North Coast Business Journal - December 2011

POSTMASTER: TIMELY MATERIAL. PLEASE EXPEDITE.

Celebrating 17 Years of Service INSIDE THIS MONTH Marketing: Your Place or Theirs?..............2 New Estate Tax Rules...........7 Safe Holiday for your PC...... 11 Insurance: Business Continuity....... 15 Legal: "I Already Did My Estate Plan"..... 18 Well-Booked Business.......... 21 Sales: Whose Shoes Are You Walking In....... 23 CHAMBER CALENDARS.... 25

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Focus

“The Business Voice of Erie, Huron, Ottawa, Sandusky and Seneca Counties”

Published and Owned by Schaffner Publications, Inc.

DECEMBER 2011 Vol. 17 No. 12

on

Standard Mail U.S. Postage Paid Tiffin, OH 44883 Permit #88

Western Ottawa County

It’s Been a Busy Year for the Village of Elmore Submitted by Rick Claar As you walk through the business district of Elmore, time seemingly has stood still in the village which was incorporated 160 year ago. That is what you might see but there is an underlying progressive movement to get the village prepared for future business growth and opportunities.

Early in the spring of 2012, groundbreaking will take place for the new wastewater treatment plant which will be near the site of the current treatment plant. Planning for the new

facility began in 2006 and received a shot in the arm that year when voters approved a 3/4% income tax increase to help pay for it. The groundbreaking will begin the third and final phase of sewer and treatment facility improvements needed to meet Environmental Protection Agency criteria related to treatment and overflow regulations. The treatment plant

See ELMORE, Page 5

Genoa - Working Together for the Benefit of All

Oak Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce

Submitted by Jon James

The year 2011 was a year of growth, development and excitement for the Oak Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce. The continued efforts of our members, staff, board, volunteers and businesses resulted in the successes that continue our mission statement to promote, support, and advocate for our members, and strengthen the economic climate of the Oak Harbor area. First and foremost we would like to extend a huge thank to our 2011 Gold Sponsors; The National Bank of Ohio, Community Markets/Toft’s Dairy, The Village of Oak Harbor, Carroll Township, and Magruder Hospital for their generous contribution to the chamber and our community.

The village of Genoa’s retail sector continues to flourish.

Once again, the d o w n t o w n business block is 100% occupied.

Additionally, the h i g h w a y business district is also thriving.

There are many reasons that this village keeps progressing. But if one could sum up in one word the main factor behind this, it would be “cooperation”. That

See GENOA, Page 5

By Valerie Winterfield Executive Director

2011 brought positive changes and growth to the Oak Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce in a few ways. We established the Oak Harbor

See OAK HARBOR, Page 3

We’re a proud member of the following: Bellevue Area Chamber of Commerce

Elmore Chamber of Commerce

Chamber of Commerce Erie County Chamber of Sandusky County of Commerce

Fostoria Area Chamber of Commerce

Huron Chamber of Commerce

Marblehead Peninsula Chamber of Commerce

Genoa Chamber of Commerce

Huron County Chamber of Commerce

Milan Chamber of Commerce

Oak Harbor Area Put-in-Bay Chamber Chamber of Commerce of Commerce Port Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce

Seneca Regional

Chamber of Commerce

Vermilion Chamber of Commerce Willard Area Chamber of Commerce

2 December 2011 North Coast Business Journal

www.ncbj.net

Your Place or Theirs?

Jeffrey H. Bryden Editor I began my “second career” as a marketing faculty member at Bowling Green State University fourteen years ago. In addition to teaching Advertising (my 30-year, first career) I have also had the opportunity to teach the introductory course “Principles of Marketing.”

No matter how long ago you took a Marketing course, I am sure you remember “The Four P’s:” Price, Product, Promotion and Place. While these remain the backbone of most texts and course work, the “Place P” continues to stand apart from the rest as the most difficult for many students understand and appreciate.

As you recall, “Place” represents the way products reach the consumer and historically has involved warehousing, transportation, channel partnerships and logistics management. It is somewhat drab in comparison to new product development, dynamic pricing theory and advertising, personal selling and sales promotion. But it is critical to business and affects every other aspect of marketing.

A company’s channel decisions to use either mass merchants, high-end specialty stores, or to sell direct to consumers can affect the price it

seeks for its product. And these decisions can lead to the need for more or less advertising, personal selling, public relations and sales promotion. And importantly, its product mix and ability to introduce new products will be determined by how well those products can “fit” within its current channels of distribution.

In marketing’s past, channels of distribution have been a loosely-tied group of independent contractors, each focused primarily on their own interests, with little concern about the success of the entire channel, the next business in line, or the consumer at the end of the pipeline.

Nowadays, things are quite different.

Distribution channels consist of firms that have banded together for their common good – now called a “value delivery network.” This partnership can be formed under a variety of conditions and/or contractual relationships. While most of these relationships are long-lasting and entered into with great care, today many manufacturers are exploring a new practice called “disintermediation.”

This “fifty-cent” word has big meaning for you if you are in that company’s current channel of distribution.

Disintermediation means that the marketer/ manufacturer is looking for new ways to distribute their product – often bypassing or eliminating conventional intermediaries by going direct to the final customer.

Disintermediation can give them

better control over product production and flow, allow them greater margins by “eliminating the middle man” and, in some cases, even allow them to pass part of these savings along to customers with a lower final price.

Through the process of disintermediation, we see computer and car companies joining clothing, toy, video, and music companies in selling direct. On-line retailers like Amazon.com (now called “click and order”) compete head to head with traditional retail (“bricks and mortar”) stores.

Many traditional retailers have become hybrids, called “click and mortar.”

Even Walmart has long joined these ranks – digitally competing with its retail stores, offering consumers the chance to buy product electronically and have it shipped to their home, or to shop/compare/price on line, then either buy it at the local store, or have it shipped (at no charge) for pick up at their local store.

What does all this portend if you are a wholesaler or a retailer? How secure are your sources of supply?

Any chance you could be “disintermediated?”

Use the same thinking your suppliers may be doing, starting with the basics of marketing – What does “the Customer” want? Instant gratification from local stores or are they willing to drive a distance for better selection or a little lower price? Will they buy something over the phone or internet? Do they feel comfortable

buying something without touching it, smelling it, tasting it, trying it on?

Do they feel “smart” enough to make decisions without the assistance of a salesperson or would they like to talk to someone? Do they trust credit card security in buying on-line?

What is more important to them -the quality reputation and backing of the national brand or that and the service/personal touch of the local retailer?

As mentioned earlier, distribution channels are called “value delivery networks” as each member in the pipeline (transportation, wholesaler, retailer) must be able to add value for the end-user. Finding out what values are desired by your customer, and how you can deliver them better than the manufacturer can directly, could be the key to your success.

Should you only carry the brands that rely only on local retailers (bricks and mortar stores) in their delivery mix? Or look for new ways to create and offer your customers value-added services they cannot get anywhere else? Your services could include installation, training, knowledgeable sales people and customer help desks, on-site product replacement/repair, warranty, trade-in credit on new or up-dated products, flexible financing terms, and so on. Many people want “the personal touch.”

Any or all of these can help the customer or prospect bond with YOU as the preferred supplier or place to go.

And help assure that they continue to want to do business at your place – not theirs.

Holiday Office Party: Be There or Beware!

Will skipping the holiday party at work land you on the boss's "naughty list"? Not necessarily, according to a new OfficeTeam survey. More than six in 10 (61 percent) executives whose companies host holiday parties said there's no unwritten rule requiring employees to attend. But that doesn't mean staff should miss out on the merriment: Thirty-eight percent of respondents indicated that making an appearance is expected.

The survey was developed by OfficeTeam, a leading staffing service specializing in the placement of

highly skilled administrative professionals. It was conducted by an independent research firm and is based on telephone interviews with more than 1,000 senior managers at companies with 20 or more employees.

Managers whose companies host holiday celebrations were asked if they agreed or disagreed with the statement, "It is an unwritten rule that employees should make an appearance at the holiday party."

Their responses*:

Disagree Agree Don't know/no answer

61% 38% 1%

*Respondents to this question included 856 senior managers whose companies host holiday celebrations.

Managers also were asked, "In which of the following ways does your company typically celebrate the holidays?" Their responses*: Off-site party On-site party/luncheon Office decorations

41% 31% 20%

Informal gift exchange 17% Our company does not host 16% *Respondents to this question included 1,013 senior managers.

Multiple responses were allowed.

"Although many executives take a casual approach to holiday festivities and aren't concerned about attendance, some managers pay attention to who shows up," said Robert Hosking, executive director of OfficeTeam. "Office parties come in a

See HOLIDAY, Page 21

December 2011

North Coast Business Journal

www.ncbj.net OAK HARBOR, from Page 1 Downtown Committee, which is a group comprised of business owners and concerned citizens focused on revitalizing and improving downtown Oak Harbor. This committee established a low interest loan fund through the National Bank of Ohio and Commodore Perry Federal Credit Union, offering loans to business and building owners to improve the façade of their downtown buildings. This committee also established an annual community clean-up day, with over 60 volunteers turning out to pick up litter and debris from the streets, sidewalks and parking lots. The Oak Harbor Downtown Committee is also responsible for creating the Oak Harbor Farmers Markets. Four farmers markets were held for the 2011 season with a great turnout of vendors and supporters. We plan to continue these for next year on the fourth Saturday of the month starting in June.

The Oak Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce implemented free quarterly seminars for our members in late 2010. We held four seminars over the course of 2011, focusing on Employee Recruitment, Employment Law Updates, Microsoft Windows 7 & Office 2010, and Social Media. All of these seminars were free to chamber members,

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included lunch and were held over the lunch hour. We had great response from this program and have plans to continue for 2012.

Business After Hours events continue to offer a great way to network with peers and friends. They are held on the 4th Thursday of every other month starting in January with the Chamber Annual Dinner, and all members and their employees are invited. Please contact the chamber office at 419-898-0479 if you are interested in hosting a Business After Hours in 2012. Don’t miss out on the networking, monthly gift certificate drawing, and our 50/50 raffle!

As always the Oak Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce looks forward to continuing to bring you quality family events throughout the year and promoting this great village in which we live.

We look forward to promoting our businesses and our community in 2012 and wish to thank all of our members for their continuing support. Happy Holidays and best wishes for a prosperous New Year from the Oak Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce!

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4 December 2011 North Coast Business Journal

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Elmore’s Botanical Jewel Turns 21 Submitted by Veronica Sheets

and Marie Schedel, the grounds includes an 1800’s manor house, summer cottage and 2 lakes all lovingly cared for amidst the immaculately manicured grounds.

Although the local economy has remained challenging, SA&G has maintained its position both in terms of the number of visitors and revenue in 2011. The past few years the staff

The Schedel Arboretum & Gardens located in Elmore, Ohio, will celebrate its 21st anniversary of being open to the public in 2012. This 17 acre estate is located on the banks of the Portage River and boasts of more than 100 beds that include rare and unusual species of trees, shrubs and some 13,000 annual plants each2:52 PM Page 1 3154 Genoa_NCoast1111_Layout 1 11/23/11 season. The former estate of Joseph

See SCHEDEL, Page 6

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www.ncbj.net ELMORE, from Page 1 will cost over $5 million and will be funded with the ¾% tax and 0% loans obtained through several agencies by the village.

Economic development has been at the forefront of several council committee meetings as officials look for ways to encourage businesses to locate in Elmore.

The village has been in the planning stages of setting up a Joint Economic Development District which would also include Harris and Woodville Townships combining two counties-Ottawa and Sandusky-in the district.

To help make the JEDD come to fruition the village is exploring the possibility of having the Ottawa County Regional Water System extended to Elmore.

The OCWS would also help increase water quality and water pressure for residents and businesses of the village.

Currently, the system ends at the Materion plant approximately four miles from Elmore. Estimates to get regional water to the village are in the $4 million range. Officials have had several meetings to see what kind of funding may be available to help get the water system extended to the village.

The village is also considering adding a second substation as a backup for the substation currently in use. During the past summer the village substation was struck by lightening and residents and businesses suffered through over 72 hours without electricity. A second substation could serve as an insurance policy against future outages if one substation goes down.

Village officials estimate the cost of the second substation at $1 million.

On a very positive note, Elmore did add three more businesses to its downtown business district in 2011a rarity for a small town with the state of the economy as it is. Johnnie’s Electric, Elmore Chiropractic and the Woodmore Schools central office all chose to locate in the village in 2011.

