By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce officials host members of the Hawthorn Foundation this week for the first time.
Chamber President Natalie Redmond, who serves as the treasurer for the Hawthorn Foundation, says St. Joseph is going all out for this visit.
“Why this is critical to economic development in St. Joseph; it’s the first time we’ve hosted this group,” Redmond tells host Barry Birr on the KFEQ Hotline. “We will be hosting the Missouri Partnership board meeting and the Hawthorn board meeting and what’s neat about that is it gives us a chance to showcase St. Joseph and our businesses in St. Joseph and what we’re doing in St. Joseph.”
The Hawthorn Foundation is a public-private foundation that works with the Missouri Partnership to recruit businesses to the state. Its Executive Director, Becky Willard, is a St. Joseph native.
Redmond says it’s important to bring members of the Hawthorn board to St. Joseph.
“These meetings are usually in Columbia, Springfield, St. Louis and we are hosting them Thursday and Friday to show off really how great it is to do business in northwest Missouri,” according to Redmond.
Redmond, as Hawthorn Foundation treasurer, was instrumental in getting board members to host their meeting in St. Joseph.
“So, we tend to be just far enough way that sometimes they forget about us,” Redmond says. “So, we are so excited to host them for two days, roll out the red carpet, and really highlight why it’s great to do business in northwest Missouri.”
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