For the sake of jobs and education, the Canton RegionalChamber of Commerce Board of Directors has endorsed arenewal of the one-quarter percent sales tax that runs SARTA.

SARTA is the Stark Area Regional Transit Authority, the countybus service, and it has been running on the quarter-percentsales tax (1 penny on a $4 purchase) that voters first approvedin 1997. The tax has to be renewed every five years.

If voters say yes to the SARTA’s tax renewal on May 3, nothingchanges. No one loses a ride to work or to college. No one is leftwithout a way to the doctor or the grocery story. And no onepays any more tax than they’re already paying.

The Canton Regional Chamber’s Board of Directors, made up ofvolunteers who are leaders in the business and professionalcommunity, endorse a tax issue only when it has an importanteffect on business or jobs development. But SARTA’s sales taxcertainly qualifies.

SARTA buses transport thousands of workers to their jobs everyworking day, and many hundreds of students to college or

i n s i d e :

Joint Chamber Mixer! 5

Business Excellence Awards 6

Downtown Event Calendar 6

CVB - Best Of Stark County 7

Chamber Golf Outing 7

Blues In Schools, Blues VIP 9

Spring NETWORK 10

AultCare Fast Break Breakfast 11

HOFEF Key Chairs 12-13

Leadership Stark County 15

Safety Council Luncheon 16

Safety Council Awards Banquet 17

Group Safety Training 18

Ownership Conference 19

Young Entrepreneur Snapshot 20

Next Leaders Survey 21

New Members 24

BizBitz 25

April Calendar 27

SARTA Endorsement

Government Affairs: A look at your Chamber’s commitment to reform and collaboration regionally

A p r i l 2 0 1 1 i s s u e • v o l . X L I I I n o . 4

The Canton Regional Chamberof Commerce is pursuing threeinitiatives in governmentaffairs. Each has created newopportunities to collaboratewith other Chambers ofCommerce. The result is a moreunified business voice in thehalls of government.

Redesigning OhioFirst, there is “RedesigningOhio,” the 10-point plan forreforming state government. Itis the result of more than a yearof work for a group consistingof the eight largest OhioChambers of Commerce, thosein Canton, Akron, Youngstown,Toledo, Cleveland, Columbus,Cincinnati and Dayton, alongwith the Ohio Chamber.

These Chambers came togetherwith the goal of helping stategovernment think its waythrough the problem of an $8billion budget deficit. Though“Redesigning Ohio” doesn’trecommend $8 billion in cuts, itdoes point the way to a systemof government that couldbecome more efficient andmore results-oriented over time.And that could keep Ohio out ofsevere budget crises in thefuture.

The plan makes specific recom-mendations in areas such ascriminal justice, health care,business regulation, civil serviceand public pension reform, localgovernment subsidies, and taxexpenditures. It recommends

reforms that would free govern-ment agencies to become moreentrepreneurial and more sub-ject to the competition of thefree market.

(continued on page two)

(continued on page three)

April 2011 • Vol. XLIII • No. 4

George W. LemonChairman

Dennis P. SaunierPresident & CEO

Jessica BennettEditor & Director of Marketing

Denise BurtonDirector of Membership & Sales

Advertising Sales/Action(330) 458-2067

Sarah BhatiaGraphic Designer

Action is published monthly for the

members of Canton Regional Chamber

of Commerce. The subscription cost is

$25 per year and is included in the price

of membership.

Reader questions and comments are

welcome and encouraged. Contents

may be reprinted with credit. Address

all inquiries to: Editor, Action, Canton

Regional Chamber of Commerce, 222

Market Ave. N., Canton, OH 44702, or call

(330) 456-7253, or fax (330) 489-6005.

Adve rtising rates are available fo r

Ch a m ber membe r s. Adve rt i s e m e nt doe s

not co n s t i t u te endorsement by Ca nto n

Regional Ch a m ber of Co m m e rce.

2 C a n t o n R e g i o n a l C h a m b e r o f C o m m e r c e

Government Affairs ... (continued from cover)

Running through most of these recommendations is the theory behind“Redesigning Ohio.” It is a proven con-cept called Budgeting For Outcomes.Under Budgeting For Outcomes, stategovernment determines how much itshould spend in any given budget, itdetermines what the state’s highest priorities are and how much should bespent on each, and then it invites stateagencies to submit proposals for meeting those priorities. The statespends its budget by purchasing theoutcomes promised in these proposals,and it ensures high performance bynegotiated outcome goals, which canresult in financial rewards for the stateworkers achieving those outcome goals.

And, by the way, when the money runsout, the programs that are left over donot get funded. This plan is far superiorto the way Ohio has budgeted in thepast, through tinkering with the statusquo, virtually guaranteeing agencies 90 percent of their past budget, anddemanding no high level performanceoutcomes.

Chamber and StarkDevelopment Board InitiativesIn the local arena, the Canton RegionalChamber and the Stark DevelopmentBoard are working to make business apartner and helper in a series of poten-tial reforms being considered by StarkCounty government. These two businessorganizations are offering specific help

to the Stark County commissioners andother elected officials as they study thefindings in the recently released CitizensReview Committee report on countyoperations.

For instance, the Canton RegionalChamber, on behalf of SDB, accepted a challenge from the Stark Countycommissioners to provide business assistance in creating a strategic plan for the county.

In addition, the Canton RegionalChamber and SDB offered to recruit subject experts in areas the county isstudying. They include collaborations in:purchasing, mailroom operations, humanresources and information technology.

This involvement in governmentprojects is a direct result of a team effortlaunched two years ago by sevenChambers of Commerce in Stark County,the Canton-Stark County Conventionand Visitors’ Bureau and the StarkDevelopment Board. These organizationsshared a desire to encourage morecollaboration among local governments.They decided to ask the SDB to takeon the mission of encouraging these collaborations, and the SDB agreed todo so if the Canton Regional Chambercontributed staff time and talent tothe work.

(continued on page 23)

3C a n t o n R e g i o n a l C h a m b e r o f C o m m e r c e

E X E C U T I V E C O M M I T T E EChairman of the Board - George W. LemonRetired President, Technical Products Group

Sr. Vice Chairman - Rick L. HainesAultCare

Vice Chairman - Karen BrennemanHall, Kistler & Company LLP

Vice Chairman - Philip D. FracassaThe Timken Company

Vice Chairman - Kevin KampmanThe Repository

Treasurer - D. William AllenPro Football Hall of Fame

Immediate Past ChairmanThomas E. Cecconi

Mercy Medical Center

President & CEO - Dennis P. SaunierCanton Regional Chamber of Commerce

Corporate Secretary - Steven J. KatzCanton Regional Chamber of Commerce

B O A R D O F D I R E C T O R S

Michael S. ArmbresterMarathon Petroleum Co. LLC

Brian BeldenThe Belden Brick Company

Timothy M. Burke, Jr.FirstMerit

William R. CookChase N.A.

Darryl J. DillenbackDNS Insurance, Inc.

Mark FleinerRolls-Royce Fuel Cell Systems

Jerry GilinDiebold Inc.

Greg HarbertCharterOne Bank

Jason F. HauptKrugliak, Wilkins, Griffiths &

Dougherty Co., L.P.A.

Jan HeinMorris Office Environments

Terrance L. JonesMulti-Development

Services of Stark County

Geoff KarcherThe Karcher Group

Tim MaloneyCanton Chair Rental

Rick McQueenAkron-Canton Airport

John A. Murphy, Jr.Day Ketterer Ltd.

