Northern Kentucky Business Journal June/July Issue

Business Kentucky

June / July 2016 Volume 35 Number 5

Northern

Journal

Building On Family Centennial Culture

In this issue

AROUND THE CHAMBER

Business Journal June/July 2016 4

From the President, Trey Grayson

6

From the Chair, David Heidrich

8

Embrace Online Video

12

Building On A Strong Foundation

14

Mixing Family + Business + Politics

16

All In The Family

18

Cover Story “Centennial Culture”

20

Member Milestones

23

Tough Conversations

24

Solid as Gold

26

Meet Betsy Myers

28

Emerging 30 Preview

32

Upcoming Events

33

Ribbon Cuttings

Photo Credit: Charlie Vance, CEO Erigo Employer Solutions

MEMBER MILESTONES

On the cover: Centennial celebrates its anniversary. Cover story on page 18 of this issue!

Share Your Good News by Submitting Member Milestones to the Business Journal Promotions, awards, appointments, and new positions are major milestones. All member organizations and their employees are invited to share announcements of their personal achievements in the Milestones column. Send Milestones to clandon@nkychamber.com

CEO/Publisher Trey Grayson Periodicals Postage Paid at Covington, KY ISSN (0274-757X)

Marketing / Communications Manager Carla Landon clandon@nkychamber.com Vice President Membership – Sponsorship Sales Lynn Abeln labeln@nkychamber.com Director, Sponsor Investments Diana McGlade dmcglade@nkychamber.com

Periodicals Postage Paid USPS-548630 at Covington, KY.

Chamber Communications Committee Rachel Folz, Meredith Fossett, Mindy Kershner, Amanda Nagelsisen, Bill Powell, Kelly Rose, Katie Scoville,Emily Gresham Wherle

June/July 2016

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.

Chief Administrative Officer Ruth Eger reger@nkychamber.com

Graphic Designer Steve Fine stevef@artboyanimation.com

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

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. © 2016, The Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, Inc. and by the individual authors. All rights reserved.

NKY Chamber Business Journal

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PERSPECTIVE

Let’s Get To Work Trey Grayson, President & CEO, NKY Chamber of Commerce “We could chave had a thousand-page publication if we highlighted all the successful family businesses in Northern Kentucky. ”

This issue of the Business Journal highlights several Northern Kentucky family businesses. In fact, one of the reasons for Northern Kentucky’s success has been the countless businesses that are successfully passed on from generation to generation.

And to many of you reading this publication who fall into that category, let me apologize right here at the beginning for not including your family business in this issue. We could have had a thousand-page publication if we highlighted all the successful family businesses in North-ern Kentucky.

Maybe we’ll make this a recurring feature and get to you in future years!

A few weeks ago, I attended the Northern Kentucky Business Hall of Fame induction ceremonies for John Yeager, Ralph Drees and Ralph Haile (posthumously). All three have helped to “build” Northern Kentucky through their business acumen, as well as their community support. One of Northern Kentucky’s top bankers, Haile’s eponymous foundation has continued his legacy of building even after his death, while Yeager and Drees are both still active in the community and with their businesses. I’m proud that two – Drees and Yeager – were even past Chamber chairs.

Not surprisingly, for both Yeager’s Ashley Construction and Drees Homes, the next generation is stepping up to leadership in business and the community. Ralph’s son, David Drees, now runs Drees Homes, which builds homes across the country, while daughter Barbara Drees Jones (my Leadership Northern Kentucky classmate – Class of 2000, best class ever!) is in charge of marketing for the company that Ralph’s dad started in 1928. Barbara served as the first-ever female President of the Homebuilders Association of Northern Kentucky (HBA), the first female to serve in that role.

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You will read more about Ashley later in this issue, but I’m not spoiling anything by revealing that the Ashley partnership has been expanded to include John’s son, Jason (also a recent HBA president), as well as Bill Kreutzjans, Jr., the son of one of John’s original partner. In addition to building or renovating so many of the finest Northern Kentucky homes, Ashley is now helping to revitalize Covington’s urban core through projects, such as the Mutual Building.

The apples certainly didn’t fall far from the trees in those two families, as well as for family businesses Multi-Craft and Centennial, both of which are also profiled in this issue.

I write this on the last day of school for our two daughters. That means it’s officially summer! Summer is always a busy time for the Chamber. This year is no exception.

At the end of June, our Women’s Initiative is hosting the first ever Regional Women’s Summit on June 29th at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center. We expect over 300 women from throughout Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati to attend. The committee has been working hard to put together a great summit with the the theme, “It’s Time to Take the Lead”.

I know it will be a productive day.

Colvin and Greg Shumate!) who would love to relieve their glory years and prove that they still have it.

As we transition into the fall, this year’s Leadership Northern Kentucky class, which is tied for the second best ever, is gearing up for the First Annual River Cities Relay, the most scenic run in Northern Kentucky, on Saturday night, August 27.

(Yes, “annual” -- we are confident that it will be a success!) Get your team together to run through the river cities, all for the benefit of five great Northern Kentucky charities. Learn more at RiverCitiesRelay. com.

We have a whole lot more in store for the summer, including our golf outing and several informative sessions on workforce issues. So when you don’t find yourself at the lake, beach or golf course, the Chamber will keep you connected, entertained and educated.

Have a great summer. Let’s get to work (but have some fun too)!

While it looks like it is going to be a long summer for the Reds, a fun summer is shaping up for the Florence Freedom with the upcoming Y’All Star Game festivities in July. We are excited to partner with the Freedom on a Home Run Derby for Business Professionals. Now’s your chance to see how many balls you can hit over the fence. I know there are quite a few baseball players (I’m talking about you Garren NKYChamber.com

June/July 2016

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CHAIR COLUMN

Stop, Look Around David Heidrich, CEO, Zalla Companies, Chair, Northern Kentucky Chamber “...the family-owned business often plays a key role in providing the goods and services that all of our Chamber members rely on to run their own businesses. ”

Dear Chamber Members, This time of year brings many important mile markers in terms of holidays and celebrations. Wedding season ramps up, Mother’s Day & Father’s Day come to pass, but the biggest events this time of year tend to be a graduation day. No matter what school level a student is graduating from, this is a time of year where many families take stock of just how much time and energy it took for everyone in a family to support their new graduate onto the next stage of life.

Some of these family-owned businesses start because of a calling or a passion while others are born out of sheer desperation. For many families, their business isn’t just a revenue stream but a way of life. A blend of work & hobby, of labor & leisure.

As much as the family-owned businesses represent a large part of the American Dream, these businesses can be both a challenge and a blessing to families. It’s not always a given that the next generation will embrace the family business. Many younger students who help However for many families, graduation isn’t the final out the family business at a young age don’t always see passageway into adulthood. For families that own and it as their life’s calling after they graduate. Our changoperate their own business, the next generation join- ing economy has both disrupted the usual transfer of ing into the family enterprise is often the final stride established businesses while also encouraging a new into maturity. wave of young families to strike out on their own and give commerce a try.

We often hear that small business is the lifeblood of the economy, an accurate depiction no doubt. I would This Business Journal looks at some of just a few exadd that family-owned businesses are the heart of the amples of great family-run businesses in our Chamber. economy. Many of the global giants we all know of to- They tell compelling stories of not only great work ethday: Disney, Ford and many others all started as a fam- ic and smart business acumen, but also an emotional ily business. Although some family owned businesses sense of history, pride and accomplishment. Some of never make it to the global scale, they still provide a our members have poured everything they have into deep and lasting impact on local economies. That is their business and all of Northern Kentucky benefits very true in Northern Kentucky. from it.

My family is involved in a variety of business ventures, our incoming chair Bob Heil comes from a family of deep entrepreneurial spirit. Whether the venture is large or small, the family-owned business plays a key role in providing the goods and services that all of our Chamber members rely on to run their own business.

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At the Chamber, we’re here to serve and assist these and all of our businesses in Northern Kentucky. Your successes are our successes and we hope you enjoy reading about some of them in this issue.

-Dave

NKYChamber.com

June/July 2016

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To Reach Consumers, Businesses Need to Embrace Online Video “A video ...allows the consumer to hear the voice of your choosing which can speak to them directly and can create more persuasive messaging. “

By: Charlie Schicht, MBA @charlieschicht

Take a moment and count to eight. What was the purpose of that little exercise you may ask? It was meant to illustrate how long the new adult attention span is. That’s right; we’ve now dropped to a spot below the lowly goldfish. According to study published by a team at Microsoft, this drop from attention spans of 12 seconds to eight seconds highlights the affects that an increasingly digitalized lifestyle is having on our brains.

