Olathe Chamber earns Five-Star Accreditation once again
We all know that the Olathe Chamber of Commerce is one of the best chambers in the nation, but validation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce certainly feels good.
The Chamber is pleased to announce that after a comprehensive review, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has awarded us with 5-star accreditation – again. This prestigious honor puts us among the top 1 percent of chambers nationwide and marks the fourth time we have received the honor.
“Achieving this level of accreditation reaffirms the importance of our mission, our impact on the community and the overall outstanding vision and work of our staff, members, volunteers and community partners,” Olathe Chamber CEO Tim McKee said. “We always strive to provide our members with the best value for their investment and the five-star accreditation validates that we’re providing our members an unmatched opportunity.
“As the largest chamber in Johnson County and the second largest in the Kansas City area, we are proud to be one of the only three chambers in the state to be accredited.”
We first received accreditation from the U.S. Chamber in 1996 and earned the 5-Star designation the first time it was made available in 2008, and again in 2013 and 2018. Reaccreditation takes place every five years.
Read more about this monumental accomplishment here.
Registration open for State of the County Luncheon
Don’t forget to put the State of the County Luncheon on your calendar. The annual luncheon will be from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Tuesday, April 9 at the Overland Park Convention Center. The deadline for reservations is Friday, March 22. Individual tickets are $50 and a corporate table of 10 is $550. Register today.
Small business on display at first BLS of the year
The first Olathe Chamber Business Lunch Series event of the year was a hit with attendees last week in the Flexbox Theater at the Downtown Olathe Library.
Our panelists were Brett Larson of Heartland Business Capital, Maria Meyers of KC SourceLink and Jeff Shackleford of the Enterprise Center in Johnson County.
The panelists shared experiences, best practices and some great resources for small businessmen and businesswomen who have the entrepreneurial bug or are looking to take the next step in their small business journey.
Thank you to our series sponsor Johnson County Community College and our quarterly sponsor FNBO.
Check out some photos from the event here.
IT Roundtable helps to connect those who connect
Does your organization lack in-house IT support? Do you find yourself doing IT support as a secondary role? Do you wish you had someone to discuss IT issues with, or who could provide support when needed? If so, the Olathe Chamber IT Roundtable is the perfect place to connect.
These gatherings are a great place to meet others in your shoes, find guidance, contract IT support and make new contacts in the community.
The next IT Roundtable will be from 3 – 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 24 at the OIathe Chamber office. Be sure to register today.
Leadership Olathe, Terracon hosting blood drive
The Leadership Olathe Class of 2024 and Terracon are hosting a blood drive from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. this Wednesday, March 13 in the Terracon training room, 10841 S. Ridgeview Road. Appointments are preferred, but not necessary.
Book your appointment today at savealifenow.org/group, enter the code, CBNG. For additional details contact Terracon.
Advertising opportunities available in Olathe Visitors Guide
Advertising sales for the Olathe Convention & Visitors Bureau visitors guide have begun.
More than 10,000 guides are printed and given to sports teams, corporate travelers, conference attendees and leisure travelers. There’s also a digital version of the guide that we share across the area and region.
Our partner, MetroMedia Publishers, will be reaching out to members to offer advertising opportunities in the guide. This is an excellent chance to promote your business and be visible with an engaged audience. For more information on advertising, contact Kathy Moore at Townsquare Publications, formerly MetroMedia Publishers.
WHAT'S NEW
Plenty going on ahead of 2024 Garmin Olathe Marathon
The Garmin Olathe Marathon is coming up on April 20. As the big day quickly approaches, there is plenty going on with our annual event. There are plenty of opportunities to volunteer and sponsor a booth at our expo.
The expo and race day is not just for runners. The whole marathon experience is about engaging with our entire community. Register now to be a part of the weekend, even if you don’t want to run. Whether it’s a course monitor, expo volunteer or helping at the finish line on race day, we could use your help.
Also, the annual Holmes Murphy Garmin Olathe Marathon Packet Pick-up and Expo on April 18-19 is a perfect opportunity to promote your business. For more information or to inquire about expo sponsorship opportunities, please contact Susie Carson.
