The Great Bend Chamber of Commerce moved into 2022 and 101 years as the voice of business with seven new members elected to the Board of Directors. Joining the Board for their first three-year terms are Jim Blackwell (Clara Barton Medical Center), Wally Eldridge (Eldridge Fencing), Chuck Fellhoelter (Peoples Bank and Trust), Matt Kurtz (Identifications), Mike Johnson (M and M Equipment Company), Jessica Milsap (MPIRE Realty Group), and Chris Wagner (Great Bend Co-op).
Continuing their service on the board are Sue Cooper (Barton County / Central Kansas Partnership), Scott Dewerff (KanEquip), Randy Goering (Eagle Radio), Ana Hayson (Rana Luna Boutique), Leslie Mingenback (Miss Pretty Pickles / MyTown), Regan Reif (The University of Kansas Health System), Douglas Reiser (Central Kansas Surveying & Mapping, Inc.), and Todd VanSkike (Golden Belt Bicycle Company).
Elected to serve on the 2022 Executive Committee are Jerry Renk (Retired/Golden Belt Community Theatre) as Chairperson, Shelly Peacock (TCI Answering Service) as Vice-Chair, Robert E. Bauer (Bauer & Pike, LLC) as 2nd Vice-Chair, Pete Wesner (CUNA Mutual) as Immediate Past Chairman, and Michael Miller (Ronald L Miller Public Accounting) as Treasurer.
“I have the honor and opportunity to serve as Chair of the Board of Directors for the Great Bend Chamber in 2022," said Renk. "The past two chairs, AJ Chrest and Pete Wesner, helped guide us through the COVID pandemic so they will be a hard act to follow. Megan Barfield is our Chamber President and CEO and she and her staff have had to be very innovative and work in ways they never dreamed of to keep delivering value to all of our Chamber members.”
“It is my pleasure to introduce to you the Executive Committee of the Board and the Board of Directors for 2022," said Barfield. "We have seven new board members who, along with the current members, bring to the board a huge amount of experience and talent. In addition, we have over 500 members to provide us input. May 2022 bring opportunities and prosperity to each of our members.”