TEACHER BAGS/BACK TO SCHOOL BASH UPCOMING
CHAIRWOMAN’S LETTER
RIBBON CUTTINGS
RECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENCE B.E.S.T. LEADERSHIP
CHAMBER STAFF
BECKI WOMBLE, CCE, IOM, ACM PRESIDENT/CEO
JAMI HANEY VICE PRESIDENT
JACKI GABRYSHAK, ACM MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR
KORNYAN BAILEY COMMUNICATION & MEDIA MANAGER
MOLLY M c CORMACK ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR
SARA RUTHERFORD
DAWN REYNOLDS
MASON MOTE
CHASE ANDERSON
ERIC FARLEY SKY PINKSTON
MEAGAN WEBB
LISA HOLCOMB BRITTANY ROGERS
LINDSAY KANA
PAUL HIGHTOWER JOSH THOMAS
C. DOMINICA MCGINNIS
TIM KIMBRO
LORI TUGGLE
behind the SCENES
What Your Chamber is Really Working On
One of the questions I get asked most often is, “What does the Chamber do when there isn’t an event going on?”
It’s a fair question.
Our ribbon cuttings, luncheons, Alive After Five, leadership programs, and celebrations are the visible side of the Chamber. They’re fun, they’re important, and they bring our business community together.
But if I’m being honest, those events make up only a fraction of what my Chamber team and I do every day.
In fact, some of the most important work we do happens when no one is watching.
Most mornings don’t start with an event; they start with meetings. Some days it’s a phone call with city hall or an Influential Investor. Other days it’s sitting down for coffee building a relationship with a business owner. Sometimes it is discussion about infrastructure, transportation, housing, workforce development, or the policies that affect our businesses. Other times,
BECKI WOMBLE, CCE, IOM, ACM PRESIDENT / CEO BASTROP REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
it’s a chat with school superintendents, economic developers, nonprofit partners, or employers who are trying to solve a workforce challenge.
Every conversation has one thing in common: making sure the voice of business is represented.
I often tell people that one of the Chamber’s greatest responsibilities is earning a seat at the table and then making sure we use that seat wisely.
That doesn’t always mean agreeing with everyone in the room. Sometimes it means asking difficult questions. Sometimes it means bringing people together who wouldn’t otherwise be having the same conversation. And sometimes it means simply listening so we can better understand the challenges our members are facing.
Much of that work never makes the headlines, but it matters.
This summer has been especially
busy behind the scenes.
We’re developing our legislative agenda so that when local, state, and federal leaders ask where the business community stands, we have thoughtful, member-driven priorities ready to share. Advocacy isn’t something we do every other year when the Legislature is in session. It’s something we work on year-round, building relationships before we need them.
We’re also taking a hard look at how we serve our investors. Our team is evaluating our investment levels for 2027 and making sure each one delivers meaningful value. Businesses are investing in the Chamber because they believe in our mission, and we have a responsibility to ensure they’re receiving benefits that help them grow and connect.
At the same time, we’re researching grant opportunities through our foundation that could bring additional resources. Grant writing isn’t glamorous, it requires hours of research. But when we’re
successful, those outside dollars allow us to expand programs and create opportunities that directly benefit our members without placing the full financial burden on local businesses.
One project I’m particularly excited about is the continued conversation surrounding higher education in Bastrop County. Like many of you, I believe our community deserves expanded educational opportunities that prepare our workforce, strengthen our local economy, and give our students more reasons to build their futures right here at home. These discussions require patience, partnerships, and a shared vision, but they’re exactly the kind of long-term investments that shape a community for generations.
Workforce challenges affect everyone. The strongest communities are the ones that collaborate and I’m proud that the Bastrop Regional Chamber continues to work with organizations like Workforce Solutions, the Bastrop EDC, Career Tracks, Bastrop ISD and the Bridging Bastrop Board just to name a few.
Of course, none of this happens alone.
I am incredibly fortunate to work alongside an outstanding Board of Directors, dedicated volunteers, committee members, and a Chamber staff that believe deeply in this community. They put in countless hours that most people never see. Whether they’re preparing for events, meeting with members, developing new programs, advocating for business, or simply answering the phone to help someone solve a problem, they do it because they genuinely care about the Bastrop region.
One of my favorite parts of this job is watching connections happen.
• A new business owner meets a mentor.
• A manufacturer finds a workforce partner.
• An entrepreneur is introduced to a lender.
• A nonprofit discovers a corporate sponsor.
• A community issue gets solved because the right people finally sat around the same table.
Those moments rarely happen by accident. They happen because relationships have been built over months and years, often quietly and behind the scenes.
As Bastrop continues to experience incredible growth, the Chamber’s role becomes even more important. Growth brings opportunity, but it also brings challenges. We have to think about transportation, housing, workforce development, healthcare, education, public safety, quality of life, and ensuring that our businesses can continue to thrive in a rapidly changing environment.