In a recent meeting, village and council publicly asked businessmen to please contact the village office with suggestions on what the village can do to attract businesses to the community. If you have suggestions please call the village office at 419-862-3362 or email the village at villageofelmore@amplex.net.

Mayor Lowell Krumnow has been working with officials from Ottawa County, the Village of Genoa and Clay Township trustees in an effort to extend the North Coast Inland Trail to Genoa. The trail which currently extends from Clyde to Elmore has become a valuable local asset to Elmore as well as from a local businesses and tourism standpoint. Genoa officials are looking for that same kind of positive bounce once the trail reaches Genoa. Elected officials and volunteers have been working for several months to formulate a plan to get the trail extended to Genoa.

Speaking of Mayor Krumnow, this year’s mayoral race brought world-wide attention to the western Ottawa County village as the mayor was challenged by his brother, Jim, for the mayor seat. Media attention, including a live interview on CNN on Election Day, put Elmore in a national spotlight for several weeks. Mayor Lowell Krumnow retained his seat by getting over 61% of the votes. As he begins his next term he will have served Elmore for thirty years including the last twenty years as mayor.

December 2011

North Coast Business Journal GENOA, from Page 1 means cooperation among all sectors of the village. This starts with the Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Merchants who work hand-in-hand with the village Mayor, Council and new Administrator, Kevin Gladden. All of these groups and individuals strive to support existing and new businesses.

They welcome new business with open arms and support them in any way possible. In the words of Leah Myers, owner of Laurelea’s Pastries & Café, “we are so pleased to be a part of the Genoa community. The support and reception of residents and other businesses has been overwhelming.”

The Chamber, led by Mitch Hoyles, is continuously staging events and activities that promote Genoa’s visibility to local and regional residents. The annual Homecoming and parade, car shows, Street Fair and Holiday Open House draw thousands of people throughout the year. The Village administration and Police Department provide any logistical support needed to make these events happen. Our new Chief of Police, Bob Bratton, is always available for assistance at the Department or his “satellite” office at “R” Café.

New businesses to the downtown scene include McHaffie’s Religious Book Store and Molly Pearson’s product development business called True Grit. Laurelea’s Pastries & Café is proud to offer Fair Trade certified coffees and an extensive array of homemade pastries, soups, sandwiches and salads, all prepared fresh daily. Additionally, the new Neeners Restaurant in the highway district offers breakfast, lunch and dinner. Genoa Car Care has recently opened for business at the corner of Main and Fifth St. This year’s Holiday Open House was a resounding success.

This annual event draws shoppers from throughout Northwest Ohio who look forward every year to shopping, dining and just browsing. Jan Pugh’s Packer Creek Pottery proudly offers a wide array of unique gifts and keepsakes.

This will be the nineteenth year that Jan has produced her sought after Limited Edition Christmas plate. Nearby, Genoa Custom Interiors carries an extensive line of furniture, accessories and window treatments to compliment any décor.

Genoa Jewelers’ features fine jewelry and repairs. Shoppers enjoy taking a break for coffee and a sandwich at Laurelea’s. As always, Rayz Café is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner where patrons can also relax with a glass of wine or an evening cocktail.

None of these individuals or businesses can make up a thriving community without that key ingredient-COOPERATION.

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ProMedica Fostoria Community Hospital Employee of the Quarter Becky Bouillon, RN, BSN, health educator, ProMedica Total Wellness, was named the 2011 employee of the third quarter at ProMedica Fostoria Community Hospital.

She was nominated for consistently being recognized by patients and the community for her superior customer service skills.

As a tenured nurse who has worked at ProMedica Fostoria Community Hospital for 34 years, Bouillon’s commitment to the health and well-being of her patients and the community is apparent. Working in acute care for 18 years, she cared for thousands of patients at their bedside. Today, and for the last 16 years, she serves as a health educator in ProMedica Total Wellness where she coordinates the Scale Down weight loss program and is a tobacco treatment specialist assisting individuals who have a desire to quit smoking.

In her spare time, Becky, enjoys spending time with her family (husband Steve; two daughters Jackie and Betsy; and son-in-law Kyle), attending sporting events and exercising with her dog, Sloopy.

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6 December 2011 North Coast Business Journal SCHEDEL, from Page 4 has reorganized the operations of the gardens and this year was able to reduce operating costs by about 22% and saw operating income rise slightly.

According to executive director Rod Noble, this was due in part to the importance of the mission of the SA&G, which is an operation of the Joseph J. & Marie P. Schedel Foundation, a public nonprofit foundation. “The Schedel’s had no children and established the foundation in 1968 – years before either of their passing. It was their desire that their life’s work here be opened to the public as a place for the appreciation and study of nature,” Noble added.

Earlier this month Mr. Noble observed that, with the busy lifestyles of people in the 21st Century, a lot of what nature means in our lives is being forgotten, or at least neglected. This is particularly true with our children these days, who rely more on electronics for learning and entertainment than either visceral or hands on experiences. “Our mission is to help ensure that nature and the delicate balance between us and its wonders remain a poignant part of our life’s experiences,” he stated. To that end, with the design aid of students from Owens College, the first phase of a new master planned children’s garden is being planned for the 2012 season.

The landscape for charitable giving has been tenuous the past several years as individuals and corporations are watching their own bottom lines

more carefully. The SA&G depends in large part on memberships, donations, grants and fundraisers to fund its mission and this resource for tens of thousands from the region.

The fact that revenues from those sources have not declined significantly in a down economy is a testament to the importance of the mission. “Could we use more … absolutely!

What we do and the way we do it requires financial resources.

When people give to the SA&G, they’re really giving to others and themselves because we use those resources to continue and expand what can be experienced here in terms of knowledge, peacefulness, harmony and the beauty of nature,” according to the executive director of the gardens.

Another objective of the SA&G is to be viewed as a regional natural and cultural resource. Facilities in the area like the SA&G add to the quality of life in the region and thus can be a tool in the box for government and community leaders trying to retain and create jobs. Mr. Noble observes, “We’re

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not as big as the zoo, the art museum or even the Toledo Botanical Gardens in terms of how many beneficiaries we have each year – but we have our niche in what we give back to the community.”

The Brown Welcome Center on the grounds is one such example. Opened in 2008, this state of the art facility can accommodate up to 100 people for all kinds of events. The conference center has a busy calendar of educational workshops related to nature, business meetings and seminars, weddings, family reunions, class reunions and more. The SA&G provides both catering and a liquor license with the opportunity to explore the grounds before and after an event.

The SA&G is also a popular venue for outdoor events including weddings, receptions and church services. The gardens are open seasonally from April 1 through October 31 – limited hours in April. Normal hours beginning May 1 are Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 – 4:00 and Sunday from Noon to 4:00. For more information visit www.schedel-gardens.org or phone (419) 8623182.

Tiffin’s United Insurance Adds New Office Mitch Felton, president of United Insurance Service of Tiffin is pleased and proud to announce the addition of Helena to its customer service locations. Long time Helena agency, Diels Insurance Agency has merged with United Insurance Service as part of its long term plan for expanded customer service. The Helena office and associates are located on Main Street.

The other offices are located in Tiffin, Bellevue, Findlay, Fostoria, Fremont, Helena, Leipsic, Ottawa, Sandusky, Upper Sandusky and Monroe, Michigan.

North Coast Business Journal

www.ncbj.net

Estate The New Estate Tax Rules and Your Estate Plan Douglas Gildenmeister Senior Vice President, Investments Retirement Plan Consultant The Gildenmeister Wealth Management Group of Raymond James The Tax Relief, Unemployment I n s u r a n c e Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 (the 2010 Tax Act) includes new gift, estate, and generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax provisions.

The 2010 Tax Act provides that in 2011 and 2012, the gift and estate tax exemption is $5 million (indexed for inflation in 2012), the GST tax exemption is also $5 million (indexed for inflation in 2012), and the maximum rate for both taxes is 35%.

New to estate tax law is gift and estate tax exemption portability: generally, any gift and estate tax exemption left unused by a deceased spouse can be transferred to the surviving spouse. The GST tax exemption, however, is not portable.

These major changes are temporary: absent further legislation, in 2013, the exemptions are generally scheduled to drop to $1 million, the maximum rate will jump to 55%, and portability will be repealed. You should understand how these new and temporary rules may affect your estate plan.

Exemption

portability Under prior law, the gift and estate tax exemption was effectively “use it or lose it.” In order to fully utilize their respective exemptions, married couples often implemented a bypass plan: they divided assets between a marital trust and a credit shelter, or bypass, trust (this is often referred to as an A/B trust plan). Under the 2010 Tax Act, the estate of a deceased spouse can transfer to the surviving spouse any portion of the exemption it does not use (this portion is referred to as the deceased spousal unused exclusion amount, or DSUEA). The

surviving spouse’s exemption, then, is increased by the DSUEA, which the surviving spouse can use for lifetime gifts or transfers at death.

Example: At the time of Henry’s death in 2011, he had made $1 million in taxable gifts and had an estate of $2 million. The DSUEA available to his surviving spouse, Linda, is $2 million ($5 million - ($1 million + $2 million). This $2 million can be added to Linda’s own exemption for a total of $7 million ($5 million + $2 million).

The portability of the exemption coupled with an increase in the exemption amount to $5 million per taxpayer allows a married couple to pass on up to $10 million gift and estate tax free in 2011 and 2012.

Though this seems to negate the usefulness of A/B trust planning, there are still many reasons to consider using A/B trusts.

• The assets of the surviving spouse, including those inherited from the deceased spouse, may appreciate in value at a rate greater than the rate at which the exemption amount increases. This may cause assets in the surviving spouse’s estate to exceed that spouse’s available exemption.

On the other hand, appreciation of assets placed in a credit shelter trust will avoid estate tax at the death of the surviving spouse.

• The distribution of assets placed in the credit shelter trust can be controlled. Since the trust is irrevocable, your plan of distribution to particular beneficiaries cannot be altered by your surviving spouse.

Leaving your entire estate directly to your surviving spouse would leave the ultimate distribution of those assets to his or her discretion.

• A credit shelter trust may also protect trust assets from the claims of any creditors of your surviving spouse and the trust beneficiaries. You can also include a spendthrift provision to limit your surviving spouse’s access to trust assets, thus preserving their value for the trust beneficiaries.

• The portability feature is in effect for two years only, and is scheduled to expire in 2013, unless Congress enacts further legislation.

A/B

trust plans with formula clauses If you currently have an A/B trust plan, it may no longer carry out your intended wishes because of the increased exemption amount. Many of these plans use a formula clause that transfers to the credit shelter trust an amount equal to the most that can pass free from estate tax, with the remainder passing to the marital trust for the benefit of the spouse. For example, say a spouse died in 2002 with an estate worth $5 million and an estate tax exemption of $1 million. The full exemption amount, or $1 million, would have been transferred to the credit shelter trust and $4 million would have passed to the marital trust.

Under the same facts in 2011, since the exemption has increased, the entire $5 million estate will transfer to the credit shelter trust, to which the surviving spouse may have little or no access. Review your estate plan carefully with an estate planning professional to be sure your intentions will be carried out under the new laws.

Wealth

transfer strategies through gifting Because of the larger exemptions and lower tax rates, 2011 and 2012 provide an unprecedented opportunity for gifting. By making gifts up to the exemption amount, you can significantly reduce the value of your estate without incurring gift tax. In addition, any future appreciation on the gifted assets will escape taxation. Assets with the most potential to increase in value, such as real estate (e.g., a vacation home), expensive art, furniture, jewelry, and closely held business interests, offer the best tax savings opportunity.

Gifting may be done in several different forms. These include direct gifts to individuals, gifts made in trust (e.g., grantor retained annuity trusts and qualified personal residence trusts), and intra-family loans.

Currently, you can also employ techniques that leverage the temporarily high exemptions to potentially provide an even greater tax benefit (for example, creating a family limited partnership may also provide valuation discounts for tax purposes).

For high-net-worth married couples, gifting to an irrevocable life insurance trust (ILIT) designed as a dynasty trust can reduce estate size while

December 2011

7

providing a substantial gift for multiple generations (depending on how long a trust can last under the laws of your particular state). The value of the gift may be increased (leveraged) by the purchase of secondto-die life insurance within the trust.

Further, the larger exemptions enable you to increase, gift tax free, the premiums paid for life insurance policies that are owned by the ILIT or other family members.

Premium payments on such policies are taxable gifts, so these premium payments are often limited to avoid incurring gift tax. This in turn restricts the amount of life insurance that can be purchased. But the increased gift tax exclusion in 2011 and 2012 provides the opportunity to make significantly greater gifts of premium payments, which can be used to buy a larger life insurance policy.

