We’re proud to support the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce
At Humana, we know protecting employees’ financial and overall well-being are equally important. That’s why we offer dental and vision plans along with life and disability plans to give your employees care that extends beyond their medical benefits. GCHM7FBEN
JOHN HAWKINS Chair, NKY Chamber President & CEO, MPI Consulting
THERE IS AN INHERENT TRUTH
that we must firmly uphold given its presence in our region: Kentucky’s reputation as an innovator is on the rise! The notion that Silicon Valley monopolizes innovation does not hold true in Northern Kentucky, where innovation is deeply embedded in our essence. Our innovation is manifested through the production of high-quality KY bourbon, horse racing events, the outstanding performance of our sports teams, the exceptional research from our regional universities and the remarkable enterprise of our entrepreneurial community. As this issue cogently reveals, innovation pervades the entirety of Northern Kentucky.
Our illuminating cover story on altafiber and its prodigious efforts to complete its fiber construction in Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties exemplifies the quintessence of the innovation that our region ardently fosters. By means of interconnecting technology, the company effectively links people of diverse income and backgrounds to generate opportunities for growth, expansion, and, of course, innovation. Their invaluable work is pivotal to the future of our region on the global stage; the novel innovation they continuously pursue only affirms we are on the right course.
Given the crucial role of social media in marketing, promotion and workforce outreach in many businesses, our feature on the Flamel startup's use of AI to help create relevant content for a brand is timely and informative. In a similar vein, RxPredict's employment of AI and emerging technology in maximizing health outcomes for both corporations and their staff is nothing short of remarkable and innovative.
INVESTOR'S CIRCLE
Collaborative innovation is also paramount to our region's growth, exemplified by Duke Energy and Amazon's solar rooftop partnership – the largest such system in the entire Commonwealth – is an inspiring tale in its own right. Clean energy generation is appealing to those we desire to attract to Northern Kentucky and having two giants pioneering the way forward is certainly worthy of promotion. Innovation is not confined merely to smartphones, tablets and computers in our region, however. Given the pressing issue of child care for employers and employees alike, the slate of creative programs offered by Skidaddles is arguably the most noteworthy example of innovative solutions that directly mitigate those challenges. This also epitomizes why the work We Lead CS embarks upon with local businesses (including the NKY Chamber) in preparing our children for the tech workforce is invaluable to our future. Innovation, by its definition, is the practical implementation of ideas resulting in novel services, goods or the enhancement of the existing ones. Our recent history has witnessed the remarkable strides made in the NKY metro to boost our infrastructure, resources, and appeal. Through innovation, we can and will reach such transformative ideas that will elevate our home to prominent lists, attracting tourists and an affluent future workforce.
If we think globally and innovate locally, there are no boundaries for Northern Kentucky. That principal belief should be at the forefront of our priorities.
NKY
Child Care Reimagined
Skidaddles Child Care uses innovative approach to help parents, employers resolve the modern childcare dilemma
By Tabari McCoy, Scooter Media
TIFFANY LEWIS DESCRIBES HER COMPANY’S WORK as “child care reimagined.”
“We create schedules that work for parents ... We say, ‘What do you need, and how can we help you?’ We do that by letting people pay by the hour, through monthly subscription programs – ‘Here's 40 hours you can use within a month however works best for you,’” says Lewis, President of Skidaddles Child Care of Florence and Mason, Ohio. “If you need two full days of childcare in a row and then not again for two weeks, you can do that with us. Our approach really addresses today’s work-life balance needs and supports both traditional and hybrid work environments.”
That innovative approach is why many people throughout the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region are getting serious about the company with the whimsical name.
WORKING FOR WORKING FAMILIES
Monday, May 13 marked the third “Day Without Child Care” and saw scores of providers temporarily close their doors to highlight an ongoing issue for thousands (if not millions) nationwide: the critical role early learning professionals (ELP) play in raising children and the low wages earned – as well as the rising costs for parents – for that service. Evident
in reports across local, regional and national news plus social media, the issue is one of concern for employees and employers alike, the latter knowing its impact upon attracting and retaining top talent.
Skidaddles looks to be a resource to help relieve some of the stress associated with child care through its flexible scheduling options. Skidaddles is typically open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday–Friday and for “date nights,” from 5 to 10 p.m. on Saturdays, with weekday hours possibly expanding to accommodate the busy nature of summer. Serving children 12 months to 12 years old, Skidaddles offers parents the option to pay for child care for as little as one or as much as 10-hour increments. Its subscription program is also built with families in mind, allowing customers to purchase time in various blocks (up to 55 hours) as needed.
Skidaddles also offers a summer camp for children ages 6 to 12 as well as an option for on-site event care for weddings, corporate events and even parties at home. On site care features activities, snacks and even age-specific customizations with various add-on services available.
Lewis, who opened the Florence location in 2008 before expanding across the Ohio River in 2011, credits her background for helping spur her innovative approach.
A mother of three, Lewis says she always wanted to own a business, but working as a CPA part-time made finding child care that would fit her needs difficult. Researching the subject, she noticed some babysitting services that offered extended hours. Lewis did not just want a babysitting service, however, as offering an educational component was important to her as well. That’s why she made sure trained teachers would be part of the Skidaddles team. She says her biggest challenge has been creating services that are “exactly” what families need, noting there were no centers doing everything Skidaddles is now.
“We created this premium, quality, educational facility with trained teachers and a lot of fun things for kids to do. We do a lot of sensory play, a lot of imaginative play, which is really the key to learning - doing things hands-on,” says Lewis. “When children are here, they could be part of a story time, doing an art project or a STEM activity ... In all the sharing and activities, we’re giving the kids social and educational skills.”
Lewis says the feedback she’s received from parents shows those choices have been the right ones, not just for the children, but the adults responsible for them, too.
“What we hear from parents is they love our teachers and our facility. They love that their children are learning and playing while they're there,” she says. “As far as hours go, the parents are always like, ‘This is such a wonderful idea. I haven't had a date night in years.’ To hear some of those stories are really neat, being part of their lives and making life a little easier.”
INSPIRED INSPIRATION
As an entrepreneur herself, Lewis knows the importance of the services she provides regarding running a business. That’s why she hopes Skidaddles’ services can help employers handle child care “on their terms” by providing an alternative to those without their own established programs.
Operating with approximately 45 employees between the Florence and Mason locations, Lewis says her goal is to expand Skidaddles via franchising. Completing her Master of Business Administration from the University of Louisville in 2023, she is now looking to open five additional locations throughout Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. Notes Lewis, “As far as licenses go, we’re looking really all over the United States ... But I think really what we would be shooting for locally is in the Hebron area to support the airport and the surrounding businesses.”
