Stronger Together: Wyoming’s Chambers Gather in Cody

This October, Cody hosted the Wyoming State Chamber of Commerce Fall Conference. About 40 chamber professionals and volunteers came from across the state for three days of learning, networking, and a good dose of Wyoming hospitality. The theme was “Stronger Together: Building Wyoming’s Communities,” and the conference lived up to it.

Our own team was well represented. Andre and Jennifer attended, along with several Cody Country Chamber board members. Jennifer also led a session on working with your board, which drew on the same practical, been-there experience she brings to our Chamber every day.

Kicking Off With a Little Cody Flavor

Monday began with options for getting to know Cody. Attendees chose among local experiences before gathering for a tour of the Wyoming Buffalo Company. That visit gave us a behind-the-scenes look at a Wyoming manufacturer that has built a nationally recognized brand while creating jobs and supporting Wyoming agriculture. It was one of the most informative stops of the week, and we’ll share a full post on it soon. Stay tuned.

The evening ended with a welcome dinner at the historic Irma Hotel, which is hard to beat for atmosphere when you’re showing off Cody to visitors.

Kyle Sexton: Making Chambers Essential

Tuesday’s keynote was from Kyle Sexton, who has worked with chambers across North America. His message was about making a chamber essential rather than merely present. He focused on two questions. How do we deliver real, tangible value to every member, not just the most visible ones? And how do we get staff, board, and committees pulling in the same direction?

He returned that afternoon for his Community Solution Session, an unscripted working session where chambers brought their toughest problems and biggest opportunities. It was a good reminder that every chamber, big or small, is navigating many of the same questions.

We have been looking for ways to help our membership tiers provide better benefits for every kind of member, and Kyle helped us see the differences between members who want the most publicity possible, members who want to connect with the community, and other types. We’re excited to use his advice to improve the value we give back to our investors.

A Full Slate of Practical Sessions

Kyle wasn’t the only voice worth hearing. The program covered a lot of ground:

• Business retention and expansion, with Kristin Fong of the Wyoming Business Council, on supporting the existing businesses that drive small-town job creation.
• Business succession, with Julianna Francesca of Rocky Mountain Business Advisors, on the many Wyoming businesses that close each year rather than sell, and how chambers can help members plan ahead.
• Legislative outlook, with Renny MacKay of the Wyoming Business Alliance, who previewed the 2027 legislative session.
• Social media that works, with Rylie Mills of the Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce, who argued that the best way to promote yourself online is actually to promote others — super valuable advice for a Chamber like us that spends a lot of energy on social media.
• National and state perspectives, from Chris Eyler of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Josh Dorrell of the Wyoming Business Council.

Jeff Siegler: Civic Pride and Counting Our Blessings

The conference closed with Jeff Siegler, founder of Revitalize or Die, a civic pride consultancy that helps communities fight apathy, rebuild engagement, and drive lasting local revitalization. His session on fostering civic pride was useful for any chamber, and it also prompted some gratitude among our Cody contingent.

As Siegler described what happens when civic pride fades, we kept thinking about the communities where downtowns have been left behind and residents have disengaged. Cody is not one of them. We have a community that still shows up for its Main Street, its events, and its neighbors. That’s not an accident, and it’s not something to take for granted. It’s built and renewed by the people who live and work here. We left the room more committed to keeping it that way.

Thank You to Our Hosts

A conference like this depends on its venues, and Cody’s were excellent.

Buffalo Bill Center of the West hosted Tuesday’s sessions. It’s hard to imagine a better setting for a gathering about community, and our visitors got a look at one of Cody’s crown jewels while they were at it.

Holiday Inn Cody (Blair Hotels) provided lodging and hosted Wednesday’s sessions. Their team was a pleasure to work with, and attendees appreciated the comfortable, convenient setup.

Thanks also to the Wyoming Buffalo Company for opening its doors for a memorable tour, and to everyone else, from the Irma to Cassie’s Steakhouse, who helped show our colleagues from around the state what Cody does best.

Looking Ahead

We came home with new ideas, new connections, and a renewed appreciation for the work chambers do in every corner of Wyoming. If you’re a Cody Chamber member and want to know how any of these ideas might help your business, reach out. We’d love to talk!