By Peter Strozniak

While every company uses a long-term strategy to drive positive business results, too often employee training is overlooked as an essential part of that strategy.

In fact, many surveys show that most small and mid-size companies don't have an employee training program or may train employees only when a need surfaces.

Formalizing an employee training program, however, has shown to keep workers engaged, which can drive profitability. Research by human resource firm Watson Wyatt & Co. reports that engaged employees are twice as likely to be top performers compared with less-engaged peers. What's more, engaged employees are more productive, less likely to quit and can attract talented employees.

Chris Kutsko, director of the Capstone Group at HR firm Employers' Resource Council (ERC) in Mayfield Village, suggests that companies can get the most out of their human capital investment by customizing a training program that will achieve business goals such as increasing sales, improving productivity or enhancing customer service.

Next: Taking first steps...

Eastern Cuyahoga
Eclectic business branches out

There are distinctive sculptures on display, but it's not a museum. There is beautiful nature to observe, but it's not a park. There are gifts from around the world, but it's not a mall. Although healthy meals, 80 teas and four coffees are served Wednesdays through Saturdays, it's technically not a restaurant.

Koehn Sculptors Bavarian Tea Studio and Gift Shop Gallery at Sanctuary on Green, indeed, is a mouthful. An elaborate name is necessary to capture the scope and versatility of this South Euclid business. The tea studio opened in July 2009, blossoming from the creative talents co-owners Victoria and Norbert Koehn had established in the Cleveland area. Husband Norbert is known for his sculptures. Victoria is a sculptor, too, but also a gift shop entrepreneur and now the creator of this tea "studio." They lived on the grounds of Beaumont School as artists-in-residence until moving to their pastoral home, now complete with café, at 1936 S. Green Road in 1978.

The gallery-studio-café owes the "sanctuary" part of its name to the astonished comments of visitors upon observing the beautiful grounds. Victoria states: "They often say to me, 'This is truly a sanctuary in the city.'"

Next: Sanctuary in the city...