The Dayton Art Institute will celebrate its centennial in 2019.
Back in 1919, the museum was located in a house at Monument Avenue and Saint Clair Street. It quickly outgrew that space and its current building opened in 1930, thanks to the generosity of arts patron Julia Shaw Carnell.
It wasn’t exactly smooth sailing, though, with the building opening during the depths of the Great Depression. The director, Siegfried Weng, needed to do whatever he could to bring people inside the museum during the ‘30s and ‘40s. He promoted The DAI as “Dayton’s Living Room” to entice the public and even brought in a small menagerie of animals (“Weng’s Zoo”) that included peacocks, donkeys, parrots and even a monkey.
Today, the museum sees about 130,000 visitors a year. There are over 26,000 pieces of art in its collection, with about 1,000 on view in the galleries. As it gears up for its 100th anniversary, one woman will definitely play a role in planning for the celebration.
“Our leadership team and staff have been working very diligently to put together an exciting year of programs and events,” said Monica Walker. “We’re really happy and excited we’ll be able to celebrate with the community.”
Walker is the human resources and administration director. Roughly 90+ full- and part-time employees work at the museum, and Walker also oversees the museum’s largest volunteer group, the Leonardo League, made up of about 300 volunteers.
Walker also oversaw volunteer needs for this year’s record-setting Oktoberfest celebration at the museum. About 2,000 volunteers support the fundraiser, which drew nearly 30,000 people to the museum’s grounds.
This is also where the museum first partnered with BarryStaff.
“I’ve utilized a number of agencies over the years,” Walker said. “BarryStaff was absolutely amazing. I couldn’t have asked for better – from your own staff to the temporary employees you brought in.”
BarryStaff is proud to partner with such a tremendous organization.
“We’ve had a lot of museum directors and curators visit The DAI, and they say we have a stunning collection,” Walker said. “They say they don’t know if Dayton truly realizes the breadth of collection we have here.”
“Thank you for your use of The Barry Room last evening. Many Altrusa members commented on how nice it was. We meet on a monthly basis and may see if the room is available again in January. I will get with you for a reservation within the next week.” — Peggy Collins, Altrusa Dayton
Photo of Sarah and Stacey Bales by Kendall Karmanian
Less than a week after their father died during a 2009 business trip, Stacey and Sara Bales met with the banker who had lent money to their family’s Downers Grove, Ill., industrial plating company. The banker demanded to know how they planned to liquidate.
The business, the 20-something sisters learned, had taken out a loan to ride out the recession. Now the bank wanted its money back.
“We had to fight for the company,” says Stacey, now 34 and president. Sara, 32 and vice president, recalls her sister reeling off sales figures and demanding to know why, given $3.2 million in revenue, they would ever consider selling.
BarryStaff President Doug Barry is quoted in the following Dayton Daily News article. It was originally published on November 5, 2016.
Just as wages rise from a tighter job market nationally, one staffing firm owner says area employers are waging a talent war for qualified, willing workers.
In the final federal monthly jobs report before Tuesday’s presidential election, officials said 161,000 jobs were created in October and the unemployment rate fell slightly to 4.9 percent.
Perhaps the biggest news: Average hourly earnings for private-sector workers rose 2.8 percent over a year ago, the strongest annual wage growth in more than seven years.
Doug Barry, owner of staffing firm BarryStaff, said a tight employment market is pushing wages up.
“Companies are competing for the people who are working, and they’re having to offer higher wages,” Barry said.
And in many cases, employers are paying more to retain good workers, Barry said. “It’s a competitive job market now. As they say, it’s an employees’ market.”
This year has been a good one overall for Butler County businesses, including Hamilton, where significant expansions and hiring blitzes at Barclaycard, Startek, ThyssenKrupp Bilstein and ODW Logistics will have contributed more than 800 jobs to the city in 2016 alone, according to Brandon Saurber, Hamilton’s director of strategy and information.
The city expects to see an additional 1,000 jobs from those four companies in 2017, Saurber said.
As of Oct. 31, total wages paid by Hamilton employers have increased by around $40 million in 2016 compared with 2015, he said. Those gross wages are expected to top $1 billion annually in the first half of 2017.
“With the number of job opportunities expanding, our number one priority now is to get as many Hamiltonians as possible into these jobs,” said Jody Gunderson, Hamilton’s director of economic development.
