The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Chamber of Commerce hosts luncheon
New teachers and businesses leaders gathered Aug. 11 for the annual Lorain County Chamber of Commerce’s New Teachers Luncheon at Lorain Community College’s Spitzer Conference Center in Elyria.
“The workforce is dependent on having educated workers,” Chamber of Commerce President Tony Gallo said during the luncheon.
It is a great way to welcome the 110 new hires and to show support for a globally competitive workforce in Lorain County, he said.
“The Lorain County Chamber takes this opportunity each year to work with our partners in the educational community as we welcome new hires from all the local school districts,” Gallo said. “We are honored to be the organization that presents our new teachers an opportunity to see that they are very much a part of Lorain County and what the Chamber stands for.”
Gallo said the 600 members of the Chamber of Commerce wish the teachers luck in their new positions
and want nothing more for them to feel welcomed by the businesses, organizations and non profits that call Lorain County
home.
Many of Lorain County businesses need a college educated workforce for their changing workforce,
he said.
Education matters to the entire community, whether or not people have children or grandchildren in the
public schools, Gallo said.
“Good public schools matter because it builds a stronger, better educated workforce; helps attract talented, able people to run our businesses; reduces school dropouts, delinquency, crime, incarcerations and welfare costs; increases property values; and enhances the quality of life for all of us,” he said.
Since becoming president of the Chamber four years ago, Gallo said he has worked tirelessly with the county’s educational partners.
“We partnered with the Lorain (City) Schools and presented a state of the Lorain Schools address, we presented the fourth annual Superintendents Summit, we worked with Effective Leadership Academy to provide programming for Lorain County high school students and we held a College Affordability Roundtable,” he said.
The LCADA Way PNC bank and the Community Foundation of Lorain County also shared the services they provide for students, Gallo said.
He also wished teachers the best as they mentor the future leaders of the world.
“I hope all the teachers have a long and beneficial career teaching the youth of Lorain County,” Gallo said.