Columbus Chamber Blog: Columbus Business News

A Brand New Day at the Columbus Chamber

The Columbus Chamber is rolling out a new look as part of a community initiative to send a common message about the assets of the community.

The logo and graphic identity are part of an overall Columbus brand adopted by organizations that market the region.

Earlier this year the Chamber, Columbus2020, the Columbus Partnership, Experience Columbus and the Greater Columbus Sports Commission retained Fahlgren Mortine to develop the creative expression of the brand for targeted audiences.

We are excited to have renewed our corporate logo to reflect the Chamber’s role within the Columbus community and as part of the unprecedented marketing initiative here. The new brand also symbolizes a new day for the Chamber, as our team moves forward with an even stronger focus on helping businesses thrive.

We will be incorporating the graphic look through the remainder of 2011, culminating with the launch of our new website in December. So keep an eye out for new materials as they are made available.

Member Spotlight: Apollo Pro Cleaning

Why We’re Columbus Chamber Members:  

Becoming a part of the Columbus Chamber was not a question.  In fact, one of the first tasks of our opening process was to sign up with the Chamber of Commerce. With locations in several Ohio and West Virginia communities, it is important to us to be a part of the communities we serve.

An obviously fantastic asset the Chamber has is the rich source of networking that it provides. Not only does it spread the news about our company, but it also allows for opportunities to gain feedback from other professionals, which aids in the ongoing learning and growing aspect of business. Business is always changing, and as a result, learning is never done. It is helpful to acquire other people’s knowledge and points of view, so the process can evolve and we can become better than before. 

Fun Facts About My Company:

Apollo’s sister-company, Team ATG, cleans acoustical ceiling tiles for stores like Target across the country. Last year, they cleaned over 30 million square feet of tile! 

Apollo Columbus will also be partaking in Deals That Matter, which is a website that offers discounted products and services. Half of the proceeds of each carpet cleaning purchased on DealsThatMatter.com go to the charity of the customer’s choosing.

Featured Product Or Service: 

Apollo’s claim to fame is carpet cleaning. We follow a step-by-step process. All sides of individual carpet fibers are cleaned, so the carpet’s resiliency is restored. A common misconception is that having carpets cleaned increases wear and tear. However, having carpets cleaned regularly is good for it. The more soil free a carpet is, the longer it will last.

Another service we provide is mattress cleaning. This service is often overlooked, but with the outbreaks of bedbugs, it is surely becoming a priority for homeowners wanting to keep their families and guests safe.

apolloprocleaning.com

 

 

Young Professionals Spotlight: Columbus Bar Association New Lawyer Committee

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 September, the Columbus Bar Association New Lawyer Committee is featured.

When and why was the Columbus Bar Association New Lawyer Committee founded?
The New Lawyer Committee has existed for decades and was created to give new attorneys an avenue to learn more about the city, the legal community and the bar.

Why become a member?
The Columbus Bar provides a broad array of opportunities for networking, professional development and community service. The New Lawyer Committee is a great place to meet other attorneys and get involved with Columbus’ vibrant legal community.

What are some successes or cool facts about the Columbus Bar Association New Lawyer Committee?
The New Lawyer Committee is the largest committee of the Columbus Bar Association with over one thousand members. It hosts an annual lunch with the Common Pleas and Municipal Court judges where young lawyers can interact with the judges in small groups. We also have service opportunities like Street Legal, an outreach program where new lawyers meet with disadvantaged teens in a Columbus recreation center to educate the teens about their legal rights and obligations.

The Bar recently created Columbus Bar inc: A Professional Development Center designed to offer new lawyers valuable experience and ongoing education to help build their professional career, develop sound business management skills and engender high ethical standards. The “inc” in the name of the program is short for “incubator” – a program intended to accelerate the successful development of new lawyers in an environment that provides an array of business support resources. These new attorneys receive extensive training on subjects such as client intake, billing practices, law office management, marketing, case management, discovery and other practice-related topics. The program also provides on-site mentors and participants receive referrals from the Lawyer Referral Service and Lawyers for Justice Program.

