2020
MARCH
NEWSLETTER
Photo: Brad Christensen
INTRODUCTION
From the Executive Director
W
hen I began as executive director of the Chamber back in September, I couldn’t help but notice that many of the people with whom I was meeting shared the common feeling that Lander seems to be on the cusp of something exciting. If last month was any indicator, these folks are onto something. What a fantastic February we had! We welcomed five new members to the Chamber of Commerce, enjoyed a hopping and well-attended Business After Hours at Central Bank & Trust, and hosted more than 200 guests at our annual Community Awards Luncheon at the Lander Community & Convention Center! What a delight it was to experience the joy and gratitude our winners expressed over their recognition by the community. Contributing to that buzz folks are feeling about Lander, a highlight of the Awards Luncheon surely was the presentation of the event’s keynote speaker, Kevin Courville, M.D. of the new Wind River Heart Clinic here in Lander. Dr. Courville is a cardiologist board-certified in Advanced Heart Failure and Transplantation, Interventional Cardiology, and Cardiovascular Diseases. Dedicated to improving the treatment of congestive heart failure (CHF), while still practicing as an independent cardiologist, he began to develop the algorithms and concepts to improve the outpatient management of CHF. This led to the invention of the PULSARIO remote heart management system and the Prevail Heart Clinics of America, of which Wind River Heart Clinic is a part. Dr. Courville wowed the crowd with his descriptions of the fascinating virtual reality technology that soon will be available to patients -- right here in Lander. So advanced is this technology, said Dr. Courville, that cardiac patients will be travelling from Denver and Salt Lake City to Lander to be treated! Big things are on the way! And speaking of big things, while we haven’t even experienced second winter yet, the Chamber is already planning for summer! The 19th annual Lander Brewfest is set for June 12th and 13th at City Park, and we’re getting close to finalizing dates for Lander LIVE. And more good news for your summer from Dr. Courville: his friend and fellow Cajun, country music star Sammy Kershaw, will be putting on a show at the rodeo grounds on Saturday, July 25th! Yes, indeed, big things are on the way for Lander!
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Michelle Mazur, President Elevate Rehab
Jonathan Tonkowich, Vice Pres. Wyoming Catholic College
Eric Andrews, Treasurer Fagnant, Lewis & Brinda P.C.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Ann Espinosa Home Source Realty Inc. Inter Mountain Builders
Dave Fehringer WH Smith & Associates, Inc.
Suzanne Norris Wyoming Life Resource Center
Rick Bestul NAPA Auto Parts
James Whiting Whiting Law PC
Mika Baker, Past President Central Bank & Trust
Joanne Slingerland Central Wyoming College
PROFESSIONAL STAFF Owen Sweeney Executive Director
Carol King Associate Director
Kelsey Ball
Owen Sweeney Executive Director Lander Chamber of Commerce
Operations Assistant
February Business After Hours hosted by Central Bank & Trust
March Business After Hours will be hosted by
Herrmann Global
259 W. Main Street, #201 (Please note change of location)
2019-20 Schedule April 16 Ron’s Flooring
May 21 Lander Golf Course
COMMUNITY EVENTS
BUSINESS AFTER HOURS BUSINESS AFTER
COMMUNITY AWARDS
Rookie of the Year: Alpha Recreation Center (ARC): Glen & Carrie Keller
The Alpha Recreation Center (ARC) is led by Glen & Carrie Keller and directed by Kaci Peil. The ARC is committed to providing affordable recreational opportunities for children, youth, and adults in a safe environment. The 14,000 square foot facility hosts a variety of opportunities for the community to enjoy, including a kids’ playscape, bouncy house, treehouse, game room, gymnasium, and coffee bar. The future vision is one day to create an area for outside activities. Most recently, the ARC celebrated the grand opening of their brand new climbing wall.
Spirit of Lander: Paul Guschewsky
Paul Guschewsky epitomizes the Spirit of Lander. From his volunteer work with the Lander Ambassadors and LEDA to his true entrepreneurial spirit, Paul always has an eye on the future of this fantastic community. Wyoming Catholic College, Rocky Mountain Oncology, and the revitalization of the old Fremont Motors buildings into a new multi-business park are just a few examples of ground-breaking projects that have been steered by his hand. Because Paul shuns the spotlight, few people are aware of his many contributions to our thriving city. The Chamber recognizes his efforts and thank him for his devotion, optimism, and brilliant vision. Without Paul, Lander would be much poorer in economy and in spirit.
Special Recognition: Lander Ambassadors
As a private organization, the Lander Ambassadors truly exemplify charitable service. For more than 30 years the Ambassadors have generously supported events and businesses and have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for various community efforts, most recently contributing nearly $50,000 to the Lander Chamber of Commerce and the Water for Wildlife Foundation. In recognition of more than three decades of always being there for the Lander community, the Chamber presented a special award to the Lander Ambassadors in recognition of their Outstanding Charitable Service.
