largest business expo on the i-75 growth … i-75 growth corridor the celebrating 35 years in 2011!...

APRIL 2011 VOL. XLVI ISSUE IVT H E

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CONNECTING PEOPLE AND POSSIBILITIES IN WEST CHESTER AND LIBERTY TOWNSHIPS AND THE I-75 GROWTH CORRIDOR

Tuesday, May 10th Tuesday, May 10th Tuesday, May 10th Tuesday, May 10th See Page 23

FEATURING LUNCHEON SPEAKER

HOLLY PETRAEUS Leading Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Offi ce for Service Member Affairs

LARGEST BUSINESS EXPO ON THE I-75 GROWTH CORRIDOR

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C e l e b r a t i n g 3 5 y e a r s i n 2 0 1 1 !THE

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CHAIR CHRIS WORRELL – Graydon HeadVICE CHAIR KAREN MUELLER - HORAN SECRETARY CHAR MASON - Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Liberty CampusPAST CHAIR RONDI TSCHOPP – Five Visual Communication & DesignSTEVE BEHLER – Kemba Credit UnionDEBORAH BRENNEMAN – Thompson Hine LLPERIC HARMON - Cincy MagazineJOE HINSON – West Chester < Liberty Chamber AllianceTOM HOLDING – Lincoln Financial AdvisorsJASON KREUL – Cincinnati Marriott NorthCHRISTINE MATACIC – Liberty Township TrusteeRON ROHLFING – West Chester HospitalBRETT SMITH – Butler Technology and Career Development SchoolsTOM URBAN – Mercy Hospital Faireld

West Chester < Liberty Chamber Alliance2011 SUSTAINING SPONSORS

e West Chester < Liberty Chamber Alliance salutes our Sustaining Sponsors. We acknowledge the following members and thank them for their support of the Chamber, its programs, events and services

provided to the businesses and organizations of this area.

As of 3/17/11

35TH ANNIVERSARY SPONSORMercy Hospital Faireld

DIAMONDButler Technology and Career Development Schools

UC Health – West Chester Hospital

GOLDe Pulse-Journal

ompson Hine LLPWest Chester Township

SUPER SILVERClark Schaefer Hackett

HORANKemba Credit Union

SEBALY SHILLITO + DYER

SILVERAmylin Ohio, LLC

Chaco Credit Union, Inc.Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Liberty Campus

Fifth ird BankFirst Financial Bank

Liberty TownshipTaco Bell/Uno Chicago Grill

SUPER BRONZEAtrium Medical Center

Clark-eders Insurance Agency, Inc.Graydon Head

Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Consultants, Inc.e Matrix Companies

UnitedHealthcare

BRONZEAlternative Computer Technology, Inc.

Amica InsuranceAntonelli College – West Chester

Duke EnergyEdward Jones Investments; Bill Lendl

Flagel, Huber, Flagel & Co.Focused Capitol Solutions, LLC

Four Bridges Country ClubFrost Brown Todd LLC

Halcomb Benets Agency, Inc.Huntington Bank

Kehoe Financial AdvisorsManagepoint

North Side Bank & Trust CompanyNorthwestern Mutual—West Chester

Park National BankPlanes Companies

PNC BankSchumacher Dugan Construction, LLC

SCORETriHealth Corporate Health

US BankXavier University - Williams College of Business

Stop by the Chamber ofce to see our Sustaining SponsorshipSign donated by Hightech Signs - 513.874.5223

Chamber Staff & Associates

West Chester < Liberty Chamber AllianceExecutive Board 2011

JOE HINSON, IOM, President & [email protected]

MARGE WIMMER, Administrative [email protected] POWELL, Finance [email protected]

KENDRA WILBURN, Leadership Development [email protected] MURRAY, SEBC Leadership 21 [email protected]

KATHY RAMBO, Vice President/Special Events [email protected] MIUCCIO, Marketing [email protected] GRUBER, Marketing & Special Events Coordinator [email protected]

KENNI BLACHÉ, Membership Services [email protected] D’ARCY, Senior Membership Account [email protected] TRAU, Membership Account [email protected]

BOB WIWI, Small Business [email protected] GLOVER, Government [email protected]

KATHY KLINK, Associate Vice President, Butler Tech [email protected] HEALEY, Administrative Coordinator, Butler Tech [email protected]

EXECUTIVE

LEADERSHIPDEVELOPMENT

SPECIAL EVENTS& MARKETING

MEMBERSHIP

BUSINESSADVOCACY

ADMINISTRATION

WORKFORCEDEVELOPMENT



3From the desk of

Joe Hinson, IOM– President & CEO

The West Chester ■ Liberty Chamber Alliance is relocating from our office in Voice of America Centre to another facility in West Chester or Liberty Townships. Joe Hinson, Chamber president & CEO spoke to The VOICE and explained why the Chamber is moving and what to expect in the upcoming months.

What is the reason the West Chester ■ Liberty Chamber Alliance is moving their office?We were excited to have Union Savings Bank purchase the building we’ve occupied as a tenant for almost seven years. It is good to have Union Savings in Butler County and developing a strong presence in West Chester. They have become one of the leading mortgage lenders in Greater Cincinnati and business has been booming for them.

Due to their success and their future plans for expansion, Union Savings Bank needs the entire building for their operation. This is positive sign for business and a good thing for West Chester. Since the goal of a Chamber of Commerce is to have a vibrant business community we applaud their success and have willingly begun looking for a new home for our Chamber to accommodate their space needs.

Who will be affected by the location change and how will this move be helpful to our members?Our goal is to make our move as seamless as possible to our members and staff. but with that said, we recognize there will be some down time, hopefully minimal as we close down our current location and begin operation at the next. This is not the first time we’ve moved our office, in fact it will be the third time in the last 13 years so we have a pretty good idea of what to expect. This time though we will also have our two partners, Butler Tech OnLine and SCORE relocating with us, so it will take additional planning to make sure their down time is minimal also.

Our members should not be affected by our move. We will give our members ample time to know when we are moving and where. None of our programs and services will be interrupted. As we like to say, “It will be business as usual.”

The move should not be more or less beneficial to our members. Though as of this interview we have not decided on a location, our new office may be a little closer to or a little further from their office. But either way, the distance should not be much of an issue.

Where is the Chamber interested in moving?As an organization focused on supporting business, our Chamber needs to be in an area of commerce, either in West Chester or Liberty. That opens up many possibilities for the location of our future home. Though we have started the process of researching what is available, we also recognize that our members may be aware of space that may become available, either in a multi-tenant

building or the building they own. As an example, our current location was built to include us, Butler Tech and SCORE from the very beginning. We think there are many benefits to having the West Chester ■ Liberty Chamber Alliance and our partners Butler Tech and SCORE as a tenant. If our members are aware of any opportunities, they can call me at the Chamber office.

When will this move happen?The Chamber will vacate our current office by the end of this year. Our goal is to find a new location before that, hopefully while the weather is still good. As you

can imagine, there is a lot of planning and coordinating with various support services that go into an office move. We’ll keep our members informed once we have made a decision on the location of our new home.

Why do you think this will be a good move for the Chamber?We’re excited because each time the Chamber has moved, we have prospered. Our members have embraced each of our new locations and we have been introduced to additional businesses that have become members. We expect the same positive reaction from our members, and the opportunity to welcome new members to the Chamber. We finished 2010 strong and have continued that momentum this year. Event attendance, sponsorship and member participation continue to thrive. And we’re communicating to more businesses via the multitude of our marketing resources than ever before. We see all of these positive activities continuing throughout this year. These are all good signs for member businesses. And as we know, as our members go so goes our Chamber.

Thank you for being a valued member of the West Chester ■ Liberty Chamber Alliance. Together we grow you business!

West Chester ■ Liberty Chamber Alliance Mission Statement A regional community leader promoting business innovation and growth, advocating free enterprise, addressing issues of regional and community significance and leading our members to a higher quality of life.



