Columbus Chamber Blog: Columbus Business News

Columbus Region Logistics Council Member Spotlight: Hy-Tek

About Hy-Tek

Since 1963, Hy-Tek Material Handling, Inc. has grown to be the premiere single-source provider of solutions in material handling systems integration, engineering, equipment, and services. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Hy-Tek began as an equipment dealer, and in 1978, added a 50,000-item Catalog Service Division and launched its Integrated Systems Division to include design, engineering, installation, and storage systems to national industrial clients. Today, Hy-Tek remains one of the few companies in the industry to take on the challenge of designing successful solutions for every aspect of a facility’s operation.

Why CRLC

Hy-Tek’s mission of supplying world-class solutions for material handling equipment and engineered systems requires a comprehensive understanding of trends in the logistics and warehousing industry, new technologies, as well as global and local market developments. Critical to Hy-Tek’s ability to offer best-in-class solutions is understanding the real world experiences of those member organizations who actively participate in groups like the Columbus Region Logistics Council. To this end, our active investment and involvement in the CRLC is central to our role as an engineering and equipment solutions provider for the logistics industry.

Products and Services: A One Stop Shop

Whether it’s warehousing, order fulfillment or building a distribution center from greenfield, Hy-Tek creates the original concept or enhances a current system to achieve the optimal performance and return on investment. Backed by factory certified technicians with 24/7 on-call emergency services to support our comprehensive line of mobile lift equipment, clients can count on Hy-Tek to always have the right products for your supply chain demand needs. For more information visit www.hy-tek.net. 

 

Member Spotlight: Cooperative Business Services, LLC

Cooperative Business Services provides comprehensive member business lending solutions for credit unions, including analysis, underwriting, servicing, documentation preparation, pricing, education, training, and strategic planning. Cooperatively owned by the OCUL Services Corporation and eight credit unions, Cooperative Business Services gives credit unions the opportunity to participate in Member Business Lending at a minimal cost without acquiring all of the loan risk on their balance sheets.

Why We're Chamber Members

The Columbus Chamber has a very significant and prestigious presence in the business world here in Columbus. We view this as an excellent opportunity to partner with other Chamber members and develop long-lasting, mutually beneficial relationships.

Fun Facts about Cooperative Business Services

• We are on target to close $30 million in new business loans in Central Ohio this year!
• CBS, LLC likes to hire individuals with very unique names: Circe, Francia, Pepper, Dailyn, Jenyel...to name a few.
• Credit Unions are nonprofit entities.
• We are the largest Credit Union business lending cooperative in the Midwest, with more than 60 affiliated Credit Unions.
• Our borrowers have a chance to meet the President/CEO of their respective Credit Union when they join!
• In addition to top notch personalized service, creative financing and expedient decision making, we offer no prepayment penalties on our loans – ever!

http://www.cbscuso.com

 

Recruiting Candidates from Outside the Columbus Region

There are many reasons why local employers recruit candidates from outside the Columbus Region. Hospitals and research institutions seek individuals with exceptional reputations to, among other things, elevate their own national and international status. Other businesses source talent from well-known industry locales, such as NYC for the fashion industry, Hartford, CT for actuaries, or Cincinnati for experienced brand managers. Sometimes, employers build pipelines for entry-level talent with universities across the country because specific degree programs are not offered locally.

Consequently, the Columbus Region has a proud history of welcoming people who come from someplace else. The diversity that comes with people who possess different backgrounds, experiences, and ways of approaching the world makes Central Ohio a richer, vibrant, more interesting community in which to live, work and start a business.

The Columbus Chamber has long provided leadership in workforce attraction and retention. When a group of human resource executives from Columbus Partnership companies assembled recently to discuss ways to make it easier to recruit talent from outside the Columbus Region, the Columbus Chamber compiled a list of information and links to resources to help them market Columbus to talent from outside the region to address their hiring needs. 

1. “Awesome Relocation Services”

LiveWorkPlayColumbus is a great resource for companies to use to help prospects and their families get a first look at Columbus and recognize they can replicate, if not advance, their lifestyle by moving to Columbus. In addition to the website, recruiters can leverage the “recruiter tool” which allows them to easily create and send customized emails to prospects who may be considering relocating to the Columbus region. Register as a New User here.

At LiveWorkPlayColumbus.com, check out the Best of Everything video. Embed code is provided so companies can post the video to their own Careers webpage. 

Other great videos touting Columbus

• Check US Out | see what makes Columbus unique, exciting, unexpected, open & smart

• 2010 National Number 1’s | Columbus is home to the best science museum, the best zoo, the best ice cream...and much, much more!

