By Faten Aburidi, First Solar Intern

Can you name five fun things to do in the Toledo Region during the Summer?  
 
Genuinely speaking if my employer had not enrolled me in the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce Summer in the City program, I probably would not have been able to name two. But let me rewind and give you an insider’s view on my past 3 months as a summer intern.

In May, I started my first internship with First Solar, a leading American solar technology company and global provider of responsibly produced eco-efficient solar modules. As a Mechanical Engineering major at the University of Toledo, this was an exciting new chapter for me and the company’s other interns – most of whom were moving from out of state. When moving out of state we all know what that means: scary new city, no friends, and big changes. For us, that was not the case. Fast forward three weeks into our internship, we were invited to participate in the Summer in the City intern program. 
 
Hosted by the Chamber, this program connected almost 200 interns from more than 20 companies within the Toledo Region to help them meet and make new friends while exploring downtown Toledo and the surrounding region. The program includes fun social events plus professional development opportunities. Some of the events that we enjoyed over the two-month program were a Toledo Mud Hens game with a rooftop picnic, a Maumee River boat cruise, a seminar about the multi-million Glass City River Walk development, and an impromptu get together at The Heights restaurant which offers 360-degree views of downtown, Lake Erie and more! 

Happy July, Toledo! Summer is in full swing, and that means we’re gearing up this month for Clambake 2022 presented by PNC – one of our most exciting and hottest events of the year. But before we tell you all about what you’re going to see, taste and experience at the Toledo Zoo & Aquarium for this year’s Clambake, let’s take a look back and celebrate our newest members who joined the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce business community in June 2022. When you visit these businesses or connect with their team and leaders, please be sure to offer them a warm welcome to our community.

Registration is now open for the 21st edition of the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce’s public service leadership program which begins in January. The Institute for Leadership & Advocacy is designed to build and strengthen our region’s leaders to help them serve their communities and work with public officials. The program is the longest-running of its kind in the state and has to date graduated more than 400 leaders in our region.

There are plenty of moments we’re already looking fondly back on from October – and Halloween is just the start. Between helping to celebrate ribbon cuttings for four area businesses, Dana’s Advanced Manufacturing Training Center, Northwestern Mutual, Crunch Fitness and Next Day Access of Northwest Ohio, and putting on fabulous in-person events, October was a month to remember. In addition to our members who held ribbon cuttings, we’d of course like to celebrate our new members who joined us in October 2021 as well.

By Amanda DePerro, communications manager

On Nov. 9-13, the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce’s EPIC Toledo, northwest Ohio’s largest young professional organization, held its annual Leadership Summit presented by Buckeye Broadband. This year has been full of changes and surprises, and this year’s Leadership Summit was no different. The event, which is typically held on one day in fall, this year filled an entire week of leadership development, networking and exciting virtual sessions.

By Amanda DePerro, communications manager

On Sept. 30, the Toledo Chamber sat down with Sheila Eason, founder and CEO of Elevate People Solutions, for webinar “Did I Say That?” Recognizing and Combating Microaggressions in the Workplace. Eason covered everything from what microaggressions might look like and the various types of microaggressions, how to respond to a microaggression from the point of both a bystander and the victim, and what to do if someone tells you that you’ve said something that has made them uncomfortable.

On Sept. 8, the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Capitol Conversation presented by AT&T series welcomed Frank LaRose, Ohio Secretary of State, to discuss issues currently impacting Ohio’s businesses.

The Talent & Workforce Department of the Chamber promotes college job fairs throughout the region. These events connect employers with job seekers, in both VIRTUAL and FACE-TO-FACE environments made for those students who are ready to intern or start new jobs.
 
Here are some of this fall's upcoming Career Fairs.

Join members of the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce this Friday, February 14 for Morning Access presented by AT&T, an opportunity to network and connect with elected officials about the issues that are important to you and your business. This dialogue is designed to foster economic growth and prosperity, making the region a preferred place for diverse talent and innovation.

On Jan. 21, Predictive Index CEO Mike Zani discussed Talent: The New Frontier to a crowd of 600 at the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce 2020 Annual Meeting presented by Fifth Third Bank. Zani introduced a key idea: aligning talent and strategy. In other words, getting the right people in the right roles in order to unleash maximum productivity.