geauga Business - Middlefield, Ohio...opportunities. A close analysis of middlefield’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, or sWot, reveals several avenues worth investigating

BusinessgeaugaV o l u m e 1 I s s u e 2

Hutter Racing Engines and Hutter Performance Center Celebrate Winning Track Record pg 4

Just Horsing Around at Windt im Wald pg 12

Specs4Us Puts Life Into Focus for Children with Special Needs pg 14

PLUS:

P u b l i s h e rChris Yuhasz

Owner, Persistence of Vision Communications, Inc.

e d i t o r - i n - C h i e fMargie Wilber

Owner, Write 2 the Point

C o n t r i b u t i n g W r i t e r sMargie Wilber

Jennifer Seward

Anita Stocker

Robert Cannon

Kristen Lewis

C o n t r i b u t i n g e d i t o r sAnita Stocker

d e s i g nEllen Seguin

Write 2 the Point

P r i n t i n g / d i s t r i b u t i o nPersistence of Vision Communications, Inc.

Persistence of Vision, Inc.12021 ravenna roadChardon, oh [email protected] p. 440.286.5616 x222

1 m i d d l e f i e l d M E A n S b u S I n E S S

4 h u t t e r r a c i n g e n g i n e s & h u t t e r p e r f o r m a n c e c e n t e r c e l e b r a t e w i n n i n g t r a c k r e c o r d

6 s u n r i s e s p r i n g s s u c c e s s i s c r y s t a l c l e a r

8 c o m m u n i t y i m p r o v e m e n t c o r p o r a t i o n c e l e b r a t e s 4 2 n d a n n u a l s a l u t e t o b u s i n e s s a n d i n d u s t r y

10 n o s o u r g r a p e s a t A u b u r n t w i n o a k s w i n e r y w o r k e t h i c , s u s t a i n a b i l i t y , c h a r i t y g r o w h e r e

12 j u s t h o r s i n g a r o u n d a t w i l d t i m w a l d

14 s p e c s 4 u s p u t s l i f e i n t o f o c u s f o r c h i l d r e n w i t h s p e c i a l n e e d s 16 c h a r d o n c o n t i n u e s t o h e a l , b u t h e l p s t i l l n e e d e d

18 o n e o f c h a r d o n ’ s b e s t k e p t s e c r e t s

19 c a r m a i n t e n a n c e & y o u r g r o u p h e a lt h c a r e p l a n

20 3 o p t i o n s f o r i n v e n t o r s

21 r a i s i n g t h e b a r u n i v e r s i t y h o s p i t a l s g e a u g a M e d i c a l c e n t e r d e l i v e r s s o M e o f t h e b e s t M e d i c a l c a r e a v a i l a b l e

Write 2 the PointPo box 385newbury, oh [email protected]. 216.410.2395

page 4 page 8 page 10 page 12

geauga business articles are written and selected for their general interest and entertainment value. Author’s views do not necessarily represent the policies of PoV Print Communication, inc. nor does their publication constitute an endorsement by PoV Print Communication or Write 2 the Point. All submissions are subject to space availability and editing. For advertising opportunities or submissions contact POV Print Communication, Inc.

page 14

A sPeCiAl thAnks to our PArtners Whose finAnCiAl Contributions mAke

this PubliCAtion Possible.

Matt Hutter, of Hutter Performance Center and Hutter Racing Engines

Sunrise Springs water Auburn Twin Oaks winery offers 12 varieties of wine

Tom and Diane Jones, of Windt I’m Wald

Maria Dellapina, founder and President of Specs4Us, and daughter Erin

Geauga Medical Center

When ben garlich took over as mayor of middlefield Village on January 1, 2012, he had one thing on his mind – build the economic base of this community.

“i wanted to get the Village of middlefield back on the growth track,” explains the no-nonsense garlich, who is also employed at dillen Products as the plant manager.

garlich’s first step as mayor was to form an economic development Committee (edC) with the mandate to draft and adopt an economic development plan to guide Village growth. the committee includes village councilmen bill blue, ron Wiech and residents dave dietrich, dave mcdowell and dick schill.

b y M a r g i e W i l b e r, W r i t e 2 t h e Po i n t

C o n t I n u E d o n P A g E 2

Additional responsibilities of this committee include reviewing all matters concerning the promotion of new commercial and industrial development within the Village of middlefield as well as the preservation and enhancement of current commercial and industrial businesses and residential properties within the Village. by march 26, less than one month since its formation, the edC presented a draft of the document to village council, who immediately adopted the plan.

the edC readily acknowledges several years have elapsed since the Village of middlefield actively solicited business prospects for new commercial and industrial development. this will change. With the economic downturn in the u.s. economy, new development projects stalled, and businesses struggling to stay afloat, middlefield Village officials understand the importance of it’s local government becoming a willing partner with business.

GeauGa Business VOLUME 1 • issue 2 1

merit and are aggressive but achievable,

according to garlich.

“We want to institutionalize economic

development in Village government by

maintaining an active and energetic edC

that promotes economic development for

the Village. this will be achieved through

periodically reviewing Village ordinances that

affect business development and enacting

enhancements, such as zoning regulation

ordinances and any economic development

ordinances.” garlich also plans to organize

semi-annual or quarterly forums between

the edC and business leaders to discuss

shared interests or overcome remaining

obstacles that threaten economic growth.

he says the edC will also develop local

incentives for new and expanding

businesses and assign a point person and

rapid response team to promptly respond

to potential opportunities for economic

development. “We are also pursuing

grant opportunities to fund economic

development activities,” adds garlich.

A second goal is to attract new business and

industries to the Village through establishing a

working relationship with the geauga County

Community improvement Corporation (CiC)

and geauga growth Partnership; develop

a quality internet website; and formalize

marketing strategies to get the word out that

“middlefield means business.”

the third goal of the economic development

plan is the implementation of a retention,

enhancement and expansion program for

existing businesses and business activity.

“We developed a business ‘attributes

and advantages’ inventory that pinpoints

opportunities. A close analysis of

middlefield’s strengths, weaknesses,

opportunities and threats, or sWot, reveals

several avenues worth investigating to

achieve economic growth and retention in

our region,” insists garlich.

Among the identified strengths in the Village

of middlefield is a strong non-union labor

force; a wealth of undeveloped commercial/

industrial property; public water and sewer;

and convenient access to transportation

routes throughout the nation. “this region is

also home to a host of raw material used in

making plastics, glass and polymer research,”

stresses the mayor.

C o n t I n u E d f R o M P A g E 1

According to garlich, who is passionate

about solidifying a working relationship

between business and government,

middlefield’s governmental bodies are

committed to fostering, promoting and

encouraging investment in the community.

the economic development plan includes

the foundation to accomplish a disciplined

schedule of goals and objectives to significantly

impact the economic vitality of the Village.

“this economic development Plan is the

key to the door of prosperity,” describes

mayor garlich. “We believe the Village of

middlefield’s government role is to facilitate

a favorable governmental atmosphere for

enriching the quality of life of our citizens

through a healthy economy. to achieve

this, the Village of middlefield will seek

economic development which is supportive

of the needs of our citizens, enriches

our community life and promotes our

values of self-reliance, individualism, and

entrepreneurship.”

garlich says growth in the Village of

middlefield will be integrated and balanced

to preserve its rural character and quality

of life – economically, environmentally, and

socially. he insists that a vibrant economic

environment will encourage investment in

residential, commercial and industrial property.

the goals and objectives of the newly

approved economic development Plan have

“We Want to

institutionalize

economic development

in village government

by maintaining an active

and energetic edc

that promotes

economic development

for the village.”

GeauGa Business VOLUME 1 • issue 22

“by developing incentives specific to the

Village, and further improving transportation

connectivity, commercial and industrial

growth will occur,” continues garlich. other

strengths identified by the edC include:

• Charming rural character and lifestyle

• hard-working, non-union workforce

• top-rated fire and police departments

• low crime rate

• Affordable housing

• County airport/medivac

• outstanding village services, recreational

facilities, and senior Center

the edC identified industries to be targeted,

including:

• renewable energy technology

• information technology and software

development

• industry – small, medium and large

industrial businesses, particularly those

utilizing raw material readily available in

geauga County, such as sand and shale,

as well as rubber compound technology,

polymer research, etc.

