NKY Business Journal | January/February 2022 by Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce

BUSINESS JOURNAL OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF NKY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

E HEALTHCART H IG L T SPO

NT, 'INDEPENDE IN & VESTED INNOVATIVE ITY' IN COMMUN 0 P2

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022

IN THE BUSINESS OF GOOD HEALTH CELEBRATING THE HERE & NOW P 6 BE WELL IN THE NEW YEAR P 10 LINK MEDIA P 16

Shannon Schumacher, CBC

Account Executive, Kentucky Market

Providing Innovative Solutions and Healthier Outcomes for Kentucky Businesses At HORAN, we champion bold innovation backed by data to help employers and individuals thrive. As an industry thought leader, we explore new horizons in health care, benefits, employee engagement and wellness. We work harder to deliver all the strategic benefits, planning and execution you’d expect from a true partner. And, we do it with a laser focus on your short and long-term outcomes. We’re in your corner as an extension of your HR team to help manage your benefits, while improving your employee experience. For more information about how HORAN can help with your benefits strategy, contact Shannon Schumacher at 859.572.4500 or ShannonS@horanassoc.com.

CONTENTS

4 Chair's Letter 6 Celebrating the Here & Now 10 Be Well in the New Year 16 New Media Effort Forms to Bolster Voice, Vision for Northern Kentucky 20 Independent, Innovative & Invested in Community: 20 Years of OrthoCincy 24 Legislative Priorities 25 NKY Legislative Caucus Map 26 Q & A with the Board of Directors & Board of Advisors 27 Around the Chamber 32 Ribbon Cuttings 36 Member Milestones 38 Upcoming Events ON THE COVER: OrthoCincy surgeons in action. Photo by Wayne Litmer.

HEALTH & WELLNESS JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 VOLUME 41 NUMBER 3 HEALTH & WELLNESS | VOLUME 41 NUMBER 3

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CHAIR’S LETTER

GARREN COLVIN Chair, NKY Chamber President & CEO, St. Elizabeth Healthcare

A NEW YEAR BRINGS WITH IT THE PROMISE OF NEW beginnings. It is the time of year where we personally and professionally plan new courses of action to better our lives. As I reflect on the NKY Chamber’s strategic imperatives, I take pride in knowing that this critical work can have a positive impact and outcome to influence all of our lives for the better. Our team, in partnership with countless businesses and community organizations, continues to focus on the NKY Chamber’s three strategic imperatives to ensure our region is a place where all people can come with new ideas, grow, thrive, and call Northern Kentucky home. We will help lay the groundwork for the future of our business community that will undoubtedly enhance the vitality of the region by: (1) Growing, attracting, and retaining world-class talent; (2) Uniting the Northern Kentucky region to advocate for an improved economy; and (3) Building an inclusive business community. One of the ways you can remain connected and informed of the work occurring throughout the region is through Northern Kentucky’s new voice – LINK Media. In October, OneNKY Alliance announced the creation of LINK Media, an independent, for-profit media startup in Northern Kentucky. The platform will launch this month, and here, you’ll find information and a connection to the most comprehensive news in Northern Kentucky. The new media outlet will publish content in print, in daily e-newsletters and online as well as through podcasts and video. LINK Media will be an especially informative channel for Northern Kentucky residents during the Kentucky General Assembly, which is currently in session, where critical legislation is happening that can help drive economic growth within the Commonwealth and the Cincinnati region. As you read through the Journal, you will learn more about the legislative priorities for the NKY Chamber with a focus on how infrastructure can help influence the health of the economy and our overall community. I look forward to the year ahead and all of the great work that will help our residents, businesses and region thrive. Thank you for everything you do to help make Northern Kentucky an even better and healthier place to live and work. Gratefully yours,

3 Strategic Imperatives

Growing, attracting & retaining world-class talent Uniting the NKY region to advocate for an improved economy Building an inclusive business community

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Celebrating the Here & Now Christy Demetrakis to Deliver Keynote Address at the Women’s Initiative 13th Annual Breakfast

By Tabari McCoy Scooter Media THE PAST IS OVER, AND TOMORROW IS NOT PROMISED, so all we have is the now – and the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Women’s Initiative is hosting an event to help you start celebrating it. “Celebrate Your Now” will serve as the theme of the NKY Chamber Women’s Initiative 13th Annual Breakfast, sponsored by PNC. Christy Demetrakis will deliver the keynote address, which will incorporate her message of using “faith to conquer fear” in one’s personal and professional life. Demetrakis is currently the North America Sales Capability Director for Procter & Gamble, where she designs and delivers industry awardwinning sales training curriculums. A 25-plus year veteran of the corporate world, she has worked for several Fortune 500 companies including Ralston Purina, Coors Brewing Company and The Gillette Company. She is also the founder and president of The Empowered Speaker, a company that coaches people to increase their faith, increase their confidence, and conquer their fears both professionally and personally. Read along and discover Demetrakis’ insights on celebrating your now, overcoming fear and why events like the Women’s Initiative Annual Breakfast are important for the enrichment of the Northern Kentucky community. Q: How does the idea of conquering a fear, whether it be personal or professional, relate to the idea of “celebrating your now?” Demetrakis: The thing about fear is that it does a couple of things: Fear causes you to look backwards and not forward; it also paralyzes you in the now. As we think about fear and how people respond to it, it’s typically an emotion that is based on events that have happened to individuals in the past. They respond to fear based on what they think is going to happen in the future and things that may never actually happen. PAGE 6

