At the 2025 Annual Meeting presented by Fifth Third Bank, the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce is proud to feature a powerful panel conversation focused on one of the most critical engines of economic growth – middle market companies.
Often overlooked in broader economic discussions, middle market businesses represent a dynamic segment that fuels innovation, provides stable employment, and anchors regional prosperity.
This year’s Middle Market Panel will bring together accomplished leaders from Toledo-area businesses to share insights on navigating growth, resilience, and leadership in today’s fast-changing marketplace. From talent retention and culture to innovation and scalability, this panel promises a candid and compelling conversation.
Often overlooked in broader economic discussions, middle market businesses represent a dynamic segment that fuels innovation, provides stable employment, and anchors regional prosperity.
This year’s Middle Market Panel will bring together accomplished leaders from Toledo-area businesses to share insights on navigating growth, resilience, and leadership in today’s fast-changing marketplace. From talent retention and culture to innovation and scalability, this panel promises a candid and compelling conversation.
Moderator
Russell W. Mills, Ph.D.
Senior Principal and Senior Regional Officer, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland
Russell W. Mills is regional executive of the Pittsburgh Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. In this role, he is responsible for managing relationships with regional stakeholders, monitoring the region’s economic environment, and speaking to regional audiences on national and regional economic conditions. Additionally, he participates in briefings that support the Bank president’s role on the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC). He also manages the Bank’s relationships with the Pittsburgh Branch’s board of directors and business advisory councils in southwest Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia, northwest Pennsylvania, the Shenango and Mahoning valleys, and northwest Ohio.
Dr. Mills joined the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland in 2023. Prior to taking on his current role, he oversaw the Center for Regional Development at Bowling Green State University, leading a team in economic, community, and workforce development projects across 31 counties in northwestern Ohio.
Dr. Mills earned his Master of Public of Administration from the University of Vermont, and a PhD in political science from Kent State University.
Russell W. Mills, Ph.D.
Senior Principal and Senior Regional Officer, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland
Russell W. Mills is regional executive of the Pittsburgh Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. In this role, he is responsible for managing relationships with regional stakeholders, monitoring the region’s economic environment, and speaking to regional audiences on national and regional economic conditions. Additionally, he participates in briefings that support the Bank president’s role on the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC). He also manages the Bank’s relationships with the Pittsburgh Branch’s board of directors and business advisory councils in southwest Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia, northwest Pennsylvania, the Shenango and Mahoning valleys, and northwest Ohio.
Dr. Mills joined the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland in 2023. Prior to taking on his current role, he oversaw the Center for Regional Development at Bowling Green State University, leading a team in economic, community, and workforce development projects across 31 counties in northwestern Ohio.
Dr. Mills earned his Master of Public of Administration from the University of Vermont, and a PhD in political science from Kent State University.
Panelists
Charlotte Dymarkowski
President & CEO, Foundation Steel
Charlotte Dymarkowski founded Foundation Steel in 2008 and currently serves as President and CEO. In 2023, she founded Foundation Construction Automation and became an investor-owner in Seaway Pattern Manufacturing.
Foundation Steel is a highly respected and preferred steel erector and reinforcing placer employing union ironworkers and operators. Charlotte has strong convictions that set the company up for success as she and the “freshmen” team created a strong Mission Statement that encompasses the values and purpose of the company from which all policies and practices stem. Foundation Steel employees anywhere from 200 to 260 employees with its headquarters in northwest Ohio and offices in Columbus, Dayton, and Cincinnati.
Foundation Construction Automation was formed to support Foundation Steel’s Reinforcing Steel division and houses a machine, called Bamtec. We are currently the only company in North America with this technology. To put it simply, the Bamtec machine fabricates reinforcing steel using rolled coils or straight bar, cutting it to length, pre-tying it and rolling it up like a carpet. We then transport the rolls to the jobsite and ironworkers roll the pre-tied rolls out, reducing the on-site construction time by 50% - 70% of traditional placement. This solves labor shortages issues and compresses the construction schedule.
Seaway Pattern Manufacturing produces Prototype and Production tooling for the automotive industry.