In doing so, the Verona resident hopes to show that innovation, like Northern Kentucky itself, isn’t limited to a particular industry or person.
“You can be innovative in any industry and create something better, new and different to make the same product a little more exciting. That's what is great about Skidaddles - child care isn't a new idea, but the way we do it is ... When we were working on this, I don't know that I ever thought, ‘This isn't going to work,’” Lewis says. “It was more, ‘This is needed. It's something I know is going to work for people in my community.’ I knew that if we could create a great service that works well for our families, they would keep coming back to us and they have.” NKY
SKIDADDLES AT A GLANCE
8660 Bankers Street Florence, KY 41042 (859) 647-PLAY (7529) info@skidaddles.com
5939 Deerfield Blvd., Suite 104 Mason, Ohio 45040 (513) 204-3482 masoninfo@skidaddles.com
www.skidaddles.com
Taking the Lead on Tech Careers
We Lead CS, NKY Chamber partner to promote tech careers among middle, high school students
By Tabari McCoy, Scooter Media
THE JOBS, ALICIA SELLS SAYS, ARE there, but the candidates who can fill them are not – and that’s not just a problem for her, but all of Kentucky regarding its present and potential future in the computer science industry.
“On any given day in Kentucky, there are around 3,000 open computer science jobs posted online and those jobs pay an average wage anywhere from $65,000 to $75,000 a year,” says Sells, CEO of We Lead Computer Science (We Lead CS), the local organization that seeks to get Kentucky middle and high school students interested in computer science careers. “Unfortunately, in Kentucky, in 2021, we had less than a thousand students graduate from Kentucky colleges and universities with computer science degrees to fill those jobs. We learned in the process of preparing for We Lead CS that the gap really begins in high school.”
Now, her organization looks to join forces with the NKY Chamber among others to turn those numbers around to benefit the entire Commonwealth.
PLANTING THE SEEDS OF INNOVATION
We Lead CS is a new virtual career academy born out of the success of a pilot program launched as part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Rural Tech Project Challenge. Intended to advance technology education in rural areas, the project invited high schools and local education agencies to propose technology programs using competency-based distance learning to help prepare students for rewarding careers. Five finalist teams were announced in December 2020, one being the iLEAD Academy of Carrollton.
iLEAD offers students from five high schools the opportunity to take virtual, dual-credit courses leading to computer science degrees. Sells worked for iLEAD when the education department gave the academy $200,000 for the two-year pilot
project that laid the foundation for We Lead CS. The success of iLEAD’s program led to the formation of an advisory board with the NKY Chamber and others to expand it along the I-71 corridor into Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati.
As iLEAD prepared its proposal for the Rural Tech Project, Sells says contacts at Northern Kentucky University connected her with the INTERalliance of Greater Cincinnati, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping introduce students to the information technology (IT) industry. The organizations then formed an advisory board along with the NKY Chamber, NKU, the Northern Kentucky Education Council, former State Representative Ed Massey, Kentucky Senate President Pro Tempore David Givens and several local employers.
“Our partnership really informed what we were able to do with the pilot academy,” Sells says. “We enrolled students from the five districts that send kids to iLead ... We were able to expand our reach beyond just our small school that has about 140 kids.”
The success of that inaugural project led to the board looking at expanding iLEAD’s work statewide, resulting in the creation of We Lead CS. The Kentucky General Assembly would pass legislation allowing We Lead CS to operate as a nonprofit organization in 2022, the most recent legislative session appropriating $3 million for We Lead CS’ operation.
FROM FARMLAND TO FIBEROPTICS
We Lead CS will take the first step towards rolling out its Northern Kentucky program, beginning with a rollout meeting at Gateway Community & Technical College’s Convening Center from 1 to 4 p.m. on July 23. The meeting will serve as a kickoff for the program, bringing local businesses together to see how and in what capacity they could work with We Lead CS to build the region’s tech talent pipeline.
We Lead CS will spend the 2024-25 school year recruiting students for 2025-26, the year they will begin virtual classwork and more. Those graduating from the program will be able to earn up to 21 hours of college credit transferrable towards earning computer science associate and bachelor’s degrees. Additionally, Sells says the program will work with its corporate partners and INTERalliance to teach other essential career skills. These include resume writing, how to interview for jobs and other crucial aspects of corporate culture.
Noting Kentucky’s small number – 945 – of computer science graduates in 2021 become “shockingly low” when women (169) and black students (64) are accounted for, Sells is confident We Lead CS can reverse the trend. The support of parents and business leaders, however, will prove critical to making it happen.
“The thing we know about students, especially when trying to get students involved who are traditionally not represented in a field, is that parental support is the ingredient that makes it possible for them to succeed. If their parents feel empowered with information and understand the opportunities that are there, they can support their children in those activities,” she says.
Sells says the danger of not doing the work that We Lead CS is focused on is having a generation unprepared to be competitive for high-wage jobs in a growing field.
“The danger of not preparing kids for this workforce is that we have an entire state of out-ofhigh-school or -college grads who aren't even aware of what they need to compete in the workforce for high-wage jobs. Kentucky quite honestly has a manufacturing economy which is great, but there's a ceiling to what kids can earn in that economy that's lower than with they can earn in the tech,” she says. “What I worry about for kids in Kentucky is that they don't even know those opportunities exist. That's really job one, to have kids aspire to a career that will pay them more than a living wage – my fear is that it just passes our kids by.”
IT TAKES A VILLAGE
Several organizations have come together to help design the We Lead CS model, including Great American Insurance and Procter & Gamble. We Lead CS will also distribute grants of $20,000 to regional chambers of commerce to help facilitate employer connections and work-based learning activities; Sells anticipates the NKY Chamber will apply for one of the grants based on their established relationship.
“The NKY Chamber has been an incredible partner to us in this process as we built this pilot program and it's encouraging to me because the kids that I work with are in the very rural part of Northern Kentucky. It’s been great to see them recognize the value of those students and what they can bring to the table,” Sells says. “I've loved working with (NKY Chamber VP of Talent Strategies) Nancy Spivey and her team. No matter the question, ‘Yes’ is always the answer.”
Spivey is confident We Lead CS has the knowledge and expertise to make the program a success.
“From day one, the NKY Chamber has been impressed with the work Alicia and her team have done to not only bring this issue to the forefront, but to also build and execute a roadmap to take this program statewide,” says Spivey. “We are excited to be part of helping accelerate the careers of Northern Kentucky’s next generation of tech talent.”
Citing the initiative as an example of the adage “it takes a village to raise a child,” Sells looks forward to seeing Northern Kentucky’s business community come together to uplift the next generation.