NORTHERN KENTUCKY BUSINESS JOURNAL

The whole idea of ‘celebrating your now’ is to not allow either the past or future to be what controls you, doing so absolutely impacts your now. It’s hard to celebrate that now if you're stuck living in both worlds. Q: Given the events that have been going on now for almost two years with the pandemic, how are you recommending women overcome their fears in a private and/or personal sense with so much uncertainty around? Demetrakis: First, you must recognize the season of your life that you are in because what works for others at this point in life may not be the thing for you right now. You must be able to embrace where you are so that you don't get caught up in all the things you’re not doing or all the things you think you should be doing which can lead to anxiety. The other piece? Eliminate the thought of ‘I want to get back to normal.’ There is no “normal.” We must get to the place where we can say, 'This is the reality that we are currently in and realize that's probably going to change again tomorrow.' The whole idea of life is changing. Despite the challenges from the last two years, some people have a wonderful perspective. There are those who have been grateful for this divine window of time. What you have chosen to do with this time is up to you … Leading up to March 2020 when the world literally shut down, people at any given time, especially women, were probably thinking – ‘Oh my gosh, I need to take my kids here, I need to get groceries, I need to schedule this appointment, (etc.).’ We had all these things that we had to do that we didn't have time to do. Suddenly, people had time. Those who recognized it for what it was, which was a gift, used it. They embraced a different perspective. I don’t want to discount the terrible things that have happened to many, many people. This is not to suggest that, but it is all perspective … It all starts in your mind. What matters is your perspective and what you’ve done in this window of time because windows don’t stay open forever. Q: The NKY Chamber has three imperatives it is focused on, one of which is building an inclusive business community. As a black female business owner in the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region who also works for a major corporation, how vital is it to have individuals like yourself that can come in and offer perspectives that previously may not have been heard and/or embraced?

HEALTH & WELLNESS | VOLUME 41 NUMBER 3

Demetrakis: Is it important? Yes, it is. In corporate America – I’ve worked for several companies although I’ve been with P&G the longest – we say this all the time: It is hard for people to aspire to something when they don’t see anybody who looks like them in that space. It's critically important to have a woman upfront at an organization, showcasing that they can be successful as an entrepreneur in corporate America. I’m multi-faceted. No matter what you might initially think when you see me as a black woman at the grocery store or walking down the street, you get a different perspective. The same goes for the people in the audience. Sometimes, we like to pigeonhole ourselves into a space; we don’t have to be in just one space. It is very freeing and empowering for women to know that they don’t have to just be a mom or career woman. I can be a spiritual being. I can be an entrepreneur. I can be a fantastic wife. I can be all these things. Perhaps not all equally well at the same time because those are a lot of priorities – but it is good for people to see that. I applaud the NKY Chamber for making a specific effort to say, ‘This is the type of person I want to put in front of the organization to kick off the new year.’ We talk about celebrating your now, but we must get to the place where we can act. To get there, we must address the things that have gotten us to our current state. NK Y

2022 Women’s Initiative 13th Annual Breakfast

The Women’s Initiative (WI) Annual Breakfast, sponsored by PNC, takes place Thursday, February 3, 8:30 - 10:00 AM, at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center. Tickets are $65 for NKY Chamber members, $60 for NKYP Event Pass Holders and $85 for future members. The WI Annual Breakfast will also include the presentation of the Debbie Simpson Spirit of Achievement Award. Melissa Lutz of Champlin Architecture has been named the 2022 honoree. Melissa has been an engaged volunteer with the NKY Chamber for over 25 years and an active member of the Women’s Initiative from the inception, serving in a wide variety of roles across many different committees.

Family Nurturing Center, a nonprofit dedicated to ending the cycle of child abuse by promoting individual wellbeing and healthy family relationships, has been named the 2022 WI Annual Breakfast Nonprofit Recipient. The organization’s services and programs focus on the education, prevention and treatment of all forms of child abuse and neglect. Attendees are encouraged to support Family Nurturing Center with a donation.

To learn more and purchase tickets, visit www.nkychamber.com/WIBreakfast22.

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Be Well in the New Year

By Tabari McCoy Scooter Media

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WHAT IS THE BEST ASSET IN YOUR BUSINESS? YOUR PRODUCT? Your service? Your reputation, perhaps? As many have come to discover over the course of the last two years, the answer is likely your employees. As labor shortages and supply chain issues continue to present challenges for many business owners following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, having a healthy workforce has proven itself essential to their success. But how can employers deal with the ever-evolving challenges that threaten to hinder their efforts to attract, retain and empower their workforce? By utilizing the wisdom of the following local experts to address the financial and physical health concerns of their employees. Start your 2022 off on a positive note by considering these tips and tricks to improve the health of your employees (and your business, too).

NORTHERN KENTUCKY BUSINESS JOURNAL

FINANCIALLY FIT “Pay yourself first.” That’s the wisdom that Shelley FunkeFrommeyer, wealth advisor, founder and CEO of FFR Wealth Team in Covington, encourages her fellow small business owners to share with their employees. Explaining that some small business owners may not offer a retirement program like a 401K, Funke-Frommeyer suggests encouraging employees to save 6 to 8% of what they earn per pay period. She recommends contributing money into an individual retirement arrangement (IRA) – putting $6,000 a year into one will grow to $1 million over a 30-year period. “Giving yourself a pay raise every year of 1% to 2% is also key,” she says. “If you’re 35 and you start doing that now, by the time you’re 67, you’re going to have close to $85,000 more saved by saving just $12 more per week.” If your company offers a retirement/savings plan, FunkeFrommeyer says encouraging your employees to participate will show you are invested in their financial well-being, which in turn will help them buy in to the program. Want another tip? Encourage your employees to use their paid time off (PTO).

HEALTH & WELLNESS | VOLUME 41 NUMBER 3

“An employee’s financial health is only as good as their emotional and mental health. I encourage employers to say, ‘You’ve got paid time off to use – what is it you want to do with it this year?,'” she says. “I’d love to see it on a calendar and see you’re thinking about your physical and emotional health by taking some paid time away from work.” Funke-Frommeyer, who says many people are “unfortunately living on 120% of what they’re earning” instead of about 80%, says business owners would also be wise to follow her advice, too. “As you're trying to grow your company, set at least 10% aside in savings,” she says. “You can do charitable, meaningful things with 10% of your net profits and allocate money for your next hire or the hire after that.” Encourage employees to pay themselves first and FunkeFrommeyer – who grew up the sixth of 12 children – says the effort will pay off in the end.

