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

YOU ARE INVITED: Columbus Region Logistics Industry Job and Internship Fair

The Columbus Region Logistics Council, an initiative of the Columbus Chamber, invites employers and job seekers to a Logistics Industry Job and Internship Fair.

DATE: March 26, 2010
TIME: 9 a.m. - noon
LOCATION: CSCC's Center for Workforce Development, 315 Cleveland Avenue, Columbus, Ohio

The logistics industry is very important in the Columbus region, and it currently accounts for 13.8 percent of the non-public workforce here. It is expected to continue to grow. The industry covers many facets, from entry level to mid-management and leadership positions. Among the most needed and available positions in the industry include:

- Operations managers and supervisors
- Facilities and maintenance leadership
- Compliance coordinators
- Program managers
- Business developers
- Drivers and warehouse workers
- Office administrators and customer service
- Pricing and track and trace

The Columbus Region Logistics Council and the Columbus Chamber are working together to support the growth of this industry. Industry experts recognize the need to assist job seekers and employers in matchmaking.

Email Erin Henson at ehenson@aldenlaw.net to register.

Confirmed employers included:

- The Limited
- I-Cat Logistics
- MORPC
- ODW Logistics
- Cardinal Health
- Pacer International
- McGraw-Hill

Other community partners include:

- Columbus State Community College
- OhioMeansJobs.com

Young Professionals Spotlight: ASCEND: The Black Professional Association of Columbus

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, ASCEND: The Black Professional Association of Columbus is featured.

When and why was ASCEND started?

ASCEND began in February 2008 as a monthly networking mixer for young African American professionals in Columbus. The goal was to help individuals develop business and social relationships, and ultimately build a supportive community of entrepreneurs and businesspeople.

Why should I become a member?

If you enjoy meeting new people, learning about resources that will be helpful to your career, and are interested in making a positive contribution in your community, you'll enjoy being a member of ASCEND. Membership is free and open to the public. We still host our monthly roundtable and networking reception, as well as other events throughout the year.

Our events help you build new relationships, and provide information that's helpful to your career or business. If you were to ask a member about what our meetings are like, they'd say that ASCEND is a very welcoming environment for people of all backgrounds and career levels, and that the people you'll meet are genuinely interested in helping you succeed professionally.

How do I become a member?

Membership is free, and our monthly roundtable is open to the public without a registration fee. To become a member, simply visit our website at www.ascendbpac.com, or sign up at one of our events.

Tell me about your upcoming events.

Our March roundtable is going to be a great event for small business owners and entrepreneurs. We'll be presenting information about free resources available online, as well as organizations that provide consulting and development support for small business.

We're working with our partners to coordinate our April and May events, which will focus on marketing and branding tips for small business, and effective career search strategies for young professionals.

What are some successes or cool facts about ASCEND?

ASCEND has been growing steadily since our inception in 2008. We're expanding our focus from networking and relationship, so that we can offer more educational and professional development opportunities for young professionals. We'll also be reaching out to the community at large, by providing information about personal finance and home ownership.

One of the biggest misconceptions about ASCEND is that membership and participation is limited to African-Americans. We're an inclusive organization, and we encourage people of all backgrounds to participate. For business, government, and nonprofit leaders who would like stronger representation and presence in urban neighborhoods, it's a great way to reach key influencers within the city of Columbus. If you're in an HR or recruitment role, we're also a direct connection to diverse, talented young professionals looking to grow in their career fields.

Where can I go to learn more?

Please visit our website at www.ascendbpac.org to learn more about us and to RSVP for our upcoming events. We're also on Facebook and LinkedIn, so be sure to add us to your network.

To learn about nearly 60 other local YP and professional organizations, view the Columbus Chamber's directory of YP and professional organizations.

Did you know there are financial incentives and other benefits available to companies who hire individuals with disabilities? 

Get information and details about hiring individuals with disabilities by attending a breakfast hosted by the Ohio Business Leadership Network (BLN). The Mission of the Ohio BLN is to provide employers with valuable information and resources enabling them to enhance their diversity initiative through successful recruitment, selection, training, and retention of a workforce that includes qualified individuals with disabilities. Learn more about:

- Business Leadership Network
- Benefits of membership to employers
- Free upcoming trainings and professional development activities

Jewish Family Services extends an invitation to all local employers to attend the Business Leadership Network Breakfast. Learn how you can tap into more resources for hiring and retaining individuals with disabilities. Find out how local employer partners can share resources to get the best talent! 
 
WHEN: March 9, 2010 from 8:30-10:30 am
WHERE: The Capital Club’s Ambassador Room, 41 South High Street (Huntington Building downtown)
PARK: Huntington Center Parking Garage recommended (approx. parking cost is $4)
HOW MUCH: The event is free to attend
RSVP: Online here
 
If you have questions, contact Lora Fish (LFish@jfscolumbus.org or 614/559.0161) at Jewish Family Services.

