NKY Business Journal | Nov/Dec 2022

Providing Innovative Solutions and Healthier Outcomes for Kentucky Businesses

At HORAN, we champion bold innovation backed by data to help employers and individuals thrive.

As an industry thought leader, we explore new horizons in health care, benefits, employee engagement and wellness. We are selfless in this work and determined in our efforts to help you achieve your business and employee benefit goals.

For more information about how HORAN can help with your benefits strategy, contact Shannon Schumacher at 859.572.4500 or ShannonS@horanassoc.com.

JOHN HAWKINS Chair, NKY Chamber President & CEO, MPI Consulting

AS I MENTIONED DURING OUR 2022 NKY CHAMBER OF Commerce Annual Dinner, I am humbled to have been selected as the incoming Board Chair for the NKY Chamber. Having served on the Chamber’s board for nearly a decade, I fully understand the weight and responsibility of this position. I am excited to serve this community in a more meaningful way. I look forward to representing the best of what the Northern Kentucky Metro’s business community has to offer in this important role.

As your Chair, I simply seek to serve as a steward for our community. My aspiration is to continue bringing people together regardless of background, race, gender, or ethnicity for the betterment of all NKY businesses and our region in its entirety. We want all businesses in our community to see the “unique value” in being an NKY Chamber member and finding their way to the Chamber if they are not yet a member.

This issue of the NKY Business Journal is dedicated to small businesses. A group that is near and dear to my heart as a small business owner. Small businesses represent 85% of our nearly 1,700 NKY Chamber members. Of that 85%, 900 members are small businesses with 10 employees or less.

Although this issue is focused on small businesses, we will no doubt continue to work with and advocate for large businesses as well. I have been fortunate enough to have been an executive for one of our region’s largest employers, Procter & Gamble and have worked at other large companies such as Kellogg’s and Novartis. I have also consulted for hundreds of large organizations domestically and globally.

I have been fortunate that my experiences allow me to appreciate the interest and perspectives of both small and large businesses. It is with this perspective that I understand just how crucial small business success is to our region’s collective success.

The NKY Chamber also understands how critical small businesses are to our region’s economy and workforce, which is why supporting our entrepreneurs through resources and programming is a constant priority.

In this issue, I invite you to discover features that reveal different aspects of the small business community in NKY. I hope this inspires you in your journey. Our cover features two NKY Chamber member companies focused on some of the most important aspects of operating a business. We also provide an introduction to “NKY @ Work,” the new NKY Chamber Spotlight podcast dedicated to workforce and talent issues. Additionally, we have tapped some of the region’s top cyber security experts to share insights on leading security measures to protect your business. We are also showcasing two spaces at the Boone County and Kenton County public libraries which are perfect workspaces for entrepreneurs. And finally, we want to shine a spotlight on some of the great resources and services available to NKY Chamber members.

The start of a new fiscal year creates opportunities for the NKY Chamber to continue working to grow our region’s economy by embracing new ideas and welcoming diverse individuals and the opportunities both may bring. We are at our best when we work together. We aspire to embrace and lead with a collaborative spirit that will provide the inspiration for innovation and a vibrant economy from which we all can – and will – enjoy. NKY

The BMW Store Passion Loves Company ®

Announcing

JOLENE ALMENDAREZ

The Cincinnati Enquirer

STEPHEN AMEND First Financial Bank

SHEENA BROOKS Northern Kentucky University

MOLLY DIAMON

Northern Kentucky University

PAULA BARNES Gateway Community & Technical College Workforce Solutions

RACHAEL CHAMBERLAIN Frost Brown Todd LLC

KAITLIN GEBBY LINK nky

ANNABELLE BAUTISTA Thomas More University

JESSICA CLEEK St. Elizabeth Physicians

GINA GENCO Scooter Media Co.

CASSANDRA HURST meetNKY

D'JUAN JAMES St. Elizabeth Healthcare

NICHOLAS LYKTEY Gravity Diagnostics

REBEKAH NULL Gravity Diagnostics

COURTNEY KLEIER Thomas More University

ROBBIE MARYE Payroll Partners

RYAN WILKINS Duke Energy

JESSICA NEWMAN The Kroger Co.

ALISON PEOPLES St. Elizabeth Healthcare

LINDSEY RECHTIN Northern Kentucky Water District

CARLOS RUIZ Airport

JOY SCHUG St Elizabeth Physicians

SAM SHELTON City of Fort Thomas

MATT TARKA HORAN

The inaugural fall cohort of Encounter NKY, a new leadership program focused on helping participants develop a deeper sense of belonging to the community, began in September. The fall cohort features 25 professionals new to the region or emerging in their careers with a sense of urgency for both career advancement and a deeper connection to the region. These professionals represent a variety of businesses and organizations across Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati.

Over the course of three months, the program focuses on assisting employers with retaining top talent and growing the next generation of leaders within their organizations. The program provides the opportunity to form meaningful relationships with local business and community leaders while exploring the ways in which Northern Kentucky puts the “great” in Greater Cincinnati.

The cohort meets twice a month for a half-day-long immersive experience to encounter what makes the Northern Kentucky Metro unique while learning about the region’s economy, vibrancy, health, state, local government and why Northern Kentucky is the perfect place to call home.

Developed out of the Leadership NKY Class of 2019 in an effort the help address the region's workforce issues, Encounter NKY rounds out the NKY Chamber's leadership programming alongside Leadership Northern Kentucky and Regional Youth Leadership, all of which are powered by Citi. Unique to other programs, Encounter NKY offers a fall and spring cohort each year. Applications for the spring cohort will be available in early 2023.

