

On Wednesday, January 17, 2024, the Excelsior Springs Chamber of Commerce launched their year’s inaugural Chamber luncheon, proudly sponsored by the Excelsior Springs Job Corps Center. This event showcased the talents of Job Corps students who not only prepared the luncheon but also led the business meeting with a ceremonial Presentation of the Flags and the Pledge of Allegiance.
Lori Sams, the Director of Excelsior Springs Job Corps, highlighted the center’s vital role in the business community. She emphasized the significance of providing “leisure time employment” to students, offering them essential work experience and financial compensation. Lori also touched on the heartwarming Christmas initiative where 40 students remaining on the Center received gifts, thanks to the community’s generosity.
The Job Corps Center consistently engages students in local activities throughout the year, contributing significantly to community events. Their involvement ranges from leading parades with State and National Flags, to participating in Christmas celebrations, supporting the Waterfest festival, aiding in Earth Day Cleanups, and volunteering at the Good Samaritan Center. Their contributions not only enrich these events but also positively impact the local economy.


In a new initiative by the Chamber, Joe Morgan, owner of Morgansites, addressed the critical need for cyber security in businesses. He stressed the importance of employee training to prevent common hacking incidents and demonstrated how easily hackers can deceive untrained individuals. Joe recommended implementing fundamental cyber security measures and provided a practical checklist to guide businesses in safeguarding their operations.
This session marked the introduction of featured speakers, a move that received enthusiastic feedback, promising more such insights in future luncheons. The next luncheon, scheduled for February 21st, will be sponsored by Clint Hylton of Shelter Insurance Co. and Jeremy Stone of Edwards Jones Investments. To better suit lunchtime schedules, the event time has been shifted to 12:00pm-1:00pm, with added networking opportunities. A nominal fee of $5 per person has been introduced, aligning with other area chambers, without impacting attendance.
Finally, the Chamber announced its 2024 Board Candidates, with nominations open until February 2, 2024. Nominees include Melissa Bartlett from ReeceNichols Excelsior Springs, Kristen DeHart from Excelsior Springs Hospital, Bill Westerheide of Goldstein Properties, and Courtney Cole from Excelsior Citizen/Morgansites. For more information on nominations, interested parties can click here.
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