LEWIS CENTER — Lewis Center has officially joined Delaware, Powell, Sunbury and Westerville as cities with dedicated Chambers of Commerce in Delaware County.
The new Lewis Center Chamber officially debuted on Tuesday with a kickoff event at Standardized Brewing in Evans Farm.
“We’re supporting local businesses, we’re creating meaningful connections and we’re helping each other grow,” Chamber Board President Amy Pawlikowski said.
It’s been a long time coming, said Interim Executive Director Pamela Miller, who recently retired as executive director of the Powell Chamber.
What is now the Lewis Center Chamber was previously a business association that operated under the Powell Chamber for two years.
Most of those business association members have become Lewis Center Chamber members, of which there are already 180.
Miller said others previously tried to establish a Lewis Center chamber, but it never took off like this one has.
“Everyone is looking forward to Lewis Center having its own chamber,” she said.
There is no physical office yet, nor any full-time staff members, but Miller said it won’t take long. She is contracting for the chamber part-time now before she retires.
The seven-member board of directors evolved from a committee group who previously oversaw the businesses association. The board is composed of:
- Board President Amy Pawlikowski, owner of the Lewis Center Whit’s location
- Vice President Mark Robinson, owner of Standardized Brewing
- Treasurer Brian Blankenship, Business Banking Relationship Manager at Fifth Third Bank
- Secretary Chrissy Higgins, real estate agent
- Jennifer Billeter, marketing event coordinator for Evans Farm
- Dan Griffin, co-owner of Evans Farm
- Joe Pemberton, president of Suburban Natural Gas
- Mike Ringle, Orange Township Trustee
- Denise Kebede, owner of Little Farm Peddler
“So far it’s been a great team to work with,” Miller said.
The future of the chamber
Although the new chamber just got off the ground, the board already has events planned, including monthly coffee chats and business after-hours events.
Miller said there will eventually be a women in business group as well as a young professionals group for chamber members.
Anyone can attend two events prior to becoming a member, which costs $200 annually, Miller said.
There will also be a Taste of Lewis Center and business expo event at The Ohioan hotel on Oct. 11, but details are still being finalized.
“We’re averaging 20-30 people at every event. Seeing everyone come together is what it’s about in my book,” she said.
Miller’s biggest priority right now? Ordering the giant scissors for all the ribbon cuttings she expects to do soon.
