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2012 BlueScope Buildings North America, Inc. All rights reserved.

Butler Manufacturing

is a division of BlueScope Buildings North America, Inc.


You might be surprised to discover the virtually unlimited design
possibilities of a Butler

building system. As your local Butler Builder

,
we can build a exible and attractive Butler building that incorporates
wood, brick, stone, or glass. You can also choose from a wide variety
of metal roof and wall systemsall in a building that meets both your
needs and your budget.
More design
f lexibility for
your building.
Contact us at 419-238-9567
or visit us on the web
www.AlexanderBebout.com
2012 BlueScope Buildings North America, Inc. All rights reserved. Butler Manufacturing

is a division of BlueScope Buildings North America, Inc.


You might be surprised to discover the virtually unlimited design
possibilities of a Butler

building system. As your local Butler Builder

,
we can build a exible and attractive Butler building that incorporates
wood, brick, stone, or glass. You can also choose from a wide variety
of metal roof and wall systemsall in a building that meets both your
needs and your budget.
More design
f lexibility for
your building.
Contact us at 419-238-9567
or visit us on the web
www.AlexanderBebout.com
2012 BlueScope Buildings North America, Inc. All rights reserved. Butler Manufacturing

is a division of BlueScope Buildings North America, Inc.


You might be surprised to discover the virtually unlimited design
possibilities of a Butler

building system. As your local Butler Builder

,
we can build a exible and attractive Butler building that incorporates
wood, brick, stone, or glass. You can also choose from a wide variety
of metal roof and wall systemsall in a building that meets both your
needs and your budget.
More design
f lexibility for
your building.
Contact us at 419-238-9567
or visit us on the web
www.AlexanderBebout.com
More design flexibility for your building.
Alexander & Bebout, Inc.
Engineering Design Construction
10098 Lincoln Highway, Van Wert, Ohio
419-238-9567
www.AlexanderBebout.com
2012 BlueScope Buildings North America, Inc. All rights reserved. Butler Manufacturing

is a division of BlueScope Buildings North America, Inc.


You might be surprised to discover the virtually unlimited design
possibilities of a Butler

building system. As your local Butler Builder

,
we can build a exible and attractive Butler building that incorporates
wood, brick, stone, or glass. You can also choose from a wide variety
of metal roof and wall systemsall in a building that meets both your
needs and your budget.
More design
f lexibility for
your building.
Contact us at 419-238-9567
or visit us on the web
www.AlexanderBebout.com
2012 BlueScope Buildings North America, Inc. All rights reserved. Butler Manufacturing is a division of BlueScope Buildings North America, Inc.
You might be surprised to discover the virtually unlimited design
possibilities of a Butler

