Quarterly Business Magazine

business OWENSBORO

GREATER

FIRST QUARTER 2014

PRST STD. U.S. POSTAGE PAID OWENSBORO, KY PERMIT #412

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IN THIS ISSUE from the chamber

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usiness is on the move in Owensboro!

We are excited to kick off another year in partnership with the Messenger-Inquirer in publishing this quarterly business magazine. With their help, we hope to tell the stories of our great business members of the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce. The goal of any business is to tell its stor y, tell it well, and tell it often, and this magazine Amy Jackson President continues to be a great way to profile the Greater Owensboro best in the business!

Chamber of Commerce The Chamber starts its 2014 year 900 members strong, and with a renewed focus on priorities such as education, transportation and small business development. The role of the Chamber in advocacy will be strong in 2014, with the Kentucky Legislature convening to build the state’s next two-year budget.

Not only will we have a presence there daily with the Chamber’s lobbyist, we will have our own citizens there, telling the Owensboro stor y and our community priorities. GOAL — Greater Owensboro Advocates for Legislation will be our grassroots effort to make a difference in the decision-making processes in Owensboro. If you want to volunteer a day and a tank of gas to get to Frankfort and back, we’ll make the appointments and make the day easy for you…sign up to take part in the governmental process! Our elected officials work for us and love to see us there.

Thanks for being a member of the Chamber, and your commitment to keep Owensboro on the move!

business GREATER

OWENSBORO

First Quarter 2014 Vol. 10 • Number 1

VALUABLE RESOURCES

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Society serves local human resource professionals

100 YEARS

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James H. Davis Funearl Home celebrates 100 years

BOARDWALK PIPELINE

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Texas Gas employees settle into new downtown location CAPONE’S

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Eatery brings Italian downtown

REALTORS

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The Greater Owensboro Realtor Association has many functions

Amy Jackson President and CEO Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce

WINNING PROGRAM

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KY WINS benefits area companies

ON THE MOVE

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Local business leaders on the move

on the cover

in their industry and in the community

C.J. Mounce, left, and Mike Glavboch enjoy their lunch Nov. 26 at Capones on Allen Street.

MEMBERSHIP MATTERS

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Jim DeMaio discusses the benefits of getting “plugged in”

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VALUABLE

RESOURCES SOCIETY SERVES LOCAL HUMAN RESOURCE PROFESSIONALS

BY KRISTI MCCABE

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he Owensboro Society for Human Resource Management (OSHRM) was founded in May of 1968. The organization is one of 575 affiliated Society of Human Resource Management chapters across the United States, and is comprised of approximately 100 human resource professionals working in the Owensboro area.

“OSHRM grew out of what was known in the 1950s as the Owensboro Personnel Association,” explained Mark Leonard, the organization’s current president. “As the field of Human Resources evolved, it became clear that the group was not just personnel. It also encompasses safety issues, benefits, 401K planning, and many other areas related to employee welfare.”

OSHRM is one of thirteen chapters that make up the Kentucky Society for Human Resource Management. There is a national governing body that outlines criteria for local groups, and continuing education credits must be earned to retain certification. For anyone whose job encompasses human resources, OSHRM is the perfect go-to resource for training and development.

“We want to be a first-stop resource for all things human resource-related,” said Leonard.

MARK LEONARD AND LINDA KELLER STAND ON THE STEPS OF KENTUCKY WESLEYAN COLLEGES' BARNARD-JONES ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING ON NOV. 8.

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“Human resource professionals must earn official certifications, much like accountants. Increasingly, employers are looking for certification, and OSHRM members strive to achieve this goal.”

The benefits of joining OSHRM are numerous. Members receive exposure to other companies’ procedures, policies and practices; access to a network of professionals and specialists; regular legislative updates and exposure to best practices in the areas of organizational efficiency and employee engagement.

“Our goal is to provide professional development opportunities to our members, as well as a networking body,” said Linda Keller, OSHRM’s presidentelect. “We hold monthly meetings and hosts presentations for our members.”

A recent presentation was held in the form of a mock unemployment hearing, to provide experience for OSHRM members who may encounter such situations.

“This was a very valuable learning experience,” noted Keller. “We ask our members what they want to hear about when planning our presentations, and try to honor their requests. These presentations also count toward continuing education requirements, providing an added benefit for attendees.”

OSHRM also gives members new tools and knowledge to take back to their jobs.

“It can give them a new way to address an old situation at work,” noted Mark Leonard. “Sometimes companies become stagnant in the way they handle things, adopting the mantra that ‘this is the way we’ve always done it.’

Our goal is to provide our members with new ideas that they can take with them to real-life situations.”

Having a good human resources department can positively impact the culture of a company. The impact of human resources upon an employee’s life is far-reaching.

“If a person has a claim denied, the human resources department can help,” said Keller. “If someone needs help with benefits, HR is where they go for that help. I have even had an employee who had left three years earlier come back to me with a question about his employment. I made a call and helped him out. That’s why we’re here.”

Leonard added, “From a business aspect, having a good HR department FIRST QUARTER 2014

contributes immensely to retention. We are the face of the company. I’m the guy employees stop on the floor with questions or comments about their employment. It’s not an exaggeration to say that on a daily basis, I interact more with employees than their supervisor does.”

