Author

Feoshia Henderson

Feoshia Henderson's Latest Articles

OMEGA expands, to hire 25 in Northern Kentucky
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Entrepreneurship
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January 17, 2012

A small Fort Thomas credit and debit card processing company will nearly double its size with major expansion plans that include hiring 25 employees. OMEGA Processing Solutions was founded in 2003 by business partners and industry experts Scott Anderson and Todd McHugh. It recently received preliminary approval for up to $325,000 in incentives from the Kentucky Economic Development Finances Authority for its expansion, which also includes doubling the size of its Northern Kentucky headquarters. The company will invest $475,000. OMEGA Processing Solutions is an electronic point-of-sale processing company that specializes in credit and debit cards. The company has been steadily growing, and was named to the 2011 Inc. 500|5000 list in August. "I've been in the industry since 1981, and I love the business and find fascinating the changes that have happened in it. The way people in world decide to pay for things continues to evolve and change, so it's an exciting place to be," says CEO Anderson. The company plans to complete its building expansion by early spring, and will soon start hiring, Anderson says. He'll be adding employees to customer retention, customer service and support and more. Anderson is a native of Iowa who lives with his wife, a Northern Kentucky native, in Fort Thomas. Anderson moved to area for a previous job with VeriFone Systems, a large international electronic payments company. Anderson caught the entrepreneurial bug while working there. He eventually decided to start OMEGA with McHugh, who has an MBA and more than 20 years of management and administrative experience in the credit card processing industry. Anderson credits the company's growth to hiring great employees, treating them well, making the work environment fun and strategic company investment. "We aren’t ones to highly leverage ourselves. We look at areas to expand in and will invest a dollar if we can make a dollar in 10 cents. We make sure training programs in place. We make sure it's a fun environment to work in. We work hard and we play hard," Anderson says. By Feoshia Henderson Follow Feoshia on Twitter

Greenhouse grows Cincinnati area nonprofits
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Entrepreneurship
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December 6, 2011

An innovative way of attracting and nurturing nonprofits in Blue Ash has hit a milestone. Greenhouse, a nonprofit business accelerator launched by CMC Properties and Executive Service Corps of Cincinnati has turned a year old. Founded last October, Greenhouse now holds seven nonprofits, including Executive Service Corps of Cincinnati (ESCC), which provides technical and consulting services to nonprofits, schools, faith-based organizations and government agencies. ESCC has worked on 52 total projects for more than 100 clients. Greenhouse is located in newly refurbished CMC office space at 10945 Reed Hartman Highway near I-275 and I-75. Through Greenhouse, nonprofits are clustered in private office space, but also share resources like training equipment and conference and kitchen space. There are also bookkeeping, administrative, daycare, postal and other services on site. “We enjoy all of the benefits of having our own bookkeeper, without incurring the overhead,” says Andy McCreanor, executive director and CEO of ESCC, also a nonprofit. “It’s a major advantage. Like most nonprofits, we want to spend our money on our mission, rather than business expenses.” Nonprofits that locate in the Greenhouse are afforded lower than market rate rent, free Wi-Fi and parking. Greenhouse seeks to help nonprofits cut operating costs so more of their funding can go directly into programming. “Nonprofits are often rated by what percentage of their donations go to overhead,” says CMC’s President Jim Cohen in announcing the one-year anniversary, “Greenhouse helps them strengthen that percentage with shared services.” One of the newest organizations to open offices there is the Children's Hunger Alliance. Since 1970, the Columbus-based organization has helped fight childhood hunger through advocacy and partnering with local schools to help feed children who don't get enough food. The Children's Hunger Alliance has just opened a Cincinnati area office to grow its SW Ohio efforts. "The cost of rent was extremely reasonable and other amenities offered including the training facility and conference room added to the appeal," says Denise Brodsky, the organization's Southwest regional director. "This allows us to really leverage our resources, which is something all nonprofits want to do." By Feoshia Henderson

Beacon Collaboration shines on region’s health IT innovations
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Education + Learning
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December 6, 2011

