Nearest Intermodal Facility: Rickenbacker International Airport (LCK) and Norfolk Southern Rickenbacker Intermodal
Want to learn more about the demographics of Grove City? Visit our resources online
SWCL Graduation
GCACC Manufacturing Day Chamber Open The ‘Pinnacle’ of Pet Care Wellness with Buckeye PMR
Letter from the President Member Anniversaries A special note from Shawn Conrad Welcome new and celebrate
Grove City Methodist Hospital (Located behind Target)
The OhioHealth Grove City Methodist Hospital campus includes 24/7 emergency care, heart and vascular care, and primary care from OhioHealth Physician Group. It’s just another way we’re bringing your best health within reach.
To learn more about the ways OhioHealth cares for Grove City, visit OhioHealth.com/GroveCity.
YOUR CHAMBER
Chamber Business Connections is published bi-monthly by the Grove City Area Chamber of Commerce with revenue from member dues, advertising, and sponsorship. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the content in this publication, by any method or purpose whatsoever, without written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Only Chamber members can advertise in Chamber Business Connection. To discuss advertising opportunities, contact the Chamber (614-8759762).
Your Board
Katie Antry Fleming Board Chair
Chris Moscato
Immediate Past Chair
Mellissa Forte Board Chair Elect
Lenny Frazzitta VP at Large
Greg Dawkins GC Chamber
Foundation President
Nick Connaughton Chair of Finance
Jeffrey Buskirk Chair of Government Relations
Ed Fleming Board Member
Nikki Fleming Board Member
Cathy Frederick Board Member
Brittany Hannigan Board Member
Amanda McCullouch Board Member
Brenda Newman Board Member
Carol Riffle Board Member
Andrea Ruede Board Member
Staff
President / CEO
Shawn Conrad
Events Manager
Marilyn Reiner
Events Operations and Marketing
Heather Brokaw
Member Services and Marketing
Kaziah Conrad
Letter from the President
As I reflected on what to share in this new issue of Chamber Business Connection, one thought stood out above all else: deep gratitude. Thank you to our GCACC members - you are the foundation of our community. Your presence as thriving local businesses provides the visible evidence that Grove City is a fastgrowing, healthy, safe, and desirable place to live, work, and play.
Thank you also to our event and program sponsors, who invest in the Chamber and enable us to create valuable programming for our members and the broader business community. We're grateful for the support of the City of Grove City, the City Service Department, Jackson Township, SWCSD, The Heart of Grove City, Visit Grove City, and our many other community partners, who assist with our events and initiatives.
Our Chamber Foundation, as well as our education partners at Ohio Dominican, Franklin University, CAAD, and Capital University, also deserve our heartfelt thanks. And to our Board of Directors, Ambassadors, Committees, and the many volunteers who keep us moving forward - thank you.
Finally, I am deeply grateful for our amazing GCACC staffMarilyn, Heather, and Kaziah. Without their dedication and hard work, we simply could not accomplish all that we do. Together, we are the lifeblood of the Grove City Area Chamber of Commerce.
I am humbled and thankful for this incredible community. Our shared commitment to Grove City's growth and prosperity is what makes this such a special place.
Celebrating Anniversaries
1 YEAR:
DadBod Fitness
Monica Wood
Panhia Vue/GiftsbyLucie
Grove City Backflow Service
Covenant Church
Resen Refillery and Natural Market
Bin There Dump That
Print Syndicate
KC Administrative Services
The Honest Chimney Company
Cookie Cutters Haircuts for Kids
10 YEARS:
Breezeline Internet
Pearle Vision
Holmes Management
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
Pinnacle Quarter Horses
Columbus Powersports & Carts
All Ohio Portable Toilets
Citadel Construction Group
Grove City Back to School Bash
Snider Electric
Fade Aesthetics and Wellness
Jordan Power and Equipment
Thai Orthodontics
5 YEARS:
The Awesome Company
Moses, Mouser & Associates
Cintas Corporation
Piada
Way2Go Fitness
Central Ohio Bag & Burlap
Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association
15
YEARS:
Daniel E. Hebble & Associates
Homebound Helpers
Attention new Chamber members!
