TRANSFORM, the 2018 Annual Meeting of the Columbus Chamber of Commerce, will celebrate the continued success of Central Ohio’s business community and honor the leaders who are shaping its future.
Nearly 1,500 of the area’s companies and thought leaders will gather at the Greater Columbus Convention Center Feb. 8 to network, share insights and explore upcoming business trends.
“Our Columbus Region community is set for big things in 2018,” said Columbus Chamber President and CEO, Don DePerro. “As the voice of area businesses and other stakeholders, the Columbus Chamber is thrilled to play a part in that continued transformation and prosperity.”
Tom Feeney, president and CEO of Safelite AutoGlass, will deliver the morning’s keynote presentation focused on how the Columbus Region’s embrace of innovation and technology will define 2018.
In the last year, Feeney propelled the creation of the Safelite Works innovation hub, as well as more than $41 million in technological investment, partnering with companies like Microsoft, Amazon and Google in the process.
“We’re building a culture conducive to innovation,” said Feeney. “We’re doing amazing work in our home office and the innovation lab that will shape the future of our employee, customer and client experiences.”
The Chamber’s Annual Meeting is known for the prestigious Columbus Award, presented annually to recognize an outstanding leader in business and the community. This year’s recipient is Jim Kunk, recently retired Central Ohio President of Huntington National Bank. Past honorees include W.W. “Woody” Hayes, Tanny Crane and Steve Rasmussen.
The recipient of the Small Business Leader Award will also be announced during the Annual Meeting. This year’s finalists include:
- Jeff Burt, EclipseCorp
- Charles R. Morrison III, MCR Medical Supply
- Cheryl Stauffer, Crimson Design Group
- Greg Ubert, Crimson Cup Coffee and Tea
“The majority of Columbus Chamber members are small businesses, and they truly help define who we are as an organization,” said DePerro. “Jeff, Charles, Cheryl and Greg have shown the passion, intuition and tenacity it takes for a small business to succeed, and we’re proud to recognize them as finalists for this award.”
New to the program this year is an interactive networking experience that will lead off the morning with ample opportunity to connect and share ideas with the Columbus Region’s leading companies, innovators and entrepreneurs.
Interested in attending the Columbus Chamber’s 2018 Annual Meeting? Save your seat today and help set the stage for your company’s growth in 2018.
— The Columbus Chamber of Commerce offers news, information and other resources that are free and available to all businesses at columbus.org. —
