Alex Dowell is passionate about what Stark County has to offer. She is responsible for events at the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce.
One of the biggest events she manages is one that all of Stark County knows and loves. Dowell is delighted to oversee the Township Depot Grand Parade during Pro Football Hall of Fame Week.
She grew up watching the parade and knows what makes it great. Dowell is grateful to be involved in one of Stark County’s oldest traditions and is ready to make the most of every minute.
She graduated from GlenOak High School and Kent State University. She spends much of her free time experiencing the best of Stark County and hanging out with her best friend and nine-year-old dog, Barnaby.
Why did you want to work at the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce?
I started networking with the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce during my first job as a big girl at Key Bank.
I took the Stark County Leadership program called Spotlight for Young Professionals. This program opened my eyes to all the chamber does for our community and all the local small businesses in our area as well.
I am extremely passionate about Stark County; I love everything he brings to the table. Small town charm, a bit of a city vibe and even a hint of outback country – it really has it all. So I decided to get more involved and do what I could to help Stark County thrive. Luncheons, Quick Connect Committees and Boards, Event Planning, TIP Clubs and much more.
Before I knew it, I felt like I had become a member of the chamber team without being hired. So when the opportunity presented itself for me to become an official member of the team, there was no hesitation. Especially when I found out the job was to help with the enshrinement festival. Another amazing branch of all the chamber does for our community!
As an event planner, what is the most fun and challenging part of your job?
To be completely honest, most of my career I’ve been more involved with the marketing side of things. Build and create content, design graphics or logos, and develop campaigns to bring brands to the forefront of all the noise in today’s world.
Event planning has always been in my sphere of work, but never my focus and I’m extremely happy to say that I think I’ve found my niche. Some of the best parts of my job are the people and the ability to be creative.
The girls from the Chamber Events team and all the kind volunteers who help us do what we do every day. Cultivating ideas and then taking action to bring them to real life is hugely rewarding and we couldn’t do it without our people.
At the same time, it requires extreme organizational skills and attention to detail. There might even be a bit of unspoken pressure to make sure these events go smoothly.
The bedroom event girls are bright and passionate about what they do; a lot of time is spent planning these events and I think that all speaks volumes about our desire for them to be successful.
In the years that you have watched the Township Depot Grand Parade, what has been your favorite part?
My family moved to Canton when I was 5 from Fairlawn. My dad, Doug Dowell, grew up in the area, and my grandfather, Hal Dowell, even had a family practice on Logan Avenue – which is why my parents decided to move back.
When we did, my mom wanted to get involved in our community. I’ve played on community sports teams, helped out at community events, and joined the Girl Scouts, which allowed me to participate in the grand parade at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Canton depot.
I held a banner with my troop in front of a balloon. I wish I could say I remember the ball or the banner we were holding, but what I remember is spinning. The crowd loves a good spinning banner!
The energy you feel when you walk down Market Avenue during the parade is incredible. Everyone’s pride in Stark County radiates from them! After this experience, my mother and I attended regularly. Early morning coffee and donuts on a blanket – a tradition not to be missed.
When does planning for each parade begin and how many hours are spent planning the parade each year?
As a pretty regular catwalk attendee, I knew it was a big production. But to be honest, I had no idea.
Planning for the parade begins in January. At the start of the year, the event manager is asking the community for their support in orchestrating this epic parade.
We are reaching out to bands and artists from across the country to come out and demonstrate and help represent the excitement of the Enshrinement festival. The Event Manager meets with the committee and coordinates with the Hall of Fame to ensure that all inductee needs are met.
About 80% of my seven-month work week is spent planning the show. If I had to quantify the hours of work, I would say around 850 hours of planning. Don’t quote me, math is not my forte!
This doesn’t even include the time of other members of our team who are also helping to organize this event. It’s a lot of work and many event managers before me have done an amazing job.
My goal is to do my best to fill their shoes while being able to put my own spin on one of Stark County’s longest traditions.
What does it mean to you, on a personal level, to work with the Stark County community?
Stark County is my home. It’s where I grew up, it’s where I’ve had my best blessings and all my biggest losses so far. That’s where most of my favorite people come from. He has an incredibly special place in my heart.
So, it may sound corny when I say that working with and for the Stark County community in planning and executing one if its greatest traditions is my dream job, but it’s the absolute truth.
I am so grateful for this opportunity and plan to make the most of it.
Editor’s Note: Five Questions With… is a Sunday feature that features a member of the Stark County community. If you would like to recommend someone to participate, email newsroom@cantonrep.com.