Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce recognizes accomplishments at celebration

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce brought together some accomplished members of the community for its 89th annual celebration.

At the event, local business leaders, elected officials, regional partners, economic development investors and honored guests gathered at the Sloan Convention Center on Wednesday night.

Among the crowd was a fifth-grade student from Plano Elementary, Cora Morris, an SCK Launch Leader in Me Lighthouse team member.

Morris led the audience through the evening’s awards and recognitions, paying notice to the accomplishments of the year.

Ron Bunch, president & CEO of the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, said, “This past year the business community, existing and new alike, have made investments and announced new jobs that collectively have set a very high bar for success.”

Bunch referenced the announcements from multiple companies, such as Bowling Green Metalforming, Carter Lumber, Kobelco, Eezy, Eyeconic and Aerospace Composite Solutions. New companies were also welcomed in 2023, such as Southern Coil Solutions, MyXR, Oria Health, Lunae and the new U.S. Headquarters of beingAI.

Bunch said this local growth led to the creation of 984 new jobs and $118 million in capital investment.

The following individuals were presented with their respective 2023 Chamber Volunteer Awards:

• Ambassador of the Year – Tony Witty, Stifel.
• Board Volunteer of the Year – Todd Matthews, The Murphy Construction Group.
• Chamber Volunteer of the Year – Joe Davis, A+ Properties, Inc.
• Young Professional of the Year – Laura Bowles, TownePlace Suites by Mariott.

The night ended with the traditional gavel passing ceremony, which was followed by remarks by the new 2024 chairman of the Board of Directors, Travis Keller of Independence Bank.

Keller said, ““I am truly honored and enthusiastic to step into the role of Chairman for the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce for 2024. It is a profound privilege to collaborate with our dedicated Board members, our tireless volunteers, the Chamber Ambassadors, our exceptional Chamber staff, and most importantly, every one of our over 1,200 Chamber partners. The coming year holds incredible potential for growth and development for both our Chamber and our vibrant community. I am eagerly looking forward to embarking on this journey together and celebrating the remarkable achievements we will undoubtedly attain throughout the year.”