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: Zipline Logistics

Zipline Logistics is a North American Third Party Logistics company providing truckload, less than truckload (LTL) and intermodal (IMDL) transportation, based in downtown Columbus.

Why Zipline is a Member of the Columbus Region Logistics Council (an initiative of the Columbus Chamber)
Active membership within the CRLC allows us to participate in ongoing discussions about the local business environment, specifically within the logistics world. Our fellow members initiate an "ear-to-the-ground" round table of what is going on, how it impacts our businesses and how we can benefit from the overall Columbus region. Not all members of the CRLC are actual logistics companies, as the membership is a make-up of manufacturers, accounting firms, law firms etc. That makes the meetings very informative from a plethora of backgrounds vs. just hearing from all one industry.

Interesting Facts about Zipline
The principals of Zipline all attended Miami University. Although we did not all know one another in school, we met while living and working in Chicago. In fact, we came up with the idea to form Zipline on a napkin after a Chicago Cubs game. One more interesting point is that the absolute last thing we came up with was our name. We were due to open in weeks, and still struggled for a name that we all loved. One of our partners had vacationed in Costa Rica one year earlier, had done the Zipline Tours through the rain forest, and once the name was suggested, we never looked back.

Featured Product or Service
As truck capacity is shrinking in the overall marketplace, Zipline helps customers find the capacity that they need! Zipline ensures on time and on budget delivery for our customers through dedicated teams of fully accountable operations associates devoted to satisfying each customer's preferred scheduling and load tracking procedures. Zipline professionals leverage technology, experience and strong relationships with our carrier partners to maximize the overall efficiency and bottom-line savings for our customers' logistics operations.

For more information on Zipline, go to www.ziplinelogistics.com

The Columbus Chamber member spotlights put the focus on our member organizations. To submit your member organization for a spotlight contact Michelle Bretscher.

Member Spotlight: livethesource

livethesource™ is a company founded on the principle of “People Helping People.” It is more than a vision, more than a mission. It is a lifestyle, that permeates the entire livethesource™ culture, which includes the distributor field as well as at the customer and corporate levels. People joining together to boost their physical, spiritual and financial welfare by caring for others and thereby changing their own lives.

How can a company succeed in changing your life?  The answer is an incredibly unique product that efficiently supports physical well being. It’s called Daily Source. It is an all natural nano encapsulated Multi-Vitamin, Mineral and Herbal Supplement. Daily source isn’t just a vitamin supplement. It’s a complete cocktail of health and well being. The specially selected vitamins, minerals and herbal compounds in daily source provide a substantial increase in nutritional value. First, due to their combination and second, due to nano-encapsulation.  Our All  Natural Patented Nanotechnology creates a particle size small enough to be absorbed with maximum efficiency.

Why We’re Chamber Members
We are Chamber members in an effort to follow our company motto “People helping people.” In addition we are looking to build our business in the Columbus area, as well as share our product.

Fun Facts about livethesource™
Bob Ellis (Diana Ross’s Ex Husband) is one of our founding members
The multi-vitamin was produced because out CEO had gastric bypass surgery and didn’t like the liquid vitamins that were on the market.

Featured Product/Service
Live the Source’s Daily Source is a multi-vitamin that you can feel! This multivitamin is a liquid, nano-encapsulated, liposomal vitamin. This simply means that the vitamins minerals and herbal supplements are small enough to get into the body at a cellular level and that it is also recognized by the cell as food, making the cell eager to capture and utilize the vitamin. Due to this delivery system, individuals are able to absorb vitamins at a rate of above 90 percent as apposed to any pill or capsule, which has an absorption rate of less than 13 percent. In addition, pills and capsules are only in the system for three hours at most, whereas our vitamin provides nutrients for 24 hours. We have also recently launched a vitamin D booster.

Even the healthiest eater, the most avid gym buff, and the athlete who is a devout vegan can find a place in their life for vitamins, minerals and herbal supplements. Let's face it. It is impossible to consume enough food in a day to cover 100 percent of what you need for your body to excel and be at its full potential. Those of us that lead an active life are even more in need of what vitamins, minerals and herbal supplements have to offer our body. We expend so much while working out or training that it is taxing on our muscles and joints. It is important to replace what is lost during that time otherwise you are not reaping the full benefit of working out in the first place. 

For more information visit livethesource.com/index.php/products/dailymultivitamin, livethesource.com/index.php/products/dailysource_label and livethesource.com/index.php/products/vitamin_d

The Columbus Chamber member spotlights put the focus on our member organizations. To submit your member organization for a spotlight contact Michelle Bretscher.

Member Spotlight: Crown Services

Crown Services has been in the staffing industry for 41 years.  Our headquarters have always been in Columbus, but we operate in 12 states with 35 offices.  We provide temporary staffing, temp to hire, permanent placement, payroll processing and many other staffing related services. 

Why We’re Chamber Members: We joined the chamber mainly to build relationships with other members.  Other members have a lot to offer us, and we can also provide valuable resources through beneficial mutual relationships.

Fun Facts about Crown Services: We are a private certified woman owned business through the WBENC. 

For more information, visit www.crownservices.com.

The Columbus Chamber member spotlights put the focus on our member organizations. To submit your member organization for a spotlight contact Michelle Bretscher.

