Grand Openings & Ribbon Cuttings
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Chamber of Commerce Welcomes
New Member Gibsons Energy

The Shelby County Chamber Ambassadors welcomed Gibsons Energy with a new member ribbon cutting event on February 9. They are located just off Loop 500 in Center at 1524 Shelbyville Street.
Andi Foster, Ambassador President, introduced the company and welcomed them as a member.
Leonard Dupuis, Regional Manager, for Gibsons of all the Haynesville and North Louisiana area.
Mr. Dupuis stated, "We're actually a reclamation company for oil based cuttings, we're a service company. We service the rigs that run the equipment, frac tanks, pumps," said Dupuis.
In the past, Dupuis says, oil based cuttings would go to landfills and be buried in the ground. What Gibsons does is recycle the diesel from the cuttings, re-sell it and prevent it from going into the ground.
Dupuis remarked he has a great staff and he introduced Dawn Ellington, Customer Service Rep; Denise Mathews, Office Manager; Bobby Head, Plant Manager; John Davis, Process Head.
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Chamber Holds Welcome for
Children's Defense Fund - Texas

The Shelby County Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors and community members gathered at the Chamber office to welcome the Children's Defense Fund - Texas (CDF-Texas) with a new member ribbon cutting.
Ambassador President, Andi Foster, thanked everyone for coming and introduced Maria Salas, the Community Health Outreach Liaison, who spoke about the program, "We are the Texas State Office of the Children's Defense Fund. It is a non-profit advocacy organization that has worked relentlessly for over 40 years to ensure a level playing field for all children. CDF champion policies and programs that lift children out of poverty. We protect them from abuse and neglect and ensure access to healthcare, quality education, a moral [and spiritual] foundation."
Ms. Salas then introduced WyKisha Thomas-McKenney, Program Director for Houston and East Texas, she stated, "Shelby County has over 2,000 kids who are in need of being insured. Our goal is to help find those kids and help the families get them insured so they can have much needed health check-ups, dental check-ups, and vision care". She also said a family of four can make $50,000 and still be eligible to receive Children's Medicaid or Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP.)
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L to R: Cindy Ross, Joanna Bennett, Maria Salas, Wykisha Thomas-McKenney, Jake Cook
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Representatives with CDF-Texas attending were Joanna Bennett, who covers Nacogdoches County, and Cindy Ross and Jake Cook who both are out of Tyler and cover Smith County.
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Total Resource Campaign Going Strong
The Shelby County Chamber of Commerce Total Resource Campaign volunteers are working to connect members to sponsorships for an array of events and programs that will enhance exposure for that business.
Andi Foster serves as the 2017 campaign chairman. Team captains include Ginger Borders, Farmers State Bank; Meg Camp, Cline Family Medicine; Lorei Choate, Shelby Savings Bank; Tim Hopkins, First Bank & Trust and Rose Specter, TRs Steaks & More.
The endeavor assists the Chamber in being more efficient with operations and executing events.
Committee chairmen and volunteers are then able to develop a program of work with established budgets.
At the same time Chamber members are assisted with selecting the best ways to promote their business for the entire year.
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The Lily Farm Nursery
Opens to Public
The Lily Farm Nursery, owner Mark Carpenter, will be opening to the public on Saturday, March 4. An "Extra Special" deal for the first 20 customers that purchase at least $40 of product will receive a free 3 gallon blueberry bush.
The nursery has DOUBLED in size from last year, and now includes TONS of landscaping bushes, the largest rose selection from here to Tyler, exotic trees such as the Italian Cypress, Crepe Myrtles, blueberry bushes and blackberry bushes. They also have a variety of fruit trees including Plum, Peach, Apple, Fig, Pecan and Pear. If it's a perennial, they probably have it now!
The Lily Farm Nursery is located at 10056 Hwy 7, 12 miles from Center headed toward Nacogdoches. Look for the huge LILY FARM sign to the right! Their hours of operation will be Monday-Saturday from 9am to 2pm, and will be closed on Sunday's. The Lily Farm will open for day lilies beginning on Sunday, May 14, Mother' Day, through Sunday, June 18, Father's Day.
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Center Christian Academy
Center Christian Academy has served East Texas since 1984, providing an opportunity for students to receive a quality education with a Biblical worldview in a caring and loving environment. Their main objective is to provide each student with Biblical instruction, character development, and leadership training in addition to a solid foundation in Math, Grammar, Reading, Writing, History, and Science.
For close to 30 years they operated from their campus on 96 North in the Revival Tabernacle church building. In 2013 the school was given 3.5 acres on 87 North, and in 2013 funds were given to enable the school to build a new facility. Due to the generosity of these Shelby County business owners, including the late Terry Bailey, Mike Belgard, Richard Tomlin, Gene Borders, and Larry Joe Eaves, Center Christian Academy moved into their new facility in August 2014. Their facilities include classrooms, office space, a commercial kitchen, a playground, and a gymnasium. They currently serve approximately 50 families, with a student-teacher ratio of 10 to 1, and provide multiple extracurricular activities to enhance the learning experience.
At Center Christian Academy they focus on helping each child discover their strengths and use those as building blocks to a sound educational experience, helping them to maximize their learning potential. In their small, family-friendly setting with loving staff, students are able to blossom and become all that God created them to be!
For more information please contact them at 936-598-7156 or visit http://www.centerchristianacademy.org or follow them on facebook.
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The Leadership Shelby County class of 2017 attended Health & Social Services the fifth class of the Leadership Shelby County program. Session coordinators for the were Leigh Porterfield, Class of 2015 and J. J. Ford, Class of 2009. The day began at the Chamber of Commerce office where they traveled to Center Emergency Care facility on the Loop.
The sessions included visits to ACE EMS, East Texas Home Health, Shelby County Children's Advocacy Center and the Woodlands Dialysis Center. The class then traveled to Senior Citizens Nutrition Site where they enjoyed lunch and a presentation from Sherry Harding, Shelby County Outreach Ministries.