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PROPER PANDEMIC PROTOCOLS

Julie Brazil says the best thing employers can do to minimize COVID-19 infections is “to encourage their employees to get fully vaccinated and get their booster shot if applicable.” However, if you’re looking for more ways to ensure their safety, Brazil – the co-founder and COO of Gravity Diagnostics – has a few more tips to share to keep your workplace healthy in the new year. With her Covington-based company being among the nation’s leaders in pandemic research and data collection, Brazil has spent the better part of the last two years researching all things COVID-19. She says the unknowns of the Omicron variant such as its rate of transmission and its severity make the need to be vigilant and take precautions as important as ever. Says Brazil, “The good news is that we know much more today than we ever have before, so we can stay prepared, but not panic.” Social distancing, when possible, frequent hand washing and increased cleaning efforts are just the beginning. “Perhaps equally as important is having a clear policy for reporting illness and a plan when an employee has either potentially been exposed, has been exposed or is having symptoms,” Brazil says. “Having a structured way to address potential infection makes it less intimidating for employees to notify employers, thus potentially preventing the spread.”

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Richard Field, President of Post Glover Resistors in Erlanger, says his company is researching whether home testing kits may be an option for its workers. In the meantime, Post Glover enacted several policies in accordance with CDC recommendations to keep its workers safe. This includes splitting breaks and lunches into three different periods so fewer people are in close contact with one another and requiring masks for all unvaccinated people entering their facilities. No matter what measures an employer takes, however, communicating your policies is key to their success. “It is important to have a public, clear message so that all employees understand our policies and can feel comfortable knowing that we are consistently following these policies,” Field says. “When someone feels ill or worries that they were exposed to a sick person then the clear policies help them to quickly know that they are following the correct guidelines for themselves and those around them.” Brazil agrees. “It is advisable for employers to put in place strong safety measures and have a general plan should an outbreak occur in the workplace. Doing so makes it more likely that a business can help prevent an outbreak and manage through an outbreak with less negative impact and, more importantly, reduces the health risk to employees and their families.” NORTHERN KENTUCKY BUSINESS JOURNAL

PUTTING OUT FIRES BY STOPPING SMOKING Looking for another way (outside of COVID-19 best practices) to empower your workforce to improve their health? Consider implementing a smoking cessation program that produces health and financial benefits to both employer and employee. Business Benefits President/Advisor Geralyn Isler says adopting a tobacco-free workplace policy prohibiting tobacco use on company property while also providing smoking cessation counseling is a good one-two punch to help improve workers’ health. Additionally, she says offering FDA-approved tobaccofree drug therapies and providing incentives to those who successfully quit and/or are tobacco-free can be effective as well (provided they follow HIPAA and EEOC non-discrimination rules).

HEALTH & WELLNESS | VOLUME 41 NUMBER 3

“Tobacco cessation is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce health care costs and increase productivity in the workplace,” Isler says. “The cost of a smoker to an employer is nearly $6,000 per year in absenteeism, productivity costs and tobacco related diseases driving health care and workers’ comp costs.” Like all things, having strong leadership in place will help produce a happier – and healthier – workplace for all. “The first of the year is always a great time to kick off a new wellness initiative but reminders and encouragement throughout the year will lead to success. Employers should be mindful and supportive since it can take multiple attempts to quit smoking,” Isler says. “Plan for the long term when communicating a cultural change. Employers should plan ahead for questions and concerns and stay consistent with responses to employees while providing as much assistance as possible.”

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HELP WORKING FAMILIES WITH CHILDCARE SOLUTIONS If the expression “numbers never lie” is accurate, the statistics Sandra Woodall, the Executive Director and Founder of EC LEARN, shares should signal a need for businesses to address their employees’ childcare concerns. “Research shows that companies that are investing in childcare benefits for employees (are making) a great investment,” Woodall says, referring to a 2019 study by the Labor Center at the University of California, Berkley. According to the study, parents without access to high-quality early care and education (ECE) “Often reduce work hours, turn down promotions or quit their jobs. Turnover and absenteeism due to insufficient ECE cost businesses $1,150 per working parent each year.” Additionally, “Research shows providing ECE decreased employee absences by 20-30% and reduced turnover by 37-60%.” There are many ways to combat the problem, Woodall says, mentioning employers and parents working together to adjust

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schedules as one example. “Sometimes it might be thinking about what the schedule is or who they're partnering with in that childcare network model (to find) in-home, family childcare providers that offer non-traditional hours.” Considering the resources Woodall's agency has available for families, businesses and fellow early childhood educators coupled with how the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the need, Woodall says companies would be wise to invest in ECE measures ASAP. “We'd really love a business to engage in this (via) a Lunch and Learn where we would bring the employees together and talk about child development and building a resilient network – sometimes families don't have a network to rely on,” she says. “It's very important to have that awareness that childcare is essential for working families and to know their children are on track to kindergarten readiness with exposure to quality early childhood education.” NK Y

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Collier

By Michael Monks, Chief Creative Officer, LINK nky

SINCE THE CLOSURE OF THE KENTUCKY POST IN 2007, NORTHERN Kentucky has gone without a traditional, robust news operation solely devoted to its stories, its people, and its voices. The impact has been stark, with research suggesting that in the immediate years following the Post’s closure, voter turnout dropped, the rate of incumbent candidates being returned to office increased, and campaign spending fell. But beyond government and politics, Northern Kentucky also lost the other benefits of a regular daily newspaper: court reports, event calendars, sports stories, feature profiles, business listings, local opinions, and more. A coalition of local business leaders and non-profit organizations, led by the OneNKY Alliance, set about to fix this problem, and provide a much-needed and sorely-missed voice to the NKY Metro. After nearly two years of research, development, conversation and planning, LINK Media was announced to much praise at the end of October. It included the acquisition of two popular local publications: The River City News and Fort Thomas Matters. It also includes a more than $1 million investment to build upon RCN and FTM’s decade-plus of reporting on the region, by adding new digital components and a direct-mail print piece. The ambition is high. “LINK represents the single largest investment in local journalism here in a generation,” said LINK CEO Lacy Starling, who recently sold her ownership in Newport-based Legion Logistics, which she co-founded, to take the helm at the new media start-up. “The Northern Kentucky region has all the important components that businesses, families, and visitors could want, except for one glaring omission: a strong and vibrant media operation. “LINK will change that.” For Mark Collier, founder of Fort Thomas Matters and now LINK’s chief operating officer, the opportunity is significant. “I have seen through the significant growth of Fort Thomas Matters and its large audience that there is a serious demand for local journalism in Northern Kentucky,” he said. “With LINK and the team that we are assembling, we will be able to give this region what it deserves: an independent, ambitious, and aggressive new media operation that not only tells our community’s story in full, but also better connects us as neighbors.” PAGE 16