To learn more about Encounter NKY, contact Dawn Denham at ddenham@nkychamber. com or 859-578-6388 NKY

Securing Your Cyberbusiness

Enhance your business’ online presence with these cybersecurity tips

By Tabari McCoy , Scooter Media

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To help provide some insight on how to get started, we asked some of the top cybersecurity experts (see sidebar for more) in the Greater Cincinnati/ Northern Kentucky region for their recommendations regarding what every business owner should know and do to make their business more secure. Here’s what they had to say.

What is one cybersecurity measure that companies often overlook or perhaps might not be top of mind?

“Although phishing attacks and weak firewall policies are probably the top cybersecurity threat, most companies overlook policies on how to deal with lost or stolen devices. Any time equipment leaves your organization, it is subject to theft or hacking. Installing encryption software and having a policy on how to report lost or stolen equipment could limit a company's exposure.”

– Gaby Batshoun, President, Global Business Solutions, Inc.

“Cyber Security Awareness Trainings are the best bang for the buck and really hit home when in-person. It is also vital to secure any type of remote access to company data (usually with multi-factor authentication). "

– Brian Ruschman, President, C-Forward

“One measure that companies may overlook is security awareness, training and phishing simulations. In today’s threat landscape, employees can be the biggest risk for your company. Educating them plays a key role in protecting your business. It’s very important to have security awareness training at least once a year and monthly phishing simulations.”

- Olivia Selle, Managed Services Business Development Specialist, Prosource

“If you’re using a PC, use identity-based protections to monitor logins and other account-based activities that occur within your Windows computer environment. Once attackers land in your environment, they’ll look to abuse account privileges in an effort to laterally or vertically move to other devices and accounts. This is the common path for ransomware to take and thus should be observed and monitored accordingly.”

– Austin Coats, Founder, R.A.D. Security

“The first thing that comes to mind is putting measures in place to protect your network and technical infrastructure such as antivirus, firewalls and email spam filtering. One measure that is necessary for all other security measures to function effectively is having an accurate view of the hardware, software and data within a business’ technical environment, which is known as an accurate asset inventory. Once a company has an accurate view of all assets in their environment, they can work to determine an appropriate security strategy to ensure the company’s entire technical environment is appropriately secured.”

- Bruce Kelly, CEO, Vivitec, Inc.

What is one simple security tip that a small business owner can implement to better protect their company?

What is one of the key things a company should invest in to reduce its risk of a cyber-attack?

“Using multi-factor authentication for email and access to business line of applications as much as possible is one of the easiest securities measures a small business owner can implement with the most value. Most programs support this out of the box, there are no extra costs, and it can protect unauthorized users who may have gotten hold of an employee password. This is a must for all administrative level users.”

– Kelly Berkemeier, VP & COO, ISOCNET

“Train your employees to never, ever use the same password for multiple sites/solutions and use a password manager.”

– Brian Ruschman, President, C-Forward

“Multi-factor authentication requires users to present two or more factors at login to verify their identity before they are granted access. A typical multi-factor authentication login would require a user to present some combination of the following: (1) Something you know like a password or PIN; (2) Something you have like a smart card, mobile or hardware token; and (3) Some form of biometric factor - a finger/palm print or voice recognition.”

– Bruce Kelly, CEO, Vivitec, Inc. “Use” patch management – most malware exploits known vulnerabilities that software vendors are already aware of and have released patches to address. It is crucial to have a solution in place so your security patches are installed promptly.”

- Olivia Selle, Managed Services Business Development Specialist, Prosource

“Every company needs to invest in a managed detection and response solution to block and mitigate cybersecurity threats.”

– Gaby Batshoun, President, Global Business Solutions, Inc.

NORTHERN

“They should invest in a specific, written security plan that identifies the most common sources of intrusion or other breaches and the solutions they have implemented to counteract them. It will expose gaps in their security posture.”

“Invest in a team or person to solely focus on cybersecurity issues. Cybersecurity can get complicated and a burden to manage for companies as they have their own business and work to focus on. Bringing in a dedicated employee or team for the task will allow for the risks to get properly addressed and mitigated.”

“When it comes to cyber security, there is no “one size fits all” approach. A company’s cyber security approach will greatly differ based on what line of business they are in, their specific risk profile, and the data they consume, store, and transmit. Because of the varying degree of cyber security needs from company to company, the wisest investment a company can make is to partner with a reputable Managed Security Services Provider.”

- Bruce Kelly, CEO, Vivitec, Inc.

“Make sure third-party companies you work with are as secure and safe as you are.”

“A Managed Service Provider will help you get everything you need in place to protect your business. As businesses do more online, they are becoming more exposed to vulnerabilities and cyberattacks. Small businesses are often the most targeted because they do not have the resources in place to protect themselves. An outsourced IT company can help a business apply the necessary security measures within its budget to reduce its risk of a cyberattack. This will include proactively keeping systems up to date and implementing programs to actively monitor, detect and respond to cyber threats in real-time.”

NKY

– Stacey Roberts, President, Computer Systems Management

– Ed Walton, CEO, Step CG

– Austin Coats, Founder, R.A.D. Security

– Kelly Berkemeier, VP & COO, ISOCNET

Creative Control

Boone, Kenton County Libraries Offer Technology, Support for Entrepreneurs

By Tabari McCoy , Scooter Media

SOME VISIT TO BORROW

the latest best-selling novels, children’s books and/or movies.

Tables are often occupied with elementary to post-graduate level students. But did you know that besides the books, movies, maps and other texts one might expect, these spaces house a bevy of cutting-edge technology, programs and services available at little to no cost?

