POSTMASTER:TIMELY MATERIAL. PLEASE EXPEDITE.

Celebrating 19 Years of Service

JUNE 2013 Vol. 19 No. 6
Published and Owned by Schaffner Publications, Inc.

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

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

INSIDE THIS MONTH

The Digital Age Whos in Control? ........................ 2 CHAMBER CALENDARS..... 8 Taxes: Check out Self Insurance.. 9 ESTATE Balancing Investments ....10 LEGAL Five Year Crystal Ball. .......................12 IT A Computer for College?. .....15 INSURANCE Hard vs. Soft Market?...........18 SALES Being Honest with Oneself . ..........21 WELL-BOOKED BUSINESS........24 HR Spring Cleaning..........25

on Marblehead and the Islands: State of the Village of Marblehead

Submitted by Mayor Jacqueline A. Bird (Excerpted from her January address) As Mayor of the Village of Marblehead, I take this New Year as a time for reflection and equally important a time to look to our future. The year 2012 continued to be an economic challenge. However, the conviction to uphold our prominent commonwealth for future and current generations remains the mission of each elected official and employee in our municipality. In Marblehead Zoning, Bob Hruska remains the Marblehead Zoning Administrator, Planning Commission Secretary, Regional Planning Commission Representative, Assistant Fiscal Officer, Flood Plan/Waterfront Administrator and Records Commission Administrator. Mr. Hruskas dedication to the Village and Administration goes above and beyond. This area also goes hand and hand with our Planning Commission under the professional and dedicated leadership of Chairman Hal Clagg. This committee consists of the Mayor, Councilwoman Vickie Kozak and resident volunteer members Terry Glovinsky and Richard Zembala. This past year, the Planning Commission ruled on 12 cases involving public hearings, including 2 subdivisions representing 6 new buildable lots and several informal meetings with local developers for upcoming projects. The knowledge and skill offered by the Planning Commission to this administration remains a valuable asset
Fostoria Area Chamber of Commerce Genoa Chamber of Commerce

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insuring our zoning code is followed as governed by ordinance. All are praised for their efforts and dedication to our village. The Marblehead Fire Department continues to provide superior service to our community and surrounding area under the stalwart leadership of Chief Doug Waugh. In 2012, our membership increased by 4 for total of 18 active members. A breakdown of the total membership includes 9 State Certified Volunteer Firefighters, 2 State Certified Level I Firefighters, 2 State Certified Level II Firefighters, 1 Certified Fire Instructor, 2 Paramedics, 1 Advanced EMT, 8 Basic EMTs and 2 Certified CPR Instructors. In 2012, the membership logged a total of 218 training hours. Our membership also served many hours putting out fires, saving lives and responding to calls. Last year our members responded to 93 Fire Responses and 457 EMS calls. In 2012, the Fire Department accepted the purchase and delivery of a new ambulance, 4 new ice rescue suits and a new MSA Thermal Imager. Plans for 2013 include the research and purchase of a new Lifepak15 Cardiac Monitor/Defibrillator. Additionally, Chef Waugh, members and Councilwoman Angie Kukay were instrumental in the Joint Fire Department Study and developed plan. Countless hours were spent by this committee which additionally included representation from Danbury Township and the Lakeside Fire Department. The overall effort of this group has offered a solid unified plan for our community in regards to EMS and fire service for our future. Efforts to initiate this plan should begin in 2013.
Marblehead Peninsula Chamber of Commerce Milan Chamber of Commerce

As in the past, the Marblehead Volunteer Fire Department remains a dedicated group who donate countless hours for the health, welfare and safety of our community. This administration acknowledges all for their unselfish love of their fellow man and thanks all for their unconditional service to the village. The Police Department continues to serve our community under the professional leadership of Chief Greg Fultz. The department is currently staffed with 2 full time officers, 3 part time officers at 32 hours per week each and 1 part time officer at 16 hours per week. Additionally, the village continues to contract with Danbury Township for 16 hours of shift coverage weekly. At times when we have been short or in need of mutual aid, the Danbury Township Police Department has consistently been

See VILLAGE, Page 5

Vermilion Chamber of Commerce Willard Area Chamber of Commerce

Were a proud member of the following:

Elmore Chamber of Commerce Huron Chamber of Commerce Huron County Chamber of Commerce Oak Harbor Area Put-in-Bay Chamber Chamber of Commerce of Commerce Port Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of Commerce

Chamber of Commerce Erie County Chamber of Sandusky County of Commerce

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June 2013

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The Digital Age Are we truly in Control?

By Jeffrey H. Bryden Editor Last months column hopefully gave readers some insight into how digital technology is rapidly changing the way we work and the way we live. I referenced a presentation I had attended at Bowling Green State University conducted by Erik Qualman, whos often called the Digital Dale Carnegie. Hes the author of Socialnomics: How Social Media Transforms the Way We Live and Do Business. I suggested readers take just two minutes to watch an exciting video that would open their eyes to Social Media and the dynamic impact its having on our business and personal lives. Many of you did. In case you missed the link, Ive included it below. Called In 6 Years, Technology will Kill the video is a fast-paced and riveting look at changes coming to the world as we know it today how common, everyday things are being replaced by new technology. A few of the things it predicts will be killed by technology in the next six years: Paperback books and Instruction manuals. Car keys, maps, and tollbooth operators Wrist watches and alarm clocks Newspapers, DVDs, broadcast TV and terrestrial radio. Cash, checkbooks, credit cards. Greeting cards, memo pads, paper rsums I highly recommend it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_ detailpage&v=Nwwq3l39lqk While it is easy to be awed by digital technology and the many wonderful things it can accomplish, I, for one, have found an increasing number of examples that indicate we may have unwittingly become the slaves to technology rather than its masters. A recent example. While on vacation out of state, my wife and I saw a special on bicycles at a well-known mass merchandiser. Calling the store, we found they were (understandably) sold out. We stopped by the store to make sure we could obtain a rain check but were told by the Customer Service representative that he could order the bikes online and have them shipped (at no charge) to our vacation address in just a few days. The next morning I received confirmation (on my iPhone) that the bikes had been shipped (hooray for technology!) But then I noticed that the store associate had reversed the billing and shipping addresses and that the bikes were being shipped back to Ohio. Immediate phone calls to the store, the corporate headquarters, the store, the freight company, the store, and finally the stores warehouse were of no avail once entered into the system, there was no way (I was told) to correct the error and halt the process. Im not sure that there was really no way to fix it, or that the number of people I talked to (at several different venues and with varying levels of responsibility) didnt know the way to correct the error. Remember the famous Disney vignette with Mickey Mouse as the sorcerers apprentice where he conjured up a spell to get the mops and water buckets to do his work for him then couldnt stop the process? This is what I envisioned with my bicycle purchase a runaway digital order, with a mind of its own, and we humans unable to alter or stop it. Ive had similar experiences and wonder sometimes if we get too much pleasure being able to do things quicker but fail to realize that, as my grandfather Bryden used to say Haste makes waste. In other words, speed sometimes interferes with quality control. Digitally, Im sure weve all suffered from e-mails sent in haste. Without attachments. Without proofreading. Without the time to reflect on word choice or the intensity of emotions expressed? Back when we wrote letters, or even typed them out and mailed them, we had time to think, to reflect, to crumple them up and start again if necessary. Please. Im not a troglodyte. In fact Im composing this letter on my laptop. Ill be sending this article as a g-mail attachment, via a Wi-Fi connection to my wireless telephone, over a thousand miles away to our NCBJ graphic staff for this months paper in just a matter of seconds. But sometimes I wonder if, in our headlong rush to take advantage of technology, this same technology is now taking advantage of us? P.S. Oh yes -- the bikes did arrive in Ohio the very next day! Now I need to borrow a truck or van to take them to that retailers store for a return.

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Publisher JOHN SCHAFFNER JEFFREY H. BRYDEN jbryden@ncbj.net DAVE KAHLER dkahler@ncbj.net KRISTA CHEEK kcheek@ncbj.net ROBIN QUESADA accounting@thebeacon.net TODD GARDNER todd@thebeacon.net MARK SCHAFFNER marks@thebeacon.net BRUCE DINSE Editor Director of Sales Sales Representative Accounting Manager Layout &Graphic Design Circulation Manager

NorthCoast Business Journal is owned and published monthly by Schaffner Publications,Inc., and is mailed free to chamber of commerce members in a five-county area: Erie, Huron, Ottawa, Sandusky, and Seneca counties. 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 form without the expressed, written consent of the Publishers. We welcome submissions from readers in the form of letters, articles or photographs, although we reserve the right to edit and condense any articles submitted. Submissions should be sent to the editor at the above address. Include a stamped, self-addressed envelope if you would like an item returned. We prefer material (copy &photos) to be submitted electronically.

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June 2013

Kelleys Island 2013 Tall Ship Celebration

Mark your calendar for the weekend of August 29 to September 2, 2013! Kelleys Island and Portside Marina will be the Host Port for the Appledore lV, an 85 Schooner Tall Ship. It will be available for boarding and sailaways. The entire Island will be involved with this Celebration with Activities and Events to be scheduled all weekend. From the Appledore lV, you can roam to Memorial Park, the Town Hall, Kelleys Island Historical Society, the Old Stone Church, Kelleys Island School, the 4H-Camp, Camp Patmos and the Island Airport for sponsored plane rides. Many of these sites will be hosting various educational, entertainment and fun activities for the entire family. A Tram will be available to those with tired feet or no access to a bike, golf cart or car. The Tram will shuttle around to all businesses and scheduled events and activities. The 4H Camp will be of particular interest to everyone since it will be the site for Live Re-enactments, tethered hot air balloon rides, bands, educational entertainment and dozens of vendors will line a camp driveway. The Island Singers will be presenting 2 shows of very patriotic songs. All of the Island Businesses will be sponsoring various individuals or events of their own choice. A whole array of Coupons for participating Sponsors will be available throughout your journey around the Island. A fun Patriotic Parade is planned and the list of activities grows each day, so, remember to Get on Board at Kelleys Island!

June 2013

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Merging History: A New Day Dawns for Emergency Services in Danbury Township
Danbury Township has experienced a strong and continuous record of outstanding property and life-saving service since the organization of the Marblehead Volunteer Fire Department in 1895 and the Lakeside Volunteer Fire Protective Association in 1905. On March 13, 2013 a century-plus history of contracting with these two departments came to momentous consolidation with the formation of The Danbury Township Fire Department. Trustees Charles Scott, David Hirt and Dianne Rozak unanimously agreed to a resolution to create the merged department with an effective date of July 1, 2013 for full operational implementation. This positive combination of resources will continue to offer the same dedicated, professional level of service that residents and visitors on the Marblehead Peninsula have come to expect and appreciate. The trustees have appointed Marblehead Fire Chief Doug Waugh as Interim Chief to oversee the merger process. Chief Waugh stated, I am extremely pleased to be a part of this momentous undertaking. I have found that our community has been blessed to have so many dedicated people serving us. Through two years of dedicated work, we have found that we are able to merge our four entities (Lakeside Volunteer Fire Protective Association, Marblehead Volunteer Fire Department, Village of Marblehead Council and Mayor, and Danbury Township) into a unified Fire and EMS department. All of our personnel have put forth an untold effort to streamline and enhance our public service to all of the residents of Danbury Township. We are all very grateful to be a part of this historical undertaking. We look forward to continuing our services to the community in a highly efficient and unified department of which we can all be proud. Ed Cochenour, Chief of the Lakeside Volunteer Fire Department and Gary Deerhake, fire fighter and President of the Lakeside Volunteer Fire Protective Association, collectively said Thank you to our Township Trustees for the opportunity to operate entirely as one department in Danbury Township. We will now be able to more efficiently administer and manage the equipment, buildings, personal, recruitment, training and the changing to a fulltime/part-time EMS. We look forward to Standing left to right: John Englebeck, David Hirt, Doug volunteering in the new Danbury Township Fire Waugh, Ed Cochenour, Charles Scott, Gary Deerhake. Department. Seated left to right: Dianne Rozak, Marvin Rettig, Shelley T:10.17 in Seamon

