Cherokee Hills Golf Course Business/Entrepreneur of the Month

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1 Chamber Chat May 2014 Live Logan County Cherokee Hills Golf Course Business/Entrepreneur of the Month As the weather breaks and the warm air of spring begins to trickle in, it is time for business people and professionals to schedule office time in the location where all great business deals are made the golf course. Logan County is blessed with beautiful golf facilities and this month the Chamber of Commerce recognizes Cherokee Hills Golf Course as the Business of the Month. Driving down County Road 49 north of Bellefontaine you cannot help but be drawn to the peaceful fairways of the 11th hole. Owner Mike Vieira believes it is that peaceful setting that makes Cherokee Hills special. Cherokee Hills is a beautiful, well-manicured course, he said. We provide a wonderful and enjoyable experience for people of all ages. Mike s father and co-owner Jim Vieira purchased the golf course in July of Over the next several years they planted more than 600 trees. In the decades since they have made major improvements throughout the entire course, including rebuilding the 12th and 17th greens and adding various senior and women s tees. Cherokee Hills provides the perfect setting for a fun round of golf, outings (with catering available), fundraisers, tournaments and league play. For more information or to book a discounted round of golf, visit cherokeehillsgolfclub.com. You can also contact the course at Cherokee Hills has been a member of the Logan County Chamber of Commerce for more than 30 years, and we are grateful for their support. Business After Hours May 15th 4:30p-6:00p (Mike Vieira, Owner) The May Business After Hours event will be held at Easton Water Solutions on May 15th from 4:30p-6:00p. Guests will enjoy food provided by Tumbleweed, as well as the opportunity to make new business connections. Easton Water Solutions is located at 1040 S. Main, Bellefontaine. Host a Business After Hours Event Business After Hours events are an effective way to invite the business community to learn more about the products and services you provide. Event hosts provide space and refreshments for a networking opportunity between Chamber members. Business After Hours events are held the third Thursday of each month from 4:30p-6:00p. Contact the chamber office at or info@logancountyohio.com to schedule an event at your business. Congratulations to the new members of the Chamber Housing Services Alliance RV Wholesalers Del-Mar Tree Service LLC Premier Dental Zane Shawnee Caverns Warren Taylor J Terebuh MD Inc. Perry Township Lowes Home Centers, Inc. Shine FM C. Douglas Chamberlain Cash Max Union Station of Logan County BENEFIT: Chamber members receive EDUCATION through legislative events and free business and entrepreneurial seminars.

2 PAGE 2 Local doors reach many If you did not invest the time to walk around Downtown Bellefontaine to tour the Doors of Encouragement, you missed something truly special. Each piece of art told a story of struggle and triumph, pain and gratitude hope and courage. This annual event demonstrates the true essence of our community, bringing together organizations, families and individuals for healing and awareness around the battle many face with cancer. The Chamber would like to recognize Melody Couchman of Wren s Florists and Greenhouse and the team of volunteers for an additional accomplishment with this project. Many people from around the region have stopped in our shop over the last month, said Beth Zell, owner of Sweet Aromas Coffee. They have come to Downtown to look at the Doors of Encouragement. (pictured above: guests admiring a door. Pictured top right: Melody Couchman, Wren s Florists & Greenhouse ) Indeed, this mission touches not only our community, but our entire region, bringing awareness to the many businesses in Downtown Bellefontaine. On behalf of the business community we thank the Doors team for bringing courage, hope and awareness to Bellefontaine and Logan County. The Doors of Encouragement were auctioned April 29th to raise money for the Logan County Cancer Society. An incredible $47, was raised! The Chamber office welcomes Erin Henry The Logan County Chamber welcomes Erin Henry as the newest member of its team. Erin was born and raised in Upper Sandusky, Ohio. She is familiar with the operations of a chamber as her father served for many years on the Upper Sandusky Chamber Board and her mother worked for a time in the chamber office. Erin graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Nursing from Mount Carmel College of Nursing in Columbus, and after several years in the capital city, Erin relocated to Bellefontaine in 2003 with her husband Steve. Steve is a teacher and soccer coach for Bellefontaine City Schools, and they have two children, a son Preston and daughter Morgan. I love the feeling of community and pride that comes from being raised and living in a smaller community, said Erin. Logan County has much to offer its residents and visitors, and I look forward to being part of a team that spends every day sharing what is great about our community with others. Erin is very active in the community and local schools through volunteer organizations and coaching both at the middle school level and in youth sports. 23rd Annual Rotary-Kiwanis Golf Outing Mark your calendars for the 23rd annual Rotary-Kiwanis Golf Outing at Liberty Hills Golf Club on Wednesday May 21, There will be one flight only this year with a late morning start. If your team has a paid entry by May 1 you will receive a free round of golf with cart! We hope you will help the Bellefontaine Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs in support of the Logan County Drug Free Youth Coalition and Logan County Youth Leaders in Action Workshop. Please call Linda Botkin with questions BENEFIT: Chamber members receive DISCOUNTS on items from office supplies to BWC premiums.

