north coast business journal december 2013

Focus on Western ottaWa county:INSIDETHIS MONTH

www.ncbj.net

BRYDEN: It’s been a Great Year - Thanks ................ 2

INSURANCE: Winter WeatherCan Affect Your Business .............. 5

CHAMBER CALENDARS ........ 6

ESTATE: Financial Survival after a Job Loss ..................... 8

SALES: No. 1 Killer of Smalland Medium Businesses ..........12

HR: Are We Really as Smartas We Think We Are? ....................15

TAXES: Buy-Sell Valuations ..........21

Standard Mail U.S. Postage Paid Tiffin, OH 44883

Permit #88

Published and Owned by Schaffner Publications, Inc.DECEMBER 2013 Vol. 19 No. 12

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

POSTMASTER: TIMELY MATERIAL. PLEASE EXPEDITE.

Celebrating19 Years of Service

We’re a proud member of the following:Bellevue Area Chamber

of Commerce

Chamber of Commerceof Sandusky County

Elmore Chamberof Commerce

Erie County Chamber of Commerce

Fostoria Area Chamber of Commerce

Genoa Chamberof Commerce

Huron Chamber of Commerce

Huron County Chamber of Commerce

Marblehead Peninsula Chamber of Commerce

Milan Chamberof Commerce

Oak Harbor AreaChamber of Commerce

Port Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce

Put-in-Bay Chamberof Commerce

Seneca Regional Chamber of Commerce

Vermilion Chamberof Commerce

Willard Area Chamberof Commerce

The Village of Elmore is rapidly getting in position for expansion of residential and industrial growth as two major projects will be completed by the spring of 2014.

In 2005, village residents approved a ¾% income tax hike to start a three phase project that would help alleviate overflows of raw sewage into the Portage River. By June 30, construction on a new $5.2 million wastewater treatment plant will be completed as the third and final stage of the project.

Loans obtained from the Ohio Water Development Authority and the Ohio Public Works Commissioan along with moneys generated by the additional income tax receipts have made the seven year project possible. The village has already completed the first two phases of the project which includes terminating several overflow locations along the river

and the construction of a new trunk line from the west side to the east end of the village where the new wastewater plant is being built.

The new facility will treat 100% of the water entering the village sanitary sewer system and will alleviate any overflow issues the village has encountered in the past. The current wastewater plant has a peak capacity of 450,000 gallons while the new plant will be able to treat 1.8 million gallons per day. Village Superintendant Buck Stoiber said technology incorporated in the facility will help meet new parameters for mercury and phosphorous discharge levels. He said the unique design of the new plant will allow for additional expansion if and when the need arises. He also said the village is making continuous efforts to alleviate any inflow and infiltration (I&I) of outside groundwater into the sanitary

sewer system. As the village closes all doors to the I&I, Stoiber said the capacity for the new wastewater treatment facility during peak rain periods will, in turn, increase. The wastewater treatment plant began treating sewage on August 12.

Elmore: Ready to Grow Some More

Submitted by Valerie WinterfieldExecutive Director

As with most years, the Chamber was very active in 2013. We spent a great deal of time in the early part of the year refocusing on what drives the Chamber:

our important business members; and we cannot thank you enough for your support. Our first event of the year was our chamber annual dinner where we review the previous year and elect new board members. Last year elected to serve were, Matt Adkins, Don Douglas, David Franck, Debi Heiks, Michelle Ish & Guy Parmigian. They joined existing board members, Vern Conley, Pat Peters, Cherie Salazar, Austin Short, Paulette Weirich and Lester Weatherwax. The continued efforts of our members, staff, board, volunteers and businesses result in the successes that continue our mission statement to promote, support, and advocate for our members, and strengthen

the economic climate of the Oak Harbor area. First and foremost we would like to extend a huge thank to our 2013 Gold Sponsors; The National Bank of Ohio, The Village of Oak Harbor, Carroll Township, and Magruder Hospital for their generous contribution to the chamber and our community.

During the first quarter of 2013, we took a look at streamlining Business After Hours and Chamber Seminars to better utilize our resources and still achieve that added value to our members, and Business Over Breakfast was born. Our Business Over Breakfast Networking & Education

Once Again, it was a Busy Year for the Oak Harbor Chamber

See ELMORE, Page 5

See OAK HARBOR, Page 20

Jeffrey H. BrydenEditor

It’s time to call it a year – winding down twelve issues of good business news from our five-county coverage area.

Someone described us years ago: “…the North Coast Business Journal is all about plane landings – not plane crashes.” We’ve continued to adhere to that philosophy, bringing you good news of business, institutional and civic expansion and personal promotions in the five counties of Erie, Huron, Ottawa, Sandusky and Seneca.

While we’ve endeavored to cover every county, each month we moved around, with a different geographic focus in each issue to “dig a little deeper’ into specific towns and areas. To learn and share the good things that were happening with our neighbors. We’ll stay true to our mission in the year ahead.

We continue to value the terrific work done by the sixteen Chambers of Commerce we belong to in our area. The executives and boards of each offer valuable programs and networking opportunities to their members and the communities they serve. The copy of the paper you receive in the mail each month is yet another benefit you receive from your chamber membership.

We hope that you have enjoyed the contributed articles written by our professional “volunteers” each month – covering a wider variety of business topics than ever before. If there’s another topical area we’re missing, or a business discipline you’d like covered, please let me know?

And, while we enjoy e-mail and verbal feedback on our performance from our readers and advertisers, our most-documented affirmation comes from our biennial audit from the Circulation Verification Council. A recap from our most recent audit:

• NCBJ Readers are involved: Over 91 % indicate they “regularly read or look through each issue.”

• NCBJ Readers involve others: Every issue has a pass-along of over 4.0 readers

• NCBJ Readers use the ads: Almost 49% of readers say they “frequently purchase products or services from ads…”

• NCBJ Readers are decision makers: Almost nine out of 10 (87%) “make or have influence over purchasing decisions” for their company

• NCBJ Readers are upper income: 80% higher in “$100,000+ household income” than marketplace demographics

• NCBJ Readers are better educated: 276% more “graduated college and completed post graduate” than marketplace demographics

Full details of the audit are available – Just call our Director of Sales, Dave Kahler, or Account Executive, Krista Cheek at 419-734-4838.

In closing we want to thank our loyal readers, our regular advertisers and the Chambers who have supported us through the past year. All of us here look forward to the new year, as we celebrate our 20th year of service to businesses on the North Coast.

Please accept the best wishes of all of us at the North Coast Business Journal for a safe and joyful holiday season.

2 December2013 North Coast Business Journal www.ncbj.net

205 S.E. Catawba Road, Suite G, Port Clinton, Ohio 43452

419-734-4838 • Fax 419-734-5382

Publisher JOHN SCHAFFNER

Editor JEFFREY H. BRYDEN [email protected]

DirectorofSales DAVE KAHLER [email protected]

AccountExecutive KRISTA CHEEK [email protected]

AccountingManager ROBIN QUESADA [email protected]

Layout&GraphicDesign TODD GARDNER [email protected]

MARK SCHAFFNER [email protected]

CirculationManager BRUCE DINSE

NorthCoastBusinessJournal is owned and published monthly by Schaffner Publica-tions, Inc., and is mailed free to chamber of commerce members in a five-county area: Erie, Huron, Ottawa, Sandusky, and Seneca counties. The editorial deadline is the 25th of each month, with the advertising deadline the end of each month. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the expressed, written consent of the Publishers. We welcome submissions from readers in the form of letters, articles or photographs, although we reserve the right to edit and condense any articles submitted. Submissions should be sent to the editor at the above address. Include a stamped, self-addressed envelope if you would like an item returned. We prefer material (copy & photos) to be submitted electronically.

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

It’s been a Great Year – Thanks

Come and learn about the counseling, capital and contracting programs available through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). This free workshop, offered in cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce of Sandusky County, will provide an overview of resources available to assist entrepreneurs and potential entrepreneurs who are 50+ years of age. A successful encore entrepreneur, Yuval Zaliouk of YZ Enterprises, will speak about his transition from a paid job as an orchestra conductor to that of an entrepreneur and risk-taker without a steady paycheck.

SBA and AARP entered into a strategic alliance in May 2012 to provide Americans over the age of 50 with the information they need to start and grow small businesses. SBA and AARP have committed to jointly counsel, train or mentor over 100,000 new and existing "Encore Entrepreneurs" and give them the tools they need to succeed and create jobs.

Participating partners are the Small Business Development Center at Terra State Community College, which offers small businesses a selection of

seminars as well as one-on-one consulting and SCORE, a nonprofit association dedicated to helping small businesses achieve their goals through mentorship and education.

Friday, December 13th, 2013 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm (Registration at 9:30). Chamber of Commerce of Sandusky County, 101 South Font Street, Fremont, Ohio 43420. Seating is limited. For reservations visit tinyurl.com/50plusEntrepreneur

National Encore Entrepreneur Mentor Day Workshop

N a t i o n a l E n c o r e E n t r e p r e n e u r M e n t o r D a y W o r k s h o p

Come and learn about the counseling, capital and contracting programs available through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). This free workshop, offered in cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce of Sandusky County, will provide an overview of resources available to assist entrepreneurs and potential entrepreneurs who are 50+ years of age. A successful encore en-trepreneur, Yuval Zaliouk of YZ Enterprises, will speak about his transition from a paid job as an orchestra conductor to that of an entrepreneur and risk-taker without a steady paycheck.

SBA and AARP entered into a strategic alliance in May 2012 to provide Americans over the age of 50 with the information they need to start and grow small busi-nesses. SBA and AARP have committed to jointly counsel, train or mentor over 100,000 new and existing “Encore Entre-preneurs” and give them the tools they need to succeed and create jobs.

Participating partners are the Small Business Development Center at Terra State Community College, which offers small businesses a selection of seminars as well as one-on-one consulting and SCORE , a nonprofit asso-ciation dedicated to helping small businesses achieve their goals through mentorship and education.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13TH. 2013 10:00 am to 12:00 pm (Registration at 9:30)

Chamber of Commerce of Sandusky County

101 South Front Street Fremont, Ohio 43420 SEATING IS LIMITED

For reservations: http://tinyurl.com/50plusEntrepreneur

www.ncbj.net North Coast Business Journal December 2013 3

At this holiday season, At this holiday season, At this holiday season, our thoughts turn gratefully to our thoughts turn gratefully to our thoughts turn gratefully to

those who have made ourthose who have made ourthose who have made our progress possible. progress possible. progress possible.

Best wishes for a safe and happy Best wishes for a safe and happy Best wishes for a safe and happy holiday season!holiday season!holiday season!

www.DamschroderRoofing.com

The Schedel Arboretum & Gardens located in Elmore, Ohio is a 17 acre estate located on the banks of the Portage River and boasts of more than 100 beds that include rare and unusual species of trees, shrubs and some 13,000 annual plants each season. The former estate of Joseph and Marie Schedel, the grounds includes an 1800’s manor house, summer cottage and 2 lakes all lovingly cared for amidst the immaculately manicured grounds.

Although the local economy has remained challenging, SA&G increased its position both in terms of the number of visitors, members and revenue in 2013. The SA&G is an operation of the Joseph J. & Marie P. Schedel Foundation, a public non-profit foundation. “The Schedel’s had no children and established the foundation in 1968 – years before either of their passing. It was their desire that their life’s work here be opened to the public as a place for the appreciation and study of nature,” said Rod Noble the executive director.

Earlier this month Mr. Noble observed that, with the busy lifestyles of people in the 21st Century, a lot of what nature means in our lives is

being forgotten, or at least neglected. This is particularly true with our children these days, who rely more on electronics for learning and entertainment than either visceral or hands on experiences. “Our mission is to help ensure that nature and the delicate balance between us and its wonders remain a poignant part of our life’s experiences,” he stated. Two new projects are currently under construction to further enhance that mission.

Thanks to a generous donation from its benefactor, the Leo Pelka Bonsai Shelter is being increased in size by approximately 50%. The SA&G has probably the most extensive bonsai collection in the area housing more than 100 specimens, the oldest of which is 64 years. Bonsai is the art of growing a “plant in a pot” and training it to remain small in relation to its counterparts in nature. Most plants range in size from a few inches to 2 feet in height are made of many varieties including juniper, elm, maple, bougainvillea, dawn redwood and many types of pine. One of the tricks of bonsai styling is to create an illusion of age and ruggedness while paying attention to scale and the

principles of the art. The other project underway is the

creation of a raised bed vegetable garden. The SA&G has long been home to a beautifully maintained and extensive vegetable garden planted and tended each year by former SA&G director Dr. Reg Noble -- Rod Noble’s father. Rod Noble said, “We’ve had some issues with flooding ruining the garden the last couple years after heavy rains. The new design will provide for a dozen or so beds raised up about a foot above grade. That will eliminate the threat of flooding and at

the same time create a better soil environment that should allow us to have an even more spectacular display of seasonal vegetables.”

The SA&G is also a popular venue for outdoor events including weddings, receptions and church services. The gardens are open seasonally from April 1 through October 31 – limited hours in April. Normal hours beginning May 1 are Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 – 4:00 and Sunday from Noon to 4:00. For more information visit www.schedel-gardens.org or phone (419) 862-3182.

Schedel Gardens – an “Oasis” of Beauty in Ottawa County


F I S H E R - T I T U S . O R G

when it comes

your heartchoose

World-Class Care

to

Heart disease is the leading cause

of death for both men and women.

Fortunately, the care you need to help beat

the odds is right here! Our new affiliation

with Cleveland Clinic’s Heart & Vascular

Institute brings world-class cardiovascular

care to our community providing you local

access to Cleveland Clinic physicians and

the latest treatment options.

A team of Cleveland Clinic physicians,

including two cardiologists, a vascular

surgeon and a thoracic surgeon, are now

seeing patients in Norwalk and Bellevue.

