POSTMASTER: TIMELY MATERIAL. PLEASE EXPEDITE. Standard Mail U.S. Postage Paid Tiffin, OH 44883 Permit #88 Celebrating 15 Years of Service MARCH 2009 Vol. 15 No. 3 Published and Owned by Schaffner Publications, Inc. “The Business Voice of Erie, Huron, Ottawa, Sandusky and Seneca Counties” INSIDE THIS MONTH "Ask the Man Who Owns One" .........................2 Estate Planning: Substantially Equal Payments Relief ...............5 Legal: The Sandwich Generation ........7 Taxes: Individual Tax Changes .......... 15 IT: PC Can Make April 15th Less "Taxing!" .......... 21 Sales: #1 Killer of Small and Medium Business ........... 23 FOCUS By Chandra Niklewski Staff Writer The Review Times (reprinted with the paper’s permission) As Fostoria faces the storm cloud of unemployment and manufacturing companies leave town or downsize, a small silver lining has gone unnoticed. Businesses have come to Fostoria. POET biorefining and SMI Crankshaft are two of the largest businesses that entered the Fostoria scene in 2008. City Council President Joe Droll said the two companies show a great deal of promise and hope for the citizens of Fostoria. Council member Paul Feasel explained that SMI Crankshaft is a company that has the potential for a great deal of growth, as does POET. “In terms of technology transportation, that is really two avenues that are going to be very big plusses for us in the future,” Feasel said. SMI Crankshaft has ambitious long-range plans, according to Feasel, and POET is looking into biomatter and cellulosic based products. “They’re really at the forefront of where ethanol is going to go and I think we’re very fortunate that they chose Fostoria,” Feasel said. Fostoria Economic Development Corporation Assistant Director Joan Fostoria Area Chamber of Commerce Genoa Chamber of Commerce ON FOSTORIA and therefore, the more manufacturers look at the city. “I think when you’re looking at Fostoria and you’re looking at small business, most of it focuses on retail,” Sarah StephensKrupp, executive director of Fostoria Area Chamber of Commerce, said. A Radio Shack opened inside Steinacker’s Ace Hardware and Allegra Printing, Bookshelf II on Main Street, Sandy Creek Mining Company on South Poplar Street and many others arrived. Liberty Tax Service came to Fostoria just in time for the 2008 tax season, according to Stephens-Krupp, and Slammers, the Wig Wam and the Main Street Emporium all enjoyed quiet reopenings. One company opened twice in 2008. Nutrition and Fitness by Brett L.L.C. opened its doors days before the building it was housed in burnt to the ground in February 2008. Cousin said the biggest challenge he faced while he watched his business burn was to not get discouraged. He rebuilt the business while helping people learn through seminars at schools and assisted living facilities. Although he did not keep his business in the historical downtown area, he opened his business not far away off Ohio 199 in July 2008. Fostoria grows diversity Variety of small businesses invest here Reinhard said businesses such as POET have indirect influence on the economy of a city as well. With every small entrepreneur that begins their businesses, there are definitely spinoffs,” Reinhard said. For example, Reinhard explained, farmers www.ncbj.net Bellevue Area Chamber of Commerce benefitted from the POET program last year from the sale of their corn. “Those types of spinoffs are good for the community,” Reinhard said explaining diversity plays a large role in the success of a community. The more diverse the community is, the more services are offered Milan Chamber of Commerce Continued on page 6... Vermilion Chamber of Commerce We’re a proud member of the following: Elmore Chamber of Commerce Huron Chamber of Commerce Put-in-Bay Chamber Oak Harbor Area of Commerce Chamber of Commerce Chamber of Commerce Erie County Chamber of Sandusky County of Commerce Marblehead Peninsula Norwalk - Huron County Tiffin Area Chamber Willard Area Chamber Port Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce Chamber of Commerce Chamber of Commerce of Commerce of Commerce 2 March 2009 North Coast Business Journal my favorite test: would you feel comfortable telling it to your Mom? Next, make sure the people you plan to use reflect the demographics and image of your target audience. Make sure the audience can relate to the spokesperson: “Yes, that’s me all right.” “That’s how I feel.” “Those are the problems I have.” Or, “Yes, that’s how I want to be/feel/look.” “Those are the kind of people I’d like to have as friends.” Young women might have a hard time relating to claims made by older men for example. (Though I’m not necessarily sure the reverse is true.) Trying to fit your spokesperson to your audience can be a hit or miss thing if you use only one person at a time in your ad or commercial. Many advertisers find that “group” or multi-person testimonial ads are best – with a diverse group of people to cover all the bases. A third bit of advice is to make sure the testimonials you select, which may be important to the consumer penning the praise, flattering to you and legally defensible, are important benefits to the rest of the consuming public. Make sure you and your advertising staff try out these wonderful statements on other real people before you go too far. Test not only the statement’s importance, but also its believability. People might believe that someone said it, but they don’t believe the claim, or they might doubt that person’s ability to make such a claim or judgment. Fourth, try to use REAL, real people. Too often it seems, advertisers have uncovered great comments and www.ncbj.net testimonials, then decided that the person making the claim wasn’t good-looking or polished enough to represent their product. So they’ve picked actors and then superimposed legalese like “actor recreation of actual statement” or other wishywashy disclaimers. While legally correct, this can dilute the message and be distracting too. I always wonder “How bad did Mrs. Alice J. of Spokane, Washington look -- to have to be replaced by this actor portraying her and mouthing her words? And while wondering this, I’ve missed the message. Am I alone in this? BONUS: Your customers’ input can also be a source of new product or new service ideas. Reports indicate that Arm and Hammer, burdened with declining sales of its Baking Soda core product, finally paid attention to hundreds of consumer letters received over the years extolling the odor-absorbing qualities of the product. Voila! Is there a refrigerator in America that doesn’t have a box tucked away in the back corner? The story is told of how Avon researched its consumer correspondence files to find people praising its Skin So Soft lotion – not for its softening ability alone, but for the way it seemed to protect from insect bites on family vacations. Voila! New Avon “Skin So Soft Insect Repellent” was born. In summary, let your prospects hear from the people who have chosen to do business with you. Your best advertising copy will probably come from them challenge worked well almost 80 years ago, and the campaign became a legend. Today, would you feel comfortable putting your business fate in the hands of your customers, allowing By Jeffrey H. Bryden, Editor them to become your corporate spokespeople? Just last week, one of our readers Testimonial advertising often does was telling me about the importance this. Instead of using “talking heads” of current customers as referrals for or celebrities to tout their products, her business – and she reminded me many companies use “real” customers about this article from a previous in their promotional efforts. This year. I don’t think the thoughts has the advantage of adding thirdhave grown out-of-date, do you? party credibility, of allowing the ad’s JHB recipient to feel that the claims made are more believable. A great source Some of you may remember this of testimonials is often found in your advertising slogan. It was used by mailbox (or e-mail box) with letters Packard automobiles back in 1929 from satisfied consumers. They, and is considered by many to be a hopefully, have all kinds of nice classic. It was the proud, but daring, things to say about you, your people challenge of a company willing to and your products or services. take its chances. “Don’t take our Care must be taken in this seemingly word for it,” they were saying, “ask easy task. First, make sure the claims one of our customers.” your customers are making are true While today the headline would be and easily defensible product claims. considered a bit “sexist,” this bold “Your dry cleaning service is so good, I lost 50 pounds, met a wonderful person, got married and we now have three children and live in a big house in a nice town.” Could be an actual statement “The Business Voice of Erie, Huron, Ottawa, from a real customer… Sandusky and Seneca Counties” but no good for your 205 S.E. Catawba Road, Suite G, use. A good test is – Port Clinton, Ohio 43452 would your lawyer 419-734-4838 • Fax 419-734-5382 allow your company to make the claim? Or, Publisher JOHN SCHAFFNER Editor Director of Sales Creative Services Manager Accounting Manager Layout & Graphic Design Circulation Manager JEFFREY H. BRYDEN This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it DAVE KAHLER This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it HEIDI RIFE This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it CINDY CONSTIEN This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it JENNIFER DAUBEL This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it BRUCE DINSE “Ask the Man Who Owns One.” Small Business Basics Seminars Set for March The Ohio Small Business Development Center at Terra Community College is offering free, twohour seminars, “Small Business Basics,” that will answer questions about starting, buying or expanding a small business. This seminar will take the confusion out of your efforts and help you avoid costly mistakes and unnecessary steps. Learn the basics of: name registration, licensing, taxes, zoning, business entities, employees, insurance, financing and business planning. The March schedule is: Wednesday, March 4 – 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Ottawa County Improvement Corporation (conference room), 8043 W. S.R. 163, Oak Harbor Wednesday, March 11 – 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Tiffin Area Chamber of Commerce (conference room), 62 S. Washington St., Tiffin Wednesday, March 18 – 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Erie County Chamber of Commerce (conference room), 225 W. Washington Row, Sandusky Wednesday, March 25 – 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Terra Community College (Building B, Room 101), 2830 Napoleon Road, Fremont These events are free and open to the public. To register or for more information, call Bill Auxter, Director of the Ohio Small Business Development Center at Terra Community College, toll-free 800-826-2431 or 419-559-2210. Or contact him by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . North Coast Business Journal is owned and published monthly by Schaffner Publications, Inc., and is mailed free to chamber of commerce members in a five-county area: Erie, Huron, Ottawa, Sandusky, and Seneca counties. The editorial deadline is the 25th of each month, with the advertising deadline the end of each month. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the expressed, written consent of the Publishers. We welcome submissions from readers in the form of letters, articles or photographs, although we reserve the right to edit and condense any articles submitted. Submissions should be sent to the editor at the above address. Include a stamped, self-addressed envelope if you would like an item returned. We prefer material (copy & photos) to be submitted electronically. www.ncbj.net North Coast Business Journal March 2009 3 A Fostoria Lost-and-Found Story Preserving Fostoria’s railroad & glass heritage is important to many people. Herman (Herm) VandeKerkhoff is certainly included on that list. Herm was involved in a Fostoria lost-and-found story. A Fostoria railroad schedule sign was found when few even knew it was lost. Fostoria’s history is intertwined with interurbans (electric trolleys), railroads, glass factories and of course – people. Herm moved from Tiffin to Fostoria in 1960 after marrying Fostorian Jane Bugner. History has been an interest to Herm. He has a passion for collecting Fostoria glass, old postcards, advertising and memorabilia and has added railroad history to his list. With the addition of the internet, Herm would Google “Fostoria” and see what he could find. To his delight, in September, 2006, a large old Fostoria railroad schedule sign was to be sold at the Delaware, Ohio Garth’s Auction House. His interest perked and he called Leonard Skonecki, President of the Fostoria Area Historical Society. Leonard said anything relating to Fostoria trains & railroad would be of interest to the Fostoria Rail Preservation Society (FRPS). FRPS is a 501(C)(3) non-profit established in 2005 dedicated to educating, preserving and promoting Fostoria’s railroad history. Sight unseen, this was an important piece of history both Herm & the FRPS realized belonged in Fostoria at whatever cost. The item, #705 “Painted Railroad Schedule” was listed in the Garth’s catalog for $200.- $400. Given the size of the sign and after a trip to Delaware for a preview, Herm thought a $700.-$800. bid was more realistic. FRPS board member Ellen Gatrell assured Herm if he acquired the sign the FRPS would find the funding to purchase the sign from him, no matter what the cost was. Herm placed an absentee bid of $750 on the sign and had second-thoughts. What if the auction price went beyond his $750 bid? He decided to attend the Sept. 2, 2006 auction and his actions were appropriate, his winning bid was $1,700, far more than he thought the sign would sell for. The final expenses for the sign including the Garths catalogue totaled $2,015.00. Upon returning to Fostoria with the sign Herm called Ellen. He wanted her to come and see the sign. Ellen, in turn called her mother Marilyn Beers and told her about the sign. Her mother said “is the sign about 4 ft wide, 6 ft tall and shaped like the Ten Commandments? Ellen said yes and Marilyn said this sign used to be in your grandmothers garage. Ellen’s grandmother, Pearl Peter, was a Fostoria antique dealer. Pearl purchased the sign from Peter Continued on page 4... Improving people’s life: it’s what we do! That’s why 75% of our business comes from repeat business. Since 1957 Whitta Construction has successfully taken clients from concept to reality with their most important projects. As design-build contractors, we bring your project a half-century of construction and design expertise. We have completed almost every kind of project you can imagine — industrial, commercial, institutional and public projects. Plus, we offer you the strength of one of America’s leading metal building companies, Ceco Building Systems, to further complement our experienced design and construction teams. Family owned for two generations, we have built this company on relationships with our customers like you. www.whittaconstruction.com P.O. Box 1086 Fostoria, Ohio 44830 419-435-7033 local | 800-359-7033 toll-free | 419-435-5346 fax Let us help improve your life. Structural engineering | Building services/MEP engineering | Specialist consulting | Planning & design | Transport | Infrastructure development | Planning & policy advice | Master planning & design | Environmental impact assessment | Site specialties: Asphalt paving | Sewer construction | “Tar & Chip” surfaces | Industrial parking lots | Township state roads/highways | Housing development roads | Commercial site development | Underground utility construction 4 March 2009 North Coast Business Journal sign a “crown jewel of our society”. This is not the first time the Geary Foundation has been generous to FRPS. In March, 2007 a grant for the purchase of the LE&W Depot was received. FRPS is also the owner of the former Gray Printing Depot aka T&OC Depot (Toledo & Ohio Central) or later the NYC (New York Central) Depot, located on E. North St. This depot was donated to the FRPS in 2005 by the Gray family. Herm became a member of FRPS in January, 2007 and was elected FRPS Projects Vice President in April, 2008. Retired from Atlas Crankshaft in 1992, Herm is a Docent at the Fostoria Glass Heritage Gallery, and a member of the Fostoria Area Historical Society. FRPS is grateful for his diligence on this “project” even before he was a FRPS member. Something my Mom forgot was “lost” in 1975 was “found” by Herm in 2006. Next on the list to “find” is the Nickel Plate Railroad (NKP) neon “Fostoria” sign, located on S. Union St. directing passengers to the NKP Depot. Where is it? Hopefully, it’s tucked away in a safe place with the www.ncbj.net "Rail" Continued from page 3... Tsantles, owner of the Hays Hotel in the early 1960’s. Pearl died in 1973 and Marilyn realized the sign was missing in 1975. The sign had been forgotten about until September, 2006. The Interurban ticket office, 116 S. Main St., was located in the Alcott Building, or the Hays Hotel building, the southeast corner of Main & Center Streets. This housed the office for both the Tiffin, Fostoria & Eastern Electric Railway (TF&E), and the Toledo, Fostoria and Findlay Railway (TF&F). Herm believes the sign probably hung on an exterior wall. The interurbans ran daily through Fostoria from 1898 until 1932. The Alcott