Story by Nick Kendall
Contributing writer
nkendall1@murraystate.edu
On Monday, July 15 the Murray-Calloway County Chamber of Commerce was named the 2019 Chamber of the Year by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives.
Michelle Bundren, president and CEO of the Chamber accepted the award in Long Beach, CA. She said she really enjoyed getting the opportunity to praise the community to people across the country.
“It’s really special to see all the news recognition that we’re getting,” Bundren said. “We get to champion Murray State and all the great things we have going on here in the community.”
After being named finalists by the executives, Bundren and her team arrived in Long Beach on Saturday, July 13 and spent the entire night preparing for their 9 a.m. interview.
The only criteria given for the interview is that it needed to be 45 minutes long with no references, just her and her team telling the ACCE about the Murray-Calloway County Chamber of Commerce.
Bundren said the three-step application process was rigorous with 20% more applicants than last year. They knew they had to make the Chamber really stand out.
“The first step is benchmark data, which just basically make sure you’re meeting the standard, basic standards of chamber based on your budget and things like that,” Bundren said. “Then you have to submit two synopsis and then complete a bunch of essay questions around initiatives we’re doing, how we’re diversifying in our community, which we really got to talk about how we’re doing that with our board. Then you submit that and then you just kind of wait. Then the last step was the interview at the conference.”
Congressman James Comer recognized Bundren and her staff for the award on the floor of the House on July 17.
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Murray-Calloway County Chamber of Commerce…,” Comer said. “The Chamber’s efforts have benefited not only the Murray-Calloway County area, but positively impacted communities throughout Western Kentucky.”
Bundren credits her public relations degree from Murray State for giving her the chance to learn about the opportunities in the Chamber industry and she would like to keep the strong relationship going.
“The University really is the economic driver, not only for our community, but the region,” Bundren said. “We are 100% supportive in any way that we can be to the university. We love promoting the Racer Proud movement, whenever we can. Really, really supportive of Dr. Jackson, the town and gown program development office, recruitment office, even the business department, we just have a close relationship with the University so I look forward to seeing how we can further develop that.”
The 92nd annual Chamber Business Celebration fundraiser will be July 19 at 5:30 p.m. in the CFSB Center. Tickets for the event are sold out.
Bundren expects this to be a great time with the community and members of the Chamber by having fun activities and a surprise at the end.
“It’s going to be a loud night,” Bundren said. “We’re going to have loud music with the dueling pianos. Trey Morris will be our emcee who just won his own international auctioneer award. So we’re really excited to celebrate with the community.
The Chamber of the Year award will be there and then the Chamber will have their own eight awards to give away.
“We’re really excited to announce those winner,” Bundren said. “It’s going to be a really good time. So we look forward to it and know that it’ll be a really special night.”
This won’t be the only achievement for Bundren to celebrate.
Success seems to run in the family, as her brother Matthew Houser was just named principal of McCracken County High School last month and Bundren couldn’t be more proud.
“It’s really special to see both of us just invested in the area where we both grew up, Bundren said. “We want to provide every opportunity that we can for our children, his you know, avenue is through education in high school, and then mine is through the Chamber, and how we can really help provide a quality life here in this region.”
Bundren wants to keep up her success by continuing to make Murray successful and put the Chamber in the exact same position to win the award again next year.