North Coast Business Journal - December 2012

7/30/2019 North Coast Business Journal - December 2012

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INSIDE

THIS MONTH

www.ncbj.net

Standard MailU.S. Postage Paid

Tifn, OH 44883Permit #88

Published and Owned bySchaffner Publications, Inc.DECEMBER 2012 Vol. 18 No. 12

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

POSTMASTER: Deliver to Label Addressee or Current Resident

Celebrating18 Years of Service

Were a proud member of the following:Bellevue Area Chamber

of Commerce

Chamber of Commerceof Sandusky County

Elmore Chamberof Commerce

Erie County Chamberof Commerce

Fostoria Area Chamberof Commerce

Genoa Chamberof Commerce

Huron Chamberof Commerce

Huron CountyChamber of Commerce

Marblehead PeninsulaChamber of Commerce

Milan Chamberof Commerce

Oak Harbor AreaChamber of Commerce

Port Clinton AreaChamber of Commerce

Put-in-Bay Chamberof Commerce

Seneca RegionalChamber of Commerce

Vermilion Chamberof Commerce

Willard Area Chamberof Commerce

It's been a Great

Year - Thanks ...... 2

Paying the Bills -

Retirement Income

............................ 8

IT: How to Use a

Flash Drive .........10

Essential Tax

Planning .............12

The Well-Booked

Business .............15

HR: Reviewing your

Benefts Package

...........................18

Sales: The Defnition

o Insanity? ........23

Legal: FDIC -

Personal Accounts

...........................24

FocusonWestern ottaWa county

Submitted by Valerie WinterfeldExecutive Director

Every year that goes by seems likea busy year, and 2012 was nodifferent! Our rst event of the yearwas our chamber annual dinnerwhere we held our rst ever videohorse racing event. It brought alivelier feel to the dinner andeveryone in attendance had a greattime. So much so that we will featurevideo horse racing again at ourannual dinner this coming year onFebruary 1, 2013! This is also thetime that we elect new boardmembers. Last year elected to serve3 year terms were, Chuck Benes,Cherie Salazar, Austin Short &

Paulette Weirich. They joinedexisting board members, VernConley, Don Douglas, Pat Peters,

David Franck, Debi Heiks, GinaMiller, Michelle Ish and LesterWeatherwax. The continued effortsof our members, staff, board,

Submitted by Rick Claarand Mayor Lowell Krumnow

The Village of Elmore will be in positionfor expansion of residential and industrialgrowth when two major projects arecompleted in the summer of 2013

In 2005, village residents approved a% income tax hike to start a three phaseproject that would help alleviate overowsof raw sewage into the Portage River. By

June 30, construction on a new $5.2million wastewater treatment plant will

be completed as the third andnal stage of the project.

Loans obtained from the OhioWater Development Authorityand the Ohio Public WorksCommission along with moneysgenerated by the additionalincome tax receipts have madethe seven year project possible.The village has already completedthe rst two phases of the projectwhich includes terminating

It is not unusual to hear people complain of thedifculty they have nding products made inAmerica. For someone seeking such products, oneneeds to look no further than Jan Pughs PackerCreek Pottery,located in

d o w n t o w nGenoa. Jan is aw i d e l yr e c o g n i z e ddesigner andartist. Herunique colorfulpottery can befound in homesand collectionsin every state inthe country.Jans broad selection of functional and decorative

ceramic art is one hundred percent made in the

A Great Year It Was, and anEven Better Year to Come!

See OAK HARBOR, Page 4

Growth Coming to Village o Elmore

See ELMORE, Page 13

Made in America -Genoa, Ohio USA

See GENOA, Page 2


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USA. Her proprietary clay and glaze formulas areproduced especially for Jan by a Pittsburghmanufacturer. The equipment used in producingher pottery is also American made, along with themany other tools and supplies involved in theprocess. Jan also carries a line of ne wooden

tables incorporating her ceramic tile, which arehand crafted locally by Swisher Cabinetry. Mostimportantly, Jan employs a group of talentedartists and craftsmen who live in the area to helpher craft and decorate her products. Customersvisiting the sales gallery will be greeted by aknowledgeable and friendly sales staff. In contrastto mass merchandisers, big-box stores and onlineretailers, Packer Creek Pottery has a friendly,happy and welcoming atmosphere. If the

showroom staff doesnt know your name the rsttime you enter the store, you will be rememberedon subsequent visits.

The benets of purchasing American madeproducts are much greater than just supporting alocal businessperson. When making purchasingdecisions, one must consider the secondarybenets of buying locally made items. For instance,

Jan Pugh is one of the largest electrical customersof the Genoa Utilities Department. Village incometaxes generated by Jans and other businessescontribute to the building of local infrastructure

and help to pay the salaries of villageemployees. Likewise, local and state salestaxes support vital services that we allneed and use. Salaries of Jans employeesare also plowed back into other nearbystores, service providers, and eateries.

Jans advertising budget benets localmedia outlets.

As a member of the Genoa AreaChamber of Commerce and theDowntown Merchants Association,Packer Creek Pottery works hand in handwith other businesses with the aim ofsupporting the local economy. This isevidenced by the thriving downtownGenoa business district that boasts thefact that today every storefront isoccupied. This also positively impactslocal real estate values, which in turnprovide tax revenues which help to buildour schools, re departments and EMSservices.

As part and parcel ofJans businessphilosophy, she alsoregularly supports scoresof local charities andfundraisers. This is justanother way your dollarsspent here come fullcircle.

Each year the local

downtown merchantswork together putting on the annual GenoaHoliday Open House, to kick off the season. Thiswill be the twentieth year Jan has created herannual Limited Edition Holiday Plate for collectors.This years event, which included Small BusinessSaturday, was very successful and well attendedby shoppers from far and wide.

We should all take into consideration theeconomic effects on our local economy the nexttime we contemplate buying a product labeledMade in China.

2 December2012 North Coast Business Journal www.ncbj.net

205 S.E. Catawba Road, Suite G,Port Clinton, Ohio 43452

419-734-4838 Fax 419-734-5382

Publisher JOHN SCHAFFNER

Editor JEFFREY H. [email protected]

DirectorofSales DAVE [email protected]

AccountingManager ROBIN [email protected]

Layout&GraphicDesign SCOTT [email protected]

MARK [email protected]

CirculationManager BRUCE DINSE

NorthCoastBusinessJournal is owned and published monthly by Schaffner Publica-

tions, Inc., and is mailed free to chamber of commerce members in a ve-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.

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

Jeffrey H. BrydenEditor

Its time to call it a year winding down twelve issueswhere we tried to cover muchof the good business news inour ve county coverage area.

As someone said about usmany years ago, the Business

Journal is all about planelandings not plane crashes. Weve adhered tothat mission, bringing you good news: ofbusiness, institutional and civic expansion andpersonal promotions in the ve counties of Erie,

Huron, Ottawa, Sandusky and Seneca.While weve endeavored to cover every county

every month, weve moved around, with a focus ineach issue to dig a little deeper into specictowns and areas. So that we all can learn fromwhat good things are happening with ourneighbors.

Well stay true to that mission in the year ahead.We continue to value the terric work done by thesixteen Chambers of Commerce in our area. Theexecutives and boards of each offer valuableprograms and networking opportunities to theirmembers and the communities they serve andtheyve continued to be strong supporters of ourefforts to keep you informed.

We hope that you have enjoyed the contributedarticles written by our professional volunteerseach month covering a wider variety of businesstopics than ever before. If theres another areawere missing, or a business discipline youd likecovered too, please let me know?

In closing we want to thank our loyal readers, ourregular advertisers and the Chambers who havesupported us through the year. All of us here lookforward to the new year as we enter our 19th yearof service to businesses on the North Coast.

On behalf of the North Coast Business Journalstaff, allow me to offer our sincerest best wishes toyou for a safe and joyful holiday season.

Its been a Great Year Thanks.

