North Coast Business Journal - February 2009 by Paul Wallen

POSTMASTER: TIMELY MATERIAL. PLEASE EXPEDITE.

Celebrating 15 Years of Service Published and Owned by Schaffner Publications, Inc.

FEBRUARY 2009 Vol. 15 No. 2

INSIDE THIS MONTH

FOCUS

Standard Mail U.S. Postage Paid Tiffin, OH 44883 Permit #88

“The Business Voice of Erie, Huron, Ottawa, Sandusky and Seneca Counties”

BELLEVUE

The City: 2009

Can you hear me now?.................2

Legal: Skilled Nursing Care.....5

Taxes: Stay Afloat in Turbulent

Submitted by Jeff Crosby Safety-Service Director Each of us has been touched by the hard times we are presently going through; and yes, we are going through some very hard times, but we will get through them. We always do. Franklin D. Roosevelt said in his Inaugural Address of 1933, while in the throws of the Great Depression, “This great Nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper.” History shows that good times are followed by bad, but the entities that flourish are the ones that realize that bad times are followed by good and are prepared. The

time needed for the U.S. car makers to do the same; 5 hours vs. 13 months. The difference in cost is not only the man hours to make the change, but in production lost. All those costs must be amortized over each and every vehicle that eventually comes off that production

Times ...............9

bring. How has Bellevue prepared? Why is the City of Bellevue better situated for economic growth than other cities? How have we prepared to meet the immediate needs of a new industry and the growth potential of a present industry? 1. Bellevue has made the investment needed to meet the water supply needs to support new industry. No matter what the requirements a new industry would have, Bellevue can meet their water demand. How has Bellevue done that? By making the commitment to bring our present Water Filtration Plant and Water Distribution System up to date. Today, we can produce water faster and of better quality than we could even 5 years ago. We have two new water towers that have permitted the City to meet the water pressure and flow requirements of various industries; even, the plastic industry.

IT: Bargains in LCD Monitors? ... ....................... 15

Sales: Do you have a S.W.O.T. Team? . ......................... 21

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cities that will move ahead are the ones that make the tough decisions which bring them through the bad times and have already prepared for the good times. There was a very telling statistic recently on one of the early news shows. It didn’t really get a lot of press, but probably should have. The statistic was in reference to the time foreign car makers require to change model runs in their plants vs. the

line. Those costs are what help to make U.S. cars far less competitive. Those same issues carry over to our cities; and hopefully, the City of Bellevue has prepared itself better than the US car manufacturers to meet the needs of industry. Bellevue has invested in the infrastructure needed to support industrial growth. Bellevue has prepared for the good times that are coming, and, there will be a turn around. Bellevue is prepared for new industry and the jobs they will

2. We have prepared for the needs of the future by realizing that our water supply comes from a finite source. Our reservoirs are a great asset; however, they only hold so much water. In a time of drought, and

Continued on page 3...

We’re a proud member of the following: Bellevue Area Chamber of Commerce

Elmore Chamber of Commerce

Chamber of Commerce Erie County Chamber of Sandusky County of Commerce

Fostoria Area Chamber of Commerce Genoa Chamber of Commerce

Huron Chamber of Commerce

Milan Chamber of Commerce

Put-in-Bay Chamber Oak Harbor Area of Commerce Chamber of Commerce

Vermilion Chamber 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

February 2009

North Coast Business Journal

When my 86 year-old mother-in-law moved in with us last fall, my wife and I decided to add a telephone “landline” so Grandma, or “G.G.” as we By Jeffrey H. Bryden, Editor call her, would have her own phone and be able make and receive calls from “Excellent Customer Service.” Words that children and grandchildren. It all started successful companies quite normally. A phone call to a pleasant live up to. And words, if taken for granted representative who took down all kinds or ignored, that will foretell the impending of information about me to run a financial check, to see what services I wanted, and death of a concern. Small companies following this credo to suggest without too much pressure, will grow and prosper and turn into big what other services (phone, cable, companies. But then they need to internet) could be bundled with the basic remember what “brung ‘em to the party.” contract. We agreed on some services and Larger size is no excuse for abandoning on the fact that the $90+ one-time installation fee could be spread over the the customer. Maybe I’ve taken good service for first three bills. And that, after the first granted recently, as more and more month or so, landline and wireless charges companies have recognized the need to could be combined on one bill. In about two weeks, the linemen were put the customer at the heart of their operations. So I was more than a little there, putting in a new exterior line and surprised and disappointed with my installing a new box on the outside of the recent new customer experience with a house. An existing interior line was wired major phone utility. To protect their to the box and we were off and running identity, I’ll refer to them as simply the – G.G. was connected to the outside world! “V company.” About a week or so went by and I had I’ll share my ongoing experiences with you to illustrate what can go wrong, how my first mail from V company. I received things should NOT be handled and, to be a computer-generated form letter stating perfectly honest with you, to take that they could not give me a telephone advantage of this column to vent a little. landline since their credit check with Experian did not confirm my identity. I filed it away with a chuckle – we already had phone service! Maybe I should have been alerted to ill winds blowing my way? About a month went by. In December, a “Suspension Notice” bill from the V company arrived, saying that I had “The Business Voice of Erie, Huron, Ottawa, not paid the first bill and Sandusky and Seneca Counties” that without payment in 205 S.E. Catawba Road, Suite G, the next few days, my phone service would be Port Clinton, Ohio 43452 terminated. Since the 419-734-4838 • Fax 419-734-5382 holiday mail service was slow and sporadic, I made Publisher JOHN SCHAFFNER the assumption that the first bill had been lost/ Editor JEFFREY H. BRYDEN mis-directed/slowed up jbryden@ncbj.net and immediately rushed a Director of Sales DAVE KAHLER payment check by return dkahler@ncbj.net mail. Another month went by, Creative Services Manager HEIDI RIFE still no landline phone hrife@ncbj.net bill. Then another Accounting Manager CINDY CONSTIEN “Suspension Notice” cindy@thebeacon.net arrived, with the same cryptic accusation and the Layout & Graphic Design JENNIFER DAUBEL pay up or get cut off jdaubel@thebeacon.net alternatives. No holiday mail problems in January, Circulation Manager BRUCE DINSE I thought. And double checking my wireless bills North Coast Business Journal is owned and published monthly by Schaffner Publicarevealed no landline tions, Inc., and is mailed free to chamber of commerce members in a five-county area: charges there either. So I Erie, Huron, Ottawa, Sandusky, and Seneca counties. called the V company. 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 Once I worked my way form without the expressed, written consent of the Publishers. through all the automated We welcome submissions from readers in the form of letters, articles or photographs, phone prompts and although we reserve the right to edit and condense any articles submitted. Submissions entered my phone number should be sent to the editor at the above address. Include a stamped, self-addressed and account number, I envelope if you would like an item returned. We prefer material (copy & photos) to be was connected to a submitted electronically.

Can you hear me now?

www.ncbj.net pleasant representative who listened to my questions about missing bills and suspension threats. She verified my correct billing address but was clueless why suspension notices got through, but not bills. She promised to mail me copies of the first bills (that was on January 19th.) I asked why the charges weren’t combined with my wireless bills. She told me that being “late” with my first payment meant that the two wouldn’t be combined for six months – so that I could prove myself to be a good credit risk (though I haven’t missed a wireless bill payment in 12 years!) I did not want to leave G.G. “high and dry” without phone service and needed to pay the amount mentioned in the suspension notice promptly. So I decided to go online to the V company Web site. Although I have had an online account and three wireless phones with the company’s other division, I had to open a new online account with the landline division. Okay. Now the story gets even more interesting! After establishing my sign-on name and personal password, I proceeded to review my bill. Imagine my surprise when I saw that the amount I had rushed to pay in December had not been credited to the account. I called again, went through all the prompts, and reached yet another representative. She asked me lots of identification questions, then informed me that my payment had not been received. By this time, I had reviewed my bank statement and told her that there had been an electronic transfer of the funds to the V company on December 23. She said that even though the funds appeared to transfer, that the actual payment “often takes weeks” and that this “happens all the time.” Note that this was almost four weeks since the electronic transfer – talk about float! (My banker has since told me this V company story is pure BS.) The rep suggested that I could pay the current amount online. Hold the phone! When I returned to my new online account, I clicked on “Pay my Bill.” Imagine my surprise when I scrolled down to payment options to find that the checking account withdrawal box had already been filled out! With someone else’s name and account number! Back on the phone, through more prompts and information entering, to reach V company representative number 4. She seemed to be as surprised as I was, and could not explain how someone else’s name and account number was on an account I had just opened. The mystery man’s last name was the same as mine, and she kept asking if I knew him. I did not. I told her that a dishonest person (not me) could have clicked on the “pay” button next to this man’s checking account and had the money deducted from his account. I told her I wanted to pay my bill using a credit card, but did not feel safe entering my information since I now had serious doubt about V company security and privacy practices. She said it was beyond her control and that I would need to speak to someone at the V company’s e-Center. She tried to connect me but after a 10 minute hold, I

was disconnected. On to representative number 5. No luck there – no explanation, but she gave me the E-center phone number. Tried the number, went through a series of prompts and waited almost 20 minutes. Gave up. Getting desperate, I went online again to my new V account, noted that the other man’s name and account information were still there. Also saw that my account still had the December past due amount still posted. But I entered my credit card information, paid the full amount, then deleted my credit card information. I e-mailed V company contacts under the “Fraud” and “Privacy” contacts, left a variety of voice mail messages and waited to hear about the billing and the mystery man on my account. Later that day, feeling less-thancomfortable with my V company experience, I went back online only to find that I now had a CREDIT balance to my account for the amount previously shown as non-paid in December! Is it over? Not yet. Late in the day, I received a recorded “courtesy” phone call from the V company informing me that I was overdue with my payments and my service would be terminated. I held on the line and when I finally got V rep number 6, I tried not to take his head off as I explained my woes. He had no solutions but mentioned the e-Center. I told him that I had no luck in reaching them. He told me that he would try to contact them and would call me when he did. About one hour later, he called me back with the e-Center rep on the line (He said he had been on hold for them for forty-five minutes.) The e-Center rep had no explanation about the appearance of a mystery man and his checking account information on a new account, but went in and deleted all that information as we talked. In the last week, I have received three phone calls from V company survey reps asking if I am pleased with their services and if my problems were taken care of. Would I recommend them to others? How would I rate them on a scale of 0-10? I tell them the truth – I rate you poorly. Are my problems solved? I don’t know. Remember the promise on January 19th to send me copies of my first two month’s bills? We put this paper to bed today (the 29th) and I have yet to see anything. Now, here I sit with a credit on my landline account, a sore finger from pushing all the prompt buttons, a cauliflower ear from all the time holding to talk to someone, and most of all a greatly-diminished respect for a major communications company that has fallen into disrepair where one hand doesn’t seem to know what the other hand is doing. I’m sure thankful for my wireless service. V company. This has been my chronology. Your own systems told me each time that “these calls may be monitored or recorded…” I suggest you listen to them. Can you hear me now?

www.ncbj.net "Bellevue" Continued from the cover... are a great asset; however, they only hold so much water. In a time of drought, and like the good times following the bad, droughts do follow floods, we will need additional water in the future and Bellevue is prepared. Bellevue has an agreement with Erie County to purchase water. That agreement has allowed the City to shut down our system for the major repairs and upgrades we are in the process of accomplishing to the present Water Filtration Plant. As part of that agreement, Bellevue purchases 150,000 gallons a day from Erie County; but should we need it, there is no limit to the water we can have. The agreement will allow Bellevue to move into the future and meet our water needs. That agreement is part of the City’s Comprehensive Master Plan, set in motion several years ago. 3. Bellevue has made a major investment in the Water Pollution Control Facility (Waste Water Plant). The Plant has been upgraded to handle twice the daily amount of water we are handling today. The solids removal capability of the Plant has been increased dramatically with the addition of a filter press and Green Mountain Composting Technology. That technology will allow the City too meet the needs of new industry in a matter of days, not months or years. Again, a part of our Comprehensive Master Plan. 4. The City has annexation agreements with 3 of

North Coast Business Journal the 4 surrounding townships. These annexation agreements provide for the expedited annexation of land into the City. Should industry chose to locate in the surrounding townships and wish to annex into the City for water and waste water services, the annexation can take place immediately without issues to the City or the townships. This is accomplished without disruption to the particular township’s tax base. As with water, this is a part of our Comprehensive Master Plan. 5. The A. D. Wolfe Industrial Park was completed recently and is ready for new industry or the expansion of any of the present industries already located in Bellevue. Streets and infrastructure, water, wastewater and rail are in and ready. 6. The State Route 4 Turnpike Toll Plaza is complete and we now have close accessibility to the Ohio Turnpike. Bellevue sits in a very strategic position. In addition to U. S. Route 20, State Routes 4, 18, and 269, also run through Bellevue. From Bellevue, an industry can service 70% of the population of the United States within 24 hours. With transportation costs continuously rising, our location makes sense to any industry’s strategic plan. 7. Bellevue has one of the largest rail yards in the Country. Norfolk Southern Railway has a major hub and rail yards located at Bellevue. With transportation costs rising, this strategic location becomes a critical decision for any industry. The accessibility to rail is a major plus for the City in that decision making process.

February 2009

8. The investment in the extension of the Ohio Route #269 Grade Separation (railroad overpass) has allowed access to the Route #4 Ohio Toll Plaza to the industries located on the south side of the City, as well as, allowing the industries located on the north side of the City uninterrupted access to all points south. 9. The close proximity of Bowling Green State University’s Firelands College, EHOVE Vocational Career Center, and Terra Community College are a major asset to the City. Any industry looking to locate in the area or an industry looking to expand must consider the availability of a trained work force. Firelands, along with EHOVE and Terra have prided themselves in keeping abreast of the training requirements of our local industry. While, new programs can be tailored to industries looking to locate in our area. 10. The recently constructed Bellevue Hospital welcomed patients in March 2005. This $36 Million Dollar state-of-the-art hospital offers excellent health care. To complement the existing facility, as well as, to accommodate the professional staff and the needs of patients, the Board of The Bellevue Hospital opened negotiations with Firelands Regional Medical Center of Sandusky, Ohio, with the result being the recently completed construction of the Kidney Dialysis Center. In conjunction with offering excellent health care,

Continued on page 4...

