Board of Directors - Lake Township Chamber of Commerce

HomeBoard of Directors

Chip Weisel, President

Dr. Chip Weisel has owned and operated Hartville Health & Wellness Centre since 1989. He still enjoys chiropractic practice, but he also cares about and is very active in our community, serving on the board of directors for several area nonprofit organizations.

He is married to Ellen. They have two adult children, Hudson and Bentley, who both graduated from Lake High School. Chip and his wife live in Hartville, and they attend the Green Campus of The Chapel.

Chip has served as the President of the Lake Chamber since January 2021. He possesses a clear understanding of what our Chamber represents and our mission within the community.

In his free time, Chip enjoys playing golf, eating in, dining out, and driving his convertible.

In his words... "I live and work in Hartville on purpose because I love it here. This is a great community in which to own and operate a business. I really wouldn't want to be anywhere else."

Carl Witt, Chair

Carl is a partner at Argent Web Design, a web development, internet marketing and consulting company, and has been a member of the Lake Township Chamber of Commerce since 2016.

He has two children. His son, Fox, attends Kent Stark and works at the Hartville Kitchen, and his daughter, Lux, is a sophomore at Lake High School where she is a member of the band.

Carl is involved with many community organizations including the Lake Rotary and the Green Initiative Business Networking International Chapter.

In his spare time he volunteers for the Lake Band Boosters, LOC and Pegasus Farms. He is a member of the Friends of Corvair car club and enjoys classic cars and motorcycles. He also enjoys playing pickleball, and always carries a harmonica with him.

Natalie Johnson, Vice-Chair

Natalie Johnson was born and raised in Hartville and is a proud Lake High School Alumni - Class of 2017. She started working at GentleBrook in March 2017 at the Assisted Living and Memory Care facility to fulfill her love of helping seniors. Since then, she has grown with the organization and currently serves as The Assistant Executive Director of The HomeStead. She loves teaching new team members the skills they need to care for the amazing adults that GentleBrook serves.

In Natalie's free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and family. They often travel together to a family cabin in New York and Natalie enjoys being outdoors for all four seasons. Natalie is a 100% morning person and looks forward to morning workouts with her gym family in Akron.

In her words: “I look forward to serving on the Lake Township Chamber of Commerce to grow the community I have always called home and helping others discover what the Lake Community has to offer."

Jeff Breit, Treasurer

In his role as the Business Manager for Lake Local Schools, Jeff continually strives to support the district’s Mission of “Educating generations, serving our community. After spending 11 years serving in various roles with the North Canton City School District, Jeff joined Lake Local in 2014 and counts it a privilege.

He is married to Ashli and together they have two children, Jackson and Allie. They are residents of Lake Township and some hobbies include boating, water skiing, going to the beach, watching his children participate in various sports activities, and in general they all enjoy spending time together as a family.

In his words…”The Chamber represents so many positive qualities that are embedded in our community. I am fortunate to both live and work here and that has allowed me to experience firsthand how ready and willing people are to support others.”

Emily Diulus, Secretary

Emily is a graduate of the University of Akron School of Law. She began her career as a law clerk with Starkey & Runkle in Hartville in 2019 and joined the firm as an associate in 2021.

Emily is licensed to practice in Ohio and Maryland. She is a member of the Akron Bar Association, Stark County Bar Association and Ohio State Bar Association. Her work focuses on Probate, Trust and Estate Administration, and Estate Planning.

Originally from Havre de Grace, Maryland, Emily now resides in Tallmadge. Emily completed her undergraduate degree at York College of Pennsylvania and spent a semester abroad studying in York, England.

In her free time, Emily enjoys spending time with her husband, traveling, reading, and watching football on the weekends.

In her words: “I very much look forward to meeting and working with local business owners and the Lake Township community at large, and to assist in any way that I can.”

Angie Chapman, Board Member

Angie Chapman is the owner of Angelique's Vintiques, which she opened in 2022. That same year she joined the Lake Township Chamber of Commerce.

Angie and her husband, Steve, have raised their family in Green. Both their adult sons, Jamie and Jacob are local firefighters. They're blessed to have a wonderful daughter-in-law Carly, and they have just become grandparents to their first granddaughter Jayli Angelique.

In her spare time, Angie enjoys quality family time, friends, camping, fishing, and walks in the park.

