NKU Magazine Spring/Summer 2019

nkumagazine S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 9 // v o l . 4 , N o . 2

NKU GOES FURTHER, FASTER WITH NEW CAMPAIGN // P A G E 1 3

JESSICA HINDMAN FAKE IT �TIL YOU MAKE IT

GETTING CHUMMY WITH A MUMMY

// P A G E 2 2

// P A G E 2 6

Support NKU! Look for this giving icon throughout the magazine for ways to support the NKU departments and programs you care about, or visit nku.edu/givenow. Thank you!

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On March 11, with 4.2 seconds left in a matchup against the Oakland Golden Grizzlies, Drew McDonald sunk a 3-pointer to cinch the game and send the Norse to the Horizon League championship game. Here, teammates of NKU’s most-decorated player ever react to the impressive shot.

(Read more on page 11.)

PHOTO CREDIT CHLOE SMITH

CONTENTS SPRING/SUMMER 2019

nkumagazine S P R I N G /S U M ME R 2019 V O L . 4 // NO . 2 EDITOR RODNEY WILSON ’00 ART DIRECTOR DIONNE LAYCOCK ’90 ASSISTANT EDITOR JAYNA MORRIS PHOTOGRAPHER SCOTT BESELER PUBLISHER ERIC GENTRY Vice President of University Advancement ANNA WRIGHT Director of Public Relations JEFF PUGH Director of University Marketing

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CONTRIBUTORS KELSEY BUNGENSTOCK ’16 DAVE BUSHLE LIZZIE KIBLER ’16 BRYAN MCELDOWNEY KAILEIGH PEYTON J. ATLEY SMEDLEY ’18 CHLOE SMITH JULIA TOUT

FEATURES PAGE

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GOOD EATS (AND DRINKS)

MILLI VIOLINI

UMI BY THE NUMBERS

Greater Cincinnati is quickly becoming a midwestern mecca for delectables due to the entrepreneurial moxy and culinary savvy of area gourmands. We introduce you to a few eateries and watering holes around town opened by foodie folks who happen to also be NKU graduates.

Jessica Hindman followed a love of music from the hills of Appalachia to the halls of Columbia University, found a passion for reporting in Egypt, then pretended to play violin for a while. The NKU professor and author of “Sounds Like Titanic: A Memoir” talks to us about her long, strange trip.

In January, NKU hosted a special guest as the Cincinnati Museum Center’s resident mummy child, Umi, paid a visit. The collaborative project between public history and radiology produced new scans, a 3D model and an exhibit. We have the data-driven details on Umi’s day out.

DEPARTMENTS PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 4

NORSING AROUND 28

AROUND CAMPUS 5

NORSE NOW 30

AROUND THE HORNS 6

MYSTERY PHOTO 36

NKU 360º 8 NKU Athletics 10

We rounded up some of this year’s clutch game winners (pictured: Zahrya McFarland) on page 11.

ALUMNI BOARD OF DIRECTORS EXECUTIVE TEAM MICHAEL MCKEOWN ’85 President MARIA REYNOLDS ’87, ’18 President-elect WADE WILLIAMS ‘97, ’01 Vice President JESSICA JOHNSTON ’99 Past President AMY ARBINO WYLIE ’92 Director of Alumni Programs & Councils CORRESPONDENCE NKU MAGAZINE OFFICE OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS AC 701 1 Nunn Dr. Highland Heights, KY 41099 PHONE (859) 572-5586 WEB NKU.EDU/MAGAZINE EMAIL NKUMAGAZINE@NKU.EDU NKU MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED BY THE OFFICE OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS AT NORTHERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY FOR ITS GRADUATES, DONORS AND FRIENDS. © 2019.

NORTHERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. COMMENTS, QUESTIONS, CONCERNS? WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! EMAIL US AT NKUMAGAZINE@NKU.EDU. COVER ILLUSTRATION BY DIONNE LAYCOCK

spring/summer 2019 3

DID YOU KNOW In recent years, the NKU Magazine staff has worked hard to develop a digital content strategy that works better with 21st-century life.

We created Ask NKU, the official magazine podcast, as well as produced a series of video stories about goings-on around campus.

And our website received a massive redesign aimed at improving the experience for you, our readers.

Now we’re taking the next step in our digital efforts by reducing our print magazine to one regular issue a year—with occasional special issues—so that we can better focus on our online content.

We’re excited, and we think you will be, too. In the second half of this year, you’ll see new developments in our podcasting efforts. We’re stepping up our video stories to cover even more of what makes NKU great. And we’ll be doubling down on our online articles for real-time coverage of the alumni, student, faculty and staff stories happening every day on campus, in the region and around the world.

Keep an eye on nku.edu/magazine and follow us on Twitter (@nkumagazine) to see all the cool stuff we have planned!

Have a question? Email us at nkumagazine@nku.edu.

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Dear NKU Alumni and Friends: As you can guess from the cover, this is the Food Issue of NKU Magazine … and I could not be more excited for it.

Ours is a foodie family. Throughout my first year as president of Northern Kentucky University, Nita and I (and occasionally our kids) have enjoyed learning about the Greater Cincinnati and northern Kentucky dining scene, and we’ve grown to love our staples.

Some favorite places to dine with my family include Boomtown Biscuits & Whiskey, Jean-Robert’s Table and Otto’s. Graeter’s black raspberry chip was an early favorite. As for Skyline Chili, we tasted the 3-way during the winter break along with my extended family from California, and we all loved it!

Although I’m no chef, I enjoy making gourmet sandwiches for my family at home, especially on the day after Thanksgiving. (The things one can do with leftover turkey!) I am known to make a mean omelet on weekends, and the whole family looks forward to eggnog French toast every Christmas morning.

Food is a reflection of culture, and we should feel good about the quality and nuances of our local scene. Our NKU community can be especially proud of the alumni who daily improve our region through the local dining scene. I’ve experienced many alumniowned establishments featured in this magazine and am thrilled to share my thoughts on each.

• Moonrise Doughnuts: Made fresh every night and worth the wait in line • The Gruff: A restaurant, bar, deli and market all in one

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• Lucius Q: Whoever says Texas is the place for BBQ probably hasn’t tasted the meats here • Sprinkles of Hope: Offering amazing cupcakes and tarts with a social-conscience mission I continue to be impressed by all our talented alumni. They proudly carry the Norse spirit throughout our area and the country.

July 1 marked my one-year anniversary as president, and it has been an amazing first year for Nita and me—and not just because of the excellent food we’ve enjoyed. I am proud of what we have accomplished together for our students and our region, notably the adoption of our Success by Design Strategic Framework and the launch of our Further Faster campaign. You can read about both starting on page 12.

Thank you to everyone who made this an incredible first year. It is clear that our alumni and friends in the community understand and cherish NKU’s commitment to serving students and the region. You are doing great things in every corner of the Commonwealth and around the globe.

I am excited for the future of NKU, and I look forward to what lies ahead. Thank you for all that you do to support this university and our students.

Sincerely yours,

Ashish K. Vaidya President

[ AROU N D C A M P U S ] Here, a pair meet to chat pleasantly on the James C. and Rachel M. Votruba Student Union couches just outside the campus Starbucks. These seats are a popular hotspot for informal meetings, important discussions, intense study sessions … and the occasional cupcake. It’s a great place to enjoy the building’s “Main Street” feel, but plan ahead for a spot—they fill up fast.

PHOTO CREDIT DAVID BUSHLE spring/summer 2019 5

Here, a volunteer stuffs garment bags with clothing bound for Honduras at Master Provisions. The northern Kentucky organization provides food products to local families and supplies non-profit agencies with food, clothing and tools.

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AROUND

THE HORNS NKU 360⁰

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alumni events

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Coach darrin Horn

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WINNING TIME

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[ S ERVICE ]

In January, volunteers from NKU gathered to serve together.

On a bitterly cold Martin Luther King Jr. Day, volunteers from Northern Kentucky University warmed hearts as part of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.

The national day of service, produced by 1994’s King Holiday and Service Act, is observed annually in remembrance of Dr. King’s legacy. People and organizations are encouraged to seek out volunteer opportunities in their communities on this “day on, not off,” promoting Dr. King’s notion of a “beloved community”—a society based on equal opportunity, justice and love of one’s fellow human beings.

This year, NKU President Ashish Vaidya asked the campus to join him for the university’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, hosted by the Office of Student Engagement.

More than 600 students, faculty and staff were dispatched to 28 locations across Greater Cincinnati, including the Ronald McDonald House, Matthew 25 Ministries and the Welcome House of Northern Kentucky. Volunteer tasks ranged from organizing donations at a cold shelter to creating animal enrichment items for zoo animals, and a number of participants brought family members, off work or school for the federal holiday, along to help.

“NKU has a long history of service and engagement,” says President Vaidya, “and I’m proud so many volunteered to join me for a day of community service.”

NKU’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service will be an annual event going forward. Want to volunteer alongside NKU? You don’t have to wait until January—email alumni@nku.edu to learn about upcoming opportunities to serve the community with us.

PHOTO CREDIT DAVID BUSHLE spring/summer 2019 7

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UPCOMING

EVENTS JUNE-AUGUST NKU Norse Summer Camps, NKU Sports fans in first-12th grades can learn the fundamentals of volleyball, baseball, soccer and basketball this summer from late June to early August. For more information, visit nkunorse.com/camps.

JUNE 7-23 “Fallen Angels,” Stauss Theatre Fallen Angels is a biting, hilarious comedy about rivalry and manners, resulting in a champagne cocktail of wit and charm. For more information on tickets and show times, visit nku.edu/ commonwealth.

