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.
PICTURED: Sarah Brookbank, Host, and Tabari McCoy, Producer, of the NKY Chamber Spotlight podcast, which recently earned a Blacksmith Award for “Best Webcast or Podcast” from the Cincinnati Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America.
JASON PAYNE Chair, NKY Chamber NKY/Cincinnati SVP, Managing Director, Republic Bank
“MADE IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY.”
IT’S MORE THAN A PHRASE. IT’S A DECLARATION OF PRIDE, a reflection of our history, and a testament to the innovative spirit that defines our region. At the NKY Chamber, we are proud to represent nearly 1,800 member businesses and organizations that employ more than 175,000 people throughout our region. NKY Chamber members contribute to not only the economic prowess of Northern Kentucky, but also its history, identity and cultural fabric. This issue of the NKY Business Journal shines a spotlight on their incredible work, showcasing the products and services that truly make Northern Kentucky unique.
Kentucky’s spirits industry is one of its trademarks, well-known worldwide as one of the staples of the Commonwealth. Our cover story on Augusta Distillery and Brianza Gardens and Winery, showcases not only our region’s expertise in bourbon, but wine making as well. These two businesses are prime examples of how this region empowers entrepreneurs to chase and achieve lifelong dreams. Their success stories highlight the innovation and determination that define our local business landscape.
Schneider’s Sweet Shop, a Bellevue community institution, celebrated its 85th anniversary last fall and continues to craft cherished sweet treats using time-tested methods. It is a story of not only business success – but it’s also a story of family, love, perseverance, and the memories their creations have brought to generations.
Similarly, our feature on Klosterman Baking Company, National Band & Tag, and Haven Lighting highlights how businesses deeply rooted in our region have made a lasting impact. From the meticulous craftsmanship behind familiar products like identification tags to the comforting tradition of freshly baked goods, these companies exemplify the power of blending innovation with heritage. Similarly, our focus on Haven Lighting showcases the creative energy driving Northern Kentucky, transforming markets and illuminating a path that benefits the entire region.
Of course, Northern Kentucky, like the rest of our country, has been focused on addressing workforce challenges. Workforce development and inclusivity remain critical areas of focus, and organizations like The Point Arc, which provides meaningful opportunities for individuals of all abilities, inspire us all. That is why our feature showcasing some of the products and the services offered by The Point Arc is not only interesting, but uplifting, too. The Point Arc’s impact serves as a reminder that Northern Kentucky is a place where everyone has a chance to succeed and contribute.
In short, the businesses and organizations featured in this issue aren’t just manufacturing goods or offering services. They’re shaping the future of our region. Through innovation, resilience, and collaboration, they’re demonstrating why this is an exceptional place to do business.
Northern Kentucky is on the rise, and we are the ones who will make sure we achieve our full potential today, tomorrow and well into the future. NKY
LABOR OF LOVE
By Tabari McCoy, Scooter Media
The Point Arc provides opportunities, employment for individuals with intellectual, development differences
Clothing and food ... They are two of the most basic human needs and each are trillion-dollar industries. At The Point Arc, the Northern Kentucky nonprofit that has served to improve the lives of differently abled individuals for 50+ years, they are also the source of something more: opportunity and hope.
In a world where people are often defined by their limitations, The Point Arc continues to show why their ability to help individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities/difference (I/DD) is limitless.
THE POINT OF IT ALL
Originally founded in 1972 by three sets of parents as an advocacy group to assist loved ones diagnosed with intellectual/ development disabilities, The Point Arc offers multiple programs and services to support the community it loves. This includes educational classes and workshops for teens, adults and families; supervised activities to aid socialization; and, when necessary, lifelong homes. The Zembrodt Education Center, an extension of The Point Arc, is key to the success of the organization’s programming, helping to bridge the gap between being different and finding common ground through community with others.
One of its most impactful programs, however, is the training offered through its Supported Employment Program and its four social enterprises. This includes Point Laundry, which has grown since its inception in 1996 to process some 2.2 million pounds of hospitality linens for clients such as the Cincinnati Hilton Netherland Plaza Downtown as it has for 27 years among others. Located at the corner of Pike and Washington near Covington’s bustling Madison Avenue business district, Point Perk Coffee Shop sports all the amenities and selections expected of the modern coffee shop. It is there that The Point Arc’s clientele can learn employable work and social skills while serving up caffeinated and non-coffee beverages alike.
Focusing on The Point Arc’s two other job training programs, though, showcases how the institution fits within a landscape of companies proudly making their mark by producing items in the northern point of the Commonwealth. The Point Apparel, an
embroidery and screenprinting company, delivers an assortment of items – polos, uniforms, lab coats, tote bags, banners and more – at competitive pricing, all while teaching I/DD workers critical social and employment skills. The Point Arc recently added a fourth business to its product making line with ZELS pretzels, the gourmet snack line available in a variety of flavors.
While many of The Point Arc’s enterprises are now successful, the journey to that point has been a long but rewarding one for Judi Gerding, its founder and president. Saying that the organization originally began to “fill in service gaps,” Gerding says one of the first things they did after purchasing an office in 1978 was acquire another building that housed a restaurant. The Point Arc would then use that facility to help train I/DD individuals, opening a full-fledged restaurant in 1982. A local hotel would then go on to hire The Point Arc’s vocation trained workers, leading to the foundation of The Point Arc’s commercial cleaning service, which expanded to commercial laundry in 1997. The Point Apparel would follow in 2014 with ZELS joining the lineup in 2023.
Gerding says the success of The Point Arc’s programs is indicative of their clients’ true abilities.
“Our biggest challenge is the fact that nobody knows who we are and what we do. However, once people learn about us, they seek us out, and we do superior work,” Gerding says. “We use our four enterprises as training sites as our ultimate goal is to help our clients find competitive employment in the community. We’ve placed hundreds in jobs through our coffee shop, but our businesses are training sites ... if for any reason they really blossom in our business, that's when we retain them as our employees after we exhaust finding them competitive employment.”
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
Now 52 years into the running of The Point Arc, Gerding remains steadfast in her dedication to the organization. She credits uniform contracts with local companies like concrete supplier Boone Ready Mix and North Carolina’s River Metals Recycling for helping the organization thrive. Additionally, she says The Point Arc is exploring a new addition to the ZELS lineup
ATech photos by Ben Gastright.
The Point Arc AT A GLANCE
The Point Arc 104 West Pike Street Covington, KY 41011 (859) 491-9191 thepointarc.org
Jackie Roberto,
in the form of a bourbon pretzel to highlight the region’s heritage.
She is also looking toward the institution’s future, noting that it has recently embarked on a capital campaign, as well as is developing both strategic and succession plans. “Life doesn't last forever, so we must take advantage of every day that we have in hopes that everything will continue,” she says.
In the meantime, Gerding is happy for the love so many have shown to the cause to which she has dedicated her life.
“We are so blessed to live in such a caring and generous community,” she says, noting her organization’s “Love, Leadership & Life” Capital Campaign had received over $7 million by the end of November 2024 toward its $10 million goal; which ends May 31, 2025. “We are not heavily government funded, but all we had to do was ask and people have rallied behind us – I am ever so grateful for that.
“All you have to do is let people know who you are, what you do, and prove to them that every dollar is a gift and appreciated. It's not just the monetary gifts,” Gerding says. “It’s also about the gifts of time from all the people who contribute to our events, our programs and all those that give from their heart. It's what keeps you going because it’s remarkable.”
