Dreamers, Drivers, Doers Greater Akron Chamber

Akron RubberDucks President and General Manager Jim Pfander has been with the AA baseball team for 12 years.Canal Park has changed a lot in that time, mainly in its marketing and operations-Jim positions the RubberDucks asnot just a baseball team, andmore of a “collective spirit” for downtown. In this episode, Jim and Steve discuss howthe RubberDucks use out-of-the-box marketing tactics and special entertainment opportunities to bring people to theballpark and get engaged with downtown Akron.

Tony Troppe is known throughout Akron for donning various hats: owner, proprietor, developer, creative director, musician... there’s no easy way to explain exactly what Tony does day-to-day. But on a larger scale, he's a passionate change maker looking to make Greater Akron a bright, asset-filled city via arts and entertainment venues and community spaces, mixed-used developments, and green spaces. In this episode, Tony sits down with Steve to talk about his passion for Akron, his current and planned development projects and his Akron Rising documentary which will release during the city’s bicentennial. And, a little jazz flute to set the vibe!

The United States’ labor market is continuing to reshape and heal itself following 2022’s “Great Resignation,” butconnecting workers to good in-demand jobs has always been difficult. ConxusNEO seeks to solve this issue inNortheast Ohio by working with partners to generate awareness of in-demand jobs, develop a competitive talent pool,and upskill employed workers. In this episode, Senior Manager of ConxusNEO’s Manufacturing Sector PartnershipJean Barbato sits down with Steve to explain Ohio TechCred, a state program that ConxusNEO encourages areabusiness and organizations to utilize that allows them to be reimbursed for employee upskilling up to $2,000 percredential and $180,000 per year.

PGA Golf at Firestone in July has been a mainstay in the Akron community for over 70 years. In this episode, Steve sits down with Don Padgett, Executive Director of the Kaulig Companies Championship to discuss how the championship and Firestone Country Club delivers visibility, community engagement, and charitable support to the Greater Akron community. Hear more about what to expect at this year’s event as it continues to evolve and grow as an entertainment and community celebration for everyone.

Each day we get closer to an AI driven world–and that’s no more apparent than in education and the businessworld. Stark State College has taken a forward-thinking approach in developing programs specifically oriented to AIlearning career readiness. Inthis episode, President of Stark State College Para Jones and ConxusNEO Tech SectorPartnership Senior Manager Amy Neumann sit down with Steve to talk all things AI and how the next generation ispreparing for an AI centered workforce.

Akronites know that our city has a deep and colorful history that's shaped the fabric of our region. In July 2025, the City of Akron will celebrate its 200th birthday with a much-anticipated Bicentennial Celebration! A number of events and historic celebrations will take place aimed at bringing the city together. In this episode, Mark Greer, Executive Director of the Akron Bicentennial talks with Steve about plans for the celebration and how everything will come together.