Building burned to the ground in May, 1962 and is presently the Park & Shop lot. This is where history buffs, historical societies, railfans and maybe you can get involved. We are trying to find out information about the sign. When was it made? Who painted the schedules? Was this a collaboration of all the railroads? Were the time tables kept updated? FRPS is assuming the sign was taken down when the interurbans ceased operations, about 1932 at 116 S. Main Street. Herm brought the railroad sign back to Fostoria where it belongs. In 2008 the FRPS asked the Henry H. Geary Jr. Memorial Foundation for grant monies to purchase the sign. The grant request was approved and in January, 2009 Key Bank presented the Geary Foundation check to FRPS and FRPS in turn gave Herm a check. The sign is now located at the Fostoria LE&W Depot. FRPS President Aaron Gonya calls the owner who has great respect for Fostoria and it’s remarkable rail history. We are constantly on the lookout for any railroadrelated items that have anything to do with Fostoria. The FRPS would love to acquire, especially through people willing to donate the items or rail-history memorabilia that can be bought outright. What do you have? The FRPS website, www.FostoriaIronTriangle. com and is being updated. You can contact FRPS at 419-435-1781 or P.O. Box 421, Fostoria, OH 44830. Memberships are available to help fund our ongoing projects. Get off the roller coaster. Providing your employees with affordable healthcare benefits can feel like a roller coaster ride. SummaCare’s proven track record of offering consistent rates can help you get off the ride! For 15 years, SummaCare has built a reputation on providing competitive, predictable health insurance rates. To learn more, call your agent today or visit www.summacare.com. www.ncbj.net North Coast Business Journal March 2009 5 RETIREMENT AND ESTATE PLANNING requirements. For example, your may not Substantially stop or otherwise modify u Equal Payments Relief distributions untily other Douglas Gildenmeister, Senior Vice President, Investments Retirement Plan Consultant The Gildenmeister Wealth Management Group of Raymond James & Associates, Inc. longer of five years or until you reach age 59 ½. Under your Substantially Equal Payment plan, your distribution amount was probably calculated using one of three IRS approved methods: annuity, amortization or life expectancy. The annuity and amortization amounts are used more often because they produce the largest distribution amount and their fixed annual distribution amount is easily matched to income needs. The amortization and annuity methods have a fixed annual distribution amount. It is calculated once - at the beginning of your payment stream – and the annual distribution amount may not be modified. This is what distinguishes the amortization and annuity methods from the life expectancy method. If you are using one of these methods and your account balance experiences a significant decline, you may be running a If you initiated early distributions from your Individual Retirement Account (IRA) in the last couple of years using a Substantially Equal Payment plan, your annual distribution amount may be more than your current account balance can bear. You may think there is nothing you can do to alter your distribution amount and slow down the depletion of your IRA account. This is not true. The IRS now permits you to make a one-time, permanent reduction to your annual distribution amount. The primary purpose of an IRA is to accumulate assets for retirement. Therefore, distributions taken before age 59 ½ are subject to a 10% premature distribution penalty, unless an exception applies. One such exception is a Substantially Equal Payment plan, which as you know is subject to several substantial risk of depleting your entire account. If so, you may make a one-time, permanent reduction to your annual distribution amount. The annual distribution amount for the life expectancy method is recalculated annually based on your current age and account balance. If you have experienced a significant decline in your account balance because of the current economic conditions, your annual distribution amount will be automatically adjusted downward. This flexibility ensures that distributions continue at a rate your current account balance is capable of sustaining. Therefore, if you are currently using the annuity or amortization method, the IRS now permits you to make a one-time, permanent switch to the life expectancy method so that you may reduce your annual distribution amount. In evaluating whether to make this switch, you must consider many issues. For example, you must consider the timing of the switch. You must also weigh the effect of continuing your current distribution stream against taking a reduced annual distribution amount. Please discuss these and other relevant issues with your financial advisor or tax professional before making the one-time, permanent switch. You can contact Doug at the Bellevue office at 419-483-7900, 866-397-4082. Office of Supervisory Jurisdiction, 1800 E. 9th., Cleveland, Ohio 44114. Full Service Document Management Bureau Records Information Management Services Scan Microfilm Shred Mailing Media Vault Storage Microfilm To Digital Disk Medical & X-Ray Scanning & More John K. Krupp Certified Public Accountant • Electronic Tax Filing • Individual & Corporate Tax Returns • Accounting & Tax Services • Bookkeeping Service • Financial Planning • Management Advisory Services • Computerized Payroll Processing • Notary Public Industrial Services At Your Service! Sorting 419-448-4655 Labeling Packaging Call for your Warehousing free quote! Light Assembly Tool Bit Sharpening Inventory Management Third Party Inspection Order Processing (Fullfillment) WORK CONNECTIONS INTERNATIONAL, LLC Since 1968 525 Wall St. Tiffin, OH (419) 625-9000 Toll Free 866-625-9005 1604 E Perkins Ave., Suite 108 Sandusky, Ohio 44870 Fax (419) 625-9005 www.johnkruppcpa.com 6 March 2009 North Coast Business Journal www.ncbj.net Jean E. White. The spa began by offering tanning only, but is moving forward to offer massage therapy, manicures and pedicures, too. As for future endeavors, Stephens-Krupp said there are two businesses she currently knows of that are set to open in 2009 hopefully. Save-a-Lot is scheduled to open its doors next week at the North Countyline Street building previously occupied by The Pharm. The Pharm left Fostoria after the store was sold to Rite Aid. Work is currently being done to the Black Cat restaurant. While no details have been released, it is set to be a restaurant. Isadore Bustamante has also come to the downtown area and plans to open the previous Candyland restaurant as A.J.R. Morales Café. The restaurant is located at the corner of Main and North streets. The café was named A.J.R. for Bustamante’s mother, Aurora, and his uncles, Juan and Rudolfo, who came to Ohio from Mexico and began new lives. The restaurant will eventually combine the unique dishes of Mexican and of Greek origins and will use the meals Aurora and her brothers brought with them when they left Mexico. Stephens-Krupp said while small businesses make a positive impact on a community, it is up to the citizens to keep them in town. “The important thing to remember is that to have those small businesses come in and stay in town, the local community has to patronize those businesses. If you want them here, you need to shop there,” Stephens-Krupp said. Stephens-Krupp said people may be able to find cheaper goods and services at chain stores, but that shopping at those locations are not what is best for Fostoria. “It’s really important to step up and support what’s in your community,” Stephens-Krupp explained. Stephens-Krupp said shopping in Fostoria can also help the local economy and that every once in awhile it is fine to shop outside of town, but people need to develop a pattern of always shopping in town for what can be found in Fostoria. “The money that you’re spending in a store in Fostoria, that money is going to stay in our economy and it’s going to benefit our community,” Stephens-Krupp said. The number of small businesses that are coming to Fostoria is a good sign there are better things to come, according to Stephens-Krupp, and that there is an interest and a support building for those small businesses in the community and that there is still positive momentum in Fostoria. “There are a lot of people investing a lot of their personal time and their personal money on starting small businesses in our community. And I think that speaks volumes about the value they place in our community and their commitment to Fostoria,” Stephens-Krupp explained. Having the displaced businesses in the downtown area was important to StephensHis business was not the only one displaced by Krupp and she said new businesses are also the fire. taking up position in the downtown area. DeaLynn Keckler lost D’s Body shop, which “In 2008, we saw a really nice upswing in small focuses on massage therapy. business startups and what was really nice about Keckler was the first of the displaced owners to that, a lot of them were in the downtown area find a new home for her business with a new which is always great to see. We have a great name to commemorate its survival after the historical downtown and it’s nice to see that fire. interest come back in and the revitalization of The Phoenix Massage Therapy Center opened the downtown begin,” Stephens-Krupp said. in March 2008 in the professional building on September 2008 introduced Fostoria to a new North Main Street. The building also houses the eatery as the Smith family opened Flippin’ Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Jimmy’s on West North Street. At the time of the reopening, Keckler explained The menu includes hot dogs, hamburgers, the building was gone and she felt the need to cheeseburgers, chicken wings, chicken chunks move on in many ways. A tribute to rising from and fries. the ashes was one way to do so. The family wants the restaurant to have a The third business to survive the tragedy of the family-oriented feel and has set up large Feb. 2008 fire was Lincoln Mortgage. televisions for people to enjoy sports events or Mike and Kelly Downey chose to keep the other important moments in history. business going and found a place to rebuild Stephens-Krupp said Fostoria citizens generally around the corner from their former location. want more restaurants and specialty shops in The Downeys reopened the business in May the area and said all small businesses play an 2008 on West Center Street. important role. It took time to start back up again due to the “They are a driving force in our economy,” lack of information retrieved from their previous Stephens-Krupp said. location because of the amount of data lost that November 2008 brought two very different was on paper and computers which burned in companies into Fostoria. the fire. Padrone’s Pizza set up in the previous East of Chicago space on South Main Street. Kyle King, the owner, worked at another franchise location during high school and decided to move his career toward franchise owner. The establishment offers a variety of pizza choices, salads, subs, wraps and hamburgers. FREE Checking Merchandise is also FREE Online Banking being sold at the Personal Checking location. Commercial Checking Mayor John Davoli announced that same Overdraft Privilege month that Church & Passbook Savings Dwight Co., Inc. was Statement Savings planning to open a IRA Retirement Plans Member FDIC Midwest distribution point at buildings 24-Hour ATM Access 1840 E. Perry St., Port Clinton located on Jones Road. VISA Credit/Debit Cards (419) 734-5568 The company is best Home Loans known for creating Arm 207 W. Washington Row, Sandusky Construction Loans & Hammer products. (419) 626-5576 Church & Dwight Co., Home Equity Lines of Credit Inc. also has a warehouse 427 Main St., Huron Investment Property Loans and distribution site in (419) 433-2437 Personal Loans Old Fort. TouchTel 24-hour Telephone Au Soleil Day Spa Also Serving: Lorain, Avon and Amherst Banking opened quietly at a location on South Main www.firstfedlorain.com Street and is owned by "Diversity" Continued from the cover... YOUR COMMUNITY BANK Providing Financial Solutions for Everyday Life www.ncbj.net North Coast Business Journal PARENTS - Along with advances in science and medicine comes longevity. Parents easily live to ninety and above. The problem is that their pensions and savings were based on 1960 numbers. Many are simply running out of money. Years ago, it was expected to have the parents move into the child’s home for the last two years of their life. Today, neither the parent nor the child wants to take this course of action. Parents more than children want their independence. With siblings, major problems are created between the expected caretaker and the child that is just too busy. In the end the one that was too busy expects everything to be equal. We won’t even bring in the subject of the in-laws and their opinions. Much goes unspoken in the area of planning for the parent between brothers, sisters and their spouses until after the funeral. At that point many families are destroyed because the children did not approach the situation with reality and a joint effort. IDEAS - Children should address this potential problem when their parents are in their sixties. At least be involved to take an inventory of their available assets and anticipated needs. Have frank discussions as to alternative future courses of action. You will meet March 2009 7 Legal The Sandwich Generation By Jeff Roth It has become increasingly apparent that the average middle aged client has a real problem. While they are concerning themselves with their upcoming retirement, the reality has come to their attention that they are responsible for their children and also their parents. With parents living much longer and children wanting to keep ahead of the curve, the demands on the middle class have tripled. THE MIDDLE CLASS - I had a client tell me that his mother moved into his house 15 years ago because she had one year to live. Thanks to modern medicine she is still there. This same client has three college bound children. He wants the best for all but the pie is only so big. He is part of the sandwiched generation. If he were rich there would be no problem. There would be plenty of money and his parents would probably have the same amount. If he were poor, the children would have many need based scholarships and loans available and the parents would be on Medicaid. It is that middle class that has the problem .They have too much money for assistance and not enough to provide for the needs of three generations. WHO ARE BABY BOOMERS? - They are that group of individuals born from 1946 to 1964. They are the first generation to be influenced by television. They appear to be financially better than their parents and luckier than their children. This generation may have planned for their children and themselves but the financial status of the parents present a real source of concern. KIDS - The parents are being asked to insure their children’s education and preparedness for life. Not only is a college education not enough, but children expect to go to the best school at the best location. Even if the kids do not feel that way, the parents feel the peer pressure to see that their children have everything that their neighbor’s children or their siblings’ children have. Historically, a child stayed close to home and worked in the same factory as his father. Today, that factory may not exist. Communication, television and the internet has broadened the child’s horizons. He is not afraid to travel four states away since he can report home each evening via the internet. Many children expect parents to provide all that is necessary to insure that they have the latest and greatest. Children today are more aware of the importance of education and want to take advantage of what the world has to offer. IDEAS - 529 plans or other long term savings plans are great for the young child. If your child is now in college, a student loan is not a sin. Unsubsidized loans such as a Pell Grant allow the child to be involved and appreciate the value of doing well. Let the child select the college and split the cost. Any scholarship comes off his share. Have the children realize early in high school that this will be a joint effort. Break free Woo H. Paik, MD, FACOG resistance because this generation thinks you are after their money. This is where an experienced third party can ask the right questions and assist the family in planning for the future. The purpose of this article is to make you aware that you are not alone on this subject. Children being proactive at an early stage with their parents are the correct approach. Please email any areas of interest or questions that you would like to have discussed to ohiofloridatrust@ aol.com. It is important that this column is relevant to its readers. Jeff Roth is a partner with Forrest Bacon and David Bacon of the firm ROTH and BACON with offices in Port Clinton, Upper Sandusky and Marion, Ohio. Mr. Roth is also licensed and practices in Florida. His practice is limited to wealth strategy planning and elder law in both states. Nothing in this article is intended for, nor should be relied upon as individual legal advice. The purpose of this article is to help educate the public on concepts of law as they pertain to estate and business planning. Jeff Roth can be reached at ohiofl