North Coast Business Journal - May 2011

POSTMASTER: TIMELY MATERIAL. PLEASE EXPEDITE.

Celebrating 17 Years of Service Published and Owned by Schaffner Publications, Inc.

MAY 2011 Vol. 17 No. 6

INSIDE THIS MONTH

Focus

on

Huron

How do you Spell Marketing?..........2 Chamber Calendars ...........................8 Have a Strategic Plan?................. 12 Well-Booked Business............ 15 Retirement?....... 18 IT: Surfing Alerts................ 21 Taxes: Key Changes for 2011............. 24 Is your Retirement Plan Safe?.......... 25

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and

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

Vermilion

Huron Chamber – from the Director Sheila Ehrhardt

The city of Huron is embarking on an exciting new era in economic development. With completion of the four-lane boat ramps on the Huron River, located adjacent to the former Con Agra property, the city of Huron is on its way to an exciting new era in economic development.

Several small businesses have opened this past year and the Akzol Nobel plant, formerly known as ICI/ Glidden, has hired new employees

to assist in manufacture of a new line of paint that will be marketed

by Wal-Mart Super Centers across the country.

The Gym, an exercise center owned by Joe and Cori Dike for several years, has moved to an entirely new facility on Huron’s East side, near the Commerce Plaza. N2Y Inc. is a unique company that produces innovative educational materials for special needs students.

See HURON, Page 5

Charting the Course of a Small Town on a Great Lake – Vermilion Ohio

By Mayor Eileen Bulan The City of Vermilion is situated along the shore of Lake Erie and embraces the Vermilion River.

The Vermilion River has marina facilities with more than 1,000 boat slips and ramps for easy access to Lake Erie earning Vermilion the title of the “Largest Small Boat Harbor on the Great Lakes.”

This location, combined with successful efforts to maintain the City’s small town charm,

has created a unique community that provides a wealth of attractions and events for both tourists and residents.

I welcome everyone to visit our town this year.

Our Port Authority has been actively working to improve all public dockage facilities along the Vermilion River.

They operate a boat ramp and two transient dockage

See VERMILION, Page 5

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

Vermilion Chamber of Commerce

Port Clinton Area Tiffin Area Chamber Willard Area Chamber Chamber of Commerce of Commerce of Commerce

2 May 2011

North Coast Business Journal

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How do you spell “Marketing?”

Hint: It should begin with a “C” (for Customer)

By Jeffrey H. Bryden Editor Articles in marketing journals estimate that up to 26,000 new consumer products hit the market each year. While admittedly many of these are line extensions, still, up to 80 percent of them fail and only 40 percent of those that survive year one are around five years later.

With industrial products, failure rates are estimated to approach 30 percent.

Similar survival rates for retail and service businesses are hard to find, but I’m sure we’ve all seen the toofrequent opening and closing of

someone’s storefront dream.

Why such high failure rates? Can there be that many poor business people, short-sighted planners or weak entrepreneurs out there? Have all of these failures tried to sell us bad products or give us shoddy service?

In most cases, the answer is “no.”

While there are many reasons for failure, I believe that most of them revolve around the fact that these would-be businesses started at the end, not the beginning, of the marketing process. In other words, they started with what they wanted to make or sell, not with what the customers needed or wanted to buy.

In other words, maybe they were trying to sell a solution to a problem that didn’t exist – or at least to one that no one cared about.

While we marketing practitioners preach and teach the four P’s (Product, Price, Place and Promotion) each of these important elements should be derived from (not lead)

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

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JOHN SCHAFFNER

Editor

JEFFREY H. BRYDEN jbryden@ncbj.net

Director of Sales

DAVE KAHLER dkahler@ncbj.net

Accounting Manager

CINDY CONSTIEN cindy@thebeacon.net

Layout & Graphic Design

LORI HICKS lori@thebeacon.net ANGIE ADAIR angie@thebeacon.net

BRUCE DINSE

Circulation Manager

North Coast Business Journal is owned and published monthly by Schaffner Publications, Inc., and is mailed free to chamber of commerce members in a five-county area: Erie, Huron, Ottawa, Sandusky, and Seneca counties.

The editorial deadline is the 25th of each month, with the advertising deadline the end of each month. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the expressed, written consent of the Publishers.

We welcome submissions from readers in the form of letters, articles or photographs, although we reserve the right to edit and condense any articles submitted. Submissions should be sent to the editor at the above address. Include a stamped, self-addressed envelope if you would like an item returned. We prefer material (copy & photos) to be submitted electronically.

The Customer.

Only by truly understanding the customer’s needs problems and desires and then providing the best solution or satisfaction, can we hope to succeed in business today.

Kotler & Armstrong, in their text “Principles of Marketing,” discuss this need for a change in thinking.

They point out that success calls out for abandonment of the old “insideout” approach -- which starts inside with the factory, focuses on the company’s existing manufacturing capabilities or products, then relies on heavy selling and advertising to move product to market.

Successful marketers today must use an “outside-in” approach. They start broadly – with a well-defined market, then focus on customer needs, coordinate all the marketing activities affecting customers, and make profits by creating long-term customer relationships based on customer value and satisfaction. In the words of one Ford executive, “If we’re not

HURON, from Cover Started by Dave and Jacquie Clark in 1997, the staff outgrew downtown offices and last year built a sprawling complex in the Huron Corporate Park, located across the street from BGSU Firelands College.

Denton ATD, also located in the Corporate Park, has merged with Humanetics Innovative Solutions and First Technology Safety Systems. This newly created global company is one of the leading manufacturers of human-like mannequins used in vehicle crash tests.

Despite the general poor condition of the economy, revenues are up a bit from last year, approximately 1.94%, for Huron city government. This is due in large part to the astute financial planning of city manager Andy White, City Council’s endorsement of a partnership with the Regional Income Tax Authority for the collection of income tax, and the

customer-driven, our cars won’t be either.”

Yet even determining and acknowledging the needs of the customer may not go far enough. As we all know, our needs today are vastly different than they were just a few years ago. We now have options for sending pictures, text, audio and video with our “smart” phones.

(Remember when they were called “car phones” and were bolted into your car?) Did companies wait until we asked for these communication products? Or did they anticipate our communication needs?

The point here is that while consumers might be helpful at telling you what they want today, they may not be too good at telling you what they’ll expect tomorrow.

Future successes in Marketing? “It’s kinda’ like duck huntin’” one oldtimer remarked.

“When you’re shootin’ at a flying duck, you don’t aim at him – you aim at where he’s gonna be!”

cooperation of city department heads in working out ingenious ways to keep salary and health insurance costs under control.

The city is conducting an analysis for potential upgrades and financial strategies at Nickel Plate Beach and Fabens Park. A similar exercise is being researched currently for the entire city. The ability to designate a preferred development plan for the city is essential for the city’s improvement, according to White.

“The city is well poised to develop itself, sustain and improve services in a challenging period,” White explained.

“However, with challenge comes great opportunity and the decisions made during the recent past have yielded opportunities already.”

The ongoing redevelopment of the Huron River has brought new visitors to the community and positively impacted local commerce.

“Development

opportunity of this sort simply is not available elsewhere in the region,” he stated.

A sense of cooperation and team-work between the city staff, City Council, business and school leaders, as well as the Chamber of Commerce, have helped bring this about. For example, a group of businessmen formed a non-profit group known as FishHuronOhio two years ago. They have hosted four walleye tournaments and assisted with several other fishing events, helping fill the boat ramp parking lot on most weekends last fall.

Huron celebrated its Bicentennial in 2009 with yearlong activities, culminating with a unique way to commemorate the event for future generations.

A five-foot wide granite marker that sits atop a time capsule and a tinted concrete pad depicting a compass rose, was dedicated in October, 2010, on a knoll in a small circular garden just outside

See HURON, Page 5

North Coast Business Journal

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Main Street Vermilion, Inc.

May 2011

3

We’re in the business of commercial loans, and business is good.

Robin Grathwol, Jeff Huber, Lee Jordan, Terry Chapman, Rich Finneran

From Linda Tallitsch Program Director Main Street Vermilion, Inc., established as an Ohio Main Street program in 2007, is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Vermilion’s historic commercial and residential district. Its committees enhance the design and beauty of the downtown, organize events, assist owners and businesses in their preservation and economic revitalization efforts and market Vermilion as a destination.

Recognized in 2011 for the fourth year in a row as a nationally accredited Main Street Community by Heritage Ohio, Main Street Vermilion Inc. has the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and over 9,000 volunteer hours to thank. “We couldn’t do it without our tireless and dedicated volunteers,” says Linda Tallitsch, Main Street Vermilion’s Program Director. “Our Lake Erie location and beautiful flowers attract visitors from all over the country,” Linda continues.

Vermilion in Bloom, one of Main

Street Vermilion’s committees, plans, plants, waters and maintains the hanging baskets and beautiful flowers in the downtown area. The flowers are purchased with donated funds and maintained and watered on a daily basis through the efforts of volunteer watering teams.

Main Street Vermilion’s Design Committee works closely with the City’s Design and Review Board to help maintain the historic nature of the downtown commercial and residential district. Education is a goal of this committee in 2011 by helping business, building owners and residents understand the responsibility of locating in an historic area.

The Organization Committee oversees business networking, membership, events and member appreciation. Monthly Coffee Camps allow businesses to meet with each other to learn about upcoming events and topics helpful to operating a successful business in Vermilion.

See VERMILION Page 7

While other banks are turning local business borrowers away, Citizens Bank has a different point of view. We know that the cornerstone of a strong community is strong local business. That’s why we’re making commercial lending and financial services to area companies a priority. We’ll help your business move ahead with loans, checking, cash management and reserve options, and wealth management plans.

Contrary to what most banks would have you believe, this could be a great time for a business loan. Call or visit a Citizens Commercial Banker today.

419-621-4121 888-645-4121

CitizensBankCo.com Member FDIC

4 May 2011

North Coast Business Journal

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BGSU Firelands Unveils New Campus Master Plan In 1966 Bowling Green State University purchased 216.5 acres of land in rural Huron and set in motion plans for a regional campus. Fortyfive years ago that plan laid the foundation for the creation of a facility that would serve the diverse educational needs of this community; this year, Bowling Green State University Firelands College has reaffirmed that promise to the community with the unveiling of a new Campus Master Plan.

“We are excited to be able to deliver this plan to the community,” said BGSU Firelands Dean William Balzer.

“When the idea for this College was introduced in the early 1960’s, it was the community that embraced the need for a regional college and made that dream a reality. We feel it is equally important to keep our community involved at this next important step in the fulfillment of that dream,” he added.

The new master plan was developed by a representative team of faculty and staff from the College with the

help of Tsoi/Kobus & Associates, a master plan consulting firm.

Approved by the BGSU Board of Trustees on Dec. 10, 2010, the new Campus Master Plan is a blueprint to guide BGSU Firelands through the next 15+ years and enable the College to continue to fulfill its primary goal of meeting the higher education needs of the region.

The plan provides direction in four key areas: 1) The campus facilities need to expand to accommodate the current student population and projected enrollment growth.

At a current enrollment of more than 2,500 students, which is approximately double the enrollment 10 years ago, the BGSU Firelands campus currently needs additional building space to meet student academic and support needs.

Moreover, enrollment is projected to increase by 4 percent each year for the next 15 years. With projected enrollment of nearly 5,000 students

in 2025, the campus will require several new buildings to accommodate the growth in students, faculty, staff and academic and support space.

With these factors in mind, the Master Plan calls for three additional buildings to be added in phases as demanded by growth and the availability of funds for capital investments.

2) Consider college/community partnerships to leverage the development of the existing campus acreage in support of the educational mission and student success.

“The College founders clearly had an impressive vision for the campus when they purchased more than 200 acres of land,” said Balzer. “The vast majority of that land is currently leased for agriculture, but we recognize that there may be better uses which can serve our students and our community.”

The Master Plan will allow the College to investigate the development of public-private partnerships which provide enhancements to the campus.

Possibilities might include studentcommunity recreational facilities, a business incubator, a daycare center, and mixed use senior/student housing.

Many of these ventures would support academic programs and initiatives at the College; for example, students in the bachelor’s degree program in early childhood education could complete internships in a daycare facility, and business and technology students could complete co-op experiences at startup businesses located on the campus.

3) Expand the design and beauty of

the James H. McBride Arboretum to the entire campus.

“Located behind the College, the 47-acre James H. McBride Arboretum is an amazing and beautiful asset for our campus,” said Balzer, “but our master plan recognizes that we need to more fully showcase this community jewel through a transition from being a campus with an arboretum in the backyard to a campus ‘on’ an arboretum.”

Future landscaping decisions will be advised by the McBride Arboretum Board to extend the arboretum-like landscaping throughout the entire campus and into the front grounds for all to enjoy.

4) Continue the excellent stewardship of existing campus grounds and facilities.

According to Balzer, the BGSU Firelands family – students, staff, and the community – take great pride in the campus grounds. “When buildings need to be repaired, we fix them, and when litter is on the ground, everyone takes responsibility for cleaning it up,” said Balzer.

The Campus Master Plan underscores the importance of an ongoing commitment to maintain existing buildings and facilities so that they can continue to serve many future generations of students who study at the college.

A summary of the new Campus Master Plan is available in the Office of the Dean at BGSU Firelands. Balzer and other College personnel will also be providing presentations throughout the community. If your organization is interested in hosting a presentation, contact Dean Schnurr at 419.433.5560.