“What We Lead CS and INTERalliance seeks to create is the opportunity for Northern Kentucky businesses to get involved in building their tech talent pipeline, whether that's basic digital literacy in students or data science or cybersecurity skills that are at a much higher level,” she says. “This is an opportunity to meet your workforce, shape your workforce from the time that they're really in eighth grade and beyond. If you want to have a hand as a business leader and how schools develop your talent pipeline, this is the opportunity to do it.”
GET INVOLVED
Interested in seeing how your business can support We Lead CS? LOOK HERE!
We Lead Computer Science KY Virtual Career Academy (We Lead CS) Rollout Meeting
Tuesday, July 23 | 1:00 - 4:00 PM Convening Center, Gateway Community and Technical College, Florence, KY 41042
We Lead CS is looking to partner with local employers throughout the Northern Kentucky region interested in hiring tech talent. The meeting will look to identify employers that may be able to provide mentoring, speak to and provide internships/workbased learning opportunities for students interested in tech and computer science careers.
Register today at weleadcs.org/upcoming-events.
From Predicting to Improving Health Outcomes
Using AI and Bioscience
Using AI and Bioscience From Predicting to Improving Health Outcomes
Using AI and Bioscience From Predicting to Improving Health Outcomes
RxPREDiCT delivers
‘personalized whole health’ solutions to lower chronic disease risks, healthcare costs for employers and health plans
By Tabari McCoy, Scooter Media
IT’S NOT SURPRISING THAT THE INSPIRATION leading to innovation comes in many forms. What was surprising for Ranjan SenGupta, however, were the events that would change his life.
“It was my second heart attack, which occurred a few years after a stroke, that triggered my pursuit of finding the ‘root causes’ of my near-fatal outcomes. This marked the beginning of my personal health and wellness journey. While the many medications prescribed by my team of doctors controlled the symptoms of my cardiovascular disease, it was my personal ‘whole health’ journey that helped reverse my declining cardiometabolic conditions,” recalls SenGupta, speaking on the events that inspired the foundation of his company, a Top 25 Healthcare AI company as named by Health Data Management.
“I just wasn’t getting satisfactory answers to my questions about what was causing these lifethreatening outcomes. All I kept hearing was, ‘Just keep taking your medications,’ so I thought, ‘Perhaps AI can answer this question better.’” SenGupta says. “I then said, ‘Let's look at what’s biologically causing these conditions to deteriorate and use AI to examine associations with underlying metabolic factors along with an individual’s unique DNA and gut microbiome composition. We can then personalize diet, exercise and digestive supplements to address these causal factors.’”
Continuing, SenGupta says, “This led me to groundbreaking research published by The Cleveland Clinic, which found that a toxic gut metabolite called TMAO (Trimethylamine N-oxide) is associated with many cardiometabolic diseases, including heart attack, stroke and diabetes. We then redirected RxPREDiCT’s AI-based risk prediction algorithms to generate personalized diet, exercise and digestive supplement formulations that help inhibit TMAO and lower the risk of cardiometabolic diseases.”
A data industry veteran with experience working on projects for Deloitte, PwC and Booz Allen, SenGupta used this approach to change his own diet, exercise and supplements, significantly improving his health outcomes.
“I lost 14 pounds. My blood pressure, A1C and my cholesterol levels all went down. When they review my chart now, they say, ‘Keep doing whatever you're doing,’” he says. “When I reached that point, I thought, ‘I'm not the only one. There are millions of people like me.’”
He has since been taken off many of his earlier prescribed medications – creating a lightbulb moment of epic proportions.
LIFE BEYOND PATIENT ZERO IMPROVING WORKPLACE WELLNESS
Launched in 2015, RxPREDiCT uses a combination of DNA and gut microbiome testing, bioscience research and AI algorithms to create individualized diet and exercise plans. Additionally, vitamins and supplements are tailored to each person’s DNA and gut microbiome to help lower the risk of cardiometabolic diseases by inhibiting TMAO production.
RxPREDiCT offers a comprehensive program called RxPREVENT for employee health and wellness that begins with a collecting a DNA cheek swab or utilizing data from 23andMe or AncestryDNA, which is analyzed across four target areas: diet and fitness, food sensitivities, vitamins and minerals. The company’s nutrigenetics and AI experts use this information to create personalized daily meal and exercise plans alongside tailored cardio and strength training exercises matched to an individual’s specific DNA. A gut microbiome test targets specific nutrients that inhibit TMAO through a customized digestive health supplement formulation with customized refills every 90 days. All these elements are provided to employees through their employers on a simple per-employee-per-month (PEPM) basis.
The work is a practical application of bioinformatics, the use of computation and analysis, to interpret biological data enabling RxPREDiCT to provide employers a comprehensive and user-friendly solution for employer health and wellness plans. The program’s goal is to enhance the health and productivity of employees in the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region.
SenGupta says trying to reach a wider audience is what led RxPREDiCT’s team of doctors, AI engineers, medical researchers and health/wellness specialists to focus their collective efforts on employer groups. He says approximately 150 million Americans get their health care through their employers, prompting this strategic direction, making finding employers willing to collaborate to validate the personalized whole health solution crucial to the company’s growth. RxPREDiCT offers its RxPREVENT program through employer health and wellness plans, benefits brokers and chambers of commerce.
SenGupta says a Cincinnati-based global manufacturing company – one of the world’s largest – was one of the first employers to adopt RxPREDiCT, seeking help to address challenges at a plant with chronic healthrelated productivity issues.
Utilizing RxPREDiCT’s bioinformatics resulted in a significant transformation of the lives of the plant’s workforce, helping employees adjust diets and determine the types of exercise – cardio versus strength training, for example – that would improve their health. The program’s success at the plant led to the launch of similar ones with both a large food retailer and health provider network, each of which would enjoy comparable results.
RxPREDiCT is now working with the NKY Chamber in hopes of helping companies of all sizes across the region enjoy similar results.
“We have around 60 participants enrolled in a pilot program from various employers across Northern Kentucky. Our goal is to showcase the success of the program and expand to other regions within Kentucky,” he says. “We're making Kentucky our epicenter to combine DNA and gut bioinformatics of our RxPREVENT program for personalized employee wellness to lower the risk and cost of expensive lifelong diseases like diabetes, heart and kidney disease. The NKY Chamber is excited; they've enrolled their employees and their spouses while introducing us to other employers in the region.”
BUILDING BETTER BUSINESSES TOGETHER
Having grown into a formidable organization, RxPREDiCT’s advisory teams consist of experienced former business leaders of cardiometabolic research organizations, pharma companies and health insurance plans that include The Cleveland Clinic, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Anthem and United Healthcare. While workplace wellness is where the company started, he sees RxPREDiCT eventually selling personalized supplements directly to consumers through retailers and/or online.
