Greater Akron Chamber

In September, Akron Municipal Court Navigator and community advocate Tara Mosley Weems hosted “Women Supporting Women,” which brought women leaders and business vendors from across the region for a day of celebration, networking and purchasing products at Hardesty Park. In this episode Steve Millard chats with Tara and Jo?lle Diane Zellman, a vendor at the event and owner of Monochrome Canvas. The trio discuss the event, support and resources for small business owners, and Zellman’s perspective on the local art industry and how it fits into the greater business community. Listen here: https://ow.ly/ZF3450UgUCh

Scale Up, Ohio! Scalerator NEO is a proven, results-driven program to help entrepreneurial leaders quickly, profitably and sustainably grow their business. The unique blend of proprietary tools, frameworks, team exercises and faculty-led discussions has helped almost 400 companies enter into new, rapid growth trajectories. Highly-motivated and ambitious entrepreneurial leaders that operate companies with roughly $3M to $15M in sales and 20-200 employees are encouraged to apply for the free January - July 2025 cohort. Apply before December 1 for the best chance of selection. Apply now: https://lnkd.in/eMwUbHN

The last few years have been transformative for our region, and as we look to the future, GAC is excited to launch its next wave of programs, priorities, and opportunities for 2025 and beyond. Join us on Friday, December 13 at 7:30 a.m. at the Firestone Country Club for a special session in our Morning Buzz series, where GAC President and CEO Steve Millard will unveil these upcoming efforts and discuss the Chamber’s ongoing commitment to supporting the growth and success of businesses in our region. Stick around for a Membership Orientation immediately following Morning Buzz to learn more about the work, benefits, and opportunities for engagement at the Greater Akron Chamber. Register here: https://ow.ly/wTOi50UfaW8

Join Us for Session 3 of the WNLI Board Leadership Initiative Content Series: Supporting Employee Board Service ?? Tuesday, December 3, 2024 ?? 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM ?? Virtual This virtual session is designed for C-Suite leaders, HR professionals, and managers to explore the incredible benefits of encouraging employees to pursue board service. Key topics include leadership development and skill-building, expanding professional networks, fostering innovation and new perspectives, and more. Register today and take the next step in your board leadership journey: https://ow.ly/wi9S50U6vaB #WNLI #BoardLeadership #AkronChamber

Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, is Small Business Saturday—a day to celebrate and support the small businesses that are the backbone of our communities. In 2023, shoppers spent $17 billion at small businesses on this day, contributing to an estimated $201 billion since the event began in 2010. Let’s make 2024 even stronger by shopping small and supporting local businesses. Downtown Akron Partnership (DAP) has put together a great list of small business events on the 30th and throughout the holiday season. Check it out here: https://ow.ly/IIMw50Uc68z #ShopSmall #SmallBusinessSaturday #GreaterAkronBusiness

In this episode of Dreamers, Drivers, Doers, Steve sits down with R.J. Nemer, who was appointed to President of The University of Akron in May 2024. RJ shares his vision for the university, reflecting on his journey and experiences that have led him to this role. From strategic goals to strengthen the university's academic programs to deepening its connections with the Akron community, RJ reveals how he plans to drive impactful changes across the university. Listen here: https://lnkd.in/gCdpMpMp

The world is changing. Greater Akron is ready. ?? Today, Elevate Greater Akron launched its new set of shared priorities. ?? Communities across the U.S. are in the midst of a massive restructuring. Layer on significant changes like new incoming leadership, transformational polymer industry investments, and a shifting downtown landscape, and it becomes clear - Greater Akron is at a flash point. How we respond now to these shifts will shape the next decade and beyond. Elevate Greater Akron is a collaborative of over a dozen government, business, and civic leaders working together, since 2018, to capitalize on opportunities in this rapidly changing world. Today, we are publicly launching our updated priorities that build on successes to-date while sharpening our focus for 2025 and beyond: 1?? Capture polymer growth opportunities in sustainability 2?? Prioritize inclusive economic growth??? 3?? Build a thriving, connected downtown Akron? 4?? Coordinate economic development intentionally focused on those already in the region? Read more at https://lnkd.in/giiWJ-U8 GAR Foundation Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro Shammas Malik City of Akron, Ohio Greater Akron Chamber Bounce Innovation Hub ConxusNEO Downtown Akron Partnership Knight Foundation Akron Community Foundation Burton D. Morgan Foundation Akron Urban League Team NEO Stark State College United Way of Summit & Medina The University of Akron Fund for Our Economic Future #ElevateGreaterAkron #SharedProsperity https://lnkd.in/g9dg92_a

Introducing Business Health Advantage We’ve partnered with Apex Health Solutions to offer a new health benefits option for companies with 25-500 employees! This plan is designed to help growing companies improve the return on their health benefit investments. ?? Why choose the Apex Alternative Funding Captive? -Access all major health systems in NEO through SummaCare’s network -Greater control, transparency, and flexibility for managing healthcare costs -Flexible renewals, rebates, and no penalties for transitioning Learn more here: https://ow.ly/XRGC50Ub6gh #HealthBenefits #GreaterAkronBusinesses #BusinessHealthAdvantage

Did you know that companies with diverse leadership are 35% more likely to outperform their peers? Adding women to your board not only boosts innovation and collaboration but also enhances decision-making and governance. The WNLI Board Leadership Directory, developed by the Women's Network Leadership Institute, is here to help your organization thrive. This comprehensive resource connects you with talented, board-ready women across Greater Akron who are eager to contribute their expertise and passion to your mission. ?? Why diversify your board? ? Increased profitability: Diverse boards are linked to stronger financial performance. ? Better decision-making: Varied perspectives lead to more informed and innovative decisions. ? Enhanced reputation: Reflecting the diversity of your community strengthens stakeholder trust. It’s time to elevate your leadership team and embrace the power of gender equity. Explore the WNLI Board Leadership Directory and start building a brighter future today! ?? https://lnkd.in/ehrPzADh #GreaterAkron #BoardLeadership #WomenInLeadership #DiversityEquityInclusion

We are incredibly proud to announce that our own Brian Anderson has been named to Crain's Cleveland Business 40 Under 40 list! ?? This honor recognizes his outstanding leadership and impactful work within the Polymer Industry Cluster, driving innovation and growth in Greater Akron. https://ow.ly/Lmhs50UaaaS His dedication, vision, and contributions have left a lasting legacy on our region. Brian, thank you for all you’ve done for the business community, polymer industry, and our region! #40Under40 #CrainsClevelandBusiness #PolymerIndustry #Leadership #CommunityImpact