MARCH 2021 INSIDE THIS ISSUE Hot deals ��������������������������������������������������������������2 New members/ Letter from the president ������������������������������3 Member spotlight ��������������������������������������������4 Business of the month ������������������������������������5 Community map �����������������������������������������������6 The State of the Counties and Cities Luncheon �����������������������������������������7 Video Power Package/ Industrial Trade Show �������������������������������������8 Groundbreakings ���������������������������������������������9 Membership renewals ���������������������������������10 Board of Directors �����������������������������������������11 The official publication of the Texas City-La Marque Chamber of Commerce VIDEO POWER PACKAGE: THE PORT OF TEXAS CITY MEMBER PROFILE: HCA HOUSTON HEALTHCARE MAINLAND BUSINESS OF THE MONTH: BRADSHAW FLORIST Businesses and Citizens of the Year to be honored at Chamber Membership Gala on March 25 The Chamber’s annual Mem- bership Meeting and Awards Gala is always a popular event to cele- brate the business community and achievements of dedicated volun- teers. This year, the theme is “Adven- ture Awaits,” as everyone is eager to add adventure back into their lives and recharge the local economy. The banquet will be held March 25 at the Doyle Convention Center. Tables have been selling quickly since the event was first announced in January. There is a limited amount of seating still available. A few reserved tables for 6 guests are avail- able for $750. At this year’s banquet, the Cham- ber will celebrate 52 years of service to the local business community. Several outstanding businesses and citizens will be honored. Jenny Sent- er, who retired in December after 29 years of service, will receive the Chamber’s “Legend Award.” For this celebration, guests will attend both in person and virtually. The in-person event will feature great music, a delicious catered din- ner,and networking among business and civic leaders. The event will be live-streamed on Facebook, thanks to KHEA/ Clear Life Media. This way, guests at home also can enjoy viewing the announcement of the Business of the Year awards, the Jimmy Hayley Com- munity Service Award and the 2020 Citizen of the Year Award. Who will win? Tune in on March 25 starting at 7 p.m. to find out. Contact Jessica Spangle, Oper- ations and Events Manager at the Chamber, to inquire about table res- ervation options by calling 409-935- 1408 or sending an email to jessica@ texascitychamber.com. 2 | Chamber Express | March 2021 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 OUR FAMILY CARES ABOUT YOUR FAMILY 409-945-6920 ROOFING & REMODELING Bacliff | Bayou Vista | Clear Lake Shores | Dickinson | Friendswood | Hitchcock | Kemah | La Marque | League City | San Leon | Santa Fe | Texas City | Tiki Island www.uwgcm.org | (409) 948-4211 | 922 14th St. N. | PO Box 3098 | Texas City, TX 77592 LIVE UNITED UNITED WAY FIGHTS FOR THE HEALTH, EDUCATION AND FINANCIAL STABILITY OF EVERY PERSON IN EVERY COMMUNITY www.uwgcm.org | (409) 948-4211 | 2800 Texas Avenue | PO Box 3098 | Texas City, TX 77592 Do you want to promote your busi- ness for free this spring? A new Hot Deals coupon booklet is launching this month. Don’t miss out on this great opportunity! Any chamber member is eligible to be in the booklet for free, plus there are options for paid ad spaces. All you have to do is create a Hot Deal online for your business. It will be promoted on the chamber website, and it will be printed in the Hot Deals booklet for free. A Hot Deal is an offer or deal that you create for an exclusive amount of time, similar to a coupon. For example: “15 percent off your purchase until March 30” or “Buy one get one half off until April 15.” This is such an easy way to adver- tise and attract new customers for your business. You can login to your member portal on the chamber website and do it yourself, or the chamber staff will be happy to help you with it. Contact the chamber by March 30 to participate in the new Hot Deals book- let and promote your business. For more information, call 409-935- 1408 or email the chamber at hotdeals@ texascitychamber.com. HOT DEALS COUPON BOOK Visit www.TCLMchamber.com for more information.March 2021 | Chamber Express | 3 WELCOME NEW MEMBERS Commissioner Keith Henry 9209 Blue Crab Dr. Texas City, TX 77591 832-341-4721 Representative: Keith Henry kghenry@texascitytx.gov Elected Officials Community Matters Inc. 2779 Pack Saddle Way Frisco, TX 75034 972-370-1778 Representatives: Layne Mullin, Becky Julian www.communitymattersinc.com