The Chandler Chamber of Commerce hosted the annual Chamber Banquet, Tuesday, Jan. 14.
The theme of the night was Vision 2020 as the Chamber looks into the future for the next year.
Throughout the evening, attendees were served a steak meal by the Chandler FFA, watched as local residents were awarded and listened to guest speaker, Jennifer Mullins, discuss Oklahoma tourism.
Four awards were handed out that evening: the Scholarship Recipient, Volunteer of the Year, Ambassador of the Year and Citizen of the Year.
Jaedyn Wayland was this year’s Scholarship Recipient. Wayland is the daughter of Billy and Christina Wayland. She is involved in a number of school activities including pom and basketball while holding a 4.0 g.p.a.
Heather Ledford received the Volunteer of the Year Award. Led-ford is involved with the Chandler Rotary Club and is the President of the Chandler Area Chamber of Commerce. She is married to Jared Ledford and has three children: Madelyn, Lexi and Jase.
Businessman and banker Ben Walkingstick received the Ambassador of the Year award. Walkingstick is involved in the Chandler Lions Club and Chandler Area Chamber of Commerce. He helped establish the Lincoln County Development Authority. He was out of town and couldn’t receive his award personally.
Austin Cory received the Citizen of the Year award. Cory is involved in the Chandler Lions Club, coaches his daughter’s soccer team and serves as the Vice President for the National Wildlife Turkey Federation chapter for Payne and Lincoln Counties.
After the awards were presented, Director of Travel Promotion Division and Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department, Jennifer Mullins, talked about tourism in Oklahoma and the benefit it has to the Chandler area.
According to Mullins, tourism is the number three industry in the state of Oklahoma.
Mullins explained the many campaigns that the department has to promote tourism in Oklahoma including their Spring Campaign to the Road Trip Campaign.
She even provided a list of opportunities for businesses in Chandler to utilize including the Travel OK app and a list of events.
“Every town in Oklahoma, every place that we have, has a story and has a way for a tourism opportunity,” she said.
Looking into the future, Mullins said they plan on entering the Spanish Market by providing their information in Spanish and by creating an Oklahoma Route 66 Passport.