NKY Chamber Business Journal | Sept/Oct 2023 | HUB|HORAN cover

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

THIS MONTH’S NKY BUSINESS

Journal focuses on an important topic: leadership. Great leadership is one of those things that we know it when we see it. Leadership is a crucial aspect of any organization, whether it be a business, a nonprofit, or a government agency. A good leader inspires and motivates others to work together towards a common goal. They possess vision, knowledge and skills necessary to guide their team successfully. Good leaders communicate effectively and build strong relationships with their teams, identifying team members' strengths, weaknesses and then delegate tasks accordingly. They also provide constructive feedback and support as well as mentor and develop their team.

INVESTOR'S CIRCLE

What distinguishes a leader from a manager is the ability to think beyond daily tasks to focus on the bigger picture. A leader sets a clear direction and inspires their team to work towards that vision. They adapt to changing circumstances and make tough decisions that benefit the team and the organization as a whole.

Leadership is a crucial aspect of any organization or team. Without it, a group may lack direction, vision, and purpose, ultimately resulting in failure. This issue examines why leadership is important and the benefits it brings to individuals, organizations, and society.

Great leadership does four things: First, it provides direction. A leader clearly communicates the organization’s goals and objectives to their team effectively. They set the tone for the culture and values of the organization, ensuring that everyone is working towards the same vision. With clear direction, individuals are more likely to work productively, and teams are more likely to achieve their goals.

Second, leadership promotes teamwork. Leaders bring individuals together, encouraging collaboration and cooperation. They create an environment that fosters communication, trust, and respect, enabling individuals to work together towards a common goal. This creates a sense of unity and purpose, which can be a powerful motivator. Third, leadership provides motivation. A good leader knows how to motivate others, inspiring them to work harder and achieve more. They recognize and reward individuals for their contributions, producing a sense of pride and ownership in their work as well as increased job satisfaction, productivity and loyalty.

Finally, leadership promotes innovation. Leaders encourage their team to think creatively and explore new ideas. They provide a safe space for individuals to experiment and take risks, promoting a culture of innovation, which can produce new products, services, and processes, driving growth and success.

Leadership is important for society. Leaders play a critical role in shaping society by promoting values such as integrity, accountability and responsibility. In leading by example, they encourage others to follow their lead. In times of crisis, leaders can provide stability and direction, helping individuals to overcome adversity. Without effective leadership, organizations and teams are likely to fall short of their goals and society is likely to suffer. Therefore, it is crucial to develop leadership skills and for organizations to invest in leadership development programs. Many organizations are not investing as heavily in leadership development today and it often shows up in the workplace culture, manifesting itself today with increased employee grievances.

In conclusion, leadership is a critical aspect of any organization as a good leader can be a difference maker. They possess the skills, knowledge, and vision necessary to guide their team towards success. The ability to inspire, communicate effectively, and focus on the bigger picture are all qualities that distinguish a leader from being a manager. NKY

Encounter

NKY Chamber leadership program seeks to help employers retain talent

By Tabari McCoy, Scooter Media

Relying on chance and circumstance is no way to create, build and/ or sustain a business. While that may seem obvious upon its surface, the ongoing battle for talent nationwide has many employers feeling like they are relying on pure luck whenever they are successful attracting and retaining talent.

That concern led the NKY Chamber to create a new program to help business owners keep their workforce from leaving the Northern Kentucky Metro region. In doing so, individuals learn how and why Northern Kentucky is a perfect place to advance their careers and be part of a community.

And it all begins by learning what can happen when talent is willing to “Encounter NKY.”

EMERGING TALENT

Launched in October 2022 and powered by Citi, Encounter NKY is the NKY Chamber’s newest leadership program that also serves as a talent attraction and retention tool for employers. Developed out of the Leadership Northern Kentucky Class of 2019, Encounter NKY seeks to help qualifying young professionals (YPs) accomplish several goals in just under three days’ time.

This includes helping connect YPs to one another to expand their professional and personal local networks and immerse them in issues relevant to the NKY Metro region. Additionally, Encounter NKY brings in local leaders to showcase how participants can become more actively engaged and involved in their respective industries and surrounding communities.

NKY Chamber Director of Leadership Dawn Denham says that in doing these things, Encounter NKY can help existing YPs and new talent in the area discover Northern Kentucky’s full potential.

“We want to show them the opportunities that exist here because it's far less expensive to keep talent you’ve hired, onboarded and trained than to have turnover and repeatedly go through that process,” she says. “We have data, pre- and post-program, that shows people who participate are far more likely to see themselves living here in both one and five years from now. Data also shows employers who support their employees like this are more loyal and less likely to hop around to a new job because they think, ‘Wow, my employer believes in and invested in me.’”

While Encounter NKY class sizes are intentionally small - limited to just 25 participants, post-program events are not. The final day of each Encounter NKY cohort features a happy hour/networking event with previous program graduates to continue the relationship building process. Graduates are then invited to future NKY Chamber events as well as those with future generations of Encounter NKY graduates.

For more information on Encounter NKY, please contact Dawn Denham at ddenham@nkychamber.com

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT ENCOUNTER NKY

“Citi is extremely honored to partner with the NKY Chamber as a Title Sponsor of the Chamber’s leadership programs. Seeing innovation unfold, like the launch of Encounter NKY, is one of the many reasons Citi continues to support the programs. Encounter NKY creates a unique, immersive experience that highlights key regional opportunities and gives participants a chance to expand their network, invest in their personal and professional development and most importantly demonstrates why Northern Kentucky is the best place to live and work. As a lifelong resident of NKY, I know that there are so many unique qualities about our region. Encounter NKY illustrates all that our region has to offer while helping develop and retain top talent.”

NIKI CLARE VP of Communication and Public Affairs, Citi

“Encounter NKY was an excellent experience for me. As a new Northern Kentuckian, I learned so much about my home on the local, regional, and state level, and beyond. The sessions gave me an opportunity to meet and learn from an impressive variety of leaders in my community and opened me up to so many new aspects of my Northern Kentucky home. I can’t recommend this program highly enough for any young professional who wants to learn more about where they live, and get involved in their community. I’ve already made so many connections through Encounter NKY, both personal and professional, that I know are going to serve me for years to come. Whatever your field or career goals, I think this program will provide you with experiences and connections that will help you grow.”

