Building NKY’s Future
Providing Innovative Solutions and Healthier Outcomes for Kentucky Businesses. Dan Cahill, PhD,
Vice President Kentucky Market Leader
Dan Cahill and his HORAN colleagues work with employers across Kentucky to help them build benefit strategies as the marketplace adjusts to health care reform changes. As the landscape continues to shift, HORAN will help Kentucky employers develop strategic plans that address financial concerns, plan design and effective communication with their employees. HORAN is committed to developing innovative solutions that address health care concerns for new clients while continuing to advise our valued clients in Kentucky. Call or email Dan Cahill, 859.572.4501 or DanC@horanassoc.com, and allow HORAN to help with your benefit strategies today.
See what’s going on at horanassoc.com or at our new Kentucky location in the Columbia Executive Center on Grandview Drive in Fort Mitchell opening in June 2014.
www.horanassoc.com | 800.544.8306
Business Journal September/October 2014
CHAIR COLUMN
In this issue
From The Chair
3 Letter from the Chair
4 From the President
Steve Harper
5 Regional Economic Outlook Report
7 Annual Dinner Award Recipients
8 2014-2015 NKY Chamber Board of Directors
President, Harper Oil Products
10 myNKY Jobs: Focusing on the Future of Jobs in NKY
CEO/Publisher Trey Grayson
I am humbled to serve as the Chair of the Board of Directors of your Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and work with such an esteemed group of business and community leaders. Your Chamber is the leading business organization in Northern Kentucky but it is so much more. It is the organization that has brought together the myriad moving parts within our region to make us a force within the economy of the Commonwealth. You know Northern Kentucky was not always so united. But today, within our three counties, thirty-six cities, fourteen public school districts and a plethora of private schools, colleges and universities, utility companies, international airport and a host of non-profits, the Northern Kentucky Chamber is the organization that works to bring us all together to achieve at our maximum potential. But we can do more. While the Northern Kentucky region, when taken together, may be the second largest economic force in Kentucky, we can and we will do better. We need to enhance our economic competitiveness as we compete with nearby cities in the Midwest and around the country. How do we do this? We do this by collaborating with our schools to train the workforce in the skills that our businesses need. We do this by working with our communities to overcome the scourge of the heroin epidemic. We do this by helping our legislators in Frankfort tackle tax reform and minimize harmful regulations. We do this by assisting CVG, our international airport that has more flights and more direct flights than any other airport in our region, to attract new carriers. And we do this by finding a way to rebuild the Brent Spence Corridor. I ask you to join us as we pursue these critical priorities to move Northern Kentucky forward.
Creative Director Rena Gibeau rgibeau@nkychamber.com
Periodicals Postage Paid at Covington, KY ISSN (0274-757X)
13 Raise the Floor 14
Emerging 30 Profiles
16 Southbank Partners: Creating Vitality Along the Riverfront 18 The Catalytic Fund: A New Approach to Economic Development 20
Tri-ED: Passion for Northern Kentucky
22 ezone: Building Kentucky Innovations Districts 24
Meet the Leaders of Distinction 2014
26
Legacy: Ten Recognized with Next Generation Leader Awards
27
Chamber Snapshots
29 Member Milestones 36 Women’s Initiative Spotlight: Bebe Kinnett 37 Upcoming Events/Ribbon Cuttings Cover photo (l-r): Bill Scheyer, Vision 2015; Jeanne Schroer, The Catalytic Fund; Trey Grayson, NKY Chamber; Jack Moreland, Southbank Partners; Dan Tobergte, Tri-ED; Amanda Greenwell, UpTech; Chuck Scheper, The Catalytic Fund & Bexion Pharmaceuticals. Photo by Steve Fine, Artboy Animation.
Graphic Design Artboy Animation
Northern Kentucky Business Journal is published bi-monthly by the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, Inc., 300 Buttermilk Pike, Suite 330, P.O. Box 17416, Ft. Mitchell, KY 41017. Phone: 859-578-8800. Website: www.nkychamber.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 Director, Member Investments Laura-Aurora (LA) Stopa lastopa@nkychamber.com
Periodicals Postage Paid USPS-548630 at Covington, KY.
Chamber Communications Committee Chair: Shelly Whitehead Emily Gresham-Wherle, Gina Stegner, Dana R. Skulan, Bill Powell, Shannan Boyer, David Rhoad, Cyndi Haren, Katie Scoville, Meredith Fossett, Shayna Crowley, Kevin Donnelly VP Public Affairs & Communications Adam Caswell September/October 2014
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. Š 2014, The Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, Inc. and by the individual authors. All rights reserved.
NKY Chamber Business Journal
3
PERSPECTIVE
Let’s Get To Work Trey Grayson, President & CEO, NKY Chamber of Commerce It’s great to be home. Thanks to everyone who has helped make the transition back to my old Kentucky home so smooth and rewarding (and since we moved back into our old house in Boone County, I mean that literally). Thanks especially to the members of the Chamber’s Executive Search Committee, under the leadership of Debbie Simpson, for their confidence entrusting me with the leadership of one of our region’s most important organizations. Northern Kentucky is certainly home, but it is also a great place to raise a family and pursue a rewarding career. As REDI Cincinnati’s Johnna Reeder pointed out at a recent Eggs ‘N Issues, it’s a place where you not only have world-class amenities and attractions, but you can actually afford them! As of this writing, I have been in this position for about seven weeks. I spend most of my time in meetings learning about the Chamber itself, or more broadly about the community. A great deal has happened in the past three and a half years, and I need to get up to speed. I’m starting to become an expert on the need to fix the Brent Spence Bridge corridor, our heroin epidemic and our workforce shortages. We also need to reform Kentucky’s tax and regulatory regime to make our state more business friendly, and we must improve our educational attainment to better compete in a knowledge-based economy. Those are a few of the challenges facing Northern Kentucky, and we are going to have to tackle them. For today, however, I want to focus on the positives, including many of the economic development initiatives you will read about in this issue of the Business Journal, because there are so many. Let’s begin with some really good news. Last month’s unemployment figures showed that the three Kentucky counties with the lowest unemployment were Boone, Kenton and Campbell counties, with all three counties at or below six percent. Many of those newly employed are surely in the burgeoning logistics sector in and around the I-75 and 275 corridor in Boone County. UpTech, the business accelerator in Covington, just welcomed its third class of startups that will benefit from its programs and assistance. UpTech is the latest in a series of entrepreneurial innovations in our region. Right around the corner from UpTech is bioLOGIC, a life sciences accelerator that is the home of Bexion, a pharmaceutical company developing cures for cancer. We need more such efforts. The Catalytic Fund, a key initiative of the Vision 2015 plan, through strategic investments and partnerships, in its first year
alone has leveraged about a million dollars into twenty-five million dollars of projects in Covington’s urban core. This is just a start to what promises to be a transformed downtown Covington. The term game changer is probably overused, but when it is operational, NKU’s Health Innovation Center will definitely be a game changer for Northern Kentucky. Its programs will improve our region’s health, produce graduates with the skills and knowledge to earn good incomes and increase our overall productivity. This will be a model for the rest of the country. Finally, Southbank Partners is leading the effort to develop Riverfront Commons, an 11-mile, uninterrupted hiking and biking trail that, when completed, will extend from Ludlow to Fort Thomas. This quality of life enhancement will be a big recruiting boost for the efforts of our colleagues at Tri-ED.
Trey Grayson packing a customer’s order with Amazon employee and military veteran, Bret Workman (right). In the background from left are Amazon senior leaders Jay Sunkes, Greg Hardewig and Brad Powers.
You may have noticed that the Chamber is using the tagline “It’s a New Day at the Chamber.” With initiatives like the ones mentioned above, plus so many others, and the hard work of our Chamber board, volunteers and staff, we can also say with confidence, “It’s a New Day in Northern Kentucky.” Let’s get to work!
Let’s begin with some really good news. Last month’s unemployment figures showed that the three Kentucky counties with the lowest unemployment were Boone, Kenton and Campbell counties, with all three counties at or below six percent. 4
NKYChamber.com
September/October 2014
ECONOMIC DATA ECONOMIC INDICATORS REPORT ECONOMIC INDICATORS REPORT
Establishment Survey (Count of Jobs) May 2014
Cincinnati MSA (000’s) Goods Producing Industries (000’s) Service Providing Industries (000’s) Cincinnati MSA Manuf. Employment (000’s) Durable Goods Nondurable Goods
1,053.7 150.0 902.9 108.5 64.6 43.9
April 2014
1,041.5 147.1 894.4 107.1 64.5 42.6
May 2013
May ‘13-‘14 % Change
May 2013
May ‘13-‘14 % Change
1,033.5 145.1 888.4 106.4 63.3 43.1
2.0% 3.9% 1.6% 2.0% 2.1% 1.9%
Household Survey (Count of People) Civilian Labor Force Boone County Campbell County Kenton County Northern Kentucky Total Cincinnati MSA (000’s) Kentucky (000’s) Ohio (000’s) US (000’s)1
Employed Residents Boone County Campbell County Kenton County Northern Kentucky Total Cincinnati MSA (000’s) Kentucky (000’s) Ohio (000’s) US (000’s)1
Unemployment Rates (%) Boone County Campbell County Kenton County Northern Kentucky Total Cincinnati MSA (000’s) Kentucky (000’s) Ohio (000’s) US (000’s)1
May 2014
April 2014
67,755 46,714 86,435 200,904 1,105 2,060 5,717 155,841
67,421 46,403 85,898 199,722 1,099 2,045 5,685 154,845
May 2014
April 2014
64,252 43,984 81,529 189,765 1,045 1,905 5,412 146,398
63,979 43,797 81,183 188,959 1,044 1,899 5,382 145,767
May 2014
April 2014
5.2 5.8 5.7 5.5 5.1 7.5 5.3 6.1
5.1 5.6 5.5 5.4 5.0 7.2 5.3 5.9
The household survey is a count of people.
67,747 46,608 86,334 200,689 1,102 2,087 5,778 155,734
US “All Urban Consumers” (CPI-U)(SA) “Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers” (CPI-W)(SA)
Consumer Price Indices (1982-84 = 100) Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky CMSA “All Urban Consumers” (CPI-U)(SA)
Producer Price index (1982 = 100) US Finished Goods (SA) (p)
0.0% 0.2% 0.1% 0.1% 0.2% -1.3% -1.1% 0.1%
May 2013
May ‘13-‘14 % Change
May 2013
May ‘13-‘14 % Change
63,168 43,241 80,153 186,562 1,027 1,915 5,371 144,432
1.7% 1.7% 1.7% 1.7% 2.1% -0.5% 0.7% 1.4%
6.8 7.2 7.2 7.0 6.8 8.2 7.0 7.3
Prices and Inflation Consumer Price Indices (1982-84 = 100)
May 2014
April 2014
May 2013
237.9 233.2
237.1 232.4
232.9 228.4
1st Half 2013
2nd Half 2012
1st Half 2012
221.3
218.8
217.4
May 2014
April 2014
May 2013
200.7
200.8
195.9
(Billions of chained 2009 dollars; quarterly data at seasonally adjusted annual rates ) (r)
Q3 2013
Q2 2013
Q3 2012
US
15,986
15,832
15,607
Personal Income (Billions of dollars)3
Q3 2013
Q2 2013
Q3 2012
14,696
14,488
14,131
April 2014
May 2013
(Seasonally adjusted annual rates ) (r)
US
US Federal Reserve Board Index of Industrial Production (2007 = 100) Composite Index of Leading Indicators4 (2004=100)
Employed Residents include those who work for pay or profit, completed at least 15 hours of unpaid work in a familyoperated business, and persons temporarily absent from a regular job. Unemployment Rate is the percentage of the Civilian Labor Force that do not have a job, have actively looked for work in the prior 4 weeks, and are currently available for work. Persons waiting to return to the same job after a temporary layoff are also considered unemployed.