JULY 5-21 “Church Girls: The Musical,” Stauss Theatre Church Girls is a campy, cheeky, audacious musical comedy that will hit your funny bone and keep you laughing. For more information on tickets and show times, visit nku.edu/ commonwealth.

AUG. 16 Toby Keith, BB&T Arena Don’t miss your chance to see Toby Keith with special guest Mitchell Tenpenny at BB&T Arena! Doors open at 6 p.m.

For more information, visit thebbtarena. com.

SEPT. 21 Miranda Lambert, BB&T Arena Purchase tickets to see Miranda Lambert with special guests Elle King, Pistol Annies and Caylee Hammack at BB&T Arena! Doors open at 5:30 p.m. For more information, visit thebbtarena. com.

NOV. 22 Old Dominion, BB&T Arena Mark your calendar for Old Dominion with special guests Scotty McCreery and Ryan Hurd at BB&T Arena! Doors open at 5:30 p.m. For more information, visit thebbtarena.com.

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PRESIDENT VAIDYA TAKES OATH

Northern Kentucky University President Dr. Ashish Vaidya took the oath to serve as NKU’s sixth president on March 29. Students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members gathered in BB&T Arena for the Installation Ceremony, which centered on the theme of “Empowering the Future.”

“Together, we have a tremendous opportunity to redefine and reclaim the narrative about the significance of a 21st-century public institution and the value of an NKU education,” said President Vaidya. “Our campus is home to diverse learners, and we must meet their needs—no matter what age or stage they are at in their life. It is my belief that if we accept a student at this university, we have the moral obligation to ensure they receive every opportunity to meet their educational goals.”

[ NKU 3 6 0 º ]

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TOP CAMPUS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

MILITARY FRIENDLY® SCHOOL

Northern Kentucky University has been ranked as a top campus for students with physical disabilities, according to College Magazine, who ranked NKU 10th on its list of Top 10 Campuses for Students with Physical Disabilities. The editors compiled their list based on accessible dorms, classrooms and transportation, as well as student body advocacy of awareness and inclusion for students with physical disabilities.

NKU’s Disability Programs and Services (DPS) received praise for their access programs through accommodations and assistance. DPS helps students find personal care attendants and offers dorm and classroom adjustments to meet accessibility needs.

Northern Kentucky University is once again ranked as a Military Friendly® School, highlighted for creating a supporting environment for veterans. This is the ninth straight year NKU has received this designation from Viqtory, the premier media entity for military personnel transitioning to civilian life. NKU serves more than 400 veterans, active family members, National Guardsmen, reservists and ROTC students. The Veterans Resource Station, established in 2013, helps with applications, financial aid, VA education benefits, advising, registration and career support. NKU is designated as a PAVE mentoring university, which provides incoming students with a student veteran mentor. The university is also highlighted as a Best for Vets school by Military Times.

SAVE THE DATE: ALUMNI OUTINGS

Whether you love soccer, baseball or football, take advantage of discounted tickets for a variety of athletic events this year. Bring a friend—or the whole family—and join fellow Northern Kentucky University alumni. For more information, visit nku.edu/alumni.

AUG. 22

NKU NIGHT AT FLORENCE FREEDOM, UC HEALTH STADIUM 6:35 p.m.

SEPT. 7

NKU NIGHT AT THE REDS, GREAT AMERICAN BALL PARK Pre-game reception: 2 p.m.

First pitch: 4:10 p.m.

OCT. 6 AUG. 3

NKU NIGHT WITH FC CINCINNATI, NIPPERT STADIUM

NKU DAY AT THE BENGALS, PAUL BROWN STADIUM 1 p.m.

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LET’S GO CRAZY

Darrin Horn was named head coach of Norse men’s basketball program. // By Julia Tout DARRIN HORN WAS NAMED THE SIXTH MEN’S BASKETBALL COACH AT NORTHERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY on April 23, 2019. The passionate and energetic Horn takes the helm of the basketball program with an impressive history that includes winning at all levels of Division I, developing players for future professional careers and creating lifelong bonds with his student-athletes.

During his time at Western Kentucky University from 2003-08, Horn led the Hilltoppers to a 111-48 record, including an appearance in the NCAA Sweet 16 in the 2007-08 season. Most recently, Horn has been on the coaching staff at the University of Texas. He served as the assistant head coach for three seasons prior to being promoted to the associate head coach position for the 2018-19 season. While at Texas, he helped the Longhorns land three top-10 recruiting class rankings.

In his coaching career, Horn has seen eight former players play in the NBA, including Mohamed Bamba, who was drafted No. 6 overall in the 2018 NBA Draft, and Jarret Allen, who was selected No. 22 overall in the 2017 NBA Draft. Horn also coached Dwyane Wade at Marquette. Wade was chosen fifth overall in the 2003 draft by the Miami Heat.

At the welcoming press conference, Horn said, “We believe that our players become a part of our family.” After the NKU head coach

10 n k u m A G A Z I N E // a r o u n d t h e h o r n s

naming was announced, it was no surprise that a former player, Wade, tweeted his former coach congratulations.

Horn is excited to be a part of the energy and momentum that is evident in the team, university and community surrounding NKU. Norse Director of Athletics Ken Bothof believes that it is mutually a great fit, as Horn displays that same energy, which was on full display at the introductory press conference.

“People know who [NKU] is,” said Horn. “We’re knocking on the door of being somebody to reckon with. But we don’t just want to knock on that door. We don’t just want to open it up a little bit. We want to blow it off the hinges!”

Horn wants to join forces with Norse Nation to bring this energy to BB&T Arena. “Is [BB&T Arena] full every night to where people fear Norse Nation?” he says. “They fear coming to our arena to play?

That’s what I want people saying about this building. Let’s move past, ‘man, it’s a beautiful facility’ into, ‘You don’t want to play there. Those people are crazy. They’re lining up around the corner outside the doors. They’re yelling and screaming at you. You can’t hear yourself.

There’s not a seat because its sold out every night. And, it is the hardest place to play in college basketball.’ That’s what we have to have. Together we can make this place a place that people fear!”

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NKU’s student-athletes had a banner year for clutch moments. Here are a few of the Norse game winners.

FEB. 22 –

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL VS. YOUNGSTOWN STATE Molly Glick earned the No. 4 spot on ESPN’s Sports Center’s Top 10 plays, and Scott Van Pelt provided a nearly one-minute commentary on his late-night Sports Center show after the senior drained a long-range 3-pointer as time expired to lift the Norse past the Penguins, 65-62.

AUG. 23 – WOMEN’S SOCCER VS. XAVIER Payton Naylor scored the game-winning goal against local foe Xavier with 15 seconds remaining.

AUG. 31 – MEN’S SOCCER AT DUQUESNE Alex Willis headed home the golden goal in the 96th minute, providing NKU with a 2-1 triumph.

SEPT. 1 – VOLLEYBALL VS. NORTHERN ILLINOIS Haley Libs registered a 30-kill, 34-dig performance in NKU’s win, marking just the third time in the NCAA’s current scoring format a player has registered such an effort.

MARCH 10 – MEN’S BASKETBALL VS. OAKLAND Drew McDonald collected Jalen Tate’s pass and coolly sank a game-winning 3-pointer with 1.6 seconds left on the clock to send NKU to the title game of the Horizon League Championship.

APRIL 13 AND APRIL 23 – SOFTBALL VS. GREEN BAY AND YOUNGSTOWN STATE Back-to-back home games went extra innings for Norse softball with the team claiming walkoff wins in the 12th inning against Green Bay and 16th inning against Youngstown State, courtesy of hits

by Zahrya McFarland and Taylor Hoover, respectively.

MAY 4 – BASEBALL VS. OAKLAND Trailing by three runs in the ninth, Andrew Bacon smacked an inside-thepark, bases-loaded home run to deliver an 11-10 win for the Norse.

MAY 4 AND 5 – ALEC SANDUSKY VS. HORIZON LEAGUE In a two-day span, Alec Sandusky posted two league championships in record-setting fashion. Sandusky set program and facility records in both the 3,000m steeplechase (9:03.41) and 1,500m (3:53.80).

MAY 5 – WOMEN’S 4x400 VS. HORIZON LEAGUE Lynsey Shipley, BriAuna Keys, Jennah Flairty and Sami Shaw delivered a gold-medal performance in the 4x400 to close out the Horizon League Championship. NKU won six events between the men’s and women’s teams.

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DESIGNING SUCCESS NKU’s recently developed strategic framework puts students and the region first. // By Rodney Wilson (’00)

ON MONDAY, APRIL 8, 2019, NORTHERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY’S BOARD OF REGENTS APPROVED THE UNIVERSITY’S NEW THREE-YEAR STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK, SUCCESS BY DESIGN. The new framework, which will remain active until 2022, replaces the Fuel the Flame strategic plan of 2013-18.

According to NKU President Ashish Vaidya, the strategic framework is meant to further NKU’s commitment to advancing student success that aligns with regional needs. “We’re calling this important work Success by Design,” says Vaidya, “because it is guided by two fundamental principals: understanding the hopes and aspirations of who we are trying to serve—our students and the northern Kentucky/Greater Cincinnati region—and designing programs, services and learning experiences to help our students succeed and the region to thrive.”

The new framework is notable as much for how it was developed as for the contents. When calling for the creation of a new framework, Vaidya asked the campus community, NKU alumni and members of the community and region to participate in the process, which leverages “The Three Box Solution,” created by author Vijay Govindarajan. Following Govindarajan’s design-thinking tools—manage the present, selectively forget the past and create the future—the Strategic Core Team collected ideas and feedback through a “Whiteboard Wednesday” campaign, online surveys and TalkShops hosted on campus and in the community.