building system. As your local Butler Builder

,
we can build a exible and attractive Butler building that incorporates
wood, brick, stone, or glass. You can also choose froma wide variety
of metal roof and wall systemsall in a building that meets both your
needs and your budget.
More design
f lexibility for
your building.
Contact us at 419-238-9567
or visit us on the web
www.AlexanderBebout.com
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www. busi nessj rnl . com
BusinessJournal
OF WEST CENTRAL OHIO
THE
June 2014
The Regions Business Publication
INSIDE
Carpentry jobs
expected to rise ..................... P2
Sweeney earns Business of
the Year .................................... P7
Protect your business
from identity theft ................... P9
Much More!
BY ED GEBERT
Business Journal writer
egebert@timesbulletin.com
VAN WERT Van Wert County, in
northwestern Ohio, consists of just over
410 square miles and 28,744 persons. The
county has some strong industry accom-
panying a traditional agricultural base.
There are 246,000 acres of cropland used
by 700 farms in the county, the average
size farm containing 351 acres on the av-
erage. That is 89 percent of used land is
crop ground.
The county seat is the City of Van Wert
with approximately 10,690 persons. The
next-largest city is Delphos which is situ-
ated on the Van Wert-Allen County line at
3,043. The Village of Convoy is the only
other population center in the county with
a population over 1,000 (1,100). Other
villages are Ohio City, Middle Point,
Profle: Van Wert County, Ohio
Willshire, Wren, Scott, Venedocia, and
Elgin.
School districts within the county are
Crestview Local Schools in Convoy, Lin-
colnview Local Schools located between
Middle Point and Van Wert, and Van Wert
City Schools, in Van Wert. Vantage Ca-
reer Center is also located in Van Wert.
That school draws students from 13 area
school districts for technical training and
Municipal Building in Van Wert
See VAN WERT, page 2
education.
According to statistics compiled by
the Ohio Department of Development,
The taxable value of real property in the
county is $452,852, 400, with $91,858,
640 of that in agricultural property. The
median household income in the county is
$44,526. with 69.2 percent of persons liv-
2 TheBusinessJournal June 2014
ing within a range of 200 percent or more
of poverty level.
The median value of a home in the
county is $88,000, and the median gross
rent is $556.
The largest employer in the county is
Eaton Corporation with 1,070 workers
making hydraulic hose connectors. Next
is oil seal manufacturer Federal-Mogul
with 448 jobs, turkey product producer
Cooper Farms Cooked Meats with 451
workers, and Central Insurance Com-
panies with 339 workers at its Van Wert
headquarters. Other major employers in
the county are: Toledo Molding and Die
(328 employees), Van Wert Hospital (305
workers), the County of Van Wert (300
workers), Walmart (265 hobs), Vancrest
of Van Wert and Convoy (242 workers),
Braun Industries (195 employees), Van
Wert City Schools (180 jobs), Unverferth
Manufacturing (145 workers), and Van
Wert Manor (133 workers). Several other
smaller manufacturers are located in the
county making products like soybean,
corrugated boxes, metal tool storage con-
tainers, and even FFA jackets.
The county is focused on economic
development. Two industrial parks serve
Van Wert, one on the north side of the city,
the other on the south. Growth is expect-
ed in both parks in the coming months. To
the north, Vision Industrial park is adja-
cent to four-lane U.S. 30. It is dotted with
many small to medium-sized operations.
On the south, Van Wert Industrial park is
also home to several smaller frms.
On the northeast side of the city of Van
Wert, a 1,600-acre Super Site is in the cer-
tifcation process to become a job-ready
site. Utilities are being readied for the
site to entice a large manufacturer. The
site has ready access to U.S. 30, then to
I-75, I-70 and I-69, and a rail spur has al-
ready been constructed. The site is within
35 miles of two major population centers
Lima, Ohio to the east, and Ft. Wayne,
Indiana to the west.
The Van Wert Regional Airport has
been in exisence for over 75 years. There
is a 4,000-foot runway that is open seven
days a week.
Van Wert continues to enhance its lo-
cal business incentives to attract new
business. These incentives consist of: a
Community Reinvestment Area tax ex-
emption, a Van Wert Enterprise Zone tax
exemption, Tax Increment Financing, a
City of Van Wert free land grant for job
creation and retention, and a City of Van
Wert Job Creation Incentive Payment
Program. In addition to these incentives
Van Wert will continue to assist prospects
and existing businesses secure funding
thru the State of Ohio.
Van Wert
(Continued from Page 1)
The Niswonger Performing Arts Center is a premier entertainment facility in Van
Wert County.
Braun Industries employs 195 workers.
Vancrest of Van Wert and Convoy employs 242 workers.
Central Mutual Insurance employs
nearly 340 workers in Van Wert County.
Wind turbines dot the rural scene in
Van Wert County.
June 2014 TheBusinessJournal 3
BY STEPHANIE GROVES
Business Journal Writer
sgroves@delphosherald.com
In 2012, carpenters held approximately
901,200 jobs in the U.S. and close to 36
percent were self-employed. Most carpenters
work in the construction industry, where they
account for the largest share of the building
trades occupations.
The residential building construction
industry employed the most carpenters (19
percent), followed by nonresidential building
construction at 12 percent, building finishing
contractors at 10 percent, and foundation,
structure, and building exterior contractors
rounding out the bottom with seven percent.
According to the U.S. Bureau of
Labor Statistics Employment Projections
program, the employment of carpenters is
projected to grow 24 percent through 2022,
which is much faster than the average for all
occupations. Population growth will result
in new-home construction the largest
segment employing carpenters and will
stimulate the need for many new workers
and home remodeling needs.
Currently, the national median annual
wage earned by a carpenter hovers around
$41,000. Salaries for entry-to mid-level
positions fall 20 and six percent lower than
the median wage with experienced and
late-career carpenters earning three and
20 percent (up to $70,000) more than the
median wage.
Residential carpenters specialize in
new-home, townhome, and condominium
building and remodeling where they might
build and set forms for footings, walls, and
slabs, and frame and finish exterior walls,
roofs, and decks. They also frame interior
walls, build stairs, and install drywall, crown
molding, doors, and cabinets.
Commercial carpenters remodel and help
build commercial office buildings, hospitals,
hotels, schools, and shopping malls. Some
may specialize in working with light-gauge
and load-bearing steel framing for interior
partitions, exterior framing, and curtain wall
