FROM THE DESK OF

2

1 3

4

LEADERSHIP COMMUNITY FIRST Christie Kuhns, named president and CEO of the Urban League of Southwestern Ohio in June after serving in an interim role, is overseeing a strategic planning process that will refine its community programs and upgrade staff compensation and benefits to “best in class.” The result, she says, will be improved services and more grants to promote economic self-sufficiency in underserved communities. –JOHN FOX

1 Kuhns says this doll, a gift from local activist Iris Roley, reminds her that she and the Urban League must always be accountable to the community.

2 Kuhns served one term in the Ohio House of Representatives and received this proclamation celebrating her Cincinnati NAACP President’s Award.

3 Family photos, especially of her son and daughter, reinforce why her work is important. “We have to leave the world better than we found it,” she says.

4 Kuhns helped open a health center in Avondale after volunteering with the neighborhood council and then leading UC Health’s planning work.

CONNECTING & CATALYZING THE STARTUPCINCY ECOSYSTEM

CINTRIFUSE x STARTUPCINCY

In 2017, Cintrifuse created StartupCincy Week to bring together a diverse set of partners with unique strengths and areas of expertise, resulting in a vibrant and energetic community. Today, Cintrifuse acts as a cornerstone to the Greater Cincinnati ecosystem, helping to inspire ideas, empower founders, and attract investors to make our region a magnet for entrepreneurs and innovators worldwide.

In 2021 our region expanded to 300+ startups that raised over $671 million in total funding and over 85 vetted resources. Additionally, we offer hundreds of hours of programming a year, including StartupCincy Week, which is back in person for the first time since 2019. After years of quiet due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ecosystem is bursting with energy and excitement about our shared future. This year’s StartupCincy Week will harness that energy and use it to spark a burst of innovation all across Cincinnati. Cintrifuse is thrilled to host this week-long event, where more than 1000 startups and ecosystem members have the opportunity to engage with our region’s top minds during workshops, panels, and curated networking events.

StartupCincy Week is made possible by the incredible ecosystem collaboration of our key partners: Alloy Development Co., Blue North, CincyTech, ECDI, Endeavor, Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, Product Refinery, REDI Cincinnati, and Reversed Out Creative. These organizations’ time, dedication, and energy are bringing Cincinnati a vibrant week of programming grounded in community and ongoing partnership.

LEARN MORE AT BIT.LY/SUCW2022

An economic rebound is going to take energy –the energy of all of us.

We’ve got this, Cincinnati. We’ve got the collective power of our business community, which can help our economy bounce back from the challenging last few years and emerge stronger.

WHAT WE’RE DOING:

We continue to work closely with REDI Cincinnati to attract new businesses to our region. We remain committed to delivering clean, reliable and affordable energy to area businesses. We lead by example and continue to pursue a strategy that integrates diversity and inclusion. And we’ve launched an initiative with the

Greater Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber called

Storefronts to the Forefronts.

Please join us in taking action to spark our local economy. Something as simple as visiting one of our region’s small business neighborhoods can have a lasting impact on our local economy and our region.

Learn more and get involved at: duke-energy.com