To make an appointment contact

your local hospital.

* Any physicians who are on our Medical Staff can order these services at Fisher-Titus and The Bellevue Hospital.

CardiaC ServiCeS* • DiagnosticHeartCatheterization• CardiacStressTesting• CardiacNuclearStressTesting• Echocardiogram• TransesophagealEchocardiogram• CardioversionforAtrialFibrillation• PacemakerandAICDImplantation• PacemakerandAICDDeviceChecks• EKG• CardiacRehabilitation

PeriPheral vaSCular ServiCeS* • Peripheral/Extremities

—DiagnosticUltrasound—DiagnosticAngiogram—SurgicalorEndovascular

StentIntervention

• CarotidArtery—DiagnosticUltrasound—DiagnosticAngiogram—SurgicalorEndovascular

StentIntervention

Remember, you can access a full line of preventative, diagnostic, and treatment services conveniently located at your local hospitals:

Fisher-Titus Snyder/White Heart & Vascular Center

419-660-6946The Bellevue Hospital-Specialty Care Clinic

419-484-1022

Submitted by Chuck BenesIn July of 1964, Mel Hoover along with his brother & father in law opened

Oak Harbor Golf Club as a 9 hole public course built on the banks of the Portage River. In July of next year OHGC is going to celebrate 50 years in business. Over the years it has seen many changes. In 1972 the back nine opened (now the front nine), in 1988 the property was acquired for the driving range and it opened, and in 2003 the clubhouse was remodeled. Since 2003 the course has slowly been modernized with new tee placements capturing the views of the Portage River, improved drainage, new water hazards, and improved turf maintenance practices. Today OHGC is known as the finest public course in Ottawa County, headquarters for The First Tee of Lake Erie, and an ideal venue for charity golf outings, business meetings, receptions, and social functions of all kinds. OHGC has hosted many weddings, club and company functions, and Barb’s home cooked meals are known as one of the best kept secrets in the county. OHGC is owned and operated by PGA Professionals Chuck Benes & Mathew Jennings, Chuck since 1987 & Matt since 2006. Mathew is widely known as one of the best golf instructors and club fitters in the area. The golf shop is a registered fitting center for Taylormade, Ping, and Titleist golf equipment.

The golf business has changed greatly in the past 10 years. Like many businesses, costs such as labor, equipment, and maintenance have risen sharply, while the retail price of the product has remained flat. Several golf courses in our area have either gone out of business or were sold in a distress sale. One of the keys to OHGC’s success is that they have opened up new revenue streams to compliment the business of public golf. The Baldy’s Roost restaurant has hosted many events such as Standup Comedy nights, allowing our members and customers to catch quality touring comics, like you would see in Toledo or Cleveland, in a local setting. Other events include wine tastings, murder mystery dinners and Trivia Nights. Details on all events can be found on the club’s website, oakharborgolfclub.com. If anyone would like to be updated on these local entertainment events joining the clubs email club would be recommended.

So if you are a golfer or not, OHGC can be your place to escape to, without having to drive to the big city. Come out and help OHGC celebrate 50 years of serving the entertainment and recreation needs of the residents of Northwest Ohio.

Oak Harbor Golf Club:50 Years Old in 2014


MAY PAINTING INC.Family Owned and Operated Since 1933

Serving Commercial & Industrial Accounts In NW Ohio

Specializing in:

STANDARD ARCHITECTURAL & MULTI-COLOR COATINGS

WOOD FINISHING

VINYL WALLCOVERING

WATER REPELLENT COATINGS

TWO COMPONENT EPOXY & URETHANE SYSTEMS

WATER AND SAND BLASTING

“Professional Painting Pays”419-332-1363 Toll Free 800-797-6252

446 N. Wood St., Fremont, OH 43420

www.maypainting.com

In an effort to head off any possibility of a repeat of a 56 hour July, 2011 power outage caused by lightning at the village’s only power substation, village officials have agreed to build a new $1.3 million substation which will both increase the village electrical capacity and serve as a backup for the current substation.

The new substation will be able to power the entire village which doubles the village’s current capacity. Electricity will be fed from two directions. Both substations will receive electricity on 69 KV power lines coming from both the Toledo and Oak Harbor areas. Equipment will be in place to switch over almost immediately if one feeder line is incapacitated which should cause only minimal power interruption during the switchover process according to Mr. Stoiber. The village is planning an open house in the spring so residents can tour the wastewater treatment plant and get information about the new substation.

Mayor Matt Damschroder told the North Coast Business Journal that these upgrades are necessary for the future development of the village. He said, by increasing the capacity for additional sewage treatment and electrical power, the village has strongly positioned itself once Elmore and Harris and Woodville Townships agree to a Joint Economic Development District. When approved, the JEDD agreement would encompass an area of over 80 acres across from the Ohio Turnpike exchange one mile south of Elmore.

Officials from both townships and the village have been meeting in an ongoing process to negotiate a JEDD agreement that will meet the needs of all entities involved. Mayor Damschroder said he believes the agreement process is approaching its final stages and hopes that an agreement is signed in 2014.

ELMORE, from Page 1

Submitted by: Mark T. ReillyWinter weather is unpredictable

and can have a large impact on your business. While maintaining business operations is always at the forefront of your mind, it is important to consider employee safety as well. You should have policies and procedures in place before bad weather hits so that your company and employees are as prepared as possible.

Driving on Company TimeA major concern regarding winter weather is

employees who drive a company car or vehicle as part of their workday. All vehicles should be given a safety check by a mechanic before the bad weather hits, and they should also be equipped with emergency materials such as a snow scraper, blanket, first aid kit and flashlight.

In addition, employees should be instructed to dress properly for the weather, including a hat, scarf and gloves, or have extra clothing on hand in case of a breakdown or accident.

In order to protect your company against liability, any employees who may drive in bad weather on company time should be trained in safe, cautious driving techniques and what to do in case of an accident. Also, consider employees who drive as part of their commute — it may be wise to educate them in cautious winter driving techniques to ensure their safety while driving to and from work.

Navigating Employee PayPay issues arise when weather forces your business

to close for any length of time or prevents employees from making it to work even if your business remains open.

For non-exempt (typically hourly) employees, you are only required to pay them for the hours they actually work. Thus, if your business opens

late, closes early or closes for an entire day, you are not required to pay them for any time missed.

If an exempt (typically salaried) employee works any part of the day, you must pay them for a full day. Similarly, if the business is closed for a day or more but less than a full week, you need to pay exempt employees their normal salary if they worked any part of that week. You do not need to pay employees if business is closed for a full week. This applies whether your company uses a five-day or seven-day workweek. You may, however, require that they use available paid time off or vacation time, if available. If your business remains open but an exempt employee cannot come in due to weather conditions, this is a personal reason, and you do not need to pay them.

One option to ease the loss of a business day or any missed productivity is to ask exempt employees to work from home if you are already paying them for the day. You may also consider offering a telecommuting option during inclement weather even if your business remains open so employees can avoid the dangers of driving in the extreme cold or snow.

Be PreparedEmployees should be informed of your company

policies related to inclement weather — safety, attendance and pay-related. You should have an established communication method to inform your employees of a business closing or delay. When bad weather is coming, address all your policies again, remind employees of communication channels to address attendance and plan for the worst potential outcome to ensure your company is prepared for the weather.

Contact Diversified Insurance Service at 800-848-2788 for more information on safety procedures and other ways you might mitigate the risks to your business or visit their website at www.divinsurance.com.

Winter Weather Can Affect Your Business Insurance

Law You Can Use

Q: I just got an upsetting phone call from someone who said I owe money to the IRS. He said if I didn’t pay it back right away using a pre-loaded debit card or a wire transfer, that I might be arrested or deported, or that I might lose my driver’s license. I hung up the phone, but now I’m worried. What if I’m arrested?

A: The IRS is currently warning consumers

about a scam that has hit taxpayers, including recent immigrants, in nearly every state in the country. Victims are told they owe money to the IRS and it must be paid promptly through a pre-loaded debit card or wire transfer. If victims refuse to cooperate, they are then threatened with arrest, deportation or suspension of a business or driver’s

Phone Scam Targets Taxpayers

See SCAM, Page 12

Bellevue Chamberof Commerce

2 CommitteetoGrowBellevue 4thAnnualHolidayAuction BierkellerMeilensteinHall. BellevueHighSchoolChoraliers 5:30p.m.until6:00p.m.

5 Chamber’sMonthlyLuncheon MeetingNoon-TheWillows, Speaker:AdamGreenslade, DirectorofGovernmentalAffairs OhioTurnpikeCommission

ChristmasParade6:00p.m.

Erie CountyChamber of Commerce

5 BusinessAfterHours Corso’sFlower&GardenCenter; 3404MilanRoad;Sandusky; 5:15p.m.

13 Plannedworkshop “DataSecurity”; 7:30a.m.,LocationTBA

Huron Chamber of Commerce

12 BusinessAfterHours/ LightUpHuron5-7p.m. Admiral’sPointeNursing& RehabCo-sponsors:Huron HometownNews,Huron ChamberofCommerce.

Huron CountyChamber of Commerce

5 SafetyCouncilConstruction, 7:30am,Chamberoffice, RSVP-419-668-4155

ChamberHolidayAfterHours, 5:00-7:00pm, EagleCreekGolfCourse

11 MembershipCommittee, 8:00am,Chamberoffice

12 SafetyCouncilGeneral, 7:30am,Chamberoffice, RSVP-419-668-4155

ProgramCommittee, 8:00am,ChamberOffice

19 SafetyCouncilManufacturing, 7:30am,Chamberoffice, RSVP-419-668-4155

SmallBusinessBasicsSeminar, 2:00pm-4:30pm,free, Chamberoffice, RSVP-419-755-9011

Marblehead PeninsulaChamber of Commerce

5ShortDirectorsMeeting &ChristmasDinner 6:00pmatNagoya

19 BusinessAfterHours Hostedby1812Food&Spirits 5to7pm

Oak HarborChamber of Commerce

6 OldeFashionedChristmas PortageFireStation 5-7pm

19 BoardMeeting OakHarborChamberBuilding 7:30am

Port Clinton AreaChamber of Commerce

2 CommunicationsCommittee 8:30am

3 AdministrationCommittee 8:30am

5 EconomicRestructuring Committee8:30am

7 CommunityChristmas Downtown

9 ChamberBoard 8:30am

10 DesignCommittee 8:30am

12 OrganizationCommittee 8:30am

13 BenefitsCommittee 8:30am

17 AmbassadorCommittee 8:30am

18 WalleyeFestivalCommittee 8:30am

19 MainStreetBoard 8:30am

Sandusky CountyChamber of Commerce

3 FinanceCommittee 12:30p.m., Foundationmeeting 12:45p.m., ExecutiveCommittee 1:00p.m.Chamberoffice.4 Marketing&Membership Committeeat3:00p.m.

11 ChamberBoardofTrustees Meetingat7:30a.m. Chamberoffice.

18 HolidayReception HayesPresidentialCtr. 5-7p.m.

Seneca CountyChamber of Commerce

3 IMCMeeting 6pm.OsceolaTheater, TiffinUniversityCampus

4RibbonCuttingMorrison House1:45pm. MorrisonHouse

5 RibbonCuttingSeneca CommunityChaplainCorp 3:30pm.

12 RibbonCutting AgCreditCountryMortgages 11:30am

17 TiffinAreaSafetyCouncil 11:30amatMooseLodge946

SenecaCounty HumanResourceAssociation 11:30am.LunchMeeting St.FrancisHome, Speaker:DaveTippett, Employers’Association.

18 CashMob RoRoDesign,LLC 10am-6pm.

20 AmbassadorMeeting Noon,Chamber


Design/BuildDevelopment

Commercial/RetailEducational

Industrial/WarehousingManufacturing

OfficesHealthcare

Senior CareWorship Facilities

Metal Buildings

www.telamonconstruction.com

5505 Milan Road, Sandusky, Ohio 44870Phone: (419) 626-1111

Toll Free: (888) 904-4600

Chamber Calendars for December


Imagine Art, a division of RVI Inc. in Oak Harbor, Ohio has been busy in their studio preparing for the Holiday Season. Many unique and one of a kind items have been joyfully created by the hands of the Imagine Art artist’s. The studio strives to structure art out of recycled and repurposed goods from the many donations they receive.

These items make wonderful gifts especially for the holidays.

Shopping has been made easy through the new website, www.thegoodlifegifts.org or by visiting the gallery in Common Grounds Coffee Shop at the Sutton Center. Other locations to shop include Bench’s Greenhouse in Elmore or The Exponet in Oak Harbor. Gift items are also available Monday thru Friday, 8am to 4 pm at RVI where you can visit the working studio. You can reach us by phone at 419-567-3070.

RVI is partnering with Riders Unlimited to provide a new Adult Day Support program located at the Riders Unlimited facility, 3140 N. Behlman Road, Oak Harbor. “TROT” serves people with developmental disabilities in a unique way. The program provides the opportunity for individuals to participate in therapeutic horseback riding through Riders Unlimited, as well as participating in fun, skill-building activities.

Participants of TROT will be involved in creative activities that build character and skill; and will show off their efforts by entering their goods in the Ottawa County Fair. Whether it’s a beautiful flower, a delicious baked good, or a hand-crafted piece, activities throughout the year will assist the individual in working toward an entry in the local fair. Volunteer opportunities are available as well, and include light building maintenance, ground maintenance, and animal care.

Program hours are Monday—Friday, 9:00 a.m.—3:00 p.m., with riding offered daily.

