A Century of Service 2015 Annual Report

A Century of Service
2015
Annual Report
Knox County Chamber of Commerce
400 South Gay Street
Mount Vernon, Ohio 43050
www.KnoxChamber.com ▪ 740-393-1111
8 Sisters Bakery
A Mystical Moment in Time
A Plus Autobrokers
A Special Wish Foundation
A Touch of Grace
AAA Ohio Auto Club
AABIC Roofing
Abco Construction
Acclaim Hospice
Acloche Staffing
ACS Title and Closing Services
Adecco Employment Services
Alan's Comfort Control Heating and
Air Conditioning
Alber Enterprise Center
Alcove Restaurant & Lounge, The
Alicie's Action Figure Frenzy
Allison's Finer Diner
American Health Network of Ohio
American Red Cross of Knox County
AMG Industries
Amvets Post 95
Apple Valley Golf Club
Apple Valley Property Owners Assoc.
Apple Valley Resort
Arbors of Mount Vernon
Area Development Foundation
Ariel Corporation
Ariel Foundation
Armstrong Flooring Specialists
Athens Greek Restaurant
Atrium Personnel & Consulting Servs.
Auction Ohio
B & O Depot
Bad Apple Pub
Balancing USA
Barnes Advertising Corporation
Barrett Farms
BAS Broadcasting
Beech Tree Apartments
Best Nursing Care
Better Business Bureau
BHP of Central Ohio
Blubaugh Body and Frame
Bob L. Bebout Masonry
Brenneman Lumber and Kiln Drying
Brian Howe DDS Family Dentistry
Britts Healthy Home
Brookdale Mount Vernon
Buckeye Bookkeeping Solutions
Buckeye Stoves
Buckingham Electric
Budget Saver Foods
Buffalo Wild Wings
Burch Hydro
Burrows Paper Corporation
CG Boyce Real Estate Company
Carts Healthier Vending
CashMax
Catalyst (New Hope Industries)
Centerburg Pointe
Central Ohio Fabricators
Central Ohio Farmers Co-op
Central Ohio Mat Company
Central Ohio Patient and Community
Advocate
Central Ohio Technical College
CenturyLink
CES Credit Union
Chapel Hill Golf Course
Chem-Tech Consultants
Christopher Fiumera PHD FACFE
Christy Naples Hearing Center
Claggett & Sons
Clean Sweep Services of Central Ohio
Coldwell Banker Quest
Coleman Family Gallery & Galerie Suite
Columbia Gas of Ohio
Comfort Inn
Community Foundation of Mount
Vernon & Knox County
CompManagement Health Systems
CompManagement, Inc.
Consolidated Electric Cooperative
Contemporary Dental Care
Cosby Heating and Cooling
COSE Council of Smaller Enterprises
Country Club Retirement Campus
Country Colors Greenhouse
Country Court Nursing Center
Coyne Graphic Finishing
Creative Foundations
Creative Images
Critchfield, Critchfield & Johnston
CrossFit 1808
Curves
Custom Cutters
Custom Wired
Dairy Queen Grill & Chill
Danville Feed & Supply
Danville Mini-Mart
Danville Outdoors
David Perry & Associates
Dawson Consulting Group
Dean's Jewelry
Decorating Designs
Dennis & Schisler
Dilley-Lasater Funeral Home
Divelbiss Corporation
Donley Ford Lincoln of Mt. Vernon
Dumbaugh Insurance
Easter Seals Central & Southern Ohio
ECR Computers
Edward Jones
Edwards Sheet Metal Works
Electrowarmth Products
Ellis Brothers
Elliston Repair & Tire
Elpida
Energy Cooperative
Essup Partnership
Ewers Utility Service
Exchange Club of Mount Vernon
Executive Care
Express II Fly
Eyman Chiropractic
Farm Credit Mid-America
Fast Eddy's
First Federal Savings and Loan
First-Knox National Bank
FirstMerit, Coshocton Road
Flapper's Bar & Grille
Flowers For You
Food for the Hungry
Foster's HealthMart Pharmacies
Foundation Park Conservancy
Franklin Custom Interiors
Fredericktown Chevrolet
Fredericktown Community
Development Foundation
Fredericktown Local Schools
Fredericktown Recreation District
Freedom Center, The
FT Precision
Gantt Homes
Gates Truck and Auto Repair
Gentle Waters
Giles Law Group
Glen Hill Orchards
Good Impressions
Gordon Flesch Company