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VILLAGE, from Cover
available to provide back up. On behalf of the Village of Marblehead, I thank Danbury Township Chief Meisler, his staff and the Danbury Township Trustees for this unconditional service. We are fortunate to live in a community with mutual assistance being first and fore-most for the health, welfare and safety of all. For both police departments, I hold the utmost respect and I thank you for your true commitment to community service for the village and township. In 2012, the Police Department responded to 689 calls for service. A total breakdown includes: 264 traffic stops, 41 traffic citations issued, 223 traffic warnings issued, and 97 criminal arrests. It is noted of the citations issued, the number of DUIs for 2012 was one. The department also hosted a variety of community events that included the Village Easter Egg Hunt, Memorial Day Parade/ Ceremony, the Village Christmas Tree Lighting, and providing security for the 1st Annual Marblehead Summer Festival. The department was also pleased to support our local school by sponsoring 2 graduating seniors, participating with the Right to Read Week and providing a judge in the Boy Scout Cake Bake Contest. The department also continues to provide our village with a Senior Watch Program. In 2012, the department renovated their current office space with new flooring, furniture and fresh paint. Additionally in December, the department purchased a 2013 Ford Explorer Police Interceptor. The goal is to have this vehicle on the road within the next few weeks. I praise Chief Fultz and his staff for their professional unselfish dedication to the Village of Marblehead and thank them for a job well done. The Street and Maintenance Department continues to provide quality service to the village under the guidance of Street Commissioner Bryan Lucas. With one full time employee and one part time employee, services provided include ongoing road repairs, cemetery and park maintenance, grass mowing, tree trimming, snow plowing and equipment maintenance to note a few. The Street Committee, under the leadership of Councilman Dean Dorko, along with Councilman John Starcher, Councilman Duane Myers and Commissioner Lucas were able to work on our road improvement list with the much needed repaving of Clemons Street and extended pavement of Harsh Road. Additionally, a street resealing program was established to help lengthen the lifespan of all village streets. The village was equally pleased to work with the State of Ohio in the repavement of Main Street/State Route 163. The plan for 2013 includes the Culvert Replacement Project at Lake Pointe Park and the goal to continue on with our road improvement list. Under this area, Street Commissioner Bryan Lucas also worked very closely with Councilman John McDonald on the Clemons Cemetery Fence Replacement Project. The fencing was obtained from Fremont Fence Company with grant assistance from the OSS Solid Waste District and is actually all made of recycled aluminum. Additionally, Councilman McDonald and Councilwoman Vickie Kozak continued on with village beautification by purchasing 3 recycled benches with additional grant funds. Planters were also placed by the Maintenance Department with planted flowers to brighten our streets and daily maintenance was offered to the appearance of Radar Park for all who entered our Village. Councilman John McDonald also worked with our Maintenance Department on the establishment of a new sandbox at James Park. The goal for 2013 is to obtain an awning for the sandbox along with toys for the children to enjoy. The Street and Maintenance Department also completed the demolition of the house on the Gresh Property. Benches and parking have now been established at this area for residents to enjoy time near Lake Erie. In 2012, the Street and Maintenance Department purchased a much needed backhoe. This purchase will assist in future cost and man power for the village. Additionally, Street

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Commissioner Lucas worked closely with Councilman Starcher on the restoration project of the Radar Park Building. This building is nearly completed and will provide a safe, secure and climate controlled environment for village records. As you can see, the Street and Maintenance Department had a very busy year and I thank all who made these improvements a success. Our sole utility remains the Village Water Department. The water plant is in excellent condition and continues to provide top quality water to residents and visitors. This is the result of the ongoing efforts of our employees and elected Board of Public Affairs. Elected members of the board for 2012 included Robert Boytim, George Danchiesen and my brother, the late Thomas J. Bird who passed away suddenly on October 21, 2012. With 2012, the board saw the election of BPA President Thomas Bird who worked hard in looking to the future of this utility with the hire of an additional employee, filling an open position and the establishment of required meeting protocol. We welcome these new employees, Wendy Jaskulski and Dan Bond to our village team. It is noted with being in his third elected term and new role, Tom genuinely held a deep love for our village and gave 110% in this position. Tom was able to face adversity while focusing on the goal for the good of the village in a professional manner with this administration. His strength, dedication and team effort with this administration will be missed with his untimely death and will be remembered by all. With the guidance of the Utility Committee under the leadership of Councilman Duane Myers, local resident Lynn App was selected to fulfill the remainder of the open term. Mr. App comes to us with a vast experience professionally and civically. I welcome him to our team as we begin the New Year. In 2012, Bob Biers continued to lead the department as Water Plant Superintendant. After many dedicated years of service to the village, Mr. Biers retired upon the close of the year. Mr. Biers is wished much happiness in this new phase of life that is well deserved. The goal of the BPA, along with the Utilities Committee and Village Administration, is to secure a permanent long term replacement in the role of superintendant that will provide the village with many years of service as we move forward in our future. As in the past, all certified employees of the Water Department maintain ongoing Continuing Education as required by the Ohio EPA to maintain their water certification. The plant itself has an EPA filter rating of 400 gallons per minute per square foot area; this gives the plant a capacity of 384 gallons per minute or 552, 960 gallons per day. In 2013, The Water Department will continue with a Water Meter Upgrade Program, a touch read system that will improve efficiency during the meter reading cycle. I thank all in this area for their hard work and dedication as we continue to produce the best water in Ottawa County. In the area of the Finance Committee, President Pro Term John Starcher remains the chairman. As since first elected, Councilman Starcher continues to serve the village above and beyond his role, in all areas, including committees and acting mayor. Councilman Starcher is a strong leader and a strong source of support to this administration and me personally. In his area of finance, Councilman Starcher along with Councilwoman Kukay, Councilwoman Kozak and Fiscal Officer Rhonda Sowers all work closely to insure funds are spent wisely and the village is kept in the black. This is a daily process and all are commended for their efforts. This past year the Finance Committee was instrumental in replacing a 2 mil property tax levy. With the support of the administration and our residents, this issue was passed in the recent election. For 2013, the Temporary Appropriation Budget total is $586,624.78. Of those funds $213, 958.61 is with the BPA and $372,666.17 with the village. Rhonda Botti-Sowers remains our Fiscal Officer and is a strong source of financial leadership to the Village Administration and Board of Public Affairs. With the administration being in part time status and

June 2013

most maintaining full time jobs, Mrs. Sowers, though part time herself, remains the center point and direct contact person for the village. This past year Mrs. Sowers participated in our regular State Audit for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2011. The audit process itself is a laborious task, but Mrs. Sowers displayed much professionalism and knowledge in her role. It is noted Mrs. Sowers gives 110% of herself to the village in this role and her efforts are acknowledged and appreciated by all for a job well done. From a legal stand point in 2012, the village addressed a total seventeen ordinances and ten resolutions. Our solicitor James Barney, of the law firm Kocher and Gillum continues to provide the village with solid legal representation. Mr. Barneys devotion to the village and our administration goes above and beyond the expected scope of legal representation. There is no issue too small or too large. Mr. Barney is available 24/7 and provides excellent legal guidance in all issues. It is truly a pleasure to work with Mr. Barney and his law firm as they truly serve the Village of Marblehead in the best interest of all residents. In closing and in reflection, I look at the leadership and dedication of the Village of Marblehead Council, Board of Public Affairs, Zoning Administrator, Planning Commission, Fiscal Officer, Solicitor and all employees knowing their commitment to this commonwealth and fellow man remains the number one priority as we celebrate our 122 birthday. As in 2012, the administration will continue to build on past efforts. We will focus on ongoing infrastructure improvements. We will focus on employee compensation and retention. We will focus on meeting the needs of the village with our continued growth. This administration vows to evaluate each situation and act in the most viable means for the health, safety and welfare of its employees, residents and visitors. The goal established with our fore-fathers in 1891 continues in 2013 as we seek to retain the Village of Marblehead as a prominent commonwealth of opportunity for all. May the year 2013 be prosperous in meeting our goals for our current residents and future generations. May God Bless the Village of Marblehead, Township of Danbury, County of Ottawa, State of Ohio, and the United States of America, now and always.

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Marblehead Peninsula Chamber Celebrates 76th Year

The Marblehead Peninsula Chamber of Commerce recently held their 76h Annual Dinner. Throughout those 76 years, the Chamber has played a prominent role in promoting and marketing the Peninsula for the purpose of economic growth and good will between the businesses of our area. A part of the Chamber mission is to provide a structured organization to assist the business community with economic and community concerns as well as to encourage and promote new businesses by supporting selected programs to benefit the short and long term interest of the Peninsula. Annually the Chamber prints 55,000 Visitors Guides/maps. They are distributed throughout Ohio on the Ohio Turnpike and all of the Interstate Rest Areas. Locally they can picked up at one of our 5 tourist information racks, Chamber member businesses, Lake Erie Shores and Islands (East and West) and our Chamber Information Center located at 5681 E. Harbor Rd., Marblehead. The map can also be viewed on the Chambers web site www.themarbleheadpeninsula.com. and on WPCR Radios web site: www.portclintonradio.com. A Vacation Visitors Packet can be requested by calling 419-734-9777. The Chamber hosts two major fund-raisers annually. The Golf Outing will be held June 5th at the beautiful Catawba Island Club course. October 12th, is the 18th Annual Lakeside/Marblehead Lighthouse Festival. The Lighthouse Festival is held in Lakeside featuring food, family entertainment and many vendors from Ohio as well as many from the surrounding states. Downtown Marblehead merchants are in the process of finalizing the events for the Downtown area. The Marblehead Lighthouse and Wolcott House will be open for tours that day. This years long term commitment to the community is highlighted by the purchase of 14 benches of recycled material. These benches are placed throughout the Peninsula to provide our many visitors with a place to rest and take in the beauty of Marblehead Peninsula. The Chamber also purchased a unique sign for the pet playground located on SR. 269. As an ongoing commitment, the Chamber continues to sponsor the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts of Danbury as well as the Holiday Bureau. Each year the Chamber proudly presents a scholarship to a graduating senior from Danbury High School. To become a member of this enthusiastic organization, contact Executive Director, Judy Balsom by calling 419734-9777.

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June 2013

Danbury Local Schools: Excellence Again

Submitted by Dan Parent Superintendent The Danbury Local Schools has been awarded an Excellent rating by the Ohio Department of Education for the second consecutive year. This recognition is a result of many hours of hard work from our teachers, administrators, and most of all our students to meet and exceed state standards. Danbury Elementary school is completing a very busy year. Students and staff have worked very hard in collaboration with parents and other stakeholders to prepare the students for all of the changes in education starting next school year. The elementary has also held family fun nights and fitness nights with help from our elementary PRIDE group. In Danbury Middle School, our fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth grade middle school academic challenge teams received recognition in the Ottawa County Tournament. The fifth and eighth grade teams received first place recognition and our sixth and seventh grade teams received second place recognition. In the Ottawa County Spelling Bee, Fifth Grade student Zin Oo finished first, Eighth grade student Cory Bowser finished second and Seventh Grade student Sarah Bossetti finished in third place. We are very proud of these and all of our Middle School Students. In the High School, students are finishing up presentations for our Project based learning. This curriculum involves students identifying current or future local, state, or world problems and researching to solve these problems. Presentations are then made to the student body and local officials where student work in critiqued and analyzed. This experience is capped off with community service day on May 17th when high school students and staff spend the day in the community providing service to local residents, businesses, and agencies. Danbury Seniors also received over $55,000 dollars in locally funded scholarship presented at Scholarship night in May. As always, we could not conclude the year without wishing the Class of 2013 our best wishes for their futures. You will certainly be missed.

Wine, Roses, Tastes Of Fine Food: Make For Memorable Summer Eve
Picture this! On a balmy summer evening you take a stroll through gardens filled with lush flowers and enjoy a glass of award-winning Pinot Grigio while sampling a treasure trove of delectable snacks. If this sounds appealing, youd better hurry and get your tickets for A Taste of Wine, Roses & Tapas. This 8th annual event, sponsored by the Huron Chamber of Commerce and hosted by Barnes Nursery, is planned from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Friday, June 21 on the nursery grounds, 3511 Cleveland Road W. Last year the event was changed up to include tapas. This is the Spanish word for small plates. Noted area chefs will be providing samples of their greatest gourmet treats. They include: The Kitchens Bounty, The Lodge at Sawmill Creek, Kalahari Resorts, Marconis Italian Restaurant and Mesenburg Creative Catering. . Enjoy many of Ohios awardwinning wines that have made their mark in the U.S. wine industry. Bottled wines will also be available from Chateau Tebeau Winery, Firelands Winery, Hermes Vineyards, Matus Winery, Mon Ami and Paper Moon Vineyards. There will be live entertainment, a silent auction and raffle, as well as a scavenger hunt. A commemorative etched wine glass is included in the $20 pre-sale ticket. They are available at the Chamber office, 509 Huron St., 419-433-5700 and at Barnes Nursery, 3511 Cleveland Road W. Tables can be reserved. .

