In the News
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We are getting noticed around the region and the globe. Read how the Columbus Chamber, our members and the Columbus business community are making headlines.
To arrange an interview with a member of the Columbus Chamber team, contact:
Michelle Bretscher, APR
Vice President, Marketing and Communication
W: (614) 225.6908
C: 614.499.0889
michelle_bretscher@columbus.org
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News
April 29, 2013
Internet Sales Tax Could Bring $629 Million to Ohio
From Columbus Business First:
With a U.S. Senate vote set for May 6, legislators could bring in billions more tax revenue through Internet sales tax, including an estimated $629 million to the state of Ohio and local governments, theCleveland Plain Dealer reports.
The Marketplace Fairness Act, which would extend sales tax to online retailers, will pass, Michael Kercheval, CEO of the International Council of Shopping Centers, told the Plain Dealer – it's just a matter of when, not if. Ohio's retailers have long advocated for such an 'Amazon tax' to level the playing field with online competitors. Read more. -
News
April 29, 2013
Workers' Comp Rates May Be Cut 2.1% For Private Employers
From Columbus Business First:
Ohio’s private employers could see their workers’ compensation premiums fall by 2.1 percent under a proposal from the state, saving them an estimated $29 million beginning July 1.
The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation pitched the year-long rate reduction at the board’s actuarial committee meeting Thursday, crediting strong investments, favorable claim frequency, claim severity and payroll trends for its ability to make the move. Read more. -
News
April 29, 2013
Columbus Business Owners Are Seeing Opportunities
From Columbus Business First:
A majority of Central Ohio business executives are optimistic about the region’s economy, and that vibe seems to be reflected in how they see their companies’ prospects in the next 12 months.
Those sentiments were expressed in answers to questions about economic conditions in the new Business Watch survey conducted April 1-18 by Columbus Business First. Read more. -
News
April 26, 2013
Cameron Mitchell introduces Premier Events
Cameron Mitchell launches company to reflect enhanced services, expanded operations, future opportunities
Columbus, OH - Cameron Mitchell Restaurants (CMR) has launched a new company, but this time, it is not a restaurant. The Columbus, Ohio-based restaurant company has introduced Cameron Mitchell Premier Events (CMPE), created to embrace the expanded role the company is playing in planning and executing exceptional events at both on-premise and off-premise locations across central Ohio.
CMPE will be the operational hub for several CMR divisions, including Cameron Mitchell Catering, venues including The Darby House and The Ivory Room at Miranova, and specialty event offerings. As part of the new venture, new leaders have been named and management teams have been restructured, all to provide an even higher level of attention and hospitality to clients, to create greater efficiencies, and to enable team members to strategically focus on certain elements of the events business. “We are in our 12th year of operating divisions of our company related to catering and event planning, and we had grown well beyond a simple catering identity,” said Cameron Mitchell, CMR founder. “The introduction of Cameron Mitchell Premier Events reflects both our commitment to growing our capabilities in providing destination events both on- and off-premise, as well as our passion for creating an unparalleled experience for event guests, no matter what the location.” The umbrella of Cameron Mitchell Premier Events encompasses: Cameron Mitchell Catering – providing off-premise catering for events of all sizes; Cameron Mitchell venues – including The Ivory Room at Miranova and The Darby House; and Specialty event practices – including Kosher events and sports and leisure. To ensure the team at CMPE is highly focused on the needs of its clients and is best positioned to create spectacular events, a number of management changes and promotions have been made. The five members of CMPE’s senior team have nearly 60 years of combined experience with CMR. “Our seasoned team of food and event professionals is ingrained in the culture of this company – and it is the management team’s role to exude that culture at all times – from initial client meetings to event execution,” said Melissa Johnson, who joined CMR in 1997, was the first female general manager for the company, and today directs operations for CMPE. “Our commitment is to do it all and do it well, with exceptional design, infused passion