April 2013

2013 Board of Directors

Executive Committee

Ike Ornelas

Board President
Trejo Construction, Inc
Michael V. Garcia
Immediate Past-President
Garcia & Carvajal-Garcia, LLP
Jyoti Kapoor
V.P. CVB
Holiday Inn Express
R. David Guerrero (Life Member)
V.P. Civic
Jim Wells County 
Nena Castillo-Pitts
V.P. Membership
CHRISTUS Spohn Alice
Lane Bowen
Treasurer
Seidel, Whittington & Co. P.C.
Juan A. Navejar Jr.
Executive Director

Board Members
Ted Bearden
Carlisle Insurance & Realty
Mark Dominguez
AFLAC
Sylvia Campos
H-E-B Food Store
Dr. Patty Candia, PhD
Coastal Bend College Alice
Hector Hinojosa
City of Alice
Ofelia Hunter
Alice Echo-News Journal
Kathleen Kasper
AAACC
Mary Macareno
Macareno Signs & Graphics of Alice
Jack Mix
Individual Member
Tony Morris
Alice24-7.com
Ella Munoz
Del Cielo Home Health
Dr. Roel Valadez, DDS
Individual Member

Ray De Los Santos
Ex-Officio
City of Alice

Staff
Veronica Castillo
Administrative Coordinator/Accounts PayableBoard President

2013 Alice Ambassadors

Nicole Perez-Morris - President
Bruce Menking - Vice President
Jack Walker - Secretary
Maricela Perez - Treasurer
Dee Dee Arismendez
Blanca C. Garcia
Sadie Gonzalez
Rosa Macias
Tem Miller
Crystal Moreno
Nena Pitts (Life Member)
Elizabeth Ramirez
Nancy Ramirez
Javier Ramos
Miranda Rodriguez
Mark Salinas
Yolanda Samayoa
David Silva
Margaret Smith (Life Member)
Clare Wonders

2013 Membership Drive

Welcome New Chamber Members
Bel-Air Motel
Capril Motel
Chemcel Federal Credit Union
Coil Tubing Solutions LLC
Direct General
Fast Cash Tax Services
Richline Technical Services
Rotary Club of Ailce, Inc
Roger Saenz, CPA
Sears Hometown Store
Scents and More
Women's Shelter of South Texas







Study shows ecomomic impact through 2022 for Eagle Ford Shale

Juan A. Navejar Jr.

The Eagle Ford Shale now ranks as the largest single oil and gas development in the world based on capital expenditures based on an Economic Impact study conducted by the Institute of Economic Development at The University of Texas at San Antonio.

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Five AHS vying for Jr. Citizen of the Year

Juan A. Navejar Jr.

After a tough evening of interviews, a panel of six judges has narrowed down the list of Alice Jr. Citizen of the Year candidates.
Thirteen Alice High School seniors were interviewed with questions about themselves, their essay and their resumes. The panel narrowed the list down to five semi-finalists.

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Wells Fargo Commits funds for high school students across the U.S.

Wells Fargo announced the expansion of its CollegeSTEPS® program. The expansion gives 520 high school students from all over the United States the chance to win a $1,000 cash prize they can use to help pay for college or other expenses. A total of $520,000 will be given away.

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Jim Wells County Day at Capitol

Jim Wells County Judge L. Arnold Saenz along with JWC Commissioners Jim Long, Ventura Garcia and Margie Gonzalez were among 45 county residents that included Coastal Bend College TRiO students and Leadership Jim Wells County class members met with State Senator Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa and Representative J.M. Lozano.

From the Board President

Ike Ornelas

We continue with the next resolution, which are the goals to engage wisdom by learning how to apply the right principles at the right time.

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From the Executive Director

Juan A. Navejar Jr.

Effective networking of your business is not just shaking hands but getting down to grassroots efforts. Those who attended our last Chamber Mixer did just that. I have evidence of a great business connection made from two different businesses who connected and have partnered up.

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Alice Ambassadors

Nicole Perez-Morris

The Alice Ambassadors continue their mission of serving others this year.

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New tax laws and your giving intentions

Paul Rycroft

Most people have an organization or cause they’re passionate about, and contributing financially to non-profit organizations may be a part of many peoples’ annual financial plans. In planning for 2013, consider the America Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 that was part of the legislation to partially avoid the “fiscal cliff.” This legislation could have implications on your charitable giving intentions, particularly if your income exceeds certain thresholds.

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Low or no cost ways to keep good workers

Larry Ellis

How can you help make your workplace fun and productive for your employees and yourself? Treating your employees to special perks will help them feel glad they work for you and can improve retention as well.

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HR Outsourcing: Protects assets and contain cost

Connie Laughlin

Business owners globally are outsourcing countless services. Is outsourcing right for your company? Businesses outsource payroll, workers’ compensation insurance, safety programs, HR legal assistance, amongst other services. If most of this is kept in-house you could be spinning your wheels attending training classes, updating processes, and praying you have best practices in place.

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Keep your child and yourself a happy camper this summer

Summer is just around the corner and now is the time to start planning your summertime activities. According to the American Camp Association, there are more than 12,000 day and resident camps nationwide.

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Are your tourism business and you legally vulnerable?

Travel and tourism professionals can never forget that their profession is not only one that evokes high levels of emotions, but is often open to all sorts of liability cases that range from the frivolous to the extremely serious.  To add to the confusion, what may be legal in one place may be illegal or liable in another location and often visitors may not only sue in the location in which an incident occurred but also once they have returned home.

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Grand Opening

The Sweet Shop of Mine held a grand opening ribbon cutting on Friday, march 8, 2013. The new specialty shop is located at 301 N. King St, Suite 103 and is owned by Veronica Ortiz.

Grand Opening

The Chill Zone held a grand opening ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, March 8, 2013. The new drive thru store is located at 1329 W. Front Street and is owned by Oscar and Lisa Rosas.

Members of the Quarter

Mi Casa Home Health and Alice Chevrolet were selected as the Small and Large Chamber Members of the Quarter. Representing Mi Casa is Blanca Garcia and representing Alice Chevrolet is owner Pete Ganis along with Membership Vice President Nena Castillo Pitts and Board President Ike Ornelas.
2013 ABT - April 2013