Business
BY NICHAELA SHAHEEN
Tomball chamber celebrates 60 years of community support The Greater Tomball Area Chamber of Com- merce is celebrating its 60th anniversary, marking six decades of advocacy, service and connection across the business community and residents of Tomball. Though o cially incorporated in 1965, President and CEO Bruce Hillegeist said that its roots stretch back even further. “There are telegrams from the 1920s in the old depot referencing the Tomball Chamber of Commerce,” Hillegeist said. “It wasn’t incor- porated yet, but business owners were already working together, grassroots-style, to better the community.” Marking a milestone Over the years, the chamber has evolved into what it is today—a hub of support for nearly 850
members, ranging from small businesses to major manufacturers. Hillegeist said its mission is to provide resources and foster an environment that helps businesses. “If businesses prosper, people get jobs, buy homes, invest in the community—it’s a ripple e ect,” Hillegeist said. Far more than ribbon cuttings and luncheons, the chamber tackles wide-ranging issues, from mobility to education to legislative advocacy, Hillegeist said. “We’ve been to Austin twice this year alone,” Hillegeist said. “We bring our top priorities, like public school funding, workforce development and water infrastructure, straight to lawmakers. We’re not lobbyists, we’re advocates.” A closer look But Hillegeist said the chamber’s work goes further than business and advocacy, also serving as a local resource for residents, too. “We have people walk in asking all kinds of things—where to eat, how to recycle, where to get a driver’s license,” Director of Communication
Amy Mason said. “Our motto is even if we don’t have the answer, we’ll help you nd it. We want no one to leave here without a path forward.” Community events like the annual Holiday Parade and Miss Tomball Pageant are among the chamber’s visible works. “The parade has over 160 entries, 5,000 participants, with 40,000 in attendance. It’s not just a show, it’s about community pride and connection,” Mason said. “We call it ‘two miles of smiles.’” What else? With a ve-star accreditation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which is an honor shared by fewer than 3% of chambers nationwide, the Greater Tomball Area Chamber is widely recog- nized for its excellence, Hillgeist said. Despite a small sta , the chamber runs on the energy of its volunteers and members, Mason said. “We can’t do it alone,” Mason said. “Our ambassadors, board members and civic-minded individuals are the heartbeat of what we do.”
Each year, the chamber honors the volunteer of the year.
COURTESY GREATER TOMBALL AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
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29201 Quinn Road, Ste. B, Tomball www.tomballchamber.org
Events like the annual Holiday Parade and Miss Tomball Pageant are among the chamber’s visible works.
COURTESY GREATER TOMBALL AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
TOMBALL PARKWAY 28595 Tomball Pkwy (281) 290-7810 SPRING STUEBNER 6603 Spring Stuebner Rd (281) 288-0239
THE WOODLANDS 10491 Kuykendahl (281) 681-9110 GOSLING ROAD SPRING 24527 Gosling Rd (281) 516-9404
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