Liberty Center Now Open

Justin Myers
dining, entertainment, local economy, Ohio
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IMG_1601-300x225 Caroline McKinney, Economic Development Director for Liberty Township, Ohio, is seeing a vision come to fruition after eight years of planning, hard work and dedication. The New Liberty Center is now open!

Caroline and the Liberty Township team began working with Steiner + Associates to bring a “mixed-use” commercial development to Liberty Township, about eight years ago. When the economic downturn occurred in 2008, the development team chose to pause the project. A couple years later, they were back in front of the Township ready to move forward.

Liberty Township has historically been a “bedroom community,” which means the majority of property is residential (only 3% commercial property). The goal is to reach 18% commercial, as to not overwhelm residents, but also to balance the community. They are conscious of the need to balance residential and commercial property to create more jobs and increase tax revenue.

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There are nearly 40,000 residents in Liberty Township. The goal is to get on the map as a viable option for commercial development. Having Cincinnati Children’s Liberty Campus in the township is a great indication that Liberty Township indeed is a viable option.

As Cincinnati and Dayton continue to converge, there is a market for shopping and entertainment along I-75. This is an excellent time for Liberty Center to come to fruition. Phase I is on 65 acres, but Steiner + Associates own another 35 acres in Liberty Township that they can use for future additions.

Although Liberty Township is still rural and only 50% built out, having I-75 and Liberty Way makes Liberty Township an excellent place for retail office and entertainment.

Liberty Center includes residential, entertainment, retail and office space. It officially opened for business on October 22, but many businesses continue to move in. The first phase should be complete in December. The second phase may include a grocer and an expansion across the street.

Steiner + Associates have already brought White Barn, Express, Bath and Body Works, Macy’s, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Banana Republic, Torrid, Victoria’s Secret, Pandora, Sunglass Hut, White House Black Market, and Francesca’s into Liberty Center, as well as entertainment like The Funny Bone and Cobb 15 Luxury Theatres.

Restaurants including Cheesecake Factory, Brio and Kona Grill, have been placed throughout Liberty Center, and there is also an indoor mall with other food options like Five Guys Burgers and Fries.

There is a 120-room AC Hotel by Marriott on the grounds, 200 residential units, as well as green space, fountains and stages for concerts and other events. Parking has not been forgotten. There are metered parking options throughout the development as well as parking lots and garages.

Steiner + Associates developed Easton in Columbus and The Greene in Dayton. They were confident they could design something even better for Liberty Center with the help of their past experience.

Many of the companies filling the complex are hiring, which means hundreds of new jobs! For more information, go to www.Liberty-center.com.

We would like to thank Caroline for coming to OfficeKey to present. We are glad to support surrounding communities in their endeavors!

Blue Ash Economic Development Update From The Expert

Justin Myers
Blue Ash, local economy, News, Ohio
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Blue Ash Economic Development Manager Visits OfficeKey

blue-ash-ohio-economic-development-300x169 Attendees of our Key Connections Lunch in July got the inside scoop on upcoming projects being planned in Blue Ash, and how the Summit Park development is being phased in at a cost of $10M/yr!

The Blue Ash Economic Development Director, Neil Hensley, was insightful and enthusiastic about the future of Blue Ash.

What is the present state of Blue Ash, Ohio?

Blue Ash is home for 2,300 businesses and 11,000 full-time residents. About 40,000 people come to Blue Ash to work each day which means that “earnings” taxes enable Blue Ash to flourish.

Kroger is currently the largest employer (with retail stores and corporate offices in the area), but IT is the fastest growing business sector followed by Biohealth, Market Research, and Advanced Manufacturing. Right now there is only a 2% vacancy in the light industrial zone and office space is running low as well.

What’s in-store in the coming months?

