Chamber Chat June 2015

A PUBLICATION OF THE LOGAN COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Business of the Month

Darlene Shick Board Member of the Month

In this Edition

Buck’s recognized for

Generations of success

Leadership Logan County Applications now Available

PAGE 2

Business of the Month

BENEFIT: Chamber members receive EDUCATION through legislative events and free business and entrepreneurial seminars.

Inspired by the plight of the dairy farmer, Howard Buck in 1949

founded what would be known as National Soft Water Service in

West Liberty, Ohio.

While working as a field man for Borden Milk Company in Shelby County, Buck first realized the need for soft water after watching dairy farmers use rods and hammers to break through the calcium deposits on the outlets of their milk house heaters. Compounding their problems, the dairymen’s utensils– then washed in hard water-accumulated iron and calcium, forming a film called “milk stone”. Milk stone was a haven for bacteria growth, resulting in high bacteria count and loss of income for the dairymen. In an effort to help find a remedy , Buck traveled to Illinois, which at that time was the headquarters for the water condi-tioning industry in its infancy. Howard started out of a rented garage making installs with his Studebaker car.

Dairy farmers were so impressed with the water softening known as “exchange” tanks; many had them in-stalled in their homes. As the use of in-home water increased with the advent of automatic washing ma-chines, water softeners were also developed to automatically create their own brine solutions from dry salt, and regenerate themselves.

Lowell Buck, the son of Howard, was the 2nd generation family business owner. Lowell was instrumental in evolving the company from the exchange tank procedure to the fully automated water softeners. Estab-

lished routes would then deliver bagged salt to commercial and residential customers.

In 1985, National Soft Water Service opened up a conven-ient full service branch store in Bellefontaine offering a full line of water softener salt. Another Branch store was soon opened in Marysville, Ohio. In 1989 Lowell approached his son Steve Buck with the idea of beginning a forklift delivery wholesale distribution division. This formed the 3rd genera-tion development of the family business and the beginning of the wholesale salt division. In 1993, National Soft Water Service sold the water conditioning entity to Hague Water Conditioning in Groveport, Ohio. At that time National Salt Distributors, Inc. was formed.

In 2013, after graduating college, Steve’s Daughter, Delanie Buck, joined the business which formed the 4th generation development of the family business.

National Salt Distributors, Inc. today has 2 divisions of business, the Aqua Systems Retail Division and Wholesale.

Aqua Systems Retail Division – The retail division consists of two retail locations, 1515 S. Main St.,

Bellefontaine and 806 Columbus Avenue, Marysville, Ohio. As Steve likes to say about their retail stores,

“Salt is just the beginning!” The Retail Division includes full service Aqua Systems water treatment dealer-

ship offering sales, service, financing and rentals. In 2002 NSD began a Residential/Commercial Delivery

service for Logan & surrounding counties. NSD was the first to offer state of the art delivery software to pro-

vide you with the best delivery means available. NSD can schedule a convenient hassle-free delivery to

meet your salt & water needs. Water cooler sales and rentals are also available for delivery and set up.

L to R: John Corwin, Chris Pratt, Cindy Moyer,

Thom Woods, Delanie Buck, Randy Lattimer, Steve

Buck, Merle Coblentz and missing Steve Kingrey

Cont. from pg. 2 Wholesale Division –The wholesale division is located along with their retail store, at

1515 South Main Street, Bellefontaine. Since the late 80’s NSD has become Ohio’s

leading supplier of Cargill Salt products. Steve says, “We distribute a wide variety of

salts such as, softener salt, deicing salt, food grade and agricultural salt. We provide

all types of specialized deliveries from the basic flatbed delivery to van, bulk pneumat-

ic, and bulk dump. We offer quantity discounts for salt orders starting at 6-pallets up

to full truckload orders of 18-pallets or 25 ton”. National Salt’s distribution area covers

the greater part of Ohio where they service a wide array of customers such as water

conditioning dealers, grocery stores, hardware, mini-marts, prisons, gas stations,

farms, landscapers, municipalities, colleges/universities, drive thru’s, and carwashes. Buck adds, “Our whole-

sale division realizes that the success of our business is dependent on the success of our customer’s business.

As an added value supplier NSD also distributes mulch & firewood products to our wide range of customers.”

