Soapbox - In the News

Newport Kentucky - America's Comeback City

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Louisville, Kentucky's Courier-Journal last week hailed Newport, Kentucky as "America's Comeback City." The story cites "strong leadership, entrepreneurship, forward-thinking federally funding programs and effective partnerships between non-profit organizations, the higher education and business communities, city government and neighborhood leaders" as the factors contributing to a vibrant urban community filled with new businesses.

The Courier-Journal lauds praise onto Newport Mayor Thomas Guidugli, who has provided keen leadership and vision in attracting new jobs, development and tourists to his renewed River City during his 16 year tenure.

To read the full article, click here.

Writer: Jeff Syroney
Source: Courier Journal

Procter and Gamble's Clay Street Facility provides brand inspiration

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Tucked away in a corner of Over-the-Rhine sits a cradle of inspiration for brand giant, Procter & Gamble. The renovated 19th-century brewery is run by Michael Luh and David Kuehler, co-directors of Procter & Gamble's Clay Street Project. The two are paid to not think like P&G executives. In fact they work to ensure the teams that come through their doors leave with a completely new outlook on whatever project they're working on.

Brand success stories having come out of the Clay Street facility include Herbal Essence which reinvented itself into the No. 2 hair care brand in the U.S.

To read the full story click here.

Writer: Jeff Syroney
Source: Cincinnati.com

Cincinnati Museum of Advertising could take root in OTR

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Pete Blackshaw, excecutive vice president for Nielsen Online Digital Services has a dream of creating a museum in Over-the-Rhine that would preserve the history of Cincinnati�s role in the development of the advertising industry.

Still in the planning stage, the proposed Cincinnati Museum of Advertising would feature the contributions of such industry leaders as Procter & Gamble Co., Crosley Corp., U.S. Playing Card Co. and Kenner Products.

Click here to read the full here.

Writer: Jeff Syroney

Source: Business Courier

NKU's College of Informatics poised to make Kentucky national center for medical R&D

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Informatics, or the science of information and the application of information technology to a specific field is big business for the State of Kentucky and specifically, Northern Kentucky University. Efforts are currently underway to make NKU's young College of Informatics a national center for research and development of better information technology in the health-care industry.

The hope is that Northern Kentucky University will become the national leader on health care research resulting in billions of dollars in investments, the attraction of talented students and the creation of thousands of jobs.

To read the full story click here.

Writer: Jeff Syroney

Source: Kentucky Enquirer

Fountain Square named in TripAdvisor's Top 10 Bargain Outdoor Skating Rinks

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

TripAdvisor, the world's largest travel community, announced its top 10 bargain outdoor ice skating rinks in the U.S., according to TripAdvisor editors. Featured at No. 9 was none other than our own beloved U.S. Bank Ice Rink on Fountain Square.

According to a site poll of more than 1,600 travelers on tripadvisor.com, 75 percent have skated outdoors.

To read the complete story click here.

Writer: Jeff Syroney

Source: TripAdvisor

Cintas receives trailblazer award for supplier diversity

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The South Central Ohio Minority Supplier Development Council (SCOMSDC) awarded the Cintas Corporation with the 2008 Trailblazer Award. The award is given to companies that have demonstrated substantial change in their Supplier Development program including the mentoring and development of Minority Business Enterprises.

Cintas� economic inclusion efforts include outreach to minority and women-owned firms in the areas of mentorship and training. This includes partnering with the SCOMSDC, which helps provide a direct link between corporations and minority-owned businesses to establish mutually beneficial relationships.

To read the complete story click here.

Writer: Jeff Syroney

Source: Yahoo! Finance

AMP all-electric car available for demonstration

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Advanced Mechanical Products, Inc. (AMP), makers of a 100 percent electric vehicle, took their product to Washington to demonstrate its performance.

AMP builds all-electric Powertrains, using lithium phosphate batteries to convert GM Saturn Skys into zero-emissions vehicles.

Online orders are now being filled, and the first deliveries are scheduled for 2009.

During the trip, AMP president and CEO Jack Kuntz also submitted a Section 136 loan application to the U.S. Department of Energy, hoping to get funding from the $25 billion program to further develop the technology.

Read the full release here.

UC design programs continue drawing national recognition

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The DesignIntelligence rankings of national design programs is out, and University of Cincinnati's architecture, interior design and industrial design offerings continue to receive high marks.

The rankings, based upon annual polling of employers, rates all three programs within the top three in their respective disciplines for preparing students for professional practice.

A feature in DesignIntelligence also highlights the partnerships between UC's College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP) and private industry, as well as the college's collaborations with other disciplines at the university.