4West Chester < Liberty Chamber Alliance

THEVOICE SM

e VOICE is published monthly by the West Chester < Liberty Chamber Alliance, 7617 Voice of America Centre Drive, West Chester, Ohio 45069.

Telephone: 513.777.3600Fax: 513.777.0188 | www.TheChamberAlliance.com

Subscriptions are included in the annual dues of each Chamber membership.

PUBLISHER ..................................................................................Joe Hinson

EDITOR ...................................................................................Alison Miuccio

ASSISTANT EDITOR ............................................................... Pamela Gruber

PHOTOGRAPHY........................................ Murray Multimedia Resources, LLC

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS ................ Rachael Epps, Linda Glass, Margo Jacob, Kendra Wilburn, Darlene Mack, Linda Schneider, Erin Schorr

DESIGNER ..................................................................Cox Media Group Ohio

Postmaster/Address ChangesSend address changes to West Chester < Liberty Chamber Alliance,7617 Voice of America Centre Drive, West Chester, Ohio 45069.

AdvertisingChamber members can advertise in The VOICE and reach more than1000 leaders in the southeastern Butler County business community.For cost and specics, call Alison Miuccio, 513.777.3600 or [email protected].

SubscriptionsThe VOICE is mailed to Chamber members as a benet of membership. Additional subscriptions are available to Chamber members at $75 per year. Non-member subscriptions are $100 per year. For information, call 513.777.3600.

SubmissionsArticles, advertisements and inserts for The VOICE must be received at the Chamber ofce by the 1st of each month to be included in the upcoming edition. No article in this magazine may be reprinted without the permission of the West Chester < Liberty Chamber Alliance.

Cost Saving ProgramsListed Alphabetically by Service

WORKERS COMPENSATION

Bob Brown, [email protected]

COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY

Tom Farrell, [email protected]

Kedrick Fitzgerald, [email protected]

GROUP HEALTH CARE

Aaron Adkins, [email protected]

OFFICE SUPPLIES

Heather Frazier, [email protected]

CELL PHONE AND LONG-DISTANCE

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Java w/JoeEvery Friday

from 9am - noon

at the Chamber

Learn how to make the most of

your Chamber membership!

Call Joe Hinson at 513.777.3600

to schedule.

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HUMAN RESOURCES

Bill Cathcart, [email protected]



5

People AndNews

Two Butler County Initiatives Win Best Practice AwardsWest Chester ■ Liberty Chamber Alliance member Supports to Encourage Low-income Families (SELF) received a Best Practice Award from The Ohio State University John Glenn

School of Public Affairs for its 2010 Hamilton Group Workcamps Home Repair Project. The Butler County Bridges Out of Poverty Coalition, in which SELF acts as the fiscal agent, also won a Best Practice Award for its Getting Ahead workshops. The awards were presented on February 3 in Columbus at the winter conference of the Ohio Association of Community Action Agencies (OACAA), which represents Ohio’s 52 Community Action Agencies.

The awards were developed to honor innovative and effective Community Action Agency programs that measurably meet the needs of clients, families and communities by helping low-income people become more self-sufficient.

Previously, SELF received 14 other best practice awards from national, state and local organizations. For more information, visit www.selfhelps.org.

Center for Advanced Spine Technologies opened in March

The Center for Advanced Spine Technologies (CAST) is pleased to announce the opening of approximately 12,000 square feet at the Center of Erlanger bringing world-class spine care to Northern KY. CAST selected the location based on the potential benefits to their patients, including proximity to I-75, I-71 and I-275, excellent amenities and low traffic congestion.

“The entire focus at CAST is on the spinal patient.” From the ease in getting in to see a physician...to wellness, aquatic pool and physical therapy and treatment programs that can help patients avoid surgery... to minimally invasive techniques if surgery is necessary... to our remarkable facility and one-site convenience. It’s time patients have the level of preventative care and advanced treatment we offer for adult and pediatric spine patients,” said CAST Founder, Atiq Durrani, MD.

CAST is a breakthrough concept in making advanced, total spine care available to adult and pediatric patients at a single location. For more information visit www.castworld.org

SELF staff Jeffrey Diver, Kim Weigel, John Post and board member Butch Hubble accepted a Best Practices Award for its 2010 Hamilton Group Workcamps Home Repair Project.

www.cinExperts Say Jump in Staffing Biz Means Upswing Is NearPart-time placement service has seen a substantial increase in hiring in the past six months; and industry analysts say that’s a very good sign for the employment sector at large.

“While nobody has a crystal ball, the employment industry is often a barometer for what’s just around the corner in the labor market as a whole,” says Greg Palmer, former CEO of Remedy Temp and founder of GPalmer & Associates, a management consulting firm focused on the staffing industry. “So, these positive numbers in staffing should ignite some optimism.”10 til 2’s gross revenues were up more than 25% in 2010 compared to 2009; January 2011 revenues alone increased 12% year-over-year.

Beth Cooper, co-owner of 10 til 2 - Cincinnati says, “We agree with Greg Palmer. Our growth implies that the economy is heading in the right direction.” But Cooper adds that the employment paradigm is definitely evolving. For more information please visit www.10til2.com.

www.cinCPA Joins Ossege Combs & Mann, Ltd.Ossege Combs & Mann, Ltd., a Cincinnati-based certified public accounting and business consulting firm has announced that Sarah M. Kubala, CPA has joined the firm.

Sarah is a graduate of Thomas More College and is currently a member of the College’s

Accounting Advisory Board. She maintains a CPA license in Ohio and Kentucky and is a member of the Accounting Society of both states, as well as the AICPA. Sarah has over seven years of experience in public accounting. Her experience has included working with large publicly traded companies here in the tri-state area. Sarah will use her expertise to provide tax, business consulting and outsourced CFO services to small and midsized businesses and their owners. For more information, visit www.ocmcpas.com.



6 www.cinSams and Fischer Named Cincy Leading Lawyers

Two West Chester attorneys with the law firm of Sams, Fischer, Packard & Schuessler, LLC have been honored by Cincy Magazine in its February 2011 issue as Cincy Leading Lawyers. Jonathan Sams, the firm’s Managing Attorney, was recognized as a Leading Lawyer in 2009 and 2010 as well. He is one of seven attorneys in the Tristate to be selected for the elite list in the General Business area. Robert Fischer, also a founding partner with Sams, Fischer, Packard & Schuessler, is one of two attorneys in the Tristate honored in the Criminal Law category. Attorneys who make the Leading Lawyers list are selected by their peers. All licensed attorneys in Southwest Ohio, Northern Kentucky, and Southeast Indiana are eligible to vote.

Sams, Fischer, Packard & Schuessler, LLC is a full service law firm with offices in West Chester and Mason. For more information, visit www.sfpslaw.com.

Cincinnati Maintenance to Celebrate First AnniversaryOn April 1st, Cincinnati Maintenance will celebrate their first year in business! They are known for setting new standards for carpet cleaning and floor care in Cincinnati. Over the past year they saved thousands of gallons of water, reduced environmental waste, and through expert care, saved carpet from being replaced. They also eliminate the use of toxic chemicals. For more information about Cincinnati Maintenance visit www.cincinnatimaintenance.com or call 513.827.6150.

Park Permits are Now Fee-Free for Butler County ResidentsA motor vehicle permit will still be required to be displayed in MetroPark areas. However, as promised by the MetroParks Board of Park Commissioners if the levy passed in November, residents of Butler County may now receive one motor vehicle permit at no charge beginning in 2011.

Until March 31, county residents will be permitted to show proof of residency by either a valid driver’s license or state ID or vehicle registration to enter the park areas without displaying a permit. After April 1st, all cars will be required to display either an annual Resident permit or current motor vehicle permit.

To receive a fee-free permit, each county resident over the age of 16 is required to show proof of residency and fill out a form. Resident permits are distributed at no charge and will be tracked as each resident is eligible to receive one fee-free permit. For more information, visit www.metroparksofbutlercounty.org.



