For Immediate Release
March 17, 1999

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

Ohio Chamber Announces New Board Members

COLUMBUS, OH -- Nine 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 newly elected 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 is elected to serve a three-year term.

Newly elected Ohio Chamber of Commerce Board members include:

Robert R. Boehm, president, Boehm, Inc., Columbus
Appointed to his current position as president in 1975, Mr. Boehm has held a variety of sales and management positions with his family-owned business since 1955. He has successfully expanded the graphic communications company's product line to include a variety of printing services, labeling and ink jet coding systems. Boehm is vice-chairman of the Printing Industry of Central Ohio, and a board member of Printing Industry Association of Northern Kentucky and Ohio as well as serving as chairman of its governmental affairs committee.

Earl T. Carey, vice president, distribution and customer service, FirstEnergy Corp., Akron
Mr. Carey has served in his current capacity since FirstEnergy's creation in 1997. During his 37 year career with the company and its predecessor, Ohio Edison, he held numerous management positions. Carey currently serves on the executive committee of the Akron Regional Development Board, the Akron Salvation Army advisory board, as well as the Arkon City School's Business Advisory Council, and the boards of The University of Akron Center for Economic Education and the Great Trail Council Boy Scouts of America.

Reginald L. Carter, senior vice president, operations, Columbia Gas of Ohio, Columbus
Mr. Carter joined Columbia Gas of Ohio in 1998 and is responsible for operations and customer service centers in Ohio. He began his career with General Electric where he held a variety of operations, marketing and general management positions before moving to GE Financial Services where he was vice president of operations for GE Capital Railcar. He also worked for several years with AB Electrolux.

Megan T. Galajda, regional manager, government relations, GE, Columbus
Ms. Galajda is responsible for developing and managing policy formation and legislative strategy for GE in Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri. She serves on the board of the Ohio Public Expenditure Council, is a member of the Ohio Unemployment Compensation Advisory Commission and chairs the Ohio Chamber's Standing Committee on Health Care.

Cathy B. Miley, vice president, director of regional operations, State Auto Financial Corp., Columbus
Ms. Miley manages sales, underwriting and claims operations in a 10 state region for State Auto, a Columbus-based property and casualty insurance company. She also serves as a director of The Ohio University Insurance Institute.

Mark W. Kontos, senior vice president and chief financial officer, Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus
Mr. Kontos is responsible for setting Battelle's corporate finance strategy, as well as managing internal financial decision making and daily financial operations. His prior experience includes operational and financial management positions with Citicorp's corporate banking division. He was CFO of AK Steel of Middletown, OH during its restructuring. Kontos serves as a trustee of the Middletown Regional Hospital.

Dennis White, regional manager, ADM/Countrymark, Inc., Toledo
Since assuming his position in 1998, Mr. White has overseen all aspects of ADM/ Countrymark's business operations in a region that includes Michigan and parts of Ohio. He also owns and manages two commercial real estate businesses. White previously spent nearly 20 years with Cargill, Inc. in a range of agri-business risk management and trading positions, during which time he served on the Ohio Chamber board. He is former treasurer for the Toledo Board of Trade and a past director of the Ohio Agri-business Association.

Neal F. Zimmers, resident vice president, state relations, Ohio, CSX Transportation, Columbus
Mr. Zimmers has represented CSX in state relations matters since 1998, as well as operating private consulting and law practices. He is a former Montgomery County Court judge and state senator who served as president pro tem and assistant minority leader during his 20 years in office. He is currently vice president of the Capitol Square Foundation.

W. Craig Zimpher, government relations vice president, Nationwide Insurance Enterprise, Columbus
Since 1989, Mr. Zimpher has managed federal and state public policy activities for Nationwide. Before assuming his current position, he was assistant vice president of Ohio operations for Gates McDonald & Co. His credentials include three years as chairman of the Industrial Commission of Ohio, deputy assistant to Gov. James Rhodes and legislative assistant to the Ohio House minority leader. Zimpher currently serves on the board of directors of Columbus Children's Hospital Foundation and is active in several insurance industry research and trade associations.