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.

Member Spotlight: Findley Davies

Findley Davies is a human resources consulting firm specializing in employee benefits and human capital management. Founded in 1969, it has a long history of helping clients attract and retain talent, enhance the effectiveness of HR processes, leverage technology, improve financial performance through effective management of costs, and structure solutions that drive organizational change.

Why We’re Chamber Members: 

With existing offices in Charlotte, Greensboro, Chicago, Cleveland, and Toledo, Findley Davies recently expanded to Columbus. The Columbus Chamber is one of the premiere business organizations in Ohio. Findley Davies’ involvement in the other area Chambers has been a rewarding experience, and the company looks forward to becoming more involved in the Columbus Chamber and the Columbus community.

Fun Facts about Findley Davies:

In addition to serving its clients, Findley Davies is dedicated to serving the communities where its associates live and work. Kyle Pifher, Principal, is personally involved with the Make-a-Wish Foundation. Findley Davies’ associates also provide volunteer leadership and financial support to a variety of organizations including American Diabetes Association, Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs, Komen Foundation, YMCA and many more.

Featured Product/Service:

Findley Davies offers:
▪ Actuarial Services
▪ Communication Solutions
▪ Compensation and Rewards Management
▪ Defined Benefit Plan Administration
▪ Defined Contribution Plan Services
▪ Health and Group Benefits
▪ Human Resources Innovation
▪ Retirement Plan Services

For more information on Findley Davies, visit www.findleydavies.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: Option2Air

Option2Air LLC is your ‘Office-On-Wheels’ providing luxurious and productive group-travel for businesses. It aims to tap the unmet needs of business teams that presently use air-travel for medium distance travel (200 to 500 miles). It presently serves metro cities in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana.

Why We’re Chamber Members: We joined the Chamber as we consider Columbus to be a key market for us.

Fun Facts about Option2Air: Option2Air is an eco-friendly way for business travel as each of its vehicles potentially replaces several cars off the road.

Featured Product/Service: Whether you or your employees travel together for client meetings, training or conferences, you can avoid the hassles of going to the airport, parking, security-checks, lost luggage, switching off laptop and cellphone and getting squeezed in the middle seat. With Option2Air you can expect on-time, chauffeur-driven travel in a productive environment with comfortable leather seats (and no middle seats), extended legroom, high-speed wireless internet, on-board printer, wireless headphones, individual laptop/ phone chargers, laptop trays, LCD TV and on-board complimentary refreshments.

Unlike typical limousine services, it does not operate on-call basis nor provide airport pickup/ drop-off. Instead, it takes business teams from where they live or work to where they want to go. At present it provides booking of the full vehicle (and not individual seats).

For more information, go to www.option2air.com, or visit Option2Air at the Business2Business Network EXPO on Wednesday.

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: Invergarry Partners

The success of every business venture should begin with the end in mind. A clear definition of success for your business allows you to plan for the resources you'll need along each step in the development of your enterprise. Invergarry Partners can guide you towards your Definition of Success and help you create a plan to finance it. You will have a banker on your side of the table.

Why We Are Chamber Members
As a member of the Chamber's Board of Directors and Small Business Council (and its chair in 2009-10), Parker MacDonell, Principal of Invergarry Partners, has seen first-hand the power of the Chamber in advocating for businesses and assisting them with education, networking events and member services.  Invergarry Partners also plans to take advantage of membership discounts in health care insurance.

The Chamber's Small Business Council works hard to connect small businesses with revenue opportunities through the Contacts2Contracts project. Parker is also very excited about the potential that economic development project Columbus 2020! holds for the community, especially for small businesses.

Fun Facts Invergarry Partners:
Parker founded this company after 24 years as a commercial banker with Bank One and CFBank and seven years as a private equity investor and member of the Ohio TechAngel Fund. His personal mission is to help others succeed, and he can help do that by connecting businesses with financing.

Featured Service
Parker MacDonell will perform a Quick Check for you and your business.  At the end of one hour, he will give you feedback and determine if Invergarry Partners can help your business be more successful by connecting it with financing. For more information visit the Invergarry Partners website at www.invergarrypartners.com or the company blog at www.invergarrypartners.com/blog/.

Answers to your questions about MCO open enrollment

By Jason Bainum, Manager of Marketing & Member Services

Part of my job at the Columbus Chamber is to manage the savings programs for our members. One of our key programs is for workers’ compensation managed care.

The Managed Care Organization (MCO) open enrollment period runs May 3-28. There has been some confusion regarding the program, so we’ve put together this list of frequently asked questions to help our members better understand their option.

When does the open enrollment process begin and end? 
The 2010 MCO open enrollment period began at 7:30 a.m. May 3 and ends at 5:30 p.m. May 28

Whom does the Columbus Chamber endorse as the preferred workers managed care organization?
The Columbus Chamber endorses CareWorks, a BWC certified Managed Care Organization (MCO), as the preferred partner for workers’ compensation managed care services. We selected CareWorks after a thorough analysis of several MCOs.

Do I need a managed care organization?
Yes, State fund employers have two opportunities to select a managed care organization (MCO).

•    A new employer has approximately 30 to 60 days to select an MCO. The new employer will receive a new employer kit. Included in this kit is an MCO selection guide. This guide provides instructions to the employer on how to select a managed care organization (MCO) to medically manage their workers' compensation claims. If the employer does not choose, the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) may automatically assign an MCO.

