 The Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that Hannah Hutton has been promoted to full-time Program Coordinator. In this role, Hutton will support the Chamber’s growing event portfolio by managing the planning and execution of more than 60 programs and events annually. She will report directly to Kaytee Lorentzen, Director of Communications & Events.
“To meet the rising demand for high-quality programming and event execution, we created this new full-time position,” said Lorentzen. “Hannah has already proven herself as an invaluable asset in her part-time role. Her strong work ethic, creativity, and attention to detail have enhanced our events tremendously. I’m excited to see her thrive in this expanded capacity.” Hutton joined the Chamber in Spring 2023 as the Events & Program Intern while studying Tourism, Hospitality, & Event Management with a minor in Media & Creative Advertising at Indiana University. She was then hired part-time at the Chamber while pursuing her studies full-time. During her tenure, she has contributed significantly to Chamber initiatives including Showcase Bloomington, the Women Excel Bloomington Awards, and the Chamber’s Member Appreciation campaigns. She also played a key role in redesigning the Chamber’s Impact Report and elevating the Chamber’s visual branding and marketing collateral.
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 This year marks the second year of the Valor Awards, a distinguished ceremony brought to you by the Exchange Club of Northside Bloomington in partnership with the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce. The ceremony is dedicated to honoring the bravery and selflessness of our first responders. Set to spotlight these everyday heroes, the Valor Awards will recognize one individual from each sector for their exemplary service. The event, proudly presented by Old National Bank and Weddle Bros. Construction Companies, will unfold at the Monroe Convention Center on Tuesday, May 6th, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Nominations were solicited from Monroe County entities in five categories: law enforcement, fire, correctional center, dispatch, and emergency medical technicians, with an outside selection committee tasked with reviewing submissions. The winners of each category will be announced during the awards presentation. The following individuals have been nominated in recognition for their outstanding service:
Regional Opportunity Initiatives (ROI), The Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce’s Foundation – The Success School, Monroe County Community Schools, and Richland-Bean Blossom Community Schools have announced a new partnership aimed at strengthening the regional talent pipeline in the Uplands region. This collaboration focuses on providing students with opportunities for success after high school through various career exploration and skill-building initiatives.
The partnership comes at a crucial time as local employers seek new ways to develop a skilled workforce while offering high school students hands-on experience in various fields. "By working together, we are ensuring that students are well-equipped with the knowledge and experience they need to succeed after graduation, while also addressing the ongoing workforce needs of our local businesses," said Christopher Emge, Senior Director of Government & Community Relations of the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce. Through a variety of opportunities, local businesses are invited to get involved and help shape the next generation of talent. These opportunities include job shadowing, mock interviews, mentorship programs, company tours, career discovery meetings, and more. Employers will have the chance to directly engage with students through in-person or virtual events such as career fairs, panel discussions, and internships. Additionally, employers can collaborate with students through mentorship opportunities or by participating in student-run business initiatives.  The Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce it is now accepting nominations for the 15th Annual Women Excel Bloomington (WEB) Awards. Each year, several women are recognized for their outstanding leadership in influencing the growth of others in the community and/or in their professional organization. WEB has a history of recognizing local, civic-minded women from various backgrounds and professions who mentor others and lead by example. Through their actions and initiatives, these women serve as an inspiration and demonstrate outstanding leadership in all they do. These prestigious business leadership awards will be presented at the WEB Awards reception scheduled for Thursday, July 10th at One World at Woolery Mill.
WEB nominees serve as an inspiration, helping others to excel as they lead by example. They may be employed in either the business sector or a non-profit organization. Other criteria include:
“We encourage our community to help us recognize the remarkable women who lead with purpose and inspire others to grow,” said Eric Spoonmore, President & CEO of the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce. “By nominating someone for the Women Excel Bloomington Awards, you’re not only honoring their contributions—you’re uplifting the values of leadership, mentorship, and community impact that make Bloomington thrive.” Nominations may be submitted on the Chamber’s website (chamberbloomington.org/webnominations). A nomination form is also available online or by calling the Chamber at (812) 336-6381. All nominations should be submitted to the Chamber on or before Thursday, May 29th, 2025 at 5:00p.m. NOTE: This Legislative Update featuring Senior Director of Government & Community Relations, Christopher Emge, was originally published on CATS on Monday, April 21st, 2025. The Leagues of Women Voters of Bloomington-Monroe County, Brown County, and Johnson County, and the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce are pleased to co-sponsor this event.
NOTE: This news article featuring Senior Director of Government & Community Relations, Christopher Emge, was originally published by Indiana Public Media, WFIU on Noon Edition by Patrick Beane on Friday, April 11th, 2025.  (Schmidt Associates, Convergence Design) Trees have been cut down, parking barriers installed, and plans are underway for construction to begin in June on the expansion of the convention center in downtown Bloomington.
Even the name has changed, from the Monroe Convention Center to the Bloomington Convention Center. It’s taken almost a decade to get the expansion project to this point. The plan includes a 61,000-square foot building across College Avenue from the current convention center, along with renovations to the current building. That includes a full-service kitchen that could serve close to 2,000 people, a bus pull-off with Third Street corridor alignment, a loading dock ramp, relocation of utilities, and a climate-friendly green roof. Click the video to watch the latest episode of Chamber Insider Update.
Hello, Chamber friends. This is Eric Spoonmore, President and CEO of the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce, and I’m excited to share with you this month's Chamber Insider Update. Thanks for watching, and from all of us at the Chamber, thank you for all that you do to support our community and the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce. Special thank you to Wes Lasher with The Production House for his time and talent to create this video for us! (http://www.facebook.com/ProductionHouseVideo/) NOTE: This Legislative Update featuring Senior Director of Government & Community Relations, Christopher Emge, was originally published on CATS on Monday, March 10th, 2025. The Leagues of Women Voters of Bloomington-Monroe County, Brown County, and Johnson County, and the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce are pleased to co-sponsor this event. NOTE: This news article featuring President & CEO, Eric Spoonmore, was originally published by IDS - Gabby Rogers on Friday, March 7th, 2025.  The council chambers are pictured Sept. 4, 2024, in City Hall in Bloomington. The city council approved construction to begin on the Monroe County Convention Center expansion at a meeting Wednesday. Photo by Molly Gregory / The Indiana Daily Student A round of applause filled the council chambers after Bloomington City Council unanimously passed the critical step in the years-long Monroe County Convention Center expansion project.
The council greenlighted $46,825,000 in lease rental revenue bonds to renovate the center. Click the video to watch the latest episode of Chamber Insider Update.
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