The Official Newsletter of the Troy Chamber of Commerce
CHAMBER NEWS January 2024 Vol. 1
Spotlight: RT Industries Our Spotlight for January is RT Industries. Started in 1974 as a 501(C)(3) organization, with the purpose of promoting the welfare and needs of adults with disabilities, under the jurisdiction of the Miami County Board of Developmental Disabilities, primarily known as Riverside. With the support of Riverside, RT Industries grew and started privatizing in 2014 and concluded this transition in 2018.
You can learn more about this organization and all they do in this
interview with RT Industries’ CEO Ashley Brocious.
Q: RT Industries was first founded in 1974, and then privatized in 2018; what was your mission when you first began? And how does that compare to your mission now?
Previous mission statement
A: The history of the organization is extremely important to me because we have come so far from our workshop days. When we first began, the focus was strictly on employment and services for people with developmental disabilities in Miami County. When we privatized, we moved services beyond Miami County, with more services offered to people with physical disabilities and veterans as well. Furthermore, we disseminated the sheltered workshop in 2017, and now all services for employment are now solely based in the community. We also rebranded our logo: it used to have Industries underneath, and now it says “Explore, Empower, Engage”.
Current mission statement
Q: How many employees/volunteers does RT Industries have? A: We currently do not have any volunteers, but we do have 100 employees. There are approximately twenty-three employees on our roster that receive training and experience through our employment services program with the Department of Developmental Disabilities, Group Employment Support (GES). This service means services and training activities provided in regular business, industry, and community settings for groups of two or more workers with disabilities. It is a service that is on the path to prepare the person for employment in the community. While persons served are working on site at the employer business, they are getting paid and receiving experience that will help support them for their future jobs, similar to a paid internship. Q: What challenges has RT Industries had to face and overcome? A: Primarily, community perception. It’s hard; when you see this building, it looks like manufacturing because it was designed for our sheltered workshop in 1988. Because of this, we’ve spent a lot of time making sure that we give the community the impression that we are no longer a sheltered workshop. A second challenge is the perception of our funding. When we privatized in 2018, people assumed that we no longer received levy dollar, or we solely relied on it. Neither of these is the case; every provider gets the same 60/40 match. For every dollar of services, 60% comes from the state, and 40% comes from local levy funding. This holds true for every provider in Miami County. This year I testified twice in the State House in front of State Representatives to get more funding for services. We haven’t had an increase in funding in the last 15 years, and due to this it has been difficult to retain and hire employees. On average, 46.2% of applicants have declined our employment offers due to our low wages and much less responsibility in other career paths. We have lost experienced DSPs at a rapid rate of 51.6% because they need a wage that adequately supported the needs of their families. These employees did not want to leave our business but were forced to make tough decisions to walk away from the work they are passionate about. However, because providers, families and people receiving services were able to testify, we have been able to get a 38% increase in funding starting 1/1/24. With this new increase it will greatly help with employing new people and retaining them Q: What are RT Industries’ long-term goals? A: Focus further on employment and community integration. Q: What has been something that has been most rewarding for you while at RT Industries? A: Seeing people we serve thrive as we transitioned away from being a sheltered workshop. A major impact in our decision was related to the controversy around the 14C certification, which is paying people under minimum wage; in our situation is was paying people at a piece rate. The main reason however, was that out of 120 people in the sheltered workshop, over 75% didn’t have interest in working in the community. Sheltered workshops were created as a stepping stone on the path to employment in the community, not for long term work. As we transitioned out of being a sheltered workshop, we got to see the amazing transformations of the people we serve come from it. People got to feel like they were a part of something and started appreciating coming in every single day. Parents were elated that their kids wanted to come home and talk about how exciting their day was. Please understand, there was a time and a place for our sheltered workshop, but we are in a different place than we were 20 years ago and even 10 years ago. It played an important part, but it was the time for growth and evolution. The happiness and smiles that come out of our programs now and the employment opportunities are so rewarding. People are getting out of the building and being part of the greater community.
