Issuu

CHAMBERLINK

Chamber Golf Classic.

STAFF

Jessica Gribben, OhioCED President & CEO

Angie Cirone Director of Education Foundation

Donnie Clark Economic Development Project Manager - Richland County

Lisa Duckworth Director of Programs & Events

Angie Fanello

Member Engagement & Special Projects Coordinator

Kathy Fox Front Office Coordinator

Clint Knight Director of Workforce Development/Area 10 Workforce Dev. Board Administrative Director

Jill Gantt Workforce Development Coordinator

Evan Stuart Marketing & Legislative Affairs Coordinator

Barrett Thomas Senior Economic Development Director

Tom Vanderhorst Finance Specialist

Jennifer Wagner Director of Member Services

Yvonne Smith

Member Services & Front Office Coordinator

Jeff Parton Economic & Community Development Director

Downtown Mansfield Development

Jessica Gribben, OhioCED President & CEO

Big news for downtown Mansfield this summer! The Downtown Mansfield Forward and the Hearth and Forge Hotel Projects both received Transformational Mixed-Use Development (TMUD) funding from the state, on top of the $5 million in historic tax credits Downtown Mansfield Forward project received back in June.

Downtown Mansfield Forward, the Richland County Foundation and Windsor Development’s plan to turn 14 historic buildings around the Brickyard into 102 apartments and new commercial space, picked up a $600,000 TMUD award. A few blocks away, the Hearth and Forge Hotel, a $10 million redevelopment of the old Holiday Inn on Park Avenue West led by Jay Goyal and a group of local investors, received its own $528,220 TMUD award. Together, that’s more than $1.1 million in new state support for our downtown.

We’re proud of what it took to get here. Projects like these happen because developers, city officials, the Richland County Foundation, and local community leaders all showed up and worked the details for months. It’s these kinds of partnerships that keep Richland County moving forward, and we’re excited for what both projects mean for Mansfield. As the Main Street Streetscape project enters its final months, we look forward to the continued redevelopment happening in downtown Mansfield!

Warmly,

Jessica Gribben, OhioCED President & CEO, Richland Area Chamber and Economic Development

55 N. Mulberry St.

Mansfield, OH 44902

Phone: (419) 522-3211

info@richlandareachamber.com

JULY SCHEDULE

MECHANICS BANK | 2 S. MAIN STREET | MANSFIELD LIVE PERFORMANCES WILL BE HELD 11:30 A.M.– 1:30 P.M.

JULY 10

JULY 24

In the event of inclement weather, visit MyMechanics.com/LiveatLunch for updates. *Food truck items available for purchase

2026 SUMMER COURTYARD SERIES

Taylor Schlupp Black Willow*

Tom’s Kitchen Table Panchos Tacos*

Big health bene ts for small businesses

You put everything you have into your business. And we put everything into creating high-quality health insurance plans for you and your employees. We've partnered with the Richland Area Chamber & Economic Development and Council of Smaller Enterprises (COSE) to offer a unique bene t option for small businesses like yours. The COSE Benefit Plan is a multiple employer welfare arrangement (MEWA) that allows businesses of 1–50 to experience rate stability, savings and the same great health benefits that large corporations have. Bundle your health plan with our dental, vision or life plans for a fully integrated bene ts package.

Contact your broker | COSEBene tPlan.com

CATALYTIC LEADER / SILVER

BUILD & GROW

Advantage Credit Union, Inc.

Buckeye Village Apartments

E S Beveridge & Associates Inc

Monarch Surfaces

ENGAGE & CONNECT

Advantage Marketing Inc

Alpha GMC of Mansfield

Ashland Scale Co., Inc.

Berean Baptist Church

Callahan Door & Window

Crestview Local School District

Grace Episcopal Church and Pantry

Habitat for Humanity of Richland & Crawford Counties, Inc.

Hanning Surveying, LLC

HDC Signs (Heartland Design Concepts)

Malabar Farm Foundation Inc

Mansfield Christian School

Mansfield City Schools District

Matt Lamp Plumbing & Mechanical Inc.

BOOST & EXCEL

Agape United Home Care

Der Dutchman Restaurant

Spitzer Motors of Mansfield

The Waterford at Mansfield

Vector Security

Wallington & Bauer

Mightyfruit Realty

Milark Industries

Mohican Valley Title Agency, LLC

North Central Ohio ESC

Ontario Youth Sports, Inc.

