CHAMBER NEWS

Leadership Huntington Explores the Power of Tourism

Joy, nostalgia, and pride defined last week's Leadership Huntington tourism session. The day began with childhood fun at Camden Park, where participants heard from Jack Boylin, Managing Director and third-generation family member, who shared the park’s rich history before everyone enjoyed classic rides like The Whip, the Haunted House, and The Big Dipper—plus a few funnel cakes and famous Pronto Pups!

Next, Sarah Harmon, Director of Marketing & Consumer Insights with West Virginia Tourism, discussed how data analytics shape leadership in tourism marketing and highlighted the industry’s record-breaking impact: $6.6 billion in visitor spending in 2024, generating $9.1 billion in total economic impact, supporting 61,000 jobs, and reducing the average household tax burden by $859.

Nathan Lemon and Ashley Draper shared exciting updates from the Huntington Tri-State Airport, while Anna Adkins of the Huntington Area CVB and Brandi Beasley of the Village of Barboursville CVB discussed how local CVBs drive visitors to our communities.

After lunch from Twelvepole Trading Post at Heritage Farm, the group heard from Dave Lieving, President & CEO of the Huntington Area Development Council (HADCO), about tourism’s role in regional economic growth. Audy Perry, Executive Director of Heritage Farm, closed out the session with a conversation on problem-solving, innovation, and community collaboration—followed by hands-on team-building activities.

It was an inspiring day celebrating the people, places, and partnerships that make our region a destination we’re proud to call home. Special thanks to presenting sponsor Marshall Health Network, session sponsors Huntington Tri-State Airport and HADCO, and lunch sponsors Huntington Area CVB and Village of Barboursville CVB for making this day possible!

Chamber Business Blog Spotlights Sandy’s Racing and Gaming

The Chamber’s Business Blog is shining a spotlight on Sandy’s Racing and Gaming in its latest feature!

Learn how this dynamic entertainment destination sets itself apart through unmatched hospitality, exciting gaming experiences and a commitment to creating a welcoming atmosphere for all guests.

Read more to discover how Sandy’s continues to grow as a regional leader in fun, food and nightlife.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Get ready for an exciting evening of networking and fun at our November Business After Hours, hosted by Sandy’s Racing & Gaming in Ashland, Kentucky! Enjoy a vibrant atmosphere, connect with fellow Chamber members, and explore everything this premier entertainment destination has to offer!

Date: Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025
Time: 5 - 7 p.m.

Location: Sandy's Racing & Gaming | 10775 US-60, Ashland, Kentucky 41102

While you’re here for the event, don’t miss your chance to enjoy Free Play at Sandy’s!

• New visitors can sign up for a FREE Source Rewards Card and play the New Member Spin and Win game for a chance to win $5–$1,000 in Free Play.
• November birthdays receive $10 in Free Play just for celebrating this month!
• Current members can bring a friend to sign up and earn up to $100 in Free Play.
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Be sure to bring a valid, government-issued ID and stop by Player Services to get started!

Attendees are also encouraged to bring non-perishable food items for Facing Hunger Foodbank.

Needed items include: Canned fruits (with pop tops), canned vegetables (with pop tops), Canned or shelf stable packages of meats (chicken, tuna, salmon), canned soups (with pop tops), chili, rice, pasta, tomato pasta sauce, boxed helper meals, peanut butter, dry beans (pinto, navy), dry cereals, instant oatmeal, pop top ravioli/nutritious soups, single serving mac and cheese, single serving fruit/vegetable cups, single serving cereal, Hormel "Compleats" shelf stable entrees, single serving gummy fruit snacks, instant hot cocoa mix, single serving cups of peanut butter

You're Invited: Celebrate Paris Signs with a Ribbon Cutting

The Huntington Regional Chamber of Commerce invites community leaders to congratulate Paris Signs on an exciting new chapter in its continued growth.

Founded in 1991, Paris Signs has grown from a small local shop into a full-service manufacturing and creative production company serving clients across the Tri-State and beyond. The company recently relocated from its longtime facility on 5th Street Road to a new 58,000-square-foot headquarters at 4109 Ohio River Road in Huntington—nearly four times the size of its previous location.

