
Amanda Anderson
Director, Investor Engagement

Jean Barbato
Senior Manager, Manufacturing Sector Partnership
ConxusNEO

Hope Bell
Senior Manager, Community Partnerships
ConxusNEO

Morgan Bock
Director, Executive Office

Sarah Deitrick
Director of Operations, Polymer Industry Cluster

Kirsten Delpinal
Graphic Designer

Robyn Durlin
Manager, Digital Marketing and Web Design

Alexis Escobar-Paz
Coordinator, Akron-Canton Advocacy Alliance

Heather Flohr
Senior Manager, Business Operations

Halee Gerenday
Director, Marketing and Communications

Sante Ghetti
Vice President, Investor Engagement

Jen Golembiewski
Senior Manager, Member Engagement

Christine Hoffman
Senior Manager, Marketing & Communications

Ameeca Holmes
Senior Manager, Healthcare Sector Partnership
ConxusNEO

Juliana Kless
Coordinator, Cuyahoga Falls Business Gateway

Evan Laux
Manager, Content Creation

Emily Lundgard
Vice President, Elevate Greater Akron

Elisha Murray
Office Coordinator

Anna Pitts

Brynn Popa
Executive Vice President

Anna Richards
Senior Manager, Programs and Events

John Rizzo
Vice President, Akron-Canton Advocacy Alliance

Sheri Shields
Senior Manager, Small Business Engagement
We have identified the Board members that also participate on our Executive Committee with a * by their name.
Name | Personal Title | Related Organization |
---|---|---|
Matthew Akers | Special Assistant to the President for Government Relations & Associate Director of the Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics | The University of Akron |
Juan Amezquita | Chief Financial and Operating Officer | GOJO Industries, Inc. |
Tyler Amos | VP - Sr. Financial Consultant, Akron Branch | Charles Schwab Corporate Services |
Monica Andress | Attorney | Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith, as well as Torchbearers |
Anne Armao | Vice President, Member Experience & Product Development | SummaCare |
Dunja Augustin | Vice President of Operations | Vistra |
Elizabeth Bartz | President and CEO | State and Federal Communications, Inc. |
Kristi Beeman | Vice President | Huntington National Bank |
Warren Blazy | Senior Vice President | CBRE |
Tami Bolder | Director, CBIZ Valuation Group | CBIZ |
Julie Brandle* | President | Metis Construction Services |
Marie Brilmyer | Partner | Cohen & Co |
Traci Buckner | Executive Director | Akron Children's Museum |
Ren Camacho* | President and CEO | Akron-Canton Airport |
Tony Costanzo | Director, External/Legislative Affairs | AT&T |
Joe Daleiden | Sr. Vice President - Commercial Banking | KeyBank |
Jeff Datkuliak | Director | ARCOA Group |
Cliff Deveny* | President /CEO | Summa Health |
Krista Dobronos | Chief Consumer Banking Officer | Westfield Bank |
Jason Dodson | Shareholder | Roetzel & Andress |
Matt Dolan | Chief Executive Officer | Team NEO |
Tracy Dowe* | City President & Middle Market Team Leader - Akron/Canton/Youngstown | Fifth Third Bank |
Laura Duda* | Senior Vice President & Chief Communications Officer | Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company |
Gino Faciana | Co-CEO | Pleasant Valley Corporation - NAI Pleasant Valley |
Craig Ferriot | President | Ferriot |
J.R. Fowler | COO | S.A. Comunale |
Melanie Friedman | Principal | FMD Architects |
Rich Fry | Taxation Practice Group Leader | Buckingham Doolittle & Burroughs |
Val Geiger | Executive Director, Commercial Banking | JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. |
Peter Geise | Akron Area President | FocusCFO |
Chris Gessner | President & CEO | Akron Children's Hospital |
Suzie Graham Moore | Director of Economic Development | City of Akron |
Dwayne Groll* | CEO | Environmental Design Group |
Dan Hampu | President & CEO | Burton D. Morgan Foundation |
Craig Hassinger | CEO and President | SeibertKeck Insurance |
Gillianne Hetrick | Senior Vice President, Human Resources & Corporate Operations | Babcock & Wilcox |
John Higgins | Region Vice President | Spectrum |
Torrence Hinton | President | FirstEnergy Ohio |
Para Jones* | President | Stark State College |
Halle Jones Capers | President | Halle's Engineering & Design |
Ethan Karp | President and CEO | MAGNET |
Stephen Kristan | Director, Market Development | Lumos |
Kyle Kutuchief | Program Director/Akron | Knight Foundation |
Adam LaFaber | Owner | Digital Sandwich |
John Langell | President | Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) |
Theresa Lash-Ritter | President | Cleveland Clinic Akron General |
Amanda Leffler* | Akron Managing Partner | Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick |
Erin Leppo Palmer | CFO & In-House Legal Counsel | Leppo, Inc. (Leppo Equipment/Bobcat of Akron) |
Joe Luckring* | Regional President | PNC Bank |
Shammas Malik | Mayor | City of Akron |
Lauren Marsh | President | Akron Urban League Young Professionals |
Christine Mayer* | President | GAR Foundation |
Annie McFadden | Interim President & CEO | United Way of Summit and Medina |
Jay Mellon | CEO | AtNetPlus, Inc. |
Jim Merklin | Partner | Bober Markey Fedorovich |
Marc Merklin | Shareholder | Roetzel & Andress |
Steve Millard* | President & CEO | Greater Akron Chamber |
Lakisha Miller-Barclay* | Executive Director & CEO | Rubber Division, ACS |
Mike Morrison | Senior Director, Private Markets | GPD Group |
Amy Mucha | Owner | Daisy Pops |
Chuck Mullen | Partner, Great Lakes Market Leader | Eide Bailly |
Chrissy Myers* | CEO | AUI & Clarity HR |
Brandyn Neal | Client Advisor & Akron Market Leader | Schauer Group |
Brian Nelsen | Chief of Staff | County of Summit, Ohio |
Krishna Nookala | Vice President | Newry Corp |
Don Padgett | Executive Director | Kaulig Companies Championship |