MICHAEL ORR Director of Development, Gateway Community & Technical College

“As a young professional who recently relocated to Northern Kentucky, Encounter NKY was critical in helping me feel connected to the community. As a newcomer to the area, the program helped me establish meaningful relationships and provided me with unique opportunities to learn from our region’s leaders about the local economy, our region’s health and vibrancy and so much more. Being a part of this program has helped me form a deeper connection to the region and provided me with new tools to become a stronger leader.” NKY

GINA GENCO Senior Media Relations Specialist, Scooter Media

Neal White

SVP, Commercial Banking

Announcing the Regional Youth Leadership Class of 2024

SAFA AHMAD Ursuline Academyl

HANNAH ALEX Sycamore High School

TARA BARKLEY Dixie Heights High School

KATHRYN CLARK Ryle High School

KEVIN BUEMI Dayton High School

CLARA ALLEN St. Ursula Academy

LUKE BERTSCH Bishop Brossart High School

ADDISON CLIFTON Dayton High School

ETHAN BARKER Villa Madonna Academy

JULIA BOHL Mariemont High School

ABIGAIL COLLINS St. Ursula Academy

KYE DENHAM Beechwood High School

HANNAN DUSING Notre Dame Academy

LAURA FAGAN Mount Notre Dame

SEBASTIAN FELDKAMP Madeira High School

JOEY ENZWEILER Campbell County High School

KATE FAUSZ Highlands High School

RY KELLEY Walnut Hills High School

JAMES HOLTZ Holy Cross High School

MAYA LAWRIE Notre Dame Academy

ROGER PHELPS iLead Academy

JACK RAUF Covington Latin School

SEAN GAWRONSKI Anderson High School

MASON MOYLE Summit Country Day

JOCELYN MONSON Holy Cross High School

EMMA PRUS Madeira High School

JASON GEORGE Finneytown High School

LILY PEFFER Simon Kenton High School

TANVI RAKESH Cooper High School

BRIANA GOMES Lloyd Memorial

DIDI JIRADAMKERNG Notre Dame Academy

JOLYNE GUNADI Indian Hill High School

YURI GRAVES Boone County High School

ETHAN GRINDSTAFF Homeschool

MAKAYLA HAGEDORN St. Henry District High School

THANKS TO OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS!

A Letter from the Chair of RYL 2024

As a proud alumnus of the Regional Youth Leadership (RYL) program, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the RYL Class of 2024 on their selection. This year marks 15+ years since I completed RYL myself. I am delighted to see RYL continuing to empower young leaders.

Selected from 40 high schools across Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati, Ohio, the RYL Class of 2024 comprises 50 exceptional students. RYL's mission remains unwavering: To cultivate the community leadership skills of our youth resulting in the retention of talent to our region. Modeled after Leadership NKY, this program offers high school juniors a unique opportunity to enhance their leadership abilities while gaining insights into the strengths and challenges of our region

Through monthly programming sessions focused on various topics such as Arts & Culture, Local Government & Economic Development and Health, students expand their understanding of the region and explore diverse career opportunities. As an alum, I have witnessed firsthand the transformative impact of RYL. Students who may initially be nervous and reserved evolve into confident leaders by graduation, thanks to the program's guidance and the support of local business and community leaders invested in their success.

RYL owes its success to the incredible support of our community. We are deeply grateful to the local professionals who generously donate their time and expertise as committee members and speakers. Furthermore, we extend our heartfelt appreciation to the organizations that host sessions and provide essential sponsorships to cover program costs. It is through these community partnerships that RYL remains sustainable and impactful.

To the remarkable RYL Class of 2024, I encourage you to seize this transformative experience and make the most of the year ahead. Congratulations on being part of the 30thclass milestone, and may your journey be filled with growth, discovery and memorable moments.

Adjunct

Instructor,

Northern Kentucky University RYL Class of 2006 Chair | RYL Class of 2024

OLIVIA ROBINSON Mount Notre Dame ADRIANNA ROSS Newport High School

SYLVIA WESSEL Beechwood High School

DOLAN WHELAN Covington Catholic High School

EMILY UTLEY Williamstown Jr. Sr. High School

MADISON WOLF Newport Central Catholic

ALEX WILLS Ignite Institute

DARNEA DAVIS WALKER Western Hills High School

ANDREW WEITZEL Covington Catholic High School

A.J. MILLER

ELLIE SEBENS Roger Bacon High School

ETHAN STELZER Calvary Christian

MICHAELA STEWART Covington Classical Academy

RYAN TIMM Villa Madonna Academy

BRYCE TILLET Scott High School

Announcing the Leadership NKY Class of 2024

BENJAMIN BACH Kroger Technology and Digital

JESSICA BANISH Three Keys Distillery

ANNIE BROWN Laughing Bees

TIM DODSON CVG Airport Authority

RYAN BIHL Heritage Bank

ALISON CONNOR Greenway Innovations

ZAK DRAZNIN Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky

AARON BROOMALL Faith Community Pharmacy

MARY DECKER Brighton Center, Inc.

ASHLEIGH D u BOIS NKY Chamber of Commerce

ROBERT FRANXMAN Boone County Fiscal Court

DENISE FRITSCH Gateway Community & Technical College

DENISE GOVAN DCCH Center for Children and Families

DREW HUSER HGC Construction

CHRIS GROESCHEN Bricker Graydon LLP

SARAH GRACE MOHR MACKEY

BRET MARSHALL CTI Clinical Trials

MANNY HERNANDEZ First Financial Bank

SHAYE MONEY Gravity Diagnostics

DAGMAR MORALES Kenton County Public Library

ASH NORTON Duke Energy

D'JUAN JAMES St. Elizabeth Healthcare

MELISSA MORANDI The City of Bellevue KEN MUTH Duke Energy

JOSH QUINN meetNKY

EDWIN KING City of Fort MItchell

SASHA NAIMAN Children's Law Center

MICHELLE E. REID Strauss Troy Co., LPA

PEIRCE KOHLS TENTE Casters, Inc.

GARY M c CULLEY TANK BRAD M c NUTT Northern Kentucky University

SARAH KRUMME St Elizabeth Physicians

LOUIS LINNEMANN Linnemann Family Funeral Homes and Cremation Center

JASON MACK Skanska

A Letter from the Chair of LNK 2024

This 45th class of Leadership Northern Kentucky (LNK) will be about legacy. How can we reflect and learn from our region’s past, how can we understand the issues of today, and how we can act intentionally to propel Northern Kentucky into the future. Imagine for a moment what Northern Kentucky can look and feel like in 45 years and this class's contribution to that effort. I’m excited to lead this class on the journey and to challenge them on their role to play in our community’s future.

LNK is a unique experience, designed and curated by program graduates, that pushes leaders out of their comfort zones to embrace diverse perspectives on the challenges facing the Northern Kentucky region. Each day-long experience throughout the 10-month journey will dive deep into two key local topics regarding government, education, health, economic development/infrastructure, human services, and vibrancy to name a few. Each leader will come into the program with different levels of knowledge and understanding but will leave with new perspectives alongside their classmates. This journey together creates an everlasting bond that will allow them to move together collectively to make an impact. I know this class will be empowered to act as the 1,500+ LNK graduates since 1978.

As I reflect on my journey going through LNK (2019 Best Class Forever), it reminds me of the lasting friendship, the community challenges/opportunities, and our legacy after graduation. I am looking forward to witnessing the legacy that this class will leave in the Northern Kentucky region. With fifty-two incredible leaders and insight gained through this program, the impact will not be small. The journey has just begun. This will be the BEST CLASS EVER.

