Herford takes reins as Groves Chamber president
Published 4:44 pm Tuesday, January 30, 2018
GROVES — Groves Chamber of Commerce members, supporters and politicians headed to Magnolia Manor nursing facility amid sunny skies and crisp temperatures for the chamber’s annual breakfast Tuesday.
The casual event highlighted the chamber’s 2017 accomplishments and its outgoing president, Maggie Wilson, while welcoming incoming president Beverly Herford.
Wilson noted the chamber’s accomplishments. They included addition of new members, sponsoring Feed the City of Groves Employees Day and Mission’s Attic -Mae Terro was named 2017 small business of the year. The Groves Pecan Festival was deemed a success, as was collaboration with the Port Neches Chamber of Commerce to honor the Port Neches-Groves Independent School District Top 10 scholastic honors luncheon. Thanks were extended to Kenny Blanda of Magnolia Manor, who sponsored the annual breakfast as well as the East Egg hunt in March and the Groves Pecan Festival Mixer in October.
Herford presented Wilson with a plaque for her service to the chamber before speaking to the crowd.
“I’m proud to see the community come together,” Herford said. “The chamber board and I are dedicated to making this successful.”
Herford’s goals as the new president are to grow membership and increase participation.
The Groves Chamber of Commerce and Tourist Center 2018 officers include: Beverly Herford, Merle Norman/Bella Boutique, president; Don Sodman, individual member, first vice president; Pansey Lamson, TOTAL Petrochemicals USA, second vice-president; Gene Venable, individual member, parliamentarian; and Maggie Wilson, Memorable Moments @ Maggie’s, past president.
The 2018 directors include: Kenny Blanda, Magnolia Manor; Charity Cavazos, CNC Defense Firearms Boutique; Jon Hampton, Snooper’s Paradise; Tonya Petix, Mike Simon, Levingston Funeral Home; D.E. Sosa, city of Groves, city manager; and Richard Turner, individual member.