Q: What elements of your work do you think makes you so unique and so vital to the Troy/Miami Valley community? A: For us it’s the employment aspect, and getting people employed in the community. Our folks are amazing. They are loyal. We’ve even had someone employed at a business for over 26 years. They have dedication, the desire to work, and to work hard and efficiently. People with disabilities are no different than anyone else, they want the same things out of life; frankly they just want the same rights. We also volunteer a lot in the community. We volunteer a lot with Troy Main Street, the Bethany Center and are currently working with Partners in Hope for stockings for senior citizens this Christmas. Our volunteering aspect is something unique, because we are the ones volunteering for others. Q: Are there any needs that RT Industries has that you would like to see met by the community? A: Give us a chance! Hiring someone with any type of disability is just like hiring someone without. We provide a Job Coach to aide the business and the person employed FREE to the employer throughout the hiring process through to employment. We would love to partner with more non-profits to volunteer AND businesses for employment opportunities in the community. We want to build more understanding and new relationships, but we need businesses to do this. Q: What is something about RT Industries that you think people would be surprised to learn about?
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A: I would like to reiterate to people that we are not a sheltered workshop. Furthermore, something I don’t think many know at all is that we actually have maintained a contract with ODOT since 1981 for 4 rest areas. At these 4 rest areas, we provide 3 shifts per day, 365 days a year where we maintain the cleaning, janitorial, and groundskeeping of the location (mowing, snow, etc.). The nearest location is the rest area Northbound and Southbound between Troy and Piqua on I75, and the others are located by Saint Marys, Eastbound and Westbound. These contracts require that 64.8% of the hours are to be worked by someone with a disability. Also a fun fact, most don’t know that people can rent some of our spaces/services as well for parties, events or meetings. Q: What is something new you are planning for RT and the space you mentioned? A: If you didn’t know, our building was built for us. In 1987, the Archers donated this land to RT, and we had three major funders who helped build the space for our sheltered workshop, which was finished in 1988 when we moved from Riverside. There was also an addition in 1997. With that being said, we have remodeled the front of the building through local grants from the Piqua Foundation, Troy Foundation and Miami County Foundation, which helped remodel the room for our Adult Services. Now we need to focus on the back of the building. We are working on a Capital Campaign now, which would help us further focus on employment and a community aspect. For the left side, we would love to have more space for the community to come in and apply for jobs. We could have a monthly rotation of business (i.e., food month, retail month, etc.) to interview people. We would also like to make a training room not only for our services, but for the community to utilize as well. The right side would be additional adult day services. RT will be celebrating our 50th anniversary this year! We plan to have a major celebration in November. Stay tuned for more information. For more information about RT Industries, please visit our website at www.RTIndustries.org or follow us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/RTIndustries
Thank you to RT Industries for this interview!
Member of the Month
Oakley Chiropractic Our Member of the Month is Oakley Chiropractic. Dr. Josh Oakley with Oakley Chiropractic is located at 1830 West Main Street Troy. He has been helping the people of Troy and the Miami County area since October of 2002. Dr. Josh has been a proud member of the Troy Chamber of Commerce since 2002 as well. He is married to his wife Jen who is a school teacher and they have 4 children. Dr. Josh got into Chiropractic due to his struggles with back pain with being a high school and collegiate athlete. Unfortunately, his back pain caused him to give up college athletics. But this started to give him a passion to understand what was causing his back problem and the want to in helping others. He has a college background in athletic training, physical therapy and working in hospital rehab facilities. Dr. Josh also has had his share of other farm, sports and auto accident injuries which he has positively used to help others. Dr. Josh often knows how patients feel with their aches and pains which gives him a better understanding to help them improve and feel better. Dr. Josh spends a lot of time with continuing education and reading research to try to give his patients the best plan going forward in their recovery as well as quality of life. At Oakley Chiropractic, patients come for pain relief, corrective care or wellness care. He helps patients with the traditional reasons people visit Chiropractors; headaches, neck, back, hip, arm, leg symptoms. But with the science showing more how the human body works through the spine and nervous system. More people are understanding the benefits of chiropractic care through corrective and wellness care to live a better quality of life. Oakley Chiropractic is in network with most health insurances and strives to provide quality affordable care. Dr. Josh loves educating his patients on how the biomechanics of the spine and extremities work and how it is causing their symptoms. He also enjoys explaining the neurology behind how the human body functions and the importance of taking care of the spine and nervous system. Dr. Josh simply just enjoys helping people through chiropractic care and has been blessed to do it in the Troy and surrounding counties. Whether it is the 10-day old baby, the 38 week pregnant woman, the high school athlete, the office worker, the manual laborer, the auto accident whiplash or the elderly patient that has been just told they are going to have to live with the pain. Dr. Josh Oakley truly just wants to help and serve and he is thankful to be doing it in this area. https://www.drjoshoakley.com/
