CHAMBER NEWS

Huntington was well represented at the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce’s 90th Annual Meeting & Business Summit at The Greenbrier last week.

Huntington Regional Chamber President & CEO Megan Archer moderated “The Power of We,” featuring Marshall Health Network President & CEO Scott Raynes, Marshall University President Brad D. Smith and Huntington Mayor Patrick Farrell.

The conversation showcased the progress happening in Huntington and the power of collaboration among community leaders and organizations to create new opportunities and build a stronger future for our region. A recording of the entire Business Summit can be viewed on the WV Chamber's YouTube Channel. Click below to watch Day 1 of the Summit, with "The Power of We" panel beginning at 2:47:00.

The Huntington Regional Chamber of Commerce has introduced an exclusive Member Benefits Package powered by Allutional, delivering robust protection and savings for local businesses, employees, and families. For just $39.95 per month—a savings of over $200 monthly—the plan covers up to eight household members (the primary cardholder, spouse, and up to six dependents) with comprehensive Health Sense coverage, including $0-copay 24/7 telehealth with mental health support, AD&D insurance, and prescription discounts. Small business owners also gain high-value Business Sense protections, such as dark web cyber monitoring, data breach response plans, private VPN access for up to 10 devices, daily credit and identity monitoring, legal consultations, and cell phone coverage up to $600. It stands as a complete all-in-one resource designed to support financial wellness, digital security, and family health for Chamber members.

CHAMBER EVENTS

If you haven't registered yet, don't miss your chance to join us for a totally rad evening of networking fun and all things '80s at the 2026 Business Expo, presented by CJ Hughes. Grab your tickets, and get ready to rewind to the decade of big hair, bold colors and even bigger business connections!

And in case you missed it, all attendees will have the chance to win a Carnival or Princess Cruise made possible by Sandy's Racing & Gaming, along with experiences and gift cards to all of your local favorites. We can't wait to see you there!

📅 Thursday, September 24

⏰ 5–8 p.m.

📍 Marshall Health Network Arena Convention Center

Join the Huntington Regional Chamber of Commerce as we celebrate the grand opening of We Rock the Spectrum Huntington!



We Rock the Spectrum is a sensory gym built for all kids but especially designed to be a safe space for families of children with special needs. The gym exists so children can run, jump, spin, crash, and explore, with sensory rooms available to escape the gym floor if/when needed or desired. We strive to be a safe place for children with all abilities

All community members are invited to the We Rock the Spectrum Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16, and celebrate this incredible team and their mission!

Join the Huntington Regional Chamber of Commerce as we celebrate the ribbon-cutting of A-List Artistry at 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 17, at their Huntington location.



Designed as a premier, all-in-one beauty destination, A-List Artistry brings together a powerhouse team of beauty professionals, including skilled nail technicians, an expert braider, a licensed esthetician, and a custom spray tan artist, dedicated to delivering top-tier, personalized service.

Come out, book your next self-care appointment, and celebrate A-List Artistry!

Join us for an engaging Small Business Roundtable discussion, powered by Huntington National Bank, designed to help small business owners build confidence in managing their business finances and making informed financial decisions. Led by Huntington Bank’s John Bauer, Regional Banker, the conversation will feature insights from Branch Managers, Chris Aluise and DesaRae McKee.

The discussion will cover practical financial management strategies and resources available to small business owners, including loans, lines of credit, investment opportunities, cash flow management, and other tools to support business growth. Panelists will share insights and tips to help entrepreneurs better understand their financial options, strengthen their financial knowledge, and feel more confident navigating the financial side of their business.

Whether you're just getting started or looking to take your established business to the next level, this conversation will provide practical information and actionable insights to help you make smarter financial decisions and plan for continued success. Light bites and refreshments will be provided by Nomada Bakery.

Following this event, we encourage attendees to stop by BDY Studios' annual Wild, Wonderful and Well event held in Heritage Station.

Join the Huntington Regional Chamber of Commerce as we celebrate the ribbon cutting of Studio 301's new Huntington location!

Studio 301 is a welcoming, beginner-friendly dance studio serving children, teens, and adults throughout the Tri-State area. Founded in 2020 by Kenzie Buchanan, Studio 301 offers recreational and advanced dance education, performance opportunities, competition programs, dance team preparation, & MOVEZ classes designed for adults. With a focus on confidence, creativity, age-appropriate instruction, and strong technique, Studio 301 strives to make dance accessible & enjoyable for every family.

Studio 301 is also proud to be affiliated with More Than Just Great Dancing®, an international community of dance studios committed to making a positive impact through dance.

As Studio 301 begins an exciting new chapter in Huntington, the team looks forward to continuing to grow, serve local families, and create a space where every dancer can learn, connect, and truly “Find Your Dance Space.” All are invited to attend and help celebrate Studio 301 with their new venture!

MEMBER NEWS

The Dollywood Foundation and the Marshall University June Harless Center remains steadfast in our commitment to carry forward Dolly’s light and vision through her award-winning and impactful Imagination Library child literacy program.