This expansion will allow Paris Signs to enhance production capabilities, invest in new technology, and continue providing the high-quality signage and creative branding it’s known for. Paris Signs now proudly employs more than 40 talented team members, contributing to the region’s economic growth and creative industry. The Chamber is proud to celebrate this milestone and the company’s ongoing commitment to innovation, craftsmanship, and community.

Date: Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025

Location: 4109 Ohio River Rd, Huntington, WV 25702

Time: 10 a.m.

Small Business Leaders Encouraged to Attend First Small Business Roundtable Meeting

The Huntington Regional Chamber of Commerce has announced the launch of its new Small Business Roundtable, a collaborative forum designed to connect, empower and support members of the small business community in Cabell and Wayne counties.

Chaired by Rebecca Thomas, owner of True Soul Boutique and a graduate of the Leadership Huntington Class of 2025, the roundtable will offer small business leaders a space to share resources, exchange ideas and find strength in community.

For its first meeting, Phoebe Patton Randolph, President of Edward Tucker Architects, will present an overview of the Huntington Downtown streetscape project currently in design.

The City of Huntington, in partnership with KYOVA Interstate Planning Commission, and the West Virginia Department of Transportation, Division of Highways are developing plans to revitalize the streetscapes within the central business district in Downtown Huntington, West Virginia.

The project includes improvements within the public right of way including enhanced safety and accessibility, increased parking, the introduction of wayfinding signage and historical markers, as well as West Virginia’s first “Shared Street” along 9 ^th  Steet between 3 ^rd  and 4 ^th  Avenues, designed with the flexibility to be closed to vehicles for events and festivals. The project will improve ten blocks of downtown streets, including portions of 8th, 9th and 10th Streets and 3rd Avenue. The City is completing full construction documents for these areas and will create a phased approach for implementation, with the first phase going into construction in Fall of 2026.

Following the presentation, attendees will engage in a roundtable discussion followed by a walking tour of downtown Huntington. Space is limited to 50 registrants for this free event.

For more details, visit huntingtonchamber.org

The Women’s Impact Network and Huntington Young Professionals Invites Members to a Holiday Celebration

Are you a Huntington Young Professional (HYP) or Women's Impact Network (WIN) member? The Women’s Impact Network and Huntington Young Professionals invite you to their joint Holiday Celebration on Tuesday, Dec. 3, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Christopher Eats, 3565 U.S. 60, Huntington.

Join fellow professionals for an evening of festive networking, great food and seasonal cheer as we celebrate another successful year of connection and collaboration.

This casual, come-and-go gathering is the perfect opportunity to relax, reflect and toast to the holiday season with friends, colleagues and new faces from across the business community.

All Chamber members under 40 are encouraged to join these committees. If you're interested in joining, please contact HYP Chair Julian Pecora at Julian.Pecora@dinsmore.com and WIN Chair Pagett Kirtley at Pagett.Kirtley@mhnetwork.org to learn more.

Business Birthday: True Soul Boutique Turns 5

🎉 The Huntington Regional Chamber invites community leaders to celebrate True Soul Boutique’s 5th anniversary. For half a decade, this beloved local shop has brought style, confidence, and community spirit to Huntington.

Stop by to congratulate the team, shop your favorite looks, and help us toast to five fabulous years of fashion and friendship.

Here’s to many more years of local success and soulful style!

Date: Friday, Dec. 5, 2025

Location: 905 4th Ave., Huntington, WV 25701

Time: 11 a.m.

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.

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.

The Huntington Regional Chamber of Commerce invites members to submit nominations for our State of the Chamber Annual Meeting & Awards Ceremony, recognizing outstanding individuals, businesses, and organizations that are shaping the future of our region. Help us celebrate the leaders and innovators who make our community stronger. Self-nominations are accepted. Please submit your nominations by Friday, Nov. 28, 2025.