Monks

NORTHERN KENTUCKY BUSINESS JOURNAL

“It is important to talk about problems and deficiencies and inefficiencies, and we will do that. But it is so much more important that we take this unique opportunity to explore remedies and answers to the problems and questions facing Northern Kentucky.” - Lacy Starling, LINK CEO

Michael Monks, founder of The River City News, a digital site focused on Northern Kentucky news, now serves as chief content officer at LINK. “The closure of the Post was a significant blow to Northern Kentucky, but Mark and I responded to that cause by creating our platforms to offer thoughtful, independent coverage to our region,” said Monks, who is departing his popular Cincinnati Edition radio hosting job at Cincinnati NPR station WVXU. “But we’ve both known that even though we have massive online followings, we still needed to do more. We always wanted to work together and now we are, and what we have in store is totally game-changing for Northern Kentucky.” Here’s what is planned so far:

“The most important part of what we are trying to do, though, beyond just bringing a larger media footprint to the region, is to be focused on solutions,” CEO Starling said. “It is important to talk about problems and deficiencies and inefficiencies, and we will do that. But it is so much more important that we take this unique opportunity to explore remedies and answers to the problems and questions facing Northern Kentucky.” Soon, the popular Fort Thomas Matters and The River City News social media pages and websites will be re-branded and re-directed to LINKnky. com which positions the new start-up ahead of a traditional launch. There is already a large built-in audience. “I call it a re-start-up,” Monks said. A newly designed and re-branded daily “Between RCN and FTM, Mark and I have destination for NKY news online at about 200,000 unique visitors to our linknky.com (to launch February 15) websites each month. Our Facebook A daily email newsletter, The Daily Link, pages routinely reach that same number of people each week. That says to me already sent out each morning that the region is hungry for news and that we are going to build on that number A direct-mail print publication to be distributed to every household in Boone, now that we finally have the team and Campbell, and Kenton counties every resources to do it.” two months, with a springtime launch Podcasts to offer in-depth conversations about news in NKY, and also fun and creative approaches to addressing Northern Kentucky’s issues, needs, and people A new team of media professionals joining the three executives in fulltime editorial positions

HEALTH & WELLNESS | VOLUME 41 NUMBER 3

“This is also incredible news for our business community because LINK offers a special advertising platform that targets exclusively Northern Kentucky audiences,” said Collier. “There will be no more wasting of precious ad dollars by spending with Cincinnati corporate media outlets that play to northern suburbs across the river. LINK will provide a platform to reach a huge number of customers right here in Boone, Kenton, and Campbell counties. “And best of all, the business community already knows us because we have been here, telling the region’s story for so long. Now we will be bigger and better than ever.” The new organization is quickly adding to its editorial staff, deepening ties to the business community, pre-producing creative multi-media content like podcast and video series, and preparing for the launch of the print edition. “This is truly a historic opportunity for us and for Northern Kentucky,” Starling said. NK Y

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y c n i C o h t r O 20 Years of s & Sports Medicine Orthopaedic

By Tabari McCoy Scooter Media

THE IDEA BEHIND THE MANTRA IS SIMPLE, REALLY. JOANN REIS WILL happily say as such when asked, too. “The biggest thing that we try to help companies with is saying, ‘We'll get your employee in today. If they’re hurt on the job, they can simply walk in without an appointment to any of our three urgent care clinics,’” says Reis, CEO of OrthoCincy Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, the largest independent orthopedic provider in the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky/Southeast Indiana region. “The sooner we can start taking care of somebody’s injury, the sooner they get back to working.” Now preparing to celebrate 20 years of helping patients on both sides of the Ohio River, OrthoCincy’s productivity doesn’t look to cease any time soon. Founded in 2002 as Commonwealth Orthopaedics, the practice was re-branded as OrthoCincy Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine in 2017. Wellington Orthopedic & Sports Medicine joined the company in 2021; a merger that created the largest independent orthopaedic practice in the region with approximately 500 employees working at 12 locations including six in Northern Kentucky: Edgewood, Florence, Highland Heights at Northern Kentucky University (NKU), Crestview Hills, Erlanger and Williamstown. OrthoCincy’s locations in Edgewood, Florence and Highland Heights feature a clinic, full diagnostics and dedicated walk-in urgent care provider facilities along with physical and occupational therapy. The facilities help OrthoCincy serve approximately 400,000 patients throughout the Tri-State annually according to practice Marketing Director Steve Krider. PAGE 20

PICTURED: OrthoCincy provides the latest in MRI technology at three convenient Northern Kentucky locations. Photo by Ben Gastright. NORTHERN KENTUCKY BUSINESS JOURNAL

HEALTH & WELLNESS | VOLUME 41 NUMBER 3

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PICTURED: Clockwise from top left: Matthew DesJardins, MD, photo by Wayne Litmer; Rebecca Popham, DO, photo by Wayne Litmer; Jonathan Slaughter, MD, photo by Wayne Litmer; An OrthoCincy x-ray tech in action, photo by Ben Gastright. PAGE 22

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TWO DECADES OF GROWING DEDICATION

PERSEVERENCE THROUGH A PANDEMIC

OrthoCincy’s size and scope enables the company to address and treat several medical concerns under its banner, specializing in shoulder, spine, joint, hip, hand/wrist, knee, foot and ankle injuries. The COVID-19 pandemic, however, presented several challenges for OrthoCincy – challenges complicated by the interpersonal, close contact nature of the practice. Adhering to guidelines set forth by OSHA, Reis says OrthoCincy instituted several measures to ensure the health and safety of its employees and patients, some of which were already established. This includes incentives for things like vaccinations and achieving fitness goals to encourage wellness among employees. These are ideas they encourage other businesses to explore because promoting wellness practices can lower employees’ personal healthcare costs and increase productivity with reduced sick leave use among other benefits. Promoting wellness throughout the community is nothing new to OrthoCincy. Dr. Adam Metzler, named one of the area’s “Top Doctors” by Cincinnati Magazine in 2022, cites OrthoCincy’s ACL Injury Prevention Program (developed in partnership with St. Elizabeth Healthcare) as an example of its community involvement. Working with 17 area high schools, the program helps athletes increase strength while learning new techniques and skills to reduce the 1 in 100 chance high school athletes have of tearing their ACL. This is in addition to other programs aimed toward things like upper extremity injury prevention and improved bone health.