VERMILION, from Cover facilities along the river. McGarvey’s Landing and our Water Works Marina are located in downtown Vermilion.

If you arrive by boat, you can walk to the local shops and restaurants as well as our maritime museum. If you are here on Friday in the summertime, you can enjoy watching a family movie in our downtown along the river front. If you arrive on a Third Thursday, you can enjoy all kinds of bands playing music at the storefronts downtown. It will remind you of a simpler time, enjoying an ice cream cone, walking along the beach and just relaxing in our small town.

The City is actively pursuing revitalization efforts in our entire community. The City is presently having a new downtown plan prepared that will be approved by City Planning Commission and City Council.

This plan was funded through the Ohio Department of Development. We are once again beginning the application process to apply for a Downtown Revitalization Grant in the fall. This will be a $400,000 grant to help improve our downtown. The City has received over $1,200,000 in grant funding for the downtown. We are working continuously to welcome our visitors and residents to the downtown area.

A new water trail along the Vermilion River was designated in 2009, providing a unique paddling experience that offers both river and open water travel along our lakeshore.

A bike and multi-sport tour takes cyclists through the Lake Erie shore and scenic hills. Kayak and Canoe Rental are available along the trail.

The Vermilion on the Lake Lot Owners Association has restored the Historic Community Center, one of the last remaining Big Band Ballrooms on the shores of Lake Erie and one of the refuge spots on the kayak trail.

Some events that are held in Vermilion each year are the Vermilion Harbour Triatholon/Duathlon which is held in August at Linwood Park and the Vermilion-Ice-A-Fair that is held in February of each year. Other community traditions are the Woollybear Festival, the Festival of

HURON, from Cover the Boat Basin office.

The stainless steel capsule was filled with a legacy of memories, such as beach glass, taconite (the small pieces of iron ore delivered

May 2011

North Coast Business Journal

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Fish and Historic SummerFare. Our Christmas in July celebration begins with Santa Claus arriving by river boat.

You can purchase your Christmas tree by way of the Christmas Tree Ship in December.

Additional annual events include our Pirate Fest in October, scavenger hunts, a Gardeners Fair, the River Trout Fish Stocking, the Rubber Duck Dash 500, the Corvette Show and much more. Beginning in July, a local market is held at Victory Park.

This is an open air market that provides residents and visitors the opportunity to sell home-grown fruit, vegetables, herbs, flowers, local meat and cheese.

The Arts Guild of Vermilion promotes local artists and craftsmen by featuring rotating exhibits and offering classes and workshops.

There of course is so much more going on in Vermilion. We have recently been awarded from the State of Ohio, our second Safe Routes to Schools Grant from the Ohio Department of Transportation for $346,000. This will allow us to install additional sidewalks along the streets located near our public school system.

This is our second grant from ODOT. In our first grant, the City along with Vermilion Township received $222,000 for sidewalks. This project will begin in 2012.

The city has also been successful in obtaining an 80% grant from ODOT to replace the bridge on Highbridge Road. This bridge was removed in the 1970’s and was never replaced. This will allow our residents south of the bridge to have a much quicker access to emergency services when our railroad tracks are blocked.

The City works closely with the local schools to make Vermilion a better place. Many people relocate to a town that has excellent schools.

Vermilion schools are in the forefront by beginning an ambitious re-invention plan (the one to one initiative) for the district to bolster with the latest in high-tech equipment and to build an overall campus location. All students, 6th grade and up are provided a lap top computer to use for the school year. This brings all students into the technology age and

to Huron docks by lake freighters for many years), a Bicentennial collection of poems, a 2009 City Directory and sweet corn seeds from Hahn’s Farm, along with heritage tomato seeds first brought to this country from

5

be ready for the future. This initiative and the business community with allows our students to be better resources, data and contacts. Working prepared in the 21st century. with local and regional organizations, Vermilion Schools are rated excellent the city creates innovative and cost by the Ohio Department of Education. effective measures to promote the Our Ritter Public Library was town as an ideal location to live, visit renovated last year through a $4.9 and operate a business. million expansion project. This year, Recently, the City created a they were the first library in Ohio to Community Reinvestment Area along be designated with a gold certification Liberty Avenue (State Route 6) in the from LEED (Leadership in Energy and Lorain County section of Vermilion.

Environmental Design.) When you This allows businesses to apply and visit Vermilion, take the time to visit receive tax abatement on their real our library, see our new computer lab estate investment. Other areas in the with 26 computer labs and even a salt City that have this designation are water fish tank. the historic downtown, and East The City of Vermilion has Liberty Avenue. We were the first to successfully built consensus and establish a Foreign Trade Zone on cooperation among the many groups Liberty Avenue and Baumhart Road. and individuals who make up the We are ready for development and community. Volunteers have been actively pursue all leads to move our very successful in the process of city forward. Workshops have been making improvements to the city. offered at Ritter Public Library to local Organizations such as the Chamber businesses to help them with their of Commerce, Main Street Vermilion, local businesses.

Friends of Harbour Town and many We are working very hard in civic organizations continuously partnership with local organizations, work toward improving the town’s residents and businesses. Vermilion appearance, while maintaining the is weathering the storm of a troubled historic character. They also work economy and is charting a course to a together to bring many tourist revitalized community. activities to the community including If you come to Vermilion, whether festivals, concerts, outdoor movies, to visit or for a short stay, do not art shows, parades, fairs, and hesitate to stop by my office on the triathlons to help attract tourists, corner of Main and Liberty Avenue. I home buyers and businesses. would be happy to meet you and tell Working with local and regional you all about Vermilion. We are truly organizations, Vermilion markets its a GREAT town on a GREAT Lake. assets to customers, potential investors, new businesses, local citizens and visitors. Promoting Family Owned and Operated Since 1933 a positive image encourages consumers and investors to live, Serving Commercial & Industrial Accounts work, shop, and play In NW Ohio and invest in Vermilion.

The City works with the Specializing in: Erie County Economic STANDARD ARCHITECTURAL & MULTID e v e l o p m e n t COLOR COATINGS Committee, Team Lorain County, Main WOOD FINISHING Street Vermilion and Erie Regional Planning VINYL WALLCOVERING Commission to promote economic development WATER REPELLENT COATINGS in Vermilion by TWO COMPONENT EPOXY & URETHANE providing site selectors, SYSTEMS economic developers

Italy by one of the families that came to work on the coal and ore docks.

Huron is a quaint, yet progressive, town that is bent on moving forward in a positive direction.

MAY PAINTING INC.

WATER AND SAND BLASTING

“Professional Painting Pays”

419-332-1363

Toll Free

800-797-6252

446 N. Wood St., Fremont, OH 43420

www.maypainting.com

6 May 2011

North Coast Business Journal

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Vermilion Schools Emphasize a Commitment to Global Education Submitted by Philip Pempin Superintendent Tradition is a word that is often associated with schools.

The philosophy of “that’s the way we’ve always done it” has been prevalent in across the United States. As a result, many schools around the nation are facing the challenge of providing a 21st century education with antiquated buildings, equipment and ideas. It wasn’t until recently that communities and governments have begun to realize that this emphasis on tradition has caused our nation to fall far behind our competitors in other countries.

“Reinvention” was the word that Vermilion Schools Superintendent Philip Pempin used as he proposed a bold new plan to the community in January 2010.

In addition to

reinvention, Pempin also proposed a “One-to-One” computer initiative designed to break the bonds of tradition and provide students with an opportunity to compete in a world economy. This concept revolutionized the way teachers interact with their students. Instead of the traditional paper and pencil or chalkboard activities, teachers now use Apple MacBooks along Smart™ or Mimeo® boards to create interactive lessons to engage and challenge students. Apple was chosen as the partner for this initiative because of their companywide emphasis on education and applications for teachers and classrooms.

To make the purchase of technology possible without asking taxpayers for additional revenue, Pempin and his staff scrutinized the operation of the district and came up with an

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ambitious plan to reduce costs. The decision to close one school building and reorganize curricular and extracurricular programs was difficult, but the Board and community recognized the importance of preparing students for the future, and agreed to work together to make it happen. In total the district has been able to save more than $4,000,000 through consolidation, partnering with cooperative purchasing organizations, energy savings and effective use of technology.

This savings made possible the purchase of MacBooks for every student in grades 6 through 12 and iPods for all students in Kindergarten through grade 5.

Additional mobile labs were also created to expose elementary age students to laptop use.

Pempin emphasized that by making this technology available Vermilion is creating a level playing field where every student has the opportunity to access and experience technology.

Teachers were excited to embrace the new technology and have developed innovative lesson plans to expose students to world economic and social learning. Many have developed distance learning relationships with teachers in other states or countries. Instead of the traditional paper and pencil activities, students are creating video projects, playing competitive academic games with schools around the country, and using virtual field trips to learn about the world.

As a result of the reinvention plan, the district was

able to earn the ranking of “Excellent” on the State Report Card for the first time in its history.

Looking toward the future, the staff and administration continue to demonstrate a commitment to excellence.

In recent contract negotiations, the district’s two unions agreed to freeze base wages and increase contributions to healthcare plans. Administrators agreed to an absolute wage freeze in 2009. All of these wage and benefit concessions will continue through 2012. The district also created a “train-thetrainer” plan for teacher professional development that will provide cost savings as district teachers share successful lesson plans and uses for technology with their peers.

Vermilion is fortunate to have a collaborative relationship with both staff and community groups. Going forward, the district is committed to keeping a good thing going by providing students with the opportunities and education necessary to compete in a global environment.

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May 2011

7

Huron Chamber of Commerce – Adding Value

By Bruce Miller Chamber President The Huron Chamber is growing and very active in 2011. The idea of adding value for our members has been and will continue to be the driving force behind our activities.

Our annual recognition dinner took a different turn this year as we had a very festive luau at Kalahari complete with island cuisine and even a hula dancer. Several of our members and other community members were honored for their service to the Chamber and to Huron. There were also many vendors and service providers that displayed their wares for the guests. This certainly provided a great networking opportunity for them.

City Manager Andy White presented a very detailed and inspiring State of the City message to our board. There are so many positive initiatives being pursued by the city that the board is pursuing establishing a platform through the Chamber to get all of this positive and exciting news to the business leaders of Huron and through them to the community at large. The positive energy of these initiatives is incredible. Some of these ideas were so “cutting edge� that Andy was invited to address the Cleveland City Council to help them pursue the same type of issues.

Our monthly Business After Hours have been hosted by many of our members. They have been well attended and provide opportunities for our members to showcase their

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businesses and services.

The Chamber will be partnering with the FishHuronOhio group which brings close to one hundred boats to our newly completed ramp and launch area for a walleye tournament. This event showcases Huronâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s major asset; our beautiful river and lakefront location. The Chamber is planning on adding a craft show on the river for visitors to attend during the day of the tournament.

Once again this year, the Chamber will be running the Lighthouse 10-mile and 5K run on May 7. This annual event brings visitors to our

wonderful city which generates revenue for our local businesses.

Of course during the holiday season we will be participating in the Festival of Lights event at Sawmill Creek and the accompanying auction.

June brings the annual Wine and Roses event sponsored by the Chamber and hosted at Barnes Nursery. This event is always well attended by locals and visitors and is an excellent fund raiser for the Chamber.

The Huron Chamber is actively promoting our â&#x20AC;&#x153;Great Lake Placeâ&#x20AC;? on a daily basis.

VERMILION, from Page 3

attracts investors and developers.

The Promotion Committee has created a branded image for Vermilion and is responsible for marketing Vermilion as a destination. The committee, through business sponsorships, advertises in tourist publications, radio and social media.

Main Street Vermilionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Arts Guild has established Vermilion as a premier arts destination. Local art is on display and for sale in the Main Street office at 685 Main Street throughout the year and represents over 60 artisans.

Learn more about Main Street Vermilion and our â&#x20AC;&#x153;small town on a great lakeâ&#x20AC;? at www. mainstreetvermilion.org.

Events, such as the annual Ice-AFair to Remember in February, and House Tour in the fall bring thousands of people to Vermilion.

The Economic Revitalization Committee works towards the betterment of the downtown by promoting and helping to retain businesses in our historic downtown.

Operation Fill â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;er Up, has been successful in bringing fledgling businesses to vacant storefronts to â&#x20AC;&#x153;test the watersâ&#x20AC;? in the summer and allow building owners the chance to â&#x20AC;&#x153;fillâ&#x20AC;? a vacant space. The second annual Vermilion Open on May 19th will highlight eighteen properties for sale in downtown Vermilion and

8 May 2011

North Coast Business Journal

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CHAMBER CALENDARS for May Bellevue Chamber of Commerce 5

Monthly Luncheon Noon at The Willows Bob DiBiasio, VP, PR Cleveland Indians Space is limited

23

2nd Annual Chamber Auction Wade's Auction House

Erie County Chamber of Commerce 5

Cinco de Mayo Party Firelands Winery, Sponsored by Sam's Club; 5:15 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

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Seminar: "Making Marvelous Meetings Happen", Ted Janusz at Castaway Bay; 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. $39 per person (members) $49 per person (non-members)

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Business After Hours Wolff Bros. Supply; 5:15 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

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Business/ Government Exchange State Senator Mark Wagoner Room T-110 of Building F EHOVE Career Center; 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.