“the Village of middlefield provides an ideal

midpoint between major supply sources

in Cleveland, Youngstown, Warren and erie,

PA,” says garlich. “the Village can promote

these industries by providing a regulatory

environment to meet the needs for

industries looking to locate here.”

“middlefield will offer a broad array of

incentives available at the federal, state

and local levels, such as tax incentives

for investment in the community, active

“middlefield is noW synonymous With ‘business.”

Ben Garlich, Village of Middlefield mayor

public-private partnerships, and

revolving loan funds,” explains the savvy

businessman and mayor. many state and

federal incentives are available directly

to businesses, such as small business

Administration loans. others provide loans

or grants to the Village of middlefield for

investment in economic development or

programs that involve some contribution

or participation by the Village. local

incentive packages include:

• fee and tax Incentives – which include

a mix of reduced or waived business

license and zoning application fees or

a rebate or exemption of property tax.

• Infrastructure Incentives – such

as building new access roads and

expanding utility resources.

• Public-Private Investment – including

the use of industrial revenue bond

funds or other loan/bond vehicles

available to the Village to provide

property and tax advantages to business

relocating to the Village.

• Revolving Loan funds – that provide

gap financing for businesses in the form

of low-interest loans.

garlich says each incentive package will

be tailored to the business applicant to

integrate other County, state and federal

incentives unique to the situation, such

as rural job creation, job training, and

industry-specific incentives.

According to dan Weir, Village Administrator

and tax Abatement housing officer for

middlefield, there is approximately 397

acres of residential property; 115 acres

of commercial property and 234 acres of

industrial development property currently

available in the Village of middlefield to

facilitate growth.

“i graduated from Cardinal high school

and my two children are proud Cardinal

high graduates. my one daughter went

on to graduate from Case Western reserve

university school of law; my other daughter

then earned bachelor and master degrees

in speech pathology. today, both are highly

successful,” states garlich, who also served as

the Village of middlefield mayor from 1994

to 1999 and on Village council for 18 years.

“something has happened in our schools

since that time that needs to be corrected. i

want strong schools for middlefield residents

and prospering businesses. i am 150 percent

committed to making sure both happen.”

“the Village of middlefield has never had

an organized incentive program to facilitate

economic development. Well, times are

changing,” declares mayor garlich. “let

businesses and manufacturers know far and

wide – middlefield wants your business.

‘middlefield’ is now synonymous with

‘business.’”

If you are interested in starting a business

or relocating your business/manufacturing

operation, please contact Mayor Ben Garlich

at [email protected] or call

440.632.5248.


4

celebrate winning track record

Hutter Racing Engines Hutter PerformanceCenter

For more than 40 years, hutter racing engines has produced exceptional results in the racing world. in 1998 and 1999, dale earnhardt, Jr. won back-to-back busch grand national nAsCAr championships thanks to hutter engines. in 1998, ron hornaday, Jr. won the national Craftsman truck championship and mike stefanik won the busch north – both with a hutter engine under their hood.

today, hutter racing engines continues to achieve unprecedented accomplishments, not only at nAsCAr but in many professional racing series including ihrA Pro-stock, sCC speed World Challenge gt and nAsCAr modified championships. geauga business celebrates the historic accomplishments of hutter racing engines and hutter Performance Center, located at 12550 gAr highway in Chardon, ohio. here is the remarkable hutter story...

As a youngster, ron hutter worked alongside his father at the family gas station after school and on most weekends. the gas station was located next to the local picture show in Chardon township, now home to geauga lyric theater. ron eventually graduated from Chardon high school, then attended hiram College for three years with plans of becoming a chemistry teacher. by his fourth year of college, ron realized auto mechanics and auto racing continued to be his true passions.

“i’ve always enjoyed racing and working on motors since i was a kid,” says the mild-mannered 67-year-old. “my folks also liked watching the dirt car races at the fairgrounds. When the drag race strip opened in thompson, our family was often there, cheering from the bleachers.”

the young man soon moved from the bleachers to the track. ron raced cars from 1963 to 1976, totaling more than 100 races. in the drag racing world particularly, the 60s and 70s was a time when the little guy could gain notoriety without a lot of money and promotion. this “golden age” reflected a time when records were broken on a regular basis and a drivers’ sport – his ability to tune his car without computers and adjust quickly to track conditions –enabled him to rise to the top. ron hutter quickly became one of the biggest names in racing and engine building.

by 1965, ron hutter was considered one of the Pro stock titans, earning quite a name for himself in C/stock with a ‘60 Pontiac that was picking up customers for race engines from his “huts dyno shop” in Chardon. in 1968, ron bought a Camaro with a 427 Chevy V8 in a multiple partnership in what was called the hutter/Carver/novak/spotts “Canned heat” Prostock entry. by the end of the year, they were 15th in the nation recording nine second times at 137 mph.

during this time, ron married a local gal, thalia, and they had two sons, matt and trevor. the devoted husband and father cautiously decided to stop competitive auto racing soon after his children were born due to the enormous danger in the sport.

“When i first quit racing, i didn’t know how i was going to live without it, but i did,” says ron with a chuckle.


(l-r) Trevor, Matt, Ron and Thalia Hutter


it wasn’t long before matt and trevor caught the family racing fever. thalia recalls with a smile, “i remember matt, at nine years old, rolling his go-cart in our driveway. their dad had both boys building their own go-cart engines when they were just kids.”

by the time matt and trevor were in the fourth and seventh grade, respectively, they were racing go-carts in thompson. during these years, ron worked as a mechanic at the local Chevy dealership then Pontiac dealership in Chardon. eventually, when thalia’s father retired, he sold the land to ron so he could start his own business. hutter racing engines opened its doors in 1970. in just over one year, the company moved into building engines for the nAsCAr modified series. ron devoted time to hutter racing engines – a decision that proved to be correct as ron hutter became known as one of the best in the engine-building business.

“i teamed up with driver richie evans to win eight national championships. it was an exciting time,” recalls ron, seated this spring afternoon behind his office desk. sadly, richie evans, one of the most successful short-track racers in history, was killed oct. 24, 1985, while practicing for a nAsCAr modified race at martinsville (Va.) speedway.

the hutters encouraged their sons to attend college after graduating from Chardon high school. matt earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the university of Cincinnati in 1993. trevor earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from ohio state university in 1996. trevor also earned his pilot license his sophomore year at college.

“i worked as a pilot for six years while working off and on at the family business,” states trevor. eventually, he decided to work full-time at hutter racing engines.

by this time, hutter engines were in high demand in the world of racing – recognized for their remarkable performance and reliability. next, hutter racing engines moved into the nAsCAr busch grand national.

“it was fun to be involved in a team that just dominated with dale earnhardt, Jr. i remember standing at the Pocono race track counting 13 cars with our modified engines,” ron states proudly. Pocono raceway (formerly Pocono international raceway) also known as the tricky triangle, is a superspeedway located in the Pocono mountains of Pennsylvania at long Pond. “We were also building engines for circle

track cars, drag cars, road racecars. most of our engine sales were word of mouth.” ron, matt and trevor worked in pits for nAsCAr, daytona 500, and other championship races.

over the years, hutter engines won more than 21 nAsCAr busch, truck and modified championships. in 2004, hutter racing engines built a mountain motor Prostock engine for the Wilson manifolds, sponsored by ihrA (international hot rod Association) P/s driven by rob mansfield which promptly set an ihrA world speed record at hooters ihrA drag racing series, President’s Cup nationals in budds Creek, md.

And hutter engines continue to win today, promoting the company’s “American-made Power; race-Proven technology.”

the family launched hutter Performance Center in 2003 to meet the growing demands in racecars and street performance. the Performance Center services anyone looking for bolt-on power, a complete performance engine, or interested in building a hot rod or racecar from the ground up.

the family’s commitment to high quality and reliability produced more than 25 national championship cars. “People see our motors winning, and they want one. We carry this experience into every project we work on,” insists the patriarch. “hutter racing engines builds motors; hutter Performance Center builds cars.” both businesses are located on the hutter campus in Chardon.

“trevor is gifted at building and working with motors while matt has a natural fabricating ability. they complement each other,” says the proud mom. hutter Performance Center services all types of clients – many who simply want fast street cars.

“mom did a lot of praying when matt was racing in the nAsCAr busch series,” recalls trevor, 38, with a laugh. matt competed in various other races and in the second tier of nAsCAr.

