December 2011 - West Chester Liberty Chamber Alliance
Transcription
December 2011 - West Chester Liberty Chamber Alliance
THE DECEMBER 2011 VOL. XLVI ISSUE XII ����������� � � � � � � �� � � � ����������� � � � � � � �� � � � SM CONNECTING PEOPLE AND POSSIBILITIES IN WEST CHESTER AND LIBERTY TOWNSHIPS AND THE I-75 GROWTH CORRIDOR 2 On the Cover A large turnout of Chamber and community members joined the West Chester ß Liberty Chamber Alliance for a Ribbon Cutting and Open House at our new ofce at 8922 Beckett Road, West Chester. Thank you to all of our supporters for a successful event! Chamber Staff & Associates JOE HINSON, IOM, President & CEO EXECUTIVE jahinson@TheChamberAlliance.com MARGE WIMMER, Administrative Coordinator mwimmer@TheChamberAlliance.com ADMINISTRATION MIKE POWELL, Finance Director mpowell@TheChamberAlliance.com LEADERSHIP KENDRA WILBURN, Leadership Development Director DEVELOPMENT kwilburn@TheChamberAlliance.com KATHY RAMBO, Vice President/Special Events ktrambo@TheChamberAlliance.com SPECIAL EVENTS ALISON MIUCCIO, Marketing Director & MARKETING amiuccio@TheChamberAlliance.com PAMELA GRUBER, Marketing & Special Events Coordinator pgruber@TheChamberAlliance.com KENNI BLACHÉ, Membership Services Director kjblache@TheChamberAlliance.com MEMBERSHIP JAY D’ARCY, Senior Membership Account Executive jhdarcy@TheChamberAlliance.com LYNN TRAU, Membership Account Executive ltrau@TheChamberAlliance.com BOB WIWI, Small Business Advocate BUSINESS bwiwi@TheChamberAlliance.com ADVOCACY GEORGE GLOVER, Government Relations glover@focusedcapitolsolutions.com West Chester ß Liberty Chamber Alliance Executive Board 2011 CHAIR CHRIS WORRELL – Graydon Head VICE CHAIR KAREN MUELLER - HORAN SECRETARY CHAR MASON - Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Liberty Campus PAST CHAIR RONDI TSCHOPP – Five Visual Communication & Design STEVE BEHLER – Kemba Credit Union DEBORAH BRENNEMAN – Thompson Hine LLP ERIC HARMON - Cincy Magazine JOE HINSON – West Chester ß Liberty Chamber Alliance TOM HOLDING – Lincoln Financial Advisors CHRISTINE MATACIC – Liberty Township Trustee JENNIFER PORTER – Cincinnati Marriott North @ Union Centre RON ROHLFING – West Chester Hospital BRETT SMITH – Butler Technology and Career Development Schools TOM URBAN – Mercy Hospital Faireld THE Intersection Chamber; where business, education and government converge. West Chester ß Liberty Chamber Alliance 2011 SUSTAINING SPONSORS e West Chester Liberty Chamber Alliance salutes our Sustaining Sponsors. We acknowledge the following members and thank them for their support of the Chamber, its programs, events and services provided to the businesses and organizations of this area. ■ 35TH ANNIVERSARY SPONSOR Mercy Health – Faireld Hospital DIAMOND Butler Technology and Career Development Schools UC Health – West Chester Hospital GOLD Cox Media Group Ohio ompson Hine LLP West Chester Township SUPER SILVER Clark Schaefer Hackett HORAN Kemba Credit Union SEBALY SHILLITO + DYER SILVER Amylin Ohio, LLC Chaco Credit Union, Inc. Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Liberty Campus Fifth ird Bank First Financial Bank Liberty Township North Ridge Realty Group D.A. Development SUPER BRONZE Atrium Medical Center Clark-eders Insurance Agency, Inc. Graydon Head Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Consultants, Inc. e Matrix Companies UnitedHealthcare BRONZE Alternative Computer Technology, Inc. Amica Insurance Antonelli College – West Chester Duke Energy Edward Jones Investments; Bill Lendl Flagel, Huber, Flagel & Co. Focused Capitol Solutions, LLC Four Bridges Country Club Frost Brown Todd LLC Halcomb Benets Agency, Inc. Horizons HRS Huntington Bank Kehoe Financial Advisors Managepoint Nickerson Business Supplies, Inc. North Side Bank & Trust Company Northwestern Mutual—West Chester Park National Bank Planes Companies PNC Bank Schumacher Dugan Construction, LLC SCORE Taco Bell/Uno Chicago Grill TriHealth Corporate Health US Bank Xavier University Williams College of Business Stop by the Chamber ofce to see our Sustaining Sponsorship Sign donated by Hightech Signs - 513.874.5223 w w w . T h e C h a m b e r A l l i a n c e . c o m 3 From the desk of Joe Hinson, IOM – President & CEO Economic Growth = New Jobs Policies that promote capital investment, savings and return on investment, improve education and human capital appreciation all help encourage higher productivity growth. In October, the West Chester ß Liberty Chamber Alliance participated in the annual Business Regional Development Forum presented by the Cincinnati Business Courier and Dayton Business Journal. Business professionals from Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati up I-75 to Dayton, converged on West Chester to hear about JobsOhio, Governor Kasich’s new jobs creation vehicle. A panel discussion followed, focusing on the local economy and job creation which included West Chester Hospital’s President & CEO, Dr. Kevin Joseph. The economy’s long run potential is determined by its factors of production, namely labor and capital, as well as the productivity of those factors. Policies that promote capital investment, savings and return on investment, improve education and human capital appreciation all help encourage higher productivity growth. This in-state initiative can’t come soon enough. With unemployment still around 9% everyone still wonders why we are not creating any new jobs. Leading economists suggest a simple answer – insufficient economic growth. Thus, focusing on job growth, rather than on the underlying economic growth, may be the wrong target. As we all know, we are now emerging from a steep, long-lasting recession. However, almost two years after the recovery began, we have yet to climb above our long-term potential rate of growth. As a result, we have not created enough jobs to reemploy laid off workers. It’s time to consider other strategies. Consider this: The economic recoveries up until 1991 were characterized by very strong economic growth in the first year or two and equally rapid job growth. Hence, the economy was generally able to put people laid off during the downturn back to work in a very short time. However, beginning with the 1991 recovery and extending through the current recovery, economic growth in the early years of each recovery has been relatively weak, barely equaling our long-run potential rate of growth. The resulting job growth has been weak as well. JobsOhio seems to get it. Led by Mark Kvamme, its chief investment officer, this private, nonprofit corporation wants to move at the speed of business, cut bureaucratic red rape and remove nonsensical regulations put on businesses to foster economic growth, therefore creating and maintaining jobs in Ohio. Not your typical governmental agency, JobsOhio was built from the ground up to encourage business development in Ohio by lowering business investment and eliminating the obstacles that impede growth. We look forward to watching how this public-private partnership leads our statewide economic development efforts. For more information on JobsOhio, visit www.jobsohio.com. Back in the early 1960’s President John Kennedy’s chief economist, Arthur Okun examined the phenomena of economic growth and job creation. His analysis led to the development of Okun’s Law which states that the economy must grow about 2 percentage points for a year to drive the unemployment rate down one percentage point. Okun’s Law provides a ballpark figure for what kind of growth we need to reemploy the displaced workers from our current recession. With our current potential rate of growth about 2.5%, the economy must grow at about 4.5% to 5.0% in real terms for a year to lower the unemployment rate by 1 percentage point. To drive the unemployment rate from its current level of about 9.0% down to 6.0%, the economy must grow at 4.5% or more for three years. Okun’s Law can also help explain our lack of job growth. Our economic growth rate since the start of the recovery has averaged 2.4% annually, but growth over the last year was only 1.6%. So our lack of jobs can be explained primarily by lack of growth. At 2.4% we are barely reaching our potential; at 1.6%, we are likely well below our potential. Therefore, the key to job growth is getting more economic growth. If you want to get an insider’s look at our economic future, plan to attend our popular January membership luncheon. We kick off the year with our third annual Chambernomics program featuring economist LaVaughn Henry, Vice President and Senior Regional Officer for the Cincinnati branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday, January 10. Thank you for being a valued member of the West Chester ß Liberty Chamber Alliance. Happy Holidays to you and your family! DidYouKnow …as a member, you can take advantage of our Member to Member discount in this publication? Contact Alison Miuccio at 513.777.3600 and get your company on the list! West Chester • Liberty Chamber Alliance MISSION STATEMENT A regional community leader promoting business innovation and growth, advocating free enterprise, addressing issues of regional and community significance and leading our members to a higher quality of life. THE C e l e b r a t i n g 3 5 y e a r s i n 2 0 1 1 ! 