The Cincinnati region is furthering its reputation as trailblazer in Health IT through the ongoing Cincinnati Beacon Collaboration. The 30-month initiative, which includes major Cincinnati institutions, was spurred by a $15 million federal grant going to cities that showed leadership in the emerging industry. The Cincinnati Beacon Collaboration aims to improve the automation and sharing of electronic healthcare information between hospitals and other medical providers. It builds on the work already taking place in Cincinnati, most notably through Blue Ash-based HealthBridge, one of the country's largest electronic health information exchange organizations. The nonprofit serves 80 to 90 percent of physicians and acute care hospitals in southwest Ohio, Northern Kentucky and southeast Indiana. HealthBridge is among the partners in the Collaboration, along with the University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Greater Cincinnati Health Council and the Health Collaborative of Greater Cincinnati. Cincinnati is one of 17 Beacon communities across the nation serving as real-life examples of how medical providers can best automate, control and share sensitive and important patient information. "The medical industry hasn't invested in health IT the way at other industries have," says Keith Hepp, interim CEO for HealthBridge. "(The federal government) looked at communities that have invested substantially in healthcare IT, and in our case awarded us 15 million to serve as demonstration project, and as beacon to other communities." The initiative precedes a federal mandate that a national health infrastructure, which would include e-health records, be in place by 2014. Among practical goals of e-health records is to shave health costs, lower errors, and improve healthcare outcomes through more preventative medicine. In the collaborative started in Sept. 2010 and partners are working to address these issues in the area of pediatric asthma, and adult diabetes. The plan is to then expand into other diseases and bring in more medical providers. By Feoshia Henderson

connXus.com’s seed funding boost to supplier diversity
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Diversity
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November 29, 2011

A Cincinnati-based web service that helps corporations connect to small, minority-owned businesses has secured seed funding from a group of private angel investors. ConnXus.com launched in December 2010 by Entrepreneur Rod Robinson, founder of Accel Advisors, a procurement and supplier diversity consultant firm and Chris Downey, founder of the popular weight loss site Sparkpeople. ConnXus.com works as a matchmaker between corporations looking to up their supplier diversity and woman- and minority-owned service and product providers. Investors include including John E. Pepper, Jr., former CEO and chairman of the board for P&G, who is also on the connXus board of advisors. The company declined to disclose the amount of seed funding it secured.  “This early round of funding allows us to continue to improve the site and extend our marketing,” Robinson says. “Every week, we see our membership grow as small, minority- and woman-owned businesses discover the millions of dollars in access to real business opportunities connXus membership provides. Since its launch, corporate buyer members have posted more than $75 million in contracts. There are nearly 1,000 registered suppliers. Recent posted job opportunities include construction, advertising and media planning, social media and marketing services, IT services, business card printing and bus charter services. Companies and organizations that have posted jobs on the site include Macy's, Kent State, IGC Commerce in Philidelphia, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, and Jones Lang LaSalle. The site is designed to offer a wide variety of opportunities for small, medium and large service and product suppliers. With a basic membership, companies, which join the site as buyer members, and minority-owned and women-owned businesses can join for free. There are more than 100 service and product categories available from legal, accounting and other professional services to transportation and manufacturing. To help assure supplier quality, customers can add performance ratings to a supplier's profile through the site's propriety rating system. The better the supplier's rating, the higher it will rank in a corporate buyer's search. ConnXus earlier this year was awarded a $40,000 CincyTech Imagining Grant to help it develop the technology. By Feoshia Henderson

iPad app aggregates your social media
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Innovation News
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November 8, 2011

