CHAMBER NEWS

Today, we remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Have a safe and happy Memorial Day!

We had a blast at May’s Business After Hours at Dave & Buster's Barboursville!

Thanks to everyone who joined us for an evening of food, fun, and a little bit of magic with Joey Stepp. Thank you, Dave & Buster’s for hosting us! Interested in event space and team building activities? Learn more here: https://www.daveandbusters.com/us/en/parties

UPCOMING EVENTS

The next Nonprofit Roundtable will meet on Tuesday, May 27 at Mountwest Community & Technical College in room G07A from 10-11:30 a.m. All area nonprofit organizations are welcome to attend. Downtown Huntington Partners will be the featured organization. Derek Chapman from iHeart Media will talk about PSA's and in-kind sponsorship opportunities that they provide in addition to their paid media opportunities.

Join us for Crisis to Clarity: A Public Relations Case Study, presented by Dr. Terry Hapney and featuring the real-life case "Fatality and Facebook: A Perilous Combination" from his book. This interactive session will give attendees the opportunity to work in small groups to develop crisis communication strategies, present their plans, and respond to questions from a mock media panel. Afterward, you'll learn how the actual crisis unfolded and the lessons it offered. Plus, attendees can receive a free professional headshot, courtesy of Bullseye Total Media.

Join us for an exciting collaborative networking event featuring Up Next Charlie West, Putnam CREW, Huntington Young Professionals, and Counsel Connections members. Meet-Up 64 is the premier networking series along the I-64 corridor.

This event is FREE and will be a great opportunity to connect with young professionals from the entire Metro Valley!

This Meet-Up 64 will feature two special guests:

• Congresswoman Carol Miller, U.S. Representative for West Virginia’s 1st Congressional District

• Tricia Ball, Executive Director of the iCenter at Marshall University

MEMBER NEWS

Last week, we got to celebrate with one of our amazing Ambassadors, Jamie Lima, and her husband, Art, as they marked a major milestone - 120 years of Music Manor!

Built in 1905 and nestled beside Ashland’s Central Park, this beautifully preserved colonial also serves as the Appalachian satellite location of Let Them Rock, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to enriching children’s lives through access to performance-based music education.

Through Let Them Rock, Jamie and Art provide music workshops and assemblies to pre-K and elementary schools, run Summer Camps at performing arts centers, and sponsor local productions, benefit concerts, and festivals in the Huntington Tri-State area.

Big news for West Virginia entrepreneurs! Applications are NOW OPEN for gBETA at Marshall University ICenter — a free, seven-week accelerator powered by gener8tor and supported by Huntington Bank.

This no-cost, no-equity program offers:

• One-on-one mentorship with experienced entrepreneurs & investors
• Tailored support to sharpen your pitch and strategy
• Access to a powerful entrepreneurial network

Open to ALL industries (with a special nod to Marshall's focus areas: energy, manufacturing, aviation, cyber security, healthcare, and entrepreneurship.)

Apply by June 2, 2025 to join the inaugural cohort! The program is virtual — so you can participate from anywhere in West Virginia!

Advantage Valley, Inc., a regional economic development organization serving the nine-county Charleston-Huntington Metro Region, will host a free Business Certification Lunch & Learn on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, from 12:00 to 2:00 PM at the Huntington Area Development Council (HADCO), located at 916 5th Ave, Suite 400, Huntington, WV.

Titled “Opportunity Unlock,” the event is designed to help women-, minority-, and veteran-owned businesses understand how business certifications can open doors to new market opportunities—including exclusive government and corporate contracts, supplier diversity programs, and expanded customer bases. The event will showcase the program which offers up to 10 hours of free one-on-one coaching sessions with our certification expert, who will navigate the application process for each business and help them fully leverage the new designation for business growth.

The featured speaker is Samantha (Sammi) Williams, founder and CEO of 628 Digital Design, a certified minority-, woman-, and Black-owned small business—and a B Corp—specializing in helping businesses earn and leverage certifications. Williams will provide a comprehensive introduction to the different certification types and how they can position small businesses for growth.

