Bobcat Multi-Works is a family-owned and operated company that has become a trusted name across 14 counties for its exceptional septic and excavation services. Celebrating over 25 years in business, their story is one of perseverance, innovation, and a deep connection to Logan County.
Steve and Audrey Moody never planned to start a business - they were farmers raising a family in Logan County. With Steve working as a semi-truck driver and Audrey at a factory, they decided to make a change they thought would be best for their family. In 1999, they took a bold step toward entrepreneurship, starting Bobcat Multi-Works with the only financial help being a loan for their first Bobcat machine. In those early days, Steve worked during the day while Audrey managed the household, billing, and marketing. She would go through the phone book to call friends and neighbors to let them know about their new venture. In the evenings, they traded off – Audrey would go to work at the factory and Steve would be home to take care of the kids. Bit by bit, their hard work paid off. What started as a two-person operation now boasts a team of skilled operators and office staff, serving a growing client base with reliability and care. Bobcat Multi-Works has grown from a small, local business to a company registered in 14 counties. Their range of services includes:
Steve and Audrey have lived in Logan County their entire lives, and their love for the community is evident in everything they do. The business operates from their home property, where old barns and outbuildings have been transformed into operational spaces. For the Moodys, Logan County isn’t just where they do business—it’s home. This connection to the community has helped them build strong relationships with their customers, many of whom have been with them since the beginning. Despite their expansion into new territories, Logan County remains at the heart of Bobcat Multi-Works. Bobcat Multi-Works is more than a business; it’s a family legacy. From day one, Steve and Audrey planned for their children and grandchildren to play a role in the company’s future. Today, the second generation is stepping into leadership roles, learning the ins and outs of the trade and carrying forward the values that have made the business a success. “Our plans from the beginning were to create something for our kids and eventually grandkids,” says Audrey. “We’re sticking to those plans.” While Bobcat Multi-Works has received formal awards and recognition over the years, Steve and Audrey agree that the most meaningful accolades come from satisfied customers. Positive feedback and word-of-mouth referrals have been the foundation of their growth and success. Starting a business from scratch is no small feat, and the Moodys have learned plenty along the way. Their advice for aspiring entrepreneurs?
Bobcat Multi-Works is proud to be “#1 in the #2 business,” but their dedication goes far beyond their humorous slogan. Whether you need septic services, excavation expertise, or reliable rentals, they are here to help. Their dedication to quality service, community, and family makes them a shining example of local business success. Please join us in congratulating Bobcat Multi-Works for being the Logan County Chamber of Commerce December 2024 Business of the Month!
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If you’re in West Liberty and craving a home-cooked meal in a place brimming with local charm, look no further than Liberty Gathering Place, located at 111 North Detroit Street. Established in 1995, this cozy restaurant has been a cornerstone of the community for nearly three decades—and it’s set in a location with even deeper roots. The building itself has been home to a restaurant since the 1940s, starting as The Betty Lane Restaurant and later becoming Dajolee's. The evolution of this beloved spot mirrors the community it serves, and in March 2023, it embarked on a new chapter under fresh ownership by Ashley Shaffer. Liberty Gathering Place traces its origins back to 1941, when The Betty Lane Restaurant first opened and was run by Cora Saltz. The restaurant was then sold to Rose Emma Smith and her son Dan, and was renamed to Dajolee’s. In the 1970’s, the Smith’s purchased the adjoining building and expanded to include the banquet room which eventually sold to Delbert and Kathy Fullencamp.
Beyond breakfast, the restaurant offers lunch and dinner with a menu full of hearty, classic dishes. The staff takes pride in crafting each meal, and the community takes pride in supporting the restaurant. Liberty Gathering Place has been recognized as a Business of the Month by the West Liberty Business Association, a testament to the commitment the community has to the restaurant, and also the restaurant back to the community. Recently, Ashley donated a peanut butter pie to be auctioned off to benefit a local community member and impressively raised $16,200 in donations - another testament to its deep community ties. As Liberty Gathering Place looks to 2025, they’re excited to introduce new items to the menu, expand into catering, and hit the road with their newly acquired food trailer. The trailer has already began to make a splash, where breakfast was a bit hit at the fair. Ashley and her team promises to bring a taste of Liberty Gathering Place to even more people around the region with their food truck. Stay tuned on their Facebook or website for food truck details, and more!
As 2025 approaches, Liberty Gathering Place is hiring! They’re seeking cooks, prep staff, and servers to join the team, starting in January. It’s an exciting time to be part of a long-standing business with a fresh vision for growth.
