Columbus Chamber Blog: Columbus Business News

Columbus Chamber CEO Insights Featuring Tom Feeney, Safelite CEO

The Columbus Chamber hosted the second installment of its new CEO Insights series on Wednesday, Dec. 4 with Tom Feeney, CEO of Safelite. Feeney engaged an audience of more than 100 Columbus Region business leaders in an intereview conducted by 10TV's Kristyn Hartman. 

Feeney touched on a variety of topics ranging from his professional development and leadership style to his personal life and growing up in New York, while cracking jokes and sharing laughs with the audience. 

See the full interview and hear all of Feeney's valuable insights in the video below. 

 

Thank you to our event presenting partners: Commerce National Bank, AEP Energy and Columbus CEO Magazine with leader partner: Cassidy Turley; and media partners: 10TV and Bartha.

Keep an eye on the Columbus Chamber event calendar for details of our next CEO Insights event to be held in March, 2014. 

Member Spotlight: Buckeye Hypnosis Institute & Weight Loss Center

Hypnosis Certification Training

Whether you want to do the training for fun, to help yourself and others, or as a career, by now, you probably realize that far and away the best way to improve yourself is to begin with your mind and heart. By learning to control and allow your natural, God-given subconscious abilities, you really can become the person you want to be.

Professional hypnotists who possess real skill are needed now more than ever before. Increased obesity, stress, the use of tobacco, and a crisis in American schools have created an infinite market for hypnotism services. It could be said that all people would benefit from the knowledge of how to use hypnotism.

Buckeye Hypnosis Institute & Weight Loss Center is providing complete hypnotism career education. Upon course completion, the graduate shall possess the skills needed to participate in this fascinating profession. In addition, Buckeye Hypnosis is committed to the distribution of the ultimate practice, management, and marketing training in the industry. Our philosophy is that a vocational choice should enrich the lives of our students as well as their future clients. This life enrichment includes financial, intellectual, spiritual, and physical growth.

Buckeye Hypnosis courses have been developed to maximize our student’s ability to run an independent practice in hypnotism.

If you are accepted as a student, you will be scheduled for training according to your schedule and the schedules of your instructor and other students.

Goals / Lose Weight

Carrying around excess weight hurts physically and emotionally. Buckeye Hypnosis offers guaranteed personal, customized programs for you to: lose weight, quit smoking, reduce stress, boost confidence, get your goals, etc. We believe that we offer the best service available, the lowest possible cost, with the least amount of hassle. Here's why…

• Professional Design & Facilities - Professional hypnotist with in-depth experience in hypnosis provides individual sessions for custom designed programs in our office and via phone across the country.

• FREE Screening - We give a free screening. It's fun and informative. We will give you an honest and in-depth explanation of hypnosis. If we feel that hypnosis is not right for you, we will tell you so.

• Written Service GUARANTEE - The best in the business. Regardless of how many sessions you may need to attain your desired results and goals, we stay with the problem until you are happy.

We also speak and consult professionally on topics such as: sales & productivity; how to run a practice; communication skills; employee morale; customer satisfaction; motivation; marketing & advertising.

We also provide entertaining, family-friendly stage hypnosis shows to corporations, schools, and civic groups.

Our Experience:

• developed multiple schools and clinics across the united states, some of the most successful in existence

• appeared on local and national TV

• spoken at international conventions and trainings

• over 13 years experience

• delivered thousands upon thousands of client visits to satisfied customers in our proven system for decades of service

• written some books… such as "End Worry & Sleep Well"

Clients and students have shared such stories as "I lost about 40 pounds and decided to train. I know I will be more involved," Tori Barnes; "Genuine tools for genuine success!," J. Luquire; "It's a blast!", Mary Bradley; "Now I don't have to smoke to feel good about myself. I don't need to look for a reason to go hide. I truly am walking on the lighted path with God," Linda Anderson, housewife; "This helped save my company hundreds of thousands of dollars," Sam Y; "I have been a cigarette smoker for 30 years, they helped me kick a two pack a day habit. Hypnosis was my last resort before giving up on quitting. All I came with was the will to quit and an open mind," Dave Hanson.

