Program teaches “soft skills” to job-seeking teens

 Mike McDorman, President & CEO

If local companies are looking for summer workers who want to learn, are reliable and know how to handle themselves in a professional manner, Sharon Watkins knows about 130 teens WorkPlus can connect them with.

Watkins, coordinator for the Learning Cafe at Springfield High School, partnered with WorkPlus One Stop this spring to offer a 5-week, career-preparedness training course for students. The volunteer program was designed to teach the soft skills every employee needs to be successful at any level of employment – from how to dress and act professionally, to how to arrive on time and properly handle mobile devices.

Students who successfully completed the 5-week program will receive assistance from WorkPlus on securing employment this summer.

Watkins said employers can be encouraged by the participation in the program.

“We were thrilled that 100 students had signed up within the first week,” she said. “That says that they want to work and are willing to pay the price to have a shot at that.”

Of the 161 students who signed up, 132 completed the requirements, which included essays, program attendance and tests.

The innovative programs at the Learning Café are great examples of what school districts throughout Clark County are doing to prepare our students for success after graduation – whether that is college, in the workforce or both.

The community as a whole benefits from this effort – it increases the income-earning potential of our residents, keeps our companies here where good workers are and attracts new companies to our community and its prepared workforce.

With three out of four local school levies having failed this month, I hope we will stop to remember that whether we have school-aged children or not, the success of our schools is crucial if we want to move our community forward.

For more information about the Learning Café visit http://www.spr.k12.oh.us/LearningCafe.cfm

Have a great Chamber day!

Sirons joins Chamber as Membership Director

Mike McDorman
President & CEO

We are happy to announce that Eric Sirons has joined the chamber team as our new membership director. Eric comes to us from CoxMedia Group Ohio where he spent 28 years in the ad sales department. Many of you know Eric from his time at Cox, so I am sure you understand why we are excited to have him on board.

In an effort to provide our members the most value from their chamber membership, we have launched a new, tiered-member package that allows our members to match their benefits to their goals and resources.

This will be the first time in our 100-year history that we have moved from a one-size-fits-all membership model to a value-added tiered program that

 allows our members to choose a package that best suits their business-growth plan and needs.

In his new role, Eric will assist our members with their new tiered package as well as recruit new businesses to our team.

Since I started at the chamber, membership has grown from roughly 550 members to nearly 800. I believe we can easily increase that to more than 1,000.

In doing so, we will be able to provide more value to our members and grow our voice at the state and federal level as we advocate for small and large businesses.

Eric will also be assisting with our Buy Springfield campaign – which encourages our community to shop close to home, whether that be a locally owned business or a chain retailer located in Clark County. In addition, he will be helping to launch our newest innovation- the SpringfieldOH2Go app.

A lifelong Springfield resident, Eric is involved in a number of local organizations including the American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, Center City Association and Northridge Lions Club.

When he and his wife, Jennifer, are not cheering their four daughters in their many sports and activities, Eric likes gardening and golf.

Please join me in welcoming Eric to our chamber team.

You can reach him at 325-7621 or at ESirons@greaterspringfield.com

Have a great Chamber day!

OSU President Gee to discuss Clark County STEM academy during May 7 online chat

 Mike McDorman, President & CEO

Eighth graders and their parents have an opportunity to learn more about Clark County’s Global Impact STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Academy during a live video conversation, May 7, with OSU President Gordon Gee and Joshua Jennings, GISA’s founding director.

The conversation will be conducted via Google Hangouts from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 7 and can be accessed directly by going to bit.ly/GglHngt.
You can also access the conversation at the Global Impact social media sites: Facebook.com/GlobalImpactSTEMAcademy or @Glacademy on Twitter.

A parent and student will join the conversation as Gee and Jennings explain what sets Global Impact apart, what type of students are considered a good fit for the school and why OSU is a supporter of the academy.

You can ask questions live during the hangout using the Twitter hashtag #globalimpactQandA.

The academy, which will begin its inaugural year on the Clark State Community College campus, is only the second STEM school in the U.S. with emphasis in the bio-sciences that include food, fiber, fuel and environment.

