Member Monday: Five Questions About Expense Reduction with Provista

We recently sat down with Sonny Hare, director of business development for Provista, a new chamber member, to better understand expense reduction for all sized companies.  Right now, most business owners and CEO’s are looking for ways to cut costs, without cutting headcount.  We learned that there are some great tools available for immediate cost savings.

Tell us a little about Provista.

Provista is one of the country’s leading supply chain improvement companies. In a tough economic environment, you can’t afford to pay a dollar more.  Through Provista, you’ll get lower costs on practically everything you need for your day-to-day operations.   We connect our members nationwide to the most competitive and extensive portfolio of products and services available to reduce supply costs, streamline procurement processes and maximize value. Together with Novation, Provista’s supply contracting company, we leverage nearly $40 billion in annual purchasing power to command the best prices on top-name products and services, giving you access to the most comprehensive contract portfolio for business operations, environmental services, facilities management and so much more. Continue reading

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Dallas Votes to End Status Quo at Dallas ISD

By Amy Ramos, Managing Director, Communications

This weekend, the people of Dallas voted to end status quo politics at Dallas ISD by electing three progressive leaders to the board of trustees.   Congratulations to Trustee Bernadette Nutall and Trustees-Elect Dan Micciche and Elizabeth Jones.  Those three candidates represent a movement toward accountability, transparency and, most importantly, a vigilant focus on results-based policies that achieve better educational outcomes for kids.  Continue reading

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Filed under Chamber Communications, Dallas ISD, Education

Make your Voice Heard: Vote May 12!

By Amy Ramos, Managing Director, Communications

This Saturday, May 12, seats in Dallas ISD Board of Trustee in Districts 1, 3 and 9 are up for election.

A number of municipal and school board elections are occurring throughout the region as well.  For more information on ballots and polling places for all elections, visit the Dallas County, Collin County or Denton County election websites. Continue reading

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Filed under Chamber Communications, Dallas ISD, EducateDallas, Education, Public Policy

Welcome to Richardson, Inogen

By Amy Ramos, Managing Director, Communications

Inogen, Inc., a California-based manufacturer and accredited homecare provider of oxygen therapy equipment and services, has announced that it has signed a lease for 31,204 square feet of space in Richardson’s Cardinal Park complex for a major corporate expansion. The company will maintain its headquarters near Santa Barbara while relying on the new Richardson facility to facilitate its dynamic, national growth plans. Inogen expects to take occupancy of the new space in June 2012 and to hire approximately 200 new employees at the site by the end of 2013.

Employees based at the facility will provide services that include medical billing, sales, customer support and clinical services, and the facility will also house part of Inogen’s growing manufacturing and distribution operations. The company’s interest in Texas was spurred during a 2011 marketing trip to Southern California by the Dallas Regional Chamber’s Mike Rosa and Erica Flores, who met Inogen’s executive team to pitch the merits of the North Texas region as a location for the operation. Inogen ultimately selected the Richardson site due to its central location in the Metroplex, ease of access to DFW International Airport, technically skilled workforce, business-friendly climate and capacity to accommodate future expansion plans. Continue reading

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Leadership Dallas Class of 2012 Donates Time, Money to Vickery Meadow Learning Center

By Amy Ramos, Managing Director, Communications

A true leader isn’t afraid to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty, and the 2012 Class of Leadership Dallas is no exception.

The 2012 class raised $60,000, including $30,000 in donated goods and services, and contributed over 1,000 man-hours to make improvements to the Vickery Meadow Learning Center (VMLC) West Dallas campus for their annual class project, allowing the organization to better serve adults and children in an area where over 37 percent of the residents are below the poverty level.  The majority of the labor was done by the 54 class members

“Our Leadership Dallas class is eager to work for better education, quality of life, and the revitalization of Dallas’s less prosperous areas.  We could not have found a better crossroads for these issues than VMLC,” said Mitch Savage, the member of the 2012 class of Leadership Dallas who nominated VMLC for the annual class project.  Continue reading

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Filed under Chamber Communications, Leadership, Leadership Dallas

Texas #1 for Business by Chief Executive Magazine

By John McCarley, Social Media Guy

For the eighth year in a row, Texas takes first place as the “Best State for Business” by Chief Executive Magazine. The magazine surveyed 650 CEO’s in 3 areas, taxation & regulation, workforce quality and living environment in the states in which they conduct business to compile the results. Low taxes, low regulation and central location were three of the major factors in Texas’ victory. Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee and Indiana rounded out the top five. View the full article here.

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Five Questions with Yolanda Montes of Envision Imaging

By Caylon Miller, Membership Specialist

I recently sat down with Yolanda Montes, the Center Manager at Envision Imaging’s Dallas location to learn more about the center and the services they offer.  After speaking with her, I have a clear image of who they are and what they do.  Read on for the details!

Please tell us a little bit about Envision Imaging. What services do you offer? What type of clients do you look for?  Envision Imaging is an independent, locally owned diagnostic center that has been serving the Dallas Community for the past 9 years. Our promise to the community is unmistakable quality and spectacular service.

The center offers diagnostic imaging such as MRI, MR Angiography, CT scan, CT Angiography, and Ultrasound.  We accept Self-Pay patients and provide affordable payment plan options and in network, preferred provider for all major health plans, as well as other health plans. Continue reading

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