Why We’re Chamber Members

Chambers of commerce have traditionally offered ways to network and connect with other like-minded individuals in local businesses. We have been a great asset to each other finding ourselves speaking and training for local companies and the Chamber committees. They have found our services powerful to help their company to grow or improve customer service.

Fun Facts about Buckeye Hypnosis Institute & Weight Loss Center

• We had the first class of it's kind in the country. The small rooms holding all the students gave way to a running joke: "how many hypnotists can you fit in a treatment room…?"

• We are currently working on a new book at this time.

Featured Service

• We offer many ways to benefit from the field of hypnosis and neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) (human change), and we specialize in hypnosis certification training and the treatment for weight loss clients. Quit smoking is our next top seller. Lose weight…

Imagine that you could feel fuller from less food, eat less while enjoying your food more, get free from emotional, out-of-control eating. Hypnosis has fast become a well-respected method for motivating individuals for success. Even in Columbus, Ohio, there are many hypnosis centers, but at our center, we do things a very specific way. Firstly, we're going to screen you, to see whether or not you will be accepted as a client. It's fun and informative and we give you an honest explanation of hypnosis. If we feel that hypnosis is not right for you, we will tell you so. We're going to sit down and have a very frank and honest conversation about you and your situation. You're going feel extremely well understood, and know that you are going to get the exact support and guidance that you really need. You're going to know that you are going to be able to make this work for you and what exact steps you will need to do. You're going to get exactly what you need here, and we're also going to guarantee that for you with a full Written Service Guarantee - the best in the business.

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Member Spotlight: Leigh's Legacy Foundation

Leigh’s Legacy Foundation focuses on preventing teen dating violence through education, advocacy and outreach.

Leigh’s Legacy Foundation was started in partnership by the family of Leigh LaCour Belyn and Strategies Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE) upon her tragic death at the hands of an ex-boyfriend in August 2011. Leigh was just 18 years old.

Why We are Chamber Members:

What happened to my daughter happened to me, my son, our wonderful extended family, but also our community. I want people to know that teen dating violence is out there and it can happen to others. I want mothers to talk to their sons and daughters about this. I want schools to point out dangers to students, and I want coaches to discuss healthy dating relationships with their players. I’m a member of the Columbus Chamber to share Leigh’s story.

Facts about My Organization:

Abuse isn’t always physical. Other types include name-calling, belittling accomplishments and even using technology. Since devices like cell phones make us all accessible at times, abuse can come in the form of constant contact, like incessant texting or phone calls.

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Member Insights: Turning a Crisis into a Communications Opportunity

Written by Tom Matthews, Vice President, Marketing Works

The story is an all-too-familiar one

An organization faces a high-stakes situation and is thrust into “crisis” communications. Perhaps it is an accident on company property, an inadvertent release of private information, service complaint or product recall. It could be an unforeseen issue involving a public agency, or even a lawsuit.

The point is, situations occur, and organizations often are ill-prepared to handle the communications in a timely manner, with the right messaging and the best approach. When reputations are at stake, you can manage perceptions and achieve a better outcome. It starts with avoiding these two big pitfalls:

• Not having a plan. The time to manage your reputation in a high-stakes situation is before the crisis hits. Understanding internal roles, developing an action plan for dissemination of messages, identifying key stakeholders, and having a clear team or individual responsible for message development is critical.

• Holding back. There is a tendency to say less rather than more, believing communication should occur only if information leaks out. In the social media age, you risk playing catch-up. Information gets out, people share it, and before you know it, you are in a full-scale crisis where others are driving the discussion and setting the tone. Perception then becomes reality. You have the opportunity to frame the story. Don’t let it slip away.

