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: Oxiem Marketing Technology

The Columbus Chamber member spotlights put the focus on 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 Oxiem:

Oxiem Marketing Technology is a digital marketing agency focusing on web site development, search marketing campaigns and social media services. Integrating dynamic web designs with user-controlled content management systems and active online marketing programs, our unique approach is to make technology usable, innovative and measurable.

Why we’re Chamber members:

We’re a growing business and we care about being part of the community and being involved with local efforts to make Columbus not only a great place to work, but to live and raise a family.

Fun facts about Oxiem:

It’s rare to find leadership like ours. Bill, our Technology Director, has a strong technology background and John, our Brand & Strategy Director, has a strong marketing background. Marrying the two has helped forge a unique approach to technology marketing that makes the process easier on the client and in the end more effective. It also makes for some great theatre to watch them debate on the topics.

Featured product/service:

To celebrate the launch of our business in Columbus, we’re giving away a $20,000 plus “Digital Launchpad” package of services, including entire new website development, search strategy and social media set up. It’s our way of leveraging what we have to offer to make our own business community a little bit better.

Go to oxiem.com/launchpad to enter, or read all about it on our blog.

Summer Internships – Employers and Students, Are You Ready?

Today we are inundated with cold and snowy weather, so it’s kind of hard to believe summer will be here before we know it. But it will be! Now is the time for employers and students to start thinking about summer internships.

At ColumbusInternships.com, we’re gearing up for a busy season. For businesses that want to initiate an internship program but are unsure how to go about it, we’re planning a series of seminars to help you get the ball rolling. The first will take place next month:

Getting Started With Interns
February 16, 2010
8:30 – 10:00 am
Columbus Chamber Office, 150 S. Front Street, Ste. 250
Complimentary for Chamber members; $25 for non-members

To read more details and register, visit the events page.

Students can learn about the benefits of internships by watching a feature story that was broadcast on Columbus’ NBC4 yesterday. Megan Powell, of Capital University, shared her perspective about her position at E.E. Ward Moving and Storage. Watch it here.　

For more information and to register as an employer or student, go to ColumbusInternships.com.

Three Commonly Asked Questions From Young Professionals

By Robbie Banks, Young Professionals Manager, Columbus Chamber

I have the pleasure of meeting many young professionals (YPs) who are looking for opportunities to get involved in Columbus. While it is known that YPs value work/life balance, they sometimes need guidance on narrowing down the many available options for ways to get involved.

Three of the most common questions I am asked when I meet a YP are: 1.) "Do I qualify as a young professional?" 2.) "What organization(s) should I join or get involved with?" and 3.) "Where do I go to find out about the local YP and professional organizations?"

Here's how I generally respond.

Do I qualify as a YP? If you identify as a YP, then, by golly, you are! To take part in YP programming, you can self-select if you are a YP (or "young at heart"). For research purposes, a YP is often defined as 24-35 years old. Some young professionals' organizations (YPOs) may have age requirements that can range from 21 to 45.

What organization(s) should I join or get involved with? Before I respond to this question, I will ask you to give me your definition of "getting involved" and tell me about your interests and passions. Once I learn what makes you tick, I can help you identify organizations and events that you may want to investigate, For example, a YP in the finance industry may tell me that she enjoys sports, is passionate about children, and is interested in networking to meet potential clients. In response, I may suggest that she attend various networking events, join an organization's athletic leagues, and check out a couple organizations that are focused on children.

Where do I go to find out about the local YP and professional organizations? To help you in your search, view the Columbus Chamber's directory of YP and professional organizations. This handy directory features nearly 60 local organizations, along with each organization's mission or description, main contact's name and email address, Web site, Facebook, LinkedIn and/or Meetup groups, and categories that define each organization. Then, to be "in-the-know," you can register to receive the Chamber's weekly YP email, "Activities and Events for Young Professionals." The email is chock-full of volunteer opportunities, events, and more. Sign up for the email now and look forward to receiving a message from me in your in box each Friday.

Columbus is fortunate to have dozens of unique YP and professional organizations. Shop around for the organizations that are the right fit for you. Attend various events, and be sure to invite your friends and colleagues to go with you. Talk to the organization's leadership and members, and bring your business cards to each event. A number of the events are free to attend or cost very little. Whether you are looking for networking, social, volunteer, athletic, or professional development opportunities, I am certain you will find it by staying informed and getting involved!

Blue Chip Economic Forecast – Video Now Available Online and On Demand

The Columbus Chamber’s 11th Annual Blue Chip Economic Forecast drew a packed house at the Columbus Metropolitan Club last week. According to the forecast, the Columbus economy is expected to resume growth in 2010. Year-to-year net is predicted to be 0.1 percent, or 800 jobs, compared to 1.8 percent decrease in 2009.