7

SpotlightOnReceptions Conference Center

Receptions. Reliable People. Remarkable Events. That is more than a marketing slogan for Receptions Conference Center, it is the philosophy they have used to build their business according to Jef Schachleiter, one of the partners of the company. This philosophy, along with nearly twenty years of experience, has allowed this locally owned and operated business to become a leader in the banquet services industry in the Greater Cincinnati market. With large multi-purpose facilities, elegant décor and unmatched service they have distinguished themselves as the premier venue for a wide variety of functions.

Receptions Conference Center has a location in Fairfield and also has four other locations throughout Greater Cincinnati which includes their newest location in Loveland. “Our goal is to be the best banquet facility in Cincinnati,” says Jef. “And no matter which location might best serve your needs, you can expect impeccable customer service, meticulous facilities and professionalism.”

While much of their business centers around providing area brides the ability to create a beautiful, memorable event, Receptions Conference Center offers local businesses the perfect environment to hold offsite meetings, luncheons, or training sessions. “Our business packages are very reasonably priced and include many extras such as a full complement of state of the art audio services, equipment and technical support,” said Jef. “No matter what the budget restraints might be, we will work to create a package customized to fit your business.”

Receptions Conference Center takes great pride in the meals they serve; from their breakfast menu to their elegant evening fare, all of the items on their menu are made from

scratch by their executive chef staff and are prepared on the premises. Each of their five locations has their own chef and will work with clients to tailor the menu for their event.

Whether it’s planning a wedding or business event, the professional staff at Receptions Conference Center will work as a planner or as an advisor allowing their clients to be involved as little or as much as they wish in the planning. They can help you design an event that perfectly meets your needs.

The next time your business or your family has a special occasion to plan, consider Receptions Conference Center. Their professional staff, wonderful facilities, delicious food and convenient locations will surely fit your needs and budget.

For more information visit www.receptionsinc.com.

LINDA SCHNEIDERCox Media Group Ohio - The Pulse Journal

[email protected]



8What’s New inLiberty Townshipwww.liberty-township.com

Liberty Township Promotes Three to Lieutenant Rank

The Liberty Township Trustees are pleased to announce the promotions of three Firefighter/Paramedics to the rank of Lieutenant within the Township’s Fire Department. The three Career members bring more than 40 years of combined experience and enthusiasm to their new posts.

“Chris, Jason and Ryan were selected from a class of 12 qualified candidates. The promotional process included a written test, an Assessment Center Evaluation by regional Chief Officers and an oral interview by a local committee. These officers will join the three existing Lieutenants as we develop and implement our long-range leadership strategy,” said Chief Paul Stumpf, Liberty Township Fire Department.

RYAN CHAPMANChapman has been a member of the Liberty Township Fire Department for nine years, full-time Firefighter/Paramedic since 2005. With 12+ years of fire service experience, he has worked for departments in Delhi, Deerfield Township, West Chester Township and Fairfield Township. Chapman is a Level 2 Firefighter, Paramedic, Fire Safety Inspector and Assistant Fire Instructor. He has recently assisted with the development of the pre-incident planning as well as the inspection programs with Liberty Township. Chapman is a graduate of Lakota High School and currently lives in Mason with his loving wife of nine years Jamie and their two children TJ (8) and Hayden (4).

JASON KNOLLMANKnollman has been a member of the Liberty Township Fire Department for nine years, full-time Firefighter/Paramedic since 2005. With 10+

years of fire service experience, he contributes to the Fire and EMS training programs within the department and at Butler Tech. He is a team manager for the Butler County Technical Rescue Team and coordinates training for the 60+ member team. As an active member of Ohio Task Force One Urban Search and Rescue team, Knollman is rostered as a rescue specialist. He was also instrumental in developing the SWAT Medic Program, which puts tactically-trained medics on calls with the Butler County SWAT Team, and volunteers his time with the Juvenile Fire Setters program. Knollman resides in Liberty Township, is engaged to be married in May and has a chocolate lab named Rocky.

CHRIS ROBINSONRobinson started his career in fire service nearly 20 years ago and has been a full-time member of the Liberty Township Fire Department for 10 years. His career began like many firefighters did – serving in several different capacities with a number of area departments. He has spent time working with the Millville Fire Department (now defunct), West Chester Township (then known as Union Twp), Liberty Township (part-time before full-time employees were hired), Fairfield Township, and the City of Hamilton fire departments. In 2001, Robinson was hired in Liberty Township’s first group of Career Firefighters, an accolade only he and three other colleagues at the fire department today can claim. He also serves the Fairfield Township Fire Department in a volunteer/part-time capacity – and in 2003 attained the rank of Lieutenant which he currently holds. Robinson lives in Fairfield Township and enjoys being able to serve both communities’ public service needs.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR:Annual Easter Egg Hunt – April 23

Liberty Township will host its annual Easter Egg Hunt for children ages 1 to 8 at Liberty Park on Saturday, April 23. The Easter Egg Hunt will begin promptly at 11 a.m. with the Easter Bunny available for photos from 10

a.m. to Noon. Bring your camera, a basket for collecting eggs and get ready for some fun!



9

West Chester University: Programming Designed to Inform Residents West Chester University is a series of informative programs offered to encourage better communication between West Chester Township government and the residents and businesses of the community. Programs are offered on a variety of topics throughout the year with instructors from various Township departments and related agencies.

All classes are free, but require advance registration by calling the numbers provided below. New classes are added throughout the year, so visit WestChesterOH.org to learn more. Some West Chester University programs include:

PARK WATCHWednesday, April 20, 7 to 9 pm, West Chester Township Hall

Learn more about West Chester’s parks and how to be an alert observer when visiting local parks through this program. What to look for on a casual visit to the park and how to report suspicious behavior to the appropriate authorities. This program is beneficial for anyone who visits parks and the information can also be applied to neighborhood watch members and similar groups. West Chester offers a Park Watch program, but this class is open to all residents. To register, call 513.759.7244.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESSWednesday, May 11, 7 to 9 pm, West Chester Library

West Chester public safety services offer a class each year on how to plan for an emergency. Important information is provided regarding necessary steps to take now in order to be self-sufficient and protect your family during times of community crisis. The class includes representatives from police, fire and community services, and covers topics such as where to turn for information during a crisis, how to manage resources and how to plan ahead. To register, call 513.759.7244.

CPR and First Aid Instruction: The West Chester Fire Department offers a variety of training programs every month for individuals and businesses in the area of CPR and First Aid. Some programs result in required certifications and others are basic programs to make participants better prepared to handle an emergency situation. For a complete list of classes visit WestChesterOH.org, and to register, call 513.777.1133.

Citizen Police Academy: The West Chester Police Department offers two sessions of Citizen Police Academy each year, providing citizens and business owners an opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of police operations. Participants in the 10-week program must be at least 21 years old. Advance registration is required and class size is limited. For more information and to register, call 513.759.7280 for the next session.

Self-Defense: The West Chester Police Department offers self-defense classes throughout the year. These classes are designed to build self confidence and provide the necessary tools to handle crisis situations. For class schedule and to register, call 513.759.7280.

VOA MUSEUM RESTORATION UPDATE The first phase of restoration of the Voice of America building on Tylersville Road is complete. A new exterior facade, new windows and new front door entrance were completed in March, along with some electrical upgrades and minor interior work. The former Voice of America Bethany Station now features trademark Crosley-blue-framed windows and doors and historically accurate exterior lighting. West Chester will now begin work on a second phase of restoration with a scope yet to be

determined. Restoration of the Voice of America building has been made possible through funding from The Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission. For information about the development of The National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting, visit www.voamuseum.org.

KITE FEST IS APRIL 9 AND 10Airwaves Kite Fest presented by The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation will be held at The Voice of America Park. The annual event is hosted by WGUC Radio and features kite acrobatic teams from around the country and kite building and flying for families. The event is noon to 5pm each day and parking is available at The West Chester Hospital complex on Cox Road with free shuttles. On-site parking is available for only those with handicap permits. For more information about the event, visit www.airwaveskitefest.com.

