CHAMBER NEWS

We are less than two weeks away from the 2025 Annual Dinner presented by Forge Security! We’re thrilled to announce a Silent Auction at this year’s Annual Dinner — and the highlight? A Carnival Cruise to anywhere!

This incredible getaway is made possible by our friends at Sandy's Racing & Gaming. Stay tuned, more amazing auction items will be revealed soon!

We are excited to announce that Toney Stroud, Chief Legal Officer and VP for Strategic Initiatives and Corporate Relations at Marshall University, has been named the 2024 Stephen G. Roberts Leadership Award recipient!

The Stephen G. Roberts Leadership Award—named in honor of Stephen Roberts, who has served as president of the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce for more than 30 years and previously led the Huntington Regional Chamber—is presented annually at the Chamber's Annual Dinner. The award recognizes an individual with a legacy of service and demonstrated leadership within the Huntington region.

Toney will be recognized at our upcoming Annual Dinner on Thursday, May 1.

Last weekend, members of the Huntington Young Professionals spent some of their Saturday giving back to the community by helping clean up Guyandotte area. Thank you to our community service co-chairs for organizing this and to everyone who volunteered!

UPCOMING EVENTS

MEMBER NEWS

Marshall University invites you to participate in the upcoming Student-Athlete Career Networking & NIL Night, an opportunity to connect directly with our talented student-athletes who are eager to explore professional pathways, internships, and Name, Image & Likeness (NIL) partnerships.

Date: April 29, 2025

Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM (5:30/5:45 employer table set up, 6:00 PM panel, 6:30 networking)

Location: Cam Henderson Center, Marshall University 

Parking: Cam Henderson Center Third Avenue Parking Garage (1801 3^rd Avenue, Huntington, WV 25755)

Each participating employer will be provided with an 8 ft rectangle table — please bring any materials you would like to display. We will provide table coverings for any employer without a tablecloth.

Whether you’re seeking future interns, employees, brand ambassadors, or NIL partners, this is a great opportunity to make meaningful connections with student-athletes who bring drive, discipline, and team-minded leadership.

We look forward to having you join us for an evening of networking and opportunity!

For any questions or additional information, please contact Jaylene Berrien at berrien@marshall.edu.

The U.S. Small Business Association Office of Disaster Recovery is pleased to announce its Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) program. This program is designed to help business owners of all sizes and Private Nonprofits get back on track after a disaster, especially with ongoing weather disruptions. Businesses can apply for assistance through November 26, 2025,  and homeowners and renters can apply until April 28,2025.

The Honors Program at Huntington High School is looking for adjudicators for the upcoming Passion Project Presentations taking place on Sunday, May 4 from 1:00-4:00pm at the Brad D. Smith School of Business' Encova Auditorium.  

Throughout the year, students plan and carry out projects that combine their own passions with opportunities for community impact and improvement. This is an amazing event each year as students share what they learned through the process as well as the impact it had on our community and those the projects aimed to serve.

If you are a community member, businessperson, or local leader willing to share your time and expertise with our students as they present their passion projects, please contact program sponsor Amy McElroy at amcelroy@k12.wv.us or (304) 710-1598. 

This June, nearly 20 students from Huntington High School’s Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) chapter will travel to Anaheim, California to represent Huntington at the FBLA National Leadership Conference—competing against top students from across the country. These emerging leaders have worked hard to earn this opportunity, and now they’re asking for support from our business community to help make it possible.

They are currently seeking donations and sponsorships to help cover travel, lodging, and competition expenses. Every contribution—large or small—makes a difference. checks can be mailed to HHS Business Boosters, 1 Highlander Way Huntington, WV 25701 or contribute in the link below.

Join Netranom for a focused panel discussion on preparing your business’s technology for a successful acquisition. Learn what investors look for in IT systems, how tech issues can impact valuation, and what steps you can take now to boost your company’s M&A readiness. Perfect for small business owners planning for exit, growth, or succession.

Date: Thursday, May 8

Time: 12-12:45 pm

Mountwest Community and Technical College is hosting an Open Registration event on Tuesday, May 6 from 9am-6pm. Prospective students and families can stop by any time between 9am-6pm and register for summer or fall classes, no appointment needed. Throughout the day, students will also be able to speak with the financial aid team, explore student life, and learn about student support services. For more information, contact Student Services at 304-710-3472 or email admissions@mctc.edu.

In collaboration with Marshall Online and the Big Green Scholarship Foundation, the Marshall University Alumni Association is offering a Retirement Literacy Seminar hosted by Tyler Hutchison with The Hutchison Group. The seminar will be hosted in two sessions from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, and Wednesday, May 21, 2025. The seminar offers comprehensive retirement planning, with emphasis on the cost of retirement, managing tax liability, protecting wealth and assets, and more. The seminar is applicable for individuals and couples of all ages, with special focus on those reaching retirement in the next five years or have already reached retirement and are seeking additional guidance. The course is $99.99 for both sessions. For questions or registration concerns, please contact microcredentials@marshall.edu.

The Huntington Museum of Art will present a star party and public astronomy talk on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at 6 p.m. when NASA Solar System Ambassador Ellie White presents “The Lucy Mission & the Asteroids Around Us.” Admission to this 4th Tuesday Tour event is free and open to people of all ages.

After the presentation by White, who is a Marshall University graduate student, a star party will take place with the viewing of night sky objects with telescopes if weather allows. Light refreshments will be available.

The Phil Cline Family YMCA is having a flea market in conjunction with the Huntington Southside yard sale day! If you have done your spring cleaning and have some items to sell, contact jeaton@huntingtonymca.org to reserve your booth! All proceeds benefit the youth programs at the Y.

The Huntington Children's Museum is giving grownups the opportunity to enjoy a unique evening with Felix and Finger Dueling Pianos! Dueling piano shows are engaging, interactive, and unforgettable. Have you songs requests ready for the fabulous evening that supports the children of our community!

Join the Huntington Children's Museum on Saturday, April 26th from 6 pm - 10 pm at West Edge Factory for an evening of music and memories. The West Edge Factory will become a moody nightclub complete with a pair of first-rate dueling pianos performers, an open beer & wine bar, and dinner provided by Ceredo's own Rocco's Ristorante. Let your favorite song or musician inspire your attire - casual, business casual, dress to impress, or dress to your own tune! Don't forget to bring cash to request your favorite songs! Thank you to Rocco's and West Edge for sponsoring this fundraiser for the Huntington Children's Museum. All ticket purchases and cash donations support HCM's mission to create child-centered spaces that promote exploration and a love for learning through play.

Ages: 21+

Interested in sponsoring this unique event and supporting our community's children? Reach out to Tosha Pelfrey, tosha.pelfrey@hcmkids.org or Raine Klover rklover@hcmkids.org or 681-378-3330. 

Multi-Platinum selling and award-winning superstar Cole Swindell will bring his 2025 headlining Happy Hour Sad Tour, to Marshall Health Network Arena on Thursday, September 11, produced by Pepper Entertainment. Joining the four-time ACM Award winner on his Happy Hour Sad Tour are special guest Priscilla Block and Greylan James.  

All Huntington Regional Chamber members are welcome to submit events and news to the MMM for free. All content is to be submitted by 4 p.m. each Thursday for inclusion the following week. Submitted items will only appear one time in the Memo unless discussed and agreed upon with Chamber staff. When submitting, please include "Memo" in the subject line of the email, attach one photo or graphic that is no more than 5 MB, and include text/press release and any links.

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

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