Speakers Bureau

Looking for a speaker? Members of the chamber staff would be happy to speak at your next meeting or event. The following staff and topics are available. If you are interested in securing one of these speakers for your event or meeting, please contact Lori Zirkle at lzirkle@dacc.org or 937-226-8225.

Chris Kershner, President & CEO

  • Chamber history & overview: The chamber’s beginnings (formed by John H. Patterson in 1907), our current core competencies and how we offer them to our members.
  • Transportation’s critical role in the Dayton region: The current strategy behind the region’s 10 year, $1.2 billion plan for improving its transportation infrastructure and how it will enhance the economic vitality in the Miami Valley.
  • Workforce alignment: An overview of the chamber’s role in assisting our business members in this important initiative.
  • Why public policy is important for business: Identify strategies for keeping your organization informed of legislative activity and proactively dealing with laws and regulations before they’re passed.
  • Regionalism: A discussion of the opportunities for intergovernmental shared services, collaboration, cooperation and marketing.
  • The state of Dayton’s economy: Past, present, and future – Dayton’s transition from manufacturing roots to growing technology, aerospace and medicine industries.

Linda Ashworth, COO

  • Providing a positive return on investment for members: The why and how to quantify value in a service or non-profit organization.
  • Leveraging collaborations and partnerships to meet your goals: How to use existing resources to create better services without duplication and extra cost.
  • Zero-based budgeting for non-profit organizations: Understanding how to maximize services with limited resources and select the most cost-effective options for the organization
  • Analyzing financial statements: A general business look at the underlying meaning of financial statement presentations.

Stephanie Keinath, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives

  • Why public policy is important for business: Identify strategies for keeping your organization informed of legislative activity and proactively dealing with laws and regulations before they’re passed.
  • Aligning educational practices with business needs: An overview of the business role in education and how investment from the business community now will change the face of our workforce in the future.

Belinda Matthews Stenson, Vice President of Business Inclusion

  • Diversifying your spend: How to employ the resources available in the Dayton region to meet your diversity spend goals.
  • How a diverse business certification can put you ahead: The when, where and why of securing a minority- or woman-owned business certification and an overview of the benefits that come with a certification.
  • Submitting a winning bid: How small and minority-owned businesses can meet the needs of large buyers when submitting bids, leading to a ‘win’.

Amanda Byers, Director of Talent & Policy

  • Workforce development issues: A business prospective on the needs and opportunities for finding qualified workers.
  • Why public policy is important for business: Identify strategies for keeping your organization informed of legislative activity and proactively dealing with laws and regulations before they’re passed.

Veronica Nunamaker, Director of Marketing & Member Engagement

  • Marketing to reach your audience: Learn best practices to identify marketing strategies to reach your intended audiences.
  • Media relations to boost your business: An overview of earned media and how to build a reciprocal relationship with members of the media to support your business’ goals.
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