Annual Membership Luncheon & Awards Ceremony

Description

Much like many of our area businesses, the Worthington Area Chamber has had to navigate the adversity of our changing world and business environment.

Together, we celebrate another year and take a look back at major milestones during this lunch. The Chamber will forecast the months ahead as it continues to be at the heart of business for the greater Worthington area.

We will also celebrate the return of our Businessperson of the Year Award: Bob Capace, Worthington Jewelers and our Volunteer of the Year: Janna Bidlack, Janna A. Bidlack Agency - StateFarm Insurance; along with our Community Partner of the Year: David McCorkle, City of Worthington.

**Please note dietary requirements at the time of online registration. No refunds will be given within 72 hours of the event.**

BUSINESSPERSON OF THE YEAR: Bob Capace, Worthington Jewelers

Robert "Bob" Capace (cu-pah-chAy) discovered Worthington as a business location in 2000. A Chicago native, he moved to central Ohio in 1989 through a job promotion. 

Bob worked as a Regional and National Sales Manager for different companies including Transportation/Logistics/Waste/Recycling, along with assisting Organizations in Human Capital Management. 

In August 2000, Capace opened Worthington Jewelers in a historic building at 692 High Street. The narrow, red-brick structure began life as a surgeon's office and later housed a doll museum, a women’s clothing boutique among other things. 

Bob's vision was to give central Ohio customers a source for high-quality, affordable jewelry in a fun, friendly, low-pressure shopping environment. Every person who comes into the store is greeted as an honored guest by the non-commissioned sales team. 

The concept quickly took off. Over the past 22 years, the store has served over 20,000 happy customers. Over 1,000 have left 5-star online reviews.

In 2011, the store remodeled and added a 1,500-square-foot, Craftsman style addition. The next year, jewelry trade publication Instore Magazine named Worthington Jewelers one of Americas "Coolest Stores." 

Since then, Worthington Jewelers has won a series of awards, including The Knot Best of Weddings every year since 2014. It was named the Best Place to Buy Jewelry in Columbus by readers of Columbus Monthly magazine and voted a #1 CBUS Top Pick for Best Jewelry Store for five years in a row. 

Bob and his wife, Theresa, who serves as Store Manager for Worthington Jewelers, fell in love with the community. In 2017, they built a custom home on New England Avenue, just a short walk from the store, where they are frequently visited by their five Children, and soon to be ninth Grandchild. Since Bob retired as National Account Manager for ADP in 2018, he and Theresa focus full-time on growing Worthington Jewelers as the store “Where Columbus Gets Engaged.” 

Engaged in the community, Bob and Theresa support area schools, arts organizations, and other community groups, including Worthington Schools, Worthington A.M. Rotary, the Worthington Chamber of Commerce, St. Michael’s Church, Worthington Partnership, Nationwide Children’s Hospital Kinder Key, Worthington Resource Pantry, Mount Carmel Health and others. 

Bob holds a bachelor's degree in Business from North Eastern Illinois University in Chicago, Illinois.

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR: Janna Bidlack, Janna A. Bidlack Agency - StateFarm Insurance

Janna grew up in Worthington, OH and is a proud alumna of Thomas Worthington and the University of Pittsburgh. 

Professionally, she’s a 3rd generation State Farm Agent, happily making her own footsteps alongside her grandfather’s and father’s. Her career with State Farm started in 1985 when she was brought home from the hospital to a white house on 161 where her Dad had just started his business. She has worked for State Farm Agents in Pittsburgh, PA & Winchester, VA before accepting a corporate position with State Farm in 2012. In June 2020 she officially opened at the same office location she was brought home to in 1985.

Around that time she eagerly accepted Matt’s offer to chair the re-launched Women’s Business Network. A strong committee in the past, she was very excited for the challenge and opportunity to start bringing local female business leaders back together and in new ways. Since re-launching there have been regular meetings with the committee, partnerships with nonprofits and several events (with more planned for this year!)

Personally, Janna has been married to her husband Eric for 13 years (Eric works in administration for Olentangy Schools). They have two daughters and a baby boy: Cecily (8), Izzy (5) and Casey (9 months). They currently reside in Worthington and the whole family loves helping mom at marketing events around their community. They are all very active in their church (Lord of Life Lutheran) where Janna sings with the band and she is a proud Girl Scout volunteer for her daughter’s troop and coach to various sports. Her business does several community focused projects as well from food drives, animal shelter support drives, and a women’s hygiene product drive.

COMMUNITY PARTNER OF THE YEAR: David McCorkle, City of Worthington

David McCorkle has been with the City of Worthington for (7) years and currently serves as both the Assistant City Manager and the Economic Development Director. In this dual role, David oversees many of the administrative functions of the City, while also helping to attract and retain businesses by working as a connector between the City, the private sector, and many community organizations. David has a Bachelor of Economics from The Ohio State University and a Master of Public Administration from Ohio University. When they aren’t chauffeuring between activities, David, his wife Katie, and their three sons, reside in Liberty Township.

EMCEE: Dino Tripodis, Radio Host, Award Winning Podcast Host

Dino Tripodis is a creator always aspiring to do and be more. Born in Gary, Indiana and growing up in a suburb of Chicago and then a small island of Greece, Dino has seen and done it all.  In his professional life, he hasn’t so much chosen any of his numerous careers as much as they have chosen him. What ties all the facets of his creative endeavors together is how he strives to connect with the humanity of others.  The most valuable asset he’s developed over his many years of being a voice and radio personality is the ability to listen, which has in turn elevated his success as a speaker, performer, and host. He’s particularly proud of his award-winning podcast, Whiskey Business, which is soon to celebrate its fourth successful year of sharing a variety of unlikely stories between friends…over whiskey, of course.

Dino has spent 24 years as a morning radio host. Visit his website for full bio.