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Ambassadors will abound
Ambassadors from state to visit Williams

Pictured is volunteer Chamber Ambassador Tish Hernandez at a recent mixer. A number of ambassors from around the state will visit Williams in May.

Pictured is volunteer Chamber Ambassador Tish Hernandez at a recent mixer. A number of ambassors from around the state will visit Williams in May.

Williams residents see them whether they realize it or not. Ambassadors for Williams, dressed in their stylized red shirts with black lettering, wave cars past barricades, welcome visitors, attend almost every Williams function and come in all shapes and sizes. As ambassadors of Williams and the local Williams-Grand Canyon Chamber of Commerce, they range from area business owners, retirees, students young and old and even include junior ambassadors from the Williams Elementary-Middle School.

According to Sue Atkinson, Chamber of Commerce Event Coordinator, the junior group was formed by Williams resident Carol Glassburn and boasts a roster of over 70 members.

Chamber of commerce ambassador groups, she said, are great community assets.

"They welcome new businesses into town. They host ribbon cuttings and mixers at different businesses around town once a month," Atkinson said. "They volunteer their time that they put in for these events, for ribbon cuttings. They help with various things, from road closures, to registration, to parade lineups. They are a really a big part of what we do here at the chamber."

Ambassadors from every corner of Arizona will converge on Williams for a two-day conference May 2-3. According to officials with the Williams-Grand Canyon Chamber of Commerce, who will host the large event, the conference will offer networking, educational and experience-sharing opportunities for those in attendance. The event will be held at the Mountain Side Inn and Conference Center.

"They're from the different chambers around the state and they are chamber of commerce ambassadors - same as our group," Atkinson said.

The event will kick off May 2 with check in beginning at 3 p.m., followed by an Ambassadors mixer at the Mountain Side Inn from 5 to 7 p.m. Organizers will offer a continental breakfast from 7:30 to 9 p.m. on May 3, followed by introductions from 9 to 9:30 p.m. Other events planned for May 3 include an opportunity for groups to showcase the best of their experiences in volunteering and raffles, which is scheduled to be held throughout the day. The conference will conclude with dinner at Wild West Junction beginning at 5:30 p.m.

"We're asking each ambassadors group that comes to town to bring an item, valued at a minimum of $25 to donate and those donations, then, will be put up as raffle prizes throughout the day," Atkinson said. "The Williams-Grand Canyon Chamber of Commerce received graciously from the railway, four first class tickets aboard the railway and that's going to be our raffle prize to give away."

National keynote speaker

David K. Aaker will offer two presentations during the event, one on great customer service and the second on "reaching for the stars." Aaker is a trainer who specializes in customer service, leadership and communication.

"We are still looking for sponsors for the event," Atkinson said. "Golden Eagle Distributors out of Flagstaff is one of our presenting sponsors, as well as the Kiwanis Club and Glassburn Rentals."


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