CARA BROOKS

Economic Development Manager, Ohio/Kentucky | Duke Energy

LNK Class of 2019

Chair | LNK Class of 2024

RANDY SCHULTZ KZF Design

BRANDON RELEFORD The Point/ARC of NKy

MARY KATE VANDERGLAS Horizon Community Funds of Northern Kentucky

CHAD SCHWALBACH St. Elizabeth Healthcare

CHRISTINA ROYBAL Northern Kentucky University

SARA WARNING St. Elizabeth Physicians

LEAH SHEANSHANG Fidelity Investments

KYLE WEISKIRCHER The C.W. Zumbiel Co.

MICHAEL SETTERS City Wide Facility Solutions

MAURA RUSSELL City of Fort Wright

WILL WEBER Southbank Partners

MATT STRANGE The Christ Hospital Netowrk

AMBER WERT Business Intelligence Advisors

KAREN TEPE St. Elizabeth Healthcare

NICK WHALLIN Citi NICK WOODS Fifth Third Bank

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

2023-2024 Executive Committee Members

BARB JOHNSON Wells Fargo Advisors

BRADY JOLLY Jolly Enterprises

RAY TAKIGIKU Bexion Pharmaceuticals

DAVID KAY Vice Chair, Leadership Development Fifth Third Bank

MELISSA LUTZ Vice Chair, Membership & Events Champlin Architecture

JOHN MULLER Vice Chair, Public Affairs DBL Law

JOHN HAWKINS Chair of Board MPI Consulting

GARREN COLVIN Immediate Past Chair St. Elizabeth Healthcare

JASON PAYNE Chair-Elect Republic Bank

GERALYN ISLER Treasurer & Vice Chair, Women’s Initiative Business Benefits Insurance Solutions

JAY WUEST Secretery PNC Bank

KRISTEN SMITHERMANVOLTAIRE Vice Chair, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Turner Construction

MICHAEL HALL Vice Chair, Talent Strategies Citi

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

WIL

PAUL FURTADO Prysmian Group

DR. FERNANDO FIGUEROA Gateway Community & Technical College

JIM LOKESAK Skyline Chili BILLY SANTOS Truist W. LEE SCHEBEN Heritage Bank

KAREN FINAN OneNKY Alliance

GABY BATSHOUN Global Business Solutions CATRENA BOWMAN Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission

JOSEPH CHILLO, LPD Thomas More University

JOSH DUCKWORTH altafiber

Q&ABoard of Advisors with the &

Board of Directors

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LEADERSHIP BOOK?

GABY BATSHOUN President

Global Business Solutions, Inc

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change

By Stephen R. Covey

CATRENA BOWMAN CEO

NKCAC

360 Degree Leader

By John Maxwell

JOSEPH CHILLO President

Thomas More University

Moral Leadership

By Robert Franklin

CARLA DEPPERSCHMIDT Manager, Tier II Learning

Tyson Foods

Who Moved My Cheese?

By Dr. Spencer Johnson

BRADY JOLLY CEO

Jolly Enterprises

The E Myth Revisited

By Michael E. Gerber

KEVIN KYDE

RVP of Sales

Anthem, Inc

Blue Ocean Strategy

By W. Chan Kim | Renée Mauborgne

MELISSA LUTZ Principal

Champlin Architecture

Go Put Your Strengths to Work

By Marcus Buckingham

MATT MAULLER Agency President AssuredPartners

How to Win Friends and Influence People

By Dale Carnegie

CHRISTOPHER OWENS Risk Advisor

Taylor Oswald

Stop Selling & Start Leading

By James Kouzes

CLAIRE PARSONS Partner

Wood + Lamping LLP

Real Change: Mindfulness to Heal

Ourselves and the World

By Sharon Salzberg

JORGE PEREZ

President & CEO

YMCA of Greater Cincinnati

Resonant Leadership: Renewing Yourself and Connecting with Others Through Mindfulness, Hope and Compassion

By Stephen R. Covey

JOHN SIEG

Regional Retail Executive

Fifth Third Bank

Taking People with You

By David Novak

WE BUILD SOMETHING BETTER WITH YOU.

At Central Bank, we live, work and play in the same communities you do. You’re our neighbor, friend, business partner down the street. We know and understand you because we build relationships with you – every day. That’s why we continue to add experienced local professionals to our growing team of experts, because for us, “highly personal banking” is more effective banking. We start with you.

You can count on Civista Bank to bring creative, customized solutions and prompt answers to your business and personal banking needs. Our experienced team is focused on your ongoing success and the growth of the communities we call home.

Whether you want to finance a project, purchase new inventory or buy a new home, our primary goal is to help you achieve yours.

Learn more at civista.bank

Schroeder named 2023

Metropolitan Award honoree

Sponsorships for NOV. 9 AWARDS PROGRAM available. For more information: https://bit.ly/3pBGFL5

Tim

Small Business Spotlight

Given her expertise in the field, it’s no wonder so many other business leaders are contacting her company to help lead them into a better place as well.

FOLLOW THE LEADER

As a Cincinnati-based executive search, talent acquisition and leadership firm, Gilman Partners has 40+ years of experience helping other companies and organizations nationwide become better businesses. The company’s success is evident in its placement of approximately 100 or more leaders into senior level leadership positions annually, the last three years seeing 75% of Gilman’s searches coming from repeat clients.

Leadership, or rather helping organizations improve theirs, is Beets’ specialty – even if the word itself is something she says can be hard to define.

By Tabari

By Tabari McCoy, Scooter Media

“THE OFFICE,” “9 TO 5,” “HORRIBLE BOSSES” AND its sequel, “Office Space” … There is no shortage of films and television shows centered around the plight of workers suffering under poor leadership. As someone who specializes in workplace leadership training, Angel Beets, the newly appointed CEO of Gilman Partners, is not surprised when those in positions of power are unfamiliar with said source material.

But if life truly imitates art, Beets says it’s important to take note of the facts, even if they are rooted in fiction.

“Movies and TV shows like ‘Office Space’ and ‘The Office’ are exaggerated, but they come from real experiences with leadership. What’s great about those shows and movies, though, is you can laugh at it because it’s just such an exaggerated reminder of what we hate about the traditional office and traditional work culture,” says Beets. “We're moving toward a world where – and it’s a good thing – workers, especially younger ones, have higher expectations of what it means to go to work. That’s going to push us forward to a better place.”

“When we get the idea of leadership in our head, we picture a certain kind of person and too often, it’s the same kind of person. Either there’s a formal leader, who is the person or people chosen or identified to lead a project or team because of formal authority given to them or there’s the informal leader we choose to follow because they inspire and excite us,” says Beets. “They're the ones that maybe are excellent at their work and we strive to be like, but don’t have/need the formal title, education, background or authority to be a leader.”