Fostoria Chamber of Commerce 4

Safety Council Steering Committee, 11:30 am, Chamber office

18

Safety Council, 11:30 am, Fostoria Community Hospital

19

Chamber Board Meeting, 12:00 pm, Fostoria Community Hospital

Huron County Chamber of Commerce 5

Safety Council,

Construction, 7:30 am, Chamber office, RSVP Program Committee, 8:00 am, Chamber office

6

Chick-fil-A Leadercast, 8:00 am, FTMC Auditorium, 272 Benedict Ave. RSVP required

11

Membership Committee, 8:00 am, Chamber office

12

Board of Directors, 4:00 pm, Chamber office

18

Education Committee, 8:00 am, Chamber office

Oak Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce 19

Board Meeting 7:30 am Chamber Building

21

Community Clean-up Day Downtown 9 – 11 am

27

Chamber Golf Outing 8 am--Oak Harbor Golf Club

Port Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce 3

Administration Meeting Chamber Office, Noon

5

Business After Hours Host: 200th Red Horse Squadron At Great Lakes Popcorn & Kokomo Bay 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.

9

Board Meeting Chamber Office, 8:30 am

Walleye Festival Committee Ida Rupp Library, 5:00 p.m.

11

12

MSPC Office, 8:30 am

12-14 FLW Fishing Tournament 16

Walleye Festival Committee Ida Rupp Library, 5:00 p.m.

19

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

23

Walleye Festival Committee Ida Rupp Library, 5:00 p.m.

26-30 Walleye Festival

Waterworks Park

Sandusky County Chamber of Commerce 4

Ohio Chamber Symposium, Jonathan T. Hyman, Kohrman Jackson & Krantz P.L.L. “Top 10 Human Resource Issues Affecting Small Businesses” Terra State Community College; Registration is 2:30 p.m., Program from 3-4 p.m.

12 “Getting Downtown”

to Business,

Hosted by DBA,

Downtown Fremont

5-7 p.m.

24 Chamber

Ambassador Meeting,

8 a.m., Chamber Office 25 Chamber Board Meeting,

7:30 a.m., Chamber office

Tiffin Area Chamber of Commerce

Main Street Port Clinton Economic Restructuring Committee 9:00 am at MSPC Office

10

General Membership Meeting 11:30 am to 1:30 p.m., New office, 19 W. Market St., Suite C. Lunch is $10.

Please RSVP to 419-447-4141 or info@tiffinchamber.com.

Main Street Port Clinton Organization Executive Committee

11

Small Business Basics A free, two-hour seminar

By Ohio Small

Business Development Center at Terra Community College.

Conference room of the Chamber Register at 800-826-2431 or 419-559-2210 E-mail at bauxter@terra.edu

Chamber Board Meeting 7:30 am

13

Ambassadors Meeting 11:30 am, Chamber Offices

24

Tiffin Area Safety Council 11:30 am at Camden Falls ** Registration for the 2011 Golf Outing is now open. www.tiffinchamber.com For details and registration

Vermilion Chamber of Commerce 5

Community Prayer Breakfast "National Day of Prayer" 7:45 am, German's Villa,

6

Vermilion Rotary Steak Fry German’s Villa.

Contact 967-1770

“FESTIVAL OF THE FISH” MISS VERMILION PAGEANT June 18-20th Entries are due 5/20 Contact Chamber of Commerce 440-967-4477 E-Mail: vermilionchamber@ centurytel.net

19

“Third Thursday” Downtown Vermilion 6:30 p.m. - Dusk Free event Stroll thru downtown and listen to your favorite music.

21

Vermilion Pride Day 9 – Noon Victory Park at the Gazebo

Relay for Life Vermilion High School Stadium Contact 440-967-4477

North Coast Business Journal

www.ncbj.net

May 2011

9

Groff Funeral Homes Continues To Grow Groff Funeral Homes has been a family owned business for over 110 years with the third generation now working in the business. As the family involvement has grown, so have the offerings to the community.

Groff has been serving their community by providing funeral and cremation services at their Perkins Chapel, Milan Chapel and most recently a new Huron Chapel. The Huron Chapel is located near the entrance of Meadow Green Memorial Park, a cemetery owned and operated by the Groff family.

One of Groff’s philosophies has always been to be on the cutting edge in the funeral industry. Over the past few years, there has been a growing trend to send lasting gifts at the time of a loss, instead of the traditional funeral flowers. Flowers play an important role in the funeral process and much comfort is given by their presence. However, the Groff family saw a need for an alternative to sending flowers as a means of expressing sympathy.

One of Groff’s most unique ventures was expanding into a funeral-related retail store by opening The Remembrance Center in Sandusky. Recognizing that the loss of a loved one is felt long after the flowers have faded, and that all too often grieving families are left with no tangible reminder of their loved one, or of the thoughtfulness of their friends, the concept of The Remembrance Center was

born.

The growth continued for Groff Funeral Homes this past year with the opening of Groff Pet Loss Services in October 2010. According to the Groff family, they have received numerous calls over the years requesting the option of cremation for their pets. “We know that people think of their pets as part of their family and we wanted to provide them with a local option for pet cremation and memorialization,” said Kara Groff, Executive Director of Groff Pet Loss Services. Groff Pet Loss Services provides cremation for all types of pets including cats, dogs, birds, bunnies, snakes and more. Cremations take place in a brand new state-of-the-art facility located in Huron. Families have the option of individual cremation where the ashes are returned to them. Families also have the option of communal cremation where the cremated remains are not returned.

Owners interested in pet cremation may contact Groff Pet Loss Services directly, or arrangements can be made through many local veterinary clinics.

In addition to providing pet cremation, Groff Pet

Loss Services also offers a selection of urns and keepsake items. A paw or nose print is taken for all pets when cremated remains are being returned to their owners. Families are also invited to make arrangements in advance for their pets; just the

same as advanced planning can be done at the funeral home.

The Groff Family continues to look toward the future and plans to carry on the tradition of being a leading provider of funeral, cremation and cemetery services in their community.

Erie Metroparks – Mother Nature’s Right in our Backyard!

Erie MetroParks was established in 1968 starting with Osborn MetroPark.

Currently, Erie MetroParks has grown to include 11 parks or preserves covering more than 3300 acres. Many of the properties that are managed by the park district are maintained in their natural state in keeping with the role assigned by the Ohio Revised Code. Areas used for active recreation are designed to have minimal impact on the natural environment of the parks. Educational programs are offered year round for all ages.

Each park is unique and allows for a variety of activities for people of all ages!

2011 highlights for Erie MetroParks include: Thanks to an Ohio Division of Natural Resources Nature Works grant, basketball and tennis courts at Osborn MetroPark will be refurbished by fall 2011 for visitor enjoyment.

In a joint project with the Friends of Erie MetroParks, a former chicken coop at East

Sandusky Bay MetroPark was transformed into a rustic bunkhouse. In the near future, the bunkhouse will be available for group camping!

By the end of spring 2011, the James H. McBride Arboretum will have brand new bathrooms for the convenience of visitors.

Erie MetroParks will offer summer camps in July and August for children in kindergarten through 6th grade. Registration will begin as early as May 2!

In a joint partnership with Borders, Erie MetroParks will offer a summer book club for kids in kindergarten through 12th grade. Preregistration is required and will begin May 2!

Harvest Happenings, Erie MetroParks large fall community event, will be celebrating its 20th year! This annual festival is held on the second weekend of October at Osborn MetroPark.

To learn more about Erie MetroParks, log onto eriemetroparks.com or call (419)625-7783.

Move right in today!

Reasonable rent 1,000 sq. ft. unit has 2 offices, reception area, storage space, ADA-compliant restroom Plenty of parking Building signage available Excellent location and great tenant mix includes Anytime Fitness, Huron Podiatry and Rye Beach Deli Kula Hoty Lynch 419-609-7000 800-416-4689 www.hoty.com

10 May 2011

North Coast Business Journal

www.ncbj.net

Sandusky County Convention & Visitors Bureau: Lake Erie’s Favorite Neighbor Submitted by Connie Durdel Executive Director, Sandusky County CVB

In Employee r e n t ar He P a r u

lth

Yo

Operating on a budget of $230,000, which comes from the Lodging Tax collected by lodging facilities in Sandusky County, the Sandusky County Convention & Visitors Bureau promotes the attractions and tours in Sandusky County to visitors who may come as individuals or families and those who come to visit on bus tours.

The primary market of the Bureau is Group Tour or ‘bringing the bus groups’ to the county. According to the latest figures from ABA- the American Bus Association, a one day tour has an economic impact of $5,670, while an overnight tour has an impact of over $7,000.

The Bureau ‘hit the road’ this winter to promote Sandusky County

to Tour Operators, families planning summer vacations and outdoor sport enthusiasts.

The American Bus Marketplace is the premier business event for the group travel industry. Tour Operators and sellers come from all over the United States. The Bureau had 32 pre-scheduled appointments which are the core of the show. Buyers and Sellers meet face-to-face in sevenminute appointments. Networking opportunities provide a venue for the Bureau to meet additional Operators on a casual basis.

Marketplace also offers professional education seminars.

The Sandusky County CVB is a partner in the state wide Group Tour co-op ‘Ohio Has It’. The co-op had a booth in the Product Pavilion at ABA. Operators had the opportunity to view Ohio’s latest products and services. More than 320 operator companies attend Marketplace.

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With the addition of the Product Pavilion, Marketplace became a onestop shop for the group travel and motorcoach industry to build business relationships, view the newest products and services, learn about the latest trends and industry information, and network - all resulting in greater return on investment.

The Bureau also attended Heartland Travel Showcase in Philadelphia in February. Heartland Travel Showcase is a smaller regional show produced by the Ohio Travel Association. Most of the participants come from Ohio and the contiguous states. Here, the ‘sellers’ design and decorate a booth that showcases their product. In addition to having a booth promoting Sandusky County, the Bureau was also represented in the booths of the YNOD co-op partners.

YNOD, Your Next OHIO Destination, has been an active co-op for over 5 years. The Sandusky County CVB works with the CVB’s from Bucyrus, Bowling Green, Marion and Seneca County to promote 4day/5day tours that encompass the area. The co-op has experienced success, measured by the number of repeat trips by Operators.

The Bureau was represented at the AAA Travel Show held in Columbus in January and will have a booth at PaddlePalooza in Columbus in April.

Designed to attract families looking for ideas for vacation, the AAA show was a new component to leisure

marketing this year.

2010 was the first year for Paddlepalooza — “Ohio’s Outdoor Expo.” This year’s event will be held Fri. and Sat. April 22-23 at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus. It is the premier event for all the “silent outdoor sports” including biking, canoeing, kayaking, hiking, camping and backpacking. It will feature an indoor kayaking and canoeing demo pool, ongoing seminars on “paddling, pedaling and packing,” a free used gear swap meet and sale, demos, test rides and more.

Evaluations from last year’s attendees requested more destination and adventure vendors for ideas of where attendees could use their canoes, kayaks, bikes and camping equipment. The Northcoast Bike Trail, fishing, canoeing and kayaking on the Sandusky River, birding and more made this show a great match for the Bureau.

These Group Tour marketplaces and leisure market travel and sport shows offered great opportunities for the Sandusky County CVB to promote all of the great attractions and destinations to potential visitors.

Tourism is an important industry to many areas, and is especially noticeable in the Northcoast area.

Tourism accounts for 437,000 jobs in Ohio. Visitors spend $36 billion in Ohio with a $2.5 billion revenue impact for state and local governments.

Economic Development Corp. Elects Officers, Board Sandusky County Economical Development Corporation (SCEDC); a non-profit organization that focuses on business retention, business recruitment, green energy and developing technologies for Sandusky County, is announcing its new officers and members of the Board of Directors recently elected at SCEDC’s 2011 Annual Meeting.

2011 SCEDC Officers President- Jeff Woitha, Carbo Forge, Inc.; 1st Vice President-Jeff Durham, Whirlpool-Clyde Division; 2nd Vice President-Bruce Schrader, Clyde Tool & Die, Inc.; Secretary-Michael Winthrop, The Bellevue Hospital; Treasurer-Jeff Geary, The Croghan Colonial Bank; Past PresidentThomas Kern, Style Crest Products; Executive Director- Kay E. Reiter.

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North Coast Business Journal

May 2011

11

Follow THE BIG “TWITCH” Lake Erie Shores and Islands Becoming Capital of May Birding in North America The biggest week in American birding is so big, the week lasts 10 days. Lake Erie Shores and Islands®, located halfway between Cleveland and Toledo, is largely regarded as the best place for observing spring songbird migration. The reason, quite simply, is the abundance of preserved ecosystems along marshy coast, woodlands and diverse settings friendly to spring migration. The region includes more than 15 areas designated by Audubon as “Important Bird Areas.” It’s this southern edge of Lake Erie that serves as a barrier that birds are reluctant to cross so they hold up just long enough for the big twitch.

Twitch is a British term reserved for those who travel long distances to see species of birds that can be ticked off a checklist. The act of the pursuit itself is referred to as a twitch or a chase. A rare bird that stays put long enough for people to see it is twitchable or chaseable.

Ideal habitats for birding at Lake Erie Shores and Islands include Black Swamp Bird Observatory, Magee Marsh, Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, Kelleys Island, Old Woman Creek State Nature Preserve and Sheldon Marsh State Nature Preserve.

One of the best times is in May during several events that attract renowned bird experts from around the world such as Kenn Kaufman, Iain Campbell and Greg Miller. A diverse list of species entices birders from around the globe to visit northwest Ohio each spring, including more than 30 species of warblers, masses of thrushes, vireos, flycatchers, and orioles, shorebirds, raptors, and an abundance of waterfowl. The Biggest Week in American Birding is May 5-15, 2011.

