|
November 2000 Newsletter |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
In This Issue:
Adopt-A-Family Program Success Though Christmas is still nearly two months away, it arrived early for the Central Ohio IFMA Chapter when Mark Haberman announced following the President's Dinner November 3 the success in funding this year's Adopt-a-Family projects. Haberman said when all revenues were totaled the amount raised at this point is $4,400. He reported that the sale of tickets for the President's Dinner raffle amounted to $1,999, and that another $1,200 came in from the sale of IFMA logo items throughout the year. He also announced that the chapter had received a $300 gift from Singer Wallcoverings, $400 from the Programs Committee, and would receive $500 from the Citizen-Journal Adopt-A-Family Fund that is now administered by the Columbus Foundation. Trustees of the C-J fund learned of the chapter's projects this year and asked the Community Service Committee to submit a request for assistance. The C-J trustees felt that projects undertaken at Thanksgiving and Christmas by the chapter parallel those the newspaper sponsored until it ceased publication in 1985. Haberman said that because of the success of the drive the chapter may "adopt" four families instead of three from the St. John Center, 640 South Ohio Ave. The committee will be arranging delivery of Thanksgiving dinners for the adopted families on Wednesday, November 22. Delivery of Christmas gifts will be during the afternoon of Wednesday, December 20. Stephanie Patton and Brittany Hauptman, Program Committee co-chairs, had said the President's Dinner would be the final program of the year. Patton added that the $400 that would have been spent to support a December program would be donated to the Community Service Committee for its programs in November and December. Patton said cancellation of a December program doesn't mean the committee will be taking it easy until 2001. Members will assist the Community Service Committee with their shopping and preparation for the upcoming events. She also said programs are being planned for next year and will be announced soon.
November Program Recap President's Dinner Some 100 members of the Central Ohio IFMA Chapter and their spouses, friends, and guests turned out at The Medallion Club in their best bib and tucker November 3 for the annual President's Dinner, a recap of the year 2000, and a glimpse into the year ahead. It was President Gary Nuss' night and he wasted no time in extolling the many accomplishments of the year and in paying tribute to the chapter's committee co-chairs for their outstanding work. "It was a great year to kick off the millennium," Nuss said. "When I became president, I asked Craig Thomas what I should do. He said, 'Just have fun.' Well, I want to tell you we have accomplished a lot just having fun." Nuss praised the chapter's officers for their hard work during the year. They are Ron Black; vice president; Lin Frazer-Smirniotopoulos, secretary; Dorothy Leachman, treasurer; Vicki Simons, past president; Pam Nuss, chapter administrator; and Mark Leder, Webmaster, who was instrumental in bringing the chapter national recognition through its Web Page. He expressed his gratitude for the outstanding work of all the committees and in their direction by the co-chairs: Stephanie Patton and Brittany Haitian, Programs; Stephanie Segall and Rosie Herrick, Education; Daphne S. Swayze and Eileen Smith, Membership; Janeen Carson and Mark Haberman, Community Service; and Robert S. Davis and Dale Schmidtz, Associate Relations. Nuss also singled out Jim Yankle for his outstanding work in spearheading the 12th Annual IFMA Golf Outing at the Shamrock Golf Club last summer. Nuss then turned the podium over to Davis and Haberman and Carson. Davis reported that the Associate Relations Committee had set a goal for $20,000 through its sponsors for 2001, and "tonight the total stands at $20,950." Davis announced the chapter's sponsors for the coming year and their levels of commitment:
Davis said following the meeting that the sponsorship drive would continue until all former sponsors and recommended sponsors were contacted. Haberman and Carson conducted the drawing for the Adopt-a-Family raffle, and prizes were awarded to the following:
October Program Recap Some 60 members of the Central Ohio IFMA Chapter turned out at the Grandview Café October 11 to toast and pay tribute to an extremely important group of companies and individuals: all sponsors of the chapter. It was "Sponsor Appreciation Night" for the chapter, and following a round or two of liquid refreshments and "finger food." Chapter President Gary Nuss set the pace for the evening's accolades by telling the honored guests: "Without your support we wouldn't be able to do the things we are doing now as an organization. . . .While other chapters charge for a lot of the things they do, we are able to offer so many activities free because you (the sponsors) support the things we do. We appreciate your support and look forward to it again next year." Nuss also stated, "This has been a great year for the Central Ohio Chapter!" He complimented Programs Committee Co-Chairs Stephanie Patton and Brittany Hauptman, and Education Co-Chairs Stephanie Segall and Rosie Herrick for their hard work in providing excellent programs and educational opportunities throughout the year. "We've had great turnouts for all of our programs. We've even had to turn people away (because of space limitations). The programs have been mixed and we feel we are doing the right things." Nuss also congratulated Webmaster Mark Leder for development of the chapter's Web page, which won the National Chapter Award for Web Communication in the medium-sized chapter category at the world Workplace 2000 conference in New Orleans in September. In recognition of their support to the chapter, Nuss presented the following awards to sponsors:
John Cooper and Jim O'Brien, head football and basketball coaches at The Ohio State University, can't hold a candle to Molly Ranz (Calhoun) when it comes to directing a team. Cooper probably comes closest with a contingent of 135, including coaches. O'Brien, with his 19, isn't even in the running. Ranz, director of facilities administration at Ohio State's Department of Housing, Food Services and Event Centers (HFSEC), "coaches" a team of 200 that is responsible for capital renovation and construction projects, and all operational aspects of the 4.2 million square feet of the many facilities within HFSEC. This includes the resident halls, dining complexes, student unions, and hotel facilities at Ohio State. In all, there are some 106 buildings, including those at regional campuses at Wooster and Put-in-Bay for which she and her team have jurisdiction. As director of facilities administration, Ranz has an operation budget of $15.8 million and is currently responsible for over $60 million of capital renovations and construction. This includes construction of the 180-bed, four-star hotel --The Inn at Fisher College-- under construction at the Fisher College of Business, Tuttle Park Pl. and Woody Hayes Dr., and a graduate and professional student resident hall at Neil and 10th avenues. The $29 million inn will be completed in the fall of 2002, and construction of the $25 million resident hall complex for some 500 students will get underway in a year with completion in 2003. Additionally, Ranz's responsibility is in helping to meet the daily domestic needs of the thousands of students and administrators at one of the nation's largest universities. The numerous problems associated with this aspect of university life can be multiplied beyond even the best imagination should a sudden event, such as a strike, occur. This happened last May when the Communication Workers of America initiated a near month-long walkout that involved 1,900 workers --mostly janitors, groundskeepers, food-service employees and skilled tradesmen.. Many were from Ranz's department. Ranz has been associated with Ohio State since she enrolled as a student in the 1980s. She was graduated in 1986 with a bachelor's degree in industrial design. After graduation she interned with HFSEC as a student interior designer and has been with the department since. She became director two years ago. Ranz has served on many university committees, including Minority Issues, Purchasing Advisory, ARMS Asset Management, Y2-K, and HFSEC Recognition. Ranz also is a charter member of the Central Ohio IFMA Chapter. She has served as president, vice president, and co-chair of the membership and education committees, and is a member of IFMA's Academic Facility Council. Networking is one of the major benefits Ranz says she derives from IFMA membership. "When I first became a member of IFMA, it was the educational programs that I found most beneficial. However, networking is where the value is today for me. It's being able to pick up a phone and talk to someone about resolving a problem, about materials, or prices," she said. Ranz and her husband, Tom Calhoun, a major in the Air Force at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, reside in Hilliard. They are the parents of three sons, Cody, 4, and nine-month-old twins, Casey and Conner.
Thom Cavanaugh, owner of Network Office Clearinghouse, Inc., in Akron, hasn't let a lot of grass grow under his feet in the last 15 years in building his company into the largest buyer of used office furniture in the United States. And what he buys he also sells. What began in 1985 in Akron as a sales and distribution center of used office systems spread to Portland, Ore., in 1990; then on to St. Paul, Minn., and Austell, Ga., during the past decade; and quite possibly will move into the southwest and Europe early in the 21st century. While there is no timetable for expansion into the southwest and overseas, you don't have to talk with Cavanaugh long to realize it's coming. Also, nearly two years ago Cavanaugh acquired Universal Merchants in Cookeville, Tenn., a "sister company" that deals in office furniture imported from countries such as China, Taiwan, and Brazil. Universal Merchants is a U.S. distributor for Rudnick, a Brazilian manufacturer of executive wood office furniture. This operation also imports executive office seating, A-1 office chairs of Italian leather and German-built mechanisms. Network Office Clearinghouse and its 90 employees across the country specialize in recycling quality office casegoods and systems purchased from corporations in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The company then wholesales these inventories to a network of office furniture dealers, remanufacturers, designers, and businesses of all sizes, many on the Fortune 100 and 500 lists. Network Office also maintains a retail showroom at 1140 Highbrook Ave. in Akron. "We deal with Corporate America on a daily basis," said Cavanaugh. "Whether you have a single office or multiple locations, whether you are purchasing or selling furniture inventory, we have the capability to handle all furniture requirements. And because our inventories change on a daily basis, customers can be assured of securing the finest quality office furniture at the most reasonable price. Since our inception, we have developed both the knowledge and expertise required for the procurement, sale, and nationwide distribution of superior A-grade used furniture," he said. Cavanaugh pointed out the company has 250,000-square-feet of warehouse space at its operations in Oregon, Ohio, Minnesota, and Georgia that enables Network Office employees in those areas to maintain huge warehouse inventories and fill most orders from company-owned stock. "Additionally, our vast network assures a constant supply of quality furnishings. Network Office has achieved strong growth by evaluating product clearly, pricing it competitively, distributing it efficiently, and employing quality people with long-term customer satisfaction as the focus," he said. Cavanaugh sees the company's sponsorship of the Central Ohio IFMA Chapter as a means of maintaining business contacts and keeping the Network Office name before potential customers, especially in the Columbus area. "For a national company such as Network Office Clearinghouse, 200 miles way is still right in our own backyard," he said.
|