CPI measures changes in prices for all goods and services consumed by Urban households. CPI-U includes expenditures by all urban wage earners and clerical workers, 2.1% professional, managerial, and technical 2.1% workers, the self-employed, short-term 1st Half ‘12-’13 unemployed, and retirees (87% of total population). Change CPI-W includes only expenditures by hourly wge earners or clerical jobs. 1.8%
May ‘13-‘14 % Change
May ‘13-‘14 % Change 2.5%
Q3 ‘12-‘13 % Change 2.4%
Q3 ‘12-‘13 % Change
May ‘13-‘14 % Change
102.6
101.7
98.4
4.3%
101.7
101.4
95.4
6.6%
1. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey, Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) or Workforce Kentucky Labor Statistics 2. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Survey / 3. U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) 4. The Conference Board, US Business Cycle Indicators / 5. Bureau of Labor Statistics / (p) preliminary
Personal income is a measure of all sources of income. This includes wages, dividends, and government transfers. Mandatory contributions to social programs are deducted from this measure.
4.0%
Other May 2014
Civilian Labor Force includes all employed and unemployed persons looknig for work. CLF does not include retirees, students, stay-at-home parents, or those otherwise not seeking employment.
-1.6 -1.4 -1.5 -1.5 -1.7 -0.7 -1.7 -1.2
NIPA (Output, Production, and Income) Real GDP3
The establishment survey is a count of jobs, not people. Striking workers, selfemployed, proprietors, domestic, and farm workers are not included. Part-time and full-time jobs are each counted as one job.
Index of Industrial Production is the output of manufacturing, mining, electric, and gas utilities as a percent relative to 2007. Composite Index of Leading Indicators includes 10 components and can be found at www.conference-board.org/data/ bcicountry.cfm?cid=1
St. Vincent de Paul Northern Kentucky Visit our NEW STORE in FLORENCE!! Corner of Turfway and Dixie Hwy. Thank You! Donation Line (859) 341-3212 Ext. 1 www.svdpnky.org
AROUND THE CHAMBER
NKY Chamber of Commerce Announces Annual Dinner Award Recipients On Thursday, September 18 the Northern Kentucky Chamber will celebrate its 45th anniversary and recognize individuals who have shown exceptional community service and chamber volunteerism at the 2014 Annual Dinner presented by Fifth Third Bank.
Unity Award
Walter R. Dunlevy/ Frontiersman Award The Walter R. Dunlevy/Frontiersman award, sponsored by Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., recognizes individuals who have a life long history of outstanding service to the Northern Kentucky community, exhibit outstanding service to their profession or industry and exemplify the highest standards of personal integrity and family responsibility. This year’s recipients are Chuck and Julie Geisen Scheper. Chuck is Chairman of the Board of Bexion Pharmaceuticals. Julie serves on the Board of Education, and is past chair and current board member of Covington Partners.
Devou Cup Award
The Unity Award, sponsored by PNC Bank, is presented to an individual or individuals who have shown leadership in seeking regional solutions to Northern Kentucky’s challenges. This year’s recipient is Brent Cooper. Brent is President of C-Forward, Inc in Covington.
Walter L. Pieschel Award The Walter L. Pieschel award, sponsored by Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP, is named after the Chamber’s first volunteer leader and is given to an individual who exemplifies outstanding service to the Chamber. This year’s recipient is Mark Kiser. Mark is President and Owner of Kwik Kopy Business Center in Taylor Mill.
The Greater Cincinnati Foundation will award the Devou Cup Award, which was created to honor the generosity of a donor who has made a profound difference in the quality of community life in Northern Kentucky. This year’s recipients are Frank and Pat Sommerkamp. Frank serves on the Crestview Hills City Council, and Pat chairs the NKY Water District Board of Commissioners.
ImageMaker Award The ImageMaker award, sponsored by Central Bank, is presented to an individual or individuals who have brought national or international attention to Northern Kentucky through their achievements. The Chamber is pleased to announce that this year’s recipient is UpTech, Inc. UpTech is Greater Cincinnati’s informatics accelerator.
Current Annual 2014 Award Dinner Sponsors Title sponsor – Fifth Third Bank Supporting Sponsor – The Greater Cincinnati Foundation Presenting Sponsor – DHL Express and Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine Wine Sponsors – Delta Air Lines, Frost Brown Todd, HORAN, Turner Construction Company Parking Sponsor – Park National Bank
September/October 2014
Make Your Reservation Today The 2014 Annual Dinner will be held at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center. The evening will begin with a cocktail reception at 5:00 p.m. The dinner and program will begin at 6:30 p.m. Corporate tables of 10 are available. The attire is business, black tie optional. Reservations are required and can be made by calling (859) 426-3652 or online at www.nkychamber.com/events.
NKY Chamber Business Journal
7
2014-2015 NKY Chamber Board of Directors B. Stephen Harper
David Heidrich
Harper Oil Products, Inc.
Zalla Companies Stewart Iron Works
Chair of the Board
Chair-Elect
Deborah Simpson
Geralyn Isler
Robert Heil
Multi-Craft
Business Benefits Insurance Solutions
KLH Engineers, PSC
Immediate Past Chair
Treasurer
Secretary
2014-2015 Executive Committee Wonda Winkler
Vice Chair: Women’s Initiative
Brighton Center, Inc.
James Parsons
Vice Chair: Advocacy
Taft, Stettinius & Hollister LLP
Chair-appointed Executive Committee Members Gregory Greene Strategic Advisers, LLC
Mark Exterkamp
8
Tim Slaughter Castellini Group of Companies
Michelle McMullen
Richard Field
Vice Chair: Employer Solutions
Vice Chair: Membership, Communication, Events
Vice Chair: Leadership Development
Northern Kentucky Univserity
Post Glover Resistors, Inc.
Dave Hatter Definity Partners
Rhonda Whitaker Duke Energy
Marianne Schmidt Hurtt PNC Bank
Philip Schworer Frost Brown Todd, LLC
John Hawkins Pathfinder/MPI Consulting
Jean Loftus MD, FACS Loftus Plastic Surgery Center
Donna Salyers Fabulous-Furs
Amy Smith DHL Express (USA), Inc.
Jamie Smith Business Courier
Richard Tiberi Fifth Third Bank
Brad Zapp UpTech
Dan Cahill HORAN
The Bank of Kentucky
Elected Members
Ryan Helwig Citi
John Nienaber
Vice Chair: Business Growth & International Affairs
Mike Sipple, Jr. Centennial, Inc.
Carri Chandler Toyota Motor Engineering & NKYChamber.com Manufacturing NA
Heritage Bank
Caroline Weltzer Viox & Viox, Inc.
September/October 2014
Standing Members
Candace McGraw Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport
Jordan Huizenga Legacy Children, Inc.
Dr. Terri Cox-Cruey Kenton County Schools Superintendent NKCES
Cassandra Forrester LNK Advisory Council Fifth Third Bank
Paul Meier Municipal Government League City of Crestview Hills
David Armstrong G. Edward Hughes Gateway Community Thomas More College and Technical College
John Dubis St. Elizabeth Healthcare
Geoff Mearns Northern Kentucky University
One Year Appointments
Fred Macke Colliers International
Mary Miller Jancoa Janitorial Services
Kevin Canafax Fidelity Investments
Dan Sweeney Mazak Corporation
David Preisser Preisser Enterprises
Ex-Officio Members
September/October 2014
Eric Summe Northern Kentucky Convention & Visitors Bureau
Gary Moore Judge-Executive Boone County
Steve Pendery Judge-Executive Campbell County
Daniel Tobergte Tri-County Economic Development Corp
William Scheyer Vision 2015
NKY Chamber Business Journal
Steve Arlinghaus Judge-Executive Kenton County
9
WORK FORCE
myNKY Jobs: Focusing on the Future of Jobs in NKY By Bill Scheyer, President, Vision 2015 While the community input portion of the myNKY community visioning campaign may have come to a close, organizers are now into the next phase visioning process, the creation of nine partner-led working groups. These groups, which will help formulate the recommendations for the region’s next strategic plan, are comprised of individuals who have been appointed by the myNKY Leadership Team. Each one has been structured to ensure local expertise is properly appointed throughout the data gathering and idea generation process. One Working Group of particular interest during this phase will be Jobs, which is being led by Co-Chairs Debbie Simpson of Multi-Craft and Dan Tobergte of NKY Tri-ED. As the Job’s Working Group works towards crafting a proposal for future job growth in Northern Kentucky, they will have many questions to consider. In particular you may be thinking, what type of employment growth rate is likely for NKY? Data research shows over the past decade employment in the Cincinnati metro area has averaged an annual decline of 0.2% compared to an average growth rate of 0.3% nationally. During the same period, employment in the NKY region has an average growth of 0.7%. If the NKY three-county region repeats the growth rate of the past decade, employment would increase by 9,700 jobs by 2020.
Furthermore, according to the 2020 Jobs Outlook: A Regional Indicators Report, occupations related to healthcare, education, business, finance, and technology represent one in every five jobs in our economy and are the fastest growing and best paying. Among jobs paying the median of $33,130 or more, 95% will require some combination of post-secondary education, on-thejob training and work experience beyond one year. Of these higher paying jobs, 31% will require a Bachelor’s degree or higher. Could this be an opportunity for education and training programs to target growing occupation groups that offer strong wages and a significant number of jobs? Over the course of the next two months the Jobs Working Group will consider many things, including attraction of new companies, expansion of existing companies, and workforce development issues. Members will utilize data reports, community engagement responses, and their own first-hand knowledge of the topic as starting points in framing the issues, gaps, and opportunities. We at Vision 2015 want to ensure that the leadership team and Working Groups will be looking at things from multiple angles, in order to provide all segments of the population with opportunities and benefits from our productive region.
myNKY Jobs Working Group Members: Co-Chairs Debbie Simpson of Multi-Craft and Dan Tobergte of NKY Tri-ED, John Bostick, John Domaschko, Bob Fessler, Karen Finan, David Fleischer, Kim Halbauer, Rick Jordan, Brian Linder, Bill Mitchell, Kevin Moore, Steve Pendery, Tom Prewitt, Sharmili Reddy, AJ Schaeffer, Larisa Sims, David Smith, Barb Stewart, Angie Taylor, Janice Urbanik, and Josh Wice. 10
NKYChamber.com
September/October 2014
$270 million in output. 2,905 jobs. $85.4 million in labor income. That’s the
total annual economic impact of NKU student
off-campus spending, based on a recent NKU CEAD report. Northern Kentucky University - fueling our region’s economic flame since 1968.
#NorseUp, Northern Kentucky!
September/October 2014
NKY Chamber Business Journal
cead.nku.edu
11
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WORK FORCE
Raise the Floor By Debby Shipp and Carissa Schutzman When a group of professional women assembled at Gateway Community and Technical College in May 2013, they had no idea of the potential impact of their vision for women and manufacturing. Like other hotbed regions for manufacturing, Northern Kentucky is experiencing a shortage of skilled workers to fill the advanced manufacturing pipeline. Dr. Angie Taylor, vice-president of Gateway’s Workforce Solutions division, and Janice Urbanik, executive director of Partners for a Competitive Workforce, posed the question, “What if we created a program to tap the largest population that is least represented in the manufacturing workforce?” Twenty-four other women joined Taylor and Urbanik to create a program that is good for business, an answer for manufacturers, and an opportunity for women. The 26 founding members of the Raise the Floor initiative include a cross-section of professional women from education, non-profits, and advanced manufacturing as well as other sectors.
“I was frightened to go back to college at my age, but I decided to do it because I couldn’t keep getting laid off,” said 51 year old Tammy King. In January 2014, the first Raise the Floor class began when 10 women enrolled into Gateway’s manufacturing engineering technology program and began the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC) Certified Production Technician (CPT) course. “I was frightened to go back to college at my age, but I decided to do it because I couldn’t keep getting laid off,” said 51 year old Tammy King. After her most recent lay-off, King contacted the Kentucky Career Center where she learned about manufacturing and Raise the Floor. “I told September/October 2014
them, ‘I need to make this much money. What do you suggest? They said manufacturing.’” King completed the industry-driven CPT credential in May and decided to apply for an apprenticeship at Mazak. In June Tammy King became the first Raise the Floor woman to begin her manufacturing career. Since she was hired into the apprenticeship program, King will work full time at Mazak and attend Gateway part time; Mazak will not only pay her as an employee but also will pay for her tuition, books, and fees at Gateway.
