Get to know your 2012 Total Resource Campaign Chair, Tommy Patrizi

I was part of a local restaurant tradition started in 1948 by my

father Vic Patrizi as a Zestos Frozen custard stand, which later became Vic & Als, then Patrizi's Restaurant until 1997.  I love family and all things family, focusing around my wife of 27 years, Kelly and our 6 children, spouses and grandchildren. I am the local owner of Apex Payroll, providing payroll and timekeeping services for locally owned small businesses. I support the chamber because they are the unified voice of business in our community. Collectively we can get more accomplished than we can on our own. Strong local businesses mean a strong local economy. Our members get to know each other and then feel comfortable referring each other to our peers. My involvement with the Chamber allows  me to become a resource to my clients and friends. I have been involved with TRC from the start, as a captain the first year and Vice Chairman last year. I love the fact that in one short period we are able to secure all the sponsorships for an entire year. Members  can select from a wide range of unique opportunities  to support the chamber while benefiting from a targeted approach to getting your business in front of the local business community. I would like to see the chamber continue to work towards providing tools, information and resources that local business can utilize to grow and succeed. 

Ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes of an emergency? How does the City manage a large scale incident such as a hurricane? Now you can find out first hand. Your group can book a tour of the 911 Operations Center and the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to see how it all happens. These two facilities are co-located on the 2nd floor of the Municipal Court building in downtown Beaumont. Opened in 2008, the 911 Operations Center and the EOC were dedicated to providing the citizens of Beaumont with the best emergency service in the region.

The 911 Dispatchers are a committed group who are responsible for receiving calls from individuals who need assistance from Fire, Police or EMS.  They not only dispatch police services but coordinate with other first responders and city businesses to help callers. They are an integral part of the city's emergency services.

The Emergency Operations Center was first tested when Hurricane Ike struck Beaumont.   First responders operated in the EOC on a 24 hour basis to prepare for, respond to, and recover from Ike. Activities such as the evacuation, repatriation and debris management were all coordinated from the EOC.

Book your group tour by calling Carolyn Lewis, 911/311 Center Training/QA Supervisor at 409-980-7227. Let an emergency service professional guide you through the facility that is first to know when an emergency happens and first to respond to your call for help.

Leadership Beaumont, in cooperation with the John Ben Shepperd Student Leadership Institute located at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin in Odessa, Texas, presented a student leadership forum, The Shepperd Edge, to over 100 students from 18 area high schools on Thursday, January 26, 2012 at the Lamar Institute of Technology in the Multi-Purpose Center.  The students were led by the Institute's Senior Program Coordinator Michael D. Swindle through sessions titled collaboration, creative leadership, leadership communication and leadership styles.  Sponsors of this student leadership training session were Lamar Institute of Technology, ExxonMobil, Arkema, Beaumont Independent School District, Eastham Forge, Inc., Entergy-Texas and the Port of Beaumont.  Jimmy Harrison was chairman of the event, and the following volunteers assisted the students in the session activities:  Kellen Bradford, Patrick Calhoun, Melody Chappell, Amy Denison, Shelley Freeman, Starla Garlick, Joanna Genuardi, Leslie Harrison, Kenny Kraemer, Chris Partin, Michael Perez, Brenna Rodriguez, Brandon Spears and Richard Vasser.

The Southeast Texas Economic Development Foundation was an Event Sponsor at the Texas Economic Development Council's Winter Meeting in Galveston last week. The organization coordinates economic development efforts across the state, and this was a great opportunity to showcase the strong economy of Southeast Texas.

We're going paperless! SBAlliance Capital installed a new software system this week allowing all loan files to be securely stored electronically. No more paper files! The paperless process will allow SBAlliance to work more efficiently, and better serve our borrowers

Membership Division   

 We are always looking for motivated individuals to participate on the Membership committee. Please contact Dale at 838-6581 x108 if you are interested.    

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