After lunch the class went to the Lakeside Village Assisted Living, Wilkins Counseling& Grace Manor. They met with Sandra Riggs, Health & Human Services director, Alice Pate, Rainbow Room, Walter Scott with Holiday Nursing Center. They finished up the day with Dr. Mark Cline and Meg Camp from Cline Family Medicine.
Leadership Shelby County is a year long program designed to identify potential leaders and develop within these individuals the knowledge, skills and vision necessary to enable them to actively participate in the enhancement of the quality of life in their communities.
For more information please contact the Chamber at 936-598-3682, email info@shelbycountychamber.com or visit www.shelbycountychamber.com
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East Texas on Display
Slated for Saturday, March 4
Timpson Area Chamber of Commerce presents East Texas on Display featuring original creations by local artisans from across East Texas. The fundraising event for Salvation Animal Rescue, Salvation Army Food Bank, and Timpson First Responders will take place on Saturday, March 4, 2017 at 2 p.m. - 8 p.m. in downtown Timpson, beginning at the Volunteer Fire Department. This exhibit delivers fun, excitement and a unique opportunity to support local heroes by participating in this event.
Bring the whole family for a day of culture, delicious food, musical entertainment and good, old-fashioned fun! Entertainment and live performances include: The Old Town Gospel Project, Makayla Baker, Sounds of India, Rhythm Rocker Cloggers, Motley-White, Anna Stockdale, David Pate & Mt Olive Baptist Church Choir, and Jeremy Bowley of Legal Limit. Music begins at 2 p.m. and lasts until 8 p.m. Bring a lawn chair and enjoy the afternoon's entertainment.
East Texas on Display is an experience like no other, with a chance to get up close and personal with the many talented artists that bring local culture to the greater East Texas area.
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Mission Statement
- Shelby County Chamber of Commerce is organized to promote and advance economic enrichment and development, tourism, and the social and civic interest of Shelby County and adjoining areas.
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Wayfinding Maps at Chamber Office
The Tourism Committee of the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce the publication of a Wayfinding Map for Center. The map highlights points of interest and hotels/motels in the area. The Chamber has distributed them to high traffic traveler locations according to Tourism Chairman, Andi Foster.
For more information or to get maps please
contact the Chamber office
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STAY CONNECTED
The Shelby County Chamber of Commerce wants to keep its members connected to clients, customers and contacts by linking websites or facebook pages via the Chamber website, E-newsletter and all social media.
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Need Your News
As a chamber member you can submit articles for the monthly Chamber e-newsletter or the Chamber Chatter e-blast. Chamber Chatter is sent throughout each month as news is received.
Did your company or someone in your company receive an award? Do you have news you would like to share with other members? Have helpful tips to pass along to the membership? If you do email
secretary@shelbycountychamber.com
Articles can be submitted through out the month to be included in the newsletter. The Chamber also invites you to friend Shelby County Chamber on Facebook where you can send us your announcements as well.
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For the month of February the Chamber office fielded 113 inquires by telephone, correspondence, email and in person. 78 local calls, 28 out-of-town calls, special event, 1 email and correspondence, 6 in office visitors for brochures, maps, phone books and tours, 590 website visits and 1,489 page views.
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Campaigns, LLC
Coushatta, Louisiana
Owner, Jason Ebey
Roughrider Tire Service 159 Hwy 96 S Center, Texas
Owners Larry Joe & Delicia Eaves
Demin and Lace Boutique Foster St. Center, Texas 936-91-2215 Owner, Jamie Barbee
Sand Hill Foundation 159 Hwy 96 S Center, Texas 936-591-9000 Owners Larry Joe & Delicia Eaves
Center's Best Donuts 1026 Shelbyville St. Center, Texas 936-591-9274 Owner, Noel Pacheco
East Texas Towing and Storage 302 Cora St. Center, Texas 936-598-3139 Owners David & Vicky Shields
Aurora Concepts, LLC 233 Hurst St. Ste. B Center, Texas 936-598-3296 Owner, Dawn Barnes
Just Stuff 213 Hurst St. Center, Texas 936-590-2639 Owner, Katherine Axen
1036 CR 3505 Center, Texas 936-488-0375 Owner, William Prentice
Rancho Grande 816 Tenaha St. Center, Texas 936-590-9607 Owner, Maria Lara
5410 Bellaire Blvd. Ste. 203 Bellaire, Texas 713-664-4080 Maria Salas
Gonzalez Repair Shop 111 CR 2030 Center, Texas 936-332-6113 Owner Ernesto Gonzalez
Just For You 705 Clifford St. #14 Center, Texas 936-275-8814 Owner, Saundra Christopher
Viatrac Fertilizer 1100 Cotton Ford Rd. Center, Texas Owner, Dennis Kaspar
Mann Tindel & Thompson Law Office 300 W. Main Henderson, Texas Manager, Blake Thompson
Rodan & Fields Shelbyville, Texas Owner, Angie Turk
Lagrone Air Conditioning 1033 CR 3031 Carthage, Texas Owner, Russell Yates
JCCC Management, LLC Center, Texas Owner, John Cagle
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Members Renewing Their Investment
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