Staying vigilant to ensure the health and safety of employees and patients – both in terms of providing treatment and preventing COVID exposures – remains OrthoCincy’s top priority. That’s why Reis and Dr. Metzler are both quite proud of OrthoCincy’s Orthopaedic Urgent Care walk-in services, which have fulfilled a need in the community by offering a convenient, safe and reliable option for patients throughout the Tri-State. “This is what the community needs,” says Reis. “OrthoCincy’s Urgent Care helps prevent patients from having to sit for several hours in hospital emergency rooms.” In addition to preventing exposure to potentially “extremely ill” patients while awaiting treatment for a simple arm fracture, Reis says OrthoCincy’s Urgent Cares are “probably one-fourth” the cost of emergency room treatment. In addition to offering its Urgent Care capabilities, OrthoCincy’s quick adaptation to virtual care has enhanced the number of people it can serve, both in terms of patients and other medical professionals. Whereas Dr. Metzler says OrthoCincy now routinely participates in grand rounds – webinars about any number of medical topics – with hundreds of people. These webinars and virtual visits help to educate patients in brand new ways as well. “In the first month we went virtual, I did probably close to 300 virtual visits in the first four to six weeks: I'd never done a virtual visit in my life. Today, I did an MRI review with a patient virtually and they were at work,” he says. “It's fantastic for those opportunities … There are many things we've learned to adapt – how to do an exam, go over pictures – and we feel very successful at that almost two full years later.”

HEALTH & WELLNESS | VOLUME 41 NUMBER 3

Reis says going virtual is now the norm which it wasn’t 18 months ago. She believes the impact of doing so has changed the way OrthoCincy is educating people. “Dr. Metzler hit it right on the head: We are reaching out to more people now than we could have previously because things happen at the last minute,” she says. “Before, you couldn’t make it, but now doing a virtual visit is so much easier.”

PUTTING PEOPLE FIRST What is the key to OrthoCincy’s success? According to Dr. Metzler, it’s the same thing that has driven the company for nearly two decades and counting: Putting the people they serve first, whether in the doctor’s office or the community. “I’ll arrogantly say we have the best practice in the community, and I am very proud from a physician standpoint to work for (this) group because we all continue to evolve and get better and that's centered around the patient first,” he says. “If we put the patient first – which should always be the case – that's what creates success.” Reis agrees with Dr. Metzler. “I'm very proud that we've been able to do this. It's been great – it is always a goal of OrthoCincy to put the patient first,” she says. “I can't even imagine what life was like when we weren't doing things virtually. It's really driving us forward … We just keep progressing and that's what our goal is: to keep progressing for our patients.” NK Y

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2022 Kentucky General Assembly

NKY CHAMBER WHERE WE STAND Legislative Priorities The NKY Chamber's Advocacy Council created the 2022 Legislative Priority Agenda which addresses key issues in the categories of economic development, healthcare and workforce that will accelerate business, create jobs, and continue to position Northern Kentucky as an economic driver that will benefit the entire Commonwealth. A complete roster of policy positions can be found at nkychamber.com/WWS2022.

INVEST IN INFRASTRUCTURE Provide state matching funds for the proposed Brent Spence Bridge companion bridge and other related projects in this corridor. Ensure KY continues to provide state match for federal transit funds which supports transit systems and workforce development at the local level. EMPLOYER HEALTH AND SAFETY RIGHTS Protect the right of employers to require a vaccine for the safety and health of its employees and customers, as well to protect the ability of the wider community to be protected from vaccinepreventable diseases. COVID-19 LIABILITY PROTECTIONS FOR EMPLOYERS As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, policymakers have an obligation to ensure the effectiveness and intent of Senate Bill 5, which is to protect businesses and our economy from unwarranted lawsuits related to the virus. MODERNIZE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE Lawmakers must fully embrace the important work of reforming KY’s unemployment insurance system to ensure that the system is efficient and focused on employment and workforce participation. STRENGTHENING THE WORKFORCE Support efforts to create stronger alignment of workforce programming throughout KY, with the understanding that each region has a unique set of challenges. Because of the magnitude of our workforce challenges, it is critical that all workforce programming and spending in KY be highly effective and demonstrate positive results.

REGIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS OF SIGNIFICANCE To keep pace with the substantial growth across the NKY Metro, support infrastructure projects identified in the KYTC SHIFT plan which are of regional significance. Expanding current roads and building new ones is essential for NKY businesses of all sizes. IMPROVE ABILITY TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN TALENT Launch a marketing, talent attraction initiative aimed at increasing our state’s skilled workforce, reversing population decline trends, and ensuring that KY grows at a rate that is competitive with peer states. CONTINUE PRO-GROWTH TAX REFORM A shift from income-based taxes to consumption-based taxes can improve our competitiveness as long as these taxes are not levied on business-to-business services that would add another layer of costs to job creation since taxes significantly impact business decisions that lead to job creation and retention. INVEST IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION Invest in early childhood education and make greater investments in enhanced child-care programs for our developing youth. Ensuring a successful beginning for the state’s youngest citizens will also require an innovative and collaborative approach to provide quality childhood education starting at birth for all children.