“These spaces” are the Boone County and Kenton County public libraries – and now, entrepreneurs throughout Northern Kentucky are discovering just how resourceful a library card can be when it comes to operating a successful small business.

LIVE S.T.R.E.A.M.ING

The Kenton County Public Library (KCPL) describes its science, technology, reading, engineering, arts and math – STREAM – Center as “a place to create, be creative and learn new skills.” Located at its Erlanger branch, the STREAM Center is a tech wiz’s dream given its 46 pieces of equipment ranging from laser, poster and 3D (they even offer a 3Doodler - a 3D printer in pen form) printers to Cricut/button makers, engravers, metal stampers, looms and photography studio components.

But what about those whose technical savvy stops at sending text messages and answering email? KCPL Executive Director Dave Schroeder says those are the exact people that the library had in mind when the STREAM Center was created, particularly in the small business/ entrepreneurial community.

“We've gone heavily into the area of workforce development. When we started we had a very small tech cart … It was very popular, so we thought “we need to do something bigger,” and that’s how we came up with the STREAM Center five years ago,” says Schroeder, who is also the current treasurer of the Northern Kentucky Workforce Investment Board (NKYWIB). “When we built the room and developed the space, part of the reasoning was that we wanted to give people the opportunity to make things and to learn how to make things, but we also wanted it to be valuable to the business community.”

Schroeder says up to 800 people use the STREAM Center in some capacity each month, a number which does not include attendees of the free classes and training sessions offered to ensure proper use of the technology. He says many of those visitors are entrepreneurs creating everything from posters, banners, buttons and badges to engraving, embroidery, 3D prototypes, and metal stamping using the STREAM Center in a variety of ways to support their small businesses.

With everything except the cost of supplies used covered by tax dollars and donors, Schroeder says the STREAM Center has been a “win-win situation for everybody.”

“We receive a tremendous amount of thank you letters, notes and positive feedback from the community about the Center,” he says. “People are very appreciative not only of having access to it but also of the training we provide.”

INNOVATION THROUGH CREATION, MOBILIZATION

While Kenton County has the STREAM Center (plus smaller, complementary makerspaces at its Covington and Independence branches), the Boone County Public Library (BCPL) has a similar spot of its own: the Boone Innovation Lab (BIL).

Located at the Hebron Branch and coming soon to the Main Library in Burlington, the BIL offers technology/ services similar to the STREAM Center. This includes a poster printer, sewing machine and serger (used to finish garments), Wacom drawing tablet for graphics and a Glowforge laser cutter/ engraver as well as a 3D scanner and printers. Additionally, the BIL houses podcasting/voiceover equipment, a green screen and a media conversion

station for 8mm reels, mini DV and more. Like the STREAM Center, the BIL only charges users for materials and offers plenty of classes to help prospective users.

The BCPL is also purchasing a van to provide a mobile version of the BIL that will travel throughout the community, paid for via a grant from the Institute for Museum and Library Services. BCPL Executive Director Carrie Herrmann says the mobile BIL will enable people countywide to utilize its makerspace technology. In addition, the new Walton branch will have its own BIL by 2024. The expansion will likely be needed to meet the demand for the BIL, too, since Herrmann says the Hebron branch had 1,110 bookings from July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022. “That’s 1,716 hours of use –

that’s pretty popular,” she says.

Given that the BCPL’s purpose is to “provide our community with continuing access to opportunities for learning, growth, enrichment and to empower them,” Herrmann is excited for even more people to utilize it moving forward.

“Several years ago, we adopted a model that every program that we offer has to match a 21st century skill. These were first adopted by the Department of Education and then the Institute of Museum and Library Services redesigned and adapted them to fit libraries,” she says. “Every program that we offer has to fit into one of those 21st century skills because this is a global world and people have to be able to compete in it. We are helping our community do that.”

PICTURED: (ABOVE) A film transfer work station at the Boone Innovation Lab; (BELOW) The Kenton County Public Library STREAM Center. Photos provided by the libraries.

CRAFTING A BETTER BUSINESS COMMUNITY

Regardless of where they may go, Schroeder’s hope for makerspaces in Northern Kentucky is simple: Provide small business owners with opportunities for big returns.

“Small businesses are a big part of our community. We've been very fortunate in Kenton County to have wonderful support from the business community (as) they've helped us to expand,” he says. “This is a way for us to pay them back and say, ‘Thank you for supporting libraries.’”

Herrmann agrees.

“It says a lot about Northern Kentucky that we find our community, entrepreneurs and small businesses very important. We want to help those organizations, businesses, people and individuals to grow,” she says. “Northern Kentucky is incredible because you have not only the libraries but also the Ignite Institute which brings students from all across (the region) in one very innovative place using a lot of high-tech equipment. Northern Kentucky is very open, embracing these technologies and helping our communities.”

PICTURED: The top three photos are of various activities at the STREAM Center. and the bottom two are displays of some of the 3D figures and objects made at the Boone Innovation Lab.

NORTHERN

Maximize Your Business with These NKY Chamber Resources

By Tabari McCoy , Scooter Media

WHEN YOU JOIN THE NKY CHAMBER, YOU ARE connecting yourself and your business to new resources and opportunities to grow and thrive in the NKY Metro region.

Access, support and resources –are three integral benefits of becoming a member of the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce (NKY Chamber). With 85% of the NKY Chamber’s member businesses employing 10 people or less, the NKY Chamber offers a wide variety of resources that assist with everything from the development of best practices for business, to training, to professional development for employees to talent attraction and retention programming and more.

Discover the ways in which you can take advantage of the NKY Chamber’s variety of offerings.

