NFL Hall of Famer Floyd Little to Highlight Our Reception Aug. 7 After the Enshrinees Roundtable

Floyd Little, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2010, will be the guest at an exclusive reception sponsored by the Stark Carroll Oil & Gas Partnership on Sunday, Aug. 7, following the annual Enshrinees Gameday Roundtable in Canton.

After a stellar college career at Syracuse University, Little joined the Denver Broncos in 1967. He gained more than 12,000 all-purpose yards over nine seasons, appearing in five Pro Bowls.

The reception will take place following lunch and the annual roundtable, which features members of each year’s Enshrinee Class in an unscripted, up-close-and-personal format.

“This is our second year hosting the reception, and we’re thrilled to have Floyd Little as our guest,” said Dave Kirven, Partnership chairman. “His career speaks for itself, and our guests will have an exclusive opportunity to meet and visit with him in a relaxed, informal setting.”

Kirven said the reception will end no later than 5 p.m., giving guests ample time before the NFL/Hall of Fame Game between the Green Bay Packers and Indianapolis Colts, which kicks off that evening at 8 p.m. at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.

Tickets for the reception are $90 and include admission to the luncheon and the Enshrinees Gameday Roundtable. Sponsorships are also available. For more information, call (330) 451-6207 or visit www.choosestark.com.

Tickets Available for 2016 Enshrinees Gameday Roundtable

Floyd Little will attend the reception after the event

For the second consecutive year, the Stark Carroll Oil & Gas Partnership will host a reception following the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinees Gameday Roundtable on Sunday, Aug. 7, at the Canton Cultural Center for the Arts.

The reception will take place in the Preyer Gallery of the Cultural Center, located at 1101 Market Ave. N. in Canton. Floyd Little, a 2010 Hall of Fame enshrinee, will be our special guest at the reception. Little, a five-time All-Pro running back gained more than 12,000 all-purpose yards during a nine-year career with the Denver Broncos.

The afternoon will begin with a luncheon at 12 noon. The Roundtable will follow at 2:30 p.m. It's known for its casual and lighthearted atmosphere. Taking center stage, the enshrinees in attendance will share stories from their careers with those in attendance.

Afterward our reception will feature light hors d'oeuvres, beer and wine until 5 o'clock.

Tickets are $90, and sponsorships (tickets included) are available. Call (330) 451-6207 for details or visit the Roundtable page on the Stark Carroll Oil & Gas Partnership website.

Bernie Kosar Autographed Jerseys Added to Auction Items at Draft Day Experience April 28 in Canton, Ohio

Five autographed Bernie Kosar jerseys -- two from his college days at the University of Miami, and three from the Cleveland Browns -- will be among the auction items up for bids at the 2016 Draft Day Experience at the McKinley Grand Hotel in Canton, Ohio on Thursday, April 28.

Also featured will be a Pro Football Hall of Fame souvenir football autographed by Brett Favre and other members of the Enshrinee Class of 2016. Two lithographs, featuring Hall of Famers Jim Taylor and Don Shula, will be up for bids, along with other exciting.

Ticket holders for the event will receive a souvenir gold medallion minted exclusively for the Draft Day Experience. Each medallion comes in an attractive case and features the Draft Day logo on one side and the Pro Football Hall of Fame logo on the other.

Doors will open at 7 p.m. and the festivities will get underway at 7:30. The 2016 NFL Draft will be shown on giant screens in the hotel ballroom as guests enjoy delicious food, an open bar, and a roundtable discussion between picks. The roundtable will be moderated by Kenny Roda of WHBC radio, who will talk about each pick with former NFL players who will be in attendance at the event.

Former players scheduled to attend include: Hall of Famer Dave Robinson of the Green Bay Packers and Washington Redskins; Cleveland Browns greats Don Cockroft, Hanford Dixon and Felix Wright; Anthony Griggs (Eagles/Browns); Jeff Hartings (Lions/Steelers); and Marv Kellum (Steelers/Cardinals).

Tickets are just $125, with proceeds going toward the Legends Landing assisted living facility that will be a part of the planned Pro Football Hall of Fame Village. 

For more information about the Draft Day Experience, visit any of the links below:

• ChooseStark.com -- The website of the Stark Carroll Oil & Gas Partnership

• Canton Repository article

• The Suburbanite article

• Listen to the radio commercials that aired to promote the event: #1 here and #2 here

Players scheduled to appear at the 2016 Draft Day Experience include (clockwise from upper left) Hanford Dixon, Don Cockroft, Felix Wright, Dave Robinson, Marv Kellum, Anthony Griggs, and Jeff Hartings. 

Draft Day Experience Approaching Fast; Reserve Your Tickets Today!

Plans continue to take shape for the 2016 Draft Day Experience, April 28 at the McKinley Grand Hotel in Canton.

We'll watch the first round of the NFL Draft unfold on large projection screens in the hotel conference room, while enjoying great food, beverages, music, a silent auction and more. In addition, Kenny Roda of WHBC radio in Canton will moderate analysis of the draft picks live with former NFL players in attendance.