and the unmatched Cameron Mitchell experience that our guests and clients expect.” As part of the new management structure, two associates who previously served as sales managers for Cameron Mitchell Catering have been promoted to serve as general managers for CMPE. Each has a dedicated team working exclusively in the areas of on-and off-premise events. Mike Redcay joined the Cameron Mitchell team in 2006 and has held a number of positions before being promoted to his new position for CMPE as general manager of on-premise events. He has primary responsibility for events held at CMPE venues The Ivory Room at Miranova and The Darby House. Kristen Hinshaw has been named general manager of off-premise events. She joined Cameron Mitchell in 2007 and has worked in the hospitality industry for nearly two decades. Illustrating that CMPE remains highly focused on providing the outstanding Cameron Mitchell cuisine that propelled the company to restaurant prominence, Jamie Kline has been promoted to regional chef, overseeing all of CMPE’s food operations, and Jay Ingram has been named executive chef. Kline joined the Cameron Mitchell team in 1995 and spent much of his career working as a chef in two CMR restaurants – Cap City Fine Diner and Martini. He joined the Cameron Mitchell Catering team in 2004 and has remained on the catering and events side of the business since that time. Ingram has been with Cameron Mitchell since 2001 and is a veteran of the restaurant industry. Before joining the Cameron Mitchell Catering team, he held culinary positions at both M and Molly Woo’s. “We believe we’ve achieved our intent – to create a company that would provide dedicated, focused associates to meet specific client requests. Whether that is working with our on-premise team within one of our exclusive venues or partnering with an outside venue through our off-premise team, we want to provide a premier level of service and hospitality at all times,” said Johnson. “In addition, we will continue to work closely with the business partners and vendors with whom we’ve had strong relationships over our many years of event work across the region.” Johnson noted the growth of CMR’s events business, including the 2009 lease by CMR of The Darby House, the construction and introduction of The Ivory Room at Miranova in 2012, and the partnership with The Memorial Tournament at Muirfield announced in late 2012. The company also has been doing events outside Columbus and plans to expand further into additional markets. CMPE anticipates adding more exclusive venues in central Ohio, growing the sports and leisure segment of the business, and increasing specialty offerings, such as providing a dedicated Kosher team. “Cameron Mitchell Premier Events will offer a level of service that has not been provided before,” said Mitchell. “Not only will we deliver premier events from the creative and design perspective, but our clients will have the full Cameron Mitchell experience, with the award-winning food and hospitality that has allowed us to grow over the past decade.” For more information on Cameron Mitchell Premier Events, visit the company’s newly designed website at www.cameronmitchellpremierevents.com. About Cameron Mitchell Restaurants
Founded by Cameron Mitchell in 1993 in Columbus, Ohio, Cameron Mitchell Restaurants LLC now operates 18 restaurants under eight different concepts including Cameron's American Bistro, Cap City Fine Diner & Bar, M, Marcella’s, Martini Modern Italian, Mitchell’s Ocean Club (Ocean Prime), Molly Woo's Asian Bistro, The Pearl and Cameron Mitchell Premier Events in Columbus. Cameron Mitchell Premier Events also oversees two venues in Columbus, The Darby House and The Ivory Room at Miranova. The Ocean Prime concept has locations in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Texas. Future locations are planned to open in Philadelphia in late summer 2013 and Beverly Hills, Calif., in spring 2014. The Rusty Bucket Restaurant & Tavern, a sister company of CMR, currently operates 13 locations in Ohio, Michigan and Indiana. A 14th Rusty Bucket will open June 2013 at Easton Town Center in Columbus. Cameron Mitchell and the various concepts have received numerous culinary, leadership, entrepreneur, community service and readers’ choice awards. For more information on Cameron Mitchell Restaurants, please visit www.cameronmitchell.com. -
News
April 24, 2013
Columbus Museum of Art Wins Nation's Highest Honor
From The Columbus Dispatch:
The Columbus Museum of Art has won the National Medal for Museum and Library Service, making Columbus the 16th American city to receive the honor twice. Considered the highest honor for museums and libraries, the award was also presented to the Columbus Metropolitan Library in 2011.