Alan RodriguezJülz by Alan Rodriguez and

Rodriguez’s House of Stones

Mark J. SamolczykStark Community Foundation

William C. ShiversHuntington Bank

Paul E. SiegfriedSiegfried Enterprises Inc.

Randolph L. SnowBlack, McCuskey,

Souers & Arbaugh LPA

Alice C. StephensThe Employment Source

Walter F. Wagor, Ph.D.Kent State University at Stark

David M. WheelerAEP Ohio

Mike WilliamsStark Metropolitan Housing Authority

Thank you to our ADVANTAGE CANTON funding partners: AEP Ohio,

AultCare, Aultman Health Foundation, Charter One Bank, Chase

Bank, The City of Canton, Dominion East Ohio, Fifth Third Bank,

FirstMerit Bank, Hilscher-Clarke Electric Company, Huntington Bank,

KeyBank, Mercy Medical Center, PNC and The Timken Company.

career classes that prepare them forjobs in our local economy. In addition,SARTA provides transportation togrocery stores, doctor’s offices and day-care locations for people who cannot or do not drive.

“One of the marks of a progressivecommunity is a well-run public trans-portation system,” said Dennis P.Saunier, president and CEO of theCanton Regional Chamber.“That is why we are proud to endorse another renewal of the SARTA tax.”

SARTA operates buses on 34 routesthroughout Stark County and also provides door-to-door service tocitizens with special circumstances.It transports 8,000 riders everyweekday. Of those riders, 49 percent

of them earn less than $9,000 per year,and 60 percent have no access to a car.

The penny on a $4 purchase that StarkCountians pay for bus service makes up 74 percent of SARTA’s operatingbudget. It could not keep the busesrunning without renewal of its smalltax every five years. Despite rising fuel costs, SARTA has been able tomaintain service without asking for atax increase by rearranging routes tomake them more productive and byreducing staff to make the operation asefficient as possible. Furthermore, everydollar Stark County taxpayers invest inSARTA generates $3 to $5 in the localeconomy, in such things as wagesspent and services purchased.

SARTA ... (continued from cover)

5C a n t o n R e g i o n a l C h a m b e r o f C o m m e r c e

Honorees of this year’s BusinessExcellence Awards will be recognizedduring the gala awards dinner held on Tues., May 3, at The UniversityCenter at Kent State University at Stark.

This year’s Business ExcellenceAward winners include:Buxton RoofingHospitalists Management GroupLeo Dick & SonsMorgan Engineering Systems, Inc.Siegfried Enterprises, Inc.Vasco Group - Vasco AsphaltCommittee's Choice:Bonnie's Engravers Gallery & Signs

RSVP by April 28!The Business Excellence Awards beginwith a cocktail reception at 5:30 p.m.,followed by dinner and the awards presentation at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are$48 per person. Register online atCantonChamber.org.

If you have questions about the BusinessExcellence Awards, please contact NancyLeffler, event manager, at (330) 458-2073or nancyl@cantonchamber.org.

RSVP ONLINE NOW AT CANTONCHAMBER.ORG

OR CALL (330) 458-2085.

Tuesday, May 35:30 p.m. cocktail reception6:30 p.m. dinner and awards ceremonyThe University Center at Kent StateUniversity at Stark6000 Frank Ave.North Canton 44720Cost: $48RSVP by Apr. 28

Make reservations now to honor outstanding Stark County businesses

C a n t o n R e g i o n a l C h a m b e r o f C o m m e r c e6

RSVP by April 28 for Business Excellence Awards of Greater Canton

Our sponsorsto date ...

7C a n t o n R e g i o n a l C h a m b e r o f C o m m e r c e

The Canton/Stark County Convention & Visitors’ Bureau is gearing up for itsannual “Best of Stark County Awards.”The annual awards recognize StarkCounty venues and organizations in conjunction with May’s Destination Stark County month. Voting for the Best of Stark County Awards runs from April 11 through 30.

Destination Stark County Month is amonth-long celebration of tourism inStark County. In 2007, the Bureau, in conjunction with the Destination StarkCounty Committee, created an awardsprogram that allowed local residents to vote for their favorite communityattractions, restaurants and events inStark County as a way of fulfilling partof the mission to educate local residents.This program received RAVE REVIEWSfrom local residents and companies;and with the generous support of TheRepository, The Independent and WHBCNews-Talk 1480AM / Mix 94.1 FM, theseawards continue to grow exponentiallyeach year!

The community will have the opportunity to vote for their favorites in a plethora of categories including:

New! Best Family Attraction

Best Public Golf CourseBest Performance Art Group

Best Art Museum or Gallery

New! Best Historic Site

Best Flavors of Stark County

New! Best Large Festival or Event

New! Best Small Festival or Event

Best Museum

Best Outdoor Recreation Site or Park

New! Best Hotel

New! Best Bed & Breakfast or Inn

New! Best Campground

New! Best Shopping Destination

Most Unique Shop

Best Place to Host a Meeting

New! Most Unique Place toHost an Event

VOTING BEGINS APRIL 11Local residents will be able to vote bygoing online to www.BestofStark.com,or by filling out a ballot at the TouristInformation Center, located at 2618Fulton Drive NW in Canton.

Winners of the “Best of Stark” awardswill be announced at the 10th annualTourism Luncheon on Friday, May 13,at Lakeside Banquet and MeetingCenter in Navarre.

For more information on DestinationStark County Month or the Canton/Stark County Convention & Visitors’Bureau, please contact Allyson Busseyat (330) 458-2086, or visitwww.VisitCantonStark.com.

VOTE for your STARK COUNTY FAVORITES beginning April 11

Stay tuned for more details about our June 24 GolfOuting at Tam O'Shanter Golf Course. More infocoming to an inbox and mailbox near you this month!This year is sure to be another banner, sellout yearfor our annual outing!

SAVE THE DATE! Annual Chamber Membership Golf Outing

9C a n t o n R e g i o n a l C h a m b e r o f C o m m e r c e

Blues inSchools

is backagain

this year inconjunc-

tion with theannual two-day down-

town Canton Blues Fest!Now in its fourth year, the Blues inSchools program is growing in size andprominence, becoming one of the pre-mier Blues education programs in Ohio!

The Canton Regional Chamber is bringing the history and culture of theblues genre to our area middle and highschools through this unique, hands-oninstrumental program. The three hoursessions are held on Saturdays at KentState University at Stark over a 14-weekperiod.

This year’s class is comprised of 44 students from middle and high schoolsthroughout Stark County, with almosthalf of the students returning from lastyear’s program. Instructors this yearinclude "blues master" Bob Bowers onhorns, along with Manny Cahill (bass) ,Peggy Coyle (vocals), Scott Grewell(drums), and Jeff Poulos and Mike Lenz(guitars). Two BIS grads are also servingas instructors: Anthony Lumpp, three-year veteran, is helping on bass whileKeith Wilson (two-year vet) is assistingwith drums and keyboards.

The Blues in Schools Program will culmi-nate in a mastery-student perform-

ance on-stage in front of thousands at the highly anticipated Canton BluesFestival in downtown Canton onSaturday, June 11 at noon!

Blues in Schools is made possiblethrough sponsors: Kent StateUniversity at Stark, Phil andNancy Sonner, Bob and ClaudiaBowers, Merisa Bowers and Curtis Hilland NEOBA Blues.

