Expo offered true spirit of community
A true spirit of “Community” was on display at the Yuma County Chamber of Commerce’s Community Expo held last month at the Civic Center. The energy from the previous night’s Mega-Mixer, sponsored by MGM Design, with the Caballeros de Yuma leadership welcome, was still sky high as the lobby was packed with displays from MCASYuma, MCCS, Yuma Proving Ground, AeroCare, Piedmont Airlines, EAA, The Aeromodelers, Civil Air Patrol, and the sponsors themselves, the Yuma International Airport. The Yuma Room was jumping with over 60 vendor booths, including those from our sponsors: 1st Bank Yuma, D & H Electric, Yuma Investment Group, AEA Federal Credit Union, Wells Fargo, Coca Cola, RV World and Fisher Chevy/GMC.
The entire family was treated to kid friendly areas provided by the Children’s Museum of Yuma County, Milestones Preschool and face painting by Funny Faces. Then, they all got to participate in the Chamber’s 1st Annual Taste of Yuma restaurant competition event. Da Boyz, Pint House, Julieanna’s, JT Bros, Lutes Casino, 251 Twisted Kitchen, El Charro, The Landing, The Q, The Press, and Prison Hill dished it out for three hours and El Charro won the Popular Choice award, while the Press won the People’s Choice award. The vendor booths were decorated wonderfully, and Yuma Pest won for the Most Original booth, Mary Kay by Lynne Gouge won for the Most Creative booth, Best Branding booth was won by Ed Whitehead’s Tire Pros and D & H Electric won for the booth with the Maximum Fun!
Over 1,000 people attended and we could not have reached that level of success without our sponsor/ partners at the Civic Center and the wonderful volunteer work of our
Ambassadors including Carol Underhill, Edgar Olvera, Lori Arney, Sabra Wright, John Lizarraga, Jeff Ahuacztin, Lisa Rammelt, Maria Doten, Luis Carillo, Sheila Wood, Esther Markle, Clarissa Anderson, Veronica Medina, Flora Llamas, Mark Briones, and many, many others (if I missed your name here, I owe you, big time). Of course, the Yuma County Chamber of Commerce has the best team in town with Sheryl Hehe, Tania Pavlak and Diana Wise, which makes these huge undertakings so memorable.
Non-profit organizations in this town are highly successful because of the tremendous media support they receive, and the Chamber is no exception, as we enjoy terrific partnerships with all the outlets in Yuma County. Huge thanks go to the Yuma Sun, NPG of Yuma, El Dorado Broadcasters, Sign Pro / Del Outdoor, Entravision, and Monster Media. We live in a special place, and the outpouring of support from everyone during the 2019 Mega-Mixer and Community Expo proved that the generosity of spirit that exists here is like no other. Thanks, Yuma, we will do it again on September 26 of 2020. JOHN COURTIS Yuma County Chamber of Commerce