GENOA, from Page 1


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www.ncbj.net North Coast Business Journal December 2012 3

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volunteers and businesses resulted in the successes that continue our missionstatement to promote, support, and advocate for our members, and strengthenthe economic climate of the Oak Harbor area. First and foremost we wouldlike to extend a huge thank to our 2012 Gold Sponsors; The National Bank ofOhio, Community Markets/Tofts Dairy, The Village of Oak Harbor, CarrollTownship, and Magruder Hospital for their generous contribution to thechamber and our community.

During the rst quarter of 2012, we were busy with our annual dinner andpreparation for our annual Easter Egg Hunt. The Easter Egg Hunt has been atradition in Oak Harbor for over 60 years and we are blessed with communitysupport and great volunteers that keep this event going strong year after year.

The second quarter of 2012 was a busy one. It held our Annual CommunityClean-up day, a free small business seminar, a business after hours at JoyfulConnections, our annual Veterans picture display at Flat Iron Park, AnnualGolf Outing, Semi-annual Village Wide Garage Sale Days and our rst farmersmarket of the season!

After those events we move right into the third quarter where we held ourAnnual Independence Day Celebration along the Portage River, a business

after hours at Guiding HandsHome Health, another free

small business seminar, 3farmers markets, and our 2ndSemi-annual Village WideGarage Sale Days. During thisquarter, we also establishedthe Oak Harbor ChamberFoundation, a 501(c) 3charitable organization, whichallows us to receive tax freedonations, and apply forgrants, in order to better serveour members and the

community.The last quarter holds ourbiggest event of the year,which is our Annual AppleFestival. The festival is afundraiser for the chamberand brings thousands ofvisitors to our town during thesecond weekend of October. Inaddition to the festival, wealso held our last farmersmarket of the season as well asour last seminar for the year.We round out the year with

our Old Fashioned Christmas Celebration which takes place the secondSaturday after Thanksgiving each year at the Portage Fire Station.

Aside from all of the wonderful events that our chamber works hard to bringthe community each year, we also offer superior business benets to ourmembers. The biggest savings for our members come from the BWC GroupRating Program and the Anthem Health Insurance Discount program. We alsooffer the use of our bulk mail permit to members, discounts on many businessservices, Fed-Ex shipping discounts, special pricing on copy and print,business referrals for members, free seminars, ribbon cuttings, and muchmuch more! For a detailed list or more information about any of our benetsand services please contact us at 419-898-0479 or visit us on the web at www.oakharborohio.net.


800-848-2788 divinsurance.comOFFICES IN ELMORE, FREMONT, PORT CLINTON AND WHITEHOUSE

OAK HARBOR, from Page 1

See OAK HARBOR, Page 5

N th C t B i J l D b 2012 5


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Submitted by Kendra German, LNHAAdministrator

The acility is seeing its highest admissions anddischarge numbers in over fve years. The acility

has welcomed 250 admissions to the acility romJanuary 1 through October 31, 2012. 74% or 185 othese admissions have returned back to acommunity setting.

In January o 2012, Riverview expanded its shortterm rehabilitation unit, Cottage Cove. The unithad previously consisted o 13 private suites orpatients who came to the acility with the goal oreturning to the community. Riverview added 6additional suites to accommodate the large numbero short term rehabilitation patients it sees eachyear.

The Lighthouse Memory Care Unit, located onRiverviews campus is the only specialized memorycare unit in Ottawa County. During the summermonths o 2012, The Lighthouse unit wasredecorated with new paint, ooring and urniture.

The units amily style setting makes it the perectatmosphere or those with dementia or memoryproblems, oering amily style dining, open livingroom area and specialized activities.

Both o these projects were unded throughRiverviews .5 mil tax levy.

In the spring o 2012, the Lighthouse Unit beganto serve meals amily style. As the state o Ohiocontinues to push acilities towards a morehomelike setting, this style was suggested. Thestyle is similar to the way large amily meals areserved. The residents are encouraged to servethemselves rom large serving bowls. Sta assistedas needed, but this style has proven to helpresidents eat more at meal times and also keep uptheir dining skills.

Riverviews Dietary Department continues toprepare the meals or Senior Resources (SeniorCenters and Home Delivered Meals) as well asOttawa Countys two jails. Both o these programs(Senior Resources as well as Ottawa County Sheri)reimburse Riverview on a per meal basis or thecost o ood, supplies and labor or these meals.With the production o meals or these twoprograms, as well as or our residents and patients,

Riverview Dietary Department producesapproximately 800 meals daily.

Riverview has made it its mission to provideservices which are not oered anywhere elsewithin Ottawa County. Riverview believes the

residents o Ottawa County should be able torecover rom illness or injury or seek long term carewithin our county limits. For this reason, Riverviewis proud it is home to Ottawa Countys only SkilledNursing Facility that is contracted with the FederalGovernments Veterans Administration andOttawa Countys only Adult Day Service (DayBreak).

Riverview was Ottawa Countys frst Medicare 5Star acility, an honor the acility has been able tomaintain or 3 years. The acility is also listed onUS World and News Report list o Best NursingHomes or 2011 and 2012.

As Riverview looks orward to 2013 we willcontinue to look or ways to diversiy and partnerwith others to continue to provide valued uniqueservices to Ottawa County and the surroundingareas.

Its been a Busy Year at Oak Harbors Riverview

MAY PAINTING INC.Family Owned and Operated Since 1933

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419-332-1363 Toll Free800-797-6252446 N. Wood St., Fremont, OH 43420

www.maypainting.com

As always the Oak Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce looks forward to continuing to bring you qualityfamily events throughout the year and promoting this great village in which we live. Below is ourschedule of events for 2013 (note that our seminars and BAHs have not yet been scheduled):

February 1, 2013-Chamber Annual Dinner-VFW Memorial Hall

March 23, 2013-Annual Easter Egg Hunt, Log Cabin

April 27, 2013-Annual Community Clean-up Day, Downtown Oak Harbor

May 23-29, 2013-Veteran Picture Display at Flat Iron Park

May 24, 2013-Annual Golf Outing, OH Golf Club

June 7-8, 2013-Annual Village Wide Garage Sale Days, Downtown Oak Harbor

June 22, 2013-Farmers Market, Flat Iron Park

July 3, 2013-Annual Independence Day Celebration, Mill Street Riverfront

July 27, 2013-Farmers Market, Flat Iron Park

August 24, 2013-Farmers Market/2nd Semi-Annual Garage Sale Days-Flat Iron ParkSeptember 28, 2013-Farmers Market, Flat Iron Park

October 12-13, 2013-Annual Apple Festival, Downtown Oak Harbor

October 26, 2013-Farmers Market, Flat Iron Park

December 7, 2013-Olde Fashioned Christmas Celebration, Portage Fire Station

We look forward to promoting our businesses and our community in 2013 and wish to thank all of ourmembers and sponsors for their continuing support. Happy Holidays and best wishes for a prosperousNew Year from the Oak Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce!

OAK HARBOR, from Page 4

6 December 2012 North Coast Business Journal bj t


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The new vehicle storage building at the Ottawa

County Transportation Agency (OCTA) is openand ready for business. Its been a long year ofhard work and it sure feels great to get in to ournew facility, said Transit Director Bill Lowe. Thebest feeling of all comes from knowing thisbuilding will benet Ottawa County residents forgenerations to come.

Additional facility improvements were alsoshowcased during todays ribbon cutting ceremony.Environmentally-friendly design features of thenew storage building and renovations to the

existing ofces and vehicle maintenance bays willsubstantially reduce OCTAs operating costs withincreased energy efficiency. Highlightedimprovements include:

A geothermal heating and air conditioningsystem

Solar photovoltaic panels to produce electricity Solar hot water heater Increased insulation Passive lighting systems that use daylight and

therefore reduce the number of electric lights

needed to illuminate the facility

Smart lighting systems that turn off the lightswhen a space is not occupied In-oor heating system that burns used vehicle

oilFunding for the project came from the federal

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009and will continue to support a signicant numberof jobs locally. This was a great project for ourarea, said Bill Lowe. We had 10-20 guys out herefor a year, working in jobs that might not haveexisted without this funding.

