Wednesday, January 18
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The following businesses have recently become members of the Chamber. If you see them around town or at a Chamber function, please take the time to welcome them.
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Dr. Travis Gillespie, DDS, PA
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Vaspian
Greg Schreiber
Vice President
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Dynamic Electronic
Sales & Service
Slade Dover & Adam Alexander
Owners
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Image Quest a Xerox Company
Alex Warren
Solutions Specialist
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Chick-fil-A Hutchinson
Shane Neel
Owner/Operator
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The Greater Hutchinson CVB welcomed these visitors last month who made an economic impact in our community!
NJCAA Salt City Bowl
December 2-3, 2017
250 athletes, coaches and spectators
Economic Impact - $50,000
KS Beef Expo
December 9-11, 2016
1,400 Visitors
Economic Impact - $375,000
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Submit a Nomination
for the
Small Business Award!
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The Chamber Small Business Committee is seeking nominations for the Small Business Award!
If you know of a deserving small Chamber business, we encourage you to nominate them for this award. Requirements for consideration are Chamber membership, in business for at least three years, and employs 40 or fewer people.
Click here to nominate a business today!
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The Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce
is the catalyst for a prosperous business climate
that enhances the quality of life.
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Message from the President
Happy New Year! I hope you all got to enjoy a safe and happy holiday season.
It is my sad duty this month to say good bye. As you are aware, I have accepted the Chamber President's position with the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce in South Dakota where I will begin my duties on February 1. My final day with the Hutchinson / Reno County Chamber will be Tuesday, January 17th.
I want to express my deep gratitude for the privilege to have served the Chamber and our community over the past four years. It has been a wonderful experience working with our staff team, our leadership, community benefit organizations, local government, and elected officials.
The business community strongly supports the Chamber's mission and programs, and local organizations and government entities quite naturally collaborate with us. This inclination toward collaboration is not something every community can boast of, and it will be a source of great strength as you continue to wrestle with future challenges and make Hutchinson and Reno County a better place to live and work.
Interim President Kirk Johnson has my full support and that of the staff team at the Chamber. We will all be working together throughout January to assure a smooth transition. As a small business owner, former public policy specialist, longtime Chamber member, and 2006 Chamber Board Chair, Kirk is ideally suited to lead the Chamber through the interim while the search committee begins their work.
I'm so excited for what is to come for the Chamber in 2017. The Annual Meeting will be the largest and best in recent memory, held in the soon-to-be completed Hutchinson Sports Arena. That new arena space will become the new home of the NJCAA Volleyball Championship this year, in addition to the Men's Basketball Tournament. Several business expansion and recruitment opportunities are still actively evaluating an investment in our community, and the 2017 legislature will begin the important work of addressing the tax and budget issues of the state. Although I will not be here to participate, I will certainly be watching through traditional and social media - and cheering for your continued success.
I will always be deeply appreciative to you all for the honor to have represented your Chamber and community. Wishing you all the very best of success in 2017 and beyond!
Jason Ball,
Chamber President/CEO
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Chamber Announces Interim President
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The first of the year brings transition to the Chamber as the Board of Directors has named Kirk Johnson as the Interim President. Kirk is committed to work through the transition to new leadership, anticipated in mid-late Spring, and to maintain the important momentum of the Chamber's initiatives in 2017. He will lead the Chamber team and all programs during the search process.
Kirk is a familiar face to the Chamber and our members as he and his wife Julia have been active in the Hutchinson community since the 1990's. Specifically, Kirk is a long-time Member participant in the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce, including serving as Chair of the Board of Directors in 2006. In addition, as a current Hutchinson small business owner, Kirk maintains membership in the Chamber for "relationships, promotion, community connection, advocacy, programs and events, and training and education".
He has also served in leadership roles for various non-profit and civic organizations, some of which include: Hutchinson Hospital Corporation, Hutchinson Planning Commission, and Hutchinson/ Reno County Joint Subdivision Committee.
Kirk's professional experiences include small business ownership; business and organization development; merger and acquisition; sales and sales management; communications and marketing; customer and technical service; product management; and constituent services, legislative affairs and public policy for small to large businesses and for the federal government.
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Please join us for a
Farewell Reception
Thursday, January 12th
4:00 - 6:00 p.m. (Come and go)
Chamber Conference Room
You are invited to stop by to say good-bye as we wish Jason good luck in his new position with the
Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce in South Dakota.
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2017 Annual Meeting Tickets
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Monday, February 13th
5:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Hutchinson Sports Arena
Featuring: Chris Gardner
Entrepreneur, Author, and Philanthropist
Dinner Tickets - SOLD OUT!
Gallery Seating:
$20 - Advance ; $30 - At the door
$30/$40 for non-members
To purchase gallery seating tickets
click here
or call the Chamber office at (620) 662-3391.
Thank you to the following 2017 Annual Meeting Sponsors:
Premier Sponsor
Allen Samuels Dodge-Chrysler-Jeep-Ram-Mazda
Championship Sponsors
Dillons/Kwik Shop/Kroger, First National Bank, Nex-Tech Wireless, and The Summit
Platinum Sponsors
The Clayworks at Disability Supports, Heartland Credit Union, Howerton+White, Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System, Mel Hambelton Ford, and PrairieStar Health Center.
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2017 Flash Passes on sale now!
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 Order your 2017 Flash Pass
this month only!
This wallet-sized pass makes attending Chamber events in 2017 very convenient. Pay once for ALL Membership Breakfasts, Membership Luncheons, and Business After Hours and have no registration, no check-ins, and no invoices!
Just FLASH your pass and bypass the check-in lines! Each pass is transferable so that you may rotate who attends from your office. Each pass is good for one admittance to all nine Membership Breakfasts, three Membership Luncheons, and all 12 Business After Hours.
