North Coast Media, LLC

3 Things to expect from the 2016 Republican National Convention if you work in downtown Cleveland

By Bethany Chambers, Digital Operations Manager

Cleveland is only a month away from becoming a hotbed of political discourse, even though the 2016 Republican National Convention isn’t until July. According to convention insiders, the international media, conventioneers and more are expected to begin filing into the city in June. So if your plan was to get as far away from here as possible, you’ll need to have banked extra vacation time to avoid the city for the month it sits squarely in the spotlight.

As it turns out, though, that may not be as big of a problem as you’re imagining. Here’s what Clevelanders — and weary weekday commuters — can expect from the upcoming convention.

A Browns Stadium-full worth of visitors — which actually isn’t that many.

The city is expecting 72,000 people during the height of the convention, between delegates, visitors, the media, GOP convention employees and more. According to organizer estimates, there will be more media (15,000) than protestors (5,000) in that group. Altogether it’s the equivalent of a packed Browns Stadium (even if that’s hard to imagine).

While that sounds like a lot of people, it’s not in the context of other, smaller cities that put on much larger events. Look at Daytona Beach, Florida: This city of 62,000 people routinely hosts crowds that are 4x the size of the RNC — and all within a month of each other between the Daytona 500 and Bike Week. Estimates put attendance at 500,000 during the years when I was a reporter in the city. And guess what? Despite what can only be described as a raucous atmosphere, deaths were in the single-digits and residents got used to roadblocks and engine noise.

And remember: Daytonans do this yearly.

At least Cleveland won’t be expecting 70,000 people and their motorcycles. (Photo credit: erinmariepage via Foter.com / CC BY-NC-ND)

Odd bedfellows will make for engaging TV.

In the last year, ESPN and MSNBC have hosted live broadcasts on East 4th Street. Now they could be broadcasting live in the same week.

Last month the Press Club of Cleveland hosted the panel “All Eyes on CLE: The RNC, 15,000 media and how you can get a piece of the spotlight” discussing expectations with convention producers, local media and tourism officials. A question came up about how the city would handle the unbelievable: The Cavs in the NBA Finals as the Republican National Committee begins setting up at Quicken Loans Arena.

Convention executive producer Phil Alongi answered by saying “some of us are hoping it’s an early dismissal this year,” for the Cavs, before adding “I’ve got to put it out there.”

That didn’t go over well with an audience that hasn’t had a championship in 52 years.

I threw that point out to Len Komoroski, chief executive officer of the Cavs and The Q, at a Duquesne University alumni event the next week. Komoroski played a significant role in bringing the convention to Cleveland.

After starting his response with “geez, Phil,” Komoroski said Cleveland can still bring home a trophy — and a successful convention.

“The RNC has been a terrific partner and they have done a plan based on us working to be in the Finals that gives them a full month. They’d usually plan to have six weeks, but they’re going to come in on days we aren’t working.”

Aside from sports fans, there will be another group with far less branded apparel. New York-based artist Spencer Tunick, who once got nearly 3,000 people to appear naked en masse on the East Ninth Street pier, announced he’ll be back during the convention for a small-scale nude photo shoot. Mercifully, this will not be on East Fourth Street in front of the TV cameras.

The SportsCenter crowd and the evening news crowd could become one and the same.

Traffic won’t be as bad as you think, but restaurant reservations will be worse.

When the RNC was in Tampa in 2012, traffic was a problem. Fortunately, Cleveland has public transportation, where Tampa did not, said Destination Cleveland’s Emily Lauer.

“Most businesses are completely overplaying the disruption,” she said, speaking at the Press Club.

Many organizations (and most state delegations) who are staying outside the city will be arriving by bus, not by individual cars, which will lighten traffic on the freeways. For some of these visitors, the commute will be way worse than yours. About 5 percent of the delegations, including California’s, are staying at Kalahari and Sawmill Creek resorts … 60 miles away in Sandusky.

Parts of downtown will be off limits thanks to a security perimeter being established around The Q. That could mean finding creative routes into work, but is that really any different than what we’ve faced with the Public Square project or any of the other road construction?

Where you will find trouble is in getting into hot spots; if your favorite restaurant has Zack Bruell or Michael Symon’s names attached, you can be pretty sure private bookings will make getting a table a challenge. The good news is: As Cleveland has grown as a foodie destination, myriad smaller establishments off the beaten path will keep you from going hungry.

If you book your lunch reservations now, learn some new routes into the office (whether by foot, bus or car) and plan to enjoy the incredible people-watching that will be on display, the convention will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you get to witness — or as Alongi said, that “you’re playing a supporting role in it.”

To quote Komoroski on this one: “It’s OK to feel good about Cleveland.”

Chambers was formerly a newspaper reporter in Daytona Beach and an expert panelist for the “Ballot 2008” TV news program at WMFE Orlando. She enjoys the sport of politics even more than she dislikes long commutes.

Qualities that make good leaders

By Kevin Yanik, Managing Editor

What’s the one thing you must have to be a leader?

Is it commitment, competency or compassion? How about confidence or courage?

