Steve Millard, President & CEO of the Greater Akron Chamber was our featured speaker at the Tuesday, June 15 Club meeting. Mr. Millard provided an overview of the Greater Akron Area Chamber of Commerce. The Greater Akron Chamber serves Medina, Portage and Summit Counties.
Mr. Millard’s work is focused on leading the chamber’s efforts to drive jobs and investment in the Greater Akron region, improve the region’s competitiveness and to advocate for the needs of the business community in the region with its elected and appointed officials.Steve is a certified chamber executive, serves on the Boards of Leadership Akron, the Summit Education Initiative (data-based school performance collaborative), Conexus/NEO (regional workforce intermediary) and Medical Services Company. He is a frequent adviser to businesses and a regular facilitator for strategic planning and leadership team retreats.
What is the Mission of the Greater Akron Chamber?
The mission of the Greater Akron Chamber is to drive economic growth and prosperity for Greater Akron by supporting the success of the business community and acting as a convener of stakeholders on key issues facing the region.
Who does the Greater Akron Chamber Serve?
The Chamber represents a membership of diverse businesses ranging from global manufacturers to small machine shops and professionals to non-profit organizations and educational institutions. The Greater Akron Chamber is committed to continual improvement of our community, our economy, and our quality of life. The Chamber serves more than 1,500 member companies, offering the best bottom-line, result-producing benefits; networking and marketing opportunities; small business support; public representation; and information services.
What Strategies Drive the Focus of the Greater Akron Chamber?
- Support Company Growth; Jobs and Investment
Grow company revenue, capital investment and jobs in Greater Akron by leading targeted business attraction, retention and expansion efforts for high potential opportunities.
- Support Small and Mid-Sized Businesses
Create advantage for the region’s small and middle market businesses by connecting them to customers, capital, content and ecosystem support resources.
- Drive Economic Inclusion
Advance economic opportunity through diversity and inclusion to accelerate the growth and success of Greater Akron’s companies.
- Facilitate Employer Workforce Solutions
Drive employer focused solutions to critical skill gaps by increasing job access and employer engagement with the talent development system.
What Can the Chamber Do for My Business?
While the Chamber can help your business in many ways, there are four competencies of the Chamber that can be of great assistance!
- Catalytic Research and Advocacy -- Drive ideas and decision-making on action to further Greater Akron’s economic success from the perspective of the business and employer community.
- Storytelling -- Bring visibility to the region’s assets, companies, needs and opportunities with a focus on driving value for the business community, its employers and their workforce.
- Convener and Facilitator -- Bring companies, organizations, and key stakeholders together to dialogue and connect around opportunities for mutual economic success in Greater Akron.
- Distinctive Products, Services and Resources to Support Members -- In places where gaps exist and the mutual needs of our members can be supported, the Chamber will invent and/or invest in capacity to fill the need and support their success.
How Has COVID-19 Impacted the Chamber and the Businesses it Represents?
The past 15 months has been challenging for the Chamber, as it has for its members. What has happened as a result of the pandemic and the political polarization confronting the country has created some new opportunities as well as challenges for the Chamber and its members. The Chamber and its members are addressing economic disparities, systemic racism, etc.
CEOs are thinking about greater growth opportunity based on pent up demand, keeping new customers as a result on the expansion of online purchasing, earning back previous customers, winning back workers, providing new kinds of flexibility in working conditions, addressing cyber-security, and being more transparent in the areas of diversity, environment, inclusion, and a changing regulatory environment.
2021 Strategic Planning Sessions
To address some of these new challenges, the Chamber will be holding several opportunities for an open discussion about ideas, initiatives, and opportunities for the future work of the Chamber. The Chamber is currently going through an update of the Chamber’s strategic plan and blueprint to reflect changes in their work and some of the new realities of the post COVID-19 environment.
According to Mr. Millard, this is an opportunity not only to provide input on the work of the Chamber and its priorities, but to have an opportunity to get together and share ideas with other business owners and leaders as we all emerge from a more restricted meeting and events environment due to COVID-19.
To attend one of these sessions, interested individuals can go to the Chamber website https://greaterakronchamber.org. or click here for the 2021 Strategic Planning Sessions link.
Yours in Service -
Terry Dalton
Rotary Club of Akron Secretary |Club Scholarship Chair
