As President of the Worthington Area Chamber, I'm thrilled to share with you the highlights of a truly transformative year for our Chamber and the communities we serve. In 2024, we embraced growth, innovation, and leadership, positioning ourselves to continue making a significant impact in the years to come. Here are some of the key successes we're proud to celebrate:
- Tremendous Growth: This year, we hosted our largest events in over a decade, bringing together businesses, civic leaders and community members like never before. These gatherings not only fostered connections but also showcased the pivotal role of our Chamber serving as a conduit.
- Amplifying the Voice of Business: Our reach and influence expanded massively both within our community and on social media. With our social media reach growing by 50% since 2023 to convening more community members and organizations than ever before we worked tirelessly to ensure our businesses were heard.
- Disruptive Business Advocacy: We launched the Worthington Works initiative to address workforce challenges and RISE, our DEI initiative, to champion diversity, equity, and inclusion, along with creating Linworth Connect to ensure our businesses could come together to be heard. These programs are designed to foster a business environment that is both inclusive and forward-thinking.
- Magnetic Leadership: Leadership Worthington was reignited after years of being dormant with dynamic workshops and programming. Our focus on leadership development ensures that our members are equipped to navigate the challenges and opportunities of our growing region.
As central Ohio continues to grow, it's crucial that we prepare to attract new businesses and retain existing ones here in Worthington. We can no longer ignore the challenges and opportunities in our region. 2024 was a year that positioned us to do just that!
I invite you to dive into our Annual Report to learn more about these milestones and the exciting path ahead. Together, we're building a stronger, more vibrant community, and I can't wait to see what we accomplish next.
Thank you for going ALL IN with us,
Matt Lofy
President/CEO
