FT: What made you want to be a chamber director?

HG: I wanted to become more involved in the community and felt that taking a larger role in the Chamber would give me the avenue to get more involved.

 

FT: How long have you owned Charlie's? Why Farmersville?  

HG: I have owned Charlie's since November 1, 2009, sixteen months.  We didn't chose Farmersville, we chose Charlie's that was located in Farmersville and therefore this is where we will stay!

 

FT: So far, what has been the best thing about being on the chamber? The worst?  

HG: The best part about being part of the Chamber is having the networking availabe to meet and get to know others in our community.  It is so wonderful to know that there are other business owners out there that have the same goal in mind, which is to make our community and the businesses in it the best it can be for everyone.

 

FT: Tell us about your family/ husband/children.

HG: I am orginally from Indiana and my husband is from Michigan.  After completing his degrees at Purdue University, we moved to Royse City, Texas for his new job.  At that time, I was running a restaurant for Brinker International and with their headquarters here in Dallas, it was a very smooth transition for both of us.  We do not have any children, but we love to spoil our nieces and nephew.  Our families still live in Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio, so as often as we can, we like to go and visit them.

 

FT: Why are we here?

When I think of a Chamber of Commerce, I think of an organization that is part of our community to link the local businesses with each other and also the residents of our town.  Community involvement is so important in small towns today to keep them and the businesses alive.  With so many comglomerates coming into communities, we are seeing small businesses and downtowns going under all across the United States.  The Chamber is the avenue to create the excitement and commitment to our community, our downtown, and those business owners that continue to help make our town what it is today.


Heather Grupido

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