BUSINESS JOURNAL OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF NKY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SEPT/OCT 2022 MEET THE NEW BOARD CHAIR P. 4 RYL & LNK CLASSES OF 2023 P. 8 ASK THE EXPERTS P. 18'A LEGACY LEADERSHIP'OFP.24EMPLOYERSPOTLIGHT BuildingLastingLegacya
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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBERLEADERSHIP2022VOLUME42NUMBER1 CONTENTS 4 Meet the New Board Chair 8 Regional YouthClassLeadershipof2023 10 Leadership NorthernClassKentuckyof2023 14 NKY Chamber Board of 2022-2023Directors 16 DEI Committee Announces New Chairs, Focus 18 Ask the Experts 24 Building a Lasting Legacy 28 GROW NKY 30 Why Visiting Corporate Headquarters is Important for NKY Economic Growth 32 BOD/BOA Q&A 32 Next Generation Leader Award Winners 36 Around the Chamber 40 Ribbon Cuttings 42 Member Milestones 46 Events 24364 ON THE COVER: Paul Hemmer (center), flanked by Senior Project Manager Christian Mains (left) and Senior Business Development Manager Matt Curtain at the Freestore Foodbank site in Cincinnati. LEADERSHIP | VOLUME 42 NUMBER 1 PAGE 3
By Tabari McCoy Scooter Media
NORTHERN KENTUCKY BUSINESS JOURNALPAGE 4
Hawkins: The truth of the matter is that we’re not broken, and we don't need to be fixed. In that regard, my job is pretty easy because of the previous leadership that we've had in the role of board chair, people like Garren Colvin, Dan Cahill and others before them. We've benefited from these outstanding leaders who care about this community.
Q: What do you see as the top businessrelated issue(s) that need to be addressed in the Northern Kentucky business community?
Q: You are not a new face to the NKY Chamber having been actively involved for years. How has your previous experience as a Chamber member helped prepare you for your role as Board Chair?
Hawkins: I've always tried to give my time and treasure, in earnest, toward making our community better and more inclusive.
LEADERSHIP | VOLUME 42 NUMBER 1 PAGE 5
Hawkins: We’re in the process now of working through our strategic plan following the most recent Board of Directors annual retreat. My goal certainly is to try to help us to bring the collective influence of the NKY Chamber to life.
JOHN HAWKINS IS THE PRESIDENT and CEO of Management Performance International (MPI Consulting), a Cincinnati/NKY-based human resrouces management consulting and capability development company. A well-traveled executive, keynote speaker and corporate trainer, Hawkins – a Mississippi native who has had a home in Union, KY the past 20+ years – began his career at Procter & Gamble, ultimately becoming Head of Customer Marketing in Brazil. Leaving P&G to become a Vice President for Kellogg’s, he would later join Novartis Medical Nutrition as SVP, Acute Care and HomeAfterCare.the sale of the division to a competitor, he joined Glendinning Management Consulting (a WPP company) as its VP of Consulting, working out of Montreal before returning to the United States in 2009. He acquired MPI in 2011 enroute to achieving a bevy of awards and accolades, the most recent being named among Consulting Magazine’s Top Consultants of 2022 in the Excellence in Client Services category. This September, Hawkins adds the latest accolade to his extensive resume as he assumes the role of Chair of the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce (NKY Chamber) Board of Directors.Getto know the incoming chair as he talks about his goals, the significance of this new role and what gives him hope for the future of the NKY metro’s business community.
I have felt welcomed and appreciated and valued in that process over the years. We have a wonderful group of people who lead the NKY Chamber, who care deeply about the community, and want the best for it and its businesses. I'm very humbled by it, certainly grateful and will bring the best of my ability, skills, talents and experience as a business executive and leader to try to help make a difference in this community.
One of the things I hope I can bring is a deeper understanding and appreciation for the need for our community to be more welcoming and inclusive; I think we are certainly well on our way in that regard. As the community becomes more and more diverse, it's going to be even more important that we remain committed and intentional with our efforts ensuring our community is living up to its full potential as an inclusive and welcoming community for all business types and people – female, male, veteran, disabled, LGBTQIA+, people of color, etc.
My goal simply is to continue to try and lead the charge of being that beacon of light around business and industry in reinforcing that the Northern Kentucky metro is ready for and open for business. That way, we can have a positive impact that sets us up for the future success of generations to follow.
Q: What specifically do you hope to accomplish in this upcoming year?
Q: Why do you think the NKY business community is heading in a positive direction?
Hawkins: First and foremost, when you see the climate for business in the NKY metro and the work that's being done collectively in the spirit of the One NKY initiative, the work collaboratively between the NKY Chamber and groups like Tri-ED and the Greater Cincinnati Regional Chamber, it’s encouraging. There are numerous things that the NKY Chamber is doing very well that have contributed to organizations like Amazon, DHL and Kroger expanding into Northern Kentucky, among many others.
One of the things that I would like to see as we move forward is the ability to continue to attract more minority-owned businesses into our region and ensure that we have the right types of programs and platforms in place to support that. That support could be in the vein of supplier diversity, programs and initiatives, and small business incubators, which attract entrepreneurs of all backgrounds into our community. We certainly got started this past year through the work of the NKY Chamber’s DEI Committee and various initiatives that have come out of that, such as our DEI partnership with Fifth Third Bank, the IDEA Summit in partnership with St. Elizabeth, and now the ongoing DEI Summit educational series. Those things are all important and foundational.
Hawkins: I haven't really internalized it quite frankly, in terms of what it means to be the first African American in this role. I do understand the significance of it and what it represents so far as a clear, visual symbol that Northern Kentucky is changing and that it is open to all different races and backgrounds – we've had female leaders of the chamber in the past.
NORTHERN KENTUCKY BUSINESS JOURNALPAGE 6
Q: For those that have yet to meet you, what do you want them to know about you as both a business leader and a person?
I'm the first African American, but as I think about the relationships that I've been able to build over the last decade or so with the different folks in and around the NKY Chamber, we don't see each other through the lens of color. We see each other through the lens of capability. That’s the truest testament of the growth of an organization – when people can be embraced and opportunities provided because of what they represent, based on their character and hard work and their results, and it’s not simply about gender or about race.
For someone who’s traveled as much as I have, to come back to this place and to be as involved as I am, speaks to the type of community that we're capable of building. We can be a welcoming place for people from all backgrounds and from different parts of the world. They can come here, be successful, raise a family, and also have an impact on their community. I hope that, through my experience, I get to be the amplifier to reenforce that message not just here locally, but to other parts of the country so that when people think about Northern Kentucky, it really stands out in a very positive way first and foremost. NKY
Does that mean that Northern Kentucky is without the opportunity to continue to get better from a racial and ethnic diversity standpoint? No. We want to be mindful of it and intentional about it. That creates a sense of awareness that everyone can participate and be successful in our community.
Hawkins: I'm someone who cares deeply about his family, his community, his business, and his faith and tries to live by being a positive example. I am not originally from this community. I grew up in Mississippi and have lived throughout the world and South America, Europe and Canada, but I've come back to Northern Kentucky, I have spent many years and raised a family here. We've planted our flag here and we call Northern Kentucky home.
Are those visual elements important? Yes, because representation so that everyone can see themselves participating in the fabric of the community is important. It's important that we continue to create opportunities so that everyone can see themselves participating …That’s the truest testament of real diversity coming to life.
PICTURED: (clockwise from top left) Panel discussion at the 2022 IDEA Summit in June; Recognition from the National League of Cities at the 2022 City Cultural Diversity Awards; Recognition at the 2021 NKY Chamber Annual Dinner as the Walter Pieschel Volunteer of the Year award recipient; Hawkins with his sons at the Met Club.
Q: Being the first African American to chair the NKY Chamber’s board, what do you feel your term says about both the NKY Chamber itself and the business community?
