Dayton Area Chamber marks 112 years with annual meeting
DAYTON, Ohio – More than 500 guests attended the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce’s 113th Annual Meeting Tuesday, April 16, 2019, celebrating the organization’s successes of 2018, and much excitement yet to come.
2018 was a year full of accomplishments for the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce. The chamber added 177 new business members and saved its members a collective $6.4 million in business expenses through member savings programs that harness the power of group purchasing and passes savings on to chamber members. The chamber also assisted with 22 ribbon cutting or ground breaking ceremonies, five more than in 2017, which is a sign of increased business growth in the Dayton region.
The Dayton Area Chamber also launched Pathways in 2018, which, through a partnership with JumpStart Inc. and KeyBank, allows the chamber to nurture minority- and women-owned businesses, as well as rural and under-served businesses that are both scalable and tech-enabled. This work not only stimulates our economy by creating jobs, but allows for further investment in the Dayton region over the long term.
Serving as the only chamber of commerce in the Dayton region with three registered lobbyists on staff who provide a business voice to our legislature, the Dayton Area Chamber made great strides for the business community in 2018. The chamber worked with Governor Mike DeWine to create a Military Cabinet position in order to ensure a strong focus on the needs of our military. The chamber also helped to defeat Ohio Issue 1, the misdemeanor drug proposal that was bankrolled outside the state of Ohio. Our public policy team also successfully advocated for House Bill 492, which would establish a Women Business Enterprise Certification program for Ohio.
With 2,200 members, the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce continues to be among the top 25 largest chambers in the nation and one of only 200 chambers of commerce in the country with a 5-star accreditation, as awarded by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Award Recipients
During the chamber’s Annual Meeting, the following individuals and business members were also recognized:
- KeyBank – John H. Patterson Corporate Partner Award
- ADAMHS – Jonathan Dayton Public Partner Award
- Antoinette Hampton, United Way of the Greater Dayton Area – Jack Moore Ambassador of the Year
- Kenya Taylor, KeyBank – Volunteer of the Year
- GlobalFlyte – Soin Award for Innovation (Press Release Available)
- Fifth Third Bank – Premier Health Diversity & Inclusion Award
About Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce
The Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce brings together more than 2,200 businesses and organizations in a 9 county area surrounding Dayton, Ohio. The Chamber strives to improve the region’s business climate and overall standard of living through public policy advocacy, economic development initiatives and providing networking and training opportunities for its members. Nationally awarded with “5-Star Accreditation” from the United States Chamber of Commerce, the Dayton Chamber is widely recognized for its innovative programs and outstanding contribution to positive change in the region. Information about the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce is available at daytonchamber.org or 937-226-1444.
