The Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce on Friday hosted its February luncheon, with the theme of honoring the Chamber membership. Executive Director Wendy Lawson spoke about Chamber events planned for this year. Already held this past week was the “Pathways to Success” event. It was presented for local high school seniors, showing them all the different things they can do after high school. Thirty-eight vendors, speakers, lunch, and giveaways were there for the students. Lawson said the event offered “a great way for them to see the possibilities that are out there for them.”
Next will be the bi-annual Economic Summit, which will happen next week on Thursday, February 26. The featured speakers will be from the City of Brownwood, City Manager Marshall McIntosh and Assistant City Manager Ray Tipton, who will provide updates on events that are up and coming in Brownwood this year. Also, Carrie Dunn, President of the local Heartland Association of Realtors, will share the forecast for the 2026 housing market in our area. The Texas Workforce Commission will present employment numbers in our area, and their forecast for employment in Brown County. The Guest Speaker will be Dr. Helen You, Associate Director of the Texas Demographic Center in San Antonio. Dr. You will look at the demographic makeup of Texas, and items affecting all areas of the Texas economy. Also attending will be Texas Senator Phil King and Texas Representative David Spiller, who will speak about current and future happenings in the Texas Legislature.
The Annual Banquet will be held on April 2, and it will celebrate the 120th Anniversary of the Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce. At this banquet, Lawson said, “We really want to take the opportunity to celebrate the members that make up the Brownwood Area Chamber, and businesses that make our community what it is, and just celebrate everyone around us.”
Other Chamber events already planned for 2026:
*** Chamber Luncheons on May 14 (Law Enforcement), August 21 (Local Education), and November 20 (Community Holiday)
*** Professional Women’s Luncheons: June 16 and November 17
*** Morning Coffee Talks: March 4, July 1, and November 4
*** Community Events: Business Expo/Food Truck Cook-Off, September 17; Corks and Caps, October 24; Christmas Under the Stars Parade, December 3; Christmas Under the Stars Festival, December 5.
For more information on these events, contact the Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce at 600 East Depot St, 325-646-9535.
The featured speaker at the luncheon was Dr. Michael S. Blanc, General and Interventional Cardiologist at Hendrick Medical Center, Brownwood. Dr. Blanc said Hendrick’s mission is “to deliver high quality healthcare emphasizing excellence and compassion consistent with the healing ministry of Jesus Christ.” The Hendrick system covers 24 counties in Texas, serving over 400,000 Texans. Blanc said Hendrick is “the comprehensive cardiology provider in all of West Texas.” Dr. Blanc said “Our mission in Cardio-Vascular Care is to be the premier Cardio-Vascular center for Central and West Texas, focused on excellence, with patient-centered, compassionate care.” Last year Henrick Brownwood provided 21,877 non-invasive heart procedures, including over 13,000 EKG (electrocardiogram) and over 4,000 ultra sounds.
According to Dr. Blanc, the death rate from heart disease in the United States has dropped over the past several decades. In 1950, 450 persons per 100,000 U.S. residents died from heart disease. Sixty years later, in 2010, the rate had dropped by about two-thirds, to only 150 per 100,000 U.S. residents dying from heart disease. But in the last 25 years the death rate from high blood pressure has doubled. Now, one in four persons risk heart failure. Dr. Blanc said it is the only health diagnosis that is increasing in our population. While not necessarily connected, the increase in high blood pressure is parallel to the increase of obesity in the United States.
The people of Central and West Texas can get 95% of needed heart care through the Hendrick Medical system, without having to go to large cities in Texas. Also providing General and Interventional Cardiology health care at Hendrick Medical Center, Brownwood, is Dr. Babu Jasti. Also, Hendrick is planning to open a heart failure clinic in Brownwood later this year.