The BMW Store Passion Loves Company ®
Announcing the Regional Youth Leadership Class of 2023 HEIDI ABELN NotreAcademyDame JACK ADAMS VillaAcademyMadonna CHARLIE BENDER St. Xavier High School ADAM BRANDSTETTER VillaAcademyMadonna BAILIE BRAMEL Campbell County High School EMMA ANTHON Ryle High School SYDNEY BOLLMAN St. Henry District High School BEN BUMGARNER Dixie Heights High School CASSIE BADINGHAUS Mount Notre Dame High School OWEN BORDEN HighlandsSchoolHigh MARIANA CACERES Madeira High School CADEN CHARVILLE Summit Country Day MADISON EARICK Cooper High School ESHAAN GANDHI Indian Hill High School AUBURN HARDIN CovingtonSchoolLatin CHARLIE EITING Covington Catholic High School CARSON GEARDING AndersonSchoolHigh SAM KREBS Newport Central Catholic High School ELI KAY Ludlow High School KENNEDY LOY Mount Notre Dame High School ERIC LUTHER Madeira High School SIERRA M c COIN Lloyd High School SAMANTHA HIRSH Scott High School LAURA MATOS Summit Country Day EMMALYNN MARTIN Notre Dame Academy ALEXIS M c KINLEY Simon Kenton High School THOMAS HOLOCHER Covington Latin School WILLOW M c LUNG Indian Hill High School GABRIEL REED Holy Cross High School KAYLEE HOLTZAPPLE Calvary Christian KARLENA KELLER Conner High School TYLER KEVILL Newport Central Catholic High School ALLIE HUNGLER Ryle High School JORDYN JONES Bishop Brossart High School PALASH KAPOOR HighSycamoreSchool NORTHERN KENTUCKY BUSINESS JOURNALPAGE 8
PATRICK
The Chick-fil-ACarnegie|Newport Pavilion Cincinnati Arts Association Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Executive Transportation Kenton County Public Library THANKS TO OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS! ELLIE URSHEL HighMariemontSchool CHARLIE WOODRING Scott High School BELLA SAALFED Holy Cross High School JOSHUA ZYZAK HighBeechwoodSchool ELLIE ZOBRIST St. Ursula Academy
WILLIAM THOMAS Covington Catholic High School
As future leaders, session content is developed to broaden student knowledge of the region as well as career opportunities that exist within each session topic. Having volunteered with the program since 2014, I value the opportunity to observe a student as they gain a new appreciation for their hometown. A student who was nervous and shy at the opening retreat will evolve into a confident young leader by graduation. Students also grow their personal networks as they interact with local business and community leaders who are invested in helping students to succeed.
A Letter from the Chair of RYL 2023 Lori Zombeck Director of
Boone County Fiscal Court CAMRYN
St.
MAX
RYL would not be possible without the support of our community. From local professionals donating their time and talent as part of the committee or as a speaker to the organizations that host the class for sessions or provide monetary sponsorships to cover program costs. The program is only sustainable through these community partners, and we are thankful for their commitment to RYL.
Leadership Northern Kentucky Northern Kentucky University Queen City Book Bank St. Elizabeth Healthcare Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP
LEADERSHIP | VOLUME 42 NUMBER 1 PAGE 9
SWEENEY HighMariemontSchool
As incoming chair of the Regional Youth Leadership (RYL) Steering Committee, I am pleased to congratulate and announce the RYL Class of 2023. Forty-six students from thirty-one different high schools in Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati, Ohio have been selected to represent what will be the 29th class since the program was founded.Themission of RYL is to cultivate the leadership skills of our youth resulting in the retention of talent to our region. Modeled after Leadership Northern Kentucky, the program is designed for high school juniors who wish to enhance their leadership skill set while learning about the strengths and challenges of our region. Students participate in monthly programming by attending sessions such as Arts & Culture, Local Government & Economic Development, and Health, just to name a few.
To the RYL Class of 2023, lean into the experience and have a great year! Human Resources, REYMOND Henry District High School RICE Walton Verona High School NATE RUTH Bishop Brossart High School
PAIGE ADAMS Duke Energy Corp. DAWNA BACH Boone County Public Library LAURA BERKEMEIER Life Learning Center CHRIS BRISON First Financial Bank JOE BAYER Fedders Construction SOMMER BOCKERSTETTE St.HealthcareElizabeth BILL BROMBACK HGC Construction LEANNE BECK Boone CommonwealthCountyAttorney JESSE BREWER Boone County Fiscal Court PATRICE BROOKS Kroger Co. AMI BROWN St.HealthcareElizabeth DANAE BROWN St.HealthcareElizabeth LAURIE CHAMBERS StPhysiciansElizabeth NICOLE CULLUM Planning & Development Services of Kenton County CHANDA CALENTINE City of Fort Thomas REN É CHEATHAM Learning Grove VANESSA HUNN NorthernUniversityKentucky MEGHAN GOTH LINK nky JENNY COLLOPY The Christ Hospital Health Network ANDY JOHNSTON Heritage Bank JOHN KELLER PNC Bank MEGAN MEYER Gilman Partners ABBEY CUMMINS Everything Cincy KRYSTAN KRAILLER Scooter Media CHRIS KRUSE Law Firm of Shannon C. Smith CHERYL NACHBAUER RCF Group SUSAN DOUGLAS Girl Scouts of WildernessKentucky'sRoad CASSIDY LEKAN Transitions, Inc. CHERI PADGETT Fifth Third Bank CORREY EIMER Brighton Center HANK HEIDRICH Central Bank JOSEPH HILL Adams Law, PLLC RICH ELWELL CVG Airport JENNIFER FIELDS Citi ALVIN GARRISON Covington Independent Public Schools Announcing the Leadership NKY Class of 2023 NORTHERN KENTUCKY BUSINESS JOURNALPAGE 10
JULIA PILE ParentCamp JUSTIN VOGEL ThomasUniversityMore LOGAN RAINS Kenton County Public Library COREY WALKUP WesBanco Bank COLIN SMITH EGC Construction WILLENBRINKMICHAEL Bayer Becker, Inc. PAUL TONTILLO Gateway Community & Technical College TODD ROHRER C-Forward MOLLY WHEELER Gravity Diagnostics JASON SPAULDING Turner Construction TAMI WILSON NKY Chamber of Commerce JENNY SAND NorthernUniversityKentucky JERAD WHITT Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL DEVON STANSBURY NorthernTri-EDKentucky BRENDEN ZENNI Messer Construction
In a historical year for Leadership Northern Kentucky (Leadership NKY), it is with great honor and humility to be the first person of color to serve as Leadership NKY’s Steering Committee Chair for the Class of 2023. This year we celebrate another significant year, welcoming the 44th “Best ClassLeadershipEver.” NKY is the NKY Chamber’s flagship leadership development program, the 1,500+ alumni showcasing how collaboration is boosting our region’s best and brightest.Over10months, our community as a classroom experience provides a unique blend of awareness, advocacy and leadership, engaging each participant in a life-changing encounter that will transform our region. In each class, we attempt to be intentional with our diverse presenters and participants. Diversity must be part of our DNA for us to continue to be a progressive region that will bring and retain diverse talent. Somewhere I read "we must live together as brothers or we will perish as fools;" now is the time to work together to help make Northern Kentucky a better place to live, work and thrive.Leadership NKY is a unique experience that will push our community’s leaders beyond their comfort zones to embrace different perspectives about the challenges and issues facing the region. One step out of the comfort zone is one step in the learning zone.The fifty leaders that compose the 44th class are about to embark on an incredible leadership journey. I look forward to witnessing these individuals develop as a cohesive unit and emerge better equipped to make decisions that will move the NKY Metro forward while also promoting the future growth of our workforce.
A Letter from the Chair of LNK 2023 Kenneth Webb Vice President Regional CRA Community Development Officer, Republic Bank LEADERSHIP | VOLUME 42 NUMBER 1 PAGE 11
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CLAIRE PARSONS Vice Chair, WoodAdvisoryLeadershipCouncil+LampingLaw MELISSA LUTZ Vice Chair, Membership & Events Champlin Architecture PATRICK HUGHES Vice Chair, Public Affairs DBL Law 2022-2023 Executive Committee Members 2022-2023 Program Chairs JOHN HAWKINS Chair of Board MPI Consulting BARB JOHNSON Wells Fargo Advisors GARREN COLVIN Past Chair St. Elizabeth Healthcare BRADY JOLLY Jolly Enterprises JASON PAYNE RepublicTreasurerBank RAY TAKIGIKU, PHD Bexion Pharmaceuticals GERALYN ISLER Secretary & Vice Chair, Women’s Initiative Business Benefits Insurance Solutions JAY WUEST PNC Bank FRANCISCO "PACO" TELLO Vice Chair, Workforce Perfetti Van Melle KRISTEN SMITHERMAN-VOLTAIRE Vice Chair, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Turner Construction BOARD OF DIRECTORS NORTHERN KENTUCKY BUSINESS JOURNALPAGE 14
BRIAN TODD Clark Schaefer Hackett ERIN ROLFES Kroger ERIC POZARYCKI DHL CHRIS OWENS Taylor Oswald JUDGE/EXECUTIVESTEVEPENDERY Campbell County Fiscal Court PAUL MEIER City of Crestview Hills LAURA LYONS ATech Training JOHN SIEG Fifth Third Bank MISTY MIDDLETON Williamstown Independent School District KRISJUDGE/EXECUTIVEKNOCHELMANN Kenton County Fiscal Court PAUL HEMMER Paul Hemmer Company CANDACE MCGRAW KentuckyCincinnati-NorthernInternationalAirport MICHAEL HALL Citi DR. FERNANDO FIGUEROA Gateway Community & Technical College RICHARD FIELD Post Glover JULIE KIRKPATRICK meetNKY,KentuckyNorthernCVB Board of Directors DAN JANKA Mazak ALLYSON COOK Erigo CAROLINE WELTZER Viox & Viox JIM LOKESAK Skyline Chili BILLY SANTOS Truist KAREN FINAN OneNKY Alliance WONDA WINKLER Brighton Center, Inc. ANNA WOLF TiER1SolutionsPerformance DR. ASHISH VAIDYA NorthernUniversityKentucky CHIP BACH Turfway Park Racing & Gaming JUDGE/EXECUTIVEGARYMOORE Boone County Fiscal Court JULIE TAPKE Robert W. Baird & Co., Inc. LACY STARLING LINK Media BOARD OF DIRECTORS SHELLEY FUNKE-FROMMEYER FFR Wealth GABY BATSHOUN Global Business Solutions CATRENA BOWMAN-THOMAS Northern CommunityKentuckyActionCommission JULIE BRAZIL Gravity Diagnostics CARA BROOKS Duke Energy LEE CRUME Northern Kentucky Tri-ED JOSEPH CHILLO, LPD Thomas More University JOHN ENZWEILER First Financial Bank DAVID SPAULDING Turner Construction LEADERSHIP | VOLUME 42 NUMBER 1 PAGE 15
• Intentionally increase diverse board representation – This includes engaging top employers and civic organizations, helping individuals from underrepresented communities prepare for board-level participation and equipping the existing NKY Chamber Board, Executive Leadership and staff with tools to “accept, consider and welcome diverse perspectives and dissenting opinions in preparation for a more diverse board.”
