Columbus Chamber Blog: Information about economic development, economic and business trends, Columbus workforce, programs, events and the Chamber of Commerce in and around Columbus, OH

Member Spotlight: GREENCREST

Each week, the Columbus Chamber will spotlight one of our member businesses, their presence in the Columbus Region, what they do and how they’ve involved at the Chamber. To submit your member business for a member spotlight contact the Chamber's marketing department.

About GREENCREST: GREENCREST is a full service integrated marketing firm with expertise in turning market players into industry leaders.  GREENCREST understands what it takes to define a brand and create solid results.  This goes beyond a logo, advertising tag line or design elements to truly defining and communicating who you are and what you do differently to your target market.

GREENCREST’s Brand FuelSM process lies at the heart of propelling small to mid-size businesses to the next level.  We combine brand discovery, smart strategy and creative and proactive execution to raise our clients’ profiles above the radar screen so they are heard, known and recognized as an industry leader.

GREENCREST’s services include public relations, brand development, strategic marketing, graphic design, marketing tools, research, advertising and direct marketing, Web design, search engine marketing and social media implementation.  For more information, visit www.greencrest.com or call 614-885-7921. 

Why we’re Chamber members: GREENCREST has a long history with the Columbus Chamber.  It is one of the most well-known and respected organizations for connecting local businesses to one another.  The multitude of networking and educational events helps business professionals stay informed on important business and community related issues and provides the opportunity to establish and foster relationships.  Our sponsorship and Premier Membership has provided new insight and opportunities for GREENCREST.  In addition, we have been able to stay current on news related to Columbus, which keeps us connected to the community.

Fun Facts:
We're one of only 25 Brand Certified agencies in the world!
Our average tenure of a client relationship is 10 years
We are coming up on 20 years of continued success in delivering solid results

Featured Services: public relations, brand development, strategic marketing, graphic design, marketing tools, research, advertising and direct marketing, web design, search engine marketing and social media implementation

Learn more about GREENCREST

Attend Kelly Borth;s session on personal branding on Sept. 9

Press Release: Columbus Chamber Reports Relatively Stable Second Quarter Employment - Columbus MSA Continues to Outpace National Average

COLUMBUS, OH, August 17, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The Columbus Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce second quarter statistics show the Columbus employment rate is stabilizing and continues to outpace the national average. The unemployment rate in Columbus is at 8.9 percent: far less than Ohio's 11.1 percent average, and still below as the national unemployment average, at 9.5 percent.

In fact, private education and healthcare have continued to experience a sharp rise, and government also reversed some of its earlier losses. Plus, education and healthcare are expected to continue enjoying large increases.

"Education and health services employment is more than 80 percent healthcare," Vice President of Economic Analysis Bill LaFayette, Ph.D. said. "This is the one sector whose growth has continued unabated during the recession - despite legitimate concerns over the ability of patients to pay for their care. Growth is expected to continue in the second half of the year."

The Columbus Chamber reports transportation and utilities also experienced growth of 44 percent between early 2001 and the beginning of the recession. The sector's decline early in the recession was worse than the national average, but the trend turned slightly positive at the beginning of the year. Assuming that growth does not deteriorate significantly, the comparison to 2008 for the full year should be much better than that for the first six months.

Professional and business services also experienced employment growth far stronger than the national average over the past seven years, and declines in the recession have been less than one-fifth the national average. Each of the three subsectors has performed much better than average since the beginning of the recession.

"This sector should be one of the first to benefit from economic recovery given its labor intensiveness and the likelihood of employers to increase their hiring of temporary employees as a response to early increases in demand," LaFayette said.

Leisure and hospitality employment declines in the Columbus Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), including Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin, Licking, Madison, Morrow, Pickaway, and Union Counties, have been less than average since the beginning of the recession. Statewide employment growth has been slightly positive, despite some weakening in recent months. Along with retail, local restaurants have benefited from the stronger-than-average Columbus MSA economy, while hotels in Columbus and elsewhere in Ohio, have benefited from the tendency of travelers to stay closer to home.

Other services - including various personal services, religious organizations, and professional and social associations - along with education and health services are experiencing higher employment now than at the beginning of the recession. Although the budgets of nonprofits have come under pressure, the services sector was growing much more weakly than average for several years before the recession hit.

The news is not all positive. Despite the marked economic growth reported by the Columbus Chamber, the implied Gross Domestic Product (GDP) decline would rank this recession as one of the two worst of the postwar period; its length is far greater than any of the 10 previous postwar recessions. U.S. employment is expected to decline through the year and into 2010, though at a much smaller rate. It is predicted that the national unemployment rate will reach 10 percent by December 2009 and will still be at 9.5 percent in December 2010.

More than two-thirds of the 51 economists in The Wall Street Journal's monthly survey expect the recession to end no later than the third quarter, with modest output growth in the second half of 2009.

For more information about the Columbus Chamber's economic update, visit www.columbus.org.

About the Columbus Chamber of Commerce
The Columbus Chamber of Commerce leads and supports economic growth and development in the Greater Columbus community. It supports a membership of 2,700 businesses. Learn more about Columbus at www.columbus.org.

