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A retirement reception in honor of Pat Ryan will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Friday, April 11, at the Van Wert branch of Citizens National Bank, 1199 Westwood Drive.
All current and former CNB employees, board members, and Van Wert customers are invited to stop in. Pat has been with Citizens National Bank for 23 years, starting in 2002 as Van Wert’s market president.
“It’s been an absolute pleasure working with Pat,” said current Van Wert Market President Al Saylor. “His dedication and wisdom have made a lasting impact on everyone here at Van Wert. He will be greatly missed, and we wish him the best as he moves on to retirement.”
POSTED: 04/09/25 at 6:50 am. FILED UNDER: Business
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The Marsh Foundation has announced its newly structured Advancement and Organizational Development Team, a strategic initiative dedicated to expanding community engagement, strengthening donor relations, and enhancing internal operations. This team will work collaboratively to build meaningful connections, enrich the lives of the youth and families we serve, and ensure long-term sustainability while amplifying The Marsh Foundation’s mission within the community.
Bailey Carder, Chief Advancement Officer (CAO)
Carder leads The Marsh Foundation’s advancement efforts. She is dedicated to building strong community connections that directly support the youth and families the organization serves. Through community engagement, undraising,marketing, and public relations she works to expand awareness and build partnerships that enhance The Marsh Foundation’s impact. Her work strengthens engagement across communities, ensuring the mission reaches more people and creates lasting change.
Esther Flores, Chief Organizational Development Officer (CODO)
Esther leads the internal structure, strategic planning, and logistical development of fundraising. She is responsible for event planning, fundraising strategies, donor tracking, and operational coordination, ensuring that financial growth and community support are sustained through strategic execution and efficiency. Her work ensures that the foundation’s operations run seamlessly, providing the stability and resources needed to expand programs and maximize impact for the youth and families served.
Impact on Youth and Families
The Marsh Foundation has a long-standing commitment to inspiring hope, teaching, and caring for children and families through a wide range of programs, including family foster care, adoption, group home services, independent living support, and clinical services. By strengthening community partnerships and enhancing internal operations, the newly structured leadership team will ensure that every child has access to the resources they need to thrive.
“At The Marsh Foundation, we believe strong relationships create meaningful change,” said Bailey Carder. ” Through community engagement, social media, and meaningful relationships, we are dedicated to amplifying our mission and cultivating lasting partnerships that directly impact the youth and families we serve.”
(more…)POSTED: 03/19/25 at 6:59 am. FILED UNDER: Business
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The Board of Directors of First Federal of Van Wert has announced the promotion of Stephanie Phillips to branch manager. Phillips began her career at First Federal in June, 2021 as a loan processor and she was promoted to commercial relationship manager in 2023.
Phillips is a graduate of Lincolnview High School and the Ohio State University Lima campus. She and her husband, Justin, reside in rural Van Wert along with their two children.
Phillips is active in the community as she is a member of the Van Wert Service Club, Young Professionals Club, Main Street Van Wert, and she is the Van Wert City Council Clerk. She also leads the Cougar Leaders Leadership Program and assists with Career Connections.
“We are excited for Stephanie and this promotion,” said First Federal of Van Wert President & CEO Brian Renner. “She has been instrumental in developing our commercial loan program and we look forward to her leading our new branch,”
“I’m ecstatic for the opening of the second location to continue helping and serving our growing community,” Phillips said.
First Federal of Van Wert is a locally owned and operated institution and has been serving the Van Wert community since 1893. First Federal will open their second location at 820 N. Washington St. this summer.
POSTED: 03/06/25 at 10:13 pm. FILED UNDER: Business
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Trucent Renewable Chemicals (TRC) has announced it has achieved Food Grade Certification and Halal Certification, reinforcing the company’s commitment to the highest standards of quality, safety, and inclusivity in its renewable chemical solutions. In addition, TRC is certified kosher and ensures its products are free from palm oil and tallow, aligning with its mission to provide sustainable and ethically sourced fatty acids for diverse industries and consumer needs.
TRC’s focus on sustainability is further underscored by earning the EcoVadis Committed Badge accreditation. Recognized globally for its trusted business sustainability ratings, EcoVadis evaluates companies across environmental, social, and ethical criteria, helping businesses improve sustainability performance and meet supply chain expectations. This recognition affirms TRC’s commitment to environmental responsibility, ethical business practices, and continuous progress in sustainability initiatives.