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CHAMBER CALENDARS for June

Erie County Chamber of Commerce 13 14 27 Open House at Lake View Offices, 5:00 pm, 330 E. Market Street Ribbon Cutting @ 1:00 pm Sandusky State Theatre Gift Shop Annual Meeting & Awards Reception; 5:30 p.m. Castaway Bay Ballroom 26 Ribbon Cuttings New Haven Supply Division of Brohl & Appell, 10am, 2744 Bullhead Rd, New Haven, Immediately followed by ribbon cutting at 11 Chatham St., Norwalk. 11 13 14 18 20 27 28 Main Street Port Clinton Design Committee Meeting 8:30 am at MSPC Office Ida Rupp Library Ribbon Cutting and Unveiling 6:00 p.m. Main Street Port Clinton Organization Executive Committee Meeting 8:30 am at MSPC Office Lake Erie Shores and Islands Visitors Bureau Ribbon Cutting and Anniversary Celebration 5:00 p.m. Port Clinton Area Chamber Benefits Committee Meeting 8:30 am at Chamber Office Health Care Reform Workshop at CMP Building 3 at Camp Perry 8:30 am Main Street Port Clinton Board Meeting 8:30 am at MSPC Office Main Street Port Clinton Promotion Committee Meeting 8:30 am at MSPC Office Workshop at Ida Rupp Public Library Smartphones for Business 8:30 am NASA Training at Ida Rupp Public Library 1:00 p.m. 12 13 18 19 21 25 Small Business Basics Seminar 9:30 am to 11:30 am . A free, two-hour seminar by the Ohio Small Business Development Center at Terra State Community College. Community room / Chamber of Commerce. Chamber Challenge Golf Outing Mohawk Golf & Country Club. Registration 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Shotgun start at 10 a.m. Seneca County Human Resource Association Meeting 11:30 am. Lunch Meeting at St. Francis Home, 182 St. Francis Ave., Tiffin, Ohio. RSVP at bhannam @terra.edu or 419-559-2237 June Speaker: Bruce Rumpf, Job1USA Cash Mob All Day Event! Join the Ambassadors at Molyets Farm Market, 1530 W SR 18, Tiffin. Noon Ambassador Meeting Noon, Chamber Offices. Please RSVP. Tiffin Area Safety Council 11:30 am at Moose Lodge 946, 1146 N SR 53.

Marblehead Peninsula Chamber of Commerce 5 6 20 27 6th Annual Golf Outing at CIC Shotgun start at 10:00 RSVP Directors Meeting 7:00 pm Danbury Township Hall Business After Hours Hosted by: The Boardwalk & Miller Ferry 4:00 Ferry RSVP ONLY Executive Meeting 10:00 am Chamber Office

Genoa Chamber of Commerce 13 25 26 Chamber Board Meeting Rayz Caf at 7:30am Genoa Super Cruise-In Car Show 6 pm Genoa Civic Theatre Board Meeting at 7:00pm

Huron County Chamber of Commerce 6 12 13 19 20 Safety Council, Construction division, 7:30am, Chamber office, RSVP Open House, Shipley's Office Supplies and Furniture, 10 N. Foster St., 10am-4pm, Membership Committee, 8am, Chamber office Safety Council, General Risk, 7:30am, Chamber office, RSVP Board of Directors, 4:00pm, Chamber office Regional Chamber/ Convention and Visitors Bureau Business After Hours, Bierkeller Restaurant, Bellevue, 5-7pm, RSVP Safety council, Manufacturing, 7:30am, Chamber office, RSVP

Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce 7-8 20 22 Village Wide Garage Sale Days Board Meeting 7:30am, Chamber Building Downtown Farmer's Market 9am-1 p.m., Log Cabin Park

Port Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce 5 6 10 Emilys GSE Ribbon Cutting and Grand Re-Opening Noon Main Street Port Clinton Economic Restructuring Committee 8:30 am at MSPC Office Business After Hours Hosted by Cellular Central and Slaters Madison Street Pub 5-7 p.m. Port Clinton Area Chamber Board Meeting 8:30 am at Chamber Office

Seneca Regional Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Services 4 8 Ribbon Cutting Landing Point Financial Group 11:30 am. , 6 Main St., Tiffin, Ohio. Ribbon Cutting Ceremony @ 11:45 am. Downtown Tiffin Farmers Market 9 am to 1 pm. Sponsored by the Chamber Market is located on South Washington St. between E. Perry St. and E. Market St.

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June 2013

Check Out Self Insurance as Health Coverage Deadline Looms

Self-insured health plans traditionally have been the realm of large employers. But a combination of the impact of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and a greater appetite among insurance companies to offer stop-loss coverage to smaller employers may tip the scales in favor of self-insurance for some. Heres an overview of the situation. Although 2014 seems to be approaching fast, many smaller employers have yet to make important decisions about how they will confront the new coverage provisions under Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) which are to take effect next year. Thomas Mangan, CEO of United Benefit Advisors, a large partnership of independent benefit advisory firms, expects a 25 percent uptick in the number of small employers choosing to self-insure by the end of the year. The number has been rising over the last couple of years, according to a recent report from Kaiser Health News. Self-insurance, of course, puts you in the role of the insurance company, and gives you considerable flexibility with plan design and the possibility of saving money -- in the double digits, Mangan estimates. It also comes with new burdens and liability. Self-insured plans are governed by ERISA, and not subject to state-specific mandated coverage of particular services, as fully insured, state-regulated plans are. Depending on the state, and assuming you dont want to cover extra state-mandated benefits, that can generate savings around 5 percent, and even as much as 15 percent in states with a long menu of expensive mandates, Mangan says. PPACA Loophole The big loophole under PPACA is that self-funded plans are exempt from the requirement to provide specified essential health benefits.Nevertheless, if these self-insured plans do offer any essential health benefits they cannot place lifetime or annual limits on those benefits provided under the plan. There is no guarantee that self-insured plans will always be exempt from the essential health benefit requirement, warns Barry Newman, an attorney with The Wagner Law Group, if legislators and government agencies try to level the playing field. Also, Newman warns, while selffunded plans are not currently required to satisfy PPACAs annual deductible and out-of-pocket limits, the Department of Labor has indicated it intends to bring self-funded plans under this requirement in the future. Finally, self-funded plans cannot discriminate in favor of the highly paid. Although in theory this requirement now also applies to insured plans, as a practical matter, for historical reasons, it is not a matter of concern for those plans, according to Newman. Nevertheless, for now, savings could be meaningful for self-insured employers who want to maintain a lean plan. They are, however, covered by the laws requirements to provide free wellness and enumerated womens preventive health services. Also, self-funded plans are subject to the same minimum (bronze level) cost-sharing standard holding employers responsible for at least 60 percentof the plans actuarially determined value. There are two additional PPACAspecific reasons why self-insuring might be relatively more attractive next year. One is that premiums for fully insured plans covering fewer than 100 employees will need to be based on community rating rules. This means fully insured employers with younger and healthier employees will see their rates go up. The flip side is also true, however: employers with less healthy demographics may benefit. Premium Tax Impact Finally, a large part of the new PPACAimposed premium tax on health insurers will be passed on to employers. The tax will be determined by a formula based on an aggregate revenue goal, but is estimated to be between two and three percent of plan premiums next year. Self-insured companies may be affected to a small degree because the insurers which provide stop-loss coverage and any administrative services to self-insured plans will also face the same tax. The impact will be small for self-insured employers, Mangan says, becausestop-loss coverage generally falls in the range of 15 percent of overall plan cost, and additional services -- such as access to medical networks and prescription drug cards --add more to the tab. Other factors must be kept in mind when considering self-insuring, beyond PPACA-related savings, of course. For one thing, the insurer of a fully funded health plan assumes fiduciary responsibility for the operations of the plan. You become the fiduciary when you self-insure. Outsourcing much of the plan administration to an insurer or a third party administrator doesnt get you off the hook as a fiduciary. In addition, employers should know that the sponsor of a self funded plan will have greater responsibilities, and potential liabilities, under HIPAAs privacy and security rules. Dealing with Claim Spikes Another fundamental consideration is whether you have the financial capacity to accommodate spikes in claims. Even if total claims over a 12-month period dont exceed projected amounts, if a high proportion of them come inearly in the year, youll need to have sufficient reserves to keep up. Also, while stop-loss coverage limits your ultimate liability for claims, aggregate stop loss (stop loss for the plan as a whole, as opposed to specific stop loss which is based on an individuals claims) typically doesnt kick in until claims add up to as much as 125 percent of projected amounts, depending on the policy. (It is now becoming more affordable to buy stoploss policies that take over at 110 percent, Mangan says.) An industry rule of thumb, according to Mangan, is that youll come out ahead three out of five years, when you add it all up. Throughout the whole process of reviewing the self-insurance option, dont lose sight of the bigger picture of why you are offering health benefits, and the level of health benefits you will need to maintain to remain competitive in your labor market. Also, you will want to avoid facing penalties by having a plan so lean that employees would be better off opting to buy coverage with tax subsidies through a public health exchange. If you have questions about self insured health plans or anything youve read in this article contact Tim Mayles, CPA, CFF, CFE tdm@barneswendling. com or Don Hanck, CPA, ABV, CFA dph@barneswendling.com at Barnes Wendling CPAs, LLC at 419.626.3627.

Taxes

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Estate
Balancing Your Investment Choices with Asset Allocation
Douglas Gildenmeister Senior Vice President, Investments Raymond James A chocolate cake. Pasta. A pancake. Theyre all very different, but they generally involve flour, eggs, and perhaps a liquid. Depending on how much of each ingredient you use, you can get very different outcomes. The same is true of your investments. Balancing a portfolio means combining various types of investments using a recipe thats right for you. Getting the right mix The combination of investments you choose can be as important as your specific investments. The mix of various asset classes, such as stocks, bonds, and cash alternatives, accounts for most of the ups and downs of a portfolios returns. Theres another reason to think about the mix of investments in your portfolio. Each type of investment has specific strengths and weaknesses that enable it to play a specific role in your overall investing strategy. Some investments may be chosen for their growth potential. Others may provide regular income. Still others may offer safety or simply serve as a temporary place to park your money. And some investments even try to fill more than one role. Because you probably have multiple needs and desires, you need some combination of investment types. is saving for a retirement thats 30 years away. Many publications feature model investment portfolios that recommend generic asset allocations based on an investors age. These can help jump-start your thinking about how to divide up your investments. However, because theyre based on averages and hypothetical situations, they shouldnt be seen as definitive. Your asset allocation is--or should beas unique as you are. Even if two people are the same age and have similar incomes, they may have very different needs and goals. You should make sure your asset allocation is tailored to your individual circumstances. Many ways to diversify When financial professionals refer to asset allocation, theyre usually talking about overall classes: stocks, bonds, and cash or cash alternatives. However, there are others that also can be used to complement the major asset classes once youve got those basics covered. They include real estate and alternative investments such as hedge funds, private equity, metals, or collectibles. Because their returns dont necessarily correlate closely with returns from major asset classes, they can provide additional diversification and balance in a portfolio. some expert advice--and recognize that no one really knows where markets are headed. Some people try to match market returns with an overall core strategy for most of their portfolio. They then put a smaller portion in very targeted investments that may behave very differently from those in the core and provide greater overall diversification. These often are asset classes that an investor thinks could benefit from more active management. Just as you allocate your assets in an overall portfolio, you can also allocate assets for a specific goal. For example, you might have one asset allocation for retirement savings and another for college tuition bills. A retired professional with a conservative overall portfolio might still be comfortable investing more aggressively with money intended to be a grandchilds inheritance. Someone who has taken the risk of starting a business might decide to be more conservative with his or her personal portfolio. Things to think about Dont forget about the impact of inflation on your savings. As time goes by, your money will probably buy less and less unless your portfolio at least keeps pace with the inflation rate. Even if you think of yourself as a conservative investor, your asset allocation should take long-term inflation into account. Your asset allocation should balance your financial goals with your emotional needs. If the way your money is invested keeps you awake worrying at night, you may need to rethink your investing goals and whether the strategy youre pursuing is worth the lost sleep. Your tax status might affect your asset allocation, though your decisions shouldnt be based solely on tax concerns. Even if your asset allocation was right for you when you chose it, it may not be right for you now. It should change as your circumstances do and as new ways to invest are introduced. A piece of clothing you wore 10 years ago may not fit now; you just might need to update your asset allocation, too. This information was developed by Broadridge, an independent third party. It is general in nature, is not a complete statement of all information necessary for making an investment decision, and is not a recommendation or a solicitation to buy or sell any security. Investments and strategies mentioned may not be suitable for all investors. Past performance may not be indicative of future results. Raymond James & Associates, Inc. member New York Stock Exchange/SIPC does not provide advice on tax, legal or mortgage issues. These matters should be discussed with an appropriate professional. Raymond James & Associates, Inc., member New York Stock Exchange/SIPC.