Considered the birthplace of the co-op concept, UC requires its design students to gain 18 months of paid, professional experience with firms prior to graduation.

Read the full article here.

P&G overcoming social networking hurdles

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Consumer products giant Procter & Gamble has been utilizing social networking sites such as Facebook for nearly a dozen of its brands, a strategy the company is still refining.

A prime example of social networking's fickle nature occurred in 2006, when P&G invited Facebook members in 20 college campus networks to become Crest Whitestrips fans on the product's Facebook page.

By offering free movie screenings and Def Jam concerts, the site attracted 14,000 fans; however, more than 4,000 of those fans have since left.

The company is hoping that a new "Become a Fan" feature, which would allow Facebook members to take some sort of positive action besides just viewing ads, could help fans stick around and become more invested in the brand.

Read the full article here.

Hospital jobs healthy

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Hospital jobs continue to be a hot commodity in the Greater Cincinnati region, with employment in the sector growing 12 percent between 2002 and 2007.

Even so, about 2,500 jobs in nursing and technical services remain unfilled.

"We can hire entry-level positions pretty quickly, but our challenge comes with the professional positions," Alan Jones, corporate vice president of human resources for the Health Alliance of Greater Cincinnati, tells the Enquirer.

A study by University of Cincinnati economists shows that the region's 31 hospitals have an annual economic impact of $13.9 billion.

Read the full article here.

UC students to spend holiday building water system in Cameroon

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A group of eight University of Cincinnati students representing the student service organization Serve Beyond Cincinnati have traveled to Reh, Cameroon over winter break to lay pipe for a gravity-fed water system that will serve 2,000 people.

The trip is an example of "experiential learning", one of UC's 21st Century Learning Initiatives, which blends classroom theory with hands-on field experiences.

Planning and fundraising for the trip began in January, with each student raising approximately $7,000 of the $56,000 needed to pay for travel and water system supplies.

The water system, which collects from a fresh-water spring, was designed by local residents and engineers.

Read the full article here.

Store brands lifting Kroger in troubled economy

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Linda Severin, a Kroger vice president, has spent the last two years dreaming up new products to sell under the company's store-brand labels.

The company hired Severin to expand its home brands, which include value brands, brands meant to compete against national products, and premium brands.

With fewer people dining out, grocery stores are one of the few markets doing well, and Kroger's store brands account for 26 percent of its sales.

The Nielsen market research company reports that dollar sales of store brands increased 10 percent for the year preceding November 1, compared to a 3 percent gain for branded products.

Read the full article here.

UC, P&G create cutting-edge computer sim center

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The University of Cincinnati and Procter & Gamble have teamed up to create a center of expertise in computer simulation, allowing them to solve real design problems in a virtual world.

Traditional engineering and production requires a product to be designed, a prototype to be created and tested, and then results to be fed back into redesign -- a time-consuming and costly method.

Exploring other options, P&G looked at Caterpillar, Inc.'s Champaign Simulation Center at the University of Illinois Research Park, a model of partnership with universities that could provide cost-effective simulations while helping to grow future talent.

The center opened in September at the UC Turner Building and is staffed by nine students for UC's College of Engineering, who are working closely with P&G engineers on limited modeling projects, with plans to expand modeling capabilities as the center matures.

Read the full article here.

Wind power meeting attracts local interest

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Several Cincinnati area manufacturers interested in tapping the emerging wind turbine market took part in a workshop last week in Cleveland.

Sponsored by the American Wind Energy Association and the Great Lakes Wind Network, the sold-out workshop gave companies the opportunity to find out how they can participate in a state grant program to further the development of renewable energy.

According to the Enquirer, John Colm of the Great Lakes Wind Network says that, while the economy has slowed down some wind power projects, "there's a lot of demand out there for projects already committed."

A four-year-old U.S. Department of Energy reports says that Ohio ranks only behind California in new job potential from wind farm projects due to its manufacturing expertise.

Read the full article here.

Children's chooses AMICAS for image management

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center has announced a new partnership with AMICAS, Inc. that will enable the hospital to streamline its imaging and information management capabilities.

Under the terms of the agreement, Children's will utilize new, Web-based technology from AMICAS called AMICAS PACS, AMICAS Reach, and AMICAS RadStream for integrated reading, productivity, and critical results management.

The AMICAS platforms have been designed to offer radiologists with powerful clinical tools and to lower medical-legal risk by automating and documenting patient results communications.

