From the President – December 2016

As the holidays are upon us there is so much to be thankful for.  First, I would like to thank our outgoing board of directors: Rick Dorsey-Treasurer (Ahlheim & Dorsey LLC), Jon Vogt-Past Chair (Catering To You Banquet Center), Dhari Pearson (Papa Murphy’s Pizza), and Dave Otto (Handyman Hardware).  Every single one of you brings something to the table and things would not have been done without you.  Secondly, thank you to all of the current board of directors for your energy and time that you give to this Chamber.  Thirdly, I welcome our new board members for 2017 and encourage them to be a positive voice of the Chamber. Welcome Kim Bakker (SSM Health DePaul Hospital), Kitty Harrison (Johnny Londoff Chevrolet, Inc.), Dr. Joseph Davis (Ferguson-Florissant School District), Sharon Johnson (Central Bank of St. Louis), Brian Douglas (The Husband Agency-State Farm), and Jon Vogt (Catering To You Banquet Center).

2017 has a new Executive Board with Mike Moehlenkamp (Gary’s Auto Service) leading the way as our new Chair person.  He has chosen Bret Berigan (Christian Hospital) as his Vice-Chair, Tanya Smith (Life Care Center of Florissant) as Secretary, Jon Vogt (Catering to You Banquet Center) as Treasurer, and Elizabeth Wade (US Bank) Past Chair.  I know great things will be coming our way! Please don’t miss our Membership luncheon with the Installation of board of directors and Business Person of the Year on January 18, 2017 to be held at Christian Hospital Atrium.  I had the honor to announce the 2017 Business Person of the Year at our Nite of Stars Gala and it brings me great pleasure to add Kurtis Barks to our who’s who in our community. Please plan on attending our luncheon to celebrate with us.

If you did not get to attend our Nite of Stars event this year, you truly missed out on a fabulous Wonka time. We had lemon drop and chocolate martinis and a chocolate desert fountain! Our live auction items had the crowd going …from a trip to Jamaica to Cardinal tickets to a pearl necklace.  Everyone had a blast! Ideas are already flowing for next year’s event.  A big thank you to the committee and volunteers, who graciously gave up their time to help make this a successful night for us, but most of all to our staff Debbie and Jaime, who are the true heroes of our Nite of Stars! We had the best Nite of Stars yet and made $9600.00 over our budget. This truly shows hard work does pay off.

A new change for 2017 year is our lunch prices. Effective January 1, 2017 our new membership lunch price will be $22.00 (except the Installation luncheon). This is due to our vendor prices increasing. If you reserve your lunch seat by the Wednesday before the luncheon your price will be $22.00, if you reserve later then the Wednesday deadline your price will be $25.00. Please know we would not increase our prices if we did not have to.

Most of all I am looking forward to a great new year. I have some new plans in the works and very excited about our Chamber’s growth in our community. Please remember we need your help to achieve our growth…participate, referral, and spread the word.  There are GREAT things to come!

I wish everyone a happy and healthy holiday season.  I just hope the snow part of winter goes somewhere else…this Florida girl doesn’t handle it well.  Bring on the sunshine!!!

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart. Wishing you happiness.”
— Helen Keller

Judy Taylor
President