Don’t forget that your GCACC membership includes one free half-page ad for this publication, the Chamber Business Connection, so don’t miss out on running your ad in one of the upcoming 2024 issues.
Ads due on the 20th of the month prior to publication. Issues publish in even-numbered months- October and December remain for 2024!
All ads can be submitted digitally via email to Sarah, shann@katbroconsulting.com
Need an ad? E-magazine creative team KatBro can lend a hand contact content@katbroconsulting com
The Chamber online calendar: https://business.gcchamber.org/events/calendar
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
WESSLER ENGINEERING
Located near John Glenn Airport and ready to serve Central Ohio, Jordan Power Equipment as industrial cleaning and surface preparation equipment specialists. They offer sales and rental options for equipment, in addition to parts advising, demonstrations of equipment and consults for what best suits your needs. With over 40 years in the business, they’re ready to help you make the best choices in commercial surfaces cleaning.
With valuable experience and a passion to serve both their two and four-legged clients, Grove City Veterinary Hospital is ready to serve your family by providing top-notch veterinary care for your pet. Focusing on small animals, they provide a full slate of services, including dental care services. Grove City Veterinary Hospital has served the community since 1975, and has been under the same current ownership since 2005.
4350 Grove City Rd. 614-875-5644 grovecityvet.com/
RCW Vacations is here to take the challenges and ‘dread’ out of planning for vacation whether planning isn’t your cup of tea or you just need a little help with a new destination The husband-wife business team can provide the personal attention you need, and as avid travelers have probably been where you’re looking to go! Current, RCW specializes in cruises, all-inclusive resorts, honeymoons, family vacations, and Disney
614-569-1557 rcwvacations com/
Congrats Southwest Leadership Grads
The 2023-24 Southwest Leadership class celebrated their year and graduated earlier this summer.
Graduates:
Derek Bartowiak (Jackson Township)
Ellen Bowshier (Heartland Bank)
Shannon Denner (Individual)
Brittany Hannigan (TOSOH)
Kevin Masteron (South-Western City School District)
Two graduates were recognized with special awards:
2024 Southwest Community Leadership Award Winner: Kevin Masterson
2024 Southwest Community Leadership Award of Excellence: Brittany Hannigan
View the full photo album here!
2024-25 Program Information
Want to be part of the 2024-25 Southwest Community Leadership class? Check out these dates to the right and add them to your calendar
Learn more by visiting these links: Program website (click here) , the Chamber calendar entry for the August Open House (click here) and the calendar link for the September Open House (click here)
Wednesday August 14
Open House #1
You first opportunity to meet other classmates and learn more about the program
Wednesday Sept. 4 Open House #2
Second, and final, opportunity to become familiar with the program.
Thursday Oct. 17 Class begins!
CHAMBER NEWS
Benefit Fair Returns
Our second-ever Member Benefit Fair was a great success in connecting members with valuable benefits useful to them, their employees, and their businesses.
So many of our partner organizations were able to be in attendance and answer member questions face-to-face, while some of our newest partners like Capital University, were able to meet our members for the first time. Members could also see how some benefits or options might work together, such as an Affiliate Scholarship from the Chamber Foundation could be used toward an educational partner’s program for additional financial aid.
We look forward to hosting everyone again and hope that members are inspired to reach out to those who might best suit their needs. If you missed out on this year’s fair, check out some of these photos and check out our benefits webpage: https://www.gcchamber.org/member-benefits/ Have additional questions? Our office is available to help you: 614-875-9762.
