vol. xxiii issue iii oice - thechamberalliance.com · chair tom farrell – alternative ... chris...

... Connecting people and possibilitiesin West Chester and Liberty Townships

and the I-75 Growth Corridor

MARCH 2008Vol. XXIII Issue IIIVOICEVOICETHETHE

2 The Voice • March 2008

www.westchesterchamberalliance.com

Members of West Chester Chamber Alliance

Executive Board 2007Chair Tom Farrell – Alternative Computer Technology

Vice Chair George Rees – Savannah CenterSecretary Rondi Tschopp – Five Visual Communication & Design

Treasurer Mike Combs – Rohrkemper, Ossege and CombsDeborah Brenneman - Thompson Hine LLP

John Gillespie – University of Cincinnati Academic Health CenterJoe Hinson - West Chester Chamber Alliance

Tom Holding – Lincoln Financial AdvisorsCarol King – West Chester Medical Center

Christine Matacic –Liberty Township TrusteeKaren Mueller - HORAN

Dr. Robert Sommers - Butler Technology & Career Development SchoolsChris Worrell - Graydon Head

Kendall Wright - Entelechy Training & Development, Inc.

Chamber Staff & AssociatesJoe Hinson, President & CEO

[email protected]

Marge Wimmer,Administrative Coordinator

[email protected]

Kathy Rambo, Vice President/Special Events [email protected]

Kristin Spanogians, Special Events [email protected]

Kenni Blaché, Membership Services Director

[email protected]

Jay D’Arcy, Membership Account [email protected]

Alison Miuccio, Marketing [email protected]

Ali Fischetti, Marketing [email protected]

Kerry Murray, Leadership Development Director

[email protected]

Kendra Wilburn, Impact 21 [email protected]

Bob Wiwi, Small Business [email protected]

On The CoverImpact 21: The Impact 21 class of 2008 is pictured outside of Hughes School during their History and Government session. Beside the original one room school, the class visited the Voice of America Museum and the West Chester Police Department. Applications for next class, starting in August, are currently being accepted. They are available at the Chamber offices and from counselors at Fenwick High School, Lakota East, Lakota West and the Lakota Freshman School.

Leading Edge: The Inaugural Class of Leading Edge started their leadership program with a two-day retreat at Joy Outdoor Education Center. Learning for this group of young professionals took place both in the classroom and outdoors during initiatives like “The Wall.” Applications for the next Leading Edge class will be available in March at the Chamber offices.

SEBC Leadership 21: The SEBC Leadership Class of 2008 shares a moment of levity during a leadership exercise that was a part of the Business and Economic Development session at Cornerstone Consolidated Services Group/Frontgate. SEBC Leadership 21 sessions explore the various components of our community one day each month from September through May. Applications for the tenth class year of SEBC Leadership 21 will be available in April at the Chamber offices.

Getting Connected and Staying Connected!

Jay D’ArcyMembership Account

Executive

Not only is Jay D’Arcy the first point of contact when you join the West Chester Chamber Alliance, he is also a great resource for getting involved. In his role as Membership Account Executive, Jay provides insight into how the Chamber can benefit both current members and prospective members. If you need more information on how to get connected, contact Jay at 513.777.3600 or by email atjhdarcy@westchesterchamberalliance.

West Chester Chamber Alliance Sustaining Sponsors The West Chester Chamber Alliance salutes our Sustaining Sponsors. We acknowledge the following members and thank them for their support of the Chamber, its programs, events and services provided to the businesses and organizations of this area.

BRONZE

AddeccoBethart Printing Solutions

Bridgewater Falls Lifestyle CenterClark-Theders Insurance Agency, Inc.

Dell Inc.Employers Choice Plus

Graydon HeadHORAN

Huff RealtyHuntington Bank

SUPER BRONZEKemba Credit Union

Kinker Eveleigh Insurance AgencyMcGill Smith Punshon, Inc.

Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Consultants Inc.Planes Companies

PNC Financial Services GroupStautberg Benefit Advisors

UnitedHealthcareWal*Mart Supercenter

West Chester Medical Center

Halcomb Benefits Agency, Inc.Hightech Signs

Kleingers & Associates, Inc.Legend Web Works, LLC

Lincoln Financial Advisors - Tom Holding CFP, CLUNorth Side Bank & Trust Company

Park National BankRohrkemper, Ossege & Combs, Ltd.

Schumacher Dugan Construction, Inc.SCORE - Cincinnati Chapter

Thompson Hine LLPTriHealth Corporate Health

Stop by the Chamber office to see our Sustaining Sponsorship Sign donated by Hightech Signs - 513.874.5223.

DIAMONDButler Technology & Career Development Schools

Mercy Hospital Fairfield

PLATINUMAK Steel Corporation

GOLDCincinnati Bell West Chester Township

SUPER SILVERNational City Bank The Palmer Group/Palmer Temps Inc.

SILVER

AAA Ohio Auto ClubAlternative Computer Technology, Inc.

Atrium Medical CenterAurGroup Financial Credit Union

CAI Insurance Agency Inc.Carlos Todd Properties LLCCincinnati Marriott North

CORTEmery Federal Credit UnionFour Bridges Country ClubFreund, Freeze & ArnoldGuardian Savings Bank

Elegant Estates, LLC Custom HomesFifth Third Bank

First Financial BankLiberty Township

Rippe & Kingston CO PSCSavannah Center at Chappell Crossing

Taco Bell/Uno Chicago GrillThe Pulse-Journal

The Voice • March 2008 3

From the desk of the President & CEO

Joe Hinson

...connecting people and possibilities.

Joe Hinson

Last November we launched our newest community leadership program, Leading Edge, designed to build strong professional networks and instill a heightened sense of community in our young professionals. Facilitated by Kerry Murray, the Chamber’s Leadership Development Director, a big part of the program is learning to become an effective leader from a business mentor; by definition a wise and trusted counselor/teacher.

Aspiring leaders often assume that their role models or mentors are successful because they make careful decisions. The truth is a little more complex. While it is true those executives who act impulsively without considering available intelligence risk are making huge mistakes, it is also true that highly effective leaders believe quick action is the key to success.

After researching the topic for over 14 years, author Jim Collins of Good to Great says this about the art of making quick, effective business decisions:

• Great decisions come from saying “I don’t know.” Collins asks: Which is best? Saying you don’t know when you already made up your mind or presuming to know when you don’t and therefore, lying to yourself or speaking the truth, which is: I don’t know yet?

• The higher the questions/statements ratio, the better. The best leaders Collins studied did the best job of igniting debate by using questions that push back on their ideas.

• Deciding is not about consensus. Debate can be met with strong emotions, but in the end, the leader makes the call. “No major decision we’ve studied was ever taken at a point of unanimous agreement,” Collins says.

• Great decisions come from external awareness. Leading organizations are internally driven but externally aware.

• Even huge decisions decide only a tiny fraction of the outcome. “The big decisions are not like 60 of 100 points,” Collins says. “They’re more like six of 100 points.”

• Think long term. Real leaders manage for the quarter-century, not the quarter.

• You can make mistakes and prevail. What a relief!

Though our young professionals are in a mode of learning, and are developing into highly effective leaders, we can still learn how to become more effective in our own leadership. Below is an exercise from the National Institute of Business Management to assess how well we lead in certain circumstances. The answers follow below.

1. If you’re angry or disappointed with an employee’s actions, you’re likely to:A. Express your disappointment or pleasure.B. Let the person discover the consequences of his or her actions.C. Think about the message you want to convey, than act

accordingly.D. Eat a carton of ice cream to bury your disappointment.

2. The most important trait for you to display when leading a team is:A. The wisdom of Solomon.B. The inspirational power of Dr. Martin Luther King.C. The patience of Job.D. The restraint of Adam Sandler in Anger Management.

3. When you lead a department meeting, you:A. Sum up the meeting’s purpose and warm up the crowd with a

quick 15-minute monologue.B. Ask open-ended questions and lead discussions.C. Place a staff member in charge and observe group dynamics.D. Fall asleep during “old business.”

