Monday, August 23, 2010

We made a difference at Optimum!

We made a difference at Optimum last week!  We turned our power off for one (1) hour (as a test) for the business energy conservation group in Ohio that we participate in.  The test occurs every year - for one hour - and we passed with flying colors!  (we needed to tweek a few things here and there)

You might be thinking - What's the big deal with that?  In the printing industry, we strive to become sustainable and "green" through the incorporation of economic, socially responsible and  sound environmental practices in our business operations.. As a print manufacturer, our presses consume a large amount of energy in addition to keeping the production environment under climate controlled temperatures with air conditioning.  In extreme weather conditions, Optimum might be called upon to shut our power off during peak energy consumption in the State of Ohio.  In return, we will receive a credit on our electric bill for our participation.  Not such a bad trade off!

Just this past July, the east coast suffered record breaking heat for several days consecutively.  Businesses in those states who participated in this program shut down and (I was informed by our energy rep) it saved the East coast from power outages or rolling brown outs.  All types of business were able to make a difference that week together-a synergistic approach-each by contributing a small portion of power reduction.

Last week, our nervous Optimum team, (during the hour) sat in our low lighted office with our computers on still working and servicing our customers via email, our website and phones while our manufacturing and warehouse went dark..  There was a buzz around the office, some shouting out to one another, others walking around and putting flashlights on their desks or just checking in with one another.  Our purpose shifted for just that one hour as our team contributed to a greater energy conservation purpose.  It felt good to be at Optimum that day.

We made a difference at Optimum last week and we discovered that  we are prepared and ready to contribute our part!

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Young Professionals Spotlight: Columbus Rotaract Young Professionals Club

This is a fantastic opportunity for young professionals looking for a great networking group.

At Optimum we consider the Columbus Rotaract Young Professionals Club to be extremely noteworthy and strongly support their activities.  I encourage any young professional to take a look at the information below and to consider joining this wonderful organization.