Steve Buck is the President & CEO of National Salt Distributors & Aqua Systems. Our staff includes Cindy Mo-yer, Office Manager, Thom Woods, Bellefontaine Retail Manager, Delanie Buck, Wholesale Sales Representa-tive, Steve Kingrey, Marysville Store Manager, John Corwin, Wholesale Transportation, Randy Lattimer, Water Treatment Sales Manager, Merle Coblentz, Water Treatment Tech/Installer, Chris Pratt, Home/Commercial Delivery Representative.

When asked what separates National Salt from their competition, Buck states “Its good customer service & quality products, plain & simple. Since 1949, NSD has continued to build their business on customer satisfac-tion, service, honesty, & quality products. All of our products are guaranteed to work as promised. We appreciate our customers and strive to express that to them with each and every visit”.

“We are very involved and committed to this community. Since we are a family owned & operated company you can be assured your money is staying local. Our convenient retail store offers quick in-and-out service. We offer a weekly salt sale, and as always, the 11th bag is free! I have received a lot of satisfaction from belonging to and being Past President of the Bellefontaine Rotary Club and a 28-year member and former 6-year Logan County Area Chamber of Commerce Board Member and enjoy the fulfillment of being involved and giving back to the community,” says Steve.

Steve Buck shares, “I would like to personally thank the Logan County Area Chamber of Commerce for supporting Logan County businesses for over 70 years now. The Chamber has been a valuable resource for all businesses and I would encourage any business, small or large, to get involved today and help support them in their mission to expand our community with new business and development.

This August NSD celebrates 66 years in business!

We thank the Buck family for their 28 years as Logan County Chamber of Commerce members and their years of service to Logan and surrounding counties. Congratulations to Steve and his team on being the June Business of the Month!

Safety Awards Celebrated

The Logan County Area Safety Council held their annual CEO Breakfast and

Awards Ceremony on Thursday May 21st. This event was held at Ohio Hi Point

Career Center with a catered breakfast provided by Ohio Hi Point.

The safety council campaign is open to all companies, corporations, groups and

employers in Ohio. Members work with their safety councils to determine

accident records. Accident statistics are used for the purpose of determining

eligibility for safety awards and are not reported to the Occupational Safety and

Health Administration or any other enforcement agency.

Awards are presented to qualifying businesses in the following categories:

Group Award - lowest incident rate in each group;

100% Award - zero injuries or illnesses resulting in a day or more away from work in the previous

calendar year;

Achievement Award - 25-percent reduction in incident rate from the previous year;

Special Award - at least 500,000 hours and at least six months without an injury resulting in a day or more away from work. Recipients of this year’s Safety Awards from Logan County are as followed.

-Spartan Nash- Group Award

-Best Quality Pizza Group, Inc./Donatos – 100%

-EWH Spectrum- 100%

-J & G Demolition, LLC-100%

-Ohio Hi Point Career Center-100%

-Perry Township-100%

-Roberts Machine-100%

- Bellefontaine City Schools – Special & Achievement

- Belletech Corporation- Special

- Custom Staffing - Achievement

- Benjamin Logan Local Schools-Special, Group, 100%, and Achievement

- Honda Transmission Manufacturing- Special, Group, 100%, and Achievement

- Mobile Instrument Services- Special, Group, 100%, and Achievement

- Honda of America East Liberty Plant – Achievement

- Double D Construction – Group and 100%

- Green Hills Retirement Community- Achievement and 100%

- Holdren Brothers, Inc. – Achievement and 100%

- ISS America – Group and 100%

- Logan County Electric Cooperative – Group and 100%

- Logan County Metropolitan Housing Authority- Achievement and 100%

- R.T.C. Industries, Inc. – Achievement and 100%

For more photos on the event please visit: facebook.com/logancountychamber

PAGE 6 BENEFIT: Members receive NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES through Chamber sponsored events.

Tourism

A and E Camping Resort has formally been known as Get Away Lakes. Eric and Amanda

Siefring purchased this property in 2010 in hopes of restoring the beauty and productivity of this

campground, offering the community a family oriented experience in nature’s delight. At the time of

purchase the campground had approximately 50 campsites; since that time sites have been added

for a total of 72 offering water, electric, and sewer, water and electric, primitive, and winter sites.

There has also been the addition of six cabins ranging from deluxe to primitive, a lodge for larger

groups, reunions and weddings. This campground also now offers outdoor weddings.