4. When one of your people admits a mistake, the first thing you do is:A. Show support – we’re human, we all make mistakes.B. Downplay the mistake’s impact – don’t worry about it.C. Gently chastise the person – let’s make sure it doesn’t happen

again.D. Ask follow-up questions – what else have you screwed up?

Let’s find out how well you did….1. (C) Leaders think before they speak especially when negative

emotions are involved.2. (D) All are valuable, but leaders that can’t inspire people aren’t

leaders.3. (B) Leaders ask piercing questions and encourage free-flowing

discussions.4. (A) Leaders support people who acknowledge their errors.

The act of leading is often misconstrued. It truly is a learned skill. Our Leading Edge class is very lucky to have Chamber members volunteer to serve as their mentors. But no matter your age or your business experience, everyone can find ways to improve upon their leadership skills.

Thank you for being a valued member of the West Chester Chamber Alliance. Best wishes for your continued success!



THE WEST CHESTER CHAMBER ALLIANCE ANNUAL DINNER & AWARDS GALA -

A Celebration of the International Flavor of Our RegionThe West Chester Chamber Alliance will celebrate the International Flavor of our Region at the March 14 Annual Dinner & Awards Gala. The annual event, always the premiere business event of the year, is designed to give West Chester Chamber Alliance members and guests the opportunity to celebrate the Chamber’s accomplishments of the past year and to honor those who have made special contributions to business and the community.

This year we will celebrate on Friday evening, March 14, at the Savannah Center at Chappell Crossing. The Gala will include entertainment, music and other live performances as well as videos highlighting the seven Continents, and area companies that have international dealings.

“The West Chester Chamber Alliance is pleased to present the annual event that pays homage to people and businesses in our community. Our Gala has set the gold standard for all of our events and we are thrilled to celebrate the international aspect of our area,” said Chamber President and CEO, Joe Hinson.

Since the early 1980’s, the West Chester Chamber Alliance and its predecessors, the Union Township Chamber Alliance and the Southeastern Butler County Chamber of Commerce, have honored community leaders and businesses in various award categories. The finalists in each category have been selected from nominations submitted from the community at-large and voted on by secret ballot by an awards selection committee comprised of West Chester Chamber Alliance members.Tickets are $65 each, $125 per couple and corporate tables of eight are available for $500. Black tie invited. Please RSVP to Kristin Spanogians at 513.777.3600.

Finalists for the seven community and business categories will be honored with a video highlighting their contributions and the recipient will be announced that evening. The award categories are:

The GBI Community Support AwardPresented to an individual or a business for their extraordinary support to a worthwhile non-profit organization serving the southeastern Butler County area. Nominees are not required to be a West Chester Chamber Alliance member.

Finalists for the 2007 GBI Community Support Award:Eileen Meeker, Aur Group Financial Credit UnionJim Kleingers, Kleingers & Associates, Inc.Tom Holding, Lincoln Financial Advisors

The Larry Schumacher Beautification AwardPresented to one large and one small company who have greatly improved or continuously maintained either the interior and/or exterior of their facility. Nominees must be members of the West Chester Chamber Alliance and located in southeastern Butler County.

Finalists for the 2007 Larry Schumacher business beautification award for a large business:DellDuke Realty CorporationMetroParks of Butler County, Voice of America Park

Finalists for the 2007 Larry Schumacher business beautification award for a small business:Clark-Theders Insurance Agency, Inc.The Wine CartWest Chester Lawn & Garden Center

The Rookie of the Year Award Presented to a West Chester Chamber Alliance member who has demonstrated dedication to the business community and exercised outstanding volunteerism in advancing the work of the West Chester Chamber Alliance. This Chamber member must have been a member less than two years.

Finalists for the 2007 Rookie of the Year Award:Debbie Brenneman, Thompson Hine LLPRobert Hernandez, Offcierge, Inc.Britt Scearce, Emery Federal Credit Union

The Dorothy & Art Roth Citizen of the Year AwardPresented to an individual for extraordinary community involvement. Nominees are not required to be a West Chester Chamber Alliance member, but must be a resident of West Chester or Liberty Township.

Finalists for the 2007 Dorothy & Art Roth Citizen of the Year Award:Jim Keys, J. G. Keys Co., LLC.Ron Wegman, Vertical Solutions Inc.Bill Zerkle

The Jerry Bryan Chamber Member of the Year AwardPresented to an individual who has demonstrated a commitment to enhancing the quality of the Chamber through participation on a committee or committees and support of Chamber programs. Nominees must be a member of the West Chester Chamber Alliance.

Finalists for the 2007 Jerry Bryan Chamber Member of the Year Award:Kristy Preston-Stagg, Influence Inc.Rondi Tschopp, Five Visual Communication & DesignChris Worrell, Graydon Head

The Carlos Todd Businessperson of the Year AwardPresented to a business person who has demonstrated sound leadership and vision. Nominees must be the owner, proprietor, operator or chief executive of a business in operation for a minimum of two years. The organization must be a member of the West Chester Chamber Alliance.

Finalists for the 2007 Carlos Todd Businessperson of the Year Award:Charlie Chappell, Chappell Construction/CHAPPCO, LLCJim Mullaney, EDOC Marketing



What’s New InWest Chester?

West Chester Projects Promise Bright Futurefor the Community

“2008 will be an amazing year for West Chester,” said Township Administrator Judi Boyko. “We will complete construction on Township projects and commence construction of new projects that will enhance our quality of life. Important private projects that will enable the community to sustain our economic success well into the future will also be a focus of 2008,” Ms. Boyko said.

In time for Spring, West Chester will open the doors of The Muhlhauser Barn at Beckett Park. The re-constructed 1881 timber-frame barn will be dedicated at a special event hosted by West Chester Township on March 30th. The Muhlhauser Barn, which features the original slate tile roof bearing the Muhlhauser name and the original timbers, will be available for rent and used for community events.

Midway through the year, West Chester will unveil The Square at Union Centre. This urban-style park, located in the heart of Union Centre, will be completed in time for a full schedule of community events and concerts, as well as simple gatherings of friends. The Square features a 60-foot clock tower, fountains and a pleasing blend of hardscape and landscape. Annual programming at The Square, featuring a Thursday night after-work concert, is made possible through an endowment by The Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty. Programs are expected to begin in June.

In late 2008, residents and businesses will benefit from a state-of-the-art Public Safety Campus featuring an emergency communications center, a new fire headquarters and fire station one. Built to the highest standards for essential buildings, the new facility sits at the corner of Cincinnati-Dayton and West Chester roads on the site of the former fire headquarters/station one.

“The new facility was designed considering future growth of the community in terms of calls to dispatch and emergency response,” said West Chester Public Safety Director Jim Detherage. “It will most certainly serve our community well.” The approximately $12 million public safety campus is being built using tax increment financing.

This Spring, the community will break ground on the new West Chester Library at Union Centre. Nearly through the design phase, West Chester continues to work with architects and representatives of the Middletown Library System to ensure that this new library will truly represent the community both in its form and its functionality. The new library will sit across from the Lakota West High School and adjacent to The Square at Union Centre. The library, nearly four times the size of the current facility, will be connected to The Square and surrounding buildings by pedestrian-friendly paths.

Butler CountyLegislative Breakfasthosted by

A forum featuring your Butler County Commissioners:Chuck Furmon

Don DixonGreg Jolivette

WHEN Friday, May 9, 2008 7:30-8am Registration & Breakfast Buffet 8-9am Program

COST $20 per Chamber Member (Fairfield; Greater Hamilton; Chamber serving Middletown, Monroe & Trenton; Oxford, West Chester)

$25 Non-Member

PLACE Harry T. Wilks Conference Center Miami University Hamilton 1601 University Blvd., Hamilton

RESERVATIONS Greater Hamilton Chamber of Commerce 201 Dayton St., Hamilton Phone: 513.844.1500 Fax: 513.844.1999

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www.westchesteroh.org

Freund, Freeze & Arnold Name 2008 Super LawyersFreund, Freeze & Arnold, a Dayton, Ohio-based law firm is pleased to announce that nine of its attorneys have been named as 2008 Super Lawyers, five within the Dayton office. The Dayton attorneys receiving this rating are Neil F. Freund, Stephen V. Freeze, Gordon D. Arnold, Susan Blasik-Miller, and Christopher F. Johnson.