Richland County Job & Family Services

Richland County Ohio Sheriff

Richland Public Health

The Ball Agency

The Furniture Bank of NC Ohio

Towne Pharmacy

Tridico Screen Sign Company LLC

Vinyl Marketing

Wayne’s Country Market

Chamber Golf Classic Women’s

Chamber Coffee at the Blueberry Patch

Love Furnishings Grand opening

Shopko Optical Grand opening

Silver Birch Grand opening

Apex Entertainment Pro Grand opening

BWC RATE CUTS CONTINUE, BUT MANY EMPLOYERS STILL OVERPAY FOR WORKERS’ COMP

Workers’ compensation costs continue to put pressure on Ohio employers, and many employers are unknowingly missing out on significant BWC discounts. With complex rules and changing eligibility requirements, it’s easy to overpay without realizing it.

Through Richland Area Chamber & Economic Development with Sedgwick, a leader in workers’ compensation solutions, your organization can receive a free, no-obligation savings analysis. We’ll evaluate your current program and determine whether you qualify for the most advantageous BWC rating options—helping you maximize available discounts.

✅ No cost, no obligation review

✅ Expert analysis by Sedgwick

✅ Identify potential hidden savings

Getting started is simple. A temporary authorization (AC-3) form allows us to review your current position and highlight opportunities to reduce costs.

Don’t leave savings on the table.

Request your free analysis today by contacting David Deyo at david.deyo@sedgwick.com or applying online here.

You pick up a welcome mat.

At Mechanics, our friendly experts take care of your home loan so you can get to the fun part of buying a new home faster.

mymechanics.com/mortgages

Subject to credit approval. Additional terms and conditions apply.

THE NEW 2026/2027 COMMUNITY GUIDES / CHAMBER MEMBER

DIRECTORIES ARE HOT OFF THE PRESS!

This guide is full of great facts about our area. It is also the perfect way to show off your business and support your fellow Chamber members. Please share them with your staff, residents, and visitors. You can also leave them in your waiting area for customers to take!

NEED MORE COPIES?

Four copies were sent to you in the mail, but if you need more, we can deliver them to you in the Richland County area at no charge. Let us know if you need a dozen or a case of 65! Contact Angie Fanello at the Chamber at 419-522-3211, ext. 106 or afanello@richlandareachamber.com.

COST CONTAINMENT IN OHIO WORKERS’ COMPENSATION

Workplace injuries can carry both financial and emotional impacts for employers and employees alike. While ensuring injured workers receive proper care remains the top priority, managing associated costs is also essential to maintaining a healthy workers’ compensation program.

In Ohio, employers have three key strategies to help contain costs: Settlements, Disability Relief, and Subrogation/No-Fault Motor Vehicle Accidents (MVA). Sedgwick continues to lead the industry in effectively leveraging these tools.

Our approach combines advanced analytics with proactive cost containment strategies to help Ohio employers reduce claim expenses and lower premiums. From the moment a claim is filed, our team is prepared to implement solutions that drive meaningful savings.

Sedgwick’s dedicated cost containment team focuses exclusively on these three strategies, delivering significant savings for individual employers and participants in group retrospective rating programs.

Settlement Agreements

A settlement is a mutual agreement between the employer, injured worker, and the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) to resolve a claim with a lump-sum payment. This can result in full or partial claim closure, helping employers manage long-term exposure.

Disability Relief

This program supports employers who hire or retain individuals with pre-existing medical conditions. If a disability contributes to an injury or delays recovery, employers may be eligible for reimbursement on related claims, reducing their financial burden.

Subrogation

/ No-Fault MVA

When a workplace injury results from a motor vehicle accident involving a third party, the Ohio BWC may assign claim costs to the surplus fund, relieving the employer of direct financial responsibility.

Sedgwick is proud to partner with clients to optimize their workers’ compensation programs. Our proactive approach to cost containment remains central to achieving the best possible outcomes for both employers and injured workers.

For questions or support, please contact David Deyo at david.deyo@sedgwick.com.

HIGH SCHOOL ARDUINO CAMPS

What an incredible tw Electronics Camps B learned programming simple circuits, while in students tackled micr coding logic, teamw problem‐solving s hardware and softw together. The high students brought creativity, and impres to both sessio

Projects included M games, motion sens safes, alarms, and a pr piano. Students left w STEM skills and con

UPCOMING EVENTS

RICHLAND AREA CHAMBER & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PRESENTS

SECOND CHANCES, STRONGER COMMUNITIES.