Want the best seatin the house?Buy VIP Blues Festival Passes and enjoy incredible viewsand other perksThe Canton Blues Festival, presented by the Canton Development Partnership(a department of the Canton RegionalChamber) is back this year on Friday,June 10, and Saturday, June 11. Thewidely popular two-day festival is free –but make sure you get the best viewsof the stage with our one- and two-dayBlues VIP Passes!

Two-day Blues Festival VIP Passes areavailable for $75 per person. With yourVIP pass, you’ll receive:• 2-Day Canton Blues VIP Access,

complete with appetizers, beer and soda and private front of stage seating

• Email newsletters with the latest Blues Festival information and special event notices

• Advance notice of the year’s full entertainment line-up

One-day passes are also on sale for $45per person.

Get your Blues Festival VIP Pass quickly before they sell out – visitCantonBluesFest.com to purchasetickets online, or contact MoniqueKennedy Thompson at (330) 458-2070.

OUR SPONSORS TO DATE:

Fourth annual BLUES IN SCHOOLS program bigger than ever!

Baker, Dublikar, Beck,Wiley & Mathews

attorneys at law

Telephone: (330) 499-6000Telecopier: (330) 499-6423

400 SOUTH MAIN STREETNORTH CANTON, OHIO 44720

www.bakerfirm.com

Schauer Group Insurance, Phil & NancySonner, Blue Moon, AEP Ohio, J&J Refuse,The Karcher Group, The Repository, Mix94.1 and News-Talk 1480 WHBC AM, PPIGraphics, The McKinley Grand Hotel,Quonset Hut, Downtown Canton SpecialImprovement District and The City ofCanton.

11C a n t o n R e g i o n a l C h a m b e r o f C o m m e r c e

Are you tired of “money-mak-ing” programsthat don’t makeyou moremoney? At theApr. 8 AultCareFast BreakBreakfast, letNoah St. John,Ph.D., lifestyleexpert and

number one bestselling author of TheSecret Code of Success, demonstratethe proven formula to help you dumpyour “head trash,” get massive resultswith less time and effort, and expo-nentially grow your business using the secret code used by the Naturalsof Success.

In this action-packed session,you’ll learn:

• How to get MASSIVE RESULTS from every money-making program you’ll ever buy

• Four steps to get what you wanttwice as fast with half the effort

• The invisible secret of happymillionaires

• And most important, how to shareyour talents with the world and receive more wealth and influencein return!

Don’t let any more of your valuabletime or hard-earned money slip awaywithout getting the most out of everyinvestment you make – in yourself oryour business – for the rest of yourlife. Learn what it takes to be a Naturaland start reaping the rewards!

Beyond this important segment of theprogram, Fast Break attendees havethe opportunity to obtain businessleads through enjoyable networkingactivities at an event that has built areputation as one of the most ener-getic lead-producing sessions around.Bring a door prize valued at $15 ormore and receive 30 seconds at themicrophone to promote your busi-ness.

Friday, Apr. 87 a.m. registration7:30 a.m. programCourtyard by Marriott4375 Metro Cir.North Canton, OHCost: $18 members; $21 membersless than 48 hours in advance; $25non-membersRSVP by Apr. 6

Do Less, Have More! TM April AultCare Fast BreakBreakfast featuring Noah St. John, Ph.D.

Save your seat;register in advance at

www.cantonchamber.orgor call (330) 458-2085.

In order to better accommodateguests at Canton Regional Chamber

of Commerce events, we ask that yoube sure to register in advance for each event. This will ensure that

we have accurate counts for food service and seating.

Please register online atwww.cantonchamber.org.

Please call (330) 458-2085 to registerwith Rosie Kurtz. Cancellations madeless than 48 hours before the begin-ning of an event are not eligible for

refund. No-shows will be billed.

In order to reduce operation costs,registration for all major Canton

Regional Chamber of Commerce events– such as Annual Dinner or awards

dinners – must be paid in advance ofthe event. Guests may pay for monthly

programs in advance or at the door by check, credit card or cash.

Noah St. Joh, Ph.D.

C a n t o n R e g i o n a l C h a m b e r o f C o m m e r c e12

Chamber and Hall of Fame announce key chairs for CommunityParade, Food, Staging and Special Events committees

The Pro Football Hall of FameEnshrinement Festival department ofCanton Regional Chamber of Commerceand the Pro Football Hall of Fame havenamed the following key committeechairs: Brad Longbrake, CommunityParade; Karen Myers, Food; DavidKiddey, Staging; and Joann Smith,Special Events.

Longbrake ispartner atReminger Co. LPA.A graduate ofWooster HighSchool and theCollege ofWooster, he graduated fromthe School of Lawat Case WesternReserve University.

A member of the Community ParadeCommittee for the past 14 years, thismarks his second year as chairman.He also served two years on the Grand Parade Committee. He and wifeSuzanne have two children.

The Community Parade is scheduled tokick-off at 2:30 p.m. on July 31, at 11thStreet and Market Avenue North, andwill travel south through the heart ofdowntown Canton. Longbrake will beassisted by vice chairman BernieBresson.

Myers is a 15-yearmember of theFood Committee,with this beingher first year aschairman, and she brings greatexpertise to thetask via her posi-tion as consumerservices supervi-sor for the Canton

City Health Department. A graduate ofEast Canton High School and Kent StateUniversity, she has also taken classes atWalsh University. She and her husbandLes have two children and three grandchildren.

The Food Committee oversees the menuand wine selections, working closelywith caterers, to ensure the success ofthe food service to 12,000 guests at the

Enshrinement Festival’s Fashion ShowLuncheon, Enshrinees Dinner andEnshrinees GameDay Roundtable.Serving as vice chairman of the committee is Dean Kahler.

Kiddey brings 12 years of com-mittee experiencewith him to hisfirst year as chairman of the StagingCommittee, alongwith exceptionalknowledge gainedin his position asdepartment super-

visor for The Home Depot. He graduatedfrom the former Glenwood High Schooland attended Kent State University. He ispast president of Trendition House ColorAssociation and has been active in theJackson Band Boosters and Boy Scoutsof America. He and wife Vicky are theparents of two children and grandpar-ents to seven.

The Staging Committee directs the planning, preparation and production of the Queen Pageant, Fashion ShowLuncheon, Enshrinees Dinner andEnshrinees GameDay Roundtable.Greg Briggs is assisting Kiddey as vice chairman.

Smith, coordina-tor of studentteaching and field experienceat Kent StateUniversity atStark, is headingthe Hall of FameSpecial EventsCommittee forthe ninth year.Prior to this

position, she served as chairman of the Enshrinement Festival SouvenirCommittee, was a long-time member ofthe Appreciation Party Committee, andshe continues to serve as co-chairman ofthe Ribs Burnoff judging sub-committee.She shares her musical gifts as a choirmember at Our Lady of Peace CatholicChurch, and as a singer and secretaryof the board of trustees for Voices ofCanton. She and husband Fred are the

parents of two sons and grandparents of two granddaughters.

As Special Events chairman, one of hermajor tasks will be to coordinate the Hallof Fame Board of Trustees Reception,which is staged as the first official function for the Enshrinees and theirpresenters, returning Hall of Famers andother out of town guests. Additionally,the Special Events Committee providesservices such as emergency medical anddental assistance for guests of the Hall of Fame during their stay in Canton, andthe committee is always on call to assistthe Enshrinees and their families asneeded. Smith will be assisted with these many duties by vice chairmanLinda Leitzke.