Middletown’s economic development team has conducted approximately 75 business retention and expansion visits this year with others scheduled, according to Alexis Fitzsimmons, assistant economic development director.
“Every employer we have talked to has had steady or increasing numbers at their facilities,” Fitzsimmons said. “There are two employers in town that plan to expand their operations in the coming year due to new business lines and several that have excess capacity and are growing organically through existing customers.”
Beyond growth in Middletown’s industrial economic base, the city also has seen growth in its retail sector through new investments, such as the new Buffalo Wild Wings and Aspen Dental on the outskirts of Towne Mall Galleria.
“This is a trend we will continue to see as interest in the Middletown market continues to grow,” Fitzsimmons said.
Any job loss noted would probably be within the re-aligning retail sector, as Middletown continues to swap out large retail with smaller, locally derived experiences, said Matt Eisenbraun, the city’s assistant economic development director.
Greg Kathman, Fairfield’s development services director, said many business leaders have talked about the jobs that have been added or need to be added to keep up with recent growth.
“Just driving around town, you can see a lot of Now Hiring signs in business front yards,” Kathman said.
Fairfield companies that have shown job growth include Veritiv, which completed its move of more than 400 employees into Fairfield within the past few weeks, as well as Koch Foods, which has grown to more than 1,000 employees, with more expected to be added in 2017.
Pacific Manufacturing is constructing a $50 million expansion that will result in at least 62 jobs added to the 540 existing jobs, and CompuCom recently moved into a new building in Fairfield, bringing more than 100 information technology jobs. Element Materials Technology consolidated several local operations into Fairfield earlier this year, with 120 total jobs now at this facility.
West Chester Twp. added 853 new jobs and retained 1,259 jobs so far in 2016, according to township officials.
West Chester lost Bakery Craft, with 119 employees but that relocation was offset when Ohio Eagle Distributing purchased the Bakery Craft building and added 85 new jobs back to West Chester.
West Chester has used expansion announcements to track 71 companies adding new positions so far this year and 36 retaining existing positions through new investments in 2016.
“West Chester continues to see new investment in targeted sectors, including corporate headquarters, advanced manufacturing and information technology, as well as dynamic retail and hospitality development, specifically in the Streets of West Chester and in the area anchored by West Chester Hospital and Voice of America,” said township Administrator Judi Boyko.
“Nearly $56 million has been invested in West Chester so far this year as companies continue to find value in West Chester’s diverse local economy,” Boyko said.
In Liberty Twp., the burgeoning Butler County community has added about 25 new businesses this year, according to Caroline McKinney, the township’s economic development director.
With the opening of Cincinnati Children’s Proton Therapy Center and the addition of 100 jobs there, Cincinnati Children’s Liberty Campus has grown to 650 employees after starting out with 390 in 2008.
Also adding to job growth in the township next year will be continued retail and business growth at Liberty Center and the scheduled opening of The Christ Hospital Medical Center later that year.
“We anticipate continuing the positive momentum we’re seeing in Liberty Twp. as we head toward 2017,” McKinney said.
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By the numbers
2.8 percent: Wage growth from October 2015 to October 2016.
191,000: Revised number of new jobs created in September, an increase from 156,000 that was reported earlier.
161,000: Number of non-farm jobs created in October.
4.9 percent: October unemployment rate, down from 5 percent in September.
7.8 million: Number of jobless in the U.S., a figure that includes 2 million who have been without a job for more than 27 weeks.
Manufacturing is entering a digital revolution that will fundamentally shift the way that businesses in the sector operate.
The next manufacturing age, known as Industry 4.0, shares several goals with the previous three industrial revolutions. These include increased speed to market, quality and cost-effectiveness.
However, the similarities end there. Where mass production and global economies of scale were game changers in earlier chapters, the factories of the future aim for greater flexibility and individualization.
Mark Ellis needed a job. And he needed something with flexible hours.
That’s because Ellis is a pastor. He could be called at any time. And his obligation is to respond … at any time.
“I do counseling,” he said.”I help a lot of different people, so I have to be free at different times.”
Ellis pastors in Piqua. Mornings are typically the only part of the day that’s unspoken for. BarryStaff knew this, and called him as soon as a part-time position with Quality Forms in Piqua opened up. It’s near his church — and only 5 minutes from his house.
