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: Vista Packaging & Logistics

Vista Packaging & Logistics has evolved into a full service, third party logistics provider serving clients across the country. To accommodate customer growth the company has opened facilities in Ohio, Illinois, Tennessee and North Carolina.

Why We're Chamber Members:

• The Chamber has been a valuable resource for our business. The staff is always helpful and available. We also value the Supplier Diversity Program, networking opportunities, the Columbus Region Logistics Council and that the Chamber is an advocate for small business in legislative matters.

Facts about Vista Packaging & Logistics:

• 27^th year in business
• Woman Owned
• Family Owned
• Business was started out of family’s garage and grown to two facilities
• Green Initiatives

Featured Products & Services: 

• Turnkey packaging solutions, fulfillment, warehousing & distribution services, automated packaging equipment & processes
• Focus on quality, customer service, reducing time to market for our customer’s products & our ability to manage projects in a more efficient and cost effective manner
• Flexibility & quick response

Biggest Accomplishment Over the Past 6 Months:

I would say that the biggest accomplishment over the last 6 months is the implementation of the Tripack high speed shrink banding line. 

Vista presented this automated solution to our customer to save them time to market, money and create a more aesthetically pleasing product.  It was a big investment for the company and has helped us to not only serve this existing customer but to allow for expansion into other markets.

Organizations Vista Supports:

March of Dimes, Special Olympics, Salvation Army, Girl Scouts of America, Boy Scouts of America, Amethyst Incorporated, Furniture Bank of Central Ohio, Pelotonia, the Susan G. Komen Foundation, Heifer International.

Vista Core Values:

Versatility - It is imperative that we are able to adjust to our customer needs and be able to think strategically as we continue to grow our business. 

Integrity - Always do the right thing! Display exemplary ethics in the way we interact with our customers, vendors, and each other as employees.

Stewardship - We have a responsibility to build and protect the Vista brand for future generations by developing our people and working to improve our community.

Teamwork - Respect each other and value the work and input of all team members. All employees are critical to the success of the business so value everyone’s opinion and create a culture of ownership and empowerment.

Accountability  - Everyone must take responsibility for their actions and attitude. Set the example and be a leader!

www.vistapl.com

 

Member Spotlight: Cardno ENTRIX

Why We're Chamber Members: 

Cardno ENTRIX has recently opened a central Ohio office. We are interested in becoming involved with our region’s business community and connecting with potential clients and teaming partners.

Facts about Cardno ENTRIX:

- Cardno ENTRIX is a subsidiary of Cardno Limited, a global provider of physical and social infrastructure services. 

- The strength of the Cardno brand extends across more than 160 worldwide offices and represents an employee base of over 4,200. 

 - The Cardno family of companies has received many recent accolades showcasing our successful partnerships with our clients, the talent of our people and our commitment to providing high-quality service:

• Cardno USA Ranked #34 of top 500 Firms - The Engineering News Record "ENR" display recognizes Cardno's status as the industry's fastest growing firm in 2011.
• Zweig White “Hot Firm 2011” – Cardno ENTRIX was awared the “Hot Firm 2011” award and recognized by Zweig White as No .1 in this year’s competition.

The Columbus Cardno ENTRIX office was opened with our corporate expertise in water resources management, environmental litigation and risk management, natural resource management, permitting and compliance.  Our Columbus office offers these service areas as well as an expertise in the site development services.  This integration of services serves as an opportunity to integrate the ENTRIX expertise with the Columbus team’s strengths to the benefit of our clients.  Among the Columbus team’s professional practice strengths are the following:

• Sustainable planning and design/LEED
• Land asset management
• Site selection/ Site Feasibility Studies
• Land use and master planning
• Site development (planning, zoning, feasibility studies, engineering, infrastructure such as utilities/roads, project management, construction administration)
• Civil Engineering
• Recreational planning & design (parks, trails, masterplans)
• Stormwater/ watershed planning
• Landscape Architecture
• GIS/CAD services

Additionally, Cardno ENTRIX and Cardno’s family of companies offers a wide variety of consulting services including:

• Water Resources Management
• Natural Resources Management
• Economics
• Permitting & Compliance 
• Liability Management
• Product Safety & Compliance
• Ecological Assessments & Permitting
• Stream and Wetland Design & Restoration 

www.cardnoentrix.com

Member Spotlight: Surfacequest and Re-Construction Industries

Surfacequest and Re-Construction Industries (RCI) are now under the same ownership to better serve our customers. Surfacequest is a professional paint and wall covering company and RCI is a service-oriented general contractor that specializes in being the “one call solution” to any maintenance, remodeling and construction project – inside, outside or on-site. Both companies have the highest standards, take care of their customers and are capable to respond quickly to any needs.

