As president of the Spring Klein Chamber of Commerce since 2014, Myeshi Briley has tended to its growing community of business owners, overseeing the chamber’s growth from 100 to more than 300 members in that time period.

In late June, she stepped down to pursue her lifelong passion for philanthropy, inspired in part by her experiences helping others during Hurricane Harvey last year.

“I was told as a little girl I used to give my toys away to other people,” Briley said. “Somehow, it’s in you. Saving stuff to give it to the less fortunate.”

Briley said her experiences helping the chamber to provide necessities, such as food and clothing for those affected by Hurricane Harvey, energized her interest in making community service a full-time pursuit.

“If your community is suffering, people won’t spend money at businesses, so it’s about finding the needs and finding what’s happening to people in your area,” she said.

Briley said she will devote her time and energy to exploring ways to help address issues, such as clean water, food shortages and school safety.

The chamber, which marked its 10th year as an organization in May, has begun a search for a replacement. The president must live in Spring and have knowledge of the area and its business climate, she said.

Briley said the role of chambers of commerce is especially important in unincorporated areas that lack a local municipal government, such as Spring and Klein, and find the chambers to be gathering points for those interested in issues affecting local businesses and the public.

“They’re your one-stop shop,” she said.  “They can get people loaded onto a bus to go speak on different issues in Austin or talk about things that are important in the community.”

Among the chamber’s recent initiatives begun under her watch are the formation of the Spring Klein Chamber Health Care Alliance and a partnership with Lone Star College System.

The health care alliance is a monthly meeting of industry professionals to discuss issues, such as veterans care, insurance needs for small business and other topics of local interest.  The LSCS partnership includes an economic development conference at the LSC-Montgomery campus on July 26.

Briley said she has prepared plans for the chamber’s growth, and she will stay involved with the community with an honorary chamber membership.

“At the end of the day, my love is service before self,” Briley said.