Streetsboro Area Chamber of Commerce

The speaker for the September Luncheon

2008-08-25T12:14:00.000-07:00

On September 10th, the Streetsboro Chamber of Commerce will host their monthly luncheon at St. Joan of Arc Hall located at 8894 St. Rt. 14 in Streetsboro. The program begins with networking at 11:30 am. We are pleased to present Matt Streem of Trend Evolution as our speaker this month.

Matt is an individual who has sixteen years of experience in executive management and sales of consumer products to retail outlets. Of those years, five have been as CEO of Hot Records, a music label and music & video distribution company that he founded as a partner. The past years have been spent building Trend Evolution, LLC as a top national distributor of personal care cosmetics, and unique trend products including such brands as: Burt's Bees, Carmex, Blistex, Dial, Tide, and Cargo Cosmetics.

He has recently created a new division at Trend Evolution to launch an organizational line of products called Contact Keeper. Contact Keeper is a family of products that helps people keep new business cards, contact information, and notes together and organized.

Matt's speech will be on "Capitalizing on the niche and non-traditional. How to think "out-of-the-box" to find viable opportunities in your business. If you would like to attend, cost is $15 for Chamber members and $17 for non members. Reservations are required and can be made by either phone to 330-626-4769 or email: sacc@streetsborochamber.org.

Chamber sets business Showcase

2008-08-13T11:10:00.000-07:00

The Streetsboro Area Chamber of Commerce is seeking participants and sponsors for its annual Streetsboro Community Showcase & Business Expo.

The Event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Streetsboro Middle School, said Kori Brady, executive director of the chamber.

"Businesses get to have exposure", she said. "We have a lot of new residents in Streetsboro who come through. Business participants also get to have contanct with other businesses and community organizations."

The expo still needs a main event sponsor, which costs $1,000, said Brady, adding event planning is in the "early stages'>

Whoever sponsors the event gets their name on all the marketing material, press releases, a banner at the event, a full-page business article in the program, and a booth.

There are also several other sponsorship levels and 52 booths available for businesses, non-profits and community organizations, said Brady.

The event will include a variety of entertainment, food to sample at Taste of Streetsboro, and the oppurtunity to learn more about the community, she said.

"This is a great way for area residents to check things out and meet the people who run all these businesses," said Brady.

It's also free to attend,ees, she added.

Bruce Felber, president of the board of directors, said the event is about raising awareness of the available services at businesses and organizations.

"I also think it's important that other potential businesses get to see what a chamber of commerce does and the value of networking," he said. "It's good morale for the city, in geneeral to showcase the diversity of the community."

Taste of Streetsboro, which takes place in the Middle school cafeteria, is an opportunity for restaurants, caterers and grocers to feature some of their special products at the event, said Brady.

Tickets for attendees typically cost $1 per, or $5 for six tickets, said Brady.

For more information, call 330-626-4769.

Streetsboro Chamber to Host 10th Annual Golf Outing at Raccoon Hill

2008-06-19T09:52:00.000-07:00

The Streetsboro Area Chamber of Commerce is in the final planning stages for their 10th Annual Golf outing to be held at Raccoon Hill on Friday, July 11th, 2008 at 10:00 am. The event is being sponsored by Glick, Layman & Associates. Great Lakes Hyundai is sponsoring the Hole-in-One and is giving each golfer the chance to win a new car. The team price is $400. The cost of golf is $85. Each golfer receives eighteen holes of golf, a cart, coffee and donuts in the morning, lunch, beverages, a steak dinner and sweet corn from Szalay's Farm. There will be a chance to win prizes throughout the day. If you don't golf, you can still highlight your business by sponsoring a hole for $100. When you sponsor a hole, you have the option of setting up a table at the hole to greet golfers and pass out your business literature. If you would like to donate a prize or need more information, please contact Kori Brady at 330-626-4769.

Network in Paradise with Young Professionals Group

2008-06-18T11:51:00.000-07:00

The Young Professionals Group of Portage County will be hosting their June Business networking meeting Wednesday June 25th at Paradise Lake Country Club in Suffield from 5:30-7:30pm. The cost for the event is $10 to enjoy delicious hors d'oeuvres, a fun atmosphere and the chance to mingle with other young professionals in the area. An open cash bar will also be provided.