OSHRM has been recognized over the years with a number of awards, including the 2009 Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Merit Award, the 2010 SHRM Excel Award, and the 2011 SHRM Foundation Chapter Champions award.

Looking toward the future, both Leonard and Keller hope that membership will continue to grow, and that the community at large will come to realize what OSHRM has to offer.

“We currently have 110 to 115 members,” said Keller. “We have a membership chair who actively recruits new members, and we work closely with the Chamber of Commerce to achieve this end. We have also started a new program this year: if a member achieves Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI) certification, we award them with $100. Ever y OSHRM member receives this award for getting their certification.”

“As outgoing president, I am excited about our future,” Leonard expressed. “Our partnership with the Chamber has been ver y beneficial for our members. The Whatcha Need to Know Wednesdays training series is held monthly, and offers Human Resources 101 for small businesses. This allows us to showcase who we are to the community; we have always just been ‘HR guys,’ and people don’t know what we do.”

For anyone whose life is impacted by human resources, the Owensboro Society for Human Resource Management provides support, education, and a network of like-minded professionals dedicated to a vital and growing field.

“We would like to continue in our community outreach efforts,” said Keller.

“We want to build a closer relationship with the Chamber and let potential OSHRM members know what we do.

This organization is not limited only to HR professionals. From an office assistant who files HR paperwork to current college students interested in the field, we welcome everyone. OSHRM is for anyone who has a connection to human resources and a desire to learn.”

GREATER OWENSBORO BUSINESS

A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE MESSENGER-INQUIRER JACQUELINE JORDAN

Special Publications Editor 270.691.7233, jjordan@messenger-inquirer.com

JENNY SEVCIK

Photography Editor 270.691.7294, jsevcik@messenger-inquirer.com

STAFF WRITER JOY CAMPBELL STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS JOHN DUNHAM GARY EMORD-NETZLEY CONTRIBUTORS KRISTI MCCABE TO ADVERTISE: FAYE D. MURRY

Advertising Director 270.691.7240, fmurry@messenger-inquirer.com

Owensboro’s Leading Limousine Company Since 1998

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JAMES H. DAVIS FUNERAL HOME

BETTER THAN EVER AFTER 100 YEARS

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BY BENJAMIN HOAK

n 1913, when James H. Davis was installing his own casket linings in the loft of the livery stable at 110 Frederica Street where he opened a funeral home, he could not have known that 100 years later, his greatgrandson would run the business in a new frontier where funerals can be livestreamed on the Internet so that loved ones around the world can take part in a final farewell.

Even though he did not foresee such developments, he left such a stamp on the business that over the last 100 years, James H. Davis Funeral Home has changed with the times without losing the personal service and attention to specific needs that mark all of their dealings.

Fourth-generation owner Billy Boyle and his partner John Hill now own and operate the funeral home on Frederica Street across from the wide lawns of Kentucky Wesleyan College. With 280 funerals a year, plus another 70 funerals at Cecil Funeral Home in Whitesville, which Boyle and Hill bought last year, the 17 employees stay busy.

Employees are divided into two crews, one of which is always on call.

Phones are set to forward to their homes, which means that no matter the time of day or night, staff are available to meet a grieving family’s needs, from supervising removal to walking the family through the myriad choices that must be made during the immediate days following the death of a loved one.

TOP: LIGHTS GLOW AT DUSK NOV. 26 AT THE JAMES H. DAVIS FUNERAL HOME ON FREDERICA STREET. RIGHT: BILL BOYLE STANDS IN THE SHOW ROOM WITH SEVERAL DISPLAY MODEL CASKETS NOV. 26 AT JAMES H. DAVIS FUNERAL HOME.

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BILL BOYLE DISPLAYS A PICTURE ON HIS CELL PHONE OF THE 1913 GRAND OPENING ADVERTISEMENT OF THE JAMES H. DAVIS FUNERAL HOME.

PICTURED AT JAMES H. DAVIS FUNERAL HOME IS A CIRCA 1930S OR ‘40S THERMOMETER THAT WAS USED FOR PUBLICITY AND GIVEN AWAY TO PEOPLE.

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BILL BOYLE SHOWS THE 1913 LEDGER IN THE VAULT AT THE JAMES H. DAVIS FUNERAL HOME.

BACK TO THE BEGINNING

area and a separate smoking lounge.

Davis opened the James H. Davis Undertaking and Livery Establishment in 1913, offering “the finest, most up-todate line of goods and equipments and the smartest livery rigs in the city” and later the “first auto hearse in Owensboro … (the) most elaborate funeral car in the world,” according to ads from the day.

Complete account ledgers from 1913 show his meticulous record keeping. A grave digging cost $1.50. A casket cost $7.25, and embalming ran $10. Entire funerals — many were infants — cost as little as $12 or $17 or $50.

His children, Juanita Boyle and James H. Davis Jr., continued the family business. Later, Juanita’s grandson Billy and his cousin Dawson Davis continued on as well. Boyle began working at the funeral home in 1987 and then bought the business along with his cousin in 1995. His cousin left the industry in 2003, after which Boyle brought in John Hill as a partner.

The company moved to their current

PERSONAL CHOICES

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BILL BOYLE HOLDS ONE OF THE OLD LEDGERS AT JAMES H. DAVIS FUNERAL HOME VAULT. BOYLE WOULD LIKE TO DIGITIZE THE RECORDS IN THE FUTURE.

