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| 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, Aprill 23, 2013
7:30 - 9:00 a.m. Click here to register. |
| Spring Into Summer Business Expo | |
50 exhibitors * free giveaways * hourly prize drawings * demonstrations
* samples * tons of fun!
 Grab the family and come out and see what the best businesses in the Greater Akron area have to offer! Admission is free! Free goodie bags for the first 100 expo attendees! Have your "shopping list" stamped at the booths for your chance to win hourly drawings plus the grand prize drawing at 4:00 p.m.
Where & When
Summit Mall
3265 W. Market St.
Fairlawn, OH 44333
Saturday, May 11, 2013
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
For more information on being an exhibitor at the expo, click here or call (330) 347-9453.
Sponsored by Greater Akron Chamber and Save Local Now.
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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.
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| Nominations Sought for 2013 Excellence in Business Awards |
 The deadline for nominations has been extended until Friday, April 5, 2013.
The Greater Akron Chamber is accepting nominations for our 2013 Excellence In Business Award. Nominate a company who deserves recognition for the exceptional work they do in the business community.
To be considered, the company must be for-profit and non-publicly traded. See additional criteria on the nomination form.
Click here to download the nomination form! Click here to see a list of the past recipients. A separate form is required for each nomination. For questions, contact Sarah Vojtek at (330) 237-1254. |
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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.
We are now accepting advertising for "2013-2014 Experience Greater Akron," the Chamber's relocation guide! Consider advertising in our three new sections: The Entrepreneurial Spirit; Philanthropy and Volunteerism; and Active, Vibrant Seniors!
Click here for more about advertising and early bird special rates!
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| Leadership Akron Now Accepting Applications for 2013-2014 |
 Leadership Akron is now accepting applications for their 2013-2014 class. The signature program empowers participants to see beyond their own spheres to the greater good of the community through involvement and leadership. It offers an intensive study of community issues and interaction with prominent decision-makers, inspiring participants to expand their effectiveness as community leaders. Each year, the program begins with a mandatory two-day opening retreat. After the retreat, participants spend one full day every month focusing on a certain aspect of their community. Focus areas include: social services, business, education, the arts, health and others.
Individuals must work or live in Summit County in order to apply. Application and additional materials can be found on the Leadership Akron website at www.leadershipakron.org. The deadline for submission of applications is Monday, April 29, 2013.
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| Greater Akron Chamber Partners with Constant Contact® to Help You Grow Your Business with Email Marketing | |
 Use the leading email marketing service to connect with your customers - and take advantage of a special member benefit
Greater Akron Chamber has partnered with Constant Contact®, the leading email marketing service for small businesses, to bring you a great way to stay in touch with your most important audience: your customers. With Constant Contact®, email marketing is easy, affordable, and effective. In just minutes, you can:
- Communicate regularly with your customers and remind them of your value, so they'll think of you first.
- Easily create and send high-impact, professional-looking email communications in no time at all.
- Review, and learn from, your email results with revealing, easy-to-read reports that show you who opened your emails, what links they clicked on, and more.
- Build and segment your list of email addresses, so that you can send focused, tailored emails that get results.
And because you are a member of Greater Akron Chamber, you qualify for a special discount. If you prepay for six months, you receive a 20% discount. Prepay for a year and save 25%! There's no better time to try email marketing. If you haven't opened an account yet, you can start with a 60-day free trial. To begin your trial, click here. If you already have a Constant Contact® account and would like your discount, please send an email to chamberprogram@constantcontact.com with your user name telling them you are a member of the Greater Akron Chamber. |
| 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.
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.
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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 (CES), 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 the Greater Akron Chamber, at (330) 237-1228.
 Natural Gas Market Update
Periodically, CES will provide updates on the natural gas or electric environment. This month's focus is on the natural gas market compared to last year at this time. This information pertains to the commodity portion of the bill not the utility charges. For the typical natural gas customer, natural gas-related expenses have increased when compared to gas-related expenses just one year ago. Last year's abnormally warm winter created a market in which gas through most of 2012 was sold at or below $3.00/MCF. This year, we've experienced a normal winter, much colder when compared to last year, and prices on the gas market have reflected that change. Additionally, the colder seasonal weather has increased the average customer's demand for heating and therefore, increased the amount of gas used when compared to last year. Temperatures last winter were so abnormally warm, many customers had already began using their air-conditioning system by the end of March. Unlike last year, most of us can expect to use our furnace for heat through the end of March. The change from the warm winter of last year, to the seasonal winter of this year, has not only increased the price you pay per unit of gas, it has also increased the amount of gas that you have used. These are all factors to keep in mind when reviewing your natural gas bills and as you budget for next year. If you are not already in the Chamber Energy Solutions benefit program, please contact Debbie Richmond at (330) 237-1228 to learn more about the CES program and how you can better manage your natural gas costs. |
| 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.
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| 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. |
| Goodwill Industries 86th Annual Meeting | 
Goodwill Industries serving Summit, Portage, Medina, Ashland and Richland Counties will celebrate 86 years of service at its 2013 Annual Meeting. The "Celebration of Champions" program will include the presentation of the 2012 Annual Report and showcase the year-long celebration of the agency's 85th Anniversary.
Where & When
The Tangier
532 W. Market St.
Akron, OH 44303
Thursday, March 28, 2013
5:00 p.m.
