Northeast Ohio News

KENT OHIO (March 2010) –Chris Brown, president of Marketing Resources & Results, has been invited to will share her entrepreneurship journey about how she started and grew her marketing agency with the entrepreneurship students of Kent State University on March 15, 2010. Brown will describe what she considered before she started the full service marketing consulting firm and what challenges she met and overcome as she grew the business during the past 12 years.

“So many students are asked to make a decision what to major in while they are still teenages. As the world keeps changing the needs of business evolve, so I believe that learning how to look at the market and see what is missing and how to become entrepreneurial may be more as important business skills than learning how to job hunt, write a resume or interview for a job,” explained Brown. “The students who learn how to be entrepreneurs will drive business growth in Northeastern Ohio and throughout the country.”

Brown is a graduate of Kent State University and volunteers regularly at Kent State. She has judged the recent DECA business contest and the Annual Spring Business Concept Competition where students compete to launch a business concept. In addition, she has judged the Team Business Concept during the Entrepreneurship Education Consortium during the Entrepreneurship Immersion Week. As a small business owner, Brown has also been a panelist and a guest speaker at the annual Entrepreneurship Extravaganza.

Her presentationwill take place in Kent State University’s Business Building in Room 210B in the morning and the afternoon entrepreneur classes on March 15. The presentation is open to students and invitees only.

About Marketing Resources & Results
Marketing Resources & Results helps Northeast Ohio companies build strong marketing programs that help companies attract new customers. Founded in 1998, the marketing firm develops and executes strategic marketing plans for small and medium-sized businesses and other organizations, including website development, SEO, graphic design and public relations. Brown also offers custom marketing workshops and seminars for business organizations and companies. For more information, call 330-656-9793, or visit www.resources-results.com.

Tags: Akron Website Design Development, Akron Branding Consultant, Cleveland Marketing Firm

Customized Small Group Personal Training Takes Fitness to Next Level with 4-week Sessions

HUDSON, OH (March 4, 2010) – The UFit2 Personal Training Studio will open its doors to small group personal training on February 1, 2010 at 7941 Ravenna Road in the northeast corner of Hudson. The personal training studio is dedicated to providing an affordable, effective way to maximize workout results by allowing participants to do customized workouts with a trained fitness professional in a small group setting.

“Whether you’re already actively working out or just getting started, a small group personal training program works,” said Sandy Donaldson, owner of UFit2.

The small group personal training is structured with typically 4 to 5 participants with two classes a week.

Small group personal training programs are tailored to skill level following an initial one-hour personal assessment. Participants learn proper form and technique as they progress.

Sandy Donaldson is a certified personal trainer and certified Spinning instructor with an extensive background in health, fitness and nutrition. In addition to being a trainer, she is a fitness competitor and lifelong fitness enthusiast who provides information about weight training, bodybuilding, and nutrition through the UFit2 website and blog.

The UFit2 Personal Training Studio is a personal training and fitness resource center for men, women, and teens of all ages, and all levels of fitness. For more information, directions or to sign up for the next session of classes, visit the website at www.ufit2.com.

Design-Build Experts Lend Knowledge and Hard Work to Create New Storage & Sale Facility

AMHERST, OH (February 24, 2010) – STAR Design-Build, a design build contractor in Amherst, Ohio, has joined forces with Double Harvest Haiti to build an industrial cooler and produce stand that allows for improved food storage and expanded produce sales capacity. The project is designed to subsidize the operations of Double Harvest’s 200-acre farm in Croix des Bouquets, outside Port-au-Prince.

“We’re looking forward to working with Double Harvest to provide the cooler and its attached produce stand,” said Kim Mulder, president of STAR Design-Build. “Our tilt-up concrete construction is perfect for a building like this, because it is fast and cost effective. Having storage and sales facilities will help Double Harvest make the most of their harvests.”

In March of 2009, the initial team began the site assessment in Haiti and unloaded the first container of equipment and supplies. More employees followed completing the foundation and concrete floors. STAR will follow up with additional trips to finish the project as soon as current conditions allow.

The cooler will be built by 15 STAR employees, using the company’s extensive experience with tilt-up concrete construction. It will be resistant to tropical pests, will feature thick, well-insulated construction to maintain the freshness of food, and will be built to withstand hurricane-force winds and an 8.0 on the Richter scale.

The cooler is needed to prevent food grown on the Double Harvest farm from spoiling in Haiti’s warm climate before it can be preserved or consumed. The cooler, which will be located at a major intersection half an hour from Port-au-Prince, will let the Double Harvest staff keep food fresh for later use or sale to members of the community, and the produce stand will allow staff to sell produce to residents of the Croix des Bouquets area.

Double Harvest is a Christian ministry, and seeks to minister to the spiritual and physical needs of people in developing countries. Double Harvest also seeks to model Christ’s compassion by offering economic, educational and medical programs in difficult and impoverished situations. In addition to the farm, Double Harvest also operates a school and a clinic, and offers housing to Haitian women and children.