Roberta Palacio | Supply Chain Executive | Continental |
B. Patel | Principal & Co-Founder | GHC Green Harvest Capital |
Ron Paydo | Market President | Huntington Bank |
John Petures | President & CEO | Akron Community Foundation |
Jim Pfander | President & General Manager | Akron RubberDucks |
Kendra Philon* | Vice President, Assurance Services | Meaden & Moore |
Tia Ramlow* | President | Great Work Employment |
Kathy Romito | Community Relations Manager | Western Reserve Hospital |
Ike Samson-Akpan | President/Owner | SAF, Inc. |
Jennifer Savitski* | Chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology | Cleveland Clinic Akron General |
Ilene Shapiro | County Executive | County of Summit, Ohio |
Erick Sharp | CEO | ACE Laboratories |
Suranjan Shome | CEO | Epiphany Management Group |
Mark Smale | Executive Director, Core Polymer Science | Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations |
Raymond Somich | Global Director, Government Affairs | Synthomer |
Erin Spring | Senior Director, Material Science | The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company |
Brian Steere | Co-President | Steere Enterprises |
Norm Steiner | VP, Major Accounts & Strategy | Medical Mutual |
Don Taylor | CEO | Welty |
Damian Thomas | Market President | The RCF Group |
Jason Tuma | Partner, Northeast Ohio Market Leader | Sikich |
Andrew Twardzik | Partner, Americas Deputy Risk Markets Leader | Ernst & Young |
Dan Weekley | President | Enbridge Gas Ohio |
Katherine White | Board Liaison | Torchbearers (YP) |
Bernett L. Williams | Chief Engagement Officer | Akron Children's |
John Williams | President/CEO | Akron Urban League |
Steve Wilt | Principal, Finacial Advisor | CAPTRUST |
-
Matthew Akers
The University of Akron
Special Assistant to the President for Government Relations & Associate Director of the Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics -
Juan Amezquita
GOJO Industries, Inc.
Chief Financial and Operating Officer -
Tyler Amos
Charles Schwab Corporate Services
VP - Sr. Financial Consultant, Akron Branch -
Monica Andress
Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith, as well as Torchbearers
Attorney -
Anne Armao
SummaCare
Vice President, Member Experience & Product Development -
Dunja Augustin
Vistra
Vice President of Operations -
Elizabeth Bartz
State and Federal Communications, Inc.
President and CEO -
Kristi Beeman
Huntington National Bank
Vice President -
Warren Blazy
CBRE
Senior Vice President -
Tami Bolder
CBIZ
Director, CBIZ Valuation Group -
Julie Brandle*
Metis Construction Services
President -
Marie Brilmyer
Cohen & Co
Partner -
Traci Buckner
Akron Children's Museum
Executive Director -
Ren Camacho*
Akron-Canton Airport
President and CEO -
Tony Costanzo
AT&T
Director, External/Legislative Affairs -
Joe Daleiden
KeyBank
Sr. Vice President - Commercial Banking -
Jeff Datkuliak
ARCOA Group
Director -
Cliff Deveny*
Summa Health
President/CEO -
Krista Dobronos
Westfield Bank
Chief Consumer Banking Officer -
Jason Dodson
Roetzel & Andress
Shareholder -
Matt Dolan
Team NEO
Chief Executive Officer -
Tracy Dowe*
Fifth Third Bank
City President & Middle Market Team Leader - Akron/Canton/Youngstown -
Laura Duda*
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
Senior Vice President & Chief Communications Officer -
Gino Faciana
Pleasant Valley Corporation - NAI Pleasant Valley
Co-CEO -
Craig Ferriot
Ferriot
President -
J.R. Fowler
S.A. Comunale
COO -
Melanie Friedman
FMD Architects
Principal -
Rich Fry
Buckingham Doolittle & Burroughs
Taxation Practice Group Leader -
Val Geiger
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
Executive Director, Commercial Banking -
Peter Geise
Focus CFO
Akron Area President -
Chris Gessner
Akron Children's Hospital
President & CEO -
Suzie Graham Moore
City of Akron
Director of Economic Development -
Dwayne Groll*
Environmental Design Group
CEO -
Dan Hampu
Burton D. Morgan Foundation
President & CEO -
Craig Hassinger
SeibertKeck Insurance
CEO and President -
Gillianne Hetrick
Babcock & Wilcox
Senior Vice President, Human Resources & Corporate Operations -
John Higgins Jr.
Spectrum
Regional Vice President -
Torrence Hinton
FirstEnergy Ohio
President -
Dr. Para Jones*
Stark State College
President -
Halle Jones Capers, P.E.
Halle's Engineering and Design
President -
Dr. Ethan Karp
MAGNET
President & CEO -
Stephen Kristan
Lumos
Director, Market Development -
Kyle Kutuchief
Knight Foundation
Program Director/Akron -
Adam LaFaber
Digital Sandwich
Owner -
Dr. John Langell
Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED)
President -
Theresa Lash-Ritter
Cleveland Clinic Akron General
President -
Amanda Leffler*
Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick
Akron Managing Partner -
Erin Leppo Palmer
Leppo, Inc. (Leppo Equipment/Bobcat of Akron)
CFO & In-House Legal Counsel -
Joe Luckring*
PNC Bank
Regional President -
Shammas Malik
Mayor
City of Akron -
Lauren Marsh
Akron Urban League Young Professionals
President -
Christine Mayer*
GAR Foundation
President -
Annie McFadden
United Way of Summit and Medina
Interim President & CEO -
Jay Mellon
AtNetPlus, Inc.
CEO -
Jim Merklin
Bober Markey Fedorovich
Partner -
Marc Merklin
Roetzel & Andress
Shareholder -
Steve Millard*
Greater Akron Chamber
President & CEO -
Lakisha Miller-Barclay*
Rubber Division, ACS
Executive Director & CEO -
Mike Morrison
GPD Group
Senior Director, Private Markets -
Amy Mucha
Daisy Pops
Owner -
Chuck Mullen
Eide Bailly
Partner, Great Lakes Market Leader -
Chrissy Myers*
AUI & Clarity HR
CEO -
Brandyn Neal
Schauer Group
Client Advisor & Akron Market Leader -
Brian Nelsen
County of Summit, Ohio
Chief of Staff -
Krishna Nookala