February 2009

North Coast Business Journal

www.ncbj.net

Unhappily Ever After Survey: Dissatisfaction with Management Top Reason Good Employees Quit When top performers decide to jump ship, managers may want to consider a little self-reflection, a recent survey suggests. More than one-third (35 percent) of executives interviewed said good employees are most likely to quit their jobs because of unhappiness with management. This is up from 23 percent when the question was asked five years ago. Limited opportunities for advancement was the second most common answer, cited by 33 percent of respondents.

The survey was developed by Robert Half International, the world’s first and largest staffing services firm specializing in accounting and finance. It was conducted by an independent research firm and is based on interviews with 150 senior executives from the nation’s 1,000 largest companies. Executives were asked, “Which of the following is most likely to cause good employees to quit their jobs?” Their responses:

"Bellevue" Continued from page 3... Bellevue is home to the Bellevue Care Center (nursing home), Orchard Grove Assisted Living Complex, and the Trilogy Health Care System (nursing home, assisted living, and condo villas). 11. The Bellevue City Schools are consistently ranked academically high in the State of Ohio, offering an excellent academic education, along with the arts and sports. The City’s Recreation Department utilizes the Community Center and the many parks throughout the City for a myriad of activities for all

ages. Bellevue is also home to the Bellevue Society for the Arts; Bellevue Public Library; Mad River and NKP Railroad Society/ Museum. Other attractions in close proximity to Bellevue are Lyme Historical Village, Seneca Caverns, Sorrowful Mother Shrine, Cedar Point and the Lake Erie Islands. All these things help to provide a quality of living that is unmatched. Bellevue has prepared itself for the future. It is a community that we all can be proud of yesterday, today, and tomorrow...

Community Hospice Care

Unhappiness with management Limited opportunities for advancement Lack of recognition Inadequate salary and benefits Bored with their job Other/don’t know

2009

2004

35%

23%

33% 13%

39% 17%

13% 1% 5% 100%

11% 6% 4% 100%

Most employees who are looking for a new job will send out warning signals. Robert Half identifies the following five red flags for supervisors to be aware of: 1. A noticeable change in attitude. A formerly enthusiastic staff member may seem withdrawn and indifferent. In addition to examining the individual’s performance, look for changes in behavior in team settings. 2. Longer lunch breaks and frequent absences. This may be a sign that someone is using the time for job interviews. It also could indicate the person is bored with the work.

3. Missed deadlines and increased errors. Everyone misses a deadline from time to time, but apathetic workers make it a habit – one that can throw off the efficiency of an entire department or company. Numerous errors from a previously conscientious employee are a sign of disengagement and may signal lost interest and an impending departure. 4. More professional attire. An employee who shows up for work wearing suits even though your company has a business casual dress policy may be going on job interviews with other firms. 5. A drop in productivity. A decline in performance or work quality and increased forgetfulness about deadlines, meetings and appointments could indicate a worker who is gradually disconnecting from the job. Robert Half International has more than 360 staffing locations worldwide and offers online job search services at www.rhi.com.

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Not for Profit - No Patient ever receives a bill for our care Community Hospice Care 181 E. Perry Street; Tiffin, OH 44883 (419) 447-4040 1-800-834-8100 Visit our website: www.communityhospicecare.com or contact us via email at: communityhospice@bright.net

960 S. Plasterbed Rd. • Port Clinton, Ohio 43452 419-734-5533 • Fax: 419-734-5534

North Coast Business Journal

www.ncbj.net for the family is a consideration. No matter how much care the parent will receive there is no substitute for family involvement. Determine who are the logical family members to visit on a regular basis. Once in the home, the location is not that important BY JEFFREY ROTH, to the patient. The best home PARTNER, ROTH AND BACON considering all of the above factors may be far away from The time may come their home of many years. It will work out when the skilled if the other patients are friendly and it nursing facility is the provides the opportunity for more family best solution for the proper care of your members to visit regularly. parents. At this point, you are deciding INSPECTIONS You should visit more your parent’s future and where they will than one home. Even if the home is not live. Here are some talking points and in the immediate area, use it for things to consider if that day comes. comparison. Much can be learned by WHEN Many families wait too long to comparing the facility, the staff and the get the skilled nursing help that is needed. care. You should visit each facility at least Love is making the right decisions and three times. getting the professional care that is needed a. During the day. Talk to the for the parent. Administrator, the Director of Nursing ATTITUDE Forget about the horror and social worker. Look at the attention stories that are out there. Approach the given to the patient and how the prospective nursing home with a positive employees work together. Are the staff attitude. When the decision is made look for the best not the worst in the home. It members interacting with residents or will never be as good as you think it talking over residents’ heads to each should be. Most of the people who work other? b. Meal time. Observe interaction in the home are professionals in their between servers and patients. Pay area. They are proud of their work. particular attention to residents who need STAFF Check the turn over rate of the encouragement with meals, are they employees. Talk to employees of different receiving it? levels. The aids, nurses and kitchen staff c. Weekends. Is the skeleton staff on the will each give different perspectives of the week end sufficient to provide the environment. Get an overall view. Each necessary attention? Are patients forgotten will have positive and negative comments over the weekend? but you should sense an overall positive SPECIAL NEEDS Can your parent’s view. Long term staff is a good indication special needs be accommodated? Talk to of the maturity and focus that the staff the dietician. If Alzheimer’s are in the will have toward the patient. There are picture fi nd out about special programs license requirements relating to the and what safeguards are in place to number of staff. Are they temporaries or prevent wandering. have they been there awhile? REPUTATION AND SURVEY REPORTS PATIENTS Do not be shocked if you Do not rely on either. A good reputation see patients a lot sicker then your mom can disappear in an instant and a bad one or dad. You may also see those with may have been rectified but will live with mental disabilities. Your parent will have the home for years. Survey reports are his or her own space and a professional mechanical and worry more about a paper staff will know how to allow all patients trail than reality. Every family has an to live together with minimal conflict opinion on the particularly nursing home between patients. If your parent will have and you should form your own. a roommate ask early on who makes that DOCTORS Will the family doctor go decision and what are the options if it to the home? Most will not. That is not does not work out. That can be ever unusual. Determine the doctor in charge changing and you need to know your and who can and will provide the rights relating to who occupies that room necessary care. If your parent can travel, is with your loved one. there good transportation provided? You PHYSICAL VIEW Is the physical may have no choice but to change doctors. plant comfortable to the eyes and nose? It Remember, a physician contracted by the is not home but there are some facilities home is equally qualifi ed. that are much more pleasant to visit and Remember, every family will have an live in than others. Listen to your parents opinion of each home. You must form but use your senses to make a rational your own opinion. Also, if it turns out to decision. Obviously, cleanliness should be be the wrong decision, move your parent. first on the list. The cost may not be covered by Medicare LOCATION If you have the luxury of but that is a small price to pay for the best having several homes nearby, convenience care and piece of mind for you and your

LEGAL

Should We Need Skilled Nursing Care

parent. (reprint of prior article) Credit is given to Christine J. Wilson Esq. and Ruth Phelps, CELA for their information on skilled nursing facilities. 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 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

February 2009

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. Additional articles expanding on this subject will be published in the future. If you have any questions you would like to have answered in this area of law, please direct your question to this journal and your question will be considered for use as the topic of subsequent articles. Jeff Roth can be reached at ohiofloridatrust@ aol.com (telephone: 419-732-9994) copyright@Jeffrey P. Roth 2009.

419.483.4040 - Bellevue • 419.547.0074 - Clyde 419.639.2065 - Fremont, Republic, Green Springs

The Bellevue Hospital 24-Hour Emergency Care All Private Inpatient Rooms Acupuncture Services Cardiac Care & Rehabilitation Cardiopulmonary Services Centralized Scheduling Childbirth Education Classes Clyde Health Clinic Community Wellness & Educational Programs Diabetic Education Diabetes Support Group Diagnostic Imaging Center Family Birthing Center Fitness, Exercise & Aerobics Classes Gift Shop Health Screenings Heart Failure Clinic Home Health Care Services Hydrotherapy Pool Inpatient & Outpatient Surgery Main Station Café

Mature Audience Luncheons Northwest Ohio Medical Equipment Nutrition Counseling Occupational Health Center OPEN Bore MRI Osteoporosis Screening Physical, Occupational & Speech Therapy Physician Referral Services R2 Mammography ImageChecker Sleep Disorders Center Speaker's Bureau Specialty Care Services Support Groups UTMC Cardiovascular Services Volunteer & VolunTEEN Services VRI Medical Alarm System Wellness & Walking Trail Women’s Imaging Center Yoga Classes

1400 West Main Street • P.O. Box 8004 • Bellevue, Ohio 44811-8004 www.bellevuehospital.com

February 2009

North Coast Business Journal

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The Bellevue Hospital: Nationally-Recognized and Locally-Appreciated Northwest Street. Today, the hospital serves a four-county area from its 1400 W. Main Street location. Located on 109 acres of property, The “New” Bellevue Hospital opened its doors on March 13, 2005 after a $36 million construction project was completed. Ground was broken The Bellevue Hospital was named one of the Top for the new facility on June 27, 2003. 100 Best Places to Work in Healthcare for 2008 by The new facility sits at the junction of U.S. 20 Modern Healthcare Magazine. Other honors in West and York Township Road 302. The new 2008 included being ranked in the top 25% facility encompasses 129,000 square feet, a vast nationally on Hospital Consumer Assessment of increase over the original facility’s 88,000 square Healthcare Providers (HCAHPS) by Press Ganey, feet. The new facility increased the number of and the Home Health Agency ranked in the top inpatient beds from 65 to 85, an increase of 31%. 25% nationally by HomeCare Elite. Each of the Medical/Surgical Floor patient rooms The Bellevue Hospital will begin its 92nd year of are private, complete with private bathrooms/ caring on March 16, 2009, the anniversary of showers and family areas with couch beds. Each when the original hospital opened its doors at 811 room is individually temperature controlled and all rooms have windows with an outside view. Additionally, each room is handicapped accessible. Another new feature of the facility is the hydrotherapy pool in the Rehabilitation Services Department. The HydroWorx 1000 aquatic rehab and fitness pool features a variable Ź FREE Checking speed underwater Ź FREE Online Banking treadmill and powerful Ź Personal Checking water jets to provide for deep tissue massage and Ź Commercial Checking resistance training. The Ź Overdraft Privilege therapist can also adjust Ź Passbook Savings the water level and water Ź Statement Savings temperature for each patient, and underwater Ź IRA Retirement Plans Member FDIC cameras will record the Ź 24-Hour ATM Access 1840 E. Perry St., Port Clinton range of motion and Ź VISA Credit/Debit Cards diagnostic capacity of (419) 734-5568 Ź Home Loans each patient. 207 W. Washington Row, Sandusky Ź Construction Loans Other highlights, by (419) 626-5576 department, include: Ź Home Equity Lines of Credit • A public and employee 427 Main St., Huron Ź Investment Property Loans dining area that seats 98. (419) 433-2437 Ź Personal Loans • A walk-up service window in the Health Ź TouchTel 24-hour Telephone Also Serving: Lorain, Avon and Amherst I n f o r m a t i o n Banking M a n a g e m e n t www.firstfedlorain.com department for ease and privacy in obtaining

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copies of medical records. • A centrally located atrium area from which all hospital services can be accessed. This area contains public elevators, restrooms and drinking fountains, the hospital Gift Shop, the Concierge Desk for information, and a coffee cart and snack area. The atrium design was inspired by the works of Frank Lloyd Wright. • Private registration rooms to register patients, and wireless in-room registration throughout the hospital. • An expanded and reorganized Laboratory Department with larger blood bank and microbiology areas. • A new Women’s Diagnostic Area that consolidates all of the hospital’s women’s diagnostic services into one area, including stereotactic breast biopsy, bone dexa scans, mammography and ultrasounds. • A 50% increase in space of the Diagnostic Imaging Department, complete with a Toshiba 1.5 Tesla magnet MRI machine and a 16-slice Toshiba CAT Scan unit. Recently, the department added a Siemens 1.5 Tesla Large OPEN Bore MRI unit. • A filmless Picture Archive Communication System (PACS) in Diagnostic Imaging where physicians have the ability to get instant pictures on their computer screens during procedures involving X-rays and scans. • University Medical Center of Toledo cardiologists are on-site to oversee the Cardiac Rehab and Cardiopulmonary areas of the hospital. • The Emergency Department area includes a separate entrance area for ambulance/EMS crews to enhance patient privacy and confidentiality, and an Occupational Health Center area with a separate registration area for workers injured while at their place of employment. • The surgery area features four main surgical suites and two smaller surgical procedure rooms, all with equipment booms to help eliminate cords on the floor. Surgeons also have the ability to pull up X-ray and scanned images on in-room computers during surgical procedures, thanks to the new PACS system. • The Family Birthing Center includes nine labor-delivery-recovery-post partum rooms, each complete with family areas and sofa beds, windows with an outside view, and whirlpool tubs in the private, ADA-accessible bathrooms. • The Pharmacy Department includes a sterile IV room using the latest industry design guidelines. And, in departments throughout the hospital, there are automated medication cabinets that allow for safety and security of medications for patients. The Bellevue Hospital is a not-for-profit facility that was incorporated in 1914 and opened its doors in 1917. The original facility contained 24 patient beds and nine bassinets.