Even within an asset class, consider how your assets are allocated. For example, if youre investing in stocks, you could allocate a certain amount to largecap stocks and a different percentage to stocks of smaller companies. Or you might allocate based on geography, putting some money in U.S. stocks and some in foreign companies. Bond investments might be allocated by various maturities, with some money in bonds that mature quickly and some in longerBalancing how much of each you should include is term bonds. Or you might favor tax-free bonds over one of your most important tasks as an investor. That taxable ones, depending on your tax status and the balance between growth, income, and safety is called type of account in which the bonds are held. your asset allocation, and it can help you manage the level and type of risks you face. Asset allocation strategies There are various approaches to calculating an asset Balancing risk and return allocation that makes the most sense for you. The Ideally, you should strive for an overall combination most popular approach is to look at what youre of investments that minimizes the risk you take in investing for and how long you have to reach each trying to achieve a targeted rate of return. This often goal. Those goals get balanced against your need for means balancing more conservative investments money to live on. The more secure your immediate against others that are designed to provide a higher income and the longer you have to achieve your return but that also involve more risk. For example, investing goals, the more aggressively you might be lets say you want to get a 7.5% return on your money. able to invest for them. Your asset allocation might Your financial professional tells you that in the past, have a greater percentage of stocks than either bonds stock market returns have averaged about 10% or cash, for example. Or you might be in the opposite annually, and bonds roughly 5%. One way to try to situation. If youre stretched financially and would achieve your 7.5% return would be by choosing a have to tap your investments in an emergency, youll 50-50 mix of stocks and bonds. It might not work out need to balance that fact against your longer-term that way, of course. This is only a hypothetical goals. In addition to establishing an emergency fund, illustration, not a real portfolio, and theres no you may need to invest more conservatively than you guarantee that either stocks or bonds will perform as might otherwise want to. they have in the past. But asset allocation gives you a place to start. Some investors believe in shifting their assets among asset classes based on which types of investments they Someone living on a fixed income, whose priority is expect will do well or poorly in the near term. having a regular stream of money coming in, will However, this approach, called market timing, is probably need a very different asset allocation than a extremely difficult even for experienced investors. If young, well-to-do working professional whose priority youre determined to try this, you should probably get

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11

Vanguard-Sentinel Adult Career Centers An Alternative to College Campus and Online Courses
It is often difficult for adults to begin the journey of returning to school once they have graduated. It is even more difficult for an adult to return to school if they left prior to receiving a high school diploma. It is easy to settle into a routine, and the farthest thing from ones mind might be the fact that they have to go back to traditional college campus. Some may not have the computer skills or discipline to complete online courses. For others, attending school for several years to obtain a degree is not an option due to personal or family needs. Adult Career Centers offer alternate options that should be considered when one is exploring returning to school. Class sizes are limited to keep studentto-instructor ratios lower than most traditional college classrooms. Students have a routine schedule and are with the same instructor throughout the entire program, allowing instructors to learn the students strengths and weaknesses and help them accomplish their individual goals. Students become comfortable with their instructor and peers, often becoming a family by the end of the program. Instructors assist students with personal and professional development targeted at the students goals. They work on areas that can help the students succeed in todays workforce. Adult students come to the Vanguard-Sentinel Adult Career and Technology Centers for a variety of reasons. Some desire to return to school to learn in-demand skills to secure a better job. Others are seeking to change careers and need new skills to do so. Each year 4,000 adults benefit from the Vanguard-Sentinel Adult Career & Technology Centers GED, short-term, and full-time programs. Help is available through Vanguards Adult Basic and Literacy Education Program for those who want to improve their educational skills. These free, part-time classes allow adult learners to work at their own pace to brush up on basic skills to prepare for the GED test, higher education, or employment. Classes are available

school in order to secure a job or change their career path. Being away from textbooks and homework, whether for a short period of time or over many years can be intimidating when exploring returning to the classroom. Some adults find it difficult to attend a

mornings and evenings to accommodate a variety of schedules. Highly qualified teachers use research-based instructional strategies to ensure the students are successful in meeting their goals. Along with strengthening their academic skills, we can help adults improve their basic computer skills and explore career and post-secondary education opportunities that suit their skills and interests. Full-time courses are offered for adults who already possess a high school diploma or GED certificate. These courses are designed to prepare adult students for employment in todays workforce. Three full-time programs, Office Administration, Diversified Medical Occupations, and Paramedic are offered at the Cedar Street campus in Fremont. For more information, call 419-334-6901.

Firelands Regional Medical Center Receives Accreditation from the American Heart Association
Firelands Regional Medical Center has received accreditation as a Mission: Lifeline STEMI (Heart Attack) referring facility from the American Heart Association and the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care. In addition, Firelands Regional Medical Center also received the 2013 Mission: Lifeline Silver Receiving Quality Achievement Award.The Mission: Lifeline accreditation and award are a testament to the high-quality care that our patients receive, said Tina Ammanniti, Area Director, Cardiac & Pulmonary Services at Firelands Regional Medical Center. Firelands Regional Medical Center is dedicated to making our cardiac unit among the best in the country, and the American Heart Associations Mission: Lifeline program is helping us accomplish that by making it easier for our professionals to improve the outcomes of our cardiac patients. We are pleased to be recognized for our dedication and achievements in cardiac care, and I am very proud of our team.Each year in the United States, nearly 300,000 people have a STEMI, or ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, the most severe form of heart attack. A STEMI occurs when a blood clot completely blocks an artery to the heart. To prevent death, its critical to immediately restore blood flow, either by surgically opening the blocked vessel or by giving clot-busting medication. During a heart attack, its imperative that the person gets that artery unblocked quickly, Ammanniti explained. Time really is muscle the longer it takes for a person to get the care they need, the more damage that is done to the heart. That is why Firelands Regional Medical Center strives to provide advanced heart care close to home. Hospitals involved in Mission: Lifeline are part of a system that makes sure STEMI patients get the right care they need, as quickly as possible. Mission: Lifeline focuses on improving the system of care for these patients and at the same time improving care for all heart attack patients.

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*
For excellence in Orthopedic Services and beyond, choose Firelands.

Orthopedic Services #4 in Ohio

Legal Five Year Crystal Ball

By Jeff Roth Maybe it has something to do with the weather, but lately one of the most common questions by new clients is how to protect major assets from being liquidated to cover nursing home expense. Many years ago, I was advised by the State of Ohio that it was malpractice not to advise clients on how to protect assets LEGALLY. It is not my job to pass moral judgment but to give the facts and apply the law. Medicaid is a State and Federal plan to provide funds to pay for nursing home and related expense. There are strict rules to determine who may qualify. Bottom line, title to an asset must be transferred out of the legal ownership and control of a person for a period exceeding five years. Who knows what is in store for the next five years? What a gamble, but the payoff is the protection of the farm, the family business, the lake property or those heirlooms held by the family for many generations. I will not proceed on a plan unless I feel comfortable that it is the genuine goal to preserve assets held by several generations or to protect the assets for generations in the future. I must be convinced that this is the best plan of action for all parties concerned and it is not just done for the protection of cash for kids. There is another major question; will the current owner be able to sleep at night? Can he or she handle the loss of control? Is there a fear that their assets may be misused by the next generation? I need to know that all of the parties concerned are on the same page and that the welfare of the parent is foremost and will be protected. Space does not allow the explanation on the actual procedure but it is a complicated process. We must understand the income tax consequence and all of the potential hazards that may occur. It is to be remembered that after the transfers, the individual my not apply for Medicaid for a minimum of five years. That takes lots of planning and luck. In the event that a person requires nursing home care during this period, the care must be paid with private third party funds until the legal time has passed. We may prepare and complete a detailed transfer plan and the parent will die within the five year period or the individual will never require nursing home care. If either event occurs, the plan has in place a distribution procedure to distribute the protected asset to the next generation regardless of a Medicaid application. An Irrevocable trust is the basic tool but other alternatives can accomplish this goal. The purpose of this article is to make people aware that steps can be taken to protect assets. This action needs to be done when a person is in good health with longevity sufficient to perfect the plan. It takes planning, time and a crystal ball into the future. Jeff Roth is a partner with David Bacon and associate Jessica Moon of the firm ROTH and BACON with offices in Port Clinton, Upper Sandusky, Marion, Ohio and Fort Myers, Florida. All members of the firm are licensed in Ohio and Florida. Mr. Roths practice is limited to wealth strategy planning and elder law in both states. Nothing in this article is intended for, nor should be relied upon as individual legal advice. The purpose of this article is to provide information to the public on concepts of law as they pertain to estate and business planning. Jeff Roth can be reached at ohiofloridatrust@aol.com (telephone: 419-732-9994) copyright Jeffrey P. Roth 2013.

This she-fills-your-heart moment is made possible by Ohios #4 ranked hospital for Orthopedic Services.

Firelands Regional Medical Center has been recognized by Healthgrades as one of the nations 100 Best Hospitals for Overall Orthopedic Services. Which means were providing the best quality care and the best possible outcomes, in the best imaginable locationclose to home. Because moments like this are what life is all about.

Advanced Care...Close to Home.

www.firelands.com/ortho
2013

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13

Clyde Exchange Club Contributes $1,000 to Hospice of Memorial Hospital

My Partner
Mike Billings, Vicki Meade and Jeff Lemon.
On April 18, the Clyde Exchange Club awarded Hospice of Memorial Hospital $1,000 to enhance its youth bereavement programs. According to Vicki Meade, Hospice of Memorial Hospital Director, the donation will be used toward hospices Beachcombers and Camp Fearless bereavement services. We are extremely grateful to the Clyde Exchange Club, she said. These funds will greatly benefit the youth we serve through our Beachcombers and Camp Fearless programs. Beachcombers is a year-round service offered through local school systems to help students cope with the loss of loved ones. It is a specialized program that has been developed to provide students with the tools to guide them through their grief. Camp Fearless is a week-long program offered in Clyde and Fremont that is free and open to children ages 6 16. During Camp Fearless, participants explore issues related to the impact of losses in their lives, in a safe and supportive atmosphere. In 2013, Camp Fearless is being offered from June 24 June 28 at Clyde Elementary and from July 15 July 19 at Grace Community Church in Fremont. Both camps meet from 9 a.m. 3 p.m. each day, with registration beginning at 8:30 a.m. According to Meade, This is the first year weve been able to offer Camp Fearless in both Clyde and Fremont, which will allow us to provide bereavement assistance for more children. Established in 1984 Hospice of Memorial Hospital provides end of life care to terminally ill patients, as well as support and bereavement services for their families and loved ones. For more information, including information about registering for Camp Fearless, call Hospice of Memorial Hospital at 419.547.6419.

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Your electric cooperative offers solutions, resources and personalized attentionall designed to make your business as energy efficient and cost effective as possible. Register today at www.buckeyepower.com to receive our informative Questline newsletter.

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Liberty Aviation Museum

Business Owners and Executives are always looking for that game changer - that new idea that will differentiate their products and services from that of their competitors. This summer within the Lake Erie Shores & Islands Region of Northern Ohio a new museum has created unique hands on solution. The objects gathering dust on the shelves. The visitor will find this as a dynamic museum experience with hands on history creating the opportunity for true teaching moments. Georgies Gal the operational B-25J Mitchell the same kind of aircraft Jimmy Doolittle and his Raiders took to Tokyo in 1942 occupies the hanger along with an AT-6 Harvard, a Halftrack, Jeeps, and other WWII equipment. Georgies Gal is available for those special outdoor events, and flyovers. No sequestration problems with Liberty Aviation Museum! In addition a 1926 Ford Tri-Motor or Tin Goose is being restored by volunteers of the Tri-Motor Heritage Foundation and local EAA Chapter 1247. The visitor can also take a break in the restored Tin Goose Diner a 1952 vintage stainless steel diner fully operational and serving the kinds of food you would expect in the 50s. Throughout the museum the visitor is hit with a total sensory experience from the music of the 40s, and 50s to the smells, and tastes of the diner. For the business owner and executive a meeting conference room complete with full audio/visual capabilities can provide an ideal location for presentations, meetings, and seminars. Throughout the summer a B-17 Flying Fortress will be on base providing rides for that bucket list kind of experience. Yankee Air Museums award winning Yankee Lady will be visiting the Liberty Aviation Museum on Wednesdays May 22, June 19, July 10, August 21, September 11, and October 2. Business Owners and Executives are constantly looking to demonstrate to that flagship client or key prospect just how important they are, or looking for that special Team Building experience for their rising stars. Liberty Aviation Museum executives say they can help businesses make business development an adventure! If aviations not your thing, how about an experience on the water? Liberty Aviation Museum is completing

its extensive restoration of the only fully operational WWII PT Boat, to be licensed by the USCG to carry 49 passengers. This type of boat made famous by John F. Kennedys PT 109, and McHales Navy will be available for Torpedo Runs this summer out of Port Clinton, and the Lake Erie Islands!