RVI—Riverview Industries, Inc., is a private, non-profit organization located in the heart of Ottawa County, Ohio. Riverview Industries, Inc. began in 1973 under the auspices of the Ottawa County Board of Developmental Disabilities with the purpose of providing work opportunities for people with disabilities. Although those work opportunities are still the core of our purpose today, the organizations has grown to provide additional opportunities in Habilitation and Supported Living. For more than 35 years, RVI has been providing the best care with the most options available for people with disabilities in Ottawa County, beginning with basic employment and growing into non-work and even in-home care. Specialized services include:

· Nursing· Behavior Support· Skill Development Coordination· Lunch Program

RUI—Riders Unlimited, Inc., is a nonprofit equestrian organization that primarily provides equine assisted activities and therapies (EAAT) to individuals with disabilities, as well as, equestrian programs for individuals without disabilities. It has been serving Ottawa, Sandusky and surrounding counties since 1996. RUI is a member center of PATH International with certified instructors and Special Olympics coaches.

RUI began as a pilot program in Marblehead and also operated outside of Gibsonburg. In 2011, RUI purchased an equestrian facility outside of Oak Harbor which is now the base of all programming.

A variety of horses are available for providing individualized services; along with a large base of volunteers to assist during programming. Our mission statement is: “Harnessing the unique qualities of the horse, RUI utilizes the strengths of each individual to promote physical, mental and emotional well-being.”

To learn more, contact Laura Borows, RVI Habilitation Manager, at 567-262-3056 or e-mail: [email protected]. Check us out at www.rviinc.org.

In addition to “TROT”, RVI opened Common Grounds Café & Catering, located in the Sutton Center in Port Clinton, in June of this year and celebrated on October 11th with a Ribbon Cutting sponsored by the Port Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce and a customer appreciation day, called “We Love Our Customers!” Door prizes and free samples of flavored coffees and a variety of tea, as well as a sampling of menu items, were offered at the well-attended event.

At this time last year, RVI was beginning to develop their next three-year strategic plan with a major focus on connecting with the community. In February of this year, the landlord of the Sutton Center inquired if RVI would be interested in operating Common Grounds since the previous operator had closed it last year. RVI re-opened Common Grounds in June of this year. On October 23rd, Common Grounds was presented with a prestigious award from the Mental Health & Recovery Board - the Executive Director’s Award presented by Dr. Kirk Halliday. Common Grounds was honored for their outstanding contribution to the community, affirming the direction of the strategic plan. The dinner and awards presentation was held at the Mon Ami and was very well attended by professionals, volunteers, and people who receive services in the field - a great mix of people. Employees of Common Grounds do everything from making specialty coffee drinks to working in the kitchen prepping food for the café and catering jobs. Eight individuals are currently employed at the business, with that number expanding due to the growing demand for their catering services.

The next “We Love Our Customers!” Day will be held on December 10th, and on the second Tuesday of each month thereafter. Find more information on-line at www.commongroundspc.com, on Facebook, or call 419-732-3777.

The support of the community is apparent and very much appreciated by Common Grounds and RVI. Coffee. Community. Good for the Soul.

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RVI Steps Out of Comfort Zone with New Ventures


Douglas GildenmeisterSenior Vice President, InvestmentsRaymond James

You may have lost your job already, or it’s something you’re concerned about. Either way, the keys to surviving a job loss financially are to plan ahead, take stock of your income, and cut your expenses.

Plan aheadIf you haven’t been laid off, it’s a

good idea to plan ahead for that possibility. It’s hard to know how long you’ll be out of work, so to be on the safe side, prepare for at least six months of unemployment. You might find a job much sooner, but you don’t want to be forced to take the first opportunity that comes along, especially if it isn’t suitable.

Come up with a financial plan for unemployment, and design your plan with some flexibility to allow for adjustments if your situation changes. Circumstances can vary based on how long you’re out of work, and whether unanticipated expenses arise while you’re unemployed.

Prepare a survival budgetA big part of your unemployment plan is a survival

budget. Start with a list of all your income and expenses. You might already have a budget that you can use as a base, but your survival budget should be a bare-bones version of your regular budget. Include only expenses that are necessary. The goal of your survival budget is to have a good idea of what income you need to actually survive.

Your plan also should include an emergency fund that’s equal to at least six months of living expenses from which you can draw to supplement other sources of income. If you haven’t set up an emergency fund, you may still have time to do so. You’ll be amazed how fast you can deplete your regular savings if your unemployment lasts more than a couple of weeks.

If you lose your job, find some incomeStart by checking with your former employer. Are you

eligible for severance pay? Whether it’s available depends on your employer’s policy, but if you’re offered severance pay, you might have the option of taking it in a lump sum or as a continuation of salary for a fixed period of time. Taking severance pay in a lump sum gives you control over your money, but you may lose some employee benefits such as group health insurance. If you take your severance as a continuation of salary, you may be able to keep your benefits, but you’ll be dependant on your former employer’s ability to make payments to you.

But don’t stop there. Check with your local unemployment office to find out if you’re eligible for unemployment benefits. You can receive at least 26 weeks of benefits (more in some cases). Generally, to qualify for unemployment benefits you must have been laid off. You may even qualify if you’ve been fired, so long as it’s not for misconduct. You probably won’t qualify if you quit your job, however.

Reduce your expensesIf you’re unemployed, you may find that your income

won’t support your current expenses. Aside from reducing your debt by selling big-ticket items like your car or house, there are other things you can do to minimize your living expenses.

One of your first considerations should be to identify and discontinue discretionary expenses. Such items as magazine subscriptions, health club memberships, extra phone services, credit cards you don’t use that have an annual fee, dining out regularly, and extra pay services on your cable television are examples of some of the expenses you can trim from your budget. You also may have to put off that planned vacation until you’re back on your “working” feet.

Talk with your creditorsAnother way to cut your expenses is to try negotiating

with your creditors to lower interest rates on your credit cards, defer a payment or two on your car loan, or reduce your monthly payments temporarily. You also may be able to lower your home mortgage monthly payments by refinancing to a lower rate (if you can qualify in spite of your job loss), or by negotiating a longer repayment period. You’ll have to admit that you’re facing some financial difficulty due to your job loss, but if your credit is good, now’s the time to make the calls--not when you fall behind in your payments.

Along those same lines, check with your mortgage company or credit card companies or look at your billing statements to find out if you have credit insurance. Credit insurance will make your bill payments when you’re unemployed. However, you may have to wait a while before receiving benefits.

While technically not an expense, you can also decrease your spending by reducing your contributions to retirement or education funds. However, the less you contribute now, the less you’ll have for retirement or college, so this option should be a last resort. But you might be able to make up for the reduction in contributions by increasing payments to those funds when you’re back on your feet financially.

Increase your incomeYou’ve cut your expenses and spending as much as

possible, but you still don’t have enough income. Here are some ideas that might help you meet your expenses while unemployed.

Consider a part-time or temporary job. This will provide another source of supplementary income while you search for your next full-time job. And your part-time job could turn out to be your next full-time job--or at least it might lead to another opportunity with another potential employer. Also, your spouse or partner may be able to get a job if he or she is not already working, or pick up more hours at a present job.

Another income-generating option is borrowing from the cash value of your life insurance policies. But you’ll be limited as to how much you can borrow by the amount of cash available and other policy restrictions. And you’ll be charged interest on the borrowed funds, so if you don’t repay the loan, it can reduce your death benefit or even cause the insurance to lapse.

If you’re really strappedYour home is another source of savings you may be

able to tap into. If you have enough equity in your home, sometimes you can obtain a home equity line of credit even if you’ve lost your job. You’ll only pay interest on the portion you use. But you’ll still have to make a monthly payment, so make sure you’re able to afford the new loan payments before you put your house on the line.

If you’re still strapped for cash, consider withdrawing from your tax-deferred retirement accounts, such as your IRA or employer-sponsored retirement. Any money you withdraw from these types of accounts likely will be taxed as ordinary income for the year in which you make the withdrawal. Also, you may have to pay a 10% penalty tax for early withdrawal if you’re under age 59½ unless an exception to the penalty applies.

Tip: If you’re considering taking funds from your IRA or retirement plan, you should consult a tax advisor regarding the specific tax treatment of your withdrawal, because not all of it will necessarily be taxable. For example, if part of the withdrawal from your traditional IRA or employer’s retirement plan represents nondeductible contributions, you may not be taxed on that portion of the withdrawal.

If all else failsIf money really starts getting tight, be prepared to take

more drastic steps. You might consider moving from your home and renting it temporarily. Obviously you’d have to find cheaper alternative housing, but the rental income from your home may be enough to cover your rental expenses while your tenants pay for most of the home costs, such as utilities and even real estate taxes. However, any decision you make in this area should be made with careful consideration, and only after evaluating how much you can actually get out of the deal.

As a last resort, you may have to consider selling bigger items like your car or even your home. Since these larger possessions usually carry a debt, by selling them you’re not only generating some cash, but you’re decreasing your expenses by ridding yourself of the debt attached to the item sold.

All is not lostA job loss is not the end of the world, even though it

may feel that way. Mapping out your priorities and drafting a bare-bones budget can help you come up with your own financial strategy for job loss survival.

This information was developed by Broadridge, an independent third party. It is general in nature, is not a complete statement of all information necessary for making an investment decision, and is not a recommendation or a solicitation to buy or sell any security. Investments and strategies mentioned may not be suitable for all investors. Past performance may not be indicative of future results. Raymond James & Associates, Inc. member New York Stock Exchange/SIPC does not provide advice on tax, legal or mortgage issues. These matters should be discussed with an appropriate professional. Raymond James & Associates, Inc., member New York Stock Exchange/SIPC.

Financial Survival after a Job LossEstate

When it comes to employee healthcare coverage, “not deciding” is not an option. But what can you do when the rules keep changing, a thousand heated opinions vie for precedence in your brain, and the future is as murky as mud? Glenda Eoyang says you employ a decision-making model hinging on three simple yet powerful questions that will get you unstuck.

Whether your politics are deep red, deep blue, or somewhere in between, the Affordable Care Act is making your life more difficult—or at least more confusing. There’s no end to the speculation on what Obamacare may cost companies. You’ve heard reports and rumors of owners dropping coverage, cutting full-time jobs to part-time, and passing costs along to employees. And if yours is a smaller company, the possibility of receiving the new Small Business Health Care Tax Credits—which require switching to plans purchased through a government exchange—adds an extra layer of complication. Frankly, all the handwringing and second-guessing has you paralyzed. You just don’t know what to do.

Actually, says Glenda Eoyang, the answer is fairly simple: Stop awfulizing, make some decisions, and get back to work. In short, break your Obamacare paralysis.

“At some point, you have to stop worrying and take action, even if you cannot predict the future or control what happens next,” says Eoyang, who along with coauthor Royce Holladay wrote the new book Adaptive Action: Leveraging Uncertainty in Your Organization (Stanford University Press, 2013, ISBN: 978-0-8047871-1-6, $27.95, www.adaptiveaction.org). “It’s true that this is not the best of all possible decision-making situations. It combines the risks of uncertainty and high stakes. Still, you have to decide. And you can—once you get unstuck.”

Why are so many business owners feeling stuck? Quite simply, it’s because they have to make their healthcare decisions in a complex, shifting, and uncertain landscape of regulations and options. No matter how much research you do, no matter how many experts you consult, the future of healthcare in the U.S. is as unknowable as the future health of your employees. Your insurance decision space is wide open, dependent on many variables, and

tied up with complex interdependencies.

“And here’s the thing: These kinds of decisions aren’t just about the raw numbers,” adds Eoyang. “One must factor in ‘intangibles’ like employee engagement and goodwill and the long-term benefits of high productivity and low turnover. In the end, decisions based solely on saving dollars can come back to bite you. Bright, young prospective employees may find better offers elsewhere. And you will surely pay a very high price for healthcare decisions that create or perpetuate a culture of fear and resentment.”

So…confusion, uncertainty, and high-stakes outcomes. Sounds relaxing, right? Not really, but it is doable. And only one decision-making method can serve in such a complex landscape. Eoyang and Holladay call it Adaptive Action.

Adaptive Action consists of three simple questions that help you deal with any complex problem: What? So what? and Now what? No matter how messy your challenge is, these three questions are certain to get you—and keep you—unstuck. When you consider these questions, you build your capacity to see, understand, and influence patterns even in the most chaotic environments. The discipline of Adaptive Action can help you get the greatest opportunity out of your current healthcare-related challenges.

Eoyang suggests you take out your word processor, legal pad, or video camera and record your most honest answers to these questions.

WHAT? Questions:1. What do I know for sure about

health insurance options for my organization and employees? What can I find out? What is totally unknowable until the future reveals it? Uncertainty is the greatest challenge to good decision-making in complex situations. Some things you don’t know, but you can find them out. Other things you cannot know, no matter how hard you try. These unknowables depend on many variables and complex interdependencies, so that only time will tell how and when they will become knowable. If you want to use what is knowable to your best advantage, be really clear about what you do not or cannot know.

“Consult experts or do your own

research to fill in blanks in what you can but don’t know right now, but don’t waste time on the unknowables,” advises Eoyang. “Name them, write them on a piece of paper, and put that paper into your bottom drawer. Take it out once in a while and ask yourself if any item has moved into the realm of the knowable or known. Until then, don’t waste any more time speculating.”

2. What has worked well in the past for my triple bottom line of profit, employee engagement, and sustainability? In these complex times, you do not have the luxury of thinking of only one thing at a time. Not only are your major measures and concerns massively interrelated, but they are also related in unpredictable ways. A small change in profitability, employee engagement, or sustainability may have tremendous and long-lasting effects on any one of the other factors. Or not.

“In chaos theory, this is recognized as the butterfly effect, because a sensitive system might respond in

unpredictable and exaggerated ways to a small disturbance like the flap of a butterfly wing,” says Eoyang. “On the other hand, a potential tsunami may show up as a ripple. You may never know the answer, but you can increase your adaptive capacity when you ask the right questions. Focus your questions on patterns that are significant to your success and how those patterns are related to each other.”