GR Smith Hardware
Green Valley Self Storage
Greystone Home Health
Griffin Insurance
Habitat 4 Health
Habitat for Humanity
Haines Local Search
Hasseman Marketing
Hawthorne Apartments
Heartland of Centerburg
Heartland Promotional Products
Heating & Cooling Products
Heights Tower Service
Herald's Appliances & Electronics
Heritage Centre Association
Holiday Inn Express
Holmes Tire
Home Instead Senior Care
Home Loan Savings Bank
HopeNow Furniture Bank
Horseshoe Drive-Thru
Hospice of Knox County
Howard Street Garage & Body Shop
Hughes Equipment
Hughes Family Hearing Aid Center
Hunan Garden
I-Conn Video Production
Indian Bear Lodge
Indian Bear Winery
Individual Investor, Barbara Barry
Individual Investor, James and
Maureen Buchwald
Individual Investor, Bill Burgett
Individual Investor, Shelly Coon
Individual Investor, Jim Cullers
Individual Investor, Win Curry
Individual Investor, Mike Hillier
Individual Investor, Bob Lantz
Individual Investor, Richard Mavis
Individual Investor, Jason Rogers
Individual Investor, Perry Trinkner
Individual Investor, Elyse Trout
Individual Investor, Nancy Vail
Individual Investors, Gordy and
Fran Yance
Info-Link Technologies
Integrity Home Inspections of Ohio
Interim HealthCare
International Paper
Jake's Restaurant
Jeld-Wen Windows & Doors
Jobes Insurance Agency
Jon's Plumbing & Heating
Kahrl & Company Insurance
Keep Collective
Kelly’s Pizza
Kenyon College
Kenyon Inn & Restaurant
KeyLight Advertising Agency
Killbuck Savings Bank Co., The
Killdeer Park Properties
Kiwanis of Mount Vernon, Ohio
Knox Area Transit
Knox Community Hospital
Knox Country Kennel
Knox County Board of
Developmental Disabilities
Knox County Career Center
Knox County Commissioners
Knox County Convention & Visitors
Bureau
Knox County Department of Job and
Family Services
Knox County Head Start
Knox County Health Department
Knox County Historical Society
Knox County Humane Society
Knox County License Bureau
Knox County Regional Airport
Knox County Renaissance Foundation
Knox Educational Service Center
Knox Electrical Construction
Knox Energy
Knox Family Foot Care
Knox Soil & Water Conservation
District
KnoxPages.com
Kokosing Construction Company
Korner Market
Kroger Company
Lakeholm Church of the Nazarene
Lanning's Foods
Lasater Funeral Home and Family
Center
Laurels of Mt. Vernon, The
Levering Management
Licking/Knox Goodwill Industries
Lincoln Douglas Investments
Living Center, The
M & M Trucking
Madison-Collins-Stephens Agency
Main Place, The
Management Council of OECN
Mancan
Marlow Salon Spa
Mary Kay Cosmetics
Mast Fire & Safety
Mauser USA
McDonald's Offices
MedFlight
Mental Health & Recovery for
Licking and Knox Counties
Merrill Lynch
MicroHouse Marketing
Mid-Buckeye Property Maintenance
Mid East Ohio Regional Council
Mid-Ohio Corporate Care
Mid-Ohio Suzuki
Midwest Health Services
Mike's Custom Garage
Miller Vending
Mindy’s Ohio Mattress
Modern Builders
Mohican Sports Medicine & Rehab
Mosaic Financial Group
Mount Vernon City Schools
Mount Vernon Colt Football
Mount Vernon Country Club
Mount Vernon Developmental Center
Mount Vernon Grand Hotel, The
Mount Vernon Health & Rehab
Mount Vernon House
Mount Vernon Inn
Mount Vernon Nazarene University
Mount Vernon News
Mount Vernon Packaging
Mount Vernon Shopping Plaza
Movers and Shuckers
MT Business Technologies
Murray, Rauzi & Kidwell
Muskingum Valley Council, Boy
Scouts of America
NAMI (National Alliance on Mental
Illness)
New Directions
New Vision
Nimby Acre Fiber Art
Noble Properties of Mount Vernon
Ohio Conference of Seventh-Day
Adventists
Ohio Cumberland Gas Co.