The Food Grade and Halal Certifications unlock new opportunities for TRC’s sustainably produced fatty acids in food and beverage applications, expanding the industries TRC serves. These certifications, combined with TRC’s kosher status and palm oil/tallow-free production, further enhance the company’s ability to meet the needs of global markets with ethically sourced, high-quality products.
“We are thrilled to achieve Food Grade and Halal Certification and to be recognized by EcoVadis for our sustainability efforts,” said Bill Hayes, Vice President of Trucent Renewable Chemicals. “These milestones reflect our mission to deliver high-quality, innovative solutions while prioritizing sustainability and meeting the evolving needs of our customers.”
TRC’s Van Wert facility offers a strategic midwest location, providing logistical advantages for delivering its products efficiently across various industries. Sourced from domestically grown feedstocks and processed in the U.S., TRC’s products ensure supply chain reliability and long-term price stability. With its proprietary biocatalytic splitting technology, TRC produces fatty acids with significantly reduced greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional processes, further positioning the company as a leader in the renewable chemicals market.
POSTED: 03/05/25 at 1:07 pm. FILED UNDER: Business
VW independent staff/submitted information
OHIO CITY — Dollar General’s newest store, at 403 S. Shane St. in Ohio City is now open and to celebrate, a grand opening event will be held at 8a.m. Saturday, March 1. It will include $10 complimentary gift cards to the first 50 adult customers and DG tote bags to the first 100 customers.
“At Dollar General, we believe the addition of our new Ohio City store provides positive economic growth for the community through the creation of new jobs and career growth opportunities, increased accessibility to affordable products, the generation of tax revenue and access to Dollar General Literacy Foundation grants,” said Matthew Simonsen, Dollar General’s senior vice president of real estate and store development. “As part of our mission of Serving Others, we look forward to being a strong business partner and good neighbor, as well as welcoming customers to our new store.”
Dollar General plans to create new jobs in the Ohio City community as the store is expected to employ approximately 6-10 people, depending on the individual needs of the store. Dollar General provides employees with competitive wages, training and development programs and benefits including day-one telemedicine eligibility as well as health insurance coverage options, 401K savings and retirement plans, tuition reimbursement, paid parental leave and adoption assistance to eligible employees. Interested candidates can review and apply for available positions here.
Furthermore, DG strives to be a good neighbor and is committed to the communities it calls home, evidenced by support of literacy and education initiatives through the Dollar General Literacy Foundation. The addition of the Ohio City store opens the opportunity for schools, nonprofit organizations and libraries within a 15-mile radius of the store to apply for Dollar General Literacy Foundation grants. Since its inception in 1993, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation has awarded more than $254 million in grants to nonprofit organizations, helping more than 21.8 million individuals take their first steps toward literacy or continued education. For more information about the Dollar General Literacy Foundation and its grant programs, visit www.dgliteracy.com.
Normal hours of operation may be found through the Dollar General app.
POSTED: 02/26/25 at 3:53 pm. FILED UNDER: Business
VW independent staff/submitted information
LIMA — Critter Control, billed as the nation’s largest nuisance wildlife removal company, has opened a franchise location in Lima.
Owned and operated by Ohio native Jason Noon, the new location will serve west central Ohio, including Allen, Auglaize, Champaign, Darke, Defiance, Hancock, Hardin, Henry, Logan, Mercer, Paulding, Putnam, Shelby, Van Wert and Wyandot counties.
Established in 1983, Critter Control is a nuisance wildlife removal service that prioritizes the humane removal of animals from homes and yards.
Critter Control of Lima is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Residents in need of a home inspection or wildlife removal should contact the Lima Critter Control location at 419.210.1764 or https://www.crittercontrol.com/office-finder/ohio/lima/.
POSTED: 02/11/25 at 11:53 am. FILED UNDER: Business
Van Wert Counseling Services has announced a move to a new office within the same building at 1054 S. Washington St., Van Wert. The new location is just down the hall from the previous one, making it convenient for clients while ensuring continuity of care. The office is handicap-accesible. The stated mission of Van Wert Counseling Services is to provide exceptional service to transform lives, heal relationships and build stronger communities. To schedule an appointment call 419-238-1000. Shown above are (sitting): Sarah White LPC, Katlyn Short, MSW LISW, Susan J. Burchfield LPCC-S, and Stacy Adams, MSW LISW. Standing are Britany Inkrott LPCC, Jacey Eikenbary, Art Therapy Practicum student. Photo submitted
POSTED: 01/22/25 at 8:18 am. FILED UNDER: Business
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Shultz Huber & Associates, Inc. has announced that Katelyn Coning, Josh Ford, Adam Bogart, Sara Keysor, Zach Faulkner and Ryan Nunn were recently promoted. Coning and Ford were promoted to supervisors, and Bogart, Keysor and Faulkner were promoted to in-charge accountants. Nunn was promoted to director of information technology.
