BusinessgeaugaW i n t e r 2 0 1 3

PLUS:Flambeau Celebrates 65 Years of Shaping the Products of Tomorrow...in Plastic pg 6

Unlocking Business Potential via Red Key Network pg 12

and its implications for GeauGa county

Shale GaS RuSh

ohio’s

P u b l i s h e rChris Yuhasz

Owner, Persistence of Vision, Inc.

e d i t o r - i n - C h i e fMargie Wilber

Owner, Write 2 the Point

C o n t r i b u t i n g W r i t e r sMargie Wilber

Ann Wishart

Beth Hallisy

Lori Weber

Lauri Gross

C o n t r i b u t i n g e d i t o r sAnita Stocker

d e s i g nEllen Seguin

Write 2 the Point

Persistence of Vision, Inc.16715 West Park CircleChagrin falls, oh 44023www.povcommunications.netcyuhasz@povprint.com p. 440.591.5443 x222

1 O h i O ’ s s h a l e G a s R u s h A n d I t S I M P L I C A t I o n S f o r G E A u G A C o u n t Y 6 F l a m b e a u C E L E B r A t E S 6 5 Y E A r S o f “ S H A P I n G t H E P r o d u C t S o f t o M o r r o W . . . I n P L A S t I C ”

9 d E L I V E r I n G T h e N e W s

12 u n L o C k I n G B u S I n E S S P o t E n t I A L V I A R e d K e y N e T W O R K

14 W O O d s O N G C O m m u N i T y A n S W E r S C r Y f o r A f f o r d A B L E H o u S I n G I n G E A u G A C o u n t Y

16 F a m i l y P R i d e O F N O R T h e a s T O h i O I n - H o M E I n t E r V E n t I o n S t r E n G t H E n S f A M I L I E S

18 W h i T e h O u s e C h O C O l a T e s

20 G e a u G a l i b R a R y A I d S L o C A L B u S I n E S S E S t H r o u G H I n n o V A t I V E P r o G r A M M I n G

23 P a R e N T s W i T h a u T i s T i C C h i l d R e N R e a C h F O R s . T . a . R . s .

24 u h G e a u G a m e d i C a l C e N T e R o u t P A t I E n t r E H A B I L I t A t I o n M o V E S t o G E A u G A C o u n t Y

y m C a

Write 2 the PointPo box 385newbury, oh 44065www.write2thepoint.commargiewilber@write2thepoint.comp. 216.410.2395

geauga business articles are written and selected for their general interest and entertainment value. Author’s views do not necessarily represent the policies of PoV Print Communication, inc. nor does their publication constitute an endorsement by PoV Print Communication or Write 2 the Point. All submissions are subject to space availability and editing. For advertising opportunities or submissions contact POV Print Communication, Inc.

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Geauga Medical Center

Cover: William G. Kinney, president of Summit Petroleum.

C o n t I n u E d o n P A G E 2

b y B e t h H a l l i s y

Recent technological developments have unlocked vast new

supplies of natural gas and oil in Ohio but the jury is out on just

how much Geauga County stands to gain – and at what cost. The

rub comes from the substantial obstacles in development of the

shale gas, as well the continuing debates over where the shale

gas is, how much is recoverable, and what the long-term impact

might be on our energy supply and on our environment.

The upside potential with hydraulic fracturing of shale – or

fracing – is being hailed by some as the modern day equivalent

to the California Gold Rush and the answer to Ohio’s economic

woes. (Note: According to our sources, the preferred spelling of

the industry’s shorthand for fracturing is fracing but you may also

see the term spelled fracking, fraccing or fracting, with a silent t.)

Steel pipe(2 layers)

Cement(1 layer)

Oil Shale

Impervious rock layers

1 mileEmpire State

Building

Portable frac water flowback recycling plant (at Gates Ranch)

Water well

Aquifer

1,454 ft

Shale GaS RuSh

ohio’s

and its implications for GeauGa county

GeauGa Business Winter 2013 1

local drillers like bill Kinney, president of summit Petroleum, will tell you they are in the exceptionally rare and gratifying business of creating wealth. they are helping fulfill Cinderella dreams for fortunate landowners and are providing plenty of jobs for other ohio residents along the way. Kinney claims shale gas production has a 3:1 return on investment, and the industry is forecasting the creation of 20,000 new (and varied) ohio jobs annually. Add to that the standard economic snowball effect. every dollar of new wealth generates new spending, which leads to more jobs and more wealth. Kinney notes even local retail shops benefit from the sale of drilling-related hardware, fire-retardant clothing, safety gear and other supplies.

“today’s leasing payments in ohio range from $4,500-$6,500 per acre and are expected to rise as the demand increases,” according to Mark dolezal, of the eastern geauga landowners, a nonprofit organization of local land owners who have joined together to enhance their bargaining power with oil and gas operators. “other counties in ohio have benefited greatly from the infusion of dollars that the leasing has brought to their areas,” dolezal says, noting these counties have seen upticks from many industry segments, including automobile, auto equipment, trucking, delivery and expediting services, excavating, sand and gravel, pipe and plumbing, building, housing, leasing, water, security, title and legal services, restaurants and motels. Also benefitting the counties is the additional income from severance and sales taxes, he points out.

for some, however, the gas and oil extraction process presents too big of an environmental risk to our communities. there is noise, dust, and diesel exhaust. there also is the matter of disposing of the waste water safely. And there is the possibility of earth movement.

“the oil and gas industry has had its up and downs, but i think the positives outweigh the negatives,” offers ty Kellogg, an organization director for a multi-county area of the ohio farm bureau federation. Kellogg’s organization represents almost 2,700 members from geauga County, primarily active farmers and landowners with important questions about shale gas and oil drilling.

“Whether you are in favor of oil and gas exploration here or not, the issue definitely deserves your time,” Kellogg suggests. As a resident of geauga County, he says he personally looks forward to the prospect of more job opportunities in the county, and he would “love to see some individual farmers and landowners prosper” from oil and gas drilling. in his role at the farm bureau, though, his primary objective is to provide people with the tools to help make their own decisions.

“We can direct landowners to information about their property, help them understand the condition of their water and soil, inform them about lease negotiation, assist them in preparing appropriate questions, help them identify a qualified lawyer without energy company ties, and even aid them in the development of a financial plan,” Kellogg says. “it is the obligation of each individual to research, compare and understand as much as possible because not all of the answers are in one place and it takes time to harness and sift through the information.”

The good news: There is no shortage of information.

the challenge is the information is coming at us at a fire-hose speed from myriad sources. And it’s complicated. Much of the literature is technical and loaded with the jargon of geologists, engineers, chemists, government bureaucrats and attorneys. the data also is changing daily. And some

ohio’s Shale GaS RuSh and its implications for GeauGa countyC o n t I n u E d f r o M P A G E 1

Bill Kinney, president of Summit Petroleum, steps off of an oil rig.2

of the information is conflicting. here, we try to offer some basic facts as well as some perspective from local authorities and the trusted sources they pointed us to. We also provide a short list of organizations and websites we found to be useful in understanding this complex and changing – albeit promising – phenomenon.

So just what is shale gas and what role is it playing on the energy stage?

the united states geological survey puts shale gas in the unconventional gas category, meaning it is not sourced from discrete fields or pools with distinct boundaries. With unconventional gas, drilling is not enough to generate a commercial flow. two key technologies are relevant when we talk about shale gas: horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing, where water, sand and chemicals are injected in the horizontal borehole of the well at very high pressure to fracture the shale rocks and release the gas. neither technology is new. horizontal drilling began in the 1930s, and the first well in the united states was fraced in 1947. relatively new, however, is the technology that tells us precisely where the gas and oil is and where it’s going, explains Kinney.

that’s why until recently shale gas made up less than 1 percent of gas production in the u.s. in 2000, shale gas production grew to 20 percent. by 2035, the energy information Administration projects it will reach 46 percent. the increased supply in recent years of shale gas has led to a significant drop in u.s. domestic gas prices, according to an energy, environment and resources research report published by Chatham house in August of this year. that’s good news to a point. but too-low margins for producers will obviously result in slower gas production growth or even stagnation. Achieving the right economic balance appears a vexatious constant for

those in this business. Although, it should be noted, the current demand and price for oil is strong.

What’s the upside potential for shale drilling in Geauga County?

geauga County appears to be on the fringes of a rich and expansive natural gas and crude oil reservoir. the targeted utica-Port Pleasant basil rock sits 6,000 feet below ground on top of 300-feet-thick trenton limestone. (talk about being stuck between a rock and hard place.) this reservoir is estimated to hold more than 15 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and 5.5 billion barrels of oil according to the ohio geological survey. Much of the early exploration in the utica shale is occurring in eastern ohio where the shale is closest to the surface at 3,000 feet. Currently, geologists and producers are working to define the northern and western edges of the utica “play.” According to Kinney, all the talk is speculative now. he anticipates much more will be known in the first quarter of next year.

