presidential PERSPECTIVES
Rich White
Chairman
Robert “Bobby” Bisor
Chairman-Elect/Administration
Glen Brewer
Immediate Past Chairman
Kathy Krusie
Vice-Chair Community Enhancement
Uri Geva
Vice-Chair Communications
Mary Beckman
Vice-Chair Leadership
Jody Rodriguez
Vice-Chair Membership
David O’Neil
Vice-Chair Business Enhancement
Arty Brieden
Vice-Chair Finance & Physical Resources
Paul Atkinson
Stephen Beck
Neal Briers
Lori Bruffett
Sharon Burt
Crystal Dupre
Vicki Flenniken
Katie Fox
David Gardner
Rudy Grimaldo
Barron Hobbs
Jason Jennings
Rayne Knight
Chase Murphy
Casey Oldham
Brandi Ring-Cooper
STAFF
President/CEO
Royce Hickman
Director of Finance
Lori Farrell
Director of Operations &
Public Affairs
Burl Haigwood
Manager of Business Programs
Lucia Cropper
Manager of Member Services
Carrie Archer
Membership Investment
Representative
Heather Barlow
Communications Coordinator
Brittany Coker
Executive Assistant
Tracy Bates
Business Programs Coordinator
Kelli Davis
Receptionist & Membership
Assistant
Linda Espiriqueta
Washington D.C. Trip
For the first time since the Chamber’s initial trip to Washington
D.C. in 2000, I was unable to be a member of our delegation due
to family issues. While I regret missing the trip, I must admit that it
was interesting seeing the trip from a much different perspective.
Following the trip through the KBTX, WTAW and the Eagle coverage,
like most of you do each year, my pride in what our Chamber has
become in the legislative arena grew to new heights. Under the able
leadership of our Board Chairman, Rich White of HEB, your Chamber of
Commerce delegation, once again, effectively delivered our community
message to some very influential elected officials.
This was our 15th trip to the Nation’s capital, and this year’s delegation
of 18 community leaders included representatives from our local
businesses, city and county government, Texas A&M, Blinn College and
the Chamber. These dedicated individuals, who are listed on page 9 of this publication, did an
incredible job, and each of us owes them a big thank you for giving their time to make this trip
on behalf of our local community. It is very important to me that you know that their expenses
were paid either personally or by the organizations they represented.
Thanks to the efforts of Congressman Bill Flores (Chairman of the Republican Study Committee)
and his staff, Wednesday was an incredible day! A meeting room was reserved in the Capitol
where our entire delegation met with 16 of our Nation’s top elected leaders. Each leader visited
with our delegation for thirty minutes, and the list of those leaders was literally a “who’s who”
in Washington circles. In addition to Congressman Flores our delegation met with Senator
John Cornyn (Senate Majority Whip), Congressman John Boehner of Ohio (Speaker of the
House), Congressman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin (Chairman, House Ways & Means Committee),
Congressman Kevin McCarthy of California (House Majority Leader), Congressman Steve Scalise
of Louisiana (House Majority Whip), Congressman Pete Sessions of Texas (Chairman, House Rules
Committee), Congressman Kevin Brady of Texas (House Deputy Whip), Congressman Henry
Cuellar of Texas (Vice Chair, Democratic Steering & Policy Committee), Congressman Bill Shuster
of Pennsylvania ( Chairman, House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee), Congressman
Tom Price of Georgia (Chairman, House Budget Committee), Congressman Jeb Hensarling of
Texas (Chairman, House Financial Services Committee), Congressman Fred Upton of Michigan
(Chairman of the House Energy & Commerce Committee), Congressman Mike Conaway of Texas
(Chairman, House Committee on Agriculture), Congressman Trey Gowdy of South Carolina
(Chairman, House Subcommittee on Immigration & Border Security) and Congressman Mac
Thornberry of Texas (Chairman, House Armed Services Committee). I can’t imagine anyone who
visits Washington being able hear from this many major leaders in one day!
In addition to the above line-up, the delegation had a productive meeting with a number of
key staff members of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on Monday and spent the day Tuesday
visiting the offices of all 36 elected house members from Texas. T