Things to do – There are three stocked ponds for fishing and a designated swimming area with

beach, 40 acres of wood trails for hiking and golf cart riding, sand volleyball, horse shoes, basket-

ball court, holiday activities for Memorial Day - Fourth of July - Christmas in July – Labor Day - Hal-

loween, adult and children’s activities offered most weekends throughout the summer.

Sites – A and E offers sites ranging from primitive to full hook-ups. These sites can be rented daily,

monthly and seasonally. Winter sites are also available with full hook-ups. There is also a bath

house available for campers’ use with

showers and restrooms.

Gatherings – Outdoor Wedding packages

available with outdoor chapel in wooded

area over-looking a pond. Also available for

receptions, family gatherings, graduation

parties, and reunions are two large areas:

The Recreation Center building with elec-

tric, Reception Hall with heat, A/C, electric

and The Lodge with heat, A/C, two full baths, full kitchen and TV.

Cabins and Lodge – Primitive Cabin has a set of wooden bunks, Beach Cabin has two queen beds

– A/C, microwave, mini fridge, Standard Cabins have two queen beds, full bath, heat A/C, micro-

wave, mini fridge and TV. Deluxe Cabins have one queen bed, one set double bunks, two couches,

TV, heat, A/C, full bath, full kitchen and the Lodge sleeps 20 adults with three bedrooms, two full

baths, full kitchen, laundry room, large screen TV and three couches.

For more information please contact Eric at 937-593-0220 and visit our website at

www.aandecampingresort.com

PAGE 7 BENEFIT: Members gain CREDIBILITY by being part of an organization that has served the community for over 70 years.

Membership News

On Saturday June 20th, an informational summit is to be held at Union Station that will begin the process of inte-grating adult vocational and leadership training via a sustainability model providing second chances in life. Cherry Street Mission Ministries of Toledo, Ohio in collabo-ration with CSI (Community Service Institute) will hold an important dialogue that requires your attention and feedback between the hours of 10:00am and 1:00pm with lunch provided. This meeting will focus on how a community can effectively provide education, training and job placement by working together. The approach to this is so simplistic, but brilliant and unique at the same time. The time together will be especially beneficial to those who are business owners, in management positions or involved in Human Resources. Input is valued from those who are invested in the community and experienced in the dynamics of employment and how it affects the community as a whole.

To reserve a spot for this summit please call (419)306-5960 or email dpritt@cservei.com

New Member Campaign Happening...

PAGE 8

Board Member of the Month Darlene Shick, Logan County Chamber of Commerce Board Member of the Month

This month we would like to recognize Darlene Shick as the Logan County

Chamber of Commerce Board Member of the Month.

Darlene Shick is a realtor with Zimmerman Realty at Indian Lake and our

Indian Lake Chamber Board Liaison. Darlene is currently the President of the

Indian Lake Chamber of Commerce

Prior to Zimmerman Realty, Darlene was with the US Postal Service for 36

years and served on various postal district steering committees.

Darlene has lived on a farm most of her life; her husband Gary is a full time farmer and they have

been married for over 46 years! Gary was one of the original soil conservation and no tillage farm-

ers to work to help improve the quality of Indian Lake. They have no livestock Darlene tells us,

just a couple of horses, cats and two dogs! The rest is all grain farming now. Darlene and Gary

have 2 daughters and 5 grandchildren.

Darlene states, “ I find the Chambers to be very interesting and the support from the community

with volunteers and sponsors is amazing. The board members are so dedicated and efficient, and

always are willing to help. Logan County is progressing and it is great to be a part of both of these

organizations.”

Thank you Darlene for donating your time and service to Logan County and The Indian Lake and

Logan County Chambers of Commerce!

BENEFIT: the Chamber champions BUY LOCAL, encouraging residents to support local businesses.

Legislative Meeting Tuesday June 9th 7:30am

Tuesday June 9th our Legislative meeting with feature Susan Bailey-Evans and Eric Welty who are

both with Logan County Jobs and Family Services and Ohio Means Jobs. Susan Bailey-Evans is the

Director of Logan County Department of Jobs and Family Services and Ohio Means Jobs and has

been in this position since 2012. Welty is the Workforce Supervisor at Logan County DJFS and has

held that position since January of 2013.

They will be talking with the group about the achievements of Logan County Jobs and Family Ser-

vices and Ohio Means Jobs.

