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Ribbon Cutting for Citadel
December 17 @ 11:00 am - 12:00 pm -
Ribbon Cutting for Sara’s Inn
December 18 @ 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Welcome to the Greater Heights Area Chamber of Commerce.
The Greater Heights Area Chamber of Commerce (GHACC) is a member-focused organization through which members can effectively develop their business and themselves. Since its founding in 1988, the hallmark of the Chamber has, and continues to be: “People do business with people they know, like, and trust.” Relationships developed in the Chamber become part of one’s business infrastructure. New friends can be found in the Chamber and some of those friendships will last a lifetime. Members can learn how to grow their markets, supply their business, mentor associates or even find a special mentor. GHACC works diligently to provide benefit to all members, be they new, or long-term.
This growing Chamber provides a forum into which its members’ businesses can fit together in an atmosphere of mutual benefit. Active participation provides multiple benefits including access to the entrepreneurs and management of business and organizations with differing viewpoints and methods that work. An abundance of activities provide networking occasions to create new business opportunities, obtain business referrals, join committees, have fun and enjoy a camaraderie unique to Heights Chamber members.
Just as the “Heights” is known for its uniqueness and historical Houston significance, the GHACC blends businesses, promotes “Buy Local First,” and has often been described as a “not so well kept secret for successfully serving its members.”
Chamber News
Chamber Annual “Economic Forecast” Luncheon on January 30
One of the most highly anticipated Chamber events takes place on January 30 and that is the Economic Forecast Luncheon. The presentation features Dr. Bill Gilmer, Director of Regional Forecasting at the University of Houston’s Bauer Commerce. Dr. Gilmer’s forecast and projections provide a guide for planning and business operations in 2020. His analyses factor in the Global and National economic outlooks and how the implications of those will impact the regional and Houston economies. Dr. Gilmer’s insights have been enjoyed and applied to business strategies by Chamber members for many years. Today’s local economic climate continues to be affected by energy companies, oil prices and employment trends. He will address the implications within the region [...]
Chamber Education Committee Blends Business and Education
The Chamber’s Education Committee, chaired by Cindy Reibenstein with co-chair Willie Diefenbach-Jones, has created a very successful union involving Chamber members and leaders from area schools. Monthly meetings bring out diverse groups whose collective emphasis is to assist, support, and provide much needed aid in multiple activity areas for school leaders, students, families and the Heights area community. Recent and on-going activities for the Chamber are dedicated to providing food, clothing and home goods for those in need. Many Chamber members have stepped up to the plate and donated, participated and given, or offered freely of their time as volunteers or coordinators. Just to name a few, they are: Houston Highway Credit Union, Keller Williams (Natalie [...]
Holiday Shopping Reminder
Yes, we know the turkey and pumpkin pie are memories, so many individuals have and will be turning their thoughts to gift buying. So, in the spirit of helping, we ask that you keep the local merchants in mind when shopping for products or services. The Chamber’s “Buy Local First” initiative promotes businesses many of whom are owned by Chamber members and others who live in our community. These merchants are more interested in the community and often hire people with a better understanding of the products they are selling. Personal service and taking time to get to know customers is a hallmark of local businesses. Your patronage for area merchants helps in maintaining the uniqueness [...]
Membership
Member Benefits
Why join the Greater Heights Area Chamber of Commerce? If you own a business or are involved in the Houston Heights, being a member of the Greater Heights Area Chamber of Commerce brings you numerous benefits. Invest in your organization’s future and join the over 500 members that already are reaping the benefits. To begin learning about membership benefits, attend a monthly Member Orientation Luncheon and begin to realize them immediately.
Chamber Connections
Megan F. Salch of Tell Your Tale Marketing met team members of HITS Theatre at a ribbon cutting two years ago. Fast forward, Tell Your Tale Marketing designed the new mobile-friendly website for HITS at https://hitstheatre.org/ and provides ongoing maintenance. HITS Theatre is an educational organization, offering classes in singing, dancing and acting for children in kindergarten through high school.
When some friends asked Megan where to meet for dinner and drinks, Megan said, “Let’s head to Harold’s on 19th Street. Alli Jarrett, owner of Harold’s in the Heights is great.” Alli graciously welcomed the group and kindly spent time guiding the friends on the menu.
