Building Stronger Communities: One Percent for the Planet
Network connections — One Percent for the Planet links up area business, nonprofit with similar values Chris Bishop, owner of Backroom Coffee Roasters — a small operation that roasts and sells coffee out of Bishop’s bicycle store — was looking for a different way to promote his business and better connect with other environmentally minded […]
Michael Feuer: ‘No’ is one of the most dreaded words in our vocabulary — But sometimes, ‘no’ is simply the word ‘maybe’ in disguise
“No” is the one word we all hear too often. It can invoke everything from a mere sigh with a shrug of the shoulders to the sense that a dagger has been driven into our hearts. The word “no,” according to child development experts, is learned around the age of 8 months and is easily […]
How to spot red flags that identify potential for corporate fraud, theft
Corporate fraud and embezzlement isn’t limited to high-profile cases where employees buy sports cars and lead a life of luxury. “That’s what people usually think. More often, however, the people who steal are good people who just have an economic need. The corporation provides them with an opportunity to (unlawfully) get the money they need,” […]
Ambitious downtown transformation will be the focus of new GPC director
Jeremy Paris has a strong belief that recent efforts to transform downtown Cleveland — including an ambitious pedestrian bridge linking Lake Erie to the city’s core — will be a success. “I believe that this is something that is happening,” says the newly appointed first executive director of the Group Plan Commission. “For years, we […]
Tom Walker: All about the customer — Connecting products to customer needs may improve your business — and your elevator pitch
Whenever I meet with an entrepreneur, the first thing I ask the person is to describe the company. The entrepreneur will usually kick right into the “elevator” pitch. Here’s a great example from Bruce Caldwell, CEO of 3Bar Biologics Inc., one of the companies in residence at TechColumbus’ SpringBox Labs accelerator: “We help farmers increase […]
Kenny McDonald: Exporting success — A focus on international efforts can pay dividends for the Columbus region
The Columbus region is experiencing unprecedented growth, with more people and companies residing within our cities, towns and villages than ever before. Our region is also more global. More than 450 foreign companies have a presence in the Columbus region, and an increasing number of our regional companies are selling products and services in international […]
Jayne Gest: Employee shortages — A glimpse into aging workforces across industries brings some surprising thoughts
“You can see the number of people actually coming into this field are behind the number of people leaving. Over the last couple of years, having a significant recession on top of a sort of natural aging phenomena is an added problem.” Those are the words of Sandy Doyle-Ahern, president of EMH&T Inc., one of […]
How partnerships and LLCs can avoid pitfalls that lead to litigation
Cash investors can get upset and file lawsuits when they learn that others involved in a partnership or limited liability corporation haven’t risked as much capital in a failed venture.“It really comes down to not having the operating agreement and the prospectus adequately explaining all of the moving pieces and what different people are putting into the project,” says Stephen J. Erigero, a partner […]
Sandy Doyle-Ahern and a healthier EMH&T rise up to meet new challenges on the other side of the recession
The recession took both a professional and personal toll on Sandy Doyle-Ahern. But now as president of EMH&T Inc., she’s leading a stronger, healthier organization.
Women Who Excel Awards recognize achievement, support of ideals
Smart Business proudly announces the first class of Women Who Excel Awards. The honors were announced at the 12th annual Perspectives: Women Who Excel Conference last month. When the first Perspectives: Women Who Excel Conference was held in 2002, a group of dynamic leading women executives shared their insights on what it takes to redefine […]