Hope to see you there!

Learn about Ohio’s new job matching system - OhioMeansJobs

The Ohio Department of Development and COWIC/Job Leaders invite you to learn about Ohio’s new job matching system, OhioMeansJobs. This FREE, user-friendly, on-line service can assist you in finding well-qualified, Ohio-based talent.

DATE: March 19, 2010 TIME: 9:30 am – 11:30 am

PLACE: Westerville Public Library, 126 S. State Street, Westerville, OH

DETAILS: Mark Birnbrich, Ohio Department of Job and Family Services-OMJ Project Manager, will demonstrate this Web site LIVE. You will learn:

• How to post your job openings
  
• How to post your employment events
  
• How to access 8 million resumes
  
• How to customize your resume searches
  
• How to increase recruitment speed and efficiency
  
• How you can search beyond Ohio’s borders

RSVP: By email to Lona Helfrich or by calling 740-397-7177, ext 1315. Please respond by March 18.

The Columbus Chamber is proud to partner with OhioMeansJobs.

Ready to ramp up your hiring? There are lots of places to connect with job seekers.

By Andrea Applegate

Employers often reach out to the Columbus Chamber for information and links to resources where hiring managers can look for candidates in the Central Ohio area.  If your company is beginning to ramp up your hiring, here are just a few resources that you may find useful to post position descriptions or reach out to identify potential candidates.

General postings (free to employers and job seekers)

• www.OhioMeansJobs.com 
• COWIC/JobLeaders is the employment “one-stop” in Columbus and Franklin County:  www.cowicjobleaders.org (direct link to employer services is: http://www.cowicjobleaders.org/services/employment-services.php) 
• Jewish Family Services www.jfscolumbus.org (provides services for all job seekers, regardless of religion). Contact Lynn Aspey (laspey@jfscolumbus.org or (614) 559-0117) for information about job fairs, etc.
• Human Resources Association of Central Ohio (HRACO) http://www.hraco.com/
• TechColumbus.org:  http://www.techcolumbus.org/jobs-resumes

Connect with college students seeking internships

• www.ColumbusInternships.com

Connect with mid-career professionals

• Scioto Ridge Job Networking Group:  Contact managing director Karin Combs (KarinCombs@SRJNG.com or (614) 499-0706) for details.  For $600/year, employers can become “sponsors,” allowing free and unlimited job postings.  Non-sponsors can post positions @ $50 per position for 30 days.
• Forty-PLUS (it takes 40+ hours a week to find a new job):  View profiles of current members (http://www.fortyplusoh.org/Profiles.php) or call to discuss your specific employment opportunities:  (614) 297-0040 

Organizations that reach out to individuals with disabilities in the Central Ohio area

• Wright Choice Consulting – job placement services for (especially) people with disabilities (http://www.thewrightchoice.com/).  Contact TyKiah Wright (614) 802-2364 for more info.
• Become an employer with “Getting Hired” via Easter Seals’ workforce development:  http://www.easterseals.com/site/PageServer?pagename=ntl_wfd_main
• Goodwill Columbus:  http://www.goodwillcolumbus.org/workforce/
• COVA (Center for Vocational Alternatives) “Services for Employers”:  http://www.cova.org/

Organizations that reach out to “senior” workers and retirees in the Central Ohio area

• “Mature Staffing Systems” via Mature Services:  http://www.matureservices.org/
• Employment for Seniors:  http://www.employseniors.org

Organizations that reach out to minorities & women in the Central Ohio area:

• The Women’s Book: http://thewomensbook.com/joomla/. Contact TaKeysha Sheppard Cheney for info
• YWCA (“eliminating racism; empowering women:  http://www.ywcacolumbus.org/site/PageServer
• Women for Economic and Leadership Development (WELD) http://www.weldoh.org/
• National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) – Central Ohio Chapter http://www.nawbocolumbusohio.com/
• Women’s Fund of Central Ohio http://www.womensfundcentralohio.org/
• Ohio Hispanic Coalition http://www.ohiohispaniccoalition.org/ingles/
• Network of Indian Professionals (Net IP) http://www.netipcolumbus.org/
• Ohio Commission on Hispanic Affairs http://ochla.ohio.gov/
• Hispanic Chamber of Commerce http://columbushcc.com/
• List of Asian Organizations and Communities in Central Ohio http://www.math.ohio-state.edu/~lu/events.html (particularly Asian American Commerce Group)
• Columbus Urban League (Eddie Harrell) http://www.cul.org/default.aspx
• National Black MBA Association Inc. – Columbus Chapter http://www.columbusbmba.org/

Young Professionals Spotlight: National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP) Columbus

Each month, the Columbus Chamber will spotlight 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 February, the National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP) Columbus is featured.

