Hosted by business members, these seminars focus on issues, special interests, and education related to successfully operating and growing a business. Refreshments are typically provided.
Ignite Your SPARK: How Great Leaders Ignite, Protect, and Multiply Human Potential
Today’s workplace isn’t suffering from a lack of talent. It’s suffering from a loss of spark.
Constant change, chronic stress, and relentless demands can slowly diminish the curiosity, energy, and desire to grow that people bring to work. Burnout and disengagement are often the smoke signals. The greater organizational loss is human potential that never gets realized.
In this engaging, interactive session, Todd Bertsch explores the role leaders play in recognizing those signals and creating the conditions for people to thrive—starting with themselves.
Drawing from more than 20 years of executive leadership experience, current workplace research, and insights from his own Spark Quotient (SQ) data, Todd will introduce participants to the SPARK Framework and its three core drivers: Curiosity, Mindset, and Action.
Through personal stories, real-world examples, reflection, and practical application, participants will explore how small, intentional shifts can help them reignite their own spark, protect it during periods of stress and change, and multiply its impact across the people and organizations they lead.Learning Objectives
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
Recognize the Smoke Signals that may indicate their own spark—or someone else’s—is beginning to dim.
Use Curiosity to challenge assumptions, increase awareness, and open new possibilities.
Strengthen Mindset to navigate pressure, setbacks, uncertainty, and change more intentionally.
Turn insight into Action through small, deliberate steps that build momentum.
Identify practical ways to ignite, protect, and multiply human potential within themselves and the people they lead.
Recognize the importance of leadership self-awareness and protecting their own spark while supporting others.
Session Format
This 60-minute session is designed to be highly interactive and conversational, taking advantage of the intimate Educational Series format.
The experience will include:
Engaging stories and real-world leadership examples
Audience reflection and participation
Practical application of the SPARK Framework
Individual and small-group discussion
Actionable tools participants can immediately apply
Time for questions and conversation
Participants will be encouraged to reflect on where they are today, identify what may be dimming their spark, and choose one small action to move forward.About Todd Bertsch
Todd Bertsch is a keynote speaker, entrepreneur, mental fitness coach, and creator of the SPARK Framework. He helps leaders and teams ignite, protect, and multiply human potential by strengthening curiosity, mindset, and intentional action.
With more than 20 years of executive leadership experience, Todd brings a practical, real-world perspective to leadership, culture, resilience, and personal growth. As founder and CEO of Evolve Marketing and founder of Bertsch Consulting Group, he understands firsthand the pressures leaders face as they build organizations, develop people, navigate change, and create healthy cultures.
Todd is a Certified Positive Intelligence Coach and host of The BOLT Podcast, where he explores resilience, change, leadership, and what it takes to get unstuck and keep growing.
His engaging and highly interactive programs combine personal stories, practical tools, current workplace insights, and decades of leadership experience to help people reconnect with what lights them up and take intentional action toward meaningful growth and impact.
Interested in being an Educational Series speaker in 2026? Fill out our interest form below or contact the Wooster Chamber team at 330-262-5735.
Note: Speaking opportunities are limited. While all submissions are considered, priority is given to active members.
Past Seminars
Chamber Health Insurance Programs: 101
Health insurance benefits are often cited as a key factor in employee recruitment and retention. Nancy Kuzenko led this webinar on our Chamber health insurance programs at this Educational Series Webinar.
The Chamber offers members opportunities to enroll in a variety of health insurance programs, including:
To learn more about these programs, watch our webinar or contact the Chamber team for more information.
The Top 5 Videos Your Business Should Have
According to a Wyzowl study in 2021, 86% of businesses now use video as a marketing tool. With 73% of consumers interviewed saying they’d prefer to watch a short video over traditional marketing methods, it is clear that video marketing should be high on the priority list of every small business owner.
But with limited marketing budgets and confusion around what video content to produce, these initiatives are often pushed to the back-burner. Not to mention how difficult it can be to create videos that stand apart from the crowd.
In Mike Myers presentation “The Top 5 Videos Every Small Business Owner Should Have in 2022”, we are breaking down 5 videos that your business can produce now to get the ball rolling with your video marketing.
Mike is the Founder and CEO of Caret Film Co, a video production company that partners with businesses to make the most engaging and profitable video content out there.
Mike has been a film producer and photographer for 10+ years and loves every minute of what he does. From concept, to executing on set, to making everything come to life in the editing - it’s all exciting. He loves connecting with his clients and really seeing what makes them tick and what they envision for their company and brand, then he loves taking that knowledge and creating stunning visual media to send those brands to the next level.
*Coffee and light breakfast will be provided.
Industrial Energy Audits
With energy prices rising to all-time highs, this Educational Series will focus on the best ways industrial manufacturers can reduce energy costs by controlling energy rates and making their facilities more energy-efficient. Hosted over lunch by Rick Davidson, President of Community Energy Advisors, and Justin Kale, Co-founder of Energility, this Educational Series will be held on Tuesday, June 14th from 12-1pm at the Wooster Chamber and will cover:
The tools and expertise needed to achieve economic and environmental sustainability goals
What an energy audit can reveal about your facility's energy consumption
Electricity and Natural Gas procurement strategies to mitigate the current 50-100% price increases
How Wayne County businesses can become more energy efficient in light of skyrocketing energy rates, including using solar technologies to reduce costs and reduce carbon emissions
Commercial & Industrial energy audit grant opportunities for the Wayne County area
Our Chamber Energy Program was created through a partnership with the Community Energy Advisors, who help our members save on energy costs by monitoring their energy rates. This program also includes access to the Chamber Sustainability Program, provided by Viridi, assisting chamber members in achieving their sustainability goals through efficiency, LED lighting, solar, and Renewable Energy Certificates. Energility, one of the Chamber’s newest members, performs energy audits for businesses to identify and implement improved energy technologies.
