CHILLICOTHE – A renowned leader with a passion for community development will be the featured speaker at the 2020 Annual Meeting of the Chillicothe Ross Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, March 10.

Quint Studer, who helped Pensacola, Fla. win the 2019 Strongest Town contest, has been tabbed as the speaker for the dinner, which also serves as the vehicle to present the Chamber’s highest awards.

“We’re fortunate to have a leader in community development interested in Chillicothe and willing to come here and see our success story in action,” said Michael Throne, Chamber president, and CEO. “Not only will Quint come here for our meeting, but he’s going to spend three days here leading us through a process that will help continue the forward momentum we have.”

Studer possesses a set of skills that many in the Ross County community can appreciate. A native of the Midwest, he started out working with special needs children before entering the health care industry. He’s been at the helm of health care networks throughout the country but is also a businessman, entrepreneur, community leader, and a mentor.

Recognized by Inc. magazine, Advertising Age, and other health care industry organizations and publications for his work on improving health care systems, Studer has also been named a top transformational leader by leadership guru John C. Maxwell.

But his newest passion is community development, which will be the focus of his visit to Chillicothe. Studer’s desire to create vibrantly thriving communities resulted in the creation of the Studer Community Initiative, Vibrant Community Partners, and the publication of the 2018 book “Building a Vibrant Community: How Citizen-Powered Change is Reshaping America.”

“In other words, he’s the perfect person to help us usher in the next phase of the Chillicothe renaissance,” said Throne. “He’s traveled all over the country and seen the great disparity in the vitality of the communities he visited and knows full well how to help communities leverage their assets to create thriving places to live work and play.”

“ ‘Building a Vibrant Community’ has become an essential part of my approach in Chillicothe since I picked it up in 2018,” said Throne. “I’m excited to help bring Quint to Chillicothe.”

Studer’s latest book, published in 2019, is “The Busy Leader’s Handbook.” It’s a look at the fundamentals that help leaders impact employees, customers, and the community in a positive way.

The annual meeting will begin with a social hour at 5:30 p.m. at Ohio University Chillicothe’s Shoemaker Center. Information on attending or sponsoring the dinner is available at chillicotheohio.com/events. To find out how to be a part of Quint’s visit, contact Mike Throne at mthrone@chillicotheohio.com.