Category: Op-Ed
Parker: Chamber council’s economic outlook: Slow, steady growth
One of the many services provided each year by the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce is a look into the future of our national and local economies. Thanks to the expertise and generous time of a community group of leaders from banking, market investment, ...
Parker: It’s been a privilege, but soon it will be time for a change
After more than 31 years of service, five as a volunteer and 26 next year as president and CEO, I have decided it's time for a change in leading our region's chamber of commerce. During the past few months, the chamber board officers and later our board, ...
Parker: Dayton still strong!
What a year this has been for all of us. But I am so proud of how the Dayton area has stood so tall in all of its challenges and especially how proud Dayton and its citizens have made me and others with their recent actions. I don’t have to remind ...
Parker: Strong Ohio bill to stop gun violence makes Dayton strong
In the wake of the violent shooting in the Oregon District on Aug. 4, Daytonians gathered to hear some of our key elected officials discuss the horror and what might be done to keep something like this from occurring again in our community or in Ohio. ...
Parker: U.S. 40 improvements vital to keep area in north competitive
One of our region’s greatest growth hotspots is along the northern Montgomery County and Miami County borderline adjacent to U.S. Route 40. This important east/west travel lane, known to many of us here in Ohio as the National Road, was created by Con...
Parker: Today, we move toward the light
Without a doubt, this has been another challenging and heartbreaking time here in Dayton and the Miami Valley. The month of May came in like a lamb but went out like a lion as we were pummeled by more than a dozen tornadoes on Memorial Day. Then barel...
Parker: Recent storms will have continued economic impact
Many Dayton-area families and businesses were lucky when the tornadoes hit on the late evening of Memorial Day. But … many others were not. Thanks to first responders and many brave and selfless neighbors and friends, we got through those first few...
Parker: Arcade revival big win for downtown
The most-recent steps taken in the very long process of the redevelopment of Dayton’s historic downtown Arcade are perhaps the most significant progress in years. For those new to our community, this is not the first attempt to revitalize this iconic...
Parker: Companies need creative ways to attract workers beyond pay
Employers continue to have many challenges attracting or retaining the skilled talent they need to drive the success of their organizations. Our community, like others across the nation, is hard at work in setting high expectations of our local K-12 edu...
Parker: We need to fix our roads
I don’t know about you, but these Ohio potholes created by our freeze-and-thaw this past fall and winter are driving me crazy and killing my 9-year old Suburban. But what are we going to do about it before it gets even worse? Then came a reminder i...
