Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting Highlights Irving Growth

Irving–The Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce had its annual meeting Friday, Oct. 29. The meeting highlighted economic growth and companies based in the city.

The meeting reflected on the past year, and the ways the business community in Irving was able to evolve and adapt.

The chamber has formed the North Texas Coalition, an organization group with the initiative of creating education, training, and certification programs for the local workforce, called Bridging the Talent Gap.

The chamber also launched a diversity, education, and inclusion program with the goal of ensuring individuals of diverse backgrounds are better positioned for leadership opportunities.

The Irving Economic Development Partnership supported 32 Irving-based companies that either returned to the city, remained in it, or expanded in it.

The city’s International Affairs & Sister Cities team hosted the President of Panama, Laurentino Cortizo, in a trade development forum. The forum concluded with a signed agreement between the nation of Panama and Irving to promote foreign trade and business development.

Sam Reed Jr., the 2020-21 chairman of the board for the Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce, passed the role to John Nicks, who is a senior vice president for Envoy Air, Inc.

“I’ve enjoyed every minute of my experience as chairman of the board, and I know John will take the chamber to new heights,” Reed said.

“This past year, I chaired the International Affairs & Sister Cities Committee that partnered with President Cortizo and ten members of his administration,” Nicks said. “The committee also had a Korean-American Chamber international trade and investment expo, a US-Japan business roundtable event, and much more.” The committee also put together the city’s first ever Olympic Day celebration.

“I view my job as the caretaker for a five star designation of excellence organization,” Nick said. “That [distinction] is among only 194 chambers [of commerce] out of 7000 in the United States. It’s important because it supports our business industry supply chain, it creates new jobs, and helps our local businesses succeed and grow. It’s important because it’s the single biggest source of tax revenue for the city, and adds to the quality of life for residents and workers.”

The meeting handed out yearly awards honoring local community leaders. Steve Love of the Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council won the Healthcare Hero award. Jeff Spivey, Irving’s chief of police, won the chamber’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion award. Baylor Scott and White Irving and Medical City Las Colinas were both honored with the award for organizations that go above and beyond taking care of employees, customers, and the community despite challenges and obstacles.