Member Progam It’s Time for ADiscout New Community Guide The Troy Guide Book is a valuable way to showcase Troy to Visitors, Citizens, customers, and prospects. As a Chamber Member, you have the opportunity to promote your business in one of our most requested publications with over 5,000 publications distributed. We are pleased to be working with Marketing Essentials, who will be assisting the Troy Chamber with the layout and design of the publication and your ad if necessary. Marketing Essentials is a member of the Troy Chamber of Commerce, and we are pleased to have them create a book that will represent our community. To make it easy for you to be able to select the size ad you would like and if you need assistance with designing an ad, we have created a Google Form. The Google Form can be accessed by clicking on the image above. Complete details and pricing can be found here. Download the Ad Form here. Want to learn more? Feel free to contact the Chamber at (937) 339-8769 or by email
Member Discout Progam Member Benefit: Chamber Energy Program Did you know that you can save more money on your energy bill with the Chamber? The Chamber Energy Benefit is for electric and natural gas, and furthermore, it is a benefit that you can share with your employees as well! But why should you consider taking advantage of the Chamber Energy Program? Here are some benefits that you can get from it: Low fixed prices for electricity & natural gas Favorable contract terms & conditons Contract renewal management Small Business natural gas sales tax exemptions for restaurants & non-profits Helpful Ohio-based representative to answer any questions you may have And so much more! See if your paying too much by requesting a free bill review today. Just fill out the bill review request form, send a copy of your most recent electric and gas bills, and they will let you know what you're currently paying and if you could be paying less. Click here for more information and how you can save more on your energy costs.
Business Excellence Award Nominations We are currently accepting nominations for the Business Excellence Awards; the deadline for nominations is January 15th. We will be celebrating our businesses, volunteers, and Board Chair at our Annual Dinner which will be held on February 8th. You can register for this event here. Award Criteria The purpose of this awards is to recognize and honor businesses in Troy which, in a given year, have made a significant contribution to the overall good of the community. Selection Criteria: 1. Business must be located in the Troy area (45373). 2. Business must be established and in operation for at least three (3) years. 3. Business must have made a contribution to the overall good of the community through employment, capital investment, philanthropy/ community involvement, aesthetic improvement, delivery of unique or specialized products or services, or recognition through significant business achievement. 4. No business may be eligible for award in consecutive years. Employee Size: Large Business of the Year must have 75 or more full-time employees. Medium Business of the Year must have 25-75 full-time employees. Small Business of the Year must have fewer than 25 employees or full-time equivalents. You can find more information here.
Leadership Celebrating 40 Years MemberTroy Discout Progam Leadership Troy is celebrating 40 years in 2024. Join in the celebration! Leadership Troy is hosting a Live 2 Lead Simulcast. This is a great opportunity to start the year off with motivation from dynamic speakers and networking with fellow alumni and community members.
New MemberDiscout Discount from HR Extension Member Progam New Year! New Membership Discount! We are excited to share our new partnership with My HR Extension, a dynamic company founded by Casey Webster, a seasoned professional with 20 years of experience in mid-size family-owned businesses. This partnership brings an exclusive offer to our members: a 25% discount on My HR Extension's services. Casey, a Troy local, along with her family, has a deep understanding of our community's business needs. My HR Extension is uniquely positioned to serve a diverse range of companies, from small businesses just starting out to nonprofits and larger corporations requiring additional HR support. As we step into 2024, Casey Webster will be leading the HR Council. This year promises innovative and supportive HR initiatives, for small business owners and HR professionals. Save the date for our first HR Council of the new year will be held on January 16 at 8AM. FGKS Law will provide a 2024 legal update. My HR Extension specializes in: HR Audits: A thorough examination to ensure your policies and practices are up-to-date and compliant. HR Manager Subscription Plans: Ongoing support tailored to fit the level of assistance your company requires. Handbooks: Customized employee handbooks that outline your company's policies and expectations. FOCUS Leadership Training: Programs designed to cultivate the leadership skills within yourself and your team. Compliance Escape Room: An innovative, interactive experience to engage your staff in understanding and applying HR compliance in a practical, memorable way. This partnership is not just a discount; it's an opportunity to enhance your business with expert HR support. My HR Extension is ready to assist you in navigating the complexities of human resources, ensuring your business thrives. To learn more about your exclusive discounts through My HR Extension visit: https://www.myhrextension.com/troychamber Stay tuned for more exciting updates and events as we continue to support our members through this partnership.
