Vinton Chamber of Commerce installs officers, celebrates with Casino Night

By Debbie Adams

The Vinton Area Chamber of Commerce installed its officers and Board of Directors for 2024 on
Jan. 25 at the Vinton War Memorial with about 200 exuberant Chamber members and their
guests filling the Grand Ballroom. This year’s installation ceremony introduced a new Chamber
event—Casino Royale Night and Sponsor Appreciation Night.

In promoting the inaugural event, Chamber Executive Director Angie Chewning invited
attendees “to share an evening of glamour, gaming, and gratitude to experience the thrill of
casino games, enjoy a ‘Taste of the Town,’ and celebrate our Chamber’s success.”

The event opened with new business—the traditional installation of the Chamber officers and
Board of Directors for 2024 by Vinton Mayor Brad Grose. Officers for the coming year are
President Jason Boothe (Realtor, Mountain View Real Estate), 1st Vice President Allison Finney
(American Efficiency Inns), 2nd Vice President Page Stovall Lovern (Pheasant Ridge Nursing and
Rehab Center), and Past President Justin Davison (MemberOne).

The Vinton Area Chamber of Commerce installed new officers at Casino Royale Night at the Vinton War Memorial on Jan. 25. Pictured are (front row, left to right) Chamber Executive Assistant Kathryn Sowers, 1st Vice President Allison Finney, Chamber Executive Director Angie Chewning, and back row, 2nd Vice President Page Stovall Lovern, President Jason Boothe, and Past President Justin Davison. (photo by Debbie Adams)

Board of Directors members for 2024 are Julie Wheeler (HomeTrust Bank), Joy Rierson
(Neely’s Accounting), Tim Greenway (Mountain View Real Estate), Chris McCarty (Grand
Rental Storage), Anthony Conner (The Conner Group), Chris Wheeler (Twin Creeks Brewing
Company), Donald Childress (Coastal Insurance Planning of Virginia), Paula Robins (Bank of Botetourt), Richard Turner (Fritz Sports & Events Enterprises), Kat Pascal (Farmburguesa),
Libby Patterson Criss (The Conner Group), Cory Welch (Pok-E-Joe’s), and Chrissy Sensabaugh
(Pollard 107 South).

Vinton Mayor Brad Grose and Town Manager Pete Peters represent the Town of Vinton on the Chamber board.

The Chamber executive staff includes Executive Director Angie Chewning and Executive
Assistant/Financial Coordinator Kathryn Sowers.

Vinton Area Chamber of Commerce 2024 officers and Board of Directors members were installed in a ceremony at the Vinton War Memorial on Jan. 25. Pictured front row (left to right) are Vinton Mayor Brad Grose, Town Manager Pete Peters, Chamber Executive Asst. Kathryn Sowers, Board member Libby Criss, 1st Vice President Allison Finney, 2nd Vice President Page Stovall Lovern, Board members Paula Robins, Julie Wheeler, Chrissy Sensabaugh, and Chris McCarty, and Chamber Executive Director Angie Chewning; back row, Board member Anthony Conner, President Jason Boothe, Past President Justin Davison, Board members Donald Childress, Tim Greenway, Kat Pascal, Chris Wheeler, and Dr. Richard Turner. (Board member Cory Welch is not pictured.) (photo courtesy of Taylor Reschka, Taylored Images)

“The Vinton Area Chamber of Commerce is a tremendous organization that is a valuable asset to
the Town of Vinton,” Mayor Grose said. “The Chamber membership is comprised of many
dedicated and talented businesspeople in our area. Of course, like all Chambers, one goal of the
Vinton Chamber is to support and promote the business members. However, the Vinton
Chamber also helps provide the citizens of Vinton with entertainment events throughout the
year.”

Those Chamber events include the Senior Expo in March, the Mingle at the Market concerts
throughout the summer and fall, Lunch and Learn sessions, Fall Festival, the Vinton Christmas
Parade, the Santa Crawl, several after-hours, networking, and open house events during the
year—and a host of ribbon-cuttings.

“The quality of the Chamber Casino Royale & Sponsor Appreciation Night is a great example of
the excellent events sponsored by the Chamber,” Grose said. “Vinton is currently experiencing a
very positive business climate that is frequently adding new and exciting businesses. The Town
of Vinton and the Vinton Area Chamber of Commerce work together to promote a growing
business community. The Vinton Town Council and the entire town staff look forward to
continuing a wonderful working relationship with the Chamber to help support our business
community and citizens.”

The Chamber officers and board are not just business owners and leaders in the area—they are
an integral part of the life of the Town of Vinton and vigorously promote the community. They
are familiar faces among the volunteers who staff the special events in the town from the Mingle
Concert series to the Christmas Parade and more.

The presenting sponsor for the inaugural Casino Night was Pinnacle Bank. Entrance sponsor was
MemberOne, with the Town of Vinton as the Venue sponsor. Other sponsors included Realtor
Jason Boothe, ALCOVA Mortgage of Vinton, Flex Photo Booth, Blue Ridge Beverage, and
Mountain View Realty.

In planning Casino Night, the Chamber was especially interested in showcasing local restaurants.
“Taste of the Town” contributors included Pok-E-Joe’s, Pollard 107 South, Farmburguesa,
Beamer’s 25, Tuco’s Taqueria Garaje, Nishi’s, Renee’s Restaurant, Down Home Creamery, New
York Pizza, and McDonald’s.

Casino Royale Night guests were invited to play black jack, slots, poker, craps, and roulette
(gaming tables and machines from Creative Entertainment).

There were prizes and giveaways with gift cards from the Tap House, Tizzone, the Vinton
McDonald’s, Amazon, Bojangles of Vinton, and Farmburguesa, along with Rail Yard Dawg
tickets, a night at the Hyatt, a photo session with Bella Muse, Rosie’s Gaming Emporium Free
Play cards, and Vinton swag from the Chamber of Commerce.

Chewning thanked “all our community partners for contributing to the success of the first Casino
Royale Night” and the Chamber members who have stepped up to serve as officers and members
of the Board of Directors for 2024.