Don’t Wait — Register Now for the December Business After Hours with City National Bank | |
Join the Huntington Regional Chamber of Commerce for our final Business After Hours of 2025, hosted by City National Bank. This popular annual gathering brings out many Chamber members and community partners for an evening of networking, connection, and celebration.
Enjoy light refreshments and great company as we toast to another successful year and celebrate the holiday season together.
The Chamber, in collaboration with the Children’s Home Society of West Virginia, invites members to donate a new, unwrapped toy.
Don’t miss one of our most well-attended events of the year!
| | A Day of Collaboration: Leadership Huntington Celebrates Local Service & Small Business Strength | |
What an energizing day for Leadership Huntington! Our latest session showcased the vital contributions of both nonprofits and small businesses in building a stronger, more connected community.
We began the morning with a strategic planning workshop led by Sara Blevins O’Toole, Director of Development at Branches Domestic Violence Shelter. From there, we deepened our understanding of Goodwill Industries of KYOWVA Area, Inc.’s mission-driven work—including a behind-the-scenes tour of their donation center. The morning wrapped up with a lively “speed dating” activity featuring 14 local nonprofits, each sharing how they uplift and support our region.
After enjoying a delicious lunch from Central City Cafe, we heard from Lauren Kemp, Executive Director of RenewAll Inc., who offered an insightful look into the revitalization of the Central City Antiques District.
Our small business leaders panel followed, featuring Rebecca Thomas (LH Class of 2025), owner of True Soul Boutique; Mark Queen, Co-Owner of Kenny Queen's Hardware and Ace Handyman Services; and Sabrina Donahue-Moore (LH Class of 2025), Chief Marketing Officer at VDM Management Group. Their experiences and perspectives provided valuable lessons in entrepreneurship and community leadership.
To round out the afternoon, the class embarked on a fun scavenger hunt through Central City—exploring local shops, meeting business owners, and learning what makes the district such a vibrant part of Huntington. 🛍️
In the spirit of giving, Leadership Huntington classes past and present also came together this season to adopt a family through The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program.
A special thank you to our presenting sponsor, Marshall Health Network; our session sponsor, Branches Domestic Violence Shelter; our coffee & breakfast sponsors, Butter It Up at The Market and Foodfair Supermarkets; and our lunch sponsor, the Nonprofit Roundtable with support from the Pallottine Foundation of Huntington WV. We are also grateful to Goodwill for hosting our morning session and to the West Huntington Branch Public Library for welcoming us in the afternoon.
From nonprofit missions to small business innovation, today’s session underscored the power of collaboration and the shared vision that drives our community forward.
A huge thank you to the nonprofits who participated in our “speed dating” activity:
American Foundation for the Blind (AFB)
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Tri-State
Branches Domestic Violence Shelter
Children's Home Society of WV – Huntington/Ona/Milton
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library WV
Facing Hunger Foodbank
FaithHealth Appalachia
Habitat for Humanity of the Tri-State, Inc.
The Huntington Scottish Rite Foundation
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Huntington
Rotary Club of Huntington WV
The Salvation Army – Huntington
United Way of the River Cities
Recovery Point West Virginia
| Introducing the Kirtley Insurance Leadership Huntington Scholarship | | |
We’re excited to announce a new Leadership Huntington scholarship made possible by the generosity of Mike Kirtley, owner & CEO of Kirtley Insurance.
The annual $1,500 Kirtley Insurance Scholarship will be awarded for the next three years and will help make Leadership Huntington more accessible to small business and nonprofit leaders who are shaping our region’s future.
We are incredibly grateful for Mike’s commitment to lifting up the next generation of leaders and investing directly in our community’s growth.
Learn more about the Kirtley Insurance Scholarship:
👉 https://bit.ly/4pEIDE3
And if you’re also inspired to support the Leadership Huntington Scholarship Fund, please reach out to our President & CEO at megan@huntingtonchamber.org.
| It’s Not Too Late to Join the Candy Cane Trail — Sweet Rewards Await! | |
We are excited the Greater Huntington Candy Cane Trail — a free mobile passport that encourages our community to shop and eat local throughout the holiday season — is back!
This year, the Trail will run from Friday, November 21 through Saturday, December 20. Download the pass for free at huntingtonchamber.org/trail/. Check in at locations, redeem exclusive offers, and earn points for a chance to win prizes, including a $1,000 cash grand prize that will be announced on Saturday, December 20 during the Jewel City Crawl!
| True Soul Boutique Celebrates 5th Business Birthday | | |
True Soul Boutique celebrated a major milestone this week—its 5th business birthday! 🎉
The boutique marked the occasion with a stylish community celebration featuring delicious catering from Nomada Bakery and a custom perfume bar experience from The Haute Wick Social.