Young Professionals Spotlight: Friends of St. Jude Columbus

Each month, the Columbus Chamber spotlights 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 July, Friends of St. Jude Columbus is featured.

When and why was Friends of St. Jude started?
Friends of St. Jude is a group of young professionals working to support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital by raising funds and awareness. Through fundraising, social, volunteer, and educational events, our group aspires to be a premier outlet for philanthropy, networking, and fun for young professionals. The group is administered by a volunteer steering committee with support from St. Jude.
Friends of St. Jude began in Memphis, Tennessee in 2007, and has since expanded to forty cities nationwide, with thousands of members.

The local Columbus chapter was started in 2008 and currently has over 30 members.  In the past year, we’ve hosted a variety of events, from gift wrapping to a benefit concert to participating in the Village Valuables sale.
 
Why should I become a member?
Becoming a member of Friends of St. Jude makes you part of something special – a movement to end childhood cancer. Being a member signifies your commitment to St. Jude and helps you find ways to directly involve yourself in service. Additionally, members have the benefit of discounts at select events, receiving newsletters, and access to special social and networking opportunities.
 
How do I become a member?
It’s easy!  Become a member online at our site www.friendsofstjude.org and pay the $25.00 dues with a debit or credit card securely online. You can also attend any one of our events to pay for your membership by check or cash, or mail the dues to our affiliate office, ALSAC/St. Jude, 1135 Dublin Rd., Suite 100B, Columbus, OH 43215. Feel free to attend events to learn more about Friends of St. Jude membership before joining. To learn more about about the benefits of membership, contact Donna at fosjcolumbus@gmail.com.

Tell me about your upcoming events.
Our next event is “Experience a Night of Inspiration with Friends of St. Jude,” a fundraising party on July 23 at The Venue at Smith Brothers. This year-end culminating event will feature food from six local restaurants, including Cameron Mitchell Catering, a silent auction of unique experiences, a vodka bar, and more. Tickets for the event are $75.00 per person, and including bistro plates from the participating restaurants, drinks, dancing, and access to an exclusive after party at the Social Room. The event is open to the general public – tickets can be purchased online at www.friendsofstjude.org/columbus.
 
What are some successes or cool facts about Friends of St. Jude?
Friends of St. Jude is unique in the diversity of events hosted in the past year. From an evening at Park Street Patio to a proceeds day at Whole Foods, Friends of St. Jude is constantly looking for new opportunities to support the hospital. There is truly a way for everyone to get involved, and as a member, individuals can decide who much, and when, they can help.
 
Where can I go to learn more?
To learn more about the Friends of St. Jude, Columbus Chapter you can go to www.friendsofstjude.org/columbus or contact us at fosjcolumbus@gmail.com.

To learn about nearly 60 other local YP and professional organizations, view the Columbus Chamber's directory of YP and professional organizations.

Young Professionals Demonstrating Community Trusteeship

By Robbie Banks, Young Professionals Manager, Columbus Chamber

Young professionals (YPs) often ask my advice about how they should become involved in the community beyond participating in YP events and activities. I suggest demonstrating community trusteeship, whether that means volunteering for a non-profit organization or participating in a local leadership program. Why should you participate in a leadership program? Well, I can tell you from personal experience that leadership programs will help you build your personal and professional network, develop your leadership skills and prepare you to serve on a non-profit board of trustees. In fact, it helped to prepare me for the coolest job in the land as the young professionals manager.

As a proud graduate of the Leadership Columbus class of 2007, I had an invaluable experience during the 10-month program. Meeting and connecting with fellow classmates, such as Debra Penzone, president of Charles Penzone Family of Salons, as well as community leaders like my then-future-boss, Ty Marsh, president and CEO of the Columbus Chamber, was incredible. “The Leadership Columbus experience is a unique combination of relationship-building, learning, problem-solving, civic engagement and personal growth.” It was a tremendous opportunity that my previous employer supported as part of my career and leadership development. (I'm pictured on the far left with some of my Leadership Columbus classmates in the photo on the right.) 

A few months after starting at the Columbus Chamber, I was presented with an opportunity to serve on my first board – the board of trustees for Capital Crossroads SID (Special Improvement District) on behalf of the Chamber. I also serve as the chair of the SID’s promotions committee. I take both roles very seriously and consider it an opportunity to exercise my community trusteeship. I have a great sense of ownership of downtown Columbus and the community as a whole. I don’t know that I would have been asked, let alone prepared, to serve in this capacity without my Leadership Columbus experience.

Not all leadership programs are the same – some have no or low tuition, as few as 12 program participants or sessions on Saturdays. To learn more about local leadership programs, I highly recommend that you check out the following links (not a comprehensive list):

• Central Ohio Leadership Organizations: http://www.leadershipcolumbus.org/news-and-events/central-ohio-leadership-organizations.php
• Capital Club’s Ladder Society: http://www.capitalcolumbus.com/ladder-society
• Leadership Union County: http://www.unioncountychamber.com/leadershipunioncounty.aspx

Think about how YOU can be a community trustee. Apply for local leadership programs. Ask others about their experiences in various leadership programs. Be ready to serve your community. Columbus needs your leadership.