County Commissioner Steve Arndt praised

OCTAs leaders for using the federal dollars to savethe Ottawa County taxpayers money over the lifeof the buildings. The decision to make a priorityof designing and building an environmentally-responsible, energy-efcient facility required Billand his team a few more governmental hoops tojump through, but we supported them 100%. Wehope other Ottawa County agencies will be able todo the same on any future building projects. Itonly makes sense.

OCTA provides safe and affordable door-to-door

transportation for all Ottawa County residents.Members of the public wishing to schedule a ridemay call 1-419-898-7433. A Rider Guide and otherinformation is available online at www.octapublictransit.com.


OCTA Transit Director, Bill Lowe (right) looks onas Ottawa County Building and Grounds Superin-tendant, Jim Adkins and OCTA Manitenance Super-visor, Jerry Porath cut the ribbon on OCTAs newvehicle storage building.

OCTA Construction Project CompleteResponsible design will assure transit is available for generations

The Magruder Hospital Board of Trustees Chairman, PaulDruckenmiller, has announced that Todd Almendinger, thecurrent Vice-President of Finance and Chief Financial Ofcer atMagruder, has been appointed President & CEO of the hospital.

"Todd is a proven leader at Magruder and his history withour organization goes back to serving his college internship

here in healthcare administration. Having worked at a largerhospital for most of his career, we were fortunate to lure himback in 2006 as Vice-President of Finance and Chief FinancialOfcer. He has been part of the hospital's senior leadershipteam for six years and the Board is condent in his abilities asMagruder's new President & CEO," said Druckenmiller.

Almendinger came to Magruder in 2006 after being the Vice-President of Finance and Chief Financial Ofcer of Grady Memorial Hospital inDelaware, Ohio for eighteen years. He earned his Bachelor of Science and Masters ofBusiness Administration from Bowling Green State University and is a member of theHealth Care Financial Management Association and the American College of HealthCare Executives.

"Going back to the time when I served my college internship at Magruder underRobert Dumminger, this hospital has always been special to me. Growing up inFremont I have always liked this area and when the opportunity came up in 2006 towork at Magruder, the move was right for me and my family. I am honored by theBoard's decision, excited to continue to work with this truly great team of people andlooking forward to advancing the hospital's mission of serving the area community,"said Almendinger.

Almendinger lives on Catawba Island with his wife Kathy and twin daughtersAlyssa and Katie. His son Aaron is a former U.S. Marine and is currently attendingThe Ohio State University.

Magruder Hospital Board ofTrustees Announce New CEO

www ncbj net North Coast Business Journal December 2012 7


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Make me feelbetter

615 Fulton Street I Port Clinton, Ohio 43452 I 419-734-3131 I magruderhospital.com

Making someone feel better is more than just a procedure orprescription; it comes from a smile or kind word, it comes

from understanding. A human life is precious, and deservesempathy and compassion in a time of need. Its a simple

fact we never ignore. Its why Magruder is one of the leadinghospitals in the nation for patient satisfaction.

Get started in a new career in the healthcare eld.You can do it with training at EHOVE Adult CareerCenter. Applications are being accepted now for

EHOVEs Surgical Technology Program.A Surgical Technologist is an allied healthcareprofessional that provides surgical care in a varietyof settings. The Surgical Technologist applies vitalsterile and aseptic techniques in a precise manner,passes instruments and assist in various ways inthe operating room. Upon completion of theprogram, you are eligible to sit for the NationalCertication Exam. EHOVE continues to have a100% pass rate on this certication exam.

Job growth is projected to be faster than averageas compared to all other professions at a rate of 25percent through 2018, creating favorable joboutlook, said Patricia Liebold, Surgical TechnologyProgram Coordinator and Instructor. New surgicalprocedures, such as those utilizing laser technologyand ber optics, will continue to be developed andimplemented.

Hospitals will remain the biggest employer,though rapid job growth is projected in doctorsofces and outpatient care centers, like ambulatorysurgical centers.

If you or someone you know would like to enrollfor the next Surgical Technology Program, contactEHOVE Adult Career Center at (419) 499-4663

x280. More information is available at www.EHOVE.net.

A new career, precisely Get off yourASTEROIDand place your ad in this

SPACE.

Call Dave at 419-341-3310or email at [email protected]

OUT OF THIS WORLDfor ad rates that are

8 December 2012 North Coast Business Journal www ncbj net


8/32


Douglas GildenmeisterSenior Vice President, Investments

Raymond James

Planning yourretirement incomeis like puttingtogether a puzzlewith manydierent pieces.One o the frststeps in the processis to identiy allpotential incomesources andestimate how much you can expecteach one to provide.

Social SecurityAccording to the Social Security

Administration (SSA), more than 9 o10 people aged 65 or older receiveSocial Security benefts. However,most retirees also rely on othersources o income. For a roughestimate o the annual beneft towhich you would be entitled at

various retirement ages, you can usethe calculator on the Social Securitywebsite,www.ssa.gov. Your SocialSecurity retirement beneit iscalculated using a ormula that takesinto account

your 35 highest earnings years.How much you receive ultimatelydepends on a number o actors,including when you start takingbenefts. You can begin doing so asearly as age 62. However, your beneft

may be 20% to 30% less than i youwaited until ull retirement age (65 to67, depending on the year you wereborn). Benefts increase each yearthat you delay taking benefts untilyou reach age 70.As youre planning,remember that the question o howSocial Security will meet its long-termobligations to both baby boomersand later generations has become ahot topic o discussion. Concernsabout the systems solvency indicate

that theres likely to be a change inhow those benefts are unded,administered, and/or taxed over thenext 20 or 30 years. That mayintroduce additional uncertainty

about Social Securitys role as part oyour overall long-term retirementincome picture, and put additionalemphasis on other potential incomesources.

PenSionS

I you are entitled to receive atraditional pension, youre lucky;ewer Americans are covered by themevery year. Be aware that even i youexpect pension payments, manycompanies are changing their planprovisions. Ask your employer i yourpension will increase with ination,and i so, how that increase iscalculated.

Your pension will most likely beoered as either a single or a joint

and survivor annuity. A singleannuity provides benefts until theworkers death; a joint and survivorannuity provides reduced beneftsthat last until the survivors death.The law requires married couples totake a joint and survivor annuityunless the spouse signs away thoserights. Consider rejecting it only ithe surviving spouse will have incomethat equals at least 75% o the currentjoint income. Be sure to ully planyour retirement budget beore you

make this decision.

Workorotherincome-ProducingactivitieS

Many retirees plan to work or atleast a while in their retirement yearsat part-time work, a ulflling secondcareer, or consulting or reelanceassignments. Obviously, while yourecontinuing to earn, youll rely less onyour savings,

leaving more to accumulate or theuture. Work also may provide accessto aordable health care.

Be aware that i youre receivingSocial Security benefts beore youreach your ull retirement age, earnedincome may aect the amount oyour beneft payments until you doreach ull retirement age. I yourecovered by a pension plan, you maybe able to retire, then seek workelsewhere. This way, you might beable to receive both your new salary

and your pension beneft rom yourprevious employer at the same time.Also, some employers have begun to

oer phased retirement programs,which allow you to receive all or parto your pension beneft once youvereached retirement age, while youcontinue to work part-time or thesame employer.

Other possible resources includerental property income and royalties

rom existing assets, such asintellectual property.

retirementSavingS/inveSt-mentS

Until now, you may have beensaving through retirement accountssuch as IRAs, 401(k)s, or other tax-advantaged plans, as well as in taxableaccounts. Your challenge now is toconvert your savings into ongoingincome. There are many ways to do

that, including periodic withdrawals,choosing an annuity i available,increasing your allocation to

income-generating investments, orusing some combination. Make sureyou understand the tax consequencesbeore you act.

Some o the actors youll need toconsider when planning how to tapyour retirement savings include:

How much you can aord towithdraw each year withoutexhausting your nest egg. Youllneed to take into account not onlyyour projected expenses and otherincome sources, but also your assetallocation, your lie expectancy,and whether you expect to useboth principal and income, orincome alone.

The order in which you will tapvarious accounts. Tax considerations

can aect which account youshould use frst, and which youshould deer using.

How youll deal with requiredminimum distributions (RMDs)rom certain tax-advantagedaccounts. Ater age 70, i youwithdraw less than your RMD,youll pay a penalty tax equal to50% o the amount you ailed towithdraw.