If they can continue to provide I/DDs with opportunities to train, learn and gain meaningful employment, Gerding will be able to retire knowing The Point Arc’s legacy is secure.
“There is so much good in the world that we don't realize happens daily,” she says. “We enjoy a fantastic community and thank you God for strategically placing individuals in our lives to make us better people” she says. “We're all about inclusion and opportunity for everyone based on their capabilities. I love our neighborhoods, our city and our state. We've come such a long way when it comes to accepting people for who they are and what their abilities are rather than how we’d like them to be. We're missing out on so much if we don't take time to see the unique abilities of each and every one of us.” NKY
FOUNDED: 1972
MISSION:
To provide opportunities to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities/differences to reach their highest potential educationally, residentially, socially and vocationally. The Point Arc serves more than 1,400 people annually through its programs and services.
DID YOU KNOW?
Judi Gerding, president and founder of The Point Arc, began her commitment to individuals with intellectual and development disabilities through a personal journey to create a better life for people like her son, Steve. Steve was diagnosed with Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder affecting multiple organs in the body.
SOCIAL ENTERPRISES:
The Point Perk 45 W. Pike St. Covington, KY 41011 (859) 292-7375
The Point Apparel 216 W. 36th Street Latonia, KY 41015 (859) 360-7646
The Point Commercial Laundry 216 Lindsey Street Dayton, KY 41074 (859) 491-WASH (9274)
ZELS Pretzels 3622 Decoursey Pike Latonia, KY 41015 (859) 801-4958
Jonathan Albers and Julie Courtney, photo provided by Madison Design.
Photos provided by
The Point Arc
ADVOCACY
2025 Kentucky General Assembly BUSINESS ADVOCACY LEGISLATIVE OVERVIEW
NKY Chamber’s 2025 Legislative Priorities Overview
Driving Workforce Growth for a Thriving and Sustainable Region
The Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to fostering strong businesses and a thriving economy to enhance the region’s quality of life. The 2025 legislative agenda reflects these priorities, focusing on inclusive workforce talent attraction and retention strategies, tax reform, economic development, infrastructure, education, health care, and energy policy. Crafted by regional business leaders with input from members and policy councils, it is a strategic guide to achieving this mission.
DEVELOP A BOLD STRATEGY TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN IN-DEMAND WORKFORCE
Develop a comprehensive state marketing plan focused on attracting and retaining skilled talent that aligns with Kentucky’s most in-demand positions, reversing population decline trends, and ensuring that Kentucky grows competitively. Enact legislation granting reciprocity to individuals with credentials and licenses earned in other states. Also, allow legal immigrants authorized to work in the United States to pursue professional and occupational licenses in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
ADVANCE CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE
A thriving economy demands forward-thinking investments in infrastructure, including income-aligned housing, energy, water, sewer, broadband, cybersecurity, roads, and all modes of transportation. We commend the General Assembly’s support of the Brent Spence Bridge project and strongly advocate for full funding of KY 536 and other key road projects. With the rise of electric vehicles and evolving federal regulations, it’s critical that Kentucky embraces innovative strategies to build infrastructure that meets future needs.
CONTINUE BUILDING A COMPETITIVE AND SIMPLIFIED TAX CODE
Continue the gradual shift from income-based to consumption-based taxes while guarding against taxes levied on business-to-business services that would add another layer of costs to job creation. Support simplified pro-growth tax policies that improve the competitiveness of Kentucky businesses in the national and international markets.
STRENGTHEN WORKFORCE RESOURCES
Support efforts to create a stronger alignment of workforce programs and resources throughout Kentucky, provide
greater flexibility in regional workforce programming and funding, and recognize each region’s unique challenges. Maximize utilization of transitional benefit programs to address the benefits cliff that can be a barrier for low-income families and consider additional resources for job seekers faced with barriers to employment, including language education services and workforce support for individuals with histories involving the justice system and substance use challenges.
INVEST IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
Continue building a more reliable infrastructure for childcare that improves access, affordability, and quality. We need a system that enables parents to work, children to thrive, and our local economies to grow. Investments in early childhood education will improve workforce outcomes for the entire Commonwealth in the short and long term.
EXPAND CAREER READINESS
Continue to support Kentucky’s K-12 and post-secondary education ecosystems, which are needed to deliver quality results for students and employers. Continue encouraging student experiential learning and work-based training programs while reducing barriers to meaningful opportunities. A focus should be placed on high-demand workforce sectors and postsecondary education paths.
PROMOTE BETTER HEALTH OUTCOMES
Policies and practices that lead to reduced smoking rates will lower collective healthcare costs, improve workforce productivity in both the public and private sectors, and enhance statewide workforce outcomes. Address the growing mental health care provider shortage by supporting the creation of new residency, apprenticeship, and on-the-job training programs.
Young women at Northern Kentucky manufacturing companies working toward careers on their own terms
ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF Manufacturers, women make up only 29 percent of the manufacturing workforce in the United States, but that’s not stopping young women from pursuing careers in this field in Northern Kentucky.
Three of these young women, all just in their 20s, are flourishing in their roles at Cincinnati region manufacturing companies including Safran Landing Systems Kentucky, Mazak, and Tri-State Plastics.
Vitoria Rezende, Adisyn Donk, and Hayleigh Harden are paving the way for the next generation of female manufacturers and engineers, but each is taking her own path, showing there are multiple ways to work toward a career in this field.
“It’s beautiful to see women taking space in the field while being conscious of the gender disparity and actively working to support younger generations.”
VITORIA REZENDE
In 2022, Vitoria Rezende traveled more than 4,000 miles from her home in Brasília, Brazil, to attend the University of Cincinnati for aerospace engineering.
Now a third-year student at UC, Rezende is in her second co-op with Safran Landing Systems Kentucky and helping lead a global ergonomic project focused on efficiency and aiming to steadily improve the daily life of the workers from a health, safety, and environment point of view.
Rezende has always had a passion for airplanes, rockets, and studying the universe, and her STEM-focused career path started to develop in high school, where she excelled in math and physics. She was drawn to UC because of the school’s coop program, which was ranked #5 in the nation in 2024 by U.S. News and World Report.
Rezende is supported by family, friends, mentors, and teachers, and hopes she can inspire women, and others in minority groups, to pursue what they are passionate about.
“I am definitely inspired by all the women I see in the office, or professors in the field,” said Rezende. “Seeing more women in the field is so important for the next generations.”
She especially looks up to Amanda Nguyen, an advocate for survivors of sexual assault and rape who will become the first Vietnamese woman to go to space when she flies on an upcoming Blue Origin launch on the New Shepard Rocket.
“It’s beautiful to see women taking space in the field while being conscious of the gender disparity and actively working to support younger generations,” said Rezende. “You feel seen when such important people finally talk about it, and still make it to the top nonetheless.”
WOMEN IN MANUFACTURING
By Sydney Murray, BE NKY Growth Partnership Communications Specialist
“Going into the trades can lead to so many opportunities for young adults.”
ADISYN DONK
“There is always something to learn and no room for boredom. I realized I loved it, and they realized I would work hard and put real effort into it.”
HAYLEIGH HARDEN
Twenty-one-year-old Adisyn Donk is a manufacturing engineer co-op at Mazak, working with her colleagues to solve issues relating to Mazak’s floor operations. Despite her young age, she is already advocating for careers in the trades, especially through her community service initiative platform while competing for Miss Kentucky.