 When a crisis hits, here are tips for success:

1. Assess the situation, risks and desired outcomes
2. Prioritize stakeholders, internally and externally
3. Identify your messengers and leverage communications ambassadors to help communicate with stakeholders
4. Develop overarching messaging and consider sub-messages that address the “what’s in it for them” question
5. Create Q and A’s, talking points and other tools to share
6. Disseminate your messages with clarity and consistency
7. Monitor the situation and adjust communications accordingly

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Tom Matthews is vice president at Marketing Works, a strategic marketing communications firm in central Ohio that is focused on serving B2B clients with focus areas in energy, healthcare, workers’ compensation, real estate and brand alignment, among others.  Visit www.marketing-works.net for more information. 

This post is part of our Member Insights blog series. The Columbus Chamber’s goal is to provide connections, resources and solutions to help businesses thrive. That’s why we’re offering the opportunity for Growth and Elite Connect level Chamber members to share their business expertise on our blog. Do you have helpful tips or advice for other members? Growth and Elite members can submit content for this series. Posts should be 250-400 words and must be educational, not promotional, in nature. All posts must contain original content, and members can submit up to two posts per year. Posts will be selected based on relevance and the order they are submitted. Submissions can be sent to jessica_henderson@columbus.org for consideration.

How to Eliminate Problems Without Creating New Ones

Columbus Chamber Smart Edge Webinar - OnDemand
How to Eliminate Problems Without Creating New Ones
Presented by: Julie M. Young, Esq., Employment / HR Attorney, Worley Law, LLC.

When faced with the difficult situation of terminating a troublesome employee, there are many things to take into consideration, both legal and non-legal. Julie M. Young, Esq., of Worley Law, LLC. shares insights on how to successfully navigate this process.

In This Webinar You Will Learn:

- How to handle terminating problem employees

- How to analyze potential risks and liabilities

- What to consider before you make a decision to fire

- What good documentation for firing looks like

Get the full scoop, and watch this 60-minute webinar ondemand now.

  

About Our Webinars: The Columbus Chamber is proud to host the Smart Edge Professional Development Webinar Series in 2013. Our monthly webinars provide consistent, easy access educational opportunities for members—by members. Watch for them every second Tuesday at 10 a.m. Each lasts 30-45 minutes. Check out our schedule of upcoming webinars at columbus.org/events.

Member CSC Shares Reasons Why Ohio Is A Great State For Business

From CSC blog:

Ohio: A Great State To Do Business

Ohio has once again been represented as one of the best states to do business, according to Site Selection magazine, and is now ranked as the fourth best state in 2013. Corporate site selector surveys account for 50 percent of the ranking; the remaining percentage is based on criteria that includes competitiveness rank, qualified projects and firms' state tax burden. Columbus has also been recognized by Forbes as one of the best cities for tech jobs and one of the best cities for working mothers. Ohio was even named the best state for banking in 2012 by Money Rates.

That's quite a résumé. But why is Ohio such a great state in which to do business?

As a business owner and long-time resident of the state, I believe a combination of factors make Ohio a great state for business development. Not only do the state and city leaders work tirelessly to create opportunity, support businesses and encourage our talented graduates to stay in Ohio after they graduate, but there is a singular focus on innovation in Ohio.

Ohio is the home of two of the world's greatest innovators, Orville and Wilbur Wright, who owned and operated a bicycle repair shop in Dayton while they endeavored to build a flying machine. And since their time, Ohio has continued to emphasize technology, innovation and smart growth. In a PR Newswire article, the Ohio Business Development Coalition and former Governor Ted Strickland cite a number of advances in education, technology and the state tax structure that account for Ohio's successful business climate.

Businesses enjoy other advantages in Ohio. The state is centrally located, having access to the greater percentage of the U.S. population; given the abundance of academic institutions, the state touts a large talent pool from which to draw; the aforementioned business-friendly tax environment gives businesses a distinct advantage; and the community offers a great deal of support. And did I mention that the quality of life in Ohio is phenomenal?

Whether you are just beginning to build your business or have already established a successful business in Ohio, you already know the truth: Ohio is a good place for business.