What’s New inWest Chester Townshipwww.westchesteroh.org



10The New Tax Relief Act and What It Means for YouThe Federal Tax Relief Act of 2010 includes several temporary incentives and tax breaks for businesses and employees alike. The most immediate impact of the law for the majority of employees will be the extension of reduced individual income tax rates and the 2% Social Security payroll tax cut. Businesses can benefit from several provisions of the Act including 100% bonus depreciation through 2011 and 50% bonus depreciation during 2012, energy incentives, and an extension of an incentive for non-corporate taxpayers to invest in qualified small business stock.

From an estate planning standpoint, the most significant provision of the Act is the unprecedented $5 million exemption from federal gift and estate taxes that expires at the end of 2012. Previously, the most an individual could give away during life without incurring gift tax was $1 million. Owners of valuable closely held businesses should examine this potentially once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to transfer at least a portion of company ownership gift-tax-free to their children. Under the terms of the Act, any portion of the $5 million exemption that is not used to shelter lifetime gifts is available at death to shelter assets in the estate from the estate tax. However, because the Act expires at the end of 2012, the only way to definitely “lock-in” the benefit of the $5 million exemption is to make gifts totaling $5 million prior to 2013. If Congress does not act to pass new gift and estate tax legislation, the gift and estate tax exemption amount will be $1 million in 2013. Consult your estate planning attorney to assist with gift planning if you are interested in making a sizeable gift this year or next.

If you are married and have a traditional A-B Trust, you should be aware that the $5 million exemption amount may create circumstances upon the death of the first spouse that take most or all of the assets outside of the direct control of the surviving spouse. This is generally an undesired result. It is an important time to consult your attorney and review the funding formulas contained in your A-B Trust.

LINDA A. GLASS, ATTORNEY AT LAWSams, Fischer, Packard &Schuessler, [email protected]



11

Marc Cole, Designers Group (4th from left) hosted Business After Hours with the Global Designs. Chamber members were able to extend their business day by networking and making those key connections and enjoying the hospitality of Designers Group.

Mark Your 2011 Calendars!5-7pm

May 19 ............................... Chesterwood Village

August 18 .........................Courtyard by Marriott

September 21 ........................ Staybridge Suites

October 19 ....................................... Wall 2 Wall

November 16.......................... Office Suites Plus

December 7 ................ Cincinnati Marriott North

Business Before Hours

Nickerson Business Supplies, Inc.

Presents

Administrative Professional DayWednesday, April 27th

7:30–9:00am

West Chester Library9363 Centre Pointe Drive, West Chester

Nickerson Business Supplies would like to help you celebrate! Be our guest as we pay tribute to your Administrative Team.

This members only event is a great way to start your business day with networking and saying thanks. Bring out your whole

team and start the day with us.

Business After Hours

Wednesday, April 20th5-7pm

9405 Cincinnati Columbus Road, West Chester Route 42, across from Aquatic & Garden Décor

Join us for Special Gourmet Appetizers, Cheese,

Beverages & Networking

Enter to win a “party in your home for Friends” prepared by their chefs and specialty designed

gift basket from “At Your Service Catering”



12

On a bright and sunny Tuesday afternoon in March, the Wetherington Golf and Country Club welcomed West Chester ■ Liberty Chamber Alliance members and guests to the monthly luncheon. Our emcee, Rick Snively from Lincoln Financial Securities and Chamber Ambassador, started things off with his commanding yet cheerful voice. Alison Miuccio recognized the Team of the month: Leadership – comprised of SEBC Leadership 21, Leading Edge and Impact 21. She then introduced Catherine Stoker, West Chester Township Trustee President who spoke on the plethora of major projects happening in the West Chester community. Road improvements, the new West Chester Activity Center, Beckett Ridge Park revitalization, and the VOA Museum rehab were just a few of the exciting projects that were presented.

From there, Rick introduced our guest speaker, Bob Jewell from Omega Leadership Group. With the attire of a business suit jacket, jeans, flip-flops, and a baseball hat to top off the look, Bob immediately caught the attention of every person in the room! A few people let out some laughs and others sat quietly with a perplexed look on their face wondering how Bob was going to bring his presentation full circle. Bob started off by giving the audience background of how he left Corporate America and decided to create his own business, Omega Leadership group. In order to consult with various companies nationwide such as General Electric, Toyota, and Sherwin-Williams, Bob felt a need to devote his career to training and educating companies on the multi-generational workforce. Bob stated that for the first time, companies are seeing four to five generations in the workplace. With a large gasp from the audience, Bob went on to explain the urgency for small and large companies to strategically develop a plan to engage a multi-generational workforce. With the “Engaging a Multi-Generational Workforce” packet in hand, the audience seemed to be fascinated with taking notes and participating in the “generational quiz.” Bob shared a great deal of Gallup Employee survey data concerning an Engaged vs. Disengaged employee. The results from this 2010 survey were shocking; Americans on average have a 2 to 1 engaged to disengaged ratio. One of the most vivid parts was the differences between the Silent, Baby Boomer, Generation X, and Millennial generations. Bob did a great job of explaining each generation and giving various examples of how companies can get the most out of their employees by simply taking the time to understand them better. For example, the silent generation (ages 66-78) are the best generation to mentor the millennial generation (ages 34 or younger.) Bob explained this was because the silent generations have typically been in their jobs for the longest time and they have a wealth of information that can be useful for the millennials.

In closing, Bob drove home the point that engagement between managers and employees is essential to any company’s long term success. Anyone who manages people must understand that each generation has unique:

• Motivators• Communication Styles• Values• Expectations• Career Goals

Bob left the audience with three final thoughts: one size fits all no longer applies, your people need to work with you because the days when they worked for you are gone, and pay close attention to the changing demographics at your business. The business suit jacket, jeans, flip-flops, and baseball cap represented not only a new generation in the workplace, but the demand for companies and the people who work for them to embrace the diversity. In turn, it enables them to figure out ways to effectively run and grow a business by using the strengths of all generations.

March Luncheon Recap

LUNCHEON SPONSOR – XAVIER UNIVERSITY – WILLIAMS COLLEGE OF BUSINESS (left to right): Cheryl Wilson, Teresa Summe-Haas, Jessica Schinaman, Torre Stark

LUNCHEON EMCEE – Rick Shively, Lincoln Financial Securities Corporation

LUNCHEON SPEAKER - Bob Jewell, Omega Leadership Group

LUNCHEON DISPLAY – EDWARD JONES INVESTMENTS; BILL LENDL (left to right): Bill Lendl, Mike Peters of Guardian Savings Bank

RACHAEL EPPSUC Health-University of Cincinnati [email protected]



13

Next Month’s LuncheonTuesday, May 10th, 2011Skatetown USA11:30am – 1:30pm

Join us for our May Monthly Member Luncheon at Skatetown USA with guest speaker, Holly Petraeus, the wife of Army General David Petraeus. Holly is leading the creation of the Office of Servicemember Affairs at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). This office partners with the Pentagon to see that military families receive strong financial education; it monitors complaints from military families and

responses to those complaints by the CFPB and other agencies; and will see that federal and state agencies coordinate their activities to improve consumer protection measures for military families. Our emcee is Doug Dunlap of Whiz Kids Tutoring & Mentoring.

$32 – members who RSVP by April 29 (early bird)$40 – members who RSVP after April 29 (including walk-ins)

$50 – future members

This Month’s LuncheonTuesday, April 12th, 2011Wetherington Golf and Country Club11:30am – 1:30pm

Please join us for a very informative luncheon with our speaker, Dr. Michael Pratt, Dean of Miami University Regional Campuses. Dr. G. Michael Pratt joined Miami University as the first Dean of the Regional Campuses and Associate Provost for Academic Affairs. Dr. Pratt divides his time among Miami University’s regional campuses: MU-Hamilton, MU-Middletown, and the Voice of America Learning

Center. Dr. Pratt was previously Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Graduate and Professional Programs at Heidelberg University in Tiffin, Ohio. During more than a decade as a university administrator, he directed Heidelberg’s Arrowhead Park Campus in Maumee, Ohio; developed articulation agreements with area community colleges; expanded graduate programs, and coordinated regional, state, and professional reaccreditation of graduate and undergraduate programs. He also played a role in creating and sustaining Heidelberg’s twenty year faculty exchange program with Tianjin Normal University in China. Our emcee is Deborah Brenneman of Thompson Hine LLP.