“We both continue to drag race,” adds trevor. “And, i really enjoy building cars. i don’t know what else i would love this much. We work on all types of cars: mustangs, Cameros, Corvettes , some older cars and racecars. People who want to add speed often bring in brand new cars. the majority of our cars are domestic. supercharge, exhausts, etc.– we can do pretty much anything customers are looking for with their cars.”

When asked if each is competitive by nature, all four hutters erupt in laughter. that, too, seems to be in their genetic makeup.

“i hope to expand our business,” says matt. “right now, we’re selling a lot of parts on ebay. i’d like to see us increase our part sales through our website. i also plan to add a blog to our website where people can ask questions or receive suggestions. for 40 years, hutter dealt with racers who wanted horsepower – faster engines. now, we are dealing with people on the internet or through our shops. unfortunately, it is harder for them to judge quality and performance. there is no set thing, like a race track. racers can see our engines pull ahead. no advertising is required. today, we need to continue to get our name out.”

matt sums up the family’s commitment to the business. “having these two family businesses is terrific. if you are going to be working long hours, you want to do it with your family. i think the biggest difference is you care more about their feelings. We also have four other employees and are all friends. the key to our success is simple. We pay attention to detail and deliver a good product. Performance and reliability. this is how we built the company. this is how we will take them into the future.”

The Hutter family cordially invites the public to an open house on

Saturday, June 3010 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tour Hutter Performance Center and Hutter Racing Engines

12550 gar highway (rt 6) east of Chardon square

(across from neo lighting).

guests will be able to view a chassis dyno demonstration, an assortment of race cars,

and meet the family. the event is free, and food will be served.

no reservations are required.


for more than 20 years, SUnRiSE SPRingS

WAtER Co. inC. has been making waves in

the local bottled-water industry. the newbury

township business is the company of choice

for about 3,000 residential and commercial

consumers throughout northeast ohio.

crystal clearsuccess is

Sunrise Springs’

sunrise springs’s primary business is home and office delivery of five-gallon water bottles, but the company also is a leading provider of bulk water, water testing and water softening products and services. All of the water is from a private spring water source located right here in geauga County.

“We provide spring water or drinking water for people who require or demand a better product than what they can get at their tap,” says darrell langford, vice president.

“We are water professionals,” langford continues. “We want to be a one-stop shop for customers’ water needs. We have an understanding here that we provide customers with solutions. that is what we do best: We give people solutions.”

that mindset is paying off: business at sunrise springs is booming, with the customer base growing 15 to 20 percent annually.

“i think that’s from a combination of a lot of things, including our marketing efforts and great customer service from all of our employees,” langford says. “that gets us word of mouth. “

“We get a lot of new customers through referrals,” he adds. “About 25 percent of our new business is through referrals. i think that is a testament to what we do here and the quality of service.”

sunrise springs’ service area stretches from lorain County east through Ashtabula County, all the way south to medina County. the company is owned by langford and company president george lanesky. lanesky, a kenston graduate and u.s. Air force veteran, worked as general manager of southeast harley davidson before starting sunrise springs in 1990. langford, a newbury high school graduate, has a degree in business marketing from kent state university. he managed the staff at sunrise springs while attending college, then worked at Abbott laboratories from 2000 to 2004, when he returned to sunrise springs as vice president.

lanesky founded the company after recognizing the demand for bottled water was going to grow, due to health and local development. he started sunrise springs as a bulk water company in 1990 and obtained the necessary approvals in 1991 to start bottling natural spring water from the private source in south newbury.

the spring, which is exclusive to sunrise springs, produces more than 100 gallons per minute and has never changed in quality since being tapped in 1990. the water is iron-free and sodium-free, a great benefit in an area known for high iron content. the company offers three drinking water products: spring water, purified distilled water, and reverse osmosis drinking water.

WhAt mAkes the sPring WAter sPeCiAl?

“the spring water is a natural formation of water that has been drawn and bottled in the exact way it came out of the ground,” langford explains. “it goes through a light filtering process.”

b y J e n n i f e r S e wa r d


the water is then ozonated – which removes harmful contaminants - and then bottled into a sterile bottle.

distillation involves a boiling process to remove minerals and impurities and collecting the steam to extract the purest possible form of water. many people enjoy or require pure water for medical reasons. Also, many industrial applications call for the use of purified distilled water.

reverse osmosis drinking water is water that also has been processed to remove contaminants and many minerals.

“most of the time, in stores, what you are buying when you buy bottles of water is reverse osmosis drinking water,” langford notes. “that is city water that has been processed by a municipal facility that they process with reverse osmosis to remove chlorine and then sell back to the consumer.

“We sell that product, too, because some customers want that,” langford says. “but, we start our process with natural spring water.”

sunrise springs transports its water via tankers from the ePA-approved spring to its facility on route 87, just west of Auburn road. the company has a fleet of four, bulk-water tankers, each constructed with sleek stainless steel and capable of carrying about 4,000 gallons of water.

“the tankers are food-grade,” explains langford. “they are clean, nice-looking, and deliver a quality product without anything being absorbed into the water from the stainless steel.”

in addition, the company makes a whopping 4,000 to 5,000 deliveries of bulk water a year. this includes filling hot tubs, cisterns and pools and commercial and construction site deliveries.

there are many advantages to having water delivered to your pool or hot tub, langford says.

“it’s fast, it’s easy, it’s convenient, it’s clean,” he says. “it is ph-balanced, so there is no iron in the water. in addition, many people have wells, and this way, they don’t have to put a strain on their wells. People have fewer problems with their water when they use tanker water. it’s easier on the filtering system and easier to maintain.”

sunrise springs also provides home and business delivery of water-softening salt.

“hard water is a very big problem here,” langford points out. “more than 50 percent of the houses in geauga County have a water softener installed. And salt is heavy. We have a growing elderly population, so we are seeing a big upswing in the number of people who are having the salt delivered to their basements.”

sunrise springs has always been at the same location, but has undergone some transformations over the years. in 1998, the facility underwent an addition that doubled its size to about 5,000 square feet, an expansion that was necessitated by demand and to house new equipment to support future growth, langford notes. further growth led to a 6,000-square-foot addition in 2009. the $750,000 project involved refacing the sunrise springs building, paving the driveway and constructing a drive-through facility for customer convenience. Customers place an order at a window, drive into the climate-controlled building, and can be loaded up with salt or bottled water. sunrise springs offers not only five-gallon water bottles, but packs of bottled water in smaller sizes.

“Customers don’t even have to get out of the car,” langford says.

the family-owned business has 13 employees, including three warehouse employees, seven drivers, and three administrative staff, which includes langford and lanesky.

“We are small enough where we can all have a good relationship; everybody knows everybody here. everybody’s open, accessible and able to help each other out,” langford notes. “We’re flexible with our employees, and they are flexible with us.”

operating a business in geauga County comes with several key advantages, langford adds.

“the population of employees that we have to choose from here are very highly educated,”

he says. “We feel very fortunate because we are able to keep our staff. our longest-tenured employee has been here 19 years; the shortest is five years.

“in addition, being centrally located in geauga County, less than 30 miles from Cleveland, is a great advantage because of freeway access and the resource of all of the other great businesses in geauga County,” he continues. “there are a lot of healthy businesses in geauga County growing along with us, in addition to a lot of new businesses and business centers opening here.

“not to mention that the overall spirit in geauga County is a positive one.”

sunrise springs’s success is crystal clear: the company’s five, bottled-water trucks make about 2,500 deliveries a month to homes and businesses, adding up to about 25,000 five-gallon bottles. the company also sells 5 to 7 million gallons of bulk water annually.

routing is an important part of the delivery process.

“We track all of our deliveries,” langford says. “We have had a 99-percent, on-time delivery percentage for the past two years.

“the reliability factor is what really keeps our customers. People have got us on a schedule,” he adds with a laugh. “but we like that.”

sunrise springs also believes in giving back to the community. the company sponsors local events with water to supply to attendees such as junior fair, sports events, church functions, relay for life events, and charity benefits. sunrise springs is also a water sponsor for geauga Park district’s Caveman Crawl on June 10 and encourages its employees to get involved in community events.

For more information about Sunrise Springs, visit sunrisespringswater.com or call 440-564-9743.

We have an understanding here that we

provide customers with solutions. That is

what we do best: We give people solutions.”