“Consumers won’t have to wait till their workplace wellness program offers it – that's our future strategy. Cardiovascular is the entry point,” he says. “Over time, we plan to provide AI-generated personalized supplements to support kidney and mental health, insulin resistance, etc. We see RxPREDiCT growing into many other spaces.”
His company would not enjoy its current success, however, without the support of large and small employer groups throughout the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region.
“When we were named a top AI Company transforming healthcare, it was a pleasant surprise; by then, we had done work to take genetics and gut-based therapies to personalize employee wellness and productivity to the next level,” he says. “We were no longer considered a startup and they were matching us up against behemoths the likes of IBM Watson, Intel, Philips, Microsoft and Salesforce. We have never looked back and are excited about improving the health of millions of employees nationally and globally, starting right here in Northern Kentucky.” NKY
A Bright Future
A Bright Future
Duke Energy, Amazon Air Hub team up for Kentucky’s largest utility-scale rooftop solar site
By Tabari McCoy, Scooter Media
THE SKY IS NO LONGER THE LIMIT. IT’S THE PRESENT and future of energy for Duke Energy and Amazon following a historic collaboration.
The Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport – CVG – is home to scores of intricate technologies enabling thousands of people to travel all around the globe. It is also home to many businesses, from restaurants and retail to airlines and the companies that support them.
Adjacent to CVG, however, is a facility that complements the airport’s innovation with a uniqueness all its own: Amazon’s Air Hub. The $1.5 billion investment supporting its air cargo network has been open since Aug. 2021. With hundreds of mobile drive units, ergonomic workstations and Robin robotic arms to transport and sort packages, Amazon’s central air hub is unlike any other site in its network. July 2023 would see Duke Energy and Amazon partner to create something unlike any other facility, merging energy and efficiency together with the largest installation of its kind to date in the Commonwealth.
That collaboration is now helping Northern Kentucky shine bright in becoming a leader in power and sustainability.
RAISE THE ROOF
More than 5,600 photovoltaic (PV) panels now cover the roof of Amazon’s 800,000-square-foot sortation center – one of seven buildings featured at the 600-acre Northern Kentucky air hub – that sits adjacent to CVG. The rooftop solar project feeds up to 2 megawatts (MW) of solar power directly onto an electric distribution grid. The panels power approximately 400 homes and businesses in the area, helping Amazon and Duke reach their respective renewable energy and net zero carbon emission goals.
While the Amazon Air Hub near CVG houses the largest utility-scale rooftop solar site in the entire Commonwealth, it is not Duke Energy’s only solar site in Northern Kentucky. In addition to the Amazon Air Hub site, the Walton Solar Power Plants 1 and 2 feature approximately 19,000 solar panels capable of producing 4+ MW of electricity. The Crittenden Solar Power Plant, located off I-75 in Grant County, features approximately 12,500 panels and can generate 2.7+ MW of electricity.
Duke Energy Ohio/Kentucky, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, provides electric service to 900,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in a 3,000-square-mile service area, and natural gas service to 550,000 customers in a 2,650-square-mile service area, in Ohio and Kentucky.
Amazon Air Hub Director of Operations Jess Stewart says its partnership with Duke Energy is the latest example of the company’s $35.2 billion investment in Kentucky since 2010.
“This project is one of five renewable energy projects in Kentucky that are helping Amazon power our operations with renewable energy, while simultaneously generating positive benefits for the local communities we work with ... In our efforts to reach net zero, Amazon is committed to matching the electricity used by our operations with renewable energy and enabling carbon-free energy projects around the world – that’s why we continue to support a growing number of renewable energy projects in Kentucky,” Stewart says. “In addition to generating carbon-free energy, these projects have the power to drive economic growth and create local jobs. As the largest corporate purchaser of renewable energy in Kentucky and worldwide, Amazon is leading the way for a more sustainable economy, powered by renewable energy.”
John Juech, director of public affairs and Communications for Duke Energy Ohio/Kentucky, says several things have led to solar panels becoming a more viable power source for the company. This includes the rising price of other energy sources, the decreasing cost of the panels themselves, more workers trained and available to install them as well as changes in government regulations. Says Juech, “These are all part of a diverse energy mix to serve our customers.”
The momentum and growth of companies wanting to utilize renewable energy sources has also spurred progress.
“The solar market in the United States is growing in an average rate of 24% a year nationally. In the Commonwealth, it's projected to see growth of 3,370 megawatts over the next five years,” he says. “That's a projection, but that puts Kentucky 16th out of 50 states according to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).”
Juech says Northern Kentucky’s business community deserves credit for helping lead the charge.
“With the exciting growth around Amazon and their Air Hub, they've really planted a stake and a flag in the ground in Northern Kentucky, which I think is very exciting for the whole region, jobs and its vitality,” he says. “We see a lot of companies – R.A. Jones, Toyota, Mubea – that are pillars of the region who also want to see sustainability, renewable energy.”
EVERYBODY LOVES THE SUNSHINE
Asked what else she would like people throughout Northern Kentucky to know about what Amazon is doing to support and promote clean energy, Stewart’s response is simple: The future looks bright.
“Our renewable energy projects in Kentucky demonstrate the vast benefits that collaborative carbon-free energy projects can provide,” she says. “By leveraging innovative solar energy structures like those at the Air Hub at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, Amazon is generating value for our business, customers and their communities.”
Juech, who says Duke Energy has enjoyed a “very good partnership with Amazon and we are so pleased to see their commitment to this region,” agrees.
“We are committed to the Northern Kentucky community. We've been serving this community, us and our predecessors, for 180 years, and donate millions of dollars to local nonprofits each year in addition to doing over 10,000 volunteer hours a year,” he says. “We are deeply committed to this region and in this community and will be for many, many years to come. It's all part of our commitment to doing the right thing and being a good citizen in this community.” NKY
“
In addition to generating carbonfree energy, these projects have the power to drive economic growth and create local jobs. As the largest corporate purchaser of renewable energy in Kentucky and worldwide, Amazon is leading the way for a more sustainable economy, powered by renewable energy.
Jess Stewart Amazon Air Hub Director of Operations
Amazon’s renewable energy projects in Kentucky are expected to generate 915 gigawatt-hours of clean energy – enough to power 86,000 U.S. homes every year.
At Central Bank, we live, work and play in the same communities you do. You’re our neighbor, friend, business partner down the street. We know and understand you because we build relationships with you – every day. That helps us serve you better, and that’s what makes “highly personal banking” more effective banking. We start with you.
SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
PAUL EHLINGER KNOWS PEOPLE HAVE QUESTIONS –and he understands why.
