July/August 2013
Mount Pleasant/ Titus County Chamber of Commerce Newsletter
Business Report
www.mtpleasanttx.com 1
From the CEO Time to Give Back to Mount Pleasant Mount Pleasant is THE place to be this summer and also the time to get hooked up and volunteer. There are so many activities going on in Mount Pleasant that need participants and volunteers. Every event in Mount Pleasant needs support and help from community members to make it a huge success! With busy lives, it can be hard to find time to volunteer. However, the benefits of volunteering are enormous to you, your family and the community. It can help you make new friends, learn new skills and make business connections. One of the best known benefits of volunteering is the impact on the community. Volunteers are the glue that holds a community together. Volunteering allows you to connect to your community and make it a better place. But, volunteering is a two way street! It can benefit you and your family as much as the cause you choose to help. Dedicating your time as a volunteer helps you expand your network and boost your social fun! So if you are up for the challenge, there are lots of places right here in Mount Pleasant that could use YOU! Don’t wait a minute longer to get involved, turn on that southern charm and make Mount Pleasant Everything Texas!
Mission: To build economic prosperity by engaging businesses and the community.
Vision: We will be "Everything Texas."
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Table of Contents
From the CEO……….………………………………………………………………..………..…….…...2 About our Members…………………………………………………...…………………..….…..….5 Quake on Town Lake…………………………………………………….…………………..….….6-7 Spotlight Member ….…………………………………………………………………………..……...8 Ribbon Cuttings….…………………………………………………………………………….……..….8 Business Spotlight Table/Ribbon Cuttings…...………………………………………..…..10 What does the Chamber do for me?.……………………………………………..……..…..12 Chamber 101/Ribbon Cuttings…...………..………………………………………….…..12-13 Economy/……………………….……………………………………………………………..…..……..14 Calendar….…………………………………………………………………………………….………....15
Officers: Chairman: Martin Bell, Guaranty Bond Bank Chairman Elect: Shannon Norfleet, Titus Regional Medical Center Vice Chairman: Stephen Currey, Capps Insurance Treasurer: Brian Niblett, American National Bank Past Chairman: Jason Snodgrass, Stansell’s City Cleaners Directors: Beverly Austin, Northeast Texas Small Business Administration David Hooper, Echo Publishing Diana Kennedy, Century 21 Landmark Matt Klump, Expert Computing Brad Lowry, Pilgrim Bank Dennis Newman, Newman’s Electronics Colby Parker, Mount Pleasant Industrial Foundation Tommy Shumate, Sisk Motors Wes Welch, Welch Gas Richard Witherspoon, Herschel’s Restaurant Jey Yancey, Offenhauser Insurance 3
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Renewing Members ABC Auto Parts
Hale Electric
South Jefferson Baptist Church
ACH Construction
Hess Furniture
Spruill Honda Kawasaki
Allstate Insurance - C. Bruce Moler
Housing Authority of Mt. Pleasant
Staples #1152
Arnold Walker Arnold & Co. PC
Ivan Smith Furniture
Superior Mortgage
Baker and Johnson P C CPA
J.D. May Charities Inc.
Taco Bell#551
Best Western
Jones Insurance Agency Inc.
The Design Factory
Big Tex Trailer Mfg., Inc.
Larry Lawrence Construction
The Space Place Storage Center
Bowie Cass Electric Cooperative
Longhorn Trailer Sales
Titus County Farm Bureau
Chapman Transfer & Storage Inc.
Mardi Gras Seafood
Titus Regional Medical Center
Cowan Inspection
McCoy’s Building Supply Center
Trade Resourses Inc.
Daines Insurance & Financial Services, LLP
Mount Pleasant Cash Now
Two Senoritas Restaurant
East Texas Journal
Mount Pleasant Healthcare Center
USAble Life Group Health
Echo Publishing Co., Inc.
Offenhauser & Company
Efurd Orchards
Pilgrim Bank
Individuals:
El Chico Restaurant
Priefert Complex Design, LLC
Karen Neeley
First Presbyterian Church
R. K. Hall Construction, LTD
George O’Neal
Goodwill Industries of Northeast Texas Inc.
