For over seven decades, Lakeside Pro Bass Shop and Mini Golf has been a cherished establishment in Logan County. Founded 76 years ago as Lakeside Landing by Gertrude and Jesse Pittard, this family-owned business has evolved into a beloved community hub for fishing enthusiasts and families alike.
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SERVPRO of Central Auglaize, Hardin & Logan Counties is a well-known leader in water, fire and mold mitigation/restoration and has been a much-needed asset in our community since 2021. The franchise has been active in the Logan County area since the early 1990s, with national headquarters that began in 1969 in Gallatin, Tennessee.
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Scott Huffman, SERVPRO Owner & GM, took over the franchise from Rich and Leah Cottrill, whom Scott was the Operations Manager for. Scott owes thanks and inspiration to the Cottrills for helping him realize his dream of franchise ownership and continuing the SERVPRO legacy of exceptional restoration services. Scott is joined by his wife, Andrea, who is the Marketing/Social Media Director and their team of Connor Macy, Mitigation Supervisor and Terrance Downey II, Mitigation Technician.
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Did you know?! All estimates for Logan County residents are free of charge! SERVPRO maintains a community-centric approach in a few different ways. The company supports many local entities, such as the Parks Department, and has donated fans to the Logan County Fair to use in the horse barns. They are honored to positively give back to the community when asked! The SERVPRO team also strives to make sure homeowners and property owners are well informed by reminding them to check their insurance documents and ensure that their most valuable assets are covered properly if or when situations may happen. By being Chamber members, the team enjoys the opportunity to meet with other business owners and gain priceless knowledge by networking with each of the great businesses in our community.
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​One-Eyed Cookie Lab, nestled in Downtown Bellefontaine, has a delicious history rooted in a long love of cookies. Owner Jennifer Born Rachek says she has been obsessed with cookies since she was a little girl. Her passion traces back to the fond memories of her grandmother’s exceptional baking skills and Jennifer always dreamed of being able to create baked goods of the same caliber. The dream of recreating those delectable treats became a reality during the COVID era, which brought less of a commute, and she was able to spend more time in her “Cookie Lab.”

​Beginning with online preorders, One-Eyed Cookie Lab quickly expanded to being a vendor at the Logan County Farmer’s Market. Jennifer met other bakers there and is thankful for their help and inspiration in her startup. Her love for the Farmer’s Market grew even more after becoming a vendor when she saw how friendly and supportive everyone – from the customers to the vendors to the market management – was. The Farmer’s Market also led to many other new friendships with a plethora of information and ideas and was a step towards getting their first wholesale account with Native Coffee. Eventually, One-Eyed Cookie Lab found its permanent home in Downtown Bellefontaine, where they are located at 118 East Court Avenue. If you are craving some of their ¼ pound cookies and aren’t in Downtown Bellefontaine, you can also find them at Gathering Grounds in Russells Point and The Depot Coffeehouse in Urbana.

Jennifer’s journey hasn’t been a solo endeavor. She extends special appreciation for three key people: her mother, her husband and Haley Thornburg. From packaging and delivering cookies to helping at the Farmer’s Market and eventually working at the store, Jennifer’s mother has played a pivotal role. Her husband’s patience and support when it comes to helping with their five fur babies, and with tasks such as laundry, dishes or even tracking down emergency supplies has been indispensable. Haley, an integral part of the team since before the brick and mortar opened, has been instrumental in the growth of One-Eyed Cookie Lab. Three other employees complete the One-Eyed Cookie Lab team.
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One-Eyed Cookie Lab’s desire was to create something fun with all-natural products for the community that Jennifer calls home. She fell in love with the store front with great views of some of Bellefontaine’s staple buildings – The Holland Theatre, the Veteran’s building and of course, the Courthouse! As the first concrete street (which is where One-Eyed Cookie Lab is located on) is a popular tourist attraction in Logan County, the store has become a loved favorite, as well.
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​The start of Heaven’s Dew was rooted in a collective desire for innovation and a concern for overall health and environmental well-being. Formed amidst the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the founders – guided by a shared vision – crafted a plan to honor God by caring for creation. The name “Heaven’s Dew” was inspired by the blessing that the dew gives the earth, referenced in Genesis 27:28 which says, “May God give you heaven’s dew and earth’s richness – an abundance of grain and new wine.”

Big Orange Shoe Shop was opened in 1975 by West Liberty native, Ken Lehman. An avid fan of all things running, Ken founded the “Big Orange” Cross Country program at West Liberty-Salem Schools, where his team won four consecutive state titles in a row from 1976-1979. As Ken is a well-known icon for West Liberty athletics, Big Orange Shoe Shop (B.O.S.S.) is well known as an icon for the West Liberty community (and beyond!).

