January 2014 - West Chester Liberty Chamber Alliance

THE
CONNECTING PEOPLE AND POSSIBILITIES IN WEST CHESTER AND LIBERTY TOWNSHIPS AND THE I-75 GROWTH CORRIDOR
SM
ANNIVERSARY
C E L E B R AT I O N
ANNIVERSARY
C E L E B R AT I O N
JANUARY 2014 VOL. LXIII ISSUE XXVI
EXECUTIVE
Joe Hinson, IOM, President & CEO
[email protected]
ADMINISTRATION
Kelly Bittlinger, Administrative Coordinator
[email protected]
Mike PoWell, CPA, Finance Director
[email protected]
West Chester • Liberty Chamber Alliance
2014 Sustaining Sponsors
as of December 13, 2013
•
The West Chester Liberty Chamber Alliance salutes our Sustaining Sponsors. We
acknowledge the following members and thank them for their support of the Chamber, its
programs, events and services provided to the businesses and organizations of this area.
SUPER BRONZE
SPECIAL EVENTS & MARKETING
katHy raMbo, Vice President/Special Events
[email protected]
Chamber Staff & Associates
alison Miuccio, Marketing Director
[email protected]
MEMBERSHIP
kenni blacHé, Membership Services Director
and Leadership 21 Facilitator
[email protected]
Sharon Peters, Membership Services Account Executive
[email protected]
Karen Louder, Membership Services Representative
[email protected]
ADVOCACY
bob WiWi, Small Business Advocate
[email protected]
DIAMOND
Butler Technology and Career
Development Schools
Mercy Health-Fairfield Hospital
UC Health West Chester Hospital
Gold
West Chester Township
SUPER SILVER
Kemba Credit Union
SILVER
Taco Bell/Uno’s Chicago Grilll
Carriage Hill
Four Bridges Country Club
McGill Smith Punshon, Inc.
Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine
BRONZE
Alternative Computer Technology, Inc.
Dry Cleaning Shop
Duke Realty
North Ridge Realty Group
North Side Bank & Trust Company
PNC BANK
Park National Bank
Schumacher Dugan Construction, Inc.
SCORE
george glover, Government Relations
[email protected]
BUTLER TECH
Jan kesselring, Director of Workforce Services
& Community Outreach Liaison
[email protected]
EXECUTIVE BOARD
CHAIR RON ROHLFING – UC Health West Chester Hospital
VICE CHAIR DEBORAH BRENNEMAN – Thompson Hine LLP
SECRETARTY JENNIFER PORTER – Cincinnati Marriott North
at Union Centre
PAST CHAIR KAREN MUELLER – HORAN
KRISTEN BITONTE – Liberty Township
LEE GEIGER – Graydon Head
ERIC HARMON – Cincy Magazine
JOE HINSON – West Chester • Liberty Chamber Alliance
CHAR MASON – Cincinnati Children’s Liberty Campus
BILL MILLER – Butler Tech
KEITH RICHBURG – Fifth Third Bank
RICK SHIVELY – Lincoln Financial Securities Corporation
TOM URBAN – Mercy Health - Fairfield Hospital
JOHN VENTURELLA – Clark Schaefer Hackett
2
www.TheChamberAlliance.com
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FROM THE DESK OF
Joe Hinson, IOM
- President & CEO
THE
LAKOTA LEVY PASSED – NOW WHAT?
Congratulations to our Lakota Local Schools on the passing of their 5.5 mill continuing combination levy in November, which
will provide $13.8 million annually in funding. In the last three years alone, Lakota had reduced its annual spending by $20.8
million, while spending per pupil decreased by more than 8 percent and is among the lowest of similar school districts in our
region. Their improved fiscal performance , due diligence and strategic marketing and PR helped pass the first increase in
property tax rates – after three failed levy’s, since 2005.
As a recap; the Lakota Schools combination levy combines 2.0 mills = $5 million for permanent
improvements and 3.5 mills = $8.8 million for operations. The levy will cost $16 per month on each
$100,000 of real estate value in the Lakota School District.
Permanent improvement funds are for capital equipment – items with an estimated life of five years or longer, like computer routers, servers, textbooks, heating and
cooling equipment, security equipment, roofs, paving, etc. Money generated by a permanent improvement levy cannot be used to fund operating expenses. An operating
levy covers almost everything else except permanent improvement areas or debt service. It will support academic programs and the staff needed to keep them going.
It will also keep the lights on and the heat and air running. It also will fund transportation for their students and state-mandated programs like the Third Grade Reading
Guarantee.
Now that the levy has passed, here’s what Lakota Schools plan to do:
• Upgrade their technology infrastructure so they can modernize their instruction and become more efficient.
• Preserve the academic programming they have today.
• Offer bus service for grades two through six, if a student lives further than a mile from school.
•Add more art, music, or physical education for students in grades four to six.
•Reduce student extracurricular fees to encourage more students to participate.
•Strengthen school security, both by changes to the buildings and by tripling the number of police officers and sheriff deputies in the schools.
• Direct more resources to building maintenance; the community has nearly half a billion dollars invested in 25 large buildings and they need to
properly maintain them.
Lakota’s academic performance over the past decade; 11 years of excellence including the last five with distinction, has been outstanding. They have worked diligently
to prepare students for their future in a world that is ever changing. Lakota’s goal is to impart to the students the knowledge and skills that will prepare them for the
workforce, and make them positive contributors to the business community they will be a part of one day. The passing of their levy should only enhance their initiative.
Voters want to see ROI. It will be important for Lakota Schools to keep the community abreast of how dollars are being spent, what improvements are being made, and
send out periodic updates on the overall performance of the schools. Now is the time to enhance the relationships that have been made and strategically develop new
ones. We’re going to help Lakota Schools enhance relationships with our business community so please let us know if your organization would like to help.
