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Greetings! May 15, 2013
 Great connections are in store for Chamber members who take advantage of several business-building opportunities in May and June -- beginning with tonight's Business After Hours at Crowne Plaza Columbus North. See the details below, and be sure to register online (by 1 p.m. today) or by calling 888-3040 so you will be included in the door prize drawing and receive a preprinted name tag.  Then, plan to join us next week for one of the Chamber's most important -- and inspiring -- events, our annual Small Business Person of the Year Award Luncheon at The Worthington Inn. We'll be honoring Donnie Austin of House Wine, while paying tribute to all small businesses in our Chamber, on May 23. See the details of these and other upcoming events below. As always, we wish you great connections!
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Make great connections at tonight's Business After Hours at Crowne Plaza Columbus North
|  Crowne Plaza Columbus North, 6500 Doubletree Ave. (43229), invites Chamber members and guests to a Business After Hours (BAH) in the Event Pavilion on Wednesday, May 15, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Enjoy great networking, food and beverages as you view recent upgrades and renovations to the hotel. Park in the rear of the hotel and enter through the Event Pavilion doors.
Hotel staff has planned a delicious array of hot and cold hors d'oeuvres. They will award a door prize of an overnight stay including breakfast, and the Chamber will offer additional door prizes. (Register now to be included in the door prize drawings.)
Pre-registration is encouraged but not mandatory. Pre-register by 1 p.m. on Wednesday, May 15, to be eligible for door prizes and receive a preprinted name tag. To pre-register on the website event page, click on "Register Now" on the screen at right and follow the prompts. Be sure to click "submit." You will receive a confirmation e-mail if successfully registered. You may also register by calling (614) 888-3040.
Monthly Business After Hours (BAH) events 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. Attendance at BAH events is considered a privilege of membership.
Members may attend this event free of charge. Guests (spouses, friends, and referrals who are considering membership) are welcome at $20 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.
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REGISTRATION LINKS
Click on the highlighted events to reach the event registration page on the Chamber's website. Once on the site, click REGISTER NOW and follow the prompts, then click SUBMIT.
7/19 A Taste of Worthington 9/21 Market Day9/30 Chamber Golf Outing at Worthington Hills Country Club 1/9/2014 Health & Fitness Expo at The Shops at Worthington Place
Invoices will be sent, and payment will be expected, for reservations not honored or canceled before the deadline.
OTHER EVENTS ...
First and third Thursday mornings, 7:30 a.m. - Impact Tips Group (Subgroup participants only - call 888-3040 for details)
Tuesday mornings, 7:30 a.m. - New Connections Network Referral Group (Subgroup participants only -
call 888-3040 for details)
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SUSTAINING MEMBERS
Gold Sustaining Members
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Donnie Austin, owner of House Wine, to be honored May 23 as Small Business Person of the Year
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 | | Donnie Austin at House Wine |
An engineer-turned-wine seller who is dedicated to promoting downtown Worthington and local products has been named the Chamber's Small Business Person of the Year for 2013. Donnie Austin is the 27th Chamber member to be honored with the award, which was initiated in 1987.
Join the Chamber on May 23 for our Small Business Person of the Year Award Luncheon, as we honor Donnie and salute small businesses everywhere for their contributions to our economy and our community. The event is sponsored by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and AT&T.
The luncheon, held in the ballroom of The Worthington Inn, will begin at 11:30 a.m. and conclude at 1:15 p.m. Donnie will share with luncheon attendees some of the business philosophies and strategies that have led to his success as a small business person.
More about our honoree:
Donnie is the owner of House Wine at 644 High St., in the heart of downtown Worthington. He founded House Wine six years ago, conceptualizing plans and dreams for the shop while working as an engineer at Honda of America. Despite an economic climate that limits spending on entertainment purchases, Donnie has sustained a growth pattern of 5 percent each year since opening and foresees continuing growth going forward. The nine-employee shop is a customer-focused environment - a casual, friendly atmosphere that makes wine very approachable for the wine novice but suitable for the experienced wine drinker.
Donnie has earned the credential of Certified Sommelier in the Court of Master Sommeliers. He holds an M.B.A. from The Ohio State University - Max M. Fisher College of Business and a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Purdue University.
Donnie has been a voice for downtown businesses and small business owners since opening the shop and currently serves as president of the Olde Worthington Business Association. A supporter of numerous charitable causes, he hosts about 60 fundraisers per year, donating a portion of sales to the cause that hosts an event at House Wine.
In 2013, House Wine was essential in creating the Columbus Wine Collective, a group of local, independent wine shops who are partnering to market each other as the ultimate source for wine locally through education and unique offerings.
Donnie is also a regular participant in the Chamber's Reds, Whites & Desserts fundraiser. He has hosted events for the Young Professionals of Worthington (YPoW) subgroup and the Get Smart Business Book Discussion Group. He and his wife, Megan, are Worthington residents.
Reservations for the luncheon must be received by May 21.
The menu includes house salad; bourbon-glazed chicken breast; spring succotash; buttermilk mashed potatoes; tobacco onions; and double chocolate cake with toasted pecans and sweet cream. Vegan alternative luncheon (please specify in the "comments" portion of your registration if this option is desired): Garden plate of roasted potatoes, grilled squash and asparagus, apple-beet salad and sauteed brocollini.
About the award:
The Chamber's Small Business Person of the Year award program is one of the ways our organization demonstrates its support for small businesses and recognizes members who are succeeding, have shown growth, and are involved in the betterment of the Worthington community.
