|
|
March 21, 2012
Let us know how we can help you make great Chamber connections!
Check out the business-building opportunities coming up this month in the articles below.
|
2011 in review
 Did you miss the Chamber's annual meeting on March 1? Here's a summary of the year-in-review and a welcome to our new board members and officers.
Like the national economy, the Worthington Area Chamber of Commerce experienced its share of both challenges and bright spots in 2011, members and guests learned at the 2012 annual meeting held Thursday, March 1, at Crowne Plaza Columbus North.
A group of more than 100 member business representatives celebrated the event with a luncheon with the theme "Building Connections, Building Community," reflecting not only the organization's mission to make business-building connections for businesses and to partner with the community, but also a nod to many groundbreaking, ribbon-cutting and business start-up projects that began in 2011 and continue into 2012. The luncheon was preceded by a showcase of involvement, program and benefit opportunities displayed at tables monitored by chamber trustees and board members - among them, representatives of four subgroups of the chamber that have been popular ways for business owners to benefit from personalized, targeted activities during the past year. One of the highlights of 2011 was the debut of the Chamber's Small Office/Home Office, or SOHO, group, targeting home-based businesses and very small businesses in which typically one person wears "all the hats." That group has met monthly to share tips from speakers who understand the special challenges of small businesses. Other Chamber members continue to enjoy involvement in the Young Professionals of Worthington, or YPoW, the Women's Business Network, and the Impact Tips group that meets weekly to exchange direct leads. Despite economic issues that challenged member businesses and lowered membership slightly in 2011, the Worthington chamber remains the second largest suburban chamber among about 30 chambers listed annually by Business First, and, according to outgoing board chair Kay Lakhi, "one of Ohio's strongest and most supportive chambers of commerce." Executive Director Kathryn Paugh reported that more than 6,000 people attended nearly 100 Chamber-sponsored activities last year and another 25,000 - 28,000 attended Chamber-sponsored community events. More than 2,000 volunteer hours were involved in the activities, which supplement member dues by about half to support the organization. Glen Allie, a local financial consultant, was awarded the Volunteer of the Year Award for his contributions to varied Chamber activities. Although experiencing challenges faced by most chambers and non-profits, the Worthington Area Chamber of Commerce weathered the year with stability and made prudent investments, according to treasurer Paul Cynkar of Battelle for Kids. "The most important message I can share with you today that the Chamber is financially stable, optimistic about the future and poised to support members in 2012. We enter 2012 with a balance healthy enough to grow the organization and withstand the challenges ahead," he said in his report on behalf of the board.
 | |
Board members Ted Oatts, Pat Bright, Bill Owens, Tony Lordo, Pete Macrae, Sheila Sinno, Jeff Regensburger, Ann Baldwin, Craig Bringman, Alison Mausser, Russ Kromminga and Amy Hall. Not pictured: Joe Davis and Marissa Michaels
|
The annual meeting also serves as the transition of elected trustees and officers for the Chamber. Elected for three-year terms to the board were:
- Craig Bringman, an attorney in private practice as Craig W. Bringman Co., L.P.A., and the leader of the chamber's Young Professionals Leadership Team in 2011;
- Russ Kromminga, general manager and director of imaging resources for Lake Business Products;
- Pete Macrae, principal of Macrae ARCHitecture, LLC;
- Alison Mausser, manager at AAA Ohio Auto Club; and
- (re-elected) Bill Owens, owner of Owens Construction Contracting Co.
Ted Oatts, owner/broker at Worthington Realty, a Silver Sustaining Member of the Chamber, was appointed for a new one-year term, and Dr. Tony Lordo was appointed to an additional one-year term. Officers elected for the year were:
- In the role of board chair, Sheila Sinno, attorney at law and principal of Sinno Law Office;
- Chair-elect, Ann Baldwin, an experienced sales and event planning professional who is an independent senior sales director with Mary Kay Cosmetics; and
- Treasurer, Dr. Tony Lordo, a general dentist who has served on the Chamber board for three years and can undertake the treasure role pending an appointment to an additional one-year term.