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The Bellevue Area Chamber of Commerce Submitted by Richard E. Stegman, Jr., Executive Director As the new Executive Director of the Bellevue Area Chamber of Commerce I look forward to 2009 with enthusiasm. Even though one clearly has to be cognizant of the economic conditions we must not, and can not, allow them to stifle our forward momentum in Bellevue. The Board of Directors and I are committed to reestablishing our Chamber as a key player in the business climate of our community and expanding membership benefits. Membership has its benefits and 2009 will be a year that our members will become fully aware of how they cannot not afford to be a member of the Chamber. There are a number of new programs underway to help save our members money and assist them in strengthening their businesses. We will be reaching out to many area colleagues to co-sponsor workshops and programs of interest to all our members. And,

North Coast Business Journal

February 2009

Choose Family Practice 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

“Leadership Bellevue” is getting off the ground offering extensive knowledge and mentoring from our retired business leaders. This program will work closely with Bill Auxter at Terra Community College. “Leadership Bellevue” will be available for anyone desiring to start up a business in Bellevue and for our present members who need assistance in a plethora of areas. The Chamber is revitalizing our newsletter, providing important news locally and from around the state, emails will be used whenever needed to disseminate information of importance to our members, several new networking opportunities are presently being planned and a new outreach program is being undertaken to welcome new citizens to our chamber members. And, importantly, our chamber will take advantage of every opportunity to promote our individual members. Additionally, we will look for ways to save our members and their employees money; such as, becoming a Cedar Point point of sale for their tickets, at the lowest prices they offer to anyone, and delivering them to our members. After all, membership has its benefits! The Bellevue community has recently seen a resurgence in collaboration among our major entities and we have and will continue to see benefits from this team approach. Key players, such as our banks, development corporation, the schools, our daily newspaper, the city administration, involved merchants, our tourism bureau, service clubs, library, our Recreation Center, and the chamber, are all reaching out to one another to work in the best interest of our community. We have seen the fruition of those efforts through the successes of our Main Street Farmers’ Markets and Main Street Holiday Market, as well as our beautification efforts and even our wildly successful Community Days. This collaboration is now moving to the next appropriate level; the marketing of Bellevue and the recruitment of retail outlets and businesses to provide goods/services and employment to our citizens. Bellevue has seen several new businesses open recently in our community and there are at least two, possibly three new retail outlets soon to open. For any entrepreneur interested to hear of our incentives, including: low interest loans, grants, tax abatement, and other potential resources please call The Bellevue Area Chamber of Commerce, 419.483.2182.

Robert W. Secor, MD* Willard Medical Center 419-933-2811

Jeffrey E. Sizemore, DO* Willard Area Medical Associates 419-935-6761

not pictured

David L. Stanbery, MD* 419-935-8120

Nancy L. Verhoff, MD* Willard Medical Center 419-933-2811

110 East Howard Street | Willard, Ohio 44890 419-964-5000 | mercyweb.org * denotes Board Certiﬁcation

February 2009

North Coast Business Journal

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CHAMBER CALENDAR Bellevue Area Chamber of Commerce February 5 Luncheon

Huron Area Chamber of Commerce February 18 Board Meeting 7:30 a.m. Chamber Office

Chamber Monthly Noon Twin Lakes Golf Course Mayor David Kile

March 21

February 26 Business After Hours 5-7 p.m. Host: Grande Maison Construction Chamber office.

Annual Meeting More information tba

Erie County Chamber of Commerce February 5

Fifth Annual Economic Forecast Dr. Ken Mayland 4:00 p.m. Cedar Point Center BGSU Firelands. RSVPs required

February 18 Education Committee 8 am February 19 Huron Co. Safety Council 7:30am, Norwalk High School “Greening Your Fleet,” RSVP

Marblehead Peninsula Chamber of Commerce February 5

Norwalk-Huron County Chamber of Commerce February 5

F I S H E R - T I T U S

Employment Law update Tom Dixon Eastman & Smith, LTD. 8:30am Norwalk High School

Directors Meeting Otterbein North Shore 7:00 pm (New time)

February 19 Business After Hours Otterbein North Shore 5 to 7:00 pm

February 11 Business After Hours Sponsored by K-96 FM Sawmill Creek Resort 5:15 p.m.

February 11 New Member Breakfast 8am Chamber office, RSVP

Program Committee 8am, Chamber office M E D I C A L

February 28 Home & Business Show 10am-4pm Norwalk Middle School Free admission Port Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce February 5

C E N T E R

Award-Winning Healthcare

Business After Hours Huntington Bank Madison Street 5-7 p.m. Downtown Committee Chamber Offices, Noon

February 9

Board Meeting Chamber Offices, 8 am

February 16 Arts Council Committee Chamber Offices, Noon

February 17 Membership Committee Chamber Offices 8 am February 19 Ambassadors Meeting Location TBA, 11:45am Chamber Workshop “Marketing” Presenter: Sam Weiss- NBC 24 Date and Location TBA 7:30 –8:30 am February 23 Chamber Foundation Meeting Chamber Offices, 8:30 am Sandusky County Chamber of Commerce February 12 Business After Hours Sandco Workforce Solutions 1071 N. 5th St., Fremont 5~7 p.m. February 17 Ag Committee meeting Chamber board room 7:30 a.m. February 20 Coffee & Contacts Chamber board room 8 a.m. Reservations required February 24 Ambassadors meeting DaVinci’s Coffee House 8 a.m. February 25 Chamber Board of Trustees 7:30 a.m. Chamber offices

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.

www.ftmc.com

EHOVE Public Safety students (left) Thomas Hansen ( Norwalk); Andrew Johnson (Edison) and Michelle Boones (Sandusky Cent. Catholic) treat Huron sophomore Ethan Felton to an ambulance ride during orientation Jan. 27 - 29. About 1,600 district sophomores explored career-tech education during the event.

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February 2009

Bellevue Development Corporation Focuses On Industrial & Commercial Development BY RUSS PANAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

The Bellevue Development Corporation (BDC) was formed in 1984 to help the Bellevue Community grow with new investments and jobs. The BDC operates with an executive board and 19 member full board and is financed by charitable contributions and pledges. The 2009 officers are Dean Miller, President and CEO of First National Bank is the BDC President, Mel Miller, Board Chairman of Janotta & Herner is the First Vice-President, Thomas Barth, owner of Hasselbach & Paul Insurance is the Second Vice-President, Jeff Cook, CPA and owner of Cook & Associates accounting firms is the Secretary, Bob Birr, retired General Electric executive is the Treasurer, and Alan Ganci, Executive Vice-President and CFO of the Bellevue Hospital in the Past President. The Executive Director is Russ Panas. The Bellevue Development Corporation is active in working with local businesses to help with their long-term viability in the Bellevue area and also to promote the area as a site for business location or expansion. During 2008, the staff and board worked closely with several landowners, the City of Bellevue, Huron County and other agencies to annex 401 acres of land along US Route 20 so that it would be available for City services and have potential for commercial development. This land is earmarked to capture tourists heading north along State Route 4 that attend numerous Lake Erie attractions. Currently, there are no major traveler destination points along State Route 4 between Columbus and Sandusky, Ohio. A major hotel, restaurants and a shopping center is planned for this area. The Bellevue Development Corporation (BDC) manages industrial growth. The BDC is actively pursuing new industry to locate in Bellevue. Wolf Industrial Park in Huron County and 100 acres of recently annexed land in Seneca County offers location options for new industry. There are also real estate tax incentives for new industrial projects as well as the opportunity to locate in an Enterprise Zone (EZ). Manufacturers in the EZ have over 500 employees. The BDC also has retention programs such as facilitating training and development programs and networking opportunities at the “Get Together – Stay Together” Manufacturers Business Roundtables at plant sites. In addition, The Bellevue Development Corporation (BDC) administers the Bellevue City Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) that maintains access to low interest dollars for local businesses that are locating or expanding in the city and adding new jobs. In 2008, the BDC approved 2 RLF loans –a steakhouse and truck dealership- adding to its current portfolio. The Executive Director also provides start-up advice to potential business owners seeking to locate in Bellevue. The Bellevue Development Corporation (BDC) is also active in downtown revitalization efforts. The BDC manages the Downtown Revitalization Grant Program-grant funds that were allocated from the Revolving Loan Fund in the amount of $400,000. The grant offers building owners a 50% rebate on the first $50,000 of approved improvements with a rebate cap of $25,000 and a 100% rebate on the first $5,000 for architectural fees. Thus far, there have been 11 completed projects accounting for over $50,000 in property improvements and over $25,000 in grant rebates. There are over $100,000 worth of projects ready to start this spring once the weather improves. There are still matching funds available for improvement projects within the designated area. Furthermore, this past fall, the BDC purchased downtown real estate to re-develop and in just three months sold it to a partnership that will open a bakery/coffee shop this spring. Information about the Bellevue Development Corporation and business opportunities in Bellevue can be obtained at www. bellevuedevelopment.org. Russ Panas is the Economic Development Director for the Bellevue Development Corporation and Project Manager for the Downtown Revitalization Grant Program and be reached at r.panas@bellevuedevelopment.org

10 February 2009

North Coast Business Journal

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Bellevue Downtown Committee Promotes Main Street BY RUSS PANAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR The Bellevue Downtown Committee has been meeting Tuesday mornings for the past two years at the City Centre to discuss how to improve and promote downtown. This volunteer group is represented by banks, city government, the medical community, merchants, non-profits, business organizations and residents. I am also a member of this group. The Downtown Committee (DC) has been responsible for facilitating the Downtown Revitalization Grant, creating the Main Street Farmer’s Market and Holiday Market, obtaining sparkling holiday window lights that lit up downtown during the recent holiday season and arranging for the hanging baskets to decorate Main Street this past summer. Here’s a closer look at these promotional accomplishments: Downtown Revitalization Grant – the Downtown Committee (DC) has

been a catalyst in facilitating a rebirth of downtown Bellevue. The City with the help of the DC successfully obtained a $400,000 Downtown Revitalization Grant commitment from the State’s Department of Development that was funded by The Bellevue Development Corporation. The original grant rebate offered a 50% rebate on the first $20,000 of approved improvements with a rebate cap of $10,000. Forty-seven out of 65 building owners applied or 72% applied for the rebate. The rebate was recently increased to 50% on the first $50,000 of approved improvements with a rebate cap of $50,000 and a 100% rebate on the first $5,000 of architectural fees. Hanging Baskets – kicked off the 2008 season. This became the first community effort of the year when numerous entities donated funds, equipment and time to take care of the baskets throughout the year. Two anonymous donors funded purchasing Downtown continued on page 11

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February 2009

Downtown continued from page 10 the plants, the City of Bellevue donated use of watering equipment and The Downtown Florists donated their time to water the baskets. The baskets beautified Main Street and showed residents and visitors alike that someone cares about downtowns’ appearance. Main Street Farmer’s Market – was held every other Saturday from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm from mid-May to mid-October. The Market not only offered a variety of vendors selling the usual staples but more importantly started to put downtown Bellevue back on the local map. It also provided the opportunity for residents to socialize on Main Street other that otherwise may not have happened. The Market was a huge success! The Holiday Market- was held during three weekends in December and in a way it was an extension of the Farmer’s Market except that it was indoors and instead of fruit and vegetables holiday items were sold. The market featured an assortment of local and out-of-town artists and vendors offering jewelry, gift baskets, baked goods and much more. Special programs included appearances by Bellevue’s own Jodie Fleming doing caricature drawings, and Jim Andrews signing Christmas ornaments, music, plus, that special visitor from the North Pole – sled and all. Shoppers were offered free gift wrapping. The Market was held at a previous department store location, the historic Ruffing Building. Moreover, Main Street merchants dropped off flyers at the Market to promote their specials and extended store hours. Holiday Window Lights- adding to the festive atmosphere provided by the Holiday Market the Downtown Committee arranged for Main Street store front windows to be decorated with sparkling holiday lights making it look very festive and seem to saying “Come on in”. Mayor Dave Kyle had the great idea to shut off the streetlights so all the decorated windows could sparkle even more. Main Street looked like Holiday Street! Future Events- now residents and Main Street business are asking, “What’s Next.” The Downtown Committee is planning to offer the same successful events as last year, namely the Farmer’s Market, Holiday Market, hanging flower baskets and decorating front windows plus, much, much more. Currently, the Committee is looking into sponsoring a Spring Market, expanding the Farmer’s Market and adding outdoor cook-offs among other events. Stay tuned.

FTMC’s Mammography Department Meets Quality Standards Fisher-Titus Medical Center’s Mammography Department recently passed its annual Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA) inspection with the Ohio Department of Health with no citations or recommendations. All items were in compliance. “Since 1997, we have gone through 11 MQSA inspections with no citations,” said Dr. Matthew F. Gutowicz, chief of the Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine. “This speaks well for our staff and the department as a whole.” FTMC Mammography Program’s caring and highly qualified technologists are specially trained in mammography and are certified by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. They include Cathleen Campbell, lead technologist and Kelli Mishra, Vickie Salmons, Kim Dellisanti and Debra Mohr. In addition, FTMC board certified radiologists, Dr. Gutowicz and Dr. William L. Ferber, combine their

training, expertise and experience to read and interpret mammograms. To meet the high standards of image quality, FTMC’s Mammography Program is accredited by the American College of Radiology. The program has been accredited since 1995. FTMC’s Imaging Center performed 5,100 mammograms in 2008. FTMC has two mammography units and in 2002 was the first hospital in the area to add computer-aided detection (CAD) technology, giving women the extra assurance of detecting abnormalities as early as possible. In addition to mammography services, FTMC also is the first area hospital to provide magnetic resonance imaging of the breast for the early detection of breast cancer. Breast MRI is performed as an adjunct when doctors need more information than a mammogram, ultrasound or clinical breast exam can provide.

