CHAMBER NEWS

Sandy's Celebrated Two Years!

Sandy’s Racing and Gaming celebrated its 2nd business birthday with a morning full of energy, laughter, and community spirit.

Guests, staff, and Chamber ambassadors came together to reflect on two years of growth and success while enjoying the lively atmosphere and conversation.

Since opening its doors, Sandy’s has become a favorite destination in the Tri-State, not just for gaming, but for the sense of connection and fun it brings to the community. The celebration was a heartfelt reminder of how far they’ve come and the exciting road still ahead.

📸 Click here for more photos!

The Huntington Regional Chamber of Commerce’s latest Business After Hours event was a success, bringing members together for an evening of networking, creativity, and community at the Huntington Children’s Museum.

Attendees explored the museum’s interactive exhibits while enjoying refreshments, lively conversation, and the opportunity to connect with fellow business and community leaders in a fun, relaxed atmosphere.

The event highlighted the Chamber’s commitment to fostering relationships and supporting local initiatives that strengthen the region. The Huntington Children’s Museum provided the perfect backdrop, a place built on imagination and collaboration, reflecting the same values that drive the Chamber and its members forward.

The evening served as a reminder that when local businesses and organizations come together, great things can happen for the entire community.

📸 Check out more photos on the Chamber's Facebook

The Huntington Regional Chamber of Commerce team attended the 2025 Women Warriors Summit, where we explored the theme of “The Power to Pivot”—learning how adaptability fuels success in both personal and professional growth.

The event was highlighted by powerful keynote conversations from renowned journalists Hoda Kotb and Soledad O’Brien, whose stories of resilience and reinvention inspired all in attendance. 


The Chamber team was grateful to have the opportunity to volunteer and attend such a beautifully executed event.

Now Hiring: Join the Chamber Team as our New Director of Marketing

We’re excited to share the Huntington Regional Chamber of Commerce is hiring! We're currently looking for a dynamic, detail-oriented professional to join our team as a full-time Director of Marketing.

The Director of Marketing will lead the Chamber’s marketing and communications efforts to elevate the organization’s visibility, promote programs and events, and engage members and the broader business community. This role combines strategic thinking with creative execution, ensuring that the Chamber’s brand, messaging, and initiatives resonate with diverse audiences. If you or someone you know would be a great fit, we’d love to hear from you!

Applicants are asked to send a cover letter and resume to Megan Archer at megan@huntingtonchamber.org. Please include “Director of Marketing Application” with your name in the subject line. Additional materials may be included such as a portfolio of work and/or references. No phone calls, please. Applications must be submitted by Friday, October 31, 2025, to be considered.

Thank you for helping us spread the word—and for supporting the Chamber’s continued growth and impact.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Limited Spots Available for October Lunch and Learn

The Chamber’s October Lunch and Learn, led by Ryan Mayo, PMP, Vice President of Neighborgall Construction, brings expertise in guiding organizations through successful project outcomes by combining practical experience with proven strategies.

As a Project Management Professional, Mayo will present an in-depth session covering the essentials of project management, including how to define a project, the role of a project manager, and the measurable benefits of effective project management.

The presentation will walk attendees through the process of initiating and documenting a project, explore a variety of project delivery methodologies, and highlight the key skills every project manager needs to succeed.

The event will conclude with an engaging Q&A session, offering participants the opportunity to apply these concepts directly to their own professional challenges.

Attendees will receive a boxed lunch from Buddy’s BBQ.

Date: Wednesday, October 29, 2025

Time: 12 p.m.

Location: 703 7th Ave, Huntington, WV 25701

Friendly Reminder: Attendees who do not pre-register may not receive a lunch. Those who pre-register, but do not attend without canceling, will be invoiced $15 for the cost of lunch.



Nonprofit Roundtable Grants 101 Workshop:

Register by Nov. 7

Date / Time: Wednesday, November 12, 2025 | 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Location: Marshall University, Memorial Student Center, Room BE-5, 1 John Marshall Dr., Huntington, WV

Calling all Grant Writers: Are you a nonprofit leader who is ready to take the next steps in your grant writing journey? On Wednesday, November 12, 2025, the Huntington Regional Chamber of Commerce Nonprofit Roundtable will host the West Virginia Grant Resource Centers for a free Grants 101 Workshop! This comprehensive workshop, developed and led by the Grant Centers’ staff, will guide participants through each critical step of the pre-award process, including: 

✅ Seeking & finding grants

✅ Drafting strong proposals

✅ Building & maximizing community partnerships

✅ Developing a budget & budget narratives

✅ Identifying matching funds

✅ Thinking like a reviewer

✅ Getting submission ready

Please Note: This workshop is a FREE resource, but registration is required by Friday, November 7, 2025.  (If applicable) Seats for this event are limited and will be reserved in the order they were received. 

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, November 13
Time: 5 - 7 p.m.

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

You're Invited: November Lunch and Learn with Toney Stroud

Join us for a special Lunch & Learn as Toney Stroud, Chief Legal Officer and VP of Strategic Initiatives and Corporate Relations at Marshall University, shares the latest updates on the exciting developments at the new IDEA District.

