June 2013

2013 Board of Directors

Executive Committee

Ike Ornelas
President, VP EDC
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
Dr. Patricia 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 Jr.
Ex-Officio
City of Alice

Staff
Veronica M. Castillo
Human Resources Specialist
Noemi Andrade
Admin Assistant

2013 Alice Ambassadors

Nicole Perez-Morris - President
Bruce Menking - Vice President
Jack Walker - Secretary
Maricela Perez - Treasurer
Dee Dee Arismendez
Blanca C. Garcia
Julie Gaza
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

Calendar Events

SCHOOL'S OUT
06/08/2013

Free Business Seminar
06/10/2013

Complete Streets Workshop
06/13/2013

2013 TEXAS READING CLUB
06/17/2013- 07/19/2013

Chamber Mixer
06/20/2013

17th Annual Family Fun Day
06/22/2013

Alice for JESUS presents STAND UP
06/23/2013

Chamber Summer Golf Classic
07/06/2013

Job Fair
07/09/2013

Cougar Days
07/23/2013

Hispanic Heritage
09/13/2013- 09/14/2013

2013 New Chamber Members

Welcome New Chamber Members

Bel-Air Motel
Capril Motel
Chemcel Federal Credit Union
Coil Tubing Solutions LLC
Direct General
Fast Cash Tax Services
Get A Grip! Sports & Nutiotion
Lemon & Gonzalez-Lemon LLP
M6:33 Facility Services, Inc, dba Faith Power Washing & Isaiah's Valet Detailing
Richline Technical Services
Rotary Club of Ailce, Inc
Roger Saenz, CPA
Sears Hometown Store
Scents and More
Women's Shelter of South Texas
YuMi's







Chamber, EDC & Workforce Solutions hosting Job Fair

Juan A. Navejar Jr.

The Alice Chamber of Commerce, Alice Jim Well County Economic Development Corporation and Workforce Solutions of the Coastal Bend are teaming up to host a Job Fair on Tuesday, July 9th.

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Waldrop named Officer of the Year

Juan A. Navejar Jr.

Jim Wells County Deputy Robert Waldrop has an act for recovering stolen vehicles and has seized numerous others involved in human smuggling. For his dedication to the law enforcement community Deputy Waldrop was named as the Law Officer of the Year sponsored by the Coyote Cooks, Alice Chamber of Commerce and the Law Appreciation Committee at the 23rd Annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Dinner.

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Chamber hosting Golf Tourney

Juan A. Navejar Jr.

The Alice Chamber of Commerce will hold its Annual Summer Golf Classic on Saturday, July 6, 2013 at the Alice Municipal Golf Course.
 

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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.
These resolutions are grouped into these categories: Private, Public and Leadership Achievements.
 

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From the Executive Director

Juan A. Navejar Jr.

June 1st marked the beginning of the 2013 hurricane season. Each year South Texas faces some kind of threat from mother nature. We take action to protect our home and person belonging but what about your business or company?
I myself went through Hurricane Andrew while in the Air Force and know personally the effects of losing valuable assets.
 

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Alice Ambassadors

Nicole Perez-Morris

The Alice Ambassadors continue to work to help promote the Alice Chamber of Commerce. We are currently taking applications for new Ambassadors. If you are motivated and want to help promote our city, then call the Alice Chamber of Commerce for more information.
 

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Financial Considerations When Starting Your Own Small Business

Paul Rycroft

If you’re thinking about starting a small business, it’s important to look carefully before you leap. Owning a small business can be very rewarding, but it can also require a lot of time, energy and funds long-term. Taking the right steps upfront can help you increase your chance of success and maximize your start-up dollars. Begin by:
 

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Look at Your Business from a Customer’s Perspective

Larry Ellis

Every small business should put their “customer hat” on more often.

How often have you, as a consumer, grumbled about a not so great customer experience? Have you ever purchased a product or service that did not meet your expectations? Was the service provider a little curt during the transaction? Has it ever been difficult to locate items you wanted to purchase on an online website? Have you ever experienced an issue that was resolved in a less than timely manner?


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Employment Law For Business Owners

Connie Laughlin

If you’ve put your human resource duties in the hands of your office manager here’s a simple test you to take. Do you know if your office administrator has the knowledge to protect you from employee litigation? Is this person a CPA and a PHR (Professional in Human Resources)? Do you know if this employee is up to speed on all the changing employee worksite laws? Does this person have ongoing annual training in all areas of these responsibilities?


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Scam texts trick consumers into sharing banking info

Better Business Bureau

BBB warns consumers to be on the lookout for smishing scams

Many consumers have their bank account conveniently at their fingertips. Better Business Bureau warns to watch out for text messages that pose as bank alerts asking you to confirm account information. These scam texts, known as smishing, are a relatively new way to steal personal information.

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Grand Opening

Alice's Wonderland Cafe held a Grand Opening Ceremony on Friday, May 17th. The restaurant celebrated the re-opening of its expansion. They are located on South Reynolds St.

Changes made on Social Security card replacements

Beginning June 24, 2013, if your employees are applying for a replacement Social Security card, or simply asking for a printout of their Social Security numbers, they will need to provide us with proof of identity.  They must also show us documents proving:

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STEP funds available

The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) is pleased to announce the second application round for the Small Towns Environmental Program (STEP).  STEP provides funds to eligible applicants for water and sewer infrastructure improvements utilizing self-help methods.

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Tourism TIdbits: Protecting Soft Targets

With the onset of the summer travel season in much of the world June is a good time to ask ourselves how well we are protecting our tourism sites.  Airlines and other forms of transportation have the advantage that they received government security.  Most other forms of tourism, such as hotels, restaurants, shopping centers, and major attractions such as theme parks receive little or no government security or protection.  In most cases, the tourism industry can depend on no one but itself.

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Grand Opening

Club 4 Bar and Grill held a Grand Opening Ceremony on Friday, May 24th. The new bar and grill is located on South Reynolds Street.

Chamber sponsors blood drive

The Alice Chamber of Commerce held a blood drive on May 28th in the back parking lot. Several Chamber members dropped by to donate blood. Chamber member Walgreen's also dropped by with some goodies for donors.
2013 ABT - June 2013