Blog Archives - Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce | Toledo, OH

LIVE from Hannover Messe

4/28/2016

The Ohio Delegation with Lt. Governor Taylor

By: Colleen Kardasz, Director, Export Assistance Network, Ohio SBDC at the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Eighteen months ago when the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Ohio Export Assistance Network started planning for Hannover Messe 2016 the idea was simple: provide an opportunity for small Ohio companies to exhibit at the world's largest industrial trade show.

The implementation of this simple idea became eighteen months of intricate, and detail-oriented work that resulted in 6 unique companies from all over the state boarding planes and heading off to Hannover, Germany just four days ago.

Adventure Awaits!

4/28/2016

Travel to Spain with your Chamber this Fall

The Toledo Regional Chamber offered its first travel opportunity in 2010 when we offered a week-long trip to China, visiting Beijing, Suzhou, Hangzhou and Shanghai. This same itinerary was offered again in 2011 and 2012. These trips were made available to chambers of commerce by Citslinc, a preferred vendor of the Association Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE). At the time, China was a destination not a lot of people had visited and the idea of traveling with others from the Toledo Region, plus a very affordable price tag, made these trips popular. A destination like China is unique and overwhelming at the same time -- the language is not widely known to us, we cannot read signs, and the country is so big it is difficult to select a few spots to visit in a week's time, much less try to navigate on your own. When you have a tour operator selecting your flights, hotels, meals, handling your luggage, and getting you from Point A to Point B, all of a sudden China is not so daunting. A tour guide was always with our groups all day long in China and shared the history, culture, and insights about life for the local population. Our travelers basically showed up in the morning and the rest of the day was taken care of.

EPIC Toledo Corporate Member Spotlight - MassMutual

4/27/2016

We are excited to welcome MassMutual Ohio to our EPIC Toledo Corporate membership. The host of our Morning Member Mixer on April 28, MassMutual Ohio is committed to our region and they share EPIC Toledo’s vision of engaging people and inspiring change. Our staff had a chance to get an inside look at their company culture, and wanted to share it with you!

MassMutual by the Numbers:
15 = # of Employees in the Maumee Office Under Age 30
50 + = # of local and national charities supported
62 = # of years since the Maumee firm was founded
120 = # of years MassMutual has been in Ohio
300 = # of scholarships and internships given through the MassMutual Career Pathways program

“The best thing about working for MassMutual in Toledo is CULTURE! Having the freedom to design your own job and being empowered to spend time and energy on the aspects that each individual finds most important and satisfying.”

FOCUS on...Downtown Toledo

4/26/2016

Updates from the April FOCUS on Business Lunch

It was a full house last Wednesday at the FOCUS on Business Lunch at the Toledo Museum of Art Glass Salon. 175 Chamber members from around the Toledo community came together for lunch, networking, economic updates from our partners the Regional Growth Partnership and the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority, and of course, to listen to a presentation from our featured speakers Randy Oostra and Robin Whitney from ProMedica.

Leadership Academy Graduation

4/22/2016

28 Locals Complete Leadership Academy Toledo Program

Program Snapshot:
15 Years
Nearly 300 graduates
More than 120 in public service roles
16 elected to public office
2 elected to the Ohio Legislature

What is Leadership?

4/22/2016

The Six Rungs to the Leadership Ladder

According to The Honorable Judith Ann Lanzinger, Justice, Ohio Supreme Court, leadership is a ladder. She presented the featured keynote address at the 2016 Leadership Academy graduation ceremony in March. The event was held at the Stranahan Theater.

Justice Lanzinger described leadership as an abstract concept and outlined “The Six Rungs to the Leadership Ladder.” She urged graduates to build on the ladder, hone their strengths, and continue to grow throughout their leadership journey.

Drugs and the Impact on Your Workplace

4/21/2016

State Representative Robert Sprague hosts Roundtable

Early last week, our Advocacy and Public Policy department hosted an Opiate Roundtable with State Representative Robert Sprague and Chamber members from a variety of fields to discuss the impact opiate abuse and drug addictions have on our region. It is a tragic and life threatening problem effecting our citizens and subsequently, our businesses ability to fill the workforce. Many of the attendees shared their frustrations about finding potential employees that can successfully pass a drug test. Fortunately, there are a number of community resources available to both employers and employees to assist individuals who have an addiction that want to seek help.

Six Ohio Companies to Travel to Germany for Hannover Messe Trade Show

4/13/2016

Unlimited Opportunities for Growth and Development

The Ohio SBDC Export Assistance Network at the Chamber is taking 6 Ohio companies to Hannover, Germany for the annual Hannover Messe Trade Show, the world’s foremost trade fair for industrial technology. 2016 will mark the largest-ever U.S. delegation to attend the fair, with 390 U.S. businesses and organizations attending. This year, the United States will be the Partner Country of the fair which provides the businesses and organizations in the U.S. delegation the opportunity to be prominently featured throughout the event.

Ohio Chamber Day in Columbus

4/12/2016

OPPORTUNITY FOR TRCC MEMBERS TO MEET LEGISLATORS

By: Emily Dammeyer

On Tuesday, April 5, 2016 Chamber members had the opportunity to travel to Columbus for our annual luncheon with state legislators and policy makers in conjunction with the Ohio Chamber Annual Meeting. Members also had the chance to participate in Q & A Sessions with Former Speaker of the House John Boehner, Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) Chairman Andre Porter, and ODOT Director Jerry Wray.

NEW MEMBER PROFILE: Pita Pit Toledo

4/11/2016

Welcome to the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce

By: Emily Dammeyer

Owners: Kate & Tom Dake, Steve Gesicki
Established: UT Location 2012, Downtown Location 2014
Location: Pita Pit Toledo, Dorr Street across from the University of Toledo
Pita Pit Downtown, Warehouse District, St. Clair Street.

History & Evolution of Pita Pit Toledo & Downtown
For nearly four years, the University of Toledo Pita Pit location has been a welcome addition to the restaurants surrounding campus. Opening in 2012, owner Kate Dake shared, “We knew from Steve's years of managing Pita Pit Bowling Green that the students at the University of Toledo had a huge interest in Pita Pit and on their weekend trips down to BG would ask ‘when are you opening one by me!?!’” When the trio found a great space directly across the street from campus they knew it was time to open the first Toledo location.