COST-EFFECTIVE, MONEY-SAVING BENEFITS

Into saving money while providing your employees and business the services they need to thrive? Look no further than your NKY Chamber membership! Some of the savings available to you include:

Through a partnership with Humana, the NKY Chamber can help you with health insurance. The NKY Chamber HealthSolutions program is available exclusively to members with two or more employees and can save you between 5–30% on health insur ance premiums.

One of the most popular NKY Chamber membership perks is discounted office supplies. There are several options to choose from. ODP Business Solutions, formerly Office Depot offers members up to 55% off their most purchased office supply items both in-store and online with no contract. Staples Business Advantage program also offers savings on office sup plies and other product lines from technology to furniture. In addition, you can also take advantage of VIE Ability, which was launched by the Cincinnati Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired. VIE-Ability.org has over 40,000 office products and the office supply operations are run by people who are blind or have severe vision loss.

Did you know the NKY Chamber offers savings on banking? Partnerships with OMEGA and PNC Merchant Services offer referral bonuses, no early termination fees, next-day funding of card payment processing transactions and more.

Need human resources support but lack the expertise or staff to handle HR-related tasks yourself? Erigo Employer Solutions specializes in payroll, benefits and compliance – and NKY Cham ber members can receive a 10% discount on services.

DEVELOPMENT

Looking for ways to boost your workforce and/or reach your business goals? The NKY Chamber has several programs designed to help members realize their potential:

Business Referral Networks: Want to connect directly with new customers? Join one of the NKY Chamber’s Business Referral Networks (BRN) of 15 to 30 people and discover how other members can help you grow your business.

SCORE Seminars and Mentors: Presented by the SCORE Foundation, these seminars are led by successful business owners with free one-on-one mentoring.

Women’s Initiative Mentor/Mentee program: Designed to help grow female leaders in your organization, this program seeks to pair up like-minded individuals for a one-on-one growth period over one years’ time.

The Voice of Business in NKY: The NKY Chamber serves as the voice of its members advocating on key legislative and regulatory issues in Northern Kentucky, Frankfort and Washington D.C that impact business.

HR 100: These programs provide HR professionals and small business owners with timely programs revolving around talent recruitment and retention issues that are often also SHRM-credit approved.

HR Strategic Six Pack: Hosted in partnership with NKY SHRM, this event brings HR leaders together to discuss six unique aspects of the workforce pertinent to HR professionals.

Women’s Initiative Peer-to-Peer Roundtable: A group of 8-10 women from different industries and career status meet once a month to support each other in a productive, confidential setting.

Talent Strategies Symposium: Join local leaders and regional experts as they lead discussions and/or host breakout sessions designed to highlight ways employers can attract/retain talent and develop their workforce.

NKY @ Work: A new addition to the NKY Chamber Spotlight podcast, this segment specifically features employers and workforce practitioners discussing tactics, resources and more to bolster talent attraction, retention and DEI efforts.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

The NKY Chamber has a full slate of programs and events that can help with workforce development. These include:

Women’s Initiative Regional Summit: The WI Regional Summit, sponsored by PNC, is a daylong learning event that aims to bring the region’s businesswomen together to discuss real-life leadership experiences and how attendees can care for themselves, their professional teams, and simultaneously drive business results.

Leadership Northern Kentucky: One of the NKY Chamber’s best-known and respected programs, Leadership NKY, powered by Citi, uses the community as a classroom to develop leaders that will serve the region.

Encounter NKY: This program, powered by Citi, is designed specifically for young professionals, YPs and those newer to the region seeking both career advancement and a deeper connection to our region.

Northern Kentucky Young Professionals, sponsored by Frost Brown Todd: The program connects YPs with peers by expanding their networks, programming and engagement while impacting their community through diversity and inclusion.

IDEA Summit & DEI Summit Session Series: An outgrowth of the NKY Chamber’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee efforts, the IDEA Summit seeks to address topics such as removing employment barriers, talent attraction/ retention and the importance of an

inclusive workplace. Be sure to keep up with the next round of efforts with each DEI Summit Session Series event and discover how others are working to create measurable, positive outcomes in the workforce.

These are just some of the benefits that come with being an NKY Chamber member. To learn more about all of the benefits included in your NKY Chamber membership, we encourage you to contact Lynn Abeln, our Vice President of Membership at labeln@nkychamber. com or call (859) 578-6390. You can also find information on all of the programs and benefits included above on the NKY Chamber’s website at www.nkychamber.com. NKY

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

NKY Chamber nkychamber.com

GROW NKY nkychamber.com/grow

Alloy Development Co. alloydev.org

Aviatra Accelerators aviatraaccelerators.org

Blue North Bluenorthky.com

Greater Cincinnati SCORE greatercincinnati.score.org

Kentucky Small Business Development Center kentuckysbdc.com

NKU Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship nku.edu

Search: INKUBIZ

A Perfect Pairing

Erigo Employer Solutions, Business Benefits Insurance Solutions

By Tabari McCoy , Scooter Media

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO RUN A SUCCESSFUL business? It’s an intricate question with answers unique to nearly every individual who steps into the role of being an entrepreneur, a company president or CEO. Even when one possesses a world of knowledge in a particular field, there may be other details that need the care of an outside source to ensure their dream doesn’t become lost in a nightmare of paperwork, compliance and operational complexities. In short, those “other details” associated with running a business can easily become overwhelming without the right strategic partners.

This is where two Northern Kentucky-based businesses - Business Benefits Insurance Solutions and Erigo Employer Solutions - thrive, serving essential support roles to companies of all sizes.

PICTURED: Allyson Cook and Geralyn Isler at Villa Mocha coffee shop in Villa Hills.

