68th Annual Meeting & Business Expo

Event Sponsors

June 8th, 2023

Held every June, the Chamber Annual Meeting & Business Expo serves as the largest annual gathering of business and community leaders in Crawford County. A large business expo is held prior to the program and luncheon, featuring booths and information about participating members. The annual meeting includes a reflection on the past year’s accomplishments and goals for the future, as well as a number of special presentations, membership recognition and other events. The ceremony culminates with the awarding of the prestigious “Iverson Riggs Citizen of the Year” honor to one deserving citizen.

TO PURCHASE INDIVIDUAL TICKETS:

$45 PER TICKET

Click on the green "Register" button in the upper right hand corner below the Chamber logo. After you complete your registration, a receipt will be emailed to you with your ticket and a ticket will be emailed to each attendee that you register. Each ticket will have a QR code which will be scanned upon arrival. Deadline for purchasing individual tickets is May 20, 2023.
You may also call the Chamber to purchase tickets at 479-474-2761

TO SECURE A SPONSORSHIP WITH RESERVED SEATING AND A BUSINESS EXPO BOOTH:

Click here to view the Sponsorship and Business Expo information.
Click on the green "Register" button in the upper right hand corner of this page, below the Chamber logo. After you complete your registration, a receipt will be emailed to you and a ticket will be emailed to each attendee that you register. Each ticket will have a QR code which will be scanned upon arrival.
- Click here for the Business Expo Booth Contract . If you register for a sponsorship which includes a booth, this form must be completed and submitted to info@vanburenchamber.org before May 18th, 2023.
Deadline for securing Sponsorship with reserved seating and a Business Expo Booth is May 18th, 2023.

AWARD NOMINATIONS:

Business of the Year

The Van Buren Chamber’s “Business of the Year” Awards recognize members who help to build our community through volunteerism and demonstrate a commitment to the Chamber’s mission. The recipients will be recognized at the Annual Meeting. Honorees will be selected in each one of the three categories (Large, Entrepreneur, & Non-Profit), based on the following criteria:

• Emphasizes the importance of volunteerism and service among employees.
• Encourages and allows opportunities for employees to give back through involvement with the Chamber, schools, and area non-profit organizations.
• Promotes economic growth of the Van Buren area business community.
• Invests in the people, businesses and future of the region.
• Maintains a membership in good standing with the Van Buren Chamber

The chosen recipient(s) will be featured in the 2024 Community Profile and Business Directory publication, receive an electronic badge signifying the award placed on their online directory listing on the Chamber web site, and a category sponsorship in the online directory.

Judges for Business of the Year include:

Julie Allen
Director
Newport Area Chamber of Commerce

Jay Click
Special Projects Coordinator
Southwest Arkansas Planning & Development District

Dana Poindexter
South AR Regional Manager
Arkansas Economic Development Commission

Gary Troutman
President & CEO
Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce

Amy Williams
Regional Manager- Northeast Division
Arkansas Economic Development Commission

To nominate a business, or to nominate your own business, click here to access the nomination form and submit to info@vanburenchamber.org or deliver to the Van Buren Chamber Office, 510 Main Street, Van Buren, AR 72956. The deadline for submissions is May 8th, 2023, 4:00pm .

Iverson Riggs Citizen of the Year

This award is given to an individual in honor of the outstanding accomplishments, and in recognition of individual contributions and unselfish service to the community of Van Buren. The recipient will be recognized at the Annual Meeting and featured in the 2024 Community Profile and Business Directory publication. Nominees must have contributed to the City of Van Buren something of value in the field of leadership and/or education that has proved of value and will continue to prove of value to the community in the future.

For full details on eligibility, past recipients and the nomination form, click here. Nominations should be emailed to info@vanburenchamber.org or delivered to the Van Buren Chamber at 510 Main Street, Van Buren, AR 72956. The deadline for submissions is May 8th, 2023, 4:00 p.m.

Mover and Shaker Award

This award is to be given in recognition of a person or group of people that have taken initiative in creating extraordinary improvements in the community development of Van Buren through volunteerism within the last year, 2022 to present. The recipient will be recognized at the Annual Meeting and featured in the 2024 Community Profile and Business Directory publication. This improvement has added to the attractiveness of living and working in the community and promoted our culture of working together.

For full details on eligibility, the nomination form, click here. Nominations should be emailed to info@vanburenchamber.org or delivered to the Van Buren Chamber at 510 Main Street, Van Buren, AR 72956. The deadline for submissions is May 8th, 2023, 4:00 p.m.