18,000-square foot building in 1963. It offers a chapel for services as well as five visitation rooms, a kitchen lounge GREATER OWENSBORO BUSINESS

The building also houses Owensboro’s only on-site crematorium, as well as a casket and urn display room, where families can choose how best to remember their loved ones. They can do so by preplanning, which “takes the emotions out of the process,” Boyle said, or after a death. Casket options range from basic to elaborate, with many personalization options, such as panel inserts and medallions.

Davis Funeral Home can conduct funeral services in their chapel or in the community at a church or other special location. Boyle said that while families often are not sure what options are available with cremation, remembrance can take place in a variety of ways, including a traditional service with cremation afterwards (families use a rental casket for the service), a service with cremated remains placed in a nice urn that is displayed during the service or immediate cremation with no service.

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JUANITA DAVIS BOYLE AND JAMES H. DAVIS, SR. ARE FRAMED IN THE 1930 PHOTOGRAPH AT JAMES H. DAVIS FUNERAL HOME.

Another unique remembrance option Davis Funeral Home offers is called a Thumbie. This jewelry line allows you to display your loved one’s thumbprint on a piece of jewelr y, memorializing them in a lasting way. Boyle said these items have become ver y popular, especially with the holidays approaching.

Other technological advances in the industr y include online guestbooks, smart phones (if an after-hours call came in the old days, whoever was on call would have to rush to the funeral home to page the appropriate FIRST QUARTER 2014

staff members), slideshow videos and the ability to stream funeral ser vices online — Boyle said one recent family used a phone to do so and he is in the process of setting up cameras to offer the ser vice for anyone.

TRADITION

Boyle’s 16-year old son may continue the family tradition (most of his experience so far has been of the lawn-mowing variety, although he has helped with several funerals). If he does decide to follow his dad, he’ll need at GREATER OWENSBORO BUSINESS

least 30 hours of college credit (a four-year degree is recommended) before attending mortuar y college for a year and ser ving a year apprenticeship to earn licenses as a funeral director and embalmer. Some work can even be done online, but Boyle recommends both licenses for anyone running a funeral home.

Although 100 years have passed, James H. Davis would be proud to know that his family is still carr ying on the tradition, as his ad proclaims, of “ser ving the public faithfully and efficiently to the best of our ability.”

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ED SMITH, WITH LOUISVILLE-BASED COMMERCIAL WORKS, WHEELS TWO OFFICE CHAIRS INTO THE NEW BOARDWALK PIPELINE PARTNERS OFFICE BUILDING DOWNTOWN PRIOR TO OPENING.

BOARDWALK PIPELINE EMPLOYEES SETTLE INTO NEW LOCATION

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BY LIBBY JOHNSON

n a sunny Friday morning in early November, the employees of the Owensboro office of Boardwalk Pipeline Partners gathered on and around the sleek, modern stair way that anchors the lobby of the company’s new headquarters on West Second Street. A sense of collegiality and enthusiasm per vaded as employees gathered to applaud to celebrate the office’s successful participation in the annual United Way 10

giving campaign. Much of the feeling of togetherness can be credited to the new building and the move downtown, according to its employees.

“The design of this building leads to interaction,” says Kathy Fort, Manager of Certificates and Tariffs. Jeff Higdon, Director of Purchasing and Inventor y, echoes her sentiments, saying that the company’s previous office space on Frederica Street had once housed about six hundred employees and “you didn’t realize how fractured the building had become — it needed to be restacked.”

In addition to having too much space for the nearly two-hundred-fifty GREATER OWENSBORO BUSINESS

employees now working from the office, the building on Frederica needed repairs, recalls Vice President Tom Mischel. “We liked the idea of having employees downtown, and Stan Horton (CFO of Boardwalk Properties) thought that with the downtown Renaissance, a new facility downtown was the way to go.”

According to Mischel, several employee focus groups were formed to help decide what the new building should look and feel like. One of the chief desires was natural light, something the former headquarters really lacked. Natural light streams in almost ever y space at the Second FIRST QUARTER 2014

ABOVE: IN THE GAS CONTROL ROOM, STATE OF THE ART CONSOLES CAN BE UTILIZED FROM SITTING OR STANDING POSITIONS, WHICH IS BENEFICIAL TO THE HEALTH OF THE CONTROLLERS, WHO WORK IN LONG SHIFTS. TOP RIGHT: THE LIGHT FILLED, MODERN LOBBY OF BOARDWALK PROPERTIES NEW HEADQUARTERS. BOTTOM RIGHT: LARGE, OPEN SPACES THAT FACILITATE INTERDEPARTMENTAL SOCIALIZATION AND COLLABORATION PREVENT WORKERS IN CUBICLES FROM BEING ISOLATED.

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Street headquarters, creating a cheerful and energizing environment.

On the north side of the building, those inside have a bird’s eye view of the progress on the convention center and nearby hotels. “It’s exciting; we have a front row seat,” says Fort, adding that working downtown actually makes her want to spend more of her free time in the area because she is more aware of events. Possibly the best view of the convention center and hotel are taken in from the “Whirlaway” conference room. Each of the conference rooms is named for a Triple Crown winner, a theme which was decided on via employee vote.