Looking for a New Relationship? We are open for business! First National Bank is a locally owned community bank that has served the area since 1875. We are well capitalized, strong and in the business to do BUSINESS!! How can we help your business today?? Contact: Dean Miller or Terry Durham at 419-483-7340

12 February 2009

North Coast Business Journal

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Taxes How to Stay Afloat in Turbulent Financial Times. What Can You Rely Upon? growing economy, credit was relatively easy to come by so the expanding debt on most balance sheets was overlooked or ignored. Unfortunately, 2008 has come to a close and the New Year is not looking better for northeast Ohio as well as the rest of the U.S. economy. Let’s review what has happened in the past six months. A mortgage crisis occurred resulting in a federal bailout of the banking system; In Cleveland we lost a bank that has been with us since the 1800’s, even with a bailout bank credit has become very difficult to obtain; Lack of credit and other fundamental issues brought the automotive industry to a near

By Jeffrey D. Neuman, CPA, JD W h a t lessons have we learned in the past year and w h a t constants can we rely upon to guide us through the difficult times ahead in the near future? For the past several years, emphasis has been almost entirely on increasing sales which required additional capital to hire employees, buy inventory, produce goods, etc. To fuel the growth, many individuals and businesses took on a great deal of debt in a short period of time. In a

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collapse. The largest financial fraud in U.S. history was exposed causing further mistrust in the financial markets. Few if any of us could have predicted the severity and depth of the financial crisis we have just experienced. There is one fundamental that I believe has been ignored for a long period of time but is critical to all of us. It is time for you to review and protect your balance sheet. This is true both individually and from a business perspective. It is important to review the makeup of your assets. The first place to look is your liquidity. What assets do you have that can be readily turned into cash? Compare your current assets with your current liabilities and calculate how long you could survive without additional cash flow being needed to supplement your lifestyle or your business. Review the values of your property, plant and, equipment. Many of these assets have decreased significantly in value over the past few months. If a significant portion of your balance sheet is made up of long-term assets such as building and equipment, it is important to review your debt to ensure that its maturities are in line with your ability to produce cash flow from the assets that you hold. Many businesses have been forced into bankruptcy due to the inability to refinance long-term assets with long-term debt. It doesn’t matter how low the interest rates are if you cannot obtain financing. On a positive note those who have liquidity and strong balance sheets have a great opportunity to take advantage of opportunities in the marketplace. There are many discounts available in the marketplace for those who have the cash to close on purchases. Pay attention to your investment portfolio. What is the insured amount you would receive if your account is mishandled? Many people are flocking back to certificate of deposits for security, but there is concern about FDIC limits that only provide small levels of protection.

There are unique financial products emerging such as Certificate of Deposit Registry Services (CDARS). CDARS can provide FDIC insurance on account balances up to 50 million. Even Triple A insured municipal bonds have come under fire because of the collapse of some of the insurers. The incidence of default in the municipal bond market has been very low but you should look to the credit quality of municipality or other organization that is actually required to repay the debt. For individuals who are interested in succession planning now is a great time to look at transferring ownership down to the next generation. In most businesses the severity of the crisis has reduced values of most operating businesses. This is a great time to review possible gifting techniques to move those assets. Here are just a few things to take away from this article: Remember, your balance sheet is a snapshot of your company’s financial position. Understand what assets you have as well as debt. Take stock of your accounts. To protect your cash accounts, make sure you are within the FDIC coverage limits. Take advantage of discounts. Work with your financial advisors who can offer your unbiased advice and creative money saving strategies. In the short and long run, those who have a flexible business plan and a strong balance sheet will flourish. So that is one lesson we can all take to the bank! Jeffrey D. Neuman, CPA, JD is the president and director at Barnes Wendling CPAs. Jeff can be reached at 216.566.9000 or via e-mail at jdn@barneswendling.com. Barnes Wendling CPAs is located at 5002 Timber Commons Drive, Sandusky. To reach Director-inCharge of this location, Tim Mayles, call 419.626.3627.

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February 2009

Bellevue City Schools: “Excellence in Education” The heartbeat of Bellevue has been and always will be its schools. After some difficult times, there is a new spirit of cooperation and hope for the school district. The community, city officials, Chamber of Commerce, and the Bellevue Development Corporation are currently working together to secure a bright future for our schools and community. Over the years, the citizens of Bellevue have relied on the schools to provide more than just an outstanding education. The schools have been a standard of excellence in sports and extracurricular activities as well. Bellevue can be proud of all that its schools represent.

unveiled a new Realignment Plan for the 20092010 school year. The plan decommissions Ellis Elementary and Lyme Elementary buildings. The Shumaker school building will now serve pre-

school, kindergarten, and first grade students. The Ridge school building will now serve third, fourth, and fifth grade students. The Junior High will serve

Continued on page 14...

Another Reason to Believe in Mercy Hospital of Tifﬁn.

Mercy welcomes new

Cardiovascular Medicine physician to the community. The school district recently received the honor of an “Excellent” rating by the Ohio Department of Education. The district met 29 of 30 indicators to secure this honor. This places Bellevue City Schools as one of the leading districts in the area. Superintendent Bud Martin was pleased with this achievement. He said, “Our teachers and staff are responsible for the “Excellent” rating. “Martin went on to add, “With 780 combined years of experience, our learning environment is amazing.” The City of Bellevue can be proud of all the achievements made by the school district. Bellevue Schools boast a 94% graduation rate. The average classroom size is 22 students; allowing for individual achievement.Through the Advanced Placement Program, students are able to obtain college credit through Oberlin College in History-Global Politics and Accelerated English. The Bellevue FFA is consistently recognized on the State and National levels. The student body also has available to it an award winning music programs, and various clubs and organizations. The district’s sporting programs are competitive, and the facilities are exceptional. The athletic department is the envy of other school districts with the newly constructed 15,000 square foot field house. The new field house includes a professional weight training area, 40 yards of turf, a NFL style locker room, a training room, a film room, and a hospitality suite. The facility was completely funded by the Gridiron Foundation and the Bellevue Athletic Boosters. The facility will allow Bellevue athletes to train and excel year around. Recently, The Bellevue City School District

Dr. Kosinski received his medical degree from the Medical College of Ohio and completed an Internal Medicine Residency at the Medical Center of Delaware in Buffalo, NY. He then fulfilled Fellowships in Cardiology and Cardiac Electrophysiology at the Medical College of Ohio. Dr. Kosinski is board certified in both Cardiovascular Disease and Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology. He is also certified by the Board of Nuclear Cardiology. Dr. Kosinski will provide defibrillator, electrophysiology and pacemaker services at Mercy Tiffin. Patients will be seen on a physician referral basis in Dr. Dinesh Thekdi’s office located on the first floor of Mercy Hospital of Tiffin, 45 St. Lawrence Drive. Daniel Kosinski, MD Cardiovascular Medicine

Appointments for Dr. Kosinski will be on Tuesday afternoons and are scheduled through Dr. Dinesh Thekdi’s ofﬁce at (419) 455-7480.

14 February 2009

North Coast Business Journal

"Bellevue Schools" Continued from page 13... sixth through eighth grade students, and the High School will remain 9th grade through 12th grade. The Realignment Plan was developed by the Bellevue Board of Education. The plan will enhance the educational process as well as infuse vital cost savings for the district. “The plan is designed to

optimize educational opportunities for students,” Martin commented. “Students will benefit from the team teaching concept. Teachers will have the ability to specialize in their subject areas. This will allow the students to benefit from teacher’s strengths.”

Another Reason to Believe in Mercy Hospital of Tifﬁn.

Mercy welcomes new

General Surgeon to the community. Dr. Cecchino received his medical degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. He completed a Residency in General Surgery at the University of Connecticut Affiliated Hospitals in the Greater Hartford area and also fulfilled a Chief General Surgical Residency at Akron General Hospital and Akron Children’s Hospital. Dr. Cecchino is board certified by the American Board of Surgery and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

Robert Cecchino, MD, FACS General Surgery

Dr. Cecchino has special interest in diseases of the breast, colon & rectal surgery and surgical oncology. He also has a broad range of general surgical procedures that includes laparoscopic surgery, diagnostic and therapeutic upper endoscopies and colonoscopies and capsule endoscopy.

www.ncbj.net Under the new plan, district resources will be used to their fullest. The grade specific buildings will allow for programs, libraries, and services to be specialized. The new grade oriented buildings will allow for students to have increased opportunities to interact with each other through age appropriate, clubs, organizations, assemblies, and field trips. This was not possible with a Kindergarten through sixth grade classes in each building. The new plan will also allow the possibility of technology education to be offered to more students earlier in their educational setting. A possible scenario would be for all third graders to learn keyboarding, fourth graders the ability to learn word processing and fifth graders to be able to learn power-point. This ability will enhance the school district’s effectiveness to prepare the students for higher education and the skills necessary for future jobs. The City of Bellevue is not immune to the current financial crisis the nation is facing. This crisis has had a deep impact on the school district. Due to this fact, the school district is doing all that it can to control costs. “We are tightening our belts and must be vigilant about cost controls,” Martin stated. “If the 3.75 million emergency property tax passes on February 3rd, all the programs our students currently enjoy will remain as is or even enhanced.” The passage of this levy is vital to the legacy of Bellevue City Schools. If the levy fails all school activities will be affected. The future of Bellevue City Schools is bright. The Ohio Schools Facilities Commission has chosen Bellevue for possible new facilities. The school district and Fanning-Howey Architects are currently in the process of forming a master plan for this project. This exciting plan will provide the city with new school buildings that will benefit the student body for years to come. This plan will be presented to the voters at the November 2009 elections. With over 300 employees and over 2,100 students, Bellevue City Schools have an impact on all of Bellevue’s residents. Change is always difficult, and it is often a struggle to adjust. That being said, the changes to come in the near future are both needed and beneficial. These changes will allow the district to thrive and enhance the community of Bellevue for years to come.

He was a college instructor of computer science and also a photographer & research assistant at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. Dr. Cecchino is proud of his heritage as an Italian-American , enjoys music and has working knowledge of the German and Spanish languages. Dr. Cecchino’s office is located on the second floor of the Medical Office Building at 27 St. Lawrence Drive, Suite 203. mercyweb.org

For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call (419) 455-8560.

Coming in March: Focus on Fostoria

North Coast Business Journal

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February 2009

Information Technology Which LCD Monitors Are Real Bargains? By Don Knaur Everyone is looking for a b a r g a i n , especially with today’s economy. However, I once had a competitor who printed this saying on their business cards: “The bitter taste of poor quality is remembered long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten!” While I no longer compete with them, I still believe and respect their philosophy. In order to protect yourself against false bargains, you need to arm yourself with knowledge. This article will enable you to safely go forth and take advantage of some of the real bargains that are available today on Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) Monitors. Whether you want a 17”, 19” or 22” LCD Monitor, you should be able to find it for under $200.00 before sales tax. Please note, the size of the screen is determined by the diagonal measurement of the screen. On an LCD, this is actually viewable area, where on the old Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) Monitors part of the screen measured was hidden by the case. Hence a 17” LCD has a larger viewing area than a 17” CRT. There are several things to watch out for when looking at “Bargain” LCD’s. First, don’t even consider any unit that says it is “Refurbished”. While Refurbished is just fine for PC’s that have easily replaceable components, it is not good for LCD’s that have very few replaceable parts. Please note that a good LCD Monitor will have a three year warranty. Most refurbished LCD Monitors only have a 90-Day Warranty. Here are some other features that are listed in the specifications but not always understood. “Maximum Resolution” denotes the clarity of the picture. I would recommend not accepting less than 1280 X 1024 for this feature. In this case, the higher the numbers are the better the picture will be. Please note that the larger the monitor, the higher the numbers should be. For example 1280 X 1024 for a 17” monitor is comparable to 1680 X 1050 for a 19” monitor.

Another rating of picture quality is the Contrast Ratio. This indicates the sharpness of image or the ability of the picture to pop out. An excellent Contrast Ration is 2,000:1. Once again, the higher the numbers are the better the picture will be. Horizontal Viewing Angle and Vertical Viewing Angle are other features that are rated. These indicate the number of degrees above the screen for vertical or to the side of the screen for horizontal that you can be and still read the screen. A good rating for this feature is 160 degrees and of course, 180 degrees is impossible. Finally, the type of connection available on the monitor is Important. Here are the two best for you:. The VGA port is the standard PC monitor port. The DVI port is a high definition port that is found on some newer PC’s and on most newer Video Cards. If you have the DVI port available on your PC, I recommend that you use it because it will give you a better picture. Hopefully this article will help you improve this year’s profit picture for your business both literally and figuratively. I am always searching for new and interesting article topics. I would appreciate any suggestions you have for topics. Please E-mail these suggestions or requests for information to helpdeskohio@bpsom.com or call me at 419448-8020 and I will use as many of them as possible. 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 Help-Desk, Ohio in the spring of 1996 and opened his shop in March 2001. Don welcomes calls for advice or information at 419-448-8020.

16 February 2009

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18 February 2009

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First National Bank – Right at Home in Bellevue At First National Bank, we are proud of the fact that we have been in business for over 134 years as your local community bank with employees you know and trust. In today’s economic times we are proud to say that we are well capitalized, strong, safe and stable. We have and continue to do what is best for our customers and our communities. Our employees live and work in the communities we serve. They devote their time to coach local sports teams, serve on local not for profit boards, lead scouting groups and get involved in many other community activities. We know you expect this from bankers that want their communities to be strong and vibrant. Our average staff tenure is 15 years with some staff members having 30 to 40 plus years of service. This gives us an advantage with our experience in providing customer service at a level above the competition. When you call our offices during business hours, you will always be greeted by a live friendly voice to help you or direct you to the right person. Our caring customer focused attitude also extends to the use of technology to enhance customer products and benefits. We have implemented am imaging system that provides us the ability to accept deposits from open to close without a cut off time for processing. We have enhanced our online Bill Pay service options for our consumer and business customers. New

products to our mortgage offerings include: FHA loans and First-Time Homebuyer products such as Welcome Home, low down payment loans, construction loans and Home Equity Lines of Credit. On the Deposit side we introduced Visa Gift Cards and a checking account that offers Identity Theft Watch and Recovery. We offer Remote Merchant Capture, a product that allows commercial or small business customers the freedom of depositing checks from their office for potentially quicker credit while also providing added convenience. First National is a successful business lender in the area and works with all types of commercial customers providing working capital lines of credit, equipment loans, Commercial Real

Northcoast Jobs Connection February Schedule for Ottawa County The Northcoast Jobs Connection Job Stores and the Seneca One Stop offer numerous services and resources for job seekers and employers. Seminars are free and open to anyone in the community. The seminars are also available to be customized for employers and delivered on site. The area seminar dates in February are: At the Ottawa County Community Resource Centre, 8043 W. SR. 163, Oak Harbor Feb. 13 – 9 a.m. to noon – “Interviewing and Role Playing.” Learn up-to-date interviewing techniques. Feb. 19 – 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. – “Get a Job or a Better Job, POD.” Learn how to prepare for and conduct a successful job search. This session includes a review of unemployment services provided by the state, information about other community resources and a free lunch. Feb. 27 – 9 a.m. to noon – “Control Your Stress.” Measure your own stress and learn coping techniques.