LUNCHEON DISPLAY – HUNTINGTON BANK (left to right): Theresa Morgan, Amy Hopkins, Dan Straub, Melissa Vogelsang, Linda Johnson, Sally Gardner

RSVP on our website at www.eChamberAlliance.com or email Marge Wimmer at [email protected]. Luncheons are held the second Tuesday of each month from 11:30 am - 1:30 pm. Cancel before noon on the Monday before the lunch to avoid being charged.

$27 - for members and employees of member organizations who RSVP by the Friday before each Luncheon$32 - for members who RSVP after Friday at 5:00pm$50 - for non-members Pay by check, Mastercard, VISA or Discover and avoid the registration line. Special dietary needs will gladly be taken care of by letting us know when you RSVP for the luncheon.

How To RSVP

The Newest Members of the West Chester ■ Liberty Chamber Alliance: – Joe Hinson, Chamber President & CEO (back far right) is pictured with front row (left to right): Dick Lange, Joe Morgan Honda; Richard Villers, Main Street Family Advisors Inc.; Heidi Hanssen, Main Street Family Advisors Inc.; Rhonda Humphrey, The Mattress Monkey LLC. Second row (left to right): Faris Ghani, Center for Advanced SPINE Technologies; Sue Houghton, Derringer Company. Third row (left to right): Kristin Downer, Center for Advanced Spine Tech-nologies; Ron Spurlock, Lakota Local School District. Back row (left to right): Carrie Riddle, American Cancer Society; Deb Hunt, SEBALY SHILLITO + DYER.

THANK YOU TO TOM KAPER AND TEC SERVICES FOR PROVIDING OUR AUDIOVISUAL NEEDS AT OUR 2010 LUNCHEONS!

www.4tecservice.com

Did You Know?“In times of economic challenges, it can be a hasty decision for companies to decrease their advertising budget. But, challenging times can be the BEST time for companies to increase their advertising budget and capture market share being given up by competitors. If you would like information on how you can better market your company through the West Chester ■Liberty Chamber Alliance using

‘Chambernomics’, please contact me at 513.777.3600.”

Alison MiuccioMarketing Director

Keep your name in the spotlight and reap the rewards!

Watch for the VOICE in May where there will be photos from our Annual Dinner and Awards Gala celebrating our 35th Anniversary



14Member Orientation Tuesday, April 19th 3:15-5pmThe West Chester < Liberty Chamber Alliance Member Orientation is a great opportunity for members to come together to learn how to get the most from their membership. Reservations are being accepted for the April 19th Orientation to be held at the West Chester < Liberty Chamber Alliance, lower level from 3:15-5pm.

Member Orientation is held quarterly and open to any member who wants to learn more about the benefits and opportunities their membership with the West Chester Chamber Alliance provides. Attendees hear from staff, active members and preferred providers on how they and their organizations can make the most of their Chamber membership.

If you want to learn more about how your Chamber membership can help you and your business, then plan to attend Member Orientation! RSVP to Marge Wimmer at 513.777.3600.

Co-Chairs, Leadership 21 TeamKevin Kroeger, DSS Sweeping ServicesLori Weber, W.P. Dolle, LLC

The leadership development program for business owners and managers, as well as government, non-profit organization and school leaders. This program is designed to develop area leadership for the 21st century and provides a great opportunity to study various aspects of our community in-depth.

Leading Edge A series of interrelated training sessions that guide the leader, manager, partner and/or staff member in understanding and beginning mastery of his or her leadership potential. Each session builds on and reinforces the learning in other modules to create an integrated approach for improving leadership competencies.

Co-Chairs, Impact 21 TeamJean Mabry, Clark-Theders Insurance AgencyIan Murray, Murray Multimedia Resources, LLCRick Shively, Lincoln Financial Securities Corporation

The leadership development program for high school sophomores and juniors who live in either West Chester or Liberty Townships. The program is designed to inspire and motivate future leaders to get involved in their community and embrace the opportunities and challenges of community leadership.

Teams of the Month – Leadership

Watch for the VOICE in May where

there will be photos from our Annual Dinner and

Awards Gala celebrating our 35th Anniversary



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Sixty-Second ConnectFor your 2011 Calendar

Join Chamber members once a month to connect in sixty-seconds! This one-hour program will help members build lasting business relationships and share valuable business information with other members. Sixty-Second Connect will consist of a self-introduction by each attendee, two sponsor presentations, door prizes and a Taste of Noodles & Company. Sixty-Second Connect will be held the fourth Tuesday of each month on the lower level of the West Chester < Liberty Chamber Alliance. Chamber membership is required for attendance. Bring your business cards and be prepared to talk about you and your business in sixty-seconds! This is another way our Chamber “connects people & possibilities.”

12–1pm

April 26

May 24

June 28

July 26

Aug 23

Sep 27

Oct 25

Nov 22

Dec 20

It’s the Largest Business Expo on the I-75 Growth Corridor

Tuesday, May 10th from 1-5pmAt Skatetown USA

Over 120 Booths and Table Top Displays

Space is limited, so make your booth reservation today! For more information call Pam Gruber at 513.777.3600

or email her at [email protected].

Our May Luncheon speaker will be Holly Petraeus, the wife of Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, the top U.S. military commander in Afghanistan. She heads up - the Office of Servicemember Affairs which is devoted to

strengthening consumer financial protection for service members and their families.

The information she gathers is integrated into the formation of her office, which aims to strengthen and support military families financially as part of the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The Office of Servicemember Affairs works closely with the Defense Department to help in ensuring that military families receive the financial education needed to make wise financial decisions, to monitor and respond to complaints and questions from military families, and to ensure that federal and state agencies coordinate their activities to improve consumer protection measures.

LUNCHEON SPEAKER

Each month, the Character Council promotes 1 of their 49 character qualities. This month, the highlighted Character quality is “Humility (vs. Arrogance) – Acknowledging that

achievement results from the investment of others in my life.”

For more information on how to become a “Business of Character, “ please contact the Character Council at 513.467.0170 or visit

www.charactercincinnati.org.

“Character… It starts with me”

Proud to be the Region’s First Chamber of Character

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Women for Women (W4W) is the West Chester < Liberty Chamber Alliance women’s group focusing on the need for women to balance business, home and all aspects of their life. W4W brings women together to engage in networking, discuss women’s issues and address topics that are pertinent to women’s lives both at home and at the office.

Our meetings focus on the four W’s—Work, Wealth, Wisdom and Wellness. At each session, we enjoy networking, discussions and a presentation that addresses the “W” topic of the month.

Join us at this month’s W4W meeting on Friday, April 1st from 8- 9:30am at Kemba Credit Union, 8763 Union Centre Boulevard, West Chester. This meeting will focus on “Work” as Kendra Wilburn of the West Chester < Liberty Chamber Alliance presents “Generations at Work.” Please RSVP to Pamela Gruber at 513.777.3600 or [email protected] - $10

Q: What HR Issues are most pressing to businesses and HR departments in 2011?

A: BLR recently conducted just such a poll of small business owners and HR professionals. They were each allowed to pick 3 critical issues on their minds (thus the higher percentages). Here are their results:

Answer Options Response %

Healthcare costs and requirements 79.80%

Possible new FLSA recordkeeping requirements 47.40%for exempt employees

Increasing investigations by the DOL, EEOC, and IRS 45.00%

FMLA paid leave initiatives 30.70%

Social networking and blogging 30.20%

Workplace wellness 20.50%

Retirement of Baby Boomers 16.40%

Ethics (Dodd-Frank Act, SOX, etc.) 11.00%

Issues concerning government contracts 8.70%

Corporate social responsibility and the green movement 5.20%

Healthcare costs and requirements continue to lead the pack. Interesting to note are the concerns about the increasing investigations – a well-founded fear as those agencies are all adding many new investigators to their staff; a good way for the government to increase revenue. One item that wasn’t present in earlier surveys is the green movement, which although not a high percentage, still made the list. Stay tuned!

