|
|
|
|
|
|
| State Legislative Panel Discussion: The State's Business Climate and You |
 Are you concerned about education, healthcare costs, or tax policy and how they impact business in our area? Then we have an opportunity for you to hear from the men and women who will be debating and deciding these issues over the coming months. With the Governor set to release his proposal, the Summit County State Delegation will be looking into all of these topics as they help shape the state budget for the next two years.
Legislators will be on-hand to discuss the upcoming legislative session, as well as the new two-year budget. Following the delegations' remarks, there will be a notecard question-and-answer session. Come ready to ask your elected state officials about upcoming legislation and budget issues. This is a unique opportunity for you to ask the questions you want answered.
Legislators featured are: State Senator Frank LaRose; State Senator Tom Sawyer; State Representative Kristina Roegner; and State Representative Vernon Sykes. Legislators also invited include: State Representative Anthony DeVitis and State Representative Zach Milkovich.
Where & When
Greystone Hall
103 S. High St.
Akron, OH 44308
Friday, February 1, 2013
8:00 - 9:30 a.m.
Registration, networking and breakfast will be from 8:00 to 8:45 a.m. The program will begin at 8:45 a.m. Click here to register.
|
| YPN Speaker Series Presents: Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor |
 Sponsored by FirstMerit Bank
The YPN welcomes Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor, Supreme Court of Ohio, to the Young Professionals Network Speaker Series luncheon. Chief Justice O'Connor will provide valuable insight and advice to young professionals looking to make their professional mark, as well as share her personal story to how she became Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court. Registration, networking and lunch will begin at 11:30 am followed by the presentation at noon.
 Where & WhenFairlawn Country Club
200 N. Wheaton Rd.
Akron, OH 44313
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Registration, networking and lunch will begin at 11:30 a.m., followed by the presentation at noon.
Cost: $20 members; $25 non-members
For more information and to register, click here.
|
|
YPN Nights Presents: Score a Networking Touchdown at the
Pro Football Hall of Fame | |
Continue the community tour of Akron's gems through the YPN Nights series. YPN Nights will take you on a journey exploring places that make our region unique, cool, diverse and vibrant! You'll be able to learn, network and have a great time while doing it. YPN Nights will consist of several events throughout the year so stay tuned for more special attractions. You can pick and choose which YPN Nights to attend, or attend all of them!
The Pro Football Hall of Fame welcomes us for an exclusive YPN Night to mix, mingle and learn more about this fantastic football museum right in our back yard. Attendees will also have an opportunity to hear from a Pro Football Hall of Fame executive share more about the facility and why it is so important to our region. Since opening in 1963, the Pro Football Hall of Fame has grown in both size and stature. The building was expanded in 1971, 1978 and 1995, and completed major exhibit gallery renovations in 2003, 2008 and 2009. Together, these improvements have transformed the original 19,000 square-foot Hall of Fame museum into an exciting internationally recognized institution and travel destination. Today, the Hall of Fame stands as a shining tribute to the men who have made professional football America's most popular sport.
Where & When
Pro Football Hall of Fame
2121 George Halas Dr., NW
Canton, OH 44708
Monday, February 25, 2013
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Click here for more information and to register.
|
| Coffee, Tea & Contacts Networking Event |
 Sponsored by Akron General Health &Wellness Center - West
This event is a power networking get-together designed for Chamber members to make important connections with their fellow member businesses. While exchanging business cards is great, it's certainly more effective for business people to learn about one another's respective companies in an intimate setting. Be sure to arrive at 7:30 a.m. to make the most of this meeting! Remember, only one person per company can attend, so your networking opportunities are maximized. The event is free, but the networking is priceless! Pre-registration is required.
 Where & WhenAkron General Health & Wellness Center - West Conference Center 4125 Medina Rd. Akron, OH 44333 Tuesday, February 26, 2013
7:30 - 9:00 a.m. Click here to register. |
|
Save Money or Make Money: $ave Local Now ($LN) Introduction |
Save Money or Make Money with Save Local Now™ - The Greater Akron Chamber's new iPhone and Android app enabling Chamber Members to reach new and existing customers in a whole new way!