Facebook. Twitter. LinkedIn. Pinterest. RSS. Blogs. News. Hulu. Flickr. NetFlix.Email. That other Email. That other Twitter account. There's a lot of information out there and it's not easy to aggregate, organize or share it with the people who may be most interested in it. You have to log into and out of accounts and applications, scan various news feeds and spend precious time emailing, tweeting or sharing information with different people. It can be time consuming, inefficient and overwhelming. But a group of Cincinnatians are working to change that through a new iPad app they're developing called Semblee. Semblee is being designed as an intuitive application that allows users to access all their social and other web-based accounts in one place, and with a swipe of a finger, share text, pictures, news or videos with individuals or groups. "What makes Semblee different from other products is its unique User Interface (UI) and the way it displays information," says Semblee co-founder Geoff Stevens, also co-owner of Element SEO. "Semblee is a social combinator, meaning it brings together social media accounts, rss feeds, online coupons, email and more into a single UI. This unique UI makes content sharing both simple and fun." Semblee is a creation of six partners with various backgrounds, from marketing and SEO and web design to business development and software design. Rob Smith, Stevens' co-owner at Element SEO, came up with the initial concept of Semblee. "It was kind of like a lightning bolt. He came up with the idea, and what it was going to look like," Stevens says. Semblee is working with a contractor to develop the application with plans to unveil a demo at the CincyTech annual meeting Nov. 15 at the Duke Energy Center. Semblee and CincyTech are also working on an early stage financing deal that should be announced soon, Stevens says. Current plans are for a limited beta launch; a fuller version for the iPad is planned for next spring, Stevens says. Later, Semblee will be available on other platforms. Interested in being a beta tester? Go to Semblee.com and add your email. By Feoshia Henderson Follow Feoshia on Twitter @feoshiawrites

My Health Cincinnati connects people to local healthcare resources
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Entrepreneurship
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November 8, 2011

After a typical medical checkup your doctor might tell you to lose weight, get more exercise and reduce your stress. OK, then what? You probably know basic steps to take to improve your health, but you might not know how to find the local services, classes or products that can help us get there. Sunnie Southern, a Cincinnati dietician with a background in marketing is testing a web-based concept in Cincinnati where people can connect around health topics and share information. Think Facebook, crossed with a local WebMD. Her effort, My Health Cincinnati, is part social network, part health resource and part forum. It aims to connect people in Cincinnati to local health resources like yoga and healthy cooking classes, restaurants, healthcare providers and cheaper medications. “There are national communities out there that are fantastic for people who have a rare disease or condition, and there might not be people in their town who have the same type of condition. But if you have diabetes and you're looking for a place to learn about testing your blood sugar, you need a specific resource to connect to,” says Southern. My Health Cincinnati is a test market for the concept, which Southern hopes to take to other cities in the new few years. She started the free site in the summer of 2009 and is nearing a revamp of it. “This is really an opportunity to learn and and understand how to use social media to engage and improve health on a large scale,” Southern says. My Health Cincinnati is part of Southern's company ViableSynergy, a consultancy that helps connect healthcare companies and healthcare IT companies that want to use technology to reach consumers and patients to create better health outcomes. Southern works with contractors to develop these healthcare-based tech solutions. Like many niche social networks created after the Facebook's emergence, Southern said her network gives people a place to talk about health issues in a more appropriate and helpful place. “You might not want to talk about your health on Facebook, and share that information with people in that network,” she says, The site is planning to partner with several businesses including Healthwarehouse.com, a web-based pharmacy in Northern Kentucky that offers discounts on generic medications sent by mail. She is also working with FairCareMD, a site that allows patients and doctors to agree on cash payments for service. By Feoshia Henderson

Aurora Casket platform virtually connects families, funeral homes
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General
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November 1, 2011

