By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com

For the second year in a row Bucyrus business leaders have projected a positive outlook for the upcoming year.

If the message coming out of last year’s Bucyrus Area Chamber of Commerce Business and Industry Forecast Breakfast was uplifting, this year’s message seemed to build upon that.

“For one thing it was very well attended and we heard good things about the food and so forth,” said Chamber Board President Nate Roshon. “Generally, we heard good news. That’s another great year and something we’ve had for the past several years. We see things trending up and up and up and hope folks are listening. (We) hope that it gets people to invest in our community, those we are already here and those who might be considering starting businesses here.”

Representatives from eight companies spoke at this year’s Forecast Breakfast and saw even more positive things to build upon from last year’s success, not only within each company but within the community.

“The strength of our local businesses drives the strength of our economy and that drives the strength of this community. It’s that simple,” remarked Jim Kennedy, President and CEO of Ohio Mutual Insurance Group. “We could never ever assume that could continue forever and we can never ever take it for granted. Because when our local businesses do good and they make good financial results, that then puts them in a position to contribute to the very many worthwhile causes in this community that need to be contributed to and supported.”

Avita Health System

Jerry Morasko, President and CEO, noted that Bucyrus Community Hospital has seen superb growth under Anita Health System. The hospital received $8 million in capital improvements and is considered a leader in customer service in the region.

Avita Health System has expanded into Ontario and Morasko credited that expansion for the reason why they have been able to bring specialists to Bucyrus.

Morasko said they hope to expand even more. Avita is currently in talks with Holy Trinity to take over the former school on Tiffin Street.

“We will make that a beautiful asset for this community and help us expand into our sports health program,” Morasko said. He added that the complex would also be used for large employee meetings.

Avita Health System, consisting of the Bucyrus and Galion hospitals and services in Ontario, currently employs 1,300 employees

Bucyrus Precision Tech

Dave Garner, Vice President of BPT, said 2014 had its good and bad moments but believed that 2015 would continue to capitalize on those good moments.

“2014 was a good-bad year for us. Good: in sales we had a historical year of $55 plus million. That ultimately turned sour as stable manpower continued to be a problem,” Warner said.

BPT tried to supplement the turnover with temporary workers, which in turn led to more absenteeism. Warner said that at one point 21 percent of its turnover rate was from failed drug screens.

“We will not tolerate it,” Warner said.

Garner said they expect to see another increase in sales for 2015. BPT also increased wages by 12 percent and looks to move back toward a more traditional workforce with fewer temporary workers.

ESCO Bucyrus

John McDevitt, site manager of ESCO, said that the company consolidated one of its Canadian factories into Bucyrus in 2014. It also made a multi-million dollar investment in new automation and modern innovation at the Bucyrus facility. The project is expected to be completed by mid-2015 at an excess of $7 million.

“The improvements have eliminated processes that were done on multiple machines and have eliminated the need for hands touching steel,” McDevitt. “That’s driving to our true north statement of zero harm. Reduce material handling through conveyor systems, we’ll reduce our employee’s ergonomic risks.”

McDevitt said ESCO will also be on the cutting edge of technology when it receives a robotic welding cell in early March.

McDevitt said that in 2015 the company plans on continuing to maintaining jobs in the area and reaffirming its commitment to Bucyrus.

General Electric

In 2014 the General Electric Bucyrus Lamp Plant made a $15 million investment when it added three new manufacturing lines as part of WalMart’s Made in U.S.A. campaign.

In addition to numerous volunteer hours by GE employees, the plant also donated $15,000 to the Buckeye Central Learning Center.

The local plant currently employs 357 hourly employees, an eight percent increase over the previous year. It is also producing three different products: linear florescent T8 and T12, and the standard household 819 light bulb.

“I’m happy to report that the factory will make more light bulbs this year than any time in the last decade. We’ll make over 150 million light bulbs this year,” said plant manager Matt Novak.

“Our success helps our relationship with this community grow and prosper,” Novak added.

North Central State College

Dr. Dorey Diab, President of North Central State College, said the Crawford Success Center will help raise the education attainment and close the skills gap in the county. North Central State College rented the former Board of Elections office on East Mansfield Street from the county commissioners for $1 per year.

“North Central State College is committed to workforce development initiative that focuses on continuing upgrading worker skills to keep them relevant in the workforce,” Dr. Diab said.

Construction will begin this spring and the Crawford Success Center will begin classes in August.

Ohio Mutual Insurance Group

“It’s no secret that we’re living in a world right now with incredibly low interest rates,” said OMIG President and CEO Jim Kennedy. “If you’re trying to borrow money. it’s a good thing; if you’re trying to earn a return on your money, it’s not so good.”

Kennedy noted that 2014 was the ninth year that Ohio Mutual made money on its insurance operations in addition to making money on its investments. He credited much of that to its good underwriters and discipline.

Ohio Mutual currently has a net worth of $187.5 million, a new high for the locally based company.

“I’m absolutely so proud of my team for what results we’ve been able to do over the last 12 years to be able to grow to that level,” Kennedy said. “That’s a very solid thing for us.”

OMIG has made a pledge of a $100,000 grant over the next two years for the Crawford Success Center and a $50,000 pledge to the Community Connection grant for 2015.

This marks Kennedy’s 12th and last year with OMIG. Kennedy will be retiring at the end of the year and the company is undergoing a nationwide search for his replacement.

The Timken Company

In 2014 Timken split into two independent companies. It separated its steel and bearings industry and formed Timken Steel Corporation.

Sales at Timken are expected to be up one percent in 2015.

Spreng Capital Management

Once again Jim Spreng, President and Chief Investment Officer of Spreng Capital Management, sees an improvement in the economy.

“Yes, the economy is much better,” Spreng said.

Spreng said the economy will not return to the same highs as seen in 2006 but that current circumstances are the new normal.

“2015 is what it is,” Spreng said. “It’s different. It doesn’t mean it’s good, doesn’t mean it’s bad. It’s just different.”

Spreng said Greece and Ukraine continue to be hurdles for the world economy but the biggest factor will be interest rates, which have been artificially suppressed for a number of years and, historically, have never been that low.

“The economy is better. You heard it today,” Spreng said. “Employment is up, sales are up. There are challenges . . . there have been challenges for hundreds of years and there will be challenges next year when we come back.”