“People are willing to work with me here,” he said.
Quality forms began in 1884 as the Little Printing Company in Bradford. Now it occupies a 56,000-square-foot facility. They print mainly business forms — like pamphlets and business checks. The company prints for more than 1,200 different distributorships in the United States.
Ellis is a jack of all trades. Arriving early in the morning, the self-described handyman tackles whatever needs to be done before the day begins in full swing. The trickiest part is mastering the jargon, but it’s coming along. Ellis has never worked in this type of environment before.
“No,” he says, “this is quite different for me.”
Everyone is pitching in to help Ellis learn the trade. Quality Forms has about 20 employees, many of whom have 20 years of experience with the company.
“They’ve been so friendly,” Ellis said.
The company is fully aware of his pastoral obligations and they’ve ensured him plenty of leeway. Ellis is thankful to be so close to home and to so many of the people that could call on him at any moment.
“The only thing I asked (of BarryStaff) is to find me something with the amount of hours I wanted and flexibility.” he said. “I’ve got both here.
Are you killing it at work, or are you barely scraping by?
It’s not always obvious.
Sometimes, certain bosses or office environments just aren’t that big on feedback.
These subtle signs can help you determine if you are, in fact, an exemplary employee:
1. You get along great with your colleagues
Not only are you a delight to be around in the office, you’re an awesome team player. Plus, this probably means that you’re a great fit for the culture of your organization.
2. You’re honest
Good bosses love workers with integrity. You’re forthright with your boss and colleagues. You speak frankly and candidly. Most importantly, you don’t stoop to using nefarious means to get ahead.
In organizations with toxic cultures, honesty may be overlooked — it might even get you in trouble. But when you’re in a company with a strong, ethical grounding, honesty tends to pay off in the long run.
3. You’re restless
In Lin-Manuel Miranda’s smash Broadway hit “Hamilton,” the titular Founding Father ascends to great heights by virtue of never being satisfied. (This drive also gets him into a bit of trouble, but let’s just ignore that for now.)
At a certain point, most of us settle for good enough. Truly stellar employees are never quite content. They’re constantly learning new things, trying new approaches, and striving to work smarter. They’re a bit restless and always seeking to improve themselves.
4. You hold yourself accountable
Again, in a workplace without integrity, doing this might be a bit of a disadvantage. But if you’ve got a decent boss, holding yourself accountable and taking on responsibility will likely go over well.
5. You’re dependable
You’re not flashy. You’re like clockwork. You say you’re going to do something, and you do it right every time. You’re trustworthy and dependable, which makes you invaluable on important projects.
6. You rise above office politics
In corporate America, no one is 100% immune to office politics. Learning to navigate your workplace is an important part of succeeding at your job. (Unfortunately, too often this takes precedence over actually being good at your job.)
However, if you’re one of those people who can successfully sail through potentially contentious workplace situations without ever getting mired in the drama, that’s a good sign.
7. You mentor others
If others are looking to you for guidance, you can rest assured that they already see you as an excellent worker. You’re so good at your job that not only are you successful on your own, but you’re able to reach out and help others succeed as well.
8. You do things without being asked
You don’t sit around waiting to be told what to do. You go out, find problems, and then work to discover solutions. This allows you to seize each and every day.
9. You speak up
Effective communicators make for dream employees. You don’t bottle things up, and you express yourself clearly. That’s an important skill.
10. You finish what you start
Ambition and imagination are nothing without perseverance. You might have plenty of great ideas and plans, but if you don’t finish any projects, you’ll never be a standout worker.
Managers love people who communicate what they intend to do — and then actually go out and do it.
11. You’re conscientious — not nice
As Business Insider previously reported, being nice is good, but it won’t always get you ahead in the workplace. Employees who get noticed tend to be conscientious — characterized by being hardworking, persevering, orderly, and hungry for achievement.
Coming into work every day with a positive, conscientious attitude will allow you to establish yourself as a model employee.
12. You don’t overdo it
The best employees work hard without burning themselves out. This means taking care of your mental, physical, and emotional well being. You shouldn’t have to become a work martyr in order to do your job well — in fact, in the long run, burnout will leave you ineffective and drained.
