Important Updates From Your BBB Board Chair

To all BBB Accredited Businesses:

BBB serving the Heart of Texas held its annual board meeting on February 27 in Austin. During the meeting, we welcomed several new board members and expressed our gratitude to those whose terms have ended. I will be serving as your board chair for another year, and I’m thankful for the opportunity.

Yesterday, we had our first quarterly meeting of the year with the full board in attendance. At least it’s what we call attendance these days – a teleconference. How times changed in the four weeks between the two meetings. We went from sharing a meal together to sitting in our own homes or offices looking at each other’s faces on a screen.

As we’ve all been thrown into the COVID-19 reality, we are all dealing with a lot of uncertainties. In light of all that uncertainty, I’ve been impressed with our BBB’s strategy, but more importantly the execution of that strategy. BBB serving the Heart of Texas was prepared to handle much of this new reality through long term planning and a detailed disaster recovery plan. Employees took their laptops home with them on Friday, March 13 and had the option to work from home even before it was mandated by some local governments. While a few processes have changed a bit, most of you likely won’t notice a difference.

Additionally, your BBB led a nationwide, coordinated effort by BBBs to provide resources to Accredited Businesses across the country. You can find that content at bbb.org/coronavirus-business. BBBs across the country also are working hard to remind prospective customers that many BBB Accredited Businesses are open and ready to help. BBB is also busy warning consumers and business owners about the scammers who inevitably try to take advantage during crises.

If I’d written this message a month ago, my message would have been different. A consulting firm worked with BBB and its Accredited Businesses late in 2019 to assess what businesses need from BBB, and BBB has started work on how to deliver on those needs. While some of the content will be delivered differently while we wait out this crisis, I want you to have no doubt that BBB is here for you.

It’s inevitable that some businesses will suffer during this time. Each Wednesday for at least as long as Texas cities are dealing with shelter-at-home and social distancing recommendations, watch your inbox for information about online learning events that will help you through this crisis and prepare your business to be the best it can be when the crisis is over. Two online events are already scheduled.

Today (Friday, March 27) at 9 a.m. Learn about Small Business Loans as BBB chats with a representative from the Small Business Administration. Register here.

Monday, March 30, at 3:30 p.m. Learn about Responding to Crisis with Compassion, Courage and Creativity, Register here.

Tuesday, March 31 at 10 a.m. Learn how to prepare your business to apply for an SBA Loan. Reigster here.

It’s important now, maybe more than ever before, that we look out for each other. We can accomplish this by hiring one another to do work at our homes or businesses and encourage your friends and family members to hire BBB Accredited Businesses as well.

While the full effect of the coronavirus crisis is yet to be known, early indicators point to BBB Accredited Businesses coming out the other side in more demand than ever before. We are in the early phases of understanding the impact of the virus crisis, but what we do know is that bbb.org website visits increased. It seems that when much is uncertain, BBB continues to be a beacon of trust for consumers.

While I don’t have a crystal ball, I believe you’re standing alongside a strong organization that cares deeply about your success. Utilize your BBB team and its resources. All of our business owners are in my thoughts at this time. Thank you for your support.

Brian Jones
BBB serving the Heart of Texas Board Chair