Wayne Economic Forum gearing up for 10th edition

Many good ideas do not last, so the 10-year anniversary of the Wooster Area Chamber of Commerce’s Wayne Economic Forum is something to celebrate. The forum has provided value to participants through speakers and networking opportunities. This year’s event will take place Oct. 26 from noon to 5 p.m. at the Greystone Event Center in Wooster.

“The networking that happens at the Wayne Economic Forum is actually pretty incredible, and we've even heard of stories of pretty decent-sized business deals,” said Samira Zimmerly, president of the chamber, “and even friendships that happen. That is what this event is for, and those are the stories that the chamber loves to hear about. And that's why we continue to do it.”

The forum is the brainchild of Dee Vaidya, local businessman and former board member of the chamber. Even after his board term ended, Vaidya has continued to help coordinate the annual forum.

The first forum was 11 years ago, and with one missed year due to pandemic-related closings, this year’s forum will be the 10th forum. The forum is gaining in popularity, with last year’s forum the most well-attended in its history. Vaidya attributes the event’s success to its speakers.

“Most initiatives have not necessarily lasted for more than a few years. It seems almost like a passing fancy and something else takes its place," Vaidya said. "But this, we've been so fortunate to get stellar speakers like the ex-chairman of Smuckers or the ex-chairman of Chrysler. When you hear people like that speak, the audience's involvement with the event continues.”

Selection of speakers starts many months before the event takes place each year. Initially, there were questions around whether a small micropolitan area like Wooster could continue to attract top-notch speakers each year. The secret is choosing speakers that have some connection to Wooster. Speakers are not compensated and therefore must have some interest in sharing their knowledge with the local community.

“We really choose speakers from all spheres," Vaidya said. "They can be from politics, but most of them are either current title holders in large companies or past CEOs and presidents in large companies. That usually provides a lot of color to this idea of economic, thought-provoking discussions."

Zimmerly said interest in the event has continued in large part because of the diversity in speakers and topics Vaidya has continued to attract.

“This event was Dee's idea, and we're very grateful to Dee for his continued support, and it wouldn't be possible without his support, and we're very grateful to him,” Zimmerly said.

This year's speakers

This year’s forum features five speakers. Representing SRC Holdings, Jack Stack, CEO, and Scott Dalenberg, executive VP, will travel to Wooster from Missouri. Stack came to SRC in 1979 as a plant manager of International Harvester. By 1983 Stack and employees purchased the company. Today SRC is owned by its 1,800 employees and has sales of over $600 million. Stack has written two books, the most recent of which is "Change the Game: Saving the American Dream by Closing the Gap Between the Haves and the Have-Nots."

Next in the lineup is Ohio’s 66th Lt. Gov. John Husted. With a focus on economic and workforce development, he has worked to strengthen the economy, use technology to transform the way the government operates and build opportunities for every Ohioan. Prior to his election as lieutenant governor, he served for eight years as Ohio’s secretary of state.

After Husted, Key Bank’s chief information officer Amy G. Brady will present. She oversees all of Key’s shared services for technology, operations, data, servicing, cyber and physical security, and procurement. From 2016-22 Brady was recognized by American Banker as one of the Top 25 Most Powerful Women in Banking and listed among the Powerful Women to Watch from 2013-15.

Then the chamber will round out the day with Cleveland-based entrepreneur Jodi Berg, recently retired as president and CEO of Vitamix, a 100-year family-owned company. Berg catapulted the brand, expanding U.S. manufacturing to support distribution in over 140 countries and leading to over 400% in organic growth. Berg was recognized as a national EY Entrepreneur of the Year, as winner of the Jerry Noyce Executive Health Champion Award and as Owler’s Most Likeable CEO in Cleveland.

Registration is open until Oct. 19 at the chamber’s website at www.WoosterChamber.com.