Serving the communities of Willoughby, Eastlake, Kirtland, Wickliffe,
Willowick, Willoughby Hills, Lakeline, and Timberlake
WELCOME TO OUR
NEW CHAMBER MEMBERS
REGISTER NOW!
With over 200 guests each year, you won't want to miss this opportunity to network and celebrate the businesses in the chamber of commerce.
The 2019 Annual Awards will recognize some of the best in local Business:
Small Business of the Year: Lake County Captains
Large Business of the Year: CT Consultants
Business Leader / CEO of the Year: Bill Streb, Streb Electric
Showcase Award: Process Technology
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
"SPOTLIGHT ON.... BILL RIGO"
Each month we introduce you to one of our dedicated board members who support our thriving business community. Learn more about the personal and professional lives of the people who lead the Willoughby Western Lake County Chamber of Commerce.
The chamber of commerce sat down with Bill Rigo, Director of Corporate Communications at Meister Media Worldwide . Bill is an incredible asset to the chamber of commerce. He designs our most compelling and beautiful marketing pieces including the logos and materials for the Annual Willoughby ArtsFest . This year, Bill will be the co-chair of the ArtsFest. His thoughtful leadership and artistic abilities will be taking the ArtsFest to new heights in 2019!
Q: What does your typical day look like and what are you currently working on?
A: My job is to promote the creativity and capabilities of Meister Media. My current to-do list has about 24 items on it, but I’m most excited about building out our “Meister Custom” business. This expanding part of our business provides custom marketing solutions. The turn-key solutions include; print, direct-mail, email, web development, video, webinars, events, client intel, and marketing consultation to our clients.

Q: What is your favorite blog or app?
A: Hard to pick one app (I just counted, I have over 200 on my phone). Most used other than email, text, calendar, and social media are; iHeartRadio, AroundMe, DirecTV, FoxSportsGo, and my home-automation apps.

Q: If you were on death row, what would you last meal be?
A: Wow, how did I get on death row? Oh yeah that. Never mind.
Ok, food — Appetizer: Oysters on the half shell; Soup: French onion (got hooked on this at the Blue Spruce); Entrée: Steak (Porterhouse, med-rare) & Lobster Tail (drawn butter) with a side of Asparagus & French fries (+ ketchup); Dessert: Coffee with Frangelico, and a Cassata cake (large enough to hide a plasma cutter inside to facilitate my escape).
NEW YEAR, NEW ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES WITH YOUR CHAMBER!
New Advertising Opportunities
As you start thinking about marketing for the upcoming year, we recommend using some of that budget for advertising through the chamber. Connect your business to active and engaged people in Lake County.

HOME & LIFESTYLE EXPO
March 2, 2019
* * NEW THIS YEAR * * ONE DAY AT THE MALL **
Reserve your sponsorship today!
The 2019 EXPO will be held at Great Lakes Mall on Saturday, March 2, 2019.
Click below to see all of the sponsorship packages available to give YOUR business visibility to potential customers!
JOIN US FOR THE FIRST
NETWORKING EVENT OF 2019!
Mark your calendar now for a productive start to thew new year!

JANUARY

FEBRUARY
Feb. 19, 2019: Coffee networking at Willoughby General Store
Feb. 22, 2019: Business After Hours with the Mentor and Eastern Lake County Chambers at the Mentor Ice Breakers Arena (event includes a ticket to the game)

MARCH
March 2, 2019: Home & Lifestyle EXPO at the Great Lakes Mall
March 6, 2019: Breakfast with the Mentor and Eastern Lake County Chambers at the Holiday Inn in Mentor ("Marijuana in the Workplace" presented by the ADAMHS Board)
March 15, 2019: Brewery Tour with A-1 Mr. Limo
March 19, 2019: Coffee networking
March 28, 2019: Coffee networking

Stay tuned for more exciting events this year!
NEW CHAMBER APP AVAILABLE NOW
As a chamber member, you will:
  • Receive push notifications from your organization
  • Access your Member Information Center
  • View member listings
  • Update your business profile information
  • Register, pay and check in for events
  • Interact with other members
  • Post & view jobs, hot deals and member-to-member specials

You can download the MemberPlus App, log in using their current credentials, and begin using it immediately
It's FREE to download and available for iOS and Google Play.
JOIN THE CHAMBER'S SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE
Are you passionate about improving opportunities for workforce development in Willoughby and Western Lake County?
Bring your ideas, talent, and energy to our Scholarship Committee. Quarterly meetings take place to support businesses and workforce development in Lake County.

