“There are telegrams from the 1920s in the old depot referencing the Tomball Chamber of Commerce,” Hillegeist said. “It wasn’t incorporated yet, but business owners were already working together, grassroots-style, to better the community.”
Marking a milestone
Over the years, the chamber has evolved into what it is today—a hub of support for nearly 850 members, ranging from small businesses to major manufacturers. Hillegeist said its mission is to provide resources and foster an environment that helps businesses.
“If businesses prosper, people get jobs, buy homes, invest in the community—it’s a ripple effect,” Hillegeist said.
Far more than ribbon cuttings and luncheons, the chamber tackles wide-ranging issues, from mobility to education to legislative advocacy, Hillegeist said.
“We’ve been to Austin twice this year alone,” Hillegeist said. “We bring our top priorities, like public school funding, workforce development and water infrastructure, straight to lawmakers. We’re not lobbyists, we’re advocates.”
A closer look
But Hillegeist said the chamber’s work goes further than business and advocacy, also serving as a local resource for residents, too.
“We have people walk in asking all kinds of things—where to eat, how to recycle, where to get a driver’s license,” Director of Communication Amy Mason said. “Our motto is even if we don’t have the answer, we’ll help you find it. We want no one to leave here without a path forward.”
Events like the annual Holiday Parade and Miss Tomball Pageant are among the chamber’s visible works.
“The parade has over 160 entries, 5,000 participants, with 40,000 in attendance. It’s not just a show, it’s about community pride and connection,” Mason said. “We call it ‘two miles of smiles.’”
The Miss Tomball Pageant, which includes scholarships and public speaking components, gives young women a chance to grow as leaders and ambassadors and some even land internships through their connections in the pageant, Mason said.
What else?
With a five-star accreditation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which is an honor shared by fewer than 3% of chambers nationwide, the Greater Tomball Area Chamber is widely recognized for its excellence, Hillgeist said.
“It’s not about us,” Hillegeist said. “It’s about Tomball. Great schools, strong values, and a spirit of cooperation, this chamber reflects the community it serves.”
Despite a small staff, the chamber runs on the energy of its volunteers and members, Mason said.
“We can't do it alone,” Mason said. “Our ambassadors, board members and civic-minded individuals are the heartbeat of what we do.”