ChairstheMeet
“These three pillars will serve as a guiding north star for our DEI journey. As we dig deeper into this work, we will continue to align our programs, our data collection and our communication to strive for the most welcoming community possible powered by our community and our faithful NKY Chamber member volunteers,” she says. “We will continue to curate opportunities and access for those who have been traditionally marginalized via a collaborative and communal approach. We’ve made our commitment; now we are asking our partners to commit to walk this journey out with us hand in hand.”
Notable: Dr. Howard has more than 25 years of experience in higher education, his most recent position prior to joining NKU was Vice President for Student Affairs at Youngstown State University, overseeing 12 departments. In his first year at Youngstown, the school’s Student Government Association awarded Dr. Howard the Dr. Martin T. Manning Award for his exceptional mentorship to students. He resides in Florence with his wife Zelda Hughes- Howard and their four children.
NKY Chamber DEI Director Ashleigh DuBois says the pillars are the outgrowth of “reimagining sessions” the NKY Chamber hosted to help get the committee aligned and to better understand and focus the vision for the committee’s future. “I was sitting in a lot of different rooms and quickly came to realize that ‘diversity’ has many definitions, depending on whom you are talking to. When some people said ‘diversity,’ they meant one thing, and for others, diversity meant something else,” says DuBois. “When people talk about the DEI Committee and its purpose, what are they envisioning in their minds? Do we need to be focused on the same things we were two years ago when it DuBoisstarted?”isconfident that the development of these pillars will help ensure the committee is achieving the goals necessary to continue moving the region forward for all.
WHITNEY GLOVER Associate Attorney, Graydon Law
NKY Chamber DEI Chairs,AnnouncesCommitteeNewFocus
321 By Tabari McCoy Scooter Media
LAUNCHED IN FALL 2020, THE NKY Chamber’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee is dedicated to the mission of “Identifying, engaging and intentionally supporting underrepresented businesses” in the region. Now, the DEI Committee has established three pillars that will drive its work through 2024:
Notable: A 2020 graduate of the Howard University School of Law, Glover earned her B.A. in Political Science at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas. She currently resides in Green Twp. with her husband Anthony, daughter Pfallyn and their two dogs.
NORTHERN KENTUCKY BUSINESS JOURNALPAGE 16
• Visibly expressing our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion through the use of intentional language, deliberate representation and purposeful events –This includes demonstrating commitment via symbols, committee participation at various NKY Chamber events, and targeted events.
• Proactively drive economic inclusion –This includes the promotion of supplier diversity and minority-ownedtheunderrepresentedengaging/supportingbusinesseswithsupportoftheestablishmentofabusinessincubator.
DR. EDDIE HOWARD Vice President of Student Affairs, Northern Kentucky University (NKU)
I believe Pillar 1 communicates our intentions and embodies one of the most important elements in my opinion, which is using intentional language. Language is integral to human connections whether that’s in the form of verbal, written, or symbolic language. Language is at the center of diversity, equity and inclusion because it creates a mode of communication and ultimately aids in building the meaningful connection necessary for forward progress. Especially in American where language can vary from state to state and even neighborhood to neighborhood.
NKY
We have a lot of different resources and a lot of things that we’d like to implement in the community to retain diverse talent and to make sure these businesses have access to the same resources as their counterparts. There are so many businesses that are minority-owned and maybe overlooked because there’s a bigger business that does something Isimilar.would
There’s a lot of smart people in the room and around the table with great ideas. My job is to try to help them navigate through all the ideas and bring about collaboration and consensus on what we should be doing and how we should do it.
We have a lot of diversity in this area, and a lot of untapped resources and we want to make sure that we support as much as we can.
like to see things in a better position than they were when this committee was initialized and conceptualized. As someone who’s lived in a lot of different places, one of the barriers to the region can be the attitudes present. Saying, “Well, this is just how things have always been done” isn’t acceptable anymore. There’s not a lot of rhyme and reason to some of the procedures and protocols if you will. My personal goal is to see that some of the reliance on, to be quite frank, is do evolve from antiquated mindsets and ways of doing things that no longer serve the best interest of the region. What made you want to step into the DEI Committee Chair role for the 2022/23 fiscal year?
We looked at diversity, equity and inclusion through the use of intentional language, deliberate representation and purposeful events that we were having.
Diversity, equity inclusion work is hard, dirty work. It is not for the faint of heart; it’s for people who are really committed to the cause. We’re teaching inclusion, we’re teaching equity. We’re teaching understanding. Unfortunately, there are people out there teaching the opposite. We must be diligent and keep our hands on the plow and do what John Lewis said –‘Get in good trouble.’
What are your thoughts on the DEI Committee’s three pillars? What do you hope to accomplish?
I want to be a vessel to represent the interests of the committee in the best possible light. I hope that through their assistance we can brainstorm ways that we can demonstrate the three pillars.
How are we ensuring that we have individuals representing the vast interest in the diversity in the Northern Kentucky metro area? By being proactive and driving economic inclusion, looking at supplier diversity, engaging and supporting underrepresented businesses, and also establishing a minority-owned business incubator that will really focus on minority-owned businesses.
LEADERSHIP | VOLUME 42 NUMBER 1 PAGE 17
Little things like (saying) “Hispanic” versus “Latinx,” or “Black” versus “African American” and understanding when it’s important to make those distinctions and understanding how the use of certain words can rub people the wrong way. The language and symbolism component are going to be very important because those details are what speak to people and those details are truly indicative of the work that’s being done behind the scenes.
Part of my interest in stepping into a leadership role has really been the progression of moving the NKY Chamber forward. We understand that this region is becoming more diverse as is our Inclusionworkforce.is why I was passionate about being a part of this group and getting involved. Sometimes when you’re in a group and you’re engaging and communicating, raising issues and points, people start thinking, ‘Okay, you keep raising these points, then you must want a job.’ So, I was asked if I’d be interested in helping and continuing the conversation. I was really impressed with the work that the DEI Committee had done. Outgoing chairs Kristen Smitherman-Voltaire and Chris Owens set a strong foundation. I’m also really excited about John Hawkins serving as the incoming NKY Chamber Board Chair. My focus will be to work with the committee, with John and the Board to help move things forward. I was one of the founding members of the DEI Committee when it was conceptualized back in early 2021. I was still fairly new to the area at the time … One of my coworkers was asked to be on the DEI Committee and she had other Havingcommitments.livedin a lot of places, I have an interesting perspective that informs the conversation of DEI. It’s always a great opportunity to be there in the beginning because what the committee looks like today. I don’t think any of us could have imagined how it was going to evolve over time … It’s been a great experience to see the progress.
By Tabari McCoy Scooter Media
Local leadership trainers share their thoughts on leadership development, resolving workforce issues
Ask the Experts
HAILED BY MANY AS THE “FATHER OF LEADERSHIP,” THE LATE WARREN Bennis famously said, “The most dangerous leadership myth is that leaders are born … Leaders are made rather than born.” Gillman Partners’ Angel Beets, Nanette Polito and Beth Silvers – three Northern Kentucky-based leadership experts – are helping lead the charge to train the NKY metro’s next generation of business leaders. Read along as Beets, Polito and Silvers share their thoughts on leadership development, how good leadership can help resolve workforce issues and more.
