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CHAMBER NEWS
October 2017
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Chamber Myths
Debunking the Myths:
Facts Behind the Fiction
Myth 1:
The Chamber is a city department / part of the city.
Fact:
The Galion-Crestline Area Chamber of Commerce is a not-for-profit corporation founded in 1985, operated by its own board of directors, bylaws and staff. Neither city nor counties have direct control, legal ownership or management.
We are a private business association, totally funded by our members, affinity programs and our annual membership events. Our mission is to promote the success and growth of the Galion-Crestline area business community.
**This is the first article in the series, "Chamber Myths", intended to debunk the myths and provide facts about the Galion-Crestline Area Chamber of Commerce.
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October is Manufacturing Month
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Join us October 18 at the Galion High School Cafetorium at 7:30 a.m. for the 2017 Manufacturing Celebration of Success!
Hosted by the Galion-Crestline Area Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with the Crawford Partnership, this event is intended to honor local manufacturers and their employees for their service in our community.
This event is all about gratitude and recognition of the manufacturing sector's contributions to our community, so we're excited to share a new award program for this year's event.
Nominations and Breakfast Reservations due Friday, October 6th. Sign-Up NOW!
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Chamber Welcomes New Ambassadors
The Chamber is excited to announce that Jim Gerstenslager and Tasha Nickler have recently joined the Chamber Ambassador Team.
Jim and Tasha will be assisting with and reaching out to our members about upcoming Chamber events.
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Please join us in welcoming Tasha Nickler as a Chamber Ambassador. Tasha is a customer service representative at A-1 Printing's Galion location and is a Bluffton University graduate.
Tasha completed 3 terms of voluntary service in New Orleans and Cincinnati before settling back in her hometown of Bucyrus.
Outside of work she enjoys cooking and learning to garden.
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Please join us in welcoming Jim Gerstenslager as a Chamber Ambassador. Jim was raised in Galion and graduated from Galion High School in 1964.
Jim was in the United States Air Force from 1965 - 1968. He previously worked at North Electric and was the manager the A&W Root Beer Stand/ KFC before he moved to San Diego, California. He worked for Solar Turbine in San Diego until 2004 and was involved in Little League Baseball as a volunteer and an employee until 2013.
Jim has been married to his wife Roxann for 48 years. They have 2 sons and 5 grand-kids, all living in San Diego.
Since retiring, Jim and Roxann moved back to Crawford County. Jim enjoys volunteering his time to the community.
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Galion Montage Print Completed
This unique pen and ink print is now available at the Chamber office.
If you have ordered prints from the artist, please stop in soon to pick them up and check out the framing options.
Also, we have additional prints for sale for $10, or signed and numbered prints for $25. Framing options through our Chamber member Clady's are also available with order forms available at the office.
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NEW CHAMBER MEMBERS
Cleaning by Carrie
, Carrie Cottrell, 3748 Cardington-Iberia Rd., Galion, Ohio 44833, 419-610-6718
Glenn W. McClelland
, Commercial Loan Officer, Westfield Bank, 24 W. 3
rd
. St., Suite 100, Mansfield, Ohio 44902, 419-961-2813
Keep It Classy Car Wash
, 812 Portland Way N., Galion, Ohio 44833, 419-462-1002
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The Candi Bar:
Recently completed a patio in the rear of their store at 125 Harding Way East, Galion
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Raj Seetharaman, MD - Luminous Eye Care:
Recently put up a new sign at 251 Portland Way North, Galion.
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First Federal Bank of Ohio:
Recently appointed Dr. Tyler K. Huggins, M.D. to their Board of Directors. Click
here
to read full article.
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Cake and Icing:
Recently had the front of their building repaired and repainted.
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Do you have an anniversary, new associate or employee, sign, or business update? Contact Joe or Miranda at the Chamber Office, 419-468-7737 or email
mjones@galion-crestlinechamber.org
so we can add your business to the Member Spotlight in our next Newsletter.
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NEW TENANT FOR SOUTH STREET COMMERCE CENTER IN GALION
Mosier Industrial Services became the new tenant of the South Street Commerce Center in April. Since then, Mosier has transformed the building into an industrial powerhouse. There are banks of heavy rigging equipment, tow motors, and industrial cranes in the three bays it uses, and two subtenants have rented other areas of the building.