B.O.S.S. now offers silk screen and custom embroidery for teams, organizations or even businesses. Customers love the store because of its history and loyalty to not only the West Liberty community, but other local schools and community organizations, as well. Team uniforms and apparel are provided to Benjamin Logan, Triad and many others. You can also order and customize your school jacket with Big Orange Shoe Shop.

Big Orange Shoe Shop has sponsored the annual BOSS Summer Run since its inception in 1977, where male and female age group winners receive certificates to the store. Proceeds from the BOSS Summer Run benefit the West Liberty-Salem Big Orange Cross Country program. The B.O.S.S. crew provides the t-shirts for the race, as well as other races like the Annual West Liberty Luminaria 5K. First place winners from the Luminaria 5K also receive certificates to B.O.S.S.! You will also find the B.O.S.S. crew set up at different sporting events and festivals, like the West Liberty Labor Day Festival – where you can shop their full store. It is important to them to support the community and give back when they can.
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“B.O.S.S.,” the store’s nickname from a time when Ken’s team was overcoming adversity and winning state titles still holds true to this day. After Ken, Pat & Jim Clement were owners, as well as Julie & Dennis McIntosh. Tim continues to hold the business to the same old-school high standards that the previous owners did and pushes through adversity like the Covid shut down and the challenges that come from being a rural, small-town business. One thing that stands out now is that Big Orange Shoe Shop is now the official uniform shop for AGC Automotive. They provide three full uniforms for each AGC employee, and this service has positively enhanced the success of B.O.S.S.

Please join us in congratulating Big Orange Shoe Shop as being the Logan County Chamber of Commerce December 2023 Business of the Month!
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Located next door was a flower shop and on slow days, Kristie would join them to help create flower arrangements. They taught her a lot (more than either of them knew!) and before long, she was even creating vintage setups for weddings, such as unique arbors made of books and trees and adding seating areas! Not long after, a bride came to her in a panic when their florist could no longer provide for the wedding. Kristie used her years of creative experience and saved the bride’s wedding day (which was the next day) and wedding flowers! Since then, people have been calling and requesting wedding flowers and that’s really where Dorcey’s Flowers begins.

Four years ago, Kristie moved the business to Logan County because she saw a positive change in the area that she wanted to be a part of. Initially opening in Bellefontaine, Kristie soon began looking for a bigger space as business continued to expand. Thankfully she found the perfect spot at 118 N. Detroit Street in West Liberty a little over a year ago. Timing was great for the larger space, as last year during the busy Fall wedding season, Dorcey’s had 14 weddings to prepare flowers for!

Starting with 3 machines and a small tool shop, IEG Plastics was founded in 2004 with a vision to supply customers with high quality plastic injection molds. Initially, the company started supplying customers with plastic injection molds that were built offshore and then brought back to the United States for production. In addition, IEG chrome plated parts out of Korea, China and Taiwan. This practice gave the company a chance to diversify their services and ultimately open their Bellefontaine injection molding facility in 2015, located at 223 Lock and Load Drive. This was done in an effort to re-shore work and to better support their customer base.
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Selecting the Bellefontaine location was a strategic decision for IEG. After sitting down with community leaders and discussing many options, the local support and the promising manufacturing labor pool made Logan County a favorable choice for the company. Jim Moore, Owner, boasts about what a great team and staff he is privileged to have. This can be attributed to the fact that the team “lives and dies by their core values.” Those core values are: Positive Thinking is Powerful Thinking; Lock & Load; Individual Commitment to the Group Effect; Do the Right Thing; Aim for the Highest Peak. IEG’s experienced team of professionals operates on the Traction Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS). This EOS is built around accountability, both to the team members at IEG and to their customers. Using the tools and key components of Traction (Vision, Data, Process, Traction, Issues & People) fuels IEG’s business approach of providing customers with top notch service, impeccable quality, and unparalleled partnership with clients.

Not only does the IEG team strive to exceed expectations in their business, but they also focus on being positive community members. They actively share their time and talents in support of causes to help improve and bring measurable change to the community. IEG has been a Chamber member since shortly after opening their Bellefontaine location. They believe their Chamber membership is beneficial in many ways, but especially in the areas of networking and keeping up to date on what’s happening around Logan County. This greatly affects the company, as IEG thrives on word of mouth.

option for them. They help educate and advise individuals on ways to reduce prescription costs, all while being transparent. Members join Prescription Bliss through referral sources, such as their doctor, insurance agent, family, or friends. Their team brings a combined 45 years of experience to the table, with direct experience in grants, pharmaceutical programs, and internationally sourced medications.