“The first one is, ‘How is this real?’ and then the second is, ‘Is it going to take my job?’ Those are the two things that are always on people's minds when you mention AI. Then they're curious to know the next cool thing that will happen,” says Ehlinger, founder and CEO of Flamel.ai, the Covington-based company specializing in artificial intelligence-based social media marketing, of the questions he’s asked most often. “There's a lot of excitement – it's all over the news, social media. Then there's that little bit of fear mixed in and that's normal with every type of technology.”
Ehlinger hopes to lead the charge towards a future where artificial intelligence is a natural part of the social media marketing landscape.
OVERCOMING ANTI-SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING
Flamel.ai’s mission is simple: Make small business marketing using AI–technology enabling computers to learn, read, write, create and/or analyze – to make people’s jobs (and in turn, lives) easier. Named after Ehlinger’s favorite Harry Potter character inspired by the French alchemist of the same name – Flamel.ai was born out of his own desire to solve the woes he and his wife, a psychologist with her own practice, experienced with marketing.
By Tabari McCoy, Scooter Media
“I always struggled with social media marketing … Social media is the primary form of commerce these days; it’s the town square where connection happens, but while some companies are good at it, most of them are not,” he says. “A healthy percentage (of them) don’t even attempt to do it because they’re kind of scared … They might be a franchisee who bought this business to grow their wealth and be part of their community, but they’re not marketers and don’t know how to make their product/business look good on Instagram. We look to solve that problem.”
Explaining that social media generally stems from ideation to creation and then editing and scheduling with analytical analysis to follow, Flamel.ai’s media tools try to remove the trial-and-error from the process. This is achieved by generating content ideas, writing copy and building the post.
This, Ehlinger says, is where small businesses can thrive with their social media marketing.
“Often companies will have an idea of what they are, their tone and voice are and who their audience is. We get that information from the end user and then we leverage that to train our AI model so when they're creating content, it's using their voice and tone,” he says. “The idea here is plugging the user in at certain times in the technology where they can provide that human element and authenticity. It also helps with things that maybe aren’t the most necessary; does that person have to write a hundred different captions about the sale on their gym’s t-shirt? No – but AI can do it for them.”
SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
MAN VS. MACHINE
Ehlinger is keenly aware of the fears many have about potentially losing employment to a faceless software that is not concerned with making a living. He, however, does not believe AI should be viewed as a threat, at least not in the way his company utilizes it via a methodology known in the industry as human-in-the-loop.
Human-in-the-loop seeks to achieve what neither man nor machine can do on their own. This method keeps humans “in the loop” of the machine’s growth and development by intervening when the machine cannot solve the problem. This also downplays the idea of total automation by an AI-powered device as human interaction remains essential to the system.
Noting that “every person I know that’s running an AI company now is doing it because they want to make life better,” Ehlinger says he understands those with fears of sentient machines. Those fears, however, are not grounded in today’s current applications.
“We focus on ‘Can we augment people to make their jobs and lives easier?’ For social media managers, how many ways can you say the same caption for the same product over and over and over?” he says. “It’s going to eliminate some jobs as with any new technology does – for example, we don't have as many people raising horses as we used to because we drive cars. I think a similar transition happens with AI, but at the end of the day, most of this is really built to say, ‘How can we make jobs easier with AI?’”
Those are among the reasons Ehlinger says small businesses should consider embracing AI with both digital arms.
“Think about the hardware store owner … They probably have construction and product knowledge, know their finances and back office pretty well, but probably don't know marketing. What AI really does for the small and midsize business owner is give them their time back, whereas it might have taken them five hours a week to build their social marketing content, it could take three minutes now,” he says. “That’s where small and midsize business owners really stand to benefit the most because where they're limited in their time and resources, these technologies can make up for that.”
“
At the end of the day, everything I do and I try to be in life is rooted in the idea of 'Let's build a better tomorrow.' If people
take that perspective towards building technology
and adopting
technology,
the world's going to be a cool place a hundred years from now — that's what I try to do.
-
Paul Ehlinger
SCIENCE, NOT FICTION
Ehlinger says his company’s work has been received favorably locally, noting that companies with whom Flamel is working are excited about trying new things. He believes the next few years will see the hype about AI pass and see more AI tools used daily to resolve common, recurring problems and challenges.
Born in Thailand, raised in Kansas City and living in California before settling in Covington a few years ago, Ehlinger says Northern Kentucky now feels like home. A former manager of the Kentucky Enterprise Fund, he says he has seen Northern Kentucky “massively elevated” in its resources over that time, noting the region “swings above its weight” regarding the number of “interesting people doing interesting things.”
Looking to be seen as one of those people, he says Northern Kentucky has the talent and opportunity to continue to compete on a global stage – and AI can be a tool to help achieve that goal.
“Looking at the big companies here in Cincinnati, Covington and Northern Kentucky, they have to stay relevant on a global stage. They have a very vested interest in making sure that everybody who works for and lives around them adopts this technology because the efficiency gains you get from AI, we haven't seen since the internet became a thing,” he says. “At the end of the day, everything I do and I try to be in life is rooted in the idea of ‘Let's build a better tomorrow.’ If people take that perspective towards building technology and adopting technology, the world's going to be a cool place a hundred years from now – that's what I try to do.” NKY
Quality Connections
altafiber brings fiber technology, opportunities for the future to
Northern Kentucky
By Tabari McCoy, Scooter Media
IN 2022, THE COMPANY’S NAME CHANGE FOLLOWING nearly 150 years in business captured headlines and curiosity alike. But for the former Cincinnati Bell, the focus on the future was based not on desire, but necessity. For in changing its name, it fully committed to the philosophy behind it: an existence as a cutting-edge technology company making necessary investments to serve its customers well into the future.
Now, following the completion of its groundbreaking fiber installation in Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties, altafiber is providing the means – both literally and figuratively – for Northern Kentucky to get connected to the future.
CONNECTING NORTHERN KENTUCKY
Transitioning from a publicly traded company to a private company after being acquired by Australia-based Macquarie Asset Management in Sept. 2021, altafiber is the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region’s hometown provider, specializing in fiber-based, high-speed internet, TV and phone service. Producing an economic impact in the Cincinnati metropolitan service area exceeding $6 billion between 2018-2022, altafiber’s longstanding list of firsts (see sidebar) showcases that the company’s commitment to innovation has existed for decades.
No project in the company’s storied history, however, may couple the idea of innovation and impact together as well as the one it completed last September: The $180 million fiberto-the-premises investment resulting in gigabit Internet being available to more than 195,000 addresses throughout Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties, respectively. Fiber-optic cables conduct Internet transmissions far better than copper due to far greater bandwidth capabilities, allowing for faster data
We all strongly believe that it matters to the community, businesses and residents alike if your internet services are based on the best service possible. It’s critical for the individuals we collectively serve and helps businesses grow faster. This is where innovation doesn't just apply to the technology
-
Ron Beerman
Chief Network Officer
transmission and thus, better access to the online digital world. By building a fiber network throughout Northern Kentucky that extends to urban, suburban and rural areas, altafiber has created digital equity to provide all single-family homes and business addresses throughout Northern Kentucky “access to educational, employment and healthcare opportunities through broadband connectivity.”
