Upcoming Chamber Events:

January 23- Action Fire Pros, LLC Ribbon Cutting, 2:00 p.m., GKCC.

January 27- Ambassador Annual Christmas Party, beginning at 5:30 p.m., Killeen Civic & Conference Center.

January 24- Pignetti's Restaurant Ribbon Cutting, 4:30 p.m., Killeen Mall.

January 31- Annual Groundhog Shadow Day, 8:45 a.m., Killeen Civic & Conference Center.

February 2- February Power Hour Sponsored by Embarq Yellow Pages, Noon, Central Texas Workforce Center. Click here to reserve your spot!

February 7- Fort Hood Region Government Vendor Conference & Exposition, 8 - 4 p.m., Killeen Civic & Conference Center.

February 7- Pita-De-Jour Ribbon Cutting, 10:00 a.m., 904 N. Gray St.

February 13- Monthly Ambassador Meeting, 11:30 a.m., GKCC.

February 15- Monthly Third Thursday Mixer, Annual Mardi Gras Celebration, Texas Partner's Federal Credit Union, 5:30 p.m., 1011 Wales Dr., Killeen.

February 28- Hood Howdy, Fort Hood Catering & Conference Center.

Of the choices listed, what is the single most important improvement that could be made to downtown Killeen, in your opinion, to help revitalize the area?

CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE POLL!

Watch the next edition of GKCC Hot Links! on January 31 for the results of this poll.

Chamber's New Communication Strategy Set To Better Serve GKCC Members

With this initial edition of Hot Links, the Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce's new by-weekly electronic newsletter, the chamber is setting a new direction in communication with its members.

Set to replace the "Front & Center," the chamber's newspaper-style publication which has served the chamber well since the early 1990s, Hot Links will publish every other Wednesday via e-mail and web access. It will provide chamber members the most timely news of upcoming events and activities, time-sensitive legislative alerts and reports and an extensive section of convenient links to news articles that will be of interest to chamber members.

People will be the focus of the new e-newsletter, and the format will allow liberal use of photos - now all in full color - of chamber members and committees in action.

The web-based format will also use all the interactive tools available on the web, from online RSVP capability for events to interactive user features, such as polls and surveys.

The Hot Links e-newsletter, however, is only one aspect of a new two-pronged communication strategy. Beginning in April 2007, the chamber will also begin publication of a quarterly, four-color magazine-style publication. The focus of this publication will be the economic development and growth of the Greater Killeen area. The chamber's partner in this magazine effort will be Color Visual Concepts, who will be responsible for graphic design, production and advertising sales of the new magazine.

Overseeing and advising both aspects of the new communication plan will be a volunteer committee, the Chamber Editorial Advisory Committee, which is in the process of being formed, with several members already selected. Any chamber member with expertise in communication, production, writing or graphic design interested in serving on this advisory committee should contact the chambers' Director of Membership Development, Thad Byars, at tbyars@gkcc.com.

2007 Mixer Schedule Takes Off In A Big Way Thanks To   Killeen.Com Second Anniversary Party

The GKCC Third Thursday Mixer schedule began in a big way as Killeen.Com and about 350 of their closest friends got together on January 18 to celebrate Killeen.Com's second anniversary.

Complete with a live band, Centex Barracuda's football and a truly eye-opening demonstration by the folks from LEAF - the Killeen Police Department's Law Enforcement Assistance Fund - mixer attendees had a variety of activities, plus some great networking opportunities, to occupy the evening, which featured dancing for mixer guests after the formal program was completed.

While chamber member JoAnn Wentworth was chosen to win the $250 Killeen Green Jackpot, she was not present, so the pot will increase to $300 in February.

For additional pictures from the January mixer, please see the "People" section below.

February's Third Thursday will be the 9th Annual Mardi Gras Celebration at Texas Partner's Federal Credit Union, 1011 Wales in Killeen. It will be held on Thursday, February 15 beginning at 5:30 p.m. Don't miss this mixer which has become one of the highlights of the chamber year!

