10 Aug Becoming Familiar with Portage County Municipalities: Kent Becoming Familiar with Portage County Municipalities: Kent Wednesday, August 10, 2022 (1:30 PM to 3:00 PM) 1.5 CE Hours Bell Tower Brewery, Kent, Ohio Details You're Registered! DescriptionLocationInstructors Is Kent in your market area? Join us at Bell Tower Brewery as we learn about the history of the City of Kent and how Kent has created a walkable downtown. Also highlighted will be Kent State University and the perhaps little-known Liquid Crystal Institute and the fashion museum housed at Kent State. Weather permitting, we will walk to the Esplanade to see the connection between Kent State and downtown Kent. We will also learn about economic development in Kent and amenities Kent offers its residents and learn how private/public partnerships have impacted downtown Kent's revitalization. 1.5 hour c.e. requested. Instructors: Chris Smeiles and Tom Wilke. 1 hour networking immediately following class conclusion at Bell Tower Brewery. Please contact Therese Covell at tcovell@akronclevelandrealtors.com with any questions. Bell Tower Brewery Bell Tower Brewery310 Park AvenueKent, OH 44240 Map & Directions Chris Smeiles Chris is a life long resident of the Kent Community. He attended Kent State University and eventually started his real estate career with The Strimple Agency, a small family owned real estate and insurance business located in Kent. He then opened his own real estate brokerage starting Chris Smeiles Realty, Inc. in 1980. In 1981, he purchased a Century21 franchise changing the company name to Century21 Smiles Realty, Inc. and growing the office to a 50 agent, award-winning Century21 office in Kent. His brokerage was in business for 25 years. Eventually Chris sold his real estate brokerage to the Cutler Real Estate organization in 2005. After fulfilling his 'no compete' clause with Cutler Real Estate, Chris re-opened and currently represents clients as owner and broker of Smiles Realty, Inc. As part of this varied real estate endeavors, he created several real estate partnerships to develop commercial and residential developments in the area. The well known residential River Bend Development in Kent is one his projects. In 1992 he successfully enter the political scene and served as a Portage County Commissioner for 24 years, retiring from politics after his sixth term. Thomas Wilke Thomas Wilke is the Economic Development Director for the City of Kent, Ohio. Tom has Bachelor in Accounting from the University of Akron, and a Master in Business Administration from Kent State University. Tom is currently responsible for the economic development of Kent and administration of Kent's Enterprise Zone and three Community Reinvestment Areas. Tom also encourages businesses to locate in Kent, council Kent's business and assists business leaders stay current on regional and local economic trends.