Dallas Regional Chamber's Blog

By Jay Barksdale, Senior Vice President of Public Policy & Education

Since January 8th, my team and I have been running laps and logging miles escorting Dallas business leaders around the Capitol, talking to our elected officials about the priorities articulated in the DRC’s Legislative Agenda.  As the session enters its last month, we’re looking forward to seeing final resolution on some the policy debates surrounding our legislative priorities.

You’ve probably heard by now that water and transportation issues have dominated a lot of the conversation at the Capitol.  It had been really encouraging to see our elected officials understand and take on such long-term, complex issues that so dramatically impact the future of Texas. Unfortunately, the primary water funding bill was knocked down because of a technicality.  House leadership is now searching for a legislative solution and garner enough votes for passage. It would be a huge failure for Texas if we aren’t successful in the effort.

As always, education has also been widely discussed.  Many legislators have expressed a desire to reevaluate our accountability and graduation requirement systems.  A strong majority of lawmakers are also committed to replenish some of the funding that was taken out of public education last session. Unfortunately, the increase of $2.5 billion for public education is still not enough to satisfy everyone and this will lead to more legislative gamesmanship in the final weeks. Be on the lookout for this to impact important issues like the water funding bill last week.

Also in that conference, we are looking for legislators to fund economic tools like the Texas Enterprise Fund and the Emerging Technology Fund, that are so vital to the DRC’s company relocation efforts.  We have worked hard this session to help our leaders understand how important these tools are to our local and state economy.

We’re in the homestretch of session so expect a large amount of activity during these last few weeks as a number of bills are debated.   We will let you know how you can help as these issues are brought to the floor.  In many cases, a quick call to your local Legislator voicing your support for an issue can make a big difference.

It’s been a whirlwind 112 days in Austin, and we’re gearing up for a final sprint to the finish line.  We are hopeful that this will be a productive and helpful session for the business community in Dallas.

By Amy Ramos, Managing Director, Communications

Your monthly look at the big stories and upcoming events we’re talking about at the DRC.

1. Since the start of 2013, the Chamber has added over 40 new economic development leads to our existing project case load, double the numbers we saw in 2012.
2. Saturday, May 11, municipal and school board elections are occurring throughout the region.  Visit the Dallas County, Collin County or Denton County election websites for ballots and polling locations.  Seats in Dallas ISD Board of Trustee districts 4, 5 and 7 are up for election.  Learn who Educate Dallas has endorsed by clicking here.
3. The Leadership Dallas application period closes May 10.  Apply online here.
4. This month, the 2013 Economic Series kicks off with a discussion about how to grow the DFW regional economy through greater global engagement during the Global Cities Initiative on May 16.
5. Did you know that the DRC made an early entry into the technology age in 1960 when it became the first Chamber (and one of the first Dallas businesses) to use a data processing system for membership records and billing.
6. Member Monday and Meet the Members are two great ways to spread the word about your organization.  Email Amy Ramos if you’d like to see your company profiled.
7. Chamber members can receive significant savings through the FedEx Advantage Program and Office Depot Discount Program.  Learn how you can take advantage of these member perks here.
8. Join the DRC for breakfast with the North Texas Consortium on May 22 and hear a panel of experts discuss best practices in public schools.
9. Hit the links with YP, Leadership Dallas Alumni and local business leaders during the Annual Golf Classic on May 20.  Spots are still available, reserve your tournament tee time today.
10. Looking for a summer intern or new hire?  Try DRC partner campus2careers, the largest entry-level job board in Texas.

By Erica Mulder, Communications Manager

Change can happen in an instant.  Here at the DRC, we want to make sure you’re staying up-to-date on the happenings both at the Chamber and around DFW.

Besides our Blog section where you can find articles from guest writers, Meet the Members and Ribbon Cuttings, be sure to check out our News section on the website as well.  It also offers in-depth articles on upcoming events, big stories in the region and is filled with helpful content to educate readers on what a great place North Texas is!  The News section is found in the center of our homepage on our website.  Be sure to check back daily as we continue to update both our blog and news sections.