“Northwest Ohio is my favorite birding spot in all of North America in May! I cannot wait. This is going to be so much fun!” Said Greg Miller, the birder portrayed in the best-selling book and upcoming Hollywood movie, The Big Year. Kenn Kaufman’s all new Kaufman Field Guide to Advanced Birding will be out just in time for The Biggest Week in American Birding. During the 10 day event, Kaufman will head an entire series of bird identification workshops based on his book.

The much anticipated event features guided activities, half-day guided tours, workshops such as Birding by Ear, and evening keynote speakers.

Visitors can Nest with the Birds or join in Bird Banding on Kelleys Island. Welcome migrating song birds to this 2,800 acre island during morning and afternoon guided bird walks and lectures from May 19 – 22. A Bird Banding program is held on the island at Long Point on May 21. Bird banding is used to determine how far birds travel, longevity of life, where they nest and winter. It is also a technique used to see if populations are rising or falling. This can prompt important questions that

lead to examination of reasons why. For example, if a population is in decline, it may be due to climate change, poisoning from pesticides, disease, predation or other factors. If populations are seen as increasing, experts can look at data such as bird release programs which may explain the trend.

Another key Lake Erie Shores and Islands birding event in May is International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD). On May 14, individuals and organizations throughout the Western Hemisphere will participate in activities dedicated to the conservation of migratory birds. Many local IMBD celebrations are planned with bird-related activities for the whole family! Visit www.shoresandislands. com for more information. The Lake Erie Shores and Islands region is referred to more and more as the “Warbler Capital of the World,” during the spring migration. This is the time and place to see and listen to the greatest variety of bird species.

The May birding events in the region are open to all levels of expertise from expert to novice. The special events deliver unsurpassed social networking

Photo by Kenn Kaufman opportunities for any birding enthusiast. If you have the big twitch, you’re not alone. In 2006, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released a study that reported birders contributed $36 billion to the U.S. economy, identifying 20 percent of Americans as birdwatchers at some level. No doubt, the Lake Erie Shores & Island’s “Warbler Capital of the World,” has something to do with it! Find more information on the many birding events in the Lake Erie Shores & Islands region at www.SHORESandISLANDS. com. # # # Contact Information: Jill L. Bauer Public Relations Coordinator Lake Erie Shores & Islands® Welcome Center - East 4424 Milan Road, Suite A Sandusky, OH 44870 www.SHORESandISLANDS. com jill@shoresandislands.com Alternate Contact: Frank R. Satullo – 513-207-6690

POWER IS OUT, YOUR NETWORK IS DOWN. What do you do?

During a thunderstorm on a Friday night around 7:00 pm, a company with a large inventory of product that must remain refrigerated lost electricity. Normally, this would not have been a problem as there are generators installed at the location.

This time, the generators did not come on.

Fortunately, this company is a MyNet™ Total Care customer through Advanced Computer Connections. MyNet monitors the facility and ACC Technicians were alerted that the site was not responding. ACC alerted the appropriate staff employed at the facility, and then started working the with generator company. Within 15 minutes of the power going out, a plan was in place to get things up and running again. Had it not been for MyNet and ACC, the customer would not have known until Monday morning…

When you are a MyNet customer, ACC is always there! Please contact us today to find out how we can help your company.

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419-668-4080 • www.acc-corp.net • sales@acc-corp.net • 166 Milan Ave, Norwalk

12 May 2011

North Coast Business Journal

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Sales Strategic Plan-Does Your Company Have One?

By Roger Bostdorff Recently I was called by a construction company to provide them information regarding helping them create a Strategic Plan. Evidently they are part of a group of contractors across the country and this group suggested that they needed to create this thing called a Strategic Plan.

They called me in as well as another company.

After meeting with me for 30 minutes and the other organization for about an hour, they called me to tell me they wanted to work with B2B Sales Boost to facilitate their strategic plan.

Many times a strategic plan is created, put in a notebook and left on the shelf to collect dust.

However, this is NOT the way I suggest we do it.

First we asked the management team to define their three year goals. This certainly includes sales revenue, but it also could include customer satisfaction, employee morale, marketshare, etc.

Once these goals are identified we then start working on a SWOT analysis.

A SWOT analysis focuses on the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) of your organization. As this economy becomes more and more global and challenging, we have to do an internal grade card on how our organizations measure up.

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How does an organization get started in doing one of these? They take some time away from the day to day grind and go ask themselves the following questions and then discuss and debate the answers.

Strengths • What Advantages Does Your Company/ Organization Have In the Marketplace?

• What Does Your Company Do Better Than Anyone Else?

• What Unique or Low Cost Resources Does Your Company/Organization Have Access To? • What Do Others See As Your Company’s Strengths?

Weaknesses • What Could Your Company Improve On? • Where Does Your Company Have Fewer Resources Than Your Competition? (People, $, Manufacturing Capacity, etc.)

• What Should Your Company Avoid?

• What Are Others Likely to See As Your Company’s Weaknesses?

Threats • What Obstacles Does Your Company Face?

• What is Your Company’s Competition Doing?

• Are The Required Specifications For Your Job, Products or Services Changing?

• Is Changing Technology Threatening Your Company’s Position in the Marketplace • Could Any of Your Company’s Weaknesses Seriously Threaten Your Business?

Opportunities • What Good Opportunities Are Open To Your Company?

• What Trends Could You Take Advantage of? (i.e. Changes in Age of Population, Lifestyle, etc.)

• Looking At Your Company’s Strengths, How Can You Turn These Into Opportunities?

A SWOT analysis helps an organization define what makes them unique while outlining the organization’s strategic advantages so that they can leverage these in the marketplace. Pretty simple, right? Wrong!!. These are hard questions that need a hard look with objective viewpoints being discussed/debated. The stripes need to

come off during these discussions. By that I mean that the head of the organization needs to insure that his team opens up and really tells it like it is.

This discussion needs to be free of rank and penalty relative to opinions.

Now you are half-way home. If you agree that it is important to understand the SWOT for your organization, then you should also agree that you should do this exercise for your major competitor.

If your business is in a market that is growing, then everyone can ride the positive curve. However, if your market is not growing then the only way to grow is to take market share from someone else. In order to do that you need to focus your strengths on your competitor’s weaknesses.

As you contemplate whether your company has the time, energy, manpower, etc. to spend on this endeavor, let me ask you a question. How will you feel if you discover your major competitor is doing their SWOT right now?

The SWOT analysis is followed by a discussion regarding how you take your strengths to leverage against your opportunities while minimizing your weaknesses and threats. This discussion revolves around how you accomplish your 3 year goals, by first accomplishing your short term goals (1 year goals). We do this by creating specific Action Plans with completion dates and responsible parties identified. All of these plans are laid out and we establish periodic meetings to insure that the Action plans are getting done. Without the followup meetings these Action Plans seem to slide with the challenge of doing the day to day business.

If a company does not have a strategic plan then they typically operate day- to-day and never seem to understand why the company is not growing or accomplishing greater good! Does your company have a strategic plan? Does your largest competitor have one?

Roger Bostdorff is the President of B2B Sales Boost. 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

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Does Your Company Have a Disaster Plan?

Received from Melissa James Executive Director Huron County Chamber of Commerce Just a few days ago a fire in a Cleveland office building made us stop and take stock of our own chamber office and what we would do if we were to experience a facility disruption. The office building in Cleveland was seven stories, when we saw the news fire seemed to be held to the 2 and 3rd floors, but the entire building was closed to all tenants. Looking at that situation, some businesses will likely have lost everything; others will have to deal with smoke damage and the first floor probably had significant water damage. Any way you look at it, those businesses have a disaster on their hands.

As we talked about it we began to look around the office. We have a small office but it is loaded with records, accounts, etc. What would we do if we had a fire, tornado, any number of natural or man-made disasters could come our way — were we prepared? What did we need to do to ensure we could be operational within twenty-four hours, the most time we are willing to be out of commission?

We recently networked our two main computers and the primary computer of those two has two external hard drives on which we do our backups. That means all of our shared files are backed up every day on an external hard drive and one of those goes home every night. Taking it home also translates into “offsite storage” without the cost of offsite storage. Those two hard drives cost us less than $500.00 including having them set up since we seem to do more harm than good when attempting that sort of thing on our own. A fireproof safe for $50.00 now holds our software; so that is protected and should be usable once we would get access to the building. $550.00 to protect the core of our business, a small price compared to losing all our information. (The fact of the matter is, most businesses hit by disaster never recover. Could it be

from a lack of planning and preparation?)

Small businesses need to consider this easy to do method to protect themselves. Larger ones may want to consider “cloud computing” where everything is automatically saved by companies that specialize in that field. There’s also the option to scan all of your documents and then they are likewise electronically stored and can be backed up on a regular basis.

We have companies right here that can assist you by evaluating your business and then providing the best solution.

So good for us, we’d have our information, but how would we be able to access it? Programs such as Excel, Access and Office are basic enough our financial members can easily plug into our backups and then handle our business until we can resume operations. Of course, many businesses use highly specialized software so it’s important to have those plans ready ahead of time.

Talk to your financial professional and your technology company today.

All of this led us to also review our disaster plan. It took a long time, about a year really, to complete our plan, but getting it completed was just the start. Keeping it updated is a constant necessity and it’s easy to shove it to the bottom of the pile and make it one of those “round to-it” tasks. Now we are putting it on the calendar and making it a priority on a regular basis. Small to mid-sized businesses can utilize any number of disaster plans available for free. We have used one from the Institute for Business and Home Safety. It has a fairly complete list of needed information and you can do it in hard copy form or online. Go to www.ibhs.org and click on Open For Business on the right hand side of the page. Get started today, plan for it, we all hope we never need it but nothing will take the place of a solid disaster plan should one come your way. If you need help getting started call your chamber office, as with everything business related, our offices should always be your first call.

May 2011

13

Nobody likes to talk about chest pain.

But you need to have a plan – just in case.

If you experience chest pain along with any of the following symptoms of a heart attack, call 911 immediately: • Pain and/or squeezing sensation of the chest • Shortness of breath • Sweating • Indigestion • Arm pain or upper back pain

With a dedicated team of professionals, including Dr. Veselin Dimitrov, Emergency Department Physician, and Dr. Gregory Vigesaa, Cardiologist, Mercy Willard Hospital has received Chest Pain Center Accreditation from the Society of Chest Pain Centers (SCPC), an international organization dedicated to eliminating heart disease as the number one cause of death worldwide.

Mercy Willard is one of four critical access hospitals in the nation to receive this accreditation. Mercy Willard is also the only one of two critical access hospitals in the state of Ohio, and the first hospital in Huron County to receive this accreditation.

As a Society for Chest Pain Centers accredited facility, Mercy Willard is held to higher standards, so your heart gets the care it deserves. You can expect better care and response time when seconds count.

Getting treated for chest pain at an Accredited Chest Pain Center means you are getting the best and most current care available for what could be a heart attack.

It means: Faster assessment and treatment Better odds of surviving a heart attack Better odds of recovering with a good quality of life

• General feeling of illness

Mercy knows

by heart. mercyweb.org

St. Anne

St. Charles

St. Vincent

Children’s

Defiance

Tiffin

Willard

14 May 2011

North Coast Business Journal

www.ncbj.net

Job Seekers Up the Ante with New Program Series at Huron Public Library

by Jon Oxtoby and Daniel Slife The first session covers interviewing Over the years the Huron Public – the most difficult part of the job Library has strived to deliver resources search process for many job-seekers. to the business community that The keys to a successful interview are empower start-up entrepreneurs, preparation and confidence. This allow existing businesses to fine tune session covers topics such as how to their operations and help all business handle tough interview questions, ventures increase their bottom line. what to wear and take with you, In times of recession and economic what questions to ask and how to crisis, libraries must recalibrate their avoid “interview stage-fright.” This services and focus on the most session is part presentation, part pressing of local needs. practical interaction, with attendees With millions of Americans out of having the opportunity to both work, struggling to enter or re-enter interview and be interviewed. the job market, the Friends of the The second session covers resume Huron Public Library have made writing, including topics such as how possible a pilot career workshop to organize your resume, writing designed to help job seekers navigate objectives and career summaries, a tough job market by improving what information you should never their resume and cover letter writing, put in a resume, and how to tailor interviewing and networking skills. your resume to the specific job for The workshop will be broken down the best results. The third session into 5 individual sessions covering takes the methods learned during the everything you need to know for 10:30:46 a second and applies them to actual ffcuanyloanNCBJ0411.pdf 4/18/11 AM successful job search. resumes. Attendees are encouraged

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to bring their own resumes to discuss them and receive feedback and assistance.

Armed with a solid resume, attendees will be ready to tackle writing effective cover letters in the fourth session. Attendees will learn what makes an effective cover letter and how to ensure the reader continues from your cover letter to your resume. As with the second resume session, attendees are encouraged to bring their own cover letters for feedback and discussion.

The final session covers an often overlooked aspect of a successful job search – networking. As in many things, when it comes to landing a job it’s not just what you know but who you know. Building a solid social and professional network can greatly improve your chances of finding and landing your dream job.

Coming in next month's North Coast Business Journal:

Attendees will learn how to foster and nurture the relationships necessary to build a strong network.