Since 1955, STAR Design-Build has designed and built a wide variety of efficient and attractive structures throughout Northern Ohio. Along the way, they have earned an enviable reputation for their high level of service and have been honored with numerous awards for architectural design and construction. They have experience in many markets including commercial, industrial and retail, covering a wide range of building projects in the public and private sectors.

STAR’s ability to understand their client’s needs results in creatively designed, quality structures that have earned the trust and repeat business of their clients. For more information, visit the website at www.starinc.cc or call 440-986-8022.

New Drug and Alcohol Testing Reports Required for DOT’s March 15 Deadline

HOUSTON, TEXAS (February 18, 2010) – Veriforce, the leader in providing regulatory compliance and qualification verification for Pipeline Operators, is responding to the recent PHMSA advisory bulletin on changes to the drug and alcohol data reporting requirements by reaching out to Operators who are scrambling to submit this new information to the Department of Transportation (DOT) by the March 15, 2010 deadline.

“Veriforce is helping Operators with this reporting requirement in several ways and it is saving our customers a lot of time and money in the process,” explained Louie Werderich, president of Veriforce. “Many Operators are finding a real advantage in having us take care of their reports for them. They choose to have us obtain contractor Business Tax Identification Numbers (BTIN) and enter their contractor testing data from our verified records rather than them trying to gather and manage the information themselves.”

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s (PHMSA), Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) has modified the Drug & Alcohol Management Information System (DAMIS) to now require Pipeline Operators with more than 50 covered employees to submit drug and alcohol testing data for all contractors that performed covered work for them during the previous year. These reports must be submitted in addition to the Operator’s own data and are due by March 15 of each year. The submittal of the contractor BTIN’s along with these reports will also allow the DOT to analyze contractor data without duplication. This data will be used to help determine the PHMSA minimum annual percentage rate for random drug testing.

“We help to ensure that contractors are meeting our Operator’s requirements, by tracking the data, and providing real-time access to reports,” explained Werderich. “We can also review the data contractors have submitted and work with them to verify accuracy.”

Veriforce is also clearing up confusion about whether an Operator would need to submit data for a specific contractor. For example, a contractor that was hired to perform some emergency response function, but was not used for the year because there was never an emergency, would still need to be reported. However, this would not include contractors that never worked for a specific Operator during the year, but may still have a Master Service Agreement (MSA) with the Operator.

ABOUT VERIFORCE
Veriforce is the nation’s leader in regulatory compliance and qualification verification for Operator Qualification (OQ), Drug & Alcohol and safety monitoring. They are the only OQ service provider that verifies, audits, and has complete documentation for all the necessary compliance records. For more information, contact the company at 1.800.426.1604.

Engineered Gaskets and Seals Manufacturing Company Achieves Successful Consolidation

MANTUA, OHIO (February 18, 2010) – The past year brought many changes to manufacturers in the rubber industry. Northeast Ohio extruding manufacturer, Mantaline Corporation of Mantua, Ohio, pulled off an impressive integration feat by blending people, processes and programs to create a stronger culture and to optimize their manufacturing effectiveness.

Over the last 8 months, Mantaline has achieved many milestones, including successfully moving several production lines, consolidating a production facility, introducing a new solid core extrusion product line, adding six or seven new major customers and opening a new international production facility.

What’s their secret for a successful manufacturing integration? Knowing ‘what to measure’ is just part of the equation of success, according to Diane Kruis, Director of Operations for Mantaline. “Besides using the right metrics, you must evaluate the flow through operations. If people understand what the goal is and how they will be measured, they can be successful.”

Kruis speaks from experience. Kruis and her staff have been responsible for a successful set of changes that would intimidate even the most experienced manufacturing experts.

How did they do it?
Kruis attributes the successful integration of two locations and cultures to mutual goals, a clear plan and having the right people in place. Every morning the manufacturing team holds a production meeting to determine what, if anything is holding the company back from reaching their goals for the week. In addition, once a month there is a meeting with the entire management team where all the metrics are reported and their successes are celebrated.

“Our job is to eliminate the constraints,” Diane explained. “I work hard to make sure that people can do their job. They know what the goal is and how we measure progress.”

The company has benefited by eliminating redundancy, capitalizing on available capacity and leveraging resources. Now the engineering department is just a short walk away from the production line, so instead of getting a phone call, gathering papers, getting in the car and driving six miles to the next town, the engineer is nearby and the line doesn’t have to shut down while a challenge is being resolved.

By moving lines from Aurora into Mantua, more than just communications have improved. They make it a point to have just the right amount of material at each work station: too much material, and the tow motors can’t get around or too little material and the line shuts down for replenishment.

“Since our consolidation, we are now better able to deploy our associates. We’ve cross trained people so we can shift them around in the plant,” she explained. “This allows us more flexibility which results in better productivity.”

Kruis has been with Mantaline for more than 20 years, working in every department including training and development. The manufacturing manager and the supply chain manager are also both women, a rarity in the manufacturing industry.