A Morning with Damon West

National Speaker & Author of “Be a Coffee Bean”

Wednesday, August 5, 2026 9:00 – 10:30 AM EDT Historic Ohio State Reformatory

. National Speaker & Author of “Be a Coffee Bean”

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Damon West is an internationally known keynote speaker, 4-time bestselling author, and former crime boss in Dallas who was sentenced to life in prison for organized crime. USA Today calls him the “modern day Shawshank Redemption and the most in-demand speaker in America.” After a spiritual awakening during incarceration, Damon emerged from over seven years in prison a changed man. His story is one of hope, redemption, grit, and the resilience of the human spirit.

Purchase a ticket and receive a FREE copy of Be a Coffee Bean! Wednesday, August 5,

The World Is a Pot of Boiling Water. You Have 3 Choices:

THE CARROT Goes in strong, comes out soft and weak.

THE WORLD IS A POT OF BOILING WATER. YOU HAVE 3 CHOICES:

THE CARROT

Goes in strong, comes out soft and weak

THE EGG

THE EGG Goes in soft, comes out hard and mean.

Goes in soft, comes out hard and mean

THE COFFEE BEAN

THE COFFEE BEAN Changes the water around it — positive impact.

Changes the water around it positive impact

BE THE COFFEE BEAN.

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

PLATINUM $5,000

• 8 tickets to the event

• Opportunity to address the audience for 1 minute

• Business logo on all event advertising (large)

• Business logo on our event webpage

• Business logo in Chamber Newsletter

• Business logo on social media posts

• Business logo on membership emails advertising the event

• Table sign with corporate logo

• Verbal recognition from the podium at the event

SILVER $1,000

• 4 tickets to the event

• Business name on all event advertising

• Business name on our event webpage

• Business logo in Chamber Newsletter

• Business name on membership emails advertising the event

• Verbal recognition from the podium at the event

Interested in sponsoring ? Contact Lisa Duckworth: lduckworth@richlandareachamber.com

GOLD $2,500

• 6 tickets to the event

• Business logo on all event advertising (medium)

• Business logo on our event webpage

• Business logo in Chamber Newsletter

• Business logo on social media posts

• Business logo on membership emails advertising the event

• Table sign with corporate logo

• Verbal recognition from the podium at the event

BRONZE $500

• 2 tickets to the event

• Business name on our event webpage

• Business name in Chamber Newsletter

• Verbal recognition from the podium at the event

SponsorsHIPS

Why be a Savor & Sip Sponsor?

Sponsoring this event is an opportunity to showcase your business while supporting one of the Chamber’s signature community events. Your sponsorship puts your brand in front of local business leaders and community members through event promotion, social media, Chamber communications, and on-site recognition. It’s a meaningful way to increase visibility, strengthen your community presence, and demonstrate your commitment to the growth and success of our local business community.

PRESENTING SPONSOR $4,000 (exclusive)

• 30 tickets included

• Naming rights (Savor & Sip presented by…)

• Guaranteed seating at a VIP table

• Logo (small) on souvenir glasses (1 color)

• Logo (1 color) on tote bags for attendees

• Logo (large) on event signage / posters

• Opportunity to set up a promotional table at the event to hand out information

• Company name/logo recognized on advertising

• Company name listed on all press releases

*** Over 20 food vendors and 500 guests are expected! *** SOLD SOR (e

• Logo included in Chamber newsletter

• Logo included in Chamber emails about the event

• Logo on cover of “Tasting Menu”

• Full page ad in the “Tasting Menu” (3.75”w x 10.5” tall)

• Business recognized on stage & in announcements

• Logo & link on event webpage

• Logo shared on social media

• Right of ﬁrst refusal for next year

PLATINUM SPONSOR $1,000

• 8 tickets included

• Guaranteed seating at a VIP table

• Logo (1 color) on tote bags for attendees

• Logo (color) on event signage / posters

• Company name listed on all press releases

• Logo included in Chamber emails about the event

• Logo included in the “Tasting Menu”

• Business recognized in announcements

• Logo listed on event webpage with link

GOLD SPONSOR $600

• 8 tickets included

• Logo (1 color/small) on tote bags for attendees

• Name on event signage / posters

• Name included in Chamber emails about the event

• Company Name listed in the “Tasting Menu”

• Business recognized in announcements

• Company Name listed on event webpage with link

SOUVENIR GLASS SPONSOR $2500 (exclusive)

