Strengthening Stark and
Stark County Economic Development
hold first partner meeting
North Canton, Ohio – On April 17th, The Silk Auditorium at Stark State College was packed full with local business, education and local government leaders there to hear the good news about what is happening economically in Stark County through two partnering agencies, Strengthening Stark and Stark Economic Development Board.
Last Fall, the Funders of Strengthening Stark made changes to the Governance structure of the organization. A Trustee Committee was formed, and the Governance Committee members became “partners” in the work.
The April 17th by invitation only meeting was the first Partners Meeting and included the original Governance Committee members as well as the extended members of the Talent Development, Business Growth and Quality Places and Minority Action Committee Members. Members of Stark Economic Development Board were also a part of the morning.
Rebecca J. Kuzma, Chief Operating Officer of Strengthening Stark said the outcome of the meeting was collaborative and exciting.
“The most frequent feedback we received on the April 17th Partners Meeting was “I cannot believe the energy that was in the room”, said Kuzma in an email. “Our partners were very excited to hear all the great collaborative work going on around the county and are anxious to ensure the work continues. Our Partners meeting has laid the foundations for planning for the next 10 years of Strengthening Stark!”
Stark Economic Development Board helps existing businesses grow and expand and it also attracts new companies to the area as well as helps local entrepreneurs with startups. Strengthening Stark enhances the community in several ways including making Stark a great place to:
Start and grow a business
Develop one’s talent and pursue a career
Live and raise a family
· Being a community-wide movement of residents, businesses, government, nonprofits and philanthropy who share a vision for a vibrant, growing county for all.
Stark County Commissioner Janet Weir Creighton opened the meeting with a welcome and then several groups such as Stark Education & Partnerships, Career Connect; Housing; SEDB and Reconnecting Canton gave updates. After the update, a guest speaker presented information about economic development.
· Some of the information shared by different partners included:
For every 32 unemployed individuals that are connected to full time employment at $15 an hour, just over one million dollars of earned income is earned in Stark County each year.
Stark Economic Development reported that an average of 600 new jobs have been created in the county per year.
Average wages in the county last year was $28 an hour or $58,240 annually.
The Northeast Ohio region is the 15th largest U.S. market.
The region sees $235 billion in GDP.
There are 25 plus educational institutions in the region.
7,700 manufactures in the region.
There are 223 companies with 2.5 million dollars in revenue in Stark County.
The meeting ended with a presentation called “A Conversation with Dr. Ned Hill, Ph.D.” Hill presented The Five Developments. Hill is from the John Glenn College of Public Affairs, the Ohio State University. The Five Developments he discussed included, Commercial & Industrial Real Estate; Housing; Community Development; Workforce Development and Economic Development. The outputs and outcomes of those five areas are sales of goods and services and jobs and income taxes.
Hill started by saying that economic development comes from the supply side of community development such as the housing sector and the workforce side.
“Communities that don’t look nice are sending signals that companies should not invest in them,” Hill said. “If inside money isn’t being invested, outside money will not help.”
He went on to say that housing is important to building a strong community.
“If you don’t have workforce housing, you don’t have a workforce,” Hill said.
About Strengthening Stark
Strengthening Stark operates with SEDB as the fiscal agent and funding comes from SEDB, Stark County Commissioners, The Stark Community Foundation, and The Gessner Family Foundation.
Strengthening Stark recently created a Trustees Group that includes funders: SEDBD represented by Ray Hexamer, CEO; Mark Samolczyk, President/ CEO of The Stark Community Foundation; Janet Creighton, representing the Stark County Commissioners; and Bob Gessner of The Gessner Family Foundation.
Three additional “at large members include: Ally Bussey, President/CEO of Visit Canton; Ryan Hartong, Manager of Government Affairs at The Timken Company; and Todd Hawke, Jackson Township Trustee.
Strengthening Stark brings its extended group of Partners together twice a year – the next meeting is 12-3p.m., October 16th 2024.
The 2022-2025 Priorities for Strengthening Stark include:
Market & drive enrollment for “in-demand” jobs/ careers.
Attract/Retain talent to increase percentage of population age 25-44.
Expand & diversify employment in industries with sources of revenue outside of the county.
Increase percent change in employment. Drive & reward innovation and productivity growth.
Increase productivity in key sectors that drive growth.
Speaker Edward (Ned) Hill, Ph.D.
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Stark County Business News: Special Focus
Walsh University Business Club Scholarship luncheon returns
North Canton, Ohio – Walsh University's DeVille School of Business held its 53rd Business Club Scholarship luncheon on April 5. The Business Club is the largest and longest-standing student club at the University.
The Walsh University Business Club is a student-led organization dedicated to fostering servant leadership and providing experiential learning opportunities for students within the DeVille School of Business. The club aims to promote integrated business approaches and advance student understanding of sustainable business strategies.
Pre-Covid, the club had between 25 and 50 volunteer members, this year there were 40 students involved. While most of the students are business majors, it is open to all majors on the Walsh campus.
A recent press release quoted Business Club President Antonio Paganelli, “The Walsh University Business Club, along with all dedicated helpers, organizers, and members, is overjoyed to revive the Business Club Luncheon. This event is a celebration of the club's accomplishments over the past year and a token of appreciation for our members, donors, and luncheon attendees."
The Business Club Scholarship Luncheon serves as a way to recognize and reward academic excellence within the DeVille School of Business. Proceeds from the event directly contribute to student scholarships, empowering the next generation of business leaders to pursue their educational aspirations and make meaningful contributions to society.
The Business Club started awarding scholarships in 2017 with a total of 17 having been awarded over the past seven years. The size and type of scholarship varies. One example is the Dean Carole Mount scholarships which have ranged from $790 to $3,000 per student.
Success in Action
“As one of the oldest and long-standing clubs on campus, we as faculty members are grateful for the opportunity to work with and advise the Business Club leaders in the DeVille School of Business,” said Dr. Phil Kim, Business Club Co-Advisor and Associate Professor. “The level of energy and enthusiasm they bring for engaging in service activities, inviting community leaders as guest speakers, and being active in the local area and beyond is invigorating. They are excellent ambassadors for Walsh University.”
One of the highlights of the event was the keynote speaker, Mike Wheeler, President and Chief Legal Officer at Patriot Software. The audience listened intently to the featured speaker’s presentation which included a look at the ethical use of AI and a brief history of Patriot Software.
Wheeler related part of his journey that went from the mail room to a leadership role at one of northeast Ohio's most successful tech companies. With over 18 years of experience at Patriot Software, Wheeler has played a pivotal role in the company's growth trajectory which included using unconventional fundraising approaches and strategic investment initiatives.
His keynote address started with a delve into the ethical dimensions of artificial intelligence (AI) and its pivotal role in modern business landscapes.
"Ethical AI includes working within the rules established for using AI,” Wheeler said. “Transparency is vital in the use of AI which will be for this generation what Google has done for my generation.”
Wheeler also shared a few industry insights and personal anecdotes, illustrating how embracing ethical principles can drive organizational success and foster sustainable growth. He also offered some encouragement for Walsh business students.
“There is world-class talent in Canton, OH. Be assured, the American dream is alive in Canton,” Wheeler said.
Below are photos of Mike Wheeler of Patriot Software speaking at the DeVille School of Business luncheon event on April 5th, 2024.
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