To celebrate Chamber of Commerce Week, Chamber Ambassadors for the Hope-Hempstead County Chamber of Commerce hosted this week's Community Coffee this morning at the Chamber office in downtown Hope. With Halloween creeping its way up the calendar, this creative group of community delegates brought a spooktacular theme to the event with fun, festive decorations, music, and food. The huge spread of tasty treats and hors d'oeuvres held a quality of of eerie entertainment that made eating the supernatural snacks delightfully fun.

Throughout the event though, the group's purpose remained at the forefront as they chatted and visited with guests and representatives from all around the community. Chamber Ambassador Coordinator Trevor Moses explained that Chamber Ambassadors are representatives from member businesses who are willing to volunteer their time, effort, and hard work to chamber events and activities. He said he was proud of the turnout of today's event. "I think it is really exciting that we get to promote Chamber of Commerce Week by having ambassadors host the Coffee, and they did a great job!" Moses said.

Chamber Director Christy Burns had more compliments for the group. "They are the hands and the feet of the chamber; they are the reason we are able to get so much accomplished," Burns said. "I know I can call on them for anything we are working on and they will be there to lend a hand. This is a great group of people!" Burns also said that the Chamber could never have too many ambassadors, and those interested in becoming more involved in the community should definitely apply. "Working as an ambassador is the best way to learn more about your community," Burns said.

After all their hard work, the Chamber Ambassadors themselves seemed to be enjoying the fellowship of the event. Anthony Rickard, of Oak-Lan Catering and More, just became an ambassador this year, and he said it has been time well spent. "Since I opened Oak-Lan, this has been a great way to get to know more business owners and community leaders in our area," Rickard said. "I have enjoyed working with everyone on ways to move our community forward, and I hope to continue those efforts so this can be a great place for our children and families."

Holli Boyett, Chamber Ambassador representing Southwest Arkansas Educational Cooperative (SWAEC), said participating in the ambassador program and attending these types of events provided benefits for all in the community. "This is a great networking opportunity," Boyett said. "It's a good way to share what your employer and your programs have to offer and to connect those programs with people in the community and meet their needs."

Representatives from businesses and organizations all around the community were there to support the mysteriously magical milestone of Chamber of Commerce Week: Farmers Bank & Trust, Lance & Associates, Hope Water & Light, Klipsch Heritage Museum Association, Hempstead County Economic Development Corporation, Hebrews 11:1, Ritter Communications, and more. Even those in the arena of politics joined the fun of this creeptastic community celebration. Representative Danny Watson was on the scene, in addition to Brendan Spaulding from Congressman Bruce Westerman's office.

All in all, the Chamber Ambassadors Community Coffee turned out to be a heck of a Halloween good time filled with community and camaraderie.

See photos below of all the fun, and this is the full list of Chamber Ambassadors for the Hope-Hempstead County Chamber of Commerce.

Krystal Goshen, Hope Water & Light
Lindsey Townsend, Lance & Associates Real Estate
Mark Ross, Caney Creek Mobile Home Estates
Stephanie Mendoza, Manpower
Summer Powell, Hope Parks & Recreation
Deanna Gilbert, Hope Public School District
Angelica Manzanares, EsaBeauty XOXO
Deanna Allen, Gentiva Community Care & Hospice
Jeri Easterling, Retired Teacher, HPS
Holli Boyett, Southwest Arkansas Education Cooperative
Tanya Alvarado, Diamond Bank
Aley Mendoza, Heather Doucet State Farm Insurance
Cynthia Ortiz, Farmers Bank & Trust
Trevor Moses, Hope Hempstead County Chamber of Commerce
Brady Moses, Farmer’s Bank & Trust
Sheba Smith, Sheba’s Family Restaurant
Ashley Martinez, F.A.C.T. INC
Charlotte Berry, F.A.C.T. INC
Anthony Rickard, Oak Lan Food Truck & More
Eric Lowe, Arkansas Division of Workforce Services