The award was announced today by the Institute of Museum and Library Service, which annually honors five museums and five libraries that impact their communities. Read more. -
News
April 24, 2013
Jobless Rate Declines In Central Ohio In March
From The Columbus Dispatch:
Central Ohio’s unemployment rate is dipping as winter turns to spring. The rate dropped to 6.1 percent in March from 6.4 percent in February, according to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
The figures released yesterday also showed unemployment falling in all of the state’s metropolitan areas and 85 of the state’s 88 counties. Read more. -
News
April 24, 2013
Columbus: Secret Cinderella?
From UWeekly:
In 2009, the Great Recession was a huge hit to the American economy. Since then, Columbus has made itself visible on the map for being the strongest economy in Ohio and the seventh strongest in the country according to the Department of Numbers.
The renovations of the Short North area and a thriving start-up culture within the city limits have continued to push Columbus into the limelight as a locale combating national economic setbacks. Columbus’ number of unemployed reached 88,655 in January 2010, according to the Department of Numbers website, but has decreased to 58, 639 (6.1 percent). “I think ever since the recession hit we’ve become a more lean economy … smarter about expenses, careful in investments and hiring,” said Michael Dalby, president and CEO of the Columbus Chamber of Commerce. “Columbus has had a strong recovery.” Read more. -
News
April 24, 2013
E.E. Ward Moving & Storage Co. Welcomes Cole Johnson to Sales Team
E.E. Ward Moving & Storage Co. welcomes Cole Johnson to its sales team. Johnson is a Relocation Consultant who works with customers to develop moving and storage solutions that best suit the customers’ situation.
It is important to understand each customer’s needs so we can provide a safe and confident move during what is often a tumultuous time in their lives, Johnson explained. He has a distinguished background in customer service and logistics. For ten years, Johnson was a moving contractor for Allied and Atlas van lines. As a primary service provider, he managed moves at every level of the industry for both residential and commercial consumers. While completing his college degree, Johnson worked in sales and production with Mills James, a video production and event planning business. He honed his logistical skills during his six years in the U.S. Army as an air traffic controller. ABOUT E.E. WARD
E.E. Ward is a nationally recognized leader in the relocation and transportation industry offering comprehensive services including commercial and household moving, delivery services and logistics solutions. E.E Ward has received numerous awards for its high level of service, including, 2012 Better Business Bureau of Central Ohio's Torch Award for Ethical Enterprises, and the BBB Business Integrity Award, 2012 Columbus Chamber of Commerce Summit Award for Small Businesses, Angie's List Super Service Award, South Central Ohio Minority Supplier Development Council 2010 Minority Business Enterprise Supplier of the Year, and Columbus Board of Realtors Preferred Vendor for Moving Services. E.E. Ward has been recognized as one of the nation’s oldest African-American owned businesses. For more information, please visit www.eeward.com. -
News
April 23, 2013
Maureen Metcalf's Resilience Webinar Presented to Columbus Chamber of Commerce
Maureen Metcalf, CEO and Founder of Metcalf & Associates, Inc., presented a webinar for the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce on how to move business forward by enhancing leader and employee ability to respond to continual changes and remain focused on their goals. For those interested, Metcalf & Associates is offering the presentation and the resiliency test online at no cost.
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News
April 22, 2013
Contribute to Central Ohio Through S.O.A.R.hire! Program
The S.O.A.R.hire! Summer Internship program is a six-week paid internship program for youth and young adults ages 14 -24. The initiative is supported by a partnership between Franklin County, the City of Columbus, COWIC, and other central Ohio public organizations and private businesses.
The goal is to provide participants with enriching and constructive summer work experiences through subsidized and privately funded opportunities. In 2012, hundreds of local employers hired nearly 2,000 interns helping S.O.A.R.hire! Summer to gain recognition as a ‘best practice’ from the U.S. Department of Labor. Learn more. -
News
April 22, 2013
Columbus Ranked No. 9 Fastest-Growing Cities in America
From Business Insider:
Yesterday, we brought you U-Haul's list of top U.S. destinations for movers.