The resulting product, Success by Design, creates three pillars to guide NKU as it designs programs, services and learning experiences aimed at helping students succeed and the region thrive.

And as NKU implements plans around these pillars, the university encourages all stakeholders—from students to alumni to leaders in the community —to provide feedback that can inform adjustments and guide future developments.

“In the coming months, we will focus on discovering what works and what doesn’t,” says Vaidya. “What do we need to design, scale up and try out? What can we do without, and what’s next for NKU? 12 n k u m A G A Z I N E // S U C C E S S B Y D E S I g n

“Your answers will help us better serve current and future students as we promote economic and social mobility, leading to a more engaged, prosperous, inclusive and equitable community.”

OUR VISION “NKU will be nationally recognized for being a student-ready, regionally-engaged university that empowers diverse learners for economic and social mobility.”

ACCESS

(providing access to all individuals seeking a higher education)

COMPLETION

(helping students complete their higher education goals)

CAREER & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

(preparing students for productive careers & community engagement)

ACCESS “NKU will expand programs, services and delivery options to increase access and become a preferred destination for learners across the Commonwealth of Kentucky, the nation and the world.”

COMPLETION “NKU will align the institution so more learners, particularly first-generation, post-traditional, low-income and underrepresented individuals, earn highly-valued degrees, certificates and credentials.”

CAREER & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT “NKU will increase its contributions to the economic, social and civic prosperity of the region through talent development, research and innovation, and the stewardship of place.”

For more information about Success by Design, visit nku.edu/ successbydesign.

NKU’S NEW CAMPAIGN ALIGNS STUDENT SUCCESS WITH REGIONAL NEEDS. // By Kelsey Bungenstock (’16)

There are countless stories about the decisions that led students to Northern Kentucky University, each as meaningful as the next, but the decision to become a Norse is just part of the journey—and what comes next is a significant challenge for too many students.

We often take it for granted, but the ability to pursue an affordable, quality education, regardless of life circumstances, isn’t available to everyone who seeks it.

NKU wants to change that. And to support its mission of providing opportunities and resources not only to its students, but to the region at large, NKU has officially launched Further, Faster: The Campaign for NKU. “We are fortunate to serve diverse learners from first-generation students and adult students to veterans. Some arrive straight out of high school, while others have spent years in jobs that barely pay the bills. They arrive on campus filled with optimism, even as they are grounded by the reality of a challenging road ahead,” says NKU President Ashish Vaidya. “It is up to us to provide them with an education and opportunities that will empower them to attain fulfilling lives. Your support will help make the road a little less bumpy, so that our students can achieve their educational goals.”

The university’s last campaign wrapped up in 2005. The current campaign has raised more than $49 million toward the $75 million goal and is aimed at supporting the university’s singular focus of aligning student success with the needs of the region while ensuring that anyone who has the ability has the opportunity to pursue an NKU education.

“Public-private partnerships, including corporate collaborations and donor-based funding initiatives, must be a major part of how public higher education sustains itself moving forward,” says Erica Bolenbaugh, interim senior director for Advancement Operations.

The campaign is mainly structured around NKU’s recently announced strategic framework, Success By Design, which establishes three pillars that will determine the university’s success as it moves forward:

• Access: Access funds go toward scholarships for students in a pointed effort to break down financial barriers to higher education. Whether a student is the first in the family to go to college or a working parent who might not have the means to pursue a degree otherwise, gifts toward this pillar assure students can achieve their dreams at NKU. • Completion: For some, the challenge isn’t affording the first year of college—rather, it’s any of the numerous hardships, from emotional to financial, that can threaten a student’s path to graduation. Completion funds go toward advising programs and initiatives that support students as they complete their education.

• Career and Community Engagement: Student success doesn’t end on graduation day; it plays out in the ways graduates engage communities through their lives and careers. Engagement funds go toward resources that plan and support seamless transitions into the workforce and fulfilling lives. And because NKU is committed to remaining an asset to the region, engagement funds also support programs throughout Greater Cincinnati.

“The campaign asks groups and individuals to invest in our students and the future prosperity of our region by partnering with the university in its promise to maintain an affordable quality education for all learners, regardless of their journey to NKU,” says Bolenbaugh.

To learn more about Further, Faster: The Campaign for NKU, hear student testimonials and donate toward the university’s mission, visit nku.edu/ furtherfaster.

Support Further Faster, the Campaign for NKU by visiting nku.edu/furtherfaster.

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ILLUSTRATION BY DIONNE LAYCOCK

GREATER CINCINNATI HAS BECOME A MIDWEST MECCA FOR DINING EXPERIENCES, THANKS IN PART TO THESE ALUMNI FOODIE ENTREPRENEURS. For many years, the primary conversation around Greater Cincinnati’s food scene was “Skyline or Gold Star?” “UDF or Graeter’s?” was popular as well.

And people had a lot of opinions about Frisch’s Big Boy. But recently the conversation has taken a different turn, as locals now proudly claim independent eateries, brewpubs and culinary shops as their own personal favorites. And the love isn’t just coming from inside the region, either, with esteemed publications such as The Chicago Tribune, The New Yorker and even Food & Wine magazine lavishing attention on our area’s rising gastronomic status.

Beyond the glowing writeups, immutable word of mouth and long wait lists, though, are people— people with dogged determination, burning passions and culinary visions. These proprietors put their hopes, time and finances into a notoriously difficult retail arena, pushing themselves to the limit so people can share their dream with them. And with each new café or bottle shop, our region becomes a better place to live, work and play.

These people embody the concept of entrepreneurialism, and it’s no surprise that, behind many of Greater Cincinnati’s most exciting taste experiences, you’ll find graduates of Northern Kentucky

University. From journalists to microbiologists, accounting majors to MPAs, each exhibits the entrepreneurial streak common to so many of the school’s students and alumni.

In the following pages, we’ll take a look at just a few of the restaurants, watering holes and food experiences that NKU alumni have opened around the region in recent years. And to make it fun, we’ve organized things around common meals of the day, from breakfast to dinner to late-night snacks and drinks.

BON APPÉTIT!

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TASTE THE MEMORY ONE LOCAL DOUGHNUT SHOP RECREATES A HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD EXPERIENCE. n the heart of Latonia’s business district, customers line up on Winston Avenue outside a compact, one-story storefront just as the sun begins to set.

Inside the building, walls are hung with vintage photos of the Covington neighborhood. Steam billows from the kitchen as hundreds of hot doughnuts— glazed, blueberry, cinnamon—leave the fryer. When doors finally open, the line of people is long, sometimes reaching the corner.

This is typical for MOONRISE DOUGHNUTS, which serves more than 130 dozen fresh doughnuts on any given night. Why serve doughnuts in the evening? Well, it’s a neighborhood tradition.

Keith Bales (’93, ’97), a lifelong resident of Latonia and the man behind Moonrise, wanted to recreate a treasured piece of history—the old Latonia Bakery, which sold hot doughnuts at night from the building until the late 80s. Bales remembers running with his friends to the bakery after sunset to get hot, fresh doughnuts, and now, decades later, he’s brought the experience back to the neighborhood.

At Moonrise, families buy doughnuts for breakfast the next morning. Some stop by for dessert after dinner. Customers pick up catering orders for weddings or parties.

Others grab their to-go bags on the way to bonfires or sporting events.

Bales’ background isn’t in baking doughnuts, but he’s no stranger to entrepreneurship. He began buying rental properties when he was 20 years old and has owned a janitorial service, nuisance abatement business and, briefly, sandwich shop over the years.

“As a business owner, I was always interested in social causes and the government’s role in solving those issues,” he says. “I wanted to get more involved, but I realized in order to do that I needed to gain a bit of credibility… so I went back to school. I began with sociology because it was a macro approach to social systems, and I added psychology as a double major because it helped me understand the human behavior component of public policy.”

When Bales became an undergraduate student at Northern Kentucky University, he was nearly 30 years old. He gained experience at several different agencies while pursuing his undergraduate degrees, then enrolled in NKU’s Master of Public Administration (MPA) program. He went on to become a juvenile probation officer and spent most of his career in the local juvenile detention center.

Bales also worked his way up the ladder in city government, but, all the while, the 16 n k u m A G A Z I N E // g o o d e a t s a n d d r i n k s

idea of Latonia Bakery stayed fresh in his mind.

“It was one of those things where for years I said that somebody ought to,” Bales says. “After thinking about it for a long time, I decided to go ahead and do it. I don’t really think I went back to my job after that. I went into early retirement almost immediately.

“We outgrew this building the day we opened. We consider ourselves a doughnut boutique rather than a fullscale bakery. We want to stay small enough that we can continue to have excellent customer service. That’s why we’re here.”

That excellent customer service is a key part of what Bales is after with Moonrise Doughnuts—providing the experience he’s grateful to have had as a Latonia native.

“There are so many great shops in Greater Cincinnati. We’ll never say we are the best doughnuts in town,” he says.

“We fill a particular need—an experience that consists of evening hours, a familyfriendly atmosphere and extremely fresh doughnuts that were just made. I love that we get to know people by their first names and see kids experience what I experienced growing up in this neighborhood.”

—Jayna Morris

GO BIG OR GO HOME COVINGTON RESTAURANT THE GRUFF WAS FOUNDED ON FAMILY, INTUITION AND A LEAP OF FAITH. ristin Steuber (’03) found serving people rewarding when she worked her way through NKU waiting tables, but the journalism and marketing major didn’t expect her career to ultimately land her in the restaurant business. But now more than 15 years later, she and her husband, Avram—a professionally trained chef— own THE GRUFF, a vibrantly colored, family-friendly restaurant on the Kentucky side of the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge on Covington’s riverfront.