Newry Corp
Vice President -
Don Padgett
Kaulig Companies Championship
Executive Director -
Roberta Palacio
Continental
Supply Chain Executive -
B Patel
GHC Green Harvest Capital
Principal & Co-Founder -
Ron Paydo
Huntington Bank
Market President -
John Petures Jr.
Akron Community Foundation
President & CEO -
Jim Pfander
Akron RubberDucks
President & General Manager -
Kendra Philon*
Meadon & Moore
Vice President, Assurance Services -
Tia Ramlow*
Great Work Employment
President -
Kathy Romito
Western Reserve Hospital
Community Relations Manager -
Ike Samson-Akpan Sr.
SAF, Inc.
President/Owner -
Dr. Jennifer Savitski*
Cleveland Clinic Akron General
Chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology -
Honorable Ilene Shapiro
County of Summit
County Executive -
Erick Sharp
ACE Laboratories
CEO -
Suranjan Shome
Epiphany Management Group
CEO -
Mark Smale
Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations
Executive Director, Core Polymer Science -
Raymond Somich
Synthomer
Global Director, Government Affairs -
Erin Spring
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
Senior Director, Material Science -
Brian Steere
Steere Enterprises
Co-President -
Norm Steiner
Medical Mutual
VP, Major Accounts & Strategy -
Don Taylor
Welty
CEO -
Damian Thomas
The RCF Group
Market President -
Jason Tuma
Sikich LLP
Partner, Northeast Ohio Market Leader -
Andrew Twardzik
Ernst & Young LLP
Partner, Americas Deputy Risk Markets Leader -
Dan Weekley
Enbridge Gas Ohio
President -
Katherine White
Torchbearers (YP)
Board Liaison -
Bernett L. Williams
Akron Children's Hospital
Chief Engagement Officer -
John Williams
Akron Urban League
President/CEO -
Steve Wilt
CAPTRUST
Principal, Financial Advisor
Business Owners Council
The business owner’s council is designed to ensure that the Chamber is appropriately focused on issues and programs specifically tailored to business owners in Greater Akron. This council is comprised of business owners and members from the Greater Akron region.
Diversity Professionals Council
Fostering inclusive economic growth relies on tapping into the expertise and perspectives of our region’s diversity professionals. The Diversity Professional Council convenes DEI and HR leaders regularly, providing a platform for collaborative brainstorming, problem-solving, and networking. Together, they drive forward their companies' and the region's diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, leveraging collective knowledge and experiences to create meaningful progress.
Economic Inclusion Committee
As the representative and convener of the business community in Greater Akron, the Chamber is focused on providing businesses with the tools, resources, and information necessary to become more inclusive, to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts within their companies, and to support the growth of minority-owned companies. The Economic Inclusion Committee is focused on ensuring that the Chamber is meeting the needs of the business community in this space and working to advance inclusive growth in the region.
Government Affairs Committee
The GAC’s ability to effectively advocate on these issues is largely due to ongoing support and input from its Government Affairs Committee. This group is comprised of leaders from within business, nonprofit, higher education, and community-based organizations. This committee is, at its core, a tool that enables the GAC to understand members’ perspectives on relevant issues and collaboratively explore solutions. Doing this work is critical to the GAC’s ability to effectively advocate on our members’ behalf and provides us with a platform to collectively engage elected officials.
Polymer Industry Advisory Council
Greater Akron is the center of the world’s polymer industry and with support from the Polymer Industry Advisory Council (PIAC), the region continues to drive global innovation and shape the local economy. The PIAC convenes leaders from across the Polymer Industry Cluster to inform and guide the development of the Cluster; share ideas and strengthen relationships; and identify common challenges, develop shared solutions, and pursue collaborative projects that advance industry innovation and have a positive impact on the economy.
Supplier Diversity Procurement Council
The Supplier Diversity Procurement Council is a specialized initiative centered on promoting inclusivity and equity within procurement practices. This council is dedicated to championing a diverse supplier base by fostering opportunities for businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, LGBTQ+ individuals, and individuals with disabilities. Through strategic planning, outreach programs, and advocacy efforts, the council seeks to expand supplier diversity, creating avenues for underrepresented businesses to participate in the procurement process. It aims to establish fair and inclusive supplier selection processes, offer support and resources to diverse suppliers, and collaborate with stakeholders to drive economic growth while fostering a more equitable and representative business landscape.
Women’s Network Leadership Institute Advisory Council
In October of 2019, Women’s Network and the Greater Akron Chamber memorialized an official Affiliation Agreement for the purpose of creating women’s programming within the Greater Akron Chamber. The Women’s Network Leadership Institute Advisory Council oversees the mission of the Women’s Network to Connect, Empower and Inspire through Best-in-Class Curriculum offerings, Research and Thought Leadership.
Our Chair's Circle represents our most significant investors and the drivers of our work.

