Chamber calendar

Tuesday, March 13: Membership and Events Committee, 11:30 a.m., chamber.

Wednesday, March 14: Leadership Chillicothe Ross session.

Thursday, March 15: Executive Committee, 8:30 a.m., chamber.

Friday, March 16: Sneak preview for chamber members and their guests of the Spotlight on Appalachia Ohio show, 5-7 p.m., Shoemaker Convocation Center at OU-C; hosted by the Ross-Chillicothe Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Tuesday, March 20: Leadership Chillicothe Ross Steering Committee, 3:30 p.m., chamber.

Wednesday, March 21: Business After Business, at Honda Harley Suzuki, Eastern Avenue, co-sponsored by Litter Quality Propane and Classic Brands, 5-7 p.m., BAB registration.

Thursday, March 22: Board of Directors, noon, site TBA.

Thursday, April 12: Ross County Safety Council, Annual Awards Luncheon, 11:30 a.m., Chillicothe Country Club, Safety Luncheon reservation

What's happening this weekend? Check out the community events calendar.

Click above to go to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce site for small business

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Copyright 2007

Chillicothe Ross Chamber of Commerce

Downtown getting
new corporate offices

In another month, downtown Chillicothe will serve as the home for another national company. Le Gourmet Chef's corporate offices in New Jersey are moving to Chillicothe to join with the Kitchen Collection team on East Water Street. Here is information from Kitchen Collection on the move:

"Beginning April 2nd, management of Le Gourmet Chef will be operating from new offices in the Kitchen Collection Building on Water Street. Le Gourmet Chef was acquired by Kitchen Collection last August and continued to operate out of their corporate offices in New Jersey until the integration of those offices into Kitchen Collection could take place. 'We are looking forward to having our Le Gourmet Chef corporate staff join us in the headquarters here in Chillicothe,' says CEO Randy Gawelek. 'I know the synergies of having both store groups in one place will allow the groups to work together more effectively and efficiently.'

"Using the services of local contractor, Huddleston Construction, and various local subcontractors, Kitchen Collection is remodeling their building extensively to accommodate new offices for Le Gourmet Chef staff. Phase 1 construction, which is nearing completion, remodels the former retail space into accounting offices for the entire company. With the accounting staff moved into their new quarters, remodeling of the former accounting space on the second floor, to house Le Gourmet Chef Merchandising, has begun as Phase 2. Phases 3 and 4 will remodel various other departments to allow for additional office and work space. Warehouse renovations will allow fulfillment operations for www.kitchencollection.com and www.legourmetchef.com to be combined."

There's no word yet on the number of employees affected by the move.

HEALTH CARE, ENERGY TOP MEMBER CONCERNS: Those topics garnered the largest percentages in a survey of chamber members recently asking what issues were affecting their business. A total of 76 responses were received, including 59 percent from businesses with more than three employees. Fifty-nine percent were service businesses. Here's some of what you said:

• 78 percent said the local economy was headed in the right direction vs. only 55 percent for the national economy.
• 55 percent of all respondents and 64 percent of those with more than three employees said health care costs and coverage were greatly affecting their business.
• 45 percent of all respondents said energy costs and supplies were greatly affecting business while the figure was 48 percent for those with more than three employees, the same as finding qualified candidates to hire.

The results will be studied by the chamber's Community Development and Advocacy Committee as it formulates the issues to recommend to the full board for a program of work in the coming months.

PANDEMIC EXPLAINED TO SAFETY COUNCIL: Rami Yoakum of the Ross County Health Department talked to the nearly 150 participants at Thursday’s Ross County Safety Council meeting on preparing for a potential bird flu pandemic. While cases of the virus have been found in Asia and a few other isolated places the fear is that it could spread rapidly around the world and wreak havoc on nations and disrupt businesses. Next month, the council will be handing out the annual awards from the Bureau of Workers Compensation.

YPN INTO NETWORKING: The chamber's Young Professionals Network took it easy Thursday evening by conducting some easy networking while Hazel Tanner's Roadshow provided the background music at the Chillicothe Country Club. The organization, for those 21-45, will next meet on May 10 to learn more about internet marketing and how to make websites friendlier for search engines like Google and Yahoo.

