Applications open for Education & Workforce Hero award
Nominations are being accepted for the Richardson Chamber’s annual Education & Workforce Hero Award to be presented at the EDGE awards ceremony. This is the third year of the honor that recognizes an organization or individual that has provided significant support for education initiatives and projects that advance the chamber’s education and workforce goals.Ken Hutchenrider, city councilman, president of Methodist Richardson Medical Center and former chairman of the Richardson Chamber, was the first
Spotlight: House of Namdar
Brad Namdar, the owner of multiple businesses, most notably Namdar Decor and the House of Namdar, has a long list of accomplishments on his resume: 2 time NCAA Division I bowl champion football place kicker, award-winning soccer player and coach, a DISD high school teacher and coach, successful business owner, active community volunteer, executive coach, appointee by the Governor of Texas, official partner with the Secretary of State in the Texas Businesses Against Trafficking (TBAT) initiative, and a
Podcast: Prosperity Bank Managing Director Richard Ramey
In this podcast with RCC President Bill Sproull, Richard talks about the state of banking during COVID, how it reflects the history of NTX banking since the 80s, how markets are doing now (like real estate/commercial) and his own career in banking. Time: 23 minutesClick to listen Transcript This is Bill Sproull, the President, CEO of the Richardson Chamber of Commerce, and I'm doing a podcast today with Richard Ramey, commercial lender with Prosperity bank, and former chairman of the Richardson Chamber.
Collin CARES Small Business Grant Program
Using CARES Act funds, Collin County is launching the Collin CARES Small Business Grant Program for businesses located within Collin County, exclusive of the City of Dallas. Up to a $25,000 grant per business will be awarded for eligible businesses that have experienced a gross revenue loss of greater than 15% due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualified businesses will receive up to $5,000 for eligible reimbursable expenses, unless satisfactory additional documentation is provided showing actual incurred costs
Deadlines extended for Tech Titans Awards and 5G Grand Challenge
Time is counting down to gain visibility for technical accomplishments. The Tech Titans Awards deadline has been extended until Monday, Aug. 31. This year's event will be a fun virtual event on Friday, Oct. 23 heavy on videos and networking at the beginning of the program. The theme is Roaring Twenties 2.0, and speakeasy party packages will be available to 'attendees'. The Tech Titans® Awards Gala recognizes the elite in North Texas technology – individuals currently transforming the high-tech industry
Local veteran opens FASTSIGNS of Richardson
FASTSIGNS® of Richardson, a locally owned and operated sign and graphics company, is now open. Under the direction of franchisees, Darrin and Mary Lawrence. The team also consists of Kaitlyn Lawrence as Intern Graphic Designer, Roman Brown as Graphic Designer and Rachel Van Pamel as Visual Communications Specialist. Born in North Carolina, Darrin Lawrence grew up in the Dallas/Fort Worth area in Irving and Garland before joining the Army in 1987. Darrin also worked as a superintendent in the Dallas/Fort
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Debbie Post's can-do attitude helps chamber
There’s a new friendly voice answering the chamber phones these days. Debbie Post has taken over the accounting/HR position and has added other hats in answering the phones and taking staff temperatures as they come in to work. Though starting the job right before the pandemic, Debbie said “I’m adaptable to anything. I thrive on being thrown into a difficult situation. I can figure things out on my own.” Debbie was wanting to get closer to family, and thus has moved to Dallas from Yazoo, Mississippi. They
PAM Rehabilitation Hospital of Richardson opens
PAMRehabilitationHospitalofRichardson opens“Hospital in ahospital”ispartofPostAcuteMedicalnetworkofhospitals Post Acute Medical, LLC (PAM), announced today that it has opened PAM Rehabilitation Hospital of Richardson at 401 West Campbell Road. A “hospital in a hospital,” it is located on the fifth floor of the Methodist Campus for Continuing Care. The 16-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital provides the same comprehensive inpatient and outpatient acute rehabilitation services as nearby PAM
