02/20/2009
Erin Al-Salman resigns as chamber president
At the February 20, 2009 board meeting, Cy-Fair Houston Chamber President Erin Al-Salman submitted to the board her resignation effective May 20, 2009.
“I have truly enjoyed my time with the Cy-Fair Chamber, the staff and board of directors. However I have decided that at this point in my life I want to spend more time with my children.”
“I will continue to support the Chamber and the Cy-Fair Community because this is where I grew up and this is where I am raising my family. Cy-Fair is a wonderful place and the Chamber is a large part of that.”
Al-Salman said she would carry on with her daily responsibilities, and complete all pending obligations with the Chamber.
As Board Chairman it has been a pleasure working with Erin . She has been very good for our Chamber. She’s done a great job in managing our staff, budget, working with our Membership, Committee Chairs and Board of Directors .She has been very professional and effective as a leader and representative of our Chamber.
We have a great Chamber and Community because of individuals like Erin Al-Salman.
Chairman of the Board Reginald Lillie is heading the search committee for a new chamber president. Those interested in applying for the position should send a resume and salary history to: Reginald Lillie, 16611 Canterra Way , Houston , TX 77095 . Lillie can also be reached at 281-213-9663 (phone); 281-256-9902 (fax); or rlillieins@sbcglobal.net .
“Thank you for allowing me to serve you as president.” Al-Salman said.
02/12/2009
Economic Forecast Luncheon is set for March 6
The Cy-Fair Chamber is pleased to announce the First Annual Economic Forecast luncheon on Friday March 6 at 11:00 a.m. The luncheon will be held at Remington Square , 10613 N. Sam Houston Parkway West.
The keynote speaker is the Chief Economist and Director of Research for the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University in College Station , Texas , Dr. Mark G. Dotzour.
Dr. Dotzour earned his Ph.D. in the Department of Finance at the University of Texas at Austin in 1987 and served as Associate Professor of Real Estate and Finance at Wichita State University for 10 years. As Chief Economist, he is currently doing market research to monitor how global and national trends are likely to impact residential and commercial real estate markets.
He has been at the Real Estate Center since August, 1997. Since then, he has published 59 articles in magazines and given over 800 presentations to more than 110,000 people. His research findings and comments have been published in the Wall Street Journal, Money Magazine, USA Today and Business Week, and was a guest on the Jim Lehrer Newshour on PBS.
Erin Al-Salman, Cy-Fair Chamber president, said the goal is to give members tools they can use during these challenging economic times. “That is what we are here for, and we want to help in any way we can.”
Current sponsors for the event are Caldwell Companies, Chaparral Management Company Inc and Jersey Meadow Golf Course.
Reservations for this luncheon are required in advance. Underwriters and Sponsorships are available for $3,500 - $500. Individual tickets will also be available for $60. For additional information or reservations, call Sherri Padalino at the Chamber Office at 281.373.1390 or sherri@cyfairchamber.com.
02/05/2009
Economic Forecast Luncheon Announces Keynote Speaker
Chamber leaders proudly announce Dr. Mark G. Dotzour, Chief Economist and Director of Research for the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University in College Station , Texas as this years keynote speaker for the First Annual Economic Forecast Luncheon on Friday March 6 at 11:00. The location has not yet been determined, but will be shortly.
Dr. Dotzour earned his Ph.D. in the Department of Finance at the University of Texas at Austin in 1987 and served as Associate Professor of Real Estate and Finance at Wichita State University for 10 years. As Chief Economist, he is currently doing market research to monitor how global and national trends are likely to impact residential and commercial real estate markets.
He has been at the Real Estate Center since August, 1997. Since then, he has published 59 articles in magazines and given over 800 presentations to more than 110,000 people. His research findings and comments have been published in the Wall Street Journal, Money Magazine, USA Today and Business Week, and was a guest on the Jim Lehrer Newshour on PBS.
Erin Al-Salman, Cy-Fair Chamber president, said the goal is to give members tools they can use during these challenging economic times.
Al-Salman said the Chamber is here to help members and businesses in the community during tough economic times, and the staff has received many requests for help locating funding sources, and general information in the past few months.