• Neil Freund - Selected as one of the Top 10 of Ohio “Super Lawyers” in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 - a list jointly prepared by Law & Politics Magazine and Cincinnati Magazine. He has also been recognized as one of the “Best Lawyers in America” for the past ten years, as well as one of the “Best of the Bar” in the Dayton community. Mr. Freund was also recognized in 2007 and 2008 as one of the top 500 lawyers in America by LawDragon Magazine.

• Stephen Freeze – Named as Ohio “Super Lawyer” in 2005, 2006 and 2007, a list jointly prepared by Law & Politics Magazine and Cincinnati Magazine. Additionally, he was voted as one of “Best Lawyers in America” and has served Past President of the Ohio Association of Civil Trial Attorneys, 2005-2006.

• Gordon Arnold - Gordon was named as Ohio “Super Lawyer” in 2006 and 2007 and was voted a “Best Lawyers in America” in 2006 and 2007.

• Susan Blasik-Miller – Susan was named as Ohio “Super Lawyer” in 2006 and 2007, and was voted as one of “Best Lawyers in America” in 2006 and 2007.

• Christopher Johnson – Christopher was named as Ohio “Super Lawyer” in 2007 and was voted as one of the “Best Lawyers in America” in 2007. Mr. Johnson is a member of the Ohio Association of Civil Trial Attorneys, the Defense Research Institute, and the Ohio and Dayton Bar Associations.

For more information, please visit www.freundfreezeandarnold.com.

Mother Teresa 5KOn April 19 at 9am, Mother Teresa Catholic Elementary School will host the Mother Teresa 5K, a run/walk at Voice of America Park. The event will bring the West Chester and Liberty Township communities together to raise school awareness and funds in support of expansion.

Prescott Race Coordination (www.sprunning.com) will manage the race and online registration. For more information, contact Noel Balster at 513.779.6585.

Oak Tree Communications, EDOC Marketing Featured as SBA Business SuccessesOak Tree Communications, LLC of West Chester and EDOC Marketing of Fairfield are featured on the national Small Business Administration’s Web site as small business success stories in Cincinnati. Both are West Chester Chamber Alliance members.

Melinda Zemper, Oak Tree Communications, LLC, and Jim Mullaney, EDOC Marketing, were named 2007 John J. Frank Clients of the Year

for the Cincinnati SCORE #34 Chapter. West Chester Chamber Alliance SCORE counselor Bob Wiwi is credited for his generosity and expertise in mentoring Melinda Zemper as she formed Oak Tree Communications, LLC, a publicity and public relations firm.

For more information, visit the SBA link at www.oaktreecommunications.com. Click “Press,” then the Small Business Administration photo link.

AK Steel Makes “Souper Bowl” Donation To Cincinnati Freestore Foodbank Employees at AK Steel’s West Chester corporate headquarters recently donated 1,000 pounds of canned goods to the Cincinnati Freestore Foodbank. The donations were collected during the company’s “Souper Bowl Week” soup drive. Similar food drives were conducted at the company’s steel plants prior to the Super Bowl.

“Donations to the Freestore Foodbank were down 50% earlier this year, making AK Steel’s gift that much more important,” said Jamie Rosskopf, Resource Development Manager for the Cincinnati Freestore Foodbank. “We thank AK Steel, and their employees, for stepping up to the plate and making a difference.”

“‘Souper Bowl Week’ gave everyone at our company the opportunity to help make a difference in the lives of others,” said Jim Wainscott, AK Steel Chairman, President and CEO. “Along with our corporate headquarters, our steel plants also held food drives to support charitable organizations in their communities. The donations are a testament to the character of our company and the compassion of our employees at all of our plant locations.”

For more information, please visit www.aksteel.com.

Changes for Albertz & AssociatesAlbertz & Associates is excited to introduce Chris Saul, a Financial Advisor that will be affiliated with their office and available to help. Not only is he a Financial Advisor, but he is also an accountant by trade.

Saul brings with him vast expertise and excellent customer service. Due to the growth of Albertz & Associates, it’s been hard for them to serve all clients in this capacity, so they welcome someone with his expertise, integrity, knowledge and professionalism.

For more information, please visit www.albertzcpa.com.

Edward Dwyer Re-Appointed to Metroparks Board of Park CommissionersU.S. Bank executive and West Chester Township resident, Edward L. Dwyer, was recently re-appointed to the MetroParks of Butler County Board of Park Commissioners by Probate Court Judge Randy T. Rogers. Originally appointed in 2006 to complete the unexpired 3 year term of the late John O’Neill, Dwyer’s new term in office will run from 2008 through 2010. Mr. Dwyer currently serves as President of the Board of Park Commissioners.

Mr. Dwyer is employed as U.S. Bank’s Commercial Sales Manager for Community Banking based in Hamilton. Additionally, he is involved with a number of non-profit endeavors, including serving on the boards of Mother Teresa Catholic Elementary School, the Butler County Chamber Caucus and Pacific Coast Banking School.



People & NewsPeople & News Highlighting Member promotions, awards, new hires, relocations and community services.

Chris Saul

Ed DwyerMelinda Zemper

Jim Mullaney

Jim Wainscott, AK Steel Chairman, President and CEO, presents 1,000 pounds of canned goods to Jamie Rosskopf from the Cincinnati Freestore Foodbank.



Local Companies Ross Group Inc. and TDH MarketingForm Strategic AllianceDayton-based companies Ross Group Inc. and TDH Marketing, Inc. are pleased to announce a strategic alliance to jointly pursue and collaborate on client projects leveraging the combined services and capabilities of both organizations.

The goal of the alliance is to simultaneously deliver the strategic business development and creative web development capabilities of TDH Marketing with the comprehensive technical web application consulting, design and development and database management expertise of Ross Group. Having successfully collaborated on a number of clients’ projects so far, this strategic alliance formalizes the growing collaboration between the two firms.

“The alliance between TDH Marketing and Ross Group is aimed at a targeted set of customers who have more comprehensive needs than either company can provide on our own. Through the collaboration, the firms will be able to offer clients a broader portfolio of services, a more diverse and specialized skill set and stronger value proposition that will enhance the growth of both our businesses, as well as our clients, ” said Tim Hull, President & CEO of TDH Marketing.

“By working together with TDH Marketing, we are able to offer clients the creative web development and marketing skills many of our customers require, while TDH, in turn extends their technical services and skills with Ross Group’s in depth database, application development and RossAssured managed services capabilities,” said Mark Ross, President & CEO of Ross Group.

New Position Director of Finance/Accounting

We are pleased to announce a new position at the West Chester Chamber Alliance – Director of Accounting/Finance. This position focuses on the day-to-day business operations of our award winning Chamber; accounts receivable, accounts payable, cash flow management, budget preparation, tax preparation, benefit administration and preparation of financial reports. Quick Books experience is a plus. This individual must be detailed oriented and a team player with a strong emphasis on customer service. Please view our web site - www.westchesterchamberalliance.com for more details.

Record Year forEconomic Developmentin Butler County

More than $2.4 billion in new investment was made in Butler County during the last four years with over $850 million occurring in 2007 alone. That is more than $200 million higher than the previous record of $651 million invested in 2005. During 2007, 3,221 new jobs were created in Butler County while 2,912 existing jobs with local employers were retained. Although many experts are expecting a recession in 2008, 2007 was a record year for economic development in our County and 2008 is shaping up to start out very strong as well.

Jobs Jobs NewYear Created Retained Investment2007 3,221 2,912 $856,303,2202006 3,116 1,431 $559,103,3442005 3,144 1,322 $651,762,8902004 3,115 6,123 $365,122,309Total 12,596 11,788 $2,432,291,763

What really sets Butler County apart from the rest of Ohio and much of the U.S. is that of the more than $850 million in new investment made in the County during 2007, $547,300,000 or 64% of that investment was made in manufacturing projects. While U.S. employment has increased by over 5% since the end of the last recession in November 2001, during the same period Ohio lost 136,000 or 13.2% of its manufacturing jobs.