Getting Connected to Your New Intern

Interns are a short-term and long-term investment. Done right, interns can meet your business needs and add value today. Long-term, internships can be critical to your organization development and workforce planning. Easier said than done. Where, during your fast pace week can you think through where an intern would fit, how they would be engaged and where you would find them?         

Today we point your attention to a new program, a partnership to mobilize students in the Columbus City Schools, which through its 18 high schools, has proximity every business in the Columbus area. Bolstered by Junior Achievement of Central Ohio, interns will be carefully trained and prepped to make a great impression with your business. If you would like to be connected to high school interns undertaking a specific track or curriculum in the Columbus City Schools, contact me.     

The Columbus Chamber holds that interns are too valuable to miss out on. We’re gearing up to put in place the relationships and support to make internships easier on small to mid-sized businesses through InternConnect. Our goal is to help you find the capacity to host interns as a short-term or a long-term solution, through staffing solutions and flexible internship management services that support mutually beneficial relationships between students and employers. 

There are lots of intern channels established here in Central Ohio. We can help you navigate and get connected to the best opportunity for your business. From tech to logistics, to exporting, to government affairs and public administration, there are interns with relevant training (in the classroom, and including professionalism skills), who might bring value to your company.  

Contact Dessa Augsburger, talent connections manager for more information.  

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Member Insights: You Have Decided to Merge. Now What?

Written by Stacy Wood, Vice President, Marketing Works

We have seen significant merger and acquisition activity in our clients’ industries and expect this trend to continue as 2013 comes to an end. While this is an exciting time filled with new opportunity, it is often one of trepidation for employees, customers and prospects. That’s why it always surprises us when companies engage in a merger or acquisition without having the following in place:

• A communications plan. Preserve brand integrity by putting a plan in place for how and when you will communicate with all audiences before announcing the intent to merge/acquire. Communication should occur when the deal is announced and after it has been finalized. By proactively communicating with audiences, even if there is not a lot to tell, you will decrease the likelihood of false information being shared. For example, we’ve seen some organizations announce the merger to customers first, causing employees to make false assumptions when they hear it from the outside. A tactic in your plan might be to provide employees with relevant information just prior to releasing the information to clients.

• Strategy for brand integration. Before announcing your intent, consider how to integrate the entities’ value proposition and brand identity. Essential to this process is engaging your marketing teams and agencies as early as possible. These professionals can provide powerful insight on brand considerations, identify potential market concerns and develop a strategy and timeline for roll out.

Going through or planning an M&A? Here are 10 best practices to streamline communication before, during and after the transaction. These tips are also helpful when communicating other major organizational changes.

1. Meet with your communications team regularly – Be certain to include agencies and marketing teams.

2. Identify audiences impacted by the deal including employees, customers, prospects, media, industry analysts, partners and investors.

3. Determine communications channels – Consider where audiences will go to find out information (website, news media, blog, social media, sales representatives, front desk) and craft appropriate messaging.

4. Create an FAQ and talking points for each audience segment and determine when and how the news will be shared with them. Prepare supporting communication before any announcement is made.

5. Provide regular updates on the integration of the new entities once the transaction is finalized – A monthly or quarterly email goes a long way in reassuring customers, prospects and employees. It also reduces the likelihood that false rumors will spread.

6. Appoint communications ambassadors – Whether they are highly respected team members or team leads, arm these individuals with communications to share with their colleagues and empower them to be your ear on the ground (both externally and internally).

7. Evaluate brand equity, perception and culture – How credible and recognizable is each brand? What are the positive and negative perceptions of each entity? Should both brands continue to operate as they are for the short and long term? Are there limitations with the current name of a company? What is the culture of both organizations today? The sooner this exercise is conducted (ideally prior to announcing the intent to merge) the better.

8. Create the value proposition for the new entity and test it in the marketplace – All too often companies believe they understand what is most important to a customer, but don’t have the full picture. Before rolling out new messaging and benefits, test them through interviews and sessions with customers, prospects and influencers such as media and industry analysts.

