North Coast Business Journal - November 9, 2011 by Paul Wallen

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

NOVEMBER 2011 Vol. 18 No. 10

INSIDE THIS MONTH Leaving Money on the Table?..........2 CHAMBER CALENDARS.... 10 Tax Planning for College....... 11 The Well-Booked Business.......... 12 Legal: "Disclaimer".... 15 Key Estate Planning Documents...... 20 Sales: Differentiation.. 23 IT: The PC Turns 30.......... 25

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

Tiffin

Making Great Progress and Poised for the Future By James W. Boroff, Mayor of the City of Tiffin Last year at this time, we were eagerly anticipating the opening of the American Civil War Museum of Ohio in downtown Tiffin. We have not been disappointed. This facility occupies the building that was originally the Tiffin Post Office and later was purchased and used by the Tiffin City School Board as a classroom annex to our high school building. A few years ago, the school board was considering selling the facility for the purpose of being converted to a minimum security detention center, but two community-minded investors stepped in and purchased the structure to maintain the integrity of the neighborhood. Subsequently, Mr. Mark Young, president of the Civil War Museum Board, expressed an interest in purchasing the building and relocating his existing exhibits from their cramped quarters in Bowling Green. Through the joint efforts of the building’s owners, the Seneca Industrial and Economic Development Corporation, the City of Tiffin and the project engineers, the museum is now a reality. A one-of-akind facility in our region, the Civil War Museum has a large number of exhibits that appeal to children and adults alike. Hundreds of people from all over the country are visiting the museum each month. Bus tours are being scheduled well in advance from as far away as

California. The museum is proving to be a great economic boost to the downtown area. This fall, Tiffin and Heidelberg Universities posted record or near-record enrollments and are continuing to make improvements on their respective campus. Tiffin University is putting the finishing touches on a recreational facility located on a former landfill. This athletic complex will house an indoor track as well as facilities for other sports and will be available for community use later this year. Heidelberg University, likewise, is continuing to expand. Last October, ground was broken for a new student residence and commons building. Early

this fall the first students moved into the facility which will not only accommodate residents but will feature dining and recreational facilities. Heidelberg also broke ground for a new athletic center in close proximity to their new football field on their campus. We are poised to begin construction on a Federal Highway project in the Heidelberg campus area. This project not only provides for better pedestrian and vehicle safety, but it will also enhance the appearance of the campus by incorporating decorative median strips and rights-ofway improvements. Again, Tiffin was host to a number of

See TIFFIN, Page 7

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

Elmore Chamber of Commerce

Chamber of Commerce Erie County Chamber of Sandusky County of Commerce

Fostoria Area Chamber of Commerce

Huron Chamber of Commerce

Marblehead Peninsula Chamber of Commerce

Genoa Chamber of Commerce

Huron County Chamber of Commerce

Milan Chamber of Commerce

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

Seneca Regional

Chamber of Commerce

Vermilion Chamber of Commerce Willard Area Chamber of Commerce

2 November 2011 North Coast Business Journal

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Are You Leaving Money on the Table? By Jeffrey H. Bryden Editor Well, it’s approaching year end. And c o m p a n y budgets, already tight, are running low. So, again this year, I’m offering a remedy available (over the counter) to many of our business readers: Co-op funds. Last month’s column has generated some lively discussion -- In brief, it was about how companies which continued to sell and advertise during economic slowdowns always came out ahead when the economy rebounded. And how continuation of advertising and sales efforts when the competition was cutting theirs was, in net terms, an “increase” in share of voice and customer attention. One reader commented “While I agree with this theory in principle, it’s not easy to do when the slowing economy is strangling my cash flow… where do I find the money to increase or even continue my advertising efforts?” Good question. While the answer will depend on the nature of your business, for many in the service and retail arena, there is PLENTY of money available. Money that is “just sitting there, waiting for you.” We all find it interesting when we read about everyday citizens benefit from “windfalls.” When longforgotten bank accounts or unclaimed tax refunds suddenly bubble to the

surface. If you’re a retailer, chances are good that you’re due a “windfall” too – money that is rightfully yours but which will be lost if you don’t claim it. I’m not talking about money from your long-lost rich uncle, I’m referring to “co-operative advertising money” available from your suppliers and vendors. According to National Register, publisher of The Co-op Advertising Programs Sourcebook “The total allocated for co-op is estimated at over $50 billion annually. Many companies spend more for co-op than they do for national advertising on TV and in magazines. Yet many retailers fail to use their co-op dollars. Often they assume it’s difficult to access co-op. Or they may be understaffed. The money they could be spending to build a lot of added business is lost to them.” In my 30 years in the advertising agency business, we had many clients whose advertising budgets (in the millions of dollars) were based almost entirely on manufacturers’ co-op funds. These included car dealers, one of the nation’s leading office supply retailers and a large regional discount auto parts chain. The car dealers had a per-car co-op allocation “built in” from the manufacturer. The office supply chain’s television and newspaper supplement advertising budget was 100 % co-op money. The auto parts chain depended so heavily on co-op that they would change vendors, even for their major “bread and butter” items like spark plugs or oil filters if co-op policies or dollars available were not

COMING IN DECEMBER:

Focus on Western Ottawa County

to their liking. (Their poor store managers were constantly re-setting and re-stocking the stores!) Each year, for one of the leading tire manufacturers in the US, our agency prepared retail advertising material which tutored tire dealers on how to use co-op -- it gave them ad slicks, clip art, radio scripts, and video footage for use in both broadcast and print ad production. Same thing for national Yellow Page programs. Now nothing in life is free. Each manufacturer will have guidelines. About your use of competitive products in or near the ad. About which products can be featured and what visual likenesses or images to use. About specific product claims and pricing. And about legal disclaimers that might need to be included in your ad. And they’ll advise you how to submit proof that your advertising ran – using print tear sheets or broadcast station affidavits. Getting your money will take time and organization. But it’s worth it -- it is, after all, your money. Yes, indeed, it’s your money. But where does it come from -- is it free money? No. It’s been built into the price of all the products you’ve purchased. So, you’ve already “paid for” this money – it’s yours. But, if you don’t use it, you lose it. It will remain with the manufacturer and go right to their bottom line. Now, how “charitable” can you afford to be? Re-read the terms of every order that you’ve placed with each supplier or vendor. Most often, vendors have accrued money, set it aside, in a special co-op fund for you

to use in the promotion and sale of the products you purchased from them. Sometimes, it’s not actual advertising money, but off-invoice credit that can be used in the future purchase of products from the company. Or in “parts and supplies” needed for servicing or accessorizing the products you sell. Too much trouble for you to go after these funds? Think you don’t need them? Here’s a question. Are your competitors, who deal with these same vendors, utilizing their co-op funds? Will they be moving forward while you’re sliding backward? How to proceed? The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) offers some beginning insight at their Web site (www.nfib.com) under “Tools and Tips --Basics of Co-op Advertising.” So does the US Chamber of Commerce. There are also many commercial firms offering co-op advertising advice and subscription services for up-to-theminute news of special deals available from manufacturers. Just “Google” the words “Co-op Advertising” for a long list good places to start. And if that still sounds like too much trouble, ask your friendly print or broadcast media representatives – they know co-op and will be happy to assist you in getting your fair share of these funds. In summary, maintain your sales momentum by utilizing every financial resource available to you. Take advantage of co-op advertising dollars. After all, it is your money. Why would you leave it lying on the table?

Museum Under Way A ground breaking ceremony was held last month at the future site of the Liberty Aviation Museum & Tri Motor Heritage Museum on State Road in Port Clinton.

November 2011

North Coast Business Journal

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Tiffin Area Chamber of Commerce Celebrates 97 Years, Changes Name By John Detwiler President & CEO The Tiffin Area Chamber of Commerce celebrated its 97th year of operation in September with the event being duly recognized at the Annual Meeting of the Corporation on October 31st. Obviously, many things have changed over the years, but none more so than that which occurred during 2011. A 3-year relocation study culminated in moving the facility to its present location at 19 W Market St, Suite C on March 31. The relocation committee considered many factors, including present and future space needs, parking, ADA requirements, an expanded program of work and, of course, cost. Our new home features an expanded lobby with 96 sq. ft. of slat-wall to accommodate our brochures and collateral. We also have a 48-seat community room which not only serves our needs as a

meeting facility but is also available to other non-profits and community groups. We’ve continued the onestop shopping concept with the co-location of our county economic development group as well as other complementary organizations currently being discussed. In August, after an RFP process, the Chamber was awarded the county bed tax funds by the Seneca County Commissioners to provide destination marketing services effective January 1, 2012. As a result, the Chamber will be the home of a newly-created Visitors Information Center. Due the increased scope of work as well as to recognize the location for visitor information, the Chamber will change its name to Seneca Regional Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Services. We’ve expanded and refined our program of work in 2011. A team of communications professionals from the area formed the nucleus of our

Marketing, Branding and Communications Committee for the purpose of examining and recommending a comprehensive, integrated approach to our communications process including logo, website, social media, newsletter and printed material. We’ve taken full advantage of our new meeting space at the Chamber. A monthly series of general membership luncheons was initiated to update our members on topics important to their businesses. A new collaborative series of business education seminars was also launched with Tiffin University, with hands-on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn training. We’ve been busy on the workforce development front with our Education Committee. Currently, the committee consists of representatives from the manufacturing sector and post-secondary and secondary schools. The end-game is to be able to match skills being taught at the

secondary level to those skills required by business. Thus far a pilot group of instructors, guidance counselors, intervention specialists, administrators and students have toured and discussed required skills and abilities at Webster Industries, a local integrated manufacturing facility. We will be involving all interested manufacturers in the immediate future. Speaking of education, the Chamber once again recognized an Outstanding Educator at the annual breakfast meeting of the same name. Gail Schreiner, a long-time educator with Tiffin City Schools and a tireless community advocate, was recognized

Customer Service... Our many repeat customers recognize our ability to satisfactorily complete projects on time and within budget. Proud to be active in the future growth of Seneca County

Master of Business Administration Master of Education Master of Humanities Master of Science in Criminal Justice Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of Business Administration Bachelor of Criminal Justice Associate of Arts Associate of Business Administration Associate of Criminal Justice 155 Miami Street, Tiffin, Ohio 44883 419.447.6442 WWW.TIFFIN.EDU

See CHAMBER, Page 8

4 November 2011 North Coast Business Journal Mercy Tiffin Welcomes

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

Salvatore “Sam” Veltri, MD Medical Oncologist

Board certified in medical oncology and internal medicine, Dr. Veltri joined the Mercy Cancer Center at Tiffin team as the full-time medical oncologist. Dr. Veltri’s goal is to provide high quality and compassionate care to every patient through a wide range of services including chemotherapy, hormone therapy, immunotherapy/biological therapy, general medical oncology and general hematology. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Veltri, please call 419.455.8122. Mercy Oncology Specialists 40 Fair Lane Tiffin, Ohio 44833

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SIEDC “The key to why things change is the key to everything.” ~ James Burke Submitted by Rich Focht Executive Director SIEDC Thirty years ago, Tiffin and Seneca County were faced with enormous challenges. The economy was reeling from the announced layoffs and subsequent plant closings at such long time employers as General Electric, Pettibone and Hayes Albion. Many in the local community wondered what would happen next. To make matters worse, there was no organized effort to replace the jobs that had been lost. A local group of concerned citizens decided to take matters into their own hands and created a new public/private economic development organization that was named the Seneca Industrial & Economic Development Corp. (SIEDC). Since those days, the City of Tiffin and Seneca County have invested millions of dollars in developing new infrastructure; purchasing land for industrial development; and marketing. The lesson has been learned: change is inevitable; either use it to your advantage or become its victim. Even though the path has not always been easy, there have been definite changes and improvements in the local economy. As Tiffin extended its infrastructure and developed land for business expansion, SIEDC has actively marketed the community and Seneca County. The results have been noteworthy; Northstar Industrial Park is full with seven businesses. Two of these are Fortune 500 Companies (Owens Corning and Sonoco Products). One of these is a Japanese transplant, Taiho Corporation of America, with U.S. corporate headquarters located here. Several of these companies have expanded two or three times. Eagle Rock Business Park has three new companies: Toledo Molding & Die Company, American Fine Sinter Company, our second Japanese transplant with U.S. headquarters located here, and

Tiffin Insulators. Many of our local stalwart manufacturing businesses such as Ameriwood OEM, Webster Manufacturing, National Machinery, LLC, Tiffin Metal Products, Laminate Technologies, Horizon Technology Group, Palfinger USA, Inc., to name a few, continue to add new investment and jobs. With change in the makeup of the business community, a broader diversification of business has developed. The community has moved from reliance on a few employers. Among the list of growing companies is Seneca Medical, Inc., Church & Dwight, Sarka Sheet Metal, Arnold Machine, Inc., Centrex Plastics LLC, Ballreich Bros, Inc., Quick Tab II, Tiffin Scenic Studios, OCECO, Inc., to name a few. Among the largest employers and adding more diversification are Mercy Hospital of Tiffin with its new $65 million medical campus on the west end of Tiffin, Tiffin Developmental Center, VH-1 (a medical treatment facility), Heidelberg University and Tiffin University. Tiffin University has embarked on a $30 million capital campaign to add new dorms and a new indoor athletic facility.