How she got here was somewhat happenstance, but she credits much of the couple’s success thus far to trusting their mutual gut. In early 2010, she was working at Marriott when the Steubers’ circumstances changed, pushing them to get creative: The economy was weak, reeling from the Great Recession, and her husband was between jobs, so they decided to utilize their combined skill sets to dive into the catering business, opening Twin Bistro on Covington’s Brent Spence Square.

“People said, ‘Oh you won’t make any money doing that,’” Steuber recalls. “And I was like, ‘I say we do this. You have a talent, and we can make this work.’ More people were starting to own restaurants, so we were in good company.”

The catering business was tough, though, and she says they struggled to drum up business outside a steady stream of corporate clients. If they wanted to reach the level of success they had envisioned, they had to go big.

“You learn from failure,” she says. “I’m not saying the first place was a failure, but it flatlined. It’s what pushed us to take this larger risk.”

At that point, with two small children and another on the way, they put it all on the line, closing Twin Bistro and opening The Gruff in January 2015. With a vision in mind of an artisanal pizza–serving deli—an equally great place to take the kids and grab a decent bite and a drink—the Steubers found a location that, to them, felt like stars aligning: just a bridge footpath away from Smale Riverfront Park, the stadiums and downtown Cincinnati, not to mention in close proximity to Covington’s business district.

The name references “Three Billy Goats Gruff” (also a nod to her three kids), and the troll from the children’s tale is even painted onto a patio wall shared with the bridge.

“We just wanted a place where people felt welcome, and they didn’t have to feel overdressed or underdressed and could bring their kids or their dogs,” says Steuber.

The menu is just as approachable, specializing in homey shared plates (think deviled eggs and beef stroganoff-topped french fries), simple sandwiches, soups, salads and creatively topped pizzas (Steuber’s favorite is the apple and bacon pie with blue cheese and arugula). Their ingredient sourcing matches Steuber’s values, using locally grown ingredients in their dishes and, to support other small businesses, community-made products in the retail area.

Thinking of how the restaurant’s interior would be laid out, she thought back to an experience her brother, who briefly lived in Ukraine, shared with her: “Almost every restaurant there has a kids area and—we couldn’t do it here because it’s a liability—but they have nannies watch your kids while you hang out with your friends,” she says. She adapted the idea, nixing the dividing wall and babysitters, and instead opted for open sightlines so parents could converse with one another while watching their children play games in the restaurant’s play area. That strategy has paid off, she says: “The community latched onto that right away—like, I can take my kids somewhere, finally!”

Their goal of serving other families has paid off for Steuber’s family, too. The most rewarding aspect of running her own business, she says, is having more flexibility to be around for her children so she doesn’t miss a precious moment.

—Kaileigh Peyton

s p r i n g / s u m m e r 2 0 1 9 17

or most Maysville, Kentucky, residents, the historic building at downtown’s 8 W. Second St. is the old Limestone Square Mall (the city’s original name was Limestone Landing), once home to Merz Brothers and Kline’s Department Store and, until recently, an empty space. But today, the interior is once again bustling with activity as a bakery team works hard decorating picture-perfect cupcakes, setting up a display of transparent tarts (a Maysville favorite), washing dishes and opening the cash register for the day’s customers.

At first glance, SPRINKLES OF HOPE isn’t a whole lot different from other bakeries—there are glass cases displaying bright frosting, and the sweet smell of confection hangs in the air. But one thing sets this place apart—the nonprofit bakery is on a mission to make the world a little bit sweeter by providing meaningful employment to adults with physical, developmental and intellectual disabilities.

Sprinkles of Hope was born out of the friendship between Mary Jo Shepherd (’07, ’11), a two-time alumna of Northern Kentucky University and special education teacher at Straub Elementary School, and Meagan Brannon, a nurse at Bracken County Nursing and Rehab Center.

Both women grew up in Maysville, but their paths never crossed until years later at an event for children with special needs (Brannon’s oldest son has autism). They learned they shared a common interest and an even bigger question: How do individuals with disabilities—who make up less than 20 percent of the U.S. labor force and often lose the support they need to thrive when leaving the school system—find their footing in the modern world?

The two became fast friends as, in the following months, they continued to discuss their common concern. Finally, they arrived at an answer that came with a call to action: There needed to be a business that employs adults with disabilities. And they needed to open it.

Shepherd and Brannon didn’t have any particular business idea on their radar, so they met with the Maysville Chamber of Commerce and took a course through the Maysville Regional Entrepreneur Center to learn the basics of starting, running and growing a business.

“When we looked at what Maysville actually needed, we knew it needed a bakery,” Shepherd says.

Neither Shepherd nor Brannon had baking or business experience, but they were eager to begin making a difference in the world. They started from scratch and raised money through crowdfunding to get the bakery off the ground. Some might say Shepherd gets her entrepreneurial spirit from her uncle—Frank Steely, NKU’s first president and faculty member in the History department until 2001.

Two-and-a-half years later, in May 2018, Sprinkles of Hope opened to the public in a cramped former grocery store further down Second Street. Less than a year later, the 18 n k u m A G A Z I N E // g o o d e a t s a n d d r i n k s

bakery relocated to its current location in the spacious and pedestrian-friendly Limestone Square Mall. Both women believe their experience with special needs children brought them together, and they're happy to make a difference.

Shepherd and Brannon want their employees to take pride in their work, and the bakery is built on independence and professional development. Employees shine daily as they bake, serve customers, take orders, decorate desserts and more.

Beyond the day-to-day duties of the job, Shepherd and Brannon also give their employees guidance, education and training to succeed in life long after they’ve left Sprinkles of Hope.

“We don’t want this to be the only job they’ve ever had,” Brannon says. “Mary Jo and I talk to them about what their dream job is. We want this to be a job to put on a resume and give them the experience they need to showcase their skills to other employers.”

Shepherd learned a vital lesson when she was on campus—something her NKU professors instilled in her—that she carries with her in the classroom and at the bakery.

“Seeing independence is really big for me,” Shepherd says. “Seeing our young adults be independent and gain skills and self-confidence has been exciting. That’s something I work on in the classroom. It’s not just about teaching them. I want them to be self-sufficient. It’s about helping them in the real world and making sure they have meaningful lives.”

—Jayna Morris

arbecue and radio don’t have much in common beyond a shared association with really great backyard parties. But Aaron Sharpe (’00), former WNKU station manager and current co-owner of LUCIUS Q in Pendleton, credits his nearly two decades at the station for where it’s taken him—behind the doors of one of Cincinnati’s most buzzed-about barbeque joints.

As far back as he can remember, Sharpe was a fan of WNKU, NKU’s legendary independent radio station. He volunteered in the studio while studying at the University of Cincinnati, and, during the 1998-99 academic year, transferred to NKU specifically to gain a more hands-on role. While pursuing his degree in television and radio, he was hired to fill in temporarily for another staff member, and the position eventually turned permanent. Over the years, he became a fixture of the area’s indie music scene and beyond, making connections with up-and-coming bands and local business owners alike.

Two years before the station’s 2017 sale, Sharpe began exploring the possibility of opening a side business. “I knew I eventually wanted to do something different and work for myself,” Sharpe says. He and friend Jeff Keate, who had decades of experience in the restaurant industry, started looking into opening a music venue in Over-the-Rhine.

They had their sights set on what is now the Woodward Theater on Main Street, but another interested party—the owners of MOTR Pub—acted first. They considered the music venue now known as OTR Live, but it wasn’t the right fit. “We felt like it was a bigger bite than we could chew,” he says. The landlord there, however, owned another property two blocks east in Pendleton that he thought they should consider.

“I had been in Pendleton before, but I never really thought much about the neighborhood and its potential,” Sharpe says. “When we really looked at it with different eyes, in terms of having a business, that’s really what got us all excited about opening something up. We liked the idea of being off the beaten path.”

The pair could envision their music venue in the space, but they also saw potential for much more. “We thought, it’s not a traditional music venue, but it could be a cool bar with live music and maybe even food,” he says. “In many ways, we kind of worked backwards.” Keate’s close friend from high school, Tom Martin, had grown a reputation as the pitmaster at Smoq in Springdale, and Keate proposed the idea of opening a barbecue joint with Martin as their pitmaster. The two canvassed the neighborhood, asking residents how they felt about the concept, and reactions affirmed their notions. They

brought on a third partner, Shane Spears, to oversee the business and financial side, and got started refining the idea.

The three partners, along with Martin, traveled the country trying different styles of barbecue. They spent countless hours testing and tasting different rubs, woods and meats until they settled on their menu. “We call it Midwest barbecue,” says Sharpe, “but it’s just our favorite stuff from all over the country.”

Staying true to their Over-the-Rhineadjacent location, they designed a somewhat upscale experience, with an industrial-yet-cozy interior and thoughtfully crafted dishes. Lucius Q sources its pulled pork, brisket, ribs, smoked pork bellies and chicken wings from longtime downtown butcher Avril-Bleh, and scratch-made sides like Parmesan-blue cheese grits, creamy smoked gouda mac and cheese, and a broccoli salad with pecans and dried cranberries tossed in vinaigrette round things out.

Since opening last March, the restaurant pulls a steady crowd for smoky bites, libations and free live music every weekend. Sharpe is the first to admit he’s a fish out of water in the restaurant industry, but he credits the lasting connections from his time at WNKU with making it all possible.

