The Lima Allen County Chamber of Commerce is rolling out a new program geared for businessmen. With the longtime success of "Women in Business," the chamber is kicking off "Men in Business." It will be held quarterly from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the City Club. It is designed to bring not only businessmen but businesswomen together to promote new and current businesses with networking and speakers with strategies for success.

Lima superintendent Jill Ackerman was the recipient of the Lima Allen County Chamber of Commerce's Athena Award for 2024 and spoke at the Women in Business quarterly luncheon. Ackerman has been with the Lima City Schools for more than thirty years, starting as a special education teacher, principal, and now superintendent. She credits her success to the influence of her mother and how she made her become independent and self-sufficient. Those characteristics have helped her succeed in her career, where she has now become that person of influence for students.

The Lima/Allen County Chamber's Women in Business event brings women from varied backgrounds together to network and learn from each other to move ahead in their business and personal lives. A positive mindset, healthy boundaries, and focus in goal setting are three things needed to get ahead.

An area politician is looking to get her constituents more involved in what is going on in Columbus. State Representative Susan Manchester stopped by St. Marys Otterbein to speak with the Women in Business group on Thursday. Manchester talked about the importance of being connected with your elected officials and being involved in the legislative process. She encourages everyone who wants to make a difference to call their elected officials and voice their opinions.