•
Thank you for being a valued member of the West Chester Liberty Chamber Alliance. Happy New Year to you and your family!
West Chester • Liberty Chamber Alliance Mission stateMent
A regional community leader promoting business innovation and growth, advocating free enterprise, addressing
issues of regional and community significance and leading our members to a higher quality of life.
DidYouKnow?
… You can nominate someone for The 2014 Annual Celebration & Awards Dinner on February 28th?
Visit TheChamberAlliance.com/annualdinner for all the information on the categories and how
to purchase tickets. If you would like more information, please please contact Kathy Rambo at
513.777.3600 or [email protected].
January 2014 | THE VOICE
3
West Chester • Liberty Chamber Alliance
VOICE
THE
SM
•
The VOICE is published monthly by the West Chester Liberty
Chamber Alliance, 8922 Beckett Road, West Chester, OH 45069.
telephone: 513.777.3600
Fax: 513.777.0188 | www.thechamberalliance.com
Subscriptions are included in the annual dues of each Chamber membership.
ANNIVERSARY
C E L E B R AT I O N
chamber cost cutters
Listed Alphabetically by Service
COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY
PUBLISHER ..................................................................................Joe Hinson
EDITOR ................................................................................... Alison Miuccio
PHOTOGRAPHY ........................................................................... Len kaltman
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS ................... Ann Farmiga, Lee Geiger, Laura Hoppa,
Dr. Karen mantia, Jacklyn mcGlothlin, steve raszka, J. Patrick Venturella.
Tom Farrell, [email protected]
ANNIVERSARY
C E L E B R AT I O N
DESIGNER ................................................................... Cox Media Group Ohio
Kedrick Fitzgerald, [email protected]
Postmaster/Address Changes
Send address changes to West Chester Liberty Chamber Alliance,
8922 Beckett Road, West Chester, OH 45069.
■
GROUP HEALTH CARE
Advertising
Chamber members can advertise in The VOICE and reach more than
1000 leaders in the southeastern Butler County business community.
For cost and specifics, call Alison Miuccio, 513.777.3600 or email
[email protected].
Ronda Halcomb, [email protected]
Subscriptions
The VOICE is mailed to Chamber members as a benefit of membership.
Additional subscriptions are available to Chamber members at $75 per
year. non-member subscriptions are $100 per year. For information, call
513.777.3600.
Matt Appenzeller, [email protected]
MERCHANT SERVICES
Submissions
Articles, photos and advertisements for The VOICE must be received at the
Chamber office by the 1st of each month to be included in the upcoming
edition. no article in this magazine may be reprinted without the permission
of the West Chester Liberty Chamber Alliance.
■
Your Partner for all your Credit Card Processing needs!
Stephanie Rousseau, [email protected]
OFFICE SUPPLIES
Team of the Month
annual celebration
•
February 28, 2014
Each year the West Chester Liberty Chamber Alliance hosts its Annual
Celebration to honor area individuals and businesses exhibiting
excellence in leadership; in the beautification of their workplace; and
in community service. The Annual Celebration Team runs the show
by organizing the event, marketing it, and serving as hosts! For more
information on this team, please contact kathy Rambo at 513.777.3600 or
[email protected].
4
www.TheChamberAlliance.com
Natasha Bryant, [email protected]
WORKERS COMPENSATION
Brandon Hunter, [email protected]
David Ludwin Joined Kirsch CPA
Group as Director of Business
Advisory Services
John Kirsch, Kirsch CPA Group
Managing Director commented,
“This is an exciting time for Kirsch
CPA Group. It is a time of change
and taking on new challenges.
From our ever-expanding work
advising clients with new ideas to
create significant business value
to the development of strategic
business solutions through
financial and tax data, we are
bringing innovation and creativity
to the business community. The
addition of Dave as the Director of
Business Advisory heightens our
enthusiasm to make our clients
financially strong.”
Dave, who has over 25 years of experience as a business advisor has
worked throughout his career creating business solutions that work across
a variety of businesses. He was most recently with Easter Seals, where he
served as chief financial officer. Dave graduated from Miami University with
a Bachelor’s degree in Accountancy and has over 30 years experience in
public accounting and private industry.
For more information, please call: Pete Abner 513-858-6040 or email
[email protected].
Lynn Sumerel joins J.D Cloud
& Co., L.L.P. as Staff Accountant
J.D. Cloud & Co., L.L.P. is pleased to announce the hiring of Lynn
Sumerel, CPA, CFP as staff
accountant. Lynn has a
bachelor’s degree in economics
and psychology from Denison
University and has over five years’
experience in public accounting.
J.D. Cloud & Co., L.L.P.,
founded in 1913, is the oldest
independent certified public
accounting firm in Greater
Cincinnati and has celebrated
100 years of serving clients in
the Tri-State region of Cincinnati,
Northern Kentucky and Southeastern Indiana. For more information,
please contact them at 513.621.1188 or www.jdcloud.com.
Jen Patsy Joins Graydon Head’s
Butler/Warren Office
Jen Patsy has joined
Graydon Head’s Butler/
Warren Office. As a
partner at the firm, Jen
practices in areas of
corporate and real estate
law. She has assisted
clients with mergers
and acquisitions, entity
formation, buy-sell
agreements and contract
issues, banks in various
financing matters,
including commercial
loans and letter of credit
financing, and clients with
West Chester Hospital Names New
Director of Finance and CFO
Karen Shadowens has joined the senior leadership team at West Chester
Hospital as director of finance and chief financial officer. She replaces
Jeff Drapalik who recently transferred to a UC Health corporate finance
position. In her position, Shadowens is responsible for the following hospital
departments: finance, admitting & registration, materials management and
medical records. Prior to this position, she served as finance director for the
University of Cincinnati Medical Center.