In addition, follow our social media channels for additional exclusive content, contests, and giveaways!   LIKE us on Facebook and FOLLOW us on Twitter.  We’re also on Pinterest, plus subscribe to our YouTube Channel to view all our videos featuring community leaders and DRC events.

Website: http://www.dallaschamber.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dallaschamber
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DRChamber
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/dallaschamber/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DallasChamber

By Trisha Windham, Director of Public Policy & Education and
Amy Ramos, Managing Director of Communications

Later this week, the Texas House of Representatives is expected to debate HB 3664 (Darby).  This bill calls for a $30-per-year increase in vehicle registration fees.  In addition, an amendment to this bill allocates a future portion of the sales tax on motor vehicle sales to be applied to the highway program. The last time the state raised this fee was in 1985, and the proposed increase would provide an additional

$700 million per year for the highway program.

The DRC supports this bill as part of our efforts to encourage Legislators to create a sustainable highway funding package for Texas.

Voice your support by contacting your state legislators and encouraging them to vote yes to increasing vehicle registration fees to help fund transportation infrastructure.   Not sure who your representatives are?
Click here to find out.

Click here for more information on the DRC’s Legislative Agenda.  For more details on HB 3664, read Representative Darby’s article in the San Angelo Standard-Times here.

By: Maximilian Monico

As a young professional and recent college graduate, I have been trying to soak up as much career advice as I can from my peers and members during my time as an employee of the Dallas Regional Chamber.  Some of the most important advice that stuck with me came from our President and CEO, Ambassador James Oberwetter.  He told me: “It’s amazing how the people you meet along the way can have such a big impact on your life.” 

He is absolutely right.  It sounds simple enough, but it also requires some drive on our part.  As we try to grow, whether it’s our business or in our personal life, we need help from people along the way. We have to be proactive and put ourselves in positions to meet the people we feel could help us. I think the majority will agree that networking is a vital tool in achieving this.

Which leads me to share with you that the Dallas Regional Chamber will be hosting our business networking luncheon, Leads Over Lunch, on May 15 at the British Beverage Company Pub.  At Leads Over Lunch, you are surrounded by a collection of diverse companies from the DFW region, and it is a great opportunity to make connections and grow your business network over a delicious meal.  Each attendee gets the opportunity to announce to everyone what their company does and how they can help others reach their business needs. The potential of what could result after a simple handshake from someone you meet at the event is truly amazing, and I urge you to join us!

Leads Over Lunch is open to both members and non-members of the Dallas Regional Chamber.  Click here to register.

By: John Ansbach, Leadership Dallas Class of 2013

Over the last several years I’d heard from friends and colleagues that I needed to apply for Leadership Dallas. I heard it was an “amazing group,” that I would make “life-long friends,” and that I would learn about my city and my community. To be honest, however, I was hesitant to apply. Like everyone else I knew I was already short on time, long on other commitments and, besides, I’m from Dallas. What more could I possibly have to learn about the place where I grew up…?

One year later, as a proud member of the LD Class of 2013, now I’m the one evangelizing about Leadership Dallas to anyone who will listen. This isn’t like any other organization I’ve ever been a part of. This is me and roughly 50 other folks all of whom share a passion and interest in all things Dallas. Every month I come together to learn and grow with leaders from a variety of non-profit groups as well as hospitals, banks, energy companies, law firms, advertising and tech companies and just about every other type of organization you can think of (including one very large restaurant chain that sells the best fried chicken you’ve ever tasted…) all of whom have one thing in common: they care deeply about Dallas and are willing to embrace ways in which they can help form and shape the future of our great city for years to come.

Even as a native Dallasite, I’ve learned things I never knew about my town, and I’ve done so while having a great time, honing my own leadership skills and, most memorably, working towards completing our very own class project, a little something soon to be revealed that will help Dallas area boys and girls learn to read (more to come on that later!).

In short, Leadership Dallas truly is the most amazing experience where you’ll have fun, make great friends, and learn and grow into the leader you want to be, all for the betterment of the community around you. And on the other side, as a member of the LD Alumni network, there really is no telling what great things you can accomplish for Dallas and for all of us who are so fortunate to live here!