School Spirit Sets the Stage for a Look at EMC’s Future
The September Greater EMC Chamber Monthly Luncheon started with a beat.
Before guests even stepped inside The Atrium Center, the Porter High School drumline, cheerleaders and drill team greeted them with plenty of school spirit and energy. It was a fitting beginning to a sold-out luncheon that would ultimately turn much of its attention toward growth, education and the future of the EMC region.
With plenty of first-time guests joining familiar faces from throughout the business community, the room quickly filled with conversations and connections before the program began.
Good Food and Good Company
September's Featured Caterer, Amedeo's Italian Restaurant, started the experience with mini meatballs and artichoke crostini passed around the room as guests visited.
Lunch continued with Italian antipasto salad, marinated green bean salad, Chicken Marsala, Eggplant Parmigiana, Southwest Rigatoni and oven-roasted vegetables, followed by chocolate mousse cups and mini cannoli for dessert.
Locally owned and operated by Kingwood residents Tony and Leslie Raffa, Amedeo's has been part of the local dining community for more than three decades.
Sponsors Help Make the Experience Possible
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center served as September's Presenting Sponsor, sharing information with luncheon guests about MD Anderson and its work serving patients and communities in the region.
Mission Northeast brought another element to the luncheon as Centerprize Sponsor. The New Caney-based nonprofit provides food, clothing, household assistance, education and job training to help families experiencing poverty, temporary setbacks or disasters.
Table Sponsors Frost, 936-600-DUMP and The MINT National Bank provided additional sponsorship support for the luncheon.
Jeff Petersen, owner of J&R's Ace Hardware, led the room in the pledges before the program shifted toward what is happening across the EMC region.
Understanding the Chamber and a Region on the Move
Greater EMC Chamber President & CEO Mark Linabury introduced guests to a new way of understanding what the Chamber is and the role it plays in the region. He also provided an EMC regional economic update, giving the business and community leaders in the room a broader look at the economy they are helping shape.
The Chamber then recognized its Distinguished Investors before welcoming a new name to that group.
And it came with a really big check.
Frost was recognized as the Greater EMC Chamber's newest Distinguished Investor, with Frost representatives presenting a giant check to Chamber leadership to mark their investment.
Frost also shared another piece of news with the room: the bank plans to open a new location in Valley Ranch near Randall Reed Stadium.
The announcement represented more than a new Chamber investment. It was another example of businesses responding to the continued growth taking place throughout the region.
Recognizing the People Behind the Chamber
The Chamber's diplomats were recognized for the relationships they build with members and their involvement throughout the year, followed by recognition of the Greater EMC Chamber Board of Directors.
September also provided an opportunity to welcome five businesses that recently became part of the Chamber business community:
- Modern PURAIR North Houston
- McDonald Realty & Management
- Landtech, Inc.
- Vital Heart & Vein
- Rios Funeral Directors
Each was recognized in front of the luncheon crowd and presented with a new-member plaque.
Growing Schools for a Growing Region
The school spirit that greeted guests at the beginning of the luncheon carried naturally into the keynote presentation from Matt Calvert, Superintendent of New Caney ISD.
Calvert gave business and community leaders a closer look at a school district growing alongside the communities it serves. His presentation included infrastructure growth, highlights from throughout the district's service area, vendor opportunities for businesses and other developments underway across New Caney ISD.
The district currently serves nearly 20,000 students across 21 campuses, making its growth an important part of the larger story unfolding throughout the region.
And the connection between strong schools and a strong community extends well beyond the classroom.
Local school districts educate tomorrow's workforce and community leaders. They are major employers, invest in infrastructure and facilities, purchase goods and services from businesses, and help shape the quality of life that makes a community a place where families and businesses want to be.
For Chamber members in the room, Calvert's discussion of vendor opportunities also provided a practical reminder that understanding what is happening in local schools can lead to opportunities for businesses to participate in the region's growth.
From Porter High School students creating an unforgettable welcome to conversations about new investment, economic growth and the future of New Caney ISD, September's luncheon reflected a region very much on the move.
It also demonstrated why bringing business, education and community leaders into the same room matters. The more people understand what is happening around them, the better positioned they are to build relationships, identify opportunities and participate in shaping what comes next.
And sometimes, it all starts with the sound of a drumline.
For more information about Greater EMC Chamber Monthly Luncheons or other Chamber opportunities, contact:
Tracie Kamenoff, Director of Events & Marketing
Tracie@gemcchamber.com
281-354-0051
Greater EMC Chamber events are proudly supported by funding from East Montgomery County Improvement District's Community Development Grant.