While this trend is slightly alarming, it should also be viewed as a warning of sorts

for any individuals and/or organizations who want to use digital platforms to reach their target audience. In a world with such diminished attention spans and more messages streaming to consumers than ever, the need for good, quality content that will set you, your brand and your products apart is more vital than ever. And in the world of social media, no medium is more popular right now with consumers than video.

• Nearly 1 million minutes of video will

Online Video is Booming:

In the United States, the major player in online video has long been YouTube. With more than four billion views per day, YouTube is second most popular search engine in the world behind Google and the third most visited website only behind Google

According to a recent white paper, “The Future of Online Video” published by Cisco, by the year 2019:

• Video will account for 80% of global

be shared every second

• It will take an individual 5 million years to watch all of the video that will be shared each month

While those numbers are only a forecast, they’re nevertheless staggering in their scale and businesses should recognize the importance that video plays and will be playing in the years to come.

internet traffic

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NKYChamber.com

June/July 2016

and Facebook. Additional stats from YouTube show:

to use to interact with businesses and brands.

• YouTube has over 1 billion users—al- To find out what businesses and individ-

• •

most one-third of all people on the internet—and everyday people watch hundreds of millions of hours on YouTube and generate billions of views The number of hours that people spend watching videos on YouTube is increasing 60% year-over-year The number of people watching YouTube has increased 40% year-overyear since March 2014

Sensing this shift, Facebook has recently turned a lot of their time and attention into bringing video content to their users and according to their Q4 earnings call, Facebook now sees 100 million hours of daily video watch time. Additionally, Facebook is reporting that:

• The number of video posts per person • •

has increased 75% globally and 94% in the U.S. The amount of video from people and brands in News Feeds has increased 3.6 times year-over-year More than 50% of people who visit Facebook in the U.S. every day watch at least one video

uals should consider when engaging in the process of creating a video, I reached to Chamber member, videographer and owner of Rudy Harris Photography, Rudy Harris.

Charlie Schicht: What makes video content so much more engaging than say just a simple print ad?

Rudy Harris: Video has a perception of interaction; it’s almost like having a conversation. Although it typically isn’t an actual two-way interaction; the consumer still perceives it as a conversation. Where print ads fall short is that they require the consumer to read it in their own voice. A video on the other hand allows the consumer to hear the voice of your choosing which can speak to them directly and can create more persuasive messaging.

CS: Why is it important for the final product to look professional and polished?

Can’t I just use my cell phone to create a video?

RH: In today’s extremely media filled

Keys to Creating Successful Video Content: With stats like these, it’s easy to see that online video is increasingly becoming the preferred method that consumers want

world, the general public can tell good from bad when it comes to quality. When cell phone and other low quality videos become viral, it’s usually in spite of their low quality, not because of it. However, when a consumer views a video that should be high quality but isn’t – something like a product or company overview – then the trust of the consumer is broken.

Consumers want polished content and luckily today it’s more affordable create content like that than ever.

CS: In your opinion – what are the basic elements that make a video engaging?

RH: Narrative, narrative, narrative. A good story always beats all. In the absence of good story telling, you’ll see videos try to latch on to certain fads (e.g. 3-D, Virtual Reality) to get their point across.

But when you’re able to engage consumers with a real, honest story, then they feel like they went on a journey with you and those are what make the most lasting impressions.

CS: When hiring a videographer, what are the types of questions businesses should ask?

RH: The biggest thing to look for when hiring videographers is their experience.

High quality equipment is very important in being able to create a good final product, but the analogy that I like to use is that a good chef can still make a great meal on using a dull knife and hot plate. So for me, asking what their experience level is both in terms of time spent in the business and actual productions worked on are important to find out. You also want to see examples of their work because in the end, each videographer has a certain aesthetic and you want to make sure that it matches up with your brand, your product and ultimately what it is your consumers want to see.

Charlie Schicht is the co-creator of the Humans of St. Elizabeth YouTube series. Charlie was also a member of the 2015 class of Leadership Northern Kentucky and currently serves on the board for Covington Partners.

Rudy Harris is the owner of Rudy Harris Photography. Located in Covington, KY, Rudy Harris Photography is a full service firm that specializes in personal and corporate photography and videography (rudyharrisphotography.com).

June/July 2016

NKY Chamber Business Journal

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AROUND THE CHAMBER

SPOTLIGHT

Building on a Strong Foundation By: Bill Powell, Franchise Consultant FranNet “We’re a small family business that’s big enough to handle almost any project.”

Edgewood-based Ashley Construction’s headquarters is built on what was formerly a lake. In 1989, when they drained the lake to build the structure, they discovered granite, an excellent base. In the same way, the company has built its business on a strong client-first and teamwork foundation.

John Yeager began the enterprise in 1976, building 1-2 custom homes per year. In 1983, he named the company Ashley Development, and Bill Kreutzjans joined to focus on commercial projects. Then Paul Bogenschutz came on board in 1987 as an estimator. John’s son (Jason) and Bill’s son (Bill, Jr.) joined in 1995 and 1996, respectively. In 2007, the company changed its name to Ashley Construction.

Today, Ashley Construction has 32 employees, including five partners (named above).

They focus on custom homes, townhomes and renovations in Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati. Ashley Commercial Group, its design-build division, provides development, property management, contract, urban redevelopment and asset management services.

“We deliver a product that accurately reflects the vision of the owners, architects and/or designers,” said President Paul Bogenschutz. “We’re known for our quality and attention to detail, but most importantly as a builder that stands behind its projects. We want clients to be thrilled with the quality of our work, as well as the overall building experience. We’re a small family business that’s big enough to handle almost any project.”

“Our success is due to our client-first team approach,” explained Jason. “We limit the number of projects at any one time so we can handle them the right way. Each part

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ner is involved in every project; we use a team approach and have great working relationships. It’s client and company first, no matter what. We check our egos at the door and do what’s right for clients and the company.”

Paul said they weathered the “Great Recession” by “doing whatever it took to stay in business.” Their current project mix is 30 percent new construction, 20 percent remodeling and 50 percent commercial.

“People are staying put in their residences, so we’re doing more remodeling,” he explained. Another key area is redevelopment, with the company completing projects in downtown Cincinnati such as the Merchants Building and an 88-unit apartment building.

Giving Back Employees provide time and talent for many community organizations. All five partners are past presidents of either the Northern Kentucky Homebuilders Association or that association’s Land Development Council. Other groups that have benefited include The Point Arc of Northern Kentucky, The Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky, St Elizabeth Hospital, Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky Airport Board, Tri-Ed, Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, Diocese of Covington, Legacy and Newport Housing Development Corporation.

The company has garnered many awards and recognitions, including in several categories at Homefest, for being a top US remodeler and for being one of the area’s 30 emerging companies.

“Both sons have followed in their fathers’ footsteps,” said Paul. “John and Bill Sr. are still involved and the transition has been easy.”

NKYChamber.com

Top to bottom: Bill Kreutzjans Jr., Jason

Yeager, John Yeager, Paul Bogenschutz, William Kreutzjans Sr. June/July 2016

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ADVOCACY

Mixing Family + Business + Politics By: Scott Sedmak, Vice President Public Affairs and Communication Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce One of the most fascinating conversations I’ve witnessed time and time again during my career is when a politician and business executive sit down to discuss economic issues. At times, the politician is not astute in business and the executive is not astute at politics. (Keep in mind, my career has taken me to work in other states, so I wouldn’t dare say this about anyone in Kentucky of course).

The executive approaches things from a straightforward point of view. There’s a hierarchy in business and the owner or president calls the shots. They are used to getting their way. When a problem exists, they set out to fix it in short order. The owner of a family business is it for the long haul.

In politics, it’s very different. By its nature, our system of government has no one single boss, therefore no one elected official or bureaucrat can usually be singlehandedly charged with fixing a particular problem. Further, each official is not accountable to a single boss but a myriad of bosses – the voters. Many politicians are elected for fixed terms, some of which have term limits, so they may not be on that office for the long haul.

That lack of a shared orientation & viewpoint along with a gap of respective knowledge can be hard for each side to overcome.

The concerns of the politician and the business executive are different and this fact comes as a surprise to both sides.

• Tell Your Story - Every politician loves a good story

and every family-owner business has a good story to tell about how their business began. This helps to build a rapport and a base for the conversation. Don’t lead with the problem. Explain who you are and why you are passionate about your business first.