9. Determine brand integration strategy and timing – Is there a major tradeshow driving the rollout of the new brand? Are there other factors impacting timing? Based on the outcomes of the brand equity assessment and message testing, is there a need for an identity refresh, rebrand, name change or will both brands continue to operate business as usual?

10. Create a separate budget for brand and positioning rollout – It should include everything from internal roll out to advertising, promotion and signage.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Stacy Wood is vice president at Marketing Works, a strategic marketing communications firm in central Ohio that is focused on serving B2B clients with focus areas in energy, healthcare, workers’ compensation, real estate and brand alignment, among others.  Visit marketing-works.net for more information.

This post is part of our Member Insights blog series. The Columbus Chamber’s goal is to provide connections, resources and solutions to help businesses thrive. That’s why we’re offering the opportunity for Growth and Elite Connect level Chamber members to share their business expertise on our blog. Do you have helpful tips or advice for other members? Growth and Elite members can submit content for this series. Posts should be 250-400 words and must be educational, not promotional, in nature. All posts must contain original content, and members can submit up to two posts per year. Posts will be selected based on relevance and the order they are submitted. Submissions can be sent to jessica_henderson@columbus.org for consideration.

Member Spotlight: The Economic & Community Development Institute

The Economic & Community Development Institute is a Columbus, Ohio-based 501(c)(3) non-profit economic development organization founded in 2004. ECDI’s mission is "to invest in people to create measurable and enduring social and economic change." We have helped more than 2,000 business owners and created and retained 4,000 jobs via our comprehensive suite of programs available through our offices in Columbus, Cleveland and Toledo, Ohio.

Our programs and services have been supported by over $40 million in federal, state, local and private funds and have proven to create jobs, increase access to assets and spur local economic development. How do we do this? We invest, educate, and innovate with the businesses and people we inspire.

Why We're Chamber Members:

We are Chamber Members because, like the Chamber itself, we have a passion and are dedicated to growing Central Ohio’s small business economy and helping it continue to grow and thrive into the future.

Fun Facts About My Company:

- ECDI has more than 30 Loan Funds for small business investment and more than a dozen online training courses.

- ECDI’s Founder & CEO, Inna Kinney, was born in Moscow, Russia.

- ECDI has the only Federal Funded Women’s Business Center (WBC) in the state of Ohio.

Featured Product/Service:

As the 7th largest Small Business Administration microlender in the United States and a U.S. Treasury designated Community Development Financial Institution, ECDI’s Small Business Loan program provides loans in amounts up to $350,000 to Ohio small businesses. Under this program, the organization is able to make loans to low and moderate-income entrepreneurs, or to those with insufficient credit histories to qualify for a loan through a traditional financial institution. In addition to traditional, fixed-rate loan products, interest-free, fee-based loans are available for borrowers whose religious beliefs preclude them from paying interest. To date, ECDI has invested over $15 million in Ohio businesses through our loan funds.

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Municipal Income Tax Reform Bill Passes House

By Michael Dalby, President and CEO

Yesterday afternoon we marked a major milestone in making Ohio an even better place to do business. The Ohio House of Representatives passed House Bill 5: Municipal Income Tax Reform Legislation. The bill creates a more competitive tax environment in Ohio.

The Columbus Chamber strongly supported this bill because it fosters economic growth and helps create jobs by allowing small businesses to focus their resources on their business, rather than bureaucracy. It is the No. 1 legislative priority for our members, and it has been a major focus of our public policy agenda.

We’d like to thank Reps. Cheryl Grossman and Mike Henne for their leadership on this important issue, as well as the many members who took time to provide feedback on the legislation and testify about its benefits.

Our Government Relations team will continue to advocate for this bill as it moves to the Ohio Senate and will keep you informed of developments as they occur.

The Columbus Chamber is here to help your business thrive. If you have any questions about Municipal Income Tax Reform, please contact Michael Hartley, vice president, Government Relations, at michael_hartley@columbus.org.