Newsletter - Clermont Chamber

Newsletter
December, 2008
Upcoming Events
December 2 - Networking@Noon
Union Township Civic Center
December 3 - Creating and Sustaining a Strong
Brand, Clermont Chamber
Your Company should attend “Going Green: The Value to Your Business”
if:
December 4, 2008
5:00pm - 8:00pm
Holiday Inn Eastgate
This is the holiday event you don’t
want to miss!
December 9 - Going Green the Value to Your
Business, Oasis Conference Center
December 16 - Networking@Noon
1:00pm - 2:00pm, Buffalo Wings & Rings
Eastgate Mall
Note: Time and Location Change
December 17 - New Member Orientation &
Prospective Member Reception, Clermont
Chamber
December 18 - MorningMixer
The Banker’s Club
January 6 - Networking@Noon
Union Township Civic Center
January 20- Networking@Noon
Union Township Civic Center
For more information about these Chamber
events please call 513.576.5000, or visit us
online at www.clermontchamber.com.
Member Quote
“The chamber and staff
do a great job bringing
the business community
together through chamber
events. We hosted a
Morning Mixer at our
place and had a great
time. I highly recommend
hosting an event. There’s
no better way to get people in your door
without kicking and screaming.” Mike
Bober, IDEOPIA
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You want to invest in a greener future. It is easy being Green.
You want to increase your awareness of what you can do today and in the future to integrate sustainability into your core business practices, while better serving employees, consumers and the planet
Your stakeholders and board members demand you implement a thoughtful environmental plan as part of responsible corporate governance
You would benefit from incorporating green strategies and environmental themes in your marketing and advertising
You desire to hear from green leading businesses about corporate initiatives to reduce their carbon footprint, while increasing their competitive advantage
Ikea’s Kitalena Mason will share how IKEA promotes, encourages and practices
efforts to save our environment.
Melink founder, Steve Melink, will share how going green has been the most
rewarding experience of his professional career, and will ingrain into your
thinking the triple bottom line of financial, environmental, and security impact of
going green.
Tuesday, December 9, 7:15 a.m. - 9:00a.m.
Oasis Conference Center, 902 Loveland-Miamiville Road, Loveland
Chamber Members $30 / Non Members $45
Don’t miss this opportunity to meet with these two forward -thinking Greater
Cincinnati Green Leaders and focus on the value of going green to your
business. Reservations may be made online at www.clermontchamber.com, or
by telephone at 513.576.5000.
Dr. James F. McDonough, Richard Martin and
E.C. Nurre Funeral Home Inc. Honored at 2008
Pacesetter Event
James F. McDonough
2007 Pacesetter and Cindy
Jenkins, 2004 Pacesetter
Richard Martin the 2007 Martha
Dorsey Pacesetter pictured with
Martha Dorsey
Bob Hobson and Ed Nurre
of the 2007 Corporate
Pacesetter E.C. Nurre
Funeral Home Inc.
More Photos From The 2008 Pacesetter Event
3M Precision Optics, Inc.
Auxier Gas, Inc.
Batavia Transmissions LLC
Brower Insurance Agency LLC
Bryan Equipment Sales, Inc.
Center Bank
Chase Bank
Child Focus, Inc.
Cincinnati Bell, Inc.
Clermont 20/20, Inc.
Clermont County Board of Commissioners
Clermont County Convention & Visitors Bureau
Clermont Senior Services, Inc.
CRESA Partners
The Crowell Company
Dualite, Inc.
Duke Energy
Fifth Third Bank
Gordon Construction, Inc.
Grant Career Center
Great Oaks Institute of Technology & Career Development
H. C. Nutting Company - A Terracon Company
Hill Top Research Corporation
Holiday Homes, Inc.
Holiday Inn Cincinnati - Eastgate
Horizon Certified Development Company
International Paper
International TechneGroup, Inc.
Jeff Wyler Automotive Family
Kamphaus, Henning & Hood CPAs, Inc.
KeyBank
Kinker-Eveleigh Insurance
Lykins Companies
McGill Smith Punshon, Inc.
Mercy Hospital Anderson
Mercy Hospital Clermont
Miami Township
The Midland Company
Milacron, Inc.
The City of Milford
Miller-Valentine Group
The Myers Y. Cooper Company
National Bank &Trust
National City
Park National Bank
Potterhill Homes
Professional Engineering Group LLC
RiverHills Bank
Sauls Construction Company
Siemens PLM Software
Spirit of America National Bank
Sun Chemical Performance Pigments
Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP-Attorneys
Total Quality Logistics, Inc.
