NKY Business Journal Summer 2017

BUSINESS JOURNAL OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF NKY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

SUMMER 2017

THE LEADERSHIP ISSUE

LEADERSHIP NKY CLASS OF 2018 P. 10

IGNITING BOLD LEADERSHIP P. 14 GROWING FUTURE LEADERS P. 17

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CONTENTS

SUMMER 2017 VOLUME 36, NUMBER 3

— It wasn’t until the last few years that CVG saw a big shift in their air service, that we really began taking a more serious approach to the potential opportunities.

— DAVE HARVEY MANAGING DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, SOUTHWEST AIRLINES

14 Igniting Bold Leadership for Established and Emerging Leaders

24 Summer Adventures In Northern Kentucky

16 Pay It Forward

26 Embracing What’s Next

10 Leadership NKY Class of 2018

17 Need to Grow Future Leaders? Mentor AND Advocate

28 Ribbon Cuttings

11 A Critical Ingredient of Our Community

18 Around the Chamber

12 Regional Youth Leadership Class of 2018

20 Vacations

4 Let’s Get To Work 7 Chair’s Letter 8 Interim President’s Letter

13 NKY Educators Honored with Golden Apple Awards

22 Let’s Talk Chicken

32 Member Milestones 36 Emerging 30 38 Events

PHOTO: Rudy Harris Photography

SUMMER 2017 | VOLUME 36 NUMBER 3

PAGE 3

LET’S GET TO WORK

know she will do a great job at TMC, but we are excited to see what Dawn, and the committed volunteers who help make LNK such a success, come up with over the next few years.

Speaking of transitions, this is my final Business Journal column. Three years ago, after a wonderful stint in Boston, Nancy, the girls and I were looking for a way to get back to spend more time with our family and friends, and fortunately, the Chamber allowed me to do just that.

By: Trey Grayson Past President & CEO NKY Chamber of Commerce To Follow: @KYTrey

THIS ISSUE OF THE BUSINESS JOURNAL is our annual Leadership issue.

Inside you will see the newest class of Leadership Northern Kentucky and the Regional Youth Leadership program.

Both programs are special to me.

RYL was one of the first programs for which I volunteered right out of grad school, and this past year, I had the good fortune of being an RYL parent as my daughter Alex participated in the class.

For LNK, I am a member of the best class ever, the Class of 2000.

Interestingly, our class turned out to be the most political class ever as several class members joined our Campbell County Commissioner classmate (the late Bill Verst) in elected office: Fort Wright Mayor Dave Hatter, Kenton County Judge/ Executive Kris Knochelmann, Kenton County Commissioner Beth Sewell and Secretary of State me. I certainly attribute some of my political success to my LNK experience and the relationships forged that year and in subsequent years as an LNK volunteer.

This is a year of transition for LNK as Dawn Denham is taking over as executive director of the program after a successful run by Leisa Mulcahy, who joined her alma mater, Thomas More College, as director of alumni engagement. We will all miss Leisa and PAGE 4

THIS PAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION WAS AN HISTORIC ONE FOR OUR REGION AND OUR MEMBERSHIP. At the very beginning of my time here, the Chamber staffed the task force created by my LNK classmate Kris Knochelmann to improve the governance of CVG, and then worked closely with him and our legislators to write and ultimately pass the legislation necessary to make those reforms a reality. That newly constituted board, working with CVG’s talented CEO Candace McGraw, has the airport flying to new heights and a growing economic impact.

This past legislative session was an historic one for our region and our membership. Many long standing Chamber priorities became law, and I’m especially pleased by the passage of outcomes-based funding for postsecondary education. This will be good for all of Kentucky, but especially NKU, to have such funding be allocated in a strategic and fair manner.

I am proud that the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce are doing more joint work than ever before. That’s important for the success of our region, and I’m glad that Jill Meyer and I could help bridge our regional divides.

We have made a real difference in tackling the workforce challenges in the

region. A few years ago, the Chamber took the lead in forming the Advanced Manufacturing Workforce Development Coalition with several other partners to address the skills gap plaguing one of our leading economic sectors.

And just a few months ago, the Chamber took an important leadership role in convening schools, postsecondary institutions, business and industry to ensure that Northern Kentucky was positioned to maximize funding from the Kentucky Work Ready Skills Initiative. I am proud that Northern Kentucky had the most projects funded of any metropolitan region, and it wasn’t even close!

On the membership front, we became the first chamber in the country to partner with Vistage to offer senior executives at our member businesses the opportunity to participate in their roundtables at a discounted price. We also partnered with Gateway to create the Chamber Business Academy to offer classes on leadership, communications and Microsoft Office, and we also started offering monthly sales workshops and international trade programming. And of course, our Women’s Initiative continues to shine with new opportunities to connect, grow and achieve.

It’s been great having a job that allowed me to spend all day working to make my hometown a better place to live, work and play. And it’s been great doing that with so many outstanding business and community leaders, including the chairs with whom I’ve worked: Debbie Simpson, Steve Harper, Dave Heidrich and Bob Heil.

What’s next? As of this writing, I don’t know for sure, but I do have a few ideas that I’m working on. Stay tuned.

Given all that we need to do to continue making Northern Kentucky a better community, I’d like to conclude, as I always concluded this column…

“LET’S GET TO WORK!”

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CHAIR’S LETTER

By: Bob Heil CEO, KLH Engineers Chair, NKY Chamber of Commerce

This issue of the Business Journal focuses on leadership.

I am often asked, “How can I get involved in a leadership capacity in the community?”

In response, I share my own journey with them. My first role was in my late twenties when I served on the Board of Adjustments in the City of Bellevue.

When I moved to Ft. Thomas, my neighbors asked me to lead the Military Commons Homeowners Association.

Through my interaction with the City of Ft. Thomas leadership, I was asked to serve on the planning commission, which I enjoyed doing for 20 years. It was a natural fit to then participate in the Ft. Thomas Forward group, the City’s visioning efforts, where I leveraged my engineering expertise to chair the infrastructure committee of that group.

IF NOT YOU, THEN WHO? IF NOT NOW, THEN WHEN? Through relationships built through all of those engagements, I was asked to join the Campbell Leadership Action Group, and had the pleasure of serving as its Chair for two years. All of these engagements have led me to where

SUMMER 2017 | VOLUME 36 NUMBER 3

I am today as I serve on numerous boards in the region and as the Chair of the NKY Chamber.

I share this story not to impress anyone, but rather to impress upon everyone that you have to start somewhere. With every engagement, you build more credibility and social capital with the people, organizations and causes you want to lead.

NKY … BECAUSE IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY, EVERYONE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A LEADER. In the last couple election cycles, we saw a number of young people run for significant offices at the county and state levels, only to see their dreams dashed at the ballot box. I applaud their initiative and courage to run for office, but believe their execution was flawed.

The odds were against them because they had not built their credibility and social capital through purposeful engagement at a grassroots level.

The encouraging thing for all of those aspiring leaders is that there are a myriad of leadership opportunities in Northern Kentucky.

Our culture is such that there are few, if any, obstacles to standing in the way of your getting involved.

A great example of the leadership journey I speak of is Trey Grayson, who has served as the President of the NKY Chamber for the past three years.

Trey’s leadership journey included participation in Leadership Northern Kentucky and Leadership Kentucky. It also involved providing leadership to organizations such as the United Way, Fine Arts Fund, Kentucky Center for Public Issues, The Prichard Committee, Legacy, Regional Youth Leadership

and the Governor’s Scholar Board of Directors, just to name a few.

All of this led to his successful run for Secretary of State in 2003 and his service to the Commonwealth in that role until 2011. These opportunities helped him build his credibility and garnered him social capital, and most importantly, built his skills as a leader.

In Trey’s three years with the Chamber, he brought an acumen to our advocacy efforts that we had not seen heretofore. That was obvious to me as he and I worked the halls of Frankfort during the last General Assembly session.

Trey has done an excellent job personifying the spirit of the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. He has helped the Chamber deepen our relationships downstate, with other Kentucky and Ohio Chambers, business executives, and many regionally elected officials and centers of influence. From forming the Advanced Manufacturing Workforce Development Coalition to building broad support for needed reforms at CVG, Trey has undeniably put his stamp on this community.

Most of all—our members have a better business environment to compete regionally, nationally and internationally. Under the Chamber’s leadership, important legislation passed that is already reaping rewards for our local and state economy. Trey’s leadership was a significant contributor to our advocacy success; his departure from the Chamber is just another step in the Trey Grayson leadership journey.

