Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce
MANHATTAN, Kan. (May 2, 2018) — Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Lyle Butler has announced his retirement from the position, effective Feb. 28, 2019. Butler
has shown highly effective leadership with multiple accomplishments in directing the Manhattan area business organization for more than 18 years and extending to his distinguished, 28-year chamber executive career.
“Serving as President and CEO of the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce has been the capstone of my 28 years in the chamber profession,” Butler said. “This has been a true honor to have served as the local, regional and national promoter of the Manhattan area.
“The wonderful success of our Chamber is because of my great staff, a very supportive and progressive Board of Directors and hundreds of terrific volunteers.”
Butler’s chamber career began as president of the Dodge City Area Chamber of Commerce (1990, five-year period), continued with the Greeley/Weld Chamber of Commerce (1995, five years) and culminated with his Manhattan appointment (July 2000) which followed a nationwide search.
Under Butler’s leadership, the Chamber has greatly expanded its financial resource base through a private economic development campaign — Advantage Manhattan — and created a regional economic development organization in the Greater Manhattan Economic Partnership
(GMEP).
“I want to thank Lyle for his endless dedicated service to Manhattan area businesses and more broadly, the entire region,” said Chamber Board Chair Matt Crocker of SPS Companies, Inc. “Lyle has provided great leadership to the Chamber and prepared us well for the next chapter of the Chamber’s mission.”
Additional highlights of Butler’s accomplishments during his 18-year Manhattan tenure include:
• Expanded annual leaders retreat to include Junction City and Wamego Chambers
• Proposal initiative for Manhattan Downtown Redevelopment economic project
• Co-founder of Knowledge Based Economic Development (KBED) organization
• Fortified town-gown relationship between the City of Manhattan and Kansas State
University
• Developed campaign to position Manhattan as regionally-based center for northeast
Kansas shopping
• Established Manhattan’s Military Relations Committee and created full-time staff
position to address military liaison matters
• Instrumental recognition to initiate Region Reimagined, the community-wide vision
started as the Greater Manhattan Project
• Produced the Chamber’s annual meeting as the premier celebration for entire business
community.
Later this month, the Chamber’s Board will establish a committee to conduct a nationwide search for Butler’s replacement.