2007 Activities of the Association
of Ohio Commodores
PREPARED BY
Ohio Department of Development
International Trade
Division
The Association
of Ohio Commodores has supported and participated in events with the Ohio
Department of Development, International Trade Division (ITD). To-date, the
Ohio Commodores have assisted ITD by co-sponsoring various trade-related and
economic development functions, as well as to continue supporting the Governor’s
Excellence in Exporting Awards (E-Awards) program. Below are summaries of the
events for 2007:
Winter
Induction Dinner and Meeting
January 12 and 13,
2007 – The annual winter induction dinner and meeting activities were held in
Columbus in conjunction with the Inauguration of Ohio’s 68th Governor
Ted Strickland and Lt. Governor Lee Fisher. More than 120 members and their
guests attended the reception and new member induction dinner on Friday evening,
January 12, at the Capital Club. Governor Strickland and Lt. Governor Fisher
stopped by the induction reception to meet and mingle with members and guests.
This marked the first time in many years that both elected officials attended
the Commodores’ annual event. With help from Grand Commodore Bud Winzenried,
Governor Strickland inducted Lt. Governor Fisher into the organization as an
Honorary Cabinet member.
The Ohio
Commodores’ annual winter meeting was held on Saturday morning, January 13, in
the Scarlet and Gray Room at the Doubletree Guest Suites Hotel in Columbus.
Following the board meeting, a presentation was given by featured speaker
Commodore Ed Burghard, executive director of the Ohio Business Development
Coalition (OBDC).
Commodore members
participated at the Governor and Lt. Governor’s Inaugural swearing-in ceremony
on the Statehouse steps after the morning meeting. Following the swearing-in
ceremony, Commodore members helped to facilitate the receiving line in the
Atrium where members of the public had photos taken with the Governor, Lt.
Governor and First Ladies.
Miami Valley
International Trade Association Membership Meeting
February 16, 2007 –
The MVITA hosted its membership meeting in Dayton that featured Commodore member
Ed Burghard, executive director of the OBDC. Burghard made a presentation on
the status of the state of Ohio’s marketing campaign to gain investment into the
state. The Ohio Commodores co-sponsored the breakfast event which was held at
Sinclair Community College.
Northeast
Ohio International Business Network
March 6, 2007 – The
NEOIBN held a networking reception that was held in conjunction with a seminar
sponsored by the Northeast Ohio District Export Council (NODEC) entitled,
“Fundamentals of Export Control” which was held at the Holiday Inn in
Independence near Cleveland. The seminar’s featured speaker was Lauren D’Amore,
Eastern Europe Regional Coordinator for the U.S. Department of State’s Overseas
Security Advisory Council. The Ohio Commodores were one of the many local
Cooperating Organizations to support the event.
Reception for
Ohio’s International Directors
March 22, 2007 –
The managing directors from Ohio’s 11 international trade offices made their
annual visit to Ohio during the week of March 19-23. To culminate the visit, a
reception was held at the Statehouse Atrium on March 22, which afforded the
managing directors a final networking session with Ohio company officials
interested in working with their international trade offices. More than 250
guests from around the state attended the reception. The Ohio Department of
Development’s chief economic development officer, Mark Barbash, introduced Lt.
Governor Lee Fisher, who made brief remarks to the audience. The reception was
co-sponsored by the Association of Ohio Commodores, Huntington Bank, and the
Columbus Regional Airport Authority.
Cabinet Luncheon
Meetings
April 24, 2007 – A
Cabinet luncheon was held at The Athletic Club of Columbus and featured Ohio
Treasurer of State Richard Cordray. Mr. Cordray described the steps he is
taking in his first term of office to better serve the small-business
constituents in Ohio, as well as to implement personal finance education in
Ohio’s high schools. Following the question and answer session, Cordray was
inducted into the organization as an Honorary Member of the Ohio Commodores.
Governor’s
Excellence Exporting Awards
July 18, 2007 –
Governor Ted Strickland and Lt. Governor Lee Fisher recognized 31 Ohio companies
and organizations with the Governor’s Excellence in Exporting Awards. Marathon
Sensors Inc. of West Chester was honored as the 2007 Exporter of the Year. Each
year the Ohio Commodores are the key sponsor of the annual event, which was
co-sponsored this year by LaSalle Bank ABM ANRO and UPS Central Ohio District.
More than 220 people attended the luncheon ceremony and the Ohio Commodores had
15 members in attendance.
Ohio Business
Dinner in Osaka Japan
September 12, 2007
– Lt. Governor Lee Fisher led a delegation of 58 people from 39 businesses,
municipalities, universities and organizations on the Ohio Business and
Investment Trip to Japan, September 7-15. The Ohio Commodores co-sponsored
the Ohio Business Dinner held in Osaka during the trip. Members of the Ohio
Commodores traveling with the Lt. Governor included David Smith of Duke Energy,
Doug Petitt of Vectren Corporation, and Bob Bowman from the City of Akron.
Annual
Fundraiser – Golf Outing
September 17, 2007
– The annual golf outing was held at the new Pinnacle Golf Club in Grove City.
The golf outing was a success in raising funds for the Governor’s E-Awards
program. The E-Awards is an annual event hosted by the Governor of the State of
Ohio and honors businesses and organizations that have demonstrated outstanding
performance in exporting or heightened awareness of exporting as a vital
component of the state’s economy.
Cabinet
Luncheon Meeting
October 3, 2007 – A
Cabinet luncheon was held at The Athletic Club of Columbus and featured Ohio
Department of Agriculture Director Robert J. Boggs. Director Boggs gave remarks
highlighting the challenges facing the department, as well as the programs and
initiatives that benefit the agriculture industry in Ohio. Following the
question and answer session, Boggs was inducted into the organization as an
Honorary Cabinet Member of the Ohio Commodores.
Northeast
Ohio International Business Network
October 9, 2007 –
The NEOIBN held a networking reception that was held in conjunction with a
presentation entitled, “What Globalization Means for the EU-US Economic
Relationship.” The event was held at the Holiday Inn in Independence near
Cleveland. The seminar’s featured speaker was Mr. Angelos Pangratis, Deputy
Head of Delegation of the European Commission to the U.S. The Ohio Commodores
were one of the many local Cooperating Organizations to support the event.
Winter
Induction Dinner and Breakfast Meeting
December 9 and 10,
2007 – The annual winter induction dinner and breakfast meeting was held in
Columbus at the Capital Club and Doubletree Guest Suites, respectively. There
were 21 new members inducted into the organization on Sunday evening, December
9. State Treasurer of Ohio Richard Cordray was the guest speaker following
dinner and presented the Executive Order of the Ohio Commodore
certificates to the new inductees along with Grand Commodore Bill Morgan. More
than 100 members and guests attended the dinner on Sunday evening.
John Haseley, chief
of staff to Governor Ted Strickland, made remarks to the general membership on
Monday morning, December 10. Following Haseley’s remarks and the questions and
answer session, he was inducted into the Ohio Commodores organization by Grand
Commodore Bill Morgan and Trustee Dick Moore.
