Staff
Welcome!
Welcome to Palestine, Texas, home of the Dogwood Trails and the Texas State Railroad. On Behalf of our business members and the community, we invite you to “come on in!”
The Palestine Area Chamber of Commerce with having over 540 members, understands that in order to have a strong economic environment you must have a strong community. We are truly blessed to have strong leaders, business owners, educators and citizens who realize that we all share in the responsibility of creating economic success and happiness within our community.
Our rich history dates back to 1846, and the Chamber was established in 1930 to advocate for and support the prosperity of Palestine and our area businesses. Downtown Palestine boasts 44 blocks of designated historic Main Street District stretching from the visitor center to the courthouse square. Within this area visitors and residents alike can find many unique opportunities for shopping, dining, art, culture, history and special events.
The Chamber’s goal is to work toward improving the quality of life for all through the support and commitment of its members, volunteers and committees. The programs and events we present provide extraordinary opportunities to grow needed networks and gain new insights to address the ever-changing challenges facing all of us in business today. We are always creating new networking and promotional opportunities to help our member businesses succeed and grow, including space to advertise on the Chamber website, business referrals, monthly networking opportunities, and continuing education. We value our strong partnership with the City of Palestine, Main Street, Visitors Center, Palestine Economic Development Corporation, Ben E. Keith and Palestine Regional Medical Center.
Our community is comprised of business minded, service oriented, generously gifted individuals that have a real heart for this city. Palestine is thriving and here, at the Chamber of Commerce, we are committed to promoting businesses, provided valuable tools for their growth and supporting innovative ideas. We create meaningful opportunities to network with one another and we invest in our youth to help build future leaders for Palestine.
If you are looking for opportunities to get more involved, or learn more about what makes our city unique, please visit our Chamber office. We encourage you to share our passion for Palestine.
Ladies of The Chamber
I was born and raised right here in Palestine. I am a 13 yr graduate of Westwood. I attended TVCC and SFA, where I studied Communications, Photojournalism and Marketing. I’ve been with the Chamber for 2 years in July and I am very excited with the direction we are heading. My husband Chris and I have been married for 5 years. He gave me a beautiful bonus daughter, Emily, who is a Junior at Elkhart High School and together we have an amazing 4 year old son, Rooke. We are both members of First Baptist Church Palestine and appreciate the family we have made there. I love photography and in my spare time I enjoy reading and bowling! My favorite things about Palestine are the relationships and friendships I’ve made and the value they bring to my life.
I was born in Minnesota, but have now lived in Palestine, Texas for almost 10 years. I was homeschooled and graduated high school at 16 years old. I am currently a Junior in college, studying for my Bachelors Degree in
Accounting at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. After graduation in 2026, I plan to pursue a job in Accounting here in the Palestine area. I have now been working for the Chamber for about a year and a half, and I love it! Being a part of this team and a bigger part of the community in Palestine has truly been a blessing to me the past year and has given me ample experience to propel me into my future career. I love reading, hiking, indoor rock climbing, and spending time with friends and family when I can!
I was born and raised in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany. I moved to Dallas at 18 and completed my Bachelor’s in Radiology at Midwestern State University. For 25 years I worked as a Radiographer, CT Technologist, Sonographer, and Clinical Educator for Children’s Medical Center in Dallas and taught at Dallas Community College. My husband and I moved to Palestine in 2021. I have two children and a stepson who live in the Dallas area and the rest of my family lives in Germany. When possible, my husband and I travel to Germany to visit. In my spare time, I enjoy crafting and gardening. Joining the Chamber of Commerce team has allowed
me not only to support local, but to also apply my passion for educating, promoting, organizing, and developing lasting friendships.
Claire Ormand
Member Services Support
I am a senior at Elkhart high school and have lived in Palestine my whole life. I love the small-town feel. I currently serve as Elkhart FFA’s President and love all things related to agriculture. I will be attending Tarleton State University to major in animal science with a focus in Pre Veterinary medicine. In my free time, I enjoy reading, hanging out with friends and family, and working with my heifer, Poppy. With my degree, I plan to train at a vet clinic with the goal of opening my own someday. My favorite thing about Palestine is going to the Farmer’s Market on Saturday mornings with my sister.