If you weren’t able to make it to the event or just want to listen and learn again, take a look at this video from the forum—courtesy of the Ohio Channel.

You can also watch the program on Time Warner Cable’s free Local on Demand Channel 411. Simply tune to Local On Demand, select the “Local News & Info” category, and then select “Blue Chip Economic Forecast.”

The Columbus Blue Chip Economic Forecast is published by the Columbus Chamber. The forecast is a consensus derived from the independent forecasts of four area economists – Bill LaFayette, Ph.D., vice president, economic analysis, Columbus Chamber; Joseph Mandeville; George Mokrzan, Ph.D., vice president, senior economist, Huntington Bancshares, Inc.; and James Newton, Ph.D., chief economic advisor, Commerce National Bank.

A full copy of the forecast is available for download at www.columbus.org.

ABC 6 On Your Side Job Boot Camp

Download Job Boot Camp 2009-2010

Attention Columbus job seekers and employers! It's a New Year and time for a fresh start. See the attached for information about the ABC 6 On Your Side Job Boot Camp, which offers a great opportunity for employers and job seekers to get connected!

EVENT:  ABC 6 On Your Side Job Boot Camp

DATE: Wednesday, January 20, 2010

TIME:  11am - 4pm

LOCATION:  Veterans Memorial, 300 W. Broad St., Columbus OH  43215

CONTACT:  Kim May 614/485-1439 for details or to register 

 

Young Professionals Spotlight: Red Shoe Society

Each month, the Columbus Chamber will spotlight a local young professional or professional organization to showcase what they offer, how to get involved and when to check out their next event. For the month of January, the Red Shoe Society is featured.

When and why was the Red Shoe Society started?
The Red Shoe Society was started in the mid-90s as a fundraising group for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio. As the charity has grown, the young professionals group has evolved into an organization committed to serving the fundraising, volunteer, and advocacy needs of this great cause. Its members now serve as ambassadors in the community, and participate in various leadership and networking opportunities throughout the year.
 
Why should I become a member?
Joining the Red Shoe Society provides an opportunity to serve one of the most recognized charities in the Central Ohio area. Members enjoy a wide variety of participation options, starting with attending networking and fund-raising events and scaling up to being a member of our Leadership Council. Members may also participate in House service projects and learn some of the amazing stories of the families who stay there.  Finally, participating in the Red Shoe Society prepares young professionals for membership on a non-profit or philanthropic board.
 
How do I become a member?
Membership is FREE to any young professional, between the ages of 25-40, who is interested in assisting thousands of families with seriously ill children. Members are expected to participate on one committee and attend at least one Red Shoe sponsored event during the year. Joining the Red Shoe Society is as simple as attending a New Member Meeting (hosted monthly) where you will learn about the charity and determine how you would like to contribute to the Society’s various committees.
 
Tell me about your upcoming event(s).
The Red Shoe Society's next major event is called "A Toast to Tinseltown." This event is a red carpet cocktail party with local celebrities and other prominent Columbus businesspeople. Attendees may enjoy a full buffet and bar at one of Columbus' hottest new restaurants, Sushi Rock. Tickets are on sale now by visiting the events calendar on http://www.colrmhc.org. The event is being held on Monday, May 3, 6:30-10:30pm. 
 
Another major event this spring is the McDonald's All-American High School Basketball Games being held March 28-31 at the Schottenstein Center. Red Shoe Society members will have the opportunity to volunteer at this event, as well as assist Ronald McDonald House Charities raise funds with local corporations.
 
What are some successes or cool facts about the Red Shoe Society?
Our organization raised over $90,000 for Ronald McDonald House Charities last year, and are excited for increasing that amount again this year. In addition to being selected for the All-American Games, our House recently became the second largest Ronald McDonald facility in the U.S. Further, the charity has been selected to receive a Mobile Care Unit in 2010. This will help serve a broader base of children and families around our service area. Finally, the Red Shoe Society recently experienced a re-structuring. The changes include expanding from just a board of directors to a broader volunteer organization. New members can be as involved as they would like to be, while still ensuring we serve the mission of the charity. 
 
Where can I go to learn more information?
If you have any questions about the Red Shoe Society or Ronald McDonald House Charities, please don’t hesitate to contact Jamie Foltz at (614) 227-3740, by email (jfoltz@colrmhc.org), or by visiting us on Facebook.

Celebrating What Makes Columbus Great

Our friends at Experience Columbus, our city’s Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, created a new list of places and reasons that make the Columbus region a great place to live, work, and play. From the new Huntington Park to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, people are taking notice of all we have to offer.

Take a look at this recap of 2009’s impressive accolades on the Columbus Experience blog.

You can also read the buzz about Greater Columbus on Columbus.org.

Tell us, what do you think makes Columbus great?