See SIEDC, Page 8

North Coast Business Journal

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November 2011

Mercy Tiffin Hospital Celebrates New Initiatives, New Physicians Mercy Tiffin Hospital is celebrating new initiatives and new physicians. In the past year, Mercy Tiffin created a new cancer center that opened in January of 2011 and announced the construction of Seneca Dialysis on the Mercy Campus. In 2011, Mercy Tiffin began participating in a “Safety Across the System” initiative, and welcomes three new physicians – a cardiologist, a medical oncologist and an obstetrician and gynecologist.

Mercy Cancer Center at Tiffin Now Open The new Mercy Cancer Center at Tiffin is now open. Mercy Tiffin Hospital’s $1.35 million investment has consolidated all oncology programs into one community cancer center campus by developing and connecting a new medical/oncology infusion clinic to the existing Radiation Therapy Center. With the completion of this construction project, most cancer-related treatments and services are now in one location, with ample free parking and easy entry access for individuals with disabilities. “Successfully fighting cancer takes a comprehensive, well-coordinated approach,” said Dale Thornton, President and CEO of Mercy Tiffin Hospital. “We are committed to providing state-of-the-art cancer services, while easing fears and focusing on the needs of each individual person.” The new Medical Oncology/Infusion Center provides many amenities and services to make receiving cancer treatment more comfortable and convenient for patients. The Oncology/Infusion Center features 9 infusion rooms, an oncologist office and four exam rooms. Point of care laboratory testing and an on-site pharmacy, massage therapy and IV infusion allows cancer patients to receive most necessary treatment, testing and medications in one location. The new cancer center features Angie’s Boutique. This unique boutique offers specialized

merchandise for cancer patients, including products, supplies and services cancer patients often require, such as bra’s and breast prosthetics, wigs, scarves and wraps. The boutique will also offer Bare Mineral make-up by Bare Escentuals, as well as soothing lotions to promote healing and ease discomfort. A unique future addition to the cancer center will be a healing garden. Once completed, this special area will serve as a place for personal reflection and renewal of faith, hope and love – all essential elements on the journey through diagnosis, treatment and recovery. The flow from registration to discharge will make cancer care easier for the patient and their family, so everyone can focus on the patient’s recovery. For more information about the Mercy Cancer Center at Tiffin, please call 419-455-8101.

Mercy Tiffin and DaVita Partnering to Develop Dialysis Center Mercy Tiffin Hospital and DaVita are pleased to announce the groundbreaking of a new dialysis center that will house Seneca Dialysis on the Mercy Tiffin healthcare campus. Since the inception of this joint venture partnership in 1999, Seneca Dialysis has been housed on the campus of the former Betty Jane Center. Construction of the $1.3 million, 6,200 square foot facility is scheduled to start this July. The facility will be completed by March 2012. Following

the license review, the facility will a part of such a fine community here open in May 2012. The construction in Tiffin, Ohio.” will be managed by The Lathrop Mercy Tiffin Hospital is partnering Company. Once opened, Seneca with DaVita Inc., Entelco Corp. and Dialysis will grow from its current 8 the W. W. Lathrop Co. to create this station facility to a state-of-the-art facility. DaVita Inc., a Fortune 500 facility providing up to 13 dialysis company, is a leading provider of chairs. The new facility will also kidney care in the U.S., delivering include patient exam and treatment dialysis services and education to rooms. patients with chronic kidney failure “Innovative, collaborative and end stage renal disease. As of relationships such as this are the March 31, DaVita operated or foundation of the Mercy Tiffin provided administrative services at healthcare campus,” said Mr. Dale 1,642 dialysis facilities, serving Thornton, President and CEO of See MERCY, Page 9 Mercy Tiffin Hospital. “This partnership is the next step in developing a fully integrated health Family Owned and Operated Since 1933 care campus of choice for physicians, patients, employees and Serving Commercial & Industrial Accounts employers of Seneca In NW Ohio County and the surrounding area.” Specializing in: “We are very proud to STANDARD ARCHITECTURAL & MULTIbe in partnership with COLOR COATINGS Mercy Tiffin Hospital. Relocating our Seneca WOOD FINISHING County Dialysis Center VINYL WALLCOVERING to the Mercy campus will allow DaVita to WATER REPELLENT COATINGS even better serve the dialysis patients of Tiffin TWO COMPONENT EPOXY & URETHANE and the surrounding SYSTEMS areas,” said David WATER AND SAND BLASTING Spears, regional operations director with DaVita. “At DaVita, we “Professional Painting Pays” always consider 419-332-1363 Toll Free 800-797-6252 ourselves a community 446 N. Wood St., Fremont, OH 43420 first and a company second - so we are www.maypainting.com especially thankful to be

MAY PAINTING INC.

6 November 2011 North Coast Business Journal

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Schools and Community: Charting a Course for the Future Submitted by Scott Urban, Director of Instruction/Personnel Tiffin City Schools How does a School District determine what the community’s educational vision and direction is for its future citizens? The Tiffin City Schools answered this question by implementing a community engagement process known as Charting the Course. This community engagement model is designed to elicit a broad spectrum of opinions about what the community values for the education of its students, and ultimately, its future workforce. Phase I of the process began with a meeting in the fall of 2009. Tiffin City School officials invited a cross-section of one hundred community and school representatives to the meeting to answer the following two questions: 1) What skills will students need to be successful in the future? 2) What should the Tiffin City Schools do to ensure that its students have a competitive edge after graduation? Phase II began by dissecting, categorizing, and grouping answers to the two essential questions.

Based on the answers, a November phone survey was created and conducted by community volunteers. The purpose of the survey was to determine areas of interest and non-interest among a broader community group. The survey included twenty questions. In total, 1,500 District residents were randomly selected by an independent company to participate in the survey. The residents were selected from an approved voter registration list. Altogether, 350 phone surveys were conducted over two evenings, providing the District with reliable and valid information. From November through March, the phone surveys were analyzed, revealing four high interest areas among community respondents: • Career-Based Education • Community Engagement • Student Achievement • Using Technology in Education During Phase III, study groups were formed around the four key areas. Each study group spent 6 months studying the topic area by collecting data, visiting other School Districts, and listening to guest speakers knowledgeable in the topic area. Notebooks were compiled to help display the information that was collected and studied.

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To Help You Employ Drug-Free and Healthy Workers: Drug & Alcohol Testing Services (Collected by Chain of Custody) Physical Exams Fingerprinting

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To Help You Reduce Injuries and Control Costs: Work Related Injury Treatment and Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) Case Management Drug-Free Workplace Programs Employee Assistance Programs

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Phase IV involved a meeting with the study group members during which each group presented a list of four to five high interest recommendations. The members then used a prioritization process to determine which were most important. From the total of 18 recommendations, the top 8 were selected, with the top recommendation from each study group automatically included. These recommendations were then presented to the Board of Education for approval at its October 26, 2010, meeting. The following are the 8 recommendations that were adopted: • Develop a focus on character education K-12 • Improve mechanisms used to constantly disseminate information to taxpayers • Create diagnostic reading assessments for grades 3-8 • Create a District standard of technology support within each classroom • Develop rigor, relevance, and relationships • Expand partnerships between parents and the School District • Research STEM (Science, technology, Engineering, and Math) programming • Develop a peer tutoring program During Phase V, known as the implementation phase, the staff of the Tiffin City Schools began implementing the top 8 recommendations. Leadership team meetings, building/department meetings, and general staff meetings were used to discuss how each recommendation would be implemented at the various grade levels across the District. Charting the Course is not without a built-in system of accountability. Progress reports are communicated to the original group of 100 members via email in February and June of each year. Additionally, an annual meeting is held each October. This meeting is designed to provide updates as well as solicit information regarding the progress of the recommendations. Committee members are able to provide a voice to each recommendation to ensure that it is progressing in the way that the original study group intended. Once a recommendation is completed, the next highest prioritized recommendation from the original list of 18 is implemented, and the completed recommendation is monitored for ongoing maintenance. Charting the Course has been a valuable community engagement process for the Tiffin City Schools. By involving the community in helping the District understand what it expects from its students, a focus on a vision of education is created and developed by those who have the greatest investment in its outcome. More information may be obtained about the process by emailing Scott Urban, Director of Instruction/Personnel, at scott_urban@tiffin.k12. oh.us.

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TIFFIN, from Page 1

very successful events during the summer and early fall months. The Tiffin Area Chamber of Commerce organized monthly Farmers’ Markets from July through October. This is the second year for these events which draw hundreds of patrons who desire fresh produce, plants and flowers and homemade items. The second weekend of September is extremely busy in our community. Jazzin’ Tiffin hosted their third annual event. Featuring top-quality entertainers, this festival continues to grow in popularity, drawing hundreds of enthusiasts to listen and participate along the scenic riverfront at Frost Parkway. On the same day, thousands of people attended the Cross Country Carnival at Hedges-Boyer Park. This event draws hundreds of cross country runners from schools throughout the region and is the second largest such event in the Country. Rounding out the weekend was the Tiffin Art Guild’s Art Show and Sale where dozens of artisans displayed their paintings, photographs, jewelry, ceramics and other wares. The very next weekend, Tiffin celebrated our Thirty-Third Annual Heritage Festival. More than a thousand people from the surrounding area attended the parade on Saturday morning and hundreds more visited Heritage Village to view the craftwork, demonstrations and historic re-enactments. Admittedly, we encountered our share of problems from the downturn in the economy. But many of our industries are experiencing a rebound in sales and employment. And, we are noting an upsurge in interest from

outside manufacturing and service sector concerns about locating here. Although the local economy is still very fragile – especially in the retail sector – many business owners have expressed the opinion that they believe the recession has “bottomed out” and that conditions will improve, albeit slowly. Our local industries’ ability to weather the storm has been due in part to prudent continual financial planning, a dedicated work force and the fact that many of our manufacturing plants are privately owned and had little debt load going into the recession. We anticipate a steady rebound throughout 2012. The city is also working in a variety of ways to market ourselves through the Tiffin Area Chamber of Commerce, the Seneca Industrial and Economic Development Corporation and Tiffin Tomorrow (a private development group). As for future projects: we are studying the feasibility of replacing all of our rightsof-way lighting (which is currently of the conventional type) with an LED system. This will greatly improve visibility while at the same time create a great savings in operational and maintenance costs. We are also progressing on another long-term project, that being the conversion of a building adjacent to the Municipal Building into a court facility. At this moment we are investigating design studies and anticipate that the entire project will take eight to ten years before reaching fruition. All-in-all, we are making great progress in the City of Tiffin and I believe that, once the economy swings to the positive side, we will be in a strong position to make our community an even better place to live, work and play.

November 2011

Opportunity for Advancement Employees’ Top Priority Despite workplace pressures and slow growth for compensation, greater opportunity for advancement is the number one priority sought by employees in their next position, according to a survey by Right Management. During September and October Right Management polled 561 North American workers via an online survey and asked: What is your highest priority in your next position? Greater opportunity for advancement—27% Better management team—21% More flexible work environment—21% Better compensation—17% Less work pressure—14% “We posed a classic question to today’s workers, what they’re really looking for in their next job,” said Ron Sims, Right Management’s Talent Management Practice Leader for the Middle Atlantic states. “We wondered if higher comp would top the list, or perhaps less workplace stress, but we found that opportunity for advancement is number one. That tells us that despite all the workplace complaints we hear most employees are still highly motivated about their own development and careers.” Sims observed that higher compensation and less work pressure trailed other concerns including quality of management. “The second highest priority among respondents is a better management team, which may mean either more competent leaders or more considerate bosses, a finding that’s common in a workplace poll such as this. This is a variant of the truism that people quit their bosses, not their companies, and it’s a key lesson for all organizations when there’s strong competition to attract and retain quality talent.” But senior management’s main interest ought to be how to engage employees during a weak economy, advised Sims, who noted that the most recent Manpower Employment Outlook Survey is for continued sluggish hiring across most industries. “Employee turnover has been remarkably slow for the past two years, and everyone is itching for new horizons. In fact, many workers feel trapped in their current situation. Now that’s bad for everyone concerned and the savvy employer will make strenuous efforts to vary people’s tasks and responsibilities, to shuffle work teams, to do cross-team training…to do whatever is needed to demonstrate real commitment to career development and to counter a pervasive sense of career stagnation among their employees. Some organizations are surely on top of the problem, but I’m afraid too many aren’t.” About Right Management Right Management is a global leader in talent and career management workforce solutions within ManpowerGroup. The firm designs and delivers solutions to align talent strategy with business strategy. Expertise spans Talent Assessment, Leader Development, Organizational Effectiveness, Employee Engagement, and Workforce Transition and Outplacement. With offices in over 50 countries, Right Management partners with companies of all sizes – including more than 80% of the Fortune 500 – to help grow and engage their talent, increase productivity and optimize business performance.

