Agenda

Thursday, June 16

9:00 AM : Registration

9:30 AM : Welcome

10:00 AM : Getting Your Elected Officials' to Pay Attention - Eugene Krebs

Are you struggling to gain the courage needed to reach out to your State Representative? Maybe it is a County Commissioner that just won’t respond. These meetings can be daunting, especially when we don’t put enough value in the work that we are doing in downtown revitalization. In this session, Gene Krebs will define for you the worth of that ‘little’ Main Street program you are running. Upon leaving this interactive presentation you will have a new perspective on the work you do and how to tie it to undeniable numbers that will impress any politician.

12:00 PM : Lunch on Your Own

1:30 PM : Show Them the Money: Selling Your Downtown with Sales Tax Data - John Mlckovsky & Eugene Krebs

2:00 PM : Building Authentic Relationships Through Communications and Engagement - Candice Harrison

Strong communication skills are important for building positive and meaningful relationships. However, engagement is what creates authentic relationships. You will learn ways to create meaningful engagement opportunities that establish trust and buy-in as well techniques for communicating with the public authentically. In addition, Candice will share with you how to communicate with diverse audiences and develop multi-platform communications tools for promotion and awareness among your current and future stakeholders.

3:00 PM : Why I chose Tiffin - Dave Spridgeon

4:00 PM : Root Beer Float Happy Hour: Building Your Businesses Up

Presenters

Gene Krebs

Eugene K. “Gene” Krebs spent 8 years in the Ohio House of Representatives, 3 years on a local school board, and 4 years as a county commissioner. With Phil DeVol he is coauthor of Bridges Across Every Divide and contributed the sections on policy and advocacy to Bridges Out of Poverty, fifth edition.

Krebs has been a research executive in an organization that studies economic development, urban revitalization, and farmland preservation. Later he was an executive in a research group that studies healthcare and human-service issues. He served on Ohio’s Joint Committee on High Technology Start-up Business, Sales Tax Holiday Study Committee (chair), and the Eminent Domain Task Force.

He was appointed by Democrat Governor Ted Strickland to Ohio’s 21st Century Transportation Task Force and by Republican Governor John Kasich to the Local Government Innovation Council. Krebs is a three-time winner of the Watchdog of the Treasury award for supporting fiscally frugal policies.

He also has appeared on a regular basis on the PBS television show Columbus on the Record and has been featured on CNN, BBC, The State of Ohio, The Spectrum, and All Sides with Ann Fisher as an informed voice on many political and policy issues. Further, Krebs has been published in The Wall Street Journal on economic policy and several times in The Columbus Dispatch and The Plain Dealer (Cleveland) on state policy issues and is frequently sought by the media for insights on various issues.

John Mlckovsky

John is a business development, tax policy analyst with over 20-years of experience in the private and public economies, and a self-confessed “data-wonk”. He possesses substantial experience in the building of multi-source financial spreadsheets, tax incidence simulations, and the assessment of state-local tax legislative policies. He graduated with an M.P.A. from the Levin School of Urban Affairs at the Cleveland State University.

Candice L. Harrison

Candice is the Corporate Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for the SSOE Group and is the owner of Synergy Engagement, a strategic communications, public relations, and engagement firm.

She is formerly the External Communications Manager for Toledo Public Schools, Director of Communications for the Toledo Museum of Art and Senior Communications Manager for the Toledo Zoo and Aquarium.

Candice is the recipient of the 20 Under 40 in Leadership Award and a Top Community Voices Award from the United Way. Through her work with AALC of United Way, she has helped to improve the areas of education, income and health for African-American families in the Toledo region. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees for Rotary Club of Toledo, The Arts Commission and is the current President of the Press Club of Toledo. She is also a member of The Toledo Chapter of Links, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, and the Toledo Chapter of Jack and Jill of America where is serves as President.

She is a native Toledoan and a proud graduate of Central Catholic High School. Candice received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Toledo and her master’s degree from Spring Arbor University. She is married to Brandon Harrison –a detective with the Toledo Police Department and they have two children, Tre (22) and Brooklynn (13).

Dave Spridgeon

Dave is a small business owner who was courted to Tiffin by Weston Reinbolt and Suzie Reineke who have been instrumental in Tiffin's Downtown Revitalization. He and his wife Amber own the Renaissance of Tiffin, a 1920's style speakeasy, The Pink Lady Food Truck, The Renaissance of Tiffin on Wheels, a 3 vehicle party bus and limo service, Jolly's Drive-In, and soon to open The Frost Parkway Deli which will be a New York style deli. Dave and Amber volunteer their time and money for worthy causes throughout the Tiffin area.

Hotel Options

Hampton Inn - Special Rate of $139 + tax

Call 419-443-5300 and mention the Heritage Ohio Conference group code to secure rate. Available until June 1st or until room block sells out.

Holiday Inn Express

Evening Activities Available

• The Tiffin Bicentennial Birthday Party will be taking place the evening of the workshop. Businesses will have specials and there will be cake and balloons at several locations.
• Thursday Night Tunes - there will be a band at the East Green Amphitheater beginning at 7 pm (the band is Soulpilot).
• The Downtown Tiffin Cruise will start at 5 PM.
• There will be construction, fire, army, farming equipment and medical vehicles all over our downtown in different parking lots.
• Jam’s Monthly Market will be open for their monthly craft show.
• It will be Art Week and there is a very good chance there will be an opportunity for those coming into town to have a small part in a possible new mural going up.
• There will very likely be local artists playing in different areas/parking lots downtown from 5-7 pm.
• There is also a wine tasting going on at Ralph's Joy of Living. Advanced tickets are required ($15 and can be secured at (419) 447-1051).
• The Poignon Project will host a glass blowing demonstration.
• The Tiffin Pedal Bike will be out giving rides to people wanting to get around to the different lots to see the vehicles.