layne@communitymattersinc.com Publishing-Maps, Magazines Ace Promotions & Apparel 2120 Catalina Ave. Pasadena, TX 77503 281-479-7765 Representative: Donna Wade www.theacebrands.com donna@theacebrands.com Promotions and Apparel/Trophies Created With Heart Shop 409-502-8544 Representative: Jessie Trigo www.etsy.com/shop/CreatedWithHeartShop jessieboone@comcast.net Custom Painted Crafts TAM Services 281-318-5560 Representative: Barbie Smith www.tamservices.com barbie.smith@tamservices.com Industrial Contractor With the recent, ter- rible winter storm and the on-going pandemic affecting our business- es and loved ones, we at the chamber realize that many among us are struggling and some are in crisis mode. The chamber exists to serve its members and offers valuable benefits to local businesses. If you are among those needing assistance at this time, please let us know. With the governor’s recent removal of state- wide mandates related to COVID-19, some business- es in the community are unsure of how to proceed safely through the busy times ahead in Galveston County with spring break and summer approaching. FROM THE CHAMBER PRESIDENT Let’s join forces to defeat the pandemic Sign up online: uschamber.com/ rally-recovery-commitment #RallyForRecovery “Let’s work together to stay safe, recover and rebuild.” PAGE MICHEL chamber president The chamber’s view- point is that we must all continue to operate with safety procedures to pro- tect our businesses, our customers, our families and ourselves. There are three key steps you can take at your business as we navigate our way back to health throughout our community and state: • Continue to wear masks in the workplace. • Plan to help employees get vaccinated. • Communicate to your customers and employees about safety measures. The U.S. Chamber has a Rally to Recovery effort happening now that highlights these steps and offers a free tool kit for your business. You can sign up to receive the lat- est expert guidance and clear, actionable employer resources directly to your email in-box. Sign up online here: uschamber.com/rally-re- covery-commitment Let’s work together to stay safe, recover and re- build. The chamber has several free and low-cost ways for you to boost awareness of your busi- ness in the marketplace in the coming months. Take advantage of your membership benefits. Please call Page Michel, chamber president or Jordan Kleinecke, director of membership, at your soonest opportunity. Best regards, Page Michel Chamber President 4 | Chamber Express | March 2021 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 Stepping into a brand new role as chief execu- tive officer of a commu- nity hospital at the start of a growing pandemic would not be consid- ered by most people as an ideal opportunity. For Jim Russell, CEO at HCA Houston Healthcare Mainland, it was a chal- lenge he’d been prepar- ing for all his life. “The timing of my transition from chief operating officer at HCA Houston Healthcare Clear Lake to CEO at HCA Houston Mainland, had been planned far in advance of the COVID-19 outbreak,” Russell said. He assumed his CEO position March 16, 2020. “Even with the compli- cations the virus would bring to my new role, I knew I was up for the challenge,” Russell said. “The process-based work experience I gained during my career at Boeing has proven to be a valuable asset as we began, and continue, to navigate the demands of the COVID-19 patient surge.” In addition to his engineering experience, Russell has a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing and has several years of clinical experi- ence. He was previously an OR director, where he gained experience ap- plying Boeing strategies to create efficiencies to improve patient care. “In my previous nurs- ing roles, I got to take care of people,” Russell said. “And now, as an ad- ministrator, I’m fortunate to take care of the people who take care of people.” Russell still maintains his nursing license, and he had the honor of administering the first COVID-19 vaccine to one of his employees. Russell lives in Friends wood with his wife Jen- na and their two children 11-year-old Benjamin and 6-year-old Sophie. He has an older daugh- ter, who is a nurse prac- titioner, and hopes his youngest children will follow the family health- care career tradition. “Sophie and I love to watch ‘Doc McStuffins’ cartoons together,” Rus- sell said. “I’m hoping this will be the start of her fascination with helping people feel better.” When he is not busy leading his team of more than 700 healthcare pro- fessionals, Russell enjoys watching HGTV. In fact, he admits, he’s addicted. “I am the