To learn more, contact:
Jim Levine, EDP Chairman,
Owner, Express Employment Professionals
P: 440-571-5185
GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION
& RIBBON CUTTING FOR THE
FOUR POINTS BY SHERATON EASTLAKE
Tuesday, January 22, 2019
5:00pm: Event begins
5:30pm: Ribbon cutting
7:00pm: Event concludes
35000 Curtis Boulevard
Eastlake, Ohio 44095
2019 Collaborative Event LCDC
Legislative Breakfast Sponsorship Opportunities
Friday, March 22, 2019
American-Croatian Lodge 7:30AM

Distinguished Panels of our State and Local Elected Officials
$250 Sponsorship Includes:
·    Preferred logo and promotion placement in all print, social,
          and digital marketing
·    Special recognition from the stage
·    Your logo in the large screen PowerPoint
·    Two admission's to the Breakfast
Deadline to Sponsor by January 10, 2019 to be included in all above
Call the Chamber at 440-942-1632
STOCK UP ON FRESH OFFICE SUPPLIES
WITH YOUR OFFICE MAX CHAMBER DISCOUNT
Shop at any Office Depot or Office Max store to get exclusive member pricing. Use your discount for online purchases too!

TEXT " WilloughbySPC " to 555-888 to get your chamber store purchasing cars sent directly to your mobile device.
NEWS FROM SOCA
SOUTHERN OHIO CHAMBER ALLIANCE
Ohio Becomes First State in Nation to
Accept Taxes via Cryptocurrency 
Treasurer Mandel Launches OhioCrypto.com, Partnering with BitPay to Enable Ohio Businesses to Pay Taxes Using Cryptocurrency
 
For the first time in America, a state is enabling businesses the ability to leverage cutting-edge blockchain technology to pay taxes with cryptocurrency. With the launch of OhioCrypto.com, Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel is making Ohio the first state in the nation, and one of the first governments in the world, to accept tax payments via cryptocurrency.
 
"We are proud to make Ohio the first state in the nation to accept tax payments via cryptocurrency," said Treasurer Mandel. "We're doing this to provide Ohioans more options and ease in paying their taxes and also to project Ohio's leadership in embracing blockchain technology."
 
"The State of Ohio is the first major government entity offering its citizens the option to pay with cryptocurrency," said Stephen Pair, co-founder and CEO of BitPay. "With BitPay, Ohio can leverage blockchain technology and benefit from reduced risk and identity fraud as well as enabling quick and easy payments from any device anywhere in the world and get paid in dollars. This vision is at the forefront of moving blockchain payments into mainstream adoption."
 
Payments on the blockchain offer real time tracking, and cryptocurrencies cannot be transferred to third parties without user initiation. A minimal fee is charged to confirm the transactions and anyone can view all transactions on the blockchain network. Bitcoin is the only cryptocurrency currently eligible for payment at OhioCrypto.com, and the Treasurer's office looks forward to adding other cryptocurrencies in the future.
DID YOU MIX & MINGLE AT OUR
ANNUAL HOLIDAY MIXER?
The chamber's annual holiday mixer was a smashing success. We welcomed 140 chamber members to Willoughby Brewing Company for appetizers, beer samples, raffle prizes, photos with Santa, and lots of great networking. Hope you'll plan to join us next year for even more merriment!
THANK YOU TO OUR HOLIDAY MIXER SPONSORS
PLEASE SUPPORT THESE LOCAL BUSINESSES!
Did you take a photo with Santa?