The cost is only $135 for each pass.
Click here to order your 2017 Flash Pass.
**Deadline for purchase is January 31, 2017.
2017 Flash Pass sponsored by:
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Ribbon Cuttings Held by Ambassadors
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R-B Drive In -
New Member
Interim Healthcare -
New Location
Strategic Financial Concepts
- New Location
Taylor's Shady Lane Cabin
- New Building
To view the ribbon cutting photos and for more information about these businesses
click here .
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January Membership Breakfast
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State of the City Breakfast
Wednesday, January 18
Atrium Hotel & Conference Center
1400 N. Lorraine St.
Sponsored by
Ward Davis Builders
Featured Speaker - John Deardoff
Hutchinson City Manager
Hutchinson AMBUCS and the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce are partnering to bring Chamber members the "State of the City" breakfast. You will have the opportunity to hear from City Manager John Deardoff on the milestones of 2016 and what the business community can look forward to in 2017.
If you d
o not
have a Flash Pass, cost for the breakfast is
$10 for members
and $15 for non-members.
Click here
to make
reservations or call Belinda McClanahan at (620) 662-3391.
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January Business After Hours
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Thursday, January 26
5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
Sponsored by:
TECH
10 E. 1st Avenue - Wiley Plaza, Hutchinson
Join us for an evening of network building, hors d'oeuvres, and complimentary drinks and get a first glimpse of the new TECH Art Gallery and office space inside the Wiley Plaza. The first 25 guests will receive a door prize. In addition, each attendee will have the chance to win a piece of TECH artwork, a TECH scarf, or a ticket package for two to either the 2017 Main Street Hops or the 2017 Downtown Hutch Uncorked for TECH events.
If you do not have a Flash Pass, cost for the Business
After
Hours is $5 for members and $10 for non-members.
To register online
click here
or call Belinda McClanahan at (620) 662-3391.
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December Small Business Award Presented to Sarah's Catholic Bookstore
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 The Chamber in partnership with
The Hutchinson N
ews
presents the
Small Business Award each month to recognize the significant contribution small businesses make to our local economy and membership. During the December Membership Breakfast, the Small Business Award was presented to Sarah's Catholic Bookstore. Sarah Jenkins accepted the award on behalf of the organization.
Special thank you to First National Bank, Heartland Credit Union, Eagle Communications, and KFSA Insurance for their sponsorship that makes this award possible each month.
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2017 Lunch and Learn Topics
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As we continue to strive to keep our programming relevant and useful to our members, we have chosen to host four Lunch and Learns this year in March, May, August, and October. To ensure we are providing topics of interest at each of these sessions, we ask that you fill out the survey below!
2017 Lunch and Learn Topics Survey
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Nex-Tech Wireless Supports
Local Food Pantries with Drive
Nex-Tech Wireless will be helping refill local food pantry shelves throughout the entire month of January with a canned food drive. The drive will take place at all Nex-Tech Wireless retail locations - Beloit, Colby, Concordia, Ellsworth, Goodland, Hays, Hutchinson, Lindsborg, McPherson, Pratt and Salina.
Bring three canned goods during the month of January to any Nex-Tech Wireless retail location and receive $10 off any accessory at Nex-Tech Wireless. Donations made at the Hutchinson Nex-Tech Wireless store (1624 E. 11th Ave) will be given to Food Bank of Reno County.
"We take great pride in giving back to the communities that we serve. This time of year can be incredibly difficult for some and we're grateful for the generous donors that help us with filling the local food pantry shelves," stated Jon Lightle, President and CEO for Nex-Tech Wireless.
For a complete list of Nex-Tech Wireless retail locations that are accepting canned food donations visit www.nex-techwireless.com or call 877-621-2600.
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Soroptimist International Scholarships
The Hutchinson chapter of Soroptimist International provides two $1,000 scholarships each year to assist women who provide the primary source of financial support for their families by giving them the resources they need to improve their education, skills, and employment prospects.
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Andrew Promoted to Chief Financial Officer
Dan Springer, President and CEO of Heartland Credit Union, has announced that Joel Andrew has been promoted to Chief Financial Officer. He has held several positions with HCU, including his most recent as Senior Financial Analyst.
Joel has been with HCU since March of 2010, starting his career as a Financial Services Representative in the Newton branch. From there, he became Financial Analyst before earning a promotion in 2015 to Senior Financial Analyst. Joel holds dual degrees from Wichita State University with BBAs in Finance and Accounting.
As CFO, Joel will be responsible for the operation of HCU's accounting and financial functions and for significant contributions to the formulation, implementation, and administration of corporate-wide policies and business goals.
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Social Media 101, Business Strategy Workshop
The Quest Center for Entrepreneurs and Queen Bee Marketing will be hosting a two day workshop focusing on social media and business strategy.
February 9th, 8:30-11:30 a.m. - Having a Presence is Powerful:
Not sure how to get started marketing your business on social platforms? Then this workshop is designed just for you!
February 16th, 8:30-11:30 a.m. - Not All Platforms are Created Equally: Get hands on experience with building business social media sites. Plus, learn how each platform is created and used differently.
Cost is $10 for both sessions. Sessions will be held at the Quest Center in Room 135. Call (620) 665-8468 or email
dukartd@hutchcc.edu to RSVP. Deadline to RSVP is February 8, 2017.
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Have an exciting milestone to celebrate or a fundraiser or event coming up in the community? Send it to Chelsey at chelseyd@hutchchamber.com for inclusion in the Chamber Outlook. Listings are limited to one listing per Chamber member per quarter and must be 100 words or less.
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Be watching for your January Action Pak
with your 2017 Membership Poster!
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