GROUND BREAKINGS AND RIBBON CUTTINGS
Big Season for Ribbon Cuttings
June and July were huge months for ribbon cuttings for the Grove City Area Chamber of Commerce. We’re always excited to celebrate the milestones and growth of new businesses and existing (but expanding!) businesses. Here’s a quick review of this summer’s ribbon cuttings:
June 14: In mid-June, we celebrated the ribbon cutting for DadBod Fitness’s location at 4093 Hoover Rd. You might remember Coach Abe and DadBod from the August 2023 issue of Chamber Business Connection (click here to re-read that issue) as Abe opened his business but didn’t yet have a traditional gym location.
June 19: Epcon Communities held a ribbon cutting for their newest community in Grove City, continuing to offer new housing options for our growing community.
June 20: Continuing the housing and community theme, we celebrated Sugar Maple Commons with a ribbon cutting. They are a 55+ active living community located near the Scioto Grove Metro Park.
July 17: Fade Aesthetics and Wellness was celebrated for their grand re-opening. A medical spa aiming for wellness and self-care, they’re located at 3612 Southwest Blvd. in Grove City.
July 17: A double-header night, we also celebrated with Grove City Vision Center. They celebrated their anniversary and cut the ribbon on their new office, located at 3636 Broadway, Grove City.
Celebrating a Grand Opening or Big Event? Chamber Members, did you know we offer complimentary leadership participation at your grand opening, ribbon cutting, or other events? Boost your visibility and gain valuable support!
Just contact us to add your event to our calendar and connect with the Chamber team. Together, let's make your event a success!
July 18: The grand opening of the Grove City location of Goodwill Columbus. Located at 4178 Buckeye Parkway, they’re open and ready to serve, including accepting donations.
We love celebrating businesses, so who’s next? Check out the information on having your own open house, ribbon cutting celebration here: https://www.gcchamber.org/memberbenefits/ And we love when members come to celebrate members, so keep an eye on the newsletters and also our online calendar: https://business.gcchamber.org/events/calendar
MEMBER RESOURCES
OUR MEMBERS SAY...
We’re back with another round of Our Members Say, this time tackling customer appreciation. Specifically, we asked: How do you show appreciation to your customers? Additionally, we opened up the conversation floor for the reverse, to answer from the view of a customer and share what they appreciate.
We do a lot of hand-written cards. In our business, we know when something has occurred to cause a reservation cancelation and send cards to let our customers know we are thinking of them in any difficult time. We also give away free services for people in tight situations or pets that just need some extra care because, well, we could all use a little understanding, compassion, and support sometimes! -Alex V., Pinnacle Pets
From the KatBro team: It’s probably not surprising that a marketing team enjoys mentioning or sharing on social media about clients’ events or what’s new with them. So, if you’re to show a little love to another business or organization you partner with, a post can be a fun way. Depending on the industry, sometimes customers love being featured—think about those photos with realtors handing the giant keys to new homeowners! We’re also big holiday and celebration fans over here, which means on the giving side we’ve loved coming up with unique holiday/end of the year gifts for clients, and when we’re the customer or client we enjoy receiving unique treats or coupons to visit again.
Breathworx614 shows customers appreciation by hand writing note cards and mailing them to their personal residence We are so used to receiving marketing materials and bills in our mailbox A little note filled with uplifting words, encouragement, and gratitude can brighten someone's day! -Tiffany Berger, Breathworker + Well-Being Life Coach, Breathworx614, CEO
DON’T MISS GCACC’S FIRST-EVER MANUFACTURING DAY
A local, GCACC-driven Manufacturing Day came about as many other Chamber events and activities come about—recognizing both a need (more recognition for the many manufacturing members) and an opportunity (a known day devoted to manufacturing). Chamber President/CEO Shawn Conrad said that as soon as the idea was brought up, everyone was eager to run with it.
“We anticipate this event to become one of our highly recognized and valued events, and as we learn more about it, we see many, many ideas that we might be able to adapt to our event,” Shawn said.
With the event in October, fine-tuning of planning and specific details are still underway, but the Chamber is eager to have on board the following as partners in the endeavor: Tosoh, Horton Emergency Vehicles, Forge Biologics, Electro General Plastics, South-Western City School District (SWCSD), and the City of Grove City. The current plan for the day includes the host locations providing tours and presentations to 100 SWCSD students.