Bonnie B Photography snapped the pictures and you can download them here! Share online or print for your office.
A few photos of our members enjoying the holiday mixer:
Ohio Small Business Development Center at
Lakeland wins state award for capital infusion
The Ohio Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Lakeland Community College was recently recognized once again for its outstanding efforts to assist small businesses with securing capital infusion.

The center received an Ohio SBDC Economic Impact Merit Recognition Award for work completed during the 2018 fiscal year that ran from Oct. 1, 2017 through Sept. 30, 2018.

Cathy Walsh, SBDC director at Lakeland and Certified Business Advisor®, attended the statewide conference that was held Nov. 14 and 15, in Columbus, Ohio to accept the award.

The Ohio SBDC at Lakeland received the merit recognition for exceeding their capital infusion goal by 330 percent. The initial goal was to help clients collectively obtain $9,700,000 in capital to invest in their businesses. That number was far exceeded with clients reporting $31,980,000 in capital infusion attributed to the assistance received from the Ohio SBDC at Lakeland.
Congratulations are in order for two of our chamber members. Cohen & Co and ThenDesign Architecture were recognized as part of the distinguished Weatherhead 100 list. Companies whose net sales were at least $100,000 in year one of five years required for application and over $1 million in year five. Winning companies must have employed a minimum of 16 people full time in the last year.

For more than 30 years, Weatherhead 100 has recognized the accomplishments of the region's fastest-growing companies, and no matter the industry, companies across Northeast Ohio clammer to make the list.

2019 SMALL BUSINESS LOAN SERIES
Thursday, January 31, 2019 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM Eastern
Location: City of Mentor Civic Center 8500 Civic Center Blvd, Mentor, 2nd Floor
Facilitated by Ohio SBDC at Lakeland Community College
Event is FREE but registration is REQUIRED
Thank you to the Lake County Economic Development Council for sharing this great presentation from Dr. Ted. Click here for the 2018 real estate and economic outlook presentation from Ted C. Jones, PhD., Chief Economist, Stewart Title Company.    Click on the image below to access his full presentation.
Up to 16 scholarships available to cover full tuition of biotechnology science program for fall 2019 semester
Open house slated for March 4
Lakeland's biotechnology science program has been awarded $80,000 from the Ohio Department of Higher Education to support 16 biotechnology science students for the 2019-2020 academic year.

The program, called "Choose Ohio First," will cover the cost of tuition and fees up to $5,000 for biotechnology science students who do not receive full PELL grants .

High school graduates who passed chemistry with a C or better are encouraged to apply if they fit the following criteria:


• First-time college student, College Credit Plus or transfer credits permissible
• Have an interest in a career in the laboratory biological sciences or data/analysis management as it pertains to biological data
• Be enrolled in the biotechnology science program at Lakeland
• Place into MATH 1650 or pass MATH 0950
• Reside in Ohio

"Students who receive this scholarship will have their tuition and books fully covered," said Dr. Joe Deak , program chair of the biotechnology science program. "We currently have eight students taking advantage of this funding."

Lakeland's biotechnology science program currently has more than a 95 percent placement rate into jobs or transfer to a four-year-college or university.

To learn more about getting the scholarship and careers in the field, make plans to attend the biotech o pen house Monday, March 4, during one of two times: noon or 6 p.m., in A-Building, room H-136, on Lakeland’s main campus, 7700 Clocktower Drive, 44094, Kirtland, or contact Dr. Joe Deak, biotechnology science program director at 440.525.7466 or [email protected] . 
CONSTANT CONTACT - A CHAMBER BENEFIT
Why do I love using Constant Contact?
I create our monthly newsletters in Constant Contact.
This platform has tons of templates to help you create effective marketing campaigns year round.

Here's the best part of using this program - once I launch an email campaign, I can log in to review valuable data.
I can review:
-How many people opened my email
-What percentage of people viewed my email on a mobile device vs. desktop
-What people clicked on
I use this data to drive future decisions for my marketing.