3. What opportunities for growth and expansion do I see for my business in the next five years, and how will they affect our triple bottom line? It is always tempting to focus on the immediate needs and concerns, especially the ones you can control. For that reason, you may be thinking about your healthcare decision only in terms of your current employees and next quarter’s income statement. That would be a mistake, says Eoyang.

“The success of your business over the long term depends on what is


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With a brief program and a ceremonial ribbon cutting Nov. 14, Terra State Community College christened its newest facility – the Conference and Hospitality Center. Dr. Jerome Webster, Terra

State’s president, welcomed an audience of community leaders, education professionals, hospitality-related representatives, and others who made the project possible. The keynote speaker was

John Carey, Chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents. He told the group that Gov. Kasich and other state leaders are seeking a collaborative spirit among all educational institutions. “We’re trying to break down

silos between higher education and K-12,” he said. “We’re calling it pre-K through career. This is a shared, bi-partisan vision. It will give students the best opportunity to succeed.”Carey also mentioned the

new funding formula in the state and said it has gotten

attention from President Barack Obama. “Ohio is one state that’s

doing it right,” he said. Terra State is also reaching out and doing what it’s supposed to do, he continued. “This was a locally funded project and that’s astounding,” he said of the new center. “No one did it for you. You did it for yourself.”Jenna Ohms, of Fremont,

was one of several hospitality management students assisting during the festivities. She appreciates having the new building. “It will be so nice to have a facility like this to learn hands-on,” she said. The event concluded with

refreshments and tours of the facility.The Terra State Conference

and Hospitality Center is approximately 9,700 square feet. It will serve as a culinary lab for hospitality management students and also will allow the college to offer conference services to the community.

The Board of Directors for Main Street Port Clinton held their annual retreat on November 14 where they completed strategic planning. The Board reviewed the work of the organization over the past year against the 2013 Strategic Plan. Goals for the Board and each Committee were created and work plans are being developed for 2014. The work plans outline action steps to achieve each goal including deadline dates and budgets to create accountability.

To learn more about the projects and activities of Main Street Port Clinton, please contact 419-734-5503 or visit www.historicportclinton.com

Ohio Board of Regents Chancellor John Carey and Terra State officials cut the ribbon on the new Conference and Hospitality Center.

Terra State opens new Conference and Hospitality Center

Main Street Board Holds Strategic Planning Retreat


By John DetwilerPresident & CEO

On October 24, members of the Seneca Regional Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Services gathered for our 99th annual meeting to celebrate individual and collective achievements; to review the accomplishments of our organization and to set the stage for our centennial celebration next year.

The scope of the Chamber cuts across two primary lines of business: Chamber Operations and Visitor Services which we brand Destination Seneca County. We also operate three affiliate organizations, the Tiffin Area Safety Council, the Seneca County Industrial Management Council and the Seneca County Human Resource Association. Following is an overview of each of our functional areas:

We’ve been in the tourism business for nearly two years. In that time, we’ve made significant strides in positioning Seneca County as a destination location. We were, once again, the first to market with our 2013 Visitor Guide, which is available at all major distribution points throughout the state including the Ohio Turnpike, the Travel Information Centers, as well as major tourism venues. It has become a very popular piece. During the peak travel month of July, its distribution eclipsed that of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Our visibility has grown. We’ve been featured on Neil Zurcher’s One Tank Trips as well as WBGU’s Scenic Stops. We completed a new website and Facebook page as well as produced a DVD and 30-second commercial which we will begin airing in 2014. We’re also actively involved in the Artistry in American Glass Show to be held at the Civic Community Center on the 9th & 10th of November. Ten of the top national glass dealers from as far away as Louisiana and Texas will be in attendance. In the future, we believe that we can position Tiffin as the home of a major national glass show.

Our results speak for themselves. Lodging tax revenues continue to increase exponentially as do county gross receipts. Through September, we hosted over 30 tour groups representing over 1,000 tourists; we fulfilled nearly 400 e-mails requesting information; we answered 1000 phone calls and logged over 5500 website visits and 3000 Facebook

visits. We’ve already scheduled 4 groups into 2014 and landed our first convention in June 2015. (National Postmark Convention)

As for Chamber Operations, we continue to expand and refine our program of work. This past year we welcomed the Seneca County Human Resource Association under our umbrella. The SCHRA provides a forum for local human resource professionals to network, refine their skills and improve their knowledge base at monthly luncheons. Our other affiliate organizations, the Tiffin Area Safety Council and the Seneca County Industrial Management Council continue to grow and prosper. Recently our Safety Council stepped up to provide much-needed funding and volunteer assistance for the Safety Town program in Tiffin City Schools grades K – 5.

We continue to nurture potential new business owners. Our Business Basics seminar, held monthly, has attracted 30 individuals interested in owning or operating a business while another 27 were privately counseled.

While our manufacturing sector has witnessed significant growth, 30 of our retail and services sector businesses also celebrated significant milestones as our Ambassadors joined with them for ribbon cuttings and other congratulatory activities. We continue to stimulate local purchasing by initiating several Cash Mobs and dispersing over $6500 in Chamber Cash.

On the education front, we continue, with others, to advocate for the development of a career-based curriculum. Our manufacturing community, while growing, continues to face challenges hiring qualified employees. This was clearly evident at our Seneca County Jobs Fair in early May another activity in which we were actively involved. We

recently completed our annual welcome back program for both Heidelberg and Tiffin University students and this year co-sponsored the first Tiffin Welcomes the World program for the more than 200 international students at a meet & greet with the business community. Finally, we capped the opening of the school year by recognizing Coach, Teacher and Mentor Paul Miletti as our Outstanding Educator at our annual New Teachers and Administrators welcoming breakfast in August.

Two weeks ago we concluded our fourth Downtown Tiffin Farmers Market season. This event, held the second Saturday June through October has become one of our signature events, drawing hundreds to each of our 6 markets.

Recently, we modified our logo to mark the beginning of our centennial year. Other anniversary programs are being developed. As we complete a century of service we note the continual evolution of the Chamber in meeting the growing needs of the Tiffin and Seneca County Community. Our variety and scope of activities are unlimited. While we were originally organized to represent and promote the area’s business economy, encourage business and industrial investment, broaden the tax base and provide employment, the Chamber has become increasingly involved initiating private-sector action on the major issues affecting our quality-of-life.

Our original Charter, dated September 11, 1914, stated that the Corporation was formed for the purpose of advancing the civic and business interests of the City of Tiffin and Seneca County. Today, nearly 100 years later, that mission has not changed.

Seneca Regional Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Services Celebrates 99th Year

The editor apologizes to the Seneca Chamber for inadvertently omitting this article in our November Focus on Tiffin issue. Computers just make our oversights faster! -JHBryden

license. In many cases, the caller becomes hostile and insulting.

The IRS DOES NOT and WILL NOT ask for credit card numbers over the phone. Also, the IRS WILL NOT ask you for a pre-paid debit card or wire transfer. If you receive an unexpected call from someone claiming to be from the IRS, and person threatens you with police arrest, deportation or revocation of your license if you don’t pay immediately, those are signs that it really isn’t the IRS calling. If the IRS wants to contact you about a tax issue, you will probably receive your first notice through the mail.

Q: What else should I know

about this phone scam?A: You should know that:• scammers use fake names and

IRS badge numbers, and generally use common names and surnames to identify themselves;

• scammers may be able to

recite the last four digits of your Social Security number;

• scammers may spoof the IRS toll-free number on your caller ID to make it appear that it’s really the IRS calling;

• scammers sometimes send bogus IRS emails to support their bogus calls;

• you may hear background noise of other calls being conducted to mimic a call site;

• after threatening you with jail time or driver’s license revocation, scammers may hang up, but then other scammers may soon call back pretending to be from the local police or DMV (and your caller ID may support this claim).

Q: What should I do if I ever get a call like that again?

A: If you get a phone call from someone claiming to be from the IRS, here’s what you should do:

• If you know you owe taxes or

By Roger BostdorffApproximately a

year ago I received an email from a banker friend of mine. He had a client with a business that had a note due in July. The banker was concerned that based on how the business was going for his client that the note very well could be called. This would put a substantial financial hardship on both the bank and the client.

The client asked the banker for help. In fact, the client wanted the banker to step in and direct the client on what to do to fix the problems of the business so the loan would be extended. The banker recognized the conflict of interest and that he did not have the time to dedicate to

fixing the client’s issues. Instead, the banker emailed me to determine if I would be willing to help by analyzing the business and making recommendations to get this business back on its feet.

The client and I met and he hired B2B Sales Boost, LLC. The client felt he could sell his way out of the problem. I agreed that this was a possibility but explained that we first needed to investigate his cash flow situation. One of the first things that can take a company under, even a company like GM, is lack of cash. If cash flow is a problem the real issue could be lack of runway (time available) to fix the problems. You need to first, stop the bleeding.

Therefore, first I asked to see a cash flow analysis. It did not exist. I began to gather the data to determine the breakeven point on sales each month to cover his costs. It was obvious that since his sales were down his expenses

needed to be reviewed, so that his monthly revenue in, covered his expenses out. Many times people refer to this as their monthly “nut.” As it turned out, he was spending $20,000 per month more than what he was taking in.

These are hard but necessary conversations. Let’s just say these were enthusiastic conversations. The client made the cuts, reluctantly. By making these painful cuts the client stopped the bleeding and gave himself some time so that the other recommendations made by B2B Sales Boost, had an opportunity to kick in.

B2B Sales Boost then reviewed the sales process and his staffing. I made several recommendations in this area. He implemented many of these as well. I wish I could say that his business has grown and he is knocking it out of the park. I can’t. However, I can say that he and the bank are on good terms. He is paying his bills and has not needed to make additional cuts nor take on additional debt. The bank is happy and the business is surviving.

Many times a company waits too long to evaluate their cash flow

status. Or they continue to believe that they can sell there way out of their situation. As the economy continues to challenge and credit becomes more challenging to obtain, please do not overlook the #1 killer of business, lack of CASH FLOW! This important measurement will tell you plenty regarding the health of the business and your ability to survive. Have you done a cash flow analysis for your company?

Cash is King!

Roger Bostdorff is the President of B2B Sales Boost. He spent over 30 years with IBM in sales and sales management. He then became President/COO of a small internet security company before founding B2B Sales Boost, LLC. B2B Sales Boost, LLC is a consulting company helping organizations improve their sales and overall business processes. You can find more about B2B Sales Boost on the web at www.b2bsalesboost.com or calling 419-351-4347. If you would like to receive the B2B Sales Boost Newsletter please send an email to [email protected]


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OEM_ncbj_HPhoriz_10_13.pdf 1 10/30/13 12:28 PM

The Chamber Bright Stars for 2013 were recognized recently at the semi-annual Chamber Leadership meeting and sixth annual Chamber Bright Star Awards presentation of the Northern Ohio Area Chambers of Commerce (NOACC) in the Legends Club at the First Energy Stadium in Cleveland.

More than 50 chambers of commerce across northern Ohio nominated a person from their chamber as their “Bright Star,” to recognize someone who has “made a significant impact on the chamber.

John Clark was honored posthumously by the Huron Chamber for his nearly two decades of service as BGSU Firelands College’s permanent representative to the Board of Directors. His wife, Cindy, and daughter, Jennifer, accepted his certificate and trophy from Tony Gallo, NOACC chairman and director of business development for Lorain County Chamber.

The Huron Chamber lost not only a long-time board member, but a dedicated volunteer and great friend when he was killed in an auto accident last May. As coordinator of career services at the college,

he left a legacy of young and re-entry students whose lives he impacted in very positive ways. At a memorial service on campus this fall, several hundred people turned out, each with a heart-warming story of how he touched their hearts and helped them along the path to a finer future. A quiet, can-do kind of guy, John was always eager to pitch in and help with the many various Chamber activities throughout the year.

But always, just beneath the surface, was that razor-sharp wit and dry sense of humor which surfaced each December when he donned a Santa suit during the Chamber’s stint at the Festival of Lights. As a car full of children pulled up to the Candy Cane house, John would morph into an engaging Saint Nick who had them convinced that he was watching closely from the North Pole to see if they “were naughty or nice.” Their eyes would get a big as saucers and you just knew that they would be on their behavior until the big day.

The Bright Star award winners represent a wide range of involvement with their respective chambers, some having been a

John Clark’s wife, Cindy, and her daughter, Jennifer, accept the posthumous Bright Star award from the Northern Ohio Area Chambers of Commerce.

member and or officer or committee chairman for 20+ years and some being newly involved but each of whom has given freely of his/her time, working hard for their chambers without any expectations.

Tony Gallo, NOACC Chairman

said “our volunteers are the common bond in each chamber. Giving recognition to our Bright Star in a public way lets our membership and community know we appreciate the time, talent and treasure that they provided.”

The Late John Clark Honored by Huron Chamber of Commerce


Submitted by Jill BenchAlthough the red geranium is still a

staple in many gardens; plant varieties, colors and growing habits have evolved through the years.

The year 2013 brought forth the emergence of SunPatiens as impatien downy mildew made the standard impatien a risk to grow. Sunpatiens have been hybridized to grow in sun or shade and bloom profusely all season. A new addition to our current color pallete, red and coral will the grown for Spring 2014.

As consumers crave brighter colors that flourish in potted creations Bench’s Greenhouse & Nursery will be featuring Sweetunia Orange Flash orange petunias in both pots and baskets. We are pleased to announce that Hort Couture ® plants will be featured in 2014. With stylish, sophisticated packing and unique plant material, Hort Couture® is only available at independent garden centers.

Edibles are growing again at Bench’s Greenhouse & Nursery. In addition to our Herb varieties which experienced a large increase in 2013, fruit and vegetable seeds, packs, pots and bushes will be available in quantities never grown before! Kale and Goji berries are among the new and improved selections.

