Business Journal January/ February 2016 by Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce

Jan/Feb 2016 Volume 35 Number 3

Where We Stand 2016 Legislative Priority Agenda

Elevate Your Wellness Program to New Heights On February 9, 2016, HORAN will reveal the findings of the first comprehensive wellness survey of its kind for our region at the HORAN Health Management Symposium. More than 100 organizations from our region, spanning 13 industries and representing over 75,000 employees, participated in the HORAN Wellness Best Practices Survey. The objective being to improve the health of organizations and the population overall and ultimately, the cost trend of health care. And now you can benefit from this study of your peers, as key success factors, best practices and current trends of outstanding wellness programs are revealed.

Interested in taking your wellness program from good to great? Reserve your seat today by visiting www.horanassoc.com/education. Attendees will receive a copy of the survey findings and analysis. Location: The Cintas Center at Xavier University Date: February 9, 2016 Time: 8:30 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 11:30 am Details: Admission is complementary; 2.5 Continuing Education (CE) credits pending.

In this issue

AROUND THE CHAMBER

Business Journal January/February 2016

4 From the President, Trey Grayson

From the Chair, David Heidrich

Chamber Spotlight

8 Syringe Access Exchange Program 11

2016 Where We Stand

NKY Legislative Caucus

Chamber Snapshots

2015 Election Wrap

WI Spotlight

Member Milestones

Emerging 30

Upcoming Events

Ribbon Cuttings

MEMBER MILESTONES

On the cover: “Gateway to Frankfort”

NKY Chamber releases its 2016 “Where We Stand” Legislative Agenda, a yearly event that ties Frankfort to Northern Kentucky. The 2016 Kentucky General Assembly will start its Regular Session on January 5th and there are numerous ways Chamber members can get involved in the legislative process.

Share Your Good News by Submitting Member Milestones to the Business Journal Promotions, awards, appointments, and new positions are major milestones. All member organizations and their employees are invited to share announcements of their personal achievements in the Milestones column. Send Milestones to akraemer@nkychamber.com Periodicals Postage Paid at Covington, KY ISSN (0274-757X)

Northern Kentucky Business Journal is published bi-monthly by the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, Inc.,

CEO/Publisher Trey Grayson

300 Buttermilk Pike, Suite 330, P.O. Box 17416, Ft. Mitchell, KY 41017. Phone: 859-578-8800. Website: www.nkychamber.com.

Acting Creative Director Steve Fine stevef@artboyanimation.com

The Business Journal is a benefit of membership and included in membership fees. Annual subscription rate for nonmembers is $24.

Director, Sponsor Investments Diana McGlade dmcglade@nkychamber.com

Periodicals Postage Paid USPS-548630 at Covington, KY.

Chief Administrative Officer Ruth Eger Reger@nkychamber.com Chamber Communications Committee Rachel Folz, Emily Gresham-Wherle, Bill Powell, David Rhoad, Kelly Rose, Katie Scoville, Meredith Fossett, Shayna Crowley, Amy Wagner

January/February 2016

Postmaster: Please send address changes to the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, 300 Buttermilk Pike, Suite 330, P.O. Box 17416 , Ft. Mitchell, KY 41017-0416. Subscribers: Please send address changes by e-mail to info@nkychamber.com. © 2015, The Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, Inc. and by the individual authors. All rights reserved.

NKY Chamber Business Journal

Photo courtesy of Lead Magazine/ Wes Battoclette, photographer

PERSPECTIVE

Let’s Get To Work Trey Grayson, President & CEO, NKY Chamber of Commerce I was pleased to see that the first two policy priorities that the Governor mentioned in his inaugural address mirrored two of our top priorities – pension reform and tax reform. Happy New Year! I hope that you had a great holiday season. This issue of the Business Journal features the Chamber’s 2016 Legislative Priority Agenda. I am writing this the day after Governor Matt Bevin took his oath of office. I was pleased to see that the first two policy priorities that the Governor mentioned in his inaugural address mirrored two of our top priorities – pension reform and tax reform. Pension reform is needed to address our biggest short-term crisis – the growing unfunded liability of our state employee and teacher pension programs. Tax form is needed to ensure that we have a business climate that encourages existing companies to invest and grow in Kentucky, new companies to start here, and out-of-state companies to relocate or expand. I urge you to read about these two issues, as well as the other priority positions, such as Right to Work, that are set forth in our 2016 Legislative Priority Agenda.

In addition to our legislative agenda, I urge you to read Lynne Saddler’s argument for why businesses should support a needle exchange in Northern Kentucky. I have to admit that when I first heard about needle exchanges being advocated during last year’s legislative session, I was opposed. After all, why would we want to enable an illegal activity by allowing people to exchange dirty needles for clean needles so that they can shoot up heroin? As I began to learn more about the success of such programs in other 4

communities, I changed my mind. Why? They work. The data is clear that such exchanges increase the likelihood of addicts entering treatment programs, control the spread of diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis B and C, and save money for communities. Trust me; after reading Lynne’s argument, you’ll be on board too. We need an exchange in Northern Kentucky as part of our response to our heroin epidemic. If you agree, please let our local elected officials know that you support the Health District’s plan to implement such an exchange in Northern Kentucky.

Finally, the Chamber continues to believe that fixing the Brent Spence Bridge corridor is the top infrastructure priority for the region. The project will not only add capacity to the Ohio River crossing by building a new parallel bridge and rehabbing the existing bridge, it also adds four lanes to the Cut in the Hill, making it six lanes wide on each side. The project has been fully engineered and gone through the required environmental reviews. It’s ready to go. Fortunately, after several years of shortterm extensions, Congress has finally passed a five-year highway funding bill. Thanks to the leadership of Senator Mitch McConnell, the bill contains two new sources of funding for projects that are shovel ready like the Brent Spence Bridge corridor. But here’s the catch. This new money will end up in other parts of Kentucky or the country if we don’t have regional consensus behind the project.

if we don’t address our growing traffic bottlenecks. Our manufacturing and logistics sectors will be forced to look elsewhere to expand or locate. With the new bridges opening up in Louisville, the I-65 corridor is wide open for business, and there are plenty of locations along that corridor which, like us, are also within a day’s drive of over 60% of the nation’s population. Furthermore, we will lose our current ability to easily access the region’s major league attractions – including the Reds, Bengals, Kings Island, Newport Aquarium, the forthcoming Ark Encounter Project and world-class arts institutions – as we become more like Atlanta and Boston with their traffic choked roads. Now is the time for the region to unite behind the Brent Spence Bridge corridor project. Congress has made it easier to afford. It’s the only proposal that is shovel ready. Northern Kentucky’s economic future is at stake. We can’t afford to wait any longer.

We hope you will join many of your fellow Chamber members in making sure that the voices of Northern Kentucky’s businesses are heard in Frankfort throughout the session. While we needed to be engaged for all 60 days of the session, please mark your calendar for Northern Kentucky Day and Night in Frankfort, which is scheduled for February 3rd. Let’s get to work!

Northern Kentucky’s economy will suffer NKYChamber.com

January/February 2016

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NKY Chamber Business Journal

CHAIR COLUMN

Come senators, congressmen Please heed the call Don’t stand in the doorway Don’t block up the hall

For The Times They Are A-Changin’ David Heidrich, CEO, Zalla Companies, Chair, Northern Kentucky Chamber It is shaping up to be an exciting winter. The Bengals are competitive, the El Nino promises more weather extremes, and politics are in full swing. The unexpected, at least according to the pollsters, victory of our new Governor Matt Bevin provides plenty of fodder for handicapping – who will get the coveted appointments? Who will not? Will he temper some of his strongest positions to govern, or push hard with a mandate attitude? Will the House of Representatives flip (maybe the more accurate question is ‘when’)? Governor Bevin has named a number of talented individuals to strong leadership roles. It is clear he is serious about running state government more like a business. Of course that was the line that won election for John Y. Brown Jr. 36 years earlier. We welcome that approach. We applaud his willingness to tackle some of the elephants in the room 6

affecting state competitiveness. Change can be scary, but change is good. While it is natural to be protective of programs and legislative or regulatory frameworks, because we know what to expect an honest analysis of many Kentucky conditions would show that things are just not working. At the very least, they are not meeting their full potential. This issue of the Business Journal is dedicated to our advocacy efforts on behalf of the 250,000 hardworking taxpayers we represent. Every day, we work to improve the business climate of Northern Kentucky at the local, state and federal levels. Our agenda comes directly from our members—small, medium and large businesses from across a wide spectrum of industries. Since the 2015 General Assembly adjourned, nearly 300 of our member volunteers have dedicated countless hours toward developing and refining these NKYChamber.com

recommended legislative policies. We include key issues that will accelerate business, create jobs, and continue to position Northern Kentucky as an economic driver that will benefit the entire Commonwealth. Whether it’s stabilizing Kentucky’s fiscal outlook, promoting tax reforms, endors¬ing improvements to our education funding models, or supporting ex¬panded treatment options for those struggling with substance abuse; the Chamber is there in a variety of ways to move our region forward. We have a strong team in President/CEO Trey Grayson, VP of Public Affairs/Communications Scott Sedmak and our Business Advocacy Chair Jim Parsons. However, they will need our help. Whether it is via email, phone calls, trips to Frankfort or local caucus sessions, join me in letting our legislators know the business community is ready for change.