This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (telephone: 419732-9994) copyright@Jeffrey P. Roth 2009. Get lasting relief from heavy periods in the comfort of our office. We now offer a unique solution to heavy periods. Her Option® is an in-office procedure that can free you from the pain and limitations of heavy periods without removing your uterus or disrupting your natural hormones. To discover if Her Option® is right for you, call us and schedule an appointment. Women’s Healthcare Partners 1506 S. Conwell Ave. • Willard, Ohio 44890 419.935.0187 8 March 2009 North Coast Business Journal www.ncbj.net Fostoria’s Whitta Construction Builds on Past Performance For half a century Whitta Construction of Fostoria, Ohio, has been a leading design-build general contractor associated with most of the leading industrial, commercial and retail construction projects in the area. With more than 75% of its work coming from existing clients, it was not surprising that Whitta was the contractor of choice to expand the Norton Manufacturing plant when it was purchased by Sumitomo Metals. “We built the original building in 1989,” said company president Dave Whitta. “It was started as a 27,000 square foot manufacturing building and in 1992 we doubled the size. Norton Manufacturing continued to expand over the years but they did it in an existing manufacturing building located on the south side of town,” Whitta added. The new project was an addition to an existing facility located on the northeast side of town. That facility was also owned by Richard Norton. When Norton sold his business to Sumitomo Metals, they elected to add approximately 180,000 square feet onto the Route 12 facility. The additions included an 11,000 square foot construction,” he added. “The manufacturing space was designed to permit the business to expand to approximately twice the existing capacity due to projections for continuing and new contracts,” Whitta said. “In a design/build situation, this is an important role we provide our clients,” he added. “We actually were awarded the project sometime in August 2007,” Whitta noted. “We worked with MKK and Sumitomo on the design in segments. We started on the design of the civil engineering for site work and overall size of the building footprint. This permitted us to start the site work first, and we broke ground at the end of September to the first of October. At that time, we started the design and structural engineering for the manufacturing area, break room and interior truck docks. Ceco was a great help in this phase. The final details for this portion were being designed throughout construction. “We set a design schedule that permitted us to stay ahead of construction. Our completion date for this portion of the work was scheduled for the end of May 2008. In March 2008, we started the office design/engineering and completed this and the construction of same by the end of August 2008. Our ability to design in this fashion permitted us to realize the tight schedule that Sumitomo required, plus our design was always price sensitive to the overall budget. We delivered this project on time and in the owner’s budget,” Whitta added. Since 1957 Whitta Construction has successfully taken clients from concept to reality with their most important projects. As design-build contractors, Whitta brings a half-century of construction and design expertise to the initial design team, providing customers the most possible talent to address the operational processes and economic ramifications of their project. main office facility, 5,000 square foot factory break room/locker room, and 150,000 square foot manufacturing addition. The manufacturing addition has a two-story plant office, lab and quality control area. The plant also has under-thefloor hydromation flumes that drain into the main metal chip separator pit. There are multiple overhead crane runways and utility headers. The pre-engineered metal structure has 50 foot bays with multiple overhead crane bays. The new facility features metal wall panels, masonry block units, two interior truck dock areas, interior scrap docks, new manufacturing restroom and breakroom facility, two-story masonry block plant support offices with lab, along with specialized machine foundations and pits. One of the two interior truck docks at the plant houses the chip waste containers which make for a cleaner environment and safer grounds. Extensive site preparation for the building pad, a large industrial asphalt parking lot and truck dock areas were completed using Whitta in-house expertise and equipment. “We teamed up with MKK Technologies, Inc., as the lead designer, engineering and project manager for the facility,” Whitta said. “Whitta Construction acted as a design builder with 100% of the general WE SPECIALIZE IN: • Tabloid Newspapers • Broadsheets • Journal Magazines • Flyers • Inserts • and more.... “We’re not a quick print... but we’ll get you to print quickly.” DOUTHIT COMMUNICATIONS INCORPORATED CALL DAVE OR TAMMI • 419-625-5825 www.ncbj.net North Coast Business Journal March 2009 9 New Economic Development Director Selected Ellen Heinz has been selected as the new Economic Development Director for the Norwalk Economic Development Corporation (NEDC). “We are very pleased to welcome Ellen as our new director,” said Zigo. “The committee selected her from a field of more than 70 wellqualified candidates. Ellen brings the energy and expertise in economic development that will help us continue to growth this successful organization, and develop and implement innovative economic development strategies for the Norwalk area.” Heinz most recently served as director of the workforce development department for North Central State College where she led the college’s workforce development team and also served as Ohio Skills Bank Program Manager for Economic Development Region 6 (nine-county area). Her success in her position at North Central earned her the “Pushing the Envelope Award” in 2008. “Ellen’s experience in workforce development is extremely important at this time in our economy,” said Zigo. “She has a vast knowledge of the programs and officials at the state level and has already worked with several local businesses on training issues.” Prior to her position at North Central, Heinz worked at the Richland Economic Development Corporation in Mansfield. She was involved in business retention, expansion and outreach activities, conducted marketing activities to promote the county, and worked with the Main Street program. “I look forward to the opportunity to work with this strong organization and the individuals and businesses in the community,” Heinz said. “I believe in taking a hands-on approach to addressing opportunities and challenges.” Her diverse work experience included managing internal staffing for a Michigan automotive engineering firm, teaching in the talented and gifted program at Ashland City Schools, and instructing English as a Second Language at Ashland University. Ms. Heinz also lived and worked in Japan for the AEON Corporation for more than a year. Heinz is a member of the North Central Ohio Regional Development Alliance, the Ohio Economic Development Association, Local Area 10 Workforce Investment Board, the Richland Manufacturing Coalition and numerous other professional organizations. She earned a Master of Education degree from Ashland University and a Bachelor of Arts and Letters from Michigan State University (MSU). While at MSU she was selected for her scholastic achievements to represent the MSU Oversees Program and attended the University of London and the University of Edinburgh. “We have no doubt that Ellen can now take the NEDC to the next level of serving our business community and marketing the Norwalk area to prospective businesses,” said Ken Schafer, of Janotta & Herner, Inc. Schafer is NEDC’s newly elected board president who will begin his term in 2009. Norwalk Mayor Susan Lesch agreed. “I am delighted with Ellen’s appointment. Her skills and expertise are what we need at this critical time. She knows many of our businesses and will work well with our team.” The Norwalk Economic Development Corporation began operations in 2003 after reorganizing from the Norwalk Revitalization Corporation which was established as a 501(c)3 non-profit in 1996. This private-public partnership is committed to developing a strong economic environment in the Norwalk area by supporting businesses and nurturing greater stability in the marketplace. Bethany Dentler was NEDC’s first economic development director serving from 2003 through October of 2008. Wert is New Manager for Norwalk’s Main Street Program For the first time in Main Street Norwalk Program history, an actual Norwalk resident is at the helm of the program which serves the Uptown Norwalk Historic District. The Norwalk Economic Development Corporation recently selected Kristie Wert as the Main Street Norwalk Program Manager. Wert has lived in their West Main Street, Norwalk home for the past eleven years with her husband and three children. She is a graduate of Edison High School and attended Marietta College and Firelands College of Bowling Green where she focused on Marketing and Public Relation. As the Main Street Norwalk Program Manager, she will be responsible for managing all aspects of the program; economic development, preservation of historical buildings as well as coordinating events and activities in Norwalk’s Uptown Historic District. Wert brings experience from the business field from her positions as administrative assistant at Great Lakes Electric in Milan, to Branch Manager of Norwalk CitiFinancial where she was District Employee of the Year in 2000. Wert has also held positions in marketing and was most recently employed at the law firm, Thornton, Harwood and Weisenburger in Norwalk. Wert’s first task was to help the Main Street Advisory Board update their Mission and Vision statements and develop goals for 2009. Goals were set that involve creating a renewed awareness of the Main Street Norwalk program and to promote a “shop local” attitude. Wert feels that is very beneficial for the Program Manager to live in Norwalk, “I think one benefit that I have seen so far to my being a Norwalk resident, is that I speak to many other residents on daily basis and it became clear very quickly that people were not sure what the program is anymore. This surprised many of the Board members, so we decided that one of our goals is to get more residents involved and show our businesses and community the relevance of the program.” The other goal, which involves promoting a “shop local” attitude will be multifaceted and involve all areas of the program from design to economic restructuring. Main Street Norwalk is a program of the Norwalk Economic Development Corporation. The program operates under the direction and guidance of the volunteer board and four volunteer committees. Norwalk has been an Ohio Main Street City since 2005. It is one of 38 Ohio communities with that accomplishment. In 2008, Main Street Norwalk was awarded with the National Main Street Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation. 10 March 2009 North Coast Business Journal www.ncbj.net Chamber of Commerce of Sandusky County Announces Annual Award Winners During the Chamber of Commerce of Sandusky County Annual Awards Dinner on January 29, 2009 at Terra State Community College in Fremont, four local individuals and four businesses were recognized for their outstanding contributions to Sandusky County. The Chamber announced the winners of three Member of the Year awards in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the Chamber of Commerce and the Sandusky County community. The winners in each division were: WAMH Design, Small Business Division; Fremont Federal Credit Union, Medium Business Division; and Atlas Industries, Large Business Division. Robert W. Woolf, co-chair of the Terra State Community College Major Gifts Committee, was named Citizen of the Year for being an individual whose services have benefited the community or area by his devotion to the general welfare of the citizenry, exclusive and beyond his profession. The Clark Ambassador winner was Jim Miranda, who Woolf has been a volunteer Chamber Ambassador for six years. He was selected due to his demonstrated support of the mission, vision and values of the Chamber of Commerce of Sandusky County with his time, talents and dedication. Miranda was described as dedicated, volunteer, informative, encouraging, Miranda helpful, advocate, professional, approachable, and kind. For being an individual who in his daily practice of his profession has served the community well, with special considerations to service over and above that of other practitioners, Tom Kiser of Professional Supply Inc. was presented the Distinguished Service Award. Born and raised here in Fremont, Ohio, Kiser founded his business in 1979. Kiser has gone from being a small town heating and ventilation engineer to being involved in the fight to halt global Kiser warming. Barbara Ann Krzewinski was presented the Athena Award for her lifetime community involvement and working for the betterment of women and children. Year’s prior, she had worked as a child advocate and family advocacy officer for the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps. A new award that was Krzewinski presented at this year’s Annual Dinner was the Health & Wellness Award, given to Whirlpool Corporation. The purpose of this award is to recognize Chamber employers that promote and get employees involved in healthy options and health education. Whirlpool won this award because of their proactive and enthusiastic wellness committee that meets monthly or more. During the annual event the Chamber also reviewed activities from the past year, announced the participants in the upcoming Best of Sandusky County Pizza Challenge, distributed the new 2009 Member-to-Member discount cards for Chamber member employees, the new 2009 Sandusky County Maps and announced the 2009 Chamber Board of Trustees. eye-catching need-it-done-yesterday mailers ad designs snazzy, colorful professional, flat fee classy, timeless brochures t web design w annual reports 419.341.1117 www.aha4creative.com www.ncbj.net North Coast Business Journal March 2009 11 Taxes Individual Tax Changes in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 By Jeffrey J. Rosengarten, CPA Payne, Nickles and Company The recently enacted “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009” contains a wide-ranging tax package that includes tax relief for low and moderate-income wage earners, individuals and families with college expenses, and home and car purchasers. This article is to give you an overview of the more widely applicable tax changes affecting individuals and families in the new law. Please consult with your tax advisor for details of how the new changes may affect you and your family. “Making Work Pay” credit. The new law provides an individual tax credit in the amount of 6.2% of earned income not to exceed $400 for single returns and $800 for joint returns in 2009 and 2010. The credit is phased out at adjusted gross income (AGI) in excess of $75,000 ($150,000 for married couples filing jointly). The credit can be claimed as a reduction in the amount of income tax that is withheld from a paycheck, or through a credit on a tax return. Under the credit, workers can expect to see perhaps $13 a week less withheld from their paychecks starting around June. Next year, the extra take-home pay will go down to around $7.70 per week. Economic recovery payment. The new law provides for a one-time payment of $250 to retirees, disabled individuals and Social Security beneficiaries and SSI recipients receiving benefits from the Social Security Administration and Railroad Retirement beneficiaries, and to veterans receiving disability compensation and pension benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs. The one-time payment is a reduction to any allowable Making Work Pay credit. Refundable credit for certain federal and state pensioners. The new law provides a one-time refundable tax credit of $250 in 2009 to certain government retirees who are not eligible for Social Security benefits. This one-time credit is a reduction to any allowable Making Work Pay credit. Unemployment compensation exclusion. A provision temporarily suspends federal income tax on the first $2,400 of unemployment benefits received by a recipient in 2009. Expanded earned income tax credit. The new law provides tax relief to families with three or more children and increases marriage penalty relief. The changes apply for 2009 and 2010. Expanded child tax credit. A measure increases the eligibility for the refundable child tax credit in 2009 and 2010 by lowering the earned income threshold to $3,000 (from $8,500 in 2008). Expanded and revised higher education tax motorcycles, and motor homes. The tax break credit. The new law creates a $2,500 higher phases out starting with taxpayers earning $125,000 education tax credit that is available for the first per year ($250,000 for joint returns). The deduction four years of college. The credit is based on 100% is allowed to both those who itemize their of the first $2,000 of tuition and related expenses deductions as well as to nonitemizers. However, (including books) paid during the tax year and the deduction cannot be taken by a taxpayer who 25% of the next $2,000 of tuition and related elects to deduct state and local sales taxes in lieu of expenses paid during the tax year, subject to a state and local income taxes. phase-out for AGI in excess of $80,000 ($160,000 Alternative minimum tax (AMT) patch. To for married couples filing jointly). 