Also, Constant Contact will send you monthly marketing plans.
If you are as busy as we are, you know how valuable it can be to have your marketing plan created for you.

If you want to learn more about using this for your business, click on the button below!
LOOKING FOR BUSINESS PROPERTY
IN LAKE COUNTY?
EVENT DETAILS ADDED HERE WHEN AVAILABLE
THANK YOU to these chamber members who have recently renewed their membership for 2019!
This list reflects dues payments made between
November 29 and December 21, 2018.
A P I Pattern Works Inc.
A.R.J., Inc.
Ace Hardware
Agile Sign & Lighting Maintenance, Inc.
Aladdin Rents
Alpha Key Digital
Apollo Products
Astro Manufacturing & Design
Ball Gage & Inspection Inc.
Bangerter Law Office
Barbish Financial Group
Blackbird Interactive
Bob Lingenfelter, Life & Health Insurance
Brookdale Senior Living Solutions
BTA Automotive
Carbide Specialists, Inc.
Cary Goldstein D.D.S.
Cast Nylons Ltd.
Chick-Fil-A
City Of Willoughby
Cleveland Clinic Willoughby Hills
Cohen & Company
Commonwealth Lumber Company
Consolidated Metal Service, Inc.
Corks Wine Bar
CT Consultants Inc.
DAI Ceramics Inc
Dan Contento Insurance Agency, Inc.
DavED
Davis- Babcock Funeral Home
DeMilta Sand & Gravel Inc.
Digital Laboratories Inc
Direct Travel
DMG Group, The
Early Steps Learning Center
Emerald Glen Title
Essentialware - Global Principals
Extended Housing, Inc.
Farmers Insurance John Petrone Agency
Firenza Stone Inc.
Four Points by Sheraton Cleveland-Eastlake
Fowler's Mill Golf Course
Fusion Inc.
Garage Bar Willoughby, LLC
Gomillion Furniture Services Inc.
Great Lakes Publishing
Griffin Technology Group
Holden Arboretum Forest & Gardens
Josie Passafiume Advertising & Marketing
Kirtland Public Library
Kopachko Machining, Inc.
Kost Electric, Inc.
Kottler Metal Products, Inc.
La-Vera Party Center
Lake County Captains
Lake County YMCA
Laketran
Langa Tool
Lost Nation Sports Park
McDonald Equipment Company
McKinley Community Outreach Center
McMahon-Coyne-Vitantonio Funeral Home
Merhar Agency / Nationwide Insurance
Meyers Roman Friedberg & Lewis
Michael D. Stern, D.D.S., Inc.
Midwest Precision LLC
Mike's Home Improvement
Monreal Consulting
Morgan Tennis
Normandy Catering and Party Center
Northcoast Memorials
Ohio Payroll Plus
OsteoStrong
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
Paisley Farm LLC
PanelTech LLC
Permanent Solution Staffing, LLC
Plant Magic Florist
PMC Industries, Div AjaxTocco Mag. A Park
PrimeLending A Plains Capital Company
pulsart media, LLC
Rad Air of Wickliffe
RE/MAX GLR Realty Advisors
Ronco Service, Inc.
Rouhier Advertising Specialties
Sadar Group, The
Schofield Insurance Agency, The
Small Hands Big Dreams
Smolic Machine Company
Studio of Healing Arts
Sunlight Auto LLC
Synergy Physical Therapy and Wellness
T.C. Service Company
Thomas J Waina & Assoc.- Farmers Insurance
Tribune, The
Trucast, Inc.
United Industrial Sales, Company Inc.
Universal Metal Products
US Ultrasound Services.
Vintage Development Group
Wade Mitchell Mediation
Weiss North America, Inc.
Wickliffe Country Place
Willoughby Concrete Bldrs. Supply Inc.
Willoughby Hills Auto Repair
Woodhill Supply Inc.
X Press Printing Services Inc.