January/February 2016

She’s All Local She’s All That Boutique located in Fort Mitchell is more than a business, it’s a mission. “We offer teenage girls a chance to change their lives forever, one purchase at a time,” says Kelly Brake, Co-Owner and Store Manager for the Northern Kentucky location. She’s All That employs under-resourced teenage girls from local high schools and helps them pursue their dreams of higher education. All of the profits after cost go into their foundation called Wings of Faith, which provides the girls with

college scholarships. These student employees earn a paycheck, learn about entrepreneurship and how to run a business, and also gain new life skills through their mentorship program. Each child is paired with a mentor, a woman in the community who shares her experience, strength and hope, and empowers them to dream big. “We see their whole world changing right in front of us. They have more joy, more hope, and their dreams are bigger. When you see that kind of a difference made in a child, just in a matter of months, it pushes you to give it all you’ve got,” says Kelly. The boutique carries a wide range of women’s apparel, jewelry, shoes, gifts and accessories. All of the merchandise is new and shopping there is truly special. With its second location next to Greyhound Tavern well underway, between both locations they currently have 15 girls in their program, 3 in their

sophomore years of college (first in their families), with 2 more that just received their acceptance letters to Eastern Kentucky University. Your purchases truly are with a purpose at She’s All That Boutique.

www.shesallthat.org 2508 Dixie Hwy Fort Mitchell, KY 41017 859-331-1292 Sun and Mon: Closed Tues through Fri: 12pm – 9pm Saturday: 11am – 5pm

2016 Northern Kentucky Day & Night in Frankfort February 3, 2016 9:00am – 8:00pm 9am – 5pm: Day in Frankfort 5pm – 8pm: Night in Frankfort More information and registration: http://tinyurl.com/nkyfrankfort Thank You to Our Sponsors: Title Sponsor

Reception Sponsor

Presenting Sponsors: AT&T Kentucky Northern Kentucky University

January/February 2016

NKY Chamber Business Journal

ADVOCACY

Why Businesses Should Support a Syringe Access Exchange Program By Lynne M. Saddler, MD, MPH District Director of Health Northern Kentucky Health Department Our region’s heroin epidemic is reflected in some pretty grim statistics: In 2014, the hepatitis C rate in Northern Kentucky was 19 times the national average. While HIV case rates locally have remained steady, our region is poised for an outbreak of this virus as well. St. Elizabeth’s five local emergency departments treated 846 overdoses in the first nine months of 2015 – more than any previous year. Last year, heroin was detected in the bloodstream of 81 fatal overdose victims from Boone, Campbell and Kenton Counties, according to the Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy. This epidemic is hurting our economy. Kentucky spends about $6 billion on costs related to heroin each year, including both medical and non-medical expenditures. The medications alone for one course of treatment for hepatitis C cost $84,000. Many of these expenses are passed on to employers through higher health insurance premiums, and to taxpayers who support care for individuals on Medicaid. In 2014, Kentucky’s

Medicaid program spent more than $50 million to treat just 800 of the people infected with hepatitis C. This epidemic is affecting our workforce. The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence found that 70% of the 14.8 million Americans who use illegal drugs are employed. Local employers report that they often have trouble filling positions that require drug screenings. In addition, many employees are coping with the addiction of a family member or friend, meaning that they may miss work or be distracted on the job. “We must gain the upper hand on the demon of addiction diseases in this region,” incoming Chamber President Dave Heidrich said at the Chamber’s annual dinner in September.

NKYChamber.com

January/February 2016

ADVOCACY

A new tool to help fight the epidemic Implementation of a syringe access exchange program should be part of Northern Kentucky’s heroin response. The passage of SB 192 in March 2015 made such programs legal in Kentucky, provided they are approved by local public health, city and county officials. First and foremost, these programs can stop the spread of infectious diseases, including hepatitis C, hepatitis B and HIV. Syringe access exchange programs also provide a venue to properly dispose of contaminated equipment, helping to get dirty needles out of our community, thus protecting the public and first responders from accidental needlesticks. Programs can connect participants to other health care services, such as vaccinations and testing for hepatitis C, HIV and pregnancy, and help enroll those who are eligible for health care coverage. More importantly, syringe exchange can be a link to addictions treatment, with those who participate being 25% more likely to enroll in a treatment program.

continue to do so with or without such a program. Simply put, syringe access exchange programs prevent diseases and premature death, and facilitate a connection to addictions treatment and a better life. Support for syringe access in Northern Kentucky is growing, with endorsements from St. Elizabeth Healthcare, the Northern Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy, the Northern Kentucky Heroin Impact Response Task Force and the Chamber’s Board, among others. The heroin epidemic, and the communicable diseases associated with it, will not go away on its own. The sooner we stop the spread of disease and help those who struggle with addiction to get their lives back on track through treatment and recovery, the better our communities will be. A syringe access exchange program is an important step that we must take in addressing this epidemic.

These programs are cost effective, too. For every $1 invested in a syringe access exchange program, up to $7 are saved in HIV treatment costs alone. What syringe access programs DON’T do is also important. Research has shown that programs do NOT encourage individuals to begin using drugs, do NOT increase drug use among existing users, and do NOT increase crime. These programs do NOT condone drug use—individuals who inject will

January/February 2016

NKY Chamber Business Journal

Meeting the Need in Northern Kentucky What is a Syringe Access Exchange Program? A public health program that: Reduces the spread of communicable diseases like hepatitis C and B and HIV in people who inject drugs. Exchanges sterile syringes and needles for contaminated equipment, and properly disposes of contaminated equipment. Provides access to other health services, such as drug treatment, along with education, counseling and enrollment in health care coverage.

• • •

Northern Kentucky is gaining national attention for its rates of blood-borne diseases. In 2014, NKY’s hepatitis B rate was

In 2014, NKY’s hepatitis C rate was

the national average.

11x

19x

NKY's HIV rate has not increased yet. Now is the time to prevent new HIV infections.

What are the Benefits of a Syringe Access Exchange Program?

• • •

Reduces the spread of HIV and hepatitis C.

Rates of hepatitis B and hepatitis C in Northern Kentucky have increased dramatically in the last five years. 120%

65%

Hep B

2009 — 2014

Syringe Access Exchange Program:

HIV has held steady over last 5 years.

Hep C

While HIV infection did not increase from 2009 to 2014, Northern Kentucky is primed for a rapid increase among IV drug users.

Treatment of blood-borne diseases is expensive. Syringe access programs are cost effective. For every $1 spent on such a program, up to $7 is saved in HIV treatment costs alone.

Helps remove used needles from the street, reducing the risk of accidental needlesticks for the public and first responders. Facilitates entrance into treatment. Individuals in syringe access exchange programs are 25 percent more likely to eventually enroll in a drug treatment program.

The Health Department is required by statute to prevent the spread of infectious diseases and is uniquely positioned to provide a syringe access exchange program due to its facilities, qualified staff and on-going partnerships with the community.

www.nkyhealth.org

A syringe access exchange program is a critical part of Northern Kentucky’s response to injection drug use. It prevents further spread of infectious diseases and protects the public and law enforcement from accidental needlesticks.

Where We Stand

2016 Legislative Priority Agenda January/February 2016

NKY Chamber Business Journal

PENSION REFORM

COVER STORY

ADVOCACY

NKY Chamber Policy Position: The Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce supports a three-tiered approach to public pension reform during the 2016 Legislative Session of the Kentucky General Assembly. Comprehensive reform of the retirement system should include: •

A broad performance audit of the Kentucky Employee Retirement System (KERS) Non-Hazardous Fund

•

Increased transparency across all Kentucky public pension funds in accordance with prevailing national standards

•

A collaborative approach among interested stakeholders on a funding mechanism and benefit changes for new hires that will stabilize the Kentucky Teachers Retirement System (KTRS)

Guiding Principles

Background

These reforms will begin the process of ensuring the viability of Kentucky’s public pension systems into the future and will:

The lack of funding within Kentucky’s public pension funds has reached crisis levels. Considered to be among the least healthy public pension systems in the nation, the Commonwealth faces a multi-million dollar pension shortfall. Due to the inviolable contract between the state and current retirees & vested active employees, there exists a legal obligation to fund future payouts to these groups. This will happen even if it means cutting other vital parts of state government operations.

•

Decrease the likelihood of future funding cuts to other parts of the state budget including investments into transportation infrastructure, P-12 & postsecondary education, and healthcare programs, capital projects, and others

•

Protect the cash flow of current and future retirees, which creates a positive economic impact into Northern Kentucky’s economy on a daily basis

•

Respect the commitment made to outgoing retirees who are already vested in the public pension system

If the pension systems continue down a path of irregular funding and low transparency, public investment will be severely cut in areas of infrastructure, education, health care, and other key budget line items. By passing meaningful pension reform, the General Assembly will not only address the needs of thousands of current and future state retirees, but also protect key parts of the state appropriation process that allows for proactive investment into Kentucky’s future.

PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS NKY Chamber Policy Position: The Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce supports the enactment of legislation to enable the creation of public-private partnerships (P3) for a wide range of infrastructure projects at all levels of government. Background Information Public construction accounts for roughly $1.6 billion annually in state spending. By partnering with and leveraging the private sector, we believe the Commonwealth could experience cost savings, better quality, access to expertise and the ability to meet demand on projects like public buildings, infrastructure, parks, public schools, IT improvements, and more. To date, 33 states including ALL of Kentucky’s neighboring states use P-3s to inject the expertise and efficiencies of the private sector into public projects. This P3 legislation would not only allow Northern Kentucky to compete with other regions of the country, but would also permit private investment to flow on projects that are slowed due to a lack of state funding. While replacement of the Brent Spence Bridge itself is the most prominent example, many forget how P3s would also positively impact the broader I-75 corridor, the backbone of Northern Kentucky’s economy. P3 legislation will spur investment on the bridge, the corridor, and advance other projects in our region that the state cannot currently afford. 12

NKYChamber.com

States with P-3 Capability January/February 2016

RIGHT TO WORK: ALLOW KENTUCKY TO COMPETE ON A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD NKY Chamber Policy Position: The Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce urges the General Assembly to enact a Right to Work law to permit freedom of choice for employers and employees when it comes to decisions surrounding labor union participation. A Right to Work piece of legislation should include provisions that: •

Allow every worker the freedom to decide on labor union membership for themselves

•

Prohibit requiring any potential job candidate to join a labor union as a condition of employment

•

Permit employers a right of refusal to withhold labor union dues

Guiding Principles The growing number of states adopting Right to Work makes it vital that Kentucky does so as well. This is an economic competitiveness issue that our region not only needs to promote future economic growth, but also to retain existing jobs that currently fuel our local economy. Right to Work is an economic development tool to enhance Northern Kentucky’s economic growth. Further, the decision of a worker or potential worker who does not wish to affiliate with a labor union should be no less deserving of protection than the decision of that worker to affiliate with such a labor organization. Background According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, Right to Work states showed a 42.6% gain in total employment from 1990 to 2011, while non Right to Work states showed gains of only 18.8% over the same period. Wisconsin became the nation’s 25th Right to Work state in 2015.

LIFT NKY Chamber Policy Position: The Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce supports the General Assembly to provide a Constitutional Amendment to the Kentucky Constitution to allow for a local option sales tax. Background Information The Local Option Sales Tax provides more control to local communities by giving citizens a new tool to invest in local economic development priorities. This local flexibility affords citizens the opportunity to vote directly on up to a 1% sales tax to raise funds for specific infrastructure projects. The temporary tax would be required to have a sunset. The Local Option brings Kentucky in line with 37 other states already utilizing this tool, and has the potential to give citizens the ability to dedicate millions of dollars to local initiatives.

January/February 2016

NKY Chamber Business Journal

Potential 1% Local Option Boone

13,023,006

Campbell

5,267,406

Kenton

8,337,702

TAX REFORM: ANGEL INVESTMENT NKY Chamber Policy Position: The Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce supports a legislative proposal to raise the cap on Angel Tax Credits from its current annual cap of $3 million to $5 million.

Background Information The program began in January 2015 and the current funding cap of $3 million was fully allocated in August. The Cabinet for Economic Development has stated that they will support an increase in the annual cap. The program has met its mission, to stimulate angel level investing in the Commonwealth. The key performance indicators for the program are as follows:

• Investors qualified under the program - 183

• Total credits approved - $3M

• Companies qualified under the program - 65

• Total investments under the program - $6.8M (some investments have not closed, once they close, the total is expected to be $7.5M

• Investments qualified under the program - 171

TAX REFORM: HISTORIC TAX CREDIT NKY Chamber Policy Position: The Chamber encourages the Governor and the Kentucky General Assembly to modernize Kentucky’s Historic Preservation Tax Credit by implementing the following changes:

• Sunset the availability of awarded credits • Increases the total credit cap • Removes the annual deadline and accept applications on a rolling basis Background Information The Historic Preservation Tax Credit is a critical tool for redevelopment in both urban centers and rural towns. However, in its current structure, the credit lacks predictability and effectiveness. Because of the cap on the amount of credit awarded annually and the proportional allocation of the capped credit to eligible projects, developers, bankers, and investors have no way to anticipate the amount of tax credits which the project will ultimately receive. This makes it difficult to rely on the credit as a financing source for difficult rehabilitation projects and delays redevelopment process. Historic Preservation Tax Credits create jobs and revive construction trades all while creating destinations for heritage tourism. Because Kentucky competes with many bordering states for business development and jobs, it is important to make the Historic Tax Credit a functioning tool to promote the Commonwealth’s cities as attractive places to conduct business.

NKYChamber.com

January/February 2016

STATE TAX REFORM 1. Expansion of the Retention Initiative and the Research & Experimentation Credit NKY Chamber Policy Position: The Northern Kentucky Chamber supports the expansion of the Retention Initiative and the Research and Experimentation Credit. Background Information Expand Retention Initiative: Expand the scope of the KY Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) KY Reinvestment Act (KRA) to include “service and technology” companies. The tax incentive of a tax credit up to 100% of corporate income or limited liability entity tax liability generated by or arising from the project is available for up to 10 years from the date of final approval (or when the authorized incentive amount is realized, whichever comes first).

• Only a few states have a retention incentive • This is aimed at keeping companies here if they would otherwise move

• Company still has to meet all requirements. This just

Research and Experimentation Credit: There is a federal credit of 7-9% for certain expenses: “transfer pricing”. This encourages R&D and involves attraction of talent. Some other states, including Indiana, have aggressive incentives. The recommendation:

• KY should mirror the eligibility standards and

methodology of the federal program, like most other states.

• KY should become a leader in promoting new innovation nationally, offering a grant in lieu of the credit at 75% of the otherwise eligible tax credit. The total grant should be capped at $5M annually; $250K per company

expands scope to include the types of companies we want

2. Single Portion Sale Apportionment Tax Reform NKY Chamber Policy Position: The Northern Kentucky Chamber urges the state to study the impact of the Single Portion Sale Apportionment. We need to ensure that the change would not hurt school funding and also need to focus on “good” jobs. Background Information Kentucky needs simplicity to be more competitive with other states, especially Ohio. This shifts more tax burden onto businesses located outside of KY that conduct business here. About 24 states are already using single factor.

• Provides tax cuts to corporations housing large share of nationwide property and payroll in KY but large share of sales outside KY

• Creates the potential for tens of thousands of new jobs

TAX REFORM: TIF (TAX INCREMENT FINANCING) NKY Chamber Policy Position: The Northern Kentucky Chamber supports a legislative amendment to change the definition of a qualifying mixeduse project for state TIF participation to match the definition of a mixed-use project for projects throughout Kentucky, consistent with the definition applicable for projects in Louisville and Lexington. Background Information Currently qualifying mixed-use projects in locally created TIF districts may be eligible for a pledge of state tax revenues. To be a mixed-use project, a project must have at least two qualifying uses, and each qualifying use must be at least 20% of the project’s net finished floor space, or 20% of the project’s total capital costs. In projects located in Louisville and Lexington, if a project has more than two qualifying uses, one use must meet the 20% requirement, and the other uses may be added together to meet the 20% requirement. The recommended change would allow the definition of a mixed-use project currently applicable only in Louisville and Lexington to be consistent for projects across the state. This change will make other projects eligible for a pledge of state incremental tax revenues and will encourage increased development throughout the state. It will also put development projects in other areas of the state on a level playing field with those located in Louisville and Lexington. January/February 2016

NKY Chamber Business Journal

EDUCATION: OUTCOMES-BASED FUNDING MODEL & ADDRESSING FUNDING INEQUITY AMONG UNIVERSITIES NKY Chamber Policy Position: The Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce supports the adoption of an outcomes-based funding model for Kentucky’s public postsecondary education institutions to support the workforce development needs of the Commonwealth and address funding inequities among universities. The model should: • Establish a fair starting point • Include a short list of clear priority performance metrics • Support and reward institutions for their performance Background Information A postsecondary education Outcomes-Based Funding Model has the potential to accelerate Kentucky’s economy by producing more talent that matches the needs of Kentucky employers. It will focus our universities’ education and research on those areas that matter most to Kentucky’s future growth and development. Accelerated degree production that strategically matches Kentucky’s talent need, is one of the most critical components of business growth and development. Where there is a concentration of appropriate talent, there will be economic success and opportunities for Kentucky’s citizens. Currently, over two-thirds of the country have outcomes-based plans in place, are transitioning to a plan, or are having formal discussions. All of the surrounding states have a funding model or are transitioning to it, with the exception of West Virginia. Kentucky does not have a postsecondary education funding model, and hasn’t had one for some time. It’s time to remove politics from driving postsecondary investment and implement a rational, Outcomes-Based Funding Model. The Chamber believes that Kentucky must address the postsecondary education funding shortfalls that exists between Northern Kentucky University and others. The Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE) also supports addressing this funding disparity among all higher education institutions in the state. Based on CPE analysis, Northern Kentucky University is underfunded by $10.7 million each year. This is by far the least funded postsecondary institution per student in the state.

EDUCATION: KENTUCKY ACADEMIC STANDARDS NKY Chamber Policy Position: The Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce supports the Kentucky Academic Standards focused on critical knowledge, skills and capacities needed for success in the global economy. Background Information Kentucky’s standards identify what students should know and be proficient in, as they progress from one grade to another. The standards were developed by a group of states relying on the guidance of content-matter experts, academic administrators, and teachers (some from Kentucky). The standards are based on scholarly research into college and career readiness, surveys from universities and businesses reflecting skills requirements for college and workplace success, input from classroom teachers, and comparisons to standards from high-performing states and nations. Staying committed to the Kentucky Academic Standards will ensure rising test scores and increasing career readiness remains the trajectory of Kentucky’s students and schools.

MEDICAL REVIEW PANELS NKY Chamber Policy Position: The Northern Kentucky Chamber supports the establishment of a medical review panel process that provides an independent, expert review of proposed claims against healthcare providers. Background Information Healthcare costs are on the rise. In order for Kentucky to have the business climate needed for economic growth, these costs must be mitigated. A Medical Review Panel process is a proven way to add a layer of accountability for healthcare providers to combat unnecessary costs in the healthcare system. This process would introduce an independent panel of medical experts to review claims against healthcare providers. The panel provides a timely, independent, medical opinion on the standard of care that is admissible in court, without limiting, delaying, or denying a patient’s access to court. Kentucky has one of the nation’s most litigation-friendly environments, and it is costing all taxpayers. Medical Review Panels offers a fair and proven solution to abusive healthcare litigation.