Upcoming Opportunities for Brightening Employees’ Days!It’s freezing outside, we’re thinking Spring! There are events and celebrations coming up which provide an opportunity to brighten the days of your organization’s employees. NOW is the time to begin planning:

• April Fools’ Day/Humor at Work (April 1)• National Employee Benefits Day (April 4)• Administrative Professionals’ Week (April 24-30)• Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work (April 28)

Darlene Mack, MA, SPHR, CEO of HR Partners International, Inc. will answer your questions and provide strategies for maximizing your employee resources. Please submit questions to [email protected].

Ask the HR Expert.

DARLENE MACK, MA, SPHRHR Partners International, Inc.513.779.7296www.HRPIInc.com

mailto:[email protected]



17Small Business ExchangesIn January, the Chamber launched the first of what we hope to be many Small Business Exchanges. These are similar-sized businesses with similar goals and needs who got together and formed the initial group.

The thought behind the ‘SBE’s is to provide a consistent board of advisors with goals to build our own businesses by pooling our knowledge, expertise, and ideas for each other’s benefit.

Here are the parameters set for the group:• Complete confidentiality and trust within the group• Mandatory attendance of at least 10 meetings each year• No more than one professional in a similar discipline; new members

approved by unanimous vote of the group• Monthly meetings - 1 Ω hours• Members bring items for open discussion; specific agenda each month

Our first group is full and we have interest from several others who would like to be part of such a group. Each group will have a different personality and focus, depending upon the interests of the members involved, and will be facilitated by one of the SBE co-chairs to get it started.

If you’d like more information or to be connected with others who are interested, contact one of the SBE co-chairs: Darlene Mack, HR Partners International, [email protected]; or Sue Shields, Lynn McInturf Associates, [email protected].

“Enhance Your Leadership and Communication Effectiveness”

April 28, 2011 - 7:30–9:00amContinental breakfast sponsored by Thompson Hine LLP

Presented by: David Baker, President, David Baker Consulting, Inc.

David Baker Consulting, Inc. is a management consulting firm that specializes in management coaching, leadership development, team building, performance management, and communications, sales and

service communications.

There is one paramount skill by which all Highly Effective Leaders are judged:

• Are you looking for a way to Enhance Your Leadership Effectiveness?

• Do you want to Create High Performing Teams?

• Would you like to Increase Sales Revenue and Improve Customer Retention?

• Do you want to Improve Your Probability of Being Promoted?It is a well-known fact that Effective Communication is the #1 skill by which all prospective Leaders are evaluated. Unfortunately, most leaders struggle with this one paramount competency because throughout our lives we have been taught to treat others the way we want to be treated. When it comes to communication, living by

this standard will only make you fairly effective 25% of the time because 75% of the people around us are not like us. They do not want to interact or communicate in the same manner we do. Thus, in order to effectively communicate with others, you must be able to quickly and effectively recognize and adapt to their individual interaction and communication styles.

If you want to permanently increase your Leadership & Communication Effectiveness, this seminar is for you!

WHEN: Thursday, April 28thNetworking 7:30am Program 7:45-9am

Where: West Chester ■ Liberty Chamber Alliance7617 Voice of America Centre Drive, West Chester (Lower Level)

CONTACT: RSVP Marge Wimmer at 513.777.3600or email her at [email protected]

$15 Chamber members$25 Future members





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Leadership 21Since graduating in 2007, my career has been filled with unexpected challenges, and yet incredibly rewarding roles. From my ever-increasing community leadership responsibilities, to the continued business development—despite recent economic challenges, I have been able to continually draw upon the relationships established and the team-building experiences to survive and grow as a solopreneur.

I chose to participate in the Leadership 21 program because I needed to fully understand and embrace my leadership style, as well as hone my leadership skills. I also wanted to become aware of how I functioned within a group of equally passionate individuals, how I could positively effect change within that group, and to learn when and how to adapt as needed. All this has proved to be imperative to the success of my business.

The first “a-ha” moment that comes to mind was when I embraced the concept of “Shift Happens”. While participating in a communication exercise at Camp Joy, I became painfully aware of my assumption to believe that we all were “playing” by the same rules. I assumed that we were all on the same page, working as a unified group, all the while struggling with the realization that we were not following the same rules and those rules were constantly changing. It was then that I realized that I needed to be able to let go of the “rules” and to adapt as the game changes, because the game always changes.

My advice would be to stop making excuses that delay your participation. Schedules can be changed and money can be found, but only if you choose to make this a priority for your business and your personal development. Then open yourself to the challenges and opportunities that are presented. Lastly, stop taking yourself too seriously, this is a program to be embraced and enjoyed!

UPDATE

DiSC Leadership ToolUsing DiSC as a Tool to Guide Leadership and Improve CommunicationIs there one person at work whom you simply just don’t get? How about someone who approaches things so differently from you that you find it difficult to relate to them?

If this sounds familiar, then you are not alone. We all have people who we find hard to communicate with, or work with. Yet, as leaders, we know that in order to have a successful team, members must learn to communicate effectively with one another. If the lines of communication are not kept open, barriers to productivity increase exponentially. The good news is that there are ways to break down these barriers. A good starting point is in understanding your own communication style as well as that of your team.

The DiSC model, based on the work of psychologist William Moulton Marston from the 1920’s, is one approach. It is a straightforward, standardized and relatively simple way of assessing individual as well as team behaviors in a way that allows one to look at leadership and communication preferences. DiSC assessment tests use standardized data derived from a large population of people who’ve taken the test before. Thus an individual’s assessment score gives an indication of their preference relative to others. It helps people explore behavior across four primary dimensions:

Dominance: To the point, decisive and bottom line oriented. These people tend to be independent and results driven. They are strong-willed people who enjoy challenges, taking action, and immediate results.

Influence: Optimistic and outgoing. They tend to be highly social and outgoing. They prefer participating on teams, sharing thoughts, and entertaining and energizing others.

Steadiness: Empathetic & Cooperative. These people tend to be team players and are supportive and helpful to others. They prefer being behind the scene, working in consistent and predictable ways. They are often good listeners and avoid change and conflict.

Conscientiousness: Concerned, Cautious & Correct. These people are often focused on details and quality. They plan ahead; constantly check for accuracy, and want to know “how” and “why”.

By using this tool, individuals and others are better equipped to:• Understand behavioral strengths and challenges in yourself and in others • Learn to appreciate the differences and strengths of others • Discover tools for dealing with conflict effectively • Enhance teamwork and reduce team conflict • Develop strategies and awareness to deal with diversity of people, their

communication styles and needs• Increase sales skill by understanding how clients or customers behavior and

make decisions • Improve customer relationships and customer satisfaction • Reduce personal and organizational conflict, stress and turnover • Improve communication skills through determining communication styles • Enhance and develop coaching and mentoring skills

DiSC profiling can be a useful tool to help you improve communication, team work, recruitment and retention, customer service and, other interpersonal issues. By understanding your own profile, you can develop an appreciation for the unique value of others in your organization and on your team, as well as employ strategies to maximize team strengths and minimize the effects of team weaknesses. In today’s complex environment of accelerated change, DiSC is useful in identifying individual and community strengths.

Would you or someone in your organization be interested in taking the DiSC Assessment? Contact Kendra Wilburn, Leadership Development Director, at 513.314.9659 or [email protected] for more information.

KENDRA WILBURNLeadership Development DirectorWest Chester < Liberty Chamber [email protected]

MARGO JACOBMargo Jacob Design, [email protected]



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The Business Partnership: two parties, working together to reach a common goal, while earning individual benefits. Just the idea sounds expensive, right?