Handshake: A Platform for Connecting Employers with Potential Employees
Shelbie Bardall, of Ashland University's Career Center for Life Calling, will be leading this session on Handshake, an online recruiting platform. She will be discussing how Handshake works to connect employers with college students and recent college grads, enabling them to recruit candidates and build a strong team of talented professionals.
Join us over breakfast while we discover how Handshake is transforming and streamlining the recruiting process to help connect businesses with skilled candidates.
Kelly Tremaine, Community Outreach Coordinator with the Better Business Bureau of Akron, will be coming to the Wooster Area Chamber of Commerce on April 12 at 12 p.m. to present on Scam & Financial Fraud Protection. Lunch will be provided and the presentation will cover:
The riskiest scams of 2021
Responsible mobile phone usage
Financial Health and Literacy
Identity Theft
Kelly has been with the BBB since October of last year, transitioning from a long career in media. He has an undergraduate degree in communications from the University of Florida and an MBA from the University of Hartford. Kelly enjoys volunteering and being a part of the community.
Become:100X Leader
Amy Mast, from GiANT Worldwide offered a wonderfully insightful seminar on what it takes to become a leader worth following. Amy’s workshop invited participants to tackle some important questions about the type of leader they are and the type of leader they want to be, enabling them to develop tangible strategies for becoming a leader worth following.
GiANT is a global, data-driven people development organization. Their goal is to unlock the potential of people because unlocked people work for organizations that thrive!
Amy has been with GiANT for 3 years, starting as a Consultant. She now works directly for the Headquarters as the Director of Corporate Growth. She connects organizations all over the world with the high-tech and high-touch Leadership Development system GiANT has created to help scale healthy leadership throughout their companies.
Now everyone is a target, not just the big organizations
Ashton Technology Solutions Executive Vice President, Travis Grundke and Systems Engineer, Adam Burley share three key cybersecurity takeaways with attendees.
Understanding how the cyber threat landscape has changed
Understanding the difference between “old school” cybersecurity and how it needs to be handled moving forward
Seven key takeaways for secure computing that can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of your existing technology provider’s security plan.
Attract or Repel? How does your website treat visitors?
Jen Kline, Owner/Designer
Line of Hope Creative Solutions LLC
Your website is like the welcome mat to your business. Many people have their first interaction with you on your website. What kind of welcome mat are you setting out? Is it full of intentionality as you introduce your visitor to your brand and invite them into your space?
During this session, Jen helps you examine your online welcome mat and walk away with some practical tips for creating a website that attracts, not repels visitors.
How to Use Time to Your Advantage
Chuck Visocky, Owner - Enlighten Business Coaching
Are you running your business, or is your business running you? Leverage time to work on your business instead of in your business! Chuck has combined years of experience helping businesses grow and wants to help businesses like yours thrive in Wayne County!
Managing your Workers’ Compensation Claims in the Age of Rebates, Reductions and COVID-19
Last month, local attorney, Barbara Knapic, shared how to manage your workers’ compensation claims in the age of rebates, reductions, and COVID-19. Ms. Knapic has been practicing labor and employment law, with an emphasis on workers’ compensation for employers, for 36 years. Ms. Knapic answered questions regarding compensable claims, the importance of communication with your MCO's and TPA's, employer’s obligations when a claimant is receiving medical attention, and more!
Barbara Knapic, Owner
Barbara A. Knapic, Attorney at Law, LLC
Tackling Essential Hiring Issues for Small Businesses
Julie Kastner, Founder of Ethos HR Consulting spoke with some of our small business members on the very relevant topic of Tackling Essential Hiring Issues. Thank you to Julie for taking the time to speak with us and thank you to all that joined us. If you missed the webinar you can view the recording by clicking the link below.
COVID-19 update for employers and businesses 12/09/2020
Kim Hall, Member of Critchfield, Critchfield & Johnston Attorneys shared updates pertaining to your business and employees as of 12/09/2020. Thank you Kim for taking the time to speak with us and for all who attended. Click the links below for the PowerPoint presentation and recorded session.
In early November, speakers, Angie Mosher, and Matthew Baker from DS Benefits Group shared their expertise on employee experience and focusing on how to keep employees engaged and productive. Thank you to our speakers and all registrants who joined us virtually!
On November 10, 2020, the Wooster Chamber held a webinar session in partnership with Grow with Google. Click below to watch the presentation and view materials shared on the topic of Reaching Customers Online with Google.
The Wooster Chamber and Meaden & Moore recently discussed the most recent SBA and Treasury rules updates, along with an update on where banks are at with the forgiveness process and accepting applications. Speakers, Carlin Culbertson and David Knuff covered tips on gathering and organizing your information to help reduce processing time and potential questions from the bank and/or the SBA, and discuss the pros of and cons of waiting to apply and building up more expenses.
On July 9, 2020, the Wooster Chamber held a webinar session in partnership with Grow with Google. Click below to watch the presentation and view materials shared on the topic of Using YouTube to Grow Your Business.