NORTHERN KENTUCKY BUSINESS JOURNALPAGE 18
Meet the CredentialsExpertsataGlanceAngelBeetsNanettePolito Beth Silvers LEADERSHIP | VOLUME 42 NUMBER 1 PAGE 19
Following a 40-year-plus career in the business world that saw her working with managers in a variety of industries, Nanette began her career as a success coach in 2012. Building upon her understanding of sales and business success, Nanette now works with individuals and corporate teams, coaching them in the realms of accountability, goal setting and tracking. A resident of Hebron, she cites her “burning desire” as “to have everyone around her be successful.”
Prior to joining Gillman Partners in 2018, Beets worked for public relations firms in Indianapolis, Chicago and Greater Cincinnati, at one point serving as the Communication Manager for the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. Spending a decade as Professor of Communication at Ivy Tech Community College in Indiana, she is a member of Impact 100, a graduate of Leadership Cincinnati Class 44 and was the president of the Leadership Northern Kentucky class of 2018. In addition to managing the firm’s day-to-day operations, the Fort Thomas resident oversees GP Elevate, Gillman Partners’ leadership development program designed to prepare high-potential leaders for executive roles.
Co-Founder,PantsuitPolitics pantsuitpoliticsshow.comLLC.
Co-host of the podcast “Pantsuit Politics” and co-author of the books "Now What? How to Move Forward When We're Divided (About Basically Everything)" and "I Think You’re Wrong (But I’m Listening): A Guide to Grace-Filled Political Conversations with Sarah Stewart Holland, Silvers’ work has been featured in numerous media outlets. These include The Atlantic, the New York Times, Elle Magazine and “Morning Joe” on TheMSNBC.Union resident has been recognized as one of Ohio’s most powerful and Influential Women by the Ohio Diversity Council, a Human Resources Gamechanger by Workforce Magazine and is a Cincinnati Business Courier “Forty Under 40” honoree. Success nanettepolito.comCoachCo-Managing Partner, Gillman gillmanpartners.comPartners
Beets
How does one learn to be a leader? Are there qualities innate to being a leader, can they be learned or is it a mix of both?
It's absolutely a mix of both, and it's a mistake to rely just on your natural gifts or to believe that you can't become a leader. The most important quality to me for leaders is a sense of curiosity. People who end up in leadership roles and who are least effective, forget to be curious, either about their work or about the people. So many different things go into learning how to become a leader. Part of it is observing leaders around you and thinking about what parts of their leadership you really admire, what parts are working well, and perhaps even what might not be working as well. That said, you can't look at someone else's leadership style and mimic it … You have to be true to yourself. Silvers Beets Polito A lot of leadership is practicing what feels right to me … Part of it is observing, part of it is learning hard skills, taking classes and being exposed to information that maybe you wouldn't have thought about otherwise and learning new things. Part of it, too, is focusing on areas where you have opportunities for growth and practice. A person can be taught, but they must be open to being taught and to learning. Great leaders will tell you that they're always learning – but they are not great leaders just because they are good learners. A person can have some natural leadership skills however, there are people that probably never thought they were going to be a leader but could be taught if they were afforded the opportunity.Aperson must also be a very good listener. They must make people feel like they're heard and be willing to work with and “get dirty” with the team.
Employees have so many options right now … Employers and leaders have to work harder than ever to develop a culture that people want to be partAuthenticityof. is a big piece of this as a leader: you must know what your style is and be true to that. A lot of it is just being flexible: How do you lead different groups of people and/or in certain moments? One moment is very different from the next, and are you able to adjust your leadership style to meet the people and to meet the moment?Wehearall the time that “People don't leave companies, they leave managers.” People want to be heard. They want to know the work they do matters. Strengthening leadership teams and elevating talent is why our GP team shows up every day.
NORTHERN KENTUCKY BUSINESS JOURNALPAGE 20
How can good leadership help employers in resolving workforce issues, particularly with talent attraction and retention?
I see a lot of emphasis in our region on DEI training and that's really important. It’s even more important to say at every level of this organization, ‘Do I have champions for justice? Do I have champions who are going to ask who needs to be at the table? Who's at the table right now? Who's missing? Whose perspective isn't represented here?’
Are there any other thoughts on leadership you’d like to share?
The turnover you want is not people leaving because they weren't great at their jobs but because they were, and they found your space to be a place where they could grow with cheerleaders who encouraged them to go to the next step. They, in turn, will be great ambassadors for people coming to work with you, especially in an economy where the labor supply is tight. Holding your great performers back is always a recipe for toxicity in the culture just as much as an unwillingness to give people a chance.
PAGE 21LEADERSHIP | VOLUME 42 NUMBER 1
Be authentic to yourself and bring that into your people. As a leader, it's okay to be vulnerable at times; we all must be that way. They're looking to us and we're going to need to be the strong ones. But these days, being able to say, ‘I need more information about this; I may have messed up’ (is a good thing). Show that you are authentic, show your vulnerability. If you’re a leader and you have qualified people, let them do their work – don't micromanage them. Work with the people who need the help. NKY Every company, especially those with teams, should be doing some sort of personality analysis on the people working for them. However, it should not stop at the hiring sector … Help them understand each other using their personality types. When you get people to understand each other and become a true team, it can help with Here’sretention.theother part of good leadership: Understanding where your people want to go. One of the things that good leaders do with their people is say to them, ‘Where do you want to go in this company?’ Are you creating an open culture where people communicate well and talk to each other? Leaders don't let things fester. They hit them head-on. There's no point in doing something unless it's done really well. There’s no point in doing something unless it’s done really well – and most people feel more fulfilled when they connect what they’re good at to the work they’re doing. I love to find people's strengths, I love to help them recognize what they're uniquely good at and be their own, very different kind of leaders. You can be an effective leader with very different kinds of backgrounds or experiences or personalities. You just need to find your way to plug in and be successful with the skills that you bring to the table. If you want a talented workforce, you need to be the kind of person that other people want to be around, and feel will invest in them. You need to be willing to let people go, which sounds counterintuitive, but it's important to understand that there is a healthy level of turnover. There are a lot of different ways to be a leader and sometimes we focus too much on title and hierarchy and too little on influence. As we try to be a region that is more inclusive and welcoming, it is important to elevate that influence piece and understand that there are folks within your organization who have talents and gifts that can make your organization so much more welcoming.
Polito Polito Beets Silvers Silvers
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By Tabari McCoy , Scooter Media A LEADERSHIPOF Legacy
“When I took the reins in 1982, I realized that it wasn’t a one man show. It was very dependent upon finding my skill sets and then complimenting those with a team,” Hemmer, Jr. says. “A leader is someone that listens and sets the direction for the company. They create an environment that's exciting to give people the opportunity to make decisions and to be entrepreneurs within the context of the company and empower them to succeed … I've been working for 50 years and know how important it was to feel part of a team, enjoy the work environment, feel empowered and we try and do that with everyone in our company.”
AS ITS PRESIDENT AND CEO, PAUL W. HEMMER, JR. HAS AN APPRECIATION for the longevity and legacy of the company that bears his name. It’s his hope, however, the first century is merely setting the stage for even greater things to come.Inhis mind, leadership will play a critical role in making sure that happens.
Photos by Ben Gastright
LEADERSHIP | VOLUME 42 NUMBER 1 PAGE 25
To lead you must have aptitude and ambition. Somebody that has the aptitude may not have the skill set, but when combined with ambition they can learn that skill set.
WHAT THEY DO: Paul Hemmer Companies is a premier provider of construction services in the medical, distribution, manufacturing, office, retail and institutional markets throughout the Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky (Tri-State) region.
PAUL HEMMER COMPANIES AT A GLANCE Founded: 1921 Location: 226 Grandview Drive Fort Mitchell, Kentucky 41017 Number of Employees: 80-plus Public or Privately-owned: Privately paulhemmer.com
" "
NOTABLE PROJECTS: In addition to the Freestore Foodbank’s soon-to-open Distribution Center, some of Hemmer’s recent local projects include Core5’s I-71/75 NKY Logistics Center, Northpoint’s West Chester Trade Center Buildings 8 and 9, expansion of Mazak Corporation’s Florence, KY campus, and new facilities for St. Elizabeth Physicians in Independence, Dry Ridge, Taylor Mill and Hebron. Hemmer also has multiple active projects in the Louisville, Indianapolis, and Columbus markets.
