Measured by those key criteria, two states are uniquely positioned to help companies reach their North American markets: Ohio, to reach the eastern part of the U.S. and Canada; and Texas, to reach the western part of the U.S. and Mexico. Ohio and Texas have the ideal combination of attributes needed to cost-effectively serve profitable markets throughout North America.

A white paper by the Ohio Business Development Coalition looks at how locating manufacturing and supply centers in both Ohio and Texas will allow companies to best serve the North American marketplace and achieve the fastest return on their investment. To download the white paper, visit http://www.ohiomeansbusiness.com/newsroom/white-papers.php.

With more than 1,150 companies and a workforce of 81,000, Ohio has the largest concentration of polymer product producers, machines, materials and workers in North America. In addition to plastics, rubber and resins, key polymer sectors include advanced composites, advanced energy, bioproducts, flexible devices, nanotechnology and polymer processing.

Ohio is capitalizing on its strength in advanced materials to create and attract 21st century businesses and jobs. Between 2006 and 2009, the state gained more than 250 new polymer plants and expansions, while in the past three years companies announced investments of $1.5 billion in 78 major capital investment projects that will create 2,500 new jobs.

Eight Ohio universities have polymer research programs, offering a well-educated workforce and opportunities for research collaborations to create new products, applications and opportunities for growth. Strategic investments totaling more than $270 million by Ohio Third Frontier and over 60 collaborating private industry partners are paving the way for commercialization of new technologies.

Find out more about Ohio's polymers and advanced materials industry.

From Scotland, Aitken admits during the recruitment process, his only knowledge of Cincinnati revolved around the 1970’s hit television show, “WKRP in Cincinnati.” Ask Aitken his opinion of the Queen City now and he can’t stop bragging about his current hometown that he likes to describe as a diamond in the rough. “My entire family loves it here,” says Aitken. “The downtown and surrounding areas has so much to offer young families.”

Employing more than 1,900 people in 30 offices in Europe, Asia and the Americas, dunnhumby serves a prestigious list of companies including The Kroger Co., Tesco, Coca-Cola, General Mills, Kimberly-Clark, Macy's, Panera Bread Company, PepsiCo and Procter & Gamble.

According to Aitken, Ohio’s support of companies of all sizes with access to capital and business incentives helped leverage the Cincinnati location for dunnhumbyUSA. “Ohio and Cincinnati really stepped up with job creation incentives for ten years,” says Aitken, CEO of dunnhumbyUSA. Another deciding factor was the proximity to The Kroger Co., which owns fifty-percent of dunnhumbyUSA. Aitken says his company also received a start-up loan from Kroger as well as overwhelming support from the community as a whole. “There is no way we would have had the support we’ve found here had we been in a bigger city”, say Aitken. “We are unbelievably spoiled by the treatment we receive here.”

Knowledge Company Benefits From Knowledgeable Workforce

dunnhumbyUSA is committed to helping companies put customers at the center of every decision by analyzing data for some of the world’s biggest retailers from over 350 million people in 28 countries. With those kinds of statistics, the company relies heavily on a skilled and highly educated workforce. With 205 institutions of higher education, Ohio is ranked 5th in the nation when it comes to a robust workforce which is a major advantage for a knowledge-based business like dunnhumbyUSA. Also, Ohio’s colleges and universities graduate more potential employees than many states combined, in addition to the state’s pool of skilled workers across nine key industries. Prime location allows Aiken to pull interns and talent in from several directions, including Miami University, Xavier, and co-op programs from University of Cincinnati. “Universities in Ohio, such as Miami University, are big feeder programs for our company. Last year we hired 30-plus graduates. We also work closely with area students on major research projects.”

For a fast growing company, Aitken admits filling middle management jobs can be challenging right now. In 2003, the Cincinnati location started with four employees. In 2011, the company employed more than 500. Aitken sits on the CincinnatiUSA Regional Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors to help attract even more talent to the city, especially for highly technical jobs that can be hard to fill. “We need people with 10-15 years of experience in mathematics, statistics, retail & marketing and manufacturing,” says Aitken. “Those people aren’t living here right now and they should be. So many people who left this area end up coming back because of the work-life balance Ohio offers.”

