Dear Chamber Supporters,

If you’ve ever planned an event of some kind, you know that there are always challenges that pop up last minute. It's unpredictable whether it will be before or during the event. This past Friday we hosted our second concert of our Summer Concert Series and I can confidently say that there was not a thing that went wrong from beginning to end… just a splendidly perfect night (pictures here)! Mother nature played her part and gave us the coolest day of the summer, which was reflected in many being seen wearing jeans, jackets, or at least a long-sleeved shirt to the concert. The cool weather didn’t hurt the beer garden sales though, as we sold more drinks that night than any previous concert. The music from Clevermax was stellar (as always), and people couldn’t help but spend time on the dance floor (pictures here). I also have to mention the help the Chamber receives from its faithful volunteers; I couldn’t be blessed with much better help than these fine folks (picture here). It was such a fun night in downtown Ottawa and I appreciate everyone who came out to make it so special. We are already planning our concerts for 2025 so stay tuned for more musical fun next year! In the meantime, don’t sleep on the upcoming shows the OMA has in store over the next few months.

Before I move on, I also want to give one more shoutout to our amazing sponsors of this event.

Pit Sponsors:

Trendel Lumber
Loyd Builders
Walmart Distribution
KWIKOM
Good Shepherd Hospice
Keller Williams Diamond Partners Realty
KOFO
BCI Mechanical, Inc.

Banner Sponsors: Security 1st Title, Edward Jones, and Kansas State Bank

Beer Garden Sponsor was BluSky Liquor

Stage Sponsor was the Ottawa Memorial Auditorium

There wouldn’t be a concert without these selfless groups who help make it happen financially; thank you for continued dedication! If you are interested in having your name on this series in 2025, let us know and we’d be happy to get you roped in.

Ottawa University Back in Action

Ottawa University’s Advancement office flooded downtown Ottawa this Wednesday as we set out to ensure businesses had updated “We Support Ottawa University” signs and info on the upcoming semester (pictures here). This packet includes some helpful literature on what OU has in store for this year. It also includes some contact information for issues that businesses can utilize if there are issues that involve students, especially things like parking (find that packet info here). Lastly, it had all the details on the upcoming OU Business Fusion Expo that will be taking place at Legacy Square. If your business is not signed up for this event, find information here on how you can try to get squeezed in. There are few opportunities outside Fusion to have the entire student body’s attention quite like this event.

This will be taking place on August 27, and immediately before Fusion begins, we will also be seeing the inaugural “Parade of Champions.” This entails a partnership with Ottawa University and Ottawa High School students who have achieved the highest of honors athletically and academically. Teams or athletes that have won state, clenched a national title, or won their conference will be the focus as they move up Main Street together. This display of unity between these two organizations will start at 6pm on the 27th. Main Street will be blocked off between 7th and 2nd for that brief period of time. So make your way downtown early to catch that before heading over to Legacy Square for all the fun that Fusion will offer.

Traveling with the Chamber

International travel can be wild―especially when you’re going to South Africa, like the thirteen travelers joining the Chamber trip here in just nineteen days! We hosted the departure meeting with travelers Wednesday evening, prepping them all for the adventure of a lifetime. This is one of two trips that Sherri has organized through the Chamber in 2024, the second leaving for Croatia in November. These trips are a way to experience exotic places with the comfort and security of traveling with a local group. There’s a reason why so many of these travelers choose to join our groups year after year. It’s because Sherri is one of the best around when it comes to making these trips easy and eventful. We will announce our 2025 trip schedule here soon, so stay tuned for more!

Celebrating Six Years with SERC Physical Therapy

This morning Chamber members gathered to celebrate with our local physical therapy office, SERC (pictures here). This year marks their sixth anniversary here in Ottawa, with Dani Swartz moving into 1410 S Main St just a year or so before the pandemic. Even through this challenging period, their office defied the odds and continued to grow. Now, six years later, Dani has been able to move up into a leadership role for the business, allowing her staff to work more directly with clients. Her team includes Jesica Schaub, who now leads the clinic, new Physical Therapist Drew Ott, and Office Coordinator Breanna Shirley (picture here). Jesica moved into this Clinic Director role a month ago after being with Ottawa SERC for the past four years. Drew studied at this location while finishing PT school in Wichita and graduating this past May. He then chose to stick around and now commutes in from Lebo. This group is extremely professional, knowledgeable, and friendly! I’m so glad they choose to support the health of our community through their work.

To share a bit more about what they do, Jesica describes it as head-to-toe rehab and preventative care. Their team focuses on patient recovery from injuries, surgeries, and other physical conditions through tailored rehabilitation programs. They work with patients to restore mobility, strength, and function, offering services like manual therapy, exercise programs, pain management, and preventative care. SERC also specializes in sports rehabilitation, post-operative care, and injury prevention, emphasizing personalized care to meet individual recovery goals. Dani and Jesica both mentioned that the work they do with clients is not cookie cutter; each plan and program is purposefully thought through given the patient’s abilities, timeline, and even their lifestyle (like how many stairs might be in their home or how easy it is to move around their residence). All of this is considered when equipping these clients with the knowledge to do the work at their appointments and, more importantly, how to do it independently.

You do not need a referral to visit their office for any aches and pains as long as you have a private insurance plan―though you do need one for any federal plans. I hope you stay injury-free, but if you don’t, I know the folks down at SERC Physical Therapy will take care of you.

Eggs and Issues - Register Today

I want to take this opportunity to plug this fast-approaching event again. The Chamber’s Legislative Action Committee will be putting on the 2024 Eggs and Issues here in just two weeks on August 29 (register here). This informational breakfast lets participants dive into local challenges with expert speakers. This year is all about one of our most essential resources: water. We expect to learn about why this utility is in danger and how we can all play a part in caring for this vital natural resource. Registration will close next week in order to have a headcount for breakfast; I highly encourage you to snag a spot as seating is limited. AdventHealth Ottawa is a great partner for this program and will be hosting us in their conference room at the Hospital that morning, as well as sponsoring the meal. Make sure to have this on your calendar if you haven’t already done so!

Makayla has started a new professional journey as she just finished her first week at Neosho County Community College as their new Student Success Coordinator (pictures here of her first day). I look forward to seeing her grow into this role over the next school year! She loves being the center of attention (she does not actually enjoy being the center of attention at all) so I wanted to spotlight her in this letter as a good husband should! Talk to you soon,

Ryland Miller

President/CEO

Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce

ryland@ottawakansas.org

785-242-1000