BLINN’S MERTEN, CATON BUILD COMMUNITY BONDS WITH LOCAL CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

  

For Dr. Kyle Merten and Lisa Caton, their work to brighten the future of their communities does not end when they leave their Blinn College offices.

Merten, Alumni Relations Director on the Brenham Campus, serves as chairman of the board for the Washington County Chamber of Commerce. Caton, Sealy Campus Director, serves as president of the board for the Sealy Chamber of Commerce.

“Being involved with the chamber helps me be a part of the community and it helps with my job at Blinn,” Merten said. “This is a big year for the Washington County Chamber.”

In addition to being a legislative session year, the Washington County Chamber is celebrating its 100th year of service to the community.

Merten and Caton’s responsibilities include conducting meetings, setting the budget for the chamber and recruiting new board members. The main focus of each chamber is to support new and existing businesses and welcome each organization to the community.

One of Caton’s first actions after coming to Blinn-Sealy in 2013 was to get involved with the Sealy Chamber of Commerce.

“It shows the support that Blinn has for the local communities and that we are always willing to work and volunteer,” Caton said. “This is a great way for Blinn to give back to the community.”

As president of the Chamber of Commerce Board, Caton speaks regularly to a wide variety of local business leaders. Through those conversations, she learns what they need in terms of workers, and ensures that the Sealy Campus offers courses that lead to those careers.

“These business leaders are also parents and they have children that are looking to further their education at Blinn,” Caton said. “This opens the line of communication between business leaders and Blinn College.”

The Washington County Chamber of Commerce unifies the public spirit of the community and brings people and businesses together to do important and meaningful projects for the local economy. The Chamber is successful because of the many members and volunteers that participate year after year, since the chamber first began here in 1917. More information can be found at www.brenhamtexas.com.

Since 1934, the Sealy Chamber of Commerce has been an independent, non-profit organization consisting of professional business persons and community-spirited individuals from the Sealy area who band together to promote business in Sealy and contribute to the betterment of the community. More information can be found at www.sealychamber.com.

Story courtesy of Blinn Communications