July - August 2023 Chamber Newsletter

ART AND FOOD JOIN FORCES AGAIN

The Alliance Area Chamber of Commerce will be hosting the Carnation City Food Truck Rally in conjunction with the Annual ArtFest hosted by the University of Mount Union. This year’s event

will be held on Saturday September 23rd, 2023.

The Carnation City Food Truck Rally will take place from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. along Simpson Street west of Union Avenue. We are currently taking registrations from food trucks. We anticipate having 10-15 trucks in attendance.

The 5th Annual ArtFest, located at the Mount Union Campus Lakes will take place from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. The event will feature original works by area artists in various media including watercolor, oil, collage,

graphics, drawings, photography, jewelry, pen and ink, sculpture, glass mosaics, printmaking and mixed media works. In addition, functional craft vendors will be on hand featuring jewelry, fiber, woodworking, glass, enameling, lights, purses/ bags, candles and soaps.

Live demos, musical entertainment and a children’s activity will take place.

Mount Union has a home football game against Muskingum that same Saturday, so plan to stop by before the game and have lunch!

CHAIR’S MESSAGE

Chamber members, Alliance offers many opportunities for businesses to expand, prosper and succeed, and the Alliance Area Chamber of Commerce is committed to assisting you and your workforce in your growth and development through a number of offerings. These include expansion assistance, seminars and workshops, workers’ compensation group rating, research assistance, and funding and demographic information

Within this newsletter alone, you will read about upcoming opportunities for professional development. These opportunities include a Marketing Luncheon Series focused on social media, organized by the Chamber’s Marketing Committee. In addition, the Chamber’s Human Resources Committee, which provides input and guidance regarding human resources processes and practices, will be hosting a guest presentation on attracting and hiring talent.

The Chamber also features two divisions, both of which provide opportunities for involvement, networking, and professional development. The Women’s Division was the first one of its kind in the state of Ohio and seeks to promote the spirit of commercial, cultural, and educational progress among the business and professional women of Alliance. The group philanthropically supports area organizations committed to serving women and children in the community. The Eastern Stark County Safety Council is open to all companies and individual employers interested in promoting and learning about workplace safety.

Make the most of your Chamber membership by getting involved! Additional information about these and other opportunities are included in this newsletter. You can also reach out to the Chamber office for additional details.

We hope to see you at a Chamber event or meeting soon!

Melissa Gardner Chair of the Board

Cheers

TO THESE CHAMBER MEMBERS

PINNACLE OF PERFORMANCE AWARD

Lisa Trummer of Tanner Real Estate received the Pinnacle of Performance Award. This puts her team in the top 5% of all agents that applied. Qualifications for her team were $11.25 million or more in dollars claimed or 150 sale/lease transaction credits between July 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023.

FORBES BEST SMALL EMPLOYER

The University of Mount Union was named the top small employer in Ohio as part of Forbes’ inaugural listing of America’s Best Small Employers. The University was ranked number 39 in the nation out of an initial pool of 10,000 businesses, with the 300 highest-scoring businesses making the final rankings.

CARNATION FESTIVAL DISPLAYS

Sixteen area businesses were part of the ninth annual display contest as part of the Greater

Alliance Carnation Festival festivities. Fan Favorite voting was conducted on the festival’s website, and Coastal Pet received the most votes. In addition, seven judges visited all the display locations.

The overall winner and starter for the Grand Parade was the Aultman Alliance Community Hospital Gift Shop. Receiving Honorable Mentions were Heggy’s Confectionery, the Alliance Family YMCA, Coastal Pet, Union House, Alliance Area Habitat ReStore, and Celebration Destination.

FASTEST-GROWING PRIVATE COMPANIES

All Staff has been recognized on the Inc 5000 2023 list of Fastest-Growing Private Companies in America. All Staff credits its incredible team’s hard work, amazing clients and candidates, and the unyielding belief in its mission for the recognition. All Staff thanks everyone who’s been a part of its journey.

PURSES WITH A PURPOSE

Women’s Division Auction

NICOLE BROWN RETIRES FROM RPL

With all that Nicole Brown accomplished in nearly three decades at Rodman Public Library, it is the friendships that she has made that she will cherish the most.

“I will miss seeing the people that I work with every day,” said Brown as she spoke about her retirement, which started July 7.

However, there are three other people that she looks forward to spending more time with --- her husband, Eric, whom she married in 2013, and her two sons, Isaac, 7, and Gabriel, 4.

“I am retiring to be at home with my family,” said Brown, who has worked in nearly every department at RPL during her 28-year career that started as a page and ended with her leaving as head of circulation and adult programming.