Liberty Aviation Museum located at the Erie Ottawa County Regional Airport in Port Clinton, Ohio has become known as NW Ohios Baddest Man Cave or This Aint Your Grandpas Kind of Museum. According to the museum, it is not OEMncbjHALFPAGE04_13.pdf 1 4/5/13 6:54 PM the traditional static museum with

The highlight of the excursions will be a once in a lifetime experience of firing the .30 and .50 caliber machine guns (BLANKS OF COURSE!!). Executive Torpedo Runs will be available with catered meals and beverages. For more information, visit or contact the museum: 3515 E. State Road, Port Clinton, OH 43452, (419) 732-0234 www.libertyaviationmuseum.org

Tiffin 419-447-1104 Fremont 419-332-6931 Sandusky 419-625-1256

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15

IT

A Computer for College

By Denao Ruttino CEO, Advanced Computer Connections Since most of my days are filled with t e c h n i c a l conversations regarding things like the virtualization of everything in the network, security, regulatory compliance, service level agreements and the like, I figured outfitting a graduating high school senior for college would be very simple. After all, I recently witnessed a teenager comfortably write and deliver a 15 minute speech using only her iPhone and thumbs. As I write this, I am convinced the smartphone is not enough to perform many of the tasks that will be required of a college student....yet. Four years ago, the advice I gave to my sister was dont overcomplicate it, give them any current laptop and send them on their way. So I set out to see which laptop I would want if I were going away to school today. While storage, memory and processor speed where all that were important previously, today we have a few more choices. Todays choices are primarily driven by screen size and functionality. In general, prices range from $200 to over $1,500 for one portable device type or another but from my perspective, there are four general types; Chromebooks, Laptops, Tablets or Hybrids. In short, a Chromebook is a laptop that is primarily Internet-dependent. They are low-cost, boot fast, use cloudbased applications and storage. While the price is right, I did not find any that I thought would fit all of the needs just yet. While tablets are generally light, have a very long battery life and are convenient for reading, browsing and interacting with touchscreen applications, most people do not find them as convenient to type on or create content as they do on a laptop. So after looking at a number of devices and specs, I came to the conclusion that today, a laptop with a touchscreen, or the Hybrid would be what I would want if I were going away to school. Hybrids intend to deliver the best that both a laptop and a tablet have to offer, and a number of them do a pretty good job. Still, options abound in laptops and hybrids. There are a wide range of sizes along with screens that detach (to be used as a tablet), twist, flip and even an option with a screen that is double-sided on the ASUS TAICHI (I wonder if that would make for a great game of dorm-room battleship). Other considerations of course are weight, battery-life and storage. Regarding weight and battery life, the choice is simple. Lighter and longer-life are what everyone is looking for and most of the newer hybrids strike a pretty good balance there with 6-12 hours of battery life being common. For storage, speed and durability outweigh capacity once you get to a certain point (say 128GB) as people in that age group tend to post and store more online than us we more experienced people. In general, SSD (Solid State Drive) storage is the way to go in my opinion as there are no moving parts and they out-perform HDD (Hard Disk Drives) in both speed and durability. At least one camera is also standard in every device I looked at which should come in handy to video chat with Mom and Dad so the student can show off room cleanliness, new piercings and other exciting news of the day. One more consideration I would mention is to ensure your student has a way of backing up files at a minimum and maybe the entire device. For files, online options are readily available such as SkyDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive, iCloud and Box. I recommend these offerings as they have the added benefit of letting you access these files from anywhere and share them as well. In my opinion you cant go wrong with any one of those products for this purpose. Just pick one and go with it. If you choose to back up the entire device, you can do this with online options as well. Products such as Evault, Carbonite and Crashplan address that need. For me, I would simply buy an external USB drive and use the built-in backup utility that comes with the Microsoft or Apple device that you purchase. It is made for the task and simple and fast to use. So which one would I buy? There are many lists out there recommending current touchscreen laptops and hybrids. By the time this is published I am sure 5 more will exist. As far as recommendations go, I would look at brands like Apple, Lenovo, Dell, HP, ASUS, Toshiba and Samsung in general. They all make good products and tend to stand behind them. I am obviously biased in that I would buy locally regardless of which one I chose if at all possible. I STRONGLY recommend asking your student before you narrow down your choices or talking to your local computer expert though. This should prevent you from having proudly narrowed it down to an ASUS Transformer, HP ENVY, Lenovo Ideapad or a Dell XPS Duo only to hear, coolId really love whichever one comes in pink! Denao Ruttino is the CEO of Advanced Computer Connections (ACC) located in Norwalk, Ohio. His background includes numerous advanced technical certifications, a Bachelors degree in IT (security), as well as numerous courses in the areas of business and entrepreneurship. You can find out more about Advanced Computer Connections at www.acc-corp.net or by calling 419.668.4080.

GATHERING PLACES

in wild spaces!

From fun to formal, your Zoo makes group events better. Need a boardroom setting for a small group? Theatre-style seating for many more? A perfect place for a company picnic? No problem. You can choose wild spaces in our Arctic Encounter, African Lodge, Indoor Theatre or Nairobi Events Pavilion. And a tasty twist with the Zoos award-winning catering and baking staff.

To learn more, call 419.385.5721, ext. 6001 or visit toledozoo.org/groupsales

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Call today for your FREE Evaluation 419-332-5000

Auto-Owners Insurance ranks highest among auto insurance providers in the J.D. Power and Associates 2008-2012 Auto Claims StudiesSM. 2012 study based on 12,508 total responses, ranking 26 insurance providers. Excludes those with claims only for

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North Coast Business Journal

June 2013

17

Fisher-Titus Home Health Center Named

ToP AgenCy oF The 2012 homeCAre eliTe

Fisher Titus Home Health Center

Patient experience. Quality outcomes.

For over 20 years, the Home Health Center of Fisher-Titus Medical Center has been the leading provider of HomeCare services in the area. Our patients deserve awardwinning care. Thats why were proud to be honored by the HomeCare Elite as a Top Agency. HomeCare Elite is the only performance recognition of its kind in the home health profession, and the designation reflects our teams commitment to patient-centered care when and where they need it most. We think youll agree thats simply smarter Care. Fisher-Titus Home Health Center | 272 Benedict Ave., Norwalk | 419-668-0099
F i s h e r T i T u s . o r g

309 Monroe, Inc. DBA

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North Coast Business Journal

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Hard vs. Soft Market: What does this mean?

Submitted by: Mark T. Reilly Diversified Insurance The insurance market waxes and wanes in unpredictable cycles, vacillating between hard and soft markets. When insurance pricing is stable or falling, it is referred to as a soft market. Soft markets have generally predominated in recent decades. Hard markets, on the other hand, are characterized by quickly rising insurance premium costs (typically by 15 percent or more across the board) and shrinking capacity by insurers. During hard markets, insurance buyers are often forced to forego excess coverage, sacrifice investments or revise budgets to accommodate rising insurance costs. Despite the devastation wrought in 2012 by Hurricane Sandy, 2011 was actually the costliest year for the insurance industry in terms of natural catastrophic losses from a large number of weatherrelated disasters, especially earthquakes. Given 2011s natural disasters, many predicted the insurance market would harden to account for all the losses, and although rates did tick up slightly, the hard market that many analysts predicted did come to be. So, what does the 2013 market hold in store in terms of pricing? Thus far, weve seen a small increase in overall rates, with only a few commercial lines undergoing significant price increases. MarketScout, an electronic insurance exchange in Dallas, reported that P&C rates rose an average of 4 percent at the beginning of 2013. your geographic location. For example, a company based in a hurricane-prone region will likely have much higher property insurance premiums than a company located elsewhere. Keep that in mind as we look at the following macro-level forces shaping the P&C market in 2013 and beyond: Hurricane Sandy Insurance carriers paid out approximately $20 billion for Hurricane Sandymaking it the thirdcostliest hurricane in U.S. history, according to the Insurance Information Institute. New Jersey and New York saw the most damage; but Sandy affected 24 states and interrupted the supply chains of businesses all across the country. Fortunately, insurance carriers had sufficient capital reserves to mitigate their losses, so rates have not increased to the extent that many business owners and market analysts initially feared. Although a dramatic, across-the-board spike in pricing has been largely avoided, rates in a few key areas in disaster property coverage especially business interruption, flood and wind coveragehave started to tick upward. Historically Low Interest Rates In general, insurance rates are inversely related to interest rates. In recent years, insurance carriers have seen their investment income shrink due to historically low interest rates. To compensate for the shrinking investment income, carriers have raised rates. Political Gridlock Natural disasters arent the only calamity affecting insurance pricing; politics are also causing a stir in the market. In February, our country reached a debt ceiling, or a limit on how much national debt our Treasury can issue. On March 1, the sequestrationautomatic cuts to the U.S. budget took effect and funding has been cut for many national programs. What does this mean for the insurance industry? At this point, both short- and long-term effects of the sequester are unknown, but many are concerned the budget cuts might slow the economy, leading to wage cuts and a spike in unemployment. This affects the insurance industrys growth and certain lines, such as workers compensation, may see in increase in rates as more claims are filed by employees unhappy about salary cuts. Health Care Reform Industry experts speculate that the Affordable Care Act will have the greatest direct impact on medical malpractice liability insurance and workers' compensation coverageswhether the changes will result in higher or lower rates is still an ongoing debate. On one hand, ACA may contribute to better health outcomes, as people who would have previously waited to get treatment because of a lack of health insurance no longer do so. However, some analysts express concerns that the influx of newly covered patients could exacerbate existing staffing shortages and stretch doctors and nurses too thin. This could result in a higher frequency of medical errors and potentially increase the amount of time workers must wait to receive treatmentultimately leading to higher rates. European Financial Crisis While the United States works out its own financial issues, financial problems in other parts of the world are also affecting insurance prices. Europes debt crisisparticularly in Greece and Spainhas the world on edge as we wait to see if these almost bankrupt countries will be able to stabilize their financial situations. This creates new risks for multinational companies (and their insurers) with exposures in the Eurozone, as they are unsure how severe the consequences will be. Some are even wondering if one or more countries may leave the European Union. If that happens, it opens the door for even more risks.

Insurance

What Can You Do?

Hurricanes, politics, the global economyit can sometimes seem as if the forces determining your insurance rates are beyond your control. But as an insurance buyer, its important to know what trends influence the market and what you can control to get the best price. Your claims historywhich you can controlhas an enormous impact on whether your rates go up or down. Thats where implementing a solid risk management plan will help steer your pricing in a more favorable direction, both now and in future renewal periods. Business owners who proactively address risk, control losses and manage exposures will be adequately prepared for changes in the market. Please feel free to contact Diversified Insurance Service if you are interested in reviewing your risk management strategies. Five key components of a successful risk management strategy: 1. Pinpoint your exposures and cost drivers 2. Identify the best loss control solutions to address your unique risks 3. Create a solid business contingency plan to account for disasters and other unpredictable risks 4. Build a company culture focused on safety 5. Manage claims efficiently to keep costs down 6. Have your insurance agent review your current program and exposures to look for changes and potential changes For more information about Hard vs. Soft Markets or for a review of your accounts, please contact Mark Reilly at 800-848-2788 or visit www.divinsurance.com.

Forces Shaping the 2013 P&C Market

The overall economic climate and the prevalence of natural disasters are perhaps the two most meaningful leading indicators of future pricing trends, but whether your rates go up or down also depends on the type of coverage you need and

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North Coast Business Journal

June 2013

19

Goodwill, Goodjobs, Goodwork

Several variations of a hoax email called Think Before You Donate claim that Goodwill CEO and owner Mark Curran profits $2 to $3 million a year and other erroneous information has been recently circulated about Goodwill Industries. The Norwalk Reflector published a letter to the editor repeating these false claims about Goodwill Industries, and further stating that $0 goes to help no one. Ironically, the headline for the letter reads Do Research Before Donating to Groups. Great advice, but apparently that didnt happen in this instance. Lets look at the facts. Fact: Mark Curran is not and has not ever been the CEO of Goodwill Industries. Weve never heard of him. Jim Gibbons is the CEO of Goodwill Industries International and does not earn a $2 or $3 million salary. Goodwill, a 100-yearold non-profit organization, consists of 165 independent Goodwill agencies in the U.S. and Canada, and is not owned by any one individual or group of individuals. Each agency is governed by a local board of directors of area business and community leaders. Fact: A Forbes magazine article named Goodwill the Most Important Social Enterprise of 2013 for assisting 2.4 million individuals find jobs and prepare for work. Last year, more than 100,000 employees worked at Goodwill, and we helped another 170,000 find jobs with other employers. To put this into perspective, every 38 seconds of every business work day, someone finds a job with Goodwills help. Fact: Last year, the direct economic impact from payroll costs and benefits of employees in the 16 Ohio Goodwill territories exceeded $175 million. Ohio Goodwills provided jobs and job training to 62,000 residents, while placing 3,000 individuals into competitive jobs with employers other than Goodwill. Fact: Goodwills mission is to help people with disabilities and disadvantaging conditions become more independent. Goodwill Industries of Erie, Huron, Ottawa and Sandusky Counties [EHOS] employs over 300 individuals, with 70% classified as disabled or disadvantaged. Working at Goodwill means more than picking up a paycheck to our employees. Goodwill gives purpose, encouragement and a sense of belonging. Our employees want to be contributing members of their community, and Goodwill gives them that opportunity. Fact: At our two assembly plants in Sandusky and Fremont, Goodwill EHOS employees completed 30 million components for local manufacturers last year. These numbers give testimony to the proficiency of our workers who come ready to work, with a great attitude and a strong work ethic. We are honored to work with them. Fact: Goodwill operates 7 retail stores and donation outlets in Bellevue, Fremont, Huron, Norwalk, Port Clinton, Sandusky, and Willard where over 300,000 people found great items at great prices in 2012. We diverted nearly 2.5 million tons from the landfill in 2012 through our recycling programs. We recycled computers, books, clothing, shoes, metal and corrugated paper. Nothing goes to waste at Goodwill. Fact: Goodwill collaborates with the Ohio Bureau of Rehabilitative Services, Ohio Bureau for the Visually Impaired, Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation, Ohio Veterans Administration, Sandusky County Re-entry Taskforce, Jobs and Family Services, Court Systems, United Ways, Mental Health Boards, Boards of Developmental Disabilities, employers and schools. All of these partnerships support our approach to foster independence and to give a hand up, not a hand out. Fact: Goodwills business operations are profitable, but unlike a traditional for-profit business
Paid for by Goodwill Industries, 419-625-4744. President and CEO, Eric Kochendoerfer

