UNICON International, Inc

UNICON recently sponsored a drive to collect food for the Mid-Ohio Foodbank.  The Mid-Ohio Foodbank is dedicated to feeding hungry people by collecting and distributing food and grocery products, educating the community about hunger, advocating for hunger-relief programs,
and collaborating with others who address basic human needs. They distribute to over 500 food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, after-school programs, and senior housing sites in Central and Eastern Ohio.

Thanks to generosity of UNICON's consultants, staff, and clients, we were able to donate 700 pounds of food for those in need!

The Columbus, Ohio, Chapter of the National Association for Women Business Owners (NAWBO-Columbus) has announced its finalists for the prestigious 2009 Visionary Awards. 

• Pei-chen (Jane) Lee, President and CEO, UNICON International, Inc.
• Ellen Grinsfelder, President, Owner and Innskeeper, The Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls
• Kristen Harris and Catherine Lang-Cline, Owners, Portfolio Creative Staffing
• Shaune Skinner, ASC Group, Inc.

“This is a truly amazing group of women,” said Gail Froelicher, NAWBO-Columbus President.  “Each has built a solid business that continues to excel in all of the measures that determine a successful organization on any scale. The unique aspect of the Visionary Award is that each of these women fashioned their businesses around their own vision while at the same time contributing to the community.”

Nominees of this award are all women who are majority owners in their businesses, are registered in the State of Ohio, and have their businesses located within a 100-mile  radius of Columbus. Their businesses should be well established, profitable, and growing. Each nominee is an inspiration to others while affecting change in her industry. These women demonstrate qualities that make them outstanding role models and leaders in our community.

“We had an outstanding group of nominees this year,” said Kathy Warnick, 2009 Visionary Committee Chairwoman and NAWBO-Columbus Past President.  “I’m always impressed with the women of Central Ohio who run successful businesses, but the Visionary Award process really highlights how much more these women do for their employees and their communities.  They don’t settle for building their businesses.  They are intent on building better communities.”

The Visionary nominees were selected through a nomination and application process by a committee comprised of NAWBO-Columbus members and Advisors.

The Ohio Chapter of the National Association of Computer Consultant Businesses (NACCB) announces its new name, the Ohio Chapter of the TechServe Alliance, as part of the national brand roll out for the premier IT services industry association. The name and accompanying strategic shifts including a new Web site (www.techservealliance.org) are the culmination of a two-year review undertaken by the association’s Board of Directors and extensive efforts by the staff.

Locally, the Ohio Chapter is chaired by Michael McAlear of UNICON International, Inc., and has more than 20 member companies with aggregate revenues in the hundreds of millions of dollars and a workforce consisting of several thousand IT employees.  The chapter focuses on developing best practices, addressing regional business issues, and improving the value of our services to clients.

“For Ohio IT services firms, TechServe Alliance offers customized training, business insurance, benchmarking data, industry analysis and practical business tools to help achieve growth and profitability. The national organization keeps our local firms abreast of key trends and new operational strategies and advocates on our behalf in Washington,” said Michael McAlear, President of the Ohio Chapter. 

In recognition of the economic power of privately held businesses, DiversityBusiness.com, the nations’ leading business-to-business Internet site, recently named UNICON International, Inc. as one of the top businesses in the United States, and the top Asian-American, Woman-Owned company in Ohio. Other areas where UNICON was recognized include:

• Top 100 Women Owned Business in Ohio (#5)
• Top 100 Diversity Owned Business in Ohio (#11)
• Top 100 Asian Pacific American Owned Business in US (#54)
• Top 500 Women Owned Business in US (#239)
• Top 500 Diversity Owned Business in US (#485)
• Top 500 Asian Owned Business in US (#119)

This is the 9th annual listing of the Nation’s top businesses by DiversityBusiness.com. Companies listed on the Top Business Lists represent the Nation’s top multicultural earners and challenge the long-held notion that a privately held business is small or insignificant. Winners are sought after by major corporations wishing to increase spending with small businesses.