Job Store officials are asking that people who are interested in these workshops should register by emailing Carol Guice at cguice@terra.edu or by calling her at 419307-1189. For more information on the Job Stores, log onto www.northcoastjobs.org. Or in Ottawa County, call the Job Store at 800665-1677 or 419-898-3688, ext. 270 or call Denise Ventrone at 419-898-6242 at the Community Improvement Corporation. The Northcoast Jobs Connection OneStop System is a collaboration of 22 partners in Erie, Huron, Ottawa, Sandusky and Seneca counties and is partially funded by those organizations. Terra Community College contracts with the Department of Job and Family Services to provide the services of the Job Store. It is located at 8043 W. State Route 163, Oak Harbor and is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. All basic services are free of charge.

Estate construction and refinancing. Our seasoned business lending staff can add value to our local companies and with local decision making, can provide quick turnaround on all types of loan requests. First National Bank is also a leader in working with the City of Bellevue and The Bellevue Development Corporation by serving on downtown revitalization committees and also allocating low interest loan funds to any downtown business that will be taking part in the 400,000.00 grant program to enhance our downtown. The bank recently went through an extensive remodeling as the downtown revitalization project was getting started. In early 2006, Dean Miller, President and CEO of First National Bank came back to Bellevue to work and live after being gone from the community for 7 years. It was the allure of living in a smaller community and having a chance to work with many friends and former customers that made the decision to move back an easy one. With his office located in the main office lobby and an open door policy, he is always accessible to customers throughout the day. Our goal is to continue to offer competitive products and services that many large regional banks may have, but doing it in a manner that treats you as an individual and not a number. First National Bank is proud to be one of the oldest businesses started and still based in Bellevue.

Small Business Basics Seminars Set for February The Ohio Small Business Development Center at Terra Community College is offering free, two-hour 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 February schedule is: Wednesday, Feb. 4 – 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Ottawa County Improvement Corporation (conference room), 8043 W. S.R. 163, Oak Harbor Wednesday, Feb. 11 – 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Tiffin Area Chamber of Commerce (conference room), 62 S. Washington St., Tiffin Wednesday, Feb. 18 – 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Erie County Chamber of Commerce (conference room), 225 W. Washington Row, Sandusky Wednesday, Feb. 25 – 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Terra Community College (Building B, Room 101), 2830 Napoleon Road, Fremont These events are free and open to the public. To register or for more information, call Bill Auxter, Director of the Ohio Small Business Development Center at Terra Community College, toll-free 800-826-2431 or 419-559-2210. Or contact him by email at bauxter@terra.edu.

North Coast Business Journal

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Sales S.W.O.T. Team-Do You Have One?

if your market is not growing then the only way to grow is to take market share from someone else. In order to do that you need to focus your strengths on your competitor’s weaknesses. As you contemplate whether your company has the time, energy, manpower, etc. to spend on this endeavor let me ask you a question. How will you feel if you discover your major competitor is doing their SWOT right now? By the way, what if they will be wrapping up their strategic planning by doing

Mercy welcomes Nephrology Specialty Clinic to the community. Dr. Ajala completed a Fellowship in Nephrology at Lankenau Hospital in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania and is board certiﬁed in both Nephrology and Internal Medicine. Musa Ajala, MD Nephrology

Dr. Iboaya completed a Clinical & Interventional Fellowship in Nephrology at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi. He is board certified in Internal Medicine. Both Dr. Ajala & Dr. Iboaya are dedicated to providing excellent patient care to the community. They will see patients on Fridays in Mercy Tiffin’s Specialty Clinic area, which is located on the second floor of the Medical Office Building at 27 St. Lawrence Drive. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call the Findlay Kidney & Hypertension Center at (419) 425-8000.

Benahili Iboaya, DO Nephrology

a SWOT on your company? 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 419-351-4347. If you would like to receive the B2B Sales Boost Newsletter please send an email to sales@b2bsalesboost.com

Another Reason to Believe in Mercy Hospital of Tifﬁn.

BY ROGER BOSTDORFF

Does your company have a S.W.O.T. Team? I am not referring to a group of guys toting rifles to shoot down the guy that has robbed the bank and taken hostages. I am talking about a group of leaders that are focused on understanding the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) of your organization. As this economy becomes more and more global and challenging, we have to at least annually do an internal grade card on how our organizations measure up. How does an organization get started in doing one of these? They take some time away from the day to day grind and go ask themselves the following questions and then discuss and debate the answers. Strengths-What Advantages Does Your Company/Organization Have In the Marketplace? -What Does Your Company Do Better Than Anyone Else? -What Unique or Low Cost Resources Does Your Company/ Organization Have Access To? -What Do Others See As Your Company’s Strengths? Weaknesses-What Could Your Company Improve On? -Where Does Your Company Have Fewer Resources Than Your Competition? (People, $, Manufacturing Capacity, etc.) -What Should Your Company Avoid? -What Are Others Likely to See As Your Company’s Weaknesses? Threats-What Obstacles Does Your Company Face? -What is Your Company’s Competition Doing? -Are The Required Specifications For Your Job, Products or Services Changing? -Is Changing Technology Threatening Your Company’s Position in the Marketplace? -Could Any of Your Company’s Weaknesses Seriously Threaten Your Business? Opportunities-What Good Opportunities Are Open To Your Company? -What Trends Could You Take Advantage of? (I.e. Changes in Age of Population, Lifestyle, etc.) -Looking At Your Company’s Strengths, How Can You Turn These into Opportunities? A SWOT analysis helps an organization define what makes them unique while outlining the organization’s strategic advantages so that they can leverage these in the marketplace. Pretty simple, right? Wrong!! These are hard questions that need a hard look with objective viewpoints being discussed/ debated. The stripes need to come off during these discussions. By that I mean that the head of the organization needs to insure that his team opens up and really tells it like it is. This discussion needs to be free of rank and penalty relative to opinions. Many organizations enlist the help of an outside facilitator to make this happen. Now you are half way home. If you agree that it is important to understand the SWOT for your organization, then you should also agree that you should do this exercise for your major competitor. If your business is in a market that is growing, then everyone can ride the positive curve. However,

February 2009

20 February 2009

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February 2009

The Bellevue Library – Open for Business The Bellevue Public Library offers a variety of resources to help the business community. Entrepreneurs, job seekers, and managers will all find useful information. Small Business For those interested in starting a business and overwhelmed with choices, a book such as The 200 Best Home Businesses by Katina Jones can help to narrow the field. The magazine Home Business supplements the broader business information in Business Week, Forbes and Fortune. The Library also owns business-specific titles such as How to Start a Home-Based Craft Business and Making Money with Your Computer at Home. Start-up financing is always a concern for a new business. Raising Venture Capitol Made E-Z, The SBA Loan Book and Free Help from Uncle Sam to Start Your Business will make the process easier. Business Plans that Work will help ensure that business will have a good start. The Small Business Formation Handbook and the Legal Guide for Starting and Running a Small Business guide new owners through other issues. There are also a variety of titles available on book-keeping and taxes for small business. A business exists only as long as it has customers. Finding and keeping customers can be a challenge. A presence on the internet is as vital as any other customer service aspect. 101 Ways to Promote Your Website, YouTube for Business: online video marketing for any business and Web Marketing for Small Business offer ways to keep a company in the public eye. Globalization As emerging economies gain more influence in the U.S. marketplace, all businesses must take notice of them. The Emerging Markets Century by Antoine van Agtmael and The War for Wealth: the true story of globalization or why the flat world is broken by Gabor Steingart analyze how these foreign businesses have become so powerful so quickly. Titles such as Import/Export: how to take your business across borders will give more practical tips. In a global economy, knowing another language is extremely useful. Bellevue Public Library now offers online language training through Mango Languages. Instruction is available for Spanish, French, German, Russian, Greek, Italian, Brazilian Portuguese, Mandarin Chinese, and Japanese. English for speakers of Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese and Polish is also available. Going Green The greening of the business world is another topic of growing interest. Go Green, Live Rich by David Bach, of The Automatic Millionaire fame, discusses starting a green business as well as investment options. 75 Green Businesses You Can Start to Make Money and Make a Difference reviews businesses such as wind-turbine installer and building environmentally-friendly houses. Information in Many Formats The Library’s audiobook collection contains many business, financial and self-help titles. Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Wayne Dyer and Zig Ziglar are just a few of the well-known authors represented. Specific topics such as Time Management for Dummies are also found on audiobook in a variety of formats: cassette, CD, MP3CD, and the new self-contained audiobooks that do not require a player called Playaways. CLEVNET has always been a pioneer in the downloadable audiobook field, and now offers titles in the new EPUB format, making it easier than ever to access eMedia. The Bellevue Public Library subscribes to a variety of business related databases through its membership in CLEVNET, a consortium of 30 libraries in north east and north central Ohio. These databases include Reference USA, a directory for 11 million U.S. businesses and 120 million U.S. households, and Business and Company Resource Center which contains listings for 448,000 U.S. and international companies. To access databases and eMedia, users need only visit the Library website at www. bellevue.lib.oh.us, click on Card Catalog from the menu at the left, and then click on the eMedia or Research Resources tabs. For more information on business or any other topic, contact the Bellevue Public

Library at 419-483-4769 during regular business hours: Monday-Thursday, 9:00 a.m. -8:30 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; Sunday (Oct.-April), 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.

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22 February 2009

North Coast Business Journal

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The Great ‘09 Revenue Resolution: Ten Marketing Tips to Help You Transition From Cost Cutting to Rainmaking This Year If you’re a business owner, you’re likely already lamenting a new year filled with nail biting and money woes. But authors Michael Masterson and MaryEllen Tribby want you to stop worrying and start working on a multi-channel marketing strategy that will have you generating revenue rather than cutting expenses in the upcoming year. You suspended pay raises and bonuses. You canceled the cable for the TV in the breakroom. You haven’t taken a full paycheck since the end of the summer. You even whittled the once-lavish holiday party down to a few cheese and veggie trays from the supermarket and a name-drawn gift exchange with a $10 limit. Yes, if there was an expense to be cut, you slashed it. And yet, your QuickBooks balance sheet is far from reassuring. What next? Michael Masterson and MaryEllen Tribby say that if you want to survive the economic slump, the start of 2009 is the perfect time to move your focus from cutting expenses to revving up some revenue-boosting marketing efforts. “Once you’ve cut your expenses to the bone, you must get back into revenue-producing mode,” asserts Tribby, coauthor along with Michael Masterson of Changing the Channel: 12 Easy Ways to Make Millions for Your Business (Wiley, October 2008, ISBN: 978-0-470-37502-0, $24.95). “And while there is no easy way to bring in revenue during a recession, success hinges on implementing the right mix of marketing efforts. Remember, motivated, financially capable businesses and consumers do exist, but if you aren’t getting in front of them, you are leaving their money on the table.” Tribby and Masterson’s new book couldn’t have come at a better time. In Changing the Channel, they set out to teach owners and employees of businesses of all shapes and sizes how to master the 21st century marketing landscape— lessons that are much-needed in today’s tough economy. The trick? Multi-channel marketing—combining new concepts, such as search engine marketing and social media, with tried and true methods like direct space advertising and public relations—to reach a wider customer base, build customer loyalty, and increase sales. Unfortunately, say the authors, many businesses just aren’t taking advantage of all of the (surprisingly affordable) marketing channels that have opened up for them—an especially deadly mistake in a slow economy. “Marketing in the 21st century is extremely cost effective,” says Tribby. “Many of the channels that have opened up are cheap and easy to test, so that a company can quickly see which marketing messages and channels are working for them and which aren’t. These channels allow you to market more without spending more money.” The key, say the authors, is direct marketing. This method offers many advantages: low cost of entry, plenty of markets, and the ability to accurately measure the impact of your marketing efforts on sales. It includes radio, television, magazine and newspaper ads, catalogs, and sales letters sent through the mail, and now, advertising via the Internet. “Essentially, multi-channel marketing offers customers more than one way to buy from your company,” says Tribby. “And in a downturned economy, you can never be overexposed.” Here are a few seeds of knowledge from Changing the Channel that will help companies of all shapes and sizes generate revenue and grow their business, both in today’s sluggish economy and the better economies of the future: Strong customer relationships = more revenue. Perhaps one of the greatest benefits of multi-channel marketing is that it provides great customer relationshipbuilding opportunities. Direct mail and e-mail allow companies to stay in front of their customers. Telemarketing

