POSTMASTER:TIMELY MATERIAL. PLEASE EXPEDITE.

Celebrating 19 Years of Service

MARCH 2013 Vol. 19 No. 3
Published and Owned by Schaffner Publications, Inc.

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The Business Voice of Erie, Huron, Ottawa, Sandusky and Seneca Counties

INSIDE THIS MONTH

Let's Blame the Marketers......... 2 Women and Retirement Planning........... 7 Chamber Calendars......... 8 Workplace Investigations..15 Well-Booked Business..........18 Medicare Surtax Apply to You?..21 Successor Trustee/Executor Duties. .............24 Succession Planning..........26

Fostoria: Great Things are Happening Here

Submitted by Mayor Erik Keckler After one year in office as Mayor of Fostoria, I am still optimistic for our future. I never dreamed I would enjoy being Mayor of my hometown as much as I have this past year. It has been a wonderful experience. There have been many challenges which I believe is true of most cities in the country. We have been working tirelessly to change the preconceived notion of what our Fostoria community is like. We are a friendly, safe community that welcomes new visitors and residents. We continue to operate on a very tight budget and still struggle to get the attention of industry to come and locate here. On the bright side, many existing Fostoria industries are expanding and adding equipment and jobs. These are impressive companies with state-ofthe-art equipment and cutting edge technology. I have had the opportunity to visit and tour many of these companies over the past year and have been impressed with the manufacturers we have in Fostoria. I believe if we show the rest of the world that companies doing high tech business can live and prosper right here in Fostoria, other manufacturers would feel confident in relocating or opening their operations here. Everything an industry needs to prosper is right here in Fostoria, or close nearby. We have six reservoirs boasting a plentiful water supply, we have rail roads and highways that run in every direction. We are just a blink away from Interstate 75. But perhaps the best thing Fostoria has going for it is a workforce that yearns for more job opportunity right here in town Rather than setting up shop in some of the larger surrounding cities to be but a mere small fish in a large pond, Fostoria invites industries to take advantage of its eager workforce and build your company as a big fish in this small pond. And the Fostoria workforce is about to become even more attractive. We have been working with the Fostoria Economic Development Corporation to develop a center for higher education and workforce development to educate, train and harness the potential of workers right here in Fostoria. This center will allow us to work with our current employers to train new and potential employees for specific positions. Our hope is that it would also encourage those industries looking for a new home, as they will work directly with the Fostoria higher education center to train workers catered to the exact curriculum they need. The education center would also allow us to partner with many higher education institutions to offer college courses right here in Fostoria. This would allow those who have a problem with commuting to school the opportunity to obtain the education level they desire in their own backyard. We have had the attention and help of all three of our State Congressmen on this as well the State Board of Regents. We even welcomed a visit from State Chancellor Jim Petro, who was very impressed with the potential of this project. This project also fits nicely into Governor Kasichs plan for the future of higher education, which gives us great confidence in turning this plan into reality in the near future. A few long-awaited projects will also come to fruition this year. Bids opened last month for the construction of the Fostoria Rail Park. The construction should begin as early as the weather will allow, with completion before the end of 2013. This project has been one of the most highly anticipated projects in recent history; rail fans travel to Fostoria from literally all over the world to view the abundance of trains that travel through town daily.

Focus

on

Fostoria

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Bellevue Area Chamber of Commerce

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Marblehead Peninsula Chamber of Commerce Milan Chamber of Commerce Oak Harbor Area Put-in-Bay Chamber Chamber of Commerce of Commerce Port Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce
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Were a proud member of the following:

Elmore Chamber of Commerce Fostoria Area Chamber of Commerce Genoa Chamber of Commerce Huron Chamber of Commerce Huron County Chamber of Commerce Vermilion Chamber of Commerce Willard Area Chamber of Commerce Chamber of Commerce Erie County Chamber of Sandusky County of Commerce Seneca Regional

March 2013

North Coast Business Journal

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Lets Blame the Marketers!

By Jeffrey H. Bryden Editor As many readers know, when Im not serving as Editor of the North Coast Business Journal, Im an Instructor in the College of Business Administrations Marketing Department at Bowling Green State University. In the last several months, two journalism majors interviewed me for background research for feature articles they were writing for the student paper, the BGNEWS. While their stories were different, both had similar thematic and thats why Im writing this article. The first writer wanted to know how and why marketers were pushing high-caffeine energy drinks on students, thus causing illness and even death. The second aspiring journalist wanted to know why marketers have been pushing highlysugared soft drinks on children, contributing to childhood obesity. In both cases, going in, these reporters were of the opinion that marketers possess Svengali-like power, and the ability to force people to do things they shouldnt. And that marketers knowingly sell products that are harmful to the health of their customers (cigarette manufacturers excepted.) I explained to both writers that Marketing, as a profession, is all about the customer. That it starts with the customers needs first -- and then develops goods and services to meet them. That we utilize and adapt the Four Ps (Price, Product, Place and Promotion) to make sure that we can out-deliver the competition in meeting those needs. Marketing doesnt cause consumption. It merely offers alternatives to meet the consumptive need. Like the woman who was suing the hamburger chain because it made her son fat. And the lawyer said, Ill take your case now who can we sue because hes ugly? The hamburger chain didnt make the boy fat. Similarly the beverage companies dont make young people buy sugared sodas or caffeine-charged energy drinks. Here in the USA, the consumer is king or queen and, as long as goods and services are legal and not harmful to their health, he or she has the right to purchase (or not purchase) them. People buy things that solve a problem. That problem may be something physiological, like hunger, which we try to solve with choices of food and beverage based on our personal senses of touch, taste, smell and sight. Or a psychological and emotional need, which we try to solve through our choice of cosmetics, clothing, cars, entertainment and lifestyle. In Marketing classes we teach that there are three traditional consumer rights: The Right to expect a product to be safe when used as directed; The Right to expect a product to perform as claimed; and The Right to say No. (To walk away and not purchase a product.) Marketers set the table for the consumer and say here are your choicesplease pick my product. They dont force people to come to the table or make them take anything from it. Just before my last interviewers article went to press, I read and forwarded a front-page article in the Cleveland Plain Dealer headlined Healthy Restaurant Choices Shown to Add to Bottom Line. It detailed a five-year analysis of the 21 largest restaurant chains in the country fast food and sit-down restaurants. It showed that those with more lower-calorie servings had better sales growth, larger increases in customer traffic and stronger gains in total food and beverage sales than those chains where lower-calorie options declined. The lead author of the report, stated These restaurants were not actually promoting them as lower-calorie items; they were what the consumers are looking for. (I wonder if the mother of the overweight child knew about these chains?) Im hoping that my interview time with these writers defused their original premise that Marketing is evil and all-powerful. For every seller, there needs to be a buyer. And if we kill off our customers, what kind of future will we have? Fostoria is on the verge of something groundbreaking we just need that one big break. We need someone to take a hard look at us and study what we really have to offer. The Fostoria Community Hospital is one of the finest in Ohio, the Kaubisch Memorial Public Library is the hidden jewel of our community, and we have a young, enthusiastic group of teachers and administrators at Fostoria City Schools and St. Wendelin Schools who are constantly developing innovative programs to make our school systems top notch. With these institutions, projects and our strong industrial foundation we have a lot to offer, and thats why I am still confident and optimistic for our future. We just have to get the message out there.

The Business Voice of Erie, Huron, Ottawa, Sandusky and Seneca Counties

205 S.E. Catawba Road, Suite G, Port Clinton, Ohio 43452 419-734-4838 Fax 419-734-5382
Publisher JOHN SCHAFFNER JEFFREY H. BRYDEN jbryden@ncbj.net DAVE KAHLER dkahler@ncbj.net ROBIN QUESADA accounting@thebeacon.net TODD GARDNER todd@thebeacon.net MARK SCHAFFNER marks@thebeacon.net BRUCE DINSE

GREAT, from Cover

We look forward to greeting them with the brand new Iron Triangle Rail Park, with the help of the Fostoria Rail Preservation Society. We will also see much progress at Foundation Park, formerly Meadowlark Park. The City of Fostoria signed a lease agreement last year with the Geary Family YMCA to take over operations of the park. Through a partnership between Greater Fostoria Community Foundation and the Geary Family YMCA, Foundation Park will see quite a few upgrades. These improvements including to the ball fields and facilities are expected to garner more visitors to Fostoria through hosting of softball and baseball leagues and tournaments for children and adults of all ages.

Editor Director of Sales Accounting Manager Layout &Graphic Design Circulation Manager

NorthCoast Business Journal is owned and published monthly by Schaffner Publications,Inc., and is mailed free to chamber of commerce members in a five-county area: Erie, Huron, Ottawa, Sandusky, and Seneca counties. The editorial deadline is the 25th of each month, with the advertising deadline the end of each month. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the expressed, written consent of the Publishers. We welcome submissions from readers in the form of letters, articles or photographs, although we reserve the right to edit and condense any articles submitted. Submissions should be sent to the editor at the above address. Include a stamped, self-addressed envelope if you would like an item returned. We prefer material (copy &photos) to be submitted electronically.

Submit stories for the North Coast Business Journal by e-mailing

jbryden@ncbj.net

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March 2013

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March 2013

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TBH Foundation Doesnt Give Away New Corvette?

The Bellevue Hospital Foundation important for us to sell and run this raffle (TBHF) made Valentines Day a in the right way and it was a great effort memorable experience for Dean from our Foundation, Accounting Brandenburg of Potterville, MI, as his Department, Marketing Department and name was drawn as the grand prize numerous volunteers. winner in the Is Your Heart Set on a Tickets were sold to people in 40 Vette raffle. different U.S. states, including Hawaii, As the grand prize winner, Brandenburg and also in Canada, noted Kate Herring, had his choice of a brand new 2013 TBH Foundation Director. I would like Corvette Convertible 1LT or $50,000 in to personally thank Gary Steinle of cash. He chose the cash option and then Steinle Chevrolet-Buick in Clyde. They made a sizeable contribution back to the were the co-sponsor of this event. Also, Foundation from his winnings! thanks to the Bellevue Beverage Center, Four runner-up winners each received the Fremont Steinle location, Hogues cash prizes, including Mike Bleke, IGA in Bellevue, the hospital Gift Shop Franklin, IN, $2,000 cash; David Meier, staff and the Foundation Board members Milton, WI, $1,500 cash; James Bratton for all the support. We could not have II, Roanoke, VA, $1,000 cash; and Andrew accomplished this massive project Freeman, Belleville, MI, $500 cash. without all their help. We wish to congratulate Dean and the Herring noted that all proceeds will other four winners, said Michael K. benefit Foundation womens and Winthrop, President and CEO of The childrens projects, including the Bellevue Hospital (TBH). We kicked-off Womens Mammography Fund, which this raffle in September of 2012 and our will help supply screening mammograms goal was to sell all 1,500 tickets at $100 for underinsured or uninsured women. each, a goal that we accomplished! And we especially thank Dean for his 8247 whitta ad:Layout 1 2/19/09 Page 1 Continued Winthrop, For us,10:46 thatAM generous contribution back to the made the raffle highly successful. It was Foundation, finalized Herring.

Michael K. Winthrop, President and CEO of The Bellevue Hospital (left), presents a check to Dean Brandenburg of Potterville, MI, the winner of the 2013 Is Your Heart Set On A Vette Corvette Raffle. Brandenburg chose the $50,000 cash option, then donated a sizeable amount of his winnings back to The Bellevue Hospital Foundation.

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March 2013

The Rail Park Is Coming, The Rail Park Is Coming !!!