construction. Others specialize in working
with concrete forming systems and finishing
interior and exterior walls, partitions, and
ceilings.
Industrial carpenters work in civil
and industrial settings where they build
scaffolding and create and set forms for
pouring concrete. Some build tunnel bracing
or partitions in underground passageways
and mines to control the circulation of air
to work sites. Others build concrete forms
for tunnels, bridges, dams, power plants, or
sewer construction projects.
In January 2014, USA Today reported that
nationwide, some of the fastest growing jobs
are those in the construction field. Florida
is expected to add more than 176,000 jobs
next year cement masons, construction
project managers and carpenters all due
to a surge in construction and increased
tourism. Road and bridge replacement and
repair should also increase employment
of carpenters. The majority of this growth
depends on government spending and the
attempt to upgrade existing infrastructures.
Factory and power plant construction may
also result in new jobs.
The use of modular and prefabricated
components roof assemblies, walls,
stairs, and complete bathrooms will
be on the rise. These components will be
manufactured in a separate facility and
assembled on site by carpenters. Installation
of these types of components replaces the
most labor-intensive and time-consuming on
site building activities.
Even though job prospects will vary
depending on geographical location,
positions for carpenters should improve over
the next eight years as construction activity
continues to rebound. Since construction
activity parallels the movement of people and
businesses, areas with the largest population
increases will require the most carpenters.
Carpentry jobs expected to rise 24 percent by 22
of West Central Ohio
Volume 23, No. 6
Contributing Writers
Jeffrey Gitomer
The Business Journal is mailed to the top
business leaders in the 13-county region
of West Central Ohio. Although information
is gathered from sources considered to be
reliable, the accuracy and completeness
of the information cannot be guaranteed.
Information expressed in The Business
Journal does not constitute a solicitation for
the purchase or sale of any products.
Copyright, The Business Journal of West
Central Ohio, 2006, All rights reserved.
Reproduction or use, without written permission
of editorial, photographic or other graphic con-
tent in any manner is prohibited. The Business
Journal is published monthly at 405 N. Main
St., Delphos, OH 45833
Contact Us
Cynthia Yahna 419-695-0015 ext. 129
cyahna @ delphosherald.com
Peter W. Ricker 419-695-0015 ext. 130
pwricker@delphosherald.com
Toll free 800-589-6950
Mail 405 N. Main St., Delphos, OH 45833-1598
For information concerning news,
advertising and subscription e-mail us at:
bizjrnl@delphosherald.com
www.businessjrnl.com
Dickman Supply receives National Innovation Award
NAED and UnleashWD de-
veloped the Unleashing the Spirit
of Innovation award to encourage
and recognize a distributor and a
manufacturer with a culture of
innovation in the electrical indus-
try.
Doug Borchers, Dickman
Supply Vice President, proudly
accepted the distributor award at
the NAED National Meeting held
in Chicago, Illinois. According to
Borchers, receiving this honor
is a testament to the innovative,
creative, hard-working people at
Dickman Supply who get the job
done for customers every day.
Dickman Supply President,
Tim Geise, has been telling as-
sociates to Just say yes to
customer requests for 25 years.
The beauty of this is a naturally
occurring culture of innovation.
Custom electrical controls and
wire harnesses, the award win-
ning Green Energy Solutions
Division, a Happy Hour delivery
service, emergency services, and
complete Inventory Management
solutions are just a few of the
programs with their beginnings
in the simple act of saying yes to
a customer in need.
The National Association of
Electrical Distributors (NAED)
is the voice of electrical dis-
tribution, providing members
with the best in tools, informa-
tion and assistance to help them
thrive financially and to improve
the electrical distribution chan-
nel. The four basic pillars of the
NAED mission are to provide
to members - Networking, Ad-
vocacy, Education, and Defined
Standards and Research.
UnleashWD brings together
the worlds most innovative
minds, creating an environment
where distributors are immersed
in innovative thought. There are
more than 300,000 wholesale dis-
tribution companies generating
economic growth and creating 1
out of 20 private sector jobs in the
United States. In this changing
economy, leaders in the industry
must shift ideas from outside the
common distribution model into
their operations to continue to
grow and develop. The Unleash-
WD Innovation Summit is a one-
of-a-kind conference promoting
original, creative, and disruptive
thinking in the wholesale distri-
bution industry.
Dickman Supply, Inc. is an
electrical and industrial whole-
saler, headquartered in Sidney,
Ohio with branches in Green-
ville, Celina, and Marysville.
Representing over 400 manufac-
turers, they provide solutions for
industrial and electrical product
applications for commercial / in-
dustrial facilities and contractors
throughout Western & Central
Ohio and Eastern Indiana.
419-224-6980
visit us at www.tjpaintingandrepair.com
Full Service
Painting Contractor
AND REPAIR CO.
COMMERCIAL
INSTITUTIONAL
INDUSTRIAL
RESIDENTIAL
Doug Borchers, vice president
of Dickman Supply, received the
prestigious distributor award re-
cently during the NAED National
meeting held in Chicago, Illinois.
THE
Business
Journal
4 TheBusinessJournal June 2014
Fabcor, Inc. is pleased to an-
nounce that Michael E. Swafford
has recently been hired as V.P. of
Manufacturing. Mr. Swaffords
experience includes 30 plus years
in the sheet metal industry with
specific expertise in laser cutting
and fabrication. Mike and his
wife Karen live in Troy, Ohio.
As V.P. of Manufacturing,
Mr. Swaffords responsibilities
include the overall management
of Fabcors operations and new
business growth and develop-
ment.
As part of our new business develop-
ment strategy, Fabcor, Inc. has purchased a
1.2 million dollar Laser Tube Cutter (LT8).
This highly automated machine will greatly
expand our manufacturing capabilities to
include laser cutting of round, square and
rectangular tubing, up to an 8 capacity and
maximum of 28length.
With the acquisition of this machine,
Fabcor anticipates substantial business
growth through a new customer base as
well as with our current customers. The
targeted date for installation of this
new machine is June 1st, 2014 and
the projected operational date is
June 15th, 2014.
As a result of this new business
venture, Fabcor expects to hire an
additional 10 to 25 employees dur-
ing 2014. These positions include
a CAD Designer, Inside Sales/
Estimator, Welders and Machine
Operators.
Future 2014 capital expendi-
ture considerations include a CNC
Tube Bending Machine and a
Powder Paint System.
Fabcor, Inc. is family owned Custom