provides the opportunity to offer additional services, via the telephone, that they may be very interested in buying. And event marketing provides an opportunity to create a great, fun experience for clients. “Naturally, it’s easier to get your current customers to buy from you than it is to bring in a large, new batch of customers,” says Tribby. “By using the right marketing channels, you can keep your customers constantly thinking about your company and what special offers it might be making. Creating loyal customers will be money in the bank for you.” Direct mail is still a viable marketing channel. If you wrote off direct mail when e-mail became easier or if you’ve always associated direct mail with get-rich-quick schemes and used cars, now’s the time for a re-evaluation of this useful marketing channel. First of all, unlike e-mail marketing, which is regulated by anti-spamming laws, direct mail can be completely unsolicited, allowing you to reach out to people who may not already be familiar with your product or business. Secondly, because you can easily test which direct mail pieces are successful and which ones aren’t, it is an especially safe and fast way to market a business or product in a slow economy. “Direct mail advertising makes more sense today than it ever has,” says Tribby. “And it has always been a sensationally effective way to sell products. Because of the low expense of e-mail marketing, marketers can test their headlines and leads to potential customers before going to the expense of printing and mailing it. It is a very cost effective way to attract new customers to your business.” Let e-mail help you pick the low-hanging fruit. A successful e-mail marketing campaign is a great revenuebooster. E-mail allows you to send frequent, strong market messages to those loyal customers who buy almost any product your company offers them. The good news is that in an economy that has you pinching every penny this marketing channel is easy to implement and is so cheap that you can communicate with customers almost as much as you want. It is also easy to test offers, see what’s working, and quickly make changes to generate more sales. “A solid e-mail campaign is a great trick to have up your sleeve,” says Tribby. “The extremely low cost of delivery is only the beginning of this method’s benefits. You can also monitor, in detail, customer reaction to your ad. You can, for example, find out if they clicked on a link in the e-mail to read the full promotion. You can also see the results; whether they are taking you up on your offer, immediately— an important factor when you are operating in a business environment where every dollar counts.” Don’t avoid social media. Many business owners view social networking as too tricky for them to get involved with. And that’s a shame. When used correctly, social media allows you to put your message in front of potentially huge numbers of people. You can create outbound campaigns to blogs and forums and chat rooms. You can start your own blog. You can stimulate conversation on social media sites about you, your business, and/or your products by publishing special reports or covering news or sending out surveys or questionnaires to specific groups. If you do these things gradually and organically and with a solid message, you can win over the users of these sites and build profitable relationships with them. “Your company website is a great place to start,” says Tribby. “Build a strong social forum by giving customers who visit the site interesting articles or study results and inviting them to share their thoughts and feelings. The customers in your forum will tell you what you are doing right and what you are doing wrong; there’s no need to waste money on a customer survey. Heeding the advice

you receive is likely to translate into dollars for your company.” Find new customers through search engine marketing (SEM). If there has ever been a time to expand your customer base, it’s now. And search engine marketing (SEM) can help you do just that. Any company able to get its site to the top of the results page on one of the major search engines can count on garnering specific traffic already interested in what it has to offer. Such visitors are likely to sign up for a company’s e-newsletter, buy its products, and keep coming back for more. Not only is SEM inexpensive and sometimes even free, it’s an invaluable way for companies to find their ideal customers. “SEM helps you narrow down a pool of millions and millions of Web surfers to one that includes only those already interested in your product or service,” says Tribby. “It’s the best way to market your name, ideas, website, and products to people who want what you’re offering. It makes the task of turning them into paying customers much easier.” Use PR to enlist the media to spread the word about your company. What’s so great about public relations? Well, first of all, it’s nearly free. If you have a decent writer on staff, your only cost will be the event you’re publicizing (if one exists) and the miniscule amount it takes to mail or e-mail out press releases. Furthermore, when it works, it can work like wildfire, going from local to regional to national—and even to international—audiences faster than it takes to write up a marketing plan for a conventional advertising campaign. The trick is creating successful stories. To do that, you must know the media you want to reach and understand what kind of stories their consumers delight in. For example, a company wanting to be picked up by USA Today might consider creating a public relations story that ties into a U.S. trend. That’s because USA Today tends to focus on smaller, human interest stories that are angled toward current trends while leaving the serious news to papers like the New York Times or Wall Street Journal. “Create your press releases for the specific publications and media outlets whose customers you want to reach,” says Tribby. “Rather than sending out a thousand general releases about a story that has general appeal, it’s much more effective to send out a dozen or so press releases containing stories that are exactly right for the intended audiences. And always make sure the press releases going out contain one of two elements: news about subjects the publication’s readers are already interested in and captivating and/or curious tidbits to fill in their gaps.” Don’t go it alone. In this tough economy, it can be comforting to hear from business owners who are fighting tooth and nail to keep their businesses open just like you. But have you ever considered joining forces with them? When a joint venture is executed properly, it doesn’t subtract from a business; it adds to it. There are many ways to approach joint ventures. The best opportunities are those that pair up businesses with asymmetrical resources and skills. Agora, Inc. is a great example of what joint ventures can do for a business. When the company started out, it was very good at direct mail marketing, but its employees had very little investment expertise. Rather than attempt to develop financial gurus in-house, Agora sought out investment writers who had newsletters with few subscribers. It then proposed a joint venture, with both sides as 50 percent partners. The investment writer would continue to own his subscribers and his editorial product, Continued on page 23

North Coast Business Journal

www.ncbj.net The Great '09 Revenue Resolution: Continued from page 22 would continue to have all the fulfillment obligations, and would hire Agora to act as his newsletter’s marketing agent. Agora would take all the risk with the marketing efforts and keep the revenue stream. The partner would get the new subscribers with the risk. For a financial writer with limited marketing resources, it was an all-reward proposition. For Agora, it was an efficient way to attract first-rate writing talent—some with established reputations and great track records in making stock tips. In that time, the company saw revenues climb from $1 million to more than $60 million. “To find a JV soul mate, think about the major players in your marketplace,” says Tribby. “Consider the strengths and weaknesses of each and how your company might benefit from working with them. Next, create a list of potential partners along with a strategy for approaching them and a compelling argument for how they could benefit from the joint partnership. After a necessary period of negotiation and implementation, the relationship should grow well and quickly and painlessly. The idea is to develop joint venture relationships that are easy to maintain, financially profitable, intellectually rewarding, and long lasting.” Learn the art of the pay-per-click ad. Pay-per-click ads are typically small. On Google, they are usually limited to four lines of text—a headline, two lines of body copy, and your URL. Because this is a very technical channel and marketing tactic, many business owners and even marketing directors leave it up to their “techies” to put together their PPC campaign. This is a big, big mistake. Think of it this way: Would you have your computer guy write your e-mail advertising? Of course not. You’d hire a professional copywriter.

And that’s exactly who should create your PPC ad. The trick is to make the copy both crisp and compelling. Generally, it’s a good idea to create a URL that describes the product being sold. That way, if people type the URL directly into their browser, they have an idea of what to expect. The body of the PPC ad should offer an enticing and, if possible, immediate benefit to the reader. So, if your site is DiscountedDishes.com, the body of your ad might read, “Millions of discontinued plates.” The headline should be unusual or newsworthy in order to grab the prospective customers’ attention. Something like “Designer China Rip-offs” can convince a prospect to click on one company’s ad rather than another one that has a more ordinary headline. To save big bucks on print and radio ads, take the leftovers. Whenever possible, try to purchase remnant ad space. This is ad space that has not been sold to advertisers in time for deadline in print media or air-time in radio. It is also referred to as remainder advertising or last-minute advertising space. Buying remnant space can be a huge money saver for companies that are looking to market in these channels but are short on marketing dollars. Here’s how it works: Find out the media outlet’s deadline; then call right before that deadline and start your negotiations. “About five years ago, we bought a full-page ad in USA Today for the discounted price of $1,500,” says Tribby. “We were advertising a $24 book on investing and would need only 63 orders to break even. Because the newspaper’s circulation was nearly 2 million at the time, getting 63 orders, which was a .00315 percent response, seemed like a very reasonable expectation. We ended up with 217 book orders. That’s an ROI of 347 percent on the $1,500 investment—proof that in the age of the Internet you can

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February 2009

still bring in a sizable chunk of revenue through a good old fashioned print ad.” Test, test, test. In multi-channel marketing, thinking means nothing; it’s what a company knows that counts. To determine if prospective customers will buy what you’re selling, your marketers should test the waters. “Consider how we decided on the title for the new book,” says Tribby. “We had five potentially good titles, so we put all five in Google PPC ads to determine which one would really resonate with people who needed the kind of information we’re providing here. Well, based on the results of those ads, Changing the Channel won hands down. And it is a title that neither of us authors came up with; it came from someone on the Early to Rise staff.” “Keep in mind that the key here is not that you use one of these marketing techniques,” says Tribby. “You use a mix of several of them. If you just use one, you are missing out on lots of potential revenue and prospective customers, because you will be leaving large swaths of your market untouched. “So, put together your multi-channel marketing campaign now,” she advises. “Throw up a couple of PPC ads…start growing your list and send out a few e-mails…have lunch with an industry expert and ask if she’d be interested in doing a joint venture…. Your company—and your bank account—are sure to thank you!”

MADE YOU LOOK! In this space, you could have sold something. Don’t miss the same opportunity next month!

Call Dave at NCBJ 419-734-4838

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24 February 2009

North Coast Business Journal

A Mid-Recession Life Revival: Nine Steps You Can Take Right Now to Leave Your Stressed-out Life Behind These days the world feels like one big stress ball. But if you expect the stress to pass once the kinks are worked out of the economy, think again. Author James Looram, Ph.D., says the recession isn’t to blame—your unsustainable life path is the real culprit. Stressed lately? You’re not alone. With new layoffs announced almost daily, a stock market on shaky ground, industries seeking tax-funded bailouts—and, oh, yes—the holidays just around the corner, hand-wringing is the new black. You know these problems will work themselves out. (If you doubt it, note how far those astronomical gas prices have fallen.) You’ll get your gifts bought, downsized employees will find new jobs, the economy will rebound. Life will go on. But here’s what James Looram wants to know: Do you really want your old prerecession life to go on, business as usual? “Sure, a lot of people are frazzled and unhappy right now,” says Looram, author of the new book Your Essential Self (Frederick Fell Publishers, November 2008, ISBN-10: 0-8839116-0-4, ISBN-13: 978-0-8839116-0-0, $14.95). “But think about it: Weren’t you just as stressed before the economy collapsed? We have a very human tendency to blame circumstances for our unhappiness, but the truth is many of us started burning out a long time ago. And why? Because we are forcing ourselves to live lives that aren’t fulfilling. “What most people need right now is a life revival,” he adds. “And actually, the recession is the perfect time to do so. After all, America is already in an introspective mood. We’ve just elected a new president; we’ve clamped down on the mindless spending. As a nation we seem to realize the old ways aren’t working anymore. Why can’t we take that a step further and realize it as individuals?” Looram is a pro at helping people find their purpose or what he calls their path in life. Your Essential Self captures the content of a five-day executive retreat he conducted for ten years. The seminar series came about after Looram noticed that the experienced, well-educated midlevel managers at the Fortune 500 companies he consulted with had lost their fire and passion for their work. His system helps people shed the illfitting belief systems they’ve accepted all of their lives in order to discover the talents, values, and joy that make up their essential selves. First you must find the path to deliver your essential self. You get there by asking yourself questions,

such as: What truly enthuses me? What has recently brought me the most joy? Am I doing what I am meant to do? “Modern day humans live in two worlds,” says Looram. “The first is the ‘ideal’ or perfect world we dream about, the one towards which we set our expectations. The other is the ‘real’ world of frustrations, blocked ambitions, and dashed dreams. Too many of us get bogged down in the ‘real’ world and give up on trying to achieve our ‘ideal’ world.” With some introspection and selfcultivation, you can break your “real” world down and figure out how to start living in your “ideal” one, he explains. The key is to find your life’s path. This is hard work, but the life that opens up to you is so fresh and exciting that it infuses you with energy. When you are on your path, you find meaning and purpose behind what you do. You are literally on a mission and that brings you joy. If you think, Well, I’ll take care of that once this economic upheaval levels off, you’re missing the point. In fact, it’s that kind of thinking that brought you to this point. Looram suggests you take the plunge now—and provides the following tips to get you started on the path to finding your essential self: Maybe you can’t quit your day job, but you can revitalize it. Consider the following scenario: There are two high school teachers who have been teaching for 25 years. The first is still full of enthusiasm and joy. She continues to learn new ways to teach and can’t wait to get to the classroom each day. The second is burned out, does an adequate job, but is simply going through the motions. The first has found her mission. She is on the right path, one that draws on her talents, is meaningful and brings her joy. She will gladly do it forever. The second is doing a job. She has not found her calling. “If you’re the second teacher, it’s probably not realistic to abruptly resign, especially in light of the current economy,” admits Looram. “But what you can do is figure out what you really love doing and incorporate it into your daily life. If you discover your passion is in caring for animals, start volunteering each weekend at your local humane society. Perhaps you can instill a love and respect for animals in some of your students, which will give you a new sense of purpose at work. By folding your passion into your life, you will find that you can enjoy other things more and you will be

www.ncbj.net rejuvenated in every way.” De-fog your worldview lens. We have all been programmed over time to embrace a particular set of values. These values have in turn influenced your beliefs, which have influenced your needs, which have influenced your attitudes. These structures have then played a role in determining your relationships. Each of these layers— relationships, attitudes, needs, beliefs, values—creates a lens through which you see the world. But all these layers can actually alienate us—from both our essential selves and the world around us. “Think of it like this,” advises Looram. “In the winter, we pile on the layers when going outside. We throw on a sweater, a big coat, a scarf, a hat, and gloves or mittens. But what happens is all those layers hamper your movement. You lose dexterity because your hands are covered and agility because you’re in these bulky clothes. Well, the belief systems you have built up over time are just as cumbersome. To find out what you are really all about, you have to strip off those layers and get back to your essential self. “Here’s how to start the process,” he explains. “Write down your three most important values. Then consider the following questions: Did I choose that value freely or was I programmed to embrace that value by some institution, such as family, church, or school?; Was I aware of the alternatives?; Was I aware of the costs incurred by embracing that value?; Do I publicly affirm that value?; And do I walk my talk? If you cannot answer yes to all of those questions, then you can strip that value. Eventually you will have gone through your list of values, beliefs, and needs and will be left with only those that are important to you in the here and now.” Clear your path by giving your priorities the attention they deserve. When you learn to focus on what is truly important, you can expend more energy on all the other aspects of your life. The manager who focuses time on truly developing a relationship with his daughter will find that it gets easier to focus on work demands because there is no longer the distraction of an unhealthy relationship at home. Conversely, the manager who finds the appropriate niche at work to deliver his or her enthusiasm becomes much more fulfilled and consequently much more “present” at home. “The key is to truthfully answer the question What is important to me? and then to focus your energies there without worrying about neglecting other areas,” says Looram. “For example, commit to spend one hour a day for three days a week reading to and playing with your

daughter. You’ll find that when you focus on that one thing that is truly important to you, you will continue to perform as well as, and probably even better than, before in other areas of your life. Why? Simply because you are content.” Learn to accept those who irritate you. All of us have at least one albatross: that person at our office or that other parent at school events who gets under our skin. Perhaps you allow this person— and you know who she is—to ruin an otherwise enjoyable day at the office picnic or to distract you from your son’s performance in his first school play. You probably blame your dislike for this person on her behavior or sour attitude, but the reality is you just haven’t accepted what makes the two of you different. “No one really has a bad attitude,” says Looram. “They simply have an attitude that differs from yours. Each of us has a very distinct personality. It is a unique mixture of deeply ingrained opinions, beliefs, experiences, relationships, attitudes, needs, and values. These unique belief systems are what often make it very difficult for us to cope with one another. At least once a day, try to see the world through the other person’s eyes. Once you accept that there are personality differences between you and those around you, it can be easier for you to find the common ground on which you can work together.” Stop trying to do it all. Advancements in technology have made it possible to work from virtually anywhere, which means many businesspeople work on their vacations and after their kids go to bed at night. Though women have become prominent and important parts of the workforce, they are still expected to play a larger role than their spouses in running the household and raising the children. Everyone tries to do it all in order to get ahead, but what happens most often is we look back and realize we have accomplished nothing. “Sure, you might have gotten a pay raise here and there, but did you enjoy a single moment of all that work?” asks Looram. “Or explaining to your daughter why you missed yet another soccer game? What I ask you to do is to focus on one true path for you and cut out what just doesn’t fit. The idea is that you find balance in your life by throwing it out of balance. When you are able to focus on your essential self, everything else falls into place.” Create a 20/20 vision of your future. A single, well-developed, congruent, and coherent vision for the future is a very powerful tool. If you don’t have one, spend some time developing it. Write it down. There’s something about translating

Continued on page 26...

