In order to keep you informed on the evolving impact of COVID-19 on our local community, the Plano Chamber publishes updates as the Business Bulletin. We will share the top news items that you need to read to stay up-to-date on important health, community, and business issues as they develop.

August 10, 2020

FEDERAL

• President Donald Trump has signed executive orders to extend economic relief after lawmakers were unable to reach an agreement on a new stimulus package.  The orders include extending enhanced unemployment benefits and the federal eviction moratorium, imposing a payroll tax holiday and further suspending federal student loan payments.

STATE

• Gov. Greg Abbott has extended his declaration of disaster for all counties in Texas, allowing them to continue to benefit from federal and state relief as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.
• Texas is showing positive signs of slowing this resurgence of the Coronavirus with hospitalizations dropping to their lowest numbers since early July.

REGIONAL/LOCAL

• There is still come confusion over who is in control over the reopening of schools as some local authorities continue to have tension with Governor Abbott’s executive orders.
• Plano ISD announced it will not hold comprehensive exams this year at the end of each semester as the district puts more weight on daily assignments and participation during the pandemic.

Lesson I: The Beauty of Zoom (amongst other things)
By Olivia McCoy

Salutations! My name is Olivia McCoy and I am this year’s Plano Chamber of Commerce Summer Intern through the Plano Mayor’s Summer Internship Program. However, outside of the office, I am a rising senior at Plano East Senior High School in the International Baccalaureate Programme, lover of local cuisine and homecooked meals, occasional flutist, environmentalist, and intense historical and scientific researcher. I am incredibly thankful for this opportunity especially considering the circumstances of our changing world. Yes, you heard me, “our changing world”.

When I left school for Spring Break earlier this year, I had no idea that I would not be stepping foot on campus until Mid-July. Not only did I leave behind my half-finished science fair project, teary goodbyes to amazing teachers, but I also left the remains of my Junior Year in the hands of a deadly virus that has turned both my world and the real world upside down.

While being quarantined with my parents and lovely dog, Sophie had presented its many challenges, I now had to navigate new methods of communication for both schoolwork and summer activities. In fact, when I had my internship interview through Zoom it was only about my second week of using the software and to say I was a little confused about how to mute and unmute myself is an understatement (yes, that problem even happens to us high-schoolers).

Learning that I had gotten a summer internship in the midst of a global pandemic not only made me acquire a new set of skills in Zoom, but also made me realize that the heart of Plano business and the Chamber really hold our community together. We are all learning as we go how to make use of difficult times and I believe that turning a negative into a positive is the best way to go about problem-solving.

As a firm believer in life-long learning, I believe that every experience gives us knowledge for the future and that as we grow in both ourselves and in others, we change for the better. Starting an internship in the summer of social distancing hasn’t been easy, but I believe the learning experiences I’ve garnered these past few weeks will prepare me for the future of our changing world.

After a few weeks of attending zooms from home of Chamber events (I finally figured out how to use the mute/unmute button), my first day in the office proved to be a bit of a challenge. Walking up the stairs to the office would’ve put me out of breath normally, however, combined with my lovely mask it felt as if I had trekked a mountain. I soon learned that the elevation wasn’t the only thing similar to a mountain as I slowly began to freeze to death in my new intern cubicle. I hadn’t brought a blanket and as I met everyone in the office, and learned more about the software I would be using, each minute I became closer and closer to resembling a popsicle. Thankfully, I received a blanket from a coworker and continued about my day. Brainstorming in person and bouncing ideas off of one another was my favorite part of being in the office because despite Zoom’s many great qualities there’s just something about bonding in person that your webcam can’t do just yet (I’m sure Apple will find a way to eventually though).

The next few days (equipped with my own cardigan) I attended events that had originally been planned for in-person but were now virtual through Zoom. I believe the Chamber staff has done an incredible job of shifting to virtual events quickly given how fast everything has changed on us. It was really interesting to see how everything just “clicked” together (haha) and listening to the perspectives of different types of businesses affected by COVID really made me change my way of thinking in terms of the local economy and public policy of our city. I especially enjoyed sitting in on the virtual public policy meeting, as well! I gained so much insight into the intricacies that go into our local community!