Kellogg says “geauga County farm bureau is encouraged by the rekindled interest and discussion of oil and gas development in the county from the energy companies, local businesses, local officials and the residents of the community at large.” but he cautions that with the opportunity comes great responsibility “specifically in geauga County, where we are known across the state and the nation for our balance of suburban and rural communities and several agriculture products and businesses.”

A quick look at some Ohio stats

According to the ohio department of natural resources, division of Mineral resources Management, ohio produced more than 86 billion cubic feet of natural gas and five million barrels of crude oil (or 210 million gallons) last year. that amounts to about 11 percent of ohio’s natural gas

consumption – enough natural gas to heat one million homes per year, according to the ohio oil and gas energy education Program (oogeeP). Kinney notes 70,000 wells are producing in ohio currently and $4 billion has been distributed in lease bonus payments. oogeeP reports the industry is responsible for 4,000 direct jobs, an additional 1,400 indirect jobs and $730 million in personal income. last year, the industry reinvested almost $300 million on exploration and development, which helped account for 10,700 jobs and $707 million per year in gross state product. ohio natural gas and crude oil producers pay $57.5 million per year in federal, state and local taxes. nearly 100 percent of the gas produced in ohio is put to use in our state, according to oogeeP, which enables ohio to keep $1 billion worth of energy consumption per year in the state.

Fracing: A deeper dive

According to www.energyfromshale.org, an informational website sponsored by an industry alliance, fracing makes it possible to extract oil and natural gas in places where conventional technologies would not work. it uses water pressure under tight controls to create fractures in rock that allow oil and gas to escape. recently, fracing has come to mean all aspects of the development and production of a well, even though the actual hydraulic fracturing occurs only for a brief time.

typically, in fracing, steel pipe known as surface casing is cemented into place at the uppermost portion of a well for the explicit purpose of protecting the groundwater. According to the American Petroleum institute, the depth of the surface casing is generally determined based on groundwater protection, among other factors. As the well is drilled deeper, additional casing is installed to isolate the formation(s) from which oil or natural gas is to be produced – the goal being to protect

C o n t I n u E d o n P A G E 4

GeauGa Business Winter 2013 3

ohio’s Shale GaS RuSh and its implications for GeauGa countyC o n t I n u E d f r o M P A G E 3

sources of drinking water from the oil and natural gas well with multiple layers of impervious rock.

While 99.5 percent of the fluids used consist of water and sand, sometimes chemicals are added to improve the flow. each well is a little different, and each one “offers lessons learned,” according to Kinney. the oil and natural gas production industry uses these lessons to develop best practices to minimize the environmental risks and other downside effects associated with development.

some 35,000 wells now are hydraulically fractured annually in the united states and more than one million wells have been

hydraulically fractured since the first well was fraced 70 years ago. the u.s. energy information Administration reports more than 750 trillion cubic feet of technically recoverable shale gas and 24 billion barrels of technically recoverable shale oil resources in discovered shale plays. so it’s not surprising, studies published by the American Petroleum institute estimate up to 80 percent of natural gas wells drilled in the next decade will require hydraulic fracturing.

Mitigating the risk

industry proponents (and sponsors of www.energyfromshale.org) argue convincingly that shale gas production is “critical to manufacturing jobs, to farmers for fertilizer, to households for heating and cooking, to businesses for electricity and fuel for transportation needs, and to society to help address climate change concerns because of its low carbon-content.” they further suggest local drilling will keep energy-intensive manufacturing companies from moving overseas for cheaper energy, so lucrative job opportunities stay here.

Kinney purports he built 1,000 wells in northeast ohio and has never had a contamination issue. “i would not do this if i thought for one second i was putting anyone at risk,” he insists. Key, he says, is following stringent safety protocols and facilitating communication among all parties, including landowners, emergency response teams, community officials and residents. he further notes comprehensive federal, state, and local laws address every aspect of exploration and production operations. there is growing pressure and pending legislation to force operators to register the chemicals they are using also. but Kinney says many operators are proactively reporting on their own. he emphasizes oil and gas operators in ohio are bonded and all proposed well sites are reviewed by the state of ohio’s division

of oil and gas. Permits are issued and an inspector is assigned to observe operation for compliance with the permit and the law. he further notes it is extremely rare for a water well to be affected in any way by drilling operations.

“every step is taken to maintain the integrity of the ground water reservoirs,” Kinney maintains. Also, in addition to government oversight, the industry has created a number of guidance documents and other initiatives which are continuously evaluated and updated, according to Kinney. the industry recognizes that it can’t rest on its good past performance, says Kinney. “We need to continuously look for ways to improve, to be vigilant about water use, groundwater protection, wastewater management, air emissions and site construction safety,” he says.

Some help for landowners

eastern geauga landowners (egl) Mark dolezal is not alone in his belief that “oil and gas development will be huge economically for geauga County.”

“there is an unprecedented opportunity if this is managed correctly by landowners and their communities,” insists the farm bureau’s Kellogg. Kinney agrees. “As with any new opportunity, we have to pay attention to detail, learn from others, communicate well and take the time and care needed to ensure optimal results for everyone.”

“our goal at egl,” dolezal explains, “is to educate and unite landowners to promote a safe and profitable drilling experience in the wake of these exciting discoveries in the utica shale formation.” egl, he says, is advised and directed by experienced oil and gas attorneys and leaders who have a proven track record of success in negotiating land leases. he invites residents to visit the egl office at 14984 south state Ave., Middlefield, to get questions answered and prepare appropriately. Joseph Haas, President,

Reserve Energy Exploration

4

Interested in further study?

here are some reliable information sources provided by the three individuals quoted in this article:

American Chemistry Council (http://www.americanchemistry.com)

American Petroleum Institute (www.api.org)

Eastern Geauga Landowners Group (www.eg-land.org)

EnergyFromShale.org (www.energyfromshale.org)

Frac Focus (www.fracfocus.org)

Geauga County Commissioners, Local and State Representatives (http://www.co.geauga.oh.us)

Geauga County Recorder (Sharon Gingerich)

Geauga Soil and Water Conservation District (http://geaugaswcd.com)

Geauga Growth Partnership

Groundwater Protection Agency (http://water.epa.gov/type/groundwater)

Ohio Department of Natural Resources (www.dnr.state.oh.us)

Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (www.epa.state.oh.us)

Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (www.ofbf.org)

Ohio Oil and Gas Association (www.ooga.org)

Ohio Oil and Gas Energy Education Program (www.oogeep.org)

Shale Gas Reporter (http://shalegasreporter.com)

The Ohio State University Extension office (http://extension.osu.edu/)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (www.epa.gov)

This may suRPRise yOu

More than 6,000 products are produced, wholly or

in part, from crude oil, according the Ohio Oil and Gas

Energy Education Program. And the average person

consumes the equivalent of three gallons of refined

petroleum-based products each day.

- from synthetic rubber, we make gloves, balloons, tennis shoes,

balls, hoses, tires, belts, and rubber bands.

- Crude oil also goes into personal care products such as soap,

toothpaste, shampoo, suntan lotion and makeup.

- We use synthetic fabrics made from crude oil for things like

carpet, rope, and parachutes.

- from petrochemicals, we manufacture aspirin, antihistamines,

petroleum jellies, ammonia, alcohol, antibiotics and antiseptics.

- Waxes are used to make candy, gum, candles, crayons and

wax paper.

- Carbon black goes into paints and inks, rubber and cement,

batteries, radios and television tubes.

- Plastics are used in just about everything – from garbage bags

and bowling balls to camera film and life saving devices.

- finally, gasoline is used to fuel automobiles, motorcycles,

trucks, golf carts, lawn mowers and edgers.

Source: Ohio Oil & Gas Energy Education Program

GeauGa Business Winter 2013 5

Flambeau celebrates 65 years of

Shaping the Products of Tomorrow... in PlaSTicWhat consumer product awakens fond childhood memories in billions of people across the globe?

CLuE: What do “Walk the dog,” “Shoot the Moon,”” and “Skin the Cat” represent?

