Chamber Vision January 2015 | Page 4

4 January 2015 Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau Chairman’s Corner Happy New Year to all, I hope your holiday season was filled with lots of Joy.  I first want to thank you all for the opportunity to serve as your Chamber Chair for 2015 and assure you that I will give this position everything I have. Rich Avery Chairman of the Board Your Chamber Board and staff had a very good retreat in October, the board came away with a positive list of short term and long term goals which include in part, continuing the branding and marketing of the Chamber. We want to continue the great things that took place 2014 and put forth a strong effort to showcase our current members and to focus on new membership in 2015, we as board of directors are aware of how important our membership is and want to make this a priority in the upcoming year. In 2014 we launched a new look to the web site and the way the monthly newsletter is delivered both of which will give the Chamber more opportunities to highlight your business and enhance efforts to recruit new members.  Other goals involve strengthening our relationship with Emporia Main Street, CVAB,City and County to make this a cohesive group all working in the same direction for the benefit of Emporia and all surrounding communities. Our Chamber is very fortunate to have tremendous membership, a great board that is very engaged and a staff that is second to none.  With these components in place I see a fine future. In closing, I want to thank outgoing Chairman Ron Thomas for his leadership, energy and passion he brought to the chair this past year. Current Board Members Rich Avery Chairman of the Board Pizza Ranch Ron Thomas Immediate Past Chairman KVOE 1400, Country 101.7 and Mix 104.9 Pete Euler Chairman Elect State Farm Insurance Bryon Rosine Treasurer Wright CPA Group PA