The Greater East Dallas Chamber of Commerce launched a new Entrepreneur & Innovation Committee at a reception at Times Ten Cellars on May 28. The new committee was created this year to reach a broader audience within the East Dallas community and meet the growing networking and information-sharing needs of the communities entrepreneurs in the IT/Technical and Creative industries. It is chaired by new Chamber member Jim Chester, a Lakewood area attorney.
More than 30 individuals attended and Chamber Chair Darlene Ellison was ecstatic to see the energy and enthusiasm in the room.
“I was thrilled when Jim, at the time a new Chamber member, came to me with his ideas,” said Chamber Chair Darlene Ellison. “His vision includes tapping into the growing population of entrepreneurs in the Greater East Dallas community who are in the technology and creative industries, and providing networking to increase business opportunity synergies amongst the members. Jim is the perfect Chamber member to lead the charge.”
The Innovation Committee was formed to show East Dallas as a hub of innovation by spotlighting area tech and innovation-based companies/resources, and providing a center where they can network, find mutual resources and exchange ideas. It will encompass two distinct yet interrelated areas: technical (IT, ecommerce, computers, software, etc.) and creative (PR, advertising, graphic design, web design, writers, etc.).
A proposed project will include The Entrepreneur And Start-Up Training Development Sessions which will provide training for startup businesses to go from “idea to enterprise” to include entity formation, tax issues, banking/accounting etc. An advanced level would help people manage growth, handle “next stage” development issues such as office space, employees, branding, IT, etc.
Additionally, his plans include a mentor program with the Chamber’s Young Professionals group and partnerships with area schools in the promotion of the entrepreneur and innovation industries.
The Greater East Dallas Chamber works to promote the civic, cultural, business and educational interests in the East Dallas area.