Prior to her tenure at UC Health, Shadowens served as director of financial
transactions for Indiana University Health in Indianapolis. She also held the
position of vice president and chief financial officer for CMH Regional Health
System in Wilmington, Ohio. In addition, she served in several finance
positions within the Mercy Health system including regional accounting
manager and site finance director for Mercy Clermont & Home Health.
Ms. Shadowens holds an MBA in finance from Wright State University and is
a certified public accountant (CPA) with licensure in the state of Ohio.
commercial leasing transactions.
Jen is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati where she earned her
JD and BBA in Accounting. Jen grew up in West Chester, and she and
her family currently reside in Mason. For more information, visit www.
graydonhead.com.
January 2014 | THE VOICE
5
sPotligHt on
Full tHrottle indoor Karting
a kart zooms through the track, hugging the turns and speeding through
the straightaways as the driver focuses on his next turn. Joe O’Gorman is
explaining the catalytic converters his team devised to limit the emissions
from the karts and the custom exhaust system that ensures no harmful
fumes linger in the massive indoor track. But, with the whine of engines
and the smell of oil and rubber, it’s hard to pay attention. Just watching the
kart blur through the course is an adrenaline rush. With karts able to reach
speeds of 40 mph, this is not your average go kart experience.
In 2011 friends Joe O’Gorman and Aaron Banfield opened the doors to Full
Throttle. After successful careers at Cintas and UPS, the two friends decided
it was time to open their own business. And the timing couldn’t have been
better for Joe. When the doors opened, he accomplished one of his big
goals; to be self-employee before his fiftieth birthday.
As lifelong racing enthusiasts, the idea for Full Throttle came naturally to
Joe and Aaron. “The business itself seemed to make sense,” said Joe, “The
first time you race on an indoor track you think ‘That’s kind of cool’ and then
it just gets in your blood.” And Joe isn’t the only enthusiast at Full Throttle.
His son, Tom O’Gorman, went to Germany to compete in the karting World
Championships.
Full Throttle isn’t just for professional racers and enthusiasts. With a race
about every ten minutes, they offer everything from open races, birthday
parties, corporate outings, racing classes and racing leagues. emphasizing
fun and safety, the team at Full Throttle builds their racing schedule around
the customers making sure similar ages and skill levels race each other.
“Our track is really bringing the racing experience to the general public,” said
Aaron Banfield and Joe’o’Gorman
Joe, “you don’t have to have any special training, you don’t have to have any
special equipment, we have everything you need.”
Full Throttle is located in Springdale near the Tri-County Mall and Dave and
Busters. Check out their website www.cincycarting.com for more information
on all the racing experiences they provide.
patRick ventuReLLa
West Chester Liberty Chamber aLLianCe VoLunteer
[email protected]
Join us for a
Business After Hours at
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8897 Eagle Ridge Court West Chester
Wednesday, January 15 from 5-7pm
6
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Staybrid
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January 2014 | THE VOICE
7
What’s New in
Liberty Township
www.liberty-township.com
neW Business
uPdate
Liberty Township looks forward to an
exciting 2014 ahead with a number
of significant projects in the works
and several new business openings
on the horizon. For questions or more
info about the items below, please
talk with one of the Township’s
elected officials – Christine Matacic,
Dave kern, Tom Farrell or Pam
Quinlisk – or kristen Bitonte or
Caroline Mckinney with the Liberty
Township administration team. you
can reach us by calling the Township
at 513.759.7500 or visiting our web
site where contact info can be found
at www.liberty-township.com.
Blowdry Bar and Salon has
opened a new salon in the retail
strip center anchored by Skyline
Chili along Cincinnati-Dayton
Road. The new salon will feature a
blow dry bar focusing on blowouts
and dry styling as well the regular
services found at salons.
Comey & Shepherd is making
progress with their new office
building along Cincinnati-Dayton
Road within the Liberty Falls
development. They will move from
an existing location in the Township
to their newly constructed office
building in 2014.
Cincinnati Children’s has
begun work preparing their Liberty
Campus site for a new Proton
Therapy Facility. The new facility
will house a proton therapy and
research center for the newest
technologies in treating children
with cancer. In addition, a fourth
floor will also be added to the
existing three-story Liberty Campus
structure which will bring the
inpatient bed capacity to 40.
Cozy’s Shabby Chic Café is
a new restaurant concept that has
been announced by Putter’s Sports
Bar & Grill owner Jan Collins. Ms.
Collins has plans to open the new
restaurant in downtown Bethany
across the street from Putter’s. Site
work has begun and an opening in
2014 is planned.
What’s New in
West Chester Township
www.westchesteroh.org
Fire saFety
and criMe
Prevention
PrograMs
availaBle to
every West
cHester
Business
before a crisis strikes to prepare for
and reduce risk of emergencies.
owners, the employees, as well as the
customers.”
Crime can be prevented and
businesses protected with some
advance planning, training and
awareness, according to West
Chester police. The West Chester
Police Department’s public affairs
unit emphasizes training civilians to
be aware of their surroundings and
how to react when confronted with
potentially dangerous situations.
West Chester Police can cater
programs to the specific needs of the
business, offering guidance on issues
regarding workplace violence, active
shooter and emergency preparedness,
self-defense training and more.
West Chester’s police and fire
professionals are ready to
respond. They respond quickly and
professionally to emergency situations
any time of the day or night. But few
of us consider that these vital public
safety resources are also ready to
respond to the business community
“The West Chester Police Department
works to maintain an open dialogue
with businesses in the community
about crime trends, how to prevent
crime and how to react in an
emergency,” said Police Chief Erik
niehaus. “Through this interaction
we work to educate the business
8
www.TheChamberAlliance.com
“We had a fantastic experience
working with the West Chester
police to design a training exercise
to prepare us for an emergency
situation,” said Gene zegar, Plant
Manager of General Motors West
Chester. “They were very professional
and cooperative and I would highly
recommend that other businesses
take advantage of the services they
offer.”