The increased exemption may also prove beneficial for same-sex couples whose estate planning is limited due to a lack of gift or estate tax marital deduction. At least for 2011 and 2012, assets of significant worth can be transferred between partners without gift tax consequences.

Before implementing a gifting plan, however, there are a few issues you should consider.

• Can you afford to make the gift in the first place (you may need those assets and the related cash flow in the future)?

• Do you anticipate that your estate will be subject to estate taxes at your death?

• Is minimizing estate taxes more important to you than retaining control over the asset?

• Do you have concerns about gifting large amounts to your heirs (i.e., is the recipient competent to manage the asset)?

• Does the transfer tax savings outweigh the potential capital gains tax the recipient may incur if the asset is later sold? The recipient of the gift gets a carryover basis (i.e., your tax basis) for income tax purposes.

On the other hand, property left to an individual as a result of death will generally receive a step-up in cost basis to fair market value at date of death, resulting in potentially less income tax to pay when such an asset is ultimately sold.

Caution: The amount of gift tax exemption you used prior to 2011 will reduce the $5 million available to you under the 2010 Tax Act. For example, a person who used $1

See ESTATE, Page 8

8 December 2011 North Coast Business Journal

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RIVERVIEW HEALTHCARE:

A “Mainstay” in Ottawa County Submitted by Kendra German Campus Administrator 2011 is a very special year to Ottawa County Riverview Healthcare Campus, located in Oak Harbor, Ohio. The facility is celebrating its 140th anniversary of service to Ottawa County and its surrounding areas. The facility began as a farm house called the “Ottawa County Infirmary” or to many “the Poor House.” The facility now employs approximately 170 individuals on a full time, part time and contingent basis. Through October of 2011 Riverview welcomed 217 admissions, returning 69% or 149 of those admissions back to the community.

With an increase in patients seeking short term physical rehabilitation stays Riverview is expanding Cottage Cove, the facility’s short term rehab unit.

The unit will expand from 13 private suites to 19.

Due to the complexity of these patients and the proper documentation needed for their care, Riverview has added 2 full time and 2 part time Licensed Practical Nurses to join the Registered Nurses already scheduled on this unit.

To capture the true meaning of “campus” in the spring of 2011, Ottawa County Senior Resources moved its offices to Riverview Healthcare Campus.

This has greatly helped with the continuum of care coordination with patients returning home with services delivered by Senior Resources.

Also during the spring of 2011, Riverview’s Dietary Department began preparing the meals for Senior Resources Senior Centers and Home Delivered Meals.

This service required the additional position of a cook to oversee the 300 meals produced each day for Senior Resources. The facility has also continued to prepare meals for Ottawa County’s two jails. Both of these programs (Senior Resources as well as Ottawa County Sheriffs) reimburse Riverview on a per meal basis for the cost of food, supplies and labor for these meals.

With the production of meals for these two programs as well as for our residents and patients, Riverview Dietary Department produces

ESTATE, from Page 7 million of his or her exemption prior to January 1, 2011, will be able to make additional gifts totaling $4 million during 2011 and 2012 free from gift tax.

Tip: In addition to this limited opportunity to transfer a significant

approximately 800 meals daily.

In 2007, Riverview began its Adult Day Service Program, DayBreak. This program has grown from a service that could handle only 4 clients per day to larger space that would accommodate up to 11 clients and includes the oversight by a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), who can administer medication or other medical treatments throughout the day.

Riverview has made it its mission to provide services which are not offered anywhere else within Ottawa County.

Riverview believes the residents of Ottawa County should be able to recover from illness or injury or seek long term care within our county limits. For this reason, Riverview worked hard to obtain a contract with the Federal Government’s Veteran’s Administration. This certification, one of the only facilities within Northwest Ohio to achieve this, allows Veterans who have a 70% disability related to service time to stay at Riverview for long term or short term care. This contract is available to any Veteran who is receiving hospice or who wishes to participate in our Adult Day Services program.

The Lighthouse Memory Care Unit, located on Riverview’s campus is the only specialized memory care unit in Ottawa County. The Lighthouse is a 30 bed unit with both private and semiprivate rooms.

The unit’s family style setting makes it the perfect atmosphere for those with dementia or memory

amount of wealth tax free, it’s important to remember that you can still take advantage of the $13,000 per person per year annual gift tax exclusion for 2011 and 2012.

Also, gifts of tuition payments and payment of medical expenses (if paid directly to the institutions) are still tax free and can be made at anytime.

problems, offering family style dining, open living room area and specialized activities.

Riverview was Ottawa County’s first Medicare 5 Star facility, an honor the facility has been able to maintain for 2 years. The facility is also listed on US World and News Report list of Best Nursing Homes for 2011. In October the facility achieved a deficiency free state survey from the Ohio Department of Health.

As Riverview looks forward to 2012 we will continue to look for ways to diversify and partner with others to continue to provide valued unique services to Ottawa County and the surrounding areas.

This information was developed by Broadridge, an independent third party. It is general in nature, is not a complete statement of all information necessary for making an investment decision, and is not a recommendation or a solicitation to buy or sell any security. Investments and strategies mentioned may not be suitable for all investors. Past

performance may not be indicative of future results. Raymond James & Associates, Inc. member New York Stock Exchange/SIPC does not provide advice on tax, legal or mortgage issues. These matters should be discussed with an appropriate professional. Raymond James & Associates, Inc., member New York Stock Exchange/SIPC.

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North Coast Business Journal

Genoa Ford and Genoa Chevrolet Celebrate Milestone Anniversaries and New Products Genoa Ford and Genoa Chevrolet both are celebrating milestone anniversaries this year. This will be the Genoa Chevy’s 10th year and Genoa Ford’s 57th anniversary. Terry Paul, owner of the dealerships attributed his company’s success to the community and his nearly 60 employees. “The Genoa area is a wonderful place to do business,” he said. “We’re proud to be a part of the community and we are thankful for their continued support. It means so much to us when several generations of the same family choose to give us their business.”

This year has also included the introduction of two totally new vehicles, the Chevy Volt electric car and the Ford Fusion Hybrid.

Both of the Volt and the Fusion Hybrid deliver fuel economy unlike any vehicles before them.

A WARMER WINTER FOR 66 CHILDREN During the months of October and November, the employees of Catawba Subway continued a tradition of giving by donating tips raised to purchase new coats for low income families in Ottawa County. Last year the employees donated 30 brand new coats to The Salvation Army, which were spoken for in less than one day. This year, even getting started a bit later, the employees raised enough money to donate 66 brand-new coats. The coats will be donated on December 14 to the Salvation Army toy give-away at the Truth Ministries building across from Erie-Ottawa County Regional Airport. Thanks to all who donated.

December 2011

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10 December 2011 North Coast Business Journal

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Building Progress Swift on Heidelberg’s Campus October 2011 was a huge month for Heidelberg University. Shortly after students moved into the newly constructed Residence Life and Learning Hall, the new University Commons was dedicated and ground was broken for the next construction project, a new health and wellness center.

All of the projects are integral to the university’s ongoing and aggressive Strategic Action Plan. A year ago, Adams Hall and its School of Business were opened in a completely renovated facility. In April, the university moved its radio and television operations into the new Media Communication Center, and welcomed commercial radio station WTTF as a partner.

Progress on the eight-point plan has been swift and intentional, and has created momentum and excitement as the university focuses on its two long-term strategic goals of enhancing academic excellence and the student experience. All of the construction initiatives are tied to the goals and support them in different ways.

New residence hall and The University Commons About a year ago, ground was broken for a 40,000-square-foot new residence hall, the first to be constructed at Heidelberg in about 60 years. The spacious, pod-style facility is home to 120 students, primarily sophomores. “ I love how it’s set up pod style,” said sophomore resident Brittany Labry. “You really get to know more people.”

Sophomore Claire Meneer added, “It’s very spacious. We love being the first living here.”

The co-educational hall is centrally located and has five pods of single and double rooms, a great room for shared space, kitchenette, laundry facilities and study space.

Adjoining is The University Commons, which is quickly becoming a favorite place to dine and relax for the entire campus community. Referred to as the new “living room” of campus, The University Commons is home to the Fireside Café Pub, operated by ARAMARK, the university s longtime partner in dining services.

The café pub, an engaging, cozy space, features a menu of coffees, sandwiches, salads, entrees and

desserts. It has a working fireplace with seating indoors and outdoors, flatscreen TVs, music and Wi-Fi access. The University Commons also features an open, great-room concept with a balcony lounge and a walkout patio for outdoor dining and events. The venue has seating capacity to accommodate 60 for lectures, movies and other events.

Study and meeting spaces welcome students and groups to the facility.

With its outdoor Tower Plaza and two-story, wood-burning fireplace, The University Commons promises to be a popular gathering space for generations to come.

Saurwein Health & Wellness Center The Saurwein Health & Wellness Center, to be built onto the east end of Seiberling Gymnasium, “will make the campus a larger part of the community and the community part of our campus,” said President Robert H. Huntington. The new center will change the backyard of the campus and create opportunities for all to become and stay fit.

The new center, to open in August 2012, will feature 22,000 square feet of new and renovated space dedicated to health and wellness. Included in the center will be a variety of spaces for cardio and weight training, small group fitness activities, a technology suite to enhance health, a nutrition prep area, and classroom and faculty office space. In all, the center will launch and support “A Road to Health at Heidelberg,” a comprehensive, integrated plan to enhance health and wellness for the campus and the Tiffin communities.

Heidelberg is working with the Tiffin Community YMCA to offer

programming at the new center that will complement the services currently provided by the Y. For more than 30 years, Heidelberg and the Y have maintained a strong working partnership.

The facility will be named in honor of alumni Cliff and Mary Saurwein, ’27 and’30, who provided a multimillion-dollar gift. In their estate plans, they sought to help provide a place where the entire campus community could gather together for relaxation and exercise.

“This capstone building is an opportunity for us to be all those things envisioned by Cliff and Mary Saurwein,” Huntington said. “They added value to the things they believed in, and took care of Heidelberg students year after year.

We are honored to fulfill their vision and make it possible for every student to have access and opportunities to get healthy and feel well.”

Fundraising is nearly complete for the $4.1 million center. Steve Crone, CEO and executive director of the Tiffin Community YMCA, expressed his excitement about the potential for improving health and wellness in

the community. Lifestyle changes, Crone said, require individual attention that will be available at the new center and the YMCA, working together to reach many more people.

“We feel blessed that we can be part of this culture change in the community,” Crone said.

Academically, the athletic training education and health and physical education departments will be located in the center, giving students new classrooms, internship opportunities and hands-on experience in the fitness and cardio rooms, where they can put theory into action.

“The Saurwein Health & Wellness Center will be a great addition to campus,” said Genna Fusco, a sophomore athletic training major.

Next: Athletic Stadium and Alumni Center Plans are under way for the construction of a permanent athletic stadium and alumni center. The university is in the process of sharing information and hearing input about plans for the stadium. If progress continues as planned, construction on the facility could begin next fall.

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North Coast Business Journal

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IT May Your PC Have a Safe Holiday!

By Don Knaur “‘Tis the Season” when we hear Public Service Messages warning us to take extra caution while C h r i s t m a s shopping so that we can have a Merry Christmas. It is also the season when PC’s are at risk. We spend hours shopping on the Internet and our PC’s are subject to the possible abuses of visiting relatives, so it is a good time to take extra care with your computer.

I can’t count the number of times a customer has brought me their PC saying, “You fixed this last year, but now it’s acting the same way it did then.” When I look at their PC, I find that their Anti-virus software is two versions out of date. You must not forget that the *@#!! Virus creators are busy every day. If your anti-virus software is a year old, there have been over 6,000,000 new viruses concocted since it was installed.

Because of this, almost every antivirus program updates daily and upgrades at least once a year. FYI an update is a change in the virus database while an upgrade is change in the software itself.

While you are always getting messages from Windows about updates and/or upgrades, which I have advised you to ignore, you should not ignore a message from your anti-virus software. If the message is asking you to upgrade to a version of the software that you have to pay for, you are definitely wise to not act on it. However, if the message is that there is a new version of your free software available and you current software will not be supported in the future, it is wise to choose to upgrade. If the message takes you to the pay for upgrade site, just cancel the upgrade and call me at 419-4488020 and I will give you instructions on how to proceed for free.

