A shared vision became a reality almost five years ago.

Friends Joe Menslage and Erica Scardino both dreamed of bringing Christian-owned businesses together – not only to help them practice their faiths in the workplace Monday through Friday – but also to defend religious freedom and constitutional rights. So, in February 2020, the Katy Christian Chamber of Commerce was born.

“The chamber formed out of a need to represent the voices of Christian-owned businesses and like-minded professionals to defend religious freedom in the workplace and town square per constitutional rights and freedoms,” said Executive Director Erica Scardino in an interview with the Katy Times. Scardino and Menslage are each listed as “executive directors” on the organization's website.

Although the group includes “chamber of commerce” in its name, it is very different from other chambers.

“Traditional chambers of commerce exist to be a collective voice of local businesses to the government.” Scardino said. “Most focus efforts and resources upward to reach and influence elections, rub elbows with elected officials, and lobby for or against what serves their interests as local business owners collectively. We have flipped the traditional chamber model on its head -- focusing first on the individual members, and their need to connect with growth opportunities that make sense for their services and products within a like-minded community.”

“We are changing the culture of commerce from a ‘what's in it for me?’ to a ‘how can I help you grow?’ approach,” Scardino continued. “As a member of the Katy Christian Chamber of Commerce you will understand your religious freedoms under the law and how to exercise your faith at work, know what God says about work and how it applies to your specific calling, apply professional development tools designed to grow your faith and business, and connect with like-minded leaders, businesses, professionals to grow your network.”

The chamber – colloquially known as “KC3” -- now has 220 members and 337 individuals currently active. Prominent members include Gallery Furniture (Mattress Mack), Katy Area Economic Development Council, GOYA Foods, Shottenkirk Nissan of Katy, YMCA, Katy Christian Ministries, Sid Miller (TX Agriculture Commissioner), Memorial Hermann, Johnson Development Group, Hope Media (KSBJ Radio), and more. The membership consists of a wide variety of businesses across many industries, all serving the greater Katy area.

As it begins its fifth year, the group has not wavered from its original mission to provide Christian professionals and organizations a platform to network, connect and grow, personally and professionally, to serve their communities and fulfill their calling. But it has evolved to meet the needs of its membership.

“Though our mission and focus remain the same, we have grown in our approach to providing a platform that serves a broader member base,” said Scardino. “When we first started meeting as an organization,

we hosted one networking event per month. Now we have grown into three well-attended events monthly: a networking breakfast, a luncheon and an after-hours mixer. As we have grown, we have listened to learn more about what local business owners actually need, how they connect best, and how to pivot our approach accordingly. Each chamber connection event is unique in its approach, how it is structured to meet the needs of that particular demographic. Our breakfasts are speaker-focused, our luncheons are member-focused, and our mixers are fellowship- focused. Each offers networking and new connection opportunities for both members and non-members.”

The monthly breakfast meetings have featured national speakers like boxing champion Termite Watkins and U.S. Congressman Troy Nehls and local speakers like Mattress Mack of Gallery Furniture, Wayne Dolcefino of ABC News, State Representative Mike Schofield, former Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Jack Cagle, and Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, among others.

But there have been challenges along the way. Following the chamber’s very first meeting with over 110 businesses in attendance – COVID struck, forcing the organization to suspend all meetings until it was safe to again gather in person. “We resumed operations in October of 2020, eight full months after our launch, with a networking breakfast.” Scardino said. “Only 20 people attended that morning, but it felt amazing to see people in person once more. We slowly grew into the member base we support now.”

In its short history, the chamber has accomplished a lot, Scardino said, listed the top three achievements as:

· Bringing together chamber members, Bob Unanue (CEO of Goya) together with Steve Ives (CEO of Greater Houston YMCA) to connect Goya Cares anti-trafficking program with Greater Houston YMCA resulting in mass distribution in training and support for kids, parents and employees all over Houston.

· Being asked to facilitate a gift for a lucky local high school football team to receive new brand-name sports clothing and gear through a generous donation by Houston Texans and DICKS House of Sport. “Watching Will Anderson give his time and attention to the Royal High School football team of Brookshire was an amazing experience,” she said.

· The annual Katy Community Expo hosted each August at the KISD Merrell Center has seen over 12,000 residents each year connect with donation and volunteer opportunities, and local business owners that can serve their needs. The Expo gives over 35 local nonprofits a free platform to be seen and to connect their message to thousands of local residents looking to donate or volunteer.

The chamber also encourages collaboration between its business and nonprofit members, such as hosting a year-long canned food drive where members brought food items to support Katy Christian Ministries’ food pantry and received $5 off their event admission.

What does the next five years look like for the chamber?

“We have plans for tremendous growth in years to come,” said Scardino. “We have established the United Christian Chamber of Commerce (United C3)-- our 501c6 organization -- to house future chapters of the chamber such as the Houston Christian Chamber of Commerce (HC3) launching in 2025-2026 fiscal year. We are currently creating programs that will benefit members by supporting youth scholarships and creating senior internships and mentoring opportunities in our communities. We are

creating incentive programs with marketing rewards like eblasts up to free membership for members who donate their services and products at no cost to a member in need. We are collaborating in building a complete resource directory to assist residents connect with help in real time in their local area.”

“We aim to do the ‘town’ better and put the ‘unity’ in ‘community,’ “ she concluded.