ASHLAND – A steady stream of visitors ranging from elected officials to business professionals and nonprofit organization leaders stopped in to the Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce Friday to bid a fond farewell to Melissa Sponseller and her husband, Eric.
It was a testament to the difference Melissa has made Ashland over the past decade, both in her capacity as membership services and safety council manager at the chamber and in her involvement with other entities. She was part of the original team at the Salvation Army Kroc Center when it opened, and she helped launch the ACCESS (Ashland Community Churches Emergency Shelter Services) Program.
“Her impact has just been huge,” chamber president and CEO Barbie Lange said. “She not only has given so much of herself to the chamber, but she’s also been deeply involved in community organizations to better the lives of many. From the ACCESS Program and homelessness to making sure that people have a safe place to live, Ashland will definitely feel a void when she moves to Lima. Our loss is their gain.”
The Sponsellers are moving to Lima, where Eric has taken a job as director of institutional research at Rhodes State College and Melissa is looking for the right opportunity.
Renae Osborne has worked alongside Melissa for six years at the chamber — the pair started jobs there within weeks of each other.
Osborne attributes much of the chamber’s growth in marketing and membership to Melissa.
“She’s got a big-time marketing background and she’s been a caterer before, so she had that event experience. She jumped right in and started updating the marketing materials for the chamber and pretty much brought us around to more modern ways,” Osborne said, adding that she will also miss Melissa’s sense of humor and her willingness to collaborate.
Melissa said the chamber has done a “complete 180 turn” in recent years.
“I would say we upped the notch quite a bit and upped the standards … It was always very good, but we just took it to the next level,” she said.
Melissa has also been instrumental in growing the safety council program by hosting meetings and events, bringing in relevant speakers and building relationships with the businesses who take part in the program. Under Melissa’s leadership, the council was named No. 1 in the state in 2014-15 by the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation.
“It’s been a blast. It’s been a lot of fun,” Melissa said of her time in Ashland. “I love Ashland. I love the people, and Ashland is really moving forward. We’re right on the cusp of an explosion of opportunities for Ashland.
“I think I’ll miss that the most because I want to see where it goes.”
Eric has also been active in the community in the Rotary Club of Ashland, United Way of Ashland County and the Gridiron Club.
The Sponsellers say they plan to stay connected in Ashland, especially in supporting the Ashland Symphony Orchestra. They expect to stop by on their way to Canton and Massillon, where they have family.
Melissa’s duties at the chamber will be spread between some of the other employees, including Lange, Osborne and new membership relations and administrative coordinator Jake Coffy.