In fact, he says the two aren’t that different at the end of the day: “When you come in on a Friday night and the garage doors are open, the band is rockin’, there’s a line out the door and people are having a good time, there’s nothing quite like that.

We’re building community around food and music. In many ways it’s very similar.”

—Kaileigh Peyton s p r i n g / s u m m e r 2 0 1 9 19

REGIONAL CHEESE

tephanie Webster (‘13) just wanted a cute little shop where she could sip wine, savor good cheese and enjoy a conversation with friends. But she couldn’t find an exact match, so she started her own artisanal cheese shop, THE RHINED, in Cincinnati’s historic Over-the-Rhine neighborhood.“I conceived it from the floor to the ceiling,” she says, “every detail, every little thing.”

The Rhined is only a couple of years old, opening in summer of 2017, but the shop’s origin story starts years earlier, in a college class that spurred Webster’s fascination with fermentation and the food products it creates.

After transplanting from Lexington with her to-be husband (and future business partner), Dave, Webster decided to finish her undergraduate biology degree at NKU, where a science lab teacher taught the microbiology of fermentation by making delicious foodstuffs.

“We made an Indian fresh-style cheese and wine out of Welch’s grape juice,” she says. “The professor was telling us how she made yogurt at home on her windowsill, and I was like, wow, this is amazing!” Webster started making yogurt at home, too, then pursued further kitchen adventures, from sauerkraut to raw-milk butter to, you guessed it, cheeses such as fromage blanc and mozzarella. Meanwhile she finished her bachelor’s, attended grad school and, ultimately, took a job teaching high school science—which she quickly realized was wrong for her. “I just couldn’t wait to get back to food.” So after two years of teaching, she quit to become a cheesemonger, and she hasn’t looked back.

Situated on Elm Street, directly across from downtown Cincinnati’s 167-year-old Findlay Market, The Rhined’s cozy storefront features a case jam-packed with cheeses and charcuterie, a few tables and a massive oak bartop with pull-up stools. Artisanal preserves, pickles and other offerings sit on strategically placed shelves; wines are displayed throughout the store; and a glass-door cooler holds craft beer, chilled wines and assorted beverages.

It’s hard to imagine a better setting than The Rhined’s airy and inviting space for a glass of red, cheese flight and engaging conversation (unless you’re sitting on the patio out back on a sunny day). And for people familiar with the neighborhood’s rebirth—in 2009 Over-the-Rhine was notoriously named the most dangerous neighborhood in the U.S. by an insurance analytics company—it’s just further proof that people like Webster and her husband are bringing impactful change to the area.

“We live in the neighborhood—we bought a house almost eight years ago,” she says. “So when we decided to open a business, we knew we wanted it to be in OTR. We know the people here; we know what they want and who our customers would be.” And in addition to being part of the area’s overall revitalization, they’re bringing welcome change to their immediate neighborhood of north Over-the-Rhine, paving the way for new retail ventures to open and contribute to the burgeoning nightlife. “It’s safer for the neighborhood, to have businesses open at night,” she says. “We’re hoping that by next summer it’s going to be a whole different feel at night.”

At The Rhined, Webster focuses on regional cheeses, infusing decadence with social responsibility by featuring small local and domestic cheesemakers committed to sourcing milk from farmers who raise animals on pasture. “We give these amazing makers, who make beautiful cheese, a voice and a place in a case rather than just devoting it to the same European cheeses everyone else has.” Though The Rhined does sell select European offerings, she believes it’s important to support small, domestic producers first, as they don’t enjoy the subsidies that cheesemakers oversea receive (stateside, most farm subsidies go to corn and soy growers).

20 n k u m A G A Z I N E // g o o d e a t s a n d d r i n k s

With sold-out tasting classes, a steady stream of business and the recent acquisition of Oakley Wines in a nearby neighborhood, it’s safe to say that Webster’s vision for The Rhined is an unqualified success. Not that she was ever worried.

“I never doubted it,” she says. “We had so much support from the very beginning that it just felt good. It felt like we could do it.”

—Rodney Wilson (’00)

TAPPED OUT

HIGHER GRAVITY IS A NORTHSIDE CRAFT-BEER HAVEN. ith accounting backgrounds in risk assessment, HIGHER GRAVITY Crafthaus’ Jason Parnes (‘08) and Nick Belleman (‘10) may be the last people you’d expect to venture into retail self-employment. But they did, walking away from successful careers at Big Four accounting firm Ernst & Young to open the Northside bar and bottle shop in 2017.

Parnes, an accounting graduate, and Belleman, who earned his Master of Accountancy from NKU, developed an appreciation for craft beer while traveling extensively for work, and trying a variety of regional delicacies was a definite perk.

“I was traveling all over the country,” says Parnes, “and it seemed like every city I went to there were 10 more cool breweries that I wanted to check out.”

“It was just such a cool, unique experience to do at a pretty young age,” says Belleman, whose travel was largely international. “I got to experience different food cultures and try new things, which I really enjoyed.”

But while they both feel fortunate to have experienced so much of the world, constant work travel took a toll on them and their loved ones. A homebrew beer kit gifted to Parnes got him thinking about staying home, and he began brainstorming ways to use his craft-beer love for a career change.

“For a while I was just sending him ideas,” Parnes says, pointing to Belleman. “I knew he was burnt out, and I was ready to do something for ourselves. Finally, we were just like, ‘Let’s go. Let’s try this out.’”

Stocked with 500 craft beers, 14 on tap, and more than 100 wines, Higher Gravity is a welcome addition to the tight-knit Northside community. The pair designed their store with accessibility in mind, with iPads featuring a sortable inventory that links to Untappd beer reviews and a mobile-friendly site that makes browsing a breeze. And Higher Gravity’s staff has been trained to be uncommonly approachable—important for an industry with a daunting reputation.

“I look back at our product wall here and, if you’re not super into beer, it can be extremely overwhelming,” says Parnes. “So our bartenders are trained to not be judgmental, to not push anyone toward a product but to have people experience something that’s similar but different.”

“It’s funny, now everyone has a certain style,” adds Belleman, “and you can just talk to them for two minutes and be like, alright, this is what you normally drink. I have six or seven beers that I already know I can give to you and you’re going to probably like.

That’s actually one of my favorite games.”

The duo’s outreach extends beyond well-informed bartending, too, with a YouTube channel that explores beers for viewers all over the world and partnerships with breweries on collaborations and “gypsy brews” (beers produced in third-party facilities).

And the space is meant to be a “third space” for remote workers and freelancers to connect, with comfortable seating, free Wi-Fi and plenty of plugs, while weekly events give their Northside neighbors a place to hang out together and drink beer.

“We try to make sure every customer gets a full experience,” says Parnes, “whatever that experience needs to be.”

—Rodney Wilson (’00)

s p r i n g / s u m m e r 2 0 1 9 21

EVERYTHING IN THIS PROFESSOR’S STORY IS TRUE, EXCEPT THE FAKE PART.

BY JAYNA MORRIS Jessica Chiccehitto Hindman, a professor of creative writing at Northern Kentucky University, stands quietly behind the podium at Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Cincinnati, Ohio. She’s there to read an excerpt from her new memoir, “Sounds Like Titanic,” but, for now, she’s enjoying the looks on the faces of those in attendance.

Minutes before Hindman stepped forward, Tamaiya Wilson, a professional violinist and NKU alumna, performed for the crowd— not playing the violin but, rather, miming on her instrument to a CD of music suspiciously similar to the score from 1997’s “Titanic.” It was a bizarre scene, but this was no avant-garde art piece. Instead, it’s a ruse—one Hindman knows all too well.

At one point in her life, Hindman was a fake violinist, too. And she’s spent years trying to make sense of the experience.

22 n k u m A G A Z I N E // f i g h t i n g f o r o u r l i v e s 22 n k u m A G A Z I N E // m i l l i v i o l i n i

WEST VIRGINIA 1985 The daughter of a doctor and a social worker, Hindman grew up in two small, Appalachian towns in West Virginia (until she was 10 years old) and Virginia (through high school).

And though there’s plenty of fakery in her story, one thing is very true: She loves the violin and has since she was 4 years old, when she fell under the spell of Vivaldi’s “Winter” while watching “Sarah and the Squirrel,” a 1982 animated film about World War II that featured the composition. For four years, Hindman begged her parents for a violin. She dreamt of becoming a professional violinist and mentally played the few Vivaldi notes she could remember before falling asleep each night.

Then, shortly after her eighth birthday, Hindman’s parents caved. They bought her a violin and committed to driving several hours both ways through the mountains to Virginia for weekly lessons. Through high school, she dedicated herself to playing the violin, and locals in her hometown took notice. They told her she had a “reeyell” gift.

NEW YORK 1999 Hindman’s gift earned her an acceptance letter from New York’s Columbia University.

Her parents pleaded with her to turn it down, but she was eager to leave Appalachia for the Ivy League. She enrolled as a music major and packed her violin for the move to Manhattan.

Growing up in a doctor’s household, Hindman was aware of class differences between her family and others in the community. But when she got the $30,000 price tag for her Columbia education—an amount her family could not afford—her elevated standing flipped upside-down. s p r i n g / s u m m e r 2 0 1 9 23

“I found myself coming from a town in which I was a doctor’s daughter… to going to an Ivy League school where I was seen as poor,” Hindman says. “I was privileged in one world and not in another.”

Hindman had convinced her family she could get a job to make up the difference in tuition cost, but, determined to become a professional violinist, she didn’t have much time for work. So, to afford her first semester of college, she sold her eggs to a fertility clinic.