Advocacy PAGE 24

NORTHERN KENTUCKY BUSINESS JOURNAL

2021-22 NKY Legislative Caucus House Map Dayton High School Riverside Hamilton Bellevue Marina BCPL High School Hebron Ludlow High Newport Newport Branch School High School Pavillion Highlands High Villa School Devou Park St. Elizabeth Conner Madonna St. Elizabeth Covington Notre Dame High Academy Fort Thomas Academy Covington School Buttermilk Catholic Holmes High School CVG Airport Towne Center High School Beechwood High School Fort Wright Holy Cross 67 Boone County Crestview 63 Plaza 65 High School Fairgrounds Hills Town Cold Spring NKU Center Citi Bank Fidelity Library Lloyd High School St. Elizabeth Castellini Camp Edgewood St. Elizabeth Dixie Heights Group Ernst Florence High School Academies Lake Florence Mall Meijer 69 Kenton of Innovation Cooper and Technology Doe Run Lake High School Scheben 64 Library

Dearborn 66

Boone

Ohio

Kenton Simon Kenton High School

Triple Crown Country Club

Ryland Lakes Golf Course

Kenton County Extension Durr Library Office

Verona Vineyards

Bishop Brossart High School

Campbell Campbell County High School

AJ Jolly Park & Golf Course

Piner Elementary School

Gallatin 47

Clermont

68 Kenton Lakes Sports Plex

Walton-Verona High School

Switzerland

Pond Creek Subdivision

Silver Grove Dari Bar

Rep Sal Santoro District 60

Grant

Rep Kimberly Moser District 64

Pendleton 78

Rep Joe Fischer District 68

sal.santoro@lrc.ky.gov @santoro_sal

kimberly.moser@lrc.ky.gov @5boymom

joe.fischer@lrc.ky.gov @KYHouseGOP

Rep Savannah Maddox

Rep Buddy Wheatley District 65

Rep Adam Koenig District 69

savannah.maddox@lrc.ky.gov @SavannahLMaddox

buddy.wheatley@lrc.ky.gov @buddywheatleyky

adam.koenig@lrc.ky.gov @repkoenig

Rep Phillip Pratt District 62

Rep Ed Massey District 66

Rep Felicia Rabourn District 47

phillip.pratt@lrc.ky.gov @PrattforKY

ed.massey@lrc.ky.gov @cedmassey

felicia.rabourn@lrc.ky.gov @felicia_rabourn

Rep Kim Banta District 63

Rep Rachel Roberts District 67

Rep Mark Hart District 78

kim.banta@lrc.ky.gov @KYHouseGOP

rachel.roberts@lrc.ky.gov @Rachel4KY

mark.hart@lrc.ky.gov @staterep78HD

Owen District 61

HEALTH & WELLNESS | VOLUME 41 NUMBER 3

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Brack

Q&A with the

Board of Advisors & Board of Directors

What is the one self-care/health & wellness activity you do every day? "Get good, quality sleep."

"Take vitamins."

Paco Tello

Laura Lyons

VP, NA Operations Perfetti Van Melle

President ATech Training

"Ten minute morning meditation."

"I follow a very specific skincare routine daily to ensure my skin remains healthy long term!"

David Heidrich

Kelsi Simms

CEO Zalla Companies

Sr. HR Generalist Krauss-Maffei Corporation

"Focus on mind and body with breathing techniques and some physical movement."

"Drink a gallon of water." Brady Jolly

Mindy Kershner

CEO Jolly Enterprises

Sr. Manager, Communications & Community Affairs CVG

Dale Silver Vice President C-Forward

"EXERCISE." Gaby Batshoun President Global Business Solutions, Inc.

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Paula Harper Manager of Partnership Development University of Cincinnati

Ryan Heitkamp VP, Operations ARMOR

NORTHERN KENTUCKY BUSINESS JOURNAL

AROUND THE CHAMBER EGGS 'N ISSUES - LOOKING FORWARD TO 2022 | RECEPTIONS, ERLANGER

OUTGOING BOARD MEMBERS

Julie Kirkpatrick, meetNKY

GOVERNMENT FORUM - KY ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON | NORTHERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY, HIGHLAND HEIGHTS

Abby Gerwe, PromoWest Pavilion at OVATION

Julie Calvert, Cincinnati USA

NKYP LUNCHTIME LEADER CHAT - GARREN COLVIN | KENTON COUNTY GOVERNMENT BUILDING, COVINGTON

HEALTH & WELLNESS | VOLUME 41 NUMBER 3

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AROUND THE CHAMBER WOMEN'S INITIATIVE CONNECT HOUR | BUFF CITY SOAP, NEWPORT

WOMEN'S INITIATIVE CONNECT HOUR | GRANDVIEW TAVERN, FORT MITCHELL

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NORTHERN KENTUCKY BUSINESS JOURNAL

NKYP HOLIDAY HAPPY HOUR | SPOON KITCHEN & MARKET, COVINGTON

WHERE WE STAND 2022 & COMMUNITY AWARD - ALECIA WEBB-EDGINGTON | TRIPLE CROWN COUNTRY CLUB, UNION

COMMUNITY AWARD - ALAN BERNSTEIN

HEALTH & WELLNESS | VOLUME 41 NUMBER 3

COMMUNITY AWARD - NKADD

COMMUNITY AWARD - PAUL HEMMER

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AROUND THE CHAMBER BUSINESS DIVERSITY MIXER | NEW RIFF DISTILLING, NEWPORT

The Scurry to Return in May 2022 Assemble your crew to compete for bragging rights and help local mental health efforts The “most fun you can have on a Friday afternoon” is back for 2022! The Scurry – a competition pitting teams throughout Northern Kentucky in a dash around Covington testing their speed, teamwork, problem-solving abilities and more – returns for its 10th go round this spring. Taking place Friday, May 20, the event (styled in the fashion of CBS’ hit reality show The Amazing Race) will conclude with a block party celebrating the day complete with live music, food and drinks. Hosted by TiER 1 Solutions (100 E. Rivercenter Blvd., Ste. 100, Covington, KY 41011), this year’s Scurry event will benefit three local organizations dedicated to driving mental health initiatives throughout the Tri-State: The Lindner Center of HOPE, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and the Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky. To register for The Scurry, RSVP for the Block Party, become an event sponsor, or make a donation, visit www.tier1performance.com/the-scurry. For more information, contact event mascot, Murray Scurry at murray.scurry@tier1performance.com.

