BUCYRUS — Business owners and other area residents and dignitaries packed into The Loft at Pickwick Place on Thursday morning to participate in the Bucyrus Area Chamber of Commerce Forecast Breakfast.
The breakfast is to give a recap of the previous year and allow economic-focused individuals to know what to expect in the coming year.
Along with a breakfast from Katering Kountry Style, sponsored by FC Bank, attendees heard from guest speakers from various realms of the business world. More than 170 individuals attended the event.
Guest speakers included Jenny Saunders, FC Bank; Carla Koepke, Carle’s Bratwurst; Dr. Curt Gingrich, OhioHealth; Monica Bess, Bess Blvd Real Estate Company Ltd; Dawn Ratliff, ADM Benfits; Gary Frankhouse, Crawford Partnership; Todd Boyer, Ohio Mutual Insurance Group; Jerry Morasko, Avita Health Systems; and Jim Spreng, Spreng Capital Management.
Bucyrus Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Tyler Jacobs said having a diverse group of people and businesses is important for businesses to be able to work together to better the community.
“I think it’s important for all of us who work together, year after year and day after day, to sit down in one spot and hear from each industry, so we can stay in the loop of everything,” Jacobs said. “You never know if someone is going to be able to lend a hand and help in those different areas.”
Ohio House of Representatives District 87 Rep. Riordan McClain (R) was in attendance and said this type of event helps him stay in tune with what members of his district are in need of and making sure it aligns with what he tries to accomplish in Columbus.
He said a focus for himself is making sure students are trained through the education system to be prepared to enter the workforce and contribute, but first to ensure the jobs are there for the future employees to come to, both on the large and small scale.
Items discussed included healthcare availability expansion in Crawford County, the housing market, multi-generational operation of a locally-owned business, healthcare offerings as a business, construction and renovations for business growth and using U.S. 30 as a resource for growth.
Jacobs said, even in a small community, it is important to remember how businesses and commerce intertwine.
“We all know each other for the most part, but we aren’t able to always sit down and talk about what’s going on within our industries,” he said. “So, that’s what, specifically, I think is good about the forecast breakfast.”
Spreng, who was the final guest speaker, spoke on enticing younger generations to stay in the area for employment. He said he uses himself as an example when he had opportunities in Boston and New York but chose to come to Bucyrus and does not regret it.
He said there are quality employment opportunities in Crawford County.
McClain said he was encouraged by the attendance at the event.
“It shows the excitement people have for the area and for improving Crawford County,” McClain said. “It shows people ready to work together to keep improving their area, and that’s a big thing for me is to see people working together.”