Grant Recipient Member Spotlight Leadership Bridges Assuring Success for Leaders and the Organizations They Serve
Company at a glance: A woman-owned business in a predominantly male industry, Covington-based Spotted Yeti is a media company that produces videos and builds strategies designed to help its clients increase reach and engagement by leveraging audience insights. Telling stories creatively through video, Spotted Yeti offers a full range of services from preproduction, shooting and editing, file management and backup. How they will use their grant: The company purchased a new space in 2019 with the plan of expanding its production services, only to see those hopes dashed by the COVID-19 pandemic which halted much of their work. Now back to operating at prepandemic level and having sacrificed savings during the height of the pandemic, the company plans to use its Duke Energy Foundation funds to purchase a new server. This will enable more efficient work, allow for better remote productions and increase overall operational efficiency as the company continues its growth.
Company at a glance: Hailing itself as “The proper place for food and drinks,” Rich’s Proper is located in the heart of downtown Covington specializing in cocktails and seafood with a Southern Creole influence. Located inside the space that was once home to Rich’s Gruen Watches (whose 20-foot sign still hangs off the side of its space), the eatery and bar features a staff composed mainly of Covington residents and sources from local farms, earning its Kentucky Proud certification. How they will use their grant: Having taken multiple measures to ensure the health and safety of both its patrons and customers during the pandemic, Rich’s Proper plans to use the money from their Duke Energy Foundation grant to increase its visibility in the form of new vinyl electric, signage on its windows, logo tents for outdoor events and a new stove.
SMALL BUSINESS | VOLUME 41 NUMBER 2
Company at a glance: Strategy. Leadership. Governance. Operations. These are the four areas Leadership Bridges specializes in, working almost exclusively to provide consulting services to nonprofit leaders and their organizations. Leadership Bridges will use the funds from this grant to achieve partner status with the nationally recognized and respected Five Behaviors and DiSC (Dominant, Influential, Compliant, Steady) personality assessment. How they will use their grant: Like many businesses, the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the nonprofit sector in 2020, impacting Leadership Bridges’ ability to provide training to organizations facing severe economic downturns. Joining a national partner network certified in Five Behaviors consulting and DiSC assessments will add tools, revenue and marketing support to Leadership Bridges consulting practice by expanding its services (and potential customer base).
Company at a glance: Kate’s Catering and Personal Chef Services has worked tirelessly to provide safe and healthy meal services in the wake of the challenges that have been a constant presence throughout the current pandemic. As a completely custom caterer, the company has no preset menus or packages, resulting in varying budgets from one client to the next based on their needs. How they will use their grant: Kate’s Catering has shifted throughout the pandemic to create food service solutions that meet these desires while adhering to local, state and national regulations, even creating individual boxed meals for a wedding of 300 guests. The Dayton-based operation plans to use their Duke Energy Foundation grant to provide bonuses for its hardworking employees with the remaining funds to be allocated for marketing and onboard of additional staff to ease existing team members’ workloads.
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