Congratulations to Rebecca Thomas and the True Soul team on five years of bringing style, confidence, and heart to downtown Huntington. Here’s to many more! ✨
| | Business Birthday: June Harless Center Turns 25 | |
The Chamber invites you to celebrate 25 years of the June Harless Center advancing educational excellence and innovation across West Virginia. Since its founding, the center has been dedicated to providing educators with high-quality professional development, hands-on learning opportunities and research-based resources that inspire creativity and critical thinking in the classroom.
Over the past quarter-century, the June Harless Center has built a lasting impact through its partnerships with schools, universities and community organizations — empowering teachers and students alike to embrace new ways of learning. As it celebrates this milestone year, the center remains committed to shaping the future of education through collaboration, innovation and a passion for lifelong learning.
Date: Monday, Dec. 15, 2025
Location: One John Marshall Drive, Education Building 228, Huntington, WV 25755
Time: 3 p.m.
| Ribbon Cutting: Buffalo Wild Wings 'GO' | |
Buffalo Wild Wings 'GO' is gearing up to celebrate its official ribbon cutting—with the time to be announced! 🎉
This new takeout-focused location will offer all your favorite wings, sauces, and game-day staples with the convenience of grab-and-go service. Stay tuned for full event details as we welcome this exciting addition to our local business community!
Date: Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025
Location: 2060 3rd Ave, Huntington, WV 25703
Time: 10 a.m.
| Ribbon Cutting: JAGS Floors & Restoration | |
JAG Floors & Restoration is gearing up to celebrate its official ribbon cutting! 🎉
The event will highlight their expanded services in flooring, restoration, and home improvement—showcasing a local business dedicated to quality craftsmanship and community growth. We’re excited to welcome JAG Floors & Restoration to the Chamber family and celebrate this next chapter with them!
Date: Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025
Location: 1522 3rd Ave Huntington, WV 25701
Time: 11 a.m.
| Business Birthday: BDY Studios Turns 13 | |
BDY Studios is turning 13! The Chamber is thrilled to celebrate BDY as they mark 13 years of bringing wellness, balance and community to Huntington. From empowering classes to a warm, welcoming atmosphere, they continue to be a shining example of what it means to support health and harmony in our region. Join us in congratulating BDY on this incredible milestone!
Date: Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026
Location: 210 11th Street, Suite 10 Huntington, WV 25701
Time: 5 p.m.
| State of the Chamber Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony | | |
Join us for an inspiring State of the Chamber event featuring a fireside chat with special guest Brad D. Smith, President of Marshall University. At this inaugural event, we will welcome the Chamber’s new Board of Directors, celebrate the contributions of outgoing members, and recognize exceptional community business leaders with special awards. Don’t miss this opportunity to kick off 2026 with a celebration of the achievements and future of our local business community!
- $50 Individual Ticket (Early Bird Pricing)
- $60 Individual Ticket After December 31
Tables and sponsorships are available. Questions? Contact chamber@huntingtonchamber.org.
| | Tonight: Herd Holiday at the Memorial Student Center | |
Join the Marshall Family on Monday, December 8 from 5:30 – 8 p.m. at the Memorial Student Center for our annual holiday celebration.
The event will begin on the MSC Plaza with a festive tree lighting and continue inside with holiday treats and activities and special an opportunity for photos with Santa-Marco.
| Austin's Christmas Ice Cream Pies | |
✨ Pilates & Prosecco — Holiday Edition! ✨
Join Torie Sizemore on December 12 at 5 p.m. at our Huntington studio for a festive evening of movement, magic, and a little bubbly.
We’ll flow, pulse, laugh, and toast to the season together. Spots are limited, so grab your mat and holiday cheer and let’s have a fabulous Friday evening! 🥂
Sign up on our website! BDY Members can join for free, and non-members can drop-in for just $14.
| Open Registration at Mountwest | | |
Mountwest is hosting an Open Registration event next Thursday, December 11th from 9am-6pm. This is a great opportunity to meet with an advisor, register for spring semester, speak to financial aid, and learn about student support services and student clubs. Stop by any time between 9am-6pm, no appointment required.
| | HMA to Welcome Gropius Artist Linda Nguyen Lopez in January 2026 | |
The Booth Foundation Presents Walter Gropius Master Artist Linda Nguyen Lopez, who will speak at the Huntington Museum of Art about her work on Jan. 15, 2026, at 7 p.m. Admission to this public presentation is free.
An exhibit of ceramic works by Lopez will be on view at HMA from Dec. 6, 2025, through March 29, 2026. The artist will present a three-day workshop at HMA titled “Exploring Clay in Color Through Abstraction” on Jan. 16-18, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For workshop fee information, visit hmoa.org or call (304) 529-2701.
Linda Nguyen Lopez (b. 1981, Visalia, California) is a first-generation American artist of Vietnamese and Mexican descent. Her brightly glazed, anthropomorphic ceramic sculptures explore the poetic potential of the everyday objects surrounding us. She resists acknowledging that these are inanimate objects, choosing instead to imagine and articulate the vast range of emotions she finds embedded within them.
