The Greater East Dallas Chamber of Commerce (EDCC) has formed a new Entrepreneur and Innovation Committee (E&I).
The new committee wa
s recently created to reach a broader audience within the East Dallas community and meet the growing networking and information-sharing needs of the community’s entrepreneurs in the IT/technical and creative industries.
Chamber member Jim Chester, a Lakewood area attorney and founder of Chester & Jeter LLP, was named the founding chairman of the new E&I Committee.
“I was thrilled when Jim 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 Entrepreneur and Innovation (E&I) Committee was formed to announce to the local and regional business community that East Dallas is a hub of innovation and entrepreneurship by spotlighting area start-ups and emerging companies, as well as innovation-based companies and resources. By “Innovation”, the Committee intends to encompass two distinct yet interrelated areas: technical (IT, ecommerce, computers, software, etc.) as well as creative (PR, advertising, graphic design, web design, photographers, fashion, writers, etc.) innovators.
Of the new E&I Committee, Chester states: “I am excited to be a part of this initiative of the Chamber. There are already a number of entrepreneurs and innovative companies located in (or with ties to) East Dallas, so one of our primary roles will be to provide opportunities and places for these folks to gather, network, share ideas, and get assistance, resources and support. Once folks see what the Chamber has to offer entrepreneurs and innovators like themselves, I expect that many will not only want to join the Chamber, but will get involved in the E&I Committee and its projects, as well as other Chamber activities – bringing new ideas and energy along with them.”
“As an additional benefit,” adds Chester, “we hope that, by showcasing East Dallas as a hub of innovation and entrepreneurship, we will encourage more companies to start or relocate their operations to the area.
“As the E&I Committee grows and evolves, we expect to implement a number of initiatives over the next few years,” Chester declared. “But our present focus is to start with a couple of core projects, build some momentum, and then go from there.”
The E&I Committee is off to a fast start: it has already launched a mentor program in coordination with the Chamber’s Young Professionals group to match emerging innovators and entrepreneurs with more experienced business professionals.
In addition, the E&I Committee is currently promoting its inaugural “E&I”-centric happy hour networking event on May 28th at Times 10 Cellars. Also in May, the E&I Committee is providing the an entrepreneur-oriented speaker and topic for the EDCC’s Brown Bag Lunch Series at C.C. Young on May 16th. Similar additional events are planned later in 2014.
Some proposed projects include The Entrepreneur And Start-Up Training Development Sessions (or “E.A.S.T.”) which will provide training for start-up businesses to go from “idea to enterprise” to include entity formation, tax issues, banking/accounting etc. A second, more advanced level of training would help people manage growth and handle “next stage” development issues such as office space, employees, branding, IT, etc.
Future plans include more ambitious projects such as partnerships with area schools in the promotion of the entrepreneurship and innovative careers, annual EDCC awards for area innovators and entrepreneurs, and even the establishment of an East Dallas innovation-oriented business incubator.
About the EDCC. The Greater East Dallas Chamber works to promote the civic, cultural, business and educational interests in the East Dallas area. For more information www.eastdallaschamber.com.
About Chester & Jeter LLP. Chester & Jeter LLP is a Dallas, Texas law firm providing comprehensive legal services to innovation-based companies doing business in the US, around the world, and on the web. Its mission (and passion) is helping entrepreneurs and emerging companies solve problems and protect their interests. Chester & Jeter LLP delivers value by providing business-savvy, cost-effective solutions to legal challenges. The firm offers a wide array of business legal solutions, such as business entity formation (LLCs, corporations, etc.), trademarks and other intellectual property, technology transactions, contracts, ecommerce, employment law and dispute resolution. Additional information about the firm and its attorneys may be found at www.chester-law.com
