By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
A cocktail hour that lends itself a little more to conversation. That’s how Great Bend Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Megan Barfield described the opening hour for the upcoming 104th Annual Chamber Awards, scheduled for Feb. 28 at 6 p.m. Registration for the event is now open. With 400-500 people typically in attendance, Barfield said that growth has resulted in change of venue this year.
“Simply because of growing attendance, we are coming back into Great Bend to the Events Center,” she said. “Our numbers just keep growing, which is good. That means we’re reaching a lot of people through our membership and engagement.”
The event is presented by Spectrum Partners LLC and The University of Kansas Health System, and the cocktail hour is sponsored by Equity Bank, but plenty of other sponsorship opportunities are still available. That Saturday’s meal will include chicken fried steak or chicken, along with a dessert, catered by A & G Catering. A grazing table will be provided by Proper Boards & Picnics.
Corporate tables that seat 10 are available for $1,000. Chamber members can purchase individual tickets for $85, or tickets for non-chamber members are $100.
“They can go to greatbend.org, or they can call the office at (620) 792-2401, and probably ask for Julie (Mazouch) if you’re looking at sponsorships,” Barfield said. “Or anyone who answers can help with tickets.”
Four awards will be handed out on the evening. Dr. Ty Brunswig was last year’s NextGen Leader of the Year, Paul Snapp was Citizen of the Year, and MPIRE Realty Group was Business of the Year. Sheryl Cheely earned the Legacy Award.