(l-r) Darrell Langford, owner of Sunrise Springs, and George Lanesky, president of Sunrise Springs.


more than 120 members of the geauga business

community gathered to celebrate the 42nd

anniversary for Community improvement

Corporation’s (CiC) Annual salute to business

and industry on April 24 at st. denis golf Club in

Chardon. Congratulations to the following four

companies honored for their outstanding success:

ASM international

geauga Door

Solon Manufacturing

Chem technologies

in addition to these honorees, fairmount minerals was honored as CiC’s legacy Company for 2012. the designation of “legacy” recognizes a company that has previously been a CiC honoree but since that designation, has made a renewed commitment to geauga County and its many organizations. bill Conway, Chairman of the board of fairmount minerals, ltd., was presented with an award which included a framed map signed by artist gary stretar, numerous proclamations from area elected officials, and a half-gallon of geauga maple syrup.

in his acceptance speech, mr. Conway noted the importance of the geauga County CiC and then executive director ken korosec in helping fairmount minerals finance their early expansion with $10 million in industrial revenue bonds in the early 80s.

stan theobald accepted on behalf of Asm international. Asm recently completed a multi-million dollar historic renovation of their facility in russell township and is now listed on the national register of historic Places. Asm could have relocated to Chicago or a more urban setting but elected to remain in geauga County. Asm has received numerous Awards of excellence and continues to operate an international education program to interest young people in a metals engineering profession.

tim dunn accepted on behalf of solon manufacturing. solon manufacturing remains profitable after 50 consecutive years with sales reaching a $10 million milestone in 2011. the company manufactures two product lines: solon belleville spring Washers and solon Pressure switches – used by electrical, oil and gas, and offshore drilling industries. solon manufacturing Company attributes their success to their 48 employees, of which 20 percent have remained with the company for more than 15 years. they have 1,800 customers in more than 30 countries, and 20 percent of their business comes from exporting.

tom blair, of geauga door sales and service, has been in business for more than 40 years and serves a seven- county area. geauga door is the largest garage door company in

community improvement corporation Celebrates 42nd Annual Salute to business

and industryb y A n i t a S t o c ke r

Left to right: Bill Young, CommissionerTim Dunn, Solon ManufacturingMary Samide, CommissionerTom Blair, Geauga DoorJim Schill, Chem TechBill Conway, Fairmount MineralsStan Theobald, ASM InternationalGeorge Brown, Senator Portman’s officeTracy Jemison, Commissioner


business and industryb y A n i t a S t o c ke r

geauga County and is known for its customer service and quality installations. mr. blair credits mr. Chuck molnar, his cousin, for starting the business and setting the high standard for geauga door.

Chem technologies founder and Chairman of the board Jim schill made it very clear to all attendees the quality of geauga County’s workforce and especially the Amish workers at his facility in middlefield. mr. schill started several successful businesses in geauga County including elastochem and gold key Processing prior to Chem technologies. the company is a chemical dispersion and blend manufacturer and custom rubber compounder. All three geauga-based manufacturing companies have become national leaders in their industries.

each honoree received a plaque, a copy of the video presentation presented that evening, produced by lake erie Video Productions and bill Ward Productions, proclamations from the geauga County board of Commissioners, senator rob Portman, state senator John eklund and Congressman steve latourette.

The designation of “Legacy” recognizes a company

that has previously been a CIC honoree but since that

designation, has made a renewed commitment to

Geauga County and its many organizations.

Left to right: Bill Young, CommissionerTim Dunn, Solon ManufacturingMary Samide, CommissionerTom Blair, Geauga DoorJim Schill, Chem TechBill Conway, Fairmount MineralsStan Theobald, ASM InternationalGeorge Brown, Senator Portman’s officeTracy Jemison, Commissioner

Patricia Czomba, Chem TechJim Schill, Chem TechDonna Decker, Chem Tech

Cristine Lewis, Fairmount MineralsBill Conway, Fairmount MineralsDon Crites, Fairmount Minerals

ViSit

geaugabizforum.com

Tim Dunn, Solon ManufacturingTom Blair, Geauga DoorJim Schill, Chem TechBill Conway, Fairmount MineralsStan Theobald, ASM International


No Sour Grapes at

Work Ethic, Sustainability, Charity Grow Here

Auburn Twin Oaks Winery

the farm, he was not able to grow a hardy red grape. those are now purchased from Chile and California.

“our kids - Parker, 21; Alyssa, 19; Conner, 17; and ellie, 12 – continue to play an integral part in the farm and winery – planting the vines, putting up deer fencing, weeding the garden, carrying boxes of wine,” adds beth with a smile. “We are a family farm, teaching our next generation of earth-loving farmers.”

she says the name, Auburn twin oaks, was inspired by the family’s discovery of two, gigantic, oak trees standing side by side, deep in their woods.

one focus of the family’s hard work is innovation. “outside-the-box thinking led to the design of our farm and winery,” insists the trained engineer, who promises an “experience like no other” for visitors to the family farm and winery.

“i actually learned how to make wine through a friend i met at our church, roger hurd. We started making five-gallon batches of wine in his basement. today, we produce 260-gallon batches,” says Jay proudly. While 10,000 bottles are stored underground, 3,500 bottles are refrigerated for easy access on the winery’s main level.

“What’s unique about what we’re doing here is our philosophical approach. We make wine in a way that does not hurt our environment. for instance, we recycle all of our bottles, and we use screw caps engineered to allow a little oxygen into the wine to enhance its flavor. We also use oak chips placed in pantyhose rather than oak barrels to get the oak taste

in our wine. Why? oak chips are renewable. for instance, they can later be used to smoke meat. We use ozone for sanitation which is environmentally friendly – no harsh chemicals are used for cleaning.”

beth also practices environmentally friendly farming, such as her mobile chicken coup that allows the chickens to eat the grubs, weeds and dandelions below the wire flooring rather than using harmful chemicals. moving the coup also prevents the eventual destruction of the land beneath the coup. “We have a lot of hawks and coyotes so i cannot have free-range chickens,” beth explains. “All our vegetables are grown the old-fashioned way – i grow only heirloom vegetables.”

the 65-acre property is in the Western reserve land Conservancy, ensuring this land will be a safe habitat for natural wildlife species for years to come. landscaping beds are native ohio wildflower perennials, eliminating the need for unnecessary watering and fertilizing, and encouraging food and shelter for wildlife.

Auburn twin oaks’ enthusiastic owners enjoy providing guests with an understanding of their approach to farming, making wine and the environment. they hope their concern for the planet becomes infectious.

thanks to the family’s hard work and dedication, the sprawling, three-story winery now produces 5,000 to 6,000 bottles of 12 varieties of wine annually.

Auburn twin oaks Winery is open to the public two to three nights a month. At all other times, it is a private residence and farm.

Love of family, love of nature, and giving back to the community are the driving forces behind everything at Auburn twin oaks Winery, which opened its impressive timber-framed doors in february, 2010, at 9911 shadow Wood Circle in Auburn township .

“While growing up in iowa, our parents and grandparents inspired us to pass on their hard-working farm ethic to our four children here in geauga County, ohio,” explains owner Jay schabel, Ceo of Polyflow, a polymer recycling business. Jay and his wife beth feel connected to their ancestors as they teach their children how to nurture and care for their planet through the farm.

the schabels purchased the farm in 2004 – 65 acres of what they discovered was not the dark, rich, loamy soil they were used to back in iowa. “it was hard to imagine that anything could grow in this hard-packed clay in ohio,” laughs Jay, reflecting back.

“i love gardening, and Jay loves making wine. We combined our passion and started a vineyard and winery,” says beth.

it was a growing experience for the entire family. first, they studied how to grow grapes on a previous corn field. next, the field was tiled to pull water from the site. finally, they planted their first four rows of grapes in 2005. the following year saw a total of 37 rows of grapes, or 2,250 vines.