Prescription Bliss’ connection to Logan County is deep-rooted. They’re not just about business, they’re about building a community. The Brewers’ ties to the area and their commitment to meaningful employment opportunities led them to keep their business near home. Their involvement in community events and various recognitions underscore their dedication. Recently, they were awarded Female-Owned Business certification and were chosen for the Logan County Chamber of Commerce 2022 Emerging Business Award.

Bliss exists to provide options to those that did not know they had one. You can join the celebration and meet the team by attending their Open House on Friday, September 8 from 3:30-5:30pm, located at 111 W. Columbus Ave., Bellefontaine. In addition, the Chamber team will hold a ribbon cutting at 4:30pm to commemorate Prescription Bliss’ new office.

For more information about Prescription Bliss and their valuable services, you can visit their website: prescriptionbliss.com. You can also find them on Facebook and LinkedIn.
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Please join us in congratulating Prescription Bliss on being the Logan County Chamber of Commerce September 2023 Business of the Month!

Since 1955, United Way of Logan County has been at the heart of the community uniting individuals, businesses and organizations to create lasting change. Over the years, they have become the philanthropic hub of Logan County, providing essential support and resources to improve the lives of its residents.

136 years ago, in Denver Colorado, United Way’s roots trace back to a seemingly unlikely gathering. A woman, a priest, two ministers and a rabbi came together and conceived the nation’s first united campaign, which benefited 10 health and welfare agencies in the area. Their idea, which inevitably sounds like the beginning of a bad joke – led to the creation of an organization that coordinated relief services, counseled and referred clients to cooperating agencies, and provided emergency assistance grants. That year, the group raised $21,700 for this greater good and marked the inception of a movement that would become United Way. The spirit of giving and community support then spread to Logan County, Ohio in 1955 when local community leaders organized the United Fund of Logan County.

Since 1955, generations of local residents and businesses make their charitable impact through United Way. When you give to United Way, you become a part of a long-standing solution that works to positively influence the health, education, and financial stability of every person in Logan County. United Way is most well-known for the traditional “Workplace Campaign,” in which employees at participating businesses have the opportunity to make a pledge to give to United Way via payroll deduction throughout the year. It’s a convenient and easy way for people to make a difference locally year-round. More than just a fundraiser, United Way collaborates with businesses, non-profits, government, and civic organizations to address the growing needs of our community. No gift is too large or too small, as your contributions of time and treasure unite with those of others to make a difference here at home.

93 cents of every dollar raised goes directly to local programming, beating the Better Business Bureau’s Standard of Charitable Accountability of 65 cents on the dollar. Not only do they keep the money raised local, but the team at United Way believes in being involved in the local community, also. By being a member of the Chamber, they are better connected with their neighbors and business leaders and can stay aware of what’s happening in the community. For aspiring entrepreneurs, Dave Bezusko, Executive Director of United Way, offers a crucial piece of advice: “In your business plan, think about ways in which your business and your customers can give back to the community. Scores of surveys and research shows that consumers have a more positive perception toward small businesses and large corporations who are socially responsible and give back in a purposeful way.”

Ashley Spence, Resource Coordinator and their Licensed Social Worker, is embedded in nine participating workplaces in Logan County to meet one-on-one with employees about non-work related issues and connect them with available resources. Locally, United Way was voted Best Non-Profit in the Best of Loco contest.

United Way plans to launch a new program this fall and will be hiring for a full-time VITA Program Coordinator. This will be a public-facing role within the United Way of Logan County. The position fills a critical part of the Strategic Plan to positively influence the financial stability of every person in Logan County by coordinating and supervising all aspects of their new Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. The VITA program serves low- and middle-income families, providing free tax preparation and filing in Logan County. The starting salary will be between $45,000 and $50,000 and the successful candidate will have a Bachelor’s Degree and / or 1-3 years of experience in any of the following: Tax Preparation, Volunteer Management, Banking or Finance, Social Service, Non-Profit work.
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United Way is now located at 653 S. Main St., Bellefontaine, where they moved to in 2022. Along with Dave and Ashley, others on the United Way team are Melody Couchman, Community & Engagement Director and Linda Sundburg, Bookkeeper. Coming up this month is United Way of Logan County’s big Community Care Day on August 25. Community Care Day is an annual event where hundreds of volunteers from area workplaces, churches and civic organizations will work on meaningful group projects and make a difference in Logan County! You and your coworkers can sign up here: uwlogan.org/community-care-day-2023 and enjoy a fun day of giving back to the community. You can find this event, and others on their website: uwlogan.org. There, you will also see more information about the impact they have had in Logan County, their programs, and more!
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Please join us in congratulating United Way of Logan County on being the Logan County Chamber of Commerce August 2023 Business of the Month!