CHAMBER NEWS

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.

Over 125 young professionals across the I-64 corridor came together at the Huntington Museum of Art last Thursday for Meet-Up 64, a collaborative networking event featuring Up Next Charlie West, Putnam CREW, Huntington Young Professionals, and Counsel Connections members.

Featured guests included Jonathan Board, the first-ever Executive Director of the West Virginia First Foundation and Toney Stroud, Marshall University Chief Legal Officer and Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and Corporate Relation.

Artificial Intelligence is transforming every aspect of our lives—from our phones and computers, smart speakers, our classrooms to even our household appliances. And now, it’s making waves in the courtroom.

This week we talk with Luke Yingling, the innovative founder of Rhetoric. Rhetoric is a groundbreaking platform that leverages AI to help legal professionals strategize their cases with unparalleled effectiveness.

We’ll explore the fascinating journey from a simple idea to a fully realized platform, discuss the ethical considerations of AI in the legal field, and uncover the challenges and triumphs of raising capital for a tech startup.

Thank you to Kindred Communications and our presenting sponsor Moses AutoMall of Huntington!

Listen on Apple, Spotify, and Amazon!

MEMBER NEWS

Edward W. Tucker, FAIA, NCARB, of Huntington, West Virginia, was elected as a regional director at the National Council of Architectural Registration Board’s (NCARB) 2024 Annual Business Meeting. Tucker was nominated to serve on the NCARB Board of Directors by Region 2 (Mid-Atlantic Conference), which represents the licensing boards of Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Tucker was appointed to the West Virginia Board of Architects in 2014, and served as the secretary until 2022. He was elected as the vice chair/treasurer of the Region 2 Board in 2020, and to the chair position in 2022.

Join Alpha Technologies for a talk provided by Scale Computing System Engineer, Sean Walsh and Sales Manager, Ross Brosmer showcasing Scale’s cutting-edge technology. Broadcom’s acquisition of VMware is looming, and many IT leaders are concerned about how the new parent company will impact their pricing, support, and product innovation. Scale Computing and Alpha Technologies can help you remove the worry with an easy to deploy and manage platform.

The Pilot Club of Huntington will hold its 70th Annual Antiques Show and Sale at the Marshall Health Network Conference Center, Third Avenue and Eighth Street, Huntington, WV on Friday, August 16^h, 2024, 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm; Saturday, August 17^th, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm; and Sunday, August 18^th, 11:00 am-4:00 pm.  Admission is six dollars per person which covers all three days.  Advance tickets may be purchased for five dollars by contacting a Pilot member or by calling one of the phone numbers listed below.  

The Show and Sale is made up of professional dealers from multiple states who offer a wide range of quality antiques, midcentury modern, art and collectibles at a wide range of prices. This is an event that will appeal to seasoned collectors, designers, novices, and curious shoppers.   There is something for all tastes and every budget.  It is an event not to be missed.

The Pilot Club is part of Pilot International which is a charitable and educational organization whose purpose is to promote programs and activities that support youth development & leadership, encourage brain safety and fitness, and care for families in times of need.

The Antiques Show and Sale is the only fundraiser of the Club. All the proceeds are distributed to local charities.

For more information about the Antiques Show and Sale, please call 304.544.4517 or 304.697.2082

📚 Your entry fee supports Dolly Parton's Imagination Library of West Virginia – an early literacy developmental program that delivers monthly high-quality books directly to the homes of WV children, at no cost to the families.

Registration is $30 for adults, $15 for children, and includes your race T-shirt! Prizes awarded for Best Dressed Dolly (adult, child and pet Doggy Parton categories!)

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 𝙁𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙮 𝙛𝙪𝙣 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩! 𝙇𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙜 & 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙮 Texas Roadhouse 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙗𝙮 Lil Creamer

💻 Email Jamie.Lima@Marshall.edu to be a Sponsor.

Sponsors are featured on race T-shirts and promoted on social media!

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Tri-State is turning 50 this year! Please consider joining us to celebrate five decades of mentoring the youth in our community, helping children from diverse backgrounds achieve their full potentials. Over the course of the night, we will hear from alumni Bigs & Littles, past directors, board members, and families about how BBBS affected their lives. Dress up in your most dazzling finery and dance to the beats delivered by DJ JK from AAA Entertainment, socialize over hors d'oeuvres & drinks, and try your luck to win one of many fabulous door prizes. 

Golden Advocate | $10,000

Silver Defender | $5,000

Bronze Ambassador | $2,000

$225 | Couple

$125 | Person

Hosted by Ridge Kids Academy | Barboursville, WV

September 7th, 2024 | VIP Admission 6:30pm | General Admission 7:00pm

For questions and purchasing your tickets, please contact Mandy at mperry@bbbstristate.org or 304.522.2191 ext. 2

The Huntington Museum of Art has had a tremendous response to summer camp registration and almost all the camps are full or close to being full. There are spots remaining in The Art of Reading and Writing summer camp for students who have completed the 3^rd through 5^thgrades. This summer camp takes place July 29 through August 2 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cost for this week of camp per camper is $170 for Museum members and $200 for non-members. In this camp, students learn how reading connects us to the world through grade-level appropriate works of literature, writing workshops, and art projects.

Go to https://hmoa.org/education/camps/ to register or call (304) 529-2701. Registrations are taken on a first-come, first-served basis. No refunds for cancellations.

As we gear up to celebrate Independence Day, Manpower understands that maintaining seamless operations during the festivities is crucial. Ensuring adequate staffing coverage during this busy period can be challenging, but Manpower is here to help you enjoy the holiday with peace of mind.

At Manpower, we specialize in providing comprehensive staffing solutions tailored to meet the unique needs of businesses across the Tri-State Area. Our goal is to keep your operation running smoothly, even while your regular staff is off or celebrating the holiday.

Complete an online form: Manpower Staffing Inquiry Form or call your local branch today! 

Valley Health is pleased to welcome Terry Adkins, PharmD, to the Valley Health family.  Adkins is working as the pharmacy manager at Valley Health Harts as of June 10, 2024. 

Adkins brings a wealth of experience to Valley Health, with a decade of service in the field.  He is a resident of Chapmanville and earned his Doctorate of Pharmacy from the esteemed University of Charleston.  He also holds certifications from the American Pharmacist Association in Immunization Delivery and Basic Life Support, further demonstrating his commitment to patient care. 

Multi-genre hit-making entertainer Jelly Roll today revealed he is extending his Beautifully Broken Tour 2024 run with 15 new dates. The tour, which is set to kick off on Monday, August 27th at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, UT, has added new markets including Charleston, WV on Nov 1 at the Charleston Coliseum, tour openers include ERNEST, Shaboozey, and Allie Colleen.

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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