NFIB/Ohio kicked off our 21st Area Action Council
(AAC) across the state with the Butler Warren Area Action Council meeting for
the first time at a reception held at the Wingate by Wyndham in West Chester,
Ohio. With 21 AAC’s, Ohio easily maintains is stature as a leader in member
meetings as the NFIB state chapter with the most AAC’s in any state.
For an AAC to be successful it requires active members who
understand the importance of engaging the small business community and the
connection between independent business owners and elected officials. These
groups meet three to four times per year and bring small-business owners of a
local area together to discuss state and federal issues impacting their businesses,
look at and offer how-to seminars on compliance with new laws and regulations,
as well as bring elected officials back to the district to hear directly from
entrepreneurs.
We are grateful to our local leadership team who is helping
to get this AAC off the ground, Todd Wilber as Chair (CTI Restaurants, Inc.)
and Brent Arter as Vice Chair (State Farm Insurance). A special thank you also goes to other members
attending the kick-off such as Steve Schramm who currently serves a National NFIB
Board President (OK Interiors), and Chris Ellis (Helping Hands Healthcare),
David Bellos (Teron Lighting) and Scott Lipps (Sleep Tite Mattress) who all serve
as NFIB Ohio Leadership Council members and contributed to garnering support
and excitement for this event.
All three Ohio State Representatives who serve Butler County
attended to speak to the gathered business leaders. State Representatives Tim Derickson (NFIB member),
Margy Conditt and Wes Retherford spoke on the important role small businesses
play in the economy of Ohio. The three representatives and the AAC leadership
is pictured below with NFIB/Ohio executive director and vice president, Roger
Geiger.
The most exciting moment of the night was when Butler County
resident and U.S. House Speaker John Boehner addressed the crowd and mentioned
the importance of small business owners to our country and how great it felt to
be home. Speaker Boehner has spoken to NFIB members on numerous occasions and
is a multiple recipient of NFIB’s Guardian of Small Business award.
Between the elected officials, NFIB members and even a few
prospective member guests the night was a success as we kicked off the Butler
Warren Area Action Council. The strong base of members in the two counties should
serve as a great foundation for many future successful meetings.
A map of the 21 AAC groups that meet around Ohio can be seen
here. If you are interested in attending an upcoming meeting of finding out
more, please contact NFIB/Ohio member support manager Jesse Jones at [email protected] or call her at
614-221-4107.