I am sure that his future endeavors will leverage his leadership skills for the benefit of our region and the Commonwealth. NKY

PAGE 7

INTERIM PRESIDENT’S LETTER

By: Brent Cooper Interim President NKY Chamber of Commerce

PAGE 8

MY FRIENDS, I was honored to be asked, once again, to serve as interim President as we conduct a national search for a new Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce president & CEO. As many of you know, the business I started over 18 years ago, C-Forward, has experienced tremendous growth over the years. We attribute much of our success to the relationships forged through the NKY Chamber. We love the Northern Kentucky community and have a strong desire to help when asked. Our default answer to any request to help the NKY Chamber has always been, as it has been for so many of you—yes.

I have great confidence in my C-Forward team, and I’m grateful to them for not only allowing me to serve in this role, but also encouraging me to do so. I also have great confidence in the NKY Chamber’s broader leadership team at all levels. The Chamber has a team of talented board members and staff dedicated to promoting and supporting the development of strong businesses and a vibrant economy in the region.

Over the coming months, we will be reminding everyone about the “Why” in NKY. #NKYBecause “Why do we have a NKY Chamber in the first place?” When someone asks that question, we will answer, “Because we lead, connect and advocate.”

Because we represent over 1,400 businesses, and over 200,000 employees, who are counting on us to maintain our momentum and continue to transform Northern Kentucky into a world-class region in which to start, develop and grow a thriving business.

Because, while a lot has changed since 1969, when the NKY Chamber of Commerce was founded, we are still 59 cities in nine counties … and we’re stronger when we work together.

— Why do we have a NKY Chamber in the first place? Because we lead, connect and advocate.

I promise you, during this interim period, we will not simply be “marking time” waiting for the next president.

With a Special Session of the Kentucky General Assembly approaching and many issues facing the region and the country, we need a strong Chamber of Commerce.

We cannot do it alone. We need your continued engagement. This will not only guarantee we can sustain our momentum during this transition period, it will also strengthen our ability to recruit the best new president to lead the NKY Chamber into the future.

Thank you for the strong support you have provided to the NKY Chamber in the past and for your continued support during this critical period. I look forward to the next several months working together to maintain our momentum and to ensure a successful presidential transition for the Chamber of Commerce we all love.

WARM REGARDS,

NORTHERN KENTUCKY BUSINESS JOURNAL

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LEADERSHIP

Announcing the Class of 2018

KRISTEN BALDINI First Financial Bank

KRISTIN BALDWIN NKY Chamber of Commerce

JEFFREY BEACH Visa

ANGEL BEETS Scooter Media

BRENT BODEN BB&T Wealth

JACOB BROOKS YMCA of Greater Cincinnati

CASEY BURNS Kenton County Commonwealth’s Attorney Office

CONRAD CULBERTSON Roeding Insurance

RAYMOND DABBELT Kenton County Airport Board

TRACY DECKER Furlong Building Enterprises

SEAN DEMPSEY Robert W. Baird

WHITNEY DICKERSON Answers In Genesis/ Ark Encounter/ Creation Museum

MELISSA DOSS Melissa Doss Law, LLC

WENDY FERRELLSMITH St. Elizabeth Physicians

KATE FERRER Northern Kentucky Tri-ED

FERNANDO FIGUEROA Gateway Community and Technical College

THOMAS GRACE J.P. Morgan Private Bank

RICK HALL Fidelity Investments

MONISHA HATFIELD St Elizabeth Healthcare

SAMUEL JACOBS General Cable Corporation

TAMARA JOHNSON Clark Schaefer Hackett

PATRICK KEAL Duke Energy

JASON KIDD Jolly Property Rescue

KATIE JO KIRKPATRICK Northern Kentucky Area Development Center

CATHERINE KOOP FTJ FundChoice, LLC

MARK KRUMMEN Walton-Verona Board of Education

JOSHUA LANGDON Wood + Lamping LLP

BRENT LINN Chick-fil-A Fort Wright

MATTHEW MATTONE City of Park Hills

DARRIN MCMILLEN Gateway Community and Technical College

MARK NOEL Graydon Head & Ritchey LLP

EMI RANDALL Planning and Development Services

LISA RICCARDI VonLehman & Company

ALYSON ROEDING St Elizabeth Healthcare

RYAN SALZMAN Northern Kentucky University

ANDREW SCHIERBERG City of Fort Mitchell

AMY SCHWORER Taliaferro, Carran & Cowherd PLLC

MARK SHIELDS Messer Construction

JOHN SIEG Fifth Third Bank

THOMAS SIMENDINGER Adams, Stepner, Woltermann and Dusing, PLLC

LARISA SIMS City of Newport

SHANNON SMITH Law Offices of Shannon C. Smith

SAMANTHA STEENKEN Citi

JULIA TARVIN Taft Stettinius & Hollister

THOMAS TILMES Republic Bank

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS!

BENJAMIN VIROST C-Forward

PAGE 10

KELLY WATHEN PNC Bank

KYLE WAYMEYER KLH Engineers

BOBBIE WEBSTER Family Nurturing Center

ROBERT WILLIAMS Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission

JONATHAN WOODRUFF UpTech

LISA SENSALE YAZDIAN Boone County Public Library

NORTHERN KENTUCKY BUSINESS JOURNAL

LEADERSHIP

A Critical Ingredient of Our Community

By Brent Cooper Interim President, NKY Chamber of Commerce

WHETHER YOU KNOW IT OR NOT, Leadership NKY is a critical ingredient in the long-term success of our community.

In 1979, the first Leadership NKY class led the emergency shelter site selection and capital campaign. Through the years, Leadership NKY classes have done everything from installing handicap doors at Redwood, to the Healthy newborn site for Transitions–serving mother’s going through addiction recovery.

Without Leadership NKY, there wouldn’t be a Maker space in Boone County, a Hope Box Derby to support Health Point, or the upcoming second annual River Cities Relay on August 26 that will provide charitable spending for multiple nonprofit organizations in the region.

On July 22 in Latonia, the class of 2017 is curating Unlock the Block, a music festival created to activate community vibrancy and potential in Northern Kentucky.

Although Leadership NKY has changed over time, the core strategy remains–to use the community as a classroom to develop leaders who will effectively serve the region.

Involving the community in this way not only educates those going through the class, it also provides a mechanism for community organizations to recruit future board members, promote projects, and communicate strategies.

SUMMER 2017 | VOLUME 36 NUMBER 3

The early Leadership NKY classes produced graduates that are now corporate presidents, board members & elected officials. Because of their impact on the community, the program is now widely viewed as a rite of passage for future leaders, and a key ingredient for developing future talent.

There are many reasons the program is successful, but the secret sauce is the diversity of each class. People from various backgrounds, industries and geographic areas come together to learn from each other and form a lasting bond.

During a recent meeting at the NKY Chamber of Commerce, folks were asked to raise their hand if they were a graduate of Leadership NKY. Nearly the entire room had their hands in the air.

It was a wonderful endorsement of the program, and another reason to support this incredible legacy of leadership.

As we head toward the 40th Anniversary of Leadership NKY in 2019, I hope you’ll encourage friends and colleagues to apply for future Leadership NKY classes, support Leadership NKY initiatives and financially support scholarship funding for nonprofit partners and entrepreneurs.

The Leadership NKY tradition is strong and continues to positively impact our region. Be a part of it. NKY

IN A RECENT SURVEY OF LEADERSHIP NKY ALUMNI

Over 85% of LNK graduates report that they have built close, sustained relationships that have endured past program graduation.

Nearly 80% of LNK graduates report a job promotion of some type (either within their organization or through a new opportunity) following graduation.

Over 90% of LNK graduates have engaged with their fellow classmates in a business contract valuating at least $5,000.

Over 70% of LNK graduates continue to volunteer for a local non-profit that they met through participation in the program.

Over 90% of LNK graduates would recommend the experience to a peer.