• Columbus: An Open Look | open for business and open for your life

• YPs declare I Choose Columbus and Columbus is A Vibrant City for Young Professionals

• It Is Here | history resounds and opportunity abounds

• Seeing is Believing | a variety of videos showcasing different parts of Columbus

The Columbus Chamber and Columbus2020 keep a running tally of accolades, rankings and superlatives regarding the Columbus region. Check out the latest (or search by key words for rankings that may resonate with individual recruits): Columbus Region Rankings and Columbus In The News 

Other websites

• Transplants to the Columbus region: liveworkplaycolumbus.com

• Columbus from a business perspective: columbus.org and http://columbusregion.com/. And the 2011 Columbus Region Factbook

• Plan a weekend visit via Experience Columbus, the travel and tourism bureau

• Check out the vibrancy of Columbus’ Downtown: downtowncolumbus.com and http://columbushighfive.com/ 

2. Effectively Selling Columbus

The Columbus Chamber’s manager of young professionals, Robbie Banks (robbie_banks@columbus.org), is available as a resource to companies to conduct trainings or “brown bags” to share the resources that are available to sell Columbus to people considering relocating and to connect people to the community so they’ll be more satisfied—and more likely to stay. 

As a regular part of her job, Robbie works very hard to make Columbus famous as a destination where young and talented artists, entrepreneurs and professionals can achieve their career/life aspirations. She has many tools and resources available to help connect people to each other, to non-profit and YP organizations, and to the community. One of those tools is the weekly email promoting Activities and Events for YPs. Sign up for it here.

Learn more about the importance of YPs to our community at the Columbus Chamber's website.

3. What Makes Columbus Cool?

As a part of our on-going research of the young and talented (originally conducted by Rebecca Ryan’s firm in ’06 and ‘07), the Columbus Chamber recently released the report, titled What Makes Columbus “Cool” for the Young and Talented: 2011 State of the Young Professional, which highlights how people feel about Columbus relative to factors like Earning, After Hours, Cost of Lifestyle, etc. based on a survey done over the summer. Columbus is, indeed, a place where creative-types—regardless of age—can feel energized and engaged. 

4. Connecting Out-of-Town Recruits to Columbus “Ambassadors”

In the event you have an executive you’d like to introduce to peers in the Columbus Region, we can work with you to help organize a welcome dinner, reception, etc. for that executive. Indeed, the Columbus Partnership can help ensure the right people are in the room.

Sharon Cameron owns Connections, an executive “concierge” service to help executives get connected to the Columbus community (dinner parties, country clubs, private schools, etc.). “Our goal is to assist you in landing the candidate and then transitioning that new hire and their family into the Columbus area.” (Connections is a Chamber member.)

Also, Robbie (robbie_banks@columbus.org) is your contact for the “YP Ambassadors” program. In the event you’d like to connect a recruit with a neutral third-party who can, nonetheless, give an enthusiastic endorsement of living in Columbus, Robbie can help make that happen. By the way, recruits don’t necessarily have to be “YPs.” We match people based on interest and life-stage rather than age, which is more relevant. 

Onboarding Columbus, offered through Leadership Columbus, is an unforgettable two days of community orientation and networking where participants learn about and connect with the Columbus community from the inside. Gain access to valuable information about the issues facing our community, as well as meet new people, explore the places and experience the leadership that makes Columbus extraordinary. Program is relevant for recent transplants as well as those who have lived here their entire lives. 

5. Trailing Spouse Employment

Sometimes your recruiters are challenged to close the deal because the decision to relocate to the Columbus Region is predicated on finding employment for the trailing spouse. Feel free to email me (andrea_applegate@columbus.org) the resume of the trailing spouse and I will share it with my network of corporate recruiters and staffing agents to uncover potential opportunities. At your request, I can also provide information and links to resources for to assist the trailing spouse when conducting a local job search. 

Member Spotlight: Rudolph Brothers

Rudolph Brothers is a SHARP and ISO9001:2008/AS9120 certified distributor of formulated products serving the automotive, aerospace, electronic, composite, marine and bus-truck-rail markets. Products include adhesives, sealants, potting compounds, tooling materials and mold release technologies.

Rudolph Brothers was established as “Servi Supply” in 1954 then later changed to Rudolph Brothers in the 1970’s. The company has been family owned since inception. We have 20 employees at the home office in Canal Winchester and seven outside salespeople who live and work in their territories. On March 17, 2006 Rudolph Brothers and Company became the fifth business in Ohio to earn the SHARP Award.

