As guests arrived at the W.T. Brookshire Conference Center for the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce annual meeting, volunteers greeted them and directed them to their tables. (Katecey Harrell/ Tyler Morning Telegraph)

The Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce, one of the largest in the U.S., has made a significant impact over its 125-year history, said the new board of directors chair James Sheridan.

“I feel very humbled and grateful,” Sheridan said. “I’m excited to take on this challenge, to implement our new strategic plan, and I look forward to serving others.”

The Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce welcomed its new chair, shared highlights from the year and presented awards Tuesday at its annual meeting at the W.T. Brookshire Conference Center.

Outgoing chair Shannon Dacus said the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce started the year with focus group discussions that led to a strategic plan to improve services for local businesses this year and in the future.

“We cannot be stagnant. We have to be ever evolving to meet the needs of the business community here at Tyler, and that’s what we have done this year, and what James will continue to do in the future,” Dacus said.

The chamber is committed to improving member services by revamping committees to make them more meaningful, introducing new benefits and launching innovative programs. The focus is on ensuring offerings are relevant and useful for businesses and their employees.

The chamber will celebrate its 125th anniversary next year, welcome Grant Ingram as the new chief operating officer and continue to support existing and new businesses, collaborating with the Tyler Economic Development Council to attract new employers to the area.

Several initiatives are currently underway, while others are set to launch soon.

Highlights from the years included celebrating chamber president Henry Bell’s 35 years of leadership. Visit Tyler launched the Totality Tyler campaign, which brought in an estimated $7 million in economic impact to the community. Visit Tyler also received several designations, including Music, Brew and Tourism Friendly accolades.

The East Texas Coalition, made up of the Tyler chamber and other regional chambers, was launched with the mission to provide a stronger voice for the region in Austin and Washington D.C. Other initiatives include the introduction of medical roadshows and the re-imagining of a talent and workforce development committee.

A veteran designation is currently in the works, alongside efforts to strengthen collaborations with community partners, including the city, county, schools and hospitals.

Awards

The Business of the Year Awards recognize businesses and organizations that significantly contribute to the Tyler community and support the mission of the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce. Members nominate these entities to reflect community appreciation for their efforts.

The Small Business of the Year, which includes businesses with 50 or fewer full-time employees, was awarded to the Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Central East Texas.

Mechele Mills, BBB President and CEO, accepted the award on behalf of the Better Business Bureau of Central East Texas. For the past 40 years, the BBB has equipped East Texas businesses with tools for success while guiding consumers toward companies committed to ethical practices.

Last year alone, over 218 million people visited bbb.org to find reliable businesses, making it one of the most utilized resources for consumers and businesses today.

Assistant general manager Robert Towery accepted the Large Business of the Year Award on behalf of Hood Packaging. The Large Business of the Year encompasses those with more than 50 employees.

A chamber member since 1961, Hood Packaging is a leader in producing highly engineered plastic materials for industrial applications. The company is engaged in the community, supporting local nonprofits, including First Tee of Greater Tyler, For the Silent, PATH, CampV, CASA for Kids of East Texas, and Monarca Initiative.

Each year, the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce presents the “Jerry Woolverton Volunteer of the Year Award,” honoring an individual who has dedicated their time and talents to further the chamber’s mission and initiatives.

Jackie Clay was the recipient of the Jerry Woolverton Volunteer of the Year Award. With two decades of experience in leading nonprofit, healthcare and government entities, Clay holds both Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Social Work, along with various specialty certifications from the Alliance for Better Nonprofits, focusing on Nonprofit Human Resources, Leadership, and Fund Development.

In her community involvement, she serves as a Board Member for the Tyler/Smith County League of Women Voters and the Smith County Clubhouse, and is a Community Advisory Board Member for the UT Tyler School of Medicine and College of Social Work.

Additionally, she has chaired the Chamber Veterans Committee for the past two years, spearheading efforts to designate Tyler/Smith County as a Veteran-Friendly community.

The two recipients of the Rookie of the Year Award were Jo Ann Allen and Jon Sanders. This award recognizes a first or second-year member of the Contact Club whose commitment goes “beyond the call of duty.”

These two people consistently show up for ribbon cuttings to welcome new chamber members and volunteer at most events. They have also excelled in recruiting and retaining new members, exceeding the expectations of what it means to be a Tyler Chamber Contact Club Member.

The W.C. Windsor Award recognizes outstanding individuals in the community, and this year, the award went to Megan Riaz, Director of Community Affairs at Bethesda Health Clinic.

In her role, Riaz oversees community outreach, public relations, donor communications and special events, having served at Bethesda for six years.

The T.B. Butler Award, first presented in 1929, honors the memory of Judge Butler and his son T.B. Butler Jr., by annually recognizing Tyler’s outstanding citizens. The recipient of the T.B. Butler Award was Aaron Martinez.

With over 2,000 members, the chamber has a lot of work to ensure it meets the needs of local businesses, Dacus said.

“My advice for Mr. Sheridan would be, hang on tight. It’s a great, great opportunity. It’s so much fun. It’s a year filled with lots of great things, but it’s busy,” Dacus said.