In 2011, the Pro Football Hall of Fameand Enshrinement Festival will mark the48th anniversary of honoring the leg-ends of professional football, whichincludes conducting a world-renownedfestival celebrating the annual enshrine-ment of football players, coaches andcontributors into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The collaborative efforts of thisleadership team, combined with the professional staffs at the Chamber ofCommerce and the Pro Football Hall ofFame, and the dedicated team of morethan 4,200 volunteers, will ensure thesuccess of 18 unique events from July 28to Aug. 9, 2011. The EnshrinementFestival activities, attended by nearly700,000 people, are expected to producean economic impact of over $30 millionfor the Canton/Stark County area andnearly $54 million for the State of Ohio.In addition, millions will experienceaspects of the Enshrinement Festival asevents are televised and covered byother media.

The central focus and highlight of thefestivities will be the Aug. 6 inductionceremony for the 2011 Class ofEnshrinees, comprised of Richard Dent,Marshall Faulk, Chris Hanburger, LesRichter, Ed Sabol, Deion Sanders, andShannon Sharpe.

For the complete schedule of events,ticket information, and the latest news,

check the Web sites periodically:www.profootballhofef.com or

www.profootballhof.com.

Brad Longbrake

Karen Myers

David Kiddey

Joann Smith

13C a n t o n R e g i o n a l C h a m b e r o f C o m m e r c e

The Pro Football Hall of Fame EnshrinementFestival department of the Canton RegionalChamber of Commerce has named the following key committee chairs: ScottSanders, Balloon Classic Invitational, andTodd Hawke, Jackson-Belden Food Fest &Fireworks; Vicky Sterling, Ribs Burnoff; andEric Stasiowski, Timken Grand Parade.

Sanders is president of Kreighbaum-Sanders and Sanders Funeral Homes, Inc.,and served as 2002 General Chairman of

the Chamber’sEnshrinementFestival committees.He came to thatposition with 12years of leadershipexperience afterhaving chaired theformer KickoffSunday Parade andRace committees, aswell as the GrandParade and

Marketing committees. He is a graduate ofCanton South High School, The Ohio StateUniversity and Cincinnati College ofMortuary Science. A former East CantonCitizen of the Year and Jaycee OutstandingCitizen, Sanders has been active in a widevariety of community activities includingEast Canton Club, Ohio Funeral DirectorsAssociation, Osnaburg Township CitizensFire Committee, and Stark County Fair Beefand Marketing Committees. He and wifeJulie are the proud parents of three sons.

Assisting Sanders as vice chairman of theBalloon Classic Invitational committee isRandy Reed, as the event proudly cele-brates its 25th anniversary this year.Initiated in 1986 at the urging of MaurySullivan and with the encouragement andhelp of his business partner, Tom Schervish(then the Enshrinement Festival’s vice chair-man), the event was initially known as the“Balloon Fiesta” and has since grown to lev-els well beyond those ever imagined possi-ble during its formative years. What startedwith 25 balloons at Weis Park has grown toa capacity field of nearly 70 balloons on thecampuses of Kent State University at Starkand Stark State College, with nearly 125,000people enjoying the two-and-a-half dayevent.

The Balloon Luminary was added in 1993and is currently known as the Night Glow,and a further milestone was marked in 1995when the Jackson-Belden Food Fest &Fireworks came under the umbrella of theEnshrinement Festival and joined forceswith the Balloon Classic Invitational.

The Jackson-BeldenFood Fest &Fireworks commit-tee is chaired thisyear by ToddHawke, principal atGDK & Company.He is a graduate ofKenton Ridge High School andOhio WesleyanUniversity, and hasserved in various

capacities on the Food Fest committeesince 2002. He is actively involved in thecommunity and serves on the boards of the Jackson-Belden Chamber of Commerce,Junior Achievement of East Central Ohioand American Cancer Society of StarkCounty. Todd and wife Tricia have one sonand one daughter.

Hawke will be assisted in the planning andstaging of the Food Fest by vice chairmanCarles Moore.

This year’s Balloon Classic and Food Festactivities will take place on Friday, Saturdayand Sunday, July 29, 30 and 31, and willinclude a wide variety of food and beveragevendors, children’s activity area, musicalentertainment and a spectacular fireworksdisplay.

Sterling, vice-presi-dent of sales andmarketing forPinnacle Press, Inc.,is serving her firstyear as chairman ofthe Ribs BurnoffCommittee afterserving in a widevariety of sub-com-mittee leadershippositions since1994. A graduate

of Louisville High School, she also servedon the security committees for the BalloonClassic and Enshrinement Ceremony.A past member of the board of the CantonRegional Chamber of Commerce, she is apast recipient of the Chamber’s CommunitySalute Award of Merit, and also a recipientof the Canton Advertising Federation’s SilverMedal Award. She also extends her time and resources to the Aultman HealthFoundation and Aultman Women’s Board,Leadership Stark County, Canton BluesFestival and J.R. Coleman Women in HistoryLuncheon. The mother of two, Sterling ismarried to Todd and has four grandchildren.

Long-time Ribs Burnoff committee volun-teer Brian Harbert has been selected to

serve as vice chairman of the committee.Together, they will oversee all aspects of theRibs Burnoff, which will take place Aug. 3through 5 at the Stark County Fairgrounds.Special attractions include a wide variety ofrib and specialty food vendors, beverages,children’s entertainment area, fantasy football zone of interactive inflatables,an enormous sand sculpture and musicalentertainment.

Stasiowski,director of communications forAkzo Nobel Paints,is a native ofMassachusetts andreceived his MBAfrom Penn StateUniversity. A mem-ber of the GrandParade committeesince 2001, this ishis second year as

its chairman. An Eagle Scout, he remainsactive with the Boy Scouts of America as amember of the Buckeye Council’s MarketingCommittee, and also enjoys his duties as anofficial scorer for the Akron Aeros baseballteam. He and his wife Donna are parents toone daughter.

Stasiowski will partner with vice chairmanJohn Fehrenbach to attend to the myriadof details involved in staging this familyevent.The Timken Grand Parade will step offat 8 a.m., Sat., Aug. 6, and will be enjoyed bynearly 200,000 spectators along the 2.2 mileroute, as well as by millions more via the tel-evision broadcast. The parade will featurethe current Class of Enshrinees, manyreturning Hall of Famers, marching bands,giant helium balloons, fabulous floats, andanimal and specialty units. Call (330) 458-2048 now to guarantee a bird’s-eye view ofall the units by purchasing reserved chairsor bleacher seats for only $8.50 each.

Approximately 700,000 people are expectedto enjoy the Enshrinement Festival festivi-ties, which consist of 18 diverse events overnearly two weeks, with the central focus and highlight being the Aug. 6 inductionceremony for the 2011 Class of Enshrineescomprised of defensive end Richard Dent,running back Marshall Faulk, linebackerChris Hanburger, linebacker Les Richter,contributor Ed Sabol, cornerback DeionSanders and tight end Shannon Sharpe.

For the complete schedule of events,ticket information, and latest news,

check the Web sites periodically:www.profootballhofef.com or

www.profootballhof.com

Key event chairs named for Balloon Classic Invitational, Jackson-Belden Food Fest & Fireworks, Ribs Burnoff and Timken Grand Parade

Scott Sanders

Todd Hawke

Vicky L. Sterling

Eric Stasiowski

The Signature Program is perfect for bothseasoned and emerging leaders who arededicated to growing their communitytrusteeship. Currently, our graduates addtheir expertise to more than 170 local non-profits and 43 members of our alumniclasses are presently serving as presidentor chair for those boards!