Metal Fabricator located in Minster, Ohio.
Fabcor was founded in 1985 by Robert H.
Hoying and his son Jon G. Hoying is the
current President. Fabcor also manufac-
tures detention equipment and performs in-
stallations of this equipment in correctional
facilities through the U.S.
For further information about Fabcor,
Inc., you can visit their website at www.
fabcor.com. Applications and resumes may
be submitted to Employment@fabcor.com.
Fabcor, Inc. hires new vice president
Michael E.
Swafford
Seventeen countries represented
at UNOHs International Day
Information submitted
LIMA - The University of Northwest-
ern Ohio played host to the 15th Annual
International Day on Thursday, May 29,
in the UNOH Event Center. This years
International Day featured a large in-
volvement of students with multiple
countries being represented.
Professors Mark Putnam, Chip Welch,
AJ Templeton, and Philip McMurry
worked with students from the Multi-
cultural Perspectives, International Busi-
ness, The History of England and Scot-
land, and the Travel & Tourism courses.
Students presented displays about Belize,
Brazil, Cayman Islands, Colombia, Co-
zumel, Croatia, England, France, Germa-
ny, Italy, Russia, Scotland, Serbia, Spain,
Sweden, Venezuela, and Wales.
The International Business class dis-
cussed the process of exporting from
countries like Columbia, Spain, Croatia,
and Brazil to the United States, while
identifying trends and policies that im-
pact the American economy.
This year, UNOH has been home to
79 students from 24 different countries.
Their home countries are: Argentina,
Australia, Brazil, Canada, Columbia,
Croatia, Dominican Republic, Egypt,
France, Germany, Netherlands, New Zea-
land, Nigeria, Pakistan, Serbia, Slovenia,
South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Trinidad
and Tobago, Ukraine, United Kingdom,
Venezuela, and Zimbabwe. Some of the
international students participated in In-
ternational Day as part of the Internation-
al Student Association.
Each countrys display provided dif-
ferent perspectives of culture, depending
on the focus of the course, which may
include historical items, arts & crafts,
music, currency, trade information, laws
that affect trade & business, and unique
cuisine.
Superior Federal Credit Union
announces new location
Information submitted
KENTON - Superior Federal Credit
Union is proud to announce the construc-
tion of a new full-service office and drive-
thru in Kenton, located at 1209 E. Colum-
bus St. Construction has already begun,
with completion by October 2014.
We feel the new Kenton location will
complement our other branches throughout
the area, said Kurt Neeper, Vice-President
of Business Development at Superior.
Our goal is to provide our members with
great service at the most convenient loca-
tions.
Schnipke Builders has been selected
as the General Contractor for the building
project. The new facility was designed
by Dick Wuest of K4 Architecture in Cin-
cinnati, OH.
Our members have really driven this,
Neeper added. When we consider new
branching opportunities, we really look at
where our members are already located and
then build to suit their financial needs.
Despite not having an office in Har-
din County, Superior was the third-largest
mortgage lender (by loan volume) in Har-
din County in 2012, according to the most
recent HMDA data.
Superior Federal Credit Union is a full-
service financial cooperative serving mem-
bers in West Central Ohio. Superior FCU
currently serves over 51,000 members with
assets of $465 million. The credit union
also provides consumer and mortgage
loans, checking and savings accounts, in-
surance and brokerage services, and small
business services and loans.
www.businessjrnl.com
Check us out online:
June 2014 TheBusinessJournal 5
937.498.2381 www.ferguson-construction.com
Building our Region
for over 90 Years
i ndustri al
i nsti tuti onal
heal thcare
commerci al
speci al proj ects
937.492.4423
. . . Global Approach
Local Resources
www.industrialproperty.biz
Commercial & Industrial
Solutions for Over 30 Years.
Recent transactions in Mexico, California,
North Dakota and Tennessee
UNOH students place at National BPA contest
Information submitted
LIMA - Seven University of Northwestern Ohio
students and their advisor traveled to Indianapolis, In-
diana for this years Business Professionals of Amer-
icas National Contest held April 29th
through May 3rd, 2014. More than
5,000 students from across the nation
competed at this years BPA National
Conference. Two UNOH students
placed within the top 3 in the nation
in individual events. Overall, UNOH had finalists in
13 of 17 competitive events. All seven members won
or placed in State level events which qualified them
to participate at the National Leadership Conference
in Indianapolis. The National competition results in-
clude:
First Place:
Fundamental Word Processing: Niki Holcomb
Gomer, Ohio
Legal Office Procedures: David Hites Elida, Ohio
Business Professionals of America
is a not-for-profit, co-curricular educa-
tional association of student members
preparing for careers in business. The
Business Professionals of America or-
ganization, formed in 1966, seeks to
contribute to the preparation of a world-class work-
force through the advancement of leadership, citizen-
ship, academic, and technological skills. Currently,
there are more than 600 BPA
chapters nationwide at the
College/University level. Ten
chapters exist in the State of
Ohio.
1-866-699-8665
Call the Pros
www.limaelectricalprofessionals.org
Why Chance it?
Get a Qualified
Electrician
6 TheBusinessJournal June 2014
The Business
Journal
Distributed in
13 counties
Allen, Auglaize, Defiance,
Hancock, Hardin, Henry.
Logan, Mercer, Paulding,
Putnam, Shelby, Van Wert
and Wood
Need an expert electrical team to help
implement your next architectural design?
Trust our expertise on your next design-build project!
OH LIC #21016
www.sidneyelectric.com
Lima Ofce
2250 Central Point Parkway
Lima, Ohio 45804
419.222.1109
800.589.2357
Muncie Ofce
3100 E. County Road 350N
Muncie, Indiana 47303
765.284.1594
Sidney Ofce
840 S. Vandemark Rd.
Sidney, Ohio 45365
937.498.2357
800.589.2357
Serving clients since 1953
Insurance agent Devin Sheets earns certification
Information submitted
MADISON, Wisconsin
Devin Sheets, an Ameri-
can Family Insurance agent
in Van Wert, has been rec-
ognized for providing out-
standing customer experience
under the American Star Ex-
cellence in Customer Expe-
rience Certification. Sheets
joins other American Fam-
ily agents who have demon-
strated the highest level of
commitment to outstanding
customer service.
Sheets has been an agent for
American Family since Octo-
ber 2003. His office is located at 118 S.
Washington St., Van Wert.
There are many
choices out there in the
insurance marketplace,
said Dan Schultz, Ameri-
can Family Insurances
president and chief oper-
ating officer. The Ameri-
can Star Excellence in
Customer Experience
Certification lets consum-
ers know these are agents
with an established track
