fwy South Dickinson, TX 77539 832-861-6351 www.thewatergrove.com info@thewatergrove.com Representative: Catherine Rudolph, Venue Manager WELCOME NEW MEMBERS AUCTION Continued » Page 1 es and neighbors. This auction will shine a spotlight on small businesses in the community! Thanks to our auction online sponsors: Valero, UTMB Health, Eastman, BP, City of Texas City and Dunn Heat Exchangers. Starting Thursday, Nov. 12, each day at 5 p.m. something fun and exciting will be featured on the auction platform, such as new auction items, insta-buys, videos and more! Details will be posted Nov. 10 on the chamber website at: www. tclmchamber.com/online-auc- tion/ about how to sign on to the online platform. You will be able to sign in on any device. Stay tuned! CHAMBER MEMBERS: Please help make this auction a smash- ing success by donating an item from YOUR organization. Get your business name seen by thousands and help the chamber at the same time!! Visit the cham- ber’s website to download the AUCTION DONATION FORM! For more information, contact Lorrie Koster at lorrie@texascity chamber.com or 409-935-1408. Some hot items to look for: • 4 days and 3 nights in Riu- doso, New Mexico — donated by Russell and Karen Plackemeier • Boiled crawfish dinner for 20 people delivered to your home — donated by Pook’s Crawfish Hole • One year gym members plus personal training at World Gym — donated by Jerome Karam • Private cigar party for 12 people at El Cubano Cigar Facto- ry — donated by Manny Lopez • On the Pontoon cruise along Dickinson Bayou with dinner at Marais for four people — donat- ed by Sonny and Dawn Tholcken • Michael Kors purse — donat- ed by Genevieve and Bill McGar- vey • Happy Hour Mixology Party for up to 10 people: learn to be a bartender for a night — donated by Mobile Mixology • State of Texas Seal leather pistol case — donated by State Rep. Mayes Middleton There will be more awesome items, so be sure to register to bid. The link for registration will be on the Chamber Website at: www.tclmchamber.com/ onlineauction 4 | Chamber Express | November 2020 BUSINESS OF THE MONTH Tello Smiles is a general and cosmetic dental office that accommodates patients of all ages. At Tello Smiles, you will receive the highest quali- ty dental care. The dental office uses the latest state- of-the-art equipment and cutting-edge technology, and it upholds the strictest steril- ization techniques. Tello Smiles knows that many people may feel anx- ious about coming to the dentist, so it is their goal to make your visit with them as pain and anxiety free as possible. The staff views it as their mission to educate patients about all of their oral health care options and to help guide them to choose a treatment plan that is most suitable and appro- priate for their needs. While striving to deliver the finest quality of care to achieve the most success- ful and pleasing treatment outcomes are their top pri- orities, they also want your dental experience to be as stress-free and comfortable as possible. Providing gentle and precise treatment, their experienced and compas- sionate dental team will address all of your needs and keep you well informed throughout your care. If you are looking for a dentist in Texas City, who can provide high quality and affordable dental care that will meet the needs of every member of your family, give Tello Smiles a call today at 409-419-6090. Tello Smiles 1130 14th Street North Texas City, TX 77590 409-419-6090 office@tellosmiles.com Courtni Tello, Dentist TEXAS FIRST INSURANCE 7900 Emmett F. Lowry Expy Texas City TX 77591 409-934-8000 NOVEMBER VIDEO POWER PACKAGES Watch the videos at www.TCLMchamber.com AMOCO FEDERAL CREDIT UNION 2300 Texas Ave. Texas City, TX 77590-0889 409-948-8541| 800-231-6053 Representative: Shawn Bailey, CEONovember 2020 | Chamber Express | 5 MEMBER PROFILE MEMBER PROFILE Texas City-La Marque Chamber of Commerce members have amazing talents and stores to tell. With this series, we want to introduce you to some of our members and spotlight their businesses. If you would like to be spotlighted in our Member Profile, contact Lorrie Koster at lorrie@texascitychamber.com Tell us a little about your company’s background. As a family-owned and -operated business for 46 years, Mainland Pawn and Jewelry continues to serve the Gulf Coast com- munity. Mike and Betty Holcomb opened Mainland Pawn and Jewelry in December 1974. Still going strong, we are proud to have been joined by our son, Mac. Mainland Pawn and Jewelry also has a wonderful staff of friends that are more like family than fellow workers. How would you summarize what you do? We sell NEW and pre-owned jewelry, and we do custom designs, make one of a kind pieces, and we also repair jewelry. We also have one of the largest inventories of firearms