Learn how this transformative project is driving innovation, partnerships, and economic growth in our community, and what it means for local businesses and residents.

Date: Wednesday, November 19, 2025

Time: 12 p.m.

Location: 1425 4th Ave, Huntington, WV 25701 (Room 113)

Friendly Reminder: Attendees who do not pre-register may not receive a lunch. Those who pre-register, but do not attend without canceling, will be invoiced $15 for the cost of lunch.

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

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.

MEMBER NEWS

HMA to Offer Conservatory Tasting Tour with a “Seeds of Soul Food” Theme

The Huntington Museum of Art will offer a “Seeds of Soul Food” tasting tour of the C. Fred Edwards Conservatory on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, from 6 to 8 p.m. as part of its 4th Tuesday Tour Series. Admission to this event is free.

This program is presented in conjunction with the exhibit titled Joyful Spirits: Haitian Art from The Winslow Anderson Collection, which continues on view at HMA through Feb. 8, 2026.

During the tour, guests will be able to sample foods that are produced by plants that are culturally important to Haiti and represented in the C. Fred Edwards Conservatory. Tasting Tour Stations for this event will include sugar cane candy, fried plantain, akra fritters, mango, and roselle. The event includes catered food samples from Soul Food Café and Nomada Bakery.

“Our ‘Seeds of Soul Food’ theme was inspired by the colorful works on view in ‘Joyful Spirits’ and invites visitors to sample some of the tropical flavors found in Afro-Caribbean cuisine,” said HMA Conservatory Director Josh Hamrick. “The title ‘Seeds of Soul Food’ references the seeds some enslaved people braided into their hair as an act of hope and resistance before the notorious Middle Passage across the Atlantic. The comfort of soul food was born out of hope and joy in the face of great atrocity. We invite you to take in ‘Joyful Spirits’ where community and resilience are common themes of the displayed works, enjoy tasty bites, and celebrate what community means to you.”

The event will include a free children’s art activity in the Education Gallery.

HMA offers free general admission on Tuesdays. Hours on Tuesday are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Joyful Spirits: Haitian Art from The Winslow Anderson Collection is presented with support from The Winslow Anderson Endowment and supported with financial assistance from the West Virginia Department of Tourism and the National Endowment for the Arts, with approval from the West Virginia Commission on the Arts.



For more information on HMA exhibits, events or Museum membership, visit hmoa.org or call (304) 529-2701. HMA is fully accessible.

IgniteWV is hosted by the West Virginia University John Chambers College of Business and Economics Encova Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

IgniteWV is open to those 18 and older in the state of West Virginia. The goal is to provide budding entrepreneurs with the education, skills, contacts, and motivation necessary to create a viable start-up, or grow an existing company in West Virginia.



Unlike traditional pitch competitions, IgniteWV will offer a four-month program with specialized training, coaching, and resources. Finalists will receive cost-free support from subject matter experts. Coaching will be customized based on need. In collaboration with a local support organization, we will determine specialized training and make industry connections based on business concepts.

✨ What’s at stake: $100,000 in cash prizes

👥 Who can apply: Anyone 18+ with a business idea or pre-revenue venture in West Virginia

🎥 How to enter: Submit a 90-second YouTube video

📅 Deadline: Round 1 entries due by January 21, 2026, at noon

🔗 Details & application: www.IgniteWV.com

Glenn’s Sporting Goods to Honor the 75 with Memorial Game Partnership

Glenn’s Sporting Goods is honored to once again partner with the MU 75 Family Alumni Chapter and Marshall University Athletics for this year’s Memorial Game.

This collaboration holds a special place in our hearts as we remember the 75.

This year, everyone will have the opportunity to wear the same memorial shirt design as the athletic staff on the field — a shared symbol of remembrance, unity, and Marshall pride.  



Glenn's invites the community to join us in the t-shirt design launch on Tuesday, October 28^th at 9:30 a.m. Short sleeve t-shirts, long sleeve t-shirts, hoodies and crewnecks will be available to buy in store on Tuesday.

BDY to Host Botox and Bubbles Event

Join us Saturday, November 8th at 10 a.m. for an exclusive feel-good morning with BDY & Dr. Amy Vaughan at the Huntington studio.

You are cordially invited to our upcoming Botox & Bubbles event- the perfect blend of fitness, fun and self-care.

Details:

✨ 10 a.m. - 25 minute Mat Pilates class to get your body moving

🥂 Bubbles & time to relax w/ friends

💉 Botox with Dr. Amy Vaughan at just $10/ uni

✨ Complimentary filler & laser consultation w/ discount

Whether you’re new to these treatments or a pro, this event is the perfect chance to unwind, relax and leave feeling fabulous! Swipe left to learn more about your physician and OG BDY client, Dr. Amy Vaughan.

Investment: $20



Sign up on their website!

