Burleson County Chamber of Commerce

Melanie Becka, Chairman of the Board '07-'08

Melanie Becka was elected to the Burleson County Chamber of Commerce board of directors in 2005 to serve a three year term. Also in that same year, she was elected as board secretary, in 2006 Becka was elected as chair-elect and took office as Chairman of the Board in May 2007.

Becka began working at the First Bank of Snook in the Teller and New Accounts divisions over 6 years ago and joined the mortgage team in May of 2000 as Mortgage Loan Officer and Real Estate Lending. Becka possesses an associate degree from Blinn College and a Bachelor of Science from Texas A&M University in Ag Business.

Becka's hometown is Somerville, Texas where she attended high school and graduated.

email: melanie@firstbanksnook.com

Brenda Van De Walle, President/CE0 '04-'07

Van De Walle was named president and CEO of the Burleson County Chamber of Commerce in November 2004. After joining the chamber, her focus was centered on taking care of and delivering value to members. She has served in a number of roles that contributed to her success in promoting the community and assisting area businesses.

Her past experience includes more than 12 years with a Fortune Global 100 Company and a “Big Four” firm. At Hewlett-Packard (formerly, Compaq Computer Corporation) she was a product-marketing manager and while at Ernst & Young LLP, she served as project manager of the Gulf Coast Area/Houston Entrepreneur of The Year Awards program. Van De Walle has a background in research grants from the Texas A&M Research Foundation.

Her knowledge and background in computer technology enabled the launch of the chamber's new community website. In the September 2005 issue of Women's Enterprise Texas magazine, Van De Walle was recognized for her leadership role as chamber president. Of the 130 plus women-run chambers, 27 were selected to highlight in the issue. Van De Walle's profile highlights accomplishments on delivering value to members, the launch of a new website that averages more than 14,000 hits a month and a web page and unique URL for every member's business.

Van De Walle’s community experience includes past President/CEO of the Burleson County Chamber of Commerce and board positions on the Burleson County Industrial Foundation, Brazos Valley Workforce Solutions and The Friends of the Harrie P. Woodson Memorial Library. Van De Walle will serve as a chamber board director beginning in April 2008 for a three year term. She currently chairs the chamber's website committee.

Yellow Prairie Marketing, which specializes in creative marketing solutions, was founded by Van De Walle. The company offers graphics, multi-media and website design. In January 2008, Van De Walle committed full-time to the launch and success of Yellow Prairie.

Van De Walle received a bachelors of science in landscape architecture from Texas A&M University. She holds a Texas Irrigators license and a Texas Real Estate Salesman license.

email: bjfvandewalle@aol.com
Brenda Farmer Van De Walle Martinez

Gerald Lickman, Chairman of the Board '06-'07

Gerald Lickman was elected to the board in 2005 for a three year term. Also in that same year, he was elected as chair-elect and took office as Chairman of the Board in April 2006.

Lickman, born in East Stroudsburg in 1967, has spent most of his career in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He attended college in Palm Beach, Florida and re-located to Fort Lauderdale after school. Lickman’s experience includes more than 20 years in graphic design, printing, publishing and various other media projects. He has owned and operated his own weekly news and entertainment magazine for 5 years.

Lickman's parents lived in Texas while his father served in the military. After his father passed away, Jerry relocated to Burleson County to establish a new future closer to his family. He started a new business in Caldwell called Design & Sign. Design & Sign specializes in graphic design, sign making, web design, animations, printing and specialty motivational promotion products. Lickman also tutors one on one computer and software training.

email: jerry567sign@aol.com

Robert Collins, Chairman of the Board '05-'06

Collins was elected to the Burleson County Chamber of Commerce board in 2004 for a three year term. Also in that same year, he was also elected chair-elect and took office as board chairman in April 2005. Collins is a 35 year resident of Burleson County, the son of E.R. Collins and Libbie Slovacek Collins. Collins and his wife, Patricia Vajdak Collins, have six children and six grandchildren. They reside in the Snook area.