• 20 tickets included

• Logo (1 color) printed on souvenir pub glass given to ﬁrst 300 attendees, sponsors, & vendors

• Guaranteed seating at a VIP table

• Logo (1 color) on tote bags for attendees

• Logo on event signage / posters

• Company name listed on all press releases

• Logo included in Chamber newsletter

• Logo included in Chamber emails about the event

• Logo included in the “Tasting Menu”

rinted glass nted t ttendees, sponsors, ve uaranteed ranteed go o go o mpany pr pany al o included in Cham included in ncl

• 1/2 page ad in the “Tasting Menu” (3.75”w x 5”tall)

• Business recognized on stage & in announcements

• Logo & link on event webpage

• Logo shared on social media

• Right of ﬁrst refusal for next year

TRAY SPONSOR $900

• 8 tickets included

• Company logo on all trays passed out at event to every participant

• Guaranteed seating at a VIP table

• Logo (1 color/small) on tote bags for attendees

• Name on event signage / posters

• Company name listed on all press releases

• Name included in Chamber emails about the event

• Name included in the “Tasting Menu”

• Business recognized in announcements

• Name listed on event webpage with link

SILVER SPONSOR

• 4 tickets included

$350

• Company name on tote bags for attendees

• Name on event signage / posters

• Company Name listed in the “Tasting Menu”

• Business recognized in announcements

• Company Name listed on event webpage with link

Contact Lisa Duckworth at 419-522-3211 or lduckworth@richlandareachamber.com

Below are the results from the 35th Annual Golf Classic!

Congratulations to all the prize winners!

1ST PLACE

Madison Local Schools

2ND PLACE Rumpke

3RD PLACE

Sutton Bank

TROPHY CLOSEST 2ND SHOT

Taylor Bogner

TROPHY LONGEST PUTT MADE

Scott Them

TROPHY LONGEST DRIVE

Lee Wilkins

TROPHY 50-50 RAFFLE WINNER

Dave Carto

TROPHY SKINS WINNER

Schmidt Security Pro

TROPHY BEST DRESSED TEAM

K E McCartney & Associates Inc.

2025-2026 Presenting Sponsor Program Day Sponsor

The Class of 2026 wrapped up the year at Camp Nuhop with a morning of reflection, connection, and shared leadership. From partner activities to outdoor reflection at Hemlock Falls, participants strengthened relationships and clarified their purpose as community leaders. Alumni joined for the Bread and Salt Luncheon, continuing meaningful conversations about leadership, responsibility, and future impact

Class of 2026 Commencement

What an incredible night celebrating the Leadership Unlimited Class of 2026 From Sam VanCura’s inspiring keynote on community engagement to a dynamic recap of this year’s program days, the evening showcased how much this class has grown, contributed, and connected across Richland County. Congratulations to Dan Varn, Executive Director of the United Way of Richland County, honored as the 2026 Outstanding LU Alumnus for his steady leadership and deep community impact. We recognized 31 graduates who leave ready to lead with purpose, collaboration, and heart Thank you to the many LU alumni who joined us in supporting the class. Congratulations to the LU Class of 2026 the Best Class Ever

UPCOMING CHAMBER EVENTS

07/22/26

HR Working Group, Deer Ridge Golf Course, Bellville, 12:00–1:00pm

08/05/26

Second Chances. Stronger Communities. A Morning with Damon West, Historic Ohio State Reformatory, 9am-10:30am

08/14/26

Chamber Coffee at Mechanics Bank, 8:00-9:00am

08/19/26

Women’s Leadership Connection – Servant Leadership in Government and Public Service with State Rep. Marilyn John, DLX Kobacker Room, 11:45am-1:00pm

09/09/26

Back to Business School – Your AI Org Chart: Build a Team That Works While You Sleep, DLX Upstairs Restaurant, 11:30am–1:00pm

09/16/26

Back to Business School – Digital Marketing Trends, DLX Upstairs Restaurant, 11:30am–1:00pm

09/17/26

Business After Hours – Alumni Roofing, Alumni Roofing, 4:00–6:00pm

09/23/26

Back to Business School – Getting Your Business Noticed: When to Pitch the Newsroom, When to Advertise, and How to Make Both Work, DLX Upstairs Restaurant, 11:30am–1:00pm

10/22/26

Savor & Sip, Mid Ohio Conference Center, 5-7:30pm

12/08/26

Small Business of the Year Awards, Kehoe Center, 11:30am-1:30pm