record of excellent cus-
tomer service.
The service excellence
distinction was deter-
mined through an evalua-
tion process conducted un-
der guidelines established through the
American Star Excellence in Customer
Experience certification. The process
consists of a customer satisfaction
survey which measures customers
overall experience with their current
American Family agent. Only agencies
that perform in the top 20 percent
of all insurance agencies nationwide,
based on customer satisfaction surveys,
are eligible to become American Star
Excellence in Customer Experience
certified.
Based in Madison, Wis., American
Family Insurance offers auto, homeown-
ers, life, health, commercial and farm/
ranch insurance in 19 states. American
Family is the nations third-largest mutu-
al property/casualty insurance company
and 14th-largest property/casualty insur-
ance group.
Devin Sheets
Pfleger elected as new
NAWIC Region 4 director
Information submitted
COLUMBUS The National Associa-
tion of Women In Construction (NAWIC)
recently elected local
Lima Chapter Presi-
dent Ann Pfleger as
the 2014-16 Region
4 Director during
the regions annual
Forum membership
conference at the Hil-
ton Downtown Co-
lumbus.
NAWIC is gov-
erned by a 20-person
Board of Directors.
The Association is
divided into 14 geo-
graphic regions, and
each region elects a Director to serve as its
representative for a two-year term. The 14
region Directors serve along with the Presi-
dent, President-Elect, Vice President, Secre-
tary, Treasurer and Immediate Past President.
The Board of Directors holds three board
meetings annually to conduct Association
business, including a Mid-Year Board Meet-
ing in the spring and two board meetings at
NAWICs Annual Meeting & Educational
Conference.
As the new Director of NAWIC Region
4 it is my goal to build the region for the fu-
ture and support NAWICs core purpose of
enhancing the success of women in the con-
struction industry, Director-Elect Pfleger
stated.
For more information about NAWIC or
the local chapter, visit LimaNAWIC.com.
Ann Pfeger
June 2014 TheBusinessJournal 7
Sweeney earns woman-owned
Business of the Year award
www.businessjournal.com
By Cynthia Yahna
Business Journal
bizjrnl@delphosherald.com
LIMA - Bev Sweeney, owner and broker of Cowan Real-
tors, was presented the award for Woman-Owned Business of
the Year at the 12th Annual Awards Gala presented by the
Allen County Chamber of Commerce on May 7 at the UNOH
Event Center.
Early in Sweeneys career, she listed and sold real estate
for another broker but it did not take long for her to decide to
strike out on her own.
It was my goal to start my own business, she told the
Business Journal. Real estate to me is a total passion. The
advantages to being a business owner is that I can determine
the direction of my business. When I make the decisions, I am
confident it is the best direction for the company and my staff. I
enjoy helping people, watching my agents succeed and the pride of ownership.
Sweeney believes the credit for winning the award was really determined by the
spirit, drive and dynamics of her agents and staff, as well their involvement in the
community.
Every business faces challenges when they start, but a woman-owned business
sometimes faces unique issues. Sweeney grew her company over two decades while
also nurturing a family. She realized that help raise the glass ceiling for women in all
workplaces and set a meaningful example for those who face difficult decisions re-
garding the balance between family responsibilities and professional life.
What advice would she give to someone who has the desire to start his or her own
business? Have a dream, plan, plan, plan. I had the plans in place before I started my
business. You have to really enjoy what you are doing.
By Business Journal Staff
LIMA - Hard work and determination
was recognized on May 7 as the Lima/Al-
len County Chamber of Commerce hand-
ed out their awards for 2014 at the UNOH
Event Center.
Now in its twelth year, the gala took
on the 1920s theme of Puttin on the
Ritz and welcomed in a large crowd to
celebrate local small businesses and their
achievements. Awards were given for
the Young Leader of the Year, Emerg-
ing Business of the Year, Woman-Owned
Business of the Year, Non-Profit Agency
of the Year, ATHENA Award, and the
Small Business of the Year. As was point-
ed out several times during the evening,
however, just being nominated as a final-
ist made all of the businesses winners.
2014 Award Finalists (Sponsored by)
- Small Business of the Year (Citizens
National Bank)
Winner - Sign Pro Imaging
T&D Interiors
Yocum Realty
- Non-Profit Agency of the Year (Tom
Ahl Family of Dealerships)
Winner - Lima/Allen County Council
of Community Affairs
Our Daily Bread
West Ohio Food Bank
- Woman-Owned Business of the Year
(The Union Bank Company)
Winner - Cowan Realtors
Womens Health for Life, Inc.
Xpressions by Heather
- Emerging Business of the Year (The
State Bank and Trust Company)
Winner - Crankers Cycling
Modo Media
State Farm Insurance - Ben Anderson
- Young Leader of the Year (St. Ritas
Medical Center)
Winner - Kurt Neeper
Michael Ley
Jessica Phillips
- ATHENA Award (Lima Auto Mall)
Winner - Karen Grothouse
Wendy Baxter
Tammie Colon
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Lima/Allen County Chamber
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Information submitted
COLUMBUS In April, Ken
Blanchard, the executive director of the
Northwest Ohio Literacy Council, was
awarded the Ohio Association for Adult
and Continuing Education (OAACE)
Sharon Davis-Stubbe Award for out-
standing contributor for the state of Ohio.
In his role at the Literacy Council locat-
ed on Spring Street in Lima, Blanchard
coordinates with multiple community
agencies to help low-literate adults find
the educational resources they need to be
successful.
Our goal has been the same for our
28-year history, teaching adults to read.
And our collaboration in the commu-
nity allows us to expand our scope,
Blanchard said.
One local group Blanchard works
closely with is the ABLE/GED program.
Laura Ball, coordinator for the Lima City
Schools ABLE/GED program, nominat-
ed Blanchard for the award stating, Its
obvious when you meet Ken that he has a
passion for adult literacy. In the nomina-
tion, she explained that under Blanchards
leadership the Literacy Council was able
to purchase and restore an old home in
the heart of Lima.
Balls path intersected with the
Literacy Council when the Lima City
Schools GED program offices needed
to find a new home. Blanchard was on
the ABLE advisory board at the time and
offered space in the newly renovated Lit-
eracy Council home to the ABLE pro-
gram.
The missions and visions of both the
Literacy Council and ABLE/GED are so
streamlined that Ken took the initiative
to have the name of the office officially
changed to The Lima Adult Learning
Center and both logos appear on the
sign in front of the building, Ball said.
It was the start of a brand new begin-