Today's buzzword truly is free. This benefit, exclusively for Greater Akron Chamber members, is free with your membership. This free event will introduce $ave Local Now and the benefits it provides. We'll show you how to get started with $LN, show some examples of how some businesses are already using the app and share ideas on how to promote your business in a new and exciting way!
You can get started right now by visiting the $LN website now, and we will see you on the 28th!
Where & When
Bryant & Stratton
190 Montrose West Ave.
Akron, OH 44321
Thursday, February 28, 2013 - Please note the date change!
8:30 - 9:15 a.m.
|
| Greater Akron Chamber's 106th Annual Meeting - March 19, 2013! |
 Sponsored by BCG & Company
On Tuesday, March 19, 2013, the Greater Akron Chamber will celebrate the outstanding work of our board members and area's top business leaders at our 106th Annual Meeting. This annual meeting will feature an overview of the Chamber's accomplishments for the year, installation of the officers and presentation of the H. Peter Burg Award.
In addition, the Chamber will hold a silent auction offering guests a chance to bid on items that will benefit the Chamber's educational programs. Call Sarah Vojtek at (330) 237-1254 to contribute an item or a unique experience.
Don't forget to reserve a table today!
Where & When
John S. Knight Center
77 E. Mill St.
Akron, OH 44308
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
5:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Click here for more information and to register.
|
|
Nominate an Outstanding YP Today! Now Accepting Nominations for 2013 30 for the Future Awards Program |
 Brought to You by Huntington Bank
The Greater Akron Chamber proudly presents the 7th Annual 30 for the Future recognition program. 30 for the Future recognizes 30 young professionals (ages 25-39) who live and/or work in the Greater Akron region, who are trendsetters in their industries and who make an impact on the region through dynamic leadership and community service.
Nominations will be accepted through Friday, March 29, 2013. So please don't wait; nominate a qualified individual today!
Please note: Nominees MUST be between the ages of 25 and 39 by MARCH 29, 2013, to be considered.
Click here for the 2013 nomination form. For additional questions, contact Angela Presutti at (330) 237-1263 or presutti@greaterakronchamber.org.
|
|
2012-2013 Greater Akron Relocation Guide Published |
 We are pleased to present Experience Greater Akron, the Greater Akron Chamber's 2012-2013 relocation guide for those relocating from around the world or across town. We encourage you to use this publication as a reference for your organization and as an employee recruitment tool. The printed and interactive web version of the relocation guide promotes Greater Akron to companies, individuals and families relocating to the region. It also highlights the talented people who have moved here and the outstanding amenities that make our region one of the best places to live, work and play. We're sure you'll enjoy the feature, "99 Reasons We Love Greater Akron," an informative and fun read about what makes the region famous. To view the "clickable" version of the guide, click on the picture to the right. For copies, call the Chamber at (330) 376-5550.
Advertising is Now Open for the "2013-2014 Experience Greater Akron," the Chamber's relocation guide!
Click here for more about advertising and early bird special rates! |
| Chamber Launches New Money Saving Benefit -- Save Local Now™ |
 The Save Local Now™ App is a FREE and Easy Way to Save Money and Buy Local
The Greater Akron Chamber is very excited to officially introduce our new mobile app, Save Local Now™. With the help of mobile technology, Save Local Now™ is a platform for chambers to help local businesses grow by placing marketing and self-promotion in their hands and delivering it to their customers.
With Save Local Now™, local businesses can offer deals and events on their terms. The offer and the promotion periods are completely within the control of the business. If the deal ever becomes cost prohibitive, the business can modify it, deactivate it or replace it with another deal in a matter of seconds.
J.M. Tkalec of The Lit Wick Gallery in Fairlawn said, "As a small business owner, we are very excited to have another channel to share our deals and events with the public. Save Local Now™ is a very user-friendly and efficient way for consumers to patronize local businesses. It's a win-win situation."