Leadership Richardson Class XXXV celebrates drive-by graduation
Each year, Leadership Richardson graduates describe their experience as rewarding, challenging and informative. This year's Class XXXV is no different, but did have a twist.View participants of the upcoming LR Class XXXVI Like students all over the world, the 40 members transitioned to on-line classes in the spring and a drive-by graduation at Chase Bank in July because of the Covid-19 pandemic. "Our newest Leadership Richardson graduates certainly faced a unique set of challenges this year," said Bill
Podcast: Golden Chick CEO Mark Parmerlee
Mark Parmerlee, a member of the Richardson Chamber board, is the CEO of the parent company of Golden Chick, Jalapeno Tree, Fireside Pies, Texadelphia, JC’s Burger House, Heff’s Burgers, Lola’s Handcrafted Kitchen and State 28 Grill. Golden Chick has more than 180 franchises.In this episode, Mark talks about the strategies that he and his team have embraced and expectations for the future for his company and the restaurant business after covid.Access the Podcast page TranscriptWelcome everyone. This is Amy
Learning about the ‘real world’ during a crazy time
The Richardson Mayor’s Summer Internship program is supposed to give incoming high school seniors a look at what they will experience when they get a ‘real job’ after college. This year, the world is ‘pivoting.’ The Richardson Chamber’s summer intern, Halimah Nadzaku, is mixing in office work and working from home. Staying on track is hard enough for experienced workers, but that doesn’t seem to be a problem for Halimah. In the words of President Bill Sproull, “Halimah doesn’t need to be supervised. She’s
Network of Community Ministries has seen demand quadruple during pandemic
from The Dallas Morning News The number of people asking for emergency help from a Richardson nonprofit tells a sobering story about the economic impact of COVID-19. Before the pandemic, the Network of Community Ministries estimates it had about 170 families visit its food pantry every week. Now, the social services organization says it’s providing food assistance to 150 families every day. The nonprofit is also distributing 1,300 emergency food boxes to Richardson ISD families every week. Read
Podcast: UT Dallas president talks confidently, despite challenges
UT Dallas is a city within Richardson. With an enrollment of almost 30,000 (and ranked as one of the fastest growing in the country), its president, Dr. Richard Benson, is the mayor of…a lot of brainiacs. As the CEO of a staff of over 3600, he is working with budgets and analyzing customer trends and threats for delivery (ie, steering his institution through covid and meeting international student needs). The Richardson Chamber’s President Bill Sproull talks to Dr. Benson about the future of the school
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Chamber connections work: Canyon Creek Art and Amegy Bank
Networking? Connections? That’s supposed to be the hallmark of a chamber membership. Does it really work? Yes, and here’s the proof. Ambassador Jerry Cornelius and his wife, Barbara, own Canyon Creek Art, a small independent frame shop. They were able to obtain a loan through the second round of the Paycheck Protection Program, which was funded through the federal government’s CARES Act. They credit their success in obtaining the loan with information found through the Richardson Chamber of
Ambassador profile: Kelly Wright
Ambassador profile: Kelly Wright Ambassador Kelly Wright is certainly not risk adverse. Building companies is one of the pillars of chamber membership. Kelly epitomizes that. He’s bought and sold about 20 companies during his business career. Currently, Kelly owns Monster Adz Media. MonsterAdz is a mobile LED billboard company serving the Dallas/Fort Worth area. They deliver-high impact marketing campaigns at street-level using state-of-the art digital LED technology. Their mobile LED billboards are
Ambassador Profile: Roni Carrasco
Ambassador profile: Roni Carrasco They say the best job is doing something you are passionate about. Roni Carrasco is fortunate to have such a job: marketing and development assistant manager at the Charles W. Eisemann Center. “I help promote Eisemann Center Presents performances, while developing and organizing cross-community relationships between local business owners, the Eisemann Center, and other City of Richardson entities,” she said. The Eisemann Center was completed in 2002. Its mission is