Do you think the Signature Program isright for you? Ask yourself one simplequestion:

What do I hope to gain from LSC’sSignature Program? a) I want to expand my professional network. b) I would like to engage in ameaningful civic endeavor. c) I hope toenhance my leadership capabilities.d) All of the above!

If you answered all of the above,you might be the perfect candidatefor Leadership Stark County’s SignatureProgram 25th Anniversary Class! What’s included in the program? During your experience in the LeadershipSignature Program, you will:

• Complete a comprehensive analysis of your leadership style.

• Take a bus trip through the cities,villages, farms, businesses, and communities of Stark County,highlighting the history and diversitywe have locally.

• Explore economic developmentwith in-depth tours and small-group interaction with CEOs.

• Experience a nationally recognized poverty simulation to initiatediscussion of human services.

• Converse in small groups with local judges and elected officials.

• Take a ride in a police cruiser and tour the Stark County jail facilities.

• Participate in non-profit boardsmanship training.

• Develop asset-building communityservice projects.

Program Details10-month program from Sept. 2011through June 2012

11 full days, along with optional sitevisits and a required group project

$2,350 tuition (assistance may beavailable for candidates representing non-profit, small business and government sectors)

Are you ready for the Leadership StarkCounty challenge?If you or someone in your organization isready to build their leadership potential,apply now at www.leadershipstarkcoun-ty.org or contact Fran Wells at (330) 458-2094.

Applications for our 25th AnniversaryClass will be accepted through April 22, 2011.

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Are you a LEADERSHIP SIGNATURE PROGRAMCandidate? Take the one-question quiz today!

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Courtney Meyers,RS, environmentalhealth specialistfor the StarkCounty HealthDepartment, willeducate youabout the creepy-crawlers thatcould be makingtheir way into your

offices! Those little critters can mean BIGproblems for your business and home.The key to protecting yourself from bedbug infestations brought into workby your employees is through education!Join us for the Apr. 14 Stark CountySafety Council Luncheon to ensure youcan take preventive measures when itcomes to bedbugs!

As an environmental health educatorand registered sanitarian at the StarkCounty Health Department, Meyer’s

chief role is to develop environmentalprograms and in turn make theEnvironmental Division of the StarkCounty Health Department a resourcefor environmental education. Her pro-grams have been geared towards thegeneral population including: children,schools, colleges, adult organizationsand businesses. Topics of discussion haveincluded: general overview of the healthdepartment, landfills, recycling, waterwells, waste water systems, schoolinspections, food handling and safety,and environmental community aware-ness. She has presented at the Ohio’sHealth Commissioner Conference, KentState University, Stark Parks, MountUnion College’s Nature Center, as well asarea businesses, churches and schools.Meyers is also a member of the StarkCounty Bedbug Prevention Taskforce.She is a 1998 graduate from theUniversity of Rhode Island with a B.S. in Wildlife Biology.

Thursday, Apr. 1411:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.Meyer’s Lake Ballroom3218 Parkway St., N.W.Canton, OH 44708Cost: $16RSVP by Apr. 11

Courtney Meyers

Bedbugs: What are your employees bringing to work besidestheir lunches? APRIL STARK COUNTY SAFETY COUNCIL LUNCHEON

Spotlight Company:

17C a n t o n R e g i o n a l C h a m b e r o f C o m m e r c e

FBI Senior Resident Agent to headline the2011 SAFETY COUNCIL AWARDS BANQUETOn Tuesday, May 10, the Stark County Safety Council and the Ohio Bureau of Workers’Compensation will honor area companies who are committed to maintaining a safeworkplace during the 2011 Safety Awards Banquet at Skyland Pines Event Center. Thisyear’s keynote speaker is John R. Dysart, Supervisory Senior Resident Agent for theFederal Bureau of Investigation.

During the evening, certificates from the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ CompensationDivision of Safety and Hygiene will be awarded in the following categories: GroupAward (for the lowest incident in each group), 100 Percent Award (for each companythat worked the entire year without a lost-time injury), Achievement Award (for eachcompany that decreased its incident rate by at least 25 percent from the previousyear), and the Special Award (for each company that has accumulated at least 500,000hours and operated at least six months without a lost-time injury within a year).

RSVP online at CantonChamber.org by Apr. 28.

Tuesday, May 105:30 p.m. social hour;6:30 p.m. dinnerSkyland Pines3550 Columbus Road NE in CantonCost: $35RSVP by April 28

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The 25th Annual Ohio Employee Ownership Conference will be held Friday, April 29, at the Akron Fairlawn Hilton in Fairlawn,Ohio. This year’s conference theme is “Working Together and Saving Jobs.”The Canton Regional Chamber is once again sponsoring this important training program.

Typically attracting 400 participants annually, the event is the best regional one-day training program on employee ownership inthe country, and a wonderful education opportunity for business owners.

This year’s keynote speakers include Michael A. Peck, founder and principal of MAPA Group U.S. Representatives of The Mondragon Cooperatives, and Jeff Evans, president & CEO of The Will-Burt Company.

This year’s conference is going to focus on bridging the divides that appear to be separating us and focusing on an idea thatunites all sides: saving and creating jobs with employee ownership.

The conference will feature panel discussions on employee ownership issues, including:

• Selling to your employees

• ABCs of Employee-led buyouts

• Developing an ownership culture

• Best Practices in Governanceand Leadership

• Younger Employee-Owners Who Get It

• Creative Communication and Education Approaches

• Visions for the Future

For a full list of the topics focused on yourspecific area of interest, visit OEOCKent.org.

Registration is $85 by April 7, $100 betweenApril 8 and April 28, and $150 at the door.Registration to the conference includes acontinental breakfast, plated lunch, coffeebreak, and closing reception.

For more information, contact the OhioEmployee Ownership Center at Kent StateUniversity (OEOC) by phone at (330) 672-3028 or by email at oeoc@kent.edu. Visit theconference website at www.oeockent.org

Working Together & Saving Jobs: Ohio Employee Ownership Center 25th annual conference

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Editor’s note: In keeping with ystark!’smission – to attract, retain and ENGAGEtalented young people in Stark County –ACTION will feature monthly snapshots of outstanding young entrepreneursthroughout 2011.

Name: Matt Bailey

Age: 42

Company Name: SiteLogic – OnlineMarketing Consultants

How did you come up with the ideafor your business/product/service? I’ve been in the online marketing business for nearly 20 years. After work-ing for other agencies and having builtup a national reputation, I went out onmy own to start SiteLogic, a consulting-based service to businesses for onlinemarketing.

Which attributes best define you asan entrepreneur? SiteLogic is accessible and understand-able. Despite being in a technical busi-ness, I have to make it understandable.The key to our company is that weeducate our clients. Our focus is making online marketing logical andunderstandable. In order to accomplishthis, my emphasis is on developing marketers; in my own company and in others.

As an entrepreneur, I am best definedby the people that work at SiteLogic.When they are successful, I am successful; so, my philosophy is togive them the training, tools and thefreedom they need to be successful.

Why have you chosen Canton as yourhome base? I grew up in Canton and love the area.I saw downtown at its worst in the1970’s, and have been inspired by therecent revival. Locating downtown cre-ated a great sense of ownership amongall of us at SiteLogic. Having a wonder-ful urban neighborhood downtown hascreated many great relationships.

