Michael Shepherd
A PUBLICATION OF THE LOGAN COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Chamber Chat
In this Edition
Entrepreneur & Business of the Month
Six Hundred Downtown
Board Member of the Month Mark Butler
Education & Industry Work Force Expo
Holland Theatre - 85 Years
Michael Shepherd
February
2016
PAGE 2
Business of the Month
BENEFIT: Chamber members receive EDUCATION through legislative events and free business and entrepreneurial seminars.
Six Hundred Downtown continues on Page 3 . . .
Entrepreneur Michael Shepherd, sole owner and operator of Six Hundred Downtown enjoys success using old school techniques in his business, his pizza competitions and in leadership with his staff. “From the start, we decided we would create a word of mouth “buzz” around unique pizzas, award winning food and staff, authentic old school techniques and awesome and amazing service.”
Michael’s company was founded in 1997, when he opened Michael Angelo’s Pizza in Kenton and a second location in 2003 in Rushsylvania. Expanding again in 2011 he opened Six Hundred Downtown as a good old fashioned pizzeria, the way he says they used to be and the way they were meant to be. “We feel that pizza making is an art and we strive to create the best pizza we possibly can. We hand spin our pizzas the old fashioned way and we bake our pizzas in an old fashioned brick oven. Each pizza is hand-
crafted just for you. Yes, your pizza may have a little char on it or a little burnt spot here or there, but that is the way pizza is supposed to be.” The name of the restaurant came from 600º Fahren-heit being the starting point for baking his three distinctly different styles of pizza: Classic Italian, Detroit Style, and Chicago Thin Crust.
In 2013, Michael sold his businesses in Kenton and Rushsylvania to focus all of his attention on the success of Six Hundred Downtown. “While we strive to be the best we can all the time, there are times when we fall flat on our face. And when we do, we WANT you to let us know; so we can fix it, learn from our mistakes and improve.”
Michael is a four-time World Pizza Champion and three-time U.S. Pizza Champion. He was personally involved in pizza competitions such as pizza making, acrobatics, fastest and biggest beginning in 2002 until he retired from competitions in 2009. He has won 8 international medals of which 7 are gold, many silver and bronze medals and encourages his staff to participate.
Michael Shepherd
PAGE 3 BENEFIT: The Chamber promotes WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, to raise the skill level of our industries associates.
They have continued his winning traditions: assistant general manager Brittany Saxton has won 5 gold medals at the World Pizza Games in Las Vegas, general manager Nathan Sickmiller won 1st place with their Tonto Detroit style pizza this year and 3rd place last year with the same at the North America Pizza & Ice Cream Show, and assistant manager Daulton Cornell won 1st place with Six Hundred’s Mad Hatter pizza in its division at the International Pizza Challenge in Las Vegas, NV. Michael has been featured on the Food Network, Discovery Channel and has traveled the world doing acrobatic pizza shows with his team, the World Pizza Champions.
Six Hundred Downtown employs approximately thirty-two employees, including two of his three sons, Aaron and Elijah. Michael Shepherd has had a major impact on the revitalization of the downtown. Drive through the business district on a weekend night and you will notice there isn’t any parking available. Michael chose Logan County to build his business because “It’s just a great area and it’s close to home; plus, we thought it could use some awesome pizza. The Chamber of Commerce is a great advocate for business and commerce in the area and we are happy to be affiliated with them.”
Logan County Chamber of Commerce would like to recognize Michael Shepherd for his investment and commitment to this community and to the Chamber.
We congratulate Six Hundred Downtown, Michael and his entire staff on being February’s Business and Entrepreneur of the Month!
Six Hundred Downtown 108 S Main St Bellefontaine, OH
937-599-6600 www.600downtown.com
Six Hundred Downtown Continues . . .
PAGE 4
Legislative Meeting Tuesday February 9th 7:30am
Board Member of the Month
Meetings are open to the public and
held at the Chamber Office
Visit Our Website at: www.logancountyohio.com
BENEFIT: the Chamber provides EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES in the areas of human resources and safety.
