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

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.

Video: Michael Dalby at the Columbus Metropolitan Club

What's in store at the Columbus Chamber? Our new President and CEO Michael Dalby addressed the Columbus Metropolitan Club earlier this month. Watch this video and hear him discuss a four-pronged approach to creating a supportive eco-system for sustainable growth in the Columbus Region.

 

Guest Post: 10 things every employer should know about workers’ compensation coverage in Ohio

We asked our Workers' Compensation provider what 10 things should every employer know about workers' compensation. Here's what they said:

1. It's a payroll driven system
2. Premium payments are made in arrears
3. Group Rating discounts are applied one year after enrollment into the group rating program
4. Injured Worker is given the benefit of the doubt
5. It's no Fault System
6. There are three factors to determine premium calculation:  1) industry classification; 2) claim costs; 3) payroll
7. Claims effect your premium rates for 4 years; employers should reapply annually for group rating to check eligibility status
8. There are 5 ways to control premium costs:  1)  accurate payroll reporting; 2) reduction in claim costs; 3)  implementation of safety practices; 4) implementation of hiring best practices; 5)  risk management strategies enforced
9. There are 5 ways to control claim costs:  1)  aggressive claims management; 2) handicap reimbursements; 3) settlement; 4) transitional work/vocational rehabilitation; 5) salary continuation
10. There are multiple alternative rating (discount) programs available to reduce rates including group rating, safety council, drug-free workplace program, $15k medical program, deductible program, group retrospective rating, and self insurance

A no-nonsense guide to signing up for the Columbus Chamber’s workers’ compensation program.  It’s as easy as 1 – 2 – 3 !

1. Request a free, no-obligation quote through one of the following quick and easy methods:
2. 1. a.    Over the Phone - contact our third party administrator, CompManagement at (800) 825-6755, option 3 and speak to a Customer Support representative
   2. b.    Complete the sign-up form online
3. Watch your mail for information from CompManagement on your Group Savings Estimate
4. Complete the enrollment materials and return to CompManagment by the Group Rating application filing deadline of February 26, 2010

Guest post by CompManagement, the Columbus Chamber's Workers' Compensation provider.

View more information on Columbus Chamber Savings Programs here.

Learn more about CompManagement

How to Be Prepared for Upcoming H1N1 & Flu Season

Greetings!  As you know, we are moving into flu season.  To help inform people in our community about seasonal flu and H1N1, the health departments of the City of Columbus and Franklin County are working together to provide information on how to stay healthy and how to minimize exposure this flu season.  They have asked the Columbus Chamber to be a communication conduit to the business community.

It’s a good idea to encourage your employees to practice good hygiene and good sense to keep the people around them healthy.  Children and pregnant women need to take extra precautions.  Here are some basics FOR INDIVIDUALS:

• Get vaccinated with both seasonal flu (immediately) and H1N1 (when available); I got my seasonal last night at CVS’s minute clinic
• Wash hands REGULARLY and THOROUGHLY; keep antibacterial liquid close at hand
• Avoid shaking hands and exchanging kisses; fist bumps and elbow knocks are popular substitutes
• Exhibit “cough etiquette” (coughing/sneezing into one’s sleeve, rather than using hands to cover one’s mouth)

As a business owner, you are encouraged to plan for the worst and hope for the best…in the event that one or more of your employees is forced to work remotely.  Here are some basics FOR EMPLOYERS:

• Put a plan in place now that will allow your business to continue operations, with as little disruption as possible, if one or more of your employees is impacted (this includes things like cross-training employees, instituting emergency notifications numbers, etc.)
• Encourage workers who have flu-like symptoms (especially fever) to stay home and not come to work until at least 24 hours after their fever has resolved.  CHILDREN WITH FLU-LIKE SYMPTOMS (INCLUDING FEVER) SHOULD BE KEPT HOME AND NOT RETURNED TO SCHOOL/DAYCARE FOR AT LEAST 24 HOURS AFTER THE FEVER HAS SUBSIDED.   (Again, put procedures in place to allow employees to continue working even in they are hope with a sick child.)
• Locate hand sanitizer throughout your workplace as well as tissues, no-touch trash cans, hand soap, etc.  Disinfectant and disposable towels should be available for workers to clean their work surfaces.

