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!

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.

In this mouthwatering episode of In Your Business podcast, Reeves Kirtner of Kindred Communications sits down with Lauren Shultz, the General Manager of Buddy's All American BBQ. For 24 years, Buddy’s has been a culinary institution in Huntington, known for its great barbecue, ice-cold beer, and killer wings. Earlier this year, they took a bold step and opened a second location in Milton.

Join us as we discuss the strategic decision-making process behind the expansion, explore the challenges and triumphs of setting up the new location, and learn about the intricate process of hiring and training a new team. Lauren shares invaluable lessons learned along the way and provides a candid look at what it takes to grow a beloved local brand.

Thank you to our presenting sponsor, Moses AutoMall of Huntington!

Listen on Apple, Amazon, and Spotify!

Last week was bittersweet as we wished Erin Ferry, our Office and Events Coordinator, good luck on her new career Erin has been an integral part of the Huntington Regional Chamber since August 2021, helping make every event successful and contributing to all areas of our operations.

Thank you, Erin, for your dedication, creativity, and leadership to our team, members, and community. We have loved working with you, will miss you, and wish you all the best on this new journey!

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.

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.

MEMBER NEWS

Join Huntington's Kitchen for a special evening with James Beard Award Winner Chef Paul Smith, who will be talking about the WV culinary team as well as the James Beard Award. There will be a Q&A with Chef Paul following his talk. Guests will enjoy finger foods, wine, and beer. All proceeds benefit Huntington’s Kitchen. Visit chefpaulwv.com for more information about Chef Paul.

Celebrate the women in Marshall Athletics at this special event! 

The inaugural “BE HER” event will be held on Sunday, July 21, 2024 from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., hosted at the historic Weymouth Hill venue, 2783 OH-141, Ironton, OH 45638. 

WE ARE… thrilled to have Alys Smith and Cindy Dawson Carlisle as our guest speakers. It’s going to be an inspiring afternoon celebrating our female sports with fun and friendship!

Featuring your favorite local vendors!

Limited availability - get your tickets below! All proceeds benefit our women's programs. Sponsorship opportunities available as well.

St. Mary’s Medical Center (SMMC), a member of Marshall Health Network, has received the American College of Cardiology’s NCDR Chest Pain  ̶ MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award for 2024. SMMC is one of only 259 hospitals nationwide to receive the honor.

The award recognizes SMMC’s commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of care for heart attack patients and signifies that SMMC has reached an aggressive goal of treating these patients to standard levels of care as outlined by the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association clinical guidelines and recommendations.

Mountwest is hosting Open Registration which will take place on July 16th from 9am-6pm. This is a great opportunity to speak to admissions, get assistance with your FAFSA or questions related to financial aid, register for classes, and more. No appointment necessary, just stop by any time between 9am-6pm. Should you have questions about the event, please contact Student Services at 304-710-3060.

In a celebration of community, the Huntington Museum of Art will host its third annual “HMA Block Party” on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, from 5 to 8 p.m. This event is part of the 4^th Tuesday Tour Series at HMA. Admission to the event is free.

The HMA Block Party will spotlight the new exhibit titled “WE: Community,” which continues on view at HMA through Aug. 25, 2024. A volunteer tour guide from HMA’s Docent Corps will be on hand to discuss the works on view in this exhibit. “Huntington is a great community and Museum staff members look forward to spending a fun evening with our supporters and neighbors,” said HMA Director of Education Cindy Dearborn. “As part of our ongoing effort to promote regional artists, we have invited several artisans to take part in the HMA Block Party as well.”

In addition, HMA’s Education Department will offer a free art activity that celebrates community. Also, Lil Creamer Shave Ice is scheduled to attend the event so that visitors can purchase refreshments.

Vendors with display tables in HMA’s Virginia Van Zandt Great Hall include Kaleidoscope Crochet; Emily Stark of Emily’s Flameworked Glass Beads and Jewelry; Eric Pardue Pottery; Bashful Bee Press; Sugar Pop Press; and lezbake.

Mountwest Community & Technical College will have an informational table at the HMA Block Party and Rick Walker from the West Virginia Electric Auto Association will be on hand to discuss electric vehicles.

Two of the rock scene’s biggest acts of the past two decades – SKILLET and SEETHER – are headed out on the road together this fall! SKILLET and SEETHER will be at Marshall Health Network Arena in Huntington, WV on Friday, September 27, 2024. Tickets start at $44.50 plus applicable fees and go on sale Friday, July 12 at 10 a.m. 

COMMUNITY NEWS

The West Virginia Department of Tourism, in partnership with the Huntington Area CVB and Greater Huntington Park & Recreation District, unveiled the new swing last week in Rotary Park.

Home to hundreds of acres of beautiful hillside, Rotary Park boasts hiking and biking trails, disc golf courses, sports courts and an observation tower that gives way to panoramic city views.

There are now more than 25 Almost Heaven photo-op swings available throughout the state! Learn more here.

Directions:

38.42029293802378, -82.39365663467852

UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS

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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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