Color Program of Work

Ambassadors

Chair Mark Murrah, Phillips & Reiter

• Expand Ambassadors Committee to retain members, enhancing value of membership by encouraging involvement on committees.
• Visit members each month and contact members who have not renewed to encourage continued participation.

Membership Development

Chair
Mike Kacal, Kacal's Auto & Truck Service

• Identify prospective corporate partners from Top Tier companies and visit with owners/managers to establish relationships and attraction to chamber.
• Increase membership from 500 to 525, maintaining a 90% retention ratio.

Small Business Development

• Promote Member Businesses at Monthly Networking Breakfasts, Business After Hours, Annual Business Expo, Monthly Business Luncheon and website news updates.
• Continue Member Referral program through personal reference and website marketing.

Fundraising

Chair Vicki Brentin, Rotary Club of Houston

• Annual Awards Gala - Sara Cronin, TPC Group
• Annual Golf Tournament - Chair John Ryan, Alexander Ryan Marine & Safety.
• Plan an Annual Chamber Event to celebrate the history of the East End and attract the City of Houston to the area to be held in Spring, 2011The East End Saluda Law Enforcement will be incorporated into this event in 2011.

Education/Workforce Development

National Engineering Academy - Chavez High School
Chair Sara Cronin, TPC Group

• Continue partnership with HISD to provide high quality education for East End students through monthly meetings and direction of National Academy Engineering Academy Advisory Council.
• Continue to sponsor quarterly parent/student meetings to encourage parental involvement and present awards to “A” students and students with perfect attendance.
• Increase participation with Genesys Works providing engineering internships for all qualified Engineering Academy Seniors with a goal of 100 interns.
• Award scholarships to celebrate first graduating class of National Engineering Academy at Chavez High School through grants and corporate funding.
• Partner with University of Houston and Rice University to offer student interaction & educational programs for Engineering Academy students.
• Partner with Ortiz and Stevenson Middle Schools to implement Project Lead the Way Engineering Curriculum in eighth grade and to encourage rising 9th graders to consider PLTW in high school.

Port of Houston Maritime Academy at Austin High School
Chair Gilda Ramirez, Port of Houston Authority

• Partner with HISD, Port of Houston Authority, Houston Pilots and Partner Association to expand Port of Houston Maritime Academy at Austin High School to tenth grade and continue progression of one grade level each year.
• Invite participation from logistic and warehouse businesses and professional societies related to maritime industry

Scholarships

Co-chairs
Lori Rumfield, Cossaboom Family YMCA
Art Flanagan, HUB International Rigg

• Continue scholarship program offering scholarships to students from East End High Schools attending East End universities and colleges.
• Generate Corporate, Foundation and Endowment Support to fund scholarships, especially for students graduating from Engineering, Maritime and Petroleum Academies.

Economic Development

Commercial & Residential Development
Chair Fred Newhouse, Valero Refinery

• Pursue new and expanded development projectsthrough referrals from Governor’s Office of Economic
• Development & Tourism, Greater Houston Partnership, Economic Alliance and individual businesses.
• Proactively support business in legislative & government negotiations important to growing the East End.
• Attract museum and art groups interested in relocating to East End to establish museum/art district

Banking/Real Estate Consortium

Co-Chairs
Mark McCullough, Whitney Bank
Aron Grenader, First Houston Properties

• Work with member banks to develop “shared financing” program to benefit banks and developers
• Share Best Practices between banks and commercial brokers to increase knowledge and facilitate development facilitate networking among banks and developers to identify community resources.

Business Retention & Expansion

Chair Bill Banta, CenterPoint Energy

• Host a tour of the East End for the Chamber Board and corporate partners.
• Implement a Business Retention Calling Program in cooperation with economic alliances.
• Assist businesses in seeking financial incentives for development i.e., enterprise zones through relationships with City, County and other partners including links on website.

Economic Incentives

Co-Chairs
Patti Joiner, Knudson Services
Ernie Cockrell, Cockrell Interest

• Identify catalytic sites for commercial, retail and residential development and encourage partnerships to produce land use, drill down, and other studies critical to development.
• Research innovative incentives and recommend implementation to governmental & cooperating agencies.
• Create Special District Committee to identify and lobby for planned land use improvements along the Harrisburg/Buffalo Bayou Corridor and surrounding areas

International Trade Development

Chair Steve Stewart, Gulf Winds International

• Logistics/Warehouse Incentive Committee--Identify and lobby for tax incentives to promote logistic and warehousing distribution to increase trade development.
• Build relationships with Consulate Offices to seek and provide assistance for business attraction.
• Partner with Port of Houston Authority, American Chambers in other countries and international trade organizations to recruit businesses to the East End.

Infrastructure

Co-Chairs
Rachel de Cordova, Royston, Rayzor, Vickery & Williams

• Partner with public agencies and elected officials to evaluate current conditions and prioritize potential projects to ensure the growth and renewal of the current and proposed East End infrastructure.
• Facilitate Rail Sub Committee to assist with the progress and development of METRO’s East End Rail line, commuter and freight rail issues and other rail transportation improvement projects in the East End.

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Crime Awareness Committee
Chair Al Barringer

• Continue Crime Awareness Committee to enhance partnerships with law enforcement agencies and provide more officers with quicker response time for the community.
• Host Salute to Law Enforcement at Gulfgate Center to recognize law enforcement agencies and enhance relationships between residents & law enforcement officers.

Marketing and Promotion

Legislative & Community Affairs
Chair Roy Zermeno, AT&T

• Invite City Council members on Tour of East End to promote support of development projects.
• Host Board of Director meetings at different member businesses each quarter beginning the meeting with a tour to educate directors on the diverse businesses represented.