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Membership Matters
News from
the Zanesville-Muskingum County Chamber
of Commerce
April 20, 2010
In this
Issue:
- Lessons in Leadership from Coach Jim
Tressel
- Wage Survey Begins
- Chamber Members Invited to Art Walk
- Small Businesses Create Jobs
- Save on Workers Comp
- Final Friday Membership Meeting
- Health Reform Information
- Visit Chamber on Facebook
- Foreign Trade Missions
- Business Category Profile
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Lessons in Leadership from Coach Jim Tressel
Coach Jim Tressel's leadership style and
philosophy have been captured in his book,
and now they are brought to you in this 3
hour seminar by the same name. The seminar
has received rave reviews from attendees
across the state, and chamber members now
have the opportunity to experience it here
in our own community.
The seminar will be held on May 20 from 9 am
to 12 noon at Eaglesticks. Reservations are
required and can be made by sending an email
to
kirvin@zmchamber.comor by calling our
office at 455-8282. Admission is $20 per
person for chamber members and $75 for non
members.
The qualities that make a good coach and a
good football program great have been
documented by the Ohio State University
Leadership Center through the creation of
this unique leadership training seminar that
has been designed to meet the needs of
businesses and other organizations.
Although
Coach Tressel himself will NOT be present,
he will join you via a DVD recording to talk
about the main points of his leadership
approach. Beth Flynn from the OSU Leadership
Center will facilitate the program, lead the
discussion, and provide additional content.
For more information about the seminar
visit this link.
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Wage Survey Begins
You are invited to participate in the annual
Wage & Benefit Survey, which is an important
tool for all area businesses. The survey is
sponsored by the Muskingum Growth
Partnership, the Port Authority, and the
Muskingum Valley Human Resource Management
Association.
The survey results can be used to compare
your pay rates and benefit levels to other
area employers and to make budget plans for
the following year. The results are also
used as a resource by new businesses
considering locating here. Your business
data will not be shared publicly - the
results do not include any company names.
To complete the survey visit
www.zmchamber.comand find the wage
survey button in the left margin of the
homepage.
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Chamber Members Invited to Monthly Art
Walk
The Artist Colony of Zanesville and the
Zanesville Downtown Association hold an art
walk downtown on the first Friday of each
month, and it is the perfect networking
opportunity for chamber member businesses.
Its fun, its casual, the artwork is first
class, and the large turnout makes it a
great place to interact with others and
promote your business.
You can start the evening at the gallery or
venue of your choice, and make your way
around town at your own pace. There are of
course a variety of antique stores,
restaurants, and other businesses open, too,
and the monthly entertainment line up
includes adult comedy and music. There is
also a shuttle bus courtesy of Zandex if you
get tired of walking.
Again, this is a great networking
opportunity, and we are encouraging members
that are seeking more chances to network to
attend. Mark your calendar for the next art
walk on May 7.
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Small Businesses Create Jobs, Grow
Fast
A new study says that focusing on small fast
growing firms may be a very productive
economic development strategy.
"High-Growth Firms and the Future of the
American Economy", the third in the Kauffman
Foundation Research Series on Firm Formation
and Economic Growth, draws on a special
tabulation conducted by the Census Bureau at
the Kauffman Foundation's request,
calculated from the Business Dynamics
Statistics (BDS) database.
The research showed that the top-performing
1 percent of firms generate roughly 40
percent of all new jobs. Further, the study
showed, so-called "gazelle" firms (ages
three to five) comprise less than 1 percent
of all companies, yet generate roughly 10
percent of new jobs in any given year. The
"average" firm in the top 1 percent
contributes 88 jobs per year, and most end
up with between 20 and 249 employees. The
average firm in the economy as a whole, on
the other hand, adds two or three net new
jobs each year.
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How to Save on Workers Comp Insurance
Alternative discounts to consider when group
rating isn't an option: Over half of Ohio's
private employers will not be in a group
rating program effective July 1, 2010. If
you are one of these employers, you will
have an array of alternative rating programs
to consider.
This article is part of a series designed to
give an overview of these programs and
help you decide which programs you should
evaluate further.
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Final Friday Membership Meeting
Mark your calendars for the Final Friday
Membership Meeting on April 30th, at 8:00 am
at the Welcome Center. Attorney Mark Watson
will discuss the status of federal estate
tax in the U.S. and the effect on businesses
and individuals. RSVP to
jriddle@zmchamber.com or 455-8282 if you
plan to attend.
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Health Reform Information
Here's a nice summary of the healthcare
reform act that was recently adopted by
Congress, courtesy of our board chairman
Jason Heins from Allegra Print & Imaging.
Also,
here's an articlethat talks about a
positive related to this bill: An immediate
tax break for some small businesses that pay
health insurance premiums.
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Visit Chamber on Facebook for daily
updates
Please
visit the Chamber's Facebook page for
daily updates on chamber activities. And if
you are a Facebook user, become a "fan" of
the page so these updates come right to your
account.
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State of Ohio Trade MIssions
State of Ohio Business Development Trade
Mission to China
June 21-30, 2010
Lisa Patt-McDaniel, Director of the Ohio
Department of Development (ODOD), will lead
a trade mission focused on attracting new
foreign direct investment and promoting Ohio
exports. The trip will target the
transportation and advanced energy
industries. The ODOD Global Markets
Division will recruit representatives from
economic development organizations, local
governments, corporate and professional
service providers, manufacturers and service
companies, labor leaders, universities and
research institutions to participate during
the 10-day mission. The trip will include
stops in the cities of Beijing, Wuhan and
Shanghai. Details: http://development.ohio.gov/GlobalMarkets/documents/china_Trifold_-_6_ind_pgs_FINAL.pdf
or call Randy Hochstetter at 614-644-6397 or
email: Randolph.Hochstetter@development.ohio.gov
State of Ohio Export Trade Mission to Japan
June 28 - July 2, 2010
The Ohio Department of Development's Global
Markets Division is accepting applications
for an export mission to Japan.
Participants will attend the Renewable
Energy Japan 2010/Photovoltaic Japan 2010
exhibitions, and will visit with Japanese
renewable energy companies in Tokyo and
Osaka. Details: http://development.ohio.gov/GlobalMarkets/documents/japan_Flierfinal.pdf
or call Ryan Miller at 614-644-6476 or
email: Ryan.Miller@development.ohio.gov.
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