December 2025
A special thank you to our Society Members and all who invest in our Vision / Mission / Why
Society members
Hook Society
Butler Tech
Cintas
Cohen
Flowers by Roger, Inc.
McGraw/Kokosing
Miami University Regionals
Performance Foodservice
Phillips Tube Group
Robinson Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc.
Russ Beckner Pictures
Shape Corporation
Spectrum Reach
Tytus Society
Akers Packaging Service
Duke Energy Essity
G & J Pepsi-Cola Bottlers, Inc.
Hawthorn Glen Senior Living Campus
Joe Morgan Honda
LCNB National Bank
LemonGrenade Creative
Magellan Aerospace
Majestic Care of Middletown
Markey’s
Miami Valley Gaming
Middletown Energy Center
MyUSA Credit Union
One Smarter
OwlBridge Wellness
PAHHNI Premium Alkaline Water
PAC Worldwide Corporation
Precision Strip, Inc.
Quaker Houghton
The Windamere
UGN, Inc.
Valley Central Bank
somewhere on my desk
Rick Pearce President/CEO
As we wind down 2025, we welcome you to December and the start of the Holiday Season.
This is the perfect time to thank ALL Chamber members who renewed their membership for 2025 and those who joined as new members. Without you, there would be no chamber of commerce. Thank you for putting your faith in us carrying out our mission to your high standards. We look forward to your participation, input, and guidance in 2026. We had a very successful 2025. We recruited additional organizations and companies to endorse the Passport To Tomorrow initiative. We rolled out a new program this spring, Candidate College, to better prepare those wanting to run for city council or school board. In November, we concluded a very successful CLIMB class (our 40th year). Sixteen (16) emerging leaders completed the 8-month course that focused on building their leadership skills and learning more about their DiSC Profile
I’d like to thank the Executive Committee, the Board of Directors, and the chairpersons of our three (3) Focus Areas: Advocacy/Government Relations, Leadership and Future Ready Workforce.
We are looking forward to working with all our members to make great strides in 2026!
Best in profits !
Focus Areas
• Ohio Chamber
• Resources
• Legislative
• US Chamber of Commerce
• One Big Beautiful Bill, Taxes & Tariff explained
• Rep. Warren Davidson 8th District
• Rep. Greg Landsman — 1st District
• Sen. Bernie Moreno
• Sen. Jon Husted
• State & County Elected Officials
Focus Areas
• If you would like to become involved in any of the below programs, please call us, 513-422-4551
• Passport To Tomorrow
• Adopt A Class
• Junior Achievement
Workforce Update
On October 8, eight (8) high school guidance counselors from four (4) local high schools visited AMS Parts to learn about the skills needed to obtain entry-level employment. We will be visiting three (3) other employers from Nov-Jan.
• AMS Parts
• BlueScope Nov. 12
• UGN Dec. 10
Participants and the BlueScope Team
Passport to tomorrow
We’ve been busy at all of our elementary buildings and bringing in an amazing variety of guest speakers from across our career fields!
Our students have enjoyed hands-on experiences with partners ranging from the Cincinnati Museum Center to MyUSA Credit Union, as well as several of our very own MCS staff members.
Students have also had the chance to attend the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, an unforgettable experience for many. Across the district, other elementary students met with members of the Marine Corps to learn about their roles, responsibilities, and career pathways.
And in another powerful learning moment, students heard from Wilson Schramm Spaulding Funeral Home about the importance of compassion, communication, and the soft skills needed to support families during difficult times.
Our young learners are exploring the world of work in meaningful, inspiring ways and we’re so excited for all the connections still to come!
State of the Region
The Cincinnati Regional USA Chamber released the State of the Region—2025 that was commissioned by First Financial Bank. The report is divided into 9 Sections and the links are below. I will also include the sections in the mid-month. Enjoy learning more about our region.
• First Financial Comments
• Chamber Comments
• Population
• Economics
• Community & Health
• Housing & Transportation
• Industry
• Industry Spotlight Looking Forward
Say it Ain’t So
“Sayitain’tso”…….we all knew this day would come— Ann has decided to retire and spend more time with her family and grandchildren. We surprised Ann at our 2020 Annual Meeting (she reached a milestone year) and that evening everyone thought she was retiring, that wasn’t true. We agreed her last day will be March 31, 2026.