Those are all good traits of leaders, but one can’t be a leader without a follower.

That was one of the messages Karl H. Watson Jr., former president of Cemex USA, delivered to those who attended the recent Young Leaders Conference of the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association. Cemex is a global building materials company whose U.S. network includes 13 cement plants, 46 strategically located distribution terminals, 74 aggregate quarries and more than 350 ready-mix concrete plants.

Although Watson’s message was directed to aggregate producers, equipment manufacturers and others in the aggregate industry, his message transcends industries.

“The one thing you must have to be a leader is a follower,” Watson says.

The concept is a simple one and, yes, somewhat obvious. But, as Watson dove deeper into leadership, his discussion shifted to leaders and bosses.

Leaders aren’t necessarily bosses, he says, and bosses aren’t necessarily leaders. Leaders can be bosses and bosses can be leaders, but one isn’t necessarily inherent in the other.

“Leadership is earned,” Watson says. “Leadership is a learned response.”

Bosses who exude leadership don’t bark orders to employees without explaining why employees should perform a task. Always explain the reason behind the task, he says. Employees are more likely to buy into the task with that approach, and they’ll likely perform it more efficiently or more safely. They’ll also feel like they’re invested in the process.

“Never tell someone what to do unless you tell them why,” Watson says.

A related takeaway on leadership in the workplace, delivered at the Young Leaders Conference by Hal Williford, president of Memphis Stone & Gravel Co., is to let your employees know how much you appreciate them.

“Everybody likes praise,” Williford says. “I don’t care who you are. You’ll be surprised how much a ball cap or a free lunch will do for somebody.”

Kevin Yanik joined North Coast Media in 2012 and has worked in B2B media for more than seven years in various editorial positions. Kevin is a Cleveland native and a 2006 graduate of John Carroll University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in communications.

Photo credit: ocd007 via Foter.com / CC BY-ND

5 steps to a smooth summer internship program

By Diane Sofranec, Managing Editor

Internships are a win-win for the students who land them and the companies that offer them.

While interns gain valuable professional experience, the companies they work for get a unique opportunity to mentor workers who are about to launch their careers.

But that’s not all. An intern can bring a fresh perspective to your company’s way of doing business. Students with technological skills and social media savvy can share their knowledge and enthusiasm with employees who are slow to embrace all that the Internet has to offer. Plus, interns who make meaningful contributions to your company become ideal job candidates when employment opportunities arise.

But before you put out a call for help, take these five important steps:

Determine exactly what an intern can do for you and your company.

Do you and your colleagues have a full workload because you’re not working hard or smart enough? Is a special project putting the squeeze on your time and talents? If you have a surplus of meaningful work, consider hiring an intern. But remember, you’ll have your summer intern for only about three months, not indefinitely.

Aim to make a lasting impression.

Assign tasks that will provide your intern with new skills and capabilities. Add your intern to the team in charge of a special project at your company. Assign your intern a task that must be completed by the end of summer. That way, your intern will come away with an accomplishment or two to include on a resume.

Develop a detailed plan.

Create a list of daily or weekly duties for the entire summer. Make sure it includes more than fetching coffee and making copies. You’re not hiring a trained monkey, after all. Match the tasks to your intern’s interests and field of study. Incorporate performance reviews so you can offer guidance and measure your intern’s progress.

Designate a mentor.

Appoint a trusted employee to work with your intern. Give your employee the authority to answer questions, assign tasks, and approve timesheets. Choose a good role model who will demonstrate appropriate office behavior. Patience and a desire to help are important qualities, too.

Carefully consider compensation.

Interns often are paid for their services. The amount usually depends on the complexity of the duties or the status of the student. High school students may receive minimum wage or less whereas college seniors may be paid more, for example. If you don’t plan to pay your intern, learn the law the U.S. Department of Labor enacted under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

With proper planning, an internship can be a rewarding experience for all involved. Contact the guidance offices at your local high schools, colleges and universities to see how your company can get involved.

Diane Sofranec has more than 25 years experience in B2B media. She is managing editor of North Coast Media’s Pest Management Professional magazine, and enjoys working with the interns NCM hires every summer.

Photo credit: flazingo_photos via Foter.com / CC BY-SA

NCM’s Bethany Chambers honored with Top Women in Media Award

CLEVELAND – April 20, 2016 – North Coast Media is proud to announce that Digital Operations Manager Bethany Chambers has been chosen as one of Folio magazine’s Top Women in Media awards honorees in the Rising Stars category.

The annual list is composed of the most influential women in media, and celebrates their creativity and accomplishments. Honorees are chosen for their demonstrated ability to “move their teams, brands, and companies forward, make strides in their respective markets, and create lasting impressions on their colleagues.”

Chambers and other winners from organizations including Bloomberg Media, Entertainment Weekly, ESPN The Magazine and Yahoo News will be honored during an awards luncheon at the Yale Club in New York City on Thursday, June 9, 2016.

“I am extremely proud of all that Bethany has achieved since joining the North Coast Media team. Thanks to her leadership and strategic vision, digital revenue and metrics have grown in every year of her tenure,” said Steve Galperin, North Coast Media’s vice president of finance & operations.