A Great Place To Work And Live

A big recruitment tool for employees is the reputation dunnhumbyUSA has earned both on a local and global scale. dunnhymbyUSA placed first or as finalist for five years since 2006 in Greater Cincinnati’s Best Places to Work. The Sunday Times, a major paper in the UK, also placed the company in their “Best 100 Companies To Work For.” Aitken emphasizes the importance of community involvement across the company, employing significant efforts towards volunteerism and financial support of nonprofit organizations within the Greater Cincinnati community. Aitken himself is involved in the local community as vice president on the board of directors for the European-American Chamber of Commerce and serves on the board of trustees for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

Aitken also encourages his employees to achieve work-life balance by spending valuable time with family and enjoying extra-curricular activities in Cincinnati. Having previously lived in major cities such as San Francisco and Dallas, Aitken truly appreciates Ohio’s access to a balanced life. “My commute here is unbelievable. I am maybe ten minutes late if I get caught in heavy traffic,” explains Aitken who enjoys a quick ride home. “Experience a bad traffic day in those other cities and your schedule for the day is over.” Living in Cincinnati has allowed Aitken more time to do what he loves: spend time with his family and two small children. “I get to coach their soccer teams, we go biking, and we also love to experience all Cincinnati offers, ranging from professional sports to an amazing arts scene.”

Prior to joining dunnhumbyUSA, Aitken held a variety of retail marketing positions, most recently as the executive vice president/chief marketing officer of Michael’s Stores, Inc. He spent nine years with North American grocery retailer Safeway, Inc. in a series of senior level marketing and loyalty reward positions, where he managed card & loyalty marketing, data mining/innovation and category management. Aitken earned a B.A. and M.A. in information management from two universities in Scotland.

If Aitken has one complaint, it’s the small fortune he pays to fly across the pond for both business and pleasure, but admits it’s a small price to pay for the Midwest values and extra time he now gets with his wife and children in Ohio. “This is about bringing up family the right way.”

Read more success stories about executives on how locating in Ohio has enabled them to achieve both their professional and personal aspirations without having to sacrifice one for the other.

Ohio's world-class logistics capabilities help manufacturing companies reduce operating costs by getting components and finished goods quickly to their destination anywhere in the U.S. or around the globe. Ohio's extensive logistics management network supports the state's 21,250 manufacturing companies with multi-modal and inter-modal networks allowing efficient import and export of products-180 public airports, eight interstate highways, 36 freight railroads and 25 waterfront ports.

Ohio's strategic location also plays an important role; the state is within 600 miles of 60 percent of the U.S. and Canadian population and is within a one-day drive of 70 percent of North America's manufacturing capacity.

Strategic investments and tax reforms enable Ohio companies to compete - and win - in the 21st century global economy. In fact, businesses incur only a flat $150 fee on out-of-state sales of up to $1 million. A recent report by the Quantitative Economics and Statistics Practices (QUEST) of Ernst & Young in conjunction with the Council On State Taxation (COST), ranks Ohio as third in the nation for friendliest tax environment.

Companies continue to discover the benefits of investing in Ohio, finding a preferred location for capital investment, a competitive business environment and a perfect balance between business pursuits and personal aspirations. Find out more.

Ohio also is home to some of the world's largest aerospace and aviation industry businesses including GE Aviation, Boeing, Parker-Hannifin, Goodrich and Timken, just to name a few. In addition, Ohio also is home to a world-class research environment that includes two dedicated federal aerospace laboratories - Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton and NASA Glenn in Cleveland - and ten aerospace related doctoral programs at Ohio universities. Graduates of these institutions provide a cluster of highly skilled and educated workers.

Ohio's aerospace jobs rank 1st among the 12 comparable states in private sector aerospace and defense manufacturing value-added, nearly double the national average. More than 66,000 specialized aerospace and aviation workers-double the national average-provide Ohio with an abundant pool of professionals to effectively meet industry needs.

Aerospace companies located in Ohio also benefit from Ohio's central location supported by a world-class logistics infrastructure, easy access to markets and supply chains, a highly skilled workforce, and public-private sector leadership.

Ohio is within 600 miles of 60 percent of the U.S. and Canadian population and is within a one-day drive of 70 percent of North America's manufacturing capacity. The state's central location and world-class logistics capabilities help companies reduce operating costs by getting components and finished goods quickly to their destination anywhere in the U.S. or around the globe.

Understanding today's global economy, Ohio lawmakers dramatically revamped the state's tax structure, creating the lowest rates in the Midwest and an extremely profit-friendly business climate for companies that locate in the state.

The advantages Ohio offers positions the state as an international leader for business success in the 21st century global marketplace. Companies continue to discover the benefits of investing in Ohio, finding a preferred location for capital investment, a competitive business environment and a perfect balance between business pursuits and personal aspirations.