Why We're Chamber Members

We want to support the Columbus business community, and the Columbus Chamber of Commerce makes it easy. By investing in the community we can successfully build for a better day.

Fun Facts about Surfacequest and Re-Construction Industries 

Surfacequest takes pride in providing creative solutions – many times saving the cost of other more expensive and time consuming remedies – to enhance the environments we live, work and relax in.

One fun fact about RCI is we literally work at the top of Columbus’s skyline. Our projects include the 1999 renovation of the LeVeque Tower penthouse straddling the 43rd and 44th floors for Jim Hagedorn, the Scotts Miracle-Gro chief executive.

Not only do we provide outstanding service, Surfacequest features architectural films – an interior / exterior, fire-rated surface applied product – developed for the luxury casino and cruise ship industries that simulates expensive old world materials like leather, wood or marble at a fraction of their costs.

RCI focuses on taking care of any and all of our clients construction, maintenance or remodel needs – no matter what. Our philosophy is that there is no need for you to have to call or coordinate with anyone other than our trained and professional staff. Period. We take being the “one call solution” seriously.

http://www.reconind.com

http://www.surfacequest.com 

Member Spotlight: HBCU Connect

Why We're Chamber Members:

HBCU CONNECT became involved with the Chamber to increase exposure throughout Columbus and to grow and develop our business. Also, we wanted to network and connect with other local businesses.  

Facts about HBCU CONNECT:

• We started our social network for black college grads on HBCUConnect.com in 1999, years before popular MySpace.com and Facebook.com websites!
• Our first client was Dante Lee, famous author and business man who later relocated to do business in Columbus, Ohio.
• Our founder and CEO, Will Moss, was featured on the “Mo’Nique Show”, a late night talk show on the popular BET network.
• Yahoo employees learned the meaning of “HBCUs” after a phone call with HBCUConnect.com which led them to create a list of Historically Black Colleges within their college directory.
• The first online HBCU Career Center was created in response to many requests from diversity recruiters which wanted access to a centralized place to recruit African American professionals online.
• HBCUConnect.com manages over 2,500 social networking sites online.

We’ve been ranked in the top 1% of all websites according to web traffic. We’re one of the best recruiting websites for diversity recruiting. We have a variety of recruitment options from job postings and resume access to advertising in one of the two magazines we publish, HBCU CONNECT Magazine (for alumni) and HBCU CONNECT “On Campus” (for students). 

http://www.hbcuconnect.com

 

Member Spotlight: Nurtur the Salon

Nurtur the Salon is an Aveda Lifestyle Salon and Spa, located in the Shops on Lane Avenue in Upper Arlington. Founded in 2006, it is part of Nurtur Holdings, LLC, which includes the Aveda Institute Columbus, Aveda Institute Chapel Hill and Aveda Institute Los Angeles. As an Aveda Salon and Spa, Nurtur upholds the mission to “give back to society and set an example for environmental leadership and responsibility, not just in the world of beauty, but around the world.” 

Why We’re Chamber Members:

We became Chamber members to get more involved and partner with other businesses in the community in order to enhance Columbus and make it a better place to live and work. 

Fun Facts about Nurtur: 

Our salon and spa was constructed using environmentally friendly building materials that are MDF (medium density fiberboard)-free. For example, our cupboards, wall panels and reception desk are made out of pressed sunflower seeds; our floors are reclaimed hardwood, and we have tiled walls made out of recycled glass. We also collect all bottle caps from the community to be recycled into new product packaging. 