Another concern is that recently Facebook has been the victim of

vicious attacks. If you have kept your anti-virus up to date, you have performed one of Facebook’s preventative recommendations. The second preventative action is to never paste an address sent to you on Facebook into your Browser Address Bar. The final action is to use the “Help” utility on Facebook to report anything you notice that is out of the ordinary. Facebook is very devoted to keeping their system clean.

Finally, to insure your PC’s well being, we need to talk about the number one responsibility of the PC user, Backing-up. In the past two weeks, I have had three customers bring their PC’s in to my shop due to hard drive failure. None of these customers had backed-up their data in over a year. Two of the three customers were lucky and I was able to salvage most of their data. One of them lost everything. One of the two lucky ones was a business owner who would have lost his accounting records along with contracts, quotes and Ad templates. That would have cost him weeks of work to replace.

The accuracy of his reproduction of this data would have been nearly impossible. The other lucky customer would have lost all of their photos of their Grandchildren. I don’t even want to think about what the unlucky customer lost.

If you keep any data on your PC that you would not want to lose, backing-up is essential. With external hard drives being so reasonably priced and readily available, there is no excuse for not backing-up. You should back up at least once per month, more often if you record a lot of data weekly. The simplest way to back-up, is to right click on your “My Documents” folder and left click on “copy”. Then, use the “Explore” option to go to your external hard drive and create a new folder that is named to indicate the date and that it contains back-up data and paste the files inside that folder. I would recommend keeping at least your four newest back-up folders on your external hard drive at all times. This is known as a redundant back-up.

However, when it comes to backingup, redundancy is good!

I hope this article will help you have a safe Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Don is the CWO (Chief Working Officer) of Help-Desk, Ohio, a complete computer service center, located in Suite A of the Courtlee

Interiors’ Building, 2499 W. Market in Tiffin. Don has a degree in Computer Programming from Tiffin University and has been an Information Technology Professional for over 23 years. He started HelpDesk, Ohio in the spring of 1996 and opened his shop in March 2001. Don welcomes calls for advice or information at 419-448-8020.

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12 December 2011 North Coast Business Journal

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Snap-on Technicians Train at Terra North Coast A dozen Snap-on technicians from across the Midwest are in Fremont for two days of training at Terra State Community College.

The service technicians install and repair Snap-on equipment as well as train those who will be using the wheel balancers, tire changers, lifts and other undercar equipment.

Not only are the facilities in the Skilled Trades Center at Terra accommodating, but the technicians feel right at home surrounded by an auto lab outfitted with Snap-on equipment.

A collaborative effort between Terra and Snap-on a few years ago which brought the most up-todate Snap-on equipment to campus continues to reap benefits for both sides.

“While we’re here, we’ll be talking to John Carpenter (automotive faculty) about the next generation tools because his students will be seeing those when they get out into the workforce,” said Pete Garrity, Midwest Customer Service Manager for Snap-on’s equipment division.

Cancer Care Center Joins Cleveland Clinic

Paul Colarusso, center, the Snap-on trainer from St. Louis, demonstrates the electronic tool box. The box is keycard accessible and can track which tools are removed and by whom.

The facilities at Terra fit Snapon’s training needs.

“This is perfect having service bays and classrooms,” Garrity said. “We can do the hands-on training and also cover PowerPoint material. It works out very well for us.”

Carpenter said some of the equipment is very futurist and likely won’t be seen in local shops

for a couple of years, but it’s interesting to see what’s coming.

“Last night some of our students were able to watch a demonstration of this high-end technology,” he said. “For example, there’s a toolbox that has lasers and cameras that track which tool has been removed or misplaced. This was developed for military use, but it’s really fascinating.”

Small Business Owners Travel to D.C. A group of Northwest Ohio small business owners and representatives traveled to Washington, DC recently to meet with members of the Ohio Congressional delegation and join Senator Lamar Alexander of Tennessee for a press conference showcasing the recently introduced Marketplace Fairness Act in the U.S. Senate.

The Marketplace Fairness Act levels the playing field between online-only retailers and small businesses on Main Street. Currently, online-only retailers enjoy a loophole that prevents them from collecting and remitting sales tax like their brick-and-mortar counterparts.

This loophole is causing Main Street businesses to shutdown, which results in lost jobs in our local communities.

Senator Alexander’s legislation will give states the right to ensure that onlineonly retailers collect and remit sales tax and ensures the government isn’t in the business of picking winners and losers.

The group making the trip to Washington included small business owners in a number of retail sectors

particularly disadvantaged by the lack of online sales tax collection, including jewelry stores, tire dealers, and restaurant supply companies.

“Brick and mortar retailers make up the heart of our communities,” said Angela Morelock, Executive Director of Downtown Fremont. “Passing this bill would help small businesses in Fremont and across Ohio by eliminating the unfair sales tax loophole for online retailers.”

Small business owners from Ohio who traveled to Washington, D.C. for meetings on Capitol Hill included: Gerry Gonya, Harvey Oaks Jewelers (Fremont); Julie Kreilick, Looking Good Salon (Fremont); Angela Morelock, Downtown Fremont (Fremont).

The group of Ohio business owners also met with representatives from the offices of Senator Rob Portman, Congressman Steve Stivers, Congressman Pat Tiberi, and Congressman Bob Latta and encouraged them to stand with their local businesses by supporting and sponsoring the legislation.

Last month, North Coast Cancer Care (NCCC) of Sandusky, Ohio, officially became part of the Cleveland Clinic health system following the acquisition of NCCC by Cleveland Clinic.

NCCC, a full-service cancer treatment center with 70 employees, is now a part of Cleveland Clinic’s Taussig Cancer Institute, which is ranked in the top 10 nationally for cancer care by U.S. News and World Report.

“We are pleased to have North Coast Cancer Care join the Taussig Cancer Institute family.

The NCCC team provides wonderful, stateof-the-art treatment to its patients, and we look forward to enhancing the excellent clinical care that North Coast can offer,” said Brian J. Bolwell, M.D., Chairman of Cleveland Clinic’s Taussig Cancer Institute. “By linking NCCC’s services with Cleveland Clinic, patients will have access to the latest clinical trials and an electronic medical record that will help bring coordinated, cutting-edge care close to home.”

North Coast Cancer is now a department within the Taussig Cancer Institute, with Steven G. Roshon, M.D., FACP, the former president of NCCC, serving as the department chair, reporting directly to Dr. Bolwell.

NCCC employees and physicians are also now employees of Cleveland Clinic as part of the Taussig Cancer Institute team.

“As the leading provider of cancer services in the region, we are pleased to be joining our efforts with the No. 1 cancer program in Ohio at Cleveland Clinic,” said Dr. Roshon.

“This partnership allows North Coast to continue to grow in quality and depth of services and to better serve the community.”

NCCC and its team of seven physicians has long served patients in Ashland, Crawford, Erie, Huron, Lorain, Ottawa, Sandusky and Seneca counties from three locations in Sandusky, Clyde and at Fisher-Titus Medical Center in Norwalk, Ohio. Each location will continue to provide outpatient cancer services including consultations in hematology and oncology, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, diagnostic services and patient support. The main building in Sandusky will be called the North Coast Cancer Campus.

NCCC supports cancer education programs and community outreach through the North Coast Cancer Foundation. Cleveland Clinic will provide the foundation with yearly donations over the next five years to support its mission.

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North Coast Business Journal

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2012 Discounts to be a “Shirt’s Thing” at Elmore’s Bench’s

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Bench’s Greenhouse & Nursery in Elmore, Ohio.

Since 2004, the garden center and greenhouse has been transformed into a winter wonderland every November and December and this year features over 200 decorated theme trees, over 10,000 ornaments and 200,000 lights, Much of the over 3 acres of production space is

utilized in poinsettia production during this growing season.

Almost 2000 potted and blooming poinsettias are grown for retail. Traditional red as well as custom painted colors by Donald Bench Jr. are available.

Exciting changes are on the horizon at Bench’s Greenhouse & Nursery for 2012.

Fairy Gardens will be the primary focus of a NEW miniature department.

The pint sized plantings are perfect for window gardens and patios. Easy to care for plants are the backdrop for miniature pieces that are sure to attract a fairy or two.

Purchase and wear a Bench’s T shirt on visits in 2012 and receive 10% off all plant purchases.

Bench’s Greenhouse & Nursery is owned and operated by Donald and Janice Bench, along with their son and daughter-n-law, Donald Jr. and Jill

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and is a division of Benchmore Farms Inc. Bench’s Greenhouse & Nursery is a member of the Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association, Toledo Vegetable Growers Association, Ohio Farm Bureau, Ohio Florist’s Association, National Federation of Independent Businesses, and Maumee Valley Growers. Bench’s invites you to become a fan on Facebook at benchsgreenhouse.elmore.

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Heidelberg adds Health Sciences Major

Willard Medical Center is now

Mercy Primary Care – Willard.

Next fall, Heidelberg University will offer a new multidisciplinary major designed to help students launch careers in health care, one of the fastest growing fields in the country.

The university’s new health sciences major will have broad appeal for traditional undergraduate students as well as transfer students looking to complete a bachelor’s degree. A preprofessional curriculum option will be available for BATES students who plan to pursue graduate studies in physical or occupational therapy, chiropractic and physician assistant studies.

The new major, according to Trevor Bates, director and chair of the Athletic Training Education Program at Heidelberg, will prepare students for work in schools, businesses, health care settings and communities.

“The health sciences major will allow students to gain access to health care coursework which has traditionally not been available to them (at Heidelberg),” said Bates, adding that health sciences will fall under the athletic training umbrella.

While the core of the highly selective and rigorous athletic training major will remain focused, the new major will open other doors for students in related health care areas.

Timing of the new major is ideal, Bates said, considering Heidelberg’s initiative toward health and wellness.

In October, the university broke ground for the new 22,000-squarefoot Saurwein Health & Wellness Center that will be constructed onto Seiberling Gymnasium and completed

Insurance Plans accepted by Mercy Primary Care - Willard:

James E. Rosso, MD* Internal Medicine/Pediatrics

Aetna

HealthSpan*

Anthem – PPO, HMO, Medicare PFFS

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Immergrun

Buckeye Community Health Plan – Medicaid CFC*

Medicare – Ohio Multiplan*

CareSource – Medicaid ABD*

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National Provider Network* Ohio Bureau Workers Compensation Ohio Health Choice Ohio Health Group

Cofinity*

Ohio Preferred Network*

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Humana Medicare

GreatWest Healthcare (Cigna) - PPO* HealthReach* HealthScope*

Physicians Health Collaborative Three Rivers Provider Network* United Community Health Plan – Medicaid ABD* United Healthcare USA Managed Care Organization* Wellcare Advantage*

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*Mercy Primary Care - Willard will accept these plans effective 10/1/11.

*denotes Board Certification

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in August 2012. Faculty offices and classroom and lab facilities for health sciences and athletic training will be located in the new facility.

“It will work out very well for our students,” he added.

Coursework in health sciences provides students with a solid background in different aspects of health care. Students who receive a degree in health sciences can look to career paths in administrative and nonclinician areas of hospitals, clinics, physician offices, HMOs and community health programs. Health science majors are typically hired by for-profit and nonprofit organizations and government agencies.

Students who complete a health sciences degree should be wellpositioned in the job market. Research indicates demand in health sciences fields will rise by approximately 15 percent over the next 10 years.

“This program gives our students options to be in classes with students with similar goals,” Bates said. “It offers flexibility to students and meets a variety of student interest and needs in a way that was not an option previously.”

The major was developed based on feedback from Heidelberg alumni, the medical community, current students and faculty and professional colleagues outside of Heidelberg.

Three new courses will be developed.

“The whole point is to create more options for our students,” Bates said.

“It will be a great asset to our community.”

Submit stories for the North Coast Business Journal by e-mailing

jbryden@ncbj.net

December 2011 15

North Coast Business Journal

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Insurance

Business Continuity: Business as usual. Even after a disaster Ten steps every business should take to prepare for a disaster Submitted By: Mark Reilly, Diversified Insurance Service When people think of disasters, they generally envision hurricanes, tornados or floods - catastrophic events that devastate communities. But for a business, a disaster can be something as small as a failed switch or computer virus. These seemingly minor events can have a shocking impact on a business, often bringing operations to a standstill.

“The impacts of an interruption can be stunning,” says Bob Boyd, President and CEO of Agility Recovery Solutions, the industry leader in mobile business continuity solutions for small to midsized businesses. “Statistics indicate that about 60 percent of the businesses affected by a disaster will not survive because they do not have a recovery plan in place.”

