5/3/2012 - West Side Leader
     

Goodwill continues anniversary celebration with events

GREATER AKRON — Goodwill Industries of Akron, serving Summit, Portage, Medina, Ashland and Richland counties will continue its celebration of 85 years of changing lives during National Goodwill Industries Week with special retail promotions, prize drawings and behind-the-scenes tours of its corporate headquarters.

According to Goodwill officials, events will include:

• May 6-12: customers in Goodwill’s retail stores spending $10 or more will receive a free reusable shopping tote. Customers who shop again during the week and present their Goodwill shopping tote will receive 85 cents off their purchase of $10 or more. Also that week, customers are invited to enter a prize drawing for Goodwill gift cards and more. Individuals who friend Goodwill on Facebook during the week will automatically be entered into the drawing.

• Behind-the-scenes tours of Goodwill’s Service Center, 570 E. Waterloo Road, will be available May 10 from 3 to 6 p.m., May 11 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. and May 12 from noon to 3:30 p.m. Tours will be offered every 15 minutes. Reservations are not required.

• Goodwill will close the week-long celebration May 12 by hosting a live performance by the Radio Disney Road Crew from 1 to 3 p.m. The presentation will include music, contests, games, prizes, giveaways and family fun, according to Goodwill officials.

Goodwill Industries of Akron is a not-for-profit corporation operating 12 stores in its five-county region, according to Goodwill officials. Net proceeds from the sale of items donated to the stores are used in assisting the agency in fulfilling its mission of helping individuals prepare for, find and retain employment.

For more information, visit www.goodwillakron.org or call 800-989-8428.

Foreign-Trade Zone seminar set for May 24

SOUTH AKRON — The Northeast Ohio Trade & Economic Consortium (NEOTEC) and the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority will host Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) experts for a half-day seminar May 24 at Firestone Country Club.

The seminar is intended to provide attendees with a solid understanding of the benefits of the FTZ program and how it can help companies be globally competitive.

Presenting at the seminar will be the president and board of directors of the National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones (NAFTZ) in Washington, D.C. Topics to be addressed include FTZ basics, benefits of the program, the application and activation process, and compliance.

The seminar is sponsored by the Greater Akron Chamber, along with BCG & Co. and Roetzel & Andress, with the support of JobsOhio.

Registration will be at 8 a.m., and the seminar will end at 1 p.m. The registration fee is $85, including a continental breakfast and buffet lunch. To register, visit the NEOTEC website at www.neotec.org.

NEOTEC is grantee and administrator of FTZ 181, which, according to NEOTEC officials, experienced significant growth under NEOTEC’s management during the last 15 years and is now one of the largest of 250 zones in the United States in total volume of merchandise received and shipped.

Under a recent partnership agreement with the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority, NEOTEC has assumed the duties of zone administrator of FTZ 40 while the Port Authority continues to serve as grantee.

NEOTEC is located on the campus of Kent State University, which partners with NEOTEC in its economic development efforts. For more information, visit the NEOTEC web site at www.neotec.org.

— By Stephanie Kist

Managed care open enrollment for employers begins

COLUMBUS — Ohio employers will soon have an opportunity to select a new managed care organization (MCO) to manage health-care services for workers injured on the job.

The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) offers an open enrollment period every two years to allow employers to evaluate the services of their current MCO and determine if they would like to make a change, according to BWC officials. This open enrollment period runs through May 25 at 5:30 p.m.

“Few decisions business leaders make are as vital to their company’s success than those that directly impact the health and safety of their work force,” said BWC Administrator and CEO Steve Buehrer. “Selection of the MCO that meets each employer’s specific needs is an important decision that should be carefully considered to ensure their injured workers receive the best care possible and can quickly and safely return to work.”

BWC partners with a network of MCOs that are the primary link between injured workers, medical providers, employers and BWC, according to BWC officials. MCOs manage claim filing and medical treatment and assist employers with the implementation of recovery and return-to-work programs, according to BWC officials.

Employers satisfied with their MCO do not need to do anything according to BWC officials. However, those considering a change are encouraged to contact MCOs directly to learn more about their services and network providers.

BWC produces the MCO Selection Guide and the MCO Report Card to help employers make an informed decision, according to BWC officials. The guide contains contact information for the MCOs while the report card provides an objective snapshot of how effectively each MCO manages injury reporting and returning injured employees to work. The guide and report card are available at www.ohiobwc.com.

Employers that decide to select a new MCO can complete the MCO selection form, also available at the website, or call the MCO selection line at 800-859-6631. Once employers make a selection, the new MCO will begin managing the medical portion of the claims as of July 2.

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