PICTURED: Mains, Hemmer and Curtin outside (left) and inside (right) the new Freestore Foodbank headquarters in Cincinnati.
CULTIVATING A CULTURE OF LEADERSHIP Historically, 1921 was a landmark year for a multitude of reasons. Global politics abroad would change with the founding of several new regimes and countries declaring independence from others … Three Canadian scientists would discover insulin … and George Herman “Babe” Ruth concurrently became Major League Baseball’s all-time home run leader en route to his thought-to-beunbreakable career record of 714. In Northern Kentucky, 1921 would see John M. Hemmer founding a construction company his son Paul Sr. would eventually take over. Now, 101 years later, Hemmer, Jr. continues his family’s legacy at the helm of Paul Hemmer Companies, the firm enjoying revenues “in excess of $125 million” last year by his own admission. Given that industry prowess, it might come as a surprise to hear that while he plans to work – “indefinitely" - Hemmer, Jr. recently began plans to expand the respective roles of his company’s leadership team. Hemmer, Jr. says the move is necessary for the business to continue to grow while serving in a coach/mentor role along the “Iway.look at two things: To lead you must have aptitude and ambition. Somebody that has the aptitude may not have the skill set, but when combined with ambition they can learn that skill set. I’m not so arrogant to think that my way is the only way – other people have ideas and, in many cases, they’re different but better,” he says. “It’s not just taking what we’re doing and replicating it; it’s a combination of continuous improvement and taking strategic risks on how we choose to grow the business.Senior Project Manager Christian Mains, a Northern Kentucky University alum responsible for fiscal and administrative management of several of Hemmer’s commercial and industrial projects, says strong leadership contributes significantly to the company’s success.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH: Paul Hemmer Companies contributes to several charitable organizations/causes, including the Freestore Foodbank, Guardian Angels Church, Toys for Tots, BAWAC, Covington Partners, Journey: The Ed Colina Foundation, Veterans Affairs (VA), St. Elizabeth Foundation, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Hoxworth Blood Center, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, the University of Cincinnati Linder School of Business and the Northern Kentucky University Foundation among others.
Curtin began his career in the company’s subsidiary, Building Management Partners, at 16. After earning his bachelor’s degree from the University of Kentucky and MBA from Thomas More University, he would go on to gain experience in real estate development, leasing and acquisition before returning to Hemmer in April 2020. Curtin also recently added another accolade to his resume as a graduate of the NKY Chamber’s Leadership Northern Kentucky program, the same leadership development program Hemmer, Jr. himself graduated from as part of its inaugural class in Now1979.tasked with developing long-term client relationships for construction services, industrial land sales and real estate, Curtin says leadership can be a major factor in helping employers resolve workforce issues since it “sets the tone”.
“We wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for great leadership from the top down. You speak with Paul and he’s open arms, willing to listen and that's our company environment,” Mains says. “That kind of vibe is felt working with us, our subcontractors, our architects and engineers, and developers. They feel it and that's why we have so much repeat business because of our leadership, our ethics and how they trust us.” Matt Curtin echoes Mains’ sentiment. The Senior Business Development Manager for Paul Hemmer Companies, Curtin is a fourthgeneration Hemmer employee.
“You can offer so many workplace benefits, work from home flexibility, all the other stuff you see companies trying to do to get new people to come work for them; ultimately, what it comes down to is if you have strong leadership, you're going to be successful,” he says. “When you communicate what your upward trajectory is to grow as a company and everyone has a clear, common goal and understands how to work towards it with defined responsibilities, it makes it a lot easier to be happy in the workplace. Being able to coach others and help them be successful is what I look for in a leader. That’s pretty evident here at Hemmer, which is why we've had very limited“InHemmer,turnover”.Jr.agrees.business,youhate to have failure, but failure is part of success,” he says. “We want that kind of environment where no one is going to be criticized for failure. If you repeat mistakes, that's the time to criticize. We want to learn from all the lessons, both the wins and the losses.”
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We've created a good culture, an environment where people are proud to be a part of our company and take great pride in the work that they do –that's passed down. Now the goal is like a relay race to allow for a smooth handoff to the next generation of leaders. " "
“My family emigrated to the Northern Kentucky community in the 1880s … For more than 140 years, this has been our home and we have more than 80 employees that live in this region and it's their home,” he says. “We want the customer to win; we want our partners in the project, the contractors, and designers to win – that’s what has led to our long-term success. We want to leave the communities that we live and work in, especially in Northern Kentucky where our home is, be a better place.”
Hemmer, Jr. who cites his family’s commitment to the region as inspiration, says the rewards from undertaking such projects extend beyond financial gain.
With the company continuing to produce and benefit from strong leadership, he can’t wait to see what his team – and the region – can build together.
LEADERSHIP | VOLUME 42 NUMBER 1 PAGE 27
“We've created a good culture, an environment where people are proud to be a part of our company and take great pride in the work that they do – that's passed down. Now the goal is like a relay race to allow for a smooth handoff to the next generation of leaders,” he says. “I feel very grateful and take a lot of pride in the company that we have. Hopefully, I'll be around for years to watch and see how it transforms.”
COMMUNITY TIES It’s one thing to hear someone talk about leadership, seeing it in action is another story entirely. That’s why the company is extremely proud of its current project with the Freestore Foodbank: The construction of a 224,000-square-foot Community Resource and Distribution Center in Cincinnati. The center will not only consolidate the nonprofit’s two current warehouses, but allow for enhanced, expanded workforce development programs and vital support services to combat hunger and poverty throughout the region. In addition, Hemmer is excited about its continued work with St. Elizabeth Physicians. Work is underway on the partnership’s latest outpatient center in Hebron that will serve the community alongside similar facilities in Independence, Dry Ridge, and Taylor Mill.
NKY PICTURED: (Top) On-site at the Freestore Foodbank; (Bottom) In the conference room at the Hemmer offices in Crescent Springs.
The Talent Collaborative of Greater Cincinnati, a newly launched regional tri-state workforce development initiative, aligns the work of GROW NKY with GROW NKY partners across the region are collaborating on a variety of projects to enhance talent development, talent attraction and employer policy and practice with the goal of greater economic vitality for Northern Kentucky. From blurring the lines between high school and college to redefining what it means to have a “good job,” GROW NKY leaders are serving as a model for the Commonwealth and the nation when it comes to workforce development. Below are just two ways our partners are leading the way. Learn more at nkychamber.com/grow. partners across the Cincinnati MSA to ensure the greatest impact possible. Rather than duplicating or replacing the region’s workforce development services and initiatives, The Talent Collaborative will serve as an inclusive network to help provide more synergy among the tristate’s workforce development organizations, build capacity among service providers, and promote a more significant collective impact of the workforce system that is serving the region’s job seekers and employers. The Talent Collaborative joins the National Fund for Workforce Solutions network of 34 communities across the U.S. seeking to improve workforce outcomes. The National Fund offers leading-edge resources, best practices, and thought leadership to help benchmark and accelerate efforts, emphasizing equity and inclusion.TheCollaborative’s founding members include Brighton Center, The Health Collaborative, the Northern Kentucky Workforce Investment Board (backbone organization of GROW NKY), The Southwest Ohio Region Workforce Investment Board, and The Workforce Innovation Center at the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber. However, all regional organizations providing workforce development services are invited to participate, including but not limited to education, community-based organizations, workforce providers, organized labor, and business-industry partners.Ourtwo organizations have been involved in GROW NKY from the onset and it continues to be a vital and essential workforce collective. The coordination with the Talent Collaborative further deepens the impact and opportunities that will result in economic vibrancy for our community.TheTalentCollaborative held a special Kick-Off Event on August 25 with special guest Amanda Cage, President & CEO of The National Fund for Workforce Solutions, along with local elected officials and community leaders and sponsored by Duke Energy. If you are interested in more information about GROW NKY or The Talent Collaborative of Greater Cincinnati, please contact GROW@nkadd.org. NKY
Now, more than ever, employers need access to the most cutting-edge solutions to meet their labor demands. At the same time, workers in our community need us to understand the complexity of their lives, including what factors help or hinder their ability to get and keep quality familysustaining jobs. And we know what we do in NKY can not happen in isolation from our larger region.
Alignment for Impact: GROW NKY and The Talent Collaborative of Greater Cincinnati
IN 2019, GROWING REGIONAL Outcomes for Workforce (GROW) NKY was formed to leverage the power of collaboration among 70+ partners in NKY’s workforce ecosystem to serve local employers better and streamline the process to connect employers with the resources they need most. This strategic workforce collective is comprised of leaders across key industries, educational institutions, and community organizations working collaboratively to leverage NKY’s assets to grow, attract, and retain a globally competitive workforce.