Some investments, such as certaintypes o annuities, are designed toprovide a guaranteed monthlyincome (subject to the claims-payingability o the issuer).Others may payan amount that varies periodically,depending on how your investmentsperorm. You also can choose to

balance your investment choices toprovide some o both types o income.

inheritanceOne widely cited study by

economists John Havens and PaulSchervish orecasts that by 2052, atleast $41 trillion will have beentranserred rom World War IIsGreatest Generation to theirdescendants.(Source: Why the $41Trillion Wealth Transer Is StillValid.) An inheritance, whetheranticipated or in hand, brings special

challenges. I a potential inheritancehas an impact on your anticipatedretirement income, you might beable to help your parents investigateestate planning tools that canminimize the impact o taxes ontheir estate. Your retirement incomealso may be aected by whether youhope to leave an inheritance or yourloved ones. I you do, you may beneftrom specialized fnancial planningadvice that can integrate your incomeneeds with a uture bequest.

equityinyourhomeorbuSineSS

I you have built up substantialhome equity, you may be able to tapit as a source o retirement income.Selling your home, then downsizingor buying in a lower-cost region, andinvesting that reed-up cash toproduce income or to be used asneeded is one possibility. Another is areverse mortgage, which allows youto continue to live in your homewhile borrowing against its value.That loan and any accumulatedinterest is eventually repaid by thelast surviving borrower when he orshe eventually sells the home,permanently vacates the property, ordies (However, you need to careullyconsider the risks and costs beoreborrowing. A useul publication titledReverse Mortgages: Avoiding aReversal o Fortune is available

online rom the Financial IndustryRegulatory Authority.)

I youre hoping to convert anexisting business into retirementincome, you may beneft rom careulfnancial planning to minimize thetax impact o a sale. Also, i you havepartners, youll likely need to make

Estate

Paying the Bills: Potential Sources of Retirement Income

See ESTATE, Page 20



9/32


For most of her career at Terra State CommunityCollege, Joyce Spencer has been an advocate forarmed forces veterans. Now she has, well, an armyof supporters.

Thanks to a push from administration, the hard

work of maintenance and housekeeping employees,and Spencers steady guidance, the new Terra StateVeterans Center opened on Nov. 15.

It features four computer work stations, aconference room with white board and a loungearea with a at screen television. A coffee maker,microwave, refrigerator and sink round out all thecomforts of home.

Spencer, the Success Mentor for Veterans at TerraState, has been pushing for a veterans center eversince she attended a conference in Kentuckyseveral years ago. A representative from Mississippi

State University gave a presentation on its center.Mississippi is the home state of Sonny Montgomery,the author of the Montgomery GI Bill thatguarantees educational benets for veterans.

They have an awesome veterans center, Spencersaid. I was very impressed with their brochureand everything about their program. MississippiState is such a large institution so I realized wewouldnt have anything like that here; but wecould do something.

She included the center in her veterans affairsstrategic plan and kept the idea alive through theyears. The center was put on the fast track recently

after Terra State President Dr. Jerome Websterattended a conference in Washington, D.C. andheard Eric Shinseki, the Secretary of VeteransAffairs, urge college leaders to give veterans a spaceof their own.

Soldiers are trained militarily to take care oftheir fellow soldier, Webster said. Because of thistraining, they will help each other get throughcollege, as long as they have a space to get to knoweach other, and learn how to support one anotherwhile in college. With all that veterans have donefor this great country, I wanted the creation of a

veterans center to be the rst priority of mypresidency, and it was, with the help of so manygreat faculty and staff.

Spencer aimed to provide a safe, comfortable andwelcoming space for the veterans. We wanted aplace where our veteran students could come andrelax but also have facilities that they could accessthe Internet and do homework, she said. So we

have a social area and a study area. Its a placewhere veterans can come and relate to each other.Kyle Williams, an Army veteran from Fostoria, is

a frequent visitor to the center.Its really nice, quiet, the 2007 Lakota High

School grad said. I like coming in here to talk toJoyce.

While Spencer is more than appreciative for thelarge space, she hopes they outgrow it soon. Thatwill mean that theveterans are using thecenter in signicant

numbers.A relatively newprogram, which isalready having animpact on increasingveteran students at TerraState, may help Spencerpack the center.

The VeteransRetraining AssistanceProgram was developedto help unemployedveterans from ages 35 to

60 who have exhaustedall of their VA benets.Spencer said Terra Statealready has about 20students who arebenetting from thatprogram, and its onlyabout six months old.

Through the center,veteran students cannetwork with veteranadvocates from the local

Job Stores. Specialistswork directly withveterans to help themfind work throughprograms likeapprenticeships andon-the-job training,according to Rob Bliss,Disabled VeteransOutreach ProgramSpecialist with theSandusky and Ottawa

counties Job Store.The Terra StateVeterans Center is amuch needed tool forcurrent and future

veterans, he said. The center will give them aplace to meet fellow veterans and relax before theirnext class.Jose Zamora, Bliss counterpart for the Job Store

in Seneca County, also sees the centers benets.

I would have liked to have a place like this whenI attended classes at Terra, Zamora said. It givesveterans the opportunity to meet and work withother veterans and to learn more about availablejob training and job search assistance. I encourageveterans attending Terra State to use the center.

For more information about the veterans programat Terra State, call Joyce Spencer at 419-559-2348.

Kyle Williams of Fostoriaworks on his homeworkin the new Terra StateVeterans Center

New Veterans Center at Terra State Opens

Community Focused. Trustworthy.

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Cathy MagersPut-in-Bay Branch Manager

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Cheryl DeVoreAVP Mortgage Banking Ofcer

Missy WalkerVP Retail Manager

Melinda StacyPort Clinton Branch Manager

Brittany ChristiansenCustomer Service Rep



10/32

By Don Knaur

Flash Drives, also known asThumb Drives, are one of themost misunderstood accessoriesfor a PC. A Flash Drive is simply adata storage stick with a USB(Universal Serial Bus) connectoron one end. Anyone going toCollege is very familiar withthem, because while they are notsold with a PC, they are now

necessary if you have to transferdata between PCs. These Drives were initiallymade to hold small amounts of information butwere quickly expanded to hold much largeramounts of data. Today, they are able to holdseveral Gigabytes (GB) of data. This can includepictures, music, documents, spreadsheets ordatabases; in other words, any type of le you canimagine.

However, these devices are like their predecessors,the oppy diskettes; they are not designed for long

term storage. They can and will fail at the mostinopportune moment (See Murphys Law). Toillustrate my concern about Flash Drive failure, Iwill relate an experience from long ago. I willnever forget the rst time I really needed to installa back-up. I had lost the hard drive in my notebookPC with all of my business records on it. Fortunately,I had a current set of back-up disks, so I wasntworried. When I started the restore procedure, itworked ne for the rst 22 disks, and then it failedon disk 23 of 36.It was doubly unfortunate thatwith the old Microsoft back-up system it was an all

or none situation. The diskette was unrepairable,so I was in deep trouble. Recently, I have seenseveral similar occurrences with the Flash Drives.

Today, many of the Flash Drives come loadedwith a software routine to encrypt the data theyhold for security purposes. I do not recommendusing this software, because it can create problems.When you rst use the Flash Drive, it will ask youif you want to install the software on yourcomputer or simply to copy les to the Drive. Justchoose the copy option and you will be able to

treat the Drive as anyother portable media,

which will make yourlife a lot easier.

There are several waysto copy a le to yourFlash Drive. Here aretwo of them. The rstway is the simplest. Justopen the le you wantto copy and then choosethe Save As optionfrom the File Menu.Next, select the drive

letter that isi nd i c a t edfor yourF l a s h

Drive and click on Save. The second way is toright click on Start, then left click on Explore.Find your le and right click on it. Next, select theCopy option and then select and open yourFlash Drive. Now, right click on an open area andselect the Paste option.