Republic Services
David K. Wall
Greene Title
Roberts Air Conditioning
Titus County Historical Preservation Society
SAFE-T
New Members Michael Mayben
Mount Pleasant Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic
H & R Distributors
Apples for the Teacher
Let’s Roll
Russell Properties
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Quake on Town Lake The waters of Town Lake will be rippling with white-foamed waves soon as Quake on Town Lake returns to Mount Pleasant The annual boat racing event benefits Cypress Basin Hospice with 100 percent of the gate admissions going to the local organization. Billed as the “Fastest outboard drag boat racing event in Texas,” the event is planned for July 20 -21. The Mount Pleasant tradition is an important stop on the Deep South Racing Association’s outboard racing circuit with double points this year, according to Mount Pleasant’s own racing phenom, Jacob Crabb, whose family business – Diamond C Trailers - sponsors and organizes the event. “The double points are new this year and we’re hoping for a better turnout because of it. If you miss this race, it will be very hard to stay high in the point standings,” he said. Crabb, 25, races the Diamond C Trailers boat in the circuit and won 1st place in the ProGas class and 2nd place in the Outlaw class at Battle of the Bonne recently in Farmerville, La. “There are some epic points battles brewing in several classes and the tension is ultra-tight coming into the Quake,” Crabb posted on the Quake on Town Lake Facebook page. “We’ll be coming into our hometown looking to defend that win,” he said. About 40 racing teams from Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas and possibly Arizona are expected to descend on Mount Pleasant for the exciting speed-packed weekend, which is a boon for local businesses and tourism. “It’s one of the best tourism events that happens all year because it brings racers, their families and fans from out of town and they all stay in the local hotels,” said Faustine Curry, CEO and President of the Mount Pleasant-Titus County Chamber & Visitor’s Council. The action is exhilarating at the DSRA’s only Texas division summer series. Crabb said the outboard racing vessels range from bass and ski boats to full-blown exotic racing boats which reach speeds of up to 112 miles per hour in the one-quarter and one-eightmile classes.
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Quake on Town Lake started in 1997, but lay dormant from 2003-2007. His father, Mike Crabb, had been racing boats since the early 1990s and when Jacob took his knack for racing to the water as well, Diamond C Trailers approached the DSRA to put the Mount Pleasant races back into its circuit. The association agreed and Diamond C took over organizing the event with its longtime beneficiary Cypress Basin Hospice. Jacob Crabb said racing is in his blood. “I’ve raced all kinds of stuff from motocross to cars and boats and this just stuck,” said Crabb, who was raised on the water with parents Mike and Kim Crabb and now makes the racing circuit his family vacation time with wife Amanda and 3-year-old daughter, Tatum. That love of boat racing, he says, is now being passed down to the new Crabb generation, too. “Our little girl loves it more than any of us. She always asks, ‘When are the boat races? Can we go?’ She’s just ecstatic about it,” he said. The event draws 500-600 spectators each day, who fill the grassy viewing area around the lake with blankets, lawn chairs and umbrellas. Armed with sunscreen, they’ll be able to beat the Texas July heat with a wide variety of concessions and enjoy vendor displays, including new boats, ATVs and UTVs from local dealerships. Races begin each day at 11 a.m. Curry encouraged local residents who have never experienced Quake on Town Lake before to make plans to attend this year. “It’s really loud, really fast and a lot of fun. It’s like NASCAR on water,” she said. “There’s lots of different food to eat and neat things to do. You’re by the water and it’s just fun to be outside and catch all the action.”
