Diversity

Messer promotes Williams to VP of Economic Inclusion

By Newsroom

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January 13, 2009

Messer Construction Co. has promoted Stanford T. Williams, Jr. to Vice President of Economic Inclusion.Williams, who joined Messer in 2005, brings experience as an owner of a small business, an adjunct professor of business and operations management, and a business consultant for supplier diversity programs.In his new role, he will develop partnerships with certified minority and woman-owned businesses that could lead to project work and joint venture opportunities with Messer.He will also oversee recruiting initiatives to bring more minority men and women into the company's workforce."The promotion is reflective of Stan's success with our economic inclusion program as well as our commitment to working with minority and women-owned enterprises," says Jim Kapp, public relations manager for Messer.Under his leadership, Messer received the 2006 Ohio Governor's Minority Business Development Award -- the only construction firm (and majority-owned firm), to earn the distinction."Economic Inclusion is an important issue for Messer Construction, and Stan has been instrumental in leading our efforts," says Tom Keckeis, president of Messer. "We are pleased to recognize his work and look forward to continued success and progress in addressing diversity."Messer has also received the Kentuckiana Minority Business Council's Corporate Leadership Award for Excellence for four consecutive years, and, in that time, has increased its purchases of minority-owned businesses and women-owned businesses from $31 million to $89 million.Founded in 1932, Messer Construction Co. is a regional construction manager and general contractor that ranks among the top 100 largest nationally, putting in place approximately $670 million in commercial construction last year.Writer: Kevin LeMasterSource: Jim Kapp, public relations manager, Messer Construction Co. Photography provided by Messer Construction Co.

Latest in Diversity

Port’s Robb honored for minority enterprise advocacy

By Newsroom

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Development News

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January 6, 2009

Deborah Robb, director of economic inclusion for the Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority, has received the Advocate of the Year award from the South Central Ohio Minority Supplier Development Council (SCOMSDC).Selected by the SCOMSDC Minority Business Enterprise Input Committee, Advocate of the Year winners are recognized for their voluntary efforts to advance minority businesses and to support and motivate their colleagues and minority business enterprises to participate in the SCOMSDC. "We selected Deborah as our Advocate of the Year due to her tireless efforts at the Port Authority, where she works diligently to get minority business enterprises significantly involved in all Port projects, as well as non-Port projects, throughout the region," says Jenéa Norris Allen, president of the SCOMSDC.In addition to her work at the Port, Robb chairs the SCOMSDC Cincinnati Local Advisory Committee and serves on the Certification Committee.She also co-chaired the 2008 Construction Summit, led the Corporation Minority Business Enterprise Forum, and served on the SCOMSDC Gala Committee."I am honored to have been selected as the first recipient of SCOMSDC's Advocate of Year award," says Robb. "I feel privileged to have been given this recognition, and I will continue to collaborate with the SCOMSDC to foster and grow minority business enterprises (MBEs) in Greater Cincinnati."Founded in 1999, SCOMSDC assists in developing mutually beneficial relationships between its over 140 corporate members and 400 certified MBEs from offices in Cincinnati, Columbus, and Dayton.This is the first year the council has given the award.Writer: Kevin LeMasterSource: Anne Schmidlin, Vehr Communications Photography provided by Vehr Communications

Japanese community remembers 2008, toasts to 2009 at Japan America Society’s annual bonenkai

By Newsroom

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Arts + Culture

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December 16, 2008

The Japan America Society of Greater Cincinnati (JASGC) knows how to throw a good party.On December 8, at the Cincinnati Art Museum, Cincinnati’s Japanese and American business communities remembered the good of 2008, forgot the bad, and looked forward to 2009 at JASGC’s annual bonenkai.A bonenkai – literally “a party to forget the year’s troubles” in Japanese – is de rigueur for organizations in Japan. JASGC first introduced this yearly cultural rite of passage to Cincinnati 20 years ago, and it’s still enjoyed today.Building on the successes of 2008, in 2009 JASGC hopes “to reach a broader group of people in the community,” says Carrie Bogner, JASGC (position).This year’s bonenkai hosted over 140 guests, featured entertainment by award-winning, local violinist Kaori Matsui, who has been on NPR’s podcast From the Top over 100 times; and the Sakura Ladies Chorus, who have performed at the Cincinnati Art Museum’s Asian Cultural Festival and the Cincinnati Fine Arts Fund’s Art Sampler Weekend. JASGC’s 2008 bonenkai was sponsored by All Nippon Airways, Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, Cincinnati Symphony, Fifth Third Bank and Pioneer Automotive Technologies, among others.More information on JASGC and its exciting cross-cultural and business opportunities can be found here.Writer: Jonathan DeHartSource: The Japan America Society of Greater Cincinnati

UC and Shanghai Jiao Tong University bridge the gap with ‘2+3’ mechanical engineering program