NORTHERN KENTUCKY BUSINESS JOURNALPAGE 28
Accelerating business results through technology integration.Since1995. gbs-inc.com | 859.491.5900 ManagedServicesDesign & Consulting IT Voice AVIT CablingPhysical Security
By Kimberly Rosetti Northern Kentucky Tri-ED
In June, I participated in an international trip to Europe to recruit new supplier companies, and met with the headquarters of businesses with an existing location in Northern Kentucky. The European American Chamber of Commerce, Cincinnati Chapter (EACC) organized the trip and one of the key events during the mission was a supplier conference in Modena. During the conference, I had the opportunity to join my colleagues in a presentation to companies considering the Cincinnati region for new investment.During the Italy trip, I took advantage of the proximity to three existing businesses headquartered in Italy and met with the leadership teams of Bonfiglioli, Prysmian Group, and Italvibras. During the meetings, I shared opportunities for expansion in Northern Kentucky, partnering on supplier recruitment, as well as thanking the companies for their investment in our region.
Why Visiting Corporate Headquarters is Important for Northern Kentucky’s Economic Growth
AS THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LEADER FOR BOONE, CAMPBELL, AND KENTON COUNTIES, a vital component of Northern Kentucky Tri-ED’s Business Retention & Expansion (BR&E) outreach is visiting the corporate headquarters of our region’s businesses to establish relationships, as well as learning about the global perspective of the company’s leaders. Annually, Angie Mulberry, Director of Business Retention, visits with more than 150 companies locally to learn if they are growing, planning to invest in new equipment or facing challenges that, as a region, we can work to solve – all in an effort to foster their success and retain them in Northern Kentucky.
Mission to Italy Led by the EACC
NORTHERN KENTUCKY BUSINESS JOURNALPAGE 30
Northern Kentucky Tri-ED VP of Economic Development Kimberly Rossetti speaking at the supplier conference in Italy.
Tri-ED CEO Lee Crume and VP of Economic Development Kimberly Rossetti with Stefan Pohl – Head of Human Resources, James Sheehan – North American CEO, and Simone Diez – Head of People Development, at Mubea’s headquarters in Attendorn, Germany.
I want to know about it!
Visits to NKY Employers in France, Germany and Amsterdam Companies in Europe are still facing supply chain issues. Raw material costs are increasing significantly, lead time to receive supplies is prolonged, and all companies agreed there is no end in sight for these challenges to level out. Our clients agreed that if supply chains were closer to their Northern Kentucky locations, these timelines and costs would decrease. Tri-ED is poised to work closely with our existing businesses and create a targeted supplier recruitment program through the Business Growth initiative in the Build + Elevate NKY campaign.
Workforce challenges are no different in Europe. Companies are having difficulty recruiting and retaining employees in their headquarters, as well as the local facilities in Northern Kentucky.
If equipment or NKY, Please let me know: ksr@northernkentuckyusa.com
RenewableSupplyChainEnergyWorkforce
Despite ongoing global challenges, all the companies we visited are growing in revenue and headcount. Several expansion opportunities were discussed during our meetings, which we have actively engaged with the local offices to discuss further. The business leaders were grateful and positive about our visits and happy to host us in their headquarters. The in-person meetings were extremely important for our team to establish relationships with key decisionmakers, as well as share with them that Northern Kentucky is invested in their presence here and we will help them grow and prosper.
LEADERSHIPNKY | VOLUME 42 NUMBER 1 PAGE 31
Kimberly Rossetti is Vice President of Economic Development at Northern Kentucky Tri-ED. To learn more about Tri-ED, visit NorthernKentuckyUSA.com or follow these accounts on social media: @NKY_EconDev (Twitter), Northern Kentucky Tri-ED on LinkedIn and Facebook. Leveraging the EACC trip, Tri-ED CEO Lee Crume and I visited corporate headquarters in France, Germany and the Netherlands –including Mubea, Zeiss Vision Care and Safran. Together, the companies we visited employ more than 7,500 residents in the Cincinnati region and each one has expanded their presence and added employees in Northern Kentucky several times. We had in-depth conversations with global executives from a dozen companies in Europe. Many of the major themes we learned about during the meetings are similar to issues our local companies discuss during a BR&E meeting. Our team is connecting with NKY operation leaders of the 12 companies, to discuss these topics in more depth and re-engage resources to address these three areas.
your company is growing, adding
new employees in
The majority of companies cited renewable energy as an important focus of their sustainability efforts. Many of the companies have initiatives to lower their carbon footprint across the world. Kentucky’s traditional power source of coal has provided the companies with less expensive energy over the decades, but now they are focused on diversifying their sources of power to renewable alternatives. We have discussed this topic with Duke Energy and Owen Electric and are working with both entities to present more renewable offerings for our companies.
Rising wage costs, low unemployment rate, and a high labor participation rate have companies focused on finding creative ways to hire new employees. Although many of our existing companies have participated in meetings discussing workforce issues, as a follow-up we will meet with them again to review workforce resources in the region.
Mentoring. To work with individuals who are eager to learn, encourage them to accept new challenges and support them when mistakes occur, embodies the spirit of a valuable leader.
- Theodore Roosevelt LINDSEY RECHTIN President/CEO Northern Kentucky Water District
Q&ABoardof
Advisors Board of Directors with&the
I believe the most important quality of a leader is humility. Leaders should be facilitators that ensure all parties are heard and hear each other, that all parties have the tools available to them that they need to perform their duties, and that everyone understands that collaboration is key to a successful outcome.
The ability to listen.
&
GREG SHUMATE Member-in-Charge
WHAT DO YOU FEEL IS THE MOST IMPORTANT QUALITY OF A LEADER? WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LEADERSHIP QUOTE?
"Success is not final, failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts." - Winston Churchill
DALE SILVER Vice President C-Forward Inc
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”
Frost Brown Todd
"A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves." - Lao Tzu
NORTHERN KENTUCKY BUSINESS JOURNALPAGE 32
PATRICK WARNEMENT Market Sales Leader The Kleingers Group
Self Awareness and Compassion
Gravity Diagnostics
Ability to create an environment of trust. "The market for something to believe in is infinite." - Hugh Macleod
Leading by example - all things big and small. "If you are too big to do the small stuff then you are too small to do the big stuff."
"Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn."
BRIAN MONOHAN Vice President of Sales and Business Development Prestige AV & Creative Services
- Author Unknown
"Why Lead? And To Where? Figure that out and the rest will follow."
Being an expert in their field
"My own definition of leadership is this: The capacity and the will to rally men and women to a common purpose and the character which inspires confidence." - General Montgomery
"TrainListeningthem good enough to leave, treat them good enough to stay."
JAMES GOOD Vice President of Operations Keller Logistics - Warehouse & Co Packing
JULIE BRAZIL Co-Founder and COO
FERNANDO FIGUEROA President / CEO Gateway Community and Technical College
LEADERSHIP | VOLUME 42 NUMBER 1 PAGE 33
- Benjamin Franklin
- Richard Branson
Knowing how to develop, when to empower and what outcomes needs to be shown grace.