Tell me about your upcoming events.
We will be co-hosting an event at the November 10 Columbus Blue Jackets game with the CPA Young Professional Group. We also have monthly networking happy hours and breakfasts.

How do I become a member?
You can visit http://www.cbalaw.org/ to join the Bar Association and register for the committee.

Where can I go to learn more about the Columbus Bar Association New Lawyer Committee?
Feel free to contact current committee co-chairperson Christy Prince at cprince@keglerbrown.com to get involved.  You can also visit http://www.cbalaw.org/ or come to an event as a guest of a current Columbus Bar member.

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

Member Spotlight: KEMBA Financial Credit Union

About My Company:

At KEMBA, we are committed to providing our members with quality financial products and exceptional service. Whether saving for the future, financing a home, purchasing a mutual fund, or obtaining a new auto - our members count on KEMBA to meet all of their financial needs.

Why We’re Columbus Chamber Members:

KEMBA’s involvement with the Columbus Chamber directly supports local business growth and development. KEMBA cares about the local business community and wants to provide it with top-notch financial options to help businesses achieve goals.

We are involved with the Member Ambassador committee. Participation in this committee allows KEMBA to meet new members and reach out to local businesses to share the benefits of Chamber membership.

Fun Facts about my Company

KEMBA Financial Credit Union was founded in 1933 as the Credit Union for employees of Kroger, and is now Central Ohio’s largest Credit Union. Currently, we serve more than 150 local companies as well as communities in Franklin, Delaware, Logan and Madison counties.

KEMBA is not a bank. Why is that important? Instead of returning our profits to third-party stockholders, we return them directly to our member-owners in the form of competitive rates and fewer fees.

Featured Product/Service:

KEMBA offers a full range of  both personal and business financial solutions in addition to our Premier Business Visa^®.

Small businesses can save with KEMBA’s Premier Business Visa Credit Card with Rewards! With low rates, no balance transfer fee, no annual fee and cash back rewards this is the only card your business needs! Visit kemba.org to compare for yourself.

www.kemba.org

 

Keeping the Columbus Blue Jackets

The Columbus Blue Jackets would agree to stay in Columbus through 2039, thanks to an unprecedented public-private partnership that was announced yesterday. Casino tax revenues would finance the public purchase of Nationwide Arena under the proposed deal.

The Columbus Chamber supports this proposal. In addition to celebrating the retention of this team for all it does for our community, we recognize the significant impact the organization has on our local businesses and overall economy. When you consider the jobs, tax revenue, visitor spending and community contributions generated by the Arena, the Arena District and the team, it’s clear that the retention of the Blue Jackets is critical to our region’s economy.

We are grateful to the business and community leaders who came together to make this happen.

To learn more about the announcement and proposal, read the Columbus Dispatch or Business First.

Photo by Randall Lee Schieber.

Member Spotlight: Capstone Dental

About Capstone Dental:

Capstone Dental is a progressive, high-tech dental office that provides comfortable, personalized care to all patients. We offer services that go beyond basic industry and are located conveniently on the corner of Broad and High Street.

Why we are members of the Columbus Chamber: 

We are interested in marketing and networking with local businesses. We also like that the Chamber has a collective voice for small businesses. 

Fun Facts:

There used to be a dentist office in this building, basically where our office is, 100 years ago. We have the framed pictures in our waiting room of the corner of Broad and High streets 100 years ago with the "Ohio Painless Dentist" and the same picture with our sign today.

Featured Service:

Our focus is on prevention. If you maintain your oral health, the visits are quicker, less painful, and MUCH less expensive. Despite popular opinion we would love it if all our patients had healthy mouths! We also have high-tech, comfortable office which allows us to be efficient with patient’s time without missing out on the best possible treatment. 

www.capstonedowntown.com

Top 10 Reasons to Attend the Columbus Chamber Clambake

 

 

 

 

 

Delicious food, fun entertainment and tremendous opportunities to build business connections are on tap for the Columbus Chamber's Annual Clambake Thursday, Sept. 22.

