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Charter captains address Asian Carp concerns HURON — Asian carp, fisheries management and business diversification were the topics of the day for more than 200 charter fishing captains at Ohio Charter Captains Conference, held March 6 at the Bowling Green State University-Firelands Campus. Often considered the unofficial start of the charter fishing season, the conference, now in its 29th year, gives captains the latest information to help them maximize profits in a difficult economy. With the invasive bighead and silver carps in the news, this year’s conference included a presentation from Duane Chapman, fisheries biologist at the U.S. Geological Survey Columbia Environmental Research Center in Missouri, who updated captains on the ways the aggressive fish might affect the Great Lakes. Jim Kaster from Ohio Attorney Gen. Richard Cordray’s office expressed his office’s concern about the carp issue and encouraged those captains in attendance to call his office at 800-282-0515 in support of action to keep the fish out of Lake Erie. Additional fisheries issues were addressed by representatives from ODNR Division of Wildlife, with Roger Knight, Lake Erie Program Administrator, speaking on walleye management, and Jeff Tyson, Supervisor of the Sandusky Fisheries Research Unit, addressing the 2010 fisheries population outlook. Ohio Sea Grant Extension Educator Dave Kelch encouraged the captains to add SCUBA and snorkeling charters to their offerings as a way to broaden their business prospects. Sea Grant Extension Educator Tory Gabriel, who organized the conference, hopes attendees came out feeling more informed and prepared for the upcoming charter fishing season. “The Lake Erie charter industry provides unique sport fishing opportunities to a wide range of people who collectively spend $24 million on charter fees, food, lodging, and shopping every year,” he says. “Anything we can do to help these captains succeed in business and understand the Lake Erie resource is going to have a positive effect on the lake as well as the economy.” Ohio Sea Grant Extension is part of Ohio State University Extension and the Ohio Sea Grant College Program, one of 32 NOAA Sea Grant programs dedicated to the protection and sustainable use of marine and Great Lakes resources. For information on Ohio Sea Grant and Stone Lab, visit ohioseagrant.osu.edu.
BUSINESS OCIC from 2B ness to help all Ottawa County companies remain profitable by helping to keep material handling costs as low as possible. Ackerman currently employs 11 full-time employees, one part-time employee and one intern from the University of Toledo. In the last two years, Ackerman has donated forklift services to the Habitat for Humanity, to the Cherry Street Mission, the local American Red Cross for Haiti earthquake relief, and donated a forklift to the Volvo Training Center in the Ottawa County Resource Center. In addition, Paul is the immediate past president of the Ohio Equipment Dealers Association, promotes forklift safety in the work environment, is an active member in the Genoa Chamber of Commerce and University of Toledo’s Center for Family Business and Affinity and is a trustee and past executive board member for the OCIC. In today’s economy, having a successful business means being actively engaged in efforts that reach beyond our local and regional community. Paul Ackerman has understood and embraced this perspective for many years.
Entrepreneur of the Year — Big Sky Saloon
Big Sky Saloon opened in downtown Port Clinton in 2009 and brings a piece of the owners’ love of Montana to Ottawa County. As co-owners of McCarthy’s Irish Pub, another Port Clinton hot-spot, Kelly and Scott Reynolds know how creating a special dining experience is a key ingredient for a successful business. Kelly and Scott located the Saloon in Port Clinton’s historic downtown, renovating an existing building and creating another reason for residents and visitors to come to the downtown district. The Saloon has been referred to as cozy and nostalgic, and offers bar and booth seating for more than 90 people, as well as a loft area that can hold an additional 100 people. The menu at Big Sky Saloon features homemade food from a western-style menu, including three styles of homemade chili and the Jeremiah Johnson, which is known as “a meal fit for four.” Big Sky Saloon also is equipped with a full bar, including 10 types of beers on draft. Accepting the Entrepreneurial Award for Big Sky Saloon was Scott Reynolds.