Charlotte Dymarkowski
President & CEO, Foundation Steel
Charlotte Dymarkowski founded Foundation Steel in 2008 and currently serves as President and CEO. In 2023, she founded Foundation Construction Automation and became an investor-owner in Seaway Pattern Manufacturing.
Foundation Steel is a highly respected and preferred steel erector and reinforcing placer employing union ironworkers and operators. Charlotte has strong convictions that set the company up for success as she and the “freshmen” team created a strong Mission Statement that encompasses the values and purpose of the company from which all policies and practices stem. Foundation Steel employees anywhere from 200 to 260 employees with its headquarters in northwest Ohio and offices in Columbus, Dayton, and Cincinnati.
Foundation Construction Automation was formed to support Foundation Steel’s Reinforcing Steel division and houses a machine, called Bamtec. We are currently the only company in North America with this technology. To put it simply, the Bamtec machine fabricates reinforcing steel using rolled coils or straight bar, cutting it to length, pre-tying it and rolling it up like a carpet. We then transport the rolls to the jobsite and ironworkers roll the pre-tied rolls out, reducing the on-site construction time by 50% - 70% of traditional placement. This solves labor shortages issues and compresses the construction schedule.
Seaway Pattern Manufacturing produces Prototype and Production tooling for the automotive industry.
Dan Nester
Founder & CEO, Polaris Logistics Group
Born and raised in Toledo, Dan Nester graduated from Central Catholic High School in 1993 and the University of Toledo in 1998. He spent 13 years at a Fortune 500 logistics company before founding Polaris Logistics Group in 2013. In 2015, he moved the company downtown to support Toledo’s revitalization efforts.
Dan co-founded The Mustard Seed Education Foundation in 2018 and led Polaris to appear four times on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing companies in America (2018–2022).
He and his wife Tammi have been married for 26 years and have three daughters.
Founder & CEO, Polaris Logistics Group
Born and raised in Toledo, Dan Nester graduated from Central Catholic High School in 1993 and the University of Toledo in 1998. He spent 13 years at a Fortune 500 logistics company before founding Polaris Logistics Group in 2013. In 2015, he moved the company downtown to support Toledo’s revitalization efforts.
Dan co-founded The Mustard Seed Education Foundation in 2018 and led Polaris to appear four times on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing companies in America (2018–2022).
He and his wife Tammi have been married for 26 years and have three daughters.
Tony Packo III
Chief Strategy Officer, Hylant
Tony has been with Hylant since 2013 and as Chief Strategy Officer he assists the executive leadership team in setting short- and long-term strategic vision and ensuring operational integrity of the strategy. Prior to being appointed CSO Tony previously had operational oversight of the Hylant Toledo office.
Tony currently serves on the Promedica Metro Hospitals Operating Board as well as the University of Toledo family Business Center Board. He also holds strategy and growth-focused board positions with Hylant Toyotsu and Hylant Mexico.
Tony earned an undergraduate degree in psychology from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and an MBA from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. He also received executive education at Northwestern Kellogg School of Business with an emphasis on leading family-owned enterprises.
Chief Strategy Officer, Hylant
Tony has been with Hylant since 2013 and as Chief Strategy Officer he assists the executive leadership team in setting short- and long-term strategic vision and ensuring operational integrity of the strategy. Prior to being appointed CSO Tony previously had operational oversight of the Hylant Toledo office.
Tony currently serves on the Promedica Metro Hospitals Operating Board as well as the University of Toledo family Business Center Board. He also holds strategy and growth-focused board positions with Hylant Toyotsu and Hylant Mexico.
Tony earned an undergraduate degree in psychology from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and an MBA from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. He also received executive education at Northwestern Kellogg School of Business with an emphasis on leading family-owned enterprises.
Don’t miss the opportunity to hear these dynamic leaders share their insights live!
Join us at the 2025 Annual Meeting presented by Fifth Third Bank on April 29, 2025 to connect, learn, and gain a deeper understanding of the forces shaping our region’s middle market.
Learn more and register today! https://bit.ly/4jl9vGc
Join us at the 2025 Annual Meeting presented by Fifth Third Bank on April 29, 2025 to connect, learn, and gain a deeper understanding of the forces shaping our region’s middle market.
Learn more and register today! https://bit.ly/4jl9vGc
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