POSTMASTER: TIMELY MATERIAL. PLEASE EXPEDITE. Standard Mail U.S. Postage Paid Tiffin, OH 44883 Permit #88 Celebrating 15 Years of Service MAY 2009 Vol. 15 No. 5 Published and Owned by Schaffner Publications, Inc. “The Business Voice of Erie, Huron, Ottawa, Sandusky and Seneca Counties” INSIDE THIS MONTH "If the Phone Don't Ring..." ....2 Tax & Retirement Deadlines..........7 Funding a Revocable Trust..9 Energy Tax Incentives ....... 11 New Account Game .............. 13 Bits and Bytes of News ............ 23 The Well-Booked Business ........... 25 ON HURON & VERMILION HURON: Quality of Life From Andy White City Manager, City of Huron The Huron City Council is confronting current economic challenge with new ideas designed to preserve public service delivery amidst increasing operating costs and stagnant revenue collections. In addition, the Council is seeking to accomplish this task without an increase to existing operating levies or income tax rates. The city’s municipal services are supported largely through the collection of 1% income tax. The recent downturn in the automotive industry and erosion of the area’s traditional manufacturing base has had a negative impact on municipal revenues. A large number of residential properties once home to working families have transitioned into retirement homes, second homes and vacation rentals and, in the worst case, foreclosure. The public service demands associated with each type of property above Photo by Michael A. Foster are no less than any revenues through the retention and other residence -- but the properties above are not responsible creation of jobs. Each new employment under the law to pay the 1% municipal opportunity created in the city not only remits income tax to the city but will also income tax. In order to preserve public service purchase local goods and services and delivery in the city the Council is working have positive impact on local businesses. to establish policies that will increase tax FOCUS Continued on page 3... State of the City of Vermilion Excerpts from comments made by The Honorable Jean A. Anderson, Mayor On March 19, 2009 The days of challenging economic times are not new to Vermilion. If we were to fold back the pages of our shared history a full century we would find that 1909, according to Betty Trinter, was not all that different from the Vermilion of today. The village council was indeed facing some very interesting challenges. New electric street lamps, at a cost of $60.00 per lamp, per year, were being requested faster than they could be installed. There were complaints about the narrow width of the state road, a mere twelve feet wide and local business owners wanted permission to put oil down on the streets Fostoria Area Chamber of Commerce Genoa Chamber of Commerce www.ncbj.net Bellevue Area Chamber of Commerce to relieve the dust problem which was now increasing with the arrival of the automobile. The men of the fire department needed a cement floor to replace the wood planking in the fire house and the end of Main Street it was noted had a very unkempt appearance. From outside the borders of our little village the Ohio health department was suggesting Photo Courtesy of Diane Szambecki infrastructure improvements in the form of a sewage system and disposal streets and raising sidewalks. One of plant. However, when the estimated cost those new Ford Model T’s could be seen at of the project came in at $64,000.00, Captain Bailey’s home on Liberty Avenue, horrified council members immediately a gift from Henry Ford himself. The State called a halt to the whole matter. Street School had added some classrooms But good things were happening too. The village was in the process of grading Continued on page 5... Milan Chamber of Commerce Put-in-Bay Chamber Oak Harbor Area of Commerce Chamber of Commerce Vermilion Chamber of Commerce We’re a proud member of the following: Elmore Chamber of Commerce Huron 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 May 2009 North Coast Business Journal www.ncbj.net dependent on the cost efficient mass media to get the word out, you’ll need to provide the feedback framework and opportunity to let them talk. How can they do that? Often by phone, internet or e-mail. Here’s a scary thought – you’ve included your phone number on your business cards, in phone directories and in your ads. Yet a (notuncommon) typo or a phone number that’s no longer in service can short circuit every attempt your customers may make to call you. It’s embarrassing (and an economic disaster.) Have you called yourself recently? Did the phone get answered promptly? By a real person or a recording? How was the “tonality” of the answer? Did it sound friendly, rushed, angry, bored, or mechanical? Was it loud enough and clear enough (some older consumers have hearing difficulties?) If you’ve opted for a recorded message as many businesses have, did the recording give the respondent plausible options right up-front – in an order prioritized with their mostfrequent requests first? Or did they have to listen to a litany of options? Did you give them the chance to “opt out” and request a real person? Or did they get stuck in “phone mail jail?” In today’s electronic world, it’s critical to have correct Web site and e-mail addresses. Have you “played the consumer” and tried your corporate Web site recently? Is it current? Or, like many out there, was it put up when the promise of e-commerce was hot, fresh and exciting…and then abandoned? Does it even work? Can you get where you want to go once you’re there? Does it have electronic cobwebs on it? Do you wonder why you’re not getting hits? E-mail. Sadly, typos in electronic addresses are easy to make. And while the post office will attempt to track down an address that’s somewhat close to yours, the internet is V E R Y PRECISE. A mis-placed period or comma, an upper-case instead of a lower-case character – and presto: No soup for you!. Example? Lake Erie Shores and Islands distributes over 400,000 copies of their annual Travel Planner across the country. The Planner lists hundreds of area retail businesses, restaurants, motels and attractions. Larry Fletcher, Executive Director, of Lake Erie Shores and Islands West, knows the importance of open lines of communication. So each year before printing the Planner, he has his people check every supplied phone number, Web site and e-mail address in the ads and listings -- to make sure everything works as planned. And, though they’ve been doing this for a time now, each year there are at least a handful sent to them that are incorrect, inoperable and need to be changed. So…Can your customers “co-mmunicate” with you? Or are you shut off from the outside world? Why not be the customer -- make sure your important links of phone and internet are up and running. You can’t listen when they can’t reach you. And, if the phone don’t ring…maybe it’s you? If the Phone Don't Ring... You'll Know It's Me By Jeffrey H. Bryden, Editor With apologies to this unknown country music lyricist, have you heard from your customers lately? Last month this column “focused” on listening to customers through focus group research – formally drawing people out on their feelings, thoughts, perceptions and values. And, in many cases, finding out things that you never would have thought to ask them or things you never even knew they thought about! This article is a little more basic – it’s about the old-fashioned concept of communication. In the marketing classes I teach, I try to stress the unique construction, and hence, the meaning of this word “communication.” Effective communication is about both sending and receiving. There’s a duality here, hence the word begins with the prefix “Co-.” In the advertising business, a tremendous amount of attention is focused on the message or the offer. And an equal amount of time is spent on the media that will carry this news to consumers. But notice this is all about the “sending” part of the process. Yet when we think about media, the mass media of tv and radio aren’t really designed to Co-mmunicate, are they? They send, send, send the messages –whether people are watching, or listening or even physically present. These media are “Mmunicating” with your customer. They’re one-way messages. To “CO-municate” you need to send AND receive. If you’re using direct marketing, print media with coupons or “The Business Voice of Erie, Huron, Ottawa, personal selling, you Sandusky and Seneca Counties” have built-in 205 S.E. Catawba Road, Suite G, opportunities to get Port Clinton, Ohio 43452 feedback from your 419-734-4838 • Fax 419-734-5382 prospects and customers. But if you’re Publisher Editor Director of Sales Creative Services Manager Accounting Manager Layout & Graphic Design Circulation Manager JOHN SCHAFFNER 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 Small Business Basics Seminars Set for May 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 May schedule is: Wednesday, May 6 – 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Ottawa County Improvement Corporation (conference room), 8043 W. S.R. 163, Oak Harbor Wednesday, May 13 – 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Tiffin Area Chamber of Commerce (conference room), 62 S. Washington St., Tiffin Wednesday, May 20 – 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Erie County Chamber of Commerce (conference room), 225 W. Washington Row, Sandusky Wednesday, May 27 – 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 "Huron" continued from the cover... Creating conditions necessary for this type of growth requires costly infrastructure upgrades and tax incentive programs. The Council and administration are working on policies to accomplish this; specifically, the policies will be designed to decrease current operational costs, redistribute realized cost savings to capital improvement projects, induce economic development and attract new residents to the city. Several examples of this type of policy can be seen in the projects outlined below. North Coast Business Journal be allocated to different service needs and provides opportunities for the city to improve operations. Over the past three years the city has established programs to reproduce the same type of savings including upgrading lighting in its public facilities and restructuring its communication service to relieve thousands of dollars of annual expenditures. In 2006 the city established a consumer driven health insurance program combined with a wellness plan in order to d e c r e a s e expenditures and i m p r o v e participant’s quality of life. In the first year of establishment the city avoided a cost increase of over $350,000. In each of the last three years the city has expended less than the budgeted resources because of the transition. This year the Council is also considering two technological upgrades that could further reduce budgetary expenditures at the city’s water filtration plant. Council encumbered funds to upgrade its meter reading to become an automated process. A pilot program collecting consumer water utilization through wireless technology is currently underway on 25 municipal meters in the city. Once completed the council will consider expanding the program throughout the city and free up hundreds of man hours necessary to record data currently. The water filtration plant operates 24 hours, a day 365 days per year and consumes a great deal of electricity to run operations. In 2008 the council authorized a wind analysis to determine if the filtration plant could benefit from a wind turbine to offset some of its electric utility costs. As part of the adopted budget, funds were allocated to acquire a turbine. The analysis demonstrated that once installed the turbine will save approximately $50,000 per year in utility expenses. In addition to service efficiencies the city has also utilized attrition opportunities to reduce the cost of personnel. During the past several years the positions of Assistant City Manager, Human Resources Director, Services Director and Parks and Recreation Director have gone unfilled due to budget constraints. In 2008 the Council commissioned a public safety analysis and is currently discussing policies May 2009 3 Huron Corporate Park During the past ten years the city acquired and developed over 50 acres of land on Rye Beach Road to locate new business development. After several years of limited activity in early 2008 the Council authorized the creation of a Community Reinvestment Area in the corporate park, a Department of Development program that allows projects to develop at a discounted rate, and reduced its asking price per acre. In less than a year’s time a majority of the park’s existing property has been sold or is in the process of being sold. Only several acres of the original property remain available at this time. The most significant project to develop recently has been the construction of Denton ATD’s 45,000 square foot manufacturing facility and office building. The facility is slated to open later this summer and will be home to 75 employees and an estimated $4 million payroll. The project was the result of the city’s collaboration with a number of different agencies including: Ohio Department of Development, the Huron Board of Education, Erie County, BGSU Firelands and Erie County Economic Development Corporation. This template has been used for several smaller park developments and the city is confident it can be relied upon for additional development in the area. Reduction of Operational Costs With each acre sold in the park the debt incurred by the city to construct it is reduced and lowers annual payments. The reduction frees up resources that can 4 May 2009 North Coast Business Journal In April residents utilizing the city’s yard waste program became eligible to participate in the program. Environmental concerns and landfill limitations will both be addressed as the City of Huron moves to become the first community in the State of Ohio to offer a food scrap diversion program. Currently, refuse is disposed from the city on a weekly basis and transported to the Erie County Landfill. While traditional recycling has taken a firm hold in the city and eliminated a substantial amount of paper and aluminum based material www.ncbj.net from the landfill more can be done. Beginning this spring residents participating in the new recycling program will have the opportunity to discard the following materials with their yard waste: fruits; vegetables; meat, fish and bones; bread, pasta and baked goods; egg shells; dairy products; coffee grounds; floral trimmings; grass, leaves and brush; paper towels and napkins; paper plates and cups; milk and juice cartons; pizza boxes; cardboard egg cartons; boxes from frozen and refrigerated foods; waxed paper and paper containers; coffee filters and tea bags. Diverting this material from weekly refuse will reduce the city’s carbon footprint and reduce methane gas generated by decomposing food waste traditionally deposited in the landfill. Increasing Efficiencies and Quality of Life In this challenging environment there is reason to be optimistic. Hard decisions and prudent planning can provide opportunities to improve in even the most difficult situations. Over time a commitment to steady improvement will lend itself to consistently improved quality of life. Whether you are a resident, visitor or business professional we look forward to seeing you in Huron as we continue to progress. that would reduce personnel costs in both the Police and Fire Divisions. The recent retirement of the city’s Fire Chief created another position that has gone unfilled. Currently, a senior Captain has been appointed to serve as an Acting Chief. While attrition opportunities present the most seamless option to realize personnel cost savings, the Council is also analyzing the need to layoff personnel and contract out certain services in order to maintain services. Capital Improvement Reduction in these types of expenses has allowed the city to gradually improve its capital infrastructure by reallocating resources. After a modest 2008 street improvement program, the Council committed approximately $400,000 for street improvements in 2009. A major water line replacement on the city’s east side is also slated for replacement at a cost of over $600,000. The Parks and Recreation Department is preparing to begin operating a multimillion dollar boat ramp facility on the Huron River. Through collaboration with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources the city acquired a 20-acre former industrial property that will become a recreational facility and private development. Food Scrap Recycling Finally, this spring the city became the first local government in the state of Ohio to establish an innovative Food Scrap Recycling program. 