Holiday Party 2012
AURORA CHAMBER of COMMERCE - C O N N E C T I O N S
January 2013  
In This Issue
Director's Letter
January Events
Chamber News
Special Support Fund
Member News
Committee Updates

2013 CHAMBER EVENTS

JANUARY
Chamber

Networking Luncheon
State of the
Chamber

Wednesday,
Jan. 23, 2013
11:30 am-1 pm
Doogan's of Aurora

FEBRUARY
Chamber
Networking
Luncheon
State of the
City of Aurora
Wednesday,
Feb. 20, 2013
11:30 am-1 pm
Bertram Inn

MARCH
All About Aurora
Business
& Community Showcase

Saturday,
March 2, 2013
Aurora High School

More Events to Come   


2013 BOARD
OF DIRECTORS

BRAD DUGUAY 

President

Custom

Pultrusions, Inc.  

 

Lisa Kusner 

Vice-President

Aurora Farms

Premium Outlets

 

DOUGLAS WIEDER

Treasurer

Mill Distributors 

 

KAREN BOSLEY 

Secretary

Cortland Banks 

 

LORI DAVIS

WildWater Kingdom

 

DOTTIE DUPUY

Howard Hanna

 

MICHELLE HARMAN 

Harman Home Designs 

 

CHARISSE LOUIS

Charene Creative

 

JIM MAULIS

Graphics by Design 

 

LAURA RADCLIFF

Edwards Jones

 

HOLLY NOVOTNY 

Ex-Officio

Harry & David 

_______________ 

 

RUSS BENNETT

Liaison

Aurora City Schools

 

JOHN KUDLEY

Liaison

Aurora City Council

 _______________     

LAURA HOLMAN 

Executive Director 

_______________

 

PLATINUM SPONSORS

 

Anna Maria of Aurora

 

Aurora Farms

Premium Outlets

 

Howard Hanna

Aurora 

 

Robinson Health

Center at Aurora

 _____________

 

GOLD SPONSOR

 

Grande Village 

 

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Peace
Happy New Year!

I hope this finds you healthy, well, and looking forward to a successful 2013. The new year provides a natural time to reflect on where we've been and also project into the future. Did we reach last year's goals? What opportunities does the new year offer to help us further succeed this year?

The 2013 Board of Directors and I welcome the opportunity to work with you to answer these questions as we embark on the adventure of this new year together.

Two important decisions to make right away in 2013:
  • Be included in our annual Community & Events Guide! 15,000 copies of this publication are printed and distributed locally and regionally. Ad reservations are due January 18, so please do not delay and miss out on this valuable advertising opportunity. Click here for the form.
  • Participate in our 2013 Business & Community Showcase, to be held at Aurora High School Saturday, March 2 from 10am-2pm. Click here for your registration form and let's get busy showing off all Aurora has to offer!  
Now onto our Networking Luncheon calendar. We are starting things off differently this year. We will meet January 23, 2013 at Doogan's of Aurora to present "The State of the Chamber", a luncheon designed to both update you on the Chamber's answers to the two questions asked above and engage you in a conversation about the direction you would like your Chamber to take.

Then, on February 20, 2013 we are proud to host the annual "State of the City" Luncheon at Bertram Inn & Conference Center. A discussion panel of City leaders will update you on issues relevant to your businesses and organizations.

We ended 2012 with a wonderful Holiday Party, Awards Presentation & Scholarship Fund Silent Auction. As we move forward into this new year, let the example of hard work, charity, and commitment to community shown in our award winners and Scholarship Fund supporters shine through each of us.

Most of all, let's continue to work together towards a community, nation, and world where prosperity and peace for all is more than just a prayer.

Now let's get to work...there is much to do!

Laura


 
January Chamber Events...
STATE OF THE CHAMBER
Chamber Networking Luncheon
Wednesday, January 23, 2013, 11:30 am-1:00 pm
Doogan's of Aurora
    
Chamber News & Upcoming Events . . .
Person.Business of the Year Award Logos





Congratulations to our
Person and Business of the Year!

Person of the Year: Lynn E. McGill 

Business of the Year: The UPS Store, Trudy & Chris Capel


This year's Person and Business of the Year awards were given out at the annual Chamber Holiday Party on Wednesday, December 5th. The recipients were honored by the Chamber, the City of Aurora, and also received awards from the Offices of Congressman Steven LaTourette and Ohio House of Representative Kathleen Clyde. Our sincere thank you to Lynn McGill and Trudy & Chris Capel for everything they have done to make the community of Aurora a special place to work, live, and visit.

Thank you also to the businesses that made the Chamber Holiday Party/Awards Night such a special evening . . .

- Event Sponsors:
  Anna Maria of Aurora and ThornCreek Winery & Gardens
-
Mad Jack's Grill & Pub
- Aurora School of Music
- Harry & David
- All of the Chamber Members who donated to our
  Scholarship Silent Auction 
_______________________________________

2013 All About Aurora Community
& Events Guide 


Reservations for ads and listings in the 2013 All About Aurora Community & Events guide are due soon -
January 18, 2013. Please call the Chamber office if you have any questions at all about be included in this popular Aurora guide.
 