She participated in her second pageant in 2024 with the platform “Who is Made for the Trades? Any Face from Any Place.” It focused on the benefits of attending community college and not overlooking the trades, because this path can help young women find the right career or lead to further education at another university.
“I truly realized how much of an impact I could have on other girls by talking about my career and pathway in manufacturing,” said Donk. “Going into the trades can lead to so many opportunities for young adults.”
Donk attended Gateway Community and Technical College where she earned associate degrees in welding technology, science and business. She is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in mechanical and manufacturing engineering technology at Northern Kentucky University and hopes to work full time in Mazak’s engineering department after graduation.
“If I wouldn’t have gone to school for welding, I wouldn’t have discovered Mazak or the job I love,” said Donk. “Going to community college should not be embarrassing. And from there, you can find what you are really passionate about.”
Hayleigh Harden, 27, started working at Tri-State Plastics, a woman-owned manufacturing company in Covington, in 2021 with no prior manufacturing experience. Now, she performs nearly every aspect of the job, even creating “how-to” guides for operating machinery.
To get to where she is now, Harden has put in a lot of effort outside normal business hours, taking machine manuals home with her to study at night. She has so many notebooks full of information at home, she said she needs to create a filing system for all of them.
“I like to learn and that’s why I love it here,” said Harden. “There is always something to learn and no room for boredom. I realized I loved it, and they realized I would work hard and put real effort into it.”
Harden encourages everyone, especially young girls, to consider manufacturing, and she is currently working toward her associate’s degree in mechanical engineering at Cincinnati State.
“I’ve come really far in three years and I’m excited to start learning more of the technical background of this work, beyond just the experience,” said Harden. “I think it will make me more comfortable and confident.”
Into the future, it will be important for companies and education institutions to prepare younger generations with the manufacturing skills they need to replace retiring workers from the baby boomer generation.
In September 2024, there were 481,000 manufacturing job openings in the United States, according to the National Association of Manufacturers. To fill these openings, companies will need to continue to recruit new workers, including young women.
“Over the past 30 years, it has been inspiring to see more women employed at manufacturing companies, including my own daughter,” said Tri-State Plastics President Lisa Schneider. “I hope schools will continue encouraging young women to seek careers in this field.”
NaviGo College & Career Prep Services is one local organization working diligently with businesses and schools to expose students to different industry sectors, and careers within these sectors, so students can make more informed decisions after high school and businesses can develop robust talent pipelines within the schools.
For more information on connecting with local businesses or schools, contact Lorraine O’Moore, NaviGo/ Learning Grove NKY College & Career Connector, at lomoore@learning-grove.org or 513-399-1967. NKY
Tools of the Trade
NKY Chamber membership benefits that can help you achieve your business goals
As an NKY Chamber member, you gain exclusive access to a robust network of resources designed to help grow and support your workforce, strengthen your company, and drive your success.
SAVINGS, SUPPLIES AND MORE
HEALTH INSURANCE – The NKY Chamber has teamed up with Anthem to offer ChamberAdvantage, a health coverage solution that gives small businesses an easy, affordable way to offer health benefits to employees. This is in addition to the NKY Chamber’s partnership with Humana for its Humana Group Benefit Solutions which include dental, vision, life, and disability offerings.
OFFICE SUPPLIES – The NKY Chamber offers several perks in the form of discounted office supplies. ODP Business Solutions offers members up to 55% off their most purchased office supplies both in-store and online with no contract. VIE Ability, which was launched by the Cincinnati Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired, has 60,000+ office products and supports people who are blind or have severe vision loss.
BANKING – The NKY Chamber’s partnership with PNC Merchant Services provides several benefits to members including referral bonuses, no early termination fees, next-day funding of card payment processing transactions and more.
MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS – NKY Chamber members can receive discounts on advertising courtesy of Adsposure and Everything Cincy, both of whom can help you save on social media, ad packages and more.
IT SOLUTIONS – The Circuit’s CIO Circle is a problem solving, information sharing, technology-based peer group allowing IT leaders to collaborate. NKY Chamber members enjoy a $200 discount for the program.
HR SERVICES – In need of human resource help? NKY Chamber members can save on a variety of HR services through partnerships with ClearPath Mutual and MPI Management Consulting.
MEMBER DIRECTORY – Leverage the NKY Chamber’s online Member Directory to connect with fellow NKY Chamber members, build valuable business relationships, and keep your dollars within the community.
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND PERFORMANCE
BUSINESS REFERRAL NETWORKS – The NKY Chamber’s Business Referral Networks (BRN) can connect you to teams of 15 to 30 people to help you learn how other members can help you grow your business.
ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE – Rali Solutions helps companies foster successful outcomes by uniting technology, behavioral science and change management best practices via its Change Experience Platform to help drive behavior change.
THE VOICE OF BUSINESS IN NKY – The NKY Chamber advocates on members’ behalf on key legislative and regulatory issues in Northern Kentucky, Frankfort and Washington D.C.
HR 100 – HR professionals and small business owners can utilize timely programs centered on talent recruitment and retention issues while also often earning SHRM-credits in the process.
HR TRIFECTA – Hosted in partnership with NKY SHRM, the HR Trifecta brings HR leaders together to discuss three unique aspects of the workforce pertinent to industry professionals.
WORKFORCE BEST PRACTICES SYMPOSIUM – This event brings regional experts together for discussions and breakout sessions highlighting strategies employers can use to attract/ retain talent and promote workforce development.
INCLUSIVE IMPACT BREAKFAST – This morning event features discussions around the critical role inclusion plays in attracting talent, driving investment, and ensuring our region remains competitive in the global economy
TALENT STRATEGIES SPOTLIGHT – This regular feature of the NKY Chamber Spotlight podcast features employers and workforce practitioners discussing tactics, resources and more centered on talent attraction, retention and inclusive business strategies.
INCLUSIVE BUSINESS STRATEGIES SERIES – This workforce programming series empowers businesses with actionable strategies to overcome employment barriers, enhance talent attraction and retention, and unlock the benefits of cultivating an inclusive workplace.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
WOMEN’S INITIATIVE REGIONAL SUMMIT – Powered by PNC, this daylong learning event for women of all career stages features speakers who present inspirational content for professional women.
LEADERSHIP NORTHERN KENTUCKY – Powered by Citi, this popular program uses the community as a classroom to develop leaders that will serve the region.
ENCOUNTER NKY – Powered by Citi, Encounter NKY is a talent retention program designed to help young professionals (YPs) and those newer to the region with career advancement while also developing a deeper connection to Northern Kentucky.
NORTHERN KENTUCKY YOUNG PROFESSIONALS (NKYP) –NKYP connects YPs with peers by expanding their networks, programming and engagement while impacting their community through diversity and inclusion.
NKYP EVENT PASS – The NKYP Event Pass provides employees admission to nearly every event hosted by the NKY Chamber and helps them engage with the community, network with others, and take advantage of professional development opportunities.
WOMEN’S INITIATIVE MENTOR/MENTEE PROGRAM – Designed to help female leaders in your organization, this program pairs like-minded individuals for a one-on-one growth period over one years’ time.
These are just some of the resources and benefits that come with being an NKY Chamber member. To learn more, contact Lynn Abeln, Vice President of Membership at labeln@nkychamber.com or call (859) 578-6390. You can also find information on all the programs and benefits included in this article at www.nkychamber.com.