Creating a basic, executable disaster recovery plan is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your business and assure business as usual – no matter what the scenario.

Below are ten key steps to help you get started.

1. Assess your risk – both internally and externally.

Which disasters will most likely impact your business? Though major disasters dominate the headlines, most business interruptions are caused by every day events, such as power outages, human error and technology failure. It is important assess your risk for catastrophic weather occurrences, but equally if not more important to assess exposure to more commonplace risks.

2. Assess your critical business functions.

Evaluate and document how your company functions and determine which processes, employees, equipment and materials are critical for your daily operations. Critical business functions include such things as billing, payroll and service fulfillment. List these functions and determine a process for restoring them in the event of an interruption.

3. Plan for an alternate location.

What would you do if your building were inaccessible tomorrow? Where would you go to continue basic business

operations?

Review your site requirements and determine a plan for recovery. Alternate site options include your home, a branch or second location, the site of a similar business, or a vendor that provides mobile recovery.

4. Consider supply chain preparedness.

According to recent surveys, less than half of American businesses have disaster recovery or business continuity plans in place to maintain supply chain logistics in the event of a disaster. Talk to your key vendors and suppliers about their recovery plans. Develop relationships with alternate vendors in case your primary vendors experience an interruption.

5. Appoint a crisis manager and develop an emergency management plan.

Planning what to do after a disaster is just as important as what to do beforehand. A crisis manager and sound emergency management plan helps facilitate a smooth transition between normal business operations and catastrophe response.

6. Back up your data and plan to restore your technology. In today’s highly technical economy, information is more valuable than ever. Having an automated, daily back-up system for important data is crucial. Make sure to store your data in an offsite, safe and secure location, preferably 50 miles or more from your site. Regularly verify that you are able to retrieve your data.

Outline a plan to replace PCs, software, servers, printers and fax machines should your office be destroyed.

7. Create an employee, vendor and key client communication plan.

Create a 24-hour phone tree for all employees and their spouses or closest relatives. Make sure your employees know ahead of time how to exchange or obtain information should standard lines of communication fail. Also, compile a list of your critical clients and vendors and store it in an offsite location. Determine a process for contacting them should your systems go down.

8. Assemble an emergency kit.

An emergency or disaster recovery kit should contain items such as fresh water, non-perishable food, flashlights, extra batteries, battery-powered AM/

FM radio, first aid kit and copies of important documents and records. For a complete list of recommended items, visit www.Ready.gov, an emergency preparedness site from the Department of Homeland Security.

9. Take a look at your insurance coverage.

Is your insurance coverage adequate?

Sit down with your agent to assure that you are insured for potential risks.

Consider business interruption insurance, which may compensate you for lost income should you experience a disaster. Make sure you keep photos of your building, equipment lists and policy information stored in a safe and secure offsite location.

10. Test your plan.

Make sure your plan is workable – test yearly and update the plan as necessary.

Make sure to re-educate employees when any changes to the plan are made. *** “Over the years, we have successfully recovered hundreds of businesses who’ve taken the time to prepare,” says Boyd. “And we’ve also seen businesses with no plan in place that are powerless to resume operations. There is no worse feeling for a business person and no worse fate. The ability for your business to survive depends on preparations made today.”

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16 December 2011 North Coast Business Journal

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18 December 2011 North Coast Business Journal

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Legal I Already Did My Estate Plan

By Jeff Roth Often I speak to people who tell me they have all of their estate planning done.

They are proud of that fact until I ask a few loaded questions. Some of the most dangerous estate fiascos occur from stale and old documents. This article is written to those of you who feel all is in order never to revisit again.

I have watched couples break into a sweat when I explain what would actually happen with those great documents which are now ten years old. Does any of the following apply to you?

• Your net worth has changed either more or less.

• The family structure has changed.

Children have come and gone and the natural, adopted and step grandchildren have arrived.

• You have moved from or to a new state. The work was done in the old State and you are now subject to the laws of a new State.

• Changes have occurred in your marital status and/or in your children’s marital status.

• Disabilities have surfaced with you, your children or your grandchildren.

• Your family relationships have altered. Those new son and daughterin-laws have put a new perspective on gifting and just who will have your assets when you are gone.

Here are a few bad results that can be lurking in your so-called completed estate plan.

1. You have a will that has everything laid out just as you want.

There is one problem. You have placed all of your accounts in a joint and survivor or transfer on death

status with a spouse, child or maybe even a caretaker. If all of your assets pass by automatic transfer at your death there are no assets passing under your will to distribute. I recently reviewed a will giving all of her assets to her four children. Upon further questioning it was determined that she had put her one daughter on all of the accounts. She did this to allow the daughter to assist her. Upon death everything would have gone to only the one daughter.

2. A will gave everything to his spouse. The decedent owned a onethird interest in an extremely valuable property with his two brothers.

Upon his death, the brothers were immediately an owner with their not so favorite sister-inlaw. I don’t have to tell the rest of the story.

At a minimum, the brothers should have addressed the joint ownership with each other.

Correctly, the brothers should have created a separate entity with a buy sell agreement setting forth the ground rules. In most instances, the land ends up being sold with no winners except the lawyer and the realtor.

3. A will gives the land and the business to the son. All of the cash and everything else goes to the daughter. Sounds fair. Without the proper wording, the son gets the specific devise of the land and business free and clear and the daughter’s funds are used to pay all of the expenses including the taxes.

A few defining paragraphs could have prevented years of future animosity between brother and sister.

4. A beneficiary designation in a will, life insurance policy, annuity, or IRA may direct to my children or the survivor or survivors of them.

One child predeceases the parent leaving three kids. Under this

wording, the grandkids of the deceased child would be left out and all would go to the remaining children alive at the parent’s death.

Lack of understanding on the proper wording of beneficiary designations can have disastrous results.

5. You work to title most assets to pass directly to your children. You also place in your will that you want $1,000.00 to pass to your church.

With that provision set forth in your will you have created the necessity of probating the will. More money is spent on the probate administration than the amount of the bequest. A simple transfer on death account to the church would have solved the problem.

6. You prepared a living trust and have your estate plan in order except you didn’t put anything into the trust. Your children will now have to probate a pour-over will and go through the probate process you thought you avoided. Also, any revocable trust executed before the year 2000 must be reviewed. There have been many changes in the law.

7. Your will names your parents, your brothers and sisters and others who are now in their 70’s. We recently administered an estate where a lady left $50,000.00 to her sister who was on Medicaid. The sister was immediately removed from Medicaid until she spent the money. If our client had looked at her fifteen year old will and received advice she would have given the same monies to her two nephews to benefit their mother while allowing her to remain on Medicaid. The living sister was 92 in the Alzheimer’s unit. Within six months, the funds were gone.

8. Your contingent executor or trustee is your recently divorced son who left town for the state of Washington. He has made many bad decisions and he is now

Submit stories for next month's 5 County edition of the North Coast Business Journal by e-mailing

nominated to finalize your affairs.

Your daughter has helped you daily and is very responsible. This is normally a result of some unwritten rule that the oldest should be named.

Proper advice would have fixed this potential problem.

9. The same son who moved to Washington is named guardian of your daughter’s two children. This means that if your daughter died, your grandchildren would have to move to Washington where they would call and send you birthday cards. I have seen this happen with terrible results.

We have only scratched the surface with potential problems. This is not meant to scare people just to awaken them. A lot of time, money and energy are wasted because people did not take the time to review.

There are times when no planning is better than bad planning.

Jeff Roth is a partner with Forrest Bacon, David Bacon and associate Jessica Moon of the firm ROTH and BACON with offices in Port Clinton, Upper Sandusky, Marion, Ohio and Fort Myers, Florida. All members of the firm are licensed in the State of Florida.

Mr. Roth’s practice is limited to wealth strategy planning and elder law in both states.

Nothing in this article is intended for, nor should be relied upon as individual legal advice. The purpose of this article is to help educate the public on concepts of law as they pertain to estate and business planning. If you have any questions you would like to have answered in this area of law, please direct your question to this journal and your question will be considered for use as the topic of subsequent articles.

Jeff Roth can be reached at ohiofloridatrust@aol.com (telephone: 419-732-9994) copyright Jeffrey P. Roth 2011.

jbryden@ncbj.net

For the third consecutive year, Payne, Nickles and Company has been named as one of the Best Accounting Firms to Work for. The 2011 list of “Best Accounting Firms” was created by Accounting Today and Best Companies Group.

This survey and award program was designed to identify, recognize and honor the best places of employment

December 2011 19

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in the accounting profession, benefiting the nation’s economy, its workforce and businesses. The Best Accounting Firms to Work for list is made up of a total of 100 companies, split into three groups: 50 smallsized companies, 45 medium-sized companies, 5 large-sized companies.

Payne, Nickles and Company has been named one of the Best Accounting Firms to Work for in the small-sized company category. With over 30 employees in its Sandusky and Norwalk offices, Payne, Nickles & Company is the largest Certified Public Accounting and Business Consulting firm based in Erie and Huron Counties.

“We are proud to receive this honor for the third year in a row”, said Carl McGookey, President of Payne, Nickles & Company. “Our employees make the difference and we are very proud of them and the positive workplace atmosphere they help create.”

Mercy Tiffin Welcomes

Medical Oncologist to the Community Dr. Veltri earned his medical degree from Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit, Michigan. He completed a residency in Internal Medicine and a fellowship in Medical Oncology at University of Michigan Hospitals in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He brings over fifteen years of experience as an Attending Medical Oncologist, including five years as an Assistant Professor with the University of Toledo Medical Center in the Hematology and Oncology Division.

Salvatore “Sam” Veltri, MD Medical Oncologist

Board certified in medical oncology and internal medicine, Dr. Veltri joined the Mercy Cancer Center at Tiffin team as the full-time medical oncologist.

Dr. Veltri’s goal is to provide high quality and compassionate care to every patient through a wide range of services including chemotherapy, hormone therapy, immunotherapy/biological therapy, general medical oncology and general hematology.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Veltri, please call 419.455.8122.

Mercy Oncology Specialists 40 Fair Lane Tiffin, Ohio 44833

New and Improved Ag Packs for Sale The Chamber of Commerce of Sandusky County has new and improved Ag Packs for sale. The cost per pack is $20 and contains products that are locally grown and/or packaged from companies like Green Bay Packaging, Heinz, The Fremont Company, Hasselbach Meats, Welly’s,

and the Hirzel Canning Company.

These Ag Packs make great gifts for out-of-town guests and businesses that may not be familiar with Sandusky County!

Stop by the Chamber office, 101 S. Front Street, Fremont, to pick yours up today! Quantities are limited.

20 December 2011 North Coast Business Journal

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Fisher-Titus Medical Center Continues to Expand Fisher-Titus Medical Center will be expanding services to the north end of Norwalk with the purchase of property on Milan Avenue (US 250) next to Bob Evans Restaurant. The land will provide the site for a multi-purpose medical office facility, according to Patrick J. Martin, president of Fisher-Titus.

“We’ve had several of our physician practices express interest in a location on the northern end of the city,” said Martin. “In addition, there are some hospital services that could more conveniently serve our clients and patients with an off-site location. In fact, area residents themselves have expressed a desire for an additional Norwalk location for various hospital services.”

A purchase agreement was signed with Pride One Norwalk on Friday, Oct. 28. The agreement involves purchasing two acres with frontage on Milan Avenue and includes an option to purchase an additional two acres stretching back to Theater Avenue.

“We’ve been working on this project for quite awhile,” Martin said. “As in any economic development project, a lot of behind-the-scenes work happens before a ‘deal is done’. Mayor Sue Lesch and Norwalk Economic Development

Corporation Director Ellen Heinz have been actively involved in this project which stretched out over the past year as we investigated various options. We certainly appreciate their efforts and expertise.”

“What an exciting project for Norwalk and the northern part of our city! And what an advantage for the residents in this area to have such close access to Fisher-Titus services,” said Mayor Lesch.

“Surely this development will be an asset for the entire community because Fisher-Titus maintains such a high standard of excellence in everything they do.”

Construction will begin in the spring on the multifaceted medical facility, Martin said. A team at Fisher-Titus has been formed to work on the project to determine the best combination of services for this area.

In addition to the facility, Fisher-Titus plans to use part of the land to establish a “community garden” under the direction of John Loose, director of dietary services at Fisher-Titus.

“Since the agreement calls for us to maintain all four of the acres, this would be a great area to provide a community garden with plots for city residents,” he said. “Using the expertise of hospital personnel like master gardener John Loose and our dietitians, while

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collaborating with other community organizations, we can use this ‘unexpected’ resource to address some of the health concerns identified in the Huron County Health Assessment that was just released.”