When and why was NAAAP Columbus started?
Nationally, NAAAP was started in 1982 in New York City. NAAAP has since expanded to more than 25 metropolitan cities in the United States and Canada. NAAAP Columbus was started in late 2006 because the founders believed that Central Ohio needed an organization that cultivates, supports, and promotes Asian American leaders. NAAAP Columbus offers professional development opportunities on the local and national level, engages its membership in community service, and organizes professional networking events. Through NAAAP Columbus, members work together to enhance leadership in their careers and communities.

Why should I become a member?
By becoming a member of NAAAP Columbus, you join the largest and fastest growing Asian American professional organization in North America. NAAAP Columbus provides its members with the tools and resources to further career advancements and empower Asian Americans to become great leaders and reliable employees. Members make connections on a local and national level, with individuals who look to help their fellow Asian professional. These connections are done through networking events, professional seminars, career fairs, community service projects and national conferences. NAAAP also has a national career web site where, as a member, your resume is placed at the beginning of searches for companies and recruiters.

How do I become a member?
You can become a member by visiting our website, NAAAPColumbus.org.  A single membership is $25 and a family membership is $45. We also have a student rate of $20. You can also become a member by downloading and filling out our membership form on our web site and mailing in a check payable to NAAAP Columbus.

Tell me about your upcoming event(s).
We are working with various groups ranging from the Asian American Bar Association to the Asian American Commerce group on joint networking events. Our networking events will be bimonthly and the location will change each time.  Please visit our web site, Facebook page or follow us on Twitter for further updates. We will also have various seminars and speakers ranging in topics from "Resume Writing and Interview Skills" to "Asian Issues and Personal Branding."

Along with our professional development and networking events, we will also participate in local community events such as "March with AACS" and "GenerAsian Next" to support the efforts of AACS and their services.

What are some successes or cool facts about NAAAP Columbus?
It has been a slow process, but NAAAP Columbus has been working with various Asian organizations to forge strong and hopefully long lasting relationships that Central Ohio Asian organizations have been sorely lacking. We are working more with the Asian Festival committee to hopefully bring to Columbus a Dragon Boat festival as well as an Asian American Career Fair.  We are also collaborating with the Asian American Community Services to help their efforts in creating a "March with AACS" event that will help raise funds that support AACS' unique services.  In addition to "March with AACS," we are also helping AACS plan for their yearly "GenerAsian Next" conference that will focus on teen violence and drug abuse issues within the Asian American Youth across Ohio.

Where can I go to learn more information?
You can visit NAAAPColumbus.org to learn more about upcoming events nationally and locally within the NAAAP Community.  Also, you can become a fan of our Facebook fan page, join our LinkedIn group, or follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/naaapcolumbus.

To learn about nearly 60 other local YP and professional organizations, view the Columbus Chamber's directory of YP and professional organizations.

Make Getting Involved a Priority This Year

By Andrea Applegate, Director of Workforce Development

Teckie Shackelford was among a panel of presenters recently at an event at the YWCA.Teckie is a veteran of the boards of directors of many corporate and non-profit organizations (e.g., H&R Block, Wendy’s and the Columbus Foundation, where she was the first female to be elected the president of the board). She was asked to give advice to anyone under 30 who might be reluctant to get involved on boards because "life happens."

Teckie acknowledged that life often gets in the way—regardless of one’s age or stage in life. She observed, however, that if you don't establish habits and priorities early in your career, you will likely never do it. "Start now," she advised.

**********

One morning last month, I got out the door early to pick up breakfast items (donated by Chamber-member Dunkin' Donuts) and deliver them by 7:15 a.m. to the Jazz Academy at the Lincoln Theater. That’s where the YP Presidents Council meeting was being held. I had no role at the meeting other than to deliver the food — and I didn’t intend to stay. But, I ran into some friends, got involved in some interesting conversations, and chatted with a prospective Chamber-member. Before I knew it, Robbie Banks started the meeting. Yikes!

I thought it would be rude to leave. I’m glad I stayed.

If you’re not familiar with the YP Presidents Council, the Columbus Chamber convenes this informal gathering of people in leadership positions (staff, volunteers, doesn’t matter) within groups focused on "young professionals." The purpose of the YP Presidents Council is to support and strengthen the great work of these groups, help them learn best practices from each other, encourage common event planning when appropriate, and allow them to broaden their personal and professional networks.

