Drivers Ed: Driving Your Business Toward Growth

On Feb. 6 at 8 a.m. at the Toledo Club, the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce, alongside the Toledo Small Business Development Center, will hold its first-ever Drivers Ed class. The class, part of a 10-course series, will challenge attendees to step into a new future in both their C-suite and ownership positions, as well as in their companies as a whole. Each class is built with one concept in mind: growth.

​In its premier session, Drivers Ed attendees will hear from Matt Yarder, vice president of The Yarder Manufacturing Company; Jennifer Kearns, owner of Battery Wholesale, Inc.; and Blake Pilgrim, director of sales and marketing for Wurtec, as they discuss the challenges they face in their roles, how they’ve found success in their own growth efforts and the impact a strong network has had on their professional lives.

Matt Yarder
Vice President, The Yarder Manufacturing Company

When Matt Yarder and two cousins acquired The Yarder Manufacturing Company, they became the fourth generation in the Yarder family to run the business. However, rather than stick to traditional methods of managing the business, Yarder and his associates decided to forge a new path by growing the company. This new outlook brought in a new breed of clients, building a base that was both nontraditional and growth-driven. On Feb. 6, Yarder will discuss the opportunities he and his associates are taking advantage of in order to bring the company into a new future.

Jennifer Kearns
Owner, Battery Wholesale, Inc.

Battery Wholesale, Inc. was founded in the mid-1980s by Jennifer Kearns’ father and uncles. When Kearns floated the idea of buying the business, she was met with reluctance from the auto industry. However, Kearns had a vision for the business that she was ready and prepared to see through, so she persisted. Despite proving her drive and dedication, Kearns faces challenges as a woman leader in a male-dominated industry. During the first Drivers Ed meeting, Kearns will discuss taking over in a male-dominated industry and how she has succeeded in the face of adversity.

Blake Pilgrim
Director of Sales and Marketing, Wurtec

Blake Pilgrim finds himself in a unique situation: becoming the second-generation family owner of a company founded by his father-in-law, Steve Wurth. In order to shepherd Pilgrim into the new position and provide a seamless leadership transition, Wurtec has taken on a consultant. Pilgrim will provide insights on Feb. 6 to attendees about his experiences as he grows in his role with the full support of his mentors and particularly about the impact of hiring an outside consultant to assist in a major transition.

Drivers Ed was designed to help young professionals as they take over C-suite or ownership positions within their own companies. As baby boomers continue to retire, they hand the keys to young leaders who now find themselves thrust into high-level positions. Whether they have prepared for these new roles or not, these emerging leaders must take the wheel of the company, and in order to succeed, they must grow.

Drivers Ed prepares these leaders to be catalysts of change, excitement and growth within their companies. Attendees of the first session on Feb. 6 will hear from nontraditional business leaders who are committed to the future of growth of their companies. The second Drivers Ed class, which takes place March 5, will focus on wealth management and business valuations.

Registration is still open. If you are a young professional who hopes to one day enter a C-suite or ownership position in their company, strengthen your network in northwest Ohio, or build a support system of other young leaders in the community, these sessions are designed for you. Join us on Feb. 6 or register for the 10-session series by clicking here.

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For questions or more information about Drivers Ed, please contact Bill Wersell, CBA, Vice President of Business Development Services, at bill.wersell@toledochamber.com.