NAVIGATING THE COSTS OF DOING BUSINESS

Located within the same Ft. Mitchell office complex, Business Benefits and Erigo each offer specialized services designed to meet the ever-changing expectations of the current and future workforce as well as improve the overall employee experience for the clients they serve.

Founded in 2011 and one of the first companies of its type to be certified by the IRS, Erigo is a professional employer organization (PEO) that serves as a comprehensive human resources administrative partner to small and mid-sized businesses. Along with the provision of competitive benefits packages that small and mid-sized businesses do not have access to, Erigo assists clients with administrative responsibilities with everything from payroll services to tax filings, human resources management, benefits administration, retirement plan solutions, workers’ compensation and employment practices liability insurance. Erigo also provides support to clients by assisting them with compliance on the ever changing federal, state and local laws and regulations that govern employees, benefits and payroll taxes.

Business Benefits, established in 1984, is a forward-thinking insurance agency specializing in employee benefits. This includes the design, implementation and management of highquality, cost-effective solutions including a broad offering of medical, dental, vision, life, disability and worksite benefits.

Given her company’s mission to be “Tri-State employers’ long-term, trusted partner in benefits,” Business Benefit’s President, Geralyn Isler, says its services can help companies in the ongoing battle to attract and retain employees.

“We help employer groups of all sizes including private businesses, nonprofit organizations and government entities to streamline, enrich, communicate and support their employee benefit offerings,” says Isler. “Our dedicated team provides services, which go far beyond the sale of a product. We provide end-to-end service to the employer and their employees throughout the relationship; from decision assistance, education, wellness solutions, billing and claims service and everything in between.”

Erigo President and CEO Allyson Cook says the many challenges of running a business is why utilizing Erigo as a comprehensive human resources partner may be the difference between success and failure for many businesses. According to the National Association of Professional Employer Organizations (NAPEO), companies that use a PEO grow 7-9% faster, experience 10-14% less employee turnover and are 50% less likely to go out of business.

“By providing our clients with customized competitive benefits and handling the time-consuming administration of benefits, payroll and HR services, Erigo can relieve businesses of many tasks that may not directly add to the bottom line but clearly affect it,” she says. “Our clients trust our team to assist them with one of their biggest assets – their employees- and we work hard to partner and provide all of the services necessary to maintain and protect their employees.”

Isler agrees.

“Our clients count on our prudent assessments and advice knowing that they come from our client-first priorities,” Isler says. “No one can specialize in everything and if they try, they may not do well. Having others who have expertise and experience with varying skills from your organization will ensure the most advantageous results for your team and the success of your business.”

BUILDING BETTER BUSINESSES INDIVIDUALLY, TOGETHER

While each company has its own clients, each company’s expertise in their respective fields occasionally lends itself to partnering to deliver attractive, large group-styled benefit solutions integrated with payroll, HR and compliance services. This comprehensive solution allows employers, small and large, to focus on running their organization and

“Besides our mutual passion to deliver the best solutions and services, we love working together. Collaborating expands our perspectives and makes us better at what we do.”

growing their business knowing that employee benefits are in good hands. Joint clients benefit from the diverse expertise and experience of both the Erigo and Business Benefits teams and from the holistic approach to understanding and solving their employees’ needs.

“We share the same customer-first mentality and consistently strive to better the client experience,” notes Isler. “Besides our mutual passion to deliver the best solutions and services, we love working together. Collaborating expands our perspectives and makes us better at what we do.”

For Cook, the partnership is a win-win.

“We take pride in working with Business Benefits because they share the same desire to provide the best customer service to clients that Erigo demands of itself,” says Cook. “Our strategic partnership results in our clients finding the best benefit plans available for employees that work within clients’ budgets to ensure clients attract and retain the best talent for their businesses.”

LEADING THE WAY

Both Cook and Isler recognize the significance of being women in leadership roles and encourage others who might be interested in similar paths, to follow their passions.

“The work we do is very challenging, as is running a business,” says Isler. “It’s important to have a strong support system, be persistent and determined and, of course, continue to learn.”

Cook, who has had “the benefit of having many great mentors” in her life, shares her hope.

“I hope that I can mirror the great work ethic and passion in my role as that of my mentors,” she says. “By doing so, maybe it will inspire other women to become business leaders in their communities.”

Asked why they enjoy their careers, both Cook and Isler shared a simple response: They love what they do.

“I truly enjoy bringing solutions to our clients. I find it rewarding to simplify the complicated and explain benefits in a way that allows our clients to be confident in their decisions and make the most of their opportunities,” says Isler.

For Cook, it starts with the people.

“This job allows me to work with so many great, successful and interesting individuals. I continually learn from my employees and our clients which makes my job rewarding and enjoyable.”

PICTURED: The teams at Erigo and Business Benefits are literal neighbors, housed just across the hall from each other in the same Ft. Mitchell office complex.

Tune in to the NKY Chamber's Newest Workforce Tool

As a champion for regional issues affecting employers, the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce recently launched “NKY @ Work,” a new podcast segment focused on providing additional workforce resources for our member companies.

By Sarah

The “NKY @ Work” segment will be embedded in the NKY Chamber’s NKY Spotlight Podcast and will be hosted by Nancy Spivey, Vice President of Talent Strategies, with guest host appearances by Ashleigh DuBois, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

This new segment of the NKY Spotlight Podcast, presented by Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, will feature employers and workforce practitioners discussing tactics, resources and more aimed to bolster talent attraction and retention as well as diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. The NKY @ Work podcast supports the work of the regional workforce collaborative GROW NKY Employer Policies & Practices focus area.

Listeners will walk away from “NKY @ Work” with actionable strategies and gain insights to strengthen their respective workplaces and reach their business goals.