If you have trouble trying to nd your Flash Driveand it is already in the PC, the easiest way to ndit is to left click on Start. Then click on (My)Computer and look at the Drive Labels. Each USBport on the PC will be labeled as a Removable

Disk and the one that has your Flash Drive in itwill show the name of your Flash Drive, i.e.Passport. If the Flash Drive is not yet in your PC,when the Flash Drive is inserted into the PC, thePC will usually identify it and offer you options ofactions to take.

Word of Warning: if the Flash Drive you are usingis not your own Drive, you are at risk of infectingyour PC. I would recommend using the Scanoption before utilizing the View Files and Foldersoption.

Hopefully, this has helped you understand howto best use your Flash Drives. Now that you

understand that Flash Drives are not acceptable asback-up devices, I strongly urge you to ask Santafor an external Hard Drive to use for backing upyour data, unless you already own one. MerryChristmas!Don is the CWO (Chie Working Ofcer) o Help-

Desk, Ohio, a complete computer service center,located in Suite A o the Courtlee InteriorsBuilding, 2499 W. Market in Tifn. Don has adegree in Computer Programming rom TifnUniversity and has been an InormationTechnology Proessional or over 26 years. He

started Help-Desk, Ohio in the spring o 1996 andopened his shop in March 2001. Don welcomescalls or advice or inormation at 419-448-

8020.

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Its Genoa store, on WoodvilleRoad, is a 45,000 sq. ft. showroom,and employs 32 full-time and 2part-time staffers.

Over the years, Doug Samsensays the company has made astrong effort to develop clientrelationships, and to offerconsultant sales to help completea room with furnishing from

every department. Design work and in-home selling have been ouremphasis.The company offers a multi-line product assortment - living rooms,

bedrooms, dining rooms, dinettes, bedding, a design department includingwindow treatments, wallpaper, carpeting and a large selection of lamps,pictures and accessories.

Samsen says his marketing strategy has been to utilize name brand productlines to draw consumers out to the Genoa location by emphasizing selection,quality and service.

In addition, he says he has had a regular advertising program to bring peopleout to this destination situated in the heart of Northwest Ohio.

Genoas SamsenFurniture an Area

Mainstay Since 1954The Board of Directors for Main Street

Port Clinton is pleased to announcethat MSPC received a $15,000 grantfrom the Stensen Memorial Fund tohelp purchase new planters andbenches for our historicdowntown. The planters andbenches will be complementingthe existing planters and benchesthat were new in downtown in2010 and 2011.

Main Street Port Clinton is anon-prot organization strivingto promote, preserve, and improvedowntown historic Port Clinton.For more information, please contactMain Street Port Clinton at 419.734.5503.

Port Clintons MainStreet PC is Awarded

Grant from Stensen



12/32

Taxes

By Donald P. Hanck, CPA, ABV, CFF

Barnes Wendling etc see OCTOBER ISSUE

Absent congressional action,taxpayers at all income levels willpay higher taxes on their wages,salaries, self-employment incomeand investment income in 2013than they paid in 2012. Theprimary force behind this changeis the simultaneous expiration on12/31/12, of the Bush tax cuts,and economic stimulus measuressuch as the temporary tax holidayand the expanded earned income and AmericanOpportunity education tax credits. The annualalternative minimum tax issue continues formiddle class taxpayers. Starting in 2013, higher-income taxpayers will be liable for two new leviesimposed by the Affordable Care Act which includesthe 3.8% tax on net investment income, known asthe unearned income Medicare contribution tax,and the additional 0.9% hospital insurance tax onhigh wage earners.

Changes in tax law resulting rom provisions

expiring at the end o 20121. Higher tax rate schedule or ordinary income

If the Bush tax cuts are allowed to expire, thestatutory income tax rates on ordinary income,which would include all dividends in 2013, willrange from 15% to 39.6% in 2013 as comparedto 10% to 35%. The new rate tables also restorea marriage penalty that the tax cuts hadeliminated.

2. Elimination o preerential tax rate orqualifed dividend incomeUnder the Bush tax cuts, the tax rate on

qualied dividend income was capped at 15%.For taxpayers whose dividend income wouldotherwise have been taxed at 10% or 15%, therate was reduced to zero for tax years beginningin 2008. After the tax cuts expire on 12/31/12,there will be no qualied dividend income andall dividends will be ordinary income taxed atthe rates referred to above.

3. Higher tax rate on net capital gains.The Bush tax cuts reduced the top rate on mostnet capital gains from 20% to 15%. For taxpayerswhose gains would otherwise be taxed at 10%or 15%, rates were reduced from 10% to 0%beginning in 2008. With the tax cuts sunset,the top rate will again be 20% on gains fortaxpayers above the 15% bracket and 10% fortaxpayers whose gains would be taxed at 15%under the tax tables.

4. Return o the overall limitation on itemizeddeductionsThe Pease limitation on itemized deductionswas repealed in 2010 for taxpayers with an

adjusted gross income (AGI) above an ination-

adjusted threshold. When the tax cuts expire,taxpayers will once again reduce the amount ofitemized deductions allowed.

5. Return o the personal exemption phase-out(PEP)The personal exemption phase-out (PEP) wasdesigned to reduce or eliminate altogether thebenet of personal and dependency exemptionsfor higher-income taxpayers. Like the Peaselimitation, the PEP was repealed for tax yearsstarting in 2010 and also returns in 2013.

6. Lower standard deduction or joint returnsThe Bush tax cuts eliminated the marriagepenalty associated with the standard deductionby setting the standard deduction for marriedcouples ling joint returns at twice the amountfor single taxpayers. In 2013, the standarddeduction for joint lers will revert to 167% ofthe amount for single taxpayers.

7. Lower child tax creditsFor 2013, after the tax cuts have expired, thechild tax credit will decrease $1,000 to $500 perqualifying child. In addition, none of it will berefundable to taxpayers.

8. Lower earned income credit

Taxpayers with larger families (3 or morequalifying children) will see a reduction in theearned income credit they will receive.

9. Replacement o the American OpportunityTax Credit with the Hope Tax Credit

In 2013, the American Opportunity Tax Credit(AOTA) will revert to the less advantageousHope Tax Credit. The AOTC maximum credit is$2,500 while the Hope maximum credit beforeination adjustment is only $1800. As a resultof the expiration of the AOTC, fewer taxpayerswill be able to claim an education credit in

2013, and many of those who can do so mayreceive no benet from the nonrefundablecredit.

10. Elimination o the tax holidayThe temporary reduction in social security taxesfrom 6.2% to 4.2% on wages and self-employedindividuals will be eliminated in 2013. At thistime, there does not appear to be anyCongressional support for renewing this taxholiday.

How the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) CouldAect You

In 1969, Congress enacted an individual AMT toensure that everyone paid a minimum amount oftaxes, even while preserving tax breaks written inthe code as economic and social incentives. ButCongress did not build in an ination escalatorand later enacted lower tax rates under the Bushtax cuts. The combined effect played havoc withthe intention of the AMT, allowing the tax systemto cover more and more middle-class taxpayers.

Annually, Congress patches the AMT system so

it only hits around 5 million upper-middle-classtaxpayers by adjusting the threshold and theapplicable rate. In 2012, unless Congress applies anew patch, the AMT will apply to nearly half of thetaxpayers with incomes between $75,000 and$100,000. Without action, an estimated 27 millionmore taxpayers could nd themselves paying anaverage of $3,700 more in taxes. To add to thisproblem, the IRS has announced that it is notprepared for a new patch for the 2012 tax lingsystem and as a result, expects delays for the taxling of these 27 million taxpayers.

Changes due to new tax levies under theAordable Care Act1. Unearned Income Medicare contribution tax

The Medicare contribution tax is imposed at therate of 3.8% on the lesser of: (1) the taxpayersnet investment income; or (2) the excess of thetaxpayers modied adjusted gross income(MAGI) over a threshold amount. The thresholdamounts are $200,000 for unmarried taxpayers,$250,000 for married couples ling joint returns,and $125,000 for married taxpayers lingseparate returns.

2. Additional hospital insurance tax o 0.9%The ACA added a 0.9 percentage point to theemployee portion of the hospital insurance (HI)tax on wages exceeding $250,000 for marriedcouples ling jointly, $125,000 for marriedtaxpayers ling separately, and $200,000 for allother taxpayers. The additional HI tax alsoapplies to self-employment income exceedingthe wage thresholds listed above.

