The public is invited to the NHCOC Annual Awards Luncheon. Help us recognize our award winners for 2011: Small Town Hero Award – Rich Purgert, ABC Rental Center East, Small Business of the Year – Spennato’s Ristorante & Pizzeria, and our newest award - Chamber Star of the Year – Rhonda Solomon, No Time Cleaning Services. This event takes place at Gambitta’s Party Center on Thursday, May 12, 11:30 AM. Also on the agenda is the installation of the 2011-2012 NHCOC Board of Directors. This annual luncheon is sponsored by UH – Bedford Medical Center. The special prime rib lunch is $20 for members ($25 for non-members); salmon or chicken by request only. Anyone without an RSVP will not have his/her choice of entre’ so please RSVP by noon on Wed. by calling 330-467-8956.

Congratulations to the 2011-12 NHCOC Board of Directors, elected at the April Chamber meeting. The following Chamber members should be acknowledged and praised for their dedication to our business community and the Chamber of Commerce:

Officers:
President: Jennifer Mintz, South Pointe Hospital
President-Elect: Bonnie Horsfall, Memories Made To Order
Vice President: Cindi Seese Third Federal Savings
Treasurer: Kevin Waldron, Ridgway & Assoc. Insurance
Secretary: Jami Walker Aquino, FirstMerit Bank
Past President: Eric Daniel, Thompson Hine LLP

Directors:
Kathy Doytek, Sagamore Hills Medical Center
Julie D’Aloiso, SpiderCat Marketing
John Jackson, Hageman Pest Control
David Jellison, Jellison Construction & Design
Rich Purgert, ABC Rental Center East
Mike Burzminski, Batteries Plus
Joe Clark, Nordonia Hills Schools

I hope you plan to start your summer fun with us at the 11th Annual NHCOC “FRIDAY NIGHT HORSEPLAY” at Northfield Park. This event is scheduled for Friday, June 10. Thank you to our sponsor to date: Winner’s Circle Sponsor Williamsburg Townhomes. Admission to this event is $28 and includes dinner and soft drinks. A race sponsorship is $125 which includes your own horse race, your race name in the Program, a free color photo of you with the winning horse, and 2 dinners. If your favorite horse isn’t racing, try your luck with our Pick-a-Prize and 50/50 raffles. Discounts are available for groups of 4. Bring your co-workers and friends. This event is open to the entire Nordonia Hills community. Reservations are required. Please call Chairperson Alison Meredith (Williamsburg Townhomes - 330-468-3499) or the Chamber Office at 330-467-8956.

ATTENTION – RUNNERS, BIKERS, PUMPERS AND VOLUNTEERS!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you to Chamber President-Elect Eric Daniel, Thompson Hine LLP, for chairing the Nordonia Hills Duathlon on Sat., May 21. Individuals (age 13 and over) are encouraged to participate in this run- bike- run event. The race includes a 2.5 mile run, followed by a 10 mile bike ride, then finishing with a second 2.5 mile run. The first 300 entrants will receive a T-shirt; all entrants will share after-race refreshments. You may be interested in the Pump-n-Run or Pump-n-Row, chaired by Mark Nolan. Your “pumps” will help your running score. Or you can opt to “pump iron” only. The choice is yours. Pumping can be done the night before at Anytime Fitness or the morning of the event on the hospital property. Proceeds from the Pump-n-Run will benefit the Haven of Rest Ministries and Battered Woman’s Shelter Summit County. Packet pick-up will begin the evening before at Fleet Feet Sports in Northfield and race day registration begins at 7:15 AM. For more information, contact Eric (330-612-3234). To volunteer to help at this event, please call the Chamber office at 330-467-8956. You can also register online at www.hermescleveland.com or www.nordoniahillschamber.org. Thank you also to our sponsors to date: South Pointe Hospital - Cleveland Clinic Health System, Anytime Fitness, Faith Fellowship Church, Children’s House, The Collis Group, Fleet Feet Sports, BiPro USA, Sohar's, Lawrence School and Record Publishing. Sponsorships are still available from $150 - $5000. Your logo will be on over 300 t-shirts worn by the athletes and volunteers. This is a great way to get your “brand” out to our community and northeast Ohio. We, as a community of businesses, host this event. Many of us all ready show our support by volunteering and sponsoring this Duathlon. Let’s go the next step and participate.