By Newsroom

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Diversity

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December 16, 2008

The University of Cincinnati (UC) has a new friend in China.Starting this fall, UC and Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) launched a program that allows second-year English-track, mechanical engineering students at SJTU to matriculate at UC for the last three years of UC’s undergraduate mechanical engineering program.Admitted students will complete the last three years of UC’s mechanical engineering undergraduate program, including one year of real world work experience, through UC’s acclaimed co-op program, and a capstone design clinic project in the fifth and last year of study.Graduates will receive B.S. degrees in mechanical engineering from both UC and SJTU, making them highly marketable in both the US and China.Earlier this year a group of UC professors visited SJTU, where Professor Teik C. Lim, head of UC’s Mechanical Engineering Department, gave a presentation to more than 100 SJTU first and second-year students. Other professors in this delegation included Frank Gerner, associate dean for Undergraduate and Administrative Affairs in the College of Engineering; and Professor Jay Lee, Ohio Eminent Scholar and L.W. Scott Alter Chair Professor in Mechanical Engineering.During their visit Lee says they visited some companies, such as Caterpillar, National Instruments and GE. “We found out that this program has value for [the students’] future,” Lee says. He adds that the companies they spoke with “are excited about this type of student.” Professor Lee co-created the program with Professors Guang Meng, dean of SJTU’s mechanical engineering department, and Lifeng Xi, the department’s associate dean.Already, five SJTU students are enrolled in the program, and companies in both the US and China have shown interest in having these students do their co-op programs with them. These students are scheduled to graduate from UC after summer quarter 2011, after which they will return to SJTU to complete a final project for the SJTU portion of the program.SJTU is considered one of the top engineering schools in China, and already has academic relationships with the University of Michigan, MIT, Georgia Tech and Purdue University. “Our strategy is to develop strong ties with top universities, and to then create pathways for the best students into a broad range of UC disciplines,” says Vice Provost of UC International, Mitch Leventhal, PhD. More information on UC International can be found here.Writer: Jonathan DeHartSource: University of Cincinnati

Video The HYPE about moving to Cincinnati

By Soapbox

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Arts + Culture

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December 15, 2008

Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber's HYPE (Harnessing Young Professional Energy) Initiative uses the power of social media to create a compelling case for living, working and playing in Cincinnati. Even in a strained economy, creative talent is choosing location over jobs in determining where to live. Here, HYPE demonstrates why Cincinnati can deliver both careers and quality of life.

Japanese businesses and communities thrive in Northern Kentucky

By Jonathan DeHart

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Diversity

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December 10, 2008

Japan is the largest source of foreign direct investment in greater Cincinnati. However, it’s not all business. There is a thriving Japanese community that has grown up around the Toyota-centric northern Kentucky economic base, which has forged strong cultural ties between the Bluegrass State and the Land of the Rising Sun.

The European-American Chamber of Commerce hosts seminar on global branding

By Newsroom

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Architecture + Design

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December 9, 2008

When Kentucky Fried Chicken planted its first stores in China, their slogan “finger lickin’ good” translated to horrified Chinese patrons, “eat your fingers off.”Not good.To prevent similar marketing debacles abroad, the European-American Chamber of Commerce Cincinnati Chapter (EACC) hosted a seminar on December 2, titled Global Branding and Global Coding.Ralf Weber, President of M/E Brand Communications of Dusseldorf, Germany, gave the main presentation, which was followed by a lively panel discussion moderated by Nick Vehr, President of Vehr Communications. Representatives from Jarden and Perfetti Van Melle sat on the panel.“A one size fits all approach to marketing is very dangerous in the global context,” Vehr says. “There are images, colors or words that might be interpreted one way in one culture that could be interpreted another way in another culture.”An example Vehr gives: in Germany, the Jeep Wrangler is a symbol of an occupying force; in France, a liberating force.“Unless you’re aware of that, you could do damage to your corporate or brand reputation,” Vehr says.Numerous local business leaders attended and participated in the EACC event, which gave valuable insights to Cincinnati’s significant number of companies involved overseas.Sponsors for this event included Frost Todd Brown, LLC, the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber and the US Commercial Service of the United States Department of Commerce. Writer: Jonathan DeHartSource: Nick Vehr

Congregation Beth Adam: progressive Judaism coming to a computer near you

By Jonathan DeHart

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Diversity

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December 9, 2008

All things change - even 3,300 year-old religious traditions. With 28 years of progressive involvement under its belt, Blue Ash-based Congregation Beth Adam has taken things to the next level: an online congregation. Rabbis Robert Barr and Laura Baum discuss progressive religion, the conception of Beth Adam’s cyber synagogue and what it means for the future of Judaism.

Choosing Independently

By Rene Brunelle

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Diversity

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December 2, 2008

Whether it’s shopping for gifts, updating your wardrobe or choosing a great spot to dine, Cincinnati offers an ever-increasing choice of independent businesses that help citizens reengage with the social fabric of their community.

Honoring King Records includes future, past

By Newsroom

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Arts + Culture

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December 2, 2008

Local music institution King Records was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with a ceremony and historical marker unveiling in front of its former headquarters at 1540 Brewster Avenue in Evanston.Launched by Syd Nathan in 1943 as a country label, King eventually got in on the ground floor of the burgeoning rhythm and blues market.The company soon grew into the nation's sixth-largest label, and was ahead of its time in putting African Americans into positions of leadership in recording, pressing, designing, warehousing and shipping – all of which was done on site.Following last summer's display of King Records: A Cincinnati Legacy, a collection of King Records artifacts and memorabilia exhibited at the Main Library, Evanston Community Council president Anzora Adkins and Liz Blume, director of the Community Building Institute, discussed the idea of starting a museum.A site on Montgomery Road, near the Flavor of Arts Studio, was chosen as a more feasible location than the old building, which is landlocked and privately owned.Designed by SHP Leading Design, the new building will combine the arts education programming of Flavor of Arts with a memorial space that can be used by the community and a recording studio that will provide apprenticeship opportunities to neighborhood youth.Cincinnati city councilmember John Cranley helped lead the effort to recognize King Records.Cranley says that the new marker, and the words upon it, validate the company's importance to national music history."It is a great tragedy that most Cincinnatians don't know about the great history that happened here," he says. "That has to change. We're going to honor our history."At last week's council meeting, a motion was adopted directing the Cincinnati Historic Preservation Office to execute a local designation landmark study on the old company property, which could eventually make it a local historic landmark and protect it from demolition."Our work will not be complete until we get this building back," Cranley says. "This building is holy, sacred ground."Writer: Kevin LeMasterSource: Xavier University Photography by Scott Beseler