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. www.ncbj.net see this through to completion. to the front of the building and the I also serve on the executive council Maurers had opened a new modern for the Northeast Ohio Mayors and dairy farm. City Managers Association. Every The current headlines of today day, it is more and more apparent reflect the situation around us as well that we need to work together. We as what is occurring at a distance. As can no longer sit back and wait for I look at some of the other neighboring someone else to take the lead and communities such as Lorain, Elyria make good things happen. Vermilion and Sandusky, I see them in the very used to be a community forgotten. same place we were three years ago. Now, together, we are actively With their insufficient general fund participating in the efforts which will balances they are now forced to cut move our region ahead. into essential services and critical The Erie and Sandusky foundations budget items such as police and fire boards, along with area cities and department personnel. townships have been working for Today you do not see Vermilion on several months on bringing wind that list of cities. It is a testament to turbines into our local cities and towns. the hard work and focus of this Currently, we have locations for a administration and the hard work minimum of eight turbines and are and determination put forth by both now working on the financing aspect. the administration and the city We have requested funding from the council. It has not always been pretty economic stimulus and recovery and some days were more difficult program. It is our goal to bring a than others, but I am proud to say we company into Erie County to assemble have and continue to move forward. them, thus creating jobs for the county. We will now focus on economic We will continue to work collectively development, both within the city to move this initiative forward in and regionally. First, it is essential to 2009. It is yet another example of do what we can do to help our local coming together and working toward businesses prosper and achieve true the common good of all. growth potential. I continue, on a Last year’s big news was the grant of regular basis, to meet with our local $1,000,0000.00 toward the installation businesses and while we have lost of railroad, quad-gate, safety devices some jobs we have added some jobs which would not only enhance the too. Kingston of Vermilion has safety of our residents at our increased their staffing levels with the downtown grade crossings but would creation of 22 new jobs in the past also lay the ground work toward the month. With a current staff of 120 establishment of a quiet zone through full time positions, with benefits and all of Vermilion. We will enhance the 61 part time positions, Kingston has quality of life for those residents who added a wellness focus with plans for live and work within earshot of the future jobs and continued growth. rail corridor which divides the heart We have retained jobs that could of our city. have been lost and we have seen This administration has worked growth with the arrival of Cleveland diligently with Norfolk Southern Quarries and 40 new jobs. Cleveland Railroad and the Northern Ohio Rail Quarries is also projecting solid Commission to seek additional growth in the immediate future. funding to make this project full and With growth in sales comes additional complete. I am again proud to stand job opportunities. The relocation before you and tell you that we have and expansion of Coley’s received an additional joint Manufacturing retained 30 jobs and commitment of $670,000.00 from the creation of 10 new jobs. These Norfolk and Southern Railroad and companies along with others the Ohio Rail Commission to see the contribute to the growing and secure completion of this project without a job base of our city. significant impact upon the tax It is essential that we work towards dollars received by this community regional growth and prosperity from you the local residents. because vermilion is the bridge We have secured the solid ground between the east and the west in upon which we have laid our northern Ohio. With Cuyahoga, foundation. As we build a sound, Lorain and Erie counties we are well maintained and growing working toward a commuter rail Vermilion, we do so with the service from Cleveland to Sandusky. realization that this administration From the very beginning, the city of must continue with careful critical Vermilion has been a leader in this project and now every city along the "Vermilion" Continued on page 26... North Coast Business Journal May 2009 5 "Vermilion" Continued from cover... rail corridor is united in our efforts to When it Comes to Your Health... Firelands Regional Medical Center is proud to share the many programs and services that were added or enhanced this past year. These investments are part of the Firelands Commitment to provide the highest quality and widest range of healthcare services possible, right here in your local community. NEW & EXPANDED SERVICES The Oxford Partial Knee Replacement surgery becomes available at Firelands, designed especially for the younger patient Counseling & Recovery Services opens a new office in Amherst to serve the mental health needs of Lorain County Emergency QuickCareSM provides a special treatment area in the ER for minor injuries and illnesses, open 1 – 11 pm daily The area’s only full-field digital mammography becomes available at Firelands, bringing clearer images for earlier detection of breast cancer The new orthopedic fracture program raises the standard in care for hip fracture patients An outpatient dialysis center opens in Bellevue A retail pharmacy opens in the east tower to provide patients, employees, and interested community members with the convenience of filling prescriptions EXCELLENCE IN QUALITY Firelands receives provisional status as a Level 3 Trauma Center As the only hospital in the area with a Chest Pain Center in its ER, Firelands receives its 3 year re-accreditation Selected as Ohio’s #7 best large employer by the Ohio Chamber of Commerce Orthopedic Care is ranked “Best in the Toledo Area” by an independent healthcare rating firm Nationally ranked in the Top 100 for Inpatient Rehabilitation facilities COMING IN 2009 Firelands provides the area’s only Cardiac PET/CT services The new Erie County Counseling & Recovery Services office is slated to open in late Spring 2009 New Automated equipment is purchased for the clinical laboratory to more efficiently process lab specimens Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) chambers are added to provide treatment for chronic non-healing wounds REINVESTING IN THE COMMUNITY Firelands East Tower opens providing 74 patient rooms, most of which are private, and 13 surgical suites Over $20 Million of community benefit was provided in 2008 A new website provides local resources on health information Inpatient Physical Rehabilitation Unit expands to 34 beds ER expands to 32 beds 11 new physicians join the Medical Staff The Firelands School of Nursing partners with BGSU Firelands beginning with Fall 2009 students The Michelle Wightman and Karrie Wieber Pediatric Unit opens, providing 10 private pediatric rooms ...we know you have a choice of where to go for care. Make Firelands Your Choice. www.firelands.com 6 May 2009 North Coast Business Journal www.ncbj.net CHAMBER CALENDAR Bellevue Area Chamber of Commerce May 5 May 7 8:00 a.m. at City Centre Downtown Committee Meeting Noon Chamber Monthly Luncheon Speaker t.b.d. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. First Farmers Market Corner of Main Street & Sandusky Street 8:00 a.m. at City Centre Downtown Committee Meeting Business After Hours The Willows - (Club House) 4 - 6 p.m. 8:00 a.m. at City Centre Downtown Committee Meeting June 9 May 15 May 20 Ribbon Cutting 11:00 a.m. Sandusky Inn & Suites Open House 5 to 7 p.m. Anytime Fitness Marblehead Peninsula Chamber of Commerce May 7 May 9 May 15 Directors Meeting, 7:00 p.m. Otterbein Northshore Lakeside Daisy Day Village of Marblehead. 2nd Annual Golf Outing at CIC Shotgun Start at 12:00 72nd Annual Spring Banquet CIC, Social Hour at 6:00 Dinner at 7:00 pm. Tickets are $25.00 Guest Speakers: Customs/Border Protection United States Border Patrol, Northern Ohio Homeland Security May 1 May 7 May 11 Port Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce Downtown Committee, 8 am Chamber Conference Room Business After Hours Edgewood Manor, 5-7 p.m. Board of Directors Meeting, 8 am Chamber Conference Room Membership/Marketing Committee, 9 am Chamber Conference Room Service Excellence Experience Graduation Lake Erie Shores and Islands Center Social Hour 5:30 p.m. Program at 6 p.m. Chamber Workshop Ida Rupp Public Library 11:30 am– 12:30 p.m. “Making Your Tax Dollars Count” By Brian Dicken, State Auditor Main Street Board of Directors Chamber Conference Room 7:30 am Fostoria Area Chamber of Commerce May 4 2-4 pm at Chamber Office Meet & Greet New Executive Director Sheri Fleegle 7:30 to 8:30 am at Fostoria Country Club Community Conversations & Coffee Ladies Golf Classic & Caddy Review at Lakeland Golf Course Huron Area Chamber of Commerce May 14 Business After Hours Admiral’s Pointe Rehab Center 5 – 7 p.m. May 5 May 7 May 13 May 14 May 9 May 28 May 21 May 11 May 12 May 19 May 12 May 26 Norwalk-Huron County Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours, 5-7 p.m. Christian Roberts Salon Program Committee, 8 am, Chamber office Membership Committee, 8 am, Chamber office Small Business Development Seminar “Update Your Business Plan” 8 am, Chamber Office, FREE RSVP requested, 419-668-4155 Education Committee, 8 am, St. Paul High School Huron Co. Safety Council 7:30 am Norwalk High School RSVP required Employer’s Practices Committee 8 am, Chamber office Unemployed Worker’s Resource Forum Norwalk High School, 10 am Oak Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce May 13 Erie County Chamber of Commerce May 6 Business After Hours 5:15 p.m. Tre Sorelle Cioccolato May 21 YOUR COMMUNITY BANK Providing Financial Solutions for Everyday Life FREE Checking FREE Online Banking Personal Checking Commercial Checking Overdraft Privilege Passbook Savings Statement Savings IRA Retirement Plans 24-Hour ATM Access VISA Credit/Debit Cards Home Loans Construction Loans Home Equity Lines of Credit Investment Property Loans Personal Loans TouchTel 24-hour Telephone Banking May 21-25 Walleye Festival Downtown Port Clinton May 23 May 29 First Farmer’s Market Adams Street Park RIVER FRONT LIVE No. Jefferson St. Pier Pavilion 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Farmers Market RIVER FRONT LIVE May 20 May 21 May 30 Sandusky County Chamber of Commerce May 14 Business After Hours Downtown Fremont, 101 S. Front St., 5-7 p.m. Coffee & Contacts Chamber Office 8-9 a.m. Reservation Required Chamber Ambassador Meeting DaVinci’s Coffee House, 8 a.m. Board of Trustees Meeting, Chamber Office, 7:30 a.m. May 28 Member FDIC May 15 1840 E. Perry St., Port Clinton (419) 734-5568 207 W. Washington Row, Sandusky (419) 626-5576 427 Main St., Huron (419) 433-2437 Also Serving: Lorain, Avon and Amherst May 26 May 28 Business After Hours The National Bank of Oak Harbor Oak Harbor location, 5-7 p.m. May 27 www.firstfedlorain.com Coming in June: Focus on Kelley's Island, Marblehead, Put-in-Bay www.ncbj.net North Coast Business Journal May 2009 7 (QRP) for 2010. A 457 plan is not December 31, 2009 is the last day to effectively terminate treated as a QRP for purposes of or merge a MPP prior to the beginning of the 2010 tax year. denying SIMPLE IRA contributions. Therefore, the employer must provide the written notice on Note: beginning 2002, salary or before December 15, 2009. deferral contributions made to an December 31, 2009 – Last Day To Execute Documents eligible 457(b) plan no longer To Adopt A Qualified Retirement Plan (other than a reduces the amount an employee Safe-Harbor 401(k)) For 2009. December 31 is the last day may defer to a SIMPLE IRA. an employer may execute document to establish a Qualified Douglas Gildenmeister, November 2, 2009 – Deadline Retirement Plan for 2009 to be effective any date between Senior Vice President, Investments For Providing SIMPLE IRA January 1st and December 31st, provided the employer did Retirement Plan Consultant Required Notices (Including not previously maintain a Simple IRA plan for 2009. The Gildenmeister Wealth Management Group Notification Of Plan Termination). Employers whose corporate entity came into being after of Raymond James & Associates, Inc. Employers sponsoring a SIMPLE January 1 should use an effective date coinciding with or IRA plan must provide each eligible following the corporation’s inception date. This article focuses on a number of employee with two required notices 60 days prior to the 401(k) plan notes: A participant may only defer fast approaching tax filing and document execution start of the 2010 plan year. First, employers must provide compensation earned after a salary deferral form has been deadlines. It is not too early to begin thinking about these eligible employees with either (1) a Summary Plan completed and signed. New Safe-Harbor 401(k)s must be and other year-end tax and retirement planning Description (SPD) for the plan, or (2) a copy of the IRS Form established by October 1st, see above. opportunities as you prepare for year-end. 5304-Simple or 5305-Simple (whichever is applicable). December 31, 2009 – Required Minimum Distribution September 30, 2009 – Beneficiary Designation Date. It Second, employers are also required to notify each eligible (RMD) Deadline. Taxpayers taking their second and may be possible for beneficiaries of IRAs and Qualified employee that the employee may make or change salary following RMDs, from a QRP or IRA, must take distribution Retirement Plans (QRPs) to take Required Minimum reduction elections during this 60-day period, the “election of their 2009 RMD on or before December 31, 2009. Distributions (RMDs) based on their own single life period.” Such elections or changes will become effective on Taxpayers reaching age 70 ½ during 2008 may delay taking expectancy. But only if the deceased IRA or QRP account January 1, 2010. Employers terminating a SIMPLE IRA their 2009 RMD, the initial RMD, until April 1, 2010. owner had a Designated Beneficiary(s). Generally, a effective December 31, 2008 must include notification of Taxpayers electing to delay distribution of their first RMD Designated Beneficiary is a beneficiary designated as of the the termination. will then take two distributions in 2010: the 2009 RMD by account owner’s death who still remains a beneficiary on December 1, 2009 – Deadline For Notification Of Switch April 1, 2010 and the 2010 RMD by December 31, 2010. September 30 of the year following death. Thus, any person From Regular 401(k) Or Profit Sharing Plan To A Safe or entity that was a beneficiary as of the date of the account Harbor 401(k) Plan. Employers that have amended their For more information on these and other year-end tax and owner’s death, but is not a beneficiary as of September 30, existing 401(k) or PSPs to include a safe-harbor 401(k) financial planning opportunities, please consult with your 2009 (either due to distribution or qualified disclaimer), is provision effective 2010 must provide written notice to each Financial Advisor or CPA. not taken into account in determining the existence and eligible employee between 30 and 90 days prior to the start This material was prepared by Raymond James for use by identity of a Designated Beneficiary. of the 2010 plan year. The written notice must (1) explain Douglas Gildenmeister, Senior Vice President, Investments of October 1, 2009 – 2009 Catch-up Contribution Universal their rights and obligations under the plan, (2) be accurate Raymond James & Associates, Member New York Stock Exchange/ Availability Deadline. Individuals who attain age 50 or and comprehensive, and (3) be written in a manner calculated SIPC. over on or before December 31, 2009 may make catch-up to be understood by the contributions to applicable employer retirement plans: average employee eligible to 401(k)s, Simple IRA, SEP, 403(b), or 457 plans. A plan is not participate in the plan. required to permit catch-up contributions, but may do so. A Notification that each eligible plan that offers catch-up contributions meets non- employee may make, or discrimination requirements only if all catch-up eligible change, a salary reduction participants are given the same opportunity to make catch- election that will become up contributions. An employer that sponsors more than one effective on January 1, 2010. of the applicable plans and want to provide for catch-up December 15, 2009 – Last contributions must adopt catch-up contributions provisions Day to Initiate A 2009 for all the applicable plans no later than October 1, 2009. Termination Of A Money October 1, 2009 – Deadline To Establish SIMPLE IRA Purchase Pension Plan Or Plan For 2009 Plan Year. An employer may set up a Simple (2) Reduction Of Future IRA plan any date between January 1, 2009 and October 1, Plan Year Benefit Accruals 2009. If an employer doesn’t come into existence until after To Zero. Beginning 2002, this deadline, special rules apply and a Simple IRA plan may Economic Growth & Tax still be established. Relief Reconciliation Act October 1, 2009 – Deadline To Set Up A New Safe-Harbor (EGTRRA) increased the 401(k) Plan for 2008 Plan Year. The first plan year must be deduction limit for Profit at least a three-month plan year. Therefore, new Safe-Harbor Sharing Plans (PSPs) from 401(k) plans must be established by October 1st. 15% to 25% of eligible October 15, 2009 – Last Day To Recharacterize A 2008 compensation. Because of Conversion To A Roth. Certain taxpayers may want to the new limits, employers • Tabloid Newspapers • Broadsheets • Journal Magazines recharacterize from a Roth IRA to a traditional IRA. These will no longer need their • Flyers • Inserts • and more.... taxpayers are (1) those whose Roth IRA has experienced a existing Money Purchase drop in market value of the assets following a 2008 Pension plans (MPPs) to conversion from a traditional to a Roth IRA, (2) those who maximize contributions. “We’re not a quick print... converted and their AGI for 