• Be Respectful - Many business owners approach a

government official only when they have a problem and sometimes the business owner is very upset. If this is the first conversation you have with an official (or first conversation in a long time), that can create a bad first impression. Chances are, the official may not even be aware of the problem you have – so any outrage (no matter how deserved) may not have the intended effect.

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However, there are steps that family-owned businesses (and all businesses) can take to make this conversation with government officials go better in order to make an impact for your business.

Take heart, the realms of politics and family-owned business actually have more in common than you may realize. In a broad sense, politics can become the family business too. There are the famous examples: Adams, Kennedy, Bush, Clinton. However what’s more striking is that the theme of families running for political office continues down to the state and local level at even higher ratios.

Another similarity is that in Kentucky, many of our local offices and all of our state legislators are part-time officials. Meaning we have a handful of officials that also run a family business of their own.

There’s a lot more to it than this of course. Remember the NKY Chamber is always here to help our members advocate for changes that benefit your business and the Northern Kentucky economy as a whole. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you would like to learn more about becoming involved in our Public Affairs programs in order to promote regulatory and legislative changes that would help your business.

• Keep It Simple (At Least at First) - Many government officials don’t understand the nuances of your business like you (the business owner) does. Strip your issue down to it’s simplest level and build from there, otherwise your explanation may go right over the official’s head. Once the official is educated, then they can become interested and engaged on your behalf.

• Tell Them Something They Haven’t Already Heard - The 24-hour media cycle makes some conversation points difficult once the usual “talking points” come up. In general, try to avoid repeating platitudes you hear on talk radio or cable news. That’s useful fodder for politicians to say, but not to hear. Stick with something real and authentic from your business and experience.

NKYChamber.com

June/July 2016

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SPOTLIGHT

All In The Family By: Rachel Folz, Digital Marketing Manager Campbell County Public Library “They were raised to believe that if you wanted something and were willing to put in the time and the effort that you could accomplish it.”

You might not think a print shop would be a place where change is celebrated but Multi-Craft is flipping that idea on its head by constantly seeking out new venues and formats to tell their customers’ stories.

Multi-Craft was started in 1955 when Bill Gibbs was let go from his print shop job on Good Friday. He’d been toying with the idea of starting a business. Bill went to pray the steps at Holy Cross Immaculata, looking for guidance on how he was going to support his growing family. He decided to start his own business and ran it out of his Cincinnati home. Bill would continue to pray the steps each Good Friday for the next 50 years.

Multi-Craft set a course of responding to customer needs with innovation. Over the past 25 years, Multi-Craft has expanded their reach into design, packaging, digital design, mailing and marketing strategy.

The company is currently is the process of installing additional large format printing and finishing equipment, which will enable them to produce large format projects on both rigid and roll substrates.

Their employees are encouraged to embrace new equipment, processes and markets.

It took a little convincing, but in 1969, Bill’s daughter Debbie began work at MultiCraft as a receptionist and bookkeeper.

Her brother, Tom would join the business in 1979.

Debbie says the company’s evolution is thanks to the true, trusting partnership she

shares with Pam and Tom. The trio is very close but they are very different. Debbie is the dreamer, Pam is the structure person and Tom finds the way to make it happen.

Debbie thinks their differences are what make them strong.

Pam says the siblings check their egos at the door, “we run this business for 45 families, and the decisions that are made have to be the best decisions for the business.

Not for us personally, but for the business.

It needs to continue and to be strong because it supports our families and our employees’ families.”

Bill continued to run the business until 1990, when he split the business between his three children, Debbie, Pam and Tom but the division of duties shifted. Tom would be in charge of production, Pam would take over Debbie’s work in HR, accounting and compliance and Debbie would be in charge of Sales and Marketing and serve as the company’s president, something she’d never done in her 21 years in the company. Her answer? “I’m sure I can learn.”

Debbie says that answer is her father’s biggest legacy to his family. They were raised to believe that if you wanted something and were willing to put in the time and the effort that you could accomplish it. “So when I said, ‘I think I can learn that,’ I truly meant it.”

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NKYChamber.com

June/July 2016

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Find your spark at NKU. Burn brighter than you’ve ever imagined.

COVER STORY

Centennial Culture By: Carla Landon, Marketing & Communications Manager Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce

“Chambers are a great way to roll up your sleeves, give back, strengthen communities, and develop great friends and associates.

You never know where those relationships will lead.” known for their understanding of people and their global business acumen.

Celebrating Forty Years What started out as an executive search company has evolved into a full-service management consulting firm that not only helps build organization leadership teams, but also focuses on overall organizational health. Centennial’s reach extends far beyond the region. Centennial clients have roots in 13 different countries and the organization recently opened an office in Manhattan.

It all started with answering a job classified ad. Mike Sipple Sr. had left a corporate job because he did not want to relocate out of the Greater Cincinnati area. He was praying for and looking for a new local opportunity to support his young family and challenge him as a professional. Jim and Mary Morris, then-owners of Centennial, were looking for someone to join their team who would enjoy matching a company’s talent needs to the right hire - little did he know that a long-standing family business was in the making.

Mike Sr. became the first employee at Centennial in 1975, working for Jim and Mary Morris. He worked there as a consultant for five years until Mr. Morris’ untimely death (1980). Mrs. Morris then asked Mike Sr. to become Centennial’s president. He continued in this role for 17 years (1980-1997) until Mrs. Morris retired and sold the business to Mike and his wife Susan. Soon, Susan was running the office and company finances. Their son, Mike Jr., joined Centennial in 2001 starting in technology, then marketing, then recruiting, then business development, and in 2015 was named President.

Now, Centennial employs 15 and is a leader among the region’s family-owned businesses. Mike Sr. currently continues as CEO and Susan is the company’s Vice President/ Secretary / Treasurer overseeing the organization’s financial details. The rest of the Centennial team is comprised of leaders who have decades of senior leadership and executive experience. These leaders are 18

Corporate culture, team chemistry, and managing team conflict are just a few of the subjects discussed by Centennial team leaders. The yield of these ongoing conversations is that the Centennial team is uniquely poised to help companies bolster trust, achieve greater alignment, enhance innovation, and possess a culture where people want to work—in addition to finding the right leadership talent to grow the company in a healthy way. In short, the “Centennial-strategy” improves people’s lives and corporate bottom lines. The “right” employees, company culture and team chemistry lead to stronger and healthier organizations.

Changing Lives Over the years, the Sipples have received numerous calls from clients and candidates 5-10-20+ years later sharing how Centennial changed their lives or strengthened their company.

Mike Sipple Jr. loves hearing their stories, and contends the success lies in “Centennial’s focus on people, rather than the ‘transaction’ of placing people.” Taking the time to understand the organization’s mission and vision, coupled with investing in developing relationships with both candidates and leadership teams, pays off in finding the “right” fit for both client and candidate.

The Sipples “practice what they preach” to others. They care deeply for Centennial employees, and work hard to create a culture that other organizations would want to emulate. As Mike Sr. explains, “We have found that employees appreciate the little things - and, not all employees are motivated by the same things.” For instance, some employees are motivated by time off, some through bonuses and others just through a listening and caring culture. As an employer, it is important that noting these differences is just as important as good recruitment. It is very important to find out the skills and passions of

NKYChamber.com

June/July 2016

COVER STORY

Creating a Positive Culture

-rican Chamber. “It’s all about relationships,” stresses Mike Jr. “Chambers are a great way to roll up your sleeves, give back, strengthen communities, and develop great friends and associates. You never know where those relationships will lead.”

Leaders need to care enough to have the hard conversations.

Mike Sr. shares that healthy, effective communication is crucial for employee happiness and creates a positive culture in organizations. And, it takes courage for a leader to be open and transparent, but being so will create a healthy environment in which employees thrive.

Besides talent strategy and corporate health, Centennial also helps with succession planning—when it’s time for a company leader to retire or step down. This can be a difficult situation for any organization and one that so many owners or CEO’s are afraid to address, especially family businesses, where lots of emotion can be involved.

Mike Sr., Susan and Mike Jr. bring this open attitude to work with them every day. They work hard to lead an organization that is family oriented, family friendly, and employee-centric. They consider their employees members of the Centennial family, and like the closest families, those who comprise it come first. One example that shows this a priority: Centennial employees and their significant others are invited to a special dinner each quarter. Believe it or not, they have not missed doing this in 41 years. As Mike Sipple Sr. explains, “Family needs to be first—whether it is work family or one’s own family. Once that is established, you can focus on the rest.”