Fisher-Titus Medical Center President Pat Martin (left) and City of Norwalk Mayor Sue Lesch look on as John Loose, dietary services director at FisherTitus, points out a potential spot for a “community garden.” The garden would be on a portion of the land being purchased by Fisher-Titus Medical Center for a future multi-purpose medical office facility.

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December 2011 21

The Well-Booked Business

By Cathy Allen Those of us who work as consultants are a bit like doctors and lawyers: we make our livings mostly by providing advice based on our particular area of expertise. Just as doctors will perform a procedure or a lawyer will write and file a brief, on occasion we consultants are also called upon to perform some direct service. In my case, it is often conducting a survey, running a focus group, or undertaking a series of interviews, all in an effort to find out what my client’s customers or community leaders think and feel about the services provided. Getting actionable information is the key challenge, and following the advice of the consultant can feel like an act of blind faith.

So, in order to help local business leaders become better consumers of consulting services, or perhaps to successfully undertake some of these tasks themselves, this month I am beginning a four-part series about how to develop feedback, include a multitude of voices in planning and decisionmaking, mediate between differences of opinion, and build consensus. Let’s start by finding out what others really think.

Learning From Strangers: The Art and Method of Qualitative Interview Studies, by Robert S. Weiss, PhD, Research Professor, University of Massachusetts, The Free Press, Simon and Schuster, 1994.

SUMMARY: The only way to know what someone truly thinks or feels is to ask, and to do so in a way that creates the conditions for the truth to come out. Research conducted by interviewing people can be more or less relevant, depending on the validity of the methods used. This is a how-to book written by a professor well versed in the tried and true methods of conducting research through interviews. Qualitative studies can be messy because they develop a huge amount of data which won’t necessarily fit easily into categories or be calculated into percentages. But interviewers who make the effort to create a safe place for respondents to say what they really think, without fear of repercussion, will develop the “research partnership” necessary for learning far more about what their clients need to know than those who issue a series of quickly-done click boxes on a

HOLIDAY, from Page 2 variety of forms, but nearly all offer the opportunity to get to know colleagues and executives on a more personal level, which can make work a little more pleasant and productive year round."

OfficeTeam offers five tips for making the most of the company holiday party: 1. Mix it up. Mingle with coworkers outside your usual circle.

survey or ask a series of standard questions from a form.

KEY LEARNINGS: • Qualitative interviews can be much more in-depth than survey questions can be. These allow respondents to tell their story - provide information according to their own interests, rather than according to how the researcher boxes it. Whereas surveys generate quantitative (numeric) data, interviews yield more subject material that may require interpretation by the researcher.

• There are two types of respondents – key informants and representative samples. Key informants are those who, because of their position or job responsibilities, are in possession of information important to the subject. Two approaches are: 1) to first interview the ones most easily available and whose participation lends credibility to the project for others who follow, or 2) to interview less important subjects first while working kinks out of the questions.

• Representative samples can be either randomly or deliberately chosen. Samples of 60 or more, if random, are likely to include representatives of every subgroup investigators are interested in. Less than 60, the better bet is to deliberately choose from various subgroups. A “convenience sample” is the first group of people who agree to be interviewed. This is valid in some circumstances and not in others. Most people are willing to interview, as long as they are confident in the legitimacy of the project and the confidentiality of their responses.

•Before beginning interviews, it is important to think through the goals of the project, the kind of information to be developed, the format of the report, and which respondents to interview initially, to pilot the interview guide. Consider whether it is desirable to include a mix of quantitative and qualitative data.

• Getting an interview off to a good start by establishing a “research partnership” is critical.

The goal is a comfortable relationship for both interviewer and respondent. Weiss discusses a series of guidelines for interviews, including what verb tense to use, when to refer to oneself, and appropriate follow up questions. Also important is the identification of “marker” comments – a passing reference to an important event or feeling.

• Interviewer and respondent are sharing an 2. Work the room. Try not to monopolize anyone's time. Shorter chats allow you to meet more people.

3. Limit shoptalk. Don't focus on business the whole time. Come with conversation starters in mind, such as people's holiday plans or New Year's resolutions.

4. Don't be a Grinch. Keep your discussions positive and upbeat. No one wants to listen to complaints. Avoid controversial topics such as politics, too.

5. End on a high note. Show your appreciation to

experience which can be positive for one or both, or not, depending on the commitment to the research partnership and the goals of the project.

Emotions sometimes run high, and interviewers must take care to be supportive and acknowledge their experience without becoming personally hooked. Weiss also provides guidance around when confidentiality might be broken, matching interviewers to respondents, and techniques for rescuing interviews that are going badly. It is up to the interviewer to notice when a respondent is not being truthful or forthcoming, or is focused on information not relevant to the study.

• While researchers can begin to get a sense of the data before completing all of the interviews, in most cases data analysis doesn’t really happen until collection is completed. The analysis will depend on the type of report that is planned. The four analytic processes are 1) coding the data, 2) sorting the data by category, 3) integrating the data within an emerging theory, and 4) verifying the conclusions across all data. Analysts must take care when drawing conclusions concerning the causes of certain fact patterns.

• Good reports respond to the original questions that led to the study in the first place. Additional findings can be very important and should be noted, but the report should be organized according to the research purposes. Audiences matter in report writing. Professional audiences can tolerate the jargon of the field much more than lay audiences. Even scientifically trained readers, however, need vivid descriptions and apt illustrations.

TOOLS: A series of appendices in the book provide further information on the sources of bias and their control, templates for consent forms, and pointers for adding quantitative coding to qualitative material. Also helpful are side-by-side transcripts of good interviews and bad ones.

Have a book like you’d like to see synopsized in The Well-Booked Business? Tell us about it by taking the one-question poll posted to our website.

Creative Option C, LLC, is a facilitation and organizational development consulting firm in Marblehead owned and managed by Cathy Allen since 2003. In addition to making a book recommendation, visitors to www.

CreativeOptionC.com can download additional synopses and original articles. the host and others who worked on the event by thanking them in person or sending an email afterward.

About OfficeTeam: OfficeTeam is the nation’s leading staffing service specializing in the temporary placement of highly skilled office and administrative support professionals. The company has more than 315 locations worldwide and offers online job search services at www. officeteam.com.

22 December 2011 North Coast Business Journal

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Fisher-Titus Medical Center’s Autism Spectrum Kids Program Showcased on a National Stage Mary Helton, director of rehabilitation at Fisher-Titus Medical Center in Norwalk, and Lindsey Soisson, pediatric special programs coordinator at Fisher-Titus, recently showcased the Medical Center’s Autism Spectrum Kids (ASK) program on a national level during the 2011 American SpeechL a n g u a g e - H e a r i n g HELTON A s s o c i a t i o n ’s Convention, held Nov. 17-19 in the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, Calif. The annual ASHA Convention is the premier annual event for speech-language p a t h o l o g i s t s , audiologists, and speech, language and hearing scientists.

Soisson and Helton presented an hourlong presentation on Thursday, Nov. 17 SOISSON titled “Bringing S p e c i a l i z e d Programming to Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) in Small Communities” to individuals in charge of supervision or management of speech-language pathology programs who are interested in alternative service delivery models for children with autism spectrum disorders and initiating or expanding specialized programs in their communities.

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Sales Whose Shoes Are You Walking In?

By Roger Bostdorff Selling is not about you, selling is about your prospect. When you leave a voicemail does it many times sound like this, “let me tell you a little about my company” or “let me tell you a little about my product”? Your prospect cares about neither your company nor your product but rather they care about solving their business problems. For someone to be successful in sales they need to be able to walk in the shoes of their prospect. They need to be able to visualize the issues, problems and challenges that this company might be experiencing.

For example, if you are calling on a construction company and you have sold your solution to another construction company, what problem did your solution solve or improve? How about the wholesale distributor that you sold your solution to, what benefits did they derive from your solution? How about the manufacturer? If you know why these customers bought, then you know some potential hot buttons to grab the attention of your new prospect. You also add credibility to your story that you can help them because you have already helped other companies in their industry. Industry expertise and experience goes a long way in opening doors and getting the business.

By the way, you noticed that I referenced your “solution” not your “product or service.” If you are selling a product or service then you are selling a commodity that may be available by multiple product or service companies. However, if you are selling a solution you are selling the capability to solve your customer’s problems, issues or challenges. You are helping that customer improve their quality, cut their cost, improve their customer

service, etc. Sometimes this is simply a state of mind or attitude. What you have to sell may not change but how you position it with your customer will change the perception and importance of your product/service…your SOLUTION!!

Voice mail in sales unfortunately is very prevalent, so let me ask you, which voice mail is going to get your attention if you were the prospect? Which voice mail has a higher probability of a return call?

1. I called because I wanted to tell you about our company 2. I called because I wanted to tell you about our products 3. I called because I have been working with several distributors/manufacturers (pick an industry) in the area to solve their _(blank)______ problem. We have been able to solve this challenge with our _ _(blank)______ solution.

Roger Bostdorff is the President of B2B Sales Boost, LLC. He spent over 30 years with IBM in sales and sales management. B2B Sales Boost is a consulting company helping organizations improve their sales and overall business processes.

You can find more about B2B Sales Boost on the web at www.b2bsalesboost.com or calling 419351-4347. If you would like to receive the B2B Sales Boost Newsletter please send an email to sales@b2bsalesboost.com

Some of you are asking yourself, “What problem 11/2/11 or issue did I solve when I sold thatncbj1111AHAC.pdf print job to the XYZ Company? First, if your answer is they needed a lower price then I am not communicating effectively. If that is the case the follow-on question is why will they not seek an even lower price the next time from someone else ? What business problem did they need to solve? Secondly, if you have to ask that question then you also need to re-evaluate your sales approach to determine if you are really taking an

Coming in January:

Focus on The 5 Counties

approach to solve your customer’s challenges or if you are simply taking the order?

I heard a neat saying a long time ago and I am going to modify it slightly for sales. “Your customer cares how much you know when they know how much you care.”

Don’t just sell your product or service but rather care enough about your customer to help them solve their problems with your solution. Why not walk in their shoes for a while?

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24 December 2011 North Coast Business Journal

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Survey Finds Wide Fisher-Titus Achieves New Status as Accredited Employee Discontent Chest Pain Center Fisher-Titus Medical Center has received Chest Pain Center Accreditation from the Society of Chest Pain Centers (SCPC), according to Cherie Spragg, senior vice president of nursing services at Fisher-Titus Medical Center.

“To become an Accredited Chest Pain Center, Fisher- SPRAGG Titus engaged in rigorous evaluation by SCPC for its ability to assess, diagnose and treat patients who may be experiencing a heart attack,” Spragg said.

To the community served by FisherTitus, this means that processes are in place that meet strict criteria aimed at: • Reducing the time from onset of symptoms to diagnosis and treatment • Treating patients more quickly during the critical window of time when the integrity of the heart muscle can be preserved • Monitoring patients when it is not certain that they are having a heart attack to ensure that they are not sent home too quickly or needlessly admitted to the hospital “People tend to wait when they think they might be having a heart attack, and that’s a mistake,” said Spragg. “The average patient arrives in the emergency department more than two hours after the onset of symptoms, but what they don’t realize is that the sooner a heart attack is treated, the less damage to the heart and the better the outcome for the patient.”

Hospitals that have received SCPC accreditation have achieved a higher level of expertise in dealing with patients who arrive with symptoms of a heart attack.

They emphasize the importance of standardized diagnostic and treatment programs that provide more efficient and effective evaluation as well as more appropriate and rapid treatment of patients with chest pain and other heart attack symptoms. They also serve as a point of entry into the healthcare system to evaluate and treat other medical problems, and they help to promote a healthier lifestyle in an attempt to reduce the risk factors for heart attack.

Fisher-Titus Medical Center’s stateof-the-art health care encompasses the entire continuum of care for the heart patient and includes such focal points as dispatch, Emergency Medical System, emergency department, cath lab, quality assurance plan, and the medical center’s community outreach program. By becoming an Accredited Chest Pain Center, Fisher-Titus Medical Center has enhanced the quality of care for the cardiac patient and has demonstrated its commitment to higher standards.

The SPOC is an international notfor-profit organization that focuses on transforming cardiovascular care by assisting facilities in their effort to create communities of excellence that bring together quality, cost and patient satisfaction.