Crossfit Ironside has plans
to open a new location along
Cincinnati-Dayton Road in
Downtown Bethany. CrossFit is a
strength and conditioning program
with the aim of improving, among
other things, muscular strength,
cardio-respiratory endurance and
flexibility.
Liberty Center will officially
break ground in the coming weeks
on the 1.1 million square foot,
mixed-use development along
Liberty Way. The project will open
in 2015 with Class A office space,
restaurants and retailers, upscale
residential and a hotel.
Waffle House has announced
plans to build a new restaurant
along Route 4 in Liberty Township.
XGS-IT has announced they will
open in the Township’s Liberty
Office Park facility next to ITT
Technical Center along HamiltonMason Road near the corner of
Cincinnati Dayton Road.
General Motors leadership in facilities
across the country schedule training
exercises on a regular basis to
prepare for emergency situations that
might occur and Mr. zegar said the
support and partnership of the police
department enhanced the training
exercise.
On a smaller scale, the West Chester
Police Department offers Business
Security Surveys. A crime prevention
officer will visit the business and
provide a written survey outlining
recommendations that will improve
the security of the physical business
property, as well as topics regarding
personnel and operations security
issues.
For more information on scheduling
training and/or learning more about
available programs, call the Fire
Department at 513.777.1133, or the
Police Department at 513.759.3985.
Information is also available at www.
WestChesterOH.org.
Women of Excellence Class of 2013. Front row from left: Cheryl Brackman, Molly Savage, Betty Terry, Gail Webster,
Melissa Flohn. Back row from left: Emily Gilmartin, Ria Davidson, Kim Kuchenbuch, Anna Lendl, Lynda O’Connor.
Presenting Sponsors: Butler Tech represented by Bill Miller (left) and
UC Health West Chester Hospital represented by Ron Rohlfing (right)
keynote Speaker: Shakila Ahmad
(Women of Excellence Class of
2011), Community Activist &
Business Development Manager
Emcee: Janeen Coyle, WGRR
January 2014 | THE VOICE
9
December Luncheon Recap
Mother Nature elegantly transformed Wetherington Golf & Country Club into a
winter wonderland for the December Monthly Luncheon, as the grounds were
covered by a six-inch blanket of snow. As Chamber members slowly flowed into
the lobby, they were greeted with the joyful sounds of Christmas music coming
from a grand piano played by former Chamber Account Executive, Lynn Trau.
With the holidays underway, the room was filled with laughter and cheer.
‘Celebration’ was the theme of the luncheon for many reasons! The Chamber
acknowledged the newest members of their board of directors who were sworn
into office by Judge Kathleen Dobrozsi Romans in front of the entire Chamber
crowd. Outgoing board members were given a gift for their service to our
Chamber and then each Team Chair was presented with a gift for everything
they do for the community and the Chamber.
SPEAKER - Nancy Riesz, Success Catalyst
Luncheon emcee, Carrie Lefker from the Wingate had the pleasure of
introducing the guest speaker, Nancy Riesz of Success Catalyst, who gave a
powerful and engaging presentation on setting and accomplishing goals. The
main focuses of her presentation were the four steps to actually accomplishing
goals:
1. Be very clear and specific about what you want to accomplish.
2. Create an action plan on how you will get there. If there is no
strategy, the goal typically will not be reached.
3. Hold yourself and others accountable.
4. Celebrate when your goal is accomplished.
The first step is very standard in setting goals, but Nancy expanded on this
saying you should write down your goal and what your celebration will be
because if you put it in writing, you are 90% more likely to follow through
with it. She also said you not only have to know what your goal is, but why
you want to accomplish it. The reasons why we want to accomplish goals are
typically driven by strong emotions that we hold very close to us. By writing
these reasons down, it helps us stay focused on accomplishing them. Also,
Nancy mentioned that most people never plan how they will celebrate their
successes, which is a key component to keeping ourselves fully engaged.
Overall, Nancy’s presentation was extremely engaging and encouraging. As
2013 wraps up and we all celebrate the fruits of our labor, Nancy’s message
was just what we needed to help kick 2014. Thank you to the West Chester
Liberty Chamber Alliance for another wonderful year! Your dedication to each
member’s individual success and to the success of the entire community has
helped us all grow together and have an outstanding year. Happy Holidays!
Steve Raszka
Insurance Associates
10
www.TheChamberAlliance.com
www.insuranceassociates.net
513.424.2481
EMCEE - Carrie Lefker, Wingate by Wyndham
Chamber Members attending a luncheon for the first
time. Pictured with Joe Hinson, President and CEO
(far right) are, from left: Ken Krumpelbeck, Centennial
Business Products; Dave Beeman, Cincinnati State Tech
& Community College; Mike Phair, Cincinnati Christian
Schools; Christy Eby, MidUSA Credit Union; Richard
LaJeunesse, Graydon Head
Rick Shively, Lincoln Financial Securities Corporation
and Kristen Bitonte, Liberty Township being sworn in
by Judge Kathleen Dobrozsi Romans as new Board
Members for 2014. Joe Hinson also pictured.
This Month’s Luncheon
Tuesday, January 14 • 11:30am – 1:30pm
Four Bridges Country Club
8300 Four Bridges Drive,
Liberty Township
SPONSOR - McGill Smith Punshon. From left: Richard Arnold, Rick Nichols, Dan Frank,
Craig Rambo, Joe Castrejon, Andy Osier, Steve
SPONSOR - Kemba Credit Union. From left: Kelly Wellman, Robin Caudell, Joshua Fluharty,
Jenni Mardis, Amy Daniels, Michelle Hutchison, Kara Frakes, Trisha Rankin, Kristyn Dix,
Kim Kuchenbuch
Join us as we kick off our 2014 luncheons with “Chambernomics”!