Being a Great Leader

Both Mike Sr. and Mike Jr. also profess that it is important that leaders invest in themselves—not just their employees. It is key to seek training opportunities, read leadership blogs and books, and find mentors. Mike Sr. also offers that the best leaders aren’t afraid to seek outside advice, ask tough questions, and are always on the lookout for ways to improve and to help others improve.

As Mike, Sr. explains, “We have been blessed with outside advisors and friends who have helped us improve and execute our own succession plan. It is key to have this kind of support for a positive succession outcome.”

your employees so that they can become the best version of themselves.

The Little Things At Centennial, working with leaders across the globe has not come without challenges. And, like employees who work for companies, it is often the “little things” that are actually big for leaders when considering a move. “Selling our vibrant region is easy,” shares Mike Jr. “Our school systems are great and our communities have so much to offer. But, it’s often a leader’s personal passions that can make or break a decision to move.”

For instance, one senior level executive was ready to accept a position, but could not fathom how to move his treasured koi fish pond across the country. While others in their industry might have seen this as trivial, Centennial did not. They knew that this was a big deal to the individual. They reached out to their connections and provided a workable solution. This was a win-win-win for both the corporate client, Centennial and the executive who was moving. “There was as much satisfaction in hearing about the newly installed koi pond as well as learning how the individual was enjoying his new career opportunity,” says Mike Jr.

The Sipples have learned that the most successful leadership successions share three important characteristics:

• The “retiring leader” has a desire for the successorto besuccessful

• Business needs and family needs are thoughtfully considered, weighed, prioritized, and balanced

• All involved are receptive listeners, consider divergent points of view, and remain open-minded

The Goering Family Resource Center is one of the organizations that the Sipples used and continue to use–and would recommend-- to any family business. The Goering Center is one of the nation’s largest family institutes and addresses what many are afraid to when working with families: how hard it can be for the next generation to take over the family business.

The Goering Center focuses on accelerating business growth and sustaining family business harmony, The leaders within are honest and provide the support needed for family members to make decisions based not just on emotion but on critical steps for successful succession.

So, while a business wasn’t exactly built on answering a classified ad, it did serve as the foundation upon which caring, connection, culture, and relationships constructed a life-changing organization. Jim and Mary Morris would be proud.

In addition to the employee-leader connection, Centennial also encourages company-community connection. And, one of the best ways to foster that connection is through Chamber of Commerce membership. Centennial has been deeply involved in the Northern Kentucky Chamber, the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, the West Chester Chamber Alliance, and the European- AmeJune/July 2016

NKY Chamber Business Journal

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MEMBER MILESTONES

Member Milestones Brown Earns CPS designation Rudler, PSC would like to congratulate Staff Accountant, Samuel J. Brown, CPA. Sam has completed the Certified Public Accountant exam and experience requirements and has been awarded the CPA designation.

Sam has public accounting experience in auditing, accounting and tax services and will continue to specialize in business and individual tax as well as auditing services for not-for-profit originations, government agencies and employee benefit plans. A graduate of Thomas More College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accountancy, Sam currently resides with his family in Northern Kentucky.

Sam can be reached by email at sbrown@ rudler.com or by calling 859-331-1717.

For more information about Rudler, PSC and the services they provide, visit www. rudler.com.

Health Department Names Gerry Tolbert as Medical Director Gerry Tolbert, MD, recently joined the Northern Kentucky Health Department as Medical Director.

In this role, Tolbert will work closely with Health Department staff and management to establish medical protocols, provide ongoing medical consultation and provide direct medical services to Health Department clients as needed.

“The Medical Director position requires a variety of skills, and Dr. Tolbert has just the right mix,” said Lynne M. Saddler, MD, MPH, District Director of Health. “He has a background in family medicine, with experience in outpatient and inpatient primary care, occupational medicine and obstetrics. On top of that, he has stud20

ied public health and plans to continue that work. I am honored to have him join our team, working with current staff to prevent disease, promote wellness and protect against health threats.”

Dr. Tolbert began his career at Self Regional Healthcare in Greenwood, SC. After a three-year residency in family medicine, Tolbert took a staff position with the hospital system.

A native of Northern Kentucky, Dr. Tolbert returned to the area in 2011, working in local urgent care centers and providing acute and chronic care to children and adults. More recently, Tolbert worked for a company that provides on-site primary and occupational health for employees of local businesses and governmental agencies.

Presently, Dr. Tolbert is employed by Christ Hospital practicing family medicine.

He will continue in this role while working for the Health Department.

Tolbert earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from Georgetown College, and his medical degree from the University of Kentucky. He has completed coursework towards a master’s degree in public health, also at Kentucky.

He is an active member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, and has experience with electronic medical record programming/implementation. Tolbert is also involved in efforts to open a Federally Qualified Health Center in Pendleton County, Ky., to improve access to care for low-income families.

Tolbert and his family live in Boone County, Ky.

Derek Jackson is Director of Client Services for Centennial Since joining the firm in 2016, Derek has been assisting clients with high level leadership needs evaluation, talent acquisition, culture assessment, and corporate growth strategies. Derek’s background NKYChamber.com

in human resources and talent strategy, coupled with his entrepreneurial spirit and innovative thinking help organizations grow and become healthier.

Derek’s 20 years of experience aligns with Centennial’s 4C’s. His recruitment competencies span multiple industries: information technology, engineering, consulting, financial services, and manufacturing.

His progressive-thinking character has a demonstrated track-record of propelling organizations forward. The chemistry he shares with his clients yields a nurturing connection that helps people—and companies— grow. His thoughtful, yet urgent approach to project management ensures corporate foundations are not only bolstered, but improved.

Derek worked for SDRC for nearly a decade in various capacities, including Director of Human Resources, Americas Operations; Director of Human Resources Asia Pacific Operations; Director of Employment Services; and, Manager of Employment. He also led the Human Resources Departments in several organizations as Vice President of Human Resources and Talent Acquisition.

In 2008, Derek founded Summit Solutions Group, specializing in helping human resources departments re-think their role within organizations. Derek led these teams in transforming their approach from one centered on tasks and tactics to one more focused on organization growth. He also worked with businesses on the implementation of talent strategy, competitive compensation programs and performance management systems that supported company culture and promoting growth.

In 2013, Summit Solutions Group was acquired by endevis, a national talent acquisitions solutions firm. Derek’s expertise helped endevis build and grow in southern Ohio.

A former college baseball player for Cumberland College, Derek has coached numerous youth baseball teams and still plays in an adult league with his son. He enjoys sharing a story or two about baseJune/July 2016

MEMBER MILESTONES

ball, along with his passion for all aspects of talent strategy, when speaking to groups or facilitating workshops. “Building an Effective Talent Acquisition Organization, “Management Foundations,” and “Leadership Effectiveness” are just a few of the topics Derek presents to boards of directors, executives or professional organizations.

Jessica Baron is Vice President, Executive Search at Centennial, Heading up our New York, NY office.

As Vice President, Executive Search, Jessica does what she does best: Connecting Centennial clients with leaders who elevate organizations.

Jessica’s ongoing, strong roots in the Greater Cincinnati leadership community, her national connections, and her global leadership context will be an asset to Centennial’s clients and relationships.

Jessica joined Centennial after a storied career at the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, where she was responsible for all programming, including the Chamber’s Leadership Programs platform. Leadership Cincinnati, Leadership Action, WE Lead, WE Succeed, C-Change and Cincy Next reflected Jessica’s vision and benefited from her leadership expertise. These programs, which graduate more than 250 leaders a year, help leaders maximize their potential—whether they are young professionals or seasoned C-Suite executives. Several thousand graduates have improved their organizations, communities and careers due to their participation in these initiatives.

Prior to joining the Chamber, Jessica held senior executive positions with Marsh USA, Prime Time Communications, Acordia Senior Benefits Agency, and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. Like the Chamber, these organizations benefited not only from Jessica’s leadership, but from her solutions-oriented, strategic mind. Jessica’s “no boundaries” brainJune/July 2016

storming and her inherent savvy “touch” make her an architect for improvement wherever she is contributing.

“The teams and programs Jessica has led change paradigms and unlock potential.

Those who partner with Centennial will benefit from her strength in connections, leadership, and vision,” states Mike Sipple Jr., Centennial president. “Her relationships span many of the world’s largest organizations, leading businesses, and industry game-changers. I have experienced first-hand the reach of these relationships.

So many credit their executive success and its impact to Jessica.”