•    The second opportunity an employer has to select an MCO is during open enrollment. This only occurs once every two years. If an employer does not want to change MCOs, then no action is required.

Do I pay a fee to the Managed Care Organization?
No, there are no direct costs for MCO services. MCO fees are included with an employer’s BWC premium.

Are there fees for Third Party Administrative services or to join a group rating program?
Yes, there is normally a fee to participate in a group plan or hire a third party administrator to manage an employer’s claims.

What is the difference between a Managed Care Organization and Third Party Administrator?
MCOs are responsible for the medical management of Ohio employers’ work-related injuries and illnesses. Every employer in Ohio must have an MCO, which is paid for directly by the BWC. TPA is responsible for the administrative and financial aspects of the employers workers’ compensation program. Employers pay for these services.

If you are responsible for your workers’ compensation program, it is important to have a fundamental understanding of the roles of a MCO and a Workers’ Compensation Third Party Administrator. Both MCOs and TPAs play important roles in helping employers control workers’ compensation costs.

You can read about the Chamber’s MCO program on the Chamber’s website.

If you have any question, please contact me at 614.225.6949 or jason_bainum@columbus.org.

Member Spotlight: Volunteers of America

Volunteers of America is a national, non-profit, faith-based organization dedicated to helping those in need rebuild their lives and reach their full potential. Through thousands of human services programs, including housing and healthcare, Volunteers of America helps nearly 2 million people across the country – more than 14,000 in Greater Ohio alone.

Our Hire A Vet program seeks to partner with local employers to help veterans obtain employment. In addition to showing gratitude to a United States veteran, employers have access to federal bonding and tax credits as a result of the 2009 Recovery Act primarily available under the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC), FREE candidate referrals, extended candidate background information, and the security of a veteran liaison assigned to each employee with the purpose of providing continued support during the veteran’s employment and helping prevent any potential issues.

Why We’re Chamber Members: We are striving to reach out to the Columbus business community and expand our network of local employers. We are passionate about the veterans we serve and will take any opportunity to tell others about the work we do to support them.

Fun Facts about Volunteers of America:
•    Volunteers of America was founded in 1896 – a social movement stemming from the same family that founded The Salvation Army.
•    Volunteers of America has been providing aid to veterans since World War I.

Featured Product/Service: Our Hire A Vet program works to link local employers with veterans. Partnership with Volunteers of America is a win-win. Our veterans obtain viable employment and the employer can receive federal bonding, tax credits and many other benefits. Partnership doesn’t require long-term commitments or agreements. We simply want to know you are interested in helping our veteran heroes achieve their goals.

Contact Sara Dodeci, program director, at (614) 351-1881 x1407 or sara.dodeci@voago.org for more information on the Hire A Vet program. Learn more about Volunteers of America of Greater Ohio at www.voago.org.

Dental Care Plus Group

The Dental Care Plus Group (DCPG) is a regional dentist-owned dental insurance company unlike any other health carrier you've ever worked with. The company enters each new market with the intention of planting deep roots and becoming part of the community. In this way we empower healthy communities wherever we operate through relationships built on balance, flexibility and transparency.
 
Why We’re Chamber Members: One of the first ways to become part of the community and to learn about a market (datawise and peoplewise) is to join the local chamber. Of course, as soon as I met some chamber employees, I realized how warm and engaging they were. With such an open and gracious welcome, how could I not immediately join?

Fun Facts about DCPG:
1.  Everyone brushes and flosses.
2.  Twice a year, we have "waffle day" for employees.  Even the CEO gets into the act of making waffles and other breakfast staples. Of course, everyone brushes and flosses afterward.
3. We never go anywhere without a supply of toothbrushes and floss to give away.

Featured Product/Service: DCPG offers employer-sponsored dental insurance plans for groups of two or more in central Ohio. The outstanding feature associated with  all of our products is exceptional customer service -- for the members enrolled in our plans, for the employers who sponsor the plans, for the employee benefit brokers and for the dentists in our network. Managed care is not generally associated with excellent customer service, but DCPG is the exception. We're like the Nordstrom's or Zappo's of health insurance.
 
For more information, visit www.dentalcareplus.com.

Chamber Government Day Puts Economic Development Public Policy in the Spotlight

By Steve Tugend, Vice President, Government Relations

With yesterday’s primary election, government office holders and policies have been in the spotlight. I’m even more excited about the Columbus Chamber Government Day event, which will be held May 14 at the Athletic Club of Columbus.

Each year at Government Day, some of the region's and state's most important policy makers come together with business. The state of Ohio faces some significant obstacles to emerging from the recession, and the business community needs to be informed about how government can help.

The 2010 agenda will include a morning of roundtable discussions where attendees sit at the same table as public policy experts in areas such as workforce, infrastructure, and economic development.

Following the informative morning sessions, the Government Day luncheon program will feature a post-primary discussion between Ohio Democratic Party Chair Chris Redfern and Ohio Republican Party Chair Kevin DeWine. It will be moderated by political-scene veteran, Mike Curtin, associate publisher emeritus of the Dispatch Printing Company and chairman of the Columbus Chamber Government Affairs Steering Committee.

I hope you’ll join us. Tickets for Government Day are $50. To register for this half-day event, visit the Columbus Chamber event page.