40% of the hold the number of taxpayers subject to the AMT credit is refundable. The new credit temporarily at bay, the new law increases the AMT exemption replaces the Hope credit. amounts for 2009 to $46,700 for unmarried Computers as an education expense. A provision individuals, to $70,950 for joint returns, and to permits computers and computer technology to $35,475 for married individuals filing separate qualify as qualified education expenses in 529 returns, and allows the personal credits against the education plans for tax years beginning in 2009 AMT. and 2010. If you would like more details about this or any Expanded credit for first-time home buyers. other aspect of the new law, please consult your Last year, Congress provided taxpayers with a tax advisor. refundable tax credit that was equivalent to an (Author’s note: This article is not intended to interest-free loan equal to 10% of the purchase of offer professional tax advice. Please consult your a home (up to $7,500) by first-time home buyers. tax advisor.) The provision applied to homes purchased on or after April 9, 2008 and before July 1, 2009. Taxpayers receiving this tax credit were required to repay any amount received under this provision back to the government over 15 years in equal installments (or earlier if the home was sold). The credit phases out for taxpayers Contract these operations with us: with AGI in excess of Assembly Data Entry Inventory Mgt. $75,000 ($150,000 in the case of a joint return). Packaging Sanding Shredding The new law enhances Sorting Warehousing the credit by eliminating the repayment obligation And a whole lot more! for taxpayers that purchase homes on or after January 1, 2009. It also extends the credit through the end of November 2009, and bumps up the maximum value of the credit from For more information call $7,500 to $8,000. Tax break for new car purchasers. The new law allows taxpayers to deduct State and local Sandusky Bay Area Goodwill Industries provides employment services sales taxes paid on the to the disabled and disadvantaged in Erie, Huron, Ottawa and purchase of a new automobile, including Sandusky Counties. light trucks, SUVs, Challenged by Rising Business Costs, ShortTerm Orders or Fluctuating Staffing Needs? Goodwill Can Help! Low rates! Reliable service! 419-625-4744 12 March 2009 North Coast Business Journal www.ncbj.net As a member of an Ohio Electric Cooperative, you not only have access to energy, but to valuable information, resources and energy expertise – all to help keep your business running efficiently. As your partner in energy, your local Cooperative offers assistance with energy audit funding, benchmarking data, and engineering expertise through its Ask an Expert hotline and online services, all to help improve your company’s energy efficiency. Contact your local Cooperative or visit www.buckeyepower.com for more information. OHIO’S ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES www.ncbj.net North Coast Business Journal March 2009 13 Information Technology Your PC Can Make April 15th Less “Taxing!” By Don Knaur It’s fast approaching tax time and if you do your own Income Tax preparation and filing, your PC can save you a lot of time and effort. If you do an Internet search for “Income Tax Software”, you will find dozens of places to get tax preparation software. No one has the time to check them all out and some of them that I researched appear to be less than helpful. Since I have been preparing and filing my taxes, including Schedule C for my business, on my PC for over 12 years, I thought it might be a good topic for this month’s article. If you choose to use Tax Preparation Software, there are several options available: 1) Buy the software in a store, such as Staples or Walmart 2) Buy the software online and have a CD shipped to you 3) Buy the software online and download it directly to your PC a) Download the software to a folder and then install it b) Install the software directly from the software’s download site 4) Pay for the privilege of doing your taxes online I recommend option 3a as the best choice. It is the quickest, most economical and safest, but you should take the time to back-up the folder with the downloaded software as soon as you have it installed. Once you have the software backed up, you can reinstall it any time you want, even if you buy a new PC. This is important because of the IRS seven-year rule. The odds are you will replace your PC before the seven years have passed and if you are audited, being able to see the detailed entries can be very helpful. Time and space constraints prohibit reviewing anywhere near all of the tax preparation software packages available. However, three of the better known reputable packages that offer E-filing and the choice of online or offline preparation can be reviewed and seen at the following sites: • http://www.turbotax.com/ TurboTax software cost ranges from Free* to $109.95 • http://www.hrblock.com/ Tax Cut software cost ranges from Free* to $79.95 • http://www.taxact.com/ TaxAct software cost ranges from Free to $16.95 * Caution: Only those who are filing using Form 1040 EZ are eligible to use the freeware. Personally, I highly recommend the TaxAct software. I have used it for over ten years and it is very thorough and user-friendly, as well as economical. There is no reason for using anything but the free version the first time you use the software. After that, I recommend using the $9.95 Deluxe Version. The reason for upgrading after the first year is the Deluxe Version allows you to load the past year’s return information with a click of the mouse. That eliminates your having to enter a lot of the required data; it will automatically fill in names, addresses and ID numbers based on the past data. It also will allow you to view a comparison of the two years’ returns before you file this year’s return. With this software, you do your taxes just like you would with a tax preparer. The software asks you the same questions and you answer them with a keyboard instead of verbally. You do not have to be a computer or tax expert to end up with a professional tax return and hopefully a refund. Each of the sites listed above offers not only Federal Tax Preparation, but also State Tax Preparation options. However, in the State of Ohio, State Income Tax can be done online at a State of Ohio web site. Since all of the information used on a State of Ohio Income Tax Return is pulled from your Federal Tax Return, there is no need for special software to prepare your State Return. Simply go online to http://tax. ohio.gov/ and you will be provided a link to the Ohio E-filing site. It takes just a few minutes and you are finished. You can also pay taxes online or register for electronic deposit of your refund. A word of warning, if you opt to pay online and choose to pay by Credit Card, even if it is a Debit Card, there is a sizable surcharge involved. On the other hand, if you enable an electronic transfer from your checking account, there is no cost involved. We are very fortunate that the State of Ohio is on the leading edge of technology when it comes to taking our money. You can even pay other Ohio taxes online as well. There is a site called the Ohio Business Gateway at http://obg. ohio.gov/ and I have been filing and paying my semi-annual sales taxes there for years. None of us ever look forward to filing our taxes, but possibly the information in this article will help you be a little less wary of the Ides of April (April 15). Don is the CWO (Chief Working Officer) of HelpDesk, Ohio, a complete computer service center, located in Suite A of the Courtlee Interiors’ Building, 2499 W. Market in Tiffin. Don has a degree in Computer Programming from Tiffin University and has been an Information Technology Professional for over 23 years. He started Help-Desk, Ohio in the spring of 1996 and opened his shop in March 2001. Don welcomes calls for advice or information at 419-448-8020. 14 March 2009 North Coast Business Journal closely with OCIC President Mike Bassett and herself in a sincere effort to keep the company in Ottawa County. Smith acknowledged that there were other opportunities at other facilities, but both financially and logistically, this location was most suitable. Jamie Beier-Grant also noted that the jobs created at this new facility will be highly skilled positions given www.ncbj.net the sophisticated nature of the jobs they will be doing, notably robotic, computerized stainless steel welding and fabrication that requires a high degree of precision in fabrication and assembly. Much has been made about the “brain drain” locally, but Smith noted that some of the new hires will be local young people who will be ‘returning’ to Ottawa County. Equipment components are being delivered to the facility right now, and Smith hopes to begin shipping product by the end of March. Northern Expansion BY JOHN SCHAFFNER The Ottawa County Improvement Corporation’s $1.6 million, 50,000 square foot spec building in the Lake Winds Industrial Park has been sold … and they had to travel all the way to Oak Harbor to find the buyer! Northern Manufacturing, located on Railroad Street in Oak Harbor, has been looking at expanding their capabilities for nearly three years now, according to company president, Quintin Smith. “What we found is a niche market that needs stainless steel manufactured products that aren’t made in the same facility with other types of steel products,” says Smith. “Our customers have asked us to produce stainless fabrications in a building that contains no regular steel, which can potentially contaminate the stainless material.” So, this is a true expansion? “The short answer is yes,” says Smith, adding “we have been impacted by the economy like everyone else. We started this process before the economic crisis and decided to proceed in late November. It is our belief that we will survive the downturn and be well positioned when the economy comes back.” Smith points to an experience he and his sons Dustin and Tyson had while at a Trade Show in Hamburg, Germany last fall. “We toured several fabricating operations much like ours, and I noted that these were companies that had been in business for over a century, surviving two world wars, both of which Germany lost! I told the boys; ‘this is not about next year … this is about our long-term future’.” At its peak, their 70,000 square foot facility in Oak Harbor employs over 90 workers. At 50,000 square feet, Smith estimates that this facility will employ 10-15 new employees. “We have already hired 3 people and plan on hiring 1 or 2 more in the next few months,” says Smith. “We project 10-15 people to be hired over the next three years.” “With the economy being what it is, he’s positioning the company for the future, investing in state of the art equipment, and hiring new people is indicative of what kind of a company Northern Manufacturing is,” says Ottawa County Improvement Corp. Director, Jamie BeierGrant. “It’s exciting for the County to see Northern expand at a time when other companies are contracting their operations.” She added that Smith had worked Another Reason to Believe in Mercy Hospital of Tiffin. Mercy welcomes new General Surgeon to the community. Dr. Cecchino received his medical degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. He completed a Residency in General Surgery at the University of Connecticut Affiliated Hospitals in the Greater Hartford area and also fulfilled a Chief General Surgical Residency at Akron General Hospital and Akron Children’s Hospital. Dr. Cecchino is board certified by the American Board of Surgery and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Cecchino has special interest in diseases of the breast, colon & rectal surgery and surgical oncology. He also has a broad range of general surgical procedures that includes laparoscopic surgery, diagnostic and therapeutic upper endoscopies and colonoscopies and capsule endoscopy. He was a college instructor of computer science and also a photographer & research assistant at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. Dr. Cecchino is proud of his heritage as an Italian-American , enjoys music and has working knowledge of the German and Spanish languages. Dr. Cecchino’s office is located on the second floor of the Medical Office Building at 27 St. Lawrence Drive, Suite 203. Robert Cecchino, MD, FACS General Surgery Northern Manufacturing President Quintin Smith stands inside his company's new 50,000 sq. ft. building in the Lake Winds Industrial Park. The recently completed spec building was built by the Ottawa County Improvement Corporation. PHOTO BY JOHN SCHAFFNER mercyweb.org For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call (419) 455-8560. © 2009 Mercy Health Partners www.ncbj.net North Coast Business Journal February 2009 15 CHAMBER CALENDAR Bellevue Area Chamber of Commerce March 5 Chamber Monthly Luncheon 12:00 noon Twin Lakes Golf Course Speaker: Bill Auxter Small Business Development Center Annual Meeting & Awards Banquet 6:00 cocktails and cash bar 7:00 diner Bellevue Society for the Arts Norwalk-Huron County Chamber of Commerce March 5 March 11 Program Comittee, 8 am Chamber office March 19 Membership Committee 8 am Chamber office March 26 March 21 March 12 March 18 March 19 Board of Directors 4:00 pm, Chamber office Education Committee 8 am, Pleasant Elementary Huron Co. Safety Council 7:30 a.m. Norwalk High School Employer's Practices Committee, 8 am Chamber office Annual Banquet contact the chamber for details March 18 Graduation for SERVICE EXCELLENCE EXPERIENCE, 6 p.m. Resouce Center Main Street Port Clinton Board of Directors Meeting 7:30 a.m., Conference room March 25 Marketing Committee Meeting, 9 am Conference Room March 20 Coffee & Contacts Chamber office, 8-9 a.m. Reservaitions required Chamber Foundation Board Chamber office, 1:30 p.m. Chamber Board of Trustees Chamber office, 7:30 a.m. March 23 Tiffin Area Chamber of Commerce March 17 Benefits Fair 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Community Civic Center Business After Hours 5-7 p.m. Host: Terra Community College RSVP 419-447-1414 Safety Council Meeting 11:30-12:30 Doors open at 11 a.m. Sandusky County Chamber of Commerce March 12 Business After Hours Color Haven Paint & Supply 105 N. Stone St. 5-7 p.m. Ag Week Kickoff Breakfast Ole Zim's Wagon Shed 6:30 a.m. Reservations required Erie County Chamber of Commerce March 13 Seminar: "How to Harness the Power of Web 2.0 and Social Networking to Promote Your Business," with Ted Janusz. 7:30 a.m., Lyman Harbor Marina Advance registration and payment required. Elected Officials Reception Castaway Bay Ballroom 4:00 p.m., RSVP's required 38th University Business Symposium 6:00 p.m. BGSU Firelands - Cedar Point Center Business After Hours 5:15 p.m. Plum Brook Country Club (Reservations required) March 19 March 26 March 13 March 24 March 27 March 19 Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce April 4 Easter Egg Hunt, 2 p.m. Log Cabin Area FISHER-TITUS MEDICAL CENTER March 24 Port Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce March 5 Downtown Committee Meeting, 12 noon Conference Room Business After Hours, 5-7 p.m. Baumann Auto Center March 9 Board of Directors Meeting 8 am, Conference Room Foundation Meeting, 8am Arts Council Meeting 12 noon, Conference Room March 17 Membership Committee Meeting, 8 am Conference Room Economic Meeting 12 noon, Conference Room If you’re 50 or older, you are at risk. MARC H IS C OLOR E C TAL C ANC E R AWAR E NE S S MONT H Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men and the third leading cause of cancer deaths in women. Yet, it is one of the most curable - and even preventable - cancers if found early through regular screenings. In fact, if everyone 50 years or older were screened regularly, as many as 60 percent of deaths from colorectal cancer could be avoided. Join Dr. Kafity to March 25 Marblehead Peninsula Chamber of Commerce March 5 Directors Meeting Otterbein North Shore 7:00 p.m. What You Need to Know about Colorectal Cancer . . . and How to Prevent It Presented By: Dr. Alfred Kafity Board Certified Gastroenterologist Bay Area Gastroenterology March 16 March 13-15 Home and Garden Show Kalahari in Sandusky, Ohio March 19 Business After Hours 5:00 to 7:00 pm Hosts: Ottawa County Visitors Bureau, Sam's Club, and Grande Maison Construction Location: Ottawa County Visitors Bureau learn more about the risk factors for colorectal cancer and what you can do to prevent it. FTMC’s Cancer Program Is Approved with Commendations by the Commission on Cancer. Tuesday, March 10, 6:30 p.m. Fisher-Titus Learning Center at Norwalk High School, 350 Shady Lane Drive To register, call (419)660-2828 March 18 Fisher-Titus Medical Center 272 Benedict Avenue, Norwalk, Ohio 44857 16 March 2009 North Coast Business Journal www.ncbj.net For all your Business Needs • Awards Banquets • Golf Outings • Business Meetings • Sales Seminars • Lunch and Dinner Meetings • Weddings For information, contact Tom Smerillo at 419-625-5394 Membership not Required PLUM BROOK COUNTRY CLUB 3712 Galloway Rd., Sandusky • www.plumbrookcc.com N FAMILY FRIENDLY-KID SAFE EW MAKE THE SWITCH www.ncbj.net North Coast Business Journal March 2009 17 Take control of your print fleet, and watch your profits and productivity soar! Introducing optimize. manage. improve. PagePilot™ is RS’ new all-inclusive