Honorees are selected by a committee of past award recipients. Past recipients of the award, and their businesses at the time of the award, are:
- Dwight Moody (1987), Moody's Paper Store
- Steve Potter (1988), Potter Builders, Inc.
- Tom Hull, D.D.S. (1989), Dental Practice
- Joe Mezera (1990), The Mezera Company
- Robert Vosler (1991), Vosler Company, CPAs
- Raean M. Foust (1992), American Traditions
- Richard Hunter (1993), Potter Lumber & Supply Co.
- George Norris, D.V. M. (1994), Animal Hospital of Worthington
- Phil Giessler (1995), Cam Taylor Co., Ltd.,Realtors
- Charles Claibourne, D.D.S. (1996), Dental Practice
- Steve Schnulo, O.D. (1997), Albright & Schnulo, Optometrists
- Matt Anderson (1998), Anderson's FrameDesign
- Kathryn R. Paugh (1999), KRP Communications
- Gloria Yonadi (2000), Kerbler's Restaurant
- Nicki Budin (2001), Curio Cabinet & Christmas Village (Deceased)
- William Dawson (2002), NexTech Materials, Ltd.
- Darla King (2003), King Business Interiors
- Charlotte Van Steyn (2004), RE/MAX Premier Choice Realtors
- Bryan Myers (2005), B&C Blacktop Sealing, Inc.
- Mike Beck (2006), Think Painting
- Bill Alsnauer (2007), State Farm Insurance & Financial Services/Bill Alsnauer Agency
- Tom Hastings (2008), Computer Site Columbus
- Bill Owens (2009), Owens Construction Contracting Co.
- Joe Davis (2010), Worthington Jewelers
- Anthony Lordo, D.D.S. (2011), Dental Practice
- Kay Lakhi (2012), The Rite Bite
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Combined Chambers Business Expo offers opportunities for promotion, connections, giveaways
| The Combined Chambers Business Expo, scheduled for June 20, from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at Bridgewater Conference Center, offers numerous business-building opportunities. Reserve your exhibit booth now, as space is limited. Not exhibiting this year? Plan to attend for great networking and giveaways.
 As an exhibitor ... you'll benefit from exposure to 400-500 expected attendees, including more than 100 exhibitors from four area chambers of commerce. Exhibit spaces are limited, so reserve your space now. Click on "REGISTER NOW" or this link to access the event sign-up page on the Chamber's website , where you can view the available spaces and rates. Questions? Call the Chamber Office at 888-3040 or e-mail connect@worthingtonchamber.org. As a visitor to the Expo ... you'll enjoy great networking, giveaways and door prizes from exhibitors, and an opportunity to learn about more than 100 businesses. Admission is free for chamber members and other area businesspeople. There will be free appetizers, a cash bar and lots of prizes. Returning corporate sponsors are Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield, Bridgewater Banquet & Conference Center, and ThisWeek Community Media.
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Max Good brings member services skills to staff team
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An active Chamber volunteer and ambassador has joined the Chamber staff as events and member services coordinator. Max Good, who joined the team in March, is formerly the owner of Alterations Station/Dry Cleaning Station and, more recently, the principal of Max Good Solutions LLC, where he created training presentations and web-based video productions for organizations and businesses. | | Max Good |
From 2006 top 2013, while the owner of a Chamber-member business, Max volunteered forMarket Day and Reds, Whites & Desserts, among other projects, welcomed new members as an ambassador, and offered his services recording video footage of Chamber events. His enthusiasm, generosity and can-do attitude in 2012 earned him the distinction "Volunteer of the Year," an honor bestowed at the 2013 Annual Meeting. Max holds a master's degree from Governors State University in University Park, Ill., and a bachelor's degree from Taylor University in Upland, Ind. His professional background includes more than 10 years of corporate training experience and management of professional effectiveness and organizational development programs with Towers Perrin and Amerigroup Corp. in Virginia. He is a certified corporate trainer and facilitator of customer service and management courses for professionals and has designed new employee orientation programs for a variety of businesses. In addition to event coordination duties, Max will provide training and support for the newly reorganized Member Development Committee, which includes Chamber ambassadors who recruit, welcome, educate and reconnect our Chamber members. You can reach him by email at Max@worthingtonchamber.org or by phone at 888-3040, ext. 103. |
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Shred Day efforts saved trees, water, energy, landfills
|  Chamber members and Worthington residents who participated in our Community Shred Day on April 16 at The Shops at Worthington Place can feel good about the results of their recycling efforts.
Rob Grubaugh of Royal Document Destruction, who assisted event participants in destroying sensitive information and recycling electronics, reports the following highlights that show the environmental efforts of the four-hour event:
- 8,400 pounds of documents were shredded (4.2 tons processed). By providing recycled fiber for paper-making, this saved:
- 71 trees
- 29,400 gallons of water
- 17,220 Kw of energy
- 252 pounds of atmospheric pollutants
- 21 cubic yards of landfill
According to the EPA, to make one ton of paper using recycled fiber saves 17 trees, 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space, 360 gallons of water, 100 gallons of gasoline, 60 pounds of air pollutants and 10,401 kilowatts of electricity.
Special thanks to event volunteers, including Ann Baldwin, Peter Macrae and Lyndsay Bahr.
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 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 2012 - Worthington Area Chamber of Commerce, 25 W. New England Ave., Suite 100, Worthington, OH 43085. Phone: 614-888-3040. Fax: 614-841-4842. |
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