King credits the Raise the Floor program. “I encourage anyone who’s down on their luck to do this,” she said. “It wasn’t hard to go through. In fact, it was really interesting, and I think I’ll like it.” “It brings me great pleasure to see that women have completed their training and are on course for getting fulfilling, well-paying jobs that will keep them gainfully employed for many years to come,” commented Debby Shipp, one of the 26 founding women of Raise the Floor and Senior Manager of Organizational Development for the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. “This will increase their family’s standard of living, enhance their self-esteem and provide younger generations with role models NKY Chamber Business Journal
that have not been imagined since Rosie the Riveter.” Julie Mockbee chose to enroll in Gateway’s Raise the Floor program in January because she liked the fact that it was an initiative to help women. She also liked that it was a fast track to a high-paying career in advanced manufacturing. When Julie started the program, she didn’t plan on staying in college for more than a semester or two, but she now is contemplating an associate’s degree. “I’ve enjoyed going to school, and I like the idea that I can get a certificate and apply for a job or I can stay and get a degree,” Mockbee said. “Gateway’s manufacturing programs include stackable credentials meaning students can earn certificates along the way to their associate’s degree. Students may earn a short term certificate, find a job, and then continue toward their degree, often times with the manufacturing company paying the tuition through apprenticeship or tuition reimbursement,” said Carissa Schutzman, dean of Workforce Solutions at Gateway.
The Raise the Floor initiative officially began in January 2014, and registration for the fall 2014 class is underway. To learn more about Raise the Floor, please visit http://www.gateway.kctcs.edu/en/ Academics/STEM_Education/Raise_The_ Floor.aspx or contact Carissa Schutzman, dean of Workforce Solutions at Gateway, at carissa.schutzman@kctcs.edu or 859442-1706. 13
SMALL BUSINESS
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. tems, as they are good at defining processes and integrating systems into process automation for their customers. Article submitted by: Christa Coffaro, Crux RoadBoardz Graphics Red Hawk Technologies opened its headquarters in Newport, KY in April 2008, to develop and integrate custom solutions with enterprise level applications and create websites and mobile applications for other businesses and with customers directly, integrating client and third-party applications and data sources. At Red Hawk Technologies, employees and customers alike are treated like family. Matt Strippelhoff, one of the company’s founding partners, describes the employees as having “high moral standards and commitment to quality—quality in the solutions we provide and the quality of lives we lead.” One aspect of their business that sets them apart from the competition is the extensive documentation process they provide for their clients, which helps in training, customer support, and in helping the customer know the consequences of changes they may be considering. Matt says his biggest strength is his ability to formulate a plan quickly— proactively —while developing solutions for a client, as well as reactively—while problem solving. The biggest challenge within Red Hawk Technologies is the necessity for innovation, which comes with an inherent risk. To mitigate the risk, the company has developed documentation processes and experienced employees. Red Hawk Technologies plans to continue application development and systems integration. They will continue to grow their business process management sys-
Business Center Mark Kiser’s Kwik Kopy Business Center franchise in Taylor Mill, Kentucky has been recognized as an Emerging 30 honoree two of the past three years and continues to experience growth in their printing business. Kwik Kopy Business Center is known for offering custom graphic design, copying and all types of printing services to both retail and commercial clients. Since opening his franchise in 2002, Mark has focused on demonstrating an “urgency” on customer service and providing quality work at a fair price. To Mark, the key to maintaining a successful business is to build and foster strong relationships with his customers which includes the local business community. Mark demonstrates this through his work with the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, the Independence Business Association and various other business groups. He says this involvement has allowed him to meet hundreds of people and greatly expand his contacts in the Northern Kentucky market. Mark also recognizes he is blessed with extremely talented employees who share his passion for customer service and understand the needs of their customers.
When asked about his thoughts on winning the Emerging 30 award multiple times, Mark replied, “You’re being recognized by an impartial group and the recognition is a state of validation for business success. It also gives you an opportunity to recognize your employees for their hard work.” He feels the award also helps others feel comfortable in doing business with him and his employees. Article submitted by: Tom Wermeling, Midway Tack Shop
The Northern Kentucky Region may not be the first place that pops to mind when one thinks about international business, interpreting, or translation, but G2Local is determined to become the leading provider of language services in the entire Midwest. G2Local has a small leadership team but employs over 500 contractors (certification is required for each contractor) and serves companies throughout the tri-state region. G2Local has recently expanded into Columbus, Ohio as they have a larger immigrant and refugee population than our region. G2Local was founded by Grace Bosworth in 2009. After she left her job as a trader in the Blue Ash, Ohio Fidelity Investments office, she got work in a translation office, and immediately realized she loved the work and saw the positive impact this role had for those around her. Grace had a vision to make the city and counties she called home immigrant friendly as well as to create jobs amongst the largely under-employed immigrants
Emerging 30 Award eligibility requirements include being a current NKY Chamber member or a company headquartered in Boone, Campbell or Kenton counties, privately held, in operation for at least four full years, revenues exceeding $250,000 and an average annual revenue growth of 15% or more over the past three years. 14
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in the region. Recognizing the need for mature, trained, and qualified translators she worked to get start-up funding but found this extremely challenging for a service-based business. Grace received key advice from Bad Girl Ventures to focus on adding customers and to focus on sales growth which has reaped great rewards. While the technology they employ to help reduce customer costs is important, Grace freely admits the biggest success factor has been her drive—answering her phone 24/7, helping clients with short notice translation needs, etc. “We out work everybody”, Grace explains with pride. She has developed strong partnerships with Catholic Charities of Southwest Ohio and several school districts and municipalities in the region. Grace still mentors for Bad Girl Ventures and also attributes much of her success to the Hamilton County Business Center, HCDC’s business incubator in Norwood. G2Local has been working with Cincinnati State for the past two years to offer the national medical interpretation exam certification and will be the only institution in the region to offer this class and certification. Article submitted by: Dean Gallo, LOTH
HCTec Partners is a full-service Healthcare IT (HIT) and Health Information Management (HIM) solutions and staffing provider. Founded by William Bartholomew in Nashville, TN in 2006, the company merged with Partners Professional Solutions in Cincinnati last year to create a full-service HIT solutions and staff augmentation company. The combined entity now employs over 500 and services the entire US. With a corporate mission to support healthcare organizations, technologydriven initiatives by offering superior solutions and staff, HCTec Partners advances a “competency development” approach that ensures optimal rollouts for their customers through education and training. This teaching-based method speeds implementation and maximizes utilization. The company’s internal focus on “Success through the Success of Others” has proven invaluable. “From the top of the September/October 2014
organization to the bottom, if we will look past our own ambitions and focus on helping those around us achieve theirs, we will have in turn accomplished our own, while building an incredible team and culture. It has been the focus we take for our partners and our internal staff.” Bartholomew credits the company’s success on this servant-centered leadership. Coupling their leadership style with their vast resources and sheer size provides a sustainable advantage over the competition in the industry. Article submitted by: Matt Mauller, Neace Lukens
Founded in 2003 by J.J. Schaffer and Jon Salisbury, Nexigen is an IT services company providing managed services, cloud server hosting, help desk, and network planning/consulting. The company is headquartered in Newport, Kentucky and currently has 21 employees. The mission of Nexigen is to increase efficiencies, and improve data storage and mobility for its clients. J.J. comments that the greatest challenge they face daily is the procurement of quality employees. “As we are a ser-
vice-based business, hiring and training quality employees that are both able to communicate effectively and solve complex technology issues is probably the most critical decisions we make.” When it comes to the most important business lesson they have learned as a company, J.J. underlines one essential element: “Keep it simple. I think businesses have a tendency to become overly complex both in their internal processes and in the products/services they offer to customers. Much as in sports, it’s the fundamentals that matter. Businesses that run most efficiently and provide the best customer experience have a clearly defined vision of their company, continually evolve and polish their product offering, and are able to replicate the process again and again. Even a company as large as Wal-Mart is simply a replication of 6,000 very similar stores each operating with the same products and processes.” The advice J.J. would give to any new business is that “time is your most precious resource. As a business owner you are ultimately responsible for every aspect of the business from marketing to accounts receivable. Being able to manage which of these areas would benefit most from your attention without getting distracted by timewasters is crucial.” Article submitted by: Jay Wuest, PNC Bank
Emerging 30 Award Celebration Title Sponsor:
October 23, 2014 at the METS Center Join us to celebrate and network with the 2014 Emerging 30 Designees! Information and registration: http://bit.ly/E-30Awards2014 Presenting Sponsor: NKY Chamber Business Journal
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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
By Meredith Fossett and Shayna Crowley, Strategic Advisers, LLC For more than 15 years, Southbank Partners, a not-for-profit economic development organization, has worked with Northern Kentucky’s river cities to promote and coordinate development activities, foster teamwork and collaboration, and provide a unified voice to advocate for common positions before local, state, and federal governments. These efforts have helped the river cities of Covington, Newport, Bellevue, Dayton, Ludlow, and Fort Thomas grow and prosper, which benefits the entire Northern Kentucky region.
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Southbank has assisted these cities in developing the following projects and operations: • Newport on the Levee entertainment center • The Newport Aquarium • The Southbank Shuttle bus service that serves Northern Kentucky and downtown Cincinnati • The South Shore and Harbor Greene high-rise condominiums in Newport and Bellevue • The Marriott, Comfort Inn, Courtyard by Marriott, Holiday Inn, and Hampton Inn hotels
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•
Restaurants that include Buckhead Mountain Grill, Chart House, Don Pablo’s, Hofbrauhaus, and Joe’s Crab Shack Southbank Partner’s top legislative priority for the upcoming year is to get funding for the Northern Kentucky Convention Center to purchase and design property for their expansion. Southbank Partners’ next big projects are transportation projects. Southbank is leading the effort to develop Riverfront Commons, an 11mile, uninterrupted hiking and biking trail that, when completed, will extend from Ludlow to Fort Thomas. The 15-20 foot wide path will feature open park space at strategic points along the river, accommodating both walkers and bikers. A series of points of access—or nodes—will provide easy linkage to neighborhood, residential, business, entertainment, and historic districts in the river cities. Another important transportation project the organization is working on with the City of Newport and the Commonwealth of Kentucky is improving and extending Route 9 from near the 12th Street Bridge over the Licking River between Newport and Covington through Newport and into Cincinnati. “This road project will create a completely new route that connects Route 9 to Newport on the Levee and the Taylor Southgate Bridge leading into Cincinnati,” said Jack Moreland, president of Southbank Partners.
September/October 2014
The new roadway will create the fastest route through the urban core from I-275 to Cincinnati and will generate new economic development opportunities and benefit existing businesses, Moreland said. “Connecting Route 9 to the area around the Levee into Cincinnati will bring new development along the new stretch of road,” he said. “Existing businesses will also benefit from extension and increased traffic, such as the Newport Pavilion, Party Source and its New Riff Distillery, businesses at and around Newport on the Levee, businesses on Monmouth Street, and residential developments along the riverfront.” The $400-million dollar Manhattan Harbor project in Dayton, Ky. is the latest residential project to sprout up along the Ohio River. The developer, DCI Properties, plans to build single-family homes on 23 acres along the river and a “signature building” that will have retail, restaurant space, and a clubhouse for residents.
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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
A New Approach to Economic Development By Tara Ford, Manager of Development Services, The Catalytic Fund A new approach to economic development through urban revitalization is making an impact in Northern Kentucky’s river cities of Ludlow, Covington, Newport, Bellevue and Dayton. With a mission to accelerate NKY’s urban renaissance, the Catalytic Funding Development Corp. of Northern Kentucky (the Catalytic Fund) recognizes that a vibrant urban core is vital to our region’s economic competiveness. The formation of this not for profit entity and capitalization of its $10 million investment fund was a key initiative of Vision 2015, a shared public plan that represents the region’s priorities.