“each vine required us to drill a six-inch hole. it was a lot of hard work. the whole family pitched in,” recalls Jay with a chuckle. he learned that while white grapes grow well on


No Sour Grapes atthe wine list at Auburn twin oaks is impressive. figs and fresh grass lead the aromas found in their 2008 Ato Riesling. Additional fragrances of lilies and nut end the bouquet while the palate discovers honey and fig upfront that evolve into a juicy honeydew flavor. it’s lingering velvet finish of fresh mangoes make this riesling a customer favorite.

the 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon provides bright cherry flavors with additional raspberry jam aromas. sweet spices of vanilla and nutmeg with an earthy quality envelop the senses. more rich raspberry and cherry flavors continue to linger.

twin oaks Winery’s 2008 Rose is a custom blend featuring the suisun Valley riesling and Pinot grigio, with a hint of Primitivo Zinfandel. this lovely wine features lighter aromas of honey, fig, and elegant orange blossom, which is followed by a palate that combines peach, tropical fruit, and lingering passion fruit.

the 2008 Shadow Wood White are for those who love a great, dry white wine for sipping or pairing with their favorite foods. A blend of premium Pinot grigio combined with a touch of a savory white Argentinian blend creates a crisp, flavorful wine of uncommon character. fruit forward bouquet emphasizes nectarine and peach aromas with added notes of kiwi fruit and fig.

the schabel family’s two farm dogs, langley and mckinley, helped inspire twin Labs. this well-trained, stress-free wine is made with Concord and niagara grapes from their own vineyard, with a splash of red vinifera blend for character. this lightly sweet and playful red is perfect for the casual wine drinker.

other wines to try: inspire, Purpose, resolve, intention, Vision, Passion and one-less label. ten percent of the sales of one-less label go to the michael Carter group, a financial planning group for special-needs charities. the cost ranges from $15 to $30 per bottle with a 10 percent discount on cases.

Approximately 90 percent of sales occur at the winery, but Auburn twin oaks can also be purchased at heinen’s bainbridge, Aurora and Pepper Pike locations.

the schabels have not entered any wine competitions. “We are really more about the experience of the person,” explains Jay. “We are trying to be a niche vineyard, not a high-volume one. We encourage folks to help crush the grapes, bottle the wine, and participate in sculpting our wines.”

Jay concludes, “i am happy with the direction the business is going. We will be introducing a dessert wine this August that i am very excited about. it will be unique to the country, and we use several geauga County-based ingredients. the dessert wine will also be sold through distributors.”

If you are interested in attending a public open night, please call Auburn Twin Oaks to make a reservation. Guests are by appointment only. To learn more about hosting a private event at the winery, visit Auburn Twin Oaks Winery’s website at auburntwinoaks.com, email [email protected], or call 440.543.2320.

the primary use of the winery is for hosting private wine events – from corporate planning meetings to community groups. the main building can accommodate up to 60 but is perfect for intimate groups of 20 to 40, who are free to bring in a chef to cater an event on the premises. Auburn twin oaks does not serve food. there are no regular hours. reservations are required in advance.

“All events must feature the wine,” emphasizes Jay. “We are an agricultural entity. i enjoy walking groups through the vineyard, explaining our unique process, and letting them taste our creative varieties.”

he continues, “beth and i also want to be good neighbors. for large groups, we consider the logistics and, perhaps, suggest renting a bus to limit the traffic going through our neighborhood.”

the schabels have proven to be excellent neighbors, donating more than $165,000 over three years to geauga charities.

the first fundraising event, shadow Woodstock, raised more than $15,000 for charities. the following year, $50,000 was raised for charities. “by year three, shadow Woodstock raised almost $100,000 for charities,” Jay says proudly. “today, our charity partners with newer charities to help them develop a board and the appropriate structure so they can grow. “

“our desire is to promote the welfare of others through donations,” beth chimes in.

“Just by sipping our wine, you are part of our extended family – giving back to the community and the world through our charitable outreach projects,” Jay passionately explains.

the owners and employees of Auburn twin oaks also volunteer for several social and environmental initiatives. the littlest heroes is one of the charities they support. this organization helps promote the spiritual, emotional, social and physical healing of children living with cancer by providing a total system of support that compliments their traditional health care.

“the lessons learned here and the charities that benefit from sales will go on long after we are gone,” concurs beth. “that’s really what it’s all about.

the schabel welcome approximately 1,500 visitors and host roughly 15 to 20 private events annually. “i’d like to increase production to 12,000 bottles annually and host more corporate and private events,” considers Jay.

Beth and Jay Schabel inside one of their refrigerated wine cellars.


Windt im Wald (Wind in the Woods, english translation) opened its “stable” doors in 1996 when diane and tom Jones acquired two mature horses, followed by a purebred Arabian stallion in early 1997. What began as a small business for breeding and breaking of their mature animal offspring has grown into a profitable, life-fulfilling venture.

“for many years, we showed animals at local shows and sold registered young horses for show and trail riders. today, we have garnered a notable reputation for breaking horses through a kind, gentle methodology, and do the early training without bridle or bit,” explains tom. Windt im Wald is located at 10400 lindsay lane, in Auburn township. the farm has 11 horses, and an indoor and outdoor arena enable guests/students to ride in all weather conditions.

Windt im Wald offers summer riding camps for children, Western and english riding lessons for adults and children of all ages, including those with special needs, therapeutic riding and pony parties.

“it was a natural outreach since i worked as a certified public school teacher for more

than 20 years, teaching at maple heights City schools, nordonia schools and Parma City schools,” says diane. she earned her b.s. degree in education with majors in english and spanish at kent state university and additional majors in german and Japanese from the university of Akron.

Working with horses and ponies and their riders was a childhood dream come true for diane, who fondly remembers watching roy rogers and old John Wayne movies as a youngster. “tom and i were raised in maple heights – homes on 40 x 120 ft. lots. i asked for a pony each Christmas and birthday, and my late mother always insisted that my first spoken word was ‘horse,’” laughs the petite equestrian. “it was many years before i realized that storing an animal in our detached garage was not an attainable wish.”

While her parents eventually allowed their young girl to take six riding lessons, diane’s interest in horses was discouraged. “in that day and age, you became a teacher or a nurse. that’s what good, sensible girls did,” recalls diane sadly. “horses sat on the back burner. mostly, what i learned came from books. it was always a dream that someday i would

own a ranch with horses. i didn’t have a clue how, but someday...”

it was not until her own father was dying from pancreatic cancer and diane was in a serious car accident that threatened her mobility that the couple pursued diane’s childhood dream. tom, then 56, was working for All-tech in mantua at the time. (the couple met in sixth grade, raised two successful children, kelly and brian, and will be celebrating their 47th wedding anniversary this June.)

in 1994, with the death of her father, tom and diane looked for acreage to start a horse farm and found their present location. “We were the second residents on the street, which was carved out of a larger farm,” describes diane. “subsequently, we purchased approximately 20 acres and daily regret that we had not found the entire 90 acres available six months earlier. had we done so, the entire parcel would be the farm known as Windt im Wald, in honor of tom’s and my german grandmothers.”

“Prior to this purchase, i was never interested in horses,” admits tom with a grin. still, the loving husband was happy to share in his wife’s dream.

Windt im Wald

Just Horsing Around at

b y M a r g i e W i l b e r, W r i t e 2 t h e Po i n t Tom and Diane Jones


“thank you,” beams diane, looking at tom with a nod. “he’s a good man.”

“still, giving up my job was the easiest thing in the world,” assures tom, 70. “i was burned out, having worked as a medical diagnostic engineer for 27 years. i retired. We were both in our 50s and decided to change our lifestyle completely. i think this change was absolutely necessary. i am very much interested in horses now. i never get into anything halfway.”

“We had to take the risk. it was a lifesaving experience,” diane, 69, concurs. “ We were both emotionally and psychologically stressed in our jobs, and this new adventure was heaven. We both lost a lot of weight, and our activity level increased. the steep learning curve made it fun. Work was now on our terms – we answered to the sky, to god, and to the animals. there is nothing like being your own boss. At the end of the day, you look in the mirror and ask yourself, ‘did i learn anything today? did i work hard? Will i do it differently tomorrow?’”

“everything you see in the movies about horses – throw it out the window,” adds tom with a chuckle. “When we break a horse, we walk it around in a saddle first. by the time i sit on the horse, it rarely bucks. sure, we’ve broken bones and been dumped. We’ve even undergone a few surgeries, but that was part of the learning curve.”

“the biggest thing we learned is that you have to take on and do the very thing that scared you the most,” encourages diane. “if you don’t, there will always be doubt. We try to teach

the horses that it’s alright to be afraid, but it’s not alright to run away. they have to face it. for our children, we pushed them academically but not physically. We did not foster that kind of risk-taking, and we regret that.”

both tom and diane laugh and admit their adult children do not share their passion for horses. “our children thought we were crazy. they asked, ‘Why do you want to do that now at your age?’”

several years ago, diane was diagnosed with breast cancer. despite her physician’s warning not to go near the barn or animals during chemotherapy, the strong, resilient woman believes the horses helped her find the strength to successfully battle the disease.