The GISA website provides the following highlights:

• Students pave the path to their future with problem-based, hands-on learning. Assignments blend all subjects into one experience.
• We give tomorrow’s change agents the tools and skills they need to make strides in the fields of food, bioscience, energy and environmental studies.
• Career training, internships and access to college courses prepare students to meet global challenges with confidence.

One out of every seven Ohio jobs is in the ag-bio-sciences. Between 2001 and 2010 the industry added 96,000 jobs nationwide. The average salary for a bio-science job is $68,384.

If you have an incoming freshman, it would be worth your while to learn more about this great opportunity that is opening up in our community. The academy’s focus on the bio-sciences is not for every student. The school recommends applying students have a love of learning with a strong interest in sciences.

Preferred enrollment for incoming freshman ends May 24 and caps at 100.

There is a wealth of information on the academy, its requirements and what students and parents can expect at GlobalImpactAcademy.org.

Have a great Chamber day!

National Day of Prayer, May 2

 Mike McDorman, President & CEO

Reconciliation: The National Day of Prayer

On May 2^nd the community will be coming together to pray for the nation, Greater Springfield and its leaders. To begin the day, a pancake breakfast will be held at the Hollenbeck-Bayley Center from 7 to 8:30 a.m.  The program will include:

• Pancakes, sausage or bacon, eggs and potatoes (provided by Simply Delicious)
• Prayers for community and national leaders
• Singing and spoken word
• Interpretive dance
• Brief message from Dr. Bill Brown, Cedarville University president
• Prayer of reconciliation by Pastors Ernie Brown and Mark Martin

This is the one day during the year when we can come together (government, business community, church and citizens) to humble ourselves before God and ask for his favor on the Greater Springfield Community.

It is important that each of us participates in this National Day of Prayer event.

Tickets are $10 each and tables of 10 are $100. Tickets are available at springfieldprayer2013.eventbrite.com.

For more information, call Carol Godin at 937.324.5215 or by email at ccgodin@yahoo.com

I hope you will make plans to attend.

Have a great Chamber day!

Businesses Celebrate Recent Expansions

 Mike McDorman

 President and CEO

Wright-Patt Credit Union

Our Chamber Ambassadors have been busy lately thanks to a number of Chamber-member businesses that have located or expanded in the area.

On March 21, our Ambassadors helped us celebrate the grand opening of Wright-Patt Credit Union’s new office at 2050 N. Bechtle Avenue.

In addition to a larger space, the new office will create 20 new jobs and will soon offer Personalized Teller Machines (PTMs) to its customers.
We appreciate the investment Wright-Patt has made in this new facility as well as the new jobs it has and will create to serve its growing Greater Springfield clients.

We wish the entire Wright-Patt team the best of success in their new Springfield location.

Strive@CRSI

Strive@CRSI

On March 29, we celebrated the grand opening of Strive@CRSI, 1050 N. Limestone St.

This new facility will allow Champaign Residential Services, Inc. to provide vocational opportunities for up to 30 Clark County residents with developmental disabilities. Strive employees will be overseeing the on-site hydroponic greenhouse and coffee roasting operations.

To CRSI its staff and clients – we say Welcome!

Fent’s Dairy

Fent’s Dairy

On April 23, we helped Orla Fent celebrate his 41^st year in business as well as the grand opening of Fent’s Dairy’s new, 30,000 square-foot,  dine-in and drive-through at the corner of Shrine Road and Ohio 41.  The popular after-the-game-spot for local youth teams and their families has expanded its menu offerings and will be open year round. Thanks to this expansion, the restaurant has added 10 new jobs.

Congratulations to the entire Fent family.

Rocking Horse Community Health Center

Rocking Horse Community Health Center

Yesterday, we celebrated with the Rocking Horse Community Health Center during the dedication of its new addition at 100 S. Limestone St.

Rocking Horse is a living-and- breathing example of what can be done when individuals dare to dream about what can be and take the risks to make it happen.

Thank you, Dr. Duffee, Rocking Horse Board and Staff and CEO Dana Engle, for all you do to serve the most vulnerable in our community.