Houston won, followed by Orlando and Chicago. But U-Haul has also put out a list of cities with the largest proportion of inbound moves to outbound moves in 2012. By this count, Pittsburgh saw the most growth, followed by Vegas suburb Henderson and Austin. That compares with 2011's ranking, which saw Nashville, Oakland and Denver on top. Pittsburgh didn't even make the list that year! View the full list. -
News
April 22, 2013
Top of the List: Largest logistics companies in Central Ohio
From Columbus Business First:
With the fourth-largest amount of in- and out-bound freight moving over its borders, Ohio is vital to U.S. transportation and logistics operations. And, situated at the intersection of Interstates 70 and 71, Columbus is a big part of the action.
In its April 12 print edition, Columbus Business First ranked the area’s 20 largest third-party logistics companies by number of employees in Central Ohio. Several companies count hundreds of workers in the area, but one is the biggest by far, with 2,285 employees in the region plus 43,000 workers across the nation. Read more. -
News
April 22, 2013
Firms Get Ohio Aid; Workers Medicaid
From The Columbus Dispatch:
Ohio taxpayers provide health coverage to tens of thousands of workers, many employed by companies that have received millions in state-sponsored tax credits, grants and loans for job creation and development.
According to state officials, Medicaid covers 141,182 workers and their dependents from the 50 companies with the highest enrollment in the program.That’s a 27 percent increase from 2007, when the state first released such data. Read more. -
News
April 22, 2013
Raising the Region's Business Profile
From Columbus C.E.O:
As president and CEO of the Columbus Partnership, Alex Fischer leads a collective of the area’s brightest institutional and business leaders working together to shape the city’s economic development and tackle the issues of the day.
Since joining the organization in 2009, Fischer has overseen an increase in membership, a diversification of the faces around the Partnership table, and a solidifying of the group’s mission as it addresses issues such as education reform and job creation.
Today, the Partnership is comprised of 50 of the titans of Central Ohio’s wide range of industries, including Ohio State University President E. Gordon Gee, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Director Emeritus Jack Hanna, restaurant mogul Cameron Mitchell and Les Wexner, founder, CEO and chairman of Limited Brands.
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News
April 22, 2013
Call for Presentations for the 2013 Annual Summit
From OEDA:
OEDA invites you to submit a proposal to present at the 2013 Annual Summit, themed “Thrive in Ohio: Perspectives from across the State,” to be held October 23 -25 at the Columbus Marriott Northwest. The OEDA Annual Summit offers an opportunity for you to showcase solutions, initiate provocative discussions, and share effective strategies to the many challenges facing economic developers in Ohio. We are particularly interested in showcasing case studies related to community economic development and workforce development initiatives.
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News
April 19, 2013
Ohio House Passes Amended Budget; Now Heads to Senate
Late Thursday night, the Ohio House passed an amended budget that removed Medicaid Expansion, but inserted a provision that allows the administration to explore new options. The House budget also removed the Governor’s tax reform plan, allowing only for a seven percent state income tax cut.
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News
April 19, 2013
Columbus Education Commission Releases First Proposals
Some bold plans were discussed earlier this month by the Columbus Education Commission (CEC) in its first proposals which included the topics of early education, technology, college/career readiness, and community engagement. Additional significant topic proposals will be discussed at the April 26 commission meeting, including teachers and principals, neighborhood schools, schools of choice, and implementation/governance.