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Communities thrive when people feel safe and valued
We value each person in our community.We are horrified by the murder of George Floyd specifically and send our condolences to his family.We support peaceful protesters and absolutely believe #BlackLivesMatter Prejudice and privilege exist in Richardson. It absolutely does. You can’t grow up white in America like me and not realize how privileged you are, and the stereotypes you were taught of others who don’t look like you. My hope in that statement is that, in awareness, I can improve and set an example
Governance queen to now govern retirement and grandkids
One of the highlights of Molly’s work at the chamber was meeting President George W. Bush at the 2020 Annual Meeting. “I think the world of the Bush family. I was able to get my picture taken with him,” she said. “I’ve met a lot of people in politics. It’s always an honor to me to meet these incredible people. “ When she first walked through the doors of the Richardson Chamber of Commerce, she was a part-time contractor tasked with “dialing for dollars” or seeking basic contact information for
Amid coronavirus outbreak, Texas small businesses seek government lifeline they never thought they’d
from the Dallas Morning News As shelter-in-place orders took hold in Texas and across the U.S. amid the coronavirus outbreak, Richardson jeweler Kathleen Pampillonia knew almost instantly what an extended economic slowdown would mean for the 55 workers at her family-owned business. Furloughs — no getting around it. So her relief was almost overwhelming when she received approval this month for a forgivable loan through the “paycheck protection program” Congress created to ensure that small
Certificate of origin eases exporting of goods
Visit our website for sample documents A Certificate of Origin is a document used in international trade, which identifies the origin country of the goods being exported. It is a mandatory document by various country customs organizations. In many countries, the duty rate and the admissibility are affected by the country of origin of the goods. Failure to properly declare the origin of goods may result in delay, higher duty/tariff rate, fine/penalty, entry denial or seizure. The United States has
Leadership Richardson guest on podcast This is Richardson
Executive Director of Leadership Richardson Kim Quirk was recently a guest on the podcast 'This is Richardson.' She talks about the program and what makes it unique. To listen to the podcast, visit the episode.
Bill Ballard is your top connection for member services
Bill Ballard joins the Richardson Chamber of Commerce team this year bringing more than 25 years of experience. He is taking over the VP of member services position from Drew Snow.“It’s been a whirlwind so far,” he said. “I am excited to be a part of this amazing team at the chamber as we work with local small businesses during this challenging business climate.”He has more than 22 years of experience as a Dallas-based small-business owner and has spent the last three years building a successful start-up
Apartment Association lists resources for renters during COVID-19 crisis.
The Apartment Association of Greater Dallas has prepared resources for the renter and landlord during the COVID-19 shut down. As we continue to deal with the impact of COVID-19 and its impact on jobs and our economy, it’s important that we work together as a community to help prevent people from being displaced from their homes. We have included answers to some frequently asked questions, as well as other resources to help navigate through these uncertain times. As rental housing providers, we are
A message from your chamber
Best wishes to you in your shelter where we hope you are finding inspiration and innovation. We are hunkered down for a future storm that is slow to come while knowing our businesses are hurting now for our preparedness. Hopefully we will eventually question the measures taken because ‘all’ we got was a spring rain. Plus, pent-up demand will help us spring back. We're thankful for our community that finds ways to connect and help others even in isolation. Internet and virtual capabilities help us connect.