NKYChamber.com

January/February 2016

NKY CONSENSUS COMMITTEE: FINAL RANKINGS Process Overview: Every other year, in preparation for the Kentucky General Assembly budget session, the Northern Kentucky Consensus Committee solicits input to identify, prioritize and advocate capital construction projects for the Northern Kentucky region. The Committee consists of over 70 representatives appointed from business, government, non-profit and other community organizations from the eight Northern Kentucky counties. The Northern Kentucky Legislative Caucus created the 70-person committee in 1989 with the sole purpose to make annual capital project recommendations for our region. From this year’s process emerged two great areas of need in Northern Kentucky for the 2016 budget session: improving the urban core and addressing substance abuse issues in the community. Urban core investments are seen as vital to the region’s ability to continue the current excitement and the growth in the river cities. As a response to the heroin epidemic, the Consensus Committee is requesting funding for private entities to expand treatment to help alleviate addiction. These top five priorities for 2016 include an estimated $116.7 million in improvements. 1.

Gateway Urban Metro Campus Phase II: Gateway’s mission is to improve access to higher education and to bolster the economic vitality of the region. The development of the Urban Metro Campus has begun to address the need to raise the educational attainment levels of the urban core. It is critical that the momentum experienced through Phase I be continued through Phase II that includes renovations of the former YMCA building and the Two Rivers building. The Two Rivers building will be converted into a state of the art learning environment. The Urban Metro Campus will have a continuing catalytic effect on the community as it ignites a renaissance in residential living, retail and general economic development. Estimated Ask: $31 million

Transitions’ Treatment Expansion: To address Northern Kentucky’s heroin epidemic and the rising need for residential addiction treatment and detox beds, Transitions requests at least $1 million toward the purchase of a facility in Kenton County, completion of capital improvements, and the first year of operating funds for expansion of services. Transitions is currently at full capacity and has waiting lists of one to three months for all programs. This expansion will double the number of residential beds and triple the number of detox beds available to the general public. The new site in Kenton County will serve Northern Kentucky residents age 18 and older and their families (of which approximately 90% of these patients are heroin addicts). Estimated Ask: $1.1 million

Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky Adolescent Residential Treatment Facility for Substance Use Disorders: Northern Kentucky continues to struggle with the heroin epidemic and its impact on our community’s youth. There are currently no funds being dedicated to providing more treatment beds for adolescents who have not yet entered the Juvenile Justice system, causing a great need for these types of beds. Children’s Home is proposing the construction of a 24 bed residential facility at their Covington campus to meet the needs of the community’s most vulnerable youth struggling with substance use disorders and co-occurring disorders. This new facility will meet a public need, and will have a long-term positive economic impact on the region by being more cost-effective than hospitalization, providing youth with skills to remain drug free in the workforce, and breaking the chain of addiction. Estimated Ask: $5.6 million

3. Northern Kentucky Water District Infrastructure Upgrades: The river cities of Bromley, Covington, and Ludlow in Kenton County and Bellevue, Dayton, and Newport in Campbell County have around 150 miles of unlined cast iron water main that is between 60 and 110 years old and is in urgent need of replacement or rehabilitation. This is critical to the public health, safety, welfare, and economic vitality of the Northern Kentucky region. Estimated Ask: $69 million (Note: this project tied with CHNK) 5.

Roebling Point Building Adaptive Re-Use: Adaptive re-use of 303 Court Street in Covington will serve as a platform for entrepreneurship, knowledge-based economy and business support services, and professional level education programs. This building is situated in a key location in the urban core and the primary objective is leveraging the Property’s locational attributes to attract a high impact economic development driver to accelerate the revitalization of Northern Kentucky’s river cities. Estimated Ask: $10 million

January/February 2016

NKY Chamber Business Journal

Chamber Snapshots

NKYChamber.com

January/February 2016

Covington First To Approve PACE Financing By: Chris Jones, Client Relations Director, Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance PACE financing allows private commercial property owners to repay the funds for an eligible energy project via a voluntary special improvement assessment on the property tax bill.

For the first time in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, a local government (City of Covington) has authorized a private property owner (Ivy Knoll Senior Living Community) to use PACE financing for an energy project, according to the Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance. In March 2015, the Kentucky General Assembly passed legislation that was signed into law by Gov. Steve Beshear. The legislation, House Bill 100, authorizes local governments to establish Energy Project Assessment Districts (EPADs), which then allows property owners to use PACE financing to fund energy efficiency upgrades, onsite renewable energy projects and water conservation measures. Energy projects financed with PACE do not require subsidy or incentive from the local government sponsoring the EPAD. PACE financing allows private commercial property owners to repay the funds for an eligible energy project via a voluntary special improvement assessment on the property tax bill. The assessment amount remains fixed for a term of up to 20 years. The special assessment stays with the property when sold or transferred. The City of Covington worked closely with the Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance to develop the EPAD which allowed the Ivy Knoll Senior Living Community to take advantage of PACE financing. Ivy Knoll found PACE financing to be a perfect funding solution to make significant building improvements of January/February 2016

systems that were outdated or extremely energy inefficient. Through these energy upgrades, Ivy Knoll will be able to improve the comfort and convenience for their senior residents while also reducing the buildingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s energy footprint. Through PACE financing, the Ivy Knoll owners were able to select improvements that had the highest energy savings but also came with the higher upfront costs for the 7-story, all-electric building. The $750,000 project includes the following building improvements:

Solar Panels The largest electricity-generating system that is privatelyowned in Northern Kentucky will produce over 64,000 kilowatt hours annually, LED Lighting Estimated electricity savings in excess of $12,000 annually, Elevator Modernization Energy efficient technology by Murphy Elevator Company Heating & Cooling High efficiency room units with automated controls that allow the building manager to remotely turn off units in vacant rooms NKY Chamber Business Journal

ADVOCACY

2015 Election Wrap: Context & Consequences Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce “That’s why we play the game to see who’ll win” - Adolph Rupp It was all supposed to be a done deal. The polls consistently showed Democrat Attorney General Jack Conway as the likely winner. The national and local press had all but written off Republican Matt Bevin. There was chattering around that state that Bevin could still win, but how many expected it after such a bloody GOP primary? In private, many

Republican leaders in Northern Kentucky expected Conway to squeak out a close victory. As it turns out, more than half of Kentuckians, with a very strong dose of support from Northern Kentucky, turned out at the polls to rebuff the pundits and make Matt Bevin the 62nd Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. In the process, Republicans will now hold 5 of the 7 statewide constitutional offices. Bevin received 52% of the vote, while Conway garnered 44% and Independent Drew Curtis earned 4%. In Northern Kentucky, Bevin won 65% of the vote in Boone County, 62% in Grant County, 57% in Kenton County & 53% in Campbell County. To put this in historical perspective, this wasn’t quite the level of margin that Ernie Fletcher had in 2003, but it was close to that modern 20

day high water mark for Republicans in a Governor’s race. In Northern Kentucky, Campbell had about 29% turnout, Kenton & Boone each had about 26% turnout and Grant County had 23% show up to the polls. Statewide, voter turnout approached 31%. While Northern Kentucky turn-

out was not quite as high as the state at-large, it was higher here than many across the state thought and as a result contributed to Bevin’s path to victory. Conway won Lexington and Louisville, but did not run up the margins enough in those areas to make up for what was happening in the rural regions of the state. Many rural counties across the state that traditionally voted for a Democratic governor voted for Bevin, including Pike County, home of Gov. Paul Patton and a longtime stronghold of the Democratic Party in Kentucky. The reasons for these rural swings can be attributed to a renewed disapproval of President Obama and his policies across Kentucky. While never popular here, new lows were found in the summer shortly after the headlines made by Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis. Voters NKYChamber.com

in these areas have also continued to become increasingly concerned with the EPA’s increasing coal regulations. These two issues created a tempest that set the stage for Bevin’s win. In contrast, Conway adopted a strategy to meet with small groups of donors on a daily basis, focusing on those disaffected

by Bevin’s style of campaigning. Conway did not do a lot of public retail campaigning, but was able to raise enough money to fund his plan. His end goal was to convince moderate and/or metro area voters that he was the safer candidate than Bevin while maintaining rural support among his base. Conway’s unadventurous campaign also served to downplay the high negatives that Kentuckians had against a generic Democratic candidate due to President Obama’s low approval ratings. In the end, however, this style of campaign allowed Conway and other down ticket Democrats to be linked to Obama because many voters were not aware of the specific policies touted by the Democratic Party ticket. Meanwhile, Bevin’s campaign was the polar opposite of Conway’s. Low on money but very active in terms of getting January/February 2016

out among the people and talking at length about his policy stances, even when media deemed them controversial. A late push by Bevin in Northern Kentucky that focused on “family values” issues shored up support as well. Late mail and robocalls focused on Bevin’s identity as a “Christian Conservative” something which has been tried at more local levels, but often not at the level of a Governor’s race. Ironically, the Republican Party of Kentucky had little money for turnout operations, while at the same time, the Kentucky Democratic Party was well funded. This scenario is very much the opposite of many recent elections in Kentucky. The financial disparity existed

not only at the state party level but also the candidate level. With these factors going against him, it was certainly a sweet win for Matt Bevin, but it was equally if not more so a lost opportunity for Jack Conway. Finally, the public polling released by the media in these Kentucky races continues a widespread problem within the polling community at large. In the last few years, respected polling companies across many western democracies have been unable to detect widespread swings among the electorate. This has been the case in Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Israel, and many state races within the United States. One need only look at 2014’s McConnell/Grimes U.S. Senate race for a more local example of how wrong the polling community got January/February 2016

the final result. That trend continued in Kentucky as Bevin won big after months of polling showed Conway would win.