Haven't yet registered? Consider these top 10 reasons why you should.

Dine on a seafood extravaganza. Chow down on clam chowder, baked clams, grilled chicken, sweet corn, roasted potatoes and whole Maine lobster. Soft drinks, beer and selected wines are included, too. Dinner will be served at 7 p.m. Culinary skills will be provided by the talented chefs and students of the American Culinary Federation Columbus Chapter, which has participated in the Chamber Clambake for more than 25 years.

Enjoy Midwestern hospitality. Don't forget to attend the networking reception from 5-7 p.m., where you can enjoy appetizers and drinks, courtesy of our Hospitality Hosts.

Make business connections. The Clambake draws top community and business leaders from all over the region. In 2010, more than 900 people attended. According to member Katie Hopper, sales director, ARC Industries, the Clambake affords opportunities to mingle with executive-level decision makers. "We find a higher level of management at the Clambake," Hopper said. "We try to network in that fashion, at that level."

Entertain your clients. Take a cue from Clambake Presenting Partner Woolpert, and leverage the Clambake as an opportunity to build relationships. Having attended the Clambake since 2000 and sponsored since 2005, Woolpert's involvement has grown by leaps and bounds over the years—from purchasing a few individual tickets, to hosting a table, to making the Clambake a premier client appreciation event. "The Clambake is a great way for us to have relaxed, face-to-face contact with our clients," said Rachel Headings, senior marketing facilitator for Woolpert. "The clients we invite realize it is a good networking opportunity for them, too. We created something that is fun for everyone. Now clients ask us 'When is the Clambake?'"

Treat your team. They've been working hard all year, right? Why not take a break from the office setting, and reward them with an evening out.

Jazz it up. Dwight Lenox steals the show at the Clambake. From blues to ballads and jazz to swing, Lenox shines. He's one of Columbus' top vocalists. For more than 20 years, his rich tenor voice and dynamic presence has captivated audiences around the country.

Go wild. Need an excuse to visit the number one zoo in the country? The Clambake will take place at the Water's Edge Events Park, a beautiful venue along the Scioto River at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.

Be a part of history. A favorite Columbus tradition, this will mark the Clambake's 88th year.

Win cool prizes. Dozens of great raffle prizes will be given away at the end of the evening—including two tickets to fly anywhere in the continental U.S. on American Airlines. Bring cash to buy raffle tickets, and don't miss your chance to win.

Kick back. The Clambake is a fun, casual event. If you haven't attended before, just take a look at photos from 2010, and see what you've been missing.

What are you waiting for? Register now, and we'll see you on Sept. 22.

PS - To heighten your business' visibility, become a Clambake Hospitality Host or Sponsor.

Member Spotlight: Barber Techs

About Barber Techs:

Barber Techs is a certified hair care service that caters to developmentally disabled men, woman and children. We also provide services for funeral homes, general hospitals, veterans’ hospitals, military bases, group homes, homeless shelters, the elderly and correctional facilities. All of our services are performed at the client’s location, which provides a significant convenience for most, if not all our clients. Barber Techs also provides clipper repair and shear/blade sharpening for salons, shops and groomers.

Why We’re Chamber Members:

As new members of the Columbus Chamber, Barber Techs is approaching this opportunity head on. From our research, we believe that the connections we will make as Chamber members will help propel our company into great success.

Fun Facts about Barber Techs:

Barber Techs is MBE and EDGE certified through the Ohio Department of Administrative Services, We also are registered with the Central Contractors Registry (CCR) and has been in business for two years. Barber Techs first contract was with the State Juvenile Correctional Facility. Our founders were 23 years old when they founded Barber Techs.

Featured Product/Service:

Barber Techs specializes in providing services for men and woman with developmental disabilities. We focus on providing the amenities necessary to provide a great service and overall experience! Our staff consists of personalities that match Barber Techs’ drive to help others, which keeps our customers coming back. Our staff is also CPR/ First Aid certified to be able to handle this specific client base.

www.barbertechs.com