Exploring this and other aspects of the topic are the driving force of GP Elevate, Gilman Partners’ program designed to prepare high-potential leaders for executive roles. The program explores behaviors its participants need to start, stop or continue as they move into the next phase of their careers. These include attracting, retaining and developing talent; effectively managing change; successfully navigating challenging conversations and creating a culture of productivity.

A fan of Gallup’s 34 CliftonStrengths themes, Beets uses them often in her assessments to help leaders understand what they are uniquely good at and what comes naturally to them. A former community college professor, Beets says leaders are given a picture of their own style while determining their blind spots where they can grow.

McCoy , Scooter Media

CEO Angel Beets seeks to help improve local leadership one business at a time

“Sometimes our biggest opportunities for growth come from too much or too little of a good thing,” she says. “Sometimes, we need to pull our strengths back a little bit to find a place in the middle where our strengths bring us the most success.”

The changing nature of work is why she says leadership is something companies would be smart to consistently strive to improve.

“Leadership is the foundation of the organization. The companies that have the most success with leadership development are the ones that are not investing in just the very top of their organization, but throughout it,” she says. “They're creating some similar language throughout their leaders, shared experiences and reinforcing those lessons regularly.”

Allison Coleman, Director of Commercial Operations for The Prysmian Group and a graduate of the GP Elevate program, agrees.

“The Elevate program is unique in that there are not a lot of professional executive level development programs outside of an MBA that allow you to interact with people that aren't your peers and don't work under the same umbrella as you do. It allows for more transparency, broader conversation topics … I’m definitely a salesman for the Elevate program,” Coleman says. “It's the perfect way to get people leadership skills. For the highest performers in my organization that report to me, I always ask our talent development team ‘Is this a person I could send to Elevate?’”

LEADING BY EXAMPLE

Beets credits her company’s strong culture for Gilman Partners’ success and aiding her progress from her original role as the company’s director of communication and education to CEO, the latter milestone becoming official in May.

“I'm excited about becoming CEO as I have a lot of ideas about where our organization is heading and what the next two decades look like,” she says. “But I have a lot of work to do to get us there.”

Given the company’s track record, however, Beets is confident Gilman Partners will continue to be successful. It is her hope that other organizations seeking long-term success won’t neglect the role leadership has in it.

“In terms of what makes me proudest or is most rewarding for me, it's seeing the leadership skills that we discuss in training, a class or individual one-on-one coaching in practice. When I get texts or emails from people who've gone through our GP Elevate program and they say, ‘I did or I said this and it was exactly what we learned and what you told us.’ I love that they are thinking of the concepts and are changing behaviors,” she says. “Having someone tell you ‘You did a good job’ is always nice, but it’s not the same as seeing people become the kind of leaders who are going to be very successful in their organizations down the road. That’s what’s most meaningful.”

Gilman Partners AT A GLANCE

Address: 3960 Red Bank Road, Suite 200, Cincinnati, OH 45227

Web site: gilmanpartners.com

Founded: 1980

Number of Employees: 19

Did You Know?

Known by a few names throughout its history, the firm became Gilman Partners in 2016.

The company’s GP Elevate program is now in its eighth cohort and has graduated approximately 85 individuals since its debut in the spring of 2020.

Angel Beets became the company’s first female CEO in May 2023.

Angel Beets

As the needs of your employees grow, so do we Innovative dental and vision plans to help keep their health on track

A HUB OF SUCCESS

By Tabari McCoy , Scooter Media

TWENTY-SEVEN … IT IS AN INTERESTING NUMBER in many ways. There are 27 bones in the human hand. British comedian Eddie Izzard once famously ran 27 marathons in 27 days to honor the late Nelson Mandela’s fight against Apartheid. Many famous athletes have worn the number as well. This includes former Cincinnati Reds infielder/2023 Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Scott Rolen and ex- University of Kentucky basketball star/current NBA World Champion Jamal Murray.

In the case of HUB | HORAN, the number represents something central to every aspect of its business. For statements such as “find a way,” “get clear on expectations” and “be curious” are part of the 27 core values on which the company has built its practice and reputation for 75+ years.

Key to that success is a strong tradition of leadership, a legacy which the company seeks to continue for years to come.

Photos by Ben Gastright

“DO WHAT’S BEST FOR CLIENTS”

June 1, 2023, was the date Hub International Limited, a global insurance brokerage and financial services firm, acquired the employee benefits assets of HORAN Associates and HORAN Smart Business. (HORAN Wealth Management, however, was not acquired and will continue to operate independently.) The result of the transaction? The newly formed HUB | HORAN will continue its services to more than 600 local clients, providing employee benefits, risk services, business insurance, people and technology consulting, personal insurance, retirement and private client services. Hub International is currently ranked fifth among the world’s largest insurance brokers with 530+ offices across North America.

While the name may have changed, HUB | HORAN Account Executive Shannon Schumacher says HUB | HORAN’s number one core value remains the same.

“What HORAN has done traditionally is bring employee benefits strategy to our clients in a way that is high-touch, service-oriented and puts the client at the center of our solutions. We have 27 fundamentals which we operate by and the first one is do what's best for the client,” she says. “When we consider employee benefits, strategy, product and solutions, service to the client is at the forefront of our mind – what’s best for them or their product, regardless of what impact it would have to our financials, team, product or solution. That's how we operate.”

Schumacher says that mantra has helped the company not only build its reputation but also retain clients, in some cases, for 25+ years. Those strong client-based relationships are likewise what she says made HORAN attractive to Hub International with the company’s pre-existing reach throughout Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky being another factor.

“Our mindset is to always do what is best for the client. We may have a favorite carrier or know a third-party administer does great work but those are not reasons we recommend certain solutions; we recommend the right carrier and solution fit for each client,” Schumacher says. “Catering our strategies in the market plus knowing them inside and out with regards to each particular organization has really led to the long-term partnerships we have with these clients. In return, that has led us to be successful in the merger with Hub.”

HUB | HORAN AT A GLANCE

Address: 8044 Montgomery Road, Suite 640, Cincinnati Ohio, 45242 . The company also has other regional offices. (Note: HORAN Wealth Management was not acquired in the HORAN Associates and HORAN Smart Business merger with Hub International Limited.)

Website: hubinternational.com

Number of employees: Approximately 120 in Ohio and Northern Kentucky

Company history: Following the recruitment of company namesake Jack Horan by the Great-West Life Assurance Company in 1948, HORAN formally began in 1954 with employee benefits, life insurance and retirement planning for employers and individuals.

Awards and milestones: Prior to merging with Hub International Limited, HORAN was named Healthiest Workplace in America honorees (2015) and recognized as a Great Place to Work by Fortune (2016). The company was also a bronze-certified Leader in Workplace Equity by Ellequate in 2022 and there is only one organization in Cincinnati to be named a finalist for the Cincinnati Business Courier’s “Best Places to Work” more times than HUB | HORAN.

According to the company’s reports, HUB | HORAN enjoys a 95% client retention rate, is in the top 1% (elite status) with all major vendors and enjoys a 96% net promoter score.

