Since taking over leadership of the Greater Leander Chamber of Commerce in January 2013, President Bridget Brandt has launched several new opportunities for businesses to learn and network.

In addition to existing programs such as monthly luncheons and after-hours mixers, Brandt said there is much to anticipate in the coming months.

"When I first walked in, I knew that this was the job I wanted. The people were just so full of energy and so inspiring, so that has not changed," she said. "All the events, they come and go, but my biggest gift for the chamber is I've given people the opportunity to be fun and be themselves in a work setting."

In the past year, the chamber and its board of directors have organized new events such as the Living Leander Community Expo in November, which had more than 70 vendor booths and about 800 visitors, she said. The addition of the Leander Workforce Development Program has also been a way to incorporate training into the organization's offerings, Brandt said.

"I think that one of the chamber's core values should be education and educating businesses," she said. "The way that you have successful business is if you never stop learning. As the economy changes, or as the business climate changes, or technology and marketing change, if you are open to that in all of those avenues, your business is going to be successful."

Since companies have various schedules and needs, Brandt recommends that both members and nonmembers choose one or two chamber events to attend each month.

"We have three to seven events every month, and the goal is not to do every single one every month," she said. "If you are doing every event every month, then you don't have enough business, and that's a really big problem."