The Orrville Area Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce the outstanding roster of 2024 Award Winners. The Paul L. Powell Citizen of the Year award recognizes an individual(s) for their outstanding service to the Orrville Community. This year, we are excited to present the Paul L. Powell Citizen of the Year award to Georgene Wright. Mollie Currie describes Georgene as “curator, designer, conservationist, interior decorator, archivist” of the Orrville Area Historical Society. The Small Business of the Year award is being presented to Michael’s Bakery. The Small Business of the Year award recognizes a Chamber member with twenty or fewer employees that has made an outstanding contribution to the community in the past year. “Michael’s Bakery is a staple in our community. They are extremely generous with their donations and their time,” Josh Nolan stated. We are happy to announce that Moog, Inc. will receive the Business Impact award, which recognizes a Chamber member who has had an impactful year on the community. Moog employees help support area youth by volunteering with Junior Achievement and the Orrville Area Young Professionals. They are charitable and back many local programs such as the Orrville Area Boys and Girls Club, Orrville YMCA, and Orrville Area United Way, just to name a few. The Dr. Andrew Naumoff Healthy Habits Champion award is presented by Growing Healthy Habits and this year’s recipient is Loretta Raff. Loretta has demonstrated a personal devotion to her own health. She has had a positive impact on the health and wellness of the community. The Wayne County Community Foundation and the Orrville Area Chamber will present the Worthy Works award to Apostolic Christian Village. This award acknowledges the important contributions that not-for-profit members make to their community. They offer a wide variety of services to their residents. The Village provides various levels of care, making it a wonderful resource to those who transition to different stages in life and allows them to stay in the community without having to move to a new facility. We are excited to announce the Leadership Orrville Distinguished Alumni Award recipient as Justin Haislip. “Since participating in the Leadership Orrville program, Justin has become even more engaged and committed to the Orrville Area community. He serves as an OHuddle mentor, he is a member of Rotary, and cofounded the Orrville Community Development Corporation, just to name a few ways he’s involved in the area,” said Dan Franks.  The 2024 Awards Celebration will be Tuesday, May 21 at 5 PM at White Oak Event Center in Orrville. All are welcome to attend to celebrate our award winners and their commitment to our community, but tickets must be purchased in advance. You can purchase tickets at www.orrvillechamber.com or by calling 330.682.8881.

Orrville Area United Way (OAUW) hosted their Volunteer Appreciation Celebration on April 16, 2024, at the historic Smith Orr Homestead. Over 60 attendees gathered, enjoying tours provided by the Orrville Historical Society, and dining on delicious food served up from Rollin’ with Seo’s food truck. The event was a light-hearted, celebratory atmosphere of gratitude for the dedicated volunteers whose invaluable contributions are changing lives in the Dalton, Marshallville, and Orrville service areas. Michele Wilson, Community Campaign Coordinator, delivered a heartfelt speech highlighting the exceptional efforts of two outstanding volunteers. Shane Scarbrough received the esteemed 2023 Patti Ayers “YES!” Award for the significant impact his unwavering commitment and heart of gold have made both at OAUW and within the community. Additionally, Walter Samson was honored with OAUW’s highest award, the 2023 Gene & Mickey Workman Lifetime Achievement Award, for his exemplary leadership and dedication to OAUW's mission. Whether it’s something new and exciting OAUW is embarking on or an impossible task that needs completed, Walter is up for the challenge with a quick “Let’s do it!”. OAUW extends its sincere appreciation to the Orrville Historical Society, Runions' Furniture, P. Graham Dunn, and Rollin’ with Seo for their generous support celebrating OAUW’s volunteers. The celebration emphasized the vital role volunteers play in empowering Orrville Area United Way’s community through their selfless service.  For more information about Orrville Area United Way and future volunteer opportunities, please email office@oauw.org or call 330-683-8181.

Orrville Area United Way proudly welcomes James Carpenter as its new Executive Director, effective April 29, 2024. James brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to local nonprofits, aligning seamlessly with the mission and vision of Orrville Area United Way. James's journey in the nonprofit sector began with roots firmly planted in our community. A graduate of Bowling Green State University, James has served in roles including Assistant Director at United Way of Wayne and Holmes Counties, Community Chapter Executive Director of the American Red Cross, Vice President of Industrial Services and Logistics at Goodwill Industries of Wayne and Holmes Counties, and Manager of Operations at Central American Medical Outreach (CAMO). With over 17 years of successful nonprofit experience, James has demonstrated exceptional skills in communication, collaboration, and strategic leadership. His long-term vision is to elevate Orrville Area United Way's impact by fostering volunteer engagement, forging strategic partnerships, and providing steadfast support to our partner agencies through compassion and effective leadership. “James is just the right person to carry us forward; he is joining an agency that will maintain the quality of service our served communities have come to expect, and to which we are committed,” said Ann McPeek, board president. “We also extend our heartfelt gratitude to Jenny McFarren who has served as interim director, and Michele Wilson, who has ably assisted in the day-to-day work, guiding us through this transition period.”  Orrville Area United Way remains steadfast in its commitment to delivering vital programs and services to the Dalton, Marshallville, and Orrville area, and is thrilled to extend and deepen its impact within the community. Orrville Area United Way was founded in 1958. For over 65 years, OAUW has raised and distributed over $17.5 million to eastern Wayne County programs that measurably improve quality of life by engaging the caring power of our community to foster a thriving society.