least handy person you will ever know,” Russell said. “But I just love watching other people tackle do-it-your- self projects.” Luckily for his patients and staff, Russell has many other useful talents. You can learn more about Russell’s inter- ests and experiences, including riding horses to school in Aubrey, TX, in a short, 3-minute video at www.vimeo. com/408051185. HCA Houston Healthcare Mainland 6801 Emmett F. Lowry Expy. Texas City, TX 77591 HCAhoustonhealthcare.com/mainland Representative: Jim Russell, FACHE RN Chief Executive Office r Jim Russell is the chief executive officer at HCA Houston Healthcare Mainland. As an adminis- trative leader, he oversees physician relations, business development and strategic planning for all areas of the facility.March 2021 | Chamber Express | 5 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 77591 This family-owned flower shop has been at the same location for 72 years and serves the Texas City, La Marque, Santa Fe and Hitch- cock areas. Bradshaw’s is a trusted local favorite. The company has beautiful arrangements and fresh flowers that last for days. Bradshaw’s Florist prides itself on delivering only the highest quality flowers, plants and cus- tom-made silk arrangements for any occasion. The chamber is proud to recognize Bradshaw’s Florist this month for being a long-term dedicated partner and for its generous community support over many years. Kudos to Tammy and the team at Bradshaw’s Florist! BUSINESS OF THE MONTH Bradshaw’s Florist 405 Ninth St. N., Texas City 409-945-3304 Representative: Tammy Hanks6 | Chamber Express | March 2021March 2021 | Chamber Express | 78 | Chamber Express | March 2021 INDUSTRIAL TRADE SHOW SET FOR JULY 20 The petrochemical industry is the heart and soul of Texas City and La Marque. It defines what we do and how we live in this community. Many times, we take for granted the magnitude of the importance that industry plays in the life of our city and those who live, work and play here. The number of direct jobs to major industry is in the thousands, but that number does not reflect the many more thousands of indirect jobs that are functioning as a result of our indus- try partners’ location. The Industrial Trade Show is focused on mak- ing the right connections for those ancillary busi- nesses. Meeting a new contact or reconnecting with a client is what the event is all about. Small businesses con- tribute to the local econ- omy by bringing growth and innovation. Small businesses also help stim- ulate growth by provid- ing employment opportu- nities to people, who may not be employable by larger corporations. Larger businesses depend on local small businesses for outsourcing various business functions. Everyone gets together at this annual trade show to form valuable vendor-sup- plier partnerships. Before the trade show, the 2021 Industrial Direc- tory will be published, listing all the registered vendors and more. There are low-cost advertising options available. For details about how to be included in the 2021 Industrial Directory, contact Chamber President Page Michel by April 20 at page@ texascitychamber.com. Plan to attend the Industrial Trade Show on July 20 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Doyle Con- vention Center, located as 2010 Fifth Ave. N in Texas City. You can help support and promote commerce in Texas City-La Marque and get down to busi- ness! The Industrial Trade Show is focused on making the right connections for those ancillary businesses. For more information about the Video Power Package, contact Jessica Spangle at 409-935-1408 or jessica@texascitychamber.com. VIDEO POWER PACKAGE MARCH Watch the videos at www.TCLMchamber.com. Click on “Resources/Video Library.” Contact information Confirm your spot on the 2021 schedule! The Port of Texas City 2425 Hwy 146 N., Texas City 409-945-4461 Representatives: Ramiro Barba and Jason Hayley Email: rbarba@tctrr.comMarch 2021 | Chamber Express | 9 GROUNDBREAKINGS Gulf Coast Water Authority Administration Building E.F. Lowry, Frontage Road Texas City, TX 409-935-2438 Representative: Brandon Wade, General Manager GCWA will move from its 50-year-old office building to its new location on Emmett F. Lowry Expressway in 2022. La Marque Middle School 7451 Monticello Drive, La Marque, TX Representative: Dr. Melissa Duarte, TCISD Superintendent It was a great day ceremoniously breaking ground at the new La Marque Middle School. The facility was part of the approved 2018 bond election. The architects are IBI Group, and the construction company is DivisionOne Construction. The building is expected to open in August 2022. Next >