PICTURED: ( On the left) Shannon Schumacher and Tom Lampe; (on the right) Timeline wall at the Kenwood office.

NO.

Good client service, of course, is a by-product of strong leadership. Speaking on what makes for great leadership, Schumacher believes that “leadership qualities come in all shapes and sizes” while good leaders “truly focus on others who have a variety of skills and talents.” Additionally, she says true leaders exhibit several qualities which manifest themselves on a regular basis. This includes being selfless, not concerning themselves with taking credit for success, listening generously to others and focusing on their team by motivating through “the creation of a positive atmosphere over a demanding approach.”

When those qualities come together, relationships are valued and can prosper – which is why Schumacher is confident HUB | HORAN’s leadership has the company primed for continued success internally and externally.

“HUB | HORAN has many amazing leaders with these qualities and as a result, our teams, clients, partners and community recognize HUB | HORAN leadership capabilities in our areas of expertise, especially employee benefits. Knowing that our leadership leads by example, it is easy for all employees to follow with this mindset and for each employee to develop their own passion for our organization within,” she says. “Our work culture follows our 27 fundamentals, and they are what help our employees succeed in the workplace and at home. There is something special in hiring that right person who feels their work family aligns with their family’s values/beliefs; when that happens, it is not difficult to create a successful culture.”

HUB | HORAN Managing Director of Account Operations Emily Frizzi agrees.

“You could pick any one of the fundamentals and figure out a way to bring leadership to it and why it matters,” she says. “One thing that speaks to our brand’s culture is that even when times are tough, we invest in our people ... to get them smarter, happier, brighter, faster. When other organizations in harder times might be clamping down or might be limiting what employees can do, we've still had a focus on continual learning to stay ahead of the game.”

12 “LISTEN GENEROUSLY” NO. 17 “COMMUNICATE TO BE UNDERSTOOD” NO. 19 “INVEST IN RELATIONSHIPS”

As important as great leadership is in driving results for HUB | HORAN, so is celebrating those achievements in employee recruitment and retention. Rewards systems, such as the use of the online platform WorkTango, allows employees to share and redeem points for various rewards while also surveying workers and providing insight into the pulse of its workforce.

Frizzi says the company has also adjusted to postpandemic life by allowing employees to retain one workfrom-home day weekly. This is in addition to bringing in partners for employees with insurance licenses to keep them current on the latest industry trends and practices.

Much like the nature of their business, it is impossible to predict what lies ahead for HUB | HORAN. But since she believes “the sky’s the limit,” Schumacher is excited about the possibilities.

“We would have considered ourselves top notch prior to June 1, and now with the rocket fuel of Hub International, We're able to catapult our expertise with national resources and reach to help solve those client complexities,” she says. “This new acquisition continues our growth and continues to allow us to bring innovation to our clients. We were selected for a reason: We are good at what we do.”

Pep Rali

By Tabari McCoy,

Of all the elements that go into leadership, mindset – or more specifically, the right one – may be the most important. In a rapidly changing world, being able to adapt and relate to people across different cultures, ages, genders and experiences requires a mindset open to new ideas. This is a specialty of Rali Solutions who, through their work, are helping companies discover positive change and transformation to the benefit of both their employees and clients.

Now, a partnership to extend Rali’s services to all NKY Chamber members, may help serve as a rally cry for the entire region’s business community.

SELF DISCOVERY, TOGETHER

“We help companies drive measurable, scalable and lasting change in a way that shapes a positive employee experience that then creates continuous performance improvement for the company.” That is the elevator pitch Chief Transformation

Officer Larry Mohl offers to describe the work of the company he founded in 2016. Observing that professional development is typically reserved for high-level/C-suite employees, Mohl says Rali’s mission is to ensure “everybody in a company can experience high-quality development” to not just affect employees’ behavior, but career trajectory, too.

This is achieved via several different platforms beginning with its Rali Change Experience Platform (CxP). Likewise, Rali’s Change Initiatives work to help companies address areas of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), quality improvement, leadership development and sales transformation. The company’s DEI work recently prompted Mohl, alongside BRBS World CEO Dr. Janet Reid and V. Randolph Brown Consulting President and CEO Vincent Brown, to co-found The Chrysalis Coalition; the name “Chrysalis” was chosen to reflect how a successful DEI journey can “transform business performance, enhance customer experience and position brands for future advantage.”

Visael “Bobby” Rodriguez, Cincinnati Children’s Vice President of Diversity, Inclusion and Community Relations, has first-hand experience of what Mohl speaks. A native of Puerto Rico, Rodriguez has 30+ years’ experience working in DEI, culture change, talent management, community relations, sales, marketing and business development.

Tasked with helping Greater Cincinnati’s second-largest employer with improving inclusive culture issues, healthcare equity and employee engagement, Rodriguez found additional challenges in the COVID-19 pandemic. After publicly proclaiming the importance of recognizing racism and other forms of discrimination as a public health crisis, Cincinnati Children’s began an inclusion journey using Rali’s platform in the summer of 2021.

All of Cincinnati Children’s 18,500+ employees went through a learning experience with Rali for about 2.5 hours. It ended with a pledge to honor the health system’s commitment to diversity, equity

Scooter Media

Rali Solutions offers training to help bolster Cincinnati Children’s, NKY Chamber members

and inclusion. These efforts, among many others, resulted in DiversityInc. ranking Cincinnati Children’s among the Top 20 Hospitals and Health Systems for Diversity in 2023, the only pediatric health system to make the list.

In addition, this commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion played a large role in Cincinnati Children’s being ranked No.1 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report in its 2023-24 listing of Best Children’s Hospitals. Also, Forbes named Cincinnati Children’s one of America’s Best Employers for Women for 2023. Nearly 80% of the health system’s employees are women, including 54% of physicians. Over half the members of the health system’s Board of Trustees are also women.

Rodriguez says all the accolades are evidence of why both DEI education and investing in your workforce matter, especially when it comes to serving a population as diverse as Greater Cincinnati’s.

“With DEI, you need everyone at the same level,” Rodriguez says. “Everyone is starting with micro-inequities and an unconscious bias in how the brain works. You must figure out how you want to create a culture of respect.

The development of the DEI learning experience was about how everyone is going to work together as ONE Cincinnati Children’s,” Rodriguez adds. “We have the deepest commitment with regard to respect, which is one of the values in our

organization. We need to respect every one of our patients and their families –and all our employees – as equal. There's no other way.”

Mohl says the results described above reflect what every major study has confirmed: Embracing diversity isn’t good public relations. It’s good business.

“If we're all homogeneous, from one neighborhood in Cincinnati, we're all the same. What difference would you see in a business with that type of team versus one with people from all over the country/ world?” he says. “There’s a lot you can reference that proves diverse teams with inclusion practices outperform on every dimension, including decision making, quality, creativity, product innovation, etc. They're more engaged and inclined to say, ‘What I do matters here,’ so they give more to the workplace.”