Our speaker will be Julie Heath, Director of the Economics Center at
the Carl H. Lindner College of Business at the University of Cincinnati.
She will speak about the importance of financial literacy starting as early
as kindergarten. The emcee will be Rosemary Haddad, Merrill Lynch.
Next Month’s Luncheon
February 11 • 11:30am – 1:30pm
Wingate by Wyndham
7500 Tylers Place Blvd.,
Liberty Township
Thank you to our outgoing Board Members: Christine Matacic, Liberty Township Trustee and
Tom Holding, Lincoln Financial Advisors. Pictured as well is outgoing Board Chair,
Karen Mueller, HORAN.
Congratulations to Lourdes Ward of Reach Out Lakota for 20 years of service to our
community! Pictured to her right is Joe Hinson.
In February the Chamber welcomes, Randy Freking, a founder of
Freking & Betz. Randy will speak from his experience about the “Ten
Deadly Sins” employers commit that make his job easier. Randy has
represented five different plaintiffs since 1994 who have received jury
verdicts of at least one million dollars in damages. During the same
time span, he has been trial counsel for 17 other individual plaintiffs
who have received substantial jury verdicts, and he represented a class
of 150 former employees in a plant closing case which was settled on
a favorable basis. Randy has been included in every edition of “Best
Lawyers in America” since 1994, he is an avid Cincinnati Reds fan, and
lives in Cincinnati with his wife and four children. The emcee will be Ian
Murray of Murray Multimedia Resources, LLC.
How To RSVP
DISPLAY - UC Health. From left: Joyce Cowens, Polly Collins, Kamari Green, Laura Gardner
Call the Chamber at 513.777.3600 or visit TheChamberAlliance.com.
Luncheons are held the second Tuesday of each month from 11:30am - 1:30pm.
Cancel before noon on the Monday before the lunch to avoid being charged.
$27 - for members and employees of member organizations who RSVP
by the Friday before each Luncheon
$32 - for members who RSVP after the Friday before the Luncheon
$40 - for non-members
DISPLAY - Murray Multimedia Resources, LLC. Kerry Murray and Ian Murray
Pay by check, Mastercard, VISA or Discover and avoid the registration line. Special dietary
needs will gladly be taken care of by letting us know when you RSVP for the luncheon.
January 2014 | THE VOICE
11
2014 Annual Celebration & Awards Dinner
Cincinnati Marriott North at Union Centre Friday, February 28
Please join fellow Chamber members and guests at our 2014 Annual Celebration & Awards Gala where we have the privilege of honoring area
organizations and business professionals for their accomplishments of the past year.
This annual event is also designed to give Chamber Alliance members and guests the opportunity to take a look back at 2013 as well as a look
ahead to get an appreciation for all that is happening on the I-75 Growth Corridor.
Award Categories:
Business Leadership Awards:
•
the Carlos todd businessperson of the year award - awarded to a business owner/operator or chief executive demonstrating sound
leadership and vision.
•
the Jerry bryan Chamber member of the year award - awarded to an individual who demonstrates a commitment to enhancing the quality
of the Chamber through participation on a team and by supporting Chamber programs.
•
the Chris Worrell emerging Leader award - awarded to a West Chester � Liberty Chamber alliance member who demonstrates dedication to
the business community and has exercised outstanding volunteerism in advancing the work of the West Chester � Liberty Chamber alliance.
•
the Larry schumacher beautification award - awarded to a company that has newly constructed, continuously maintained or improved
the interior and/or exterior of their building or structure.
•
the David & Katy kern beautification award - awarded to a company that has shown excellence in their business’s landscape
design—interior and/or exterior plantings, streetscapes, signage, etc.
•
the river City Furniture Community support award - awarded to an organization or individual who shows extraordinary support to a
non-profit organization serving southeastern butler County.
•
the Dorothy & art roth Citizen of the year award - awarded to an individual for extraordinary community involvement
Beautification Awards:
Community Service Awards:
Tickets are $65 each, $125 per couple and corporate tables of eight are $1,000. Please reserve your tickets by calling the Chamber at
513.777.3600 or visit www.TheChamberAlliance.com/AnnualDinner.
2013 Recipients
12
www.TheChamberAlliance.com
Connecting the Dots That’s Money
Honey
Lee Geiger, Partner at Graydon
Head’s West Chester office,
has maximized his involvement
in the I-75 Growth Corridor by
investing his time and energy
at the West Chester Liberty
Chamber Alliance. For Lee,
“connecting” has proven to be
the key to his success.
Lee began his Chamber
involvement by participating
in the Leadership 21 class
of 2008. He maintains that
enrolling in this course is the
most important action a Chamber member can take to start off on
the right foot. Attending monthly lunches is much less intimidating, he
says, when you are walking into a room of familiar faces you’ve met
through Leadership.
Today, Lee sits on the Chamber’s Board of Directors and serves as
vice chair of the Leadership 21 Alumni Board. Chamber participation
has also helped Lee extend his network to organizations throughout
the region. Institutions like the Butler County United Way and Mother
Teresa Catholic Elementary School count themselves lucky to have
Lee’s support.
Most importantly, Lee’s network has led him to meet several clients.
Lee says the key to getting the most from membership is regular
attendance at Chamber events. And his attendance is impressive. From
monthly lunches to major events, many people in West Chester and
Liberty Townships look forward to connecting with Lee.
Lee suggests that everyone can get the most out of event participation
by arriving with an objective. His standard goal is to meet one new
person at each occasion. After seven years of this effort, he’s got more
than just familiar faces to look forward too; Lee has easily established
a room full of friends.