8 November 2011 North Coast Business Journal

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EHOVE Goes Global A large number of American companies do business with international companies on one level or another, and they’re looking for employees who can think locally and globally. EHOVE Career Center will offer a new training program in the high school next year that will provide students with a solid foundation in the world of global business. EHOVE’s new Global Business Management program is designed for students to study business principles with a global cultural mindset, explore real world business management issues, and develop organization and communication skills. Students interested in business, becoming entrepreneurs, or a career as analysts or managers of human resources, finance, marketing, projects or purchasing, will find the program is a good fit. To help prepare students for college and give them a jumpstart on a business management degree, Global Business Management students will have the opportunity to earn free college credit from BGSU Firelands while enrolled at EHOVE. EHOVE Executive Director Kitty Smith is managing the initial stages of the training program. Recognizing the shift to a more global environment in business, Smith said that the program also will include a project/problembased focus with an international

capstone field student. “Many businesses are expanding their operations to meet the developing global marketplace, so there is an increasing need for employees who understand the procedural and cultural aspects of international business,” said Smith. “Students in the program will have the opportunity to interact with area professionals who work in this expanding business environment.” Global Business Management is currently designed for high school SMITH seniors only. The first group of students accepted into the program will attend in the 20122013 school year. Students of any age that are interested in enrolling in this program when they become seniors are encouraged to contact EHOVE now with questions or to request more information. Contact EHOVE at 419-

499-4663 or ask questions on our Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/ EHOVEworks. EHOVE Career Center is a leading career tech school in Milan Township. This high school and adult education facility draws students from a variety of locales, and serves multiple school districts as well in Erie, Huron and Ottawa Counties. Students are given the opportunity to take challenging academic classes in a customized and relevant curriculum to prepare them for a specific career or college, and learn skills to advance in the trade of their choice, for now or the future. A wide variety of career paths and training opportunities are available for many professions. More information is available at www.EHOVE.net.

SIEDC, from Page 4

not for profit organization has been formed to spearhead Tiffin’s downtown revitalization. Many building projects have been undertaken and completed in the downtown area in recent years by United Insurance Service, Phil Engle, St. Joseph’s Credit Union, Decker’s Furniture, the Seneca County Commissioners and SIEDC. The American Civil War Museum of Ohio opened this year in the downtown in the renovated, former post office. Recently, space has been cleared with the removal of two distressed properties in the downtown. In the recent past, Tiffin was recognized by Ohio Business Magazine as one of Ohio’s “Growth Communities.” Site Selection Magazine picked Tiffin as one of the “100 Best Small Towns in America.” Tiffin was also the first community in Ohio to receive the Red Carnation Award from the Ohio Development Association for its economic development

accomplishments for communities under 25,000 people. Looking to the future, Seneca County has adopted and developed a plan for improvement of state highways throughout the county. These plans include new by-passes for Tiffin and Fostoria. In addition, former “Brownfield Sites” are being reclaimed and put back into reuse. Two projects are the Glasshouse and Rosenblatt properties. The Glasshouse will be home to a local business expansion and Rosenblatt’s will be home to Tiffin U's new indoor athletic facility. In closing, change has brought about some hard lessons, but it has also brought about new opportunities. As all of us in Northwest Ohio and throughout Ohio deal with the opportunities and consequences of change, it is important to remember that the future belongs to those who are bold in their actions and diligent in the pursuit of their dreams.

Heidelberg has undergone a similar expansion with a new dorm, business hall and health sciences facility. Both universities continue to experience growth in student enrollment. Each university offers the community a unique advantage over many larger communities with the cultural and economic impact that each brings to the local economy. Change has been witnessed in downtown Tiffin. The Ritz Theater is a landmark entertainment facility that was renovated at a cost of $4.2 million and draws top performers and visitors from a wide area. The Shawhan Hotel, built in the early 1900’s is now home to Elmwood at the Shawhan, a modern, renovated assisted living center, and represents an investment of $6.5 million and employees over 50 people. With the completion of a downtown plan, “Tiffin Tomorrow” a 501(c) (3)

CHAMBER, from Page 3 for her outstanding achievements. Heidelberg and Tiffin University students and staff were given a warm returning welcome this year with banners provided by the Chamber at five arteries leading into the City. Both of these fine institutions represent a significant positive economic impact to our City. We’ve increased the number and frequency of our community activities during the year. Our highly successful and much acclaimed Downtown Tiffin Farmers’ Markets drew hundreds to each of our events which we expanded to include the month of June. We also co-sponsored an Italian Cultural Festival and Pizza Palozza with the International Cultural Institute. This well-attended event could be the springboard for future downtown events of this type. We continue to sponsor the Tiffin Area Safety Council as well as the Seneca County Industrial Management Council. Both organizations saw growth during the year. The IMC, in particular, revised its by-laws to include select members of the educational community as well as Fostoria manufacturers. The inclusion of organizations outside of Tiffin necessitated the name change from Tiffin IMC to Seneca County IMC. Of course, as with any nonprofit endeavor, there is a need for fundraising. While we limit it to two, at times it seems as though the activity is constant. We cannot thank our supporters enough and wish to take yet another opportunity to extend our appreciation. While we’re handing out kudos, we also want to thank our Board of Trustees for their continuing guidance and support as well as our Ambassadors for their participation in all things Chamber.

North Coast Business Journal

www.ncbj.net MERCY, from Page 5 approximately 128,000 patients. DaVita develops, participates in and donates to numerous programs dedicated to transforming communities and creating positive, sustainable change for children, families and our environment. The company’s leadership development initiatives and corporate social responsibility efforts have been recognized by Fortune, Modern Healthcare, Newsweek and WorldBlu, among others. For more information, please visit www.davita.com. Entelco Corp. and the W. W. Lathrop Co. are private real estate development companies who together have formed Dialysis MOB, LLC, to construct and lease the new dialysis facility to Seneca Dialysis. Mercy Tiffin, Entelco Corp. and W. W. Lathrop Co. also partnered in the development and construction of the medical office on the Mercy Tiffin campus.

Mercy Tiffin Welcomes Cardiologist to the Mercy Family Mercy Tiffin Hospital welcomes Steven Bruhl, MD, MS to the Tiffin community. “Mercy Tiffin is committed to facilitating the delivery of high quality, reliable, c o m m u n i t y BRUHL cardiology services to support the needs of our medical staff and their patients,” said Mr. Thornton. Board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine, Dr. Bruhl provides comprehensive cardiac care by offering cardiac consultations, standard and stress echocardiograms, electrocardiograms (EKGs), holter monitors, left and right heart catheterizations, standard and nuclear stress tests, table tests, and 30-day event recorders.

Mercy Tiffin Welcomes Medical Oncologist to the Mercy Family Mercy Tiffin Hospital welcomes Dr. Salvatore “Sam” Veltri, Medical Oncologist, to the Tiffin community.

Board certified in medical oncology and internal medicine, Dr. Veltri joined the Mercy Cancer Center at Tiffin team as the full-time medical oncologist. Dr. Veltri’s goal is to provide high quality VELTRI and compassionate care to every patient through a wide range of services including chemotherapy, hormone therapy, immunotherapy/biological therapy, general medical oncology and general hematology.

provide a safe patient experience.” Selection criteria for the facilities chosen included: leadership commitment, capacity and capability, openness, transparency and communication, and the ability to serve as an exemplar hospital as these initiatives are shared with other CHP facilities. “Mercy Tiffin will join Mercy Regional Medical Center in Lorain; Mercy St. Charles and Mercy St. Vincent in the northern division and Southwest Ohio representatives Mercy Anderson, Mercy Clermont and Mercy Fairfield in this three year patient safety endeavor,” said Mr. Thornton.

Mercy Tiffin Welcomes Obstetrician and Gynecologist to the Mercy Family

Mercy Tiffin Hospital is a community hospital committed to providing excellent health care services to its patients and families. Area residents benefit from excellence

Mercy Tiffin Hospital welcomes Jennifer Glance, DO, FACOOG to the Ti f f i n community. Dr. Glance brings over 8 years of experience and is board certified by the GLANCE A m e r i c a n Osteopathic Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Glance is a Fellow of American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Mercy Tiffin Selected to Participate in Safety Across the System Initiative Mercy Tiffin has been chosen to participate in a Safety Across the System initiative. Safety Across the System is an initiative intended to realize the Institute of Medicine’s six Aims for Improvement – health care that is safe, effective, patientcentered, timely, efficient and equitable. “Mercy Tiffin is one of only 7 hospitals across Catholic Health Partners, Mercy Tiffin’s parent company, chosen to participate in this unique, new partnership created by The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) and Catholic Health Partners,” said Mr. Dale Thornton, President and CEO of Mercy Tiffin Hospital. “This initiative is intended to reduce harm and

November 2011

in personalized inpatient, outpatient, and emergency care. As a member of Mercy Health Partners, Mercy Tiffin is linked to a comprehensive range of primary and critical care health services including Life Flight. Mercy Health Partners is a not-for-profit health system in Northwest Ohio dedicated to improving the health of people in its communities with emphasis on its 150-year mission of caring for all in need. Mercy is composed of Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center, Mercy St. Charles Hospital, Mercy St. Anne Hospital, Mercy Children’s Hospital, Mercy Tiffin Hospital, Mercy Willard Hospital, Mercy Hospital of Defiance, St. Vincent & University of Toledo Life Flight and Mercy College of Northwest Ohio. Please visit mercyweb.org for additional information regarding Mercy Health Partners.

10 November 2011 North Coast Business Journal

www.ncbj.net

CHAMBER CALENDARS for November Bellevue Chamber of Commerce 17

Business After Hours Downtown Florist 120 East Main 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Erie County Chamber of Commerce 11

Ribbon Cutting Corso's Flower & Garden Center Time: TBD

Business After Hours Corso's Flower & Garden Center, 5:15 p.m. RSVP to 419.625.6421 By November 14.

Webinar on Ohio workers' compensation group safety training requirements. Time: TBD Contact the Chamber office 419.625.6421 for details after November 7.

Genoa Chamber of Commerce 17

Annual Chamber Dinner Meeting 6:00 p.m. start Dinner ($20) at 6:30 p.m. Feature: Genoa Police Chief Bob Bratton.

25–27

Genoa Holiday Open House Friday - Santa lights tree (Cookies & hot chocolate) Saturday - Merchants open 9:00 - 6:00 Sunday - Merchants open 11:00 - 4:00

Membership Committee, 8:00 am, Chamber office

Board of Directors 4:00 p.m., Chamber office

Free seminar Avoiding Scams in Your Business Ohio Attorney General’s Office, Noon, Chamber office, Lunch provided, RSVP requested

Education Committee Laning-Young Research Center, Case Street, 8:00 am

Huron County Safety Council, Norwalk High School Distant Learning Center, 7:30 am, RSVP Required

24-25 Thanksgiving, office closed

Marblehead Peninsula Chamber of Commerce 17 Business After Hours Hosted by: Bassett’s Market 5 to 7 p.m.

Oak Harbor Chamber 16

Grand Opening/ Ribbon Cutting Guiding Hands Home Health Services 11:30 am, 133 W. Water Street

Board Meeting Chamber Building 7:30 am

Port Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce

Huron County Chamber of Commerce 8

Free seminar Financial Fitness for your Business Payne, Nickles & Co., Noon, Chamber office, Light lunch provided, RSVP requested

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

Port Clinton Area Chamber Administration Meeting Noon at Chamber Office

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

Main Street Port Clinton Strategic Planning Retreat Noon – 4:00 p.m. Visitor’s Bureau

Main Street Port Clinton Walleye Festival Committee 8:30 am Meeting

Port Clinton Area Chamber Board Meeting 8:30 am at Chamber Office

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

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

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

24-25 Office Closed for Holiday

Sandusky County Chamber of Commerce 27

Christmas Tree & Wreath Auction 4-8 pm The Fremont Country Club

Tiffin Area Chamber Commerce

Chamber of Commerce General Membership Meeting 11:30 am to 1:00 pm, David Turkovic, Regional Representative for Treasurer Josh Mandel Chamber Office Lunch is $10. RSVP @ 419-447-4141 or info@tiffinchamber.com

Small Business Basics Seminar 9:30 am to 11:30 am. Small Business Development Center

of Terra Community College. Conference room -- Chamber Register with Bill Auxter 800-826-2431 or bauxter@terra.edu

Tiffin Area Chamber of Commerce Board Meeting 7:30 am

Ambassador Meeting 11:30 am at Chamber Please RSVP.

After Five – Eclipse 5 - 7 pm Join us at 1950 W SR 18 t Please RSVP

Tiffin Area Safety Council 11:30 am at Moose Lodge 946, 1146 N SR 53. RSVP by clicking on "About Us" tab then “Safety Council.”

