FAIRLAWN — FRANCHISEMART, a new retail location that allows entrepreneurs to research business opportunities before investing, recently opened a new store at 3109 W. Market St. under the ownership of local resident Rodd Welker.

FRANCHISEMART is a resource for those interested in a more efficient and effective way to research prospective franchises. The concept was developed by United Franchise Group, which has 30 years of experience and 1,400 franchise locations in 50 countries. FRANCHISEMART offers a showroom, free one-on-one assistance and a selection of more than 100 franchise opportunities from home-based to large retail ventures.

“Believe it or not, this may be the best time to own your own business,” Welker said. “Whether you have lost your job or are concerned about the stability of your employer, or simply want to take control of your own destiny, let us help find you the right business and move you closer to realizing your dreams.”

Welker possesses managerial and administrative experience in business, higher education and nonprofit organizations. He co-founded Eagle Advisor Group, an individual and organizational development firm providing one-on-one and group coaching, workshops and seminars and specializing in executive leadership development and teambuilding.

For more information, call Welker at (330) 572-7500.

Today’s Bride celebrating 20th anniversary, move to Bath headquarters

BATH — Today’s Bride has announced its 20th anniversary of supplying Northeast Ohio brides with wedding planning resources.

Founded in 1989 by Jim and Denise Frericks, Today’s Bride has grown from a regionalized bridal publication to a full-service, multi-dimensional bridal resource and marketing provider that includes four semi-annual bridal fashion trade shows, online wedding planning tools and biannual publications in the Greater Cleveland and Akron/Canton areas, according to company officials.

In addition, Jadlyn Inc., publisher of Today’s Bride Magazine and Bridal Shows, has recently moved into a newly expanded office space at 1930 N. Cleveland-Massillon Road.

The new space is the original home of the Bath Country Market, which was remodeled on numerous occasions since the 1970s. Jadlyn Inc. hired Wooster Homes Construction Co. to completely renovate the structure, including updating the façade.

Over the past 20 years, Today’s Bride has partnered with hundreds of vendors, including photographers, videographers, caterers, florists, disc jockeys, musicians, dance studios, ceremony sites and bridal gown shops, to provide brides in Northeast Ohio with the resources to plan their wedding. Today’s Bride extends its gratitude to all of the businesses that have been with the magazine since its conception.

More recently, Today’s Bride has also created working partnerships with www.newsnet5.com and www.weddingwire.com to enhance its online tools at www.todaysbride.com. These planning tools enable brides to create guest lists, budgets, seating arrangements and timelines, manage vendors and publish personal wedding Web sites.

AFP recognizing individuals, organizations at National Philanthropy Day event

DOWNTOWN AKRON — Seven honorees will be recognized for their service and philanthropic participation to benefit local community organizations at the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) National Philanthropy Day Nov. 13 at Quaker Station, 135 S. Broadway St.

The following individuals and organizations will be honored:

• Bridgestone Americas Trust Fund, Corporate Leadership Award, nominated by National Inventors Hall of Fame Foundation, Junior Achievement and Habitat for Humanity of Summit County;

• Buckeye Container, Small Business Leadership Award, nominated by The Village Network;

• Gay Community Endowment Fund of the Akron Community Foundation, Special Recognition Award, nominated by Akron Community Foundation;

• Lehner Family Foundation, Foundation Leadership Award, nominated by Summa Foundation;

• Nicholas Guiney, Children in Philanthropy Award, nominated by Seton Catholic School;

• Rennick Andreoli, Outstanding Philanthropist Award, nominated by Stephen A. Comunale, Jr. Foundation; and

• Philip Maynard, Lifetime Achievement Award, nominated by Akron Children’s Hospital and the Center for Nonprofit Excellence.

Doors will open at 11 a.m., with lunch beginning at 11:30 a.m. and the program at 12:15 p.m. Adjournment will be at 1:30 p.m.

For details, call (330) 315-0402 or visit www.afpncoh.org.

GSNEO offers fingerprinting service

MACEDONIA — Girl Scouts of North East Ohio (GSNEO) is among those organizations that require its employees to be fingerprinted for the safety of its members. Because GSNEO owns its own equipment, it is now offering the service to other businesses and organizations.

“Owning our own equipment benefits our Girl Scout Council and the community,” said Laura Liptak, director of human resources. “Our staff of about 100 needed to be fingerprinted, plus we need to fingerprint our camp staff and volunteers annually. We save money by owning the equipment, and now we want to pass that savings on to other organizations.”

GSNEO promises to protect the personal information of everyone who is fingerprinted, according to GSNEO officials. The mobile fingerprinting equipment is kept locked in a secure location. The information is encrypted and password protected when it is saved on the laptop and transmitted. A limited number of GSNEO human resources employees are trained and permitted to use the equipment, and they do not have access to any personal information once it is sent to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCI).

“The process takes less than five minutes,” Liptak said. “We take prints from all eight fingers and both thumbs and then send it directly to the BCI. When we collect fingerprints for other companies, the results are sent directly to them. GSNEO will only see the results of its own prospective employees, staff and volunteers.”

Fingerprinting is done at the GSNEO corporate office by appointment during regular business hours (9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Mondays through Fridays). Off-site fingerprinting is also available by appointment.

The cost is $40 for the Ohio Check, $45 for the FBI and $70 for both.