Working It
“Working It!” – Defiance County, Ohio Podcast – Proudly Sponsored by Defiance County’s Ohio Means Jobs Defiance County, Ohio is pulsing with creative, innovative problem solving, and ripe with growth for opportunities for all industries. The “Working It” Podcast takes a behind the scenes look at local business leaders and their companies. What will you gain, by tuning in? You will get cutting edge tips when it comes to business trends everything from marketing tips to workforce development tricks that really work.
Episodes
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 A...
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! Includ...
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 Count...
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!) mulle...
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, wh...
Erika takes a deep dive into the state of manufacturing in northwest Ohio with Tim Mayle of the Center To Advance Manufacturing at Bowling Green State University. They talk about how the Innovation Hub connects higher education with major industries, and look at apprentice programs, evolving supply chain practices, working with multinational workforces, improved databases, and challenges being addressed by The Center For Automotive...
Defiance Mayor Mike McCann is back in the “Working It” guest chair. He and Erika talk about the recent huge announcements from MetalX and Keller Logistics, Defiance’s diverse manufacturing history, downtown pedestrian safety initiatives, and the continued challenges in building new housing for a growing workforce. What does Defiance want to accomplish in 2024 and beyond? Listen and find out! Thanks to OhioMeansJobs for sponsoring t...
Hicksville’s new Mayor, Mike Barth, joins Erika on this episode of “Working It”. He talks about spending part of his childhood in Hicksville, his experience on Village Council, and everything Hicksville has to offer including a diverse downtown shopping district, robust manufacturing community, and some great available industrial sites. Hicksville’s slogan is “A Proud Past, A Bright Future”…Listen and you’ll understand why!
Defiance College has been part of our education landscape for over a century and a half. DC President Dr. Richanne Mankey and Vice President For Enrollment Management Dr. Jeremy Taylor talk about how Defiance College is “ReDEFIning The Future” through improved affordability and accessibility, athletic scholarships, the Jacket Journey program, DC’s new engineering program, and an incredible story about the McMaster School. They also...
Workforce Trends. It’s the phrase of 2023, where if you hear, your eyes glaze over. That’s because we’ve heard it so much! BUT…we’re talking about it in a different way! With Erika, Paige, and Dave, all being from different generations, they talk about
How employees shouldn’t be judged by their age, but rather their own merit. Also, it turns out when you have different generations you can learn from one another!
Get to know the Defiance County Economic Development Team and the various initiatives they are working on, in an effort to make a difference in the Defiance County Community. Erika Willitzer, Paige Johnson, and our new Marketing & Office Coordinator Dave Hire talk all things Defiance County. Dave Hire is only three months on the job, and Paige and Erika are throwing him onto a podcast. If you know anything about Dave’s work hi...
Northwest State Community College – Northwest Ohio: President and CEO of Northwest State, Todd Hernandez talks Workforce Shortages, Skill Gaps, and how Northwest State is working toward solutions to help employers & students every day. Learning about Todd’s unique background and how he became the President of a Community College is quite fascinating. Let’s just say his career includes military, IT, and more. Bottom line: You c...
Patriot Rail – Defiance County, Ohio: Many are fascinated by Trains, and we can see why! They truly are what moves most of the goods around America. Erika talks rail, economy, and so much more with James Kornas of Patriot Rail. Fun Fact: Did you know rail roads transport even animal lard? True Story! Also, did you know Defiance County sits in a unique location when it comes to rail – so unique – it has companies from all over t...
Balchem – Defiance, Ohio: Erika interviews Kenyotta Stantz and Joe Wendell from Defiance’s Balchem Plant. If you have ever smelled the aroma of sweet blueberries or cocoa powder in Downtown Defiance. There’s a good chance it is coming from Balchem. Learn about the amazing products being produced in Defiance. Also, learn about how you can land a Food Scientist position right here in Defiance County, Ohio.
Sabre Industries – Hicksville, Ohio Tom Jagielski and Tiffany Vollmer with Sabre take a deep dive into how they support the power grid by making transmission power poles. They also talk about the amazing opportunities awaiting job seekers at their plant. If you want an innovative career. This is it!
Listen in to find out how this Hicksville Company is having a national impact from the small town of Hicksville.
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