Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce

Jackson Chamber sets stage for Appreciation Banquet on November 3rd
by Randy Heath, Executive Director

Businesses, industries, and individuals achieving notable successes will take center stage in November at the 2011 Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Appreciation Banquet. This will be a special event indeed, as the chamber will also mark the 100th year of its founding with its roots dating back to July, 1911. A special commemorative gift will be given to all in attendance marking the special occasion.

The annual affair will be held Thursday, November 3, at the Family Life Center of Christ United Methodist Church, located on the corner of Portsmouth and Broad Streets in Jackson. The social hour will begin at 5:30 p.m. and the banquet program at 6:30 p.m.

"This event highlights so many who have made such great contributions to our community," said Randy Heath, Executive Director of the Jackson Area Chamber. "It is an honor for the chamber to salute them for the great deeds they have accomplished."

Special honorees this year will include Ohio Precious Metals as Industry of the Year, Onefit Personal Training as Entrepreneur of the Year, United Fund of Jackson County for the Community Pride Award, and John and Roxie Underwood for the Meritorious Service Award. Also to be honored is Fluor-B&W Portsmouth, LLC with the Good Neighbor Award and receiving Beautification Awards will be the Pike County Community Action Family Health Center, Animals Unlimited Veterinary Hospital, and The Real Deal Restaurant.

The chamber also honors members celebrating special membership anniversaries beginning in five-year increments, with special recognition and plaques this year going to the Holy Trinity Catholic Church (130 years), Lewis Drug Store (120 years) and Jerry's Jamestown Market (50 years).

Others celebrating anniversaries are Jackson Implement Company, 75 years; Jackson-Vinton Farm Bureau and Stockmeister's, Inc., 65 years; OSCO Industries, 45 years; Jenkins Memorial Health Facility and Time Warner Cable, 40 years; American Electric Power and Phyllis Handley, 30 years; William S. Cole, Attorney at Law, Four Winds Community, U-Store-It and The Filling Station, 25 years; A&A Truck Stop, Bellisio Foods, Days Inn and Ohio Valley Bank, 20 years; and Fantastic Sams, Hope Haven, J-VAC/JCBDD, Miguel Christian Hair Salon and Day Spa and the Kroger Company, 15 years.

Those celebrating 10 years of membership include Portland Electric, Inc., Foster Supply Co., Lillian Jones Museum, Southern Hills Arts Council, Jackson County Agricultural Society, Ponderosa Restaurant, Toro Loco Family Restaurant and Coleman Packaging Corporation. Those with five years of membership include American Red Cross, Family Dental Center, Jackson Medical Specialties/KDMC, Betty E. R. Martin, ReUse Industries/ReUse Thrift Store and Southern Ohio Monument Company.

The Chamber will also recognize its 12 new members who have joined in the past year: Horizon of Chillicothe, Cellular Central, Inc., Fluor-B&W Portsmouth, LLC, Rocky Mountain Campground, Ohio Valley Physicians, Once Upon A Memory Photography, Tupperware/Rachel Bell, Parklane Jewelry/Sharon Montgomery, David Dilley/CPA, JSM Design & Creative Services, Wastren-Energx Mission Support, LLC and Hometown Pediatric Care/Dr. Jill Neff.

GUEST SPEAKER, ANDY DOEHREL

A very special occasion needs a very special speaker, and the chamber has lined up just that. One of the highlights of the banquet will be guest speaker Andy Doehrel, the long-time president of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce. He will be introduced by Dr. Cindy Kidd, 2011 President of the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce.

"Obviously, this is a tremendous honor to have Andy Doehrel speak at our annual banquet," said Heath. "He has a very keen insight into the business pulse of Ohio."
Doehrel has served as President of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce since April 1993. Prior to his position as president, Doehrel was the executive vice president and general counsel for the organization, in which he directed the chamber's full-time legislative team.

In addition to his responsibilities as president, Doehrel works with legislators, business leaders and government officials every day on issues affecting Ohio Chamber member companies. Doehrel also specializes in labor issues including workers' compensation, product liability law, civil justice reform and regulatory practices. He has played a primary role in the passage of several key Ohio workers' compensation reform laws over the years and continues to be a key figure in refinement of the program.

Prior to joining the Chamber in 1983, he was a partner in an occupational safety and health consulting firm. He also served as program director for Ohio's OSHA on-site consultation program and spent four years as staff legal counsel for the Ohio Department of Industrial Relations. In 1991, he was appointed to the Unemployment Compensation Advisory Commission in Ohio where he continues to serve as co-chairman of the commission. Doehrel graduated from Capital Law School in 1977 with a juris doctorate degree.

Established in 1893, the Ohio Chamber of Commerce is the largest statewide business advocacy group working to promote and protect the interests of its members and to foster a strong, favorable business environment throughout Ohio.