Our miniature Fairy Garden department is expanding! Thousands of tiny plants and décor pieces in addition to custom made gardens will be readily available. Miniature Fairy Gardens appeal to garden enthusiasts of all ages and bring joy throughout the year.

This holiday season also marks the 20th year for The Christmas Shoppe at Bench’s. Started in 1994, Donald and Janice Bench, owners, wanted to extend the season for the full-time employees at Bench’s Greenhouse & Nursery. Utilizing growing space, holiday favorite poinsettias were g rown and the Shoppe was established selling Christmas decorations, cemetery items and live trees. Today, the Shoppe has transformed itself into a one-stop holiday destination stocking over 20,000 ornaments, live greens and wreaths and close to 200 artificial tree displays. In the past decade The Christmas Shoppe at Bench’s has broadened its inventory to include holiday gift items in addition to the traditional favorite decorations.

New for 2013, The Christmas Shoppe at Bench’s is proud to offer Willow Tree® by Demdaco angels and nativity pieces in addition to giftware including Davinci® Beads, PS Designs scarves and jewelry by Victoria Leland

Designs. Hundreds of new collegiate items and ornaments adorn the numerous tree displays within the 6000 sq. ft. holiday store. Beginning in late November, handmade cemetery items are available for purchase or custom designed items can be ordered. Local designers are also featured including Imagine Art by RVI Industries and Jessicups by Jessica Cable.

Nearly 2,000 poinsettias are grown and retailed each year for customers including many local churches. In 2013, Fairy Garden will be featured at a “Festive Fairy” Party which will be held on Saturday, December 7, at 10

am where miniature gardening enthusiast can learn how to add some HO! HO! And Snow to their fairy gardens that grow!

Bench’s Greenhouse & Nursery is a division of Benchmore Farms, Inc., and is a member of the Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association, Professional Plant Growers Association, Ohio Farm Bureau, Ohio Florist’s Association, Maumee Valley Growers and National Federation of Independent Businesses. Don and Janice Bench, along with their son and daughter-in-law Don, Jr and Jill, operate the greenhouse and farm operation on a daily basis.

Submitted by Kendra M. German, LNHAOttawa County Riverview Healthcare Campus Administrator

Ottawa County Riverview Healthcare Campus has had another successful year in 2013, located in Oak Harbor, Ohio. The facility is seeing its highest admissions numbers in over seven years. The facility has welcomed 255 admissions to the facility from January 1 through October 31, 2013. 70% or 177 of these admissions have returned back to a community setting.

In January of 2013, Riverview successfully transitioned to the Electronic Medical Record system, Point Click Care. Point Click Care’s electronic medication administration record (eMAR) is a full medication and treatment administration system that is securely accessed over the internet for real-time accuracy and dependability. The system also enhances resident safety but alerting nurses of medications, treatments or assessments that may be due. The system helps to facilitate compliance in the facility through documentation controls and information accuracy. Point Click Care also helps increase the productivity

of staff by reducing the burden of the paper process and cross references multiple departmental progress notes to better coordinate all aspects of the patient’s care.

In August Riverview replaced the facility’s 20 year old boilers with 93% efficient boilers. These boilers

will help the facility save on utility cost, allowing more funds to be available for the operations of the facility.

Both of these projects were funded through Riverview’s .5 mil tax levy.

Riverview has made it its mission to provide services which are not offered anywhere else within Ottawa County. Riverview believes the residents of Ottawa County should be able to recover from

illness or injury or seek long term care within our county limits. For this reason, Riverview is proud it is home to Ottawa County’s only Skilled Nursing Facility that is contracted with the Federal Government’s Veteran’s Administration and Ottawa County’s only Adult Day Service (DayBreak).

Riverview was Ottawa County’s first Medicare 5 Star facility, an honor the facility has been able to maintain for 4 years. This rating is given each quarter and based on the facility’s staffing levels (4 Stars “Above Average”), Quality Indicators (5 Stars “Much Above Average”) and Health Inspections (5 Star “Much Above Average).

The facility has been able to maintain the 5 Star rating by achieving two back to

back deficiency free surveys from the Ohio Department of Health (ODH). This achievement has also helped the facility to be listed in US News & World Report list of Best Nursing Homes for 2011, 2012 and 2013.

As Riverview looks forward to 2014 we will continue to look for ways to diversify and partner with others to continue to provide valued unique services to Ottawa County and the surrounding areas.

This Year, Bench’s Greenhouse & Nursery Celebrated 35 years of Business

A Good Year for Riverview


By Steven J. KrisfalusySm. Business Management/ HR ConsultantBeringer Group, LLC

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could capture the spirit of happiness & appreciation with your people all year around that the holidays bring? I hope this article helps you make that happen.

This is the time of year that many business owners show their appreciation for their greatest asset – people. Businesses have Christmas parties, bonuses, time off; people bring in treats & cookies to show appreciation for others and ultimately creating a happy environment. Owners tend to find this time of year a window of opportunity as a reminder to “give back” to the people who help make them successful – Thank Goodness!

Then after the holidays and New Year things go back to business as usual. Do we not know or realize that it is statistically proven that people who are happy are more productive? Do we not know that happy employees create better & quicker solutions? Do we not realize that happy employees go the extra mile when needed – gladly? How smart are we to miss those facts during the other 300+ days of each year?

Some companies like Zappos’ realize it! One of their TOP 3 “strategic” priorities is Human Resource related and making their people happy is a full time job for the corporation. Are we then surprised that Zappos’ is one of the most successful on-line companies on the planet? Is their success (bottom line) a fluke? I don’t think so!

Obviously smart business decisions must be part

of the formula but who implements those decisions? People! Another fact is that you would have a hard time prying one of Zappos employees away with a crow bar. Now being as smart as we are and doing some simple math – the facts dictate that the more we invest in our people – the better the business.

Assuming we never stop learning and this article has opened your eyes to this business growth opportunity, what are some of the things that you can do that DO NOT involve simply giving people more money?

1. Give them some of your time! In the hundreds of small businesses I help & work with my tactics are the same. I try to spend some “quality” one-one time with the people to really get to know them on a personal level and with sincerity. You would be amazed at how people appreciate that time & sincerity just knowing that you care beyond making a buck.

2. Treat them with respect as a colleague not as their boss! I guarantee you that time & time again when I have focused conversations with these people (not multi-tasking at the time), and get to know what they are thinking; what concerns them; and some of the challenges they face, our relationship (respect) usually grows to new and higher levels based on mutual respect & not just what can I get out of this.

3. Be a coach – not just a boss! If you do not think people’s personal challenges affect your bottom line, you may not be as smart as you think. I am not saying give them money to pay their mortgage when they are short that month but maybe helping them solve the

problem & offering some suggestions is all it takes to help. People want to succeed! People want to be recognized! People want respect no matter what their job is – all facts!

A True story: In a recent situation I asked someone what are their goals? To my surprise that person told me that he has not set any goals for a long time. I asked him how he motivates himself without any goals – personally or professionally. He said he doesn’t – he just lives day-by-day.

My advice, suggestion and request was that he think about setting some simple goals whether they be personal – financial – whatever and I would ask him about it next week.

To my surprise, one week later he did set some goals and even started taking action to achieve them. I won’t breach confidentiality offering details but I can tell you he was a different guy the following week when we met. He was pumped up. Motivated and even excited about his new goals. Ironically, before we met the 2nd time, I was told that his attitude and productivity dramatically increased but no one knew why but it was noticeable.

Smart people never stop learning and implementing new & creative ideas even if they borrowed them. Start by asking yourself questions like: what can I do with my people to help them grow personally every month or every quarter? Actually following through consistently will drive the impact & benefits to a whole new level. Good luck & Happy Holidays!

SJK Beringer Group is a diverse team of experts that have advised & implemented solutions on HR & Management issues throughout the Midwest since 1985.

Are We Really as Smart as We Think We Are?Human Resources

you think you might owe taxes, call the IRS at 800-829-1040. The IRS employees at that line can help you with a payment issue, if one actually exists.

• If you know you don’t owe taxes or have no reason to think that you owe any taxes (for example, you’ve never received a bill, or the caller made the threats described above), then call and report the incident to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at 800-366-4484.

• If you’ve been targeted by this scam, you should also contact the Federal Trade Commission and use their “FTC Complaint Assistant” at FTC.gov. Please add “IRS Telephone Scam” to the comments of your complaint.

Q: Are there other scams I should know about?

A: Yes. You should be aware that there are other unrelated scams (such as a lottery sweepstakes) and solicitations (such as debt relief) that fraudulently claim to be from the IRS.

The IRS encourages you to be vigilant against phone and email scams that use the IRS as a lure. The IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers by email to request personal or financial information. This includes any type of electronic communication, such as text messages and social media channels. The IRS also does not ask for PINs, passwords or similar confidential access information for credit card, bank or other financial accounts. If you receive such a communication, you should not open any attachments or click on any links contained in the message. Instead, forward the email to [email protected].

Q: Where can I get more information?A: For more information on how to report

phishing scams involving the IRS, go to the genuine IRS website, IRS.gov.

The information for this “Law You Can Use” column was provided by the Internal Revenue Service. It was prepared by the Ohio State Bar Association. Articles appearing in this column are intended to provide broad, general information about the law. Before applying this information to a specific legal problem, readers are urged to seek advice from an attorney.

SCAM, from Page 12


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Q: If Ihavehealth insurance coverage,whatchangescanIexpect?

A: ThechangesmadebytheAffordableCareAct to health insurance differ depending on thetypeof insurancecoverageyouhave.Ifyouhaveindividualorsmallemployergroupcoverage,youwilllikelyseemoresignificantchangesthanifyouhave health insurance coverage through a largeemployer(onewithmorethan50workers).

Q: I have coverage from a large employer.

WhatchangescanIexpect?A: In2014,largegroupcoveragemustcomply

withtheserules:(1)plansmaynotexcludecoveragefor pre-existing health conditions; (2) out-of-pocketspendingbyenrolleescannotexceed$6,350for individual coverage and $12,700 for familycoverage;and(3)plansmaynotimposeannualorlifetimelimitsonthetotalamountahealthplanisrequired to pay. Most large employers currentlyprovidecomprehensivecoverage,soyoumaynotseemanychanges.

Q: Whendoemployershavetooffercoveragetofull-timeworkers?

A: In2015 (not2014),employerswithmorethan50 full timeworkersmustoffer coverage tofull-time workers. Most large employers alreadysatisfy this requirement,but largeemployers thatdon’t currently offer employee health insurancemust begin providing coverage or face penalties.Someemployersareconsideringdroppingcoverageand paying the resulting penalties or keepingemployees at part-time status to avoid providingthemwithcoverage.However,mostemployeesarenotlikelytoseesignificantchangesintheirhealthcarecoverage.

Q: If Ihavecoverage fromasmallemployer,whatchangescanIexpect?

A: Smallemployers(with50orfewerworkers)may see significant changes to health benefits in

2014. Some requirements include: (1) no pre-existing condition exclusions; (2) coverage ofessential health benefits that include coverage in10 categories such as physician, hospital,prescription drug, mental health, maternity,preventive, wellness and pediatric services; (3)coveragewithcopaysanddeductiblesthatfallinto“metal tiers” (bronze, silver, gold and platinumplans);and(4)noannualor lifetimelimits.Also,the way insurers determine premium rates willchange. Under the new law, insurers cannotconsider the health condition of employees, andtheageofemployeeswillbeonlyalimitedfactor.Therefore,smallemployerswithhealthy,youngerworkersarelikelytopaymoreforinsurancewhilesmall employers with older and less healthyworkerslikelywillpayless.Onaverage,thecostofsmallgroupcoverageisexpectedtoincrease.

Q: WhatifIboughtmyownindividualhealthinsurancepolicy?

A: Ohiocitizenswith individualpoliciescanexpecttoseemanyofthesamechangesasthosecoveredbyasmallgroupemployer,including:(1)no preexisting condition exclusions; (2) coverageof essential health benefits; (3) copay anddeductibles that fall into metal tiers; and (4) nolifetime or annual limits. Your insurer will nolongerconsideryourhealthstatusinsettingyourpremiumrateandyouragewillbealimitedfactor.Also, if you earn less than 400 percent of thefederal poverty level ($45,960 for an individual;$94,200 for a family of four), you may get low-income subsidies to buy coverage through thefederalgovernment’sHealthInsuranceMarketplace(HealthCare.gov). Generally, premium rates forpeoplewhoareyoung,healthyandnoteligibleforsubsidiesmaygoup,whilepremiumratesforolderindividuals,peoplewithserioushealthconditionsandlower-incomefamiliesmaygodown.Whetherpremiumswillgoupondownforyouwilldependonthecircumstances.

Q: IfIdon’thavecoveragenow,howwillIbeaffected?

A: Ohio recently announced it will expandMedicaideligibilitybeginningonJanuary1,2014for Ohio citizens with incomes at or below 138percentofthefederalpovertylevel($15,856foranindividual and $31,119 for a family of four). Ifyour income level qualifies you, you can getMedicaid coverage without having to pay apremium. If your income is low, but not lowenough to qualify you for Medicaid coverage,insurance companies can no longer deny youcoverage,andthefederalgovernmentwillprovideyou with subsidies to buy affordable coverage ifyour income is at least 100 percent, (and nohigher than 400 percent, of the federal povertylevel.

If,however,youcanaffordhealthinsurance,butdecidenottobuyit,youlikelywillhavetopayapenaltyonyourtaxreturn.For2014,thepenaltyis$95peradult,or1percentofincome,whicheverishigher.Thepenaltyforfailuretoinsurechildrenis $47.50 per child (up to $285 per family) or 1percentofthefamilyincome,whicheverisgreater.

Penaltyamountsgoupin2015to$325peradultand$162.50perchild(upto$975perfamilyor2percentoffamilyincome,whicheverisgreater).In2016 and beyond, the penalty is $695 per adultand $347 per child (up to 2.5 percent of familyincome,whicheverisgreater).

