January 2010 issue
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vol. XLII no. 1
Ron Becker concludes term as Chamber board chairman, thanks membership As I begin to reflect on 2009 and conclude my role as chairman of the board for the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce, it is important to pause and be mindful of all the good things that have happened in an otherwise challenging year. It became very obvious to me early on that Ron Becker the core strength of the Chamber lies in its membership. The true importance of the membership to the Chamber goes beyond the economic need for membership dues. Many of the members support the Chamber and its mission through additional sponsorships for the more than 70 events organized by the Chamber and its partners, through in-kind donations, and by being good stewards of the
i n s i d e : Succession Planning Annual Dinner 6 Meet Your Congressman Breakfast Business Excellence Awards 7 2010 HOFEF Schedule New HOFEF Sponsorship Manager and Sponsorship Opportunities 9 HOFEF - Top 100 Event AultCare Fast Break 11 Business After Hours LSC Spotlight Stark County 14 CVB’s John Kiste Sworn In Safety Council Luncheon 16 Local Emergency Planning ystark! Fellowship Program 17 NEW! Young Entrepreneur Snapshot ystark! CEO Meet&Eat 19 Family Financial Fair Twenty Under 40! Nominations 20 Statement of Ownership AC-3 Form 23 New Members BizBitz 25 January Calendar
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Chamber, encouraging their employees and others in the community to take advantage of these events. Since 1914, the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce has been dedicated to advancing business and developing community to ensure that our area thrives as both a great place to do business and an exceptional place to live. 2009 was no different. In 2009, the Chamber’s initiatives continued their momentum in many areas. The Mills Business Park signed its first purchase agreement. As of this writing, the due diligence period continues and we look forward to welcoming the park's first tenant in 2010. Together with the DeHoff Family Foundation, the Chamber will elevate its efforts in 2010 to seek additional businesses for the park. Furthermore, in conjunction (continued on next page)
Thomas Cecconi elected Canton Chamber board chairman; six new board directors named Thomas E. Cecconi, president & CEO, Mercy Medical Center, has been elected chairman and George W. Lemon has been elected senior vice chairman of the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce board of directors for 2010. Newly elected members of the board are: Timothy M. Burke, president & CEO of the Central region, FirstMerit Bank N.A., Philip D. Fracassa, senior vice president – tax and treasury, The Timken Company, Mark J. Samolczyk, president, Stark Community Foundation, William C. Shivers, president of the greater Akron/Canton region, Huntington National Bank, Dr. Gary W. Streit, president, Malone University and ex-officio member Derek Gordon, president of the Canton Jaycees. Thomas E. Cecconi serves as president and CEO of Mercy Medical Center. Prior to serving at Mercy, he was president & CEO of Doctors Hospital of Stark County from 1991 to 2002. He is a graduate of John Carroll University and received an MBA from Baldwin Wallace College. A native of Canton, Cecconi started his career in healthcare administration at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in 1973. In 1980, he joined Hospital (continued on page three)