What It Means On the public policy front, Bevin’s promotion of himself as a small business owner puts many business issues squarely on the table. Issues such as Right to Work, Small Business Tax Reform, and Regulatory Reduction become key policy areas to monitor and see where the new Governor positions his administration. Healthcare policy will also be closely watched, as Bevin has campaigned on shutting down the Kentucky Connect healthcare portal. He has also campaigned for the implementation

of charter schools. Also of note in Northern Kentucky, Bevin touted his support for outcome-based post-secondary education funding as well as his priority on fixing pensions. The House Democratic Caucus will have their hands full as Bevin submits his first budget and deals with the recent defection of Rep. Denny Butler to the Republican Caucus. Respected House Democrat John Tilley was appointed by Bevin as the new Justice Cabinet Secretary, leaving the margin in the House ever closer. The House Democrats will be under pressure to hold their majority after the big Election Night and these aftershock developments within the House.

Northern Kentuckians were in this mix. Rep. Tom Kerr, Brett Gaspard and Garth Kuhnhein were on the Transition team. Adam Meier of Ft. Thomas has been appointed as a deputy chief of staff for policy. Brigdier General Stephen Hogan of Hebron was selected as Kentucky’s new Adjutant General. Hogan will lead Kentucky’s National Guard and the position is always the first one filled after a new Governor is sworn-in. Other key jobs are still being filled with many Northern Kentuckians names being mentioned. Also, others with ties to our region were selected. Tilley went to Chase and Chief of Staff Blake Brickman worked for Sen. Jim Bunning. Aside from the policy and legislative implications, another issue moving

forward will be how this result impacts Republican primaries and turnout operations moving forward. The Tea Party was able to navigate their candidate through a bloody primary and onto final victory last night. How will this impact candidates who file for the 2016 cycle? How will Democrats recover from this historic defeat and redefine what their message is? The 2016 filing deadline is Janurary 26th. On a historical note, Jenean Hampton becomes the first African-American to be elected to statewide office in Kentucky history.

A big topic of interest after Bevin’s win was who would take prominent cabinet & staff positions within the transition team and the administration. Several NKY Chamber Business Journal

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January/February 2016

WOMEN’S INITIATIVE SPOTLIGHT

Getting to Know Sue Ott Rowlands “...it’s imperative for me to “stay in shape” as a theatre artist. It’s also the way in which I tell the stories that are important to me.”

Sue Ott Rowlands became the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs at Northern Kentucky University in January of 2014.

You are one of several senior women who have been recruited recently by NKU. Women now outnumber men on the senior leadership team. Care to comment? NKU has been able to attract enormous talent, both male and female, in recent years and now has a strong contingent of women in leadership roles. While it’s inappropriate to assign anyone to represent the perspective of his or her entire demographic, I think it’s fair to say that in many higher education institutions, the “woman’s perspective” (problematic in concept to begin with) is often missing from the conversation. One of the things that attracted me to NKU was the opportunity to work with President Mearns and his leadership team and to put together my own leadership group in Academic Affairs. As it turned out, many of the individuals we’ve hired have been experienced, highly-qualified women.

You were previously the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at Virginia Tech. How does a liberal arts education help women in their careers? The college was actually named the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences and, as such, was an interesting mix of liberal and applied disciplines. It made for a rich environment. As for liberal arts, I think it’s fair to say that a broad-based, rich education founded on the liberal arts (the humanities, the arts, the social and natural sciences) provides a wide range of foundational knowledge that is applicable to any work environment. Employers January/February 2016

want well-educated, articulate employees who can apply general knowledge to specific problems (critical thinking), work well in teams, communicate effectively, and have a contextual understanding as to how specific knowledge is best understood in a global context. So we’re also talking about cultural competency. These “soft skills” as they are trendily called today, come from the liberal arts.

You have been a theatre director in the past and recently appeared on stage in a one-woman show. How did you fit that into your schedule? What compelled you to do it? Performance and the art of making theatre is an integral part of who I am. It’s not so much something I do as it is the way in which I express my own creativity. Acting is also like a muscle that gets stronger the more it’s exercised and weaker the less it’s used. So it’s imperative for me to “stay in shape” as a theatre artist. It’s also the way in which I tell the stories that are important to me. I’m not a writer of books or a composer of songs, but I am a teller of stories – my own and others’ - and it’s important to me to continue to do this work. As for how I make time for this? Well, you prioritize the things that are most important and you take advantage of opportunities that come your way. Those two elements might not always align, but I’ve found that it’s never the perfect time or an easy time to do theatre – you do it when you can make it work.

How did your love of theatre begin? With an inspiring high school drama teacher, an equally inspiring college theatre director, and a life-changing teacher/ mentor in graduate school. These three individuals gave me the skills and the opportunity to explore, to get better, to fail, and to thrive. I suppose that’s what led me to a career in education. That, and the fact that I come from a long line of teachers, administrators and professors.

It is often said that creative types NKY Chamber Business Journal

make terrible administrators. That is certainly not descriptive of you. How do you balance your creative side with your administrative side? I think precisely the opposite is true. Those who lack creativity make the worst administrators. Why? My job every day is to find solutions to challenging issues – how to fund an important initiative when funding is tight, how to support faculty who have multiple pressures pushing on them, how to further the mission of the university in spite of philosophical, financial, political and societal challenges. How can these things be accomplished without an “out of the box” approach to problem solving. Creative people are open people, willing-to-be-wrong people, risk-takers, problem solvers, team players. Theatre doesn’t get made without a group effort. Students don’t get educated without that team approach either. I think the bias against “creative types” stems from an assumption that artists are good only if or only because they are dysfunctional (think Van Gogh, Warhol, Philip Seymour Hoffman – (one of my former students, by the way). There are artists who are brilliant AND are dysfunctional. There are CEOs who are brilliant AND dysfunctional. There are also artists and CEOs who are visionary, fearless, smart, and creative. They know what passion is, how it feels – and they lead with that sense of purpose. It’s all very much like acting, actually.

What advice would you give a woman aspiring to attain an executive position in higher education? Find good mentors and listen to them. They will be both men and women. In general, hone your listening skills. It should be authentically more important for you to hear and understand the other person than it is for you to be heard and understood. Pay it forward. Bring others along with you. Don’t wait until you’ve hit the top of Continued on next page 23

WOMEN’S INITIATIVE SPOTLIGHT Continued from previous page the field to see yourself as a mentor. Make opportunities for others even as you are taking advantage of the opportunities others have made for you. Travel; develop a global view and a global network. Read; become knowledgeable about higher education policy matters, national discourse around higher education, newest literature on the state of higher education, etc. I guess what I’m saying is that if you do these things, opportunities will come to you. If you aggressively seek positions with more and more responsibility without tending to these matters, you will ultimately stall out. Don’t burn bridges. Do walk through doors when they are opened to you. Remember: it’s never a “good time” to make a move. But the timing is what it is. So go for it.

You do not have a doctorate. Are you planning to pursue one? Does one need a doctorate to advance in higher education? My discipline does not have a doctorate. I do have the terminal degree in my field, which is the Master of Fine Arts. This is why it’s better to think of qualifications in terms of a terminal degree in a given field (JD, MD, MFA, Ph.D, DMA, DOT, DPT, Ed.D, DNP, etc.). No, I won’t pursue a doctorate because the fine arts terminal degree is the MFA. I’m smiling at this question. The answer is, “Obviously not.” President Mearns has a JD, I have an MFA, and many people I’ve worked with over the years have varied backgrounds. You do need a terminal degree to advance in higher education, but that’s not necessarily of doctorate.

When you review your career path, is there anything you would have done differently? Not really. I’ve had a great pathway. After my initial academic appointment as an assistant professor at the age of 25, I spent about 15 years working professionally and raising a family. During that time I taught at New York University so I was still in higher education, but not in a ranked position. I then returned to higher 24

education full time in 1997 when I joined the faculty of The Ohio State University. Those 15 years were absolutely critical to my path and to my family, but it did delay my progression into administration. So I don’t regret the choice, but I do wonder how to best use the career time I have left.

Is there a book that has helped you in your career and what book is on your nightstand right now? Professionally, I have benefitted greatly from Reframing Organization: Artistry, Choice, and Leadership by Lee Bolman and Terrence Deal and Immunity to Change: How to Overcome It and Unlock the Potential in Yourself and Your Organization by Robert Kegan and Lisa Lahey. I’m currently reading The Girl in the Spider’s Web by David Lagercrantz. But I have at least 50 books on my nightstand (or nearby). My queue is always long. I read about 80 books a year; I’m an avid reader.

We have to know: Who are your favorite actor and actress, and what is your favorite all-time play? I truly loved Philip Seymour Hoffman’s work, not just because I was his first year

acting teacher (at NYU) but because he had the most detailed, most genuine, and richest inner life I’ve ever seen. I love Anna Gunn’s work as an actress. She played Walter White’s wife in Breaking Bad and was just amazing. All-time favorite play: there are two of them. Can’t choose. “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf” by Edward Albee (I’ve played Martha twice and the language is just so rich) and “King Lear” by Shakespeare. I directed that play once and find the complexities and the sheer magnitude of the play to be beyond belief.

