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A few minutes with Tim Culp
This week, we spend a few minutes with Tim Culp, CEO of the Deer Park Chamber of Commerce.
InsideDP.com: Where are you from originally?
Tim Culp: I lived in Mineola for 15 years and then went to Crockett. I was there from 1980 until I moved here to Deer Park.
What was it like growing up in East Texas?
It was truly small town. Everybody knew everybody and everybody knew everybody in the county. There were a lot of good traditional, hometown values. I think it is important that I learned good, true hometown values from where I grew up. We didn't have a lot of the amenities that you had in bigger towns, but that was OK. We made our own fun.
What did you do after you graduated?
After I graduated, I went to Sam Houston State for a short period of time. After that, I decided that I wanted to work. I found work with a furniture company, what I ended up doing was going into business for myself. I ended up in a partnership with a company that sold medical equipment. I became the sole owner of that business and owned it until about two years before we came to Deer Park. We served about a 200-mile radius around Crockett.
How did you get into chamber and economic development work?
I was the immediate past chairman for our chamber of commerce. Our executive director accepted a position as director of economic development. I was on the search committee and we could not find anyone that we wanted to take the position. I was in my office and two of the people on the search committee told me they found the person they want to be the executive director of our chamber. They said they wanted me. I had served just about every position on our chamber, on the board and such. I didn't really want it, but my wife and I talked about it and researched it. Not only did they tell me I should do it, but Crockett was a good place to start, so I did. I worked for the Chamber for six years. Later on, I was approached to take the job and I took it. I enjoyed chamber work, but it was going to give me a different perspective on the economic development side of things. I did that for five years and I enjoyed it. We got a lot of things done that I'm very proud of.
What were some of the challenges of working in a smaller community?
I would say it was development of the workforce because of the numbers while trying to get companies to locate or want to be a part of a small community. But we did it. We then had to identify how to make a small community like that grow. We had to look internally. The pasture is always greener on the other side, but we don't take care of our own house. We are always so eager to look other places than tend to our own crops. At the same time, we had to give consideration to change. Change is difficult, but we had to learn to evolve and develop.
What brought you to Deer Park?
I came to Deer Park by way of the Chamber. I wasn't really looking to move. I had a couple of other offers, but I just didn't feel like it fit. My family and I were happy where we were and loved Crockett. My wife and I are from there and our kids grew up there. We were happy. Then this position in Deer Park came open and a friend of mine encouraged me to apply. I gave it a shot and here I am. In my research, I thought Deer Park would be a town we would be comfortable for us. We wanted a better education opportunities for our kids. It was easy to get excited about the community.
What was your first impression of the town?
It was obvious that the driving engine is the petrochemical industry and the port and that it’s a community that cares about itself. There's a lot of community pride. That impression grew as I began to meet and visit with people. It made the decision easy to come here.
What is your role with the Chamber?
It is to direct the operations of the Chamber and carry on some of the projects of my predecessor. We are the conduit that links the business community to the community as a whole. As a chamber, we keep our finger of the pulse of the community and are mindful of what is happening. We try to predict things that could have a negative or positive impact on our community. We have to address those issues head-on. We have to know what the needs are in the business community.
How do you bridge the gap between industries across Hwy. 225 and the small businesses up and down Center St.?
It's awareness and communication with an open-door policy. Small businesses know that industry is over there and the big industries know small businesses are on this side. But sometimes, they don't know how they can meet. We try to look at different opportunities where small businesses can serve the big industry. The big industries already bring people over here for work. That helps out small businesses because small businesses can provide the goods and services that those employees need. We want our members to know that they have value. More often than not, it's indirectly. We have to help create a business-friendly environment.
What were some of the goals you had when you took the position?
Look at ways we could grow and build on the foundation that had already been put up. We are a resource and that we want to make it more publicly known that we are a resource for our members and the Deer Park community.
What are some of the challenges the Deer Park Chamber faces today?
Probably the biggest one is making people aware of the value of the chamber. It's hard to toot your own horn. There are a lot of benefits here. People need to know they can come to talk to us about challenges, issues and even their success stories.
What's next for the Deer Park Chamber?
People are going to see the chamber take a little bit different approach to business needs. They will see a more positive growth. We have to make sure we can identify those needs. We want to promote Deer Park outside of Deer Park. We have a wonderful town. You can come raise your kids here. You can come and visit. It's a great place to live and grow and have great family values.
What do you like best about what you do?
It's so cliché, but it's the people. I get to tell people about something that I'm excited about. I get up everyday and get talk about a wonderful town, a great community where I was fortunate enough to move my family to. I get to tell people about the wonderful town called Deer Park. It's a blessing. I've been very blessed with the opportunity to do this for two communities now. Crockett is my hometown, but I live in Deer Park and I choose to do so.