P.O. Box 283 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. https://www.facebook.com/Cedarville-Area-Chamber-of-Commerce-1196185937162608/ |
Our Purpose
The Cedarville Area Chamber of Commerce in Ohio is your connection for business advantages. The mission of the Cedarville Chamber is to advance important economic development opportunities and issues, to help our members grow their businesses by delivering outstanding opportunities to connect with each other and the broader community, and to partner with other organizations and work cooperatively with the government, nonprofit, and community sectors to promote ground-breaking ideas that will make Cedarville more competitive. Our vision is to drive economic growth, create new opportunities for our members, and build a stronger community.
Schedule of Events / Community News
Chamber Membership drive 2024 (Please join us)
We are happy to report that the businesses listed below have joined the Chamber for this year!
The Garage of Cedarville, Second Act of Cedarville, Montgomery Insurance, Greene County Public Library, Brentwood Builders, Hearthstone Inn, Beans N Crème, Randy Strobridge, Jacob Garrison, Kent's Feed Barn, Mary Kay (Tina Wagner), Greene County Eyecare, Cutting Edge of Cedarville, Village of Clifton.
"Revitalize Cedarville"
Sarah Garrison, a longtime resident of Cedarville, has started a new nonprofit - Revitalize Cedarville. They are a diverse group of 10 stakeholders representing various aspects of our village - Village Council, Cedarville University, Chamber of Commerce, Small Business Owners, Residential, Commercial, and Rental Property Owners, and longtime Residents. Their goal is to work together to improve our downtown (improving buildings, parking, creating streetscapes, outdoor space, etc.), make it a more welcoming place for our residents and visitors, capitalize on our Village's existing businesses and economic base, as well as create opportunities to diversify it by adding new businesses to our vacant retail spaces.
We would like to thank the 2023 Chamber Members:
We would like to thank ZCI, Greene County Public Library, Cedarville University, Cedar Care Pharmacy, Brentwood Builders, Cedarcliff Schools, Sheridan's, Second Act of Cedarville, The Garage of Cedarville, Cedarville Township, Kents Feed Barn, Mary Kay (Tina Wagner) and the Village of Clifton / Opera House, Mom and Dad's Dairy Bar & Grill, The Village Petaler, Beans N Cream, Cedarville Learning Center, Greene County Career Center, Hearthstone Inn, and the Cutting Edge of Cedarville for their continued support of the Chamber of Commerce!
We have very exciting news for any business who joins the Chamber.
Cedarville Area Chamber of Commerce and Southern Ohio Chamber Alliance (SOCA) benefits to our members:
SOCA Benefit Plan: This new self-funded health program that can lead to more rate stability and is a smart solution that offers potential savings for groups with 50 or fewer employees. SOCA has teamed up with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield to administer this plan and to provide stop loss coverage.
Chamber Energy Program & Chamber Sustainability Program
New Video: Full Video Link: https://www.canva.com/design/
The Chamber Energy Program provides energy supply solutions for our members' homes, small businesses, and large commercial operations. As your trusted partner, we strive to provide education and protection in everything we do. The Chamber Sustainability Program helps members reduce their energy costs by connecting them with effective efficiency solutions and project funding and financing. This program can assist you with solution and vendor selection and ensure you are maximizing your ROI using a wide array of available federal, state, and local rebates, grants, incentives, and other funding options.
If you would like to obtain a complimentary bill review to see if you can save on your energy costs and/or improve your energy efficiency, simply choose one of the following options.
- Email a recent copy of your utility bill toThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Call 330-208-2082
For more information, visit https://chamberenergyprogram.com.
Legal Shield ID Shield: We believe every family and every business deserves affordable legal and identity theft protection. Including you. No matter how traumatic or trivial your situation, and no matter how large or small your business, we are here to help. Give Todd Goodwin or Nick Goodwin a call at 855-294-0888 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with questions or schedule an appointment.
For more information about the chamber of commerce or to become a member, please visit our website at www.cedarvillechamber.com.
Please Contact Your Chamber Members & SOCA Vendors below to Access these Benefits. SOCA Benefit Plan:
Montgomery Insurance & Investments Agency, Inc. 937-376-4565
Chamber Energy Program:
Kathy Elseser
330-721-8000
Questions about SOCA? Visit www.JoinSOCA.com
Legal Shield ID Shield: Todd and Nick Goodwin 855-294-0888
Here is the link for the LTOL Downtown Business Map!! Thanks Hearthstone Inn for creating this. https://www.cedarvillechamber.com/index.php/forms-and-applications/file/21-ltol-downtown-map
Support your local Chamber by becoming an active member. The membership form is under "Forms and Applications" at the top of this website.