The workshop schedule: Session 1 (Interviewing) - Saturday May 7 10:00am – 1:00pm Session 2 (Resumes Part 1) - Saturday May 14 10:00am – 12:00pm Session 3 (Resumes Part 2) – Saturday May 21 10:00am – 12:00pm Session 4 (Cover Letters) – Saturday June 4 10:00am – 12:00pm Session 5 (Networking) – Saturday June 11 10:00am – 1:00pm To register visit us on the web at www.huronlibrary.org or give us a call at 419-433-5009. Registration is highly recommended but not required. Drop-ins will be accepted on a space available basis.

This program is made possible by the generous financial support of the Friends of the Huron Public Library.

Focus on Marblehead & The Islands

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May 2011

15

The Well-Booked Business

by Cathy Allen Among my clients is a group of nonprofit organizations who provide housing for people with disabilities.

These tireless workers are faced with truly daunting challenges every day. The myriad of rules and regulations they have to contend with, the varied and complicated needs of the people they serve, and all of the different ways houses have of becoming unsafe combine to make the task seem truly impossible for a necessarily-small staff. But the experienced ones have a way of making it look easy. They learned long ago to write down everything they need to remember and to communicate. They developed procedures. They deployed checklists.

The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Done Right by Atul Gawande, M.D., Metropolitan Books, Henry Holt & Company, 2009.

Summary: Think of them as a kind of cognitive safety net, a hedge against the failures of memory common to all human beings. A checklist is not just about running through a series of items and ticking them off as each is done. It is also a communication tool for teams, a way to set expectations, share information, and ensure important steps are not missed. In some professions, such as medicine, the cultural norm is to rely on the uber-competency of the practitioner. But in a world of increasing complexity, a well-crafted checklist can reduce errors and save lives. Here we learn how to write them – and how to deploy them effectively.

Key Learnings: • The World Health Organization (WHO) says there are 13,000 different kinds of diseases and type of injuries.

How can one doctor manage it all?

By developing a specialty, of course.

But even that is insufficient. If an ICU patient needs an average of 178 action items in the course of a day, even a 1% error-rate would yield at least one and maybe two mistakes for

that patient every day.

So superspecialization has emerged. Yet, 150,000 people die each year from complications during and after surgery. And up to half of these could have been avoided if existing knowledge had been employed at the right time.

• A checklist provides a reminder of the most important or minimum steps required for an effort to be successful. It gives consistency across all of the different people who perform a specific set of tasks.

Gawande reports that in one of the medical community’s first efforts to test the checklist theory, they were able to save 1500 lives and $175 million in costs in the first 18 months.

• Buildings, especially big ones, are extremely complicated.

It takes professionals from sixteen different trades to take a project from start to finish. With so many pieces to the puzzle, how can anyone possibly organize this into a cohesive whole?

Well, the truth is no one can. So construction managers have long since discovered the beauty of the checklist. Hanging on the walls of the office trailer or embedded into computers, every tradesman has the checklist and no one can move forward until the right checks appear in the right boxes. With required communication points built in, people have to provide information to each other all along the way without fail.

• The more complex a problem is, the more necessary it is for problem solving to take place from the center of power out to the periphery. Since no one person can ever master all of the truly thorny, intricately-detailed stuff, it takes lots of different minds working together to get it right every time.

Properly developed and deployed checklists allow those in authority to hear from and empower those further down the implementation line. Judgment is still important, of course, but judgment can be aided by procedures and protocols – especially in a crisis.

• Can a checklist improve team functioning? Apparently it can.

When researchers at Johns Hopkins Hospital tested a surgical checklist, they included an item requiring everyone present to introduce themselves and surface any concerns they might have prior to the incision.

This simple act, according to Gawande, made nurses “more likely to note problems and offer solutions” during the surgery itself. Apparently, their desire to participate is activated in this way, making them more effective members of the team. When the researchers specifically measured the checklist’s effect on teamwork, they discovered surgical groups reported a 24% increase in team functioning.

• There are good checklists and bad ones. Here are the elements of a good checklist: 1) define a clear decision point when the checklist will be employed, 2) decide whether to create a “do-confirm” or a “readdo” checklist, 3) keep it short, between five and nine items, depending on context, 4) take care to make the wording simple and exact,

5) make it visually-appealing and easy to read, on one page if possible, and 6) test it in the real world then re-do it until it functions well.

• Having developed a surgical checklist through the WHO, Gawande and his colleagues were ready to pilot it in eight hospitals around the world.

Anticipating resistance, they worked with top leadership to roll it out in a way most likely to be accepted by the majority of practitioners. Still, a checklist which empowers nurses to speak up and even pause proceedings will be an irritant to surgeons in almost every culture. But they can’t argue with these results: major complications for surgical patients in all eight hospitals fell by 36% with the checklist. Complication-related

See WELL-BOOKED BUSINESS Page 23

16 May 2011

North Coast Business Journal

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May 2011

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18 May 2011

North Coast Business Journal

Legal

Retirement?

By Jeff Roth When it comes to retirement planning there appears to be three age groups. â&#x20AC;˘ 1. Over 60. These individuals are relying on the inflation of their stocks and land. Many are also the last of the employees to have had employers who guaranteed a solid retirement. â&#x20AC;˘ 2. Under 40. Most of this group are listening and are aware of the necessity to plan for the future. I am amazed at the number of young couples who faithfully add to their 401K or other retirement plans with the knowledge that they will live longer and want to protect their lifestyle. â&#x20AC;˘ 3. 40-60 years of age. This group is caught in the middle. Companies are no longer supporting their retirement and all of that tremendous stock gain disappeared in an instant. Many do not have a plan B.

It is never too late to start or review.

Factors to Consider in Planning for Retirement. â&#x20AC;˘ 1. Learn about your employerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s retirement plan and be sure that both the company and you are contributing the maximum. â&#x20AC;˘ 2. Set financial goals and stick with them.

Review these goals and increase the saving rather than justify the current use of monies that should be saved for the future. â&#x20AC;˘ 3. Determine your estimated retirement income needs. Look at your current income and select a percentage that can be set aside. This set aside habit will be the hardest to follow now, but will be your best friend at age 65. â&#x20AC;˘ 4. Get a copy of your Social Security Earnings report. This fund should be your cushion not your total support. â&#x20AC;˘ 5. Determine what sources of income will be available at retirement age. â&#x20AC;˘ 6. Where will you live at retirement age and how much extra income will be necessary to enjoy this time in your life?

Is it too late to start saving for retirement?

Obviously it is never too late but the younger you are, the more time you have to accumulate.

Einstein said that the greatest invention was the rule of 72, the rule of compounding. With the untouched compounding of interest a person will accumulate enough money to enjoy his or her later years. If a person 19 invested three thousand dollars a year for nine years and kept the funds well invested he should have two million dollars at age sixty-five. This may be hard to believe but the compounding of interest can have amazing results.

Actually, if we leave monies in place over time, the principal earns interest, the interest earns interest and for tax-deferred investments, the tax savings earn interest. We have just accomplished triple compounding.

I already have a plan This is not a one time only deal. First, you need to ask yourself if this is the right plan. Is this your own plan or did you seek the advice of a qualified financial planner. Most times, an independent knowledgeable professional can double what you could do. They are trained with state of the art software to keep your assets on the right track and hopefully ahead of the curve.

You need at a minimum an annual report with a full review considering the past, present and future

www.ncbj.net course of the stock market. Do you know your annualized rate of return for each year? Is the asset allocation right for today and are you maximizing your return and minimizing your risk.

Determine if your fund managers are producing above or below the average for other like managers.

Each advisor considers himself the best. There is nothing wrong with getting a second opinion.

There is no cost to letting another advisor review your portfolio. Also, you do not need to have all of your assets with one company. Sometimes letting more than one advisor assist you keeps them at their best and the advisor tends to give you better service knowing that he could lose the account with poor performance.

There are many types of retirement holding accounts; a 401K, an individual retirement account, and a Roth IRA to name a few. It is important to understand these arrangements and be sure to fund the type of account that will work best for you. For young couples, a Roth IRA is a phenomenal saving tool that will allow great security many years down the road without being concerned about future income tax.

See what age group you are in and maximize the time you have left with the best plan available. We are living so much longer now. It is never too late to create a plan, establish and maintain a habit and gain the security of knowing that there is money in the bank. The purpose of this article is to raise concerns that may prompt you to question and review. There are many subjects within this article that will be discussed in future articles.

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. Rothâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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.

OOPS! Top Tech Etiquette Offenders

4210 Telegraph Lane Vermilion, OH 44089

6010 West Lake Road Vermillion, OH 44089

In the days when â&#x20AC;&#x153;tweetsâ&#x20AC;? were bird sounds and a â&#x20AC;&#x153;textâ&#x20AC;? was a book, workplace blunders had a limited audience. Now, however, these missteps can receive broad exposure -- with unhappy consequences: Three out of four (76 percent) human resources (HR) managers polled by Robert Half said technology etiquette breaches can affect a personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s career prospects.

To prevent professionals from falling victim to online gaffes, Robert Half has released a new guide,

Business Etiquette: The New Rules in a Digital Age (http://www.roberthalf.us/businessetiquette). The comprehensive guide offers tips for successfully minding your manners when using professional networking sites, social media, e-mail, instant messaging, mobile devices and more. The company has also identified five common types of tech etiquette offenders and how to ensure you arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t

See OOPS, Page 19

North Coast Business Journal

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Japanese Kimono on Display at Schedel Gardens Kerry Porter, owner of Ohio Kimono, is exhibiting 40 Japanese kimono from her collection in the McAlear Gallery of the Brown Welcome Center at the Schedel Arboretum & Gardens in Elmore. The exhibit runs through July 10 at the 17 acre garden estate.

Ms. Porter of Toledo is regarded as one of the area’s leading Japanese textile enthusiasts. Over the years she has studied and collected Japanese kimono that embody the variety of beautiful textile arts the Japanese have to offer. The kimono on display are authentic and were produced in Japan using traditional methods that date back hundreds of years. Some of the kimono are vintage pre-World War II pieces, and others are more modern works of textile art. Each kimono on display is a unique work of art, and was made entirely by hand.

In addition to the kimono, the Schedel Arboretum & Garden will also be displaying its collection of 36 antique netsuke. Kimono do not have pockets so sagemono, or small pouches, were used to carry items similar to a purse. Netsuke are small functional works of art that were attached to a cord from which the sagemono was hung. The netsuke acted as a toggle on the end of the

OOPS, from Page 18 one of them.

HR managers were asked, “To what extent, if any, can technology etiquette breaches -- for example, sending e-mail messages to unintended recipients, checking e-mail on a BlackBerry during meetings, etc. -- adversely affect a person’s career prospects?” Their responses*: Greatly..................................... 15% Somewhat................................ 61% Not at all.................................. 23% Don’t know................................ 1%

100% *Survey of more than 650 HR managers in the United States and Canada at companies with 20 or more employees. The survey was developed by Robert Half and

Choose Mercy Tiffin Hospital for the best cancer care.

The Mercy Cancer Center at Tiffin was recently awarded a three-year accreditation with commendation by the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer. This distinctive recognition, only earned by those programs capable of providing the very best in cancer care, recognizes the comprehensive, multidisciplinary nature of Mercy’s oncology services.

cord that slipped under the obi, or wide belt, that kept the kimono closed. The SA&G collection are all made from hand carved ivory.

The Schedel Gardens is located at 19255 West Portage River South Rd., in Elmore, Ohio. Call (419) 862-3182 or visit www.schedel-gardens.org for more information. conducted via telephone by an independent research firm.

“Etiquette breaches, such as paying more attention to your smartphone than the people you’re meeting with, can make others feel less important and cause you to miss information,” said Brett Good, senior district president of Robert Half International.

“Other mistakes, such as sending a confidential e-mail to the wrong person or impulsively posting an offensive comment on Facebook or Twitter, can have more serious, careerimpacting consequences.”

Founded in 1948, Robert Half is the world’s first and largest specialized staffing firm, with more than 350 offices worldwide. For more information about the specialized staffing and recruitment divisions of Robert Half, visit roberthalf.com, and follow us on Twitter at twitter. com/roberthalf.

The newly expanded Mercy Cancer Center at Tiffin provides patients with access to the highest level of care and caring.

Our highly trained and professional staff has access to the newest technology, clinical treatment protocols and biotherapies. The facility features custom chemotherapy infusion stations, point of care

laboratory testing, massage therapy, lymphadema treatment and a clinical pharmacy. The center also houses an extensive media resource center as well as Angie’s Boutique – a unique retail outlet that specializes in merchandise for cancer patients and a distributor of bareMinerals make-up by Bare Escentuals.

The Mercy Cancer Center at Tiffin is dedicated to winning the war on cancer one patient at a time, and doing so with fAiTh, hOpE and lOvE. For more information about Mercy’s oncology program, please call Mercy Cancer Center at Tiffin at 419.455.8101.

mercyweb.org

20 May 2011

North Coast Business Journal

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The Inn at Chappel Creek Now Kingston Residence of Vermilion Kingston Residence of Vermilion is a fully licensed assisted living community with 48 private studio, one bedroom and two bedroom apartments. The apartments are surrounded by dining, social and recreation areas.

There are four levels of care options available, providing assistance for things such as the supervision and administration of medications,

bathing, dressing, meal preparation and other personal assistance.

According to Heather Shirley, Administrator at Kingston of Vermilion, “We are very excited to have such a wonderful assisted living community become part of our company, enabling us to broaden our healthcare offering in the Vermilion community.” Kingston of Vermilion was established in 1986 and is one of

Save the

date...