With the untimely death of their beloved stallion in 2010, the cowpokes shifted gears a bit, foregoing breeding while beginning to host pony parties for urban families year-round. today, they travel throughout northeast ohio, hosting more than 30 pony parties from east Cleveland to as far south as Canton last year alone.

“We’ve had pony parties in back yards, city streets and on local sidewalks,” describes tom with a grin. “our horses and ponies are so tame they were not bothered by fireworks lit at a fourth of July party.”

“the animals we use for this endeavor are well-broke with parade and traffic experience,” assures the gregarious diane. “they are elegant representatives of their breed who treat youngsters with great care, thoughtfulness, and dignity. they remind us that if we treat others with gentleness and respect, those qualities come back to honor us. We are very proud to be known as farmers because, for both of us, being farmers from the city was always a dream to be attained.”

she continues, “We especially enjoy working with kids who don’t quite fit the mold but instead, march to the beat of a different drummer. We love what we do here on the farm. the animals have taught us more about human nature than working in the schools or in business. What you see is what you get with animals. there is no hidden agenda.”

Windt im Wald

Just Horsing Around at“it was never for the money,” insists tom, though he says the farm operates at a profit. “it was to make a difference in someone’s future – or see the light go on in someone’s eyes. being with an animal is as much a mental and emotional skill as it is physical. they are looking for a leader. horses have taught us so much – patience, kindness, honesty, authenticity. When you stop learning, they start throwing

the dirt over you.”

the dedicated couple encourages folks not to put off similar dreams. Visit Windt im Wald or sign up for one-on-one riding lessons or open trail rides for a group or couple. Parents can sign their children up now for a week-long summer day camp. individuals somewhat familiar with horses can brush up on nutrition, equine care, horsemanship and riding. their rates are reasonable: $25 per half hour, $40 for a full hour. And don’t forget scheduling a pony party for a birthday, employee picnic, Vacation bible school, etc. the cost is $150 per hour if local or $200 if further out, including transportation.

give Windt im Wald a call at 440.996.0110 or visit their website at [email protected]

“To be yourself

in a world that is

constantly trying to

make you something

else is the greatest

accomplishment.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Whatever you do, you

need courage. Whatever

course you decide

upon, there is always

someone to tell you that

you are wrong. There

are always difficulties

arising that tempt you

to believe your critics

are right. To map out

a course of action and

follow it to an end

requires some of the

same courage that a

soldier needs. Peace has

its victories, but it takes

brave men and women

to win them.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Go on - giddy up!

Tom and Diane Jones


the idea for this exceptional product came to maria dellapina in 2004, five years after dellapina’s fourth child, erin, was born with down syndrome in 1999. the compassionate mother quickly overcame her immediate grief and committed herself to become a strong, vocal advocate for her daughter and others born with disabilities.

dellapina recalls that by age 2, erin needed eyeglasses. “i worked in the optical business for more than 25 years, and i noticed shortly after erin began wearing her first pair of glasses that she was always taking them off because they were constantly sliding down her nose. it looked like such an easy fix.”

the concerned mom also realized this must be a common problem for other parents of children born with down syndrome. the problem stems from the easily recognizable facial features of these individuals: a very small nose, shortened depth from eyes to ears, and close-set eyes with a wider face. As a result, traditionally designed eyeglasses will fall forward and bow at the temples.

rather than becoming discouraged, dellapina truly became a “mother of invention,” using her knowledge as an optician to design a series of fun, attractive frames to fit these unique features. “i contacted several of the big eyeglass manufacturers but was told there was not enough demand to produce the frame,” she recalls, shaking her head. rather than give up, dellapina forged ahead.

“erin’s World” is the name of the frame line specially designed to fit infants, children and adults with down syndrome. unlike other eyeglass frames, the bridge is adjusted to fit their lower bridge placement, the frame eye wire is extended, and the temple placement is lowered to help prevent glasses from constantly slipping or losing shape. specs4us uses only quality material, such as titanium and memory flex, common in many of today’s high-end traditional frames. erin’s World frames are available in a variety of sizes and styles to fit all ages. the store’s online catalog also offers sun clips and 3-d clips.

“our mission is to improve the sight and quality of life for children and adults with down syndrome,” the loving mother explains. “With erin’s World glasses, these individuals are no longer constrained but able to explore their world freely and clearly without wearing glasses that are too big or always slipping down their nose.”

puts life into focus for children with special needs

the company’s website banner reads: “superior

Precision eyewear for Children who are special.” the

product: eyeglass frames specially fitted for children

and adults with down syndrome and other special

needs. And despite a modest marketing budget and

a minuscule, two full-time and two part-time staff,

specs4us on burton square is changing the life of

those with special needs around the globe!


Maria Dellapina, founder and President of Specs4Us.


“our glasses are the only frames on the market today that address these special needs,” continues the creative mother. “We try to make the frames trendy and fun to wear. i am so proud of what we are doing.”

Approximately, 5,000 newborns each year are diagnosed with down syndrome in the united states. of these, 87 percent will need corrective eyeglasses before age 3.

“it is a constant, daily struggle for these kids and adults to see properly using typical eyeglass frames,” describes dellapina. “either they simply do not wear them at all or are dramatically hindered in their ability to function in school, in their community, at work or at home. erin’s World glasses give this population an opportunity to see properly without the constant struggle of frames that do not function properly.”

dellapina benefits from the priceless input of parents and caregivers. “i receive letters from parents with photos of their child before and after they wear our frames. i love my job and the knowledge that i am helping to make a difference in their child’s life,” she admits, wiping away tears. “i have used some of these photos in our brochure and catalog. they are all so beautiful!”

today, the active mother and entrepreneur crisscrosses the country, speaking at conferences to promote eye health and her frame line. in fact, she recently returned from a conference in new Zealand where she was the premier speaker. this July, dellapina will be showcasing her product at the 2012 national down syndrome Congress Convention in Washington, dC. in 2010, specs4us received the President’s Award by the national down syndrome Congress for “improving lives through the development of specialized eyeglasses for individuals with down syndrome.”

“it’s about helping these kids and adults. sure, i want to make a profit – enough money so i know erin will be cared for throughout her

life. i enjoy speaking on vision awareness for those with special needs. i also believe glasses should look like an accessory, not a necessity.”

her message is reaching its audience. specs4us reports a 20 percent increase in sales each year since opening its doors. in 2009, the company sold 4,500 frames; in 2010, sales reached 5,200 frames. last year, specs4us sold more than 7,000 frames.

“our product is now in 1,000 optical offices across the u.s. and Canada as well as in germany, ireland, united kingdom, and Australia,” the savvy business woman reports. “i primarily sell via the internet because i do not have a sales force except one rep in ohio. my long-term goal is to have product representation in all mid-size and large cities.”

specs4us recently moved from dellapina’s burton home to office space at 13801 West Center street (rt. 87) on burton square.

“I am amazed at how pretty they sit on his face. Thank you so much for inventing such a great product.”

- K Dixon

“We got Mayson’s lenses in her frames today and they ROCK!!!...they fit her so nice and they seem to be comfortable on her so she isn’t taking them off! She is actually looking through the lenses and not OVER them!!!”

- A Fledge

“They look FANTASTIC! So thank you, thank you for designing such a clever frame.”

- L. Peterson, Australia

in addition to its selfless mission, the company recently donated more than $14,000 worth of frames to special olympics and continues to support other charities.

Erin’s World frames can be purchased

online at www.specs4us.com and at

several local optical offices. “We can also

contact your optician on your behalf,”

suggests dellapina. for more information,

contact Specs4us at 800.586.1885 or

[email protected]

Erin Delllapina


ChArdon, ohio — A day after the tragic shooting at Chardon high school, school district superintendent Joe bergant

announced the Chardon healing fund had been established through the

united Way services of geauga County (uWsgC).

to date, the nonprofit fund has received over $787,500 in donations,

with 100 percent of those funds reserved for the benefit of victims, their

families, students and the community. despite the generous donations already

pledged to the Chardon healing fund, there remains a need for more funds, as experts

expect the healing process to take years.