Brookbank,

Scooter Media

PICTURED: Sarah Brookbank, Rusty Mardis and Nancy Spivey recording an episode of NKY @ Work.

NKY Spotlight NKY@Work

Hosted by Sarah Brookbank

Hosted by Nancy Spivey

Live on Facebook every Monday at 4:00 PM & archived at NKYChamber.com/NKYSpotlight

“We’re thrilled to offer the NKY @Work podcast as a communication tool for Chamber member employers and resource partners to share best practice tips and tools for recruiting and retaining talent,” said Nancy Spivey.

Spivey said she is excited to share the one-on-one conversations that she’s been having in the community with a larger audience. The NKY @ Work Podcast is a way to turn these conversations into a community resource.

“Because of the current state of employment, our members are asking for more innovative solutions and strategies,” Spivey said. “This segment is an avenue we can provide to our members for them to share these great strategies that they’re implementing so that other employers can adopt them.”

Spivey said "NKY @ Work" is a valuable time-saving tool to share workforce-related information with members.

“This is a comfortable format where we can share these conversations that we’re having every day with employers and workforce practitioners," Spivey said.

Segments scheduled thus far include details on childcare benefits, helping employees affected by cancer, the benefits of incorporating digital tools into your recruiting strategy, employing the hard-to-serve, and developing a plan to attract and retain veterans and their families.

The podcast will continue to highlight NKY Chamber member business and information on upcoming NKY Chamber events and initiatives in addition to the new segment.

If you have tactics or resources used to bolster talent attraction and retention and DEI efforts at your company, reach out to Nancy Spivey at nspivey@nkychamber.com.

The NKY Spotlight Podcast airs weekly at 4 p.m. The podcast can be found on the NKY Chamber Facebook page or at nkychamber.com/nkyspotlight. NKY

“Small businesses are the heartbeat of your neighborhood, the spine of your local economy, and the spirit of your town.” (Enterprise League) It’s the small businesses in NKY that often sponsor the t-ball/soccer team, the church festival, and the school play. The NKY Chamber’s membership includes just over 900 members with 10 or fewer employees.

GROW NKY partners work with businesses of all sizes to address regional workforce challenges. Kentucky Chamber data indicates that 50% of small business owners reported job openings they could not fill in the current period. Kentucky small businesses employ nearly half of the Commonwealth’s workforce and the lack of a sufficient workforce is a threat to Kentucky’s economy. (20 Years in the Making – Kentucky’s Workforce Crisis, Kentucky Chamber of Commerce).

SMALL BUSINESSES BUILD “WORKFORCE BEHIND THE WORKFORCE”

SMALL BUSINESSES ADVANCE AWARENESS OF CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

AnyWeather Roofing, AnyWeather Heating & Air, and AnyWeather Restoration offer professional roofing, HVAC, and building restoration services. Owner Phil Griffin launched his family businesses in 2008, which opened many doors for him personally and professionally. As a result, he is committed to promoting the trades as an outstanding career pathway. “People don’t realize that trade businesses offer the full spectrum of careers – and available high-paying jobs,” Griffin explained.

Griffin developed a trades career planning process designed to mirror college preparation efforts. In collaboration with several partner organizations, he launched TradesNKY in 2021 to increase awareness of trade careers. In partnership with Campbell County Middle School, they created a four-week “exploration club,” teaching basic skills of safety, tool use and angle measurement. Each student created a project using their new skills. TradesNKY is also working with partners to launch a math curriculum that teaches math with hands-on projects. https://www.tradesnky.com

Phil emphasizes that his efforts are focused on the development of school-aged children to cultivate career-ready individuals who are set up for success. He is committed to “speaking to a generation of young people in a relevant way that gives them hope and purpose.” This commitment to career exploration and building business/school partnerships to grow the future workforce is the foundation of GROW NKY.

Like many small business owners during the pandemic, Kathy Donelan struggled with hiring for her childcare center despite significant recruiting efforts. Aunt Kathy’s Child Care Center in Highland Heights was competing with the local gas station and Frisch’s for staff. As a professional committed to this industry for 23 years, this didn’t seem right. Donelan explained, “If most brain development occurs in the first 5 years of a child’s life, then we need high-quality employees taking care of them!” So, Kathy developed an attraction/retention plan utilizing federal American Rescue Funds to increase pay and benefits and make Aunt Kathy’s a great place to work.

Kathy also promotes early childhood education as an important career and occupation. She developed an apprenticeship program with the KY Department of Labor at Highlands High School. Students complete required courses at school in the morning and then work at Aunt Kathy’s in the afternoon. After graduation, required observation and completion of a portfolio, students can earn a Child Development Associate certification. This enables them to work during college at a childcare center while they pursue a degree. Meanwhile, the childcare centers gain experienced employees! This “win-win-win” partnership is an example of the collaborative strategies that GROW NKY supports to increase quality for early childhood experiences, increase the availability of childcare for working parents and support local businesses. NKY

Aunt Kathy's Child Care Center

Phil Griffin's TradesNKY

NORTHERN KENTUCKY

Kyle

Q&A

Board of Advisors Board of Directors with the &

NORTHERN KENTUCKY'S SMALL BUSINESSES ARE IMPORTANT BECAUSE ...

GERALYN ISLER

President / Benefits Advisor Business Benefits Insurance Solutions

They are core to our economy and embody the best of enterprise and ingenuity.

LEE CRUME

President & CEO Northern Kentucky Tri-ED

They employ the majority of our workforce.

