Maximize Your Success at the Business2Business Network EXPO
 Central Ohio's premier business showcase and networking event, the Business2Business Network EXPO, is a little more than a month away. The Columbus Chamber wants to make sure that your participation is successful—a valuable tool to grow your business and expand your network.
What can you do to maximize your success? Here are some tips and tools for your consideration:
Market Your Company and the Business2Business EXPO
- Invite your customers to come. The EXPO is free to attend.
- Add Business2Business Network EXPO information to your email signature.
- Post the link to Business2Business Network EXPO (www.columbus.org/B2B) from your Web site.
- Mention the EXPO in your company newsletters or monthly billings.
- Forward the electronic communications you receive to your stakeholders.
- Use social media to help spread the word.
- Contact events@columbus.org for postcards that you may distribute to your clients.
Go Green
As a Business2Business exhibitor, you can elect to be showcased as a green product or service provider. What does this mean? If you are recognized as a green exhibitor, we will provide your exhibit table with green linen and balloon decor. Your company also will be highlighted on the event program as being green. Green exhibitors will be scattered randomly throughout the EXPO.
To qualify as a green exhibitor at the Business2Business Network EXPO, at least a portion of your products and services must be recognized as green.
Get Noticed
In a split second, potential customers decide whether they'll visit your booth or move on to the next exhibit. Some ways you can help ensure you get noticed include:
- Create an inviting space and an open environment.
- Include bold signage with a message highlighting your product or service.
- Incorporate activities and games to engage guests.
- Use premiums and giveaways.
- Use color, lighting and motion to draw attention to your exhibit and product line.
 Make a Great Impression
You only have a few moments to make a good impression. Some suggestions for doing this include:
- Stand to welcome your guests and greet them with a handshake.
- Smile! Be friendly but not overbearing.
- Refrain from using cell phones, eating or drinking in your exhibit area.
- Schedule breaks. There should be staff in your exhibit at all times.
- Ensure that exhibit personnel are your most knowledgeable, enthusiastic employees.
The Business2Business Network EXPO is produced by the Columbus Chamber with Presenting Partners CareWorks, the Columbus Dispatch, columbusjobs.com, and Monster. Promotional Partners include AT&T, the Columbus Dispatch, Experience Columbus, SWACO, and TechColumbus. Event partners include Leaders Alterra Real Estate Advisors, Columbia Gas, Xerox, Columbus C.E.O. Magazine, and the Ohio Environmental Council and Patrons AEP Ohio, Calfee, Halter & Griswold, Experience Columbus, G Consulting, Wells Fargo Insurance Services, Agil IT, and FastSigns. Additional support is provided by Columbus Chamber Partners Anthem, the Columbus Crew, CompManagement, Inc., and the Gahanna Area Chamber of Commerce, with media promotion provided by Bartha Audio Visual, 99.7 the Blitz, Classic Hits 103.9, and WMNI AM.
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Managed Care Open Enrollment Open Now through May 28
 The 2010 Managed Care Organization (MCO) Open Enrollment period began yesterday and will run through May 28. Occurring only once every two years, open enrollment is your opportunity to select an MCO. Managed care is important to your business because it helps employees realize a quick, safe return to work and enables you to minimize lost time, reduce costs and control future premiums.
The Columbus Chamber now endorses CareWorks as its MCO partner. CareWorks has demonstrated an effective focus on keeping claims in medical-only status and reducing lost time through early intervention and successful return to work. In fact, CareWorks achieved the No. 1 return to work performance of all MCOs during a seven-year period. [Source: Average of BWC's Quarterly MCO DoDM Results from 4th Quarter 2002 through 3rd Quarter 2009.]
Open enrollment ends May 28. To choose CareWorks, complete the enclosed enrollment form and fax it to CareWorks, toll-free, at 1-888-358-5319 before May 28. If your organization is already enrolled with CareWorks, you will be automatically re-enrolled. No further action is necessary.