“Her vast knowledge and ease of explaining complex terminology to her peers has given the sales teams confidence to include Bethany on their sales calls. Her colleagues appreciate her ability to see things from all sides.”

Since joining North Coast Media in 2012, Chambers has championed new product development, content strategy and strong client relationships as the keys to boosting digital revenue.

Under her direction, the company and its brands have seen website page views grow 184 percent and digital revenue double.

Chambers and her team of five create and maintain all of the digital properties associated with the company’s six print publications, seven digital magazines, 22 websites and 23 unique e-newsletters – in addition to dozens of social media accounts and hundreds of e-blasts.

Prior to joining NCM, Chambers worked in the media industry in a variety of roles, from B2B digital editor to newspaper reporter and expert panelist for a local TV news program. Chambers has a bachelor’s degree in business from Duquesne University and a master’s degree in journalism with an emphasis in interactive publishing from Northwestern University’s Medill School. She has won numerous awards for her writing and reporting and is a National Press Club fellow.

North Coast Media redesigns and repositions Pit & Quarry

CLEVELAND — March 24, 2016 — Celebrating it’s 100th year of covering the aggregates industry, Pit & Quarry today announced a new look for its magazine, website, newsletters and overall branding. In addition to aesthetic changes, the publication made a number of updates to the way content is organized and presented.

The redesign followed an extensive research campaign that included focus groups and reader surveys, as well as input from the company’s design, editorial, digital and sales teams. The launch of the new look was timed to coincide with Pit & Quarry’s presence at the 2016 AGG1 Aggregates Academy & Expo in Nashville, Tenn.

“Our 100th anniversary served as an ideal time to take a step back and analyze what we are as a brand, including the magazine, digital media and events,” says Pit & Quarry Group Publisher Rob Fulop. “Remaining the same is easy. But we challenged ourselves to take an introspective look. We needed to ensure we’re still delivering essential content that meets the changing needs of our audience.”

The new design features a modernized logo and an overall grittier look inside the magazine.

Content changes include an Up to Speed news page at the front of the book with quick-read items on important industry happenings — and an expanded new products section that is now called Cutting Edge. Additionally, all news and features are now categorized into one of four sections — Tech, Business, Safety and Events.

Popular content has been retained, including featured columns by Mike Heenan, David Chereb and George Reddin, as well as the historic photos at the back of the magazine — now called A Look Back.

Pit & Quarry is published by North Coast Media, LLC (NCM), the largest B2B publishing company headquartered in Cleveland. NCM’s flagship brands include LP Gas, Pit & Quarry, GPS World, Pest Management Professional, Landscape Management (LM) and Golfdom. Ancillary brands include Portable Plants & Equipment (PP&E), Geospatial Solutions, Athletic Turf News and Truman’s Scientific Guide to Pest Management Operations, and a host of other leading industry reference books.

Why positive feedback is good for your company

By Diane Sofranec, Managing Editor

“Great job.” “Amazing work.” “I wish I could clone you.” When was the last time your boss told you you’re an asset to the company?

If you know you’re good job at your job because your boss tells you so, consider yourself lucky. Positive feedback makes you feel valued. But your company benefits, too. Here’s why.

Positive feedback sends the message that you’re modeling correct behavior.

If you know you are completing your tasks as expected or better than expected, you will continue to demonstrate this acceptable behavior. A motivated worker who gets the job done right is exactly what every company needs.

Positive feedback boosts morale.

You spend eight hours a day in the workplace, so you might as well be happy while you’re there. Happy employees tend to want to stay at their current jobs, not look for a better place to work. They also show enthusiasm for the work they must do every day. A positive attitude can be infectious, and who doesn’t want to work with people who are happy?

Positive feedback encourages communication.

Interaction with your boss – when he/she is telling you what a great job you’re doing – fosters a good working relationship. Employees often avoid bosses and coworkers who constantly berate them. And who can blame them? You will engage with your boss more often if you know he/she is approachable.

Positive feedback improves work performance.

When you know you are well liked at the office, chances are you will work harder to please your boss. If you want to please your boss, you are more likely to take on new projects, participate during meetings and share ideas. Taking the initiative can help boost your career and your company’s bottom line.

A 2015 Gallup report, “State of the American Manager: Analytics and Advice for Leaders,” shows why it pays to be positive. U.S. managers who care little about their jobs and the companies where they work cost the U.S. an estimated $319 to $398 billion each year due to the effect they have on the workers they manage, according to the study. Gallup, which conducts research on employee engagement, says its research shows, “engagement is strongly connected to business outcomes that are essential to an organization’s financial success, including productivity, profitability and customer ratings.”

You want to be good at your job. Positive feedback helps ensure that you are. And that’s good for you and your company.

Diane Sofranec has more than 25 years experience in B2B media. She joined North Coast Media in 2013 as a digital content producer and is now managing editor of the company’s Pest Management Professional magazine. She loves to hear her boss tell her she’s doing a good job.

Photo credit: joeltelling via Foter.com / CC BY-SA