University of Cincinnati Clermont College
Wal-Mart Supercenters / Sam’s Club
The Village of Williamsburg
Workforce One of Clermont County
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A
DA Amendments Act: What Companies Need to Know
On November 12, 2008, Patricia Anderson Pryor, at Taft Stettinius &
Hollister, LLP provided an informational program for Chamber members on
the federal ADA Amendments Act. During this session, employers learned
about the changes made by this new law, which goes into effect on January
1, 2009.
The ADA Amendments Act expands the number of individuals who can claim
to be disabled and protected by the Americans With Disabilities Act. This
means more legal pitfalls for the unwary employer. Individuals with back
injuries, carpal tunnel, diabetes, cancer and a host of other impairments will
find it easier to claim they have a disability and seek an accommodation
after January 1. The biggest change under the new law is that employers
will be restricted from taking action against an individual because of an
actual or perceived impairment regardless of whether the impairment rises
to the level of a disability.
During the November 12 session, Ms. Pryor provided practical advice
to employers to help prevent future discrimination claims under the ADA
Amendments Act. Training supervisors, revising job descriptions to
accurately capture essential functions and establishing a process to provide
reasonable accommodation were among the suggested steps employers
should take.
While all of this sounds good, the real
question from above is about results. The
John Melvin addresses questions that are of concern to those owning and/or operating small Ohio SBDC at the Clermont Chamber has
businesses. John is the director of the Ohio Small Business Development Center at the
one full time counselor/director. For FFY
Clermont Chamber of Commerce.
2008, the clients for this SBDC acquired
over $11 million in loans to help with
I have heard about the services of the Small Business Development Center,
property and equipment acquisitions and
but I don’t know how those services might benefit my business or how they
operating capital. There were thirty- three
benefit the local economy. Please explain.
new businesses started by SBDC clients.
Between these start-ups and the growth of
Answer:
existing clients, there were 157 new jobs
Because the Small Business Development Center is a program offered
created and 973 jobs retained.
in partnership with the Small Business Administration and the Ohio
Department of Development, it operates on a federal fiscal year (FFY) basis New businesses included consulting firms
rather than a calendar year basis. It is a program that has been around for in Williamsburg, Milford, Mariemont and
27 years and is offered through over 1100 centers across the United States. Terrace Park; a packaging business in
Mister Small Business
Evendale; service businesses in Ross,
The Ohio program has the following Mission: Accelerate Ohio’s economy by Batavia, Loveland and Milford; a beverage
helping entrepreneurs start, sustain and grow their businesses.
drive-thru in Madeira; a construction
company in Batavia; a new hardware
Typically, we support businesses with information, one-on-one coaching
store in Withamsville; and a lumber retailer
and counseling, training, and connectivity to other programs such as
in Miami Township. One of the more
ITAC (international trade assistance) or PTAC (procurement technical
prominent opportunities was presented by
assistance).
assisting the owner of Freeman Schwabe
Machinery to acquire a location in Union
In FFY 2008, we offered thirteen training programs focused on web sites,
Township and to move that company and its
marketing, start-up businesses, networking and an IRS/State of Ohio Tax
twenty jobs from Northern Kentucky.
Workshop. One hundred fifty-nine entrepreneurs participated. In their
evaluations, 97% rated the training received as above average or better.
In summary, the local SBDC program is a
confidential, free service open to any forThe core service for the SBDC program is the one-on-one counseling. The profit small business. It is a program that
local program provided service to over 325 clients. Eighty of those were
provides demonstrable results for its clients
extended engagement clients (clients who initially requested counseling
and for the communities it serves.
prior to FFY 2008 and continued that counseling into FFY 2008). It is in this
area of in-depth counseling that the program can make the most difference For information about SBDC assistance, contact John
for a business.
Melvin at 576-5007 or john.melvin@clermontchamber.
com
Typical counseling services for an existing business include marketing,
financial analysis, access to capital, loan packaging, human resources,
operational planning, strategic planning and buying or selling a small
business.
Taft’s Labor & Employment Group invites you to its
ANNUAL LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT LAW UPDATE
The Schiff Conference and Banquet Center
(located in the Cintas Center at Xavier University)
Thursday, December 4, 2008.
9:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
To be followed by lunch, provided by Taft
There is no charge for this seminar.
Approved for 3.0 hours of CLE and HRCI credit.