Mark Butler Logan County Chamber of Commerce Board Member of the Month
The Logan County Chamber of Commerce is proud to recognize
Mark Butler as our February Board member of the month. Mark
is the high school principal at Benjamin Logan Local Schools
located 6607 SR 47 East, Bellefontaine. He is a graduate of
Benjamin Logan, Ohio Northern University, received his
graduate degree from University of Dayton and his superin-
tendent’s from Ashland University. “My professional career
has been dedicated to Benjamin Logan Schools in the
capacity of instructor, coach, assistant principal, and
principal.” In 2000 and 2004 he received the Who’s Who
Among America’s Teachers Award, received Outstanding
Leader Award in 2012 from the Logan Co. Youth Leadership
Impact Team, received Honorary State FFA degree in 2012
and FCCLA State Administrator of the Year in 2013.
Mark has been a resident of Logan County over the past 47
years. He and his wife Jill are the proud parents of two
children: Landyn, a junior at Bowling Green State University and Jordan, a fifth grader at
Bellefontaine Intermediate School. He enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, coaching
youth programs, gardening, Kentucky basketball and is in involved with his church.
We want to thank Mark for his service to our community
and the Logan County Chamber of Commerce.
Please join us Tuesday February 9th as the
Legislative Committee discusses
“Updates on the County.”
The Logan County Engineer Scott Coleman will be leading
the discussion and taking questions.
Tuesday, February 9th at 7:30am.
Scott Coleman
Logan County Engineer
PAGE 5 BENEFIT: The Chamber provides INFORMATION AND SUPPORT for start up businesses
Chamber Events
Visit Our Website at: www.logancountyohio.com
First Thursdays
The Chamber Coffee Hour will
be at Sweet Aromas on
Thursday February 4 8:00am
Come join the Chamber for an
opportunity to network
with other local business
representatives and share
about your company.
Visit Our Website at: www.logancountyohio.com
Thursday, February 4th at 6:00PM
Travel Presentation on the
Spain Classic’s Trip!
1790 S Main St Bellefontaine
RSVP: 937-599-5154 Ashley
Come See What You’re Missing!
PAGE 6 BENEFIT: Members are REFERRED as the Chamber office receives hundreds of inquiries each month about our community.
Mark Your Calendars!
Attend the Safety Council Meeting Feb 18 at 7:30am Please join us on Thursday February 18 at 7:30am
Logan County Safety Council meeting will be held
at the Transportation Research Center.
Roger Schroer will speak and instruct on the pertinent issue of “Distracted Driving”.
As a lead driving instructor at TRC Inc. since 1988, Schroer has proven his skill as a test development driver for high speed and limit handling. He also serves as instructor for Honda’s highest driving certification level S-Licensing, which is the top license certification for all Honda groups in North America. As an accomplished driver, Schroer holds multiple national victories as a Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) license owner. Additionally, he holds the land speed record in five categories as a member of the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), a France-based group which certifies land speed records as the main international motorsports sanctioning body. Schroer has also been awarded a class victory in the Nelson Ledges Road Course 24-hour race, participates as a driver of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), and drives for product vehicle commercials and sales training videos.
Roger Schroer, TRC
Safety Council is a monthly program hosted by the Logan County
Chamber of Commerce and is always held on the third Thursday of each month.
PAGE 7
Education & Industry
BENEFIT: The Chamber promotes WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, to raise the skill level of our industries associates.
Here is a great opportunity to showcase your business/industry to hundreds of Logan County
students that could be your future employees. Midwest Regional Educational Service Center and
the Logan County Chamber of Commerce are inviting you to participate in the first annual
“Logan County Work Force Expo”. Students from Bellefontaine City, Benjamin Logan Local,
Calvary Christian, Indian Lake Local, Ohio Hi-Point CC and Riverside Local schools will be in
attendance. You will have an opportunity to speak to students face to face while demonstrating
about your company. Also, if you have a need for seasonal employees this is a great opportunity
to recruit for this now and in the future. In order to properly plan for this event, we ask that you
respond via email or mail to let us know if someone from your business/industry will attend.
Attached is the registration form. Please contact Karen Sorreles, [email protected] or
937-599-5195 Ext. 5506. Registration Form
_____ Yes, we plan to attend the Logan County Work Force Expo 3/4/2016
_____ No, we will not be able to attend this year but wish to remain on the
mailing list for next year ________________________________________________________________
Name of Representative: __________________________________________________________________
Title: _____________________________________________________________________________
Company: _____________________________________________________________________________
Type of business/industry: ________________________________________________________________
Address: _____________________________________________________________________________
City, State, Zip: _____________________________________________________________________________
E-mail Address: _____________________________________________________________________________
Please indicate how many boxed lunches will be required.