KEVIN KYDE Regional Vice President of Sales Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Professional Services Public Service & Community Organizations Public Relations, Media & Marketing Trade & Technology EntrepreneurshipEducation NKYP Legend Award Medical & Healthcare Services 2022 NKYP NEXT GENERATION LEADER AWARD HANNAH EDELEN Holmes High School CHRIS COOK TKOR Holdings CHRISTINA SCHREINER SPILLE Faith Community Pharmacy MICHELLE REID Strauss Troy Co., LPA MADISON SMITH Fifth Third Bank WONDA WINKLER Brighton Center, Inc. CARADukeBROOKSEnergy JOE CatalyticKLAREFund NORTHERN KENTUCKY BUSINESS JOURNALPAGE 34
2022 NKYP NEXT GENERATION LEADER AWARD CELEBRATION | NEWPORT AQUARIUM LEADERSHIP | VOLUME 42 NUMBER 1 PAGE 35
NKY COMMUNITY AWARD RECIPIENTS sponsored by EGGS 'N ISSUES - INFRASTRUCTURE (LEFT) & THE CINCINNATI BENGALS (RIGHT) | RECEPTIONS, ERLANGER AROUND THE CHAMBER ASHISH VAIDYA, NORTHERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY CHUCK SESSION, DUKE ENERGY KAY GEIGER, PNC BANK PAUL VERST, VERST LOGISTICS RON LOVAN, NORTHERN KENTUCKY WATER DISTRICT (RETIRED) NORTHERN KENTUCKY BUSINESS JOURNALPAGE 36
Fifth Third Private Bank is a division of Fifth Third Bank, N.A., Member FDIC. Congratulations, Cheri Padgett, for being named to Leadership Northern Kentucky 2022! Your accomplishments and leadership have impacted the community to make Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky a Fifth Third better ®! CS-DRV GRAVITYDIAGNOSTICS.COM Congrats, MOLLY!MOLLY! Leadership Northern Kentucky Participant CLASS OF 2023 Molly Wheeler HR & INTERNAL COMMUNCATIONS Congratulations! Leadership Northern Kentucky Class of 2023 Jenn Fields Senior Vice President, KYC Operations Group Manager WE TALENT.KNOW The 2023 Leadership NKY Class is filled with talented professionals. Congratulations to MEGAN MEYER and the rest of the class! FULL-SERVICE LAW FIRM SERVING CLIENTS IN KENTUCKY AND OHIO PARTICIPANT OF LEADERSHIP NKY JOSEPH CONGRATULATIONSHILL Congratulations! Paul Tontillo Director of Budget & Fiscal Services Selected as a Member of Leadership Northern Kentucky Class of 2023 LEADERSHIP | VOLUME 42 NUMBER 1 PAGE 37
WOMEN'S INITIATIVE CONNECT HOUR | CORK N CRUST, BELLEVUE (ABOVE) & BOAR S ROOM, COVINGTON (BELOW) AROUND THE CHAMBER NORTHERN KENTUCKY BUSINESS JOURNALPAGE 38
BUSINESS AFTER HOURS | WORLD OF GOLF, FLORENCE TO SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM ALL THE NKY CHAMBER EVENTS, VISIT OUR FACEBOOK PAGE AT FACEBOOK.COM/NKYCHAMBEROFCOMMERCE IDEA SUMMIT | ST. ELIZABETH TRAINING & EDUCATION CENTER, ERLANGER • nkychamberofcommerce LEADERSHIP | VOLUME 42 NUMBER 1 PAGE 39
PICTURED: Jane Young, RE/MAX Victory + Affiliates-NKY Chamber Ambassador; Andrew Schierberg, City of Ft. Mitchell, Police Chief; Alex Welch, McGohan Brabender; Michael Ditmer, McGohan Brabender; Rich Johnson, McGohan Brabender; Erick Schmidt, McGohan Brabender; Carolyn Dean, McGohan Brabender; Lou Gellenbeck, McGohan Brabender; Laura Radvan, McGohan Brabender; Tony Malagari, McGohan Brabender; Connor Hopkins, McGohan Brabender; Kristi Winters, McGohan Brabender; Jeff Duvic, McGohan Brabender; Kevin Johnson, APG Office Furnishing –NKY Chamber Ambassador; Amy Zimmerman – Amy Z Home Team–NKY Chamber Ambassador
RIBBON CUTTINGS EMMA SCHMIDT & ASSOC. SEX + RELATIONSHIP 2045 Dixie Highway | Fort Mitchell, KY 41017 | 513-438-0448 | Emma-Schmidt.com M c GOHAN BRABENDER 2400 Chamber Center Drive, Suite 212 | Fort Mitchell, KY 41017 | 859-308-6000 | mcgohanbrabender.com THE POINT ARC OF NORTHERN KY – LINDA GERDING GROME RESIDENTIAL HOME 3020 Brookwood Drive | Edgewood, KY 41017 | 859-491-9191 | thepointarc.org ZAMBRERO 7905 Mall Road | Florence, KY 41042 | 859-534-0813 | zambrero.com
PICTURED: Scott Gerding, Jill Disken, Tom Grome, Brooke Schnelle, Judi Gerding, Gene Gerding, Edgewood Mayor John Link
PICTURED: Tony Lovett, Zambrero, Area Manager; Laurence Aston, Zambrero, Franchise Owner; Mayor Diane Whalen, City of Florence; Alexis Schumann, Zambrero, Manager
Ribbon SponsoredCuttingsby: NORTHERN KENTUCKY BUSINESS JOURNALPAGE 40
PICTURED: Scott Meyer, Patrice & Associates-NKY Chamber Ambassador; Corey Walkup, WesBanco-Ribbon Cutting Sponsor; Emma Schmidt, Emma Schmidt & Associates-Owner; Emma Schmidt team members; Katie Ockerman, Mutual of Omaha AdvisorsNKY Chamber Ambassador
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!
PICTURED: Chris Perkins, 7 Hills Church-NKY Chamber Ambassador; William Stone, Buffalo Wings & Rings-General Manager; Corey Walkup, WesBanco-Ribbon Cutting Sponsor; Paul Meier, City of Crestview Hills-Mayor; Jane Young, RE/MAX Victory + Affiliates-NKY Chamber Ambassador; Lisa Jones, RevLocalNKY Chamber Ambassador
PICTURED: Scott Meyer, Patrice & Associates-NKY Chamber Ambassador; Janie; Al Wurster, Legacy Living of Florence-Owner; Phyllis; Julia Curty; Steve Hodgson, Legacy Living of Florence-Owner; Perlite; Branden Wilhite; Tony Schantz, Legacy Living of Florence-Owner; Billie; Gwen Reverman, Legacy Living of Florence-Executive Director; Kyana Clippert; Trixie; Kara Fields; Joan; Tom; Anita Mores; Deb Williams; Joe Schlimm, Republic Bank PICTURED: Front Row: Joann Reis, OrthoCincy; Kathy Zembrodt, Mayor of Park Hills; Kristi Schwalbach, CCH Finance Director; Jon Engelhard, Huntington Bank-NKY Chamber Ambassador; Alexandra Simons, Cincinnati Bengals; Tara Leen, Advancement Director; Bob Rowe, Principal of CCH; Father Hennigen, CCH Chaplain; Tony Bacigalupo, Athletic Director; Marc Price, ERIGO Employer Solutions-NKY Chamber Ambassador; Second Row: Corey Walkup, WesBancoRibbon Cutting Sponsor Gaby Batshoun, Global Business Solutions; Don Knochelmann, Diocese of Covington; Kendra McGuire, Diocese of Covington; Adam Atallah, Strength and Conditioning; Sue Finke, Director of Major Gifts
PAINT NAIL BAR 4931 Houston Road | Florence, KY 41042 | 859-201-5511 | paintnailbar.com LEGACY LIVING OF FLORENCE 8520 Gunpowder Road | Florence, KY 41042 COVINGTON CATHOLIC – FIELD HOUSE 1622 Dixie Highway | Park Hills, KY 41011 | 859-491-2247 | covcath.org BUFFALO WINGS & RINGS 2809 Dixie Highway | Crestview Hills, KY 41017 | 859-331-9464 | wingsandrings.com
PAGE 41LEADERSHIP | VOLUME 42 NUMBER 1
PICTURED: Jason Eglian, US Bank-NKY Chamber Ambassador; Katie Ockerman, Mutual of Omaha Advisors-NKY Chamber Ambassador; Brent Cooper, President-NKY Chamber President; Marquise Griffin, Paint Nail Bar-Owner; Paint Nail Bar Staff; Jane Young, RE/MAX Victory + Affiliates-NKY Chamber Ambassador; Corey Walkup, WesBanco-Ribbon Cutting Sponsor Jason Eglian, US Bank-NKY Chamber Ambassador; Katie Ockerman, Mutual of Omaha Advisors-NKY Chamber Ambassador; Brent Cooper, President-NKY Chamber President; Marquise Griffin, Paint Nail Bar-Owner; Paint Nail Bar Staff; Jane Young, RE/MAX Victory + Affiliates-NKY Chamber Ambassador; Corey Walkup, WesBanco-Ribbon Cutting Sponsor
The Northern Kentucky Tri-County Economic Development Corporation (Tri-ED) announced today that Jacob Edmonds has been promoted to Business Growth Manager, a newly created role in the company. In his new role, Jacob will develop and deliver an economic development lead generation strategy that will attract new primary industry companies to Northern Kentucky. This position directs business expansion and attraction efforts through a targeted industry approach with customized data analysis and prospect development spurring economic growth. He will also conduct research on opportunities for new business leads and keep up to date on economic development, business, and industry “Targetedtrends.Business Growth is one of the initiatives we are launching as a result of the success of our Build + Elevate NKY investor campaign,” said Tri-ED President & CEO Lee Crume. “As we considered the launch of this new work, Jacob’s history with Tri-ED and his expertise with the Northern Kentucky business community made him ideal for the new role.” Jacob will continue to play a key role on the economic development team managed by Vice President Kimberly Rossetti. “Jacob has taken on increasing responsibility and helped launch the Target Industry Study earlier this year, tracking companies in Northern Kentucky by sector and subsector. He will build on that work in his new role by identifying key business data to generate lead profiles that align with and support Northern Kentucky’s target industries.”
