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The guy in the zoot suit drew laughter even as he demanded push-ups.
Michael Gallops, president and CEO of the Metrocrest Chamber of Commerce, gracefully gave in to encourage and inspire volunteers to call their contacts, recruiting them to the chamber, Oct. 15 at The Meeting Place.
The man in the suit, humorist and motivational speaker and president of Your Chamber Connection Jimmy Cusano, educated and encouraged members of the Metrocrest chamber on the purpose of a strong, active chamber of commerce.
Networking and events were not his top reasons.
Instead, economic development was the first reason he gave to join the chamber.
More chamber members give the organization more influence, which is important when the chamber advocates for local businesses at local government meetings, for state legislative lobbying and when marketing the area nationally and internationally to draw members to the area, Cusano said.
Economic development is all about something that all businesses are concerned about: Creating more jobs.
The chamber also can work with cities and other governmental entities to advocate for roads and transportation needs and utilities and will school to help educate students at all levels about business as well as to help inform schools on what local businesses need in terms of workforce training.
Gallops said he reminds business owners that he is more than happy to advocate for them at planning and zoning meetings and city council meetings if they would like him too.
He said that as the head of a local chamber of commerce, he sees business from a different perspective from government officials and can share his knowledge and experience.
“Sometimes they listen,” he said.
He also said that he watches state legislation and can call state representatives when something will influence business.
Cusano reminded volunteers at Tuesday’s recruitment drive that the Metrocrest area, which includes Farmers Branch, Addison and Carrollton, competes with Frisco, Celina and other cities in Texas when businesses decide to relocate from other states.
The Metrocrest area has 21,000 businesses but the chamber has fewer than 600 members. By contrast, Irving has 8,500 business but more than 1,500 members.
“I wish we would have talked about these things a long time ago. I didn’t know what a chamber really did. I thought it was just networking and lunches,” said Jerry Holcomb, executive loan officer with Rocket Mortgage.
He wishes he’d known more about what a chamber is supposed to do a long time ago. He was intrigued to learn about how the chamber supports schools, influences legislation and works on economic development.
“I’ve seen cities die,” he said. “I know what Carrollton’s done, but I didn’t know the chamber interacts with all that.”
Gallops, who joined Metrocrest Chamber in November 2023, has announced the formation of several new committees, including a government affairs committee and a workforce development committee, said those are the areas he, as the leader of the organization, needs to develop while staff works on networking and events.
Cusano said he’s traveled across the country and worked with chambers of commerce of all sizes and that no two are alike.
“When businesspeople come together, things happen. It’s sad when it doesn’t come together. It should happen everywhere,” he said.