No one likes to plan a funeral, and often such plans are made quickly, through grief, with little or no notice. Technology is changing the way almost everyone does business, and the funeral planning industry is no different. Aurora Casket Company, which manufactures 170,000 caskets every year, has developed Advisor, a web-based platform that helps connect funeral homes and families, making the planning process easier and more personalized. "More and more people are looking for planning services online because today families move a lot, and may not have the family history of being tied to a local funeral home," says Aurora Executive Vice President Chris Barrott. "Our customers have a need for software to help them run their businesses as well as to become more proactive in dealing with families." Advisor has three basic parts: one piece that automates the basic business process and a second that allows families to make arrangements online before a face-to-face meeting. The third piece allows families to privately share information and memories through a password protected, custom website. The family website is emailed as a link. Advisor is an updated version of arrangement software Aurora, a fifth-generation family business founded in 1890, developed in the late 1990s. Advisor is distinct from its predecessor in that it is online and incorporates a front-end counterpart. Families who have used the software say they like planning and communicating online, at their own pace, before meeting with funeral home staff. "Through Advisor, families can learn about what is going to be involved in the process, what items they need to bring with them, what documents they need to find, decisions they need to be making, services available and (they) can share information about the loved that has passed away," Barrott says. Advisor's arraignment platform has been updated to allow more personalized planning, Barrott adds. "Today funerals are being planned in a much more personalized manner, and funeral homes are a lot more flexible in how they are being carried out. The software encourages that creativity and how it's used to help with the grieving process," Barrott says. By Feoshia Henderson Follow Feoshia on Twitter @feoshiawrites

CitiLogics software designed to improve urban water supplies
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Entrepreneurship
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November 1, 2011

Two local environmental engineers are pouring their skills and passion into a new custom software program that will help city governments and public utilities better manage their water infrastructure. Their effort, CitiLogics, was founded 2009 in by Jim Uber, an environmental engineer at the University of Cincinnati and and Stu Hooper, who has more than 15 years experience in drinking water treatment optimization and distribution system water quality. Together, they have previous experience in systems analysis, and business and software development. CitiLogics is gearing up to launch Polaris, a real-time forecasting platform that uses existing water management data to help utilities better control their water distribution systems. The software will allow utilities to better pinpoint leak sources, and improve water quality in the distribution system, among other things. It will also forecast how a particular part of the infrastructure would hold up in an emergency or a heavy use period. The software then allows departments to share that information easily, Hooper says. "Right now a lot of that data just sits there. It literally goes into a database and one person may see it before it's stored. Right now between 2 and 40 percent of water is lost through leaks; through this modeling the infrastructure can be better maintained. We are convinced if (utilities) have useful information through math modeling and analysis techniques, they can save money, enhance water quality and make work more fun and interesting," Hooper says. CitiLogics is housed in the Hamilton incubation County Business Center, a nationally recognized business incubator.  CitiLogics has hired one employee and plans to hire another one by the end of year ahead of a planned initial release of Polaris in the spring of 2012. The company is meeting with municipalities for potential early sales and the software is being tested through a pilot at the Northern Kentucky Water District. By Feoshia Henderson Follow Feoshia on Twitter @feoshiawrites

Cincom’s Eloquence helps insurance companies provide targeting, personal communications
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Health + Wellness
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October 25, 2011

Have you ever gotten a letter from your insurance company reminding you of preventative tests to take by your 50th birthday? But you're 28? More than likely that and other irrelevant health information goes straight into the garbage can, a waste of time and money: both yours and your insurance provider. Springdale-based Cincom is working to make health communications between you and your insurance plan provider better through a new software program called Eloquence. The software is geared toward large providers offering coverage to hundreds of thousands or millions of people with unique plans, lifestyles and health needs. Cincom has been around for more than 42 years, but has relied on innovation in developing software that improves business operations and customer communications. The company's technologies include: application development, contact center, database management, document automation, healthcare and manufacturing ERP software. Eloquence is Cincom's latest offering, and is a response to a wider industry movement to communicate with plan members in a more useful way, especially in the area of managed and preventative care. The software can handle everything from letters and enewsletters to welcome kits and text messages, all targeted to specific member needs. It was designed to be intuitive and work with company's existing data. Elegance takes the messaging from the design stage, to the delivery platform into document management.   "What we have seen in the past year, due to the (healthcare) reform movement, is there has kind of been an awakening in healthcare community. They realize the value of engagement," says Troy Gross, Cincom Senior Marketing Manager. "Doctors, insurance companies and members themselves are getting more proactively engaged in the care management space." The software works with companies' existing data, culling demographic and claims information that allows the insurer to more effectively communicate health messages to customers. For instance, diabetics could get a newsletter on the importance and a healthy diet and regularly testing their blood sugar. Parents with young children, who haven't submitted claims for vaccinations, could get a reminder letter personally addressed to them. Companies could also use Eloquence to reach out to members who rarely submit claims to help stay healthy. "Companies are beginning to reach out proactively to keep their healthier members out of (the system), making sure they are doing the right things to keep healthy," Gross said. "This is a way to help plans that are beginning to reach out to members to improve health outcomes. When that happens we all win." By Feoshia Henderson

