The Dayton Chamber continues Dayton’s rich history of recognizing innovators

The Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce (DACC) awarded two area business owners during its second annual Winsupply Awards for Entrepreneurial Excellence in November. The awards were given to Jeremy Turner, owner of Apply Pressure Washing & Restoration, and Betsy Westhafer, CEO of the Congruity Group.

The awards laud the persistent entrepreneurial spirit that continues here in the Dayton region throughout all type of industries.

“Dayton’s historical legacy of innovation and entrepreneurial spirit is still thriving in 2022,” says Chris Kershner, president and CEO of the DACC. “The Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce is thrilled to honor the winners of the 2022 Winsupply Award for Entrepreneurial Excellence and continues to be a proponent of businesses throughout the region. Our business community offers support for entrepreneurs to collaborate and grow alongside larger regional corporations and that is the true spirit of the Dayton community.”

The Winsupply Award for Entrepreneurial Excellence takes place in November in alignment with National Entrepreneur Month. The award is powered by Winsupply Inc., a supplier of plumbing supplies, HVAC equipment, pipe, tubing, water heaters and other products located in Dayton.

During November, the DACC highlights local entrepreneurs across its social media channels and connects chamber members through networking events and professional development.

“Dayton remains the catalyst of harnessing the entrepreneurial spirit,” Kershner adds. “The business community, local leaders and economic climate come together for a supportive atmosphere for entrepreneurs. This award showcases the consistent drive to overcome that allows entrepreneurship to thrive across Dayton.”

Naturally, the recipients of this year’s awards were honored.

“In building and growing my business, I have learned about creating value, how to work within, and lead teams and how to build a brand,” said Turner of Apply Pressure on receiving the award. “The biggest takeaway from this is to capitalize on the professional diversity of my military service, earning my MBA from Wright State and working in several service industries.

“I am honored to be selected for this award and will continue to give back to the Dayton community as they have been my biggest supporter.”

A veteran-owned and operated business serving Dayton, Apply Pressure offers power washing and pressure washing services. It is one of the highest rated exterior cleaning companies in the area, serving both residential and commercial accounts.

After graduating from Northmont High School and serving in the Army at LaPoint U.S. Air Station near Wright-Patterson, Turner went on to earn an MBA in International Business from Wright State. He worked for two other companies before starting his own business to test himself in the entrepreneurial world.

For its part, the Congruity Group helps B2B, high-growth organizations design and execute strategic dialogue with their key customers to accelerate growth. Using strategic advisory boards, the company ensures alignment within its clients’ organizations, while providing valuable peer-to-peer executive engagement.

“I’m convinced that there is no better place than Dayton, Ohio, to start, nurture and scale a business,” said Westhafer on receiving her company’s recognition. “Across the community, support is always available for our entrepreneurs—whether that be tangible services or intangible encouragement.

“This award is especially meaningful to me because it recognizes ‘excellence,’ which is what my team and I strive for with every interaction. I am proud and grateful to be honored for entrepreneurial excellence.”

Personally, Westhafer’s professional areas of expertise include customer engagement, entrepreneurship and leadership. She is the co-author of The Rarest Advantage: How to Co-Create Strategic Value to Retain and Expand Your Key Customer Accounts and a No. 1 best seller, ProphetAbility, Revealing the Story of Why Companies Succeed, Fail or Bounce Back. She is also co-host of the podcast, REALLY Know Your Customer and launched CongruityConnect, an AI-driven digital advisory platform.

Last year, the Congruity Group was awarded national WBENC certification by the Women’s Business Enterprise of Ohio River Valley (WBEC-ORV). WBENC is the largest third-party certifier of businesses owned, controlled and operated by women in the United States. The WBEC-ORV is one of 14 regional partner organizations that authorizes the world-class certification across the U.S.

The DACC brings together more than 2,200 businesses and organizations in a nine-county area surrounding Dayton. It strives to improve the region’s business climate and overall standard of living through public policy advocacy, economic development initiatives and providing networking and training opportunities for its members. Nationally awarded with “5-Star Accreditation” from the United States Chamber of Commerce, the DACC is widely recognized for its innovative programs and outstanding contribution to positive change in the region.

The Winsupply Awards for Entrepreneurial Excellence take on even more meaning, given the Dayton region has a rich history of innovation and entrepreneurship. Both with historical and civic organizations support the region’s entrepreneurial spirit.

As early as the mid-1800s, our city had established itself as a center of manufacturing and entrepreneurship, according to Carillon Historical Park’s Heritage Center of Dayton Manufacturing & Entrepreneurship, which focuses on five main individuals: John H. Patterson, Orville and Wilbur Wright, Charles Kettering and Colonel Edward A. Deeds. Indeed, the DACC was founded in 1907 by John Patterson, the man behind the National Cash Register Company.

While Dayton continues to be recognized for the powered flight of the Wright brothers, it was also home to great American innovations like the cash register.

While our city does not produce the number of patents it once did, innovation and entrepreneurship are very much alive today, with organizations such as the Air Force Research Lab at Wright-Patterson and the University of Dayton’s Research Institute pumping out new innovations and future entrepreneurs on a regular basis.