A recent poll suggested that Cincinnati was one of the nation’s least friendly cities. As a transplant here, what do you think? Yes, I’ve been here not quite two years and I live in downtown Cincinnati. I would say that I find it to be a very friendly place. People are very welcoming and hospitable. If I’ve not gotten around as much as I’d like, that’s been my fault and due to my hectic schedule. I would not agree that Cincinnati is unfriendly. Women’s Initiative Profiles are written by Laura Kroeger, president of Communications Project Partners and a past chair of the Women’s Initiative.

Women’s Initiative Annual Breakfast Presented by

January 27, 2016 from 7:00 to 9:30 am Northern Kentucky Convention Center, Covington, KY All are welcome to attend. Cost: $50 chamber members; $75 future members Award sponsor: BB&T Speaker sponsor: Toyota Event sponsors: Cinti/NKY International Airport, Delta Airlines, St Elizabeth Healthcare, Republic Bank Attendee gift sponsors: Lexus River Center, Jeff Wyler Florence

January/February 2016

JOIN US IN CELEBRATION OF BUSINESSES MAKING AN IMPACT ON THE PLACE WE LIVE, WORK AND PLAY

2016

Business

Impact Awards PRESENTED BY

March 22, 2016 4-6pm The Madison Event Center | 700 Madison Ave, Covington, KY January/February 2016

NKY Chamber Business Journal

MEMBER MILESTONES

Member Milestones NKU - Street Reach Street Reach is an app and website that allows the public to make a report that will connect outreach services to someone living outside. Street Reach can also be used by the person who is living outside to reach out for help. Often the public does not know how to respond when they see someone living out on the streets. Should you give money? Food? Or just keep walking? There are a lot of reasons someone may become homeless. Sleeping outside can be very dangerous and health can deteriorate the longer someone is out on the streets. You can help by reaching out! Right now Street Reach is only available in Cincinnati.

Furlong Building Enterprises, LLC, A commercial and industrial construction firm, announced that Chuck White has joined the company as a superintendent. White is responsible for field project management, estimating and working with customers. White operated his own general contracting company and prior to that he worked at Duke Realty, Design-Build Solutions and Oswald Construction. “Chuck White has a depth of experience in many types of small and major construction projects that will be so beneficial to our customers and their projects,” said President & CEO Jude Hehman. “We are so pleased to have someone of Chuck’s caliber be part of the team of construction professionals at Furlong.” 26

Chuck White has worked in construction for over 30 years and broad experience in new buildings and renovations for office, industrial and medical projects. Chuck considers his three children his greatest accomplishment. He resides with his family in Hamilton Ohio. Furlong specializes in design-build construction, additions and renovations for commercial, industrial, office, medical and retail projects. The company currently has twelve employees and was awarded the Tri-State Success Award by Cincy Magazine for the second year in a row. The company was named to the Business Courier’s Fast 55 list of the region’s fastest growing companies for 2013 and again in 2015 and is a finalist for the Goering Center Family & Private Business Awards. Services are provided throughout the Tri-State and Midwest Region including Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana,

Thomas More College Adds Dance Team And Wrestling Program Thomas More College President David A. Armstrong, J.D. and Athletic Director Terry Connor announced that the college will expand its highly successful and competitive athletics and co-curricular programs to include both wrestling and dance teams beginning in the fall of 2016. The new programs will give both incoming and current students increased opportunities to enhance their student experience. According to the National High School Federation of Associations, wrestling ranks sixth of all boys’ sports in terms of participation at the high school level. “With many successful wrestling programs in the Greater Cincinnati area, wrestling is a natural addition to our NCAA athletic program,” said Connor. The Saints Dance Team will give students the opportunity to experience TMC athletics at its finest while offering leadership opportunities, competitive dancing, and the opportunity to build spirit on campus. “Thomas More College’s mission encompasses helping NKYChamber.com

Promotions, Appointments, New Jobs & Awards:

Submit your Milestones by email to akraemer@nkychamber.com. Posts are limited to about 250 characters. Photos should be 300 dpi and of good quality. Submissions may be edited.

students examine their place in the world and their responsibility to others,” Armstrong said. “By providing additional opportunities for teamwork, competition and leadership, TMC will continue its long-standing tradition of preparing the best and brightest students for future success in the world beyond our campus.”

John Campbell President, Clippard Instruments John Campbell, President, Clippard Instruments, a family owned business. John has 13 years experience leading global businesses through a variety of operating situations, and is degreed in electrical engineering.

Gateway Raise the Floor event for elementary & middle school girls Gateway Community and Technical College hosted girls from the Cincinnati Squash Academy and their mothers at a Raise the Floor event to encourage interest in STEM education and advanced manufacturing. “This is Gateway’s first mother/daughter, two generation Raise the Floor workshop to encourage moms to expose daughters to science and math at an early age and introduce them to careers in advanced manufacturing,” said Brittany Corde, Gateway’s Raise the Floor coordinator. Girls, ages 10-13, and their moms learned how fun science can be as they discovered what makes electricity and how it works from Brian Jenkins, ATech Training Inc. network administrator. Their interest was further sparked as they built an electric circuit and created a LED bracelet. “I think it is really cool to learn about new stuff I never knew about,” said Edie, a 5th grader at Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy. January/February 2016

MEMBER MILESTONES “We aim to expose our student athletes to as many opportunities as possible to change the trajectory of their life path. Our mission is to get our children to and through college. We are also very excited about the women empowerment piece of this education,” said Rachael Parker, Cincinnati Squash Academy academic director. Cincinnati Squash Academy (CSA) is a nonprofit after school program that serves 30 children in Cincinnati. CSA is the city’s only non-profit organization that uses the disciplined game of squash to help transform talented students in under-served communities into scholarathletes, productive citizens and future leaders. Laura Lyons, CEO of ATech Training Inc. and chair of the Raise the Floor initiative shared, “Women are naturally good at working with electricity, but they may believe they’re not because they’re girls. Exposing young girls to science and math will increase their confidence. You could say we’re empowering them through electricity.”

Shine, a cutting edge gaming app. Studies show that students who take a class in personal finance are more likely to engage in financially responsible behaviors, including saving, budgeting and investing money. In fact, former Federal Reserve Chief Alan Greenspan has stated, “The number one problem in today’s generation and economy is the lack of financial literacy.” Recognizing this compelling educational need, NCC recently decided to require all students to take a personal finance class during their high school careers. The current generation of high school students has been raised on computer screens and the Internet. As a result, it has been found that gaming provides an excellent alternative to traditional learning activities whereby learners can engage in subject matter in a fun and competitive way. In developing their personal finance course curriculum, NCC educators recognized the value of incorporating gaming as a way of reinforcing basic financial principles learned within the class.

The Raise the Floor initiative is a 12-month training and certification program in manufacturing skills at Gateway designed by women for women. Women who participate and succeed in the program may apply for high wage manufacturing jobs after just four months. In addition to the training, the program assists women with developing the support systems they need to be hired and effective in manufacturing positions, including locating transportation, accessing childcare and job placement and career services. For more information, contact Brittany Corde at 859-815-7614, or brittany.corde@kctcs.edu

Enter a serendipitous series of events that resulted in the introduction and connection of OMEGA Processing Solutions CEO Scott Anderson, NCC Principal Jason Huther and MindBlown Labs Co-founder Ty Moore. Through a personal connection, Anderson learned of MindBlown Labs’ Thrive ‘n’ Shine venture and sought to support the implementation of the learning tool at the school.

Investing in Students’ Sound Financial Savvy

Students are introduced to approximately 15 learning outcomes through the Thrive ‘n’ Shine game, including taxes, budgeting, bankruptcy, insurance, credit cards, earnings potential and time value of money. By creating a character and progressing through the game, students begin to understand the ramifications of daily life choices. The game reinforces financial concepts taught during class in an engaging, competitive and personalized

Students in the newly required Personal Finance class at Newport Central Catholic (NCC) were surprised to learn of their homework playing an online game. Through an innovative partnership with locally based OMEGA Processing Solutions, NCC students are being immersed into an online world of financial decision making via Thrive ‘n’ January/February 2016

“As a business owner and a parent, I see firsthand the importance of today’s students learning the basics of personal finance,” says Anderson. “As they prepare to enter the ‘real world’ students need to understand the long-lasting benefits of making sound financial decisions.”

NKY Chamber Business Journal

way. The formidable combination of the class and game have already made a measurable impact on NCC students.

CVG Winter Operations Team Prepares for 2015-2016 Season Passenger Safety & Operational Readiness is a Top Priority

When weather is at its worst, CVG’s Winter Operations Team must be at its best to ensure that passengers can travel safely with minimum inconvenience. With the seasons changing, the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) Winter Operations Team conducted its annual pre-season test drill on Wednesday, November 18th. The CVG Winter Operations Team consist of more than 100 employees who are on the ready 24 hours a day, seven days a week operating more than 50 different pieces of equipment. “Safety and security of our employees and our passengers is a top priority at CVG,” said Candace McGraw, chief executive officer, CVG. “With four runways, we strive to keep our airport running on time in the event of a snow emergency.” On average in a typical winter season, CVG will experience 24 inches of snow fall on 27 different days. Sweeping one runway is equivalent to clearing 12 interstate lanes for approximately 2 miles. On a typical day, CVG will experience more than 200 landings and departures between passenger and cargo carriers. “Ensuring the operational readiness of our airport means airlines and passengers can be confident our airport is ready when they are.” said Wm. T. (Bill) Robinson III, Kenton County Airport Board Chairman. “We are proud to say that CVG has never been closed due to snow conditions”. 27

MEMBER MILESTONES About CVG- CVG offers more nonstop flights than any airport in the region, including direct international service to Paris, Toronto, Cancun, Montego Bay and Punta Cana. CVGairport.com is your travel planning resource with flight status, security wait times, parking availability and weather. CVG is one of three global super-hubs for DHL, and a top 10 cargo airport in North America. CVG has been rated the Best Regional Airport in North America five straight years by SkyTrax. CVG was the first airport in the country to receive Safety Act Designation and Certification from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), giving the airport the highest level of protections under the Act.

