Driving Dickinson County Debuts New Signature Event, Connecting Partners and Businesses Across Dickinson County
- Jackie Hynes
- Aug 7
- 5 min read
On a Thursday evening in early August, something new pulled into the Holiday Inn in Abilene. Trucker hats. Cowboy hats. Bucket hats. Custom patches. A brand-new website on the screen. Headshots being snapped in the corner. And a room full of people — some longtime partners, some brand new faces — connecting over what Dickinson County is becoming.
That was the Evening Cruise. And it was only the first one.
A New Kind of Business After Hours
Driving Dickinson County's inaugural Evening Cruise was designed to be more than a networking reception. It was built around a simple idea: bring businesses together, show them what their partnership actually offers, and make it easy for new businesses to see why getting involved matters.
"Evening Cruise is more than our version of a business after-hours event," said Natalie Muruato, CEO of Driving Dickinson County. "It gives us an opportunity to bring businesses together, build relationships, introduce new resources and benefits, and create connections that might not happen otherwise."
The timing was intentional. DDC launched a new brand in February 2026 and a new website in June 2026 — and the Evening Cruise was the moment to bring all of it into one room alongside the new partnerships and membership benefits built alongside them.
"For me, it was exciting to see businesses meeting one another, learning about what we are building, and getting a better sense of where Driving Dickinson County is headed," Muruato said.
What Was Waiting at the Door
Attendees walked into an evening with a lot going on — and that was by design.
The Hat Bar was the centerpiece. Trucker hats, bucket hats, baseball hats, and cowboy hats — all available for partners to customize with their choice of patches and take home. For many, it was a first. Zac Burt, agent for Copeland Insurance and a current DDC partner, gave it a straightforward review: "This was my first one. 5/5."
Michela Brown Photography set up on-site to offer complimentary professional headshots for qualifying partners — because a good photo matters, and DDC wanted to make it easy to get one.
Colonial Life was on hand as the evening's presenting sponsor, offering DDC partners a look at exclusive discount rates on supplemental insurance — a benefit many attendees didn't know they had. Burt, for one, was surprised: "I was unaware that DDC members and partners had special access to benefits with Colonial Life until last night."
Abilene Golf & Fitness was also in the room, showcasing the exclusive perks available to DDC partners through their membership. If you didn't make it to their table Thursday night, it's worth a follow-up call — what they're offering is worth knowing about.
And on the screen behind the registration table: the brand-new DrivingDickinsonCounty.org — launched in June and on full display for the first time at a DDC event.
A Sponsor Rooted in the Community
The Evening Cruise wouldn't have happened the way it did without Colonial Life stepping in as presenting sponsor. That connection came through Andrea Taylor, Employee Benefit Advisor with Gallagher Benefit Services and a first-year DDC partner who has called Abilene home her entire life.
Taylor had been watching DDC from the sidelines for years before deciding this was the year to get involved. When the opportunity to connect Colonial Life Producer Casey Kugler with DDC arose, she didn't hesitate.
"I was confident that Casey would see the value in aligning their brand with an organization that's creating meaningful momentum and bringing people together around a positive vision for our county and communities," Taylor said.
It's exactly the kind of connection DDC was built to create — and exactly the kind of partner the organization is working to attract more of.
What Partners Are Saying
For current partners, the Evening Cruise offered a clearer picture of what their investment actually includes.
"Business expansion takes time and resources," said Burt. "DDC helps speed that process up."
Muruato wants every partner who walked through that door to carry one thing with them: "I want our partners to feel like they have someone in their corner."
New Faces, New Momentum
Not everyone in the room was already a DDC partner — and that was the point.
Collen McGee attended representing both Rowantree Farm, her family's small business, and the Abilene chapter of the Christian Motorcyclists Association. She came looking for community connection and left with something more.
"We were excited to see the energy that has come behind the organization," McGee said. "The revamp of the website is beautiful — we're looking forward to learning about resources for small business."
McGee was particularly struck by Muruato's approach: "I can tell she has a passion for connecting people whether they are a partner or not."
As for next steps? "As far as our personal small business — we are encouraged to explore more of the resources available to us."
That's exactly the response DDC was hoping for.
What the Website Means
The June launch of DrivingDickinsonCounty.org marked a turning point for how DDC shows up online. For Andrea Taylor — someone who has followed this organization from its earliest days — seeing it on full display Thursday night was meaningful.
"The website feels like a reflection of where DDC is today: professional, forward-thinking, and focused on connecting people with opportunities throughout Dickinson County," she said. "It felt like a true representation of home."
She didn't stop there.
"The website demonstrates that DDC isn't just talking about the future of Dickinson County — it's actively building it."
The Evening Cruise Will Return
The inaugural Evening Cruise was the first. It won't be the last.
If you attended Thursday night — thank you. You were part of something worth showing up for.
If you weren't there and you're curious about what DDC partnership looks like, what benefits are available to your business, or how to get involved — this is your invitation.
Visit DrivingDickinsonCounty.org or reach out directly. There's a lane waiting for you.
Dickinson County is Roadmarkable. Thursday proved it.
Driving Dickinson County is a combined economic development and chamber organization serving nine communities across Dickinson County, Kansas. Learn more at DrivingDickinsonCounty.org.
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