program that gives your business the control to optimize your print infrastructure, manage its print environment and improve efficiency and workflow, all while saving up to 40% annually! Call us today at 800.516.7321 for your no-obligation print assessment. C NS Newcomer Concrete Services, Inc. Quality - Reliability - Dedication Specializing In Parking Lot/Roadway Construction Building & Grounds Maintenance Decorative Concrete Excavation 646 Townline Road 151, P.O. Box 672, Norwalk, Ohio 44857 Phone: (419) 668-2789 Fax: (419) 663-3441 18 March 2009 North Coast Business Journal www.ncbj.net Preventing the Unkindest Cut: Why NOT to Slash Marketing—and a Whole New Way to Think About the “M” Word If your CFO is poised to chop your marketing budget, grab his hand. That’s the worst move your company could make right now. Here are a few steps you should take instead. By Sharan Jagpal When times get tough, companies have a kneejerk tendency to start slashing & burning. They lay off employees. They search for cheaper healthcare benefits and eliminate holiday bonuses. They seek ways to reduce overhead and extraneous costs. Sometimes this crude surgery improves the health of the overall organization; sometimes it doesn’t. But in the thick of all the “bad economy” clearcutting, there’s one business function that should never get the ax—and yet, it’s all too often the first victim. Marketing. That’s right. To cut back on your efforts to market your products and services when people are already reluctant to buy is akin to corporate suicide. In a recession, it’s harder to gain new customers, to convince existing customers to buy more, and to win back customers who have left. So companies often need to be spending more money, not less. They just need to be smart about it. It’s this simple: During any period of economic hardship, there are winners and losers. Choke your marketing efforts down to a trickle—or just as bad, direct your dollars into the wrong channels—and you’ll surely find yourself among the latter group. Overhaul your approach to marketing and you’ll be positioned to swoop down and grab some of the customer dollars that previously went to a competitor or even capture an untapped market. Consider, for example, that in a good economy the vacation and videogame industries do not compete with each other. In a bad economy, consumers may have no option but to forgo vacations. But to compensate for this loss, they may reward themselves with a small, affordable purchase such as a videogame. And that’s why it’s important to pay attention to shifts in consumer spending—if you’re a videogame maker, you may well benefit from a dramatic increase in your marketing right now.. Before you, the hypothetical videogame maker, can achieve such a feat, you must first get your marketing and finance departments working together rather than clashing against each other. It’s no secret that finance people typically wield the cost-cutting blade—while marketing people are perceived as free-spenders who have a tough time quantifying their ideas. Fortunately common ground does exist. When these two groups stop talking at each other, when they get out of their functional silos and start working together, they can create marketing strategies that help an organization thrive even in the grimmest economy. But that means Finance must squelch its knee-jerk reaction to cut the marketing budget, and Marketing must learn to create metrics that demonstrate the bottom-line impact of their ideas. How can this be done? Following are some tips to help you get started: • “Old school” resource allocation methods are woefully inadequate. In many companies, resource allocation decisions are based on cash flow inputs dictated by the finance department. However, cash flows are critically dependent on the company’s marketing decisions: the price charged for a product or service, the advertising budget for the product or service, the channels of distribution used for selling it, and so forth. And here’s the real problem: It’s difficult to know how these marketing decisions affect cash flow. In particular, it’s hard to measure the degree of uncertainty involved when a company chooses a particular marketing policy. Decision makers agonize over questions like: * “How can I measure the effects of my company’s marketing policies on cash flow?” “How can I quantify the uncertainty in cash flows when my company chooses a particular marketing strategy?” * “What are the short- and long-term effects of different marketing policies on my company’s performance?” Fusion for Profit is the first book to address these questions (and many others) head-on. Aimed at diverse audiences—it’s a crossover book that’s equally appropriate for academics and business practitioners—it provides sound, to-the-point strategies and techniques decision makers need to know if they’re to coordinate Marketing and Finance to maximize organizational performance. Clearly, such a transformation is easier said than done! There must be fundamental changes in the mindsets of managers at all levels in the organization and across functional areas. • Marketing people must shine some light into the murky waters of the profit and loss statements and balance sheets. Finance people often perceive marketing as a bottomless pit into which money disappears. Marketing professionals, perhaps rightly, see this perception as unfair. Still, their indignation doesn’t change the fact that they must convince others to get behind their ideas financially. While behavioral measures such as share of voice and product awareness are fine as subgoals, they are simply inadequate tools upon which to base resource allocation. The marketing department must explicitly recognize that a whole new set of metrics is urgently needed. That means marketing people can’t stay inside their silo anymore, but must reach across the aisle and coordinate decisions with the finance department. • To avoid strategic blunders, Marketing and Finance must work together to measure risk and balance it against return. Let’s say you’re comparing two marketing strategies, each of which requires the same dollar expenditure. You can either 1) focus on acquiring new customers, or 2) focus on retaining the customers you already have. Now, let’s say the market-growth strategy will, on average, produce higher average profits than the customer retention strategy. You might assume the decision is a no-brainer, but it’s more complex than it first appears. The market-growth strategy is not necessarily superior. Even though, on average, this strategy will produce more profits than the customer retention one, it is much riskier. Indeed, depending on the magnitude of the uncertainties involved, after comparing risk and return, it may be better to focus on the strategy with lower average profits. So, regarding the “market growth” vs. “customer retention” question, how should a company decide which is best? Two steps are necessary: 1) The marketing department must provide quantitative estimates of the risk and return of the cash flows from these two strategies, and 2) The finance department (or senior management or CEO) should determine which strategy provides a higher return after adjusting for risk. In this analysis, the ownership structure of the firm is critical. A publicly owned firm should focus on market risk—i.e., the risk to stockholders after they have diversified their holdings across firms. A privately held firm should choose the optimal strategy based on the owner’s tolerance for risk and return. Starbucks is a prime example of a company that made the mistake of focusing on market growth at the expense of risk. In October 2006, the company dramatically raised its long-term store opening goal to 40,000 from its prior goal of 30,000. The stock market responded positively to this announcement and the company’s shares closed higher by 7.6 percent that day. But subsequently, Starbucks’s share prices plunged and the company paid the price for choosing the wrong strategy. It paid a high price for ignoring risk! • Involve both Marketing and Finance when designing salesforce compensation plans. How a company pays its salespeople can have a dramatic impact on profits. Consider a PC manufacturer like Dell that sells to two segments: the transaction segment where customers buy once and the relationship segment where customers make multiple purchases over time. What types of compensation plans should the PC manufacturer use for people who sell to these segments? To address this question, the PC manufacturer should view the effort of a salesperson who sells to the relationship segment as an investment. Decision makers must keep in mind that the profits generated by that salesperson are uncertain. Consequently, it is best for the manufacturer to share both current and future profits with her. In other words, it should pay the salesperson targeting the relationship segment a lower base salary and a higher commission rate than a salesperson targeting the transaction segment. Interestingly, the Continued on page 26... www.ncbj.net North Coast Business Journal March 2009 19 Ohio Business College Promotes From Within Theresa Fisher, School Director at the Sandusky Campus of Ohio Business College, has announced the recent promotion of five part time faculty members and two admissions representatives. Diane Hagan has been promoted to full time Department Head of the Business Department. Hagan has been with the College Hagan since 2002 and teaches business classes including Human Resource Management. Hagan resides in Norwalk. DeAnne Bowersock of Bellevue has been promoted to full time Bowersock Department Head of the Computer Department. Bowersock has been with the College since 2003 and began as a Teacher’s Aide. She is an Advisor for the Student Ambassador Program and heads up the Sandusky Alumni Association. Sowers Paul Sowers has been promoted to full time General Education Department Head. Sowers has been with the College since 2007 and resides in Marblehead. Loretta Riddle of Sandusky has been appointed Lead Instructor in Riddle the Legal Department, while Jodi Taylor of Bellevue has been appointed Lead Instructor in the Medical Department. Cecilia Blevins of Bellevue has been has been appointed as Taylor Director of Admissions. Blevins has been with OBC since 2001 as an Admissions Representative. In her new role she will oversee the admissions department as well as continue to meet with prospective new students. Blevins also heads up the SHRM and Blevins Real Estate workshops offered at OBC. Susan Majoy has been promoted to Senior Admissions Representative. Majoy has been with the admissions department since 2004 and is responsible for meeting with prospective students. As the Public Relations Coordinator, she also provides presentations for various community events on topics such as Interviewing and Job Search. She oversees the OBC Advisory Board and remains on the Advisory Board in the Adult Education Department of Sandusky High School. Mercy Hospital of Tiffin’s New Open Bore, High-field MRI is 30% more open! COMFORT Accommodates large & claustrophobic patients Stereo/CD player with patient headphones Shorter scan times than Open MRI CONVENIENCE Easy Scheduling: 8:00am – 4:00pm Mondays & Wednesdays – late appointments until 7:00pm 24-hour report turnaround Bigger – than any open MRI 30% larger than Open MRIs 550 lb weight limit Faster – than any open MRI Scans up to 3x faster More Precise – than any open MRI Exact detail = better interpretation Patient Scheduling 419.455.7420 Majoy 20 March 2009 North Coast Business Journal www.ncbj.net New Sandusky County Maps Available Chamber of Commerce of Sandusky County President/CEO Holly Stacy and 2009 Chairman of the Chamber Board of Trustees Rick Egbert are proud to announce the new Sandusky County map has arrived. Thanks to the 55 Chamber members who advertised on the map, you may pick up one free copy at the Chamber Office during regular business hours, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Additional copies are $2.00. Regional Business News is just a “click” away www.ncbj.net www.ncbj.net North Coast Business Journal March 2009 21 Michelle Wightman & Karrie Wieber Pediatric Unit Opens Firelands Regional Medical Center is pleased to announce the opening of the region’s newest pediatric inpatient unit, completing the final link in Firelands’ expanded pediatric services program. The Michelle Wightman and Karrie Wieber Pediatric Inpatient Unit, which opened early in February provides a state-of-the-art, self-enclosed unit for children ages birth through age 18 who need to be hospitalized. The unit provides all private patient rooms, each furnished with a recliner and daybeds to allow family members the ability to comfortably stay overnight, if desired. The Michelle Wightman and Karrie Wieber Pediatric Unit at Firelands provides: • Colorful wall murals in the rooms and along hallways depicting local scenes In addition to The Michelle Wightman and Karrie Wieber Pediatric Unit, Firelands Regional Medical Center has expanded its scope of Pediatric Services to provide the community with the most advanced pediatric care in the region. Through a partnership with University Hospitals Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, Pediatric Hospitalists are available for area pediatricians and family physicians to use when pediatric patients are admitted into Firelands. The pediatric specialists, who are available 24/7, work in collaboration with the child’s physician, enabling children with more serious illnesses or injuries to remain hospitalized at Firelands. Previously, children who would have needed to be referred to Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital in Cleveland or to other facilities located more than a one-hour drive from Sandusky will now be able to remain at Firelands Regional Medical Center under the care of the Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital Pediatric Hospitalists. The pediatric hospitalists are available for advanced pediatric care including: • Newborn Care - Healthy term newborns - Pre-term newborns who may need special medical attention • Pediatric care of hospitalized children with conditions including, but not limited to: - Asthma, dehydration, diabetes, seizure, or special healthcare needs Once discharged from the hospital, pediatric patients under the pediatric hospitalists’ care will resume follow-up care with their pediatrician or family doctor. Also in collaboration with University Hospitals Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, Firelands provides Outpatient Pediatric Specialty Clinics. Five different clinics are offered: • Pediatric Cardiology Clinic (offered monthly) • Pediatric Gastroenterology Clinic (offered monthly) • Pediatric Neurology Clinic (offered monthly) • Pediatric Orthopaedic Clinic (offered every other month) • Pediatric Pulmonology Clinic (offered monthly) All the clinics are staffed by Board Certified Pediatric Specialists who treat a wide-range of conditions affecting infants and children. Most patients are referred by their family doctors or Emergency Room physicians. Selfreferrals are also welcome. These monthly clinics provide children in the region with the expertise of pediatric specialists from University Hospitals Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, as well as the Toledo Children’s Hospital. The clinics are provided at Firelands South Campus facility at 1912 Hayes Avenue, Sandusky. • A large playroom and family lounge decorated with painted frogs and liquid-filled “lava” floor tiles • 10 private patient rooms • Furnishings that convert to overnight accommodations should family members wish to stay with their child • Anesthesiologist with specialized training in Pediatric Anesthesiology • Pediatric Hospitalists, available 24 hours/7 days a week The Michelle Wightman and Karrie Wieber Pediatric Unit at Firelands Regional Medical Center was made possible in part by the generous support of individuals, organizations and foundations including The Michelle Wightman and Karrie Wieber Charitable Foundation, The Firelands Auxiliary, Sandusky Kiwanis Club and Bob and Beth Mathews. Additionally, Qdoba Mexican Restaurant is a Corporate Sponsor of the Pediatric Fund of The Foundation for Firelands, providing ongoing contributions to support the local Pediatric Unit and the children in the region who use the services at Firelands Regional Medical Center. 