HUTCHINSON, Kan. – Chris Gardner, an entrepreneur, #1 bestselling author, philanthropist, and single parent whose work has been recognized by many esteemed organizations will be the keynote speaker at the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting on Monday, February 13, 2017. The meeting will be held in the Hutchinson Sports Arena.
“We are excited to have Chris Gardner as the keynote speaker for this year’s annual meeting,” said Sarah Liebl, Chief Financial Officer for Harris Enterprises and the 2017 Chamber Board Chair. “After what has been a tense political season, I believe this will be a welcome departure for our members and the community to hear Mr. Gardner’s uplifting story of his life’s journey, how he persevered to find his passion, pursue success, and most importantly, happiness.”
The Chamber is pleased to have Allen Samuels Dodge-Chrysler-Jeep-Ram-Mazda as the Premier Sponsor for the 2017 Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting. New to the community, Allen Samuels recently opened their first dealership in the state of Kansas here in Hutchinson and has already shown to be a strong supporter of the Chamber and the community.
“We are honored to be the Premier sponsor for this year’s Annual Meeting,” said Derek Tanksley, President and General Manager of Allen Samuels Dodge-Chrysler-Jeep-Ram-Mazda.
Gardner is the author of the 2006 autobiography, The Pursuit of Happyness, a New York Times and Washington Post #1 bestseller that has been translated into over forty languages. Gardner is also the inspiration for the acclaimed movie The Pursuit of Happyness for which Will Smith, starring as Gardner, received Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild and Academy Award nominations for his performance. Gardner’s second bestselling book, Start Where You Are: Life Lessons in Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be, was published in May 2009.
Always hard working and tenacious, a series of adverse circumstances in the early 1980’s left Gardner homeless in San Francisco and the sole guardian of his toddler son. Unwilling to give up Chris Jr. or his dreams of success, Gardner climbed the financial industry ladder from the very bottom. He worked at Dean Witter Reynolds and Bear Stearns & Co before founding the brokerage firm Gardner Rich in Chicago in 1987. In the fall of 2010, Gardner was named the Ambassador of Pursuit and Happyness for AARP, which has nearly 40 million members worldwide.
Gardner’s aim, through his speaking engagements and media projects, is to help others achieve their full potential. He is a passionate philanthropist committed to organizations combating violence against women, homelessness, financial illiteracy, and providing access to medical care and treatment; issues of the utmost importance to Gardner.
Additional sponsorship opportunities for the 2017 Annual Meeting are available; please contact Marcy Kauffman at the Chamber office at (620) 662-3391 for more information.
Watch for ticket information later this year on the Chamber website at www.hutchchamber.com.