The Greater Akron Chamber has announced Richard J. Kramer, recently retired Chairman, CEO and President of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, has been selected to receive the H. Peter Burg Economic Development Leadership Award.
Kramer will be honored at the Chamber’s Annual Meeting on March 14, 2024, at the John S. Knight Center, and will be the 19th recipient of the award. Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available here.
Richard J. Kramer, retiring Chairman, President and CEO of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
This award was created in 2004 in memory of H. Peter Burg by the Chamber’s Executive Committee to recognize a leader who demonstrates a commitment to economic and community development in the Greater Akron region.
“Knowing the great legacy of Pete Burg, to receive this award is an honor and a powerful reminder of the importance of supporting the economic success of Greater Akron,” said Kramer. “Wherever Goodyear has a presence, it’s always been important to me that we commit the time of our associates and the financial resources of the company to driving community success – nowhere is that truer than in Akron, our home since our founding in 1898.”
With global choices and broad operations, Kramer has continued to invest in Greater Akron. In the midst of the 2008 recession, Kramer led the decision to build a new $160 million global goodyear headquarters in Akron, securing more than 3,000 significant, long-term jobs in the region. Understanding the importance of STEM careers to the future of Akron’s children and the company’s future strategies, Kramer has created ongoing resources to introduce underserved students to STEM careers and supported engineering, polymer and materials science initiatives at the University of Akron. In addition to supporting new efforts to establish Greater Akron as a world leader in polymer innovation, Kramer also committed more than $1 million from Goodyear to this collaborative regional industry initiative. Kramer has consistently affirmed his commitment and the leadership of his organization to support Greater Akron with the establishment of the Goodyear Foundation in 2016 and Goodyear’s Global Week of Volunteering in 2017. These ongoing commitments have created a legacy of community engagement and support by the company that will endure.
“Running a global company, a CEO may be anyplace in the world on a given day – but throughout his tenure at Goodyear, Rich’s personal commitment to Greater Akron and the commitment he instills in every Goodyear leader have made a lasting impact on our region,” said Steve Millard, President and CEO of the Greater Akron Chamber. “Spending time with Rich never fails to provide an interesting blend of world class innovative thinking and passion for creating exciting possibilities for both Goodyear and the region.”
Kramer joins a group of notable community leaders including recent award recipients Rick Fedorovich, County Executive Ilene Shapiro, Roger Read, S. Theresa Carter, the late Philip Maynard, and others as H. Peter Burg recipients.