2026 Benton Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet

The Benton Area Chamber of Commerce is excited for 2026. 

Celebrating its 75th anniversary as a Chamber throughout the year, the group continues to welcome high-profile guests for its highly anticipated annual banquet. 

Having featured dominant figures in the past like NBA-great Derek Fisher, meteorologist Ginger Zee, radio host Bobby Bones, and environmental advocate Erin Brockovich, the Chamber turns to the NFL in 2026.

In a profession men have dominated since the beginning, one woman is changing that narrative, blazing a trail through one of the most popular sports in the world.

A Wonder Woman in her own right, Sarah Thomas, the National Football League’s first female referee, will showcase this year’s Banquet.

“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 keynote speaker at the 2026 Benton Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet,” the Chamber said.

Thomas made NFL history in 2015 when she officiated her first regular-season game featuring the Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans. She would roll that moment into a years-long career to this point, including officiating in her first playoff game in 2019 and her first Super Bowl in 2021.

“The response has been wonderful, and the community has expressed excitement about Sarah Thomas,” said Amy McCormick, Director of Business and Events for the Chamber. “Guests will be motivated and entertained as they hear about how she has broken through barriers in her career and continues to excel. Tickets are selling quickly.” 

Sports have enriched Thomas’s life since she was a young girl playing softball and basketball, where she lettered as an outstanding athlete in high school. Her playing career would lead to a full basketball scholarship to the University of Mobile, where she also earned Academic All-American honors.

Before her historic start in the NFL, Thomas made waves at the college level as well, becoming the first woman to officiate a college game and bowl game and first to blow a whistle in a Big Ten stadium. Her hat and whistle from her historic start are on display at the Professional Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

“The Benton Area Chamber of Commerce loves to bring nationally-known speakers to its Banquet to enhance the experience for its members and for the community,” McCormick added. “One of the main goals is for attendees to learn something from the speaker to better their business or personal lives.”

“When selecting a Banquet speaker, we consider trends and developments in areas such as technology, finance, and marketing, and seek a speaker who can meaningfully address those topics,” said Gary James, President of the Chamber. “Most importantly, we look for someone who will inspire and educate while ensuring attendees enjoy a great evening complete with good food, engaging conversation, and a renewed sense of motivation. Sarah Thomas clearly checked all those boxes.”

Thomas would attend meetings with her brother in the early 1990s, helping fuel her passion for officiating football. She first grabbed a whistle and graced the high school gridiron in pinstripes in 1999. While officiating, though, Thomas wants to be known as simply an official instead of a “female official.” She revealed on Good Morning America that she has purposely tucked her ponytail away in many cases during games. 

“While Sarah is widely known for her sports achievements, she also brings a strong business and leadership mindset that is highly relevant to today’s professionals,” Rachel Rivers, Director of  Marketing, added. “She shares essential leadership lessons from her journey to the top of a male-dominated industry, along with valuable insights on breaking barriers and creating opportunities for growth. Guests can expect to walk away with practical takeaways on staying focused under pressure, driving positive change, managing work-life balance, and striving to be the best at what they do—regardless of their field or industry.

 “With our annual Banquet taking place in March—Women’s History Month—her story and accomplishments made her an especially meaningful and timely choice. She is a powerful source of inspiration for women everywhere and a compelling example of perseverance, leadership, and excellence.”

Since joining the NFL, Thomas has continued to mark her place in the league, keeping the mindset of being the best she can be with no shatterproof barrier or ceiling above.

“Instead of waiting for opportunities to be handed to us, we need to create them,” Thomas said. “We need to advocate for ourselves.”

This year’s event is set for 6 p.m. on March 10 at the Benton Event Center. Tables for 10 during the event can be purchased for $1,000 or $120 for individual tickets. Both can be purchased at www.bentonchamber.com.

“Sarah Thomas’s story transcends sports,” James said. “Her ability to translate her experiences into lessons that resonate across industries makes her message especially impactful for our local business community. Her presence at the Banquet will reinforce the importance of leadership, inclusivity, and courage—values that align closely with our organization’s mission and the future we envision for our community.” νJosh Briggs