Save money on your 2011-12 NHCOC Membership Renewal! You may even earn a FREE renewal. Attention Chamber members – earn a $25 credit towards your next Chamber renewal for every new member you bring in before May 31, 2011. You already know the value of Chamber membership. Spread the word to your business associates, suppliers and customers. Share with them that the benefits and savings of membership far outweigh the investment. They’ll thank you for the tip and you’ll thank them when you see the savings on your membership renewal! Call the office for more information – 330-467-8956.

COME ONE – COME ALL! 19th Annual Community Expo

COME ONE – COME ALL! It’s time for the 19th Annual Nordonia Hills Chamber of Commerce Community Expo – Saturday, March 26, 10 – 4:30, at Nordonia High School. This experience is a bit like having a baby – it takes 9 months of hard work to see it all happen. Each year I am amazed by the generosity of our local businesses – not just with their dollars, but with their time as well. Chairperson Julie D’Aloiso works well into the night to make up for the daylight hours she spends away from her business SpiderCat Marketing. Brittny Shay (Grande Oaks & Grande Pavilion), Dr. Jim Krystosik (Other Side of Medicine Health Center), and Alison Meredith (Williamsburg Townhomes) do quite a juggling act as well. Expo Committee members Gary Jackson (Jackson Comfort Systems), Gary Miller (Gary Miller Productions), Ken Brooks (Bolinds Solutions Services Inc.), Mike Sims, Rich Purgert (ABC Rental Center East) and Rhonda Solomon (No Time Cleaning) made time in their busy days to fulfill their Expo commitments – and all of this is voluntary, as in “unpaid”! Cindy Batchelor (Western Reserve Printing), Scholarship Chairperson, is an integral part of the Expo experience and has accumulated a terrific assortment of raffle prizes to fund our Scholarships. And it’s all thanks to these wonderful people who have worked tirelessly to make this event the biggest and best ever.

And it really is bigger and better! We have more fun planned than ever before: curling and hand grip challenges at the Duathlon/Pump N’ Run Booth, face painting in the cafeteria, grip strength tests, balance assessments, stretching demonstrations, BP, cholesterol and glucose screenings from UH Bedford Medical Center, a drawing for a LG 23” Flat Screen TV from Ridgway Insurance, Church of the Hills is having a drawing for a Kindle with 3G and Wi-Fi, free bowling passes form Roseland Lanes, discount coupons from Spennato’s, clowns and free Bibles from the United Methodist Church of Macedonia, muscle tension and stress scans from Crossroads Chiropractic – and so much more!

Stop by the Nordonia Hills Duathlon and Pump N' Run booth and pre-register for the May 21st athletic event!!! There will be a weight curling contest at the booth on the day of the EXPO. Competitors will curl a percentage of their body weight for as many repetitions as possible and the top man and woman will be crowned. There will also be several implements (IronMind Rolling Thunder, BLOB50, and Captains of Crush grippers) set up to test your grip strength. Contact Mark Nolan at pumpnrun316@roadrunner.com for any questions about the Duathlon and Pump N’ Run.

This event is free and open to the Nordonia Hills community and all relatives and friends. The Scholarship Raffle will begin at 4:30 on Saturday, so be sure to get your tickets before hand. And bring your appetite! We’ll be selling pizza from Spennato’s and chicken sandwiches from Chick-fil-A. This is a wonderful opportunity to catch up on neighborhood news after the long winter AND a great way to learn about what products and services are available right here in your back yard. As you can see, the Nordonia Hills Chamber of Commerce really knows how to “Discover Nordonia Hills”!