Speaking of former players, Hall of Famer Dave Robinson, legendary linebacker for the Green Bay Packers, will join us, along with former Cleveland Browns stars Don Cockroft, Hanford Dixon and Felix Wright, and other NFL alumni.

Commemorative Medallion

Members of the Canton Charge Girls will be on hand, as well. And, to show our appreciation to our guests, ticket holders will receive a commemorative medallion being minted especially for the Draft Day Experience. It will feature the event logo on one side and the Pro Football Hall of Fame logo on the other.

The Hall of Fame is one of the sponsoring organizations for the Draft Day Experience, along with the East Central Ohio Building & Construction Trades Council and the Stark Carroll Oil & Gas Partnership.

Canton Charge Girls

Tickets are $125 each, and proceeds will benefit the Legends Landing assisted living residence that is planned as part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Village. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the event begins at 7:30. Corporate sponsorships are available and include a pre-event VIP reception that will offer a chance to spend time with some of our NFL alumni who will be in attendance.

Visit our website for complete details: www.ChooseStark.com. We look forward to seeing you at the Draft Day Experience in Canton on April 28!

Draft Day Experience Set for April 28 in Canton

Here's an update on the Draft Night event in Canton next month.

The 2016 Draft Day Experience is set for 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 28, at the McKinley Grand Hotel in Canton. Food, beverages, trivia contests, memorabilia auctions and more will be featured, as guests view the first round of the NFL Draft on large video screens. An ongoing Roundtable Discussion with former NFL players will feature comments and analysis between draft picks in a format moderated by Kenny Roda of WHBC-AM in Canton.

Former NFL stars scheduled to appear include Cleveland Browns alumni Don Cockroft, Hanford Dixon, Felix Wright and Anthony Griggs. Other NFL alumni scheduled to attend include Jeff Hastings (Detroit/Pittsburgh), Marv Kellum (Pittsburgh/St. Louis) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Dave Robinson (Green Bay). 

Cost is $125 per ticket and includes the Draft Day Experience, hors d’oeuvres, beverages, a round table discussion with former NFL players, and a silent auction. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Legends Landing, a planned independent and assisted living senior care facility residence for retired Pro Football Hall of Famers and others from the NFL’s Legends Community that will be part of the Hall of Fame Village in Canton.

The Draft Day Experience is being presented by the East Central Ohio Building and ConstructionTrades Council, in conjunction with the Stark Carroll Oil and Gas Partnership and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Event sponsorships are available. Main sponsorships include admission to a pre-event VIP Reception at 6 p.m. with NFL alumni and other special guests.

For tickets or sponsorship information, call (330) 451-6207 or visit www.ChooseStark.com.

Exciting Year of Activities Scheduled for the Stark Carroll Oil & Gas Partnership

Now that 2016 is here, it promises to be an exciting year for the Stark Carroll Oil & Gas Partnership.

It will all kick off at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 28, when we host our 2016 Draft Day Experience at the McKinley Grand Hotel in Canton. We expect a big crowd to come out and watch the excitement and drama of the NFL Draft unfold, plus enjoy great refreshments, trivia contests, football-themed memorabilia up for bids—and the company of several retired NFL players (including former Browns Don Cockroft, Hanford Dixon, and Felix Wright) who will be in attendance! Even better, the proceeds from the event will go toward the planned Legends Landing, a planned residence for retired Gold Jackets, NFL alumni and fans at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Village in Canton.

More information will be announced on our website, www.choosestark.com, on our Facebook page, and in our e-newsletter, “Drill Bits.” We want to express our appreciation to the Pro Football Hall of Fame for their participation in this event, and to Ullico for their early sponsorship commitment. If you’d like to participate as a sponsor of the Draft Day Experience, call (330) 451-6207 or visit our website for details.

Speaking of Facebook, if you haven’t liked our Partnership page, please be sure to do so. We share regular updates about the oil and gas industry, along with information about our events. Go to www.facebook.com/scogp and like our page to stay up-to-date.

The same is true for our “Drill Bits” e-newsletter. Back issues are available under the “News” link on our website, www.choosestark.com. Or you can be added to our email list by calling (330) 451-6207.

Our Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinees Roundtable Reception was a big hit last August, and plans are underway for a repeat of this popular event this summer. We’ll also be back with our Shale Shoot and Utica Conference in the fall, plus more events and activities to help promote the oil and gas industry in Stark and Carroll counties. Keep up with all of our news and events on our website, Facebook page and in our “Drill Bits” e-newsletter.

Stark Carroll Oil & Gas Partnership to Host Reception Aug. 9 Following HOF Enshrinees Roundtable

The Stark Carroll Oil & Gas Partnership will host a reception following the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinees Gameday Roundtable on Sunday, Aug. 9, from 2:30 to 5 p.m. at the Canton Cultural Center for the Arts.

The reception will take place in the Preyer Gallery of the Cultural Center, located at 1101 Market Ave. N. in Canton. James Lofton, a 2003 Hall of Fame enshrinee, will be our special guest at the reception.