By Ellen Gatrell Fostoria Rail Preservation Society The British are coming, the British are coming is a common historical quote but for the Fostoria Rail Preservation Society (FRPS) we prefer The Rail park is coming, the rail park is coming in a little different context. For nearly ten years the city of Fostoria has been working on plans to build a rail park. Many people believed this rail park would never be built and we can definitely say 2013 is the year for this park project to be built. To be noted, this is phase one of the projected plans for this park area. More additions will be made at the park when constructions plans and costs are finalized. On Thursday, February 7 Fostoria Mayor Eric Keckler and Dan Thornton, City Compliance Project Manager opened the rail park sealed construction bids. Whitta Construction Company, Fostoria had the winning bid for this project, coming in with a bid just under $1,000,000.00. Construction will begin in the spring. All bids received were under the proposed estimated construction costs. This project is being funded on an 80/20 split with ODOT (Ohio Department of Transportation) and the Federal Government covering the 80% portion with grant funding. The city of Fostoria will be responsible for the 20% portion. Burgess & Niple, Columbus, the rail park architects are also excited for Fostorias Iron Triangle Railpark. Over the years, several design plans were made with the final plan having South Poplar Street as the main entrance. This entrance is a true safety benefit for everyone. The 5-acre park is surrounded by three main double-track railroad lines. CSX Transportation has the north-south route formerly known as the C&O (Chesapeake & Ohio) and the east-west route formerly known as the B&O (Baltimore & Ohio). Norfolk-Southern has the east-west route formerly known as the NKP or Nickel Plate RR. These three busy mainline doublefreight tracks run 100+ trains through Fostoria each and every day. We call our rail park area the infield of NASCAR to a railfan. What better place to come and see the trains so up close and personal with such a frequency of rail traffic. F-Tower, also in this triangle, is manned 24/7 365 to keep the trains running smoothly through this congested area. We have stated many times, if you do not like trains, please do not move to Fostoria, but IF you do, we have what you want, heavy train traffic. You can travel on the major highways and move smoothly through our city without crossing any train tracks. Before the overpasses and underpasses were built, most in the early 1950s, traveling through Fostoria and waiting on a train was an everyday event. Train whistles can be heard from all corners of the city too. Locals laugh at their visiting friends and families after they have stayed overnight in Fostoria. Some ask how do you sleep with the train whistles bellowing their melody during the night? The locals say, what whistles? They are so used to them as part of Fostorias fabric, a blue-collar community. Tourism can grown and flourish with the rail park being at the center of their Fostoria destination. The railfans have been coming to Fostoria for decades, why not provide them with a clean, safe location to view our live-train action. FRPS is pleased to the Depot in November & December and involved in the 4th annual Light Up Fostoria Christmas Lights tour. Operation Lifesaver presentations are available free of charge to anyone, not just to those in this area. Operation Lifesaver is a program on train safety based on the age group. Please contact FRPS either on Facebook, our website FostoriaIronTriangle.com, email Gmasattic@bright. net or call 419-435-1781 for more information on all these events. Fostoria has also been known for Fostoria Glass. There were thirteen glass factories in Fostoria from 1887-1920 mainly due to the free natural gas and 5 railroad lines and 2 interurbans (trolleys) available in Fostoria. When the natural gas pressure decreased, so did the glass factories. Visit the Glass Heritage Gallery and see all the beautiful glass manufactured in Fostoria a very long time ago. Regarding the rail park construction, I actually have a $100.00 bet with two West Virginia railfan brothers who travel every year with their families to Fostoria for our September Rail Festival. They do not believe the park will ever be completed in 2013. The bet was made at the 2012 Fostoria Rail Festival. I will use the $100.00 to have a nice rail park party and even invite the West Virginia brothers. After all, it WAS their money!!!] Fostoria, a small town with a lot of railroad tracks!!!

provide the railfans with information on our Train City. We have railfan packets available at the local Best Western Hotel and we travel to tri-state area train shows also passing out the information packets and talking to railfans. Returning railfans come to Fostoria as their vacation destination over and over. Many are known at the local hotel and restaurants by name. Fostoria is known far and wide as one of the best locations for railfanning and we are proud to be part of Fostoria too. This past summer we had a group of 18 Swiss railfan tourists visit Fostoria. Two stories to be told, a Fostorian was at a New York City Broadway show and was talking to people near her. She told them she was from Fostoria, Ohio and the woman said, oh, I know all about Fostoria. My husband is a railfan and he loves going to Fostoria. This same Fostorian has a colleague who was also visiting New York City and was in a pub talking to people stating he was from Fostoria, Ohio. Again, the other person said they knew all about Fostoria and the trains!!! Being a non-profit since 2005, we survive mainly on donations through memberships, grants and in-kind donations. We have many events during the year beginning with the April 25 4th annual Railroad Employees Reunion, September 28 12th annual Fostoria Rail Festival, 7th annual Santa at

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March 2013

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Callies Performance Makes Final Payment to City of Fostoria Revolving Loan Fund
On February 12, 2013 Callies Performance Products made the final payment and paid off the $200,000 loan granted in January, 2009 by the City of Fostoria and the Fostoria Economic Development Corporation. In late 2008, Callies Performance decided to sell their original plant at 100 W. Jones Road and consolidate operations with its sister company, Aviation Manufacturing at a much larger location at 901 S. Union Street. A significant portion of this plant was open and available as the former occupant, Norton Manufacturing, had been sold to SMI Crankshaft and the operations were consolidated at SMIs Route 12 location. The S. Union Street plant, although 3 times as large as the Jones Road facility, needed some serious upgrades and remodeling to make it modern and ready for Callies quality and increasing level of production. Portions of the plant dated from the 1930s and new offices and infrastructure improvements were greatly needed. Les Lipski, Callies Chief Financial Officer, then met with representatives of the FEDC and the City of Fostoria and discussed using the Fostoria Revolving Loan Fund (FRL) to assist in the refurbishment and upgrade of the facility. The original budget for modernization and construction of offices, new energy efficient lighting, a complete painting and cleaning as well as additional equipment was $505,000. The FRL Administration Board agreed to lend $200,000 and Callies would pay the remainder. The $200,000 was disbursed in January, 2009 and the project was completed by March, 2009. To say that the move of Callies to the S. Union plant was a success would be an understatement! The relocation has proved to be a

monumental success for both Callies and the City of Fostoria. From January, 2009 to February, 2013 Callies employment has increased from 57 to 86, an increase of 51%. More significantly, annual payroll has increased by over $1 million. The investment Callies made in infrastructure and machinery far

carburizing and induction hardening camshafts. Offices were installed in the building along with fatigue testing equipment for internal as well as external use on crankshafts as well as other parts. The other building will soon be converted into a new facility for Callies sales and shipping personnel to accommodate the evergrowing numbers of products shipped

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exceeded anything contemplated in 2008. The actual investment has totaled almost $5.0 million! New equipment was purchased as Callies added new product lines to manufacture camshafts and connecting rods to complement their existing crankshaft lines. Callies also was able to recently purchase two adjacent buildings and one has been upgraded to a state of the art heat treatment facility for

from Fostoria, Ohio. The plant at S. Union is now a modern, well lit, three shift operation producing a wide range of engine parts for the worldwide motorsports market. The Revolving Loan Fund was a great assistance in jump-starting the modernization of the S. Union Street Plant and contributed greatly to the success and growth Callies has enjoyed over the past four years.

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March 2013

Women and Retirement Planning

Douglas Gildenmeister Senior Vice President, Investments Raymond James Women face special challenges when planning for retirement. Because their careers are often interrupted to care for children or elderly parents, women may spend less time in the workforce and earn less money than men in the same age group. As a result, their retirement plan balances, Social Security benefits and pension benefits are often lower. In addition to earning less, women generally live longer than men, and they face having to stretch limited retirement savings and benefits over many years. To meet these financial challenges, youll need to make retirement planning a priority. Begin saving now To maximize your chances of achieving a financially secure retirement, start with a realistic assessment of how much youll need to save. If the figure is substantial, dont be discouraged--the most important thing is to begin saving now. Although its never too late to save for retirement, the sooner you start, the more time your investments have to potentially grow. The chart below shows how just $2,000 invested annually at a 6% rate of return might grow over time:
As you begin saving for retirement: 20 30 40 50 60 Amount youll have saved by age 65: $451,016 $236,242 $116,313 $49,345 $11,951

Estate

your pension is likely to be. Most employer-sponsored plans allow you to choose from several investment options (typically mutual funds). If you have many years to invest or youre trying to make up for lost time, give special consideration to growth-oriented investments such as stocks and stock funds. Historically, stocks have outperformed bonds and short-term instruments over the long term, although past performance is no guarantee of future results. However, along with potentially higher returns, stocks carry more risk than less volatile investments. A good way to get detailed information about a mutual fund youre considering is to read the funds prospectus. It includes information about the funds objectives, expenses, risks and past returns. A financial professional can also help you evaluate your retirement plan options. Save for retirement--no matter what Even if youre staying at home to raise your family, you can--and should--continue to save for retirement. If youre married and file your income taxes jointly, to a traditional or Roth IRA as long as your spouse has enough earned income to cover the contributions. Both types of IRAs allow you to make contributions of up to $5,500 in 2013 ($5,000 in 2012), or, if less, 100% of taxable compensation. If youre age 50 or older, youre allowed to contribute even more--up to $6,500 in 2013 ($6,000 in 2012). Plan for income in retirement Do you worry about outliving your retirement income? Unfortunately, thats a realistic concern for many women. At age 65, women can expect to live, on average, an additional 20.4 years.1 In addition, many women will live into their 90s. This means that women should generally plan for a long retirement that will last at least 20 to 30 years. Women should also consider the possibility of spending some of those years alone. According to recent statistics, 40% of older women are widowed, 13% are divorced and approximately half of all women age 75 and older live alone.2 For married women, the loss of a spouse can mean a significant decrease in retirement income from Social Security or pensions. So what can you do to ensure youll have enough income to last throughout retirement? Here are some tips: Estimate how much income youll need. Use your current expenses as a starting point, but note that your expenses may change dramatically by the time you retire. Find out how much you can expect to receive from Social Security, pension plans, and other sources. What benefits will you receive should you become widowed or divorced? Set a retirement savings goal that you can work toward, and keep track of your progress. Save regularly, save as much as you can, and then look for ways to save more--dedicate a portion of every raise, bonus, cash gift or tax refund to your retirement savings.

Consider purchasing long-term care insurance to help protect your retirement savings and income from the high cost of nursing home care. Source: 1 The National Vital Statistics Report, Volume 58, Number 19, November 19, 2010 2 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration on Aging, A Profile of Older Americans: 2010 Whats your excuse for not planning for retirement? Im too busy to plan Perhaps youre so wrapped up in balancing your responsibilities that you havent given retirement planning much thought. Thats understandable, but if you dont put retirement planning at the top of your to-do list, you risk shortchanging yourself later on. Staying focused on your goal of saving for a comfortable retirement is difficult, but if you put yourself first it will really pay off in the end. My husband takes care of our finances Married or not, its critical for women to take an active role in planning for retirement. Otherwise, you may be forced to make important financial decisions quickly during a period of crisis. Unfortunately, decisions that are not well thought through often prove costly later. Preparing for retirement with your spouse will help ensure that youre both provided for, and pave the way to a worry-free retirement. Ill save more once my children are through college Many well-intentioned parents put their own retirement savings on hold while they save for their childrens college education. But if you do so, youre potentially sacrificing your own financial security. Your children have many options when it comes to financing college--loans, grants, and scholarships, for example--but theres no such thing as a retirement loan! Why not set a good example for your children by getting your own finances in order before contributing to their college fund? I dont know enough about investing Commit to spending just a few minutes a day learning the basics of investing, and youll become knowledgeable in no time. And remember, you dont have to do it by yourself--a financial professional will be happy to work with you to set retirement goals and help you choose appropriate investments. This information was developed by Broadridge, an independent third party. It is general in nature, is not a complete statement of all information necessary for making an investment decision and is not a recommendation or a solicitation to buy or sell any security. Investments and strategies mentioned may not be suitable for all investors. Past performance may not be indicative of future results. Raymond James & Associates, Inc. member New York Stock Exchange/SIPC does not provide advice on tax, legal or mortgage issues. These matters should be discussed with an appropriate professional. Raymond James & Associates, Inc., member FDIC/ SIPC.

