Cathy Falkenberg and her husband, Rob, who is CEO of UnitedHealthcare of Ohio, relocated to Ohio in 2005 from Dallas to pursue a promising career and life opportunity. While relocating her family across the country was challenging, life in Ohio quickly reassured Cathy they had found their "home." I asked her if she could describe in one word what it means to live in Ohio. Her answer? Access.
She shared with me, "Accessibility is what makes Ohio shine. Ohio is an accessible state, in every sense of the word. Commuting to work and school is easier here. It is a refreshing change from other areas of the country where we have lived. I don't have to plan more than an hour in just commute time. We spend less time in the car and more time doing the things we love to do. We also have easy access to family in other states."
"Ohio has a very strong work-life balance, and I would definitely say that having the right balance is more attainable here than any other place I have lived," Cathy continued. "Ohio's communities are very supportive. Its metropolitan areas are not pretentious but are still very cosmopolitan. I value the fact that there is cultural diversity here. The work:life balance here is very attractive, no matter what your age is."
As president and chief executive officer of Anderson-DuBose, a logistics company specializing in food service distribution, Warren Anderson has found that Ohio’s central location and world-class transportation infrastructure reduce operating expenses and provide greater opportunities to reach new milestones in growth and prosperity.
Lower transportation cost isn’t the only business advantage Warren has found in Ohio. Pro-commerce policies implemented by the Ohio Department of Development have paved the way to new expansion through low-interest loans and grants.
"The state has made it very attractive to retain the business here, to the point where this is where our home base is going to remain,” Warren shared in an interview with me.
Warren has also found a personal advantage to running a successful business in Ohio. The same interstate system that speeds his trucks to their destinations also speeds him home to family and the pastimes he enjoys most – boating – on nearby Lake Erie, attending his children’s sporting and ballet events and catching a Cleveland Cavaliers game.
Ohio’s location has been the key to business and personal success for Rick Griffith, president of McGinnis, Inc. McGinnis is one of the country’s leading providers of marine transportation, equipment and repair services to the river industry. Located in South Point, Ohio, McGinnis benefits from its direct access to the largest inland river port in the country along the Ohio River.
Griffith says Ohio’s short commutes allow him to spend more time with family, while its location on the Ohio River provides McGinnis with everything it needs to thrive. “If you’re not in the right location you won’t have a lot of business,” he shared with me. “That’s why Ohio works for us.”
On the personal side, Griffith says he sleeps well at night knowing his grandchildren are growing up in small communities, with small-town values. These same values provide Griffith with a work-life balance that allows him to spend quality time with them, too, growing his business and keeping his family grounded in Ohio.
Watch the video to find out more about the work-life balance Griffith finds in Ohio.
Inc. magazine recently developed a series of white papers to help Ohio entrepreneurs evaluate potential locations for starting or growing their businesses. These white papers are available for downloading on both the Inc.com website and the Enterprise Appalachia website (under the Resources section of the home page).
“Finding Funding,” focuses on the types of funding most commonly required by small businesses and where to find the financing you need.
"Building Your Knowledge Base," outlines a wide range of resources, including online databases for competitive research; executive MBA programs; Small Business Development Center programs; executive coaching; and CEO peer organizations.
"Real Best Practices for Supply Chain Optimization," offers a prescription for efficiently managing the supply chain – the continuum of materials, information, and finances needed to convert raw materials or resources into a product or service delivered to the final customer.
"Expanding Your Market Reach," offers practical perspectives on business expansion, along with real-world examples.
Savvy entrepreneurs know that choosing the ideal location to start a business can mean the difference between success and failure. For example, the Appalachian Ohio Region has become a hub for entrepreneurial enterprise, in part because its location in Ohio's manufacturing heartland provides access both to a strong supply chain and a ready market for products and services. Click here to learn more about the strategic advantages of Ohio’s Appalachian Region.
For Cara Dingus Brook, achieving the State of Perfect Balance is a full-time pursuit. As president and chief executive officer of the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio, Brook is dedicated to her personal and professional mission of enhancing quality of life for those living in Appalachian Ohio by creating educational opportunities through community investment.
According to Brook, Ohio’s location has been the key to her success. “In Ohio, my personal and professional goals come together in perfect balance. With the support of this community's caring spirit, we're helping students fulfill their aspirations,” said Brook. "Together, we're making a positive impact on education that will last for generations.”
The Foundation for Appalachian Ohio (FAO) was created in 1998 as a regional community foundation serving the 32 counties of Appalachian Ohio. As a 501(c)(3) public charity, the Foundation works with donors and those who care deeply about the region to support regional improvement through the power of charitable giving.
Cathy Falkenberg and her husband, Rob, who is CEO of UnitedHealthcare of Ohio, relocated to Ohio in 2005 from Dallas to pursue a promising career and life opportunity. While relocating her family across the country was challenging, life in Ohio quickly reassured Cathy they had found their "home." I asked her if she could describe in one word what it means to live in Ohio. Her answer? Access.