THREE'S COMPANY
Klosterman Baking Company, National Band and Tag and Haven Lighting continue to make their legacy in Northern Kentucky
By
Tabari McCoy, Scooter Media
Photo provided by Klosterman Baking Company NORTHERN
2100 Litton Lane
Hebron, KY 41048 (877) 301-1004 www.klostermanbakery.com
The act of manufacturing is often associated with products made of metal and steel. However, the rich landscape of companies making products in Northern Kentucky demonstrates our region’s capabilities extend far beyond these materials. When it comes to making things, Northern Kentucky excels at bringing products for health, wealth and general everyday activities to life.
Here’s a look at three companies keeping the spirit of making things alive in Northern Kentucky.
KLOSTERMAN BAKING COMPANY IS ONE OF GREATER Cincinnati’s most iconic brands, having been a part of the region since 1892. While you’ve likely picked up one of their tasty loaves at the grocery store or enjoyed their buns on a burger at your favorite local restaurant, you may not know that Klosterman got its start right here in Northern Kentucky.
Now, more than 130 years later, Klosterman is continuing its rise to success in its 200,000-square-foot flagship bakery in Hebron, which also serves as the company’s corporate headquarters. Though much has changed at Klosterman throughout the generations, its deep roots in our region have remained one of the key ingredients in the company’s continued prosperity.
“DOUGH”-ING DOWN IN HISTORY
Originally known as French Baking when it was founded in Covington by Frank Klosterman and Charlie Thiewald in 1892, Klosterman has since become one of the largest bakeries in the Midwest. Four generations of the Klosterman family owned the company before stepping away from the business in 2022, when the company was acquired by New Water Capital, a private equity firm based in Boca Raton, Florida.
Shortly thereafter, the company named Dale Easdon, an industry veteran with more than 35 years of experience in global business transformation, as its new CEO. While it was certainly a transition for Easdon, who is originally from Scotland, he has come to discover what makes our region such a special place in the last two years he’s served in the role.
“When it comes to the Midwest and our region specifically, I love the values and strong work ethic of the people who live here,” says Easdon. “I’ve worked in large roles all over the world—Brazil, Brussels, Germany, and Hong Kong—and I can safely say this is the
most enjoyable job I’ve had in my career because of the incredible people that surround me.”
A CRUST ABOVE THE REST
In addition to the company’s people power, Easdon credits Klosterman’s continued success to another crucial ingredient: a commitment to quality and passion for delivering best-in-class customer service.
As part of that commitment to quality, New Water Capital has continued investing in Klosterman’s bakeries so that the company can continue raising the bar in fresh and exciting new ways. The flagship bakery in Hebron, for example, is a state-of-the-art facility that was specifically designed with “The Klosterman Way”—bake it safe, make it better, and serve it proudly together—in mind.
“As far as the baking world goes, the fundamentals don’t change much but the technology absolutely does,” says Easdon. “These investments help to make sure Klosterman is leading the way, and we’re very proud of that.”
RISING TO THE OCCASION
The same commitment to excellence is also reflected in Klosterman’s leadership team, which currently has 56 leaders certified in Lean Six Sigma best practices, including 19 who have obtained the prestigious black belt status.
With so many leaders working together to drive operational excellence, Easdon is confident that Klosterman’s success will continue rising, just like the products its customers have been enjoying for more than 130 years.
“We’re growing with great associates, great customers and a great product,” remarks Easdon. “All of that together really is a recipe for success for us.”
NATIONAL BAND & TAG
721 York St.
Newport, KY 41071
(859) 261-2035
www.nationalband.com
HISTORICALLY SPEAKING, 1902 WAS A YEAR OF MANY firsts. The Texas Oil Company a.k.a. Texaco was formed, a new musical, “The Wizard of Oz,” premiered in Chicago and the first college football bowl game, the Rose Bowl, was played. In Northern Kentucky, it was the year that a small metal stamping firm first opened its doors en route to becoming one of the most prominent makers of identification tags today.
Now, as the company continues to grow and focus on the future, Newport’s National Band & Tag Company is happy to show why it deserves all the recognition it gets.
TAG, YOU’RE IT
“We would experiment, work with customers and develop a product that was a success for them. It’s evolved over the years to the point where we now have dozens of different vertical markets of specific use for the different products,” says Kevin Haas, President of National Band & Tag, about the company’s evolution
from its origins to present day. “What we've specialized in over the years is finding very, very specific applications for the tags and marketing to that niche.”
As Haas explains, National Band & Tag is well-known for its various tags of all shapes and sizes, serving numerous functions. This includes everything from helping keep track of and identify livestock on farms to wildlife conservation, vaccination tags, pet IDs and plant labels. The company employs approximately 50 people making bands and tags for different usage opportunities. One product the company is famous for are glasses for chickens that prevent the birds from cannibalizing each other as they might do when provoked by seeing blood.
National Band & Tag’s expertise isn’t limited to just animals. The company also makes identification tags for hospital and military usage among other functions. In addition, its laser etching and barcode capabilities can be applied to numerous products as well as special occasion and promotional items like bookmarks, keychains and even golf divot tools.
QUALITY CONTROL
Founded by Haas’s great grandfather Joseph – who his family believes did so while working in his kitchen – National Band & Tag is now in its fifth generation of leadership. Haas credits evolving technology and creativity as the two factors that serve as the secret to the company’s longevity, detailing advancements in both helping produce efficiency for customers and ways to inventory scores of animals and more.
“We are an identification company. When you go beep with a barcode scanner, you're capturing an ID, right? I don't know how you can exist as a grocery store without a barcode reader today. That whole process of evolving and developing, continuing to develop the electronic interface for a stamped metal tag is what we've done, and we've done very well,” Haas says. “Five years from now, it may be that you don't need barcodes at all. You may be able to read everything on that tag with your phone or something similar. There's always going to be a need for identification, but it changes; we have to change and adapt along that journey.”
Mandy Haas Greene, the company’s human resources director, says that consistency continues to pay off today.
“From the get-go, it was consistent quality. Every time you ordered, you knew you were going to get something that was the exact same as last time or better if we had made improvements. It was also our internal ingenuity,” she says. “If a customer calls and wants to use a tag for this or wants a tag for that, we don't say ‘no;’ we figure out how to make it for them. That keeps them coming back and gets us into new verticals.”
Haas, who says the company’s success can be traced back to the work ethic and dedication passed down from one generation to the next, agrees. Says Haas, “The passion and the grit, the excitement of carrying on that legacy is very important to us and our success ... It's just in our DNA.”
HOMEWARD BOUND
Constantly looking toward the company’s future, Haas says they have been following the Kentucky Generate Advanced Manufacturing Excellence for Change (GAME Change) initiative. He is excited at the prospect of getting involved with GAME Change, noting that the company is interested in helping manufacturing advance in the Commonwealth. Doing so, he says, could help “maintain our stature for another 100 years,” especially in the face of economic competitors on a global stage.
While jokingly pointing to “dumb luck” as to why his German ancestors settled in Northern Kentucky, Haas says the roots the company has grown here are why it has never thought of leaving the region. Family bonds are strong at National Band & Tag, and Haas shudders to think about the process of uprooting 50 families – “it’s not just us” – coupled with the potential to “lose control of everything” trying to relocate somewhere else.
But since home is truly where so many of the company’s employees’ hearts are, National Band & Tag has identified Northern Kentucky as where it wants to be for the foreseeable future.
