The 5-Star Accredited Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce held the 50th Chairman’s Motown Gala on Friday, January 28, 2022, in the Texas Ballroom at Safari Texas Ranch with special guest, Khambrel Marshall with KPRC as the Emcee. The annual event paid tribute to the leaders and volunteers of the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce who served the chamber in 2021 and welcomed the new leadership for 2022.
Immediate Past Chair, Janice Suchyta with BakerDonelson, presented the Community Spirit Award to owners of Aling’s Chinese Bistro. This is the first time in chamber history that an organization has been chosen to receive this award. This chamber member is in hospitality, a segment of our business community that suffered greatly in the last couple of years. Despite their own challenges, they wanted to make a difference and took immediate action. They decided to do everything they could to support the frontline heroes who were putting their lives at risk every day by serving hot and delicious meals to those representatives. To date, they have donated over 20,000 meals and that number continues to grow. Hospitals including Memorial Hermann, Houston Methodist, MD Anderson, Oakbend, St. Lukes, and many others have all been recipients of their generosity. They also served educators by providing meals to teachers and staff at Travis High School, Cornerstone Elementary School, Harmony School of Innovation, and several others. Additionally, they have provided meals in Missouri City by partnering with Open Heart Charity, Park Manor of Quail Valley Nursing Facility, Maryam Islamic Center and various COVID vaccine clinics all over the county as well as Police and Fire Departments. They have been recognized by both cities and the State of Texas for their tremendous generosity and support of the community.
The Chairman’s Award was presented to Jim Rice, an individual works tirelessly on behalf of the children of Fort Bend. He has worked passionately to bring relevant programs to the chamber and ensures their success. For over thirteen years he has served as the catalyst connecting the business community to our educational leaders and to our elected officials. Along with running a successful company, he has also found the time to volunteer extensively in the community chairing three building committees for Christ United Methodist Church, served as a Director on the Literacy Council of Fort Bend, the Fort Bend P-16 Regional Council, and the Fort Bend Economic Development Council. Anyone who knows him understands his passion for education and the vital role it plays in ensuring our future. He currently serves as a trustee on the Fort Bend Independent School District Board and is also a co-founder of Fort Bend Cares, which benefits underprivileged youth in the community. He has also been the Chamber’s exceptional Education Division Chair since 2009.
The awards continued with Suchyta acknowledging the leadership and service of immediate past Chairman, Jonathan Pursch with Frost Bank; retiring Board Members, Alan Bagwell with TDECU, Trisha Frederick with Costello, Michael Green with PrimeWay Federal Credit Union,
Alex Nuno with Comerica Wealth Management, John Rebeles Jr. with Prosperity Bank, Farrah Sabouni with AUTOARCH Architects, LLC, Jason Scholtz with Colliers International – Fort Bend, Marguerite Williams with American Red Cross, Jeffery Willis with PAGE, Trent Wayne with TDECU, and Alina Gonzalez with Allegiance Bank and retiring Infrastructure Division Chair, David Gornet with Gornet Consulting.
Incoming Chairman, Kevin Riles with Kevin Riles Commercial introduced the 2022 Executive Officers; Chair Elect, King Banerjee with Big Frog T-Shirts and More; Immediate Past Chair, Janice Suchyta with BakerDonelson; Treasurer, Keith Borgfeldt with Spartan Wealth Management LLC; Legal Counsel, Dustin Fessler, with RMWBH Law; and President & CEO, Keri Schmidt along with the 2022 Board of Directors, Three Committee and Division Chairs.
Following the awards, the over 400 guests entered the Mowtown Chamber for more libations, fun, games AND live music from the Legacy Band!
Motor City Sponsors were: Colliers International, Consolidated Communications, Fluor Corporation, Johnson Development Corp., Kinetic By Windstream, and PrimeWay Federal Credit Union.
Our Alternative Music Sponsors were: Amerant Bank, Audi Sugar Land – A Sewell Company, BGE Inc., ChampionX, HCSS, HEB Food & Drugs – Sugar Land, Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, MD Anderson Cancer Center – Sugar Land, McGuireWoods LLP, Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital, MPACT Strategic Consulting, LLC, Pamela Printing Company, Plains State Bank, Rice & Gardner Consultants, Inc., Safari Texas Ranch, Sugar Lakes Family Practice, TDECU, University of Houston, and Wharton County Junior College.