December 13, 2012

Commencement speaker is CEO of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams

John Lowe

The Autumn Semester Commencement will be held Friday, December 14 starting at 10:00 a.m. at Veterans Memorial, 300 West Broad Street.  The ceremony is free and open to the public.  More than 700 students have earned degrees at the end of the college’s first semester.

Speaking to the graduates at the ceremony will be John Lowe, President and CEO of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams. Lowe joined Jeni’s after receiving a late-night call from his good friend, Jeni Britton Bauer. Lowe has responsibility for all aspects of the business, except, as he says “the most important ones--flavor development and ice cream making.” Since he joined the company in July 2009, Jeni’s has an annual growth rate in excess of 70% and has become profitable while maintaining a family ownership structure and true-to-its-roots small batch ice cream making.

Lowe joined Jeni’s from General Electric Company, where he served in numerous leadership roles, beginning with his appointment in 2005 as Chief Privacy Leader for GE Infrastructure. He is a graduate of the University of Illinois, and earned his law degree from the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law.

Wollenberg attends employment workgroup meeting in D.C.

Keith Wollenberg, LogisticsART project coordinator, attended a best-practice brainstorming session about assisting the chronically unemployed November 28 in Washington, D.C. Attendees represented states from Ohio to California, and they discussed the success of their programs in order to identify promising practices for helping the long-term jobless find gainful employment. Wollenberg presented the LogisticsART project, and the importance of having staff trained to work with this type of population.

Bowers presents at SBDC conference, Rivers wins awards

David Rivers, left, and Michael Bowers hold their awards presented at the 2012 Statewide SBDC Conference.

Michael Bowers, supervisor of the Small Business Development Center at Columbus State presented several sessions at the recent SBDC statewide conference: “Outside the Box Funding Alternatives,”“Location-Based Applications and Services to Help Improve your Business,”and
“How Small Businesses Have Gone Ga-Ga for Mobile Devices.”

The SBDC Statewide Conference provides an opportunity for attendees to learn about the latest products and services that will enable them to better counsel Ohio's small business clients and entrepreneurs.

At the statewide conference, David Rivers, consultant with the SBDC, won the 2012 Ohio SBDC Individual Performance Recognition Award. This award recognizes the individual advisor who conducts the most one-on-one client advising hours in the network in the state of Ohio.

Rivers also won the 2012 Advocacy Award, given to the individual whom the network recognizes for consistently promoting and supporting the program and mission of the SBDC to help individuals start, sustain and grow small businesses.

And, finally, the Ohio SBDC at Columbus State won the 2012 Ohio SBDC Economic Impact Recognition for Business Starts, given in recognition of the Center staff who assisted clients in opening the most businesses in Ohio in FY2012!

Landscape student earns scholarship

Samantha August

The first Dean M. Bortz CSI,CDT Scholarship was awarded at the monthly meeting of the Columbus Chapter of the Construction Specification Institute (CSI) to Samantha August, a 4.0 GPA Landscape Design student starting her second year in the program.

The scholarship will allow her to continue her education. Samantha currently serves as the Columbus State Landscape Association president. She was selected from several candidates based upon specific criteria including her academic performance, service to the profession, and an essay on her passion for the industry. Interim Dean Dr. Mary Vaughn presented the award.

The scholarship is sponsored by the Columbus CSI Chapter and is open to any Columbus State student in the Construction Sciences and Engineering Technologies department. The 2013 scholarship application period will open in September 2013. 

 

2013 Project Diversity seeks participants

Project Diversity is now accepting applications for 2013.  Project Diversity is a comprehensive eight-month not-for-profit board leadership development program that develops leadership abilities in individuals through a combination of experience, vision, empathy and training. 

Applications, which can be found online, are due by 3:00 p.m. on February 7, 2013. Please email applications to Kelly McLennan. Project Diversity will also host an informal recruitment reception for interested candidates on January 15, 2013 from 5:30-7:00 p.m. at The Bluestone - The Great Room, 583 East Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43215. Register to attend the reception here: www.liveunitedcentralohio.org/project-diversity-event. 

Safety training available online

In compliance with the Public Employee Risk Reduction Act and Occupational Safety & Health Administration, Columbus State provides the required safety training necessary for specific positions. Training provides the essential general safety guidelines, regulations, practices and principles to promote a safe work environment. 

Safety Training for Columbus State employees is now available online through Blackboard.  Employees can log on to Blackboard, click on the “My Organizations” tab at the top of the page and select Health and Safety Training 2013.  Available modules include:  Bloodborne Pathogens, Emergency Preparedness, Fire Extinguisher, Hazard Communication, Hearing Conservation, and Personal Protective Equipment.  Additional topics will be available soon.  Each module consists of a narrated presentation, additional resource materials and an assessment.  If you have questions regarding the training materials, contact Lori Thomas or call ext. 3860 for additional information.