As the Columbus Education Commission (CEC) proposed and discussed on April 10: -Every student should graduate high school with some college credits and industry credentials in hand, providing a pathway that will lead toward a good job. -All students should have access to technology that expands learning opportunities in school, at home and in the community. -High-quality prekindergarten options should be available for every 4-year-old through a blend of Columbus City Schools and community-based programs. -More arts-focused schools should be created, providing twice as many spots for interested students. Four proposals and a community vision document — which connects the community's ideas, the research and the draft recommendations — have been proposed. As the commission reviews these drafts, the community is invited to do the same. The proposals call for work on each goal to begin immediately, with full implementation by 2025-26 — the school year when the next class of kindergarteners will graduate from high school. The mantra is "measurable progress each year, for each goal, each child and each school." We await the second batch of proposals coming up at the April 26 meeting, including teachers and principals, neighborhood schools, schools of choice, and implementation/governance. The Columbus Chamber continues to stay vigilant and engaged in the Commission’s work and looks forward to being involved as the final recommendations move into the implementation stage. -
News
April 19, 2013
Portman Holds Workforce Development Summit, Announces Intention to Reintroduce Career Act Legislation
On Friday, April 12, U.S. Senator Rob Portman convened a Workforce Development Summit in Columbus with business leaders from around Ohio. The Summit consisted of panels and regional breakout sessions. Columbus Chamber President and CEO Michael Dalby moderated the Central Ohio regional breakout session.
Also during the summit, Sen. Portman announced he will reintroduce his Career Act bill dealing with federal workforce development reforms. View an informational one-pager on the Career Act. -
News
April 19, 2013
Halcyon winner of Corporate Caring Award for its Social Responsibility
Halcyon has been the pioneer in the IT industry in running a successful IT Solutions and Consulting business, while at the same time focusing on Social Responsibility.
Our brand is now being recognized in the industry for both these areas. We are happy to inform you that our company, Halcyon Solutions, has won the prestigious Corporate Caring Award, last week. This award is given to companies and organizations that make a significant contribution to the local community, including the ones listed below: 1. Veterans Workforce Development Program: Since 2011, Halcyon provides free IT (Software Testing) to military Veterans and helps them get jobs, with 70% success rate 2. Friends of Homeless Shelter: Since 2001, our staff cooks for and serves complete and balanced meals to around 80-100 men every month at the men’s homeless shelter 3. LifeCare Alliance’s Meals On Wheels: Since 1998, our staff delivers hot cooked meals to around 40 seniors/families at their homes every month 4. Dublin Food Pantry: Since 2008, Halcyon staff volunteers every month to distribute food to the needy 5. Salvation Army: Since 2011, Halcyon staff collects money, standing outside grocery stores, on behalf of this organization In addition, Halcyon is involved in 6 different social programs in India, since 2009. We received a similar award, Pillar Award, couple of years ago, for our social responsibility. Here is an article profiling our company in the leading business newspaper, Business First. I would like to thank everyone in Halcyon for making this possible. I also would like to thank those employers who have given jobs to our trained Veterans, especially DODD at State of Ohio and IGS Energy, for hiring our Veterans from each of the previous batches. They are eager to hire more Veterans from the current batch, which would graduate around mid-May. We request other employers to partner with Halcyon, by giving jobs to our trained Veterans. We are providing job-ready IT training, but without jobs for these trained Veterans, this program will not continue to be successful. That was my vision, as the founder of Halcyon, to not only excel in our core business of IT, but also be actively involved in giving back to the community. Thank you. Mohan R. Viddam, Chairman & CEO Direct: 614-322-3959 Email: mohan@halcyonit.com -
News
April 19, 2013
Senior Independence Hires Rees to Grow Divisions, Develop Partnerships
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Senior Independence, a provider of aging services pursuing new partnerships, hires a sales leader to a newly created post. Mica Rees started as the nonprofit's vice president of business development Monday, March 11, 2013.