According to his daughter, Shelli Johnson, Bill Sniffin loves Lander and Wyoming as much or more than anyone she knows. Bill ran the Lander newspaper for 30 years and during a long (and still ongoing) media career, the Sniffins have owned 20 media companies. After the U.S. Steel bust of 1982, Bill cofounded LEADER Corporation and served as its first president as it worked to successfully rebuild Lander. Bill went on to serve as chairman of the Wyoming Travel Commission in 1990 and founded the Wind River Visitor Council. Bill also was a member of the Cornerstone Committee, which worked with the founders of Wyoming Catholic College to locate it here in Lander. Most recently, Bill’s two beautiful coffee table books highlighting the beauty of Wyoming sold more than 34,000 copies. Today, Bill writes a column for 20 Wyoming newspapers and is publisher of Cowboy State Daily. His daughter Shelli says, “When he and my mom moved us to Lander from Iowa when I was 3, it was one of the greatest gifts they’ve given me.”
Anchor Award: Lander Children’s Museum, Martha Howard-Sempert
The Lander Children’s Museum is celebrating 20 years of fostering curiosity and creativity through a variety of hands-on exhibits and interactive experiences. Martha shares that the museum’s goal for the next 20 years is to expand and rebrand itself with STEAM activities (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Math) to appeal to a broader age range and to form partnerships with the community. The 20th Birthday Celebration of the Lander Children’s Museum — the Gatsby Gala — will be celebrated on March 7th, and while this Anchor Award celebrates the past 20 years, the museum looks forward to the possibilities of the next 20. (Martha notes that 20 years ago, the Lander Children’s Museum was honored as Rookie of the Year!)
COMMUNITY AWARDS NEW MEMBER WELCOME
Lifetime Contribution: Bill Sniffin
Beautification Award: Gannett Peak Sports, Thomas Pede
Although it’s much more than a bike shop, Gannett Peak Sports has been named as one of America’s Best Bike Shops by the National Bike Dealers’ Association for six years running. Last year, owner Thomas Pede partnered with Drayson Bratt to purchase the former Shirts & More building, conducted extensive renovations in just 5 weeks, and then relocated the store into the new space. Thomas gives a huge “thank you” to his wife Samantha for her support and for designing the mural that’s been such an attention-grabber and talking point. Thomas also would like to express his gratitude to Roy & Jacquie Hediger, Paul Guschewsky, the McRae family, and Cache Fross for their contributions — and to their many other friends and neighbors who helped them get to where they are today. A final thank you goes out to the incredible customers and crew.
NEW MEMBERS
WELCOMING NEW CHAMBER MEMBER BUSINESSES Rock Shop Inn Anthony Prate - Property Manager/Owner 4260 St Hwy 28, (307) 332-9318 We are proud to announce the re-opening of the Rock Shop and look forward to seeing you in our neck of the woods! Come rent a cabin or hook up an RV on our beautiful property this spring, or just stop in for a cold drink and a warm meal when the restaurant and saloon open later this year. The trails out back offer endless possibilities for fun, so come on by and let’s get outside! ABC Resources, Alan and Zina Thomalla 153c S. 5th St., Lander, (307) 349-6080 ABC Resources is a Wellness Psychology practice. We assist people in maximizing their emotional, intellectual, physical, social, spiritual, occupational, and environmental health. Two popular programs we offer to support this mission are the Allay Stress Spa and Studio 153 Gallery. Alan has a doctorate in psychology and Zina has her doctorate in physical therapy both from the University of Illinois. Law Office of Zachary Hamilton Mahlum LLC, Zachary Mahlum 933 Main St., Suite 6, Lander (307) 332-5743 Zach Mahlum arrived in Wyoming after a careful analysis of the only two criteria he deemed important: cost of living and access to skiing. After graduating from the University of Wyoming College of Law in 2018, he opened his law practice out of his living room. Fortunately, Zach was presented the opportunity to take over Sky Phifer’s practice in Lander, and Lander is where Zach intends to stay.
Bighorn Restoration Group (BRG) Ron & Carol Smith, 803 Welch Blvd., Lander 307-335-5366 BRG’ mission is “Helping Bring Bighorns Back Home to the Southern Wind River Mountains.” BRG’s president, Ron Smith, took a trip up Sinks Canyon in 2014 to learn that the Bighorn sheep he enjoyed viewing as a young man had died out. Since that depressing day, Ron and his wife Carol, BRG’s secretary, have embarked on a quest to return the bighorns to the southern Wind River Mountains.