This Lunch & Learn is the second in a series of certification events made possible by an Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) POWER Grant awarded to Advantage Valley in support of its Expanding Markets program. This three-year initiative is designed to increase business resilience and drive growth in the manufacturing and business services sectors by helping small businesses access new customers and strengthen their supply chain potential.

Join us on May 31st from 11:00am–5:00pm for our Summer Kick Off with our friends at Fresh Cut Kenova

🌸 Fresh Cut Kenova will be at the shop with stunning florals for you to build your own bouquet 💐 

🕯️ Book your Candle Making Workshop and choose to create a candle or tart melts! ✨ Want more? You can also add on additional candles, room sprays, or a reed diffuser to your experience!

🛍️ Come shop our new Summer Collection of Candles & Tart Melts! 

It’s the perfect kickoff to sunny days and summer vibes—grab your besties and come create something beautiful!

📍 The Haute Wick Social

📅 May 31st

⏰ 11:00am–5:00pm

🎟️ Spots fill fast—book your workshop now!

This course covers the fundamentals, regulations, and application of Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) flight according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) laws, specifically part 107. Under part 107 (Flying Under the Small UAS Rule) there is an extensive amount of details on the basics of UAS mechanics, regulations, airspace, weather, operations, and processing of data that pilots need to be aware of. In this course, we will cover all of this material and begin to show the power of UAS imagery with the correct processing technique. Additionally, to further help people prepare for the part 107 exam that is actually (administered by the FAA), practice test questions will be provided throughout the course. It should be noted that while this course is an IN-DEPTH review of UAS flight and associated rules, taking the course does not ensure that the user will pass the part 107 exam. Come join us and learn about the future of drone technology and proper safe usage! Testing vouchers are included with this course. Financial aid is available for those who qualify. 

This is a hi-flex course meaning you may attend online on Tuesdays from 4:00 - 6:20 via Zoom or watch the recorded lectures at your convenience. Please contact Julie Hazelett at hazelett10@mctc.edu if you have any questions about the course. Please contact workforce@mctc.edu if you have any questions about registering for the course and/or applying for financial aid.

Did you know:

• 1 in 3 low-income women report missing work, school or similar events due to lack of access to period supplies?
• Lack of access to period supplies is linked to using substitute products (toilet tissue or socks), stretching product usage and missing important events.
• 20 states, including West Virginia, tax period supplies. Sales taxes on period supplies place an unequal burden on individuals who menstruate. (* Source: 2021 U by Kotex survey conducted with YouGov)

Did you also know you can help ease the burden of our menstruating friends and neighbors by supporting Project Period., a United Way of the River Cities Week of Action project!

Here's how to help:

• Donate Supplies: https://tinyurl.com/43y7ep5y
• Volunteer: Sign up to help during Week of Action (June 16–21) https://tinyurl.com/mpmx3arj
• Host a Kit Party: Contact Stacey Norman – stacey.norman@unitedwayrivercities.org / 304.523.8929 ext. 118
• Be a Sponsor: Contact Sarah Short – sarah.short@unitedwayrivercities.org / 304.523.8929 ext. 109
• Groove for Good: Dance with us on June 28 at West Edge Factory to raise funds and supplies! Tickets: https://givebutter.com/Groove4Good

RecFest 2025 presented by Smoothie King is just around the corner—Saturday, August 16th from 12–3 PM—and we’d love to see you there!

Hosted by the Marshall Recreation Center, RecFest is a high-energy event that connects Marshall students with local businesses and organizations. It’s the perfect chance to boost your visibility, share what you do, and build lasting relationships as the fall semester kicks off.

Vendor Info at a Glance:

• 8’ x 10’ space with a 6’ x 2.5’ table + two chairs included
• Extra tables available for $10 (while supplies last)
• Early Bird Deadline: June 30th

Want to make an even bigger impact? Our 2025 RecFest Prospectus outlines exciting sponsorship opportunities—with perks that extend throughout Marshall’s Week of Welcome.

Spots are filling quickly, so don’t wait—reserve your space today!

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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