The Great Bend Chamber of Commerce has three full-time employees, but a band of 33 Chamber Ambassadors provides a vibrant community presence, said Julie Mazouch. On Thursday, the Ambassador Club hosted a Chamber Coffee.
The Chamber staff includes Member Success Manager Mazouch; Director of Marketing Ashley Hickman; and President/CEO Megan Barfield. In addition to these three, office assistant Calli Sheridan has served since 2024 but will soon leave for a job in Wichita. Stepping into that role is Mayra Ochoa.
Kimberly Becker, with Move Your Maintain Coaching & Consulting, is this year’s Ambassador Club president and Benn Maddox with Equity Bank is the vice-president. Members assist the Chamber with networking events, ribbon cuttings, groundbreakings and membership recruitment and retention. The group allows the Chamber to cultivate business relationships and network with the area’s most successful people.
“They are the boots on the ground for the Chamber; they are the eyes and ears for the community,” Mazouch said.
Lately, their presence in the community has been greater than ever.
“Our Ambassador Blitz initiative launched in 2025 and has quickly become a key way we stay connected with our members and the broader business community,” Mazouch said. “During Blitz visits, Ambassadors check in with businesses to see how things are going, ask what support or resources they may need, and help connect them with Chamber opportunities and tools. We conducted three Blitzes last year, and this year we are expanding the program to take place monthly to strengthen engagement and support throughout the year.”
Now that the Blitzes are going on, she told Chamber members, “You may see one or two ambassadors show up at your organization to bring you some goodies and some current information on what’s going on at the Chamber. (On Tuesday), we actually touched close to 70 businesses in one day.”
The Chamber Ambassador program requires a two-year commitment. Businesses are encouraged to consider nominating an employee to serve, or individuals can contact the Chamber themselves.
“It’s a great way to market your organization,” Becker said. Becoming an Ambassador has given her an opportunity to learn about other businesses in the community. Anyone who would like to become an Ambassador is encouraged to contact a member of the Chamber staff.
Most of the Ambassadors were at Thursday’s Coffee and brought door prizes from the businesses or organizations they represent. The coffee was provided by Avast Ye Java, owned by Charles Fitz and the “build your own treat” table of breakfast mini pancakes, fruits and toppings was by The Fiesta Cart with Dani, owned by Daniela Garcia.
Chamber announcements
• The Golden Harvest Thrift Store, operated by Catholic Charities of Southwest Kansas at 2410 Main Street, has just put out a selection of prom dresses.
• Roger Long with Barton County Farm Bureau said Joy Eakins, Republican party candidate for governor, will be at Dry Lake Brewing from 5:30-6 p.m. on Feb. 5. Eakins is Barton County Farm Bureau's County Connect candidate this year.
• Mark Mingenback said that people who liked the house salad dressing at Great Bend Coffee are in luck, because Perk’s Coffee Shop now has the recipe. LaResa and Eugene Likes owned Great Bend Coffee until it closed last August. Mingenback said LaResa shared her recipe.
• Lindsey Bogner at Barton Community College curated the Shafer Art Gallery’s latest exhibit, “Go Figure.” It is a collection of portraits, figurative works, sculpture, prints and a historic temple rubbing. Included is artwork by local artists along with pieces by world-renowned figures such as Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí. See the exhibit through Feb. 21 at the Shafer Gallery on the Barton campus, open from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Admission is free.
• Bogner also announced that on Feb. 6 the college will host a Career Technical Education Fair for eighth-graders. (There’s also a high school career fair that day. For more information, contact Karly Little (littlek@bartonccc.edu). Junior Day on Feb. 13 will offer high school juniors a tour of the campus, information about financial aid, and drawings for scholarships. Finally, applications are being taken for scholarships offered through the Barton Community College Foundation. Apply at apply.bartonccc.edu.
• Julie Bugner Smith was hired as BCC’s Alumni and Events Coordinator in December. She encourages former Barton students to get in touch with her at bugnersmithj@bartonccc.edu or call 620-792-9324 if they are interested in learning more. Thursday, Feb. 12, will be Barton Trivia Night at 7 p.m. at Dry Lake Brewing. Test your knowledge of the college.
• Stueder Contractors conducted its second-annual Holiday Heat Up program in December, inviting the public to nominate a family that could use a new Lennox HVAC system, fully installed free of charge. It was delivered to a home in Ellinwood.
• The Chamber now offers “The Leader’s Lunchroom” at noon on the first Tuesday of every month. Bring your lunch and meet in the Great Bend Chamber Board Room to spend an hour with like-minded leaders for a powerful Leadership Nugget – a bite-sized session designed to help you refocus, gain momentum. and expand your impact. Becker is the host for these free programs.
• Sponsorships are available for the Annual Chamber Award Night on Feb. 28.
• The next Chamber Coffee will be at 9 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 29, at 15 SW 40 Ave. (Fuller Industries location; enter on the north side.) It will be hosted by the Freaking Delicious Cheesecake Company, which is using the commercial kitchen at Fuller.