2008 exceeded $100,000, and Therefore, many employers (3) those who made a Roth IRA contribution and their AGI will either (1) terminate but we’ll get you to print quickly.” exceeded $95,000 for a single filer, or $150,000 for a existing MPPs, or (2) change married filer. the plan document to cease Assuming the taxpayer has timely filed their 2007 tax benefit accruals. th to transfer the return, the taxpayer has until October 15 ERISA requires employers monies without incurring a penalty. To claim a refund for that are terminating a MPP, DOUTHIT any taxes paid on the conversion to the Roth IRA, file an or changing it to cease COMMUNICATIONS amended return on Form 1040-X and mark the top of the benefit accruals, to provide first page “Filed pursuant to section 301.9100-2.” INCORPORATED written notice to all eligible November 2, 2009 – Deadline To Establish A SIMPLE IRA participants at least 15 days Plan Effective 1/1/2009. An employer may adopt a SIMPLE prior to the effective date of CALL DAVE OR TAMMI • IRA plan to become effective January 1, 2010, provided the the termination or change. employer will not maintain any Qualified Retirement Plan Important Tax & Retirement Planning Deadlines for 2009 WE SPECIALIZE IN: 419-625-5825 8 May 2009 North Coast Business Journal www.ncbj.net The Huron Public Library Means Business Submitted by Anne Hinton Huron Business Ambassador Program The Huron Chamber of Commerce is embarking on a new venture called the Huron Business Ambassador Program -designed to develop, promote and foster continued communication among local Huron businesses and related agencies. This process includes giving and receiving feedback, direction and assistance that will aid in the ability to survive and grow successfully in Huron. During the week of May 11, 2009, Huron businesses will be visited by 2-person teams of volunteers from the Huron Chamber of Commerce, the City of Huron and the Business Resource Network. These prescheduled visits will only take 20 paving the way for Huron to become an even greater Great Lake Place! The Huron Public Library is implementing “green” projects …. Patrons are encouraged to sign up for NetNotice, to receive an email when a requested item is available, overdue reminders and overdue notices. This system provides greater convenience with a link to the patron’s account and saves the library paper, printing and postage costs. Sign up at www. clevnet.org. Reusable library bags made from environmentally friendly materials are available for $1.30. The gusseted bottom bags feature the Huron Public Library logo. The library will no longer be giving out plastic book bags. Would you like to be automatically placed on the list for selected bestselling authors? Sign up for Autoholds, select your authors and we’ll do the rest. Visit www.huronlibrary.org and click on Reading Room to register for Autoholds. Does your business take you out of the country? As of June 1, 2009, under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, U. S. Citizens will be required to present a government-approved document that denotes both citizenship and identity when entering United States. A passport is government-approved document; a driver’s license is not. The Huron Public Library is a Passport Acceptance Agency. Completed, unsigned, application forms, appropriate documents and identification can be presented to an Acceptance Agent at the library for processing. Complete passport information, including forms, information on documentation required, fees, and additional passport and travel information is available at http://www. state.gov/travel If you complete the forms before coming to the library, please do not sign them. Please call ahead, (419) 433-5009, to be sure a Passport Acceptance Agent is available during regular library hours, Monday – Thursday 10 – 8:30, and Friday and Saturday 10 – 5. Beginning Saturday May 30, Saturday hours will be 10 – 1. Bridge Over Troubled Times Submitted by John Gabriel Vermilion Marine Business Association The Vermilion River has seen it all over the years: fun, fortune, fishing, flooding and now frugality. These are all aspects of being a boating community on Lake Erie. The Vermilion River hosts over 2800 pleasure boats. The love for power boating, sailing and fishing draws many visitors to the area. In spite of the hard economic times, The Vermilion is still running strong. Through the years many wondered if the town would be passed over for its neighbors to the east and west that have developed commercial ports. The Vermilion River is a small and winding harbor, not suitable for large commercial freighters, which has ultimately been the rivers greatest characteristic. Neighboring harbors like Lorain and Huron have developed along industrial lines. Vermilion’s development has been slower, more methodical, with a “Cape Cod” type harbor. Nautical houses, restaurants and small marinas line the river and attract vacationers and tourists. The Vermilion Harbortown has preserved much of its historical downtown. The historical downtown area is a quaint spot that once was the home of many Lake Captains. The Inland Seas Maritime Museum is the center attraction in the downtown area. The historic district is located within walking distance to the river and includes a public beach. Even with the onset of difficult economic times that have affected both the inflow of tourism dollars and the health of the marine industry, Vermilion perseveres. Just this past year the Red Clay on the River restaurant located in the center of the Vermilion River at Looking to improve your job skills? Training for a new career? LearningExpress Library can help! Here you’ll find FREE resources that will help you succeed. Each of the Learning Centers offers the practice tests, exercises, skill-building courses, and the information you need to achieve the results you want—at school, at work, or in life. Looking to land a job? You’ll find an entire Learning Center dedicated to helping you get the one that’s right for you. Computer skills courses include Microsoft Office Access, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint and Word along with Adobe Acrobat. In the Jobs and Careers section are Photo Courtesy of Diane Szambecki McGarvey’s Landing unexpectedly closed it’s doors. To most communities this would be a devastating blow. Vermilion’s Port Authority in cooperation with the building’s owner quickly approved a new tenant. This season at the McGarvey’s Landing Quaker Steak and Lube of Sharon Pennsylvania will hold their grand opening. Quaker Steak is a welcome addition to the Vermilion River Family. The river already boasts the highly rated Chez Francois as well as many great marinas, yacht and boating clubs. The natural gifts of the Vermilion River and the town’s location on Lake Erie will continue to carry the town across the stormy economic seas that other communities are having difficulty navigating, much like its symbolic bridge. Whether you are new to the area or have lived in Northern Ohio your entire life, come see why over 2800 boaters choose the Vermilion River as their summer home. For more information visit DiscoverVermilion.com. licensing, certification, and aptitude practice tests for Civil Service, Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), Cosmetology, Emergency Medical Services, Firefighter, Law Enforcement, Military, Nursing and Allied Health, Real Estate and Teaching. You will need an Ohio public library card to access LearningExpress Library and register as a new user at www. oplin.org/tests. All courses and tests are FREE. Learning Express Library is part of the Ohio Web Library collection; this particular database is funded by an Institute of Museum and Library Services LSTA grant awarded by the State Library of Ohio. minutes for the volunteers to ask seven simple questions about each business’s experience in Huron. The answers to these questions will provide the Chamber and the City with valuable information on business survival in Huron. The program is modeled on the Norwalk Economic Development Corporation’s successful Business Appreciation Week. Interest in conducting the Huron Business Ambassador Program came from the Business Resource Network, a group of organizations and businesses working to assist to prospective and existing business owners in identifying and locating the resources they need to succeed in business. BRN members include the Huron Chamber of Commerce, Huron Public Library, EHOVE Career Center, Citizens Bank, Erie County Economic Development Corporation, SCORE, March Fourth Consulting and Payne and Nichols. This annual event will continue to grow in participation each year – www.ncbj.net North Coast Business Journal May 2009 9 Legal By Jeff Roth A revocable trust is a very basic planning tool created by many families. The purpose of a revocable trust is to avoid the time and inconvenience of a probate administration at your death. It may also eliminate estate tax. The problem is that people execute the trust but fail to place title to all of their assets into the trust. This process is called the “funding “of your trust. It is the act of transferring the legal title of an asset from your individual name into the trust name with you holding the title as trustee of your trust. Failing to fund the trust defeats one of the main purposes of creating a revocable trust. Some attorneys prepare the trust but do not assist you in getting all of your assets properly placed in the trust. As part of the estate plan, your attorney should provide the knowledge and paperwork to fully fund your trust. A normal title to an asset titled in a trust is as follows: Robert Smith and Barbara Smith, Trustees or their successors in Trust, under the Robert Smith Living Trust, dated March 15, 2009, and any amendments thereto By the terms of the trust, either person may act in behalf of the trust. In the event of your death, the title is still in the name of the trust which did not die. Now your child as a named successor trustee can immediately transfer the asset pursuant to your instructions set forth in your trust document. If the asset had remained in your sole name, your children would have to go through the probate process to make a valid transfer. Time spent by you while alive can save a lot of time and money for your children after your death. There are basically three types of property that need to be retiled. 1. ACTUAL CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP OR TITLE This requires actually preparing new documents to retitle the asset into the trust. Examples of this are: 1) Real estate Deeds 2) Bank accounts, Brokerage accounts 3) Stocks and bond certificates 4) Motor vehicle titles 2. CHANGE OF BENEFICIARY This requires getting forms from the asset holder to list a primary and a secondary beneficiary. Funding a Revocable Trust These assets are not held in the trust but the beneficiaries must be correct. Examples of this are: 1) IRA’s. 401K’s, 403’s, health savings accounts 2) Life insurance policies 3. ASSIGNMENT OF OWNERSHIP RIGHTS There are many assets that do not have actual stated title. The proof of ownership in a trust is evidenced by an assignment form indicating that the asset is held in the trust. Examples of this are: 1) Tangible personal property, i.e. Jewelry, household furnishing, etc. 2) Partnership interest, LLC interest, cooperative interest, 3) Personal loan and mortgages that you hold for others. In the process of transferring the interest, a bank may ask to see the trust. They want to know that a trust exists and when it was executed. They also want to know who the trustees are and that they have the power to sign and control the asset. Normally you have signed an affidavit of trust that sets forth these facts. Each institution has different rules and often you can have difficulty changing the title. This is where legal counsel can assist to complete the transfer. Sometimes transferring out of state property is best handled by contacting the correct entity in the other state. A timeshare would be an example of an out of state t r a n s f e r. Government bonds are best handled by working with your bank that has the necessary forms. The goal of the attorney is to transfer all of your assets into the trust. It is frustrating, time consuming and expensive to open a probate estate for one or two items that were not properly placed in the trust. People will say that the old truck out back isn’t worth much. Value is irrelevant. If it has a title, it must be placed into the trust while you are alive to avoid the time consuming filing of a probate estate. The next issue is the continuing duty to see that all future assets that are purchased are also placed in the trust. If you buy a new car or open a new bank account, you must remember to title the asset in the trust. If you currently have a trust, you should review the title to all assets and see that they are properly titled. A good time for this process is at tax time. Look at the 1099s to see that they indicate that a trustee holds the title. By doing this, you can save your family a lot of time and aggravation at your death. 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: 419-7329994) copyright@Jeffrey P. Roth 2009. 10 May 2009 North Coast Business Journal www.ncbj.net The buildings’ uses have changed from one decade to another as the needs of the community have changed, but they continue to be welcoming. In the dozen or so blocks that make up the historic shopping district, a conscientious shopper can find Rolex watches, fine art and crystal, name brand clothes, unique candles and gifts, original local art, quality collectables, antiques and gently used items, delicious handmade candy, t-shirts and souvenirs, four star French cuisine, homemade soups and entrees, cool delicious ice cream, freshly brewed coffee, shakes and homemade desserts. Shop keepers, city employees and people on the street happily answer questions and give directions. If we do not have it here, we will even send you to another town to find it. We are not crowded. We are not rushed. We have time to enjoy our visitors. In 2008 Main Street Vermilion, Inc., with a grant from Heritage Ohio, Inc. in hand, worked with the City, the Chamber of Commerce, the Inland Seas Maritime Museum, Vermilion Township, many local businesses and raised the money to install wayfinding signage. The blue signs with a sailing ship logo and the slogan “A Small Town on a Great Lake” direct visitors to the downtown and to many local places of interest. As the Vermilion Chamber of Commerce says, “Vermilion – a great place to drop anchor for a day, a week or a lifetime.” For an online look at our city, go to DiscoverVermilion.com. For answers to your questions, call Main Street Vermilion at 440-963-0772. Vermilion in a Tough Economy Submitted by Main Street Vermilion Lynda Ulrich, Executive Director Manufacturing is reinventing itself in Vermilion. The “old” manufacturing companies are gone, leaving space for energetic, entrepreneurial businesses to grow. In spite of a tough economy, a hometown manufacturing company, Coley’s Inc., has built a new building to help manage their growing business. An empty automobile plant is filling with new and expanding businesses. A lighting manufacturer’s building on the edge of the historic district has become home to Cleveland Quarries. Like most cities, Vermilion is struggling. The City of Vermilion, Main Street Vermilion and the Vermilion Chamber of Commerce work together to showcase this town’s potential as a home for new and expanding businesses and the employees who work in them. Vermilion boasts a unique and beautiful location with cost effective and interesting space. There is a pool of high-potential, available employees. The school system is excellent. A far-sighted group of local citizens are working on bringing the commuter rail system to town. It will pick up and drop off its riders in the residential area just south of the central shopping district. The commuter rail will make travel to jobs in the region more economical and convenient, increasing the jobs available to the residents and widening the pool of employees for businesses. The downtown is the window to the community. In 2008 a streetscape plan, in the works for eight years, was completed. The new streetscape enhanced the center of town by replacing cracked and broken sidewalks, removing and replacing unhealthy trees, and creating new seating areas on the sidewalks and in the parks. The quality of Vermilion life is reflected in the clean, safe, friendly atmosphere of the downtown. One long-standing industry, tourism, continues to hold its ground. Vermilion’s beautiful downtown draws new and repeat visitors. The guest book in Main Street Vermilion’s lobby is full of praise from visitors from all over the world. Some are repeat guests who are visiting friends they have made over the years. Some are traveling the Great Lakes. Others have relatives here. The phrase most often repeated is, “I just love Vermilion.” One couple from South Africa was waiting for their traveling companions’ flight to land at Hopkins. A Vermilionite they met on their plane suggested they wait in Vermilion. They were having a great time and planned to bring their friends here before they left the area. What is the draw? In the historic district known as Harbour Town, there is an old, but lovingly cared for town. Buildings date back to the early 1800’s. 