ning for us and for Ken and the Literacy
Council.
In addition to sharing the building, the
Literacy Council and the ABLE/GED
program continue to share educational
resources and a website, limaliteracy.
net. Together they provide a seamless
transition from low literacy to the GED
to college and career preparation and be-
yond.
Anyone in need of GED classes or
individual tutoring in reading, writing,
or math, should contact the Lima Adult
Learning Center at 563 W. Spring St. or
call (419) 223-0252
Blanchard recognized for adult literacy work
Ken Blanchard received the Ohio Association for Adult and Continuing Education
(OAACE) Sharon Davis-Stubbe Award for his work with adult literacy. He is shown
here with Laura Ball, coordinator for the Lima City Schools ABLE/GED program, who
nominated Blanchard for the award.
Tuttle Services, Inc. awards scholarship to Fischer
Information submitted
LIMA Congratulations to Jason
Fischer, the recipient of the 2014 Tiny
Rauch Scholarship awarded by Tuttle Ser-
vices, Inc. Fischer was presented with a
$1,000 check from the Association of Gen-
eral Contractors (AGC) of Ohio Education
Foundation on behalf of Tuttle Services, to
assist with his college education. A native
of Ottawa, Ohio, Fischer currently attends
the University of Cincinnati College of
Engineering and Applied Science where
he is pursuing a degree in Civil Engineer-
ing with an expected graduation date of
April 2016.
Tuttle Services annually awards the
Tiny Rauch Scholarship through the As-
sociated General Contractors (AGC) of
Ohio Education Foundation. The AGC of
Ohio Education Foundation, Inc. is a non-
profit organization designed to promote
the construction industry by providing
scholarships to students interested in pur-
suing careers in construction. The Educa-
tion Foundation was formed in 1999, and
awarded its first scholarship in 2000.
Since its origin in 1928, Tuttle has built
a strong reputation throughout the region
by consistently exceeding customers ex-
pectations. Tuttle offers a wide range of
construction services for the industrial, in-
stitutional, and commercial markets. Con-
struction Management services are also
provided through Tuttle Services subsid-
iary, Touchstone CPM. Operating on a
philosophy based on professional ethics
and high standards, Tuttle is driven to pro-
vide successful projects that include value-
added intangibles, which foster long-term
relationships.
Full Payroll Service:
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Quarterly Payroll Reports Year End Reconciliation W2s & 1099s
Eric M. Macwhinney, President
207 N. Main St. Delphos
419-227-9040 419-695-9040
www.psi-payroll.com
Jason Fischer was awarded the 2014
Tiny Rauch Scholarship by Tuttle Services
Inc.
June 2014 TheBusinessJournal 9
Addressing a new era in security: how to
protect your business from the inside out
(BPT) - During the first 43 days of 2014,
the Identity Theft Resource Center said 91
data breaches were reported by companies
across the country, and the full list doesnt
just show household names of big brand
retailers - many of these companies were
small businesses, family medical practic-
es or local restaurants that never thought
theyd be cybercrime victims. For instance,
the most high profile breach of 2013 - Tar-
get - was actually set into motion when one
of its much smaller regional contractors
was hacked.
Undoubtedly, businesses of all sizes are
potential targets for cyber criminals, but
while the big boys often have the finan-
cial means to rebound relatively quickly, for
small business owners, one attack can mean
life or death for the future of their business.
In fact, according to the National Small
Business Association, a single cyber-attack
costs a small business an average of $8,000
to recover from (and this figure does not in-
clude the incalculable damage done to the
companys reputation).
Historically, small business owners have
focused their security prevention on their
physical domains, but, with the lines be-
tween physical and digital security having
blurred over the last decade, its critical for
small business owners to rethink their 21st
century security strategies.
ADT offers these helpful tips for small
business owners in order to more effec-
tively protect themselves, their assets, and
their loyal customers from the wide range
of physical and digital threats:
* Make sure your employees are in-
formed. Whether youre concerned about
digital security or physical security, your
employees are your first line of defense.
Your employees should be up to date on all
company security measures and aware of
the vulnerable digital and physical areas in
your business. Keeping them informed en-
sures they know how to protect your busi-
ness and alert you should a problem arise.
* Increase the strength of your pass-
words. Creating strong passwords may at
first be inconvenient for you and your staff,
but stronger passwords can greatly improve
the security of your business. Using your
name or the companys name or address
will not deter a hacker for long, but com-
plex passwords have a significantly greater
chance of tripping up hackers.
* Improve the traditional security sys-
tem. A security system is a must for a busi-
ness of any size, and an interactive solution
like ADT Pulse can help mitigate threats
with all-in-one security and automation ca-
pabilities that combine video surveillance
with activity-triggered alerts. This allows
you the freedom to monitor and control
your business with a web-enabled device
from any location.
* Erase old hard drives. Youve heard the
saying One mans trash is another mans
treasure, and that is certainly true when
it comes to old hard drives. While your
business may not have any use for these
outdated systems, the information stored
on the hard drive is valuable to would-be
criminals. Before you throw out that old
computer or copy machine, be sure to erase
the hard drive.
While many small business owners may
think cyber criminals arent interested in
businesses their size, the reality is small
businesses require the same strategic physi-
cal and digital protection as major corpo-
rations, and following the above steps can
help you to prevent the significant financial
and reputational damage that comes with a
security breach.
In order to learn more about how ADT
can help protect your small business, visit
ADT.com/business.
Serving the Corporate
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Jane Birckhead, CPCU
Executive Vice President
Trustee - Stepping Stones Center
Life Home Auto Business Income
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Harrington Agency, Inc.
Insurance Since 1838
513-793-1190
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Serving the Corporate
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Living the Rotary motto:
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Small businesses are more vulnerable in todays world than ever to iden-
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10 TheBusinessJournal June 2014