Eric Riedel, Vice President and Dean of Students at Hiram College, will be the guest speaker for the evening. Riedel will be speaking on "Peripheral Cues in the Business Atmosphere." He will be discussing subtle ways to identify and understand signs and cues in our co-workers and managers to ultimately provide the best working atmosphere and opportunities for success and advancement.

If you are a young professional, between the ages of 21 and 40, who is new to the area, looking for business and employment contacts, or just interested in meeting other young professionals in the area, this is a wonderful opportunity.

The Mission of the Young Professionals Group is to create a platform for the members to build relations, develop professionally, and cultivate education focused on the county in which we live, work and thrive. We want our young professionals to stay in Portage County! The Young Professionals Group will help show you all that this area has to offer.

Please contact the Streetsboro Chamber at 330-626-4769 for information or to register for the event. Reservations required.

Chamber Prepares for 2008

2007-11-29T06:13:00.000-08:00

The Streetsboro Chamber Board of Directors will be meeting on December 14th to plan the incoming year. The Board feels this will be the year that the Chamber will truly shine. We all look forward to working with the incoming Mayor. If you as a member or a resident feel their is something the Chamber needs to focus on, please contact us or post a comment. Thanks for all that you do.

Chamber Golf Outing Set

2007-06-25T07:38:00.000-07:00

The Streetsboro Chamber of Commerce 9th Annual Golf Outing will be held on Monday, July9th at Raccoon Hills Golf Club. For $80 you receive golf, cart, lunch, beverages all day, a steak dinner provided by Mangiamo, a chance to win prizes and a $400 team prize. Golfers will also be able to test their skill to win a 2007 Hyundai Tucson at the hole in one hole! This event is being sponsored by HoneyBaked Ham. Contact the Chamber at 330-626-4769 if you are willing to participate or donate a prize.

All Portage Chamber Luncheon

2007-06-01T07:32:00.000-07:00

STREETSBORO HOSTS ENTREPRENEURAL PROGRAM

2ND ANNUAL ALL PORTAGE COUNTY CHAMBER LUNCHEON

The Streetsboro Area Chamber of Commerce is proud to host the second All Portage County Chambers of Commerce Luncheon on June 13, 2007 at Twin Lakes Country Club - Kent.

Dr. Terry Brizz instructor at Baldwin Wallace College – Entrepreneurial Department and owner of Galaxy Balloons (worlds largest balloon and sport ball imprinter), located in Lakewood, will focus on trends in entrepreneurship. Dr Brizz received his Executive Doctor of Management from Case Western Reserve University – Weatherhead School of Management in May of 2004.

With small businesses producing 51% of the nations GDP and over 47% of all business sales, it no surprise that the entrepreneurial spirit is very much alive in the U.S.

Brizz will focus on the growing number of women and minority owned enterprises and explain how to avoid the mistakes that have hurt what could be a very successful business.

Also joining the program is Lee McMannis, Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Kent State University College of Business Administration. Lee will talk about the KSU entrepreneurial program. McMannis ran his family business, Mickey Thompson Performance Tires and later orchestrated the sale of the company to Cooper Tire, a Fortune 500 multi-national company. Today the business is Cooper’s highest profit business unit. A true entrepreneur, McMannis volunteers his time to help other reach their dreams.

All chamber members from Aurora, Brimfield, Kent, Garrettsville, Mantua-Shalersville, Ravenna, Rootstown and Streetsboro are cordially invited to this special All Portage County Chamber event. This is the prefect opportunity to network with other leaders in Portage County and unleash your hidden desire to start your own company.

The program begins at 11:30 with networking and lunch is promptly served at Noon. Cost is $15.00 for Portage County Chamber members and $17.00 for non-members. Reservations are required and must be paid in advance or at the door. To register, please call the Streetsboro Chamber office at 330-626-4769 or for any questions.

