Lori Walker | How A Chamber Of Commerce Can Help Your Business
In this episode of Around Flower Mound, we chat with Flower Mound Chamber Of Commerce President, Lori Walker. Lori and her husband have been residents of Flower Mound for over 22 years, and we’re so thrilled to have her on this episode!
If we had to describe Lori to you before you listened, we’d have to say that Lori is one of the most articulate, detail-oriented, and professional women we’ve met. Professional qualities aside, what makes Lori truly special is how she always seems to have a sincere, kind word for everyone.
We’ll chat with Lori about what she loves the most about Flower Mound, who she wants to be a hero to, as well as…
What it’s like to be a business owner in Flower Mound
What the Flower Mound Chamber of Commerce can do for your business
Why the Chamber of Commerce is critical to the success of businesses in Flower Mound
Lori’s opinion on why some business owners struggle while others succeed
And more
Mentioned in this episode:
Transcript
Nicole Smith Woodard: Today I am so excited to introduce you to an absolutely fantastic Flower Mound resident. As you know, Around Flower Mound is all about bringing light to community leaders, business owners, parents and charities within our fantastic community. We in Flower Mound are so blessed to have a vibrant and successful business community. And today we are joined by the president of the Flower Mound Chamber of Commerce. Welcome my friend Lori Walker.
Lori Walker: Good morning Nicole. How are you?
Nicole: I'm doing great, doing great. So a little bit about Lori. Lori and her husband have been residents of Flower Mound for over 22 years. They have two sons. One a graduate of Boston College living in Dallas and a younger one who is attending TCU, his dream school. And if I'm not mistaken that is where your husband graduated from, correct?
Lori: He is yes. He graduated in 1989. And true it is following in those footsteps. A senior this year at Liberty Christian and so he'll be attending TCU in the fall. And we are beyond thrilled as your youngest kind of decides to leave the nest. And the colleges that he applied to, some of them were nine hours away and some of them were five hours away.
And while they were fabulous schools and, you know, it would have been amazing for him to be at any of those, you know, Fort Worth Flower Mound Fort Worth is, and so we are really, really excited that he's going to be there. We have since we got married for football, baseball, basketball. So, you know, I don't know if he's gonna love that his parents are on campus every weekend, but
Nicole: I think that's fantastic. Well, you're so good about that. Well, I've had the pleasure of working with you not only through chamber activities, but also on your board when you served as president of Cross Timbers Rotary a few years ago. And y'all, Lori is one of the most articulate, detail-oriented and professional women I know.
And you always, always look so amazing. And one of the things that I think makes you truly special, Lori, is how you always have a sincere, kind word for and about everyone. And you are truly a shining example of heart-centered servant leadership. And I could go on and on about the many ways you serve this community, but I want to hear more from you. So what is your favorite thing about Flower Mound?
A Community of Family
Lori: Well, being here 22 years, Flower Mound, we have watched it from a very, very small, small community. I, when I first came, I worked for our state senator. And when people would come for office appointments from Dallas or from Fort Worth, I would, you know, give directions and I would say you either head east or west on Fm 1171. And we're the only building out here. So, at that time, that was the truth and Flower Mound really was a veteran community, which was the appeal.
We have grown and grown in such a great, smart way. We have amazing businesses and we have amazing people that have moved here over the last 22 years that make Flower Mound just one of those exceptional places to, you know, live, work and play. That's has come on over those years. And it's one of those communities that, you know, it's like, what do we want to be when we grow up. And we're still growing and growing up, and that's good. That is good. We are amazing.
And, you know, one of the things that is really special about Flower Mound in the surrounding communities are, is that we don't have a major freeway that comes through our community. And so what that looks like is you have a community of relationships. You have a community of family. And that's really what I love about Flower Mound. I, you know, what's really exciting in my job is I get to be the cheerleader for Flower Mound. So, hey, that's the best team and town to cheer for.
Nicole: Absolutely, no question. Well, and when people ask you, obviously as a longtime resident, but as president of the Chamber of Commerce, what is it like? What do you tell them? What's it like to be in business in Flower Mound?
A Growing Professional Community
Lori: Well, we have such a vibrant community and we have, Flower Mound is interesting. Now certainly, when Flower Mound was founded and incorporated, it was really really very, very small. And that was great. So we have a wonderful base and foundation of community leaders that have been here a long, long, long time.
But what is really amazing now is we have had people move here because it is really just such a special place and you know, men, women and kids that, some of them you know, leave Flower Mound to go work and but they come back home. And, you know, you're in Flower Mound. And we have small businesses that are wonderful, amazing, a lot of them are independent businesses. But really what has happened over the years is corporate, large corporate businesses that our global businesses have come into our Lakeside business district.
And the appeal to that is really at our front door of our community is DFW, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, one of the largest in the world. And so that makes it very easy for people to fly in, be in those corporate, you know, headquarters. It's great for people to fly in. What's really great too is we live in the Bridlewood community and it is literally about 12 minutes from my driveway to one of the gates at DFW. And so, that is a wonderful appeal for this community
Nicole: Completely agree. Well, tell us more about the Flower Mound chamber itself. Your team, what y'all do for business, who you want to be a hero for. And we were just talking before the recording began about some of the things your team is helping businesses do right here and right now in this particular climate.
