2019 Annual Meeting Speakers Announced

Authors of the documentary “I’ll Push You”to Speak at the 2019 Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting

Justin Skeesuck and Patrick Gray, inspirational adventurers, lifelong friends, and achievers of the impossible, will be the keynote speakers at the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting on Monday, February 11, 2019. The meeting will be held in the Hutchinson Sports Arena.

"We feel very fortunate to have Patrick and Justin as the keynote speakers for the 2019 Annual Meeting," said Ken Johnson, President & CEO of Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System and the 2019 Chamber Board Chair. "In business and in life, we face challenges that may seem impossible and force us to think and respond differently. Through their courage, grace, and dignity, Justin and Patrick remind us that we are stronger together than separate." 

With 2019 marking the 100^th Anniversary of the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce, the evening will be a celebration of the Chamber’s past, as well as future.  “For the last 100 years, the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce has been the business leader in our community” said Brad Pryor, Operation Partner of Papa John’s Pizza and the 2018 Chamber Board Chair.  “I am honored to serve as the Chamber's board chair and strive for the betterment of our community and local business climate.  I'm very proud of where we've been, where we are, and where we are headed.   It's important we honor our past and those that played a key role in getting us to where we are today and I look forward to a very bright future in Hutchinson and Reno County for years to come.”  

The Chamber is pleased to have Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System as the Premier Sponsor for the 2019 Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting. Known as a pioneering spirit and a leader in the healthcare field, Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System is a not-for-profit medical facility serving the health needs of more than 65,000 residents of Hutchinson, Reno County and the surrounding Central Kansas region.

“Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System (HRHS) is proud to support the Reno County Chamber of Commerce in their efforts to make Hutchinson a better place to live and work,” said Johnson.  “We are especially excited about sponsoring the annual dinner with inspirational speakers Justin Skeesuck and Patrick Gray.  Their inspiring story of courage and commitment is one we can all relate to and learn from. The entire HRHS team is committed to creating a great environment for success, and our partnership with the Chamber helps to make that happen.”

Born a little over 36 hours apart, Justin Skeesuck and Patrick Gray have been blessed with a lifelong friendship.  Their lives have been intertwined for 40 years and have brought them many adventures - most notably, their 500-mile trek across the vast terrain of Spain. Justin, who lives with a progressive neuromuscular disease and manages life from a power wheelchair, had the urge to tackle the Camino de Santiago or Way of St. James. When asked, Patrick responded with "I'll push you!"

Justin Skeesuck and Patrick Gray live by the mantra "Life is not defined by its limitations, it is defined by what is accomplished in spite of those limitations" and "It's only impossible because we haven't done it yet." Though Justin has very limited use of his arms or legs, his insatiable desire to live life and his willingness to be vulnerable have taken him places few dream of. Patrick's servant heart and fierce determination combined with Justin's limitless mindset make for a duo that can empower others to move beyond their limitations, aspire to greatness, and achieve the impossible. Their 500-mile journey known as "I'll Push You" has taken them far beyond the confines of the journey itself. Their heartfelt and hilarious storytelling has placed them in front of universities, health care institutions, Fortune 50 companies and on the TEDx Stage. They have been featured and interviewed on NBC, ABC, Fox & Friends, The Huffington Post and many worldwide news media outlets.

Additional sponsorship opportunities for the 2019 Annual Meeting are available; please contact Marcy Kauffman at the Chamber office at (620) 662-3391 for more information.

Tickets for the 2019 Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting will go on sale to Chamber members on Tuesday, December 4, 2018.  Ticket information and other details regarding the 2019 Annual Meeting can be found by visiting the Chamber website at www.hutchchamber.com .