Dayton Chamber Banquet hosts Mattress Mac, Jim MacIngvale
By Carol Skewes, Managing Editor
Jim MacIngvale (better known as “Mattress Mac”) entertained and inspired guests of the 9th Annual Dayton Chamber of Commerce Banquet Friday evening, Jan. 29. The banquet hall of the new Dayton Community Center was filled to capacity.
The Chamber’s past president, Aaron Holbrook passed the gavel to 2010 President Richard Till. Outgoing members, Terri Beene, Brooks Hiller, Cliff Richey and Betty Tankersley were each awarded a plaque for their dedication and service.
New members Laura Evans, Susan Giberson, Brent Harrison and Maria Trevizo were introduced, along with Josephine Perry, President Elect and Deanna Johnson, Secretary.
Guests enjoyed a delicious dinner catered by Pappy’s BBQ and complimentary wine, courtesy of Heritage Mortgage. An impressive silent auction was held throughout the evening.
Mattress Mac’s speech told of the harrowing experience he and Gallery Furniture went through in May 2009, when an arsonist set his business ablaze. Flames were 150 above the building, but there were no injuries and the business never shut down.
MacIngvale recalled, “Somehow, someway I knew our future would be bright. But I also knew we would have to work very hard to bring that bright sunny future into the present.”
He said he is forever indebted to the Houston Fire Department for working so hard that fateful day.
After the news that no one was hurt, the next dilemma was to find a warehouse to work from, because merchandise was due the next day. Within 16 hours, he, his family and staff had secured another location to work out of, so that they never missed a “same-day” delivery.
MacIngvale noted “The word failure was not in our vocabulary.” He credits the love God has for him, as well as the determination and dedication of his staff, in helping pull his business back together in such a short time. Gallery Furniture delivered $150,000 in furniture and bedding the day after the fire.
MacIngvale stressed the importance of small business in our economy, saying “Entrepreneurs are not a cute little subset of the American economy. They are the whole game. ... Small businesses will lead us back to prosperity.”
Acknowledging the struggles that our area has undergone since Hurricane Ike, he suggested, “When God gives you IKE, make Ike-n-ade!”
MacInvale congratulated Dayton on its new Community Center and added “Adversity does not build character. It reveals it.”
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