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Terra Joins Other Institutions in Fighting Ohio’s Economic Woes

North Coast Business Journal

February 2009

Chamber of Commerce of Sandusky County Finalists for Chamber Member of the Year Awards*

Sometimes Steve Nixon’s Editor’s note – we went to press just as the Large Business Finalists: most difficult job isn’t 50 or more employees scheduling his work winners were announced at the Annual Meeting Dinner. We’ll publish them (with Al Baumann Chevrolet Buick orders or purchasing some photos too) in the next edition. Atlas Industries, Inc. materials. It’s finding Memorial Hospital new, qualified employees, Small Business Finalists: 1-5 employees Mosser Construction even given the current Harvey Oaks Jeweler economy. Looking Good *Member of the Year Awards along with WAMH Design LLC Health & Wellness, Citizen of the Year, Clark Eric D. Fingerhut, Ambassador, Distinguished Service and Chancellor of the Ohio Medium Business Finalists: Athena Award were presented at the Board of Regents, isn’t 6-49 employees Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner, surprised. First Financial Bank January 29 at Terra State Community “One of the things that Fremont Federal Credit Union College’s Student Activity Center. Steve Nixon describes his company, Advanced is the most frustrating Gordon Lumber Company Control Solutions, Inc., to Steve Karr’s PLC class at part of my job is to go Terra. from a meeting with students who say, ‘I can’t find a job,’ to a meeting with employers who say, ‘I can’t find workers,’” he told the Daily Kent Stater in November. “It happens all the time.” Fingerhut then added, “You can either jump out a window or you can fix it. We’re going to fix it.” And that’s just what Terra Community College and the rest of the University System of Ohio want to accomplish with its 10-year plan. At the urging of Fingerhut and his boss, Gov. Ted Strickland, Ohio’s higher education system is being asked to drive economic growth in NOMS Healthcare is pleased to the state. announce the addition of Edward Joan Gamble, Coordinator of Career Services at Terra, knows that a Hemeyer, M.D., to the NOMS Primary college degree or even a 10-year plan doesn’t assure a job. It also takes Care team. Dr. Hemeyer is board a professional resume, an organized search and a willingness to be certified in Family Medicine and flexible in both skills and geography. A co-op or internship can be a Environmental Medicine. He is one critical part of the process as well. of only three physicians in Ohio Board “We do our best to make sure our students’ resumes are clear, concise Certified by the American Board of and accurate,” Gamble said. “We also encourage our students to start Environmental Medicine. He is also a their job searches early and to consider getting some experience fellow of The American Academy of through internships and co-ops.” Environmental Medicine. Gamble coordinates the effort to connect future graduates with employers like Nixon. The president of Advanced Control Solutions, Inc. in Sylvania, Environmental physicians focus their Nixon recently visited Terra to speak to students in a programmable attention on the cause of the disease. logic controllers (PLC) class. He has used the college’s online job They look towards both external and board but discovered personal contact results in more job applicants. internal stressors such as diet, multiple “When I first started, most of my employees were degreed electrical allergies, genetic limitations, and engineers, but what I found out was it doesn’t make a lot of difference psychological stress as part of their what degree you have,” he said. “As long as a person has a technical evaluation before customizing a background and is trainable. That’s what we’re looking for.” treatment plan. He also discovered that Terra students actually work on PLCs in their dward . emeyer, program and that can definitely give them an advantage. Board Certified in Family Medicine Dr. Hemeyer will continue his practice “The type of things that you are learning is precisely what we do,” and Environmental Medicine of Family and Environmental Medicine Nixon told the class. “Don’t be intimidated by us being a big in Bellevue, Ohio. In addition to company.” Environmental Medicine, he specializes Gamble encourages the students with whom she works to look at the in allergy testing and treatment. He big picture. It’s what she hears from employers on a weekly basis. currently resides in Bellevue. “In the past we relied on a larger pool of trained machinists and tool makers to fill openings,” said Mike Mullholand, COO/Treasurer of Freeman Company in Fremont. “Recently we have found it nearly impossible to find experienced machinists that are exceptional in what they do. We focus more on www.nomsdrs.com placing intelligent people that are proven performers and work to ALLERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE train them in the areas specific to Freeman’s needs.” For more information on career services at Terra Community 521 N. Sandusky St., Suite B • Bellevue, OH • 419-483-6267 College, contact Joan Gamble at 419-559-2252.

NOMS Healthcare Welcomes

Edward Hemeyer, M.D. to their Primary Care Team

M.D.

26 February 2009

North Coast Business Journal

"Stress Relief" Continued from page 24... your ideas into words on paper—or at least on the computer screen—that helps you clarify them. “We can create inner peace by summoning the courage to focus on just one thing—the vision that draws us along the path we have chosen,” says Looram. “Remember, you should have only one vision. Competing simultaneous visions do just that: They compete, and as a result, we become the referees. We are no longer playing along the path. Those who have more than one objective have none. You can have several goals to help you achieve your vision, but the vision itself should stand alone.” Start seeking joy, not pleasure. Pleasure is the fulfilling of many of our basic internal needs for food, drink, sex, and exercise, and external needs for security and recognition. There is absolutely nothing wrong with pleasure. However, all pleasures are transitory: Once we have experienced a good meal, we will seek another, and another. Joy is something altogether different, says Looram—it’s a deeper abiding sense that we are in touch with the universe. When you are joyful, there is an unmistakable enthusiasm for the task at hand. You have found a deeply satisfying psychological and spiritual state that gives a clear sense of authenticity and truth. “You must choose a path that brings you great joy,” he says. “It should be an activity that you can’t wait to get to each day. It is work that when you are engaged in it you lose your self-awareness. So, think back. When is the last time you lost yourself for a moment and were completely joyful? Was it when your college rock band reunited for a show at a local bar? Was it when you wrote a special birthday poem for your daughter? Was it when you volunteered at the soup kitchen? If you can pinpoint your last joyful moment, chances are you have found your path.” Take up a “stop thinking” practice. Thinking isn’t always a good thing. There are some tasks that we do every day that if we were to stop and think about what we were doing, we would actually slow ourselves down, like tying your shoe or driving your car. It’s your right, nonthinking brain that controls these tasks, and that is the side of the brain you will need to tap into in order to realize your essential self. Thinking at the time of execution interferes with performance. Sometimes the less you can think about an issue, removing your thoughts from the circled chatter of your left brain, the more you come to understand it.

“Getting into a non-thinking state takes practice—daily practice,” asserts Looram. “Gardening, biking, swimming, wood working, sculpting, yoga, tai chi, any sport, even walking can take on the aspects of a perfect non-thinking practice. They are performed with the specific intention of relaxing your body, quieting your mind, and allowing you to enter a non-thinking state. The more we practice, the more peaceful, centered, and focused we become. This practice, which may take less than an hour each day, places us back in our very active worlds centered, focused, peaceful, and able to move through the turbulence of our daily lives while remaining in the eye of the storm.” Stop living in the past. Just as we can create our future through our mind’s ability to visualize it, we can recreate our past by simply causing our minds to interpret what has happened to us in a different way. This can be a powerful realization. “The past is history that can be interpreted in any way you choose to interpret it,” says Looram. “Everyone can find or manipulate some occurrence in their past and use that experience as an excuse for why they aren’t seeking out a better life. If you find that you are lingering on a bad childhood or a bad work experience, it’s time, as I used to tell my kids, to get over it! These experiences are absolutely irrevocably in your past. Fail to get over them and you ruin the present moment. Living in the past, even the most recent past, keeps us from enjoying the gift of the present.” You’ll notice that most of these practices cost little to nothing in monetary terms. That’s good news for those of us who are cash-strapped by the recession. The obstacle you may have to overcome is a deep-seated unwillingness to embrace a way of thinking that’s foreign to the average, hectic-scheduled businessperson and parent. “If you’re about to write this spiritual, introspective process off as ‘not for me,’ I ask only that you stop for a second and evaluate how happy you are,” urges Looram. “Think about how your stress levels and subsequent unhappiness affect not only everyone around you, but you, your health, and your soul. Just give it a try. You can always return to your old ways. But I promise that if you take the time to find your path now, you will set yourself up for a more fulfilling, joyful life.”

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On The Move Memorial Health Care System Announces Renovation Project Memorial Health Care System has celebrated a number of successes over its 90-year legacy. In continuing to build on that legacy of service and caring, Memorial Health Care System has initiated the renovation of Memorial Hospital’s Main Lobby. In addition to upgrading the look of the Lobby, the project will significantly improve patient flow and comfort. “Our top priority is to improve customer service and ensure that our guests have a positive, enjoyable experience,” said John C. Yanes, Chief Executive Officer of Memorial Health Care System. “I am fully aware that our guest’s experience begins when they walk through our front doors. Our guests have to feel welcome.” The renovation will include updating the lighting, flooring, furniture, and wall paint. In addition, a water feature will be added in memory of a local family as well as a fireplace in the Weitzel Kern Surgery Center Lobby. “To date, the Memorial Hospital Foundation and the Memorial Hospital Auxiliary have raised nearly three fourths of the entire cost of the project,” said Mr. Yanes. According to Joe Buti, Director of Materials

Management and Engineering, the price tag for the entire renovation is $200,000, and includes approximately 8,300 square feet. As a result of the renovation, individuals entering the Hospital will be redirected to a temporary registration area. Memorial Health Care System volunteers and facility hosts will be available near the main entrance to assist patients and visitors. “This has been a fantastic team effort. We’re very pleased with the employees that have made this project possible as well as the Foundation, Auxiliary and private donors in the community.” added Mr. Yanes. The renovation project is scheduled to be complete in March. For timely updates on its progress, please visit Memorial Health Care System web site at www.memorialhcs.org. If you would like to participate in the project by making a donation, please contact Chasity O’Neill, Foundation Development Director, at 419-334-6667. For additional information on the renovation, please call Joe Buti, Director of Materials Management and Engineering, at 419-334-6633.

EHOVE Engineering team building robot for “Lunacy” Twenty-one students on EHOVE’s Maverick team are on a 6-week countdown to build a robot for the “Lunacy” contest, a project for this year’s FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition. Students enrolled in the College Engineering Tech Prep* class (a partnership between EHOVE Career Center and BGSU Firelands) are working with local engineers from Sierra Lobo and Plumb Brook Operational Support Group) to apply their knowledge of mechanical design, robotics and physics to the project.

North Coast Business Journal

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FTMC Awards Area Schools $50,000 in Education Grants

in existence, according to John Payne, chairman of FTMC’s Board of Directors. “Our board, medical staff and employees believe that enhancing the educational foundation of our schools makes the entire region a better place to live, work and worship,” Payne said. This year’s $49,987.89 was distributed to the Berlin-Milan Local Schools, Monroeville Local Schools, New London Local Schools, Norwalk City Schools, Norwalk Catholic

February 2009

School, North Point Educational Service Center, South Central Local Schools, Wellington Local Schools, Western Reserve Local Schools and Willard City Schools. Applicants were required to submit a grant proposal to Fisher-Titus that included a detailed explanation of the project to be funded. Grants were approved by the Fisher-Titus Medical Center board of directors. Under this program, school districts may receive grants up to $5,000.