As additional plans emerge, we encourage you to follow along in newsletters and the event’s webpage: https://business.gcchamber.org/events/details/manufacturing-day-4162?calendarMonth=2024-10-01
Curious about Manufacturing Day at a more national level? Know someone who might be interested but isn’t local to Grove City? Check out the national website: https://mfgday.com/
With great weather, the 2024 Chamber Open teed off on July 15 at Hickory Hills Golf Club.
With many teams and golfers, the competition was strong, but the opportunities to network and socialize just as strong. Golfers had the opportunity to bid on silent auction items, win prizes, and enjoy great food… in addition to spending a Monday on the golf course instead of the office!
But scores were kept and the following teams and golfers emerged victorious:
First place team: The Naz
Second place team: Wright Graphics
Closest to pin: Jeff Adcock
Closest to pin: Rick Hammons
Ladies Long Drive: Michelle Fulks
Both The Naz and Wright Graphics teams have won before, making for top-level competition, while many of our players across the board are avid golfers and only know to bring their Agame to the Chamber Open!
Businesses and organizations represented with a golfer/team included: SERVPRO, Stynchula Foundation, Elford, Jackson Township, City Wide Asphalt and Construction, Franklin County Banking Center, Morley Parren Bright Insurance, Personal Healthcare Concierge, Heartland Bank, Flyer’s Pizza & Subs, Roofs by Warren, TOSOH, Local Waste Services, Grove City Backflow Service, and Skyward Contracting.
This year’s Chamber Open was in support of Grove City’s Buddy Ball program. Buddy Ball plays at Mirolo Dream Field and their mission is remove barriers that would keep children and adults with physical and mental disabilities from playing baseball. Buddy Ball fosters community togetherness by pairing athletes with buddies who assist them on the field, where the field itself is custom-designed to be accessible such as a playing surface that is wheelchair and mobility device-friendly.
The Chamber Open wouldn’t be possible without our numerous generous sponsors. This year’s sponsors included: SERVPRO, City Scene Media Group, Franklin County Banking Center, Skyward Contracting, Wessler Engineering, Wright Graphic Design, Auto Service Experts OH by Sanderson Automotive, Flyers Pizza & Subs, City of Grove City, Morley Parren Bright Insurance, Stynchula Foundation, Grove City Backflow Service, Coldwell Banker Realty-Kay Kaho, Personal Healthcare Concierge, Elford, Pinnacle Pets Play & Stay, and TOSOH.
Business Resources
We love sharing specific and featured business resources with you in the Chamber Business Connection, but we also know the business resource world moves quick and we may not be able to tell you about an opportunity.
Below you’ll find some of our go-to links, including Chamber resources, for your use anytime.
Time Sensitive! 2024 Ohio Sales Tax Holiday
The Sales Tax Holiday is on through Thursday August 8, so if you need last-minute details or clarification, you’ll want the official webpage.
GCACC’s Own Benefits Page
Want to review your member benefits? Look no further than this link, whether you’re looking for insurance options or just want the big scissors for a ribbon cutting.
Ohio Department of Development
From new grants to disaster relief, this department’s website has been known to feature many opportunities of the financial aid sort.
City of Grove City, City Council
Stay informed of what’s happening in Grove City by keeping up with City Council—review minutes, see agendas, and even watch meetings online.
Small Business Administration
A federal-level website, a variety of information includes current funding opportunities and even information for those just starting out in business.
Sedgwick Blog
The blog for our workers’ compensation partner has regular news and columns covering many business industries and safety issues.
By Sarah Hann
From top-of-the-line care to attentive customer service to fostering a good workplace culture, Pinnacle Pets Play and Stay has put themselves at the pinnacle of their industry.