AnSWEr: they are all Yo-Yo tricks.

flambeau, located at 15981 Valplast street in Middlefield Village, ohio, manufactures and markets the #1, world-classic duncan Yo-Yo brand. An American icon.

but to be fair, the flambeau story really began with a frog.

by Margie Wilber

6

in 1947, W.r. sauey with his brother ed combined their savings, along with a $2,000 loan, to purchase parts to build a handmade injection molding

machine. the young entrepreneurs began manufacturing the halik frog fishing lure in a humble, 14X40 ft. building in bruce, Wisconsin. the public was immediately hooked.

from this small bait, flambeau, inc. – a part of the nordic group of Companies – grew to form a total resource network, providing customer assistance in designing and manufacturing injection- and blow-molded thermoplastic components and products, building tools and fixtures, and contracting manufacturing of complete assemblies. today, the international organization grosses more than $300 million annually with approximately 1.4 million sq. ft. of production space, employing 2,500 – and is truly shaping the products of tomorrow in plastic.

flambeau is the largest of nordic group’s holdings and has 10 operating/manufacturing facilities in the u.s. and two abroad, employing 1,800 workers. flambeau’s usA manufacturing facilities are located in Middlefield, ohio; baraboo, Wisconsin; Phoenix, Arizona; Columbus, indiana; Madison, georgia; redlands, California; sharon Center, ohio; and Weldon, north Carolina. flambeau’s international facilities include ramsgate, Kent england and saltillo, Coahuila Mexico. the Middlefield facility employs 180.

flambeau manufactures plastic products for both industrial and consumer customers, producing a diverse range of manufactured plastic products sold through four market groups: Automotive, retail, industrial Markets & Packaging, and Medical.

“We bring plastic to life by developing and delivering innovative value to our customers

through our people, brands and products,” states Jason sauey, President and Ceo of nordic group of Companies and one of founder W.r. sauey’s seven children. All but two daughters work(ed) in the family business.

Undaunted curiosityW.r. sauey , founder and patriarch of nordic group, was the son of norwegian immigrant parents. his son Jason explains, “My father was an entrepreneur from the word go – driven at the onset with a wish to survive. his oCd (obsessive compulsive disorder) and Add (attention deficit disorder) combined to make him always questioning how things worked or how they can be improved. At the age of 85, my father is still involved in the company. he would have no idea what to do with himself otherwise.”

the proud son continues, “My father was all about doing. he was a Marine. he is an active, committed, caring person in everything he does – as a father, businessman and member of his community. in addition to all that, he is a great father. i get along well with him. sure, we have moments of disagreement, but we respectfully resolve them. our family is blessed to have both our father and mother floy, 87, still with us.”

Family Owned & leadership DrivenAs the adage claims: like father, like son. Jason believes “family business” is the most important institution in society today.

“it’s the vessel of America’s moral value system. family businesses generally do the right thing for the right reason,” Jason insists. “family is the most important influence in my life, and i believe taking care of family and taking care of business go hand-in-hand.”

the Wisconsin native earned an MbA at the university of Chicago prior to moving to geauga County in 1985 to join the family business.

immediately after assuming the role of president and Ceo of the nordic group of Companies, the extroverted son worked to conscientiously identify and codify the nordic group’s vision statement and core values – family, integrity, leadership, teamwork, Knowledge, and excellence.

“i felt, as we grew, it was important to have a contextual understanding of how and what we do. the corporate heart is not subject to negotiation and will not change over time; the rest is open to change,” the unassuming, willful Ceo explains with a definitive nod.

“The quality of a

person’s life is in

direct proportion

to their commitment

to excellence,

regardless of

their chosen field

of endeavor.”

- Vince Lombardi (1913-1970)

C o n t I n u E d o n P A G E 8

Jason Sauey, President & CEO, Nordic Group of Companies, Ltd.

GeauGa Business Winter 2013 7

keep the right people in the right positions is one of the greatest challenges for our organization, and i think this always will be true. We apply an onerous selection procedure that involves completing a long, detailed application form, taking a character profile, and completing three, separate interviews.”

he says they are extremely happy with their manufacturing facility in Middlefield, ohio, due to the strong work ethic and caring of their associates. “they are well- trained, hard-working, honest people,” the engaging company president states.

flambeau is nonunion. “i don’t believe in unions. they are an irrelevant, third-party market impediment. they hinder growth and prosperity for the company and for the individual,” Jason adds.

Expanding the PondVisitors to flambeau’s Middlefield plant are greeted by Karen tretera, an associate of 29 years. “i will be 70 years old this month, and i have no desire to retire. this is a great place to work. they are always introducing new products into the market, and Jason has an open-door policy. You can make an appointment to see him any time. they really live up to their core values.”

Karen is just one of 45 employees who are members of flambeau Middlefield’s Quarter-Century Club. retaining good quality people is not a problem for flambeau.

After six decades, Jason acknowledges his deep respect for entrepreneurs. “their perseverance; curious, adaptive and creative makeup; willingness to take risks – that is the strength and foundation of America.”

he considers the future. “one of our goals is to more than double our size by the year 2020. that will take doing different things differently,” states the Ceo matter-of-factly. “My job within flambeau also includes developing successors for success. this can be a difficult subject to broach within an organization, but is a vital one. i want flambeau and nordic group of Companies to continue to thrive long after i am gone.”

Congratulations, flambeau, on your tremendous achievements. May success continue to follow you, as the classic Yo-Yo trick suggests, “Around the World.”

Jason believes leadership is critical for any business to succeed. “but as we encounter challenges, no one person has all the expertise to be best suited to be the leader at all times. Anyone within a company can be a leader; leaders inspire, coach and challenge others. everyone has an opportunity at flambeau to be a leader. i consider myself a servant-leader. Plato said, ‘We earn the right to lead by having served.’ i also believe the further i reach down, the lighter my grasp must be. i am tougher on the people who report directly to me.”

Making the leap to Greatnessflambeau’s secrets of success? first and foremost, flambeau offers turnkey service and serves as a single source solution for plastic components and products.

“our turnkey operation separates us from our competitors. We offer a breadth and depth of knowledge and can take an idea from conception, to design development, to manufacturing the product, to delivery. in addition, we are reliable and deliver a product on time,” explains the south russell, ohio resident.

he says flambeau’s technology Center is a total technical resource that their customers can utilize for developing an unlimited spectrum of new plastic products. “from product design assistance or fine-tuning a product design to an efficient, high-volume, manufacturing process, our integrated team of designers, engineers and mold

makers deliver exceptional products. our 48 craftsmen average over 45 years of experience building precision injection and blow molds in a wide range of sizes – from several pounds to 20 tons,” Jason states. “We also design and build custom machinery for each application.”

diversification is another key to flambeau’s success with 40 distinct industries served and no single customer making up more than 10 percent of sales. “’no’ always has to be an option,” the passionate businessman insists. “Any time you’re in a relationship and you feel ‘no’ is not an option, that’s an unhealthy relationship, and you’d better change the dynamic fast or get out.”

“We started as a contract manufacturer. today, we can take a concept, develop it and deliver superior products. our proprietary product markets include arts & craft storage, toys, fluid handling systems, medical products, packaging, hardware, hunting & fishing storage, decoys, lawn ornaments, and advertising specialty items.

“Many of our products are developed out of an understanding of market forces or from competitive drivers,” states flambeau’s dedicated president. “our product development process involves a combination of things: brainstorming, surveying key customers and end users, and drawing from managers who understand their respective markets.”

Another key to flambeau’s success has been their ability to bring the right people together – people who are engaged and active. Jason states, “our ability to get and

“We are what we

repeatedly do.

Excellence, then, is a

habit, not an act.”

- Aristotle (384-322 bC)

C o n t I n u E d f r o M P A G E 7

Flambeau celebrates 65 years of Shaping the Products of Tomorrow... in PlaSTic

Flambeau Middlefield

Middlefield, Ohio

8

Success in the newspaper industry comes in all sizes and venues.

readers today gather their news on-line. daily papers, once fat and powerful, are downsizing in the face of disinterested customers, competing technology, splintered advertising budgets and increasing costs.

but geauga County, broadly ignored by northeast ohio dailies, has a population well-served every thursday by an award-winning weekly newspaper kept entirely local by its owners.

the Geauga County Maple Leaf does not limit itself to ink and papyrus, however. it has an on-line presence that makes it popular among snow-birds and retirees as far south as florida, and keeps the more tech-savvy county residents well-informed.

Expanded Weekly Newsdespite occasional urgings to publish the tabloid-sized weekly three times a week or daily, editor John Karlovec resists. “it’s tempting,” John said during an interview about his business, but technology saves him from having to entertain that idea seriously. “With our website, we’re essentially on-line daily.”

When local news breaks, www.geaugampleleaf.com becomes the go-to site for computer-able subscribers, and Karlovec and his staff put in long hours making sure updates are fresh.

Karlovec stands by his policy not to make the Maple Leaf website free to anyone who can type. he contends the stories, photos

DELIVERING THE NEWSBy Ann Wishart

With our website,

we’re essentially

on-line daily.”

Editor John Karlovec of Geauga Maple Leaf

GeauGa Business Winter 2013 9

and other content cost money to produce and people should pay for high-quality goods. but also, requiring a subscription for access has a more primary rationale: People buying ads know the readers are serious enough to shell out $30 (resident) to $48 (non-resident) per year to read about events in geauga County.

