A Busy Week with One Common Theme
Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber
The premier business and civic organization dedicated to growing the vibrancy and economic prosperity of the region.
Last Wednesday, Music Hall came alive with the annual Fifth Third Bank Diversity Leadership Symposium, drawing an impressive crowd of nearly 600 participants.For those counting, that’s an almost 20% increase from last year’s event. There was an energy and vibrancy you could feel throughout the room and into the breakout sessions. The room was leaning in, participating, asking questions, and exchanging knowledge and ideas. Keynote speaker MJ Acosta-Ruiz talked about the importance of authenticity and fighting to tell untold stories. Every speaker prioritized work and action to make this a place where everyone belongs. Because that’s what growing, thriving cities do.
We do this work all year long. Through membership, our events, and our regional strategic initiatives, we work to achieve our vision: a growing, thriving community where everyone belongs.
In just the last few days, I’ve been fortunate to spend time with colleagues at partner organizations like REDI Cincinnati, Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio, Minority Business Accelerator, Cincinnati Experience, Covington Business Council, and our Chamber Government Affairs committees. It was heartening that in each of these rooms, the work and issues were aligned with that vision. I felt that all across the region, we were moving in the same direction. Growth and belonging go hand in hand.
What brought it home for me was sitting in a room at the Community Action Agency. I had the good fortune to listen to Antianna Beal as she bravely talked about her recent education and career journey. Ms. Beal was having difficulty finding a path that worked for her and was working at a Foot Locker when someone encouraged her to participate in the Workforce Innovation Center’s Women of Color in Tech program that was funded by JPMorganChase . With the help of our service partner, the Brighton Center, Ms. Beal “locked in” and finished the Google certificate that the program offered. It opened doors and opportunities for her. She’s now working in research and development at P&G, with a great career path ahead of her. It was an emotional testimony from Antianna. And I left both inspired by her and by the work that the Chamber team has done this year to achieve our vision of a growing, thriving region where everyone belongs.
We have more work to do, and I hope you find ways to join us. Email me anytime, I’d love to know how you want to help achieve this vision.
P.S. For those who attended the Fifth Third Diversity Leadership Symposium, we would be grateful if you could fill out our survey to help us continually improve the event for years to come.
Monthly Member Briefing
Join us for the January Monthly Member Briefing, featuring our keynote speaker, Darryl Haley, Chief Executive Officer & General Manager of the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority/Metro.
Darryl Haley serves as the Chief Executive Officer & General Manager for the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority/Metro, which provides about 13 million rides per year on Metro's fixed route and Access paratransit buses. Prior to this role, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer, where he was responsible for transit service planning development and scheduling, operations, and maintenance.
Following his keynote, you will hear from Mike Dunn, CEO of Meals on Wheels Southwest OH & Northern KY. And our program will conclude with a Chamber teammate giving an update on upcoming Chamber initiatives.
Center for Research and Data
Between 2020 and 2023, Cincinnati experienced modest population growth, primarily driven by natural change (+7,630) and international migration (+14,300). Columbus, on the other hand, experienced significantly more growth through international migration (+23,315) and natural change (+19,671), which propelled it to be a regional leader in growth. Meanwhile, Cleveland and Pittsburgh faced substantial population declines, due to losses in domestic migration and natural increase.
To compete with cities like Columbus, which thrive on international migration, Cincinnati must embrace from policies and initiatives that attract and retain a more global population.
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Leadership Center
The Chamber's Leadership Center at the Cincinnati Regional Chamber released their full calendar for 2025 of programs and events. This document supplies what you need to know in terms of application and registration windows, pricing, targeted audiences, program timing, and event dates. Applications are now open for Hello Cincy Executive and WE Ascend.
Hello Cincy Executive
Hello Cincy Executive is a six-session program designed for c-suite and executive employees who are new to the Cincinnati region within two years. Participants will gather for unique experiences at premier venues around the region to explore Cincinnati’s assets, history, economic landscape, arts & culture, and much more. Each of the program’s sessions will offer an opportunity to connect deeply with other newcomer and top established executives in an intimate setting – building awareness of the Cincinnati agenda while making business connections and developing elevated external relationships.
Applications close February 10, 2025
WE Ascend
WE Ascend is a leadership development program that empowers, prepares, and positions those in leadership to move into higher leadership roles. WE Ascend was developed to motivate BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) women to overcome challenges and break the glass ceiling within organizations and the community.
Applications close February 4, 2025
Delivering on the Promise: Metro's Reinvention Continues
Halfway through its game-changing Reinventing Cincinnati Metro plan, Hamilton County’s public transit system has unveiled many services and options for riders and impacted the region’s economy. And there’s much more to come.
REALM - Cincinnati Experience
Business leaders who are recruiting talent and suppliers to the Cincinnati region now have access to marketing materials, fact sheets, neighborhood profiles, and videos that can help their pitches, thanks to the new Cincy Brand Hub from Cincinnati Experience . Find out how you can use this branding content for free in the Fall issue of Realm, the journal for Queen City CEOs from Cincinnati Magazine .
So many initiatives, so many insights… #CincinnatiOhio is so incredibly multidimensional!