The afternoon will begin with a luncheon at 12 noon. The Roundtable is known for its casual and lighthearted atmosphere. Taking center stage, the enshrinees in attendance will share stories from their careers with those in attendance.

Afterward the reception will feature light hors d'oeuvres, beer and wine until 5 o'clock.

Tickets are $75 for partnership members and $110 for non-members, and sponsorships (tickets included) are available. Call (330) 454-3664 for details or visit the Roundtable page on the Stark Carroll Oil & Gas Partnership website.

Pro Football HOF Village Holds Promise for Region, Building Trades

The news about the Pro Football Hall of Fame and their Hall of Fame Village project just keeps getting bigger, better and more impressive, and promises to deliver a tremendous economic boost to Stark County and the entire region.

As published in ShaleMart magazine

We at the StarkCounty Oil & Gas Partnership are especially excited, because it represents continued diversity to the development of the region. We are already actively involved in the biggest economic windfall to affect the United States in this young century—the expansion and growth of the oil and gas industry. While that is having a positive effect nationwide, the expansion of the Pro Football Hall of Fame will have a significant impact close to home, and is clearly deserving of our support.

David Baker, president and CEO of the Hall, began sharing the potential for the project more than a year ago in speeches and presentations to chambers of commerce and other business groups in Stark County. When he and others involved in the Hall of Fame Village announced the details at a press conference in May, the full scope of the $476 million project became known. It will be exciting to watch the village become a reality in the months and years ahead.

One of the reasons we’re so excited is that the Hall of Fame has a track record of using local contractors and local Building Trades craftsmen, and our area Building Trades are actively involved with the oil and gas industry. Dave Kirven, chairman of the Stark County Oil & Gas Partnership, is also president of the East Central Ohio Building & Construction Trades Council.

“We’ve been in discussions with Dave Baker and others at the Hall of Fame with the goal of securing a commitment to the hiring of local Building Trades craftsmen for the Village project,” Kirven said.

Kirven attended the press conference at which the Hall of Fame Village details were announced, and drew applause from the audience when he assured Baker that the project would “be ready for you when you bring the NFL Draft here in 2019.”

Stuart Lichter, president of the company that is developing the village, assured those in attendance that they would utilize local labor as much as possible.

That’s good news for Stark County. The Partnership applauds the Pro Football Hall of Fame for its commitment to our region, and to the local workers who are helping to build it.

This article was originally submitted for publication in ShaleMart's print and online editions.

Pro Football Hall of Fame's 'Village' Concept An Exciting Development for Stark County

The Stark Oil & Gas Partnership has a great working relationship with the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton and is grateful for their support of the Partnership's programs and initiatives.

It was exciting to learn of the Hall of Fame's idea to create a village around the shrine that would change the face of not only that area but all of Canton and Stark County. The prospect of including a convention center and a four-star hotel turned heads in this area and at the national level, with leadership of the National Football League and its 32 team owners.

"For starters we have the Hall of Fame here, and we have this incredible metaphor for excellence," Hall of Fame president David Baker told The Repository. "No one thought Kissimmee, Florida, would be what it is today...Most people don't know Disney World is located in Kissimmee. Look at what they did."

Whatever shape the Hall of Fame's plans ultimately take, the ongoing growth of the internationally known museum will only serve to strengthen Stark County's economy, provide more jobs, and improve the region's quality of life—all things to which the Stark County Oil & Gas Partnership is dedicated.

Canton Seminar Focuses on Energy Opportunities for Minorities, Women

More than 100 people assembled at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Event Center in Canton on June 10 for “Energize Canton,” a half-day event organized by the Ohio office of the American Petroleum Institute. The seminar was presented as a community conversation about the energy industry and focused career opportunities available for minorities and women, particularly in Canton and Stark County.

Dave Kirven speaks

Dave Kirven, chairman of the Stark County Oil & Gas Partnership, participated in a panel discussion in his role as business agent for the East Central Ohio Building & Construction Trades Council.  Dave emphasized the opportunities available in the trades and the advantages of entering those careers.

Ron Ponder of WHBC radio served as master of ceremonies for the day. Mayor William Healy of Canton spoke to the group about opportunities in the city and responded to some questions from the audience.

For more coverage of the event, please click here to read a review from The Repository in Canton.

Great Turnout at 'State of the Utica' Event

More than 100 people representing area businesses, unions and associations joined the Stark County Oil & Gas Partnership on Jan. 13 for our 2014 kickoff event.

The event, billed as the "State of the Utica," took place at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton. A series of speakers presented updates about oil and gas developments in the region, as well as information about drug testing, health care reform and environmental issues.

Mike Chadsey of the Ohio Oil & Gas Association highlighted the industry's latest accomplishments and developments in the state, and offered insight about developments on the horizon for 2014.

Hors d'ouvres and beverages were available compliments of the partnership and key sponsors AultCare, Aultworks, AXA Advisors and the East Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council.

For local newspaper coverage, go to: Discussion highlights developments in the Utica Shale.

For complete photo coverage, go to: State of the Utica Event.