Passing the gavel: Chamber of commerce inducts new president, looks ahead to new year

Published 11:52 am Tuesday, January 23, 2018

As the incoming president of the Winchester-Clark County Chamber of Commerce, Amy Turner says the community organization is going to focus.

Well, actually, the chamber is going to FOCUS.

In this case, FOCUS is an acronym for the keywords business organization’s 2018 goals: Future. Opportunity. Create. Understand. Service.

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Turner, who is the vice president mortgage loan officer with Central Bank, officially accepted the ceremonial gavel from out-going president Bruce Manley at Monday morning’s annual meeting before talking about how each of those words will be critical to the chamber’s mission this year.

“I am very grateful to be a part of this community and this chamber. We are fortunate to live work and raise our families in a great community where most people are very involved,” she said. “How can we make it better? My vision for 2018 is to FOCUS on the future. Where are we now and where do we want to be?”

Everything the chamber does will be under the auspices of service, striving for excellence and meeting the needs of its current and prospective members, Turner said.

The chamber also recognized the 2017 board and welcomed three new members for 2018. New members are Sarah Alexander representing Clark Regional Medical Center, Sherry Hampton representing the Winchester Labor Day Committee and Kevin Vincent of D&S Hardware.

In addition to Manley and Turner, current members whose terms continue this year are Lauren Frazer, Clark County Farm Bureau; Cora Heffner, retired from Community Education with the Clark County Public Schools; Debbie Hohman, Creative Coffees Roastery; John H. Rompf, Jr., White, McCann & Stewart; Raymond Smith, Broadway Christian Church and Park Community Credit Union; Tim Smith, WKYN Radio; Janna Smith, RE/MAX Creative Realty; Kitty Strode, Winchester City Commissioner; Darryl Terry, Kentucky Bank; Maggie Tincher, KORT Physical Therapy; Brian Thompson, Rural King Supply; Turner; Greg Wood, Freedom Realty & Property; Scott Lockard, retired from the Clark County Health Department.

The chamber has grown to 353 members and hosts a variety of events each year including job fairs, a Chamber expo, annual awards event, networking events, community forums and much more.

Some of the planned events in 2018 include the annual banquet May 17, Legends Game Day May 30, the annual golf scramble Sept. 1 and the candidates’ forum in October.

“The chamber of commerce is committed to serve as an advocate for our members and to promote and enhance our community through business, social, cultural and educational programs,” said Cindy Banks, executive director of the Chamber. “As leaders of our businesses here, we need to join together and explore our future so we can seize opportunities to better our community.”