In fact, Tell Your Tale Marketing even hired our lead web designer Israel based on the solid recommendation of (retired) Chamber member Wayne Sandlin of Photography by Design.
Candice Rodriguez of Natural Care Cleaning Service and Natural Care Pest Control signed up for Send out Cards with Willie Diefenbach Jones about 2 months ago and has LOVED it! I am able to quickly send my client’s personal touches from my cell phone. I am also able to send clients and people I meet special treats. It’s made a huge different in my business and I am so glad we joined!
Welcome New Members!
Brookdale Heights
CareNow Urgent Care
City Orchard
City Publications
Drift Bar
FM Kitchen & Bar
Go Electric
Heights WaterWorks
Hope Lutheran Church
Madison Bar
Napoli’s Wine Café
New Magnolia Brewing Co.
Rich Girls Boutique
Sapphire Smiles
Southern Flow Yoga
The WorkFaith Connection
Urban Axes
Wakefield Crowbar
Testimonials
Here’s why being on a Chamber Committee expands my business connections.
“Joining other Chamber members on a committee establishes recognition of me for my business and service capabilities. With an opportunity to provide new ideas or input in the planning and staging of Chamber events, I have the occasion to meet and interact with fellow members in different fields. Working together provides an arena for me to expand my skills in areas where I may not have been involved before. Equally important is learning how vital collaboration can be to my future success. The Chamber offers a variety of committees, so there are many looking to grow and add new talent.”
Here’s why I put Noontime Networking on my Calendar Every Time.
“I know the Chamber monthly Breakfast Connection is a good networking opportunity but, as a working mom, early mornings can be hectic for me. The bi-monthly Noontime Networking sessions fit my schedule perfectly. I can have lunch, learn about a member’s business, and effectively network all in the course of time I would normally spend just going to lunch. Thanks to the Chamber for serving my needs.”
Here’s why I Sponsor a Chamber Event!
“One of the benefits of being a part of the Heights Chamber is the opportunity to promote and highlight my business in a cost-effective way to fellow members. I have found that sponsoring an event brings with it an additional emphasis on my business and recognition of me and my services. I know that members do business with fellow members and getting them to know me and my capabilities better, leads to future business and referrals.”
Member Spotlight
Ernesto Perez
In the spotlight for this edition, we focus on Ernesto Perez. If you were to call Ernesto a Guanaco, this would represent a demonym or a typical word or name used to refer to Salvadorans. Ernesto was born in El Salvador, a country smaller than the state of Massachusetts. Yes, he was born in El Salvador, some 1,841 miles from Houston, but it wasn’t a straight line to Houston because he grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas. In his youth, Ernesto attended local schools and aspired to be an archeologist and a veterinarian, however, neither of those disciplines pinpointed his future. Attending local schools, Ernesto became a “Razorback” in his college days and earned his BBA in Finance at the University of Arkansas.
Ernesto remembers his first job, and that was with Premium Pet Products where he was in charge of aquatics and ordering livestock. Following college and marriage he came to Houston a year after his wife accepted employment at JP Morgan. From a career standpoint, he has been a mortgage loan officer and presently serves as a loan consultant for Caliber Home Loans.
It is fitting that El Salvador is the Land of Volcanoes with frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity, because those describe Ernesto and his highly active Chamber activities. A dynamic member for several years, he serves as an Ambassador and is frequently seen attending numerous ribbon cuttings and many other Chamber activities. Upon joining the Chamber, Ernesto said: “I joined the Chamber for its networking connections and to propel my business growth.”
Spare time for Ernesto includes keeping tropical fish aquariums, and after building raised beds in his backyard, beginning to learn about vegetable gardening. Reading finds him enjoying both autobiographies and fiction. His family includes his wife, and 2 dogs, Luke, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the new addition, Jake a German Shepherd. Oh, and as an admitted dog lover, he is a volunteer foster parent for the Greater Houston German Shepherd Dog Rescue organization. The Chamber recognizes your enthusiastic support Ernesto, and proudly salutes a valued Guanacos member.