Akron Children's

ACF

AT&T

BMF

BMF

Buckingham

CBIZ

CBRE

Charles Schwab

City of Akron

Cleveland Clinic Akron General

County of Summit

Continental

Eide Bailly

Enbridge

EY

FedEx

Fifth Third

First Energy

GAR

gojo

Goodyear

GPD Group

GreatWork

Huntington

JP Morgan Chase

Kaulig Companies Championship

KeyBank

Knight Foundation

Lumos

Magnet

Medical Mutual

Metis

Northeast Ohio Medical University

PVC

PNC Bank

Roetzel

S.A. Comunale

Shumaker

Sikich

Spectrum

State & Federal

Summa

Team-neo

University of Akron

United Way Summit-Medina

Vistra

Welty

Westfield Bank

Amanda Anderson
Director, Investor Engagement

Emily Baarson
Manager, Projects and Initiatives
ConxusNEO

Jean Barbato
Senior Manager, Manufacturing Sector Partnership,
ConxusNEO

Hope Bell
Senior Manager, Community Partnerships
ConxusNEO

Morgan Bock
Director, Executive Office

Alyssa Carpenter
Director, Economic Development

Gregg P. Cramer
Vice President, Economic Development

Sarah Deitrick
Project Manager

Kirsten Delpinal
Graphic Designer

Robyn Durlin
Manager, Digital Marketing and Web Design

Alexis Escobar-Paz
Coordinator, Akron-Canton Advocacy Alliance

Heather Flohr
Senior Manager, Business Operations

Halee Gerenday
Director, Marketing and Communications

Sante Ghetti
Vice President, Investor Engagement

Jen Golembiewski
Senior Manager, Member Engagement

Christine Hoffman
Senior Manager, Marketing & Communications

Ameeca Holmes
Senior Manager, Healthcare Sector Partnership
ConxusNEO

Juliana Kless
Coordinator, Cuyahoga Falls Business Gateway

Evan Laux
Manager, Content Creation

Emily Lundgard
Vice President, Elevate Greater Akron

Elisha Murray
Office Coordinator

Anna Pitts
Senior Manager, Grants and Stakeholder Relations, Elevate Greater Akron