Chad Hamman, Vice President of Membership at the Greater Akron Chamber said, "We felt it was important to find a program that would change consumer behavior by rewarding them for shopping at our local member businesses. Save Local Now™ provides that incentive and gives control to the businesses to be as creative with their promotions as they want."
Customers, clients, tourists and travelers alike can download the FREE Save Local Now™ app from iTunes or the Android market and start saving money at all their favorite places. The offers are virtually endless. Right now, there are over 100 deals and events on Save Local Now™ from Greater Akron Chamber members. Consumers can search for businesses, map locations they plan to visit and share deals and events with their friends via e-mail, Facebook and Twitter. And redeeming a deal is simple...just show your phone to save!
For additional questions on the Save Local Now™ app or to inquire about Chamber membership, contact Heather Taylor at (330) 237-1255 or visit www.savelocalnow.com.
|
| Free Guide to Federal, State and Corporate Procurement Opportunities |
 The Greater Akron Chamber is providing you with a complimentary and helpful guide to procurement opportunities for businesses. We encourage you to use it!
Braddock's Procurement Opportunities Guide, 2013 Edition, is designed to help small-business owners and decision-makers understand the procurement process used by governments and large corporations. The Guide provides an overview of government and corporate markets with an emphasis on who buys and how buying decisions are made. The Guide also presents "next-step" resources that small business can use to penetrate these markets.
|
|
Chamber Promotes Benefits to Members |
The Chamber's benefit programs enhance its members' ability to save money through their Chamber membership. The benefit programs offer discounts on Electric (generation), Natural Gas, Payroll Services and Transportation & Logistics Services.
Chamber Energy Solutions, administered by Palmer Energy, offers members and their employees discounts on electric generation and natural gas for both commercial and residential accounts.
Paytime Payroll Processing offers discounts on payroll check processing for Chamber members.
InterChez Logistics Systems provides discounts on transportation and logistics services. These benefits enhance the Chamber's current money-saving benefits including SummaCare and Worker's Compensation. Companies who want to participate can find out more at www.greaterakronchamber.org and/or contact Debbie Richmond, Manager, Benefits & Administration, at (330) 237-1228.
Winter Natural Gas Forecast from Chamber Energy Solutions (CES) While natural gas prices remain fairly low, the average consumer can expect their monthly bill to increase by 5-15 cents per CCF when compared to last winter. Underground storage, which will be used for winter heating months has set an all-time high, meaning there should be sufficient supply to meet the winter demand. However, the expectations of near normal winter temperatures have kept the prices from dropping to the levels seen one year ago. These factors and current market conditions lead to prices that have the potential to be upwards of 24% higher when compared to last winter. Due to the normal winter temperatures that are expected, the consumer will also most likely see an increase in their total bill, due to an increase in usage from last winter to this winter. The take-away from all of this is to remember that last winter was extremely warm and gas was plentiful. The probability of this winter being the same is slim, so budget appropriately! CES will continue to monitor the natural gas market and manage our clients pricing by purchasing gas when pricing is more advantageous. Even with the current low prices for gas, CES may be able to help you save money. For more information about the CES program, please contact contact Debbie Richmond at (330) 237-1228 or richmond@greaterakronchamber.org. |
| Save Money with the Chamber's Workers' Compensation Group Rating Program Through CareWorks Consultants, Inc. |
 The Greater Akron Chamber's Group Rating Program offers savings up to the maximum available discount on your Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) premium. The Chamber partners with CareWorks Consultants, Inc. (CCI) because they help employers achieve the highest group rating discount possible. Nearly 30,000 customers choose CCI to manage their workers' compensation plan. Click here to download an authorization permitting CCI to provide you with a NO-COST, NO-OBLIGATION analysis. To learn more, call CCI at (800) 837-3200 or visit CareWorksConsultants.com. |
| Achieve Significant Savings on Your Health Plan Coverage! | |
  The Greater Akron Chamber and SummaCare announce our enhanced Greater Akron Chamber Alliance - offering savings to more businesses than ever before! Companies of any size (including those with more than 100 employees) located in Summit, Portage, Medina, Cuyahoga, Stark, Wayne and Geauga counties can take advantage of significant savings by joining for as little as $400. And we're also offering the savings through our Affiliate Chamber Partners as well - so your business may already be eligible for discounts. To learn more, contact your broker or visit www.GACsave.com.