Lori: Well, for those that don't know what a chamber of commerce is, is we are a membership organization that provides leadership that provides education that provides networking opportunities for our business community. And we solely exist for the economic prosperity of Texas, which we have seen such a growth. What's really great about the Flower Mound chamber is the longevity of our staff. We have I'm actually the new kid on the block. I have been with the chamber for close to eight years.
Now prior to that, I had served on the board of directors for about 10 years, and then I was chairman of the board in 2008. So the chamber truly is my home. But we have our director of operations Cindy Howard, she's been with this year our chamber for 20 years. Kelly Heslin, who is our VP for special programs and events. She has been with the chamber for 14 years. And so the longevity of it speaks volumes to our community and what we do. And it's a wonderful place to work, you know? I consider my colleagues part of my family.
And when your family is all working in a direction and rowing the in one way, that makes it a really special thing that you couldn't even put a tag on or buy. It's what makes the Flower Mound chamber. And what is really exciting too is the relationships with all of the businesses. You know, businesses come in and we do these really cool new member orientations and we just give you the one on one of everything chamber and communities. And as we sit with these business owners and these leaders, we tell people, people do business with people they have relationships with.
That sounds really basic and very simple, but it is the truth. And you will find that it may not become a business relationship immediately. You shake hands, you say hi and then the floodgates have opened and your business is thriving. It takes a lot of work. And that doesn't necessarily mean, you know, it takes a lot of work of being in every event we do. But what we try to offer are opportunities for every type of business owner, whether it be a morning leads networking meeting, whether it be a brown bag lunch, whether it be an after-hours mixer, we love people that come in.
And we have score counseling. And those are people that have put a business plan together, that are starting a business, or people who have had a business for years that just kind of feel like they need a little bit of tune-up and they need to hear professionals tell them, yes, you're doing a great job or have you thought about this. And so we offer all of these great, great programs for our business community. Another thing that we are, you know, really good at and what we love to do a lot of these small independent businesses, they don't have marketing departments.
They don't have HR departments. They don't have a lot of that built-in staff. And so that's what we are at the chamber. We're just another part of their staff that can help them get the word out and help them market their business. And that's really exciting. I love to come home and I've always had kids growing up, you know, here and oh, my goodness, we're about to get this in our community. We're about to get this message. And that's what is really, really cool to be in a community that's thriving and growing. And it's relationship-based too, which is really exciting.
Nicole: Absolutely. Well, and you create that environment. I mean, truly, so I've been, I joined I think it was five maybe six years ago when I first built my house in Flower Mound. And to your point, the chamber has always been a very welcoming place. And even though there is that foundation of longevity, it's like, come on in, you know, there's plenty of room for more. And that says a lot too because it's easier, it would be easier, right, for those existing relationships to, I don't know, be, feel perceived as clicky or something like that.
And that has never been anything that I've ever heard anyone say about coming to a chamber event. Always, you know, just welcome and just come on in. So I love that. And you are an expert in leading this team and creating a positive environment here for businesses. Why do you think that is so important to our Flower Mound community?
The Impact of a Positive, Supportive Environment
Lori: Well, it is one of those things that I tell every business that comes in, is this relationship thing. We are so different than any other chamber and community. It's interesting, all three of us Kelly, Cindy, and I, have our IOM, which is a designation that the US Chamber gives you. It's a four-year program. You, it's an intense program, where you go to class, you have professors.
And it's interesting as I went through that process, you know, when you're talking with professors, and it goes through every aspect of chambers and how they run and leadership. And I would sit and listen to the issues of a lot of other chambers across the country. And I thought, Wow, we are so lucky because we don't have any of those. And I mean that by, just, for example one of our elected officials. I was here in our chamber school, you know, do you, how can you get one of your elected officials to maybe come to one of your events or come to your luncheons?
And that is so, you know, I say well they all do because they are our people. They are leaders in our community that have given selflessly to take that calling of public service. And they are our friends. And so we all have everybody in our cell phone. We provide, we have a really great program at the chamber called Leadership Flower Mound. And it really goes through and does a deep dive into every aspect of our community from our business community to town government, county government, state government. We do a nonprofit, we do emergency service and do education.
And when I say a deep dive, it makes, it just forces you on a good note to develop and make relationships with every aspect of our community. And as a business leader, you know what, it's a really great thing to know your chief of police very well, to know your mayor really well. And that's unique. And I kind of find that just the way I have always operated and things I've been a part of. I kind of find when, you know, people say, How do y'all create that? I'm like, well, we just do. I mean, that's what we to do.
And that is what's really, really cool. And our residence too, just what we're providing now, are all of these special places where you don't have to leave Flower Mound to find everything that you want and need. And, you know, another thing that I will brag on which our chamber has really nothing to do with but we have exceptional tools and education. Our Lewisville Independent School District is the top-notch in the state certainly, and our country as well. We have wonderful charter schools. We have wonderful private schools. And that is just a testament to our residents and our businesses
Nicole: Agreed. Agree completely. Now you personally have had some real successes in your life, professionally and personally. What do you believe that makes some successful, or specifically you're successful, while where maybe sometimes others tend to struggle?