In 2007, business investment in Butler County by industry was made as follows:

Percent Industry Investment of TotalManufacturing $547,303,220 63.9Office $108,500,000 12.7BioMed/Healthcare $78,200,000 9.1Logistics/Warehousing $67,500,000 7.9Hotels $25,000,000 2.9Other $29,800,000 3.5Total $856,303,220 100.0

Amylin Pharmaceuticals and BAE Systems announced major expansion projects in 2007; Amylin will invest $400 million and create 500 new jobs to expand its existing manufacturing plant while BAE will spend $75 million and create 400 new jobs to increase its manufacturing capacity.

Now that construction of the new Liberty Interchange and other improvements in the immediate vicinity are underway, our future is even brighter as Butler County continues to grow and prosper.

CheckingSavings Loans

Mortgages and so much more!

www.kemba.com513.762.5070

8763 Union Centre Blvd.



What’s New in LibertyPreserving the Past,

Planning the Future www.liberty-township.com

Global Sign Company held an official ribbon cutting last month to announce the official opening of their complete sign solutions company in the Wyandot Business Park. Global Sign Co. handles everything from design to manufacturing to installation. Their products include banners, monument signs, trade show graphics, vehicle graphics/wraps and more.

The Little Gym held a public grand opening and ribbon cutting last month to celebrate their opening in the Liberty Commons Shopping Center. The Little Gym is an interactive child development center offering gymnastics and tumbling classes for children 4 months to 13 years.

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Liberty Township to Develop Parks and Recreation Master PlanIn December, Liberty Township began work on a Township Parks and Recreation Master Plan with the help of Brandstetter Carroll, a firm with extensive experience in parks planning throughout the tri-state over the last 16 years. The production of a Parks and Recreation Master Plan is a major directive coming out of the Township Comprehensive Land Use Plan, adopted in October 2006. With the growth that Liberty Township has been experiencing, preserving areas for parks and recreation has become vital to maintaining a quality of life in the community. Another goal of this plan will be positioning the Township to provide a wider variety and better quality of recreation opportunities for the growing populace. Input for the plan will be gathered in three ways:• One-on-one interviews with representatives of local organizations

and stakeholder groups involved in providing recreation opportunities to the Township.

• Public workshops will be held to gather ideas from residents. • A mail and phone survey will be conducted to ensure input has been

gathered from a range of age groups and that all geographic areas of the Township have been represented. Two thousand surveys will be mailed to resident households in the spring. We encourage all Liberty Township residents to take the time to respond.

Public input in the planning process is of paramount importance so that the end product will truly be responsive to the needs and desires of the community. The Parks and Recreation Master Plan will take approximately nine months to complete and will guide recreation development in Liberty Township for the next two decades. For more information, call the Liberty Township Administrative Office at 513.759.7500.

THE NEW RETIREMENT LANDSCAPE

TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS – HAVE YOU DONE YOUR SHARE LATELY?

As in the Bachman-Turner Overdrive song, “taking care of business every day; taking care of business every way,” was the recurring theme to all who attended the West Chester Chamber Alliance January Breakfast Briefing to learn more about their requirements as employers for employee retirement obligations.

Rick Shively, Investment Advisor for Jefferson Pilot Securities Corporation, sponsored the recent Breakfast Briefing. Rick presented his program, “Taking Care of Employees and Employers in a Business Retirement.”

Bernie Wesselman presented his piece of the puzzle as the third party administrator for Burke & Schindler who works with Jefferson Pilot Securities to ensure they are working accurately and responsibly within the government guidelines and regulations. Besides Burke & Schindler’s fiduciary responsibility, Rick explained that his fiduciary responsibility is to manage an employer’s plans, and the employer’s fiduciary responsibility is to manage their employee’s plans.

Rick stated, “It takes a team to take care of the business of retirement and 401K plans for employees.” He went on to explain that in 2006, the retirement landscape changed. As of 2006, greater than fifty percent of 401Ks are out of compliance. Traditional pensions are declining, and by 2041, social security is a “bust” - meaning it may not go away, but it will look a lot different than it does today.

Judd Depew, Regional Vice President of Retirement Plan Services at John Hancock Financial Services, shared the stage with Rick to present the fact that government realized social security is going to change; hence, they chose to improve 401K plans to help leverage what could happen with social security. “Furthermore,” he went on, “the old default of three to four percent per year over 30 years is no longer sufficient enough to target for your employees.” Depew explained that if there is no advantage to the employee, the employee may come back to you in 20 to 30 years and blame you for not taking care of their retirement and for not growing their retirement savings in excess of a three to four percent default.

Review your retirement plans and ask yourself the following: Do you have a plan? Do you need a Safe Harbor Plan, profit sharing, or a simple IRA? Is the plan portable? Taking care of business takes on a whole new meaning if you ignore the changing landscape of retirement plans. Don’t become personally liable for an unfit retirement program.

By Chris Waugh the WINE C.A.R.T.513.860.9463www.winecartoh.com



It is not every day that you hear of such an inspirational story as that of John Browne and his company, Prestige Unlimited Services. One wouldn’t normally consider the creation of a cleaning company to be particularly remarkable, but John’s story will surely change your mind, as it did mine.John Browne was born and raised in Cincinnati and spent the first ten years of his career in the Navy where he got his first experiences in general and ventilation cleaning on the ships. After the Navy, John worked for AK Steel where he cleaned and maintained a variety of materials. John always dreamed of owning his own company; so when he was diagnosed with cancer in his early-thirties, and was on sick leave from AK Steel, he became an avid researcher on all aspects of starting a business. When John became stronger after an operation and extensive chemotherapy, he went back to work for AK Steel; it was at this time that AK Steel workers went on strike. Finding himself home once again, John continued his research and put his company down on paper. When AK Steel called him back to work, John had to choose between working for a Fortune 500 company and following his dream. The dream won!Prestige Unlimited Services offers all aspects of cleaning (both residential

and commercial) including carpet and upholstery, windows, ventilation systems, chimneys, emergency water removal/restoration, janitorial services and residential home cleaning. Prestige Unlimited Services is unique in that John is well educated on all aspects of the cleaning business; he is a certified water restorer, a certified carpet cleaner and a master chimney sweep. The company was started three years ago in Springdale, but when the company grew, along with his family, John decided to move to West Chester, where his wife was born and raised. He found West Chester to be ideal because of its strategic location and

access to area highways. John’s optimism and attitude are truly inspirational. At 38 years old, he is now in remission; as John puts it, “The doc keeps smiling at me, so I know I’m good!” In true Ohio spirit, after his last operation, John was present two days later to referee a football game; after I expressed my astonishment, John noted, “I love football too much. I thought to myself, ‘I’m not going to let cancer stop me!’” John has seen the positive side of this terrible disease, because if it wasn’t for cancer, owning his own

business would have remained a dream, and not the reality it is today.

Spotlight On:

Prestige Unlimited Services, John Browne

By Ali FischettiMarketing CoordinatorWest Chester Chamber Alliance

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and expanded calling area like Cincinnati Bell.

To find out more, contact your Cincinnati Bell Account Manager or call 1-888-CIN-BELL. www.cincinnatibell.com

John Browne, Prestige Unlimited

Services

With the unpredictability of Cincinnati weather, the West Chester Chamber Alliance luncheon was rescheduled to Tuesday, February 19 due to snow and ice. The weather was brisk but the energy of Vietnam War and 27-year 3M sales veteran, Leroy Reshard of First Financial Bank, warmed a packed house in attendance at Wetherington Golf and Country Club. Emceed by Robert Hernandez of Offcierge, this month’s luncheon was sponsored by The Pulse-Journal.

