2024 Westerville Area Chamber Annual Report

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Annual Report 2024 Westerville

Area Chamber

Letter from the CEO

The Westerville Area Chamber has had a productive and exciting year.

Exciting why? Learning about your stories, the risks taken, the lessons learned, and your business plan for the next quarter, year or a couple of years, are some of the most motivating conversations our team can have to understand what you are experiencing and where we might plug in to bring you even more value. Additionally, the board of trustees challenged our Chamber team during our strategic planning with initiatives that keeps us asking ‘Where’s the Puck Going?’. How are we advancing in ways that bring even more value to our members.

How were we productive? The commitment from you and fellow members continues to be greatly appreciated. From sold out attendance for the Taste of Westerville, Golf Outing and Evening of Elegance to talented and knowledgeable guest speakers and panelist for Quarterly Member Meetings, Women in Business Luncheons and Lunch & Learn sessions the strength of the organization continues through you, our members. Bringing to you topics such as technological advancements used in member businesses, workforce development partnerships, success stories from local media talent and business owners, HR policy discussions, marketing tips, accessing capital, mental wellness in the workplace, and active shooter preparedness; our goal is to continue to challenge ourselves in providing growing resources to enhance the value you receive for your membership investment.

I heard a quote recently from a member; “the only limits we have are the ones we put on ourselves’. Continuing to learn from you, our members and think and act creatively about programming and ways to help you build productive business relationships is top of mind every day for our team.

We commit to our efforts of turning ideas into action, sourcing cost saving benefits, and making business operations more efficient and effective for our members.

We wish you success and prosperity in 2025!

Overview

Mission:

To enhance the business climate and quality of life in our community

Vision:

Be a driving force that builds economic strength, diverse businesses, and a strong community

Values:

Advocate

Inclusion

Inspiration

Innovate

Collaboration

Tradition

Chamber Board of Trustees

Mark Smolik, Board Chair, DHL Supply Chain

Amy Balster, Balster Realty Group

Rita Bassiet, Renaissance Columbus Westerville-Polaris

Brent Blackwell, Comparion Insurance Agency

Jen Blaser, Good Vibes Winery

Angela Bridges, Mt. Carmel Rehabilitation Hospital, an affiliate of Encompass Health

Polly Clavijo, Revolution Group

Dr. John Comerford, Otterbein University

Angie Cox, Nationwide Children's Hospital

David Dziedzicki, OhioHealthy

Sean Decello, Geneva Financial, LLC

Dale Ganobsik, Lancaster Colony Corporation

Paul Hammer, Ace Handyman Services

Tom Harris, CGI

Skip Ivery, Allstate - Skip Ivery Agency

Don LaFollette, Mount Carmel St. Ann's

Tony LaNasa, HW&Co

Stephanie Nixon, WayMakers Restoration

Laura Stimmel, The Middlefield Banking Company

Eric Stolly, Stolly Insurance Group

Chuck Woodson, Columbus Title Agency of Westerville

Membership

New Members

Members

Retention Rate 83% of members have 10 or less employees 63%

In 2024, we launched a New Member Bingo card to increase engagement for our new members! When members hit Bingo, for completing activities like going to an event, updating their online directory listing, or following us on social media, they win a prize!

““Thank you so much for sending this our way! This is such an awesome way to do onboardingwe can’t wait to hit our bingo!” Thompson Restoration Associates

““This is soo awesome! I can tell I am going to enjoy this chamber!” ~H&H Luxury Events

"Joining the Westerville Chamber has been hands down one of the best business decisions made as we launched. There are so many GOOD, TALENTED, and SMART business owners and representatives eager to make some solid connections and support each other."

~NicoleCriger,RockHouseRealty

Event Statistics

events (not including Ribbon Cuttings) for members to learn and make meaningful connections.

~2,300 event attendees

20% of our members promoted their brand through sponsorships

Events topics included:

Boosting productivity in the workplace

Accessing capital

Bridging Education for a strong workforce

Navigating Changing HR Laws

Artificial Intelligence (Ethics and Emerging Trends)

Becoming a Better Networker and more

Young Leaders Philanthropic Events

Holiday Toy Drive

30 collection boxes in businesses throughout the community

50 volunteer gift wrappers

375 toys wrapped and donated to Franklin County Children Services

Holiday Wish Program

blankets made for children in Foster/Kinship Care throughout Central Ohio in partnership with My Very Own Blanket

Signature Events

Music & Arts Festival

125 fine arts/craft vendors

20 food trucks

268 of art pieces in youth art, a 34% increase from 2023

30 musical performances

150 volunteers

Taste of Westerville

350+ attendees at the sold out event

26 food vendors featured Winners

Evening of Elegance

300+ attendees (sold out event)

250+ Sponsors, Donors, & Committee

Volunteers

Evening of Elegance Silent Auction

# of bids: 1310

43% increase from 2023

# of bidders: 376

35% increase from 2023

# of Packages: 172

27% increase from 2023

Crème de la Crème: Posh TeaTime

Culinary Masterpiece: Posh TeaTime

Rookie of the Year: Ampersand Asian Supper Club

Westerville’s Tastiest: Ampersand Asian Supper Club

People’s Choice: Polaris Grill

Golf Outing

125 members and guest participated in the sold out event.

Communications

Chamber and member promotion through social media.

Facebook:

Reach: 120.4k

New Followers: 459

Total Followers: 4.7K

Views: 122.7K

Instagram

Reach: 14.3k (up 79%)

New Followers: 355

Total Followers: 2,018

Views: 63.3k

LinkedIn

Impressions: 134,054

New Followers: 391

Total Followers: 2,061 (up 21%)

Reactions: 4,497

Page Views: 2,116

Unique visitors: 908

Email Communication with members

Business Specials of the Week: 39

Communicator (Newsletter): 12

Events Bulletin: 12

Open Rate: 38%

Click Rate: 4%

95% of emails are opened on a desktop computer 5% on mobile

Westerville Workwise

Partnered with the Westerville City Schools to execute two Teacher/Counselor Externships, meeting with four member businesses and various professionals learning skills set needed to do the jobs, course work that is valuable, and examples of how course work has applied to their job skills.

WorkWISE Collective held three career workshops for community members:

Preparing Resumes that included review of resumes with attendees, Interviewing Skills

Meet with Local employers to learn helpful tips in responding to interview questions, valuable skill sets for many jobs, and what is important on resumes.

Celebrating 28 Members with Ribbon Cuttings

January 12 – Nichols & Co.

February 5 – 9Round Fitness

March 8 – Pure Green

April 3 – Cummins Facility

April 11 – Bibibop

April 24 – ARCPoint Labs

April 29 – Tri-State Men’s Health

May 2 – Dave’s Hot Chicken

May 15 – Comparion Insurance

May 16 – Christian Brothers Automotive

May 22 – The Price Group (eXpRealty)

June 5 – RevLocal

June 14 – The Boxing Club of North Columbus

June 25 – Flavor & Fire Foods

July 31 – Columbus Aesthetic & Plastic Surgery

August 1 – Uptown Nutrition

August 2 – ebb & float

August 6 – Immortal Martial Arts

August 13 – HearingLife

August 20 – High Bank Distillery

August 27 – Rock House Realty

September 19 – ReVision Lasik & Cataract

Surgery

October 10 – Project LeanNation

October 22 – Marion Goodwill Industries

October 29 – BB Aesthetic

December 7 – Studio86 Fitness

December 19 – Giammarco’s

December 20 – Sunny Street Café

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