Ohio District 5 Area Agency on
Aging
Ohio Eastern Star Home and Health
Care Center
Ohio Rental
Ohio Technical Services
Olen Corporation
Options Plus Furniture
Owl Creek Conservancy
Owl Creek Title Agency
PACS Switchgear
Pak Mail
Panera Bread
Park Hill Apartments
Parkside Restaurant & Tavern, The
Parrish-O'Neill & Associates
Pat Catan's Craft Center
Pathways of Central Ohio
PD Services
Peacock Water
Peak Storage
Peoples Bank
Peoples Bank of Gambier, The
Perry Pro Tech
Phase Two Marketing Solutions
Pier 36
Pleasant View Apartments
PNC Bank
Preferred Wireless
Prescription Turf Care
Pressler and Carpenter Family
Dentistry
Preventive Maintenance Medical
Printing Arts Press
Public Library of Mount Vernon &
Knox County
Rainbow International
Ramser Arboretum
RCI Mechanical
Re/Max Stars Realty, Bob Griffith
Re/Max Stars Realty, Sam Miller
Re/Max Stars Realty, Bob Phillips
Real Estate Pros
Real Estate Showcase, Bill Blanchard
Real Living Home Team
Replex Plastics
Republic Services
Resonant Action
Richard Wolfe Trucking
Richardson Glass Service
RJM Land Development
Robertson Truck Sales
Rock Vapor Scissors
Ross Bros. Salvage
Rotary Club of Mount Vernon
Safety Transportation Services of
Ohio
Saint Vincent de Paul School
Sam’s Club
Sanoh America
Santmyer Oil Company
Scentsy
Schmidt Security Pro
SCORE Consulting Services
Service Medical Oxygen
Shakti Fit
Shannon Staffing
Shawan-Marquis Agency
Shearer Equipment
Sherwin Williams
Shoe Sensation
Shrock Premier Custom
Construction
Siemens
Simona L. Moore, CNP, LLC and
Sheri Tharp NP-C1
Skeven Foundation
Small Business Development Center
Small's Asphalt Paving
Snyder Funeral Homes
Southside Diner
SPI Spot
Spotlight, The
Stability Fitness
Star Home Health Services
Star-Brite Car Wash & Lube Center
Starting Point
State Farm Insurance, Don White
State Farm Insurance, Kris Brechler
State Farm Insurance, Tim Workman
State Representative Margaret Ann
Ruhl
Strang Glass
Super 8
Swetlic Chiropractic &
Rehabilitation Center
Table Rock Golf Club
Taste of Country & Simply Sweet
Bakery
TD Landscape & Maintenance
Thom Collier, Real Living Home
Team Real Estate & Property
Management
Time Warner Cable Business Class
Traditions Engraving
Trail City
Trophies Unlimited
Truax Printing
UMD Automated Systems
United Precast Industries
United Way of Knox County
Universal Dermatology & Vein Care
Valley Supply
Ver-Mac Industries
Village Market
Village Network, The
Village of Centerburg
Village of Danville
Village of Fredericktown
Village of Gambier
Visiting Nurse Association
WADSAA Designs
Walk-In Clinic at Foster's
Walmart
WCLT
Webb's Marathon
Western Southern Financial Group
Westie Productions
Whit's Frozen Custard
Wildflower Resale Shop for Women
Willmar Poultry Company
Willow Works
WNZR
Woodforest National Bank
Woodward Opera House, The
WRP CPAs
YMCA of Mount Vernon
York Eyecare Associates
Young Living Essential Oils
Zelkowitz, Barry & Cullers
Mission Statement
To develop, enhance and represent business; to serve as a source of community leadership;
and to promote trade among the members.
In 2015, the Knox County Chamber of Commerce partnered with the following organizations.
Collectively, they offer group plans, discounts, and educational opportunities to our members.