I also wanted my children to grow upnear family and friends. I had manyopportunities to take jobs in otherplaces, but I kept coming back toCanton. I don’t miss anything beinghere. People here are just as talented asyou would find in major cities, and theyalso have an amazing work ethic thatdrives them to be successful.

How have the amenities of StarkCounty contributed to your success?From a business standpoint, the accessibility of Cleveland-Hopkins and Akron- Canton Airports allow me to do a lot of business in New York andthroughout the rest of the country veryeasily. Because our business is basedhere, our overhead is significantly lower.I can compete nationally for accounts,as I have a lower overhead that allowsme to invest more in people than in real estate.

Why is having a strong YP communi-ty important for your business? This isa YP business. Technology and market-ing are inextricably combined; it willnot only dominate business marketing,but also the ways that we communi-cate, educate and consume as individu-als. Young Professionals that havegrown up with and understand the

technology surrounding them will be asignificant resource in coming years.

What are your thoughts on ystark!?I think it is a great way for young pro-fessionals to see that there are opportu-nities here “at home” where they cangain valuable experience and network-ing that will benefit them for a lifetime.By finding others that are in similar situ-ations and similar businesses, they candevelop networks that will help themover the years, as they become leadersin this community.

What advice would you give to YPswho share your entrepreneurialstreak but are just getting started?The first bit of advice is sometimes saidoff-the-cuff, but ‘do what you love.’ Mybusiness started as a hobby, and now itis a successful business that has allowedme to see the world and do more than I ever thought possible. Unless you love what you do, are passionateabout it, and willing to spend inordinate amounts of time in building it, you will not be successful.

The second thing is people. People areyour most valuable resource. Network,develop relationships and value eachone. You never know which connec-tions will come back after years and bethe one that develops or contributes toa very profitable result. Networkingwith people has been my most valuablebusiness asset, as I can trace business Ihave today to relationships that I builtmore than 15 or 20 years ago.

What’s next for you?I would love to help develop a businessand technology incubator here inCanton. As I mentioned, there aretalented people in this area, and I wantto help give them a place to developand network with other talented people. Not only that, I want to helpother young entrepreneurs and ownersdevelop the entrepreneurial skills thataren’t necessarily taught in schools.

I also have my first book, InternetMarketing: An Hour A Day (Wiley) is out this month. It addresses internetmarketing holistically, but with astraight-forward and actionableapproach.

Young Entrepreneur Snapshot

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ystark!, the Canton Regional Chamber’syoung professional initiative, contractedwith Next Generation Consulting, to con-duct an online survey designed to gaugethe level of impact that the organizationhas had on young professionals in StarkCounty, and to what extent ystark! hasfulfilled their mission of attracting,retaining and engaging YPs.

Next Generation Consulting is led byRebecca Ryan, the consultant hired in2005 to assess the Canton/Stark Countyregion and its aptitude for cultivating abrain gain. With Ryan’s guidance, thecommunity, led by the Canton RegionalChamber, developed the Brain Drain toBrain Gain initiative, which ultimatelybecame ystark!

The Next Leaders Survey (NLS) measuresyoung people’s perceptions of thecommunity’s quality of life, and alsopredicts possible “YP flight” from acommunity. The survey also measuresthe direct impact YPs make on theircommunities, including volunteerism,voter registration and participation,job creation, and economic impact.

The survey was completed by 237 StarkCounty young professionals; com-prised of 166 ystark! members and 71non-members.

The following is a topline overview ofthe Next Leaders Survey results. Formore information or to download a copyof the entire Next Leaders Survey, visitystark.org.

YSTARK! IMPACT ON COMMUNITYSurvey results show that ystark! has hada positive impact on the quality of lifefor area young professionals:

69% of all respondents (76% of mem-bers and 59% of non-members) said

their perception of the Cantonregion’s quality of life was verypositively or somewhat positivelyimpacted by ystark!.

Additionally, 27% of all respondents(34% of members and 19% of non-mem-bers) said they were more likely to stayin the community because of ystark!.

YP PLANS & PERCEPTIONS OF CANTON/STARK COUNTYOur region has an interesting YP make-up: while 48% of respondents were“lifers,” 20% define themselves asboomerangers (raised here, movedaway and eventually returned) and32% are transplants.

77% of all respondents had a VERYPOSITIVE or SOMEWHAT POSITIVE perception of Canton. 72% of all respondents plan to stay in Canton for atleast five years; while 53% plan to stay inthe region for the long-haul: 16+ years!85% of YPs feel that that they can affordthe cost of living in our community; Costof Lifestyle (living in a community whereI can afford to live work and play) is themost important factor when valuing acommunity (95%).

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND PHILANTHROPYYoung professionals in the Cantonregion are invested in the community!Nearly all (97%) are registered voters,and 73% voted in the last local election.The vast majority (82%) volunteer intheir community at least once a month,with an average of approximately 10hours per month.

Volunteerism was highest at non-profitorganizations (47%), followed by educa-tional initiatives (33%), and individualassistance (27%).

Last but not least, respondents were verycharitable, with 83% donating over $50to nonprofit or charitable organizationsover the last 6 months, with an averagedonation of approximately $750 (and atotal of $178,000 for all respondents)

ENTREPRENEURSHIPEntrepreneurship and business leadership are crucial elements inCanton/Stark County community.

Approximately 11% of respondents identified themselves as entrepreneursor business owners.

Earning (I want a broad choice of placesto work and an environment that isfriendly to entrepreneurs) is the secondmost important factor when valuing acommunity (93%).

DEMOGRAPHICS OF RESPONDENTSOverall, the survey respondents were:

• Well-educated (88% have a four-year degree or higher)

• Married or living with a significantother (63%)

• Mobile (53% do not have children)• Home-owners (68%), with an average

home value of approximately $170,000• Working in Management, Professional,

and Related Occupations (68%)• Earning a median individual income

of approximately $47,500• Less than 35 years old (71%)

YP FLIGHT IMPACTHow important is the young professionalcommunity to the greater Canton/StarkCounty business community?

While the vast majority of our respondents plan to stay in the

Next Leaders Survey benchmarks ystark!’s impact on youngprofessionals in our community

(continued on page 23)

Six Chamber CollaborativeFinally, six Chambers of Commerce inStark County have been meeting quarter-ly at the Canton Regional Chamber tospeak as one voice on issues affectingbusiness at the state and federal level.

The other participants are the Chambersof Alliance, Jackson-Belden, LakeTownship, Massillon and North Canton.With staff work contributed by theCanton Regional Chamber, these StarkCounty chambers have spoken out onpending federal legislation and environ-mental regulations that would have anadverse effect on the manufacturingcommunity.

In early conversations about collabora-tion among local governments, local officials occasionally challenged us bysaying,“You want us to collaborate, butthe chambers don’t collaborate very wellamong themselves.”

We think we now have a different andpretty good story to tell.

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community, 13% do plan to leavewithin the next two years.

What kind of economic impact could thishave on the community? Using a stan-dard economic impact calculator of 1.2we can see that when a YP leaves ourcommunity, it makes a $57,000 impactper person.

In other words, the Canton region willlose an average of $57,000 for eachyoung professional who leaves the area.With 13% of young professionals plan-ning to leave, and approximately 23,930young professionals in the Canton-Massillon metro area, the area stands tolose a total of $177 MILLION in thenext two years.