Chamber News - Feb. 18, 2011

Booth space is still available for the March 26 NHCOC Community Expo - “Discover Nordonia Hills”. Sponsorships are also available until March 1 to get the most from your advertising dollar. The longer you wait after that date, the fewer times your business name will be in print! Sponsors will have a link on our web site; at the very least, the name of your business will be on a blast email sent to over 900 businesses each week. Don’t miss this opportunity to build relationships with over 80 other businesses and to promote your product or services to over 2,000 Expo attendees. How long would it take you to pass out that many business cards? More than one day, I’m sure! Let us do the work for you. With every booth you get a table, 2 chairs, back curtain, table covering and skirting, 2 nametags, a listing on the Chamber web site and in the special section of the March 23 NewsLeader - even coffee and a doughnut to start your day! Call the Chamber Office at 330-467-8956 right away to let us begin promoting your business.

Hats off to our 2011 Expo sponsors: Platinum – UH Bedford Medical System and WeatherKing; Gold – Record Publishing, Nordonia Hills Schools and Jackson Comfort Systems; Silver – Cleveland Clinic, ABC Rental Center East and Grande Oaks & Grande Pavilion. The list of Bronze sponsor continues to grow; look for that list next week!

Let March be your lucky month. The 2011 Chamber Scholarship Raffle Committee is currently selling tickets for this annual fundraiser for scholarships for graduating Nordonia seniors. All items have a value of over $100! AND you get to pick the prize you want to win. Each raffle prize will have its own ticket box. You decide what prize you want and put your tickets in that box. No limit to the number of tickets you put in any box!!!! Renters no longer have to worry about winning a furnace tune-up. Our “empty nesters” won’t win 3 months of free day care – unless that is the prize they choose. Tickets are now available at the Chamber Office. $20 for 25 tickets, $5 for 6 tickets or $1 each. For more information, call the Chamber Office at 330-467-8956.

Congratulations to NHCOC member Ridgway & Associates Agency (5929 Darrow Rd. in Hudson) for joining the 1,000 independent agents who represent the companies of Utica Insurance Group. According to Macedonia resident Kevin Waldron, VP of Ridgway & Associates, Ridgway & Assoc. is excited to partner with Utica to offer an expanded product line to business and commercial ventures in Northeast Ohio.

Looking for the latest news in Nordonia Hills? Register for breaking news e-mails with the NewsLeader. The link is at the top of the web page next to the log in button. This is a really reliable way to get news - all fact, no fiction - all before it gets into the paper! I signed up - you should, too! It's easy! http://www.the-news-leader.com/

Help us welcome the following local businesses as new Nordonia Hills Chamber of Commerce members.

New member Jet Systems Inc. has been in business for ten years. This local company, located at 9260 E. Valley View Rd. in Macedonia, dispatches steel for the Cleveland area and provides trucks to haul steel. For more information, contact Denise Edmiston at dedmiston@pgtrucking.com.

The Chamber would like to welcome new member Mary Leben, independent consultant for Mary Kay Cosmetics. Whether you’re interested in beauty products or healthy skin, they have what you’re looking for. With over 24 years in business, Mary is keeping up with what women want. For more information contact Mary Leben at www.marykay.com/mleben.

Environmentally conscious BoLinds Solutions Inc. is here to provide you with all of your computer and office needs. They are sure to make your projects a success, whether it’s web design or gap analysis and modification. They are there to help. Contact Ken Brooks at ken@bolinds.com or visit www.bolinds.com.

From gift baskets to pharmacy supplies to office supplies new member Joshen Paper & Packaging can fill your packaging needs. To find out how this eco-friendly company can help, contact local resident Joe Perrine at jperrine@joshen.com or visit the website at www.joshen.com.

New local business Hudec Dental, located at 845 E. Aurora Rd. in Macedonia has the latest technological advances in oral cancer screenings as well as a full range of many other dental services. Contact John Hudec or visit www.hudecdental.com for all your dental needs.

Coffee Shop Etiquette

Is your local Panera Bread or Chick-fil-A now someone's office? It is in my neighborhood. And sometimes, the business chatter takes away from my enjoyment of lunch! It might be time to set some guidelines for those "coffee shop workers".