NEW EXECUTIVE: Jim Bolon of Chillicothe is the new executive vice president for Theta Pro2Serve Management Company in Piketon. He has worked at various Department of Energy sites with Lockheed Martin and other firms.

LEADERSHIP GROUP TO TOUR INDUSTRIES: Tours of Glatfelter and the Kenworth Truck Company are on the agenda for next week's session of the Leadership Chillicothe Ross class. Last month, Dard Hunter gave the participants a close-up look at his new studios on West Water Street as part of the Arts, Religion and Diversity session. Only two more sessions remain for the class that graduates on May 9. If you're thinking about joining next year's class, visit the leadership website: Leadership Chillicothe Ross.

HELP YOUR EMPLOYEES BE BETTER PARENTS: A grant from the Children's Trust Fund makes it possible for you to offer your employees a "lunch and learn" session on parenting techniques and resources. And if you have specific topics you'd like to explore, the program can be tailored to your needs. For more information or to schedule a session, call Judy Harness at with the Adena Health System at 884-4122 or email her at jharness@adena.org.

HOW CAN WE HELP YOU? LET US COUNT THE WAYS: Sure, you know about the mail/fax blasts and the weekly newsletter, but the chamber has many different programs available to help you promote your business to other members and to raise your profile in the community. Our web page devoted to the opportunities has been overhauled, but makes a good guide when you are looking for ideas. It’s always available on our home page, but check it out now: Chamber Marketing Opportunities.

HEAR FROM THE EXPERTS: The U.S. Postal Service teamed with the Small Business Administration to come up with a new internet tool designed to deliver business solutions to entrepreneurs and small business owners. It’s called Delivering Success. It consists of video interviews with successful entrepreneurs on a variety of topics, including business basics, resources to help with business plan development, financing and promotions. Check it out at www.sba.gov/deliveringsuccess.

REVVING UP FOR THE BAB: Honda Harley Suzuki on Eastern Avenue is making all the plans to entertain chamber members and their guests on Wednesday, March 21 at the next Business After Business. Litter Quality Propane and Classic Brands is co-sponsoring to make it a Litter Industries affair from 5-7 p.m. You can register now if you plan to attend: BAB registration.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: We all know it’s a global economy, but how can the U.S. continue to keep its edge? This from Antoine van Agtmael, chairman and CEO of Emerging Markets Management LLC in a column in USA Today: “As a nation, we need a ‘National Competitiveness’ campaign that sets ambitious goals, such as developing a successor to the internal-combustion engine, but also tackles legacy issues (high cost of health and pension benefits for current, older and retired workers), places more emphasis on creativity in education and gives infrastructure a much needed face lift. The choice between protectionism and a creative response to the tectonic shift in the global economy (and global power) could well become one of the key issues in the next presidential campaign. Instead of complaining and agonizing about this new competitive threat, our focus should be on turning it into an exciting opportunity.”

BUILDING PERMITS: Here’s who’s received permits recently from the Chillicothe and Ross County Building Departments:

• QNP (Plaza Chevrolet), 60 N. Plaza Blvd., signs, value $2,300.
• Beerman Realty, Zane Plaza, 1080 N. Bridge St., alterations, $110,000.
• SOMA Family of Ministries, 75 N. Paint St., alterations, $15,000.
• Sunrush Enterprises, 2530 Western Ave., signs, $13,000.
• Chillicothe Board of Education, 381 Yoctangee Parkway, fire protection, $865.
• Time Warner Cable, 32 Enterprise Place, signs, $8,500.
• Kroger, 887 N. Bridge St., signs, $5,000.
• Robert Etling, 9 W. Second St., electrical, $0.
• Certified Oil Company, 825 N. Bridge St., new structure, $450,000.
• Charles Haas Trustee, 440 Douglas Ave., electric service upgrade, $800.
• Advertising Communication, 147 W. Water St., window replacement, $2,495.
• Jefferson Township, 225 Market St., Richmond Dale, upgrade electric, $2,000.
• Hallsville Historical Society, 7431 Ohio 180, electric, $500.

VENDORS LICENSES: Here’s who’s received licenses recently from the Ross County Auditor:

• Upclose Advertising, 97 E. Second St., by Deborah Main.
• Studio 12 Hair Design, 12 Health Drive.
• Good Old Day’s Automotive, 8616 Upper Twin Road, South Salem, by Jason Rhodes.