 Each month, the Columbus Chamber spotlights a local young professional or professional organization to showcase what they offer, how to get involved and when to check out their next event.  For the month of August, Columbus Rotaract Young Professionals Club is featured.
When and why was Columbus Rotaract Young Professionals Club started?
Rotaract has evolved quickly in its short by dynamic history.  In the early 1960s, Rotary clubs around the world began to sponsor university youth groups as community service projects.  The 1967-68 Rotary International president, Luther H. Hodges, and the RI Board of Directors considered this club activity to have international relevance, and Rotaract was approved in 1968 as an official program for Rotary clubs.  Several decades later, the Rotaract program has grown into a strong, international network of 7,300 clubs in more than 150 countries and geographical areas.  Rotaract's 145,000 members are young men and women who serve the needs of their communities, widen their personal and professional contacts, and increase their understanding of the world.
The Columbus Rotaract Young Professionals Club was founded in the fall of 2007, receiving its official charter in May 2008.  Columbus Rotaract is sponsored by Columbus Rotary which supports the club through mentoring, professional development, fellowship and financial means.  The Columbus Rotaract Young Professionals has over 40 members.
 Why should I become a member?
The purpose of the Columbus Rotaract Young Professionals Club is to provide an opportunity for its members to serve the community by participating in service projects that make a difference and to develop professional skills by creating venues to learn from proven leaders.  As a Columbus Rotaract member you will:
  • Contribute to the community where you work and play through a variety of monthly service activities.
  • Build relationships with the Columbus Rotary club, central Ohio's largest Rotary chapter.
  • Gain access to Columbus-area professionals through quarterly development meetings.
  • Connect with new people who have common interests through social events.
How do I become a member?
Just send a quick e-mail noting your interest in joining Columbus Rotaract to our membership chair, Kirstin at membership@columbusrotaract.org.  We will send you an informational packet and connect with you to discuss Columbus Rotaract in more detail!  You may also attend one of our upcoming events that are listed within the Columbus Chamber's Activities and Events for Young Professionals weekly emails.  Feel free to attend events to learn more about Columbus Rotaract before joining.  Membership dues are $50 annually.
 Tell me about your upcoming events.
 During the upcoming months we have several events planned, including:
  • Alex Fischer, president & CEO of The Columbus Partnership will join us for a luncheon, 11:30 a.m. at the Huntington Building, Floor 11.  Alex will share how more than 600 Central Ohio business leaders have collaborated to create a bold initiative that will position Columbus to become the fastest growing economy in the country.  Columbus 2020! is a comprehensive economic development strategy for our region to grow 180,000 net new jobs, increase income by 40 percent and make Columbus a top 10 city in economic development in the nation.  You won't want to miss this lunch!  RSVP at www.columbusrotaractalexfischer.eventbrite.com.
Join us at these two fantastic events to volunteer for in one weekend, August 21 and 22!
  • Junior Achievement needs help staffing its registration tables at the Bowl-a-thon this year! Join us for a quick shift lasting an hour and a half, making it easy to squeeze into your busy schedule! Saturday, August 21, 4:45-6:15 pm; Sunday, August 22, 10:45 am - 12:15 pm and 1:15-2:45 pm.
  • PELOTONIA is a grassroots bicycle tour with one goal: to end cancer.  Columbus Rotaract is extending the invitation to volunteer along the route from Columbus to Athens.  For various volunteer opportunities check out http://www.pelotonia.org/ride/volunteer.jsp.
Don't miss out on the following opportunities to network and meet other young professionals as we venture out for two upcoming events:
  • Columbus Rotaract will be attending Cocktails at the Conservatory on Thursday, August 26 at 6 pm. Cost is $10 and may be applied toward food and beverage purchases. Let us know you'll be attending at www.columbusrotaractcoctailssatfpc.eventbrite.com.
  • Don't miss out as we support the Nationwide's Children's Hospital Slice of Columbus on Wednesday September 15 at 6 p.m. Tickets may be purchased at the door for $12. Let us know you'll be joining us at www.columbusrotaractsliceofcolumbus.eventbrite.com.  We will set up a meeting location for those in attendance!
What are some successes or cool facts about Columbus Rotaract Young Professionals Club?
  • Columbus Rotaract Young Professionals Club golf scramble, a Round to Remember, has contributed over $10,000 to Alzheimer's Association, Central Ohio Chapter.
  • Columbus Rotaract partners with Junior Achievement and Columbus Rotary to host the annual Barons of Business Professional Development Luncheon recognizing Central Ohio Business Hall of Fame.  The 2010 honorees include: Larry Abbott, Retired Chairman, Abbott Foods; David Biaconi, Founder and CEO, Progressive Medical, Inc.; Sandra Harbrecht, President and CEO, Paul Werth Associates; and William J. Lhota, President and CEO, Central Ohio Transit Authority.  Save the Date: Monday, January 24, 2011.
  • Columbus Rotaract has featured key business leaders through its Speaker Series including Tanny Crane, Elizabeth Lessner, Cameron Mitchell, Michael Schoedinger, Jane Abell, and Andrea Cambern.
Where can I go to learn more?
To learn more about Columbus Rotaract YP you can go to www.columbusrotaract.org or contact us at membership@columbusrotaract.org.


Monday, August 16, 2010

Goodnight and Good Luck

This is my last week here at Optimum, and I'm so glad I was able to spend my summer here.  The employees are hardworking and dedicated and the owners approachable, efficient, and driven.  I'm a pretty opinionated person, and it's been great to work somewhere where my opinions [even as a lowly intern ;-)] are listened to and respected.

It's been a pleasure working with each and every person at Optimum, and I look forward to seeing what this incredible company does in the future.

Farewell, all! And, remember, my departure does not mark the end of this blog--stay tuned for more updates.

Friday, August 6, 2010

Who doesn't love fairs?