Economic Development Partner — Lake Erie Business Park
This year, the OCIC recognized the Lake Erie Business Park as Economic Development Partner. Jim McKinney and Dave Fahrbach purchased the former Erie In-
Thursday, March 25, 2010 3B
dustrial Park in December of 2005 from award. The recipient of this award is seoverseas owners Kuhne & Nagel. The lected by the staff of the OCIC, as a way transition from overseas ownership to lo- to recognize and thank an individual who cal ownership opened the door for devel- has committed their time and energy to opment opportunities that the commu- the betterment of the organization and its nity had not seen in several years. mission. The owners renamed the park the Lake This year, the OCIC staff recognized Erie Business Park, and have worked dili- Craig Trick with Star Builders as the Volgently to create a new image for the 460 unteer of the Year. Craig has served as a plus acre property. We have seen façade Trustee of the organization since 2000, as improvements to the 756,000 SF marquee well as serving as a member of the execubuilding and many of the former metal tive board, where he has dedicated countstorage buildings have been torn down less hours toward carrying out the misand the acreage is beginning to turn into sion of the OCIC. green space again. In addition to serving as a trustee and Ottawa County, the City of Port Clin- executive board member, Craig sits on ton and the OCIC have worked with the the Marketing Committee and Business Lake Erie Business Park to install a multi- & Industry Awards committee and was a million dollar public water and sewer in- tremendous asset to the OCIC when we frastructure system to serve existing and were evaluating the viability of building future tenants of the park. The public the spec building. infrastructure improvements played a key As is exemplified in a leader, Craig has role in the $42 million Fenner Dunlop brought vision and balance to the activiexpansion project and the $10 million ties and initiatives of the OCIC. He has ARES project. incorporated his business experience and On top of the partnership to install pub- perspective into the operations of the lic water and sewer, the Lake Erie Business organization, with the hopes of keeping Park has installed a 60 panel solar array Ottawa County a wonderful place to live, and the nation’s first wind cube atop the work and play. 756,000 SF facility together with Crown Battery. The investment in the wind cube and solar array by Crown Battery Auctioneers also lead to the opening Greg Peiffer - www.Ohioauctioneer.com of its Renewable Energy Center, where the comBanners/Signs/Graphics pany is working to power Bumbera Design - www.bumberadesign.com its batteries with renewable energy. The solar arBBQ & Caterers ray was a part of the Ohio Bar-B-Que Bills Ribs & Chicken Shack Solar Tour in 2009 and www.barbequebills.com today provides electricity Bar-B-Que Traveler, Inc. - www.barbquetravelerinc.com to Northern ManufacturGrandma’s Back Yard Barbeque ing’s operation. www.grandmasbackyardbbq.com With the purchase of the industrial park by loBoat Hauling - Land Transporting cal owners, the Lake Erie Dave’s Marine Transport Business Park has seen www.davesmarinetransport.com just the beginnings of its transformation. The viBookkeeping Services sion for promoting and Cut Your Costs Bookkeeping Services implementing renewable www.cutyourcostsbookkeeping.com energy projects is unfoldChambers of Commerce ing and providing benefit back to the private sector. Marblehead - www.marbleheadpeninsula.com This vision, combined Oak Harbor - www.oakharborohio.net with other park improvePort Clinton - www.portclintonchamber.com ments, will serve as a cataPut-in-Bay - www.put-in-bay.com lyst for continued investCommercial & Industrial Painting Contractors ment opportunities for Ottawa County. May Painting Inc. - www.maypainting.com
Community Internet Links
Volunteer of the Year — Craig Trick
Our next award is the Volunteer of the Year
Community Action
WSOS - www.wsos.org
Community Builder
United Way - www.unitedwayottawacounty.org 211 - www.helpclick.org
Construction
Wrights General Contracting www.wrightsgeneralcontracting.com
Counseling
The Giving Tree - www.givingtreecounseling.com
Electric
Wrights Electric - www.wrightsgeneralcontracting.com
Emergency Assistance
Red Cross - www.redcrosstoledo.org Salvation Army - www.thesalarmy.com Underwater Recovery Team - www.diveputinbay.com
Employment and Training Services
Northcoast Jobs Connection (The Job Store) www.northcoastjobs.org
Fitness/Massage
Young Fitness - www.audieyoungfitness.com
Generators
Firelands Mechanical - www.Firelandsmechanical.com
Hair Salon
Hair Quarters - www.hair-quarters.com
Heating & Air Conditioning
Firelands Mechanical - www.firelandsmechanical.com
Local Government
City of Port Clinton - www.ci.port-clinton.oh.us Ottawa County - www.co.ottawa.oh.us Village of Oak Harbor - www.oakharbor.oh.us
Massage Therapy
The Kenny House - www.portclintonmassage.com
Mental Health Addict. Svc.
Mental Heath Recovery Board - www.mhrbeo.com
Developmental Disabilities
Ottawa County Board of Developmental Disabilities www.ocbmr.org
Mentoring Big Brothers-Big Sisters - www.bbbsa.org
Non-Profit Health Care
American Cancer Society - www.cancer.org Stein Hospice - www.steinhospice.org Ottawa County Health Dept. - www.ottawahealth.org
Painting Contractor
PaintNoMore, LLC - www.paintnomoreforever.com
Taxidermy
Mike’s Taxidermy - www.gallery-classics.com
Transportation
OCTA - www.co.ottawa.oh.us
Wedding Officiate
www.tlg-lifeceremony.com
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