events & updates
In This Issue - February 2, 2015
chamber events
Connect After Work
KNOW Luncheon
Entrepreneur Connect
YPN Mixology
Coffee, Tea & Contacts
State's Business Climate and You
chamber news & updates
Excellence in Business Nominations
chamber benefits
partner events

chamber events

 
Connect After Work

Sponsored by Jilly's Music Room

Network and connect after 5 with the Greater Akron Chamber's Connect After Work, this month at Jilly's Music Room.  This after work event will feature free appetizers, a cash bar and great networking. Get connected after work, with the Greater Akron Chamber!

Where & When
Jilly's Music Room
111 N. Main St. 
Akron, OH  44308
Thursday, February 12, 2015
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

To register, click here.

KNOW (Knowledgeable Network of Women) Luncheon

BCG & Company Premier Sponsors are BCG & Company and BCG Systemns
 
Join KNOW for the February quarterly luncheon when Amy Ruman presents "Breaking Barriers: A Race to the Top."

Amy Ruman, a local talent from Kent, Ohio, is the driver of the #23 McNichols Co. Corvette.  She currently competes and runs full time in the Professional Trans Am Road Racing Series.Join us for a fun interactive session where Ruman will share her experience and insights from the racing world to help you go full speed ahead in your career without running off the track.

2010 KNOW Logo KNOW is a personal and professional development program for business women in the Greater Akron Region. Our mission is to cultivate the talent within each other by reaching out to today's women executives and tomorrow's leaders. For stories that inspire, innovative ideas and practical solutions, plan to be a part of the Greater Akron Chamber's exhilarating program developed exclusively for women.
 
Where & When
Portage Country Club
240 N. Portage Path
Akron, OH  44303
Wednesday February 18, 2015
11:00 a.m.

For more information or to register, click here.
2010 Huntington Bank logo2013 Roetzel logo
Supporting Sponsors are Roetzel and Huntington.  


Entrepreneur Connect

For Entrepreneurs, By Entrepreneurs

Entrepreneur Connect is a program exclusively for President/CEOs and business owners of privately-held companies who want to connect with peers, share strategies and engage in discussions to help each other succeed in business. Occasionally, expert guest speakers will join the group to present best practices and help facilitate discussions. 

Dean Langfitt of The Ruby Group,
will be the presenter.

Where & When
FirstEnergy Corp.
341 White Pond Dr.
Akron, OH  44313
Thursday, February 19, 2015
7:00 - 8:30 a.m.

Registration is required.  Click here to register.

YPN Paris Mix-Up: Cocktail and Mocktail Mixology

Learn to mix your favorite Paris-themed cocktails and mocktails while networking with fellow young professionals.

Where & When
The Tangier
532 W. Market St.
Akron, OH  44303
Thursday February 19, 2015
5:30 - 8:00 p.m.

Click here to register.

 

Coffee, Tea & Contacts Networking Event
 
Sponsored by ACME Fresh Markets

 

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 everyone'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.


Coffee Tea & ContactsWhere & When
ACME Fresh Markets - Green
3875 Massillon Rd.
Uniontown, OH 44685
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
7:30 - 9:00 a.m. 
  

Click here to register.   

 

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? This event is an opportunity to hear directly from the elected officials who will be deciding these issues. State legislators representing Medina, Portage and Summit 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.

Scheduled to Appear:
  • Senator John Eklund
  • Representative Marilyn Slaby
  • Representative Greta Johnson
  • Representative Emilia Sykes
Where & When
Hilton Garden Inn
1307 E. Market St.
Akron, OH  44305
7:30 - 9:00 a.m.
Friday, February 27, 2015
7:30 - 8:15 a.m. Registration, networking & breakfast
8:15 - 9:00 a.m. Program

Click here to register.







chamber news & updates

 
Nominations Sought for 2015 Excellence in Business Awards
 
The Greater Akron Chamber is accepting nominations for our 2015 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.  The deadline for nominations is Friday, February 13, 2015.

Click here to download the nomination form!  Last year's award recipients were EnviroScience, Inc.; Metis Construction Services - Emerging Business Award; Nagy's Collision Specialists; and Sequoia Financial Group.  Click here to view a list of previous recipients.

A separate form is required for each nomination. For questions, contact Sarah Vojtek at (330) 237-1254.
  
Your Opinion Matters

Talent, Innovation and Leadership: the focus of the Advance Greater Akron strategic plan is gaining momentum as we work together to create a better quality of life for everyone. 

Your input is needed for one of the more visible collaborative initiatives within the region - the new Akron Bits and Atoms Innovation Center, a program of the award-winning and nationally-recognized Akron Global Business Accelerator, the Center will be a state-of-the-art regional entrepreneurial development center that guides entrepreneurs through the company-building process. It will be focused on the building of technology, artistic ideas, products and companies that will ultimately create more jobs for the Akron area. This new Center will allow any person to create a business or make a product through collaboration and learning. The main offerings of the Center are AkronWorks, a collaborative co-working space, and the MakerSpace, a workspace providing high capital equipment for prototyping and small scale manufacturing.  The Center will also offer general courses and presentations on entrepreneurship.

