Tyler Chamber of Commerce met at W.T. Brookshire Conference Center Tuesday morning to honor community members for their services and discuss future business endeavors.

Honors were handed out to community members and businesses Tuesday during the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual meeting at the W.T. Brookshire Conference Center.

Contact Club Awards

The chamber’s Contact Club “consists of members who attend chamber events and ribbon cuttings, assist new members in participation, as well as promote and serve as the faces of our organization,” according to information on the chamber’s website. “Contactors have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with other members, while building business relationships and helping our community.”

According to Chair Pat Stacey, the Contact Club sells and retains membership and have accounted for more than 100 new members for 2023. They have conducted dozens of ribbon cuttings for new members and relocation of new members.

“Contact Club is the heart of the Chamber and provides support in so many ways.” Stacey said. “This group of 26 volunteers also helps at all our networking events like today’s luncheon for example. I began my involvement with the Chamber as a member of this group and was honored to have led the group a few years ago.”

Nine contactors earned their 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th or 7th Production Awards: Vee Clark, Hunter Estes, Rachelle Ewart, James Kidd, Lisa Lewis, Cheryl Sartain, Kimberly Smotherman, Josh Stinnett, Josh Trammel and Yonna Yelverton.

“The Contact Club sells more than memberships,” Stacey said. “They also provide support to the Chamber by selling sponsorships for events and booths at expos. They foster engagement by our members and potential members by encouraging attendance at networking events.”

The next group of Contactors earned between eight and 12 awards: Starla Bickerstaff, Connie Schaefer and Ryan Bevel. On top of those awards, Jessica Brown and Shawna Yockey-Bryant also earned Life Membership.

The final group is Contactors earned the highest number of Production Awards this year: Nicole Cox, earning her 16th Production Award; Brad Farr, who earned his 18th and 19th; Kitty Springer earned her 28th and 29th Production Awards and Cindy Smoak, earning her 68th, 69th, 70th, and 71st awards.

Business of the Year Awards

The Business of the Year recognizes those businesses and organizations that give so much to the community by actively supporting the mission of the Chamber, which is to enhance the business environment, the economic well-being, and quality of life for the Tyler area. These businesses and organizations are nominated by Chamber members.

Small Business of the Year

The 2022-2023 Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year Award was awarded to The Boulders at Lake Tyler.

Sitting on 128 acres, The Boulders is a campground and RV park located on the shores of Lake Tyler. They offer tent sites and RV rentals as well as glamping options and cabins. There’s a fishing pier and a boardwalk, picnic sites, and rentals available for kayaks, golf carts, pontoon boats and bikes.

Special amenities include the Hook, Line and Sinker Bait Shop and Convenience Store with a full supply of needed items for a day on the water as well as Boulder’s Ice Company for coffee, lattes, snow cones and other sweet treats.

The Boulders also has an event center available to rent for weddings, corporate meetings and family reunions.

Bob Peppard, Paul Taylor, Venita and Richard Peacock accepted the Small Business of the Year Award on behalf of The Boulders.

Large Business of the Year

The 2022-2023 Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce Large Business of the Year Award was awarded to the Caldwell Zoo.

Started by Tyler residents DK and Lottie Caldwell as a backyard menagerie of animals, the zoo is now a world class institution, a leader in global conservation initiatives, and home to over 3000 animals.

With over 90 full-time employees, as well as contributing to national and local internship and training programs, the zoo has officially been opened since 1953.

“It’s not just a beautiful and fun place to visit, it has been a cornerstone of our community for decades with incredibly high standards for animal care and visitor experience,” Stacey said.

The Zoo offers a myriad of educational opportunities including its highly regarded summer camps, Zoo School and unique animal encounters. Many of the species that live at the Zoo are considered threatened or endangered in the wild.

“Quietly, the dedicated team at the zoo is renowned for being true experts in breeding of certain endangered species, so this beautiful park is also actively helping to save wildlife for generations to come,” Stacey said.

Steve Marshall, the President and CEO accepted the Large Business of the Year Award for The Caldwell Zoo.

Jerry Woolverton Volunteer of the Year Award

Each year, the Chamber of Commerce presents the “Jerry Woolverton Volunteer of the Year Award”, a special designation that is presented to a person who has given unselfishly of their and talents to promote the mission and work of the Chamber.

This year’s Volunteer of the Year Award was awarded to Starla Bickerstaff.

Bickerstaff has served as a volunteer for the Chamber for the last four years as a member of the Contact Club where she earned ten Production Awards.

She recently chaired the Membership Services Council, which includes chairing Contact Club as well as overseeing many member events such as Business After Hours and Networking Breakfasts.

“In this leadership role, she attended 20 Chamber Board and Contact Club meetings, 15 Business After Hours and Networking Breakfasts, rarely missing one,” Stacey said. “As further evidence of her commitment, she researched and shared leads for the Contactors at every meeting.”

Bickerstaff is the Marketing Director for Hospitality Health ER.