But while years of dedication and private lessons can make you the best in your small town, they don’t automatically lead to professional musicianship. Surrounded by more talented violinists, Hindman barely made the cut for the college orchestra.

After a few months, Hindman decided to face the music and changed her major to Middle Eastern Studies.

EGYPT 2001 In the fall of 2001, Hindman joined a study abroad program in Cairo, Egypt.

A few weeks after landing at the Cairo International Airport, Hindman witnessed footage from back home in New York City—two planes had hit the Twin Towers.

Many of her fellow students fled to Europe, as the home of one of the hijackers was just blocks from where they stood in Cairo, but she chose to stay and document her experiences for her hometown newspaper.

So began a new dream: becoming a Middle East news correspondent. Hindman studied Arabic and learned everything she could about Islamic literature, art and religion with the intention of bridging understanding between the U.S. and the Middle East.

NEW YORK 2002 Approaching her senior year at Columbia, Hindman was working two jobs and $8,000 behind on her tuition payment for the fall semester. She was starting to feel hopeless when she spotted a strange (but promising) advertisement on the student listserv that would allow her to play the violin with a professional, traveling orchestra: “Seeking violinists and flute players to perform in award-winning ensemble that has performed on PBS and NPR and at Lincoln 24 n k u m A G A Z I N E // m i l l i v i o l i n i

Center. Must be able to work every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. $150/day with potential bonuses. Send résumé and demo tape to Becca Belge, Assistant Production Manager.”

Hindman’s dreams of becoming a professional violinist resurfaced immediately, and, just three days after submitting a demo tape, she was hired. Was it suspicious that she was given a W-4 form before she even finished what she thought was her audition? Sure, but this was her dream. She loved music and couldn’t give up a second chance to pursue it.

It all seemed too good to be true— largely because it was. On one of her first days on the job, she stood for hours in front of a microphone, holding her violin between her chest and neck. She did play, but the audience couldn’t hear her over the recording of a better violinist blasting over the loudspeakers. She hit wrong notes; no one knew.

This was no fluke—it was the job. The group pretended to play at craft fairs, in shopping malls, on national television and at Carnegie Hall, and the performance was always the same: the microphones were never plugged in, the musicians pretended as music very similar to “Titanic” (tweaked just enough to not violate copyright law) played over the stereo.

The man behind the music—whom Hindman refers to as The Composer—isn’t necessarily a villain. He stayed behind after every concert to meet fans and chat with them. His “work” gave audiences comfort in the years following 9/11. He wasn’t a bad man—he was just a phony.

“There was this contrast between great praise and the reality of knowing it wasn’t real,” she says. “It wasn’t guilt but more worry about what I was doing with my life.

I knew there was a more authentic way to make a living.”

NEW YORK 2003 She completed her Ivy League degree and undertook a dogged job search, but Hindman could not find a newspaper that would hire a Middle Eastern war correspondent. She was rejected for a Fulbright scholarship in the final round just weeks before having to move out of university housing, so she continued to tour with the ensemble after graduation to pay

down student loans and, hopefully, one day move abroad.

But things changed drastically for Hindman when, in the fall of 2004, she joined the ensemble on the 54-city PBS God Bless America Tour. The stress of pretending to perform atop an identity crisis manifested in debilitating panic attacks that invaded every part of her life—including performances. She recalls losing grip of reality in her personal life while a post-9/11 United States faced the beginning of the Iraq War. When the tour ended, Hindman quit the ensemble and moved back to her parent’s house in Appalachia for six months.

Playing in the ensemble had paid Hindman’s rent and tuition, but at a significant cost. When you ask her why she stayed on for four years, despite panic attacks and guilt and the grueling hours of pretend performances, she takes a deep breath.

“I was 21 years old and so grateful to have a job,” she says. “When we’re young, we’re even more susceptible to everyone else’s approval of us, and I think that was part of it. There’s also the lifelong continuation of that dream. Being able to say ‘I’m a professional violinist’ holds a certain cachet that ‘I’m a receptionist at an upscale spa’ does not.”

threads of her story, then ran into a wall after the first 50 pages. But during her second year in the MFA program, she applied for a teaching fellowship and found both her calling and a way forward with her work.

“I learned so much about writing from learning how to teach writing,” she says. “I found some sort of identity—a professional identity outside of my personal life—where I felt like I was important and helping other people. Teaching gave me confidence I never had before; I stopped having panic attacks. From there, I knew this was something I could do.”

she’s gained a new perspective on it all.

“Bad for life; good for writing, right? I was obsessed with success and achievement,” she says. “Now I see that the emphasis on that was all wrong. I missed out on things for all the wrong reasons. There’s this idea that you have to be a mega superstar by the time you’re 25 years old.

“I’m glad I didn’t sell this book at 25 or 30.

The book wasn’t ready, but I also wasn’t.”

TEXAS 2013

NEW YORK 2005 Hindman decided to return to New York, but she needed employment compatible with her full-blown panic attacks. (Working as a Middle East war correspondent while battling an internal war of her own was out of the question at this point.) She found a windowless cubicle job within Columbia’s medical school as an office assistant—it provided the health insurance that allowed her to function and free tuition for graduate school.

She joined the university’s Master of Fine Arts program and began writing what she thought would be an article about class and classical music that she could pitch to The New Yorker. But, she soon realized, her story was bigger than the ensemble experience—and she had no idea where to begin. Then, during a creative writing workshop, Hindman was given an assignment: Explore a structure she’d never worked with before and put her material in that form.

“I didn’t consider myself an experimentalist, but the whole thing opened up for me,” says the one-time journalist.

“Once I started writing little fragments, I could tell the whole story.”

Hindman began piecing together the

Teaching became central for Hindman, and she moved to Denton, Texas, to pursue a PhD at the University of North Texas. She became a Toulouse Dissertation Fellow in her final year, returning her focus to writing while applying to some 80 jobs—none of which she’d heard back about by January of the following year, just months from graduation.

“I was worried that everything that happened to me would happen again,” she says. “I would finish my dissertation and be right back in my parents’ basement—only this time I’d be Dr. Hindman.”

She began to write furiously and, for three months straight, produced between 3,000 and 4,000 words a day. To keep track of all her storylines—her childhood, moving from Appalachia to an Ivy League university, her time in Cairo, 9/11, The Composer, the ensemble—Hindman posted hundreds of color-coded index cards on a board on her apartment wall.

In the spring of 2013, she finished her memoir, wrapped up her dissertation and later became an assistant professor of English at New Mexico Highlands University, where she was also the director of the university’s Writing Center.

KENTUCKY 2019 Fast forward six years to today. Hindman is a tenured professor of English at NKU. “Sounds Like Titanic: A Memoir” was recently published and is receiving praise from outlets such as NPR, Vox, Goodreads and O: The Oprah Magazine.

And, with her story finally down on paper, s p r i n g / s u m m e r 2 0 1 9 25

UMI BY THE NUMBERS NKU SCANNED A 2,000-YEAR-OLD MUMMY CHILD IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CINCINNATI MUSEUM CENTER.

By Rodney Wilson (’00) ON JAN. 17, 2019, NORTHERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY’S HEALTH INNOVATION CENTER OPENED ITS DOORS TO A DISTINGUISHED GUEST—A MUMMY, POSTHUMOUSLY NAMED UMI (WHICH MEANS “LIFE” IN NORTH AFRICA). The child mummy was granted a very special day pass from his home at the Cincinnati Museum Center (CMC) for a project spearheaded by NKU’s Jason Applegate (radiologic sciences), Tom Baxter (respiratory care) and Brian Hackett (public history) and aided by the CMC’s Bob Genheimer (CMC George Rieveschl Curator of Archaeology) and Tyler Swinney (NAGPRA coordinator/tribal liaison).

The purpose of the visit was to obtain new imaging—both radiographs and CT scans—of the mummy, updating previous ones taken nine years ago. In addition to showing molded amulets held within the wrappings, the scans presented an opportunity to further study the carcass for clues to the cause of death. Scans were then used to create new, 3D-printed replicas of both Umi and his amulets, replacing the CMC’s aging model (see sidebar for more on that). A 3D holographic project is also in development for an exhibit to be built and presented by public health students.

Read on to learn more about Umi’s big day out at NKU.

26 n k u m A G A Z I N E // U M I B Y T H E N U M B E R S

60 The number of years Umi resided at the Cincinnati Art Museum. He was gifted to the CMC 10 years ago, in 2009.

radiograph images and

$1,000 The project was made possible by a $1,000 mini-grant from Northern Kentucky University.

axial images were taken during the scans.

43 43 students were involved in the project: 28 radiology students worked on the scans (15 on CT scans, 13 on radiographs) and 15 public history students are creating a special exhibit.

16 One of the machines used was a G.E. Lightspeed 16-slice CT scanner, cutting-edge technology that allowed students and faculty to produce updated scans with maximized contrast (necessary when no fluid or organs are present), replacing a set of Umi images the CMC obtained nine years ago.

The approximate age at which the child, who was mummified and later named Umi, is believed to have died.

2,000 The approximate age of Umi, who died in the second century close to the year 140 CE.

180 seconds was all it took to conduct the CT scans, followed by

24 molded amulets are suspended within the wrappings above Umi’s body. These funerary amulets were placed strategically by ancient Egyptians in order to protect parts of the body during the afterlife. These amulets were recreated by 3D printing for display at the museum.

hours of image processing.

MODELING THE MUMMY IT WAS, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, ONCE COMMON PRACTICE TO UNWRAP MUMMIES. Elites of 19th-century Victorian Europe used to host parties in which mummified corpses were unrolled from their wrappings, gruesome affairs that historical reports indicate were regarded as the social events of the season. Gross, but to each their own.