PAGE 11

LEADERSHIP

Announcing the Class of 2018

AUSTIN ALWELL Bishop Brossart High School

CODY BAYNORI Newport High School

HANNAH BEAVEN Calvary Christian School

TIMOTHY BELTON Covington Catholic High School

PHILLIP BRIGHT Covington Latin School

AMY BUSHMAN Anderson High School

HOLLY BYERS Mariemont High School

MARY JACQUELINE CAIN Covington Latin School

SYDNEY COOPER Highlands High School

EMILY ENGLISH Mount Notre Dame High School

GIOVANNI FALCONE Villa Madonna High School

CAMERON FINKE Madeira High School

LUKE GROTHAUS Newport Central Catholic High School

ELAYNE HARRINGTON Simon Kenton High School

EMILIE HATTON Homeschool

HANNAH HERRMANN Lloyd High School

KYLIE HICKS Bellevue High School

CATHERINE KREMER Dixie Heights High School

LUCAS KUHLMAN Covington Catholic High School

MORGAN LANTRY Ludlow High School

JESSICA LU Sycamore High School

ELIZABETH LUKENS Dayton High School

KARINA MASIH Homeschool

BRADEN MULCAHY Walton-Verona High School

GRACE MULLIKIN St. Henry District HIgh School

YAZAN ORABI Boone County High School

ELISE PIATT Notre Dame Academy

AMY POFFENBERGER Summit Country Day School

EMMA POOLE Scott High School

GABRIEL POWELL Villa Madonna High School

JESSICA ROCHA TORRES Taylor High School

NATALIE SAMPSON Campbell County High School

DEMETRIUS SARAKATSANNIS Highlands High School

MARK SAUNDERS Bellevue High School

CAMDEN SCHIERENBECK Randall K. Cooper High School

JACKLYN TIERNEY Beechwood High School

WILL VAUGHN Simon Kenton High School

MADELYN VEZDOS Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy

EVAN WELLS Holy Cross High School

MEGAN WELLS Walton-Verona High School

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS! Title Sponsor:

Class Announcement Sponsor: KATHERINE WELLS Conner High School

PAGE 12

MORGAN WELTZER Notre Dame Academy

COLE WERBRICH Indian Hill High School

JOSEPH WHELAN Newport Central Catholic High School

Cincinnati Bar Foundation Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center Executive Transportation Gustin Construction, Inc. Mansion Hill Photography Studio Northern Kentucky University St. Elizabeth Healthcare Sam’s Club Community Grant Towne Properties

NORTHERN KENTUCKY BUSINESS JOURNAL

FEATURE

NKY Educators Honored with Golden Apple Awards By: Nancy Grayson President, Horizon Community Funds of Northern Kentucky

EACH SPRING, the Northern Kentucky Education Council and the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce recognize the many outstanding contributions to education in our region at the Northern Kentucky Excellence in Education Celebration. This dinner draws nearly 700 educators, business leaders and community members annually, making the celebration the largest of its kind in the Commonwealth.

One of the highlights of the evening is the presentation of the Golden Apple Awards, which honor educators who have made a significant impact on teaching and learning.

Congratulations to the 2017 Golden Apple Award winners!

Kathy Anderson, Highlands Middle School Ryan Bowman, Randall K. Cooper High School Amy Clancy, Walton-Verona Middle School Kristen Collins, Ludlow High School Lisa Cooper, Southern Elementary Deana Cummins, Williamstown High School Katie Gibbons, Hinsdale Elementary Jeffrey Haney, Holmes High School Dawn Klus, Campbell Ridge Elementary Elizabeth Koch, Florence Elementary Shannon Mann, Crossroads Elementary Brittney Riffle, Holmes Middle School Ashley Ritchie, Beechwood Elementary Kim Setty, Mary A. Goetz Elementary SUMMER 2017 | VOLUME 36 NUMBER 3

Carrie Skirvin, Grandview Elementary Michelle Willoughby, Lindeman Elementary Reta Vann, Simon Kenton High School Bosch Automotive Steering Leads by Example for Business Engagement with Students During the 2017 NKY Excellence in Education Celebration, Bosch was awarded the Business Engagement of the Year Award. The award recognizes a local company that has shown dedication to improving student achievement through high impact partnership activities.

Bosch Automotive Steering has taken a lead role in employer engagement with Northern Kentucky schools. From company leaders to apprentices, Bosch employees participate in a wide variety of student activities, including school tours, career days, classroom presentations, NaviGo College and Career Prep services, NKY FAME and NKY Makerspace.

“Bosch’s tireless efforts and extraordinary leadership have been a model for others in the state, region and nation,” said Karen Cheser, CAO/ Deputy Superintendent of Boone County Schools. “Through their tremendous work, thousands more students and families understand the outstanding opportunity that the industry of advanced manufacturing is for our next generation of workers.”

Mary Grace Cassar, HR Organizational Development Process Manager at Bosch, stated, “Bosch associates engage with local schools and

students because we are one community.

As a community, Bosch and our local schools collaborate to give students experiences and opportunities for future success. The student’s success is reflected in our mutual engagement.”

— The Northern Kentucky Excellence in Education Celebration draws nearly 700 educators, business leaders and community members annually, making the celebration the largest of its kind in the Commonwealth.

“I have come to know Bosch as the business partner that will always try to accommodate requests of schools,” shared Debby Combs, Director of the Advanced Manufacturing Workforce Development Coalition. “The extent of their dedication reaches multiple school systems, at every level, which demonstrates the depth of their commitment. Bosch is a superior example of what it means to be a true supportive business partner with education.” NKY

PAGE 13

FEATURE

Igniting Bold Leadership for Established and Emerging Leaders with Libby Gill By: Laura Cook Kroeger President, Communication Project Partners

PAGE 14

NORTHERN KENTUCKY BUSINESS JOURNAL

International Speaker Libby Gill to Inspire Women to Build Their “Leadership Superpower” at the Second Annual Regional Women’s Summit.

“SHE HAS THE HEART OF A GIRLFRIEND AND THE HEAD OF A CEO.” That’s how a close friend describes 2017 Regional Women’s Summit keynote speaker Libby Gill.

An internationally known presenter and business coach, Libby travels the globe to help women focus on the trajectory of their careers. Her impressive client resume includes some of the best known brands in the world: ABC-Disney, Comcast, Deloitte, Eli Lilly, GoDaddy, Kellogg’s, Microsoft, Nike, Oracle, PayPal, Warner Bros. and Wells Fargo.

While Gill certainly knows her way around a boardroom, often the only female in the room, she understands the lives of working women. “We need to take time occasionally to focus on ourselves,” she said with warmth and compassion.

“Women so often put themselves last on their things-to-do list. You have to attend events like the summit to intentionally devote the time to think about what’s next and ask yourself, ‘What can I do to make my life richer, more fulfilling? What’s my one-year vision?’ Then I offer the tools and connections to clear the obstacles in your path, so that this time next year, you will be the woman personally and professionally that you intended to be.

Your lives will have changed.”

Life has not been easy for Gill. She candidly speaks about once dwelling in a dark place of despair and a difficult childhood constantly filled with family trauma. Sometimes she is amazed not only by her own story of resilience, but by the journeys of so many women she’s met during her travels who have overcome adversity to find true fulfillment.

Known for her practical messages and self-deprecating humor, Gill assumes SUMMER 2017 | VOLUME 36 NUMBER 3

the podium twice on September 19 during the day-long summit at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center.

Her keynote address takes place during the 9 a.m. plenary session. She will also speak at the luncheon and answer some questions from the audience.

The theme for the day is “Igniting Bold Leadership for Established and Emerging Leaders.” Presenters from throughout the region are prepared to integrate the theme into their morning and afternoon breakout sessions. Like the 2016 inaugural summit, these sessions are inexpensive, high-level opportunities for professional development.

— Gill’s resume includes some of the best known brands in the world: ABC-Disney, Comcast, Deloitte, Eli Lilly, GoDaddy, Kellogg’s, Microsoft, Nike, Oracle, PayPal, Warner Bros. and Wells Fargo.

Talking to Gill is like instantly connecting with an old friend. Her compassion for others is immediately apparent; her wisdom pours out, revealing what she has gleaned from her many years in top-level positions at Sony, Universal and Turner Broadcasting.

While she gained significant leadership experience with these powerful companies, perhaps her greatest lesson is realizing the importance of seniorlevel women mentoring those wishing to rise through the company ranks.

“I do talk a lot about the responsibility of lifting as we climb,” she explained. “We have 20 years of data on gender intelligence. Groups like the Women’s Initiative realize the significance of leaning in. Now I often tell women we need to ‘lean on our male counterparts’ to get their support and advocacy. Senior-level women can assist young professionals with strategies to show their worth to their supervisors, what they can accomplish if given the chance. Why not sign up for something that stretches your knowledge and

challenges your abilities? How bold are you willing to be?”

“I even witnessed this recently in Dubai where I spoke to women are starting to move into higher-level professional positions. They have the same obstacles we face and experience the same challenges of embracing change in this rapidly evolving business world. It’s hard to keep up with technology. How do we ensure our skills are up to date? Most importantly, how do we stop making excuses for remaining too long on the same path?”

Gill aims to show summit attendees how they can build their leadership superpower. She touts a bit of selfpromotion and the danger of being humble to a fault. Her mantra is clarify, simplify and execute.