“Our company is made up of mothers and daughters, fathers, grandfathers – we have people who retired with 40 to 50 years’ experience. Once they come in and they really enjoy the work, it is very fulfilling to be able to make something with your hands and really feel like you've contributed to that specific industry,” he says. “People can take advantage of that product, and they can grow as an industry as well. It's very rewarding to know our efforts are helping a lot of people be successful in their endeavors.
Photo by Ben Gastright.
Photo provided by National Band & Tag Company
2691 Circleport Drive, Suite A Erlanger, KY 41018
(513) 655-2468
www.havenlighting.com
ASK CHRIS MCCOY HIS FAVORITE THING ABOUT HIS JOB, and he’ll light up just like his products.
“We create really cool backyards,” says McCoy, owner of Haven Lighting, the Erlanger-based company specializing in all things illumination. “We light up buildings in places like downtown Cincinnati, as well as some resorts in Florida and boardwalks in California. We get to create places that people hang out with friends and family – it doesn't get any better than that.”
Lighting – be it smart/AI-enhanced color, white or even commercial outdoor – is the service du jour of Haven, the company McCoy founded in 2016. The business is not the first for McCoy, who was running two other companies – one manufacturing scales for conveyor belts and the other selling LED strips for motorcycles – at the time of Haven’s launch.
A LIGHT SO BRIGHT
Following the purchase of a new home, McCoy says he was in the process of changing the property’s aesthetics when he decided he wanted to replace the previously installed exterior lighting. That led to him realizing he no longer wanted to deal with lights during the holidays, eventually turning to Google only to discover he couldn’t find a product that would suit his needs. Combining technologies from his motorcycle and his scale business, McCoy was able to join them together to create Haven Lighting. Once a competitor unexpectedly called to buy him out of his other businesses, McCoy decided to focus on Haven exclusively.
Today, the company offers a variety of lighting types for both residential and commercial properties, using technology to create an interchanging scheme of colors that can appear as solid bars or with a variety of motion effects. Haven’s lighting isn’t limited to external façades, however. The company’s color LED accent lighting can be featured in schools and athletic facilities, string lights, signage, steps, landscaping and more. Additionally, many of Haven’s lights – all of which are made in-house – can be managed by tweaking smart/AI technologies to suit the user’s preferences. That is why Haven counts not only M&P Logistics and Richter and
Phillips in downtown Cincinnati as clients, but also Walt Disney World’s Swan and Dolphin resorts as well.
McCoy says the company’s success is a matter of tackling the challenges of the day head on while looking for new technologies that will allow for a better user experience. In doing so, it’s helped the company make the aforementioned connections with companies like Disney that have helped Haven Lighting expand rapidly.
His experience with Google, however, taught him a “great business lesson” that he still utilizes today.
“When I first started the company and Googled ‘colored landscape lighting,’ I thought that if Google didn't know it existed, then it didn't,” he says. “The reason I couldn't find it was because of the way those companies went to market: They sold to manufacturer reps, who then sold to distributors, who sold to lighting installers, who sold to the consumer,” he says. “There were so many hands in the cookie jar along the way; nobody really had a vested interest to tell the world that they had a product, except for the chain of people that were selling it.”
That led to McCoy launching a business model selling Haven’s products directly to consumers and businesses, that can be selfinstalled or by his company. McCoy says this approach has helped tell his company’s story and spread awareness of their existence. “Disney literally found us on Google and called,” McCoy recalls. “The guy had already made the decision to buy our lights. It was fantastic.”
Equally fantastic, he says, is Northern Kentucky, which is why he has no plans of leaving the region anytime soon.
“It's a great place for our business. We are literally a stone's throw from the airport. We have installers from around the country that come in for events that we put on and new product launches and trainings, etc.,” he says. “Many love the fact that they can come and get some bourbon while they're here. They really enjoy that, and we get to give them a little Northern Kentucky culture, which is fun – they love it.”
Photos provided by Haven Lighting
SCHNEIDER’S SWEET SHOP
By Tabari McCoy, Scooter Media
Schneider’s Sweet Shop continues a legacy of candy, community in Bellevue
ASK KELLY SCHNEIDER MORGAN WHAT IS THE BEST thing about growing up in a candy shop and her response is simple: “It’s delicious.” But behind the smiles her family has put on countless faces is a labor of love, a fact exemplified in the detailed processes she and her husband, Tim, follow to make their products. That dedication to quality and consistency has become part of their brand, attracting multiple generations of candy and ice cream lovers to their storefront in Bellevue for 85 years and counting.
It's a sweet life, indeed – and the reason Schneider’s Sweet Shop is a Northern Kentucky institution enjoyed from near and far alike.
I WANT CANDY
Family owned and operated in the same storefront at 420 Fairfield Avenue since its founding in 1939, Schneider’s Sweet Shop is a picture-perfect slice of Americana in the heart of Bellevue’s business district. Schneider’s was founded by namesakes Robert and Lillian Schneider, who would work their candy business on the first floor while raising seven children on the second. Each of their children working for the business growing up, their youngest son Jack becoming the secondgeneration owner of the shop with his wife, Kathy, in 1986.
Kelly and her husband would become the third-generation owners in 2022, Jack continuing as the full-time candy maker with Tim and their nephew, Brady, learning the family secrets as well.
It is the opera cream – a decadent deluge of pure cream, milk and sugar covered in chocolate – that remains Schneider’s signature sweet. An item unique to the Greater Cincinnati/ Northern Kentucky area, Schneider’s continues to make its opera creams from the founders’ original recipe with no additives or flavoring. Kelly says the multiple generations of customers that have come to enjoy the treat have helped add to its legacy. “For a lot of our older customers, it tastes like childhood,” she says. “That flavor instantly brings back memories for them.”
Looking for something cooler and sweet? Schneider’s is also well known for its ice cream and ice balls, which consist of ice ground down fine enough to eat but not melt once flavor syrup is applied. Ice balls are available from Easter through the end of summer; some customers have been known to combine ice balls with ice cream for a super treat.
QUALITY CONTROL
Schneider’s treats are popular among its fan base; “there is a line out the door for a week” according to Tim when ice balls make their yearly debut. What many may not be as aware of, however, are the long hours that go into producing their signature sweets and ice cream. In addition to utilizing many of the original founders’ recipes, much of the equipment – from copper kettles to assembly lines used to make Schneider’s products – can be traced back to the 1930s and 1950s. That, he says, requires labor intensive work to not only make each product, but also properly maintain the machines as well.
While admitting there are elements of working in the corporate world that he misses, Tim says the satisfaction he gets from working at Schneider’s outweighs everything else.
Jackie Roberto, Jonathan Albers and Julie Courtney, photo provided by Madison Design.
“This is a very positive business. People come in, they're in a good mood because you're selling them something that they enjoy,” he says. “That was the biggest draw for me leaving the corporate world. This is a ton of work, don't get me wrong, but your customers are happy ... You make a great product, the transactions are simple and it's very personal.”
That personal connection isn’t limited to Schneider’s customers, either.
“Something that surprised me is how big of a deal it is to some of our younger employees to work at Schneider’s,” Tim says, reflecting on younger employees who, while in grade school, told their families they wanted to work at Schneider’s one day. “It’s nice to think we could impact their lives in a way that when they go off to do great things, they might say, ‘Man, Schneider’s was a huge part of getting me to where I am.’”
