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Ruthanne Wilkof was named President & CEO of the Jackson-Belden Chamber of Commerce in November, 2001. A seasoned professional, Wilkof brought with her 26 years of experience with FirstMerit Bank, where she was a private banking administrator. Ruthanne has lived in Stark County all of her life, and the past 15 years in Jackson Township with her husband Ron. Wilkof continues to help improve the Jackson-Belden business and civic communities. She serves on the Board of the Jackson YMCA where she has chaired four fundraising events to raise money for the Jackson Township Community Paul and Carol David YMCA. In addition, she also serves on the Board of the Community Improvement Corporation of Jackson Township, the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee of Jackson Township, and the Advisory Board for the Small Business Development Center at Kent State Stark Campus.
Under her leadership, the Chamber has tripled in membership, with a growing average of 12 new members joining each month. With the help of many JBCC volunteers, and actively involved Board of Trustees, her staff, and a 15 member Ambassador Committee, led by Wilkof, the Chamber has implemented a number of networking events and membership building functions that have helped to strengthen the organization as a whole. Currently, the JBCC facilitates five TIP Clubs where members from different industries generate business leads on a weekly basis, seasonal Round Table functions that allow members to formally meet one another, an Annual Business Expo event held at the Kent State University Stark Campus Professional Education & Conference Center that enables members to highlight their businesses in a tradeshow-type setting, monthly Business After Hours where members network in a relaxed atmosphere and the Chamber’s sole fundraising extravaganza, The Jackson-Belden Food Fest and Fireworks.
The Chamber continues to develop new ways to improve member programs and services. The Office of Corporate and Community Services and Evaluation Department at Kent State University recently completed a membership survey for the purpose of finding other ways that the JBCC can help the community continue to grow. The Chamber sponsors in part, Leadership Stark County which is a training program geared towards business owners and the Small Business Development Center, free to small business owners who have a desire to improve and/or change their business structure, expand, or need assistance with promoting their business. Since becoming part of the JBCC Team, Wilkof’s mission has stayed consistent, ”to foster, protect and promote integrity and equitable business practices while continuously searching for programs to benefit our members, I’m committed to remaining cognizant that our members come first.”
The Jackson-Belden Chamber has a hard working staff consisting of Ruthanne Wilkof, President & CEO, Chet Niewierski, Graphic Engineer, Jackie Palmer, Finance Manager, Sarah McBryer, Executive Assistant and our dedicated volunteer who is like family to us, Marilyn Jones.
Ruthanne was named Ohio’s Professional of The Year by the prestigious Chamber of Commerce Executives of Ohio on July 21, 2005.
Wilkof is the first Stark County Chamber executive to receive this honor since 1996, when Canton Chamber of Commerce past President Nick Navarra was named.
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