The April 20 event will feature the largest full-marathon and half-marathon in the state of Kansas, a 10K and Munchkin Marathon. While spots are still available for the half marathon, 10K and Munchkin Marathon, the full marathon is sold out. Register here and join in on the fun.
Our Fourth Friday events begin in May
Fourth Fridays are back. The Olathe Chamber of Commerce’s Convention & Visitors Bureau will, once again, be hosting the awesome Friday night events this summer. Register here to be a part of the fun as a vendor.
Please join us for any of the following dates, May 24, June 28 or Aug. 23, to connect with thousands of Olathe residents at what have become a summer staple. And don’t miss your chance to be a part of the events.
These free events offer live music, kids’ activities, food trucks, beer gardens, and so much more. Join us to highlight and promote your business. Offer marketing materials, promotions, sell products or services, offer samples, and much more.
Secure your spot now and give your business or organization some great visibility at the marquee events in downtown Olathe. Secure your spot today by registering here. We can’t wait to see you this summer.
Leadership Olathe class project to benefit Mission Southside
The Leadership Olathe Class of 2024 is off and running and had a great time in Topeka last week as they completed the always popular, State Day. Next up is some team building at TimberRidge on April 4.
Each year, the Leadership Olathe class chooses a non-profit organization in Olathe to be the benefactor of their always-ambitious volunteer project. This year, they’ve partnered with Mission Southside and their “Fields of Hope” project, an initiative to transform underutilized green space into a vibrant community hub, offering recreational activities and events for families and individuals across our community.
From family sports nights to youth soccer clubs and neighborhood gatherings, the “Fields of Hope” project will enhance the quality of life for our community’s most marginalized populations with amenities that include a professional-style soccer field, sand volleyball courts and upgraded pavilions. Best of all, it’ll be accessible to all and free of charge.
As this year’s class gets its project underway, they are hoping to be able to raise enough money to provide equipment such as soccer goals, volleyball nets and a field striper. Anyone interested in helping the Class of 2024 with their project can do so here.
CHAMBER CONNECTION
The latest Johnson County Community College Continuing Education Business Breakfast Series event will be from 7 – 9 a.m. on Thursday, March 21, at the Capital Federal Conference Center in the Regnier Center at JCCC. More information about the event, “Cultivating Belonging: An Intentional Approach to Employee Engagement,” can be found here.
AdventHealth named Dallas Purkeypile president and CEO of AdventHealth South Overland Park, a 45-bed and growing, multi-specialty inpatient facility that was designated a Top General Hospital by the Leapfrog Group in November 2023.
Join the Kansas Traffic Safety Resource Office for a free presentation on mental health and driving at 10 a.m. on April 2 at the Olathe Indian Creek Library.
Olathe Public Schools was featured in the Jan. 31 edition of Business View Magazine. Read the article that spoke to the Olathe’s innovation and infrastructure here.
GLMV Architecture is changing its name to TESSERE. The move reflects the company’s evolution, growth, and commitment to innovation as it continues to serve its clients and consultants with excellence.
Benton House received a 2024 Customer Experience Award from Pinnacle Quality Insight. This recognizes Benton House’s outstanding performance in overall satisfaction, variety of food/menu choices, quality of food, dining service, cleanliness, response to problems, communication, activities, move-in process, individual needs, recommendations, overall customer experience and solidifies their position in the top echelon of care providers nationwide.
DID YOU KNOW
Want to get more involved with the Olathe Chamber of Commerce? Give us a call at 913-764-1050 or send us an email.
A LOOK AHEAD
NOTE: You can reach the Olathe community and beyond through the Chamber’s online calendar of events. Members can complete the online form and then submit their events online for approval by staff. If you have multiple day events, a form must be submitted for each day. Listings must meet the established criteria.
Also, if the Olathe Public Schools are closed due to inclement weather, Olathe Chamber Coffees and Ribbon Cuttings are also cancelled.
March 14 – Olathe Chamber Coffee at Heartstrings Community Foundation, 11599 S. Ridgeview Road, 9 a.m.
March 14 – Olathe Chamber Ribbon Cutting at Club Run & Jump, 2099 E. Santa Fe St., 11 a.m.
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©2024 Olathe Chamber of Commerce