There was a celebratory atmosphere at Emporia State’s Memorial Union for the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce’s 127th Annual Meeting and banquet Friday night.
The celebration comes as the Emporia economy is resetting after several business closure announcements, but Chamber President and CEO Jeanine McKenna the event also comes as Chamber members have banded together to help the community recover and grow.
McKenna says 2025 will be an important year for the Chamber because another feasibility study will begin soon. This follows the study that developed Ignite Emporia six years ago, and McKenna says “wonderful things have happened in Emporia since the 2019 study. She says the study this year will assess where the community is now and what businesses need for them to thrive and grow.
Among those in attendance was recently-elected US House Representative Derek Schmidt. He tells KVOE News the federal economic focus is “right-sizing” government as the changeover continues from Joe Biden to Donald Trump.
The Chamber officially recognized its annual award winners — Business of the Year Flint Hills Towing, Volunteer of the Year Kathryn Wilkerson, Emporia First Friday as Community Impact winner and Kent Schnakenberg as the Lifetime Achievement winner. Also announced Friday was the first Visit Emporia Artist of the Year, Emporia State professor Hailey Quick.