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SHOP LOCAL!!
For more information, contact:
CedarvilleareaChamber@gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/Cedarville-Area-Chamber-of-Commerce-1196185937162608/
Cedarville Area Chamber of Commerce
Cedarville University Updates
Watch this space for updates from Cedarville University!
CEDARVILLE, OHIO – It was a reunion for Viv Wheeler and her birth mom when the Cedarville University sophomore visited Guatemala on a recent trip to her native country. It was the first time Wheeler met her birth mom, as she was put up for adoption in 2004 — a few months after her birth.
“The meeting with my birth family was sweet,” said Wheeler, resident of Portsmouth, Ohio, upon returning from the international trip. “I was able to reassure my family in Guatemala that I’m all right and that my birth mom made the right decision in giving me up to my adopted family.”
Although her mom willingly gave her up for adoption, it never stopped her from caring for Wheeler — even to this day.
“My birth mom told me that she has prayed for me every single day of my life, and part of her prayer was that she would be able to meet me someday,” admitted Wheeler, who is studying primary and special education at Cedarville University with the hope of becoming a speech pathologist. “This was very encouraging for me to hear, and I was so thankful to be able to spend some time with my Guatemalan family.”
The adoption process for the Wheeler family was anything but traditional. After prayerfully deciding to adopt internationally, Wheeler’s parents, Tim and Sherri, pulled country names out of a cup and kept landing on Guatemala.
They knew they were called to adopt a child from Guatemala, and Wheeler’s dad found her. Without hesitation, they began the official adoption process. With all clarity, the Wheelers were certain the adoption of Viv was God’s plan for their lives.
While the Wheeler family and the birth family have had inconsistent contact for many years, it wasn’t until Viv’s sister in Guatemala, Wendy, started communicating through Instagram two years ago that the reunion idea became a reality.
Through social media, plans to reconnect in person were discussed and ultimately completed. And, during their brief meeting, there were lots of hugs and tears and exchanging of small gifts.
“I have learned a lot through the adoption process, and my reunion with my birth family, that I hope to adopt an international child someday,” said Wheeler. “I have been doubly blessed and hope to share a similar blessing someday with a child in the adoption process.”
Written by Sarah Mummert
Cedarville Alumnus Providing Vital Healthcare Services to Navajo Community
CEDARVILLE, OHIO – Cedarville University’s School of Pharmacy continuously provides graduates with endless opportunities to impact the pharmacy world and use their degree to help find medical solutions for people in need. For 2018 alumni Dr. Hope Fonbah, the pharmacy program changed the trajectory of his career and provided life-changing opportunities.
After being hired directly from Cedarville’s pharmacy program, Fonbah runs a clinical practice at the Tuba City Regional Health Care Corporation on a Navajo Reservation in Tuba City, Arizona. Currently, he works as an outpatient pharmacist and provides medical care at a diabetes management clinic.
He credits Cedarville University’s School of Pharmacy for providing an excellent education that minimized his student loan debt and provided leadership opportunities that were unmatched by other universities.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the Navajo Nation is the largest federally recognized tribe in the United States, with over 400,000 indigenous people. Fonbah’s goal while working on the Navajo Reservation is to provide compassionate care to diverse people groups experiencing chronic pain. “I always try to listen to what the person says, but more importantly what they don’t say. People just want someone to listen to them. Due to the cultural differences on the Navajo Reservation, it is particularly important to be intentional and sensitive with my care as a health care provider.”
“Cedarville helped minimize my student loan debt by allowing me to combine my PharmD and MBA, which gave me the flexibility to pursue various paths and give back to others,” said Fonbah. “The school of pharmacy continually provides a pathway for its students to maximize their learning potential through its combined MBA and PharmD degrees.”
Additionally, Cedarville’s MBA program equipped Fonbah with the leadership skills to help manage a clinical practice.
“Without any formal business background, Cedarville’s MBA program opened my eyes to a world of possibilities and broadened my horizons,” said Fonbah. “I have abundant flexibility when it comes to work because I can easily transition from direct patient care to management without any complications.”
In addition to a world-class education, Cedarville provided Fonbah with colleagues who he expects will connect with him throughout his life – specifically Dr. Jeffery Bates, dean and professor of pharmacy practice.
“Dr. Bates and the entire school of pharmacy have been front and center in shaping my worldview regarding the needs of the health care system in the United States,” said Fonbah.
