Chamber’s Events and Programs
Chamber Events
Ambassadors
serve as liaisons between the Chamber, the membership and the business community. Their mission is to serve as the extended arm of the Knox County Chamber of Commerce highlighting our services, benefits, and volunteering at Chamber events.
Laurie Gallwitz of Park National Bank is our current Ambassador Chair. If you are interested in becoming a Chamber Ambassador, contact Laurie at laurie.gallwitz@parknationalbank.com or the executive director of the Chamber, Carol Grubaugh at carol@knoxchamber.com. The Ambassador form/application may be found by Clicking Here. The form provides additional details and instructions.
Annual Awards Dinner
is held each year in March at Kenyon College Lowry Center in Gambier, Ohio. More than 500 people attend and 12 awards are presented as we honor 30 nominees for their achievements.
Click here to view the Award Criteria.
Click here to view previous nominees and recipients.
The process for submitting nominations and selecting three final nominees for each award is as follows:
- In October, the entire membership will be sent a link for an electronic form asking for nominations. Each member business has a voice and are encouraged to nominate fellow Chamber members and their business or individual for the various award categories. It will include instructions and a deadline to submit.
- In November, the Chamber’s Board of Trustees and Ambassadors gather to review all nominations that were submitted by the deadline. They will actively discuss and vote by secret ballot. The top three nominees will be contacted and announced.
- In December, the primary contact for each Chamber member will be emailed a link to cast their vote.
- Awards are ordered and the staff works diligently in preparing for this exciting gala. It’s the largest event in Knox County and we invite you to experience the Annual Awards Dinner in March.
Breakfast with Santa
is held in December. Children and families love this event to talk with Santa, enjoy crafts, watching holiday cartoons, and eating breakfast while writing letters to Santa.
Business Boost
is held in April, July, and October. This is a true networking event and everyone is encouraged to bring a stack of business cards to distribute to attendees as you network around the room. It’s a great opportunity to promote your business and meet new clients and connect with friends and other business professionals. Check out our website calendar for dates and information.
Educators Breakfast
is held in August where business leaders and educators gather to kick off the academic year. This signature event was started by the founder of Kokosing Construction, Mr. Bill Burgett. The Chamber is proud to host this annual event honoring educators for their important work of educating future business professionals. It’s a must-see event!
HR Summit
is held each year in September. HR professionals and those that are responsible for human resources at their workplace should attend. It typically is a panel of experts that will discuss important HR issues whether it is a new law or questions you have to keep your business compliant.
Junior Fair Breakfast
is held in July to celebrate the dedicated work the Junior Fair Participants do to prepare for the Knox County Fair. All proceeds go directly to the Junior Fair Awards.
Leadership Knox
is our 10-month signature program that runs January through October. More than 400 individuals have graduated from the program. Participants will take exclusive tours and hear from approximately 100 speakers about various aspects of Knox County operations.
The class is limited to the first 30 people that submit their completed application. Questions? Contact Debbie Ruggles at programs@knoxchamber.com or call the Chamber office at 740-393-1111.
Power Hour
training sessions are held in February, May, and November. These one-hour sessions bring experts in to provide information and answer questions on a variety of topics. Topics may include: Accounting, Health Insurance, Taxes, Workers’ Compensation, Legal Matters, Insurance Coverage, QuickBooks, and more. We welcome topic suggestions and are proud to provide important and relevant contact to our business community.
Professional Development
are additional training sessions the Chamber hosts outside of the Power Hour events. Some classes may be two-hours, half-day, or full-day training. Check our event calendar on our website and in our monthly newsletter for details and registration.
Safety Council
is a program of the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation and is facilitated by the Knox County Chamber of Commerce. This monthly event encourages safe practices in the workplace. Visit the Chamber’s website to learn more about safety topics, additional safety classes, and read how qualifying companies may earn a rebate on their workers comp premiums.
Spring Swing Golf Outing
is held in May on the Thursday prior to Memorial Day weekend. We rotate it between our member golf courses and our Corporate Sponsor, The Laurels of Mt. Vernon, are sure to provide their signature shrimp and beverages. Our signature golf outing is a fun-filled day for players and volunteers. It is our second largest event and fundraiser for the Chamber.
WorkDev
is the Workforce Development Alliance Group (WorkDev). We are a group of area leaders including manufacturing, healthcare, education, and other business professionals. WorkDev works with business owners, job seekers, and students identifying gaps and providing resources and solutions. We review current trends, training needs, student career paths, and more. The Chamber is very active in this group and we will advertise upcoming training events that WorkDev may offer throughout the year.
Check out Calendar of Events often for all events, details, and registration. We may add additional events that are not listed here.
Event Sponsorships
Our events are well attended and a great opportunity to showcase your business.
Contact Debbie Ruggles at programs@knoxchamber.com or call 740-393-1111 to discuss the various events and all sponsorship levels.