“It’s actually a simple process as you figure out exactly what you want to accomplish and learn to stay the course,” she explained.

“You are here to share hopefulness and whatever tools you can give others to make them as hopeful,” she firmly believes. “Life isn’t easy; I am certainly a testament to that. There are obstacles to be expected. But if you believe in hope, you can base your actions on creating a better future.”

Gill, a prolific author, will also sign two of her books after the summit luncheon: You Unstuck: Mastering the New Rules of Risk-Taking in Work and Life and Capture the Mindshare and the Market Share Will Follow: The Art and Science of Building Brands. NKY — GET THERE!

The Second Annual Regional Women’s Summit: Igniting Bold Leadership for Established and Emerging Leaders — September 19, 2017 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Northern Kentucky Convention Center $159 (20% discount for companies sending five or more employees); $179 at the door Includes continental breakfast, two keynote addresses, lunch, and morning and afternoon breakout sessions from regional presenters Go to nkychamber.com/events for reservations PAGE 15

FEATURE

Pay It Forward

Even at this stage in her career, Debbie engages the help of a mentor to guide her. “My boss, Jeff Rosser, is incredibly smart and pushes me to be better,” she said. “I would not be the GM I am without working with him.”

— It’s so satisfyling to see them succeed. It’s pure happiness.

But mentorship isn’t all about high fives. Debbie said that sometimes the advice her mentors would give was tough love, intended to get her off the wrong track and back on the right one.

By Rachel Folz Director of Digital Marketing, Cerkl

ACCORDING TO THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION, 80 million people are expected to retire in the next 20 years, taking a massive amount of skills and knowledge with them. It’s no surprise that researchers are expecting a worldwide shortage of highly skilled, collegeeducated employees.

Take a look at your staff. Is your leadership pipeline ready for this mass exodus? If it’s not, it’s time to start thinking about mentoring.

Mentors occupy a special place in the hearts and history of their mentees. It’s an exceptional relationship that provides lasting benefits for both parties. For me, a discussion about the value of mentoring wouldn’t be complete without acknowledging the impact my mentor had on my career and approach to leadership.

My Mentor Debbie Bush, now FOX19 vice president and general manager, was my mentor; she was a beacon of light and direction to me at multiple points in my career. Debbie herself has enjoyed roles as both a mentor and a mentee.

Debbie spent most of her early career as a reporter in a Wichita, Kansas TV station. As she thought about the next step in her professional journey, she took a chance and told her station’s general manager what she wanted to do next. She expected him to laugh; instead, he helped her strategize and think through how to make her dreams come true. She says the fact that he believed in her gave her the confidence and grit to rise to their challenge and do excellent work.

As her career progressed from reporter to management as a news director and beyond, Debbie says she continued to learn and be influenced by mentors. Those relationships shaped her approach to work and leadership in innumerable ways.

PAGE 16

From Mentee to Mentor Fate brought Debbie into my life in 2007 when she was hired at WFIE in Evansville, Indiana. This was her first time as a vice president and general manager of a TV station. I liked her instantly.

I was at a little crossroads myself. After interning with the station in my second (okay, third) senior year, I had just been hired as a web producer. Seeing something in me that I had yet to discover, Debbie began asking me what my next step was.

We worked together to make a plan for my career and I worked hard to make sure that I measured up to her expectations.

Being mentored by Debbie taught me what it takes to be the kind of leader that people respect and believe in. These hard fought lessons have never left my mind. To this day, Debbie is a trusted advisor and a dear friend who I know I can count on.

Paying it forward There’s only one thing Debbie asks of her mentees, “You have to mentor someone, too. You need to pay it forward.” I’ve been lucky to have just that chance. I’ve mentored many young professionals and I have enjoyed watching their careers blossom.

Although mentoring can be difficult, Debbie said watching her mentees succeed brings her joy. “I think mentoring is worth every minute of your time. I can’t see not ever being there for people that want that kind of input.” NKY

DID YOU KNOW? ACCORDING TO FORBES, EMPLOYEES WHO RECEIVED MENTORING WERE PROMOTED FIVE TIMES MORE OFTEN THAN THOSE WHO DID NOT. DELOITTE DISCOVERED THAT 63% OF MILLENNIALS SAY THEIR LEADERSHIP SKILLS ARE NOT BEING FULLY DEVELOPED. ROBERT WALTERS RECRUITING RESEARCH SHOWED THAT 83% OF PROFESSIONALS WOULD LIKE TO BE INVOLVED IN A MENTORING PROGRAM, YET ONLY 29% OF WORKPLACES OFFER THEM.

NORTHERN KENTUCKY BUSINESS JOURNAL

FEATURE

Need to Grow Future Leaders? Mentor AND Advocate.

Jamie Holtzapfel Principal Consultant, Core Consulting Group

WE MAY THINK THE FUTURE SUCCESS of our community depends on our next generation of leaders. But did you ever think the success of future leaders may depend on you? When you consider your own personal career journey, including big wins and wrong turns, did you have someone by your side celebrating your successes or challenging you in just the right ways to keep you moving forward?

While your own hard work and determination have taken you great places, it probably never hurt to have a mentor and an advocate—someone who believed in you, recognized your potential, provided constructive feedback, opened doors to opportunities, suggested you for a promotion, publicly supported your approach or went to bat for your raise.

Emerging leaders within an organization don’t get to decide when they get enhanced responsibility or a promotion. However, mentors and advocates recognize potential and help

SUMMER 2017 | VOLUME 36 NUMBER 3

accelerate the path an individual is already working hard to pave. The role of a mentor or advocate can be filled by the same person or different individuals. It really doesn’t matter; it’s just important that both are present.

If you are truly committed to building your organization’s next generation of leaders, you must ensure that both mentoring and advocacy are happening for those inside your organization.

The roles of a mentor and advocate carry equal value, but each role comes with a unique goal. It is important to recognize the difference between the two roles.

The role of a MENTOR: To educate and grow • Share your experiences and lessons learned • Build desired skill sets through ongoing coaching • Raise awareness of both strengths and limitations that your mentee might not be privy to (tell them what is often left unsaid—you might be the only one willing to say it) • Help the mentee discover her or his passion and strengths

The role of an ADVOCATE: To champion • Provide access to opportunities, experiences, relationships and resources that the other person might not otherwise have • Speak out for the continued advancement of the individual • Let the individual know you believe in her/his skills and abilities and the impact he/she can have on the organization’s success • Influence the decisions of others in ways that will positively support the individual’s continued growth and visibility Who can you mentor and/or advocate for inside your organization?

How can you help grow other mentors and advocates? Take time to pay it forward because the future success of your organization, and our community, depends on it.

If interested in additional leadership development strategies and programs, visit core-consultinggroup.com. NKY

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AROUND THE CHAMBER

BUSINESS IMPACT AWARDS 2017

WOMEN’S INITIATIVE SPA

CLAY SHOOT

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NORTHERN KENTUCKY BUSINESS JOURNAL

EGGS AND ISSUES

OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE RIBBON CUTTING

WOODHOUSE SPA

DON’T MISS OUT! NKYCHAMBER.COM/EVENTS

NKY UNITED REDS GAME

SUMMER 2017 | VOLUME 36 NUMBER 3

WOMEN’S INITIATVE SUMMIT COMMITTEE

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Vacations By: Emily Gresham Wherle Northern Kentucky Health Department

Vacations Crucial for Long-term Employee Health, Business Success

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WHEN YOU TURN ON YOUR OUT-OF-OFFICE EMAIL REPLY and change your outgoing voicemail to indicate you’re not available, it’s hard not to grin.

Vacations give us a time to reboot—a concept that American workers seem to understand but not implement.

In 2015, Project: Time Off, a research study supported by the US Travel Association, found that of the more than 5,000 Americans surveyed, 95 percent agreed that using paid time off was important. Yet, the same survey found that Americans’ use of vacation time is trending down, with a reported 16.2 days of vacation time used in 2015, compared to 20.3 days in 2000.

“It’s important for employees to use vacation time as an opportunity to relax and recharge,” said Charlie Vance, Chief Executive Officer with Erigo Employer Solutions, a Fort Mitchell-based human resources firm.

Some employees may not have paid time off, which is one significant barrier. But those who do have access to paid time off still find excuses not to use what they’ve accrued. Common reasons include workload and budget.

“Psychologically, many people feel like they can’t take a vacation because they have too much to do at work,” said Dave Welscher, a counselor with St. Elizabeth Healthcare’s Employee Assistance Program. “Which is ironic, because the people who say that they don’t have time for a vacation are often the ones who need it most.”