When Everyone Rows in the Same Direction
Lori: Well, and you know, it goes way, way back to I think, the way you were brought up in your roots. Both of my parents were in education. My father was a superintendent of schools and my mom was a schoolteacher. I grew up in a very small community about an hour and a half northwest of here, Nocona 3000 people. Ironically, my husband and I are both from Nocona. So that makes it really, really cool.
But my parents instilled in my sisters and I, that it's an obligation to give back. I just watched it as my parents, you know, served in their chamber and served in their church and were leaders in the community in civic organization. And I don't think I ever knew any different. And kindness, that is, if I could wave a wand and if I could tell every person, if I could tell every business be kind, be kind to everyone. And that is from businesses being kind to your customers and your customers being kind to those business owners.
And so I really, I say I came by it honestly from what I watched growing up and it has served me very, very well. And, you know, here's what's really interesting, I think, and we have two boys that are seven years apart. And so we've always had, they've kind of been like only children because they were always at different stages in their lives. And if you think about it, when you have kids and communities, and, you know, I have boys, so we've lived on baseball fields, and basketball courts and football fields, you are part of groups of parents that, you know, are all the baseball parents or all the football parents.
And so, what I think is really exciting, and we're certainly not unique to this is you develop all of those relationships from years, you know, I was PTA president, booster club president, and have kind of been involved in that. And those are your people, first of all, in your relationships but they're also in businesses. And so everybody, again, is rowing in that same direction of what makes, you know, my job fun and what develops, you know, me as a person.
You and I are part of, you mentioned while ago, the Cross Timbers Rotary Club, which is a service organization. And what I love, love, love about that are, we have members that I don't, I would have never known that are part of our club. And I think now and I'm so proud, my life is so enriched because I've had the opportunity to, you know, really develop relationships, which is what rotary does, because we meet once a week with people on just a lot closer, you know, level.
Our rotary club was founded five years ago and there were six of us as the founding members. And we have been Rotarians before. And at that time, we had a district governor that wanted to develop and double the number of rotary clubs and double the number of rotary rooms. And so there were six of us that said, You know what, we're going to found, you know, we're going to create a new club. And when we sat down, we said, we want to have breakfast with every single week with our friends and people that we know. And so we identified, you know, an early group of about 25.
And okay, so those 25 people, they have their group of people and their, you know, pull out your phone and your Rolodex. And so it just melded this special and really amazing group of people. And what I think it's one of the things, if you say what are one of the things you're most proud of, is we created something with the Cross Timbers Rotary Club that will outlive us. It will be, you know, when it's 100 years old, you know, who were the people that were the early people that were part of that club. And I'm really proud of that and I know you are too because it's a really testament to again, what a great community we live in.
Nicole: Absolutely. Well and to tie back together for you, Lori, I actually did Leadership Flower Mound and that's where I met some of the early Cross Timbers Rotarians. I missed being a founding member by about a year. But that's how I even found out about Cross Timbers Rotary. So I would just want to give kudos again to the Leadership Flower Mound that the chamber puts on and again to what a special, special group, there's Cross Timbers Rotary Group is as well.
But that, a lot of that is because of you, because of people like you, because of people you're in relationship with that brings so much to this community in so many ways. So I love just be kind. You live that. I can be a testament to that. And you are truly a wonderful cheerleader for Flower Mount. So thank you so much for taking your time today to join us on the Around Flower Mound Podcast. How can people connect with you in the chamber if they want to learn more?
Lori: Well, they can call us on the phone. Our number is 972-539-0500. They can check us out on our website, www.flowermoundchamber.com to see all of the great programs that we have. We are located in Parker Square in Flower Mound, which is a beautiful development. Has been here for a long time. And we're in building 700. What's really great about Parker Square is, you know, a lot of people probably don't know that we have two colleges that and they're both in Harvard Square. We have NTCC is where you can get your associates degree and then Midwestern State University, which is a four-year degree.
I think you have to pinch yourself to say, we have two colleges here. I mean we have wonderful wonderful school districts but we have two colleges. And so they are kind of the two anchors in the Parker Square development which is amazing. So what we, you know, would want to tell people is give us a call, come in and have a cup of coffee and you will see what really, really makes Flower Mound and our surrounding communities the best place to work and play and live. It is wonderful. And I want to thank you, Nicole.
You are a wonderful asset to our community. You're a wonderful realtor, you're a wonderful leader. You also have just stepped up and said, How can I serve? And I mentioned kind and kindness. I don't think I have ever been around any person more, you radiate this aura about you that I want to be near you, I want to talk to you and I want to know more about you. And I want to be your BFF. Can I be your BFF?
Nicole: Well, the feeling is mutual. I love it. I love it. I love it. You're the best. Well, thank you again, so much for your time today, Lori.
Lori: You are so welcome. Thank you for letting me be a part.