Monday,

the area’s most comprehensive inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation centers, specializing in services including physical, occupational, speech and aquatic therapies. Shirley added: “Kingston of Vermilion also provides 24/7 skilled nursing care, and we are extremely proud to have been named one of the best places to work in

Northeast Ohio for the past 7 years in a row.”

Headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, Kingston HealthCare Company was founded in 1989, and currently maintains 13 facilities providing varying types and degrees of care in Ohio, Indiana, New Mexico and North Carolina.

22nd Annual

Chick Schaffner Memorial Charity Golf Classic Catawba Island Club Arthur Hills 18-hole course

June 20, 2011

Erie/Huron County Golfers Contact: Julie Yeager • 419.625.5269 • jyeager@steinhospice.org Ottawa/Lucas/Seneca/Sandusky/Wood County Golfers Contact: Bonnie Knepper • 419.862.4233 • bonnie_knepper@brushwellman.com

  

North Coast Business Journal

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May 2011

21

IT

Surfing Alerts!

By Don Knaur Anyone who has watched TV shows set in Hawaii or California is aware of what Surfing Alerts mean to real surfers.

Unfortunately, there are no warning signs on the approach to the Internet. As in real surfing, you cannot be 100% safe while you are surfing the Internet.

There is no one product or combination of products that can protect you from every threat. This is due in no small part to the fact that there are over 6 million new pieces of Malware produced every year. That averages out to over 16,000 new pieces per day.

In the past year, the biggest growing category of Malware has been the fake anti-virus. It is the newest and most annoying product out there.

More than 2 ¼ million new versions were created last year, which brings to almost 6 million the pieces of software in this category. The main purpose of this type of Malware is to get you to give them your credit card number, so they can supposedly provide a fix and protection for your PC. Actually, they want to go on a major shopping spree with your credit card.

So, how can you give yourself the maximum amount of safety? The first way is to load a good anti-virus/anti-spyware program. For this, I recommend AVG if you have over 512MB of RAM when using Windows XP or over 1GB RAM when using Windows Vista or Windows 7. If you don’t meet the RAM requirements, then I recommend Avast. Both of these developers have both a Free and a Pay version and I recommend the Free one, of course. Other acceptable products that you have to pay for are numerous and include Norton Software, Trend-Micro, Panda and CAI Software.

However, I do not recommend McAfee Software as explained in past articles.

The second and probably most important form of protection is you being paranoid. As the old saying goes, “I may be paranoid, but that doesn’t mean that someone isn’t out to get me.” You need to be very careful while on the Web. The number one rule is “Do not download any program that you have not thoroughly researched, no matter how attractive it sounds!” Likewise, do not open any E-mail attachments from anyone unless you have confirmation of the source. If a friend who sends you jokes or pictures all of a sudden sends you another type of file, contact them for confirmation before doing anything with the attachment.

Pop-ups are the number one source of the fake anti-virus packages mentioned previously. If you see a pop-up that says viruses have been detected

on your PC, do not touch the pop-up window with your mouse pointer. Instead, hold down both the Control <Ctrl> and Alternate <Alt> keys and then tap the Delete <Del> key. In most cases, this will open your Task Manager Window. If it doesn’t, it will give you the opportunity to open the Task Manager Window, which you should accept. Then, go to the “Applications” tab in that Window. In this window, highlight the Application that contains the pop-up and click on the “End Task” button. If you are not sure which Application to click on, just try them one at a time until the popup disappears. You might have to reconnect to the Internet, but that is better than a trip to the Repair Shop.

It is almost impossible to live today without the Internet. Hopefully, this article will help you safely Surf throughout the Summer.

Don is the CWO (Chief Working Officer) of HelpDesk, 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 Help-Desk, Ohio in the spring of 1996 and opened his shop in March 2001. Don welcomes calls for advice or information at 419-448-8020.

Experience Counts

Want to Improve the Health of Your Business?

With 30 years of experience in occupational health, Firelands Corporate Health Center provides a comprehensive package of occupational and safety services to over 800 companies in the region. Dedicated solely to the practice of occupational health, you can find the level of experience you need to control healthcare costs, meet regulations, and keep your workforce healthy and productive.

To find out more about Firelands Corporate Health Center, call 419-557-5052.

Hours of Operation: 7 am – 4:30 pm 24/7 coverage for drug & alcohol testing

firelands.com

1031 Pierce Street, Sandusky

Firelands Corporate Health Center staff have specialized training & certifications in many areas of occupational health medicine. Our team of physicians holds specialized certifications in the following areas: Certified Medical Review Officers Specialized Certifications in Occupational Health Certified for Ohio BWC Impairment Exams & Independent Medical Exams Medical Examiner for FAA Pilot Exams Certified Physician Supervisor for OSHA Audiology Review

Support Staff Physicians – Over 50 years of combined experience in Occupational Health.

Clinic leadership – Over 35 years of combined experience in Occupational Health Certified Coder Nurse Case Managers for BWC cases Full-time x-ray staff

Additional Services Case management Educational classes Employment physicals & specialized physical exams Fingerprinting And much more.

For timely & accurate reports, call the region’s experienced occupational health provider.

22 May 2011

North Coast Business Journal

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Home Sweet Home?

Thinking about keeping your loved ones in their home as long as possible, but want to make sure theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re safe? A Fremont area business, Timâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Home Medical, can offer the expertise and equipment to assure them safety and independence.

Owner Tim Feehan started the company in 1995 and it offers a complete sales, installation and service for medical equipment, stair lifts, vertical lifts, ramps, handicap stove/sink, stockings, lift chairs, and ceiling lifts. While located nearby, Timâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Home Medical covers the whole state of Ohio, providing service calls, repairs and free estimates.

Feehan reports that the need for their services has increased so much that they plan to expand to another location in the Fostoria area and plans to add new staff at that time.

Oak Harbor Downtown Improvement Loan Fund From Oak Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce Two financial institutions that serve the Oak Harbor Village, National Bank of Ohio and Commodore Perry Federal Credit Union have come together to provide funds for the improvement of the downtown. They believe that they have a civic responsibility to help keep the downtown as a pleasant active business community. They are providing $50,000 of low interest rate loans that target facade improvement. The purpose shall be to improve the facades of downtown buildings by painting, siding, window replacement, and other improvements.

It is not meant for major infrastructure improvements such as roofs, interior remodeling etc. The interest rates will vary from 1% to 3% depending on the size, term and purpose.

The terms can be for up to 60 months, although 24-48 months is preferred. The funds are not a grant and are expected to be repaid. There is an application process and the fund will be administered by a committee, yet to be determined.

Information on the process will be available at the Oak Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce and each participating financial institution.

Any improvements would of course be subject to any code or approval process that currently exists. The Village of Oak Harbor has indicated support and cooperation for this project. A list of local small businesses that can provide the services will be available. We encourage good building maintenance to provide for a pleasant public impression of the downtown that should foster increased business activities.

www.ncbj.net

North Coast Business Journal

May 2011

23

All-Digital Smart Hospital

Cutline: Main Street Port Clinton kicks off the Retail is Detail program on Monday. Pictured left to right: John Madison, Treasurer of Main Street; Laura Schlachter, Program Manager; Bill Dupps, Dupps Printing and Supply; Bill Yuhasz, Great Lakes Popcorn; Tom Brown, Past President of Main Street; Mary Snyder, Mary’s Blossom Shoppe; Missy Walker, First National Bank; Chris Boring, Consultant with Boulevard Strategies; Aimee Slater-West, Slater’s Madison Street Pub; Deb Miller, Consultant with Boulevard Strategies; and Tamara Buczkowski, Cruisin’ Tunes.

"Retail is Detail" Program Main Street Port Clinton was awarded a Retail is Detail Grant through the US Department of Agriculture in conjunction with Heritage Ohio. The grant allows members of Main Street Port Clinton and the Port Clinton Area Chamber to participate in this program. Five downtown retail stores and restaurants were selected to receive technical assistance: Cruisin’ Tunes, Dupps Printing and Supply, Great Lakes Popcorn, Mary’s Blossom Shoppe, and Slater’s Madison Street Pub. Deb Miller and Chris Boring of Boulevard Strategies are partnering with Heritage Ohio and Main Street Port Clinton to bring their retail

expertise to downtown businesses located in Port Clinton, a National Main Street community. Miller and Boring will work hand and hand with five business owners within the Main Street Program boundaries providing technical assistance. They will be addressing business issues including marketing, window displays, floor layout, e-commerce, operations, façade and signage, parking landscaping, merchandising, inventory, lighting, pricing and customer service.

To learn more about Main Street Port Clinton and their efforts to revitalize downtown historic Port Clinton, please contact 419-7345503.

WELL BOOKED BUSINESS, from Page 15

them remain calm. It let them know where they were covered and where they needed to improvise. It allowed them to focus all their training and expertise at the critical decisions, and it enforced teamwork when it mattered most.

deaths fell by 47%.

• Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, the pilot who landed the plane on the Hudson River in January 2009 wasn’t alone in the cockpit. He had a co-pilot, Jeff Skiles, who was running the checklist designed specifically for engine failure.

Though highly-trained, Sullenberger is the first to acknowledge that no one could have so much experience with an engine failure that they can figure out what to do in the kind of time it takes a plane to crash. Having the checklist helped

Cathy Allen is the owner of Creative Option C, LLC, a facilitation and organizational development consulting firm in Marblehead. An avid reader and writer, Cathy has posted a series of two-page synopses of classic books in the field of business, leadership and personal development to www.

CreativeOptionC.com.

Industrial Health Services

FTMC Industrial Health Services is the provider of choice for corporate health needs, offering comprehensive services to business and industry. Our services include but are not limited to: • Walk-In Injury Clinic

• First Aid and CPR Certification

• Breath Alcohol and Drug Testing

• BWC Drug-Free Safety Program

• Instant Drug Testing

• On-Site Drug Collections

• DOT Consortium Services

• Occupational Health Education and Wellness Programs

• Pre-Placement and DOT Physicals

FTMC currently works with companies of all sizes.

Our services can be tailored to meet any company’s individual needs.

For more information about FTMC’s Industrial Health Services, call 419-663-6464 We are conveniently located at 28 Executive Drive in Norwalk.

Ample parking and easy access.

272 Benedict Avenue • Norwalk, OH 44857 www.ftmc.com Tomorrow’s Technology. Today’s Personal Care.

24 May 2011

North Coast Business Journal

Taxes Key Changes for 2011

By Jeffrey J. Rosengarten, CPA PAYNE, NICKLES AND COMPANY The tax laws enacted in the last couple of years contain important income tax and information reporting provisions that are effective for the first time in 2011. To inform you of what’s new in the tax rules, here’s a summary of the key tax changes for 2011, broken down into three categories: Personal Income Taxes, Retirement Plan Changes and Tax Changes for Businesses and Investors.

Personal Income Taxes Payroll tax holiday in place.

Employees will pay only 4.2% (instead of the usual 6.2%) Social Security tax on compensation received during 2011 up to $106,800 (the wage base for 2011). Similarly, for tax years beginning in 2011, self-employed persons will pay only 10.4% Social Security self-employment taxes on self-employment income up to $106,800. In either case, the maximum savings for 2011 will be $2,136 (2% of $106,800) per taxpayer. If both spouses earn at least as much as the wage base, the maximum savings will be $4,272.

Stricter rules apply to energy saving home improvements. You can claim a tax credit for energy saving home improvements you make this year, but stricter rules apply for 2011 than for 2010. You can only claim a 10% credit for qualified energy property placed in service in 2011 up to a $500 lifetime limit (with no more than $200 from windows and skylights). What’s more, the credit you claim for any year can’t exceed $500 less the total of the credits you claimed for all earlier tax years ending after Dec. 31, 2005. The amount you claim for windows and skylights in a year can’t exceed $200 less the total of the credits you claimed for these items in all earlier tax years ending after Dec. 31, 2005. The credit is equal to the sum of: (1) 10% of the amount you pay or incur for qualified energy efficient improvements (such as insulation, exterior windows or

doors that meet certain energy efficient standards) installed during the year; and (2) the amount of the residential energy property expenses you paid or incurred during the year.

The credit for residential energy property expenses can’t exceed: (A) $50 for an advanced main circulating fan; (B) $150 for any qualified natural gas, propane or hot water boiler; and (C) $300 for any item of energy efficient property (advanced types of energy saving equipment, such as electric heat pumps, meeting specific energy efficient standards).

Partial annuitization of annuity contracts. When you receive nonretirement-plan annuity payments from an annuity contract, part of each payment is a tax-free recovery of your basis (cost of the annuity contract for tax purposes), and part is a taxable distribution of earnings. For amounts received in tax years beginning after Dec. 31, 2010, taxpayers may partially annuitize such an annuity (or endowment, or life insurance) contract. If you receive an annuity for a period of 10 years or more, or over one or more lives, under any portion of an annuity, endowment or life insurance contract, then that portion is treated as a separate contract for annuity taxation purposes. The net effect is that the annuitized portion is treated as a separate contract, and each annuity payment from that portion is partially a tax-free recovery of basis and partially a taxable distribution of earnings. Absent this rule, the payments might have been treated as coming out of income before recovery of any basis. The portion of the contract that is not annuitized is also treated as a separate contract and will continue to earn income on a tax-deferred basis.

Restricted definition of medicine for health plan reimbursements.