“The library will obviously miss Nicole's expertise and experience,” said Rodman Public Library Executive Director Eric Taggart. “She uses her knowledge of the Alliance community to help her to plan programs and select materials, and she was also very helpful to me in getting to know the community. I'll miss working with her, but I know that she is looking forward to this next stage in her life."

When Brown started working at Rodman Library, she didn’t expect to be a librarian.

In 1995, she took an after-school job as a page in the children’s department and for the bookmobile.

After graduating from Alliance High School in 1997, she continued part-time employment at the library while attending Mount Union, where she was a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority and majored in political science with aspirations of being a lawyer.

Even through her reign as the 1998 Greater Alliance Carnation Festival queen, Brown worked part-time at

Rodman Library during the academic year and full-time during summer breaks.

By the time she graduated in 2001 from Mount Union, she had decided against a career in law and was exploring other opportunities.

That’s when Roselyn Stephens, who was then the head of extension services at the library offered her a fulltime position as an assistant librarian, splitting her time between the reference department and acquisitions.

“I decided to take that job but I thought it would be temporary,” said Brown. “Roselyn kept telling me that I should go to library school, but I thought I was going to find something different.”

However, Brown found that she enjoyed working at the library.

In 2003, she took over as head of extension services for Stephens, overseeing the operations at the branch and on the bookmobile.

Around the same time, she proved Stephens right and enrolled in library school at Kent State University, earning a master’s of library science degree in 2005.

find something different.”

However, Brown found that she enjoyed working at the library.

Brown also noted being a part of the group that researched and purchased the current bookmobile and helping to oversee the branch’s move to its current location as highlights to her career.

Brown added head of adult circulation and programming to her duties in 2011 and also continued to serve as head of extension services through 2015.

Eric D. Taggart, Director

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Jack R. Weber Jr.

Brown says she is proud of having been part of the Rodman Library team for nearly three decades and having been an integral part of its operations.

August 7, 2023

“I have had the chance to work in a variety of departments and do many things while I have worked here,” said Brown. “I really enjoyed coming up with programs.”

One of those programs was the ultra-popular Maker Monday, a monthly crafting program that usually has a waiting list of those who want to participate. With Brown’s retirement, the program will continue under the leadership of Debbie Mikesell, who assisted Brown with the program.

“Many things have changed over 28 years, but my favorite memories really will be the friendships I have made,” said Brown, who has also been active in several community organizations and activities.

A member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Brown has been a member of the One Book One Community committee, Alliance Historical Society, Alliance Woman’s Club, Coterie, the Women’s Division of the Alliance Area Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Alliance Carnation Festival Board (past president), and the Alliance Rotary Club (secretary 2008-2016 and Rotarian of the Year in 2008).

“Rodman Library has been a great place to spend my career,” said Brown “I am happy I was able to stay in my hometown and contribute to our community.”

UMU GRAD DE MONTE IS NEXT FOGLE AUTHOR

James De Monte, a 2005 graduate of Mount Union, visits Alliance as part of the Fogle Author Series at Rodman Public Library on the heels of the publication of his second book – Where Are Your People From? A Novel in Stories.

An associate professor of English at Lakeland Community College, De Monte will appear at RPL on Monday, August 28 at 6:30 p.m.

Registration is required to attend at rodmanlibrary. evanced.info/signup.

In Where Are Your People From?, De Monte, who grew up in Dennison and graduated from Tuscarawas Central Catholic, draws on his heritage and his previous employment at various labor jobs as he tells the story of Giacomo Agostini, a retired coal miner and firstgeneration American, a son of foreigners, a Depression kid who never got over it, the second-oldest living member of the St. Theresa’s Knights of Columbus hall, and a pick-and-shovel man from Appalachian Ohio. Spanning ninety years, the book explores the fellowship and hardship of Midwest Italian-Americans in the post-

industrial Appalachian region of Ohio through the eyes of a son of immigrants.

Published by Cornerstone Press, Where Are Your People From? followed his 2015 novella Brotherhood, which explored the world of blue-collar railroad repairmen through the eyes of a recent college graduate. Published by Blue Cubicle Press, Brotherhood was longlisted for Shakespeare and Company’s Paris Literary Prize.

A staff editor with Chagrin River Review, De Monte earned a Master of Fine Arts from Kent State University and taught at Columbus State Community College, in Sicily and Sardinia, at Central State University, and for the Wick Poetry Center, before joining the faculty at Lakeland Community College.