Steps to reduce the eect o the scheduled taxincreases

Based on the discussion above, the following verecommendations are offered to lessen the impactof the looming tax increases.1. Recognize long-term capital gains in 2012

Taxpayers in all brackets should seriouslyconsider selling their investments in 2012 thatwould result in long-term capital gains, ratherthan waiting until 2013 to do so.

2. Accelerate 2013 charitable contributionssubject to the Pease limitation into 2012With the return of the Pease limitation,taxpayers should weigh shifting some of theirplanned charitable donations for 2013 to 2012.

3. Accelerate ordinary income into 2012 ordelay certain deductionsThe increased statutory tax rates, the Peaselimitation and the Affordable Care Act (AHA)taxes provide substantial incentive, especiallyfor higher-income taxpayers, to recognize moreordinary income in 2012 rather than 2013.

Essential Tax Planning For All Taxpayers

See TAXES, Page 13



13/32

side to the east end o the village where the newwastewater plant is being built.

The new acility will treat 100% o the waterentering the village sanitary sewer system and willalleviate any overfow issues the village hasencountered in the past. The current wastewaterplant has a peak capacity o 450,000 gallons whilethe new plant will be able to treat 1.8 million gallonsper day. Village Superintendant Buck Stoiber saidtechnology incorporated in the acility will helpmeet new parameters or mercury and phosphorousdischarge levels. He said the unique design o thenew plant will allow or additional expansion i andwhen the need arises. He also said the village ismaking continuous eorts to alleviate any infowand inltration (I&I) o outside groundwater into thesanitary sewer system. As the village closes all doorsto the I&I, Stoiber said the capacity or the newwastewater treatment acility during peak rain periods

will, in turn, increase.In an eort to head o any possibility o a repeat o

a 56 hour July, 2011 power outage caused bylightning at the villages only power substation,village ocials have agreed to build a new $1.3million substation which will both increase thevillage electrical capacity and serve as a backup orthe current substation.

The new substation will be able to power the entirevillage which doubles the villages current capacity.Electricity will be ed rom two directions. Bothsubstations will receive electricity on 69 KV powerlines coming rom both the Toledo and Oak Harborareas. Equipment will be in place to switch overalmost immediately i one eeder line is incapacitatedwhich should cause only minimal power interruptionduring the switchover process according to Mr.Stoiber.

Mayor Lowell Krumnow told the North CoastBusiness Journal that these upgrades are necessary orthe uture development o the village. He said, byincreasing the capacity or additional sewagetreatment and electrical power, the village hasstrongly positioned itsel once Elmore and Harris andWoodville Townships agree to a Joint EconomicDevelopment District. When approved, the JEDDagreement would encompass an area o over 80 acres

across rom the Ohio Turnpike exchange one milesouth o Elmore.

Ocials rom both townships and the village havebeen meeting in an ongoing process to negotiate a

JEDD agreement that will meet the needs o allentities involved. Mayor Krumnow said he believesthe agreement process is approaching its nal stagesand hopes that an agreement is signed in 2013.

ELMORE, from Page 1 TAXES, from Page 12

Sandusky Office Norwalk Office419-625-4942 419-668-2552

www.pncpa.biz

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JWISHING YOU THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

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PoperitAND IN THE NEW YEAR!

The Chamber o Commerce o Sandusky County has Ag Packs available orsale just in time or the holidays. The cost per pack is $20 and contains theollowing products: ketchup, mustard, seasoning salt, canned bee, sauerkrautand salsa. New or this year is a sweet and tangy barbecue sauce. Each item islocally grown and/or packaged rom companies in Northwest Ohio: GreenBay Packaging, Heinz, The Fremont Company, Hasselbach Meats, Wellys, theHirzel Canning Company and FREDS Freekin Awesome Sauces.

These Ag Packs make great gits or out-o-town guests and businesses thatmay not be amiliar with Sandusky County! Stop by the Chamber oce, 101S. Front Street, Fremont, to pick yours up today! Quantities are limited.

New and Improved Ag Packs for Sale

4. Review your sources of income andpossible deductionsTo minimize the new Medicare taxesunder AHA, review your sources oincome and determine i you canrearrange them or provide or more taxdeductions to reduce your adjusted grossincome and sel-employment in 2013.

5. Prepay qualied tuition and relatedexpenses to claim full AmericanOpportunity Tax CreditI a taxpayer, the taxpayers spouse, or thetaxpayers dependent is eligible or thetax credit and has not yet paid $4,000 inqualied tuition and related expenses in2012, the taxpayer should prepay part orall o the expenses or the spring semestero 2013 to be able to claim the maximumcredit o $2,500 or 2012.



14/32

Fighting cancer requires strength, courage

and resolve, and the support of family

members and caregivers is essential. Mercy

believes it takes a team effort to meet cancer

head-on. Each patient has unique needs.

That is why every member of Mercys

multidisciplinary team is sincerely focusedon providing cancer care that is based on

our strong foundation of faith, hope and love.

Mercys cancer professionals are all highly

qualified, from our certified oncology nurses

and radiation therapists to our board certified

medical and radiation oncologists.

Dr. Joe Kaminski, Mercys full-time radiation

oncologist, is board certified in radiation

oncology. Dr. Sam Veltri, Mercys full-time

medical oncologist, is board certified in

medical oncology and internal medicine.

Dr. Veltris and Dr Kaminskis goal is to

provide high quality and compassionate

care to every patient through a wide

range of services including chemotherapy,

hormone therapy, immunotherapy/biological

therapy, general medical oncology, general

hematology and radiation therapy.

The Mercy Cancer Center at Tiffin is

accredited by the American College of

Surgeons Commission on Cancer. This

distinctive recognition is earned by cancer

programs capable of providing the very best

in cancer care.

For more information or to schedule an

appointment with one of our physicians,

call the Mercy Cancer Center at Tifn

at 419.455.8101 .

M E R C Y C A N C E R C E N T E R A T T I F F I N

Choose Mercy Tin Hospitalfor comprehensive cancer care.

at Benchs Greenhouse & Nursery inElmore, Ohio. On November 1steach year the greenhouse complex isturned into a winter wonderland.With a vast inventory of over 20,000

ornaments, over 1000 poinsettias,collegiate merchandise and holidaydcor, Benchs claims it is Your Placefor all Seasons. New items this yearat The Christmas Shoppe at Benchsinclude Davinci Beads, scarves byPaige Products, and toys by Melissa &Doug.

Although Benchs is transformed forthe holidays, planting for the springselling season is underway. Hundredsof fern baskets are already being

tended to by Donald Bench, ownerand grower. New garden product isarriving daily for purchase this springas well as our ever-expandinginventory in our NEW Fairy Gardendepartment. New for purchase in

2012, Jill Bench has been working onmaking this area of the greenhouselarger for the 2013 season.

The 2013 Super Saver shirts havearrived and are available for purchase.

Established in 2010, discount T-shirtshave been a staple in marketing ourgreenhouse. Sizes range from AdultSmall to XXL.

2013 will see the Plant Purple, GrowHope campaign continue for theMaumee Valley Growers and localgrowers. Benchs Greenhouse &Nursery is proud to be a supporter ofthis worthwhile cause and continuesto donate $.50 of each pot sold to aidin pancreatic cancer research.

In April Benchs will continue itsReady? Lets Grow FREE seminars. Tosee a complete list of upcomingactivities check them on Twitter orFacebook.

Its beginning to looka lot like Christmas



15/32

By Cathy AllenIll be honest. Ive been in a bad

mood latelyabout the qualityof customerservice Ive been

seeing. Ofcourse, Ive hadsome really greatexperiences, too.There are manypeople in ourcommunity whotake great pride in delighting theircustomers. In fact, it seems to methat among stores and restaurantsthere are more people working atproviding good service than ever

before. They want our business andthey are competing for it. But letsface it, when you are in the hospitalyou cant exactly just choose to pickup and go someplace else. Everyone Iknow can tell a horrible story abouthow they have been treated by someagency or company who knows weare stuck with them. I can no longerremember if I read this months booksbecause I was noticing customerservice or if I started noticing customerservice because I read these books, butI would like to live in a world wheremore people have read them.