Collins has been a business man throughout his adult life. He has been active in numerous other positions and organization in the community. For 25 years, Collins managed and owned Slovacek Sausage in Snook, Texas. Since 1996, he has operated the Czech/Tex Steakhouse/Barbeque and Bakery in downtown Snook. Czech/Tex is a family-oriented restaurant with a gift shop and catering services to the Brazos Valley region.

email: czechtex@gmail.com


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	Burleson County Chamber of Commerce Caldwell Office: 301 N. Main Street Caldwell, Texas 77836 (979) 567-0000 Main (979) 567-0818 Fax Somerville Office: 131 Seventh Street Somerville, Texas 77879 (979) 596-2383 email: info@burlesoncountytx.com Connecting the Lyndon B. Johnson Library in Austin and the George H. Walker Bush Library in College Station. Burleson County Economic Development and Rural Economic Development	Melanie Becka, Chairman of the Board '07-'08 Melanie Becka was elected to the Burleson County Chamber of Commerce board of directors in 2005 to serve a three year term. Also in that same year, she was elected as board secretary, in 2006 Becka was elected as chair-elect and took office as Chairman of the Board in May 2007. Becka began working at the First Bank of Snook in the Teller and New Accounts divisions over 6 years ago and joined the mortgage team in May of 2000 as Mortgage Loan Officer and Real Estate Lending. Becka possesses an associate degree from Blinn College and a Bachelor of Science from Texas A&M University in Ag Business. Becka's hometown is Somerville, Texas where she attended high school and graduated. email: melanie@firstbanksnook.com Brenda Van De Walle, President/CE0 '04-'07 Van De Walle was named president and CEO of the Burleson County Chamber of Commerce in November 2004. After joining the chamber, her focus was centered on taking care of and delivering value to members. She has served in a number of roles that contributed to her success in promoting the community and assisting area businesses. Her past experience includes more than 12 years with a Fortune Global 100 Company and a “Big Four” firm. At Hewlett-Packard (formerly, Compaq Computer Corporation) she was a product-marketing manager and while at Ernst & Young LLP, she served as project manager of the Gulf Coast Area/Houston Entrepreneur of The Year Awards program. Van De Walle has a background in research grants from the Texas A&M Research Foundation. Her knowledge and background in computer technology enabled the launch of the chamber's new community website. In the September 2005 issue of Women's Enterprise Texas magazine, Van De Walle was recognized for her leadership role as chamber president. Of the 130 plus women-run chambers, 27 were selected to highlight in the issue. Van De Walle's profile highlights accomplishments on delivering value to members, the launch of a new website that averages more than 14,000 hits a month and a web page and unique URL for every member's business. Van De Walle’s community experience includes past President/CEO of the Burleson County Chamber of Commerce and board positions on the Burleson County Industrial Foundation, Brazos Valley Workforce Solutions and The Friends of the Harrie P. Woodson Memorial Library. Van De Walle will serve as a chamber board director beginning in April 2008 for a three year term. She currently chairs the chamber's website committee. Yellow Prairie Marketing, which specializes in creative marketing solutions, was founded by Van De Walle. The company offers graphics, multi-media and website design. In January 2008, Van De Walle committed full-time to the launch and success of Yellow Prairie. Van De Walle received a bachelors of science in landscape architecture from Texas A&M University. She holds a Texas Irrigators license and a Texas Real Estate Salesman license. email: bjfvandewalle@aol.com Brenda Farmer Van De Walle Martinez Gerald Lickman, Chairman of the Board '06-'07 Gerald Lickman was elected to the board in 2005 for a three year term. Also in that same year, he was elected as chair-elect and took office as Chairman of the Board in April 2006. Lickman, born in East Stroudsburg in 1967, has spent most of his career in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He attended college in Palm Beach, Florida and re-located to Fort Lauderdale after school. Lickman’s experience includes more than 20 years in graphic design, printing, publishing and various other media projects. He has owned and operated his own weekly news and entertainment magazine for 5 years. Lickman's parents lived in Texas while his father served in the military. After his father passed away, Jerry relocated to Burleson County to establish a new future closer to his family. He started a new business in Caldwell called Design & Sign. Design & Sign specializes in graphic design, sign making, web design, animations, printing and specialty motivational promotion products. Lickman also tutors one on one computer and software training. email: jerry567sign@aol.com Robert Collins, Chairman of the Board '05-'06 Collins was elected to the Burleson County Chamber of Commerce board in 2004 for a three year term. Also in that same year, he was also elected chair-elect and took office as board chairman in April 2005. Collins is a 35 year resident of Burleson County, the son of E.R. Collins and Libbie Slovacek Collins. Collins and his wife, Patricia Vajdak Collins, have six children and six grandchildren. They reside in the Snook area. Collins has been a business man throughout his adult life. He has been active in numerous other positions and organization in the community. For 25 years, Collins managed and owned Slovacek Sausage in Snook, Texas. Since 1996, he has operated the Czech/Tex Steakhouse/Barbeque and Bakery in downtown Snook. Czech/Tex is a family-oriented restaurant with a gift shop and catering services to the Brazos Valley region. email: czechtex@gmail.com

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