Retiring from the board were Bill Alsnauer of State Farm Insurance & Financial Services; Paul Cynkar, Battelle for Kids; and Kay Lakhi, The Rite Bite. Remaining in service on the board, in addition to newly elected trustees, are Jeff Regensburger, Worthington Libraries; Pat Bright, Comfort Inn Polaris; Joe Davis, Worthington Jewelers; Amy Hall, DeVry University; and Marissa Michaels, OhioHealth.
The Chamber's "under construction" mode continuing into 2012 includes additional opportunities for business referrals, networking, advocacy, support for economic development, professional and personal development, and increased opportunities for business exposure, as well as some new cost-saving discounts for members. The Chamber is launching a major overhaul to its website and plans a printed business directory and resource guide for the Worthington area to be published in August 2012.
Attendees at the annual meeting viewed an audiovisual presentation featuring photos of members and activities during 2011. To view the presentation on YouTube, click the link in the introduction to this e-newsletter. |
 |
|
TCOMING UP ...
Selected upcoming Chamber events are listed below. Click on blue (hyperlinked) events to register online.
|
|
SAVE THE DATE ...
Mark your calendar with these updates and coming events | |
Major event dates in 2012:
Friday, April 20, 7 - 10 p.m. - Reds, Whites & Desserts wine tasting and auction at Bridgewater Banquet & Conference Center
Thursday, June 14, 4-7 p.m. - Combined Chambers Business Expo at Bridgewater Banquet & Conference Center
Friday, July 20 - A Taste of Worthington food festival
Monday, Sept. 10 - Annual chamber golf outing at York Golf Club
Saturday, Sept. 29 - Old Worthington Market Day
October (to be announced) - Fall for the Chamber event (tailgate theme)
|
|
 Click to learn about these timely promotions from Chamber-member businesses:
Where's YOUR E-sert? Contact the Chamber at 888-3040 to schedule the "E-sertion" of your promotional flier in PDF format.
|
|
SUSTAINING MEMBERS
Gold Sustaining Members
| |
|
|
Follow us on social networking sites
|
|
|
|
| | Connect the dots at the Reds, Whites & Desserts wine tasting and auction fundraiser
"Connect the dots" with Chamber members and guests as the Chamber presents its 15th annual Reds, Whites & Desserts event on Friday, April 20, from 7 to 10 p.m. at Bridgewater Banquet & Conference Center. Other major sponsors of the event are Anthony Lordo, D.D.S. LLC, B&C Blacktop Sealing Co. and Worthington Jewelers.
This elegant event offers wine tasting and advice from wine experts, hot and cold hors d'oeuvres and food stations, desserts for sampling and auction, and dozens of silent auction packages featuring travel, food, wine, fashion, sports, family fun and other themes.
 Individual reservations are $55 per person. Cocktail or dressy business attire are appropriate.
Sponsorship packages, which include event tickets, are still available, ranging from Friend sponsorships at $250 to $700 for a wine station sponsor with reserved seating and program advertising.
Decor and auction packages have a trendy black-and-white polka-dotted theme at this year's event. Donations of auction items (products and services that help promote your Chamber-member business) are needed for a variety of silent auction packages with "dots" or "spots" themes.
Volunteers are needed to assist in planning and staging the event.
For reservations, or to donate, sponsor or volunteer, call 888-3040.
Donating a product or service for the silent auction packages and sponsoring a wine station or patron ad are great ways to promote your business. Click here for more information about sponsorship levels, or call 888-3040.
|
|
SOHO subgroup to explore resources for small businesses at Municipal Building on March 22
|
 | |
SOHO members will meet at the Municipal Building for their March event
|
Work at home or in a small office of five or fewer employees? The Chamber's SOHO (Small Office/Home Office) Group invites you to its monthly meeting on Thursday, March 22, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Municipal Building, 6550 N. High St. (Bring your own lunch, if desired. Beverages will be available.)
Our speaker, Jeffry Harris, economic development manager for the City of Worthington, will share a variety of "Resources for Small Business" (from federal, state and local sources).
If you work in a home office or "wear all the hats" at a small office with five or fewer employees, the Chamber's new Small Office/Home Office (SOHO) subgroup is for you. At each monthly "brown bag lunch" style meeting, members exchange best practices and business leads and learn from experts about topics that affect small business owners and home-based businesses, including legal, tax, organizational, IT and marketing/promotion issues.
