SIMON SINEK LAURA BUSHDR. HENRY CLOUD CAT DEELEYCo-Host

LAURA SCHROFF TRIP CROSBYCo-Host

Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce

www.tylertexas.com

!"#$%&'(#)* FebruaryMarch

2014

The Chamber is off to a great start in2014. Spring is upon us. The azaleas,tulips and other beautiful flowers willsoon decorate our City, and the tourist willcome to see Tyler’s showcase. Last year,over 98,000 visitors attended the Azaleaand Spring Flower Trail. The economicimpact was over $2.8 million on ourcommunity. Everyone is looking forwardto another great Azalea trail this year.The Chamber has already been very busyin the first part of the year and severalevents are planned for the spring.

In January, Bryce Petty from BaylorUniversity was announced as the firstrecipient of the Earl Campbell Award withnational media coverage for the event andTyler. Over 40 nationally recognized sportswriters and media people participated onthe voting panel. It was a great start to anevent that will have significant impact onTyler and well deserved recognition toour local hero, Earl Campbell.

The annual 2014 Business Expo was agreat success. The Chamber reallyappreciated all the exhibitors and attendees.This is a great opportunity for networkingamongst the Chamber members andshowcasing your business.

The Chamber’s Business Education Council,comprised of Chamber members, educatorsand business representatives, has been hardat work analyzing how local businessescan help our education institutions in theirefforts to continually improve our localeducation system and assuring all membersof our community obtain a good education.

Two new programs are being instituted tohelp in this effort. The Road to College isa pilot program for Fifth graders and theirfamilies to promote higher educationexpectations and secondary readiness.The Ambassadors of Compassion isanother new program that will provideapproximately 1000 Ninth graders withmentorships in the business community.Rick Rayford was also recognized as theChamber’s Volunteer of the Quarter for hisleadership as the chairman of this Councilfor the past two years.

The Energy Committee is also hosting the2014 Energy Summit on March 31 at theOrnelas Activity Center. Dr. Ken Morgan,Director of the TCU Energy institute andJames French, Cheniere Energy, will befeatured speakers along with Paneldiscussion on current energy issues.

The Senior Resource Committee ispresenting “Seniors Celebrating Life” onApril 3rd at Harvey Hall. This event istargeted at Senior Citizens.

It’s also time to purchase your tickets forLeadercast on May 9 at Green AcresCrosswalk Conference Center. The lineupof speakers this year is great: Andy Stanley,Malcolm Caldwell, Arch Bishop DesmondTutu, Randall Wallace, Laura Schroff,Dr. Henry Cloud, Simon Sinek, Lara Bush,Cat Deeley and Trip Crosby. This is anexcellent day of leadership training for yourbusiness. This program focuses to changethe way the world thinks about leadership.This year’s event – Beyond You – challengesleaders to focus outward rather than inward.It’s also a great opportunity to network withother business and Chamber members.Seating is limited and tickets are sellingfast. You don’t want to miss out on thisannual event!

It is not too late to join a Chamber committee.The Chamber is driven by its committeesand we want you to serve on one of thecommittees. It’s a great way to give backto our community. Contact Henry Bell ifyou would like to join a committee.

Purchase tickets online: LeadercastTyler.Eventbrite.com

ROSEMARY JONESChairman 2013 - 2014

Message From the Chairman

Leadercast is a one day leadership event broadcast LIVE to hundreds of locations around the world and beginning this year,Tyler is one of them! Save the date of May 9th at Green Acres Baptist Church Crosswalk Conference Center.

MAY 9, 2014

ARCHBISHOP DESMOND TUTU RANDALL WALLACEMALCOLM GLADWELL BILL MCDERMOTTANDY STANLEY

Azaleas, tulip, dogwoods, oh my! Spring into Tyler this season withour blooming beauties that have graced the yards of so many homes in the AzaleaDistrict for decades. Each spring visitors from far and wide travel to town to seethe Azalea and Spring Flower Trail and enjoy the various community spring events.

This year marks the 55th time Tyler has opened its doors and welcomed guestsfrom all over to stroll our streets, join our events, and bask in the beauty that isTyler in the Spring. Last year the Trail brought more than 100,000 tourists toTyler and this year we are expecting even more.

