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New board president Kelly Palmer optimistic going into new year
By Kim Nguyen, knguyen@acnpapers.com
As the new president of the Plano Chamber of Commerce's executive board, Kelly Palmer hopes to help the chamber bounce back from last year.
"All nonprofits suffer in poor economic times, and the chamber is no exception," he said. "Like all nonprofits, we have had to make some serious and painful adjustments over the last year, but have stayed in the position for a rebound."
The economy fell, and in an effort to streamline revenues, many locally run businesses cancelled their memberships to the Plano Chamber. Palmer said this year's theme is membership and sponsorship, and he hopes to be able to regain the memberships lost over the last year.
Palmer, senior vice president at ViewPoint Bank, said he is looking forward to the upswing in Plano-area businesses and will continue going into the new year with an upbeat attitude and lots of optimism.
The Plano Chamber of Commerce works with the Economic Development Corporation to bring businesses into the city. With numerous different divisions that are each geared toward different areas of the business world, Palmer said the common goal of each group is to help make the chamber successful.
"The chamber couldn't be a success without the contributions of each of the divisions," he said. "They all do the right thing to help the chamber grow and be profitable."
Not everything comes easily, and Palmer does expect to be confronted with some challenges over the next year.
"I'm cautiously optimistic," he said. "The nationwide average for past-due mortgages is up, and when you throw in high loan, foreclosure and unemployment rates, that's definitely an ominous challenge for everybody. Those numbers definitely mirror what's going on in the economy and we have to be cautious."
But if the city of Plano can make adjustments in its budget and still provide high-quality programs and services, Palmer is confident that the chamber can, too.
"Any city leader will experience some struggle with a smaller budget but still be expected to provide the best services," he said. "That's the same for every government entity, business, nonprofits and individuals."
Palmer said the key component that makes Plano unique from other communities is the synergy and lack of contention among the city's leaders and how greatly magnified the camaraderie became as the economy slowed.
"We are Plano; there are a lot of great things that happen in this great city," he said. "All of the facets of the community - business, schools, city government and economic development - are all lockstep with each other to work and achieve the same common goals, which makes things better for all of us."
With this reinvented sense of togetherness, Palmer said he anticipates an upswing in business over the next year.
"We've been sputtering like a car that missed second gear and went into third gear," he said. "There's still forward momentum and we can still get up the hill, and that's what's important."
With more businesses coming into Plano, there are more prospective members to recruit to join and reap the benefits of being a member of the Plano Chamber of Commerce, Palmer said.
"There are a lot of tangible benefits from being a chamber member, such as long-lasting friendships, being part of the community and feeling that you're part of something special," he said. "There's a satisfaction of being involved and giving participation to yourself, your family, your business and your community."
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