Every few months, Tamara Tateosian, executive director of the Callaway Chamber of Commerce, visits with Fulton city leaders and gives them a report.
This week, she told them about her recent trip to RECon, a global retail real estate convention in Las Vegas, hailed as three days of deal making. She traveled to Vegas with Bruce Hackmann, economic development director at the chamber.
They usually move about, talking to business representative set up at booths. Tateosian told City Council members she thinks there is a better way to spread information about opportunities in Callaway County.
"Next year, we would like to plan to have a booth at the event," she said, adding representatives from Holts Summit and Kingdom City would be included.
The RECon event is at the Las Vegas Convention Center and fills three major halls.
"There are 80,000 people trying to talk to the same people," she said, adding a booth could help with communication. "That way, we can publicize who we are as a county."
Along with Hackmann, a group of people from Kingdom City also attended RECon, including Kurt Warfield, Larry Doyle and two city aldermen.
"Holts Summit is planning to attend next year," Tateosian added.
Chamber officials are planning a busy summer and a new event.
"The Teachers Appreciation Breakfast will be Aug. 6 at 54 Country at 8:30 (a.m.)," she said.
Between 400-600 teachers are expected to come, all representing Callaway County schools. In attendance will be Gene Wilhoit, executive director of the National Center for Innovation for Education, established in 2013.
The chamber is collecting items to donate to the teachers in swag bags - items that will be useful in their classrooms, Tateosian said.
Other projects this year include website classes, and soon, 21-week welding classes will be offered via a $341,000 grant. Classes, to be taught by Linn State Technical College teachers, will begin mid summer and participants will be matched with employers for apprenticeships. A college and career fair will be in September, and applications are being taken for Leadership Callaway 2018. This year's business Pitch Competition will be in the late fall.
For more information about the chamber, visit callawaychamber.net or its Facebook page. Offices are at 510 Market St., Fulton.