where proceeds are paid to business owners or stockholders, Goodwill directs its revenue to funding its social services enterprises. Goodwill EHOS directs 95 cents of every dollar to mission services. This puts us in the top 1% of all 165 Goodwill territories, where the average Goodwill earmarks 85% to mission services. Fact:. Goodwill estimates that every four bags of donations generates enough revenue to provide one day of work at a Goodwill job for a local resident. We rely on community support for those donations and ask that you please continue donating to Goodwill. Your donations are instrumental in creating and sustaining jobs in your community. Although Goodwill EHOS is the second smallest Goodwill territory in the US, we rank #2 in the nation for community donations per household. This statistic speaks volumes to the generosity of our community, for which we are most sincerely grateful. Now that you have heard the facts, we hope that you appreciate the positive impact that Goodwill brings to our region, our state and our nation. To learn more about Goodwill firsthand, community members are invited to visit and tour our facilities.

20 June 2013

North Coast Business Journal

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Estate Planning

Its time to talk to Payne Nickles.

Stephen P. Lenehan, MD, FACC Cardiologist
Did you know that without an estate plan you run the risk that your property and assets could be mismanaged or even lost? Its easy to put off making financial decisions, but regardless of your net worth, its essential to have an estate plan in place. Payne Nickles can help make it easier for you to put your finances in order.

Successful families depend on expert financial advice.

Count on care with compassion. Count on Mercy.

Your cardiac health is important to Mercy. We know you count on Mercy to provide convenient cardiology care. Mercy Cardiology Specialists welcomes Dr. Stephen Lenehan to the Mercy family. Dr. Lenehan brings 25 years of cardiology expertise to Mercy. He earned a medical degree from The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, completed an Internal Medicine Residency and Internship at Riverside Hospital in Columbus, Ohio and completed a Cardiology Fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. For your convenience, Dr. Lenehan is accepting patients at Mercy Cardiology Specialists Tiffin and Mercy Cardiology Specialists Willard.

P N Payne Nickles & Company

certified public accountants & business advisors

Call one of our convenient locations: Sandusky Office 419-625-4942 www.pncpa.biz Norwalk Office 419-668-2552

makes a difference.
Countless opportunities for Stein Hospice to make a Difference for you and your loved ones.
From pain relief to grief support, we bring our services to wherever the patient calls home. And we do so immediately and around the clock.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Lenehan, call Mercy Cardiology Specialists Tiffin at 419.455.7480 or
Steven Bruhl, MD, MS Gregory Vigesaa, MD

Mercy Cardiology Specialists Willard at 419.964.5080.

Mercy Cardiology Specialists Tiffin 45 St. Lawrence Dr. Tiffin, Ohio

Mercy Cardiology Specialists Willard 1100 Neal Zick Rd. Willard, Ohio

Please Call Stein Hospice So We Can Make a Difference.

Learn more at mercyweb.org.
Member of Mercy Medical Partners

St. Anne St. Charles St. Vincent Childrens Defiance Tiffin Willard
2011 Mercy

800-625-5269

www.ncbj.net

North Coast Business Journal

June 2013

21

Sales
Being Honest with Oneself and Your Banker
By Roger Bostdorff I was recently referenced into an account by this companys bank. I have done work for clients of this bank and have had very good success assisting the company in turning around their business. My first meeting with the account the President started right in on what he wanted me to do. I interrupted him and asked how they had come to give me a call? They explained that the bank had indirectly told them that they needed help and that Roger Bostdorff is someone that some of their clients had used with good success. We went on with our conversation. The client had been founded many years ago by the father of the current President. The President had on his staff, his wife, multiple sons, as well as more than one daughter in-law, etc. This definitely was a family owned and operated business. The President explained to me what he wanted me to do. He wanted me to help him increase his sales. He wanted to know how I was going to do that. I explained that I first need to do an analysis of the business to determine what the problem/s were and why. He explained to me that lack of sales was definitely the problem. I suggested that he should let me do some analysis to determine if lack of sales was the problem, or potentially a symptom to a bigger or different problem. He finally agreed and then told me to deal with his bookkeeper and oldest son. I asked to see his financial statements so that I could analyze them as compared to the industry averages. After doing my analysis it was apparent that sales had indeed suffered over the last year. However, much like most of the US they were living beyond their means. This has gotten our country in trouble as well as my client. My client had far more debt than they should have, their expenses were way out of line as compared to the industry averages and most significantly their inventory was ballooned way above the industry average. I reviewed this with the Presidents oldest son and their bookkeeper as directed. We put a plan in place to cut expenses on some items immediately such as cell phones. We also put a plan in place for the bookkeeper to create a report that listed the inventory by date of last sale. I was going to do some further analysis of this data and teach them the process to identify old inventory. We would then create the plan to move it!! I received the data and started the analysis. They had items that had not sold since 1998. (Have you looked at your inventory lately??) Before I was able to create and document my plan of attack the Son of the Owner called me. He shared with me that his Dad was not in agreement with our plan; in spite the fact that Dad had instructed me to work with #1 son and his bookkeeper to create the plan. (Strike One) I called Dad to find out the issue. He went on a tirade on the phone explaining how stupid his son was. I am talking over 45 minutes with me barely getting a word in. I explained that it makes no sense for me to work with his son to create a plan only to have Dad veto it after the fact. I reminded him that I had invited him to attend the meeting, because I had had this very concern, and he declined. We agreed that no future meetings would take place without him in attendance. The next meeting was enlightening. Before the next meeting Dad had instructed me that he wanted me to create an incentive program for his sales team. I shared with him that I could do this, but what about inventory, expenses, which if we were able to get under control could reduce his debt. He committed to me that we would discuss this at the next meeting. However, my main focus should be incentive program. The team met. There were 5 people in the room. At one point in the meeting the brothers were screaming at each other and Dad was trying to talk over the screams. I finally explained with some language that my mother would not be proud of that this was NOT the way to run a business meeting. We need to stop screaming and start working on the issues. We got to the point where we set up the date for the next meeting with To Dos assigned for all of us. The sons left and Dad explained the shortcoming of his sons. The apple had not fallen far from the tree. (Strike #2) The date of the next meeting was fast approaching. I received a call that due to some conflicts they could not make this meeting. We rescheduled. I asked about the progress of the To Dos on their end and Dad told me that he and his sons had not had time to focus on the agreed upon assignments. (Strike #3) Dad assured me that his family will have their To Dos To Done, at our next meeting. The next appointment was at 1PM. The oldest son and bookkeeper were in attendance but Dad was not there. Dad finally showed up 20 minutes later. I began asking question regarding the cut in cell phones-nothing done, # of people on staff-no cuts had been made or identified, what about addressing the reduction in inventory? Dad exploded by telling me that my questions were None of my daXX business! At this point we decided to not work together any further. This story is not about me getting fired. Although I can honestly say, that had they not decided to part company, I was going to suggest it. In fact, I mentioned that if Dad did not want my advice then he should stop wasting his money and my time in the prior meeting. What this is really about is being honest with oneself. Dad never wanted my advice. He felt he knew how to run his business without outside interference. He just needed the banks $$. Dad got me engaged to simply appease the bank. Now what Dad does not know is what the bank will do when he asks for more credit. Our country has had a difficult time the last few years by living beyond our means. Many companies are suffering the same issues. Turning sales around in a time when unemployment is high is NOT impossible but it is challenging. Therefore, to buy yourself more runway/time you need to watch the expense side of your business like a hawk. However, even more importantly you need to insure that your emotional attachment to your business does not cloud your decision making process. Finally, in a family business in particular, if you are grooming a son or daughter to take over eventually he/she needs to gain the knowledge and the confidence to do so. Belittling this son/daughter in front of them or even behind their back does neither. Roger Bostdorff is the President of B2B Sales Boost. He spent over 30 years with IBM in sales and sales management. He then became President/COO of a small internet security company before founding B2B Sales Boost, LLC. B2B Sales Boost, LLC is a consulting company helping organizations improve their sales and overall business processes. Roger is also available for public speaking engagements. 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

MEANS BUSINESS!
Reaching over 23,000 readers in five counties every month

NCBJ readers are decision-makers: Nine out of 10 (91%) "make or have influence over purchasing decisions" for their company

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Memorial Hospital Engaging Community through S.W.O.T. Analysis

As Memorial Hospital leadership builds the organizations strategic plan, it brought together many individuals from area communities to perform separate SWOT analyses. Hospital leaders conducted SWOT analyses with local community leaders and healthcare partners in order to help identify Memorials Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities (for growth) and Threats. Memorial Hospital President Pam Jensen facilitated the community SWOT analyses, which were held at Terra State Community College in Fremont. The hospitals leadership planned these SWOTs in order to understand the communitys perception of the hospital, said Jensen, We gained greater perspective in regards to what we do well, what we can do better and which community healthcare needs are not being met. Community members who attended the SWOT analyses included leaders from WSOS; United Way; Sandusky County Family and Children First Council, Sandusky County Health Department; Terra State Community College; the City of Fremont; and many other local governments and organizations. According to Jensen, information collected at the SWOTs will assist the hospital as it plans for the future. The feedback we received from the community will be invaluable to hospital leadership as we determine how Memorial can continue to grow to meet the communitys needs. SWOT analyses were also conducted at the hospital with physicians, hospital employees and hospital board members. Many of the communitys comments echoed those of hospital employees and leaders; these ideas will be utilized as the hospital improves and expands services. There are many areas, such as home health, diagnostic imaging and HealthLink, where the hospital is very strong, Jensen commented. As we move forward, we will look to these divisions as role models when enhancing the services we provide. The community members who attended were excited to have the opportunity to

Terra State Joins Program to Train 10,000 Older Workers for New Jobs
Terra State Community College was recently chosen to join the Plus 50 Encore Completion Program, a national effort to train 10,000 baby boomers for new jobs in healthcare, education and social services. The program is sponsored by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). The college will assist adults age 50 and over in completing degrees or certificates in high-demand occupations that give back to the community. With many adults age 50 and over out of work or seeking to transition to a new career, the program offers skill updates and career makeovers for baby boomers. Terra State offers the following programs: certificates in allied health, office administration medical clerk, medical scribe, home health care and early childhood special needs; associate degrees in health information technology, medical assisting, nursing, medical office administration, physical therapist assistant, health care administration, law enforcement/criminal justice and early childhood; transfer degrees in biology, health information management, social work, psychology and education; and non-credit training for pharmacy technician,

provide feedback. Ty Tracy, a Fremont chiropractor and Woodville Village Councilman participated in the SWOT at Terra to see how he could be a part of Memorial Hospitals future. I was interested to find out what I, as a community member and healthcare provider, could offer as the hospital builds its strategic plan, said Tracy.

state tested nursing aide, CPR and basic life support and Safe Zone. Kathy Berger, who also serves the college as a recruiter, will coordinate the local Plus 50 Encore Completion Program. Many people in our area have experienced outsourcing of jobs, cut backs and downsizing leading to layoffs. Terra State and the Kern Center for Community and Industrial Development take great pride in providing training, she said. Terra State is one of 36 new colleges recently selected for the project. Since 2008, AACC and its network of Plus 50 initiative colleges have worked with baby boomers and helped them prepare for new careers. An independent evaluation of AACCs Plus 50 initiative found that 89 percent of students agreed that college workforce training helped them acquire new job skills, and 72 percent attributed landing a job to such training. The Plus 50 Encore Completion Program is funded with a $3.2 million grant to AACC from the Deerbrook Charitable Trust. The program supports AACCs work to increase the number of students who finish degrees, certificates and other credentials.