Vermilion Chamber of Commerce 25-27

Annual Harbour Town 1837 Christmas Walk Noon to 5 pm on Saturday the 26th Santa arrives at Exchange Park By icebreaker on the River at 11 am

Taxes Tax Planning for College By: Jeffrey J. Rosengarten, CPA Payne, Nickles and Company Many parents of college-bound children are concerned with setting up a financial plan to fund future college costs. If your children are already college age, your goal is to pay for current or imminent college bills. I’d like to address both of these concerns by suggesting several approaches that seek to take maximum advantage of tax benefits to minimize your expenses. (Please note that the following suggestions are strictly related to tax benefits. You may have non-tax-related concerns that make the suggestions inappropriate.) Planning for college expenses. In some cases, transferring ownership of assets to children can save taxes. You and your spouse can transfer up to $26,000 in 2011 in cash or assets to each child with no gift tax consequences. And for 2011, if your child isn’t subject to the “kiddie tax,” he or she is taxed on income from assets entirely at his or her lower tax rates—as low as 10% (or 0% for longterm capital gain). However, where the kiddie tax applies, the child’s investment (i.e., unearned) income above $1,900 for 2011 is taxed at your tax rates and not the child’s rates. The kiddie tax applies if: (1) the child hasn’t reached age 18 before the close of the tax year or (2) the child’s earned income doesn’t exceed one-half of his or her support and the child is age 18 or is a full-time student age 19–23. A variety of trusts or custodial arrangements can be used to place assets in your children’s names. Note, it’s not enough just to transfer the income to them, e.g., dividend checks. The income would still be taxed to you. You must transfer the asset that generates the income to their names. Tax-exempt bonds. Another way to achieve economic growth while avoiding tax is simply to invest in tax-exempt bonds or bond funds. Interest rates and degree of risk vary

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on these, so care must be taken in selecting your particular investment. Some tax-exempts are sold at a deep discount from face and don’t carry interest coupons. Many are marketed as college savings bonds. A small investment in these so-called zero coupon bonds can grow into a fairly sizable fund by the time your child reaches college age. “Stripped” municipal bonds (munis) provide similar advantages. Series EE U.S. savings bonds. Series EE U.S. savings bonds offer two taxsavings opportunities when used to finance your child’s college expenses: first, you don’t have to report the interest on the bonds for federal tax purposes until the bonds are actually cashed in; and second, interest on “qualified” Series EE (and Series I) bonds may be exempt from federal tax if the bond proceeds are used for qualified college expenses. To qualify for the tax exemption for college use, you must purchase the bonds in your own name (not the child’s) or jointly with your spouse. The proceeds must be used for tuition, fees, etc. (not room and board). If only part of the proceeds are used for qualified expenses, then only that part of the interest is exempt. If your adjusted gross income (AGI) exceeds certain amounts, the exemption is phased out. For bonds cashed in during 2011, the exemption begins to phase out when joint AGI hits $106,650 for joint return filers ($71,100 for singles) and is completely phased out if your AGI is at $136,650 ($86,100 for singles). Qualified tuition programs. A qualified tuition program (also known as a 529 plan) allows you to buy tuition credits for a child or make contributions to an account set up to meet a child’s future higher education expenses. Qualified tuition programs can be established by state governments or by private education institutions. Contributions to these programs aren’t deductible. The contributions are treated as taxable gifts to the child, but they are eligible for the annual gift tax exclusion ($13,000 for 2011). A donor who contributes more than the annual exclusion limit for the year can elect to treat the gifts as

if they were spread out over a 5-year period. The earnings on the contributions accumulate tax-free until the college costs are paid from the funds. Distributions from qualified tuition programs are tax-free to the extent the funds are used to pay qualified higher education expenses. Distributions of earnings that aren’t used for qualified higher education expenses will be subject to income tax plus a 10% penalty tax. Coverdell education savings accounts. You can establish Coverdell ESAs (formerly called education IRAs) and make contributions of up to $2,000 for each child under age 18. (This age limitation doesn’t apply to a beneficiary with special needs, defined as an individual who because of a physical, mental or emotional

condition, including learning disability, requires additional time to complete his or her education.) The right to make these contributions begins to phase out once your AGI is over $190,000 on a joint return ($95,000 for singles). If the income limitation is a problem, the child can make a contribution to his or her own account. Although the contributions aren’t deductible, funds in the account aren’t taxed, and distributions are tax-free if spent on qualified education expenses. If the child doesn’t attend college, the money must be withdrawn when the child turns 30, and any earnings will be subject to tax and penalty, but unused funds can be transferred tax-free to a Coverdell ESA of another member of the child’s family who hasn’t reached age 30. (These requirements that the child or member of the child’s family not have reached 30 do not apply to an individual with special needs.) The above are just some of the taxfavored ways to build up a college

See TAX, Page 18

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12 November 2011 North Coast Business Journal

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The Well-Booked Business By Cathy Allen Business leaders solve problems, try to replicate successes and strive to understand what motivates their customers and employees. Sometimes the sciences of sociology, psychology and history are as important to accounting, marketing and investments strategies as anything we learned in business school. But where does a busy business owner go to learn the relevant lessons of these fields? To Malcolm Gladwell, of course! The author of The Tipping Point (a synopsis of which appeared in this column in April 2010) has been mining social science research and interviewing experts of all kinds for years, producing books and articles that are interesting and fun to read. Here is a little taste of Gladwell’s continuing efforts to understand and pass along the science of being human. Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking, Little, Brown and Company, 2005. SUMMARY: Most of us can draw conclusions very rapidly based on a limited set of facts. After consideration, we may change our minds. But which answer is more likely to be correct? Gladwell gives us the research to support the idea that in certain circumstances snap judgments are better than long-considered ones. When our rapid deduction does go wrong, it does so for very specific and identifiable reasons. We can all improve the quality and consistency of our decisions by honoring our intuitions and respecting the influence of our subconscious minds. KEY LEARNINGS: • Our unconscious mind is constantly active, sorting through the continuous stream of inputs we receive and focusing us on those that are relevant. An “intuition” is the result of this process. Since we did not consciously think about a matter, we can’t reconstruct the logic train behind what we have come to believe. Not knowing why we feel the way we do can be unsettling, so we will often work to create an explanation. Then, in the act of trying to reason out what we think we know, we can make ourselves wrong. • Often, our unconscious mind makes associations and assumptions that are at odds with our consciously-stated beliefs. For instance,

we may know we have value, but old beliefs about our lack of worth may be playing in the back of our minds. The only way to keep these old tapes from crossing us up is to respect their power, and make proactive efforts to fill the unconscious mind with evidence that supports our conscious beliefs. • In one of the most famous business blunders of all time, Coca-Cola changed its formula in the 1980s following extensive taste testing and market research. Furious customers defected in droves. What went wrong? It turns out that what any of us want from a sip of cola (sweetness) is different from what we want from the whole bottle or can (less sweetness.) Coke had tested initial impressions, but failed to test our entire experience of its product. Outliers: The Story of Success, Little, Brown and Company, 2008 SUMMARY: Are great leaders made or born? Does a Bill Gates or a Wayne Gretzky rise to the highest of heights because of inherent superiority or is it luck? This collection of stories illustrates the conclusion that innate talent leads to success only when the opportunity to practice is sufficient to create mastery. Armed with this knowledge, parents and teachers can better support children to achieve personal success by focusing minimizing the impact of arbitrary factors. KEY LEARNINGS: • 70% of professional hockey players were born between January and June. Why? Because in Canada, a child born in 2005 will be eligible to join a league for six year olds in 2011. Size, speed, and coordination differences between a child born in January 2005 and one born in December 2005, can be considerable. Those who do well at six will be sorted by parents and coaches into more elite teams as seven year olds — getting more practice time, better equipment and better coaching. The same thing happens in American kindergartens. Slightly older children do well, and get more teacher attention, leading to better educational supports... the cycle has begun. • Mastery’s magic number is 10,000. That is how many hours a person has to practice a skill in order to become a master. Bill Gates is not just smart and interested in computers. He is also lucky, attending a private school in Seattle that had one of the first computer clubs in the country, and becoming an adult just as computer technology was taking off. Few people in the world were situated so well to practice computer

programming. • Two pilots are sitting side by side in the cockpit. The captain makes a potentially fatal mistake. Whether the co-pilot speaks up is a function of culture, language and seniority. It took Korean Airlines many years to determine that co-pilots used a mitigated form of speech to politely suggest corrections to senior officers, rather than being direct and clear about the problem. The likelihood that people tell us what we need to know comes from random accidents of birth and life circumstances... and plays a huge role in our ability to succeed. What the Dog Saw and Other Adventures, Little, Brown and Company, 2009 SUMMARY: Malcolm Gladwell is endlessly curious about people: what makes us tick, why we organize our lives the way we do, how we are all alike and how we differ. In this collection of articles from The New Yorker magazine, Gladwell gives us portraits of geniuses, trend setters and unique characters. Unlike his other books, there is no one thesis here, just a highly enjoyable set of essays that enlighten and entertain. KEY LEARNINGS: • Ron Popeil became a master inventor and salesman by relentlessly focusing on how to address the real needs of potential customers. His compelling enthusiasm for his products motivates and inspires others to jump on board and open their wallets. • Cesar Millan is the ultimate empath. He is able to turn out of control dogs into successful pets by teaching their owners how they are perceived by the dog. You can’t cover over an angry tone or hostile gesture with nice words to a dog. They don’t speak English. By seeing what the dog sees, humans like Millan develop a higher sense of themselves and can become what they intend. • As a football scout, Dan Shonka knows there is no relationship between how well a quarterback performs in college and how he will do in the NFL. Above a certain level of basic skill, professional success has more to do with the ability to adjust to change and grow than it does with precision passing or pocket presence. Have a book like you’d like to see synopsized in The Well-Booked Business? Tell us about it by taking the one-question poll posted to our website. In addition to making a book recommendation, visitors to www. CreativeOptionC.com can download additional synopses and original articles.

North Coast Business Journal

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November 2011

Port Clinton Named Top Sports Town Port Clinton, OH—The City of Port Clinton is honored to be ranked in Outdoor Life s Top 200 Towns for Sportsmen. The Top 200 Towns for Sportsmen name cities and towns that have excellent fishing and hunting opportunities, provide a high quality of life and are great places

to raise a family. Port Clinton is ranked 105 on their list noting that we are the Walleye Capital of the World and home of the National Rifle Matches. Please visit http://www portclintonchamber.com/ resources/top200.pdf to the read the entire article.

Need to be more USER-FRIENDLY? A regional ﬁnancial institution wanted to focus more on serving their membership. In order to do this, they desperately needed to update their technology and improve their IT budgeting/planning while keeping within industry compliance. Things had to become easier to use and more reliable for their members and employees alike. Advanced Computer Connections provided guidance with a road map on how they could meet their objectives. ACC’s MyNet™ Total Care allows this business to focus on meeting their clients’ needs while ACC takes care of the IT day-to-day support. When you’re a MyNet customer, ACC is ready to make your life easier! Please contact us to ﬁnd out how we can help your company.

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14 November 2011 North Coast Business Journal

www.ncbj.net For Immediate Release Investor Contacts: Kendall W. Rieman Treasurer Croghan Bancshares, Inc. krieman@croghan.com 419.355.2222

Willard Medical Center is now

Mercy Primary Care – Willard.

Croghan Bancshares, Inc. Announces Agreement to Acquire Four Branch Offices from The Home Savings and Loan Company

Insurance Plans accepted by Mercy Primary Care - Willard:

James E. Rosso, MD* Internal Medicine/Pediatrics

Aetna

HealthSpan*

Anthem – PPO, HMO, Medicare PFFS

Humana – PPO

BeechStreet PPO*

Immergrun

Buckeye Community Health Plan – Medicaid CFC*

Croghan Bancshares, Inc. (OTCBB: CHBH) the parent holding company of Croghan Colonial Bank, Fremont, Ohio (“Croghan”) announced today that Croghan has signed a purchase and assumption agreement to acquire four retail banking branches located in Tiffin (downtown), Tiffin (Westgate), Fremont and Clyde, Ohio from The Home Savings and Loan Company, a subsidiary of United Community Financial Corp (NASDAQ: UCFC). The deposits associated with these four branches totaled approximately $112 million as of June 30, 2011.

Medicare – Ohio Multiplan*

CareSource – Medicaid ABD*

Railroad Medicare

National Provider Network*

Croghan’s strategic highlights of the transaction include:

Ohio Bureau Workers Compensation



Expands Croghan’s franchise through the acquisition of two branch offices in Tiffin

Ohio Health Group



Enhances Croghan’s existing market presence in both Fremont and Clyde

Cofinity*

Ohio Preferred Network*



Includes the purchase of associated consumer and residential mortgage loans

Direct Care America / HealthSmart

PHCS



The transaction is expected to be immediately accretive to earnings

Cigna ChoiceCare - PPO

Emerald Health Network PPO* First Health/ Coventry* FrontPath Health Coalition* Nancy L. Verhoff, MD* Family Medicine

Company Release – August 31, 2011

Medical Mutual of Ohio

Buckeye Community Health Plan – Advantage*

CareSource Advantage* Robert W. Secor, MD* Family Medicine

Humana Medicare

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

Ohio Health Choice

Physicians Health Collaborative

Under the terms of the purchase and assumption agreement, Croghan will assume all of the deposit liabilities and buy the related fixed assets of the branches. Croghan will pay a 4.0% premium on all non-public, non-jumbo and non-brokered deposits. It is also anticipated that Croghan will purchase performing consumer and residential loans associated with the branches, which totaled approximately $28 million as of June 30, 2011.

Three Rivers Provider Network* United Community Health Plan – Medicaid ABD*

Rick M. Robertson, President and CEO of Croghan, said, “We are excited about expanding our franchise to the Tiffin community with both the downtown and Westgate branch locations. With our commitment to community banking, we believe that Croghan Colonial Bank will compete very effectively in Tiffin. This transaction also enables Croghan to strengthen its market share in Fremont and Clyde. Croghan will remain well-capitalized following the transaction, and we expect the transaction to be immediately accretive to our earnings per share. Home Savings has been committed to customers and community, we want to continue and grow these important relationships.”

United Healthcare USA Managed Care Organization* Wellcare Advantage*

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

*denotes Board Certification

Mercy Primary Care - Willard 218 S. Myrtle Avenue | Willard, Ohio 44890 419.933.2811

mercyweb.org

The transaction has been approved by the Board of Directors of both companies. No shareholder approvals are required. The transaction is expected to close during the fourth quarter 2011 and is subject to regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions.