A unique public-private partnership, the project was co-funded with a $13.6 million commitment by the Boone County Fiscal Court, $4.5 million from Campbell County and $10.8 million from Kenton County. UniCity, altafiber’s Smart City organization, committed an additional $1.1 million to “enhance the quality of life for residences and businesses” while allowing for “more value-added” constituent services by local government.
Ron Beerman, altafiber’s Chief Network Officer, cited each party’s shared understanding of the need for and benefits of better connectivity as key to the project’s success.
“We all strongly believe that it matters to the community, businesses and residents alike if your internet services are based on the best service possible. It’s critical for the individuals we collectively serve and helps businesses grow faster. This is where innovation doesn't just apply to the technology,” Beerman says. “Coming
together on that agreement enabled both sides to be clear about the direction we're going: to get fiber to essentially 100 percent of the single-family homes in those three counties. We turned around and executed on that and it's starting to pay off.”
Beerman cites the pandemic for showcasing the need for fiber access throughout Northern Kentucky, with schools and employers going remote and the need for telehealth services becoming more prominent during that time. Those needs are in addition to the need for Internet for any number of industries’ daily activities. Beerman says ubiquitous fiber access will help make the region appealing to startups and established companies alike.
“Part of the premise of doing this is Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties can say, ‘We have a partnership with altafiber; when you establish a business and/or you bring your employees here, they will have the right connectivity and access –it’s an important factor for growth,’” he says. “We had all kinds of companies we were partnering with to incubate their services and test things in Cincinnati. Now that we’re almost a hundred percent complete fiber, businesses can try things here that they can’t in other major metropolitan areas.”
BE GLOBAL, ACT LOCAL
While admitting it may sound cliché to some, Beerman says altafiber’s status as a local company itself explains why its investment in the Northern Kentucky/Greater Cincinnati region “speaks to the core of who we are.”
“As a public company, you have shareholders who want to see a return on investment in a short timeframe. Going private enabled us to get investment from Macquarie and other sources that enable us to invest in technologies that are going to pay off over the next few years,” he says. “And while we do have an owner group that is not in Cincinnati, the operators of this organization live in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. It's our community we're making decisions about. That hasn't changed one bit and Macquarie supports that – it's been a great, great relationship.”
Continuing, Beerman notes, “They get it that we're making investments because it's the right thing to do and we have a belief that if you do the right thing for the community that those things are good business in the long term … Everyone who
PICTURED: (Left to Right, Back to Front)
Kris Knochelmann, Jeremy Lee, Cory Beach, Clay Hager, Bobby Hubbard, Ben Knochelmann, Lisa Knochelmann, Liz Ostrowski, Pete Knochelmann, John Knochelmann Jr., Kevin Bowen, David Connor, John Snowden, Joe McCleese, Corbin Knochelmann
works for altafiber is a member of this community, and our community is extremely important to us. We have a legacy serving this region for more than 150 years. We don't take that lightly, nor the responsibility that comes with it.”
Having served as the president of the National Association of Counties, where he once appointed a broadband task force, Boone County Judge/Executive Gary Moore understands and appreciates Beerman’s perspective. With Boone County wanting to be on “the cutting edge” and avoid potential shortfalls in fiber supply, the decision was made to utilize Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) and 2021’s American Rescue Plan Act funds. With altafiber already having fibersuitable infrastructure in place, the project – which brought broadband to residents, businesses and even some parks and public buildings – was complete in 26 months.
Hailing altafiber as “a great partner,” Judge/Executive Moore says he would make the decision to work with them again “in a second.”
“When you put Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties together, we're around 400,000 residents, which make us the second or third largest metro in the Commonwealth of Kentucky … This is another example of working collaboratively and having a unified product as a region. That makes us more attractive when it comes to economic development, talent attraction, tourism, you name it,” he says. “It makes us more competitive than we would be if each county or the cities within were going different directions. This is another example of that partnership and collaboration.”
“Everyone who works for altafiber is a member of this community, and our community is extremely important to us. We have a legacy serving this region for more than 150 years. We don't take that lightly, nor the responsibility that comes with it.
Ron Beerman
IMPACT THROUGH COMMUNITY INNOVATION
The company’s commitment to innovation in the community isn’t limited to just technology, however. Launched in 2022, the Bell Charitable Foundation supports several nonprofit and community organizations, distributing more than $1.8 million in grants to 38 organizations since its inception. Likewise, altafiber’s Employee Volunteer Program allows workers to spend up to 40 hours a year serving the community, including Brighton Center, which presented altafiber with its Elizabeth Herald Community Support Award in 2022.
Noting that altafiber’s Brighton Center involvement came about via employees (including former COO Tom Simpson) who saw benefits worthy of investment, Beerman says the company loves when its community involvement goes beyond cutting a check.
“Our preference overall is that our relationships are not just financially-based and are ones where we can help with something,” he says. “Writing a check is the easy part, but maybe we’re also adding Wi-Fi in an area or providing resources that, on the technical side, can be of real help.”
Brighton Center President and CEO Wonda Winkler, who says altafiber has supported several of her organization’s programs, agrees.
“They are a company that clearly understands their commitment to social responsibility and are willing to provide the community leadership that really helps make not only our organization but our community better. They’re giving, extremely passionate and they do make a meaningful difference in support of our mission – I can't say enough about them,” she says. “When I think of altafiber, the word that comes to mind is ‘exemplary.’ They put action behind their words, what they truly believe in and what it means to be a company that cares about the community by investing in it.”
FUTURE SCIENCE INNOVATION
What’s next for altafiber? With technology in a constant state of evolution, Beerman says the company’s transformation from copper to fiber is its biggest current focus, readying for two-, six- and even 10-gigabyte offerings in the future. Additionally, he says the company is eyeing the streaming market and its potential role in it; AI and its work with research and development partners behind devices like eero Wi-Fi devices; and more.
Whatever the future has in store, however, he is certain altafiber will be there leading the way.
“At the end of the day, things that are technology-driven need a foundation of a good reliable Internet data path to communicate, and I personally love being here because we're right in the middle of it,” he says. “It’s the place to be in terms of taking advantage of that innovation and helping to drive that for the community in the broader space. It's a fun time to be in a company like this.” NKY
Facts & Figures by the
numbers
Percentage of single-family homes and businesses with available access to gigabit Internet in Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties.