MEMBER NEWS

Order Austin's Thanksgiving Ice Cream Pies Today!

Marshall University’s June Harless Center announces the 2nd annual Rockin’ for Reading Holly Dolly Benefit Concert and Public Art Celebration, supporting Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library! Rock out with live music and create art with us while supporting childhood literacy! 

Secure your sponsorship by November 13th using our official Sponsorship Form

Event Details:

📍 Black Sheep Burrito & Brews, 702 Quarrier St., Charleston, WV

📅 Sunday, November 30th

⏰ 4:00 PM – 6:30 PM

🎫 Each ticket purchase includes a buffet and sponsors one child’s Imagination Library enrollment for a year!

This family-friendly evening will feature:

🎶 Live music performances 

🍽️ A delicious buffet included with admission

🎨 A Public Art project in the Kids Zone, creating books and butterflies for a “Holly Dolly” wreath—an art installation sponsored by Mayor Goodwin on behalf of the City of Charleston

🏆 Silent Auction and Raffle featuring amazing local items and events

🌲 A festive stroll through Holly Jolly Brawley, featuring over 100 decorated trees

Your sponsorship helps sustain Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in our region.

Research shows that children enrolled in DPIL enter kindergarten better prepared and outperform their peers by 29% in third-grade academic testing. The long-term benefits include higher graduation rates, improved workforce readiness, and even substance use prevention—making this a powerful investment in our community’s future.

West Virginia manufacturers say they need an additional 2,700 full-time workers over the next 12 months and nearly 7,000 over the next three years, according to a new survey conducted by the Marshall University Center for Business & Economic Research (CBER) for the Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center (MAMC).

The majority of respondents indicate that they expect to hire employees across a broad range of manufacturing occupations in the next year, including 1,035 production/operators, 309 laborers/logistics, 251 quality assurance and testing, 241 maintenance technicians, 224 machinists and 222 welders.

To learn more, check out the rest of the article at the link below.

The Huntington Museum of Art has unveiled a new logo designed by West Virginia artist Don Pendleton that is the centerpiece of a new branding campaign. As HMA approaches its 75th anniversary serving the Tri-State community and beyond, it plans to re-emphasize its art, nature and education mission and promote the many ways in which the Huntington Museum of Art serves its community.

“The nationally accredited Huntington Museum of Art will observe its 75th anniversary in November 2027, and we could choose to rest on our laurels and celebrate our past accomplishments, or we can focus on the many ways that we want to serve the Tri-State community as we move forward on our next 75 years,” said HMA Executive Director Elizabeth “Liz” Simmons. “Now through the end of this fiscal year on June 30, 2026, we will complete the process of incorporating the new logo by Don Pendelton into our website, our social media, our advertising and in all the ways that we visually communicate with our supporters.”

Internationally recognized artist Don Pendleton has been a true friend to the Huntington Museum of Art for years and was the natural choice to create the new logo, said HMA Director Emerita Margaret Mary Layne.

“Working with successful West Virginia artist Don Pendleton was the perfect partnership for this project,” Layne said. “Don’s artwork is full of color, movement and vibrancy and matches the enthusiasm of our dedicated HMA staff, Board of Trustees and volunteers as we prepare to observe the milestone of our 75th anniversary and position ourselves to be even more effective in promoting art, nature and education in our second seventy-five years as we have been since our doors opened to the public in November 1952.”

For more information about the Huntington Museum of Art or to become a Museum Member, call (304) 529-2701, visit hmoa.org or follow HMA on Facebook and Instagram. HMA is fully accessible.

Chase Bank Huntington will be hosting two FREE Hybrid Financial Health Workshops, facilitated by Chase’s West Virginia Community Manager, RaShad Sanders. Both workshops are hybrid, so you can join us in person or online. Once you register online you will receive the Zoom Passcode. We look forward to seeing everyone!!

Monday November 17, 2025, at noon – “Ways to Avoid Fraud and Scams” – Click to Register

Tuesday November 18, 2025, at noon – “Budgeting, Savings, and Investing - Click to Register

Make a Difference During Alabama: Live in Concert with The Marshall Tucker Band

An Evening with Lalah Hathaway

Five-time Grammy winner Lalah Hathaway is bringing her powerhouse vocals and genre-defying sound to Huntington for one unforgettable night of music.