  
Giving Opportunities . . .

Sandy Hook School Special Support Fund
United Way Logo

  

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the community and to those impacted by the terrible tragedy at Sandy Hook school in Newtown, Connecticut.

 

You may help the families and individuals impacted in Newtown, CT through a special fund set up by the United Way of Western Connecticut.

 

You may donate online at: 

https://newtown.uwwesternct.org 

or

by mailing a check to:

Sandy Hook School Support Fund

c/o Newtown Savings Bank

39 Main Street, Newtown, CT 06470

 

 

Member News . . .
Robinson Logo
Robinson Rehab Center and Sports Clinic
receives "Outcomes Excellence Award"


The Robinson Rehab Center and Sport Clinic has received the Outcomes Excellence Award for the 3rd quarter 2012. Awarded
by FOTO, Focus on Therapeutic Outcomes, Inc., a medical rehabilitation company dedicated to standardizing industry communication about the effectiveness of patient care. Congratulations to those who have contributed to this performance award! 

Chamber Committee Updates . . .
Economic Development Committee   
Our Economic Development Committee is working to continue the momentum started by our successful "Aurora is Open for Business" event and foster effective communication between businesses and our local government.


4th Portage County Industrial Roundtable

Topic: Finding and Hiring Quality Employees
Tuesday, February 26, 2013, 7:30 am 
Maplewood Career Center 
  
The Portage Development Board, our local economic development directors and the chambers of commerce of Portage County will
be hosting the fourth Portage County Industrial Roundtable. The topic of discussion wil
l be Finding and Hiring Quality Employees and will also include a panelists of:
  • Kelly Jurisch - Human Resource Manager, PARTA
  • Harry Walker - VP/HR, Cornwell Quality Tools Company
  • Marilyn Sessions - Human Resource and Training Officer, Hometown Bank
  • Helen Tauscher - Human Resource Manager, Viking Forge
  • Liz Zorc - Human Resource Manager, City of Kent

To register, please contact the Portage Development Board,

217 S. Chestnut St. in Ravenna, 330.297.3470. Pre-registration fee is $10 (cash or check). Registration at the door will be $15.

_______________________________________________________ 

Membership Committee 
Our Membership Committee is working to ensure your membership is most valuable and effective. Please consider joining us to share ideas and work together towards our goal of an engaged membership. In coming months, you can look forward to seeing new ideas put into action at our Networking Luncheons and other events!

Join us in welcoming our newest Aurora Chamber of Commerce Members:

Cortland Banks
Garfield Heights Bureau of Motor Vehicles
Independent Energy Consultants
Weekly Villager, Inc.

______________________________________________________

Scholarship Committee 
Every year the Aurora Chamber of Commerce presents scholarships to outstanding seniors at Aurora High School. We hold fundraisers throughout the year to raise money for these scholarships, one of which was the Silent Auction at our Holiday Party. Thank you to the business who contributed to our auction and also those who made donations to the fund in 2012:
  • Anna Maria of Aurora
  • Aurora Farms Premium Outlets
  • Aurora Manor Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation
  • Aurora Schools Foundation
  • Family Tree Home Care Services
  • Harry & David
  • The Little White Cottage
  • Howard Hanna - Sherry Gloor
  • Mental Health & Recovery Board of Portage County
  • Rotek Incorporated
  • Snap Fitness
  • The UPS Store
  • Dr. James Tomko
  • Wildwater Kingdom
Please call the Chamber office if you are interested in joining this committee or otherwise supporting this very worthy cause.        
_______________________________________________________ 
 
Pro-Business/Tourism Committee
12 Deals

Thank you to the following Chamber Member businesses who participated in our 1st "12 Deals of Aurora" Facebook and Website Christmas promotion.
  • Cafe Toscano
  • Chamberlain's Salon & Spa
  • The UPS Store
  • Frontgate Outlet Streetsboro
  • Harry & David
  • Doogan's of Aurora
  • Aurora Community Theatre
  • Excalibur Collision, Inc.
  • Honeybaked Ham & Cafe Streetsboro
  • Just for You Bakery 
  • Aurora Farms Premium Outlets
  • Harman Home Designs 

The 12 Deals of Aurora was a project created through the collaboration of the Pro-Business and Tourism Committee of the Aurora Chamber of Commerce. Thank you to the committee members for all of their planning and hard work to make this promotion such a success!

  • Charisse Louis of Charene Creative
  • Lisa Kusner of Aurora Farms Premium Outlets
  • Lori Davis of Wildwater Kingdom
  • BK Hall of Aurora Schools Foundation
  • Amie Cajka of the Mental Health & Recovery Board of Portage County
  • Jim Kraus of Aurora Parks and Recreation
  • Colleen Martin of Aurora Parks and Recreation
  • Barbara Baxter of Cedar Brook Financial Partners

 

AURORA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & VISITORS BUREAU
9 E. Garfield Road, #101   Aurora, OH 44202   330-562-3355      www.AllAboutAurora.com
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