Milacron plans to move their headquarters from Oakley to Blue Ash and bring 43 more jobs to the area.
P&G – 50 acres on either side. Planning mixed used development after P&G vacates in 3 years.
Kroger is opening two new distribution warehouses on Creek Road very soon.
Advanced Pierre Foods is adding 120 new jobs.
Ohio National Financial Services is expanding.
Summit Park is adding unique, non-chain restaurants like the Brown Dog Cafe, which is moving from its current location near Bob Evans.
Summit Park is also going to bring more residential and office space opportunities at the corner of Reed Hartman and Glendale Milford Road.
“Downtown” Blue Ash will be renamed the “Village Center.”

As Blue Ash economic development continues at full-force, OfficeKey is ready to help businesses get off to a great start. Our facilities in Blue Ash currently support 87 businesses. We are excited to be a part of the Future of Blue Ash!

How to BE a Great Networker

Justin Myers
networking, Self Help Topics
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Five Tips for Networking Success

tips-for-networking-300x300 One piece of advice that you’ll often get as a small business owner or leader is to network. And, that is a great piece of advice if you follow it. But, to make it work, you actually have to “be” a networker.

What does that mean? Often, people will join a networking group or event and show up once and expect the magic to just happen – that contacts and business will just come flooding in. That won’t work. To “be” a star networker, = follow these steps:

Be in Attendance

They say, “80% of success is just showing up.” This is very true in networking. We all have busy schedules but to be a successful networker, you have to make the time to regularly attend your networking groups and events. Strive for perfect attendance. If you have a conflict you just can’t avoid, send a coworker in your place.

Be Active

Once you make the time and commitment to attend networking events, the next step you need to take is to become an engaged participant. If you just stand in the corner or sit enjoying the snacks and drinks, you’ll never make the connections that will help you grow your business. A wallflower rarely gets asked to dance. Make an effort to meet and talk with a new person at each event.

Be Likeable

At the risk of sounding obvious, make every effort to be likeable. Friendliness goes a long way in networking. Make yourself approachable and be the kind of person to which others enjoy talking. Try to find common interests and topics to discuss. Don’t make every conversation revolve around your business, but rather show interest in what the other has to say and ask questions about their line of work, family, hobbies and more.

Be Helpful

Everyone knows that the reason people join networking groups is to expand their connections and ultimately grow business. However, you should approach networking with the Golden Rule as your guide. Treat others the way you would like to be treated. Do whatever you can to help someone else out, whether through an introduction, sharing a helpful tip or tool or referring a customer. When you help others, that goodwill tends to come back round to you tenfold.

Be Intentional

If you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll never get there. You need to go into your networking meetings and events with your end goals in mind. What is it you would ultimately like to accomplish, learn and/or contribute? Are you just interested in gaining customers? Would you like to meet like-minded people? Are you looking for an opportunity to gain leadership experience? Networking groups can provide all of that and more, but you need to set your intentions and follow through to make them happen.

Follow these tips and you can become an outstanding networker!

About Dimalanta Design Group

DDG functions as your off-site, adjunct marketing department. We partner with you to provide up-to-the-minute, multi-channel solutions in this fast-paced, media-hungry world. As a branding and marketing firm trusted by over 200 clients in a variety of industries, we’re well-versed at connecting customers with unique messages that prompt action in a world crowded with competing voices.

Whether we’re consulting on the effectiveness and consistency of your brand or designing a new logo, sales brochure, public relations campaign or website, we’re one marketing firm that makes certain that your message is never lost in the crowd.

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Where are You Holding Your Important Meetings?

Justin Myers
meetings
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The Alternative to Coffee Shops for Important Meetings

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Have you become used to meeting your clients and/or prospects at a coffee shop or out to lunch?

Perhaps you think you can’t afford an office and meeting at restaurants is a cost effective way to run your business. Take a look at these reason why public places might not be the best place for your important meetings:

Do you feel obligated to make a purchase?