Croghan Bancshares is being advised on the transaction by Austin Associates, LLC and by Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP. United Community Financial Corp. is being advised on the transaction by ParaCap Group, LLC and by Vorys, Sater Seymour and Pease LLP.

Croghan Bancshares, Inc. is a Fremont, Ohio-based bank holding company. As a whollyowned subsidiary of Croghan Bancshares, Inc., Croghan currently serves Sandusky, Huron, Wood and Ottawa counties with 11 office locations. Additional information on CHBH and Croghan Colonial Bank may be found at www.croghan.com.

Legal Disclaimer By Jeff Roth If you were named in a will or trust to receive an inheritance and someone asked you to disclaim or refuse the gift you would probably say that sounds like a bad idea. There are times when a valid disclaimer is the best course of action for you and your family. WHAT IS A DISCLAIMER? A disclaimer is an irrevocable refusal to accept an interest in property. The effect of a disclaimer is as if the person who was to receive the bequest predeceased the party who has just died. He would not take title to what otherwise would be his inheritance. WHY WOULD ANYONE WISH TO DISCLAIM AN INTEREST IN PROPERTY LEFT TO HIM OR HER BY A DECEDENT? Generally, disclaimers are exercised to redirect property to another person either for tax purposes or as a reallocation of assets for nontax purposes. For example, if a parent died leaving all of his or her property to a son who is terminally ill, it may be to the advantage of that terminally ill child to disclaim the property so that the property would go directly to his children rather than pass through his estate. The same result may be desirable in the case of an heir whose own estate is already substantial. The heir may prefer to have the property pass directly to his or her children. If a disclaimer results in millions of dollars passing to grandchildren, attention must be paid to the generation skipping tax. WHO WILL RECEIVE THE PROPERTY IF IT IS DISCLAIMED? Basically, there are two classes of people. The first would be those people who would inherit by intestate succession. In other words, those next of kin are under the law of intestate succession. This is statutory and absolute. A line of succession chart can easily show the proper heir.

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For example, there was a case where the son disclaimed so that the property would go to his brother. The problem was that the son had a child in his early years. There may have been no contact but since that child was his direct heir, that child would have inherited the property rather than the brother. Fortunately, the subject matter of children came to light before the disclaimer was executed and a financial disaster was avoided. Once a disclaimer is legally made it cannot be undone. The second determination is the direction set forth within the document authorizing the transfer. If the will or trust distributes to someone else if you are deceased then the disclaimed property will follow the direction set forth in the will or Trust. This could also have unintended consequences which should be considered before any disclaimer is filed. HOW IS A DISCLAIMER MADE? The disclaimer must be in writing and give specific identification of the property to be disclaimed. The disclaimer must be delivered to the person who is has legal authority to transfer the property. i.e. the executor or trustee within 9 months of the date of death. The person making the disclaimer must not have accepted any interest or benefits from the property. This means that if the trustee would distribute some of the interest from the account to the person before he disclaimed the property, the property would not be available to be disclaimed. CAN A JOINT AND SURVIVOR ACCOUNT BE DISCLAIMED? Yes. The immediate concern is that you would not receive the interest on the account. To insure that a legal disclaimer takes place, the procedure is normally done through Probate Court to prove the legality of the disclaimer for state and Federal tax purposes. This is controlled by State law and may be different or unavailable in other states. CAN A PARTIAL DISCLAIMER BE FILED? Yes. If you receive all of the estate you can elect to have a portion of the estate pass to the decedent’s legal heirs or subject to the terms of the Will or trust. For example, if your

spouse had the family farm as an asset in his estate, you could identify the property, file the disclaimer in the recorder’s office and have the farm pass directly to your children without being a part of your estate. Remember that it would be subject to the Ohio Estate tax but there is a Three Hundred and Thirty Eight Thousanddollar ($338,000.00) exemption before any taxation would occur. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A DISCLAIMER AND A GIFT? If you receive the property even for a second you will have to make a gift to the children to effect a transfer. This will invoke all of the gift tax rules and could affect your estate values in the future. With a disclaimer, the property will never be in your estate and will allow you to pass more to your children. A disclaimer can be a valuable estate-planning tool. It is complicated and strict adherence to the statutes of the state is necessary to perfect the disclaimer. At the estate planning

stage, this subject should be discussed and a plan put in place for its use. If you are administrating an estate or trust, the subject of disclaimer should immediately be discussed with any potential heir to allow the correct decision to be made. Jeff Roth is a partner with David Bacon of the firm ROTH & BACON ATTORNEYS, LLC with offices in Port Clinton, Upper Sandusky and Marion, Ohio. Mr. Roth is also licensed in Florida. His 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. Additional articles expanding on this subject will be published in the future. 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.

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18 November 2011 North Coast Business Journal TAX, from Page 11 fund for your children. If you wish to discuss any of them, or other alternatives, please call. Paying college expenses. You may be able to take a credit for some of your child’s tuition expenses. There are also tax-advantaged ways of getting your child’s college expenses paid by others. Tuition tax credits. You can take an American Opportunity tax credit of up to $2,500 per student for the first four years of college (a 100% credit for the first $2,000 in tuition, fees, and books, and a 25% credit for the second $2,000). You can take a Lifetime Learning credit of up to $2,000 per family for every additional year of college or graduate school (a 20% credit for up to $10,000 in tuition and fees). The American Opportunity tax credit is 40% refundable, which means that you can get a refund if the amount of the credit is greater than your tax liability. For example, someone who has at least $4,000 in qualified expenses and who would thus qualify for the maximum credit of $2,500, but who has no tax liability to offset that credit against, would qualify for a $1,000 (40% of $2,500) refund from the government. Both credits are phased out for higher income taxpayers. The American Opportunity tax credit is phased out for couples with income between $160,000 and $180,000, and for singles with income between $80,000 and $90,000. The Lifetime Learning credit is phased out (for 2011) for couples with income between $102,000 and $122,000, and for singles with income between $51,000 and $61,000. (The phase-out range for the Lifetime Learning credit is adjusted annually for inflation.) Only one credit can be claimed for the same student in any given year. However, a taxpayer is allowed to claim an American Opportunity tax credit or a Lifetime Learning credit for a tax year and to exclude from gross income amounts distributed (both the principal and the earnings portions) from a Coverdell education savings account for the same student, as long as the distribution isn’t used for the same educational expenses for which a credit was claimed. Scholarships. Scholarships are exempt from income tax, if certain conditions are satisfied. The most important are that the scholarship must not be compensation for services, and it must be used for

tuition, fees, books, supplies and similar items (and not for room and board). Although a scholarship is tax-free, it will reduce the amount of expenses that may be taken into account in computing the Hope and Lifetime Learning credits, above, and may therefore reduce or eliminate those credits. Note also that in an exception to the rule that a scholarship must not be compensation for services, a scholarship received under a health professions scholarship program may be tax-free even if the recipient is required to provide medical services as a condition for the award. Employer educational assistance programs. If your employer pays your child’s college expenses, the payment is a fringe benefit to you, and is taxable to you as compensation, unless the payment is part of a scholarship program that’s “outside of the pattern of employment.” Then the payment will be treated as a scholarship (if the other requirements for scholarships are satisfied). Tuition reduction plans for employees of educational institutions. Tax-exempt educational institutions sometimes provide tuition reductions for their employees’ children who attend that educational institution, or cash tuition payments for children who attend other educational institutions. If certain requirements are satisfied, these tuition reductions are exempt from income tax. College expense payments by grandparents and others. If someone other than you pays your child’s college expenses, the person making the payments is generally subject to the gift tax, to the extent the payments and other gifts to the child by that person exceed the regular annual (per donee) gift tax exclusion of $13,000 for 2011. Married donors who consent to split gifts may exclude gifts of up to $26,000 for 2011. However, if the other person pays your child’s school tuition directly to an educational institution, there’s an unlimited exclusion from the gift tax for the payment. The relationship between the person paying the tuition and the person on whose behalf the payments are made is irrelevant, but the payer would typically be a grandparent. The unlimited gift tax exclusion applies only to direct tuition costs. There’s no exclusion (beyond the normal annual exclusion) for dormitory fees, board, books, supplies, etc. Prepaid tuition

www.ncbj.net payments may qualify for the unlimited gift tax exclusion under certain circumstances. Student loans. You can deduct interest on loans used to pay for your child’s education at a post-secondary school, including some vocational and graduate schools. (This is an exception to the general rule that interest on student loans is personal interest and, therefore, not deductible.) The deduction is an above-the-line deduction (meaning that it’s available even to taxpayers who don’t itemize). The maximum deduction is $2,500. However, for 2011, the deduction phases out for taxpayers who are married filing jointly with AGI between $120,000 and $150,000 (between $60,000 and $75,000 for single filers). Some student loans contain a provision that all or part of the loan will be cancelled if the student works for a certain period of time in certain professions for any of a broad class of employers—e.g., as a doctor for a public hospital in a rural area. The student won’t have to report any income if the loan is canceled and he performs the required services. There’s also no income to report if student loans are repaid or forgiven under certain federal or state programs for health care professionals. These are exceptions to the general rule that if a loan or other debt you owe is canceled, you must report the cancellation as income. Bank loans. The interest on loans used to pay educational expenses is personal interest which is generally not deductible (unless you qualify for the deduction for education loan interest, described above). However, if the loan is “home equity indebtedness,” and interest on the loan is “qualified residence interest,” the interest is deductible for regular income tax purposes, although not for alternative minimum tax purposes. If interest is deductible as qualified residence interest, it can’t be deducted as education loan interest. Borrowing against retirement plan accounts. Many company retirement plans permit participants to borrow cash. This option may be an attractive alternative to a bank loan, especially if your other debt burden is high. However, the loan must carry an interest rate equal to the prevailing commercial rate for similar loans, and, unless you qualify for the deduction for education loan interest (described above), there’s no deduction for the personal interest

paid. Moreover, unless strict requirements are satisfied, a loan against a retirement account is treated as a premature distribution (withdrawal) that’s subject to regular income tax and an additional penalty tax. Withdrawals from retirement plan accounts. IRAs and qualified retirement plans represent the largest cash resource of many taxpayers. You can pull money out of your IRA (including a Roth IRA) at any time to pay college costs without incurring the 10% early withdrawal penalty that usually applies to withdrawals from an IRA before age 591/2 . However, the distributions are subject to tax under the usual rules for IRA distributions. Some qualified plans either don’t permit withdrawals or restrict them. For example, a 401(k) cash-ordeferred plan may allow distributions if the participant has an immediate and heavy financial need and lacks other resources to meet that need. IRS regs name a college education as such a need. To the extent they represent previously untaxed dollars and earnings, amounts withdrawn from a retirement plan are fully subject to tax and are also hit by a 10% penalty tax if they are made before the participant reaches age 591/2 . (Note, however, that you cannot roll over a 401(k) plan “hardship” distribution into an IRA to set up a later penaltyfree withdrawal to pay college costs.) A younger plan participant may avoid triggering the penalty tax by annuitization payouts from an IRA or a SEP. This method doesn’t work for 401(k) type plans. The strategy works because the penalty tax doesn’t apply if annual or more frequent withdrawals are made in substantially equal payments over the life or life expectancy of the taxpayer (or the joint lives or joint life expectancies of the taxpayer and designated beneficiary). Not all of the above breaks may be used in the same year, and use of some of them reduces the amounts that qualify for other breaks. So it takes planning to determine which should be used in any given situation. I recommend consulting your tax advisor to determine which strategies best fit your situation. (Authors note: This article is not intended to offer professional tax advice. Please consult your tax advisor.)

