Business Boss

It’s full speed ahead in chamber chief’s 21st year on the job

IF JANEt tRESSLER-DAVIS HAD ANotHER maiden name, it would have to be “Westerville.”

She was born in Westerville and has lived here her entire life. She’s the daughter of a former mayor and City Council member, and a graduate of Westerville South High School (just like her husband, Jim, and their two children) and Otterbein University. All her jobs have been in the community as well, save a couple years she spent working at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

In October, she began her 21st year as the up-tempo president and CEO of the Westerville Area Chamber of Commerce. Davis toils tirelessly, it seems, to do all the position requires – and more – seeking results, not notoriety.

Her dedication became very obvious a year ago when she was offered and accepted the new chief of staff position at Otterbein and gave the chamber five weeks’ notice.

Privately, she wrestled with that decision. She was honored to have the chance to work with Otterbein President Kathy Krendl, she says. But still, she “was emotional. Crying all night. This is not the way it’s supposed to be,” she says.

After three weeks, “I decided I could not do it,” Davis says.

That didn’t end Davis’ involvement with her alma mater, though. If anything, she’s more involved, helping promote leadership for women in various ways as an alumna and chamber chief. She also helps students work with outside organizations dedicated to women in leadership.

And as the chamber leader, “I can help (Krendl) meet business people,” Davis says. “That’s part of our role.”

Davis spends endless hours doing the job she could not leave. On a typical busy day in September, she starts with a quarterly membership breakfast, to which she and some volunteers arrive early to set up.

After she and the crew clean up, she’s off to a meeting at the Westerville Area Resource Ministry; she recently helped plan its 40th anniversary events. Then there’s a meeting at the Municipal Building.

Back in Davis’ office, a new member wants to talk about getting involved in the organization. Then there’s a meeting with the Small Office Home Office group of small business members with nine or fewer employees. And then there’s a session with the staff to keep up with daily business, including plans for the Evening of Elegance, the chamber’s annual fundraiser.

She wraps up the day with a meeting of the chamber’s government relations committee, which hears an update from a U.S. Chamber of Commerce representative about federal laws and regulations.

“In a nutshell, it’s (typically) a 10- to 12-hour day,” Davis says. “I’m not complaining.”

She is, after all, the daughter of Jim Tressler, for 20 years a member of Westerville City Council and mayor for 11 of those years, so public service is in her genes.

In the community, she’s on the Westerville Public Library Foundation board, the Westerville Symphony Advisory Board, the Westerville Industrial Commission and the Leadership Westerville board. She was on the Otterbein board for two terms and served on its presidential selection committee as well as selection committees for Westerville schools’ treasurer and superintendent.

And there’s a continuing, yet somewhat subtle, effort to recruit new chamber members. The current tally stands at 580, but Davis is hoping to bring it up – it once was over 700.

“We’re always working on it,” she says.

Outside her job, she has some time for other things. Her son, Jason, 22, is a