Here are some resources for you to help your business prepare and to help your employees stay healthy and minimize exposure:

• Recent story from WOSU titled, “Central Ohio Business Organizations Brace For Tough Flu Season”.
• Link directly to information about seasonal and pandemic flu specific to Columbus and Franklin County:  http://www.columbuspandemicflu.org/index.html.
• Link to the Center for Disease Control’s website, which is where you can sign up for email and text alerts about seasonal and H1N1 from a national perspctive: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/business/

In continued good health!

 

Columbus Region InSite Tool Launches on ColumbusRegion.com

In case you missed the announcement in the Chamber's monthly email, be sure to check out the region's new GIS tool:

The Columbus Chamber has recently relaunched an upgraded Geographic Information System (GIS) on its economic development site, ColumbusRegion.com, an online tool for both current member companies and businesses that are looking to relocate from outside the Columbus region.

These enhanced tools will aid in the Chamber’s efforts to attract new capital investment, while optimizing site selection opportunities, making Columbus a more competitive option for prospective businesses.  GIS allows users to quickly and easily find the ideal location for their business within the eight-county Columbus region, as well as access overlays of demographic data by county. If a member business has grown and needs a larger space or a relocating business needs to be close to a highway or an airport, they can use GIS to identify a specific building that will suit their needs.

This tool goes far beyond a simple database of available sites and buildings. It provides the information and analysis businesses require to identify geographic advantages and business opportunities in our region. Buildings and sites are available throughout the nation. What makes the Columbus Region attractive to business is highly related to our location-specific advantages, which can be accessed online through Columbus Region InSite. If you have any questions about using the GIS tool, or would like assistance finding a site for your company or other information about doing business in the Columbus Region like comparative demographic analysis, please contact our economic development team at the Chamber.

Columbus Chamber Senior Vice President Featured on IBM Podcast

Chamber Senior Vice President, Michael Gordon, was recently featured on IBM's podcast about his personal experiences and the Chamber's role in helping small businesses get through the challenges of today's economy. 

Interview by Deb Osgood
'Twenty Five years of experience for you to grow your business.'
Advice for small businesses who are navigating their way through the financial crisis - with particular relevance for small businesses in the Midwest, but helpful for any small business owner.

Click here to listen to the podcast.

Here's what Michael had to say about the interview and IBM's new tool kit for small businesses:

"Access to information is very important for those seeking to start or grow a business and for those hoping to identify potential answers to the challenges of maintaining a business.  Diversity Bridge and IBM’S SME Toolkit are resources for minority/women owned businesses.

Continuing to expand network is a key component of building a successful business.  The networking with other business owners can often identify possible solutions to the challenges a company may be facing."

Join The Columbus Chamber Today

Member Value
Our mission is to lead and support economic growth and development in the Columbus Region.  That means we work to attract new businesses into our Region; retain and expand businesses; and cultivate startups. We work to connect small, medium and large corporate businesses with people, resources and information - all to help businesses grow and expand.   

 What does that mean for you?

• Leveraging our Contacts to Contracts Program to connect to larger businesses and corporations to keep dollars in the Columbus Region;
• Participating in our Attract & Retain Talent initiative designed to build and maintain a workforce in our Region that meets business needs;
• Leveraging the Chamber’s advertising and event sponsorship opportunities to increase the visibility of your business;
• Networking events designed to provide your business the opportunity to meet your next customer or supplier.
• Connecting with public sector officials to voice your opinion and concerns while the Chamber advocates on behalf of all members for a business friendly environment;
• Utilizing our cost savings programs such as workers compensation (Gates McDonald), healthcare (Anthem), or office supplies (Office Depot), to name a few.