3 PAGE 3 BENEFIT: Members receive NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES through Chamber sponsored events.

4 PAGE 4 Long Time Community Leader Retires Thriving communities are comprised of individuals dedicated to the advancement of where they call home. The Chamber of Commerce is grateful to recognize one such individual as he prepares for retirement. Over the past 32 years Rick Gildow has made a positive impact on many organizations throughout the community, including the Chamber, often serving as the quiet leader in the background who simply gets stuff done. Rick served on the Board of Directors from He has served as the Chairman of the Logan County Community Improvement Corporation since Additionally, Rick has impacted organizations such as Mary Rutan Hospital (Board of Directors (92-98, 00-10), Bellefontaine Boosters Club (Board of Directors 97-Present), Bellefontaine City Council (88-93, 96-05), Intelligent Transportation Society of Ohio (Board of Directors 94-07), Bellefontaine Girls Softball and the Bellefontaine Basketball Program. Rick held various positions at the Transportation Research Center over his 33 year tenure. For the past 18 years he has served as the President of the Transportation Research Center, Inc. Rick received his Bachelor s in Business Administration from the University of Findlay and his MBA from The Ohio State University. Most importantly, Rick is married to his wife Mary and they have one daughter, Katie (Kelly) Buffkin and four grandchildren! Please join us this month in sincerely congratulating Rick Gildow on his successful career at TRC, offering thanks for his decades of community service and wishing him the best in his future adventures. Chamber launches new initiative Chamber CEO Paul Benedetti has launched a new initiative to encourage recently retired individuals to consider starting a small business. We have an influx of newly retired people in Logan County, and an inventory of empty storefronts in communities across the county. stated Paul. The Chamber will be encouraging and helping retirees who want to turn a hobby or passion into a new business. There are many critical steps to starting a new business and the Logan County Chamber is available to help people find that information and navigate through the process. Do you know someone who has dreamed of starting a business, but could use help with the first steps? Have them contact Paul Benedetti at And yes, we will be asking Rick Gildow if he wants to start a business. BENEFIT: Members gain CREDIBILITY by being part of an organization that has served the community for over 70 years.

5 PAGE 5 Attend the Legislative Meeting Tuesday May 13, at 7:30am Please join us at the Chamber of Commerce office for the monthly legislative committee meeting. Don t forget to VOTE Tuesday, May 6th. Keith Lake, Vice President of Government Affairs for the Ohio Chamber of Commerce will provide the legislative group with the following critical information: Update on Policy Success Benefitting Employers, Jobs, and Our Economy With the state legislature expected to wrap up its pre-november General Election policy work by the middle of June, now s a good time to review just what our state lawmakers have done over the past 18 months to improve Ohio s business climate and foster a healthier economy. The Ohio Chamber tracks all the issues impacting employers and is at the Statehouse daily making sure lawmakers understand the business perspective. Keith Lake, the state chamber s public policy team leader, will join us to provide a timely update. About the Speaker Keith Lake oversees the Ohio Chamber's day-to-day public policy, grassroots and political education efforts, and lobbies on health care and other issues impacting Ohio employers. He is in his second stint with the Ohio Chamber, having previously served as the organization s Director of Political and Candidate Education from Keith is a native of the State of Illinois and graduated from the University of Illinois with a bachelor s degree in political science. He, his wife Julie, and their three daughters reside in Columbus. Getting to know the Chamber board Board member of the month: Over the past decade Will Zell has participated in the Chamber of Commerce in various ways. From an internship with Ed Wallace as a senior in high school to serving on the Convention and Tourism board, to currently representing the clergy community on the Chamber Board of Directors, Will strongly supports the mission of the Chamber. Additionally, Will and his wife Beth are small business owners. Will is the founder of Providence Holdings, Inc. and he and Beth own and operate Sweet Aromas Coffee in Downtown Bellefontaine. Will has been involved in numerous community organizations and is proud of the community efforts to revitalize Downtown Bellefontaine. Will and Beth reside in Huntsville with their three children, Brant, Grace and Luke. The Chamber of Commerce plays a crucial role in our community, through supporting our existing base of businesses, as well as representing the county in regional, state and national economic development conversations. As we embrace (Beth and Will Zell) the economic opportunities in front of us, the Chamber is at the forefront of efforts for industry attraction, retention and expansion. As industry succeeds in Logan County, small and medium businesses, education and government all benefit. The Chamber Board is one of my most important current roles in life as we collectively work to build thriving communities across Logan County. -Will Zell BENEFIT: Gain AWARENESS for your business through special advertising in the Chamber Chat, available only for members.

