The Toledo SBDC Export Assistance Network recently hosted 50 professionals at the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce for a 2-day Logistics and Compliance Conference.
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By: Colleen Kardasz, Director, Ohio SBDC Export Assistance Network ![]() When I was leaving Germany just about one month ago I overheard a number of conversations with fellow travelers who had also been attending the Hannover Messe Trade Fair. I had spent some time talking with the six companies who had attended with the Ohio Export Assistance Network and the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce, and wondered if there might be a trend among the American companies who attended this show for the first time. I openly admit to having eavesdropped on a number of conversations in each airport. While in no way a scientific study, I did notice a common theme. I kept hearing American companies say “It was a great show. We had a wonderful week, met a lot of people, but we’re not sure if we’ll go back.” I was troubled by this response. Why would a company who could sit and rave about a trade show and all it had to offer still be ambivalent about returning? The answer, I think, has more to do with culture than the show itself. By: Emily Dammeyer, Communications Manager, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce In the heart of National Small Business Week, area manufacturers got together for lunch to share industry news, get an idea of where manufacturing is headed in Northwest Ohio, and to help forecast the future in order to help impact buying decisions.
The event, held at American Manufacturing, was hosted by the Toledo SBDC and the SBA. In addition to the 15 manufacturers in attendance, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, Gil Goldberg, Cleveland District Director of the SBA, Teresa Smith, Toledo Lucas County Port Authority, Jessica Ice, Research Analyst Federal Reserve, and staff of the Toledo SBDC and Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce were in attendance. A lively discussion followed lunch, and each attendee had the opportunity to share their challenges and successes, as well as seek advice from the group. Many shared that they are incredibly busy, and while busy is great for business, they all share the challenge of filling their workforce. The manufacturing industry as a whole has found that skilled trade workers are hard to find and that the time and cost that goes into screening new employees is staggering. This industry too, is feeling the impact of drug abuse in relation to filling the workforce. By: Colleen Kardasz, Director, Export Assistance Network, Ohio SBDC at the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce. Eighteen months ago when the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Ohio Export Assistance Network started planning for Hannover Messe 2016 the idea was simple: provide an opportunity for small Ohio companies to exhibit at the world's largest industrial trade show.
The implementation of this simple idea became eighteen months of intricate, and detail-oriented work that resulted in 6 unique companies from all over the state boarding planes and heading off to Hannover, Germany just four days ago. Updates from the April FOCUS on Business LunchIt was a full house last Wednesday at the FOCUS on Business Lunch at the Toledo Museum of Art Glass Salon. 175 Chamber members from around the Toledo community came together for lunch, networking, economic updates from our partners the Regional Growth Partnership and the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority, and of course, to listen to a presentation from our featured speakers Randy Oostra and Robin Whitney from ProMedica.
Unlimited Opportunities for Growth and DevelopmentThe Ohio SBDC Export Assistance Network at the Chamber is taking 6 Ohio companies to Hannover, Germany for the annual Hannover Messe Trade Show, the world’s foremost trade fair for industrial technology. 2016 will mark the largest-ever U.S. delegation to attend the fair, with 390 U.S. businesses and organizations attending. This year, the United States will be the Partner Country of the fair which provides the businesses and organizations in the U.S. delegation the opportunity to be prominently featured throughout the event.
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