Tag Archive for: Tyler Area Chamber Of Commerce

Tyler Area Business Owners Mingle At After Hours Event

Business owners took a break from the scorching 95-degree East Texas heat on Thursday evening to mingle with their peers at this month’s After Hours event, courtesy of the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce and Stonewater Roofing.

The happy hour gathering was held at the Marriott Fairfield Inn & Suites in south Tyler.

After Hours

These monthly After Hours events give the Tyler area’s elite a chance to unwind and get to know other local business owners, potentially sparking some mutually beneficial relationships and strengthening the Rose City’s economy. Jenni Wilson with the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce said that such events are “really important.”

“We have over 2,000 members in the Tyler Chamber,” Wilson explained. “This gives them an opportunity to network with each other, trade secrets and just get to know each other.”

After Hours

Along with free drinks provided by R&K Distributors, patrons were treated to finger food from Montez Brothers Catering and live acoustic music from former “American Idol” contestant and Tyler native Vivian Villapudua.

Stonewater Roofing was thrilled to be the sponsor for the August iteration of this event.

Trent Spradlin is the Chief Marketing Officer for Stonewater Roofing. “The greatest thing about these types of events is being able to see a healthy Chamber, which means there is a healthy community of businesses that are not only helping grow the community as a whole, but partnering together on different events and projects,” he said. “It’s great to see our advertising partners out here. It’s great to see other businesses that we have partnered with in different capacities over the last few years, and we look forward to continuing that growth in the future.”

“It’s All About Networking” At B2B Expo In Tyler

East Texas business leaders shook hands and swapped cards at the Harvey Convention Center on Thursday afternoon. Many of the area’s best companies gathered under one roof for the B2B Expo, presented by the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce and sponsored in part by Stonewater Roofing. More than 5,000 people attend the event each year.

“This event is 25 years old this year, and it’s all about networking,” said chamber COO Henry Bell. “It’s all about connecting people to help them do their businesses with each other, business to business. That’s B2B.”

Booths were spread across the convention center’s main room, and even spilled out into the hallways. Along with the exhibition floor, the event included specialized presentations to help local businesses learn the skills that are necessary for growth. “We had HR workshops this morning. We had a networking luncheon. Now, the expo with all of the exhibitors and their booths,” Bell continued. “They’re all networking and networking with each other.”

“If it wasn’t for small business, we would be nowhere,” said Brent Lyon, director of sales for Townsquare Media. “All of our employees believe that small business is the foundation of who we are.”

“This event has gotten better and better,” added Jennifer Gaston, editorial director for Tyler Today magazine. Her publication reaches 90,000 readers across Smith County. This is Gaston’s ninth year at the B2B Expo. “The more I’m involved with, the more people I meet. Stay engaged and find stories.”

Katie Clarkston holds her new Apple iPad Pro along with Stonewater Roofing’s Anayo Onyi (left) and Trent Spradlin (right) at the B2B Expo in Tyler.

Stonewater Roofing was among the businesses in attendance at the expo, interviewing officials from other companies on Facebook Live and handing out bags, water bottles and more. Invoicing specialist Matthew Coats even provided some live music for the event. A very special congratulations goes out to Katie Clarkston with SERVPRO of Tyler, who walked away from the Stonewater Roofing booth as the winner of a brand new Apple iPad Pro.

Meanwhile, Bell is particularly proud of how the area has thrived in his time with the chamber, partially due to efforts like the B2B Expo. “It is very fruitful to see the success and the growth that Tyler and East Texas has experienced,” he said. “We were instilled as youngsters that you should give back to your community, give back more than you take out of a community, help it grow.”

See Tyler’s Best Businesses At The 2019 B2B Expo

Admit it, many of the new year’s resolutions that you made have probably been broken already. But it’s easy to commit yourself to using more local businesses in 2019. There’s no shortage of options in the Tyler area, and some of the best will be on display at the B2B Expo.

The event will be held on Thursday, January 17 from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Harvey Convention Center.

Do not be fooled by the name. The expo is not only a chance for businesses to network. Consumers are also welcome to see what local companies have to offer.

More than 5,000 people attend the B2B Expo each year. It is an opportunity for folks in the Tyler area to learn about the products and services being offered in their very own neighborhood.

Best of all, the expo is FREE for those who present a business card.

The day’s events also include a business workshop, luncheon with a speaker, $1,000 worth of prize giveaways, and more! Visit the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce’s website for further details.

Stonewater Roofing will be in attendance, and is a proud sponsor of this event.