Gas Control, accessed only by security clearance, is “cutting edge,” according to Gas Control Director Mike Nance, who has worked for the Owensboro headquarters for fortytwo years. Nance explains that the

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THE EMPLOYEE BREAK ROOM HAS A VARIETY OF CHOICES, AND AN EXPANSE OF WINDOWS PROVIDES A VIEW OF SECOND STREET AND THE CONVENTION CENTER.

old gas control room had one large console from which the controllers managed the fourteen thousand miles of pipeline to twelve states. Now, the controllers ­— of which there are constantly four on duty —have individual consoles, which can be raised automatically to standing height. Controllers work in twelve hour shifts, so being able to var y their positions is key. Stressless chairs and adjacent break, locker, and a conference room with video conferencing capabilities are welcome additions as well. “The old building was great for its time, 12

but we are ver y happy to be here.

Our facilities are right there with what’s in Houston and Oklahoma.”

Both the building and the downtown location are proving to be great selling points, according to Bridget Harris, who works in Human Resources. “It’s a recruiting tool, and it’s a source of pride. It’s fun to see the reaction of people from bigger cities,” she says, adding that those she takes on tours often comment particularly on Smother’s Park and that in general, the atmosphere downtown makes the idea of coming to GREATER OWENSBORO BUSINESS

Owensboro “less of a culture shock” for top recruits.

In a way, Boardwalk Pipeline’s relocation to downtown is actually a full circle move, as the first local Texas Gas location was on Third Street. Jeff Higdon says, “Boardwalk and Texas Gas have always been looked at as premier employers in the area, so the commitment to downtown is special.” CFO Jamie Buskill concurs, “As downtown is rejuvenating, so has the move been for us. It’s exciting and it’s a great legacy for the company.”

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THE NEW TWO-STORY 60,000-SQUARE-FOOT TEXAS GAS TRANSMISSION BUILDING STANDS AGAINST THE DUSK SKY AT 600 W. SECOND ST. BOARDWALK PIPELINE PARTNERS IS THE PARENT COMPANY FOR TEXAS GAS.

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CAPONE’S BRINGS I TA L I A N D O W N T O W N GREATER OWENSBORO BUSINESS

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BY LIBBY JOHNSON

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rad Mayfield, owner and operator of Capone’s at 222 Allen Street, grew up in Owensboro knowing exactly what kind of restaurant he wanted to open.

ABOVE: C.J. MOUNCE, LEFT, AND MIKE GLAVBOCH ENJOY THEIR LUNCH NOV. 26 AT CAPONE’S AT 222 ALLEN ST. FACING PAGE: JONI WHITING TAKES HER ORDER OF STUFFED PIZZA TO-GO NOV. 26 AT CAPONE’S.

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CO-OWNER ADRIANA MAYFIELD PULLS THE FOIL OFF A TRAY OF BAKED SPAGHETTI WHILE PREPARING FOR THE LUNCH CROWD NOV. 26 AT CAPONE’S. HER HUSBAND, BRAD, IS THE OTHER OWNER.

It took nearly fifteen years, but the realization of that dream has been going strong for a year and a half.

Downtown Owensboro, according to Mayfield, is an “awesome environment” for a mom and pop restaurant like his.

Capone’s ser ves hand made pizza and Italian dishes Tuesday through 16

Sunday (check their Facebook page for times, as hours of operation var y) and Mayfield knows that part of what makes his establishment popular and successful is the mid-day option I gives downtown workers. “Lawyers, bankers, all the people who work in their of fices — they can walk over and get something hot to eat…for a GREATER OWENSBORO BUSINESS

reasonable price, no less, and be back at their desk in 30 minutes.” It’s not just the downtown regulars that Mayfield is feeding. He says many that drop in mention having visited Smothers Park and then deciding to stay in the area for a bite to eat.

Despite the ongoing Second Street sewer project, people are still coming FIRST QUARTER 2014

downtown, Mayfield says.

Mayfield cooks ever y entrée and pizza ser ved at Capone’s himself (without the aid of a microwave — there isn’t even one in the kitchen) and mans his business in the evening hours. His wife, Adriana, r uns the shop during the day. A self described “mutt” of German, Irish and Italian heritage who grew up with family in the restaurant business and had perfected his meatball recipe by age four teen, Mayfield learned much of his skill with Italian cuisine by working a Angelo’s in Evansville. He makes his own noodles and is “ver y proud to say I’ve never had a dish sent back.”

The chef and owner is protective of the locally-owned atmosphere that currently reigns downtown. “I hope we keep it,” he says of the “mom and pop” restaurant scene. Local restaurateurs, he says, “have our eyes and ears on downtown” and are invested in the district’s success. Mayfield is leer y of chain restaurants, but says, “Owensboro loves corporate food.”

He believes his business concept “would only work downtown,” and mentions that Paducah “has made a go” of a downtown filled — but not overly so — with local eateries. Mayfield hopes this city on the river can do the same.

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TOP: CASHIER LORIE YOUNG TAKES A SLICE OF PIZZA ON DISPLAY FOR A CUSTOMER’S LUNCH ORDER NOV. 26 AT CAPONE’S, 222 ALLEN ST. ABOVE: A VARIETY OF PIZZA IS ON DISPLAY DURING LUNCH NOV. 26 AT CAPONE’S.