If you are a small business, or in the current economy if you are a large business, your first reply to most questions is probably, “How much will this cost?” instead of “How much can this help my business?”

By forming partnerships with your local colleges, your answers could be “Your time, not money” and “A lot.”

Regardless of your product or your immediate needs, reaching out to a local college will not only be beneficial to your bottom line, but also beneficial to the many students who are looking for the real world experience needed to support a resume.

Problem #1: You need more help, but do not have the budget for a full-time employee.

Solution #1: Contact the Career Services department and inquire about offering an internship. Upon hiring this person, you can offer on the job training and potentially, find a future employee, or pipeline to employees. Additionally, interns can offer a new perspective on an old problem, or lend a helping hand for varied tasks.

Problem #2: Your company would like to change its public perception through a rebranding effort, or your office space needs an update to increase employee morale.

Solution #2: Allow a class the chance to meet your needs. Contact a local instructor, explain your problem and offer to work with the students via a class project. This cost-effective partnership offers the students a chance to apply their knowledge, while also allowing giving your business a cost-free solution without obligation. If you are happy with the results, offer to write a recommendation for the most promising professionals.

Problem #3: Your staff needs additional training to succeed, but you cannot afford the time nor cost to send them to a national training session.

Solution #3: Reach out to an instructor trained in that specific area. For a fraction of the cost, this professional can hold workshops designed specifically for your company’s needs. Or, empower employees by enrolling them in a technical class and ask them to share their new knowledge with their co-workers.

Such partnerships can successfully work as one-off experiences or can develop from networking with a program to grooming a future power player in your company and today’s workforce.

ERIN SCHORR, M. ED.Antonelli [email protected]

Three Ways Partnering with Local Colleges can offer Cost-effective Business Solutions

One of the main reasons is that Lakota schools are housed in a community that holds us accountable. The community backs up its demand for excellence by being deeply involved in our schools.

Historically, Lakota parents speak their mind. Whether you agree or not with their point of view, behind it is a deep concern for their children. From this concern come both parental commitment and high expectations. To meet the expectations of Lakota parents, the district has hired the best educators, kept them professionally trained and built a cadre of teachers and staff that goes beyond the call of duty for our students day in and day out.

I have visited all of the 22 schools over the past weeks, and in spite of the challenges we face, I still see eager students, involved parents and talented, giving teachers. Anytime I walk into one of our school buildings, I see parents. They are reading to children, creating materials for the classrooms, sharing their knowledge, donating their time, working to support the work of teachers. This dedicated partnership between parents and educators is what makes Lakota great. As we move into next year and the years to come, I am asking the entire community to be inspired by these parents and teachers who devote their energy to the education of Lakota students.

The services that Lakota has offered over the years have been provided to ensure our students receive the quality education that is associated with a Lakota diploma, but now with $12 million in additional cuts, we will be unable to provide the same level of services. We must focus our resources on what is most important: The work taking place in the classroom. What can every one of us do to maintain the excellence of our schools and support the work of our dedicated parents and teachers? Do we still believe in and demand a first class education for our students? If so, what does that take?

Our community has asked Lakota to rethink expenditures. We are responding. It will take all of us to work through these changes and decide what the next steps are for Lakota.

Today, Lakota is an excellent school district.

RON SPURLOCKInterim SuperindendentLakota Local [email protected]

Lakota Update



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Ribbon Cuttings and Ground Breakings

Connect with our ChamberCheck out the West Chester ■ Liberty Chamber Alliance on…

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Lapels Dry Cleaning4875 Princeton RoadLiberty Twp, OH 45011

Superior service is what you can expect from Liberty Township’s newest drycleaners. Brad Tate, Ginny Savelli and Will Tate (left center) are making an investment in the community, as the “neighborhood” drycleaners. Lapels offers convenient and quality service.

Innovative Labeling Solutions4000 Hamilton-Middletown RoadHamilton, OH 45011

Innovative Labeling solutions celebrated their expansion and the acquisition of two HP Indigo WS600 state-of-the-art industrial printing presses. Joe Hinson, West Chester ■ Liberty Chamber Alliance (left) congratulates Jay Dollries, Innovation Labeling Solutions.

Safe Ship7753 Cox LaneWest Chester, OH 45069513-755-2408

Safe Ship can mail, pack and ship anything to anywhere in the world. US Mail, UPS, FedEx, DHL Worldwide, Special Courier, Truck, Ship, or Air Delivery, you decide how you want your package to arrive. Jocelyn Allen-Worley and Ryan Worley (center) were joined by the Ambassadors as they celebrated their ribbon cutting.

Walgreens6330 Cincinnati - Dayton RoadLiberty Twp, OH

Amy Barbro, (center) Store Manager for Walgreens commemorated the store’s opening with a ribbon cutting. Walgreens is the largest drug store chain in the country with over 7,000 stores nationwide. Liberty Township officials and Chamber Ambassadors eagerly welcomed Walgreens to Liberty Township.

The Character Council of Greater Cincinnati and Northern KentuckyThe Character Council of Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky is devoted to promoting good character in order to improve the lives of the residents and enrich the spirit of the community. Mary Andres Russell and Charlie King (center) are excited to open offices in West Chester.



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Mother Teresa Catholic Elementary SchoolServing Kids So They Can Serve the WorldMother Teresa Catholic Elementary School is proud to help K-8 students build a solid foundation for life in the 21st century. For over 13 years, the school has been modeling the teachings of Mother Teresa while preparing students to be strong academic leaders and faith-based community servants who are empowered to change the world.

Since its founding in 1998, Sr. Anne Schulz has served as MTCES Principal and CEO – helping the school grow into a full-scale campus with large classrooms and state-of-the-art facilities. In 2009, her achievements were heralded when she was named a West Chester ■ Liberty Chamber Alliance Woman of Excellence.

MTCES is a private and independent school, located in Liberty Township, fully recognized by the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.

Teaching Kids so They Can Teach the WorldWith a comprehensive curriculum, a small student-to-teacher ratio, extracurricular academic clubs and state-of-the-art teaching facilities, MTCES promotes the academic growth of each student. The school’s educational opportunities include a high-tech science lab, computer lab, laptop carts and SMART Boardsô. MTCES is proud to be preparing a

workforce that is ready for the demands of the future.

Inspiring Kids so They Can Inspire the WorldBecause volunteerism is an integral part of personal faith development, MTCES is committed to teaching the rewards of community service. Students participate each year in a variety of outreach programs for Reach Out Lakota, Hawthorne Glen Nursing Program, the Inner-city Classroom Adoption program, and more.

Helping Business Work for Kids so They Can Work in the WorldCompanies and individuals are cordially invited to the school’s largest annual event, a night of dinner, raffles, live and silent auctions, dancing, and business networking. The 2011 Diamonds and Pearls Extravaganza, sponsored by Yelton Fine Jewelers will take place on Saturday, April 30th at the Marriott North Union Centre. Opportunities for further sponsorship, auction item donations, and attendance are available. Please see www.mtces.org.

Serving Our Community:

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22Renewing Members

New Members

Adecco Employment ServicesRhonda Arledge4520 Cooper Rd, Ste 100Cincinnati, OH 45242513-686-1060.............................

Butler County AuditorRoger Reynolds130 High StreetHamilton, OH 45011513-887-3154.............................

Butler County EngineerGreg Wilkens1921 Fairgrove AveHamilton, OH 45011513-867-5744.............................

Butler County ESCDan Hare1910 Fairgrove Ave, Ste BHamilton, OH 45011513-887-3710.............................

Butler County Juvenile Court JudgeKathleen Dobrozsi Romans280 N Fair AveHamilton, OH 45011513-887-3313.............................

Butler County United WayMitchell Willis323 North Third StreetHamilton, OH 45011513-863-0800.............................

Cincinnati Marriott NorthJason Kreul6189 Muhlhauser RdWest Chester, OH 45069513-645-4601.............................