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Estate

Key Estate Planning Documents You Need

There are five estate planning documents you may need, regardless of your age, health or wealth: 1. Durable power of attorney 2. Advanced medical directives 3. Will 4. Letter of instruction 5. Living trust The last document, a living trust, isn’t alwaysnecessary, but it’s included here because it’s a vitalcomponent of many estate plans. Durable power of attorney A durable power of attorney (DPOA) can help protect your property in the event you become physically unable or mentally incompetent to handle financial matters. If no one is ready to look after your financial affairs when you can’t, your property may be wasted, abused, or lost. A DPOA allows you to authorize someone else to act on your behalf, so he or she can do things like pay everyday expenses, collect benefits, watch over your investments, and file taxes. There are two types of DPOAs: (1) a standby DPOA, which is effective immediately (this is appropriate if you face a serious operation or illness), and (2) a springing DPOA, which is not effective unless you have become incapacitated. Caution: A springing DPOA is not permitted in some states, so you’ll want to check with an attorney. Advanced medical directives Advanced medical directives let others know what medical treatment you would want, or allows someone to make medical decisions for you, in the event you can’t express your wishes yourself. If you don’t have an advanced medical directive, medical care providers must prolong your life using artificial means, if necessary. With today’s technology, physicians can

sustain you for days and weeks (if not months or even years). There are three types of advanced medical directives. Each state allows only a certain type (or types). You may find that one, two, or all three types are necessary to carry out all of your wishes for medical treatment. (Just make sure all documents are consistent.) First, a living will allows you to approve or decline certain types of medical care, even if you will die as a result of that choice. In most states, living wills take effect only under certain circumstances, such as terminal injury or illness. Generally, one can be used only to decline medical treatment that “serves only to postpone the moment of death.” In those states that do not allow living wills, you may still want to have one to serve as evidence of your wishes. Second, a durable power of attorney for health care (known as a health-care proxy in some states) allows you to appoint a representative to make medical decisions for you. You decide how much power your representative will or won’t have. Finally, a Do Not Resuscitate order (DNR) is a doctor’s order that tells medical personnel not to perform CPR if you go into cardiac arrest. There are two types of DNRs. One is effective only while you are hospitalized. The other is used while you are outside the hospital. Will A will is often said to be the cornerstone of any estate plan. The main purpose of a will is to disburse property to heirs after your death. If you don’t leave a will, disbursements will be made according to state law, which might not be what you would want. There are two other equally important aspects of a will: 1. You can name the person (executor) who will manage and settle your estate. If you do not name someone, the court will appoint an administrator, who might not be someone you would choose. 2. You can name a legal guardian for minor children or dependents with special needs. If you don’t appoint a guardian, the state will appoint one for you. Keep in mind that a will is a legal document, and the courts are very reluctant to overturn

See ESTATE, Page 20

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20 November 2011 North Coast Business Journal ESTATE, from Page 19 any provisions within it. Therefore, it’s crucial that your will be well written and articulated, and properly executed under your state’s laws. It’s also important to keep your will up-to-date. Letter of instruction A letter of instruction (also called a testamentary letter or side letter) is an informal, nonlegal document that generally accompanies your will and is used to express your personal thoughts and directions regarding what is in the will (or about other things, such as your burial wishes or where to locate other documents). This can be the most helpful document you leave for your family members and your executor. Unlike your will, a letter of instruction remains private. Therefore, it is an opportunity to say the things you would rather not make public. A letter of instruction is not a substitute for a will. Any directions you include in the letter are only suggestions and are not binding. The

people to whom you address the letter may follow or disregard any instructions. Living trust A living trust (also known as a revocable or inter vivos trust) is a separate legal entity you create to own property, such as your home or investments. The trust is called a living trust because it’s meant to function while you’re alive. You control the property in the trust, and, whenever you wish, you can change the trust terms, transfer property in and out of the trust, or end the trust altogether. Not everyone needs a living trust, but it can be used to accomplish various purposes. The primary function is typically to avoid probate. This is possible because property in a living trust is not included in the probate estate. Depending on your situation and your state’s laws, the probate process can be simple, easy, and inexpensive, or it can be relatively complex, resulting in delay and expense. This may be the case, for instance, if you own property in more than one state

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www.ncbj.net or in a foreign country, or have heirs that live overseas. Further, probate takes time, and your property generally won’t be distributed until the process is completed. A small family allowance is sometimes paid, but it may be insufficient to provide for a family’s ongoing needs. Transferring property through a living trust provides for a quicker, almost immediate transfer of property to those who need it. Probate can also interfere with the management of property like a closely held business or stock portfolio. Although your executor is responsible for managing the property until probate is completed, he or she may not have the expertise or authority to make significant management decisions, and the property may lose value. Transferring the property with a living trust can result in a smoother transition in management. Finally, avoiding probate may be desirable if you’re concerned about privacy. Probated documents (e.g., will, inventory) become a matter of public record. Generally, a trust document does not. Caution: Although a living trust transfers property like a will, you should still also have a will because the trust will be unable to accomplish

certain things that only a will can, such as naming an executor or a guardian for minor children. Tip: There are other ways to avoid the probate process besides creating a living trust, such as titling property jointly. Caution: Living trusts do not generally minimize estate taxes or protect property from future creditors or ex-spouses. This information was developed by Forefield, Inc. an independent third party. It is general in nature, is not a complete statement of all information necessary for making an investment decision, and is not a recommendation or a solicitation to buy or sell any security. Investments and strategies mentioned may not be suitable for all investors. Past performance may not be indicative of future results. Raymond James & Associates, Inc. member New York Stock Exchange/SIPC does not provide advice on tax, legal or mortgage issues. These matters should be discussed with an appropriate professional. Raymond James & Associates, Inc., member New York Stock Exchange/ SIPC.

True or False? OfficeTeam Survey: One in Five Workers Knows Someone Who Lied on Resume MENLO PARK, Calif—When a resume looks too good to be true, it just might be, according to recent research from OfficeTeam. Forty-three percent of managers polled believe job seekers include dishonest information on their resumes somewhat or very often. Some workers agree that what you see isn't always what you get: More than one in five (21 percent) said they know someone who stretched the truth on these documents. Job duties (58 percent) and education (34 percent) were cited as areas that are embellished most frequently. The surveys of managers and workers were developed by OfficeTeam, a leading staffing service specializing in the placement of highly skilled administrative professionals. They were conducted by an independent research firm and include responses from 1,013 senior managers at companies with 20 or more employees and 431 workers 18

years of age or older and employed in office environments. Managers were asked, "In your opinion, how often do job applicants include dishonest or exaggerated information on their resumes?" Their responses: Very often—7%, Somewhat often— 36%, Not very often—48%, Never— 8%, Don't know—1%. Workers were asked, "Do you know anyone who misrepresented or exaggerated information on his or her resume?" Their responses: Yes— 21%, No—76% , Don't know—3%. Workers who know someone who has misrepresented or exaggerated information on his or her resume also were asked, "What type of information did they misrepresent or exaggerate on their resume?" Their responses*: Job duties—58%, Education—34%, Employment dates—24%, Job experience—9%, Other—7%. *Multiple responses allowed "Unfortunately, employers can't always take everything on a resume at face value," said Robert Hosking,

See TRUE OR FALSE, Page 23

November 2011

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Mercy Willard Recognized as a Joint Commission Top Performing Hospital Mercy Willard Hospital has been recognized as a top performing hospital in The Joint Commission’s Top Performers on Key Quality Measures program. The Joint Commission recognized Mercy Willard for achieving excellence in performance on its accountability measures during 2010 for surgical care. “It is an honor for Mercy Willard to receive recognition as a top performing hospital from The Joint Commission.” said Lynn Detterman, President and CEO of Mercy Willard Hospital. “The surgical care at Mercy Willard hospital is provided by skilled physicians and highly trained staff.” Out of the 3,099 hospitals submitting accountability measure data to The Joint Commission, Mercy Willard was one of only 405 to meet or exceed the target rates of performance for 2010. “Today, the public expects

transparency in the reporting of performance at the hospitals where they receive care, and The Joint Commission is shining a light on the top performing hospitals that have achieved excellence on a number of vital measures of quality of care,” says Mark R. Chassin, M.D., FACP, M.P.P., M.P.H., president, The Joint Commission. “Hospitals that commit themselves to accreditation-related quality improvement efforts such as the use of evidence-based treatments create better outcomes for patients and, ultimately, a healthier nation.” Since 2002, hospitals have been reporting data to The Joint Commission and have continuously shown improvement on core measures. The Top Performers program supports organizations in their quest for continued improvement. Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously

Mercy Willard Hospital Gets High HCAHPS Scores Based on recently published data, Mercy Willard Hospital has achieved HCAHPS survey scores above the state and national averages in all 10 categories measured. HCAHPS (Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems) is a national, standardized survey of hospital patients measuring their experiences during a recent inpatient hospital stay. “The physicians, nurses, staff and administration at Mercy Willard Hospital are dedicated to providing the best care for our patients.” said Lynn Detterman, President and CEO of Mercy Willard Hospital. “Everyone strives to ensure that our patients are receiving very good care.” The HCAHPS survey includes a set of 27 questions focused on 10 categories developed to measure internal customer service and qualityof-care. Patients are asked questions regarding communication with nurses and doctors, response of the hospital staff, cleanliness of the facility, likelihood to recommend the

hospital and overall rating of care. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Hospital Quality Alliance and all of the nation’s hospitals, including Mercy Willard, are working together to create and publicly report hospital quality information. This information measures how well hospitals care for their patients, whether the care was paid for by Medicare, Medicaid, or a private health insurance. “The HCAHPS survey identifies areas where we excel as well as opportunities for improvement,” said Lynn. “Although our HCAHPS scores are above state and national averages, we are always seeking ways to enhance our services so we can continue to provide the excellent care patients have come to expect from Mercy Willard.” To learn more about the HCAHPS survey or to research HCAHPS scores, visit the U.S. Health and Human Services Department website at www. hospitalcompare.hhs.gov.

improve health care for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating health care organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value. The Joint Commission evaluates and accredits more than 19,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States, including more than 10,300 hospitals and home care organizations, and more than 6,500 other health care organizations that provide long term care, behavioral health care, laboratory and ambulatory care services. The Joint Commission also provides

certification of more than 2,000 disease-specific care programs, primary stroke centers and health care staffing services. An independent, not-for-profit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation’s oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care.

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The Mosser Group Names Computer Lab at Terra The Mosser Group has made a donation to secure the naming rights for a computer lab in the new Arts and Health Technologies Center at Terra State Community College. The gift was made as part of the Terra College Foundation’s fundraising campaign, Investment in Education. “The Mosser Group chose to make a donation because of the positive direction that Terra has taken regarding the musical arts and health programs along with the recent Skilled Trades Center,” said President Royce D. Kohman. “We were also quite proud to have been the contractor once again on this latest addition to Terra State Community College.” Kohman said the computer lab seemed an appropriate choice as evidenced by all the computer technology that is demonstrated throughout the building. “This state-of-the-art facility for both the musical arts and health technologies curriculums will allow Terra to continue on their path to offer great opportunities for those who choose to make a community college part of their secondary education experience,” he said. The Mosser Group Computer Lab is a 25-station Mac computer lab where students will have access to computers to work on assignments, studio projects and industry-based activities. The lab features iMacs connected with piano keyboards and loaded with the professional software from the recording studio so that students may work on mixing and mastering their projects. Additional software allows students to work on production projects, songwriting, music publishing and music business management activities.

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November 2011

Sales Differentiation/Competitive Advantage!! By Roger Bostdorff Recently I was presenting to a National Association’s Annual Conference near Las Vegas. The presentation was entitled, “Selling in a Tough Economy.” This presentation discussed the status quo of our economy and then described why some marketing representatives (fancy word for salesman) and companies, inspite of the challenging times, are successful and others are not! One of the focal points of the presentation was the need to differentiate. One of the points we discussed is that if your differentiation is only price then get ready to start losing margin. Unless you are Walmart and have the economies of scale to have the lowest costs for your products, you need to be able to differentiate your product or services from the competition by some other means than price. I have talked to many customers and worked with them in regards to doing a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) Analysis. When we discuss their strengths, many times I get

things like Customer Service, Quality and what you are looking for in 2011? Responsiveness. These are all excellent qualities of Or, are you and your team able to enunciate your a company’s product or service. However, can you Differentiators/Competitive Advantages? Seems to envision my client’s competitors suggesting that me that no matter what industry you are in unless they provide bad Customer Service, Quality and you run the Walmart of that industry, you might Responsiveness as compared to my client, of want to invest some time-first identifying your course not? The question is how do you competitive advantages and then figuring out a differentiate? What are your competitive way to communicate these to your current advantages? How do you substantiate your claims? customers as well as your prospective customers. The ground rules for outlining these differentiators The other alternative, assuming you have plenty of as I call them or your competitive advantages as margin left is to continue to give it away! defined by Jaynie Smith in her book “Creating Roger Bostdorff is the President of B2B Sales Competitive Advantage” are as follows: Boost. He spent over 30 years with IBM in sales 1. It needs to be objective not subjective and sales management. B2B Sales Boost is a 2. Quantifiable, not arbitrary-We have great consulting company helping organizations customer service, 95% of our business comes from improve their sales and overall business processes. referrals. He is also available for business speaking 3. Not already claimed by the competition engagements. You can find more regarding B2B 4. Not a cliché-Don’t tell me you exceed customer Sales Boost on the web at www.b2bsalesboost. expectations. How do you know what these com or calling 419-351-4347. If you would like to expectations are? receive the B2B Sales Boost Newsletter please How is your business? Are sales down? Do you send an email to sales@b2bsalesboost.com have some new wrinkles in your sales message that ncbj1111AHAC.pdf 11/2/11 11:18:48 AM is different than last year? If you do things the same way you will probably get the same or similar results. Is that

branding.

TRUE OR FALSE, from Page 20 executive director of OfficeTeam. "That's why it's so important to get to know a prospective hire by probing for specifics during the interview, conducting thorough reference checks and testing skills where appropriate." OfficeTeam offers five tips to help employers verify information on resumes: 1. Watch for ambiguity. When reviewing resumes, question vague descriptions of skills (e.g., "familiar with," "involved in") which may be signs that a professional is trying to hide a lack of relevant work experience. 2. Ask once, ask twice. Pose interview questions that relate to specific skills needed. For example, if a candidate must know a particular software program, ask how he or she has used the technology in previous roles. If an applicant's response is ambiguous, don't be afraid to rephrase the question. 3. Get the facts. Ask references to confirm basic information such as the candidate's employment history,

job titles, responsibilities and salary. If they're willing to talk further, delve into their thoughts on the individual's strengths and weaknesses, interpersonal skills, and ability to work on a team. 4. Branch out. Inquire if references know of others you can speak to about promising candidates. Also, tap your own network to find mutual acquaintances who might be able to shed light on the prospective hire's background and character. 5. Put them to the test. To get a true sense of a candidate's abilities, consider hiring the person on a temporary basis before extending a full-time offer. This allows both parties to assess whether the position is a fit. OfficeTeam is the nation's leading staffing service specializing in the placement of highly skilled office and administrative support professionals on a temporary and temporary-tofull-time basis. The company has more than 315 locations worldwide and offers online job search services at www.officeteam.com.

