Awards and info given at annual luncheon

GREENVILLE – The Darke County Chamber of Commerce invites chamber members and businesses interested in learning more about chamber membership to its Annual Luncheon Meeting on June 1 at Romer’s Catering, Greenville.  Registration opens at 11 a.m., the business meeting begins at 11:45 a.m. and ends at 1 p.m.  The cost is $15 for chamber members and $20 for future members.  Reservations are required by May 29.

The meeting program includes the ceremonial installation of officers and directors by Judge Jason Aslinger and Judge Julie Monnin, passing of the gavel to new Chairman David W. Compton, presentation of the 2012 Chamber Citizen of the Year Award, distribution of the new Chamber Membership Directory, and distribution of the 2011-2012 Annual Report.  “What’s Important to Your Business” is the program topic including an update on state and federal issues.  Additionally, the Darke County Visitors Bureau will share the stage to present their Tourism Citizen of the Year Award. 

Guest speaker Ben Taylor is the Executive Director of the U.S. Chamber’s Great Lakes Regional Office. To achieve the U.S. Chamber’s public policy goals, Ben cultivates and maintains legislative, political and grasstops resources throughout Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Ben leads the U.S. Chamber’s efforts to strengthen its relationships with Members of Congress through member businesses, associations, and local and state chambers of commerce across the region.  Before joining the U.S. Chamber in 2008, Ben previously served as a Legislative Assistant in Congressman David Hobson’s (OH-7) Washington, D.C. office. He has also served in various positions in Ohio state government.

Ben graduated magna cum laude from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and History.  He currently resides in Chicago.

Guest speaker Andrew “Andy” Doehrel is the long-time president and chief executive officer of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce.  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.

The Darke County Chamber has proudly served its membership as an advocate for business and community development since 1927.  Sponsors of the Annual Meeting are BASF, DPL Energy, Greenville Technology Incorporated, Production Paint Finishers, Inc., Second National Bank, Spirit Medical Transport, Walls Brothers Asphalt, and Walmart of Greenville.

Contact the Chamber, 548-2102 or info@darkecountyohio.com, to make a reservation by May 29.

Andy Doehrel                                 Ben Taylor