As 2025 comes to an end, it is also the two-year mark of my tenure at the Chamber. An aspect of my job that I enjoy is working with the talented and dedicated members of our board of directors. The board members play a key role in setting the strategies and goals for the Chamber. Just as important, they volunteer in various roles for the nearly 100 events or programs we hold each year. From the ribbon cuttings for our new members or anniversaries of long-term members to the Food & Wine Festivals and the Light the Night Christmas Parade, the board serves our members and the community.

There are two elements of our chamber board that make this time of year both exciting and a little melancholy.  The excitement is for the new board members and the melancholy over the board members finishing their terms whom I will miss at the board meetings providing valuable insights. We have three members ending their tenure on the board this month.

Julie Herbort of Heath Family Brands served six years on board, including being the board chair. Her many efforts and volunteerism plus leadership led to her being selected as Chamber Woman of the year for 2023. She played an important role in helping me settle into the position of President/CEO. Every time I make a financial analysis or work on the budget, I hear her voice asking, “why would we work that hard and not at least break even?”

Greg Oehler of Texas Hills Realty served eight years and was the board chair during my first year on the job. Greg showed confidence in my effort to have the Chamber take over the Fredericksburg Food & Wine Festival. Being a native of Fredericksburg and of German heritage, he is a conservative businessman, and I am more of a risk taker. He took a few deep breaths when I told him about my vision for the festival and the potential financial risk for the Chamber. After the deep breaths, he had my back and provided the latitude I needed to pull off the festival.

Kathleen Yosko of Liebeskind was a quiet, loyal and extremely hard-working board member. She was never afraid of taking on important community challenges. She chaired our childcare committee and kept that team on task—all with her wonderful smile and infectious positive attitude. It was her persistent attitude that motivated me to find a way to get the background check program going at the Chamber offices. Having the background check service here in Fredericksburg was important to the day care centers getting their staff vetted quickly. So, to all the doctors, nurses, financial advisors and other jobs needing a fingerprint/background check, you can thank Kathleen for having this service here in town.

To Julie, Greg and Kathleen, thank you for your service to our community and especially your support for the organization and for my growth as the Chamber’s leader.

We have four new members starting their tenure on January 1, 2026. Hattie Allen of the Grace Center, Sinéad King of Handle iT Consulting, Ashley Odom of Feast & Merriment and Randye McAnally of Fredericksburg Farms. Observing them during their board orientation and listening to their contributions to our recent strategic planning session tell me that they will be active members, pushing the Chamber to provide more value to our membership. Our 2026 officers are Tachi Hinojosa (CEO CTEC) as Chair, John Wells as Vice Chair (Texas Regional Bank Market President), Beth Valley as Secretary (General Manager Texas Wine Collective), Krista Beardslee as Treasurer (Retail Services Director National Museum of the Pacific War, and Jay Mallincrokdt as Immediate Past Chair (President Heartland Enterprises).

Rounding out the Board of Directors are Ken Cooke (Fredericksburg Standard Publisher), Tammy Vollmar (Weaver Technologies Account Executive), Taylor Williams (Attorney & Shareholder, Langley & Banack). This board, along with our staff, constitutes a team of very talented people who are dedicated to keeping our business community and community-at-large vibrant and prosperous. I am grateful and proud to serve with them in 2026!

Happy New Year!