"We are excited about our new partnership with Cincinnati Children's, one of the most respected healthcare providers in the world," Stephen Kahane MD, president, chief executive officer, and chairman of AMICAS said in a media release. "Offering anintegrated reading, productivity, and critical results management platform within their existing infrastructure will offer powerful benefits throughout the enterprise."

Read the full article here.

Cincinnati Chamber talent symposium targets YPs

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber will host a talent symposium on December 10 to help human resources professionals attract and retain young workers.

The HYPE Talent Symposium, from 8 AM to noon at Great American Ball Park, will reinforce the importance of selling the region as a great place to live and work.

According to the Business Courier, the event also will include and exercise that will help guests understand the perspective of a person new to the region and an introduction of the chamber's recruiting tools developed for its HYPE initiative.

Steve Browne, executive director of human resources at LaRosa's Inc., will moderate.

Read the full article here.

Groundbreaking Stroke Recovery Center lanunched at Drake

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

University of Cincinnati clinicians have announced that they have launched a groundbreaking service at Drake Center designed to help stroke survivors achieve the fullest possible recovery.

The Stroke Recovery Center at Drake will combine the hospital's neurorehabilitation strengths with the university's leadership in stroke research and treatment and will include inpatient and outpatient treatment, research, and consultation.

One unique feature of the new center is the new Stroke Team Assessment and Recovery Treatment (START) Program, which creates an individualized, evidence-based treatment plan for patients who are months or years post-stroke but may be seeking a fuller recovery.

Drake officials say they know of only a handful of similar types of services in the country.

Read the full article here.

Cincinnati-Cleveland passenger rail gets boost from Congress

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Passenger rail service between Cincinnati and Cleveland could happen by 2010 if the state gets $100 million in proposed infrastructure stimulus money.

The $100 million would be used to purchase two trains of three to four passenger cars each, with both running one round trip a day at a maximum speed of 79 miles per hour.

The state would pay Amtrak to operate the service on rail owned by Norfolk Southern and CSX and would connect to other Amtrak routes at both ends.

In 2009, the Ohio Rail Development Commission intends to apply for $100 million in federal matching grants to develop the Ohio Hub plan, a high-speed rail system on seven corridors in the state.

Read the full article here.

Walnut Hills, Wyoming high schools make U.S. News top 100

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Walnut Hills and Wyoming have been named among the nation's best public high schools in U.S. News and World Report.

The schools, which were ranked in the 80s last year, placed 36th and 50th respectively.

U.S. News bases its rankings on the availability and effectiveness of Advanced Placement courses, state test scores, and the performance of historically disadvantaged student groups.

Both high schools also placed in Newsweek's top 100 list, released in May.

Read the full article here.

UC one of six universities selected for coal research

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A University of Cincinnati project is one of six chosen by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to take part in its University Coal Research Program.

UC researchers will work to investigate and demonstrate two new types of doped-ceramic nanofilm-coated optical fiber chemical sensors that will only detect and interact with specific gas molecules.

The Missouri University of Science and Technology will collaborate on the three-year project.

The University Coal Research Program, which is the nation's longest-running student-teacher research grant initiative, is designed to "advance new ideas in coal research and to train a new generation of scientists and engineers in the investigation of long-term solutions for clean and efficient use of the nation's abundant coal resources", according to the DOE.

Read the full article here.

New technology creates options for patients with severe heart disease

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A new device is allowing University of Cincinnati cardiologists to recover the hearts of patients with severe heart disease by taking over the pumping action during cardiac procedures.

According to UC HealthNews, the Impella 2.5 is a minimally invasive catheter designed to pump blood to the aorta and reduce the heart's workload and oxygen consumption.

When implanted, the device uses a miniature pump to push 2.5 liters of freshly oxygenated blood from the left ventricle of the heart into the aorta, vastly eliminating stress for patients with limited function.

The Impella 2.5, which has already been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, is being tested against the traditional balloon pump in the PROTECT II clinical trial to see which is more beneficial to patients.

Read the full article here.

Panel discusses ending 'brain drain'

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Last week, a group of college presidents, business executives, politicians, and other stakeholders met to devise strategies for reversing Ohio's "brain drain".

The group spent the day exploring ways to make Ohio's colleges and universities more attractive to top high school students.

According to the Enquirer, studies have shown that about 80 percent of workers establish their careers near where they attended college.

Five additional statewide conferences will be held.

Read the full article here.

Area businesses shielded from poor economy

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Despite job cuts and an overall poor economy nationally, local corporations are holding their own.

Experts say it's because investor spending and corporate hiring tends to be more conservative than in other parts of the country.