22 March 2009 North Coast Business Journal www.ncbj.net Education OBC Announces Record Enrollment Ohio Business College, Sandusky Campus has announced the last two quarters have broken all records for student enrollment. Winter quarter starts were an increase over fall enrollment by 11%. The quarter began in January with a record breaking 356 students. The winter quarter of the prior year there were 268 starts which was much higher than any other quarter. Theresa Fisher, School Director, stated that generally the student count averages 250, not including summer quarter. Fisher attributes the increase to the economy and public awareness. Fisher said, “As people lose their jobs, they realize they do not have the necessary skills to get the jobs that are available, even during tough economic times. There is government funding available to some displaced workers and that really helps people that may have never worked in an office setting or have no computer skills. Our type of school is perfect for them because they are taking all career-focused classes and getting a lot of hands-on attention. Providing a small atmosphere gives them comfort and the feeling they can do it, and we are there to help them”. Fisher said the college has come a long way in building a good solid reputation in the community and surrounding areas. Gaining public awareness has been a focus for the past few years. OBC is a member of the Erie County and Norwalk Chamber of Commerce, BBB, Business Connections of Ohio and involved in the Women’s Network. Admissions and Public Relations Representative Susan Majoy conducts presentations on interviewing and job search for no charge at Sandusky’s Your Job Store on a weekly basis. Ohio (formerly Lorain) Business College has been in Sandusky since 1982 and built a new 15,000 square foot facility on Hull Road in 2006. Currently there is still space for the continued growth. Fisher happily stated, “We will see what happens with our growth. I would love to see the day we need an annex. I remember quarters years ago when we had 79 students. It is wonderful to see our classrooms full of students and to know what a great education they are receiving.” For more information about Ohio Business College, please call 888-627-8345 or visit their website at www.OhioBusinessCollege.edu. Terra Records Fourth Consecutive Significant Increase For the fourth consecutive term, Terra Community College has seen a significant increase in its enrollment. Spring semester 2009 has a student headcount of 2,622, a 6.8 percent jump over spring 2008, while Full-Time Equivalency (FTE) is at 775.2, up 8.9 percent. “More and more, local families are taking advantage of the high quality and affordability of Terra Community College. And with the transfer agreements we’ve made with so many four-year colleges, more students are choosing to begin their four-year degree at Terra,” said Mary McCue, Director of Marketing and Auxiliary Services. “Increasingly Terra is becoming the higher education institution of first choice for many residents in the area. Terra’s low tuition and generous financial aid and scholarship opportunities just make good economic sense.” The impressive numbers come on the heels of three semesters that also saw considerable growth. Fall semester 2008 – 2,650 headcount (up 6.5 percent from Fall 2008), 783.4 (up 4.4 percent) Spring semester 2008 – 2,434 headcount (up 7 percent from Spring 2007), 706.7 FTE (up 7.4 percent) Fall semester 2007 – 2,488 headcount (up 9.3 percent from Fall 2006), 750 FTE (up 11.7 percent) “With the increase in unemployment in the region, many people are looking to make a fresh start in their careers,” McCue said. “Two-year programs can put an individual into such in-demand fields as allied health, wind power technology, alternative energy or green architecture. Enrollment is measured both in the actual number of students on campus as well as FTE, which is the total number of credit hours for all students registered by the census day divided by 30 credits for campuses on a semester system and 45 credits for those on a quarter system. Ohio public colleges receive funding from the state based on annual FTE. BGSU Firelands Enrollment Surpasses Record BGSU Firelands reached a new milestone with a spring 2009 headcount enrollment of 2,405, the largest headcount in the College’s history. Spring enrollment also surpassed fall’s recordbreaking headcount of 2,354, a new achievement for BGSU Firelands. The College welcomed 431 additional students, an increase of 21.8% from the spring 2008 total of 1,974. The College experienced growth in freshmen (8.9%), sophomores (14.6%), seniors (8.9%), undergraduate non-degree (77.6%) and master’s degree (183.3%) students. Student credit hours increased by 13.1% at BGSU Firelands. This spring, student credit hours grew to 22,363 in comparison to 19,773 in spring 2008, an increase of 7.2%. Student credit hours are a measure of the total number of students multiplied by the credit hours taken by all students. “We are delighted with the growth, particularly the numbers of new freshmen and undergraduate nondegree students who have chosen BGSU Firelands this spring as their college. Special initiatives, like the dual enrollment grant, expanded Saturday offerings, and classes at Norwalk High School are helping us to provide affordable access to a quality BGSU education for more and more students in our area. As Ohio seeks to increase the numbers attending college, the regional campuses are playing a central role in driving enrollment growth across the state. At BGSU Firelands we are proud to have the lowest tuition among Ohio’s 24 regional campuses,” stated Interim Dean James. M. Smith. www.ncbj.net North Coast Business Journal February 2009 23 Sales #1 Killer of Small and Medium Business By Roger Bostdorff Approximately a year ago I received an email from a banker friend of mine. He had a client with a business that had a note due in July. The banker was concerned that based on how the business was going for his client that the note very well could be called. This would put a substantial financial hardship on both the bank and the client. The client asked the banker for help. In fact, the client wanted the banker to step in and direct the client on what to do to fix the problems of the business so the loan would be extended. The banker recognized the conflict of interest and that he did not have the time to dedicate to fixing the client’s issues. Instead, the banker emailed me to determine if I would be willing to help by analyzing the business and making recommendations to get this business back on its feet. The client and I met and he hired B2B Sales Boost, LLC. The client felt he could sell his way out of the problem. I agreed that this was a possibility but explained that we first needed to investigate his cash flow situation. One of the first things that can take a company under, even a company like GM, is lack of cash. If cash flow is a problem the real issue could be lack of runway (time available) to fix the problems. You need to first, stop the bleeding. Therefore, first I asked to see a cash flow analysis. It did not exist. I began to gather the data to determine the breakeven point on sales each month to cover his costs. It was obvious that since his sales were down his expenses needed be reviewed, so that his monthly revenue in, covered his expenses out. Many times people refer to this as their monthly “nut.” As it turned out, he was spending $20,000 per month more than what he was taking in. These are hard but necessary conversations. Let’s just say these were enthusiastic conversations. The client made the cuts, reluctantly. By making these painful cuts the client stopped the bleeding and gave himself some time so that the other recommendations made by B2B Sales Boost, had an opportunity to kick in. B2B Sales Boost then reviewed the sales process and his staffing. I made several recommendations in this area. He implemented many of these as well. The economy is in an even more challenging state now than then. I wish I could say that his business has grown and he is doing great. I can’t. However, I can say that he and the bank are on good terms. He is paying his bills and has not needed to make additional cuts nor take on additional debt. The bank is happy and the business is surviving. Many times a company waits too long to evaluate their cash flow status. Or they continue to believe that they can sell there way out of their situation. As the economy stiffens and credit becomes more challenging to obtain, please do not overlook the #1 killer of business, lack of CASH FLOW! This important measurement will tell you plenty regarding the health of the business and your ability to survive. Cash is King! Roger Bostdorff is the President of B2B Sales Boost. He spent over 30 years with IBM in sales and sales management. He then became President/ COO of a small internet security company before founding B2B Sales Boost, LLC. B2B Sales Boost, LLC is a consulting company helping organizations improve their sales and overall business processes. You can find more about B2B Sales Boost on the web at www.b2bsalesboost.com or calling 419-3514347. If you would like to receive the B2B Sales Boost Newsletter please send an email to sales@ b2bsalesboost.com. Life Changes. We’ll be there.® Ohio National offers competitive products and services for individuals and businesses, including: Employability Cut? Call today for more information. McClendon & Associates J. Edward McClendon, LUTCF 85 Benedict Avenue, Suite #104 Norwalk, Ohio 44857 419-663-2995 Securities offered through the O.N. Equity Sales Company, Member FINRA/ SIPC, One Financial Way, Cincinnati, OH 45242 513.794.6794. Product, product features and rider availability vary by state. Issuers not licensed to conduct business and products not distributed in AK, HI and NY. EHOVE Cosmetology student Char Maurer (Huron) wraps the cape around Electricity student Mike Churchill (Norwalk) in preparation for a dramatic haircut. Churchill, a senior, has been growing his hair since last year. He spruced up his image in preparation for graduation and employability. The Ohio National Life Insurance Company Ohio National Life Assurance Corporation 24 March 2009 North Coast Business Journal www.ncbj.net State and Local Chambers of Commerce Tell Congress to Oppose “Card Check” Legislation Would Violate Worker Privacy and Make Businesses Less Competitive Over 180 state and local chambers of commerce from all 22 right-to-work states sent letters to Congress today opposing Card Check legislation, pointing out that it would effectively strip employees of a private ballot in union organizing drives, interfere with a worker’s ability to deal directly with their employer, and force unfair mandates on businesses. Card Check “invites intimidation and coercion [and] leads to widespread disenfranchisement of workers” by effectively removing the secret ballot in union elections, the letters point out. It also forces employers into “binding interest arbitration to set all the terms and conditions of a union contract,” impairing American companies’ ability to compete globally. “Employers should be able to vote their conscience in a private ballot election, free from intimidation or fear of retribution,” said Thomas J. Donohue, president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “Members of Congress should not deny workers the freedom to choose.” The letter also points out that workers in right-towork states—those with laws prohibiting required union membership or dues payment of workers— are “just as likely as those in other states to find themselves suddenly unionized as the result of a secret card check campaign.” Data recently compiled by the U.S. Chamber showed that the economies of right-to-work states grew faster than those that compelled membership or payment of union dues. “Over the five-year period from 2001 – 2006, the average right-to-work state saw its gross state product grow by 18.1 percent, versus 13.6 percent for non-right-to-work states,” the research in the study Is Unionization the Ticket to the Middle Class? The Real Economic Effects of Labor Unions points out. “Given these difficult times, it is more critical than ever that businesses have the flexibility necessary to meet the needs of a challenging economy if we are to create an environment in which businesses can grow and create jobs,” the letter states. Card Check “is inconsistent with this critical goal.” The U.S. Chamber is the world's largest business federation representing more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region. Mercy Welcomes Surgeon Robert Cecchino, MD, FACS, has been welcomed to Mercy Hospital of Tiffin’s medical staff. Dr. Cecchino has special interest in diseases of the breast, colon and rectal surgery, and surgical oncology. He also performs a broad range of general surgical procedures that includes laparoscopic surgery, diagnostic and therapeutic upper endoscopies and colonoscopies and capsule endoscopy. Dr. Cecchino received his medical degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. He completed a Residency in General Surgery at the University of Connecticut Affiliated Hospitals in the Greater Hartford area and also fulfilled a Chief General Surgical Residency at Akron General Hospital and Akron Children’s Hospital. Dr. Cecchino is board certified by the American Board of Surgery and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Cecchino is proud of his ItalianAmerican heritage, enjoys music and has working knowledge of both the German and Spanish languages. He served as a college instructor of computer science and a photographer and research assistant with the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. Flag City Water Systems Announces an Alternative to Bottled Water Flag City Water Systems has introduced an environmentally friendly bottleless water cooler. The Kinetico CS Cooler System is specially designed for user convenience with no heavy water bottles to change, no plastic that is harmful to the environment and no worries about where to store those bottles of water. Flag City says customers can enjoy a selection of water temperatures including unlimited cold, hot or room temperature water with four incremental adjustments dispensing water from 40 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Flag City Water Systems has been serving residential, commercial, and industrial water treatment customers since 1979. Mruk Appointed Vice President of Behavioral Healthcare Firelands Regional Medical Center announces that Marsha O. Mruk, MPA has accepted the position of Vice President of Behavioral Healthcare. As Vice President of Behavioral Healthcare, Mrs. Mruk is responsible for the overall operation of Firelands Outpatient Mental Health and Chemical Dependency Services, which are located in Erie, Huron, Lorain, Ottawa, Sandusky, Seneca and Wyandot Counties. She is also responsible for the Inpatient Psychiatric Unit located at Firelands Regional Medical Center. Mrs. Mruk works closely with the Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Services Boards for funding and in planning mental health and chemical dependency programs for each service area. The programs offered by Firelands provide services to over 10,000 members in the community each year. These programs are accredited by The Joint Commission, Ohio Department of Alcohol & Drug Addiction Services and The Ohio Department of Health. Mrs. Mruk brings to her position 33 years of experience, of which 23 years have been spent at Firelands Regional Medical Center. She earned a Bachelor Degree in Social Work from California University of Pennsylvania, a Masters of Public Administration from the University of Pittsburgh and is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives. Marsha Mruk lives in Perkins Township with her husband Christopher Mruk, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology at Bowling Green State University, BGSU Firelands. 102 Commerce Park Dr. Striking 22,450 sq ft center FOR SALE or LEASE across from new Bellevue Hospital. Strong Anchor tenant with 1,600 - 9,000 leasable space available. Restaurant/Catering 2.024 s.f. commercial bldg operating as catering restaurant. Bldg expanded in ‘03. Ideal for continued operation of catering restaurant or sit down food operation. 