Led by Vice President of Operations Alex Varney with a team of approximately 40 employees, Pinnacle Pets provides daycare, overnight, grooming, and training services for our favorite four-legged family members. Born from an idea of taking care of pets, Pinnacle Pets runs on the passion to serve all their clients—the fourleggers and the two-leggers.
Beginning the Business
As Steve and Marie Robinette (Alex’s parents) began to consider what retirement would hold, they wanted to open a business in retirement. Ready for a change from her corporate job, Alex was on board with having a role in the business and told us it was originally going to be a restaurant!
But as conversations continued, Marie wanted a business that had to do with animals, which led to Pinnacle Pets Play and Stay. A whole new world, Alex told us they had plenty of work to do to learn the in’s and out’s of a pet care business. In some cases, they consulted with similar businesses in other states.
Starting the business from scratch also included starting the facility from scratch. They purchased the property on Farm Bank Way (located off of Southwest Blvd. and Route 62) and custom-built the facility with just about every unique feature possible (stay tuned for a facility walk-though, because this place needs its own section to describe it!).
In 2018, the doors opened for business and business has been good. Like everyone still standing in 2024, they weathered the pandemic storm, though Alex noted others in the industry have seen post-pandemic changes as pet parents work from home or now take their fur babies to work, and the emergence of more dogfriendly hotels. But Pinnacle Pets still has full guest books and even a waiting list.
Alex and her family recognize not everyone makes it both in business in general, and in the business of pet care while they’ve found business growth and success.
“We’re the lucky ones and made it work!”
Running the Business
In daily operations for Pinnacle Pets, there’s serving the twolegged clients, caring for the four-legged friends, and managing a team of employees… and that’s just spelling out some basics. And while Alex has a solid team carrying out their specific duties, she is ultimately responsible for covering everything—the famous “the buck stops here” line indeed applies.
As Alex fosters an environment that is a great place to work (shown by employee recognition that includes employees have been with them for years), the goal is to develop career paths. Alex told us she wants to create a viable career for someone who loves and cares for animals, but veterinary care isn’t the right path for them. Currently there are different tracks where employees can contribute including media and safety.
With growth on the horizon for Pinnacle Pets, other employees are coming into more responsibilities and developing their leadership and management skills. Alex herself first sets the tone of those qualities, including showing you care and expressing interest—something managers and leaders across all business industries should strive to do.
The Business of Caring
Pet care, whether the veterinary type or the daycare and luxury stays of Pinnacle Pets, involves catering to two very different clients—the pet and the pet parent. The pet of course receiving the direct care and services, but the pet parent putting their trust in those services. With Pinnacle Pets’ approach, both receive top-notch service.
Pets enjoy quality care and services, whether coming for daycare while their human works, an extended stay while their human family vacations, or dropping in for a grooming or training session. Pinnacle Pets follows strict guidelines and if there is no state guideline they follow what has been recommended by the AKC. At least one employee is on site 24/7 to supervise overnight guests.
Serving both cats and dogs, each have their dedicated spaces (we’ll go into detail in our facility walk-through!) and each pet, or “friend”, has plenty of details to accompany them ranging from dietary needs to their socializing and exercise preferences. Some dogs live for group play while others might do better with some solo playtime with an employee, many which can be viewed on the website for those in leadership roles.
Pet parents stay in the loop with their special account, as Alex told us there’s lots of documentation, even if it was a normal or otherwise routine day. Similar to a daily journal, pet parents can read up on their pup (or kitty)’s day, see photos and hear from those directly involved with the care of their fur baby. Luxury suites also include web cam access.
By way of mentions and ‘cameos’ (or maybe photobombing…) in the daily report card or entry, pet parents get to know of other friends their dogs have made and in some cases in turn bring the pet parents together friends. Alex told us it usually starts a little something like “Oh, you’re Sophie’s mom? Sophie is so adorable, my Bella loves playing with her!” and new friendships are made amongst the humans.
MEMBER FEATURE
Facility Walk-through
To say they thought of everything when building the Pinnacle Pets Play and Stay facility still might be an understatement, but we’ll say it anyway: they thought of everything. Health. Safety. Efficiency.