Note: This is a hypothetical example, and does not reflect the performance of any specific investment. Results assume reinvestment of all earnings and no tax. Save as much as you can--you have many options If your employer offers a retirement savings plan, such as a 401(k) or a 403(b), join it as soon as possible and contribute as much as you can. Its easy to save because your contributions are deducted directly from your pay, and some employers will even match a portion of what you contribute. If your employer offers a pension plan, find out how many years youll need to work for the company before youre vested in, or own, your pension benefits. Women struggling to balance work and family sometimes shortchange their retirement savings by leaving their jobs before they become vested in their pension benefits. Keep in mind, too, that because your pension benefits will be based on your earnings and on your years of service, the longer you stay with one employer, the higher

March 2013

North Coast Business Journal

www.ncbj.net

Chamber Calendars for March

Bellevue Chamber
7
of

Commerce

Cathy Allen, Creative Option C Monthly Luncheon What Should Business Leaders Be Reading? Noon at The Willows

20 Education Committee, 8 am, EPIC Technologies, 200 E. Bluegrass, Norwalk

14 Annual Dinner and Awards 6:00 p.m. The Catawba Island Club

20

March Speaker: Tally Gallogly, Summit EAP on Lateral Violence, a Form of Workplace Bullying. After Five Tiffin Art Guild 5:00 to 7:00 pm. 178 S. Washington St., Tiffin. RSVP to info@tiffinchamber.com

23 Leadership Sandusky County Indoor Garage Sale 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Erie County Chamber Commerce

8 12

of

20 Main Street Port Clinton 21 Safety Council Banquet, Walleye Festival Committee 11:30 am, Performing Arts Center, 8:30 am at MSPC Office Norwalk High School 21 Main Street Port Clinton 26 Human Resource/Safety Board Meeting University Day, 8:30 am at MSPC Office Performing Arts Center, Norwalk High School 26 Workshop Be Good to Yourself (Motivation) 8:30 am Marblehead Peninsula Chamber of Ida Rupp Public Library Commerce 7 Directors Meeting 7:00 pm Danbury Township Hall 28 Main Street Port Clinton Promotion Committee Meeting 8:30 am at MSPC Office

26 Tiffin Area Safety Council 11:30 am at Moose Lodge 28 Ribbon Cutting 4:30 pm @ Elite Sports Academy 89 N. Washington St. Open House will follow until 7:00 pm.
of

How the Top 10 Consumer Trends of 2013 Will Affect Your Business, Seminar with Ted Janusz. 7:30 am, Conference room Castaway Bay Hotel. Advance registration and payment is required. Business After Hours 5:15 p.m. Spine Center at Firelands Regional Medical Center. RSVP to 625.6421
of

Vermilion Chamber
6

Commerce

21 Business After Hours 5 to 7:00 pm Hosts: Bayside Comfort 28 6 Executive Meeting Chamber office @ 10:00 am Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce Executive Meeting 7:30 am, Chamber Building 8

Sandusky County Chamber Commerce

Ag Week Kickoff Breakfast, 6:30 a.m. registration, Ole Zims Wagon Shed, Reservation required.

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26 Chamber Ambassador Meeting, 8 a.m. Chamber Office 27 Chamber Board of Trustees 7:30 a.m. Chamber office.

Genoa Chamber

Commerce

Chamber After Hour Mixer 5:30-7:30 pm Lake Erie Lanes Bowling Alley 4523 Liberty Avenue Open to Chamber members and Professionals Complimentary beer/wine & hors doeuvres. Bowling for $8 for two games and includes shoes. RSVP by February 28th 440-967-4477 Chamber Annual Awards Banquet & Casino Night 6:00pm-11:00pm Germans Villa 6pm Cocktails 7:30pm - Dinner & Awards 9pm - Casino Opens Tickets or information 440-967-4477 vermilionchamber@centurytel.net $40/person includes buffet dinner, beer/wine and $25 in start-up casino chips.

14 Chamber Board Meeting 7:30 a.m., at Rayz Cafe. Huron Chamber of Commerce 9 Celebrate Huron, Recognition Night Mesenburgs Plaza Place RSVP 419-433-5700

21 Board Meeting 7:30am, Chamber Building 23 Annual Easter Egg Hunt 2:00pm @ Log Cabin

Port Clinton Area Chamber Commerce

11 Chamber Board Meeting 8:30 am at Chamber Office 12 Main Street Port Clinton Design Committee 8:30 am at MSPC Office 14 Main Street Port Clinton Organization Executive Committee Meeting 8:30 am at MSPC Office

of

Huron County Chamber Commerce

7 Program Committee, 8 am, Chamber office

of

22 Seneca Regional Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Services 13 Small Business Basics Seminar 9:30 am to 11:30 am. Free, seminar about starting, buying or expanding. Communityroom Chamber of Commerce. 800-826-2431 or bauxter@terra.edu

13 Membership Committee, 8 am, Chamber office 14 Board of Directors, 4 pm, Chamber office

15 Ribbon Cutting 26 Chamber Biz Bites Germans Villa 8:00 am. at Walmart Fabric Dept. 7:30 am-9 am 19 Seneca County Breakfast seminar $10 Topic: Identity Theft Human Resource Association Lunch Meeting @ 11:30 am. RSVP by 3/19: 440-967-4477 St. Francis Home RSVP 419-559-2237.

www.ncbj.net

North Coast Business Journal

March 2013

The Kaubisch Memorial Library Continuing its Service to the Community

Submitted by Michael Limer Kaubisch Memorial Library With the support of the community, the Kaubisch Memorial Public Library plans to keep working to provide the services the citizens of Fostoria need and deserve. Perhaps the biggest effort in 2013 is the plan for the library to join the statewide library consortium, Serving Every Ohioan (SEO). On Wednesday, March 27, the library will go live and partner with 89 library systems throughout the state of Ohio in an effort to better serve the people of Fostoria. Membership in the consortium will immediately be a boon to library users. Kaubisch users will have access to over 8,000,000 items from partner libraries from across the state. Unlike the current arrangement, these interlibrary loans will be free of charge and patrons will no longer have to make a written requestrequests can be made directly by the user via the librarys website from any Internet connection. The librarys relationship with SEO will also allow it to more fully explore the technological capabilities of its information system, such as hold notifications via text or e-mail. The library has also taken steps to meet its patrons e-book needs. This past year, Kaubisch Memorial joined the Ohio E-Book Consortium. Now, Kaubisch cardholders can visit the librarys website (fostoria.lib.oh.us) to check out material for their Kindles, Nooks or other devices. Users can download for freedigital material such as e-books, audiobooks, music and video. For those in need of assistance, help can be found at our website or they can bring their device to the library for some hands-on instruction. As spring approaches, Kaubisch Memorial is also gearing up for its annual summer reading program for children. Local kids ages 3-12 are encouraged to join in on the fun with this years theme being Dig into Reading. The librarys program is designed to stave off damaging erosion of reading skills that can happen to school children over the summer months. The program will include prizes, programs, crafts, and, most importantly, FUN! Finally, the library was very pleased to reopen on Fridays in 2012. Due to previous funding reductions, the library had closed on Fridays in an effort to remain fiscally sound. But, with the passing of a permanent levy, the library was able to offer Friday services again. Everything listed above is only possible due to the continued support of the community. The patronage of the library, as well as the financial backing of the levy, ensures the Kaubisch Memorial Public Librarys staff and trustees will continue to strive to provide the citizens of Fostoria with all the services of a modern, proactive organization.

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10 March 2013

North Coast Business Journal

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Fostoria Area Chamber of Commerce "A Review of the Past and a Peek at the Future"
Renderings of the new conference center by The Collaborative, Inc. Submitted by Pamela Smith Executive Director With the planning and implementation of 37 Fostoria Chamber events in 2012, the community had a lot of opportunities to come together for business networking and meetings, trainings, casual social events, legislative meetings and of course the Chamber's Signature Events. January 2012 was the kick off for the Chamber's "Meet Me @ 4pm" business networking events that also took place in March, May, July, September and November. The first meeting included and introduction to the community of the newly appointed Mayor Keckler. Later that month the Chamber hosted the Annual Luncheon meeting with a very nice attendance of about 100 of the 242 current members and was happy to report that the Chamber had added an additional 60 new members for the year. In February, April, June, August, October and December the Chamber hosted its morning business networking meetings, "What's Perkin @ the Chamber?" which provided a variety of interesting business topics and presenters with expertise in their field that delivered valuable information to our Chamber members. The Chamber and the Fostoria Area Safety Council also offered various Computer, Business and OSHA Trainings to the members as well as the general public. February thru April were busy with the planning and fun of one of the Chamber's Signature events - "The Dueling Pianos" which entertained over 300 and had the crowd out of their seats laughing, singing, dancing and having a great time with business associates, friends and family. It was a big success! Summertime was a hot place here in Fostoria with the Classic Cars heating up the streets at the Fostoria Area Chamber of Commerce 10th Annual Car Show. The Chamber turned the corner in August to focus on the Fostoria Area Chamber of Commerce 25th Annual Golf Classic which was held at Indianbrook Golf Club. As October approached, the Chamber played host to the Fostoria Area Candidate Breakfast Forum which included 11 State House Representatives and 3 Senate Candidates and was held at St. Wendelin's Parrish Hall. This was a great opportunity for the community to meet and get to hear the candidates speak. The Chamber ended the year in "Whoville" with the Grinch and real reindeers! Hot chocolate, foods from "Whoville", wagon rides, carolers and not to forget great shopping at all of the shops and businesses in Fostoria. What's on the Agenda for 2013? The Chamber will continue to host the "What's Perkin @ the Chamber?" and monthly "Meet Me @ 4pm" Business Networking meetings. The Dueling Pianos Event is scheduled for Friday, April 26th at Stacy's Place. The 11th Annual Fostoria Classic & Antique Car Show will be held downtown Fostoria during the Fostoria Glass Heritage Festival on Saturday, July 20th from 9am-2pm. The 36th Annual Fostoria Area Chamber Golf Classic will take place on Wednesday, August 14th and the Fostoria Area Chamber of Commerce "Christmas in Whoville" Holiday Open House will be on Saturday, December 7th and will feature the Rotary Holiday Parade and several other surprises! So Stay Tuned!

Local Firm Chosen to Renovate Building at Terra State

The Terra State Community College Board of Trustees selected a local firm to renovate the former Early Learning Center into a state-of-theart conference center.KF Construction and Excavating of Fremont submitted the low bid of $1,901,500 and was chosen by the board to serve as the projects general contractor. The entire project, including furniture and a commercial kitchen, is projected to cost $2.5 million. We are glad to have a local firm to work with, Vice President for Financial Affairs Randy McCullough told the board. We were also pleased to get some new firms participating in the bidding.A total of seven companies submitted bids. The newly renovated space will provide an event-planning learning laboratory for the colleges hospitality management program. This program concentrates on dining, banquet, special events, beverage and front desk experiences for the students. In the new space, students will learn planning, coordination of set up and tear down, assistance with hosting receptions and providing services during special events. Funding for the renovation will come from bond proceeds and local funds. Construction is expected to begin in March and the building should be ready to occupy by early November.

Official Ottawa County Street Map and Resource Guide Completed

The Port Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that the Official Ottawa County Street Map and Resource Guide is completed. If you are interested in picking up a copy, please stop by the Chamber office in downtown historic Port Clinton. This full-color street map is one of the Chambers most vital tools for marketing our area to visitors, new residents and new resident prospects, and new or relocating businesses. Fifteen thousand copies of this publication will be distributed throughout the region, and there will be an online version making this an extremely effective recruitment tool. This professional Street Map features a directory of area resources such as schools, shopping areas, parks, and attractions, as well as clear, accurate and beautiful full-color cartography. This useful new edition is made possible only through the advertising support of our members.

www.ncbj.net

North Coast Business Journal

March 2013

11

FTMC Adds to Norwalks North Side

irelands Federal Credit Union turns dreams into reality. Thousands of area members have realized their dreams through FFCUs assistance. When the people at FFCU wanted to realize their dream of several branch offices throughout Northern Ohio, they turned to the company that had the ability to make their dream come true.