Attorneys discuss the legal issues businesses face during Covid-19
The new normal? Attorneys discuss the legal issues businesses face during Covid-19 Is my business essential? Do I have to close? What about rent and payroll? What is I can’t meet my production requirements? Gwen I. Walraven and Karen Hart of Bell Nunnally & Martin LLP presented a webinar this week regarding these issues. The pair discussed four hot topics their clients are facing today: Force majeure clauses (unforeseeable circumstances that prevent someone from fulfilling a contract)Debt
Profile: Jan Arrant from Methodist Richardson Medical
Hospital and healthcare stories are hugely important now, and the official communicator for Methodist Richardson Medical Center still finds time to serve on the chamber's executive committee. The helpful pieces that are serving our community have her fingerprints on them. As the Director of Community and Public Relations, Jan Arrant joined Methodist in 2015, after a 29-year career in television journalism. The driving force for her has always been to do just one thing – make a difference. For many
Chamber president addresses local business community
Bill Sproull, chamber president, extends support to business community Chamber President and CEO, Bill Sproull, shared a message of hope and confidence in a recent video to the Richardson business community. "Having a great support network will be the most important asset you'll need for getting through this storm," he said, emphasizing the various electronic and virtual resources the chamber is pulling together to support its members. Other points he emphasized: We will come out of this stronger
Alternate options for local businesses during coronavirus
A list of local Richardson businesses and their service options for customers will be updated frequently. Check Discover Richardson for the latest.:
Coronavirus update from our president
The Richardson Chamber is a professional connections organization in many respects through our events and networking. However, the health and safety of our members, staff and community is always a top priority. The coronavirus crisis presents a challenge to us all. Our hearts go out to those nearby and around the world who are affected by the virus. Like you, we are closely monitoring developments. Some of our scheduled events have been cancelled to accommodate our speakers and venue hosts. We hope to
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Member news February 2020
Member news Wow. Now that’s a gift. TI CEO Rich Templeton and his wife, Mary, are donating $51 million to their alma mater. Mmmm. Hungry? Richardson is home to many phenomenal restaurants. Chef and Asian Mint owner Nikky Phinyawatana “feeds souls” through her Thai cooking classes and YouTube channel. The Elhorrth brothers’ Afrah is famous…Falafel, anyone? Dangerous….Alamo Drafthouse is offering a monthly subscription ticket!Hypergiant has launched its “extended reality” startup.Jon Bolen is taking the
The global economy gets the flu
The global economy gets the flu A thoughtful, measured approach is best when considering the impact of something like the coronavirus. It’s not just from a personal health standpoint; the global economy feels the pain. Lawrence P. Howorth, director of the Mayor’s Office of International Business, is following the news coverage and offers a few tips. Non-essential travel is not recommended at this time to and from China and South Korea, especially for older adults and those with chronic respiratory
SCORE counseling returns to Richardson Chamber
SCORE counseling returns to Richardson Chamber After a brief hiatus, SCORE small business counseling services have returned to the Richardson Chamber. SCORE has provided free counseling to 11 million small business since 1964. The Chamber has dedicated a conference room for SCORE every Tuesday from 10am to 1 pm.SCORE stands for “Service Corps of Retired Executives” and is a section 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that partners with the US Small Business Administration. SCORE provides its no-cost,
Mayor recruits employers for successful summer program
Sponsor a high school internMayor recruits employers for successful summer program; Deadline is April 1Richardson Mayor Paul Voelker kicked off the Richardson Mayor’s Summer Internship Program by asking local employers to help build the program.In only two years, participating students almost doubled from 24 to 41. Even more are expected for the third summer.“We saw promising growth last year and look forward to providing even more internships this year,” said Mayor Voelker. “In our inaugural year, we had
Ambassador profile: Price Newton
Ambassador profile: Price Newton Chamber involvement is good for business. It also is very good for connecting with your community. Price Newton, who owns Dimension Payments, joined the chamber to build his business, but helping local business owners and enriching the community is important to him. Dimensional Payments is a merchant payment and credit card processing company for small and medium-size businesses. Price joined the chamber in October 2018. Now, he is the 2019 Ambassador of the
Volunteers of the Year, 2019