Beginning this year, the cost of overthe-counter medicines can’t be reimbursed with excludible income through a health flexible spending arrangement (FSA), health reimbursement account (HRA), health savings account (HSA), or Archer MSA (medical savings account), unless the medicine is prescribed by a doctor or is insulin. This new rule applies to amounts paid after 2010. However, it

www.ncbj.net does not apply to amounts paid in 2011 for medicines or drugs bought before Jan. 1, 2011. Also, for distributions after 2010, the additional tax on distributions from an HSA that are not used for qualified medical expenses increases from 10% to 20% of the disbursed amount, and the additional tax on distributions from an Archer MSA that are not used for qualified medical expenses increases from 15% to 20% of the disbursed amount.

Retirement Plan Changes Small employers may establish “simple cafeteria plans.” For years beginning after Dec. 31, 2010, small employers (those having an average of 100 or fewer employees on business days during either of the two preceding years) may provide employees with a “simple cafeteria plan.” An employer that uses this type of plan gets a safe harbor from the nondiscrimination requirements for cafeteria plans as well as from the nondiscrimination requirements for certain types of qualified benefits offered under a cafeteria plan, including group term life insurance, benefits under a selfinsured medical expense reimbursement plan, and benefits under a dependent care assistance program.

Tax Changes for Businesses and Investors Electronic filing rules now in place.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2011, employers must use electronic funds transfer (EFT) to make all federal tax deposits (such as deposits of employment tax, excise tax and corporate income tax).

Forms 8109 and 8109-B, Federal Tax Deposit Coupon, cannot be used after Dec. 31, 2010.

Up-to-$1,000 credit for “retained workers” in 2011. Employers may claim a “retention credit” for retaining qualifying new employees (certain formerly unemployed workers meeting specific requirements). The amount of the credit is the lesser of $1,000 or 6.2% of wages paid to the retained qualified employee during a 52 consecutive week period. The qualified employee’s wages for such employment during the last 26 weeks must equal at least 80% of wages for the first 26 weeks. The credit may be claimed for a retained worker for the first tax year ending after Mar. 18, 2010, for which the retained worker satisfies the 52 consecutive week requirement. However, the credit applies only for qualifying employees hired after Feb. 3, 2010, and before Jan. 1, 2011.

New basis and character reporting rules. Generally effective on Jan. 1, 2011, every broker required to file an information return reporting the gross proceeds of a “covered security” such as corporate stock must include in the return the customer’s adjusted basis in the security and whether any gain or loss with respect to the security is short-term or long-term. The reporting is generally done on Form 1099-B, “Proceeds from Broker and Barter Exchange Transactions.” A covered security includes all stock acquired beginning in 2011, except stock in certain regulated investment companies (i.e., mutual funds) and stock acquired in connection with a dividend reinvestment plan (both of which are covered securities if acquired beginning in 2012).

Corporate actions that affect stock basis must be reported. Effective Jan. 1, 2011, issuers of “specified securities” must file a return describing any organizational action (e.g., stock split, merger, or acquisition) that affects the basis of the specified security, the quantitative effect on the basis of that specified security, and any other information required by the IRS. The issuer’s return (and information to nominees or certificate holders) must be filed within 45 days after the date of the organizational action or, if earlier, by January 15th of the year following the calendar year during which the action occurred. Nominees or certificate holders must (unless the IRS waives this requirement) be given a written statement showing (1) the name, address, and telephone number of the information contact of the person required to file the return, (2) the information required to be included on the return for the security, and (3) any other information required by the IRS. In general, a specified security is any share of stock in an entity organized as, or treated for federal tax purposes as, a foreign or domestic corporation.

Reporting requirement for payment card and third-party payment transactions. After 2010, banks generally must file an information return with the IRS reporting the gross amount of credit and debit card payments a merchant receives during the year, along with the merchant’s name, address and taxpayer identification number (TIN). Similar reporting is also required for third party network transactions (e.g., those facilitating online sales).

(Author’s note: This article is not intended to offer professional tax advice. Please consult your tax advisor.)

North Coast Business Journal

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Estate How safe is your retirement plan?

Douglas Gildenmeister Senior Vice President, Investments Retirement Plan Consultant The Gildenmeister Wealth Management Group of Raymond James & Associates, Inc. As you plan for retirement, you may count on an e m p l o y e r s p o n s o r e d “qualified” retirement plan such as a pension plan, profit sharing plan or 401(k). Or perhaps you are counting on your traditional IRA or your Roth IRA. Someone else may be counting on those assets, too.

Creditors, perhaps? It would be nice to know if creditors could get to your retirement savings.

Up to now, your qualified plan accounts find their creditor protection in federal law and are generally fully protected – no matter how large.

Your IRAs, however, find their protection in state law and, unfortunately, many states do not fully protect IRAs. In fact, the level of IRA protection varies widely by state and so has been a point of confusion for many investors. For those with little or no state IRA protection, federal bankruptcy law offers up to $1 million in IRA creditor protection.

This $1 million protection limit for IRAs applies to all of your traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs. Assume your state law offers little or no protection to IRA assets and you own two traditional IRAs and one Roth IRA. If each IRA is worth $200,000, you would have a total of $600,000 in IRA assets. The new federal bankruptcy law protects up to $1 million. So, your IRA assets should be fully protected from creditors. But, let’s

assume that when you retire, you roll $500,000 from your 401(k) into one of your IRAs which will increase your total IRA assets to $1,100,000.

Amounts rolled over from qualified retirement plans, and the future growth on those rollover amounts, are both fully protected under the new federal law. These amounts are not counted toward your $1 million limit. So, in your case, the $500,000 of 401(k) monies you rolled into your IRAs is protected and is not counted toward your $1 million limit. The remaining $600,000 ($1,100,000 less $500,000) is still entirely protected as it falls below the $1 million limit. All of your $1,100,000 IRA assets are protected.

To simplify your “counting,” you may want to keep your qualified retirement plan assets in an IRA other than the one to which you make your regular annual contributions.

The best way to do this may be to establish a separate IRA and roll your “qualified” retirement plan assets directly into this new IRA. The rollover amount and all future growth will be easily identifiable.

Proper financial planning includes making decisions about how to handle rollovers of qualified plan accounts and manage risks, including the potential risk of creditors. The important thing to remember is that you should avoid making rollover, risk management, or other financial decisions, based solely on one aspect of risk management. Consult with your financial advisor for assistance with rollover decisions and incorporating proper risk management into your financial plan.

This material was prepared by Raymond James for use by the financial advisor noted above.

May 2011

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26 May 2011

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On the Move National Bank of Oak Harbor Changes Name At Annual Meeting Charles E. Hablitzel, Chairman of the bank’s Board of Directors announced that the wholly owned subsidiary of Indebancorp, The National Bank of Oak Harbor is officially changing its name to National Bank of Ohio. “We feel our new name is more geographically representative of the markets we serve and allows us to offer community banking beyond our Oak Harbor roots” stated Hablitzel. “As for how this change will affect our customer…it will be business as usual.

Customers can expect to receive the same level of customer service as they have received in the past.”

In 2010 the bank began using a new NBOH logo. National Bank of Ohio will begin a full-fledged effort to brand itself as NBOH, Your Community Bank.

Stationery, business cards, outdoor signage, brochures and more are all in the process of being changed to include the NBOH logo and in some cases, the new name.

In other business at the meeting,

shareholders re-elected Board members James D. Dunn, Charles E. Hablitzel and Thomas M. Spangler to serve as directors of Indebancorp for two-year terms expiring in 2013.

They will continue to serve with board members; John J. Caputo, Dean D. Davis, Dr. Dennis R. Laub and Gary P. Macko.

President and Chief Executive Officer Gary P. Macko reviewed the 2010 annual report and announced the bank and its holding company, Indebancorp, achieved asset growth along with growth in net income over the previous year.

Five staff promotions were announced: F. Joseph Bires named Senior Vice President Amy Haitonic named Vice President Scott Sprouse named Assistant Vice President & Cashier Donna Ebert named Assistant Vice President Mary Williams named Assistant Cashier

Fostoria Area Chamber Names Coordinator The Fostoria Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Trustees proudly announce the appointment of Pamela Smith as Coordinator. Smith, a Findlay native, graduated from Bowling Green State University with a bachelor’s degree in marketing. She has more than 20 years of experience in management, business development, consulting, sales, and marketing research throughout Ohio, Michigan and Virginia.

“Pamela Smith brings years of leadership

and community involvement to the organization,” said Greg Flores, chair, board of trustees, Fostoria Area Chamber of Commerce. “She will truly be an asset to our members and the community.”

SMITH

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Front L to R: Eric Benesh, PTA, Jason Geretz, PT, Rick Sholl, PTA, Lindsey Brown, OT, Allen Morelock, PTA, and Joe Kovach,COTA. Back L to R: Shawna Bear, Rehab Tech, Kim Vaccaro, COTA, and Bev Norton, PTA/ FRD

Edgewood Manor’s Select Therapy Receives the 2010 Chairman’s Award Edgewood Manor Health & Rehabilitation Center’s Select Therapy, owned and operated by Covenant Care has received the 2010 Covenant Care Chairman’s Award. Select Therapy and Edgewood Manor are operated by the same parent company, however are managed as two separate entities.

Only one rehabilitation team is recognized in the Covenant Care Midwest Operational area. Edgewood Manor’ s Select Therapy met all of the above criteria and will be presented with their 2010 Chairman’s Award at the Select Therapy Annual Awards held in California in March.

Accepting the award for Edgewood Manor’s Select Therapy, is Beverly Norton, Facility Rehabilitation Director. “This award symbolizes the hard work and commitment from our therapy team.” said Norton.

“With ever changing requirements

from Medicare and private insurance we face many challenges, but our team has overcome them and have continued to provide excellent therapy outcomes. It is a great honor to be recognized for our accomplishments,” Norton added.

The Chairman’s Award that the rehabilitation team is celebrating is even more exciting this year as Edgewood Manor has also won the Chairman’s Award for their clinical success and excellent quality of care.

Lori Lieb-Opfer, Executive Director of Edgewood Manor stated, “We have a great rehabilitation department in our facility. Because of the success of their Homeward Bound program, we are able to help many of our residents return to the community after a short stay. This is a great accomplishment for Bev and her team.”

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Memorial Health Care System Appoints Interim CEO The Memorial Health Care System (MHCS) Board of Directors has appointed Wesley Oswald as interim CEO effective April 1.

Oswald is stepping in for John Yanes, who has taken a OSWALD position with O’Bleness Hospital in Athens, Ohio.

Oswald brings extensive health care leaderships experience to Memorial, including spending the previous 43 years as CEO and Interim CEO at various institutions across the country. He comes to MHCS from Quorum, which is a company that provides independent hospitals and health systems with management

support services, consulting, education, and training programs.

As a CEO, Administrator and Interim CEO, Oswald has served at hospitals in Texas, Michigan, New Mexico and Florida. The majority of his work has been at non-profit, community owned hospitals that are comparable to Memorial.

Originally from Goshen, Indiana, Oswald earned a BA in Business Administration from Goshen College and an MPH in Public Health/ Hospital Administration from the University of California.

Oswald and his wife, Mary Jo, have been married since 1961. They have one daughter and one son (who is deceased) and seven grandchildren.

In his spare time, Oswald enjoys golf, reading and singing in the church choir.

Elmwood Announces Opening of New Unit Elmwood Communities is excited to announce the grand opening of Loon’s Lodge, Elmwood’s new Respiratory Nursing Unit located at Elmwood Healthcare Center at The Springs- West Campus. Loon’s Lodge specializes in the care of residents who require special respiratory needs and those on stable chronic ventilators.

Named in honor of the Loon duck, Loon’s Lodge offers inviting and colorful, wall decor and artwork that compliments the warm, rich colors found throughout the unit, while featuring the Loon Duck throughout the area. The Respiratory Unit will be staffed and supervised by onsite nurses, respiratory therapists, physicians, a dietician, social worker, direct caregivers and offer psychological services. Dr. Hany Jacob, Elmwood Healthcare Center’s Director of Pulmonary Services will oversee the unit.

Elmwood’s current chronic

ventilator residents, who had been residing on Teals Trails, a third floor unit used for both Long-Term Care and Chronic-Vent residents, have been relocated to Loon’s Lodge.

This now allows all respiratory and chronic-vent residents to be cared within the same unit. This also allows Teals Trail to expand into the area once used for the chronic vent residents, thereby increasing occupancy.

May 2011

27

Mary Wonderly M.D. to be presented Mary Miller Hayes Leadership Award The 2011 Memorial Hospital Mary Miller Hayes Leadership Award will be presented to Mary Wonderly, M.D. The award will be formally given to Wonderly on May 13 at the Celebrating Women & Wellness annual signature WONDERLY event.

Dr. Wonderly received two nominations for the award. One nomination came from her office staff; Jonathan Diller, M.D. a family practice physician in Fremont, submitted the other nomination.

Wonderly, who is originally from Tiffin, has been in health care for more than 30 years. She started her career as a staff nurse at Memorial Hospital. From there, Wonderly worked her way up to supervisor of the Intensive Care Unit, then became vice president of patient service and eventually served as the hospital’s Chief of Nursing.

After spending several years as Chief of Nursing, Wonderly decided to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a physician. While in medical school at The University of Toledo (UT), she

was named as a top-twenty family practice resident in the country and earned many other honors. Wonderly is now a board certified family practice physician in Fremont, where she also serves as Chief of Staff at Memorial Hospital.