As I continue my journey through my internship these next few weeks and learn as much as I can about our changing world, the Plano Chamber, and local business, I would love to share my tips, tricks, and) secrets with you! Navigating a changing world can be difficult, but not impossible. By the end of it all, I’m sure we will be Outbreak Dancing!

The Plano Chamber of Commerce is proud to participate in the Plano Mayor’s Summer Internship Program. Thanks to the support of our partners, Cigna and FedEx Office, we will have the support of four summer interns from Plano ISD schools. Olivia McCoy will be working directly with our staff on special projects to support the Chamber and learn about the local business community.  Ananya Sridhar, Bethel Kim, and Keshav Vasanth will be working on a special research project for the Plano Chamber with the support of the team at FedEx Office. Please read on to learn more about these four outstanding local students.

Olivia McCoy – Plano East Senior High
My name is Olivia McCoy and I am a rising senior in the International Baccalaureate program at Plano East Senior High School. At PESH I play the flute in the band, participate in History Fair, am president of LASER (science fair club), am the treasurer of the Plano East Red Cross Chapter, and volunteer through the National Honor Society. As a firm believer in life-long learning and the importance of education, I am the event executive of a student-led nonprofit organization called SparkSTEM where I plan STEM-related events and projects to help students in underprivileged areas of North Texas access education. Some of my hobbies include running, reading, cooking, and trying new foods at local restaurants with my friends! One of the books I just recently finished is The War on Normal People by Andrew Yang (highly recommend), and in my spare time, I post pictures of dishes I cook, recipes, and mini-reviews for local cuisine on my food Instagram account. As an avid environmentalist, once in college, I hope to double major in International Relations and Environmental Science and pursue a career in environmental law in the future. I look forward to working with the Chamber of Commerce this summer and feel incredibly blessed to have this opportunity!

Ananya Sridhar – Plano East Senior High
My name is Ananya Sridhar and I am a rising junior in the IB Program at Plano East Senior High School. I am an avid participant in our school’s Science Fair, NHS, Theater, and TedEd programs. Outside of school, I enjoy teaching taekwondo at my dojang, participating in creative problem solving challenges for Destination Imagination, and volunteering at the Dallas Museum of Art on their Teen Advisory Council. I am passionate about animal conservation and volunteer at the Dallas Zoo. I am very interested in science and history, and in the future, I hope to pursue a career in the medical field. For fun, I enjoy reading, watching Marvel movies, painting, and bullet journaling.

Bethel Kim – Plano West Senior High
 My name is Bethel Kim and I’m a rising senior at Plano West Senior High. Throughout the year you can find me playing violin in the orchestra hall, tutoring after school, attempting to practice my Spanish skills, or spending time with friends at my favorite boba shop. I’ve always loved storytelling and have found platforms to express this passion through a podcast I started with friends and a series of creative writing. In college, I plan to major in economics and continue to listen and tell stories with a possible minor in English. With this combined focus, I hope to further understand the economy, its impact on people, and find a way to bring more of its narrative to life. I consider myself to be the perfect ambivert who loves a day of trying new things and meeting new people as well as a night in reading and binge-watching my favorite shows.

Keshav Vasanth – Plano East Senior High
My name is Keshav Vasanth, and I am a rising junior at the IB World School at the Plano East Senior High School in Plano, Texas. Since I was 5, I have been part of the global nonprofit Destination Imagination program, building creative solutions to service learning challenges related to conservation, hurricane relief, pollution and more. I love how combining thoughtful, artistic design with innovative technology can impact societal needs. I hope to combine entrepreneurship, engineering, conservation and film in college and in my career. I enjoy inventing, performing magic, video production, long boarding, dance, and volunteering at the Dallas Zoo.

Stay tuned to hear more from our interns about their summer internship experience.