Event photos by Ben Gastright PAGE 30

NORTHERN KENTUCKY BUSINESS JOURNAL

Thanks to our customers and dedicated employees for making Forcht Bank the #1 ranked bank in Kentucky by Forbes Magazine. Commercial Lending | Lines of Credit | Cash Management Kyle Newman Commercial Banking Officer

Neal White Commercial Banking Officer

forchtbank.com | Member FDIC

HOME

TEAM

Moving in? moving out? moving up? Bringing buyers & sellers together for 24 years John Lorms | Realtor johncandoit.com 859.486.0060 john@JohnLormsRealEstate.com

RIBBON CUTTINGS ALLEGIANCE STAFFING 73 Cavalier Blvd, Suite 213 | Florence, KY 41042 | 859-900-9107 | allegiancestaffing.com PICTURED: Charley Wayman, Building Industry Association of Northern Kentucky-NKY Chamber Ambassador; Shannon Davis, Allegiance Staffing President; Patti Baker, Allegiance Staffing Branch Manager; David Baker, Allegiance Staffing Business Development; Michelle Harper, Allegiance Staffing Service Coordination Manager; Christine Ray, eXp RealtyNKY Chamber Ambassador

BIRCUS BREWING COMPANY - COVINGTON 39 W Pike Street | Covington, KY 41011 | 859-317-3778 | bircus.com PICTURED: Bircus Brewing Co. & North South Baking Co. Staff; Craig Roberts, Capital Real Estate Partners; Covington Commissioners Michelle Williams, Ron Washington and Shannon Smith; (Holding the ribbon) JD Angell, BIrcus Brewmaster & Kat Nycz, Owner of North South Baking Co.; (Burning the ribbon) Paul Miller, Chief GoofOfficer at Bircus Brewing Co.

COURTYARD CINCINNATI AIRPORT 3990 Olympic Blvd | Erlanger, KY 41018 | 859-647-9900 | marriott.com/hotels/travel/cvgca-courtyard-cincinnati-airport PICTURED: Scott Stewart, Dwyer Insurance-NKY Chamber Ambassador; Jennifer Porter, COO of Commonwealth Hotels; Nathan Lipps, General Manager of Courtyard Beavercreek; Auntrell Snyder, Dual Sales Manager Courtyard/Residence Inn Cininnati Airport; Todd Smith, Area Director of Operations; Nicole Basch Estep, Dual Director of Sales Courtyard/Residence Inn Cincinnati Airport; Mark Aftanski, Vice President of Operations for Commonwealth Hotels; Phil Cline, Assistant General Manager Courtyard Cincinnati Airport; Nicole Coghlan, Area Director of Operations Commonwealth Hotels; Corey Walkup, WesBancoRibbon Cutting Sponsor; Mary Bandy; Abby Beckett, Field Director of Sales and Marketing Commonwealth Hotels; Andrea Schmidt, Dual Sales Coordinator Courtyard/Residence Inn Cincinnati Airport; Scott Meyer, Patrice & Associates-NKY Chamber Ambassador

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NORTHERN KENTUCKY BUSINESS JOURNAL

D1 TRAINING NORTHERN KENTUCKY 1952 N. Bend Road | Hebron, KY 41048 | 859-904-5445 | d1training.com/northern-kentucky PICTURED: Lisa Johnson; April Kariuki; Charles Johnson, D1 Recruiter; Braxton Irwin; Carlos Esquivel; Charles Gaines, D1 Coach; Haylo Johnson; Kalyn Johnson; Charles Johnson, D1 Owner; Kyle Sweeney, D1 General Manager; BC (Charles Johnson Jr); Andrew Mitchell, D1 Coach; Hayleigh Johnson; Ryan Courtney; Will Clarke, D1 Coach; April Coffee, First Commonwealth Bank-NKY Chamber Ambassador; Gene Kirchner, NKY Chamber-SVP

INSPIRED FASHION 827 Madison Avenue | Covington, KY 41011 | 859-360-1343 | inspiredfashion40.com PICTURED: Scott Stewart, Dwyer Insurance-NKY Chamber Ambassador; Brent Cooper, NKY Chamber President; Buddy Wheatley, Kentucky State Representative; Shelia Simmons, Fashionista Décor; Catrena Bowman-Thomas, Inspired Fashion Boutique Owner; Oracious Thomas, First Impression Computer Consulting; Pat Frew, Covington Business Council; Alecia Webb-Edgington, Life Learning Center; Ron Washington, City of Covington Commissioner; Erik Anderson, Inspired Fashion Boutique

LADY ECLECTIC BOUTIQUE 2837 Town Center Blvd | Crestview Hills, KY 41017 | 859-391-8515 | ladyeclecticboutique.com PICTURED: Chris Perkins, 7 Hills Church-NKY Ambassador; Paul Meier, Mayor, City of Crestview Hills; Jessica Roddy, Lady Eclectic Boutique, Owner; Patrick Roddy, Lady Eclectic Boutique; Scott Stewart, Dwyer Insurance-NKY Chamber Ambassador; Katie Ockerman, Mutual of Omaha Advisors-NKY Chamber Ambassador

Ribbon Cuttings Sponsored by:

HEALTH & WELLNESS | VOLUME 41 NUMBER 3

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RIBBON CUTTINGS

Relocating to the Northern Kentucky/Cincinnati Region?

OAKMONT LENDING 2194 Dixie Highway | Ft. Mitchell, KY 41017 | 859-360-5908 | oakmontlending.com

Our high-touch service ensures a successful move! Services include: • • • • •

Area overview Mortgage pre-approval Home-finding tours Home sale assistance Community information

Get your Free Relocation Toolbox: Judy Pogue jpogue@comey.com

513-527-3225.

PICTURED: Chris Perkins, 7 Hills Church-NKY Ambassador; Kaidon Fohl; Brandon Fohl, Oakmont Lending; Kelli Fohl; Abram Fohl; Mary Burns, City of Ft. Mitchell; Jane Young, ReMax/Affiliates-NKY Chamber Ambassador

STRONG'S BRICK OVEN PIZZA 10336 US Hwy 42 | Union, KY 41091 | 859-384-6836 | strongsbrickovenpizza.com

PICTURED: David Plummer, City of Union CAO; Barry Henry, The Flottman Company-NKY Chamber Ambassador; Jenna LeCount, Director, Community and Development Services at Boone County Planning Commission ; Amanda Bauman-Knight, Strong’s Pizza Owner/ Operator; Doug Dawson, City of Union Economic Development Committee (EDC) Member; Larry Solomon; City of Union Mayor; Karen Neubauer, City of Union Economic Development Committee (EDC) Member; Sydney Strong, Strong’s Pizza Owner/Operator; Mindy Strong, Strong’s Pizza Owner/Operator; Christine Ray, eXp Realty-NKY Chamber Ambassador; Lacey Lane, eXp Realty-NKY Chamber Ambassador, Jaime Lyons, City of Union Economic Development Committee (EDC) Member

Ribbon Cuttings 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. LET US HELP YOU PROMOTE!