The Catalytic Fund launched its lending and investment activities in 2013. With support of its ten investors (PNC Bank, Central Bank, Corporex, Duke Energy, Fifth Third Bank, First Financial Bank, The Bank of Kentucky, US Bank, The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile Jr./US Bank Foundation, The Greater Cincinnati Foundation) and a number of community partners, the Catalytic Fund executes strategic real estate projects as a method for attracting residents and businesses into Northern Kentucky’s urban core neighborhoods and business districts. By providing a patient, flexible source
of gap financing which attracts primary lenders and other capital, the Catalytic Fund facilitates the development of quality housing and mixed-use projects in a complex urban environment. To date, five loans totaling $915,000 by the Catalytic Fund plus development services provided by the organization have triggered projects valued at $25,503,000 - a multiplier of 28x the organization’s investment. Development and Financing Services The Catalytic Fund also provides development and financing services for projects that don’t necessarily require
Loans and Investments The Catalytic Fund’s loan transactions to date include: 1. Market Lofts, the conversion of a vacant building into a 15-unit market-rate apartment complex.
2. Pike Star, the conversion of a vacant historic building into 7 market rate apartment units with 4,500 square feet of ground-level commercial space - now the home to Northern Kentucky’s business accelerator, UpTech.
3. Newport Scholar House, construction of 48 subsidized units and an on-site childcare facility for single parent families in which the adult is enrolled in an accredited two or fouryear college degree program.
4. Mutual Building, the conversion of a vacant but iconic historic building into 15 market rate apartment units with 11,000 square feet of commercial/retail space. The groundbreaking ceremony for this project took place July 15, 2014. 18
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To date, five loans totaling $915,000 by the Catalytic Fund plus development services provided by the organization have triggered projects valued at $25,503,000 a multiplier of 28x the organization’s investment. the Fund’s investment but which require its organization’s real estate expertise. A recent example is a complex transaction involving the swap of two vacant and underutilized properties, the old Robke Chevrolet site and the Stewart Ironworks Building. The Catalytic Fund negotiated the terms of the swap and structured leases for a renovated building on the Robke site with the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the Northern Kentucky Area Development District. As a result, the Robke site will house a State-run 30,000 square foot “One Stop” Education and Employment Center and Stewart Ironworks will be converted to a facility for the Life Learning Center. Other Services The Catalytic Fund’s work entails more than real estate deals. Staff members provide other real estate related expertise including real estate market analysis, site analysis, data collection, grant appli-
cations and other consulting projects, to both the communities within the investment area and to urban developers. The organization also pursues project specific grants. In 2013, the Catalytic Fund received grants totaling $158,500 for four projects/initiatives. The Catalytic Fund is constantly developing a project pipeline to identify projects and sites in various stages of predevelopment. This pipeline allows the organization to provide leadership among stakeholders, plan for future lending and strategically respond to development proposals. The Catalytic Fund brings an entrepreneurial spirit to the business of urban revitalization through real estate investments. With a pipeline of potential projects exceeding $350,000,000 in total investment over the next 3-5 years, the Catalytic Fund is poised to continue its transformational work in Northern Kentucky’s river cities.
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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Passion
for Northern Kentucky Northern Kentucky Tri-ED serves as the primary economic development marketing agency for Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties and works collaboratively to enhance the business climate throughout the region. The Northern Kentucky Tri-ED team is dedicated to building on Northern Kentucky’s success through strategic focus, innovation, commitment and passion for our region.
Strategic Focus
Innovation
Dan Tobergte, President & CEO With 13 new and expanding companies and 1,000 new jobs year-to-date in 2014, Northern Kentucky is keeping pace …yet challenging times are ahead. The region will be impacted significantly with over 2,500 direct job losses from Toyota and Fidelity Investments over the next three years, but we are committed to minimizing the impact of these job losses and increasing economic competitiveness in the region. At Northern Kentucky Tri-ED, we focus on collaboration with our allies in Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties through the expansion, creation and attraction of high-quality, primary industry employers. Primary industry employers export products and services outside of Northern Kentucky and import money into the region. Tri-ED’s current three-year Strategic Plan focuses on primary industry efforts geared towards leading or supporting: • Business Retention and Expansion • High Growth Entrepreneurship • Marketing and Attraction • Infrastructure Enhancements • Workforce Service Delivery
Casey Barach, Senior Vice President Entrepreneurship & Director, NKY Office of the Kentucky Innovation Network Innovative, creative and motivated entrepreneurs with high growth potential are essential to the future success of the region. The Northern Kentucky ezone fosters high growth entrepreneurship offering business creation, planning and capital formation advice. It is an integral part of the Kentucky Innovation Network and has assisted in the creation of 1,496 new jobs and $158.6 in private investment, with more than 300 companies in Northern Kentucky. UpTech, Northern Kentucky’s informatics start-up accelerator, provides intensive six-month experience with free office space, mentoring and up to $50,000 in grant funds. Both UpTech and ezone are based in the heart of Covington and are the two primary entrepreneur programs supported by Northern Kentucky Tri-ED. Successes include: TiER1 Performance Solutions, Clear Measures (formerly dbaDIRECT), Jacobs Automation (recently acquired by Rockwell), 3DLT, CitiLogics and Tixers. UpTech just
With leadership from the Tri-ED Board of Directors—led by the Judges-Executive of Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties—and the Tri-County Economic Development Foundation Board of Directors, we will meet the challenges ahead and improve upon the world-class business environment in Northern Kentucky.
Since January, 2014, 13 primary industry companies have located or expanded in Northern Kentucky creating more than 1,000 new primary industry jobs and over $100 million in capital investment. 20
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Over the last 27 years, more than 570 companies have located or expanded in Northern Kentucky creating nearly 50,000 new primary jobs and approximately 120,000 total jobs. announced the 3rd class of start-up companies for a total of 23 companies to date. Kentucky lacked a thriving angel investor network to invest in start-up companies. With the recent passage of the Angel Investor Tax Credit bill, Kentucky now has the best and most aggressive Angel Tax Credit program in the country. This will help startups get to the next stage of growth, keep them in Kentucky and facilitate the expansion of our entrepreneur development and support programs, all part of the Kentucky Innovation Network.
Commitment
Wade Williams, Vice President Business Retention & Expansion/Manufacturing Projects Since the beginning of 2014, Northern Kentucky Tri-ED has visited with over 90 primary industry companies in Northern Kentucky through the NKY Boost program. Did you know that there are more than 570 primary industry companies in the tri-county area and, on average, more than 70% of primary industry job growth in the region each year is due to business expansion from this existing base? These companies are critical to spurring job growth in Northern Kentucky and we are committed to supporting their continued success. Through NKY Boost, our primary industry retention and expansion program, Northern Kentucky Tri-ED serves
as a single point of contact to help these companies find solutions to infrastructure, workforce, and transportation challenges, all critical for retention efforts. We also provide expert facilitation in expansion and job creation opportunities with our many allies in city, county and state governments.
Passion
Peggy Casey, Vice President Marketing & Informatics/Office Projects We take great pride in Northern Kentucky and work closely with state and local partners to attract primary industry companies to Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties. Through Tri-ED’s marketing and communication programs and key alliances with the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development and REDI Cincinnati, we will continue to expand Northern Kentucky’s national recognition among qualifying companies and real estate professionals, drive prospecting efforts and strategically target competitive markets. Northern Kentucky is resilient. We have strong and growing companies, convenience, affordability and connectivity, energizing urban revitalization, a highly skilled, talented and dedicated workforce, and community leaders that are steadfast advocates for Northern Kentucky. The entire team at Northern Kentucky Tri-ED is focused on working collaboratively to help build a world-class economy through innovation, data-driven and targeted programs, and our passion for NKY. Please visit our website www.NorthernKentuckyUSA.com. Follow us on Facebook.com/NorthernKentuckyUSA and Twitter @NKYTriED.
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ECONOMIC GROWTH
Building Kentucky Innovations Districts Life After the Angel Investment Tax Credit By Casey Barach, Vice President of Entrepreneurship, Northern Kentucky Tri-ED During the 2014 Kentucky legislative session, our elected officials came together and adopted the individual angel investor tax credit. After nearly five years of advocacy, this transformational tool was put in our toolbox to attract investment into our startup companies and ensure our greatest exports are not our brightest ideas and best entrepreneurs. We celebrated this significant achievement with a ceremonial bill signing at UpTech, Northern Kentucky’s Informatics-based business accelerator in Covington. In attendance included Governor Beshear, our legislative caucus and over 100 Northern Kentucky business leaders and regional advocates. It was truly magical to see the energy culminated from years of grassroots advocacy and support for the legislation. Now comes the question: what’s next? Our startup and small business resources in the region will be utilizing the newly adopted angel investment tax credit to get capital infused into our startup economy, but our work doesn’t stop there. For Northern Kentucky, and the Commonwealth as a whole, we must exercise the same level of innovation in how we shape our economic development efforts as the companies we represent do to their own products. So what is next? Innovation Districts.
What is an Innovation District? Following a national trend in tech-based economic development that supports the “clustering” of talent, resources and programs, an Innovation District will significantly increase the connections between entrepreneurs and the greater economy, bringing the forces into alignment and enabling our region to better leverage our competitive advantages. At the heart of an Innovation District is an “Accelerator” program, like bioLOGIC and UpTech. An accelerator attracts many but by its structure serves only the best. This makes attracting talent, resources and programs focused and sustainable. Through embracing and developing accelerators, Northern Kentucky has the opportunity to be a magnet for startups and entrepreneurs from across the country and globe. Why are Accelerators the Magnet? Accelerators provide a region with a “focus point” for its entrepreneurial talent, resources and programs. Accelerators do not dilute the time, talent and treasure in the region. The best startup companies get the best the region has to offer. For example, the Northern Kentucky region spent over 10 years trying to establish equity investment resources for the technology startups
Governor Steve Beshear signing the Angel Investor Tax Credit into law. Pictured left to right: Rep. Sal Santoro, Rep. Adam Koenig, Sen. John Schickel, Bill Robinson (Frost Brown Todd), Sen. Katie Stine, Rep. Rick Rand, Casey Barach (KY Innovation Network/ezone), Governor Steve Beshear, Jim Uber (CitiLogics), Rep. Arnold Simpson, Trey Grayson (NKY Chamber), and Amanda Greenwell (UpTech). 22
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at its Innovation Network office (known as the ezone) without sustained success. In 2012, the office announced its UpTech Accelerator program, and since that time the region has raised over $2M for the program. How Will the State Assist in Building Innovation Districts? In collaboration with partners from the regional economic development think-tank known as the Economic Competitiveness Working Group, we plan for our next lobbying push in Frankfort to invest in the implementation of Innovation Districts across the state. This is a model that can be adopted across the Commonwealth. An example is with Morehead State University in eastern Kentucky. They have focused energy on the development of a Space Science Center with expertise that will attract startup companies and entrepreneurial concepts. This attraction will begin the clustering of innovative space science companies, regional business development resources (lawyers, accountants, financiers, etc.), and the university’s resources. By having an accelerator that fosters these concepts and ideas, and is the starting point for talent attraction and production, the beginning of a space science cluster can be formed. We propose that the state’s role be indirect that assists in the development and initial operations of an Innovation District and its accelerator from a financial and organizational perspective. The responsibility to create an Innovation District will be on the local community, based on the assets they have. Once the necessary pieces are in place, the local organizing group will apply to the “Innovation District Program” (as proposed) and receive reimbursement funding for accelerator programs. The local areas must build the accelerator program and operate it for one year, and then may apply for the reimbursement dollars. This program demonstrates local organizational and financial commitment to the Innovation District program. We propose that the Commonwealth fund Innovation Districts on a $4 to $1 ratio, meaning that for every $4 raised into a private investment fund (like the UpTech Fund), the state will provide $1 for operation support of the program.
