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!

Berry Digital Solutions is “not your average website company,” according to their website. Websites are how they have built their brand, and they say a good website is the foundation of any successful business. Over the years, they have grown into so much more – a company of complete digital marketing solutions. Berry Digital offers 4 types of services: Website Development, Social Media Services, Content Creation and Paid Advertising. Each service covers a wide range of topics and the team makes sure to go above and beyond what most other companies can provide. They offer free brainstorming to any business or organization, which is a great way to talk through goals with someone who understands the difficulties of trying to run and market their own business. Berry Digital Solutions makes marketing easy for their clients.

According to Berry Digital, becoming a Chamber member has allowed them to network with small businesses in Logan County and better understand their needs. They have been able to connect with local leaders and business owners and are following their own advice, which is “Get to know your community, start to build a network and surround yourself with people that will help you grow.” With over 200 local clients, Berry Digital has worked hard to connect local businesses to their community. For the past two years, Ryan has even been selected by Google to represent Ohio small businesses in Washingtion D.C. There, he has talked to Congress about data privacy laws and proposed legislation that could be daunting for small business owners. You can find more information about Ryan’s visit to the Capital on their website blog, as well as other tips, tricks and advice on various digital marketing topics.
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Over the past year, more than 1.8 million users have visited Berry Digital Solutions’ websites. That number now includes the Logan County Chamber website, which was recently given a makeover. Not only did the Berry Digital team refresh our website, but they have also given us practical advice on how to reach more people with it! The Chamber team is very appreciative of how timely and thoughtful Berry Digital has been during this transition. Ben Vollrath, Chamber President, states “Ryan and his team made it easy for us as they built the Chamber a new website. They are creative, responsive, and treat you like you are their highest priority.”

Please join us in congratulating A New Leaf Florist on being the Logan County Chamber of Commerce May 2023 Business of the Month! Mother’s Day is coming up on Sunday, May 14 so make sure to check out A New Leaf Florist if you’re still looking for that special gift.
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West Ohio Tool Co. is a small family run business doing big things in Logan County! Starting as a tool sharpening business, Kerry and Kim Buchenroth began "Buck's Sharpening" out of their garage in 1989. With expanding services and customers, the business eventually outgrew the garage, a remodeled chicken coop/storage building and a steel building that was built on their property. By 2000, the Buchenroths moved to a new building at the Indian Lake Industrial Park and became known as what it is today: West Ohio Tool Co.
 
In 2019, Kerry had some health challenges, so Kaci (Kim & Kerry's daughter) and her husband, Rea stepped in to manage the company. Kaci had more than two decades of hands on experience. Kerry stayed on as a trusted advisor but unfortunately passed in 2021. Kerry’s vision combined with he and Kim’s work ethic, problem solving, customer service and dedication that built West Ohio Tool Co. lives on more than 30 years after clearing the initial space in their garage. Today, they are not only family owned still, but also 100% woman owned since Kim and Kaci are the current owners. Recently, West Ohio Tool was recognized as the cover story of womLEAD magazine and have certifications pending for WBENC, WOSB (Women Owned on the federal level) and Small Business.