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Member Spotlight Column: Wood Air Conditioning When you’re in the business of providing comfort, customer service and experience are the keys to success. Tommy James, co-owner of Wood Air Conditioning, says that’s what sets his company apart. “We really do work hard to put in a product that we can be proud of and go above and beyond to take care of our homeowners,” James said. “We can put in any product, but it’s the service that you get after that that really counts and we pride ourselves on that.” Founded in 1957 by the late Charles Wood, the company was purchased in the 1970s by Wood’s son, Bob Wood. James and his business partner, Tim Robinson, bought the company in 1998. Wood Air Conditioning was honored in 2011 with the Governor's Award for Small Business. With a motto of “Fixed Fast, Fixed Right,” the company also prides itself in its top notch, experienced technicians. They have six on staff, which allows them to schedule appointments quickly and take care of their customers in most instances the same day. James says ongoing training on new high tech products is a top priority as well. “We’re probably the most up-to-date and knowledgeable as far as product line and new technology out there because we take the initiative to do that,” he said. Wood AC also serves its customers by staying relevant online. They maintain an active, useful Website that features not only the services they offer and coupons, but a blog, articles and videos to help homeowners with tips on how to maintain their system and reduce energy bills. They’re also on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. “Our area as a whole is more internet savvy, so I think in order for us to stay competitive long term, we have to have a good working Website and a presence on social media to interact with the homeowners,” James said. Contact Facebook Website Twitter Blog YouTube
Wood Air Conditioning 1164 U.S. 67 Mount Pleasant, TX 75455 (903) 572-8549
Ribbon Cutting
Heritage Park Village 1714 North Edwards Mount Pleasant, TX 75455 903.577.0759
www.mtpleasanttx.com
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Ribbon Cuttings Mount Pleasant Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic 105 West 20th Street Mount Pleasant, TX 75455 903.577.1101
The 80 Acres 495 County Road 3150 Cookville, TX 75558 903.572.8022
Business Spotlight Table Combining comfort with value, the Hampton Inn & Suites Mount Pleasant offers a full package of amenities specifically designed for work and relaxation. You’ll enjoy a complimentary hot, hearty breakfast and on-the-run breakfast bags, plus premium gourmet coffee and tea in the lobby, high speed wireless & wired internet, an indoor pool, fitness center, and complimentary access to Revive Fitness. You’re here to rest, right? Well, they've got you covered. Hampton Inn & Suites features 76 clean and comfortable guest rooms and suites with premium pillow top mattresses and plush comforters. And, of course, take care of business with a full business center and 1,500 square feet between two venues for business meetings and events. When you stay at the Hampton Inn & Suites Mount Pleasant, you’re staying with friends. 2504 West Ferguson Street Mount Pleasant, TX 903-572-7100
Website Facebook
www.mtpleasanttx.com
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What does the Chamber do for me? It’s a question asked over and over by business owners considering how to best allocate their marketing and advertising budgets. Some are skeptical. Others are all in. As a business owner, where do you fall in the scheme of this age old debate during lean economic times? Well, you might be surprised to learn some hard, scientific facts that support chamber membership as a positive benefit to the business community. A study, commissioned by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) and published in 2009 by The Schapiro Group, based in Atlanta, GA, was designed to determine the real value to companies in terms of consumer outcomes of joining and being active in their local chamber of commerce. The results showed that when respondents were told that a particular small business was a member of its local chamber, they were 44 percent more likely to rate it favorably than study respondents who were not told of the chamber affiliation. Respondents were also 63 percent more likely to want to purchase goods or services from a small business that is a chamber member. Alex Trouteaud, Ph.D., senior strategist for The Schapiro Group, told Strategic Growth Concepts, “There clearly is a feeling by our respondents that chamber membership is synonymous with quality and desirability.” Faustine Curry, CEO and president of the Mount Pleasant-Titus County Chamber of Commerce said businesses don’t realize just how many opportunities they are missing out on by not becoming members. The sheer volume of people who stop into or call the Chamber offices and ask for business referrals is reason enough to join. In 2012, the Chamber had approximately 20,000 contacts with people wanting information on businesses and Mount Pleasant. “The Chamber has so many people that come in locally, or from out of town, or call the Chamber offices just looking for information on where to go and what to do,” Curry said. “We refer those people to Chamber members, so if a business is not a member, they are missing out on that opportunity for us to recommend them.” That recommendation, supported by the ACCE study, is golden. “The Chamber can provide promotional and educational opportunities that you wouldn’t come across otherwise,” Curry said. Other findings from the Web-based study of 2,000 respondents: Most consumers (59 percent) think that being active in the local chamber of commerce is an effective business strategy overall. It is 29 percent more effective, however, for communicating to consumers that a company uses good business practices and 26 percent more effective for communicating that a business is reputable. If a company shows that it is highly involved in its local chamber (e.g., sits on the chamber board), consumers are 12 percent more likely to think that its products stack up better against its competition. When consumers know that a restaurant franchise is a member of the chamber of commerce, they are 40 percent more likely to eat at the franchise in the next few months. Click here to view full results of the study.