Today we understand that undressing a mummy is not only rude but can seriously damage the historically significant corpse under.

Luckily, this realization was accompanied by advances in technology that allow us to peak under the bandages virtually, using scanning machines that reveal the bodies beneath.

Which is all well and good for researchers, but what of the public spectacle of viewing a mummified body? Once again, technology offers up an answer in the form of 3D-printed replications. For nine years, the Cincinnati Museum Center displayed a skeleton printed from a delicate powder material, but, using 1.5 gigabyes of scanned data, NKU produced new, durable replications of Umi’s body, resting board and amulets found in the cartonnage out of polylactic acid, a durable but biodegradable thermoplastic.

“The students collected very high resolution data from the mummy during the CT scan that was used to develop the files for printing the replica,” says Jason Applegate of the Radiologic Sciences department. “File creation took more than 50 hours and the printing process took over 100 hours. The mummy had to be printed in 12-inch sections since the maximum print size for the printers is 12 inches.”

The new Umi went on display at the CMC in March 2019, and a second 3D-printed mummy is set to be created and displayed in Founders Hall in the near future.

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In February, Northern Kentucky University alumni gathered in the Campus Recreation Center for the annual Alumni Awards Ceremony, followed the next day by Homecoming. The theme of this year's Alumni Weekend was, appropriately, "Come Together," which all in attendance did in style.

Brady Jolly shakes hands with President Vaidya before receiving this year's Outstanding Young Alumnus Award.

Local band STAYS IN VEGAS brought the groove and rocked the mic for NKU graduates and their guests at the Alumni Awards after-party.

28 28 nnkkuu mmAAGGAAZZIINNEE //// cniorrcsl iensg oafr lo iugnhdt

Barry Kienzle, center, received a Distinguished Service Award.

Arnie Slaughter, center, was this year's Faculty/Staff Strongest Influence Award recipient.

Tom Munninghoff, Esq., (center) was the recipient of this year's Outstanding Alumnus Award.

Alumni from near and far came together to dine, drink and celebrate the 2019 Alumni Award winners.

Homecoming queen, Meleia Michels, and king, Blake Scott, pose with President and Nita Vaidya.

Diane Sticklen-Jordan takes the stage to accept her Distinguished Service Award.

ABOVE Basketball emcee Troy Cornes introduced Alum of the Game Chris Orme (center).

Students showed up to represent the Norse at the men's basketball Homecoming win over the Oakland Golden Grizzlies.

Families were all smiles at Northern Taste, part of the 2019 Homecoming Weekend.

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NORSENOW [ E N TR E P R E N E U R]

THIS HOST DOES THE MOST

J

Ebony J takes it to the airwaves and just about everywhere else.

effonia Wynn (’12), known to radio station listeners across the Greater Cincinnati area as Ms. Ebony J, started her career in a Landrum Academic Center studio on Northern Kentucky University’s campus in 2008.

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With nothing more than a soundboard, microphone and computer, she launched “The Ebony J Show” within three weeks of joining Norse Code Radio, NKU’s student-operated radio station.

Wynn’s love for radio started at the

age of 5, when she spent her days with an ear cradled next to a speaker listening to the week’s top musical hits. During high school, she turned her radio obsession into focused involvement, completing internships at WCPO, the Scripps Howard

event. As I got closer to graduation, I realized I needed this as a business.”

After leaving NKU with a bachelor’s in electronic media and broadcasting and a minor in communications, Wynn went on the hunt for her dream job as on-air talent.

But when she landed a producer position at The Wiz, she took a step back, into the studio but away from the mic, to focus on working her way up the ladder. And when potential hosting opportunities arose, she pursued each one.

“It took me five interviews to get hired,” she says. “But when I started, I was ready.”

Wynn’s first on-air job found her hosting her own show at 101.1 The Wiz, after which she moved to shows such as The Doll House with Paigion, The Russ Parr Morning Show and The Rickey Smiley Morning Show. Currently, she’s back to hosting her own show on R&B Cincy 100.3.

Wynn chased her dream and caught success—but she credits much of it to her experiences on NKU’s campus.

“NKU prepared me for my career because it allowed me to understand everything I’m doing now,” she says. “I

leadership camps, awards ceremonies, conferences and concerts.

Beyond career endeavors, though, Wynn’s passion is empowering survivors of sexual assault, abuse and rape through her business, Ebony J Media, which she launched in 2015.

“Our life is a journey, and we might not like or love it, but it’s who we are,” she says. “My business has grown to be a platform to empower queens to live out their true purpose. I’ve worked kings into that equation as well.”

A victim of assault herself, Wynn chooses to share her own experience in hopes of helping survivors move forward.

“We know that one in five women and one in seven men suffer from sexual violence. That shows how it’s not about me, and it’s about making people heal,” she says. “I use my platform to let survivors know that you can’t go numb based off the pain you have experienced in the world, because pain is preparing you for what is meant for you. I’m a survivor. I want to be the example to show people that they have the power to heal.”

Wynn wants to create a safe space where survivors of domestic violence,

“There were multiple people who didn’t give up on me and saved my life. It took real love, and I want to share that. This is way bigger than me. What keeps me going is that one girl at home who’s broken and scared.

I’m doing all of this for her.”

Foundation and Radio One Cincinnati.

She could never shake the feeling that she was meant to be on the radio, and in 2010 things really took off. While still a junior in the College of Informatics, Wynn saw that people were already taking notice of who she was.

“The radio show was growing. I had a really big following in Cincinnati,” she says. “People would tune in and call me to see if I could come and speak at their

was doing nothing but practicing what I was learning in the classroom and developing the habits that come along with being a host and media personality.

NKU gave me that, and it’s something I will always be thankful for.”

And, through hard work, Wynn grew her radio success in a variety of different directions. In addition to her on-air work, she teaches at the Ohio Media School and emcees parties, fundraising events,

sexual assault and rape can feel safe— something she is grateful she was able to experience following her trauma.

“There were multiple people who didn’t give up on me and saved my life. It took real love, and I want to share that. This is way bigger than me. What keeps me going is that one girl at home who’s broken and scared. I’m doing all of this for her.”

—Jayna Morris

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NORSENOW [ E N TR E P R E N E U R]

KENTUCKY STRAIGHT

I

For master distiller Harlen Wheatley, great bourbon starts with good chemistry.

t’s true that Harlen Wheatley (’94) gets paid to taste bourbon, and, yes, he knows he has one of the best jobs in the world. But it’s not day drinking that puts a smile on the face of Buffalo Trace’s master distiller—he’s just really into chemistry.

“Nowadays, when people think about Buffalo Trace, they think about those whiskies in the bottle,” he says. “But when I started here, it was about the production facility.”

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Wheatley’s role takes him both into the still house and around the globe for bourbon education, and his hard work hasn’t gone unnoticed—he’s been nominated for the James Beard Award four times, and Buffalo Trace’s whiskies are considered among the best spirits in the world by chefs and connoisseurs. But ask Wheatley about the man behind the brand, and his thoughts wander back to a boyhood in Union, Kentucky.

“It was pretty rural back then, and we

did a lot of country things—you know, hunting and fishing,” he says, remembering a crossbow he built in shop class at Ockerman Middle School. “I’m assuming these days they’d never let you build that in school, but, yeah, it was a working crossbow. I put a spool on the front, shot fish and reeled them in. It was fun.”

In high school, he played soccer, baseball and, most notably, football—Wheatley was a linebacker for Boone County the year the team made it to the state title game—and

PHOTO CREDIT BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY

excelled in every academic subject except one. “Chemistry was the class I had the most difficulty with in high school,” he says with a laugh. “I said, ‘I’m not going to let that stop me—that’s B.S. I’m going to figure it out.’”

This resolution brought him to Northern Kentucky University, where he enrolled in the university’s pre-engineering program, which, through an arrangement between

the department of Physics and Geology and the University of Kentucky, allowed him to attend both NKU and UK for dual degrees in chemistry and chemical engineering.

Wheatley faced the daunting challenge headon, starting college-level chemistry classes at NKU. “It was tough,” says Wheatley. “I remember physical chemistry in particular; there were four people in the whole class. We had 12-hour exams, and there were maybe 20 8.5x11 sheets of paper. No lunch breaks, you’d just take in a pack of crackers. And the final was so long that we had to go to the professor’s basement to finish it. It was like 14 hours long.’” The professor, beloved chemist Vern Hicks, still holds a special place in Wheatley’s heart. “He was my favorite. I liked him a lot. He was a great teacher.” (The NKU Chemistry & Biochemistry department recently returned the love, awarding Wheatley with its 2019 Outstanding Alumni Award.)

Wheatley’s hard work paid off when, in 1994, a human resources representative from what was then the George T. Stagg Distillery in Frankfort contacted UK with a specific ask: Gary Gayheart, then-master distiller, was thinking about retirement and wanted an apprentice. Wheatley, recently graduated and working for a water treatment company, was named as a standout student, but he was hesitant to leave the job that got him through college. “I said, well, I’m not really looking for a job, but I’ll come check it out.”

The distillery won him over when he saw how much chemistry would be involved. “I was just wanting to apply stuff I knew,” he says. “It was about the production and all the things that go into that. It wasn’t about the bourbon so much at the time—that takes care of itself.”

He started as a supervisor in January 1995 and worked under Gayheart for 10 years until, in 2005, Wheatley was named master distiller, making him both the public face of Buffalo Trace and, as head of production, protector of the distillery’s 227-year-old legacy. “Anybody that grows up in Kentucky appreciates history, I think,” he says. “That’s

definitely what enticed me to do a good job. I mean, we have hundreds of years of families and people that have worked here.