Groundhog Shadow Day Returns For KISD Students and Local Businesses

The 11^th Annual Groundhog Job Shadow Day, sponsored by the Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce and the Killeen Volunteers, Inc. will be held on Wednesday, January 31, 2007. Each year on Groundhog Day, area businesses and juniors from the Killeen Independent School District come together for a day of learning and fun.  Each student becomes a shadow and is matched up with a business "groundhog."  The shadows follow their groundhogs throughout the day learning the actual "hands on" day-to-day workings of their business leader’s job. 

The shadows will come from all four high schools: Killeen, Ellison, Shoemaker and Harker Heights. The activities will run from 9:00 in the morning until 2:30 in the afternoon.  Each groundhog will have a shadow for the entire day during which time they will have a special lunch together.  At the end of the day, the groundhogs will return their shadows to the KCCC for reflection and evaluation forms.

As in previous years, in 2007 there has been a good response from local businesses. Businesses should remember to be at the Killeen Civic and Conference Center at 8:45 Wednesday Jan. 31.  This year is sure to be another successful event, thanks to the hard work of the volunteers and the generous groundhogs/business members who will be giving their time to make it happen.  

Since 1986 the Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce has presented Leadership Killeen, a program designed to develop and encourage community leaders with exposure to issues facing our community, city and state. Twenty years is a long time, people come and go, if you are a graduate of this program please contact the chamber to update your contact information. Be sure to include your name, mailing address, business name, phone numbers, email address and the year you attended Leadership Killeen. Send your information to Michele Mallonee, Event Coordinator at mmallonee@gkcc.com

Hood Howdy is just around the corner! This event is scheduled for February 28, 2007 at the Fort Hood Catering and Conference Center on Fort Hood. Your chamber membership allows you to take advantage of this marketing opportunity by providing items to be distributed to 500 Fort Hood families at this event. Items to be distributed should be delivered to the chamber office not later than February 16, 2007. For additional information contact Michele Mallonee, Events Coordinator, at 526-9551 or mmallonee@gkcc.com. If you would like information on booth rental at this event for your business, contact MWR Marketing & Advertising at 287-0337.

The Economic Development Division of the Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce partnered with the City of Killeen Traffic Division to provide updated traffic count data. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) conducts traffic counts every five years. The chamber receives weekly requests for traffic count information. However, business owners researching a potential site location and financial lenders approving business loans prefer to have current information to show a more accurate picture of traffic activity especially in a city that continues to grow in population, housing and business development. The Traffic Division has conducted numerous traffic counts in key locations throughout the city. The data has been integrated with the City's Geographic Information System (GIS) and can now be accessed on the City of Killeen's website. The data will continue to be updated as the Traffic Division takes new counts. Go to http://www.ci.killeen.tx.us/index.php?section=110 for traffic counts as of Dec. 14, 2006.

Establishment of TAMU-CT Key Issue for Central Texas

by John Crutchfield, President, Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce

There are many issues to be discussed and acted on during the current session of the Texas Legislature. None are more important to this community and the region than the establishment of Texas A&M University – Central Texas as a stand-alone, upper-level university. “Stand-alone” means accountable directly to the university system with the authority and resources to make its own decisions regarding course offerings, operations, budget request, etc.  “Upper-level” means the authority to award bachelor and post graduate degrees. In the case of TAMU-CT, junior and senior level and graduate courses would be offered.    More...

For more information on the work of the 80th Legislature in the early days of this session, click here.

WASHINGTON—U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, Vice Chairman of the Senate Ethics Committee and a strong advocate of open government, made the following statement Tuesday regarding unanimous Senate passage of an amendment to the Ethics Bill, S. 1, to increase transparency in the federal funding process, More....

Austin -- State Senator Troy Fraser (R-Horseshoe Bay) has been reappointed chairman of the Senate Committee on Business and Commerce by Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst. Lt. Governor Dewhurst made the announcement on Friday evening. More....

Speaker Tom Craddick (R-Midland) would be vying for his third term as the elected leader of the House, but over the past year, three other House members had indicated they would challenge him for that position.  State Representatives Senfronia Thompson (D-Houston), Brian McCall (R-Plano), and Jim Pitts (R-Waxahachie) had each announced their intentions to seek the speakership.  More...