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North Coast Business Journal

June 2013

23

Ribbon Cutting Held for JTs Catawba Caf

Law You Can Use: Is Your Home Your Castle? Your Condominium Questions Answered
Q: My condominium is new right now, but what happens when the roof needs repairs, the driveways need resurfacing, and the siding is fading? Is the condo association responsible for the expense, and if so, where does the association get the money to make the repairs? A: Ohio law requires the unit owners association to adopt and amend budgets and to collect assessments for common expenses from unit owners. Unless the condominium organizational documents say otherwise, the code also requires the association to set aside no less than 10 percent of its annual budget to repair and replace major capital items. The owners may decide to waive the 10 percent setaside each year with the approval of a majority of the unit owners. Typically, money put into reserves is used to fund the long-term maintenance of the condominium, including the roofs and roads. If, however, the association does not have the necessary reserves for a major repair, it can pass a special assessment to fund the repairs. Ultimately, the owners must bear the financial costs for major repairs, either through the boards planning for adequate reserves or by special assessments as the need arises. In recent years, reserve studies have been used to more rationally determine the amount of reserves necessary for future maintenance projects. Q: I am going to be a first-time condominium owner. What should I know about the closing process? A: First, consult with your attorney, who will help you draft your purchase contract. Your closing really starts with the contract. If the contract is not right, the entire transaction will be difficult. Buying a condo is different from buying a single family house, and the closing agent is not always looking out for your best interest. Having a knowledgeable attorney assist you should be a priority. Before closing, your attorney will review with you all of the crucial documents that govern your condominium, including the declaration, bylaws and rules of the association. He or she will review the closing statement and inspection reports for the property, and make sure you are getting what you bargained for. Your purchase contract should be contingent on your satisfactory review of these documents, including financial statements and the balance sheet for the association. Your attorney will review the title work with you and advise you about the proper insurance you should have for your unit. Once you are at the closing table, the title company will explain the closing statement, and you will be asked to sign multiple documents including the lenders note and mortgage, which your attorney should review with you. At closing, you will receive the keys to the unit and be asked to put the utilities in your name. You should be able to close your purchase in about an hour if all of the reviews of the closing documents have been done in advance. Q: We have an unruly tenant in our condominium community who is renting the condominium. Is there any way to remove that tenant

Pictured left to right: Christie Sewell, Vice-Chair of the PC Chamber Board; Paul Shaw, PC Chamber Board Member; Jacquie (Couture) Below, Owner; Tonya Couture-Grubb, Owner; Tina (Couture) Schank, Owner; Laura Schlachter, President of Port Clinton Chamber; and Missy Walker, and Main Street Port Clinton Board Member. The Port Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting ceremony for JTs Catawba Caf located at 1871 NE Catawba Road in the Midway Marina Plaza on Friday, May 17. Representatives from the Port Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce congratulated JTs Catawba Caf on their grand opening and for their commitment to the community. The crowd feasted on delicious original Mayhews Donuts.

Ribbon Cutting Held for Willow

See CONDOS, Page 24

Pictured left to right: Charlene Kerul; Keith Fleming, Main Street PC Board Member; Dana Bacak-Lynd, Main Street PC Board Member; Roseann Hickman, Main Street Port Clinton President; Amy Ruffing, Owner; Jennifer Shenk, Owner; Lee Vivod, PC Chamber Board Chairman; Laura Schlachter, Chamber and Main Street PC; Missy Walker, Main Street PC Past-President; and John Coppeler, PC Chamber Board Treasurer. The Port Clinton Area Chamber of Representatives from the Port Clinton Commerce and Main Street Port Area Chamber of Commerce and Clinton held a ribbon cutting Main Street Port Clinton congratulated ceremony for Willow located at 130 Willow on their grand opening and E. Second Street in downtown historic for their commitment to the Port Clinton on Friday, May 17. community.

Flickinger Insurance
30 E. Main St. Norwalk, OH 44857 www.flickingerins.com 419-668-4406

Commercial Health Personal Insurance Save with confidence

Amy L. Flickinger, CIC

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North Coast Business Journal

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The Well-Booked Business

By Cathy Allen Watching TV news recently, I heard that only 20 of this years Fortune 500 CEOs are women. That surprised me a bit. Weve come a long way, baby, and my professional circle is now full of smart, talented, committed women with tested skills as leaders. But its true that I dont run with corporate CEOs and apparently the higher up the ladder one goes, the greater the imbalance. One of corporate Americas highest-ranking women, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, has noticed that the absence of women in the highest roles of business and government equates to a lack of female perspective in decision-making. This book has received quite a lot of public commentary since it was published a few months ago, some of it coming from people who clearly havent read it. In actuality, Lean In is full of great advice from a highly successful executive who simply wants more colleagues and in that respect it is very similar to Richard Bransons books on business, John Woodens books on leadership, and Barbara Walters memoirs. This is a very good book. I wish it had been written twenty years ago! Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg with Nell Scovill, Alfred A. Knopf, 2013. SUMMARY: That discrimination against women still exists in todays workplace is a fact Sandberg acknowledges, but that isnt really what shes writing about here. She is more interested in the internal barriers to career advancement women create for themselves and for each other. Her plea is that more of us find ways to overcome our fears in order to put ourselves forward for leadership positions. Using an impressive amount of social scientific research, and an equally impressive willingness to share her personal story, Sandberg makes the case that each woman who leans in creates more total equality for all. The same is true each time a woman supports the advancement of another. A rising female tide raises all women! Such a tide might also serve to empower more men to assume the roles they want at home. CHAPTERS: A female leadership void is being created (or at least exacerbated) by women holding themselves back. Lack of self-confidence and lack of ambition keeps women from pursuing their true career goals, resulting in the inequality Sandberg has observed in upper echelons. Exhibiting the traits that get men into the executive suite still earn women scorn and condemnation. Fear of repercussion causes little girls once labeled bossy to grow up to be adult women who pull back rather than lean in. One solution we can all be part of is to encourage more women and girls to stretch themselves and seek to lead. Women have a natural (and documented) tendency to underestimate themselves and are more likely to internalize negative feedback, exacerbating the feeling of not belonging. Sandberg describes how she overcame these feelings in her early career by mentally challenging the false beliefs they were based on. She recommends women improve self-confidence by adopting a confident air and getting in a position to learn and grow. Its also important to support other women who choose to sit at the table. Women have to be champions for each other. Social science has proven what millions of women have always known: Success and likeability are positively correlated for men and negatively correlated for women. Women of achievement are often not well liked by men or by other women. Having been punished for advancing, women often scale back their ambitions. Anything a woman does that flies in the face of being nice carries risk. Sandberg encourages all women and men to be aware of the double standard and to notice when we may be applying it. Politeness and authenticity both matter and a price is paid whenever one trumps the other. The key is to find the place in the middle where communication is both honest and appropriate. Sandberg advises women to acquire this skill by steering clear of wordiness, choosing simple and direct language, and making sure to listen and reflect well. Women do hold themselves back, and never more so than when integrating career with family planning. When a woman opts out of a promotion because she is anticipating a maternity leave, she sets herself up to eventually have to choose between staying home with the baby or returning to a less-than-optimally-fulfilling job. So before
and it involves notifying the owner before the eviction is filed. The process is quick, but it can be expensive if the tenant puts up a fight. The most common reasons for eviction of a tenant are the tenants violation of the association rules, such as maintaining too many pets, or harboring a vicious dog, parking in restricted areas and creating noise violations associated with loud parties. If the condominium association prohibits leasing, the tenant also may be evicted because the owner has rented the property in violation of the rules.

having children is precisely the time to lean in (assuming that a senior position of authority is part of a womans career goals.) The strides women have made at work in recent years are greater than those made in terms of the workload at home. Whether or not it is the case that women are more naturally nurturing than men, the truth is that men can learn to succeed in nurturing tasks. But and this is important women have to let them. Do it. Their way. Even if it is wrong. Men who lean in to home life greatly benefit their children. We must ensure that men who choose to be available to their families (including to aging parents) are not punished in the workplace. Sandberg is arguing for an end to the double standards at work and at home, but in the meantime she recommends that women find a way to give up the notion of being perfect. Telling personal stories of her own experience with self-inflicted overwork, she urges women to recognize the role our own insecurities are playing when we reach our limit. Better to actively and strategically seek the positions we want than to work ourselves to exhaustion in the hope of being noticed and rewarded. So the work of the feminist movement is not yet complete. Inequality exists and we wont be able to transcend this fact until we acknowledge it and commit to taking collective action. Women need to champion each other and avoid perpetuating the double standards. The simple act of offering validation to one another can be very powerful. Helping another woman embrace her inner leader can advance the cause of all women. The status quo is not acceptable. Weve made gains and yet theres more to be done. TOOLS: The COO of Facebook could hardly write a book without providing readers with webbased opportunities for further study and connection with others. There is a LeanIn Facebook page, a website, www.LeanIn.org, a LinkedIn group with a listserv, and a Twitter account. Sandberg encourages us to form LeanIn circles in our own communities and provides suggestions for getting a group started. Ready to Lean In? Local consultant Cathy Allen is forming a Lean In circle to provide mutual support and assistance to women seeking to move up in their careers and accept leadership roles. For more information, email cathy@ creativeoptionc.com.
This Law You Can Use legal information column was provided by the Ohio State Bar Association (OSBA). It was prepared by Charles T. Williams, Esq of Williams & Strohm, LLC, located in Columbus. For more information on a variety of legal topics, visit the OSBAs website at www.ohiobar.org. Articles appearing in this column are intended to provide broad, general information about the law. Before applying this information to a specific legal problem, readers are urged to seek advice from an attorney.

CONDOS, from Page 23

without involving the owner of the rental unit? A: As an owner of a condo unit, you own real estate, and you may be able to rent the unit instead of living in it, just like any other piece of residential real estate. However, with tenants sometimes come problems. Since 2004, Ohio law has allowed the association to evict unruly tenants without permission from the unit owner. There is only one step that must be taken in addition to the normal eviction process,

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Spring Cleaning your HR Systems

By: Steven J. Krisfalusy Sr. Management & HR Consultant Beringer Group LLC Just about everyone has started their spring clean-up for their yards, lawns, garages, etc. If you havent updated your HR Systems (Policy manual, forms, processes, etc.) in the last year some things need to be updated and spring is a great time to establish an annual spring cleaning for your businesss HR systems.or at least blow off the dust. In the last 2 years, there have been many changes to HR laws and regulations. Not updating your HR systems could result in high risks liabilities from potential litigation. Remember it does not matter what size company you have or the number of employees, the laws are universal and the average award for a HR related law suit is $365,000.00 + an average of $65,000 in legal defense costs. Is that enough motivation to raise the importance of your HR systems? That size of an award can literally put a small business out of business. Cleaning up & updating your HR systems and your people every spring is smart. You do the math and in my opinion the weeds in your lawn should come after that exercise. Some tips on what you should review every spring: Policy Manuals: Most people or companies rarely even look at their policy manuals throughout the year until they need it and then it may be too late. Your policy manuals are a great place to start and here are a few tips: Literally sit down and read it yourself. Does it make sense to you? What needs to be clearer or changed? Do you have the latest Federal & State compliance regulations listed? DO you have the proper forms, procedures and documentation to create a paper trail? These are just a few of the things you should review. Interview application forms: The laws change in this area the most. Did you know that companys like McDonalds may update their application forms multiple times within a year just to stay compliant? They obviously have the internal resources to stay on top of any changes in the laws and are able to respond quickly. They are also smart enough to know the costs of not doing so. One suggestion is to obtain a copy of an application form from a company that you know does a lot of hiring throughout the year. Compare that form to yours. The difference will jump out at you. Do not just copy someone elses form in lieu of breaching copyright law but it will give you some ideas or a place to start. Communicating updates to your people: Again size does not matter when it comes to violating HR laws and you/the companies are usually responsible for your peoples actions or mistakes. The responsibility is on the business/owner to make sure their people are aware of any policy changes and the Dos & Donts during an interview. Did you know that if you ask someone when they graduated from High school you could be in trouble for age discrimination? There are other ways to obtain the information you need to conduct an interview and you may need to seek some outside coaching to cover those bases. Communicating updates and keeping people up to date and compliant also includes your staff or anyone that maybe included in the interview process even if they are not in HR. A law was recently changed that states that a supervisors actions represent those of the company and the company can be held responsible. A recent case involved a supervisor who was yelling at his people and the company was sued for employee abuse. Processes & procedures: Beyond informing your people of changes and the Dos & Donts, the other areas to cross check are the processes & procedures used to implement the tasks from interviewing to termination. Who does what? Who is responsible for d o c u m e n t i n g everything? Are the processes and procedures consistent? These are just a few things to measure. I hope that if nothing else, you will have learned one thing from this article and that is you can no longer take your HR systems for granted. Whether you have 5 people or 100 people, the laws apply the same across the board and the cost of violating those laws can be devastating. In many cases most people, small businesses need some help, advice, guidance and coaching. Hopefully by adopting a HR Spring Cleaning effort every year it will help you stay on top of things and help secure the business you worked so hard to build over the years.
The Beringer Group Team of HR & Management professionals have been filling the HR & Management needs of small businesses since 1985. When a business needs some Management or HR help but does not need the full time payroll costs Beringer Group is the solution. We offer a free initial consultation, ask for details Krisfalusy@sjkberinger.com .