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24 November 2011 North Coast Business Journal

Sandusky County Employers Save More Than $69,000 in Workers’ Comp Twenty-one employers from Sandusky County and surrounding areas received refunds totaling $69,797.39 from the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation on their workers’ compensation premiums based on their active participation in the Sandusky County Safety Council. While checks were distributed to members by mail a special mock-up check was presented at the Sandusky County Safety Council’s luncheon meeting held last month at Ole Zim’s Wagon Shed. The calculation for each employer successfully participating in the Safety Council is 2 percent of their paid premium. In FY11, this equaled approximately $6,275,000 awarded to over 2,000 employers throughout the state of Ohio. Safety councils are coordinated primarily through local chambers of commerce, American Red Cross chapters or business organizations. The councils host monthly meetings on topics related to occupational safety, accident prevention, risk management and workers’ compensation issues. There are 93

safety councils in Ohio with a total membership of more than 6,400 employers. The program allows for representatives from business and industry to network and share ideas beneficial to workplace safety. The Chamber of Commerce of Sandusky County manages the Sandusky County Safety Council. Monthly meetings are typically held on the fourth Wednesday of each month at Elmwood Healthcare Center at the Springs, Green Springs., and feature a safety-related program along with a luncheon. Information on the Sandusky County Safety Council can be obtained by contacting Jim Miranda at 419-332-1591, or safety@ scchamber.org. Additional information can also be obtained at the BWC web site, ohiobwc.com. Because of the program’s success, BWC has extended the safety council premium discount incentive into FY12. Although the window of opportunity to attain a 2 percent premium discount has passed, Ohio employers can still take advantage of active Safety Council membership.

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ProMedica Fostoria Community Hospital Ranked One of the Nation’s Top “Critical Access Hospitals” ProMedica Fostoria Community Hospital was recently named one of the top 100 Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in the country. The hospital was ranked by the National Rural Health Association (NRHA), a nonprofit organization working to improve the health and well-being of rural Americans and providing leadership on rural health issues through advocacy, communications, education and research. The top 100 hospitals were announced at its 10th annual

Critical Access Hospital Conference which attracted 650 rural hospital leaders in Kansas City, Mo. This award validates the promise made by our team to provide quality health care to our patients and families, said Dan Schwanke, president, ProMedica Fostoria Community Hospital. It also recognizes our commitment to improve the health and well-being of our community, and we could not be more proud.

Exploring the Possibilities of Starting, Buying or Expanding a Business? Discover what it takes by charting your course with

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Small Business Basics is a free, two-hour seminar that will answer your questions about starting, buying or expanding a small business. This seminar will take the confusion out of your efforts and help you to avoid costly mistakes and unnecessary steps. Learn the Basics of: Name Registration • Licensing • Taxes • Advisors Business Entities • Employees • Insurance • Financing Business Planning • and More! Sponsored by

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Dates and Times

2011 Locations

November Schedule

Wednesday, November 2 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Ottawa County Improvement Corporation, Conference Room 8043 W. SR. 163, Oak Harbor

Wednesday, November 9 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Tiffin Area Chamber of Commerce, Conference Room 19 W. Market Street, Tiffin

Wednesday, November 16 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Erie County Chamber of Commerce, Conference Room 225 W. Washington Row, Sandusky

Tuesday, November 22 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Terra Community College, Building B, Room 101 2830 Napoleon Road, Fremont

To register, contact: Bill Auxter, Director Ohio Small Business Development Center at Terra Community College Toll-Free 800-826-2431 or 419-559-2210 or email bauxter@terra.edu

Kirk Peterman, Safety Council VP, and Julie Reynolds, BWC Specialist, hold mock-up check showing total amount earned by Sandusky County Safety Council members through the FY11 BWC rebate program.

The Small Business Development Center Program of Ohio (SBDC) is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The SBDC program is also funded in part by the Ohio Department of Development. All opinions, conclusions recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact the SBDC at Terra Community College, 419.559.2210.

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PC Turns 30 By Don Knaur August 12, 2011 marked the 30th birthday of the IBM PC. At about the same time, Steve Jobs, founder of Apple Computer, was announcing that the end of the PC Era was at hand. Basically, he was saying that he thought the iPad would replace the PC. However, several computer experts and I don’t believe that will ever happen. On October 5, 2011, Steve Jobs died and no tribute to 30 years of personal computing would be complete without paying homage to him. Steve was a visionary that led Apple Computer to be the epitome of the personal computers. While I have never been a proponent of the Apple

North Coast Business Journal

November 2011

IT Systems, Apple products have always been superior when it came to handling graphics. Unfortunately for Apple, this meant that they are also more difficult to write software for. Due to the lack of available software and the higher cost of the hardware, Apple has always accounted for a very small portion of the PC market. However, the development of the iPod, iTunes, iPhone and iPad provided the extra revenues to keep Apple not only solvent but also profitable. Jobs was greatly involved in all of these developments. As you can see, Apple has been and still is devoted mainly to the personal market rather the commercial market. While the iPad is a wondrous piece of equipment, it has far too many limitations to be a replacement for the PC. Due to their superior screen size, I believe the Tablet PC’s such as iPad will give the iPhone and Android

a run for their money as portable Internet tools. But, there are too many shortcomings to allow them to replace the PC. While Steve Jobs was a genius and the computer industry owes him a great deal, it would appear that over the years he lost his understanding of the Big Picture of the computer market. Why would anyone want to replace their fully functional notebook PC with an iPad or similar device whose function is mainly Internet access? This is especially true when you consider the fact that the iPad costs almost twice what the notebook costs. The iPad and the notebook are both easily damaged, but the notebook is still hardier than the tablet device and the notebook is more easily repaired. In spite of Steve Jobs’ prediction, I am not going to get rid of my PC’s, desktop or notebook, in the

foreseeable future. I plan on using them for at least another five to ten years. While I don’t expect to write about the PC’s 40th birthday, someone else may. However, they may just dictate it to the PC before they have the computer beam them to their next appointment. Don is the CWO (Chief Working Officer) of Help-Desk, Ohio, a complete computer service center, located in Suite A of the Courtlee Interiors’ Building, 2499 W. Market in Tiffin. Don has a degree in Computer Programming from Tiffin University and has been an Information Technology Professional for over 23 years. He started HelpDesk, Ohio in the spring of 1996 and opened his shop in March 2001. Don welcomes calls for advice or information at 419-448-8020.

Leading the Way Imagine a small community hospital with technology more advanced than most hospitals across the nation. Safe, secure and efficient while improving patient care. We did, and we made it happen, becoming the model for other health systems across the nation. Magruder, leading the way as one of the nation’s first all-digital smart hospitals. Visit www.magruderhospital. com and click on the virtual tour “Leading the Way” to learn more.

615 Fulton Street • Port Clinton, Ohio 43452 • 419-734-3131 • magruderhospital.com

26 November 2011 North Coast Business Journal

On The Move Genoa Bank Adds New Financial Consultant GenoaBank, a locally owned, independent community bank, appointed Kevin Kwiatkowski to the role of Financial Consultant at the bank’s new financial advisory center. Kwiatkowski, an experienced Financial Consultant, will be housed in the bank’s Oregon Branch, but will be available to provide financial consulting services by appointment at any of the bank’s other locations. He will be serving the communities in Wood, Ottawa, Sandusky and Lucas Counties. “With Kevin’s 34 years of service in the financial industry, we are confident that both GenoaBank and our customers will benefit greatly from Kevin’s financial consulting and planning expertise,” said Martin P. Sutter, GenoaBank’s President. “We are thrilled to offer our customers access to our new financial

consulting services and Kevin is eager to utilize his experience to serve our community with personal attention and financial planning expertise.” Kwiatkowski, an Oregon resident, is actively involved with and enjoys giving back to the community. He is on the Board at Promedica Bay Park Hospital and serves as their Foundation Chair. Kwiatkowski is also very actively involved on the Board of the NW Chapter of the Red Cross and the Art Commission of Greater Toledo. He is also a Founding Member of the Black Swamp Hosta and Day Lily Society and is an avid volunteer at Person Park in Oregon, Ohio.

Rightnowar New AVP, Commercial Loan Officer GenoaBank, a locally owned, independent, community bank, today announced Ron Rightnowar’s appointment as Assistant Vice President, Commercial Loan Officer. Rightnowar joins GenoaBank after more than fourteen years of leadership experience in the community. He will be based in the bank’s Oregon branch, but will be available to provide commercial lending at any of the bank’s other branches. He will be serving the communities in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan. “Ron’s years of experience as a leader in the community prove him a perfect fit to continue the hometown banking tradition established by GenoaBank,” Martin P. Sutter, GenoaBank’s President and CEO, said. “I am confident Ron will thrive while providing customers with exemplary service.” Rightnowar, an Oregon resident, attended Eastern Michigan University, majoring in Industrial

Technology with a minor in Business Administration. He enjoys being involved in his c o m m u n i t y through various organizations, i n c l u d i n g co-founding the Ohio Diamond Hawks travel baseball organization and as the former NW Ohio area Director of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. As a former MLB pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers and Detroit Tigers, Rightnowar thoroughly enjoys giving back to area youths as a baseball coach; coaching at Toledo Christian School and the Toledo Hawks of the Tri State Collegiate Summer League. He is slated to take on the position of Varsity baseball coach at Genoa High School in the spring of 2012. Rightnowar also attends Cedar Creek Church in Rossford, Ohio.

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Lynn Detterman Honored with “20 under 40”Award Lynn Detterman, President and CEO of Mercy Willard Hospital, was recently honored with the 16th annual Northwest Ohio 20 Under 40 Award. Twenty people under the age of forty were recognized for their successes at work and in the communities of northwest Ohio. The 20 under 40 program focuses on individuals who are making exceptional contributions to the communities they serve or have distinguished themselves in their career. The program’s intent is to assist in motivating young leaders in the area. Detterman was born and raised in New London, Ohio and graduated from Case Western Reserve University. Before joining Mercy Willard as the manager of financial operations in 2002, she was employed as a senior auditor for Deloitte & Touche. In 2006, she became the chief financial officer (CFO) of both Mercy Tiffin Hospital and Mercy Willard Hospital. In 2009, she was named the President and CEO of Mercy Willard. She is currently a member of Rotary,

Chamber of Commerce, and serves as Treasurer of the Willard Area E c o n o m i c Development C o m m i t t e e . Detterman also is a member of the Ohio Hospital Association/Small & Rural Hospital Committee. In addition, she supports and encourages her senior staff and managers to become involved in community committees, activities and organizations. Detterman led and was at the forefront of the ambitious strategic plan for a replacement facility in Willard. In January 2010, Mercy Willard announced the groundbreaking for a new $40.5 million two-story, 101,000 square foot replacement facility. The groundbreaking took place in July of 2010. The completion date of the replacement facility is scheduled for spring of 2012.

Mercy Willard Hospital Honors Tim DeMonte The 13th Annual Catherine McAuley Lifetime Commitment to Service Award was recently presented to Tim DeMonte. The award was announced during a ceremony held at Mercy Willard Hospital as part of Mercy Willard’s celebration of Mercy Week. A reception honoring DeMonte followed the ceremony. The Catherine McAuley Lifetime Commitment to Service Award was created in 1999 by Mercy Willard to honor past and present affiliates. This award is the most prestigious honor that Mercy Willard can bestow on any associate of the hospital. The award is given to individuals who, through a lifetime of services to this hospital, emulate most closely the values of the foundress of the Sisters of Mercy, Catherine McAuley. Tim DeMonte is a 1971 graduate of Tiffin Calvert High School, a 1979 graduate of Tiffin University and a

veteran of the United States Navy. he began his career at Mercy Willard in 1984 as a certified b i o m e d i c a l technician. In 1986 he was named supervisor of plant engineering. He has held various positions in the facilities management department from Director to Vice President. DeMonte is currently serving as the Project Manager over the building of the replacement hospital. In addition to the responsibilities of overseeing the building of the replacement hospital, Tim is involved in emergency and disaster planning. He is a member of the LEPC (Local Emergency Plan Commission,) and has been a leader in disaster planning for the hospital and the Huron County area for many years.

North Coast Business Journal

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November 2011

Physicians and Board of Trustees Recognized at Mercy Tiffin Hospital Banquet The 2011 Annual Recognition Event was held recently to honor members of the Mercy Tiffin Hospital Medical Staff and Board of Trustees for their years and terms of service, and to announce the winner of the prestigious Physician Excellence Award. It was a lively evening of celebration honoring those who provide excellent care to our community each and every day. The recognition banquet is held to celebrate and recognize the dedicated service provided to the community by members of the Medical Staff and Board of Trustees at Mercy Tiffin. Physicians are recognized for medical staff membership in increments of five years. Board members are recognized for three year terms of service completed. A special highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Physician Excellence Award, a tradition that began in 2005. The award winner is selected from nominations gathered from members of the medical staff as well as Mercy Tiffin employees and board members. The winner of the 2011 Physician Excellence Award was Dr. John Bremyer, Podiatrist. Dr.

