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TECH DISCUSSION — U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson, R-Marietta, left, spoke with Scaffidi Restaurant Group CEO Frankie DiCarlantonio, right, and co-owner Nino Scaffidi about the restaurant group’s use of digital technology, as well as concerns about legislation that may affect tech access for small businesses, during a visit Tuesday. — Christopher Dacanay
STEUBENVILLE — U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson, R-Marietta, used a part of his August congressional recess to visit a local business and a volunteer organization Tuesday.
Johnson, who has represented Jefferson County and 10 other counties in Ohio’s 6th Congressional District since 2011, made stops at Scaffidi’s Restaurant and Tavern and the weekly meeting of the Kiwanis Club of Steubenville. The visit came as the 118th Congress’ first session nears the end of its August recess, with the House of Representatives set to return to work on Sept. 12.
“It’s a way to reach out to my constituents and hear their needs and concerns,” Johnson said of the first of his two stops, at the Kiwanis meeting. “I represent these people. I have for more than 13 years.”
Following lunch in the Sycamore Youth Center, Johnson addressed two Steubenville High School Key Club members present at the meeting, saying he was glad to see youth there because “You’re going to take the reins of leadership one day, whether you want them or not.”
“What’s going on in Washington,” was Johnson’s primary focus, speaking about two sources he believes are at the root of the current inflation issue: Energy and government spending.
Considering issues facing the nation, Johnson said, “There is nothing wrong with our country that can’t be fixed if we would simply fall back in love with our first love, and that’s the creator that ordained us to be in the first place.”
Johnson’s reflections were mixed with questions from club members, with the topics including the national deficit and the 2024 Republican presidential candidate nomination.
When asked, Johnson said he would “absolutely” support the Republican nominee, no matter who it might be, adding, “I’ve already endorsed Donald Trump. He’s going to win the primary, folks.”
Cookie West, president of the Kiwanis Club, said of the visit, “It was very informative, and I am in 100 percent agreement with his statement … regarding our country being able to be resuscitated when we look back to God.
“I thought he shed some light and was able to let us know what is going on in Washington. There were some things I didn’t agree with, but that’s the beauty of being in a free society — you’re able to agree to disagree and still remain friends.”
Tom Timmons, secretary and treasurer of the Kiwanis Club, facilitated Johnson’s visit. Timmons said the visit is “something good for the Kiwanis Club,” to be able to hear Johnson’s perspective on Washington.
Bobbyjon Bauman, executive director of the Sycamore Youth Center, said of Johnson, “He’s been supportive of the Sycamore Youth Center over the years. … We’re thrilled to have him.”
Bauman recalled a drug prevention panel event hosted at the center that Johnson took part in in 2019. Bauman said also that Johnson has written letters in support of the center’s programming to the state in the past.
Johnson’s next stop brought him to Scaffidi’s, where he spoke with Frankie DiCarlantonio, CEO of Scaffidi Restaurant Group, and co-owners Nino and Dawn Scaffidi. The conversation was facilitated by the Connected Commerce Council, a nonprofit group with the goal of furthering small businesses’ access to digital technology.
DiCarlantonio described to Johnson the restaurant group’s use of technology, especially for marketing on social media. He spoke about the steps the restaurant group has taken toward expanding into “direct-to-consumer shipping of our pasta products,” which has brought their heat-and-serve meals into 37 states so far, as well as a wings delivery service.
In turn, Johnson told of his own tech pedigree, speaking about his undergraduate and master’s degrees in information technology and his experience holding a patent for “what can, arguably, be called the beginnings of the cloud computing mobile device concept,” which he said he came up with in 1986 following graduate school.
Johnson co-founded the IT consulting company Johnson-Schley Management Group Inc. in 2000, later leaving to form J2 Business Solutions Inc., with a focus of IT support as a defense contractor to the U.S. military.
DiCarlantonio discussed with Johnson challenges the restaurant group faces, including the required costs for marketing in a “crowded” food service industry, understaffing and AI developments in the industry.
Johnson explained the way AI works, gathering vast amounts of data to perform machine learning functions, and he advised DiCarlantonio, “Don’t be deceived about AI. There is no such thing as artificial intelligence. That computer has got an algorithm at the base of it that tells it what to do.”
Later, Johnson said he is “on the same page” with the Connected Commerce Council regarding two bills. Regarding the first, Johnson said he supports legislation that would bring about a national data privacy standard.
The restaurant group representatives showcased to Johnson their house-made, small-batch pasta products. Johnson suggested that the restaurant group look into partnering with a meal-kit company.
After the meeting, DiCarlantonio said the restaurant group is a major proponent of using technology for its business. He said the group connected with the Connected Commerce Council to give its testimony and be active in making legislators understand the repercussions of their decisions regarding tech for small businesses.
“I think we have come to understand that (Johnson) is very in tune with the technological needs of businesses,” DiCarlantonio said. “I think that we were able to know his current stance on them as well, which is really important to us. We know, at minimum, that we as a business in the 6th District have the support of our congressman.”
Johnson said his stops in Jefferson County would be followed by stops in Belmont County.
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