ABOUT MANTALINE CORPORATION
Located in the heart of the polymer industry, Mantaline Corporation is a world-class leader known for its engineering competence, quality and precision in the extruded parts in the heavy truck, off-road vehicles, rail, automotives, recreational vehicles, and marine industries. For more information about Mantaline, visit their site at www.mantaline.com, call (800) 321-0948, or email info@mantaline.com.

Redmonds Parts and Paint, Inc – Exclusive Distributor for Automotive Art

January 25, 2010 (Canton, Ohio) Chris Redmond, President of Redmonds Parts and Paint, Inc., recently announced the exclusive partnership with the paint manufacturer out of Barbados; Automotive Art.

“We are excited about this partnership with Automotive Art,” said Redmond. “We pride ourselves on supplying the highest quality parts and paint and this new line has exceeded all expectations. Not only is the quality and coverage superior, but the pricing is 40% off comparable brands. In this tough economy we are excited to offer our customers a great product at prices they haven’t seen in ten years.”

The Automotive Art product line encompasses all the supplies repair/collision shop owners need from surface prep to the finishing coat and all at prices significantly lower than normal. Redmonds Parts and Paint is the first and only distributor for the product line in Northeast, Ohio.

“We were excited to work with Chris Redmond and his team,” said Robert Olszak, the North American Sales Manager for Automotive Refinish. “We were aware of Redmonds reputation and as a brand new company distributing in the United States, we looked for businesses who shared our same passion and integrity for quality and service. Redmonds Parts and Paint was our first choice.”

For more information or to call for a free demonstration of Automotive Art, call Chris Redmond of Redmonds Parts and Paint, Inc. at 330-305-9200 or email credmond@redmondsinc.com.

About Redmonds Parts and Paint, Inc.
Founded in 1918 by Allen Redmond, the company first started in carburetor sales and rebuilding speedometers and small engine parts. Chris Redmond is the third generation owner of the organization and along with other family members, has built Redmonds Parts and Paint, Inc. into one of the premier auto parts suppliers in Stark County. Their focus is Service on Purpose, putting customer’s needs first. http://www.RedmondsInc.com. Redmonds Parts and Paint is located at 7660 Freedom Ave. North Canton.

About Automotive Art
Automotive Art is the Caribbean’s largest Auto-Care retailer of car enhancement products and services. With its corporate headquarters in Barbados, it currently operates in over 20 countries with 27 stores throughout the Caribbean, Central and South America.

HUDSON, OH – You’ve started to “link,” “friend,” and “tweet” but you aren’t really sure how it can help your business. A new series of 90-minute workshops on Social Media provides the answers.

“So many entrepreneurs and business managers are baffled by how social media can help their business,” said Deborah Chaddock Brown, owner AllWrite Ink and professional speaker. “Everywhere you look, people are talking about LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook but after you set up your account; what’s the next step?”

“Social media is a wonderful, primarily free, vehicle for learning from and connecting with people around the globe,” continued Brown. “Now is the time to jump in with both feet. It’s easy. Participants will experience how to L.I.N.C. with social media: Learn from others, Inform their followers, Network in their industry and Correct negative customer comments in real time.

Beginning February 10, 2010 and continuing for four Wednesdays, Deborah will help participants navigate through their social media accounts and create a strategy for using social media to effectively communicate with target customers, prospects and peers. Portage Lakes Career Center is housing the series in their computer lab. Participants can bring their own WiFi laptop computer or use one of the state-of-the-art computers supplied by Portage Lakes Career Center.

“I’m excited to hold the event at Portage Lakes Career Center,” said Brown. “I’ve given several presentations there and worked closed with Pat Conry, Training Specialist and Becky Tisevich, Training and Placement Specialist in the Corporate Training Center. The workshops and presentations offered are fabulous and the facility is a dream to work in. Holding the workshops in the computer lab allows participants to actually experience, hands-on, how to use social media to grow their business.”

“We’re excited to have Deborah offer her Social Media class at PLCC,” said Conry. “The participant evaluations of past Corporate Training workshops that she has given are consistently complimentary of Deborah’s knowledge and teaching style.”

Interested in more information? Visit http://www.LINCwithsocialmedia.com. Class size is limited and advance registration is required. February 10: LinkedIn, February 17: Twitter, February 24: Facebook and March 3: Connects the Dots between the different social media vehicles and talks about using YouTube and blogs to enhance your online presence. All workshops are from 3:30pm-5:00pm. Portage Lakes Career Center, 4401 Shriver, Rd, Green, OH 44232.

About AllWrite Ink
AllWrite Ink writes Words People Read® helping companies communicate their message in a clear, concise manner that inspires the reader to take notice and take ACTION. Good writing doesn’t just happen – it takes active listening, research and extra effort to find just the right words. Located in Hudson, Ohio, AllWrite Ink provides content for websites, newsletter, brochures, flyers, speeches, and direct mail programs. For more information, call 330-414-8792, email: Deborah@allwriteink.com or visit the website at http://www.allwriteink.com.