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Call Lynn Abeln at (859) 578-6390 to schedule your FREE ribbon cutting today!

NORTHERN KENTUCKY BUSINESS JOURNAL

Bright eyes. Bright smiles. Two great plans. One name you trust.

DeltaVision®

Introducing DeltaVision® from Delta Dental Delta Dental has partnered with VSP® Vision Care—a national leader in vision benefits—to offer an exciting new addition to our dental benefits programs in 2022.

See the difference. Contact your Delta Dental representative to learn more. Delta Dental of Ohio | www.deltadentaloh.com

MEMBER

MILESTONES

SHARE YOUR GOOD NEWS! All NKY Chamber members are invited to share announcements & personal achievements in the Milestones column. Send Milestones to bgastright@nkychamber.com

PAGE 36

INTERACT FOR HEALTH

For more than 20 years, Interact for Health has worked to improve access to care for children via school-based health centers. Deanna Hillard recently joined the foundation to support the work of 38 current school-based health centers and develop additional opportunities to improve children’s health and reduce health disparities. As Program Officer, Hillard is the primary contact with grantees and potential grantees, providing support, coaching or technical assistance to help grantees meet their objectives. “School-based health centers bring together educators, health care providers and funders around the common goal of keeping kids healthy and able to learn,” said Ross Meyer, Vice President of Strategy with Interact for Health. “With her experience in the nonprofit sector and enthusiasm for making the region a more equitable one, we think Deanna will bring new energy and ideas to our work in this area.”

VONLEHMAN

Rödl & Partner, a global professional services firm based in Germany, and VonLehman CPA & Advisory Firm, a regional accounting and advisory firm headquartered in Ft. Wright, Kentucky, have formed a joint venture to better serve the region’s leading foreign owned companies. Known as Rödl & Partner | VL, the combination of global reach, interdisciplinary approach, and focus on foreign owned mid-sized companies makes the joint venture unique and will provide international companies across the region with better insights for their success. “Rödl & Partner in the U.S. serves a very specific type of client – entities located in the U.S. that are owned by foreign parent companies. VonLehman also has a concentration of these types of entities, which are often in the manufacturing and distribution space. This region continues to be a huge growth area for that industry,” said Beth Vice, a Shareholder with VonLehman and leader of the joint venture. “By combining forces, we will be able to elevate how we serve these entities. This includes offering services we have not had in-house previously, including transfer pricing studies, international structuring, and an in-depth understanding of differences in accounting and tax standards in the U.S. versus international standards. Equally important, the joint venture will be headquartered right here in Greater Cincinnati, so our presence and knowledge of the local landscape remains intact.”

NORTHERN KENTUCKY BUSINESS JOURNAL

KENTON COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY

UP N SIG Y! A D O T

The Kenton County Public Library has been given a five-star ranking by leading trade publication Library Journal (LJ). The Kenton County Public Library has been consistently highly ranked. Annually, Library Journal ranks libraries across the country based on library visits, circulation, e-book circulation, program attendance and public Internet computer use. The LJ Index gives an overall indication of how libraries stack up to their peers nationally. Library Journal ranks libraries on a three, four or five-star rating. Kenton County received a five-star rating and was ranked 9th in its category based on libraries across the nation. Additionally, Kenton County was one of only 17 libraries in the southeastern United States ranked of the possible thousands. “We are honored again this year to be a fivestar library and ranked in the top 10 libraries in our category across the country," said Executive Director Dave Schroeder. "A big thank you to our Board of Trustees, staff and especially the residents of Kenton County who support the library. The Kenton County Public Library has been ranked by Library Journal for more than a decade. This is a testament to the value residents of our county place on library services.” NK Y

We Offer Real-World Situations & Survival:

Krav Maga/Self-Defense Single & Group Classes Female Only Classes Corporate, Small Business, School, Church, & Medical Staff Training Customized Personal Training & Nutrition All Ages & Abilities Welcome

www.FitDefenseTeam.com

Regional Youth Leadership Fundraiser The Sound of Music | Friday, January 28 7:30 - 10:00 PM | The Carnegie, Covington nkychamber.com/soundofmusic HEALTH & WELLNESS | VOLUME 41 NUMBER 3

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EVENT CALENDAR JANUARY 1/6 1/11 1/13 1/19 1/20 1/28 1/31

FEBRUARY 2/2 2/3 2/8 2/10 2/10 2/25 2/28 TBD

MARCH 3/2 3/3 3/8 3/9 3/10 3/10 3/25 3/28

Northern Kentucky Business Journal is published bi-monthly by:

Periodicals Postage Paid USPS-548630 at Covington, KY.

CEO/Publisher Brent Cooper | bcooper@nkychamber.com

Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, Inc. 300 Buttermilk Pike Suite 330 P.O. Box 17416 Ft. Mitchell, KY 41017 859-578-8800 NKYChamber.com

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.

Marketing & Communications Shannan Boyer | shannan@scootermediaco.com

The Business Journal is a benefit of membership and included in membership fees. Annual subscription rate for nonmembers is $30.

PAGE 38

Design & Photography Ben Gastright | bgastright@nkychamber.com Vice President, Membership–Sponsorship Sales Lynn Abeln | labeln@nkychamber.com Director, Sponsor Investments Diana McGlade | dmcglade@nkychamber.com Staff Writer Tabari McCoy | tabari@scootermediaco.com

NORTHERN KENTUCKY BUSINESS JOURNAL

BUILDING ON … Whether you need a learning path for new managers or advanced skills for your executives, we have pathways that can benefit everyone in your organization.

OVERVIEW OF PROGRAMS • Advanced Degrees: Further education through more than 22 advanced degree options • Microcredentials: Demonstrate and enhance relevant workplace skills, abilities and competencies. • On-Demand Learning: Access leading industry subject-matter experts through self-directed online courses. • Leadership Academy: Personalized and interactive team activities in leadership development.

LET NKU HELP BUILD A PLAN FOR YOU Contact us at (859) 572-5236 or frontdoor@nku.edu.

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NKY Business Journal | January/February 2022

Articles inside

CELEBRATING THE HERE & NOW

BE WELL IN THE NEW YEAR