Leadership Northern Kentucky 35th Anniversary Celebration
LNK Alumni will host the 35th Anniversary event. Deemed the “Best Party Ever,” the LNK Alumni will “party like Gatsby” at the Syndicate in Newport, Kentucky on September 27th, 2014.
What’s the Return on Investment? Let’s say the state’s investment into the Innovation District program is capped at $5 million, and this money will be exhausted only after $20 million in local capital has been raised to build an accelerator as a first step towards the creation of a District. The intended outcomes are impressive: • The Commonwealth will be seeded with 20 accelerators having a local focus on business creation based upon assets. • Local groups will be formed to invest private capital into entrepreneurship and innovation. • Over 5 years, projections include: • 3,072 jobs created • $97 million in payroll generated • $140 million in private capital investment Kentucky needs to be the place where startups want to be and investors want to invest. On the heels of adopting the most aggressive angel investor tax credit program in the nation, the creation of Innovation Districts is the next step to get us to being the premier destination. This program will fill the deal-flow pipeline that will attract the interest of outside venture capital to the state. We look forward to working with our regional partners and lawmakers to build on our reputation of being startup and investor friendly, and to ensure an idea created here can grow here, stay here, and prosper here. September/October 2014
NKY Chamber Business Journal
The celebration will begin with a happy hour from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m, followed by dinner by-the-bite at and the main event at 7:00 p.m. The alumni group will honor five Leaders of Distinction and celebrate the 900+ alumni of LNK. The cost of the event is $60.00 per person.
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LEADERSHIP For 35 years, Leadership Northern Kentucky has worked to meet our community’s need for active participation of informed and dedicated leaders. The innovative program was designed to educate, challenge and motivate potential leaders and now has an alumni organization that is more than 1,000 graduates strong. A Ruth A. Eger Leader of Distinction has made significant and notable contributions for the betterment of our communities. This individual has achieved excellence and displayed superior leadership skills. • Achievement – accomplishment of desired results • Impact – notable positive changes observed • Recognizing a need - acted upon it, making a positive impact. • Meeting the challenges – visionary skills displayed, perseverance, focused commitment to project completion, and the spirit of volunteerism exhibited
Brent Cooper President, C-Forward
What advice would you have for young emerging leaders of the community? Show up. Listen. Engage in discussions that matter. Work hard. Don’t be afraid to fail. Don’t give up. How would you differentiate between a good leader and a good manager? A good leader has a vision, inspires and motivates people, and is constantly adapting to envision enter entire community. A good manager utilizes processes and directs resources (people and product). What do you want others to remember about your leadership style? That I was empowering, that I was always willing to listen, that I led by example, that I cared about what was right more than I cared about what was popular, and that I was fun, fair, demanding and treated everyone with kindness and respect, regardless of position. As a leader, what is the most important quality you see necessary to be effective? Listening, great communication, and tenacity. Favorite LNK memory? During my speech at the annual dinner in 2012, I asked previous LNK members to raise a hand. I think half the hands went up! It was my favorite memory as an LNK alumni, not only because of the quality people involved, but the difference they are making in the community. 24
Carri Chandler
Lee Flischel
What advice would you have for young emerging leaders of the community? Two things: 1) Find a mentor, 2) Whatever you are interested in and passionate about, get involved! Speak up and throw your idea on the table! (If big idea rejected, see #1.)
What advice would you have for young emerging leaders of the community? Look beyond your day-to-day duties at work and use your education and natural talents to also make a difference in the community. Be willing to work your way up. To be successful you may have to be one of the 20% who does 80% of the work. Don’t waste your time by taking on numerous assignments just for the sake of embellishing your resume.
External Affairs, Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing NA
How would you differentiate between a good leader and a good manager? Managers follow the leader, are perhaps more detail-oriented and focused on coordination. Leaders inspire and motivate others to achieve the desired results. What do you want others to remember about your leadership style? I’d like others to remember me as a servant leader—sincerely concerned for others, their development and success for the benefit of all. As someone who was genuine, respectful, open to new ideas and determined to achieve impactful results. As a leader, what is the most important quality you see necessary to be effective? Leading by positive example. Walk your talk. If you can’t do that, good luck. You’ll need it. Favorite LNK memory? The people! I had the good fortune to be involved with many classes other than my own. I’m always interested in learning more about people and what motivates them, so Camp Joy was always a great opportunity for that. NKYChamber.com
Retired, Former Chair, Woopert, Inc., Community Advocate
How would you differentiate between a good leader and a good manager? A good leader does the right thing and a good manager does things right. Good leaders recognize that having good managers is essential for any kind of sustainable success. Good leaders will question the statusquo but will listen and be open minded to the feedback they get from managers. They are self-confident, willing to make proactive decisions and live with the outcomes. Both have to be willing to lead by example. What do you want others to remember about your leadership style? As a people person I always wanted to make sure I knew the impact any leadership decision has on people as well as on the bottom line. I follow Vince Lombardi’s advice and “act like you’ve been there before” and realize a leadership position is just a job you’ve been asked to do and not something you’ve been anointed to do. September/October 2014
As a leader, what is the most important quality you see necessary to be effective? Honesty is paramount. You can be a good listener, make timely, objective decisions and motivate people but without honestly you’re just fooling yourself and everyone around you. If you’ve lost your credibility it’s extremely difficult to lead effectively. Favorite LNK memory? My favorite memory is learning from other classmates who represented a broad cross-section of the community whom I’d have never met otherwise. Discovering that they had a completely different set of life experiences that led them to think differently than I did led me to address challenges in a more open way and come up with solutions that were better or more effective. ***
Rhonda Whitaker Director, Government & Community Relations, Duke Energy
What advice would you have for young emerging leaders of the community? Seek a mentor(s) who will be motivational and candid. Network often with other community leaders and seek to understand critical community challenges, needs and opportunities. Consider participation in local leadership programs, such as LNK, which provide a great overview of community resources/challenges and cultivate long-term relationships. How would you differentiate between a good leader and a good manager? Good leaders energize others to think outside of the box and to challenge the status quo. They see roadblocks as a challenge worth finding a solution vs. an end to an issue. They instill confidence. Good managers manage details; good leaders manage direction and team morale and help guide overall vision and strategy. What do you want others to remember about your leadership style? I seek to be very collaborative and open to diverse ideas. Diverse ideas lead to pow-
LEADERSHIP erful discussions and often spark other creative ideas. My style is also to be very respectful of others and to sincerely listen. I also try to incorporate a good dose of optimism in leading efforts. Under my leadership, everyone is an important and valued part of the team. As a leader, what is the most important quality you see necessary to be effective? To be upbeat, motivational and inspiring. Favorite LNK memory? Being so inspired by such an incredible group of classmates as we all got to know one another at the kick-off retreat at Camp Joy. There was such energy in our group, and I remember wondering what great things this group would accomplish in time. Indeed, there has been one accomplishment after another by this class. The BEST class ever!! ***
Tom Prewitt Partner, Graydon Head
What advice would you have for young emerging leaders of the community? Allow your passion to develop and then follow it. How would you differentiate between a good leader and a good manager? A leader has to imagine what a better
future could like and then inspire others to see it and want it. Good managers are critical to making it happen. What do you want others to remember about your leadership style? That it was never about him. As a leader, what is the most important quality you see necessary to be effective? It must always be about others and the greater good of the organization or community. Favorite LNK memory? Working with four fellow LNK class of ‘99 graduates every Friday afternoon for 18 months to build the ezone.
Previous Leaders of Distinction Award Recipients Gary Bricking Ted Bushelman Helen Carroll Kathy Collins Robert Coughlin Jeffery Eger Ruth Eger Robert Elliston Donald Fritz
Christopher Goddard Michael Hammons Paul Hemmer Robert Hoffer Milly Navin Lisa Raterman Richard Robinson Dale Silver
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LEADERSHIP
Ten Recognized with Next Generation Leader Awards By Kristine Frech, Vision 2015 LEGACY, the premier organization for young professionals in Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, is pleased to announce the winners of several Regional Young Professional Awards, presented at a dinner program held at the Madison Event Center on July 17. The fifth annual Next Generation Leader Awards were awarded to ten young professionals to salute and applaud their professional achievement, community impact and demonstrated leadership, were presented last night. “The Next Generation Leader Awards process is designed to identify and magnify emerging leaders in our community,” said Kristine Frech, Next Generation Leader Award Chair for LEGACY. “The Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky region is rich in diverse and inspiring young talent. LEGACY is honored to host this event.” The Next Generation Leader Awards were open to individuals between 21-40 who live or work in the Northern Kentucky/Cincinnati area. Applicants were judged by a selection committee comprised of a diverse group of community leaders and industry experts within each of the 10 categories, and narrowed down to 30 finalists, with the winners announced at the Next Generation Leader Awards dinner last night. Hughes Accepts Third IMPACT Award LEGACY also presented the third annual IMPACT award to Dr. Ed Hughes, Gateway Community and Technical College. The IMPACT award is designed to highlight those in our community who have been champions for young professionals. “Dr. Hughes has been instrumental in the formation of young minds in our community,” said Frech. “By committing to the urban core he in ensuring a thriving community for Northern Kentucky’s current and future workforce. LEGACY is proud to honor leaders such as Dr. Hughes and we are thankful to have such driven minds in our region.” Tapke Receives Fourth Vision 2015 Young Visionary Award In addition to the 10 NGLA winners, the fourth Vision 2015 Young Visionary Award was presented last night to Stacy Tapke, Kenton County Attorney’s Office. Sponsored by Vision 2015, the leadership organization behind Northern Kentucky’s strategic plan, the award honors a young professional who has made a tremendous positive impact on the region through his/her personal and professional efforts and successes. “Stacy Tapke was chosen to receive this year’s Young Visionary Award because of her proven track record of insight, community involvement, and forward thinking leadership. Stacy’s work in the office of the Kenton County Attorney has improved the lives of residents of Kenton County,” said Bill Scheyer, President of Vision 2015. “Her leadership in organizations, such as Legacy, the 26
Winners of the Next Generation Leader Awards: Arts, Entertainment & Recreation: Colleen Houston, Artworks Business & Financial Services: Rachel Rochers, Grateful Grahams Communication, Marketing & Sales: Jill Dunne, Metro Community & Social Services: Jordan Huizenga, Children Inc. Design and Construction: Ben Barlage, GBBN Education: Rob Hartman, Walton Verona Elementary School Government & Public Affairs: Larisa Sims, City of Covington Legal Services: Ian Koffler, Dinsmore Law Manufacturing, Technology & Sciences: Brett Ruschman, Combined Communications Medical & Health Care Services: Dr. Michael Greiwe, Commonwealth Orthopaedic Centers Young Lawyers Section of the Northern Kentucky Bar Association, Leadership Northern Kentucky, and Vision 2015’s myNKY Leadership Team are important in advancing our entire region. Stacy’s vision, drive and integrity perfectly illustrate the ideals of the Young Visionary Award.” Gibson Presented with First Emerging Philanthropist Award The Greater Cincinnati Foundation’s Northern Kentucky Fund recognized Crystal Gibson with the first ever Emerging Philanthropist Award for her significant community contributions. “Crystal’s distinguished leadership and service across numerous nonprofit boards and committees, including GCF’s Community Investment Committee, demonstrate her passion for philanthropy and commitment to making Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati more vibrant and prosperous,” said Shiloh Turner, Vice President for Community Investment for the Greater Cincinnati Foundation. LEGACY is the leading tri-state organization for young professionals between the ages of 21-40. Annual membership dues are $75 per person, and business memberships are also available. To learn more about LEGACY visit www.legacyleadership.org or for more information, contact Kristine Frech at (859) 292-3292.
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September/October 2014
Chamber Snapshots
225+ professional women enjoyed networking at this year’s ‘Connecting Shore to Shore’ hosted by the NKY Women’s Initiative.