In her words... "Right from the start of joining the chamber, I felt connected in a way to a group that really cares about seeing all small businesses grow and succeed here. It's not a competition; it's more like being part of a team! I look forward to serving with a great organization."

Stacy Crawford, Board Member

Stacy began her career at Consumers National Bank in 2011 as a teller and continued to advance to manager in 2020. She is currently the branch manager at CNB in Hartville.

Stacy strives to live out CNB’s mission of making a difference in our communities by being as active as she can in various organizations. She is currently co-president of the Lake Township Rotary Club and recently became a member of the Hartville Lions Club.

She is an East Canton High School graduate and resides in Louisville with her husband, Marcus, and two sons, Colton and Cayden. Year-round Stacy is an active sports mom with their baseball and football activities.

In her words... “I look forward to serving Lake Township through the Chamber board. I love being a part of this community and helping in any way I can. Seeing the impact that the Chamber has had on our community so far makes this an even more rewarding opportunity for me.”

Andy Eicher, Board Member

A Hartville resident for most of his life, Andy Eicher decided there was no better place to call home for his photography business. In 2019 he opened his studio, Andrew Eicher Photography LLC (Headshots NEO), first at the Giant Eagle Plaza and then moved to 440 East Maple St. Suite 2 in Hartville just east of town square. Andy Specializes in headshots and portraiture both in-studio and on location.

A passion for photography started his senior year at Lake High School when he took on the role of photographer for his yearbook class. That class offered not only the chance to be creative with a camera for the first time but also gave him the experience of connecting with the businesses in Hartville by selling ads to help cover the costs of the yearbook. This newfound passion would lead him to Kent State University where he graduated with a degree in Photo Illustration in 2011 and finally give him the idea to start his own small business in the community he had grown to love.

In his words... “Looking back on my experience as the yearbook photographer I realized I had a passion not only for photography but also for my community. I always dreamed of working as a photographer in the community but I never thought I would be able to use my talents in so many ways for companies like Hartville Hardware, Hartville Marketplace, The Lake Chamber, and many other small businesses here in Hartville. I am truly blessed to have the support of my community in my business and I hope I can give back even a small portion by serving on the Chamber Board.”

Randy Grose, Board Member

Randy Grose is Owner and President of Media144 Security Solutions, a veteran-founded security systems integrator located in Hartville. The company was started by Randy and his father and serves customers throughout Northeast Ohio and beyond. He is a member of ASIS, Akron FOP and NSME and attended Lake Local Schools and Kent State University.

He has previously served as Vice President of the Springfield-Lakemore Chamber and he and his wife, Jenn, regularly attend several business networking groups to help support other small business owners. He and Jenn have two children, Abigail, a senior and Joe, an eighth grader, both at Lake Local, representing the fifth generation of their family to attend there. In his spare time Randy can be found outdoors Jeeping, off-roading, or kayaking.

In his words, “I enjoy networking with fellow business owners and professionals here in Lake Township.”

Christa Kozy, Board Member

In her role as Marketing, Social Media and Group Tours Director for Hartville Kitchen Restaurant & Bakery, Christa's days are full, collaborating with and connecting the community, the visitors, and the businesses of the Experience Hartville campus. Following her tenure as President of the Lake Township Chamber, Christa has remained involved by representing HRM on the Marketing & Tourism committee, and is happy to now join the Board.

Christa originally moved here from North Central Ohio to get her degree at the University of Akron and fell in love with the Lake Township area. She now lives in Hartville with her daughter Lucy, who attends Lake Middle High School, and her vast collection of books. They are often spotted shopping for books and treasures at the local thrift stores and flea market. The love to travel, with their first Google search being "best coffee in (insert city name)." In the summertime, you will find them on their stand-up paddleboards, exploring the local lakes and rivers while enjoying beautiful sunsets.

In her words: “The people in Lake are like no other place I've ever encountered. Everyone is so warm, friendly, and inviting. My time at the Lake Chamber connected me to this community in such a unique and impactful way. How this community pulls together to support one another is what convinced me to stay in the area and create memories with Lucy to help her celebrate what's great about her hometown."