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7 PAGE 7 Attend the Safety Council Annual Awards Banquet May 15 at 7:30am The next Safety Council meeting will be held at 7:30am on May 15 at the Ohio Hi-Point Career Center. This meeting will include the Annual Awards Banquet presented by the Ohio Bureau of Worker s Compensation. Additionally, guest speaker John Gordon will give a very important message about the dangers of distracted driving. John has been per- (John Gordon) sonally affected by distracted driving. With many possible distractions invading our driving time, this talk will be important for the safety of both you and your employees. John teaches on how to avoid being a distracted driver and what to watch for in other drivers. Please join us May 15th for the Logan County Safety Council. Top 5 causes of distracted driving: Cell Phones, Car Stereos, Passengers, GPS Devices, and Eating or drinking. Steps to avoid distractions: Put down the phone. Hands free does not always mean you are not distracted. Turn off the radio. Don t have a full car. Make sure your passengers know you are in charge of their life and you need to focus. Prepare for the trip ahead of time. Study your route so you don't have to read a map. Eat before you leave. You need both hands on the wheel. Each month, thousands of Ohio employers meet just minutes from the work place to share safety and accident prevention information. Are you one of them? The Ohio BWC sponsors 81 safety councils across the state to provide local forums for education, networking and resource sharing. The Logan County Safety Council meets every third Thursday each month at the Ohio Hi-Point Career Center at 7:30am. Enroll your business today to receive the following benefits. Ohio Safety Council Learn techniques for increasing safety in your workplace. Learn how to better manage your workers compensation program. Network with other employers in your community. Access useful money saving workers compensation and risk management information. Enrolled businesses are eligible to receive a 2% rebate on worker s compensation premiums. To qualify, a business must enroll by July 31, 2014, attend at least 10 meetings in a year (with one attended by the CEO), and complete 2 semi-annual reports. In addition to the rebate, businesses are also eligible for an annual Safety Award. Contact the Chamber for more information on how to get started, BENEFIT: Members are REFERRED as the Chamber office receives hundreds of inquiries each month about our community.

8 PAGE 8 April, a busy month for members! Shoe Sensation grand reopening Union Station open house Shoe Sensation has relocated to a larger space within the same shopping center. We celebrated their success with an Ambassador visit and ribbon cutting. Stop in to see their expanded retail store and inventory at their new location in the Fountain Plaza at 1750 South Main St, Bellefontaine. The Union Station of Logan County is a Christ-centered community center that shares the gospel through recreation, education and outreach. They also provide community minded businesses a plat to lease office space. The Ambassadors christened their open house with a ribbon cutting. Ambassador attendees for these events included: Adam Rammel with Comstor Outddor, LTD., Anita Rickets with HER Realtors, Barbara Klinger with Huntington National Bank. Bev Henry with HER Realtors, Carrie Reynolds with Alan Galvez Insurance LTD., and Kathryn Sherer with Logan Acres Senior Community. Schindewolf ribbon cutting and recognition Schindewolf Express Inc. recently expanded into warehousing services with the launch of Schindewolf Warehousing. The Ambassadors joined in the celebration with a ribbon cutting. Additionally, the company recognized driver Chris Klopfenstein for an incredible feat One Million miles driven without an accident! In our industry Chris has accomplished something rare said Suzie Schindewolf. His contribution has been a benefit to the success of the company and we are grateful to have him on our team. The Chamber congratulates the Schindewolfs and Chris Klopfenstein for their recent success. (The Schindewolf Team) (Dan and Suzie Schindewolf with Chris Klopfenstein) BENEFIT: the Chamber facilitates many opportunities for INVESTMENT in the success of our community.

