CHAMBER NEWS

Referrals are an important part of your business, and they are just as important to us! Our new membership referral program is an initiative designed to incentivize existing members to actively promote the benefits of Chamber affiliation to potential new members. Once your referral joins the Chamber, you will be entered into a quarterly drawing for a $250 gift card to a Chamber member of your choice!

This initiative helps us expand our mission of Connecting the Community (networking and collaboration), Cultivating Growth (business development and growth), and Catalyzing Development (innovation, education, and professional development).

Thank you to Joseph Leonoro, member of Steptoe & Johnson PLLC, for guiding us through the the new overtime rules announced by the U.S. Department of Labor during last week's Lunch & Learn, sponsored by Ohio Valley Bank.

On April 23, 2024, the DOL released a final rule that significantly raises the salary threshold for overtime exemptions under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Thank you to the Cabell-Huntington Health Department for hosting us and Lost Art Of Culinary LLC. for catering lunch!

In this episode of In Your Business, we sit down with Alys Smith, the First Lady of Marshall University and founder of the Women Warriors Summit. This annual one-day gathering aims to inspire, build, and celebrate the women of Appalachia by addressing the complex issues and opportunities they face both at work and at home. Now in its second year, the Summit continues to grow, featuring high-profile speakers like Trisha Yearwood, Soledad O'Brien, and Emily Gregory.

Alys shares the inspiration behind the Summit, her goals, the importance of sponsors in making the event possible, and the carefully crafted structure that includes educational training, breakout sessions, and panel discussions.

Thanks to our partner, Kindred Communication, and presenting sponsor, Moses Auto Mall of Huntington!

Tune in on Apple, Amazon, and Spotify!

UPCOMING EVENTS

Huntington Young Professionals' July Meeting will be at Heritage Farm with featured speaker, Audy M. Perry, Jr., Executive Director of the Heritage Farm Foundation which operates West Virginia’s first Smithsonian Affiliate, the Heritage Farm Museum & Village in Huntington. Established by his parents, A. Michael and Henriella Perry, the award-winning Heritage Farm strives to share Appalachia’s proud, rugged past in ways that inspire an emboldened, vibrant future. Audy co-authored a book with his late father based on life at the Farm, titled “Faith, Family, Friends & Farm (Stories of and from Heritage Farm Museum & Village).”

Prior to his current role at Heritage Farm, Audy practiced law for over 18 years advising clients on matters involving estate planning, trust, charitable giving, business succession planning, project financing and real estate. He is now Of Counsel with the Dinsmore Law Firm.

Wrap up summer at August's Business After Hours hosted by Guyan Golf & Country Club! Join us on Thursday, August 15, from 5-7 p.m., at Meg's Place, Guyan's new cabana bar by the pool. Enjoy great food, refreshing drinks, and making connections!

The Charleston Regional, Huntington Regional, and Putnam County Chambers of Commerce are excited to announce the second annual State of the Valley Presented by Meek’s Rentals & Leasing will be held on Wednesday, August 21. This event is designed to foster regional collaboration and showcase the progress of our vibrant communities.

This year’s State of the Valley event will highlight tourism in the Kanawha Valley, with insights into Cabell, Kanawha, and Putnam counties. Confirmed panelists are Chelsea Ruby, Secretary of the West Virginia Department of Tourism; Tim Brady, President & CEO of the Charleston CVB; Tyson Compton, President of the Huntington Area CVB; and Kelli Steele, Executive Director of the Putnam County CVB. These industry leaders will provide a deep dive into the latest developments, innovative initiatives, and future plans that are set to boost tourism and attract visitors to our beautiful region. The event moderator will be Chef Paul Smith, West Virginia’s first winner of the prestigious James Beard Award for Best Chef in the Southeast.

Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with top tourism professionals and decision makers, discover exciting new projects and strategies for regional growth, network with business and community leaders, and be part of the conversation driving our state’s tourism forward.

The event will begin at 11:30 am at the Valley Park Conference Center in Hurricane. We invite business leaders, community advocates, and all individuals invested in the region’s future to join us at the event. Tickets are $50 if purchased using the early-bird discount before August 1 and are available at www.putnamchamber.org/StateoftheValley.

Current sponsors include Meeks Rentals & Leasing and Advantage Valley.

For more information about the State of the Valley event, including registration details and sponsorship opportunities, please visit one of the Chamber websites or contact the Charleston Regional Chamber at (304) 340-4253, Huntington Regional Chamber at (304) 525-5131, or the Putnam County Chamber at (304) 757-6510.

Don't let this occasion turn into a pumpkin—mark your calendar and be part of the magic! Our 2024 Business After Hours Expo, formerly known as the Member Trade Show is set for Thursday, September 26 from 5 - 8 p.m. at the Marshall Health Network Arena Convention Center. This year’s Expo theme, “Dreams Come True with the Chamber,” is inspired by classic to modern fairytales.

This event is open to the public and is a great opportunity to connect with business leaders and learn more about our member businesses. The expo-style evening will offer food, open bar, and prizes.