Brynn Popa
Executive Vice President

Anna Richards
Senior Manager, Programs and Events

John Rizzo
Vice President, Akron-Canton Advocacy Alliance

Sheri Shields
Senior Manager, Small Business Engagement
We have identified the Board members that also participate on our Executive Committee with a * by their name.
Name | Personal Title | Related Organization |
---|---|---|
Matthew Akers | Special Assistant to the President for Government Relations & Associate Director of the Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics | The University of Akron |
Juan Amezquita | Chief Financial and Operating Officer | GOJO Industries, Inc. |
Tyler Amos | VP - Sr. Financial Consultant, Akron Branch | Charles Schwab Corporate Services |
Monica Andress | Attorney | Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith, as well as Torchbearers |
Anne Armao | Vice President, Member Experience & Product Development | SummaCare |
Dunja Augustin | Vice President of Operations | Vistra |
Elizabeth Bartz | President and CEO | State and Federal Communications, Inc. |
Kristi Beeman | Vice President | Huntington National Bank |
Warren Blazy | Senior Vice President | CBRE |
Tami Bolder | Director, CBIZ Valuation Group | CBIZ |
Julie Brandle* | President | Metis Construction Services |
Marie Brilmyer | Partner | Cohen & Co |
Traci Buckner | Executive Director | Akron Children's Museum |
Ren Camacho* | President and CEO | Akron-Canton Airport |
Tony Costanzo | Director, External/Legislative Affairs | AT&T |
Joe Daleiden | Sr. Vice President - Commercial Banking | KeyBank |
Jeff Datkuliak | Director | ARCOA Group |
Cliff Deveny* | President /CEO | Summa Health |
Krista Dobronos | Chief Consumer Banking Officer | Westfield Bank |
Jason Dodson | Shareholder | Roetzel & Andress |
Matt Dolan | Chief Executive Officer | Team NEO |
Tracy Dowe* | City President & Middle Market Team Leader - Akron/Canton/Youngstown | Fifth Third Bank |
Laura Duda* | Senior Vice President & Chief Communications Officer | Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company |
Gino Faciana | Co-CEO | Pleasant Valley Corporation - NAI Pleasant Valley |
Craig Ferriot | President | Ferriot |
J.R. Fowler | COO | S.A. Comunale |
Melanie Friedman | Principal | FMD Architects |
Rich Fry | Taxation Practice Group Leader | Buckingham Doolittle & Burroughs |
Val Geiger | Executive Director, Commercial Banking | JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. |
Peter Geise | Akron Area President | FocusCFO |
Chris Gessner | President & CEO | Akron Children's Hospital |
Suzie Graham Moore | Director of Economic Development | City of Akron |
Dwayne Groll* | CEO | Environmental Design Group |
Dan Hampu | President & CEO | Burton D. Morgan Foundation |
Craig Hassinger | CEO and President | SeibertKeck Insurance |
Gillianne Hetrick | Senior Vice President, Human Resources & Corporate Operations | Babcock & Wilcox |
John Higgins | Region Vice President | Spectrum |
Torrence Hinton | President | FirstEnergy Ohio |
Para Jones* | President | Stark State College |
Halle Jones Capers | President | Halle's Engineering & Design |
Ethan Karp | President and CEO | MAGNET |
Stephen Kristan | Director, Market Development | Lumos |
Kyle Kutuchief | Program Director/Akron | Knight Foundation |
Adam LaFaber | Owner | Digital Sandwich |
John Langell | President | Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) |
Theresa Lash-Ritter | President | Cleveland Clinic Akron General |
Amanda Leffler* | Akron Managing Partner | Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick |
Erin Leppo Palmer | CFO & In-House Legal Counsel | Leppo, Inc. (Leppo Equipment/Bobcat of Akron) |
Joe Luckring* | Regional President | PNC Bank |
Shammas Malik | Mayor | City of Akron |
Lauren Marsh | President | Akron Urban League Young Professionals |
Christine Mayer* | President | GAR Foundation |
Annie McFadden | Interim President & CEO | United Way of Summit and Medina |
Jay Mellon | CEO | AtNetPlus, Inc. |
Jim Merklin | Partner | Bober Markey Fedorovich |
Marc Merklin | Shareholder | Roetzel & Andress |
Steve Millard* | President & CEO | Greater Akron Chamber |
Lakisha Miller-Barclay* | Executive Director & CEO | Rubber Division, ACS |
Mike Morrison | Senior Director, Private Markets | GPD Group |
Amy Mucha | Owner | Daisy Pops |
Chuck Mullen | Partner, Great Lakes Market Leader | Eide Bailly |
Chrissy Myers* | CEO | AUI & Clarity HR |
Brandyn Neal | Client Advisor & Akron Market Leader | Schauer Group |
Brian Nelsen | Chief of Staff | County of Summit, Ohio |
Krishna Nookala | Vice President | Newry Corp |
Don Padgett | Executive Director | Kaulig Companies Championship |
Roberta Palacio | Supply Chain Executive | Continental |
B. Patel | Principal & Co-Founder | GHC Green Harvest Capital |
Ron Paydo | Market President | Huntington Bank |
John Petures | President & CEO | Akron Community Foundation |
Jim Pfander | President & General Manager | Akron RubberDucks |
Kendra Philon* | Vice President, Assurance Services | Meaden & Moore |
Tia Ramlow* | President | Great Work Employment |
Kathy Romito | Community Relations Manager | Western Reserve Hospital |
Ike Samson-Akpan | President/Owner | SAF, Inc. |
Jennifer Savitski* | Chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology | Cleveland Clinic Akron General |
