Hopefully, you were able to join us for our first big event of 2023, the Regional Leader’s Retreat. I want to take this opportunity to thank our presenters for their time and expertise. The Thursday and Friday event gave us the opportunity to hear about several issues facing Kansas and our Flint Hills Region. The next big event for our team is the annual meeting, set for Feb. 17, at the Manhattan Conference Center. The event is the celebration of our 2022 accomplishments and the formal transition of the chairmanship from 2022 Chair Summer Ott Dierks (Dierks Law Firm) to 2023 Chair Mark Knackendoffel (The Trust Company). We are excited about some changes that Summer is making to this year’s annual meeting, including more time for networking and the addition of a band. In addition to the formal business of the annual meeting, the Chamber will announce the Lud Fiser Citizen of the Year, C. Clyde Jones Volunteer of the Year and Young Professional of the Year. Go here for more information or to register. While we acknowledge the “changing of the guard” at the annual meeting, the transition in leadership officially took place on Jan. 1. Mark became Chair of the Chamber with Jake Wassenberg (Pepsi Cola of Manhattan) moving to Chair Elect, Stacy Kohlmeier (Florence Corporation) moving to Treasurer and Summer moving to Past Chair. Additionally, the board appointed Nancy Burton (BBN Architects) to the executive committee as Vice Chair. She is scheduled to be Chair in 2026. The Chamber offices are closed today to recognize the birthday of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. but will open at our regular time tomorrow morning. |