Raving Fans: A RevolutionaryApproach to Customer Serviceby Ken Blanchard and SheldonBowles, William Morrow andCompany, 1993

SUMMARY: When the areamanager of an unnamed businessnds himself in need of a customer

service primer, a Fairy Godmothernamed Charlie enters the picture andintroduces him to a series of mentorsfrom among the ranks of those whohave learned the secret to creatingRaving Fans. In this day and age,customers have come to have suchlow expectations, they seem to acceptbeing taken for granted. But Blanchardand Bowles teach us that in the end...success comes to those, and onlyto those, who are obsessed with

looking after customers. Heres how.

Providers of outstandingservice understand thefollowing:

Satisfying customers is not enough.No one can afford to fail to delighttheir patrons.

Good customer service can be

systematized, baked in to operations.Rewarding employees who providegreat service, even if they have tobreak a rule or two, is part of that.

99.9% of customers are honest,meaning that they wont steal or

otherwise cheat those with whomthey do business. They ought not tobe treated like suspects.

To nd out what will thrill acustomer, we have to ask them -- butrecognize that what they say theywant may differ from what theyactually want. Well-done customerlistening is not easy, but worth theeffort. Customer satisfaction surveysare meaningless. Silence is animportant message that must be

heard.

The Three Steps:Decide what you want. What service

do you want to provide? What areyou willing to do or not do? You cantbe all things to all people, so gureout what business you are in. Craft avision statement based on the perfectcustomer experience, and use that toguide all aspects of your business.Discover what the customer wants.

Does the customers vision t withinthe context of yours? If not, be willingto let that customer go. Getting goodfeedback is difcult. Those who arereally unhappy usually wontcomplain directly even when asked.You have to put snippets of feedbacktogether and recognize that silencesays a lot. Customer desire can change,so make customer listening a regularpractice.Deliver the vision plus One. Again,

because angry customers are unlikely

to tell us why they wont be comingback, we have to be consistent andnever promise more than we candeliver every time. Aim high butmake sure the organization gets there.Reward staff for exceeding customerexpectations, and then seekimprovement in 1% increments.

Gung Ho! Turn on the Peoplein Any Organization, by KenBlanchard and Sheldon Bowles,

William Morrow and Company,1998

SUMMARY: This is an adaptedaccount of a true story of turnaroundat a factory slated for closure by alarge parent organization. Thedynamic rst-time CEO (who latertold the story to the authors) had the

good sense to listen to a long-servingmiddle manager whose unit was out-performing the others. Why? Becausethe employees there embraced theGung Ho! philosophy, and weredemonstrating great enthusiasm,

energy, and dedication to their work.The books characters describe howthey picked up employee morale andimproved customer service,dramatically increasing the bottomline and saving the factory for theparent company, the workers, and thewhole community.

The Principles of the Gung Ho!Philosophy:

Spirit of the Squirrel.Worthwhile Work.

When people are engaged in workthey know matters, they work harder.Leaders who rely on the good work ofthe people around them need to makesure they help people see where theireffort ts into the big picture. Such adynamic builds buy-in and increasesmotivation and mutual support.Leaders must also teach people how

to do things in a manner than upholdsthe values theyve set. Support forgoals rises as trust does so leadersmust always tell the truth totally.

The Way of the Beaver: In Control ofAchieving the Goal. Beavers are

independent contractors with clearterritorial boundaries. They respecteach other, hear each other, and giveeach other room to organize theirwork. Most people prefer to do a fairdays work for their pay. Employeeswho have their capabilities stretchedand have the training they need to dotheir work, feel good about themselvesat the end of the day. Leaders must setthe goals, but then let each workergure out exactly how to do the job.

Pride builds intensity of purpose andis a better motivator than fear. Leadersset the tone: if they are distrusting,their employees will begin to guardtheir rights and their turf and toworry less about their responsibilities.

The Gift of the Goose: Cheering Others

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16/32

During a thunderstorm on a Friday night around

7:00 pm, a company with a large inventory of

product that must remain refrigerated lost

electricity. Normally, this would not have been a

problem as there are generators installed at the

location. This time, the generators did not come on.

Fortunately, this company is a MyNet TotalCare customer through Advanced Computer

Connections. MyNet monitors the facility and

ACC Technicians were alerted that the site was

not responding. ACC alerted the appropriate staff

employed at the facility, and then started working

the with generator company. Within 15 minutes

of the power going out, a plan was in place to get

things up and running again. Had it not been for

MyNet and ACC, the customer would not have

known until Monday morning

When you are a MyNet customer, ACC is alwaysthere! Please contact us today to nd out how we

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17/32

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18/32

By: Steven J. KrisalusySr. Consultant/Managing Partner

President Obamas Patient Protection andAffordable Care Act, the law, is2,700 pages long. We can assumethat it will remain but the detailsmay change. Its provisionsandoverall effectswill not onlychange Americas health carelandscape, but will have rippleeffects felt in all other sectors.Changing the way you look at;offer and measure your overallbenets investment also needs to

change more dramatically than ever before. It istime to relook at how we bundle our benetsbeyond HC, including PTO & other perks thatimpact the bottom line & budgeting.

A recent eHealth Insurance survey found thatmost small businesses dont understand therequirements of health reform. Others state that weshould expect at least a 20% increase in costs by2014.

I will have follow up articles to this massive issueto try to keep you informed. A few of the topics wewill discuss are:

Smokers in the workplaceFlexible Spending Accounts (FSA)Full time/Part time employeesWhat can you do now?

Smokers in the workplaceThere is already a negative undertone from both

employers & other employees about how manybreaks & the time people take to go grab a quicksmoke. We are actually partially responsible for theincrease in lost productive time. Smokers are nowrequired to only smoke in certain designated areasthat usually are not close by that the company has

designated. Ultimately, this creates more wastedtime for people to walk back & forth multiple timesa day.

Under the new law, smokers can be charged up to50 percent more than nonsmokers for healthinsurance beginning in 2014. Regulations nowallow companies to require workers who fail tomeet specic standards to pay up to 20 percent oftheir insurance costs. There is also discussion about

an additional surcharge to be placed on smokers.Some rms today are taking the approach of

trying to help or motivate staff members to quitsmoking by offering discounts and wellnessprograms. In some companies this is already amandatory procedure. This all walks a ne legalline of discrimination that companies must addressbefore rolling any program out. Updating yourpolicy manual, procedures and having the rightdocumentation are critical.

One way employers are trying to side step theseissues is not to hire smokers. There are laws in placeprohibiting these practices but they are rarelyenforced.

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)As of Jan. 1, 2011, exible spending accounts may

no longer be used to purchase over-the-counterdrugs or medicines. Individuals must pay for over-the-counter drugs and medicines another way.

But the most signicant change to FSAs under thelaw will be the implementation of the $2,500 capon health care FSA contributions beginning in2013. In some cases this will require the employeegreater expense out of their pockets which inreturn creates more morale issues that you willhave to deal with.

Full time/Part time employeesThe new laws require companies of more than 50

employees to provide affordable health insurance,affordable being a key word. Many companies arenow rethinking their entire stafng models andreducing various positions to a maximum of 30hours per week from 40. An individual who works30 per week (on average) would then be consideredPart Time. Part Time employees have very fewrights to benets under the current laws. Thiswould reduce the cost to the employer but leave

many full time employees without many or evenany benets. That then would create turnover ofkey personnel who seek and need the benets. Asyou can see this scenario probably creates as manyproblems as it attempts to solve.

Today, many people who work for small businessescant afford the health care they need or they havemedical bills they are unable to pay. This greatlyaffects employee morale and productivity.

About half of small business employees (45percent) reported trouble paying medical bills in

2010, and 46 percent reported that they skippedneeded medical care because of cost, reports state.Thats about ten percent higher than those workersworking in larger rms.

Small business workers were also more likely to bedissatised with their health insurance, with 29percent rating it fair/poor, compared to 16 percentof those at larger businesses. They also dont haveas much choice when it comes to health planoptions.