In order to make the right decisions and to best implement the center, we would like your opinion.  Please take about 5 minutes to complete this survey Your anonymous input is important to realizing this vision. 

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact Jessica Peplowski at jpeplowski@akronaccelerator.com.

MAGNET Now Providing Free Consultants to Manufacturers

MAGNET If your company is in manufacturing, you should consider contacting the staff of MAGNET (The Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network) to arrange for a visit with your company to review your company's goals for 2015 and how they may be able to assist you in your plans. You can visit MAGNET's website to learn more about the organization and what services it provides to area manufacturers.

For small- and mid-size manufacturing companies, please reference MAGNET's PRISM program as a starting point. PRISM is a one-stop shop for planning successful growth; defending and extending your core business; innovating new products, improving processes or finding new markets and for finding, attracting and managing your hiring and training needs. It is the first and only initiative in Northeast Ohio that combines an experienced manufacturing consulting and engineering group, with a wide variety of regional assets in Northeast Ohio that are available to your company to assist you in your growth. 

If you have any questions or comments or questions, please feel free to contact the Greater Akron Chamber's economic development team at (330) 376-5550.

2014-2015 Greater Akron Relocation Guide Published

We are pleased to present Experience Greater Akron, the Greater Akron Chamber's 2014-2015 Relocation Guide for those relocating from around the world or across town. We encourage you to use this guide as a resource 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, "120 Reasons We Love Greater Akron," an informative and fun read about what makes the region famous. To view the "clickable" version of either magazine, click on the picture to the right.  For copies of the guide, call the Chamber at (330) 376-5550. 



chamber benefits

 
Member to Member Discounts

Membership in the Greater Akron Chamber has its privileges...like savings from other Chamber members!   This week's deals include:
  • Soft skills can make or break your company and your employees.  Let The Vation Group help you "out-class your competition" and save you money too!  Save 15% when you book a Vation Group package - three seminars on business branding and professional & dining etiquette.  Must mention discount at time of booking - info@thevationgroup.com
  • It's a Breeze Travel is offering a gift in every cruise cabin on any cruise line on all itineraries.  For more information, call (330) 212-4744.

Additional savings include 15% off VoIP Phone Systems at Palitto Consulting/Business Communications Specialists, plus savings at the Akron Racers, Boggs Chiropractic, Electric Impulse Communications, Hawthorn Suites Wyndham Extended Stay in Montrose, Jilly's Music Room, Leanne Cannon, Miracle on Main Street, NOTO Boutique, Pak Computers, PPG Industries, Service Master of Hudson, Tubbs Chiropractic, and Vitality Massage Therapy.


Special savings from Greater Akron Chamber members to Greater Akron Chamber members.  Check out the deals here.  And if you'd like to offer a deal, contact your Greater Akron Chamber representative at (330) 237-1234.     

 

Receive Discounts on Your Health Plan Coverage!

 

Save on Group Health Insurance and Boost Your Company's Growth
 
Since 1997, SummaCare and the Greater Akron Chamber have worked together to save local businesses over $25 million in health insurance premiums.

As a member of the Greater Akron Chamber, companies of any size located in Summit, Stark, Portage, Medina, Wayne, Cuyahoga and Geauga counties can take advantage of discounted premiums on health insurance plans from SummaCare, as well as benefit from economic, business and workforce development services provided by the Chamber. Membership also gives businesses the opportunity to build relationships with other companies in the area. 

Companies interested in learning more about how to save on health insurance premiums by joining the Greater Akron Chamber can visit GetHealthierTogether.com, contact the Chamber at 888-665-2102 or contact your independent insurance agent.

   

Save Money with the Chamber's Workers' Compensation Group Rating Plan
 
CareWorks (CCI)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 1-800-837-3200 or visit CareWorksConsultants.com.

Greater Akron Chamber Partners with Constant Contact® to Help You Grow Your Business with E-mail Marketing
 

Constant ContactUse the leading e-mail 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 e-mail 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®, e-mail marketing is easy, affordable and effective.  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 e-mail 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 e-mail to chamberprogram@constantcontact.com with your user name telling them you are a member of the Greater Akron Chamber.

  

partner events

 
February Akron Roundtable
  
Founded by the Akron Beacon Journal, Greater Akron Chamber and Kiwanis Club of Akron
 

Join us for the next Akron Roundtable when a Biomimicry Panel presents "Biomimicry and NEO: Creating Conditions for Place-Based Innovation Inspired by Nature." 


Where & When

Quaker Square Inn at The University of Akron
135 S. Broadway St.
Akron, OH  44308
Thursday, February 19, 2015
12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Click here for ticket ordering information!  Click here for more information on the speaker/panelists.

Missed an E-blast?

To view the Greater Akron Chamber's archived e-blasts and 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.

  
Greater Akron Chamber
1 Cascade Plaza, 17th Fl.
Akron, Ohio 44308
www.greaterakronchamber.org


Greater Akron Chamber logo
The Greater Akron Chamber is the only economic development organization in the State of Ohio  
to be accredited by the International Economic Development Council.