For Immediate Release
March 29, 2000

Contact: Denise Wible
Communications Director
Ohio Chamber of Commerce
614/228-4201

Ohio Chamber Announces New Board Members

COLUMBUS -- Twenty distinguished Ohio business leaders were elected Wednesday to positions on the Ohio Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. The election occurred during the Ohio Chamber's Annual Meeting and Legislative Conference in Columbus.

The slate of four newly-elected and 16 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.

Newly elected Ohio Chamber directors include:

  • Charles L. Slater, Vice President & General Manager, Ohio Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Mason
    Mr. Slater assumed his position with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in 1997. His career includes 22 years with CIGNA and its predecessor, Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, as well as seven years as CEO for Healthsource North Texas, Inc. He is currently chairman of the board for Anthem Brokerage Corp. and a member of the board for Paragon Medical Systems and Anthem Prescription Management.

  • Alan M. Hooker, President & Chief Executive Officer, The Community Bank, Lancaster
    Mr. Hooker is currently president and CEO of The Community Bank and executive vice president of United Bancorp, Inc. headquartered in Martins Ferry, OH. His career includes service as controller of Fairfield Medical Center and president of Fairfield National Division of Park National Bank. He is a member of the Fairfield County Foundation Board of Directors and Finance Committee and is a past-chairman of both the Lancaster-Fairfield County Chamber of Commerce and the Lancaster Festival.

  • C. Thomas Harvie, Senior Vice President & General Counsel, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Akron
    Mr. Harvie was named to his current position with The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company in 1999, having served as vice president and general counsel since 1995. Prior to joining Goodyear, he was vice president and associate general counsel at TRW Inc., where he had served since 1976. A Vietnam War veteran, Mr. Harvie is a trustee of the Cleveland Institute of Music, Cleveland Opera, and the Akron Art Museum.

  • Raymond L. Byers, Jr., Regional Governmental Affairs Manager, Ohio Valley Region, Ford Motor Company, Columbus
    Mr. Byers began his career with the Ford Motor Company in 1969 and assumed his current position in 1998. He previously held positions within the corporation including manager of contributions programs and national educational affairs manager. An active community leader, Mr. Byers currently sits on the Ohio Expenditures Council and the board of directors for Youth in Government.

Returning Ohio Chamber of Commerce Board members elected on March 29 include:

  • William J. Bandy, Jr., President, Environmental Design Group, Akron
  • Alan G. Brant, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Second Bancorp, Inc., Warren
  • Ronald F. Budzik, Vice President, Governmental Affairs, The Mead Corporation, Dayton
  • John L. Gray, Of Counsel, Kegler, Brown, Hill & Ritter, Columbus
  • Daniel R. Helmick, Assistant Vice President, Governmental Affairs, Sprint, Columbus
  • Richard H. Holl, President & Chief Executive Officer, Logan Clay Products Company, Logan
  • Louise S. Hughes, Associate Director, Ohio Government Relations, The Procter & Gamble Company, Cincinnati
  • Jack M. Koester, Co-Founder, Koester Metals, Inc., Defiance
  • William J. Lhota, Executive Vice President, American Electric Power, Columbus
  • William T. McConnell, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Park National Bank, Newark
  • Bruce McCrodden, Senior Vice President, National City Corporation, Cleveland
  • John A. McMinn, Vice President, Lochmoor Stables, Inc., Lebanon
  • William W. Montgomery, President & Chief Executive Officer, Celina Insurance Group, Celina
  • Niles C. Overly, President, & Chief Executive Officer, The Frank Gates Companies, Columbus
  • Joe Philabaum, Regional President, GTE, Marion
  • Rick Schostek, Assistant Vice President & General Counsel, Honda of America Mfg., Inc., Motorcycle Plant, Marysville

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