Team members working on the new Fisher-Titus Medical Centers multipurpose medical-office facility gather to review design plans in preparation for a spring groundbreaking on Norwalks north side. Left to right are Ken Schafer, Janotta & Herner; Pat Martin, Fisher-Titus president & CEO; Mary Helton, director of rehabilitation services; Nicholas Brown, DPM, Northern Ohio Foot and Ankle Specialists, who is on the team with Drs. Marc and Kareem Dolce; Peg Koupal, director of Industrial Health Services; Duane Woods, vice president, finance; Lorna Strayer, executive vice president; and George Elmer, director of asset management. Design plans for a multi-purpose medical office facility on Norwalks north side are being finalized by Fisher-Titus Medical Center with groundbreaking scheduled for late spring. Fisher-Titus President Patrick Martin announced plans to expand services to the north end of Norwalk in November 2011 with the purchase of property on Milan Avenue (US RT 250) between Bob Evans Restaurant and the TSC (Tractor Supply Company) store. Since purchasing the property, a team has been working on the project to determine the best combination of services for this area of our community, Martin said. Over the years, residents have expressed a desire for additional Norwalk locations for various hospital and other health-care services. The first phase of the more than 10,000-square-foot facility will feature hospital-based services including an urgent /after hours care clinic, industrial health services, laboratory services, and rehabilitation services. Each area will have its own office space to provide quality services and meet the specific needs of patients seeking those services. This new location will provide more convenient access for our Industrial Health clients who come from all over north central Ohio for services, said John Kovesdi, D.O., medical director of Fisher-Titus Industrial Health Services. The initial major non-hospital tenant will be Northern Ohio Foot and Ankle Specialists, the practice of Drs. Mark and Kareem Dolce and Dr. Nicholas Brown. The practice will fill a 3,400-square- foot office space in the facility. Prior to purchasing the property several of our physician practices expressed interest in a location on the northern end of the city, Martin said. With a growing practice and the addition of Dr. Nicholas Brown to their team, Drs. Mark and Kareem needed to expand their space and this was the perfect fit. They, along with the others involved, have contributed significantly to the design process. Several opportunities remain, Martin added. We will be able to add new tenants to phase one, and there is enough property for a second and third phase as the site develops, Martin said. We also look forward to another productive year for the Community Garden which is also a part of this development. We hope to expand from last years pilot program if there is community interest.

Stephen M. Wasserman President/CEO Firelands Federal Credit Union

309 Monroe, Inc. DBA

12 March 2013

North Coast Business Journal

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Greater Fostoria Community Foundation Celebrates 15 Years!

In 2013, the Greater Fostoria Community Foundation, Inc. recognizes the 15th anniversary of the first fund established to create the community foundation. Local leaders established the Greater Fostoria Community Foundation (GFCF) to allow those who care about Fostoria to make a lasting investment in their community. As a public, charitable, not-for-profit organization, the mission of the Greater Fostoria Community Foundation is to improve the quality of life by building a permanent endowment to support our community needs in areas such as the arts, culture, humanities, economic development, civic affairs, education, health and social services. The GFCF is a collection of individual funds made up of gifts and bequests from individuals, corporations and other foundations. It is a tax exempt corporation under IRS Code 501(c)(3), making all gifts to the GFCF tax deductible. The Foundation has grown significantly over the last 15 years and now holds a collection of 16 component funds: The Greater Fostoria Community Foundation Fund; The Greater Fostoria Area Community Involvement Fund; Ashland Farms Fund; Burns Family Donor Advised Fund; Camp Fire, USA, Northwest Ohio Council Fund; Richard & Ann Carter Fund; Fostoria Rotary Club Fund; Good Shepherd Home Mothers Day Fund; Leroy T. Kelbley Fund; Howard Knight Fund; Miller Family Donor Advised Fund; Miller Donor Directed Pooled Fund; Mary Esther & Orville Miller Memorial Fund; William F. Reineke, Sr. Donor Advised Fund; Eugene & Elizabeth Schalk Donor Advised Fund; and Robert & Betty Watson Fund. Because only income is typically used for grantmaking, the GFCF provides a permanent resource to support efforts to make life better in our community. The GFCF addresses community needs and opportunities by maintaining a broad grant program available to charitable organizations in Fostoria and the surrounding townships. Since our inception in 1998, the GFCF has distributed over one million grant award dollars nearly $1,243,700 to date to 50 non-profit organizations in the area. After several planning years, the GFCF Boards vision for a significant contribution to the community became a reality in 2012 when the Geary Family YMCA leased Meadowlark Park from the City of Fostoria. As the YMCA took over operations of the park, the Foundation committed to contribute significant funds for major renovation efforts of Meadowlark Park, which was renamed Foundation Park. Distributing nearly $214,000 to the maintenance, operation and renovations of Foundation Park last year, the GFCF will spearhead efforts to raise additional capital this year for further renovations to Foundation Park. In 2012, a separate fenced dog park area was created within the park and major rework was done on fields four and five, which includes new dugouts, fencing, warning track, seeding and more. In 2013, work is expected to begin on new restrooms and a remodel of the concession stand. About the Greater Fostoria Community Foundation, Inc. Since its inception in 1998, the Greater Fostoria Community Foundation has awarded over $1,243,616 in grants to almost fifty (50) charitable organizations within the community of Fostoria and surrounding townships. Donations to help grow the Greater Fostoria Community Foundations endowment fund, or to support the operating fund are always welcome. Contributions are taxdeductible as allowed by law. For more information on the Foundation, see http://www. fostoriacommunityfoundation.com or find Fostoria Community Foundation on Facebook.

Experience Counts
Firelands Corporate Health Center staff have specialized training & certifications in many areas of occupational health medicine. Our team of physicians holds specialized certifications in the following areas: Certified Medical Review Officers Specialized Certifications in Occupational Health Certified for Ohio BWC Impairment Exams & Independent Medical Exams Medical Examiner for FAA Pilot Exams Certified Physician Supervisor for OSHA Audiology Review Support Staff Physicians Over 50 years of combined experience in Occupational Health Clinic leadership Over 35 years of combined experience in Occupational Health Certified Coder Nurse Case Managers for BWC cases Full-time x-ray staff Additional Services Case management Educational classes Employment physicals & specialized physical exams Fingerprinting And much more. For timely & accurate reports, call the regions experienced occupational health provider.

What You Should Know About Talking to an Attorney Online

Q: I need legal advice. Can I find an attorney online? A: Attorneys, like many other professionals, are using social media and websites to develop new relationships with those seeking legal representation. But hiring an attorney online will likely be a multi-step process due to restrictions on lawyers regarding advertising and the obligation to keep client information private. Q: Why cant an attorney just tweet or post on Facebook the answers to my legal questions? A: While social media makes easy for someone to find an attorney, there are many reasons why the attorney is unlikely to answer your question online in real time. Several of these are listed below. Confidentiality. Generally, lawyers owe their clients and prospective clients the right to keep information shared about a legal matter private, unless the client gives consent to share it with others. Exchanges posted on a social media site are hardly private; anyone with access to the site can view communications. For this reason, new rules have been proposed to help ensure that lawyers behave professionally in a world filled with social media. The rules require attorneys to not only be mindful of their conversations online, but also to be very familiar with the technology they use to gather information. Even if you and the attorney share information privately through your personal email, a direct Twitter message or a contact form on the lawyers own website, the attorney must be familiar with whatever online service you are using to exchange information, as well as the privacy settings of that service. Jurisdiction. If someone is communicating online, its not

Want to Improve the Health of Your Business?

With 30 years of experience in occupational health, Firelands Corporate Health Center provides a comprehensive package of occupational and safety services to over 800 companies in the region. Dedicated solely to the practice of occupational health, you can find the level of experience you need to control healthcare costs, meet regulations, and keep your workforce healthy and productive. To find out more about Firelands Corporate Health Center, call 419-557-5052. Hours of Operation: 7 am 5 pm 24/7 coverage for drug & alcohol testing

firelands.com

New Location: 5420 Milan Rd., Sandusky

See LEGAL ONLINE, Page 25

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North Coast Business Journal

March 2013

13

Hospice of Memorial Hospital Receives $1,000 Grant

The Dow Chemical Company Foundation announced that it will provide Hospice of Memorial Hospital with a $1,000 grant to help extend their Veteran Program. According to Vicki Meade, Director of Hospice of Memorial Hospital, We are extremely appreciative of the generosity of Dow Chemical. This grant will help Hospice of Memorial Hospital serve its Veterans at their end-of-life. The grant is part of The Dow Chemical Company Foundations support to local communities where employees and retirees live. The grant is made in recognition of the value of hospice in a communitys health care system and to honor hospice volunteers for their special contribution. Hospice of Memorial Hospital is your hometown hospice; we are committed to giving those in our care the best available service and support possible, said Meade. Hospice of Memorial Hospital has partnered with the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) and the VA in the We Honor Veterans Campaign. The goal of this partnership is to spread awareness of Veterans needs at end-of-life and also express appreciation for their sacrifice. Hospice of Memorial Hospital has a program in place to have a special pinning ceremony for each patient who is a Veteran. Family members and friends are invited to this ceremony where the Veteran is pinned and given a personalized certificate. According the memorialhcs.org/ hospice, Hospice of Memorial Hospital is committed to enhancing quality of life by supporting patients and families physically, emotionally and spiritually. For more information, visit memorialhcs.org/hospice or call 419.547.6419. If you are interested in supporting Hospice of Memorial Hospital, contact Chasity ONeill, director of development and marketing at 419.334.6667 or Chasity.ONeill@ memorialhcs.org. For more information, visit memorialhcs. org.

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14 March 2013

North Coast Business Journal

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Da Vinci to Surgery, please...

A Rich Heritage in Glass

Submitted by Bill King The year 2012 was an exciting year for the Fostoria Glass Heritage Gallery. Thanks to a Greater Fostoria Community Foundation grant the front of the building received a fresh coat of paint. The paint colors are representative of the glass colors on display inside the gallery. We celebrated our 20th anniversary with an open house and dedication of three memorial glass items. Since 1992 weve grown from three display cases to over twenty! We currently display over 1100 glass items and lamps that represent glass production in Fostoria by ten different companies from the period of 1887-1920. The most prominent and recognized companies were: The Fostoria Glass Company, Consolidated Lamp & Glass Company, Seneca Glass Company and the Fostoria Glass Specialty Company. Over 30,000 visitors from every state and many foreign countries have toured the GHG. Celebrating our 20th Anniversary was a great achievement and the people involved that made that possible are too numerous to mention. Since we are a non-profit 501 C (3) organization, were dependent upon public support. Business and individual generosity made our 20th Anniversary a reality! Without the volunteer, unpaid Board, docents and collectors sharing their glass, we could not maintain the facility or display of the beautiful items that we share with others. Were grateful for their support and are working to insure that the Glass Heritage Gallery remains a permanent mainstay in downtown Fostoria! Celebrating 20 years of operation wasnt our only bright spot in 2012. Here are some of the other reasons that 2012 was a great year. Former Fostoria Mayor and Judge Barbara Marley bequeathed funds for Gallery glass purchase that enabled us to purchase a Fostoria Glass Specialty lamp in her memory with that bequest.

Eric Schmidt, M.D., FACS

Medical director of robotic surgery

Beyond Minimally Invasive. First in the Region to Offer this Level of Surgical Technology.

A new member of our Surgical Team has arrived at Fisher-Titus...the da Vinci Surgical Robot.
benefits of In the hands of our da vinci surgery expert surgeons, Smaller incisions our new Robot can Less pain do amazing things. Less scarring Da Vinci technology Faster recoveries gives our surgeons Shorter hospital stays the ability to perform Quicker return to daily activities complex surgical procedures with incredible precision and very tiny incisions. This minimally invasive approach allows us to deliver advanced surgical care to our patients with fewer side effects, faster recoveries, and shorter hospital stays. All right here.

Now thats Simply Smarter Surgical Care.

w w w . f i s h e r - t i t u s . o r g

Through a collectors generosity, we purchased a long sought after, Victoria Fairy Lamp in memory of charter member and newsletter editor Ed Reed. A Fostoria Glass Specialty Hanging Hearts vase was purchased with memorial donations in memory of Mel Murray. Fostoria Mayor Eric Keckler reinstituted the Fostoria Glass Festival. This year the Festival will be on July 19 & 20. We received notice of a possible large donation of glass from an out of town glass collector. An 1894 Consolidated Catalog from Rakau Library at Corning Museum provided information on a number of items shown in the catalog previously unknown as Fostoria. Weve found some of them already! Finally, we closed the year with two grants from Key Bank. One designated for Capital Improvements and the other undesignated from the Henry Geary Trust that Key Bank administers. By the time you read this well be open with our March hours, ThursdaySaturday from 10 until 3. Beginning April 1-December 31 our hours are Tuesday-Saturday from 10 until 4. Visitors are welcome outside those hours and may contact us at 419.435.5077. A sample of our display is shown on our website: www.fostoriaglass.com We had an exciting year in 2012 and the question for 2013 is can we top that? My answer is yes, with continued public and private support we can!