1. Don't spread out. Keep your work contained to a small table. You don't need a table for 6 - leave that for diners.
2. Buy something. A good rule of thumb is to buy one coffee or snack every hour you're there. Be a patron - not a squatter!
3. Be quiet. This is not the place for a long business call or loud conversations.
4. Don't overstay. Set a time limit. I heard that in some Panera Bread facilities, they cut off the internet at a set time.
5. Meet one or two people only. This is not free meeting space. Unless everyone is eating a meal, make other arrangements.
6. Tip! It's not necessary to add to the tip jar, but if you spend a lot of time at a certain restaurant, it's a good idea to be nice to the people behind the counter.

More and more restaurants have WiFi now, so it might be good to share the tips above. As our work becomes more mobile, we need to learn a new set of good manners!

Chamber News - 1-10-11

Congratulations to our NHCOC President Eric Daniel (Thompson Hine LLP) for being selected as a “Rising Star” Attorney by Super Lawyers. Ohio Super Lawyers name the "Rising Stars" based on independent voting from Ohio lawyers for the best up-and-coming lawyers they have personally observed in action. Only 2.5% of Ohio’s attorneys were named Rising Stars. Attorneys must be 40 years old or younger to receive this honor. Good work, Eric!

It’s easy for business people to “Get Connected” at Dos Coronas Mexican Restaurant (269 E. Highland, Macedonia 44056)! On Thursday, Jan. 20, 6-8 PM, area business people are invited to join new and existing Chamber members for an event designed to showcase our new members and acquaint others with all the benefits and savings of membership. New members (since July 2010) will have a display table and 3 minutes to present their products and/or services. Everyone will have the opportunity to expand their list of contacts through one-on-one conversations and even win a prize. Admission is $10; new members will also have a display table at their disposal. Refreshments and soft drinks are included. A cash bar is available. Any business contemplating joining this Chamber is strongly encouraged to attend – we’ll make it worth your time! Special discounts will be offered to new memberships that night. Please call the Chamber Office at 330-467-8956 to RSVP.

Are you ready to “Discover Nordonia Hills?” That’s the theme for the 19th Annual Community Expo. This year’s Expo (Saturday, March 26, 2011) is all about promoting the local products, services and resources. Are you looking for more exposure for your business? You can find more information or register now at www.nordoniahillschamber.org/expo . This is your chance to save some money on your booth registration - if you register before February 1st, you can take advantage of our Early Bird Discount! We are also offering discounts on Chamber Membership if you join while registering for the Expo! The 2011 Community Expo is brought to you by the Nordonia Hills Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Nordonia Hills City Schools, and co-promoted by The NewsLEADER. Our Platinum Sponsors to date are UH-Bedford Medical Center and WeatherKing. Jackson Comfort Systems is our first Gold Sponsor and South Pointe Hospital is returning as a Silver Sponsor. Bronze Sponsors include Hageman Pest Control, Allstate Insurance – Eisner Agency and SpiderCat Marketing. This is an event you don’t want to miss!

Shop Local!!!!! And Always Buy Chamber!

Halloween and Thanksgiving are past and, Christmas and Chanukah will soon be here. As this is the season to be jolly, every Tom, Dick, and Molly should shop local at the numerous Nordonia Hills small businesses. That would have many benefits for the environment, for the shopper and for Nordonia Hills’ local economy.

Shopping locally saves gasoline and its environmental pollution effects. It saves the shopper's time, and wear on the shopper's car. Our local merchants provide great service including special ordering products or sizes not in stock, and making suggestions on how to solve household problems that we hadn't thought about. Bringing our business to local merchants helps to keep those commercial taxes paying into Nordonia Hills’ property tax accounts, thus keeping residential property taxes lower. Nordonia Hills merchants generally employ local residents and donate to local churches and community programs.

Unfortunately, many Nordonia Hills residents aren't aware of all the products sold locally or the likelihood that they can be special-ordered and available locally within a day or two. Check the Nordonia Hills Chamber of Commerce Business Directory (online) to find out which of our local businesses belong to our chamber and have made the commitment to support our business community.

