The Marietta Area Chamber of Commerce (MACC) is an association of business and professional people working together to build a health economy and to promote business activity in our community. With 583 members, MACC represents the varied sectors of our business community. The MACC board of directors is a cross-section of business and professional leaders, with representatives from manufacturing, industry, retail, service, banking, healthcare, and education. Each member brings a unique background and perspective to the board room, essential as they carry out their duties. It is their responsibility to set the overall policy of the Chamber and to define the goals of the Chamber.
On March 1, MACC will go through a change in board leadership. Congratulations to Colleen Cook, elected Board Chair for 2012-2013. Cook, an attorney with TheisenBrock, has been a director since 2007, serving as the vice-chair of business advocacy. She is the second woman to be elected to this position, preceded by the late Betty Hadler who served in 1986.
MACC board officers are: Tom Betz, Peoples Bank, past chairman; Kin Brewer, Food 4 Less, assistant treasurer; Steve Porter, The Career Center, member benefits; Terry Rataiczak, Kinetic Networking, communications & technology; Donn Schafer, Settlers Bank, treasurer; Terry Tamburini, Southeastern Ohio Port Authority, economic development; and Beth McNally, Marietta College, returning for a second term and heading our recently formed education committee.
Also joining the executive committee is new director Dan Harrison, Harrison Construction, who will chair the business advocacy team. We are pleased to introduce two additional new directors: Ken Bowen, Americas Styrenics, and Rob Schafer, Schafer Leather Store. Returning for a second-term are Marty Hansell, Skuttle Manufacturing, and David Vandenberg, Microbac Laboratories. They join DeeAnn Gehlauf, Marietta Health System; Wally Kandel, Solvay Specialty Polymers; and Mike Williams, Document Solutions-Xerox.
With terms limited according to our by-laws, it is time to say farewell and thank you to Dave Archer, Pioneer Pipe, who joined the board in 2004 and served in the capacity of vice chair for manufacturing; as board chair from 2008-2010 and most recently as past board chair. Dave brought a focus on workforce development, especially with the youth, with his support of Youth Safety Day and OSHA training at The Career Center and the Teen Career Awareness Initiative.
We also say goodbye to Al Lang, Greenleaf Landscapes, who became a director in 2006 and served on the executive committee as the vice-chair for economic development. Al was also an advocate for preparing our students for the workplace, helping with the job shadowing/mentoring program. In 2011 Tony Baldwin. A. A. Jewelry By Design, resigned from the board to focus on his business. We thank them all for their service on the board. Their commitment to the Chamber and to our community was outstanding. We know that they will continue to work for a bright future for the Mid-Ohio Valley.
It has long been considered an honor to serve on the Chamber's Board of Directors. All of our board directors exhibit a genuine and unselfish interest in the Chamber and its mission of representing business by providing leadership that proactively influences government and the community and creates resources, education, networking opportunities and outreach for business. With a strong focus on business, the Marietta Area Chamber of Commerce has served its members for 125 years; first as a board of trade and since 1915 as a chamber of commerce.
Want to know more? On March 12, MACC will hold its 97th annual meeting dinner. It's a gathering of business and professional leaders, showcasing our local businesses, and honoring those who have achieved success in their profession or through their service.
The keynote speaker is Dan Nigro, who became chief of the NYC Fire Department on Sept. 11, 2001 - he has a story of courage and perseverance to share. Tickets are $50 for the social hour, dinner and program. Call (740) 373-5176 to reserve a seat.
Charlotte Keim, CCEO-AP, is president of the Marietta Area Chamber of Commerce, The Riverview Building, 100 Front St., Suite 200, Marietta. Chamber Viewpoint appears every other Monday on Opinion.
