As leaders of the chambers of commerce in Lawrence, Topeka and Manhattan gathered earlier this month to discuss prospects for forming an “I-70 Gateway for Success,” eight representatives from the Lawrence community joined Tom Kern, president and CEO of the Lawrence chamber, at the event.

They were Rob Chestnut, Lawrence mayor; David Corliss, city manager; Bernadette Gray-Little, Kansas University chancellor; Beth Johnson, chamber vice president for economic development; Matt Hoy, an attorney and incoming chairman of the chamber; Nancy Thellman, chairwoman of the Douglas County Commission; Craig Weinaug, county administrator; and Cindy Yulich, community bank president for Emprise Bank and chamber treasurer.

The meeting came after an earlier luncheon that included speeches from officials about the economic promise of the region. In addition to the nine people from the Lawrence community who attended the later meeting, the luncheon crowd included Rick Doll, George Grieb, Tim Herndon, Frank Male, Trudy Rice, Saralyn Reece Hardy, Linda Robinson, Diane Stoddard, Todd Thompson and Roger Zalneraitis.