REGISTRATION:
Please register via e-mail or telephone to:
Sue Schmid: schmid@taftlaw.com or 513.381.2838, Ext. 245
Parking passes will be distributed to registered attendees.
Campaign Reform
Legislative Luncheon
January 30, 2009
11:15am - 1:00pm
Receptions Conference Center
Eastgate
$38.00/Members, $50.00/NonMembers
Call 513.576.5000 for more information
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As 2008 is winding down the Clermont Chamber
would like to thank those members who helped
make 2008 a successful year!
Board of Directors
Members:
Chairperson: Chip Gerhardt
Government Strategies Group
Karen Arnold
Integrated HR Solutions
Vice Chair: Andy McCreanor
Clermont 20/20 Inc.
Brent Dapper
WesBanco
Secretary: Cindy Jenkins
Clermont Senior Services Inc.
Chris Edwall
Action International
Treasurer: Greg Niesen
RiverHills Bank
Michelle Edwards
KeyBank
Members:
Heather Hoop
Express Employment Professionals
Marvin Blade
Duke Energy
Ken Geis
Cincinnati United Contrators
Kraig Gordon
Gordon Construction
John Greiwe
Miller-Valentine Group
Margaret Jenkins
OSU Extension Clermont County
Glenda Neff
University of Cincinnati-Clermont College
Mike Roth
Sandler Training by Roth & Associates
Donna Szabo
Great Oaks Institute of Technology & Career
Development
Annual Meeting
Members:
John Nelson
International Paper
Cindy Huxel
Miami Township
Lesa Milders
Wright - Lamb Agency
Steve Hood
Kamphaus Henning & Hood CPAs
Dave McNutt
The Midland Company
Mark Helphinstine
VonLehman Technology
Alonzo Leach
Heaven & Earth Cleaning Services
Chairperson: Tom Rocklin
Siemens PLM Software
Susan McHugh
The Community Press
Carl Hartman
Sports Zone USA + Signs & Banners
Joe Kresser
Prepaid Legal Services
Erick Harback
Park National Bank
Jeff Lykins
Lykins Companies
Andrea Earick
Great Oaks Institute of Technology & Career
Development
Chuck Welch
Lochard & Associates LLC
Events Committee
Chairperson: Linda Pilon
Kamphaus Henning & Hood CPAs
Sandy Bradford
Duke Energy
Members:
Sam DeBonis
Park National Bank
Jenifer Fox-Gerrits
Life Management Strategies LLC
Business Expo
Chairperson: Greg MacMillan
Technegraphics Inc.
Members:
Staci Jenkins
Thompson Hine LLP
Alisa Lambert
Tri-Helath Corporate, Bethesda Care
Eastgate
Carolyn Rolfes
Potterhill Homes
Robert Brookens
ProForma Business Solutions
Mary Makley Wolff
Miami Township
Jenny Conley
KeyBank
Gather on the Green (Golf Outing)
Ambassadors
Jason Dimaculangan
Landmark Insurance Agency LLC
Chariperson: Tom Young
Strategic Employee Benefits
Chairperson: Sue Lamb
Wright-Lamb Agency
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Barbie Doran
Relevant Works
Cathy Sahlfeld
Workforce One of Clermont County
Co-Chariperson: Bill Haggerty
JRG Staffing, LLC
Members:
Lisa Parker
HealthSource of Ohio
Debbie Slabach
Potterhill Homes
Chris Winnenberg
Express Employment Professionals
Stefanie Warren
Park National Bank
Issues Management
Membership Development
Chairperson: Alan Freeman
D & S Consulting
Chairperson: Sherry Spencer
National City~Anderson Towne Center
Members:
Members:
Denny Begue
Brower Insurance Agency, LLC
Ken Hare
Image First Solutions
George Brown
Clermont Senior Services, Inc.
Carl Hartman
Sports Zone USA + Signs & Banners
Mary Ellen Hall
Hill Top Research Corp.
Julie Highley
Horan Associates, Inc
Bob Manning
Lykins Companies
Kevin Quinn
LaserSmith
Larry Rubenacker
Park National Bank
Susan Stockman
HORAN
Government Affairs Events
Michael Shumaker
Focused Quality Solutions
Chuck Welch
Lochard & Associates LLC
Chariperson: Al Pearlman
Burkhardt & Company
Chris Smith
Uible Management Inc.