Ilene Shapiro | County Executive | County of Summit, Ohio |
Erick Sharp | CEO | ACE Laboratories |
Suranjan Shome | CEO | Epiphany Management Group |
Mark Smale | Executive Director, Core Polymer Science | Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations |
Raymond Somich | Global Director, Government Affairs | Synthomer |
Erin Spring | Senior Director, Material Science | The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company |
Brian Steere | Co-President | Steere Enterprises |
Norm Steiner | VP, Major Accounts & Strategy | Medical Mutual |
Don Taylor | CEO | Welty |
Damian Thomas | Market President | The RCF Group |
Jason Tuma | Partner, Northeast Ohio Market Leader | Sikich |
Andrew Twardzik | Partner, Americas Deputy Risk Markets Leader | Ernst & Young |
Dan Weekley | President | Enbridge Gas Ohio |
Katherine White | Board Liaison | Torchbearers (YP) |
Bernett L. Williams | Chief Engagement Officer | Akron Children's |
John Williams | President/CEO | Akron Urban League |
Steve Wilt | Principal, Finacial Advisor | CAPTRUST |
-
Matthew Akers
The University of Akron
Special Assistant to the President for Government Relations & Associate Director of the Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics -
Juan Amezquita
GOJO Industries, Inc.
Chief Financial and Operating Officer -
Tyler Amos
Charles Schwab Corporate Services
VP - Sr. Financial Consultant, Akron Branch -
Monica Andress
Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith, as well as Torchbearers
Attorney -
Anne Armao
SummaCare
Vice President, Member Experience & Product Development -
Dunja Augustin
Vistra
Vice President of Operations -
Elizabeth Bartz
State and Federal Communications, Inc.
President and CEO -
Kristi Beeman
Huntington National Bank
Vice President -
Warren Blazy
CBRE
Senior Vice President -
Tami Bolder
CBIZ
Director, CBIZ Valuation Group -
Julie Brandle*
Metis Construction Services
President -
Marie Brilmyer
Cohen & Co
Partner -
Traci Buckner
Akron Children's Museum
Executive Director -
Ren Camacho*
Akron-Canton Airport
President and CEO -
Tony Costanzo
AT&T
Director, External/Legislative Affairs -
Joe Daleiden
KeyBank
Sr. Vice President - Commercial Banking -
Jeff Datkuliak
ARCOA Group
Director -
Cliff Deveny*
Summa Health
President/CEO -
Krista Dobronos
Westfield Bank
Chief Consumer Banking Officer -
Jason Dodson
Roetzel & Andress
Shareholder -
Matt Dolan
Team NEO
Chief Executive Officer -
Tracy Dowe*
Fifth Third Bank
City President & Middle Market Team Leader - Akron/Canton/Youngstown -
Laura Duda*
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
Senior Vice President & Chief Communications Officer -
Gino Faciana
Pleasant Valley Corporation - NAI Pleasant Valley
Co-CEO -
Craig Ferriot
Ferriot
President -
J.R. Fowler
S.A. Comunale
COO -
Melanie Friedman
FMD Architects
Principal -
Rich Fry
Buckingham Doolittle & Burroughs
Taxation Practice Group Leader -
Val Geiger
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
Executive Director, Commercial Banking -
Peter Geise
Focus CFO
Akron Area President -
Chris Gessner
Akron Children's Hospital
President & CEO -
Suzie Graham Moore
City of Akron
Director of Economic Development -
Dwayne Groll*
Environmental Design Group
CEO -
Dan Hampu
Burton D. Morgan Foundation
President & CEO -
Craig Hassinger
SeibertKeck Insurance
CEO and President -
Gillianne Hetrick
Babcock & Wilcox
Senior Vice President, Human Resources & Corporate Operations -
John Higgins Jr.
Spectrum
Regional Vice President -
Torrence Hinton
FirstEnergy Ohio
President -
Dr. Para Jones*
Stark State College
President -
Halle Jones Capers, P.E.
Halle's Engineering and Design
President -
Dr. Ethan Karp
MAGNET
President & CEO -
Stephen Kristan
Lumos
Director, Market Development -
Kyle Kutuchief
Knight Foundation
Program Director/Akron -
Adam LaFaber
Digital Sandwich
Owner -
Dr. John Langell
Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED)
President -
Theresa Lash-Ritter
Cleveland Clinic Akron General
President -
Amanda Leffler*
Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick
Akron Managing Partner -
Erin Leppo Palmer
Leppo, Inc. (Leppo Equipment/Bobcat of Akron)
CFO & In-House Legal Counsel -
Joe Luckring*
PNC Bank
Regional President -
Shammas Malik
Mayor
City of Akron -
Lauren Marsh
Akron Urban League Young Professionals
President -
Christine Mayer*
GAR Foundation
President -
Annie McFadden
United Way of Summit and Medina
Interim President & CEO -
Jay Mellon
AtNetPlus, Inc.
CEO -
Jim Merklin
Bober Markey Fedorovich
Partner -
Marc Merklin
Roetzel & Andress
Shareholder -
Steve Millard*
Greater Akron Chamber
President & CEO -
Lakisha Miller-Barclay*
Rubber Division, ACS
Executive Director & CEO -
Mike Morrison
GPD Group
Senior Director, Private Markets -
Amy Mucha
Daisy Pops
Owner -
Chuck Mullen
Eide Bailly
Partner, Great Lakes Market Leader -
Chrissy Myers*
AUI & Clarity HR
CEO -
Brandyn Neal
Schauer Group
Client Advisor & Akron Market Leader -
Brian Nelsen
County of Summit, Ohio
Chief of Staff -
Krishna Nookala
Newry Corp
Vice President -
Don Padgett
Kaulig Companies Championship
Executive Director -
Roberta Palacio
Continental
Supply Chain Executive -
B Patel
GHC Green Harvest Capital
Principal & Co-Founder -
Ron Paydo
Huntington Bank
Market President -
John Petures Jr.
Akron Community Foundation
President & CEO -
Jim Pfander