Coning joined the firm in 2019 and works in the Van Wert office. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Ball State University and a master’s in business administration from the University of Northwestern Ohio.
Ford has worked in the firm’s Archbold office since 2019. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Lourdes University.
Bogart joined the firm in 2022. He holds a bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Bowling Green State University and works in the Defiance office.
Keysor has been with the firm since 2022. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Northwestern Ohio and works in the Van Wert office.
Faulkner joined the firm in 2023 and works in the firm’s Van Wert office. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Purdue University Global.
Nunn has worked for the firm since 2019. He is a Microsoft Certified Professional and holds an associate degree from Northwest State Community College. While Nunn supports all of the firm’s locations, he is based in the Defiance office.
Supervisors work directly with clients while taking a leadership role in coordinating and managing projects. They also oversee in-charge accountants, staff accountants and accounting assistants. In-charge accountants work directly with clients and oversee staff accountants and accounting assistants. The director of information technology oversees the firm’s in-house IT department and provides consulting services to clients.
The firm is hiring for a variety of public accounting positions in Archbold, Bryan, Defiance, St. Marys and Van Wert. All experience levels are welcome, including recent graduates with an accounting-related degree. To learn more or to submit a resume, visit sha.cpa/career-opportunities.
Shultz Huber & Associates, Inc. is a full-service accounting, tax and business consulting CPA firm specializing in assisting businesses and their owners plan for their future and achieve their goals in an ever-changing financial and regulatory environment. Offices are located in Archbold, Bryan, Defiance, St. Marys and Van Wert, Ohio, with seven shareholders and 60 employees.
POSTED: 01/22/25 at 8:17 am. FILED UNDER: Business
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Central Insurance, a leading property and casualty mutual insurance company, and its affiliates have reorganized under Ohio law into a mutual holding company structure, effective January 1, 2025. The reorganization created a new mutual holding company, Central Mutual Holding Company (CMHC), that directly or indirectly owns all of the Central Insurance affiliates.
Additionally, Central Insurance converted to a stock insurance company, Central Insurance Company (CIC), an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of CMHC. CIC will continue to present itself in the marketplace as Central Insurance.
The reorganization also created two new intermediate holding companies: CMIC Holdings, Inc. and 1876 Holdings, Inc.
Just as it operates today, Central will continue to be governed by its policyholders and provide exceptional insurance coverage through its agency partners.
“This initiative underscores Central’s commitment to our long-term success, ensuring we remain vigilant in the face of volatility while innovating for the future,” said Evan Purmort, Chairman, CEO and President of Central. “We are excited for this organizational change and the flexibility and growth opportunities it provides.”
Central Insurance provides premium personal and commercial coverage to hundreds of thousands of individuals and businesses across the country. With operations spanning 45 states, the company writes business in 25 states through a trusted network of independent agents and four regional offices located in Boston, Atlanta, Dallas, and Van Wert, where its headquarters remain. Additionally, Central Insurance operates satellite offices in Columbus and Salt Lake City. CMHC has combined assets of more than $2 billion.
POSTED: 01/09/25 at 11:06 pm. FILED UNDER: Business
Van Wert Manor ended 2024 on a positive note is looking forward to 2025. In December, HCF Management hosted their annual administrator’s conference, which included an awards ceremony. Van Wert Manor was recognized as a top facility for the company, earning multiple awards including the President’s Award and the Barbara Marsella Quality Assurance Award. The President’s Award criteria included customer service, activities, volunteer program, and community involvement. The Barbara Marsella Quality Assurance Award is based on overall clinical performance including the 5-star rating, as well as an outstanding commitment to providing the best quality of care. Van Wert Manor was also recognized for their results from their Family and Resident Satisfaction Surveys, earning 95 percent satisfaction with overall quality of care, and 95 percent would recommend to others. Bob Barnes photos
POSTED: 01/01/25 at 10:02 pm. FILED UNDER: Business
