Bob and Jen Westerfield, owners of Side Effects, Inc, have a unique way of traveling. They spin a US Map and throw a dart. Wherever the dart lands, they travel. They always visit the high school in the city where the dart lands (if they have one) and have tied these trips into state and national Athletic Director shows. Their most recent trip to Yuma, Arizona led to international media attention. They will be throwing a dart on an upcoming Fox & Friends show in New York City and sending another family on a free vacation to wherever the dart lands. To read more, please find Dart Americaby Chance on Facebook.
“Becoming a Category of One”
December 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment
“Becoming a Category of One” is not a way of doing business or an emphasis on policy; it is a culture. After reading Joe Galloway’s book “Category of One” I decided that the company and each person in the company could positively affect their lives, the experience for people we do business with and their relationships. Side Effects needs to be everything we say we say we are and desire to be everything we say we are. The entire company meets weekly to discuss each chapter of this book. We mix up the divisions of the company into two separate groups for variety and diversity.
The first week we covered Chapter One and discussed the decision “to go”. We have committed ourselves to driving for excellence in everything we do, especially in the area of customer service. We are committed to our mission and we are following it with action….GO!
The second week we discussed “Our Story”. What is it that we do and why is it that we do it? Side Effects has a mission and the team knows the mission. We are talking about it, we now meet about it and there is evidence that we are weaving it through everything we do. “Becoming a Category of One” is a terrific book, here at Side Effects it is becoming our culture.
More to come…
Springboro Wrap
December 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment
We completed our first wall wrap project at Springboro High School. Side Effects contracted sponsorships with McDonalds and Watkins Heating and Air to pay for the entire project. The final product exceeded all expectations and it cost the school nothing! A first of many to come.
Mission Statement
August 2, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Bob Westerfield is a member of a local C12 group. This group consists of Christian business owners who meet monthly to discuss issues and topics while consulting each other. When the group was discussing company mission statements it was revealed that our motto of Giving Schools What They Need is not a mission statement. Since then, Bob and I have worked at developing a solid mission statement that we feel will withstand the test of time and best describes what we would like the mission of our company to be. We are encouraging all Side Effects employees to know and work towards our mission.
Giving Back to the Community
May 6, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Members of our team recently volunteered at the Gospel Mission in Dayton, Ohio. The Gospel Mission is one of the organizations our employees have opportunity to volunteer outside of work and earn additional Paid Time Off. This is a Volunteer Policy we provide to employees that have a heart for missions and give opportunity to serve when time otherwise restricts them.
On this particular day, our team of 7 arrived and received instructions for serving food and cleaning the facility. Hot dinners are provided on Tuesday and Thursday and lunch Monday-Friday. The dining hall is a certified restaurant and everything is in tip-top condition. Numerous local restaurants provide food. This night we served Chipotle chicken and Olive Garden meatballs as two of the main dishes. The mission fed food to 150 + guests. After the guests cleared the dining area our team went to work cleaning the facility.
Kylene Pippin, Side Effects Project Coordinator, has volunteered with the Gospel Mission numerous times. On this visit she served in the food line. Her big smile makes numerous people feel welcome. “I found the volunteer opportunity at the Gospel Mission very rewarding. I’m proud to work for a company that not only helps high schools, but gives back to our community as well.”
Angel Fuson served salads before going to work wiping down all the serving platforms. She is ready to return with others in June. “Going to the Gospel Mission was definitely an experience I have never had before. Doing this for other people makes you realize how truly blessed we really are; although at times we all struggle. It was very interesting to see all the different people that came through the food line; it makes you want to know more about them and help them in any way you can….”
Will Thorpe tended to the dining area by helping people carry trays and providing a clean space for diners to eat. “It was a very humbling, but good and satisfying experience to be able to serve those who are in need in our community and it made me appreciate what I have in life.”
Side Effects aims to give others what they need and providing opportunities for our team to serve is just another step towards that effort.