20 Unit Apartments FOR LEASE: 1,600 S.F. Retail center with strong Monroeville, OH anchor tenant now has 1,600 Great opportunity to own a s.f. lease space available along well built and nicely Rte 250 in Norwalk across maintained 20 unit apartfrom K-Mart. Positioned in ment complex. Units fully well traveled area. Call for occupied. Call for detailed lease details. information. Norwalk Industrial Bldgs Norwalk, OH 14,800 s.f. well built industrial building with office space, ample manufacturing, work and storage areas. Two Edmond A. Hoty buildings on site with easy (419) 433-1144 State Route 250 access. Call www.edhoty.com for detailed package. www.ncbj.net North Coast Business Journal March 2009 25 Give the People What They Want: A Little Security in Uncertain Times What A Car Company Can Teach Us About Marketing In a Recession (Yes, A Car Company) Guest article submitted by Phil Steinle Hyundai Motor Company created quite a stir in January when it announced its Hyundai Assurance Program. If you lose your income within a year of leasing or financing a new Hyundai, you can return the car to the dealership. If Hyundai sales are any indication, the program has been a huge success. U.S. sales in the first month of this year rose 14 percent over those of January 2008. The media have picked up on the story too, generating free advertising for local Hyundai dealers nationwide. The headline of a story on one West Virginia TV station’s website read: “Car Company Helps Unemployed.” Can you imagine such positive free media coverage for your company? Probably not. But the Hyundai program isn’t unique. My own car dealership offers a similar program, as well as one that guarantees you’ll recoup 95 percent of your purchase price if you trade your car in within three years. There are even programs that make payments on the car in the event of injury, illness or death. So what did Hyundai do that I – and most other car dealers – didn’t? How were they able to increase sales by more than 10 percent while rival automakers struggle to keep their doors open? Hyundai succeeded because it recognized Americans’ doubts and uncertainties, and moved quickly to create a program to assuage those fears. Then, it threw some serious money at an advertising campaign designed to ensure potential buyers that things will be okay. Its television ads told consumers, “We’re all in this together, and we’ll all get through it together.” Another spot claimed the assurance program was designed to show “the faith we have in you.” Apparently, that’s exactly what consumers wanted to hear. To mimic Hyundai’s success, ask yourself these three questions: Do you know what your customers want? As consumers cut spending and more carefully evaluate even smaller purchases, many brands are attempting to differentiate themselves with quality or value propositions. But as Hyundai accurately perceived, what many Americans are looking for is security. Still, you can’t just assume you know what’s going on inside prospective customers’ heads. Ask! Collect anecdotal economic issues. Cynics might even So give the people what they want: a evidence or use more formal market call such efforts futile, arguing that “no product with a pledge behind it, or a research to gauge industry trends and one is buying right now, anyway.” But service that offers security. Hyundai’s customer desires. (It doesn’t have to be as Hyundai’s January sales numbers betting this tactic will help them expensive: direct mail postcards are prove, some people are buying. Now is weather the current economic cost-effective, and online survey tools not the time to stop speaking to downturn. Here’s hoping it works for are cheap or even free.) You may be consumers, especially if you have you, too. surprised by the results. something to offer. Can you act quickly to deliver? The Hyundai program is administered through a company called WalkAway. Using a third party likely enabled Hyundai to implement the assurance program more quickly than if they’d had to build the necessary infrastructure within their own corporate As part of the NOMS Healthcare team, Drs. Rowe and Perng are excited about walls. adopting the "patient-centered medical home" concept of treatment. Though I have no firsthand knowledge of how Hyundai came to partner with They will offer comprehensive, personalized care and same-day appointments WalkAway, I’d venture a to established patients. In addition, a more advanced electronic medical guess that some insightful record will ensure quality in chronic condition management and improve Hyundai employee stumbled preventive health screening. upon the company and came up with what now seems like an obvious idea Drs. Rowe and Perng will continue to provide the highest level of care in their to initiate a partnership. Is family medicine practice at their new location in Port Clinton. there a company like WalkAway in your industry just looking for partners with whom they can build mutually beneficial business relationships? Are you marketing effectively? Even the best products, with the best guarantees and assurances, won’t bring in revenues if no one knows about them. So once you’ve done your research and found a way to restore your customers’ confidence, make sure they hear about it. Use comforting, reassuring Susan Perng, M.D. & Thomas Rowe, M.D. language – but be careful Board Certified in Family Medicine not to patronize or insult. Promote a feeling of security through multiple channels so your message is burned Call to schedule an appointment at into the back of customers’ our new office location. minds by the time they’re ready to make a purchase. In addition to traditional advertising venues, consider www.nomsdrs.com online ads, viral marketing campaigns, and good oldFAMILY PRACTICE fashioned word-of-mouth marketing. These three steps won’t 611 Fulton Street, Suite A • Port Clinton, OH • 419-734-0699 resolve the nation’s broader NOMS Healthcare Welcomes to their Primary Care Team Susan Perng, M.D. & Thomas Rowe, M.D. 26 March 2009 North Coast Business Journal www.ncbj.net GOBA Coming To Fostoria The 21st Annual Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure (GOBA) will be returning to Seneca County for the 2009 tour. The tour is scheduled to begin on Sunday, June 21st, in Norwalk. The tour will make its way through Ohio, stopping in Fostoria along the way before returning to Norwalk on Saturday. The Seneca County Convention & Visitors Bureau will be working closely with GOBA, Fostoria Chamber of Commerce and the Fostoria Area Visitors Bureau to coordinate the group’s stay in Seneca County. Some of the many attractions featured on this tour include Firelands Museum, Thomas Edison Home, world-class bike trails, Bellevue Railroad Museum, Hayes Presidential Center, Schedel Arboretum, beaches of Lake Erie, Cedar Point, Pemberville Historic Opera House, Fort Meets Historical Site, American Civil War Museum, Bowling Green Wind Turbine Farm, Wood County Historical Museum, Snook’s Dream Cars Auto Museum, Auglaize Village, Fostoria Glass Heritage Gallery; and other historic sites, covered bridges, and nature areas. The fun-filled week will include the traditional bicycle parade and the gala opening ceremonies in Norwalk, two layover days with bicycling option of 50- or 100-mile loops leading to Sauder Village, Gull Woods, and swimming at Harrison Lake State Park, family-oriented entertainment each night, options for bus excursions, watching professional bike races, and the ever-popular GOBA Song Contest. This will be the twenty-first year for GOBA. The tour is owned and operated by Columbus Outdoor Pursuits, a non-profit organization, for the benefit of bicycle-related projects in Ohio. GOBA’s long time sponsor is Bob Evans Restaurants, whose contributions have made the tour possible. In 2008, 2,500 people from 37 states, Japan, China, the Virgin Islands, and Canada took part in the tour. Included in this number were many families; nearly 20% of the participants are children traveling with their parents, making GOBA the largest family-oriented bicycle tour in the world. Over the past twenty years GOBA has been instrumental in generating more than $9.5 million in tourism revenues in the towns along the route, as well as in providing access to Ohio’s rural treasures to people from all over the county. “Ohio has an amazing wealth of quiet roads that are perfect for bicycle touring. Besides, GOBA riders find that the lovely scenery, the warm hospitality of the small towns, the interesting museums and parks all add up to one great vacation,” Van Winkle state. Those interested in receiving registration information and tour details can request a brochure by calling 614-273-0811 or by visiting the website at www.goba.com. Brochures will also be available in the spring in Ohio Bob Evans Restaurants and many bicycle shops. Application deadline is May 20, 2009. NAT Receives ANSI Accreditation "Marketing" Continued from page 18... salesperson targeting the relationship segment will, on average, make more money than the “transaction” salesperson. However, her income will fluctuate more. Odd as it may seem, the PC manufacturer must employ different sales force compensation plans for its salespeople who target different market segments, even though they are selling the same products. And in order to choose the optimal pay plan, the company must coordinate the decision across its marketing and finance departments. Why? Because each plan has a different effect on the firm’s net risk and return after paying the salesperson. Of course, these tips barely scratch the surface of the valuable information in Fusion for Profit. But they do illuminate the overarching truth that inspired the book: The best marketing strategies, those that yield long-term value, are based not on trends, anecdotal evidence, or past “success stories” but on rigorous new scientific methods explicitly developed for analyzing data that are often imprecise. Indeed, the methods laid out in the book can save many failing business models worldwide—regardless of whether the business in question is publicly owned by shareholders, privately held by lofty hedge funds, or privately held by mom-and-pop stores. What worked yesterday won’t necessarily work tomorrow. And what works for a large publicly held corporation won’t necessarily work for a privately owned small business. Every company is different. If you want solid, long-term performance, you need a marketing strategy that’s organic, that’s understood and agreedupon by marketing and finance leaders, and that’s backed by state-ofthe-art empirical methods. Fusing marketing and finance may sound daunting, but the hardest part is making the psychological leap. Once you’ve bought into the idea, you’ll get excited about the possibilities. There’s great opportunity out there—yes, even in an economic downturn—and when key players work together, your company can seize it. Recently, North American Testing, LLC (NAT) received accreditation from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) as a test facility and certification body. This accreditation allows North American Testing to evaluate the performance of wastewater treatment products against internationally recognized standards and certify the results. As a part of the process, the NAT laboratory was also accredited to ISO Standard 17025. These accreditations were earned by developing and adhering to strict operating procedures, making NAT one of only three organizations in the United States to achieve this designation. NAT began operations in 2006 as a test facility that specializes in onsite and decentralized wastewater applications. The mission of NAT is to become the premier testing and certification organization for the decentralized wastewater treatment industry. Their test facility in Norwalk, Ohio evaluates products using both simulated and real- world conditions. NAT personnel sample the treatment systems for various parameters and conduct the desired laboratory analysis. Upon satisfactory completion of a test protocol, NAT issues a final report to document product certification. The final report displays both the ANSI and NAT trademarks as a demonstration to purchasers and regulators that the product meets industry standards. ANSI was formed in 1918 to establish an impartial national body to coordinate standards development, approve national consensus standards, and halt user confusion on acceptability. ANSI helped form the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in 1926 and is still the United States representative to this day. ANSI’s mission is “to enhance both the global competitiveness of U.S. business and the U.S. quality of life by promoting and facilitating voluntary consensus standards and conformity assessment systems, and safeguarding their integrity.” www.ncbj.net Read the North Coast Business Journal Online! www.ncbj.net North Coast Business Journal Northern Ohio Medical Specialists physician, Dr. Eugene R. Kubitz, D.P.M., M.S., C.W.S., recently attended the 4th Annual International External Fixation Symposium “Excellence in Limb Preservation” at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San March 2009 27 On the Move Bellevue Chamber Appoints New Board Member Linda Grice, Real Estate Lender with The Croghan Colonial Bank, Bellevue office, has been appointed to the Bellevue Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Mrs. Grice also serves as Treasurer for the Bellevue Redmen Athletic Boosters, chairperson for the Bellevue United Selective Fund, and serves on St. Paul’s United Church of Christ’s Council. She graduated from DePauw University, Greencastle, IN with BA. She lives in Bellevue with her husband Greg and have two sons attending Ohio State University and Ohio Northern University. “Linda Grice brings to our Board a unique perspective as a professional businesswomen, wife and mother, and community leader who for years has demonstrated a strong commitment to the city of Bellevue” stated Rick Stegman, Executive Director of the Bellevue Chamber. NOMS’ Kubitz Attends Symposium Antonio, Texas. State of the art lectures and handson seminar topics included: external fixation/surgical techniques for trauma and bone and soft tissue reconstructive surgery for traumatic and diabetic wounds, as well as new wound therapy treatments, including skin grafts/orthobiologics, bone growth stimulation, and negative wound therapy. Mercy Welcomes Cardiovascular Specialist Cardiology. Dr. Kosinski will provide defibrillator, electrophysiology and pacemaker services at Mercy Tiffin. He received his medical degree from the Medical College of Ohio and completed an Internal Medicine Residency at the Medical Center of Delaware in Buffalo, New York. He then fulfilled Fellowships inn Cardiology and Cardiac Electrophysiology at the Medical College of Ohio. Registered Dental Hygienist Joins Dental Specialty Group Registered Dental Hygienist Susan M. Davie of Sandusky recently joined the staff of the Dental Specialty Group in Norwalk. Davie Daniel Kosinski, MD, a specialist in Cardiovascular Medicine has been welcomed to Mercy Hospital of Tiffin’s medical staff. Dr. Kosinski is board certified in both Cardiovascular Disease and Clinical received her associate’s degree from Cardiac Electrophysiology. He is also Owens Technical College and has certified by the Board of Nuclear over 29 years of dental hygiene experience. She resides in Sandusky with her husband and two daughters. Nephrology Specialty Clinic Opens at Mercy Tiffin Musa Ajala, M.D. and Benahili Iboaya, D.O., specialists in Nephrology, are seeing patients through Mercy Hospital of Tiffin’s Specialty Clinic on Fridays. Dr. Ajala completed a Fellowship in Nephrology at Lankenau Hospital in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania and is board certified in both Nephrology and Internal Medicine. Dr. Iboaya completed a Clinical & Interventional Fellowship in Nephrology at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi. He is board certified in Internal Medicine. TBH Employee Passes RHIT Exam The Bellevue Hospital (TBH) has announced that Cindy Andrews, RHIT, has received her associate’s degree from BGSU-Firelands and is now a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT). Andrews is employed in TBH’s Health Information Management Department. The RHIT designation allows Andrews to code charts in a hospital setting for procedures and diagnoses. Andrews has been employed with TBH since September of 2008. She and her husband, Todd, and their two children, reside in Bellevue. Ajala Iboaya “Building the North Coast” Bu ild ild Bu an d d an De sig n e as Le Chamber Discount on Commerical and Health Insurance Amy Flickinger 30 E. Main St. Norwalk www.flickinger-ins.com 419-668-4406/800-947-3700 General Contractors FOCHT CONSTRUCTION 1-888-797-7724 28 March 2009 North Coast Business Journal www.ncbj.net Two New Trustees Join Terra Community College Board The Terra Community College Board of Trustees recently welcomed two new members. Carl Koebel took the oath of office in January, assuming the seat vacated by Janine Porter who moved from the service district and was no longer eligible to serve on the board. His term will end Dec. 31, 2010. Sandra L. Wise was appointed by Gov. Strickland after the term of long-time board member Ron Billow expired. She was sworn in at the Board’s February meeting. Koebel retired from the Ottawa County Health Department as Director Koebel of Environmental Health and for the past 12 years has served as an Ottawa County Commissioner. He retired from that office on January 1. His work in economic development as a commissioner educated him on Terra’s impact on the region. “I like the role Terra plays in economic development in the area,” Koebel said. “And I am anxious to see these programs continue to grow. I’ve met with many employers who have told me how their businesses have benefited by students from Terra.” Koebel is a graduate of Fremont St. Joseph High School. He and his wife, Mary Anne, live in Port Clinton. He has two children, Michelle and David, and four granddaughters. Wise, a fellow St. Joe grad, feels she has come full circle. She graduated in the first dental assistant class at Vanguard Vocational School and was impressed with the launching of Terra Technical College that was originally housed next door on Cedar Street. As a graduate of Cleveland Cuyahoga Community College, she is a product of the community college system and appreciates the grass roots effort it offers. “As a life-long resident of Sandusky County, it is an honor to be chosen for this prestigious position,” Wise said. “Quality education is vitally important to our communities and businesses invested here.” Wise mentioned she is interested in the new University System of Ohio and green energy technology as well as working towards a “green” Terra campus. She also supports extending educational opportunities to the unemployed, nontraditional adult students and high school students. “What a privilege it is to be on the board and I look forward to making a positive contribution,” she said. Wise is a Licensed Dental Hygienist who works for Dr. Richard Fletcher in Tiffin. She, with her husband Roger, partners in their farming operation Wise in Jackson Township. They have two adult daughters, Natalie and Nadine. Her term will expire Dec. 31, 2014. Ohio Business College Hires Fourteen Faculty Members The Sandusky Campus of Ohio Business College is growing. Student body has increased by over 100 in the past two years. With this growth, 14 new faculty members have been hired. Theresa Fisher, School Director, is pleased to be able to have jobs to offer area residents. Fisher states, “We have been working diligently to find well-qualified, educated individuals to fill these positions. We quite possibly will have one or two more openings before fall quarter”. Recently Ohio Business College