Leading the Akron Chamber of Commerce for 2024 are from left Treasurer Tom Bauters, Secretary Khrista Boster and President Orville Haney. Not pictured is Vice President John Gagnon. InkFreeNews photo by Leah Sander.

By Leah Sander
Staff Writer

AKRON — The Akron Chamber of Commerce’s new leadership is ready to build off DeLynn Geiger and Lori Tilden-Geiger’s previous work with the organization for 2024.

Leaders said they credited former president Geiger and secretary Tilden-Geiger with giving the chamber a fresh start.

“We need to as a new board give credit to DeLynn Geiger and Lori Tilden-Geiger for really revamping the chamber, and what we look forward to doing in 2024 is maintain and hopefully build upon what they’ve handed us,” said new chamber President Orville Haney.

“I think we’re excited about continuing what they’ve done in recent years,” added Chamber Treasurer Tom Bauters.

Haney and Bauters are joined by Vice President John Gagnon and Secretary Khrista Boster for 2024.

Leaders discussed plans and developments for the year, which include the impact of numerous homes and businesses being named to the National Register of Historic Places. The chamber assisted with that process, with grant funds as a result of it coming in spring 2024, said Bauters.

That means businesses in the town may get special tax credits and use grant funds to redo buildings.

“We’re excited about what it’s going to bring to Akron,” said Bauters.

Haney said the chamber hopes “to build upon” new events started in 2023 for 2024: the town’s farmers market and Autumn in Akron Charity Car, Truck and Bike Show, with Aryn Bowser and Nancee Ward helping lead those events respectively.

Other chamber-involved events for the year should include the Easter egg hunt, Christmas tree lighting and annual Christmas open house, and of course, Fourth of July.

Bauters cited the hard work the Fourth of July committee, which is under the umbrella of the chamber, does every year.

The chamber should also continue to honor members of the month for 2024, said Bauters.

The organization had 55 members for 2023, including individuals, businesses and nonprofits.

“We’ve really done well with the local community,” noted Bauters of membership, adding members are from Kosciusko County, Wabash County and Miami County as well as Fulton County.

“You could take a 20-minute drive and be in four counties from Akron,” said Haney. “We’re unique with our location that we get to pull from surrounding counties.”

He added he believed the chamber’s success “has hinged on our transparency with our funds and our objective to enhance the livelihood of our local businesses and local people because the two go hand in hand.”

“We enhance the community,” said Haney. “We give opportunities for like-minded citizens to mingle and interact with business owners.”

“The best way to get involved in the community is to get involved in the chamber,” added Boster.

The chamber generally meets the first Thursday of each month at 7 p.m., with the next meeting Feb. 1 at Akron Town Hall.

Nonmembers are welcome to come check the chamber out.

If people wish to join, annual dues for the chamber vary, following under $75 for businesses/industries with more than 10 employees; $50 for businesses or industries with fewer employees than that; and $25 for individuals/churches/nonprofits.

People may call Haney at (574) 505-0681, Gagnon at (574) 893-4313, Boster at (419) 235-1551 or Bauters at (574) 505-0813 to join.