The Midwest's Innovation Headquarters
MEET OUR STAFF
Mr. Eric Phillips
Executive Director
Since February 2001, Mr. Phillips has served as the Executive Director for the Union County-Marysville Economic Development Partnership and as the Chief Executive Officer of the Union County Chamber of Commerce. He is currently the Executive Director for the Union County Community Improvement Corporation, the statutory economic development arm of the county, which is responsible for business retention and expansion, marketing and promotion of the community, and other economic development programs. He also serves as the Executive Director of the Marysville-Union County Port Authority which was established in 2009. Mr. Phillips oversees the entire Chamber umbrella organization including the Union County Economic Development Partnership, Union County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Marysville Business Association, Plain City Business Association, Richwood Area Business Association, Industrial Parkway Association, Safety Council, Union County Business, Education, and the Workforce Team and the Marysville Uptown revitalization efforts.
Mr. Phillips serves as a Board Member of the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission and as a Board Member and Past President of the Mid-Ohio Development Exchange. From a national perspective, Mr. Phillips currently serves on the board of National Rural Economic Developers Association and also chaired the host committee for the 2010 International Economic Development Council Annual Conference held in Columbus. He earned his B.A. from Muskingum College where he was a four-year letter winner and all-conference player in football. He received a Master in City and Regional Planning as well as a Master of Art in Public Policy and Management from the Ohio State University. He has various additional interests that include golfing, weightlifting, running, hiking, biking and tennis and is an avid reader of history and a collector of coins. His true love in the fall is Ohio State football.
Ms. Savannah Allen
Development Project Coordinator
Ms. Allen joined the Union Count-Marysville Economic Development Partnership in June 2021 as Development Project Coordinator. She is responsible for the daily management of economic development projects, responding to industrial site selection leads and inquiries, promoting workforce and educational initiatives, advancing the implementation of various economic development strategies, and administering the County’s business expansion and retention program.
She has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics and a Master of Science in Economic Development from Murray State University. Prior to her current position, she served as the Associate Program Director at SomerCor, where she worked with hundreds of small businesses to obtain grants from the City of Chicago, Illinois.
Ms. Allen is passionate about helping communities thrive and businesses grow. She is inspired by her family of entrepreneurs. Her personal interests include reading, nature, art, science, and technology.
Mr. Chaz Freutel
Manager, Marysville Entrepreneurial Center
Program Manager, Young Entrepreneurs Academy
Mr. Freutel is a “business connector” with a strong track record of assisting entrepreneurs in getting connected to the people, products and services needed to succeed. He is very proud to serve as Manager of the Marysville Entrepreneurial Center, commonly known as the “MEC,” created in 2008 to foster grassroots economic development in Union County. In addition to the MEC, Mr. Freutel also serves as Program Manager for the Young Entrepreneurs Academy of Union County (YEA!). Hosted at the Marysville Early College High School, YEA! is a 30-week class of middle and high school students that will all graduate launching real businesses.
Mr. Freutel also serves as the Director of the Dublin Entrepreneurial Center, “The DEC,” which supports the creation and development of new technologies, businesses and jobs. He has directed all facility and programming activities for the DEC since its launch in 2009. The DEC boasts over 140 on-site businesses.
Prior to starting his own business, Get-U-Connected, in 2009, Mr. Freutel served as Director Investor Relations for the Columbus Chamber, where he worked closely with economic development leaders in the Columbus Region, working with MODE and other regional economic development partners. He has a passion for developing young leaders, serving as Staff Coach for Ohio Premier “OP” Soccer Club, Director of Campus and Community Ministries for Central Ohio Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and teaches Sunday School to middle school students at Encounter Church.