COMMUNITY CONNECTION
The impact of that personal touch was on full display this past September when Schneider’s hosted its 85th anniversary block party. The event featured live music, door prizes, children’s activities and support from several fellow Bellevue businesses including Barleycorn’s Brewhouse, Fessler’s Pizza and Gold Star Chili. Schneider’s partnered with the City of Bellevue for the event, an estimated 1,000-1,300 people attending the affair which also served as a fundraiser for The Boys and Girls Club of Cincinnati.
As long as people continue loving her family’s recipes, Kelly – who also enjoys having their five year-old son spend time with them in the shop – looks forward to people visiting Schneider’s for generations to come.
“How amazing is it that we get to own and run a family business that is important to so many people, that people took time out of their day to come down and celebrate our anniversary with us?” she says. “We make people happy – that is the best. When you see people and they're like, ‘Oh my God, I love this. This is so good,’ It makes you feel good.” NKY
CANDYLAND
Schneider's Sweet Shop AT A GLANCE
420 Fairfield Avenue Bellevue, KY 41073 schneiderscandies.com
FOUNDED: 1939
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: 15
DID YOU KNOW:
Schneider’s has been featured on the popular YouTube channel “The Endless Adventure” (www.theendlessadventure.co) hosted by Eric and Allison Bieller, a couple who travel the world full-time. The couple’s “take-out only” food tour of the Greater Cincinnati/ Northern Kentucky region featuring Schneider’s has racked up 115,000+ views to date as of November 2024.
“We make people happy – that is the best."
Photos provided by Schneider's Sweet Shop
KENTUCKY BUSINESS
Augusta Distillery, Brianza Gardens & Winery continuing, adding to Northern Kentucky’s spirited bourbon, winemaking history
By Tabari McCoy , Scooter Media
OTHER THAN PERHAPS HORSE RACING, KENTUCKY IS LARGELY DEFINED TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD BY THREE Bs: basketball, bluegrass and barrels – primarily of the bourbon variety. Those are also applicable to Northern Kentucky, each one being a significant contributor to the economy through employment, tourism and cultural impact.
Among these, two relatively young businesses – Augusta Distillery and Brianza Gardens & Winery – find themselves thriving examples of how small businesses continue raising the spirits of the entire Northern Kentucky region.
RAISE A GLASS
Located in Verona, Brianza Gardens & Winery is the labor of love shared by Founder/Owner Tony Parnigoni and his wife, Deb. Brianza, named after the Italian province from which his father’s family hails, sits on land that has been farmed since the 1840s. The winery officially opened to the public in 2015 following two years of preparation, which included planting nearly 4,000 grapevines across four acres. Brianza now produces 13,500 cases of up to 20 wines at a given time. In addition to the Aromella, Vignoles, Noiret and Marquette grapes grown on site, Brianza also manages a two-acre Kentucky vineyard for Vidal Blanc and Chambourcin grape varieties, as well as those they source directly from California, Washington and New York.
This diversity explains why the Cru Club, Brianza’s 800+ member wine club, continues to grow as does attendance at its live music events, tastings and wine education classes. While Parnigoni is technically Brianza’s only full-time employee, he is quick to acknowledge the 25 part-time employees that help keep things running smoothly year-round.
In addition to its large winery, Brianza also houses a tasting room, banquet hall and expansive covered and open-air seating areas. That, however, does not account for the gardens located in the heart of the vineyard itself, nor the covered bridge that is a hallmark of the property. Those looking for an extended Brianza experience need not look far as it also is home to three vacation rental Airbnb properties.
Kentucky’s rich winemaking history – it was the largest grape growing and winemaking area prior to the Civil War – inspired Parnigoni’s journey to Crittenden.
Originally from the Atlanta suburb of Marietta, Georgia, he worked for Procter & Gamble, before leaving the company in 1987 to establish companies focused on in-store grocery promotions and retail merchandising. Those businesses would eventually grow to include five offices covering 18 states with 1,000+ employees, growth which would eventually lead a national food brokerage to make him a buyout offer he couldn’t refuse. Parnigoni would eventually sell his other business, but with young children at home, the winery opportunities he explored at that time in California and Oregon were unfeasible.
The next eight years would see him work in venture capital before landing at food service giant Aramark in 2007. Then, in 2010, he experienced a significant life event: his best friend’s passing due to cancer. Says Parnigoni, “I decided, 'I'm done. I'm tired of being in hotel rooms. I'm tired of being on airplanes.'”
Now, nearly a decade later, he has no regrets about his decision to turn what was once a hobby into his life.
“I always thought that I was going to be in the wine industry and own a winery. I just didn't know when it was going to happen,” says Parnigoni. “One, I love being outdoors. Two, I'm making wine, which is chemistry, but there's also an art to it which I enjoy.”
DOUBLE BARREL
Located barely over an hour east on the limestone banks of the Ohio River in the city from which it takes its name, Augusta Distillery was founded in 2018 by several friends,. Selling five bourbons along with a distillery exclusive River Proof offering, Augusta produces 14,000 barrels of bourbon annually, selling products in 25 states.
Much like Brianza, Augusta is a one-stop shop for enthusiasts making their way down Kentucky’s famed “B-line” bourbon trail. With offerings like farm-to-table dining at Beehive Augusta, and lodging at the Augusta Guest House, the distillery offers visitors a comprehensive experience. Augusta has invested $60 million (and counting) into operations, boosting the local economy. The company has grown significantly in relatively short fashion, employing approximately 34 people, up from just five in 2023.
Overseeing production is Alexandra “Alex” Castle, a Burlington native who joined the distillery in May 2024. Castle, Augusta’s Master Distiller and Director of Distillery Operations, believes in making bourbon in its purest form, with Augusta’s main mash consisting of 75% corn, 20% rye and 5% malted barley. The distillery utilizes 72-hour fermentation periods, which Castle says “ensures our yeast stays healthy” before its bourbon matures for several years in a traditional seven story rickhouse.
Castle’s arrival at Augusta, however, was far less regimented, occurring more so as a series of happy coincidences that reminds Ryan Edwards, one of Augusta’s co-founders and its president, of the phrase “I’d rather be lucky than good.” Edwards met Castle at the annual James B. Beam Institute Industry Conference and learned she might be looking for a new opportunity. “I made sure to position myself next to her at dinner,” he recalls. “We had a long conversation and the rest kind of just happened.”
Castle is proud of her role in the industry.
“I'm proud of the path I've taken because when I started out, there were no women in distilling, if there were, we weren't talking
Photo provided by Augusta Distillery
about it. It's been incredibly exciting to see how the industry has evolved and how it has embraced so many different changes since I got into it,” she says. “The industry has become very welcoming compared to what I saw 20 years ago.”
She enjoys a similar sentiment regarding Augusta, saying “The growth will not end. Hopefully what we are known for at the end of the day is making damn good bourbon – that's what we're doing.”
Edwards agrees.
“Ninety-five percent of the world's bourbon is made in Kentucky. There are not many products made anywhere in the world that command that kind of monopoly out of a small region,” he says. “I love the infrastructure here, the people in this space, the knowledge they have and how they work together. Pride is a great word to summarize how I feel to be part of a product so globally recognized.”
CHEERS TO YOU
Set to celebrate Brianza’s 10th anniversary this year, Parnigoni says he feels at home in Northern Kentucky, noting how he can combine his love of the outdoors and art at Brianza, passions reflected in the facility’s décor and lush, rolling landscapes. The biggest achievement he feels he and his wife have been able to reach, however, is creating “a place of community.”