Julie Martin, Board Member

As the Membership Director for the Lake Community YMCA, Julie works every day to support its mission: "To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind, and body for all." Julie has been with the YMCA of Central Stark County for 23 years in various roles. She joined the Lake Community YMCA in 2020 after the pandemic caused YMCAs across the nation to shut the doors for the first time ever in its history. Julie simultaneously guided membership teams for three YMCA branches during the early stages of the pandemic and chose to remain in Lake permanently to help support the health of those living in her very own community.

Julie and her husband Tim have raised four children and now get to enjoy three grandchildren. They love traveling, especially to the mountains, and spend most summer weekends adventuring on their Harley Davidson motorcycle.

In her words... "After relocating to Hartville from Cleveland in 1996, I immediately felt that I was part of a welcoming and safe community. I have always believed in giving back and serving as a board member is a way of saying "Thank You" to my community and the fantastic people who live here!"

Alyson Oser, Board Member

Alyson Oser is the proud owner of Eatz & Treatz, a dessert, charcuterie, and catering company she established in 2017. Before launching Eatz & Treatz, Alyson owned and operated 4 Kids Clothing, a successful consignment shop serving the needs of young families, and earlier she owned and operated a cleaning company called Sparkling Services. These businesses allowed her to build a strong foundation in the business world.

With a deep sense of community, Alyson has been a resident of Lake Township since 2004. Her commitment to the township is not only reflected in her business endeavors but also in raising her four children, who have all been brought up right here in Lake.

Alyson's journey from entrepreneurship to creating a tasteful and inviting space at Eatz & Treatz is a testament to her diverse skill set and dedication. Her roots in the community and passion for business make her a valued member of Lake Township and the Chamber of Commerce.

Gary Sommers, Board Member

Gary Sommers is the CEO at HRM Enterprises, Inc., the parent company of several local businesses including Hartville Kitchen, Hartville Hardware, and Hartville Marketplace. He has a background as a Certified Public Accountant and has been with HRM for more than 20 years.

A lifetime resident of the Hartville area, Gary is married to Charla and they have four children, Blake, Sophia, Luke, and Paige. They reside in Lake Township and attend Maple Grove Mennonite Church. Gary enjoys traveling with his family, and his hobbies are golf and hunting.

In his words: “The Chamber is a great group of people and organizations who care about the business community as a whole and works to make connections.”

Clark Swisher, Board Member

Clark has had a long career in benefits and has been a Benefits Consultant with BRS Group for the past three years. He is a regular attendee at Morning Connections Networking and most Chamber events. He is looking forward to serving as needed on the board.

Married with two children and two grandchildren, he and his wife attend Hartville Church of the Brethren.

Clark enjoys golf and cycling in his spare time.

In his words: “I love how our Chamber comes together to focus on our community, businesses, and local events.”

Mayor Cindy Billings, Ex Officio Board Member

As of 2022, the Mayor of the Village of Hartville is an ex-officio Director of the Lake Township Chamber of Commerce.

Cindy Billings has lived and worked in Hartville for nearly 40 years, and has been Mayor since 2016. She has been married to her husband, Tim, for 40 years, and they have one daughter, Jennifer.

In addition to serving as Mayor, Cindy manages the Hartville Senior Center. In her spare time she enjoys reading, sewing and spending time with family.

In her words, “I love our community and the work the Lake Chamber of Commerce does and look forward to serving on the board.”

Matthew Erb, Ex Officio Board Member

As of 2024, the Fiscal Officer of Lake Township is an ex-officio Director of the Lake Township Chamber of Commerce.

Matthew has lived and worked in Northeast Ohio his whole life. After graduating from Lake High School he attended Walsh University. Graduating in 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, his Major was in General Business. After Walsh he attended Hondros College to receive his Real Estate Sales and Broker License.

Matthew is employed by Ellis Erb, Inc. and Lake Realty and is a member of the Ohio and National Board of Realtors. Matthew is a past Board Member (3 term Chairman) for the Lake Township Chamber of Commerce and has swerved on the Lake Township Zoning Board of Appeals and Zoning Board. In 2019 and 2023 Matthew was elected to be the Fiscal Officer of Lake Township.

Matthew is married to his wife, Christy and they have two kids. Both are very active in the community.

In his words, "Being part of a chamber of commerce can give you a sense of belonging and pride in our local community. It personally makes me feel like I'm contributing to the overall well-being and prosperity of the area."