“that’s why we don’t give it away. subscriptions tell advertisers that people want what we are selling,” he says.

“Where have you been?”being focused on geauga County happenings doesn’t necessarily mean the locals always have been focused on the Maple Leaf. Karlovec’s office gets calls and e-mails for subscriptions all the time and comments are surprising.

“it’s amazing the number of people who call to subscribe and say they just saw the Maple Leaf for the first time. they say, ‘Where have you been?’” he states.

it is another sign of the times. People rushing through the grocery store don’t notice the newspaper stands. Additionally, the fact that the Maple Leaf was first published by don and sharon buchanan in 1993 escapes many. but, the paper’s circulation numbers fell off over the years until Karlovec and his family bought it out of bankruptcy in 2001.

A “reformed lawyer” with an economics degree from harvard university and J.d. from Case Western reserve university, Karlovec was no novice to the publishing industry. he and his brother Jeff are fifth generation to own and operate Cleveland-based legal news Publishing Company, started in the late 1800s. At one point the family owned what is now the sun news network of dailies, but downsized during

the depression to just the daily legal news. today it is the largest of seven, daily law journals in ohio, Karlovec says.

the Maple Leaf’s current circulation of about 5,000.

Hard, Fair, Local News“We wanted to be an ally of the community,” Karlovec says, adding the Maple Leaf team wants to provide hard, fair, local news as well as covering community events and keep readers informed on county issues. Although he has no public journalism background, Karlovec takes the time-honored and often ignored academic goal of objectivity seriously.

“i don’t write editorials. nobody should care what i have to say,” he emphatically insists. “if the community newspaper does not present bias-free news, the community will question the integrity of that news, and editorials traditionally reflect the bias of the management.”

“i’m aware of the power the paper has, and i don’t want to take advantage of that,” he continues. however, his philosophy doesn’t deter him from righting wrongs, now and then.

“i stand up for people,” Karlovec says. “if someone is being unfairly criticized, i do feel some obligation to let readers know the facts as i know them to be.”

besides being owner and editor, Karlovec does his share of writing for the Maple Leaf and is available to listen to various points of view. to maintain the tenuous balance and information flow, Karlovec says he honors requests from people who want to

speak off the record, but he is firm about reporting what happens in public.

“We lose credibility if we don’t report what happened at a meeting,” he says, adding follow-through is vital. “A newspaper should be fair and objective in its reporting and get to the bottom of a story.”

he credits news editor Cassandra shofar with helping him maintain that balance.

A journalism-school graduate and former news herald reporter, shofar has a more liberal stand compared to Karlovec’s generally conservative position, so a fair equilibrium is maintained, he says.

“We have very experienced writers,” he notes, adding readers generally don’t find a point of view in a story. the seasoned reporters are valuable to the newspaper for more than their copy. if those in the spotlight can trust the reporter, they are more likely to share their ideas when talking to the editor, Karlovec says.

“i think people have grown to trust us – that we’re not going to come out and crucify them,” Karlovec says.

DELIVERING THE NEWS

C o n t I n u E d f r o M P A G E 9

“If the community

newspaper does not

present bias-free news,

the community will

question the integrity

of that news, and

editorials traditionally

reflect the bias of the

management.”

10

Objectivity Essentialobjectivity in reporting is more essential today than when Karlovec first sat down in the Maple Leaf’s editorial room in Chardon 10 years ago. the polarization of the nation’s left-right camps has become so rabidly entrenched that the venom trickles down to the local level, and presenting both sides of an issue is more imperative than ever.

for instance, the county-wide park district levy issue on the ballot in the november 2012 election created quite a furor and required even-handed reporting of the facts. opinions were expressed only in the letters-to-the-editor column, but everyone who read the Maple Leaf had the information needed to make a decision.

the 21st century will give the county opportunities for growth, and Karlovec is personally in favor of progress – within reason.

“We need to be more progressive. the county needs a facelift,” he says. “We’re not just farms and cow pastures any more. We have innovative businesses and things going on.”

efforts, like publication of geauga business magazine, focus attention on local growth, advancement, vision; opportunities that exist here; and how employees, residents and visitors value its rural ambiance. Karlovec insists, “it is easy for the county to operate in the shadow of lake and Cuyahoga counties, but geauga has plenty to offer.”

“geauga County is sort of a step-child. Anything that can be done to help promote geauga County is a good thing,” he adds.

Spreading Outhistorically, the main focus of the Maple Leaf has been eastern geauga County – the Chardon-Middlefield-burton triangle to activity within surrounding townships.

Appreciation of community event coverage is palpable, Karlovec says.

sports editor Jamie Ward’s articles on school sports competitions are extremely popular, and Maple Leaf’s website sees more activity. And when Karlovec covered a ledgemont volleyball game in Kinsman, he was amazed at the welcome he received by the team and fans.

“All these kids follow us on twitter. it’s what we want – being part of the community,” he says.

Photos taken at events are available for purchase from the on-line “smug Mug” e-page – another aspect of a technical adaptation making the Maple Leaf profitable, Karlovec says.

While the idea of expanding to more days a week doesn’t gain traction with him, expanding the geographic basis is within the realm of credibility. last summer Karlovec received a call from the owner of the Chesterland News. she was ready to divest herself of the shopper and wondered

if he was interested. After some number-crunching, Karlovec took the leap and immediately went to work capturing a share of the news from the west. While West geauga school district had been part of the Maple Leaf territory for several years, he shuffled reporters to cover Chester and russell townships regularly and the results – news stories, features and color on the front page – have brought kudos.

both the circulation and advertising departments of the Maple Leaf stand to gain by the change, but the real benefit is west-side readers have more coverage of their communities.

With those changes in place, Karlovec is slowing down a bit.

“We’re walking before we run. i’m looking at how can we take advantage of more synergies between the Maple Leaf and Chester News? We’re not done. When the right opportunities arrive, we’ll look at them,” he says.

overall, his goal is to make the Geauga County Maple Leaf a vital link for folks in geauga County and keep the paper vibrant.

“i don’t want the Maple Leaf to be separate from the community, i want to be part of the community,” Karlovec concludes.

“All these kids follow

us on Twitter. It’s what

we want – being part

of the community,”

GeauGa Business Winter 2013 11

Prior to June, 2011, geauga County was without an active

business group exclusively for women. sure, there were the

local Chambers of Commerce, geauga economic leadership

(gel), Community improvement Corporation (CiC), and a few

other groups mixed in, but nothing existed just for women

in business. over coffee one day, two local businesswomen

decided to change that. three weeks later, the first meeting

of the red Key network was called to order. in attendance:

11 local businesswomen, including a doctor, two bankers, an

investment broker, a dog trainer, an operations consultant,

a maple producer, and a business planner. over the months

that followed, word about the group spread and membership

grew. one year later on June 21, 2012, red Key network

celebrated its first anniversary and welcomed their 50th

member. today, new faces appear at each meeting.

What is the Red Key Network and Its Mission?the red Key network is a business networking group for women who live or work in geauga County, ohio. their mission: provide support to women in business through education, mentoring and networking. their vision: build a stronger business community which translates into a better community in which to live and work.

typically, meetings begin at 8:30 a.m. and last for 90 minutes: 30 min. for networking, 30 min for an educational element, and 30 min. for problem solving and announcements.

Monthly meeting locations vary to allow the broadest outreach. “Moving locations is also the best way to get to know our community,” explains susan swartzwelder, the group’s founder,

“We always have time set aside for what we call ‘shout-outs,’” swartzwelder says. “shout-outs are proclamations of personal achievement. We encourage everyone to celebrate even the smallest successes. it’s permission to brag just a little and feel good.” the group also uses shout-outs to call on each other for help – anything from filling an open position to solving a business problem. Members usually report back to the group with status updates.

speakers for the educational segment are often members of the group; topics are requested by members and vary – from bookkeeping nightmares, to how to acquire a business loan, to time-management strategies. “topics can be anything but must address a business topic that will help members grow their businesses,” she explains.

Members also have access to structured educational workshops where they learn new skills relevant to today’s business environment.

Additionally, the red Key network holds social events open to the public.

Red Key Network

Susan Swartzwelder, Red Key Network founder, meets with Judi Smith, manager of Chardon Library.

Unlocking Business

Potential via

by Margie Wilber

12

Why Just Women?swartzwelder believes women in business need their own organization. “Women, by nature, want to build relationships with other business women they can trust. As they do, they lend a helping hand with no strings attached,” says swartzwelder. “We all believe what goes around comes around.”

“being a business woman today is tough,” swartzwelder adds. “in many cases, you are also a wife, mother and oftentimes a care-taker of aging parents. that’s a lot to juggle. As women, we have a huge respect for others like us, and we go out of our way to help each other.”