Business First Announces 2009 CFO of the Year Nomineees

The Chamber's own Mike Goldbeck has been nominated for Business First's CFO of the Year! Congratulations to Mike and the other nominees:

Kurt Anders, American Red Cross of Greater Columbus; Dennis Bauders, Construction Systems Inc.;
Greg Bell, The Columbus Zoo & Aquarium;  Raymond Biddiscombe, Columbus Foundation; Jane Borgelt, Sophisticated Systems Inc.; Shawn Carroll, Crown Services, Inc.; David Conley, City Barbeque; Kristin Dach, 2Checkout.com, Inc.; Paul Demboski, Crane Group Companies; Robert Garrett, St. Vincent Family Centers; Mike Goldbeck, Columbus Chamber; Anthony Hartley, Goodwill Columbus; Doug Herron, Safelite AutoGlass; Martin Inglis, Battelle; Joseph Kasberg, National Church Residences; Dave King, Moody Nolan; Holly Koeppel, American Electric Power; John Kozak, Park National Corporation; Sean H. McCarthy, Germain Motor Company; Sherri Orr, The Buckeye Ranch; Robyn Pollina, Palmer-Donavin Manufacturing Company;  Timothy Robinson, Nationwide Children's Hospital; Jeff Scholes, Signature Worldwide; George Smith, Heartland Bank; Mark Sturgeon, Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.; Sylvia Thompson, Maryhaven;
Douglas Von Doersten, Diamond Cellar Companies; and Bridget Wolf, FIRSTLINK. 

More CFO of the Year event information here

Columbus Chamber Senior Vice President Featured on IBM Podcast

Chamber Senior Vice President, Michael Gordon, was recently featured on IBM's podcast about his personal experiences and the Chamber's role in helping small businesses get through the challenges of today's economy. 

Interview by Deb Osgood
'Twenty Five years of experience for you to grow your business.'
Advice for small businesses who are navigating their way through the financial crisis - with particular relevance for small businesses in the Midwest, but helpful for any small business owner.

Click here to listen to the podcast.

Here's what Michael had to say about the interview and IBM's new tool kit for small businesses:

"Access to information is very important for those seeking to start or grow a business and for those hoping to identify potential answers to the challenges of maintaining a business.  Diversity Bridge and IBM’S SME Toolkit are resources for minority/women owned businesses.

Continuing to expand network is a key component of building a successful business.  The networking with other business owners can often identify possible solutions to the challenges a company may be facing."

Member Spotlight: Cirque Du Soleil

Each week, the Columbus Chamber will spotlight one of our member businesses, their presence in the Columbus Region, what they do and how they’ve involved at the Chamber. To submit your member business for a member spotlight contact the Chamber's marketing department.

About Cirque du Soleil:

From the twenty or so performers that the company featured when it all began in 1984, Quebec-based Cirque du Soleil has become a leading provider of quality entertainment with nearly 3,000 employees, including 700 artists, who hail from 40 different countries.
 
Cirque du Soleil has thrilled over 50 million spectators in almost 100 cities on four continents. With its International Headquarters in Montreal, the organization is presenting 11 different shows around the world in 2005. Cirque du Soleil has been the recipient of such prestigious awards as the Emmy, Drama Desk, Bambi, ACE, Gemini, Félix, and the Rose d'or de Montreux.

Cool Facts about Cirque du Soleil:

• The stage is 110 feet (30.48 meters) long by 65 feet (19.8 meters) wide with a height of 51 inches (1.30 meters).
• In order to be very light for transportation, the stage panels are framed with aluminium.
• There is more than 600 feet (183 meters) of trussing to hold the Acrobatic Grid, the rigging and all the lighting elements above the stage.
• The acrobatic grid is 30 feet long (9 meters) and is suspended at 45 feet (14 meters) above the stage. Its main purpose is to accommodate the trapeze and bungee rigs, but we also have incorporated several lighting instruments.
• The poles that are used in the Chinese poles act are 24 feet long.
• The equipment on tour totals 360,000 pounds (180 tons).
• There are a total of twelve 53-foot trailers to transport all the tour’s equipment from city to city.
• The technical team is made up to 20 specialists and 12 truck drivers.
• Approximately 140 people are hired locally in each city to set-up and load out the show from the arena.

Featured Show: Saltimbanco
Experience a high intensity acrobatic spectacle! Full of color, amusement and amazement, Saltimbanco is a fun show for the whole family to enjoy, a great outing for everyone.

Nationwide Arena
August 12 to 23 ONLY!

Special Online Offer
You can purchase 2 adult tickets and 2 child tickets
and see Saltimbanco for as little as $125!

Why I Live, Work and Play In Columbus, Ohio - Residents Tell Their Story

Submit your "tell your story" video online at www.columbus.org/tell-your-story.

Nominate Someone Today - 2009 Small Business Leader of the Year

Celebrating entrepreneurial spirit is really what the Small Business Leader Awards are all about. Small business owners deserve recognition for what they bring to our region and how they inspire others.
– Tom Hastings, President, Computer Site Columbus

Columbus is known for its spirit of entrepreneurship and small businesses contribute greatly to our local economy.

Do you know of a small business leader who has built a successful business? Check your rolodex, search your LinkedIn connections, think about the leaders you know. It is time to recognize their contributions. Because it’s hard to choose just one, you may nominate more than one business.

Nominate a Small Business Leader Today

Small Business Leader Award recipients and finalists will be recognized at the Small Business Forum and Leader Awards on Tuesday, November 10, 2009.

Eligibility
Nominated companies must be independently owned and operated with at least three years in business in the Columbus region.  Partners, not to exceed four persons who jointly own and operate a small business, may be nominated as a “team.”  Business size standards are set by industry and based on the average number of employees for the preceding 12 months or on sales volume averaged over a three year period.  These standards are available through the Small Business Administration web site: www.sba.gov. Nominees will be asked to complete a brief application.  Potential finalists will be required to provide financial statements for the last three years.