Business Councils
Promoting Business Issues City-Wide
The Area Business Councils provide a connection for Austin Chamber members to become involved and engaged in their geographical areas of town. The Chamber's Business Councils allow members to work to solve challenges in the community, address issues relevant to business and work on projects by coming together for a larger purpose.
The Area Business Councils are open to all current Austin Chamber of Commerce members who are located in or have an interest in the business community and unique issues of Northwest or South Austin. A company must be a member of the Austin Chamber prior to any employee joining a council.
Each Council offers bimonthly events and meetings at various Austin locations and allows members to form unique relationships with their business neighbors. The relationships built through the personal and frequent interaction with other business leaders in your area provide a forum for addressing issues specific to your region.
Learn more about membership in the Area Business Councils »
Most Commonly Asked Questions
Below are answers to the most frequently asked questions about the Greater Austin Chamber Area Business Council programs.
What is an Area Business Council?
An Area Business Council is a volunteer organization, comprised of Chamber members and located in a specific geographical area, which provides a channel for its members to be involved in solving problems, discussing issues, and implementing special projects and events for the benefit of the area being served.
What is the benefit for a Chamber member to participate in an Area Business Council?
Participation can maximize the existing benefits derived from Chamber membership. It offers members the opportunity to prioritize and bring a focus to the business needs of the area, and to take community leadership roles in addressing these needs. It can increase members' business network within the geographical area, and provide stronger representation on area issues. Also, since area councils exist in smaller geographical areas, participation provides an opportunity for area-specific networking with others doing business in the same part of town.
What is a council's relationship to the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce?
Each council operates with a board of directors whose chair serves on the Chamber's Board, the policy decision-making body of the Chamber. These representatives keep the Board aware of the councils' action and progress.
The Chamber provides a staff liaison to assist the councils with the development of special events and programs, production and mailing of council correspondence and coordination of all board and committee meetings. The councils, through their liaison, can draw on Chamber resources, such as the communications staff, for the production of needed printed materials or the development of press releases.
The council liaison works closely with the councils in the development of their operating guidelines, plans of action and annual budgets. The councils are fiscally responsible to the Chamber.
What are the costs to participate in an Area Business Council?
Chamber members can join one Area Business Council for $25 annually or $40 for both councils. Area Business Council dues are used to directly benefit council programming.
Business Councils
North Austin Business Council
This council, formed in 2005 was the first established under the Area Business Council Program.
2011 North Austin Business Council Board
- Chair, Mark Harrington, SpawGlass Contractors, Inc.
- Steve Ambrose, ABC Home & Commercial Services
- Travis Baker, Community Impact Newspaper
- Kristen Belt, FAST FRAME
- Patricia Byrum
- Susan Calk, Armstrong Moving & Storage
- Campbell Edwards, Dahill - Xerox
- Malcomb Gardner, 360 Media
- Lynne Henderlong-Rhea, MomBo Creative
- Dr. Mike VanDeWalle,VanDeWalle Chiropractic
- Myles Weynand, Market Sense
Board Members
South Austin Business Council
This council was established in January 2006.
2011 South Austin Council Board
- Chair, Marc Nightwine, MNA/MarcNightwine Architecture
- Travis Baker, Community Impact Newspaper
- Jeff Bennett, Colonial Life
- Adam Boyd, Market Sense
- W. Cotton Carlson, Rockford Business Interiors
- Mary Faria, Seton Southwest Hospital
- Denise Fisher, Grey Rock Golf Club
- Terry Green, Omni Austin Hotel Southpark
- Tiffany Hardt Miller, ABM Janitorial Services
- Stan Horner, St. Edward’s University
- Brandy Mann, Jackson Walker, LLP
- Clint Potts, Edward Jones
- Michaela Rodriguez, Costco Wholesale
- Bill Sparks, Austin Energy
- Mary Tran, Independence Title Company
Board Members
The Austin metro population expanded by 41% from 1999 to 2009, while Texas grew at a rate of 21% and the nation at 10%
