Alpine, Texas Community Guide 2018 | Page 11

2018-2019 Community Guide 11 Chamber of Commerce Directory These three exemplary groups work hand in hand to support the everyday small-town hustle and bustle of local business. usiness is good in Alpine, thanks to the support of 100% volunteer-based organizations like the Alpine Chamber of Commerce, Alpine Downtown Association, and Alpine Ambassadors Club. These three exemplary groups work hand in hand to support the everyday small-town hustle and bustle of local business. Alpine Chamber of Commerce extends itself to the entire Big Bend region with its mission of promoting and supporting thriving commerce and encouraging new start-ups. Alpine Downtown Association has a similar mission, with a focus on the preservation and promotion of the historic downtown region in the town’s center. The Ambassadors, in affiliation with the Chamber, are Alpine’s business cheerleaders, hosting ribbon-cutting ceremonies whenever a new shop opens or has an anniversary to celebrate. Members from each group are often found attending each other’s events and meetings, and more than ever, they are working together to make big town events seamless and delightful. The increasing level of interconnectedness between B groups is an indication of how much locals care about the kind of experience people have in Alpine, whether visiting for the first time, or as multiple-generation locals. It’s a reflection of the special, small-town charm business leaders are eager to foster and maintain. The Chamber of Commerce has a full, robust board. Its arrangement of sharing leadership positions between two board members means there will always be an elected board member at numerous events and functions. Co-Presidents Aaron Rodriguez and Ruth Hucke; Secretary Heidi Wassermann; Co-Treasurers Chris Ellerbee and Christopher Herrera; and board members Jim Westermann, Mark Chandler, Yvonne Realivasquez, Jessica Lundeby, Jimmy Tallent, and Jim Street hold together multiple sub-committees and welcome current and new member input. The group draws from a diverse intersection of Alpine, including Realivasquez, Director of Administration Office of the President of Sul Ross State University, bringing added coordination of campus events to town events; Heidi Wassermann, owner of Wassermann Wranch petting zoo; and Christopher Herrera, Doctor of Physical Education and co-organizer of Trans-Pecos Ultra race event. Chamber members recently attended a mini-retreat and returned energized and focused on a few key initiatives: to reestablish membership and city-wide