Business briefs: Directions Credit Union, Bucket Brothers, Haring Realty, and Mechanics
Directions Credit Union gives back to local educators
Directions Credit Union is offering the Directions Cares for Classrooms Grant Program again to provide educators with small grants to purchase classroom resources and fund special projects.
Directions Credit Union will donate up to $15,000 in classroom grants during the 2022-2023 school year. The individual grants will provide up to $500 each to be used for a variety of projects and materials, including, but not limited to, books, software, calculators, math manipulatives, art supplies, audio-visual equipment, lab materials and more.
K-12 educators who work for public, private or charter schools in the Directions field of membership, which includes schools in Richland, Crawford, Ashland, Huron, Knox and Wayne counties, are eligible to apply at directionscu.org/cares-for-classrooms/.
Fall 2022 applications are now being accepted. Winners will be announced on or before Dec. 1. Winter 2023 applications will be accepted starting on Jan. 1. Winners will be announced on or before March 1.
Bucket Brothers of Mansfield assigned patent
Bucket Brothers of Mansfield has been assigned a patent developed by three co-inventors for a "bucket lid with underswivel." The co-inventors are Ivan J. Wortman of St. Marys, Pennsylvania, Tyler Seymour of Beavercreek, Ohio, and Mitchell W. Cox of Newark, Ohio.
It's described as a bucket lid and seat combination that allows a user to access the contents of the bucket while in a seated position, and which is padded for the comfort of the user while in the seat position.
Haring Realty welcomes new agent
Haring Realty has announced the most recent addition to their team of professionals, Amanda S. Wilson.
Wilson was born in Mansfield, graduated from North Ridgeville High School and went on to study Biology at Bowling Green State University.
“I’ve had the privilege of working in many great cities including Elyria, Lorain, Norwalk, Oberlin, Fremont, Ashland, Port Clinton, Sandusky, Tiffin, Ontario and Oxford,” Wilson explained. “I most recently left my career in retail after 20 years to completely start over in a profession that has always been a hobby of mine.”
She said she enjoys spending time with her family, playing with dogs, water activities and "anything in the snow."
Mechanics Bank announces promotions
Mechanics Bank has announced the following promotions:
Laurie Baker has been promoted to assistant vice president. Baker joined Mechanics in 2020 as the Good Life director. She has more than 35 years of experience in the travel industry as a previous travel agency owner.
Conner Darsee has been promoted to assistant vice president. Darsee joined Mechanics in 2014 as a customer service representative and later served as both a customer service specialist and business banker. He currently serves as a private banking specialist.
Kayla Krauss has been promoted to assistant vice president. Krauss joined Mechanics in 2015 as a customer service representative and later served as a customer service specialist. She currently serves as an answer center specialist.
Shawna Lay has been promoted to assistant vice president. Lay joined Mechanics in 2006 as a customer service representative and has also been an assistant branch manager and loan service representative (LSR). She currently serves as a senior LSR in the Mortgage & Consumer Lending Department.
Jessica Shaum has been promoted to assistant vice president. Shaum joined Mechanics in 2016 as a customer service representative and later served as an answer center specialist. She currently serves in the Answer Center as the ACH team leader.
Danielle Sigler has been promoted to assistant vice president. Sigler joined Mechanics in 2014 as a customer service representative and later served as a senior customer service specialist (CSS), CSS coordinator, Answer Center specialist, and IRA & HSA coordinator. She currently serves as Deposit Team lead at the Main Office.
Curt Walter has been promoted to assistant vice president. Walter joined Mechanics in 2021 as a mortgage loan officer. He has over 18 years of management experience.
Ohio minimum wage hike takes effect in January
COLUMBUS — Ohio’s minimum wage is scheduled to increase on Jan. 1, 2023, to $10.10 per hour for non-tipped employees and $5.05 per hour for tipped employees. The minimum wage will apply to employees of businesses with annual gross receipts of $371,000 or more per year.
The current 2022 Ohio Minimum Wage is $9.30 per hour for non-tipped employees and $4.65 per hour for tipped employees. The 2021 Ohio minimum wage applies to employees of businesses with annual gross receipts of $342,000 or more per year.
The Constitutional Amendment (II-34a) passed by Ohio voters in November 2006 states Ohio’s minimum wage shall increase on Jan. 1 of each year by the rate of inflation. The state minimum wage is tied to the Consumer Price index (CPI-W) for urban wage earners and clerical workers for the 12-month period prior to September. This CPI-W index increased by 8.7% over the 12-month period from Sept. 1, 2021 to Aug. 31, 2022. The Constitutional Amendment is available online.
For employees at smaller companies with annual gross receipts of less than $371,000 per year after Jan 1. 2023, and for 14- and 15-year-olds, the state minimum wage is $7.25 per hour. For these employees, the state wage is tied to the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, which requires an act of Congress and the President’s signature to change.
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Directions Credit Union grants, Bucket Brothers patent awarded
