Greater Medina Chamber of Commerce

Chairman's Report

As we prepare to transition from summer to fall, I wanted to provide a few thoughts on the strength and work of your Chamber. And by sharing some highlights and thanking the many partners and community leaders that come together to make our region special, my hope is you will continue to see and feel your Chamber at work for you.

Through the mid-point of the year, the Greater Medina Chamber of Commerce remains a financially sound and growing voice for business! We remain focused on business advocacy, member services and economic development - and we know that serving our members in a way that best positions your business for success is at the core of what we do.

On the Business Advocacy front we continue to have meaningful dialogue on your behalf with legislators. And again this year we will be hosting a series of local plant tours to show our state and congressional elected officials firsthand what business looks like here in greater Medina.

Your array of Member Services continues to grow as we recently hosted shared events with other local chambers, partnered to launch the successful Women Enriching Business Council ("WEB-C").  We have formalized an agreement with Community Energy Advisors that will allow our members to make smart choices in managing their natural gas and electric power needs.

On the Economic Development front, we are pleased to have been included in the work of the "Imagine Medina" Downtown Medina, Strategic Redevelopment Plan. In addition to developing a vision and a strategy and confirming what we knew to be true: Medina is an economically strong, diverse and active community with a thriving uptown. The plan identifies eight potential redevelopment sites (of which our Chamber property is one of them) and details current demand for 400+ rental units in uptown Medina; with a focus on integrating small local retail with new destination retail and entertainment in and around our historic Medina Square.

We have plenty left to do on your behalf and we could not do it without the fine efforts of Heather Taylor, your Executive Director, Jaclyn Ringstmeier, your Vice President, Jennifer Gray, your Program Administrator and Becky Parkhurst, your Accounting Manager. Many thanks ladies for your continued effort and hard work!

In closing, I'd like to add my welcome to all the new members; and add my thanks to the returning members. I hope to see you at our next Monthly Member Meeting, September 2nd at Weymouth Country Club for the "State of the City" with Medina Mayor Dennis Hanwell.

Wishing you much success.

-Eric Shaffer, Chairman, Greater Medina Chamber of Commerce