HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce is preparing for its largest event of the year Thursday, Nov. 12, with nearly 1,000 people expected to attend its annual meeting at the Kansas State Fairgrounds.
Chamber President and CEO Debra Teufel said Monday morning on KWBW's BW Morning Show that approximately 20 tickets remain for the event, which will feature Olympic BMX gold medalist Connor Fields as its keynote speaker.
The evening begins at 3:45 p.m. with a business expo in the Sunflower South Building. The expo will feature approximately 70 to 75 exhibitors showcasing products, services and programs while providing networking opportunities for Chamber members.
Attendees will transition to the Meadowlark Building around 6:15 p.m., with dinner beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Fields, who won Olympic gold in BMX racing at the 2016 Rio Olympics, will share his journey from becoming an Olympic champion to recovering from a life-threatening injury.
Teufel said Fields began BMX racing at age 7 and set a goal of winning Olympic gold when he was 15.
During the Tokyo Olympics, Fields suffered a severe crash that resulted in a traumatic brain injury, punctured lung, broken ribs and multiple brain bleeds.
"He has a lot of lessons learned, not only in building your peak performance, but then how do you come back from a major injury like that," Teufel said.
The Chamber selected Fields in part because of the patriotic theme surrounding America's 250th anniversary.
"No better time to choose an Olympic champion than the 250th of our USA," Teufel said.
The annual meeting will also recognize outgoing Chamber board members and feature remarks from incoming board chair Jordan Fee, who will succeed current chair Troy Hutton.
Teufel said the Chamber expects to accommodate approximately 1,000 attendees in the Meadowlark Building.
Tickets are available at hutchchamber.com or through the Chamber office at 620-662-3391.