We are thrilled to announce that Sarah Thomas - the NFL's first female official and one of Sports Illustrated's 100 Most Influential NFL Figures of All Time - will join us as the keynote speaker at the 2026 Benton Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet.

You are invited to celebrate our 75th anniversary as a Chamber as we honor our history and look ahead to many exciting years to come.

Sarah Thomas is a trailblazer with an inspiring list of "firsts":  the first female official to work a major college football game, the first women to officiate a bowl game, the first to officiate in a Big Ten stadium, and in 2011, the first female to officiate a Super Bowl.  She now shares powerful leadership insights from her journey in a male-dominated industry - lessons on breaking barriers, staying focused under pressure, creating change, balancing work and life, and striving for excellence in any field.

The 2026 Annual Banquet will be held at the Benton Event Center on Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at 6:00 pm.

Tables are available for $1,000 (ten seats) or $120 for an individual ticket.  Limited tickets are available and seats are assigned in order of purchase.  Please purchase tickets at bentonchamber.com or call (501) 860-7002.

Thank you for supporting the Benton Area Chamber of Commerce.  We look forward to celebrating our 75th anniversary with you!

Thank you to our sponsors:  First Security Bank, Jones Heating and Air, Baxley-Penfield-Moudy Realtors, CDI Contractors, Everett Buick GMC, Ferguson's Furniture, McCauley Services, Middlebrooks Electric, P. Clark & Associates and Smith Benton Funeral Home.