There are no direct costs for MCO services. MCO fees are included with an employer's BWC premium. For more information please call Jason Bainum, program manager for the Columbus Chamber, at 614.225.6949. You can also contact CareWorks toll-free at 1.888.627.7586 or visit CareWorks online at www.careworks.com.
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Find Out How Health Care Reform Will Impact Your Company This Year
 In this new era of health care reform, many businesses need help navigating through complex compliance requirements. The Chamber's partner, Wells Fargo, can be your guide.
For instance, beginning this year many small businesses will be eligible for a government subsidy. And at the state level, the dependent age will increase to 28 for qualified dependents starting in July. These changes, along with a plethora of others, will reshape the health care landscape over the next 10 years.
If you are a Chamber member who participates in the Columbus ChamberPlan, Wells Fargo will evaluate your current plan to make sure you are receiving the best value, offer cost-saving recommendations, and guide you through health care reform to help you to capitalize on all opportunities.
To start planning for health care reform and learn how to best position your company, call Jamie Zelewicz at 614.324.2821 or 866.460.4609 ext.6 or email him at jamie.zelewicz@wellsfargo.com.
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Survey: Internships a Growing Trend in Columbus
 Chamber Offers Series of Workshops for Employers
A new buzz word among employers in Columbus is internships.
In 2009 the Columbus Chamber launched its internship initiative, helping to create awareness and education about internships through a Web portal, www.columbusinternships.com, and several webinars and workshops. The initiative has lead to the creation of nearly 250 new internships and more than 800 internships offered among 600 employers in the region.
A recent survey of college and university students in the region shows the program is working. Of the students surveyed, 69.3 percent said their internship experience in Columbus was at least above average. Nearly 70 percent of students felt their internship helped them connect with the Columbus community, and 71.4 percent of students surveyed felt they would likely stay in Columbus based on their internship experience.
Getting Started
With an emphasis on attracting and retaining young talent among Columbus businesses, these are promising numbers. The Columbus Chamber is continuing its efforts with a series of workshops hosted by internship consultant Dave Cofer.
"The Columbus Chamber's workshops are ideal for any organization that is either considering the use of interns or interested in learning more about the process," said Cofer. "Interns represent a great opportunity to introduce short-term, flexible resources into your business, while also offering a young person the chance to obtain valuable work experience."
Scheduled through the year in both in-person and webinar settings, the sessions are free for Chamber members and $25 for non-members. Take a look at our calendar of workshops and register for one today.
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Pedal Power: Bike to Work on May 17
Consider Biking invites Columbus CEOs, their friends, family and colleagues to get out of their cars and onto bikes as part of the first Cycling CEO Challenge on May 17. Join Columbus Mayor Mike Coleman, ODOT Director Jolene Molitoris, members of Columbus City Council, the Columbus Foundation, and Consider Biking for a Bike to Work Celebration and Cycling CEO Challenge.
Consider Biking is hosting this event with the support of corporate and civic leadership to demonstrate that there is a direct relationship between increased levels of active transportation and/or bicycling in any form and the economic competitiveness of our businesses and community.
The Cycling CEO Challenge Bike to Work participants will gather at the OSU Gateway Plaza at 1546 N. High Street for a brief ceremony with Mayor Coleman at 7:30 a.m. Bikers will ride together, under a police escort, the 2.5 miles south on High Street to the Statehouse, where the Consider Biking Celebration will take place at 8:30 a.m.
For more information, download the Consider Biking Bike to Work information sheet. Don't have a bike? Need a loaner bike for the event? Check out this list of shops that can help.
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Columbus Kudos
There are many great reasons to live and do business in the Columbus region. Read some of our April accolades below.
Ranking: Columbus among top 10 big cities
Report by RelocateAmerica via Business First of Columbus
Forbes: Columbus among 25 best cities for business and careers
via Business First of Columbus
Columbus - A Top Bike-friendly City
Bicycling Magazine
You can also share your reason to live in Columbus, Ohio by participating in the Columbus Chamber's Tell Your Story program.
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