Will, Kylene, Angel, Jenn and Curtis
Selling the Passion
April 25, 2011 By 1 Comment
When Side Effects decided to advertise in the April / May 2011 issue of Athletic Management we knew that the issue would have a focus on Fundraising. What we did not know is that the content of the magazine would tie in to exactly what our company is all about and why we exist….to sell the passion which enables us to give others what they need.
In the article Selling the Passion by Scott Garvis, many important statements are made that are truths for why our company was founded and why we have been successful.
Scott states not once, but twice that an Athletic Director cannot sell the passion alone. The article states, “Done right, raising money will require both time and effort, two commodities athletic directors rarely have enough of. So it is imperative that fundraising becomes a team effort.” Scott’s advice on how to sell the passion includes strategic planning, approach and follow through ~ all services that Side Effects offers. It has been our experience that many schools that have tried to take the time and energy to follow guidelines like these and fundraise themselves have come to us years later asking for help. Successful fundraising efforts requires a lot of time and expertise.
The need is there and Side Effects is able to create a tangible partnership between businesses and the Athletic Department.
There were many statements in this article on why a business owner would want to support in this way:
· 77% of people would be more likely to purchase from and support a company if it sponsored the local high school.
· 75% of respondents believed that high school sports have a greater community influence than professional, college or other amateur sports.
· Students, teachers and fans are a target market that businesses are eager to reach.
· Today’s more savvy businesses are focused on cultivating loyalty to their products, which is a huge buying factor among families and teens. 89% of youths are likely to switch from one brand to another if the 2nd brand is associated with a good cause, such as a high school.
· The article encourages providing incentives to sponsors (a large existing part of the Side Effects program).
Please view this link to read the full article on Selling the Passion and to view our Side Effects advertisement.
MARCH MADNESS
March 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment
When this month started, Bob and I looked at each other and said, “see you in April”. We weren’t speaking of physically seeing each other, but we knew that this month was going to be a busy one. Side Effects happenings include:
· NEW Website Launch: Jenn Baumaster in our Marketing Department has been working feverishly to get this new site up and running in time to market it at the various state shows. We are excited to better communicate with our current and future customers!
· NEW State: Side Effects is now in Connecticut! We’re excited to be working with Stonington High School in Connecticut for a new football scoreboard! Great work, Angel Fuson!
· The completion of the first quarter of Side Effects’ 15th year! This year is off to a great start. Our production has already reached where we were in June of last year. Thank you everyone at Side Effects – for your hard work! Thank you schools – for your faith in allowing us to represent you! Thank you sponsors – you support so much beyond a school advertisement! Here we grow again….
· Back 2 Back Ministries: Side Effects supported a local family’s mission trip with Back2Back this month. Oh how we wish we could have gone and spent time with these babies in need of our love and help! With three children that are 3 and under in our own home, we can’t participate during this season of our lives and are happy to support those that can. We look forward to trips in our future. It sounds like they had another incredible experience. I love a quote off of the Back2Back Facebook page this month: “There are 30 million orphans in India. Every 2.2 seconds, another orphan “ages out” of a system, without a place to go or a plan. Our response can be multi-layered. Some are called to go, some to adopt, others to pray, others to mentor, some to give, some to speak for them, and others to serve. It’s not a question of whether or not to go after the “one,” but how and when and where.- Beth Guckenberger, Relentless Hope”
· German Hockey! Bob Westerfield traveled to Berlin, Germany with old friends including; Tim Pelcic, a Side Effects high school’s Business Manager, and Dave Studzinski (Waynesville Veterinary Hospital), a faithful Side Effects sponsor of Springboro Athletics. There they took in a few Berlin Polar Bear hockey games. Dave Studzinski’s brother-in-law, Stefan Ustorf, plays for the Polar Bears and hosted them. The Polar Bears won both games and Stefan scored in both games! What a wonderful experience!
· New York Athletic Director Show: Chris Burke attended the NYS Athletic Administration ok Show in Saratoga Springs, New York on March 16th and 17th. This was our first trip to this show. We are excited about new business in New York!
· Biggest Loser: Side Effects employees are participating in a company-wide Biggest Loser challenge that kicked off in March 2011. We’re getting healthy!