With the assistance of these partners, we are better able to serve our investors.
START UP AND SMALL BUSINESS FREE COUNSELING SERVICES
SBDC (Small Business Development Center)
SBDC utilizes the Chamber office as a meeting hub for new and existing business owners. They offer free business counseling and a number of education series focused on business needs.
SCORE (Senior Corp of Retired Executives)
For more than fifty years SCORE, a nonprofit association has been dedicated to helping small businesses get off the
ground, grow and achieve their goals through education and mentorship. They have a designated office at the Chamber
to meet their clients.
Events & Training
Business After Hours
These professional networking events are hosted by
member businesses. These experiences give members the
opportunity to showcase their business.
In 2015, we visited the following members:
FirstMerit Bank, Coshocton Avenue
Habitat for Humanity
Heartland Promotional Products
Indian Bear Winery
The Learning Center
The Peoples Bank of Gambier
SPI Spot
Workforce Development
The Knox County Workforce Development Alliance is a
group of partners dedicated to providing training for all
types of businesses right here in Knox County.
Career Expo
Customer Service Bootcamp
LEAN / Six Sigma
Managing Multiple Generations
Signature Events
Annual Awards Dinner
New Educators’ Breakfast
Spring Swing Golf Outing
Ribbon Cutting Ceremonies
Ribbon Cuttings introduce a new business to the
community or announce a grand re-opening after
renovations. Welcoming new and expanding business
breeds economic well-being and allows our local business
structure to flourish. The ceremonies in 2015 were:
1. A Kneaded Relief Massage Therapy
2. AABIC Roofing
3. Brookdale
4. Concord Mortgage Group
5. Curves/Jenny Craig
6. Custom Cutters
7. Dan Emmett House
8. Escape Zone
9. Fredericktown’s Owl Creek Trail
10. Indian Bear Winery
11. Ink Responsibly
12. Korner Market/Kelly’s Pizza
13. Marcos Pizza
14. Murray, Rauzi & Kidwell
15. Nimby Acre Fiber Arts
16. Pak Mail
17. Rock Vapor Scissors
18. Shakti Fit
19. Shoe Sensation
20. Sport Pro
21. The Spotlight
22. St. Vincent de Paul School
23. Taste of Country & Simply Sweet Bakery
24. Tim Workman State Farm Insurance
25. Universal Dermatology
26. Vapor Cellar
27. Village Grocer
28. Wendy’s
29. Wildflower Resale Shop for Women
30. WRP CPAs
Building Relationships is a
Focus
central focus of the Knox
County Chamber of Commerce. These personal
meetings build lasting relationships, exchange
information, and foster new ideas for growth and
development in business.
Leadership Knox
Programs
More than 250 individuals have graduated from the 10-month Leadership Knox program. The class meet a variety of community
leaders and participate in special tours covering topics in leadership, social services, government, economic development,
healthcare, education, agriculture, history, and local arts. The program has a concentration in volunteerism and board service.
Class of 2015-16
 Bekah Jenkins, First-Knox National Bank
 Carol Duvall, Kenyon College
 Carrie Swingle, Ariel Foundation
 Christi Hawkins, Habitat for Humanity
 Colleen Kelly, CES Credit Union
 Julie Mickley, Knox County Head Start
 Lane Belangia, Knox County Health Department
 LaShawn Small, United Way of Knox County
 Lori McKee
 Lori Wilkes, Knox Community Hospital
Class of 2015-16, continued:
11. Mary Spence, Kenyon College
12. Monique Milligan, First-Knox National Bank
13. Noah Turner, Dean’s Jewelry
14. Norita Hissong, Heritage Centre Association
15. Penny Given, The Peoples Bank of Gambier
16. Shannon Bywaters, Farm Credit Mid-America
17. Sheila Mills, Apple Valley Resort
18. Theresa Vernon, Knox County Board of Developmental Disabilities
19. Tina Marie Heibert, Brookdale Mount Vernon
20. Zac DiMarco, Critchfield, Critchfield & Johnston
The Knox County Safety Council is a program of the Ohio BWC, and is facilitated by the
Chamber. The goal of the program is to increase safety awareness and promote interest in
the prevention of occupational accidents. Participating business members may earn up to a
4% rebate of their workers’ compensation premiums. That’s an incredible savings for many business owners and their bottom line!