Kevin Canafax of Fidelity Investments introduces U.S. Senator Rand Paul at Government Forum.
AROUND THE CHAMBER
Current NKY Chamber President Trey Grayson and immediate-past President Steve Stevens at Eggs ‘N Issues.
Dan Tobergte of Tri-ED introduces Johnna Reeder, President and CEO of REDI Cincinnati, to a large crowd at Eggs ‘N Issues. Johnna Reeder of REDI chats with Amanda Greenwell of UpTech at Eggs ‘N Issues.
#GovSelfie—Governor Beshear takes a “selfie” to celebrate the Angel Investor Tax Credit bill signing hosted at UpTech. In the photo are Senator Katie Stine, Amanda Greenwell of UpTech, Governor Beshear, Jim Uber of CitiLogics, Representative Arnold Simpson, and Trey Grayson of NKY Chamber.
Leadership Northern Kentucky Class of 2014 at their graduation celebration.
The HealthCare HealthShare Series: Combating Heroin and Addictions in the Workplace event: l-r- Geralyn Isler of Business Benefits and presenter Kelly Schoening, DBL Law; Mary Lynn Brunemann of St. Elizabeth Business Health and presenter Charlotte Wethington of Transitions, Inc.; and Rep. Addia Wuchner and Robert Palmer, KEMI. September/October 2014
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MEMBER MILESTONES
Member Milestones Promotions, Appointments, New Jobs and Awards
Submit your Milestones by email to rgibeau@nkychamber.com. Posts are limited to about 250 characters. Photos should be 300 dpi and of good quality. Submissions may be edited.
Shriners Hospitals for Children – Cincinnati Recognizes Generosity of DeCastro Family, Kerry Automotive and Toyota Nancy DeCastro, Kerry Automotive and Toyota were recognized for their generosity at the Cincinnati Shriners Hospital’s “Camp Ytiliba” on June 2, 2014. Camp Ytiliba (“ability” spelled backwards) is an annual, week-long camp for pediatric burn survivors held at the YMCA’s Camp Kern in Oregonia, OH. Nancy, and her late husband, Pat, owners of Kerry Automotive, have been long-time supporters of the hospital and camp. Mrs. DeCastro, GMs and executive staff from Kerry Automotive group, and a representative from Toyota Motor Sales USA toured the campgrounds, talked with counselors and spent time with campers. As a special “thank you,” for the generosity of all parties, campers presented Mrs. DeCastro with a crystal donor recognition award and framed photo of 2013’s Camp Ytiliba, signed by each camper. Senior Services of NKYAnnounces Jay Van Winkle as Executive Director Senior Services of NKY, the region’s leading provider of services designed to ensure seniors maintain their dignity and independence, has named Jay Van Winkle as the organization’s Executive Director effective June 16. Van Winkle, a resident of Newport, KY, will leave his current role as Managing Director of Keylingo Translations, a busi-
ness to business professional translation service that his family launched in 2011. Prior to his role with Keylingo Translations, Van Winkle, was the National Vice President of Development for the National Kidney Foundation. “Senior Services vision is to help seniors live well and age well. Jay will be excellent at helping to direct that vision,” said Mark Palazzo, Chair of the Senior Services Board of Directors. “This role is vital for ensuring that seniors in our region receive the transportation, meals, advocacy, and care they need to age in place and Jay’s ability to develop a long term vision while executing on immediate needs coupled with his extensive knowledge of our region made him the ideal candidate,” Palazzo added. Van Winkle will lead a staff of 80 as well as 150 committed volunteers who provide much needed services designed to keep adults healthy and self-sufficient in their own homes. enior Services is most widely known for the Meals on Wheels program which delivers over 300 meals each weekday. Van Winkle is extremely involved in the community including the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce; Leadership Northern Kentucky; the Northern Kentucky International Trade Association and the Miami Valley International Trade Association. Attorney, Tim Spille, Accepts Position on the Redwood Board of Overseers Freund, Freeze & Arnold is pleased to announce that Timothy B. Spille has accepted a position on the Redwood Board of
Overseers. Spille’s three-year term began on July 1, 2014. Located in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky, Redwood guides children and adults with severe and multiple disabilities to achieve independence and reach their highest potential throughout their lives, by providing enriching educational, therapeutic, and vocational services. Spille learned about the great things Redwood does through close friends whose child attended school there. His friends encouraged him to join the Board of Overseers. Spille is a litigation, insurance coverage and small business lawyer representing clients in state and federal courts throughout Ohio and Kentucky. His litigation practice is diverse. Oswald Hires Kevin Rolf as Construction Manager Oswald Company, a Cincinnati based development and construction company, announced that it has hired Kevin Rolf as Construction Manager. In this role, Kevin is focused on managing with the highest standards in safety, quality and adherence to budget and schedule benchmarks. Kevin began his construction career in 1980. In recent years his focus has been in hospital and office work, where he managed on-site renovations in existing occupied buildings, showing attention to low impact construction and following strict infection control standards. In his 35 years of experience, Kevin has overseen
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MEMBER MILESTONES all phases of multimillion dollar commercial and residential construction projects. Oswald benefits from Kevin’s proven history of high quality project completions and his practical method to controlling cost and finishing the project under budget without diminishing quality Ky. Sen. Chris McDaniel Named NKU MBA Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Chris McDaniel has been busy since graduating from the Northern Kentucky University Master of Business Administration program in 2004. He bought his family’s business, McD Concrete. He and his wife Billie have two daughters, Mallory and Cecelia, and three foster children. He was elected to the Kentucky State Senate in 2012 to represent Kentucky’s 23rd District. And now the 37-year-old Taylor Mill, Ky., native is the 2014 recipient of the Dr. Tom Cate Distinguished Alumni of the Year award for the MBA program in the NKU Haile/ U.S. Bank College of Business. Despite so much success, McDaniel said he was a bit surprised by the honor. “I received an email from the program director and I was astonished,” he said. “With
all of the great things that NKU alumni are doing around the world every day, I was humbled that they would select me for this award.” McDaniel is the third winner of the Dr. Tom Cate Distinguished Alumni of the Year award, joining Eric Teegarden (2012), an executive at General Electric, and Jeeva Kumar (2013) who runs ZF Steering in Florence. $3.6M Renovation Project in Progress at CHNK For the first time in its 90 years perched high atop a hillside in Covington’s Devou Park, the administration building at Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky is undergoing an extensive renovation. The project, which will cost $3.6 million to complete, includes renovating the lower level and first floor to accommodate a Therapeutic Day School. The school, a joint venture between CHNK and Covington Independent Public Schools, will allow for traditional academic services to be married with behavioral/mental health treatment for adolescents. In addition to the state-of-the-art classrooms, computer lab, and student learn-
ing kitchen planned for the day school, the second floor will be renovated to house CHNK’s administrative offices. The third floor—which was originally used as a nursery and later, as a storage area—will be transformed into a training and events center. A fire suppression system is being added throughout the building, as well as an elevator servicing all four floors of the building, wheelchair-accessible ramps, and ADA-compliant restrooms. Paul Hemmer Company is managing the extensive renovations. Northern Kentucky District Board of Health Names Officers The Northern Ken tucky District Board of Health has selected Jonathan Rich, DMD, Richard Schuck, OD, Dr. Jonathan Rich and Julie Metzger Aubuchon, OD, as officers for its fiscal year 2015, which runs from July 1, 2014, through June 30, 2015. Rich, representing Grant County, will serve as Chair. He is a dentist in private practice with Precision Dental Care and served as Chair in 2010-2011.
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Schuck, representing Campbell County, will serve as Immediate Past Chair. He is an optometrist with Northern Kentucky Eye Care Center in Fort Thomas. Schuck was previously Chair of the Board in 2006-2007. Metzger Aubuchon, representing Boone County, will serve as Vice Chair. She is an optometrist with Metzger Eye Care with offices in Florence and Covington. Lynne M. Saddler, MD, MPH, District Director of Health, serves as Secretary to the Board. Eva Ballard, Timothy Franxman, MD, and Gary Hampton, RPh, were also appointed as members of the District Board. Ballard represents Kenton County and is president of Ballard Benefits Group, an insurance broker based in Independence. Franxman represents Boone County and is a doctor specializing in allergy/ asthma with Family Allergy and Asthma in Florence. Hampton represents Kenton County and is a pharmacist with Medcare Pharmacy in Florence. The 32-member Northern Kentucky District Board of Health oversees the operations and policies of the Northern Kentucky Independent District Health Department. The agency provides public health services to the residents of Boone, Campbell, Grant and Kenton Counties in Northern Kentucky. Northern Kentucky Health Department Selects Director of Population Health Stephanie Vogel was recently named Director of Population Health for the Northern Kentucky Health Department. In this position, Vogel oversees the Health Department’s Population Health division, which includes programs and services that focus on the factors that determine the health of large groups of people in the community. The division works to prevent the causes of chronic and infectious diseases and includes programs for tobacco prevention and cessation, physical activity, nutrition and school health, HIV, oral health and epidemiology. Vogel has worked at the Health Department since 1999, starting in the tobacco prevention and cessation program, and most recently as Interim Health Promotion Administrator. Currently, Vogel serves as Chair of the Northern Kentucky Agency for Substance Abuse Policy, is a September/October 2014
MEMBER MILESTONES member of the health task force for United Way of Greater Cincinnati, the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Community Advisory Coalition, and serves on additional community coalitions. Thomas More College Pairs With Citi to Offer MBA Class On-Site for Employees Twelve employees of the Citi Consumer Banking Operations Site on Houston Road in Florence started MBA classes last week. A partnership with Thomas More College now gives local Citi employees the opportunity to take classes on-site and they can qualify for scholarships to participate. “This partnership is an example of our goal to provide strong academic programs that meet area workforce need, plus assist the business community in attracting and retaining top talent,” said Judy Bautista, Senior Enrollment Manger of the Accelerated and Professional Programs at Thomas More College (TAP). “We collaborate with area companies and our alumni are employed in a wide range of occupational sectors that include: marketing, human services, manufacturing, engineering, information technology, government, banking and financial services.” The business and accounting programs at Thomas More College were recently accredited through The Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (www.ACBSP.org), which is an accreditation above and beyond Thomas More’s regional accreditation from Southern Association of College and Schools (SACS). Unlike other institutions, the ACBSP separately and fully accredited the accountancy program separately from the business program. Many business programs and accountancy programs in the United States are not professionally accredited. Thomas More College Professor Joins Hammond Law Group Ms. Lynnette Guzzino, Esq., professor at Thomas More College, has joined the Hammond Law Group as Of Counsel, consulting with the firm on immigration cases and assisting with business development. Clients of the Hammond Law Group include corporations, private and public universities, healthcare institutions and IT companies. The firm is located in downtown Cincinnati. In addition to her legal background, NKY Chamber Business Journal
Guzzino brings to the firm experience in higher education, business management, language skills and a talent for working with multi-cultural groups. Her association with the immigration law firm provides a valuable resource for Thomas More College international students, professors, researchers and corporate partners. Guzzino will continue as a professor in the Thomas More College business department, focusing on International Management and Business Law. She joined the College in 2005. She practiced general civil litigation in Louisiana before working for the Northern Kentucky Legal Aid Society as director of the Volunteer Lawyers Program. She currently serves on the Board of the Northern Kentucky International Trade Association and is a member of several international business and Chamber organizations. She earned a Bachelors Degree in Economics and French from Loyola University in New Orleans and went on to earn a Juris Doctor degree from the Loyola University School of Law. She earned a Master of International Management from Thunderbird School of Global Management in Arizona. New Gateway Board Announced Newly appointed members of the Gateway Community and Technical College board of directors were sworn into office at a board meeting at the college’s Boone Campus Thursday. Those taking the oath of office were Joseph H. Creaghead of Fort Mitchell; Chad L. Day, Covington; Jeffrey Groob, Covington; Kenneth Paul, Fort Thomas; Dr. Julie Ann Smith-Morrow, Newport; Iversy Velez, Florence; and Paul Whalen, Fort Thomas. The six were appointed to the board by Governor Steve Beshear. Groob was elected temporary chair, and Paul was elected temporary vice chair. They will serve in these capacities until new officers are elected at the board’s next regular meeting. Groob and Paul are returning board members, having been reappointed by the governor. Ford Selects Gateway to Offer Its ASSET Technician Training Program Ford Motor Company has selected Gateway Community and Technical College to offer its Automotive Student Service Educational Training (ASSET) program in northern Kentucky and southwest Ohio. 31
