Grand Island Area Chamber of Commerce - Recent News

“In periods where there is no leadership, society stands still. Progress occurs when courageous, skillful leaders seize the opportunity to change things for the better.” - Harry S. Truman Those are the words that came to mind during the Grand Island Chamber’s annual meeting, where DJ Eihusen, president and CEO of Chief Industries, delivered a timely and inspirational message. Eihusen, the 2024 recipient of the Chamber’s Distinguished Service Award, spoke about how lucky Chief was to be part of Grand Island’s business community. He also reflected on the entrepreneurial boom that occurred in this community during the mid-century years after World War II. From the late 1940s through the ‘50s, ‘60s, and into the early ‘70s, several legendary Grand Island businesses were born. Among them are The Bosselman Enterprises, Eakes Office Solutions, Five Points Bank, Hornady Manufacturing, and Chief itself. Read more

Jamie Karl has been named the next president of the Grand Island Area Chamber of Commerce. A University of Nebraska-Lincoln graduate and sixth-generation Nebraska native, Karl has spent the last five years at the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association, serving as director of communications and marketing in the nation’s third-largest manufacturing state. Read more