Committees
Chamber Committees are Where the Work Gets Done!
The Chamber has a variety of committees in place that help promote and sustain the economic vitality of the community. This is your opportunity to truly get involved and help shape the future of the community where you live, work and play.
The Chamber gives you a seat at the table to engage with community leaders, learn from your peers and gain visibility with potential customers. Committee involvement is a very effective way to establish yourself as a community leader and create lasting connections with other business leaders while working toward common goals.
To join a Chamber committee, you must be a Kearney Chamber member in good standing. Please contact Stacie Bratcher at (816) 628-4229 with your committee interest or questions.
Ambassadors
Ambassadors perform a wide variety of duties in the Chamber, but their main function is to help promote the Chamber, welcome new Members to the Chamber, and make Chamber events successful and enjoyable for everyone.
Meeting Frequency
Meets Monthly
Committee Members
- Debbie Holt
- Brian Watts
- Tina Rankin
- Jeff Fort
- Jewelee Cox
- Jim Dier
- Carrie McCarthy
- Niki Allen
- Kristen Atwell
- Sharon Mesler
Finance & Budget
The role of the Finance & Budget Committee is to provide financial oversight for the organization. The committee is responsible for recommending to the Board financial policies, goals, and budgets that support the mission and strategic goals of the Chamber, as well as monitoring internal control and risk management activities. The committee also reviews financial performance against its strategic goals and budget.
Meeting Frequency
Meets Monthly
Committee Members
- Jeff Morrison
- Jason Hoyt
- Bree Switzer
- Brandon Schmiedeke
- Jerry Singleton
- Carrie McCarthy
Marketing
The Marketing Committee develops strategies that encourage consumer involvement and investment in the organization’s mission and five Pillars of Purpose. This committee creates and reviews proposed marketing strategies and works with the staff to see them through to completion.
Meeting Frequency
Meets Monthly
Committee Members
- Debbie Holt
- Jennifer Grossl
- Amanda Lubinski
- Gerri Spencer
- Stan Kienast
- Brian Watts
- Josen Ruiseco
Nonprofit Forum
The Kearney Chamber invites our 501c3 members to join the Chamber Nonprofit Forum with the purpose of collaborating, asking questions, sharing advice and resources, and networking so our local nonprofit organizations can more effectively achieve their missions.
Meeting Frequency
Meets on the Fourth Wednesday of Every Other Month
Committee Members
- Suzanne Witthar
- Shawna Searcy
- Kurt Hamilton
- Jeana Blakemore
- Gerri Spencer
- Jim Leuschke
- Shaney Othic
- Julia Kuhn
- Marlo Howard
- Carla Killen
- Baylee Thorne
Nominating
The purpose of this committee is to recruit the best-qualified candidates to serve on the chamber board of directors and present a slate of nominees to the general membership at the May Luncheon.
Meeting Frequency
Meets as needed March - May
Committee Members
- Jennifer Grossl
- Jeff Fort
- Gerri Spencer
- Mike Davis
- Jerry Singleton
- Stephanie DePrenger
Scholarship
The purpose of the Scholarship Committee is to advise the Board of Directors on the awarding of two $500 scholarships to qualified Kearney High School seniors.
Meeting Frequency
Meets as Needed in the Month of April
Committee Members
- Gerri Spencer
- Jerry Singleton
- Carrie McCarthy
By-Laws Review
The committee reviews the organizational bylaws to see if any changes are necessary. Committee members commonly research the bylaws of other nonprofit organizations in the area as well as organizations that do the same type of work. The committee prepares a detailed list of proposed amendments and presents to the board of directors the recommendation that no changes be made or the list of proposed amendments for approval.
Meeting Frequency
Meets as Needed
Committee Members
- Jennifer Grossl
- Bree Switzer
- Brian Watts
Board of Directors
The Kearney Chamber of Commerce is the voice of the Kearney business community and the most influential business advocacy organization in the area. By advancing a proactive agenda, we are the leading resource on issues that impact our local business community. As the governing body of the Kearney Chamber of Commerce, the Board of Directors plays an important role in setting policies for corporate management and oversight for the Chamber. Members of the board represent large and small businesses from Kearney, Missouri who believe that the business community must lead the way in improving both Kearney’s and Missouri’s long-term business climate.
Meeting Frequency
Meets Monthly
Committee Members
- Gerri Spencer
- Jennifer Grossl
- Brian Watts
- Jason Hoyt
- Heather Billings
- Jewelee Cox
- Siouxsan Eisen
- Jeff Fort
- Dan Lechner
- Jeff Morrison
- Adam Mustoe
Harvest Gala
The planning committee is responsible for producing and hosting this annual celebration of Chamber members, featuring networking, awards, entertainment, local food, and more! Held each September.
Meeting Frequency
Meets Bi-Weekly April - September
Committee Members
- Jewelee Cox
- Dan Holt
- Kristen Atwell
- Niki Allen
- Michelle Turner
- Shannon Lykins
- Lisa Friedel
Tourism Development NEW!
Thank you for your interest in tourism in the city of Kearney. The Tourism Development Committee will champion tourism activity and development in Kearney, providing guidance and expertise on tourism implementation issues. Tourism is one of Missouri’s largest industries. In fiscal year 2019, Missouri had 42.9 million visitors. (The state defines visitors as people who travel from out of state or at least 50 miles in-state). Missouri’s tourism industry employs more than 300,000 people – one in 12 Missouri residents – and tourists spend approximately $17.7 billion annually.
Meeting Frequency
Meets Monthly
Committee Members
- Brian Watts
- Gerri Spencer
- Shawn Barber