Chamber members: this your opportunity to showcase your business and take it to infinity and beyond! Table registrations and sponsorship opportunities are now open to all members!

General admission tickets are available for $15 per person, which includes admission, food, and drinks.

MEMBER NEWS

Two Marshall Health Network hospitals have been named by U.S. News & World Report to its 2024-2025 Best Hospitals as High Performing hospitals.



 St. Mary’s Medical Center has been recognized as high performing in treating heart attack, heart bypass surgery, heart failure, hip replacement, pneumonia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Cabell Huntington Hospital has been named a high performing Hospital for knee replacement and COPD. Of the more than 4,500 hospitals that U.S. News evaluated, only 38% earned even a single High Performing rating.

The Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center (MAMC) will receive more than $7 million from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to develop and accelerate the implementation of manufacturing apprenticeship programs nationwide, federal officials announced Thursday.



MAMC’s new Apprenticeship Works Manufacturing National Hub will:

·       Establish a National Training Academy in West Virginia to rapidly launch new apprenticeship programs while providing resources and support to ensure the programs’ success

·       Collaborate with industry partners to develop new occupational standards and training to meet the evolving needs of the U.S. manufacturing sector

·       Provide technical assistance to make it easier for manufacturers to establish, maintain and grow registered apprenticeship programs to bridge critical skills gaps in American manufacturing

·       Train employers how to overcome workforce shortages by recruiting individuals from groups traditionally underrepresented in the manufacturing sector

·       Boost the number of pre-apprenticeship programs to create a pipeline of skilled talent to feed into registered apprenticeships

·       Expand the program to other industry hubs across the country

The Tri-State Transit Authority (TTA) introduced three new buses this morning at Pullman Square. Two of the vehicles are Trolley buses and one is TTA’s standard bus, the buses are 30 and 35-foot models featuring clean diesel technology that adheres to the latest Clean Air standards.

Manufactured by Gillig Corporation of Livermore, California, the updated buses seat 32 passengers and accommodate two passengers in wheelchairs. Each bus can also transport two bicycles on the front-mounted rack. The buses include technologies that allow for increased safety and security with the use of multiple video cameras inside and outside of the bus.

Join United Way of the River Cities for its inaugural Our Town event on Saturday, Aug. 24 at Heritage Farm! This event allows adults to indulge in nostalgic activities while creating new family memories in a fun and playful atmosphere!

Adults: $20

Children: $10

Children 5 and under receive FREE ENTRY.

All participants must pre-register, no tickets will be available at the gate.

There will be food, live music, karaoke, a silent auction, access to museums, hayrides, petting zoo, artisan center, blacksmith center, log church and community resources. All proceeds will help United Way of the River Cities Fund its initiatives and programs to help build stronger, more resilient communities!

The Cabell-Huntington Health Department will offer another summer vaccine clinic with a Carnival-themed Back-to-School event on Monday, August 5. The event will take place between 3:00 and 6:00 PM at 703 Seventh Avenue. Various exhibitors will be present during the event, offering food, fun activities, and information for parents and guardians. 

All childhood vaccines will be available for children who are uninsured, underinsured, or covered under Medicaid or CHIP.  Adult and travel vaccines will also be available.

Tickets are available now! SHATTER THE SILENCE benefit concert for CONTACT Rape Crisis Center of southwestern West Virginia. This event is 18+.



Bands:

• Hello June
• Friendly Fire
• Ginger Wixx
• Blue Twisted Steel
• Summit Point
• Sam Eplin
• The Stratty Trio

Valley Health is pleased to launch a collaboration with Marshall Health by adding Dr. Marc Subik to our team. Dr. Subik is providing gastroenterology services at Valley Health beginning July 2024 as a Valley Health-employed part-time physician. Dr. Subik will see patients at Valley Health Centers in Wayne, Milton Hillview, and Fort Gay.  He will perform procedures at Cabell Huntington Hospital.

Dr. Subik, a seasoned professional with more than 40 years of experience treating gastrointestinal disorders, is a valuable addition to Valley Health.   His previous roles include serving as the head of the department of medicine and gastroenterology section head at the Hershel "Woody" Williams VA Medical Center in Huntington, West Virginia.  Dr. Subik enjoys staying physically fit, bird feeding and watching, lawn and garden work, and cheering for Marshall University sports in his free time.

Multi-platinum country artist Gary Allan is set to bring his tour to Marshall Health Network Arena on Saturday, October 19.  

North America’s most popular interactive dinosaur event Jurassic Quest® has been thrilling millions of guests for over 10 years, and local families will soon get the chance to walk among the nation’s biggest herd of photorealistic dinosaurs when it visits Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center Sept. 13-15!

UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS

The Monday Morning Memo is Generously Sponsored by

Thank You to Our Trustee Members

Thank You to Our Investor Members

Please note that the deadline for submissions for "In the News" in the Monday Morning Memo is at 

4 p.m. each Wednesday for inclusion the following week. Submitted items will only appear one time in the memo unless discussed and agreed upon with Chamber staff.

Email all submissions to Rebecca Kasey, Director of Marketing, at rebecca@huntingtonchamber.org.

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