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ABOVE: AN OWENSBORO HOME FOR SALE AT OVERLOOK PARK. BELOW: A HOUSE FOR SALE AT 1434 WOODBRIDGE TRAIL

REALTORS GROW OWENSBORO HOUSING MARKET, RELATIONSHIPS

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BY KRISTI MCCABE

he Greater Owensboro Realtor Association (GORA) is a professional organization of over 150 Realtors, all of whom share a common goal: to educate members while protecting their clients. Owensboro-based Century 21 Realtor Matt Schell is one GORA member who strives for continual professional development, while offering essential guidance for clients through the complex experience of buying or selling a home.

“There is a significant difference between a real estate agent and a Realtor,” explained Schell. “Realtors subscribe to a strict code of ethics, and the main benefit we offer to clients is experience.”

“I believe that all real estate agents should become Realtors,” Schell 18

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emphasized. “It raises the bar, and sets a standard for professionalism. It also promotes continuity throughout the industry, to ensure that we are adhering to a similar set of standards. This is beneficial for clients because they have the peace of mind of knowing that their Realtor has the experience and knowledge to get the job done right.”

A Realtor’s job does not revolve around simply showing homes. Realtors must also be proficient at dealing with contracts, appraisals, home inspections, and other issues that arise when arranging the sale of a home.

“You need to have expertise in many different areas, from accounting and taxes to home inspections and contracts,” Schell reflected. “My involvement in GORA has made me a better Realtor; it has made me more aware of the issues that may arise and has made me better able to address those issues.

Buying a home is one of the biggest investments a person can make in a lifetime.”

The Greater Owensboro Realtor Association is one of 27 local associations that fall under the Kentucky Association of Realtors. GORA has a fivecounty jurisdiction, including Daviess, Hancock, McLean, Ohio, and Grayson counties. Being a member of GORA has numerous advantages, including providing a platform for cooperation among Realtors, as well as a mutual support system.

“The MLS (multiple listing service) is one of the biggest advantages to belonging to this organization,” noted Schell. “Realtors place their listings on the same data base and cooperate with each other. The MLS offers an opportunity for competing companies to promote a home listing to a wide range of potential buyers.”

Besides educating its members, GORA also serves an important purpose for clients: protecting their rights.

“One of the most important things we do is advocate for property owners’ rights,” said Schell. “This includes their right to own property, as well as protecting the mortgage income tax deduction. The only people who are currently in that fight are the members of the National Association of Realtors.

We are the second biggest lobbying group in the country, and we believe in protecting the interests of homeowners.”

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States tax reform and reduction of the national debt, the mortgage interest deduction has been an ongoing target for undergoing major changes, if not total elimination. The National Association of Realtors is fighting to keep that deduction, in defense of homeowners.

Being aware of the needs of those who do not enjoy home ownership, GORA gives back to the community in a very unique way. GORA’s Aid the Homeless, Inc. foundation (www.aidthehomeless.com/) has raised $90,000 over a two-year period. Schell is very involved with the organization, and is passionate about helping the less fortunate.

“Our goal is to raise money for the five homeless shelters here in Owensboro: the Pitino Shelter, the Boulware Mission, St. Benedict’s, Oasis and Owensboro Regional Recovery,” said Schell. “We hold a golf outing in 20

the fall, and use money raised from that event to fund our annual gala. This allows us to give 100% of the funds raised at the gala directly to the shelters.”

Part of GORA’s mission is to enhance community relations between Realtors and the public they serve, and many GORA members are involved in the Owensboro community in various ways.

“We will continue to plug into the community and let people know what we are about,” said Schell. “We have placed a GORA member on the Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corp. board to participate in Chamber events. We want to show the value of using a Realtor, and provide the reassurance that comes with knowing that dollars made by Realtors are being invested back into the community.”

“One of our members is the chairGREATER OWENSBORO BUSINESS

man of the new hospital,” Schell added.

“Another one is a county commissioner, and another is a city commissioner. We are passionate about involvement in our community.”

Looking to the future, GORA will continue to provide professional development and education for its members, to train the Realtors of tomorrow and sustain the much-needed support clients need when buying or selling a home. By continuing to give back to their community, Realtors like Matt Schell demonstrate that their true passion is serving the people around them and building a better community.

“GORA enables us to develop relationships within the community,” noted Schell. “We want people know that we are here to help them achieve their goal of owning a home, and to help make our community a better place for everyone.”

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ABOVE: FORMER OWENSBORO POLICE DEPARTMENT CHIEF GLENN SKEENS TEACHES A TEAM LEADERSHIP CLASS AT OWENSBORO COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE’S FREDERICA STREET CAMPUS. BELOW: JASON GARRETT, PUCHASING AGENT/BUYER FOR OWENSBORO MUNICIPAL UTILITIES’ ELMER SMITH GENERATING PLANT, PARTICIPATES IN A TEAM LEADERSHIP COURS.

KY WINS BENEFITS AREA COMPANIES

BY BENJAMIN HOAK

F

or more than a decade, the Kentucky Workforce Investment Network System (KY WINS) has been quietly keeping the economic development engines in the Commonwealth humming right along.

Through the Kentucky Community and Technical College system, KY WINS helps companies provide training to keep their employees on the cutting edge of their business — the program pays 65 percent of the cost of the training and pays for any needed class materials.