Ohio Presbyterian Retirement Services' (OPRS) President/CEO Laurence C. Gumina says Rees has the right mix of sales management and networking skills. "Her strong connections with past leadership and sales teams demonstrate she grows market share and nurtures partnerships," says Gumina. Helping older adults age safely and comfortably in the place they call home, Senior Independence is a subsidiary of Ohio Presbyterian Retirement Services. Senior Independence provides older adults with options, including personalized home health care (e.g., physical therapy), hospice care teams, in-home care (e.g., meal preparation) and therapeutic adult day centers. "My priority is to start coaching my team while developing a plan for continued growth in our hospice and home health care divisions," says Rees. Rees most recently held the title of regional manager of business development at Heartland Home Health Care, a division of HCR ManorCare, in Toledo, Ohio. In 2009, Kindred Healthcare hired her as district director of sales and development. She spent the seven years prior in a sales management position with Extendicare Health Services in Columbus, Ohio. She earned a Master of Healthcare Administration from Ohio University in 1997. Rees lives in Pomeroy, Ohio, with her husband, David, and her son Garrett. Rees regularly travels to Senior Independence's seven regional Ohio offices, but her home office is in Columbus, at OPRS' corporate headquarters. Contact her at 800-686-7800 or mrees@seniorindependence.org. Senior Independence, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ohio Presbyterian Retirement Services (OPRS), is one of Ohio's premier providers of home and community based services recognized for quality, innovation and a positive work environment. Statewide, Senior Independence provides services to more than 84,000 older adults in 40 Ohio counties and operates 13 adult day centers. Senior Independence also manages six senior centers in partnership with local governments. OPRS is the largest and most experienced not-for-profit provider of continuing care retirement communities and services in Ohio. -
News
April 17, 2013
Columbus Metropolitan Statistical Area Expansion Could Affect Business
From The Columbus Dispatch:
Based on commuting patterns in the latest U.S. census data, Hocking and Perry counties will now be added to the Columbus Metropolitan area. The continued push outward from Columbus could affect economic development and federal funding.
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News
April 17, 2013
Safelite Group to Create Jobs in Columbus
From Columbus Business First:
Safelite Group, Inc. plans to relocate a portion of its headquarters to a nearby building in northwest Columbus, which will create 350 jobs within three years. The plans are in cooperation with the remodeling of the current home office located nearby and contingent upon state and city tax incentive approval but are estimated to take place early next year.
"We have been on a tremendous upward path,” Safelite CEO Tom Feeney said in a news release, “and this expansion will allow us to invest even more in world-class service, talent development and support for the Central Ohio community.” Read more. -
News
April 17, 2013
Chamber Member Franklin Park Conservatory Named Best of Botanical Gardens
From Travel Channel:
Large greenhouses make visiting Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Columbus, OH, easy year-round. The conservatory houses over 400 species of plants, in environments that include desert and rainforest habitats. Seasonal displays of blooms, from colorful bulbs to varieties of conifers and grasses, span the outdoor gardens. There is also a unique glassblowing pavilion for demos and classes.
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News
April 17, 2013
Ohio Growth Summit Optimizes Web Presence With Help From Buckeye Interactive
From New Albany, Ohio-based Buckeye Interactive Press Release:
NEW ALBANY, Ohio (April 17, 2013)—As the Ohio Small Business Development Center prepares for the annual Ohio Growth Summit in July, Buckeye Interactive recently launched a fully customized website that aligns with the event’s new branding and supports its continuous growth.
“As we enter the ninth year, Buckeye Interactive has created a new online home for the event, which provides an interface that is much cleaner and easier for attendees to navigate,” Michael Bowers, District Director of the Ohio SBDC at Columbus State, said. “This critical change reflects our continued growth and helps position us as one of the Midwest’s premier small business growth conferences.” The redesigned website is complete with customizations that are user-friendly and allow non-technical staff to make changes, along with social media and email management integrations. Another important upgrade to note is that the site was built responsively, which allows for optimal viewing on all devices. Prior to beginning development work, the existing web analytics showed that over 20% of traffic to Ohio Growth Summit’s site was through mobile devices, making it crucial for the new website to adapt to mobile devices and tablets. “Our team is very happy to have partnered with representatives of Ohio Small Business Development Center on the redesign and development of their new website,” Brad Griffith, CEO & President of Buckeye Interactive, said. “Sponsoring has been rewarding to both parties and our team looks forward to attending and contributing to the summit in July.” For a better look at services provided, visit www.ohiogrowthsummit.com.