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Chamber 101 So you just joined the Chamber. Now what? We can answer that question in a quick and fun way at Chamber 101. The next session of our new member orientation is set for Monday, July 24, so new members mark your calendars and plan to join us to get a better idea of how to navigate your chamber membership. “You get a snapshot of everything the Chamber does, you get breakfast and you get to meet other new members,” said Chamber CEO and President Faustine Curry. “You’ll find out what the chamber is all about and why you should be involved - within one hour.” Breakfast will be served at 8 a.m. at the Chamber of Commerce at 1604 N. Jefferson Ave. The program gets underway at 8:10 a.m. with an introduction by Curry, followed by a presentation by our July Chamber 101 sponsor, Diamond C Trailers. New members will have an opportunity to present a 60-second commercial to introduce themselves and their businesses. Members will then learn about the benefits of membership, chamber activities and receive an explanation of committees they are invited to serve on, such as Business Services, Marketing, Education, Tourism and Governmental Affairs. Serving on one of these committees is the first step in moving up the Chamber leadership ladder, which in turn provides numerous benefits for the growth of your business. “You only get out of the Chamber what you put into it, so the more you do with the Chamber, the more benefit you will see in your business,” Curry said. There is also a Q&A period at the end of the session, plus a chance to do some business networking, so don’t forget your business cards. “Chamber 101 is a quick way for someone to see where they might have a need in their business that the Chamber can help with or where they might get plugged in,” Curry said. To RSVP or for more information, call 903-572-8567 or email info@mtpleasanttx.com.
Ribbon Cuttings
Super Plaza 1210 West Ferguson Road Mount Pleasant, TX 75455 903.575.9449
Patriot Auto Mart 1706 West Ferguson Road Mount Pleasant, TX 75455 903.577.8828 13
The Mount Pleasant Economy Unemployment Rate May 2013
April 2013
May 2012
Texas
6.5%
6.1%
6.8%
Titus County
7.2%
6.7%
6.8%
Sales tax (April 2013)
Mount Pleasant
Net Payment
Comparable
This period
Prior year
372,394.47
359,582.31
% Change
3.56%
2013
2012
To Date
To Date
2,432,304.64
2,275,854.96
Be Social with The Chamber
Ribbon Cutting
Small Business Development Center 105 North Riddle Mount Pleasant, TX 75455 903.434.8237
www.mtpleasanttx.com
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% Change
6.87%
Calendar of Events July 4: Independence Day, Chamber Office Closed July 5: Chamber Office Closed July 6: Optimist Club Youth Basketball Gym Cookout and Ribbon Cutting, 6 pm @ 101 North Riddle July 20-21: Quake on Town Lake, 11 am @ Town Lake July 24: Chamber 101, 8 am @ Chamber July 30: Business After Hours, 5:30 pm—7:00 pm @ Two Senoritas July 31: Education Committee, 4:30 pm @ Chamber August 2: “HOT as Heck” Friday Burger Party, 11:30 am—1:00 pm @ Chamber August 7: Ambassadors, 12 pm @ Luigi’s August 13: Tourism Committee, 8 am @ Chamber August 14: Marketing Committee, 8 am @ Chamber August 15: New Teacher Breakfast @ MPHS Cafeteria August 21: Board of Directors, 8 am @ Chamber August 29: Quarterly Business Breakfast, 7 am @ MP Country Club September 2: Labor Day, Chamber Office Closed
2013 Tour de Gardens
Mr. and Mrs. Clayton Wellborn, Best Residential Yard
American National Bank, Best Commercial Yard
Boy Scouts Community Garden, Best Vegetable Garden
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Mount Pleasant/ Titus County Chamber of Commerce 1604 N Jefferson Ave Mount Pleasant, TX 75455 www.mtpleasanttx.com info@mtpleasanttx.com (p) 903.572.8567 (f) 903.572.0613
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