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 May 2009 11 Taxes Energy Tax Incentives 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” includes a package of tax incentives to encourage investments in renewable energy projects or more-efficient technologies. This article is an overview of these new provisions. Long-term extension and modification of renewable energy production tax credit. The new legislation extends the placed-in-service date for wind facilities until December 31, 2012. It also extends the placed-in-service date through December 31, 2013 for certain other qualifying facilities. These other facilities include closed-loop biomass, open-loop biomass, geothermal, small irrigation, hydropower, landfill gas, waste-toenergy and marine renewable facilities. Temporary election to claim the investment tax credit in lieu of the production tax credit. Facilities that produce electricity from solar facilities are eligible to take a 30% investment tax credit in the year the facility is placed in service. Facilities that produce electricity from wind, closed-loop biomass, open-loop biomass, geothermal, small irrigation, hydropower, landfill gas, waste-to-energy and marine renewable facilities are eligible for a production tax credit, payable over a ten year period. The Act provides a temporary election to claim the investment tax credit in lieu of the production tax credit. Business energy credit. The new law enhances the business energy credit by eliminating the cap on small wind property and repealing the basis reduction requirement for subsidizing energy financing. Prior to 2009, there was a cap on the available credit of $4,000. Thus, subject to the project expenditure rules defined in the Act, qualified small wind energy property is eligible for an uncapped 30% credit if placed in service after 2008. Energy-efficient existing homes. The new law extends the tax credit for improvements to energyefficient existing homes through 2010. For 2009 and 2010, the amount of the tax credit is increased from 10% to 30% of the amount paid or incurred by the taxpayer for qualified energy efficient improvements during the tax year. The propertyby-property dollar caps on the tax credit are also eliminated, and an aggregate $1,500 cap applies to all property qualifying for the credit. Residential energy property. The new law removes the dollar limitations on certain energy credits, i.e. qualified small wind energy property, qualified solar water heating property and qualified geothermal property. For qualified property placed in service after 2008, individual taxpayers are allowed a nonrefundable personal tax credit for 30% of expenditures made during the tax year for qualified solar water heating, geothermal heat Energy Tax Incentives continued on page 23 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 Local Attorney Receives National Honor As one of only 33 individuals selected nationwide, Attorney Victor Kademenos, senior partner of the law firm, Calhoun, Kademenos & Childress, was recently inducted as a Fellow into the College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers. This naitonal organization was established to honor those attorneys who have distinguished themselves in the field of workers’ compensation. Nominees must have earned the respect of their peers, judges and public over a career spanning greater than 20 years. They must each possess the highest ethical standards including character, integrity, professional expertise, and leadership. Finally, they must have demonstrated significant evidence of scholarship, teaching, lecturing, and/or distinguished public writings. Induction ceremonies were conducted by the American Bar Association on March 13th, 2009, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Attorney Kademenos has also been selected by Law & Politics as one of Ohio’s Super Lawyers for 2009, making this the sixth consecutive year to have received such recognition. Only five percent of lawyers in the state are named to the Super Lawyers list each year. Attorney Kademenos practices out of the Sandusky office. 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) WO RK CONNECTIONS INTERNATIONAL, LLC Calhoun, Kademenos & Childress has offices in Port Clinton, Sandusky and Mansfield Since 1968 525 Wall St. Tiffin, OH 125 Monroe Street Port Clinton, OH 43452 419-734-5800 502 West Washington Street Sandusky, OH 44870 419-625-7770 6 West Third Street Mansfield, OH 44901 419-524-6011 12 May 2009 North Coast Business Journal www.ncbj.net www.ncbj.net North Coast Business Journal May 2009 13 Sales New Account Game Plan By Roger Bostdorff Every company I work with wants to grow. They better want to grow or eventually they will go out of business. There are two ways of growing. One way is you can grow the amount of business ($$) you do with your existing customers. Assuming you have a good relationship with your existing customers, this is the easiest growth path available. You/ your company already have a trust and bond built that has been created by delivering value to your customer while building a relationship. You/ your company evidently did what you said you were going to do when you said you were going to do it, over and over again. Many of you reading this are thinking that attaining that type of relationship is only common sense, and I agree. However, it is amazing how many organizations cannot execute that feat. However, there is a limit to the amount of growth one can accomplish by only servicing their current customers. Therefore, the other way to grow is to gain new accounts. I define this as creating a financial relationship with an organization where you have no financial relationship today. This is hard! This is costly! This can be like sliding down a 1000 foot razor blade for some folks. (Ouch!) So what does a company do to solve the problem? First, you need to identify that this is a need. Then you need to sit down and create a game plan. Since this is hard and costly, as well as painful, many times creating the game plan never occurs. Therefore, that is a critical first step. The second step is to identify your target. Picture a funnel. In the top of the funnel go all of the suspects you talk with. You want to then narrow down this group of suspects to qualified prospects where a certain percentage of them become qualified leads. The qualified leads narrow down to a specific percentage being closed business. If we want to created X number of new accounts/month we need to work our way back up the funnel. What is our close rate? If we have 10 qualified leads, how many close within those 30 days? How many prospects do we need to deliver the required qualified leads? Now that we have the target number of Prospects we need to put in the top of the funnel, we then need to create the mechanism/s to deliver the prospects. The appropriate mechanism will differ by industry, product and customer set. However, it is safe to say that this is NOT a one dimensional approach. You need to create a multi-dimensional approach with an appropriate follow-up mechanism to be successful in the new account arena. The approach may include direct mail, telemarketing, networking, publishing, and yes, even cold calling. The challenge is to achieve the correct balance amongst all of these alternatives. Do you or your company have your New Account game plan defined? It does not HAVE to be like sliding down that 1000 foot razor blade! Roger Bostdorff is the President of B2B Sales Boost. He spent over 30 years with IBM in sales and sales management. B2B Sales Boost is a consulting company helping organizations improve their sales and overall business processes. You can find more about B2B Sales Boost on the web at www.b2bsalesboost.com or calling 419-3514347. If you would like to receive the B2B Sales Boost Newsletter please send an email to sales@ b2bsalesboost.com FREE Another Reason to Believe in Mercy Hospital of Tiffin. Bone Density Dates: Times: The bone density screenings are free of charge, however an appointment is required. Please contact the Mercy Tiffin Education Department at 419-455-7740 to schedule your appointment today! Community Screenings Wednesday, May 6th, 13th, 20th and 27th 10:00am – 12:00pm and 6:00 – 7:00pm mercyweb.org May is National Osteoporosis Month © 2009 Mercy Health Partners 14 May 2009 North Coast Business Journal www.ncbj.net BGSU Firelands Offers Associate of Technical Study in Coding and Medical Billing BGSU Firelands currently offers an associate of technical study in coding and medical billing. The ATS is a special hybrid program combining billing, coding, business and communication skills designed to prepare students for careers in physicians’ offices, group practices, ambulatory care centers and outpatient care sites. Medical coders and billers and health information management students are among the occupations with the highest employment prospects in the state according the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Students in the ATS degree prepare in science, mathematics/accounting and communication skills. This background allows them to become an important part of the health care team. Because of their strong background and focus in medical coding and software-based accounting practices, they provide a specific service to the employer which will directly impact the financial success of the facility. Students who graduate from this program will be eligible to sit for numerous accreditation/certification examinations in medical coding as sponsored by the American Health Information Management Association and the American Academy of Professional Coders. The ATS in coding and medical billing is a “sister” program to BGSU Firelands’ AHIMA accredited health information technology program. Both programs are supported by a network of clinical practice sites in the area, providing internship opportunities which are critically important to the success of the student. The programs are also supported by a dedicated information laboratory with provides students with real-life experiences and applications directed toward the use of electronic health record and electronic billing and data systems. “The decision to offer the ATS in coding and medical billing was driven by local market need and the high demand for qualified and credentialed medical coding professionals. This opportunity leverages BGSU Firelands’ strengths in providing a variety of health care education programs at the associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree levels. We are delighted to have this program as part of the total college experience at BGSU Firelands,” stated Interim Dean James M. Smith. N FAMILY FRIENDLY-KID SAFE EW MAKE THE SWITCH www.ncbj.net North Coast Business Journal May 2009 15 P.C. Chamber and Main BGSU Firelands Street Host Annual Meeting Names New Dean and Awards Celebration Bowling Green State University announced today that Dr. William Balzer, a professor of psychology at the University, has been named dean of BGSU Firelands effective July 1, 2009. Balzer has served in a number of leadership positions at BGSU, most recently as associate vice president and Dean of Continuing and Extended Education. He also served as interim dean of BGSU Firelands from 1999-2001. Dr. Mark Gromko, interim provost and vice president for academic affairs, said Balzer was selected after a national search that included input from a broad range of constituents. Award recipients, nominees, and representatives from the Port Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce and Main Street Port Clinton gather at the 2008 Annual Dinner and Awards Program held at the Catawba Island Club. The Port Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce and Main Street Port Clinton held its Annual Dinner on Thursday, April 23rd. Approximately 132 people gathered at the Catawba Island Club for a great meal and to honor several businesses and individuals as the annual awards were presented. The Chamber’s membership ratified the Board’s decision to join forces with Main Street Port Clinton. In October, Main Street Port Clinton’s membership voted to amend their bylaws to work more closely with the Chamber. The affiliation benefits the business community of the entire Port Clinton area by combining efforts for business, economic development, and community development. During the Chamber’s Annual Meeting, J, Bou-Sliman from The Garden at the Lighthouse, Debbie Hymore-Tester from Country Gentlemen, Mike Schenk from the Catawba Island Club, and Denise Ventrone from the Ottawa County Improvement Corporation were elected to serve a second three-year term. Chamber Officers elected for the upcoming year were: Tom Priesman from Neidecker, Leveck & Crosser Funeral Home as Chairman; Bryan Baugh of Northcoast Property Management as Vice-Chairman, and Mike Long of Magruder Hospital as Treasurer. Two board members were elected by the membership to serve on the Main Street Port Clinton’s Board of Directors. They are: Tom Brown, past Mayor of Port Clinton will serve his second three-year term and Missy Walker from First National Bank will serve her first three-year term. The Port Clinton Chamber presented three awards during the program. The 2008 Lighthouse Award, which recognizes a business who has made an outstanding contribution in their field, was presented to Zink Calls. Cros.Net, Ohio Telecom and the Port Clinton City School District were also nominated. Beth Ahrens and Carol Morgan were nominated to be the 2008 Outstanding Citizen. Beth Ahrens was the award recipient. The nominees for the 2008 Business of the Year were First National Bank, the Island House, and Wal-Mart. This is the most prestigious award given which recognizes the overall contribution of the business/ individual to the Chamber, the community, and the business environment of the Port Clinton Area including Ottawa County. The 2008 Business of the Year was presented to the Island House. Main Street Port Clinton re-honored Duane Myers as the 2008 Volunteer of the Year and Mary’s Blossom Shoppe as the 2008 Business of the Year. “We’re very excited to have Dr. Balzer returning to Firelands,” Gromko said. “Bill is an outstanding leader and is a perfect fit for the position.” BGSU President Carol Cartwright praised the decision. “I am very pleased he accepted. Firelands will play an increasingly important role in BGSU’s future,” Cartwright said. “I’m confident that Dr. Balzer will provide the leadership we need.” Balzer began his career at BGSU in 1983 as an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology. He became a full professor in 1992 and served as chair of the department from 1993-99. Following his stint as interim dean at Firelands, Balzer served as Dean of Continuing and Extended Education at the University until June 2008, adding the title of associate vice president in 2003. An expert in industrial/ organizational psychology, he received his doctoral degree from New York University, his master’s from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and his bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. Chamber Announces Woollybear Date Fox 8’s Dick Goddard, and the Vermilion Chamber of Commerce, announce the 37th Woollybear Festival will be held on Sunday September 20, 2009. The Woollybear Festival is the largest one day festival in the state of Ohio. Fox 8 Meteorologist Dick Goddard wants you to be a part of the fun as the annual Woollybear Parade & Festival takes over Vermilion. The woollybear wackiness all started more than three decades ago. Northeast Ohio TV weatherman Dick Goddard of Fox8 TV in Cleveland talked with some friends and co-workers about his idea of a celebration built around using the woollybear to forecast what kind of winter is ahead. In 1972 the newly-elected officers of the Parent Teachers Association at the Firelands-Florence Township Elementary School in the tiny community of Birmingham in Erie County were looking around for a vehicle to raise funds. They heard about Goddard’s idea of a Woollybear Festival. They contacted him and offered to stage the festival with his help. The first Woollybear Festival was held in Birmingham and attracted perhaps 2,000 people. The parade was short—just the Firelands High School Band, some boy scouts and the local fire department, along with personalities from TV 8—and they decided to go around the parade route twice, just to make it look longer. After eight years in Birmingham, the crowd at the event had grown to an estimated 15,000 and was causing gridlock on the highways into the tiny community, so it was decided to move it to a larger city. Thirteen towns and cities around northern Ohio expressed interest in hosting the ever-growing familyoriented event. Goddard and a committee of the original founders finally settled on the pretty resort city of Vermilion, only nine miles north of where the festival was born in Birmingham. 16 May 2009 North Coast Business Journal www.ncbj.net The Brown Welcome Center is open yearround on the 17-acre garden estate of the Schedel Arboretum & Gardens and provides a unique venue for all seasons. WEATHERING THE TEST OF TIME SINCE 1970 Northwestern Ohio’s Premier Full Service Commercial and Industrial Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractor Multi-Media Facilities Full Catering Service ANY ROOF - ANY SERVICE - ANY TIME Schedel Arboretum & Gardens 19255 W. Portage River S. Rd. Elmore, OH 43416 419-862-3182 www.schedel-gardens.org J.B. & Company Inc. 100% Employee Owned service@jbroofing.org PO Box 520, Tiffin, Ohio 44883 Phone 800.472.0969 The Right Price! RIGHT NOW! MARK OF EXCELLENCE AWARD WINNER Less For Ours! More For Yours! IT’S THAT SIMPLE! 