Press Releases
For Immediate Release
What’s happening at the Columbus Chamber and with our members? In this section you will find a complete catalog of our recent and archived press releases.
To arrange an interview with a member of the Columbus Chamber team, contact:
Michelle Bretscher, APR
Director, Marketing and Communication
W: 614.225.6941
C: 614.499.0889
michelle_bretscher@columbus.org
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Press Release
February 05, 2013
Columbus Chamber's Annual Meeting Celebrates Champions
Event features keynote by Urban Meyer, presentation of Columbus Award to Mayor Michael B. Coleman
Columbus, OH – More than 1,300 Columbus Region business and community leaders attended the Columbus Chamber’s 2013 Annual Meeting today at the Greater Columbus Convention Center’s Battelle Grand. The theme of the event was “Lead Like a Champion” – and it was highlighted by a keynote address from Urban Meyer, head football coach, The Ohio State University, as well as a celebration of Chamber accomplishments and region business champions.“One year ago, we launched the ‘new’ Columbus Chamber, featuring a new service model, more resources and connections and more government engagement. Our entire purpose is to help businesses thrive,” said Michael Dalby, president and CEO, Columbus Chamber. “Its’ been a game-changing transition, and it is working. The Annual Meeting provides a chance for us to share the successes we’ve had with our member businesses and reinforce the Chamber’s role as the primary business resource in Columbus. If businesses just call us, we can save them time and connect them to the services and information they need.
Dalby recapped some Columbus Chamber milestones of 2012 including:
- Conducted 775 one-on-one visits with businesses – providing them with connections to vendors and new prospects, access to tailored market research, help in finding new hires and guidance in working with government.
- Published two major studies, the Franklin County Retail Analysis and Columbus Region Logistics Report, positioning the Chamber as a source of original research on local business trends.
- Bolstered advocacy efforts and grew the Government Relations team to four – helping members navigate bureaucracy and carrying the business message on issues like comprehensive tax reform, including municipal tax uniformity, regulation reform, education reform, workforce development and economic development.
- Hosted 48 events, attended by 4,000+ individuals, offering business insights, access to elected officials, connections to potential employees, and opportunities to tap into its business network.
- Performed 1,000 other actions every week to provide members with information, help solve problems, stand up for business and make connections.
Jeffrey H. Sopp, CEO, Expesite and a member of the Columbus Chamber Board of Directors, spoke at the meeting about the value his business received through its Chamber membership.
“The Columbus Chamber has been instrumental in helping grow my company, recruiting and retaining employees, as well as assisting in creating a world class client experience,” Sopp said.
Urban Meyer Address: Lead Like a Champion
The keynote address was delivered by Urban Meyer, the head football coach at The Ohio State University. He spoke about the importance and commitment to an environment for recruiting and coaching a talented team. Meyer, who led his first season with the Buckeyes in 2012, spent the last 20 years coaching successful football programs at schools including the University of Florida and the University of Utah.
Columbus Award: A Legacy of Champions
The Chamber also announced the recipient of the 50th annual Columbus Award Annual Meeting. The award, which recognizes outstanding business and community leadership, was bestowed to Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman.
Coleman has served as mayor since 2000, and has helped Central Ohio businesses triumph over economic hardship, with the region in the top third in the U.S. for its pace of economic recovery. He has contributed to developing a thriving downtown and a successful jobs creation initiative. In total, the mayor has helped to usher in 39,000 net new jobs and $6.9 billion in private capital investment throughout his 13 years in office. Coleman was also a driving force behind Columbus’ Bicentennial celebration in 2012.
“We’d like to thank Mayor Coleman for his years of public service, unwavering support and leadership during a time of economic transition,” said Melissa Ingwersen, president KeyBank Central Ohio District and Chairman, Columbus Chamber. “He has set a tone of collaboration with the local business community, and we are fortunate for his partnership and dedication to the region’s business leaders.”
As part of the honor, Ingwersen presented Coleman with a piece of artwork created by Dawson Kellogg, an associate professor of fine arts and graduate studies at Columbus College of Art and Design.
The Columbus Chamber 2013 Annual Meeting was presented by State Auto Insurance companies, along with Anthem – BlueCross BlueShield, CareWorks, CareWorks Consultants, Inc., American Electric Power Energy, Cassidy Turley Commercial Real Estate Services, the City of Columbus, Columbia Gas of Ohio, Proteam Solutions, Inc., Bartha, Columbus C.E.O Magazine, Mills James Creative Media, White Castle, Steptoe & Johnson, Leaderpromos.com, Morgan Linen Services, Inc., BakerHostetler, Oxford Consulting Group, Quick Solutions, Inc., Wells Fargo Insurance Companies, FastSigns Westerville, Spinelli’s Deli and Stenger Creative.###
About the Columbus Chamber
The Columbus Chamber provides connections, resources and solutions to help businesses thrive. Founded nearly 130 years ago, the Columbus Chamber has evolved to become the largest business services organization and primary advocate for the Columbus Region business community. Leveraging a customized, consultative approach to support members that range from small businesses to Fortune 500 enterprises, the Columbus Chamber is helping to grow the Columbus Region economy one business at a time. For more information, visit columbus.org.