(BPT) - Tax season is a headache for
most people, and small business owners are
no exception. In fact, nearly six out of 10
small business owners in America say tax-
es are one of the top factors affecting their
success, according to the Bank of America
Small Business Owner Report.
Yet the potential of a tax refund can be
the light at the end of the tunnel.
If you do expect a refund, tax season is
a good time to reflect on your business. Re-
ceiving a lump sum of money can provide
you with the incentive you need to take note
of the ways you might invest in your busi-
ness to make it better, and can spur you to
ask some new questions about your growth
strategy.
There are a number of sources you can
turn to if you arent sure of the best course
of action for your business. A first step you
should take is to speak with your banker,
says Robb Hilson, small business executive
for Bank of America. A dedicated small-
business banker who knows you and your
market can help you make the best decisions
for your business - not just during tax sea-
son, but all year round.
For those expecting a tax refund, here
are six tips for small-business owners to
consider in order to get the most bang for
their buck:
* Invest in technology. Purchase new
technology that will make your business run
more smoothly. For example, replace tradi-
tional cash registers with tablets that allow
you to check out customers from anywhere
in the store, or switch to electronic invoic-
ing so you get paid faster. Technology that
makes your life easier will allow you to fo-
cus on doing what you love instead of tak-
ing care of the books, filing paperwork or
trying to fix old equipment.
* Upgrade your environment. Is your
office space getting a little run-down? Con-
sider sprucing it up a bit. According to The
American Society of Interior Designs, em-
ployee satisfaction and productivity rise in
aesthetically appealing workplaces. You
dont have to spend much - even the color
of the walls can make employees feel more
inspired or more compelled to collaborate.
* Get the word out. Help get the local
community buzzing about your business by
reinvesting your tax return into a strategic
marketing campaign. There is a lot you can
do to reach new customers - from traditional
advertising in the newspaper and on your lo-
cal TV channel to marketing yourself in in-
novative ways online. Consider purchasing
a software tool such as ExactTarget, which
allows you to develop a targeted email mar-
keting campaign, or hire a local videogra-
pher to create some interesting content for
your Facebook or YouTube page.
* Invest in your staff. Put the money to-
wards one of your most important assets -
your people. Pay for training courses to help
them better their existing skills or to learn
new skills. Or reward them for their hard
work with a small bonus or gift. By foster-
ing an environment of employee value and
appreciation, youll likely get back what
you put in.
* Start thinking about growth. Have you
been looking for some seed money to pur-
chase more property or hire additional staff?
Think about how this money could jump
start a bigger investment youve been wait-
ing to make. A little extra capital can go a
long way when making a larger investment
that you would have otherwise needed more
financing for. This money could be just
what you need to get your loan started.
* Put it away for next year. What if you
dont receive a tax return next year? Store
your return away and save it for your 2014
taxes, just in case.
Getting a lump sum of money from a tax
return is really a unique opportunity to re-
invest in your business, says Steve Strauss,
a small-business specialist and columnist.
The best small-business owners have a few
things in common, and a main one is this:
they know that business opportunities dont
come along every day, and so when they see
one, they work hard to take advantage of it.
This tax season, getting a refund is one of
those opportunities. Dont let it go to waste.
Be smart with your money and use it strate-
gically to grow your business.
This article is for informational purposes
only. Please consult your tax advisor be-
cause neither Bank of America, its affiliates,
nor their employees provide tax advice.
Smart ways for small business owners to spend cash this spring
Business Journal of WC Ohio




