New Cleveland Browns owner to speak at Canton Regional Chamber’s 99th Annual Dinner

For 99 years, the Canton Regional Chamber has prided itself on advancing business, developing our community, and exploring ways where the two can intersect.

At the organization’s 99th annual dinner, Jimmy Haslam, new owner of the Cleveland Browns, will share his story of success in business, in energy and in community investment.

The Canton Regional Chamber’s 99th Annual Dinner will be held on Thursday, Feb. 7, at the Canton Memorial Civic Center, located at 1101 Market Ave. N in downtown Canton.

Haslam is chairman of Pilot Flying J Travel Centers. With more than 600 retail locations and $29 billion in sales, they are the largest operator of travel centers and travel plazas in North America, and one of the country’s largest privately-held companies. Pilot Flying J subsidiary Maxum Petroleum is one of the largest independent energy logistics companies in North America, selling and distributing over 1.3 billion gallons of refined petroleum products and serving over 15,000 customers. Together, the companies employ over 25,000 people and generate sales of 9 billion gallons of petroleum annually.

Now, Haslam takes the helm of the Browns just as Stark County will celebrate the 50-year anniversary of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and annual Enshrinement Festival. Join us in welcoming Haslam to the Hall of Fame City and the Utica Capital. Hear his billion-dollar business perspective and catch a glimpse of what the future holds for the Browns.

“Jimmy represents a remarkable combination of business experience and a reflection of our local passion for football as we begin to celebrate a major Hall of Fame and Enshrinement Festival milestone. And he will also offer us a unique perspective on oil and gas, especially as we work to establish Canton/Stark County as the Utica Capital,” said Dennis P. Saunier, Chamber president and CEO. “We feel there is truly no more timely and relevant speaker for this community and our membership than Jimmy Haslam.”

At the Annual Dinner, the gavel will be passed from outgoing Board Chairman Rick L. Haines, president of AultCare, to the 2013 Board Chairman, Karen M. Brenneman, CPA, MT, managing partner, Hall, Kistler & Company. The Chamber will recognize and thank the outgoing board members and usher in new members for an exceptional 99th year.

The 99th annual dinner will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a cocktail reception and dinner will be served at 7 p.m. Registrations for the annual dinner can be made online cantonchamber.org or by calling (330) 458-2070.

Tickets for the event are $88 for members and $98 for non-members, and tables of eight are available. All registration payments must be received in advance and reservations must be received by Feb. 4. Register now, space is limited.