That’s why we spend so much time planning instead of simply reacting.
Our goal isn’t just to respond to today’s issues. It’s to help prepare our community for tomorrow’s opportunities.
When you invest in the Bastrop Regional Chamber, you’re investing in far more than networking events or ribbon cuttings.
• You’re investing in advocacy.
• You’re investing in workforce development.
• You’re investing in economic growth.
• You’re investing in partnerships.
• You’re investing in leadership.
• You’re investing in a stronger future for Bastrop.
As I write this, I’m reminded that our nation is celebrating its 250th anniversary. That milestone invites us to reflect not only on where we’ve been, but on the responsibility we share in shaping what comes next. Strong communities don’t happen by chance. They are built by people who choose to invest their time, their leadership, and their resources into something bigger than themselves.
That’s exactly what I see every day in our Chamber members.
So, the next time you drive by the Chamber office and wonder what’s happening inside, know that chances are we’re in a meeting, writing a grant, building a partnership, advocating for business, planning six months ahead, answering a member’s call, or working to open another door for our community.
It may not always be visible, but it is always moving Bastrop forward.
Thank you for believing in the Chamber, for supporting local business, and for allowing me the privilege of serving this incredible community. I truly believe the best is yet to come, and I’m honored that we’re building that future together.
Becki Womble, CCE, IOM, ACM President/CEO
Calling All Chamber Members: Help Welcome Our New Teachers!
As we get ready for the new school year, we’re preparing 200 New Teacher Welcome Bags for educators joining our local schools—and we need your help to make them extra special!
These bags are a great opportunity to introduce new teachers to the amazing businesses and organizations that make our community thrive. We’re looking for promotional items, giveaways, and useful goodies that showcase what your business has to offer.
Some ideas include:
• Notepads, sticky notes, or highlighters
• Lanyards, keychains, or tote bags
• Coupons, gift cards, or special offers
• Branded tissue boxes or travel-size hand sanitizer
•
• Reusable water bottles, snacks, or other practical items
Have another creative idea? We’d love to hear it!
Please provide 200 items (one for each bag) and drop them off at the Chamber office, 927 Main Street, by Friday, July 16 at 4pm.
These thoughtful contributions help show our newest educators how much they are appreciated and supported by the Bastrop business community from day one.
Want to help in another way? Join us on Monday, July 20 at 9 am to 10:30 am to help assemble the bags. With plenty of volunteers, the project should take about two hours. To sign up, please contact info@bastropchamber.com.
Thank you for helping us give our new teachers a warm Bastrop welcome. Together, we can make a lasting first impression!
In 2025, thanks to the support of our community partners, we served approximately 775 residents and provided more than $32,000 in free health-related services and screenings. This is an amazing opportunity to showcase your programs, promote your sevices, and build meaningful relationships within the community.
SPONSOR
EXHIBITOR
A few EXCLUSIVE opportunities are still available, and some include an Exhibitor Booth.
Exhibitor Zone, KidZone, Community Resource Zone, Explore and Discover Outdoor Zone. Our exhibitor booths are almost sold out, so get yours TODAY!
VOLUNTEER
We’re seeking volunteers to help make this event a success.
AUGUST 26, 2026
11:30am - 1pm | 1067 Hwy 71 W Bastrop, TX 78602
This exclusive gathering creates a trusted space to share missions, exchange insights, and explore partnerships that increase collective impact. By connecting peers and fostering collaboration, participants will help build a more resilient, effective, and connected nonprofit community, benefiting the organizations we lead and the people we serve.
SEPTEMBER 14, 2026
6pm - 8:30pm | 1408 Chestnut Street, Bastrop, TX 78602
Join us for the Bastrop Regional Chamber of Commerce’s State of the City dinner, an essential gathering for business leaders, residents, and community stakeholders. This highly anticipated event offers a unique opportunity to hear directly from city officials about the latest developments, key accomplishments, and future priorities for Bastrop.
SEPTEMBER 15, 2026
7:45am - 9am | 897 Highway 71 W., Bastrop, TX 78602
Bastrop’s Blueprint & Breakfast is a quarterly morning networking group bringing together contractors, engineers, trades, suppliers, and construction-adjacent professionals who are part of shaping Bastrop’s growth and future. It provides a forum to share upcoming projects, discuss local development and infrastructure, exchange workforce and jobsite insights, and build meaningful relationships across the construction industry.
OCTOBER 14, 2026
11am - 1:30pm | 1401 Cedar St., Bastrop, TX 78602
Brought to you by the Governmental Affairs Committee of the Bastrop Regional Chamber of Commerce, the State of BISD Lunch provides an update on Bastrop ISD growth and priorities - now and in the future.