9 PAGE 9 BENEFIT: the Chamber gives members RECOGNITION through networking and publications like the Chamber Chat.

10 PAGE 10 Hess Lumber celebrates 50 years! Businesses that endure generations deserve to be recognized for their success. The Logan County Chamber congratulates Hess Lumber as they celebrated 50 years in business on Monday, March 17th. Coincidentally, it was a Monday on March 17th in 1964 that Hess Lumber was opened by Jim Hess. Today, the business is operated by Jim s son Dan. I am glad we have made it this far as we are one of the few independent businesses left. I am truly thankful to our customers who appreciate an old fashioned service experience, commented Dan. Congratulations to Hess Lumber for reaching this milestone! Katie Rychener Teacher of the Year! Katie Rychener, DECA Advisor at Bellefontaine High School was honored with the Excellence in Teaching Award presented by the Bellefontaine Rotary Club. Katie has led the DECA program since January In addition to advising DECA, Katie is a Marketing Management Teacher and Cooperative Education Coordinator. She has worked extensively with the Chamber office to promote the work of DECA and provide opportunities for students to gain real world business experience. Her contribution to students has equipped many to pursue a professional career. Katie has a Masters in Education and an Instructional Design Certificate from Wright State University. Her undergraduate degree is in Family Resource Management and Consumer Affairs with a minor in Business from The Ohio State University. She resides at Indian Lake with her husband Darrin. Save the date September 1, 2014 Graduate Business Panel Over the past three months representatives from area businesses have visited Ben Logan High School to share with students about the professional opportunities available to them in their hometown. One of the most important roles of the Chamber is to support education so the young people in our community know that Logan County is a great place to live, work and raise a family. We want to recognize the individuals and businesses who have given their time to support this program. Michael Shepherd Six Hundred Downtown Nicole Keller Bellefontaine Dental Sponsored By Vickie Crumley Mary Rutan Hospital Joenee Purcell Liberty National Bank Dustin Buchenroth World Class Plastics Michael Minnich NetGain The Chamber will be expanding this program next school year. If you have interest in participating please contact the office at or info@logancountyohio.com. BENEFIT: the Chamber champions BUY LOCAL, encouraging residents to support local businesses.

11 PAGE 11 DISCOVERY RIDERS THERAPEUTIC RIDING AND LEARNING CENTER OPEN HOUSE Saturday, May 3 rd 11am-1pm 5850 St. Rt. 292 South Zanesfield, OH Tours every half hour. Demonstrations by students. Children s activities. And more! For more information call or driders@bright.net Center Stage drama this month! Center Stage productions presents their 2014 dramatic offering. All Tickets are $8 Call, to purchase your tickets!!!!! Show Times and Dates at The Holland Theatre: May 1 at 9:30am May 2 at 10:00am May 2 & 3 at 7:00pm Produced by special arrangement with The Dramatic Publishing Company of Woodstock, Illinois

12 PAGE S. Main St, Bellefontaine, OH facebook.com/logancountychamber facebook.com/seelogancounty The Chamber Team Paul Benedetti President/CEO Erin Henry Member and Visitor Services UPCOMING EVENTS MAY May 1: First Thursday Coffee Hour at Sweet Aromas May 1-2: The Holland Theatre presents Ramona Quimby May 3-11: Logan County Tourism Week. May 3: 5K walk/run & Indian Lake Golf Outing May 13: Legislative Meeting May 15: Annual Safety Council Awards May 15: Mental Illness awareness walk May 16: The Holland Theatre presents Audio Body May 23: Rotary-Kiwanis Benefit Golf outing May 27: The Holland Theatre 3rd Annual Windmill Awards June June 5: First Thursday Coffee Hour at Sweet Aromas June 6: Customer Appreciation Day Downtown Bellefontaine June 10: Legislative Meeting June 11-13: Camp Braveheart June 13-16: IAC Open East Championship-Ohio Aerobatic Open 2014 June 19: Safety Council Meeting Will Zell, Chamber Chat Editor Download Our App The Logan County Chamber is part of a national network that connects chambers throughout the country. Downloading the free My Chamber App is useful for not only where you live, but also where you travel. As a member you can both contribute and access comprehensive local business information, community events and Hot Deals. When you travel, the app updates your location to provide you with local information where you are. Update your business information, add upcoming events and share Hot Deals by logging into your Chamber Master account. Call us with questions! BENEFIT: Members receive a DIGITAL PRESENCE through the Chamber website and mobile application.