22110 W. SR 51 GENOA, OH 419-855-8366 TOLL-FREE 800-637-2430 2 2 2 1 5 W. SR 51 GENOA, OH 419-855-8361 TOLL-FREE 877-992-0969 www.genoaford.com www.genoachevrolet.com SERVING OTTAWA COUNTY FOR OVER 55 YEARS www.ncbj.net North Coast Business Journal May 2009 17 18 May 2009 North Coast Business Journal The district utilizes many technology options that allow parents to view their child’s grades, make payments for lunches or student accounts, or read the daily bulletin. Announcements of upcoming school functions, are updated regularly on the front page, and each school has pictures and information about classroom activities. The district calendar is available so that anyone can plan to attend athletic events, music or t h e a t e r productions or other activities. Superintendent Pempin meets regularly with civic groups and business leaders to keep them up-todate on school activities and to learn more about www.ncbj.net Vermilion Schools Strive for Excellence “Excellent with Distinction” is the goal Superintendent Philip Pempin has set for the Vermilion Schools. Pempin, who took over as Superintendent in July of 2008, feels that it is possible for the district to achieve that goal through a collaborative effort with staff, parents and the community. “Some very positive things are already happening in our district,” said Pempin. “Two of our schools have already achieved a rating of Excellent on their State Report Card, and the other two schools missed the designation by only a few percentage points. Our teaching and administrative staff is working hard every day to make sure our students graduate ready to succeed in college or the work world.” Another goal for the district this year has been updating of the Strategic Plan to align with the goal of excellence. A core group of teachers, support staff and administrators created a rough draft of the new plan from an educational perspective. The community was then invited to look over the draft and offer their ideas for improving the schools. “We got some very interesting and helpful feedback from the community at those meetings,” Pempin said. “We found that we needed to be more specific in our goals, and build accountability into the plan.” The core group has again been called into action to incorporate the new ideas and create a final draft. A key to reaching Vermilion’s goals is communicating with staff, parents and others in the community. The district has instituted the use of the “Big Idea Box” to assist with communication. While some may consider this a simple “suggestion box” it is much more. Students, staff, parents and others are invited to offer concerns. But along with the concern they are asked to offer a solution or idea to help improve the district. Some of the ideas received so far have been easy to incorporate, while others have been included in the 5 year plan. Overall, the Superintendent has viewed this as a positive way to reach out to the community, staff and students and include them in the decision making process. Going forward an emphasis will be placed on communication with parents, community members, business leaders and civic organizations. internet-based curriculum available to teachers. The use of this technology is not only more cost effective, but it opens up many opportunities for students to participate in distance learning with colleges and universities, not only in the U.S., but around the world. This global approach will help students be better prepared for their future participation in the work world. Giving back to the community is an important part of education in the Vermilion Schools. In response to comments from students and parents affected by the economic downturn, a group of concerned teachers and counselors recently sponsored a community wide informational and fund-raising event to assist local families. Student groups have also raised money for the Leukemia Society, American Heart Association, the Vermilion Food Pantry, Operation Christmas Joy and many others charities. The district annually hosts a “Relay for Life” event in the VHS stadium to raise funds for the American Cancer Society. An emphasis is placed on the responsibility students have to give back to their community and to help those less fortunate than themselves. In the future, the district will face some financial challenges starting next year, but the Board members are looking at creative and efficient ways to cut costs while maintaining programs that are important to the future of Vermilion and the students who will become its future leaders. The Board has authorized a 5.3 mill, 2 year levy for the May ballot. “I would like to thank the community for its past support,” said Pempin. “We appreciate all who encourage us through our activities and programs. Our schools supply a critical resource for the entire community. It is our job to produce quality young men and women whom we hope stay and serve Vermilion and the local area. This service is very important. We hope that the citizens of Vermilion are willing to support us again for the health of the entire city.” how the schools can help Vermilion succeed as a community. Around the d i s t r i c t technology is being used to streamline many of the operational procedures from heating and lighting to transportation to food service. Technology plays an important part in the classroom, as well. In the past two years the district has installed Smart Boards or Mimeo Boards in nearly every classroom, making Vermilion Chamber: 43rd Annual Festival of the Fish in June Vermilion’s Festival of the Fish is one of the largest festivals in the area. Every year the City of Vermilion celebrates the sea on a grand scale with parades, boat parades, races, pageants, contests, food, entertainment, markets and much more. This is a “don’t-miss” event of the year each Father’s Day Weekend. On Friday young girls vie for the coveted title of princess or queen in one of the largest festival pageants in the county. Dozens of animals walk in the annual pet parade. Kids games take place at the gazebo. On Saturday the day kicks off with a 5K run and 1-mile walk sponsored by the YMCA and a Sand Castle Contest at Main Street Beach. The Crazy Craft Races take place at 1 pm on the Vermilion River. The event is open to all, so entrants are encouraged to build whatever kind of vessel they’d like. The annual Lighted Boat Parade takes place at dusk on the Vermilion River. The Annual Father’s Day Parade steps off at 12:30 pm on Sunday. And the wet and wild Firefighters Water Fight immediately following the parade. Food, entertainment, vendors and beverages each day beginning at noon in Victory Park. Festival location: Rt. 60 (Main St.) between Rt. 6 (Liberty Avenue) and Ohio Street, in the center of the historic downtown Vermilion, Ohio. (For more information, call the Vermilion Chamber of Commerce at (440) 967-4477 or e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . www.ncbj.net North Coast Business Journal May 2009 19 SLEEP DISORDER CENTER It’s time to get some sleep. Many of us suffer from a lack of quality sleep, and while increased demands at work and home certainly factor into this, often times an undiagnosed sleep disorder is the culprit. Upon referral from your family physician, the Sleep Disorder Center at Memorial Hospital will work with you to diagnose your sleep disorder and develop a treatment plan that is right for you. • • • • Private Bedrooms for Overnight Outpatient Testing Flexible Testing Appointment Times Experienced Sleep Physicians and Staff State-of-the-Art Diagnostic and Treatment Equipment Sleep Disorder Center 419.333.2789 715 South Taft Avenue Fremont, Ohio 43420 www.memorialhcs.org 20 May 2009 North Coast Business Journal www.ncbj.net National Tourism Month Promoted by Local Visitors Bureaus Submitted by Lake Erie Shores & Islands In 1984 following a joint resolution passed by the U.S. Congress, President Ronald Reagan signed a proclamation establishing that one week each May would be designated as National Tourism Week. Citizens would be urged to observe that week with ceremonies and activities that recognized the economic, cultural, and social benefits created by travel and tourism. Each year since, the U.S. Travel Association has promoted this annual celebration and provided assistance to communities planning their own events. This year’s National Travel and Tourism Week will be celebrated nationally May 9-17 however the Lake Erie Shores & Islands Welcome Centers in Sandusky and Port Clinton will be holding a month-long celebration. “One week isn’t long enough to celebrate all there is to see and do in our area”, said Joan Van Offeren, Executive Director of Lake Erie Shores & Islands East. “The activities and promotions we are planning will certainly require a whole month!” Lake Erie Shores & Islands is a partnership between the visitor bureaus in Erie and Ottawa Counties. Millions of people travel to this part of Ohio each year to enjoy the many family fun and outdoor recreation spots. Statistics show that these visitors spend $1.4 billion dollars annually and this spending touches nearly every type of business. Tourism dollars generally stay in the local economy and benefit each and every resident. During the month of May, area residents will be encouraged to get out and explore the many destinations in their home county and also “cross the bridge” to visit places in the neighboring county that they may not have experienced before. Doing this not only means an enjoyable day spent close to home, but helps our residents become better able to communicate to others just how special this area is. Helping promote the area is a way that residents can help bring additional tourism dollars to the region, and in turn benefit themselves. One way the visitor bureaus will be helping residents explore Lake Erie Shores & Islands is with special offers available with the new Shore Savings Card, a discount card that can be used at dozens of locations throughout the region. Card holders can save on attraction tickets, dining, lodging, golf, and many other activities. A special Cedar Point discount coupon is also included with the card. Discount offers are updated frequently and posted online at www.SHORESandISLANDS.com. The Shore Savings Card is being featured for the first time in the Lake Erie Shores & Islands Official Travel Planner, a 144 page guide loaded with information about what to do, where to eat, and where to stay in our region. This planner is distributed annually to nearly 400,000 people. The Travel Planner and Shore Savings Card are available at the two Lake Erie Shores & Islands Welcome Centers: 770 S.E. Catawba Road (SR 53) in Port Clinton and 4424 Milan Rd. (US 250) in Sandusky. At the Welcome Centers you will also find brochures about our area destinations, maps, driving itineraries, special event information, and a staff of friendly travel counselors who can help you plan your own Lake Erie Shores & Islands getaway. The Travel Planner is just one of the components of Lake Erie Shores & Islands’ 2009 marketing plan. This plan includes television, magazines, billboards, internet, public and media relations, and many other approaches. Audiences and geographic areas to which the Lake Erie Shores & Islands message will be shared are carefully selected and responses are tracked to make sure the choices are right. We invite you to drop by one of our Welcome Centers this May to help us celebrate National Tourism Month and learn more about how we promote this wonderful part of Ohio. Each Friday we will be offering free refreshments and residents of Erie and Ottawa County will receive a little gift just for stopping in. We hope you will take the time to visit and learn more about the many visitor destinations in our area. Chances are you’ll find some new things about places you’ve been before and discover places to visit you never knew were there. C NS Newcomer Concrete Services, Inc. For all your Business Needs Quality - Reliability - Dedication • 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 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 Website: www.newcomerconcrete.com www.ncbj.net North Coast Business Journal May 2009 21 On The Move Mercy Hospital of Willard Board of Trustees Changes Leadership The Mercy Hospital of Willard Board of Trustees has made multiple changes this year, including electing a new Chairman, electing a new member of the Board and electing new committee members. The Board also said goodbye to a dedicated board member whose tenure expired. Mercy Hospital of Willard is proud to announce that Gene Lamoreaux, President of Guardian Manufacturing, Inc, has been elected the Chairman of the Board of Trustees. Gene has been a member of the Board of Trustees since April of 2002. He served as the secretary/ treasurer in 2005 and 2006, and as the vice chair in 2007 and 2008. Gene has also been the chairman of the Board of Trustees Strategic Planning Committee since May of 2003. Gene has been the President of Guardian Manufacturing since January of 1994. “Gene has a strong leadership background as President of Guardian Manufacturing,” says Lynn Detterman, President and CEO of Mercy Hospital of Willard. “We are fortunate to have such a talented leader in our community and I look forward to working with Gene as he transitions into his role as Chairman of our Board of Trustees.” The 2009 Board of Trustees includes Bill Alford, Vice President of Sutton Bank; Sister Mary Gloria Auer, RSM; Bill Back, MD, Chief of Staff at Mercy Hospital of Willard; Sister Irene Bishop, RSM, Chaplain at Mercy Hospital of Tiffin; Lynn Detterman, President and CEO of Mercy Hospital of Willard; Dennis Doughty, Superintendant of Willard City Schools; David Jump, DO, Chief of Staff – Elect; Gene Lamoreaux, President of Guardian Manufacturing, Inc.; Roy King, Plant Manager, Midwest Industries; Steve Mickus, President & CEO of Mercy Health Partners; Randy Moore, owner of Moore’s IGA – Plymouth; Jeffrey Ream, Attorney, Benham & Ream, Co.; Dale E. Thornton, President & CEO of Mercy Hospital of Tiffin; and Sharon Wingert, Owner/President of Van Allen Insurance Agency. Choose Primary Care Physicians who Believe in Mercy Hospital of Willard. Bill Back, MD* Willard Medical Center 419-933-2811 Evillo M. Domingo, MD* Mercy Family Practice 419-896-3844 David A. Jump, DO* Willard Area Medical Associates 419-935-6761 James E. Rosso, MD* Willard Medical Center 419-933-2811 Robert W. Secor, MD* Willard Medical Center 419-933-2811 Jeffrey E. Sizemore, DO* Willard Area Medical Associates 419-935-6761 David L. Stanbery, MD* 419-935-8120 Nancy L. Verhoff, MD* Willard Medical Center 419-933-2811 Get The Latest Business News at www.ncbj.net 110 East Howard Street | Willard, Ohio 44890 419-964-5000 | mercyweb.org * denotes Board Certification 22 May 2009 North Coast Business Journal www.ncbj.net Goodwill Served More Individuals in 2008 Sandusky Bay Area (SBA) Goodwill served 726 disabled or disadvantaged persons last year, compared with 711 in 2007. In a report on its 2008 workforce development activities, the Sanduskybased nonprofit agency said it also provided 1,551 individual services last year, nearly 100 more than in 2007. The services ranged from job coaching and job-seeking skills training to computer training and career testing. Some clients received more than one service. Of the persons served last year, 58 were placed in jobs, 13 within Goodwill. That compares with 73 total job placements in 2007. Marlis Rock, vice president of workforce development, attributed last year’s 21-percent drop in placements to general economic conditions. “Because of the recession, employment opportunities, whether with Goodwill or other employers, simply weren’t as plentiful,” she said. Rock said job placements continue to be slow this year. “Through first quarter we’ve placed only nine participants. Normally, we’d have about twice that,” she said. “Like everyone else, we hope the economy will turn around as soon as possible so there will be more employment opportunities and people can get back to work,” she said. SBA Goodwill serves portions of Erie, Huron, Ottawa and Sandusky counties. It employs some 240 fulland part-time personnel at its administrative offices, seven retail stores and two manufacturing centers. Magruder Hospital Opens Urgent Care Service the services of our area primary care physicians. Urgent care is a service for people who don’t have a life-threatening condition, but they cannot wait for an appointment to see their physician.” Adding the urgent care service stemmed from a marketing survey Magruder did in 2007. The survey showed the community wanted access to urgent care and that those surveyed wanted the service to be located at the hospital. “I think most people felt that instead of having an urgent care service located away from the hospital, it would be better to have it in the emergency department. This way, if an urgent care need turns into an emergency, you are right where you need to be.” Troeger said that patients will be evaluated at Magruder’s emergency department, which will determine whether the medical condition is urgent care or an emergency. “We follow specific medical guidelines in determining what is urgent care and what is an emergency. Once again, that is the advantage of having Magruder’s urgent care within its emergency department,” said Troeger. Life Changes. We’ll be there.