Dexter, Missouri - The 2017 Chamber of Commerce Board members were introduced during the annual awards banquet on Saturday, January 28, 2017.
Named were Jason Banken with Hickory Log, Aaron Mathis with Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home, Rhonda Hall with Bagby Wealth Management, Dr. Ryan Schlief with Schlief Chriopractic, Alisha Trammell with Trammell and Son, Andrea Sisk with Bank of Advance, Chrstine Young with Southern Bank of Poplar Bluff, Kim Norman with Locust Str Flowers, and Jake Nesselrodt with National Title & Escrow.
Shown in the photo from left to right are: Jason Banken, Jake Nesselrodt, Kim Norman, Andrea Sisk, Rhonda Hall, Aaron Mathis, and Alisha Trammell. Not pictured are Dr. Ryan Schlief and Chrstine Young.
Dexter, Missouri - Retiring Chamber President, Debbie Stidham, was recognized for her service to the Dexter Chamber of Commerce at their annual awards banquet on Saturday, January 28, 2017.
Stidham has served on the Board since 2014 and finished her term in December of 2016. She will continue to sit on the Chamber Development Board.
"Thank you fo all that you have done and being a strong leader," stated Hillary Starnes, Executive Director of the Dexter Chamber of Commerce.
Shown in the photo are Debbie Stidham (left) and Hillary Starnes (right).
Dexter, Missouri - Two Dexter Chamber Directors retired after serving 3-year terms and were awarded a plaque for their service at the annual Dexter Chamber Awards Banquet on Saturday, January 28, 2017.
Stacy Hill with Central Gardens has been a director since 2014 and finished her three-year term in December of 2016.
Chris Brannan, who was unable to attend on Saturday night, owns a State Farm Insurance Agency and has been a director for years 2014, 2015, and 2016. He finished his 3-year term in December 2016.
Shown in the photo are Stacy Hill (left and Hillary Starnes, Executive Director of the Dexter Chamber of Commerce (right).
Dexter, Missouri - Chamber President Jason Banken recognized each of the eight 2016 Dexter Leadership graduates.
They went through seven (7) sessions throughout the 2016 year. They talked to city officials, toured education, healthcare, big and small industries in Dexter. Each received a plaque.
Graduates are Gina Watson with Montgomery Bank, Lea Jenkins with Southern Bank, Ashley Jarrell with First Midwest Bank, Lisa Gleason with Ozark Federal Credit Union, Kiesha Stewart with First Midwest Bank, Jennifer Whitesell with Three Rivers College and Amy Swindell with Air Evac.
Shown in the photo from left to right: Amy Swindell, Jennifer Whitesell, Lisa Gleason, Kiesha Stewart, Ashley Jarrell, and Lea Jenkins. Not available for photo was Gina Watson.
Dexter, Missouri - Hillary Starnes, Executive Director of the Dexter Chamber of Commerce addressed a large crowd at the annual awards event on Saturday, January 28, 2017.
'I want to welcome and thank everyone for attending today," commented Starnes. "I also want to thank you for supporting the Chamber as I have survived my first full year here."
Starnes discussed how much the North Outer Road is getting more businesses with a used car dealership, a food truck, two new buildings at Greenversity, and engineering firm and another building for Williams Moving. She also noted that Business 60 has had a few facelifts on buildings, a few new buildings and other buildings that have set empty are now occupied. Also Dexter's healthcare services are booming and expanding.
"The Historic Downtown has remained steady, survived another fire, and will continue to grow their events to increase foot traffic," stated Starnes. "It takes a village to grow Dexter and even though I talked about each of these sections individually, we are all investing and working and taking pride in our community as one."
Starnes also spoke of one of the Chamber's future goals to better serve the county and one of them is to become Work Ready certified which will put Dexter on the radar for new businesses and industries.
The Chamber also had an increase in Dexter Dollars purchased. In 2016, $28,700 were purchased and all that money stays in the city of Dexter.
"When a company or person purchases Dexter Dollars that money not only stays in Dexter, it is a Chamber Member only benefit," commented Starnes. "So we encourage our businesses to purchase them for their employees for birthdays, a special thank you, safety incentive or any other occasion."
She thanked the city of Dexter employees for their hard work helping the Chamber and getting things done around town. She also thanked Patty Shell for helping with the Polar Express event that brought in more than 200 people to the caboose and depot, most coming from out of town.
Also in attendance were Senator Doug Libla, Billy Pat Wright, Leslie Herbst from Congressman Jason Smith's office, and 151st State Representative Tila Hubrecht who also received a thank you from Starnes.
Next at the podium was Chamber President Jason Banken.
"The Chamber staff, the Chamber Board, and the Chamber Development Board all have input into several areas of the community either directly or through joint efforts with the city," stated Banken. "Those areas touched are the welcoming of new businesses; promoting business and industry recruitment; the promotion of tourism; working with the downtown organization; as well as other organizations; providing rental space for star-up businesses; providing lease space for one of the local industries and for a Dexter Campus of Three Rivers."
"We ended the year with 299 Chamber members and are already increasing the membership of 2017," continued Banken. "The office is becoming more efficient and their community awareness is increasing. The Chamber is the FRONT DOOR to Dexter and the office has to know the businesses, industries, and departments of the city to be able to answer any questions of potential citizens, tourists, or residents may have."
The Dexter Chamber of Commerce announced 2016 Dexter Leadership group, Retiring Directors, Retiring President, introduced the current Board of Directors, Organization of the Year, Business of the Year, Industry of the Year, Educator of the Year, and Distinguished Citizen of the Year. Each award will be presented in additional articles on the ShowMe Times.
