FREMONT – In December 2019, Tyler Kneeskern joined the Chamber of Commerce of Sandusky County to head a variety of departments, including membership, marketing and events. In April, he was named the chamber’s president and CEO.
Between his start date and his advancement to president, COVID-19 altered the face of chamber work, and he just recently began to experience a normal chamber schedule.
“I started, and few months later, everything shut down. We had to navigate the COVID waters,” Kneeskern said. “We’re just now getting back to the way things were before I started.”
That means Kneeskern is heading a full schedule of events and services that aid local businesses and the community at large, from Business After Hours meetings to group trips abroad. A full calendar is a good fit for Kneeskern, who has a degree in advertising and public relations from Loyola University in Chicago.
“It’s been great. It’s been very busy,” he said.
While a Loyola student, Kneeskern spent a semester studying abroad in Rome. The experience helped fuel his passion for travel.
“While I was there, I visited Florence, Milan and Paris,” he said. “A few years ago, a friend told me to pack my bags for somewhere warm, and we went to Mexico. We were more inland and visited some very historic towns. That was really fun.”
Chamber president organizing trip to Greece
Kneeskern is utilizing his travel experience to organize a trip to Greece. The Sandusky County Chamber has partnered with Aventura World to offer a nine-day, seven-night trip to Greece from Nov. 3 to 11. The all-inclusive cost includes hotel stays, food, excursions and airfare from Detroit. The trip is open to anyone, not just chamber members. For information, visit www.scchamber.org/chamber-trip.
Back in the chamber office, Kneeskern has been promoting cost-saving programs for members, including health insurance plans and gas and electric savings through the Chamber Energy Program. The program provides electric and natural gas supply savings for chamber members’ businesses and homes and their employees’ homes.
Safety council meetings can save chamber members money
Chamber members can receive a 3% rebate on Bureau of Workers Compensation premiums by attending 10 monthly meetings through the safety council program. Enrollment deadline for the program is July 31.
Kneeskern will share his marketing knowledge with the public at a Canva Class for Beginners at Terra State Community College on June 30. Canva is a free graphic design platform used to create content for business and personal use. The class is free, but registration is required at www.eventbrite.com/e/canva-class-for-beginners-tickets-651049515627?aff=ebdssbdestsearch.
Chamber ‘Shop Near Home’ campaign wins award
Although Kneeskern has only been with the chamber a few years, his efforts have already attracted national attention. His “Shop Near Home for the Holidays” campaign won an Association of Chamber of Commerce Executive award.
“The campaign was birthed during COVID-19 and used QR codes and ads to promote local businesses. It was a great experience for the businesses that participated and the shoppers who got to save money,” he said.
Chamber members and prospective members are welcome to attend Business After Hours events hosted onsite at member businesses.
“If you are interested in joining the chamber, this is an opportunity to check us out, meet chamber members and enjoy free food,” Kneeskern said.
After graduating from Loyola University, Kneeskern lived in San Diego before returning to Ohio to be near family. In his spare time, Kneeskern likes to hike, cook and travel with his 11-year-old pug, Roman.
“I’m very close to my family in Tiffin. I cook meals almost every night for my grandma,” he said. “I live to travel with my pug. He’s been everywhere with me. He was in Chicago with me and in San Diego, and now we’re back in Ohio. All roads lead home.”
Contact correspondent Sheri Trusty at [email protected].