Workers continue to feel trapped in their jobs and want to find new employment elsewhere, according to a new poll of more than 1,000 employees in North America by Right Management, the talent and career management expert within ManpowerGroup.

Eighty-four percent of the employees polled said they plan to look for a new position in 2012, reflecting the very same level of discontent in the workplace as the 84% reported a year ago in Right Management’s survey. Like last year, only 5% said they intend to remain in their current position.

“The survey findings reflect a lot of employee dissatisfaction across North America,” said Right Management Executive Vice President Bram Lowsky. “Employees are restless and feel they are lacking in options. The prolonged period of economic uncertainty has meant much less job mobility than usual, and employees understandably believe they have fewer career opportunities, either internally or via a new position.”

According to Lowsky, the findings serve as a barometer of worker distrust in management as well as job commitment. “It’s a workplace equivalent to whether or not ‘the country is moving in the right

direction.’ Sometimes called ‘flight cognition’ by behavioral psychologists, intent to leave is far from an unusual phenomenon but when it applies to four-out-of-five employees for two years running it has to be of top concern to senior management.”

Addressing the distrust may certainly be difficult in a down economy, conceded Lowsky. “But like elected public officials, senior management need to show they’re up to the challenge of renewed growth and developing a sound strategy moving forward. In the meantime, when the job market picks up many employees are sure to make their move, and employers should expect to lose some top contributors. Top management can’t hope these challenges will go away on their own.”

Lowksy suggested that management identify star performers and have constructive career discussions with them. “These kinds of people always have career options. It’s your job to know who they are, to let them know you know who they are and to tune in to their individual motivators in order to hold onto them.”

Right Management surveyed 1,077 employees in the U.S. and Canada via an online poll that ran from Oct. 15 to Nov. 15, 2011.

Do you plan to pursue new job opportunities in 2012?

2011 2010 2009 Yes, I intend to actively seek a new position.................84%............. 84%.............. 60% Maybe, so I’m networking............................................ 9%............... 8%............... 21% Not likely, but I’ve updated my resume......................... 2%............... 3%................ 6% No, I intend to stay in current position.......................... 5%............... 5%............... 13%

Community Foundation Invites Grant Applications The Ottawa County Community Foundation invites nonprofit organizations in or serving Ottawa County to submit requests for grant funding to the Foundation. The Foundation makes grants to programs in the fields of education, social services, physical and mental health, safe and positive living environments, natural resources and the arts. The

Foundation serves to provide for the enrichment of the quality of life in the Ottawa County community.

Since its inception in 1999, the Foundation has awarded numerous grants through designated funds, scholarship funds and organizational funds.

Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to attend the Grant

Seekers Workshop, sponsored by the Foundation and the United Way. The workshop will be held on Feb. 2, 2012, at The Oak Harbor Public Library at 8:30 AM. Reservations for the workshop must be made by calling the United Way at 419-7346645.

Applications and Guidelines for Grant Seekers will be available after

December 15 at the following public libraries: Ida Rupp in Port Clinton, Oak Harbor, Harris-Elmore, Put-InBay School, Marblehead and Genoa.

Applications are also available at the Grant Seekers Workshop and online at www.OttawaCCF.org.

Applications must be submitted via the U. S. Postal Service, postmarked no later than March 15, 2012.

December 2011 25

North Coast Business Journal

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CHAMBER CALENDARS for December Bellevue Chamber of Commerce 5

Committee to Grow Bellevue 2nd Annual Wreath Auction Elks Lodge, Preview @ 5:30 p.m.

Auction @ 6:15 p.m.

Erie County Chamber of Commerce 9

Seminar: Disaster Planning for Businesses 7:30 am at Lyman Harbor Advance registration/fee

NASA "Outside the Fence" Workshop at the Chamber 1:00 p.m. Advance registration

12

Board Executive Committee 4:00 p.m., Chamber office.

13

Business After Hours 5:00 p.m., Sandusky State Theatre Advance registration required.

15

Chamber Board of Directors 7:30 am at Castaway Bay.

Business Tribute to Dick Kinzel Reception 5:30 p.m. at Castaway Bay. Advance registration required.

Fostoria Area Chamber of Commerce 10-11 Visitors Bureau hosts

Light Up Fostoria

5-8 p.m.

15

Light Tour 6-8 p.m.

Santa at the Depot Every Tuesday & Thursday 5-7 p.m. & Saturday 12-2 p.m.

Until Dec. 22nd.

LE&W Depot

Huron Area Chamber of Commerce 21

Holiday Board Meeting 7:30 a.m. @ Kalahari Resort

22

Chamber Board @ Salvation Army Kettle Cornell’s Foods 9 am to 8 p.m.

Huron County Chamber of Commerce 8

Safety Council General Risk/Service, 7:30 am, Chamber office, RSVP

Holiday After Hours and Silent Auction, 5:00 -7:00 p.m., Eagle Creek Golf Club, Complimentary appetizers, cash bar.

15

Safety Council Manufacturing, 7:30 am, Chamber office, RSVP

23

Chamber office closes at Noon

Monthly Meeting 5:50 p.m.; Chapel Genoa Retirement Center

Holiday Party Catawba Island Club 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Invitation Only

8

Main Street Port Clinton Downtown Committee 8:30 am @MSPC Office

Main Street Port Clinton Organization Executive Committee Meeting 8:30 am @ MSPC Office

9

Walleye Festival Committee Meeting 8:30 am @ MSPC Office

12

Chamber Board Meeting 8:30 am @ Chamber Office

13

Main Street Port Clinton Economic Restructuring Committee Meeting 8:30 am @ MSPC Office

15

15

Board Meeting 7:30 am, Chamber Building

Port Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce 6

Administration Meeting Noon at Chamber Office

23-26 Office is Closed 29, 30 Office is Closed

Sandusky County Chamber of Commerce 14

Annual Holiday Reception 5-7 p.m.

Hayes Presidential Center

Seneca Regional Chamber of Commerce 5

Casino Royale Fundraiser Tickets go on sale for February 11, 2012 event.

27

Tiffin Area Safety Council 11:30 am at Moose Lodge 946

PHYSICIANS ON OUR TEAM

Wednesday, Dec. 7, 4:30–6 p.m.

Executive Court Medical Associates, 2114 State Route 113 East, Milan

Oak Harbor Chamber Olde Fashioned Christmas Celebration 5 – 7 p.m.

Portage Fire Station Oak Harbor

Main Street Port Clinton Board Meeting 8:30 am @ MSPC Office

MEET THE NEWEST

Business After Hours Bruno’s Pizzeria 5 to 7 p.m.

Please RSVP

3

20

Open House & Mini Health Fair

FISHER-TITUS MEDICAL CENTER and EXECUTIVE COURT MEDICAL ASSOCIATES Present:

Marblehead Peninsula Chamber of Commerce

Genoa Chamber of Commerce 8

6

Tara Kersey-Barrett, DO

Executive Court Medical Associates is the first choice for quality family medical care in Milan and Berlin Heights, providing personalized service to generations of our family, friends, and neighbors for more than 55 years. Now, we’re building on our tradition of dedicated service to our community by expanding our staff and office hours so we can help even more people get the personalized care they deserve from medical professionals they can trust. We look forward to seeing you and your family at our open house!

Special Health Displays & Info • Diabetes Screening & Information

by Fisher-Titus Medical Center Diabetes Educator • You Are What You Eat by Executive Court Medical Associates

Richard Cole, DO

F

I

S

H

E

R

- T

I

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Physicians on the Fisher-Titus Medical Center Medical Staff are independent practitioners with privileges to practice their specialties at Fisher-Titus Medical Center.

R

G

• Body Mass Index Screening

by Fisher-Titus Athletic Trainer • Blood Pressure Screening

by Fisher-Titus Heart & Vascular Center

26 December 2011 North Coast Business Journal

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Memorial Hospital Physical Memorial Hospital MRI Earns Gold-Seal Medicine Professionals Earn Parkinson’s Certification ACR Accreditation The Memorial Hospital Diagnostic Imaging Department has been awarded a three-year, gold seal term of accreditation in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as the result of a recent review by the American College of Radiology (ACR).

MRI is a noninvasive medical test that utilizes magnetic fields to produce anatomical images of internal body parts to help physicians diagnose and treat medical conditions.

According to Nathan Perkins, director of diagnostic imaging, “Earning ACR accreditation for MRI ensures that Memorial Hospital meets the highest standards of imaging excellence. Our department is also ACR accredited in CT, nuclear medicine and mammography.”

The ACR gold seal of accreditation represents the highest level of image quality and patient safety. It is awarded only to facilities meeting ACR Practice PERKINS Guidelines and Technical Standards after a peer-review evaluation by board-certified physicians and medical physicists who are experts in the field.

“This accreditation validates the hard work and dedication Memorial Hospital’s imaging associates continue to put forth in order to provide our patients with top-quality care,” added Perkins. “Our department continues to strive toward making the Memorial Hospital Diagnostic Imaging Department the area’s preferred choice for imaging services.”

The ACR is a national professional organization serving more than 34,000 diagnostic/interventional radiologists, radiation oncologists, nuclear medicine physicians and medical physicists with programs focusing on the practice of medical imaging and radiation oncology and the delivery of comprehensive health care services.

Shannon Reardon, P.T., director of Physical LOUD enhances voice output. It focuses on Medicine at Memorial Hospital and Stefanie loudness, respiration for speaking with Schroeder P.T.A. have recently earned increased motor control to improve speech certification in the LSVT (Lee Silverman’s intelligibility.

Voice Treatment) BIG Parkinson’s treatment The LSVT programs of care complement program. LSVT BIG (which complements Memorial Hospital’s other Parkinson’s LSVT LOUD, which his also offered at certified programs. “In addition to LSVT, we Memorial Hospital) is training is for offer Delay the Disease Parkinson’s exercise individuals with Parkinson’s Disease and programs and bi-monthly Parkinson’s other related movement or speech disorders. support groups,” added Reardon. “Each of Memorial Hospital currently has four these programs is hosted by highly physical therapy professionals certified in experienced, certified physical medicine LSVT BIG and two speech therapy professionals.” professionals certified in LSVT LOUD. According to Reardon, having LSVT certified care providers is a unique benefit for Parkinson’s patients in the Sandusky, Ottawa and Erie County region of Ohio.

“Our LSVT certified providers provide Parkinson’s treatment that is not available at most of our area’s health care facilities,” she said. “Having six LSVT certified associates ensures that our patients will receive comprehensive care that will truly improve their quality of life.”

Both LSVT LOUD and LSVT BIG are based on the principle of an intensive amplitude-based exercise program for the motor system. LSVT BIG focuses on body movements. The goal of the program is to teach individuals with Parkinson’s disease to use bigger Memorial Hospital's Shannon Reardon, P.T. and movements automatically in everyday Stefanie Schroeder, P.T.A. living with long-term carryover. LSVT

!

Y HE ing k r o I'm w re he

Memorial Hospital MRI Associates: Heather Deitzel, R.T.(R)(MR), Cathy Overmyer, R.T.(R)(M) and Jody Coleman, R.T.(R)

And your ad could be working here too — reaching over 23,000 businessfocused readers in five counties every month

Call Dave at the North Coast Business Journal at 419-734-4838

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December 2011 27

North Coast Business Journal

Memorial Hospital Program Offers Spiritual Support to Patients

Northcoast Jobs Connection December Schedule for Ottawa County The Northcoast Jobs Connection Job Stores and the Seneca One Stop offer numerous services and resources for job seekers and employers. Seminars are free and open to anyone in the community.

The seminars are also available to be customized for employers and delivered on site.

The area seminar dates in December are: At the Ottawa County Community Resource Centre, 8043 W. SR. 163, Oak Harbor, unless otherwise noted: “Get a Job, Get a Better Job” – 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Dec. 8, 15, 22 and 29.

“Individual Job Search Appointments” – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Dec. 8 and 21. Come prepared to work one-on-one with a specialist OBCrealestateNCBJ1111.pdf

Memorial Hospital spiritual care team, L to R: Jim Avers, Candy Seaman, Tom Ackerman, Elaine Bast, Jim Hammer and Nancy Smith. Not pictured: Nancy Cullen, Carol Wonderly and Mark Murray Memorial Hospital in Fremont, in collaboration with Our Lady of the Pines and Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center, recently implemented a program to provide stronger spiritual and religious support for patients, their families and hospital associates. The program currently is made up of six volunteers who went through a six-week training course with Elaine Ladd, M.A., administrative director of pastoral care at Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center.

