In the KNOW!

August 3, 2026

Helping You Grow Your Business Starts with Listening

One of the things I've learned from visiting with business owners over the past year is that everyone wants to continue learning. The challenge isn't finding valuable topics. It's finding the time to step away from the office to attend.

As business leaders, we're all balancing full calendars, customer needs, employee responsibilities, meetings, and the unexpected challenges that come with running a business. I understand that your time is one of your most valuable resources.

That's why we're exploring new ways to provide educational opportunities that are practical, relevant, and worth your time.

Whether it's leadership development, marketing strategies, workforce trends, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, financial planning, human resources, or legal updates, our goal is to bring subject matter experts and timely information directly to our members. We want to create learning opportunities that help you grow your business, strengthen your team, and stay ahead in today's changing business environment.

But before we begin adding more educational programming to our calendar, I want to hear from you.

One of the biggest questions we have is simple:

When are you most likely to attend?

Would it be easier to join us for a morning session from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. before the workday gets too busy? Or would a 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. lunch-and-learn fit better into your schedule?

Rather than guessing, we'd like to build a program around our members' preferences.

We want to continue evolving to meet the needs of today's business community. That means offering more opportunities to connect, more opportunities to learn, and more opportunities to help your business succeed.

Whether you're a longtime member or you're just getting to know the Chamber, your input matters. We want to create programs that are valuable enough that you'll leave every session with at least one idea you can put into practice that same day.

Would you take just 10 seconds to complete the two-question poll below? Your feedback will help us determine the best time to offer these programs and shape future educational opportunities for our business community.

Thank you for helping us build a stronger Chamber and a stronger business community. We can't wait to learn alongside you.

~Daniel

Help Shape Our Learning Series

We're planning additional educational opportunities for our members and need your input. Please complete our two-question poll.

Take Our 2 Question Poll

WELCOME NEW BOARD MEMBER

Shawnee Forward is pleased to welcome Aaron Williams with Indaco Metals to our Board of Directors. Aaron will help represent the voice and perspective of our local manufacturing sector, an important part of Shawnee and Pottawatomie County’s economy.

We appreciate Aaron’s willingness to serve and look forward to the experience, insight, and leadership he will bring to the board as we continue supporting our manufacturers and strengthening the regional business community.

UPCOMING SHAWNEE FORWARD EVENTS

Your network grows when you show up. Social Exchange gives you two chances each month to connect with fellow Chamber members, share what you do, and build relationships that actually matter.

To make networking easier to fit into your schedule, we offer both before-hours and after-hours Social Exchange options each month, so you can choose the time that works best for you.

Free for Chamber Members!

Next Before Hours | August 6th 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM

Join us on August 6th for our next before-hours Social Exchange from 8:00–9:30 AM, hosted by Community Health Centers of Oklahoma.

Let Us Know You Are Coming!

Next After Hours | August 20th 5:00 - 6:30 PM

Join us on August 20th for our next after-hours Social Exchange from 8:00–9:30 AM, hosted by Astro Panda Studios

Let Us Know You Are Coming!

RIBBON CUTTINGS

Leadership Shawnee Applications Open

Applications are now open for Leadership Shawnee Class #40!

Leadership Shawnee is a leadership development program designed to provide community leaders with a deeper understanding of the critical issues affecting the greater Shawnee area. The program is based on the belief that knowledge of the community and accompanying areas of need are the prime motivators of leadership.

We are proud to recognize Sovereign Bank as the Presenting Sponsor of Leadership Shawnee Class #40 and are grateful for their investment in developing the next generation of community leaders.

“Leadership Shawnee gave me a deeper appreciation for the people, organizations, and industries that make our community thrive. It challenged me to think differently about my own role in Shawnee and reminded me that community leadership is something each of us can practice through engagement, service, and a commitment to helping our community grow.”

— Stacy Beach, Leadership Shawnee Class #39

Learn More and Apply

NEW MEMBERS

Please join us in welcoming our newest Shawnee Forward Chamber of Commerce members. Click their logo to learn more about their business or organization and find opportunities to connect and support them in our community.

Membership Directory

To learn more about all of our members, visit the Membership Directory on our website or click the button below.

BUSINESS RESOURCES

MEMBER EVENTS

Click on each image to learn more.

Want Your Event in Our Newsletter?

If you're a Shawnee Forward member and have an upcoming event you'd like to share, we’d love to help spread the word! Please email your flyer to Daniel or Crystal at least two weeks before the event, and we’ll include it in the two newsletters leading up to your big day. It’s a great way to get your event in front of the community. Don’t miss out on this member benefit!

Miss a Newsletter?

If you missed a recent newsletter, you can catch up anytime by viewing the archives on our website here.

Shawnee Forward | 405-273-6092