“We celebrate each member’s success because we feel that, in some small way, we helped to build that success. the energy generated among the ladies at each gathering is electrifying and addicting. i just can’t explain it,” the energetic businesswoman insists.

About the Founderswartzwelder worked as a financial advisor with Merrill lynch then at Morgan stanley where she co-managed more than $100 million in retirement assets for clients. After investing 17 years in the brokerage industry, she left to pursue a new passion in computers. swartzwelder returned to school to earn an Mis degree in information systems in 2000. upon graduation, she accepted a position with Medovation in Chagrin falls, a software developer for the nuclear medicine industry. there she served as director of operations and support. “it was here that the small business bug bit me,” laughs swartzwelder.

When Medovation was sold in 2004, the Chardon resident started consulting from home doing software support and technical writing. she served clients primarily on the east coast and in new York City. she loved working with software startups and early stage product development. then in 2010, swartzwelder took a risk and launched her own business, the oPs network, llC. oPs stands for operations, Planning & support. today, swartzwelder feeds her passion for small business by focusing on the special needs of local startup companies and young businesses, helping them build success using sound business planning.

“Part of my motivation in starting red Key network was to find support,” admits the businesswoman. “i wanted to find other local businesswomen who would challenge me and offer camaraderie and mentorship. i am overwhelmed by the sheer number of women looking for the same things.”

Unintended Membership BenefitsAccording to swartzwelber, red Key network members conduct business with each other. though not a requirement of membership, it happens naturally. Perhaps more exciting is the external opportunities members create for each other.

“i get calls all the time from red Key members asking who in the group they can call on for just about everything” explains swartzwelder with a smile. “one day, i received a call from a member asking for contact information for Carol Peter, owner of Cold nose Companions dog training. turns out, she wanted to recommend Carol’s services to her vet who mentioned his need for a local dog trainer.

Kim breyley, editor of the Middlefield Post, initially attended two meetings as a guest. “i was impressed with the diversity and energy of the group. Clearly, these women recognize that in geauga County, business opportunity is limited only by one’s imagination and determination. i also noticed that the camaraderie in this group outweighs the temptation to compete with one another regardless of business type.”

“i have participated in the several free workshops offered to members and found them extremely beneficial,” breyley adds.

“i would recommend this networking group for several reasons. first, in my business, i am always looking for stories about people who are making a positive impact through their lives and/or their business. i have met and written articles about several women who are doing just that in this county, and i have only scratched the surface. second, this group plans regular social events which are often located at new-member business sites. these social gatherings not only serve to support the fledgling business but also solidify the mutual support within the group. third, red Key network is progressive. susan has applied for an operational grant; through

her leadership i am confident this group will grow and self-organize around the needs of business within the county and those of the red Key members,” breyley states.

other exciting yet unintended consequences enjoyed by many members include filling job openings with local referrals. some members are finding support as they expand their business or start a new business altogether.

Red Key Network’s Future“one of the most exciting aspects of our existence is the opportunity to work collaboratively with other community organizations to build a thriving county,” the savvy business professional exclaims. she says the red Key network is working to strengthen the business community to make it even more attractive to new residents and companies looking for a new home.

swartzwelder continues, “benefits to the community will only continue to grow as the organization gains exposure and membership.”

“the economy is not going to turn around by itself. someone needs to drive that bus, and red Key women are not waiting for a ‘knight in shining armor.’ our members are taking action by creating opportunities for themselves and each other. their businesses are growing, and they are creating jobs and hiring from within the network and by referral.”

What started out as a casual gathering of women in business has turned into a movement affecting positive change in geauga County. “it is so powerful. our intention is to build an infrastructure for long-term growth and become a model for supporting women in business,” swartzwelder concludes.

You could say that red Key network is driving the bus of economic prosperity for geauga County. Pretty soon they are going to need a bigger bus!

for more information on the red Key network, call susan swartzwelder at 440.655.2720 or visit www.redKeynetwork.org

“One of the most exciting aspects of our existence

is the opportunity to work collaboratively with other

community organizations to build a thriving county,”

GeauGa Business Winter 2013 13

Affordable housing remains a pressing need in geauga County as an

economic recession continues to grip the country and region, particularly for the growing population of senior citizens who also must adjust their lifestyles to match fixed incomes. sadly, many of these residents who were born, raised and raised their families in geauga County are being forced to move to surrounding counties to find more economical housing. however, one local housing development presents an alternative.

Woodsong of Middlefield offers affordable ranch, colonial, cluster and condominium housing with newly constructed homes starting in the low $170s and lots starting at $38,000. While the housing community welcomes individuals of all ages, more than 85 percent of

those moving into Woodsong are 48 years of age and older looking to downsize their homes, acreage and simplify their lives.

sally bell, director of the geauga County department on Aging, is all too familiar with the housing needs of local seniors. “While three- and five-acre-lot zoning enables us to keep geauga County rural, maintaining these lot sizes puts added stress on seniors. Without the annual increases in income as we age, affording the necessary home and property maintenance costs is also difficult. that is why i see people looking for smaller homes and properties where they can live out their remaining days. they want to stay in geauga County and attend the same church, shop at the same grocery store, and frequent the same pharmacy they have for years.”

bell clarifies that “affordable housing” in geauga County is not about housing for people in poverty but housing that aligns with senior citizens’ current income.

According to Joseph svete, Woodsong developer, “Woodsong offers individuals of all ages a peaceful, quiet, safe and affordable community – whether they are interested in building or looking for a ready-to-purchase home or condominium.

Any of these housing options provide all the amenities without the fuss and bother of extensive yard work and continuous home maintenance.”

Woodsong home buyers have a choice of builders: enzoco homes, Mcgrath Construction Company, Knez homes, schumacher homes, inc., and buyer’s own approved builder.

these homes are fully landscaped and lots include city water, city sewer, underground electric, telephone and cable. With full warranties and all new appliances, Woodsong offers worry-free living, svete insists. the small lot sizes are especially attractive to seniors.

Carl and donna hornung, of Woodsong, are thrilled with their decision to move from Willoughby to Middlefield Village’s quaint new housing development. “We had friends who moved here a year or so earlier, and they invited us one night to their home for dinner. We immediately fell in love with their beautiful home and were amazed at how inexpensive it cost,” recalls Carl, trustee of the homeowner association and Middlefield Village councilman.

WOODSONG COMMUNITY ANSWERS CRY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN GEAUGA COUNTYBy Margie Wilber

14

A block over, sam and Judee lombardo echo the hornungs’ sentiments, “i love it. Woodsong is quiet, peaceful and conveniently located to everything – shopping, restaurants, post office, library,” says Judee, 59. the lombardos moved to Woodsong in november of 2010 from troy township.

Judee explains that their troy home was situated on two and a half acres. because of their new “empty nest” lifestyle with their two sons grown and living in north Carolina and tennessee, sam and Judee desired to purchase a low-maintenance home on a small lot so they could travel more – particularly in the summers.

“Woodsong is a friendly community. there are young children, but parents are very attentive,” Judee adds.

Woodsong’s low pricing also attracts young couples and new families.

first-time visitors will be greeted by a well-manicured entryway lined with a white picket fence and an eye-catching pond decorated with a fountain. svete says maintaining the quality of the Woodsong community is a top priority.

“They want to stay in Geauga County

and attend the same church,

shop at the same grocery

store, and frequent the same pharmacy they have for years.”

“We also plan to partner with geauga County department on Aging to offer monthly outings for our senior population,” he says.

svete encourages geauga County businesses to suggest Woodsong to employees or new hires relocating to the area.

for more information on Woodsong of Middlefield, call 877.870.2006 or visit www.woodsonghomes.com

Ben Garlich, Mayor, Village of Middlefield and

Joseph Svete, Woodsong Developer

GeauGa Business Winter 2013 15

family Pride of northeast ohio, inc. is a non-profit agency that provides in-home behavioral health counseling and supportive services to families in geauga, lake, Ashtabula, Portage, Cuyahoga and summit counties. the agency strives to identify and resolve mental health and behavioral issues for both parents and children in order to help families stay intact; to enable each family member to find their place within the family; and to provide awareness of any harmful consequences and accountability of actions that impact interpersonal relationships and individual success.

this mission drives the agency’s guiding principles that focus on:

• Providing family centered, strength-based counseling in partnership with both children and parents to address concerns and issues

• Collaborating with other service providers to develop and individualize a treatment plan for each client and family

• tailoring services to meet the needs of each individual client and family which includes: flexible appointments based upon family schedule, variety of therapeutic and support interventions, and enrichment activities to engage client in community activities.

family Pride was founded in 2003 by James h. McAuley, lisW, after several requests were

made by local school districts and court officials to effectively address the behavioral needs of children and their families throughout geauga County. the first clients began receiving services in november 2004 and, since then, the client population has continued to grow exponentially. in 2006, family Pride earned its first accreditation through the ohio department of Mental health and the Commission on Accreditation of rehabilitative services. since then, the agency has earned two-consecutive, three-year CArf accreditations.

family Pride offices are located at 695 south street, suite #6, in Chardon, however, most of the services occur in the safety and security of the individual family’s home. family Pride’s highly-qualified team of therapists and case managers provide counseling and case management services to directly intervene with any problematic mental health/ behavioral concerns or family dynamics.

services begin with a Mental health Assessment to identify presenting problems and concerns. this process helps to clarify the mental health issues of the identified client (adult and/or youth) as well as problematic family dynamics that need to be addressed. family Pride therapists and case managers work together to determine any supports or resources necessary to stabilize a crisis. After the assessment process is completed, the therapist will determine the

level of care most appropriate to assist the family in reaching their goals. services are individualized to meet the needs of each client and family as a whole.

the licensed therapist will then work with the client and family to develop an individualized service Plan (isP) that outlines the steps to be taken to reach the goals for each individual client. the isP focuses on addressing the specific mental health issues of the identified client.