Akron RubberDucks
President & General Manager -
Kendra Philon*
Meadon & Moore
Vice President, Assurance Services -
Tia Ramlow*
Great Work Employment
President -
Kathy Romito
Western Reserve Hospital
Community Relations Manager -
Ike Samson-Akpan Sr.
SAF, Inc.
President/Owner -
Dr. Jennifer Savitski*
Cleveland Clinic Akron General
Chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology -
Honorable Ilene Shapiro
County of Summit
County Executive -
Erick Sharp
ACE Laboratories
CEO -
Suranjan Shome
Epiphany Management Group
CEO -
Mark Smale
Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations
Executive Director, Core Polymer Science -
Raymond Somich
Synthomer
Global Director, Government Affairs -
Erin Spring
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
Senior Director, Material Science -
Brian Steere
Steere Enterprises
Co-President -
Norm Steiner
Medical Mutual
VP, Major Accounts & Strategy -
Don Taylor
Welty
CEO -
Damian Thomas
The RCF Group
Market President -
Jason Tuma
Sikich LLP
Partner, Northeast Ohio Market Leader -
Andrew Twardzik
Ernst & Young LLP
Partner, Americas Deputy Risk Markets Leader -
Dan Weekley
Enbridge Gas Ohio
President -
Katherine White
Torchbearers (YP)
Board Liaison -
Bernett L. Williams
Akron Children's Hospital
Chief Engagement Officer -
John Williams
Akron Urban League
President/CEO -
Steve Wilt
CAPTRUST
Principal, Financial Advisor
Business Owners Council
The business owner’s council is designed to ensure that the Chamber is appropriately focused on issues and programs specifically tailored to business owners in Greater Akron. This council is comprised of business owners and members from the Greater Akron region.
Diversity Professionals Council
Fostering inclusive economic growth relies on tapping into the expertise and perspectives of our region’s diversity professionals. The Diversity Professional Council convenes DEI and HR leaders regularly, providing a platform for collaborative brainstorming, problem-solving, and networking. Together, they drive forward their companies' and the region's diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, leveraging collective knowledge and experiences to create meaningful progress.
Economic Inclusion Committee
As the representative and convener of the business community in Greater Akron, the Chamber is focused on providing businesses with the tools, resources, and information necessary to become more inclusive, to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts within their companies, and to support the growth of minority-owned companies. The Economic Inclusion Committee is focused on ensuring that the Chamber is meeting the needs of the business community in this space and working to advance inclusive growth in the region.
Government Affairs Committee
The GAC’s ability to effectively advocate on these issues is largely due to ongoing support and input from its Government Affairs Committee. This group is comprised of leaders from within business, nonprofit, higher education, and community-based organizations. This committee is, at its core, a tool that enables the GAC to understand members’ perspectives on relevant issues and collaboratively explore solutions. Doing this work is critical to the GAC’s ability to effectively advocate on our members’ behalf and provides us with a platform to collectively engage elected officials.
Polymer Industry Advisory Council
Greater Akron is the center of the world’s polymer industry and with support from the Polymer Industry Advisory Council (PIAC), the region continues to drive global innovation and shape the local economy. The PIAC convenes leaders from across the Polymer Industry Cluster to inform and guide the development of the Cluster; share ideas and strengthen relationships; and identify common challenges, develop shared solutions, and pursue collaborative projects that advance industry innovation and have a positive impact on the economy.
Supplier Diversity Procurement Council
The Supplier Diversity Procurement Council is a specialized initiative centered on promoting inclusivity and equity within procurement practices. This council is dedicated to championing a diverse supplier base by fostering opportunities for businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, LGBTQ+ individuals, and individuals with disabilities. Through strategic planning, outreach programs, and advocacy efforts, the council seeks to expand supplier diversity, creating avenues for underrepresented businesses to participate in the procurement process. It aims to establish fair and inclusive supplier selection processes, offer support and resources to diverse suppliers, and collaborate with stakeholders to drive economic growth while fostering a more equitable and representative business landscape.
Women’s Network Leadership Institute Advisory Council
In October of 2019, Women’s Network and the Greater Akron Chamber memorialized an official Affiliation Agreement for the purpose of creating women’s programming within the Greater Akron Chamber. The Women’s Network Leadership Institute Advisory Council oversees the mission of the Women’s Network to Connect, Empower and Inspire through Best-in-Class Curriculum offerings, Research and Thought Leadership.
Our Chair's Circle represents our most significant investors and the drivers of our work.