Laura Hoppa
Clark Schaefer Hackett
It appears not
even the rich
and famous
are immune
from Fair Labor
Standards Act
(“FLSA”) claims.
Merely two weeks
before trial was
to begin, Stefani
Germanotta aka “Lady Gaga” and her former personal assistant
Jennifer O’Neill settled an FLSA claim where O’Neill claimed the
performer owed her unpaid overtime to the tune of $380,000.
O’Neill said she was required to work around the clock while
Gaga was on tour. According to the court filing, O’Neill’s job
duties included, “ordering meals, ensuring the availability of
chosen outfits, ensuring the promptness of a towel following
a shower, and serving as a personal alarm clock.” In her
deposition, Gaga disagreed, calling O’Neill a “hood rat who is
suing me for money that she didn’t earn.” So much for her Poker
Face.
Under the FLSA, employees are entitled to overtime unless
they fall within a specific overtime exemption. Because the
exemptions are narrowly defined, misclassifying employees
can be a problem for employers. Review your pay practices
and policies. Certain employees may be exempt, but they’re
not necessarily Born That Way. If you believe an employee is
exempt, be sure to carefully document and clarify that employee’s
expected job duties, and implement a system to review both the
employee’s expected duties and the work the employee actually
performs on a regular basis.
Jacklyn McGlothlin
& Lee Geiger
Graydon Head
513.621.6464
[email protected]
513-424-5000
November 2013 | THE VOICE
13
Update on Lakota Local Schools
I am very grateful for the support from the community that resulted
in the passage of the recent school levy. I especially appreciate our
fellow Chamber members who supported the levy.
The largest impact in our classrooms will be in our technology
upgrade. Building an instructional technology infrastructure will
allow us to modernize courses and ensure that we’re preparing
students for their futures. It will also, in the
long run, reduce costs. Teachers will be
facilitators, guiding self-directed students
who take responsibility for their own learning.
Teachers will provide different levels of
support to meet the needs of all students,
understanding where the student is and
where he or she needs to be. It’s very
different from the kind of school most of us went to, but technology
has changed the schoolhouse just as it’s changed the workplace.
Our curriculum director and our technology director are already
spending a great deal of time in each other’s offices as we plan to
implement this multi-year program.
Regarding security, we are already working with the West Chester
Township Police Department and the Butler County Sheriff’s Office
on the increased number of law enforcement officers in the schools.
Since we are tripling the number of officers, it involves a lot of
Working For You
Every year, Kathy Rambo delivers over 70
events including: Women of Excellence;
The Everest Awards; Regional Business
Expo and The Annual Celebration &
Awards Dinner. Most people know Kathy
as one of the region’s best event planners,
what they may not know is that she is a
Protocol Officer and a Corporate Etiquette
and International Protocol Consultant
certified by the Protocol School of
Washington. Kathy is an adept organizer
who uses her creative talents to ensure that Chamber events are
executed with style. Every event is held in a venue that provides
Chamber members with a setting in which they can enjoy themselves
while networking.
In addition to her work at the Chamber, Kathy supports numerous
charitable organizations. She serves on the Executive Board of
Cincinnati Union Bethel; the advisory committee for the Community
Foundation of West Chester/Liberty; the UC Health Women’s Center
advisory committee; the Cincinnati May Festival Board of Trustees;
www.TheChamberAlliance.com
Our target date for expanded bus service is approximately February.
That’s when we’ll begin busing an additional 2,200 students who
are in grades 2 through 6 and live farther than a mile from school.
It will take until then because more drivers need to be hired and
trained, and an already complex route
system needs to be modified.
The additional day of art, music and P.E.
for grades 4-6, in addition to the 7-period
day for ninth-graders, will require hiring
teachers and reworking class schedules.
Both will begin next school year.
The fee reductions for extra-curriculars will help reverse the steep
drop we’ve seen in the number of students participating in them.
Thank you again for your support.
dR. KAREN MANTIA,
SUPERINTENDENT
513.644.1166
[email protected]
Lakota Local Schools
This article is part of a series introducing your West Chester
Liberty Chamber Alliance staff. It provides a little on their
background and what they do to benefit our members.
Kathy Rambo, Vice President – Special Events
14
personnel and budget coordination. We’ve also begun the planning
the physical changes to school buildings that will make them safer.
the Steering Committee for the Athena Awards; and the Butler County
United Way Women’s Leadership Council.
Why the Chamber? Kathy started working at the Chamber fifteen
years ago after raising her daughter. She soon realized that our
region was on the precipice of enormous growth and that the
Chamber had a major role to play. As a “people person” by nature,
Kathy also loves bringing people together to foster the collaborative
and creative process that is integral to event planning.
Kathy grew up in Toledo, Ohio, and then went on to the University
of Cincinnati, Conservatory of Music, where she graduated with a
degree in sacred music. She is a gifted organist and now substitutes
at area churches in need of help.
Even with a busy career Kathy puts her family first. She is not
only a wife and mother; she is a grandmother to four adorable
grandchildren that are her pride and joy.
Ann Farmiga
West Chester Liberty Chamber Alliance Volunteer
[email protected]
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January 2014 | THE VOICE
15
Sixty-Second Connect
Tuesday, January 28
12-1pm
Join Chamber members once a month to
connect in sixty-seconds! This one-hour
program helps members build lasting
business relationships and share valuable
business information with other members.
Sixty-Second Connect consists of a
self-introduction by each attendee, two
five-minute sponsor presentations, door
prizes and lunch from LaRosa’s.