Listed below are the rebates earned in fiscal year 2015:
Safety Council




$3,183,304.04 Distributed to qualifying Ohio Businesses.
$9,862.75 Distributed to area businesses for FY15 Participation Bonus.
$24,169.57 Distributed to area businesses for FY15 Performance Discount.
13 Knox County businesses earned the 2% Performance Bonus for the 2015 Fiscal Year.
Chamber Ambassadors, or sometimes called “Red Coats”, are the extended arm of the
Chamber staff. They are Board members, Leadership Knox Alumni, and individuals that
express their desire to accept this prestigious role. Their duties are threaded in the Chamber’s work of welcoming new business, mentoring, and are visible across the county attending Ribbon Cutting Ceremonies, Ground
Breakings and other Chamber events. Ambassadors also have the honor of selecting the final nominees from all of the nominations
received for our Annual Awards Dinner in January. We thank them for their valuable service.
Ambassadors
2015 Facts and Information
327 Facebook
Posts.
739 Facebook
Likes
Up 38.7%
Unemployment Rates 2015
Month
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
Knox
County
5.6%
4.9%
5.0%
4.1%
4.2%
4.7%
4.7%
4.0%
3.9%
4.1%
4.6%
*
Ohio
6.1%
5.6%
5.4%
4.6%
4.9%
5.2%
5.0%
4.3%
4.3%
4.2%
4.4%
*
*Data not available as of printing.
All figures provided by State of
Ohio, Office of Workforce
Development.
67% of Website
page hits were
returning
visitors
Each Chamber Member
Received an average of
6 referrals per day
from our website
Membership by Area
Centerburg
Danville
Fredericktown
Gambier
Howard
Mount Vernon
Walhonding
Outside of Knox County
10
9
28
8
11
291
2
54
Total Investors 413
1,260 Tweets
357 Followers
New Social Media Campaign
“Where Are We Wednesday”
Spotlighted Member Businesses
33% of Website page hits
were new visitors
Twitter
Up
63.7%
Our Website
received
12,084 page
views
We Promoted
Member & Chamber
Events Via Social Media
and our Website
Calendar
More than 4,600
Emails were sent
to Chamber
Members
More than 220
meetings were held this
year with various
professionals. We provided
lots of resource materials and
brainstorming sessions.
Membership by Category
1% Agriculture
3% Construction
3% Education
6% Financial Services
13% Healthcare
2% Individual Investors
5% Manufacturing
2% Recreation
11% Retail
46% Service Businesses
8% Social Services
2015 Board of Trustees
2015 Executive Board
2015 Knox County Chamber of Commerce Board
Vickie Sant,
Chair
First-Knox
National Bank
Terry Bumpus
Chair Elect
First Federal
Savings & Loan
of Centerburg
Alex Wright
Ariel Corporation
Marc Odenweller,
Treasurer
Dennis & Schisler
Arlene Griffith
ACS Title &
Closing
Services
Brent Lasater
Lasater Funeral
Home & Family
Center
Kim Peck
The Killbuck
Savings Bank Co.
Loren Phillips
Modern Builders
Jeffrey Scott
Member Benefits
Chair
Knox Community
Hospital
Bruce White
Knox Community
Hospital
Clint Bailey
Critchfield,
Critchfield &
Johnston
Melanie Bolender
The Ohio Eastern
Star Home
Bill Hanna
At Large Member
Ver-Mac
Industries
Dr. Henry W.
Spaulding, II
Mount Vernon
Nazarene
University
Ryan Sponsler
Donley Ford Lincoln
of Mt. Vernon
Chamber Staff
Jeff Harris
Area Development
Foundation
Pat McLarnan,
Past Chair
Siemens
Carol Grubaugh
Executive Director
Tina Cockrell
Program Coordinator
Rodney Smith
Office Assistance
Gabe Duvall
Office Assistance
Alicia Freeman
At Large Member
The Peoples Bank
of Gambier
Jane Marlow
Knox County
Career Center
Todd Burson
Kenyon College