Eligible companies include the following: • existing Kentucky companies that are expanding and creating new FIRST QUARTER 2014

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DAVID BLANK, LEFT, A POWER MARKET ANALYST FOR OWENSBORO MUNICIPAL UTILITIES, REACTS TO THE CONVERSATION ABOUT TEAM LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLES AT OWENSBORO COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE’S FREDERICA STREET CAMPUS.

jobs • existing Kentucky companies that are requiring employees to learn new skills in their jobs • companies that are contributing to Kentucky’s economic development • new companies locating in Kentucky According to those guidelines, just about any company with employees in Kentucky qualifies. (Government, non-profit and educational institutions are not eligible.) Company size does not matter, whether the company is a mom-and-pop operation or employs hundreds of people. Small companies often join together for training to make sure they meet minimum class sizes.

“This really helps companies maximize their training dollars,” said Cindy Fiorella, vice president at Owensboro Community and Technical College (OCTC) and head of the college’s Workforce Solutions division. Companies only pay 35 percent of what the class would normally cost, along with a 10 percent administrative fee.

Classes range from specific manu22

facturing and technical instruction to computer and software skills to soft skills such as customer service, teamwork, conflict resolution and leadership. Most of the customized training programs OCTC puts on are also eligible.

OCTC’s Workforce Solutions division can also customize classes to company need. They will work with companies to determine which competencies employees need and what class structure will deliver the information in the best way. “We’re justin-time providers, Fiorella said. “If you need a class from midnight to 7 a.m., we can do it. We deliver what you need, when you need it.”

Most companies return year after year for more training to keep their employees up to date with the latest requirements. “This really allows organizations to keep incumbent workers on the cutting edge,” Fiorella said.

For example, Domtar, a large paper producer, operates a plant in Hawesville and has taken advantage of KY WINS since the program’s inception, said Debbie Troutt, GREATER OWENSBORO BUSINESS

Human Resources Manager with Domtar. The company uses the program to perform required annual training for its 450-member workforce. “It’s a big help to have that,” Troutt said.

Domtar also uses the training for an apprenticeship program in mechanical and electrical instrumentation, which lasts four years. Much of this training takes place in a training center in Hawesville that OCTC set up specifically for industr y partners through a partnership with the Hancock County Industrial Foundation. This standing satellite location also includes a welding annex.

Most KY WINS classes are taught

by Workforce Solutions instructors.

With about 40 employees, OCTC’s Workforce Solutions division is one of the largest in the state, focusing on customized workforce education, career and technical training, adult basic skills and personal enrichment classes. Full-time technical faculty and outside experts also occasionally teach in the program.

About 35-40 area companies use KY WINS each year, Fiorella said. Companies include Owensboro Health, Kimberly Clark, Southern Star, Swedish Match, Toyotetsu and more.

These companies are saving thousands of dollars in training costs by taking advantage of KY WINS. If a company rolls out a new technology, for example, much of the cost is often tied up in training employees how to use it. When KY WINS provides training, that cost is slashed. “It really makes a big impact on their bottom line,” Fiorella said. “We consider ourselves ver y fortunate to be able to offer this.

For more information or to apply for the KY WINS program, call Cindy Fiorella at (270) 686-4445.

Classes are offered continuously, so there is no firm application deadline — just fill out a quick application to get started as soon as possible.

There is no limit on the number of times companies can receive funding, so they can apply for several projects at the same time.

Domtar plans to continue taking full advantage of the program. “We have an excellent working relationship with them,” Troutt said. “We can’t say enough good things about them.”

FIRST QUARTER 2014

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23

ON THE MOVE

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GREATER OWENSBORO BUSINESS

FIRST QUARTER 2014

• Old National Bank has promoted Sarah O’Bryan to banking center manager, assistant vice president at the West Par rish Avenue location in Owensboro.

O’Bryan joined Old National in 2003 and has 17 years of experience in the financial services industry. She is a volunteer for Junior Achievement of Owensboro, United Way of Ohio Valley and St. Mary Magdalene Church, and she is a member of St. Joseph’s Peace Mission Women’s Auxiliary.

• Wes Roberts, an insurance adviser with Neace Lukens Insurance Co., recently received his Kentucky Property and Casualty Insurance licenses.

• Michelle L. Love was installed as the chair-elect of the Independent Insurance Agents of Kentucky on Nov. 7 at The Brown Hotel in Louisville.

Love is a commercial producer with E.M. Ford & Company in Owensboro and has been with the company for 10 years. She is a member of the Independent Insurance Agents of Owensboro and is currently chair woman of the Industry Partners Committee and vicechair woman of the Convention Committee of IIAK. Love is a 1994 graduate of Brescia University with a bachelor of science in accounting.

• Tom O’Bryan has joined the sales force at Don Moore Automall. He has more than 40 years of experience in automotive sales and leasing.

• Lana Lancaster recently received her Kentucky Life & Health Insurance licenses. She is a client services professional with the firms of Ashley-Worth, LLC and Marcus W. Bosley & Associates, Inc. Lancaster previously worked as a contract analyst at Texas Gas Transmission, LLC. • Jagoe Homes has named David K. Marksberr y as the company’s chief financial of ficer. He will oversee econoºmic strategy, financing decisions and controllership at Jagoe. Marksberry is a certified public accountant and a chartered global management accountant. He has a bachelor of science degree from the University of Alabama and was formerly the plant controller at Swedish Match North America.