This “Law You Can Use” column was

provided by the Ohio State Bar Association. It was prepared by Douglas L. Anderson, an attorney in the Columbus office of Bailey Cavalieri LLC. Articles appearing in this column are intended to provide broad, general information about the law. Before applying this information to a specific legal problem, readers are urged to seek advice from an attorney.

Law You Can UseHow Will Health Insurance Coverage Change in 2014?

Q: Whatisanautotitleloan?A: Whenyouapply for an“auto title” loan,

the lender will use the title to your vehicle assecurityforashort-termloan—usuallyforasmallamount ($500-$1,000). Typically, your vehiclemust be paid off or you must have only a smallbalance leftonyourvehiclepurchase loantogetanautotitleloan.

Q: HowdoIgetanautotitleloan?A: Autotitlelendersuseyourautotitlerather

thanapost-datedcheckascollateralfortheloan.To get an auto title loan, you would presentidentification,paystubs,verificationofyourstreet

address,acleartitletoyourcar,yourvehicleandanextrasetofcarkeys(sothelendercanrepossessyourcarwithouthavingtotowit,intheeventyoudonotpaybackthe loan).The lenderwillassessyourvehicle todeterminehow largea loanyourvehiclequalifiesyoutoreceive.Next,theautotitlelenderwillputa lienonyourvehicle’s title.Thelender will keep your vehicle title, but will nottransfer the title to the lender’sname.Then, thelender will give you a check, typically payablewithin30to60days.Thelenderwillonlyreturnyourvehicletitletoyouonceyourepaytheloaninfull.

Some auto title lenders use the credit service

organization (CSO) model for auto title lending.Thismethodinvolves1)theautotitlelenderwithaCSO license, 2) a third-party lender and3) theborrower. The auto title lender gets the CSOlicensefromtheOhioDepartmentofCommerce,and offers you an auto title loan provided by athird-party lender. The third-party lender islicensedbytheOhioDepartmentofCommercetolend under either the Small Loan Act or theMortgage Loan Act. Under this CSO model, theautotitle lenderwillchargeyou(theborrower)abrokering fee and the third-party lender willchargeyoufeesandinterestontheloan.

Consider Alternatives before Obtaining Auto Title Loan

See AUTO, Page 25


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Huron Ribbon Cutting

Lori & Keven Gray,( l.,) and Jenny Hagy, holding daughter, Campbell, cut the grand opening ribbon of their new Huron stores, The Uniform Place, Too and Lucky Stone Gifts & Promotions. The shops share one location, at 607 Main St. They feature all kinds of medical uniforms and accessories and at Lucky Stone, shoppers can find spirit wear, resort wear, unique gifts and beach glass jewelry.

The Port Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce and Marblehead Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the 20th anniversary of Allure Signs and Printing located at 5831 E. Harbor

Road in Marblehead on October 30. Representatives from the Chambers congratulated them on this special occasion and wished them many more years of success.

Bi-Chamber Ribbon Cutting Held for Allure Signs and Printing

Series is aimed at encouraging Chamber of Commerce members to meet regularly, exchange contact details, and share information, ideas and knowledge in a positive environment. Each event offers time for coffee and breakfast while networking, followed by a short presentation on relevant business-related topics to help improve the performance and bottom-line results of member organizations. We also held the Annual Easter Egg Hunt, which has been a tradition in Oak Harbor for over 60 years and we are blessed with community support and great volunteers that keep this event going strong year after year.

The second quarter of 2013 was a busy one. It held our Annual Community Clean-up day, our first Business Over Breakfast, Annual Golf Outing, Semi-annual Village Wide Garage Sale Days and our first farmer’s market of the season! We also launched our new website in May. The primary focus of the website, www.oakharborohio.net, is to highlight Chamber Members and Chamber Events while offering membership resources, direct access to the Chamber social media outlets and other helpful community resources and information. We seamlessly moved right into the third quarter where we held our Annual Independence Day Celebration along the Portage River, 3 farmer’s markets, and our 2nd Semi-annual Village Wide Garage Sale Days.

The last quarter holds our biggest event of the year, which is our Annual Apple Festival. The

festival is a fundraiser for the chamber and brings thousands of visitors to our town during the second weekend of October. In addition to the festival, we also held our last farmer’s market of the season. We round out the year with our Old Fashioned Christmas Celebration which takes place the second Saturday after Thanksgiving each year at the Portage Fire Station.

Aside from all of the wonderful events that our chamber works hard to bring the community each year, we also offer superior business benefits to our members. The biggest savings for our members come from the BWC Group Rating Program and the Anthem Health Insurance Discount program. We also offer the use of our bulk mail permit to members, discounts on many business services, Fed-Ex shipping discounts, special pricing on copy and print, business referrals for members, free seminars, ribbon cuttings, and much much more! For a detailed list or more information about any of our benefits and services please contact us at 419-898-0479 or visit us on the web at www.oakharborohio.net.

As always the Oak Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce looks forward to continuing to bring you quality family events throughout the year and promoting this great village in which we live. Below is our schedule of events for 2014:

Friday, January 24, 2014-Annual Chamber DinnerThursday February 13, 2014-Business Over

Breakfast-VFW Memorial Hall-7:30am-9amSaturday, April 12, 2014 - Annual Easter Egg HuntThursday May 8, 2014-Business Over Breakfast-

VFW Memorial Hall-7:30am-9am Friday, May 23, 2014 - Annual Chamber Golf

OutingFriday & Saturday, June 6 & 7, 2014 – Semi-

Annual Garage Sale DaysSaturday, June 28, 2014 – Farmer’s Market at

Kraemer ParkThursday, July 3, 2014 – Independence Day

Celebration, Mill Street RiverfrontSaturday, July 26, 2014 – Farmer’s Market at

Kraemer ParkThursday August 14, 2014-Business Over

Breakfast-VFW Memorial Hall-7:30am-9am Friday & Saturday, August 22 & 23, 2014 Semi-

Annual Garage Sale DaysSaturday, August 23, 2014 – Farmer’s Market at

Kraemer ParkSaturday, September 27, 2014 – Farmer’s Market

at Kraemer ParkSaturday & Sunday, October 11 & 12 – Annual

Apple Festival, Downtown Oak HarborSaturday, October 25, 2014 – Farmer’s Market at

Kraemer ParkThursday November 13, 2014-Business Over

Breakfast-VFW Memorial Hall-7:30am-9am Saturday, December 6, 2014 – Olde Fashioned

Christmas Celebration-Portage Fire StationWe look forward to promoting our businesses and

our community in 2014 and wish to thank all of our members and sponsors for their continuing support. Happy Holidays and best wishes for a prosperous New Year from the Oak Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce!


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OAK HARBOR, from Page 1

By Steven J. Piatak, CPA, ABV, CFF, CFE

When entrepreneurs come together to begin a business they are bombarded with legal filings and agreements drafted by their counsel that they rush to sign without considering the future ramifications. The ramifications can be far more impactful than one can imagine. Picture how surprised, hurt, and upset the wife of a deceased business owner felt when all she received from the buy-out of her husband’s company was $1,000. Thirty years ago he started a little company with a good friend and business associate. He put his heart into it and countless hours, and weekends spent away from his family to help grow this business into a $100+ million dollar company. Certainly his share was worth significantly more than $1,000. How could this happen? In this true story, the $1,000 figure was set in stone thirty years ago when he signed a poorly drafted “buy-sell” agreement.

A “buy-sell” agreement is designed to spell out what you and your fellow co-owners would be entitled to receive for your ownership interests should some type of triggering event happen in the future. Triggering events can be as widely or narrowly defined as you, your fellow owners and your lawyer determine. The most frequently included events are death, disability, retirement, and bankruptcy. When a triggering event occurs, the buy-sell agreement will dictate the value in terms of dollars that the owner or his designated beneficiaries are entitled to receive. It seems like a simple enough concept, so where do problems arise?

Many times, the agreements are standard templates not designed to capture any increase in value of a company as it grows and becomes profitable. For example, one approach often used simply spells out the value of the company. Such a static fixed-in time method will fail to capture future growth. Another example often incorporated is to have the owners agree and stipulate to a value at fixed points in time, such as every year. This becomes an issue as the owners become too busy in running the business to actually ever sit down, determine the value, and put it in writing.

Buy-sell agreements may contain vague terms or incorrect references that can be open to interpretation or subject to various applications. For example, many spell out that an owners interest will be his pro-rata share of “book value.” However, what does this use of “book value” refer to? Does it mean book value per the company’s accounting methods, the book value per the company’s tax returns, book value in accordance

with accounting rules and regulations, or something else entirely? Other times, an agreement might specify a formula to use in deriving the value of an ownership interest, such as five times net income. Again, the question becomes “net income” as determined how – in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, net income per the tax returns, or net income on a cash basis? Should the net income include or exclude the owners compensation? What if the company had an unusually bad year, with the most recent net income results failing to be an accurate indicator of how successful the company actually is? These issues and vague terminology only becomes prevalent at a time of a trigger event when the parties are already emotionally distressed.

As a valuation expert, I have heard horror stories like mentioned earlier, regarding the designees receiving pennies on the dollar for their interests because of a poorly worded buy-sell, a buy-sell that has long been outdated, or because an agreement was thrown in a drawer and never revised as the company became more successful. Once a triggering event does happens, the agreement is going to be the overriding indicator of value for an owners interest, especially if matters become contentious and the involved parties get inside a courtroom. It would be a shame for an owner of a business, who sacrifices so much to make a company successful, have his beneficiaries fail to receive their fair share when something happens.

So, the question becomes – what is a better way? As a credentialed valuation expert and business advisor at an accounting firm, we recommend our clients revise their buy-sell agreements (assuming they have them, and if not, to call counsel immediately to have one drafted) to adopt a valuation process within the buy-sell agreement. The process would stipulate that an appraisal expert perform an initial valuation of the

company. This gives owners an opportunity to become familiar with the process, and address any issues, questions or vagaries before they become a problem. For example, should typical valuation discounts be considered such as for a lack of marketability, or should certain financial expenses be added back as unnecessary to the normal operations for a business. By undergoing an initial valuation, all parties understand what is and is not involved. Any potential sticking points can be addressed right off the bat. Upon the delivery of a final valuation report, the owners can incorporate that the valuation would be in-force for a specific number of years should there be a triggering event. We would recommend not exceeding a two to three year time period as anything past that would cause the valuation to be stale.

Once the stated time for the initial valuation lapses, an update would be performed that would then be good for the same number of years. By continuing to update the values that the owners agree upon, any appreciation in value from the success of a company would be captured and could


Is Your Buy-Sell Agreement an Accident Waiting to Happen?Taxes

See TAXES, Page 23

Do you find yourself feeling bad—tired, sick, stressed, etc.—on a regular basis?

If so, it’s important that you determine the cause—and Todd Patkin is here with seven questions to help you self-diagnose.

Have you ever noticed that in our society, feeling “normal” really means feeling bad? On a more or less constant basis, we’re stressed, tired, busy, and out of balance. This state of affairs is so common, in fact, that we simply accept it, pour ourselves another cup of coffee (and/or pop another pill), and keep trudging forward on the hamster wheel, knowing that the next day (and the one after that, ad infinitum) probably won’t be much different.

Yes, feeling bad may be “normal,” but according to happiness teacher Todd Patkin, that doesn’t make it okay.

“Ignoring how you feel, both physically and mentally, is a big mistake,” says Patkin, author of Finding Happiness: One Man’s Quest

to Beat Depression and Anxiety and—Finally—Let the Sunshine In (StepWise Press, 2011, ISBN: 978-0-9658261-9-8, $19.95, www.findinghappinessthebook.com). “It’s important to pay attention to warning signs before they spiral into something more serious like physical illness, depression, or burnout.”

Patkin, who experienced a devastating breakdown at age 36 after ignoring the early warning signs of anxiety, depression, and workaholism, speaks from painful personal experience.

“For years, I told myself that feeling tired, anxious, and overwhelmed was normal,” he comments. “I talked myself into truly believing that these things were an acceptable—even commonplace—tradeoff for professional achievement and living an outwardly successful lifestyle. I was wrong.

“What I learned the hard way—and what I hope you don’t have to—is that we humans aren’t built to endure such protracted periods of feeling

bad,” Patkin continues. “But here’s the good news: As we drive ourselves too hard, often in the wrong direction, our bodies and minds set off alarm bells warning us that something isn’t right. We just have to be listening for them, and be willing to take them seriously.”

You don’t have to take your metaphorical temperature every five minutes, but staying aware of how you’re feeling—and trying to figure out why—is a smart strategy. Here, Patkin shares seven diagnostic questions you should ask yourself when you’re feeling bad: Is it short-term or long-term?

Sometimes it’s hard to determine exactly how long an issue has been going on, especially if it started small and escalated over time. For example, perhaps your coworker’s snarky comments and one-upmanship began as a small annoyance, but now, several years after he was hired, you can’t so much as drive past your office without feeling a giant ball of dread form in your stomach. Or maybe you aren’t sure when your migraines started because they were sporadic at first; all you know is that now they incapacitate you on a monthly basis.

“Even if you can’t pinpoint exactly when you started feeling bad, it’s important to think back and form an estimate,” Patkin says. “The longer an issue has been going on, the more stress it has been putting on your mind and/or body, and the more urgent it is that you find a solution so your health isn’t seriously impacted. Plus, one of the first things any health professional will ask you is, ‘How long has this been a problem?’”Am I getting enough sleep? For

many of us, mainlining coffee, stifling yawns, rubbing grainy eyes, and daydreaming about naps is a way of life. Why? Well, for most of us, there simply aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done, and we (wrongly) believe that all of the other items on our to-do lists are more important than sleeping. We believe that losing a few hours’ sleep is an acceptable price to pay for checking a few more items off our to-do lists.

