Seventy members of Ohio’s House and Senate and governmental affairs professionals from around the state were at the Ohio Chamber of Commerce’s biennial Salt Fork Legislative Conference.

Mark Gerzon, keynote speaker, spoke to the attendees on the six political belief systems common on our democratic society. He also led sessions on constructive dialog. Attendees were broken into groups with each group led by a member of the general assembly or a governmental affairs specialist. The group then talked about ways to make the legislative process even better in Ohio. These ideas were written up like legislative bills and the “sponsor” of each idea had to get “co-signers” in order for the idea to make it through the process. This exercise generated numerous ideas that will be typed up and distributed to all members of the General Assembly at a later date.

The hit of the conference had to be the one-of-a-kind trading cards of all members of the Ohio House and Senate developed by the Chamber. Each attendee was given 40 trading cards to start with and given the task to collect all 132 cards plus one of the Supreme Court and Governor. The trading and collecting allowed for wonderful interaction between everyone at the conference. For those who would like additional cards, please contact Julie Wagner Feasel at the Chamber, 614-228-4201 or jfeasel@ohiochamber.com.

Enjoy the pictures!

Keynote speaker Mark Gerzon with is wife Rachel outside the Salt Fork Lodge. Mark lead the U.S. House retreats in 1997 and 1999.

Pat Grischow, Senior Governmental Affairs Specialist for The Timken Company, with Andy Doehrel, President of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce.

David Matusoff, Government Relations Manager with the Ohio Super Computer Center, State Representative Fred Strahorn and Patrice Gillespie Smith, Senior Account Executive with Paul Werth and Associates.