We believe that these findings demon-strate the importance of our mission – to attract, retain and engage YPs – andshow that we are delivering on theseobjectives. But we believe there is stillmuch work ahead. For more informationabout ystark! and ways you can getinvolved, visit www.ystark.org.

(continued from page 2)

Government Affairs ...

(continued from page 21)

Next Leaders ...

WELCOME to our newest members, who joined Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce in February. We encourage you to patronize their businesses.If you know of other businesses that would benefit from Chamber member-ship, please contact the Membership Department at (330) 458-2067.

A1 Concrete Leveling and Foundation Repair(CONCRETE LEVELING)Jeff Hagstrom8529 Cleveland Ave.North Canton, OH 44720(330) 499-5551www.A1-level.com

Alliance Computer Exchange (COMPUTER - RECYCLING - SALES - REPAIR)Stephen H. Robinson67 West Vine St.Alliance, OH 44601(330) 454-2020

Auntie Anne's Pretzels (PRETZELS)Adam Bauer4289 Belden Village MallCanton, OH 44718(330) 499-7496www.auntieannes.com

Buckeye Event Center (EVENT CENTER)Sandra Miller624 Henry St.Dalton, OH 44618(330) 828-2466www.buckeyeeventcenter.com

Canton Rugby Football Club (RUGBY)Dan Sturtz3234 Arbor Rd. SWCanton, OH 44710(330) 209-2268www.cantonrugby.com

CFSG Life Inc.(FUNERAL EXPENSES - PRE-ARRRANGED)Cherie M. Clapper401 W Tusc St. NW, Ste 404Canton, OH 44702(330) 588-3040www.cfsglife.com

Chesapeake Energy Corporation (ENERGY SERVICES)Keith Fuller6100 N. Western Ave.Oklahoma City, OK 73118(330) 324-4836www.chk.com

E Cellular Connection Verizon at H. H. Gregg(TELECOMMUNICATIONS)Scott Schroeder5509 Dressler Rd. NWNorth Canton, OH 44720(330) 433-4006www.Ecellularconnection.com

Exclusively Yours Catering (CATERERS)Adam Bauer624 Henry St.Dalton, OH 44618(330) 998-2670

Joshen Paper & Packaging (PAPER - PACKAGING & BROKERS & MANUFACTURERS)Fred Van Brunt Jr.5800 Grant Ave.Cuyahoga Heights, OH 44105(330) 575-3065www.joshen.com

My Personal Trainer (FITNESS - PERSONAL TRAINING)Eric Schaefer3524 Cleveland Ave. NWCanton, OH 44709(330) 417-7364

Pro Audio Innovations Ltd.(AUDIO & VIDEO - SALES & SERVICE & INSTALLATIONSECURITY SERVICESHOME THEATERS)John Terrell3200 Whipple Ave., Ste ACanton, OH 44718(330) 495-6073www.paiohio.com

Project Digital Inc.(GRAPHIC DESIGNADVERTISING - MARKETINGPRINTERS - LARGE FORMAT)Dave Snyder6633 Frank Ave. NWNorth Canton, OH 44720(330) 966-2728www.projectdigital.com

Quaker Steak & Lube(RESTAURANTS)Matt Derienzo6073 Dressler Rd. NWNorth Canton, OH 44720(330) 433-WINGwww.quakersteakandlube.com

Shanklin Heating & Air Conditioning(HEATING & COOLING - RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL)Derek Shanklin5185 Alabama Ave.Navarre, OH 44662(330) 832-5848www.shanklinheatingandcooling.com

Sisters of Charity Foundation of Canton(FOUNDATIONS)Joni T. Close400 Market Ave. N, Ste. 300Canton, OH 44702(330) 454-5800www.scfcanton.org

Spriegel & Associates, LLC(ATTORNEYS - PATENTS - TRADEMARKS - COPYRIGHTS)Andrew R. Spriegel110 W. Streetsboro, St. L4 & L14Hudson, OH 44236(330) 247-2211www.Smart2Patent.com

Stark County Out of PovertyPartnership, Inc.(SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES)Jay Murdock, Jr.PO Box 20468Canton, OH 44701(330) 489-5489www.scopp.org

Subway - Downtown Canton (RESTAURANTS)George Jordan217 Market Ave NCanton, OH 44702(330) 451-2190

UCI - Daily Referral - Jared Hughes & Associates(RECRUITERS - BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY)Jared Hughes300 W. Tuscarawas St., Ste. DCanton, OH 44702(330) 280-6560

C a n t o n R e g i o n a l C h a m b e r o f C o m m e r c e24

The law firm of Morrow & Meyer LLCis pleased to announce that ShannonM. Draher has joined the law firm asan associate in the Firm’s EmploymentLitigation Department. Draher graduated magna cum laude from TheUniversity of Toledo College of Law in2001. She received her undergraduatedegree from The University of Toledoin 1998. Draher was previously associ-ated with the Cleveland office of JonesDay and the Akron office of Vorys,Sater Seymour and Pease, LLP. The lawfirm of Morrow & Meyer LLC repre-sents and defends companies in theAkron-Canton area and throughoutOhio. Visit www.morrowmeyer.com formore information and news from thefirm.

From hundreds of thousands of rat-ings by clients, lawyers and recruitersin a national survey conducted jointlyby U.S. News and Best Lawyers,Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs,LLP was selected the best law firm inAkron, with 18 of its practice areas inAkron and Cleveland rated among thebest in the region. The survey for BestLaw Firms 2010 involved tens of thousands of law firm clients includingevery Fortune 100 company and morethan half of the Fortune 1,000 compa-nies. Buckingham received the highestTier 1 rating in 15 practice areas withinits Cleveland and Akron offices. Threeadditional practice areas were givenTier 2 or Tier 3 ratings. Further informa-tion on Buckingham is available atwww.bdblaw.com.

The Workforce Investment Board ofStark and Tuscarawas Countiesannounced today that they havereceived a state grant of $250,000 todevelop a new initiative that will iden-tify and assist companies at risk ofclosure or downsizing. The EarlyWarning Network grant will fund abusiness retention program called theRegional Business Network (RBN). Thisnetwork will cover both Stark andTuscarawas counties and will expandand enhance the retention and expan-sion efforts currently underway inboth counties.

Tegrey Family of Coatings Inc. isproud to have added two newpainters, Tom Lawver and PatriciaLaney. They have brought leadershipskills and customer service to TegreyCoatings. The addition increases thepainting crews to five fulltime mem-bers. The increase allows TegreyCoatings the opportunity to increasebusiness and complete painting proj-ects in half the time.

Once Upon A Child (4641 Dressler RdNW) brought nationwide recognitionto the Canton children’s gently usedresale store by achieving top sales in2010 over the other 240 franchisedstores spanning the United States andCanada. The Canton store has been inoperation for over 15 years, moving toits current location in Thursday’s Plazaon Dressler Road in Canton in springof 2010.

In the Round Design Group is happyto announce that Craig Joseph hasjoined their team as a creative directorand brand manager. With a back-ground in English, theatre and film,Joseph is - at heart - a storyteller. Hebrings that love of narrative to In theRound, helping clients better articulatetheir identities. Since moving back toCanton, his hometown, Craig has beenheavily involved with ArtsinStark andthe Canton Arts District, curating atAnderson Creative and helping localartists and galleries hone their market-ing and business plans. He previouslyworked as creative director for severallarge non-profits in Chicago andMinneapolis. For more information onJoseph and the firm, visitIntheRound.com.

