Chamber Hosts Reception for 2012 Shooting Industry Masters

Contact:
Communications and Public Policy Director Nick Fuhrman

BOWLING GREEN, KY (July 20, 2012)-The Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce was host to more than 300 outdoor enthusiasts and industry representatives at the 2012 Shooting Industry Masters reception last evening. The Chamber hosted the event to showcase South Central Kentucky's assets that benefit the shooting, hunting, and outdoor trade industry.

The reception is the kick-off to the Tenth Annual Shooting Industry Masters event at Rockcastle Shooting Center in Park City on July 20 and 21. The Masters is owned and operated by FMG Publications, publishers of GUNS Magazine, American Handgunner, American COP, Shooting Industry Magazine and eight special editions.

"South Central Kentucky offers many assets for the SHOT industry, and this reception gives us an opportunity to talk with industry leaders about locating their businesses here," said Chamber President & CEO Ron Bunch, CEcD. "Our low business costs, central location, and available workforce are ideal for businesses within this industry, and our plentiful research and training programs through Bowling Green Technical College and Western Kentucky University position us to help SHOT businesses grow and thrive here."

The Chamber has worked closely with Nick Noble, CEO and cofounder of Rockcastle Shooting Center and CEO of The Fortress Group dba Park Mammoth Resort, to support this weekend's events. This is the second consecutive year that the Shooting Industry Masters will be held at Rockcastle Shooting Center and the first time that the event has returned to a previous location. Noble said, ""It's with great pride that the Rockcastle Shooting Center welcomes back the Shooting Industry Masters. We would like to thank FMG for recognizing our shooting sports resort as the perfect location to host this prestigious event."

Randy Molde, Masters chairman, said, "The overwhelming reception we received from everybody in Kentucky, combined with ear-to-ear grins and positive feedback from this year's match participants, made the decision to return to Rockcastle much easier."

D. Gaines Penn, 2012 Chamber Board of Directors chairman, said, ""The Shooting Industry Masters attracts a diverse group of visitors, giving us an opportunity to showcase our region to the world. We also thank our generous sponsors who helped make this reception possible."

Pan-Oston and the War Dog Safe Company were the platinum sponsors for the reception. The War Dog Safe Company is a division of Pan-Oston, an American employee-owned and operated manufacturing company in Bowling Green, Kentucky that has been in business more than 40 years. Pan-Oston is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Houchens, Inc. the largest 100% employee owned company in North America, with nearly 16,000 employee owners doing business around the world. War Dog's gun safes are designed to give immediate access to your weapon when you need it in a discrete and secure design.

Bronze sponsors were Bank of Edmonson County; the Bowling Green Area Convention & Visitors Bureau; Denham-Blythe Company, Inc., the Holiday Inn University Plaza; Scott, Murphy & Daniel, LLC; Scotty's Development Company; Tennessee Valley Authority and Warren Rural Electric Cooperative Corporation. J B Distributors, Inc. was the bar sponsor.

For more information on the 2012 Shooting Industry Masters, contact Elizabeth O'Neill at elizabeth@shootingindustry.com or 1-888-315-3641.
 

About the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce:

Incorporated in 1935, the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce is a 5-Star Accredited Chamber by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and was named the 2009 Chamber of the Year by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives. As the fourth largest chamber in Kentucky, the Chamber serves as a premier business advocate for its more than 1,300 partners and is the driving force for economic development in South Central Kentucky. Its primary goals are to promote growth and success in the business community, reaching its small business partners and those in large industries alike. With leadership programs, governmental relations projects, educational initiatives and involvement opportunities, the Chamber aims to support the community and its neighbors in order to enhance the business climate and continue to grow the region.