As part of what it calls a long-term “visioning and strategic planning process,” the Rosenberg-Richmond Area Chamber of Commerce is expanding to include the City of Fulshear in its service area.
Fulshear Mayor Jamie Roberts has accepted an ex officio position on the chamber’s board of directors, along with Rosenberg City Manager Jack Hamlett and Richmond City Manager Glen Gilmore, the chamber said in a statement. “Plans are under way to begin providing local services to Fulshear according to needs.”
Details of the chamber’s expansion will be formally unveiled at an Aug. 6 “launch party” hosted by chamber member Allison Wen of Safari Texas. But it appears further expansion plans are likely.
“Each city choosing to partner with the chamber will receive the designation of ‘Division,’ to denote their alliance,” the chamber statement said. “Also a part of the expansion process is the integration of other new divisions, which will target special groups such as the young professionals unit that is set to join the already organized Hispanic Business Division in late summer or early fall.”
The Hispanic Business Division is being run by an executive council with chamber staff, “and will operate like a mini-chamber within a chamber,” governed by the Rose-Rich Chamber’s bylaws and board.
Chamber President and Chief Executive Officer Gail Parker said the organization has increased its staff from four in 2007 to seven today, and plans one or more staff additions in 2010, depending on the economy.
“When the plan was first envisioned, it would have been hard to predict the challenging times many businesses are now facing,” she said. “The plus side is that most companies realize that business-focused organizations like a chamber are highly beneficial, especially during a downward economy. So our strategy for service expansion has not been significantly altered, and is more or less on track.”