Mercy Hospital of Willard names new CEO

Nancy Beckett, a teacher for Willard City Schools, explains how the school district used a $5,000 Health Education Grant from Fisher-Titus Medical Center. Willard was one of 10 schools to receive grant money from the local Medical Center to fund innovative educational programs in the areas of math, science and health for schools in the Fisher-Titus service area. Hands-on learning, interaction and advanced technology were the overall themes in the Health Education Grants that Fisher-Titus Medical Center recently awarded to 10 local schools to make math, science and health education fun. “Thank you for sharing this unique program with us and most importantly sharing it with our area schools that have such a significant responsibility for educating our future doctors, nurses, teachers and farmers that will be the future of our community,” said Patrick Martin, FTMC president. FTMC’s Health Education Grant

Program was established to fund innovative educational programs in the areas of math, science and health for schools in the Fisher-Titus service area. Since 1996, 119 grants have been awarded through this program. Every year, FTMC awards local school districts health education grants. During a luncheon ceremony Wednesday, Jan. 14 at Fisher-Titus Medical Center, the Medical Center awarded this year’s grants to 10 local school districts, totaling $49,988. Over $583,700 has been distributed in the 13 years the program has been

Steven L. Mickus, President and Chief Executive Officer for Mercy Health Partners, is pleased to announce that Lynn Detterman has been named president & CEO for Mercy Hospital of Willard, effective February 1, 2009. Her selection was the result of a CHP wide internal search lead by a CEO search committee appointed by the Mercy Hospital of Willard Board of Trustees. Ms. Detterman has served as interim president & CEO for Mercy Willard since November 2008, following Bob Gospodarek’s transition to chief operating officer of St. Charles Mercy Hospital. Ms. Detterman has been with the organization since 2002, most recently serving as chief financial officer of the Mercy Health Partners Rural Division, which includes Mercy Willard and Mercy Hospital of Tiffin. During her time with the organization she has helped to lead several growth initiatives through strategic planning, development and execution. “Lynn is a proven leader within Mercy Health Partners and under her leadership we are confident that Mercy Hospital of Willard will have continued growth and success in meeting the healthcare needs of the community by providing high quality healthcare to the residents of the Willard area,” Mr. Mickus said. Dale Thornton, President and CEO for Mercy’s Rural Division, added, “Infused with the spirit of a servant leader, she is very committed to the mission of this organization and is clearly capable of leading Mercy Willard through the exciting and challenging years ahead.” As president & CEO, Ms. Detterman will oversee operations, work to enhance the patient experience, develop relationships with physicians and strengthen the hospital’s position as the preferred provider for healthcare in the Willard area.

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28 February 2009

North Coast Business Journal

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On The Move JHI Announces “Project of the Year”

Monroeville based Design Build Contractor Janotta & Herner Inc. has announced their yearly pick for Project of the Year. JHI selects a project each month to feature as their Project of the Month. At the end of the year one of these twelve projects is selected as the top project for the year. For 2008, the Bettcher Industries East Addition is the honored selection. Bettcher Industries is a manufacturer of power tools for the cutting and trimming of meat products in foodprocessing plants. They export these products to over 50 countries around

the globe. The 45,000 SF addition to the Birmingham, Ohio company houses their relocated administrative, engineering, research and d e v e l o p m e n t departments as well as limited production functions. The company’s location next to the Ohio Turnpike insures that literally tens of thousands of people see this building daily. Bettcher’s original building resembles a large red barn. The new east addition was designed to continue this theme to the extent of including a 55’ concrete stave silo. The building’s interior follows the barn look with recycled barn siding, hand hewn trim and even a full size Mail Pouch Tobacco logo on one wall. A 245’ long mezzanine is the display area for four fully restored Silver King

tractors along with other antique farm equipment. Custom wagon wheel chandeliers that have retro fitted electric kerosene lanterns add just the right mood to the unique office space. Dan Matson JHI Project Manager, states that of all the projects he has been involved with, this one tops his list. “The level of quality, given the size of this office space, is tremendous. Every corner has a unique detail that makes this space different. How many office workers can say they work under an antique manure spreader or a stuffed rooster?”says Matson. The Bettcher East Addition project was the 2008 Excellence in Construction Award winner at the Associated Builders and Contractors

Annual Awards competition held in Cleveland last fall and is currently being submitted to the ABC National competition in California. Larry Bettcher, second-generation owner of Bettcher Industries, gets a smile on his face every time he talks about his new addition. At Janotta & Herner, they do too.

Terra Fills Several Administrative Openings

Lisé Konecny

Lisa Jozwiak

Edward Recker

A Wood County resident, one from Findlay, and another from the Cleveland area have been tabbed to fill key administrative openings at Terra Community College. Lisé Konecny of Bowling Green is the new Executive Director of Business Services and Lisa Jozwiak, formerly of North Royalton, is the new Vice President of Academic Affairs. Konecny fills the spot vacated by the retirement in December of Dale Stearns. Jozwiak’s position was created by a reorganization of the top administration at the college. Konecny earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Master’s of Public Administration, both from Bowling Green State University. She came to Terra from BGSU where she served as the Planning Administrator of Capital Planning and Director of Budgets and Operations of Continuing and Extended Education. “What drew me to Terra was the close match between my background and education and the position’s responsibilities,”

she said. “I hope to significantly contribute to serving the students of Terra and the quality programs we offer.” She will be assisting the college in successfully navigating through the State budget mandates, guiding the new construction projects to a timely beginning and completion, implementing Terra’s new energy efficiency plan, and helping identify efficiencies and savings. Konecny’s husband, John, works as an ITS manager at BGSU and son, Jacob, is a thirdgrader in Bowling Green City Schools. Jozwiak is a product of the community college system, having earned an Associate of Applied Science in the Physician Assistant program at Cuyahoga Community College. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Technical Education and Master’s of Science in Higher Education Administration, both from the University of Akron. She is currently working on a Doctorate of Higher Education Administration at Kent State University.

Jozwiak’s professional life is also rooted in the community college sector. She has worked at Cuyahoga Community College for 13 years in various leadership roles. In her last position, she was the Associate Dean for the Health Careers/Science division of the Eastern Campus at Cuyahoga. The position at Terra afforded her the opportunity to further her leadership role in higher education at the community college level. “Terra has a good reputation, excellent programming and a wonderful opportunity for expansion and growth,” Jozwiak said. “In doing my research about Terra, I was impressed by the dedication and commitment that is shared by the administration, faculty, staff and students of Terra.” Early on, Jozwiak plans to work closely with the University System of Ohio’s Strategic Plan, assist in expansion of collaborative opportunities with other educational institutions, and focus on opportunities to expand program offerings at Terra, especially in the allied

health field. Her husband, Robert, works in IT for National City Bank. Son, Nicholas, is working on his master’s at The Ohio State University while serving as a legal intern at Abercrombie and Fitch and son, Nathan, is a fulltime student at Cleveland State University while maintaining full-time employment at Lockheed Martin Corporation. Konecny and Jozwiak started at Terra earlier this month. One other administrative opening was filled last fall with the hiring of Edward Recker as Director of Financial Aid. He came to Terra from Bowling Green State University where he spent five years in the financial aid department. Recker has a Master’s of Education in Higher Education from the University of Toledo and currently resides in Findlay. “I see an overwhelming sense of community and fortitude at Terra,” he said. “I’m very happy to be a part of the Terra family and have the opportunity to grow with a great organization.”

North Coast Business Journal

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February 2009

Bellevue Area Chamber of Commerce Names Two New Board Directors The Bellevue Area Chamber of Commerce has appointed Doug Gildenmeister and Gerald “JJ” Foos to their Board of Directors. Both are Bellevue residents. Doug Gildenmeister is currently a senior vice President of Investments at Raymond James & Associates and is Senior Partner and Branch Manager of The Gildenmeister Wealth Management Group in Bellevue, Ohio. During his 34 years in the financial investment field he has also held positions with Merrill Lynch and Wachovia Securities. JJ Foos is currently a funeral director with Foos and Foos Funeral Home, Bellevue, Ohio. Mr. Foos also serves as a Bellevue Redmen Varsity wide receivers coach and a member of the Bellevue Rotary club, Eagles, Elks, and the Immaculate Conception Church. He graduated from the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science in 2006. “The Chamber is very fortunate to have the talents and energy of both these individuals on our Board. Both gentlemen come from families with deep roots in Bellevue who have over the years consistently benefited our community with their service” according to Richard Stegman, Executive Director of the Bellevue Area Chamber of Commerce.

Present

Past

Wonderly-Horvath Hanes Funeral Home & Crematory Celebrates 75th Anniversary Year Doug Gildenmeister

JJ Foos

Wonderly- Horvath Hanes Funeral Home & Crematory is proud to announce that 2009 is their 75th anniversary year. During the past 75 years, they have established a reputation for excellence, integrity and permanence within the Fremont business community. The funeral home was founded by Jerry Weller in 1934 as the Weller Company. Cliff Wonderly joined his brother-in-law in 1938 and the name was changed to the Weller Wonderly Funeral Home. Cliff’s son Ty, joined his father in the business until his untimely death in 1981. Tom Horvath joined the firm in 1983 working with Cliff for eight years. Cliff invited his daughter-in-law Linda Wonderly, Roger Haubert and Tom to purchase the funeral home. Mr. Horvath’s partners retired in l993 and 1996 respectively. Mr. Horvath and his wife, Helene Horvath Zielinski, licensed funeral

director have owned and operated the funeral home since 1996. In 2005, they invited Scott Hanes to join the firm and after installing a crematory the name was changed to Wonderly Horvath Hanes Funeral Home & Crematory. Zielinski said their 75th will be celebrated throughout the year with community events, an open house/ reception, and sponsorships of many community activities. “We want to give back to the community, as well as, honoring Jerry Weller and Cliff Wonderly by continuing their commitment to service.” Wonderly-Horvath Hanes Funeral Home and Crematory recently received the 2008 National Funeral Directors Association Pursuit of Excellence Eagle Award for the third time for outstanding community service, community relations and professional educational programs.

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30 February 2009

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On The Move Dr. Oleson Accepts Dr. Matthew Petznick Accepts Fellowship at Boston University Fellowship Firelands Regional Medical Center is pleased to announce that Erika N. Oleson, D.O., has recently accepted a two-year Fellowship in Geriatric Medicine at Boston University. A current Family Practice Resident at Firelands, Dr. Oleson will graduate from Firelands Regional Medical Center’s Medical Education program in June of 2009 and begin her Fellowship at Boston University in July of 2009.

Firelands Regional Medical Center is pleased to announce that Matthew Petznick, D.O., has recently accepted a Fellowship in Sports Medicine at Toledo Hospital Sports Care. A current Family Practice Resident at Firelands, Dr. Petznick will graduate from Firelands Regional Medical Center’s Medical Education program in June of 2009 and begin his Fellowship at Toledo Hospital in July of 2009.

Norwalk Physician Achieves Board Recertification Dr. Jeffrey A. Harwood of Norwalk recently completed recertification for the American Board of Family Medicine. To achieve recertification, a family physician must verify the completion of 300 hours of acceptable continuing medical education over the past six years, possess a full and unrestricted license to practice medicine in the United States; and successfully complete a one-day, written examination of cognitive knowledge and problem-solving abilities. This examination covers the disciplines of the specialty including, but not limited to: adult medicine; care of newborns, infants, children and adolescents; maternity and gynecological care; community medicine; care of the older patient; human behavior and mental health; and care of the surgical patient. Dr. Harwood currently practices medicine at New London Family Practice LLC, New London, and is a member of Fisher-Titus Medical Center’s medical staff. He has been

the Huron County Coroner since 1996. He was recently installed as the 200809 president-elect of Ohio Academy of Family Physicians (OAFP), has been an OAFP member since 1989 and has served on numerous OAFP committees including finance, legislation, communications and rural health. He also has been an active member of American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) since 1989 and received his AAFP Degree of Fellow in 1993. He earned his doctor of medicine degree from Medical College of Ohio, Toledo, Ohio, and completed his residency at Akron General Medical Center in Akron, Ohio, in 1989. Dr. Harwood and his wife, Sharon, reside in Norwalk and have three children.

Dr. Allison M. Petznick Accepts Fellowship at The Cornwell Diabetes Center Firelands Regional Medical Center is pleased to announce that Allison M. Petznick, D.O., has recently accepted a oneyear Fellowship at the Cornwell Diabetes Center in Athens, Ohio. A current Family Practice Resident at Firelands, Dr. Petznick will graduate from Firelands Regional Medical Center’s Medical Education program in May of 2009 and begin her Fellowship at the Cornwell Diabetes Center in July of 2009.

FTMC’s Centa Named “FACS” Dr. Joseph E. Centa, a boardcertified general surgeon and a member of Fisher-Titus Medical Center’s medical staff in Norwalk, recently was named a fellow of the American College of Surgeons during convocation ceremonies at the College’s 94th annual Clinical Congress in San Francisco. Dr. Centa received a medical doctorate degree in 1996 from The Ohio State University College of Medicine. In 2004, Dr. Centa attained board certification from the American Board of Surgery. He has been practicing at Fisher-Titus since March 2006. Dr. Centa has a strong professional interest in laparoscopy and holds membership in other professional societies including Ohio Region IV Regional Physicians Advisory Board, American Medical Association and the Academy of Medicine of Cleveland and Northern Ohio. By meeting the college’s stringent membership requirements, Fellows of the college have earned the distinguished right to use the designation of “FACS” (Fellow,

American College of Surgeons) after their names. A n applicant f o r fellowship must be a graduate of an approved medical school; must have completed advanced training in one of the 14 surgical specialties recognized by the college; must possess certification by an American surgical specialty board; and must have been in practice in the same geographic location for at least one year at the time of his or her application. Before admission into fellowship, the surgeon must further demonstrate ethical fitness and professional proficiency, and his or her acceptance as a fellow of the college must be approved by threefourths of its Board of Regents.

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On The Move

Correction:

Bill Back, M.D. named Mercy Hospital of Willard Chief of Staff Bill Back, M.D. was elected as Mercy Hospital of Willard’s Chief of Staff, according to Lynn Detterman, Interim President & CEO at Mercy Hospital of Willard. Dr. Bill Back, who specializes in internal medicine, replaces Dr. Chris Bohach, who completed a two-year term on December 31, 2008. As the Chief of Staff, Dr. Back will also serve as a member of

February 2009

Our inscrutable make-up department accidentally switched the identity of two Tiffin area doctors newly elected to the Tiffin Mercy Medical Staff. Below are their photos and correct identification. Sorry for the confusion. Ed.

Mercy Willard’s Board of Trustees during his term. Other Medical Staff Officers for 2009 include: Chief of Staff Elect – David Jump, D.O. (Family Practice); Secretary/ Treasurer – Robert Secor, M.D. (Family Practice); as well as Past Chief of Staff – Chris Bohach, D.P.M. (Podiatry). Dr. Christopher Sears

Dr. Wade Young

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Coming in March: Focus on Fostoria

32 February 2009

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SLEEP DISORDER CENTER

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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. • • • •

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