4 West Chester ß Liberty Chamber Alliance VOICE THE SM • e VOICE is published monthly by the West Chester Liberty Chamber Alliance, 8922 Beckett Road, West Chester, OH 45069. Telephone: 513.777.3600 Fax: 513.777.0188 | www.TheChamberAlliance.com ����������� � � � � � � �� � � � Cost Saving Programs Listed Alphabetically by Service Subscriptions are included in the annual dues of each Chamber membership. PUBLISHER ..................................................................................Joe Hinson ����������� � � � � � � �� � � � EDITOR................................................................................... Alison Miuccio ASSISTANT EDITOR ............................................................... Pamela Gruber PHOTOGRAPHY...................................................... Len Kaltman Photography CONTRIBUTING WRITERS ................ Brad Arnott, Jamie Bernard, Jane Gegner, Kathy Glandorf, Dr. Karen Mantia, Steve Raszka, Ron Rohlng DESIGNER ..................................................................Cox Media Group Ohio Postmaster/Address Changes Send address changes to West Chester Liberty Chamber Alliance, 8922 Beckett Road, West Chester, OH 45069. ■ Advertising Chamber members can advertise in The VOICE and reach more than 1000 leaders in the southeastern Butler County business community. For cost and specics, call Alison Miuccio, 513.777.3600 or email amiuccio@TheChamberAlliance.com. Subscriptions The VOICE is mailed to Chamber members as a benet of membership. Additional subscriptions are available to Chamber members at $75 per year. Non-member subscriptions are $100 per year. For information, call 513.777.3600. Submissions Articles, advertisements and inserts for The VOICE must be received at the Chamber ofce by the 1st of each month to be included in the upcoming edition. No article in this magazine may be reprinted without the permission of the West Chester Liberty Chamber Alliance. ■ e o J / wriday a v a J Every F - noon SM r 9am from e Chambeost of yourat th make the m ith a one at pw to how embershi e Hinson n r a Jo Le ber m ! Call ule. Cham meeting to sched 0 ne on-o 3.777.360 51 THE w w w . T h e C h a m b e r A l l i a n c e . c o m Growing West Chester Business Adds Staff Infitech, a full-service IT company located at Hamilton-Mason & Cinncinnati-Dayton Roads, continues to grow and add staff. Nathan Moore, the most recent new hire, has a strong background in project management leadership, project and dispatch coordination, team building, desktop and POS troubleshooting. His skills and experience will bring a new level of customer service as Infitech’s Technical Coordinator. Chris Peed, a technician providing onsite customer support, joined Infitech in August. Chris has a very strong technical background and 13 years experience working on everything from Home Networks to Multi-Location Networks across the globe. He has a vast knowledge of Microsoft and most major enterprise solutions and has been able to tackle Apple’s technology realm as well. Daniel Wardlow also joined Infitech in August and brings a diverse background in many developmental languages including PHP, C, C++, C#, VB6, VB.net, JavaScript, and Java. He is wellversed in building content management systems for the web, web portals, web services gateways and integrating many technologies with the internet. For more information, visit infitech.net or call 513.779.5700. 2011 BBB Torch Award Recipient – One Way Farm Better Business Bureau Recognizes Marketplace Ethics in Tri-State Businesses and Nonprofit Organizations “Too often the news is about the scandals or problems with businesses and nonprofits,” BBB President Jocile Ehrlich said. “Our Torch Awards not only recognize good organizations, but lets our community know that good organizations committed to doing the right thing are the norm.” She added that our community has much to be proud of. At a gala at Cincinnati’s Duke Energy Convention Center, the Better Business Bureau celebrated the recipients and honorees of the BBB’s 2011 Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics, a program of The Center for Ethics at BBB and One Way Farm was a recipient. “The Torch Award encompasses the spirit and tradition of the BBB unlike anything else,” Ehrlich said. “It recognizes and honors businesses and organizations who fully commit themselves to ethical practices in all aspects of their business dealings.” UC Health University Pointe Surgical Hospital in West Chester Recognized by Press Ganey for Excellence The UC Health University Pointe Surgical Hospital was recently awarded the 2011 Press Ganey Summit Award for sustaining a rank of overall patient satisfaction scores above the 95th percentile 5 People AndNews for inpatient services for the past three years. Only 87 health care facilities in t he U.S. received the award in 2011. The Summit Award is given to hospitals that achieve a satisfaction rate in the top 5 percent for at least three years. The UC Health University Pointe Surgical Hospital has maintained an even higher satisfaction rate of 99 percent. University Pointe Surgical Hospital sees more than 20,000 patients annually between the hospital, imaging center and sleep medicine center. To learn more about the University Pointe Surgical Hospital, visit surgicalhospital.uchealth.com or call 513.475.8300. Eagle Tee Golf Center celebrates 20 years serving the West Chester & Liberty Townships area Steve and Diana Honerlaw, the owners of Eagle Tee, are lifelong residents of West Chester. He and his father designed and built the driving range in 1991 on property that has been in the family for over 50 years. The miniature golf course was added the following year. On May 14th (the actual 20 year anniversary) there was a customer appreciation day with free food and prize giveaways, plus demos during the afternoon. Customers were able to try the latest clubs and talk to manufacturer representatives. Eagle Tee has launched an updated website at www.eagletee.com and is on Facebook. Steve and Diana Honerlaw and their family would like to thank all of their patrons who have helped to make Eagle Tee a success over the last 20 years. Cincinnati Children’s Earns $12 Million NIH Grant To Test Migraine Prevention Medicines in Children and Teens Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center has received a $12 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to conduct the first clinical trial to determine the medication of choice for preventing migraines in children and teens. The five-year study, to be conducted at up to 40 sites throughout the United States, will be led by Andrew Hershey, MD, PhD, and Scott Powers, PhD, who co-direct the Headache Center at Cincinnati Children’s. “Children and teens miss more than 130,000 school days every two weeks due to migraines,” says Dr. Hershey. “The negative impact of having migraines on overall quality of life is similar to childhood cancer, heart disease and rheumatic disease,” adds Dr. Powers. For more information, call 513.636.4656. THE C e l e b r a t i n g 3 5 y e a r s i n 2 0 1 1 ! 6 IKEA Donates Thousands of Soft Toys to Toys For Tots Thousands of plush toys will soon be in the welcoming arms of less fortunate children across America thanks to IKEA and Marine Toys for Tots. The annual IKEA Soft Toys for Education Campaign ends December 24th. For every IKEA soft toy a customer purchases, the IKEA Foundation will donate money to UNICEF and Save the Children to help educate underprivileged children in 20 countries. Since the IKEA Soft Toys for Education program began in 2003, it has donated $47.5 million benefiting more than 8 million children in over 40 countries. “IKEA strongly supports the rights of every child and understands that education is key to their growth and development. Through Save the Children and UNICEF, this campaign continues to impact millions of children’s lives in developing countries with access to a quality education. So far, 8 million children have benefited with school supplies, better teaching facilities and sanitation, as well as trained and dedicated teachers,” commented Mike Ward, IKEA US President. For more information, please contact Kitalena Mason, IKEA West Chester at 513.779.9175 x 1336 Join us for a Business After Hours at The Cincinnati Marriott North @ Union Centre Wednesday, December 7th w 5-7pm Join us for food, beverages and networking! 