NKY TRI-ED THE BMW STORE NEWS!GOODYOURSHARE All NKY bgastright@nkychamber.comSendin&tomembersChamberareinvitedshareannouncementspersonalachievementstheMilestonescolumn.Milestonesto MEMBER MILESTONES NORTHERN KENTUCKY BUSINESS JOURNALPAGE 42
Louis Velazquez is excited to bring BMW into Northern Kentucky! As Marketing Director of The BMW Store and Cincinnati MINI, Louis is a fresh face to the Chamber, having joined in June. Committed to the initiative to increase BMW’s market share in NKY, Louis is excited to share with you all The BMW Store’s tagline – Passion Loves Company! Having just recently relocated from Cincinnati to Newport, KY, Louis is excited to dive into all things NKY – both personally and professionally. A Cleveland native and a Miami University graduate, he has called Cincinnati home since 2014. Louis is the president of the Miami University Cincinnati Alumni Chapter, sits on Cancer Support Community’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee, and is a member of the Roebling Society of the Metropolitan Club’s Class of 2022.The BMW Store is sponsor to several upcoming events in NKY including the WEBN Fireworks VIP Tent with iHeart Media on Riverboat Row, Cincinnati Magazine’s On the Rocks Event at PromoWest as well as the Cincinnati Business Courier’s Forty Under 40 recognition, also at PromoWest. You may have seen BMWs on display recently at the NKY Chamber’s Golf Outing as well as the Covington Business Council’s Golf Outing earlier this spring. Be sure to say hello to Lou as you see him out and about in NKY!
www.turnerconstruction.com CONGRATULATIONS Jason Spaulding and the KentuckyLeadershipentireNorthernClassof2022! Cincinnati PRSA 2021 Small/Mid-Sized PR Agency of the Year KRYSTAN SO PROUD YOU! stelizabeth.com St. Elizabeth is proud to recognize our very own Sommer Bockerstette, Ami Brown, Danae Brown and Laurie Chambers as members of the Leadership Northern Kentucky Class of 2023. Thank you for helping us to lead a healthier, better region. ANDSOMMER,CONGRATULATIONS,AMI,DANAELAURIE! Member FDIC Northern2023CongratulationsLeadershipKentuckyClass We are proud to count our own Andy Johnston, VP, Commercial Lender, among your ranks. Leadership2023_AndyJohnston v2 22_005.indd 1 7/22/22 6:14 AM Congratulations René J. Cheatham III and all those selected for Leadership Northern Kentucky class of 2023! https://www learning grove org/ Chief Financial Officer www.learning-grove.orgofKentuckyLeadershipandRICHCONGRATULATIONSELWELLtheentireNorthernClass2023! The NKY Chamber of Commerce Congratulates Vice President of Public Affairs on her selection as a member of the Leadership Northern Kentucky Class of 2023 TamiAdvocacyWilson
Thanks to our customers and dedicated employees for making Forcht Bank the #1 ranked bank in Kentucky by Forbes Magazine. forchtbank.com | Member FDIC Neal White Commercial Banking Officer Kyle Newman Commercial Banking Officer Commercial Lending | Lines of Credit | Cash Management
THINK LOCAL. GROW LOCAL. BANK LOCAL. Choosing a banking partner for your business has never been more important. At Central Bank, we’re right here – with local, personalized service and solutions like remote deposit capture and online banking to help move your business forward. We’ve been helping businesses since 1946. Let us know how we can help yours now. Unbox Great. Boxes, packaging and shipping supplies for your business Pickup or Same Day Delivery Order online www.3dcorrugated.comat BOXES & SHIPPING SUPPLIES 3D CORRUGATED 513-241-8126 ∙ 400 W 3rd St, Covington, KY 41011 info@3dcorrugated.com ∙ www.3dcorrugated.com
9/14 Talent Strategies: HR 100 - Legal Update/Mock Trial | TBD | 8:00 – 11:00 AM 9/15 Annual Dinner presented by Fifth Third Bank | NKY Convention Center | 5:00 – 8:30 PM 9/20 Eggs ‘N Issues: State of Northern Kentucky | Receptions, Erlanger | 7:30 – 9:15 AM 9/21 DEI Global Experience with FC Cincinnati | Washington Park & TQL Stadium | 4:30 – 9:30 PM 9/22 NKYP: Coffee & Conversation | Milk & Beans, Crescent Springs | 8:00 – 9:00 AM 9/26 Women’s Initiative CONNECT Hour | TBD | 4:30 – 6:30 PM 9/29 Business After Hours | TBD | 4:30 – 6:30 PM
CEO/Publisher Brent Cooper | bcooper@nkychamber.com Marketing & Communications Shannan Boyer | shannan@scootermediaco.com Design & Photography Ben Gastright | bgastright@nkychamber.com
OCTOBER 10/5 Getting the Most of Your Chamber Membership | NKY Chamber, Ft. Mitchell | 9:00 – 10:00 AM 10/5 Talent Strategies: HR 100 - Mock Trial | Frost Brown Todd | 8:00 – 10:30 AM 10/6 Government Forum: Scott Jennings and Mark Riddle | Hilton Cincinnati Airport | 8:00 – 9:30AM 10/18 Eggs ‘N Issues: Bridging the Labor Force Talent Gap | Receptions, Erlanger | 7:30 – 9:00 AM 10/21 DEI Summit Series | Location TBD | 8:30 – 10:00 AM 10/24 Women’s Initiative CONNECT Hour | Location TBD | 4:30 – 6:30 PM 10/26 NKYP: Bourbon & Boards | New Riff Distilling | 5:00 – 7:00 PM
SEPTEMBER
Director, Sponsor Investments Diana McGlade | dmcglade@nkychamber.com
EVENT CALENDAR NORTHERN KENTUCKY BUSINESS JOURNALPAGE 46
Vice President, Membership–Sponsorship Sales Lynn Abeln | labeln@nkychamber.com
Northern Kentucky Business Journal is published bi-monthly by: Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, Inc. 300 Buttermilk Pike Suite 330 P.O. Box 17416 Ft. Mitchell, KY 41017 TheNKYChamber.com859-578-8800BusinessJournal is a benefit of membership and included in membership fees. Annual subscription rate for nonmembers is $30. REGISTER FOR THESE EVENTS AND MORE AT NKYCHAMBER.COM/EVENTS
NOVEMBER 11/03 Women’s Initiative Regional Summit | MegaCorp Pavilion, Newport | 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM 11/09 Talent Strategies: HR100/NKY SHRM – HR Strategic Six Pack | Kenton County Public Library | 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM 11/10 Business After Hours | Location TBD | 4:30 – 6:30 PM 11/15 Eggs ‘N Issues: Regional Economic Outlook | Receptions, Erlanger | 7:30 – 9:15 AM 11/28 Women’s Initiative CONNECT Hour | Location TBD | 4:30 – 6:30 PM 11/30 Where We Stand – TBD DECEMBER 12/7 Getting the Most of Your Chamber Membership | NKY Chamber, Ft. Mitchell | 9:00 – 10:00 AM 12/13 Eggs ‘N Issues: Challenges in Higher Education | Receptions, Erlanger | 7:30 – 9:00 AM
Periodicals Postage Paid USPS-548630 at Covington, Postmaster:KY.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. © 2022, The Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, Inc. and by the individual authors. All rights reserved.
Staff Writer Tabari McCoy | tabari@scootermediaco.com Printing Black Tie Productions
“The PresenceExecutiveFormula” “Body Talk” “How Personal Brand Holds Back Aspiring Female Leaders” “Overcoming Perfectionism: How to Lead a Life of Excellence” “Driving YOUR Eureka! How to Find, Filter, & Fast Track BIG IDEAS...” “Become a Confident, Dynamic Speaker” Panel Moderator “The Bridge to Belonging” Designed to support professional women of all career stages working toward business and professional success, this year’s Summit aims to bring the region’s businesswomen together to discuss real-life leadership experiences and how attendees can care for themselves, their professional teams, and simultaneously drive business results. Rocking Your Role: Amplify Your Power, Purpose & Goals Regional Summit Thursday, November 3 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM MegaCorp Pavilion ANGEL BEETS CHRISTYVIRGINIADEMETRAKISBRADENVITALE BUFORD HARDIN APRIL MARTINI SHARON FUSCO LUNCH PANEL MAGGIE NICHOLS LAURIE SHARP-PAGE “The Path to Your Best Mental Health Life” Supporting Sponsor: Speaker Sponsors: Centerpiece Sponsors: Community Partner: Title Sponsor: Host Sponsor: Break Sponsors:Session Sponsors: InternationalCincinnati/NKYAirport Breakfast & Coffee Sponsors: BONNIE MEYER ALICIA MILLERCHRISTOPHERJOHNSON For pricing, registration or more info, scan the code or visit NKYChamber.com/WISummit22.