If anyone has ever had the pleasure of meeting or visiting with Leroy, they know his positive energy and warm heart are his personality trademarks. Leroy opened with sharing some personal experiences as an account executive at 3M Companies. “Boy, I was so excited to get out there and sell and tell people about 3M products. I brought my bag of products and couldn’t wait to tell them about the things I had for them to buy.” It wasn’t until a friend and mentor of Leroy, Tom Roach (another account executive of 3M) told Leroy to slow down, stop talking and start listening that Leroy’s career began to take off. “Stop selling, start wooing. To woo begins with building trust. You’ve got to spend time learning about your customers which requires more listening and less talking.”

Leroy distributed a presentation handout that detailed the sales process in 3 different levels of client communication. “Most sales people start in the 2nd level of his 3 level sales process pyramid (referring to his handout). The 2nd level Giving Information takes up 20% of the sales process but should never precede the 1st step of Getting Information.” In the Getting Information stage, he reminded us that 40% of communications should be concentrated on learning about the person. “People buy from people first, the company second and the product last. We need to spend time understanding our customer’s feelings (emotions), their background (who they are and where they’ve been), and how our product or service will help them.” The other 30% of communications during the initial part of the sales process should be focused on uncovering and defining the customer’s pain. He reminded us that our product must help address or take care of the customer’s pain in order to gain the lasting relationship that leads to wooing and not selling. “We should focus most (70%) of our time gathering information and only 30% of our time on providing solutions and getting a commitment.” Yet most sales professionals inadvertently spend 70% of the time giving information and forcing commitments and very little time understanding and learning about our customers.



“Stop Selling!!! Start Wooing”

Jag’s Steak & Seafood: Barbara Fisher, West Chester Chamber Alliance Ambassador; Michelle Brown, Jag’s Steak & Seafood; Laura Schmidt, Jag’s Steak & Seafood; Kelly Lowrey, Jag’s Steak & Seafood.

In closing, Leroy emphasized that wooing customers requires trust, win-win solutions and staying committed to the sales process. “Sales commitments will come naturally if we first build trust, learn about our customers (while uncovering their pain), offer why our product and service will address their pain and make our customers feel good about their buying decision.” He spoke of the importance of improving our ability to listen with discipline (CARE: Concentrate, Acknowledge, Replay and Empathize). “Concentrate on what the customer is saying and not what you’re going to say next. Acknowledge with short phrases to remind the customer that you are hearing and understanding what the customer is saying. Replay and remind yourself and the customer what they’ve already shared. And finally, empathize and put yourself in the position of the customer to really feel what they feel, emotionally.” It was a wonderful opportunity for West Chester Chamber Alliance luncheon attendees to learn some of the secrets to Leroy’s successful career in sales.

By Steven D. NguyenThe Hackman Financial Group, Inc.513.891.5300 [email protected]

Butler County Job Fair

ATTENTION EMPLOYERS: It’s BIG…It’s BUSY…It’s the BEST… This year the annual Job Fair

HAS A NEW LOCATION! Participate in Butler County’s Premier Hiring Event

Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with hundreds of job seekers – all in one place, all in one day. Join dozens of area employers to recruit, interview and hire qualified candidates. Reduce your time, effort and recruiting costs. Space is limited so register today.

Visit www.butlercountyjobfair.org - or call 513.785.5345 for more information.

The Butler County Job Fair

Tuesday, April 8th

10:00am – 2:00pm

RECEPTIONS Banquet & Convention Center

5975 Boymel Drive, Fairfield, Ohio

Ideal Fitness: Doug Crum, Fish Window Cleaning and Lance Clayton, Ideal Fitness.

Staff from Cox Ohio Publishing and The Pulse-Journal are pictured left to right: Linda Schneider, Kira Lisa Warren, Mike Burcham, Eric Schwartzberg, Sarah Cunningham, Kathy Lane, Matt Cunningham, Susan Medure-Cantrell.

Luncheon speakerLeroy Reshard,

First Financial Bank

Luncheon emceeRobert Hernandez,

Offcierge

Butler County Job Fair



HOW TO RSVP FOR A MEMBER LUNCHEON

Next Luncheon:Tuesday, March 11th at Wetherington Golf & Country Club

RSVP by Friday, March 7, 5:00 p.m.Cancel by Monday, March 10, before noon.

Phone: 777.3600

Luncheons are held the second Tuesday of each monthfrom 11:30am-1:30pm

Cost:$25 - for members and employees of member organizations who

RSVP by the Friday before each Luncheon$30 - for members who RSVP after Friday at 5:00 pm$40 - for non-members

Pay by check, Mastercard, VISA or Discover and avoid the registration line. Special dietary needs will gladly be taken care

of by letting us know when you RSVP for the luncheon.

Next Month’s LuncheonNext Month’s Luncheon

Tuesday, April 8th

Wetherington Golf and Country Club

Join us for our Monthly Member Luncheon with guest speaker Dr. Doug Linz, Medical Director, TriHealth Corporate Health who will speak on “The Executive Athlete.” Dr. Linz has been working with employers in the greater Cincinnati area to provide solutions for their employees’ and organizations’ health issues for over 20 years.

Our emcee will be Dean Miuccio,Dean Miuccio Productions LLC.

Dr. Doug Linz

This Month’s Luncheon

Ann Mincey

Tuesday, March 11th

Wetherington Golf and Country Club

Join us for our Monthly Member Luncheon with guest speaker Ann Mincey, Vice President Global Communications REDKEN 5TH Avenue NYC.

Our emcee will be Amy Waldbillig, Butler Technology and Career Development Schools.

Preferred ProvidersListed Alphabetically

Tom Farrell, [email protected] technology

Matt Tontrup, [email protected] phone and long-distance

Kevin Schlotman, [email protected] compensation

Heather Frazier, 888. 294.1187 ext. 7363 Office supplies

Kevin Schlotman, [email protected] Halcomb, [email protected]

Group health care

For additional information on the West Chester Chamber Alliance

Preferred Providers, please contact them directly or

visit www.westchesterchamberalliance.com.

7908 Cin-Day Road, Suite W • West Chester, Ohio 45069513-755-1957, FAX 513-755-1958

http://www.altcomp.com

West ChesterChamber Alliance

Technology Partnerÿ Internet Securityÿ Anti-Virus Softwareÿ E-mail Content Controlÿ Desktop Solutionsÿ Network Administration



One Great Community:Four Community Leadership Programs to Serve It!

and of the mutual understanding and cooperation needed among them for our community to grow and thrive. Leadership and communication skills building initiatives are also a part of each session.

Starting its 10th year, SEBC Leadership 21 has opened and maintained a constructive dialogue among all parties charged with making Liberty and West Chester Townships even better places to live and work. The program also builds upon long lasting business relationships gained by participation with the entire class.

Applications will be available at the West Chester Chamber Alliance offices starting April 15th. For more information, contact Kerry Murray at 777.3600 or [email protected].

Leading Edge…Preparing Young Professionals To Lead• Designed for young professionals in the first decade of their career, who live and/or work in the region• Application process runs March through April 2008• Program class year: June 2008 through January 2009• Tuition is $695; a limited number of scholarships are available• Presenting program sponsor is Mercy Hospital Fairfield

Leading Edge is designed to instill a heightened sense of community in young professionals engaged in careers within West Chester and Liberty region through participation in a community leadership program that combines skills based learning, career enhancement opportunities along with networking and social events. It is designed to help young professionals feel more connected to our community and to develop leadership skills, self-confidence and maturity.

For each program session, 25 - 30 young professionals are selected, through an application process, to participate in this program of community education, career training and leadership development. Sessions include hands-on experiential and participatory learning taught and facilitated by published authors, national speakers and other leaders in their fields. Over the course of the program class members will meet and interact with key current community leaders, volunteers and elected officials.

Over eight months, starting with an opening two-day retreat, followed by a mix of full day and half day sessions, class members are given the opportunity to build strong professional networks with the business community and to develop a level of mutual trust and to respect varying backgrounds, cultures and opinions while improving real world skills, exploring issues and making key connections within their class and community.

Applications will be available at the West Chester Chamber Alliance offices starting March 10th. For more information, contact Kerry Murray at 777.3600 or [email protected].

