Building Momentum – Shaping the Future: Optimizing Business Practices

Refreshing The Findlay Formula

By Sarah Mayle

2025 was a building year for FHCED, highlighted by the streamlining of internal processes, and a focus on connection with members and community relationships.

Chris Keller completed her first full year as executive director with Matt Gilroy joining the team as director of strategic initiatives in March.

“As we’ve come into our roles, Matt and I have taken a step back to evaluate everything from the ground up, continuing great relationships, partnerships and systems that worked in the past but also looking to where we can improve and set new goals for the future,” Keller said.

Keller has been with FHCED since February of 2024 and started as director of strategic initiatives. She began her role as executive director in December 2024. Most recently in his more than 20-year career, Gilroy served as the director of the Fulton County Economic Development Corporation in Wauseon, Ohio, since 2014. He is a Certified Economic Development Practitioner through the Ohio Economic Development Institute and the Ohio Economic Development Association.

The office made great strides in 2025 including:

Improved communication

A major goal of 2025 was to connect with investors and build relationships. Keller said it’s important to facilitate open lines of communication to keep a pulse on the health of local businesses and offer the assistance of the FHCED office whenever possible. This year, Keller and Gilroy conducted more than 250 meetings and touchpoints with business leaders.

In another area of communication, 2025 was the first full year of the office’s upgraded monthly newsletter, The Formula, managed by Communication Coordinator Sarah Mayle. The newsletter offers in-depth local content about important community and economic development-related events and initiatives, a Business Spotlight featuring one of our members, updates on the office’s community engagement and collaboration, and helpful resources. This year, the newsletter’s open rate was more than 60 percent, considered very high by industry standards.

Mayle also manages FHCED’s social media on LinkedIn and Facebook. In June of 2024, there were about 280 followers on LinkedIn, now up to 983. The FHCED Facebook account was initiated in the fall of 2024 and now has nearly 400 followers. If you haven’t already, please join us on social media!

Another communication goal of the office was to increase the number of networking events available to members, with four held this year. Sarah Foltz was a helpful addition to The Alliance, serving as community engagement director for the Findlay-Hancock County Chamber of Commerce, Visit Findlay and FHCED. Foltz assisted the economic development office with our networking events and has been a great help toward meeting our goals.

A reflection of improved communication, we are excited to welcome 10 new FHCED members in 2025:

• Kata Solution
• Edward Jones – Jeff Stratton
• Airborne Outfitters
• Chick-fil-A Findlay
• Sheetz, Inc.
• Terredigm
• HH Construction
• City Apparel & Merch
• Hancock Steel
• Laibe Electric Technology

Collaboration

In the realm of collaboration, Keller and Gilroy are well-connected with other regional economic development professionals and JobsOhio leaders. A focus this year is Ohio’s targeted “super sector” industries: military and defense; semi-conductors and micro-electronics; advanced air-mobility; and life sciences and energy. Ohio also continues to prioritize the areas of advanced manufacturing, additive manufacturing, community amenities, and quality of life.

“We are shaping our alignment with our investors, as well as JobsOhio and other economic partners,” Gilroy said. “Part of that has been enhancing our site inventory and development, strategically choosing properties that align with JobsOhio super sectors.”

FHCED is also leading a 5-County Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) process to ensure our community’s priorities are represented in shaping the region’s long-term economic future. As part of the process in 2025, the office hosted several focus group conversations with EDC members, community and county officials, and with members of the general public to gather vital input. The office conducted a public survey, and discussions surrounding information collected culminated in a SWOT analysis – an assessment of the community’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.

By collaborating with ED leaders in Allen, Hardin, Putnam and Van Wert counties, FHCED will align local needs such as workforce development, infrastructure improvements, business growth, and resilience planning with a broader regional vision. Participating in a CEDS strengthens Findlay-Hancock County’s ability to pursue federal and state funding opportunities and builds stronger partnerships across sectors, encouraging innovative solutions. The process also drives strategic planning and provides accountability through measurable goals. The CEDS report will be finalized in January.

“Through participation in CEDS, we will position Hancock County and the region for sustainable growth and greater economic resilience in the years ahead,” Gilroy said.

Continuing Connection with the Japanese Community

FHCED continues to place its relationship with Japan and the local Japanese community as a top priority, with a busy schedule of events in 2025.

While Keller and Gilroy took part in numerous visits, exchanges and events with Japanese visitors and organizations locally this year, they were also happy to reinstate an important office initiative – sending a delegation to Japan.

Previously a yearly initiative, FHCED embarked on a delegation to Japan for the first time in six years. Since Findlay leaders sparked the revolutionary friendship in 1984, numerous exchange programs and collaborations in business, government and education have developed, shaping the landscape of Findlay.

“Our relationship with Japan and the Japanese community is extremely important – it is a large component of our vitality here,” Keller said. “COVID and then leadership changes got in the way of the trip in the past few years, but we knew it was important to reestablish this initiative. It is critical to continue to engage the Japanese business community to maintain and strengthen this valuable relationship. Spending this time also fosters new opportunities, and we came away from the trip with a few leads and a lot of ideas.”

Eight Japanese manufacturing companies are located in Hancock County, and 16 in the Northwest Ohio region. Delegations have reciprocated visits for 40 years, traveling between Findlay and Japan.

The 2025 delegations’ 10-day trip included networking at the 55th Annual Midwest U.S.–Japan Conference in Tokyo; site visits to nine businesses; and meetings with the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and Kawaguchi Rotary Club.

It was made up of Keller, Gilroy, Findlay Mayor Christina Muryn, FHCED Board Member and Attorney with Eastman & Smith Patrick Sadowski and Dr. Hiro Kawamura, professor with the University of Findlay and Special Advisor to FHCED. (Thank you to Dr. Kawamura for organizing our trip!)

The office hopes to organize another delegation for 2026.