One of the best things about doing business in McKinney is getting to know the people behind the businesses. Every restaurant, shop, service company, and nonprofit has a story—and often, that story includes lessons the rest of us can learn from.
That’s why Bruce Quernemoen and I started Empower McKinney. We wanted to create a welcoming place where local business owners and professionals could build relationships, share ideas, and learn from people doing meaningful work in our community. It’s one of the ways we at Tye Realty Group give back to the city that supports us.
There are no membership dues or program fees. The idea is simple: bring people together, have useful conversations, and help one another succeed.
Learning From the People Behind Local Businesses
We’ve had the opportunity to welcome guests from a variety of industries, including some familiar names in McKinney.
Keith Lewis of TUPPS Brewery shared the story behind TUPPS, including the risks, growth, and decisions involved in building the business. Hearing how a local company gets started—and what it takes to keep moving forward—offers valuable perspective for anyone running a business.
We’ve also welcomed Matt Hamilton of Local Yocal and Alessio Arzola of Tutto Italian Kitchen. Restaurants are an important part of McKinney’s identity, and bringing the people behind them into the conversation helps connect our business community beyond the usual customer experience.
Another guest, Brian Reagan of the Better Business Bureau, joined us for a conversation about SEO, artificial intelligence, and branding. Those topics can feel overwhelming for small business owners who are already handling daily operations. Programs like this give people an opportunity to ask questions and think through how customers find and connect with their businesses.
Connecting Business With Community
Empower McKinney also creates opportunities to learn about the broader community we serve.
Mayor Bill Cox joined us to discuss McKinney’s growth, business landscape, and future. For local business owners, understanding the direction of the city helps put everyday decisions into a larger context.
Our guests have also included Joy Booth and Shannon White of Grace To Change. Making room for nonprofit voices is part of what we want Empower McKinney to be. A strong community depends on people who create jobs, serve customers, support neighbors, and help others through difficult circumstances.
We’ve also had opportunities to put that spirit into action. Empower McKinney participants helped Hugs Café founder Ruth Thompson prepare the organization’s new headquarters—a chance to support its mission and spend time working alongside one another.
Sharing What Works
Some of our most useful conversations happen when people share their own experiences openly.
Our marketing and networking roundtable brought together Erica Vedane Pendergrast, Laura Tye, Bruce, and me to discuss different approaches to building a business. Erica brought her perspective on networking and relationships. Laura shared how TikTok has become a primary source of leads for her travel business, Whimsy & Wander Travel Planning.
Bruce and I shared perspectives from photography, visual marketing, social media, and the relationships we’ve built through Tye Realty Group.
Different businesses need different approaches. Hearing several perspectives gives attendees ideas they can adapt to their own work, whether that means getting more comfortable with video, following up with a new connection, or becoming more involved locally.
Why Tye Realty Group Supports Empower McKinney
Real estate gives us a close view of how much a community’s businesses and organizations matter. When someone chooses a home, they’re also choosing the places where they’ll eat, shop, meet friends, and build a life.
Helping those places succeed matters to us.
Empower McKinney gives Bruce and me a way to contribute beyond our daily real estate work. We get to introduce people, highlight local experience, and create space for conversations that might lead to a new idea, a helpful relationship, or a future collaboration.
We’re grateful to the guests who have shared their time and to everyone who shows up ready to learn and encourage someone else.
If you’re a business owner, entrepreneur, nonprofit leader, or local professional looking to connect with others in McKinney, we’d love to have you join us.
Visit EmpowerMcKinney.com to learn more and see upcoming events.
Jared Tye is the Broker/Owner of Tye Realty Group and co-founder of Empower McKinney alongside Bruce Quernemoen.
