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: Lamit Industries

About Lamit Industries: Lamit Industries has been producing structural insulated panel (SIPs) since 1989. We’ve been at the same location on Columbus’ southside since our doors opened. We’re the sister company of Tectum Inc., located in Newark, Ohio. Our customers include residential and commercial builders, several national restaurant chains, and patio /sunroom markets to name a few.

 

Why We’re Chamber Members: We wanted to become more involved with the community and other local businesses, as well as raise our company profile in and around central Ohio. Not many people know we are here producing a green building friendly product that is great for residential and commercial buildings.

 

Fun Facts About Our Company: More than 50 percent of Lamit’s full-time employees have been with the company between 10-20 years! We are one of the largest contract laminators in the country, producing over two million square feet per year.

 

Featured Product/Service: SIPs are high-performance building panels for walls, roofs, and floors in residential and commercial buildings. Each panel is made using expanded polystyrene (EPS) sandwiched between two structural skins of oriented strand board (OSB).

 

SIPs are starting to catch on with builders and homeowners in and around central Ohio. They are proven to reduce energy bills by 50-70 percent because the structure is 15 times tighter than traditional stick framed construction. We have design and engineering capabilities to go along with superior customer service. Our sales manager and technical director personally visits every job site.

 

For more information visit www.lamitindustries.com.

Member Spotlight: PrevaHealth

About PrevaHealth Wellness Diagnostic Center:

Nearly all of the causes of death and disability develop over many years and are preventable if they are detected early. The single best test for identifying cardiovascular disease and most cancers in their earliest stages is the EBT scan. The test is accurate, quick, and painless. PrevaHealth offers the only EBT scanner in Ohio. Non-invasively, without drugs or needles, this simple test accurately identifies early-stage cardiovascular disease and many types of cancer - years before they are detectable with any other test. Hospital-based screening - stress testing, EKG, etc., focus on detection of  late-stage disease where surgical intervention is most likely. These tests are often invasive, uncomfortable, expensive and inaccurate. PrevaHealth looks for the underlying disease at the earliest stages - when they can be halted or reversed.

Why We're Chamber Members:
PrevaHealth understands the value of connecting with the Columbus business community through the Chamber, and we believe our services can be of great value to other members. While all of us are at risk for these preventable diseases, the sobering fact is that business people may be at elevated risk due to their stressful lifestyles and (usually) sedentary jobs. Our tests can help them. Also, our wellness programs provide corporations a guaranteed ROI by keeping employees healthy and out of hospitals.

Fun Facts About PrevaHealth Wellness Diagnostic Center:
It is very likely that your doctor has already had one of our scans. As General Electric's "National Training Center" our unique service attracts CEOs, professional athletes and leading physicians from around the country. PrevaHealth's EBT cardiac scan is the most accurate and only FDA approved modality to identify coronary calcium in its earliest stages. Within minutes of their scan, patients can view their images and personally see areas of disease or concern. Your doctor receives specific clinical recommendations based on the results of your test.

Featured Product/Service:
March is colorectal cancer awareness month. PrevaHealth's virtual colonoscopy is more accurate, less invasive, more comfortable and about 1/3 the cost of optical colonoscopy. We simply offer the most clinically accurate and cost-effective approach to preventive healthcare available anywhere today-and we offer a special discount for employees of Columbus Chamber members. Normally, the HeartScan costs $445, the Complete Vascular Analysis (body scan) is $845, and Virtual Colonoscopy is $895. For Chamber members, the HeartScan is discounted to $395, the Complete Vascular Analysis is $750, and the Virtual Colonoscopy is $780.

Visit www.prevahealth.com or call us at 614-652-5888 for more information.

Member Spotlight: Libre

About Libre: Libre is a new business that sells specialty clothing items to dialysis, chemotherapy, and other infusion patients. The clothing is made specifically for those patients who are tired of ruining their own clothing or having to change for treatments, and can be worn any time of the day! It's our way of trying to help patients feel more relaxed and comfortable during treatment and their activities that follow. Most patients have a typical lifestyle, and our clothing helps ensure comfort and function, and eases the burden of treatment days with the proper clothing!

Why We’re Chamber Members: We recently joined the Chamber after being approached by a member and having the Chamber recommended to us. We spent time discussing joining, and realized that because of all the resources, knowledge, and expertise from everyone involved, it would be a great choice. Since we are still in the beginning stages of our venture, it is stress-relieving and comforting knowing that there are so many people willing to give their time and advice to help us out. Along with that, there is a feeling of reciprocity knowing that we are bringing a new innovation to the table and are now part of a business community. We are able to engage with others who we may be able to partner with or help out. We want to see and help Columbus grow and show that it's a friendly small business city. Having all of that at our disposal is the biggest reason why we decided to join.