We are grateful our community partners who help perpetuate programming and ensure that Dolly‘s gift of books & the joy of reading continues to reach children & families for generations to come. Click below to donate to Dolly Parton's Imagination Library and all the children it serves.

The Huntington Museum of Art has announced its schedule of Fall 2026 classes in ceramics, painting, drawing, bookmaking, and printmaking on its website with the goal to begin class registration on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at 10 a.m.

“Class sizes are limited, so we encourage class participants to register as soon as possible, beginning September 9 at 10 a.m. to ensure that they can secure a spot,” said Cindy Dearborn, HMA Director of Education. “Also, we will continue to offer Saturday KidsArt, which is our free weekly art activity for children in kindergarten through fifth grade. HMA is able to offer Saturday KidsArt free of charge because of the generous sponsorship of Hoops Family Children’s Hospital.”

There is no need to register for Saturday KidsArt, which takes place on Saturdays from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday KidsArt is led by Kaitlin Donnally and Charity Baker.

We are getting closer to one of DTC’s most fun nights of the year! The 2026 Martini Crawl is this Friday, September 11, and tickets are going fast!

If you have been thinking about joining us, now is the time to grab your ticket, gather your friends, and make plans for a great night in downtown Huntington. With stops at LaFontaine’s, The Jockey Club, SIP, and HÜCK Food & Spirits, followed by an after-party at HÜCK featuring Souls of the Wounded, there will be plenty of fun from beginning to end.

Every ticket helps support the children, adults, and families served by Developmental Therapy Center, so invite your friends and join us for a night of fun for a great cause!

$60,000 Triple 7’s Progressive Jackpot – Every Friday and Saturday in September from 7pm-11:30pm, every 30 minutes a player will be selected to win $777 cash. If a player is not present to claim their prize, the $777 rolls over to the 11:30pm drawing where one winner could win up to $7,770.



Entries will be earned each week from Sunday to Saturday at 11:59pm. Entries will reset every Sunday at Midnight. Every 25 points earned equals 1 entry, with 10X entries every Sunday. Must be a source rewards member and be present to win.

Friday, September 11 at 7:00 PM – The Rocky Horror Picture Show

We’re bringing The Rocky Horror Picture Show back to the big screen at Foundry! Tickets are $10.

Saturday, September 12 at 6:00 PM – Baby Doe Film Screening

We’ll be screening Baby Doe, a powerful documentary from director Jessica Earnshaw (Jacinta). The film explores the extraordinary true story of Gail Ritchey and raises questions surrounding women’s health, justice, religion, and societal pressures. Tickets are $10.

Both events will take place at Foundry Theater, located in the Jean Carlo Stephenson Auditorium on the top floor of Huntington City Hall.

Bring some fall color home while supporting a great cause! Hospice of Huntington’s Annual Mum Sale will be held September 11 from 9 a.m.–4 p.m. at Community of Grace UMC in Huntington (225 28^th St). Mums and asters are $10, flats of pansies and violas are $20, and ornamental cabbage and kale are $6. Pre-order online through September 8 for convenient pickup or delivery. Delivery is available within Huntington city limits on orders of $40 or more for a $5 fee. All proceeds benefit Hospice of Huntington.

The Huntington Regional Chamber of Commerce and Marshall University Football are thrilled to invite you to an exclusive experience!

Join fellow Chamber members for an exhilarating day of college football at Joan C. Edwards Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. Come together to support the Thundering Herd, connect with your community, and immerse yourself in the unparalleled energy of game day. Don't miss this opportunity to celebrate community spirit and Marshall pride!

Desk fatigue, neck tension, and lower back stiffness are some of the leading causes of lost focus and workday discomfort. Mountain State Movement is helping local Huntington businesses keep their teams moving and feeling their best!

Dr. Spencer Wilson is offering On-Site Office Ergonomic & Movement Audits for local businesses. We’ll visit your workplace, evaluate desk and workstation setups, and provide practical, immediate adjustments to reduce strain—plus quick 60-second mobility resets your team can do in the workday.



• What’s Included: Workstation layout reviews, posture and setup guidance, and simple daily movement strategies to prevent repetitive strain injuries.
• Why It Matters: Keeps your team healthy, comfortable, and energized while lowering workplace injury risks.
• How to Schedule: Spots are open for local Huntington businesses. Reach out to schedule a visit for your office!

Huntington Children’s Museum is inviting children, grandparents and grownups of all ages to step back in time during Back in My Day: Grandparents Weekend, September 11–13.

Throughout the weekend, families will encounter vintage and obsolete technology stationed around the Museum, giving children a chance to discover objects that were once part of everyday life while encouraging grownups to share their own memories and experiences.

The weekend is designed to celebrate Grandparents Day while welcoming all families and generations to participate. Children do not need to attend with a grandparent to enjoy the event.

Back in My Day: Grandparents Weekend will take place Friday, September 11 through Sunday, September 13, from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. each day at Huntington Children’s Museum, 1700 Washington Avenue in Huntington. Admission is free for all guests throughout the weekend.