Ken Woodruff
SeaMaster Cruises
Members:
Marketing
Networking@Noon
Chairperson: Meredith Delaney
University of Cincinnati Clermont College
Chairperson: Carrie Blonigen Clermont
County MRDD
Members:
Members:
Lisa Davis
Clermont County MRDD
Susan Ambrovitz
Ideopia
Tara Dawson
Child Focus Inc.
Anita Barron
Pet Alliance
Ray Courts
All-Star Sportswear
Jason Dimaculangan
Landmark Insurance Agency LLC
Pat Murray
Brower Insurance Agency
Kevin Quinn
LaserSmith
Susan Stockman
HORAN
Andy Watson
Brower Insurance Agency LLC
Chuck Welch
Lochard & Associates LLC
Chris WInnenberg
Express Employment Professionals
Ken Woodruff
SeaMaster Cruises
Lynn Baird
Village of New Richmond
Nancy Ball
Boys and Girls Clubs of Clermont County
Brice Kasee
Chase Bank
Patricia Pryor
Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP-Attorneys
Jennifer Harcourt
Harry Snyder
Chick-Fil-A
Great Oaks Institute of Technology & Career
Development
Joe Moon
Live Oaks Career Development Campus
Government Affairs Task Force
Chariperson: Warren Walker
Duke Energy
Members:
Michael Cain
Primerica Financial Services Inc.
Kevin Cassidy
NovaCare Rehabilitation
Ted Groman
Clermont County Department of Job &
Family Services
Scott Dooley
Haberer Registered Investment Advisor
Paul Hillman
Paychex Inc.
Angela Ott
WorkforceOne of Clermont County
Joseph Kresser
Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc.
Carrie Owings
Milford Miami Township Chamber of
Commerce
Bobby Perry
Sam’s Club - Eastgate
Harold Perlstein
Adaptive InfoSystems
Debbie Schneider
Intrinzic Marketing & Design Inc.
Pacesetter
Chairperson: Sam DeBonis
Park National Bank
Member:
Sandy Bradford
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Duke Energy
Small Business Development
Council
Sally Tamborski
KeyBank
Tina Mills
Law Firm of Tina R. Mills, LLC
Erin Turner
Martin Franchises, Inc.
Mark Hoeller &
Stephanie Lunsford
National City
Chairperson: Bob Dameron
WesBanco Bank
Tailgate Hosts
Members:
Geno’s BBQ
Jana Alverson
Lynn McInturf Associates
Nadine Albenze-Smith
Record Express LLC
Hilton Garden Inn
Royal Oak Country Club
Tony Bonomini
Northern Kentucky University
Denny Begue
Brower Insurance Agency
Clermont County Convention & Visitors
Bureau
Gary Littleton &
Ernie Delamanta
Quest Marketing Solutions
Joe Schiesler
KeyBank
MorningMixer Hosts
Peggy Stookey
Legacy Connection
Beechmont Racquet & Fitness
Chick-fil-A
Women’s Initiative
Miami Township Civic Center
Chairperson: Jenifer Fox-Gerrits
Life Management Strategies LLC
The Golf Club at Stonellick Hills
Members:
Nancy Ball
Boys and Girls Clubs of Clermont County
Anita Barron
Pet Alliance
Lindsey Cummings
Dillard’s
Dianna Davidson
Dillard’s
Michelle Edwards
KeyBank
Dana Heller
WorkforceOne of Clermont County
Jennifer Justice-Haley
Mercedes Benz of Cincinnati Collision
Center
Stephanie Kirschner
McGill Smith Punshon Inc. (MSP)
Alisa Lambert
Bethesda Care Eastgate
Jenny Matthews
Chard Snyder & Associates
Cathy Sahlfeld
WorkforceOne of Clermont County
Susan Stockman
HORAN
Ideopia
Grant Career Center
Chamber After Hours Hosts
Holiday Inn Cincinnati - Eastgate
The Golf Club at Stonelick Hills
Latitudes, Chamber Night at the Reds
Transportation
Women’s Initiative Networking Hosts
Beechmont Racquet & Fitness
The Bridge Cafe
Thanks also to:
Brad Forsythe
Best Practice Advisors LLC
Clermont County Board of MRDD
Gordon Food Service Marketplace
Sam’s Club Eastgate
Union Township Civic Center
John Melvin with the Small Business
Development Center would like to
thank the following individuals who
worked with him on seminars in 2008.
