ASHLAND — The Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors has appointed Amy Daubenspeck to serve as director of operations, a role with responsibilities to lead the Chamber of Commerce and Explore Ashland.
In a Friday announcement, board chair Jim Cutright announced the promotion of Daubenspeck, who had been serving as the interim director, and other changes in staffing at the Chamber.
“After what may have seemed like an eternity to some of you (and us), we have re-aligned staffing assignments into a new model that we are certain will serve our business community extremely well for many years into the future,” Cutright said.
Renae Osborne was named director of programs and finance. Osborne, who has more than 10 years of Chamber experience, will continue to focus on those areas of the operation.
Emily McKinley, the newest member of the team, will serve as director of membership and marketing.
“As has been the case, perhaps, in your own business, we on the Chamber board have tried to tread carefully over the past 14 months to analyze the continuity of our revenue sources, weighed against a new reality caused by the pandemic,” Cutright said.
“That exercise has been well worth it, resulting in changes that we hope will sustain this organization in both the short and long term, so that the Chamber of Commerce and Explore Ashland can continue to attract visitors to our community and build business relationships that can weather any storm, viral or otherwise.”
Daubenspeck was appointed to serve as interim director in late 2019, following the retirement of longtime Chamber leadership, Barbie Lange. She also continued to lead Explore Ashland, which was previously known as the Ashland Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.
In March of 2001, Daubenspeck was named the executive director of the Ashland Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.
“She is a very creative person. No one has done a better job at marketing Ashland,” Cutright said. “And having been here for 20 years, she has developed a lot of meaningful relationships in Ashland.”
Daubenspeck graduated from Ashland University in 1992, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature and a minor in Philosophy.
Upon graduation, she went to work for Creative Associates, Inc. in Mansfield, Ohio, an advertising and marketing agency until December 2000.
“This change is very exciting! I am so incredibly honored to be able to work with these two amazing ladies. Renae and Emily make it such a pleasure to come to work every day,” Daubenspeck said. “We make a great team and are ready to hit the ground running.
“I can’t wait to see what the future holds for our team and the Chamber. We love our members and the community. We are here to serve and glad to do it.”
She anticipates the team will work closely with board members to set goals and make changes in the future.
“Our members and the community can expect great service as always,” she said.
Daubenspeck is a member and past president of the Kiwanis Club, co-chair of the new Kiwanis Safety Town Program, Vice President of the Ashland Public Library Board of Trustees, co-founder and chair of the Mohican Wildlife Weekend Planning Committee, co-chair of the Ashland Chautauqua Committee, current president of the Ashland Main Street Board, past president of the Lincoln Highway Heritage Corridor Board and a member of the PR committee for the Friends of Brookside Golf Course.
Her husband, Russell, is a probation/parole officer for the Ohio Adult Parole Authority. Together they have one son, James.