Companions on a Journey Grief SupportSheila Munafo-Kanoza5475 Creek Bend DrWest Chester, OH 45069513-870-9108.............................

CTI Restaurant, Inc. DBA Taco BellTodd WilberP.O. Box 1757West Chester, OH 45071513-874-2244.............................

Express Employment ProfessionalsKeith Kester8116 Beckett Center DrWest Chester, OH 45069513-755-8212.............................

Fastems LLCJana Landrum9850 Windisch RoadWest Chester, OH 45069513-779-4614.............................

Halcomb Benets Agency, IncRonda HalcombPO Box 386Trenton, OH 45067866-988-9171.............................

Huntington Learning CenterDan Mathis8179-A Princeton-Glendale RoadWest Chester, OH 45069513-860-4416.............................

Indiana Wesleyan UniversityCarson Castleman9286 Schulze DrWest Chester, OH 45069513-881-3600.............................

Kemba Credit UnionKim Kuchenbuch8763 Union Centre BlvdWest Chester, OH 45069513-762-1632.............................

Knight Willis Murphy Insurance ServicesAndy Murphy300 High St, Ste 101Hamilton, OH 45011513-867-4362.............................

Lakota Sports OrganizationBruce RhodesP.O. Box 212West Chester, OH 45071513-684-4944.............................

LaRosa’s - Liberty TownshipBrian Sullivan4363 Hamilton Middletown RoadMason, OH 45040513-863-4400.............................

LaRosa’s - West ChesterMelissa Nugent6875 Fountains BlvdWest Chester, OH 45069513-777-0857.............................

Lincoln Financial Securities CorporationRick Shively8563 Mason Montgomery RdMason, OH 45040513-229-6196.............................

Midland AtlanticJohn Silverman8044 Montgomery Rd Ste 710Cincinnati, OH 45236513-792-5000.............................

Mindful Wellness Massage and Bodywork, LLCJacky Groenewegen8859 Cincinnati-Dayton Rd, Ste #007West Chester, OH 45069513-382-3132.............................

Mooney & Moses Insulation of OhioMike J. Kelly9345 Princeton-Glendale RdHamilton, OH 45011513-346-4000.............................

Overhead DoorMike J. Kelly9345 Princeton-Glendale RdHamilton, OH 45011513-346-4000.............................

Princeton Pike Church of GodBarry Clardy6101 Princeton-Glendale RdHamilton, OH 45011513-867-1995.............................

Residence Inn by MarriottSheri Howard6240 Muhlhauser RdWest Chester, OH 45069513-341-4040.............................

Rose AutomotiveMarysue Wright110 N Erie BlvdHamilton, OH 45011513-863-7878.............................

Starbucks Coffee CompanyDebbie Lisenko9244 FloerWest Chester, OH 45069513-860-0329.............................

Stock Yards Bank & TrustRoger Myers101 W. Fourth StCincinnati, OH 45202513-824-6100.............................

Sugar Creek Packing CoTom Spaeth4585 Muhlhauser RdHamilton, OH 45011513-874-4422.............................

Tom’s Superior Driving SchoolTom Hauser7390 Liberty One DrLiberty Twp, OH 45044513-779-1040.............................

Wellington Orthopaedics & Sports MedicinePeter Iacobell8737 Union Centre BlvdWest Chester, OH 45069513-645-2220.............................

West Chester Chiropractic CenterDr. Chris Coffman8039 Cincinnati-Dayton RoadWest Chester, OH 45069513-777-7575.............................

Wright State University Raj Soin College of BusinessDr. Berkwood M. Farmer3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy.,121 Rike HallDayton, OH 45435937-775-4589.............................

Center for Advanced Spine Technologies Kristin Downer 4555 Lake Forest Dr Ste 150 Cincinnati OH 45242 513-281-2278 Health-Services............................. Eagle Tee Golf Center Stephen Honerlaw 9200 Cincinnati-Dayton Rd West Chester OH 45069 513-777-4653 Entertainment.............................

Hampton Inn & Suites Jeri Tappan 9266 Schulze Dr West Chester OH 45069 513-341-2040 Hotels/Motels ............................. Innergreen Inc. Matt Heitzman 4700 Duke Drive, Suite 165 Mason OH 45040 513-398-3773 Plant Service .............................

Joe Morgan Honda Dick Lange 176 Garver Road Monroe OH 45050 513-360-2700 Automobile Dealers ............................. Mercy Health Plex Ryan Miller 3050 Mack Rd Faireld OH 45014 513-682-1263 Health Clubs , Fitness Centers & Equipme.............................

Staples - Colerain Lindsay Wiseman 8465 Colerain Ave Cincinnati OH 45239 513-923-3124 Printing/Mailing Services............................. The Cellular Connection Rob Thomas 9414 Civic Center Blvd Ste BWest Chester OH 45069 513-755-6504 Telephone - Wireless Sales & Service .............................

The Mattress Monkey LLC Tom Humphrey 8095 Beckett Center Dr West Chester OH 45069 513-330-5593 Retail - Specialty .............................

Window Genie of Cincinnati Jack Winterhalter 800 East Ross Ave Cincinnati OH 45217 513-242-1569 Window Cleaning.............................



April 2011

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Butler County Board of Commissioners Meeting 9:30am | Commission Chamber, 315 High Street, 2FL, Hamilton

Breakfast Brieng7:30-9am | WC Liberty Chamber Alliance ofces, lower level


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S U N D AY M O N D AY T U E S D AY W E D N E S D AY T H U R S D AY F R I D AY S AT U R D AY

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Sixty Second Connect12-1pm | WC Liberty Chamber Alliance ofces, lower level

West Chester Township Trustees6pm | Township Hall, 9113 Cincinnati-Dayton Rd

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Lakota Board of Education7pm | Lakota Central Ofce, Thunderbird Room

Business After Hours5-7pm | At Your Service Catering & Event Planning

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Liberty Township Trustees6pm | Liberty Township Administrative Bldg., 6400 Princeton Rd


Ambassadors’ Meeting11:30am | WC Liberty Chamber Alliance ofces, lower level

Members Monthly Luncheon11:30am | Wetherington Golf & Country Club, 7337 Country Club Ln, West Chester 45069

West Chester Township Trustees6pm | Township Hall, 9113 Cincinnati-Dayton Rd


Member Orientation3:15-5pm | WC Liberty Chamber Alliance ofces, lower level

Liberty Township Trustees6pm | Liberty Township Administration Building, 6400 Princeton Rd


Lakota Board of Education7pm | Lakota Central Ofce, Thunderbird Room

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W4W8-9:30am | Kemba Credit Union, 8763 Union Centre Blvd, West Chester, OH 45069

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To Better Serve You

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CORPORATE OFFICE


Business Before Hours 7:30-9am | West Chester Library - 9363 Centre Pointe Drive, West Chester

VOA Centre7617 Voice of America Centre Dr.

West Chester Township

Kemba Credit Union8763 Union Centre Blvd.West Chester Township

Mercy Health Centerat Liberty Falls

6770 Cincinnati-Dayton Rd.Liberty Township

WEST CHESTER SATELLITE OFFICE

LIBERTY TWP. SATELLITE OFFICE

PRESORTEDSTANDARD

US POSTAGEPAID

CINCINNATI, OHPERMIT #5400

7617 Voice of America Centre DriveWest Chester, Ohio 45069

APRIL CALENDAR OF EVENTS1st Women 4 Women Kemba Credit Union, 8-9:30am

12th Monthly Member Luncheon Chamber offices, lower level, 3:15-5pm

19th Member Orientation Cincinnati Marriott North at Union Centre, 5:30pm

20th Business After Hours At Your Service, 5-7pm

26th Sixty-Second Connect Chamber offices, lower level, 12-1pm

27th Business Before Hours West Chester Library, 7:30-9am

28th Breakfast Briefing Chamber offices, lower level, 7:30-9am

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largest business expo on the i-75 growth … i-75 growth corridor the celebrating 35 years in 2011!...

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