Southwest Tech Hosts September Chamber Luncheon

The Kanab Area Chamber of Commerce September networking luncheon was held at Southwest Technical College in Kanab. This was the perfect place for a learning event. The guest speaker was Emily Ashby, program manager for Utah's Own, a program of the State of Utah Department of Agriculture and Food.  Emily presented on Utah's Own and then shared some expert tips for using Instagram to promote businesses.

Present at the luncheon were Best Friends Animal Society, Best Friends Roadhouse & Mercantile, Burro Flats High Desert Lodge, Dark Sky RV Campground, Desert Healing Medical Spa, East Zion Adventures, ERA Utah Properties, Healing Strong, Kanab City, Kanab Honey, Kanab's Little Hollywood Wild West Fest, Kane County School District, Raven's Heart Gallery, Ron's Fresh Baked, Santa Nicholas & Friends, Small Business Development Center, Southern Utah News, Stellar Vista Observatory, Sun Moon Healing, Town of Fredonia, Utah Department of Workforce Services, Utah Tech, West Winds Ranch, Wreaths Across America

Before Emily got started, the luncheon attendees chatted while eating pizza from chamber member Pizza Hut, along with salad and beverages purchased from chamber member Glazier’s Market. The event was then kicked off by chamber board member Nicholas Meyeres, who welcomed everyone and announced the month’s new and renewing chamber members.

Emily introduced Utah’s Own, a State of Utah program that promotes and supports Utah’s agriculture, food, and Utah-sourced businesses. It’s a membership program that works with community and business partners to spread the message of supporting local agriculture and food businesses. They have an online directory that connects consumers, businesses and retailers with local products. Utah’s Own members can use the Utah’s Own logo and participate in media promotion of their products. The program also offers Farmers Market support and exclusive events, as well as business training and networking.

She then moved on to using Instagram as part of an overall marketing strategy. This part of the presentation included tips on optimizing profiles, using AI, and using great content to stand out. Details on each of these can be found on Emily’s slides which can be accessed on the chamber resources webpage.

The event wrapped up with announcements about the upcoming ribbon cutting at Desert Healing Medical Spa, which is now open at their new downtown location. Everyone is invited at 5pm on September 25th , to learn about all that Desert Healing has to offer: infusions, injections, massage, acupuncture, cold plunge/sauna, facial resurfacing, hair follicle scans, and yoga.

Dr. Buck Montgomery announced the new “Kanab's Little Hollywood Wild West Fest” which will debut in September 2026.

Nicholas Meyeres ended the luncheon with heart felt appreciation for all of the hard work done by local business leaders to support a strong local economy.

Save the dates for our October lunch at the Iron Horse on October 9th, our monthly breakfast at Parry Lodge on October 21st, and a lunch in the Valley at Zion Mountain Ranch on October 30th. Hope to see you there!