Portage County Airport Expansion Support

2007-05-24T05:47:00.000-07:00

Portage County Airport Endorsement

Now arriving in Portage County (new businesses, jobs and revenues) is much better than hearing now departing for other nearby cities and counties. We believe supporting the expansion of the Portage County Airport is a wise investment and will help our economic future take flight. If we are to be successful in competing with other counties, regions and states for new businesses and industry, we must invest in our transportation infrastructure. The Kent State University Airport and Portage County Regional Airport have already achieved a boost in economic activity by employing 220 and enhancing commerce for all local businesses.
Competition for new business location and relocation is intense. With the global economy, Portage County has been greatly affected by industry and manufacturing moving out of state or over seas. Our economic future will depend greatly on our ability to attract new industry. Locations that boast a strong infrastructure, especially with regards to location and logistics, will have the best opportunity to achieve success in attracting new investment. The Portage County Airport location boasts access to the Ohio turnpike as well as rail service. Without question, we should take full advantage of this tremendous asset and invest in the runway expansion.
Expansion of the Portage County Airport will insure a positive business climate for business expansion in the years to come. By attracting new businesses in the greater Portage County region, we will greatly increase tax receipts (income, sales and property taxes) increasing revenues for schools and townships thus reducing the burden on residents and property owners.
In closing, we believe the expansion of the Portage County Airport is a wise investment in the future of Portage County. Other surrounding communities have recognized the potential in proving a strong transportation infrastructure and we would be wise to do the same. We encourage others to support the Portage County Airport expansion and help get our future economy off the ground!

Board of Directors-
Aurora, Brimfield, Kent, Mantua-Shalersville and Streetsboro
Chambers of Commerce

Coffee N Contacs

2007-05-23T12:07:00.000-07:00

To wind down from your hectic Memorial Day Weekend, join us on Tuesday, May 29th at Greenie Beanies Coffee and More for some high octaine coffee and networking. Remember to bring your business cards and literature. We begin at 8:00 am and if the mood is high, we might go beyond 9:00 am! I hope to see you there!

Mayoral Candidate

2007-05-23T08:12:00.001-07:00

RECORD COURIER STATED EARLIER TODAY:

Kovacs moves ahead of McClafferty Recount gives her one-vote lead; Wagner still on top in Streetsboro

By Miles Jung-Kilbreath
Record-Courier staff writer

STREETSBORO -- Planning Director Linda Kovacs took a one-vote lead to emerge as the second of two finalists in the November mayoral election after the results of the May 8 primary election were certified Tuesday.

"This is proof positive that every vote counts," Kovacs said after the meeting. "On to November."

Kovacs edged out 19-year-old Brett McClafferty in the certified vote count, with 665 votes to McClafferty's 664 votes.

Councilman Tom Wagner continues to lead the primary results. He picked up three votes with the certification, finishing with 670 votes.

With the race decided by less than 1 percent of the vote, Board of Elections Director Lois Enlow said an automatic recount will take place on May 31.

If the results are tied after the May 31 recount, Enlow said a flip of a coin would decide who moves on to the November election.

The unofficial results on election night had Kovacs and McClafferty tied with 660 votes.
Wagner said he has already started a "vigorous" campaign to let residents know that he is the candidate who represents them. He said that Kovacs' track record shows that she is more for the developers in the city than its residents.

McClafferty said he will be waiting for the recount, but said if this is the end of his mayoral bid, he thinks he made a good run.
"It was down to one vote," he said.

Board of Elections Deputy Director Glenda Enders said the results are close enough that McClafferty could still make the November election after the recount.

The certified results brought in 18 votes to the election, or nine voters who were allowed to vote for two candidates, according to Enlow.

If McClafferty is able to move ahead of Kovacs after the recount, he still will face questions about whether he can run for the office in November. The city charter says the qualifications of mayor include being a "qualified elector" for three years. McClafferty will only be a qualified elector for two years this November.

If he is challenged on his qualifications, McClafferty said he will fight to stay on the ballot. He said he believes that section of the city charter is unconstitutional.

Streetsboro Law Director Chad Murdock said he will not make a decision on McClafferty's eligibility until after the election is decided.

Streetsboro resident John Albaneze said he filed a complaint May 9 with the board of elections over McClafferty's qualifications. He said he received a letter May 16 from the Portage County Prosecutor's Office's Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Denise Smith saying that the time for an election protest had "long since expired."

Albaneze would have to consult a private attorney for "any questions you have as to Mr. McClafferty's candidacy."

Albaneze said he is considering taking further legal action and has consulted with his attorney on the matter.

The certified results for the other candidates were Ward 1 Councilman Chuck Kocisko with 459 votes; at-large Councilman Pete Buczkowski with 448 votes; resident Drew Delgross with 433 votes; and at-large Councilman Art Scott with 193 votes.

Enlow said the recount will begin May 31 after a special meeting at the Board of Elections starting at 8:30 a.m. The results of the recount should be released that day.