Many employees will forgo vacation time during key points in their careers, such as when they’re being considered for a promotion.

In smaller organizations, Vance said, some employees may find it difficult to take time off because they don’t have a logical person to cover for them while they’re gone. And most everyone dreads the mountain of emails that may await them upon their return.

NORTHERN KENTUCKY BUSINESS JOURNAL

An excuse that Welscher often hears is that people don’t have money for a big vacation, so they don’t do anything. “The important thing is to have an opportunity to relax and repair your mental health,” he said. “We don’t need a big cruise to the Bahamas to do that—a long weekend in Gatlinburg or a day spent with a close friend could have the same or even better impact on our emotional well being, and may not cost a lot of money.”

It’s important to be strategic in what you do during your vacation time as well, Welscher said. Three days off to stain a deck or a trip to Disney World with four small children will likely not give employees the opportunity to recharge—so he recommends planning time off that will include downtime.

Leaders can help set the tone for vacations within their organization.

Brent Cooper, Present of C-Forward, an information technology consulting firm in Covington and Interim President of the Northern Kentucky Chamber, uses quarterly employee reviews as an opportunity to check in on vacation usage.

“Taking time off is a crucial part of keeping our employees healthy and sane,” he said.

At C-Forward, employees can earn additional leave time by taking shifts where they’re on-call for client needs and by doing community service. “We’ve found that paid time off, wellness and community service all fit together to make our organization a place where people want to work,” Cooper said.

Employers can also benefit when their employees take time off, with the main advantage being that vacations can help prevent employee burnout, which can, in turn, lead to turnover. Turnover costs can be considerable for companies. A 2012 analysis of research studies on turnover costs from the Center for American Progress found that it can be as high as 200 percent of the employee’s annual compensation.

In addition, vacations may be an opportunity to develop relationships within teams. Vance notes that covering for a

vacationing team member may give you a better appreciation of his/her work.

The return on an investment in time off can have a longterm impact, Welscher notes. “We can forget that our career is a marathon and not a sprint. We shouldn’t forget to take care of ourselves. Pace is important.” NKY

HOW TO UNPLUG TECHNOLOGY MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR EMPLOYEES TO GET AWAY FROM WORK. SOME TIPS TO HELP:

HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH YOUR MANAGER AHEAD OF TIME TO CLARIFY EXPECTATIONS. WILL YOU BE ABLE TO CHECK IN FOR WORKRELATED MESSAGES? IF SO, HOW OFTEN WILL YOU PLAN TO DO SO? HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THOSE YOU’RE TRAVELING WITH ABOUT USE OF TECHNOLOGY. BEING TECH-FREE MAY BE HARD IF YOUR COMPANIONS ARE CHECKING IN REGULARLY. CONSIDER TURNING OFF AUTOMATED NOTIFICATIONS FOR WORK. FIGURE OUT HOW YOU’LL BE USING YOUR DEVICES WHILE ON VACATION—CAN YOU USE A TRIP-RELATED APP AND FACEBOOK WITHOUT CHECKING ON WORKRELATED MESSAGES? EASE INTO IT. TRY DISCONNECTING FOR SHORT TIME PERIODS BEFORE YOUR VACATION BEGINS.

— “Psychologically, many people feel like they can’t take a vacation because they have too much to do at work.”

SUMMER 2017 | VOLUME 36 NUMBER 3

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SPOTLIGHT

Let’s Talk Chicken By: Kelly Rose Welcome House of Northern Kentucky

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NORTHERN KENTUCKY BUSINESS JOURNAL

I always thought it would be fun to be a food critic, so I jumped at the chance to try to put a fun spin on some chicken eateries around our slice of the Commonwealth.

I ventured out, with some of my family members, to three popular places, and let me tell you, they did not disappoint.

CHICK-FIL-A VARIOUS LOCATIONS (I WENT TO THE NEWPORT LOCATION) At Chick-fil-A there’s something extra delicious about that batter that sets it ahead of the flock. And not only is their Classic (or Spicy) Chicken Sandwich thick, juicy and never dry, but you can pile it high with pickles, and dunk each bite in one of their seven delectable sauces.

Order the meal and get an abundance of waffle fries and your favorite drink.

Bonus bites: The sauces and the cookies.

On your next visit ask to try all of the sauces. You may look like you’re a little crazy, but it’s worth it. If you’re feeling adventurous, mix the garlic and her with the zesty buffalo sauce for a flavor explosion. Once you’re finished with all of your chicken and sauces, buy the chocolate chip cookie. It is the gooiest, warmest and most decadent treat to end your meal.

BUFFALO WINGS AND RINGS 2809 DIXIE HIGHWAY, CRESTVIEW HILLS (859) 331-9464

NASHVILLE HOT

Ah, the chicken wing! Beloved by sports fans across the nation, cherished at large parties, typically washed down with a cold brew. Their wings are probably some of the best I have had—they are meaty and can be coated in a variety sauces. If you haven’t noticed yet, I like sauces.

What is unique about Buffalo Wings and Rings is that you can get whatever sauce you want and then tailor your heat preference (unlike other wings places where the flavor also determines the heat).

The wings are served in giant bowls with a hearty side of celery and bleu cheese— perfect for dunking.

BUFFALO WINGS AND RIGNS

SUMMER 2017 | VOLUME 36 NUMBER 3

Bonus bite: The appetizers While you’re at Buffalo Wings and Rings, you need to get some appetizers, because they are amazing. A tried and true favorite of mine is the spinach artichoke dip served with pita triangles. You get the perfect

amount of spinach and artichokes, but the best part is the melted cheese on the top.

I also really enjoy the pretzels with queso.

The pretzels have a perfect outside crunch but then a super soft center and the queso is full of flavor.

NASHVILLE HOT 564 BUTTERMILK PIKE CRESCENT SPRINGS This was probably my most anticipated stop; it was my first experience with the hot chicken craze that’s sweeping the nation. I love two things when it comes to chicken: heat and sauces. At Nashville Hot, they don’t really have sauces that coat the chicken, but you can dunk your spicy chicken into honey which they keep at the tables. There’s something about that juxtaposition of sweet and heat that I crave. Although the main platters are all chicken, there are a lot of options ranging from a quarter dark order to jumbo wings.

At Nashville Hot, there are four levels of heat: Yankee Mild, Midwest Medium, Southern Heat and Nashville Hot. Without a frame of heat reference, I went with the Midwest Medium. Overall the chicken was really juicy and the skin was perfectly fried, though I wish I’d gone one step higher to the Southern Heat.

Bonus bite: The sides.

I’ve got one word for the sides at Nashville Hot: delicious! My group and I would have tried them all if we could have, but there were a lot. So we went with the baked mac ‘n’ cheese, sweet potato fries, hash brown casserole, seasoned green beans, BBQ baked beans and cornbread. There really isn’t anything better than going to a restaurant knowing you are going to have a quality main dish that is supplemented by tasty, good ol’ fashioned southern style sides. We went on a Sunday evening and were some of the last people to get the mac ‘n’ cheese and cornbread, so make sure you get there early because you definitely don’t want to miss out on any of these sides. NKY

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FEATURE

Summer is a season of adventures and exploration. Days should be filled with hiking, fishing, boat rides, wine tours and memories, and Northern Kentucky is the perfect place to enjoy all of it.

THIS REGION IS FILLED WITH ACTIVITIES TO OCCUPY SUMMER DAYS, NO MATTER WHAT YOU’RE LOOKING FOR. OUTDOOR ADVENTURERS Kincaid Lake State Park in Falmouth is perfect for a family weekend away. You can camp out and make s’mores by night, and explore the park by day. Rent a motorboat or pedal boat and go for a spin around the lake. The lake is stocked with a variety of fish, so it’s a great place to try your hand at fishing. If you’d rather explore on land, the Spicebush and Ironwood trails offer 2.25 miles of connected loop trails. Still looking for something to do? Play a round of golf on the nine-hole course, hop in the swimming pool, or take advantage of the mini-golf course, or the basketball, tennis, handball and volleyball courts.

NATURE LOVERS If a hiking trail a little closer to home is more your speed, visit the Highland Cemetery trails. Four miles of trails wind through 150 acres of undeveloped cemetery property that is part of a wildlife enhancement program. The vegetation along the trails is preserved and dead trees are left standing to provide food, nesting and den sites for wildlife.

NAUTICAL EXPLORERS The Ohio River is a gem of the region. There is plenty to do along its banks, but you get an entirely different view from the river itself. Plan an excursion on B&B Riverboats—they offer several different cruises to learn all about the land along the Ohio and the history of the river.