Randy Carter
RiverHills Bank
Doug Kossel
Kossel & Associates
Teresa Dempsey
State of Ohio Department of Taxation
Carmen Krupar
Cybervise Limited
Janet Ferguson
Brand Shine Marketing & Public Relations
Amy Grothaus Turner
HR Partners International
September - October
New Members
City BBQ
Toby Stoller
878 Eastgate North Drive
Cincinnati, Ohio 45245
Phone: (513) 201-3030
www.citybbq.com
Restaurant
2009 MorningMixer
Schedule for
Clermont County
Locations
Joyce A. Gundling, CPA LLC
Joyce Gundling
2070 Anderson Cove Lane
Cincinnati, Ohio 45244
Phone: (513) 528-6777
Accounting, Auditing
Valor Construction Company Inc.
Kevin Hayslip
1128 Ohio Pike
Amelia, Ohio 45102
Phone: (513) 474-3472
www.valorcc.com
Contractors - General
New Member Orientation
&
Prospective Member
Reception
When: December 17, 2008
8:00am-9:00am
Where: Clermont Chamber
Please RSVP to the Chamber at
513.576.5000.
January 22
Eastgate Village
March 26
Teen Challenge
May 28
Terrace Park Country
Club
July 23
Beechmont Motorsports
September 24
MRDD - Wildey School
November 19
Location TBD
Electronic Payment Processing Program
Saving members one swipe at a time
The Clermont Chamber, Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber and
Innovative Financial Technologies (Infintech) have joined forces to
offer you a merchant services program providing exclusive rates on
electronic payment processing.
Member companies enrolled in the Chamber’s electronic payment
processing program will enjoy exclusive member’s only processing
rates – starting as low as 1.49% for swiped transactions and 2.25%
for key-entered transactions. Upon enrolling, your business will be
part of a group buying rate that will help ensure your processing
rates remain competitive and among the lowest offered in the
industry. We are so confident in our group buying program that we
will pay a portion of your membership if we are unable to reduce or
at least match your current processing rates.
B
ig Changes in Workers’ Comp
Coming for All Ohio Employers
BWC is changing the rating system in an effort
to improve stability within the system.
In June 2008, the Ohio Bureau of Workers’
Compensation (BWC) Board of Directors
approved a series of proposals to continue
group rating reform that they feel will better
align premiums with projected levels of risk.
Group Rating Sponsors such as the Clermont
Chamber of Commerce and Sheakley, our
Third Party Administrator (TPA), along with
other interested parties have expressed
concerns over the potential financial impact
these changes will have on Ohio employers
during these hard economic times.
Due to these concerns the BWC has
recommended cap increases in employer
premiums for the 2009/10 Group Rating plan
year.
Sheakley has been one of five TPAs who
have been working with the BWC on behalf
of our members to ensure the best decisions
are being made. If approved, the changes
in the rating system will mean the maximum
discount for 2009/10 Group Rating Plan Year
will now be 80% - not 77% as previously
stated.
This plan is expected to be presented to the
BWC Board of Directors in November, 2008
for final approval. It is our understanding the
BWC intends to notify all Ohio employers
detailing the capping changes. In the future,
the BWC will include the cap detail on the
employer 2009/10 premium bills that will be
released in July 2009 and will also publish this
information on the BWC website. Please note,
if you are receiving a 2009/10 Group Rating
quote from Sheakley, the caps will be applied
to your projected discount.
Because these changes are very complicated,
having an experienced TPA like Sheakley
working for you is extremely important during
this transition period.
If you have any questions regarding these
changes and how they will affect you, please
contact Sheakley at 800-877-5055 x2011.
Call Infintech at 513.761.1448 and request the Chamber
Merchant Program Details.
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Clermont Chamber of Commerce
4355 Ferguson Drive Suite 150
Cincinnati, Ohio 45245
Phone: (513) 576-5000, Fax: (513) 576-5001
Email: chamber@clermontchamber.com
Return Service Requested
Looking For Signs of
Sustainable Recovery
When National Economist Brain Beaulieu visited Clermont County in April 2008,
he predicted these events …
The price of crude oil would continue to rise - and then fall to half of its high price.
Inflation (then relatively calm) would become a problem.
The stock market (then relatively calm) would turn decidedly negative.
The housing market (then bad) would get even worse and remain weak through 2009.
The nation’s economy (then seemingly sound) will falter and remain negative into the first half of 2010.
We might not like the current economic reality but no one argues with the
accuracy of Brian’s predictions. Brian returns on April 23, 2009 to present
“Searching for Signs of a Sustainable Recovery”. You can’t afford to miss his
predictions of your future.
Thank you to our major event sponsors for their generous support:
PRSRT STD
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