Ship it From the 419 | A Local Playbook for Going Global

You do not need a passport to export. Sometimes you just need to drive 70 miles north.

Ohio moves roughly $56Bn dollars in exports a year, about $5Bn dollars from Northwest Ohio, and about 11,000 metro Toledo jobs ride on that global commerce.

Translation: the world already buys what Toledo makes and what Toledo does.

Ohio’s top customers fit the drive north line. Canada buys $19.9Bn of Ohio goods, (+35%). Mexico is next at $9.6Bn. What Ohio sells, primarily, is not a mystery. Transportation equipment leads at $16.3Bn, followed by chemicals and machinery. The Port of Toledo adds more proof. A recent study shows the port supports about 7,971 jobs and about $906.2M in annual economic activity. Exports support paychecks across the state. These are the kinds of numbers that make a banker nod yes.

The Big Idea

Export Success is our region's practical, no fluff path from “we should export” to “we are exporting.” It is hosted by the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce and has been running since 2012, with the Regional Growth Partnership and the US Commercial Service in the engine room. The program helps manufacturers and service firms build real market entries, not just collect business cards at a trade show.

Format: Five full day sessions, Oct 24, 2025 to Feb 20, 2026, 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM
Focus: Goods and services. Legal, accounting, banking, logistics, culture. The actual levers that move deals across borders.

Why We Like It

• A mentor bench that has done it. Legal, accounting, banking, and trade specific operators who have shipped, sold, and gotten paid abroad.

• Concierge market entry. Gold Key Matching connects you to vetted buyers and partners. International Partner Search shows where your offer fits and who to call first.

• Proof, not platitudes. One local commodities broker (participant) reported a 700% increase in exports after investing through this program. They keep reinvesting in their people year after year because it works.

What You Walk Away With

• A company-specific export plan you can execute on Monday

• The international sales process that holds up outside the 419, including pricing, channels, and terms

• Compliance confidence on contracts, intellectual property, and sanctions

• Banking and foreign exchange and logistics so freight and currency do not eat your margin

• Cross cultural muscle to turn first orders into repeat business

By the Numbers

• $56Bn dollars, Ohio exports annually

• about $5Bn dollars, Northwest Ohio’s slice

• ~11,000 metro Toledo jobs tied to exports based on RGP estimate

• 700% growth reported by a program alum (local commodities broker) after investing in the Export Success program

Cost and Funding

• $2K dollars for TRCC members, $2,300 dollars for non members. The price covers two people.

• Many companies may be eligible for the IMAGE Grant reimbursement, subject to availability.

Who Should Raise a Hand

• Manufacturers looking to smooth revenue with demand outside the United States

• Service firms such as engineering, software, design, training, and professional services that want to scale intellectual property globally

• Leaders who want a real plan, not a lanyard

Questions & Signing Up

• Ask questions or register

  • Michael Tolson, TRCC, (567)-420 1232

  • Paul Zito, RGP, (419)-252-2700

❄️ Winter is Coming | It’s Going to Cost Ohio

It may still feel like patio season, but the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is already thinking about plow season and that means big dollars are about to start moving.

Behind every salted highway and cleared interstate sits one of Ohio’s most expensive annual operations. When winter weather hits, ODOT mobilizes a fleet of nearly 3,000 drivers working 12-hour shifts to keep 43,000 lane miles of roadway safe and open.

Why this matters for NW Ohio?

Most of these drivers are full-time employees, with about 500 seasonal hires added each winter, a short-term boost for local paychecks across the state. The average ODOT highway worker earns around $28 per hour _{^{(estimate varying upon job title)}}, meaning a single 12-hour statewide shift costs more than $1 million in wages alone…So next time it snows, someone start a stopwatch and count the dollars! Stretch that across multiple days of a major storm, and Ohio can easily spend $3–5 million per weather event just to keep the roads moving.

That’s before counting the other line items:

• 800,000+ tons of salt, costing an estimated $50–$75 per ton _{(estimate based on state of Ohio bulk discount)} (roughly $50 million worth of salt waiting in storage).

• Fuel and maintenance for hundreds of heavy trucks and plows.

• Overtime pay, which can spike during back-to-back storms.

Last winter, crews spread more than 760,000 tons of salt across 9.1 million lane miles and still hit their performance targets, clearing primary routes within two hours and secondary routes within four, 99.3% of the time.

For us taxpayers, that reliability doesn’t come cheap, but the economic payoff is real. When roads close, commerce stops. A well-salted highway means trucks keep hauling, employees keep working, and small businesses keep their doors open.

So as you’re scraping frost from your windshield next month, remember: every clear lane is backed by a $1 million shift, thousands of workers, and one of the most quietly vital business operations in the state.

🤜🏼 Money Confessional | From Balancing Textbooks to Wall Street Financial Statements

He once balanced textbooks and tuition payments as a first generation college grad determined to make it in corporate finance. Today, he is a Finance Director at a publicly traded manufacturing company in Toledo, where investor calls, capital planning, and earnings reports are part of the daily rhythm.

At home, he and his wife have built a partnership that plays to their strengths. She has chosen to focus full time on raising their kids, leading the PTO, and keeping their household running with precision. He credits her role as being the backbone of his career growth.

“Her ability to fully focus on our family has allowed me to fully focus on my career. It is not lost on me how much of my professional success is tied to what she does at home.”

📈 Career Roots:
“I started out in corporate finance straight out of college and worked my way up through FP&A and treasury roles. Manufacturing may not always sound glamorous, but I have always been drawn to the tangible side of business, seeing how numbers turn into products, jobs, and community impact.”

💵 Growth So Far:
“When I signed my first offer at a publicly traded company, it was a milestone for our family. We had kids young, so every step up the ladder has felt like a shared victory. I am proud of how far we have come together.”

📚 Mentorship Magic:
“My mentor once told me, ‘Know the business better than anyone else in the room.’ It stuck with me. Finance is about more than numbers, it is about understanding the story behind them.”

☕ Favorite Splurge:
“Weekend breakfasts out with the family. Nothing fancy, just our local diner. It is where we slow down, laugh, and reset after a long week.”

💡 Biggest Worry:
“Balancing saving for college and retirement while maintaining our current lifestyle. I run projections for work all day, but personal finance hits differently. It is your own family on the spreadsheet.”

📊 Current Standing:
“We have built a stable foundation. We live within our means, prioritize investing, and keep an eye on the future. But like anyone with kids, unexpected expenses are always lurking around the corner.”

💵 Financial Tip:
“Treat your household like a business. Know your cash flow, plan for risk, and invest in the people who make it run, whether that is your partner, childcare, or education.”

🌱 Inspiration:
“My dad worked in the trades his whole life. He taught me the value of hard work and financial discipline. Every big decision I make still runs through that filter.”

🗣 Toledo Tip:
“Support the local spots. Whether it is restaurants, coffee shops, or small businesses, they are the heartbeat of our region and the best investments you can make.”