When business professionals lend their time and expertise to lead the chamber, it enables us to offer enhanced programs and more opportunities for you to grow professionally. Thank you to these members who have made significant contributions to the chamber in 2019.Rookie & Ambassador of the Year Price Newton, Dimensional Payments Awarded on a point system for greeting at events, ribbon cuttings, and retention calls, Price was also among the most active members of the golf tournament committee.Small
Charlie Chen named Citizen of the Year
Charlie Chen, former chamber chair and local entrepreneur, named Citizen of the YearYou can view his presentation video here.The award was presented by 2018 recipient Bob Macy (watch his video).Visionary, relentless, entrepreneurial, focused, generous, long-term strategist.The accolades are well-deserved. Charlie Chen, CEO of IT service provider DFW Technology and chairman of international business incubator DFW Innovation Center, is the 2019 Citizen of the Year. Chen came to the United States 40 years ago
President Bush visits Annual Meeting
See a curated album of photos on our Facebook page.Candid and award photo (all)Citizen of the Year video of Charlie ChenBy Amy Alexander, Richardson Chamber Director of CommunicationsNote: all inaccuracies are a contribution of this writer. This piece is meant to be personal and non-specific. The most well-known living North Texan was the featured speaker at this year’s Richardson Chamber Annual Meeting—President George W. Bush. Arguably once the most powerful person in the world, whose name is known by
Bois d’Arc Lake to ease water woes
from WFAA Texas' first new major man-made lake in 30 years is coming to North Texas Texas is full of lakes, but almost all of them have been built by humans. They are essential to our survival, and a new one is being built right here in North Texas. Bois d’Arc Lake will be built near Bonham, in Fannin County. Read more here.
Richardson Collins-Arapaho Innovation District gets new brand
Richardson Collins-Arapaho Innovation District Gets New Brand Identity to Attract New Businesses, Restaurantsfrom WBAP RICHARDSON (WBAP/KLIF)- The Collins-Arapaho Innovation District in Richardson got a new name and brand identity to attract more businesses. The 1,200 acre area has been a job center and hub for technology in the region but Bill Sproull President and CEO of the Richardson Chamber of Commerce said there’s room for more growth and new uses. It’s now called Richardson Innovation Quarter
Ambassador profile: Vicki Ratliff
Hands up! How many of you have “make a will” on your 2020 to do list? How many years has it been on your annual to do list? Chamber Ambassador Vicki Ratliff makes it easy to check off. Vicki is an estate planning and probate attorney. “I am a mobile attorney who goes to my clients rather than the other way around. I offer wills on wheels.” Vicki joined the chamber in 2018 after attending the initial Senior Service Networking group. She has since been a speaker as well. She recently became an official
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Sproull named to Governor’s Broadband Development Council
Gov. Greg Abbott has appointed Chamber President and CEO Bill Sproull, to the Governor’s Broadband Development Council for terms set to expire August 2024. The council was created following the 2019 state legislative session to advise the legislature about steps needed to improve Internet access in rural areas. The council will be made up of two Texas-based representatives each from Internet service provider associations, unaffiliated nonprofit organizations that have “a demonstrated history of working
Richardson in the news: January 2020
For a first-hand look at all things related to the City of Richardson, visit the City’s website featuring Mayor Paul Voelker’s State of the City 2020 address. City staffers are performing studies focused on upkeep and maintenance: streets, city buildings, city vehicles and lake erosion. Funding for such projects could come in the form of a bond election in 2021. A video of a recent discussion is available here. The city council recently presented its goals for the term ending in 2021. And it’s not all
Register to vote in 2020
Deadline is Feb. 3 2020 is set to be the biggest election year in recent memory. It kicks off March 3 as Texans head to the polls. Republicans and Democrats have filed for their respective primaries. Richardson residents, depending on where they live, can vote in certain state and county races. Early voting will be Feb. 18-28. Eligible voters must be registered 30 days prior to the election. For information about registering and to see a list of acceptable forms of identification, visit
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Member news: January 2020
Construction on the new plant in Richardson for Texas Instruments Inc. is getting closer – and it could be operational within a couple of years. However, the company will be closing its Sherman facility and an older Dallas facility in the next 3-5 years because of its smaller mm capacity. Methodist Richardson Medical Center celebrates its latest expansion and announces another one. UTD is celebrating its 50th anniversary. But a lot has happened in just the past 10 years. It’s not slowing down. One of
