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Chamber Hours
Monday - Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM
440-998-6998
Fax: 440-992-8216

Chamber Staff
Jim Timonere, President/CEO
Lori Canzonetta Johnston, Office Manager

The Ashtabula Area Chamber of Commerce was established in 1887 and has since been the area’s leading referral service for Membership businesses. More than 415 Members work together to improve their business and build a better community in which to live. The strength of the Chamber lies in attracting the greatest number of Members, which creates a pool of resources to draw ideas, energy and leadership.

What is the Chamber of Commerce?

As the name “Chamber of Commerce” implies, this organization is an assembly of those who are involved with and have an interest in business and free enterprise. It is a private, not-for-profit business association.

Most chambers of commerce are incorporated and have a 501(c )(6) “business association” tax exemption classification—unlike most not-for-profit community organizations that are considered charitable, educational, religious, etc., with a 501(c )(3) or other classification.

Progressive and effective chambers of commerce are organized, funded, directed and operated by—and are accountable only to—its business investors (members).

They recognize and resist the temptation of being “all things to everyone” - the community’s “go to” organization—and are driven by the mission statements that unequivocally and unambiguously seek to:

Provide and support opportunities for business owners to increase their ROI (return on investment), and,
Create an environment that encourages entrepreneurship and private-sector risk taking—starting and growing businesses.

Their short-range and long-term business plans, often referred to as “Plan of Works”, are commonly centered on three “product lines”:

• Economic Development: Initiatives that stimulate commercial activity;
• Member-Investor Benefits: Unique value-added services seen by the member-investors as a direct return on their annual investments;
• Advocacy: Representing the interests of business and free enterprise on public policy matters.

These chambers understand that their greatest contribution is one that no other organization is capable of providing...to foster a vibrant free enterprise environment that stimulates the creation of new jobs, rising wages and a growing tax base for their communities.

Communities with chambers of commerce that successfully can marshal their resources to achieve these results are communities that, with exemplary leadership, can truly meet their citizens’ quality of life expectations.

BJ Wiberg, President/CEO
Chamber of Commerce Executives of OH (CCEO)

The Ashtabula Area Chamber of Commerce has been working with BJ Wiberg/CCEO since 2003. Mr. Wiberg visited Ashtabula in 2004 to meet with and advise your Board of Directors. We will again be working with Mr. Wiberg through a strategic planning Board retreat in April 2005. Watch for more activity from the Ashtabula Area Chamber of Commerce in the future. As stated in many ways above, we’re in business to help your business.

Ashtabula Area Chamber of Commerce Officers
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Joe Giangola - Chairperson of the Board
Giangola Insurance Agency, Inc.

Nancy Kister - Nominating Division Chairperson
O & P Oil and Gas, Inc., President

Ed Looman - Branding, Marketing & Communications Division Chairperson
Growth Partnership for Ashtabula County, Deputy Director

Holly Mayernick - Investor Benefits Division Chairperson
Infinity Resources

Kevin Miller – Economic Development Division Chairperson
Ashtabula County Medical Center, President/CEO

Joe Varckette – Advocacy Division Chairperson
Key Bank, V.P. Of Business Banking

Ashtabula Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors
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Patrick Acaro
Ashtabula County Department of Jobs & Family Services

Bill Creed
Mega-Byte Computer Services

Chad Giangola
Andover Bank, Branch Manger

James Mayer
A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc., Assoc. V.P. Investments

Christina Ray
Ashtabula County Joint Vocational School

Susan Stocker
Kent State University Ashtabula, Dean

Oscar Tomasio
Casa Capelli, President