We frequently hear the question asked, “Is Ohio a good place to do business?”

Well, the question initially brings up the typical reflex of taxes, unions and rust belt industries. These are great issues for debate and all have an impact on the area. But there are other issues that I believe are more important, issues that represent the area's strengths.

I have worked in Ohio for 28 years with brief stops, 3 years each in Johnstown , Pennsylvania and Phoenix , Arizona . One of Ohio 's greatest strengths is its culture, which reflects its business climate. We also benefit by a quality of life in this area that many seem to take for granted.

It is the culture of the area, however, which impacts the business climate and its ability to enhance Ohio as a place to do business. Words that come to mind that make up that culture are stability, consistency, loyalty, commitment and decisiveness.

How that culture came about and how it maintains itself is important and endearing. These are traits that many rapidly growing and transient communities do not have. They are qualities that shrinking communities are losing. We in Northeast Ohio need to recognize these great strengths and continue to build on them.

The culture that has created these traits is not as uniquely present in other regions and is recognized by people who come to or leave our area. Northeast Ohio benefits greatly from the people and institutions that built this region. Ohio is a direct reflection of the can do, risk taking attitude that built the Great American Dream. While many of the uniquely, numerous corporate headquarters that existed at the turn of the century are gone or changed, we benefit from the cultural, educational and civic institutions they helped us build.

Our Northeast Ohio communities are steeped in volunteerism, corporate responsibility and the depth of technical and management expertise that was thoroughly established in the area by major corporations.

These assets, built and maintained by our communities, coupled with the consistency of our cultural ties provide for an area of business endeavor where long-established relationships and relationship expectations became a part of the business culture.

Since I returned to Northeast Ohio from Arizona , I have found reinforcement from others who have returned from other states or moved into our area. Many of the comments are the same –

• People are nicer in Northeast Ohio .
• People are more accepting in Northeast Ohio .
• Business is more structured. People return phone calls.
• People make and keep commitments.

The bottom line is – doing business in Northeast Ohio has an established set of norms that allow you to make better decisions, have confidence in those decisions and grow your company in a sound environment.

While these reflections can be attributed to other areas, I believe they take on added strength in people's home lives. Our weather may be a better asset than we know. Northeastern Ohioans are positive and upbeat. They typically are a pleasure to do business with. They do not have an attitude. Maybe the weather teaches us to be resilient, affable and positive - the very traits that would cause the business community to be stable, consistent, loyal and decisive and a good place to do business.

I am glad I raised my family in Northeast Ohio and I know that with hard work, they will succeed here.

By Tom Karcher, John Dellagnese & Associates

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