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North Coast Business Journal

March 2013

15

Human Resources
Best Practices for Workplace Investigations
By Steven J. Krisfalusy Sr. HR & Management Consultant At one time or another, most businesses will need to conduct an investigation in their workplace. A few of the Human Resource related reasons for workplace investigations can range from topics such as violations of policies or procedures, violence, theft, suspicion of substance abuse, discrimination, harassment complaints, fighting and the list goes on. It is important to know that how you conduct an investigation will directly impact the end result, how you protect your employees and your company when faced with the need for an investigation. The practices we cover in this article can also be applied to other types of investigations that fall into categories such as: financial, safety, accident or operational. Previous law suits have shown that the law believes an employer has a duty to investigate claims, especially if they fall into the categories of discrimination and harassment issues to name a few. There is also an expectation that the investigation should be conducted in a timely fashion, detailed, documented and be impartial. Being impartial is a critical first step. Make sure the person who will actually conduct the investigation is somewhat knowledgeable regarding applicable federal and state laws. All of the above does impact the end result and should be taken very s e r i o u s l y. The following best practices are just a few that will help you conduct the best investigation possible, uncover the facts and/or build the best case based on facts if legal action is required. Here are a few of the best practices we recommend you a d o p t : Operations or Procedure Manuals should outline a plan & contain forms for conducting an investigation beforehand. The worst thing that you can do is throw someone at an issue to investigate with little to no knowledge of how to conduct it and with no set plan in place. Your plan should include: Denoting who (often by titles) will conduct it depending on what needs investigating; how to maintain confidentiality; questions to help guide them so they know what information needs to be gathered and what needs to be documented are a few examples of what a good plan includes. Responding quickly. The importance of starting the investigation quickly is extremely high. At the same time, doing it right is equally important. This is where your plan really comes into play. No emotional decisions, no chaos, just common sense and best practices followed in an unbiased manner. These practices will help ensure the best results in the quickest time frame which is what everyone wants. Have a notification process on how to advise or alert Management of an issue confidentially. This step should not only be included but you need to be sure all of your people company-wide understand it. This process or procedures would most likely be housed in your HR Employee Manual. It should contain specific details of How to proceed and ideally refer to a preset form. The process needs to be flexible and to be able to handle diverse issues that could require an investigation. One good policy to have in place to maintain confidentiality throughout the investigation process is to treat all information & documentation sharing on a need to know basis only. Breaching confidentiality and finding out allegations were false or unsubstantiated can cause legal repercussions from the person being investigated. You may want to secure the help of an outside HR Advisor. We believe it is also important to ensure there is no negative impact to the individual raising their hand about an issue. The importance of selecting the right person to conduct the investigation. Believe it or not the laws involving workplace investigations vary by industry and by state. In some cases you may want to consider an outside party to conduct the investigation right from the start especially for very sensitive & confidential investigations. Harassment or discrimination allegations of someone in management for example can create numerous confidentiality issues within itself. There is one universal NO-NO policy that should be followed! Do not use someone to conduct the investigation that has any direct reporting relationship with the person/people involved. This could jeopardize the entire task. Document, document, document. This practice could never be overstated. When in doubt, document. Probably one of the biggest areas where documenting falls off is when there is a verbal conversation. You should have a credible witness in the discussion. Take notes as to who is in attendance, date, time and obviously what was discussed. In some cases you may want all of the parties in the discussion sign off on the notes taken for clarity. We hope that we have educated you so that you will raise the importance of the task of being prepared to conduct the best investigation possible when or if an incident occurs. We covered just a few of the best practices that should be used in your HR Policy Manual. As you can see, even a seemingly simple task of investigating an incident can create additional risks and liabilities for the company well beyond the incident itself. One of the best ways to maintain consistent HR Practices and prevent additional legal HR risks & liabilities is to raise the overall importance of the function of HR in your business. Too often the HR responsibilities are added to someones job description who has no/ little knowledge or background in HR to handle such matters. Their decisions & actions could cause the company time & money dealing with our legal system. With the average legal award for an HR issue being $365,000, it makes good business sense to recognize the risks & liabilities now. By having a comprehensive plan in place to address them beforehand and an annual updating will dramatically reduce those liabilities to the company. After all, when it comes to HR litigation, no company is too small. SJK Beringer Group is a diverse team of experts that have advised & implemented solutions on HR & Management issues throughout the Midwest since 1985.

16 March 2013
Business Accounting & Financial Reporting

North Coast Business Journal

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Its time to talk to Payne Nickles.

Whether your business is large or small, an accurate understanding of your financial situation allows you to make solid business decisions while optimizing your resources. Payne Nickles offers a wide range of expert professional help in business activities, including: Debt & Equity Financing Investments Mergers & Liquidations Litigation Support Fraud Investigation and more!

Successful businesses depend on expert financial advice.

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For the expert financial services that your business needs, call one of our two convenient locations: Sandusky Office Norwalk Office 419-668-2552

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March 2013

17

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18 March 2013

North Coast Business Journal

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The Well-Booked Business

By Cathy Allen Some say the ability to hold two opposing ideas in ones head at the same time without going mad is a sign of strength. I say it is a necessary precondition for creating Option C the new and better option that can be invented when the people committed to Option A and the people committed to Option B get tired of fighting and begin to work together. This idea is so powerful in me that I named my consulting firm after it Creative Option C. In many ways this months book is the Option B antithesis to what I regard as the greatest book of the 20th Century, Stephen R. Coveys monumental 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Covey says the pathway to effectiveness is to spend more time and energy on matters that are important but not urgent. John P. Kotter says the way to get others to take ownership of priority action steps is to increase the sense of urgency they feel. How do we reconcile these two notions? I dont know yet, but I intend to hold them both in my head until a Creative Option C emerges (or, you know, until I go mad.) A Sense of Urgency by John P. Kotter (Harvard Business Review Press, 2008) SUMMARY: Because lasting change requires everyone involved to pull together, those who dont see the need for change can be an impediment to those who do. Noting this, change management guru John Kotter made create a sense of urgency the first of his recommendations for launching and sustaining major changes within an organization. (The full eight-step plan can be found in both Our Iceberg is Melting and Leading Change.) This follow up book provides a detailed explanation of how leaders can assess the level of complacency or false urgency within their organization and then address it, working systematically to increase the amount of true urgency coworkers feel. His strategy and tactics make sense, as do his cautions regarding the common mistakes change leaders make. KEY LEARNINGS: The enemy of change is complacency the sense that all is well so why rock the boat? Not everyone feels the same need for altering organizational practices, often because they havent seen the data that shows how the external environment is evolving, or they dont believe it. Complacency can be especially prevalent in successful organizations that have been around for a while. We are talking feelings here, not thoughts, and feelings are more at the heart of individual behavior than rational reviews of evidence are. Stop worrying, many will say when presented with information indicating a need for change. False urgency, on the other hand, is all about feelings of fear (sometimes anger), leading to frenetic activity that is anything but productive. Memories of failed change efforts fuel this kind of angry busy work. No matter what they say, if others are causing delays then they are not feeling true urgency. Sometimes when a group of people decide something together, their agreement is at the intellectual level they dont actually feel the appropriateness of their decision. The strategy for increasing urgency, therefore, is to wrap your best case into an appeal aimed at the heart, and take care to pick the right messenger. Trustworthy people telling stories get farther faster than those who lack credibility or who present emotionless PowerPoints. Until people feel the need for change, they will resist those who do. People inside organizations can sometimes be isolated from what is going on with customers, funders, regulators, and other external stakeholders. This is especially the case where successes have been achieved. Those employees who interact most with customers often have keen insights that decision-makers would do well to hear. The key is to not shield people from bad news or negative feedback. When leaders try to make changes based on data they are seeing but others are not, they set themselves up to fail for lack of real buy-in. Information can help team members feel urgency but only when it is adequate (but not too much), rich in meaning, relevant, and has emotional impact. What we do is much more powerful than what we say, so after telling others that the situation is urgent, we must reinforce our words by the way we comport ourselves. Respond quickly. Spend time on the most important matters only. Refuse to sit through inefficient meetings. Reward others for clearing the decks of unneeded, time-wasting clutter. Make sure your urgency is visible to others and speak about the needed changes with feeling. Since complacency is the real enemy of a change effort, a good crisis can be just the thing to get others moving. If the anxious energy can be productively channeled, new solutions and ways of doing things can be created which will have long-lasting value. The key for leaders is to avoid panic and resist the natural urge to begin damage control efforts which tend to shut down the information flow and insulate the very people whose sense of urgency needs elevating. Sometimes it can be helpful to create a crisis by setting high goals and establishing consequences for not achieving them. There are skeptics in every crowd and we all may play that role from time to time. NoNos (named for a character in Kotters book Our Iceberg is Melting) are not merely skeptical; they can be active saboteurs. NoNos are not interested in information, so trying to educate them rarely works. Ignoring them can be equally disastrous. Better tactics include distracting them with other work assignments or pairing them with someone whose responsibility it is to keep them out of mischief. On occasion, the short-term pain of firing someone is the price of long-term gain. Dont underestimate the havoc a NoNo can do choose one of the productive tactics and act decisively. Urgency is not a one-time tool to employ at the beginning of a change effort. To let urgency fade away after initial wins is to let complacency set in. The only way to sustain success over time is to not rest. If a tactic for increasing urgency works, keep at it. But if the tactics begin to lose their effect, dont hesitate to switch to a different one whenever urgency must be bumped up. The key is to embed the urgency feeling in the organizational culture until behavior is consistently oriented to doing whatever is necessary to help the organization move forward. The world is changing too quickly now for anyone to be complacent. In almost any field one can name, those who are content with the way things are will soon find themselves stuck in the past, their competitors overtaking them. Recognizing this, leaders should adopt a posture of urgency as their permanent modus operandi. Above all, they must act. Local consultant Cathy Allen celebrates her life-long love of books at www. WhatIsCathyReading.com. She invites visitors to download her two-page summaries, comment on her book review blog, or friend her on Goodreads.com.

Serving the business needs of Ohios north coast for 15 years To advertise in North Coast Business Journal contact us at 419-734-4838 or fax 419-734-5382.

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March 2013

19

Ohio Business College Launches New Business Program

Ohio Business College (OBC) is proud to announce a new associate degree program, Administrative Office Professional (AOP), available at the Sandusky and Sheffield Village locations. The two-year program is designed to teach students the office skills desired by employers, in addition to the computer skills necessary to excel in todays business world. Students who graduate with this degree will be prepared to succeed in a variety of job capacities, including administrative assistant, office manager, executive secretary, or customer service representative. The Administrative Office Professional degree programs in Sandusky and Sheffield Village will help students develop necessary technical skills at the same time they Professional majors participate in an externship in their final quarters of study. The externship provides the student with an opportunity to gain experience working in their field, under the combined supervision and evaluation of both a cooperating local business and Ohio Business College. Jackie Marshall, Director of Education for Tri-State Educational Systems, Inc. (parent company of OBC), explained this program is a great opportunity for students to train for a career they can use. The benefits of this program, she explained, are that it will provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary for entry level positions in an office of any size and type (service, merchandising, or manufacturing). Marshall pointed out the AOP program exists out of a desire to graduate students who are immediately prepared to move into a professional setting. After some research, O B C determined that the business community was in need of students trained in the general operation of their business office, she said. As a result, Marshall pointed out, the AOP program offers general office theory, basic general education, and practical, hands-on training in computer software applications. Businesses seeking qualified, professional employees to assist in the day-to-day operations of an office should seriously consider hiring graduates of the Administrative Office Professional associate degree program at Ohio Business College. The AOP program is also a great fit for businesses who wish to enhance the skills of their existing employees.

Jennifer Glance, DO, FACOG

Wesley W. Hedges, MD, FACOG

Kathleen Pool, RN, C-EFM, MSN, CNM

F a m i l y

B i r t h i n g

C e n t e r

Starting life together.

At Mercy, we believe the birth of a child is one of lifes most wonderful experiences. Its why we feel truly privileged to be a part of helping so many parents and babies start their lives together, and why we offer comprehensive programs and services for expectant parents. Mercy Tiffin Hospitals Family Birthing Center is a Level I Perinatal Center, a designation that ensures that you and your baby will receive excellent care during your stay. Specially trained nurses staff the birthing center 24 hours a day, ready to help no matter when your little one decides to arrive. Specially trained lactation consultants are also available to nurture that special bond between Mom and baby. Obstetricians Jennifer Glance, DO, FACOG and Wesley W. Hedges, MD, FACOG, and Certified Nurse Midwife Kathleen Pool, RN, C-EFM, MSN, CNM, are on-call seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Mercy OB/GYN Associates Tiffin is currently accepting patients. By choosing Mercy OB/GYN Associates, you will be selecting physicians and nurse midwives who deliver at Mercy Tiffin Hospitals Family Birthing Center. This provides the comfort of knowing that, throughout your pregnancy, you will receive comprehensive, community-based care that is convenient for you and safer for your baby.