Friday, January 10
8-9:30am
“Imagine and Achieve
Your Best Life”
Women for Women (W4W) is the West Chester Liberty
Chamber Alliance group that brings women together
for networking and discussions that address today’s
pertinent topics. W4W focuses on Work, Wealth,
Wholeness, Wisdom & Wellness.
Membership is required for attendance. Bring lots of business
cards and be prepared to talk about you and your business in
sixty-seconds. This is another way our Chamber “Connects
people & possibilities.”
16
www.TheChamberAlliance.com
In January, Ann Bobonick of Wellness
Journey Coaching will present “Imagine
and Achieve Your Best Life!” The cost is $10 and
reservations can be made on our website: www.
TheChamberAlliance.com or by calling 513.777.3600.
Thank you to Walmart for providing breakfast!
the alumni Board of directors of
leadership 21 continues the work that
participants began in leadership 21!
Leadership 21 is a Chamber Alliance program designed to improve the
quantity, quality and effectiveness of leadership along the I-75 Growth
Corridor and within the communities of West Chester and Liberty
Townships. Area leaders are selected, through an application process,
to participate in a program of community education and leadership
training. Leadership 21 calls upon business owners and managers,
government and school leaders and citizen volunteers to study
in-depth, various aspects of our region.
It’s time to start thinking about being part of the 14th class of
Leadership 21! this class will begin in september 2014 and run
through May 2015. The 9 month, full-day sessions allow participants
to explore issues such as education, history, government, criminal
justice, communications and economic development, just to name
a few. An entire day is spent on each topic and includes visits to key
locations such as the county jail, local police department, schools,
food pantries, hospitals and other businesses to give a clear picture of
the community in which they live and do business.
For more information or an application, please
contact Kenni Blache, Leadership 21 Facilitator at
513.777.3600 or [email protected].
MEMBERSHIP SERVICES ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
Sharon is one of your first points of contact when you join
the West Chester Liberty Chamber Alliance. Plus, she is
a great resource for getting involved. In her role, Sharon
provides insight into how the Chamber can benefit both
current and prospective members.
•
events
to look
forward to
this year
Annual Celebration
February 28
Regional Business Expo
May 13
The Everest Award
August
Golf Classic
September 15
Women of Excellence
November 21
SHARON PETERS
513.777.3600
[email protected]
January 2014 | THE VOICE
17
Ribbon Cuttings and Ground Breakings
Heits Building Services, Inc.
52 East Crescentville Road
West Chester, OH 45246
513.371.5295
HEITS Building Services is a leader in professional commercial
cleaning. Joe Okum and his brother Rob (center), promise that
their clients receive only the best, most professional attention
and work hard to make sure customers are always satisfied with
their work. They celebrated their new West Chester location with a
ribbon cutting ceremony.
Dentistry Details
8919 Brookside Avenue, Suite 102
West Chester, OH 45069
513.847.4692
Dr April Hearns (center) surrounded here by family, friends,
Chamber Alliance Staff and Ambassadors, plus State
Representative Margaret Conditt (second from left), celebrated the
grand opening of her dental offices in old West Chester. Dr Hearns
specializes in the details! The keys to optimal dental care are
providing preventive care and education.
Combs Family Eyecare, LLC
4883 Princeton Road
Liberty Township, OH 45011
513.267.1928
Liberty Township is excited to welcome back Dr. Eric Combs and
Dr. Alicia Combs. The Bishop Fenwick graduates earned their
degrees in optometry and came back home to open Combs
Family Eyecare, where they will practice a full scope optometry.
Liberty Township officials and Chamber Ambassadors were on
hand to celebrate their new location and to welcome them home.
Taco Bell
7757 Tylersville Road
West Chester, OH 45069
Becky and Todd Wilbur (center) celebrated the re-grand opening
of their remodeled Taco Bell on Tylersville Road. This location
has been a destination for good Mexican food in West Chester
for many years. The remodeling was designed to keep the
appearance of the store “fresh”. The Chamber Ambassadors
joined in the celebration.
Having a Grand Opening,
Ribbon Cutting or
Groundbreaking Ceremony?
Let the West Chester Liberty Chamber Alliance help you celebrate.
Bajon Salon
9069 Cincinnati-Dayton Road
West Chester, Ohio 45069
513.874.9999
Springtime brings the promise of new location for Bajon Salon,
a welcome addition to Old West Chester. The new location will
continue to staff professional hair stylists and designers and offer a
full range of hair and spa services. Mark and Karen Welch (center)
celebrate the ground breaking with the Chamber Ambassadors.
18
www.TheChamberAlliance.com
The Chamber would be delighted to help your business celebrate
with a Grand Opening, Ribbon Cutting or Groundbreaking Ceremony.