And we’ve ALWAYS been here. As our community’s ONLY locally owned and operated health system, we have ALWAYS been committed to providing you with the very best in care, wellness, education, insurance and more … because you matter.

BUSINESS AFTER HOURS

ATHENA LEADERSHIP AWARD NOMINATIONS

On October 16, 2023, the Women’s Division of the Chamber will present the prestigious Athena Leadership Award to a deserving individual in our community at the Chamber of Commerce Business Alliance Awards.

This award is presented to a female who:

• Has attained and embodies the highest level of professional excellence in her business or profession,

• Has devoted time and energy to improve the quality of life for others in the community.

• Actively assists women in realizing their leadership potential.

The Athena Leadership Award was first presented in 1982 and is administered by ATHENA International. ATHENA is an international non-profit organization dedicated to supporting, developing, and honoring women leaders, inspiring women to achieve their full potential, and creating balance in leadership worldwide. There are over 300 active award programs, and more than 5,000 awards have been presented to ATHENA recipients in the United States and around the world.

Through this program, we hope to build awareness of and honor the valuable contributions being made by women in our business and professional community. We are looking forward to a successful celebration this year and welcome your participation.

The Athena Leadership Award recipient will be selected from nominations, and we need your help to identify potential recipients. Within your organization, there are undoubtedly individuals who are outstanding professional and community leaders. We encourage you to use our Athena Award Nomination Form.

You may contact Dottie Callender, chair for the Athena Award, at (330) 428-4124 or dottie_callender@aol.com with any questions. If you know of a Chamber member who may not have received this newsletter, please share with them. Printed copies of the form may be picked up by appointment at the Alliance Area Chamber of Commerce by contacting (330) 823-6260 or can be requested via email at faye@allianceohiochamber.org.

The deadline for submissions is September 15, 2023.

WOMEN’S DIVISION PICK 3 LOTTERY

For the entire month of August, Women’s Division members will be selling Pick 3 Lottery “tickets” for the chance to win during the month of September. Each ticket costs $10.00 and tickets can be picked up at Pauli Electric, 475 E. State Street Alliance, Ohio 44601 from Beth Ryan.

Those members who were not at the August Membership meeting, please see Beth for tickets. We are requesting every member participate in selling 10 tickets!

Once tickets are sold, they can be returned to Pauli Electric to Beth, or to the YWCA Alliance (239 E. Market St Alliance, Ohio 44601) to Korena or Stacie. Please have all sold and unsold tickets turned in NO LATER than August 28th.

Drawings for the tickets will begin September 1st and end September 29th, the drawings will be the evening Pick 3 numbers Monday - Friday.

If there are any questions, please reach out at sbacorn@allianceywca.org or 330428-0579.

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PER FLAG

ALL PROCEEDS SUPPORT THE ALLIANCE COMMUNITY

Find Your Friends at Copeland Oaks

Staying socially engaged is essential to maintaining physical and mental wellbeing.

Ways our residents stay social:

Interest groups and clubs

Volunteer opportunities

Community planned events

Indoor and outdoor recreation

Personal training and fitness classes

Spiritual groups

Gathering with friends

At Copeland Oaks we offer a worry-free, safe, and fun environment where seniors can thrive emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Visit our website or set up a private tour to learn more.

ALLI ANCE

MARKETING LUNCHEON SERIES

Mark Your Calendars

October 19, 2023

Social Media Panel

Alysha Davis University of Mount Union

Niki McIlvain Alliance Area Habitat for Humanity

Cheyanne Gonzales Alliance City Schools

Dustin Burgess

Dustin Burgess Insurance Group, LLC

Nate Sheen Astoria

SOCIAL MEDIA 101

September 21, 2023 11:45 a.m. - 1 p.m. Rodman Public Library

Cost: $15 (lunch included) featuring Trista Todd and Emmy Hull CommQuest Services, Inc.

Seating is limited to 40. Reservations are required. Reserve by Monday, September 18. Call (330) 823-6260 or e-mail faye@allianceohiochamber.org for reservations.

24-hour cancellation notice required. No shows will be billed. Please indicate if a vegetarian lunch is preferred.

Brian Amos

Dustin Burgess

Lisa Carter

Adam Christian

Gary Conny

Marcie Curry

Chris Debo

Robert Fountain

Melissa Gardner

Lisa Gentile

Rob Gress

Mark Johnson

Laura Kessel

Ryan Klusch

Julie Lee

Frank Minear

Dave Mitchell

Eva Murphy

Mike Oakes

Dave Shroades

Eric Taggart Lisa Trummer Stacie Bacorn