Fun Facts: Libre’s concept originated from co-founder Megan Stengel while watching her mother go through dialysis several times a week. Her mother, Teresa, was frustrated from ruining clothing in order to receive treatment and still lacked comfort during the four hour process. The idea developed came about in an entrepreneurship capstone class in the Fall of 2008 at Miami University, where the four founders developed the business plan for a university competition. After winning the business competition that semester we decided to proceed on with it due to all the support we had from faculty and how great of an opportunity we knew it was! All four founders are between the ages of 22 and 23 years old and graduated in May 2009 from Miami University. Also...Libre means "open" and "free" in several languages. This refers to a literal opening in our clothing as well as the way patients feel while wearing the clothing. They have the freedom to wear what they want any time of the day without letting treatment hold them back from their daily activities.
 
Featured Product/Service: As previously mentioned, our company sells specialty clothing to customers going through dialysis, chemotherapy, and other infusion treatments. Our clothing is a "specialty" item due to the hidden access that we provide and specify for each patient. Although we do have some competition, we have separated ourselves from them through classic designs, comfortable fabric, hidden access, and the functionality of wearing our clothing throughout the day. Libre products are developed with the customer in mind as we strive to ease the burden of treatment days. We are committed to giving back to different foundations that work alongside of us, as well. Our goal is to make each patient's life a little more "Libre"!

For more information, visit www.libreclothing.com. We also have a Fan Page on Facebook, a blog, and a Twitter account.

The Columbus Chamber member spotlights put the focus on member businesses, their presence in the Columbus Region, what they do and how they’ve involved at the Chamber. To submit your member business for a member spotlight contact the Chamber's marketing department.

Member Spotlight: Plante & Moran

About Plante & Moran:
 

Plante & Moran is among the nation’s largest certified public accounting and business advisory firms, providing tax, audit, risk management, financial, technology, business consulting and wealth management services. Plante & Moran has a staff of more than 1,600 professionals in 21 offices throughout Ohio, Michigan and Illinois with international offices in China, Mexico and India.

Why We’re Chamber Members:

Plante & Moran currently employs nearly 125 staff members in Columbus and has experienced more than 400 percent growth in the 11 years that we’ve been in Central Ohio. With deep roots in Columbus, Plante & Moran supports the Chamber’s initiatives to build a better business community to attract and retain top talent.

Fun Facts about Plante & Moran:

Plante & Moran has been named to FORTUNE’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” list for 12 consecutive years. In this time, Plante & Moran has tripled its client base and doubled its staff, all while maintaining a culture that promotes staff development. The result is lower turnover with unparalleled longevity and trust that drives exceptional results for our clients.

Featured Product or Service:

Plante & Moran offers comprehensive professional services including tax, audit and accounting, real estate advisory, business management consulting and much more to the healthcare, manufacturing, distribution, real estate, construction, financial services, higher education and not-for-profit industries. For more information, visit www.plantemoran.com.

Member Spotlight: ActionCoach Business Coaching

 

   

 

About ActionCOACH:

A business coach is just like a sporting coach. A sporting coach pushes an athlete to achieve optimum performance, provides support when they are exhausted, and teaches the athlete to execute plays that their competition does not anticipate. A sporting coach will make you run more laps than you feel like. A sporting coach will tell it like it is. And a sporting coach will listen.

The role of the business coach is to coach business owners to improve their business through guidance, support, and encouragement. Business coaching helps owners of small and medium sized businesses with their sales, marketing, management, team building, and so much more. Just like a sporting coach, your business coach will make you focus on the game.

Why We’re Chamber Members:

The Columbus Chamber's mission is to lead and support economic growth and economic community development of the Greater Columbus community, and  achieving that mission through activities that benefit Chamber members and attract new investment to Columbus is very much in alignment with ActionCOACH’s mission of world abundance though business reeducation. We both are very much wanting to create a great, thriving economy in the Columbus region.

Fun Facts about ActionCOACH:

ActionCOACH operates in 26 countries and has more than 1,000 offices around the world. The franchise has received numerous awards including Fastest Growing Franchise, Franchisee Satisfaction, Best Overall Company, and has been named the number one business coaching franchise for more than five years running. Unlike other franchises in the category, Brad Sugars’ ActionCOACH is the first business coaching franchise originating from a business Brad started 15 years ago.

