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Morris Receives Prestigious Columbus Award
Michael Morris, chairman, president and CEO, AEP, received the Columbus Award, the most prestigious award given by the Columbus Chamber, recognizing an area business professional for outstanding business and community leadership.
The award was presented by David P. Blom, president and CEO, OhioHealth and the Chamber's immediate past chairman, and John W. Partridge, Jr., president, Columbia Gas of Ohio and the Chamber's new chairman.
"Mike has devoted his expertise to build a better Columbus, leading AEP's commitment to build the Scioto Mile, a mile long system of bike and pedestrian paths, urban streets, new riverfront park spaces and activities along the Scioto River," said Blom. "In an integral role at AEP, Mike also brings national attention to Columbus for his knowledge and work on environmental issues. It is a true honor for me to bestow this year's award to a most-deserving recipient."
Morris received a unique piece of art created exclusively for the Columbus Award by Dawson Kellogg, assistant professor, dimensional studies program, the Columbus College of Art and Design.
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2010 Board of Directors Announced
During the Annual Meeting on Feb. 24, a new Board of Directors was introduced. David P. Blom, immediate past president, announced that Jack Partridge would take the helm as chairman of the Columbus Chamber. Melissa P. Ingwersen, president, JPMorgan Chase & Co., has taken on the role of chair-elect.
New to the board are:
- Robert D. Irwin, president and CEO, Sterling Commerce
- Jeff M. S. Kaplan, senior vice president, administration and planning, and special assistant to the president, The Ohio State University
- Stephen E. Kelly, senior vice president, Battelle, and president, National Security Global Business
- Catherine M. Lyttle, vice president of corporate communications and investor relations, Worthington Industries, Inc.
- Kathleen P. Murphy, president, MurphyEpson, Inc.
Retiring from the board are:
- E. Gordon Gee, president, The Ohio State University
- Dennison W. Griffith, president, Columbus College of Art & Design
- Thomas E. Hoaglin, retired chairman, President and CEO, Huntington Bancshares Incorporated
- Richard S. Langdale, managing partner, NCT Ventures, LLC
- Harley E. Rouda, Jr., president, Real Living Real Estate, LLC
Thanks to all our board members for their commitment and service to the Columbus Chamber. View the entire 2010 board of directors on the Columbus Chamber Web site.
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Go > Explore China
Chamber Introduces New Member Travel Program
 Join the Columbus Chamber for a journey of a lifetime. The new go > explore travel program will launch November 10-18 with a guided tour of China, featuring Beijing, Suzhou, Hangzhou and Shanghai.
Travelers will explore the third largest country and one of the oldest civilizations in the world—visiting renowned sites such as the Great Wall, Temple of Heaven, West Lake, Summer Palace, Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square.
An exceptional value, the Chamber tour is offered to members of the region's business community, their family, and friends for $2,399 per person, based on double occupancy. This tour is provided as a service by Premier World Travel and includes:
- Round-trip airfare from Port Columbus
- First-class hotel accommodations
- 20 meals
- Comprehensive sight-seeing
- Admissions per itinerary
- Opportunity to travel with other Chamber members
- And more
And it's hassle-free—all the details handled by Premier World Travel.
Space is limited. To learn more and reserve a seat, visit the Chamber's travel program page.
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New Study Shows Chamber of Commerce Members Offer Safer Bet When It Comes to Business Credit Risk
Chamber members pay their bills faster, possess better credit scores than other businesses
 The American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) announced the publication of a new study detailing the credit scores and payment behavior of 10 local chambers of commerce across the United States, comparing their member businesses with other regional, state and national business averages.
Produced by Cortera™, a community-driven business credit bureau, on behalf of ACCE, the study indicates chamber of commerce members possess an average credit score of 629, compared to a 557 average score for businesses at large. Such scores—the payment behavior from which they are derived—play a significant role in attracting lines of credit and securing favorable terms from lenders and suppliers.
"Chamber members have long been seen as responsible and reliable members of their community," said Mick Fleming, president and CEO of ACCE. "What this study indicates is that the perception is right. From a credit standpoint, chamber members on average are better businesses, and as a result they have significant advantages in obtaining the funds they need. In this economy and the tight credit environment we are experiencing, that's especially important."
Read more about the study in the ACCE news release.
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Tool Showcases Columbus Region to Recruits
Help potential recruits discover all the benefits of living in the Columbus region with the Columbus Chamber's free and easy online recruiting tool, a companion to LiveWorkPlayColumbus.com. It takes the work out of recruitment by allowing you to create two types of emails as part of your talent acquisition efforts:
- Generic messages that link to LiveWorkPlayColumbus.com
- Customized messages with specific information on neighborhoods, commute times, and cultural opportunities—when you're familiar with a particular recruit's interests
Recruiters, register now and get started!
For more information view our introductory video on YouTube or contact Andrea Applegate.
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State Launches New System for Regulatory Reform Updates
In an effort to help businesses with state regulation, the State of Ohio has launched an e-Notification system on its regulatory reform Web site (www.business.ohio.gov/reform) that allows subscribers to be alerted of the development, amendment or rescission of any rules within 13 regulatory agencies: Administrative Services, Agriculture, Commerce, Development, Environmental Protection, Health, Industrial Commission, Insurance, Job and Family Services, Natural Resources, Taxation, Transportation, and Workers' Compensation.
Businesses needing assistance in resolving a dispute with one of these agencies can contact an "ombudsman" who acts as a neutral liaison between the agency and the businesses affected by its rules and processes. All sides of the issue will be evaluated and strategies or options to resolve the dispute will be identified. Small businesses may also contact the Small Business Advocate for assistance.
Contact information for the agencies' ombudsmen and the Small Business Advocate is available on the Ohio Business Gateway's Web site.
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