A volunteer advisory board made up of 11 community members – including

graduates, business leaders and public officials – manages the Chardon healing fund to ensure all funds are appropriately allocated.

the uWsgC has volunteered to handle all of the Chardon

healing fund’s administrative duties. the donated staff

time and resources save the fund upwards of

$50,000 in overhead expenses related

to accounting, banking,

case

Chardon Continues to Heal, But Help Still Needed

By Kristin Lewis, Fairmount Minerals

management and overall assurance that the fund continues to meet all nonprofit compliance guidelines, allowing donors to receive tax deductions. Without uWsgC’s help, the fund wouldn’t be able to reserve 100 percent of its funds for direct community support.

“the schools can’t do this by themselves, and the mental health system can’t do this by themselves,” said kimm leininger, executive director of uWsgC. “We’re not working in silos – we’re doing this together.”

CoMMuNity Support

businesses, organizations and individuals throughout the region and from around the world have stepped up to financially support the Chardon healing fund and its mission.

“the outpouring of support has been nothing short of amazing,” said Jenniffer deckard, president of fairmount minerals and chair of the Chardon healing fund advisory board. “but there’s still a need for more support. We don’t want to lose the momentum behind this important cause. We know the healing will take a long time, and the fund plans to be there every step of the way.”

SupportiNg tHe NeedS oF otHerS

the Chardon healing fund is primarily focused on helping the six families directly impacted by the incident meet their immediate financial and emotional needs. Approximately $85,270 has been paid out or committed to the six families or for community healing efforts since the fund was established in february.


for instance, the fund has paid for the installation of wheelchair ramps at the home of one student who is now confined to a wheelchair, as well as the living expenses of the families – providing them with the time they need to grieve. the fund’s donations have also been used to support school district parent nights and events featuring guest speakers and therapeutic outings that reinforce long-term healing.

the Chardon healing fund will continue to allocate funds throughout the community as appropriate needs, events and activities are proactively identified by the board. A team from Case Western reserve university’s Weatherhead school of management will help the fund with its ongoing stakeholder-engagement process and overall planning.

for instance, the fund plans to launch a website this summer to create both a central healing resource for the community and a memorial.

“the families are so thankful and couldn’t imagine the outpouring of generosity towards them,” said tracy Jemison, geauga County commissioner and co-chair of Chardon healing fund advisory board. “Your heart just goes to those families when you meet them – they’re very courageous.”

How you CaN HeLp

business and individuals can make a donation to the fund at any PnC bank office or by contacting uWsgC at www.uwsgc.org.

third-party fundraising is also taking place throughout the community to help raise money for the fund. if you or your organization would like to make the Chardon healing fund the beneficiary of your fundraiser, contact uWsgC for a third party fundraising agreement.

the fund invites supporters to like its facebook page, www.facebook.com/Chardonhealingfund, to stay connected and receive its latest updates.

Anyone with questions about the fund or how to help can email [email protected] or call the uWsgC offices directly at 440-285-2261.

partial donor Listfairmount Minerals - $100,000

forever Chardon - $61,969

Chefs for Chardon - $42,000

Cleveland foundation - $25,000

Key bank foundation - $25,000

Rhein Chemie Corp - $25,000

denora tech - $25,000

A & E Williamson - $25,000

giant Eagle (Chardon) - $23,103

Waste Management - $15,000

Chardon Healing Fund advisory BoardMr. Edward babcock, President, Junction Auto (Chardon Alumni Rep)

Mr. david boyle, CEO, Ravenwood Mental Health Center (Mental Health Rep)

Mr. thomas Connick, Esq., Dubyak, Connick, Sammon, Thompson & Bloom, LLC (Chardon High School Parent Rep)

Ms. Jenniffer deckard, President, Fairmount Minerals (Community Business Rep)

Ms. Ann fairhurst, Lake-Geauga Officer, The Cleveland Foundation (Foundation Rep)

Sister Jacquelyn gusdane, SND, President, Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin School (Faith Based Rep)

Mr. tracy Jemison, Geauga County Commissioner, (Government Rep)

Ms. Kimm Leininger, LISW, Executive Director, United Way Services of Geauga County, (Nonprofit Rep)

Ms. Kristin Lewis, Director of Sustainable Development, Fairmount Minerals (Community Business Rep)

Ms. deborah o’Connor, Director, Geauga County Public Library, (Community Rep)

Ms. Ellen ondrey, District Community Coordinator, Chardon Local Schools (Schools Rep)


One Of ChardOn’s Best Kept seCrets

By Dr. Tad Roediger, VP of Public Relations for Chardon Chamber of Commerce

of Geauga County. You might be wondering, “What is CASA for Kids?” and “Who started CASA for Kids?” The answer is simple, Judge Charles “Chip” Henry, was the founder of CASA for KIDS of Geauga County. During his time in court, he worked diligently to provide safe homes for abused and neglected children, bringing the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program to Geauga County. When the court must intervene to help a child, CASA volunteers represent the child’s best interest. Friends of CASA, supports the needs of the children by funding camp experiences, tutoring, music lessons, etc.

CASA volunteers, or Court Appointed Special Advocates, are volunteers who represent the “best interest” of a child when family problems such as substance abuse, mental health Issues and domestic violence result in child abuse and neglect.

Sworn in as Officers of the Court after completion of training and support by professional staff, CASA volunteers are ordinary people who learn all they can about the family and child, and then report back to the judge with facts and recommendations.

After gathering information from parents, teachers, relatives, counselors and other authorities, the CASA volunteer prepares a report for the juvenile court judge and recommends whether the child can be reunited with parents, or whether the child needs to be in a foster home or adopted. The CASA volunteer also recommends services the family can use to improve a situation.

While the best-case scenario is when parents are able to work on getting their children back, there are some cases where parents just cannot overcome their drug addiction or mental health problems. In either outcome, CASA volunteers work as a team with other caring professionals in Geauga County to help families in crisis.

In 2010, there were 149 children in Geauga County who were victims of abuse and neglect. By working to support CASA for Kids of Geauga County, the Chardon Chamber affects the future of our community. Plus attending and participating in organizing and running the fundraisers is another perk that allows business people to form relationships with other people and other businesses.

The Chardon Area Chamber of Commerce’s Mission Statement reads “The purpose of the Chardon Area Chamber of Commerce shall be to promote, protect and serve the civic, social and general business interests of the City of Chardon and surrounding area. Additionally, the purpose of the Chamber is to encourage a unified public spirit within the community”. My personal experience with the Chamber and the volunteers that make the Chamber possible is they are doing exactly what their mission statement said.

Their goals are unlimited and so should yours. Become a part of a wonderful organization, let the secret out, and let’s see how we can transform this city and area in which we work and live. Visit www.chardonchamber.com for more information on Chamber events, joining the Chamber, CASA and how you can help.

Let’s not keep it a secret anymore. That secret would be the Chardon Area Chamber of Commerce. I have been involved with the Chardon Chamber for over 10 years. As a practicing chiropractor and chiropractic business owner in Chardon, I credit much of my success to being associated with the Chamber. The tag line for the Chamber is, “Our goals are unlimited”. Not only do I believe that, I experienced its truth.

Starting my chiropractic business in 2002, I chose Chardon because of its beauty, charm and the “town” feeling it gave me. However, I was not born nor raised here. I looked to the Chamber for help, and help is what I got! Instantly I was connected to over 100 other businesses and like minded entrepreneurs. I established relationships, (sometimes we call that Networking), I got to know people and they got to know me. Soon people were coming to my office in need of my services. Not necessarily the people I spoke to, but people referred by those I met.

Starting my own company on a wing and a prayer left me little wiggle room for things like business insurance, health insurance, Workman’s Compensation, joining big box discount stores to save money on supplies or who to contact about putting an ad in the local paper. Being a member of the Chamber of Commerce gives me access to discounts with insurance and Workman’s Compensation, a big relief to my bottom line. Because some other businesses give discounts to Chamber members like some local newspapers and local office supply stores, I was able to further help my bottom line.