According to Angela daugherty, lisW-s, executive director of family Pride of northeast ohio, “family Pride provides counseling and case management services to address the presenting problems and help the family progress towards their goals. All of our services are community based; we meet with families in the place that is most convenient for them, such as the family home. We have found that intervening directly in the home is an effective way to learn more about families and create change in a supportive and non-threatening environment. We are also able to provide intervention in schools if this is an area of concern.”

family Pride staff are qualified to address issues in the following clinical areas: • Victim of physical, emotional or sexual

abuse and/or neglect• behavior problems in school or daycare • fighting and/or poor relationships with peers

Family Pride of Northeast Ohio

In-Home Intervention Strengthens Families

By Margie Wilber

16

We understand the mental health issues that we face each and every day. We have changed the way that we discipline, confront issues and offer support. We wouldn’t have been able to do this without the help we received through family Pride.”

in addition to word-of-mouth referrals, cases often are recommended to family Pride of northeast ohio by child welfare agencies, educational programs and the juvenile court system.

Mental illness effects the entire community – from families, to schools, to local businesses. geauga business magazine challenges local manufacturers and businesses to help address mental illness concerns in our community. Consider providing a corporate sponsorship to family Pride of northeast ohio or volunteer to serve on the family Pride board where your business knowledge and expertise can help the agency achieve its goals. Current family Pride board Members include: robin Stanley, President desirae Mecalfe, Vice President Sandi Swanker, Secretary Liz tilton, Treasurer Carole Mantz Allison Hohenberger

A few other ideas to support family Pride of northeast ohio include:

• becoming a title sponsor for one of our annual fundraising events • Providing a year’s worth of funding for best-practice professional-development trainings • underwrite a community outreach program to children, youth and families in your community

Angela daugherty welcomes the opportunity to sit down with you to discuss potential sponsorship possibilities. Contact her at adaugherty.familypride@gmail.com or phone 440-286-1553.

• dysfunctional, family crisis, domestic violence • sexual acting out • exposure to violence and/or crime in the community • experimentation with drugs and/or alcohol • involvement in illegal activities (vandalism, theft, etc.)

family Pride staff have flexible availability and often meet with families in the evenings or on the weekends in order to include as many family members in the process as possible. the agency also provides phone support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to respond to crisis situations.

eligible individuals are: • Youth 3-17 years of age • Adults 18 years of age but still in secondary education • Adults 18 year of age and above whose mental health and/or family dynamics are negatively impacting the family structure and functioning.

“At family Pride, we believe it is important that clients and their families are active consumers of the services received from the agency. therefore, both client and/or parents/guardians must be willing participate in the treatment process,” daugherty explains.

family Pride’s staff address issues in the following clinical areas: • Victim history of criminal behavior • trauma or loss

Mental health issues including but not limited to:

• low self esteem • lack of self responsibility • impulsivity • hyperactivity • oppositional behaviors • Communication • Aggression • Anxiety • Conduct • depression

daugherty says a one of the main focuses of family Pride is to help deal with mental health issues that have impacted a child in the home, school or community. issues include divorce, separation, reunification, loss and relationship conflicts between children and their parents. other issues include problems in education, legal matters, health and economics. “We are not a cookie-cutter agency. We look at the needs of the client within the realm of the his/her environment – home, school, community,” describes daugherty.

she says their growth as an agency has been phenomenal. today, family Pride operates within a $750,000 annual budget and employs 22, including therapists and case managers with 350 clients served in 2012. Approximately 80 percent of clients are children between the ages of 3 and 18; the remaining 20 percent are adults. in addition to understanding clients’ emotions and offering them coping skills to move forward, clients receive skill-based supports in the system including parent education and advocating on behalf of clients at school.

“the good work being done is amazing,” daugherty exclaims. “We have an absolutely excellent staff who are flexible, compassionate, and ready to handle whatever comes their way. in-home therapy is so real – you’re in the moment and must be quick on your toes. i see our territory expanding. our goal is managed growth that is strategically smart for the agency. We will not compromise the quality of our services. As we go forward, family Pride will strategically look at opportunities that address the specific needs of the community that can be served through our clinical expertise and knowledge.”

“it is rewarding work – particularly as i see the progress being made. i think we were able to step in and serve this community during a key time following the Chardon school shooting. We did respond, and we are still responding. While we are not an all-encompassing agency, we can offer in-home counseling,” the passionate family Pride director says. “the stigma of mental illness often prevents individuals and families from talking to friends, other family members and even health care professionals. We fill the gap.”

one local mother says, “When we first started therapy with family Pride, our family was at risk of not staying together due to significant mental health issues that were disruptive to our family. We frequently had police at our home, regular trips to the hospital and numerous calls from the school. today our family is doing much better due to the dedicated help of our in-home therapist.

O F N O R T H E A S T O H I O

Guiding Individuals. Strengthening Families.

As we go forward, Family Pride will

strategically look at opportunities

that address the specific needs of

the community that can be served

through our clinical expertise

and knowledge.”

By Margie Wilber

GeauGa Business Winter 2013 17

White house Chocolates ltd. in burton township is a perfect size. And owners debbie and Ken butler plan to keep it that way. their mom-and-pop business at 14607 Kinsman road isn’t going to blossom into a global mega-store. butlers aren’t going to start shipping their high-quality confections to far-flung customers. And the web-site they have in mind is more of a calling card on the internet autobahn than an Amazon.com clone.

not to say the business their hasn’t grown. White house Chocolates is probably twice the size it was when they officially opened the day before Valentine’s day in 1997 – an auspicious beginning for a family candy operation.

if butlers had a business plan, it might have started with getting a good location – about half way between burton Village and Middlefield Village on one of geauga County’s busiest tourist trails.

“one year before opening we renovated the barn here,” says Ken, standing a few feet from a machine churning chocolate for candy-making. larger than a Kitchen-aid mixer, the equipment could hardly be called factory-sized. Yet, it goes round and round, supplying enough to keep the butlers’ retail store well-stocked.

debbie and several employees work as Ken talks, preparing trays of pecan clusters in dark,

milk and white chocolate to cool on racks.

When he and debbie decided to venture into the small-business world, making candy appealed to them on several levels.

“the only candy shop in geauga County at the time sold gorant candy in Chardon,” Ken recalls. “but nobody local was making their own candy.”

they also wanted a wholesome business their two youngsters could learn from. “debbie home-schooled the kids. A candy shop seemed like a business that would be good for kids to work in,” Ken explains.

With a potentially good location, a hopefully keen local market and a parents’ instinct for keeping their youngsters occupied and contributing, butlers took the leap.

“We started from scratch. We were clueless,” Ken chuckles.

“fudge was the only thing we made in the very beginning,” debbie adds.

both were confident they knew the community and could make a success of a business.

Ken and debbie are geauga County natives, having graduated from berkshire and Chardon high schools, respectively. they live in Parkman, and Ken is a retired pharmaceuticals

representative and a part-time farmer. they actually bought the white farm house in the early 1970s. it was owned by omar Watts, who won the first million-dollar jackpot in the ohio lottery in 1974, the year the lottery started, Ken says.

“it’s one of the oldest houses in burton.”

“i bet he never figured his house would be a chocolate shop,” debbie laughs.

for years the landmark was described as “the white house on Kinsman road,” so when butlers were thinking about a name for their nascent operation, it just seemed right.

“it’s hard to pick a name,” debbie says, but the combination of having a handy landmark in the front yard and name recognition from Washington d.C. served them well. When they opened White house Chocolates, the barn housed both the production facility and sales room. butler’s children, Katie, 10, and Matthew, 6, did help, learn and grow.