Contact Beverly Sherrard at (330) 724-6995 or bsherrard@goodwillakron.org for tickets or more information.
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| Business to Business Show 2013 | |
Presented by The Rubber City Radio Group and the Greater Akron Chamber
This Business to Business Show will bring together local businesses and present opportunities to meet new potential customers. The guest speaker will be the new owner of the Akron Aeros, Ken Babby and resident of Akron. He is a retired newspaper guru and son of long-time NBA agent and executive, Lon Babby. In addition, there will be a networking opportunity from the lounge at 5:00 p.m.
Choose between two packages and receive a 10% Chamber discount:
Greater Akron Chamber Corporate Sponsor Package:
- Client to receive a table for 8 at the luncheon
- Client to receive a 10' x 10' booth
- Client to receive 50 $10 tickets for distribution to the show. (All tickets will be included on a list with other corporate sponsors on a separate web page which will be a part of our web promotional material on AkronNewsNow.com/WAKR and WONE.net
- Client to be included in rotating promotional announcements with other sponsors on 1590 WAKR and 97.5 WONE (minimum of 50 mentions)
Promotional value exceeds $3,600; with Chamber discount, cost is $450!
Greater Akron Chamber Special Exhibitor Package:
- Client to receive a 10' x 10' booth
- Client to receive 30 $10 tickets for distribution to the show. (All tickets will be included in a prize drawing at the cocktail reception.)
- Client name to be listed on web page with a logo link to their website
- Client logo to be included on a rotating video displayed at the event
Promotional value exceeds $800; with Chamber discount, cost is $270!
Where & When
The Tangier
532 W. Market St.
Akron, OH 44303
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
For more information, click here.
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| Ohio Employee Ownership Center's 27th Annual Conference | |
 This year's conference theme is "Building Jobs, Wealth & Communities." The keynote speakers are Corey Rosen, Co-Founder and Senior Staff Member of the National Center for Employee Ownership, and J. Michael Keeling, CAE, President of The ESOP Association.
Who Should Attend...
- Business owners interested in exploring employee ownership as an exit strategy.
- Current employee owners loocking for the latest legal, tax and ownership culture information.
- Economic and community development professinals interested in learning how employee ownership can stabilize their community's economic base rates.
Registration is $125 before April 6, $150 between April 7-18 and $195 at the door. Registration to the conference includes a continental breakfast, plated lunch, coffee break and closing reception.
For more information, contact the Ohio Employee Ownership Center at Kent State University (OEOC) by phone at (330) 672-3028 or by e-mail at oeoc@kent.edu or check out their website at www.oeockent.org.
Where & When
Hilton Akron/Fairlawn
3180 W. Market St.
Akron, OH 44333
Friday, April 19, 2013
8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
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| Heart to Heart Communications 20th Annual Greater Akron Speaks Out for Values Breakfast |
 Celebrating Community Collaborations: Renew and Sustain the Spirit among Us!
Join Heart to Heart Communications in celebrating the 20th anniversary of our Annual Greater Akron Speaks Out for Values Breakfast. The 20th Breakfast is sure to be special with a theme of Celebrating Community Collaborations: Renew and Sustain the Spirit among Us, a keynote speech from Daniel Colantone, President and CEO of the Greater Akron Chamber, a video featuring local leaders in collaboration, and an optional interactive workshop on Collaborative Leadership: Inspiring the Best in Ourselves and Each Other with Ellen Van Oosten, Executive Coach and Instructor from Case Weatherhead School of Management.
Where & When
John S. Knight Center
77 E. Mill St.
Akron, OH 44308
Monday, April 29, 2013
Breakfast program 7:15 - 8:45 a.m.; Workshop 9:00 - 11:45 a.m.
For more information, click here or contact Sarah Leiendecker at (330) 434-3278 Ext. 0. Register today at www.h2hc.org.
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| MANUFACTURING MART™ 2013 |
 The Supply Train Trade Show is designed to help our regional manufacturers increase sales. With new sales, they can create new jobs. In short, every $1 million in new sales creates 15 new jobs.¹
MANUFACTURING MART™ 2013 features the manufacturers and material suppliers that make up the Great American Supply Chain™ - the men and women who supply quality parts to America's top brands and marketing companies - GE, Whirlpool, Boeing, United Technologies, Caterpillar, GM, Honda, Ford, and Chrysler, just to name a few.
There will be opportunities to meet component and subassembly manufacturers, manufacturing engineers and product designers. Attend this trade show and discover manufacturing and assembly solutions, production and delivery solutions, new technologies and equipment solutions that meet your needs.
Where & When
John S. Knight Center
77 E. Mill St.
Akron, OH 44308
Tuesday, May 14, 2013 - Wednesday, May 15, 2013
For more information, click here.
¹ Seyi Fayanju, February 24, 2010 Published by Environmental Defense Fund based on the multipliers generated by US Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis
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| Akron Autism 5k and Walk - 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, click here or call Laurie Cramer, Director of the Greater Akron Autism Society of Ohio, at (330) 940-1441.
Click here for more information.
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| Missed an E-blast? | | To view the Greater Akron Chamber's archived e-blasts and monthly e-newsletters, click here.
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The mission of the Greater Akron Chamber is to drive economic development and prosperity for the people of the Greater Akron Region.
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