Business and Associate Members of the Chamber are eligible to join SOHO. SOHO members pay a subgroup participation fee of $30 per year, in addition to their regular Chamber dues. A prospective SOHO member may attend the meeting free of charge for a one-month period and then may choose sign up for the group with the $30 annual fee.
Registration is REQUIRED. To register, click on REGISTER NOW on the screen at right. Select the member category if you are already a paid member of SOHO; the "Join SOHO and attend" category if you are joining the group for the coming year and attending this event; or the "Non-member/Guest" fee to attend this meeting free of charge as a prospective member (you may attend once as a guest). Be sure to click "submit" when completed.
Call 888-3040 for further details or assistance in registering.
|
|
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield hosts April BBH
|  Start your day on Tuesday, April 10, with great networking, food -- and food for thought about health care costs. A Business Before Hours will be hosted by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, 6740 N. High St., Worthington. The event begins at 7:30 a.m. and concludes at 9 a.m. Announcements, introductions and door prize awards will be made at approximately 8:15 a.m.
Business Before Hours (BBH) events and their after-work (Business After Hours) counterparts are designed to give Worthington Chamber members the opportunity to network with other members in an informal setting and to learn more about Chamber member businesses.
Attendees should park in the lots in the rear of the building and enter through the rear security station, where they may be asked to show a photo ID such as a driver's license or employee identification card. Pre-registrants' names and companies will be listed on an "invited guests" list to avoid delays at the guard station. And, members who pre-register by noon on the day before the event will receive pre-printed name tags and eligibility for extra door prizes.
Select the registration link in COMING UP, below, and follow the registration prompts on the Chamber website. Be sure to click "SUBMIT." You'll receive an e-mail confirmation when successfully registered. Online registration will be available through 1 p.m. today. You may also register by calling the Chamber at 614-888-3040.
Attendance at BBH events is considered a privilege of membership. Please note our guest policy: Members may attend this event free of charge. Guests (spouses, friends, and referrals who are considering membership) are welcome at $15 per person. The guest fee is credited toward membership dues to those who join the organization. The fee is payable in advance or at the door by credit card, check or cash.
|
|
Young Professionals ready for March Madness
| |
Young Professionals of Worthington (YPoW) plan to make professional and social connections while enjoying the NCAA basketball games at an upcoming March Madness Mixer.
 The event will be held on Tuesday, March 27, from 5:30-7:30 p.m., at Winking Lizard, 100 Hutchinson Ave. (Crosswoods area) in the seating area near the bar and banquet room.
Participants will have the opportunity to network with other young professionals, participate in a sports-themed ice breaker, and watch the NCAA basketball games. Pre-registrants are eligible for door prizes
There is no charge to attend for current YPoW members. Non-members may attend one YPoW event to learn more about this subgroup of the Chamber. Please pre-register on the Chamber's online Calendar of Events, available at this link or above left under "COMING UP." Reservations may also be made by phone at (614) 888-3040 or email to connect@worthingtonchamber.org. |
|
Chamber welcomes new staff member, Kevin Douglas
|
 | |
Kevin Douglas
|
The Chamber welcomes back a former college intern who has joined the staff in a full-time capacity as communications and events coordinator. Kevin Douglas, who interned at the Chamber while a student at The Ohio State University, will be getting to know many of our members as he assists with all of the Chamber's major events and helps with publications, social media and coordination with our affiliated subgroups.
After graduating cum laude from OSU with a degree in strategic communications, Kevin worked as a management associate for a large printing firm headquartered in Fairfield County. He also completed an internship at the Dublin Chamber of Commerce. A resident of Canal Winchester, he is engaged to be married in 2013 to Mackinzie Irwin.
Click here to email Kevin a message of welcome or a news item about your member business that he can include in an upcoming e-newsletter.
|
|
|
|
|
 Need more information about these or other Chamber activities or benefits? We're open for business 24/7 on our website, www.worthingtonchamber.org, to view or sign up for events. Call 888-3040 or click here to e-mail us for help in using our website, making payment arrangements, or learning more about Chamber member benefits. Copyright 2011 - Worthington Area Chamber of Commerce, 25 W. New England Ave., Suite 100, Worthington, OH 43085. Phone: 614-888-3040. Fax: 614-841-4842. |
|
|
|
|
|
