Ohio Chamber Standing Committees

Our standing committees are the lifeblood of the Ohio Chamber. Our member-driven committees examine the current needs of Ohio’s business community and recommend positions the Chamber should take. The work of the Chamber committees guides the Chamber’s governmental affairs team. Chamber members interested in joining a committee can do so by submitting the committee registration form.

Mission: To respond to the needs of Ohio employers for qualified, well-trained employees by promoting policies that meet the demands of today’s workplace and by improving Ohio’s primary and secondary education, higher education and adult training systems. Chairman: David Kalina, Partner, Burgess & Niple, Painesville Staff Contact: Daniel Navin – Assistant Vice President, Tax and Economic Policy

Mission: To support employment law reforms that are fair to both employers and employees that simplify Ohio’s employment law statute and eliminates frivolous lawsuits filed against employers for such claims. Chairman: Wally Mueller, Attorney, Labor & Employment Law, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Akron Staff Contact: Anthonio Fiore – Director, Labor and Human Resources Policy

Mission: To evaluate federal, regional and state issues that are energy and/or environment-related, especially those that impact business, jobs and environmental quality and to work directly with state agency personnel to develop short and long-term solutions to environmental challenges. Chairman: John Hollback, Environmental Affairs Manager, AEP, Columbus Staff Contact: Jennifer Klein – Director, Energy and Environmental Policy

Mission: To promote a market-based health care system based on free enterprise principles that provides access to quality, affordable health care for all Ohioans. Chairman: Katie Grayem, Senior Benefits Consultant, AEP Ohio, Columbus Staff Contact: Carrie Haughawout – Director, Ohio Small Business Council

Mission: To promote and protect the establishment, growth and vitality of small business in Ohio by supporting legislation and government actions that encourage small business development and strengthen free enterprise. Chair: Thomas Pitrone, Principal, The Integrity Group, Willoughby Chair-elect: Kathy Hughes, Partner, Taylor, Applegate, Hughes and Associates Staff Contact: Carrie Haughawout – Director, Ohio Small Business Council

Mission: To monitor and make recommendations on public affairs issues and activities including elections, campaign finance, ethics and lobbyist regulations, when of interest to the business community; and to examine proposed state constitutional amendments or initiative petition efforts that affect the electoral process. Co-Chair: Pete Dobrozsi, Governmental Affairs Consultant, Middletown Co-Chair: Louise S. Hughes, Director, Ohio Government Relations & Corporate Affairs, The Procter & Gamble Co., Cincinnati Staff Contact: Linda Woggon, Vice President, Governmental Affairs

Mission: To review all taxation and spending issues affecting Ohio businesses, to recommend positions on issues related to general state tax policy and to advocate legislative proposals to remedy business tax problems. Chairman: James R. Seiwert, Director, State/Local Taxes, Owens-Illinois, Toledo Staff Contact: Daniel Navin – Assistant Vice President, Tax and Economic Policy

Mission: To support workers’ compensation reforms that eliminate mandatory delays, impose new penalties on those who abuse the system and streamline and simplify the system to ensure that it runs efficiently and effectively. Chairman: Preston Garvin, Garvin & Hickey, LLC, Columbus Staff Contact: Anthonio Fiore – Director, Labor and Human Resources Policy