Featured Product/Service:

Your ActionCOACH will become your marketing manager, your sales director, your training coordinator, your confidant, your business mentor. Your ActionCOACH will provide business advice help you make your dreams come true though an individualized custom program designed to get the results you’re looking for in your business and you’re life.   

For more information about ActionCOACH , visit www.columbuscoaching.com

The Columbus Chamber member spotlights put the focus on member businesses, their presence in the Columbus Region, what they do and how they’ve involved at the Chamber. To submit your member business for a member spotlight contact the Chamber's marketing department.

Member Spotlight: Oxiem Marketing Technology

The Columbus Chamber member spotlights put the focus on member businesses, their presence in the Columbus Region, what they do and how they’ve involved at the Chamber. To submit your member business for a member spotlight contact the Chamber's marketing department.

About Oxiem:

Oxiem Marketing Technology is a digital marketing agency focusing on web site development, search marketing campaigns and social media services. Integrating dynamic web designs with user-controlled content management systems and active online marketing programs, our unique approach is to make technology usable, innovative and measurable.

Why we’re Chamber members:

We’re a growing business and we care about being part of the community and being involved with local efforts to make Columbus not only a great place to work, but to live and raise a family.

Fun facts about Oxiem:

It’s rare to find leadership like ours. Bill, our Technology Director, has a strong technology background and John, our Brand & Strategy Director, has a strong marketing background. Marrying the two has helped forge a unique approach to technology marketing that makes the process easier on the client and in the end more effective. It also makes for some great theatre to watch them debate on the topics.

Featured product/service:

To celebrate the launch of our business in Columbus, we’re giving away a $20,000 plus “Digital Launchpad” package of services, including entire new website development, search strategy and social media set up. It’s our way of leveraging what we have to offer to make our own business community a little bit better.

Go to oxiem.com/launchpad to enter, or read all about it on our blog.

Member Spotlight: Excellence In Motivation, Inc

Each week, the Columbus Chamber will spotlight one of our member businesses, their presence in the Columbus Region, what they do and how they’ve involved at the Chamber. To submit your member business for a member spotlight contact the Chamber's marketing department.

About EIM:
We inspire performance!!! Excellence In Motivation, Inc. (EIM) is a full-service performance improvement company headquartered in Dayton, OH. We provide support for many Fortune 1000 clients through a network of strategically located sales offices, including Columbus. EIM creates comprehensive performance incentives and business-improvement strategies aimed at positively changing the behavior(s) of one or all of the audiences that matter most to our clients’ business performance: employees, channel partners and customers.

 Why We’re Chamber Members:
The Chamber’s initiative to “Attract & Retain Talent” for the Columbus region is directly in line with the business-improvement strategies that we provide. Our proven solutions will help Columbus area businesses to thrive by attracting, retaining and engaging talented associates; improving employee performance; promoting wellness; increasing sales and more.

Fun Facts about EIM
The incentive business was born in Ohio in 1922, when an entrepreneur named Elton F. MacDonald sold 18 briefcases to NCR for use in rewarding its top salespeople. That was the origin of the first incentive company – E.F. MacDonald. Since the 1920s, several other national incentive houses have been based in Ohio, including Top Value, Carlson Marketing Group and Excellence In Motivation. EIM can trace its roots back to that first incentive company, E.F. MacDonald.

Featured Product/Service:
Our customized solutions include: Sales Channel Incentives, Consumer and Channel Loyalty Programs, Employee Recognition, Communication Campaigns, Incentive Travel/Meetings/Events, Wellness Programs, Learning Incentives, Referral Programs, Performance Portal Technology.

For more information about EIM, visit www.eim-inc.com.

Member Spotlight: Grace Motors

Each week, the Columbus Chamber will spotlight one of our member businesses, their presence in the Columbus Region, what they do and how they’ve involved at the Chamber. To submit your member business for a member spotlight contact the Chamber's marketing department.

About Grace Fine Motor Cars: Grace rents high-line luxury autos, Mini Cooper and Smart cars by the day or by the week.

Why We're Chamber Members: We're members because we believe that the growth of our fair city and suburbs is a always a good thing, and the Columbus Chamber is doing a lot to get us there. If the community grows, we grow.
 
Fun Facts about Grace Fine Motor Cars: We all have fun doing our job! Next to delivering flowers... delivering a shiny, highly detailed car to clients has got to be the best job ever. No one ever says, "That's not what I ordered. Take it back!"