• The Kincaid Insurance Group in Rockport, Ind., has announced that Joe Guinto has joined the business as manager of niche marketing. He has worked in the insurance industr y for 17 years and was previously employed at Traveler’s and CNA Insurance comFIRST QUARTER 2014

panies as a risk control consultant.

Guinto is also a national board commissioned boiler and pressure vessel inspector.

• Foreman, Watson, Holtrey, LLP, at 530 Frederica St., announced that Arthur F. Cook has joined the firm as an associate attorney. Cook graduated from Ohio County High School and received his bachelor of arts, magna cum laude, from Western Kentucky University in 2010 and his juris doctor from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 2013.

• Don Moore’s GM center has promoted Susen Lambert to general sales manager. She has been with the Moore Automotive Group for 20 years and was previously sales manager at the Toyota store and business manager at the GM center.

• Brack Stacy has been named general manager of the Cromwell Radio Group stations WVJS, WBIO, WLME, WXCM, WCJZ, WTCJ and WKCM. He is a former director of sales development with Direct Insurance Co. and succeeds Janet Catinna. He graduated from Apollo High School and received his bachelor of business administration degree from University of Phoenix.

• Neace Lukens Insurance Co. recently hired two new agents. Don Mitchell,who previously worked for CNA Insurance Co., will specialize in commercial proper ty and casualty insurance. He attended Illinois Central College in East Peoria, Ill., and is a certified worker’s compensation adviser.

Mitchell is also a member of the board of directors at the Cliff Hagan Boys & Girls Club.

•Wes Roberts joined Neace Lukens on Oct. 1 and will focus on commercial insurance. He has a bachelors degree

in business management from Kentucky Wesleyan College.

• John S. Wathen has joined the law firm of Sullivan, Mountjoy, Stainback & Miller PSC, as an associate attorney.

He is a graduate of Owensboro Catholic High School and graduated from Vanderbilt University with a degree in histor y. Wathen also graduated from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 2013.

• Bobby Huf f has joined the Owensboro of fice of Riney Hancock CPAs PSC as a senior accountant in the tax ser vices division. He is a magna cum laude graduate of Kentucky Wesleyan College with a bachelor’s degree in accounting.

• Michael T. Fillman, CPA at Riney Hancock CPAs PSC, recently received his certified public accountant’s license by successfully completing the CPA examination and experience requirements. Fillman is a staff II accountant in the audit and assurance division in the Owensboro office. He is a magna cum laude graduate of the University of Kentucky with a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in accounting.

• Sharity De Hart recently joined Kentuckiana Animal Clinic, 1500 E. 18th St., as a groomer.

• Terri Boling Taylor has joined Neace Lukens as an account executive, commercial insurance specialist. She r eceived her Commer cial Lines Accredited Customer Ser vice Representative certification in 1998 and her property and casualty license in 2001.

• Alaura Jones, recently joined the sales team at Steve Jones Chrysler at 322 W. Fourth St. • The law firm of Brent Yonts, PSC, in Greenville, has announced that Ryan Driskill will join the firm. He recently

®

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Find us on Facebook 25

passed the Kentucky Bar Exam and was sworn in by Justice Cunningham of Princeton. Driskill is a 2010 graduate of Western Kentucky University and a 2013 graduate of University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law where he received his Juris Doctor degree. He also graduated from Muhlenberg South High School.

• Robin Pickrell has joined River City Insurance Agency as a licensed agent. She is licensed in property, casualty, life and health insurance but her primary focus is life insurance. Pickrell is a member of the Independent Insurance Agents of Owensboro and currently serves as treasurer.

• Jim MeMaio of Owensboro was named as an at-large director for the state by the Kentucky Association of Realtors at the group’s 91st annual convention and expo held Sept. 24-26 in Louisville.

• Taylor O’Bryan has joined Affordable Care Health Insurance, L.L.C. She is a graduate of Daymar College and has completed insurance courses at Professional Training Institute.

O’Br yan is also certified by the Kentucky Health Benefit Exchange.

• Steven Herrenbruck, MS, ATC/L recently completed his certification in the Functional Movement Screen (FMS). The FMS is a used to evaluate and treat various types of movement dysfunction. Herrenbruck is a certified athletic trainer for Brescia University and KOR T Physical Therapy in Owensboro.

•David Albin has rejoined Farm Credit Mid-America as financial services officer in the Owensboro office. He is a graduate of Western Kentucky University with a degree in agriculture, with an emphasis on agriculture business and animal science. Albin is also a McLean County farmer and serves as chairman of the Myer Creek Park board, is the McLean County representative to Northwest KY Forward Economic Development and is a member of the Livermore Lions Club. As financial ser vices officer his territor y will include the Daviess, Hancock, McLean and Ohio County areas.

• Eric Copeland has joined Global Spectrum as director of food and beverage for the Owensboro Convention Center. Copeland studied under chefs in Las Vegas and was previously employed as the head chef at the Pueblo (Colo.) Country Club and the execu26

tive chef at the Pueblo Convention Center where he was promoted to director of food and beverage and retained the title of executive chef. Copeland was also intermediate cookery instructor at Pueblo Community College.