Akron Children's

ACF

AT&T

BMF

BMF

Buckingham

CBIZ

CBRE

Charles Schwab

City of Akron

Cleveland Clinic Akron General

County of Summit

Continental

Eide Bailly

Enbridge

EY

FedEx

Fifth Third

First Energy

GAR

gojo

Goodyear

GPD Group

GreatWork

Huntington

JP Morgan Chase

Kaulig Companies Championship

KeyBank

Knight Foundation

Lumos

Magnet

Medical Mutual

Metis

Northeast Ohio Medical University

PVC

PNC Bank

Roetzel

S.A. Comunale

Shumaker

Sikich

Spectrum

State & Federal

Summa

Team-neo

University of Akron

United Way Summit-Medina

Vistra

Welty

Westfield Bank
Careers
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND GROWING GREATER AKRON
One voice for business really can make a difference –
especially when that voice represents thousands of businesses.
Join the Greater Akron Chamber and become active in the
Greater Akron Region’s dynamic business community.

the Chamber
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND
GROWING GREATER AKRON
One voice for business really can make a
difference – especially when that voice
represents thousands of businesses.
Join the Greater Akron Chamber and
become active in the Greater Akron Region’s
dynamic business community.
the Chamber
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND GROWING GREATER AKRON
One voice for business really can make a difference – especially when that voice represents thousands of businesses. Join the Greater Akron Chamber and become active in the Greater Akron Region’s dynamic business community.
