Voice of Business

We are pleased to announce that Kay McDowell has been selected as the new CEO of the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce! Kay comes to the Chamber with more than 25 years of experience in consumer marketing, corporate reputation, and brand building. Most recently she was an Executive Vice President of Public Relations at Mitchell Communications. During her 11-year career with Mitchell she led integrated marketing campaigns for nationally recognized brands including Procter & Gamble, Mattel, Hot Wheels, Barbie, Cracker Barrel, Massage Envy, and Tyson Foods.

Kay is energized by the growth and change that is happening in the greater Lubbock area. Her leadership begins during Lubbock’s city-wide branding efforts, an initiative led by the Lubbock Chamber. The project is developing a community-wide brand that supports and elevates all city organizations, entities, businesses, and residents.

Football season and other athletics are right around the corner. To discuss the importance of Texas Tech Athletics for the local economy, what fans can do during uncertainty amid conference realignment, and more, we visit with Robert Giovannetti, Senior Associate Athletics Director / External Operations & Strategic Communications.

Hosts Eddie McBride and Kyle Jacobson discuss a new initiative at the Lubbock Chamber: the creation of the Champions for Business Political Action Committee (CBPAC). The non-partisan effort builds upon the Chamber’s robust advocacy efforts that promote pro-jobs and pro-growth policies in Lubbock and the surrounding areas.

The Perryman Group released an economic impact study for Lubbock following UT and OU's announcement that they'd be leaving the Big 12. There was also movement on the City streets bond proposal and a summit in San Angelo to recap.

Representative Burrows joins the podcast to discuss the latest developments with the Big 12, the impact it could have on Texas Tech and the Lubbock area economy, and the Permanent University Fund (PUF).

Hear from the new Texas Association of Business (TAB) President & CEO Glenn Hamer as he talks about his first months on the job and recaps a pro-business session.

 City Manager Jarrett Atkinson sits down with Eddie McBride and Kyle Jacobson to discuss the $174.5M Bond Proposal. 

Kelly Campbell, Director at Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport, discusses the state of the industry, local flight changes caused by COVID, and the ongoing renovations at the Lubbock Airport.

We visit with James Arnold, Chairman of the City Charter Review Committee, to get the latest updates on the City Charter and to learn what the next steps in the process are.

In this week's episode, Kyle Jacobson discusses several of the bills the Lubbock Chamber has been tracking this past session that is being signed into law. 

More in-depth information can be found on the Lubbock Chamber blog.

Russ Horn, President of CoNetrix, discusses recent cybersecurity attacks and what to be on the lookout for in your business. 

The Lubbock Chamber announces a new member benefit for small businesses via the recently launched 401(k) Association Retirement Plan, in partnership with Lincoln Financial Group and Peacefield Wealth Solutions. Local business owner, Eric Sawyer, certified financial planner and owner of Peacefield Wealth Solutions will manage the Lubbock Chamber 401(k) Association Retirement Plan program and he joins our team in the studio to discuss the plan in more detail.

Enrollment has begun for the Lubbock Chamber 401(k) Association Retirement Plan. Businesses interested in learning more can contact Eric Sawyer at (806) 810-4015 or esawyer@peacefieldwealth.com.

Mental Health is a subject that has become more prevalent in our society over the years, but we still have a long way to go. Many people see "mental health" as an excuse for something when in all reality it's just as important to seek help for the mind as it is for an injury or sickness. May is Mental Health Awareness Month and Beth Lawson, CEO of StarCare Speciality System, stresses the importance of Mental Health, how to "self-diagnose", and when/how to seek help for either yourself or a loved one.

On this week's episode, we visit with Elaine Kearney of TBG Partners, the consultant hired by the Lubbock Downtown TIF board to explore the possibility of constructing a civic park in downtown Lubbock. No funding has been committed for the park, but the City is gathering input from the public about features they would like to see if the project does move forward. Visit www.LubbockCivicPark.org to learn more and give your feedback.

Lubbock Chamber board member and Lubbock Restaurant Association (LRA) President, Chris Berry, owner of River Smith's, sits down with hosts, Eddie McBride and Kyle Jacobson to discuss the lingering impacts of COVID on the hospitality industry.

Have you heard of the following bills that just passed the Texas House: HB 290 by Rep. Philip Cortez, to support healthy kids, and HB 133 by Rep. Toni Rose, to support healthy moms? 

HB 290 would reduce the number of kids who are mistakenly removed from their Medicaid health insurance due to inaccurate eligibility reviews that occur just a few months after kids are confirmed to be eligible. HB 133 would allow moms to keep their Medicaid health insurance for 12 months after childbirth, not just two months. 

Hosts Eddie McBride and Kyle Jacobson sit down with Adriana D. Kohler, Policy Director, and Katie Mitten, Health Policy Associate both of Texans Care for Children to learn more about the bills and why they are important to both the health of the family and the business community. 

Take action and show your support to get the bills passed by the Texas Senate here: https://txchildren.org/action-center 

Research is indicating that return to work in 2021 on the heels of the COVID-19 pandemic could lead to employee burnout and high rates of turnover. LeAnne Lagasse, co-owner of ROI Talent Development, joins the podcast to discuss the challenges that could lay ahead for businesses and strategies to promote well-being within teams to mitigate burnout and turnover.

This week, we visit with Lubbock Cooper ISD Superintendent Keith Bryant to get all the information about the district's upcoming bond election.

A small delegation from Lubbock made its way to the State Capitol in Austin for a modified version of "Lubbock Day." In addition to having a Lubbock Day resolution approved on the Senate floor, we had several productive meetings with legislators all across West Texas as well as with the Lieutenant Governor and Speaker of the House.

Hosts Eddie McBride and Kyle Jacobson visit with Former Under Secretary Brandon Lipps on how the agriculture industry has not only shaped his career but his life in general. He will also be the featured speaker at the Salute to Agriculture Luncheon on April 20. Tickets are still available and may be purchased here for both in-person and virtual seats. 

Hosts Eddie McBride and Kyle Jacobson visit with Peter Beard, Senior Vice President for Regional Workforce Development at the Greater Houston Partnership, on the work he is doing with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation's Talent Pipeline Management Initiative (TPM). The Lubbock Chamber is currently partnering with Lubbock Economic Development Alliance to bring TPM to the Lubbock community.

More information is available in a recent interview with Angela Lambert, Community Development Director of the Lubbock Chamber here.

Hosts Eddie McBride and Kyle Jacobson sit down with Henry Florsheim, Wichita Falls Chamber CEO, to discuss Midwestern State University joining the Texas Tech University System and what that means for both institutions. 

Rudy Rosales, the owner of Montelongo's Mexican Restaurant, a local favorite, hosted the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce and Texas Governor Greg Abbott earlier this week for his state-wide announcement to open Texas 100% and lift the mask mandate on March 10. Hosts, Eddie McBride and Kyle Jacobson discuss how the pandemic has changed his business over the last year and what Executive Order (GA-34) means for his business moving forward. 

This week we visit with Lubbock Mayor Dan Pope on ERCOT, City Charter, and get the latest updates on the city's COVID efforts.

Hear from Eddie McBride and Kyle Jacobson as they discuss some of the top issues in the 87th Legislature with special guest, Rep. John Frullo.

In today's episode, you will hear from past Chamber Chair Cory Powell and a champion for the Chamber's diversity efforts that began during his tenure in 2018.

Eric Lee, CFO of Bahama Buck's joins Eddie McBride and Kyle Jacobson in the Lubbock Chamber studio to discuss the potential $15/hour federal minimum wage increase and the effects it could have on Lubbock area businesses.