received “Provisional Approval” from the Ohio Board of Regents. Final approval will be announced shortly. The BOR has very strict regulations when it comes to faculty credentials, requiring more faculty members with Master’s degrees for the General Education classes. Fisher stated that the College has hired local residents to fill these positions and is confident in their qualifications. New part time faculty members from Sandusky include: Eileen Borchardt, Human Resource Management; Heather Carman and Beverly Hancock for Legal; Mary Jo Dahmen, Brigette Garrett and Kristen Jenkins for Medical Office; Bill Hilty and Melanie Shupe for Computers; Dean Riedy and Tamela Wriker for Finance and Accounting classes. New part time faculty members from other areas include: Kathryn Botti, Communication (Lakeside); Russ Brennan, Computers (Huron); Michelle Robenalt, Human Resource Management (Norwalk); and Cindi Roddy, Human Resource Management (Fostoria). Part time faculty members teach between one and five classes per quarter, depending on their scheduling ability and class availability. Three long time faculty members also retired within the past year. Kathlyn Stenzel taught for twentytwo years, Bill Findley for twenty years and Dale Patterson for ten years. Their dedication to teaching inspired many OBC students over the past two decades. For more information about Ohio Business College, please call 888-6278345 or visit their website at www. OhioBusinessCollege.edu. Get off your ASTEROID and place your ad in this SPACE. Call Dave at 419-341-3310 or email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it OUT OF THIS WORLD for ad rates that are www.ncbj.net North Coast Business Journal March 2009 29 On The Move Fisher-Titus Medical Center Earns Quality Respiratory Provider Recognition Fisher-Titus Medical Center’s Pulmonary Medicine Department has been named a “quality respiratory care provider” for the seventh consecutive year under a national program aimed at helping patients and families make informed decisions about the quality of respiratory care services available in hospitals. “About 700 hospitals or approximately 15 percent of hospitals in the United States have applied for and received this award,” said Gary Englehart, FTMC’s director of pulmonary medicine. “We are very proud to be the only local medical center to have received this award every year since the program’s inception in 2003.” The American Association for Respiratory Care’s Quality Respiratory Care Recognition program began to help consumers identify those facilities utilizing qualified respiratory therapists to provide respiratory care, Englehart added. Hospitals that meet the program requirements provide a level of respiratory care consistent with national standards and guidelines. To qualify for recognition, FTMC provided documentation showing it meets the following conditions: All respiratory therapists employed by the hospital to deliver bedside respiratory care services are either legally recognized by the state as competent to provide respiratory care services or hold the CRT or RRT credential. Respiratory therapists are available 24 hours. Other personnel qualified to perform specific respiratory procedures and the amount of supervision required for personnel to carry out specific procedures must be designated in writing. A doctor of medicine or osteopathy is designated as medical director of respiratory care services. Respiratory therapists are specially trained health-care professionals who work under physician’s orders to provide a wide range of breathing treatments and other services to people with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, lung cancer, AIDS and other lung or lung-related conditions. They also care for premature infants and are key members of lifesaving response teams charge with handling medical emergencies. Currently, FTMC has 24 respiratory therapists on staff. Dr. Timothy Mummert, board certified in internal medicine, is the medical director of pulmonary medicine. HealthGrades, the nation’s leading independent healthcare ratings organization, has recently five-star ranked FTMC in the treatment of Respiratory Failure. Monica Nickoli, a registered respiratory therapist at Fisher-Titus Medical Center, and Dr. Timothy Mummert, medical director of FTMC’s Pulmonary Medicine Department, review a pulmonary function study. Fisher-Titus Medical Center’s Pulmonary Medicine Department was recently named a “quality respiratory care provider” for the seventh consecutive year under a national program aimed at helping patients and families make informed decisions about the quality of respiratory care services available in hospitals. EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS THROUGH EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE. Kwest Group has the resources necessary to meet the needs of our clients, providing the best solutions for any given project. We have the right people and the right equipment to assist your organization in any of the following areas: • Commercial Site Development • Industrial Site Development • Underground Utility Installation • Demolition • Environmental Remediation • General Excavation • Shore Protection • Wetland Mitigation and Construction • Marina Construction and Maintenance • Dredging • Sheet Piling • Custom Crushing Community Hospice Care Our mission is to provide high-quality construction services that maximize value across the board. To accomplish it, we recruit and retain the best employees available. As a result, we’re setting new standards for our people, our clients and our role within the community. Discover the difference Kwest Group can make in your next project. With Community Hospice Care, it’s not the destination, but the journey that matters Proudly Serving Seneca & Huron counties since 1983 Not for Profit - No Patient ever receives a bill for our care Community Hospice Care 181 E. Perry Street; Tiffin, OH 44883 (419) 447-4040 1-800-834-8100 960 S. Plasterbed Rd. • Port Clinton, Ohio 43452 419-734-5533 • Fax: 419-734-5534 Visit our website: www.communityhospicecare.com or contact us via email at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 30 March 2009 North Coast Business Journal www.ncbj.net On The Move Cryoablation Treatment For Women Suffering With Heavy Periods Dr. Woo H. Paik, M.D., F.A.C.O.G., a boardcertified obstetrician/ gynecologist with Mercy Hospital of Willard is offering cryoablation, a minimally invasive officebased therapy to provide relief to women suffering from abnormal uterine bleeding, also known as excessive menstrual bleeding. “Abnormal bleeding has an affect on quality of life, and also takes an emotional toll,” said Dr. Paik. “Cryoablation is a safe and effective step toward controlling abnormal uterine bleeding and potentially avoiding hysterectomy. Best of all, it is available in the comfort of the physician’s office.” As many as one in four women suffer from excessive menstrual bleeding, a condition that can limit their activities, impair quality of life and strain marital and family relationships. Many women with excessive menstrual bleeding eventually receive hysterectomies, accounting for as many as 600,000 hysterectomies performed in the U.S. each year. The office based therapy employs the Her Option® Office Cryoablation Therapy System, a medical device approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. During the Her Option treatment, cryo-technology is used to freeze and reduce or eliminate the inner lining of the uterus (endometrium), the tissue responsible for excessive bleeding. The approach allows the uterus and natural hormones to be spared. Her Option works via a slender probe, attached to a cooling unit that is inserted through the cervix into the uterus. The tip of the probe is brought to a very low temperature to freeze the uterine lining. The therapy is guided and monitored on a real-time basis using ultrasound. “The Her Option therapy offers a safe and effective, less invasive alternative to hysterectomy for women who have completed childbearing,” explained Dr. Paik. “The therapy is performed with minimal anesthetic in approximately 20 minutes. A majority of women experience minimal discomfort during the procedure because of the natural analgesic effects of freezing.” Women with excessive menstrual bleeding experience protracted or unmanageable bleeding. Many suffer in silence due to lack of awareness of treatments or reluctance to discuss the problem. The problem also frequently impacts a woman’s general health and wellbeing. “One market research study suggests 58% of women have not discussed their condition with a healthcare provider,” said Dr. Paik. “Educating your patients about common conditions and treatment options is critical. Standard treatments like hormone therapy work with some women but are not tolerated well by others. Hysterectomy is a major surgery with a four to six-week recovery period and long-term implications.” Dr. Paik has been serving the Willard community in obstetrics and gynecology for over 25 years. Mercy Hospital of Willard Achieves HCAHPS Scores above National and State Averages Based on recently published data, Mercy Hospital of Willard has achieved HCAHPS survey scores above the state and national averages in 9 of 10 categories. HCAHPS (Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems) is a national, standardized survey of hospital patients measuring their experiences during a recent inpatient hospital stay. “The physicians, nurses, staff and administration at Mercy Hospital of Willard are dedicated to providing the best patient care.” said Lynn Detterman, President and CEO of Mercy Hospital of Willard. An area that Mercy Willard specifically excels in is patient interaction with the nurses. “The nurses are devoted to living the mission and core values of Mercy Willard,” said Pam Napier, Chief Nursing Officer. “The nurses go out of their way to make sure their patients are comfortable and have everything they need, which may be as simple as a smile or reassurance that the patient is being given the best possible care.” The HCAHPS survey includes a set of 27 questions focused on 10 categories developed to measure internal customer service and quality-of-care. Patients are asked questions regarding communication with nurses and doctors, response of the hospital staff, cleanliness of the facility, likelihood to recommend the hospital and overall rating of care. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the Hospital Quality Alliance (HQA) and all of the nation’s hospitals, including Mercy Hospital of Willard, are working together to create and publicly report hospital quality information. This information measures how well hospitals care for their patients, whether the care was paid for by Medicare, Medicaid, or a private health insurance plan. “The HCAHPS survey identifies areas where we excel as well as opportunities for improvement,” said Lynn. “Although our HCAHPS scores are high, we are always seeking ways to improve so we can continue to provide the excellent care patients have come to expect from Mercy Willard.” The Mercy Willard Patient Satisfaction Team has been working diligently for the last year to reduce noise in patient care areas; a category where most hospitals report a scores below the national and state average. The team created a general awareness campaign called SHHH (Silent Hospitals Help Healing) to educate and create awareness for employees. Overhead paging has been reduced by posting SHHH reminder cards by the phones, posting SHHH signs in the chart holders, and by providing high demand departments with pagers or cell phones. Nurses also inform patients during admission that they are diligently focusing on reducing noise levels to provide comfortable quality care. Mercy Hospital of Willard Earns Quality Respiratory Care Recognition in National Program Mercy Hospital of Willard has earned Quality Respiratory Care Recognition (QRCR) under a national program aimed at helping patients and families make informed decisions about the quality of the respiratory care services available in hospitals. About 700 hospitals, or approximately 15% of hospitals in the United States, have applied for and received this award. “We appreciate the hard work and dedication of all of our healthcare professionals at Mercy Hospital of Willard,” says Lynn Detterman, President and CEO of Mercy Willard. “It is rewarding to see our respiratory care department get this recognition.” The QRCR program was started by the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) in 2003 to help consumers identify those facilities using qualified respiratory therapists to provide respiratory care. Hospitals earning the QRCR designation ensure patient safety by agreeing to adhere to a strict set of criteria governing their respiratory care services. To qualify for the recognition, Mercy Hospital of Willard provided documentation showing it met the following conditions: All respiratory therapists employed by the hospital to deliver bedside respiratory care services are either legally recognized by the state as competent to provide respiratory care services or hold the certified respiratory therapist (CRT) or the registered respiratory therapist (RRT) credential. Respiratory therapists are available 24 hours. Other personnel qualified to perform specific respiratory procedures and the amount of supervision required for personnel to carry out specific procedures must be designated in writing. A doctor of medicine or osteopathy is designated as medical director of respiratory care services. In addition, the respiratory care staff at Mercy Willard has a combined total of over 100 years experience in the field of respiratory care. www.ncbj.net www.ncbj.net North Coast Business Journal March 2009 31 FTMC Ultrasound Accreditation Fisher-Titus Medical Center’s Ultrasound Department recently attained recognition for its commitment to providing a high level of patient care and quality testing for the diagnosis of vascular disease. The facility achieved accreditation by the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Vascular Laboratories (ICVL). “One American dies every 32 second of cardiovascular disease, disorders of the heart and blood vessels,” said Dr. Matthew F. Gutowicz, Jr., FTMC’s Chief of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine. “Each year, two million people in the United States alone develop deep vein thrombosis.” “Early detection of these life-threatening vascular diseases is possible through the use of non-invasive vascular testing techniques performed within vascular laboratories.” FTMC’s Ultrasound Department is one of a select number of vascular laboratories in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico to meet or exceed the ICAVL standards for non-invasive vascular testing. During the accreditation process, every aspect of the laboratory’s daily operations and its impact on the quality of health care provided to patients is assessed and reviewed. FTMC’s ultrasound technologists include lead technologist Greg Fries, Bill McKinney, Heather Walters, Dana Crosby, Allison Honeycutt, Judi Bollenbacher and Misty Braden. In 2008, 5,284 ultrasound procedures were completed. Pictured at right: Fisher-Titus Medical Center’s Ultrasound Department recently attained recognition for its commitment to providing a high level of patient care and quality testing for the diagnosis of vascular disease. Pictured with the awards are ultrasound technologists Bill McKinney, Heather Walters, Allison Honeycutt and Greg Fries. BUSINESS MARKETPLACE “Committed to Excellence” CHRISTOPHER D. PALMER Branch Manager/Sales Lawyers Title Insurance Corporation 402 Columbus Avenue | Sandusky, Ohio 44870 phone: 419-626-4475 fax: 419-626-8333 toll free: 800-442-7767 mobile: 419-656-1209 email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Abby Slemmer Mortgage Loan Originator 2374 W. State St. • Fremont, OH 43420 Phone: (419) 333-2936 Fax: (419) 355-2678 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it www.fremontfcu.com (419) 684-5502 Fax (419) 684-5756 TOLL FREE 800-356-5125 • Computer Graphics • Layout and Artwork • Rubber Stamps • Circulars • Envelopes • Résumés • Letters • Notices • Newsletters • Books • Pamphlets • Journals • Catalog Sheets • Sales Bulletins • Letterheads • Business Stationery • Business Forms • Price Lists • Flyers • Business Cards CASTALIA TRENCHING & READY MIX, INC. EXCAVATING - BUILDING SUPPLIES READY MIX CONCRETE SINCE 1953 Minuteman Press 205 S.E. Catawba Rd, Suite G Port Clinton, Ohio 43452 ® “Where Quality and Service Make the Difference!” 4814 SR 269 CASTALIA, OHIO 44824 ONE MILE SOUTH OF CASTALIA 419-732-6673 • Fax 419-734-5382 Coming in April: Focus on Sandusky County 32 March 2009 North Coast Business Journal www.ncbj.net IT’S TIME TO START LIVING AGAIN. If pain interferes with the quality of your life, consider the services at Midwest Pain Treatment Center located at Memorial Hospital. The treatment provided by our staff includes the most recent advances in the management of pain. These treatments are increasingly less invasive and very effective in controlling pain; and in helping patients return to their normal every day lives. Memorial Health Care System 715 South Taft Avenue Fremont, Ohio 43420 Phone 419.332.7321 www.memorialhcs.com MIDWEST PAIN TREATMENT CENTER 419.334.6639 www.mwptc.com Back Pain • Sciatica • Neck Pain • Arthritis • Nerve Damage • Headaches • RSD • Shingles Chronic Pelvic Pain • Muscle Spasms • Persistent Pain 6 Months After Back Surgery