6189 Muhlhauser Road ∙ West Chester For Your 2012 Calendar 5-7pm January 25 .........................West Chester Family Dentistry February 15 .......................................... The Web Extreme March 21................................................ At Your Service April 25..................................................................Uno’s May 16............................................ EPCON Communities June 23.......................................... Court Yard by Marriott July 25 .....................................................Carriage House August 22 ............................................. Designer’s Group September 19........................................... Staybridge Inn October 17...............................Residence Inn By Marriott November 7 ............................Barrington of West Chester December 5 ..................................... Chesterwood Village What is Marketing Research & Why do I Need it? Do you ever wonder what your customers are really thinking about your business? How did that check out experience go? What do my customers think of that new packaging design? We all know how important it is to understand what our customers are looking for from our businesses so it is essential to make sure you understand both the desires of your customers and how your business is meeting (or not) those expectations. Your bottom line depends on satisfied customers. Even though you have customers coming to your business, how do you know if they are truly satisfied or if an alternate source could quickly snatch that business away? Marketing research will give you the insights to understand your customers’ expectations and how you are meeting those challenges. There are two general categories of marketing research: Quantitative: the process of counting noses and ultimately conducting higher level mathematics to produce statistical results. This research will tell you what percentage of customers polled liked/did not like (fill in the blank). Qualitative: the process used to answer the ‘why’s.’ This methodology results in insights that can often lead to significant changes in your bottom line. With qualitative research the researcher looks to find the deeper meanings and the individual customer’s emotional, rational and sometimes irrational reasons for purchases. There are many ways to collect qualitative research data. It is often done in person as with pre-recruited focus groups and individual one-on-one interviews, or on-site customer intercepts. With the rapidly changing technology arena it is also quite common to gather these insights online. Online research can be conducted in real-time, meaning that the researcher and the respondent are chatting live via bulletin boards but it can also be conducted in virtual time – at the respondent’s convenience. Many businesses are also employing smart phone technology to capture individual consumer’s thoughts while they are ‘in the moment’. Quite often small business owners are concerned about the cost of doing research and will attempt to do it on their own. This usually leave the business owner with little to show for their efforts and very few, if any, actionable insights. To determine which methodology will be most useful, it is best to consult with a marketing research professional. A professional consultant will work with the small business owner to develop the most cost effective method and gather actionable results. KATHY GLANDORF ScarletKats, LLC 513.675.2676 Kathy@ScarletKats.com THE w w w . T h e C h a m b e r A l l i a n c e . c o m 7 Women for Women (W4W) is the West Chester ß Liberty Chamber Alliance women’s group focusing on the need for women to balance business, home and all aspects of their life. W4W brings women together to engage in networking, discuss women’s issues and address topics that are pertinent to women’s lives both at home and at the office. Our meetings focus on the four W’s—Work, Wealth, Wisdom and Wellness. At each session, we enjoy networking, discussions and a presentation that addresses the “W” topic of the month. Join us at this month’s W4W meeting on Friday, December 2nd from 8-9:30am at Grace Tree Studio, LLC, 8933 Cincinnati-Dayton Road, West Chester. We will focus on “Wellness” as the ladies of Grace Tree Studio, LLC share some yoga and relaxation techniques. Please RSVP to Pamela Gruber at pgruber@TheChamberAlliance.com. Thank you to our sponsor Kehoe Financial Advisors. Each month, the Character Council promotes 1 of their 49 character qualities. This month, the highlighted Character quality is “Benevolence (vs. Selfishness) – Giving to others’ basic needs without having as my motive personal reward.” “Character… It starts with me” ����������� � � � � � � �� � � � Proud to be the Region’s First Chamber of Character For more information on how to become a “Business of Character, “ please contact the Character Council at 513.467.0170 or visit www.charactercincinnati.org. Cost - $10 ����������� � � � � � � �� � � � THE C e l e b r a t i n g 3 5 y e a r s i n 2 0 1 1 ! 8 What’s New in West Chester Township www.westchesteroh.org West Chester’s Commitment to Economic Development Mike Juengling Takes on New Role as Community Development Director West Chester’s proactive, pro-business local government, strategic location, and the availability of quality buildings and sites have attracted the attention of the development community for more than two decades. As Mike Juengling steps into the position of Community Development Director this month, he does so with confidence that West Chester’s development potential remains strong. “West Chester has everything going for it including great location, excellent infrastructure and positive leadership,” said Mike. “The community has always been successful in attracting high-quality corporate investment and will continue to do so. I look forward to being a part of the community’s continued success.” Mike’s focus in his new position will be to work cooperatively with existing businesses and stakeholders to reduce barriers to success; and work closely with property brokers to focus business expansion efforts on targeted industries for greatest long-term benefit to the community, while also maintaining solid planning and regulation administration. “West Chester has built a reputation for being a pro-business community and developing strong private-public partnerships,” Mike said. “Our existing businesses are stakeholders in the community and maintaining these positive relationships will lead to continued success.” West Chester’s Downtown at Union Centre is the community’s most recognizable and visible display of economic growth and success. Top performing companies have located in this business district which offers exceptional visibility, access and proximity to the Cincinnati-Dayton Metroplex. West Chester’s Class A office space in this Downtown district is in demand for companies focused on expansion and growth and has now achieved its highest occupancy rate with 98 percent of the available Class A office space with Chamber Member companies like AK Steel corporate headquarters; Frost, Brown, Todd LLC; Bricker and Eckler LLP. The Centre Pointe Office Park, the Tri-State’s 6th largest suburban office center, is located immediately adjacent to Union Centre Boulevard and offers 768,000 square feet of Class A office space spread over six individual buildings, managed by Duke Realty. North Pointe at Union Centre (the 12th largest suburban center in the Tri-State) includes two; 210,000 square feet Class A office buildings which are 100 percent occupied by GE Aviation. “Companies that locate in West Chester, do well in West Chester and want to expand here,” Mike said. “West Chester’s leaders and stakeholders have positioned the community well for success.” The community’s Uptown and Midtown districts have also fared well even during challenging economic times. West Chester continues to regularly receive interest from new and expanding companies including firms from around the globe. West Chester is within a 600-mile radius of 54 percent of the nation’s purchasing power and offers opportunities for companies considering relocation or expansion from around the world. Nearly 50 international companies operate facilities in West Chester. Companies from Germany, Italy, Japan, and Sweden have established a presence in West Chester because of its exceptional location and workforce as well as its reputation in the marketplace. Many more of the nearly 3,000 companies located in West Chester do business globally. This global positioning of the community will continue to be a focus for business attraction efforts in West Chester. Mike is no stranger to the economic successes and challenges of Butler County. As he left his post as director of development