Casey Williams Joins Spotted Yeti Team We were excited to welcome our fourth Spotted Yeti team member this spring.

Casey Williams will serve as our Senior Producer doing both business development and producing our larger-scale productions.

Casey has a background in video production and editing and over 15 years of experience promoting online community building, designing compelling educational resources, and creating digital media content. Before Spotted Yeti, he worked at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and co-founded the company linkedü that was chosen to be one of the startups in UpTech’s third class.

With a BFA in Electronic Media from The University of Cincinnati and an MBA from Xavier University’s School of Business Administration, Casey is an exciting addition to the Spotted Yeti team. He currently lives in Erlanger, KY with his wife and two children.

NKY Chamber Business Journal

Julie Kirkpatrick was named Vice President – Sales & Marketing, meetNKY Kirkpatrick will have primary responsibility for convention sales and strategic development of the meetNKY brand, leading the organization’s sales and marketing teams to promote Northern Kentucky as a premier destination for group & leisure travel.

Kirkpatrick joined the organization in 2014 as Director of Convention Sales and quickly focused on streamlining operations to make sales & marketing initiatives more cohesive and effective in complementing the meetNKY brand and mission.

“We made tremendous strides in 2015 as an organization and as a destination,” said Eric Summe, President & CEO of meetNKY. “Under Julie Kirkpatrick’s leadership, we have strengthened our partnerships in the region, expanded awareness of the meetNKY brand and achieved tremendous success, as a team, working with our partners to make NKY a great place to visit and experience. Her leadership will be instrumental in furthering our successes and this promotion reflects our recognition of her efforts and accomplishments.”

Prior to joining meetNKY, Kirkpatrick served as property Director of Sales & Marketing with Hyatt Hotels and with Marriott Hotels & Resorts. She was awarded the prestigious Director of the Year in 2013 from Aimbridge Hospitality in recognition of her dynamic and influential leadership.

An active community leader, Kirkpatrick is President-Elect for the Kentucky Bluegrass Chapter of MPI and serves as an Adjunct Professor – Hospitality Sciences at Cincinnati State. She is a graduate of Northern Kentucky University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Leadership.

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Conveniently located in your neighborhood.

Choose UC Health.

One building, multiple specialties, and coordinated, convenient care. UC Health also connects you and your family to the region’s only academic medical system for advanced care of complex medical issues.

Conveniently located in the heart of Florence off Exit 182 – Turfway Road 68 Cavalier Boulevard Florence, KY 41042 (513) 475-8000 UCHealth.com/expansion

Services include: • Cardiology • Dermatology • Digestive Diseases • Endocrinology • Hematology/Oncology • Imaging & Labs • Neurology • Obstetrics & Gynecology

• • • • •

Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine Physical Therapy Primary Care Pulmonary Reproductive Endocrinology and Fertility • Rheumatology

Tough Conversations By: Charlie Vance, Chief Executive Officer Erigo Employer Solutions “Ask the employee to acknowledge the performance issue and to brainstorm some specific steps that can be taken to improve performance.”

poor-performing employees and you may risk losing your best talent if you let the issue(s) persist without being addressed.

Prepare and Document Conversations about poor performance are difficult because the topic is awkward and uncomfortable. In small businesses, we are typically friends with our co-workers making the topic that much more difficult to discuss. The level of discomfort will be increased if you are unprepared.

For most small business owners, employees are the backbone of their businesses and often one of the most vital assets. Hiring the right people, training them appropriately, and managing their ongoing performance is a critical function of ensuring a business’s investment in human capital pays off.

Inevitably, even a business with only a handful of employees will be confronted with an employee who is not measuring up to the standards and values that have made the business successful. Here are a few things to think about when confronted with a poor performer.

Address It Ignoring the issue or delaying the response is not likely to yield a positive result for you or the business. Additionally, if you as the manager or owner recognize that the employee isn’t measuring up, chances are that other employees are noticing too. Your credibility is at stake if the problem is not sufficiently addressed in a timely and professional manner. Top-performing employees do not appreciate being stagnated by June/July 2016

Mentally prepare yourself by setting aside an appropriate amount of time to draft (1) a list of talking points for your conversation and (2) a document to review with the employee. This exercise will help you think through the issues and the proposed solutions so that you can be sure you are avoiding assumptions and premature criticisms and be confident in a clear and concise communication to the employee later when you meet.

In your written performance documentation, describe the conduct that is of concern and take account of as many details and examples as possible including any prior informal feedback that has not been documented. Explain why the employee’s performance is not currently measuring up and what you expect regarding future performance. Describe what the employee can do to improve his or her performance, being specific with regard to concrete actions related to current duties and responsibilities.

Be Positive, Candid, and Consistent Schedule some time on your calendar for the meeting and reserve a quiet, private area so that you can give your full attention to the discussion. Don’t try and break the ice with small talk; get straight to the point without sugar coating the subject.

NKY Chamber Business Journal

However, you might ease the tension by touching on positive aspects of the employee’s performance as long as the comments are acutely accurate. Set the tone by being candid yet kind and professional, not hyper-critical.

Listen to the Employee The employee may provide you with information that is relevant in understanding why he or she is underperforming which can lead to discovering potential solutions and moving forward. Additionally, sometimes what a struggling employee truly needs is an opportunity to be heard. Engage the employee about his or her own performance self-analysis and try to determine the root of the problem.

Ask the employee to acknowledge the performance issue and to brainstorm some specific steps that can be taken to improve performance. Help the employee come to his or her own conclusions about how to move forward. Most importantly, read the employee’s verbal and nonverbal cues about whether he or she is committed to making a change and offer a challenge to do so.

Conclusion Rememberthat the goal of a performance discussion is not to deliver a disciplinary measure but to improve the employee’s performance and create a better working environment for all employees. To do that you need to be prepared, open minded, and have a positive and professional demeanor.

Above all, commit to taking a methodical approach to documenting and addressing the performance issues even though it is more time consuming.

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SPOTLIGHT

Solid as Gold By: Kelly Rose, Development Coordinator Welcome House NKY “I always assumed the store would stay in the family. the thought of NOT running the businesses had never crossed my mind.”

Herzog Jewlers, a local Fort Mitchell jewelry store, has been in the family for over three generations and its still as solid as gold.

In 1922, Elmer T. Herzog opened a jewelry store at 806 Madison in Covington. Since then, Herzog Jewelers has seen three generations run the family business. Now, Herzog is located in Fort Mitchell on Dixie Highway. Taking the reigns from his father, Joe Koester, Jr., Ted Koester, LNK Class of 2000 alum, runs the business guided by the core principles started so many years ago by his grandfather that to succeed in anything in life, you must be honest, straight forward, and passionate.

What was the vision behind the jewelry store?

Our promise at Herzog Jewelers is to provide our customers with a shopping experience that will exceed their expectations of our store, our merchandise, and our service. We accomplish this by providing all customers with exceptional attention for every visit to the store, helping you celebrate life’s special’s occasions, and providing superior value in our merchandise, price, selection, and satisfaction. We are committed to exceed our customer’s expectations in every facet of our business.

Who is your clientele?

Our clientele is all across the board. We specialize in bridal and custom designs.

But a large part of our business is also repairs and celebrating anniversaries, births and birthdays. So we are a full service jeweler that has clients of all ages.

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NKYChamber.com

June/July 2016

SPOTLIGHT

What was life like growing up with a family-owned and operated business?

How many children are in the family?

about work when you are with your family.

Sometimes it is hard to separate work from family.

I never worked in the store growing up. We were always around because it was a part of our family life. Growing up, I knew that one day I would like to work for the family and with my father. It was something that I always wanted to do. Like any family business, there is always work to be done and it can take up a lot of your free time. But I have my older and only sibling, Suzanne, who works as the office manager, so we are both working together.

What have been some of the major/ minor changes you have made in the store since taking over? What are your dad’s thoughts on that?

Did you always know that the store would stay in the family? What would have happened if no one in the family wanted to run the business?

I always assumed the store would stay in the family. The thought of NOT running the business had never crossed my mind.

Although I would assume that if none of us had wanted to take the store we would have had a going out of business sale!

What are the pros of growing up and living in a family that operates a family run business? What are the cons?

The pros are that you get to see you family a lot. You have a support system that you can reach out to you and you know they all have the best interest of the business at heart. And it is cool to think that you are part of a business that has been running strong for the last 94 years. So there is a sense of emotion and nostalgia.

