Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Doing Business With the Oil & Gas Industry

How do you get into doing business with the shale oil and gas industry? How do you access that supply chain? What are the ins and outs, the dos and don'ts for companies looking to enter that market?

Well, looking ahead to May, we are going to hold a half-day seminar that should answer those questions. It will be held from 8 am to 12 noon on the 16th of May at Eaglesticks. Admission will be $95 per person and $150 for non-members.

The seminar is presented in conjunction with the Ohio Oil & Gas Association and Shaledirectories.com, a Pennsylvania based firm with all kinds of experience in the Marcellus shale gas industry in PA. Those two organizations are providing us with a top notch line-up of speakers, which we will announce very soon.

You can reserve your spot now if you like by contacting jriddle@zmchamber.com. Again, more details are on the way.

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Visit the Shale Information Clearinghouse


The "Muskingum County Shale Oil & Gas Information Clearinghouse" is a webpage we created to help you find various kinds of information about shale exploration and production. It has useful links to websites and documents on topics ranging from economic development to landowner resources to geological information. We also have a Shale Business Directory to help companies find the services and suppliers they need in the oil and gas industry. Both can be accessed from the home page of zmchamber.com.

Remember, mark your calendar for April 16 at 1 pm to hear presentations about public policy aspects of shale drilling. Scroll down to our April 2 post for the details.

Monday, April 2, 2012

Next in the Chamber Shale Oil & Gas Series

The next event in the Chamber Shale Oil and Gas Series features two highly involved and informed speakers who will address issues related to job creation and government regulation as they pertain to shale oil and gas development.

REBECCA HEIMLICH is the American Petroleum Institute (API) Ohio Campaign Manager. Heimlich is overseeing the organization’s grassroots educational outreach efforts in the Buckeye state. Heimlich, an attorney, is also the director of the Ohio Energy Resource Alliance, which is an alliance among the Ohio Petroleum Council (a division of API), the Ohio Oil and Gas Association, the Ohio Oil and Gas Energy Education Program, Energy In Depth, and the Buckeye Energy Forum.

SHAWN BENNETT is field director for Energy in Depth, the Ohio Project. Energy in Depth is an outreach and education campaign focused on researching, explaining and setting the record straight on the promise and potential of onshore energy development. EID's Ohio Project supports a common sense, homegrown energy strategy for Ohio. Bennett previously worked in Washington D.C. as a staff member for the Committee on House Administration and as Government Affairs Manager for the Ohio Coal Association.

Monday, April 16, 2012
1:00 pm to 2:00 pm
John McIntire Library
220 North 5th Street
Zanesville, Ohio



RESERVATIONS
Please RSVP since attendance is limited. Send reservations to or call 455-8282.

ADMISSION FEE
No charge for Chamber Members and current Incubator Clients and their invited guests.

Thursday, March 29, 2012

You don't have to lift a finger

Chamber members benefit from their membership even if they never attend a meeting or event, or somehow initiate use of chamber services? How? We offer many benefits that provide you with real value without requiring you to lift a finger. These services benefit your company all day, every day. Here's what we mean:

1. The Chamber's web based Buyer's Guide has been searched over 3,000 times since January 1 of this year by people looking for services and products. If you are listed there - and all members are - you automatically receive benefit from your membership. Its like a an electronic referral service, or a salesman, working for you non-stop. If you are not there, you are flat out missed by those potential customers. This is just one leading example of our web-based services - here's the complete list: http://www.zmchamber.com/Membership/Web%20Based%20Services.htm

2. Chamber membership is considered a sign of business credibility, according to a national survey. Seventy percent (70%) of those surveyed believed that being a chamber member enhances a business’ reputation and demonstrates that it uses good business practices. Display your membership certificate, your 2012 member logo, and your member door decal and receive the direct benefit of enhanced credibility in the eyes of your customers.

3. If you are in business in Muskingum County – no matter what kind of business you are in – the Chamber’s economic and community development activities benefit you. The Chamber plays an active role in economic development including new business attraction, business retention, and small business development. And if you do business locally, economic development generates sales for you. When local people have jobs, they can afford to spend money with your business. So, your sales grow when the community thrives.

We provide business services, not membership for its own sake. So, there is real value in being part of the Chamber, even if you never attend an event or participate in a chamber program.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

ACES awards from 2012

Here's the list of area companies that were recently awarded ACES Awards at the Chamber's annual meeting "Spring Break" event.

LINK: http://www.zmchamber.com/Economic_Development/ACES%202011.htm

ACES stands for “Awards for Community and Economic Success”. The ACES program, which is sponsored by the Chamber’s Muskingum Growth Partnership, is designed to recognize businesses and organizations that have invested in new facilities or equipment, have increased employment, or have achieved some other noteworthy business accomplishment during the previous calendar year.

The program was created so that our community could celebrate the achievements of local businesses and their positive economic impact on the area. In short, it’s the community’s way of publicly thanking businesses and organizations for investing and growing in Muskingum County.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Local entrepreneur presents workshop at OU Zanesville

Ohio University Zanesville is offering a business course entitled “Entrepreneurship-Starting and Growing a Business” to help local residents realize their dream of owning their own business.

Larry Triplett of Cerner Corporation, formerly Resource Systems in New Concord, will present a two-day, hands on workshop for those interested in starting a business. Through this two-day course, students will learn what it takes to launch and grow a business. Participants will gain insight regarding the importance of strategic planning, working with limited resources, creativity, concentrating on efficiency, and the value of a continual education.

Throughout the course students will develop the framework for a business plan, either for a real business opportunity they may be considering, or a fictitious business idea. Actual research and development of that plan will take place during the second day of the course.

Resource Systems has been helping care for people with innovative software solutions for 30 years. The company employs more than 80 people and provides services for more than 3,500 facilities and providers nationwide.

To begin to realize your dream of owning a business contact Cindy Oliver at 740-588-1400 or oliverc@ohio.edu to register for the two-credit hour course, which will be held from 8am to 5:30pm on Friday and Saturday, March 30 and 31, at Ohio University Zanesville.

Dealing with Facebook changes

Disrupt Media Group created a PDF titled "Timeline for Brand Pages - What You Need to Know Now". This PDF highlights the new changes Facebook is making. This report is a great resource for Chamber members (it is free). These Facebook changes are major and will effect everyone. Here is the link to their site where you can sign up and get the report: http://www.disruptmg.com/2012/03/facebook-timeline-brand-pages/