John Curtin Appointed to Home Builders Association Board John Curtin, Senior Vice President of Corporate Business Development at Paul Hemmer Company, has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Home Builders Association of Northern Kentucky. Mr. Curtin will serve a two-year term over 2016-2017. His appointment marks the first time a commercial contractor representative has been elected to the Association’s board. At Paul Hemmer Company, Mr. Curtin works directly with clients, finalizes real estate and construction transactions, and plays a key role in Hemmer’s projects all over Greater Cincinnati. In the community, Mr. Curtin is deeply engaged and widely respected. In addition to this new board appointment, he serves a vital role as chairman of the Northern Kentucky Industrial Park Management Council. He is also a past chairman of BAWAC, Inc., a member of the Kenton County School Workforce Advisory Committee, an active participant in fundraising activities for Covington Catholic High School, and has a long and dedicated history with local Knothole baseball and youth basketball programs. He is a graduate of Leadership Northern Kentucky. A lifelong resident of Northern Kentucky, Mr. Curtin resides with his family in Villa Hills.

The Home Builders Association of Northern Kentucky exists to promote and enhance the integrity and visibility of the construction industry and the members of the organization through advocacy, communication, education and political action. For more information, please visit www.hbanky.com

Bluegrass Commercial Group LLC Bluegrass Commercial Group LLC has hired Brad Ramey as Vice President of Business Development and Estimating. Brad has over 20 years of construction and business development experience, both commercial and residential, and will be responsible for developing new business strategies and project estimating for clients throughout the region. He holds a bachelor’s of Science Degree in Construction Management from Northern Kentucky University. Bluegrass Commercial Group LLC, founded in 2009, is Northern Kentucky’s fasted growing General Contractor.

Representative Dennis Keene Secures Additional Critical Sidewalk Grants for City of Silver Grove Frankfort, KY: Representative Dennis Keene has secured a TAP Grant (Transportation Alternative Program) of Federal funds in the amount of $304,652 for concrete sidewalks to be built in the City of Silver Grove. The city will provide funding of $76,163 bringing the project total to $380,816. This new funding is on top of $250,000 that Rep. Keene recently secured through the office of Governor Steve Beshear for safe sidewalks in Silver Grove. “It is long overdue that we provide some assistance from Frankfort for our cities,” said Rep. Dennis Keene. “Silver Grove has a huge need for new and replaced sidewalks throughout the city. I am proud to have had a hand in helping to spur economic growth in the city.” The City will use the funds for sidewalks in the downtown area. NKYChamber.com

Silver Grove Mayor Neal Bedel believes the project will help foster economic development by encouraging residents to shop locally for products and services instead of driving to out of town retailers. “This project is a huge deal for Silver Grove,” said Mayor Bedel. “The new sidewalks will improve the feel of our city along with making it safer and more inviting for residents to walk through town and to and from our schools.” Mayor Bedel also expressed his gratitude to Rep. Dennis Keene for securing the project funding. “We appreciate so much the assistance from Rep. Dennis Keene, who has worked hard to secure this funding for our city. We know he cares deeply about the citizens that he serves.” The project will begin in the spring of 2016. Representative Dennis Keene has served the citizens of the 67th District since 2005 and is the chairman of the House Licensing and Occupations Committee, Vice Chairman of Economic Development, Vice Chairman on the Budget Subcommittee on Transportation and a member of the Banking & Insurance Committee. Keene is a small business owner and an economic development advisor for EGC Construction.

Go Beyond Medicine® Wholistic Medical Facility of Greater-Cincinnati-N. Kentucky, Announces the Addition of Acupuncturist and Naturopathic Physician, Monica Hsu Go Beyond Medicine announced this week the addition of Acupuncturist and Naturopathic Doctor, Monica Hsu, to their staff. Dr. Hsu earned her Master’s Degree in Acupuncture and a Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine from Bastyr University, then pursued advanced clinical training in Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine at Taipei Medical University Hospital and the Teaching Hospital of Chengdu University in China. She will be offering services to the patients at Go Beyond Medicine providing services no other medicalcomplex in the area offers. “We are thrilled to have Monica Hsu join our practice,” said spokesperson Kristi Grogan. “With the addition of her talents in areas we don’t currently offer, we will January/February 2016

MEMBER MILESTONES truly be a one-stop medical facility.” Monica Hsu is prolific in acupuncture, commonly considered as a treatment only for chronic back pain; it can actually be used for treatments of migraines, allergies, eczema, depression, anxiety, digestive disorders, infertility and insomnia, to name just a few. In addition, Hsu has been trained in traditional Chinese medicine and is a certified herbalist. She will be able to diagnose and provide all-natural treatments for many ailments. “Monica Hsu’s experience compliments Dr. Grogan, a family physician, who has developed a holistic approach to patient care, integrating alternative and nontraditional treatments into patient care regimens. “At Go Beyond Medicine®, we treat the underlying causes, not just the symptoms. Our goal is to utilize more natural approaches to disease treatment and prevention allowing greater harmony and equilibrium within the mind and body,” said Kristi Grogan. Chef Michael Belanger joined the staff two years ago bringing his love of cooking and nutrition to Go Beyond Medicine®. Their nutrition and weight loss program

offers cooking classes and menu planning as well as natural supplements, which can eliminate a multitude of digestion, allergy and skin conditions. Treating patients from the inside out is one of the things that Go Beyond Medicine® has perfected. Dr. Hsu will add synergy in working with women’s health issues due to menopause. Go Beyond Medicine® has treated symptoms of menopause with natural/bio-identical hormones for nine years. Because menopause can be a very unsettling and difficult for many women the natural addition of herbs, acupuncture or nutrition offers tremendous value to many women battling this natural aging process. Go Beyond Medicine® total patient approach has provided dramatic and substantial improvement in function and quality of life for these patients. Go Beyond Medicine® is a wholistic medical practice focused on personalized age management and functional medicine. We bring the knowledge, capabilities and talents of fully licensed medical doctors, nutritionists, weight loss specialists and counselors together under one roof to create a truly

integrative health practice committed to helping patients treat current ailments, prevent future illness and take control of their total physical and mental well-being for life. For more information about Go Beyond Medicine, contact Kristi Grogan at Kristi@gobeyondmedicine.com 859-586-0111

BAWAC Saves Stranded Riders As of November 9, 2015 BAWAC began providing transportation services in six Northern Kentucky counties to more than 80 additional individuals with disabilities stranded after the abrupt closure of Senior Services of Northern Kentucky on October 23, 2015. In the span of two weeks, BAWAC has increased its daily trips per day by 70%, added 5 new drivers, and expanded its van fleet by 9 vehicles to accommodate the need. “BAWAC really stepped up to the plate when the need arose and what they have done in such a short amount of time is nothing short of amazing,” said Lisa Cooper, Executive Director Northern Kentucky Area Development District.

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NKY Chamber Business Journal

MEMBER MILESTONES They undertook a huge responsibility to fill a desperate need, she added. “We couldn’t be happier that we were able to step in and help,” said Ken Schmidt, president of BAWAC. “It’s a natural fit with our mission of service, not to mention the years of experience we have in running transportation services for our clients.” He added that a comprehensive review and combination of routes actually allowed for a more efficient and economical provision of service. Schmidt had high praise for the tremendous dedication of the BAWAC staff tasked with this challenge. “It’s been all hands on deck around the clock and we are working our hardest to eliminate the inevitable glitches that will occur in a transition executed this swiftly,” he said. Along with his staff, Schmidt expressed his gratitude to the exceptional leadership of the Northern Kentucky Area Development District and the many other social service agencies who united in a spirit of cooperation to meet the critical needs of the Northern Kentucky’s most vulnerable citizens. BAWAC serves individuals with disabilities or other barriers to employment throughout the Northern Kentucky area by providing sheltered and supported employment and other vocational opportunities. BAWAC has been a presence in Florence for over 43 years. Its production facilities were recently expanded to accommodate wait-listed individuals and it recently dedicated the Helen R. Ziegler Life Transition Center, a programming space for senior clients who are no longer able to sustain employment. A capital campaign is underway to fund these and other programs. The campaign so far has raised over $800,000 towards its $1,000,000 goal. For further information about BAWAC, call 859-371-4410 or visit www.bawac. org. BAWAC is located at 7970 Kentucky Drive, Florence KY 41042. Inquiries regarding transportation services may be directed to Ken Schmidt at BAWAC.