Stop by Liberty Gathering Place for a taste of tradition and a glimpse of its bright future. The restaurant’s hours are Monday-Tuesday 6am-2pm, Wednesday-Saturday 6am-7pm and Sunday 8am-2pm. Whether it’s a cozy breakfast, a slice of Cindy’s famous pie, or a chance to be part of something special, Liberty Gathering Place has something for everyone in West Liberty. Please join us in congratulating Liberty Gathering Place for being the Logan County Chamber of Commerce November 2024 Business of the Month. A significant part of customer service is engaging with your customers. Interacting with your customers shows that you have an adequate understanding of what good customer service is. Good customer service will make your customers feel less like they are just around to give away their money, and more like they are a priority, reminding them that they add value to your business. Knowing how to treat your customers will be very beneficial in the long run!
Why engage with customers? Relationships: By engaging with your customers, you will build new relationships with people. This could simply be with customers that you see on a regular basis, or even business professionals within the community! Forming new connections will eventually lead to building relationships. New connections can provide you with new ideas, resources, and perspectives. Having a relationship with your customers is what will make them want to come back. Customers will be more inclined to visit your establishment and spend their time and money there if they have a relationship with you. To build relationships, you must engage with customers. Loyalty: Consistently interacting with your customers allows you to build trust. This also plays a part in building relationships with your customers. If your customers can trust that you will provide what they need, have prices that they can afford, and can help answer any questions they might have then they will continue to go back to you. Their loyalty to you means that you always have customers you can count on, even when times get tough! Satisfaction: The satisfaction of your customers is your highest priority. Satisfied customers mean repeating customers! Part of customer satisfaction is engaging with customers. Figure out what the want/need, why they are stopping in, etc. Engaging with them will show that you want them to have a good experience, and that all their questions are being answered without them even having to ask! High customer satisfaction also boosts customer retention! How do you engage with customers? 1.Social Media Many people use social media on a daily basis. Social media is a great tool to engage with new and returning customers. Making frequent posts on social media and staying active lets your customers know what’s going on with your business without you having to directly tell them. Though not everyone is active on social media, many of the younger generations are, and as social media is used more and more by future generations it will become even more of a useful tool. For example, One-Eyed Cookie Lab stays active on Facebook. Posting multiple times a week, listing all products that will be sold, along with pictures of their sweet treats to provide a visual. Posting regularly and utilizing social media makes engaging with customers quick and easy. 2.Reward System Creating some type of rewards system shows that you are engaging with customers. Making customers feel special and important to your business will make them want to come back… which also means you will have customers loyal to you! Six Hundred is an example of a business implementing a rewards system in the community. At Six Hundred, returning customers can receive $10 off after spending a certain amount. This type of engagement is a great way to give back to your customers. 3.Personalized Shopping A meaningful way to engage with customers is by personally addressing customers. Introduce yourself and use their name while interacting with them. Personalized shopping will let customers know their needs are being met, while catering to the needs of individuals rather than customers as a whole. This could include custom orders, making specific product recommendations, etc. This creates a unique experience with the customer. At High-Point Graphics you will always have a personalized experience. With custom orders, banners, embroidery, and much more you are guaranteed to be taken care of as an individual. 4.Feedback Encourage feedback! Always ask for honesty from your customers as it can help your business. This could be through emailed surveys, “Tell us how we’re doing” QR codes on receipts, asking in person, social media comments/posts, website reviews, etc. Your customers’ opinions are so important, and by asking for their feedback shows them that what they think matters. Figuring out how you can enhance your customers’ experience can only be done if you know what they need from you! An example of receiving feedback is after making a purchase at Gathering Grounds, you can select a smiley face or a frowny face to express how your experience was. Actively asking for feedback allows you to engage with customers as you are allowing them to communicate how they feel you have done. 5.Mail/Email Sending out flyers, letters, or even new products that your business may have directly to your customers is an effective way to engage with them. Another great way to engage with customers is sending thank you letters or emails directly to them after making a purchase or even randomly. Showing your appreciation to your customers will show that you care about them and make them feel valuable! Four Acre Clothing sends out emails that inform customers when there are new products being released and any events they will be a vendor at. Sending out mail or setting up an email that customers can subscribe to is a great way to engage with you customers. 6.Events By hosting or participating in events, you can engage with many customers at once. Depending on your establishment, you can host many different types of events that cater to your business. These events could be holiday based events, deals your business may be having, or even events associated with First Fridays or any of the events Logan County has going on downtown! The Syndicate consistently hosts events. Nearly every weekend, there is live music open to all. By welcoming in the community and offering things that others can experience with you, you will more than likely have returning customers! Engaging with the community while giving them something to look forward to will be valuable to you and your business. There are many events that go on all throughout Logan County. To stay in the loop, check out: https://www.experiencelogancounty.com/events.html Engaging with your customers and taking the time to practice good customer service will benefit not only your customers but also your business. The experience that your customers have in your establishment is meaningful to them and will leave an impact! For over 16 years, Elle A. Design has been a pillar of creativity and innovation in Logan County. What began as a one-woman operation has blossomed into a thriving design studio known for its unique blend of artistic flair and technical expertise. Lindsey McGlone, the Owner and Creative Director of Elle A. Design, discovered her love for art at five years old. This early passion for creativity laid the foundation for what would eventually become a successful design studio. Lindsey always knew she wanted to be an artist, and in 2008, she turned her lifelong dream into a reality by founding Elle A. Design. Initially, Lindsey managed everything on her own, dedicating countless hours to her craft and her clients. Eight years into her journey, she decided to take a leap of faith by hiring a teammate – Chelsea Bray, Lead Designer and Copywriter. This decision marked a turning point for Elle A. Design, as Chelsea’s talent and dedication brought a new dimension to the studio - Lindsey says that Chelsea has become her right-hand girl and that hiring her has been one of the best decisions she has made. The team continued to grow, adding Lane Yoder as a Designer, Photographer and Videographer and most recently, Kate Powell as a Designer. Together, they have transformed Elle A. Design into a full-fledged brick-and-mortar studio, serving hundreds of clients not only in Logan County but across the country.