EVERY MONDAY Book sale at the Book Nook, 4-7 pm, Carnegie Room, Lander Library EVERY SATURDAY Acoustic Music Jam 11am-1pm, Lander Bake Shop Lander Valley Farmers Market, 1-3 pm, VFW, on the west end of Main St. Book sale at the Book Nook, 4-7 pm, Carnegie Room, Lander Library FIRST WEDNESDAY Brain Injury Support Group 5-6 pm, Soldier’s House of Fremont County, Riverton THIRD THURSDAY Soup & Support: Caregiver Support Group, 11am-12:30 pm, Frontier Home Health & Hospice 1-31 Lander Art Center Student Select Art Show Tues-Thurs 10-6; Fri-Sat 10-4 4 Public Lands 6-7 pm, Central Wyoming College Lander
5 Local Food & Water 7-8:15 pm, Lander Community Center 6 First Friday open til 9 pm, Belles & Beaus 6 First Friday: Art & Live Music 5-9 pm, The Middle Fork 6 Met Opera Live in HD - “Porgy and Bess” 5:308:45 pm, Lander Library Carnegie Room 6, 7, 8, 13, 14 Annie Get Your Gun March 6, 7, 13, 14: 7pm March 8: 2 pm Main Stage at CWC Riverton 7 Lander Children’s Museum Gatsby Gala Night 5-10 pm, Lander Community Center 12 History of Radio and Broadcasting in Fremont County 6:30-8 pm, Riverton Museum 12 Lander in 1920 7-8 pm, Pioneer Museum, Lander
14 Met Opera Live in HD Flying Dutchman 11 am-1:45 pm, Lander Library Carnegie Room 18 Public Lands 6-7 pm, Central Wyoming College Lander 19 Business After Hours! 5:30-7:30 pm, Herrmann Global, Lander
CALENDAR
March Calendar of Events
21 Build Your Own Telegraph 2-4 pm, Riverton Museum 21 Hunger Banquet 5:15-8 pm, United Methodist Church 21 Swift Fox Ecology, Distribution and Trends in Wyoming 7-8:30 pm, Dubois Museum 28 10 Country Chapter Sixth Annual Banquet 4-11 pm, Lander Community Center 29 Agrippina, Met Opera Live in HD 11am2:45 pm, Lander Library Carnegie Room
Country Charm Tammy Logue 173 Main St., Lander Creative Energies LLC Scott Kane PO Box 1777, Lander DAPCPA Riverton LLC 320 S. Federal Blvd., Riverton Farm Bureau Financial Services Cori Slingerland, Jake Huhnke 1630 Main St., Lander Fremont Communications Doug Thompson 925 Lincoln St., Lander Fremont Motor Company 1731 W. Main, Lander Gales Carpet One Floor & Home Mike & Heather Becker 220 E Main St., Riverton Guardian Flight LLC Chad Carlston 170 Dupont, Lander
Help for Health Hospice Care 1240 College View Dr., Riverton Holiday Lodge Kiki Zhang, Michael Li 210 McFarlane Dr., Lander Ice House Dick Tann 671 Lincoln St., Lander
Sunflower Kids Judi Davis PO Box 1324, Lander Sweetwater Food & Beverage Ron Hansen 8116 Hwy 789, Lander Water For Wildlife Foundation Vickie Hutchinson-Renkert, Executive Director 545 Main St., Lander
Jones, Mike 2316 Baldwin Creek Rd., Lander
Wyoming Waste Systems Bruce Leven, District Manager 730 S Broadway, Riverton
Lander Bodyworks Amy McDonald 605 Main St., Lander
Wyoming Windows & Cabinets Chris & Karlene Moore 3011 Hwy 287, Lander
Lander Family Medicine PC Dr. Susan Pearson 8195 Hwy 789, Lander LEADER Corporation Dave Kellogg, President 185 S. 5th St., Lander Rocky Mountain Power Mike Morrissey, WY Regional Business Manager 2840 E. Yellowstone Hwy, Casper
WELCOME TO OUR NEW MEMBERS! Broken Anvil Ranch Francie Mortenson PO Box 1837, Lander
RENEWING MEMBERS
Anesi, Doug 40 Pheasant Run Dr., Lander
Hediger, Roy & Jacquie 55 Gypsum Rd., Lander
RENEWING MEMBERS
Alexander Excavation Inc. Wade Alexander 101 Garfield St., Lander
Only Co. Brian Fabel, Project Owner 237 N. Main St., Sheridan
Ron’s Flooring LLC Ron Gonzales 343 Main St., Lander
PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. Postage Paid LANDER, WY PERMIT NO. 78
This issue of the chamber newsletter is printed by Western Printing