School Superintendents across the nation have one of the toughest jobs. Superintendent Steve Arnold talks about test scores, construction, and the overall wellness of Fairview Schools. 

Despite being a rural community located just outside of Sherwood, Ohio, Steve talks about how a rural school can be just as involved with innovative career paths as urban schools. Listen in, as Steve talks about Fairview and its Bright Future.  Go Apaches!

Superintendent Nicole Wells talks about the strength of a rural school, along with projects happening, including new construction projects, STEM programs, and their performing arts center. Tinora also just started a new program where they highlight some of their most regarded graduates. The list of distinguished former students is unbelievable and a testament to the education curriculum happening at Tinora. Go RAMS!

Workforce Supervisor with OhioMeansJobs (OMJ) of Defiance and Paulding Counties talks how local Defiance County Businesses can leverage OMJ’s resources…including training grants to take a business to the next level.  In addition to discussing resources, Erika and Tiffany talk about business trends not only happening in Defiance County, but throughout the nation.

Erika and Paige Johnson are joined by Hicksville Area Chamber of Commerce President Jodi Bland. They talk about all the positive energy and community involvement in Hicksville, how Jodi has been part of the Chamber from the beginning, the incredible contributions from their board, Chamber events like the Teacher Back To School Breakfast, Hicksville’s abundance of cool shops and boutiques, recent business expansion, and more! Including, of course, The Mural.

Erika is joined by Lisa Becher of the Small Business Development Center. Lisa talks about her background as a small business owner and instructor at Northwest State Community College, shares some success stories from the annual Entrepreneurship Forum (kind of a mini “Shark Tank”), and offers tips on starting a small business, from marketing to hiring to writing a business plan. Thanks to OhioMeansJobs of Defiance and Paulding County for sponsoring “Working It”!

Erika chats with Chase Eikenbary and Jessica Sattler of the Regional Growth Partnership. They tell how RGP works with JobsOhio in site selection and incentive management and how they’ve teamed with Defiance County Economic Development. They also talk about Defiance County’s recent wins like MetalX and Keller Logistics, and how the Vibrant Communities Grant is being used at a prime downtown Defiance location!

Erika gets down to business with Kirstie Mack of the Defiance Main Street & Visitors Bureau. They talk about their new name, upcoming events like the Lilac Festival and Chocolate Walk, some cool local independent downtown businesses, the bureau’s downtown wish list, and “Preaching The Positive”!

On this episode of “Working It”, Erika sits down with Andie Imthurn of Eclectic Wallflower Boutique in Defiance. They talk about Eclectic Wallflower’s over 50 independent vendors offering everything from honey to plants to vintage items, their amazing stock of prom dresses, how important it is to create a sense of community, the benefits of shopping locally and sustainably, and trends…The 90s are coming back including (gasp!) mullets! Thanks to Ohio Means Jobs of Defiance County for Sponsoring this podcast!

Erika is joined by Rebecca Singer of the Center For Innovative Food Technology (CIFT). Rebecca explains the idea of functional foods, and talks about streamlining food production and supply chains, sustainable food packaging, workforce training, and CIFT’s most visible success story, Willy’s Salsa. That’s a lot to “CIFT” through, but you’ll be amazed at the work they’re doing!

Erika is joined by Drew Shindler, president of Baker-Shindler Company. Drew tells us he wanted to join the family business at an early age (maybe even before he can remember!) He talks about being in charge of a huge project early in his career, the growth of the company over the last century, and how recent big economic wins are leading Baker-Shindler to expand their workforce. From bridges to grain terminals and wind turbines, what Baker-Shindler Company really builds is relationships.