New Albany, Ohio-based Buckeye Interactive is a privately held interactive marketing and web development agency. Founded by Brad Griffith in 2009, it offers a variety of interactive marketing solutions for startup, small, and large businesses. Buckeye Interactive's capabilities include web design and development, social media, public relations, research, branding, creative and design. For more information, please visit www.buckeyeinteractive.com###
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News
April 16, 2013
Safelite Group Announces Columbus, Ohio Expansion Plans, Beginning 2014
COLUMBUS, Ohio- Safelite Group, a multi-faceted vehicle glass and claims management service organization, is pleased to announce plans that the company will expand its presence in Columbus, Ohio with up to 350 jobs within three years and will relocate a portion of its headquarters to 2500 Farmers Drive, Columbus, OH 43235 in 2014, contingent upon approval on incentives from the City of Columbus and State of Ohio.
I want to thank Safelite for working with the City of Columbus to expand its business here and create jobs for our residents, Mayor Coleman said. This great company exemplifies our growing reputation as one of the best cities for jobs in the nation. Established in 1947, Safelite Group first moved to Columbus in 1990. The company’s headquarters will remain at 2400 Farmers Drive, Columbus, OH 43235. By adding the additional space next door and remodeling the existing space, Safelite Group will accommodate its significant growth achieved in the last five years while also preparing for future growth. As we have grown our business, thanks to continued commitment to our customers and insurance clients and ongoing investments in our people, we are excited about our future here in Columbus and nationwide, said Tom Feeney, president and CEO of Safelite Group. We have been on a tremendous upward path and this expansion will allow us to invest even more in world-class service, talent development and support for the central Ohio community. Safelite Group plans to relocate several corporate functions to 2500 Farmers Drive after January 2014, while 2400 Farmers (3rd through 5th floors) is remodeled to allow the remaining corporate functions to grow with 2400 Farmers. One of Safelite’s national contact centers is housed on Floors 1st and 2nd of 2400 Farmers, which were remodeled recently in 2009-10. We thank Gov. Kasich and JobsOhio, Mayor Coleman, the City Council, and Columbus2020 for the continued support in the development of our company, Feeney said. Their commitment to making central Ohio an attractive place to do business has made Columbus a well-suited home for us. Successful economic development is a team effort, said Councilmember Zach M. Klein, chair of the Columbus City Council Development Committee. By working together, we can help companies like Safelite stay and grow their business Columbus. In the end, their presence is good for our central Ohio region. About Safelite Group
Safelite Group is a multi-faceted vehicle glass and claims management service organization based in Columbus, Ohio. The company, which has been in business since 1947, is comprised of four major business operations that include Safelite AutoGlass, a vehicle glass repair and replacement services provider; Safelite Solutions and Alliance Claims Solutions, which offer fleet and insurance claims management services; Service AutoGlass, a wholesale and distribution operation; and Safelite Glass Corp., a manufacturing and distribution business unit. The company employs approximately 10,000 people throughout the United States. For more information, visit www.safelite.com. -
News
April 15, 2013
Jennifer Osburn to Take Over GBQ's Non Profit Practice
GBQ Partners LLC is proud to announce that Jennifer Osburn, CPA, has been promoted to Director, Community Action Practice (43110).