MEMBER MILESTONES “Ford approached us about offering its prestigious ASSET program in a geographic region that stretches from just south of Columbus, Ohio, to the Louisville, Ky., area,” said Sam Collier, chair of GCTC’s Transportation Technologies Division. “Ford’s decision speaks very highly of the quality of our faculty and our ability to provide automotive training to Ford’s specifications and high expectations.” The Ford ASSET program is a 24-month associate’s degree program offered at only 39 locations across the country. Ford sets the academic guidelines necessary to confer Ford technician associate degrees. “The academic requirements ensure that ASSET students gain the same Ford Motor Company Service Technician Specialty Training credentials that Ford technicians earn if they enroll in programs at Ford Motor Company Training Centers,” Collier said. He added the ASSET program is separate from and in addition to GCTC’s existing Automotive Technology option. Gateway Offers SHRM® Certification Prep Course Gateway Community & Technical College, through its Workforce Solutions Division, will offer a human resources professional training program, beginning Aug. 26. The course is designed primarily for individuals seeking Professional in Human Resources (PHR) or Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification. The SHRM® Learning System Course offers an in-depth overview of key areas in human resource management. Materials include six modules that correspond to the six functional areas, responsibilities, and associated knowledge as defined by the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI). Instructors in Gateway’s program are SPHR certified and have extensive work experience as human resource professionals. Their practical expertise provides participants with an invaluable perspective on the professional world. UpTech Announces Its Third Class of Big Ideas UpTech, Cincinnati’s business accelerator specializing in supporting informatics startups, today announced the winners of its third round of funding—UpTech III. Seven startups will each receive up to $50,000 in equity investment along with 32
free office space in Covington, a team of business support partners and a mentor, and access to applied research support from Northern Kentucky University. “These seven big ideas will complement the existing diversity of our alumni portfolio companies,” said Amanda Greenwell, UpTech program director. “We could not be more excited to welcome entrepreneurs whose game-changing commercial ideas show promise to transform many industries—from education to real estate and more.” UpTech, which has become known for its commitment to startup success through an intense individualized approach, will pair each startup with a general business mentor and regional professionals in the banking, legal, accounting, and marketing areas. As it recently demonstrated in helping lead a $250,000 investment round for portfolio company, Tixers, UpTech’s unique model of support for its family of companies extends well beyond its Demo Day at the conclusion of the six months, this year to begin September 8. The seven UpTech III finalists applied to this year’s competition by 7 May, and a panel of over 40 judges and investors selected them from a semi-finalist pool of 18 in early August. UpTech’s newest portfolio companies include the following. • Dr. Scribbles: This company makes medical exam room bench paper that replaces the standard paper. Dr. Scribbles turns the standard paper into an interactive experience, covering the exam room, mobile devices, and the online world. Their paper offers a wide range of games, educational activities, and areas to scribble. Dr. Scribbles transforms medical visits into more positive experiences by allowing patients to have fun while waiting. • Hapzing: Hapzing’s activity-driven publishing platform makes it easy for users to do more of what they want. A mobile app that lets users track when and where their favorite events are happening, they also help businesses build loyalty and grow customers. • linkedü: A social content sharing platform for K-12 teachers, linkedü makes the lesson planning process more efficient and effective by removing the distance between great teachers and great content. Although their product serves K-12 teachers, the company approaches NKYChamber.com
the market non-traditionally. It operates outside of schools’ restrictive sales cycles by taking the product directly to teachers. • Nekst: This company offers a real estate web application that seeks to improve the efficiency of the home buying and selling experience. Through their app, Nekst turns the closing process into a simple, organized, and transparent experience. • Seesaw: Seesaw is an easy-to-use platform that provides parents a convenient way to plan playdates, parties, special events, and other family-friendly activities. • Travel Notes: This company seamlessly communicates an individual’s travel plans to their financial institutions so as to prevent their credit or debit card from being denied while traveling. • Wayger: Wayger is a mobile application that allows users to bet on the outcomes of sporting events against their friends. They earn rewards for picking outcomes correctly. UpTech is Greater Cincinnati’s tech accelerator that takes a customized approach with each startup it accepts. Founded in January 2012, it is a six-month residential program based in Covington, Kentucky. Northern Kentucky Tri-ED Names Peggy Casey Vice President, Marketing and Informatics/Office Projects Northern Kentucky TriCounty Economic Development Corporation (Tri-ED) announced that Peggy Casey has joined Northern Kentucky Tri-ED as Vice President, Marketing and Informatics/Office Projects. “Peggy brings a breadth of expertise in marketing, public relations and communications, as well as significant involvement in the Northern Kentucky community,” said Dan Tobergte, President and CEO of Northern Kentucky Tri-ED. “Her management experience will be beneficial as she directs Northern Kentucky Tri-ED’s marketing efforts and works with new and existing high-tech informatics-based companies in concert with our many local, regional and state allies.” Casey managed communications and public relations for Sanitation District No. 1 of Northern Kentucky for nearly 15 years and has coordinated communications, events and special projects for the September/October 2014
Northern Kentucky Education Council over the last three years. She is a Leadership Northern Kentucky alumnus and served as Chair of the program in 2009. In 2010, she received the Outstanding Women of Northern Kentucky Emerging Leader Award for her active role in community affairs. Strauss Troy Attorney Martin Butler Receives NKU Lincoln Award Strauss Troy Attorney Marty Butler received Northern Kentucky University’s (NKU) prestigious Lincoln Award for public service. “Marty Butler is a highly successful and creative commercial real estate and business attorney, who is also extremely committed to giving back and serving organizations which are our very fabric and future,” said Strauss Troy President Marshall Dosker. “He is a role model and leader for all of us, and his commitment to Northern Kentucky has been a life-long pursuit.” Butler has served on the Northern Kentucky Board of Regents for 11 years,
MEMBER MILESTONES two of those as chair. Additionally, he served as chair of the NKU Presidential Search Committee. He has also served as chair of the Northern Kentucky Fine Arts Fund Campaign, president of Northern Kentucky Habitat for Humanity, and as board member of the Parish Kitchen, Senior Citizens of Northern Kentucky and Southbank Fund. These are only a few of the organizations that he has helped over the years with his leadership and generous support. Tasico Hospitality Aquires Radisson Cincinnati Riverfront Hotel Canada based, Tasico Hospitality Group, founded in 1982, announces the purchase of the Radisson Cincinnati Riverfront located in Covington, Kentucky. This is a first US hotel for the company, adding to a portfolio with an array of hotel brands located in Canada. The 220-room Radisson Cincinnati Riverfront, built in 1972 and a familiar landmark in the Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati areas, will undergo an extensive multi-million dollar facelift and renovation to include guest rooms and interior/ exterior common space areas of the hotel.
“We are very excited to acquire this iconic hotel” says Fayez Thawer, Managing Director of Tasico Hospitality, “Our intention is to complete a renovation of the hotel and all of its facilities over the next twelve months, thereby assisting the local management team in reaching the hotel’s potential as an ideal choice for both corporate and leisure travelers alike.” There are no plans to reflag the hotel and it will continue to operate with the existing management and associates. Mr. Thawer will be supported on property by General Manager, Art Santomo and a strong management team. “We are very pleased to be working with Tasico and even more pleased to see a renovation come to fruition,” says Santomo. “Restoration of the landmark reputation this hotel once enjoyed will be a welcome improvement and provide value to the city of Covington and the area.” Beckfield College Recognized with Top Honors at Competition in Nashville Beckfield College business students showcased their strength in the business field at the Future Business Leaders of America – Phi Beta Lambda National
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MEMBER MILESTONES Leadership Conference in Nashville on June 24–27. Three Beckfield College students from the Florence, KY Campus earned four top ten finishes. There were more than 1,800 students who participated in the conference from 190 colleges. Beckfield College students surpassed the work of students from Rutgers University, University of Pittsburgh, University of Nebraska, and other business colleges. TMC’s Biology Field Station Site Collects Five Truckloads During River Sweep 2014 River Sweep 2014 was held Saturday, June 21 along the shoreline of the Ohio River and its many tributaries. Thomas More College and the Biology Field Station (8309 Mary Ingles Highway, California, KY) has been a host site for the annual sweep since its inception 25 years ago. River Sweep is a riverbank cleanup that extends the entire length of the Ohio River and beyond. More than 3,000 miles of shoreline were combed for trash and debris. This is the largest environmental event of its kind and encompasses six states. Approximately 35 volunteers participated at the Field Station this year, joining hundreds of others along the entire stretch of the River. They covered about five miles of shoreline on the Kentucky side of the river, and another three miles on the OH side, which included the banks along Front Street in New Richmond, Ohio.
Thirty years ago, founder Don Jacobson, left his University of Kentucky Agriculture professor position and family dairy farm to establish a single retail store to sell his cost feed formula software bundled with the personal computer. The company was based on a simple idea; hard work and treat the customer right. NetGain Technologies remains a privately held business under the leadership of CEO & owner, Mark and COO & owner, Jim. “I’m so proud to know we came from such humble beginnings and now provide jobs for over 150 people. Good jobs, the kind that provide for lots of families. And our team works hard to make sure the systems run for our customers so they can provide for their families. It’s all very humbling,” said Mark Jacobson. Bonefish Grill Hosted A Bang Bang Night for Redwood Bonefish Grill hosted their 8th Annual Bang Bang Night for Redwood on August 3 at Bonefish’s Crescent Springs location, with over 150 guests. All proceeds benefited Redwood, a nonprofit organization providing educational, therapeutic, and vocational services to children and adults with disabilities. The partnership began eight years ago when a Redwood client’s sister was working at Bonefish Grill. The staff at Bonefish Grill created this event in memory of the client to support Redwood’s enriching programs, along with helping spread Redwood’s mission throughout the community. C-Forward Celebrating 15 Year Anniversary C-Forward, Inc., located in Covington, Kentucky is celebrating 15 years of providing IT service to the Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky area. The business was started in 1999 by Brent Cooper in Ft. Thomas, KY focusing on computer network
Boone County Pee Wee League Celebrates 45 Years serving the Youth of Northern Kentucky since 1969 The Boone County Pee Wee Football League (BCPWFL) is proud to announce that they are celebrating 45 years in the community. The BCPWFL has been the beginning for several football stars over the years including Shaun Alexander and even the great moms and dads that come back to coach and volunteer year after year. Class of 2014 Shinkle Society to Support CHNK A premier giving circle established three years ago by Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky is now poised to help launch the agency’s next chapter of treatment services for abused, neglected, and at-risk youth. The Shinkle Society, formed in 2011, addresses CHNK’s most significant and urgent needs; to date, the society has generated nearly $300,000 in monetary support and $18,000 in in-kind donations. And this year, the Home’s development office hopes to hit the half-million dollar mark. “The Shinkle Society Class of 2014 is in a unique position,” explains Rick Wurth, CHNK Chief Executive Officer. “Our Home is on the verge of a new chapter in our history that focuses on adolescent behavioral and mental health, with specific regard to substance use disorders, and all funds generated by members of this year’s society will help us renovate our buildings to better serve this population.” NetGain Technologies Celebrates 30 years in Business NetGain Technologies Inc., a region-leading managed IT solutions and services provider, announced that August 24, 2014 marks the company’s 30th anniversary since its founding in 1984. 34
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844-77-SMART
September/October 2014
Groundbreaking Work Begins for Northern Kentucky Scholar House in Newport Kentucky A model program for breaking the cycle of poverty that is already making a difference in five other Kentucky communities will soon be available for eligible single parents in Northern Kentucky. Scholar House is a statewide housing and education initiative that enables the head-of-household to reach self-sufficiency based on proven best practices and a comprehensive, two-generation approach. Among the eligibility criteria is the requirement that the adult caregiver in the household be enrolled full-time in a two or four-year post-secondary degree program. The Northern Kentucky Scholar House will be located in Newport, Kentucky, adjacent to the existing Marguerite Robinson Community Center. The development team, led by Neighborhood Foundations, includes Brighton Properties, Inc., and The Model Group. Neighborhood Foundations will own and manage the property, and Brighton Center, Inc. will provide the Educational Program as well as other supportive services. Neighborhood Foundations Executive Director Tom Guidugli explained, “We are pleased to be working with our partners on this project to bring a Scholar House to Newport. The community support for this project demonstrates the regional commitment to providing opportunities for all people to pursue educational success, employment and self-sufficiency.” When complete, there will be 48 apartments and an on-site child development center. There also will be economic and educational support programs connecting parents with resources like child care assistance, food stamps, work study, financial aid, financial education and life skills training. Moreover, Northern Kentucky University, Gateway Community and Technical College and Cincinnati State have all endorsed Northern Kentucky Scholar House and will work with the project. Northern Kentucky Scholar House is being made possible through generous financial support from the Kentucky Housing Corporation, LISC/National Equity Fund, Inc., Bank of Kentucky, Kentucky Department of Local Government, Campbell County Fiscal Court, City of Newport and The Catalytic Fund. The project also has received generous financial contributions from: Bank of Kentucky, The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr./ U.S. Bank Foundation, Clyde N. Day Foundation, Duke Energy Foundation, The Greater Cincinnati Foundation, The William Riedlin, Sr. Memorial Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, The John A. Schroth Family Charitable Trust, PNC Bank Trustee, The R.C. Durr Foundation, Inc., Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, and U.S. Bank Foundation.