You may not be thinking about your business's next chapter yet. That's exactly why now is the time to start planning for it.The highest-value businesses aren't built in the months before an owner exits- they're built over years of intentional leadership and smart decision-making.

Hosted by Marshall University's Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (iCenter), the Business Value Builders Summit Presented by Edward Jones is designed to help business owners increase business value, strengthen leadership, and prepare for whatever comes next.

When:

Thursday, September 17 | 12:00–5:00 p.m.

Where:

Dutch Miller Deck at Joan C. Edwards Stadium

Are you a small business leader? Reach out to the Chamber about a special discount exclusive to our Roundtable members!

Health experts from across Marshall Health Network will come together for Senior Wellness Day, offering adults ages 55 and older convenient access to preventive screenings, flu shots and wellness resources. The event will be held Saturday, Sept. 19, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the shared atrium at Marshall University Medical Center and Cabell Huntington Hospital, 1600 Medical Center Drive in Huntington.

Flu shots will be offered as well as a variety of screenings and assessments, including blood pressure, blood sugar, lung health, vision, hearing, cancer screenings and pre-screenings, healthy foot checks and more. Senior Wellness Day is part of Cabell Huntington Hospital’s 70th anniversary celebration and continues the hospital’s longstanding commitment to improving the health and well-being of the community.

The event is open to adults ages 55 and older. No registration is required. Attendees are encouraged to bring their insurance cards for flu shots and any other services that may be billed to insurance.

Your day is already out of control before your feet hit the floor. A text needs a reply. The schedule shifted overnight. A kid or a spouse needs something right now, before you've even had coffee. By the time meetings start, life is moving 100 mph and the whole day starts to blur.

Then night comes, and while everyone else in the house is winding down, you're finally sitting with the to do list you made for yourself hours ago. Nobody wakes up one day and decides they're burned out. It creeps in disguised as an ordinary week. Busy. Tired. Just trying to get through it. I know that pattern because I lived it, which is why I built this workshop. A real life reset for overloaded people tired of everything feeling urgent.

Vera Cafe, Huntington, WV

Tuesday, Sept. 22 - 5:30 p.m.

Food provided. Early bird registration is $37 through Sept. 12. 

In honor of the legendary Dolly Parton, the Keith-Albee Performing Arts Center will host a special screening of 9 to 5 on Friday, September 25, at 8 p.m., following the Marshall University Homecoming Parade. The event will serve as a fundraiser for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, with all proceeds benefiting her beloved literacy program. Tickets will go on sale Friday, September 4 at 11 a.m.

All proceeds from the event will support Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of West Virginia,

which provides children from birth to age five with a free, high-quality, age-appropriate book

delivered to their home each month, regardless of family income.

The Marshall University Homecoming Parade will take place on Friday, September 25, 2026. Lineup will begin at 5:00 p.m., and the parade will officially commence at 6:00 p.m. This year's homecoming theme is "'80s Echoes: Come Back Curious," celebrating Grand Marshal Joe Chrest, a 1986 Marshall graduate and star of the hit Netflix series "Stranger Things." Participants are encouraged to incorporate 80s elements to reflect the theme.

All entries are due by September 11, 2026. After submissions close and the lineup is finalized, you will receive a confirmation email with detailed lineup instructions, parade guidelines, and arrival times. Feel free to contact me at holstein79@marshall.edu if you have any questions regarding this year's parade!

Where Confidence Begins: 20 Years of Strength, Style, and Success 

For 20 years, Dress for Success River Cities has empowered women to achieve economic independence by providing professional attire, career development, and a network of support. Now it's time to celebrate this incredible milestone—and we want YOU to be part of it!

• Tuesday, September 29, 2026
• 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
• The Vandalia Crowd House
• 833 3rd Ave Rear

Join us for an unforgettable evening celebrating the women, volunteers, partners, and supporters who have made the last two decades possible. Tickets are on sale now at the button below!

Creative thinkers of all ages can compete in the festival’s annual Design Challenge for a chance to win cash and other prizes. The first-place winner in the Adult Category will receive $2,500, while second place will earn $750 and third place $250. In the Youth Category, the first-place winner will receive $300, followed by $200 for second place and $100 for third.

Presented annually since 2014 by Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center (MAMC), the festival will take place Oct. 2 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Memorial Student Center on the Huntington campus of Marshall University. The free event, which coincides with National Manufacturing Day, celebrates creativity, ingenuity, innovation and making.

The Design Challenge is open to everyone, with participants competing in either the Youth Category for ages 17 and under or the Adult Category for ages 18 and older. There is no entry fee. Participants must register at www.mfg.marshall.edu/26wvmakes then arrange to exhibit their creations at the festival on Oct. 2, the first Friday in October.

Challengers in the 2026 design competition must be set up and ready to meet judges and festival attendees Oct. 2 at 9 a.m., when the festival kicks off.

As you begin preparing your 2027-2028 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.

Thank You to Our Trustee Members

Thank You to Our Investor Members

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