The cons are that you are always thinking June/July 2016

Like all businesses, we evolve. We are fortunate that we are usually on the same page and talk about the direction we want to go. I would say the changes are always staying on top of what direction jewelry fashion is headed. That way you have the right product that the customer is asking for. Other changes are staying current to social media and stay current with the demographics we are targeting.

What’s a normal day at Herzog?

There is no normal in retail. The day consists of waiting on customers, processing sales, dealing with vendors, and running the business. So I wear many hats here and juggle many plates but at the end of the day, they all work to well together.

our business to what it is today.

What’s the future look like for the family? Will the legacy continue?

I have two small boys, 6 and 2. So time will tell if they want to work in the business or not. I will still be working when they are at the age if they want to come into the business or not. I would love for them to but I will not assume or pressure them. If they are interested, they are more than welcome to take over the store.

What’s your relationship like with your dad?

It is a good one. I have had the pleasure of seeing my father 6 days a week for the last 22 years at work. So I would never trade that time. Like any relationships, we can have our ups and downs. The best part of it is that you may not always agree but you know that he loves you and has your back—I would never trade that experience.

In your own words, how do you keep a business like Herzog Jewelers running for so long? What are the secrets to your success?

This is the easiest part. It is how we treat our customers. We earn their respect and take care of any needs they have. If you treat your customer the right way, you can have longevity. People often seek us out for our positive reputation and trustworthiness. These traits are what helped build NKY Chamber Business Journal

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WOMEN’S INITIATIVE

Meet Summit Keynote Speaker Betsy Myers By: Laura Kroeger, past chair of the Women’s Initiative, chair of the Summit and President of Communications Project Partners “I love these gatherings of women. They are so important for us as we women must build community to support each other.”

There’s a constant stream of requests coming in at work and at home. It is easy to spend most of our time reacting to others’ needs and we find ourselves beholden to an in-box life. Living an out-box life is prioritizing what is most important.

On June 29 the Northern Kentucky Women’s Initiative makes a bold move by presenting its first Regional Women’s Summit.

Women from Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky are invited to attend and hear two keynote addresses by Betsy Myers, an authority on leadership development. She was the first White House Director of Women’s Initiatives and Outreach and served as an official with the Small Business Administration where she helped to grow women-run businesses. After serving the Center for Public Leadership at Harvard, she now runs the Center for Women and Business at Bentley University and consults with Fortune 500 companies about strengthening their leadership programs.

What is the most-asked question you receive about leadership?

How do I manage the pace of my life? Am I a real leader, because I feel that I am slave to everyone else’s agenda. How do I embrace my true authentic life? My answer is always at the very least, we are the leader of our own life. More often than not, women struggle with guilt about not being able to do it all.

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We live in a culture that glorifies busy so it is no wonder that we can easily mistake activity for progress. Learning to say NO is just one of the many lessons I have learned over my career. We can say no with grace.

We don’t need to over explain it; simply say you have a prior commitment. Being the leader of our life gives us permission to decide what gets on my calendar (of course, this doesn’t mean you don’t show up to meetings with your boss). It is about being more deliberate about how we spend the precious hours of our days. This habit is life-changing and will enable you to feel more in charge of your time, your career and your authentic life.

What holds women back most from excelling in their careers?

Looking back over the past 30 years of my working life, I believe the biggest challenge or issue that women in the workplace face is fear. A close second is our negative internal dialogue. Fear is something we have at every age, and it can often keep us from being our best self. I love Eleanor Roosevelt’s quote, “You must do the thing you fear most.” I add to that by saying we must do the thing we fear most because that is our lesson. Whether we are 6, 30 or 85, we all have fears of the unknown. I have always asked myself, “What is the worst thing that could happen if I take this risk?”

If it doesn’t work out the way I had hoped, it is still an adventure worth taking and NKYChamber.com

maybe this adventure will lead me to places that I never even imagined. The biggest growth experiences in my life have indeed happened when I pushed through my fear to the unknown.

What’s the origin of your seven principles of leadership?

My seven principles provide a road map to bringing out the productive feelings in ourselves and in those around us. They evolved as I was writing my book and spent time analyzing the encounters I have had across my life and career with everyday people, in places big and small, who touched my heart with their leadership example.

Each story was an example of our core desire, and the key premise of my book, that we desire to “feel” valued, appreciated, heard, seen and part of something bigger than ourselves in our professional and personal life. We are all human. And perhaps deeper than any other human need is or desire to feel that we matter. When leaders understand and live with this understanding, they are able bring out the best in their teams and families.

Will you be providing tips on how to tackle each principle? Do you still personally struggle with any?

Yes, I will be touching on the seven principles that guide us to bring out the best in ourselves and everyone around us. What is nice about these principles is that they serve as my road map and north star. We are perfectly imperfect human beings and it is easy to get off track. The principle that keeps me most honest is “clarity.” I am an June/July 2016

WOMEN’S INITIATIVE

idea person and the details are not my strong suit. The clarity chapter reminds me how important the notion of “less is more” is to concentrate on what matters most and to surround myself with those who balance out my weaknesses.

What’s the advantage of women gathering together to discuss their careers at events such as the Regional Women’s Summit?

I love these gatherings of women. They are so important for us as we women must build community to support each other. A key aspect is the ability to share stories, struggles and accomplishments with each other. It is in our story telling that we are able to share valuable lessons and leanings that we can pass along to each other.

The other aspect is the ability to grow our network for business purposes but also to provide a warm blanket of support for each other. What I enjoy most about these events is how we are reminded that we share a common bond and language and that we are an incredible support system for each other.

gifts that she brings to the world. She has a unique wisdom about her and always has.

She will be turning 14 in July and starting high school in the fall.

The other hope that I have for her is that she never defines herself by what other people think of her. It is so easy to get caught up in that –especially at this time in her life where they are beginning to spend more time with their friends. We discuss these issues all the time and I am so happy that she talks to me (of course, sometimes I annoy her!!). Personal confidence, self-love and self-care are key drivers to our happiness. What a gift for our young women if they are able to grasp this early in their life.

Tell us something about you that we won’t see in your official bio I have a deep love for animals. We currently have two Golden Doodles, Riley and Sadie, and a cat, Sariya. They teach me so much about unconditional love. There is nothing like their excitement when they see me at the end of a day. Of course, cats

are not quite as excited but we are pals and Sariya is really good about letting me know what she needs. My dogs also get me out in nature with their walks. I think that I have experienced the New England seasons in a way I never would have without them.

To register for the Summit contact Pam Mastruserio, VP of the Women’s Initiative, at (859) 578-6384 or pam@nkychamber. com The Women’s Initiative is grateful to the following Regional Summit sponsors for their support: Title Sponsor- PNC Bank; Event Sponsor- Loftus Plastic Surgery Center; VIP Breakfast Sponsors –Anthem B/C B/S, Business Benefits Insurance Solutions, Cincinnati/NKY International Airport and Toyota; Breakout Session Sponsor- Castellini Group of Companies; and Supporting Sponsors Clark Schaefer Hackett and US Bank.

What is your best advice to women trying to build a career?

No matter where you land in your career, it is up to you to figure out how to succeed.

Learn the culture of where you have chosen and learn the people around you. Take time to understand the mission of the organization and your department. Figure out how to bring value to your job, your department and your boss. It is actually irrelevant if you love your boss; rather what matters is how you help him or her succeed. If you keep this in mind, you will never lose.

Be the person others want to be around.

Happy and positive people bring tremendous energy and goodwill to an organization. You’ll be surprised at how your attitude will affect others as well as yourself.

Are you interested in taking your career to the next Level?

Join us for the Inaugural Women’s Regional Summit geared towards women at all career levels- young professionals, mid and senior career, second careers and entrepreneurs

Details June 29, 2016 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Northern Kentucky Convention Center, Covington, KY

Cost (per person) $159 Til -June 28 | $179 at the door June 29 Title Sponsor

Media Sponsor

Event Sponsor

You have a daughter. What is your hope for her professionally as she grows up?

My hope for Madison is that she finds her purpose and passion in life. That she taps into who she really is and understands the June/July 2016

Register by calling 859.578.8800 or online www.nkychamber.com NKY Chamber Business Journal

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RECOGNIZING 2015 DESIGNEES: Emerging 30 is comprised of local

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

Altus Wealth Management is honored to be named as an Emerging 30 Designee for the second year in a row.

Founded in April of 2010, co-founders and managing partners, Steve O’Connor, Andrew Hermes and Bill Doepker work out of their Ft. Mitchell office. Their mission statement says it all, when it comes to their approach to business: “To be our clients trusted advisor on all financial matters.”