We began by checking out the cat space, though with no feline friends currently staying it was a short stop. But we learned about the numerous air circuits and filters to maintain healthy environments that are uniquely feline and uniquely canine.
One of the first things Alex said to us in exploring the care side of the facility was her hope, and goal, that it didn’t smell like the number of dogs on hand for the day—it’ll always smell a little like a dog, but the goal is to smell like fewer dogs! Between the previous-mentioned air systems and careful cleaning, mission accomplished. The cleaning systems are even built into the walls, with water hook-ups and the veterinary grade, non-toxic cleaning product they use. If only we could all have our floor cleaner products hooked up to and hidden in the wall like an electric outlet…
The themed luxury suites for dogs ranged in themes from Star Wars to Ohio State and included so many comforts of home. Alex later told us pet families will send familiar comforts from home such as favorite blankets. Ample blankets are on hand at Pinnacle Pets and they indeed look like they might be from home featuring soft fleeces and fun patterns.
To feed dozens of furry friends, meal carts not unlike an airline dining service cart is put to use to make work more efficient and carrying easier. Plenty of charts and memos are on hand for meals to ensure every friend receives what they should.
Alex’s leadership notes
As Vice President of Operations, Alex covers everything and wears all the hats at Pinnacle Pets. But, she’s also leaning into her abilities to share leadership lessons with others, such as speaking at WE:LEAD this year and will speak at an industry conference later this year. She shared a couple of notes for growing leaders to remember:
Keep things in perspective. Things might be stressful, but you can adjust.
“Practice active listening” when handling situations.
Take one day at a time. Everyday is full of lessons, so take those with you.
“You didn’t fail, you grew.”
Outside, pups enjoy play areas on artificial turf, which also has sprinklers on hotter days as turf needs cooled. There’s even a specific splash pad area for furry friends to enjoy on summer days just like their humans might enjoy a dip in the pool or the run through the sprinkler. In the unlikely event of an evacuation, such as for a fire alarm, there’s also a meeting area where friends can safely be rounded up and accounted for Health. Safety. Love of pets. Customer satisfaction for humans and animals. Employee growth. It might sound like a lot of to juggle, but it all comes together at Pinnacle Pets Play and Stay. Want to learn more about Pinnacle Pets Play & Stay? Find them online: pinnaclepets.com
Fun ‘Tails’ in Pet Care
Alex shared so many fun and even heart-warming tales (or “tails”?) of working in the pet care industry. Here are some of our favorites.
Just like with humans, dogs have popular names too. Toby, Bella and Sophie came to mind as an unofficial top three in popularity. Specific communication is key when referring to a dog with one of these popular names, otherwise ten Bellas might be brought to the reception area to go home!
Sometimes humans also have identical first and last names—and so far it’s happened once with two dogs having the same first name and same (very common) human family last name.
For their overnight stay furry friends, the kids of the family will sometimes send colored pages or drawings they made for their dog.
Clothing, including pajamas, came in toward the top of the list of special pet parent requests for their fur babies.
Two dogs of the same family have the same name and are simply I and II of that name. “II” accidentally learned the name (rightfully given to “I”) and there was no turning back!
Embrace Summer Wellness: Tips from Buckeye PMR
As summer arrives, it's the perfect time to focus on your health and well-being. The longer days with warmer weather offer numerous opportunities to enhance your physical and mental health. We have compiled a list of essential summer wellness tips to help you and your family stay healthy and active throughout the season By following these summer wellness tips, you can make the most of the season while maintaining a healthy lifestyle Stay hydrated, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, enjoy the sunshine responsibly, stay active to keep your body and mind in top shape Here’s to a healthy, happy summer from Buckeye PMR and Anti-Aging!
Nutrient-Rich Diet: Load Up on Fruits and Vegetables
Sunshine and Vitamin D: Enjoying the Outdoors Safely
Sunshine is a great source of Vitamin D, which is important for bone health, immune function, and overall well-being. However, it’s important to enjoy the sun responsibly.