• Tina Mattingly has been hired as coordinator of the Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC) and Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) programs in GRADD’s aging, health and social services department. She has a bachelor of social work degree from Brescia University and graduated in May. • Megan Mortis has been hired as coordinator of the Green River Regional Health Council. She has a master of public administration degree from the University of Southern Indiana and previously worked for the Alzheimer’s Association, St. Anthony’s Hospice and Habitat for Humanity. This position is jointly funded by Audubon Area Community Services, Green River District Health Department, Methodist Hospital, Ohio County Hospital, Owensboro Health, RiverValley Behavioral Health, United Way and GRADD. • Two employees from H&R AgriPower’s Owensboro location recently

graduated from International Ag University as agriculture equipment consultants.Grant Hagan and Greg Wimsatt completed the three-year training program while working for the dealership.

• BB&T Investment Ser vices recently promoted Michael Slonecker to investment officer. Slonecker has a bachelor’s in psychology from Ohio Nor thern University and a master’s degree in psychology with two additional years of graduate study in organization development/human resource management from St. Francis University and Bowling Green State University.

• Mickey Boar man has joined Greg’s Collision Center as a shop foreman. He has been employed in the collision industr y for 44 years and has been involved with General Motors PPG and I-Car training. Boarman was the shop manager at Roberts Motors for the past 14 years.

• Jennifer Murphy Byrne, PT, MPT has completed her advanced certification in SFMA (Selective Functional Movement Assessment). This will allow her to better evaluate and treat people with various types of movement

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dysfunction. Byrne is the clinical director at KOR T Physical Therapy in Owensboro.

• James R. Riney, engineer and surveyor, was recently appointed to the Committee on Examinations for Professional Surveyors by Patty Mamola, PE, incoming president of the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying during the 92nd annual meeting in San Antonio. The NCEES develops, administers and scores the examinations used for engineering and sur veying licensure in the United States.

Riney has been on the council for more than 10 years and has also served on its special task forces.

• First Security Bank recently announced the appointment of Freddy Carr as executive vice president and chief retail officer. Carr has been in the banking industry for 25 years, and his most recent bank position was chairman, president and CEO of the Destin First Bank in Destin, Fla. He attended Auburn University and has a graduate degree in banking from the Graduate

T

Graduate School of Banking at the University of Delaware, American Management Association Management Cour se and Leadership Perr y County.

• Amy Collignon Gunn, a St. Louis attorney and graduate of Apollo High School, recently won the Tom G. Strong Award that was presented by the Missouri Association of T rial Attorneys. Gunn is also a graduate of Transylvania University and St. Louis University School of Law. • Jason and Kate Higdon and Kristin Bivins, all of Captured Moments Photography, were recognized in the Professional Photographers of America’s International Print Competition on Aug. 1 in Atlanta. Kate Higdon, master photographer a nd co-owner of Captured Moments Photography, won Gold Photographer of the Year.

Jason Higdon, co-owner of Captured Moments Photography, won Platinum Photographer of the Year. Kristin Bivins is an associate photographer and also won Gold Photographer of the Year.

MEMBERSHIP MATTERS

hroughout the last few years, I have been asked by many friends and professionals in our community, “How do I get plugged in?”

When I asked what they meant, they consistently said that they saw me ever ywhere. They would tell me about how they saw an article in a Chamber publication or picture of a ribbon cutting I attended. They also referred to how they personally saw me at so many events around town. My answer always started and ended with the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce.

As a self-employed professional, I knew it was critical to be seen in the community to meet new people and expand my sphere of influence.

Your sphere of influence is the people you are in contact with that may turn into business at some point, whether friends, or family, or anyone you meet and get to know. The

FIRST QUARTER 2013

School of Banking at Louisiana State University.

• Tom Salmon Jr., owner of Floor Concepts, has recently expanded the business and will open in September at 515 Salem Drive. The new store will feature a floor covering showroom and will install floor coverings.

• The Travel Authority, 2031 Frederica St., recently hired Darlene White as a leisure travel consultant. White has worked in the travel industr y for more than 30 years.

• Rick Cummins has joined RE/ MAX Professional Realty Group. He is a graduate of the Todd Thorton Real Estate Academy and is a member of the National Association of Realtors, Kentucky Association of Realtors and the Owensboro Board of Realtors.

• Rodney Perkins has been promoted to market president for Hancock Bank and Trust’s Hancock and Breckinridge county markets. Perkins, an employee of Hancock Bank’s Hawesville offices, has been with the company since 1996. He is a graduate of Western Kentucky University, Stonier

Jim DeMaio

Vice President – Membership Development Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce

more people you meet and include in your sphere, the more potential

GREATER OWENSBORO BUSINESS

business you can receive. I used the Chamber and more specifically the Chamber Ambassadors to accomplish this and grow my business. In the three years that I was a Chamber Ambassador, my business almost doubled. With all the events the Chamber has and all the volunteer opportunities the Chamber Ambassadors provided, I met more new faces than I could count.

The other piece of advice I would tell people is to volunteer for events and organizations you are passionate about. I am and always have been passionate about the mission of the Chamber. Because of that, I am thrilled to now be working at the Chamber. I hope my enthusiasm for our great organization rubs off and I help others engage in our Chamber.

Together, we can help grow businesses and opportunities for ever yone. Give the Chamber a call and we will do ever ything we can to get you “plugged in.”

27

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