Featured Product/Service: Our personalized service is what sets us apart. We deliver and retrieve all of our luxury and Mini Cooper autos for free in the central Ohio area, spoil our clients with their favorite treats, program the GPS and radio stations for them... just about anything they want we can try and provide them to make their experience with us exceed their expectations.

Learn more about Grace Fine Motor Cars at www.grace-motorcars.com/.

Member Spotlight: Pro Sign and Graphics

Each week, the Columbus Chamber will spotlight one of our member businesses, their presence in the Columbus Region, what they do and how they’ve involved at the Chamber. To submit your member business for a member spotlight contact the Chamber's marketing department.

About Pro Sign and Graphics Company: Pro Sign and Graphics is proud to offer over 20 years of sign industry experience and knowledge to your project. Our insistence on using only the best 3M materials with properly matched laminates has earned us the the privilege of working on projects all over the world. Based in Columbus, Ohio USA, our large indoor facility (climate controlled, secured & patrolled) is dedicated to large vehicle wraps and fleet graphics jobs.

Why We’re Chamber Members:  We are a Columbus Chamber Member because we recognize the need to become locally involved with other companies and organizations here in Central Ohio.  By adding our capabilities & services to the Chamber network we hope to add value to the business community and help increase networking connections for the rest of the members.  By helping others to the best of our ability we hope to continue our own growth and impact in the market area.

Fun Facts about Pro Sign and Graphics: Pro Sign and Graphics is unique in the fact that our service, as well as our attention to quality & detail, has led to many national & international graphics projects located throughout the United States and the world.  We have been honored to handle custom installation projects for multiple global destinations from Argentina to Thailand in addition to jobs all over the continental United States.  In particular, changing out the graphics for a Ronald McDonald Care Mobile for a hospital outside of Buenos Aires, Argentina was an exercise in dealing with culture shock as well an opportunity to see our work directly helping children in a distinctly disadvantaged situation.
 

Featured Product:  Our primary product and focus is the design, printing and installation of 3M custom vehicle wraps.  This product allows us to help increase the visibility & sales of organizations by completely covering their vans & trucks in full color graphics.  A targeted approach using a custom designed mobile marketing message has a proven track record in attracting attention and dramatically increasing awareness for our customers.  In addition, our insistence on using ONLY the industry's best 3M materials with 3M component matched laminates in conjunction with proper installation techniques ensures that our client

For more information visit: www.prosignandgraphics.com.

Small Business Leader Award Finalist: Bernie & Sandy Senser CycleMET, Inc.

In its 25th year, the Small Business Forum and Leader Award (fondly SBFLA) program honors and recognizes leaders of small businesses who have achieved company success while contributing to the development of our community. We are grateful for the support of our Presenting Sponsor Commerce National Bank and Partner Business First, plus numerous sponsors who make this program possible. Each day before the 2009 Small Business Forum and Leader Award, we'll profile our finalists. 

Finalist: Over $1 Million in Revenue - Bernie & Sandy Senser
CycleMET, Inc.

Bernie and Sandy Senser, pioneers of the recycling industry, founded CycleMET in 1984. True entrepreneurs, the Sensers looked for an opportunity area that would combine their joint business backgrounds in scrap and financial management. After researching businesses and industries that were forecast to remain in growth and profit modes for the long term, recycling became their livelihood.

Prior to launching CycleMET, Bernie earned an industrial design degree from Columbus College of Art and Design and worked many years as a senior designer for Hoover and Admiral Corporations. In 1975 he joined the family business in Mansfield, OH where he obtained his scrap business knowledge and talent for

buying scrap metal. His design background has been instrumental in the creation of specialized equipment that has revolutionized the recycling business of CycleMET.

Sandy also grew up in a family-owned business which led to her becoming a CPA after earning a business degree from Miami University of Ohio. After working with Ernst & Young, she began consulting for many different industries including nonprofits and small manufacturers acting as controller and manager of accounting. She has extensive experience with accounting and human resource management
which has brought much to the CycleMET joint venture with Bernie. From their scrap metal start up on McKinley Avenue with only Bernie and Sandy to their expanded state of the art facility today located on Harrison Road with 8 employees, they offer such customer friendly conveniences as a drive-through
drop-off, computer generated receipts, candy, and coffee for each customer. Truly community-minded individuals, both Bernie and Sandy have volunteered countless hours in their service to community, civic, service, and educational organizations including terms as Columbus.

Award recipients will be announced at the 2009 Small Business Forum and Leader Awards on November 10, 2009.