JOSH DUCKWORTH Chief Financial Officer altafiber

Small businesses and startups are critical to Northern Kentucky for multiple reasons, starting with job creation, which is the lifeblood of our economy. As we also know, startups are typically the result of innovation that leads to improved services, outcomes, and efficiencies for consumers. Finally, small businesses are an important part of our efforts to attract and keep talent in Northern Kentucky, which ultimately benefits the entire region.

MATT MAULLER Agency President AssuredPartners

They are the backbone of our community.

JAMES GOOD Vice President of Operations Keller Logistics - Warehouse & Co Packing

They create jobs, while providing meaningful opportunity for the community to grow.

STEPHANIE STITT

General Manager, Accounting and Finance Toyota Boshoku America

They add value to the local economy with job creation, diversity of services and a strong commitment to the community they serve.

MICHAEL CARBONE

Strategic Fiber Consultant Accelecom

Northern Kentucky's small businesses are important because in a world of transactional online sales, nothing can replace the relationships and trust formed by face to face transactions that create a community. Small businesses pave the way for future entrepreneurial generations and keep the local economy diverse.

Devou Cup

Development Award

Horizon Award

Walter

Pieschel

Bob & Dell Ann Sathe

Leo Calderón

Founder & President Esperanza Latino Center of NKY

Rep. Sal Santoro Commonwealth of Kentucky

Paul Verst Chairman and CEO

Kristen Smitherman-Voltaire

Manager

2022 ANNUAL DINNER | NORTHERN KENTUCKY CONVENTION CENTER

ANNUAL DINNER PHOTOGRAPHY: Stephen Thomas, Photographic Memories LLC

ANNUAL GOLF OUTING AND CLINIC AT THE GOLF COURSES OF KENTON COUNTY

GLOBAL EXPERIENCE NIGHT WITH FC CINCINNATI AT WASHINGTON PARK & TQL STADIUM, CINCINNATI

PICTURED:

Paul Moran, DBL Law; Bob Hoffer, DBL Law; Patrick Hughes, DBL Law; Jim Dressman, DBL Law; Covington Mayor Joe Meyer; Angie Gates, DBL Law; Jason Payne, Republic Bank; Emma Adkisson, PCA Architecture; Alan Haehnle, City of Covington; Susan Smith, City of Covington

PICTURED:

Scott Meyer, Patrice & Associates-NKY Chamber Ambassador; Richard Vaughan, Executive Vice President Retail Sales and Service, Peoples Bank; Mark Behler, Peoples Bank; Mike Lane Senior Vice President Residential Lending, Peoples Bank; Jessica Jones, Peoples Bank; Bob Bell, Peoples Bank; T.J. Sholler, Peoples Bank; Kelsey Miller, Peoples Bank; Liz Fugate, Vice President Regional Manager Peoples Bank; Denise Sigmon, A.V.P Branch Manager, Peoples Bank; April Coffee, AVP Business Banking, Peoples Bank; Jane Young, RE/MAX Victory + Affiliates-NKY Chamber Ambassador

PICTURED: Members of the St. Henry District High School Soccer team and Former Principal Dave Gish

Ribbon Cuttings

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!

PICTURED:

Jon Engelhard, Huntington Bank-NKY Chamber Ambassador; Heather Coffman Peoples Bank; Denise Sigmon, A.V.P Branch Manager, Peoples Bank; Mayor Angelo Penque, City of Cold Spring; Kendall Honican, Peoples Bank; Liz Fugate, Vice President Regional Manager Peoples Bank; April Coffee, AVP Business Banking, Peoples Bank. Back Left to right: Mike Dalton, Vice President Commercial Banking Peoples Bank; Richard Vaughan, Executive Vice President Retail Sales and Service, Peoples Bank; T. J. Sholler, Peoples Bank; Mike Lane Senior Vice President Residential Lending, Peoples Bank.

PICTURED:

Chief Randy Godsey, City of Erlanger, Fire and EMS; John Padgett, adsposure-NKY Chamber Ambassador; Pam Smallwood, Healthpoint Family Care; Sally Jordan, Healthpoint Family Care; Peter Weickgenannt, Heritage Bank; Laura Menge, Greater Cincinnati Foundation; Bruno Giacomuzzi, St. Elizabeth Healthcare; Jean Mize, R.C. Durr Foundation; Jim Beiting, Transitions, Inc.; Mayor Jessica Fette, City of Erlanger; Julie Nesbitt, BKD; Peter Lefaivre; Col. Kyle Rader, City of Erlanger, Police Chief

PICTURED:

Micheal Kiskaden (Instructor); Mckenzie Demmien; Charles Schlabach; Shannon Liberty; Joseph Melcher; Jacob Boatright (Instructor); Christopher Lyon (Instructor); Colby Dykes; Dakota Winters (Instructor); Caz Simpson (Instructor). Middle: Tyler Demmien (Founder and CEO); Sean Leonard (Director of Training); Joshua Foster (Director of Protective Operations)

MILESTONES

Richard Lee Chamberlain has been honored with a 2022 AAMI award, recognizing his commitment and insights in the health technology field. Chamberlain, a field service specialist at CommonSpirit Health in Kentucky, was presented with the AAMI & GE Healthcare BMET of the Year Award in June at the AAMI eXchange conference in San Antonio, Texas.

“When I first started my HTM career, I didn’t even know if it was going to be the field for me. I figured I would give it a try and see if I liked it. I never would have imagined it would have come to this, or that it would mean as much to me as it does,” Chamberlain said. “I am truly blessed for all of the opportunities that have been presented to me and to be part of such a great community, organization and team. Thank God and all of you who supported and encouraged me along the way — to name a few, Bill Barley, Jim Miller, everyone in the Erlanger office and those who were there when I first started down this path in Paducah, KY. I couldn’t have done it without each and every one of you. We are HTM!”