Tourism lends a significant economic impact and plays a big role in thewell-being of the local economy.

Travel and tourism is one of the most important “export-oriented”industries in Texas. Spending by visitors generates jobs and tax revenuesfor communities within the state. (The Economic Impact of Travel on Texas,Dean Runyan and Associates, 2012.)

The Convention & Visitors Bureau will also once again be hosting the Bunny HuntBucket List and Azalea Photo Contest. Travelers and locals alike are encouragedto try their hand at these two contests during the Trail. This year the rules havechanged a bit so make sure to visit the website for official rules or pick themup at the Chamber of Commerce. Entry forms will also be available online atVisitTyler.com/azaleatrail and at the ribbon cutting ceremony on March 21.

The CVB encourages everyone to be a tourist in your own backyard and take dvantage of the natural beauty of the city in which we live. We are all sofortunate to live in a city that literally comes alive in the spring!

The History of the TrailWhile oil booms gave Tyler an economic head start in the 1930’s, azalea androse blooms gave the city its beauty. Azaleas were introduced to Tyler in 1929 byMaurice Shamburger, one of the city’s early nurserymen. Pleased with results of atest garden of azaleas, Shamburger shipped the colorful plants here by the boxcarloads from Georgia. After completing his garden in 1929, Shamburger discussedthe beautification potential of azaleas with Mrs. Sara Butler of the Tyler CourierTimes Telegraph. Mrs. Butler not only encouraged Shamburger to promote azaleaplantings in the city, but planted a number of bushes at her own home onCharnwood Street. That home site, along with several other gardens on LindseyLane, soon became springtime showplaces with their colorful azalea blooms,

and Tylerites began buying the plants by the thousands. Some of the thick,towering azaleas at older homes on the Trail date back to the ‘30’s and ‘40’s.By 1960, the blooming azaleas were attracting much attention, and that year theChamber of Commerce established a marked route. The first Trail featured about60 homes on a five-mile route. The Trail was an instant success. Within two yearsit had expanded to 75 homes and was attracting 15,000 visitors. By 1964, 25,000people a year were coming to see the azaleas. In 1986, it expanded to two milesand as of 2009, the Azalea Trail stretches ten miles and attracts over 100,000visitors to Tyler. The homeowners make the Trail the success it is. They regularlyincrease their azalea plantings and spend countless hours making sure theiryards are spotless for the annual visitors. The Trail has been featured in numerousnewspapers and magazines, including Southern Living and Texas Highways,drawing visitors from all over America.

The History of the BellesWith the success of The Trail escalating and more tourists coming to town TheChamber decided guests needed to be welcomed in true southern style. In 1964,the first Azalea Belles were introduced to the Azalea and Spring Flower Trail. Thefirst group of Belles was made up of two chamber secretaries. These ladies madetheir own costumes by hand and distributed brochures to guests along the Trail.

Now the Belles are a much beloved and anticipated part of the three weekendevent. Tourists are taken aback by the local hospitability and the extra flare theseyoung ladies add to the overall experience. These Belles are truly the ambassadorsof the Trail. They are always happy to visit with guests and pose for photos in anyof the beautiful gardens along the Trail.

This year, 34 local sophomores and freshman will serve this role. Watch theTyler Morning Telegraph in the weeks leading up to the Trail for photos andmore information on this year’s stewards.

Calling all Azalea Belles: This year is the 50th anniversary of the AzaleaBelles. We would like to host a reunion for all former Belles. If you were anAzalea Belle in the past please contact Holli Conley at hconley@tylertexas.comor call 903-592-1661 by March 10.

Get ready, Tyler, for the most spectacular spring flower trail in East Texas justoutside your window, March 21-April 6, 2014. For a complete list of events go toVisitTyler.com/azaleatrail or pick up a brochure at the Chamber of Commerce.