Bourbon lovers camp out for rare booze The stormy weather didn’t stop some bourbon lovers from setting up camp outside Party Source in Bellevue. They

braved the weather in hopes of getting their hands on a rare bourbon. To many people, the scene of tents lining the outside of Party Source probably looked like a preview of Black Friday but here in Kentucky, the campout was more like a Bourbon Black Friday. Some folks may have never heard the name Pappy Van Winkle, others may just think of it as another brand of bourbon in a glass bottle but to the people who camped out outside Party Source, Pappy Van Winkle is more than just a drink --- it’s a passion. “Every time you take a sip of it, the clouds part, the light of God comes down and angels sing. You take a sip and think, ‘I understand now.’ That is why I’m in line for this one bottle,” said Scott Quinn, who drove from West Chester to Bellevue for his chance to get one of the rare bottles of bourbon. He and dozens of other bourbon enthusiasts set up their tents more than 24 hours before the limited bottles went on sale . “It’s kind of a fraternity really, people gathering for a common cause. It’s not something you see every day,” bourbon enthusiast Tom Gawrosk told us. Many folks we spoke with said camping out for the release of Pappy has become an annual outing for their group, an outing they refer to as the “Black Friday of Bourbon.” But with heavy storms that hit the area, we asked the people in line if the wait for Pappy Van Winkle was really worth it. They said, for the love of Pappy, of course it is. “If I do get a bottle, I’m going to put it on my bar and I’m going to make a little sign that says ‘In case of a fire, grab this bottle first and then go back for my children,’” Quinn joked.

NKU to unveil Campus Recreation Center expansion Northern Kentucky University’s newlyexpanded and renovated Campus Recreation Center is not your typical gym. The $48 million center takes the fitness experience to a new level with state-ofthe-art facilities and amenities such as a bouldering wall, multi-activity court, deep-water diving well with a climbing feature, and study and gathering areas for students. “Our students told us they wanted state-of-the-art fitness facilities, and we listened,” said NKU President

Geoffrey S. Mearns. “We are pleased to open this wonderful new recreation center for use by our students, faculty, staff, and the community.” A ribbon-cutting event was held at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11 with the NKU Board of Regents, University leaders, and students. The center is located in the A.D. Albright Health Center. The previous Campus Recreation Center was built in 1984 and designed for 8,000 students. NKU now serves more than 15,000 students, who approved a fee to repay the construction bonds and provided input throughout the planning process. The Campus Recreation Center is intended to be a hub for student engagement and a center for involvement by the entire university community. “Students are excited about the new center,” said Student Government Association President Katherine Hahnel. “It was a student-led initiative, and we’re very happy to call it ours and make it a home on campus.” In the three months since the fall term began, the Campus Recreation Center has already logged 60,000 visits by students – more than 50 percent higher than the same time period last year. The center is also environmentally-friendly: the LEED Silver facility is heated and cooled by 80 geothermal wells, each 400 feet deep. It was designed by Omni Architects of Lexington and Cannon Design of New York. The construction manager was Pepper Construction in Blue Ash. Construction took approximately 18 months. The project also includes the renovation of NKU’s intramural sports fields, which was completed in fall 2013. The Campus Recreation Center is free for NKU students, faculty, and staff, and memberships are available to community members. All fitness classes are offered free of charge, and personal training and swim lessons are also available.

BUSINESS

RECOGNIZING 2016 DESIGNEES: Emerging 30 is comprised of local

businesses making a significant economic impact on the community based on annual revenue growth. Winners receive public acknowledgement of their achievements and are encouraged to offer their guidance and advice to help other small businesses grow during special networking and training opportunities tailored specifically to Emerging 30 designees.

Alpha Omega Industries is receiving the Emerging 30 designation for its third year thanks to their focus on being a service organization first and foremost. Providing fire and safety equipment & maintenance service to emergency responders, President Seth Poston is passionate about his customers and their service to the community. Alpha Omega, which operates under the name 911 Fleet and Fire Equipment provides a full line of EMS products, ambulances, fire trucks, in addition to customizing police vehicles. This unrelenting customer focus has taken the form of expanded pick-up & delivery offerings, a wider product offering, additional on-site services as well as dedicating resources so employees are equipped to provide the best possible service to customers. Finding team members that have the right mix of technical skills and deliver exemplary customer service is challenging, but an important part of their success. Seth acknowledges that growing both organically and through strategic acquisition has also contributed to their ongoing growth. A recent acquisition of a fire equipment company has meant new opportunities for his team in addition to bringing on a Chief Operating Officer with a financial/accounting background. This team addition was a necessary investment to grow prudently. It is important to note that this growth is happening at a time when many municipalities are deferring preventive maintenance due to budgetary constraints. Recognizing the economic realities of belt-tightening across the regions they serve, Alpha Omega has overcome this challenge by remaining focused on service and providing options for customers. When asked what advice he would give to fellow business owner’s also managing rapid growth, Seth advised “Surrounding yourself with good team members is key- get the best team you can afford.”

January/February 2016

Emerge Managed Solutions has achieved the Emerging 30 designation for 7 consecutive years exceeding 15% growth each year, an unprecedented feat for any Emerging 30 winner. This growth has been in both IT hardware, support, and most recently through the addition of cloud services for customers. Managing partner Richard Brown stated the biggest factor in their success was the team, “Our employees are the primary touch point for our customers. Promoting a work environment where team members are comfortable and supported in their growth is the key to insuring our customers receive the best service.” The larger trend in the industry has been towards cloud services for mid-market customers and Emerge Managed Solutions has been leading the way - providing a framework to reduce the total cost of ownership for technology. Customers frequently seek guidance in how to adapt to new and changing technologies. In addition to being able to increase efficiencies (and consequently reduce costs) for organizations, Emerge also sees companies increasing participation in the Internet of Things bringing additional opportunities in the not too distant future. When asked about their biggest challenge the Emerge Managed Solutions team shared that such rapid growth makes talent acquisition extremely difficult. In order to continue exponential growth the leadership team acknowledges finding service-minded highly technical talent in an industry with nearly full employment is paramount. This has led to growth opportunities for employees as no position is stagnant and organizational maturity is continually mastered. Additionally this growth has provided a need for team members to focus on strategic planning which helps their customers, employees, and the organization significantly.

NKY Chamber Business Journal

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January/February 2016

UPCOMING EVENTS JANUARY 1/12 Eggs ‘N Issues: General Assembly Preview 1/13 Employer Solutions Series: The State of Workforce Supply & Demand in NKY 1/19 Getting The Most From Your Chamber Membership 1/21 Regional Youth Leadership Fundraiser - The Wizard of Oz 1/25 Women’s Initiative CONNECT Hour at Greyhound Tavern 1/27 Women’s Initiative Annual Breakfast

FEBRUARY 2/3 2016 Northern Kentucky Day & Night in Frankfort 2/11 Getting The Most From Your Chamber Membership 2/16 Eggs ‘N Issues: Mindfulness in the Workplace 2/16 Women’s Initiative CONNECT Hour at Loftus Plastic Surgery / Loftus Total Skin Care

4th Annual Northern Kentucky Wellness Challenge 8-week Wellness Challenge will run from January 18, 2016 thru March 11, 2016 Check it out! It’s a fun opportunity for employers to build teamwork within their organizations, & compete for a good cause – healthy lifestyles! Score points when you: Track physical activity Increase consumption of water, fruits & veggies Earn points for flu shots, health screenings, tobacco free, and more… Bonus points for participation in community wellness opportunities

What are you waiting for? Register today! http://bit.ly/NKY-WC2016 The NKY Wellness Challenge is a community-wide initiative that encourages healthy worksites and celebrates progress made by company-based teams from across NKY and Greater Cincinnati. The fee for NKY Chamber member company teams to participate is $75 per team.

For details and registration visit: www.nkychamber.com/events January/February 2016

*Registration fee for non-member company teams is $125/team NKY Chamber Business Journal

RIBBON CUTTINGS

Welcome & Congratulations

Greta Hoffman & Associates Citizens Deposit Bank

Greta Hoffman 7348 US Hwy 42, Suite 202 Florence, KY (859) 371-2227 | greta@hoffmanlawyer.com Pictured left to right: Rachel Engel, Greta Hoffman Walker, Bob Hoffman, and Kyle Wiete

Denise Sigmon 8545 US 42 Florence, KY 41042 (859) 344-7860 | denise.sigmon@cdbt.com Pictured left to right: Ellen Barnett, L&N; J.R. Schneider, Ambassador; Mike Mineer; President, Amy Beck - VP, John Pielsticker - EVP, Denise Sigmon - AVP Branch Manager, Mindy Turner- Head teller, Mandy Harsaran - teller; City of Florence Mayor Diane Whalen; Dan Pack EVP, & Julie Trenkamp CSR; Kevin Richardson, Ambassador; and Laquinta Strickland, L&N.

John C. Middleton, Esq. Kenton Circuit Clerk 230 Madison Avenue Covington, Kentucky 41011 Direct: (859) 292-8175 johnmiddleton@kycourts.net

The Art House of Fort Thomas

Kenton County Circuit Court Clerk, John C. Middleton cut the ribbon on their new location in Independence. Tim Hanner spoke on the importance of Organ Donor donation.

We want to help you promote and celebrate your ribbon cutting ceremony for your new facility, expansion, anniversary celebration or open house! Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll bring our trademark giant blue scissors, a group of Chamber ambassadors, and a camera to capture the excitement of your special day. Call Ruth Eger at 859-578-6395 to schedule your FREE ribbon cutting today! 34

Parrish and Sharahn Monk 19 N. Ft. Thomas Avenue Fort Thomas, KY 41075 (859) 279-3431 Parrish and Sharahn were joined by the many local artists that are showcased at The Art House.

Ribbon Cuttings Sponsored By

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January/February 2016

For nearly 50 years, students have found their spark at NKU. With 15,000 students in graduate and undergraduate programs, online classes, more than 200 student organizations, and hands-on research experiences, we’re proud to be the fastest growing university – with the best value – in Kentucky. Find your spark at NKU. Burn brighter than you’ve ever imagined.