10/16/2026
That's a wrap on the 2026 TCCE Chair's Conference, and what an incredible day it was!
On October 15, chamber executives, board chairs, and volunteer leaders from across Texas gathered at South Shore Harbour Resort in League City for a full day of learning, collaboration, and conversations about building stronger boards, stronger chambers, and stronger communities.
We were fortunate to have an outstanding lineup of speakers who shared practical insights, real-world experience, and strategies chamber leaders can take back to their communities.
⭐ Dave Kilby, Author & Chamber Leadership Expert, kicked off the day with *Better Together: Building a Strong Chair-CEO Partnership* and explored the foundations of effective board governance.
⭐ Kelly Rose Hall, CCE, IOM, President & CEO, Longview Chamber of Commerce, and author of *From Foresight to Action™*, challenged leaders to look beyond today's challenges and turn strategic foresight into meaningful action.
⭐ RaDonna Hessel, CCE, IOM, President & CEO, Grapevine Chamber of Commerce, and Kim Blohm, President & CEO, Greater Boerne Chamber of Commerce, explored the opportunities, challenges, and lessons learned in "The Good, the Bad & the Ugly of Chamber Foundations."
⭐ Becki Zumwalt Womble, CCE, IOM, ACM, President & CEO, Bastrop Regional Chamber of Commerce, and Jonathan Packer, CCE, IOM, President & CEO, Greater New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce, discussed how chambers can strengthen their role as the voice of business and become better advocates, especially in preparation for the 90th Texas Legislature, in "More Than Events: The Chamber's Role as the Voice of Business" presented by the Texas Association of Business
⭐ Brian Brandt, President, Core Insights, closed the day with "Board Blind Spots: What Great Chamber Leaders See Coming," reminding us that great leadership means recognizing challenges before they become problems.
One of the day's highlights was our "What I Know Now: Lessons from Past Chairs" panel!
A huge thank you to Gulf Coast Chamber Executives (GCCE) for bringing together three former chamber board chairs to share their experiences, lessons learned, and advice for current and incoming volunteer leaders:
- Jacob Bigger, Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce - Texas
- Brock Bihm, Deer Park Chamber of Commerce
- Rob Marmerstein, Greater Tomball Area Chamber of Commerce
And a special thank you to Shari Sweeney, CCE, IOM, President, Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, for moderating this insightful conversation!
Attendees also received an exclusive first look at TCCE's 2026 Chamber Compensation & Benefits Survey results.
And the feedback? We couldn't be more excited!
💬 "This is one of, if not the best, Volunteer Conferences I have ever attended. I think I have attended about 23."
💬 "My day job is a bank CEO, and I was impressed with the content because it's not just relevant to chamber executives, but it's also relevant across industries and personalities."
💬 "Great job!! A lot of positive feedback from our team. It was the first time I've attended."
💬 "It was a really good chairs conference. Well done. I stayed all the way to the end for the first time."
And talk about going the extra mile! 🚗
Chamber leaders traveled from across the Lone Star State to join us, including some who made quite the journey to League City!
📍 Lamesa Area Chamber of Commerce: Approximately 530 miles
📍 Odessa Chamber of Commerce: Approximately 520 miles
📍 Brownsville Chamber: Approximately 372 miles
📍 Edinburg Chamber: Approximately 355 miles
We love seeing that kind of dedication to chamber leadership!
**A very special thank you** to our TCCE Board Chair, Mary Frazior, IOM, CCE, of the Hurst Euless Bedford HEB Chamber of Commerce, and our 2026 Chair's Conference Chair, Chester Jenke, President & CEO, Seguin Area Chamber of Commerce, for their leadership and commitment to making this event a success.
And to our speakers, sponsors, volunteers, and every chamber executive and volunteer leader who joined us: **THANK YOU!**
Our biggest takeaway from the day? Great chambers don't happen by accident. They're built through strong partnerships, engaged boards, thoughtful leadership, and a shared commitment to the communities they serve.
**Ready for more?** Registration is already open for our next two major professional development events, with early-early bird pricing available now!
📅 CCCE 2027 | March 30 – April 1 | College Station
https://cped.tamu.edu/portal/events/reg/participantTypeSelection.do?method=load&entityId=1492548
📅 TCCE Annual Conference 2027 | Bastrop, Texas
https://www.tcce.org/annual-conference/
We can't wait to see everyone again!