Why We're Chamber Members

We decided to join the Columbus Chamber for several reasons. We want to maintain an active role in the local business community by networking with members. By maintaining business relationships from companies across the country as well as from a diverse set of industries, we have a lot of first hand experience that we are able to share. Also, we are always looking for new opportunities and ideas.

Featured Product

One of our core product lines is adhesives which includes bonding everything from cereal box tops to ski boats to fighter jets.

www.rudolphbros.com

A key to economic growth in Ohio is a highly skilled workforce

A key to economic growth in Ohio is a highly skilled workforce. 

That according to the monthly newsletter (March 2012) published by the University System of Ohio | Ohio Board of Regents to connect the higher education community to the local business community. The article, Industry Spotlights Shining Bright, goes on to outline the training and education opportunities that are available to meet the workforce needs of employers in these specific high-demand industries:

• Oil and gas

• Insurance

• Manufacturing

• Information Technology

Read the full article here.

In my role with the Columbus Chamber in support of the Columbus2020! strategic approach to economic development, I interact with business owners and HR executives from a workforce perspective. Through personal interviews, I gather information on hard-to-fill positions, skill gaps, and challenges in sourcing talent so that we can identify and better understand themes and trends that impact the business community in the Columbus Region. In addition, through these interactions, I am able to connect these businesses to information and resources that will be immediately helpful to address their workforce needs, including training and education programs to source qualified candidates and to upgrade the skills of their existing workforce. I am eager to chat with you about your workforce needs.

To schedule a meeting, you can check out my availability on my public calendar or send me an email with potential dates and times.

Young Professionals Spotlight: Young Professionals of Lancaster

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 March, Young Professionals of Lancaster is featured.

When and why was Young Professionals of Lancaster founded?
YPL was founded in 2010 to promote the personal growth of young professionals and to enhance our community. Our mission is to connect young professionals with the Lancaster and Fairfield County business community through business networking, social interaction, community involvement and education. We are a subcommittee of the Lancaster Fairfield County Chamber of Commerce. Young Professionals of Lancaster is a dedicated resource for individuals within the ages of 21-40 who are currently employed by or own a Lancaster Fairfield County Chamber of Commerce Member business. As a newly created organization, we have grand ambitions:

• To promote growth professionally, socially and civically
• To establish pride in our local community
• To foster ongoing business relationships
• To build confidence and knowledge for professional and personal growth
• To develop life-long leadership skills
• To encourage business alliances through participation, education, programming, recruitment and mutual support with the Chamber and community
• To partner with local non-profit organizations
• To motivate a younger generation of community leaders to be assertive and make a difference in our local community

Why become a member?
Our hope and desire for individuals within our group is not only to foster professional working relationships with local businesses but also to instill confidence and opportunities for our members. We aim to build life-long friendships and create opportunities for individuals to network with their peers. For those outside of our targeted 21-40 age range, sorry, we won’t make you feel any younger by asking for an ID! We don't card. We welcome all who wish to be a part of our professional community. We also wish to motivate the younger generation of community leaders to be assertive and help make a difference in our community.

What are some successes or cool facts about YPL?
YPL  is only in it’s second year. We celebrated our first anniversary on November 16, 2011 with our first Annual Anniversary Bash. Members who attended played Minute to Win It games and were entered into our door prize giveaway with prizes were given away throughout the night.

The first Young Professional of the Year Award was presented during the Lancaster Fairfield County Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner on January 21, 2012 to Dr. David Uhl, director of Destination Downtown Lancaster.

Tell me about your upcoming events.
We have a ton of great events coming up and would love to see you at one. At the end of March, we will be hosting an educational event at The Lodge in Lancaster teaching attendees how to plan and market successful events. In April, we will organize a dodge ball tournament, friendly of course! Also in April, we are excited to partner with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Fairfield County to help fundraise during Bowl for Kids’ Sake 2012. One hundred percent of the funds raised stay in our local community! We will also be represented at the Spring Trade Show for the Lancaster Fairfield County Chamber of Commerce, so be sure to come check us out and meet members of our Executive Board. In May, we will be teaming up with Valley Zipline Tours to help them kick off their new business!  The Annual Lancaster Fairfield County Chamber of Commerce Golf Outing on May 18 is always a big hit with our members. In June, we can’t wait to kick off summer with an event at Lancaster Country Club. Sounds like fun, right? Get involved! For the latest and greatest information about YPL and our upcoming events, be sure to check us out on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and contact us to subscribe to our email list. Event ideas are always welcome at youngprofessionalsoflancaster@gmail.com.

