With the snip of a yellow and green ribbon, the Ralph Phillips Conference Center officially opened on Thursday at North-Central State College’s Kehoe Center in Shelby.
A crowd of approximately 60 people including members of the NCSC Foundation board as well as prominent figures in the community gathered to commemorate the completion of Phase 1 of the new conference facility, named for the late industrialist Ralph Phillips. Ralph Phillip’s daughter Angela Phillips cut the ribbon herself to open the conference center.
“Angela Phillips, she was very close with her father and she made some very touching comments,” said Keith Stoner, Director of Marketing at North Central State College. “It was a nice morning and it’s a wonderful tribute to her dad and how much Shelby meant to him. A lot of people miss Ralph Phillips a lot, and a lot of them were in that room.”
Also in attendance Thursday morning was Ohio Representative Mark Romanchuk, Richland County Commissioner Gary Utt, Mansfield Mayor Tim Theaker, and Shelby Mayor Marilyn John. In her speech, John noted the completion of the Ralph Phillips Conference Center will serve as a springboard for additional business and industry development.
“In partnership with the area’s Convention and Visitors Bureau, it will bring visitor and convention traffic and money to NCSC and our community,” said John.
John also noted the conference center’s position on a state route in close proximity to an interstate and its location between Columbus and Cleveland will stimulate new businesses such as lodging, dining and entertainment facilities in Shelby and Richland County. She said it is anticipated the new conference center will host 105 major and smaller functions each year, drawing more than 18,000 participants annually.
“A nice mix of businesses entities throughout the community and region will use it,” added Stoner. “It’s a nice gathering place, and pretty centrally located for North Central Ohio. We’re hoping we can get it on the radar for businesses that have offices in Cleveland, Columbus, Toledo and Akron as a central place for more business meetings.”
The $1.1 million conference center completes Phase 1 of the new conference facility located on the third floor of the Kehoe Center. With a budget of $600,000, Phase 2 will include the renovation of the building’s third floor corporate suite of offices and storage rooms, turning them into an exhibit hall, breakout rooms, business facilities center, boardroom, and large meeting room spaces.
The second phase will also include the remodeling of the interior side entrance to Kehoe’s first floor, the establishment of outdoor walking paths in a park-like setting, and an obstacle course for corporate retreats.
“There are a number of beautiful wood-paneled offices and rooms there, so part of the next set of renovations is updating some of those,” said Stoner. “It’s an older building but some of the paneling and woodwork is gorgeous, so hopefully we can retain some of that historical look.”
John stated that the Kehoe Center has become an educational destination for students seeking a better life for themselves and their families, and the Ralph Phillips Conference Center will become a meeting destination for business and local community members.
“Watching dreams become a reality is one of the best parts of life and that is really what today is about, watching a dream become a reality,” John said.
“A nice mix of businesses entities throughout the community and region will use it,” said Keith Stoner. “It’s a nice gathering place, and pretty centrally located for North Central Ohio.