Impact 21…Youth Leadership for the 21st Century• Designed for residents (junior and sophomore high school students) of

West Chester and Liberty Townships who have demonstrated leadership ability.

• Application process runs now through April 7th, 2008• Program class year: August 2008 through April 2009• Tuition is $100; a limited number of scholarships are available.

The West Chester Chamber Alliance connects people and possibilities in West Chester and Liberty Townships and the I-75 Growth Corridor. We also connect leaders to each other, to our community and to leadership development opportunities in four different programs. Perhaps one of our leadership programs would be of benefit to you or someone on your staff. Three of our programs are taking applications over the next few months.

SEBC Leadership 21…Leadership for the 21st Century• Designed for current leaders who live and/or work in the region• Application process runs April through May 2008• Program class year: September 2007 through May 2009• Tuition is $995; a limited number of scholarships are available• Presenting program sponsor is AK Steel

SEBC Leadership 21 is designed to improve the quality, quantity and effectiveness of leadership in Southeastern Butler County by exposing current and future leaders to a broad cross-section of the community; creating an awareness of the current challenges, future demands and available resources; and building a commitment to work collaboratively to prepare the community for the future.

For each program session, 35-40 community leaders are selected, through an application process, to participate in a program of community education and leadership training. SEBC Leadership 21 calls upon business owners and managers, government and school leaders and citizen volunteers to study various aspects of our community in-depth in order to be more effective in their careers and through their volunteer positions.

During an opening retreat and ten sessions (seven full day and three half day) throughout the program year, class members explore issues such as education, history, government, criminal justice, communications and economic development, to name a few. During each session the class explores a segment of the community in-depth; visiting key locations such as the county jail, the local police department, schools, food pantries, as well as area other businesses, to get a clearer picture of the community in which they live and conduct business.

At every session, the class becomes more fully acquainted with the key issues facing our region, and gains a grasp of the interdependence of each sector

West Chester Chamber AllianceEmail Updates

will ensure you are IN THE KNOW!

Are you receiving our bi-monthly email updates? Has your email address changed? Interested in sponsoring an email update?

Make sure you are signed up to receive our email updates and that your information is up-to-date. This will keep you in the know about all that is happening at the West Chester Chamber Alliance!

Send your information to Ali Fischetti at [email protected]



• Presenting program sponsor is Taco BellImpact 21 is a community-based leadership development program designed to inspire and challenge current youth to become the future leaders of West Chester and Liberty Townships through sessions that are highly interactive. Through hands-on experience and participatory learning in an opening two-day retreat and seven additional full day sessions, Impact 21 challenges youth to take personal responsibility and to develop a strong identity as they gain increased self-awareness. Impact 21 class members will meet and interact with current community leaders, volunteers and elected officials.Impact 21 provides opportunities for 20-25 students to build strong friendships with a diverse group of individuals and develop mutual trust and respect for varying backgrounds. It is designed to help youth develop character and gain new skills, self-confidence and maturity. Youth in Impact 21 find their own leadership style while studying the qualities and attributes that great leaders possess.Expanding knowledge of their community, youth will learn about a wide range of social, civic, historical and economic oriented topics designed to inspire them to a greater understanding of the impact they and their actions can have on each other, the community, and the overall environment.Impact 21 is open to residents (public, private and home-schooled students) of West Chester and Liberty Townships who are junior and sophomore high school students as of fall 2008. Applicants must have a GPA of 2.5 or above and references from two teachers/adult mentors and one additional person from the community. Impact 21 is an excused absence from school. Applications are currently available at the West Chester Chamber Alliance offices. For more information, contact Kerry Murray at 777.3600 or [email protected].

Executive Edge • Designed for executive and senior level managers and their partners/

spouses who are new to our community• Application process and dates of the next class will be announced soon.• Tuition is $900 for executives; $550 for partners/spouses.

Executive Edge is a six-session leadership program designed for senior level managers and their partners/spouses who are interested in being acclimated to the West Chester and Liberty Township area. This program assists those executives by introducing them to community culture, key decision makers, elected officials and VIP’s. Each session includes networking opportunities, education, excellent speakers, panels, tours, as well as dinner and all program materials.

Child care is available by request at no additional cost, courtesy of Impact 21. Applications are currently available at the West Chester Chamber Alliance offices. Limited space available. For more information, contact Kathy Rambo at 777.3600 or [email protected].

Mike TaylorSuperintendent of Lakota [email protected]

Lakotafest is coming! The second annual community event will be Saturday, April 5 at Lakota West High School beginning with a community parade and continuing with activities in the school throughout the day.

Last year, an estimated 10,000 people came to Lakotafest, where they saw award-winning student art, heard outstanding musical performances, saw examples of classroom activities, and had a day of fun.

Lakotafest is the Lakota Local School District’s biggest public event. The intent is to showcase our students’ talents and successes and to give our community a look at the kind of work our students do each day. It’s all done in a fun, festival atmosphere with games for children, athletic activities, and even a quiet coffeehouse setting with instrumental ensemble music.

One of Lakota’s long-term strategic goals is to increase community engagement, the two-way relationship between the schools and residents that benefits students and makes the community stronger. A number of residents have become involved in helping students, from volunteering in the classroom to serving on planning committees that are mapping out the district’s future. In turn, students and staff are involved in a wide variety of community organizations and activities.

For those who don’t have a relationship with the schools or with students, events like Lakotafest are ideal. If you don’t have children in Lakota schools, or aren’t sure how your financial support of the schools is helping students, I invite you to join us at Lakotafest on April 5.

Lakota schools belong to the community and serve the community. Every resident is invested in the success of 18,000 students, and every staff member is committed to providing an outstanding education that helps students succeed and makes the community stronger. I hope that you will join us at Lakotafest in a celebration of the students who are successful and the community that makes it possible.

PATRICK NESBITT

ATTORNEY

Legal Counsel for

Small Business Since 1981

8050 Beckett Center Drive • Suite 113 • West Chester • Ohio • 45069

513.755.2600

fax 513.874.5205

[email protected]

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Ribbon Cuttings &Ground Breakings

Sweet Art of Mine7334 Tylers Corner Drive, Suite 300, West Chester, OH 45069513-777-0052Kris and Tom Flora (center) are shown here with West Chester Chamber Alliance Ambassadors as they celebrate the opening of their West Chester art gallery. They feature local artists and well known painters and sculptors. Trendy gifts and jewelry are also available.

The Little Gym7318 Yankee Road, Liberty Township, OH 45011Kevin and Page Helmick cut the ribbon as Chase Aston displays the certificate that commemorates the opening of The Little Gym. Especially for children, The Little Gym® provides the foundation for non-competitive motor skill development programs, such as gymnastics, sports skills and karate, all taught in a fun, safe and nurturing environment.

Global Sign Company7568 Wyandot #3, Liberty Township, OH 45044Global Sign Company can help create a lasting impression by sharing their expertise in design, production, and installation of all types of custom signs. John and Pam Thompson (center) specialize in distinctive, quality signs. Liberty Township Trustee David Kern (6th from the left) join the Ambassadors at the ribbon cutting celebration.

Profiles in Design6214 Muhlhauser RdWest Chester, OH 45069“If you can dream it, we can build it!” is the tag that Joe Pfaltzgraff and Gary Stacy (center) adopted when they started their company in 1987. They are pictured here with Michelle Stacy, cutting the ribbon of their West Chester location as the West Chester Chamber Alliance Ambassadors cheer them on.

Ambassador of the Quarter

Kenni Blache, West Chester Chamber Alliance; Sherri Gordon, Packaging Systems Design, Inc.; Suzanne Weisbrod, North Side Bank & Trust Company are captured here celebrating Sherri’s recognition as Ambassador of the fourth quarter.

Sherri GordonPackaging Systems Design, Inc.



s m a l l b u s i n e s s c o n c e r n s

If You Could Invest One Day and ADVANCE the Rest of

Your Life, Would You? OstermanCron and the SEBC Leadership 21 Alumni Association are proud to be the local sponsors for this year’s Maximum Impact Leadership Development Simulcast on Friday, April 18th, hosted and headlined by leadership guru, John Maxwell.

