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Chamber Specializes in R&D

August 9, 2019Doug Peters, President and CEO of the Abilene Chamber of Commerce

One thing I’ve learned over the years is that someone in our Chamber industry, somewhere, has already paid the tuition to learn what we need to know here at home to better serve our members.  It’s a practice called R & D – rip off and duplicate.  And every Chamber pro worth their salt is good at R & D.

While there are a multitude of things for the Board and volunteers to think about as we consider the collective challenges and opportunities for our members, we do understand that helping to build your bottom line is mission-critical.

Ensuring that the Abilene and Big Country business community is connected and positioned for opportunity is a top priority for the Abilene Chamber of Commerce, and the Chamber is working on ways to expand its reach.

One thing’s for certain: from the Chamber Board’s planning effort last month, where more than 60 board, staff and committee members came together to chart the course for 2020, the Chamber takes inclusivity seriously and we will continue to work toward a fully-integrated membership for the benefit of all.

While there’s no doubt that the Chamber is a perfect cross-section of our business community, the board – led by incoming Chairman Darrin Black (Black Plumbing/Maverick Saw Cutting & Core Drilling) knows there’s more we can do.  In fact, we’re only limited by our resources and our ingenuity.

But what’s really cool about this is that your Chamber is already doing much along those lines. Get this – we’re even a model to many Chambers who seek to better serve their members.

So, that R & D thing? Other Chamber’s rip off and duplicate your Chamber. It’s only fair, I guess.

One way that they do that is by replicating some of our most impactful initiatives, and by way of inclusivity value, Business Mercado stands as an excellent example.

Consider this – more than 100 Chamber member exhibitors showcase their products and services to more than 2,000 attendees at the Business Mercado, a proud effort of the Chamber’s Hispanic Business Council (HBC). If you’ve not participated, you really should consider it.  If you’ve been involved in Mercado in the past, you already know what I’m talking about.

October 12 from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm at the Abilene Convention Center is the date, time and place for this year’s Business Mercado.  The public is invited to attend at no cost.

Sponsored by Arrow Ford, Telemundo Abilene and Happy State Bank, this business to business and business to consumer event will be full of energy along with the Texas Tech Mariachis, Ballet Folklorico, loteria and other fun, family-friendly activities throughout the day.

I hope your business is signed up or is planning to do so. This event sells out every year. We’d love to have you.  And so would each of the hardworking volunteer members of our HBC.  You wouldn’t believe the effort these great people undertake to help you better your bottom line.

As we continue to build upon opportunities for our members to showcase, engage and sell your products and services, think of opportunities like Business Mercado – Fiesta Loteria – as a great way to do so!

The coming year looks to be another promising one for free enterprise in the Big Country.  I’m looking very forward to working with you and your company on ways to expand your markets, your reach and your sales.  I hope you’ll join many others and me by participating on October 12!

Onward!
Doug

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