BUSINESS REVIEW LITTLE APPLE
March 2019, Volume 15, Issue 3, www.manhattan.org
A publication of the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce
Annual dinner caps off Butler’s CEO tenure with Manhattan Chamber
Manhattan Area Chamber’s 94th annual dinner and banquet was charged with emotion as the final celebration during Lyle Butler’s lengthy and distinguished tenure as the Chamber’s president and chief executive officer. During the meeting, Board Chair Wayne Sloan announced the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation “Lyle Butler Donor Advised Leadership Fund” with $12,000 already pledged. Also, the Leadership Manhattan Distinguished Alumni award winner will be presented the “Lyle Butler Distinguished Leadership Award.”
Butler was greeted with a rousing, standing ovation after a three-minute video tribute to his dedicated service. The video determined Butler had attended nearly 500 ribbon cuttings and more than three dozen groundbreaking ceremonies since his 2000 debut. Advantage Manhattan campaigns have since raised in excess of $10 million to bolster economic development. Butler also estimated he’s spent around 2,000 hours in city commission meetings while in office. During the video,Visit Manhattan President Karen Hibbard, City Manager Ron Fehr, Kansas State University Director of Economic Development Rebecca Robinson, Sloan and others touted Butler’s commendable leadership over 18-plus years in Manhattan. In more annual meeting business, Sloan reinforced his three-point emphasis for his 2019 chair term, to include a smooth transition for incoming CEO Jason Smith, build upon Young Professionals program’s impact and clear the path for Region Reimagined to decisively impact the multicommunity area. Annual citizen of the year and volunteer of the year awards concluded ceremonies. 2018 Board Chair Matt Crocker doled out the high, civic honors to Phil Howe and Dr. Cheryl Grice, respectively. Howe
became the 52nd citizen of the year recipient in recognition of his business and philanthropic efforts. Howe has guided KS StateBank’s 50-year success story and helped create the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation. He’s also made integral contributions to the Center for Advancement of Entrepreneurship in the College of Business Administration at Kansas State University.
The banquet was an excellent stimulus for creating momentum as the Chamber moves ahead in 2019.
Thanks to our presenting sponsor: Bank of the Flint Hills
Grice was lavish in her praise for C. Clyde Jones, for whom the volunteer award is named. Grice is director of strategic relations at Kansas State University, and admitted some uncertainty when she and husband Ronnie arrived in Manhattan approximately 25 years ago. Her doubt quickly eroded and she has been an important fabric of campus and the community. Grice volunteers on the Chamber’s workforce advisory board and has worked to connect Fort Riley soldiers to community business associates. Her lengthy community service includes helping to found the Fairy Godmothers Fund, and time devoted to Friends of McCain and Little Apple Pilot Fund among many other organizations.
(Clockwise from top): Cheryl Grice received the volunteer of the year award from 2018 Board Chair Matt Crocker, who presented Phil Howe with the citizen of the year accolade and greeted Lyle Butler upon a donor advised leadership fund named in Butler’s honor.