I got to leave the office yesterday and head over to the Ohio State Fair to work at the Printing Industries Association of Ohio and Northern Kentucky (PIANKO) booth, since it was Optimum Day.  The booth was amazing--I got to see samples of award-winning print designs from the year, learn more about how print is green (did you know 70% of printers use eco-friendly ink?), and hand OSU football schedules for the season (Go Bucks!) to passersby.

If you're at the fair, be sure to head over to the marketplace and stop by PIANKO's booth.  If you get 70% of the answers correct on a 12-question quiz about printing and the environment, you even win a free t-shirt or customized poster, printed on the spot.  PIANKO also will give you an opportunity to win concert tickets--just ask the people at the booth how and they'll set you up.

Hope to see you there!

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Be Careful What You Tweet

Twitter is a fascinating phenomena. I'm sure you've heard about the hundreds of thousands of followers that celebrities have been able to attract on Twitter.  People interested in Celebrity news and gossip can now go straight to the source instead of having to rely on magazines and tabloids.

Some celebrities, however, are better at Tweeting than others. (One particularly shocking tweet was posted by Jose Canseco when he announced that the FBI was about to arrive at his home.)
 The most recent addition to the ranks of celebrity Tweeters is Kanye West, whose Tweets have been the butt of several jokes of late--people have even started pairing the text of his Tweets with New Yorker Cartoons.

Here is my favorite Kanye Tweet so far:



"I specifically ordered persian rugs with cherub imagery!!! What do I have to do to get a simple persian rug with cherub imagery uuuugh" - Kanye West

And if anyone can explain what this one means to me, I will be forever grateful:

Have any favorite Tweets? Share them below--I'm always up for a good laugh or some interesting news.


For tips on using Social Media Marketing, please visit: http://optimumsystem.blogspot.com/2010/07/6-tips-for-your-banks-social-media.html


Looking to save money on office supplies? Visit http://www.optimumcompanies.com/

Monday, August 2, 2010

Focusing on core competencies: A must for community banks

I recently wrote an article for the Banker's Bank of the West July 2010 newsletter (you can see the full newsletter here: http://www.bbwest.com/news/July2010NL.pdf ) and I just wanted to share the article with you all. Hope that you find it interesting and helpful--I would love to hear your thoughts and feedback on it. 

As financial regulations have mounted, smaller banks are having a hard time keeping up. Precious time formerly spent on tending to customer needs has been diverted to deciphering new financial regulations and complying with all their requirements. Consequently, banks can easily become focused on internal affairs at the expense of over-looking customers’ needs and business growth.
In fact, it is not always smart or cost-effective for a community bank to try to do as much as possible in house. A sensible alternative to asking employees to accomplish tasks that fall outside their specialties is to outsource select functions like printing and office supply purchases. Judicious outsourcing can often save both money and time, allowing your bank to focus on core competencies.
Optimum System Products has established itself as a reliable, cost-effective partner for your bank’s printing and office supply needs. Our average community bank customer saves 20% to 30% annually by switching to Optimum.
Additionally, through Optimum’s new printing partnership with Mimeo, print-on-demand is now available to your bank, making Optimum your one-stop shop. This revolutionary technology allows you to submit your documents online by 10 p.m. Eastern Standard Time and receive them by 8 a.m. the next business day—a giant step forward in terms of quick turnaround. 
What does this mean for your bank? Adam Slutsky, CEO of Mimeo.com, put it this way: “With the Mimeo Open Platform, Optimum will be able to offer community banks the same services that are now utilized by Mimeo’s Fortune 100 banking customers without incurring the capital expense and risk associated with building a homegrown digital print solution.”

Optimum System Products, Inc., is an award-winning national provider of bank supplies. We work with more than 1,500 financial institutions and provide virtually every product your bank needs to operate.
For a free consultation on how your bank can save money on printing costs, call Optimum today at 800-869-0632. Visit www.optimumsystem.com.