For Immediate Release
April 3, 2001

Contact: Julie Washburn
Communications Specialist
Ohio Chamber of Commerce
614/228-4201
jwashburn@ohiochamber.com

Ohio Chamber Announces New Board Members and New Chairman

COLUMBUS -Twelve distinguished Ohio business leaders were elected to positions on the Ohio Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors during the Chamber's Annual Meeting and Legislative Conference on Tuesday, April 3, 2001, at the Hyatt Regency Columbus. The gavel was also passed from former Chairman William J. Lhota, Executive Vice President of American Electric Power, Columbus, to Chairman Ronald F. Budzik, Vice President of Governmental Affairs for the Mead Corporation in Dayton.

The slate of 12 newly-elected directors and 15 returning directors rounds-out membership on the Ohio Chamber's leadership board, which oversees business activities for Ohio's largest and most diverse statewide business advocacy association. The board includes business representatives from each of five geographic regions of Ohio, as well as directors who serve in at-large positions. Each director is nominated by a committee of Ohio Chamber members and serves a three-year term.

The following are the 12 newly-elected Ohio Chamber directors:
Robert E. Baillie, Site Manager, International Paper, Loveland
J. Robert Blazer, Vice President, Government Affairs, Ameritech Ohio,
Columbus
William Burkhart, Senior Vice President & General Counsel, The Timken Co.,
Canton
Nancy Chiles Dix, President, W.E. Shrider Co., Hebron
John Grisham, President, Buckeye Industrial Mining, Lisbon
J. Joseph Hale, Jr., President, Cinergy, Cincinnati
John Haywood, Division Vice President, Whirlpool Corporation, Findlay
Linda S. Hondros, President, Hondros College, Westerville
John W. "Jack" Kennedy, President, Verizon, Marion
A.R. "Tony" Kenney, Vice President, Business Development, Marathon Ashland
Petroleum LLC, Findlay
Lois Mitten, Chief Executive Officer, Children's Discovery Center, Toledo
David J. Robinson, Partner, Schottenstein, Zox & Dunn, Columbus

The following are the 15 returning Ohio Chamber directors:
Gregory S. Adkins, CPCU, Vice President, Commercial Lines Und., Grange
Insurance Co., Columbus
R. Emmett Boyle, President, Chairman & CEO, Ormet Corp., Hannibal
Derek L. Crawford, Regional Director, State Government Affairs, Philip Morris
Management Corp., Milford
Jeffrey S. Gorman, President & CEO, The Gorman-Rupp Co., Mansfield
Roger Hart, President, Upland Corp., Springfield
C. Mark Kingseed, Partner, Dinsmore & Shohl L.L.P., Dayton
Joseph A. Misinec, Vice President, Grand River Rubber & Plastics Co.,
Ashtabula
Frank Otway, President, London Agency, Springfield
Louis G. Petros, Vice President & Senior Commercial Lender, The First Knox
National Bank, Mt. Vernon
David L. Scheffler, Partner, Plante & Moran L.L.P., Lancaster
David L. Sheets, Vice President, Manufacturing & Engineering, Techneglas, Inc.,
Columbus
Fred Sigg, Vice President & General Manager, Von Roll WTI, East Liverpool
Glenn D. Swift, Operations Vice President & General Manager, AT&T,
Columbus
Carol A. Van Sickle, Manager, Government Relations, Dana Corp., Toledo
Jeffrey A. Walters, Principal, Spector & Saulino, Inc., Akron

"These volunteers, who are leaders in their firms and their communities, will help to guide the Chamber as it promotes public policies that encourage business growth and job creation," said Ohio Chamber of Commerce President Andrew E. Doehrel. "We are fortunate to have the benefit of their wide range of experience as we work to effectively represent the interests of the entire business community in the state of Ohio."

Budzik Installed as Ohio Chamber of Commerce Chairman
Ronald F. Budzik, the Chamber's Chairman, brings extensive knowledge and a wide range of expertise to his new position. Employed by The Mead Corporation since 1963, Mr. Budzik is active in community and industry affairs.

"We are fortunate to have such an outstanding leader and successful businessman bring his skills to the Ohio Chamber," said Doehrel. "As chairman, Mr. Budzik will help to build and strengthen the Chamber's involvement with Ohio's business community. The Chamber, and the state, will benefit from his abilities."

As vice president of governmental affairs for Mead, a position he has held since 1983, Mr. Budzik handles state, regional and international public affairs for the corporation and is responsible for the Mead Corporation Foundation.

Professionally, Mr. Budzik has served on the Chamber's Board of Directors since 1980, and is a former member of the Chamber's Tax Committee. He is also involved with the American Forest and Paper Association State Government Affairs and International Committees. Mr. Budzik has previously been active on the Conference Board Public Affairs Research Council, State Governmental Affairs Council, National Conference of State Legislatures, Foundation for Public Affairs, Ohio Governors Commission on School Choice, and Ohio Reads.

Current and past community involvements include World of Wonder Charter School, Alliance for Education, Greater Dayton Public Television, Dayton Area Graduate Studies Institute, Wright Patterson Air Force Base Support Activities, University of Dayton, United Way and Culture Works Campaigns, and Dayton's Miami Valley Reads Project.

A native of Pittsburgh, Mr. Budzik holds both undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Dayton, and has attended the INSEAD International Advanced Management Program in Fontainbleau, France, and the Public Affairs Institute. Accolades include the MVEDC Leadership and Artemis House Peacekeeper Awards.

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