​The 18th edition of the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce’s public service leadership program is set to begin in January. Every year, the program graduates individuals representing a cross-section of the area who go on to improve the region and advance their own professional goals. The program is the longest running of its kind in the state. More than 300 leaders from around the Toledo Region have graduated from the program.
 
The Institute for Leadership & Advocacy is a 10-week course designed to prepare emerging leaders to effectively serve their communities and work with public officials. Participants engage in discussions about the issues, requirements and expectations associated with public service. Sessions are taught by highly experienced professionals comprised of public officials and other regional leaders. The Institute includes year-long engagement in activities and events.

Man·u·fac·ture
/ man(y)Ə’fak(t)SH Ər/
Verb :: to make, invent or fabricate

We’re making it in Toledo. Smart things like solar panels and biotech. Iconic things like Jeep® brand SUVs and Libbey glass. Best of all, we’re making it together, thanks to our dynamic culture built upon a heritage of hard work and a can-do attitude.
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In the Toledo Region, It Matters Where You Make It ®. Which is why, when the US Census Bureau announces Manufacturing Week and the 7th annual observance of Manufacturing Day, we have major cause to celebrate. Many of our region’s top employers and a significant share of small businesses have a major manufacturing component and a giant impact on the local economy.

​​The Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce together with the RGP Northwest Ohio, United Parcel Service (UPS) and the U.S. Commercial Service successfully launched the Export Success program last week. This year's Export Success class is comprised of 10 company representatives and 11 mentors. Each company participating is at a different stage in the exporting process. Some have been exporting for years, while others have only sold domestically. One of the participating companies is a service provider which dispels the myth that only companies that have a good can export.

​Energy Market Update
Bring on college football and pumpkin spice lattes, we’re ready for Fall!  After a sweltering summer, many are welcoming the cooler temperatures.  The natural gas and electric markets continue to present pricing opportunities for many consumers, so if you have not reviewed your electric purchasing strategy recently, please reach out to your CES representative as winter weather can create market volatility!
CES Program Energy consultant:   Emilie Snider 419 491-1017

By: Emily Dammeyer, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce

​Over the course of three days during our membership event, we welcomed 324 new members to the Chamber. It was a marathon event, with short shift sprints scattered throughout each day. This type of event wouldn’t be possible without the dedicated and energetic commitment of our volunteers. More than 300 community leaders came together to share our message and mission.
Our theme for the event was “All In”, inspired by the DC Marvel comic strip The Justice League. Dressed in capes, staff greeted all four shifts with a cheer and a high five. You can see on Facebook and Twitter how our volunteers embraced the energy and had a lot of fun with the event. It was their passion and excitement that gave us so many introductions to new members.

Why did 300+ businesses become members in two days? For two reasons – first, because of our awesome volunteers, and second, because they believe in the work that we do. As a Chamber, with more than 2,000 businesses, we recognize the importance of economic development to moving the region forward. We are committed to lobbying for business, creating opportunities for jobs and workforce development, and recruiting a talented workforce to the area. ​Thank you to everyone who volunteered to make this event a success.

​TRCC ALL IN will be the phrase celebrated this week by our staff and member volunteers. We are hosting a two-day Membership Campaign with the DC Comic inspired theme of ALL IN. More than 300 volunteers will come together at campaign headquarters over the course of two days to bring in new members to the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce. A huge thanks to the leadership and employees of Buckeye Broadband for hosting us and providing the technology to make this event a success.

The goal of the campaign is to bring our existing members together in a fun, collaborative and competitive atmosphere, while sharing the Chamber story with the region at large. It will create community awareness of the important role of the Toledo Chamber and our mission to connect business with resources and opportunities; advocate for a thriving business environment and lead the charge to promote the assets of the region. 

Please note: Our staff will be off-site at Campaign Headquarters Tuesday, August 28th and Wednesday, August 29th. Chamber offices will be CLOSED for the duration of the event, and reopen at 8:30 am, Thursday, August 30th. For more information about membership or the campaign, please contact Eric Stockard, VP for Membership at the Chamber at 419.344.9626.
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This is the first volunteer driven membership drive the Chamber has embarked on in more than a decade. Sixteen community leaders have stepped-up and agreed to be event Chairs and provide a team. “The response from the business community for this effort has been overwhelmingly positive,” says Wendy Gramza, President and CEO of the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce. “This is the perfect time to engage our volunteers to help us share the message of the work the Chamber is doing to move our region forward.”

Our largest event of the year was a huge success. 700 members enjoyed an atmosphere that can’t be beat and feasted on a buffet full of lobster, clams, mussels and shrimp, followed by chocolate pot de crème and crème brulee.
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Why Clambake? Beyond the great food, Clambake is an opportunity for us to host a mission focused event and reach a significant portion of our members in one evening. Not only does the event allow us to connect business leaders with one another, we get to promote many of the great assets of the region including the Casino, Maumee River and showcase the delicious culinary skills in our community.

In an energy filled training session this morning at the Radisson at UTMC, we kicked-off our membership campaign with more than 80 team chairs and captains. This is in preparation for our ALL IN Membership Event at the end of August. For two and a half days, hundreds of volunteers will work against the clock and against each other to sign up new Chamber members and create a greater community awareness of the important role of the Toledo Chamber and our mission to connect business with resources and opportunities; advocate for a thriving business environment and lead the charge to promote the assets of the region. 
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The event is organized by Jimmy Cusano and a group called Your Chamber Connection. Their specialty is high energy membership campaigns that allow volunteers to conduct "out of the box" membership fun while building the membership base.

In June the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce held its Chamber U event on the topic of building and zoning permit processes. This was a forum aimed at helping local businesses better understand these processes and how to avoid project delays or other issues. Conversations on property development and zoning are a part of the Institute for Leadership & Advocacy’s sessions on economic development and planning sustainable communities, and graduates were invited to attend the forum.

​The discussion included a panel of building inspection and zoning officials from local departments who answered questions and covered topics such as permit processing timelines, common issues delaying permit issuance, and improvements underway to improve service. Panel participants included Steven Shrake, City of Toledo Chief Building Official; David Golis, Lucas County Chief Building Official; and Jim Gilmore, City of Oregon Building & Zoning Commissioner.

​National Small Business Week has been designated by the U.S. Small Business Administration as April 29th through May 5th, 2018. In the Toledo Region, we recognize that It Matters Where You Make It ® and we are proud of the small businesses that contribute to our dynamic culture built upon a heritage of hard work and a can-do attitude.