GuidryNews file photo:
Massey takes wheel
from Jerry Mohn  

As 2006 draws to a close and my time as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Galveston Chamber of Commerce comes to an end, I want to report to you, our members, on the work of the Chamber during this past 12 months. When I assumed the chairmanship in January 2006, outgoing Chairman of the Board, Jerry Mohn, said the year would go by quickly. He was absolutely right!

Our Board of Directors developed an ambitious plan of work at a retreat in early January. We were determined that the Chamber would be involved in education, business development, legislative and government affairs, emergency preparedness, business retention, work force development, affordable and accessible health insurance, and quality of life issues. Over arching our specific plan of work was a commitment made by the Board of Directors in September 2005 to undertake the development and implementation of a strategic plan.

With strong leadership from our president, Gina Spagnola, and strong support from her staff, Laura Blacksher, and Christy Benson, and with absolute commitment from the Executive Committee, and the Board of Directors, we launched one of the most challenging and, in the end, successful years in the 161 year history of the Galveston Chamber of Commerce.

The year began with annual banquet and the first presentation of the ”Galvestonian of the Year” award to Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas. This award recognized the Mayor’s remarkable civic and philanthropic career and more specifically her leadership during the Hurricane Rita evacuation in the fall of 2005. The event was the largest and most successful Chamber annual meeting on record.

In her remarks that evening, the mayor challenged the Chamber and the Galveston business community to become engaged in the development of the “homegrown” Galveston work force. That challenge became a focal point for the Chamber’s work during the rest of the year and resulted in a white paper analyzing work force development issues endorsed by the board of directors at its July meeting. In early October, the fist step toward implementation of the recommendations made in this white paper was taken with the formation of the Galveston Work Force Council.

At about the same time, the Chamber committed to take on two roles in addressing emergency preparedness in the City of Galveston. The first was chaired by board member Greg Harrington and resulted in a “user friendly” handbook advising businesses on preparation for and recovery from natural disaster. That booklet is available through the Chamber office.

The second effort brought the Mayor of Gulfport, Mississippi, a former mayor of Biloxi, the editor and publisher of The Biloxi Sun Herald, and a member of the Mississippi Recover Commission to Galveston for two days of interaction with local officials and the Galveston business community. This “Lessons from Katrina” visit was supported by numerous Chamber members including Landry’s, Moody Gardens, and Mary Moody Northen Endowment.

Issues surrounding the availability and affordability of windstorm insurance became a focal point of first gathering information and then action as the year progressed. The board educated itself with a number of speakers and meetings and volumes of reading material culminating in the decision to support the efforts of the Galveston Windstorm Action Committee. Board member Curtiss Brown traveled to Corpus Christi to represent the Chamber at a public hearing on windstorm issues held early in the fall.

Vic Pierson, Legislative Affairs vice-chairman, conducted a series of meetings with representatives of Galveston entities that would have matters to take up with the 80th Texas Legislature that will convene in January 2007. Vic’s diligent effort along with his committee’s good analysis and discussion led the Chamber to a December 5th all city legislative agenda breakfast at Moody Gardens. Representatives from the County, City, UTMB and others presented highlights of their organizations’ legislative agendas. Then Vic presented the proposed legislative agenda for the Galveston Chamber of Commerce. As January progresses, you will hear more on that subject.

Lest you think local issues took a back seat to preparation for the upcoming legislative session, let me assure you that the Chamber discussed and spoke out on a variety of local issues, including the controversial subject of high-rise development. Craig Brown’s Community Development Committee worked with a special task force and the City of Galveston planning department to streamline the building permit process, long a source of concern for businesses.

Jerry Mohn’s Business Development Committee continued to meet quarterly with the City Manager and the City department heads to address business issues throughout the city.

Theresa Elliott’s Education Committee produced a scholarship luncheon honoring V. J. Tramonte as an exemplary business leader and awarding seven scholarships to graduating Ball High and O’Connell students. In the spring, the Chamber produced a job fair connecting more that 150 Ball High students with potential employers. Theresa’s committee raised $25,544, exceeding its goal and clothing more than 300 GISD students through the “Kids Closet”.

Partnerships are a way of doing business at the Chamber. This year partnerships included an effort to promote our city working with the CVB and the City to produce media familiarization tours of Galveston. A partnership with Clean Galveston and the City resulted in a community clean-up effort that began in the spring and continued throughout the year. In addition, the Chamber partnered with Congressman Ron Paul, Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas, Galveston Economic Development Partnership, The WorkSource and The University of Texas Medical Branch to produce the 1st Annual “Oceans of Opportunities Job Fair.”

Connecting individuals as well as organizations is a key component of Chamber work, and this year was no exception. The Thursday morning networking group, the brain child of Membership Services vice-chairman Bill Clement and ably facilitated this year by Ambassador JessieAnn Bradshaw, and hosted by board member Maureen Patton at The Grand 1894 Opera House built relationships among representatives and owners of more than three dozen businesses. A women’s networking group led by Dr. Maureen Hayes began meeting every Friday at The Pelican Club and provides an entertaining and useful venue for women in business to share information and advice.

The Chamber welcomed over one hundred and thirty new businesses to their membership, hosted 46 ribbon cuttings and nine after-five business mixers. The Ambassadors and Golden Division are key components of both these functions. The Chamber staff worked with the Gulf Coast Chamber Executives organization to host the Texas Chambers of Commerce annual conference in June. This annual meeting brought over four hundred Chamber professionals and board members to Galveston for four days.

Connecting our members to each other is important and connecting our members to resources that can be of help is of equal importance.

Craig Brown’s Community Development Committee hosted a workshop to assist employers in addressing the issue of drugs in the work place.

Under our President’s leadership, we implemented a health care program for small businesses in cooperation with Texas Health Care Coalition and our board member Sean O’Donohoe and the O’Donohoe Agency and past Chairman Garry Kaufman and GIA.

When Garry was chairman of the Chamber, he initiated conversations with UTMB that will result in the Three Share health care program, which will be available to our members in 2007. Both the Coalition and the Three Share program are resources that enable employers to provide medical insurance benefits in cost effective ways for their employees.

Over arching the entire year was the strategic planning project chaired by Claire Reiswerg. Early in the year, Claire’s committee selected Dr. Ann Atkinson, a strategic planning consultant from Atlanta, Georgia as the consultant to facilitate our Chamber’s strategic planning process. Following the selection of Dr. Atkinson and the negotiation of a contract, Claire and I spent several months raising money to fund the planning process. That process kicked off in mid November with Dr. Atkinson’s first visit to Galveston. It should conclude by the end of February with implementation to follow.

As Jerry told me last January, the year went by quickly. It was filled with productive work done by remarkable people. As I reflect on this year, the “bonus” of all the hours of work required to be Chairman of the Chamber has been the opportunity to meet and work with some amazing individuals. Our Board has been terrific. We have had some lively debates and heated discussions; we did not always agree with each other, but we all care about what is happening in our community. I want to thank each member for participating with passion! The Executive Committee has been amazing collectively and individually. Thank you to Ben Raimer, Claire Reiswerg, Vic Pierson, Jerry Mohn, Gary Gilliland, Michelle Beckwith, Bill Clement, Craig Brown and Theresa Elliott. Gina, Christy and Laura, what could I ever say to you…except this Chamber is so fortunate to have the three of you. Gina, you are a tremendous Chamber President and have built a strong team.

Finally, thank you to our members for the opportunity to serve as your Chairman. It has been a joy and a privilege I will long remember.

Betty Massey

2006 Chairman of the Board
Galveston Chamber of Commerce