The Ponca City Chamber of Commerce held their annual Chamber Board Retreat at the Evans family Big Fork Ranch on Tuesday, Dec. 13.

The retreat exists as a time of fellowship for the Chamber Board and past Chamber Chairs, while also featuring an overview of the year from the current Chamber Chair, as well as words from the in-coming Chamber Chair for the next year.

2022 was a non-fundraiser, membership focused year. Chamber Chair Wendy Stobbe proposed last year that the Chamber would be proactive by spreading and encouraging kindness in Ponca City.

Each month in 2022, members of the Chamber came together to discuss action items on the various ways to spread kindness to a particular focused group or institute. The focuses have included kindness to Ponca City businesses, schools, healthcare workers, city workers and first responders, parks and nature, family and pets, coworkers, strangers, seasoned citizens, non-profits/not for profits, and finally, kindness to yourself.

The new Chamber Chair for 2023 will be Rick Hancock, who will be leading the Chamber in a fundraising year. The Ponca City Chamber is unique amongst other chambers as they only hold one fundraiser every other year, whereas other chambers may hold multiple fundraisers every year.

Chamber CEO Rich Cantillon also took an opportunity to address and thank the gathered crowd when speaking of his 18-years of service in the Chamber. Cantillon will retire in February of 2023, with Chamber Vice-President Tiffany Hermann assuming CEO tasks and responsibilities until June 2023, where Shelley Arrott will take over as Chamber CEO.

The Chamber Board Retreat was held at the Big Fork Ranch on Tuesday, Dec. 13 with many members of the Chamber Board, along with past Chamber Chairs. (Photo by Calley Lamar)