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Team NEO back to its roots in JobsOhio role Central economic development duties would resemble group’s original responsibilities By JAY MILLER jmiller@crain.com
MARC GOLUB
Nextant Aerospace, based at the Cuyahoga County Airport in Richmond Heights, turns used Beechcraft jets into new aircraft. Pictured are vice president of manufacturing Jerry Beemis (left) and director of quality assurance Jim Immke.
AEROSPACE FLIES HIGH Industry’s strength and quick recovery has Northeast Ohio companies along for the ride By DAN SHINGLER dshingler@crain.com
T
he aerospace industry, it turns out, is a roomy firstclass cabin that is carrying local companies ranging from paint-maker Sherwin-Williams Co. to small high-tech manufacturers, which say they’re enjoying a sweet ride on the sector’s strength.
Some companies supply traditional parts while others are offering new, innovative components they think will require them to grow substantially here. And one — Nextant Aerospace, based at Cuyahoga County Airport in Richmond Heights — is about to introduce a new aircraft to the market, sort of. It’s taking used Beechcraft 400 jets and turning
With planning under way to serve its role as one of six regional economic development offices under the JobsOhio nonprofit created by Gov. John Kasich, Team NEO is coming full circle. Team NEO’s proposal to be the Northeast Ohio job-creation contractor operating the JobsOhio regional office was due last Friday, July 22, and the acceptance of that proposal won’t be announced until some time in August. But the nonprofit appears positioned to play the central role in a collaborative economic development effort that
was envisioned for it by its founders nearly a decade ago. The plan is for the Cleveland-based nonprofit to oversee economic development for 18 counties, only slightly more than was planned for the original Team NEO. It was never able to play that central role because local politicians and economic development officials were reluctant to share responsibility — and credit — for bringing jobs and industry to their particular corners of the state. Now, they may have no choice. JobsOhio is Gov. John Kasich’s vehicle for channeling state incentives to induce businesses to invest See ROOTS Page 20
INSIDE BlackBerry more often a thing of the past at area companies As security concerns on Apple’s iPhone and Google’s Android operating software have eased, more companies are choosing the latest smart phone technologies and moving away from the BlackBerry. Find out what benefits those phones provide to companies beyond what the BlackBerry offered by reading Chuck Soder’s story on Page 3.
See FLYING Page 21
Management groups fearful of proposal speeding union elections NLRB changes would have ‘profound effect’ By DAN SHINGLER dshingler@crain.com
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The unions are coming! The unions are coming! That’s the cry from pro-management voices in response to National Labor Relations Board recommendations for changes to its rules that dramatically would speed the process for union certification elec-
going to significantly spike the number of employers who are unionized.” Mr. Kirsanow, a former tions once a union has reRepublican appointee to ceived enough signed petithe NLRB, was in Washtion cards from employees ington last week testifying in favor of union represenon behalf of the National tation. Association of Manufac“It is unquestionably Kirsanow turers against the proposed the biggest change to labor law in half a century, and it’s going changes. The recommendations are to have a profound effect,” said subject to public comments until labor lawyer Peter Kirsanow of the Aug. 22, Mr. Kirsanow said. Sometime after Sept. 5, the NLRB Benesch law firm in Cleveland. “It’s
will decide whether to adopt the changes. Mr. Kirsanow expects they will be approved by the board, which is controlled by appointees of President Barack Obama. The biggest change to come about if the changes are adopted is that companies would have far less time to communicate with employees about the possible negative effects of union representation, said Mr. Kirsanow and others who testified before the NLRB in opposition to the changes.
Here in Cleveland, the Greater Cleveland Partnership said it was not yet sufficiently aware of the proposed changes to comment on them, but other pro-business groups around the country have been voicing their opposition to the amendments. Arnold Perl, a lawyer representing the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce, said the changes not only would put employers at a disadvantage, but also run contrary to the goals of the NLRB. See NLRB Page 4
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HIGHER EDUCATION Schools expand their research facilities to draw top talent and federal dollars ■ Page 11 PLUS: ENROLLMENTS ■ CULINARY CURRICULA ■ & MORE
Entire contents © 2011 by Crain Communications Inc. Vol. 32, No. 30