Rookie of the Year Award

This inaugural award recognizes a first or second year member of the Contact Club whose commitment goes “beyond the call of duty,” which went to Rachelle Ewart.

Mary Howes Award

This award is given to a chamber member who has received at least five production awards and has been a member for at least three years.

Past year’s Mary Howes recipient, Nicole Cox, presented this year’s honor to Brad Farr, who is a producing branch manager for Cardinal Financial, a mortgage finance company.

Farr has earned his 18th and 19th Production Awards, serves as a club chair and executive board member. He also received the Johnny Wright Life Member Award.

The W.C. Windsor Award

The W.C. Windsor Award was started in 1952 by the late W.C. Windsor with the purpose of encouraging leadership among young people in the community and to honor an outstanding citizen under the age of 40 for their contribution to the community of Tyler. This award is a tribute to both Mr. and Mrs. Windsor, who gave so much to this community.

Past year’s W.C. Windsor Award recipient, Katelyn Shultz, presented this year’s honor to Nicole Robbins.

“This year’s recipient is someone who’s servant heart and love for our community is undeniable,” Shultz said. “With immense kindness and dedication, this person serves our community wholeheartedly through their many volunteer roles. A leader who leads with heart is a great blessing to a community, and this person in particular believes each opportunity to lead is truly an opportunity to serve as the Lord calls us to do.”

Robbins serves on the Children’s Ministry Team Chair and Vacation Bible School Coordinator, as well as a Young Life Leader, and a supporter and volunteer for the Children’s Miracle Network.

As a PTA mom of two, and running a local business, Robbins has also served the community through Junior League of Tyler for over a decade. Climbing up the ladder in 16 different roles, Robbins currently sits as president of the Junior League of Tyler.

“I am extremely honored to serve alongside this year’s recipient — who was perfectly described in her nomination as ‘a true cheerleader for the cause and helping others’,” Shultz said.

T.B. Butler Award

The T.B. Butler Award was first presented in 1929. It was established in memory of Judge Butler and his son, T.B. Butler, Jr., to annually recognize Tyler’s most outstanding citizen. The award was established to encourage aspirations of leadership, contributions of citizenship, and to recognize significant acts of service.

Past year’s T.B. Butler Award recipient, John Soules, Sr., presented this year’s honor to Brent Jasper.

“Brent is passionate about Jesus and generosity and he serves on several non-profit boards including the Children’s Advocacy Center of Smith County, Young Life and Mentoring Alliance,” Soules said.

Jasper is currently the CEO of Jasper Ventures, which provides turnkey gas processing solutions to the midstream oil and gas industry. Through the company, he instills and promotes generosity to employees and through demonstrating it in their personal giving.

Each employee is given eight hours of paid time to serve the community through volunteerism as well as the opportunity to serve internationally through vision trips paid for by the company. The last two years they have taken teams to the Amazon River to serve villagers with medical, dental, vision and clean water.

Through the Employee Match Fund, Jasper Ventures matches dollar for dollar employee donations to charities. They also established the Employee Directed Giving Fund with a pool of funds provided by Jasper Ventures. A committee of employees review and vote on grant requests to determine which organizations receive grants.

“Brent is sharing his vision of philanthropy through Generosity Tyler in East Texas which promotes conversations and builds community by inspiration, education and connection,” Soules said. “His humility and consistency have been trail markers of his community and corporate life.”

After the community members were recognized and honored, Stacey introduced the new chair, Shannon Dacus.

“It has been my honor to serve as your Chamber Chair this year,” Stacey said, who was then awarded a plaque for his service.

“Pat, thank you for leading us this year with grace, intelligence and passion,” Dacus said. “(It is a) privilege to follow in your footsteps. I hope to make you proud.”

Enhancing the business environment, economic well-being and the quality of life for the Tyler area is the mission of the Chamber of Commerce, according to Dacus.

“Our chamber is one of only 194 chambers out of 7,000 nationwide who have received 5-star accreditation for fostering a pro-business environment,” she said. “As I serve you over the next year, I hope to build upon the strong foundation laid by the leaders who have come before me: Herb Buie, MEJ, the late, great Aubrey Sharpe, Barbara Bass, Charles Hill, June Cheatham, Skip Ogle, Bob Westbrook, Lee Browning, Roy Martinez and many more.”

Dacus hopes to continue to build on that strong foundation by continuing to build on the strengths as a chamber while visioning and laying the groundwork for the future as Tyler continues to grow so that the chamber is ever-ready to meet the needs of the business community.

The Chamber is made up of over 2,000 members, hundreds of volunteers and a dedicated Contact Club, who exemplify the mission of the chamber every day.

“This board of community leaders is ready to serve you but we can’t do this work alone,” Davus said. “We need you. We need you as members, volunteers (and) ambassadors in our community.

Dacus wanted attendees to remember the continued success and vitality of the chamber.

“Each of us makes up the Tyler Chamber. I am the Tyler Chamber. You are the Tyler Chamber. Together, we are the Tyler Chamber,” Dacus said. “I am beyond excited and honored to serve you this year.”