® Ohio National offers competitive products and services for individuals and businesses, including: Magruder Hospital is opening its urgent care service, located in the emergency department of the hospital, on Friday, May 1, 2009. Urgent care will be available seven days a week from noon – 7:30 p.m., including holidays, and no appointment is needed. Jan Troeger, Magruder’s Vice-President of Nursing, says that a typical visit to urgent care would include minor types of medical conditions. “Things like ear infections, sprains, simple cuts, burns, or the flu, are the types of conditions seen in urgent care,” says Troeger When comparing the service to seeing a primary care physician, Troeger says urgent care is not a replacement. “This service is not something that is replacing Bellevue’s Main Street Farmers’ Markets Ready for New Season The season’s first Main Street Farmers’ Market, Bellevue, Ohio will be held on Saturday, May 9, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. in the city parking lot, corner of Main Street (Rte. 20) and Sandusky St. According to Rick Stegman, Bellevue Chamber Director and Main Street Manager, this year’s Farmers’ Markets promises to provide wonderful shopping experiences for those who attend. In addition, various entertainment will be provided throughout the season. The May 9th kick-off market will be a special Mother’s Day Market. The first 50 mothers attending will receive a free flower courtesy of the Downtown Florist. The Main Street Farmers’ Markets are held the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of May, June, July, August, and September , with an end-of- they year market on Oct. 10. The hours for each market are from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. This year’s markets have lined up sponsors, including: The Bellevue Gazette, Bellevue City Schools, Strayer Insurance and Real Estate, Golden Acorn, and The Bellevue Society for the Arts. The support of these sponsors will permit more extensive promoting of the markets and the permanent installation of a Farmers’ Market sign. In addition to wonderful produce, flowers, baked goods and many other items the markets have become a social gathering place for many local residents, according to Stegman. The Main Street Farmers’ Markets are managed and coordinated by The Bellevue Downtown Committee, the Bellevue Area Chamber of Commerce and the city of Bellevue. For vendor information please contact the Bellevue Area Chamber of Commerce, 419-483-2182. 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. The Ohio National Life Insurance Company Ohio National Life Assurance Corporation www.ncbj.net North Coast Business Journal May 2009 23 Information Technology Bits and Bytes of News By Don Knaur Instead of a one-topic article, this will cover a potpourri of PC information that is currently in the news. There is so much happening in the PC World that I’m sure you often just say, “Since I don’t understand most of the PC News, forget it! (For those of you that have read the aforementioned periodicals, please forgive the puns.) I will try to translate some of the most important things in the news that might affect you into English from Geek Speak. Item 1: What the IT Pro’s think of Microsoft’s Windows future. When 1,100 Corporate IT Officers were interviewed recently, 93% of their companies were still using Windows XP as their primary Operating System (OS). Over 80% of them said that they were going to skip Windows Vista and migrate straight to Windows 7. It is well known that every IT Manager hates a mass migration. It is a black eye for Microsoft that they would rather migrate to an OS that they haven’t even seen rather than to Vista, which they have seen and has been in use for some time now. Over 140 of the IT Managers hope to have started their migration to Windows 7 within a year from now which is less than six months after the scheduled release. Item 2: 2008 was a banner year for Malware. According to Symantec Corp., author of Norton Anti-virus, they saw over 1,650,000 new pieces of Malware in 2008. Malware includes Viruses, Spyware, Extortionware and any other bad software, other than Vista that you can think of. That means that over 4,500 new gremlins are being born every day. When you see numbers like that, it makes it much easier to understand why we stress updating your anti-virus software and backing up your data every day. Item 3: Malware will be worse in 2009. Panda Software, a competitor of Symantec, released numbers for the first quarter of 2009. They said that when they compared the first quarter of this year to the first quarter of 2008, there was a 31.5% increase in new species of Malware released. Even if this growth slows down so that it only averages a 25% growth for the year that will mean well over 2,000,000 releases of new Malware this year. To continue the math, that is over 5,600 newbies per day. No wonder I had a customer set a new record for me last week. I had found over 123,000 infected files on his PC before I decided to just reformat and reload his hard drive. Remember, the longer you wait to deal with one of these bad boys, the more time “he” has had to invite “his friends” over to play. Item 4: Hardware companies have just announced the newest old thing! Most major Computer Manufacturers have just released or have announced intensions to release the latest old innovation, the All-in-One PC. They say this is the latest thing in new hardware and everyone should want one. However, I remember back in 1984, when I was drooling over the thought of buying a Kaypro 10. This magical $3,500 machine had two 5-1/4” floppy drives and a 10-megabyte hard drive. On top of that, it was portable, all you had to do was flip up the keyboard and snap it into place and then you could take it anywhere you wanted to lug 35 pounds of equipment. The next all-in-one machine, not a laptop, that I remember was and still is the iMac. After I had worked on a few iMac’s, I started to refuse to work on Apple Equipment. iMac parts cost the earth and you had at least ten times the labor to install them compared to a standard PC. In all fairness, the new all-in-ones do use LCD touch screens which will improve them over past models. However, I still foresee three major drawbacks to them, not the least of which, is price. The few prices I’ve seen go from $900 for an E-machine to over $2,500. The second problem is while some manufacturers are using notebook processors in their units, not all of them are and I foresee heat issues arising quickly. Finally, we will be going back to having to buy proprietary parts and probably labor issues like I experienced with iMac’s. This means that repair costs are going to be exorbitant. Those were a synopsis of what I thought were the major stories that will appear in the June periodicals that will be available later this month. Since I am writing this in April that means, by the time you read about this in the periodicals, there will probably be another 400,000 pieces of Malware available to be on our PC’s. Have a happy Memorial Day! Don is the CWO (Chief Working Officer) of Help-Desk, Ohio, a complete computer service center, located in Suite A of the Courtlee Interiors’ Building, 2499 W. Market in Tiffin. Don has a degree in Computer Programming from Tiffin University and has been an Information Technology Professional for over 20 years. He started HelpDesk, Ohio in the spring of 1996 and opened his shop in March 2001. Don welcomes calls for advice or information at 419-448-8020. Energy Tax Incentives continued from page 11 pump, fuel cell, small wind energy, and 30% grant, but some qualify only for a smaller 10% grant. To earn a grant, the solar electric property. Tax credits for alternative fuel pumps. facility must be placed in service in 2009 The new law increases the alternative or 2010, or construction must begin in refueling property credit for businesses to either of those years and must be completed prior to termination of the 50% for 2009 and 2010. Credit for investment in advanced credit. energy facilities. The new law establishes Vehicles. The new law provides a tax a new manufacturing investment tax credit for purchases of plug-in electric credit for investment in advanced energy vehicles ranging from $2,500 to $7,500 facilities, such as facilities that manufacture depending on battery capacity. The new components for the production of law also restores and updates the electric renewable energy, advanced battery vehicle credit for plug-in electric vehicles technology, and other innovative next- that would not otherwise qualify for the larger plug-in electric drive vehicle credit generation green technologies. Grants in lieu of electricity production and provides a tax credit for plug-in credit and energy credit. Under current electric drive conversion kits. law, taxpayers’ are allowed to claim a There is more specific information on production tax credit for electricity what improvements qualify for many of produced by certain renewable energy these credits on the Energy Star Web site, facilities and an investment tax credit for www.energystar.gov. Click on the Tax certain renewable energy property. These Credits for Energy Efficiency button on tax credits help attract private capital to that site for detailed information. If you would like more details about this invest in renewable energy projects. Current economic conditions have or any other aspect of the new law, please severely undermined the effectiveness of consult your tax advisor. these credits. As a result, the new law (Author’s note: This article is not allows taxpayers to receive a grant from intended to offer professional tax advice. the Treasury Department in lieu of tax Please consult your tax advisor.) credits. Most facilities are eligible for a 24 May 2009 North Coast Business Journal www.ncbj.net Firelands Regional Medical Center Receives Trauma Status Firelands Regional Medical Center was recently granted provisional status as a Level 3 Trauma Center by the Ohio Department of Health and the Ohio Department of Public Safety. As a provisional trauma designated facility, Firelands Regional Medical Center provides the immediate availability of specialized surgeons, physician specialists, anesthesiologists, nurses, resuscitation and life support equipment, and operating rooms on a 24-hour basis to care for severely injured patients. Provisional status can be granted from the state following a consultative site visit from the American College of Surgeons. Full verification as a trauma center is officially granted by the American College of Surgeons following a period of operation as a provisional trauma center. To best explain why the community benefits from having a local hospital designated as a Level 3 trauma center, Frederic H. Itzkowitz, DO, Trauma Program Medical Director at Firelands Regional Medical Center shares, “Recent administrative rule changes have prompted hospitals to look at becoming verified as trauma centers and impact where people receive healthcare services in trauma situations. The administrative rules require that certain traumatic injuries be diverted from the community to a trauma center. Thus, the patient loses the ability to choose where to be cared for and to choose to be cared for close to home. Furthermore, local EMS units would be required to leave the community to transport some trauma patients, which could stress local EMS resources and jeopardize the safety of the community.” From the perspective of the Emergency Center, “Providing top quality trauma care requires the emergency room physicians and ER staff to work closely and expeditiously with other specialists and support staff within the hospital,” says Mark D. Schmiedl, MD, Board Certified Emergency Room Physician and Co-Chief of the Medical Staff at Firelands Regional Medical Center. “While Firelands has always provided the level of coordinated care required to be a trauma center, the official trauma designation now allows mid-level trauma patients to stay at Firelands for care so they can remain close to home. The designation tells patients that we adhere to a higher level of care.” Firelands Level 3 Trauma Center is designed to serve the area communities that do not have immediate access to a Level 1 or Level 2 trauma center. There are four levels of trauma centers. The difference in designated trauma levels is in resources available at the trauma center. A Level 3 trauma center can provide prompt assessment, resuscitation, emergency operations and stabilization of the trauma patient, as well as arrange for possible transfer to a facility that can provide a higher level of definitive trauma care, should the situation call for that. “It is important for those in our community to recognize the value of having a designated Trauma Center in Sandusky,” says Sheri Johnson, BSN, RN, Trauma Program Manager at Firelands Regional Medical Center. “Trauma is the leading cause of death among Americans under 44 years of age with the leading causes of trauma being motor vehicle accidents, falls, and assaults. The Ohio Trauma Law establishes rules to identify trauma patients and selects appropriate transport destinations. It establishes transfer rules between trauma centers and non-trauma hospitals. It makes Ohio an inclusive The Joint Commission, providing rapid treatment for system wherein any trauma center verified by the stroke, as well as education on stroke prevention and American College of Surgeons is a legal trauma recognition of symptoms. Many stroke patients transport destination.” begin their care in the emergency room. Additionally, Johnson continues, “Firelands began looking into all physicians and nurses in the Emergency Room are trauma center status when the administrative changes certified in Advanced Life Support, Pediatric Life occurred. Firelands is committed to serving the Support and Trauma. healthcare needs of the community, and pursuing the status of trauma verification further fulfills that commitment.” Currently, Firelands operates the largest ER in the area, seeing on average over 45,000 patients per year. Over the past year, Currently providing Firelands expanded its ER the area’s only Wound by nine additional beds, Care Center, Firelands now providing 32 beds in Regional Medical total in the ER. Also Center will now begin relatively new is Firelands offering Hyperbaric Emergency QuickCare Oxygen Therapy services, which triages and (HBOT) (beginning in treats those patients with late April). Most less urgent ER needs such as commonly associated fractures, sprains, strains, with the treatment of respiratory infections, d e c o m p r e s s i o n minor injuries and sickness, HBOT helps lacerations. By separating boost the body’s less urgent patients from healing process in critical patients, Emergency patients with QuickCare patients’ “door conditions such as to discharge” averages are crush injuries, significantly shorter than necrotizing soft tissue may require 20 – 60 treatments. using the ER. “Treatment is a relatively comfortable infections, osteomyelitis, radiation Unique to this area, all tissue damage, skin grafts and flaps, process,” says Albert V. Vargas, MD, patients using Firelands ER and diabetic wounds. Medical Director of the Wound Care services and Emergency According to Sarah Kaufman, Director Center at Firelands Regional Medical QuickCare services are seen of Firelands Regional Medical Center’s Center. “The chamber is equipped by an Emergency Room Wound Care Center, “Hyperbaric w i t h twoPhysician who is Board oxygen therapy is a treatment in which way microphones and speakers and Certified in Emergency the patient breathes 100% oxygen patients can watch TV, listen to music, Medicine. Additionally, inside a pressurized chamber. The nap, or talk with the chamber operator. Firelands Emergency Room treatment quickly delivers high The most difficult part of the process is the only ER in the five- concentrations of oxygen to the that patients experience is the pressure county area accredited as a bloodstream, assists in the healing in the ears, which occurs during Chest Pain Center by the process of wounds and is effective in ascension and descension. Patients are Society of Chest Pain fighting certain types of infections. It coached on different techniques to Centers. The Chest Pain also stimulates the growth of new help remedy the situation.” Center’s protocol driven blood HBOT is recognized as a successful vessels and improves and systematic approach to circulation.” adjunctive treatment by the American patient management allows HBOT is administered in a transparent, Medical Association, Medicare and physicians to reduce time to cylindrical chamber. The patient is most commercial insurers. For more treatment during the critical made comfortable on a cot and while information about Hyperbaric Oxygen early stages of a heart attack, in the chamber, the patient has full Therapy, call Firelands Regional Medical when treatments are most 360-degree visibility through the Center’s Wound Care Center at 419effective, and to better transparent enclosure. The treatment 557-6363 or visit www.firelands.com. monitor patients when it is (which usually lasts 90 – 120 minutes Firelands Regional Medical Center is a not clear whether they are in total) involves “descending” for five 401-bed, full service, not-for-profit having a coronary event. to seven minutes to an atmospheric hospital. Serving the five-county Such observation helps pressure 2 to 2-1/2 times that of the region, Firelands provides ensure that a patient is outside pressure. At the end of comprehensive diagnostic, medical, neither sent home too early treatment, the patient gradually surgical, emergency and rehabilitation nor needlessly admitted. ascends to normal pressure, which services for people of all ages. For more Firelands Regional Medical typically takes five to