Mercy Tiffin Hospital Family Birthing Center 45 St. Lawrence Drive Tiffin, Ohio 44890 419.455.7200 Mercy OB/GYN Associates Tiffin Dr. Wesley Hedges Kathleen Pool, RN, C-EFM, MSN, CNM 1344 W. Seneca Avenue Tiffin, Ohio 44883 419.447.6900 Mercy OB/GYN Associates Tiffin Dr. Jennifer Glance 2495 W. Market Street Tiffin, Ohio 44883 419.455.7880

are learning exactly what it takes to operate effectively in an office environment. Throughout the training, heavy emphasis is placed on gaining expertise in a host of software applications, while also developing decision-making and interpersonal skills critical to the professional world. The coursework for the program includes classes in computerized accounting, project management, word processing, spreadsheets, desktop publishing, business law, interpersonal communication, help desk essentials, administrative office procedures and more. Finally, Administrative Office

For information about the Family Birthing Center at Mercy Tiffin Hospital, to schedule a tour or sign up for Childbirth Education Classes, please call 419.455.7200.

20 March 2013

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March 2013

21

Does the Medicare Surtax Apply to You?

By: Jeffrey J. Rosengarten, CPA, CFE Payne, Nickles and Company Starting in 2013, high-income taxpayers will face two new taxesa 3.8% Medicare contribution tax on net investment income and a 0.9% additional Medicare tax on wage and self-employment income. Heres an overview of the two new taxes and what they will mean to you. 3.8% Medicare contribution tax. This new tax will only affect taxpayers whose adjusted gross income (AGI) exceeds $250,000 for joint filers and surviving spouses, $200,000 for single taxpayers and heads of household, and $125,000 for a married individuals filing separately. These threshold amounts arent indexed for inflation. Thus, as time goes by, inflation will cause more taxpayers to become subject to the 3.8% tax. Your AGI is the bottom line on Page 1 of your Form 1040. It consists of your gross income minus your adjustments to income, such as the IRA deduction. If you claimed the foreign earned income exclusion, you must add back the excluded income for purposes of the 3.8% tax. If your AGI is above the threshold that applies to you ($250,000, $200,000 or 125,000), the 3.8% tax will apply to the lesser of (1) your net investment income for the tax year or (2) the excess of your AGI for the tax year over your threshold amount. This tax will be in addition to the income tax that applies to that same income. Take, for example, a married couple that has AGI of $270,000 for 2013, of which $100,000 is net investment income. They would pay a Medicare contribution tax on only the $20,000 amount by which their AGI exceeds their threshold amount of $250,000. That is because the $20,000 excess is less than their net investment income of $100,000. Thus, the couples Medicare contribution tax would be $760 ($20,000 3.8%). Now assume that the couples AGI was $350,000. Because their AGI exceeds their threshold amount by $100,000, they would pay a Medicare contribution tax on their full $100,000 of net investment income. Their Medicare contribution tax would then be $3,800 ($100,000 3.8%). What is net investment income? The net investment income that is subject to the 3.8% tax consists of interest, dividends, annuities, royalties, rents, and net gains from property sales. Income from an active trade or business isnt included in net investment income, nor is wage income. However, passive business income is subject to the Medicare contribution tax. Thus, rents from an active trade or business arent subject to the tax, but rents from a passive activity are subject to it. Income from a business of trading financial instruments or commodities is also included in net investment income. Income that is exempt from income tax, such as tax-exempt bond interest, is likewise exempt from the 3.8% Medicare contribution tax. Thus, switching some of your taxable investments into tax-exempt bonds can reduce your exposure to the 3.8% tax. Of course, this should be done with due regard to your income needs and investment considerations. Home sales. Many people have asked how the 3.8% tax applies to home sales. If you sell your main home, you may be able to exclude up to $250,000 of gain, or up to $500,000 for joint filers, when figuring your income tax. This excluded gain wont be subject to the 3.8% Medicare contribution tax. However, gain that exceeds the limit on the exclusion will be subject to the tax. Gain from the sale of a vacation home or other second residence, which doesnt qualify for the income tax exclusion, will also be subject to the Medicare contribution tax. For example, say that a married couple has AGI of $200,000 for 2013 and in addition sold their main home for a $540,000 gain. The couple qualified for the full $500,000 exclusion of gain on the sale, leaving only $40,000 of taxable gain. As a result, the couple wont be subject to the 3.8% tax, because their total AGI ($200,000 + $40,000) will fall below the $250,000 threshold. But if the gain on the home sale was $680,000, of which $180,000 was taxable, the couple would be subject to the 3.8% tax on $130,000 of the gain. That is the amount by which their total AGI of $380,000 ($200,000 + $180,000) exceeds their $250,000 threshold. Retirement plan distributions. Distributions from qualified retirement plans, such as pension plans and IRAs, arent subject to the Medicare contribution tax. However, those distributions may push your AGI over the threshold that would cause other types of investment income to be subject to the tax. This makes Roth IRAs more attractive for higherincome individuals, because qualified Roth IRA distributions are neither subject to the Medicare contribution tax nor included in AGI. Distributions from traditional IRAs will be included in AGI, except to the extent of after-tax contributions, although they wont be subject to the Medicare contribution tax. Estimated tax. The Medicare contribution tax must be included in the calculation of estimated tax that you owe. Thus, if you will be subject to the tax, you may have to make or increase your estimated tax payments to avoid a penalty. I can assist you in making this calculation. Additional 0.9% Medicare tax on wage and self-employment income. Starting in 2013, some high wage earners will pay an extra 0.9% Medicare tax on a portion of their wage income, in addition to the 1.45% Medicare tax that all wage earners pay. The 0.9% tax applies to wages in excess of $250,000 for joint filers, $125,000 for a married individuals filing separately, and $200,000 for all others. The 0.9% tax applies only to employees, not to employers. For joint filers, the additional tax applies to the spouses combined wages. For example, suppose that a married couple earns combined wages of $300,000 in 2013. On a joint return, they will pay Medicare tax of $3,625 ($250,000 1.45%) on their first $250,000 of wages and $1,175 on their combined wages the excess of $250,000 ($50,000 2.35%), for a total Medicare tax of $4,800. Once an employees wages reach $200,000 for the year, the employer must begin withholding the additional 0.9% tax from the wages. However, this withholding may prove insufficient if the employee has additional wage income from another job or if the employees spouse also has wage income. To avoid that result, an employee may request extra income tax withholding by filing a new Form W-4 with the employer. The extra withholding can then be applied to the liability for the additional 0.9% tax. Self-employment tax. An extra 0.9% Medicare tax also applies to self-employment income for the tax year in excess of $250,000 for joint filers, $125,000 for married individuals filing separately and $200,000 for all others. This 0.9% tax is in addition to the regular 2.9% Medicare tax on all selfemployment income. The $250,000, $125,000, and $200,000 thresholds will be reduced by the taxpayers wage income. For example, if a married couple has combined self-employment income of $300,000 for 2013 (and no wages), they will pay Medicare tax of $7,250 ($250,000 2.9%) on the first $250,000 of that income and $1,900 on the excess of their combined self-employment income over $250,000 ($50,000 3.8%), for a total Medicare tax of $9,150. While self-employed individuals can claim half of their self-employment tax as an income tax deduction, the additional 0.9% tax wont generate any income tax deduction. As you can see, these two taxes may have a significant effect on your tax picture going forward. Please consult your tax advisor to discuss how these taxes may affect you. (Authors note: This article is not intended to offer professional tax advice. Please consult your tax advisor.)

Taxes

22 March 2013

North Coast Business Journal

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Something Brewing in Port Clinton this Summer?

Mark Advertising wins Prestigious SIAA Awards

Mark Advertising in Sandusky was recently awarded multiple accolades in the Tenth Annual Service Industry Advertising Awards. The SIAA is the only advertising awards platform to specifically acknowledge the achievements of the service industry. More than 400 advertising agencies and 1,000 institutions participated in this years awards. Nearly 2,000 entries were received and represented twenty-six categories to which judges bestowed 140 Gold, 109 Silver and 82 Bronze awards. Mark Advertising placed in the following categories: Gold Award for Total Advertising Campaign - ChatterYak; Gold Award for Website - Label Aid Inc,GoLabelIt.com; Bronze Award for Mark Advertisings Company Brochure; Merit Award for Newsletter - FisherTitus Medical Center, Health Connections; Merit Award for Total Advertising Campaign - VacationLand Federal Credit Union.

Left to right: Mike Roder, Steve Busby, Cindy Gunderson and Shad Gunderson of Catawba Island Brewing Company In May, Catawba Island Brewing Company will be opening at 2330 East Harbor Road in the Port Clinton area. Life-long Catawba residents Mike Roder, Steve Busby, Cindy and Shad Gunderson are the minds behind what will be the Port Clinton areas only microbrewery and tasting room. The brewmasters will be Shad Gunderson, who has been brewing for over 20 years, and Mike Roder, who has been brewing for six years. Shad and Cindy have travelled throughout the United States and Europe with an emphasis on visiting breweries in Germany, Ireland, Scotland and Belgium, sampling the finest brews and gathering experience. Catawba Island Brewing Company will have a nautical meets industrial look, said Roder. Cindy Gunderson added that was in keeping with the things that define this area--the softness of the peaches and the grapes and the hardness of the rock. One of the seasonal brews will be Catawba Peach Pilsner. The tasting room will regularly feature four brews on tap: McFadden Red Ale, Backer Forward Brown Ale, Couple Three Hops IPA and Pebble Beach Porter. The regular brews and other specialty brews will be available by the pint or in growlers (a jug for take-out draft beer that can hold carbonation for a week or more). Catawba Island Brewing Company will be the first in Ohio to use the high-end stainless steel Bruler growlers. Test batches are being brewed now, including the peach pilsner and an as-yet unnamed Scottish ale, so that they will be ready for production as soon as the construction and licensing are completed. It is anticipated that the microbrewery will open in early May and will stay open year round, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5 to 9 p.m., Fridays from 5 p.m. to midnight, Saturdays from noon to midnight, and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Focus on Sandusky County

Coming in April:

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North Coast Business Journal

March 2013

23

Janotta & Herner Acquires Company

One of the keys to surviving a tough economy is to not have all your eggs in one basket. The more baskets the better. Janotta & Herner has known this for a long time and has taken steps to prove it. In June 2012, JHI purchased the former Rankin Mfg. Company in new London, Ohio. The new company is now called Firelands Fabrication and specializes in fabricating ferrous metals for business and industry. At the time of the acquisition, the company had ten employees. They are now at nineteen and growing. This addition to Janotta & Herner has necessitated a corporate restructuring and the formation of 309 Monroe, Inc. Both Janotta & Herner and Firelands Fabrication are now subsidiaries of 309 Monroe, Inc. According to Jim Limbird Janotta & Herner Firelands Fab, JHIs fab shop can now specialize in non-ferrous metal fabrication, while the ferrous metal fabrication can take place in New London. Dan Matson Firelands Fabrication Manager, states, The benefits to the New London community by this business remaining open and even expanding, are huge. As the local and national economies begin to recover, we are positioned perfectly to be a part of this growth. We are extremely excited. Janotta & Herner is a 50 year old Design/Build contractor with over 150 employees. Located in Monroeville, Ohio, they operate in north central Ohio, but have recently taken on projects as far away as Tennessee and Alabama.