Each month we select a charity or cause to support through our Tip For A Cause program, in which our professionals donate $10 from their gratuity each month. Every April for Earth Month, Nurtur the Salon partners with the Aveda Institute Columbus for Earth Jam, a hair and fashion show that raises funds for the Central Ohio Sierra Club Clean Water Campaign. Since partnering with the Sierra Club for Earth Month, Nurtur the Salon has helped raise $160,000 to help clean Central Ohio’s waters, raising $31,000 last year alone. 

www.nurtursalon.com

 

Member Spotlight: Three Leaf Productions

Three Leaf Productions is comprised of a team of individuals whose mix of talent allows us to work on small or large scale marketing projects, depending on the scope of work and associated timeframes. Our team of professionals can help with all marketing needs ranging from concept development and design, to packaging, printing and fulfillment. We manage it all with impressive results. With sales offices and distribution centers across the country, our ultimate goal is to help our customers save money and time while providing exceptional customer service.

Why We’re Chamber Members:

Our membership with the Columbus Chamber allows us to expand upon our targeted market through their advertising efforts, member directory, referral programs and networking opportunities. We are able to stay abreast of changes in the business community, notified of new business opportunities, and able to share our experiences with newly developed small businesses. It is because of the efforts of the Columbus Chamber that we are able to focus on our customers’ needs and continue to produce the quality products and services we stand by while keeping abreast of the movement and activities in the business community.

Fun Facts about Three Leaf Productions:

Our daily services go beyond printing, marketing and warehouse fulfillment. Three Leaf Productions is a team of leaders that believe in giving back. We understand the importance of education, mentorship and community involvement. We are community activists at heart. As a part of Three Leaf Productions, we operate as a team strengthening, encouraging and empowering one another. Independently we serve our community by managing and operating basketball camps, coaching, mentoring, volunteering as committee members and serving on behalf of non-profit agencies. We also hold positions as alumni leaders, school board members, chamber board members and motivational speakers.

Three Leaf Productions offers complete marketing project management services to our customers. We can enhance almost every aspect of the company’s business that promotes their image. Our services can accommodate a variety of order requests streaming from logo design to employee benefits, video and audio productions to direct mailers, and from website development to supplying marketing products. If a customer’s request has any impact on their branding we can fulfill that need and will do so with exceptional customer service and delivery of quality products. 

www.three-leaf.com

 

Member Spotlight: All-Green Janitorial and Building Services

We are a Columbus, OH based janitorial and building services company built to focus on providing superior service while using professional EPA certified green cleaning products that are eco-friendly and/or recycled.

Why We're Chamber Members:

We joined to make aware our eco-friendly services to the Columbus businesses that share our same interests and have a need for our janitorial and building services.

Fun Facts about All-Green: 

Not only do we use professional EPA certified green cleaning products, but all promotional materials, from flyers to pens, and even our uniforms tops, are made from recycled materials.   

Services/Offer to Chamber Members:

Current Columbus Chamber members get a choice of either a discounted contract cleaning/building services rate or we will price match any existing janitorial contract monthly rate. Either contact us via website at www.AllGreenJanitorial.com or via phone at (614) 475-1000 for a Free walkthrough assessment of your office building along with a no-obligation contract price quote. Our team listens to your wants and needs to tailor our services to your specific requests. 

Community Service:

We support any eco-friendly or green businesses that encourage recycling efforts, as well as city wide programs to reuse materials and promote less pollution of the earth, water, and air.  We also applaud responsible homeowners who recycle and reuse household items/materials.   

Our Company Personality:

Detail oriented, efficient, environmentally friendly, top quality, with high standards

All-Green's Biggest Accomplishment:

Taking a dream, putting energy behind it and making a company that promotes our own ethically and environmentally responsible standards.

www.AllGreenJanitorial.com

Member Spotlight: Paper Plus

Why We're Chamber Members:

We have been a part of the Columbus business community for over 40 years. Unisource is our well known parent company. We would like Paper Plus to be more known throughout the Columbus business community. 