for Butler County, he brings with him a wealth of public sector experience and knowledge in the fields of economic development, community planning, code enforcement and other related disciplines. A 20-year resident of West Chester, Mike said he looks forward to working even more directly with the community he calls home. New Business in Uptown West Chester – Commercial Orange Leaf Yogurt – 7736 Dudley Drive: Self-serve concept that allows customers to make and customize cups of frozen yogurt. Marlin and Ray’s – 7701 Voice of America Centre Drive: Remodel and rebrand of Ruby Tuesday’s, restaurant features seafood. Blue Frog Yogurt – 7602 Cox Lane: Company specializes in organic frozen yogurt. Massage Envy – 7639 Voice of America Center: Company specializes in massage therapy. Party Discounters – 7738 Dudley Drive: Company offers discounted party supplies. Panda Express – 7939 Tylersville Road, new building in front of Kohl’s: Chinese restaurant. East Meets West Buffet & Grill – 7759 Dudley Drive: Restaurant featuring 11 different food bars. THE w w w . T h e C h a m b e r A l l i a n c e . c o m 9 What’s New in Liberty Township www.liberty-township.com Liberty Township to host Breakfast with Santa on Saturday, December 3rd The Liberty Township Board of Trustees, in collaboration with the Liberty Township Events Committee, is excited to announce the launch of a new community event – Breakfast with Santa. On Saturday, December 3rd from 8:30 to 10:30am, the community is invited to Eli’s Sports Bar & Grill for a special breakfast and meet-and-greet with Santa Claus. Families can expect a traditional pancake breakfast including bacon and all the coffee, OJ and milk you can drink! Families are also encouraged to bring a camera for photos with Santa who will be arriving in Liberty Township’s original 1954 fire engine. Tickets for the Breakfast with Santa event are $5 for kids and $10 for adults. A portion of the proceeds - $1 for every child and $2 for every adult breakfast sold – will be donated to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center Liberty Campus. Tickets can be purchased in advance at the Liberty Township Administration Building (6400 Princeton Road) or at the door the day of the event. “The Events Committee continues to look for ways to engage with the community and we thought this may be a nice addition to our annual events line-up. With so many children and families living in Liberty Township, we hope a chance to have breakfast with Santa will be a good draw for families to get out and enjoy some holiday cheer. We are grateful to Eli’s for allowing us to use their location and for donating bacon to the event! And we trust the donation to Cincinnati Children’s Liberty Campus will help further their important mission as they continue to serve family’s in our community, the Greater Cincinnati region and beyond,” said Melanie Brokaw, Events Committee Liaison. Eli’s is located at 4895 Princeton Road in Liberty Township in the Princeton Landings retail center at the corner of Princeton Road and State Route 747. For more information about tickets or the event, contact Vickie Daniel at 513.759.7500. GETTING CONNECTED JAY D’ARCY & STAYING CONNECTED Senior MEMBERSHIP ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Jay is one of your first points of contact when you join the West Chester ß Liberty Chamber Alliance and a great resource for getting involved. In his role, Jay provides insight into how the Chamber can benefit both current and prospective members, If you need more information on how to GET CONNECTED, contact Jay at 513.777.3600 or jhdarcy@TheChamberAlliance.com. Plan Now To Attend Liberty Township’s 2012 Events Easter Egg Hunt Saturday, April 7 11am at Liberty Park Easter Bunny will be available for photos 10am to Noon Fourth of July Festivities Wednesday, July 4 8am—5K Run for Liberty The run will begin and end at Lakota East High School. 10am Annual Parade The parade begins at Lakota East High School and ends at Liberty Park. Fall Festival & 5K Saturday, September 15 10am—3rd Annual Pursuit of Liberty 5K. The run will begin and end at Liberty Park. 11am to 3pm—Festival at Liberty Park THE C e l e b r a t i n g 3 5 y e a r s i n 2 0 1 1 ! 10 Leading Edge Program now forming Next Leadership Development Class, Beginning December 6th Getting the Best Out of People through Leadership Development in 2012 Motivating employees – through leadership development - has a positive impact on business As we look forward to next year and begin to finalize budgets, it is important to build a budget around developing your people. Studies show that in an organization, a strong sense of leadership is a must for its operations to run smoothly. It is for this reason that many companies now offer leadership development in various business organizations and also for people who want to discover the inner leaders within them. Leadership development pertains to activities that help a person enhance his or her leadership skills. This can either be through formal seminars or other means such as; team building activities or retreats. No matter what type of leadership development is preferred—the formal or the laidback—experts say there is one surefire way to get the best out of people; help them discover the power of self-motivation. Leadership is effective when an organization runs orderly and its people are working in a harmonious setting. This type of leadership, say experts, can be achieved only if the leader is motivated towards one common goal to success. Studies show that leadership development which incorporates the concept of self-motivation is far more effective because it helps with looking forward to better things in life. These days there are less effective leaders because many of them have lost their innate means of motivating themselves. When motivation to accomplish a certain goal has diminished, it’s easier for a leader or potential leader to give up and live a remorseful life filled with negative things. Today, more and more people who conduct leadership development try to incorporate motivating participants because this is one of the keys in helping people get rid of negative emotions. When people are cleared from negativity, they will be able to think more clearly and be able to see things in a positive way. As your organization finalizes its budget for next year, stop and consider the impact your employees have on your organization today, and will have on business over the course of the next year. Does your organization have leadership development as one of its key budgetary line items? After all, it is a key component to motivating employees, which ultimately leads to a positive impact on business. KENDRA WILBURN Leadership Development Director West Chester • Liberty Chamber Alliance Leading Edge offers a unique training program designed to take participants to an advanced level of leadership. This program provides practical solutions toward developing the skill sets for the ever changing workforce of the 21st Century. Leading Edge provides companies and organizations with expertly led seminars that teach with excellence, educate for short and long-term results, and reflect extremely well on current and future leaders within the organization. Leading Edge offers content rich courses that are well crafted to provide employees with knowledge they can immediately begin to use on the job. Along with well thought out course materials, participants benefit from adult learning instruction that enables them to quickly digest new material and apply it back to the real world. This Leadership program meets the first Tuesday of the month from 9am–1pm at the office of the West Chester Liberty Chamber Alliance. To register or obtain more information on the Leading Edge program, please contact Kendra Wilburn, Leadership Development Director of the West Chester Liberty Chamber Alliance, at 513.314.9659 or via email: kwilburn@thechamberalliance.com. The Value of SEBC Leadership 21 I was an eager Leadership21 participant in 2008. At that time, I was working on the West Chester Hospital project as Director of Hospital Operations and project manager during the hospital’s construction phase. This leadership program helped me learn so much about the community, the history and how our new hospital could become a welcome neighbor. The program consistently exposed me to community resources that we incorporated into the hospital. Each session provided an “A-Ha” about how we could engage another community service or member. From local agencies, to artists, government relationships, resources, the program provided significant benefit to our organization and developed lasting relationships that continue to serve West Chester Hospital and our patients today. It has been rewarding to see the full circle benefit