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Submit stories for the North Coast Business Journal by e-mailing

jbryden@ncbj.net

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Making the Career Connection

Knowing what to expect from the world of work is important to students as theyre looking forward to their future career. To help their students make a smooth transition, EHOVE Adult Career Center instructors from the Medical Assistant program invited an EHOVE Medical Assistant alumnus to Pediatric Night to assist students and share her story. Pediatric Night is an event where Medical Assistant students work with children to learn their unique needs with medical care and procedures. The students practice taking blood pressure, respirations, temperature and other non-invasive techniques. Malory Urbanek is a Certified Medical Assistant who graduated in June 2012 from EHOVE Adult Career Center. Her certification of CMA (AAMA) is considered the gold standard of medical assisting and represents that she has been certified by the American Association of Medical Assistants. Urbankek is currently working as a Medical Assistant for Dr. Khalid Akbar of Mercy Pediatricians in Lorain. Having a former graduate attend Pediatric Night and working with children are great idea and definitely helps answer some questions I had, said Medical Assistant student Krista Matheson of Sandusky, who begins her internship next week at New Beginnings Pediatrics in Norwalk. This is a great idea to have past students come in and share their experiences, said Medical Assistant Instructor Terrie Hopkins. While a student at EHOVE Adult Career Center, Urbanek completed an internship with Mercy Pediatricians, and then was hired at the practice shortly thereafter. She credits EHOVE and her instructors for helping her find what she needed in a career. EHOVEs program is beyond fantastic, said Urbanek. EHOVE prepared me well. EHOVE Adult Career Centers Medical Assistant program prepares students to be a Medical Assistant in a physician's office or other medical setting. Students learn skills that include office billing procedures, taking vital signs, venipuncture, injections, EKG, and much more.

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ProMedica Fostoria Community Hospital Honors Miller and other Nurses during Recognition Event

On The Move

Marbleheads Balsom to Chamber Executive Director

The Board of Directors of the M a r b l e h e a d Peninsula Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce the promotion of Judy Balsom to Executive Director. Balsoms genuine smile has been greeting visitors at the Chamber for nine years. Balsoms career at the Chamber began as a Secretary, moving to Executive Assistant, where she continued as office secretary and frontline person providing needed information to members of the chamber and handling inquiries of those new to the area. During those years she was involved in moving the location of the Chamber from Downtown ncbj1111AHAC.pdf 11/2/11 location. 11:18:48 AM Marblehead to its current As Executive Director, Balsom will

ProMedica Fostoria Community Hospital Nurses celebrated National Nurses Day on May 6 with a Nursing Recognition event. During the event, all nurses were thanked for the care they provide to patients every day and a number of awards were presented. As part of an annual tradition, the Mary Jane Smith Nursing Excellence Award was presented to an outstanding ProMedica Fostoria Community Hospital nurse by Peg Frankart, RN, BSN, MBA, vice president, patient care, ProMedica Fostoria Community Hospital. Melinda Miller, RN, BSN, team leader, outpatient surgery, was named the 2013 Mary Jane Smith Nursing Excellence Award winner. Miller was recognized for her many outstanding contributions to nursing and the community

not only maintain day to day operations but will also be responsible for updates to the web site, advertising sales in the Chamber map, planning the spring banquet as well as Business After Hours and new member recruitment. Balsom will continue to work closely with Lake Erie Shores and Islands and other Ottawa County Chambers of Commerce. Judy Balsom is a native of Bay Village and visited Marblehead for 32 years with her family prior to moving to the area 13 years ago with her husband, Gary. They have a daughter and son-in-law residing in Bay Village as well as a son and two granddaughters in Sylvania. The Marblehead Chamber office is located at 5681 East Harbor Rd. Office hours are 10am-2pm on Monday. Tuesday-Friday 10am-4pm. 419-7349777 www.themarbleheadpeninsula. com

VacationLand Credit Announces Management Changes

Va c a t i o n L a n d Federal Credit Union recently hired Stephanie Helton to fill the position of Credit Analyst. Helton, a graduate of Norwalk High School, received her Bachelor of HELTON Science in Business Administration with a specialty in Finance from Bowling Green State University in 2003. She will report to the Senior Vice President of Commercial Lending and brings nine years of prior commercial underwriting experience to the team. Helton resides in Norwalk with her husband, Max, their three daughters, and her step-daughter. The position became vacant with the promotion of Brian Barker to Finance Manager. This position was created due to the increased growth of the credit union and is overseen by the Chief Financial Officer. Barkers m a j o r responsibilities will i n c l u d e BARKER management of the hourly Accounting and Card departments, assisting with daily accounting and recordkeeping activities, and preparation of industry reports. Barkers previous experience includes ten years of commercial finance for city and county economic development departments and an additional ten years as a mortgage banker and broker. He joined VLFCU in January of 2012.

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Laura Lay Named FisherNBOH Promotes Three Titus Patient Access Manager
Laura Lay of New London has recently been promoted to Patient Access Manager at FisherTitus Medical Center. In her new role, Lay plans, directs and supervises comprehensive admitting and central scheduling programs. She also maintains, develops, updates and continually improves all admitting and central scheduling procedures with related hospital departments, medical staff and appropriate outside agencies. Lay also oversees the coordination of the customer service program and directs all admitting and central scheduling functions for patients of all ages. Lays 15 years of experience at the Medical Center span the departments of registration, scheduling, switchboard, and information technologies. She has been the trainer/quality assurance coordinator for the registration/central scheduling departments for the last two years. Lay is currently pursuing a business management degree from Liberty University. Thom Dayringer to Senior Vice President and Mortgage Loan Production Manager Dayringer joined the NBOH team in October of 2005, with 36 years of banking experience. His office is located in the Fremont Loan Production Building on State Street in Fremont. Scott Sprouse to Vice President/Cashier DAYRINGER SPROUSE Sprouse joined the NBOH team in August of 2010. His office is located in the Administrative Building next to the NBOH banking office in Oak Harbor. Nicki Collum to Assistant Cashier Collum, with 11 years of banking experience, joined the NBOH staff in January of 2013. Working in the Oak Harbor banking office, she serves as Head Teller and Trainer for the teller staff. COLLUM

On The Move

FTMC Diabetes Education Program Merits ADA Recognition

Fisher-Titus Medical Centers National Standards for diabetes diabetes self-management self-management education education program in Norwalk programs. These standards were recently was awarded the developed and tested under the American Diabetes Association auspices of the National Diabetes (ADA) Education Recognition Advisory Board in 1983 and were Certificate for a quality diabetes revised by the diabetes community self-management education in 1994 and 2000. program. The ADA believes this Programs apply for recognition program offers high-quality voluntarily. Programs that achieve education that is an essential STADLER recognition status have a staff of ROEDER component of effective diabetes knowledgeable health treatment. professionals who can provide participants with The ADAs Education Recognition Certificate comprehensive information about diabetes assures that educational programs meet the management. Fisher-Titus Medical Centers diabetes self-management education program has been recognized by the ADA since 2001. The process gives professionals a national standard by which to measure the quality of services they provide, said Tracy Stadler, certified diabetes educator and a registered dietitian at Fisher-Titus Medical Center. And, of course, it assures the consumer that he or she will likely receive high-quality service. Education recognition status is verified by an official certificate from ADA and awarded for four years. Fisher-Titus Medical Centers Diabetes Education team includes Stadler and certified diabetes educator Brandi Roeder, a registered nurse.

FTMC Earns Quality Respiratory Care Recognition in National Program

Fisher-Titus Medical Center in Norwalk has earned Quality Respiratory Care Recognition (QRCR) under a national program aimed at helping patients and families make informed decisions about the quality of the respiratory care services available in hospitals. About 700 hospitals or approximately 15 percent of hospitals in the United States have applied for and received this award, said Kim Bailey, pulmonary medicine manager at Fisher-Titus Medical Center. Fisher-Titus is the only area hospital to receive this award since its inception in 2003. The American Association for Respiratory Cares Quality Respiratory Care Recognition program was created to help consumers identify those facilities utilizing qualified respiratory therapists to provide respiratory care. Hospitals earning this designation ensure patient safety by agreeing to adhere to a strict set of criteria governing its respiratory care services. Currently, Fisher-Titus has 25 respiratory therapists on staff. Dr. Kamal Chaban, board certified in pulmonary medicine and critical care, serves as the medical director of pulmonary medicine. In addition to hospitalbased respiratory care, Fisher-Titus also is active in tobacco prevention and control activities in Huron County. Respiratory Therapists also assist at the pediatric pulmonary clinic where patients are seen by Dr. John McBride, a pulmonary pediatrician from Akron Childrens Hospital. The department also implemented a pulmonary rehabilitation clinic in April to provide exercise and education to people with chronic lung disease.

Fisher-Titus Respiratory Therapists Angela Feltner (from left), Tania Bergstedt, Rebecca Gremmer and Amy Perez display the Pulmonary Medicines recent Quality Respiratory Care Recognition (QRCR) award. Fisher-Titus is the only area hospital to receive this award since its inception in 2003.

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Alley Receives Oncology Nursing Certification

Firelands Regional Medical Center is pleased to announce that Amy Alley, RN, OCN, was recently certified by the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation. She joins the ranks of seven other fellow certified coworkers demonstrating nursing strength, knowledge, and experience in oncology. To be eligible for OCN certification registered nurses must have a minimum of 1,000 hours of adult oncology nursing practice, meet a minimum of 10 contact hours of nursing continuing education, and pass a rigorous examination. Amy Alley is an Oncology Clinic Nurse at University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center at Firelands Regional Medical Center. She has been with Firelands Regional Medical Center for over eight years. She resides in Bellevue with her husband Joshua and their two children.

On The Move

Back Row: Bill Back, MD, Robert Secor, MD, James Rosso, MD, David Jump, DO Front Row: Evillo Domingo, MD, Nancy Verhoff, MD, Alison Winans, PA-C, Alicia Rendon, CNP

Luis Perez, DO, Appointed to State Board

Luis Perez, DO, family practice physician with Firelands Physician Group, has been appointed to serve on the Ohio Physician Loan Repayment Program (OPLRP) Advisory Board by Governor John Kasich. The OPLRP is designed to recruit or retain primary care physicians for underserved areas. The physicians commit to a minimum of two years of practice in an area where there is a health professional shortage or health resource shortage, accept Medicare and Medicaid, and otherwise see patients regardless of ability to pay, in exchange for loan repayment assistance. The Board is composed of 10 members, including one representative from the Ohio Osteopathic Association, four from other provider organizations, four members of the Ohio General Assembly, and one member from the Ohio Department of Health.

Trust the expert, caring hands of Mercy providers.

Mercy is committed to providing accessible and convenient primary care services. Mercys primary care providers are dedicated to providing quality medical care to the community, and meeting their patients medical needs. Patients have the option of choosing from five convenient office locations and eight providers. To find out how you can become a Mercy Primary Care patient, please call one of the five office locations.
Mercy Primary Care Willard 1100 Neal Zick Road 419.933.2811 or 419.935.6761 Mercy Primary Care Greenwich 65 W. Main Street 419.752.1811 Mercy Primary Care New Washington 202 W. Mansfield Street 419.492.1300 Mercy Primary Care Shiloh 21 W. Main Street 419.896.3844 Mercy Primary Care Plymouth 25 Spring Street 419.687.5781

Firelands Regional Medical Center Recognized for Advertising Excellence

Firelands Regional Medical Center recently received national recognition for some of its recent advertising and print publications from the Healthcare Advertising Awards sponsored by Healthcare Marketing Report and from the Aster Awards hosted by Creative Images, Inc. Healthcare Marketing Report and Creative Images, Inc. compares advertisement materials from medical facilities and advertising agencies from across the nation on creativity, quality, message effectiveness, consumer appeal, graphic design and overall impact. The complete listing of the award winners is available at hmrpublicationsgroup. com and asterawards.com.

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North Coast Business Journal

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Krista Cheek New Sales Executive at NCBJ

Krista Cheek has joined the North Coast Business Journal as a Sales Representative, covering the papers five-county circulation area. Cheek is a graduate of University of Toledo with a Bachelor in Education and a Master's Degree in Preschool Special Education. For 20 years, she taught First Grade at Holy Angels School and Preschool Special Education at Northpoint Educational Service Center. Before joining the NCBJ, she was an executive sales associate for WPCR radio. Cheek is married, has four children and lives in Vickery, Ohio. In her spare time, she coaches competitive gymnastics at the Sandusky Area YMCA.

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