Houston West Chamber Awards

Pictured: Principal Gary Henry (left) with Jeanne Bollinger, Chamber President & CEO and James Mutters (right) at the 23rd Annual Teacher of the Year and Business Partnership Awards Luncheon

A local Tae Kwon Do business that has provided classes and uniforms for an after-school program at Valley Oaks Elementary School was named Business Partner of the Year in the small business category during the recent 23rd annual Teacher of the Year and Business Partnership Awards Luncheon sponsored by the Houston West Chamber of Commerce.

Boudreaux's Country Kitchen won in the business category of 26 to 150 employees. The restaurant provides extensive culinary and restaurant training management, tours and catering for many Spring Branch ISD district events.

Spring Branch Tae Kwon Do owner James Mutters received the category award in businesses with 1 to 25 employees during the May 2 program at Lakeside Country Club-Westside.

Valley Oaks Principal Gary Henry nominated Mutters and his business. As a part of the award recognition, Valley Oaks Elementary School will receive $250 from the Houston West Chamber of Commerce.

The annual luncheon is held, in part, to recognize the educational support provided by business and community partners across the west Houston region. Keynote speakers this year were Dr. James Nelson, Jr., an engineering and computer dean at the University of Texas at Tyler and James Bowen with FIEEE Electrical Power Systems. The two men spoke on the need for engineers and a career-ready U.S. workforce.

Spring Branch ISD business and teacher nominations this year included:

SBISD 2011-12 Teachers of the Year Jamie Flint and Mario Romero
Both nominated for the Christa McAuliffe In Search of Excellence Award

Businesses with 1 to 25 Employees:

• Office Effects, Ellie Elam
• Crossroads Animal Clinic, Butch Miller
• Starbucks Coffee, Lindsey Levy
• Appleton Learning, Ray Brown
• Spring Branch Tae Kwon Do, James Mutters

Businesses with 26-150 Employees:

• Klotz Associates, Katherine Ostroff
• Boudreaux’s Cajun Kitchen, Monica Levitz

Nonprofit Organizations:

• NewSpring, Kristen Gonzales
• Chapelwood United Methodist Church, Bill Jensen
• Northbrook Middle School, Valerie Johnson

At the May 2 luncheon, 17 students from SBISD’s Guthrie Center took part in a workforce program exhibition. Our students showcased their works in computer animation, agricultural science, architecture, culinary arts, films and video, hotel management and student work internships.

The Houston West Chamber of Commerce is a business advocacy organization dedicated to enhancing the economic growth and vitality of the West Houston business community through leadership and business development.

The Chamber currently has more than 600 business members representing 45,000 employees and was recently recognized as one of the top 25 chambers of commerce in Houston by the Houston Business Journal.

For more information about the Chamber and its programs, please call 713.785.4922 or visit www.hwcoc.org.