Maggie Titterington, President & CEO, The Chamber (Schertz-Cibolo-Selma Area)
President of The Chamber (Schertz-Cibolo-Selma Area) of Commerce, Maggie Titterington spoke with Invest: about the significant successes earned by the chamber as well as its collaborations over the past few years, which have directly supported the continued growth of the region’s business climate.
How has the chamber grown in the past year and what have been some key achievements?
The chamber continues to grow, and we now have over 615 members with multiple successful events throughout the year. We were originally founded in 1974 as a business club. We expanded from three core cities (Schertz, Cibolo, and Selma) to businesses spanning 21 cities and 10 counties. This initial vision of helping local businesses has expanded to include reaching out to businesses across the region. My No. 1 priority has been to bridge relationships that mutually benefit my members while also introducing member businesses to each other for mutual commerce opportunities.
What makes your region the ideal location for businesses and people to relocate or expand?
One contributing factor to our continued growth is our strategic location. We are centrally located just two hours from the coast, one hour from Austin, and three hours from Houston and Galveston. Our access to key highways (IH-10 and I-35) makes the region a prime business location.
We have housing options, Fortune 100 companies, and distribution and manufacturing businesses, in addition to mom-and-pop companies. Maintaining a small-town feel while fostering big-business relationships attracts large companies.
What are the major economic drivers of the region, and how are they shaping the local business landscape?
The presence of major companies like Amazon, Caterpillar, Sysco, and Ben E. Keith fuels residential growth by giving people a place to work locally. This also supports smaller businesses as they come and grow. People tend to want to stay within 15 miles of where they live, and our combination of large and small businesses supports our population’s ability to do that. We are also seeing growth in automotive manufacturing, with over 600 new jobs being introduced, which further supports broad business expansion as new residents will need housing and amenities. We are seeing a significant demand for residential development, restaurants, medical offices, and retail.
What programs has the chamber introduced to support its business members, and what is driving demand for the chamber’s services?
We are intently focused on our initiative to build close relationships with our cities. Since many businesses are coming to check us out, they need to be assured that the cities are all business-friendly and that they have the correct information for how to go about planting businesses.
The biggest roadblock is communication or assumed communication. Just because you build in one city doesn’t mean all cities operate in the same way. The chamber has reached out to cities to work with their permit/UDC departments. This collaboration, for example, resulted in an ordinance change regarding tree mitigation.
There isn’t one specific initiative; we want to be a part of the entire process. Because we have built a great relationship with all three cities and know their departments, councils, and heads, it’s easier to go in with the mindset that we’re here for collaboration. Opening communication is key to this success and ensuring all parties understand the others’ priorities.
Our best approach for incoming businesses is to run interference and open up pathways for them to succeed. It’s a mutually beneficial relationship. We want everyone to be successful. When one is successful, everyone is successful.
Our second major initiative involves establishing our government affairs committee, which advocates for local business priorities. Our goal is to be clear and direct in our message to let state and federal officials know what our business members want and need to support their growth and success.
How are you fostering collaborations with neighboring communities and other chambers to continue driving regional growth?
I am one of the founding members of the Regional Chamber of Commerce. For almost two years, we have collaborated with more than nine other chambers and meet at least bi-monthly to align efforts and push policies in the region. With so many chambers working together, we are seen as a formidable force. We look forward to going to the Capitol together to present our concerns to our legislative bodies.
How would you assess the availability of quality workforce talent in the region, and are there any initiatives in place to support job opportunities for workforce development?
Skilled labor shortages remain a challenge, especially post-COVID. Despite training initiatives, workforce participation is lagging. There are many available jobs, but not enough workers. Our local colleges and workforce organizations, like Workforce Solutions Alamo, are launching new training programs. Employers continue to struggle with getting workers to return to in-person roles. Our biggest challenge is trying to meet that need.
What is the sentiment around impending legislative changes, and what will your priorities be for the next few years?
Previously, the business community did not believe these changes would happen; however, there are now ongoing concerns about tariffs and the potential economic consequences. In addition, threats from bills aimed at mandating healthcare specifics for small businesses, as well as the on-again, off-again Corporate Transparency Act reporting, are costing our businesses peace of mind and money.
What will be your priorities for the chamber over the next few years?
Our focus will be on small-business protections, particularly with paid sick leave and other benefits. We want to ensure that private business owners retain the right to continue to self-govern in terms of the kinds of benefits they offer. Small businesses are put in complicated situations when balancing mandated benefits and labor costs. We will be monitoring Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) compliance to prevent financial penalties and will continue advocating for self-governance in private businesses regarding employee benefits. We must communicate these updates to small businesses.
Are there any other trends the chamber is addressing?
AI is a massive advancement that we are learning about and attempting to leverage. We are prioritizing AI in terms of education to help businesses with affordable marketing and collaboration. AI can be great, but it should never take the place of person-to-person relationships. Our responsibility is to provide that wisdom and education to members. I hope our chamber helps balance technological innovations while keeping our eyes open to the bigger picture.