in Galveston County. We are a NEW firearms dealer as well as having pre-owned firearms. More than 50 percent of our guns are NEW, direct from distributors and man- ufactures. How has your business evolved over time? We make secured collateral confidential loans. We are licensed and governed by the Texas Office of Consumer Credit — the same organization that monitors Texas banks. It is no longer a law that pawn shops have to license and background check employees through the state, but Mainland Pawn and Jewelry will continue to have ev- eryone on our staff licensed and investigated by the Texas OCCC. Our store is like a mini mall. Besides the jewelry and firearms, we have tools, musical instruments, TVs, electronics and more. What are some of your proudest accomplishments? Our proudest accomplishment is the trust we have earned by treating our customers honestly and with the respect they deserve. We are now seeing the third generation of people we have come to think of as an extension of our family. Hearing someone come in and say “I’m getting married, and I wouldn’t go anywhere else but here to get my rings” or “I’m taking my grandson hunt- ing, and I want you to help me find him a rifle. This is where my dad got my first one” makes us proud that we are still part of this community. We have seen our community of custom- ers through Hurricanes Ike and Harvey and births, marriages and loss of loved ones. We hope to be here for many more La Marque and Texas City celebrations of good things to come — making La Marque and Texas City the best of places to live and thrive. What are you working on now? We now have a Facebook page with pic- tures of our merchandise. Mainland Pawn and Jewelry Shop 106 Highway 3 La Marque, TX 77568 (409)-935-6673 www.facebook.com/Mainland- PawnandJewelry bjjewel@sbcglobal.net Representatives: Betty Holcomb, Mac Holcomb, Mike Holcomb When you’re buying or selling real estate, whether it be residential or commercial, experience matters and you certainly want experienced professionals on your side when you head to the closing table. South Land Title Company has been serving Texas City-La Marque for over 25 years. We are here to assist lenders, realtors, builders, investors and residents with every type of Real Estate transaction. When you close on your next property, go with the experts at South Land Title Company. Protecting the property rights of Texas City-La Marque! Experience Matters! www.SouthLandTitle.net 409.986.5801 - 10806 32nd Ave N, Texas City, TX 775916 | Chamber Express | November 2020November 2020 | Chamber Express | 78 | Chamber Express | November 2020 RE/MAX Coastal 1001 FM 517 E. Dickinson, TX 77539 281-300-1267 Mandie McMillan, Owner/Realtor www.har.com/mandiemcmillan mandie@txrealestatechick.com AT&T 3401 Palmer Highway, Suite 103 Texas City, TX 77590 409-655-5126 Yoselen Funes, Store Manager yoselen.funes@mobilyllc.com Craving For A Change Foundation, Inc. 2501 Palmer Hwy. #260 Texas City, TX 77590 832-297-1131 Kenshara Cravens, CEO kenshara.cravens@cravingforachange.com RIBBON CUTTINGSNovember 2020 | Chamber Express | 9 The holiday shopping season is upon us! Thanksgiving brings to mind the many things we have to be thankful for, but as we move forward to Christmas, let’s all remember to thank our community through support of the many local businesses that we are blessed with. Now more than ever, we must stand together and unite as a community to keep our local econ- omy pulsing. Texas City and La Marque are our hometowns, and I encourage you to keep your shopping at “home.” Many times, we hear the phrase, “Shop at Home,” but do you know just how important it is where your dollars are spent? Keeping your dol- lars in the local economy benefits not only the re- tailer or businessperson who takes that money in, but also it benefits you. More local sales tax reve- nue would result in more jobs, greater support of local businesses, lower taxes made possible by an expanded tax base, better parks, improved public safety, better streets and highways. We are proud of our local merchants and busi- nesses, and this is a great opportunity to offer your thanks by shopping with them. Think cre- atively, thoughtfully and spend your dollars wise- ly. Give a gift to yourself and your community by remembering to “Shop Local.” It really matters! — Jenny Senter, President, Texas City-La Marque Chamber of Commerce SHOP LOCAL FOR THE HOLIDAYS Thanks 2020 Sponsors! We appreciate you! • Sponsorships totaling more than $20,000 are recognized as Chairman’s Council • Sponsorships totaling more than $15,000 are recognized as President’s Council • Sponsorships totaling more than $8,000 are recognized as Partners Contact Jessica Spangle at jessica@texascitychamber.com for more sponsorship opportunities.Next >