If you screw it up, you’re kind of disgracing everybody behind you.”

The stakes were high, but Wheatley says he felt ready for the responsibility—he’d been trained well by Gayheart and maintained a passion for learning. “When I started, we had a whole lot of guys who had been here 30, 40 years. My theory was, these guys have seen and done it, so I'd better try to absorb all I could,” he says. “I think it’s really important to build a foundation of institutional knowledge, and I think it’s that way with any job. You don’t know it all, I don’t care what job you’re in, and you have to learn from others around you.”

Wheatley now travels the world talking about Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey (“All those words mean something on that bottle,” he says) and hosting events—critical elements of his job, given bourbon’s recent surge in popularity. But on days when he’s at home, in the historic distillery on the banks of the Kentucky River, he’s back at chemistry, overseeing production to maintain consistency of Buffalo Trace’s whiskies and experimenting with new techniques and ingredients in pursuit of what he calls the “Holy Grail”—a perfect bourbon.

“You definitely use your laboratory and chemistry background to think of the endless options that are there,” he says.

“But consistency is the key to producing a good bourbon. When you break it down on the production side, there are probably 100 different processes, and you have to do each one of them consistently to produce that consistent product.”

But about those tastings? They're important, of course, to ensure Buffalo Trace whiskies are what their customers deserve— the best. “It’s all about producing authentic products that people will go out and search for, and be confident when they buy it,” he says. “It’s our formula. It’s really a simple thing for us, but it’s really important.”

—Rodney Wilson ('00)

113 Great Buffalo Trace, Frankfort, KY 40601 Tour and tasting, then a special reception in the Single Oak Room Visit nku.edu/buffalotrace for more information and to register.

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NORSENOW

PHOTO CREDIT KRIS ROGERS PHOTOGRAPHY

THE REAL MCCOY

Annalyse McCoy chased her dreams from small-town Kentucky to the Big Apple.

A

ctress and musician Annalyse McCoy (’06) can say she’s been a lot of things in her time on earth, from rooftop landscaper in New York City to international performer.

She’s appeared in national commercials and sang on the Opry City Stage. And the eastern Kentucky native’s lineage delivers another claim to fame, too—McCoy is, in fact, a “real” McCoy. “I’m a direct descendant from the McCoys who fought with the Hatfields,” she says. “We actually have a book in the house where I grew up called ‘The McCoys: Their Story.’ The genealogy goes back to my grandparents.”

But mostly it’s the singing and acting that have defined McCoy, beginning in her hometown church choir in Inez, Kentucky, and later performing in plays at Jenny Wiley State Park. The small-town upbringing provided a supportive environment for developing skills, and performances at the park introduced her to a variety of people.

“I had this enormous support as an artist,” says McCoy. “I knew that small-town feel, and it was good getting to know people outside who would come in to do these shows.” Exposure to varying perspectives

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allowed her to develop her own sense of identity and aspirations. “It really helped me as a budding artist.”

While her career would eventually land her in New York, McCoy first ventured a little less north to Northern Kentucky University, where she attended school on a full-ride theater scholarship.

“I really wanted to go in-state,” she says, “and NKU was the best theater school in the state, honestly.”

After graduation, she considered pursuing music in Nashville or acting in L.A. But in the end it was New York City—with vibrant theater and music scenes—that offered everything she wanted. “There is no place like New York.”

Which is not to say it was an easy transition—settling into the city that never sleeps was quite an adjustment for the young woman from small-town Kentucky.

“I grew up in a town of 500 people and moved to New York where there’s 500 people on my block, probably,” says McCoy. “It was quite a process to get used to.

In New York, you have to find your own rhythm.” But her determination drove her to push ahead, knowing that she had to hit the ground running if she wanted to make

it. “Sometimes you just have to show up,” she says.

McCoy went to every audition she could find, networked with people in the creative community and worked side hustles to pay the bills. She landed several voiceover gigs and created music for corporate presentations. And she worked as a rooftop landscaper, which, in a place like New York City, is one tall feat.

“We got the best views of the city,” says McCoy “in the midst of all these huge skyscrapers. A musician friend of ours got us into it, and we met other musicians that way.” As the side jobs piled up, the number of people in her circle grew until she found herself in a large network of working creatives. The work she secured expanded as well—she even landed the lead role in a commercial for carmaker GMC (her resume now boasts the ability to drive a stick shift).

And New York turned out to be a surprising fit for her Kentucky-bred songwriting. Nashville usually gets top billing for Americana and country, but McCoy points out there’s a growing community of rootsy musicians in the Big Apple, too. “It’s small, but it’s definitely mighty,” she says. “People don’t realize how much people in New York do love country music. Because, you know, the city has those great stories.”

McCoy fronted the roots rock band 2/3 Goat for a number of years and now plays mandolin and sings with her husband, Ryan Dunn, in the duo Annalyse & Ryan. The pair recently toured Europe, where McCoy notes the most-requested song was John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads.”

For a woman raised in a city with a threedigit population, there was a special joy in singing about country roads while traveling the world.

She knows there are students sitting where she once sat, wishing for the creative success McCoy’s found, and her advice to them is simple: Never give up on yourself, and always be nice to people. “I think there are a lot of talented people out there, but you also have to be someone people want to work with,” she says. “That doesn’t always necessarily have to do with talent.”

—Lizzie Kibler (’16)

NORSENOW

CHANGING THE CULTURE Brady Jolly is bringing innovation to the service industry.

W

hen Brady Jolly (’14) was named CEO of Jolly Plumbing in 2014, many expected the young executive to lead with an “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mentality. With an established reputation and solid customer base, all he needed to do was support the plumbing services, respect clients and hire good tradespeople to keep things on track. But Jolly had something else in mind—he wanted to turn the service industry upside down.

Jolly, a native of Campbell County, Kentucky, grew up in and around the family business. He loved Jolly Plumbing’s atmosphere and, most importantly, watching his father, Barry Jolly, grow and run a successful business.

“I was always around,” says Jolly. “Every summer during middle school, I worked on a crew for a guy named Scott. I could hardly ever last the whole day, so on the way home I would nap in his truck. Scott still works here and, to this day, still makes fun of me.”

Even then, Brady envisioned one day representing his family’s name while growing the business into the region’s trades leader.

So after high school, he enrolled in Northern Kentucky University's entrepreneurship program to learn how to run a company.

“I didn’t know what other companies looked like,” he says. “I had all these visions and ideas for Jolly but we didn’t know the best way to grow a business. Then comes NKU, who taught me about other businesses—both entrepreneurial successes and failures.” Jolly learned to compare Jolly Plumbing’s business techniques to those of other companies, not just what his father’s company had done in the past. He also found success on the men’s basketball team and remains a dedicated Norse fan to this day.

While in college, Jolly served as a business development manager for Jolly Plumbing; he also restored and flipped houses on the side. Then, after graduating in 2014, Jolly took the reins as CEO. His first move as the man in charge? He knew attitudes in the service industry often soured fast, so he set to work improving employee culture, knowing the effect would extend to customers.

“It used to be about whatever it takes to make the customer happy,” he says. “Now we do whatever it takes to make the employees happy. We know that if our employees are happy, they’ll provide an incredible experience to our customers. It’s a new age of business thinking.”

Relationships and culture are essential

to Jolly, who says that, with 50 employees in the field every day, he can’t know what conversations take place. But developing employee relationships and hiring people with a common vision created a positive culture, while anonymous employee surveys revealed target areas for improvement, including pride, balance and compensation.

“Money is a huge driver, so I made it a goal to be the highest-paying plumbing company in Cincinnati. We also found that people want to be proud of the business they work for. The last thing we found was how important work-life balance is. The service business never stops—plumbing goes haywire every day—and it’s been a challenge balancing that with happiness.”

Jolly also focused on closing gaps in the industry through to an unconventional strategy—he finds exceptional communicators and works to make them great plumbers, rather than worrying over a fleet of employees with poor customerrelation skills. He created an in-house apprenticeship program to improve employees’ skill sets and developed partnerships with local high school tech programs to help students find a career path.

In his five years as CEO, Jolly has tripled both revenue and workforce and, in 2017, enacted one of the biggest changes in company history, expanding services to offer cleaning and restoration, property maintenance and event management, as well as venturing into real estate under the umbrella of Jolly Enterprises. He’s also built a digital strategy for attracting more customers.

“We have to be a creative and different type of company on social media,” he says.

“You don’t see many plumbing companies doing what we do.” Digital tactics range from Super Bowl commercials and comedic skits on Twitter to the recently created Log Blog, which helps find the cleanest bathrooms in Greater Cincinnati. (The Log Blog even hosts the Loggies—awards for the best bathrooms in the area.)

“There is a stigma around plumbing, and I think it’s good to be different,” he says. “It’s appealing to both employees and customers.

That’s how you drive performance and value to your business.”

—J. Atley Smedley (’18)

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MYSTERY PHOTO!

SOLVE THE MYSTERY FOR NKU HISTORY! Nothing says warm weather like a cookout, and this looks like it was a good one—boxes of beverages, stacks of snacks and one seriously smoking grill. All those smiles tell us some major summer fun was being had and, frankly, make us want to ditch the NKU Magazine office for the great outdoors.

What’s going on in this photo? Were you one of those students gathered around the picnic table? Who’s the grill master in the slacks and button-down? And where’d you get that sweet Bengals pitcher?

Help us out! Email your memories to nkumagazine@nku.edu or tweet us at @nkumagazine. Let’s put this midyear mystery to rest.