​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.

By: Tim Schneider, Manager - Local Government Advocacy, TRCC

​Graduates of the 2018 Institute for Leadership & Advocacy program joined members of the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce for its annual Legislative Day in Ohio’s capital on April 18. This event was an opportunity for those in attendance to have lunch with our region’s state legislators and receive updates from key agency leaders.
 
The luncheon, held at The Athletic Club of Columbus near the Ohio Statehouse featured speakers Andrea Boxill, Director, Governor’s Opiate Action Team, and Joe Testa, Tax Commissioner, Ohio Department of Taxation. Ms. Boxill spoke about the national opiate epidemic’s impact on the workforce and societal challenges that exist in addressing the problem. Mr. Testa spoke about recent tax changes at the state level and implications for Ohio businesses.

The Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce congratulates the 30 emerging leaders who graduated from the 2018 Institute for Leadership & Advocacy. These graduates join the more than 300 leaders who have completed this training and are prepared to effectively serve their communities and engage in the government decision-making process.
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The graduation ceremony took place March 26, 2018 at the Fallen Timbers Battlefield Metropark Visitor Center in Maumee. The ceremony included opening remarks from program facilitator Tim Schneider, Manager, Local Government Advocacy for the Chamber, and Ben Brown, Vice President, USI Insurance Services, and Chairman of The Leadership Fund PAC.

​​Early this fall, a delegation including thirteen representatives from eight area firms took the new American Airlines’ nonstop service to Charlotte, North Carolina out of Toledo Express Airport for an intercity visit. The visit was organized by the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority, as an opportunity for our members to learn about the economic prosperity of Charlotte and generate new ideas for our area.
 
Charlotte was of particular interest for many reasons but most of all to showcase the new direct route from Toledo Express to Charlotte Douglas International Airport, which opens the business community in the Toledo Region to many exciting opportunities. The city was also chosen because of existing relationships between the Charlotte and Toledo Chambers of Commerce and between Toledo Region businesses with those in the Charlotte area.  These relationships played a crucial role in securing the new route and this trip was the next step in strengthening those relationships and creating new ones.

​Since its inaugural year in 2012, #GivingTuesday has been a national program that encourages charitable activity at the start of the holiday season. Toledo Community Foundation supports local nonprofits in this effort by promoting the program and encouraging donations. With over 2,500 nonprofits in the Toledo Region, there are more than enough opportunities for you to kick off this holiday season with the spirit of giving.
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This year, #GivingTuesdayNWO is on November 28, 2017. For the second year in a row, Toledo Community Foundation and The Blade have partnered to make a matching grant opportunity available to any eligible local participating nonprofit organization and one $5,000 award to one area nonprofit organization who participates in #GivingTuesdayNWO. More information can be found on the TCF website.

​Join EPIC Toledo for the premier leadership and professional development conference in the region. November 9, 2017 world renowned speakers and innovative local business leaders will be sharing their experiences with emerging talent in the Toledo Region. Don't miss featured keynotes, Barb Roose, Michael R. Wilcox and Joe De Sena. Plus, enjoy the opportunity to experience Joe De Sena's message hands-on November 8th at the Huntington Center where he will be leading a community wide workout!

Barb Roose
Speaker, Author, Life Coach​​

Barb Roose is a speaker, author and life coach from the Toledo area. As a speaker she equips and motivates audiences to elevate their personal leadership abilities at company gatherings, training meetings for personal coaching sessions.

​Join EPIC Toledo for the premier leadership and professional development conference in the region. November 9, 2017 world renowned speakers and innovative local business leaders will be sharing their experiences with emerging talent in the Toledo Region. Don't miss featured keynotes, Barb Roose, Michael R. Wilcox and Joe De Sena. Plus, enjoy the opportunity to experience Joe De Sena's message hands-on November 8th at the Huntington Center where he will be leading a community wide workout!

​MICHAEL R. WILCOX
Chairman and CEO
Wilcox Financial and Wilcox Sports Management
 
Michael R. Wilcox, founder of Wilcox Financial and Wilcox Sports Management, is a rare breed among financial advisors. Knowledgeable and trustworthy, personable and passionate, Mr. Wilcox provides high-level specialized financial advice for his diversified clientele. Wilcox Financial is a diversified financial services and consulting company with a long tradition of excellence and growth.

​Join EPIC Toledo for the premier leadership and professional development conference in the region. November 9, 2017 world renowned speakers and innovative local business leaders will be sharing their experiences with emerging talent in the Toledo Region. Don't miss featured keynotes, Barb Roose, Michael R. Wilcox and Joe De Sena. Plus, enjoy the opportunity to experience Joe De Sena's message hands-on November 8th at the Huntington Center where he will be leading a community wide workout!

Matt Bell
President & Co-Founder | Team Recovery
C.O.O. & Co-Founder | Midwest Detox & Recovery Center

​Matt Bell is 30 year old Toledo native who graduated from St. Francis de Sales in 2005 and earned an academic/athletic scholarship to the University of Toledo, where he played baseball. After an injury he became addicted to the pain killers that were prescribed to him, and one thing lead to another, ending in a 9 year bout with heroin. Jails, arrests, and overdoses became his reality, although they were never anything he foresaw or dreamt of doing. 

​Join EPIC Toledo for the premier leadership and professional development conference in the region. November 9, 2017 world renowned speakers and innovative local business leaders will be sharing their experiences with emerging talent in the Toledo Region. Don't miss featured keynotes, Barb Roose, Michael R. Wilcox and Joe De Sena. Plus, enjoy the opportunity to experience Joe De Sena's message hands-on November 8th at the Huntington Center where he will be leading a community wide workout!

Marv Fox Jr.
Program Development & Inspirational Speaker
University of Michigan William M. Trotter Multicultural Center

​Marv believes everyone has a Purpose. Purpose is a combination of Genius-Level Talent and Passion. Genius Level talent is a natural ability, capable of being converted into a Genius Level Skill. Genius Level Talent provides a vast capacity of knowledge and instincts relative to other areas of skill and intellect. Passion is the one thing you would do for the rest of your life to benefit all of humanity regardless of compensation. Together, Genius-level Talent and Passion creates Purpose; which provides us with an internal success mechanism designed to improve the world we live in as well as the people who live in it.

​Join EPIC Toledo for the premier leadership and professional development conference in the region. November 9, 2017 world renowned speakers and innovative local business leaders will be sharing their experiences with emerging talent in the Toledo Region. Don't miss featured keynotes, Barb Roose, Michael R. Wilcox and Joe De Sena. Plus, enjoy the opportunity to experience Joe De Sena's message hands-on November 8th at the Huntington Center where he will be leading a community wide workout!

 Lori Johnston
Chief Information Officer

Lori Johnston is chief information officer at ProMedica. She is responsible for all aspects of information technology throughout the health system.  Critical to her role is overseeing the implementation of Epic, a healthcare management software, which began in 2015 and will extend through 2017.