The Greater Greenbrier Chamber of Commerce will hold its Annual Dinner & Meeting on Friday, April 5 from 6:30-9:30pm at The Greenbrier Hotel inside Colonial Hall.
This year’s guest speaker will be Bil Lepp, an American storyteller and a five-time winner of the West Virginia State Liars' Contest. The Chamber is pleased to announce Business Leader of the Year honoree is Fritz Glasser of Fritz’s Pharmacy. New Business of the Year is Warner Music School and Non-profit of the Year is Greenbrier Humane Society.
Growing up in a family where the truth was fluid, Bil Lepp became adept at spinning tales and exaggerating circumstances at an early age. A nationally renowned storyteller and five time champion of the West Virginia Liars’ Contest, Bil’s outrageous, humorous tall-tales and witty stories have earned the appreciation of listeners of all ages and from all walks of life. Though a champion liar, his stories often contain morsels of truth which shed light on universal themes. Be it a hunting trip, a funeral, or a visit to the dentist, Bil can find the humor in any situation. Lepp explains that while his stories may not be completely true, they are always honest.
“…Lepp, a cross between Dr. Seuss and…film noir....” -Charleston Gazette
Bil is the author of six books and sixteen audio collections. His first children’s book, The King of Little Things, won the PEN Steven Kroll Award for Picture Book Writing, received a Kirkus Starred review, and favorable reviews from The Wall Street Journal, Publishers Weekly, The School Library Journal and other publications. It also won the Zena Sutherland Award, the Parent’s Choice Gold Award, was a finalist for the Irma Black Award, and was chosen to be West Virginia's book at the National Book Festival.
A storyteller, author, and recording artist, Lepp’s works have received awards and recognition from The Parents’ Choice Foundation, The National Parenting Publications Assoc., and the Public Library Assoc. In 2011, Bil was awarded the National Storytelling Network’s Circle of Excellence Award. Lepp has been featured 15 times at the National Storytelling Festival, and performed at major storytelling festivals, at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, and at corporate events and functions across the country. He performed at Comedy Central’s Stage on Hudson in Los Angeles, CA.
Bil lives in Charleston, WV with his wife and two children
Fritz Glasser, registered pharmacist and founder of Fritz’s Pharmacy, has become a staple in our community as a trusted and experienced businessman. Glasser graduated from the University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy in 1981. He joined the business of independent pharmacy in 1985, and then went on to open Fritz’s Pharmacy & Wellness Center in 2003. Fritz’s Pharmacy has grown to include three additional locations: Lewisburg in 2011, Rainelle in 2013 and Alderson in 2014.
Fritz has a huge passion for community involvement and team sports. He is a frequent sponsor of local little league and high school sports teams as well as FFA and 4-H programs throughout the county. Fritz says he looks forward to purchasing a beef cow from a 4-H member each year.
Rachel Warner, founder and owner of Warner Music School, grew up in Washington State. Playing piano was always a dream of hers. When Rachel was 10, her neighbor, a composer for the Seattle Symphony, discovered her passion for music and offered to take her on as a "trial case.” As an adult Rachel continued her education under world-class musicians and went on to teach piano out of her home.
In 2016 Rachel and her children moved to Lewisburg, WV, where she taught lessons from her home. With the demand becoming overwhelming for a single teacher, she hired three more teachers and moved into a commercial space in March of 2017, newly named Warner Music School.
In July of 2018 Warner Music School opened their second location in Covington, VA and in August 2018 WMS moved into their permanent home in downtown Lewisburg. WMS now has more than 170 students and a dozen teachers in as many instruments. Their goal for 2019 is to complete the launch their non-profit, The WMS Foundation, and provide lessons and other musical aide to children in the Greenbrier Valley and surrounding areas.
The Greenbrier Humane Society was established in 1965, and incorporated in 1986 as a non-profit organization. Since its formation, GHS has grown with the needs of the rural communities it serves. The Greenbrier Humane Society coordinates several programs including spay/neuter, adoption, lost & found, and educational programs with area schools.
The primary mission of the Greenbrier Humane Society is to protect animals from neglect, abuse and exploitation, to advocate for their interest and welfare, and to inspire awareness and compassion for all living things.
We hope you will join us in celebrating these individuals and organizations.
Tickets are $98 for chamber members and $150 for non-members. Sponsorship opportunities are available by calling the Chamber at 304.645.2818. Invitations for the Annual Dinner & Meeting will be sent via mail.
Thank you to our sponsors, Premier Bank (Table and Guest Speaker Sponsor), City National Bank, The Bank of Monroe, Summit Community Bank, The American Beer Company, Architectural Wood, LLC, Greenbrier Physicians, Greenbrier Valley Medical Center, The Greenbrier, WVSOM, Fritz's Pharmacy, First Energy, Invenergy and WVVA -TV .
Friday Apr 5, 2019
6:30 PM - 9:00 PM EDT
April 5, 2019
6:30pm - Cocktail Reception
7:00pm Dinner and Program
The Greenbrier
Colonial Hall
TBA
Chamber Hours of Operation
Monday - Thursday
9:00am - 1:00pm
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