President, This made real sense for our company. We are now able to not only produce a better product for JHI, but supply the fabrication needs of area contractors as well. He adds, Janotta & Herner has always had a fab shop, but by adding

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24 March 2013

North Coast Business Journal

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Legal
SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE/EXECUTOR DUTIES
By Jeff Roth Your dad died and you have been named the executor or the trustee. What is your job? You are a fiduciary. You are responsible for taking care of something that belongs to someone else. Your dad provided a document that sets forth your guidelines. It is your job to follow his directions and have a loyalty to all beneficiaries to protect and distribute in accordance with the document and the law. State statutes further govern your duty to pay all legal obligations and sell or distribute to the correct beneficiaries exactly as the document dictates. You have discretion, if given in the document, but you must always act for the benefit and protection of the beneficiary and not any personal gain. As a beneficiary, you will receive your stated share but you cannot take any action that would favor your personal position over the rights of the other named beneficiaries. That fiduciary duty protects others to insure proper distribution under the law. Your authority should be clearly stated in the instrument or in the State statutes. You must always act in a prudent manner. You cannot place one hundred thousand dollars in a noninterest bearing account. Even though today the rates are minimal, you must work to have all assets gain in value for the benefit of the beneficiaries. A trustee must protect and preserve all assets. He must sell or distribute in a timely manner. He also must follow the prudent investor rule. If there is a large stock portfolio, he must sell and convert the stock to cash if there is any volatility with the stock. If the trustee fails to act and the stock declines sharply in value without action on his part, he could be held personally liable for his inaction by the other beneficiaries. The trustee must investigate and locate all assets. If he finds an old insurance policy, he has a duty to check with the company to see if it is active. Many policies go unclaimed because no one took the time to determine if it still has value. If the trustee finds any old passbooks or signs of activity at any bank he should take the time to determine if it has been completely closed. The trustee/executor must also maintain accurate records and account for all assets and any income derived from these assets. Prior to closing the trust, he has a duty to provide a written accounting to all beneficiaries so that they know that all of the assets are accounted for and distributed. The trustee or executor must also insure that all past and present taxes are fully paid. He must file a final personal income tax return and a fiduciary income tax return for the time from the death of his father until the final distribution. Most of this is common sense but if the trustee does not do his job, he stands the chance of being personally liable for his misdeeds or lack of performing his duties as a fiduciary. There are many more duties as trustee that will be discussed in future articles. Jeff Roth is a partner with David Bacon and associate Jessica Moon of the firm ROTH and BACON with offices in Port Clinton, Upper Sandusky, Marion, Ohio and Fort Myers, Florida. All members of the firm are licensed in Ohio and Florida. Mr. Roths practice is limited to wealth strategy planning and elder law in both states. Nothing in this article is intended for, nor should be relied upon as individual legal advice. The purpose of this article is to provide information to the public on concepts of law as they pertain to estate and business planning. Jeff Roth can be reached at ohiofloridatrust@aol.com (telephone: 419-732-9994) copyright Jeffrey P. Roth 2013.

Area Businesses Now Have New Get off your ASTEROID Option for Staff Development and place your ad in this . W -B B C C L P
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SPACE

Businesses and other organizations in Northern Ohio now have a new option for staff development. The North Coast Business Journals WellBooked Business Columnist Cathy Allen has put together a new leadership program based on her passion for great books in business, management, and personal growth. The program is being offered through Allens organizational development consulting firm, Creative Option C, LLC. Option C Leaders groups will read proven, time-tested, skill-building literature, gather monthly at their place of employment to discuss strategies for applying their discoveries, conduct assessments of themselves and their teams, and access a variety of other resources for additional learning. Creative Option C will work with individual employers

to develop their unique program of study and facilitate the process. Option C is the name I give to the solution people invent together when their attachments to well-established positions (Option A vs. Option B) are no longer functional, explains Allen. Good leaders help others move toward these new solutions and this is just one of the many leadership skills that can be learned and improved through study and practice. Option C Leaders will help employees gain and apply this and numerous other critical skills required in todays workplaces. Option C Leaders differs from other staff development programs in that it is offered on-site and provides tailored, self-guided learning. More information is available at www. CreativeOptionC.com

Call Dave at 419-341-3310 or email at dkahler@ncbj.net

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for ad rates that are

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LEGAL ONLINE, from Page 12
always easy to determine where that person is physically located or where the legal matter at issue took place. Lawyers are only allowed to represent clients in jurisdictions where they are licensed to practice. For example, a lawyer licensed to practice only in Ohio cannot give specific legal advice to a person whose legal issue is in Michigan. Conflicts of interest. Lawyers must avoid discussing legal matters with anyone who might have interests that conflict with that lawyers existing clients. If a lawyer simply responds in real-time to a person online in hopes of signing up a new client, that lawyer may later discover that the new client is involved in a legal matter in opposition to another client who is currently being represented by the lawyer or the lawyers firm. Lawyer ethics do not allow such a conflict of interest, so the lawyer will not be able to represent the new client. Q: If lawyers wont provide answers online, why are they using social media?

March 2013

25

Firelands Regional Medical Center to Renovate and Relocate Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit
Firelands Regional Medical Center has begun construction on the renovation and relocation of its Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit. The $6.5 million project, expected to be completed by the end of this year, will include 25,826 square feet of space located on the fifth floor of the hospitals patient tower at Firelands Regional Medical Centers Main Campus facility. When the patient tower was originally constructed in 2006, Firelands officials had the foresight to build a fifth floor for future expansion. Because of that, all of the electrical and mechanical infrastructure is already in place. The only noticeable part of the construction project from the exterior of the facility will be a temporary external elevator on the side of the building which will be used to take construction materials up to the fifth floor. The new location will include 26 private patient rooms and four semiprivate patient rooms, allowing for a total of 34 patients. Each patient room will include a private restroom and shower, whereas the rooms on the existing unit at Firelands South Campus do not. There are a lot of efficiencies built into this, said Martin Tursky, President and CEO of Firelands Regional Health System. We can provide better care and quicker service to our patients. Patients will also have access to all available resources the Main Campus offers such as Code Teams, On-site Pharmacy, Respiratory Service and Radiology. In addition to being more convenient for patients, the hospital is saving $1.2 million by relocating the unit to Firelands Main Campus instead of renovating the current unit at Firelands South Campus. Also, renovation of the existing unit would have taken over two years versus the 11-month build-out of the fifth floor. Keeping the patients needs in the forefront, Firelands staff spoke with inpatient rehabilitation patients and their families to find out what would best meet their needs. The new facility will incorporate many of these suggestions. For instance, the new unit will include a transitional suite for patients to practice in an environment that mimics a home bedroom as well as a therapy area with adaptive equipment and features to prepare patients for re-integration into the community. This includes curbs and ramps and a car simulator. Patients will also be able practice home skills in a kitchen area and dining area featuring a variety of seating options. When you talk to patients and their families, you realize what you take for granted, said Shelly Delamatre, director of physical therapy and occupational therapy at Firelands Regional Medical Center. We took the elements they suggested and worked on them right away. Firelands Regional Medical Center provides the areas only Inpatient Rehabilitation program, which is a much more intensive program than rehabilitation services offered in an outpatient setting or at subacute (skilled nursing) facility. According to Shenell Hinton, area director of case management and inpatient rehabilitation at the Inpatient Rehabilitation program at Firelands Regional Medical Center, Firelands offers an intensive therapy program for patients transitioning from the hospital, post-surgery, or following an illness or injury. Therapy is provided a minimum of 15 hours per week as compared to other facilities that may only provide three to five hours of therapy per week. Our therapy is designed to get patients back to maximum functioning in the shortest time period possible for the patient and his or her specific condition. Patients are seen daily by a physician and all of our nurses are Certified and Registered in Rehabilitation Nursing (CRRN), said Hinton. We provide quality, comprehensive care. In fact, because of outstanding results and excellence in care, Firelands Inpatient Rehabilitation program has received recognition as top 10% in the nation.

A: While certain restrictions and obligations make providing online legal advice difficult, a lawyer can provide general legal information to educate the public. Such educational information is likely to include a statement indicating that the information provided is general and not a substitute for personal legal advice. This statement serves as a warning that the information being provided will not necessarily pertain to an actual legal situation described by someone who is seeking legal advice. In legal matters, each case is different and one size does not fit all, but an attorneys explanation of the law may help someone know what questions to ask a lawyer during a consultation about his or her particular case.

This Law You Can Use column was provided by the Ohio State Bar Association. It was prepared by Columbus attorney Dan Trevas. Articles appearing in this column are intended to provide broad, general information about the law. Before applying this information to a specific legal problem, readers are urged to seek advice from an attorney.

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Succession Planning
By Roger Bostdorff Succession Planning, how is this going to work for the company that I/we own? When I/we retire from the company I/ we now own and operate, how do we make that transition? What is the right answer? What is fair? Is fair and equal the same thing? Recently I have been involved with multiple firms from a succession planning standpoint. I have sat in meetings where all of these questions and more have been discussed. There have been two primary scenarios. The first scenario, believe it or not, is the easy one. You have a business owned by parents or family members that have heirs involved in the business. The plan is for the heir/s to take over the business when the parents want to retire. The current ownership wants to insure that they have a good lifestyle going forward for themselves. However, they may also want to insure that their heir/s do not to go into significant debt when taking over the business. How do you do that? What do you do if you have some children involved in the business and other children not involved in the business? Mom always made sure that at Christmas everyone got the same value of gifts. Should inheritance work the same way? Maybe ???

Sales
When you have a valuation done for your company you may find out that it is worth less than you thought. By identifying that issue as early as possible there are higher odds that something can be done to fix this challenge. You have built this successful company and can see that you want to reap the rewards of ownership by transferring appropriately what you have built to your heir/s or sell the company to others. Defining this plan makes a lot of sense. Not creating a plan because it sounds complicated or it might hurt someones feelings is a bad idea. By not defining the plan now you increase the odds that someones feelings will be hurt in the future. By not defining the plan now you increase your odds that the lifestyle you are looking for will not become a reality. Please take some time to define what you want to do and then get some help to lay it out. Good luck! Roger Bostdorff is the President of B2B Sales Boost. He spent over 30 years with IBM in sales and sales management. B2B Sales Boost is a consulting company helping organizations improve their sales and overall business processes. B2B Sales Boost, LLC also helps firms create Succession Plans. You can find more about B2B Sales Boost on the web at www.b2bsalesboost. com or calling 419-351-4347. If you would like to receive the B2B Sales Boost Newsletter please send an email to sales@b2bsalesboost.com

The other succession planning scenario, which is much more challenging, would be that there are no heirs involved in the business, therefore, the current ownership is looking to maximize the dollars they receive from the sale of their business. They are going to sell to outsiders or maybe to current employees. How much time do they have before they want to move on? The owners have ascertained that they need a certain $$ amount to take care of their financial needs going forward. The easy situation is when the business is worth what they need and they can find a buyer that will pay that amount. What do you do if you dont know the value of the company? What do you do if the amount needed is higher than the current value of the company? Is the companys value increasing or decreasing? What is the market like relative to selling the company currently? What do you do if you dont know what you will need to sell the company for going forward? Wow, there are a lot of questions! This sounds very confusing. Lets just put this aside for now and get back to it later. Please dont!!! The critical element here is defining the plan. Without a plan you will not likely hit your financial or time target. These are very interesting conversations that need to happen. Many times you find out that the ownership team of husband and wife are not on the same page. A plan allows for the ownership team to talk thru the plan and work it out.

Terra State Announces Reorganization

Dr. Jerome E. Webster, president of Terra State Community College, announced at the 2013 spring convocation a reorganized campus structure. Included in the new structure is the creation of the institutional advancement division to be headed by Senior Vice President Lisa Williams. College departments included in the new ROSENGARTEN division include marketing and public relations, alumni, growth development, special events and government relations. Williams will also oversee the Terra College Foundation as interim executive director. Jack Fatica has been appointed Vice President for Academic Affairs, part of the vacancy left by Williams. The college has also secured the services of Kathy McCabe, to serve as the interim Vice President for Student Success and Dean of Students. The college is conducting an active search for that position with hopes of filling the top spot in student services by July 1. Other promotions and appointments include: Elaine Rosengarten, Director of Facilities and Plant Operations Lyn Sullivan, Dean of Liberal Arts and Public Service (interim title removed) Heath Martin, Associate Dean of Students MCCABE Rossanna Christian, Library Assistant/Reference Lindsey Griffin, Human Resources Associate for Benefits Jill Simpson, Administrative Coordinator for the Vice President for Institutional Advancement Destry Weaver, Library Assistant All are Fremont residents, except Sullivan, who lives in Perrysburg; Griffin who is a Green Springs resident; and Weaver, who lives in Tiffin.

