2012 Vision and Goals

From Dennis P. Saunier, President & CEO

Canton/Stark County faces an extraordinary year in 2012. Oil and gas exploration in the region’s Utica shale deposits could affect every aspect of business in our community.

What will our manufacturers produce in 2012 and the coming years to meet the needs of energy exploration? How will health care respond to the workers who will be coming here and the residents who will be newly employed in energy exploration? How will our banking, legal and business services companies respond to this opportunity? What effect will the growth in energy employment have on our real estate sector? Our entertainment sector? Our social services, schools and colleges?

And while oil and gas are creating enormous excitement, Stark County already has established itself as a center for energy. What will 2012 bring in the development of wind power, fuel cells and electrical service? And while energy in the ground creates economic opportunity, so does the abundance of our community’s water supply.

Oil and gas, wind, fuel cells, water and electricity will be prominent in our economic future in 2012 and the years to follow.

As the largest business services organization in Stark County, we have prepared our plan for 2012 with energy and resources foremost in our minds.

First, we have announced that David Kaminski, Chamber director of education and government affairs, will be taking on a new role for our organization. Kaminski will now serve as our chief energy advocate, working alongside energy companies and other area development partners to promote the oil and gas industry, along with other energy industries, throughout Canton/Stark County. He will also work to help our area members find ways to engage with the oil and gas industry, as customers, vendors and partners.

In addition, every department of the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce will find a way to assist the oil and gas industry, while nurturing relationships with our established business partners.

In economic development, we will promote Canton and Stark County as a headquarters site for the energy companies that are coming to our region. When we work one-on-one with manufacturers and other businesses, we will look for ways to assist their growth into the markets that will serve energy exploration and innovation.

In education and workforce development, we will help identify skills that are needed by the energy industry. We will assist our schools, colleges and universities in developing programs that will train students and adult workers to take advantage of the opportunities sure to arise.

In downtown Canton development, we will seek to encourage business synergies that can come when energy service companies locate management offices in our central city.

In leadership and talent development, we will seek to involve the energy industry in nurturing a generation of professionals who can serve this emerging industry and serve the community as well.

We will do this without losing sight of the tasks that this Chamber of Commerce has always shouldered with a high sense of commitment, among them tourism and our production of the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival. Our creative staff and volunteers will find ways to make these enterprises grow in light of new industries emerging here.

This will be one of the most exciting and challenging business years in a long time. We pledge to be prepared and to lead the way in promoting the growth that could lead to a new era of prosperity for Canton and Stark County.

DOWNLOAD THE FULL 2012 STRATEGIC PLAN