Lopez received a BFA from California State University of Chico and an MFA from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Her work has been exhibited in Italy, New Zealand, England, and throughout the United States, including the Craft Contemporary Museum, Los Angeles; Museum of Art and Design, New York; Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville; Long Beach Museum of Art, Long Beach; Renwick Gallery, Smithsonian Museum of Art, Washington D.C.; Red Arrow, Nashville, Tennessee; Albertz Benda, Los Angeles; The Hole Gallery, New York; David B. Smith Gallery, Denver; and Mindy Solomon Gallery, Miami. She has been an artist in residence at The Clay Studio, Archie Bray Foundation, CRETA Rome, and Greenwich House Pottery.
This exhibit is presented by The Booth Foundation.
This project is supported with financial assistance from the West Virginia Department of Tourism and the National Endowment for the Arts, with approval of the West Virginia Commission on the Arts.
| Sandy's Christmas 4-Wheeler Giveaways | Fireside Chat with Admiral Brian Christine, MD | |
Marshall University, the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine and Marshall Health Network are pleased to host Admiral Brian Christine MD, Assistant Secretary for Health and Head of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Tuesday, Dec 9. We will have a Fireside Chat with the Assistant Secretary beginning at 2:15 p.m. at the Brad D. Smith Center for Business and Innovation. Doors will open at 1:30 p.m.
| Plan Ahead for Holiday Coverage & Kick Off 2026 with Confidence ⛄ |
The holiday season is here – and with it comes year-end performance expectations, tight deadlines, and the pressure to finish the calendar year strong! Add unexpected absences, seasonal surges, updated revenue targets, staffing gaps, and the risk of missed goals becomes very real.
As we move through this upcoming busy season, it’s more important than ever to ensure your workforce is ready for anything! Whether you’re planning for an uptick in business demands, managing seasonal transitions, or preparing for unexpected challenges, having the right staffing partner can make all the difference.
At Manpower, we deliver flexible, customized workforce solutions to help you close out the year without disruption – and set the stage for BIG GOALs in 2026. From handling last minute shifts to building project teams or filling critical Executive vacancies, we want to help your business move forward.
Why Choose Manpower?
- Avoid Holiday Staffing Gaps
- Meet Year-End Performance Goals
- Plan Ahead for 2026 Growth
- Local Staffing & Recruiting Expertise – Trusted Since 1975
Want to learn more about Manpower service options, perks, and rates?
Complete an online form: Manpower Staffing Inquiry Form or call our local Huntington branch today at 304.529.3031.
Who is Manpower?
Locally owned, but globally connected, Manpower is a full-service staffing and recruiting company. Manpower provides workforce solutions to businesses of all shapes and sizes. Manpower has your talent search covered!
| VIP Tables Now Available for DTC’s 25th Annual Valentine Celebration | |
Elevate your evening with a VIP Table for 8, complete with VIP swag bags, entry to the exclusive VIP Reception, and premium recognition throughout the celebration. It is the most luxurious way to experience the magic of our Valentine Celebration.
Join us for DTC’s 25th Annual Valentine Celebration on Saturday, February 14, 2026, at Willow Ridge Events in Barboursville, WV. The evening begins with the VIP Reception at 5:30 p.m., followed by a night of celebration at 6:30 p.m. Enjoy a decadent Italian dinner from Rocco’s Ristorante, an open bar, guest games, door prizes, a curated silent auction, and the excitement of the 10th Annual Local Celebrity Lip-Sync Battle, all leading into a showstopping encore performance by Hometown KISS.
Reserve your VIP Table today by visiting DTC's website (https://dtchuntington.org/2026-valentine-celebration/) or contacting DTC at info@dtchuntington.org or 304-523-1164. VIP Tables are limited, and securing yours ensures a truly unforgettable Valentine evening!
| Spread Holiday Joy: Donate to the Toys for Tots Toy Drive | |
The Huntington Regional Chamber of Commerce is proud to serve as an official Toys for Tots drop-off location this holiday season.
Community members are invited to bring new, unwrapped toys to our office in the River Tower at 1108 Third Ave., Suite 300, Huntington, WV 25701.
The Huntington Area CVB, located at 210 11th St, Huntington, WV 25701, will also be accepting toys through Dec. 15.
Together, let’s help spread joy and make the season brighter for children in our region. 🎁✨
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As you begin preparing your 2025-2026 marketing strategy, the Huntington Regional Chamber of Commerce invites you to explore our Sponsorship Investment Guide. This comprehensive resource outlines all remaining sponsorship opportunities available throughout the year.
We are deeply grateful to our sponsors and investors whose continued support helps drive the Chamber’s mission forward.
For questions or to discuss custom sponsorship packages, contact Megan Archer at megan@huntingtonchamber.org.
| | The Monday Morning Memo is Generously Sponsored by | | Thank You to Our Trustee Members | | Thank You to Our Investor Members | | | | |