There is a plan to create premium tax credits tocertain small businesses and to grant subsidies to

many uninsured workers toward their purchase ofhealth insurance beginning in 2014. The details arenot 100% clear at this point.

What can you do now?Learn as much as you can to stay on top of things

and raise the importance of your HR functions andespecially benets administration now! This areawith its future costs will be critical to any futureplanning or budgeting.

The best way to start addressing the mountain ofupcoming benet change issues is to start now. It isa matter of when not if. It also makes sense tohave your entire benet package reviewed andpossibly modied so that you have a better handleon the overall costs for all of the benets you areoffering today.

Interestingly enough is that most employers andemployees have no clue of the total cost to thecompany nor does the employee realize the totalcost benet they are receiving. By having anassessment done on a holistic basis (PTO, raises,HC, etc.) will not only help you get your armsaround this huge operating cost but you will mostlikely change the way you offer benets in the

future. There are many options on the table andthe best solutions will need to be creative &innovative. Now is the time to start.

SJK Beringer Group is a diverse team ofexperts that have advised & implementedsolutions on HR & Management issuesthroughout the Midwest since 1985.

Reviewing Your Overall Beneft Package Needs Higher Priority Now!

Human Resources

On. It is always more productive to catch someonedoing something right and offer sincere praisethan to be critical about something done incorrectly.Even when we cant congratulate someone we canalways encourage them. It is also the case thatleaders can deliver a positive message by sayingnothing since silence conveys trust. If someone haswhat they need to do a good job, get out of theirway. Leaders can use the TRUE method to encourage

their staff being timely, responsive, unconditionaland enthusiastic.

Local consultant Cathy Allen celebrates herlife-long love of books at www.WhatIsCathyReading.com. She invitesvisitors to download her two-page summaries,comment on her blog or connect to a fabulousnetwork of independent booksellers.

WELL-BOOKED, from Page 15

Submit stories for theNorth Coast Business Journal

by e-mailing

[email protected]



19/32

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Submitted by Chuck Benes, PGAOak Harbor Golf Club has been in

existence since 1964, and for yearshas been known as Ottawa Countyspublic golf headquarters.

Home to the First Tee of Lake Erie,Oak Harbor & Danbury Boys & GirlsGolf Teams, numerous leagues andcharity outings, OHGC is a popular

choice with the areas golfers. Its awell-maintained, challenging layoutand attracts visitors to area as theyenjoy the many attractions of theLake Erie Shores and Islands area.

The First Tee of Lake Erie is a non-prot youth development programthat teaches valuable life skills tochildren 5 & older, using golf as thevehicle. As a founding partner andthe main facility, Oak Harbor isbuilding future leaders & life longgolfers for years to come.

With peoples discretionary incomedropping because of the economy,

Oak Harbor Golf Club has had tochange its business model the pastfew years. With extreme swings in theweather, rising maintenance costsand a national trend of people playingless golf, OHGC has expanded itsbusiness to alternative revenuestreams. The rustic clubhouse hasbecome a great venue for class

reunions, wedding receptions,rehearsal dinners & events of allkinds. It has been a good place forbusinesses to hold team-buildingsessions or retreats to energize theiremployees.

Starting last winter the club hasheld events such as live comedy,murder mystery dinners & trivianights. From April to September, theBaldies Roost restaurant serveslunch 7 days a week and dinners onFriday nights. In the off seasonBaldies Roost is only open for thespecial events.

Oak Harbor Golf

Club An Update

Coming in January:

Focus on theFive Counties



20/32

Mercy Willard Foundations 23rdAnnual Candlelight Ball returned tothe Kehoe Center in Shelby, Ohioearly in November. The Royal Luauthemed event was enjoyed by 120

guests and over $41,000 gross revenuewas raised.Guests enjoyed musical

entertainment provided by theParadise Island Band. A delicious mealwas prepared by Creative Cuisine,Sandusky. The event included a liveauction with auctioneer Steve Bolenpresiding as well as the traditionalsilent auction. Lasik Eye Surgerydonated by Dr. Stephen Y. Reed, MercyEye Center was the top bid item fromthe live auction.

To complement this years theme, arafe for the winners choice of aHawaiian vacation valued at

$5,000.00, equivalent vacation or$2,500 visa card was held. Marti Kellerof Crestline was the winner of therafe. She and her husband, Russell,look forward to planning a vacation.

The Foundation extends specialthanks to the top sponsors of thisyears event: Platinum Sponsors:Lathrop Co., Pepperidge Farm, Dr.Stephen Y. Reed Mercy Eye Center,Brian & Sharon Humphress. GoldSponsors: Clouse Construction Corp.,The Herald, Inc., Billy Inmon -Mountain Harbor Inn Resort by theLake, Schaffer Danhoff ChryslerDodge Jeep. Silver Sponsors: AmericanInteriors, Cole Distributing, Inc.,Dunbar Mechanical, MidwestIndustries, Sharpnack Ford &Sharpnack Chevrolet Buick.

Mercy Willard Foundations23rd Annual Fundraisera Successful Event

mercyweb.org

Members o Mercy Medical Partners

St. Anne St. Charles St. Vincent Childrens Defance Tifn Willard

2012 Mercy

Trust the expert, caring handsof Mercy providers.

Mercy is committed to providing

accessible and convenient primary

care services.

Mercys primary care providers arededicated to providing quality medical

care to the community, and meeting

their patients medical needs.

Patients have the option o choosing

rom fve convenient ofce locations

and eight providers. To fnd out how

you can become a Mercy Primary

Care patient, please call one o the fve

ofce 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. Mansfeld 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

Back Row: Bill Back, MD, Robert Secor, MD, James Rosso, MD, David Jump, DO

Front Row: Evillo Domingo, MD, Nancy Verho, MD, Alison Winans, PA-C, Alicia Rendon, CNP

sure you have a buy-sell agreementthat species what will happen to thebusiness when you retire and howyoull be compensated for yourinterest. With an expert to help youidentify and analyze all your potential

sources of retirement income, youmay discover you have more optionsthan you realize.

This information was developed byBroadridge, an independent thirdparty. It is general in nature, is not acomplete statement of allinformation necessary for makingan investment decision, and is not a

recommendation or a solicitation tobuy or sell any security. Investmentsand strategies mentioned may notbe suitable for all investors. Pastperformance may not be indicativeof future results. Raymond James &

Associates, Inc. member New YorkStock Exchange/SIPC does notprovide advice on tax, legal ormortgage issues. These mattersshould be discussed with anappropriate professional.Raymond James & Associates, Inc.,

member New York Stock Exchange/SIPC.

ESTATE, from Page 8


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21/32

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Survey: Majority of Companies Not HoldingHoliday Parties

MENLO PARK, Calif., Nov. 15, 2012 -- Has theGrinch stolen the ofce holiday party? More thanhalf (52 percent) of senior managers surveyed byOfceTeam said their employer is not holding a

holiday celebration this year. These seasonal soireeswill be missed: More than three-quarters ofexecutives (79 percent) and employees (75 percent)whose companies have holiday parties gave thefestivities high marks.

The joint surveys of senior managers and workerswere developed by OfceTeam, a leading stafngservice specializing in the placement of highlyskilled administrative professionals, and conductedby an independent research rm. The managersurvey includes interviews with 1,014 seniormanagers at U.S. companies with 20 or more

employees. The survey of workers includesresponses from 404 working adults 18 years of ageor older and employed in ofce environments.

Managers were asked, Is your company holdinga holiday party this year? Their responses:

Managers and workers whose companies do haveholiday parties were asked, Do you enjoy yourcompanys holiday party? Their responses:

*Responses do not total 100 percent due torounding.

For many professionals, these gatherings offer arare opportunity to get to know managers andcoworkers on a personal level in a more relaxedenvironment, said Robert Hosking, executive

director of OfceTeam. Businesses that arent ableto organize formal year-end celebrations can planinexpensive, cheerful get-togethers to celebraterecent successes. Holding casual,nondenominational events also helps to keep staffmotivated.

Some companies may not be ho

Documents

North Coast Business Journal - December 2012