Moderate Sun Exposure: Spend time outside during the early morning or late afternoon when the sun is less intense.
Healthy Sunscreen Options: Choose sunscreens with natural ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Look for broad-spectrum protection with an SPF of at least 30. Reapply every two hours, especially if swimming or sweating.
Protective Clothing: Wear hats, sunglasses, and lightweight, long-sleeved clothing to protect your skin from harmful UV rays.
Stay Active: Embrace Outdoor Activities
Summer’s warm weather with longer days provide the perfect opportunity to stay active and enjoy the great outdoors.
Outdoor Exercise: Engage in activities like walking, jogging, cycling, swimming, or hiking. These activities not only improve physical fitness but also boost mental health.
Family Activities: Plan family outings such as picnics, beach trips, or playing sports and games together. This encourages everyone to stay active and spend quality time together.
Morning or Evening Workouts: Exercise during cooler parts of the day to avoid overheating and ensure a more comfortable experience.
Summer is the perfect time to enjoy a variety of fresh, colorful produce. Incorporating more fruits and vegetables into your diet provides essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
Seasonal Produce: Take advantage of summer’s bounty. Berries, tomatoes, peppers, and leafy greens are at their peak and bursting with flavorful nutrients.
Healthy Snacks: Keep pre-cut fruits and vegetables handy for quick, healthy snacks. Consider making smoothies or salads to increase your intake effortlessly.
Farmers' Markets: Visit our local farmers' markets every Saturday morning to find the freshest produce and support local agriculture.
Summer Foundation News: Congrats Scholarship Recipients!
Another group of students were recognized as scholarship recipients at the Grove City Chamber Foundation’s summer scholarship reception, held in late July.
The summer reception recognizes students who will receive either a renewed scholarship (many who were first recognized with the high school student scholarship) or the affiliate scholarship. At the reception, 22 students were recognized, with eight receiving ‘named’ scholarships made possible by local business sponsorships or families establishing a memorial scholarship for a loved one. Please see the list at the end of this article for a recipient list.
With this ‘round’ of recipients, the Foundation has now awarded over $198,000 to approximately 324 students since its establishment in 2012. The Foundation is approaching having awarded over $200,000 and two scholarship deadlines remain for Affiliate scholarships. Board President Greg Dawkins shared that he feels they will cross the 200k awarded mark before the close of 2024.
As this dollar amount awarded milestone approaches, Greg shared a note of thanks for those who’ve gotten the Foundation this far: “There are so many to thank, for us get to where we are today. From our sponsors to our Legacy Families, to donors, supporters, the Foundation volunteers, the Foundation board both past and present and to the community. We would not be where we are today without their support, the giving of their time and their financial support.”
The two remaining Affiliate deadlines are September 13 and December 13. For an Affiliate Scholarship, the applicant should be a current employee of a Chamber member company, an existing individual Chamber member, or an immediate family member of such an employee or individual Chamber member. Read more about the rules and complete the application at the scholarship webpage: https://gcchamberfoundation.org/scholarships/
Last but far from the least, the Foundation looks forward to this year’s Fall for the Foundation fundraiser event, to be held on Friday October 11 at the Aladdin Shrine Center from 6-10:30 pm. Guests can look forward to great entertainment—featuring the Travis Brown Band, delicious food, socializing with other community members, and many fun and unique ways to support the Foundation. Up for bid at the fundraiser this year includes four unique trips (Belize, Dominican Republic, Southern France, and a historic home in Lexington, KY), box seat tickets to Bengals vs Browns in Cleveland, and more items and experiences to join the list.