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Salute to our largest-investment members
A very special thank youSalute to our largest-investment members The Richardson Chamber companies in the top tiers of investment are true business and community leaders who have chosen to go the extra mile in their volunteer leadership and financial support of the chamber.This month, we want to showcase our government and education partners: the City of Richardson, Richland College of the DCCD and the University of Texas at Dallas.By working together, these entities and the chamber help create
Counting everyone once, only once, and in the right place
Census Day 2020 is April 1.An accurate count is essential to driving the future of Richardson.The once-a-decade population count affects local representation in government, determines how much funding a community receives and provides data to help businesses plan.The U.S. Census Bureau is the federal government’s largest statistical agency--providing current facts and figures about America’s people, places and economy. Federal law protects the confidentiality of all individual responses the Bureau
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Economic outlook for 2020
By Hank N. Mulvihill, Jr. CCM®, CWS®, CFP®Director and senior wealth advisorSmith Anglin Financial, LLC Presented at January’s Growth & Mobility Luncheon This year looks poised to be a good year for U.S. growth. This is important because most of Richardson's economic well-being depends on a healthy national economy, and funding for technology development. Many economies around the world are struggling with low growth and negative interest rates. The U.S. is likely to outperform the other advanced
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Howorth joins chamber to focus on international business
Please welcome the newest member of the chamber team. Lawrence Howarth has made a smooth transition into the role of vice president of international business development. He fills the big shoes left by Mike Skelton, who has retired. He also serves as director of the Mayor’s Office of International Business for the chamber’s sister unit, the Richardson Economic Development Partnership. Lawrence has worked in international business for 40 years. He has worked side-by-side with Mike for many years through
Rezoning of innovation district unanimously approved by Richardson City Council
VIsit article about rezoningNew name announced as the Innovation Quarter visit Richardsoniq.comFrom Community Impact Newspaper Richardson City Council ratified a yearlong process when it voted to approve the comprehensive rezoning of a 1,200-acre industrial area in Richardson. Bill Sproull, president and CEO of the Richardson Chamber of Commerce, and Richardson Mayor Paul Voelker announced the name of the district at a special ceremony Jan. 28. View a gallery of photos from the event. The goal of the
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iDream speakers continue to inspire students
Third time’s a charm, and it certainly was for the iDream program. iDream is an initiative between the Richardson Chamber’s Education and Workforce Committee and the Richardson Independent School District.More than 400 7th-graders from Forest Meadow, Lake Highlands, Apollo and Liberty schools attended iDream 2020 at Richland College to learn about careers and the different paths to success."We want students to learn more about in-demand careers and take relevant coursework in high school and college to
Applications open for mayor’s summer internship program
Applications open for Mayor’s summer internship programEmployer sign-up deadline is April 1 The Mayor’s Summer Internship Program has opened the application process for the 2020 session. Now in its third year, the program is a collaboration between the city, RISD and the Richardson Chamber of Commerce. It enables incoming high school seniors to receive eight weeks of paid summer employment at a local business, non-profit or government agency. Students gain invaluable real-world experience and exposure
Business network helps members build working relationships
It’s all about the networking (and the food). One of the easiest and simplest benefits of chamber membership is meeting other business people and developing positive working relationships. One very successful group is Richardson Business Network Breakfast. With more than 40 members strong, the group meets from 7:15 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. every Wednesday. Currently, the group meets at the chamber, but will begin meeting at the Drury Hotel, along with Meredith G. Davis DDS as the title sponsors of the group,
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Mayor Paul Voelker in Rich Talk podcast
Mayor Voelker sits down and talks about his background in Richardson, and his approach to business relationships with the city. Part of the conversation is how Richardson develops interest from international companies, and why bringing in international companies is important. Mayor Voelker also talks about the planning that is being done for the city as a whole to develop areas of interest that can best serve various groups of citizenry and businesses. It's an exciting and cohesive look at the future of
