January 25th, 2008
KACC rewards members

STAFF REPORT

The Kyle Chamber of Commerce (KACC) held its annual gala Thursday night at the paradoxically plush Texas Disposal Systems (TDS) Exotic Game Ranch, recognizing its leading members for a successful 2007.

The gala carried off a Roaring ‘20s theme. Local musician and fine arts instructor Terry Capps provided the music with a variety of friends. Still with the Bix Beiderbecke middle part in his hair as he took stage at Constantine’s in Buda Friday night, Capps said the gala came off splendidly.

Jason Tarr of Great Locations Realty was the big winner with two awards. Tarr not only won Business Person of the Year, but Great Locations was named the Small Business of the Year.

Rudy Barnes of Allied Mortgage Company won Ambassador of the Year for his consistent and redoubtable presence at chamber functions.

Johnell Huebner of Arbonne International won Volunteer of the Year.

Not surprisingly, H-E-B Plus! won Large Business of the Year. Years in coming, H-E-B Plus! opened last summer to finally provide Kyle with a major grocery store.

The City of Kyle won Organization of the Year after a 2007 in which the city’s long-running transformation took its most dramatic turns with the opening of H-E-B Plus!, the relocation of RSI to town, a deal to bring in a Seton Hospital and plans for almost a million square feet of retail development at Kyle Parkway and Interstate-35.

Tarr is the vice president of the KACC board of directors, Huebner is the KACC board secretary and Barnes is on the board, as is Kyle economic development director Diana Blank.