Over the course of the last couple of years as the business has begun to grow and Bert Wells has had an opportunity to delegate certain task and responsibilities, Bert has begun to focus on something that is very near and dear to his heart; giving back to the business community. His first priority is to support organizations that have strong ties to the American Indian business community and to support the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Texas. Bert began working with AICCT in early 2005 volunteering as much time as possibly supporting this great Chamber. At this time the Chamber was in a rebuilding process and had many directional issues that Bert felt like he could help with if he could afford the time. Although the Beard organization was still very much in a rebuilding mode it was very important to Bert to support the Chamber with either his time or his money. As Beard continued to prosper so to did the Chamber and in January of 2006 Bert was elected to a Board position. Bert was very proud to serve as a Board member and challenged all other Board members to step up and get involved in the path forward of the Chamber. Bert along with the Board President, the Executive Director and American Airlines (a major corporate sponsor) began working on completely restructuring the Chamber.

Some of the initiatives that Bert has helped to develop for the Chamber over the last two years are as follows:

• • Developed the mission statement and the tag line “Our History and Our Future are in Our People.”
  • Help to develop the strategic committees
  • Help to develop the 5 year business
  • Started the first annual golf tournament to raise funds for the Youth Education and Opportunity Fund which raise more than $10,000 in its first year
  • Reinstated a working relationship with other American Indian organizations such as the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Oklahoma and the Native American Business Alliance out of Michigan.
  • Help to establish a mentoring program for other small American Indian owned business via the Chamber
  • Help to increase the Chamber memberships by 45% over two years and increased the overall revenue for the Chamber by over 50%
  • Help to develop the first business to business quarterly luncheons between corporate American and American Indian owned businesses

Additionally, Bert has served as a chair to the following committees; Marketing, Economic Development, Membership and the Programs Committee. Bert currently serves as AICCT’s President Elect and in January 2008 will be the Chambers President for a term of three (3) years.  Bert is very proud of his native roots and is very blessed to have the opportunity to give back to his people. It is extremely import to help additional American Indian owned business get that one opportunity to succeed.  Bert also spends his time introducing those small American Indian Owned businesses to potential business and corporate leaders so they may one day help to mentor or sponsor other American Indian Entrepreneurs.  Although Bert’s first priority is to help other American Indian owned business succeed he also wants to help other minority business owners have the opportunities to be successful as he has had.

In 2005, Bert began working with several different small minority owned business via AICCT. These businesses include an American Indian owned construction business, Brenco Industrial owned by Steve Cardwell; an African American owned plumbing company, Concept Facility Services owned by Mr. Cliff Freeney; an African American owned general contractor, DoveSeven owned by Mr. Milton Quinn; and a start-up American Indian owned consulting company owned by Mrs. Sherri Starr. It is very important to Bert to try and give guidance and support to those businesses as they begin to grow and diversify.

Some additional organizations the Bert dedicates his time to support both with his time and financially are as follows:

• • DFWMBC – A current member of the Construction Industry Committee (CIG), a current supporter of their annual E awards banquet as well as their quarterly luncheons
  • Mechanical Contractors Association (Texas & America) – Is the current Secretary/Treasure of MCA of Texas, actively involved in the local and national annual conference, is currently involved with the labor negotiations for the State on behalf of the contractors and on behalf of his industry
  • Rowlett Youth Soccer Association – Currently serves as a coach and as a consultant to the rules committee for the U5 program
  • Urban Intertribal Center – This organization helps to support the needs of American Indians across the State of Texas and Bert is involved in their educational programs for the youth as well as the annual job fair for American Indians
  • American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Oklahoma – Bert began his relationship with AICCO in 2006 and attends the quarterly luncheon, their annual banquet as well as their annual mentoring and business development summit in Tulsa
  • Native American Business Alliance – Bert just began working with NABA in early 2007. He attended the annual conference this year in Galveston Texas and plans to attend their economic summit in Michigan at the end of August
  • Women’s Business Council - Bert has been involved with the council since 2005 and has attend many of the business to business connection sessions, their annual banquet where Beard won the Women’s Business of the Year in 2006 as well as being involved in the ACE Committee

Bert is also committed to being out in front of the business leaders of today and in the future. His ties to corporate sponsors are very strong as well as his tie to the minority community. He continues to sponsor and supports efforts to connect minority owned business with corporate American through the following venues:

• • AICCT annual banquet, Golf Tournament, the AICCT education and opportunity fund
  • DFWMBC annual banquet, quarterly luncheons, trade show events such as ACCESS and Showcase
  • UT events such as Native American history month in November, annual minority business showcase in Austin, the SCMBDC and UT minority business develop program in San Antonio and the mentor / protégé program
  • MCAA – Monthly luncheon and Annual Banquet
  • WBC – Quarterly Networking Session and Annual Awards Banquet
  • Hispanic Contractors Association – Quarterly Networking Session and Annual Awards Banquet

The above mentioned information along with many other events help to not only develop opportunities for Beard Mechanical but also help to make connections for additional minority businesses that Bert supports. It is very difficult to always stay on top of your business and stay one step ahead of your competition but it is even more difficult to accomplish this while trying to support so many efforts. So why do this, why spend the time and effort supporting American Indian businesses as well as other ethnic minority business? It is a simple answer to make a difference, to make change, to give back to those who may not have the resources or the ability to get over that hump, to mentor, guide and promote those who will soon one day carry the touch and make a difference for other ethnic minority business in Texas and throughout the US. The old saying is very true and united we stand, divided we will fall and without the support and guidance I have received over the years I would not have been able to carry the torch and make the difference I have made both now and in the future. The seed that we plant today will be the fruit that we will all eat tomorrow.