Business owners Darryl Doane andRose Sloat of The Learning Service,Ltd. have been honored as InscapePublishing Award winners. Inscape is aworld leader in instrumented learningprofiles which includes the newEverything DiSC Leadership 363°Profile. In 2010, fewer than 1% ofInscape’s independent consultantsworldwide earned the honor of thisAward. For more information aboutthe companies, visit www.thelearn-ingservice.com.

Title One and Cutler Real Estate arepleased to announce that 2010 wasTitle One’s best year since 2006.In total, 1,113 transactions weresuccessfully closed in the seven counties Title One serves. Title One isaffiliated with Cutler Real Estate, serv-ing Stark, Carroll, Tuscarawas, Summit,Medina, Portage, and Wayne counties.For more information, visit their web-site at www.CutlerHomes.com.

Bob Fay, CPA, a member of theAccountancy Board of Ohio, hasbeen appointed chairman of theDisciplinary Advisory Committee andthe Education Assistance Committeefor 2011. The Accountancy Board ofOhio oversees the more than 33,000CPAs licensed in Ohio and the morethan 3,000 CPA Firms licensed in Ohioin regards to protecting the public andupholding the standards of practicefor CPAs across the state. Ohio is the5th largest state in America in regardsto CPAs licensed and regulated.

Stark County Hunger Task Force(SCHTF) officials announce expansionof hours for emergency pantry at 4089th St. SW in response to the growingnumbers of residents experiencingfood insecurity. The emergency pantryin the community campus will nowbe open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondaythrough Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.on Fridays. Call (330) 455-6667 foradditional information.

The National Science Foundation FuelCell Forum, "Fuel Cells - The Future:Preparing the Workforce," will be heldat The University Center at Kent Stateat Stark on Apr. 18 from 8 a.m. to 4p.m. Participants will develop anunderstanding of and vision for thefuture of the fuel cell industry in Ohio.The event is hosted by The Great LakesFuel Cell Education Partnership andthe Ohio Fuel Cell Symposium. CEUsare available for participating educa-tors. Registration information is avail-able at www.starkstate.edu/forum.

Submit Biz Bitz articles tojessb@cantonchamber.org.Deadline is five weeks prior to publication.

25C a n t o n R e g i o n a l C h a m b e r o f C o m m e r c e

27C a n t o n R e g i o n a l C h a m b e r o f C o m m e r c e

First Friday – Sketch into Spring!Here a sketch, there a sketch, everywhere a sketch-sketch! Enjoy Sketch into Spring First

Friday on April 1 from 6 to 10 p.m. You’ll get to visit all of the great new exhibits and expe-rience many live drawing demonstrations throughout downtown. Experience Dr. Sketchy’s

Anti-Art school, or pick up a pad and pencil and give it a try yourself. Music, food, art and funall in one place in downtown Canton!

Leadership Stark County Signature Program Recruitment BreakfastLearn more about the Leadership Stark County Signature program by attending this free,

no-obligation, informational breakfast session! Register at LeadershipStarkCounty.org.

Stark County Entrepreneur ExperienceThe Small Business Development Center, Kent State University at Stark (SBDC) is proud to

announce the 2011 Stark County Entrepreneur Experience, featuring events to educate andprovide networking opportunities for entrepreneurs at all levels. Seven great events for

entrepreneurs and business leaders! Learn more about each session atwww.cantonsbdc.org.

Do Less, Have More!™April AultCare Fast Break Breakfast featuring Noah St. John, Ph.D.

Are you tired of “money-making” programs that don’t make you more money? At the Apr. 8AultCare Fast Break Breakfast, let Noah St. John, Ph.D., lifestyle expert and number one

bestselling author of The Secret Code of Success, demonstrate the proven formula to help youdump your “head trash,” get massive results with less time and effort, and exponentially

grow your business using the secret code used by the Naturals of Success.

VOTE for your STARK COUNTY FAVORITES beginning April 11The annual Best of Stark County awards recognize Stark County venues and organizations

in conjunction with May’s Destination Stark County month. Voting for the Best of StarkCounty Awards runs from April 11 through 30.

What are your employees bringing to work besides their lunches?April Stark County Safety Council Luncheon

Courtney Meyers, RS, environmental health specialist for the Stark County HealthDepartment, will educate you about the creepy-crawlers that could be making their way

into your offices! Those little critters can mean BIG problems for your business and home.The key to protecting yourself from bedbug infestations brought into work by

your employees is through education!

Apply Now! Leadership Stark County Signature ProgramThe Signature Program is perfect for both seasoned and emerging leaders who are

dedicated to growing their community trusteeship. Applications are due April 22.

PICTURE THIS ~ Joint Chamber Mixer!Join us for a complimentary networking event for members of the Canton Regional and

Jackson-Belden Chambers of Commerce. After the HUGE success of our first-ever joint mixer,you won't want to miss the second installment in downtown Canton!

Ohio Employee Ownership Center 25th annual conferenceThe 25th Annual Ohio Employee Ownership Conference will be held Friday, April 29, at the

Akron Fairlawn Hilton in Fairlawn, OH. This year’s conference theme is “Working Togetherand Saving Jobs.”The Canton Regional Chamber is once again sponsoring this important

training program.

Business Excellence Awards of Greater Canton Honorees of this year’s Business Excellence Awards will be recognized

during the gala awards dinner held on Tues., May 3, atThe University Center at Kent State University at Stark.

Friday, Apr. 87 a.m. registration7:30 a.m. programCourtyard by Marriott4375 Metro Cir. North Canton, OHCost: $18 members; $21 membersless than 48 hours in advance; $25 non-membersRSVP by Apr. 6

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PLEASE REGISTER ONLINE ATWWW.CANTONCHAMBER.ORG

OR CALL (330) 458-2085Please Register in Advance!

April

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8Vote Online from Apr. 11 - 30www.BestofStark.comSave the Date!Winners announced May 13at the annual Tourism Luncheon

1First Friday, Apr. 16 – 10 p.m.Downtown CantonFREE!

Thursday, Apr. 1411:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.Meyer’s Lake Ballroom3218 Parkway St., N.W.Canton, OH 44708Cost: $16RSVP by Apr. 11

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Apr. 5, 6, 12 & 19The University Center at Kent State at Stark6000 Frank Ave. NW, North Canton$10-20 (varies by event)RSVP online atwww.cantonsbdc.org

Apply Online by Apr. 22for the 25th Annual Signature Classwww.LeadershipStarkCounty.org

Thursday, April 285 to 8 p.m.The Joseph Saxton Gallery of Photography520 Cleveland Ave. NW,downtown CantonCost: Free!RSVP online atCantonChamber.org

Friday, Apr. 29Akron Fairlawn Hilton3180 West Market Street, AkronCost: $85 to $100 early bird;$150 at the doorRSVP at www.OEOCKent.orgor call (330) 672-3028

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5/3Tuesday, May 35:30 p.m. cocktail reception6:30 p.m. dinner and awards ceremonyThe University Center at KentState University at Stark6000 Frank Ave.North Canton 44720Cost: $48RSVP by Apr. 28

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Friday, Apr. 17:45 a.m. - 8:45 a.m.Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce222 Market Ave. N. (downtown)Cost: Free!RSVP online or by calling (330) 458-2095

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