Last Chance: Reserve a Seat to Hear Dr. Roizen

Dr. Michael Roizen, bestselling author of The Real Age Makeover book series and the 's nationally known wellness expert, will be the main speaker at Strongsville's next quarterly business breakfast.

"I don't think we could have asked for a better speaker," said Mayor Tom Perciak, who added that Roizen is donating his time for the event.

The breakfast is scheduled for 7 a.m. May 17. The public is invited; for more information or to reserve a space, call Economic Development Director Brent Painter at 440-580-3118.

Roizen authored five No. 1 best-selling books in the Real Age and YOU series -- including YOU on a Diet and YOU: The Owner's Manual -- collaborating on the latter books with Dr. Mehmet Oz, a regular on Oprah.

Perciak said Roizen will gear his talk to business owners, focusing on how to set up employee wellness programs and the trickle-down effect healthy workers have on health care costs.

Human Services Director Steve Kilo said Strongsville launched an employee wellness initiative a couple years ago and is now laying out a strategic plan to target chronic health issues like obesity, smoking, stress and poor eating habits.

Kilo said the city has teamed with its insurance provider, Medical Mutual, on the plan, which included experts researching the city's buildings and facilities to gauge the type of environment employees work in.

A big plus for Strongsville employees' wellness plan is the , Perciak said, which includes not only workout equipment but a full kitchen to prepare healthy meals.