UNLOCKING ORGANIZATIONAL POTENTIAL

Mohl says it’s a “big question” when asked about both misconceptions in the leadership space and how to better train people within it. He instead prefers to focus on ways leaders are enrolled in their positions, noting how that transition is done is oftentimes more important than the person placed in the leadership role.

“You must have different values about what’s important as a leader versus when

Bobby Rodriguez, Cincinnati Children's

you are an individual contributor. When you are an individual contributor, it’s important you are an expert in your field and the work you deliver,” Mohl says. “If you have that mindset as a manager, you don’t let anyone do anything as you only trust yourself. You must change your value system if you’re going to get work done through other people, which can be very hard.”

With his company’s services now available to NKY Chamber members at special rates, Rali Solutions’ Sr. Director/ Vice-President of Partner Development

Terry Stein hopes more companies will invest in in their futures soon. Says Stein, “This partnership is unlocking opportunities for NKY Chamber members to really embrace an organizational development platform that they could never have this level of access to before.”

Rodriguez says the impact of this learning experience brought everyone at Cincinnati Children’s to the same level and understanding on being inclusive and equitable.

“It wasn’t just due to this learning experience that we received all the accolades – because there’s a lot of work and commitment that goes into it,” Rodriguez says. “However, we are proud that our DEI education, talent acquisition and development, as well as our work in the community have transformed our culture and are being recognized in this manner.”

The development of the DEI learning experience was about how everyone is going to work together as ONE Cincinnati Children’s...We need to respect every one of our patients and their families – and all our employees –as equal. There's no other way.

TALENT STRATEGIES

Hired Education

New NKY Chamber effort seeks to engage incoming talent through College Community Connections Initiative

By Tabari McCoy, Scooter Media

COMPANIES NEED EMPLOYEES. College students need opportunities. Connecting companies and college students to one another can help grow the region by bolstering its workforce.

Now, the NKY Chamber– in partnership with two of the leading institutions of higher learning in the region – is working to do just that.

GENERATION NEXT

Scheduled to kick off this fall, the NKY Chamber is partnering with Northern Kentucky University (NKU) and Thomas More University (Thomas More) to create connection opportunities for students and employers representing our region’s target industry clusters. Dubbed “College Community Connections,” the partnership will feature companies representing Advanced Manufacturing, Life Science, Information Technology, and Supply Chain industries.

A selected cohort of 30 students from the NKU Haile College of Business will have the opportunity to visit Fidelity Investments and CVG in October. NKY Chamber VP of Talent Strategies Nancy Spivey says fall and spring events are also in the works at Thomas More, including plans to host a connection event at Newport Aquarium for bioscience majors and employers representing the Life Sciences/Biosciences industries. More colleges and universities may be added in the future depending upon the success of the initial pilot program.

Spivey says the partnerships are part of a goal to keep 5,000 students from leaving Northern Kentucky – a number which lends itself to “looking at things differently.”

“A recent report from the International Economic Development Council outlined five tips for talent attraction. Number five aligns with the work the NKY Chamber is doing around talent attraction with our local universities,” Spivey says.

That tip is to “Create outlets and pathways for new residents to connect with the community … Identifying and filling gaps in networking, professional growth and connection-building for newcomers, students, ‘boomerangs’ and other groups are critical ways to help people form lasting local attachments.”

CONNECTING THE FUTURE

Thomas More President Joseph L. Chillo, LP.D. says the college is thrilled to partner with the NKY Chamber on the initiative.

"This innovative program will help our students create valuable connections within the community and create awareness of the many wonderful opportunities that our region has to offer,” Chillo says. “The initiative also aligns with the mission of Thomas More to help our students examine the ultimate meaning of life, their place in the world, and their responsibility to others."

Haile College of Business Dean and Professor of Accounting Dr. Hassan R. HassabElnaby agrees.

“The Haile College is excited to pilot the new talent attraction program with the NKY Chamber. This partnership holds huge potential to enrich the experience of our students while driving economic growth and prosperity in our community,” Dr. HassabElnaby says. “It’s a visionary initiative.”

Asked what local employers should know about the “College Community Connections Initiative,” Spivey’s response is simple: Everyone plays a vital role in ensuring the region’s future … And the NKY Chamber is happy to connect the talent that will lead us into that future with the companies offering opportunities.

“I can go out and talk to college students all day long, but if an employer will open their doors and allow the students to see the opportunities that exist, it helps everyone,” she says. “A company like Fidelity isn’t just hiring CPAs, accountants or financial wealth advisors. They've got call center positions, IT and security, HR and others among their 7,000 employees … This is really looking at a more strategic, long-term solution for talent attraction. We've got this captive audience coming to our region and while they’re in college, we want to expose them to all the great employment opportunities that companies in Northern Kentucky have to offer.” NKY

Passing the Mic: Empowering Ourselves & Others

Thursday, November 2 | 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

MegaCorp Pavilion, Newport

Congratulations to all the NKY Chamber Award nominees!

Business Benefits celebrates the winner of the Gary Beatrice RYL Leadership Award

Counseling Employers

Through the Maze of Health Insurance Options

Partnering with Business Benefits enables you to focus on your business while we focus on providing high-quality, costeffective benefit solutions

We remain steadfast in our client approach, providing innovative solutions and end-to-end service to you and your employees Business Benefits takes care of decision support, benefit education, wellness solutions, billing and claims service, and everything in between

For more information contact Business Benefits 859-331-3232

2023 NKYP N ext Generation Leader Awards

The next generation of leaders are here – and Northern Kentucky Young Professionals (NKYP) recently celebrated them at Newport Aquarium.

Saluting and applauding young professionals ages 40 and under for significant professional accomplishments, demonstrated leadership, and community impact, the NGLAs celebrate talented young leaders throughout the Northern Kentucky Metro region. Additionally, the awards recognize the impact that both former NGLA finalists and award recipients alike make daily throughout the region.

Congratulations to this year’s finalists and winners for making the Northern Kentucky Metro region a great place to live, work, play, learn and give back.

Public Relations, Media & Marketing

NKYP Legend Award

Trade & Technology

Public Service & Community Organizations

Professional Services

Medical & Healthcare Services

Entrepreneurship

Education

Arts

TYLER GABBARD, The Carnegie ALLYSON GRAF, Northern Kentucky University

ISAAC HAMLIN, Better Blend

OLIVIA AMLUNG, Adams Law BRAD MARTIN, UC Health

SIERRA 0'BRYAN, Clubhouse

DR. JOSH WICE, Kenton County Planning and Development Services

JENNY COLLOPY, The Christ Hospital

ERIC OWLSLEY, Brighton Center Inc.