— BACK ROADS WINE TRAIL WINERIES ATWOOD HILL WINERY AND VINYARD 1616 Spillman Road Morning View SEVEN WELLS WINERY AND VINEYARD 1223 Siry Road California CAMP SPRINGS WINERY AND VINEYARD 6570 Vinyard Lane Melbourne BAKER-BIRD WINERY AND VINEYARD 4465 Augusta Chatham Road Augusta REDMANS’ FARM WINERY 1229 DeCoursey Pike Morning View STONEBROOK WINERY 6570 Vineyard Lane Melbourne

WINE CONNOISSEURS Everyone knows about the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, but did you know there’s a Kentucky wine trail? The Kentucky Back Roads Wine Trail includes six unique wineries around Northern Kentucky. You can pick up a Back Roads VIP Passport at your first stop and have it stamped at each winery to receive a complimentary coaster after sampling some of Kentucky’s finest wines.

Northern Kentucky is a big region, and there’s plenty to fill summer days with excitement. Spend the months exploring your backyard and discovering why Northern Kentucky is a great place to live, work, and play. NKY

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NORTHERN KENTUCKY BUSINESS JOURNAL

Summer Adventures in Northern Kentucky By: Katie Scoville Scooter Media

SUMMER 2017 | VOLUME 36 NUMBER 3

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FEATURE

CVG: Embracing What’s Next

­ — “It all comes down to our customers.

They've been asking about Cincinnati/ Northern Kentucky for a long time.”

By: Mindy Kershner CVG

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NORTHERN KENTUCKY BUSINESS JOURNAL

CINCINNATI/NORTHERN KENTUCKY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (CVG) celebrates its 70th anniversary this year, and is leading the way with new and growing air service, additional cargo service, robust land development, new and refreshed facility upgrades, increased passenger traffic and more. The first half of 2017 proved to be transformational for CVG, and the entire region, as it landed Southwest Airlines and Amazon Prime Air Cargo Hub. Two key wins worth celebrating.

Southwest began service on June 4th, and is on the top of everyone’s minds. So, what encouraged Southwest to open at CVG and will it grow service to cities beyond Chicago (5x daily) and Baltimore/Washington (3x daily)?

Southwest’s managing director of business development, Dave Harvey, shared: It all comes down to our customers. They've been asking about Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky for a long time, but it never fit our low-cost model. It wasn't until the last few years that CVG saw a big shift in their air service, that we really began taking a more serious approach to the potential opportunities.

Once we started to put plans in place to begin service from CVG, we began working with corporate travel partners to build support for our service, and everyone came together in ways that we have not seen very often. The support we've received has been overwhelming and we're looking forward to seeing where can grow from our initial flight offerings.

SUMMER 2017 | VOLUME 36 NUMBER 3

We're already studying the travel patterns to see where it makes sense to add nonstop routes. Our goals right now are to build awareness, win new customers with our customer-friendly policies, like no bag fees and no change fees, and welcome current customers to our new home at CVG. In late January, Amazon announced that they are building their cargo hub at CVG. Amazon Prime aircraft began arriving at CVG on May 1, 2017. It will be exciting to see the following details of this project roll out in the months ahead: • • • • •

Lease of 900+ acres for a term of 50+ years Construction and baseline operations of a three million square foot building and smaller accessory buildings 2,700+ jobs 200+ daily operations Construction of a ramp to accommodate 100+ aircraft parking positions

With strong leadership and dedication among CVG’s board, staff and stakeholders, it is certain that our hometown airport will continue to play a major role in the region’s overall growth and success—now and into the future.

CVG’s story of continued transformation will reach even greater heights for the remainder of 2017 and years to come.

In this new era of positive change, CVG looks forward to embracing what’s next. NKY

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RIBBON CUTTINGS

25 AGAIN BY BODY SHAPES MEDICAL 330 Thomas More Parkway, Suite 101 | Crestview Hills, KY 41017 | (859) 410-6100 | 25again.com

PICTURED: Dan Hammons, Shared Wellness-NKY Chamber Ambassador; Brent Cooper-Interim President, NKY Chamber; Tim Williams, City of Crestview Hills; Allison Gibson, 25 Again; Shelly Bitner, 25 Again; Ted Ennenbach, 25 Again CEO & Cofounder; Leesa Ennenback, 25 Again Cofounder & RN; Karalee Massie, 25 Again; Gene Kirchner, COO NKY Chamber; Sheri Dedas, 25 Again; Lisa Jones, Money Mailer-NKY Chamber Ambassador; Michael Shields 25 Again President; Ellen Barnett, L&N Federal Credit Union-Ribbon Cutting Sponsor.

ALOFT NEWPORT ON THE LEVEE 201 East Third St. | Newport, KY 41071 | (859) 916-5306 | starwoodhotels.com/alofthotels/

PICTURED: Diana McGlade, NKY Chamber; Kris Thomas, GM-Aloft; Taylor Musselman, Asst GM-Aloft; Amber Badgett, Sales-Aloft; Amy Armstrong, Colonial Life-NKY Chamber Ambassador.

CAMPBELL COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY St. Philip Community Center | 1402 Mary Ingles Hwy | Melbourne, KY 41059 | cc-pl.org

PICTURED: CAM, Library Mascot; Carla Landon, Board Vice President; Cathy Howard, Board President; Tom W. Jones, Philanthropist; Father Robert Rottergs, Pastor, St. Philip Church; Â Tom Lampe, Campbell County Commissioner; Trey Grayson, NKY Chamber President; Amy McCabe, L&N Federal Credit Union-Ribbon Cutting Sponsor; JC Morgan, Library Director; Christie Fillhardt, Library Board Secretary; and Paul Johnson (partially hidden) Library Board Treasurer.

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NORTHERN KENTUCKY BUSINESS JOURNAL

RIBBON CUTTINGS

CAMPBELL COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY Silver Grove Fire House | 4011 4 Mile Road | Silver Grove, KY 41018 | cc-pl.org

PICTURED: Paul Johnson, Library Board Treasurer; Steve Pendery, Campbell County Judge Executive; Carla Landon, Library Board Vice President; Silver Grove Fireman; Tom W. Jones, Philanthropist; JC Morgan, Library Director; Cathy Howard, Library Board President; CAM, Library Mascot; Silver Grove Fireman; Ellen Barnett, L&N Credit Union- Ribbon Cutting Sponsor

GRONECK TOTAL TRANSPORTATION 1119 Aviation Boulevard | Hebron, KY 41048 | (859) 283-2800 | gogroneck.com

PICTURED: Larry Nitardy, ComAssist-NKY Chamber Ambassador; Valerie Johnson, L&N Federal Credit Union-Ribbon Cutting Sponsor; Teri Meyer, Hylant-NKY Chamber Ambassador; Robert Groneck; Gary Moore, Boone County Judge Executive; Sandy Groneck; Kyle Groneck; Jeff Morgan, Groneck; Trey Grayson, NKY Chamber President; Katherine Groneck; Mikella Chrisman, Groneck; Kim Bradley, Arrasmith Productions-NKY Chamber Ambassador.

HUNTINGTON BANK – COVINGTON BRANCH 540 Madison Avenue | Covington, KY 41012 | (859) 292-7610 | huntington.com

PICTURED: Amy Coppel, Huntington Bank; Kevin Jones, Huntington Bank Regional President; Trey Grayson, NKY Chamber President; Joe Meyer, Covington Mayor; Pat Frew, Covington Business Council; Emily McGuire, Huntington Bank; Leslie Smarr, Huntington Bank.

SUMMER 2017 | VOLUME 36 NUMBER 3

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RIBBON CUTTINGS

KFC BURLINGTON 5975 Centennial Circle | Florence, KY 41042 | (859) 282-7045 | kfc.com

PICTURED: Kim Bradley, Arrasmith Productions-NKY Chamber Ambassador; Lisa Jones, Money Mailers-NKY Chamber Ambassador; Blake Bagshaw, KFC; Rob Holt, KFC; Gary Moore, Boone County Judge Exeuctive; Ashlyn Jordre, KFC; Daniel Taggart, KFC Manager; Heather Hightchew, KFC; Krystal Weddington, KFC; Trey Grayson, NKY Chamber President; Jeanine Bagshaw, CEO & Owner , KFC; Troy Richards, KFC; Annette Oldiges, L&N Federal Credit Union-Ribbon Cutting Sponsor.

OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE 8030 Mall Road | Florence, KY 41042 | (859) 331-7222 | outback.com

PICTURED: JR Schneider, Allied Financial-NKY Chamber Ambassador; Nick Simpkins, Outback; Brook Langford, Outback; Robbie Atkins, Outback; Lynn Abeln, NKY Chamber; Kevin Richardson, Addiction Services Council-NKY Chamber Ambassador; Ellen Barnett, L&N Credit Union; Valerie Johnson, L&N Federal Credit Union-Ribbon Cutting Sponsor; Dr. Julie MetzgerAubuchon, City of Florence.

— LET US HELP YOU PROMOTE!

We want to help you promote and celebrate your ribbon cutting ceremony for your new facility, expansion, anniversary celebration or open house! We’ll bring our trademark giant blue scissors, a group of Chamber ambassadors and a camera to capture the excitement of your special day. Call Lynn Abeln at (859) 578-6390 to schedule your FREE ribbon cutting today!

Ribbon Cuttings Sponsored by:

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NORTHERN KENTUCKY BUSINESS JOURNAL

RIBBON CUTTINGS

WALTZ BUSINESS SOLUTIONS 730 Centre View Blvd | Crestview Hills, KY 41017 | (859) 426-4000 | waltzbusiness.com

PICTURED: Teri Meyer, Hylant-NKY Chamber Ambassador; Tim Williams, Crestview Hills City Administrator; Jeff Jehn, Waltz; Paul Meier, Crestview Hills Mayor; Matt Jehn, Waltz; Josh Jehn, Waltz; Trey Grayson, NKY Chamber President; Jerry Jehn, Waltz; Valerie Johnson, L&N Federal Credit Union-Ribbon Cutting Sponsor; John Jehn-Waltz.

THE WOODHOUSE DAY SPA 2808 Turkeyfoot Road | Crestview Hills, KY 41017 | (859) 739-7775 | nky.woodhousespas.com

PICTURED: Ellen Barnett, L&N Federal Credit Union-Ribbon Cutting Sponsor; Woodhouse Day Spa staff; Cheryl Rose; Jeffrey Chapman, Owner; Paul Meier, Crestview Hills Mayor; Scott Stewart, Dwyer Insurance-NKY Chamber Ambassador.

SUMMER 2017 | VOLUME 36 NUMBER 3

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MEMBER MILESTONES

REPUBLIC BANK is excited to announce the hiring of Amy Quinn as its new private banking officer. As a Private Banking Officer, Quinn will be responsible for handling banking needs for both individual customers and businesses who have high service and complex needs; including credit cards, home equity lines, small business loans and treasury management loans.

She will be working out of the Florence, Kentucky location.

Quinn previously served as vice president at Commonwealth Bank & Trust in Florence, where she managed bank product sales, new business, operations and customer service. She also led the branch to achieving organizational goals, generated new business and represented the bank in community organizations.

Additionally, Quinn has extensive experience in the nonprofit community. She graduated from the Kenton County Government Academy, served as vice chair of the Notre Dame board of directors and had numerous roles at Diocesan of Catholic Children’s Home. An alumna of Leadership Northern Kentucky’s class of 2004 where she served as vice president, she has stayed involved in the group, serving as program chair in 2016.

Quinn resides in Crescent Springs.

“We are thrilled to bring Amy on board at Republic Bank,” said Jason Payne, Managing Director of Northern Kentucky at Republic Bank. “Amy is a great fit for our mission of making banking as easy as possible for our customers. She brings a great deal of experience and knowledge to us.”

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BLUEGRASS CARE NAVIGATORS, previously Hospice of the Bluegrass, has been named a 2017 Hospice Honors Elite recipient by Deyta Analytics, a division of HEALTHCAREfirst.

Hospice Honors is a prestigious program that recognizes hospices providing the highest level of quality as measured from the caregiver’s point of view. Deyta Analytics holds a special recognition, Hospice Honors Elite, to honor hospices ranked above the Deyta Analytics National Performance Score on all 24 of the evaluation questions. Results for this year’s Hospice Honors Elite award equates to around six percent.

“Hospice Honors is a landmark compilation of hospices that provide the best patient and caregiver experiences,” said J. Kevin Porter of HEALTHCAREfirst. “I am extremely proud of Bluegrass Care Navigators for achieving this highest of honors and I congratulate them on their success.”

“As we prepare for our 40th anniversary next year, we are proud that consumers and patients feel we are one of the best in the country!” said Liz Fowler, President and CEO, Bluegrass Care Navigators.

Separately, Modern Healthcare has honored Bluegrass Care Navigators, naming it one of its “2017 Best Places to Work.” The annual national award recognizes companies that continuously strive to improve their work environment and increase employee engagement, satisfaction and retention through innovative changes in the workplace. It was only the second year that Bluegrass Care Navigators participated in the program. The award is based on employees’ input about the agency and its goals, and honors health care workplaces that empower their employees to provide patients and customers with the best possible care, products and services.

NORTHERN KENTUCKY BUSINESS JOURNAL

CAHILL IP, PLLC, an intellectual property (IP) law firm based in Louisville, is the first-ever Kentucky firm to qualify for membership in the selective National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF). Committed to diversity and integrity, the organization supports its American and Puerto Rican members in pursuit of corporate legal work.

To qualify for the organization’s membership consideration, the firm met rigorous criteria, demonstrating excellence in quality of law practice and adherence to NAMWOLF’s core values. Cahill IP was recently certified by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), one of the certifications required by NAMWOLF. Cahill IP provided favorable client references from national and regional clients, including members of the Fortune 500.

The firm’s Founder and Managing Member, Amy Sullivan Cahill, maintains a 4.9 out of 5 Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review rating—NAMWOLF requires a minimum rating of 4.5.

Ms. Cahill commented, “We are incredibly proud to be the first Kentucky firm to be selected for NAMWOLF membership, and the only IP firm in our geographic area. As a womanowned business with excellent women intellectual property attorneys, we are fully aligned with NAMWOLF’s values and mission. We look forward to working with NAMWOLF to educate corporations and public entities to recognize the value of working with the entire legal community, including women and minorities.”

FEDEX is proud to announce local Hebron based FedEx driver James Reynolds won a state title at the 2017 Kentucky Truck Driving Championship held May 19–20. As a state champion, Reynolds earned an opportunity to compete in the National Truck Driving Championships in Orlando, Florida, Aug. 8 – 12.

In addition to earning his state title, Reynolds qualified to compete in the NTDC by driving accident free for at least one year. The state TDCs and the NTDC provide professional truck drivers an opportunity to demonstrate their driving skills and safety expertise. Championships encompass three parts—a challenging driving course, a pre-trip inspection and a written examination which covers vehicle operation and knowledge of federal safety regulations.

— SHARE YOUR GOOD NEWS!

All NKY Chamber members are invited to share announcements & personal achievements in the Milestones column.

Send Milestones to bgastright@nkychamber.com SUMMER 2017 | VOLUME 36 NUMBER 3

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MEMBER MILESTONES

RECEPTIONS INC., operator of Receptions Event Centers, is celebrating 25 years in business. The company opened in March 1992 at its flagship location on Donaldson Road, and today hosts events in 90,000 square feet of special event space at five locations throughout the Greater Cincinnati/ Northern Kentucky region.

“We just invested a quarter of a million dollars into upgrades at our Erlanger facility,” said Andy Kelley, business development manager.

Receptions is enthusiastic about growth in Northern Kentucky, with an additional $150,000 in upgrades slotted for the near future.

“The business community and Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce have played a key role in the company’s growth over 25 years,” said Kelley. “While social events are important, the key factor in our growth has been the corporate client.

Our Chamber partnerships have been the foundation of our corporate business for 25 years.”

Over a quarter of a century, Receptions has hosted nearly 16,000 corporate and non-wedding events, which equates to about two million guests; and hosted 9,134 weddings totaling more than one million additional guests.

As a result of hosting millions of guests, many of Receptions’ corporate clients are repeat customers. “Our experienced team provides a value that nourishes long-term relationships—a must in order to be successful for 25 years,” said Kelley.

How did Receptions get its name? Before opening in the fall of 1991, the founders discovered that there was only one wedding magazine going to print for the upcoming year. “We

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hadn’t inked the business agreement yet but with this deadline at hand, the decision was made to buy an ad. The worst case scenario would be that we wasted advertising money on a company that never formed,” recalled Dan Goebel, co-founder.

“As they rushed to put the ad together before deadline, an important question arose: ‘What are we going to call it?” Dan Goebel, co-founder, remembers his cohort’s exact response: “Call it ‘Receptions’. We can always change the name later. At least we will have a phone number out there.” There were few cell phones and no internet back then. Goebel admits that at first he did not like the name. But it stuck. Today, he smiles ironically and says, “I had no idea back then how perfect the name was for Google searches.”