As we celebrate the 250th birthday of our great country, I can’t help but reminisce about being 12 years old at the time of our country’s 200th birthday. I remember bicentennial time capsules, televised special celebrations and local parades. Heck, I still have one of the specially minted bicentennial silver dollars. These memories prompted me to do a little research on the most discussed challenges for small business – in 1976. Interestingly, those included inflation, access to capital, economic uncertainty, labor market challenges, and disruptions in supply lines for both oil and raw materials. Sounds strangely familiar, doesn’t it?
The reality is this: there will always be challenges in business - and in life. Too often, I hear business leaders hesitate when they sense a challenge. There is a tendency to shy away from pushing forward with plans, choosing instead to wait for clear skies and following seas before daring to leave the harbor, where there is safety. But everyone knows ships were built specifically to leave the harbor, not stay there.
You will not find success in the absence of challenge. In
Rick Womble Bastrop Market President Roscoe Bank
fact, one can easily argue that challenge itself is the only thing that allows success to occur. Yes, bad things can happen by taking risks, and ignoring challenges altogether is not wise. But don’t let the fear of failure stop you from the pursuit of what you know is right. And if you fail in daring to move forward, you will at worst gain the experience necessary to make your next charge more likely to succeed. Failure is almost always the driving engine behind every success - in business or in our personal lives.
So why would a banker be talking about taking risks? Because after a long career in community banking, I can honestly say I’ve never seen anyone build anything meaningful without looking challenge - and risk –squarely in the eye. When you do leave the harbor, it’s always a good idea to have a pilot on board, especially if you are headed toward unfamiliar waters. Your local community banker is someone whose job exists to help you identify risks and chart the best course. And they’ve seen a shipwreck or two.
Regardless of what year it is, challenges will always be there. You can count on it. But never let that stop you from accomplishing something great.
The Bastrop Regional Chamber of Commerce earned First Place in the Publications & Electronic Media category at the 2026 TCCE Communications Awards, presented during the TCCE Annual Conference in Abilene.
The award recognized the Chamber’s Monthly Newsletter, which keeps members informed about programs, resources, advocacy efforts, events, and opportunities throughout the Bastrop region.
“Our team works hard to provide timely, relevant information that helps our members stay connected and engaged,” said Becki Womble, President & CEO.
“This award reflects our commitment to delivering value through every communication we share.”
Members of the Chamber team accepted the award on behalf of the organization. Sara Rutherford, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors, praised the team’s dedication to keeping the business community informed and connected.
Sign Up
for B.E.S.T. Leadership Program 2026-27
The B.E.S.T. Leadership Program is a hallmark initiative of the Bastrop Regional Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Chamber Foundation of Bastrop County, serving participants from Bastrop, Elgin, and Smithville — the communities that give the program its name.
Founded in 2004 by the Bastrop Chamber, this eight-session program (September-May) identifies and develops current and emerging leaders by introducing them to the people, places, and systems that shape the Bastrop Region. Over nine months, participants gain a deeper understanding of local needs and learn how their individual talents can be combined to build a stronger, more successful community.
Sessions offer behind-the-scenes access to city, county, and state-level government, local businesses, and community service organizations. Training covers:
· Leadership, communication, and teamwork skills
· Personal and professional growth
· Economic development insights
· Understanding governance at all levels
· Education, health, and human services systems
Employers often sponsor participation, recognizing the benefits of stronger leadership skills in the workplace and the community.
If there is one thing you take away from reading this letter, let it be this: who you surround yourself with matters. The people in your life can make or break you.
That truth has been evident throughout both my business and personal life. As human beings, we were created to need one another. We need relationships that encourage us, offer wise advice, provide support, and sometimes even challenge us. We all need correction (ouch!), and sometimes we really need prayers and a hug.
The boardroom is no different. Every person seated around that table is there for a purpose, and each plays a unique role. As I reflect on this past year, I am incredibly proud of our Board of Directors. The knowledge, experience, and perspective each individual brings are invaluable—not only to the Chamber, but to the entire business community.
As Bastrop County continues to grow, we remain focused on the future. We are continually planning and preparing for the evolving needs of our business community. Our goal is to stay one step ahead so we can provide the best possible support, education, and opportunities for collaboration. We want to exceed expectations and serve as the premier resource for every business, whether it is well-established or just getting started.
The Chamber Foundation of Bastrop County has taken significant steps to establish a strong foundation for long-term community impact. Guided by a new strategic plan, the Foundation is focused on strengthening leadership, supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses, preparing for disaster recovery, and securing sustainable funding through grants, partnerships, and charitable giving. Through initiatives such as the B.E.S.T. Leadership Program, the planned Innovation Hub, and the development of a Business Disaster Relief Fund, the Foundation is building the resources and partnerships needed to empower the Bastrop region for generations to come.