It’s worthwhile to consider the monetary cost of meeting at a coffee shop. If you hold six of your important meetings a week at restaurants and you spend an average of $10.00/meeting (if you purchase your guest’s drink or meal also) you are spending around $240/month, not including driving time to random locations.

What about the cost incurred by the environment?

Privacy is a serious issue these days. Are you asking your client or prospect for personal information?

Did you consider the person you are meeting?

You might be perfectly comfortable holding important meetings in a bustling café but someone else may not. Worse yet, if that’s the case they may not even tell you. Or perhaps you invite someone for coffee but he/she isn’t a coffee drinker.

Is this meeting location a comfortable place to have a conversation and not get interrupted by others?

Is it good for your business when there’s always a chance that a whiny 2-year old could happen to be sitting within “Cheerio-throwing” distance of you?

Is the atmosphere and technology at this meeting place up to par and secure?

You have very little control over what is going on at a public meeting place. Restaurants were not built primarily for important meetings. They don’t have the proper set up for a productive meeting, like conference tables, whiteboards and HDMI hook up. What if you could meet somewhere that was designed specifically for meetings?

There is another option besides meeting at random coffee shops and when you are ready to move to the next level a shared office is an excellent alternative to camping out in a coffee shop.

A shared office provides:

One address (or more) for you to meet clients and prospects, which will cut down on eating out and driving expenses
Private areas so you don’t have to worry about keeping your guest’s attention or compromising confidentiality during important meetings
Essential technology like Wi-Fi, flat screens, & video conferencing that work well and are readily available
Free coffee and water
Quiet, individual work spaces
A kitchen area with a refrigerator, sink, microwave and basic dining needs like paper plates and napkins
Standard office supplies available for purchase
A comfortable environment to call YOUR SPACE
Friendly faces (other clients and the reception staff) who know who you are

Coffee shops and restaurants are great place to have a friendly meeting, but when you are growing your business, having a professional office for your important meetings can make a huge impact on your growth. It sends the message to your clients that you are serious about your business and will give them confidence in working with you. If you have any questions, we are glad to give you tour of our shared office space.

One Way to Reduce Stress: Curb Smartphone Use

Justin Myers
Self Help Topics
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3 Tips: How to Reduce Stress caused by Smartphones

Our Key Connections Speaker for July was Dr. Frank Wood. Dr. Frank’s specialty is thriving with stress. Everyone has stress, right? In his presentation, Dr. Frank brought up some interesting statistics about smartphone use:

Reduce the Stress of Smartphone Addiction Of all smartphone users…

58% check their phone every hour

54% check their phone in the middle of the night

39% check their phone in the restroom

30% check their phone while dining with others

Dr. Frank gave some useful tips for creating healthy mobile phone boundaries that will reduce stress and have a positive impact on our daily routines and our relationships:

1. Use a 2-part Map to help understand what is causing stress. A two-part map is a tool that encourages understanding stress differently. It is possible to disconnect from stress and deal with it in a healthy way:

The first step is to write down on a clean sheet of paper what is causing stress.

Then write down the immediate thoughts associated with that stress.

The next step is to turn over the sheet of paper write down the same topic and take a couple minutes to become more conscious of our surroundings, gravity, space, sounds, the floor, the scent, the air.

Then write down thoughts on the same topic.

This 2-part mapping exercise encourages relaxation and allows for an unfiltered view of what is causing stress.

2. Tap into our senses to become more focused and make better decisions. When we make decisions based on stress, the result is often regret, but when we take a moment to tap into our senses before making decisions, our decision making is clearer. Do we pick up the phone because it is ringing or because we really need to pick up the phone?

3. Understand the “almost moment” to be one step ahead of our habits. Sometimes we make decisions based on habits. The “almost moment” is the very moment when stress sets in. At this moment, thoughts, emotions and body tension cause pressured or reactive behavior; being conscious of this helps reduce stress by setting better boundaries. Becoming in tune with the “almost moment” encourages good decision making.