Your business must meet the following criteria:
• Opened its doors in the last 12 months
• Changed ownership or under new management
• Moved to a new location
• Has been remodeled or expanded at its present location
The $75.00 Fee only applies to non-Chamber members
Renewing Members
Able Tool Corporation
Sara Pressler
617 N Wayne Ave
Cincinnati OH 45215
513-733-8989
Manufacturing - Machine Shop
Car King Auto Center
Rick Back
9242 Cincinnati-Columbus Road
Cincinnati OH 45241
513-779-9199
Automotive - Repairs/Service
American Tickets, LLC
John Newcomb
6981 Kyles Station Road
Liberty Twp OH 45044
513-847-1453
Ticket Broker - Sporting Event/Concert
DiaPharma Group
Amy Langford
8948 Beckett Road
West Chester OH 45069
513-860-9324
Medical - Supplies/Manufacturer
Beckett Springs Hospital
David Polunas
8614 Shepherd Farm Drive
West Chester OH 45069
513-942-9500
Health Services & Products
Diers Orthodontics
Eileen Beyer
7218 Towne Centre Drive
West Chester OH 45069
513-777-9040
Medical - Dentist, Orthodontist
Berger Transfer & Storage
Randy Underwood
9770 Inter Ocean Drive
Cincinnati OH 45246
513-874-4800
Moving & Storage
Graydon Head
Lee Geiger
7759 University Drive, Ste. A
West Chester OH 45069
513-629-2830
Attorneys
BestWork
Carla Messer
4839 Willow Ridge Drive
Liberty Township OH 45011
513-310-5707
Consulting - Business & Management
Guardian Savings Bank
Steve Wilhite
6100 West Chester Road
West Chester OH 45069
513-942-3500
Mortgage Loans, Bankers, Brokers
Bishop Fenwick High School
Andrew Barczak
4855 State Route 122
Franklin OH 45005
513-423-0723
Educational - Schools, Colleges
Holiday Inn Express
Patrice Bender
PO Box 1323
8567 Cincinnati-Dayton Rd
West Chester OH 45069
513-755-3900
Hotels/Motels
Boy Scouts of America: Dan Beard Counci
Maria Rolling
10078 Reading Road
Cincinnati OH 45241
513-961-2336
Service Organization - Charitable
Bush-Re-Shea Insurance Agency
Carey Bush
536 W Loveland Ave
Loveland OH 45140
513-683-0777
Insurance - Agencies
Huff Realty
Tim Schlosser
6192 Muhlhauser Road
West Chester OH 45069
513-674-5600
Real Estate - Residential & Commercial
Massage Envy Spa West Chester
Theresa Holderread
7639 Voice of America Centre Drive
West Chester OH 45069
513-779-7444
Massage & Other Therapies
McGill Smith Punshon, Inc.
Craig Rambo
3700 Park 42 Drive, Suite 190 B
Cincinnati OH 45241
513-759-3225
Architects
Sears Home Appliance Showroom
Dan Hinkel
7554 Voice of America Centre Drive
West Chester OH 45069
513-755-0935
Retail
Mercy Health Fairfield Hospital
Greg Ossmann
3000 Mack Road
Fairfield OH 45014
513-603-8850
Medical - Hospitals
Sherpa Coaching
Brenda Corbett
PO Box 417240
Cincinnati OH 45241
513-505-6046
Consulting - Coaching
Merge Social Media
Brad Warm
6248 Amberley Court
Liberty Township OH 45044
513-703-5636
Social Media Services
The Dry Cleaning Shop
Ketan Pema
8262 Princeton-Glendale Road
West Chester OH 45069
513-870-0050
Dry Cleaners, Laundromats
Messina Staffing
Ranee Messina
11811 Mason Montgomery Road
Cincinnati OH 45249
513-774-9083
Employment - Agencies, Recruiting
Time Warner Cable Business Class
Pam McDonald
11252 Cornell Park Drive
Cincinnati OH 45242
513-489-5000
Communications - Telecommunications
Mueller Funeral Home
Jack Mueller
6791 Tylersville Road
Mason OH 45040
513-398-9100
Funeral Homes & Memorial Parks
Wetherington Golf & Country Club
Dana Cimorell
7337 Country Club Lane
West Chester OH 45069
513-755-2582
Country Club
Painting With A Twist
Cheree Gallant
6196 Tylersville Road
Mason OH 45040
513-304-2244
Art as Entertainment
Wing Eyecare, Inc.
Dr. Jeff Hartman
7334 Yankee Road
Liberty Township OH 45044
513-759-9464
medical - Optometrist, Ophthamalogist,
Optical Lab
Peak 10
Dan Doerflein
5307 Muhlhauser Road
West Chester OH 45011
513-645-2910
Computer - Hosting
Reach Out Lakota, Inc.
Lourdes Ward
P.O. Box 362
West Chester OH 45071
513-779-7515
Service Organization - Social Services
Wingate by Wyndham & Meridian
Conference Center TBA
7500 Tylers Place Boulevard
West Chester OH 45069
513-777-1101
Hotel & Conference Center
New Members
Barking Squirrel Media
David Bray 8183 Long
Meadow Drive
West Chester OH 45069
513-307-3524
Multimedia Services, Video
Production
Cincinnati Christian
Schools
Terry Diefenbacher
7474 Morris Road
Fairfield OH 45011
513-892-8500
Educational - Schools,
Colleges
Edgewood City School
District
Doug Lantz
3440 Busenbark Road
Trenton OH 45067
513-863-4692
Educational - Schools,
Colleges
Reliable Construction
Heaters
Patrick Wright
9652 B Inter-Ocean Drive
Cincinnati OH 45246
800-453-2653
Construction - Commercial
Salem Pharmacy
Christina Debell
1100 Salem Avenue
Dayton OH 45406
937-276-2173
Pharmacy
Xtreme Coating Solutions,LLC
Dustin Wuchterl
9462 Brownsboro Road #122
Crestwood KY 40241
502-265-3088
Construction - Remodeling &
Restoration
January 2014 | THE VOICE
23
19
PRESORTED
STANDARD
US POSTAGE
PAID
CINCINNATI, OH
PERMIT #5400
ANNIVERSARY
8922
Beckett Road C E L E B R AT I O N
West Chester, Ohio 45069
JANUARY CALENDAR OF EVENTS Friday, January 10
Women4Women,
8-9:30am
ANNIVERSARY
C E L E B R AT I O N
Kemba Credit Union, West Chester
Tuesday, January 14
Monthly Member Luncheon, 11:30-1:30pm
Four Bridges Country Club
Tuesday, January 15
Business After Hours, 5-7pm
West Chester Veterinary Care
Tuesday, January 28
Sixty-Second Connect, 12-1pm
The Chamber Alliance Office
This Space Available!
Want to get your business NOTICED?
Advertise on the exclusive Back Cover of The VOICE
For more information, please contact Alison Miuccio at 513.777.3600
or [email protected]