1873
The year altafiber was officially incorporated as the first company in Cincinnati to provide direct communication between the city’s homes and businesses.
The approximate number of altafiber employees in Greater Cincinnati/ Northern Kentucky.
The number of months between the announcement (July 2021) of altafiber’s fiber build in Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties and completion of the project (September 2023).
43,171 1997
The year the company completed the first Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) installation in North America. ADSL technology provides continuously available, always-on broadband connections unavailable via regular dialup copper telephone service line.
100 2018 1,500 2022
The number of hours donated to community volunteerism through altafiber’s Employee Volunteer Program.
2015
The year the company is named the fastest Internet Service Provider (ISP) in Cincinnati by Ookla, the global leader in broadband testing and web network diagnostic applications.
$1.8M
The amount the Bell Charitable Foundation has distributed in grants to 38 organizations since its founding in 2022. Additionally, 2023 saw the foundation also announce a $1 million commitment to create digital equity in the communities it serves over the next five years.
The year the company completed its acquisition of Hawaiian Telcom, the leading integrated communications provider serving Hawai’i.
2014 $2M+ $1.5B+
The amount altafiber donates annually to employment, health and education initiatives, including the United Way of Greater Cincinnati, ArtsWave and the American Heart Association. The company donated $32 million to philanthropic and local organizations between 2018-2022.
The year altafiber (as Cincinnati Bell) becomes the region’s first to launch Gigabit Internet speed offering.
The year altafiber announced the acquisition of Agile Network Builders, LLC, the Canton, Ohio-based company providing hybrid fiber wireless data networks in Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky and Pennsylvania.
The amount of capital altafiber has invested in fiber networks across Greater Cincinnati and Hawai’i since 2010.
BUSINESS IMPACT AWARDS 2024
THE BUSINESS IMPACT AWARDS, presented by Huntington Bank, is the NKY Chamber’s annual celebration showcasing the positive impact, creativity, strong business practices and leadership of our Northern Kentucky business community. Winners were recognized in nine categories during an event at Drees Pavilion on May 2: Small, medium and large businesses; for profit and nonprofit community champions, cool place to work; heritage award; startup and innovation.
Please join us in saying “congratulations!” to this year’s award winners and honorees. Your collective efforts continue to make Northern Kentucky the best place to live, work, play, learn and give back!
2024 BIA Winners
(Left to Right)
START-UP AWARD
Unique International Market
HERITAGE AWARD
Perfetti Van Melle USA
COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS
AWARD NONPROFIT
Children’s Law Center
LARGE BUSINESS AWARD SHP
COOL PLACE TO WORK AWARD
Fidelity Investments
MEDIUM BUSINESS AWARD
Homewatch Caregivers of Northern Kentucky
SMALL BUSINESS AWARD
Poseidon’s Pizza
INNOVATION AWARD
KLH Engineers
COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS
AWARD FOR-PROFIT
CTI Clinical Trial and Consulting Services
CELEBRATING YEARS
2024 AWARDS
By Katie Forcade Scooter Media
TAKING PLACE THURSDAY, MAY 23 AT TURFWAY
Park Racing & Gaming, the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Women’s Initiative invited the community to join together for the milestone 40th Annual Outstanding Women of Northern Kentucky (OWNK) Awards celebration, sponsored by St. Elizabeth Healthcare.
This marked the 40th year for the awards, which were established in 1984 by the late Nancy Janes Boothe, to honor women who exemplify notable achievement, outstanding service in their professions or to the Northern Kentucky community, and the qualities of personal integrity, perseverance, and leadership. More than 240 women have been honored over these last four decades.
Wonda Winkler, Chair of the OWNK Awards, opened the program, and the awards then proceeded with the presentation of the 2024 Nancy Janes Boothe Scholarship recipients. These scholarships are presented each year to three deserving female students in the Northern Kentucky Metro region for their outstanding leadership and achievements.
“Had it not been for Nancy Janes Boothe, wife of former Northern Kentucky University President Leon Boothe, and her vision for a program like this, we would not be here today,” said Kathrine Nero, the afternoon’s emcee. “In honor of Nancy’s visionary leadership, and commitment to education, the scholarship component of the event is called the Nancy Janes Boothe Outstanding Women of Northern Kentucky Scholarship Program.”
This year’s recipients were Kelsey Browning of Gateway Community and Technical College, LeaAnn King of Northern Kentucky University, and Jazmine Saunders of Thomas More University.
Next it was time to present the 2024 Outstanding Women of Northern Kentucky awards. The honorees included: Angie M. Cain, Field Representative for Governor Beshear’s Office for the Department of Local Government; Catrena Bowman, Executive Director at NKY Community Action Commission and Owner of Inspired Fashion Boutique; Shannon Starkey-Taylor, CEO at Learning Grove; and Tara Johnson-Noem, Executive Director at Northern Kentucky Area Development District. The award celebrates women who live, work or volunteer in Northern Kentucky and represent the great diversity and extraordinary accomplishments of today’s women. Nominees are ideal role models for the young women who will follow in their footsteps.
“My life’s mission is to empower women, children, and families to be the best version of themselves and to reach their full potential, and I do that through my work at NKCAC and also through my work at the boutique,” said Bowman. “Thank you so much for giving me the space to do it here in this region.”
“I’m thankful to everyone who has been part of my career, including my colleagues at DLG who serve on behalf of Governor Beshear, providing support across the Commonwealth,” said Cain. “I’m so happy to have all five of our kids here but especially proud that our daughters can see this room full of strong role models. As we look at opportunities for young women today, the sky’s the limit.”
“I want to tell anyone that no matter what you have going on, just don’t give up, give it your all, be present, and enjoy the moment,” said Johnson-Noem. “I’m so grateful for all the warm wishes and kindness that I’ve received throughout this process.”
“When Wonda contacted me, I can’t lie, I got very emotional because by recognizing me with this great award, you’re recognizing my great staff – and they do the critical upstream work and prepare children and youth to reach their full potential,” said Starkey-Taylor. “They make
BOWMAN CAIN PILE STARKEY-TAYLOR JOHNSON-NOEM
sure that families are thriving, so all of the honor and glory should go to them.”
Julia Pile, co-founder of ParentCamp, was recognized next with the Helen Carrol Champion of Education award. This honor goes to women each year for their impact and dedication to education in the Northern Kentucky community.
“This is an award about those who see in others what they don’t see in themselves, and it’s an award about raising each other up and building villages for our kids,” said Pile. “I’d like to thank my village.”
Up next, Marsha Croxton, retired from her role with U.S. Bank and St. Elizabeth Healthcare Board Member, received the St. Elizabeth Healthcare Henrietta Cleveland Inspiring Women award given to women dedicated to improving lives and inspiring hope in the community.