Dr. Frank’s presentation was very helpful for understanding thoughts, emotions, body tension and how to reduce stress associated with smartphone use and decision-making. Smartphones are a part of our lives, for sure, but we can make good decisions about when we need to look at and answer them. To learn more about Dr.Frank and his methods for reducing stress, check out his website.

5 Ways to Achieve Work Life Balance

Justin Myers
Self Help Topics, West Chester
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work-life-balance Dr. Seigler, DC and his team have been at OfficeKey in West Chester since 2011. Their mission, at The Living Proof Institute, is to address the root cause of health issues and restore their clients’ health and vitality. Through partnering and education they provide to their clients the tools and direction to live extraordinary lives.

We asked Dr. Seigler about work life balance and he was eager to share his knowledge on the topic. In his blog he addresses what individuals as well as employers can do to reduce stress and bring more balance to the daily grind.

To read the blog visit his website. We also invite you to share your thoughts on work life balance. What have you done to bring more balance into your life?

9 Practical Tips for Planning a Meeting Successfully

Justin Myers
meetings
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Planning a Meeting?

With over 250 companies regularly using OfficeKey, we have learned a lot about meeting preparation. Each company has its own priorities, but some elements are typically the same when planning a meeting. Here is a list we have come up with that will help you plan a successful meeting:

1. Choose the optimal location – Sometimes being centrally located or easily accessible may be the priority when planning a meeting. Other times it might be more important to choose the location that is most impressive to your guests. Select the location that will work best with what you are trying to accomplish.

2. Plan the space well – When planning a meeting, consider the number of people and the size of the space; having too much room can make the room seem empty and having too little room can disrupt productivity. If your meeting will include just a few people, don’t use a large boardroom or presentation room. However, if you are unsure, plan on the higher side of the range. If necessary, it is easier to move to a smaller space than a larger one.

3. Reserve your room – Do this as soon as you have a good estimate of the number of attendees. Room sizes and times can always be changed if needed.

4. Allow adequate time – For a larger group, a good rule of thumb is to have the room 15-30 minutes before the official meeting start time. And depending on the scope of the meeting, it is often helpful to build in some extra time after the meeting as well. How much material will be covered? Make sure you have set aside enough time during the meeting to go over everything you need to cover. Also make sure you leave time for discussion and questions.

5. Arrive early – It is likely that someone in your group will show up as much as 15 minutes early so be sure to be there when they do. If there is a presentation or any equipment that needs setup, it is advised to show up with plenty of time to do so. Even being in place 30 minutes before can create much more stress than necessary if you are up against the clock. Being in place at least one hour before allows for plenty of time to work through any setup procedures.

6. Have equipment ready – Decide, while you are planning a meeting, what kind of equipment will be needed: projector, HDMI, Wifi, etc. Communicate that to the staff of the facility. Confirm what is on site and if there is anything that needs to be brought the day of the meeting. Test all equipment before hand. And again, being in place an hour before gives you time to set everything up and work through any issues prior to your guests arrival.

7. Prepare other non-technical materials – Print handouts ahead of time. Put in requests for whiteboards or flip charts (also remember to take a photo of any good notes at the end).

8. Have refreshments for your attendees – Depending on what time the meeting is, have the appropriate refreshments. If you are planning a meeting around lunch time, you may want to arrange a catered lunch. Having water, coffee, mints, light snacks any time of day is ideal.

9. Have a clear agenda – Present the agenda at the outset of the meeting (or possibly ahead of time) and define the time being allotted to each topic. If you are leading the meeting perhaps assign another attendee to help you keep track of the time.

10. Follow up – Have you given everyone a way to stay in touch or ask questions? Welcome everyone to reach out in way that make sense to them personally. Phone, email, text or even in some instances social media are all ways to encourage everyone to stay in touch.

There are many items to consider when you are planning a meeting, but these ideas should help you get started. Good Luck!

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Author: Justin Myers