The City of Galion owns the property. “It takes an innovative company like Mosier to envision how a building like this can be re-used,” Mayor Tom O’Leary said while taking a tour of the facility on Thursday. “We’re hopeful they will make Galion their permanent home.”
Mosier is headquartered in Crestline and has been a family-owned and operated company for more than 30 years. A Mosier representative, who asked to be unnamed, explained Mosier is not a traditional business. Main operations are heavy rigging for loading and unloading large material, and industrial service work which includes setting up and decommissioning factories.
“We do any work in an industrial setting. We’re a unique business,” the Mosier representative said. They work across the country in steel mills, power plants, and other industrial facilities. Some employees are currently at a steel mill in Lima getting it back into operation.
At the Commerce Center, there are currently 12 positions and Mosier intends to hire at least 25 more. A CDL license is preferred and candidates must be able to travel. Visit
www.mosierindustrial.com
for more information.
While not on a project site, employees at the Galion location unload large equipment for storage in the building’s vast bays, such as 70,000-pound containers of electrical switching gears. They also focus on repurposing old industrial equipment, including an 800-horse power motor from a steel mill
.
Mosier’s eventual goal is to have 100 percent of its rigging equipment housed at the Commerce Center and sell repurposed materials out of it. Mosier has also outgrown its current machining and fabricating facility. The Commerce Center building is 284,731 square feet but Mosier requires higher ceilings for those operations; the surrounding 28 acres of ground would offer space to build a facility to meet its requirements.
The Commerce Center was gifted to the city in late 2015, after HTI closed. Next Generation Films, based in Lexington, then signed a one-year lease for warehousing operations while it constructed a new facility. “We were able to get a client right out of the shoot. Then as Next Gen was moving out, Mosier was moving equipment in,” O’Leary said.
Crawford County Economic Development Director Gary Frankhouse assisted the city in showing the building and recruiting Mosier last spring. Mosier signed a lease on April 7 for a two-year term with an option to purchase the property. The company pays $10,500 per month in rent and pays all utilities and property taxes. The City made critical building repairs and installed new lighting in one bay. Mosier has installed new lighting in two additional bays.
Under the lease agreement, Mosier is also able to have subtenants. Independence Excavating is renting space while working on a project for First Energy. Another subtenant is Flashover Maintenance, a commercial landscaper that will employ 12 people. There is space for two to three more subtenants, which Frankhouse He is continuing to recruit additional subtenants.
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Hot Dogs at the Gazebo
Hot dogs, chips, cookies and beverages were enjoyed at the Gazebo In Galion on Friday, September 15th.
The Galion-Crestline Area Chamber of Commerce event was sponsored by Galion Building & Loan Bank.
This was the final Hot Dogs at the Gazebo of 2017. We would like to thank all of our sponsors for promoting this year's cookouts and we are looking forward to continuing this well attended community event is 2018
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REGISTER TODAY FOR THIS FREE EXPO
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CONTACT
Miranda
at the Chamber if you would like information on being an EXHIBITOR!
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Join Us for a Cup of Coffee and Conversation.
Free and Open to All!
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Longstreth Memorials Holds Open House
On Thursday, September 14th, Longstreth Memorials, Galion's oldest business, held an open house for the community at their new location at 1263 State Route 598, Galion.
Approximately 120 community members had the chance to tour this unique business. The Ontario Event Center was the caterer for the evening and guests enjoyed food and drinks. Door prizes were given away every 10 minutes.
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NEW MEMBER BREAKFAST
On September 27
th
at 8:00 am in the chamber conference room, 16 new chamber members were welcomed to hear about the many benefits available to them through their membership.
The program started with a welcome from Chamber President/CEO, Joe Kleinknecht and introductions of those in attendance.
Kleinknecht noted that the chamber saves their members approximately $700,000 annually through the Anthem Chamber Saver Plan for Health Insurance, on workers compensation premiums with third party administrator, CareWorks Comp and through the natural gas and electric marketing program with Alternative Energy Source.
