Recently in 09) Event Photos Category

The Chamber recently hosted more than 100 realtors at a luncheon featuring a panel representing beducators, administrators and parents from Irving ISD and the Carrollton Farmers Branch Independent School District.   Both districts are achieving many great things in the classroom, and the Chamber is working to ensure that the realtors who "sell" the Irving community are aware of all that is happening in regards to education in Irving.

The Dallas Morning News has the full scoop on the event here and here and we have several photos to share as well!

More than 100 realtors attended the information session and luncheon

Realtors visit with each other shortly before the luncheon

David Park, Vice Chair of the Chamber's Education Committee, delivers some opening remarks

 A couple of door prizes get the excitement level up!

From left to right: Kerri Miene (State Farm Insurance), David Saenz (Jack Singley Academy Principal), Dr. Neil Dugger (Irving ISD) and Dr. Dana Bedden (Irving ISD Superintendent)comprise a panel representing the Irving Independent School District

From left to right:Dr. Bobby Burns (CFB-ISD Superintendent), Dr. Sheila Maher (CFB-ISD), David Hicks (Ranchview High School Principal) and Angie Drake (Ebby Halliday Realtors) comprise a panel representing CFB-ISD.

Dr. Bobby Burns highlights the CFB-ISD

Dr. Dana Bedden Highlights IISD     

The Chamber's 5-Star Mixer proved to be an excellent time with lots of door prizes, great food and good networking.  Hooters and new General Manager Steven Lengenhagger have clearly made it a priority to be active in the Irving community and in the Chamber. 

Don't forget to mark your calendar for September 28: 5:30 p.m at Champps Americana (855 W. John Carpenter Freeway). That is the date of the next 5-Star After Hours Mixer co-sponosred by Champps and George-McKenna Electrical Contractors.

Below are a few photos from last Tuesday's mixer at Hooters.  

Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) is a medical condition that weighs heavy on thousands of people in North Texas and many in Irving. The Chamber-sponsored Irving Senior Services Alliance, a group of member businesses allied by a common focus to serve senior adults and their families, recently did something about it. They hosted a live and silent Hollywood-themed auction on August 19 at Aspen Catering raising $5,501 exceeding their goal of $5,000.

The $5,501 goes to battle CHF through a simple but very effective tool: bathroom weight scales. At $10/each, the Senior Services Alliance raised enough money to purchase 550 scales for Baylor Irving!

John Drake, Irving Healthcare Foundation President, gets everyone ready to bid for a fantastic cause.

Live entertainment rocked Aspen Catering before the auctioneers took the stage

Holly Hullum, WiseGroup Insurance, warms up the audience, encouraging everyone to open their hearts and their wallets to a great cause!

Hollywood chic!

A small touch at the bar reminded folks of the importance of giving back to worthwhile causes

The full team of professional auctioneers moments before the live auction

 A worthwhile cause and auctioneers who were next to impossible to say "no" to, all helped make the event a tremendous success!

On Thursday, August 19, the Chamber hosted the State of Retail, its fourth quarterly event of the (fiscal) year.  Prior to the keynote presentation from John Menzer, CEO of Irving-headquartered Michaels, Jo Ann Goin (Chair of the Chamber's Small Business Committee and Owner of Glory House) took the podium to share some great news about an upcoming Chamber marketing campaign.  The "In Irving" campaign is designed to bring awareness to Irving's many fine retailers through advertisements and such programs such as First Saturdays in Irving -- expected to roll out October 2! 

Jo Ann Goin Talks About the New In Irving Campaign

John Menzer had many insights to share on the state or retail and also Michael's formula for success, and we are pleased to share his presentation for those who missed the program or would like to review it again.

John Menzer Delivers Keynote Remarks

Katie Hays, Executive Director of Congressional and Public Affairs with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington D,C, was a recent special guest at the monthly Irving Business Network that meets at Aspen Catering, 400 E. Royal, Ste 103 on the first Wednesday of each month at 8:30 a.m.

Hays is the lead lobbyist for the U.S. Chamber on all issues related to healthcare and health reform.  She discussed key provisions of the new healthcare bill including that a person working 30 hours per week will be considered "full-time" under the bill, and two part-time employees working 15 hours each per week will be considered the equivalent of one full-time employee for healthcare purposes.  She also noted that employers will now have to include on the employee's W-2 the value of their healthcare benefits and that a form 1099 will be required for the purchase of all goods and services exceeding $600 bringing new administrative burdens onto employers as well as the IRS, which plans to add 16,500 new jobs to meet this increased requirement.  Hays requested attendees to contact their congressional representatives to support HR5141 and SB3578 which is intended to remove the form 1099 burden from business. 

She also provided several resources to assist businesses with the implementation of the new healthcare bill including:  the Health Care Toolkit - and the Primer:  Critical Employer Issues in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act - .   She also requested companies to post their personal impacts from implementing the bill to the Health Reform Impacts Website - . 

For more information, contact Katie Hays at khays@uschamber.com.

  Katie Hays addresses an attentive audience of Chamber members at the most recent Irving Business Network event.   

Keep Irving Beauiful and Mayor Herbert Gears hosted the annual "Mayor and KIB Proud Partners Awards" reception on Monday, August 02, at the First Baptist Church in Irving. Many from the Irving business community were honored. Several of these worthy recipients are pictured below:

 R.M. Hudson Business and Industry Award: Frito-Lay Irving Facility (co-winner)

R.M. Hudson Business and Industry Award: VHA, Inc. (co-winner) 

Iron Eyes Cody Media Award and Governor's Community Achievement from Keep Texas Beautiful: The Irving Rambler

Gregg Mays Green Government Award: City of Irving Solid Waste Services

Keep Texas Beautiful First Place in the Government Category: City of Irving Code Enforcement

Ben Carpenter Vision Award: TXU Energy

Keep Irving Beautiful Governor's Achievement Award: Las Colinas Association

There's a new McDonald's in Las Colinas.  The Chamber recently helped Ronald McDonald and the team at Grissett Enterpises celebrate their opening with a ribbon cutting / fundraiser for the Ronald McDonald House charities.  Several city officials turned out, and the Dallas Morning News filed a report of the festivities which you can find here. The new restaurant is located at 114 and O'Connor.

Anthony Grissett cuts the ribbon with an assist from Ronald

The Grissett Enterprises Team

Shirly Dobson presents an official proclamation honoring Irving's newest McDonald's on behalf of State Representative Harper-Brown

 Ronald McDonald makes a couple of new friends

Chandra Hill, Director of Member Relations and Finance, poses for a photo with Ronald

Often, we write in this space a recap of Chamber events, especially ones of the significance of the 2nd Annual State of Dallas County event which took place on Friday, July 16.  But the Dallas Morning News has a great run down of the event, so the Chamber defers to their great coverage which you can read here.  We will however share a few photos from Friday below. 

Thanks again to all of our sponsors, especially to our presenting sponsor Reliant Energy.

Dr. Ron Anderson visits with State Rep. Linda Harper-Brown as Mayor Herb Gears looks on moments before the program begain.

Chairman Rick Lindsey began the program.

 A great crowd turned out to hear about the current state of Dallas County and the future of health care locally.

 Sandee Treptow with presenting sponsor, Reliant Energy, spoke briefly about Reliant's efforts and committment to Dallas County before introducing Commissioner Dickey.

Commissioner Dickey delivers her thoughts on the State of the County.

Dr. Ron Anderson's keynote touched on many topics including the new Parkland hospital.