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January 30 and January 31, 2016
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EMPORIA CHAMBER LOOKS
BACK AT 2015
Attendees mingle during the 119th annual Chamber of Commerce meeting held in Webb Hall on the ESU campus on Friday.
By Cathryne Scharton
[email protected]
The Emporia Area Chamber
of Commerce and Convention
and Visitors Bureau hosted the
119th annual meeting Friday evening, honoring business and individual achievements for 2015.
The meeting was hosted by
Brandy Nance, news editor for
The Emporia Gazette, Beth
Hammond, with the Emporia
State University Foundation, and
David Hurlocker, owner of ATHOME Health Care in Emporia.
The Emporia Gazette underwrote the event for the fifth year
in a row and the event sold out
for the fourth consecutive year.
To sum up 2015, the Chamber
and Visitors Bureau answered
6,802 phone calls, had more than
1,800 people walk in for information, gave away 375 phone books
and 300 maps and referred over
1,200 businesses — all while
working on other projects and
events. During the year, over
$70,000 of Shop Emporia gift certificates were purchased, helping
keep dollars local.
The theme of the evening
was “Cooking Up Success” to
honor outgoing Chairman Rich
Avery, owner of Pizza Ranch
and DG Wingz.
John Mallon, recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, speaks
during the 119th annual Chamber of Commerce meeting.
P H O T O S
B Y
K e n d r a
J ohnson
Committee of the Year
EASCAR was named the 2015
committee of the year.
Steve Brosemer, creator of
EASCAR, accepted the award.
Alicia Rangel with Flint Hills
Technical College was recognized for designing the EASCAR
logo and providing the graphic
design work each year. Heath
Please see Chamber, Page 3
Good Evening
ValuNet’s founders, Rick Tidwell and Stormy Supiran
accept the award for Business of the Year.
Brandy Nance, left, and Beth Hammond, right, present the awards
during the 119th annual Chamber of Commerce meeting.
VOL. 124, NO. 181
It’s a great day in Emporia!