Our State of the County, State of the City, and State of BISD events have also continued to grow through strong
Letter
collaboration. These events provide tremendous value by giving the business community firsthand insight into what is happening today and what is on the horizon. Just as importantly, they create opportunities for meaningful conversations about how we can partner with and support our local governments as our community continues to grow.
Strong business relationships remain one of the keys to long-term success. That is why we encourage our members to attend monthly luncheons and mixers to build genuine, face-to-face connections with fellow business leaders.
In addition, the Chamber now hosts quarterly peer-topeer networking events designed to connect professionals within specific industries. Our Blueprint Breakfast brings together those in the construction industry and the many businesses that support it. Our Real Estate Roundtable connects real estate agents, lenders, surveyors, appraisers, and other professionals involved in buying and selling property. We also recognize the vital role nonprofit organizations play in Bastrop County. By gathering nonprofit leaders each quarter, they have the opportunity to share ideas, exchange best practices, and encourage one another as they work to strengthen our community.
These are just a few examples of how your Chamber is investing in the success of our business community. There are countless opportunities for you, as a Chamber member, to surround yourself with the people who will challenge, encourage, and inspire you to become more successful.
I encourage you to take advantage of these opportunities. Get involved, build relationships, and discover the difference that the right community can make. I hope to see you at our next Chamber event.
NEW MEMBERS!
The Board of Directors approved the following new members at its monthly meeting. We appreciate the investment these new members have made in the Bastrop Regional Chamber of Commerce and we ask that you give them your support when you are looking for goods or services and remember to SHOP LOCAL!
EB-5 Lending Alliance | 2151 Michelson Dr., STE. 188 Irvine CA 92612 | Business Services / Assistance / Consulting
StandardData, Inc.| 127 Loysoya St Bastrop TX 78602 | Business Services / Assistance / Consulting
WiFi Guy Systems| 109 Redbird Ln, Unit A Smithville TX 78957| Computer Services / IT / Web Design
Titan Designs LLC | 116 Mountain Laurel Way Bastrop TX 78602| Construction / Contractors
EllisDon| 6001 Bold Ruler Way, Suite 110, Austin, Texas 78746 Suite 110 Austin TX 78746| Construction Management
The Learning Experience | 199 TX - 304 Bastrop TX 78602| Day Cares
Kean Co Site Prep & Excavation | 241 Young Rd Smithville TX 78957| Dirt Work / Excavation / Demolition
Lost Pines IV Medics & Wellness| PO Box 12108 Austin TX 78711| Health / Wellness
Bastroplandco| 138 N Kanaio Dr A Bastrop TX 78602 | Landscape / Irrigation / Sprinkler Systems
Legacy Notarial Signing Group of Texas| 158 Raptor Beak Way Cedar Creek TX 78612-4327| Notary Services
Bluebonnet Scrubs| 197 Kamakoa Ln Bastrop TX 78602 | Retail / Specialty shops / Antiques
A Message from the Bastrop Regional Chamber of Commerce
RENEWING MEMBERS!
Thanks to the following renewing members for continuing your investment in the Chamber. We appreciate your confidence in our ability to promote Bastrop and your business.
A+ Federal Credit Union
Agilent Technologies
Bailey Grzyb
Bartlett Cocke General Contractors
Bastrop County Democratic Party
Bastrop Finest Car Wash
Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative
Bluebonnet Trails Community Services
Brite & Shiny Car Wash
Capital of Texas Roofing, LLC
Casa Chapala Mexican Dining
Centex Air & Heat
Central Texas Art Academy
City of Bastrop Public Library
David Weekley Homes - The Colony
Davis Ranch Retreat
Greater Texas Credit Union
GSB Fundraising
H&R Foam Insulation
Loop 1 Photography
Lori Tuggle State Farm Agency
Lost Pines Full Service Car Wash, Detailing and Oil & Lube Center
Lost Pines Leathernecks Det. 1384
Tom & Nancy Scott
NSPG Realty - Sky Pinkston
Organics By Gosh
Ortho 360 Bastrop
Padgett Hearing Aid Center
RE/MAX Bastrop Area - The Frank
Rainosek Team
Riverwood Commons
Riverwood Medical Clinic
Rockstar Rain Gutters
Roofing Turtle
Story with Video
Texas State Rifle Association
The Lodge at Lost Pines Apartments
The Reserve at Greenleaf
UX Web CO, L.C.
Victory Tickets
Whataburger
Aug. 13: Alive After 5ive: UX Web Co. @ Pluto’s Wine Bar
Aug 11: Chamber U
Sept. 14: State of the City Dinner
Oct. 14: State of BISD Lunch
July 28: Back to School Bash
Aug 5: Bastrop Regional Chamber Luncheon
Aug 8: Bastrop County Health Fair
The Bastrop Regional Chamber of Commerce staff receiving 1st Place at the TCCE awards ceremony
