The Huntington County Chamber of Commerce, Inc. conducted its annual meeting on Monday, January 26^th at the LaFontaine Golf Course.  2008 chair, Rose Wall, Wehr into Flowers; recognized her Board of Directors and acknowledged some of the progress that was made in 2008 including changes to the Huntington Downtown Area. Then 2009 Chair Matt J. Roth, DeLaney, Hartburg, Roth, Garrott LLP; made the report from the nominating committee. This year, we elected six members to terms on the Board of Directors. Newly Elected Directors are: Kitty J. Keiffer, Re/Max Professional Group; Lee W. Pasko, MarkleBank – Huntington Community Banking Center; Michael V. Perkins, Parkview Huntington Hospital Foundation; Lori A Mickley, Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, LLC.; and, Kimberly A. Myers. Re-elected to a second term was Joel Jerabek, Carrier / United Technologies.

Recognized as the 2008 Volunteers of the Year were Craig and Judy Lee, Lee’s Kentucky Fired Chicken. The Lee’s have been involved with the Huntington Heritage Days for years. After the 2008 Heritage Days they retired from chairing the downtown market place and picked up the chair of the food vendors committee. They have worked tirelessly to bring vendors and people to the downtown area which in turn brings people into the stores of the downtown merchants.

Sue Rumple, Beacon Credit Union, was recognized as the Chamber Ambassador of 2008. She has been present at every Ambassador function in 2008 including ribbon cuttings, AfterHours, Network Breakfasts, the 2008 Expo and many more Chamber activities. Sue always was quick to offer her smile, handshake and ask if there was anyway she could be of assistance to other Chamber members.

Mark Wickersham, executive director of the Huntington County United Economic Development Corporation (HCUED) introduced Professor Morton Marcus, director emeritus of the Indiana Business Research Center at the Kelley School of Business, Indiana University as the keynote speaker of the evening.  Professor Marcus is also a regular contributor to the Huntington Herald-Press and the Fort Wayne Business Journal.  In addition to comments regarding the current political and economic conditions, he addressed the topic of Huntington County’s role in the recession and recovery of 2009.