All of us can work together to help make Nordonia Hills a "sustainable community" by shopping local this holiday season to help our local environment, our local economy, and of course, ourselves.

Start 2011 with a FRESH OUTLOOK

ATTENTION AREA BUSINESSES - Start 2011 with a FRESH OUTLOOK – and a fresh list of contacts! Northeast Ohio STILL needs the products and services that you offer. Let us help you get the word out! Chamber membership = more contacts = more business! NOW is the time to make the investment in your business. Make us your business partner! The Nordonia Hills Chamber of Commerce “FRESH OUTLOOK” MEMBERSHIP DRIVE is in full swing. All new members (through 12/31/2010) receive: $35 discount on your New Member Investment, 2 FREE Members Only advertising emails to 800+ emails ($25 value) PLUS a FREE set Member-to-Member mailing labels ($25 value).

Membership savings and benefits include the VIP member-to-member discount program, savings on health insurance, workers’ comp, and office supplies, use of bulk postage permit, promotion opportunities and exposure at networking events. Don’t let another year go by with Chamber membership sitting on your “to-do” list. NOW is the time to make this wise business decision. Call the Chamber office at 330-467-8956 or go online to become a member today.

Time again to show the love - for your own community!!

It’s time again to show the LOVE! Reserve Tuesday, Dec. 7 for the NHCOC Annual Networking Party & Auction. This year the fun will be from 5-8 PM at Gambitta’s Party Center in Northfield. Admission is $5 plus 5 non-perishable foods (please check expiration dates). First Merit is sponsoring the mixed drinks again this year. All attendees are asked to ring a dish to share - last names beginning ‘A’ to ‘H’, please bring a dessert. All others, please bring an appetizer. Pick-a-Prize auction items are now being collected in the Chamber Office. Please call our committee chair Jami Aquino 330-384-7452(FirstMerit) or the Chamber Office (330-467-8956) regarding sponsorships ($25 - $500) or donations. The $500 and $100 level sponsorships include free raffle tickets and a reserved table for your group. All sponsorships include a logo link to your business. For more information on this event, please go to our web site.

I know the economy is bad, but this is the time to open your hearts to others whose need is greater. The Chamber Holiday Party supports the Emergency Assistance Center that feeds hungry people RIGHT HERE IN NORDONIA HILLS! Just a small sponsorship gives you recognition on our web site, the local newspaper and on the weekly email sent to over 900 emails. Your raffle prize donation enables us to raise funds to give some of those deserving families a little bit of Christmas fun. Please plan to attend our Holiday Party – and bring your co-workers! By working together, all our struggles will be easier.

Sponsors to date include: Sleigh Bell Sponsors are Jackson Comfort Systems, Key Bank, Ridgway Insurance and Hageman Pest Control, Elmcroft of Sagamore Hills is a Jingle Bell Sponsor and The Boyle Group and Crossroads Chiropractic Center are Silver Bell sponsors. Corporate food donations will be coming from Panini’s of Sagamore Hills, Spennato’s Ristorante, Winking Lizard and Chick-fil-A.

Shop Nordonia Hills first during this holiday season and throughout the coming year. From shoes to house additions, landscaping to cakes and cookies, Nordonia Hills businesses have just about anything you can buy out of town, at a competitive price. Our local merchants provide reliable products and good service AND they know their customers. So before you spend your money out of town or online, do your homework and check locally first. You’ll save a trip, find a bargain and boost our home economy. Here are more reasons to shop local:

• Local business owners contribute to more local fundraising and 501(c)3’s.
• Local businesses provide a majority of jobs.
• Local businesses support other local businesses.
• The business community becomes reflective of this community’s unique culture.
• The sales taxes I pay support this community and county: fixing my roads, maintaining the parks, etc.
• Competition and diversity result in fair prices and more choices.
• Shopping local reduces my carbon footprint.
• Local business owners invest in the community and have a vested interest in the future of this community.
• My hometown is more important than a cheap pair of underwear!