“People come here, meet friends here and continue to come back. People have been married here and now their kids are working here in the summer part-time, running around on ATVs and trimming bushes. I’ve known some of them since they were five. It’s unbelievable that people come here, so we do our best to make it a good experience for everyone.”
The connections he personally has formed with people may
be the best indicator of how well that goal is being achieved.
“This place means something to people. We have people that when a loved one passes away away, I’ll get a phone call and someone will say, ‘This was his special place, Tony,’” Parnigoni says, pausing to collect his emotions. “They will host a celebration of life event here because they tell you, ‘That's what they would have wanted. They would have wanted to be here’ and it just breaks you (but in a good way).”
Parnigoni is looking forward to enjoying whatever the future brings alongside the love of his life.
“My wife and I started dating in 2000; I bought this land in 2010, and everything, including the house that we live in now, was well under construction. I was all in; this is where I was going to be, but she married into this,” he says. “She moved here from Dallas and still works a full-time job, but she's very active in this business. She’s an ambassador to our guests and as big a draw to this place as anything else ... She willingly got into this and didn't miss a step – how lucky is that?”
When asked what he wants Augusta’s legacy to be, Edwards points to the one thing that must apply to all products made in Kentucky: authenticity.
“We really just want to be known for being authentic and true to traditional Kentucky bourbon. We do it without pulling any punches and do it right. It's always ultra-aged single barrel cask strength unfiltered, which makes it almost a pure product highlighting what Kentucky bourbon is,” he says. “We are a Kentucky distillery making Kentucky bourbon. We have an obligation to do everything we can to ensure we make great bourbon. We aim to support our communities, our employees, to make a great product and to be a cool place to visit. If we do all that, we’ve added to the area, society and bourbon's legacy.”
BOTTOMS UP
Augusta
WHATS IN A NAME?:
The company takes its Buckner product line name from Revolutionary War Captain Philip Buckner (1747-1820). According to the City of Augusta’s official web site (www.augustaky. gov/history), Buckner deeded 600 acres of land awarded to him by the state of Virginia to establish the city on Oct. 7, 1797. The city is believed to be named in honor of his original home in Augusta County, Virginia.
Brianza Gardens & Winery 146511 Salem Creek Road Verona, KY 41030 www.brianzagardens.com
DOG-GONE GOOD?
Brianza Gardens & Winery may be known for vino, but the property is also home to Bourbon and Whiskey, a.k.a. the two Brittany pointer dogs owned by Brianza co-owners Tony and Deb Parnigoni.
Photos provided by Brianza Gardens & Winery
The 7th Annual
Workforce Best Practices Symposium
ADAPTING & THRIVING ADAPTING & THRIVING ADAPTING & THRIVING
Wednesday, March 12 | 8:00 AM - 12:30 PM | Kenton County Public Library, Erlanger
ROUNDTABLE TOPICS AND FACILITATORS INCLUDE:
AI Tips & Tricks
Stacy Jordan, Fifth Third Bank
Building Frontline Success: Empowering Supervisors to Align With Company Goals and Drive Daily Impact
Jesse Megenhardt, Holcim
Building Meaningful Employment Environments
Ben Green, Trailpath Workforce Solutions
Boosting Team Morale Using The 5 Languages of Appreciation
Antoine Smith-Rouse, Gateway Community & Technical College
Delegation - The Key to Developing Your Talent Pool
Tim Kiley, Dale Carnegie
Mediation: A Better Way to Resolve Disputes
Lou Manchise, NKU
Mental Health in the Workplace
Megan Switala, Tier One Performance Solutions
Overcoming Current Recruitment Challenges
Kim Dube, Reflex: Recruiting Flexibility
Tackling What Keeps You Up At Night
Vicki Crawford, Hanna Resource Group
Thriving With People Analytics
Kristie Dierig, Ever Spark LLC
Using Data to Make the HR Case
Ashby Drummond, BE NKY
Working on Workforce R3: Readiness, Recruitment, Retention
Dr. Kathy Burkhardt, Learning Grove-NaviGo
At Central Bank, we live, work and
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.
AROUND THE CHAMBER
WOMEN'S INITIATIVE 2024 REGIONAL SUMMIT, POWERED BY PNC NORTHERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY, HIGHLAND HEIGHTS
AROUND THE CHAMBER
EGGS 'N ISSUES: TRANSPORTATION | RECEPTIONS, ERLANGER
EGGS 'N ISSUES: REGIONAL ECONOMIC OUTLOOK | RECEPTIONS, ERLANGER
2025 LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND BUSINESS ADVOCACY PREVIEW WITH SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE DAVID W. OSBORNE AND MAJORITY CAUCUS CHAIR SENATOR JULIE RAQUE ADAMS | TRIPLE CROWN COUNTRY CLUB, UNION
NKY COMMUNITY AWARD - NATALIE RUPPERT, KENTON COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
BUSINESS AFTER HOURS | BARLEYCORNS BREWHOUSE, WILDER
WOMEN'S INITIATIVE CONNECT HOUR | HOFBRAUHAUS, NEWPORT
NKY CHAMBER FRIENDSGIVING | RISING STAR CASINO & RESORT
AROUND THE CHAMBER
NKYP HOLIDAY GIVEBACK AND HAPPY HOUR | BE CONCERNED, COVINGTON
HR TRIFECTA STRATEGIC LEADERS CONFERENCE | KENTON COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY, ERLANGER
INCLUSIVE BUSINESS STRATEGIES: CREATIVE AND INCLUSIVE WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS | KENTON COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY, ERLANGER
At Civista Bank, we know that to stay ahead, you have to think ahead. Which is why our team takes a proactive approach to banking. We’re prompt. We’re timely. And we’re creative. So that we can anticipate your needs and tailor solutions to help you achieve your unique financial goals. For business and personal solutions you can count on, put our team to work for yours.
Learn more at civista.bank
Housing is a regional priority
Learn more about income-aligned housing, the region’s housing needs, and why it is essential to ensure Northern Kentucky continues to be a great place to live, work, play, learn, and give back at bit.ly/NKYHousingStudy.
PROUD TO SERVE KENTUCKY'S MANUFACTURERS & MAKERS
We provide customer-focused solutions to address your most complex challenges, ensuring outcomes that are safe, intelligent, and profitable. With strategically located branches, we are committed to delivering the same dedication, commitment, and innovation our customers have come to know and trust for over a century.
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NKYP EVENT PASS
The NKY Chamber, particularly the NKYP program, has been a huge part of my career growth. My involvement has given me access to new relationships, business partners, leadership opportunities, and lasting friendships. I’ve learned when you surround yourself with other young professionals who are dedicated to furthering the Northern Kentucky region, you are able to move mountains.
I’m also a huge fan of the NKYP Event Pass which has allowed me to make one annual investment to expand my network and take full advantage of everything the NKY Chamber offers.
- Hank Heidrich, Financial Advisor, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management
For the eighth consecutive year, Scooter Media Co. has earned an Agency of the Year distinction from the local chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. Scooter Media was named Large PR Agency of the Year at the 2024 Blacksmith Awards, presented by Cincinnati PRSA, marking the eighth consecutive time they’ve received an agency of the year distinction, and the third year in a row they have been recognized in the large agency category.
Based in Covington, Scooter Media is a boutique PR agency specializing in public relations, social media, graphic design and digital communications.
In addition to this agency accolade, Scooter Media’s client work received several awards including three Blacksmith Awards — the highest achievement possible, recognizing the best PR campaigns and tactics in the region. Scooter Media earned Blacksmith Awards for Media Relations, TikTok, and podcasting work.