Northern Kentucky ezone taking applications for varied funding opportunities
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General
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September 30, 2011

Northern Kentucky tech, science and medical entrepreneurs have a chance to tap one of three state funds for seed capital through the end of this month. The Kentucky Enterprise Fund, Rural Innovation Fund and Kentucky New Energy Ventures Fund are accepting applications for funding through June 23 at 4 p.m. These three targeted funds are geared toward high-growth potential businesses in five sectors: Biosciences, Environmental & Energy Technologies, Human Health & Development, Information Technology & Communication and Materials Science & Advanced Manufacturing. In the last round of funding more than $600,000 was awarded statewide to companies. Past recipients in Northern Kentucky include Jacobs Automation, Zoomessence, Bexion Pharma, ASAP Analytical, and TodayForward. Northern Kentucky businesses can submit applications through Northern Kentucky ezone, a division of Northern Kentucky Tri-ED that has a mission of accelerating start-up, emerging and existing high-tech businesses. "This is open to early stage companies from an idea to a company that is running and looking to grow," said ezone commercialization director T. Keith Schneider. Companies can apply for a combination of direct funding (that must be repaid) or matching grants. To find out more or to apply, contact Schneider at (859) 292-7785 or tks@northernkentuckyusa.com.  Following are the basics on each fund:Kentucky Enterprise Fund Eligible Companies: Must be Kentucky-based and have 150 or fewer employees. Must be operating in one of the following industries: Biosciences, Environmental & Energy Technologies, Human Health & Development, Information Technology & Communication or Materials Science & Advanced Manufacturing. Funding: Grant: $30,000. Company must match the grant 1:1 through cash or in-kind services.Funds must be used for approved business development activities. Investment: Up to $250,000, $500,000, and $750,000, must be repaid.Rural Innovation Fund Eligible Companies: Must be Small, Rural (located outside Fayette/Jefferson Counties), Kentucky-based company and have 50 or fewer employees. Must be operating in one of the following industries: Biosciences, Environmental & Energy Technologies, Human Health & Development, Information Technology & Communication or Materials Science & Advanced ManufacturingFunding: Grant: $30,000. Rural funds must be spent with independent third-party partners/consultants. Grants must be repaid upon receipt of follow-on award from Rural Innovation Fund or Kentucky Enterprise Fund. Funds must be used for approved business development activities. Investment: $100,000 must be repaidKentucky New Energy Ventures Eligible Companies: KNEV will provide support for companies developing and commercializing products in the following areas: Alternative transportation fuels produced from coal, waste coal, biomass or extract oil from oil shale, synthetic natural gas, Ethanol produced from food crops or cellulosic ethanol, any other fuel that is produced from a renewable or sustainable source. Must be Kentucky-based and have 150 or fewer employees. Must be developing/commercializing alternative fuel and renewable energy products, processes, and services. Funding: Grant: $30,000. Company must match the grant 1:1 through cash or in-kind services. Funds must be used for approved business development activities. Investment: Any amount over $30,000. Companies must match the fund's investment on a 1:1 dollar ratio. Funds may be invested via convertible note or through direct stock.Investments can only be made in a company organized as a C Corp. or as an LLCWriter: Feoshia Henderson Sources: ezone commercialization director T. Keith Schneider and Start-Up KentuckyYou can follow Feoshia on Twitter @feoshiawrites

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