It was awesome to see everyone really engaged in the process. They shared a little bit about their respective organizations so that others in the room can recognize synergies, points of collaboration, etc. They also talked about how to keep their members engaged, particularly when it comes to producing events. They agreed how challenging this is, particularly when their committees are made up of volunteers with fabulous ideas and the best intentions, but who are short on time.

The YP Presidents Council meets every other month. If you're a YP president and would like to get involved, contact Robbie.

There are dozens of YP groups in our community. Some are made up of, focused on and led exclusively by YPs. Others focus their outreach and services to a younger demographic. Still others seek to engage young people in their traditional organizations (like arts organizations, and health & human service agencies). Check out our YPO directory to see for yourself the variety.

If you are a young professional, you should resolve to get involved in at least one of these organizations. It's a great way to build skills and connections that will benefit you for years to come. And it's best to get in the habit of being involved as early in your career as possible. If you are a manager, make it a point to support—even encourage—the young professionals in your charge to get involved. It’s a great way to help them develop leadership, networking skills, and will raise also the profile of your business in the community.

Summer Internships – Employers and Students, Are You Ready?

Today we are inundated with cold and snowy weather, so it’s kind of hard to believe summer will be here before we know it. But it will be! Now is the time for employers and students to start thinking about summer internships.

At ColumbusInternships.com, we’re gearing up for a busy season. For businesses that want to initiate an internship program but are unsure how to go about it, we’re planning a series of seminars to help you get the ball rolling. The first will take place next month:

Getting Started With Interns
February 16, 2010
8:30 – 10:00 am
Columbus Chamber Office, 150 S. Front Street, Ste. 250
Complimentary for Chamber members; $25 for non-members

To read more details and register, visit the events page.

Students can learn about the benefits of internships by watching a feature story that was broadcast on Columbus’ NBC4 yesterday. Megan Powell, of Capital University, shared her perspective about her position at E.E. Ward Moving and Storage. Watch it here.　

For more information and to register as an employer or student, go to ColumbusInternships.com.

Three Commonly Asked Questions From Young Professionals

By Robbie Banks, Young Professionals Manager, Columbus Chamber

I have the pleasure of meeting many young professionals (YPs) who are looking for opportunities to get involved in Columbus. While it is known that YPs value work/life balance, they sometimes need guidance on narrowing down the many available options for ways to get involved.

Three of the most common questions I am asked when I meet a YP are: 1.) "Do I qualify as a young professional?" 2.) "What organization(s) should I join or get involved with?" and 3.) "Where do I go to find out about the local YP and professional organizations?"

Here's how I generally respond.

Do I qualify as a YP? If you identify as a YP, then, by golly, you are! To take part in YP programming, you can self-select if you are a YP (or "young at heart"). For research purposes, a YP is often defined as 24-35 years old. Some young professionals' organizations (YPOs) may have age requirements that can range from 21 to 45.

What organization(s) should I join or get involved with? Before I respond to this question, I will ask you to give me your definition of "getting involved" and tell me about your interests and passions. Once I learn what makes you tick, I can help you identify organizations and events that you may want to investigate, For example, a YP in the finance industry may tell me that she enjoys sports, is passionate about children, and is interested in networking to meet potential clients. In response, I may suggest that she attend various networking events, join an organization's athletic leagues, and check out a couple organizations that are focused on children.

Where do I go to find out about the local YP and professional organizations? To help you in your search, view the Columbus Chamber's directory of YP and professional organizations. This handy directory features nearly 60 local organizations, along with each organization's mission or description, main contact's name and email address, Web site, Facebook, LinkedIn and/or Meetup groups, and categories that define each organization. Then, to be "in-the-know," you can register to receive the Chamber's weekly YP email, "Activities and Events for Young Professionals." The email is chock-full of volunteer opportunities, events, and more. Sign up for the email now and look forward to receiving a message from me in your in box each Friday.

Columbus is fortunate to have dozens of unique YP and professional organizations. Shop around for the organizations that are the right fit for you. Attend various events, and be sure to invite your friends and colleagues to go with you. Talk to the organization's leadership and members, and bring your business cards to each event. A number of the events are free to attend or cost very little. Whether you are looking for networking, social, volunteer, athletic, or professional development opportunities, I am certain you will find it by staying informed and getting involved!

ABC 6 On Your Side Job Boot Camp

Download Job Boot Camp 2009-2010

Attention Columbus job seekers and employers! It's a New Year and time for a fresh start. See the attached for information about the ABC 6 On Your Side Job Boot Camp, which offers a great opportunity for employers and job seekers to get connected!

EVENT:  ABC 6 On Your Side Job Boot Camp

DATE: Wednesday, January 20, 2010

TIME:  11am - 4pm

LOCATION:  Veterans Memorial, 300 W. Broad St., Columbus OH  43215

CONTACT:  Kim May 614/485-1439 for details or to register