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WOMEN’S INITIATIVE SPOTLIGHT
Getting to Know Bebe Kinnett Bebe Kinnett, Owner, Absolute Web Designs & featured author of Inspire! Women’s Stories of Achievement, Encouragement & Influence. How did you get selected to contribute a chapter to the book, Inspire! Women’s Stories of Achievement, Encouragement & Influence? I met Beth Caldwell, publisher, three years ago at an eWomen Network of Cincinnati meeting. Becoming an author was on my “bucket list” so I kept in touch with her. When I discovered that she was searching for 25 authors, I applied. From all over the United States, women applied to be the chosen authors. Since the theme was “Inspire” I provided several different story concepts. My story of dealing with unemployment over age 50 was one of the stories that she felt would fit with the theme of the book. Your chapter is “The Pill I Wouldn’t Swallow.” Care to give us a teaser? Every career has ups and downs. After a layoff, I went from being a Corporate Executive managing a $4 million budget to wondering how I would meet our personal budget. The job search proved to be discouraging. I refused to believe that I was worthless or worth less. Absolute Web Designs was the key to my recovery. What influenced your transition from college counselor to entrepreneur? It was a time in my life that I had the opportunity and courage to evolve from employee to employer. Going from counseling to technology appears to be a huge leap but the transition was successful because of transferable skills and listening to my own career counseling advice! I suggested that students look at their specific skills and combine it with a passion. As a counselor I learned how to listen and guide individuals to achieve their goals. As the owner of a web design business, I listen and guide individuals on how to use technology to achieve their business goals. It’s a perfect match! 36
How do you view change? When I taught classes at the colleges I ended each semester by asking the students how they would enhance the class if they were the instructor. I received great ideas and never taught the course exactly the same way. As the owner of a web design business, I constantly ask for feedback from my customers and colleagues rather than assuming I know all the answers. It is very easy to get into a rut because “it has always been done that way,” but status quo can definitely inhibit innovation and creativity. The web design business changes constantly so I am always looking for new ideas. How can professional women become more empowered? Surround yourself with positive people that support and challenge you! My husband, Jim, has supported my crazy ideas for 38 years! However, he also gives me valuable feedback when my ideas are a little too crazy. Networking with other business women allows me to voice my concerns and share ideas. Being empowered doesn’t mean that you have to do everything on your own. Involve yourself with other empowered women because empowerment is contagious! All of us can be more entrepreneurial in some way. What’s your advice? We have all heard those little voices in our head warning us to play it safe. There is a fine balance between safety and risk. My advice is to evaluate risk and determine if it brings you closer to your goals and passion. Unnecessary risk isn’t beneficial, but inertia (resistance to change) doesn’t encourage creativity or innovation. My advice is to assume the risk when the result aligns with your long range goals and outweighs the short term obstacles. After I turned 40, I went back to school to complete my Master’s degree. Twenty years elapsed from the time I took my first graduate class until I earned my degree because we moved so many times. It was a big risk to spend the money and NKYChamber.com
time to enhance my education especially when we had three sons at home. I’m so glad I took that risk because my education opened many doors for me and created the self-confidence I needed to become an entrepreneur. Who has been most influential in your life and why? Family! In the 1930’s my grandfather, a bank President, was taken hostage by bank robbers and shot. He died of infection. My grandmother became the next President of the bank. A widowed female bank President in rural Kansas in the ‘30s; what are the chances that could happen? While raising five children, she ran the bank like her own business. She read the Wall Street Journal even in her 80s. I think I inherited her entrepreneurial spirit! My parents also had a substantial impact on my life. My father ran his own business and my mother held leadership positions on numerous boards. They showed me the love of nature, encouraged my creativity, and established a foundation of respect, trust and ethics. I’m lucky to have family with a strong sense for business and respect for friends, family and community. You have 15 seconds - what message would you give professional women? In the book Inspire! I use a quote from Eleanor Roosevelt: “Do something every day that scares you.” An entrepreneur has to face numerous decisions and the consequences can be frightening. My advice to women is to be brave and follow your dreams, even if it scares the heck out of you! Women’s Initiative Profiles are coordinated by Laura Kroeger, Vice President, Gateway Community and Technical College and Immediate Past Chair of the Women’s Initiative September/October 2014
UPCOMING EVENTS SEPTEMBER 9/12 Your Chamber is a Gold Mine: Successful Referral and Personal Marketing Strategies 9/18
2014 Annual Dinner Presented by Fifth Third Bank
9/27
Leadership NKY 35th Anniversary Celebration
9/30
Eggs ‘N Issues: State of Northern Kentucky Address
OCTOBER 10/23 Women’s Initiative Professional Series: “LinkedIn 201: Taking LinkedIn to the Next Level” 10/23
Emerging 30 Awards Dinner
10/28
Eggs ‘N Issues: 2015 Regional Economic Outlook
Clark Schaefer Hackett 300 Buttermilk Pike, Suite 101 Ft. Mitchell, KY 41017 859.578.0125 Ambassadors: Andy Johnson, The Bank of Kentucky; Susan Jackson, Jackson Interiors and Tom Wermeling, Midway Tack Shop.
NOVEMBER 11/7 Your Chamber is a Gold Mine: Successful Referral and Personal Marketing Strategies 11/18 Eggs ‘N Issues: Gateway’s Urban Campus DECEMBER 12/3 2015 Where We Stand Reception 12/9 Eggs ‘N Issues: Chamber Presidents Brian Carley and Trey Grayson Scan the code or visit www.NKYChamber.com
Freund, Freeze & Arnold 2400 Chamber Center Drive, Suite 200 Ft. Mitchell, KY 41017-1679 859.292.2088 Ambassadors: Drew Bartel, AAA Allied Group; Kim Bradley, Arrasmith Promotions; Republic Bank: Steve Novak and Tom Saelinger
HORAN NKY 207 Grandview Drive, Suite 100 Fort Mitchell, KY, 41017
Big idEas for a HEaltHY small BusiNEss Expect wellness options that meet your needs Humana gives you the flexibility and support to help you make the right choices, and to help your employees get on a healthier path. After all, keeping your employees healthy is the first step to keeping your company healthy.
Event Ambassadors: (not in photo) Charlie Vance, ERIGO Employer Solutions; Andy Vandiver, Adams Stepner Woltermann & Dusing; Craig Weiglein, Mansion Hill Studio & Gallery; Larry Nitardy, ComAssist, and (in photo): Tom Wermeling, Midway Tack Shop
Ribbon cuttings sponsored by:
Contact your agent or Chamber representative today to find out more!
KYHHV2QEN 0314
September/October 2014
NKY Chamber Business Journal
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RIBBON CUTTINGS
State Farm Insurance Ashlee Kennedy 2527 Dixie Highway Ft. Mitchell, KY 41017 859.240.7924 Ambassadors: Beth Baran, Travel Leaders; Maria Ulloa, Scherzinger Termite & Pest Control; Michael Ganucheau, Liberty Mutual Insurance Co.
Welcome & Congratulations
Mercy Home of Northern KY P. O. Box 18894 Erlanger, KY 41018 859.371.1888 Ambassadors: Kim Bradley, Arrasmith Promotions; JR Schneider, Allied Financial Solutions; Brian Ruschman, C-Forward; Katie Baker, tw telecom; Amber Walter, Huff Realty
Melody’s Boot Camp Fitness Center 8145 Connector Drive Florence, KY 41042 859-393.0157 Ambassadors: Amber Walter, Huff Realty; Brian Ruschman, C-Forward; Joe Gormally, Bates Security; Beth Baran, Travel Leaders. Republic Bank: Vickie Stulz and Laurie Harvey
Ultimate Air Shuttle Cincinnati/NKY Airport (CVG) CVG Administrative Office Building 2939 Terminal Drive Hebron, KY 41048 (800) 437-3931 Event Ambassadors (not in photo): Lisa Jones, Money Mailer Direct Marketing; Kevin Richardson, Sunrise Children’s Services; Steve Schleper, Pandora Computer Services. Republic Bank: Vickie Stulz and Laurie Harvey
Sales Talent Specialist
Paragon Drug Screening P.O. Box 962 Independence, KY 41051 859.443.6927 Ambassadors: Drew Bartel, AAA Allied Group, Kevin Richardson, Sunrise Children’s Services, Andrew Vandiver, Adams Stepner Woltermann & Dusing. Republic Bank: Vicki Stulz and Laurie Harvey
7426 U.S. 42, Suite 200 Florence, KY 41042 513.268.8311 Ambassadors: Joe Gormally, Paramount Satellite; Amber Walter, Huff Realty; Kim Bradley, Arrasmith Promotions. Republic Bank: Vicki Stulz and Laurie Harvey. City of Florence: Joshua Wice
Ribbon cuttings sponsored by:
Mubea Health & Wellness Center 6800 Industrial Road Florence, KY 41042 859.746.5300 Ambassadors: Tom Wermeling, Midway Tack Shop; Jim Tarkington, Credible Solutions 38
We want to help you promote and celebrate your ribbon cutting ceremony for your new facility, expansion, anniversary celebration or open house! We’ll bring our trademark giant blue scissors, a group of Chamber ambassadors, and a camera to capture the excitement of your special day. Call Pam Mastruserio at 859-578-6384 to schedule your FREE ribbon cutting today! NKYChamber.com
September/October 2014
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September/October 2014
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Insight Beyond the Numbers
Growth in the Bluegrass State Kentucky is full of growth and unbridled opportunity. Barnes Dennig is right in your backyard with a long-standing office and homegrown professionals. Our Kentucky roots run deep, providing service from our Crestview Hills office since 1995. We understand that having rich soil and planting the right seeds is critical to building a bright future in our community. We go beyond the numbers of tax and accounting to understand the elements our clients are facing. Attend an upcoming seminar or reach out to a Director in the Kentucky office today! Andy Bertke, CPA, MBA, CFF
George Sparks, Jr., CPA
2617 Legends Way Crestview Hills, Kentucky 41017
Harold Kremer, CPA, CVA
(859) 344-6400 www.BarnesDennig.com