of our time and resource investment in Leadership21. I would encourage anyone wanting to learn about the West Chester and Liberty Townships, or the Butler County community, to engage with the West Chester ß Liberty Chamber Alliance’s Leadership21 program. The program was a valuable ingredient in opening the West Chester Hospital in 2009 and we have continued to participate in the program since 2008. It is a great investment in your business. RON ROHLFING UC Health West Chester Hospital 513.298.7706 rohlfiRA@healthall.com THE w w w . T h e C h a m b e r A l l i a n c e . c o m 11 Lakota Update LAKOTA TO UNDERTAKE COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS TO HELP IMPROVE SPENDING AND INSTRUCTIONAL APPROACHES The Lakota Local School District recognizes that well-run businesses constantly make sure they’re using their resources efficiently and effectively. We need to do the same, and we think we do. Lakota is well below the state average in spending per pupil, but we can do better. So, we’re planning to undertake a study of how we spend money and the benefits of that spending. We’ll be asking whether the benefits to society from a Lakota education outweigh the costs. Education is universally recognized as an investment in human capital. It contributes to a nation’s wealth by increasing the productivity of its people. This raises key questions: ß How does education compare with other forms of local investment? ß Are all forms of education equally productive? ß Is education a profitable form of investment for the individual as well as for the local economy and society? ß What do students or their families take into account when making educational and occupational choices? These fundamental economic questions are important as Lakota evaluates the quality of its programs, the range of its curriculum and its models of instructional delivery. Lakota has evidence that students are getting great value from their educations. The School District has earned the highest state academic rating for 10 consecutive years on the Ohio Local Report Card. Additionally, Lakota has been named Ohio’s top district for not only meeting but exceeding state student growth expectations. At Lakota, we plan to ensure that our students are ready for the everchanging workforce and their lives beyond their work. We will use decisionmaking processes that analyze the relationship of our costs to the benefits. As we plan, various alternatives will be considered, with the understanding that different forms of spending need support both economically and socially. As we move forward, we will not lose sight that our students must be adequately prepared for the future. We will be inviting you to join us for that discussion. DR. KAREN MANTIA Superintendent 513.644.1166 Karen.mantia@lakotaonline.com THE C e l e b r a t i n g 3 5 y e a r s i n 2 0 1 1 ! 12 November Luncheon Recap Patriotism was in the air at Wetherington Golf and Country Club on Election Day as the Chamber drew a significant amount of proud, sticker-covered members to the monthly luncheon after casting their votes. As the Chamber honors our country’s fine veterans throughout the month of November, we as members had the privilege of specifically honoring one of our country’s brave heroes, Lieutenant Colonel Jim Eriksen of the 2nd Squadron, 107th Cavalry Regiment, Ohio Army National Guard. Throughout LTC Eriksen’s captivating presentation, attendees were given a firsthand look at his experiences serving our country, what the media has failed to report to the American people regarding the war on terror, how we as Americans can better support the families of soldiers, and the many reasons why our local business leaders should strongly consider hiring veterans. Lieutenant Colonel Eriksen began his presentation with a brief summary of his education and military background. While attending The Ohio State University, LTC Eriksen joined the ROTC which led to his 28 year tenure in the United States Military. While serving in the United States Active Army and National Guard, LTC Eriksen was quickly promoted through the ranks and is now the Commander of 428 members of the Ohio Army National Guard located in Hamilton, Ohio. He also served as an Army Ranger on several overseas and domestic deployments and was a recipient of the Bronze Star for Actions in Combat while successfully carrying out Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. LTC Eriksen is a true American Patriot. As LTC Eriksen gracefully shifted from discussing his formal military background to his personal encounters with the Taliban and Al-Qaeda while at war, the audience became deeply engaged by his every word. While presenting a multi-colored map of Afghanistan shown on the projection screens, LTC Eriksen highlighted the different pockets of tribal territories that spread throughout the entire country. Many of these tribal areas are extremely hazardous to our American troops, while remaining virtually unknown to the American public. LTC Eriksen then proceeded to play a video produced by his unit that gave an intimate look at the difficult terrain and lifestyle our soldiers face while fighting for our freedom in Afghanistan. The dark and percussive tribal music in the background gave the video a very eerie, yet realistic feel. The Lieutenant Colonel then proceeded to tell a detailed war story of how he led his troops out of an “L-Shaped” Taliban ambush full of gun and missile fire without losing a single American life. The Lieutenant Colonel then touched on the news media and how they don’t accurately inform the American people about what is actually happening. According to LTC Eriksen, a vast majority of the positive work our troops are doing in Iraq and Afghanistan like building schools, providing food and water to locals in areas of extreme poverty, and rebuilding local communities is not reported in the media. Another item that is never reported is that an overwhelming majority of the Afghani people fully support the United States’ military presence. His powerful words hit home with the crowd when explaining the Taliban and Al-Qaeda’s main objective: “Their goal is to affect and alter America’s center of gravity. They are trying to radically change the USA’s public opinion that benefits them in the long run.” The third focus in LTC Eriksen’s speech was how important it is to not only thank our troops for their service, but to make a point to thank their families. He powerfully proclaimed, “Seek out to thank family members because their job is more difficult than ours. Family members are the backbone of what we do.” This statement followed his asking all family members of veterans and active soldiers to please rise while the audience gave them a thunderous applause. In closing, Lieutenant Colonel Eriksen enthusiastically encouraged all of our local businessmen and women to hire veterans. He mentioned that the main reasons businesses should hire veterans are because they are already trained EMCEE– Rick Shively, Lincoln Financial Securities Corporation SPEAKER – Lieutenant Colonel Jim Eriksen SPONSOR – FIRST FINANCIAL BANK (front row, left to right): Rhonda Bowling, Ronald Helton, Cindy Mustard, David Chrestensen (second row, left to right): Jason Leyda, Liz Whitson, Brian Collins, Ben Rosensweet Joe Hinson, Chamber President & CEO (far left) presented Chamber staff with plaques to show appreciation for their hard work and dedication for their years of employment. Pictured left to right are Kendra Wilburn, Leadership Development Director (5 years); Jay D’Arcy, Senior Membership Account Executive (10 years); Alison Miuccio, Marketing Director (5 years). with world class leadership skills that would typically cost executives tens of thousands of dollars to pay for... veterans thoroughly understand the importance of teamwork and how to properly work as a group to achieve difficult goals in high stress environments... and because veterans understand loyalty and how to respect authority. It was a true honor for the Chamber to hear Lieutenant Colonel Jim Erikson’s story; as his sacrifice to our country is what truly allows us as free Americans to cast an Election Day ballot and take pleasure in a first class monthly luncheon, all while enjoying the beautiful, 70 degree ‘Chamber of Commerce Weather.’ STEVE RASZKA Insurance Associates 513.424.2481 sraszka@insuranceassociates.net THE w w w . T h e C h a m b e r A l l i a n c e . c o m 13 This Month’s Luncheon Tuesday, December 13 Wingate by Wyndham 7500 Tylers Place Boulevard in West Chester 11:30am – 1:30pm End the Year with a BANG! DISPLAY – ATRIUM MEDICAL CENTER: Jessica Brooks DISPLAY – HALCOMB BENEFITS AGENCY, INC.: Ronda Halcomb $27 for members, non-members and guests Our Chamber recognizes times are tough for all businesses and with that in mind, and in the spirit of the season, we are offering our popular December Luncheon to all business professionals on the I-75 Growth Corridor at the member rate of $27! This holiday luncheon will give attendees an opportunity to network and make important business contacts. Our Holiday Luncheon celebration will also give Joe Hinson, Chamber President and CEO, an opportunity to recognize and thank our 2011 Chamber Team Chairs, as well as our Board officers and members. This luncheon is the perfect occasion to get in the spirit of the holiday season and enjoy comedy ventriloquist, Denny Baker, with DB & Co. Our emcee is be Michelle Dunne Johnson of A Kid Again. Next Month’s Luncheon Tuesday, January 10 DISPLAY – REACH OUT LAKOTA (left to right): Sue Cheney, Lourdes Ward DISPLAY – CLARK-THEDERS INSURANCE AGENCY, INC. (left to right): Amanda Shults, Mandy Frank NEW MEMBERS – Joe Hinson, Chamber President & CEO (back row, far right) is pictured with front row (left to right): Rick DeAngelis, Tide Dry Cleaners; Mary Wilhelm, Fischer Homes. Second row (left to right): Jack Winterhalter, Window Genie of Cincinnati; Jessica Corbett, Cooperative Business Services, LLC. November is the month we traditionally honor our veterans. This year, veterans from VFW Post 7696 in West Chester- Frank Hickman, Mickey Vidourek, Everett Cole and Don Ladd- posted the colors. Wingate by Wyndham 7500 Tylers Place Boulevard in West Chester 11:30am – 1:30pm “Chambernomics” Join us as we kick off our 2012 luncheons with guest speaker Dr. LaVaughn Henry, Vice President and Senior Regional Office of the Cincinnati Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. Dr. Henry is responsible for building and maintaining a strong presence and reputation for the Reserve Bank throughout central and southern Ohio and eastern Kentucky. Prior to joining the Bank in 2009, Dr. Henry served as senior director of market economics and risk analysis at PMI Group, one of the nation’s largest mortgage insurers. He previously held positions as director of regional communications at Fannie Mae and assistant regional manager for government affairs at Ford Motor Company. Additionally, Dr. Henry has held senior economic positions with the Budget Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (formerly the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight), the FDIC’s Resolution Trust Corporation, and PriceWaterhouseCoopers, where he led consulting engagements with the Federal Housing Administration. This luncheon promises to give you an insider’s look at our economic future. Our emcee will be Rosemary Haddad of Merrill Lynch. How To RSVP For The December Luncheon RSVP on our website at www.eChamberAlliance.com or email Marge Wimmer at mwimmer@eChamberAlliance.com. Luncheons are held the second Tuesday of each month from 11:30 am - 1:30 pm. Cancel before noon on the Monday before the lunch to avoid being charged. $27 - for members, non-members and guests THANK YOU TO TOM KAPER AND TEC SERVICES FOR PROVIDING OUR AUDIOVISUAL NEEDS AT OUR LUNCHEONS! www.4tecservice.com Pay by check, Mastercard, VISA or Discover and avoid the registration line. Special dietary needs will gladly be taken care of by letting us know when you RSVP for the luncheon. THE C e l e b r a t i n g 3 5 y e a r s i n 2 0 1 1 ! 14 A New Federal Law is a Big Win For Some Business Owners Have you seen the latest headlines such as “Banks Plan New Fees for Using Debit Cards”? You may be asking why? The reason is that large banks have new revenue challenges because they expect to lose over $6 Billion collectively during the next year from a recent federal law impacting their profits on Debit cards. What Federal law? The Durbin Amendment to the DoddFrank financial overhaul package has lowered the amount of income a bank can make from issuing a Debit card. As you may know, each time you and I use our Debit cards the retailers have to pay a processing fee and the bank issuer makes a pre-determined amount. This new law lowers those processing fees for a Debit transaction and therefore, the bank issuer’s profits too. For an average Debit transaction of $40, the fees that retailers pay for accepting Debit cards has been cut in half! What does that mean to a small business owner? Most retailers are poised to benefit from a dramatic cut in the processing fees that they pay for their Visa and MasterCard Debit card transactions. Many business owners enjoy the benefits of Debit and Credit card acceptance (convenience, ease of payment for their customers) but they do not enjoy the fees that they must pay to accept these cards. This new law will help reduce the cost for many retailers. Who benefits the most? The biggest winners are the owners of retail businesses that cater to consumers such as salons, clothing stores, and auto repair centers. These retailers see a high percentage of Debit cards (swiped or key entered). However, some retailers with small ticket sales such as convenience stores will not see a lower cost. The biggest losers with this new law are the large financial institutions who will make less money on Debit card transactions. Some of Omega’s customers are seeing a significant reduction in fees of hundreds and even thousands of dollars per month. However, since Visa & MasterCard utilizes a complicated pricing structure, you should work with an established local processor and experienced representative that can educate you on the best pricing system to implement. BRAD ARNOTT Omega Processing Solutions 513-755-6501 brad@omegap.com THE w w w . T h e C h a m b e r A l l i a n c e . c o m The West Chester ß Liberty Chamber Alliance offers its appreciation to the following companies for contributing to the success of the 2011 For Your 2012 Calendar Annual Dinner March 9th at Cincinnati Marriott North at Union Centre Business Expo May 8th at Skatetown USA Golf & Tennis Classic September 10th at Heritage Club Awards Dinner & Gala 35th Anniversary Sponsor Mercy Health – Fairfield Hospital Presenting Sponsor – Butler Technology & Career Development Schools Media Partners – Cincy Magazine and WCPO TV – Channel 9 Awards Sponsor – HORAN Rose Sponsor – Mercy Health – Fairfield Hospital Gold Sponsor – Atrium Medical Center Social Hour Sponsor – Clark Schaefer Hackett Program Sponsor – The University of Phoenix, Cincinnati Campus Women of Excellence Private Reception Sponsor – Kehoe Financial Advisors Women of Excellence November 16th at Cincinnati Marriott North at Union Centre Save Time & Money on 2012 West Chester Liberty Chamber Alliance Monthly Member Luncheons Purchasing a 12-month Luncheon Package for West Chester Liberty Chamber Alliance Monthly Luncheons allows you to skip the pay-at-thedoor table and start networking right away...PLUS it saves you money! Make your reservations by calling Marge Wimmer at 513.777.3600 and take advantage of saving time and money on our 2012 Monthly Member Luncheons. Be sure to add the luncheon dates to your calendar: JAN 10 FEB 14 MAR 13 APR 10 MAY 8 JUN 12 JUL 10 AUG 14 SEP 11 OCT 9 NOV 13 DEC 11 Corporate Table Sponsor – Allergy & Asthma Specialty Center A special thank you to the staff of the Cincinnati Marriott North at Union Centre for their support of the Women of Excellence and the West Chester ß Liberty Chamber Alliance Additional Event Supporters Bethart Printing Solutions Dean Miuccio Productions, LLC Jones the Florist Kemba Credit Union Len Kaltman Photography Medical Center Fund of Cincinnati Murray Multimedia Resources, LLC Oberer’s Flowers PROforma GRAPHIX silver window m.v. Stoneworks TEC Services The Village Spa West Chester Community TV Wimmer Engraving & Gifts Please look for photos of the event in The January VOICE! THE C e l e b r a t i n g 3 5 y e a r s i n 2 0 1 1 ! 15 16 17 Tech Tip Achieve better placement in Google Places by increasing Google reviews G OOGLE of your business and inbound links to your site, and add descriptions, keywords, photos and videos to your Google Places. DidYouKnow PLACES LINKS …you can display YOUR business at any of our Monthly Member Luncheons to over 175+ people? Interested? Contact Pam Gruber at 513.777.3600. Sixty-Second Connect Provided by: www.LegendWebWorks.com December 20th Team of the Month Chair, Business Action Team Rick Shively Lincoln Financial Securities Corporation The Business Action Team focuses on the key business issues of Chamber members. The West Chester ß Liberty Chamber Alliance’s Roundtables, Chamber Advisors and business articles for The VOICE come from this team. Join Chamber members once a month to connect in sixty-seconds! This one-hour program will help members build lasting business relationships and share valuable business information with other members. Sixty-Second Connect consists of a self-introduction by each attendee, sponsor presentations, door prizes and a taste of Noodles & Company. Sixty-Second Connect is held once a month at the West Chester ß Liberty Chamber Alliance. Chamber membership is required for attendance. Bring your business cards and be prepared to talk about you and your business in sixty-seconds! This is another way our Chamber “connects people & possibilities.” Butler County Chamber Caucus Legislative Breakfast Hosted by A FORUM FEATURING YOUR STATE LEADERSHIP: State Senator Bill Coley State Representative Courtney Combs State Representative Tim Derickson State Representative Margaret Conditt DATE: Friday, December 9, 2011 TIME: 7:30 – 8:00 a.m. Registration & Breakfast Buffet 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. Program COST: $20 per Chamber Member (Fairfield; Greater Hamilton; Chamber serving Middletown, Monroe & Trenton; Oxford; West Chester ß Liberty) $30 per Future Member WHERE: Courtyard by Marriott - Hamilton One Riverfront Plaza Hamilton, OH 45011 RSVP: Greater Hamilton Chamber of Commerce 201 Dayton St., Hamilton, OH 45011 PH: 513.844.1500 FAX: 513.844.1999 THE C e l e b r a t i n g 3 5 y e a r s i n 2 0 1 1 ! 