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June 2014 TheBusinessJournal 11
Calls not getting returned?
Prospects telling you your price is too
high?
Prospective customers
asking for three bids?
Unable to get to the real
decision maker?
Do you think youre the
ONLY salesperson facing
these issues? Come on, re-
ally now?! My bet is every
one of your colleagues has
exactly the same issues. So,
eh, why are they reoccur-
ring?
Why arent your calls
getting returned? Why is
your price continuing to be
too high? Why are you hav-
ing major blockage to get
to the decision maker? Huh?
Why?
Another bet: there are a few people on
your team who are able to get through.
There are a few people on your team that
are able to get their price. But in spite of
that or them, you go out every day bang-
ing your head against the wall and the
world, trying to make your sales and your
quota.
Heres how to have a better, easier,
more fun, more productive, less frustrat-
ing (sound good so far?), more bountiful,
and more profitable sales life: Create an
internal sales mastermind.
One of the most powerful principles
Napoleon Hill wrote about in Think and
Grow Rich is the ninth step: Power of the
Master Mind. He defines mastermind as
a Coordination of knowledge and effort,
in a spirit of harmony, between two or
more people, for the attainment of a defi-
nite purpose.
In other words people working to-
gether in harmony to get to best answer
or best response. In your case: sales
barriers or objections in common.
Take one objection at a time and have
single subject meetings
Everyone has two to five minutes to
discuss their issues and whatever form of
success they have had.
Everyone takes notes.
No one interrupts.
Everyone has a chance to have two
minutes to share their best idea based on
their homework, their past experience,
and what theyve just learned.
Everyone takes notes.
No one interrupts.
Each person in the group shares their
personal opinion of what they believe will
work best, either by what theyre doing in
the field, or what they have just learned.
Everyone takes notes.
No one interrupts.
One or several an-
swers and strategies are
agreed upon, and all par-
ticipants agree to try them
and RECORD them as
theyre being executed.
The next mastermind
session (one week later)
should begin with what
happened in the past
week
Everyone has two to
five minutes to discuss
their application, what
happened, and what form
of success they have had.
Everyone takes notes.
No one interrupts.
Everyone gives their refinements
based on actual circumstances, applica-
tions, and results.
Final tweaks are offered and agreed
upon.
The entire sales force now has a set
of answers they can use.
When applying new strategies in the
field, or on the phone, do them a few
times to get familiar. Depending on your
situation, and who youre talking to,
wording may be critical. Make certain
your language is positive. Make certain
all language is non-manipulative.
For example, if youre trying to find
the decision maker and you ask, Are you
the decision maker? it will breed incon-
sistent answers and half truths. But if you
ask: How will the decision be made?
followed by asking, Then what? a few
times, it will bring real results.
Pretty cool, huh?
If you wanna make certain to get the
best results, follow these rules and guide-
lines:
MASTERMIND GROUND RULES:
A mastermind is NOT a corporate
meeting.
A mastermind is not a politically cor-
rect meeting its wide open.
A mastermind IS a real-world
meeting designed to generate answers in
less than 60 minutes and those answers
are to be taken out into the field, or de-
livered over the phone, the same day or
sooner.
A mastermind is all about what CAN
BE DONE.
If a member acts like a jackass, toss
them IMMEDIATELY.
Keeping the focus on ONE SUB-
JECT PER MEETING cannot be stressed
enough.
At least three consecutive meetings
on each topic.
Let the laughs flow; the answers and
ideas will follow.
CHALLENGE: If you have balls, in-
vite your CEO to attend your mastermind.
He or she will not only be impressed, they
will get to see how their paycheck is cre-
ated.
Jeffrey Gitomer is the author of The
Sales Bible, Customer Satisfaction is
Worthless Customer Loyalty is Priceless,
The Little Red Book of Selling, The Little
Red Book of Sales Answers, The Little
Black Book of Connections, The Little
Gold Book of YES! Attitude, The Little
Green Book of Getting Your Way, The
Little Platinum Book of Cha-Ching, The
Little Teal Book of Trust, The Little Book
of Leadership, and Social BOOM! His
website, www.gitomer.com, will lead you
to more information about training, semi-
nars, and webinars - or email him person-
ally at salesman@gitomer.com.
Creating an internal sales mastermind to make more sales
Jeffrey Gitomer
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(800) 713-3190
The Business
Journal
Distributed in
13 counties...
Allen, Auglaize, Defiance,
Hancock, Hardin, Henry,
Logan, Mercer, Paulding,
Putnam, Shelby,
Van Wert and Wood
12 TheBusinessJournal June 2014
Discover What
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(BPT) - Some of the latest changes in
technology are making it easier for employ-
ees to connect with clients and conduct busi-
ness both day and night, which makes it eas-
ier for small and medium-sized businesses to
compete against larger companies.
Just a few years ago, unified communica-
tions (UC) systems were commonly found in
large enterprises, however with the growth
and wide-spread availability of the Internet,
this technology is now becoming a competi-
tive edge for small and medium-sized busi-
nesses. UC allow employees to interconnect
anywhere at any time, helping to increase
productivity and collaboration. From online
messaging to Internet protocol telephony (IP
telephony), businesses of all sizes can take
advantage to connect with clients, partners
and coworkers at all times of the day.
Since 2012, the actual and planned use
of UC has risen 54 percent, according to a
November 2013 poll commissioned by Plan-
tronics. The company, in partnership with
Spiceworks, released an infographic to visu-
ally show the growth in UC product usage.
Two technologies experiencing the greatest
increase are mobile extension integration -
which allows a company to connect employ-
ee cellphones with the company's landline
for purposes of forwarding calls when the
employee is on the road, and for identifying
calls made from the employee's cellphone as
having come from the company line - and
IP telephony - which allows companies to
conduct voice, video or fax connections via
the Internet. Companies are also planning to
boost the usage of Web and video conferenc-
ing, instant messaging with presence and
softphones - which allow employees to make
telephone calls over the Internet.
The use of UC helps remote and mobile
employees to stay connected with headquar-
ters and can improve customer service, too,
because it makes employees available when
customers need them.
Plantronics identified the following five
features as necessary parts of a UC system
that employees will love:
* Unified messaging - All messages from
email, voicemail, video, text and all other
forms of communication will be gathered
in one inbox, making it easy for employees
to check and review all messaging in one
glance. The phone messages can be accessed
with a mobile Bluetooth headset like the
Voyager Legend UC, transcribed for reading,
or even forwarded to a colleague.
* Presence - With many workers now on
the road or working remotely, it will be easy
for employees and management to see if
someone is available with this feature of UC.
* Integrated conferencing - A blend of
Web and audio conferencing, integrated con-
ferencing allows all employees to participate
in meetings, training activities and lectures
without having to come into the office.
* Instant messaging or chat - All employ-
ees can quickly connect and hold a discus-
sion about the latest company news with IM
or chat capability. These UC tools also allow
for the sharing of video or a desktop screen
to enhance the communication.
* One-number reach - This system gives
clients direct access to employees, improv-
ing customer relations. One number is pro-
vided to clients. When called, this number is
routed to all the telecommunications devices
selected by the employee, such as their office
number, mobile number and home phone,
for example. The employee can set it to call
all numbers at the same time or sequentially,
and if the call is not answered, the system
will deliver the caller to the employee's
voicemail.
View the full how-to guide at www.
plantronics.com/media/smb/how-to-guide/
SMB_UnifiedCom.pdf.
Trends to help small
businesses stay competitive
with larger companies
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