Update from our Partner, the Troy Development Council Member Discout Progam How can another year be in the rearview mirror? It is amazing how fast time can fly when you are busy and 2023 was certainly a busy time for the Troy Development Council (TDC). What is the Troy Development Council and what are their responsibilities? Since its inception in 1984, the Troy Development Council (TDC) has been a highly effective public-private initiative that has been instrumental in the creation of nearly seven thousand new jobs and assisted in generating over one billion dollars in new investment. For a community of 27,000, we believe, those are impressive numbers. TDC has played an integral role in numerous projects in our community, including, but not limited to: Pella, Kettering Health, Clopay, Crown expansion, numerous ConAgra expansions, F&P America expansion, and numerous others. In late 2020, the Troy Development Council, in partnership with the City of Troy, purchased approximately 73 acres of property along Experiment Farm Road, just south of Pella. We quickly sold seven acres to Brightworks and concentrated on developing the remainder of the acreage. Over the past few years, we had several local industries inquire about a purchase, as well as projects from JobsOhio, however, with our local employers experiencing a labor shortage, we needed to be respectful of their concerns. A little over a year ago, Hobart Institute of Welding Technology reached out to gather information about the property. Over the past year, TDC and HIWT have been negotiating and came to an agreement for them to purchase in October 2023 and we officially closed on the property in December 2023. While HIWT currently has no concrete plans for the property, TDC will continue to work diligently to facilitate HIWT’s vision for the property to come to reality. I can assure you that 2024 already has a few industrial announcements lining up. These are truly exciting times in Troy, Miami County, and the region. If you would like more information about the Troy Development Council, please visit: www.troyeconomicdevelopment.com, or email me at: jgraves@troyohiochamber.com and I will be happy to discuss economic development in Troy, Ohio, USA.
Welcome New Members!
The 1833 22 E Franklin St Troy OH 45373 (937) 703-4497 Category: Party/Event Rental, Services, Event Planning
The Ellison Group eXp Realty (937) 856-1888 Category: Real Estate Services
Habitat for Humanity of Miami and Shelby Counties 150 E. Race Street Troy OH 45373 (937) 332-3763 Category: Not For Profit Agency, Community Organizations
Piqua Center 987 E Ash St, Piqua, OH 45356 (937) 615-6010 Category: Retail/Shopping, Entertainment/ Recreation, Restaurants, Food & Beverages
Referral Connections 407 Peters Ave Troy OH 45373 (937) 703-1614 Category: Community Organizations
Rest & Renewal 117 S Market St. Troy OH 45373 (937) 980-9080 Category: Books & Stationery, Holistic Health
Stull Woodworks, Inc. (937) 703-9028 Category: Construction Management
Did you Know?
Did you know that as a member, you can share your job postings on our website? When posting job opportunities for a business online for applicants, you can share them on our website under "Job Board/Listing". If you're interested in having your jobs posted on our website, please send the information/job posting to Hannah or call the Chamber for more information. Job Postings, are included in your Chamber Membership at certain levels. (Connected Level and Above) Not sure of what level of membership your company is at? Contact the Chamber to find out if your membership includes Job Posting Opportunities.
MEMBER FACEBOOK GROUP Did you know that the Chamber has a Members Only Facebook group? The purpose of the group is to find connections, share current promotions, business needs and additional resources.
LETS CONNECT Follow the Chamber on social media platforms to stay connected. Use our hashtags: #MyTroyChamber #RememberAMember Want us to share your post? Be sure to tag us in the post or in the comments and we will do our best to share and help you with added reach.