Why should I get involved?
Involvement in your community shows dedication and commitment to your business and the people you serve. Whether you’re a newer business, or your business has been around for a while, it’s never too late to get involved! How can I get involved with the community? There are so many ways to get involved with the community. Think about what you want out of your connections in the community. Do you want to meet new people? Give back to those in need? Offer your expertise to others? Or just have fun and relax? Consider your desired outcome to help guide your next steps.
What are the benefits to getting involved? By getting involved in the local economy, you are making an impact, whether it would be big or small. Volunteering and getting involved gives your business the chance to give back to the community, while giving you a feeling of gratification. When your business makes a positive impact, you also create a positive image for your brand. Volunteering in the community also opens opportunities to network and make connections with whomever you are volunteering with/for. Getting involved won’t harm your business - there are no downsides. Start getting involved to help you and your business expand and grow! Networking helps contribute to professional development, builds and strengthens relationships, all while allowing you to connect with new resources. Regularly attending networking events and connecting with the community will be extremely beneficial to you as you work on growing your business. Here are some ways networking will help your business flourish:
1. New Connections By networking and attending events within the community, you can build professional, long-lasting relationships and make connections that will add value to you and your business. These relationships can aid you when times are tough, or they can even just be familiar faces that you see on a regular basis. The Chamber hosts regular networking events, including our First Thursday Coffee each month at various coffee shops around Logan County. 2. New Resources Your new connections that you make can help you gain new perspectives, while also providing you with new knowledge. By bouncing ideas off one another, businesses can help each other grow by sharing their expertise. Our quarterly Member Meet & Greets are a great way to get to know other business owners and leaders who can aid you in ways you might not have known about! 3. Be More Visible Networking will ultimately lead to more visibility. Making it known that you are out in the community and representing your business will make more people knowledgeable of you and your business. When people are looking for a product or service, you want to be the first one to come to mind! 4. Positive Image Regularly attending professional events will show that you are involved and willing to make an appearance in the community. This creates a positive image for not only you but also your business! 5. Increased Opportunities Your involvement and connections will give you more opportunities. You may be offered certain job advice, and new doors may open up after networking. This is especially true for our Young Professionals events held throughout the year. What are some ways you can network within the community? There are endless ways that you can network within the community. This could be grabbing coffee with a neighboring business, popping into a new store to introduce yourself, or even simply connecting with a business via social media or email. Keeping up to date with events in Logan County is a great way to network. Getting involved – and staying involved – will allow you and your business grow. Stay up to Date with all of the Chamber’s networking opportunities! https://members.logancountyohio.com/events 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.
The West Liberty Business Association held their Annual Dinner on Thursday, January 18, 2024. It began with a social hour and membership drive with music provided by Rise FM. After that, WLBA President Heather Chamberlain welcomed all the attendees and a prayer was offered by Jeff Vernon. The meal that followed was prepared by Paul’s Catering. After dinner, Chamberlain welcomed West Liberty-Salem Band Director Paul Waibel. Earlier in the year, the WLBA was made aware of a few students that needed some additional funding in order to be able to go to Disney with the WL-S band. Several members of the WLBA donated money for these students to be able to go on this trip. Mr. Waibel thanked all of those members for helping to make this trip a reality. Some highlights of 2023 for the WLBA are as follows: Increased membership by 45%, finalized their 501c3 status to be recognized as an official non-profit organization, and purchased a trolley along with the Lion’s Club and the Village.
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