Greater Ennis Chamber of Commerce boasts new name and brand look

ENNIS – The Ennis Chamber of Commerce board of directors and staff have completed a rebranding initiative that culminated in a new, updated logo and the addition of “Greater” in its name to reflect the growth and power of the Greater Ennis business community. The Greater Ennis Chamber has attracted business leaders from Ennis and surrounding areas drawn to its location, and the significant economic development happening in and around Ennis.

“When I became CEO of the chamber in 2022, I quickly recognized the passion and potential that the Ennis business community had to offer,” said Geoeffery Williams, president and CEO of Greater Ennis Chamber of Commerce. 

“As I got to know members within this community and the region at large, it was clear we as a chamber of commerce had an opportunity to provide even more valuable resources, networking opportunities and advocacy to help businesses of all sizes thrive in our growing economy. 

"And our board knew our name and our brand needed an update to better reflect the quality and value we’re providing today and will continue to deliver for decades to come.”

The idea of growth is represented prominently in the new logo by a bluebonnet with multiple petals pointing upward with the top petal colored in green. 

The familiar and iconic bluebonnet image that Ennis is known for is stylized to give a nod to traditional Czech imagery that’s such an important part of the city’s heritage. 

Those bluebonnet petals also represent the three main highways leading into the city along with the blocked parallel lines representing the historic importance of the railway as an economic catalyst. 

The bluebonnet growing through the middle of the words Greater and Ennis represents the business growth and connections members will experience as part of the chamber. And the vertical stem of the bluebonnet symbolizes the main I-45 highway stretching through Ennis that connects the growing metropolitan business centers of Dallas and Houston. 

The logo has an updated look and feel with a sans serif font and the words “Greater Ennis” in all caps to show the strength of this growing area of economic development. 

Lastly, the new logo incorporates a trusted blue and a vibrant green reflecting the brand personality of this long-time, leading organization where Ennis-area businesses can connect and grow.

The new logo and name were a result of a brand strategy process that began in March with research and conversations with current and past chamber members, then took those research insights into a half-day brand workshop with representatives from the chamber board and the chamber staff and ended with a foundational brand platform that included the chamber’s purpose, positioning statement, brand personality, core competencies and brand essence. This platform guided the logo design and will help ground the brand in what matters most to chamber members.

The chamber’s commitment to fostering economic growth, innovation, and community development across the region is a reflection of its broader vision and dedication to serving the Greater Ennis business community. 

Through initiatives such as Connect@Noon and Building Blocks for Business programs, business owners and leaders can have access to an esteemed group of community leaders and the resources to grow professionally and drive their business forward. 

Members can also take advantage of connections in surrounding areas, such as Red Oak and Waxahachie, by applying to programs such as Leadership Ellis County, a program that helps business leaders throughout the county broaden their impact and sphere of influence in the North Texas Region.

The chamber acknowledges the significant growth in retail, real estate, logistics, manufacturing, supply chain, and transportation sectors in the area and now offers industry-specific programs to support each. 

A consistent cadence of seminars and events on topics such as tax updates, social media and marketing, entrepreneurship basics, HR and workforce development, small business initiatives, as well as job fairs are all included in the latest line up from the Greater Ennis Chamber.

Signature and standalone events and state of the chamber sessions are also held to facilitate opportunities and connections for businesses across the city and region.

About the Greater Ennis Chamber of Commerce:

Originally known as the Businessman’s Commercial Club in the early 1900s, the Ennis Chamber of Commerce was organized by business leaders in the community over 105 years ago and was very active as the new, thriving city of Ennis started growing because of its location on the Houston & Texas Central Railroad (H&TC) line. 

The purpose of today’s Greater Ennis Chamber is to connect businesses to opportunity. Its membership base is built by the local business community which is heavily invested in the future success of the Ennis area. 

With an eye for always protecting the local culture and history, and the small-town charm and values of Ennis, as well as influencing economic progress and growth, the more than 350 business members of the Greater Ennis Chamber of Commerce lead by example to ensure that Ennis is a great place to live, work, raise a family, and build a business.