Our History:
In 1965, seventy-five members of the Burleson Lions Club established the Burleson Area Chamber of Commerce to support the development of their rapidly growing community. The group felt a permanent Chamber was needed to lead the business community into the next century. On April 18, 1966, the Burleson Area Chamber of Commerce was officially founded, with Judge Herschel C. Winn serving as the organization’s first Chairman of the Board.
In 1980, a growing membership of 320 local businesses determined the Chamber’s next step was to procure their own building. A building drive raised $20,000, and Board Chairman Les Sells presided at the opening dedication ceremonies for the Chamber’s new building in 1983.
That building, located at 1044 SW Wilshire Boulevard became the home to the Burleson Area Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber sold the building to Burleson Independent School District in 2020 and relocated the offices to the Fusion Office Center, above Babes Restaurant, in Old Town Burleson.
Over the years, many individuals have served as the Chamber’s Chairman of the Board, dedicating countless hours and exerting a tremendous influence on the Burleson Chamber and our growing, thriving city. The list of Past Chairs is truly a “Who’s Who” in the City of Burleson today and in years past. We look forward to the next fifty years of leadership and business advocacy from the leaders of the Burleson Area Chamber of Commerce.
Our Vision Statement:
The Burleson Area Chamber of Commerce envisions a dynamic community where businesses thrive, members prosper, and new ideas drive progress. We are committed to shaping a brighter future by embracing change, encouraging collaboration, and making a lasting impact on our community through strong dedication and excellence.
Our Mission Statement:
Our mission is clear: to meet the evolving needs of our members and the community. As the business landscape transforms, we're here to adapt and create new programs and services that benefit everyone.
Unlocking Benefits for All:
Increased Competitiveness: We help our member businesses thrive by offering solutions and staying ahead of the competition.
Improved Member Satisfaction: Our approach ensures we're always meeting the changing needs of our members, offering resources and activities they can't find elsewhere.
Engaged Employees: We empower our employees to think creatively and contribute to our mission, creating a motivated and dedicated team.
Increased Profitability: Our strategies lead to new revenue streams, improved services, and cost-efficiency.
Community Impact: We leave a lasting impact on our community by helping create jobs, attracting businesses, improving the quality of life, and solving pressing community problems.
Past Chairpersons of the Board:
Herschel C. Winn (1966)
George Bransom (1967)
Richard Jones (1968)
Wayne Hudson (1969, 1979)
Les Todd (1970, 1976)
Ron Gieser (1971)
Billy Bob Grisso (1972)
John Latham (1973, 1974)
Jimmy Smith (1975)
James Jenkins (1977)
Jay Darnell (1978)
Sue Miller (1980)
Loy Norris (1981)
Gordon Cockerham (1982)
Les Sells (1983)
Bill Stribling (1984)
Patsy Dumas (1985, 2001)
Harold Putnam (1986, 1987)
Todd Pearson (1988)
Cherry Richardson (1989)
J.L. Phinney (1990, 1991)
Fred Rauschuber (1992)
Judy Hajek (1993)
James Moody (1994)
Brent Northcutt (1995)
Kent Tucker (1996)
Sharon Wright (1997)
Rob Orr (1998)
Don Ellis (1999)
Rosie Perez (2000)
Karan Wethington (2002)
Doug Drake (2003)
Bart Stevens (2004)
George Peevey (2005)
Paul Wethington (2006)
Art Brucks (2007)
Guy James (2008)
Sue Sistrunk (2009)
Larry Pool (2010)
Kurt Logan (2011)
Kim Malone (2012)
Alison Bradham (2012, 2013)
Lisa Keese (2014)
Adam Russell (2015)
Russ Richardson (2016)
Craig Couch (2017)
Russ Weaver (2018)
Brendan Bagnell (2019)
Terrie Goodloe (2020)
Roxanne Myers (2021)
Rhyan Anderson (2022)
Kendall Frazier (2023)
How the Chamber Is Financed
The Burleson Area Chamber of Commerce is funded in general through two sources. The Chamber of Commerce's primary source of funding is membership. Most of the Chamber's money comes directly from the membership investments paid by the members. Event sponsors make up the remainder of the Chamber's annual budget.