From rich R&B grooves to jazz, soul, and funk, Hathaway’s voice is as timeless as it is transcendent — known for its emotional depth, stunning range, and signature three-note chords that have captivated audiences around the world.

Whether you know her from collaborations with legends like Prince and Stevie Wonder or her own chart-topping hits, this is your chance to experience a true icon live on stage.

For tickets, call 304.696.6656 or visit ticketmaster.com.

Toys 4 Tots with Sandy's Racing and Gaming

Save the Date: DTC's 25th Annual Valentine Celebration

25 years… 25 years of celebrating love for Developmental Therapy Center (DTC), showstopping performances, and unforgettable moments. This year’s celebration will be the most special one yet as DTC marks its 25th Annual Valentine Celebration!

Save the date for the Trii-state’s signature Valentine event on Saturday, February 14, 2026, at Willow Ridge Events, located at 6330 US-60, Barboursville, WV 25504. The evening will begin with a VIP Reception at 5:30 p.m., followed by the main festivities at 6:30 p.m. Guests will enjoy a classy Italian dinner, open bar, silent auction, guest games, door prizes, and so much more than your heart could desire.

AND, don’t forget about DTC’s signature Local Celebrity Lip-Sync Battle as community organizations compete for the crown, along with an encore performance by “KISS” brought to life by Brad D. Smith, Barry Burgess, Toney Stroud, and Jimmy Lundy.

DTC’s Valentine Celebration supports the vital therapy services DTC provides to children and adults with disabilities in our community. Admissions will be on sale soon. Stay tuned by visiting dtchuntington.org.

AI Tools Every Small Business Needs — Free Business Academy Webinar for Local Chambers & Members

Join the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce & LG NOVA for Business Academy: AI for Small Business Marketing: Smarter Growth Through Simplicity & Automation 

November 13th at 2 p.m.

Artificial Intelligence is reshaping how small businesses attract, engage, and retain customers. But where should you start - and how can AI actually make your marketing easier?

In this 45-minute session, industry leaders will share how small businesses are using AI tools to save time, boost engagement and stay consistent across channels:

Featuring:

• Robert Waggoner, LG NOVA West Virginia Operations, LG Electronics
• Jeff Curry, Creative Head, Jeff Curry Creative
• Ning Zhang, VP of GTM, OnVibe

By attending, you’ll learn how to:

• Elevate your brand visibility and customer engagement through social media.
• Identify which AI tools make the biggest difference for small business marketing.
• Automate routine marketing tasks to save hours each week.
• Build a clear, affordable marketing strategy that aligns with your growth goals.
• See real-world examples of businesses that grew their audience and sales through content intelligence.

Register now to secure your spot! This event is free, but registration is required.

QuickBooks is Holding Back Growth. Discover When to Upgrade to Leading ERPs

If your team is fighting spreadsheets, bottlenecks, and slow financial reporting, you’re already feeling the limits of QuickBooks.

Join Netranom and our sister company, Third Wave, for a look at how ERP systems can help manufacturing and distribution businesses streamline operations, reduce headaches, and create financial predictability.

What’s an ERP?

An ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system is a single platform that connects your accounting, inventory, production, purchasing, and customer data so your entire operation runs from one source of truth. It replaces scattered spreadsheets, improves forecasting, and gives you real-time visibility as your business grows.

Learn about leading ERPs like NetSuite, Acumatica, SAP Business One, Infor, and more.

Topics Covered:

▪️ Why and how to go from QuickBooks to a full-suite ERP

▪️ Key considerations in your ERP journey

▪️ How to get more out of your system in a day and in a year

Bonus: Attend live for a chance to win a $100 Visa Gift Card!

Date: Wednesday, November 19

Time: 12-12:45 pm EST

Register: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_EdAifOjUS06EVDNUvufzdw

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

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