Join us for your morning coffee and hear more about what is happening in Logan County and our

local workforce.

Applications are now available for Leadership Logan County. The purpose of this valuable program

is to:

To build leaders in Logan County

Encourage personal growth and development

A way to give back to the community

Familiarize participants with all that Logan County has available

Applicants are selected on their own merits through the application process conducted by our

Leadership Steering and Selection Committee. Class size is limited to the first 20 applicants.

This program is a nine month program that will run from September to May and will meet on the

third Tuesday each month from 8am to 4pm. Each month will focus on a different topic and

address a new area of leadership skill building, critical issues and topics pertaining to Logan County.

To download your Leadership application go to: http://www.logancountyohio.com/leadership-logan-

county.html or follow up with the Logan County Chamber of Commerce by calling 937.599.5121

or emailing: info@logancountyohio.com.

Hope to Hear From You Soon!

Chamber Events

Monthly Coffee Hour

June’s Coffee Hour will be at

Sweet Aromas on Thursday

June 4th at 8:00am

Come join the Chamber for an

opportunity to network with other

local business representatives and

share about your company.

Chamber Events

Next HR Quarterly Luncheon is Tuesday

June 23rd

Hosted by the Ohio Chamber of Commerce

Held at: Café 212

From 11:30am—1:00pm

Please RSVP to Erin at 937-599-5121 or

info@logancountyohio.com

Chamber Member Appreciation

Lunch and Learn

The Logan County Chamber of Commerce would like to thank our

members for their support and membership.

Come join us on Tuesday August 25th and learn more about all of

the benefits you receive as a Chamber Member.

Lunch provided by Café 212

More Details to Follow.

PAGE 11 BENEFIT: Gain AWARENESS for your business through special advertising in the Chamber Chat, available only for members.

Membership and Ribbon Cutting

The Northern Extension of the Simon Kenton Trail had a ribbon cutting on Friday May 15th, 2015.

Eric Ober, Midwest Regional Manager of the Rail-to-Trail Conservancy, addresses local residents and members of the Simon Kenton Pathfinders organization during a Friday afternoon grand opening ceremony of the 16-mile extension of the Simon Kenton Trail at the Carter Avenue terminus. Cyclists can now use the trail system to travel 107 miles from the “top of Ohio” – the highest elevation at Logan County’s Campbell Hill – “to the bottom of Ohio” – the lowest elevation along the Ohio River in Hamilton County. “You guys have really set the stage for what can be done in small towns”, he said. “The fact that you did 16 miles in one swipe is a pretty amazing thing.” Mayor Ben Stahler credited the many businesses and donations noting that $50,000 contri-butions from the Mary Rutan Foundation and Honda of America got the ball rolling while other busi-nesses such as Citizens Federal Savings & Loan and the AcuSport Corporation were important com-munity partners. “It took three things to make this happen”, the mayor said, “Vision, generosity and cooperation.”

Nancy Lokai-Baldwin, president of the Simon Kenton Pathfinders said local bicyclists first dreamed of bringing a trail to the area in 1997. She credited Adam Brannon, who was Bellefontaine mayor at the time when discussion of extending it into Logan County first began. “I’m just happy to see that it is finally finished and to see people enjoying it,” he said.

More information about the trail or getting involved with the Simon Kenton Pathfinders organization is available on line at www.simonkentonpathfinders.org

Credits to Bellefontaine Examiner – Thank you!

The Northern Extension

NEW CHAMBER MEMBERS:

James Floors & Interiors Center for Traditional Martial Arts 139 S. Main Street 5391 Co Rd 28 Bellefontaine, OH 43311 Zanesfield. OH 43311 Owner: Dick James Owner: Ron Smith

PAGE 12

Attend the Safety Council Meeting June 18th at 7:30am

Third Party Administrator

Safety Council is a monthly program hosted by the Logan County Chamber of Commerce and held at Ohio Hi Point in the Tech Center.

Please join us on Thursday May 21st at 7:30 am at Ohio Hi Point for the Logan County Safety Council meeting. This month Safety Council members will hear from Ben Kennedy, who is a Bellefontaine Firefighter/EMT and Paramedic. Ben will be talking about first responders, and basic first-aid.

Come enjoy your morning coffee with the Logan County Safety Council.

BENEFIT: Members are REFERRED as the Chamber office receives hundreds of inquiries each month about our community.

Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) Offers FREE Prospective Billing and Safety Seminars for Private Employers

BWC is switching to the insurance industry standard of prospective billing for employer premiums and is offering seminars to provide answers and details about prospective billing. This includes:

The reason for the transition and its benefits to employers;

How BWC will cover the costs of this change with a transition credit;

Transition timelines and important dates to remember;

Essential information and new requirements for payroll reporting;

Changes to deadlines for rating plans and BWC programs.

Limited availability for seating! Please RSVP directly to BWC by calling or emailing using the information provided below with the seminar you wish to attend. Please include your name, job title, policy number, email, and phone number.

Locations: June 16 – Cleveland 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. BWC Customer Service Office 4800 E. 131st St., Suite A Garfield Heights, OH 44105 Phone: (216) 584-0355 Email: Sandra.T.14@bwc.state.oh.us

June 17 – Cincinnati 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. BWC Customer Service Office 8650 Governor’s Hill Drive, Suite 400 Cincinnati, OH 45249 Phone: (513) 583-4403 Email: Shannon.M.1@bwc.state.oh.us

June 19 – Cincinnati 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. BWC Customer Service Office 8650 Governor’s Hill Drive, Suite 400 Cincinnati, OH 45249

Phone: (513) 583-4403 Email: Shannon.M.1@bwc.state.oh.us

June 23 – Canton 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. BWC Customer Service Office 339 E. Maple St., Suite 200 North Canton, OH 44720 Phone: (330) 430-3609 Email: David.B.12@bwc.state.oh.us

June 23 – Dayton 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. BWC Customer Service Office 3401 Park Center Drive, Suite 100 Dayton, OH 45414 Phone: (937) 264-5230 Email: Kathaleen.C.1@bwc.state.oh.us

June 24 – Youngstown 10:00 a.m. to noon BWC Customer Service Office 242 Federal Plaza W., Suite 200 Youngstown, OH 44503 Phone: (330) 797-5506 Email: Heidi.F.1@bwc.state.oh.us

PAGE 14 BENEFIT: the Chamber facilitates many opportunities for INVESTMENT in the success of our community.

Upcoming Community Events

Discovery Riders

1st Annual

Belmont Stakes

Fundraiser June 6, 2015

937-935-6545

or driders@bright.net

For additional information contact Kathryn Sherer 937.599.7293

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is June 15

Please show your support by wearing something purple on

Monday June 15th

Please take a picture of your participation and send it to

eric.welty@jfs.ohio.gov

We will be putting together a photo board to showcase the

community support for this cause.

Thanks for your support: Adult Protective Services Team;

Logan County Department of Job and Family Services

Upcoming Community Events

Operation Street Smart Drug Education

The Franklin County Sheriff's Office created Operation

Street Smart in July 2002 as a way to take community

oriented policing to a new level. Street Smart is a collabo-

rative effort between D.A.R.E. and the Special Investiga-

tions Unit (SIU), which is the Sheriff's Office undercover

narcotics branch. The goal of Street Smart is to provide

current and up-to-date narcotics information on trends,

terminology, paraphernalia, and physiological effects to

those individuals who deal with today's youth on a daily

basis.

Join the Logan County Community on :

Tuesday September 8th from 6p-9pm

At the Bellefontaine High School Auditorium

For more information contact

The Logan County Chamber 937.599.5121

PAGE 16

100 S. Main St. Bellefontaine, OH 43311

facebook.com/logancountychamber

facebook.com/seelogancounty

info@logancountyohio.com

www.logancountyohio.com

tourism@logancountyohio.com

937-599-5121

Download Our App The Logan County Chamber is part of a national

network that connects chambers throughout the

country. Downloading the free My Chamber App is

useful for not only where you live, but also where

ever you travel.

Update your business information, add upcoming

events and share Hot Deals by logging into your

Chamber Master account. Call us with questions!

BENEFIT: Members receive a DIGITAL PRESENCE through the Chamber website and mobile application.

Paul Benedetti

President/CEO

937-599-5121

ceo@logancountyohio.com

Erin Henry

Member and Visitor Services

937-599-5121

info@logancountyohio.com

Jacquey Yoder

Member and Visitor Services

937-599-5121

tourism@logancountyohio.com

Yo Please visit the Community Calendar for upcoming events

throughout Logan County by clicking this link:

http://www.logancountyohio.com/index.html#section-calendar.