The agency also announced the promotion of Lauren Vogel, APR, to vice president of client services. Serving as the agency’s public relations director since 2021, Vogel’s advancement recognizes her deep impact on the agency and her dedication to Scooter Media’s mission and values. In her new role, Vogel will oversee key client relationships while leading team growth, agency innovation, and supporting business development initiatives. Her expanded responsibilities include championing professional development within the team, fostering a collaborative and high-performance agency culture, and contributing to the agency’s long-term strategic direction.
To learn more about Scooter Media, visit www.scootermediaco.com.
Peoples Exchange Bank has announced that Gina Dover has joined the bank’s Northern Kentucky branch as a Commercial Portfolio Manager.
With almost twenty years of experience in the banking industry, Dover has held positions as an assistant manager, consumer banker and relationship banker, among others. A graduate of Beckfield College with an associate’s degree in Business Administration, Dover’s education also includes accounting courses at the University of Cincinnati.
Throughout her career in retail banking, Dover said her greatest satisfaction came from building true, family-like relationships with clients, as well as serving as a listening ear when they needed one.
“Being with the same company for 19 years, I witnessed and was part of many life events with my clients,” Dover said. “I plan to do the same with Peoples Exchange. I want to be a familiar face to clients and build that relationship and trust.”
A Boone County native, Dover resides in Burlington where her husband, Brett, is a lieutenant with the sheriff’s office, and her children, Jeremiah, 14, and Ava, 11, are active in high-school sports and competitive dance. The family enjoys church activities as well as appreciates the close-knit Burlington community, particularly important for a law-enforcement family, she says. She is a member of Camp Ernst Middle School’s Youth Service Center Advisory Council and serves as the fundraiser coordinator for Ava’s dance team.
“I am so pleased to welcome Gina to Peoples Exchange Bank,” said Art Hammond, Market President of Northern Kentucky. “The high priority she places on the needs of her clients makes her perfect for her new position with us.”
Manny Addo, owner of Natural Shea Care and its True Shea product line, recently added to his accolades as a double winner at the Ohio Minority Supplier Development Council (OMSDC) Annual Awards Gala.
The event, held Friday, Nov. 22, at the Savannah Center in West Chester, celebrated the outstanding achievements of minority business enterprises (MBEs) and corporations advancing supplier diversity and beyond. Addo received honors in two categories, receiving both an Emerging Business Award and Class 1 award.
The OMSDC is one of 23 affiliates of the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), a nonprofit corporate membership organization founded in 1972 that advances procurement and business opportunities for minority businesses. According to the OMSDC’s website, its corporate members spend some $7 million+ annually with certified MBEs.
Addo’s recent accolades were not his only honors. Hamilton County Board of Commissioner Denise Driehaus declared Oct. 30, 2024, as Manny Addo Day in the City of Cincinnati, an honor that included a proclamation from Ohio Governor Mike DeWine.
To learn more about Addo, the True Shea brand and his journey from his native Africa into more than 1,500 Kroger stores, visit his website at www.mannyaddo.com.
MANNY ADDO
The DCCH Center for Children and Families in Ft. Mitchell celebrated a significant milestone in late 2024, finalizing its 175th adoption. This heartfelt moment featured Joseph, a 13-year-old who started his journey as a resident in DCCH's on-site care, being adopted by Brian Menendez, a 40-year-old single man driven by faith and a calling to help children in need.
Brian’s journey began after moving to Northern Kentucky. A search led him to DCCH, where he initially applied to be a mentor. In March 2022, Brian was matched with the then 10-year-old Joseph. Their bond grew over shared activities like building Lego sets, attending church, and enjoying outings together.
Over time, Brian realized he could offer Joseph more than mentorship and decided to pursue adoption. In 2023, he began foster and adoptive training through DCCH, and by February 2024, Joseph moved into Brian’s home full-time.
A supportive church community and DCCH staff played a vital role in this journey, offering resources and encouragement. Many in the community attended the adoption hearing, a testament to the shared joy in seeing Joseph find his forever family.
The DCCH Center, which began in 1848 as St. John Orphanage, has evolved to focus on helping children heal from abuse and neglect. Celebrating its 175th anniversary alongside Joseph’s adoption underscores its enduring mission: creating brighter futures for children in need. Learn more at www.dcchcenter.org.
Business Impact
EVENT CALENDAR
JANUARY
1/9 NKYP Lunch ‘N Learn: Prysmian COO Paul Furtado | Prysmian, Highland Heights | 11 AM - 1:30 PM
1/9 Business After Hours | Off Par Golf & Social | 4:30 - 6:30 PM
1/14 Government Forum: Federal Leadership Reset | The Radisson, Covington | 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
1/16 Florence Business Council | TBD | 11:15 AM - 1:00 PM
1/21 WI Coffee Connect | NKY Chamber, Ft. Mitchell | 8:00 - 10:00 AM
1/23 Reinventing Your Talent Pipeline | St. Elizabeth Training & Education Center, Erlanger | 8:00 - 10:30 AM
1/23 Fort Thomas Business Council | TBD | 11:15 AM - 1:00 PM
1/28 Eggs ‘N Issues: State of NKY | Receptions, Erlanger | 7:30 - 9:00 AM
1/28 Newport Business Council: What’s New in Newport | The Prestant, Newport | 4:00 - 6:00 PM
FEBRUARY
2/5 Getting the Most of Your Chamber Membership | NKY Chamber, Ft. Mitchell | 9:00 - 10:00 AM
2/7 Inclusive Impact Breakfast | St. Elizabeth Training and Education Center, Erlanger | 7:30 - 10:30 AM
2/12 HR 100: Trends in Training | NKY Chamber, Ft. Mitchell | 8:00 - 9:30 AM
2/13 NKYP Cocktails and Conversations | TBD | 4:30 - 6:00 PM
2/13 LNK Day In Frankfort | 6:30 AM - 7:00 PM (Class only)
2/18 Eggs ‘N Issues: TBD | Receptions, Erlanger | 7:30 - 9:00 AM
2/19 Day in Frankfort | KY State Capital, Frankfort | 7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
2/20 Florence Business Council | TBD | 11:15 AM - 1:00 PM
2/24 WI Connect Hour | TBD | 4:00 - 6:00 PM
2/25 Newport Business Council: Business Social | TBD | 4:30 - 6:30 PM
2/27 Fort Thomas Business Council: State of the City | TBD | 11:15 AM - 1:00 PM
MARCH
3/4 WI Annual Breakfast | Turfway Park Racing & Gaming, Florence | 7:30 - 10:30 AM
3/12 Workforce Best Practices Symposium| Kenton Co. Public Library, Erlanger | 8:00 AM - 12:30 PM
3/13 NKYP Lunch Time Leader Chat | TBD | 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
3/13 Business After Hours | TBD | 4:30 - 6:30 PM
3/18 Eggs ‘N Issues: Fireside Chat with NKU President | Receptions, Erlanger | 7:30 - 9:00 AM
3/20 Florence Business Council | TBD | 11:15 AM - 1:00 PM
3/25 Newport Business Council | TBD | 11:15 AM - 1:00 PM
3/27 Fort Thomas Business Council: Business Social | TBD | 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
Lindsey Vanderkolk | lindsey@scootermediaco.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
SEHADA_Print_HVI_Suresh_7.75x8.25V2.pdf 1 12/4/24 4:22 PM