The Chamber doesn’t just offer financial benefits to local businesses. It does a lot for the community we live in as well. For instance, the Chamber provides scholarships for local graduating seniors who are interested in specializing in business in school. During the year the Chardon Chamber of Commerce holds numerous fund/fun-raisers to help this cause. In addition, this year the Chamber is teaming up with a local charitable group, CASA for Kids

“We Believe in the pOWer Of vOlunteers tO Change the lives Of Children”


Over the past five years we have done a health checkup on every vehicle we service. Customer responses can be put in two categories: Those that prefer no news is good news and hope the noises they hear under the hood will heal its self. The pragmatic group carefully listens and plans the necessary steps to bring their vehicle up to snuff.

It may be time for you to look at some preventive health measures

for your company.

Car Maintenance and Your Group Health Care Plan

You might be finding participants in your Group Health Plans that are doing the same thing with your Group Health Care Plan. Those that put off necessary tests generally need much more expensive surgical care.

Most of these cases were foreseeable and also preventable. Over the past two years we have partnered with the premier healthcare organization in Geauga County, University Hospitals Geauga Hospital. We are excited to sponsor for the second year, Geauga Health Fair, July 14th from 10 to 2, on the campus of Geauga Hospital. This health fair will give area residents, free of c harge, health screenings and opportunities to talk to specialist doctors. Last year we had over 1,200 participants attend. Again, it is open to all and is FREE of charge. Our Company has two goals with our health care initiative – affordability and high quality care. The wellness professionals at UH Geauga have put together checklists with tests and screenings for our employees both on a risk basis, as well as focusing on needs.

Article Written by Jacquelyn Franck, Preston Superstores

What do they have in common?

Geauga Health Fair, July 14th

As an inventor, you have an idea for a new product or service. Your success will depend on matching your skills, your financial situation, your time constraints, and your goals with your approach to marketing your idea. sadly, most inventors spend a great deal of time, money and effort without a complete picture of what options are available to them for capitalizing on their idea. there are three basic things that you can do with your invention.

You can sell the invention. this is where you assign your rights to the patent to someone else. once you have sold the patent and assigned your rights, you have given up total control. the invention and the patent are no longer yours. this approach requires the least amount of investment of time and money and generally offers the least economic reward.

Your second option is to license your product to another entity. With this approach you will collect a royalty on product sold by the licensor.

b y R o b e r t E . C a n n o n

3 Optionsfor Inventors

basic options

+ -

license easiest minimum return least experience no Control

return? sell idea no Control 1 shot

diY big reward hardest Control expense time

byline

Bob Cannon is a coach for inventors. Check out other interesting articles available in the Taking Aim newsletter available at www.cannonadvantage.com . Bob can be reached at (216) 408-9495 or email to: [email protected]

Copyright Bob Cannon/The Cannon Advantage, 2007. All rights reserved.

this approach includes many variables and can provide a little more control than selling your invention outright depending upon your licensing arrangement. Will this be an exclusive arrangement? is the license limited by geography or market? how long is the agreement? Are there minimum quantities required? is the royalty to be paid on the license to be a fixed percentage or will it vary with volume and/or time? these are just some of the issues to be negotiated with the entity that licenses your invention. Your expenditure of time and money is reduced and your return is potentially greater than an outright sale of the patent.

Your third option is do-it-yourself. this is the most difficult, the most time consuming and the most expensive of the three options. it is also potentially the most lucrative.

knowing you have options and matching them to your situation improves your chances of benefitting from your idea.


few experiences are more frustrating than an endless wait to receive care in an emergency room—particularly when you’re waiting with a sick child. that’s why the staff of university hospitals geauga medical Center, in Chardon, recently designed a system to get patients in and out of the emergency department (e.d.) quickly and efficiently while providing top quality care.

“our e.d. patients receive medical attention an average of 14 minutes after they walk in the door, and they rarely wait more than 30 minutes,” promises steven Jones, president of the hospital. “sometimes when you go to an emergency room you can sit there for hours waiting to be seen. We don’t think that’s acceptable, so we challenged our emergency department staff, including our physicians, nurses and the rest of the team to come up with a plan to reduce waiting time and get people back home. And they did it.”

And they did it while improving the quality of care, says Peggy kuhar, chief nursing officer at uh geauga medical Center.

“our goal is to provide the highest level of care,” Peggy insists. “We make sure that all the standards of the emergency nursing Association and the American College of emergency Physicians are met.

” that’s one reason why the rainbow emergency services at uh geauga medical Center recently became the first community hospital in ohio to be approved by the emergency department’s Pediatric Prepared Program, an initiative that confirms that care provided for children by the hospital meets national quality benchmarks. such accolades are not uncommon for the medical center that serves the 100,000 residents of geauga

County, along with another 150,000 people in surrounding counties.

university hospitals geauga medical Center is now working on accreditation as

a level 3 trauma Center, with the resources for emergency resuscitation surgery and intensive care of most trauma patients.

“A lot of people are surprised by the services we deliver,” steven says. “there is a misperception that you have to go to a large urban hospital to get state of the art medical care. As a community hospital we want to raise the bar of medical care, because most people don’t want to be transferred out for procedures. they would rather stay here at home.”

University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center delivers some of the best medical care available. Here’s how this top team is raising the patient care bar.

Geauga Medical Center

University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center president M. Steven Jones

“…we challenged our

team to come up with a

plan to reduce waiting

time and get people back

home. And they did it.”

C o n t I n u E d o n b A C K C o V E R

Raising the BaR


As an example of raising the bar, uh geauga medical Center will be the first medical center in the county—and one of the first in its region—to offer radiation therapy when its $5.5 million uh seidman Cancer Center expansion is completed later this year.

“the facility offers life saving cancer care locally,” steven says.

geauga medical Center was established in the 1950s by a women’s organization that recognized the need for a hospital to serve a rural population whose only choice at the time was to make the long journey into Cleveland for medical attention. fifteen years ago, the facility merged with university hospitals, enabling it to offer cutting edge medical care while retaining its strong connection with its community.

“Community outreach is very important to our mission of promoting wellness and preventative care,” steven explains. “We’re involved with more than 100 different outreach programs. for example, we partner with the geauga County department on Aging to offer health screenings of all kinds at the area’s senior centers. in July we’re holding a family health and safety day. last year the event drew 1,000 visitors. We partner with the geauga County sheriffs department’s dAre program that advocates freedom from drug use.”

As part of the uh ems institute, university hospitals geauga medical Center provides medical training for 22 regional fire departments.

Awareness of health issues is one reason that geauga County was just ranked as ohio’s second healthiest county in an annual report from the robert Wood Johnson foundation and the university of Wisconsin Population health institute.

“one of the reasons geauga County has done so well is we have a really great network of primary care physicians who focus on wellness and prevention,” steven says.

Along with the outreach efforts, there is plenty to be proud of inside the medical center as well, Peggy emphasizes.

“We have the best woman’s health services and ob department you’ll ever find,” Peggy says. “i think it’s the best kept secret in geauga County. We have very tenured nurses and very caring physicians.”

steven adds that labor, delivery, recovery and postpartum care are all done in one suite, which makes it a wonderful experience for a women delivering a baby.

the medical center’s behavioral health unit provides care for people who are dealing with stress and other mental health issues. A multidisciplinary senior Adult team provides assistance to seniors over the age of 65 and their families.

“the team is available to help with issues of all types and will do a home visit to recommend ways to make it safer for seniors to live at home alone,” steven says. “if you’re concerned about a parent’s ability to drive, we have driving simulators to make assessments.”

Raising the BaRC o n t I n u E d f R o M P A g E 1 7

the center’s intensive Care unit recently earned the silver beacon Award for Critical Care excellence from the American Association of Critical Care nurses.

“We are the only community hospital in this area that i know of that has received that award,” steven says. “that award usually goes to bigger urban hospitals.”

university hospitals geauga medical Center also is an accredited Chest Pain Center and an accredited stroke Center. recently, they received hip and knee replacement certification from the Joint Commission.

“We’re able to earn these certifications because everybody is on board with raising the bar on medical care from the board of directors on down.” Peggy says. “our board members all live here and feel very strongly about the community.”

University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center is located at 13207 Ravenna Road, in Chardon. You can contact the hospital at 440-285-6000, or visit www.UHGeauga.org for more information.

© mimi Vanderhaven 2012. reprinted with permission.

UH Geauga Medical Center Intensive Care Unit recently earned the Silver Beacon Award for Critical Care Excellence.

Documents

geauga Business - Middlefield, Ohio...opportunities. A close analysis of middlefield’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, or sWot, reveals several avenues worth investigating