The company’s eventful journey has included operating a yacht on the river, an ice carving division and a cake business.

“Now we are being asked to take our food off-site to provide catering to the upscale market,” explained Goebel. As the company entertains this request, as well as the prospect of another upmarket venue, it remains primarily focused on the core event center business that has been successful for 25 years.

Receptions is proud be awarded top meeting and banquet facility by the Cincinnati Business Courier and the “Best Of Cincinnati” by CityBeat as well as being voted “Best of the Knot” and “Couples Choice Award” for five of the past six years by The Knot, which earned the facility a spot in The Knot hall of Fame.

“These awards are a great way to recognize our 25th anniversary and our staff for years of reliable service,” said Kelley. “We look forward to celebrating our silver year with past and future clients.” NKY

NORTHERN KENTUCKY BUSINESS JOURNAL

NKY Chamber

It’s time.

2017

Annual Dinner Presented By

Thursday, September 28, 2017 5:00pm – 8:30pm Northern Kentucky Convention Center Covington, KY

Host Sponsors:

Dunlevy Award Sponsor:

Unity Award Sponsor:

Devou Cup Presented By:

Robinson Award Sponsor:

Parking Sponsor:

Wine Sponsors:

BB&T

DHL Express Stock Yards Bank & Trust Taft Stettinius & Hollister

www.nkychamber.com/events

EMERGING 30

Emerging 30 is composed of local businesses making a significant economic impact on the community based on annual revenue growth.

Winners receive public acknowledgment of their achievements and are encouraged to offer their guidance to help other small businesses grow during events tailored specifically to Emerging 30 designees.

Located in Corinth, KY just off I-75, COMPLETE FORKLIFT REPAIR (CFR) is expanding. Since 2010, Chris Dove and his wife Shelia have grown the business to seven employees. “We’ve been blessed and fortunate over the years to be able to build our new location,” stated Shelia. “It has been a tough six years of hard work, but I have really enjoyed cultivating and watching our business grow,” added Chris.

CFR is equipped to handle repairs and used/new equipment needs quickly. “It’s not the big that eat the small, it’s the fast that eat the slow,“ stated Chris. “We are extremely competitive on pricing and our service is second to none.”

Due to CFR’s rapid growth, their biggest challenge is keeping up with demand. “If a customer has needs, you need to be able to fill them and still do the necessary things to keep the company moving forward.” Chris credits their success to Shelia who handles the day-to-day business. They credit their continued growth and customer satisfaction to their lead service technician, Todd Akers, who has been there since the start, service technicians Matt Perkins and Chris Barker, shop manager Isaac Ochoa and their loyal customers who continue to rely on them for all their material handling needs.

Chris knows that hard work, a great team and education are the keys to continued success. With their focus on customer service and a desire to self-improve, this appears to be the first of many Emerging-30 awards for CFR. SUBMITTED BY: BOB WHELAN, C.K. ASH INSURANCE

It’s All About The Coaching. Jennifer Vories of the VORIES TEAM at Keller Williams Realty Services in Ft. Mitchell attributes most of her team’s success to the extraordinary coaching she has received since starting her business in 2008. The company was a first time Emerging 30 honoree in 2016. Along with her three current “rock star” agents the Vories Team is ranked #3 in the NKY residential market. Quite an accomplishment when you consider there are 1,600 real estate agents serving this Market.

But the Vories team also services the realty markets in Richmond, Lexington, Louisville, Ohio and Indiana. In addition, they have recently opened an office in Des Moines, Iowa, the third fastest growing residential real estate market in the country.

When asked the secret to her and her team’s success, Jennifer shared this story. When she started out with another real estate company in 2005 she ended up leaving that company because there was no coaching or training. In 2008, that all changed when she joined Keller Williams. JD Powers has ranked Keller Williams as the #1 training company the last four years. In addition, Jennifer spends $2,500 a month for personal one-on-one real estate coaching. She said when she listens and follows her coach’s instructions great things happen; but when she doesn’t, she ultimately realizes she should have followed their guidance.

When asked her advice for others starting out in business, you won’t be surprised to know what she said “Get a coach!” Grow a team, learn how to attract and retain super hungry talent.

It is fitting that the Vories Team’s mission statement is “God 1st, family 2nd, Career 3rd. Life worth living and careers worth owning.”

SUBMITTED BY: SCOTT J. MALOF, CPA/PFS, MALOF & ASSOCIATES CPAS, LLC

PAGE 36

NORTHERN KENTUCKY BUSINESS JOURNAL

Wm. T. (Bill) Robinson III January 6, 1945 - May 9, 2017

Here We “Gro� Again Groneck Total Transportation is pleased to announce that we are once again expanding to better meet the needs of our customers. Effective June 1, 2017, our new address will be: 1119 Aviation Blvd. | Hebron, KY 41048 www.gogroneck.com Office: 859.283.2800 | Fax: 859.757.2054 Toll Free: 855.474.7662

Total Logistics Solutions

Transportation Parcel Processing Fulfillment

Postal Distribution Packaging Warehousing

EVENTS

JULY: — 7/10

Basic Spanish for Business I

7/11

STEM Day Out — Girls Day

7/13

Next Generation Leader Awards

7/13

STEM Day Out — Boys Day

7/18

LEGACY Coffee and Conversation

7/18

LEGACY Build In - Cooking In Covington With Kickstart Kitchen

7/18

Eggs ‘N Issues: Opportunities & Challenges with NKY Infrastructure

7/22

Unlock The Block: LNK 2017 Class Project

7/24

Basic Spanish for Business II

7/25

5 Tips On How To Connect With Your Hispanic Customers

7/26

HR Group 100 Behind the Scenes-Training and Pay for Skills at Groupon

7/26

LEGACY CEO Luncheon with Jason Vaughn, Frisch’s CEO

7/31

Women’s Initiative CONNECT Hour — Bouquet Restaurant

AUGUST: — 8/8

Eggs ‘N Issues: The World Comes to NKY

8/9

Webinar: OSHA Update

8/9

Business CONNECT Wine Down Wednesday

8/10

LNK Thought Leadership Series: Creative-Brainsteering Leadership

8/15

Annual NKY Chamber Golf Outing

8/17

Getting the Most from YOUR Chamber Membership

8/24

HR Roundtable: Workplace Investigations - How to Get to the Truth

8/28

Women’s Initiative CONNECT Hour — Grandview Tavern

8/29

Leadership Breakfast with Jon Sanchez

8/30

5 Tips on Printing Your Message

SEPTEMBER: — 9/19

Women’s Initiative Regional Summit

9/19

HR Group 100: Diversity & Inclusion

9/19

Eggs ‘N Issues: State of NKY Address

9/20

Webinar: NLRB and Labor Law Under the Trump Administration

9/25

Women’s Initiative CONNECT Hour

9/26

5 Tips to Increase Your Return on Networking

9/28

NKY Chamber Annual Dinner Presented by Fifth Third Bank

9/29

Flu Shot/Biometric Screening and Early Bird Registration for 2018 Wellness Challenge

PAGE 38

LOOKING FOR MORE EVENTS? NKYCHAMBER.COM/EVENTS

Northern Kentucky Business Journal is published quarterly by: Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, Inc. 300 Buttermilk Pike Suite 330 P.O. Box 17416 Ft. Mitchell, KY 41017 859-578-8800 NKYChamber.com The Business Journal is a benefit of membership and included in membership fees. Annual subscription rate for nonmembers is $24.

Periodicals Postage Paid USPS-548630 at Covington, KY. Postmaster: Please send address changes to the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, 300 Buttermilk Pike, Suite 330, P.O. Box 17416 , Ft. Mitchell, KY 41017-0416.

Subscribers: Please send address changes by e-mail to info@nkychamber.com. © 2017, The Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, Inc. and by the individual authors. All rights reserved.

CEO/Publisher Brent Cooper Marketing / Communications Coordinator Ben Gastright | bgastright@nkychamber.com Vice President Membership – Sponsorship Sales Lynn Abeln | labeln@nkychamber.com Director, Sponsor Investments Diana McGlade | dmcglade@nkychamber.com Chamber Communications Committee Rachel Folz (Chair), Kristin Baldwin, Mindy Kershner, William Powell, Kelly Rose, Katie Scoville, Emily Gresham Wherle Designer Chris Ritter | christopheraritter@gmail.com

NORTHERN KENTUCKY BUSINESS JOURNAL

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