Honda Milestones Highlight Ohio’s National Automotive Impact

Ohio's success as the nation's top automotive supplier is due in large part to the individual success of companies like Honda of America Manufacturing (Honda).

Recently, Honda celebrated two major Ohio milestones. The first being the ten-millionth car produced at the company's Marysville, Ohio plant. And the second is the celebration of the company's 25-year anniversary making auto engines in Anna, Ohio. Honda's major milestones not only highlight the company's impact on Ohio's automotive industry, but also its impact on economic development, employment and housing growth within the state.

Honda now employs more than 4,400 workers and is credited with business, retail and housing growth in the Marysville area. In the last five years alone, Marysville retailers have added more than 700,000 square feet of retail space in light of growing demand. The benefits extend beyond the local economy; Honda employs 13,500 Ohioans and contracted for $5.5 billion in auto parts in 2009 from 160 auto parts suppliers.

Ohio's network of auto suppliers represents all facets of motor vehicle production. In fact, motor vehicle manufactures produce 15 percent of the state's total economic output.

Ohio is home to some of the best and brightest talent in the automotive industry, and continues to provide the necessary tools to allow both businesses and individuals the opportunity to pursue both their professional and personal aspirations without having to sacrifice one for the other. Ohio truly is the state of Perfect Balance.

Rolls-Royce Investment Accelerates Ohio’s Fuel Cell Technology Economy

Rolls-Royce’s recent announcement that it will expand its Ohio fuel cell research operations furthers the state’s reputation as a national advanced energy leader in fuel cell technology. Rolls-Royce Fuel Cell Systems will invest $3 million in processing and testing equipment to consolidate its research and development activities at its North American headquarters at Stark State College of Technology in North Canton.

Over $75 million in Ohio grants have been invested in fuel cell R&D and manufacturing process improvements, demonstrations and commercialization projects since 2003 with a continuing state commitment to provide additional funding support. The Ohio Fuel Cell Coalition, of which Rolls-Royce is a member, also supports the industry as a fuel cell technology commercialization advocate.

Ohio’s unique assets are what make it the hub of the global fuel cell technology economy – it’s one of the few places in the world where all phases of fuel cell development take place. Beyond advantages in supply chain and skilled work force, it’s an ideal location for business investment with work-life balance for executives and their employees. Ohio truly is the state of perfect balance.

Finding the Perfect Balance in Ohio

I recently spoke with Tom Morley, president of The Lube Stop, Inc., the oldest privately owned quick oil change company in Northeast Ohio. Lube Stop employs 240 people operating 37 locations in the Cleveland and Akron-Canton areas. Every month over 30,000 customers choose Lube Stop to provide quick, confident, complete service with no appointment necessary.

Lube Stop is committed to reducing its ecological footprint and improving the communities in which it operates and is revolutionizing the way the industry operates. The company is the first oil change company in the U.S. to market a re-refined oil change service. Lube Stop received the National Oil & Lube News “Operator of the Year Award” in 2008 and a “NEO Success Award” from Inside Business Magazine in March 2009.

Tom shared with me his commitment to the Ohio Promise and to family. As Tom said, “For me, professional achievements are meaningless if they come at the expense of family. Ohio has provided me with a unique, fulfilling career as well as an incredible environment to raise and spend time with my family.”

The Ohio Promise is that you can achieve professional success within the context of a fulfilling life. Ohio offers business and industry many unique qualities that contribute to better balance and, ultimately, optimal business performance.

Click here to read more about my interview with Tom and to find out more about work:life balance.

Entrepreneurship in Ohio

Ohio's supportive business climate makes the state attractive to many entrepreneurs in a variety of industries from automotive to polymers. The state's tax reform rewards entrepreneurial and start-up activity by not taxing a company's first $1 million in annual gross receipts. This helps new businesses become established and show an earlier profit. In addition, the state has many innovative programs and services helping Ohio entrepreneurs and small business owners, through effective communication, collaboration, creativity and technology support, encourage sustainable growth.

Ohio entrepreneur Dana Myers believes in Ohio and started Myers Motors in Tallmadge, Ohio.

The Meyers Motors NmG

Myers Motors is the only company in the U.S. producing and delivering affordable highway speed all-electric vehicles. Myers Motors' NmG (No more Gas) is America’s only all-electric, highway-legal, personal vehicle with a maximum speed of 75+ mph. It is a fully enclosed, single-passenger vehicle with two front wheels and a single drive wheel in the rear. With a 220-volt service, charging to 95 percent full can be accomplished in about 45 minutes. For those who don’t need the fast charging option, the NmG will plug into any 110 volt, 20 amp service outlet. A fully energized NmG will go 25 to 30 miles, the average distance people drive their car every day.

The history of the NmG goes back to the Corbin Sparrow produced by Corbin Motors. The Corbin Sparrow was flawed with a history of electrical and mechanical problems and quickly bankrupted its company. Dana Myers believed strongly that replacing gasoline-powered vehicles with electric ones can make the world a cleaner, better place. He bought Corbin Motors and started Myers Motors. Rechristened the NmG, Myers Motors offered the new redesigned electric vehicle for sale in 2006.

Dana lives in Silver Lake, Ohio with his wife, Barbara, and two children (one a sophomore in college and one a sophomore at Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio). They attend Hudson Chapel, have been active with The Jesus Film Project and Walk Thru the Bible, and took their family to Africa four years ago to plant gardens in South Africa.  Dana loves spending time with his family, reading and playing golf.

I recently had the opportunity to speak with Dana. Not only has Dana achieved professional success with Myers Motors, but he’s found that perfect work:life balance that only Ohio has to offer.

Click here to read more about my interview with Dana.

Ohio Business Leaders Discuss State’s Best-Kept Secrets

Over the past year-and-a-half, I’ve spoken with Ohio business leaders and executives from across the state. Each shared with me their “best-kept” Ohio secrets. From these conversations, I’ve compiled my list of Top 10 Ohio’s Best-Kept Secrets.

• Home. Small-town feel with all the benefits and resources of a major city. In addition, short commutes to and from work make time for you to pursue personal passions.
• Low cost of living. You can have more house while providing your family with a balance of culture and some of the best public and private schools around.
• Excellent education. From preschool to higher education, Ohio is graduating students that will lead the world in business development and innovation.
• Central location. It’s easy to conduct business around the state with six international airports and 600 miles within 60 percent of the U.S. population and 50 percent of the Canadian population.
• Industry leader. Ohio is a leader in innovation and home to many great industries – agribusiness, automotive, bioscience, logistics, manufacturing, polymers, energy and aviation, and professional/financial services.
• Talented workforce. Ohio offers a diverse and talented labor pool of workers in a variety of key industries.
• Profitable business environment. Ohio’s business environment is designed to promote business development and entrepreneurship. The state has many strong workforce training programs and innovative job-creation and worker-retention programs such as the Ohio Third Frontier Project and the EnterpriseOhio Network.
• Lowest cost in the Midwest. Ohio is executing tax reform to substantially lower the cost of doing business in the state – with the lowest taxes in the Midwest by 2010.
• Strong supply chain. A strong supply chain across numerous key industries helps improve company efficiencies and profits.
• You can make a difference. In Ohio, you can make a meaningful difference in your community because you are not simply a "small fish in a big pond."

To sum it up: business leaders agree that when it comes to opportunities for business development, education, low cost of living, community impact, supply chain management and tax reform, Ohio truly is "The State of Perfect Balance."