Additionally, Wonderly is president of the Sandusky County Medical Society, medical director at Heartland Home Care and Valley View Health Care Center and an assistant professor at UT. In 2008 she received the Dean’s Award for Teaching at UT. The Mary Miller Hayes Leadership Award was established in 2010. It is given each year to a woman who exemplifies leadership and demonstrates a pioneering spirit.

Tickets are still available to the Memorial Hospital Celebrating Women & Wellness’ signature event, where Wonderly will receive the award. This year’s event will also feature Dr. Suzanne Metzger’s program Understanding Gender Difference – the Great Divide. Sponsorship opportunities are available. Contact Memorial Hospital Director of Development and Marketing, Chasity O’Neill at 419.334.6667 or visit memorialhcs.org/women-wellness for more information.

Hospital Earns Three-Year Commission on Cancer Accreditation Memorial Health Care System (MHCS) has been awarded a threeyear accreditation – with commendation – from the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (COC).

MHCS earned this GRILLIS accreditation following an on-site evaluation by a physician surveyor. A facility earns the accreditation with commendation by showing a level of compliance with one or more standards that represent a full scope of the cancer program (cancer committee leadership, cancer data management, clinical services, research, community

outreach and quality improvement).

According to MHCS Cancer Committee Chairman Michael Grillis D.O., “With this accreditation, Memorial’s Oncology Program has demonstrated that it provides patients with a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to treating cancer.”

Established in 1922, the COC is a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to improving survival rates and quality of life fore cancer patients through standard setting, prevention, research, education and monitoring quality of care. Its members include Fellows of the American College of Surgery and 42 national organizations that reflect the full spectrum of cancer care.

28 May 2011

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Firelands Resident Local Physicians Elected as Vice-Chair Earn Highest Teaching Honor from OU-COM Firelands Regional Medical Center, Medical Education is pleased to announce that Stacey L. Carpenter, D.O. has been elected Vice-Chairperson of the Osteopathic Residency Advisory Committee (ORAC).

ORAC is a subcommittee of the Centers for Osteopathic Research and Education (CORE) Academic Steering Committee that addresses issues in postgraduate medical education within the CORE from the intern, resident, and fellow perspective.

Comprised of representatives from each base CORE hospital, ORAC advocates for osteopathic postgraduate trainees in the CORE; woks to preserve the distinctiveness of osteopathic principles and the

diversity of osteopathic medicine; and f o s t e r s professional business and servant leadership in the osteopathic community.

Originally from Sandwich, IL, Dr. CARPENTER Carpenter is in her second year as a Family Practice Resident at Firelands Regional Medical Center. Dr. Carpenter completed her undergraduate education at Northern Michigan University, Marquette, MI, and received her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Erie, PA.

FTMC Sends Pair to Acute Care Program Scott Whitehurst and Jason Strong, both licensed physical therapists at Fisher-Titus Medical Center, recently participated in a two-day education program entitled “Acute Care Rehabilitation” to examine the most appropriate and efficient evaluation and treatment plans for acutely ill, neurological, orthopedic and cardiopulmonary geriatric patients.

The physical therapists also examined a new and evolving role for therapists in acute care using evidenced-based practices.

Whitehurst of Huron has been a licensed physical therapist and member of the Fisher-Titus Rehabilitation Department since 1985. He specializes in both Home Health and inpatient physical therapy services.

Strong of Norwalk has been a licensed physical therapist since August 1995 and has been employed with FTMC’s Rehabilitation Center since 1996.

He works with patients in both the Fisher-Titus Transitional Care Unit and Norwalk Memorial Home. He

STRONG

WHITEHURST

is a geriatric certified specialist (GCS) and has earned a doctorate in physical therapy.

The Ralph & Alice Walcher Rehabilitation Center at FisherTitus Medical Center houses physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, audiology, athletic training and pediatric therapy.

Currently, the rehabilitation department has 90 employees and sees an average of 3,600 outpatients each month. The department has therapists with advanced certification in geriatrics, pediatrics, orthopedics, vestibular, lymphedema and spine care.

Firelands Regional Medical Center’s Medical Education Program is pleased to announce that The Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine (OU-COM) selected the following physicians as recipients of the college’s Master Faculty Award: • Fredric H. Itzkowitz, D.O., clinical associate professor of general surgery at Firelands Regional Medical Center; • Carlos G. Lowell, D.O., clinical associate professor of psychiatry at Firelands Regional Medical Center; • Robert J. Vaschak, D.O., clinical associate professor of internal medicine at Firelands Regional Medical Center.

Given only every five years, the Master Faculty award recognizes exemplary faculty members of the Centers for Osteopathic Research and Education (CORE), OU-COM’s system of affiliated teaching hospital located throughout Oho. The award honors their committed service to OU-COM and the CORE system, and their ongoing

contributions to clinical education programs.

“One of the greatest parts of my job is recognizing colleagues like Drs. Itzkowitz, Lowell, and Vaschak, who have played such an important role in preparing our students, interns, and residents to be caring, compassionate and ITZKOWITZ competent physicians,” said OU-COM Dean Jack Brose, D.O. Dr. Itzkowitz is a graduate of the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine of New York Institute of Technology (NYCOM) and specializes in general Surgery.

Dr. Lowell is a graduate of the Des Moines University College of Osteopathic LOWELL Medicine (DMU-COM) and specializes in psychiatry. In 2006, he was awarded the CORE Outstanding Faculty Award.

Dr. Vaschak is a 1986 graduate of OU-COM and completed a residency at Akron General Medical Center, specializing in internal medicine.

VASCHAK

Firelands Regional Medical Center Earns ACR Accreditation Firelands Regional Medical Center has been awarded a three-year term of re-accreditation in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), including breast 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. Firelands is the only facility in the region who has the breast MRI accreditation.

"Accreditations in healthcare are

evidence of a commitment to excellence," explains Mike Vickery, Area Director, Radiology & Laboratory Services. "Patients can choose where they want to have their diagnostic imaging studies performed and we would suggest that when choosing diagnostic imaging services, such as breast MRI, patients should look for facilities with full accreditations by the American College of Radiology or the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Vascular Labs."

North Coast Business Journal

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May 2011

29

Home Modification Program

Fisher-Titus Medical Center recently was awarded a three-year term of accreditation in mammography as the result of a recent review by the American College of Radiology (ACR). Pictured with the certificate of accreditation are members of the mammography team Kelli Mishra (front left), Vickie Salmons, Cathleen Campbell, lead technologist; Karen Darr (back left), director of imaging services; Debra Mohr and Kim Dellisanti.

Fisher-Titus Mammography Program Gets Accreditation Fisher-Titus Medical Center has been awarded a three-year term of accreditation in mammography as the result of a recent review by the American College of Radiology (ACR). Mammography is a specific type of imaging test that uses a lowdose x-ray system to examine breasts.

A mammography exam, called a mammogram, is used to aid in the early detection and diagnosis of breast diseases in women.

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 Guidelines and Technical Standards after a peerreview evaluation by board-certified physicians and medical physicists who are experts in the field. Image quality, personnel qualifications, adequacy of facility equipment, quality control procedures and quality assurance programs are assessed. The findings are reported to the ACR Committee on Accreditation, which subsequently provides the practice with a comprehensive report they can use for continuous practice improvement.

To meet the high standards of image quality, The Fisher-Titus Mammography Program is accredited by the American College of Radiology

and is in compliance with FDA Mammography Quality Standards.

The program has been accredited since 1995.

Digital mammography was introduced at Fisher-Titus in fall 2009 and provides area women who undergo routine mammograms at the medical center the latest diagnostic technology available.

“Digital mammography is different from conventional mammography in how the image of the breast is acquired and, more importantly, viewed,” said Dr. Matthew F. Gutowicz, chief of the Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine.

“By offering women this state-ofthe-art technology in mammography, the medical center hopes to increase the number of area women who follow recommendations for regular screenings.”

Fisher-Titus Medical Center’s board certified radiologists, Dr. Gutowicz and Dr. William L. Ferber, combine their training, expertise and experience to read and interpret mammograms. In addition, FTMC mammography program’s caring and highly qualified technologists are specially trained in mammography and are certified by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists.

Karen Wynn, a licensed physical therapist at FisherTitus Medical Center, recently attended an education program entitled, “The ABCs of Home Modifications for Patients with WYNN Physical and Neurological Disabilities.” The course offered techniques for performing home modification techniques for individuals who have had injury of disease, including kitchen and bathroom design changes.

Wynn of Ashland has been a

member of the Fisher-Titus Rehabilitation Department since 1995 and has been a licensed physical therapist since 1987. She specializes in Home Health physical therapy services.

The Ralph & Alice Walcher Rehabilitation Center at Fisher-Titus Medical Center houses physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, audiology, athletic training and pediatric therapy.

Currently, the rehabilitation department has 90 employees and sees an average of 3,600 outpatients each month. The department has therapists with advanced certification in geriatrics, pediatrics, orthopedics, vestibular, lymphedema and spine care.

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30 May 2011

North Coast Business Journal

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Port Clinton Chamber/Main Street Annual Meeting & Awards Dinner

Area Realtors Attend Spring Conference

Front Row: Tom Brown, Main Street Port Clinton 2010 Volunteer of the Year; Aimee Slater-West, Slater s Madison Street Pub 2010 Chamber Beautification Award Winner; Liz Young, Wide World Shop 2010 Main Street Port Clinton Business of the Year. Second Row: Laura Schlachter, President of the Port Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce and Program Manager of Main Street Port Clinton; Brian Snyder, Sutton Property Leasing 2010 Chamber Business of the Year; Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur; and Greg Peiffer, WPCR PortClintonRadio.com, 2010 Chamber Lighthouse Award Winner. Not pictured: Mike Schenk, 2010 Chamber Citizen of the Year.

Nearly 300 Ohio Realtors, including seven members of the Firelands Association of Realtors, gathered for the Ohio Association of Realtors Spring and L e g i s l a t i v e Conference to discuss issues affecting Ohio’s property owners and to meet with legislators to review issues of local concern and conduct Association business.

The Conference was held at the C o l u m b u s Renaissance Hotel.

Shown from left back row are: David Beichle, Scott Beichle, Dennis Murray State Representative, Leonard Partin and Glenda Ward. Left Front row are: Ruth DeHenning, Donna Schoonmaker and Norma Schaechterle.Not pictured Terry Boose State Representative.

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May 2011

31

Firelands Regional Medical Center Residents Honored in Scientific Paper Competition Jason A. Sneed, D.O. and Luis L. Perez, D.O., Family Practice Residents with Firelands Regional Medical Center’s Medical Education Program were recently honored for their submissions to the Scientific Paper Competition sponsored by the Ohio State Section of the American College of SNEED Osteopathic Family Physicians.

Dr. Sneed was chosen as the Best CME Paper for his entry, Osteopathic Manipulation for Common Obstetric Complaints.

This noteworthy award earned Dr. Sneed an

invitation to present his paper at the Ohio Osteopathic Symposium in Columbus later this month. Dr. Sneed’s presentation will mark the fourth year in a row that a Family Practice Resident with Firelands Regional Medical Center’s Medical Education Program has been asked to present their paper at the event.

In addition, Dr. Perez was chosen as the runnerup for his entry, Mesenteric venous thrombosis in a 34-year-old woman with worsening constipation: Case Report.

Originally from Manassas, VA, Dr. Sneed is in his third year as a Family Practice Resident at Firelands Regional Medical Center. Dr. Sneed completed his undergraduate education at University of Virginia,

Business

Charlottesville, VA, and received his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Blacksburg, VA. Dr. Perez is originally from Lima, Peru and is in his third year as a Family Practice Resident at Firelands Regional Medical Center. Dr. Perez completed his undergraduate education at PEREZ Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, and received his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Athens, OH.

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Benefits 2010 NC Biz.pdf 12/16/10 10:08:31 AM 32 MayCmty2011 North Coast Business Journal

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Serving the Community SAVING LIVES

COMMUNITY BENEFIT REPORT 2010 QUALITY CARE Emergency Department Visits.................17,450 Inpatient Admissions ................................2,311 Inpatient/Outpatient Visits .....................80,976 Surgical Procedures ..................................4,444

For more than 90 years, Memorial Health Care System has been serving the local community. As we continue to be a non-prof it organization that is dedicated to making Sandusky County a better place to live, MHCS accounts for a total economic impact to the community of over $150 million. In addition to the economic benef it to our community, Memorial Health Care System provides essential services that educate, save lives, and keep Sandusky County healthy.

Lab Tests ...........................................1,138,667 Physical Therapy Treatments ................110,954 Diagnostic Imaging Procedures ..............44,857 Pain Management Patients .......................9,128 Home Health Care Visits ...........................7,994 Hospice Visits..........................................15,428 HealthLink Visits .....................................15,554 COMMUNITY INVESTMENT Mobile Meals..........................................10,688

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Over 150 physicians on staff, with more than 100 specialists

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Memorial Women’s Health Services, featuring OB/GYN specialists

Total Payroll and Benefits.............. $29.3 Million

Child and Adult Specialty Clinic, featuring infectious disease specialty care

Charity/Uncompensated Care ........ $7.3 Million

Newly renovated 13 bay Emergency Department

Utility Payments .................................$870,069

Auxiliary of Memorial Hospital Women’s Diagnostic Center, opened in 2010

Dollars Spent Locally .................... $12.7 Million

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Weitzel-Kern Surgery Center

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Herbert-Perna Center for Physical Health

Total Volunteer Hours .............................39,160

Capital Investments ........................ $4.2 Million

memorialhcs.org