|
| Membership Has Its Benefits! |
Welcome New Members! Please patronize our new Chamber members. The Greater Akron Chamber thanks you for helping us support the region's business community. Visit Welcome New Members.
Check Out Members' Events!
The Chamber is offering its members more opportunities to connect. If your company is holding an event that's open to the general public and you'd like to get the word out, let us know. Visit Member Events for more information.
Members are Making Headlines!Got news? We'll post it! Visit Member News for more information. |
| 2013 URBAN INNOVATORS Speaker Series |
 Transforming Vacant Spaces: Creating Something from Nothing in the Urban Footprint Terry Schwarz from Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative
Terry Schwarz is the director of Kent State University's Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative. Her work at the CUDC includes neighborhood and campus planning, commercial and residential design guidelines and ecological strategies for vacant land reuse. Terry launched the CUDC's Shrinking Cities Institute in 2005 in an effort to understand and address the implications of population decline and large-scale urban vacancy in Northeast Ohio. As an outgrowth of the Shrinking Cities Institute, she established Pop Up City, a temporary use initiative for vacant and underutilized sites in Cleveland. Reservations are required. Please e-mail info@upakron.com or call (330) 777-2070 to place your reservation.
Where & When
The Andrew Jackson House
277 E. Mill St.
Akron, OH 44308
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
|
| February Akron Roundtable |
Founded by the Akron Beacon Journal, Greater Akron Chamber and Kiwanis Club of Akron
Join us for the next Akron Roundtable speaker, William E. Strickland, Jr., President & CEO, Manchester Bidwell Corporation. His topic is "The Art of Leadership".
Where & When
Quaker Square Inn at The University of Akron
135 S. Broadway St.
Akron, OH 44308
Thursday, February 21, 2013
12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Click here for ticket ordering information!
|
| Heart to Heart Communications 20th Annual Greater Akron Speaks Out for Values Breakfast |
 Join Heart to Heart Communications and the Greater Akron community as they celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Greater Akron Speaks Out for Value Breakfast on Monday April 29, 2013. The keynote speaker will be Daniel Colantone, President and CEO of the Greater Akron Chamber, and the focus of the breakfast will be Celebrating Community Collaborations: Renew and Sustain the Spirit Among Us. In addition to being an opportunity to celebrate Akron, the breakfast is the primary fundraiser of Heart to Heart Communications and is made possible through the support of organizations such as yours. Please consider how you might support this great community event that gathers together 600 key business and community leaders. This year's milestone breakfast will also include a special video incorporating inspirational interviews that celebrate community collaboration and an optional interactive workshop.
Where & When
John S. Knight Center
77 E. Mill St.
Akron, OH 44308
Monday, April 29, 2013
For more information, click here or contact Sarah Leiendecker at (330) 434-3278 Ext. 0.
|
| Akron Autism 5k and Walk - Save the Date: June 15, 2013 |
 Let's face autism together!
Akron's Autism 5k and Walk is the premier fundraiser for the Autism Society of Greater Akron. A variety of sponsorship packages are available to support this one-of-a-kind autism awareness event. As a community supporter, you can help us Face Autism Together and help local families living the autism journey. For more information on sponsorship packages, call Laurie Cramer, Director of the Greater Akron Autism Society of Ohio, at (330) 940-1441.
More information to come soon!
|
| Missed an E-blast? | | To view the Greater Akron Chamber's archived e-blasts and monthly e-newsletters, click here.
|
The mission of the Greater Akron Chamber is to drive economic development and prosperity for the people of the Greater Akron Region.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