AROUND THE CHAMBER

WOMEN'S INITIATIVE CONNECT HOUR | BRAXTON BREWING CO., COVINGTON

WORKPLACE SAFETY TOUR | GREENWAY INNOVATIONS, FLORENCE

GROW NKY TALENT STRATEGIES SERIES NKY CHAMBER, FORT MITCHELL

EGGS 'N ISSUES - WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP RECEPTIONS, ERLANGER

NKYP JOINT HAPPY HOUR WITH EMERGING LEADERS OF NKY DBL LAW, COVINGTON

INVESTING IN EQUITY | ST. ELIZABETH TRAINING & EDUCATION CENTER, ERLANGER

AROUND THE CHAMBER

DEI GLOBAL EXPERIENCE NIGHT WITH FC CINCINNATI | TQL STADIUM, CINCINNATI

TO SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM ALL THE NKY CHAMBER EVENTS, VISIT OUR FACEBOOK PAGE AT FACEBOOK.COM/NKYCHAMBEROFCOMMERCE

CONGRATULATIONS

2024 Leadership Northern Kentucky Class: 45th Class of Leadership

We are proud to present one of our very own, PIERCE KOHLS , CPA, CMA, CFO, amidst your finest.

TENTE Casters, Inc

to the Leadership Northern Kentucky Class of 2024

Gateway Congratulates Dr. Denise Fritsch

and the Leadership NKY Class of 2024

Congratulations on being named to Leadership Northern Kentucky Class of 2024!

Kudos Jason Mack

Manny Hernandez Commercial Relationship Manager

RIBBON CUTTINGS

MANNEQUINN BOUTIQUE

833 Monmouth Street| Newport, KY 41071 | 859-414-2438

AMAZING LASH STUDIO

2862 Town Center Blvd | Crestview Hills, KY 41017 | 859-376-5395 amazinglashstudio.com/studios/ky/crestview-hills/crestview-hills

ESSENTIAL ESTHETICS

120 Mt. Zion Road | Florence, KY 41042 | 330-701-7411 essentialestheticsllc.com

PRIME IV HYDRATION WELLNESS 7653 Mall Road | Florence, KY 41042 | 800-313-9375 primeivhydration.com

SERVPRO OF BOONE, KENTON & CAMPBELL COUNTIES 84 Cummings Drive | Walton, KY 41094 | 859-746-3400 servproboonecounty.com

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!

The Impact of Innovation

Local companies continue to grow via expansion of ideas, innovations

By Tabari McCoy, Scooter Media

IMPACT THROUGH INNOVATION …

It’s a hallmark of many successful businesses; in Northern Kentucky, it’s also cause for recognition. Hosted by the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and presented by Huntington Bank, the Business Impact Awards recognize businesses of all sizes that positively impact the region through innovation, creativity, strong business practices and leadership. This year’s event highlighted several companies being honored for their work to improve the region’s standing technologically, increase opportunity and showcase the talent that calls Northern Kentucky home.

Discover how three of this year’s finalists are making an impact in the Commonwealth.

AQUISENSE TECHNOLOGIES

4400 Olympic Blvd.

Erlanger, KY 41018

www.aquisense.com

What they do: There are four ranges of ultraviolet light, one of which –UV-C – is germicidal, meaning it can be used effectively as a disinfectant to kill microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses. AquiSense uses UV-C LED-driven devices for water treatment and air and surface disinfection.

“We’re producing the next generation of water treatment and surface technology, applying it across every application and area you can think of,” says AquiSense Founder and CEO Oliver Lawal. “This is bold; in the same way that Tesla, Apple, and Microsoft have revolutionized the industries they're in, we firmly believe we're revolutionizing water treatment.”

Insight on innovation: “’Innovation’ is a bit of an overused word … But I truly believe some things are innovative, and what we’re doing is innovative in two key aspects,” says Lawal. “One is our technology … But also, from an organizational standpoint, we are the only ones deploying this in the U.S. and we’re doing it in Northern Kentucky.”

Now a resident of Walton, Lawal’s surname is Nigerian, he was born in South London and has lived in England, Ireland, Holland, France, New Zealand and Germany all before arriving stateside in 2005. Having worked in UV technology all his life, he was the president of a company in Erlanger before branching out on his own in 2015.

What prompted that move? A combination of foresight and honesty.

“Imagine being the president of Ford Motor Company and just starting in the development of electric cars, but the shareholders aren’t happy because it wasn’t clear when it was going to be commercially viable,” Lawal says, explaining the impetus leading to AquiSense’s founding. “After five or six years of working on this new technology, the shareholders were saying ‘stop it;’ I was running a water treatment company that had been around 30 years and was profitable, but I wanted to commercialize new technology. I was unable to do that within that existing company, so I needed to found this one.”

Acquiring a company in North Carolina that is now home to AquiSense’s innovation team, Lawal says true innovation is risky and hard to predict. Believing in his idea, however, is why he expects to reach the $50 million sales per year mark within 2-3

years with clients such as Mitsubishi, Hitachi, Coca-Cola, Nestle and even NASA. In addition, the company is breaking new ground, literally, as it began supplying the Las Vegas Valley Water District with the PearlAqua Tera, the first North American UV LED disinfection system designed for municipal and industrial markets, in 2022.

Given their national and global focus, why does AquiSense remain in Northern Kentucky? “Multiple factors,” Lawal explains, including the region’s existence as a manufacturing hub, favorable regulatory standards, global transportation options and the talent found in the region’s colleges.

His advice to those wanting to follow their entrepreneurial dreams is simple: Know that while you may fail (and fail often), if you’re going to try, do it with everything you’ve got because success makes it all worthwhile.

“Nine out of every 10 ideas I have are not that great. Use every piece of critical thinking you have and listen to honest people to really validate whether your idea is worth going all in while not spending too much money in the early stages,” he says. “We are in a relatively conservative industry because you can kill people if you get it wrong … And yet, we're still able to develop and deliver innovation. It may take longer and be more complicated, but it's still possible.”

St. Covington, KY 43221

www.egatewaycapital.com

What they do: “Thesis-driven investors exclusively focused on growth-stage, enablement technologies driving the future of digital commerce/digital supply chain,” eGateway Capital looks for companies in need of funds and experienced, hands-on help to grow. Specifically, the company typically invests $5 million to $15 million in four areas: (1) How goods are produced; (2) How things are marketed; (3) How things are transacted and (4) How goods are distributed. eGateway looks for Series B companies or those past a startup phase that have met certain milestones.

“I had a unique opportunity previously of helping take a tech company public and scaling it. I saw an opportunity to sit on the other side and help founders/entrepreneurs scale their businesses and, most importantly, align capital,” says Chad Summe, Managing Partner and Co-Founder of eGateway Capital. “Not just checks but to bring a level of expertise and industry knowledge as well as a willingness, aptitude and desire to be impactful in helping founders achieve the scale they envision. We look to serve everyone in our ecosystem – our investors and our portfolio companies.”

Insight on innovation: “Innovation would be defined as the lifeline of growth, right? I jokingly say growth is optional, but change is inevitable,” Summe says. “That’s a fun quote, and it captures the idea that for a company’s lifeblood to continue, they have to not only adapt and evolve, but also to intentionally develop in the right ways.”