Over the many decades with this organization, Ann has seen a great deal of change. A few items are listed below:
• 1980’s Middletown Area Chamber of Commerce located at The Manchester Inn, the pre-computer era with an IBM Selectric Typewriter, billing & accounting was done on paper, 6 staff members that downsized to 3 by the mid-80’s
• 1990’s the merger with Monroe & Trenton Chambers that became the MidMiami Valley Chamber, a fax machine, 1 computer shared between 3 staff members, access to the Internet, our first emails were AOL accounts
• 2000’s name changed to The Chamber of Commerce serving Middletown, Monroe, Trenton, purchased the building on Central Ave., had 5 staff members, purchased cell phones for staff, purchased a member database
• 2010’s finally got cordless phones in the office, discontinued our fax number, stopped bulk 3rd class mailings, we got better at electronic communications, staff was downsized to 3, purchased QuickBooks for all accounting
• 2020’s sold the building on Central, downsized the staff to 2, moved to the S. Breiel location, purchased laptops for remote work…….Now I’m Tired !!!! Continued
Groundbreaking of the new Trenton City Building and YMCA
Celebrating the Re-Opening of their Ventilator Unit
6898 Hamilton Middletown Road, Middletown
Premier Health: Innovating, Educating, and Advancing Community Health
At Premier Health, innovation is about more than new technology. It is about advancing the way care, education, and community impact come together. Across Southwest Ohio, Premier Health continues to invest in new ways to deliver exceptional care while strengthening the region’s workforce and economy.
Innovation Rooted in the Community
At Atrium Medical Center in Middletown, patients experience firsthand how innovation improves lives. Atrium recently introduced Burt®, a robotic-assisted rehabilitation device that helps stroke and neurological patients regain movement through interactive therapy. As one of only two hospitals in Ohio offering Burt®, Atrium provides advanced rehabilitation close to home, helping patients improve mobility, strength, and independence.
Continue to full article
Our Foundation
For more than 50 years, our chamber of commerce has had a 501c3 charitable foundation to help with past objectives. The foundation was created in the early 1970’s and there are conflicting stories on why and what project was their focus. Nonetheless, the Middletown Area Chamber Foundation is now doing business as The Chamber Partnership for a Brighter Future. Our focus will be on raising dollars to fund our Future Ready Workforce initiatives.
• CareerCoach/Skills2Careers
• The Workforce Institute
• Passport To Tomorrow
• Signing Day
You will be seeing more information as we move into 2026. Please consider becoming a “funder” of our objectives and be part of the solution of better preparing the next generation for the workforce.!!
Changing the Narrative
Collaborating to Change The Narrative —
I am happy to share that four (4) organizations have come together to continue to “change the narrative” for Middletown; The Middletown Community Foundation, the City of Middletown, The Chamber and Cincinnati Commercial Contracting. We will continue to take the initiative to changethenarrativeand share more positive stories that never seem to make it to the readers.
We hope you enjoy it and please share it across your social media platforms.
• Soapbox Cincinnati / Middletown Portal
Value of chambers
INVESTORS
WE would like to send out a very special THANK YOU to our new members.
• Franklin Dental Care and Dentures
• Nenni Financial Services
The Chamber is here to find solutions to obstacles that your business may be facing. Feel free to contact us at 513-422-4551.
SOCA Benefits
Ann’s Retirement
Ann has been a great asset and ambassador of The Chamber during her tenure. As one past board member commented during her “roast” of 2020, “if we didn’t have an Ann, we would have to build one”. She has made each member feel special in her own unique way.
• She as worked with 6 chamber executives and a number of interims.
• She lived through 3 name changes, 4 locations (two with The Manchester Inn) and 1 phone number.
• She has attended “countless” monthly luncheons, ribbon cuttings, golf outings, and annual meetings.
• She deserves this well earned retirement as she has given her skills, attitude and life to this organization. When convenient, please share your well-wishes with her in her retirement.
