Volunteer Spotlight: Sustainability Series

Facey_JohnJohn Facey
UTSA Institute for Economic Development

About the Company: The Institute assists communities and businesses from conception to startup and expansion with a broad array of advising and research services. These services are provided by 11 centers of excellence located at UTSA’s downtown campus. The Institute’s services have an international reach, but are most heavily focused upon national, regional and local communities and businesses.

About the Program: The SustainAbility program is a three-part series designed to work with the business community to preserve the future by focusing on commercial and practical sustainability awareness and programs that can be implemented in businesses. Proceeds from this series benefit Lead SA, the North Chamber’s 501 (c)(3) organization that serves to promote educational, career and professional development in San Antonio.

Personally Speaking: UTSA has been a Chamber member for many years. John has been on the SustainAbility committee since 2011 and served as co-chair in 2012. John says the committee’s programming adopts a very pragmatic approach in presenting sustainability topics to the business community with the key theme being the many ways sustainability can improve the bottom line of a business.

San Antonio Sports President/CEO Russ Bookbinder Seeks Community Participation

By Russ Bookbinder, President & CEO

SASLogoCan you imagine the Alamodome with two swimming pools inside?  And having the eyes of the nation upon our city as Olympic champions Brendan Hansen, Missy Franklin, Ryan Lochte, and our own Jimmy Fiegen compete for a spot on Team USA?  And being able to see the action LIVE and in-person?  San Antonio is one of six cities bidding to host the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials for Swimming.  It’s just one of the many events San Antonio Sports bids on and hosts each year that have a multi-million dollar economic impact on our city.

SAS Russ photoAs President/CEO of San Antonio Sports, I’m looking forward to leading our efforts to attract marquee amateur athletic events to San Antonio. This year we are hosting 21 events, including the NCAA 2013 Women’s Elite Eight, NCAA National Collegiate Fencing Championships, and the USA Track & Field Jr. Olympic Cross Country Championships.  We also host our very own event that you and your employees won’t want to miss: San Antonio Sports Corporate Cup, a daylong friendly competition that encourages camaraderie, wellness, charitable giving and athleticism.

While events are the bread and butter of our organization, it is serving the kids of our community that personally provides me with the greatest motivation. Our afterschool program currently serves 500 children in San Antonio and Harlandale ISD’s and it’s our goal to grow this program significantly in the next three years. Students in grades 3-5 receive UIL sports training, character education and nutrition information. Every championship event we host has a youth component that exposes kids to the sport and offers special clinics. The San Antonio Sports Valero Go!Kids Challenge is celebrating its 10th anniversary this spring. If you have or know an elementary school-aged child, join them in being active 60 minutes a day, six days a week and encourage them to drink more water.

San Antonio Sports is one of the premier sports commissions in the country and we will continue to operate at the highest level. I invite you to be a part of our team – as a volunteer, a member, a sponsor or participant. As we bid on and host major events, please consider showing your support as a member or corporate sponsor or join our volunteer corps. To learn more about us, please visit SanAntonioSports.org.

Chairman’s Vision for 2013

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERABrad Rollins
Dahill, President
2013 North Chamber Chairman of the Board

An Ohio native, Brad Rollins relocated to San Antonio in 1999 and has embraced the community, serving professional and charitable organizations including the North San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, MS Society and many environmental and military causes. While encouraging community involvement throughout his organization, Brad is president of Dahill – one of Texas’ largest office technology providers, and in 2013, he will preside over the North Chamber and Lead SA board of directors serving nearly 1,400 member businesses across Bexar County. Guiding 500 employees in 16 offices in eight Texas cities and New Mexico, Brad fosters a creative environment that empowers employees to share ideas, identify solutions and lead. He says, “I am at home at the North Chamber where I feel that same sense of collaboration and the entrepreneurial spirit.”

A North Chamber member since 2001, Dahill recognized early on the value of the chamber environment and the opportunities it provides members to get involved and build relationships while working together for the good of the business community. “This chamber is much more personal,” says Brad, “We’re really a big chamber with a small town feel to it. When you take the time to be a part of it you can use chamber programs and benefits to build your business.”

In 2013, Brad will lead the North Chamber to concentrate on: encouraging members to do business with each other; emphasizing member benefits and social media; delivering leadership and professional development; and offering topical, timely and quality programs.

Buy Local. Buy North Chamber.
Passionate about bringing members together to do business with one another, Brad says his primary goal for 2013 is to promote a dynamic chamber of commerce. Brad envisions a localized economic recovery generated by and for North Chamber members. Plainly, says Brad, “Each of our member businesses needs to purchase to operate. If each of us commits to review our supplier lists, identify chamber members who meet those needs, and then buy and sell products and services with each other – that could have quite an impact on each of our businesses.”

