Sometimes we just need to get away—change the routine, walk new trails, see new views, hear new discourse, and just listen. That is exactly what the Columbus Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors did last week as they traveled to Stoney Creek Ranch out 109 and Zimmerscheidt roads for a day-long board retreat and training.
Despite the daunting dayslong rain event, Diane Probst, retired Rockport-Fulton Chamber of Commerce President/CEO for 32 years, author, speaker, and chamber board trainer, traveled to Columbus to share her wealth of knowledge and experience with our board of directors. The result was a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis of the chamber and community for us to set goals and strategies on how we can be a stronger advocate for both. Those goals, vision, and direction will begin being implemented in the coming weeks and months.
January 25 was the chamber's annual members meeting. With a packed room, delicious food, and led by the Chairman of the Board, Peggy Harrison, it was a great evening for members. Peggy gave a State of the Chamber report consisting of a synopsis of the activities of the chamber for 2023 with the vision for 2024. Mayor Lori An Gobert gave the State of Columbus a detailed and entertaining account of working with and within the government, and County Judge Ty Prause gave a thorough update and State of the County. These were wonderful and great, but our highlights were our Volunteer of the Year award and our Business of the Year awards.
Our Volunteer of the Year is a husband/wife team, and not enough good things can be said about these fine individuals. They are involved in a plethora of project groups, help whenever asked, support our natural resources, embrace our historic preservation, and do so with kindness and care. We so appreciate Steve and Grace McCullough who are more than well deserving to be recognized as the Columbus Chamber of Commerce Volunteers of the Year! Congratulations and Thank You!
Our Business of the Year is Hound Song Brewery. Another amazing couple, Travis and Raven Kocurek chose to build their dream in Columbus! From scratch they established and built up not only a pub, eatery, and a place that offers family fun, but also created a manufacturing enterprise. Thoroughly embracing the buy local philosophy, Travis and Raven purchase as much as possible from the local supply chain and, in turn, supply local customers with their locally produced products. An exemplary rural economic development process.
T he Chamber of Commerce and the Community as a whole appreciate our recipients and hope that you will congratulate them and thank them for all they do for Columbus, Colorado County, and the region!