In today’s market, success in marketplace leadership is measured by expenditures, net profit and exponential growth. But can we truly evaluate our influence with the same measurements?

• How do I really know if I am progressing as a leader? • What do I do when my paycheck isn't motivating me as much as it

used to? • How do I truly impact the lives of those who work for me?

Find the answer for yourself on Friday, April 18th when the 2008 Maximum Impact Simulcast provides you, the business professional, with a day to ADVANCE your leadership.

Renowned authors, businessmen and leadership experts will provide you with a wealth of information designed to help you grow your influence. Join 80,000 leaders across North America as you learn to ADVANCE at work, ADVANCE in life and ADVANCE yourself. Information can be found at www.maximumimpact.com/mis/speakers.asp.

Featured leadership speakers for this year’s Maximum Impact include: John Maxwell, Patrick Lencioni, Bill Taylor, Andy Stanley, Dan Cathy, Dick Vitale, Andy Andrews, Kevin Carroll, Valorie Burton and Spencer Tillman ADVANCE will be held on Friday, April 18th from 8:30am to 4:30 pm at Bethany United Methodist Church at 6388 Cincinnati-Dayton Road in Liberty Township. Lunch and refreshments will be provided. Group rates and corporate sponsorships are available.

Contact: Joel Osterman, OstermanCron, Inc.513.771.3377 or [email protected]

A Career Advantage:Effective Interview Answers

“Look for ways to be an active force and design a life of substance.”~ Les Brown

Interviewing is a critical step in a job search yet, for many, is a dreaded process. Employers expect candidates to explain clearly, with specific examples, why their experience and skills make the candidate the right “fit” for the position. Using behavioral questions, employers base their evaluation on past performance as an effective indicator of future behavior.

Some simple steps can prepare you for interview success:

• Research….Research….ResearchOne significant evaluation factor used by employers, as reported by 320 business organizations surveyed by The Northwestern Lindquist-Endicott Report by Victor R. Lindquist (published and copyrighted by The Placement Center, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois), is lack of knowledge about the industry/position/organization. Do you have a thorough understanding of the responsibilities of the position and culture of the organization, its products and services? Use reliable sources to find and use this information to your career advantage.

• Identify and link your accomplishments specifically to the position

Use the acronym CAR: Challenge…Action…Result to prepare your stories. If a skill in analysis, judgment and creativity is the focus of a management trainee position, paint a picture of how using these skills resulted in a significant business outcome. Show how these experiences will help you contribute to the position. Avoid rambling, keep your stories honest, enthusiastic and results oriented.

• Understand employer concerns behind interview questions Hiring the right person is an expensive decision. Your ability to excel

and commitment to the position is critical. What kind of learner are you? Given the rapidly changing work environment where responsibilities are added or taken away at a moment’s notice, it is important for an employer to assess your ability to adapt to changing responsibilities. Make a list of your soft skills and include these descriptions in your conversation.

• Commit to giving your best effort A big interview turn-off is showing a lack of genuine interest in

building a relationship with an interviewer. Share your best effort with an employer by actively listening to their questions, asking for clarification, using your energy to link your contributions to the position and being respectful of the time invested by you and the employer in having this conversation.

Prepare and go forth with confidence!

By Sunitha NarayananPrincipal, Career Advantage Ltd.513.755.0634 [email protected]

2337 Victory Parkway • Cincinnati, OH 45206 • www.roc-cpa.com513-241-4507 • 513-241-5637 Fax

For more information call Mike Combs or Greg Ossege.



New MembersVerizon / Cellular SalesBrandon Parks513-967-09708179 Princeton-Glendale Rd, Ste HHamilton, OH 45011Telephone - Wireless Sales & Service

Strategic Business Advisor GroupGary Price513-755-07888216 Princeton-Glendale Rd, #192West Chester, OH 45069Coaching

PcWorks LLCEric Medecke513-895-72723501 Tylersville Rd, Ste CHamilton, OH 45011Computer Sales & Service

Melanie Williams, Inc.Melanie Williams513-870-92887332 Ridge Meadow CtWest Chester, OH 45069Marketing Research

Huntington Learning CenterDan Mathis513-860-44168179-A Princeton-Glendale RoadHamilton, OH 45011Education Services

CincyTechTodd Wurzbacher513-325-547330 West 3rd St., 6th FloorCincinnati, OH 45202Financial Services & Investment AdvisorsBasket Beyond BeautifulAmy Rothan513-860-26618825 Eagle Creek CtWest Chester, OH 45069Retail - Specialty

ADPAmy Nell513-833-1251500 W 7th StreetCincinnati, OH 45203Payroll Services

ActionCOACHMelissa Howard513-604-1760403 The AlamedaMiddletown, OH 45044Coaching/Consulting

Where Families Grow . . .AndBusinesses Prosper!

9113 Cincinnati-Dayton Road • West Chester, Ohio • 45069513-777-5900 • 513-779-9369 fax • www.westchesteroh.org

Trustees: George Lang, Catherine Stoker, Lee WongClerk-Treasurer: Patricia Williams

Township Administrator: Judith C. Boyko

March 7 – Armchair Program: BrazilMarino Haensel shares the life and history of the South American Gauchos

(cowboys) as told by a real gaucho!7pm West Chester Township Hall, 9113 Cincinnati-Dayton Road.

March 21 – Armchair Program: Vietnam “A Country Not at War”Libby & John Toussant will be visiting southeast Asia to study the culture and sites of the Vietnam War. They will share their experience with us. 7pm West

Chester Township Hall, 9113 Cincinnati-Dayton Road.

March 22 – West Chester Fire Department Easter Egg Hunt at Keehner Park

April 5 – Lakota Local Schools 50th Anniversary Parade

Why Not WednesdayHappy Hour

at

Every Wednesday5-7 pm, mesh loungecomplimentary appetizersreduced drink priceslive entertainment

mesh gift card drawing

6200 Muhlhauser Rd.West Chester, Ohio513.777.7177www.meshrestaurant.com

sponsored by

When you just can't wait til Friday ...

at union centre

2008 is the time to Advertise Your Company

in theWest Chester Chamber Alliance

WELCOME CENTER

This advertising vehicle is located in the lobby of the Chamber offices and can successfully advertise your business to current

members, prospective members and new members!

Interested? Want more information?Please call Alison Miuccio at 513.777.3600 or email

[email protected]

The Welcome Center was designed, built and donated byCountertops and Cabinetry By Design

513.770.5575Thank You!



Renewing MembersBakery CraftsDan GuttmanP.O. Box 37West Chester, OH 45071513-942-0862

Bonefish GrillDavid Rankin7706 Voice of America CentreWest Chester, OH 45069513-755-2303

Butler County AuditorKay Rogers130 High StreetHamilton, OH 45011513-887-3153

Butler County Board of MR/DDTanya Coffey155 Donald DriveFairfield, OH 45014513-867-5962

Butler County EngineerGreg Wilkens1921 Fairgrove AveHamilton, OH 45011513-867-5744

Capital Concepts, Inc.Linda Horn9676 Dryfork RoadHarrison, OH 45030513-367-1793

CCS TopsoilRobert Wheeler8734 Union Centre BlvdWest Chester, OH 45069513-755-8296

Cincinnati Pool ManagementGary Toner6232 A Center Park DrWest Chester, OH 45069513-777-1444

Daniel J. Kroger, ODDan Kroger7322 Kingsgate WayWest Chester, OH 45069513-777-3936

Digital & Analog DesignLisa Russo12125 Ellington CourtCincinnati, OH 45249513-247-2960

Divine VendingJohn BibbyP.O. Box 1786West Chester, OH 45071513-505-8280

Elegant Estates, LLC Custom HomesJeffrey L. Stawicki8734 Union Centre BlvdWest Chester, OH 45069513-860-4816

First Financial BankLeroy Reshard9120 Union Centre BlvdWest Chester, OH 45069513-603-3466

First Financial Bank, N.A.Michele Stoffer9120 Union Centre BoulevardWest Chester, OH 45069513-603-4049