Wild West Charity Night, sponsored by the Fort Hood Officers’ Wives Club will be Friday, February 9th, 6:30 PM to Midnight at the Killeen Civic and Conference Center.  Tickets are $20 per person and are available for purchase at the chamber office, cash or check payable to the Officers’ Wives Club is appreciated.  Special events include: games, live auction, can-can girls, live band, Texas Hold’em Poker tournament and much, much more!  Due to the nature of the event you must be 21 or older to attend.  For more information contact the OWC hotline at 286-0957.

KPLE-TV has been awarded the 2007 National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) Media Award for Television Station of the Year (Low Power).

This decision is based on a thorough review and judging by their peers on the NRB television standing committee.  With an understanding of budgetary restraints and broadcast limitations, those qualifying as low power stations display innovative and creative programming through its daily schedule, demonstrate sound financial decisions, be a force for the Gospel in its coverage of local religious events, issues and stories, and work in partnership with local churches and ministries to provide a media platform for voices unable to be heard elsewhere.

KPLE-TV General Manager Catherine Mason will be attending the NRB 2007 64th Annual Convention in Orlando , Florida on Feb. 17th to receive the award. She will return in time for the 3rd Annual KPLE-TV banquet on February 20th with keynote speaker and Temple resident, Elwyn Johnston, along with international gospel recording artist Vicki Yohe in performance.

The CENTRAL TEXAS BUSINESS RESOURCE CENTER (the BRC) provides high-quality business counseling, training, and assistance to potential and existing small business owners. The Central Texas Workforce System, the Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce, and Central Texas College support this non-membership, not for profit organization.  Each month the BRC offers or sponsors workshops and special events for the small business community. 

January BRC Workshops    February BRC Workshops   Special Government Procurement Seminar

Juanita Stace, Farm Bureau Insurance, 4200 E. Stan Schlueter Loop in Killeen, is one of 50 local business people who took advantage of the networking opportunities offered by the January Power Hour on January 5. 

In February, the Power Hour will celebrate it's first birthday, with help from February sponsor Embarq Yellow Pages. The first anniversary event is sure to carry some interesting surprises to help celebrate the occasion. The February Power Hour will be held on February 2 beginning at 11:45 at the Central Texas Workforce Center, 300 Cheyenne, Killeen. To register for the February Power Hour, click here.

With help from both the Killeen and Harker Heights Ambassadors, Sales Manager Terry Cameron of Dennis Eakin Mazda, center, cuts the red ribbon on January 11 to formally open the dealership's new facility. Located at 4301 E. Stan Schlueter in Killeen, the new high-tech showroom offers a video theater, cars that seem to be suspended in air and state-of-the-art customer care stations that facilitate the new car buying experience. For more information, call Dennis Eakin Mazda at 254-953-2401, or visit them on the internet at www.denniseakin.com.

New Killeen Whataburger Opens On Trimmier

Killeen's newest Whataburger restaurant opened in January, and with the help of the GKCC Ambassadors, the staff and management conducted a ribbon cutting on January 12. The new restaurant, located at the corner of Trimmier and Central Texas Expressway, features a spacious dining area, a drive-through and, of course, the well-known fare offered by the restaurant. The design of the new business is reminiscent of the traditional Whataburger restaurant. You can contact them at 254-526-0225 or visit them on the web at www.whataburger.com.

With the help of the Killeen, Belton and Temple Ambassadors, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor President Jerry Bawcom proudly dedicates the remodeled Sanderford Administration Complex with a ribbon cutting on January 12. The 16,500 square foot addition features a new lobby/reception area, new executive offices and a new presidential suite. Visit the University of Mary Hardin Baylor on the web at www.umhb.edu.

Stony Brook Homes owners Angel and Anthony Rodriguez, center, along with the GKCC Ambassadors, hold a ribbon cutting to officially open Stony Brook Homes newest open house at 312 Oak Ridge in Nolanville. Stony Brook Homes is a homebuilder that offers quality-built homes at competitive prices. This home at 312 Oak Ridge features a 30-year roof, internet hook-ups throughout the home, upgraded carpeting and a number of other exclusive upgrades. For more information, contact Stony Brook Homes at 254-526-3193, or visit them on the web at www.trgsell.com.

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