Viewing digital commerce as the future, Summe says eGateway is “very, very excited” to be based in Covington (the company has an office in Columbus, Ohio, as well) thanks to what it calls the “Corridor of Commerce in the Heartland.” That is eGateway’s name for the 100-mile span next to Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati that “is an accumulation of

diverse businesses and economic assets that is the nation’s leading region for the entire value chain of commerce.” These assets include logistics, manufacturing, marketing, distribution, finance, payment and transportation, noting how the region is within a day’s drive of half of the U.S. population.

Summe, who is also Vice-Chair of the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport’s (CVG) Board of Directors, says those factors make Northern Kentucky a perfect home base.

“We’re excited to build and provide strategic capital around a vital growth theme in our region, which can build on success of the past and position us now, for the future. That’s important to do now – while our region looks outward 20-30 years – we must determine and pursue now the elements required to really seize this generational opportunity,” he says. “It’s interesting, but we find that we often are helping the country become aware of what’s happening here. We’re convinced that our unique institutions locally can be brought to bear in many positive ways to bring the digital future alive in the region.”

He says entrepreneurs hoping others will invest in their ideas should begin by committing their time to them first.

“The one piece of advice I have is to put blinders on and execute. When you’re a founder and entrepreneur, there’s always more that needs to be done than time to do it,” he says. “Entrepreneurs have a vision, but what separates good from great is execution and the ability to have a maniacal focus on a few priorities to drive your vision to reality. That’s what separates those that are successful from those that are not.”

What they do: As noted by Valeria Garcia, Vice President of Research & Development for the company’s North American offices, the Prysmian Group is “the world leader in the design, manufacture and sales of wire and cable products.” This includes wire and cable products and solutions for the transmission and distribution of low, medium, high and extra-high voltage systems as well as offering optical fiber and copper cables/connectivity systems for voice, video and data transmission. The company serves a range of markets, including power transmission and distribution, telecommunications, construction and infrastructure, energy projects and specialty industries for countless applications in the U.S. and Canada.

“Our ability to innovate is what makes us a market leader with a track record of delivering products that are faster, smarter and more sustainable than before,” Garcia says. “Innovation means exceeding the demand and anticipating the future needs of our communities.”

Insight on innovation: “My number one piece of advice to succeed in innovation is to focus on your customer's needs and consider the steps you need to take to develop a reliable supply chain to support your business scale-up process,” says Garcia. “Your effectiveness highly drives the success rate during the scaling-up phase.”

Prysmian’s North American operations include 28 manufacturing facilities, eight distribution, six research and development (R&D) centers and 5,800+ employees. The company provided the insulated wire for Samuel Morse – the namesake of Morse code – and the historic first telegraph in 1844 and the Statue of Liberty’s inaugural lighting in 1886.

Today, the company focuses on continuing that groundbreaking history of supporting energy and utilities in a manner that Garcia says

combats climate change and addresses global issues. This includes the installation of windfarms in deep water, laying cable at nearly 10,000 feet below sea level, replacing copper wire with super-light, organic carbon, developing “smart” cables that can transmit maintenance issues and inventing robotics to make tasks safer, among other initiatives.

This helps explain why the company has net sales exceeding $5 billion according to Garcia, who is quick to note that “We don’t just want to be good for business; we want to be good to do business with.” The company’s values are key to ensuring that is the case, Garcia says, which is why Prysmian takes pride in its work and its commitment to both sustainability and its workforce are major investments.

“Prysmian believes you get the best performance from people who are treated well, so we take this approach from hiring to promotion, holistically developing all of our employees. Sharing knowledge is the key to developing closeknit teams and encouraging innovation,” Garcia says. “We have many training programs and development opportunities to empower our employees with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive … We also just launched an updated paternal policy which includes 16 weeks of paid parental leave for birthing parents, which we believe is an important step forward in ensuring our employees feel valued and can raise families alongside their careers here at Prysmian.”

Being able to grow careers here will in turn help the region grow, too.

“Northern Kentucky is one of the state's fastest-growing regions, and an incredible breadth of industries call our region home,” says Garcia. “It's the perfect setting for innovation and entrepreneurship to flourish. Prysmian is right down the road from Northern Kentucky University, a key college that helps prepare and train a qualified workforce.” NKY

9/18 Women’s Initiative Connect Hour | MegaCorp Pavilion, Newport | 4:30 – 6:30 PM 9/21 Business After Hours | Brianza Gardens & Winery, Verona | 4:30 – 6:30 PM 9/26 NKYP Cocktails and Conversations | World of Golf, Florence | 4:30 – 6:00 PM

10/4 Getting the Most of Your Chamber Membership | NKY Chamber, Ft. Mitchell | 9:00 – 10:00 AM 10/5 WI Morning Connect Hour | Turfway Park Racing & Gaming, Florence | 8:00 – 10:00 AM 10/10 College/Community Connections: Talent Exploration, Life Sciences | Thomas More University, Crestview Hills | 3:00 – 5:00 PM 10/11 HR Happy/Connect Hour | DBL Law, Covington | 4:00 – 6:00 PM 10/11 NKYP Annual Meeting | NKY Chamber, Fort Mitchell | 8:00 – 9:30 AM 10/13 College/Community Connections: Talent Discovery | NKU Haile College of Business | 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM 10/17 Eggs ‘N Issues: Entrepreneurship | Receptions, Erlanger | 7:30 – 9:00 AM 10/20 Investing in Equity Series | Gateway, Edgewood | 8:30 – 10:30 AM 10/30 Women’s Initiative Connect Hour | Mannequin Boutique, Newport | 4:30 – 6:30 PM

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Northern Kentucky Business Journal is published bi-monthly by:

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© 2022, The Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, Inc. and by the individual authors. All rights reserved.

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Brent Cooper | bcooper@nkychamber.com

Marketing & Communications

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Design & Photography

Ben Gastright | bgastright@nkychamber.com

Vice President, Membership–Sponsorship Sales

Lynn Abeln | labeln@nkychamber.com

Director, Sponsor Investments

Diana McGlade | dmcglade@nkychamber.com

Staff Writer

Tabari McCoy | tabari@scootermediaco.com

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Productions

11/2 Women’s Initiative Regional Summit | MegaCorp Pavilion, Newport | 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM 11/7 NKYP Bourbon and Boards | Newport Car Barn, Newport | 5:00 – 7:00 PM 11/8 HR Strategic Six Pack in partnership with NKY SHRM | Kenton County Public Library, Erlanger | 8:00 AM4:00 PM 11/16 Business After Hours | TBD | 4:30 – 6:30 PM 11/20 Eggs ‘N Issues: Economic Outlook | Receptions, Erlanger | 7:30 – 9:00 AM 11/21 Women’s Initiative Connect Hour | Second Story Bar, Covington | 4:30 – 6:30 PM NORTHERN KENTUCKY BUSINESS JOURNAL PAGE 46