November Chamber Luncheon Recap Sponsored by Huhtamaki

Our November Chamber Luncheon was a fantastic gathering of members, partners, and community leaders, thanks to the generous sponsorship of Huhtamaki. We were also treated to a delicious lunch catered by Chamber Member Chick-fil-A, one of Huhtamaki's valued customer—always a crowd favorite! 

Amy Peterson kicked off the program with an insightful overview of Huhtamaki and its role in the global packaging industry. With a strong Nordic heritage and more than 100 years of history, Huhtamaki operates in 36 countries and 101 locations around the world. Their North America business provides an impressive range of foodservice and consumer packaging—from ice cream containers to food-to-go solutions and single-use tableware. They are also the proud makers of Chinet®, one of the most recognized premium disposable tableware brands on the market.

Amy highlighted the company’s focus on delivering smart, next-generation packaging and shared how Huhtamaki’s team of 18,000 employees continues to innovate to meet the evolving needs of consumers and brands.

Following Amy’s presentation, we welcomed Roberta Rowland from Workforce Partnership. Roberta shared how their organization is building a strong, employer-driven workforce system across Johnson, Leavenworth, and Wyandotte counties. Workforce Partnership operates a network of career centers and provides both expert guidance and funding resources to job seekers and employers.

A key focus of Roberta’s presentation was their Registered Apprenticeship Program, which is designed to support both employers and individuals seeking structured, career-building opportunities. Huhtamaki partners with Workforce Partnership on this program to support formal, specialized training for critical roles within the company. Roberta explained that Registered Apprenticeships are fully customized training models, developed around each employer’s talent needs, and Workforce Partnership provides hands-on support to ensure programs are approved through the Kansas Office of Apprenticeship.

We’re grateful to both Huhtamaki and Workforce Partnership for their leadership and dedication to strengthening our region’s workforce—and to all our members who joined us for another meaningful luncheon focused on learning, connection, and collaboration.