Finally we want to thank our Chamber Ambassadors for the service they provide to our local businesses and community.

To learn more about the Chamber Ambassador program, visit GreaterSpringfield.com and click on “Get Involve.”

To see more photos of Greater Springfield happenings, “Like” us at Facebook.com/GreaterSpringfield Chamber, or follow us on Twitter  @springfieldococ

Have a Greater Chamber Day!

Cuba trip among prizes at April 11 EXPO

2012 Business EXPO

 Mike McDorman

 President and CEO

Stop by and say ‘Hi’ to Chris McAllister at the 2013 Business EXPO and you might just walk away $100 richer.

Real Estate II/The McAllister Team –  is among 45 businesses that will offer some great gifts and prizes during the April 11 EXPO and TasteSpringfield to be held at the Hollenbeck-Bayley Creative Arts & Conference Center, 275 S. Limestone St., from 3 – 7 p.m.

Free and open to the public for the first time, the EXPO is expected to draw more than 500 attendees. The McAllister Team, which will give away a $100 Lowes gift card, will be introducing attendees to its new property management services as well as its traditional real estate services.

“This is a great way to meet new clients and to network,” said Chris, who has hosted booths at previous EXPO events.  “If an individual does not need our services, he or she might know someone who does.”

In the spirit of “Buy Springfield,” the EXPO is a great way to introduce consumers “to the goods and services available in their own back yard,” said Dan Young, CEO of Young’s Jersey Dairy. Young’s will offer samples of some of its most popular items during the TasteSpringfield portion of the event. Attendees who would like to sample goods from local restaurants and caterers may buy a $3 TasteSpringfield wristband.

While the EXPO is a great way to introduce consumers to local businesses it is also a great way for businesses to connect and create new B2B clients.  Businesses can connect with dozen of new customers in a short period of time, opposed to months it would take to call on potential customers via traditional methods.

An all-expense-paid trip to CUBA is another great reason to attend the event! Courtesy of Chamber member First Energy Solutions, one lucky attendee will join Chamber Explorations this fall for a free, 8-day trip to CUBA – a $4,000 value!

We’ll also be offering a $500 Speedway gift card during our hourly drawings.

So drop what you’re doing, grab your smartphone and mark your calendar for April 11, 2013, 3 to 7 p.m.

The event will close to the public at 6 p.m. to allow for a chamber-member-only social from 6 to 7 p.m.

I hope you will join us as we support our business community and celebrate yet another reason why it’s greater in Springfield.

Have a great Chamber day!

Culinary Olympics at Forest Glen

 Mike McDorman

 President and CEO

Forest Glen Health Campus in Springfield recently hosted the Trilogy Culinary Olympics – a four-hour competition between 12 Trilogy Health campuses in its southern Ohio region from Findlay to Cincinnati.

I was asked to help judge the event, which meant that, in the space of four hours, I was served four formal, three-course meals.  Each chef presented a salad, a main dish and a dessert. That’s 36 pretty amazing dishes I was asked to judge – from Cornish hen, to steak, to sushi, to homemade ice cream. We were asked to rate each dish by presentation, creativity and taste.

     The event gave me a better understanding of how important food quality is to this industry and how seriously Trilogy takes it.

     That was the point, said Mike Lacey, Forest Glen’s executive director.

“The items that were presented to the judges are the same type we serve at our campus,” he said. “We like people to know that nobody should be satisfied with mass-produced food.”

     I also got to witness first-hand how important the senior health industry is, from an employment base, for our community. How its 180-plus employees provide a great service to our community and our region.

      Food service is just one area in which our local nursing facility and health campuses hold themselves to a high standard. Just this week Villa Springfield was named one of the Best Nursing Homes in the U.S. – a ranking that was based on a number of criteria, from staffing to inspections to quality of care. Many of our local facilities have received four and five star ranking from various accreditation and ranking agencies.

     I don’t believe that it is a coincidence that these local nursing facilities consider Chamber membership part of that standard of excellence.

     With one in seven people in the country 65 and older, the need for great senior living services are vitally important. We are fortunate to have these excellent facilities in our community.

Have a great Chamber day!