“While I understand this mentality—I constantly ran on fumes before my breakdown!—the truth is, sleep is a biological necessity,” Patkin points out. “Lack of sleep can make

you less efficient, more irritable and moody, more stressed, and more likely to catch whatever cold or stomach bug is going around. And over time, it can contribute to health problems like depression, high blood pressure, and more. So if you aren’t getting the recommended seven to eight hours of sleep a night, adjust your routine accordingly. You’ll probably be surprised by how much more productive, pleasant, positive, and healthy you become!”Is my lifestyle contributing?

“Eat right and exercise.” If you’ve heard it once, you’ve probably heard it a hundred times. But often, we ignore this advice. For one thing, changing unhealthy habits takes a lot of energy that we simply aren’t willing to expend. And because we rarely see immediate consequences from eating a double cheeseburger with extra bacon or staying on the couch instead of going to a gym, it’s easy to mentally separate the way we’re living from the way we’re feeling.

“Exercise and diet have direct impacts not only on how well your body functions, but also on your energy levels, your ability to deal effectively with stress, the quality of your sleep, and even your attitude and outlook,” Patkin notes. “Many of these benefits have direct scientific explanations. For instance, various studies have shown that exercise can be just as effective as taking prescription antidepressant medications…without the potential side effects. And on a more holistic level, the care with which we do (or don’t) treat ourselves reflects and influences our self-esteem, priorities, and general attitude about the world and how we fit into it.”Are my relationships helping

or hurting? It’s easy to get so used to the people around us that we stop thinking about what they’re doing there. Unless something major happens to shake up our lives, the same friends, acquaintances, coworkers, and (of course) family members can be fixtures for years, or even decades, at a time. However, some of those people might be having more of a negative effect on you and your well-being than you realize. That’s why Patkin suggests taking a fresh look at your relationships to determine if they’re healthy and


Why Am I Feeling So Bad?Seven Questions to Ask Yourself When Something Isn’t Right

beneficial.“The friend who always hands out

backhanded compliments, the naysaying coworker, the sibling who never stops complaining, or the in-law who always finds something to criticize—you may think that these people are a mere annoyance,” Patkin comments. “But the truth is, they’re making you feel bad. Toxic relationships act like weights around your ankles, dragging you down and making it much more difficult for you to achieve happiness and health.

“I’m not saying you have to cut all of these people out of your life; just make an effort to spend less time with them, and more time with people who make you feel positive, validated, and confident,” he clarifies. “And in general, remember that in terms of your attitude, outlook, and general happiness level, you will be the average of the five people with whom you spend the most time.”Is something more serious

going on here? Sometimes, feeling bad may seem like a mere inconvenience while actually pointing to a much more serious issue. And to complicate matters, symptoms don’t always point clearly to their root cause. For instance, the

annoying headaches and indigestion you experience may actually be the result of stress that’s quickly mounting to unsustainable levels. Or the constant exhaustion you feel might actually be a sign of depression.

“With depression and anxiety disorders in particular, physical symptoms don’t always ‘match’ the illness—and in my experience, men are especially prone to not making the connection,” Patkin comments. “For instance, depression manifests itself differently in men because their emotional circuits and brains are designed differently. So instead of getting tearful, a man who is depressed might become irritable, hostile, and fatigued. He might dive into his work or a hobby until he literally can’t carry on. He’s also likely to blame other people or other circumstances for his problems, rather than admit that he is experiencing troubling symptoms.

“Overall, though—whether you’re a man or a woman—it’s very important to identify and address the root cause of why you’re feeling bad, even if you think your symptoms are explainable or innocent,” he continues. “You need to make the right connections, often with the help of a medical

professional, so you can avoid treating the wrong thing.” Is my medication working?

Modern medicine is capable of some amazing things. Today, we can take medication to alleviate pain, control blood pressure, regulate brain chemistry, and so much more. Once you become used to taking a particular medication, it can be easy to take its presence for granted. But as powerful as your prescription might be, it isn’t perfect.

“When you begin feeling bad, take time to evaluate whether your medicine is still doing what it’s supposed to be doing,” Patkin recommends. “Might the dosage need to be re-regulated? Might there be any side effects that you haven’t connected back to the medicine?”Is my life out of balance? What

if the questions Patkin has presented thus far haven’t led to any helpful answers, yet you still have an uneasy, worried feeling all the time (perhaps even accompanied by physical symptoms)? If that’s the case, your life in general may be out of balance. For instance, are you spending too

much time at work and feeling guilty about it when you are at home? Are you in a career that doesn’t utilize your strengths? Do the goals you’re working toward really fulfill you, or are you just trying to keep up appearances?

“Do some soul-searching and be honest about which parts of your life are and aren’t working,” Patkin urges. “And keep in mind that despite what society tells us, success and happiness are not always the same thing. Some of the unhappiest people I’ve known—my past self among them—had all of the exterior trappings of achievement. In general, if you aren’t living your life in a way that honors your values and allows you to love yourself, you’ll be out of balance—and you will feel bad in some way, shape, or form.”

“Feeling bad isn’t normal, and you don’t have to accept it as such,” Patkin concludes. “Figuring out what the problem is and addressing it may take time and effort, but I promise, your health, peace of mind, and overall well-being are well worth it.”


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be properly distributed should a triggering event occur. Additionally, having the business routinely appraised can facilitate other goals, such as ensuring adequate funding via life insurance is in place should a buy-out be necessary, or helping the owners with their estate planning objectives. And while the initial investment by the owners for the first valuation might seem high at first, it should be viewed as an insurance policy to ensure their families are well protected should something happen. Most likely future updates will cost significantly less, as the appraiser will already be familiar with the company and less work would be involved.

With the upcoming holidays, any business owner should make a new-year’s resolution to dust off their buy-sell agreement and see if it accurately represents the true value for their ownership. If it doesn’t, they should call their professional advisors to help put steps in place to ensure everyone is taken care of should a triggering event occur and that their situation doesn’t become another cautionary tale.

To find out how a business valuation can refine your buy-sell agreement, please contact Steven J. Piatak at [email protected] or Donald P. Hanck at [email protected] or 419.626.3627. http://www.barneswendling.com/net-worth-services/business-valuation.aspx.

TAXES, from Page 21

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outside just as much as what is inside your sphere of control,” she says. “Take some time. Look around. Consider the future and its potential as you make this important decision for today.”

4. What am I willing and able to invest in a healthy and satisfied workforce? It may be harder than you think to engage seriously with this question, but it is more important than you imagine.

“You may be tempted to answer based on your fading memory of your MBA or the flowery language of your corporate vision or the stories you tell yourself about your values and ethics,” says Eoyang. “None of those will serve you well. Pause and take stock of what really matters to you, your board, stockholders, and other close-in stakeholders. Where does the welfare of workers fall in your hierarchy of values? What are you willing to risk and what do you expect as a reward?”

SO WHAT? Questions:1. So what are the best and worst scenarios for our

balance sheet? For my employees? For the future of my business? Your decision is sure to have many consequences, but you can predict only some of them. Whatever you decide, there are likely to be unintended consequences—there always are in chaotic situations. You cannot squeeze all of the surprise out of the environment, but you can spend some of your intellectual capital imagining both the likely and the unlikely consequences of your possible paths.

“Don’t get stuck in analysis paralysis, but do look at multiple possibilities from multiple perspectives to keep surprises to a minimum,” advises Eoyang.

2. So what are the expectations of my employees? Their hopes? Their fears? You may not be in the habit of consulting your employees on issues of policy, procedure, and practice. But on this issue, it is critical that you consider their perspectives. Why? Not just because healthcare is literally a matter of life and death for them, but because it is the most tangible evidence they have of your investment in them as workers and human beings.

“This is something your employees will notice, and they’ll remember it every time they show their insurance card, write a check for a co-pay, or choose not to take a sick child to the doctor,” promises Eoyang. “It matters to them, so if you want them to support you, it has to matter to you.”

3. So what is the health profile of my community, and how likely is it to support healthy behaviors for my employees and their families? No man is an island, and the same is certainly true of your company and your employees. Health is a systemic pattern that emerges from myriad factors from available bike paths, to local greengrocers, to accessibility of drugs and alcohol, to firearms restrictions, to school lunches, and community clinics. The health profile of your community will influence the healthcare needs of your employees

and their families, so it should be one of the factors you consider as you make this critical decision.

“Your investment in healthcare depends on the health of your employees,” says Eoyang. “If they’re healthy, there’s less risk, and you can afford to invest less. And that depends on the support of the community. The more supportive the community, the healthier the employee, the less the risk, and the lower the investment. This leads, ultimately, to the question about what you can or should do to influence the health profile of the communities in which your employees live and work.”

4. So what are my real options for action, and what are the risks and benefits of each? Depending on how you answer the other questions, you will have identified a range of opportunities and constraints. As you bring them together, you will recognize a short list of reasonable options from which you can choose. Make those options explicit and be creative as you identify the risks and benefits of each to you, your company, your employees, and their families.

NOW WHAT? Questions:1. Now what will you do in this decision-making

cycle, realizing that you will have other chances to make different decisions as more evidence accumulates? When you’ve identified your options, all you have to do is choose one. This is almost as easy as it sounds. You may want to include other people in your decision-making process as you consider your Adaptive Action questions above. You may want to wait awhile to see if some of the unknowables become knowable. But, ultimately, you will make a choice from a finite list of well-considered alternatives that emerged from your So what? questions.

“Every Now what? is followed by the next What?” adds Eoyang. “So, depending on what happens next, you will have more information and be more ready to answer the questions in your next Adaptive Action cycle.”

2. Now what indicators will I use to evaluate consequences of this current decision and prepare for decisions in the future? This question constitutes risk mitigation in complex systems because it leads you into iterative Adaptive Action cycles. Because the environment is changing, your assumptions will change, the answers you’ll give to these questions will change, and your choices should change along with them.

“When you are forced to make a decision in an uncertain environment, your best and safest option is to prepare right away for the next decision,” advises Eoyang. “What? So what? Now what? Next what?”

3. Now what should I communicate, to whom, and how? What should I say about my choices and the reasons behind them? You do not have the option to keep this decision to yourself. This is a topic that is out in the open, and it is loaded with fear for every one of your employees. Even if you have to limit their involvement in the decision or their options for healthcare, you must share what you can with them, says Eoyang.

“You can tell them what you decided, why you decided it, and how you plan to revisit that decision, if and when the situation changes,” she explains. “If you absolutely could not absorb the added healthcare costs and stay in business, let your employees know that. Of course, in such a situation, you should also engage them in brainstorming ways to make your business more profitable so that, hopefully, the situation will be remedied in the future.”

4. Now what have I learned, what do I need to learn, and how will I learn it to be better prepared the next time such a challenge/opportunity arises? Learning is the most important leadership competency in times of complex change. You have to stay awake, keep your options open, and focus on adaptive action. Ask What?, So what?, and Now what? in iterative cycles about all your important decisions in all places and times.

Yep, there will be a next time. That is the central, and oddly reassuring, truth at the heart of Adaptive Action. Things will surely change, and you’ll get, if not a do-over, at least a do-next.

“The simple questions of Adaptive Action will not give you answers, but they will help you make the most of the information and options you have,” assures Eoyang. “Then, they will help you do it again. And again. And again. Repeating that cycle is all you will need to do as this complex environment of health and healthcare continues to evolve toward an unknowable future.”

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Q: What happens if I cannotmake the payment on my auto titleloan?

A: Becauseyouhavegivenyourvehicle title as security for the loan,thelendercanrepossessyourvehicleifyoudonotrepaytheloan—orthelender may give you the option ofrefinancingorrollingovertheloan.

Q: What are some advantagesanddisadvantagesofgettinganautotitleloan?

A: You can usually get an autotitleloanquicklyandeasily,assumingyou own a car and owe little ornothing on your original vehicleloan. There are also very fewunderwriting requirements, so youarelikelytobeapprovedforanautotitleloanifyouownyourvehicle.

Because you have to put yourvehicletitleupascollateraltogetanauto title loan, your vehicle can berepossessed if you cannot pay backthe loan. As long as you carry theloan,thelienwillbeinplaceonyourvehicle. This means you cannot sellortransferyourvehicleorrenewyourlicense.Also, the interest rate foranautotitleloanishigh.Thiscanbeaproblem, especially if you have torefinance or roll over the loan. Theeffective annual percentage rate foranauto title loan is typically300 to700percent.

Q: What’sthedifferencebetweenapaydayloanandanautotitleloan?

A: Securityforapaydayloanisapost-dated check, while security foranautotitleloanisyourvehicle.Forboth types of loan, the interestgenerallyexceeds300percent.

Q: I don’t want to pay a highloanrateandrisklosingmycar,butIneed money fast. What are myoptions?

A: Think about doing thefollowing:

• Shoparound for a loanwiththe lowest rate. Consider getting asmall loan from your credit union,bank,familyorfriends.Evenapawnshoploancanbelessexpensivethananautotitleloan.

• Ask your creditors for anextension. If you are having cash-flow problems, many creditors willgiveyoumoretimetopayyourbills.Ask what they will charge for thisservice.

• Make a realistic budget andcut expenses, especially if you runshorteverymonth.

• Startasavingsaccount.• Consider getting financial

counseling from a nonprofit debtcounseling service such as Apprisen(www.apprisen.com).

This “Law You Can Use” column was provided by the Ohio State Bar Association. It was prepared by Akron attorney Terry Zimmerman of Kaffen & Zimmerman, and Ram Mayeker of Apprisen, a nonprofit consumer credit counseling agency, with assistance from David Rothstein of NHS, Greater Cleveland. Articles appearing in this column are intended to provide broad, general information about the law. Before applying this information to a specific legal problem, readers are urged to seek advice from an attorney.

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Q: Igotathreateningletterfromanattorney’soffice claiming my business violated someoneelse’spatent.ShouldIbeconcerned?