By partnering with colleagues and patients, Fonbah improves the lives of people suffering from chronic conditions through effective pain management and intentionality. “Managing any chronic conditions involves showing compassion and setting small goals we can achieve together over time. Once these goals are achieved, the joy on their faces is heartwarming,” said Fonbah.
Currently, Fonbah is working on becoming a preceptor, which is a practitioner educator who serves as a role model to guide pharmacy students. He aims to continue to improve the clinical rotations in Cedarville’s School of Pharmacy and share the blessings of serving the underserved.
“If I had to do it all over again, I would choose Cedarville University’s School of Pharmacy every time,” said Fonbah.
Written by Jordan Foley
Junked Mercedes-Turned-Racing Car Ready for the Ultimate Driving Test
CEDARVILLE, OHIO – Professor Jay Kinsinger and a team of senior mechanical engineering students from Cedarville University are gearing up for the Grassroots Motorsports $2,000 Challenge in Gainesville, Florida. The competition is set to take place on April 6-7.
The team, composed of six senior mechanical engineering students, has been diligently working since the start of the 2023 fall semester to construct a competitive race car within a budget of $2,000. They have turned a junked Mercedes into what they believe will be a winning car in the national competition. This ambitious endeavor serves as a practical exercise in cost-benefit analysis, providing students with invaluable real-world experience.
"The tight budget necessitates creative problem-solving and unconventional approaches to engineering," remarked Kinsinger, who teaches mechanical and biomedical engineering. "Our goal is to build the best race car within the competition's constraints."
The Grassroots Motorsports Challenge evaluates race cars across three categories: autocross, drag racing, and a concours d'elegance. The judges emphasize speed, performance, and aesthetics while adhering to strict budgetary limitations.
Cedarville University made its debut in the competition in 2022, securing 11th place overall and earning top honors for its car's design – a retro 1957 Nash Metropolitan.
"This year's team has poured their hearts into the project, and we're optimistic about our prospects," Kinsinger added. "We're aiming for a podium finish."
The team's vehicle, a '95 C-Class 4-door Mercedes salvaged by Kinsinger, underwent extensive modifications to enhance its performance. After stripping nearly 2,000 pounds from the vehicle and redesigning its aerodynamics, the car is now nearing completion.
As the competition draws near, the team is focused on finalizing the car's bodywork and transmission, ensuring it's ready for rigorous testing before the event.
"This project serves as a culmination of our seniors' engineering education, providing them with invaluable skills and experience," Kinsinger concluded. "We're grateful for the opportunity and remain committed to showcasing our creativity and dedication on the racetrack."
Cedarville's team consists of Tim Junker (Cedarville, Ohio), Ryan Cole (Cedarville, Ohio), Kennedy Southland (Grand Rapids, Michigan), Will Hanak (Hebron, Kentucky), Zach Denlinger (Zionsville, Indiana) and John Thomson (Greenwood, Missouri). Junker is the team's driver.
Written by Cara Groves
Supermileage Team Seeking Win at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
CEDARVILLE, OHIO – In an era where electric cars are gaining more interest among U.S. consumers, there’s still a place for gas-powered vehicles. That’s why Cedarville University has built a car that could get up to 2,000 miles to a gallon, which it will test in the weekend’s Shell Eco-Marathon Americas competition at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The competition is from April 3-7.
This year’s team of Cedarville University engineering students marks the 33rd consecutive year of students building and designing a supermileage car for the national competition. Last year’s team finished fourth as its car reached 1,355 miles per gallon.
This year’s Cedarville team hopes to surpass last year’s accomplishment and will be racing Carcharia-- the name of their fourth-generation supermileage car. Once the team arrives at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, it will work through final preparations before taking its car to the Brickyard for practice laps.
“Carcharias means shark in Greek and our car has a shark painted underneath the body to intimidate the competition,” said Dr. Larry Zavodney, senior professor of mechanical engineering and the faculty advisor.
The goal of the Shell competition is to create the most fuel-efficient car possible, not the fastest car on the track. This event is a unique way for students to think critically about how to conserve energy and create more efficient vehicles by blending multiple disciplines, including mechanical and electrical engineering with computer science.
“At the competition, every team must finish four laps clocking a speed of at least 15 miles per hour before judges measure their car’s fuel consumption,” said Zavodney. “Our car is 45 times more powerful than it needs to be for normal operation, which allows us to quickly achieve a speed of 23 miles per hour before killing the engine and coasting for maximum fuel efficiency.”