18 MEMBER TO MEMBER DISCOUNT 10% OFF Enjoy lunch for the month of December 2011 9102 West Chester Towne Centre Drive West Chester, OH 45069 513.874.7468 www.DingleHouse.com & GETTING CONNECTED STAYING CONNECTED LYNN TRAU MEMBERSHIP ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Lynn is one of your first points of contact when a company is considering joining the West Chester Liberty Chamber Alliance. Lynn provides insight into how our Chamber can benefit both current and prospective members. If you’d like more information on how to get CONNECTED, please call Lynn at 513.777.3600 or via email ltrau@TheChamberAlliance.com. • Connecting the Dots Judge Kathleen Dobrozsi Romans A column devoted to and for Chamber Members. How they made their membership work; how they network and how they build their business. Judge Kathleen Dobrozsi Romans’ career began as a classroom teacher in public and parochial schools. She then made an important decision to go back to college to obtain her law degree. Since passing the bar in 1983, she has spent her time as an assistant prosecuting attorney, a magistrate and now a judge in the Butler County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division. Judge Romans understands her responsibilities reach far beyond providing punitive measures, and she helps those she serves by providing necessary resources and referrals. She hopes that she can help shape the life of a child by matching these services to the individuals. This is why Judge Romans joined the West Chester ß Liberty Alliance Chamber. “I saw how quickly the area was growing and as a person in government, I saw the Chamber as a good opportunity to meet business professionals and see what kinds of community resources were available to help me do a better job. It is important to understand different neighborhoods and the people of those neighborhoods. This information gives me a better understanding of where they are coming from and what they need.” The Chamber offers Judge Romans the ability to continually obtain this knowledge. She is impressed with the quality and diversity of businesses represented at the Chamber; from sole proprietors to large corporations. She believes it is important for business professionals to come together, at the Chamber, and learn as much as possible from each other to better service clients and ultimately to better serve the community. Judge Romans recommends that members attend as many events as possible. At the monthly luncheons, she makes it a point to sit with different people each time. “I enjoy each person’s perspectives of the court system and what they want the system to be. I learn something new each time and try to take something away from each speaker or person and think about how I can integrate that into my role as Juvenile Court Judge.” She knows that the Chamber’s Business Expo is another event where members can meet professionals and find out about services. She feels that during these tough economic times, people are struggling, so our ability to educate our colleagues about each other’s resources is critical. For example, she talked about learning of a new transportation company and a new temporary employment company. “People don’t always know where to go for help,” she explains. Judge Romans is also big on promoting a program dear to her heart: CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), volunteers from our community appointed by the Court to advocate for abused and neglected children, locally know as the Parachute Program. Judge Romans’ goal is to try to help make a positive change in this world and in our community and the Chamber gives her and all of us that opportunity. JANE GEGNER Hillandale 513.777.1400 ext. 3083 www.hillandale.com THE w w w . T h e C h a m b e r A l l i a n c e . c o m SpotlightOn Bajon Salon The atmosphere when you walk into Bajon Salon and Spa is inviting. The open layout, color scheme and a friendly smile welcoming you when you walk in the door creates a calming feeling. The mission that Mark Welch and his wife Karen, owners of Bajon Salon and Spa set out to achieve was to “grow beyond the Salon” and they have done just that. Mark is the business manager, while his wife is a top designer at the salon. Mark is what I would describe as a smart, organized, business oriented individual who has not only demonstrated leadership in his business, but also in the community. In 1999 when Union Centre was in the process of being developed, his wife said,”This would be a great place for a Salon and Spa.” Mark, having a degree in Chemical Engineering, and working in corporate America for 20 years, was sold on the idea and next thing they knew they were talking to the developers. In 2000 Bajon Salon and Spa became the first full service upscale salon and spa in Butler County. Bajon Salon and Spa stands out among other salons; they describe themselves as being,”Upscale but not uptight.” They are professional, diligent in everything they do, run an organized business and maintain a great image to both clients and the community. Mark says,”I believe a business has to stand out.” He has marketed Bajon Salon and Spa through social media and through the internet’s search engines. They 19 have also created a private label hair care line, Sozo Heavenly Hair Care. Sozo is an ancient Greek biblical word which means to heal, to make whole, and to deliver. In the community, Mark and Karen support the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. For the last three years they have raised money to help in the cure of childhood cancer and have raised over $50,000 by shaving heads! The example they set for the children “it’s just hair, nothing else has changed.” Bajon Salon and Spa has been a member of the West Chester ß Liberty Chamber Alliance for 11 years. You can visit the Bajon Salon and Spa at 6072 West Chester Road in West Chester or Bajonsalon.com where you can click on the social media tab to check them out on many social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, and the Bajon Salon Blog. Their phone number is 513.874.9999. JAMIE BERNARD Champps 740.317.4793 http://champps.com THE C e l e b r a t i n g 3 5 y e a r s i n 2 0 1 1 ! 20 Ribbon Cuttings and Ground Breakings Han’s White Tiger Tae Kwon Do 7302 Yankee Road Liberty Township, Ohio 513-777-5700 Tae Kwon Do is the Korean method of weaponless self-defense. Nicole Han and Master Han (center) are dedicated to instructing individuals and increase their well-being by raising spiritual, moral, and physical standards through Tae Kwon Do. They celebrate their grand opening with a ribbon cutting celebration. EPCON Communities 8000 Park Place Circle West Chester, OH 45069 Epcon Communities, known for creating life styles and quality living space, has begun the development of The Villas at Park Place. This community will feature a total of forty eight ranch style condominiums, club house and more. Carl Fankhauser (center) was surrounded by his team as they celebrated with a ribbon cutting. Lunatic Fringe 7033 Yankee Road Liberty Twp, OH 45044 513-720-1332 Lisa Gear (center) has cultivated an educated and passionate team of artists. Each of them has gained additional skills and expertise in specific areas of hair and hair care in order to provide exceptional service. She describes a visit to Lunatic Fringe as an “unparalleled experience”. Party Discounters 7738 Dudley Dr West Chester, OH 45069 513-755-6974 Tom and Michelle Combs (center) are ready to help you get your party started! Their new retail location in West Chester has everything that you need for a successful celebration, all at fair price. The West Chester Liberty Chamber Ambassadors joined their ribbon cutting celebration. THE w w w . T h e C h a m b e r A l l i a n c e . c o m 21 A Look at our Ribbon Cutting & Open House Member Orientation Sustaining Sponsors Thank you to Hightech Signs for the beautiful Sustaining Sponsorship Member Orientation is held quarterly and gives Chamber members the opportunity to learn more about their Chamber membership and its benefits. plaques in the Welcome Center of our new office. For more information on our Sustaining Sponsorship program, please contact Jay D’Arcy or Lynn Trau at 513.777.3600. Front row (left to right): Angie Patrice, Astor & Black; Jessica Corbett, Cooperative Business Services, LLC; Darrell Sallee, Nickerson Business Supplies, Inc.; Dennis Swearingen, Sequent; Candice Keller, Community Pregnancy Center; Patty Terry, Carriage Hill; Emily Crotty, Anytime Fitness Second row (left to right): Dave Schureck, Ohio Elite Soccer Academy; Jack Winterhalter, Window Genie of Cincinnati; Michael Grigery, Window Genie of Cincinnati; Jim Osbun, Merrill Lynch; Diana Honerlaw, Eagle Tee Golf Center; Stephanie’s Flowers & Fine Gifts; David Wells, David Wells Communications ����������� � � � � � � �� � � � THE C e l e b r a t i n g 3 5 y e a r s i n 2 0 1 1 ! 