E-Mail your registration to: [email protected]
Mail it to: Midwest Regional Educational Service Center Attn: Karen Sorreles
121 South Opera Street, Bellefontaine Ohio 43311 *email confirmation will be sent to email you provided to us.
To be held at the Indian Lake High School, 6210 State Route 235 North, Lewistown Ohio
March 4, 2016 9:00-2:00
PAGE 8
Tourism
BENEFIT: the Chamber champions BUY LOCAL, encouraging residents to support local businesses.
The Indian Lake Annual Boat Show, organized by
the Indian Lake Marine Dealers Association, attracts
thousands of people each year. The show is held on
the first full weekend in March. The U.S. Coast Guard
and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division
of Watercraft will be on hand to answer your boating
questions. Spend-A-Day Marina, Indian Lake Marine,
and Bud’s Marine all take part in the Indian Lake Boat
Show. Please call Monica Reed-Hurst at 937-843-3036
for more information.
Indian Lake’s New Visitor’s Guide
is now available at the
Indian Lake Chamber of Commerce
and the Logan County Chamber & VB
PAGE 9 BENEFIT: Gain AWARENESS for your business through special advertising in the Chamber Chat, available only for members.
Membership News
Welcome Our New Chamber Members
Rick Gildow
10551 Co Rd 286
Huntsville, OH 43344
937-244-1123
Mike Kern, Owner
Indian Lake Pontoon
100 South Main St
Bellefontaine, OH 43311
937-599-5121
Individual Membership
Logan County’s Marmon Valley Farm and
Executive Director Matt Wiley make the
cover of Ohio’s Country Journal in January.
To read the article click here:
http://ocj.com/2016/01/ohios-marmon-valley-fertile-in-faith-
and-agriculture/
The Logan County Chamber hosted the
1st Qtr HR Luncheon
A 5 member panel addressed fifty of Logan
County’s Human Resource professionals to
discuss the five generations that make up
our workforce, the wide differences and
motivations of our “Millennials” as they
enter the workforce and the changes that
need to be addressed to manage this
workforce. Later the panel took questions
and comments from the audience.
The HR luncheon was held at the
American Legion this quarter.
Thank you to all for participating.
Amanda Elwer and Karen Grothouse of Spherion of Lima, Derek
Richardson of Spherion Bellefontaine, Justine McCullough of
Clark State and Daniel Horn, Spherion of Bellefontaine.
PAGE 10 BENEFIT: Gain AWARENESS for your business through special advertising in the Chamber Chat, available only for members.
Community News
PAGE 11 BENEFIT: The Chamber provides INFORMATION AND SUPPORT for start up businesses
PAGE 12 BENEFIT: Gain AWARENESS for your business through special advertising in the Chamber Chat, available only for members.
Community News
Our local group “Vets to DC” will be leaving the
fairgrounds at 8:00am and traveling through
downtown Bellefontaine to Route 33. The public is invited to gather
in the downtown area to pay tribute to these veterans as they drive
by. Any help with this project would be greatly appreciated.
Contact Person: Scott Stewart 937-407-6766
“Vets to DC”
Friday, May 13, 2016
PAGE 13
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work that connects chambers throughout the coun-
try. Downloading the free My Chamber App is useful
for not only where you live, but also where ever you
travel.
Update your business information, add upcoming
events and share Hot Deals by logging into your
Chamber Master account. Call us with questions!
BENEFIT: Members receive a DIGITAL PRESENCE through the Chamber website and mobile application.
You Please visit the Community Calendar for
upcoming events throughout Logan County by clicking this link:
http://
www.logancountyohio.com/
index.html#section-calendar.
Laura Miller Chairperson
John Bodin Vice Chairperson
John T. Belser Secretary/Treasurer
Your Chamber Management Team
Honda Transmission
Jerry Cline Past Chairperson
Mary Rutan
Hospital
Thompson, Dunlap &
Heydinger Ltd.
John T. Belser, CPA
Paul Benedetti
President/CEO
937-599-5121
Erin Henry
Vice President of Operations
937-599-5121
Jacquey Yoder
Member and Visitor Services
Chamber Chat Editor
937-599-5121
Susan Karg
Member and Visitor Services
937-599-5121
Rick Gildow
Economic Development
937-599-5121
Darrin Haubert Chairperson Elect
Wells Fargo Advisors
FiNet, LLC