Annette Overmyer, manager of Memorial Hospital’s Golden Threads and volunteer services, and the program’s initiator at the hospital, believes the program will be a valuable asset to patients, their families and hospital associates.

“The trained volunteers of the spiritual care program will help individuals deal with stressful, sometimes traumatic, situations at the hospital,” she said.

“Their support can be a vital component not only in a patient’s recovery but also to families and hospital associates involved in a patient’s care.”

The program consists of daily rounds made by the spiritual care volunteers.

During these rounds, the volunteers will pray with, read to, or simply converse with patients and families who desire spiritual and/or religious support. A spiritual care volunteer is also on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, ensuring that patients will always have access to religious and spiritual support. In addition to the trained volunteers, two local pastors have also volunteered to take call during times of emergency.

According to Overmyer, “Although the hospital initiated and manages this program, the compassion and dedication of its volunteers have truly been vital to its success.”

The spiritual care volunteers are Jim Hammer, Candy Seaman, Tom Ackerman, Carol Wonderly, Nancy Smith, Nancy Cullen and Mark Murray. In addition to those making visitation rounds, Reverend Elaine Bast and Pastor Jim Avers will provide on call support. The program went into action on October 31. For more information regarding the spiritual care program at Memorial Hospital, contact Annette Overmyer at 419.334.6609.

11/25/11

and discuss your job search situation or create an impressive resume.

For more information on the Job Stores, log onto www.northcoastjobs. org. Or in Ottawa County, call the Job Store at 800-665-1677 or 419898-3688, ext. 270.

The Job Store is a collaboration of 23 partners in Erie, Huron, Ottawa, Sandusky and Seneca counties and is funded by those organizations through the Workforce Investment Act under contract with Terra Community College. It is located at 8043 W. State Route 163, Oak Harbor and is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

All basic services are free of charge.

10:11:06 AM

28 December 2011 North Coast Business Journal

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On The Move Memorial Home Health Named to 2011 HomeCare Elite M e m o r i a l Hospital today announced its home health service, Memorial Home Health, has been named to the 2011 HomeCare Elite™, which is a compilation of the t o p - p e r f o r m i n g DROWN home health agencies in the United States. Now in its sixth year, the HomeCare Elite identifies the top 25 percent of agencies and further highlights the top 100 and top 500 agencies overall.

Winners are ranked by an analysis of performance measures in quality outcomes, process measure implementation, and financial performance.

Carrie Drown, B.S.N., M.S.N., M.B.A., director of Memorial Home Health, credits the compassionate care and commitment to quality of her health care professionals with the company’s ability to rank as one of the HomeCare Elite. “The dedication of the nurses, volunteers and other professionals who make up the care teams of Memorial Home Health are the reason we have again been

awarded this distinction,” said Drown.

In 2009, Memorial Home Health was also named to the HomeCare Elite. The award was not available in 2010.

“Memorial Hospital’s home health care professionals continue to strive to provide excellent care to the individuals in the communities we serve,” added Drown. “The HomeCare Elite distinction is a testament to the excellence of each Memorial Home Health associate.”

The 2011 HomeCare Elite is the only performance recognition of its kind in the home health industry.

The 2011 HomeCare Elite is brought to the industry by OCS HomeCare, the leading provider of homecare information, and DecisionHealth, publisher of the industry’s most respected independent newsletter Home Health Line and the Complete Home Health ICD-9-CM Diagnosis Coding Manual. The data used for this analysis were compiled from publicly available information. The entire list of the 2011 HomeCare Elite agencies can be viewed by visiting the OCS HomeCare website at www. ocshomecare.com.

Ohio Business College Teacher Wins State Award John Murray, Jr., a faculty member at Ohio Business College in S a n d u s k y, received the 2011 Master Teacher Award from the Ohio Association of Career Colleges and Schools at the group’s a n n u a l meeting in Columbus on November 4th.

Each year, the association h o n o r s teachers at career colleges and schools for Jim Smolinski (left), President of the OACCS Board of o u t s t a n d i n g Directors and Executive Director Lincoln College of service to their Technology in Dayton, and John Murray, Jr. (right), s t u d e n t s , Master Teacher Award Winner) institutions and profession.

This year’s winner, John Murray, Jr., resides in Norwalk, Ohio, where he lives with his wife Wendy and his daughter Lorri, while his other children – Melanie and Jonathan – live in Arizona and Nevada respectively. He has been an instructor at OBC since the fall of 2009, and he enjoys helping IT students earn the certifications they need to advance in their chosen profession.

Experienced Leader Joins Memorial Hospital as Director of Surgical Services Memorial Hospital has hired a new director of surgical services. Jim Hawk, R.N., B.S. brings extensive leadership and nursing experience to his post at Memorial Hospital.

Hawk will manage hospital associates in the Weitzel-Kern Surgery Center. The center offers a wide range of surgical procedures, from full-joint replacement, podiatry and ophthalmology, to general surgeries, endoscopy, GERD

procedures and much more.

Hawk is excited about his joining the Memorial Hospital team. “My first impression of Memorial Hospital and its associates has been very positive,” he said. “The hospital’s Weitzel-Kern Surgery Center is a top-notch facility; the physicians and staff in the surgery center are also committed to providing excellent care.”

Hawk comes to the hospital from Lima Memorial Hospital in Lima, Ohio. At Lima Memorial, he served in multiple leadership roles, including as the director of surgical services since 2002. He was the director of operations for eight units, including surgery, open heart, PACU, same-day outpatient

unit, endoscopy, pre-admission testing, anesthesia and central supply. While at Lima Memorial, Hawk also helped set up the hospital’s pain management center.

According to Hawk, his focus at Memorial Hospital will be on providing patients with the best possible care. “I entered the nursing profession because I wanted to help people,” he explained.

“As my career has progressed, excellence in patient care has always been my top priority.”

Hawk earned his nursing degree from Lima Technical College and Bachelor of Science in applied management from Grand Canyon University.

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December 2011 29

On The Move Vermilion Chamber’s 2011 “Bright Star:” Cliff German The Northern Ohio Area Chambers of Commerce (NOACC) met at the Hyatt Regency Cleveland at The Arcade in Cleveland where almost 50 Chambers of commerce across northern Ohio nominated a person from their chamber as their “Bright Star,” to recognize a chamber member who has GERMAN “made a significant impact on the chamber through membership, retention, sponsorship, economic development, operations and/or education.”

Cliff German, owner of German’s Villa, a banquet hall in Vermilion, Ohio is known in the Vermilion Community as the “Voice of

Vermilion” or the “Golden Voice.”

There is no one we know who is more passionate about Vermilion, Vermilion Chamber Events, Vermilion Events, Vermilion High School Athletics or Vermilion High School’s student athletes than Cliff German.

Cliff is a true “difference maker” for Vermilion. He embraces his community as strongly as he physically “hugs” people and that hug is extremely hard. Cliff volunteers unselfishly his time, money, thinking and also offers an invaluable service as being a trusted “ear” in his community.

Interventional Pain Doctor to Join Fisher-Titus Pain Management Center Fisher-Titus Medical Center has announced the addition of a new interventional pain physician, Dr. Zachary Zumbar, who will join Dr. Adam Hedaya and Dr. Ned Lakshmipathy at the FisherTitus Pain Management Center in Norwalk. Dr. Zumbar will begin seeing patients on November 28.

ZUMBAR “We are very excited to have Dr. Zumbar on board,” said Dr. Lakshmipathy, founding physician of Pain Management Group and a member of Fisher-Titus Medical Center’s Pain Management team. “He is an outstanding physician and I’m confident that his personality and expertise will be a great benefit to the Fisher-Titus Pain Management Center.”

Dr. Zumbar is fellowship-trained in pain medicine at the Cleveland Clinic and is a graduate of The Ohio State University. He completed his residency at the Johns Hopkins

Hospital in Baltimore, Md. and is a member of the American Academy of Pain Management, as well as the American Society of Anesthesiologists.

“I am delighted to be part of the Fisher-Titus Pain Management Center and to begin treating acute and chronic pain patients with Pain Management Group’s balanced approach to care,” said Dr. Zumbar.

Dr. Zumbar will direct diagnosis and treatment and provide advanced and comprehensive treatment options for patients who suffer from chronic and acute pain.

“We can treat all types of pain,” said Dr. Zumbar. “Pain management is such a rewarding specialty because it can make a big difference in the lives of patients. Many of these patients have been told that nothing could be done and are so grateful when we can help them.”

Erie Shores Chiropractic The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Erie Shores Chiropractic was held on Tuesday, November 22. Members of the Port Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce, Main Street Port Clinton, and the City congratulated Erie Shores Chiropractic located at 122 West Second Street in downtown on their grand opening. Pictured left to right: John Madison, Treasurer of Main Street; Lee Vivod, Chamber Board Member; Laura Schlachter, Chamber President and Program Manager of Main Street; Rachael Smith, Office Manager; Dr. Kevin Francis, Owner; Vince Leone, Port Clinton City Councilman and MayorElect; Missy Walker, Vice-President of Main Street; and Larry Hartlaub, Main Street Board Member.

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30 December 2011 North Coast Business Journal

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University of Toledo President Dr. Lloyd Jacobs Makes First Visit to Terra Community College Dr. Lloyd Jacobs, President of the University of Toledo, made his first visit to Terra State Community College on November 30.

Jacobs has been meeting periodically the past several years with Terra president Dr. Marsha S. Bordner and leaders from Northwest State and Owens community colleges and Bowling Green State University.

Bordner extended the invitation to Jacobs to meet with the board of trustees and tour the campus.

“We are so very proud of our facilities, our students and our faculty and staff,” Bordner said. “So obviously it was important that Dr. Jacobs come to campus to see all of these assets.”

Jacobs told the board that collaboration is a key to success in higher education in Ohio.

“The work-alone strategy is not going to work anymore,” he said.

“We’ve been meeting and trying to share but we need to think of ways to accelerate that.”

Jacobs also wants to make sure that Terra students are familiar with the University of Toledo.

“It’s very important to us to connect to your students who want to continue on to a four-year school,” he said. Bordner and Jacobs agreed that they will continue to seek ways to strengthen both institutions through cooperative ventures.

Sitting, Dr. Jacobs and Dr. Bordner; standing, from left, trustees Sandra Wise, Charles Knight, Susan Starr, Carl Koebel, Sandra Berlekamp and Don Nalley

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December 2011 31

Lake Erie Shores & Islands Recognized for Marketing Lake Erie Shores & Islands®, the destination marketing organization for travel and tourism in Erie and Ottawa counties, was recently awarded for their advertising and marketing campaigns. Three RUBY Awards were presented to the organization’s leaders at the recent Ohio Conference on Tourism, held October 26 – 28 at VAN OFFEREN FLETCHER BRENNER Kalahari Resort in Sandusky.

The annual RUBY Awards entries were submitted by 40 travel competition is the Ohio Travel and tourism entities in 15 different Association’s way of honoring those categories. Entries were judged by who have found the most innovative three professionals representing and creative ways to market their marketing, printing and branding destination, attraction or services. firms.

RUBY stands for Recognizing Lake Erie Shores & Islands was Uncommon Brilliance. Nearly 150 awarded a first place RUBY Award for

the “Unplug to Recharge” radio advertisement and a Citation of Excellence (Ruby runner-up) for the Lake Erie Shores & Islands mobile website. The most prestigious award received was the Delegates Choice Award, voted on by industry peers attending the Ohio Conference on Tourism. It was given to Lake Erie Shores & Islands for the “Unplug to Recharge” print advertising and billboard campaign. This was the second consecutive year that LES&I has won the Delegates Choice Award.

The awards were accepted by Lake Erie Shores & Islands East Executive Director, Joan Van Offeren, and Lake

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Erie Shores & Islands West Executive Director, Larry Fletcher. On hand for the presentation were representatives from Ron Foth Advertising and DigiKnow, the firms that helped create these award winning marketing efforts. “The LES&I team is thrilled to be recognized by our peers with this designation again,” said Van Offeren.

The LES&I “Unplug to Recharge” campaign was also recently recognized with awards from the Ohio Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus.

Conference host Kalahari Resort also was presented with two Citations of Excellence; one for the Kalahari Resorts website re-design and one for their “Kalahari Pays the Way” social media campaign.

32 December 2011 North Coast Business Journal

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Your Hometown Hospice

Hospice of Memorial Hospital Serving your community for 26 years Hospice of Memorial Hospital is committed to enhancing quality of life by supporting our patients and families physically, emotionally and spiritually.

For the right care, right now. memorialhcs.org/hospice | 419.547.6419