First Financial Bank-Beckett ParkRonald Helton8211 Princeton-Glendale RoadHamilton, OH 45011513-867-4905

First Financial Bank-Kings-gateRhonda Bowling7795 Tylersville RoadWest Chester, OH 45069513-867-4761

First Financial Bank-Liberty CrossingMollie Marconi7237 Cincinnati-Dayton RoadWest Chester, OH 45069513-867-4376

First Financial Bank-Union CentreElizabeth Gulley9120 Union Centre BoulevardWest Chester, OH 45069513-603-4002

First Financial InsuranceAndy Murphy300 High StreetHamilton, OH 45011513-867-4362

Flagel, Huber, Flagel & CoRobert Hesch9135 Governors WayCincinnati, OH 45249513-774-0300

Holiday Inn ExpressJack Sulfsted8567 Cincinnati-Dayton RoadWest Chester, OH 45069513-755-3900

HR Partners International, Inc.Darlene R. Mack8062 Hickory Hill Ln, Ste 200Cincinnati, OH 45241513-779-7296

Jefferson Pilot Securities CorpRick Shively8563 Mason Montgomery RdMason, OH 45040513-229-6196

KaleidoscopeMatt Kornau205 W 4th St, Ste 900Cincinnati, OH 45202513-766-1056

Katizac, LLCSteve Shorten7723 Tylers Place, #269West Chester, OH 45069513-293-1423

Life Success Seminars, Inc.Michael MonahanP.O. Box 1369West Chester, OH 45071513-874-0555

Miller Brewing CompanyDenise Quinn2525 Wayne Madison RoadTrenton, OH 45067513-844-4601

Miller-Valentine GroupChris DuvalP.O. Box 744Dayton, OH 45401937-297-9369

One Way FarmBarbara CondoP.O. Box 18637Fairfield, OH 45018513-829-3276

Pole/Zero CorporationRandy Laubach5530 Union Centre DrWest Chester, OH 45069513-870-9060

Pulse JournalSarah Buehrle7378 Liberty One DrLiberty Township, OH 45044513-755-5060

Quatkemeyer Jr. Associates Agency, Inc.Robert Quatkemeyer, Jr.7817 Manor DriveWest Chester, OH 45069513-777-4430

Sugar Creek Packing CoBrian Milburn4585 Muhlhauser RdHamilton, OH 45011513-874-4422

Tangi Marketing Inc.Mary Lynn Tangi9830 Regatta Dr., Suite 103Cincinnati, OH 45252513-741-4842

Thank You!

TDH Marketing & CommunicationsKim Eros8153 Garnet DriveDayton, OH 45458937-438-3434

The Preserve @ Beckett RidgeSandy Nash2515 Fox Sedge WayWest Chester, OH 45069513-942-2105

The Skillman CorporationGreg Girard5900 West Chester Rd, Ste FWest Chester, OH 45069513-942-2322

The Wine CartChris Waugh6206 Muhlhauser RdWest Chester, OH 45069513-860-9463

Thompson Hine LLPDeborah Brenneman312 Walnut St, Ste 1400Cincinnati, OH 45202513-352-6638

Xavier University-Williams College of BusinessKen Honchell3800 Victory ParkwayCincinnati, OH 45207513-745-3525

Business Improvement & Development Series

for Chamber MembersThe West Chester Chamber Alliance is offering a series of seminars to enhance various aspects of your business. The second in our series will focus on networking and will be presented by Bob Rosselot, Strategic Advantage Training, LLC.

These seminars are another benefit of your Chamber membership.

Networking for ResultsTuesday, March 25th

3-4pmSEBC Workforce Academy, lower level of the

West Chester Chamber Alliance.

RSVP to Marge Wimmer at 513.777.3600or [email protected].



West Chester Chamber Alliance VoiceChamber Voice is published monthly by the West Chester Chamber Alliance,

7617 Voice of America Centre Drive, West Chester, Ohio 45069.Telephone: 513.777.3600, Toll Free: 877.WCHESTER, Fax: 513.777.0188

www.westchesterchamberalliance.com.Subscriptions are included in the annual dues of each Chamber membership. Publisher ................................................................................... Joe Hinson Editor ................................................................................. Alison Miuccio Photography ...................................................Kenni Blaché, Mike Murray Contributing Writers ......................................Steve Nguyen, Chris Waugh

Sunitha Narayanan, Alison Miuccio, Ali Fischetti Designer ............................................................. Bethart Printing Solutions

Postmaster/Address ChangesSend address changes to West Chester Chamber Alliance, 7617 Voice of America Centre Drive, West Chester, Ohio 45069. Attention: West Chester Chamber Alliance or e-mail: [email protected].

AdvertisingChamber members can advertise in the Chamber Voice and reach more than 850 leaders in the southeastern Butler County business community. For costs and specifics, call Alison Stuart Miuccio, 777.3600or e-mail [email protected].

SubscriptionsChamber Voice is mailed to Chamber members as a benefit of membership. Additional subscriptions are available to Chamber members at $50 per year. Non-member subscriptions are $75 per year. For information, call 777.3600.

SubmissionsArticles, advertisements and inserts for the Chamber Voice must be received at the Chamber office by the 15th of each month to be included in the upcoming edition. No article in this news magazine may be reprinted without the permission of the West Chester Chamber Alliance.

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WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

West Chester Chamber Alliance and Community CalendarTUESDAYMONDAYSUNDAY

WCCA MembersMonthly Luncheon11:30 a.m., Wetherington Golf & Country Club

West Chester Township Trustees7:00 p.m., Township Hall

MARCH 2008Liberty Twp Trustees, 7:00 p.m., Liberty Twp Admin Bldg

WCCANetworkingPower Hour, 12:00 p.m., WC Chamber Alliance offices, SEBC Workforce Academy

WCCA Networking for Results, 3:00-4:30 p.m., SEBC Workforce Academy

Butler Tech Board Meeting, 7:00 p.m., PSEC, 5140 Princeton-Glendale Rd, Liberty Twp.

West Chester Township Trustees, 7:00 p.m., Township Hall

WCCABreakfastBriefing7:30 a.m., WC Chamber Alliance offices, SEBC Workforce AcademyBC Board of Commissioners 9:30 a.m., 315 High St., Hamilton

BC Board of Commissioners 9:30 a.m., 315 High St., Hamilton


Business After Hours5-7 p.m., mesh

WC ChamberAlliance Government Issues Committee, 8:00 a.m., WC Chamber Todd Board Room

mesh Why Not Wednesday,5-7 p.m.


BC Board of Commissioners 9:30 a.m., 315 High St., HamiltonLakota Board of Education, 7:00 p.m., Lakota Central OfficeLiberty Twp Trustees, 7:00 p.m., Liberty Twp Admin Bldg


WCCABusiness Action Committee, 4:00 p.m., WC Chamber Todd Board Room



Ambassadors’ Meeting, 11:30 a.m.WCCA Offices


Lakota Board of Education, 7:00 p.m., Lakota Central Office

It’s Big….It’s Back…It’s All Business

The 2008 Business Expothe largest between Cincinnati and Dayton!

Tuesday, May 13th from 1 to 5pmAt Skatetown USAOver 100 Booths!Space is limited,

so make your booth reservation today!For more information, call Kristin Spanogians

at 513.777.3600 or email her [email protected].

WC Chamber Alliance Annual Dinner and Awards Gala, 6:30 p.m., Savannah Center



Jag’s West Chester’s Biggest Office Party, 5-8 p.m.



Chamber Office Closed


MARCH

11th - Monthly Member Luncheon Wetherington Golf & Country Club, 11:30am

14th - Annual Dinner & Awards Gala Savannah Center at Chappell Crossing, 6pm

25th - Networking Power Hour SEBC Workforce Academy, 12-1pm

25th - Business Improvement & Development Series “Networking for Results” SEBC Workforce Academy, 3-4:30pm

27th - Breakfast Briefing SEBC Workforce Academy, 7:30-9am

PRESORTED

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vol. xxiii issue iii oice - thechamberalliance.com · chair tom farrell – alternative ... chris...

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