MONTHLY LUNCHEONS

Join us for our monthly networking luncheons!

Each month, our members are invited to a $5 networking luncheon on the third Wednesday of each month. The luncheons are from 12 to 1:00 p.m. and are held at the Montgomery Event Venue, except in December when we meet at the Elms Hotel and Spa for our holiday luncheon or when otherwise noted. The luncheons are sponsored by various businesses and organizations in our community. An average of 100-125 people attend, so it’s a great opportunity to meet other business people in our community!

The Excelsior Springs Area Chamber of Commerce held its April luncheon, with Courtney Cole calling the meeting to order and thanking United Fiber for sponsoring lunch from Willow Spring Mercantile. Attendees also recognized local elected officials, welcomed several first-time guests, and introduced returning chamber board members Mallory Brown, Carrie Donnici, Mike Edwards, and Elaina Lamley.

The featured presentation came from Nikki Dalton, vice president of sales for United Fiber, who highlighted the company’s long-standing presence in Excelsior Springs and shared information about its residential and business services. She focused especially on the importance of reliable fiber internet for small businesses, including higher upload speeds, separate networks for staff and customers, built-in cybersecurity protections, automatic updates, customer Wi-Fi tools, and backup options to help businesses stay operational during outages. She also introduced Rachel Bresano as the company’s local Excelsior Springs sales representative.

“For many years, Excelsior Springs has been an important part of our business,” said Nikki. “Thank you for your continued loyalty and for allowing us to serve you. We genuinely appreciate your trust and support.”

The presentation covered United Fiber Internet for Business services under their SmartBiz business Wi-Fi, business TV and business phone systems.

To inquire for more information about United Fiber services, click here or call 800-585-6454.

Brian Rice, chamber president, then introduced board member Cora Boothe who gave an update on the chamber’s ambassador and welcome basket program. The program is designed to help new members feel immediately connected by delivering gift baskets filled with donated items from other chamber members. Boothe reported that two baskets had already been delivered to Infinity Custom Designs and Fizer’s Garage, and enough donations were on hand to create six to eight more baskets. Members were encouraged to donate useful items with real value and to consider joining the ambassador team. Rice also noted the chamber’s continued growth, saying it added 30 new members last year and 6 in the first quarter of this year.

The luncheon also included a long list of community announcements and upcoming events. These included Balloons and Bottles at Shamrock Hills Winery on April 17, the library’s Square One small business resource visit on April 20, Lunch With Leaders on April 21, the citywide garage sales on April 24-25, Community Bank of Missouri’s Shred Day, the Clay County Sheriff Department’s Wheels of Engagement event, and ES Neighborhood’s Silver Prom on April 25, the community theatre’s upcoming production of Murder on the Orient Express opens the same weekend, the Good Samaritan Center’s annual golf tournament on May 1, Crescent Lake Christian Center’s Family Fun Day on May 2, Hightower Heritage’s Cinco de Mayo lunch on May 5, the Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast on May 7, the start of farmers market season on May 14, and the museum’s ongoing Not Forgotten exhibit open now ahead of the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall’s visit in September.

Additional updates from attendees included a reminder about the library’s new monthly partnership with Legal Aid of Western Missouri, a sponsorship push for the local community theater, news that the Excelsior Springs career center project had secured major funding and would include evening training and childcare support, a recurring community car show at Donnici’s on third Sundays, a new Student Citizens Leadership Academy planned for June 16-17, and a request for more Meals on Wheels volunteers as the local program nears capacity while serving 23 people daily. The luncheon concluded with door prize drawings donated by local businesses and a reminder that the next chamber luncheon will be on May 20, hosted by Platte Clay Electric, before the chamber’s summer break.