Over the course of his career, Chamberlain has demonstrated that he is a valuable subject matter expert for Common Spirit Health. He has demonstrated the ability to enable others to advance their skills and knowledge despite the challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic has presented and allowed his colleagues to thrive instead of struggle. He is celebrated in particular for his role in implementing a new hybrid training program that adapts in-person and on-site curriculum for virtual and remote learning strategies.

Confectioner Perfetti Van Melle announces that Paula Dart has named Vice President, Growth & Transformation for Perfetti Van Melle North America, which is based in Erlanger, KY. Dart joined Perfetti Van Melle October 6 to establish this critical new executive leadership team role for North America.

“As we continue to grow rapidly and meet fast-changing consumer behaviors and market dynamics, we’re pleased to welcome Paula as key new member of our executive team. Her wealth of experience and history of success in growth and business transformation with leading global consumer companies will be key in reaching our aspiration of leading North America in our confectionery categories of gum, candy, and mints,” said Sylvia Buxton, President & CEO of Perfetti Van Melle North America. Paula comes to PVM from a multinational beverage company, Diageo, where she was Vice President of Global eCommerce and led a newly formed Center of Excellence. Before that, she was with the CocaCola Company more than 20 years, progressing her career across marketing, strategy, innovation, and category and customer management, rising to global VP level roles in these areas. Paula also has marketing agency experience in-house and externally. She holds a B.A. degree graduating Cum Laude from St. Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana.

PERFETTI VAN

The nonprofit information technology association for Greater Cincinnati, The Circuit, recently awarded Red Hawk’s Matt Strippelhoff the 2022 Visionary Leader Award for his reimagining of the software and application development process. Each year, the award recognizes an innovative risk-taker whose bold leadership is a catalyst for growth and success.

“I was humbled to be nominated and thrilled to be chosen. The

Greater Cincinnati area is filled with innovative leaders with outstanding talent: I’m honored to have been singled out,” Matt said.

Matt’s vision drives digital transformation by creating a better way to serve the mid-market, ultimately disrupting traditional models of developing software as if it were a project or through staff augmentation contracts. Instead, the Red Hawk Technologies’ operational and financial model bundles software development, enhancement, maintenance, technical support and DevOps services for a fixed monthly fee.

“This business model provides mid-market companies with the financial and operational stability they need to continue investing in transformational tech to outpace their competition, open up new revenue streams and leverage their data to deliver more value to their end-customers,” Matt said. “With the old model, the costs of development were unpredictable and companies found themselves in ongoing break/fix contracts and not investing in maintaining their digital assets.”

In part due to this visionary business model, Red Hawk has increased sales over 30 percent and added a significant number of multiyear recurring revenue contracts to the company’s portfolio. Customer retention has risen to 100 percent among clients that opted for the new service model. The approach has also created a way for Red Hawk’s software developers to stay in the game and off the bench.

“My favorite part of the journey has been seeing our team rally behind the vision and bring it to life,” Matt said. “This challenge provided us an opportunity to reimagine how software engineering services could be delivered to mid-market clients. Our goal was to provide the financial predictability and operational stability they needed to continue innovating.” Currently, Red Hawk is responsible for the development, health and performance of digital assets for over a dozen of Greater Cincinnati’s most reputable and innovative mid-market companies.

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EVENT CALENDAR

NOVEMBER

Initiative Regional Summit | MegaCorp Pavilion, Newport | 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM

11/09 Talent Strategies: HR100/NKY SHRM – HR Strategic Six Pack | Kenton County Public Library | 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM

11/10 Business After Hours | Pensive Distilling, Newport | 4:30 – 6:30 PM

11/15 Eggs ‘N Issues: Regional Economic Outlook | Receptions, Erlanger | 7:30 – 9:15 AM

11/17 NKYP: Coffee & Conversation | Point Perk Coffee, Covington | 8:00 – 9:00 AM

11/28 Women’s Initiative CONNECT Hour | Location TBD | 4:30 – 6:30 PM 11/30 Where We Stand | Location TBD

DECEMBER

12/7 Getting the Most of Your Chamber Membership | NKY Chamber, Ft. Mitchell | 9:00 – 10:00 AM

12/8 NKYP: Cocktails & Conversation | Location TBD | 4:30 – 6:00 PM

12/13 Eggs ‘N Issues: Challenges in Higher Education | Receptions, Erlanger | 7:30 – 9:00 AM

JANUARY

1/10 Eggs 'N Issues | Receptions, Erlanger | 7:30 – 9:00 AM

1/11 Talent Strategies: HR 100 | Location TBD | 8:00 – 9:30 AM

1/19 Business After Hours | Location TBD | 4:30 – 6:30 PM

1/30 Women’s Initiative Connect Hour | Location TBD | 4:30 – 6:30 PM

FEBRUARY

2/1 Getting the Most of Your Chamber Membership | NKY Chamber, Ft. Mitchell | 9:00 - 10:00 AM

2/16 Women’s Initiative Annual Breakfast | NKY Convention Center | Covington, KY | 8:00 - 10:30 AM 2/21 Eggs ‘N Issues | Receptions, Erlanger | 7:30 - 9:00 AM

2/27 Women’s Initiative Connect Hour | Location TBD | 4:30 - 6:30 PM

REGISTER FOR THESE EVENTS AND MORE AT NKYCHAMBER.COM/EVENTS

Employee wellness that fits your budget

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Humana wants to see your small business succeed, which means helping your employees get well and stay well — at a lower cost.

As a member of the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, you may be eligible to save as much as 40%.

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