A continental breakfast was enjoyed by all with the first presenter being Dawn Ratliff, President of ADM Benefit Plans Agency who shared the programs they provide and savings that are available to chamber members.
Thomas Hertzfeld of Alternative Energy Source then shared about the savings available on natural gas and electric through their program. The chamber has partnered with AES for nearly 10 years, saving our member thousands of dollars on their utility bills over that time period.
Amber Hart, Program Manager, for CareWorks Comp spoke on the benefits of joining their program for management of all your workers compensation needs. CareWorks is the largest TPA in the State of Ohio.
Janelle Benner, Manager of the Galion Safety Council then shared the benefits of being a member of the local safety council, which is sponsored by the chamber. The council meets at the Galion Moose Lodge on the third Thursday of the month (excluding August) at 11:30 am to 1:00 pm and there is no cost to participate. This is a great opportunity to hear many great speakers sharing topics pertinent to the local workplace as well as the potential to save 2% to 4% on your annual BWC premium.
Miranda Jones, Member Engagement Director at the Chamber then shared about other chamber networking opportunities that would be beneficial to all. She also noted that we have Chamber Chat the first Wednesday of every month at 8:00 am at the Candi Bar in Galion and there is no charge to attend and refreshments are furnished and it is open to all.
In closing, those businesses in attendance shared what products and services they provide to the area.
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You're building a stronger business.
We're all building a better state.
We're all for Ohio.
Read about the issues that impact your business.
We're All For....
FAIR MARKET WAGES
LEGISLATION TO CURB ADA LAWSUIT ABUSE
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was enacted to prohibit discrimination against individuals with disabilities and to provide them with remedies for violations of the law. However, the law is often complex and contradictory and there is no comprehensive administrative oversight.
Learn how HB 271 curbs ADA lawsuit abuse.
Click here
to read about the bills we are following.
WE'RE ALL FOR PROVIDING INFORMATION
Be sure to read our latest blog posts on
allforohio.com
for additional information that is of interest to Ohio Chamber members.
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There is so much going on in the world right now that workers’ comp seems like a trivial matter; in light of that, I sincerely hope that this email finds you
safe and sound
! When there are natural disasters, it reminds us to help each other through these challenges. With that thought in mind, I will take this opportunity to let you know that your team at CareWorksComp is ready and willing to help you with any workers’ comp matters. Here’s hoping for a quiet and uneventful fall.
Upcoming deadlines:
-October 23, 2017 –
AC3 cutoff date to get a free traditional group experience rating quote. Make sure all members who want a quote get in touch with us prior to 10/23.
-November 13, 2017
-
Group Rating enrollment deadline. Please return your enrollment documents to be filed in the 2018 program.
Employers already in group rating that qualify for the 2018 rate year will be automatically renewed into next year’s program
.
2018 Group Programs
: We have sent our group rating renewals to our current clients, and most of group retro invitations have been sent as well. Your business may be eligible for
multiple programs
(we refer to this as “dual eligibility”), in which case you have, or will receive, both a
group rating
invitation and a
group retro
invitation. We are eager to discuss these options with you, as each year there may be a different mix of cost-saving strategies that work best for your company.
Our Philosophy Regarding Cost
Containment Strategies
: At this time of year as you are making workers' comp program decisions, there are factors to consider beyond fees and group savings. You also want to be
absolutely confident
that your TPA has a dedicated cost containment team that is focused on minimizing the financial impact of claims to reduce your premium dollars.
Here's how CareWorksComp does it:
-Continuously reviews and monitors all potential claims for handicap and settlement.
-Creates an action plan and identifies the best time frame to pursue the cost containment action in an effort to maximize the employer’s return on investment.
-Communicates with our customer on our pre- and post-cost containment efforts, and the expected savings as a result.
-Provides the most comprehensive cost containment experience for our customers.
We will be sharing more specific information with you about our dynamic cost containment efforts later this fall. We encourage you to contact your CareworksComp Program Manager, Amber Hart, to see how she can help your organization. Amber can be reached at:
amber.hart@careworkscomp.com
or 614-932-1553.
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