Community Trust Bank Announces Jimmy D. Fitzwater Promoted to Advantage Valley Market President

Mark A. Gooch, Chairman, President and CEO of Community Trust Bancorp, Inc., is pleased to announce that Jimmy D. Fitzwater has been promoted to the position of Advantage Valley Market President of Community Trust Bank, Inc.

Mr. Fitzwater’s responsibilities include providing consumer, residential, and commercial lending options to new and existing clients, as well as offering a variety of financial solutions to individuals and businesses including the acceptance of time and demand deposits, providing cash management services to corporate and individual customers; issuing letters of credit; renting safe deposit boxes, and providing electronic banking and funds transfer services. The Advantage Valley Market is comprised of the West Virginia counties of Cabell, Lincoln and Wayne with offices in Huntington, Alum Creek, Hamlin and Fort Gay. His office is located at 952 Third Avenue in Huntington, West Virginia.

Mr. Fitzwater has over 41 years of business and commercial banking experience. He has worked as a commercial loan officer at Community Trust Bank since 2019. He graduated from Glenville State University in Glenville, West Virginia where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration. He also graduated from the University of South Carolina Bankers School in Columbia, South Carolina.

Mr. Fitzwater is a nominee for the Board of Directors for the Huntington Regional Chamber of Commerce. He is a past Board Chair and current Board member and Treasurer of Goodwill Industries of KYOWVA, Inc. He is a past board member of the Huntington Area Development Council and of the Glenville State College Foundation. He is a member and Deacon/Trustee of the Fellowship Baptist Church in Barboursville, West Virginia. He and his wife Melony reside in Culloden, West Virginia.

“Jimmy brings with him a wealth of experience in both retail business banking and lending, along with deep roots in West Virginia,” said Mr. Gooch. “We look forward to continued success in the many counties we serve as we strive to offer our customers exemplary customer service for their financial needs.”



Community Trust Bancorp, Inc., with assets of $6.6 billion, is headquartered in Pikeville, Kentucky and has 72 banking locations across eastern, northeastern, central, and south central Kentucky, six banking locations in southern West Virginia, three banking locations in Tennessee, four trust offices across Kentucky, and one trust office in Tennessee.

Dave and Buster's Spooky Event Line-Up

Dave & Buster’s in Barboursville is celebrating Halloween all week long with a lineup of festive events for all ages! From the Monster Maul Trunk-or-Treat on October 28 to the D&B Haunted Hall by Fear on the Farm on October 29, the fun continues through the Dave & Boo-ster’s Moonlight Madness on October 30 and the Boo Bash on October 31.

Stop by 500 Mall Road for games, treats, and spooky surprises throughout the week. Visit daveandbusters.com/barboursville for full event details. 👻🎃

Javier Zamora in Conversation at Marshall University

New York Times Best-selling author, acclaimed poet and memoirist Javier Zamora is coming to Marshall University for an inspiring evening as part of the MAS Masters Distinguished Speakers Series.

Join the Marshall Artists Series for a powerful event as Zamora shares his story of immigration, resilience, and identity through the lens of his bestselling memoir Solito and his celebrated poetry. His work offers a deeply human perspective on the immigrant experience, hope, and belonging.

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from one of today’s most compelling literary voices. Seats are limited so reserve yours now and be part of this unforgettable evening.

When: Thursday, November 6

Time: 7:30 PM

Where: Joan C. Edwards Performing Arts Center

For tickets, call 304.696.6656 or visit ticketmaster.com.

FINAL TICKETS: All Aboard – Jackpot Junction

Jackpot Junction | Saturday, November 1 | Willow Ridge Events

Seats are limited and moving fast. All Aboard: Jackpot Junction powers therapy services for local children and families through Developmental Therapy Center.

Expect a high-energy evening with Vegas-style games (blackjack-style tables, roulette, and more), Jail & Bail, open bar, VIP reception, silent auction, dinner by Sandy’s Gaming & Racing, desserts by Starvin’ Arvin’s, and a powerhouse performance by the Nashville All Stars. Attire is Halloween costume or fall casual.

Your ticket helps reduce waitlists, add treatment hours, and fund adaptive equipment for families who need it most. Do not let the train leave the station without you—buy today.

Date: Saturday, November 1 • Doors 6:30 PM Location: Willow Ridge Events

Tickets: https://dtchuntington.org/all-aboard-2025/

Reserve your spot before the last car leaves the station.

Sandy's Racing & Gaming's Halloween Weekend

Celebrate Halloween at Sandy’s on Thursday, Oct. 31, with a costume contest, themed drinks, and live music.

The fun continues on Friday, Nov. 1, with more festive cocktails and live entertainment—don’t miss out on this thrilling weekend of Halloween fun!

This program provides small business owners with essential tools to grow and scale their companies through online and in-person classes. Participants will learn from top experts and gain insights on accessing financial capital while networking with other business leaders.

Qualified participants must have a minimum annual revenue of $75,000, two years of operation, and at least two employees.

In Case You Missed It:

Last year, the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce Foundation and Goldman Sachs Foundation hosted a webinar on the 10,000 Small Businesses program, which offers free business training. You can watch the recording to learn about the program's details, outcomes and application process by clicking below.

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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