Friday, July 7, 2023

The Ohio Industrial Commission Welcomes New Commissioner Cheri Hottinger

COLUMBUS, OH — The Ohio Industrial Commission (the “Commission”) announced today that Commissioner Cheri L. Hottinger has begun her term as the public member of the Commission, effective July 1, 2023.

Hottinger was appointed to the Commission by Governor Mike DeWine in April 2023, and her six-year term ends on June 30, 2029.

“It is an honor to be appointed by Governor DeWine to serve on the Ohio Industrial Commission,” said Hottinger. “As I begin my term as Commissioner, I look forward to working with my colleagues and the entire staff at the Commission to provide fair, impartial and efficient hearings for Ohio’s employers and injured workers.”

Cheri Hottinger has dedicated most of her career to helping a wide variety of constituencies, with a particular focus on public service.

Throughout her career, Hottinger has accumulated vast business knowledge, beginning in 1995 when she led the operations of the Jay Company, Inc., an industrial electrical contractor, in partnership with the IBEW, Local 1105. In addition to her administrative duties, she worked closely with labor representatives, while serving on the Health & Welfare Board of Local 1105.

A few years later, Hottinger entered public service when she was elected Councilwoman-At-Large for the City of Newark, Ohio, a position she held from 2000-2003 and, again, from 2021-2023.

In the summer of 2003, Hottinger expanded her civic engagement, when she was named President & CEO of the Newark Area Chamber of Commerce – a position she held for the next 12 years. During her tenure, the Chamber grew into the Licking County Chamber of Commerce and was listed as the largest Chamber in Central Ohio. Consequently, Hottinger was named Chamber Executive of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce Executives of Ohio. In addition, she was a co-founder of Grow Licking County Community Improvement Corporation and Newark Development Partners Community Improvement Corporation, both of which focused on economic development activities throughout Newark and Licking County. She was also responsible for bringing the BWC Group Rating Program to the Chamber and its 900+ members.

In 2016, Hottinger made a career change by joining Park National Bank as a Vice President and Business Development Officer for the Commercial Loan Department. She continued to serve the Newark community in this new role, representing the bank on several non-profit boards, including Grow Licking County CIC, Newark Development Partners CIC (Treasurer and Board Member), Downtown Newark Special Improvement District (Treasurer and Board Member), Licking Memorial Hospital (Board Member and Development Council Member/Vice Chair) and the Newark Rotary Club (Board Member).

Hottinger and her husband, Jay, live in Newark and have three daughters and a new granddaughter.