What makes Altus unique as a wealth manager is their ability to act as both a financial planner (all partners have earned the CFP® designation) and an investment advisor.

“Our willingness to invest our time and effort in developing deep relationships with our clients and business partners,” explained Steve O’Connor when asked about their key to success. In order to be successful on your own, you face big challenges and learn by experience.

When asked what advice Steve had, he simply stated “humble yourself, and ask other successful business owners for guidance.”

While this is straight-forward, it holds generations’ worth of knowledge.

Steve and the Altus team admire fellow entrepreneurs that are willing to dream big, invest their own capital and take risks.

Through the process of the Emerging 30, Altus is very happy with the positive exposure they have received from friends, clients and business partners.

Submitted by: James Owen Plumb Tite, LLC

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Since 2009, Ms. Colette Ridge, Director of Expense Reduction Analysts (ERA), has been helping clients in the NKY/Greater Cincinnati region save money on their non-core budget items. Colette’s team finds significant savings and takes a percentage of those savings as their fees. So working with ERA is ultra-low risk and is paid for with a small portion of the savings company’s gain.

A second consecutive recipient of the Emerging 30 designation, Plumb Tite Plumbing is certainly a company on the rise. This has been accomplished by Plumb Tite’s quest to always offer a better plumbing experience, changing the conventional thoughts about what a service company should be, and by always providing only honest and ethical solutions to its customers.

ERA is a global company with over 250 USbased cost specialists who use their vast data banks to compare Ridge’s client costs against “best in class”. This benchmarking creates information for negotiating better contracts locally, resulting in not only reduced financial costs but also improved processes for doing business. Colette’s role is business development, client management, and managing her selected consultants in order to optimize the savings for her clients.

In just under two years this family owned business has morphed from primarily a commercial new construction plumbing company to one of the definitive leaders amongst all service plumbing company’s in the Greater Cincinnati area for residential and commercial work. Plumb Tite attributes this rapid success to many keys factors, including its immersion in technology, the reputation the company built throughout the community by its owners, Dave Talbert and Bruce Barnjum, and perhaps most poignantly because of their amazing staff and highly skilled and experienced technicians.

Colette attributes a large portion of her growth to her persevering belief she could help others when they had reservations about doing anything with outside help.

Another key has been to make sure she gets in front of the real decision makers within her clients’ organizations. And finally, she acknowledges how important it is to know the true financial costs encountered in winning opportunities to serve others.

About winning those opportunities, Colete says, “Personally, I’ve got to be involved in the community. I do a great deal of networking as well, and approximately 70% of our clients have come from referrals. The NKY/Cincinnati business has gained its growth rate through proving results with our clients and having them help spread the word.”

Plumb Tite proudly did away with the customary “service fee” nearly two years ago and now goes on each call knowing it must first earn the trust and business of every customer before they are ever expected to pay a dime – something unheard of in the industry! Additionally, the company regularly schedules appointments for residential and commercial customers based upon the customer’s schedule, boasting 24/7/365 service, but regularly scheduling appointment slots that span M-F 8am – 9pm and Saturday 8am – 5pm. These small differences make Plumb Tite a company continuing to see its star rise and always staying synonymous with its’ slogan of Plumbing Done Right!

Submitted by: Larry Nitardy, ComAssist

Submitted by: Alan Baker, LGI CFO

NKYChamber.com

June/July 2016

A two-time “Emerging 30” designee, Greater Comfort Heating and Air Conditioning’s 27 full time employees support the health and comfort needs of their clients in Northern Kentucky, Cincinnati and Southeastern Indiana. Founded in 2005, Dan Lickert, President, says their continual growth has been highly dependent on staying aware of things that worked and didn’t work, both technically and with people. “We’re consistently learning and using discernment to determine good from bad.

We don’t need to know everything, just who to call for the help and support we need, ” explains Lickert.

The team at Greater Comfort work more with each other than for the company.

Rarely does someone have to take on the role of “boss”. We’re caring, loving and compassionate and always looking for ways to work together.

Acknowledging one challenge of a high growth-rate is to prevent out-growing your team’s abilities, Dan says “it’s critical to keep investing in our team’s capabilities to do the work necessary to meet future client needs. We have to remember that the decisions we make effect a larger group, we always have to keep our employees in mind.”

Greater Comfort has a “long haul” approach for its business, focusing on sustainable results through residential unit replacements, commercial and industrial installations, and service contracts for their clients. As a key mentor from Dan’s early career, Mr. Tom Winstel Sr. instilled Dan with the attitude: “always have a never-give-up spirit, never give up on people, customer or co-worker”.

Submitted by: Larry Nitardy ComAssist

APPLY NOW!

In 2015, RoundTower Technologies completed another huge year from a financial and operational perspective. Being “fleet-footed” and having fast growth are two common characteristics amongst Northern Kentucky’s Emerging 30 Award Winners, but RoundTower Technologies runs at a sprinter’s pace to expand its offerings in order to satisfy its clients’ needs and assist them with remaining or becoming more competitive within their own marketplaces.

RoundTower’s mission is fairly simple: to enable its customers to drive positive business outcomes by becoming more agile and efficient through the use of technology. While the mission is simple and broad, the company continually expands and enhances its offerings to keep up with demands and remain cutting-edge. The company’s bench boasts a vast array of technical knowledge and a large collection of high-caliber and extremely technical staff. A quick glance at RoundTower’s service offerings will tell you that there is virtually no technology solution/situation that they aren’t familiar with.

In addition to its tremendous organic growth, the company announced at the end of 2015 that it had closed a deal to merge with Par 4 Technology Group, a Boston-based IT Services firm. The deal expanded RoundTower from a super-regional IT services company to a major powerhouse that serves the entire region east of the Mississippi.

Also, in order to accommodate its employee growth and find a location to better suit the company’s overall culture, RoundTower recently announced that it will move its corporate headquarters in the summer of 2016 from Blue Ash, Ohio to the Tower at Kenwood Collection in Sycamore Township. This comes on the heels of expanding at least two times at its current headquarters.

Applications are now being accepted for the 2016 class of Emerging 30 Presented by Strauss Troy.

Criteria include: • Company is a current NKY

• • • •

Chamber member and/or headquartered in Boone, Campbell, or Kenton county Is privately held Has been in business for at least the past four years Have annual gross revenues of at least $250,000 Achieved an average annual revenue growth of at least 15% over the past three years

Are you in the top 30?

Don’t wait – apply today!

Applications are due August 1, 2016.

Questions?

Contact Christie Rogers 859-426-3652 or crogers@nkychamber.com

With its deep level of expertise, its expanded services and product offerings, and its recent corporate developments, RoundTower is poised for long-term growth and success.

Submitted by: Keith Carlson Silverstone Advisors/Blackbird Capital June/July 2016

NKY Chamber Business Journal

29

Congratulations 2016 NGLA Finalists BUSINESS/FINANCIAL/LEGAL SERVICES Elizabeth Corbett, Focus On Success Sandra Eismann-Harpen, Frost Brown Todd Justin Vanderglas, Clark Schaefer Hackett

COMMUNICATIONS/MARKETING/SALES Carla Landon, Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Eric Langevin, UC Health Katie Simms, TQL

COMMUNITY & SOCIAL SERVICES Andy Brunsman, Be Concerned Laura Menge, The Greater Cincinnati Foundation Mike Moroski, UpSpring

DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION Mark Ramler, Mansion Hill Properties Jeffrey Sackenheim, SHP Leading Design Tyler Watkins, Work Architecture + Design

EDUCATION

Heather Gerker, Children Inc Tom Haggard, Covington Partners Ryan Salzman, NKU

ENTREPRENEURIAL

Natasia Malaihollo, Wyzerr Lacy Starling, Legion Logistics Emily Wolff, Otto’s

GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC AFFAIRS Ben Baker, Immedion Adam Meier, Office of Governor Bevin Meghan Sandfoss, NKADD

MEDICAL & HEALTHCARE SERVICES Katie Koch, St. Elizabeth Physicians Meriden Peters, Interact for Health Sarah Wood, St. Elizabeth Healthcare

Award winners will be announced at the award ceremony on July 14th.

To support your favorite young professional register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/next-generation-leader-awards-tickets-24649742042

Nominate A Leader Today!

Nominations are now open for the Chamber’s annual awards recognizing outstanding leaders in the Chamber and in the community.

