Menu
Chamber leaders continue championing local business during annual dinner
Amidst the celebration of annual award winners and the fun of something like this year’s disco theme, it can be lost that the Putnam County Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner is also a celebration of the local business community.
The leaders of the Putnam County Chamber reminded those in attendance of this fact Saturday evening at 3 Fat Labs Wedding & Event Barn.
First and foremost, Executive Director Madison Hanna asked attendees to continue to support the local business community, as it goes beyond simply lining someone’s pocket.
“If there’s one message I hope resonates with you this evening, it’s the importance of championing the cause of supporting local,” Hanna said. “Among our 340 members, 170 fall within the 1-10 employee range, many of them single employees and a significant portion are owner/operators. When we choose to support local businesses, we are supporting families, friends, and the very fabric of our community.
“The beauty of supporting local lies in the diversity and uniqueness of our local businesses,” Hanna continued. “Look around tonight — each food item is sourced from a different local business. In the true spirit of the Chamber, we wanted to support as many businesses and artisans as possible, a commitment we aim to continue for the longevity of our organization.”
During her own comments, incoming Chamber board President Brooke Trissel expressed a similar sentiment.
“We’re so lucky to live in the city and county we live in,” Trissel said. “You don’t have to go anywhere for anything.”
Hanna enumerated some milestones for the Chamber over the course of 2023 — 52 new members, empowerment of women through the Women in Business program, revitalization of the Farmers Market, quarterly lunch-and-learn programs to educate members “and our first full year with an online membership portal shows that we are finally in the 21st century.”
“As we look ahead to 2024, our commitment to education, advocacy and community connection remains unwavering,” Hanna said.
To this end, Trissel announced a commitment by the Chamber to bring back its Business After Hours in 2024, yet another sign of an organization emerging from the post-Covid malaise that still doesn’t seem to have entirely departed nearly four years later.
But Saturday was about celebrating and looking to the future. Even in outgoing President Beau Battin’s remarks, he didn’t dwell too much on 2023 or even on the years he’s spent on the board (more than one as president). Instead, Battin kept his remarks about his joy in being able to serve people.
“It’s the people we get to serve,” Battin said, before looking around the crowd and specifically naming Nancy Michael of First National Bank, Paul Jedele of Jedele Enterprises/McDonald’s and Jinsie Bingham “our local museum” as examples.
Battin also thanked past-president Andrew O’Hair as well as L.T. Taylor, both of whom are departing the board.
“It’s that V-word — volunteer — it means a lot,” Battin said.
In her own comments, Hanna specifically thanked the entire 2023 board, which also included Amy Trusty, Brittany Overshiner, Hamza Rana, Neysa Meyer, Jeff Gibboney, Laurie Hardwick, Megan Wager and Matt Owens.
With the departures of O’Hair and Taylor, the 2024 board will also include Mackenzie Long, Marcus King and Kayla Brennan.
After some personal thank yous, Hanna returned to the theme of the night and focused on the Chamber membership as a whole.
“And one last thank you to all of you for being a part of our membership,” she said. “You are our Chamber. Here’s to the continued success of our local businesses and the luminous future that awaits Putnam County. As we embrace the promising journey ahead, let’s remember the profound wisdom of Kris Carr: ‘Know that you are a disco ball with no ceilings and no limitations.’
“As we move forward, let’s dance through the challenges, reflect the vibrant diversity of our local businesses, and illuminate the path towards a thriving future,” she continued. “Cheers to the disco ball within each of us, shining brightly and contributing to the growth of Putnam County.”