Looking to capitalize on the North Chamber’s recent entrance into social media, Brad wants to enlist the social network to play a big role in a member-to-member commerce initiative. “Our members are increasingly interested in learning how to market their business with social media. In the New Year, the North Chamber will meet that need with informative instructional series and a ‘buy local, buy from North Chamber members’ initiative,” details Brad.

For a grassroots effort to work, Brad says North Chamber members have to get online, get engaged and use the tools the chamber has provided. “Make 2013 the year you commit to marketing your business through the North Chamber. Enlist your marketing folks to examine the online Marketing Toolkit, and find everything you need to access benefits like online directory search, social media engagement, offering member specials and promoting your business via North Chamber media.”

Leadership & Professional Development
Recognizing that many small to mid-size businesses don’t have access to internal professional development, Brad is dedicated to offering information, training and leadership development that provides professionals the skills they need to move to the next level. “Our business community wants a readied workforce and people who are prepared to lead. The North Chamber delivers a number of programs that do just that.”

Brad says Leadership Lab, the North Chamber’s nine-month leadership cultivation series, is the centerpiece of that effort. “I’ve observed people go through the program, and right away I could see a difference in how our employees perceive themselves. You can’t underestimate the value of feedback from people outside of your organization,” he adds.

Additionally, Brad is a proponent of the Small Business How 2, Sustainability and CFO Breakfast Series. “These programs not only offer small businesses specialized information, but also contribute to businesses’ operations and bottom line when instruction is applied,” he says.

Keeping Bexar County Strong
The North Chamber’s mission is to strengthen San Antonio through the delivery of advocacy, networking, recognition, leadership and professional development programs. “Overall, the North Chamber is committed to ensuring that we offer the most impactful programs,” says Brad. “So the North Chamber remains committed to monitoring government affairs and public policy issues that affect our members, connecting people to people, honoring our community’s leaders and bringing businesses the tools they need to advance,” he adds.

Finally, as a steward of the North Chamber, Brad has assembled a team of seasoned business leaders to guide the North Chamber in 2013. “As we embark on this New Year, I want to thank Larry Anthis and his board for the incredible, active and hands-on leadership in 2012, and I proudly assume the privilege of chairing this great organization,” says Brad. “I invite each of our members to embrace the concept of commerce among us, find an area of interest in the chamber and be a part of it. I want to thank each of our members for all of your support, attendance and volunteerism – and for all that you do to keep San Antonio and Bexar County strong.”

Volunteer Spotlight: Kirk Binder, Deltaware – Ambassadors Chair

Binder_KirkAMBASSADORS CHAIR
Kirk Binder

DeltaWare

About the Company: DeltaWare Inc. provides technology solutions for Fortune 500 companies, cabling contractors, electrical contractors, small and medium businesses throughout North America. DeltaWare, a minority-owned HUB business, celebrates its 23rd anniversary in 2013. As the Business Development Manager, Kirk’s focus is providing clients with cabling infrastructure, wireless, data, and intelligent green power solutions while ensuring the end result meets the clients’ expectation. Kirk also provides sales-excellence seminars and sales consulting services to small, medium and large organizations.

About the Program: The Ambassadors’ committee is the front line service group that supports member businesses by attending grand openings, relocation, anniversary and other special celebrations. The Ambassadors’ committee offers a prime opportunity to position your business within the community while earning personal recognition and providing good will to member businesses.

Personally Speaking: Kirk joined the North San Antonio Chamber five years ago and has been a featured speaker for the Technology committee and Networking Breakfast. Kirk says, “The North Chamber is a resource for networking, education and leadership training. My business and reputation are better because of my involvement.” As Chair for 2013, Kirk’s focus is to bring more value to members by having professional speakers at Ambassador meetings and increasing business among members.

The Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas (CBCST) to host 12th Annual Hearts in Harmony Gala

cbcst_updatedThe Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas (CBCST) is getting ready to host their 12th Annual Hearts in Harmony Gala, to be held at the San Antonio Country Club on Thursday, February 28, 2013. The CBCST will be honoring a very special group of volunteers — the 2006 Founding Friends of The Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas Board.

Betsy Baker
Rita Brogdon
Carolyn Brown
Jenifer Brown
Ted Burkhart
Weetia Burkhart
Sallie Chasnoff
Mac Chesney
Kristina Fentress
Mary Beth Fisk
Linda Fugit
Bonnie Gilley
Almeda Hodge
Darwin Huartson
Kitty Lange
Anne Moses Ledet
Paula Loring
Camille Mandigo
Angela Rabke
Barbara Sano
Diane Thrush
Joan Wolff
Janie Worth

Because of the extraordinary support from their Founding Friends, the Center has grown into a successful and thriving organization, serving more than 1,200 children and caregivers mourning the loss of a loved one each year. Join the CBCST in thanking them for their genuine belief and tireless dedication to this great mission, allowing the CBCST to celebrate 15 years of service to our community.

The Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas would like to offer you the opportunity to reserve a table for their 2013 Hearts in Harmony Gala before sales open to the public. As always, a beautiful evening is promised, beginning with a silent auction, followed by dinner, a live auction and music provided by South Texas Jazz.

For ticket and sponsor information, please visit www.cbcst.org/gala.

About The Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas (CBCST)
The Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas strives to foster healing for grieving youth, their families and the community through peer grief support programs, counseling, training, education and outreach. At the CBCST it is our belief that each person’s journey through grief is unique and therefore deserving of a distinct approach to healing. Rooted in this philosophy, our staff and volunteers are trained to utilize a multitude of expressive therapeutic techniques that employ the use of art, drama, writing, music, movement and dance to help process feelings of grief and, ultimately, to help prevent unhealthy behaviors and dysfunctional outcomes for grieving children.

The CBCST is truly a volunteer-driven organization.  Wherever your time and talents may be, there is a match for you to help link hearts, mend spirits and transform lives. For more information on volunteer opportunities, please contact Julia Anderson, Director of Volunteer Services, by calling 210-736-4847 ext. 224 or via email at janderson@cbcst.org. Ongoing donations can be made throughout the year at www.cbcst.org.

Word from the Chairman

After an early banking career in Dallas and more than a decade of service in the ministry, in 2006 Larry Anthis relocated his family to his hometown of San Antonio, re-entered banking and immersed himself in his community – including volunteering for the North Chamber. Today, Larry is a Vice President at Frost developing the Schertz market for the Texasbased bank and will serve as the North Chamber’s 2012 Chairman of the Board.

“At Frost, we hold entrepreneurialism, relationships and community in high regard,” says Larry, “and the North Chamber shares our values to help people build their business while being flexible and nimble to respond to a fluctuating business environment.”

For 38 years, the North Chamber has endeavored to offer an atmosphere of inclusiveness in which any member – regardless of company size or revenue, has access and the ability to make an impact on the community at a micro level. “The North Chamber’s milestones have been achieved by the actions of volunteers who worked together to affect change in the areas of education, infrastructure and quality of life,” says Larry, emphasizing that he will build upon such projects initiated by previous board chairs. “I am a steward of an ongoing legacy to build business and build leaders, but I also feel we are at the top of our game, and I’m challenging our chamber leadership to increase performance and build upon the chamber’s success,” he adds.

At a working retreat last year, the incoming board of directors evaluated the chamber’s values, deliverables and member needs, then developed a few concise objectives to help define the chamber’s course in a more strategic manner.

From the planning session emerged a consensus that the North Chamber consistently advocates for a pro-business agenda and offers a proven array of programs that provide leadership and professional development, networking and recognition for professionals at every age and stage of career development. “Members find a lot of value in our programs, so we won’t change what we deliver. We will continue to listen to our members and ask ourselves, ‘Does this benefit our members? Can we do it in an excellent way?’ And if a program isn’t meeting this criteria, then our members will dictate that we do something else, and that keeps us dynamic,” says Larry.

Furthermore, the board suggested a revised communication strategy in terms of becoming a more virtual chamber in a digital age. This year, the chamber plans to design and build a modernized marketing and communications infrastructure that better facilitates the flow of information between the chamber, its members and the community. “We are reimagining our connectivity to serve multiple audiences who are more reliant on mobile computing devices, smartphones, digital and social media and personalized content that is tailored to their interests,” explains Larry.

Engaging the millennial workforce was also a recognized challenge to member businesses. “Today’s workforce and employers have a unique set of needs and circumstances. In some cases it’s about training young professionals for the workforce and other times it’s training the employers about what Generation Y needs,” says Larry. “Companies are employing these folks and want to keep them retained, and we’re offering solutions among others, like Leadership Lab and the Enterprising Women’s Conference, that help the business community cultivate a more skilled and empowered workforce,” he adds.

The North Chamber understands that small business members require particular focus as they seek resources and value for their organizations, thus will continue to deliver specialized programming like the How 2 instructional seminars and Sustainability Series, as well as financial and technology related programming. “The men and women who put it on the line every day in their businesses are taking the risks to help grow this economy,” says Larry. “They are largely represented within the North Chamber, and in us they have a voice and an advocate.”

Additionally, the North Chamber will work to bolster the return on investment for its members through an individualized effort to get more people involved and engaged via volunteerism. “We know that service hours and financial involvement are the keys to realizing a return on membership investment,” says Larry. As such, the chamber will aim to broaden the depth of member business participation by creating more than one touch point within member organizations, thereby increasing leadership opportunities to more professionals.

Finally, Larry feels that by optimizing the North Chamber’s offerings and operations, it will be positioned to deliver higher value to its membership. “By getting involved, our members use this chamber as a vehicle to work on their business. This is an ideal venue for professionals to demonstrate their expertise, position themselves as an authority in their community, grow their business and even cultivate employees,” says Larry. “I look forward to working with the membership and community to make 2012 a successful year.”