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On The Move
Memorial Hospital Welcomes New President
Pam Jensen started as president at Memorial Hospital in January 2013. She replaces Wes Oswald, who had served as interim CEO since April 2011. Jensen is an experienced health care leader; she has worked in the ProMedica system for 15 years. Jensen brings a passion for quality and safety to the post; she also believes the hospital is well positioned for success. Memorial Hospital is a community gem, she said. It has an engaged workforce, a team of passionate physicians, and board members dedicated to enhancing hospital services. Coming to Memorial Hospital from ProMedica Flower Hospital, where she served as senior vice president for operations, Jensen has also served as executive director at the ProMedica Cancer Institute. Her previous leadership experience has prepared her well for her new role at Memorial Hospital. Ive always led by example, and believe that utilizing quality data is essential to making successful strategic decisions, said Jensen. As we begin to plan for the future at Memorial, Im excited to be part of the team that pushes the cemented my health hospital to the next level of excellence. care career, added Excellence in health care is an expression that Jensen. It taught Jensen has become more familiar with in recent me a lot about life, years. While at Flower Hospital, Jensen was part of and I think every the team that wrote The Partnership for Excellence young adult could (TPE) application, which won (the hospital) benefit from platinum level recognition for performance spending some time excellence, innovation and visionary leadership in in that type of health care. Flower Hospital was the only hospital facility. in Ohio, Indiana and West Virginia, which is Memorial Hospital where this honor is awarded, to earn the platinum- is a non-profit, level recognition. community-based According to Jensen, Being part of the team at health care provider Flower that earned the TPE distinction was truly that has served the an honor. At Memorial, there is no reason that we Sandusky County cant earn similar recognitions. area since 1918. The Jensen was born at Memorial Hospital. She is the hospital is a state-of-the-art medical center with youngest of nine children, and has lived in the more than 150 physicians and nearly 500 Oak Harbor/Port Clinton area for most of her life. employees. The hospital provides a comprehensive Jensen started her career in health care when she range of services, including the surgery, obstetrics/ was 17 as a nursing assistant at a long-term care pediatrics and intensive care, as well as hospice facility. and 11:18:48 occupational and mental health services. For ncbj1111AHAC.pdf 11/2/11 AM The job I had working in long-term care more information, visit memorialhcs.org.

Sanduskys Merry-GoRound Museum: New Board Members for 2013

The executive board is President Wendy Dobyns, Vice-President John Mears, Secretary Ruth Parker, Treasurer Bridget Castle, and PastPresident Judy Corso. The Board also consists of Steve Hottinger, who is chair of the Collections Committee, Gabriele Beck (Grant Committee Chair), Brian Dickman, Ron Albert, Nancy McKeen, Gary Mortus, Dan Sabolsky, Darlene Wood, Ted Homberger (Personnel Chair), Jeanne Johnson (Education Committee Chair), Joyce Leimbach, Cathy Platte, Harry Stenzel, Gary Schimmel, and Michael Young. Joan VanOfferen from Shores and Islands, Peter Zehringer from Erie County Development Corps, Amy Porter from The Volunteer Center, and City Commissioner Diedre Cole serve as exofficio members. There are a few openings on the museums board for interested community members. Please contact the museum for additional information.

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On The Move
Faeth Honored With Leadership Award
Betsy Faeth, RN, BS, M Ed., director, i n f e c t i o n prevention, safety and customer service, was recognized as the next recipient of the quarterly ProMedica Fostoria C o m m u n i t y Hospital Big Kahuna leadership award. Faeth was selected by fellow leader and past recipient of the award, Matt Cobb, supervisor, environmental services. I am honored and blessed to work with so many talented, dedicated and caring individuals who together work hard to make this the best hospital in the area, said Betsy Faeth of her achievement. Faeth, a Fostoria native, joined the ProMedica Fostoria Community Hospital team 26 years ago, and boasts more than 32 years of experience as a nurse. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family including her husband of 30 years, Jeff (Beau), and four children, Jesse, Emily, Holly and Kelly. She also likes to cook, garden, paint and spend time at the lake with family and friends.

Trained and Ready

(L-R) Back row: Instructor John Majoy, Caleb Harmon, Thayne Telquist, Tom Abram, Joseph Helle, David Rees, Christian Ortolani, Commander Jim Bond. Front row: Robin Nichols, Jenna Borton, Rachel Hinojosa, Anthony Fries. Congratulations to the recent EHOVE Adult Career Center Police Academy graduates. The program consisted of ten students with their instructor John Majoy and their commander James Bond. The EHOVE Adult Career Center Police Academy offers the complete Ohio Peace Officer Basic Training Academy. This course meets the required OPOTC minimum hours

Peg Benner New Clyde Financial Center Manager

Michael C. Spragg, President and CEO of The Old Fort Banking Company, is pleased to announce that Peg Benner has accepted the position as the Financial Center Manager at Old Forts Clyde office. Continuing her financial education throughout the years, Ms. Benner is a graduate of Seneca East High School and attended Tiffin University. Peg and her husband, Phil, reside in Republic. The couple has three adult children, Brook (Mike) Penny, Bryan (Megan) Benner and Leslie Benner. The Benners enjoy spending time with their 4 grandchildren; Skylar, Braxton, Jack and Brynlee. Dedicated in serving her community, Ms. Benner completed Leadership Sandusky County, served on the Sandusky County American Cancer Society Board and is a past board member of the Kiwanis Club.

making students eligible to receive their basic OPOTC Certification. Students received additional nonmandatory specialized training and certifications. If you or someone you know would like to enroll for the next Police Academy Program, contact EHOVE Adult Career Center at (419) 4994663 x280. More information is available at www.EHOVE.net.

HealthLink Welcomes Local Business and Community Dr. Murphy Renews Board Certification Leaders for Open House Brian R. Murphy, Medicine (ABIM).
MD, FACP from Cleveland Clinic Cancer Centers North Coast Cancer has successfully renewed his board certification in hematology from the American Board of Internal ABIM works to enhance the quality of health care by certifying internists and sub-specialists who demonstrate the knowledge, skill, and attitudes essential for excellent care. Board certification is voluntary and includes an exam that tests a physicians ability to diagnose and treat patients with a broad range of conditions.

Dr. Smith with Fremont Fire Chief Dave Foos and Assistant Fire Chief Dean Schneider. including its imaging equipment and testing rooms and got to know HealthLink staff. According to Dr. Smith, I really enjoyed getting to know leaders from the area, as well as discussing the importance of the services we provide with them.

On February 27, HealthLink, Memorial Hospitals occupational health service, welcomed area business and community leaders to tour its facilities in the hospitals Herbert-Perna Center for Physical Health, as well as to meet new Chief Medical Officer Kevin Smith, M.D. Attendees checked out the center,

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Lesley Wadsworth to Head Downtown Fremont Inc.

After a search process that yielded eleven applicants for the job, Fremont resident Lesley Wadsworth has been selected as D o w n t o w n Fremont, Inc.s next Executive Director. She will assume her new duties on February 18. The Director position became open when former Director Angie Morelock accepted a position with the Chamber of Commerce of Sandusky County. The part time Downtown Fremont Executive Director position is for 24 hours weekly. Ms. Wadsworth has a Master of Arts degree in English and a Bachelors degree in Advanced Technical Education, both from Bowling Green State University. She currently works for the National Center for Family and Marriage Research in Bowling Green, Ohio, and previously was the Public Relations Administrator at the Sandusky County Soil and Water Conservation District and an adjunct faculty instructor at Tiffin University. Ben Kenny, Chairman of the Downtown Fremont Organization Committee and a member of the search committee, noted that The top four candidates had great interviews and we unanimously agreed the best candidate was Lesley Wadsworth. Lesley has strong communication skills and is very creative; she is energetic and anxious to learn new things. Downtown Fremont, Inc. has operated since 2001 as the central organization promoting Fremonts central business district, coordinating events, and boosting downtown economic development and revitalization. It follows the four point Main Street approach which emphasizes organization, promotions, design and economic restructuring. Information is available on the organizations website, www. downtownfremontohio.org

On The Move

Back Row: Bill Back, MD, Robert Secor, MD, James Rosso, MD, David Jump, DO Front Row: Evillo Domingo, MD, Nancy Verhoff, MD, Alison Winans, PA-C, Alicia Rendon, CNP

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Mercy is committed to providing accessible and convenient primary care services. Mercys primary care providers are dedicated to providing quality medical care to the community, and meeting their patients medical needs. Patients have the option of choosing from five convenient office locations and eight providers. To find out how you can become a Mercy Primary Care patient, please call one of the five office locations.
Mercy Primary Care Willard 1100 Neal Zick Road 419.933.2811 or 419.935.6761 Mercy Primary Care Greenwich 65 W. Main Street 419.752.1811 Mercy Primary Care New Washington 202 W. Mansfield Street 419.492.1300 Mercy Primary Care Shiloh 21 W. Main Street 419.896.3844 Mercy Primary Care Plymouth 25 Spring Street 419.687.5781

National Bank of Ohio (NBOH) Appoints New Board Member

National Bank of Ohio is pleased to announce their most recently appointed Director, Tom R. Helberg. Appointed at the January 2013 Board of Directors meeting, Helbergs expertise as an attorney and real estate investor located in Sylvania with holdings throughout NW Ohio area will be an asset to the Board. Helberg will also serve as a director of the Holding Company, Indebancorp. NBOH has been in business since 1934 and is an independently-owned provider of financial services to businesses and consumers. Currently, NBOH operates four full service offices located in Oak Harbor, Curtice, Port Clinton and Oregon; along with two loan production offices in Perrysburg and Fremont.

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On The Move
Memorial Hospital Associate Earns National CT Certification
Jennifer Meyer, R.T. (CT) recently earned certification in Computed Tomography from the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (AART). Meyer, Clyde resident, has been with Memorial Hospital since 1982. According to Nate Perkins, director of diagnostic imaging, To earn her CT certification, Jennifer completed educational requirements, passed a certification examination and pledged to abide by stringent ethical requirements. Perkins believes that Meyers certification is one more example of the imaging departments commitment to excellence. Our department boasts gold seal accreditation from the American College Radiology; we also have excellent turnaround times for our test results, and utilize board certified physicians in a wide variety of specialties to read our results. Memorial Hospital is a non-profit, community-based health care provider serving the 150 physicians and nearly 500 employees. The hospital provides a comprehensive range of services, including the surgery, obstetrics/pediatrics and intensive care, as well as occupational and mental health services. The imaging department offers CT, MRI, PET, digital mammography, ultrasound, x-ray and more. Evening and weekend appointments are also available for many of the available procedures. For more information, visit memorialhcs. org/diagnostic-imaging. The AART promotes high standards of patient care by recognizing qualified individuals in medical imaging, interventional procedures, and radiation therapy. Headquartered in St. Paul, Minn., it tests, certifies, and annually registers more than 300,000 radiologic technologists across the U.S. The ARRT ensures their continuing education and ongoing ethics compliance by requiring annual registration of certificates

Sandusky County area since 1918. The hospital is a state-of-the-art medical center with more than

Financial Advisor Attends Social Security Seminar

Chris McIntire, President and Founder of McIntire Retirement Services with offices in P e r r y s b u r g , Fremont and Port Clinton, recently attended a two-day Social Security seminar in Cincinnati. Premier Living, a Social Security consulting firm based out of Sharonville, Ohio, held the seminar. I specialize in working with clients who are in retirement or approaching retirement, and this seminar was very timely and helpful in covering the many issues associated with claiming Social Security benefits, says McIntire. The people putting on the seminar were very experienced in dealing with the Social Security Administration, so they provided unique insights and perspectives. McIntire says the average person doesnt understand the Social Security system and that there are many misconceptions about it. My clients want to know how much they will receive from Social Security, when they should apply, and when they should start receiving benefits. The seminar gave us insight on how to handle individual cases. McIntire Retirement Services has offices in Perrysburg and Fremont as well as a new office in Port Clinton. He resides in Woodville with his wife, Robin and three dogs. For more information about McIntire Retirement Services, visit www. mcintireretirementservices.com

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Memorial Hospital Nurses Complete Class on Trauma Nursing

All of Memorial Hospitals Emergency Department nurses recently passed the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC). The ENA provides TNCC education in order to identify a standardized body of trauma nursing knowledge. According to Corey Leber, R.N., director of the Memorial Hospital Emergency Department, completing the TNCC will enhance the care provided from the department. Emergency nurses are essential to any team providing trauma care, he said. By completing this course, our nurses have refined their core trauma care delivery skills.

Emergency nurses (from L to R) Corey Leber, Christy Fitzbatrick, Lisa Relford, Heather Vargo and Tonya Emrich.

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