Events

2026 May 13 | COACHING IS THE KEY TO SUPERCHARGE WORKPLACE CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION

Please join us on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, for “COACHING IS THE KEY TO SUPERCHARGE WORKPLACE CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION," presented by Jamie Lewis Smith.

Date: Wednesday, May 13, 2026 (MORNING MEETING)
Time: 8:00am - 9:30am
Location: Buehler's Community Room, 3540 Burbank Road, Wooster, OH

Session Description:In today’s rapidly evolving workplace, creativity and innovation are essential for organizational success. Managers are the linchpins of engagement, retention, and resilience, yet many lack the skills and support to meet these challenges. Research consistently highlights coaching as the most effective method for driving meaningful, lasting behavioral change and unlocking the full creative potential of an organization.

This interactive session will explore the transformative impact of workplace coaching on engagement, retention, creativity, and innovation. Participants will learn how to implement coaching initiatives - ranging from manager-as-coach to peer and group coaching - and assess their current organizational practices against proven strategies.

Attendees will leave equipped with actionable insights and practical steps to embed coaching into their talent development efforts, empowering managers to foster a culture that inspires creativity, maximizes employee potential, and delivers exceptional organizational outcomes.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand and discuss the research into factors that hinder and foster creativity and innovation in the workplace, including the strong role managers play in creating those conditions.
• Deepen awareness of the extraordinary benefits of coaching to develop critical skills needed to lead into the future and to support a more creative, innovative workplace
• Assess one’s own organization against the best practices to identify strengths and opportunities to improve and leave with best practices they can apply to help their managers to embody the characteristics needed to amplify creativity and innovation

Speaker Bio: Jamie Lewis Smith, PhD (aka the NeHRd Lady), is passionate about making managers suck less by providing simple, science-backed actions to transform them into empowering leaders! Her company, Pixel Leadership Group, offers data-driven coaching that can be applied at scale to turn managers into talent maximizers and foster employee thriving. Jamie is a licensed Clinical Psychologist who has spent her career as a human resources leader, coach, and advisor across private sector, nonprofit, and government agencies. She is a contributing member of the Forbes Coaches Council, a published author, and an international speaker on the topics of leadership, assessment, and employee retention.

May 19, 2026 | Marijuana: A Few Things Everyone Should Know

MARIJUANA: A FEW THINGS EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW

CLICK HERE to register for this FREE EVENT.

June 9, 2026 | HR Round Table

HR Round Table

Join fellow HR professionals for an engaging HR Roundtable focused on Employee Handbooks, featuring David Vance of Vance Law, LLC.

Employee handbooks are more than just policies—they are critical tools for setting expectations, ensuring compliance, and protecting your organization. In this roundtable-style discussion, David Vance will share practical insights on current best practices, common pitfalls, and legal considerations employers should be aware of when creating, updating, or enforcing employee handbooks.

Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions, share experiences, and learn from peers in a collaborative setting designed to provide real-world takeaways you can apply immediately.

This event is presented by the Orrville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Wayne Area Human Resources Association, and is ideal for HR professionals, business owners, managers, and anyone responsible for employee policies and compliance.

CLICK HERE to register.

2026 June 10 | QPR Training / Suicide Prevention Coalition

Please join us on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, for “QPR Training/Suicide Prevention Coalition," presented by Kathleen LT Abruzzino, LSW, RASS

Date: Wednesday, June 10, 2026 (NOTE: this meeting starts at 11:00am/Note location change to Wooster Country Club)
Time: 11:00am - 1:00pm
Location: Wooster Country Club, 1251 Oak Hill Rd., Wooster, OH 44691

QPR Mission: To save lives and reduce suicidal behaviors by providing innovative, practical and proven suicide prevention training. We believe that quality education empowers all people, regardless of their background, to make a positive difference in the life of someone they know. Gatekeepers can be anyone, but include parents, friends, neighbors, teachers, ministers, doctors, nurses, office supervisors, squad leaders, foremen, police officers, advisors, caseworkers, firefighters, and many others who are strategically positioned to recognize and refer someone at risk of suicide.

As a QPR-trained Gatekeeper you will learn to:

• Recognize the warning signs of suicide
• Know how to offer hope
• Know how to get help and save a life

Speaker Bio: Kathleen Abruzzino has worked at OneEighty in Wooster, OH, since 2006, has been the Victim Advocacy and Outreach Manager since 2022, and is a Registered Advocate with Senior Status through the Ohio Advocate Network. OneEighty is a non-profit behavioral healthcare agency offering services in Wayne and Holmes Counties, including assistance with addiction and substance use disorder, mental health counseling, domestic violence and sexual assault victim advocacy services, a 24 – hour crisis shelter, and community relations and prevention programming. Kate holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work from the University of Akron, is a Licensed Social Worker, received the OAESV 2022 Excellence in Advocacy award, and was the Domestic Shelters 2022 Purple Ribbon Award winner for Rural Initiatives of the Year for her work spearheading the development of the Plain Amish Power and Control wheel. She is a member of the Wayne-Holmes Suicide Prevention Coalition, a member of the Local Outreach to Survivors of Suicide Loss (LOSS) team, and a QPR Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Instructor.

August 19, 2026 | HR Round Table

HR Round Table

Join us for an engaging HR Roundtable at the Orrville Area Chamber of Commerce focused on building a cohesive team.

We’re excited to welcome guest speaker Dorinda, a seasoned professional with more than 20 years of experience in increasing organizational effectiveness, shaping workplace culture, and strengthening teams for long-term success. Dorinda brings a diverse background spanning workforce development, outreach, sales, and economic development across community colleges, manufacturing, and universities. She holds a Master’s degree from Muskingum University and a Bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University, and currently serves as a Business Development Consultant with the Ohio Auditor of State, helping organizations improve efficiency, effectiveness, and overall impact.

This roundtable will include thoughtful discussion, real-world insights, and practical takeaways you can apply within your own organization. Connect with fellow HR professionals and business leaders, share challenges and successes, and leave with new ideas to help your teams work better—together.

This event is presented by the Orrville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Wayne Area Human Resources Association, and is ideal for HR professionals, business owners, managers, and anyone responsible for employee policies and compliance.

CLICK HERE to register.