By: Aly Sterling, President, Aly Sterling Philanthropy Many friends and colleagues think our work in board governance is fascinating.
They want to know about the extremes – from the strange case studies and the “no he didn’t” examples of bad boardroom behavior to what ultimately brings a board or executive director to call us and seek help. They ultimately want to know which issues we see most often and if their own board experience is “normal.” By: Colleen Kardasz, Director, Export Assistance Network
When I talk to other small business advisors, I often find myself discussing our reputation of sometimes “crushing dreams” or not understanding someone’s passion. When you meet with several hundred small businesses a year and around 20% of those businesses are pre-venture or in the planning stages of starting a business, as an advisor, you often find yourself telling people things they don’t want to hear. The millennial with no cash and no credit who wants to buy a historic building doesn’t want to hear about the $100,000 build out any more than the aspiring restaurateur wants to hear that she most likely won’t be able to open in six weeks like she had wanted given the amount of time it will take just for the inspection process. We as small business advisors do not want to crush anyone’s dreams we just think it is better that you as a potential business owner think through, plan and prepare for all the aspects of running a business. We want you to have a plan well before you’ve invested your time and money. What’s better for the individual and the community: ten businesses who open and close in their first year, or five business who take a little longer to open, but stay open year after year? We’ll keep breaking the hard news to people if it means that we are helping entrepreneurs be successful. Written by CPBB Co-founder Chris Fabian
At the Center for Priority Based Budgeting (CPBB), we're constantly impressed and amazed at just how innovative local government communities can be. Through our concepts of Fiscal Health and Wellness through Priority Based Budgeting, we've partnered with communities to define exactly what the community is in business to achieve and then prioritize scarce resources (tax dollars) to meet those community results. This work has allowed over 120 cities, counties, school districts and special districts across North America to completely redefine their communities. Three Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce Members have been included on the Inc. 5000 List of America’s Fastest-Growing Companies. Whitacre Logistics, The Douglas Company, and Bolt Express are all located in the Toledo Region.
By: Mary Taylor, Lieutenant Governor of Ohio ![]() Before taking office in 2011, it was already clear to Governor John Kasich and Lt. Governor Mary Taylor that Ohio needed a new culture to address the bureaucratic red tape that had been a key obstacle for businesses looking to grow and expand in Ohio. The solution was the Common Sense Initiative (CSI). Led by Lt. Governor Taylor, CSI has been a main driver of the Administration’s regulatory reform efforts. Any regulations from the state’s executive agencies, departments, boards, or commissions that adversely impact business must be sent to CSI for review. By the end of 2015, CSI had reviewed nearly 8,000 business-impacting rules, with 59 percent of them either amended or rescinded. By: Kimberly Kaufman, Executive Director, Black Swamp Bird Observatory Since the inception of The Biggest Week In American Birding in 2010, more people in this region are aware of birds and birding than ever before. For those who haven’t given it much thought (or are still operating under the notion that all birdwatching is just for the Jane Hathaways of the world), it’s time to consider the benefits of birds and birding. Birds enhance the quality of our lives in myriad ways, and birding tourism is providing our area with a much-needed economic “shot in the arm” in early spring. Here are just a few reasons to consider expanding your interest in and knowledge of birds and birding.
Birds Mean Business From the end of April to mid-May, more than 90,000 birders visit our area to take in this astounding migration spectacle. Updates from the June Focus on Business LunchBy: Emily Dammeyer, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce Colonel Craig A. Baker, Commander, Ohio Air National Guard 180th Fighter Wing, was the headline speaker at our June Focus on Business Lunch. Preceded by short presentations from the Regional Growth Partnership, the Toledo Small Business Development Center, and the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority, attendees received a complete briefing on the economic progress of the Toledo Region, from microlending to foreign investment and defense. The event was hosted in the beautiful GlasSalon at the Toledo Museum of Art Glass Pavilion.
By: Tim Saddoris, InfoStream Solutions Online marketing extends far beyond your website or social media presence. A set it and forget it approach isn't enough to compete for customers anymore, even if you’re just looking for your share of the local scene.
You don’t have to contract with a major marketing firm to improve your online brand, although that wouldn’t hurt. Even small companies with limited teams can improve their reach online and generate more leads Toledo SBDC Export Assistance Network Hosts 50“Colleen put together a great group of knowledgeable speakers with topics and discussions on real-world exporting and compliance issues I could relate to.” – Lori Schmitt, Bard Manufacturing Company, Inc. By: Colleen Kardasz, Director, Ohio SBDC Export Assistance Network For businesses who export there are two topics among the many considerations that generally get the most attention: money and logistics. What will this cost me? How am I going to get paid? How am I getting my product there? Intrinsically tied to those two topics though is the area of compliance. It’s not a given that having a product that a foreign buyer wants means you can get the product to that person or country. There are rules and regulations for exporting that must be followed, but there are also best practices that can make sure your company not only makes the international sale, but that you actually make money from the exchange.
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