A corporate table option is available this year with seating for eight and acknowledgement of your name/company which purchased the table. This option, in addition to the traditional single tickets, can be purchased online: https://tinyurl.com/FallForTheFoundation24
Follow the Foundation on Facebook to see new auction items as they’re announced, and other great updates for this year’s event: https://www.facebook.com/GCChamberFoundation
FOUNDATION NEWS
Below are the scholarship recipients from the recent July recognition reception. Where applicable, the named scholarship sponsor or honoree is listed:
Olivia Bartley: Grove City Smiles
Ameera Jallaq: KEMBA
McKenzie Kennedy: Grove City Smiles
Jillian Paskavan: Telhio
Alissa Schiff: Darrell and Rosey Dawkins Memorial Scholarship
Taylor Sobieck: "Zig" Zigler Memorial Scholarship
Katelyn Souslin: GC Realty Assoc
Charles Spence: Franklin County Banking Center
Dylan Boso
Alaina Dawson
Madison Estep
Loren Goff
Magdolna Herrick
Zachary Iles
Christian Isaacs
Helene Renninger
Caleb Schall
Ava Schiff
Mason Stewart
Sadie Storts
Natalie Tolliver
Rylie West
(Removable Ad Piece)
(Removable Peel-Off Card)
HYDRATE GROVE CITY
A Member-exclusive opportunity presented by The Grove City Area Chamber of Commerce Each pallet consists of 16.9 fl. oz. bottles of water with labels customized for YOUR business
FUNDRAISER LABEL
LABEL BUSINESS CARD LABEL
Trackable QR code; Weekly reporting on engagement and click-through-rates
FREE artwork + design setup. Your logo & preferred wording on each label
FREE delivery of finished product to location of your choosing
Can be delivered to schools, non-profits, etc , to distribute or sell for fundraising
Offer peelable, saveable coupon/discount on your label
Your business card formatted onto a peelable, saveable label
FULL PALLET $1,550 HALF PALLET $775 Thanks to our partnership with Hydration Nation, Chamber Members' water pallets have been distributed at local hotels, sports tournaments at Berliner Park, and public highvisibility events!
How long have you ran on ‘low battery’?
By Sarah Hann
Ever feel like RC Car from Toy Story toward the end of the movie in the catch-the-moving-truck scene and his batteries give out?
Like RC, we too run full speed ahead only to often times run ourselves down and in need of a recharge. And while RC and the rest of the gang knew some fresh batteries would bring him back to life, too often we neglect the same need in ourselves or perhaps even others. We run ourselves down to low battery, but keep going. We might notice someone else lagging, but we may have boundaries that keep us from saying anything.
Traditionally, I knew I’d begin to lag in summer, still missing those summer vacations as a child and even a stretch of early adulthood where a prior weeklong professional conference served as a vacation. So this year I booked a weekend to recharge with my cousin and we went to Gatlinburg. While some of the recharge may have been spent quickly in re-routing through Lexington traffic, it was indeed a recharge but also made a great goal for having things completed and my virtual desk cleared off before leaving.
Once back, I found this intriguing research report (click here) that puts our recharge, or time off, avoidance habits front and center. We fear work won’t get done. We worry a few days off could set us back a few years in professional accomplishment. We try to recharge but we don’t fully unplug.
And while the report doesn’t dive into short recharge activities, but food for thought especially for our always-working audience of business owners and operators—are we taking a night off to recharge? Are we doing even the small-but-powerful things that could recharge us?
If we have barriers to that recharge, whether a night, a weekend, or even a whole week, are we evaluating how to navigate them? Are we equipping our employees and team members to be able to do the same?
While we can’t hand out magical, universal PTO or hotel/airline points to make time off happen, networking amongst fellow Chamber of Commerce members can lead to discussions which help answer those questions. This is true of any business matter that might be overlooked. Chances are someone has been there, done that and would be happy to chat and help. Check out the event calendar for events with networking opportunities, or be bold and reach out to a member you think might have the knowledge or experience you seek. Among other things, they might be able to share how they avoid burning out mid-task like RC Car ran out of batteries on the road to the moving truck.
Editor Sarah (right) & cousin Erin enjoying a recharge weekend in Gatlinburg and dining local!
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