A: Yes. Your letter may have come from a“non-practicing entity” (sometimes called a“patenttroll”).Suchapersonorcompanyattemptstocollect licensing fees forpatentviolations,butdoesnotactuallymanufactureproductsorsupplyservicesbasedon thepatents inquestion.Patentlawdoesnotdifferentiatebetweennon-practicingentities and companies that produce actualproducts or services. The patent infringementcase is still conducted as any other lawsuit infederal court, and the cost of defending such alawsuitmaycostseveralthousanddollarsormore.If a “patent troll” brings a suit against yourcompany, you will have to hire an attorney wellversed in intellectual property law to advise youaboutyouroptionsandtorespondproperlytothelawsuit. The letter may also be from a firm or acompanythatactuallyutilizesthepatent.Ineithercase,youshouldcontactanattorneywithpatentdefenseexperience.

Q: What,exactly,ispatentinfringement?A: The United States Patent and Trademark

Office ( USPTO) grants patents to give patentowners the right to excludeothers frommaking,using,offeringtosellorsellingapatentedinvention(oraproductmadebythepatentedprocess)withinthe United States or from importing it into theUnited States. You might be “infringing” on apatentownedby someone else if youmake,use,offer to sell or sell that patented invention (or aproductderivedfromthepatentedprocess)beforethe term of the patent expires, unless you havereceivedpermissionfromthepatentholderand/orprovidecompensation.

Q: How might my company infringesomeone’spatent?

A: If your company markets, as its own, aproduct or method that includes each and everyelementormethodstepusedinapatentedproduct

or method, then your company has literallyinfringedsomeoneelse’spatentrights.But,ifthereisevenoneelementormethodstepthatdoesnotmatchthepatentedproductormethod,thenyouhavenotliterallyinfringedthatpatent.

However, there is another way your companymight be found guilty of patent infringement.Even though your product (or method) may notexactlymatchthatofthepatent-holder,thereisa“doctrineofequivalents”inthelaw.Thisdoctrinethatsaysyoustillmaybeinfringingifyouhavean“equivalent” for every element of the patentedproductormethodthatdoesn’texactlymatch.

The jury will ultimately decide if the patentclaims are valid, and your company must provethat these claims are invalid “by clear andconvincingevidence,”meaningthattheevidenceshowsitishighlyprobablethatthepatentclaimsareinvalid.

Q: Whathappensifmysmallbusinessissuedforinfringingapatent?

A: Ifthathappens,acourtcanorderyoutostopinfringingthepatent,andmayorderyoutopay an amount of money in damages. Becausesuchalawsuitcanbesignificantenoughtothreatenyour business, it is important to consult with aqualifiedpatentattorney.

Q: How would a patent holder prove

infringement?A: Thepatentholdermustbringalegalaction

and:• show proof of patent ownership, usually

by providing the patent registration certificatefromtheUSPTO;

• prove that someone has imported, made,used, sold or offered to sell the patent holder’sinventionoraproductderivedfromthepatentedprocess;

• prove that this infringement harmed thepatent holder (by depriving the patent holder ofrevenue,forexample).

However, a “non-

practicing entity” or“patent troll” that doesnot actually produce aproduct or service, butstill owns a legitimatepatentfortheproductorservice,alsomaybringalawsuitagainstyou.The“troll” might havepurchased the patentsfrom the originalinventor or may evenhave invented theproductor service, evenif it is not currentlybeingproducedorused.The law does not

discriminate against patent owners that have yettoproduceaproduct;itisexpectedthatproductionofaproductorservicemaybelimitedorevennon-existent for some time after it is patented. Somecompanies simply aggregate all types of patents,intending to sue parties that might be prone tosettlequickly.

Whilethelawisdesignedtoprotecttheinnovator(whomighthavelimitedfunds),thenon-practicingentitycanbeviewedasunfairlyexploitingthelaw.Also,becauselitigationintheareaofpatentsandtrademarksisextremelyexpensive,defendantsareoften inclined settle rather than take on themassivecostofalawsuit.

The Ohio State Bar Association (OSBA) provided this “Law You Can Use” column. Columbus attorney Brice Recker of Okuley Smith LLC prepared it. The column offers general information about the law. Seek an attorney’s advice before applying this information to a legal problem.


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The Plus program is the area’s first and onlybehavioral healthcare “health home,” whichprovides integrated behavioral health andprimary healthcare services under one roof topeoplewithseverementalillness.

FirelandsCounseling&RecoveryServicesbeganproviding thePlusprogram toErie andOttawaCounty residents in late January 2013 and hasnowadmittedover300uninsuredorunderinsuredindividuals who previously had little or noalternativesforbasicmedicalcare.Asoftheendof August 2013, roughly 170 individuals havebeenseenforatleastonefollow-upvisitwiththeNursePractitioner.

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On The Move

Greg Streacker of Streacker Tractor Sales in Fremont, Ohio, has been elected to represent the Northern Division and serve on the 2013 National Dealer Advisory Board for Kubota Tractor C o r p o r a t i o n . Comprised of eight members representing all regions of the U.S., this Board is a critical link in the dealer-manufacturer relationship with Kubota.

Streacker Tractor Sales was founded in 1945 by Greg’s grandfather and is still a family-owned and operated business. Today, Greg, together with

his brothers and six cousins manage and grow the dealership at their two locations in Fremont and Findlay, Ohio. Streacker’s father and uncles brought on the Kubota line in 1973 and the relationship and trust has been favorable and growing ever since.

Each year, Kubota Dealer Advisory Board members are elected by their peers in their respective regional divisions to serve for a two-year term. Kubota’s senior leadership team works closely with National Dealer Advisory Board members to maintain a direct line of communication with its 1,100-strong dealer network in order to gain a thorough understanding of Kubota dealers’ and customers’ needs across the country.

Greg Streacker Elected to Serve on Kubota’s National Dealer Advisory Board

STREACKER

Professional Compounding Centers of America (PCCA) has named Matt Buderer, R.Ph., FIACP, of Buderer Drug Company in Perrysburg, Sandusky and Avon, as its 2013 M. George Webber, PhD Compounding Pharmacist of the

Year. Buderer is Vice

President of Buderer Drug Company and along with his father, Jim Buderer, President, own and operate c o m p o u n d i n g pharmacies in Avon, Sandusky and Perrysburg. Buderer is a third-generation pharmacist and innovator in his field. He is an Assistant Scoutmaster with Boy Scout Troop 316 in

Oak Harbor. He lectures frequently across the

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On The Move

The Memorial H o s p i t a l Foundation Board of Directors recently welcomed local business leader Richard Egbert to its team. Egbert is the controller and executive vice president of Carbo Forge, Inc. in Fremont.

Egbert has been with Carbo Forge since 2000. He is a member of its board of directors and also a co-trustee of its employee stock ownership plan and 401(k) plan. Egbert currently sits on the board of Fremont Federal Credit Union and the Little Giant

Baseball Club; he is also a member of the Fremont Chapter of Rotary International. Egbert is former chair of the Chamber of Commerce of Sandusky County Board of Trustees, and a former member of the Chamber Foundation of Sandusky County Board of Trustees and Campfire USA, Buckeye Council Board of Trustees. Egbert lives in Fremont with his wife Michelle. They have three sons.

The Memorial Hospital Foundation supports the projects of the hospital by raising funds from the community through events, annual campaigns, capital campaigns, memorial and honoree giving, and planned giving. For more information, visit memorialhcs.org/foundation.

Richard Egbert joins Memorial Hospital Foundation Board

EGBERT

Ellie Boes has been named as the “Volunteer of the Quarter” for the third quarter of 2013 at Mercy Tiffin Hospital. Approximately 140 volunteers help fulfill Mercy’s mission of caring for the sick and injured through their generous giving of time and talent.

The volunteer award is presented each quarter and then annually to a volunteer who is nominated by either a fellow volunteer or employee. It was created to recognize a Mercy volunteer who goes above and beyond the requirements of

their volunteer assignment and reflects the Mission and Core Values of Mercy.

Boes has volunteered at Mercy Tiffin for 32 years and currently volunteers as an escort and in the Mercy Tiffin Gift Shop. She was presented her award by Bernie Steinmetz, Manager of Development, Donor Relations and Volunteers; and Laurie Kaple, Rural Division Manager of Retail Services and Guest Relations. Previous 2013 award recipients include Nikki Twarek and Jeannie Ludwig.

Volunteer of the Quarter Named at Mercy


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There is real magic in a miniature train wending its way around an equally pint-size track, especially during the holidays. That magic transforms people of any age into smiling wide-eyed children.

The Hayes Presidential Center’s Hayes Train

Special model train display marks its 20th year of enchantment when it opened Friday, November 29. Eight model trains – all styles that have significance to 19th President Rutherford B. Hayes and his family – travel throughout a 12x24 course that includes mountains, tunnels, countryside, and villages. The three-tiered display rises to the ceiling, providing a visual wonderland that also includes 19th-century trolleys and a decorated Christmas tree. Visitors are given

control of aspects of the trains’ movements and some of the display’s animated features via a series of buttons.

The exhibit, which continues through January 5,

2014, is made possible through funding from title sponsors Croghan Colonial Bank and the Gordon W. Knight Family.

Adding to the holiday-theme is an exhibit telling the story of Santa Claus. Santa through the 19th Century chronicles how early depictions of Santa evolved into the jolly, ho-ho-ho, elf we all know and love today. A series of exhibit panels also details how Santa’s purpose also has changed.

Admission to the Hayes Train Special and Santa through the 19th Century is included in the Hayes Museum ticket price of $7.50/adults, $6.50/seniors age 60+, and $3/children ages 6-12. Hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays and noon-5 p.m. Sundays. (Closed Mondays, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. The Museum will close at 3 p.m. December 24.)

A finale to exhibition of the Hayes Train Special, a Model Train Clinic takes place 1-4 p.m. Saturday, January 4, 2014. Admission to the clinic is $2 per person. In the event of bad weather the clinic will be canceled.

The Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center is located at the corner of Hayes and Buckland avenues, Fremont, Ohio. The facility is affiliated with the Ohio Historical Society. Check the Hayes Presidential Center website www.rbhayes.org for a complete list of year-round special events.

Trains and the Story of Santa Create Holiday Magic at Hayes Center


Otterbein North Shore

Senior Lifestyle Community

Marblehead 419-798-8250

My Retirement Wish List

Close to Lake Erie

Carefree Lifestyle

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Otterbein Has it All!!

Call Jo Ann Franks to learn about our Winter Move in Special!!

You’ll notice the difference the first

time you walk through the doors

Offering Ottawa County specialized services all under

one roof for 141 years!

Inpatient and Outpatient Therapy Private Short Term Rehab Suites Contracted to provide Veterans’ Services Adult Day Services, DayBreak Dementia/Alzheimer’s Unit Long Term Care Respite Stays

Returning 70% of our Admissions successfully back into the community!

Contact us to see how we can help with

your healthcare needs 8180 W. State Route 163 Oak Harbor, OH 43449

419-898-2851 Take a virtual tour at:

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You’ll notice the difference the first time you walk through the doors

Offering Ottawa County specialized services all under one roof for 141 years!• InpatientandOutpatientTherapy• PrivateShortTermRehabSuites• ContractedtoprovideVeterans’Services• AdultDayServices,DayBreak• Dementia/Alzheimer’sUnit• LongTermCare• RespiteStays

Returning 70% of our Admissions successfully back into the community!

We are a Medicare 5 star facility

A safe and joyous season to everyone. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.®

May all your days be merry and bright.

0901020.1 State Farm, Home Office, Bloomington, IL

Wishing you a tangle-free holiday.

Trish McCartney Ins Agcy IncTrish McCartney, Agent

1848 E Perry Sttrishmccartney.comBus: 419-734-2715

$5 Off 1 Itemwith $25 Purchase

Coupon Expires 12/14/13

Mon. - Fri. 9-6, Sat. 9-5, Sun 12-5

Coming in January:

Focus on theFive Counties


Business MarketplaceTo advertise call Dave or Krista at 419-734-4838

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Membership Eligibility Required Federally Insured by NCUA

Christopher D. palmerBranch Manager/Sales

Lawyers Title Insurance Corporation402 Columbus Avenue | Sandusky, Ohio 44870

phone: 419-626-4475 fax: 419-626-8333toll free: 800-442-7767 mobile: 419-656-1209

email: [email protected]: www.palmerltic.com

Kevin LoweGeneral Manager

102 Madison StreetPort Clinton, OH 43452

[email protected]

Call Ted Kastor

(419) 465-4611

CONSTRUCTIONQUESTIONS OR NEEDS?

employee owned

e s t a b l i s h e d 1 9 6 2

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Let us know how we can help your business. Visit our website at pncpa.biz or call one of our two convenient locations.

Norwalk: 419-668-2552 Sandusky: 419-625-4942


Memorial Hospital’s new Optima* CT660 from GE Healthcare delivers what’s important to our patients: high quality images at a potentially lower radiation dose. • ASiR* low dose technologies (up to a 40% lower dose)• Potentially safer for children, elderly and repeat CT patients• Shorter breath-holds for patients• High-resolution images• Optimized dose levels• Sub-millimeter slice thickness• An experience designed for patient comfort• The new CT scanner was installed as part of Memorial Hospital’s 2013, $2 million facility improvement project

memorialhcs.org

Nathan Egbert, M.D.Medical Director, Diagnostic Imaging

Call Memorial Hospital at419.334.6605 for more information.

* Trademark of General Electric Company*In clinical practice, the use of ASiR may reduce CT patient dose depending on the clinical task, patient size, anatomical location and clinical practice. A consultation with a radiologist and a physicist should be made to determine the appropriate dose to obtain diagnostic image quality for the particular clinical task.

Memorial Hospital:Investing in Quality

Lower Doses—Quality ImagesA safer way to CT

north coast business journal december 2013

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