2019 Annual Report
Our Mission
The mission of the Greater Akron Chamber is to drive economic growth and prosperity for Greater Akron by supporting the success of the business community and acting as a convener of stakeholders on key issues facing the region.
Greater Akron Chamber: Our Blueprint
Four Strategies to Lead Greater!
Support Company Growth; Jobs and Investment
Grow company revenue, capital investment and jobs in Greater Akron by leading targeted business attraction, retention and expansion efforts for high potential opportunities.
Support Small and Mid Sized Businesses
Create advantage for the region’s small and middle market businesses by connecting them to customers, capital, content and ecosystem support resources.
Drive Economic Inclusion
Advance economic opportunity through diversity and inclusion to accelerate the growth and success of Greater Akron’s companies.
Facilitate Employer Workforce solutions
Drive employer focused solutions to critical skill gaps by increasing job access and employer engagement with the talent development system.
Four Competencies of the Chamber to help us Lead Greater!
Catalytic Research and Advocacy
Drive ideas and decision-making on action to further Greater Akron’s economic success from the perspective of the business and employer community.
Storytelling
Bring visibility to the region’s assets, companies, needs and opportunities with a focus on driving value for the business community, its employers and their workforce.
Convener and Facilitator
Bring companies, organizations and key stakeholders together to dialogue and connect around opportunities for mutual economic success in Greater Akron.
Distinctive Products, Services and Resources to Support Members
In places where gaps exist and the mutual needs of our members can be supported, the Chamber will invent and/or invest in capacity to fill the need and support their success.
Year In Review
100 Million Dollars
Invested in Redevelopment
The $42M Bowery District project is redeveloping, restoring and rehabilitating six historic – and long-vacant – buildings on SouthMain Street as a mixed-use residential, retail and office complex.
As of Oct 1, 2019 the Women’s Network joined forces with the Greater Akron Chamber to gain a seat at the inclusion table and expand the reach of programming for women.
The Summa Health Tower along East Market Street represents a $220M investment and strengthens the Greater Akron Region’s (well-deserved!) reputation for world-class health care.
The $10M+ relocation project involved a unique “land swap” involving Signet LLC, City of Akron, County of Summit and United Way of Summit County.
The Greater Akron Inclusion Summit, held on September 12, 2019, outlined the business case for economic inclusion and shared the findings of Elevate Greater Akron’s Inclusion Narrative for the region.
The Chamber worked with key partners to complete the first phase of a project to identify and catalog the resources available to small and mid-size companies, with specific resources for MBE/FBE companies.
BOUNCE – a hub of entrepreneurship and technology situation in the former B.F. Goodrich headquarters along South Main Street – conducted its Grand Opening in May 2019.
An $11M+ renovation and reuse of the United One Building at the corner of Main and Market Streets in Downtown Akron.
Along with SummaCare, Babcock & Wilcox is a major tenant anchoring the redevelopment of the former Goodyear World Headquarters along East Market Street.
Officers & Board
Greater Akron Chamber 2019 Executive Committee
Marc B. Merklin
Chair
Managing Partner Brouse McDowell
Grace Wakulchik
Chair-Elect
President, Akron Children’s Hospital
Donzell S. Taylor
Immediate Past-Chair
President & CEO Welty Building Company, Ltd.
Ernie Pouttu
Vice Chair, Chamber Services Council
President & CEO Harwick Standard Distribution Corp
André Thornton Sr.
Vice Chair, Economic Inclusion
President & CEO ASW Global, LLC
Tia M. Ramlow
Vice Chair, Finance
President GreatWork! Employment Services
Elizabeth Z. Bartz
Co-Vice Chair, Government Affairs
President and CEO State and Federal Communications
Para M. Jones, PhD
Vice Chair, Talent and Workforce
President Stark State College
Shon Christy
Vice Chair, Business Owners Council
Shon Christy, Founder and President Shon Christy Social Media
Timothy M. Burke
President, Eastern Ohio Market KeyBank
Whitt Butler
Akron Office, Managing Partner Ernst & Young, LLP
Laura B. Culp
Partner/TaxServices Sikich, LLP
Ella R. Hochstetler
Director, Business Development and Strategic Partnerships
Dominion Energy
John T. Petures Jr.
President & CEO Akron Community Foundation
Jennifer Savitski, MD, FACOG
Chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Cleveland Clinic Akron General
Steven E. Strah
SVP & CFO FirstEnergy Corp.
Investors
Chair Circle Investors
