Michelle Hartman Named Interim Executive Director

The Kent Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that Michelle Hartman has accepted the position of Interim Executive Director effective September 1st. Michelle has served as an Honorary Board Member of the chamber since 2019 and previously held roles as a member of the executive board and board of directors since 2006. She currently serves on the scholarship and sponsorship committees and served as president of the chamber in 2013.

“Michelle has great knowledge of our community and her experience with the chamber will help her jump right into the position and move the chamber forward in a positive manner,” shared chamber president, Mary Kline. “Her chamber leadership experience, longstanding relationships across Kent and Portage County, and vision align with the mission of our chamber and will provide a direct benefit to our chamber members and the business community.”

Prior to taking on this new role, Michelle was the COO/Executive Vice President of The Burbick Companies. Her vision and leadership were instrumental in the management and successful growth of Acorn Alley. She also managed the businesses and residential units located in the old Franklin Hotel and the storefronts located in the Kent Central Gateway. She is a graduate of Malone University with a B.A. in Business Administration and has lived in Kent for the past 28 years with her husband, Darrin, and their 3 children, Brendan, EmiLee and Payne.

Michelle’s ambition to promote economic growth in Kent combined with her passion to make a positive difference has led her to several community leadership roles and volunteer opportunities. She currently serves on the board for Kent Social Services, Friends Fighting Hunger, and the Destination Kent Convention & Visitors Bureau, of which she was actively involved in establishing in 2016. Some of her volunteer efforts include serving as chairwoman of the annual Thanksgiving Brunch Bunch for 15 years, which raised more than a half a million dollars under her leadership to support local food pantries. She also led the community fundraising efforts in 2015 to raise $275,000 to build the Dan Smith Community Park and has supported numerous initiatives to benefit programs of the Kent City School district and organizations such as the Ben Curtis Family Foundation, Main Street Kent, The Burbick Foundation, The Portage Foundation, the Madonio Family Animal Welfare Trust, Kent Jaycees, and several other local charitable causes for the betterment of the community. She was presented with a key to the City of Kent by Mayor Jerry Fiala in 2015, the W.W. Reed Medal for Public Service from the KACC in 2019, and the Paul Harris Fellow Recognition from the Rotary Club of Kent in 2020. Michelle is also an avid supporter of our Golden Flashes!



“I am excited to have this opportunity to lead the Kent Area Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber plays a pivotal role in the business community and surrounding region,” Hartman said. “I look forward to continuing our mission to be a visionary leadership organization, dedicated to serving the needs of our member businesses and local community, while fostering economic growth and improving the quality of life in Kent. I am also excited to further enhance the partnership the chamber has with the City of Kent and Kent State University as we continue to work together to strengthen, support, and grow our community.”