With Jennifer’s promotion, she will be taking over the leadership position of GBQ’s non-profit niche, more formally known as the Community Action Practice (CAP). Not only is Jennifer extremely successful in her day to day responsibilities, but she is also active in the community, a frequent speaker on non-profit accounting topics and a member of Columbus Business First’s Forty Under 40 Class of 2013. We are very pleased to name Jen Osburn as Director, Community Action Practice. She has a passion for the nonprofit community in central Ohio, in addition to those clients we serve. We are confident that under her leadership, our CAP practice will continue to grow, says Paul Anderson, Director of Assurance Services. A graduate from Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and The Ohio State University with a Master in Accounting, Jennifer joined GBQ in 2003. Over the years, Jennifer has developed a concentration in audit services for non-profit and service clients including those subject to government auditing standards and compliance requirements. A model for GBQ’s Client Service Philosophy, Jennifer consistently receives positive remarks from clients and has received GBQ’s External Client Service Award multiple times. Jen works with her clients to understand their mission and provides sound advice to help them achieve their financial and operational goals. GBQ is excited to see where this new leadership will take the firm and the Community Action Practice. About GBQ CAP
GBQ has built a special reputation for service to the non-profit sector of the central Ohio economy. We are proud to serve some of the area’s most recognized organizations as they strive toward their mission of community support and development. Our designated group of professionals serves over 120 non-profit organizations, including credit unions that provide a variety of services. Our specialized professionals help resolve issues for non-profit organizations and help design approaches to yield more productive operations. Many of GBQ’s associates are active on boards of non-profit entities that strengthen our expertise by allowing us to sit on the other side of the table and view issues from the board management’s perspective. About GBQ
GBQ is the largest independent accounting and consulting firm in central Ohio. With over 120 associates we are large enough to handle the needs of today’s complex and progressive organizations, while providing close personal attention. As an independent member of the BDO Seidman Alliance, GBQ has access to global resources through a network of accounting and consulting firms. Visit GBQ Partners on the Internet at www.gbq.com, become a fan on Facebook, subscribe to our blog, GBQueue or follow us on Twitter. For more information on BDO USA, LLP visit here. -
News
April 15, 2013
Chamber Member OhioHealth Named Fifth Best Hospital System
From Columbus Business First:
Columbus Chamber member, OhioHealth Corp. was named among the five best-performing large U.S. health systems in the 2013 Truven Health 15 Top Health Systems released Monday.
The eight-hospital Columbus system was selected in the category for those with $1.5 billion or more in operating expenses. Ohio is the only state with three winners overall, with Cincinnati systems TriHealth in the medium category and Mercy Health a top-five small system. Read more. -
News
April 12, 2013
Thirty-One Gifts Named Among Top 20 Direct Selling Companies in the World
Thirty-One Gifts LLC, has been ranked 18th on the 2012 Direct Selling News (DSN) Global 100, an annual list of the highest revenue-producing, direct selling companies in the world.
The 10-year-old company is the third-youngest featured in the top 20 and the only company in the top 20 selling personal organization and accessory items. Two years ago, the company was 83rd on the list proving the success of its direct selling model, and its consultant and customer support. Our remarkable growth over the past decade is a result of the dedication of our Thirty-One Gifts consultants and home office employees who stand whole-heartedly behind our founding principle of empowering women and encouraging others to make a difference in their lives and in their communities, said Cindy Monroe, CEO and founder of Thirty-One Gifts. With us, it’s not simply about the products, but it’s about the experiences these women can have together. It’s an honor to see our mission come to life and a privilege to be named one of the top direct selling companies in the world. Since the 2010 ranking, Thirty-One’s sales have increased by $600 million. This growth has enabled the company to create more than 1,700 jobs at its corporate office in Columbus, Ohio, in addition to three warehouse facilities in Columbus, Johnstown, and Springfield, Ohio. Thirty-One Gifts currently have more than 100,000 enthusiastic consultants across the U.S. and in Canada. The company continues to remain true to its commitment to giving back through its charitable initiative Thirty-One Gives. The DSN Global 100 is compiled by researchers from Direct Selling News. Rankings are determined by an official Revenue Certification Form and survey results submitted by direct selling organizations from around the world. -
News
April 11, 2013
Columbus Residents Have 5th-lowest Utility Bills
From Columbus Business First:
Columbus residents have the 5th-cheapest combined utility bills among 50 large U.S. cities, according to a new study from Memphis Light, Gas and Water, the Memphis Business Journal reports.
The average bill for electricity, natural gas, water and wastewater runs $293.95 in Columbus, higher than only Memphis, Springfield, Reno and Omaha. Read more. -
News
April 11, 2013
American Adding Nonstop Flights to Columbus from LA
From The Columbus Dispatch:
American Airlines is adding nonstop flights to Columbus and other cities from Los Angeles starting Aug. 27.