Bremyer was nominated by Lori Myers, manager of outpatient services, and the Mercy Tiffin Outpatient Specialty Clinic staff. The prestigious Physician Excellence Award is presented to a doctor who best meets the criteria which includes: commitment to teach & support medical education; using effective interpersonal skills to communicate and resolve conflict; promoting collaboration and team work; embodying the humanitarian mission of Mercy and modeling the Core Values of the founders of Mercy Tiffin Hospital. Nine employees representing clinical and support departments serve on Mercy’s Physician Engagement Team. “This year 15 inspirational nominations testifying to Mercy Tiffin Physician Excellence were submitted,” said Susan M. Hellmann, rural division senior director of organizational planning, physician development and medical staff relations, “We are encouraged by observing our medical staff demonstrate excellence at Mercy Tiffin Hospital, through big decisions and in small gestures. This evening

we reflect upon the span and strength of influence our physicians have not only on the lives of their patients, but also within the lives of their colleagues and our hospital employees. The Physician Excellence Award represents the respect and fondness with which we regard our physicians. It allows us to publicly laud their motivation of caring for others which encourages us all to do likewise.” Dr. Bremyer is willing to teach and explain, and he is never too busy to answer a question. He takes time to share his plan of care with patients and their family, regardless of how busy he may be. Dr. Bremyer takes pride in the service he provides. He collaborates with others, discussing care with fellow physicians in the outpatient specialty clinic area. “Dr. Bremyer embodies the humanitarian mission of Mercy Tiffin Hospital,” said Lori Myers and the Outpatient Specialty Clinic staff in their nomination. “He fosters compassion and it shows in how he lives his life. We are very lucky to have him as a member of our medical staff and as a friend, co-worker and

professional.” Mercy Tiffin Hospital is a community hospital committed to providing excellent health care services to its patients and families. Area residents benefit from excellence in personalized inpatient, outpatient, and emergency care. As a member of Mercy Health Partners, Mercy Tiffin is linked to a comprehensive range of primary and critical care health services including Life Flight. Mercy Health Partners is a not-for-profit health system in Northwest Ohio dedicated to improving the health of people in its communities with emphasis on its 150-year mission of caring for all in need. Mercy is composed of Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center, Mercy St. Charles Hospital, Mercy St. Anne Hospital, Mercy Children’s Hospital, Mercy Tiffin Hospital, Mercy Willard Hospital, Mercy Hospital of Defiance, St. Vincent & University of Toledo Life Flight and Mercy College of Northwest Ohio. Please visit mercyweb.org for additional information regarding Mercy Health Partners.

EHOVE Teacher Chamber Ambassadors hold Ribbon Receives Honor Cutting Ceremony for Anjulina’s EHOVE Green Science Tech Instructor Becky Drennen of Norwalk was recently recognized as Erie County Soil & Water Conservation District’s Teacher of the Year. The annual banquet recognizes local teachers and volunteers for their contributions. Drennen, who is in her 10th year as an EHOVE science DRENNEN teacher and 2nd year as EHOVE's Green Science Teacher, has worked with EHOVE students on projects including soil analysis, water quality tests, macroinvertebrate sampling, rain gardens and much more. "I was excited and honored that they thought about me. The people at the District have been wonderful. They're willing to work with EHOVE and the kids. It s a two way partnership," said Drennen.

The Chamber of Commerce of Sandusky County Ambassadors recently helped “cater” to Anjulina’s Catering and Banquet Hall’s Grand Opening by participating in their Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. Helping to kick-off their celebration were the owners Gina Harper, Julie Kupa-Brown and Amanda Sauber along with the Chamber Board of Trustees.

28 November 2011 North Coast Business Journal

Endocrinologist Joins Firelands Physician Group Firelands Physician Group is pleased to welcome Ahmad F. Sabbagh, MD, endocrinologist. Dr. Sabbagh is board certified in internal medicine and clinical lipidology, and board eligible in endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism. Dr. Sabbagh received his medical degree at Aleppo University in Aleppo, Syria and completed his residency at Cleveland Clinic Health System – Huron Hospital. He completed a fellowship of endocrinology at the University of Cincinnati. Dr. Sabbagh provides patients with general endocrine care including thyroid, adrenal and pituitary disorders; osteoporosis; lipid management; obesity; metabolic syndrome; diabetes prevention and management; vitamin D status; and male and female reproductive system.

Huron Chamber Honors ‘Bright Star’ Wilde The Chamber of Commerce Bright Stars for 2011 were recognized on Thursday, October 27th at the semi-annual Chamber Leadership meeting and fourth annual Bright Star Awards presentation of the Northern Ohio Area Chambers of Commerce (NOACC) at the Hyatt Regency Cleveland at the Arcade in Cleveland. Almost 50 chambers of commerce across northern Ohio nominated a person from their chamber as their “Bright Star,” to recognize a chamber member who has “made a significant impact on the chamber through membership, retention, sponsorship, economic development, operations and/or education.” Each Bright Star is an active chamber member for no less than two years and is likely to be an unsung hero or a dedicated behind-the-scenes volunteer. Mike Wilde, owner of Domino’s Pizza earned the Huron Chamber’s 2011 Bright Star award. Presenters this year were Wayne Lawrence, NOACC Chairman and Lute Harmon, chairman of Inside Business Magazine. Wilde is a soft touch. The owner of Domino’s Pizza in Huron, he is constantly sought out by every club, sports team and civic organization planning a fundraiser.

He’s always willing to donate his pizzas – and lots of them -- for just about any good cause. A former member of the Huron Board of Directors, he continues to be a promoter of the value of Chamber membership. Wilde and his brother, Skip, partners in the Huron and Norwalk locations, operate stores that consistently earn a five-star rating, the highest recognition in the Domino’s chain. Volunteers such as Wilde represent a wide range of involvement with their respective chambers, some having been a member and or officer or committee chairman for 20+ years and some being newly involved but each of whom has given freely of his/her time, working hard for their chambers without any expectations. This is the fourth year for the Bright Star Awards, and again has given an opportunity to recognize these volunteers among their peer groups, as chamber representatives, board members and spouses were also in attendance. “We are pleased to have this opportunity for our member Chambers and their communities to give these “Bright Stars” the thanks they deserve for everything they do to help their Chambers succeed,” said Lawrence in closing.

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Dr. Luis Perez Awarded Board Certification Luis Perez, DO, family practice physician in Vermilion, was recently awarded board certification in Family Practice/Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy (OMT) by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA). Physicians are eligible for certification by one of 18 AOA specialty certifying boards after completing an osteopathic residency program and satisfying requirements defined by an osteopathic specialty. Dr. Perez, a member of Firelands Physician Group, provides patients with preventative care, wellness care, and a full range of family practice care. He has a special interest in acute and chronic conditions, women’s health, office procedures, as well as school and work physicals.

Keep the Corner Office OfficeTeam Survey: Most Workers Don't Want Their Boss's Job New research from OfficeTeam indicates few workers today are angling for the top spot. More than threequarters (76 percent) of employees polled said they have no interest in having their manager's position. In addition, nearly two-thirds (65 percent) believe they couldn't do a better job than their boss. The survey of workers was developed by OfficeTeam, a leading staffing service specializing in the placement of highly skilled administrative professionals. It was conducted by an independent research firm and is based on telephone interviews with 431 workers 18 years of age or older and employed in office environments. Workers were asked, "Would you like to have your manager's job?" Their responses: No—76%, Yes—21%, Don't know/no answer—3% Workers also were asked, "Do you think you could do a better job than your boss?" Their responses: No—65%, Yes—28%, Don't know/no answer—7% The survey also revealed that more workers between the ages of 18 and 34 wanted their manager's position (35 percent) than those in other age groups. "Many aspects of management involve making difficult, sometimes unpopular decisions, and not everyone is comfortable in this role," said Robert Hosking, executive director of OfficeTeam. "Being a strong individual contributor does not necessarily equate

to being an effective leader. The most successful bosses excel at motivating others to achieve great results." OfficeTeam identifies seven traits potential leaders possess: 1. Integrity. The best managers foster trust among employees by placing ethics first. 2. Sound judgment. Top supervisors can be counted on to make tough decisions based on logic and rationale. 3. Diplomacy. Handling challenging situations with tact and discretion is a must. Effective managers don't take all the credit for results -- they consistently acknowledge individual and team contributions. 4. Adaptability. It's essential that leaders be able to think on their feet. They should be innovative while also encouraging team members to develop creative solutions. 5. Strong communication. To motivate and guide employees, influential managers freely share their vision with others. 6. Good listening skills. Successful bosses realize they don't have all the answers and seek input from colleagues. 7. Influence. Great managers build strong networks within the organization to gain support for their ideas. OfficeTeam is the nation's leading staffing service specializing in the temporary placement of highly skilled office and administrative support professionals. The company has more than 315 locations worldwide and offers online job search services at www.officeteam.com.

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North Coast Business Journal

My Partner Howard Wilde Named Winner Jake’s Autocare Inc owner, Howard Wilde, has been named the winner in the 2012 NAPA/ASE Technician of the year national competition. This award, given annually since 1982 by the National Automotive Parts Association symbolizes dedication and commitment to the industry and the c o m m u n i t y , professionalism, business practices and superior technical skill. There are currently 14,109 NAPA Autocare centers serviced by 64 Distribution Centers. After being selected as the winner locally, Howard advanced to the District level. From District, he advanced to the National competition along with 64 other nominees, where he was selected as the winner representing the best in the nation. Howard has owned and operated Jake’s Autocare (previously known as Jake’s Radiator) since 1982. Mr. Wilde is an ASE Master Certified automotive, heavy-duty truck, and bus technician with 28 certifications including advanced engine performance specialist .

OHIO’S ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES

November 2011

{

offers energy information. saves me money. is my electric co-op.

When it was time to look at HVAC options for our new school, we talked to our electric cooperative. They told us about the energy-saving advantages of a geothermal system and provided us with the information we needed to make the best decision for us. Your electric cooperative offers solutions, resources and personalized attention–all designed to make your business as energy efficient and cost effective as possible. Register today at www.buckeyepower.com to receive our informative Questline newsletter.

30 November 2011 North Coast Business Journal

Magruder Hospital Adds New Physician to Pain Management Clinic Dr. Zachary Zumbar has recently joined the staff of Magruder Hospital’s Pain Management Clinic and the medical staff of the hospital. He is joining Dr. Adam Hedaya to meet the growing needs of the pain management clinic. “We opened the doors to the new clinic last November,” says Mike Long, President & CEO of Magruder. “Since that time the clinic has continued to grow to the point of needing an additional physician. Dr. Zumbar is an excellent choice to join Dr. Hedaya and his staff.” Dr. Zumbar graduated from The Ohio State University College of Medicine and Public Health. He completed his residency in Anesthesiology at Johns Hopkins Hospital and his fellowship in Interventional Pain Management at the Cleveland Clinic. He is a member

of Midwest Pain Physicians, an alliance of board certified pain management physicians providing service in hospital-based pain management clinics. “I am pleased to join Magruder’s medical staff and the staff of the pain management clinic. Dr. Hedaya and I have a great working relationship and we look forward to offering even more availability to patients,” says Dr. Zumbar. Some of the conditions Dr. Zumbar can treat at the clinic are: neck pain, back pain, sciatica, post-surgical pain, headaches, arthritis pain in the neck and lower back, reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RDS), nerve damage or muscle spasm pain, chronic pelvic and shingles pain. In treating these conditions, Dr. Zumbar works with referring physicians and many other specialty groups.

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November 2011

North Coast Business Journal

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Terra’s Marketing Department Receives Regional Award The National Council for Marketing and Public Relations has recognized Terra State Community College for outstanding work in marketing. At its District 3 regional conference in October in Detroit, NCMPR awarded Terra a bronze Medallion Award in the single ad category for its television advertisement titled, “Shower Scene.” “Our fall enrollment campaign provided vignettes that portray access to classes and faculty as convenient and flexible in a humorous and exaggerated fashion,” said Mary Mc

Cue, Director of Marketing and Auxiliary Services. “The overriding message is the convenience factor provided by day, evening, weekend and online classes.” The commercials were a collaborative effort between Terra and Hanson Inc. of Toledo and included Terra faculty member Michael Shirtz as the professional voice over. Humor was definitely the medium. “Humor, fun, and levity are powerful communications tools that tell the marketing story to the viewing audience creatively,” Mc Cue said.

“All marketing is about satisfying the needs of the customer. And, in this case, the customer here happens to be current students and future students interested in a convenient college schedule, one that revolves around the student.” The Medallion Awards are modeled after the national NCMPR Paragon Awards to recognize outstanding achievement in college communications. Terra has a history of winning both Medallion and Paragon awards despite competing against colleges with larger marketing

Payne Nickles & Company certified public accountants & business advisors

departments in major metropolitan areas such as Cleveland Columbus, Chicago and Indianapolis. NCMPR is the only organization of its kind that exclusively represents marketing and public relations professionals at community and technical colleges. The organization has more than 1,550 members from more than 650 colleges across the United States, Canada and other countries. Terra will now compete at the national level going up against the largest community colleges in North America.

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32 November 2011 North Coast Business Journal

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Your Hometown Hospice

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

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