seven minutes, information about Firelands Regional Center is also certified as a before exiting the chamber. On average, Medical Center visit www.firelands. Primary Stroke Center by a patient’s therapy treatment program com. Firelands to Introduce Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy www.ncbj.net North Coast Business Journal May 2009 25 The Well-Booked Business By Cathy Allen A few years ago I was doing some work at a large state agency. The deputy director to whom I reported had a habit of assigning me tasks that were outside my talent range while he struggled to do things I had been specifically hired in to do. Over and over, I offered to assume responsibility for tasks I happen to be good at, but he shut me out. On several occasions I asked for a meeting to discuss my job duties, but my pleas were ignored. Desperate, I looked into his bookcase one day for something I might borrow, read, and employ as a connection with him. I seized on First Break All the Rules because I knew it was chock-full of good advice for people like this deputy whose talents are indisputable, but whose inability to effectively supervise others causes chaos on the team. In the end, I couldn’t connect with him, but I read the book to my great benefit and returned it shortly after offering my resignation. I hope he reads it someday. First Break All the Rules: What the World’s Greatest Managers Do Differently By Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman, Gallup Organization Simon and Schuster, 1999 PRIMARY THEME/SUMMARY: Here’s a book written by Gallup Organization researchers who interviewed more than 80,000 people about their experiences at work. They report that for best performance each employee must be in the right role, be motivated and supported, and be handled by the manager according to his or her unique needs. Because one size does not fit all, approaches to improving performance vary from person to person, work group to work group. A single percent increase in employee satisfaction levels can lead to giant increases in a company’s bottom line. KEY LEARNINGS: • Contrary to conventional wisdom, most employees are not motivated primarily by financial reward. Employee performance is a product of employee satisfaction, which is determined by how they answer the 12 questions in the box below. • Time spent trying to get someone to perform a task for which they have no talent is time wasted. It is more productive to craft roles around the talents of the people you have and recruit others with talent for the roles you still need. • “Talent” differs from “skills” and “knowledge.” Here, talent means a recurring pattern of thought, feeling, or behavior that is integral to a person’s character and can be relied upon. Talents fall into three categories: thinking, striving, and relating. The best managers know what talents they need in the people on their teams, and they recruit for those. Skills and knowledge can be taught to people with a talent for the role. • Conventional wisdom suggests that the boss must be in control of his or her people, but in reality, this management style reduces motivation and diminishes each individual’s contribution. A more productive approach is to paint a picture of what excellence looks like and allow each individual to find his or her way there. Great managers know to value the outcome more than the action steps, and that outcomes must be communicated. • Manage around weaknesses, and focus on what people are good at, desire to do, and have innate talent for. The rule to break here is the Golden Rule: Treat each person the way that person wants to be treated. • When a person is excelling in his or her job, that person’s talents are matched to the role being performed. Excellence in one area does not necessarily mean excellence in another. A great waitress, for example, might become a great manager or she might not, depending on her natural talents. • Choosing the right people requires asking the right interview questions and listening for clues to talents. Putting people in the right roles and increasing performance through strengths-based evaluations also require forethought and effort. TOOLS: Five appendices in the book provide additional resources, including the Talent List and The Gallup Path to Business Performance. The Twelve Questions 1. Do I know what is expected of me at work? 2. Do I have the materials and equipment I need to do my work right? 3. At work, do I have the opportunity to do what I do best everyday? 4. In the last seven days, have I received recognition or praise for doing good work? 5. Does my supervisor, or someone at work, seem to care about me as a person? 6. Is there someone at work who encourages my development? 7. At work, do my opinions seem to count? 8. Does the mission/purpose of my company make me feel my job is important? 9. Are my coworkers committed to doing quality work? 10. Do I have a best friend at work? 11. In the last six months, has someone at work talked to me about my progress? 12. This last year, have I had opportunities at work to learn and grow? Cathy Allen is the owner of Creative Option C, LLC, a consulting firm in Port Clinton dedicated to helping groups and organizations invent solutions together. By developing feedback from stakeholders, planning strategically, and taking the time to get everyone on the same page, groups can achieve greater levels of success than they ever imagined – all while bringing projects in under budget. To learn more about how Creative Option C can help you and your organization, call 419-732-1770 or check out www.CreativeOptionC. com. Also posted there are additional book synopses, original articles, and information about our monthly book discussion group at the Huron Public Library Terra HVAC Students Turn Donation into Donation Several years ago, Terra Community College received a donation of window air conditioners and they recently paid that generosity forward. Last month, a group of Terra heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) students delivered 11 fully-functioning air conditioners to Sue Daugherty, Director of Serving Our Seniors, located in Sandusky. MSC Industrial Supply Co. of Tiffin had given 23 Fedders window air conditioners to the Terra HVAC program back in 2005. They were new units but were of the scratch-and-dent variety, according to assistant professor Tim Roth. “Instead of just taking them apart for parts, we thought maybe we could prepare them for someone to use,” Roth said. “Senior citizens came to mind right away.” So Roth offered the idea to his current Fast Track HVAC class. “I told them once they were done with their class projects, they could either go home or come in here and work on the air conditioners, and make as many operate as possible” Roth said. “I’m so proud because every one of them chose to help.” The students removed damaged housings, tested compressors, fans and air temperature, and they recorded information and repacked the units for delivery. Pictured at right, Terra Fast Track HVAC students test operation of the air conditioners to donate to Serving Our Seniors. 26 May 2009 North Coast Business Journal have permanently closed leaving many local residents without a job. Our city employees and staff have had to make concessions and share in certain costs as never before. I am proud of the fact that Vermilion is not forced to reduce the number of fire fighters and police officers to live within the city’s budget like so many cities around us. Financial stresses upon our general fund could certainly be relieved with the placement of a levy for police operations and equipment. It would not be that different from the levies we currently have for our fire department. It could allow us to pave more roads and enhance more of our aging infrastructure needs with the tax dollars we would free up within our general fund. But now is not the time to add new taxes upon the residents, many who now have incomes that are very nearly at their tipping point. Many of this administrations departments’ staffing levels are below a critical need and many more roads should be repaired but it cannot be done directly and solely upon the backs of the residents who pay their income and property taxes to the city of Vermilion. Today, amid the storms of national economic uncertainty the state of our city remains rock solid upon the shores of a changing landscape. As jobs and opportunities in communities all around us erode away, Vermilion rests firmly upon a bedrock www.ncbj.net of fiscal discipline. Projects for the betterment of all our residents are being achieved and the foundations for new business ventures are being laid. We are and will continue to weather storms of uncertainty because we have made the proper preparations and like the storms of wind and rain we know that they too will pass. For our residents who are struggling, I am confident, that the brighter better days will come again soon. May God bless you and all who live and work here. Sidebar -- After sending us the text of her March speech, the Mayor sent these additional updated comments: “…I would like to specially note the financial accomplishments: our General Fund balance went from $90,000 at 2005 year-end to $1,289,996 at 2008 year-end. Also, we now have our water and sewer infrastructure in place to accommodate development in our industrial park which has the designation as a foreign trade zone. We have a new “official” city Web site which we are preparing to use a tool for economic development and growth. We have hired Silverlode Consulting Firm to assist with Web site information and basic planning, making certain that we maintain our harbor town atmosphere while encouraging growth and development. As you are well aware, our natural assets are the draw for our visitors and we plan to preserve them.” "Vermilion" Continued from page 5... planning, fiscal responsibility and a continued emphasis to our commitment to all the citizens of Vermilion and its neighbors. At the national level there is an ongoing conversation about the federal government’s economic recovery and stimulus program and just what it means to us here in Vermilion, so let us take a moment and review vermilion’s role in the big picture. To date this administration has submitted nearly one dozen different projects, totaling over seven point nine million dollars to the federal government’s initiative for consideration. Of those projects it is my hope that the water tower rehabilitation at high bridge road, the shoreline erosion control and beach enhancements at Showse Park and the sanitary sewer and storm water rehabilitation projects receive favorable consideration, so that all areas of our great city can reap the benefits of the stimulus plan put forward by the federal government. It would indeed be wonderful to fund all the projects we have lined up, but the truth is that the nation is in a recession, unemployment is at its highest point in twenty-five years and families everywhere are struggling. Home sales are down from a yearly average of 250 to 119 homes sold last year and home values, according to local estimates, are down twenty percent as well. Businesses like Andretti Dodge, Bailey’s Hardware and Ponderosa F I S H E R - T I T U S M E D I C A L C E N T E R Award-Winning Healthcare Ranked Among the Top 10% in the Nation for Outstanding Patient Experience™ by HealthGrades 2009 Fisher-Titus Medical Center is the recipient of The 2009 Outstanding Patient Experience Award by HealthGrades, a leading independent health-care ratings company. This prestigious ranking is further assurance that at Fisher-Titus, our patients are more than just “numbers” to us. They are our neighbors, friends and families and we are proud to provide them with the outstanding personal care they deserve and have come to expect at FTMC. We thank our employees, physicians and volunteers for the dedicated and compassionate care they provide everyday to our patients. And we thank you — our community members — for choosing Fisher-Titus Medical Center as your health-care provider. FTMC’s Laura Razo earns Registered Respiratory Therapist Certification Laura Razo, a respiratory therapist at Fisher-Titus Medical Center, has successfully completed the written and clinical simulation examinations of the National Board for Respiratory Care. She is now a Registered Respiratory Therapist. Razo, of Norwalk, received her associate’s degree in respiratory care from Bowling Green State UniversityFirelands Campus in December 2008. She is one of 22 registered respiratory therapists on Fisher-Titus Medical Center’s Pulmonary Medicine staff www.ncbj.net www.ftmc.com Read the North Coast Business Journal Online! www.ncbj.net North Coast Business Journal and maintenance for the old hospital building.” The hospital’s administration and Board of Trustees agreed that, if the building and property were not sold by the spring of 2009, demolition of the building would begin. will occur in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. Ervin said that the community has even benefitted from the “end of life” span of the hospital building. The Tiffin Fire Department and fire departments from surrounding counties have used the vacated building for “real life, real time” simulated training exercises by local firemen over the past three months. “These exercises have been invaluable in providing us with the opportunity to train in an environment we often don’t have available to us,” Tiffin Fire Chief Bill Ennis said. “We recently battled two fires, one in Bascom and one in Tiffin, which emphasized the need for this type of training. The chiefs at all of the fire departments appreciated the opportunity to help make our fire services safer.” Due to the numerous donations of furnishings, non-medical equipment and other items left behind that Mercy provided to local non-profit agencies, Ervin stressed that the legacy of the 1913 building will continue to live through those agencies and the services they provide to the community. Hospital leaders provided information to residents and representatives of businesses living adjacent to the old hospital on West Market Street, Hopewell Avenue, and Lindsay Avenue on April 2nd. Twenty-four were in attendance for the session, including Tiffin Mayor Jim Boroff and Fire Chief Ennis. Thornton and Ervin explained the demolition project and Mike Abdoo from Abdoo Wrecking was also present to answer questions. Residents were assured that the utmost in care will be taken to minimize disruptions to the neighborhood. May2009 27 Old Mercy Hospital Scheduled for Demolition Much local history was born at 485 West Market Street, the address of the original Mercy Hospital of Tiffin for the past ninety-five years. The decision to build the innovative new facility at 45 St. Lawrence Drive was reached following a 24-month strategic assessment involving the hospital’s leadership team and Board of Trustees. The existing facility was severely landlocked and would have required at least five years to renovate. The cost of renovations would far surpass the expense of constructing a new, technologically advanced facility on a new, expansive campus with room for future expansion. The new facility places patientcentered care at the forefront of daily operations, providing highly desired patient amenities (such as all private rooms) and locating diagnostic departments that are conveniently accessible from the front entrance. The new facility is proving to be a valuable tool for attracting physicians and other healthcare professionals as well. Nearly a dozen new doctors have joined the medical staff since the new hospital opened last July. The original Mercy Hospital of Tiffin was vacated on July 27, 2008, with the transfer of its last remaining patients to the new facility on St. Lawrence Drive. “For Sale” signs were placed at the old hospital and the Mercy Community Service Center. The former hospital building is listed with Signature Associates, a Toledobased full service commercial real estate company. “Early on a promise was made to our community that we would not leave an empty building standing for a long period of time,” Dale Thornton, President & CEO of Mercy Hospital of Tiffin, said. “In order to exercise the utmost fiscal responsibility, we needed to minimize the financial impact related to utilities, insurance Erie County Economic Development Corporation Names New Board Members The Erie County Economic Development Corporation, Board of Directors has appointed Ted Kastor, Director of Business Development for Janotta & Herner Inc. in Monroeville, Ohio to the Erie County Economic Development Corp. Board of Directors. Mr. Kastor has been involved in construction in the area for over thirty years. He currently is a member of the Perkins Township Zoning Board of Appeals and previously served on the City of Sandusky Board of Zoning Appeals. Ted is a graduate of LEAD Sandusky and is active in the United Way Campaign, Sandusky Elks Lodge #285 and Plum Brook Country Club. Mr. Kastor resides in Perkins Township with his wife, Denise. The Erie County Economic Development Corporation, Board of Directors has also appointed Bob Warner, City of Sandusky Commissioner, to serve as the Board’s labor liaison. Bob is a longtime member of Painter Local 788 and is trained in labor law, organizing, elections of officers and contract negotiations and enforcement. He has been the Local’s business agent since January 2000. He currently is a liaison to Americans with Disabilities Act Advisory Board, Erie County Council of Governments – Alternate, Planning Commission – Alternate, and with the Administrative Services Department and Fire Department for the City. Mr. Warner resides in Sandusky with his wife, Sami. “Our preference has always been to find a buyer for the 1913 building,” Charles Ervin, Director of Facility & Support Operations, said. “Unfortunately, we have not received any satisfactory offers to this point and feel it is in the community’s best interest for us to move forward with demolition. We will continue to market the land for appropriate future development while the building is being demolished. We will also continue marketing the Mercy Community Service Center. We have no plans to demolish that structure." Abdoo Wrecking of Green Springs, Ohio is the demolition contractor. Staging, or preparation, for the demolition project will begin this month with completion expected by September 30, 2009. The majority of the demolition activities will take place during normal daytime working hours, Monday through Friday with every other Saturday as needed. To ensure safety and security during the demolition project, the site will be well lit and secured with fencing. Ervin said that the public won’t see much exterior change initially and he assured that all demolition work “Building the North Coast” Bu ild ild Bu an d d an De sig n General Contractors FOCHT CONSTRUCTION 1-888-797-7724 John K. Flickinger, CIC e as Le Chamber Discount on Commerical and Health Insurance 30 E. Main St. Norwalk www.flickinger-ins.com 419-668-4406/800-947-3700 28 May 2009 North Coast Business Journal www.ncbj.net Mercy Home Care Offers New Telehealth Monitoring Service Mercy Home Care of Tiffin began offering Telehealth Monitoring on April 22, 2009, according to Coleta Schmidlin, Regional Director of Mercy Home Care. Telehealth Monitoring is designed to assist home care patients coping with Congestive Heart Failure (CHF), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Coronary Artery Disease (CAD). The monitoring system includes an electronic blood pressure cuff, pulse oximeter (to monitor oxygen level in the blood), and weight scales (weight increase is often an early sign of heart failure). Telehealth Monitoring allows a patient to check their own vital signs and poses a set of questions to answer. Information is then transmitted from the monitoring system to a web site that is overseen by Mercy Home Care and then passed along to the patient’s physician. If a problem is suspected, a home care professional can respond immediately. “Patients are taught how to use the system,” Schmidlin says. “Patients appreciate the Telehealth monitoring system because it provides comforting security and there is no extra cost to them or their insurance company as long as they are utilizing the Mercy Home Care team. Studies show that readmissions are reduced by 50 percent for patients utilizing the Telehealth monitoring system.” Schmidlin says that she is very pleased that Mercy Home Care will be able to offer Telehealth as it enhances her home care professionals’ ability to care for patients, provides faster information to their patients’ physicians and helps with cost savings. Safety Council Members Receive Awards accident-free hours beginning on 10/20/1988 and running through 12/31/08. In addition, a $1,000.00 scholarship was awarded to Amber Showman who is pursuing a career in nursing at the University of Toledo. Amber is the daughter of Beverly Crone, safety manager for Sandusky County Safety Council member company Machining Technologies, Inc. of Bellevue. The Sandusky County Safety Council is one of 80 councils throughout the state of Ohio that operate under the auspices of the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation. Safety councils are designed to encourage safety in the At its Safety Awards Banquet held at Ole Zim’s Wagon Shed last month, 52 members of the Sandusky County Safety Council received a total of 77 safety awards from the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation’s Department of Safety & Hygiene either for having zero losttime accidents/illnesses during 2008, or for making significant reductions in such lost-time incidents. 10 members received Special Awards for operating at least 500,000 hours and at least 6 months with no lost time incidents, led by Sandco Industries of Fremont, whose employees have worked 1,851,642 The Old Plat Association, Huron Public Library, Cardinal House Bed & Breakfast, and the Ohio Historic Preservation Office of the Ohio Historical Society will sponsor a Building Doctor Clinic for old-building owners in the Huron, Ohio, area on May 14-15. The clinic features Building Doctors Judith L. Kitchen and Mariangela Pfister of the Ohio Historic Preservation Office. It begins with a free seminar on Thursday, May 14, from 7-9 p.m. at the Huron Public Library, 333 Williams St., Huron. Open to all old-building owners in the area, the seminar will feature guidelines for renovation projects and ways to solve some of the most common problems of buildings dating from 1800 to 1955. On Friday, May 15, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Kitchen and Pfister will be available to visit pre-1955 buildings within five miles of downtown Huron, advising owners on specific technical or design problems by appointment. The on-site consultations are free. The ‘doctors’ examine all kinds of older buildings. Some of the things that typically call for an on-site examination include persistent peeling paint or flaking plaster, a wet basement, deteriorating masonry, and plans for remodeling, additions, or demolitions. Kitchen heads the Technical Preservation Services Department, which advises on the care of older buildings and reviews applications for federal and state rehabilitation tax credits. She holds degrees in architecture, architectural history and business administration from the University of Virginia and The Ohio State University and has taught American architectural history and historic preservation courses at Ohio State for many years. She has written extensively on the subject of rehabilitating old and historic buildings, including the Old-Building Owner’s Manual (Ohio Historical Society, 1983) and Caring for Your Old House (The workplace by providing safety-related educational opportunities at monthly meetings and elsewhere. Membership in the Sandusky County Safety Council is open to all businesses in Sandusky County and surrounding areas. July 1, 2009 marks the beginning of FY10 and the enrollment period for new members. A 2% refund on workers’ comp insurance premiums will be available in FY10 to members that meet Building Doctors Will Be Making Rounds in Huron This Month Preservation Press, 1991). Pfister, technical preservation services manager for the Ohio Historic Preservation Office, manages the Building Doctor program, answers questions about care of older buildings, and works with applicants for a federal Rehabilitation Investment Tax Credit and the Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit. She has developed a wood conservation presentation, has written articles on preservation topics, and continues to work on a series of fact sheets entitled Fast Facts on common old-building maintenance issues. Pfister holds a master’s degree in history from The Ohio State University and bachelor’s degrees in history, English, and secondary education from Capital University. The seminars and visits from the Building Doctors are free, but advance registration is required. To register, visit www.building-doctor.org or call toll free 1-800-499-2470. For more information, contact Lisa Yako of Huron, (419) 433-6233 or old.plat@ gmail.com. The Building Doctor program is made possible in part by a grant from the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Historic Preservation Fund, administered by the Ohio Historic Preservation Office of the Ohio Historical Society. Each clinic is made possible by support from local cosponsors, as well. The Ohio Historic Preservation Office is Ohio’s official historic preservation agency. A part of the Ohio Historical Society, it identifies historic places in Ohio, nominates properties to the National Register of Historic Places, reviews federally-assisted projects for effects on historic, architectural, and archaeological resources in Ohio, consults on the conservation of older buildings and sites, and offers educational programs and publications. the requirements of “active participation” in Safety Council, with an additional 2% discount possible for members that have a significant decrease in the number and/or severity of lost time injuries. Further information about the Sandusky County Safety Council can be obtained by contacting Jim Miranda at the Chamber office, 419-332-1591, or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . www.ncbj.net North Coast Business Journal May 2009 29 On The Move Firelands Occupational Therapists Achieve Certification Firelands Regional Medical Center is pleased to announce that Erika Kemp, MS, OTR/L, and Mary Schmitz, OTR/L, have received Sensory Integration Certification through The University of Southern California Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy (USC) and Western Psychological Services (WPS). Training received to achieve Sensory Integration Certification teaches participants how to apply sensory integration principles in multiple settings to treat various problems, i n c l u d i n g learning and b e h a v i o r disorders, a t t e n t i o n deficits, autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, and developmental Erika Kemp delays. Erika Kemp, MS, OTR/L, is the Supervisor of Occupational Therapy at Firelands Regional Medical Center. Kemp has been employed at Firelands for over one year and has over eight years of clinical experience in Occupational Therapy. She resides in Huron with her husband Chad. Mary Schmitz, OTR/L, is a staff Occupational Therapist at F i r e l a n d s R e g i o n a l Medical Center. Schmitz has been employed at Firelands for over 1 year and has 23 years of c l i n i c a l Mary Schmitz experience in Occupational Therapy. She resides in Amherst with her husband Bob and has three sons. Firelands Pharmacist Appointed Director Of Pharmacy Firelands R e g i o n a l Medical Center is pleased to announce that Jim Spicer, Pharm.D., CACP, recently accepted the position as Director of Pharmacy Services. In addition to his recent promotion, Spicer recently achieved the Certified Anticoagulation Care Provider (CACP) designation by the National Certification Board for Anticoagulation Providers and serves as the director of the Firelands Anticoagulation Clinic. The CACP credential is awarded to those individuals possessing advanced knowledge, skills and techniques in the field of anticoagulation. Currently, less than 2% of pharmacists in the country have the CACP certification. Spicer received a Doctor of Pharmacy from Ohio Northern University and has been an employee at Firelands Regional Medical Center for over five years. He currently resides in Vermilion with his wife Laura and their son. 30 May 2009 North Coast Business Journal measured allows contractors to reach different levels of compliance. The various levels of certification are (from lowest to highest) Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum. Each of these levels requires a number of points awarded for various required components of the construction project. Initially the cost of going Green can be higher than normal code compliant construction, but the longterm savings experienced by implementation of the green concept can save many thousands of dollars over the life expectancy of a structure. Janotta & Herner currently has six other individuals within their company who are in the process of attaining the Accredited Professional status. The attached photo shows the Douglass Law Office building located in Cleveland, Ohio. This is the first Gold Certified LEED building designed and built by JHI. Featured in Cranes Business Journal and WEWS Cleveland Channel 5, this 22,000 SF building was built with many recycled materials from other Cleveland buildings, located near public transportation and even has special parking for low emission vehicles. As we construct new buildings and employ newer and newer technologies to make our lives easier, we can no longer expect the resources that have served us so well for centuries to last for centuries more. Our impact on the environment is up to us all. Janotta & Herner is taking steps to be a part of the solution and not part of the problem. www.ncbj.net Green isn't a Color… It's a Commitment The days of building with regard to only the structure and the site are over. T o d a y ’ s responsible contractors have to take much more into consideration when planning and designing future construction. Janotta & Herner Inc., a Monroeville based Design Build contracting company is making a commitment to Green construction. More and more clients are asking what it takes to have their buildings impact the environment as little as possible. Their concern is not only for the environment, but also for those who will occupy their buildings. Conditioned air filled with vapors from building materials can adversely affect occupant’s health and job performance. These factors coupled with energy costs, impact from commuting vehicles and the effect a new facility has on its neighbors, are all part of designing a Green building. Janotta & Herner is proud to announce Aaron Hauler as their first LEED Accredited Professional. LEED is an acronym for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. LEED was developed by the United States Green Building Council in 1998. The development of a set of standards by which building construction is Schwab NamedNorthwest Representative for Ohio Board Patty Schwab, a registered nurse and Cardiac Rehabilitation Coordinator at Fisher-Titus Medical Center in Norwalk, was recently appointed to the Ohio Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation’s board as the northwest representative for the state of Ohio. OACVPR is a state association dedicated to the improvement of clinical practice, promotion of scientific inquiry, and the advancement of education in the field of cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation. Schwab has been employed at FTMC since 1985 and has served as the Cardiac Rehabilitation Coordinator for 20 years. She has been a registered nurse since 1981. Schwab earned her bachelor of science degree in nursing from Indiana Wesleyan University. She also is the American Heart Association Huron County Regional faculty person for Basic Life Support and Advanced Cardiac Life Support. Schwab and her husband, Randy, reside in Norwalk and have four children. 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 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 Community Hospice Care www.ncbj.net North Coast Business Journal May 2009 31 On The Move New Sales & Marketing Director Named at Edgewood Manor Edgewood Manor Nursing Center is pleased to welcome Carrie Singler McGlothlin as the facility’s new Sales & Marketing Director. She began her position with Edgewood in February. McGlothlin graduated from Sandusky St. Mary Central Catholic High School and then went on to earn a BSBA in Marketing from Bowling Green State University. Before she began in the healthcare industry, most of her professional career was in the Marketing & Sales department at Cedar Point Amusement Park & Resorts. McGlothlin is very active in the Port Clinton City School District. She is a current member of the Strategic Planning Team and the Citizen’s Advisory Council and also a member of the Port Clinton Chamber of Commerce. She resides in Port Clinton with her husband, Michael and their daughters, Morgan & Madison. Memorial Health Care System Names New Vice President Karla Falls has been named the new Vice President for Quality and Organizational Development at Memorial Health Care System (MHCS). A graduate of Central Michigan University (CMU) with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s in health care administration Falls has more than 20 years of health care experience. She has been employed at MHCS since 1986 and is a licensed social worker. In her new role, Falls will lead patient and guest centered initiatives, initiate and oversee quality and performance improvement activities, manage organization-wide continuing education programs as well as take an active role in all quality and patient safety activities that take place at MHCS. Falls’ position is essential in maintaining and improving the quality of care provided by MHCS, she will direct or provide strategic support for all patient and guest service initiatives. The position will be essential in realizing strategic objectives of quality and patient safety at MHCS. Previously at MHCS, Falls served as the Director of The Center for Mental Health and Well Being – which she established, Director of Mental Health and Director of Social Work. BUSINESS MARKETPLACE Design Build General Contractor *Butler Steel Buildings *Site Development *Concrete Work *Demolition *Fire Restoration “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 419-448-1365 www.clouseconstruction.com (419) 684-5502 Fax (419) 684-5756 TOLL FREE 800-356-5125 CASTALIA TRENCHING & READY MIX, INC. EXCAVATING - BUILDING SUPPLIES READY MIX CONCRETE SINCE 1953 4814 SR 269 CASTALIA, OHIO 44824 ONE MILE SOUTH OF CASTALIA 32 May 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. 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 715 South Taft Avenue Fremont, Ohio 43420 Phone 419-332-7321 www.memorialhcs.org