“they were here all the time,” debbie recalls. but they didn’t stay, and Mom and dad don’t look for them to take over the family business. Katie, now 26, has her MbA in marketing, and Matthew earned a degree in chemistry from thiel College in greenville, Pennsylvania.

friends of their children also worked at the shop or on the production line. since then, White

White House Chocolates: A Sweet Family Business

By Ann Wishart

18

house Chocolates has given a lot of area teens their first job. butlers’ workforce is part time and tops out at about 12 workers, usually around the holidays.

ensuring their candy is top quality keeps Ken and debbie ever-vigilant. their process and product require careful attention, and the ingredients must be the best the market will support.

butlers buy their chocolate stock in 50-pound cases from Wilbur Chocolate in lilitz, Pennsylvania, a company with a reputation for producing superior bulk chocolate and candy going back to 1865. Cocoa beans, discovered in south America, are now mostly grown around the ivory Coast in Africa, Ken says. Wilbur imports the beans, grinds them and conches the powder, gradually adding cocoa butter through a three-step process, locking the butter inside the cocoa crystals.

Chocolate isn’t legally chocolate unless it has a certain percentage of cocoa butter blended into it, Ken says. the “chocolate” discs people buy to make candy at home aren’t officially chocolate because they don’t have cocoa butter in them.

besides working with excellent stock, butlers watch the temperature of their chocolate all day. blending the chocolate requires a temperature of 110 degrees. the creamy chocolate conditions in a vat at 91.5 degrees. dark chocolate is mechanically stirred all day at 88 degrees while milk chocolate needs to remain at 86 degrees. once tempered, it is ready to put into molds or drop candies like cashew clusters or turtles, and chill until cool enough to be handled.

“even after 15 years of making candy, we still get a batch now and then that has a bloom on it,” Ken admits. “usually, we figure out afterwards what we did wrong. it’s a bit of a trick to keep the chocolate tempered all day.”

items like nonpareils and turtles are hand-crafted and it takes a lot of practice to get them all the same size. “We don’t have kids making that candy, just adults,” debbie states. “it takes time to develop the ability.”

butlers have spent years learning the finer points of candy making and their retail showroom is proof that keeping customers requires a variety of excellent products attractively displayed.

About five years ago butlers moved their retail operation into the White house. shoppers are presented with showcases full of delicious candies and offered tasty morsels to whet

their appetites. the combination is impossible to resist.

“We always try to have new things, like taking our fudge and dipping it in chocolate,” Ken says. When butlers start making the latest, greatest temptations, they advertise it on their board in the front yard.

“sea-salt caramels are cutting edge,” he insists, admitting White house sells some candies they don’t make. “gummie bears are really, really popular.” their customers love the old-fashioned candy-store routine that goes something like “i’ll take six of those and five of these and throw in a few turtles for ralph.” employees carefully choose the exact combination of goodies and weigh them, piece by piece, if necessary.

“they can pick out what they want, mix and match,” debbie says.

“Most places, if you buy less than a pound, you pay a premium,” Ken adds. “We don’t do that. We want people to get exactly what they want.”

butlers are satisfied with their business. other than finding ways to sell more, growth is not a priority and shipping seems to be anathema to them. “We’re not going to ship,” Ken says pointedly. “heat and rough handling ruin chocolate en route, resulting in dissatisfied customers. besides, it’s heartbreaking. We put so much work into the candy and it gets ruined.”

so their sales are local, and their internet presence will be limited to a home page that is basically an on-line ad to bring in more tourists. With fewer than a dozen wholesale accounts, they don’t waste time trying to sell their goods in area stores.

so, if you want White house Chocolates, visit the White house Chocolates. And be sure to taste-test the dark chocolate coconut! And the nonpareils. And the truffles. And the ….

“Their customers love the old-fashioned candy-store routine that goes something like “I ’ll take six of

those and five of these and throw in a few turtles for Ralph.”

Ken Butler of White House Chocolates

GeauGa Business Winter 2013 19

Entrepreneurs are bold explorers, willing

to take risks that most people would

rather avoid. they moonlight at odd jobs

to make ends meet, so they can spend

their days tracking down investors to

support their vision, which they often

admit, is not always clear. they have

passion, no doubt. But when it comes to

analyzing the building blocks of success,

they need help.

ignorance, however, comes with a steep price. the chances of success are much higher when dreams are merged with hard work and concrete data about who is spending money in related industries. A cohesive business plan or proposal fueled by solid research takes know-how. And, this is where the geauga County Public library can make all the difference.

mental_floss: InternatIonal Company has GeauGa West lIbrary roots

in 2001, mental_floss was but a brain child of two duke university students, Will Pearson and Mangesh hattikudur. they had a quirky idea for a magazine and were looking for angel investors when they came upon toby Maloney, a russell township resident and self-proclaimed media and information junkie, who was looking for a business project.

toby and his wife Melanie were charmed by the students’ ideas, and agreed to jump into a business partnership. it turned out to be a good idea.

in 11 years, mental_floss has grown from a small niche magazine into a substantial full-media content creation company that has published

E n t r E p r E n E u r i a l u r g E s l E a d t o t h E

LibraryBy Lori Weber

20

12 books, dozens of games, hundreds of t-shirts and a website that sees six million visitors a month. Annual t-shirt sales alone are approaching a million dollars. inc. Magazine has ranked mental_floss among the country’s 5,000 fastest growing companies five consecutive years. in April of 2011, the company was sold to dennis Publishing in england. And, as of Jan. 1, 2013, the Maloneys will retire their vice-president positions and close the Chesterland store location. the website, magazine and product development will continue without their tutelage.

in the early 2000s, when success was still uncertain, Maloney set up headquarters at his home and used geauga West library as an unofficial satellite office.

“the library assisted us tremendously,” he says. “i used the research databases to gather information about who was most likely to buy our magazine and products. And, i can’t say enough about the helpfulness of the staff. Whenever i needed to find anything and wasn’t sure where to look, one of the reference librarians would bend over backwards to help me find the best resource. Many of our decisions came out of the work we did using the library’s resources.”

Maloney also took advantage of geauga West’s safe, comfortable public space when he was evaluating job candidates. not wanting to invite strangers into his house for job interviews, Maloney often scheduled these meetings in the library. “having a place to talk with job candidates filled a big need,” he says.

gCPl facilities provide an inviting environment conducive to exploring ideas. Whether as a venue for interviewing candidates or for attending a business seminar, visitors are encouraged to use the meeting rooms, open lounges and computer workstations.

“no matter when i visit or why i go into my library, i always feel welcomed,” Maloney says. “i’m in my community, using a resource we are all fortunate to have. And, one of the best side effects is that browsing the library is like walking into a candy store. i can always look at new interesting things i’d never considered. sometimes, i get new ideas for mental_floss just from picking up a new book or stumbling across something in a database.”

Many people are unaware that library patrons have access to powerful research tools that provide information above and beyond what a simple internet search can do. this data can be critical in giving entrepreneurs a competitive edge.

sarah Prueter, head of reference at gCPl’s geauga West library and one of the staff members who assisted Maloney, notes that research databases are often overlooked by patrons who may not realize the full potential of information they offer. “they can appear intimidating,” she says, “but once patrons get used to navigating and searching with them, they realize they have excellent information that can be extremely helpful.”

ReseaRching and PLanning: hoW the lIbrary

helps support busInesses

business consultant susan swartzwelder helps entrepreneurs hone their ideas into specific actions that increase market share. her company, the oPs network, helps people start and launch businesses. she became a fan of geauga County Public library when she was conducting research for a client a couple years ago. needing credible information about what recreational golfers spend annually to support their hobby, she went to Chardon library and sat down at a computer. she didn’t know where to start her research.

“the search was painful for someone who was unfamiliar with the resources,” swartzwelder says. “i remember the look on one librarian’s face when she saw me struggling. she came to me and asked if she could help. And that changed everything.”

that librarian was Judi smith, Manager of Chardon library. swartzwelder knew she could find plenty of websites that professed to know some of the information she was looking for. but, she needed specifics from objective parties to present the best, dependable information to her client. smith gave swartzwelder a tour of several databases and ideas of how to search them.

“And then, she did the unbelievable,” swartzwelder says. “she told me to keep working while she went to her office to look something up. she came back with three

Many people are

unaware that

library patrons

have access to

powerful research

tools that provide

information above

and beyond what

a simple Internet

search can do.

C o n t I n u E d o n P A G E 2 2

GeauGa Business Winter 2013 21

or four articles and had circled the exact information i had been struggling to find. i was ready to cry tears of joy. how did she know where to look? from that moment, i became a huge fan and cheerleader of the library.”

this elusive information happened to come out of a medical journal. no logical person researching golf and the beverage industry would have started a search there. however, the right search terms in appropriate research databases yielded a medical journal with that specific data. smith gave swartzwelder the critical requirement she needed to plug into a proposal. “i’m not going to get investors to back a project based on flimsy or one-sided data,” she says. “And, now i had exactly what i needed to move forward.”