“It has been my good fortune to be able to experience the care and compassion that the healthcare system brings
to our community, both as a board member and because of personal family healthcare needs,” Croxton said. “To be recognized by this group of professionals as inspiring is really an honor.”
Finally, the Judith Clabes Lifetime Achievement was awarded to Michelle Snodgrass, the Campbell County Commonwealth Attorney 17th Judicial Circuit at Commonwealth of Kentucky. This award goes to women who have had a major impact on the region over their lifetime. Snodgrass said she hopes to have helped make the community a better place for her son and the next generations.
“This Lifetime Achievement Award kind of signals there is a closing of a chapter—the end of my time as a prosecutor is coming at the end of the year, and I think when you turn that page, you hope to be able to look back and think of the stories you’ve left behind, the messages that they truly mean something,” said Snodgrass. “I can tell you that when I look back, I will not think about the trials, I will not think about the wins, and certainly not the awards. What I’m going to think about are the people.” NKY
AROUND THE CHAMBER
NKYP COCKTAILS AND CONVERSATION | SECOND STORY, COVINGTON NORTHERN
EGGS 'N ISSUES: INCOME ALIGNED HOUSING | RECEPTIONS, ERLANGER
INVESTING IN EQUITY SERIES: NEURODIVERSITY IN ACTION | ST. ELIZABETH BOARDROOM, NKY CHAMBER, FORT MITCHELL
AROUND THE CHAMBER
NKYP LUNCHTIME LEADER CHAT WITH DOUG BOLTON | METROPOLITAN CLUB, COVINGTON
HR 100: IT'S OKAY, I'M OKAY WITH SCOTT MCGOHAN | NKY CHAMBER, FORT MITCHELL
NORTHERN KENTUCKY
EGGS 'N ISSUES: BUILDING A BETTER NKY - THE VISION OF DEVELOPMENT LEGEND BILL BUTLER | RECEPTIONS, ERLANGER
AROUND THE CHAMBER
WOMEN'S INITIATIVE CONNECT HOUR | LEGACY LIVING, FLORENCE
LEADERSHIP NORTHERN KENTUCKY 2024 CLOSING RETREAT | BOONE COUNTY NATURE PARK, FLORENCE
NORTHERN KENTUCKY
VONLEHMAN IS NOW PART OF DEAN DORTON
RIBBON CUTTINGS
EVENT CALENDAR
JULY
7/10 HR 100: Happy HR | Wings & Rings, Crestview Hills | 4:00 – 6:00 PM
7/11 NKYP 2024 Next Generation Leader Awards | The Madison Events Center, Covington | 5:30 – 7:30 PM
7/16 Eggs ‘N Issues: CVG Updates from the Runways and Beyond | Receptions, Erlanger | 7:30 – 9:00 AM
7/18 Business After Hours | Longnecks Bar & Grill, Richwood | 4:30 – 6:30 PM
7/23 WI Coffee Connect | Courtyard by Marriott Cincinnati Airport, Erlanger | 8:00 – 10:00 AM
7/25 Fort Thomas Business Council: NKU Business Study | Mess Hall, Fort Thomas | 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
7/25 NKY Manufacturers Night at Florence Y’alls co-hosted by the Kentucky Association of Manufacturers & the NKY Chamber of Commerce | Florence Y’alls Thomas More Stadium | 5:30 – 9:30 PM
7/29 Women’s Initiative Connect Hour | World of Golf, Florence | 4:30 – 6:30 PM
7/30 Workplace Safety Tour & Discussion | Perfetti Van Melle | 10:00 – 11:30 AM
AUGUST
8/1 Florence Business Social | Florence Y’alls Thomas More Stadium | 5:00 – 6:30 PM
8/1 Global Experience Night with FC Cincinnati | TQL Stadium | 5:30 – 11:00 PM
8/7 Getting the Most of Your Chamber Membership | NKY Chamber, Ft. Mitchell | 9:00 – 10:00 AM
8/8 Annual Chamber Golf Outing & Clinic | Kenton County Golf Course, Independence | 7:30 AM – 7:00 PM
8/15 Florence Business Council: Boone Co. Transportation Plan | Turfway Park Racing & Gaming | 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
8/15 NKYP Brews & Baseball | Florence Y’alls Thomas More Stadium | 5:30 – 9:00 PM
8/20 Eggs ‘N Issues: Trades Talent | Receptions, Erlanger | 7:30 – 9:00 AM
8/22 Fort Thomas Business Council: District Roundtables | City Building, Fort Thomas | 8:30 – 9:30 AM
8/22 Leadership Alumni Annual Luncheon | 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM (Leadership Programming Alumni Only)
8/23 Workplace Safety Tour & Discussion | Perfetti Van Melle | 10:00 – 11:30 AM
8/26 Women’s Initiative Connect Hour | Devou Event Center, Covington | 4:30 – 6:30 PM
8/27 Women’s Initiative Professional Series | Kenton County Public Library, Erlanger | 7:30 – 10:00 AM
SEPTEMBER
9/11 HR 100: Employment Law Update | Mazak Training Center, Florence | 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM
9/12 Annual Dinner | Northern Kentucky Convention Center | 5:00 – 8:30 PM
9/19 Florence Business Council: Leveraging AI | Turfway Park Racing & Gaming | 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
9/19 Business After Hours | Wenzel Whiskey, Covington | 4:30 – 6:30 PM
9/24 NKYP: Lunch ‘N Learn with Prysmian CEO Paul Furtado | Location TBD | 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
9/26 Fort Thomas Business Council: District Roundtables | City Building, Fort Thomas | 8:30 – 9:30 AM
9/30 Women’s Initiative Connect Hour | Grandview Tavern, Ft. Mitchell | 4:30 – 6:30 PM
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
859-578-8800 NKYChamber.com
The Business Journal is a benefit of membership and included in membership fees. Annual subscription rate for nonmembers is $30.
Periodicals Postage Paid USPS-548630 at Covington, KY.
Postmaster: Please send address changes to the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, 300 Buttermilk Pike, Suite 330, P.O. Box 17416 , Ft. Mitchell, KY 41017-0416.
Subscribers: Please send address changes by e-mail to info@nkychamber.com.
© 2024, The Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, Inc. and by the individual authors.
All rights reserved.
CEO/Publisher
Brent Cooper | bcooper@nkychamber.com
Marketing & Communications
Shannan Boyer | shannan@scootermediaco.com
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
Printing
Black Tie Productions
“Of
Dr. Lauren Castellini Oncology
- Sue, Ft. Thomas, KY
met, with personal nurse navigators and a whole team that puts YOU first. We understand you have questions, and at St. Elizabeth we personalize care with answers you need.