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Part of our job is to support the region through workforce development. In doing so, we hear from professionals and entrepreneurs all the time, and we've found they all have similar questions: What do I need to know about tax law? What happens after onboarding a new employee? What are the key points in developing a brand guideline? And these are only a select few!

Oftentimes it can feel overwhelming to run a business or organization. The need for information is so much bigger than one community. Ignite 419 is a brand-new event for business leaders and organizations across Northwest Ohio who have questions about finance, human resources, marketing, or small business leadership.

Renee takes the back seat while Sarah gives the whole 4-1-1 with the assistance of event committee team member, Ashley Barger, who also happens to be a panelist in the upcoming event. There will be several 'Ask Me Anything' panels by industry type, a 'Tell All' Small Business Owner panel, a TedX Keynote Speakers, and a Wildfire Leadership Workshop.

Ready to reignite your passion? www.ignite419.com

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"Enroll, employ, enlist - I want kids to know there’s a reason they’re at school and everyone there is going to hold them accountable because we care."

@fostoriasuper a.k.a. Jason Longbrake nailed his first podcast interview.

Originally he had dreams of being a wildlife specialist out west, but started his education at The Ohio State University working towards a degree in social studies education. His first role was as a teacher and he quickly progressed to principal in Swanton OH which was literally 1 hour from his doorstep in Fostoria. Jason got his Superintendent license and then the opportunity with Fostoria City Schools opened up.

You can tell Jason is passionate about Fostoria and our school system. He’s an insider who’s had experience from the outside. He can relate to the students and their surroundings and he’s excited about the amazing facilities Fostoria City Schools boasts. Of course, he’s also pretty pumped about his new 6-minute commute to work.

His best advice: Be yourself. Be honest.

He’s tried some unique approaches while he was a school principal - pushing the trash can around the cafeteria and handing out candy bars to teachers at random… Now, we’ll see what he does with some of the new requirements of education in things like grants, funding, and graduation.

Don't forget to follow @FostoriaSuper on X!

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Aaron Smith and Weston Reinbolt take a seat on the couch and it was honestly hard to keep a straight face, at times… Maybe it was because we learned that Weston shops for Aaron’s shoes for him, or perhaps it was the point in our conversation when Aaron took an opportunity to reference the phone book.

Sarah&Renee did get to the heart of the matter, which is that both Aaron and Weston are firmly rooted in their communities and that they take every opportunity to invest in their small towns while growing their company: Financial Design Agency of Ohio. Through Aaron’s steadfastness and Weston’s ambition, they’ve taken on new challenges and have set plans for working alongside new technology like AI as well as defining the organization’s succession plan.

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Here he is - a blast from our not-so-distant past! Matt Kibler is the Director of Business Development for Custom Training Solutions which is a division of Northwest State Community College. Those who interact with us during our day-jobs may remember that Matt used to work for the Learning Center, but he took an opportunity he couldn't refuse AND we still get to work with him in his new role.

With Matt, we dive into workforce development and the specific trainings that he helps facilitate. He works directly with employers and the employees he helps train, so he has a really good grasp on our regional workforce wins and where we might have room to grow. The truth is, upskilling current operations compared to hiring is the most cost-effective option. Custom Training Solutions can help employers tailor their training specific to their deficits.

There are a few small scuttles on the coach - of course - but overall this was a fun, lighthearted convo with one of our favorite guys in the business! Plus, Matt brings up grant dollars that might just help your business get the training you need.

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Well, this interview has certainly been a long time coming! And she's possibly our most reluctant guest, yet.

Ashley Barger has been the woman behind the scenes of this podcast since it began in February of 2022. We've relied on her to capture each and every moment, but just this once we wanted to share her with you.

Ashley is a Northwest Ohio native and a graduate of The Ohio State University where she studied Strategic Communications. She's mainly worked in public relations, event planning, and marketing for organizations such as the Columbus Rotary Club, Coachtressel.com, the 2nd & Seven Foundation, the Arnold Sports Festival, Cancer Patient Services, Your Perfect Day, and FriendsOffice. But in 2020, she took the leap and opened up her own marketing consulting agency: Do Some Good Marketing.

Ashley has seen first-hand the many organizations and people who come together in our community to help make Fostoria a better place. If you want the #bts look, she's your girl. Thanks for allowing this interview to happen, Ashley!

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Whoopsies… it’s been a minute! Hello, 2024!

Sarah and Renee revisit and recap their annual meeting which took place last month and encompassed the collective results of their economic development, chamber of commerce, and convention + visitor’s bureau offices. This year, the meeting addressed more of the organizational challenges that have led to recent changes within their team and also showcased all of the success Fostoria experienced in 2023.

In light of all of these changes and in listening to those who have taken part in any or all of the offered programs, there's been some personnel changes and there are more tweaks being made for the coming year. For example, there are advancements coming to fruition in residential housing and we’re also planning a small business summit for the fall.

Additional highlights include:

• The Fostoria Learning Center served 1,000+ more YOY and increased offerings to 65 certifications; it’s truly become a more regional resource beyond the tri-county area
• $4.7 million in grant dollars flowed through our collective offices and were secured for Fostoria, Ohio

Renee puts out a prediction… “2024 will exceed 2023 in all numbers and across the board.” Listen-in to learn how this year is shaping up to be a BIG ONE!

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We're sharing Fostoria Economic Development Corporation's video podcast series, ℝ𝕚𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝔸𝕣𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕕 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 ℝ𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕖.

In each episode you’ll meet some of the business leaders from the area. Join the adventure as Renee Smith, President of the Fostoria Economic Development Corporation, meets up with a weekly guest for a drive in a Reineke Family Dealerships vehicle.

Katie Six is a beloved manager and long-time employee for Charter Steel. The girls just take a drive and get to the heart of things.

Built in 2000, Charter Steel opened a processing and distribution facility in Fostoria, Ohio. The full-service facility is equipped with a chemical cleaning line, mechanical descaling, annealing furnaces and wire-drawing equipment to clean, anneal, draw, coat and distribute hot-rolled coils from Charter Steel's rolling mills.

To watch this episode: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJdYaoTnyOkgcPuL7xrLRH_4aq1F_FjtZ&si=irTo8MdhRfzfxQG_

Get to know us ...
And, find us on Apple to leave us a review!
Or, listen to our favorite songs ; -)

Got feedback? Maybe it's our turn to Shut Up and Listen! Send us a Text.

We're sharing Fostoria Economic Development Corporation's video podcast series, ℝ𝕚𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝔸𝕣𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕕 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 ℝ𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕖.

In each episode you’ll meet some of the business leaders from the area. Join the adventure as Renee Smith, President of the Fostoria Economic Development Corporation, meets up with a weekly guest for a drive in a Reineke Family Dealerships vehicle.

Renee gets driven around by a long-time Fostoria entrepreneur and investor, Ron Burns, in this episode. Ron has served on the board of Fostoria Economic Development Corporation since before Renee's time with the organization. She sees him as a mentor and certainly an advocate for Fostoria's growth and development.

Will there be shenanigans while these two are driving around town? You'll have to listen-in or watch to find out!

To watch this episode: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJdYaoTnyOkgcPuL7xrLRH_4aq1F_FjtZ&si=irTo8MdhRfzfxQG_

Get to know us ...
And, find us on Apple to leave us a review!
Or, listen to our favorite songs ; -)