Nomination deadline is June 30, 2016. Winners will be announced in July and awards presented at the NKY Chamber Annual Dinner on Thursday, September 15th. All nominations will be kept confidential. Current members of the Chamber’s Board of Directors are not eligible to receive these awards.

Walter R. Dunlevy/Frontiersman Award

Sponsored by TOYOTA Established in 1968, the Walter R. Dunlevy Frontiersman Award recognizes an individual who has a lifelong history of outstanding service to the Northern Kentucky community, exhibits outstanding service to their profession or industry, and exemplifies the highest standards of personal integrity and family responsibility.

Walter L. Pieschel (MVP) Award

The Walter L. Pieschel (MVP) Award is named in memory of the NKY Chamber’s first volunteer leader and recognizes an individual Chamber member who has provided outstanding volunteer service to the Chamber as a committee member, committee chair, or in any other special capacity during the past 12 months.

Unity Award

Sponsored by PNC Bank The Northern Kentucky Unity Award is to presented to an individual or individuals who have shown leadership in bringing Northern Kentuckians together to address and solve common challenges and issues, and has shown leadership in seeking regional solutions to Northern Kentucky challenges.

ImageMaker Award The Northern Kentucky ImageMaker Award is presented on special occasions to an individual or individuals who have brought national or international attention to the Northern Kentucky community through their achievements.

The nomination form can be found at http://bit.ly/2016ChamberAD. Thank You to Our Sponsors Title Sponsor

Host Sponsors

Dunlevy Award Sponsor Devou Cup Presented by Unity Award Sponsor

Wine Sponsors Skyward Salutes Award Presented by

June/July 2016

Stock Yards Bank & Trust Company Taft, Stettinius & Hollister LLP

NKY Chamber Business Journal

31

UPCOMING EVENTS June:

July Continued:

6/08 Employer Solutions: HR & Labor Law

7/25 Women’s Initiative CONNECT Hour at The

Webinar Series - Conducting Lawful and Effective Workplace Investigations

6/9 6/14 6/15 6/20 6/21

Gruff

7/26 Strategic Six Pack

Business After Hours at Nashville Hot Women’s Initiative Golf Outing or Golf Clinic 2016 Legislative Appreciation Breakfast IT NKY: Cyber Security

August: 8/4 LiveWell NKY Worksite Wellness Lunch ‘n Learn

LNK Thought Leadership Series: Learning from Failure

6/21 Eggs ‘N Issues: Millennials in the

8/9 Eggs ‘N Issues 8/10 Employer Solutions: HR & Labor Law Webinar Series - Revising Your Employee Handbook

Workplace

6/23 Getting The Most From Your Chamber Membership

6/29 Women’s Initiative “Connecting Shore to Shore”

6/29 Women’s Initiative Regional Summit “It’s Time to Take the Lead”

8/11 Regional Exchange to Nashville, TN 8/12 Regional Exchange to Nashville, TN 8/16 Annual Chamber Golf Outing 8/25 Getting The Most From Your Chamber Membership

8/25 2016 Leadership Breakfast 8/27 LNK 2016 - Project: River Cities Relay

July: 7/13 Employer Solutions: HR & Labor Law Webinar Series - Effective FMLA Compliance Systems

7/14 Workforce Peer Exchange-Best Practices for Discipline and Discharge – Forms, Challenges and More

7/19 Eggs ‘N Issues: Family Owned Businesses 7/19 STEM Girls Day Out 2016 7/20 LNK Thought Leadership Series: KNOW, KNOW, KNOW Yourself... a Path to Emotional Intelligence 7/22 Your Chamber is a Gold Mine: Successful Referral and Personal Marketing Strategies

For details and registration visit: www.nkychamber.com/events 32

Business After Hours @ Mellow Mushroom NKYChamber.com

June/July 2016

RIBBON CUTTINGS

Triumph Strength & Conditioning

Triumph Strength & Conditioning: 7859 Commerce Place | Florence, KY 41042 | 859 414-5904, www.triumphstrength.net

Trey Grayson, President & CEO, NKY Chamber of Commerce; Daniel Johnson, NKY Chamber Ambassador, Jarrett Baston, Owner; Mark McCain, Owner; Chris Lemmel, Coach; Keith Runion, Special Operations; Valerie Johnson, L&N Federal Credit Union; Sean Cohen, NKY Chamber Ambassador

Stephens Golf Academy

Stephens Golf Academy: 5390 Limaburg Road | Burlington, KY 41005 | 859-414-1791 | www.stephensgolfacademy.com

Karralea List, NKY Chamber Ambassador; Trey Grayson, President & CEO, NKY Chamber of Commerce; Sara Stephens, Andrew Stephens, The Stephens Golf Academy; Gary Moore, Boone County Judge Executive; Brian Halloran, NKY Chamber Ambassador; Valerie Johnson, L&N Credit Union.

Prologistix

Prologistix: 2023 Northside Drive | Hebron, KY 41048 | 859-568-8210 | www.prologistix.com

Lynn Abeln, NKY Chamber; Christina Pugh, Area Director; Sean Cohen, NKY Chamber Ambassador; Abby Hauper, Site Performance Manager; Kristy Morgan, Personnel Supervisor; Valerie Johnson, L&N Federal Credit Union

June/July 2016

NKY Chamber Business Journal

33

RIBBON CUTTINGS

xsimplr IT

xsimplr IT: 864 Donaldson Highway | Erlanger, KY 41048 | 859-400-0990 | www.xsimplrit.com

Shawn Toovey, xsimplr IT; Trey Grayson, President & CEO, NKY Chamber; Justin Wallace, Milton Allen, owner, Suzette Ritchey, xsimplr IT; David Hahn, City of Erlanger; Barney Creevey, NKY Chamber Ambassador; Annette Oldiges, L&N Federal Credit Union; Bobbie Long, xsimplr IT; ScarletRae Marshall, NKY Chamber Ambassador; Phil Ritchey, Beibei Allen

MS-IL Staffing and Packaging

MS-IL Staffing and Packaging: 2091 North Bend Road, Suite #130 | Hebron, KY 41048

| 859-534-3100 |www.ms-il.com Front Row: Daniel Johnson, NKY Chamber Ambassador; Brittany Wilbanks, Matt Bower, Dan Wilson, Ignacio Pensamiento, MS-IL Staffing; Valerie Johnson, L&N Credit Union; Dan Hammons, NKY Chamber Ambassador Back Row: Nick Pecoraro, Elvis Robles, Pedro Ovalle, Christina Brown, MSIL Staffing; Trey Grayson, President & CEO, NKY Chamber of Commerce

Barnes Dennig & Co.

Barnes Dennig & Co.: 2617 Legends Way | Crestview Hills, KY 41017 | 859-344-6400 | www.barnesdennig.com

Ellen Barnett, L&N Credit Union; Chris Korba, Julie Hagen, Tanner Teepen, Daniel Damonte, Reid Schlotterbeck, Barnes Dennig; George Sparks, Barnes Dennig Partner; Trey Grayson, President & CEO, NKY Chamber of Commerce; Harold Kremer, Barnes Dennig Partner; Andy Bertke, Barnes Dennig Partner; Sherry Buntin, Barnes Dennig; Paul Meier, Mayor Crestview Hills; Jennifer Wesselman, Barnes Dennig; Dan Hammons, NKY Chamber Ambassador

34

NKYChamber.com

June/July 2016

RIBBON CUTTINGS

Colonel De Gourmet Herbs & Spices

Colonel De Gourmet Herbs & Spices: 18 N. Ft. Thomas Avenue | Ft. Thomas, KY 41075 | 513-421-4800 | www.colonelde.com

Ellen Barnett, L&N Credit Union; Brian Halloran, NKY Chamber Ambassador; Eric Haas, Mayor of Ft. Thomas; De Stewart, Colonel De Gourmet Herb & Spices; Steve Brunson, NKY Chamber Ambassador

Ribbon Cutting Sponsored By: 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 Lynn Abeln at 859-578-6390 to schedule your FREE ribbon cutting today!

June/July 2016

NKY Chamber Business Journal

35

When you hear the words

Breast cancer,

a lot goes through your mind.

When her daughter was just four months old, Stacey found a lump. Her doctor referred her to St. Elizabeth, where she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer. Because of a strong family history of breast cancer, her doctors used genetic testing to determine her best treatment. Now, she’s a busy nurse and mother of two, and is grateful her doctor recommended St. Elizabeth. Recognized by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers.

Find your nearest location at stelizabeth.com/womenswellness. | Extraordinary St. E