Our bloomers areshowing, and weinvite everyone totake a peak!55th Annual Azalea andSpring Flower Trail slatedfor March 21-April 6

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CITIZENS NATIONAL BANK620 W Front St903-595-5571

GRACIELA’S CUISINE1721 S Broadway

903-526-0655

GREAT FOUNDATIONS, INC.307 N Glenwood

903-617-6065

KINDLE DENTAL5605 Old Bullard Rd

903-218-6300

REFUGE OF LIGHT- GROUNDS FOR JUSTICE2318 E. Fifth St903-283-2752

TEXAS EAST GYMNASTIC1937 Deerbrook Dr

903-509-3547

-&1$&$%&'(#)*Advantage Self Storage of TylerTom Wrinkle7487 Old Jacksonville HwyReferred By: Vel Williamson

African American CulturalEvents CommitteeGregory BucknerPO Box 4157Referred By: Jim Toman

Citizens National Bank -Front StreetJesus Vera620 W. Front StreetReferred By: Tricia Walker

Clear Sight InspectionServices, PLLCDavid Burleson11334 Hwy 64 EastReferred By: Kay Gilbreath

Cleveland AmoryBlack Beauty RanchHolly Stamps12526 County Road 3806Referred By: Nicole Cox

Dale Carnegie Training14241 Dallas Pkwy #150Referred By: Cindy Smoak

Direct RehabMedJonathan Helvey3110 Park Center DriveReferred By: Mary O’Neill

Dr. Timothy R. Smith D.D.S.Timothy Smith713 Turtle CreekReferred By: Myranda Diduch

Grimes Water WorksNancy Grimes3126 CR 4101Referred By: Holly McFarlin

Helping Hands ChiropracticKaren Austin621 Shelley Park PlazaReferred By: Kitty Springer

IHOPJosh Patterson209 SSW Loop 323Referred By: Connie Schaefer

Pancho Villa MexicanRestaurantGuillermo Garnica3841 Hwy 64WReferred By: Price Arredondo

Pathfinder IntelligenceArt Georgiou501 Shelley DrReferred By: Tricia Walker

Red Petal SalonKimberly Roe625 S Vine AveReferred By: George Jones

River Oaks EnergyR.W. Roe2727 LBS Freeway, Suite 930Referred By: Ben Morgan

River Oaks Energy (R.W. Roe)R.W. Roe2727 LBS Freeway, Suite 930Referred by: Ben Morgan

Ronnie Horsley, P.C.Ronnie Horsley231 S CollegeReferred By: Connie Schaefer

Sadler’s Kitchen & CateringRob Gowin101 S. BonnerReferred By: Cindy Smoak

Sellers Patterson InsuranceLinda Sellers5070 Kinsey DrReferred By: Greg Patterson

The Works / DishworksCaryl Cochran1002 Hwy 154 WReferred By: Nicole Cox

Therapy 2000Meredith Honeycutt100 E Ferguson, Ste 1204Referred By: Carmen Carpenter

Thomas Wright & AssociatesNathan Wright7925 S. Broadway AveReferred By: Don Skylar

Turtle Island Stand UpPaddle BoardingDebbie Cunningham602 Ridge Creek DrReferred By: Myranda Diduch

Tyler Newcomers ClubDiane RoworthPO Box 9613Referred By: Tom Robbins

Vascular Specialist of East TexasTara Kinabrew1040 S Fleishel AveReferred By: Nicole Cox

WR Ventures, Inc.Bob Westbrook4116 Pinecreek Dr.Referred By: Leslie Watson

Zeid Women’s Health CenterBecky Kitchens4519 Troup HwyReferred By: Myranda Diduch

Tyler Area Chamber News (USPS 447-540) is published monthly by the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce, 315 N. Broadway, Tyler, Texas 75702.

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tacc officers2013-2014

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Myranda is a new member of theContact Club and is a Brand Consultantat Design Center Signs. She is a memberof the Young Tyler Professionals and theTyler Area Builder’s Association. A 2 yearvolunteer for the Girls Scouts, Myrandateaches engineering and design toyoung girls.

Myranda DiduchJanuary

Jim has been a Contact Club member for sevenyears. He is a past Chairman of the Contact Club aswell as past Chairman of the Membership ServicesCouncil. Jim has been in the insurance businessfor 29 years and is the owner of Jim Toman AgencyInsurance He is also active with the IndependentAgents Association and the Texas Life Association.He and his wife, Debbie have one son, Cliff.

Jim TomanDecember