Reservations for this luncheon are required in advance. Underwriters and Sponsorships are available for $3,500 - $500. Individual tickets will also be available for $60. For additional information or reservations, call Sherri Padalino at the Chamber Office at 281.373.1390 or sherri@cyfairchamber.com.
02/05/2009
Legislative Staff Members Preview 2009 State Session
Texas House members are anxiously awaiting committee assignments, and along with colleagues on the Senate side, are ready to take on issues affecting Cy-Fair residents as well as the entire state during the 81 st Texas Legislative session.
Key staff members representing state Reps. Gary Elkins and Allen Fletcher, and state Sen. Dan Patrick, took time out of busy schedules to meet with members of the Cy-Fair Houston Chamber of Commerce’s Governmental Affairs committee Feb. 5 to provide a legislative preview of the 2009 session.
The six state legislators who represent the vast Cy-Fair area, which is roughly bordered by Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District ’s boundaries, include: State Representatives Dwayne Bohac, R-Houston, Bill Callegari, R-Katy, Gary Elkins, R-Houston, Patricia Harless, R-Houston, and Allen Fletcher, R-Tomball; and State Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston.
Kelli Ray, Elkin’s legislative director, said the election of new Texas House Speaker Joe Straus meant committee assignments were delayed, but House members expected to hear shortly where they would be serving this session.
Elkins will focus on tax appraisal reform, voter identification, windstorm insurance, border security and cyber security.
During the interim, Elkins served on the Select Committee on Property Tax Relief and Appraisal Reform. Ray said the committee heard testimony from chief appraisers, appraisal review board members and residents throughout the state. Based on those findings, the committee formulated several recommendations, including suggested reforms to the appraisal review system and annual appraisal caps.
Ray said many agree it would be very difficult to get a constitutional amendment passed to reduce the annual appraisal cap from 10 percent to 5 percent, but they will work to get a bill passed that states that a property can only be appraised every two years.
Elkins’ proposed “Cyber Security” bill – House Bill 345 – will address the problems caused when businesses fail to protect personal credit and debit card information. The bill will require businesses who accept those cards to protect the data using the Plastic Card Industry Data Security Standards, which reduce the risk of security breaches.
Sharon Slover, Fletcher’s aide, said he has hit the ground running as a new House member – he won election to the seat formerly occupied by Corbin van Arsdale – and has hired a new staff to assist him in his efforts.
“We are in learning mode,” Slover said. “We have a strong team.”
She said he will focus on transportation, law enforcement and education issues.
Fletcher and his staff are also working on firming up a contract for a local office.
Sarah Singleton, a member of Patrick’s district staff, said Patrick’s 2009 committee assignments include criminal justice, education (vice chairman), health & human services, higher education (vice chairman), intergovernmental relations, and the Senate committee on flooding and evacuations.
Patrick has filed several pieces of legislation, including an “informed consent” bill (Senate Bill 182); a bill that would only allow appraisals to be conducted every other year, which effectively lowers the appraisal cap to 5 percent per year over a two-year period (Senate Bill 276); a bill that would provide a “sales tax” holiday on hurricane relief supplies (Senate Bill 360); a bill that suspends the licenses held by employers who knowingly employ illegal immigrants (Senate Bill 357); and a bill eliminating certain unfunded mandates placed on public school districts (Senate Bill 300).
Singleton said Patrick sought out information from local school district officials before he filed SB 300. Some of the unfunded mandates addressed in the legislation include mandatory evacuation drills and the 22-student limit placed on Kindergarten through 8 th grade classrooms.
Chamber Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman (and 2009 Chamber Chairman of the Board) Reginald Lillie said the Chamber was intently focused on lobbying for reforms in the school finance system in order to help Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District avoid a pending financial crisis; and for the full funding of the Highway 290/Hempstead Highway reconstruction project.
“We need as much funding as we can get for our roads,” Lillie said.
Lillie said Chamber members would communicate those priorities to House and Senate members when they traveled to Austin in February with the Association of North Harris Chambers of Commerce (ANHOC).
Archived News
01/19/2009 Fifteen Years and Still Going…Chamber Herd Rides Again
01/13/2009 Chamber Leaders Respond to Challending Times with Optimistic Outlook