Aila Boyd
aboyd@mainstreetnewspapers.com
The Salem-Roanoke County Chamber of Commerce opened 2026 with its 92nd annual meeting and networking breakfast, drawing a record crowd of members and business leaders to the Salem Civic Center on Jan. 21.
Held from 8:30 to 10 a.m., the event celebrated the chamber’s accomplishments in 2025 while setting the stage for the year ahead. More than 200 people attended, surpassing previous records and highlighting growing engagement within the local business community.
In a longtime tradition, the gavel was passed from outgoing 2025 Chair April Woodward, vice president of oncology at LewisGale Medical Center, to incoming 2026 Chair Matt Pumo, general manager of WDBJ7.
The program included a video recap of the chamber’s 2025 achievements, produced by Red Velocity Studios, highlighting key initiatives, member successes and community impact.
Attendees also had access to complimentary professional headshots provided by Carissa Divant of By Grace Designs.
The keynote address was delivered by Lynda Foster of Cortex Leadership Consulting, who spoke on leadership and growth in the age of artificial intelligence. Additional speakers included Gary Norris, CEO of Express Employment Professionals, and Collin McLaughlin, CEO of LewisGale Hospital, who shared perspectives on workforce development, health care and regional economic vitality.
Chamber President Amanda Livingston recognized Woodward’s leadership and looked ahead to the year to come.
“This morning we honor outgoing Chair April Woodward. We thank April for her dedication and enthusiasm as she led the chamber,” Livingston said. “As we look ahead, I am thrilled to have Matt Pumo lead this thriving chamber in 2026. Our chamber will continue to focus on supporting business and growing our region.”
During the meeting, Member One/Virginia Credit Union announced it will serve as the chamber’s registration sponsor, helping subsidize programming and reduce costs for members. Northpoint Insurance Advisors also distributed branded ice scrapers to attendees in anticipation of an upcoming snowstorm.
The cover of the 2026 “Around Salem” annual magazine was displayed, and attendees were invited to contact Tom Field of Berryfield about advertising opportunities ahead of the magazine’s March release.
