Orrville Chamber holds 105th meeting virtually
During the 105th meeting of the Orrville Area Chamber, President Lori Reinbolt narrated the 2020 Year in Review, an overview of the chamber’s response as an essential resource to its members and the community during the pandemic of 2020.
The year 2020 marked a milestone anniversary for the Orrville Area Chamber of Commerce and also marked the beginning of a global pandemic that impacted lives, the economy and the way people work. The 105th annual State of the Chamber was held for the first time as a virtual conference on Feb. 18.
The 15-minute warm-up show, hosted by WQKT radio’s Steve Spooner, broadcasting from Buehler’s Orrville, featured Lori Reinbolt, chamber president; Bob Summers of Buehler’s; and WQKT account executive Sean Brown, as well as a coffee demonstration by Barb Bower, a barista at Scenic River Coffee, which is located inside Buehler’s Orrville.
The virtual live event began with remarks from 2020 chamber board chair Dave Hershey and 2021 chamber board chair Traci Carmony, who both marked the anniversary by reflecting on the visionary leadership of the early chamber.
In 1916 the challenge of the day was the emergence of a national highway system that threatened to change the way goods and services were transported throughout the country. The chamber provided leadership for the building of a new road that would connect Orrville to the newly constructed Lincoln Highway. Today, the “new” road is state Route 57, and the Lincoln Highway is known as U.S. state Route 30.
“The chamber has been providing leadership on the challenges of the day for 105 years,” Hershey said. “Just as the early chamber leaders built a road to the future, there are new roads to be built in 2021.”
Reinbolt narrated the 2020 Year in Review, an overview of the chamber’s response as an essential resource to its members and the community during the pandemic of 2020. She shared a three-part strategy adopted by the chamber: a commitment to being a trusted source of information for the business community, to connect members to the resources they needed to safely operate their businesses and to be a source of encouragement and support.
The Year in Review will be available at www.orrvillechamber.com and also will be broadcast on the Armstrong community channel.
Eddie Steiner, president and CEO of The Commercial and Savings Bank, introduced the conference portion of the program by complimenting the Orrville Area Chamber for being a member-focused organization.
Participants were pre-assigned to break-out rooms hosted by notable conversation starters that shared remarks and facilitated dialogue among participants.
Richard Lewin, president and CEO of The Will-Burt Company, led a discussion on creating a sustainable culture for senior management.
A cutting-edge discussion around the future of factories and industry 4.0 was led by Ethan Karp, president and CEO of MAGNET.
Beth DeLaney, owner of Spherion Mid-Ohio, shared insights with business owners and human resource managers about the challenges of maintaining a dependable workforce.
Young professionals participated in a discussion exclusively for next-gen leaders, led by past chamber board chair Vince Tricomi, VP of business development at PFI Displays.
Reinbolt hosted a general discussion titled “Pandemic Pivot,” which reflected on the importance of an organizational mission to determine a survival plan.
“The break-out sessions were informative and interactive, giving members the chance to start coming together to discuss important topics,” Carmony said. “We hope to continue these conversations throughout 2021 as we work together through these challenging times.”
“The event moved very quickly,” said Glenn Mott, VP of compliance at Gerber Poultry. “The focus on chamber connectivity and support for members was maintained throughout and on point.”
Black Circle sponsors for the event included Ventrac and MAGNET. Gerber Poultry, The Will-Burt Company, and Critchfield, Critchfield and Johnston sponsored the discussion rooms. Crossbridge Marketing and Media hosted the live event, which was produced by videographer Ryan Schultz.
In closing remarks Reinbolt thanked attendees for their continued participation as members of the Orrville Area Chamber.
“The chamber’s network of 321 members provides access to resources, services and local support,” Reinbolt said. “You are never alone.”
The Orrville Area Chamber of Commerce serves businesses and organizations in 24 different zip codes, primarily in Wayne, Stark, Summit and Medina counties. Visit www.orrvillechamber.com or call the chamber office at 330-682-8881 to learn more.