Fun Facts about Paper Plus: 

We are part of one of the oldest commercial wholesale paper distributors in Columbus, Ohio. We were originally known as Central Ohio Paper Company, then COPCO, now Unisource. Paper Plus, a division of Unisource, is part of one of the largest paper distributors in the world. There are 38 Paper Plus stores throughout the US servicing small to medium printers and copy shops. Unisource, our parent company, has warehouse locations across the US and Canada.

Paper Plus was originally created (in the mid 70’s) to sell distressed paper for the parent company COPCO. However, in the early 80’s, the quick print industry started booming with franchises such as Minuteman Press, Ink Well, Kwik Kopy and a host of others setting up shop in Central Ohio. Paper Plus changed focus to be a resource for the quick printers, selling production quality paper and printing supplies. This still remains the biggest part of our business today. 

Products:

We sell a variety of papers in color, heavier weights, paper specific for color copiers, laser and ink jet printers. In addition to paper, we have envelopes, carbonless form paper, pressure sensitive paper and die cut products (such as door hangers, raffle tickets and post cards). With the explosion of  digital equipment in all sizes of businesses, we have the products to meet the needs of these businesses. 

www.paperplus.com 

Member Spotlight: Hersh Packing and Rubber Company

Why We're a Chamber Member

We have been chamber members since the late 1960s. We have always been a business that is close with the community and involved with charity. We enjoy the networking opportunities that being a Columbus Chamber member has given us, and the savings are a perk too.

Fun Facts:     

a) Hersh Packing is a family owned business that has been open since 1958.

b) We are currently the largest Parker Hannifin distributor in Central Ohio.

c) We have 3 locations now in Canal Winchester, Hilliard, and Heath, Ohio.

d) Our Heath location is the largest ParkerStore at over 6,000 square feet.

e) We have our very own in house fabrication shop, weld shop, hose shop, gasket shop, and kitting and packing rooms for all your industrial and hydraulic needs.

f) Our Canal Winchester location is open 7 am to 5:30 pm Monday through Friday and also 8:00 am to 12 noon on Saturdays. Our Hilliard and Heath locations are open 8:00 am to 5:30 pm Monday through Friday.

g) We have a 24 hour Emergency Service.

Service After The Sale – This has been our motto since the beginning. We strive to take care of our customers long after the transaction has been made. From our skilled technicians who can fabricate any hose or sealing product that you may need, to our ParkerStore managers who can make you a new hose on the spot, to our Outside Salesmen who can come out to your business and take care of your needs so you never have to lift a finger, we are here to help!

www.hershpacking.com 

Member Spotlight: The Memorial Tournament

The Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance is held annually at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, a suburb of Columbus. The Tournament, founded and hosted by Jack Nicklaus, is conducted each year with three goals in mind: to honor the memory of individuals living and deceased who have distinguished themselves in the game of golf; to showcase the world’s best golfers competing on one of the most challenging venues in the world for the enjoyment of spectators; and to benefit charitable organizations in central Ohio.  

Why We’re Chamber Members:

The Memorial Tournament appreciates being an active participant in the business market through the Columbus Chamber. Sharing insight, partnership opportunities and the responsibility of philanthropy with other business leaders is important to the Memorial. Collaboration establishes balanced focus between building successful business while also addressing the important needs of our community.

Fun Facts:

- A team of nine people work full-time in planning the Memorial Tournament year-round.

- Over 2,500 volunteers dedicate their time throughout the year and during Tournament week to plan and execute the Memorial.

- Mr. Nicklaus used to hunt with his father as a boy on the land which is now home to Muirfield Village Golf Club.

The Memorial Tournament is known for a consistent top field of PGA TOUR players and a week of incredible golf in its purest form. Beyond play, the Memorial Tournament is also tremendously focused on philanthropy. The Tournament’s primary benefactor is Nationwide Children’s Hospital by way of an alliance with the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation. Over $9.8 million dollars has been donated over the course of the Memorial’s 36-year history, which includes a specific concentration on premature infant services. The Memorial Tournament Neonatal Intensive Care Unit was named in 2006 addressing an area of need for the patients and families served by Nationwide Children’s.

www.thememorialtournament.com | @MemorialGolf | www.facebook.com/thememorialtournament