CHAMBER NEWS

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!

Win a round of golf for four or golf merchandise!

In this episode of "In Your Business," we welcome Melanie Hall, President and CEO of Hospice of Huntington, to discuss their strategies for building community trust and awareness. Melanie shares insights into their outreach and engagement programs, the role of volunteer involvement, and the importance of transparency and communication. We also explore their educational initiatives, partnerships, and additional services they offer.

Thank you to our presenting sponsor Moses AutoMall of Huntington! Listen on Apple, Amazon, and Spotify!

Every eligible employee of your organization is automatically a member of the Chamber's sub committees, Huntington Young Professionals (HYP) and Women's Impact Network (WIN)?

The Huntington Young Professionals (HYP) group, for individuals aged 21 to 40, aims to foster career development, community engagement, and networking. HYP provides a platform for emerging leaders to connect through events, workshops, and social gatherings, promoting both personal and professional growth.

The Women's Impact Network (WIN) Committee, previously known as Women 2 Women, focuses on supporting and empowering women professionals. By providing networking opportunities, offering professional development, delivering educational resources, and engaging with the community, the committee aims to build a more inclusive and supportive environment for women in the Huntington region.

UPCOMING EVENTS

This year’s State of the Valley, Presented by Meek's Rentals & Leasing, 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.

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, Inc., CAMC/Vandalia Health, Dinsmore, FWG Investments, Putnam County Bank, and West Virginia American Water. 

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.

Connect with the community and member businesses during the 2024 Business After Hours Expo on Thursday, September 26 from 5-8 p.m., at the Marshall Health Network Arena Convention Center! Open to the public, the evening will feature prizes, food, open bar, and giveaways. Chamber members, this is a great opportunity to make new business connections and meet potential clients!

Table registrations and sponsorship opportunities are now open to all members!

Food, open bar, prizes, and more!

MEMBER NEWS

Advantage Valley, Inc’s Expanding Markets program was awarded a Southern Economic Development Council (SEDC) Community and Economic Development Award for innovative Business Retention and Expansion programs. The award was presented at SEDC’s Annual Conference in Savannah, Georgia. The Expanding Markets Program was recognized for its impact, innovation, and community commitment in regions with populations over 100,000. This initiative is backed by a $1.3 million dollar grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, and matched with $348,000 in local funding.

The Hilltop Book Fair will take place on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024, from noon to 5 p.m. at the Huntington Museum of Art. Hilltop Book Fair is a fundraiser for the Huntington Museum of Art. Admission is $5 on Saturday, Aug. 17, and free on Sunday, Aug. 18.

Volunteers and HMA staff members sort and arrange the used books by categories prior to the Hilltop Book Fair. You’ll find children’s books, mysteries, romances, art books, and more.

“We have had amazing attendance at the Hilltop Book Fair for the past three years, and we are always excited to see everyone who comes to the Huntington Museum of Art for this event,” said Cindy Dearborn, HMA Director of Education and organizer of Hilltop Book Fair. “We have a lot of great books at terrific prices again this year.”

Book prices on Saturday, Aug. 17, will be $2 for each paperback book and $3 for each hardcover book. On Sunday, Aug. 18, from noon to 5 p.m. you can fill a box with books for $10. HMA will provide the boxes for this special deal.

Hilltop Book Fair is sponsored by the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture & History through its West Virginia Fairs & Festivals grant program. 

Join President Smith and the Marshall University Class of 2028 to watch We Are… Marshall in Joan C. Edwards Stadium on Thursday, August 15, at 9 p.m.!

This event is free and open to the public. Gates will open at 8:30 p.m. Bring a chair or blanket to watch from field. Food will not be allowed on the turf, but guests are welcome to bring non-alcoholic beverages for the movie. 

West Virginia American Water has developed a robust, interactive web-based map encouraging customers to view and/or report the material that their water service line is made of. In 2021, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued requirements for water utilities to identify the locations of lead service lines and make that information publicly available by October 2024. The map serves as a tool for customers to self-report their water service line material to help West Virginia American Water complete the inventory by the end of 2031.

On the webpage, customers can click on the map and enter their address in the “Search by Address” field. The map will zoom in on the address. The user can then click the circular symbol and see listed the material of the service line on both the utility and customer side, as it is known to the company. If the customer-owned service line material is unknown, customers are encouraged to help identify the material and report that information to the company using the self-reporting survey link provided in the pop-up window. The company also developed a short video showing how to use the map.

The West Virginia University Industrial Extension, in collaboration with key industry leaders, is excited to announce the 2024 West Virginia Manufacturing Conference, set to take place on September 24th & 25th at the Bridgeport Conference Center. This premier event brings together manufacturers from across the state to connect, innovate, and explore new opportunities within the industry.

The conference will feature an array of expert speakers, panel discussions, and interactive workshops designed to address the most pressing challenges and opportunities in manufacturing. Attendees will have the chance to network with peers, share best practices, and gain valuable insights into the latest trends and technologies shaping the future of manufacturing in West Virginia.

For more information and to register for the conference, please visit wvmanufacturingconference.com or contact Tracy Straub at tracy.straub@mail.wvu.edu

Comedian Jeff Dunham announces a stop of the "Artificial Intelligence Tour" at the Charleston Coliseum on Saturday, November 09 at 5:00p.m. Jeff and his characters including cranky old man Walter, the hyperactive and crazy Peanut, the self-explanatory Jose the Jalapeno on a Stick, the redneck cliché NASCAR-loving Bubba J, the utterly befuddled Achmed the Dead Terrorist, and Url, the basement dwelling social media smart-phone addict. Dunham and his characters are ready to provide a much-needed dose of absurdity given the times we live in. That is, assuming he can convince his characters that they can no longer simply work from home! 

UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS

The Monday Morning Memo is Generously Sponsored by

Thank You to Our Trustee Members

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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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