By David Taylor / Managing Editor
After coming close to shuttering their doors following the Covid pandemic, the resilient Highlands-Lynchburg Area Chamber of Commerce fought back with leadership and solid board to rebuild the organization and welcome more than 100 to their awards banquet last Thursday night.
Stage Right, enter Jim Wadzinski as the president and the board and the gang to rebuild the flailing group was formed.
“We had significant tax debt, just enough money to get by for a bit, and we were in need of help,” Wadzinski told the chamber membership and friends.
“I stated at that time that our goals were simple – retire all of our debt, increase our membership to 50 members, and finish the year with $10,000 of available funds.”
He reported that with the help of the board and community, they now have over 50 members, the tax debt has been entirely retired, and as of the last board meeting, a total of $16,000 in available funds.
“That number will increase significantly after tonight,” he said.
Wadzinski finished his final address to the chamber inviting them to invest in the community, whether through funds, volunteerism, or personal time, but do it now.
Following his speech, Judge Lucia Bates of Baytown swore in the new board members and incoming president Bella Dion of Sterling-White Funeral Home and Cemetery.
“Looking ahead to 2025, our organization has an important mission: to be the voice of the Highlands community during this period of rapid growth. While our area thrives and expands, it’s essential that we preserve the strong sense of community that makes Highlands such a unique and special place to live and do business,” she said.
Dion said the board’s goal was to identify new opportunities to give back, help those in need, and ensure that, as the area grows, they are strengthening the community.
‘We also remain committed to promoting and supporting our local economy, ensuring that all businesses—small or large—continue to have the resources, opportunities, and support they need to succeed,” she told the banquet crowd.
Special speaker for the event was Harris County Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey. Ramsey has been the commissioner for the area since his election in 2020. Ramsey was recently named the American Society of Civil Engineers 2024 Public Official of the Year. He was also named the Engineer of the Year by Houston area engineering societies and received the Distinguished Graduate Award from the Zachry Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Texas A&M in 2023.
“I like to come to Chamber of Commerce meetings where you’ve met all your goals, you’ve set a record. I have seven grandchildren. My job is not to sit there and say, ‘Well, I remember back in the good old days, it was all great back then.’ I just don’t know how y’all gonna make it,” he said.
Instead, the commissioner had a better idea.
“I think y’all need to inspire them. I think you need to encourage them, give them a sense of what we just began. It’s gonna get better. It’s gonna be better than you can imagine. So as a chamber, as a county, as a community leader, I would ask, I would encourage you, to take a moment and go inspire a few folks,” he asked.
The chamber then handed out several community awards to special people:
Ruben Lopez, Jr. was named the 2024 Firefighter of the Year.
Jose Gomez was named the 2024 Constable Deputy of the Year.
Keith Shelton was named the 2024 Sheriff’s Deputy of the Year.
Sterling-White Funeral Home and Cemetery was named the Business of the Year.
Mike Joseph was named the 2024 Terry Davis Award winner.
“This gala represents not just an evening of celebration, but a testament to the strength and vitaliy of our community,” Dion said in closing. “It’s a reminder of the incredible work being done every day by businesses, entrepreneurs, and leaders who drive our local economy forward. The partnerships, collaborations, and innovations we’ve seen here tonight are proof that together, we are building a thriving, resilient future.”
Leave a Comment