50th Year for Tuscarawas County Chamber of Commerce
50th Year for Tuscarawas County Chamber of Commerce
50 years of growth, community support, community visioning, and community leadership. Your Tuscarawas County Chamber of Commerce is celebrating 50 years. On June 16, 1921 the New Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce organized to promote the civic, economic and social welfare of the people of New Philadelphia and vicinity. On May 21, 1959 at 1:15 pm, at which meeting a quorum of such members present, by the affirmative unanimous vote of the members present a resolution to amend the original Articles of Incorporation the name of the New Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce shall be the Tuscarawas County Chamber of Commerce. The president was Robert E. DeCrane, Secretary was James L. Marple. The attorney acting on behalf of the organization was James R. Stephenson.
Since 1959 the Tuscarawas County Chamber of Commerce has been offering its members programs, benefits, events, networking, and community awareness. Looking over the last 2 year and the progress we have made as an organization I am excited to move into 2009 with following changes, improvements, and additions in place:
1. Revised organizational by-laws
2. Re-organized Board of Directors
3. New staff
4. New logo and tag line
5. New Web site
6. Soon to be launching the Center for Strategic Partnerships
7. Renovations to interior and exterior of Chamber Offices
8. New Tuscarawas County web portal to be launched in 2009
9. New and improved events and programs
10. New and improved newsletter and Chamber materials heading your way in 2009
11. New benefits will be announced sometime in 2009
As we celebrate our 50th year as the Tuscarawas County Chamber of Commerce I look forward to the continued growth and improvements that we have been experienced in 2008. Tuscarawas County is an amazing place to live, work and play.
We currently have 21 board members representing our member businesses across the county and we have 5 ex officio board members as well.
The board members are: *John Basiletti, Miller Studio; Carey Gardner, Union Hospital;
*Matt Mullen, Krugliak, Wilkins, Griffiths & Dougherty; *Kent Watson, Watson & Burkey Wallpapering; Rick Pipes, Pipes Insurance Service, Ltd.; Gary Little, Tuscarawas County Community Improvement Corporation; Kris Cardani, Hampton Inn; Tom Hostetler, Prestige Creative Marketing, Inc.; Nichole Zesiger, First National Bank of Dennison; Mike Davis, Adventure Harley Davidson; Chad Conrad, Muskingum Lakes Chapter American Red Cross; Dee Grossman, Tuscarawas County Convention and Visitors Bureau; Mark Fearon, Sugarcreek Business Association; *Eric Cameron, Tuscarawas Insurance Agency; Marge Jentes, Twin City Hospital; *Don Hoffman, Tuscarawas County Farm Bureau; Harry Eadon, Tuscarawas County Port Authority; Pat Ferris, Ferris Chevrolet, Inc.; *William Treciak, Electronic Data Payment Systems; Steve Schillig, Ohio Small Business Development Center; Kent State Tuscarawas, +Dean Gregg Andrews; Newcomerstown Chamber of Commerce, +Carolyn Woodring; City of New Philadelphia, +Mayor Mike Taylor; Tuscarawas County, Commissioner +Kerry Metzger; Twin City Chamber of Commerce, +Teri Edwards. (* denotes officers, + denotes ex-officio)
The Tuscarawas County Chamber of Commerce currently has over 500 members with the goal of growing that number in 2009. We have added a new membership category for businesses with fewer than 5 employees. This membership is under $200.00 and we are very excited about offering it to the small business community in Tuscarawas County.
We offer a wide range of benefits that can save member businesses money and time. We offer discounts on workers’ compensation, health insurance, local and long distance telephone services, office supplies, credit card processing, and shipping. We also strive to offer our members and the community important programs that can assist in the operation of their business. In addition, we bring in our local, state and federal legislators to meet with the members at luncheons to discuss current issues within Tuscarawas County.
In 2009 we will be launching the digital portal for Tuscarawas County. www.digitaltuscarawas.com will be coming soon. This web portal will assist Tuscarawas County with a more unified web presence for everything Tuscarawas County has to offer; economic development, tourism, quality of life, employment, education and events. We will offer links to all of the business and organizations that offer the information needed and wanted. The web portal has been developed through meetings and committees from Tuscarawas 2020.
In 2009 we will be offering additional events for everyone to enjoy. The Business PowerLunch is another way for members to network; enjoy lunch and a speaker on a relevant topic during the day. This type of event has been developed to extend opportunities to folks that are unable to make it to the Business After Hours or would just prefer to have a lunch time event. We continue to grow the Tuscarawas Valley Safety Council as well as the Tuscarawas Valley Young Professionals Network. Both groups enjoy great attendance at events and continue to provide worthwhile opportunities to those attending.
We also continue to grow our programs and committees that have been around for years. The Legislative, Communications, Membership Ambassadors, Retention and Expansion committees are successfully assisting the Chamber in reaching our goals in the past and into the future. The Tuscarawas County Chamber of Commerce also provides businesses and the community a chance to interact with the Tuscarawas Valley Business 2 Business Expo being held on February 10th at NewPointe Community Church. From 8:00 am to 2:00 pm you will be able to showcase your business and services. We invite everyone and anyone to attend this free event. If you would like to have a booth spaces please contact Amy Nelson at 330.343.4474.
The Board of Directors invites you stop in, learn more about “your” chamber of commerce, meet the staff, and see what we can do for you and your business. If your business is a member – we thank you for your support. If your business is not a member – we would certainly like to invite you to join. We are the premier business organization of the county – your Tuscarawas County Chamber of Commerce.