Another patron shares a similar story. When lisa Mallis, owner of systemsavvy Consulting, a time-management company in south russell, needed to determine whether organization and prioritization skills directly correlated with grades and test scores, she turned to a librarian and found what she needed in a research database. “i needed to validate what i suspected,” she says. “And, because i had access to the library’s resources, i was able to find what i needed and share with others.”

YouR LibRaRian: a FrIendly

neIGhborhood searCh enGIne

When it comes to finding information, geauga County Public library librarians are information ninjas, more powerful, friendly and approachable than any search engine. they immerse themselves in the world of data discovery and retrieval in ways that other people find scary. “We think differently,” smith says. “We may not be experts in starting or running a business, but we are great at helping people identify and find the information they need. And, we genuinely like doing this.”

of the library’s 170 employees, 17 have a master’s degree in library science. they have spent years studying and obsessing over things like cataloging, indexing, reference headings, database retrieval and information architecture.

“retrieving information is what we do. And, we are lucky to have a great staff with diverse backgrounds,” smith says. “We have

a good feel for finding things. We’re like detectives. that’s our interest and our talent.”

advice foR entRePReneuRs From entrepreneurs

Maloney recommends new entrepreneurs become information sponges and engage in open-ended thinking. geauga County Public library is an excellent place to try on ideas and conduct research to help refine them. Ask librarians for help.

“And, don’t be afraid of failing,” he says. “it sounds easy, but all business owners take big risks and leaps. some will work, some won’t. if you don’t have the ability to make a fool of yourself, you probably don’t have the ability to be an entrepreneur.”

being a fool and owning a business don’t necessarily need to go hand in hand. Why not stack the odds in favor of success? Visit your geauga County Public library for help from a trained librarian. learn to use the research databases. Attend a business or computer seminar. Write a business plan. share your ideas. Make it happen.

get something on paper, swartzwelder counsels. “even scribbles on a napkin are better than carrying ideas in your head. You’ll get more out of a specific business plan, but you have to be able to articulate your vision.” because she was so impressed with the library’s research tools and facilities, swartzwelder ran a business startup series of seminars at Chardon library this past fall and plans to offer more classes in 2013. she covers subjects about the challenges of being in business, researching market demographics for business opportunity and the reasons for being in business.

next stePs

Visit or call any one of geauga County Public library’s four buildings: bainbridge, Chardon, geauga West (Chesterland) or Middlefield. the library stations in newbury high school or thompson high school also offer the same access to computers and database training. Consider attending a business or computer workshop or seminar.

learn how to log into the databases from any location with a computer an internet

connection. All it takes is a valid library card and Pin (personal identification number). Call any of the gCPl locations for assistance.

toP business ReseaRch databases

the following database list presents the top picks for helping entrepreneurs find market and demographics information.

• reference uSA – internet-based reference service from the library division of infousA

• Gale Legal forms – Wide selection of state-specific legal forms

• demographics now – Presents demographic market information

• Business Source Premier – full-text business articles, research and news updated daily

• regional Business news – full-text articles from more than 75 business publications

E n t r E p r E n E u r i a l u r g E s l E a d t o t h E L ibRaRY

start your Job searCh at the LibRaRY

If working for a business rather than

owning one is more your style, GCPL

can help you find your next employer.

Whether you want to hone your career

to further develop and refine your

skill set or if you just need to find a job

quickly, Geauga County Public Library

is ready to assist.

At the height of the recession in

2008, GCPL partnered with Geauga

County Job & Family Services to help

newly laid-off people regroup and

find jobs. Every week, one of GCPL’s

buildings hosted a coffee talk where

an employment expert or educator

would present information on how to

find work. “The library is a wonderful

complement to our services, says

Margo Reda, Director of Workplace/

OneStop, the workforce-development

arm of Geauga County Job & Family

Services. “We don’t run these meetings

anymore because the need isn’t as

great. But, we still do use the library

for other gatherings and as a place to

share information.”

C o n t I n u E d f r o M P A G E 2 1

22

there is a cliché that says, “reach for the moon and you will land among the stars.” Many geauga County families with autistic children have made this wish and found it to be true when their kids land among the s.t.A.r.s: specialized teaching for Children with Autism and resource services. A program of the Chardon-based geauga County educational service Center (gCesC), the s.t.A.r.s. program is indeed a dream come true for parents who often have few other options for their children with autism. the s.t.A.r.s. program currently includes 30 students in grades K-12 and specifically focuses on acceptance, independence and success. each child has access to speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and more. the s.t.A.r.s. classrooms are housed in the Cardinal local school district.

it is not easy to find educators who understand children with autism, as a parent can. this is part of what makes the s.t.A.r.s. program so beneficial. the s.t.A.r.s. staff is

committed to learning about each student and, in return, teaching each child in

an environment which incorporates a multi methodological approach.

“We believe the most effective way to educate students with autism is to establish a foundation of behavioral modification and to work collaboratively with families,” said dana Jancik, the program director. “Children diagnosed with

Autism spectrum disorder need to be challenged to the maximum

extent possible. We believe all behavior has a communicative purpose and it

is our responsibility to assess and strive to determine the communicative intent of each behavior. through the curriculum, we emphasize the development of attention, imitation skills, communication and language, social relationships, symbolic play, self-regulation, motor skills, adaptive behavior, and skills to meet learning standards.”

the s.t.A.r.s. program, which began in 2005, is available to any child in grades K-12 with a medical diagnosis of Autism who resides in geauga County, although students from other counties are also eligible if there are openings available. the program is available at no charge to families and is funded through the special education program of each student’s public school district of residence. each April, the group holds a fundraiser luncheon and Chinese auction. this year’s event is April 20, at the st. denis Party Center in Chardon. in addition, the s.t.A.r.s. program receives in-kind donations, such as the iPads recently donated from the Preston superstore car dealership in burton. the iPads will help students communicate and practice academic and social skills. Pat Preston, owner of the superstore, is well known for his philanthropy in the county. he regularly donates to educational programs in addition to the s.t.A.r.s. program including geauga AChieVe, which helps children with multiple disabilities and is also a program of the gCesC. Mr. Preston’s donations have also helped st. helen’s Church create a multi-use center for the arts and spiritual enrichment, and helped ddC Clinic for special needs Children in Middlefield expand the capacity of their research lab, and he has donated many thousands of dollars to geauga County public schools, youth sports programs and more.

Pat Preston, owner of Preston Superstore in Burton, hands over one of the iPads he donated to the S.T.A.R.S. program for children with autism. Dana Jancik, S.T.A.R.S. program director receives the iPad from Pat.

Parents with autistic children reach for the S.T.A.R.S.By Lauri Gross

GeauGa Business Winter 2013 23

UH Geauga Medical Center Outpatient RehabilitationMoves to Geauga County YMCA

Geauga Medical Center

24

outpatient rehabilitation services provided by

university hospitals geauga Medical Center have

moved to a new home at the geauga County YMCA.

Patients undergoing physical, occupational, speech

and aquatic therapy on an outpatient basis now

receive these services at uh geauga Medical Center’s

rehabilitation services and Aquatic Center located

within the YMCA facility, 12360 bass lake road, Chardon.

uh geauga Medical Center physical therapists,

occupational therapists and physical therapist

assistants work with referring physicians to provide

comprehensive patient evaluations, treatment and

patient education using research-based technology.

treatment plans are developed to maximize each

patient’s physical abilities and function, using manual

therapy and state-of-the-art equipment.

services include rehabilitation for spine or

musculoskeletal disorders, work-related or motor

vehicle accidents and injuries, post-operative care,

and exercise and conditioning. specialized programs

include hand therapy following traumatic injury or

surgery, home assessments for seniors, wound

care and detection of lymphedema by certified

lymphedema therapists. speech therapists work

with patients experiencing speech, language,

cognitive or swallowing impediments caused by

stroke, head injury, neurological or other conditions.

the Aquatics Center at the geauga YMCA features

a warm water therapy pool with zero-grade entry

for barrier-free access, variable speed underwater

treadmill and underwater monitors for measuring

progress. Water therapy has been shown to

help reduce joint stress and effects of gravity as

rehabilitation patient improve their functional

ability and motion.

uh geauga Medical Center’s rehabilitation

services and Aquatic Center, located at the

geauga County YMCA, is open Monday through

thursday from 7 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. and friday from

7 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. for information call 440-285-

6358 or 440-285-3030.

“treatment plans are developed to maximize each

patient’s physical abilities and function, using

manual therapy and state-of-the-art equipment. “

GeauGa Business Winter 2013 25

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