Jarrett, a provider of logistics, transportation, warehousing, international and fleet services, has been named a USA TODAY Top Workplaces USA Award winner. Based on employee feedback results from the Energage Workplace Survey, the award showcases companies that take the lead in putting their people first. At the heart of Jarrett's success is the company’s commitment to cultivating a people-centric culture, fostering an atmosphere of innovation and upholding family-owned values across each of its business verticals. Rather than hiring based solely on prior experience, emphasis is instead placed on maintaining a collaborative work environment by offering comprehensive training to individuals who embody the company's core values and exhibit a passion for continual growth. “Our people truly make all the difference,” said Jarrett CEO Mike Jarrett. “Our people are our purpose. We think, act and communicate with a purpose-driven mindset, evoking trust and loyalty from our employees and customers. To be recognized on a national platform by USA TODAY is a testament to the collective efforts of our entire team.” The win follows six consecutive Cleveland Plain Dealer Northeast Ohio Top Workplace awards over the past eight years. In addition, Jarrett has been honored with national Top Workplaces Awards in the categories of Innovation, Leadership and Purpose & Values. Jarrett continues to pioneer cutting-edge solutions that drive efficiency and productivity, positioning itself as a frontrunner within the industry. Guided by visionary leadership, the company empowers its workforce, inspiring them to realize their fullest potential. Article featured in The Daily Record on March 28, 2024. Jarrett in Orrville recognized as Top Workplace by USA TODAY (the-daily-record.com)

The Will-Burt Company was recently featured in Business View Magazine. The Feature is based on an interview with Dave Cotsmire, Vice President of Marketing and Customer Service at The Will-Burt Company and our Editor in Chief. Business View Magazine is a global leader in multi‐platform Business to Business profiles, news and opinion with over 877,000 executive subscribers across North America. To learn more and view a current issue, please visit www.businessviewmagazine.com .

After four years of valued service, Orrville Area United Way announces the resignation of Dawn Cazzolli from her position as Executive Director. Dawn has decided to pursue a new growth opportunity, leaving behind a legacy of positive change and impactful leadership. During her time as Executive Director, Dawn’s dedication and strategic vision have resulted in significant program growth, expanded community connections, and improved accessibility to our services for both the community and our partner agencies. "We are incredibly grateful to Dawn for the energy, vision, and heart she dedicated to our organization," said Ann McPeek, Board President. "We wish her the absolute best in all her future plans and endeavors." During the process of finding a new Executive Director, the Board of Directors has full confidence in our staff's capability to facilitate a seamless transition for our partner agencies, volunteers, and donors. We are committed to maintaining our unwavering dedication to making a lasting difference in the lives of those we serve. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has supported our mission in the past and will continue to do so in the future. Dawn's last day with Orrville Area United Way will be March 29. Applications for the position of Executive Director are now being accepted. Interested candidates are invited to email their applications to Ann McPeek, Board President, at Plantnerd2@gmail.com.

Day of Caring, a collaborative initiative between Orrville Area United Way and the Orrville Area Chamber of Commerce dedicated to fostering volunteerism and community improvement, announces an exciting partnership with the American Red Cross to offer smoke detector installation services as part of this year's event. Taking place on May 1, 2024, Day of Caring is a united morning of community service across Orrville, Dalton, and Marshallville. This year, in addition to seeking outdoor projects from area residents in need of assistance, Day of Caring is expanding its reach by offering access to a valuable American Red Cross resource that prioritizes the safety and well-being of the community. Residents residing in the 44618, 44667, and 44645 zip codes are invited to apply for assistance with outdoor projects such as yard cleanup, outdoor painting, and mulching. Projects will be undertaken by dedicated Day of Caring volunteers, with materials provided by the residents. Moreover, in collaboration with the American Red Cross “Sound the Alarm” program, eligible residents living in manufactured or single-family homes without smoke detectors or with detectors over 7 years old are encouraged to apply for free smoke detector installation. Accommodations are available for hearing-impaired individuals. "Smoke detectors are crucial in saving lives during emergencies," stated Dawn Cazzolli, Executive Director of the Orrville Area United Way. "Partnering with the American Red Cross allows us to offer this lifesaving service alongside our regular community improvement efforts, maximizing our impact on the well-being of our residents."  Residents interested in applying for outdoor projects, smoke detector installation, or both can do so by visiting the Orrville Area United Way website at www.orrvilleareaunitedway.org . Applications are open until March 15 to residents within the specified zip codes.

Published: Jan 23, 2024 by Antony Maina In Small Business Operations