"The companies here typically didn't hire thousands of people, anyway," Business Courier editor Rob Daumeyer tells WLWT.com. "They operated lean and mean, and were very well-run companies. That is still the case."

This strategy has helped companies such as Kroger, Procter & Gamble, and Macy's grow to become close to "recession proof".

Read the full article here.

India trip fruitful for Cincinnati

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The Cincinnati USA Partnership's October trip to India has encouraged them to focus future recruitment efforts there, according to the Business Courier.

During the 10-day trip, Partnership representatives attended eight business prospect meetings, two of which were considered "warm" leads.

They also met with senior government officials, visited eight trade associations, distributed materials to 20 businesses, and confirmed Tata's interest in expanding further in the Cincinnati region.

India native Mahendra Vora, chairman and CEO of Ascendum Worldwide, and Partnership vice president of economic development Doug Moormann will present details of the trip to investors at a breakfast this morning.

Read the full article here.

P&G and Google team up to trade knowledge

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Procter & Gamble has announced that it has done job swaps with Google Inc. to teach each other about targeting customers.

The Wall Street Journal reports that discussions about employee swaps began last year, and that two Tide detergent brand managers swapped places with a pair of Google officials in January.

P&G spokeswoman Allison Yang tells the New York Times that her company is looking to reach more online customers, and embedded Google officials have been schooled in P&G's innovative brands and strategies.

The two companies expect to continue job swaps and information exchanges in the future.

Read the full article here.

UC students win international underwater architecture competition

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Three University of Cincinnati architecture and interior design students have won France's Archipelaego Competition, a global contest to design forward-looking underwater architecture.

Sarosh Ali, Jason Rohal, and Heather Vorst submitted designs for an eco-hotel/research center to be located on the Belize Barrier Reef that incorporated a skinned frame that would conserve divers' energy, a façade that was resistant to the growth of underwater organisms, and the use of tidal energy to supply the center's electricity.

The three will jointly receive the Jacques Rougerie Architecture of the Sea Award and will share a cash prize of about $2,000.

Archipelaego, which was open to both architecture students and professional architects, was held to encourage the public to preserve the oceans by increasing public awareness of the need for better management.

Read the full article here.

More than 400 local high schoolers explore green careers

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

More than 400 high school students from 18 local schools attended the 2008 International Education Summit on "Emerging Careers in Global Sustainability" at Northern Kentucky University.

Sponsored by the Global Center of Greater Cincinnati, the summit featured presentations from professionals in green industries and gave the students the opportunity to do some networking.

Alternative energy is likely to be the kind of growth industry that will be courting these students as they enter the workforce.

"We think that this energy transition ... is going to become a huge engine of job creation," says Chris Flavin, keynote speaker and president of Worldwatch Institute. "It's possible to have an interesting career, a reasonably lucrative career where your personal needs are met, but also to feel like you're part of solving a big global problem."

Read the full article here.

Cincinnati Bell introduces texting for home phones

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Cincinnati Bell has introduced Smart Home Phone, a device that allows customers to send and receive text messages, access the Yellow Pages, and read news, weather and sports on their home phones.

The new device also has a visual voicemail feature, using SpinVox technology to convert voice messages into text, and additional integrated features such as e-mail and address books are in the works.

ZoomTown users can purchase the Smart Home Phone handset for $29.99, which will retail for $129.99.

Cincinnati Bell is the first carrier in the country to offer this service.

Read the full release here.

Downtown library busiest in country

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

For the fourth straight year, the Main branch of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County has been ranked as the busiest library building in the nation by the Public Library Association.

The branch circulated more than 4 million items, receiving nearly 10 percent of that total from user holds for materials such as books, CDs, and DVDs.

With recent improvements such as the technology center and teen spot, circulation is on pace to reach 4.7 million this year.

The Public Library Association compared nearly 1,000 public libraries from the United States using 2007 circulation statistics.

Read the full article here.

P&G on-target on five-year environmental goals

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In its first year of a five-year effort to reduce resource use and help children around the world, Procter & Gamble reports in its latest global sustainability report that its well on its way to meeting its goals.

By 2012, P&G aims to sell $20 billion in "sustainable innovation products"; reduce emissions, energy use, water use and waste by 10 percent; reach 250 million through its Live, Learn and Thrive program; and deliver 2 billion liters of clean water to children around the world.

"Sustainable innovation products", which are items that provide more than a 10 percent reduction in non-renewable resources compared to previous products or alternatives, have already reached the level of $2.05 billion.

Waste has been reduced by 21 percent, 60 million children have been reached through Live, Learn and Thrive, and 430 million liters of clean drinking water have been distributed.

Read the full article here.