22 Renewing Members AdvancePierre Foods Paul Telenson 9990 Princeton Glendale Road Cincinnati, OH 45246 513-874-8741 Chef’s Choice Catering Drew Hester 11350 Grooms Rd Blue Ash, OH 45242 513-489-6006 Employers Choice Plus John Cacaro 7593 Tylers Place Boulevard West Chester, OH 45069 513-755-7719 Antonelli College David Oeters 9102 Towne Centre Drive #300 West Chester, OH 45069 513-241-4338 Cincy Magazine Eric Harmon 30 Gareld Place Suite 440 Cincinnati, OH 45202 513-421-2533 Bajon Salon Mark Welch 6072 West Chester Rd West Chester, OH 45069 513-874-9999 Coolants Plus Darrin Ward 348 Circle Freeway Dr Cincinnati, OH 45246 513-892-4000 Entelechy Training and Development Inc. Kendall Wright 5385 Crossbridge Dr West Chester, OH 45069 513-860-4934 BCL Christy Miller 8013 Eagle Ridge Dr West Chester, OH 45069 513-383-2198 Diamond Quality Janitorial Rodney Engle 2114 Central Ave. #105 Middletown, OH 45044 513-755-8100 Beckmark, Inc. Mark Sennet 7237 Cincinnati-Dayton Road Suite 204-A West Chester, OH 45069 513-646-1100 Dittman-Adams Co Ryan Smith 4946 Rialto Road West Chester, OH 45069 513-870-7530 ............................. ............................. ............................. ............................. ............................. ............................. ............................. ............................. ............................. ............................. Freund, Freeze & Arnold William Miller One Dayton Centre 1 S. Main St, Ste 1800 Dayton, OH 45402 937-222-2424 ............................. IKEA Heather Spatz 9500 IKEA Way West Chester, OH 45069 513-779-9175 Ker Entertainment, Inc. DBA Skatetown USA Kenneth E Roesel Jr. 8730 North Pavilion Drive West Chester, OH 45069 513-874-9855 Millikin & Fitton Law Firm Steve Tooman 6900 Tylersville Road, Suite B Mason, OH 45040 513-336-6363 UnitedHealthcare Paul Brophy 9050 Centre Pointe Dr, Ste 400 West Chester, OH 45069 513-603-6780 Liberty Township Trustee Christine L. Matacic 6750 Devon Dr Liberty Township, OH 45044 513-779-2659 Ossege Combs & Mann Ltd. Michael Combs 720 East Pete Rose Way, Ste 100 Cincinnati, OH 45202 513-241-4507 Van Dyk Mortgage Corp Rob Young 11804 Conrey Rd, Ste 175 Cincinnati, OH 45249 513-429-2122 Merrill Lynch Rosemary Haddad 5151 Pfeiffer Rd Ste 100 Blue Ash, OH 45242 513-792-1495 Otterbein Maineville Kathy Posey 105 Atrium Dr Franklin, OH 45005 513-260-7690 West Chester Family Dentistry Debbie Hedgren 9000 Cincinnati Dayton Rd, Ste #200 West Chester, OH 45069 513-755-2118 Mid-City Pediatrics, Inc. Dr. Camile Graham 7777 University Dr, Ste D West Chester, OH 45069 513-948-8444 sMari Designs Marianne Dunham 9444 Waterfront Dr West Chester, OH 45069 513-777-6274 Wing Eyecare, Inc. Dr. Jeff Hartman 7334 Yankee Rd Liberty Twp, OH 45044 513-759-9464 United Industrial Piping, LLC Mark Mosley 9740 Near Drive Cincinnati, OH 45246 513-874-2004 Woods Agency, Inc. Karl Woods 8075 Cincinnati-Dayton Road West Chester, OH 45069 513-779-4545 Lincoln College of Technology Amber Reckner 201 E 2nd St Franklin, OH 45005 937-746-6633 MidWest EyeCenter Ken Scheper 8760 Union Centre Blvd West Chester, OH 45069 513-454-0544 ............................. ............................. ............................. ............................. ............................. ............................. ............................. ............................. ............................. ............................. ............................. ............................. ............................. ............................. ............................. ............................. ............................. New Members Anytime Fitness Emily Crotty 7338 Yankee Rd Liberty Twp, OH 45044 513-755-3530 Health Clubs, Fitness Centers & Equipment ........................... Cooperative Business Services, LLC Jessica Corbett 8150 Corporate Park Drive, Suite 300 Cincinnati, OH 45242 513-677-3100 Credit Unions Cullen Chiropractic & Wellness Center Brent Cullen 4904 Wunnenberg Way West Chester, OH 45069 513-365-2292 Dingle House Irish Pub & Grub Jillian Kelley 9102 West Chester Towne Centre Dr West Chester, OH 45069 513-874-7468 ........................... ........................... Medical - Chiropractors Restaurants - Bars and Grills Educational - Schools, Colleges ........................... Medical - Optometrist, Ophthamalogist,Optical Labs ........................... ........................... From all of us at the West Chester ß Liberty Chamber Alliance. Wishing you peace and prosperity for the coming year. Kendra Jay Marge Bob athy Mike Kenni Pamela K Joe Alison Lynn George THE w w w . T h e C h a m b e r A l l i a n c e . c o m 23 December 2011 S U N DAY M O N DAY T U E S DAY W E D N E S DAY T H U R S DAY Healthcare Summit Breakfast 7:30-9:30am | Savannah Center, 5533 Chappell Crossing Blvd, West Chester 45069 F R I DAY W4W 8-9:30am | Kemba Credit Union, 8763 Union Centre Boulevard, West Chester 45069 Butler County Board of Commissioners Meeting 9:30am | Commission Chamber, 315 High St., 2FL, Hamilton 1 Butler County Board of Commissioners Meeting 9:30am | Commission Chamber, 315 High Street, 2FL, Hamilton Liberty Township Trustees 6pm | Liberty Township Administrative Bldg., 6400 Princeton Rd 5 6 4 Butler County Board of Commissioners Meeting 9:30am | Commission Chamber, 315 High Street, 2FL, Hamilton Lakota Board of Education 7pm | Lakota Central Ofce, Thunderbird Room 11 12 Butler County Board of Commissioners Meeting 9:30am | Commission Chamber, 315 High Street, 2FL, Hamilton 18 West Chester Township Trustees 6pm | Township Hall, 9113 CincinnatiDayton Rd 13 WEST CHESTER TOWNSHIP SATELLITE OFFICE 8 14 Sixty-Second Connect 12-1pm | WC Liberty Chamber Alliance ofces 15 Butler County Board of Commissioners Meeting 9:30am | Commission Chamber, 315 High Street, 2FL, Hamilton Liberty Township Trustees 6pm | Liberty Township Administrative Bldg., 6400 Princeton Rd 20 21 West Chester Township Trustees 6pm | Township Hall, 9113 Cincinnati-Dayton Rd 22 Butler County Board of Commissioners Meeting 9:30am | Commission Chamber, 315 High Street, 2FL, Hamilton 28 27 26 29 To Better Serve You CORPORATE OFFICE ����������� Kemba Credit Union 8763 Union Centre Blvd. West Chester, OH 3 9 10 16 17 Butler County Board of Commissioners Meeting 9:30am | Commission Chamber, 315 High Street, 2FL, Hamilton Butler County Ofces Closed in Observance of Christmas Day 25 2 Butler County Board of Commissioners Meeting 9:30am | Commission Chamber, 315 High Street, 2FL, Hamilton 7 Members Monthly Luncheon 11:30am | Wingate by Wyndham, 7500 Tylers Place Blvd, West Chester 45069 19 Chamber Ofces Closed in Observance of Christmas Day Business After Hours 5-7pm | Cincinnati Marriott North, 6189 Muhlhauser Rd, West Chester 45069 S AT U R DAY � � � � � � �� � � � 8922 Beckett Rd. West Chester, OH Chamber Ofces Closed in Observance of Christmas Day 23 24 Chamber Ofces Closed in Observance of New Year’s Day 30 31 LIBERTY TOWNSHIP SATELLITE OFFICE Mercy Health Center at Liberty Falls 6770 Cincinnati-Dayton Rd. Liberty Township, OH THE C e l e b r a t i n g 3 5 y e a r s i n 2 0 1 1 ! PRESORTED STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID CINCINNATI, OH PERMIT #5400 ����������� � � � � � � �� � � � 7617 Voice of America Centre Drive West Chester, Ohio 45069 DECEMBER CALENDAR OF EVENTS ����������� � � � �Summit � � �� � � � Breakfast 1st Healthcare Savannah Center, 7:30-9am 2nd Women 4 Women 7th Business After Hours Grace Tree Studio, LLC, 8-9:30am Cincinnati Marriott North, 5-7pm 13th Monthly Member Luncheon Wingate by Wyndham, 11:30am-1:30pm 20th Sixty-Second Connect Chamber office, 12-1pm