· Michigan Athletic Director Show: Kevin Kemper and Kevin Myers traveled up to Traverse City, Michigan for the MIAAA Conference from March 18th-20th. Kevin Kemper said after several years attending shows that this was “his best show yet”. Kevin Myers stated that everyone involved in the show was extremely friendly. It was a joy to receive so many kind words and references from Rob White – Athletic Director at Saline High School in Saline, Michigan.
· Springboro High School Hockey Banquet: Springboro High School is where Side Effects began. This year we were excited fans of the Springboro Hockey team. They improved from winning only 5 games two years ago to reaching the state level with a record of 28-4-3 in the 2010-2011 season. Bob Westerfield spoke to this fine group of young men at their banquet. His motivational talk was based on one of his favorite quotes: “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us” from Ralph Waldo Emerson.
· Indiana Athletic Director Show: Bob Westerfield, Jen Westerfield, Jenn Baumaster and Kevin Myers attended the IIAAA Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana from March 20th -22nd. Bob Westerfield was recognized as a 10 year vendor at this show and was given a plaque for Side Effects’ continued support. It was wonderful to connect with so many old friends including Jon Zwitt from Center Grove High School. Jon shared the fact that we have provided their Athletic Department with over $120,000 over the past 10 years at one of their meetings. As a result, new schools are interested. Thank you Jon!
· Georgia Athletic Director Show: Chris Burke attended the GADA Show in Savannah, Georgia on March 21st and 22nd. This was our first trip to this show. We have several projects in Georgia and it was great to have a presence at this show!
· Pennsylvania Athletic Director Show: Kylene Wendling Pippin and Angel Fuson are heading to the PSADA Conference in Hershey, Pennsylvania from March 23rd-25th. This is supposed to be a great show and we are looking forward to hearing about their experiences and connections with our current Athletic Directors.
· OHSAA Basketball Tournament: The Side Effects “Bus” will be traveling to Columbus this week where many Ohio high school basketball tournament games will be seen in conjunction with televised games of “March Madness”. We’ve seen many great players go on to play college and pro ball that we first saw at this tournament. This is always a March highlight.
· Virginia Athletic Director Show: Bob and Jen Westerfield will be flying to the VIAAA show in Norfolk, Virginia on March 30th and 31st. We are thrilled to have an opportunity to meet some of the people that Kylene Wendling has been working with.
· Four years ago Bob Westerfield started the Kemper Scholarship Fund for a Springboro High School girls’ varsity player. Side Effects along with several area businesses that Side Effects contract with, come together to provide an annual scholarship for a chosen player. Bob Westerfield has always appreciated all that Coach Kemper does for these players and our community and decided to start this scholarship in his honor. Our hope is that the Kemper Scholarship Fund will carry on for years to come. The 2010-2011 recipient will be revealed at tonight’s Athletic Banquet….stay tuned for the news article and recognition of these fine businesses that continually support the fund.
· Baseball, Baseball, Baseball…we’ve had several baseball projects installed this month despite all the rain! Batter’s up!
· Idaho Athletic Director Show: Matt Westerfield and Kevin Kemper will be heading west by truck as the two venture out at the end of the month to Idaho visiting many current customers along the way. They will be attending the IAAA Show in Boise, Idaho from April 4th to 5th. Idaho is one of our strongest states and we are happy to be participating in their show for the first time.
· Missouri Athletic Director Show: We finish the month with Kevin Myers, Bob Westerfield, Jen Westerfield, Les Ferguson (Jen’s dad) and the little ones (twins Ben & Boyd and Elle Westerfield) boarding the Side Effects “bus” and heading to the MIAAA show at Tan-Tara Resort from April 2nd to 4th. Side Effects is a proud first-time sponsor of the MOAD Golf Outing along with Daktronics. We look forward to having a great time on the course with many of our current and future Athletic Directors! The show promises to be a wonderful time connecting with current and future customers.
Despite the “madness” this has been a very blessed month for our company. Thank YOU!
-Jen Westerfield, VP
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