How do I become a member?
The best part of being involved with YPL? It’s FREE! All you have to do is contact us to stay informed and involved with all our events throughout the year. How’s that for easy?

To learn about more than 60 other local YP and professional organizations, view the Columbus Chamber's directory of YP and professional organizations and check out a list of upcoming YP events here.

Member Spotlight: Confidential Services, Inc.

 

Confidential Services is a Private Investigative Agency founded in 1988 with only one investigator and today we employ over 50 full-time investigators. Serving the entire state of Ohio, we provide a variety of services for the general public, corporations, government, as well as the legal community. We offer an array of services in the investigative field including: background checks, process serve service, document retrievals, locates, assets searches, surveillance, general investigations, interviewing, asset recovery and skip tracing. We are committed to serving our clients in a professional, confidential, and timely manner. We have built our business on maintaining long-term, professional relationships and promise to continue to serve our clients with industry-leading standards.

Why We’re Chamber Members

We joined the Chamber for the networking opportunities with other Chamber members and to provide business to business services at a discounted rate. We also feel that by joining the Chamber we will obtain business knowledge from other Chamber members.

Fun Facts about Confidential Services

Confidential Services, Inc is a family and female-owned company by Beverlee Sokol and Katrina Levy-Zidel. We are involved in an annual event that benefits Dress For Success Columbus called “In Christy’s Shoes”. Our co-owner Katrina Levy-Zidel’s twin sister Christy Levy-Peters lost her battle with brain cancer in 2007. Christy’s love for shoes and helping women in need touched the lives of many women. “In Christy’s Shoes” was founded by Katrina in 2008 in her memory. This year’s event is Thursday May 3, 2012 at the Grange Insurance Audubon Center. For more information on this event please visit: www.inchristysshoes.com.

Featured Services

Our investigative services include but are not limited to: wrongful death, workers compensation, disability, fraud, personal injury, malpractice, employeetheft, wrongful termination, mismanagement, civil rights, white collar crimes, breach of contract, non-compete, embezzlement, class action lawsuits, insurance fraud, infidelity, divorce, child custody, cohabitation, child endangerment, homicide, theft, arson, robbery, heir and beneficiary.

http://www.csilocate.com/

 

 

 

FACT: Your Business Recently Acquired a New Employee- Kristen Easterday, Director of Local Government Relations

Whether or not your business has a hired lobbyist or public policy team, as a Columbus Chamber member, our team is your team.  The Columbus Chamber recently hired, me, Kristen Easterday as director of local government relations, to serve you and your business.

My role is to focus specifically on local government relations- the levels of government including the county, city, township, and school districts.  By bringing me on board, the Chamber is reaffirming its commitment to public policy and cultivating local relationships in order to stay on top of legislative issues affecting Chamber members.

If You Interact with Local Government; Call me.  (614) 225.6903 or kristen_easterday@columbus.org   In order for me to be successful in assisting your business needs as they relate to local government, I ask that you reach out to me.   Whether over the phone or in person, I’d like to connect with you to discuss local government issues.  Our 2012 Public Policy Agenda is one focus of my work, but we are also able to track and impact legislation pertinent to your business,  connect you with government, and promote business-friendly policies to elected officials.  Let me know your needs, and we will be your resource!

Connect with Elected Officials: One of the first advocacy events of the year is the Roundtable discussion with Columbus City Council President Andrew J. Ginther.  In this intimate setting, you will be able to connect with our Council President and engage in discussion about your business and the economic climate of our region.  The event will be held on March 8, 2012 from 8-9am.  Limited tickets are available, so register here today.

More about Kristen: In my position, I will advocate for business-centered economic growth policies to members of local governments and will assist Michael Hartley, vice president of government relations, with informing Chamber members of public policy issues. I previously served as the executive director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture, Office of Farmland Preservation, and as the finance coordinator for Michelle M. Mills for Columbus City Council. My undergraduate coursework was completed at Ohio University, and my master’s degree in public administration was earned at The George Washington University.

More about the Chamber’s Advocacy Efforts: The Chamber’s government relations initiatives are designed to support businesses and the development of the Columbus Region. In the past, the organization’s efforts have helped the region to secure millions of dollars from the federal government to improve the infrastructure at Rickenbacker, an important area for the growing logistics sector; save thousands of jobs at the Defense Supply Center Columbus; and positively affect state regulations. The Chamber facilitates dialogue between business and government leaders and connects local businesses with resources to improve their ability to do business.  The Advocacy team is guided by the Government Affairs Steering Committee.