13. You know your weaknesses
The top workers are confident without being arrogant. You’re probably in a good place if you know of a few areas where you could use some improvement. But you don’t beat yourself about your weaknesses — you acknowledge them and work to correct them going forward.
This piece was originally posted by Business Insider.
American manufacturers are looking forward to a big comeback once the election is over
By Akin Oyedele
US manufacturers had a strong start to the fourth quarter and are looking forward to the end of the presidential election, according to Markit Economics’ preliminary report on the sector for October.
The flash purchasing manager’s index (PMI) rose to 53.2, Markit said on Monday. The index is based on a survey of manufacturers, and the “flash” reading is based on 85% to 90% of all responses collected every month.
Economists had predicted that the PMI was unchanged at 51.5, according to Bloomberg. A reading above 50 indicates that the sector is still in expansion.
“Both output and new orders are rising at the fastest rates for a year amid increasingly widespread optimism that demand will pick up again after the presidential election, which has been commonly cited as a key factor that has subdued spending and investment in recent months,” said Chris Williamson, chief business economist at IHS Markit, in the data release.
Manufacturing production increased for a fifth straight month, and new export orders improved from September. The rise in unfinished work due to backlogs was the most in a year. Also, companies said there was more capacity pressures at their plants, partly because they had slowed the pace of hiring.
The manufacturing sector has not yet fully recovered since the dollar’s rise and weak global economic conditions crushed demand for US goods last year.
In September, the PMI rebounded from a contractionary reading of 49.4 — the first slip into that territory since February. Some respondents to Markit’s survey reported a rise in domestic and international sales, with some customers buying ahead of anticipated price increases.
Manufacturing has been a hot button topic in the presidential campaign. Republican nominee Donald Trump has repeatedly said the US does not make things anymore, and has vowed to bring back manufacturing jobs from Mexico and China.
It’s worth noting that manufacturing now makes a much smaller contribution to the US economy compared to the services sector, where two-thirds of all activity takes place.
This piece was originally published by Business Insider.
Client Spotlight: Todd Evans of the Landing Apartments
Todd Evans works in one of the most unique buildings in downtown Dayton.
“As a native Daytonian, I find a lot of pride in it,” he said.
To be truthful, Evans doesn’t merely work at the Landing apartment building, which originally opened in 1929 as a YMCA. He looks after it. He’s the property manager at the building, and can provide a detailed history like snapping his fingers.
He’ll quickly tell you that at the end of the 1920s, the first three floors were public spaces. Floors four through 11 were men’s sleeping rooms, which were rented by the night.
The back half of the building housed the Y’s fitness centers.
Today, there are 72 apartment units in the building. A companion development of more condo-style apartments brings the total number of units at the Landing to 166.
The building is owned by McCormack Baron Management, based in Missouri.
Evans only recently starting working with BarryStaff, but he says he’s grateful for the flexibility the relationship has offered so far.
“Our HR department is in St. Louis,” he said. “It takes time to hire someone.
“I like being able to call BarryStaff and give them a description of the job and the type of person I’m looking for.”
The Landing building is on the National Historic Registry.
Employee Spotlight: Julie Mettert-Vann of Ritter Plumbing
Julie Mettert-Vann worked with BarryStaff about six years ago. At the height of the Great Recession, the company found her work as a server. So when she recently found herself looking for work again, she knew who to contact.
She went back to longtime staffing specialist Teresa Myers – who found her work the first time around.
“We just had such a good report,” Mettert-Vann said.
Myers agreed.
“She was such a sweetheart,” Myers said. “She’s such a hard worker. I knew I could find her something.”
A job as an office assistant with Ritter Plumbing & Pipeline Co. opened up a few days before the two connected. It was just a few miles from Julie’s home and it instantly appealed to her.
“It was totally meant to be,” she said.
The folks at Ritter agreed. She started in mid-October and hit the ground running.
“This is different from being in ‘Corporate America,’” she said. “They’re so calm here. And so laid back.
“As long as they’re here, I’ll be here,” she said.
Seeing as how Ritter has been operating since the 1950s, you expect to see Julie in that office for a while.
Available for Work: Tony Tontrup
Extensive customer service and sales experience
Attended the University of Dayton and New Bremen High School
Acknowledgements
Random Business Fact: If Bill Gates were a country, he’d be the 37th richest on earth.
