Innovation News

Rural America OnShore sourcing brings jobs back home

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March 16, 2010

Some of the best business models rise from the ash heap of failure. Christopher Hytry Derrington founded Rural America OnShore Sourcing with three partners and Sundeep Dronawat after seeing poor results from several offshore outsourcing projects. Since opening in December 2008, Rural America has made location a non-issue for Americans needing outsourced work.Offshore outsourcing is an irresistible cost-saver for many U.S. companies. But the lower wages paid to foreign workers are offset by communication and time barriers. "You're paying people to help you do business," said Marty Gardocki, Rural America's Vice President. He has contracted outsourcing in the past, and observed that the blended offshore rate - the actual cost of offshore services - is comparable to what Rural America charges. While visiting family in rural Sheboygan, Wisconsin, Hytry, now Rural America’s CEO, noticed the area's workforce dynamics. A wealth of qualified, experienced rural workers had no place to go. He had an idea: what if a company could bring the jobs to them?Rural America opens sales offices in larger cities. Companies come with the projects they need to outsource. Rural America sends the work to the pool of talent, which is limited only by access to broadband. The same technology that allows tasks to be shipped overseas frees businesses to use workers outside major metropolitan areas where high living costs necessitate a higher wage. Rural America pays wages that are fair for the employee's region, but still allow client savings.Rural America is currently recruiting talent in 12 states, expanding to 25 states by end of 2010, and all 50 states by end of 2011.As a minority-owned company, Rural America has preferred status for bids and proposals at the federal, state, and local levels, and can pass that savings on to customers. It extends traditional outsourcing by offering project teams as well as individual workers. From the beginning, their vision has been for a national business, operating in many sectors. In a welcome reversal of fortune, Rural America has already attracted overseas clients looking for American labor.Currently, Rural America's leadership team floats between Business Development Centers in Cincinnati, Louisville, and Two Rivers, Wisconsin. They plan to open offices in eight new states in 2010. But Gardocki is proud to make Cincinnati Rural America’s home. He describes our area's entrepreneurial community as "a nice embryonic kernel," ideal for his company's start-up."People are attracted to the opportunity. The demand for our services are real - We developed the means to deliver on those opportunities."Writer: Elena StevensonSource: Marty Gardocki, Vice President, Rural America OnShore Sourcing

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Tri-Ed study to target industries for job growth in Northern Kentucky

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General

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March 16, 2010

Northern Kentucky Tri-County Economic Development Corporation, or Tri-Ed, is identifying top areas to target for job growth, by launching a new study.Tri-Ed has hired Atlanta-based Kate McEnroe Consulting, to conduct a Benchmarking and Target Industry Analysis. The study will lay the foundation of Tri-Ed's future planning efforts, allowing the organization to best use its resources to grow the region's economy and bring in high-quality, high-pay jobs."This is a very important endeavor for the Northern Kentucky community," said Tri-ED President and Chief Executive Officer Dan Tobergte. "The results will drive how we plan for, pursue and retain business in Boone, Campbell and Kenton Counties in concert with Vision 2015, the Cincinnati USA Partnership, the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development and our many allies over the next three to five years."This effort follows up on a 2004 High-Tech Readiness Study that Tri-Ed commissioned, which included a Target Industry Analysis. The early study identified the region's readiness for advanced manufacturing, informatics and other high-tech businesses.Tri-Ed focused its efforts on business recruiting with insight gleaned from that High-Tech study. In the ensuing years, Toyota Boshoku America, Perot Systems, DEFENDER Direct were among the companies that located to the region. And Northern Kentucky University recently broke ground on a new College of Informatics to help train a new generation of tech savvy workers.This most recent study will be presented at Northern Kentucky Tri-ED's May Board of Directors meeting.Writer: Feoshia HendersonSource: STRATA-G Communications

Innovation’s the word at South Ohio Society of Women Engineers Conference

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Diversity

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March 16, 2010

Innovation, and how to cultivate and creatively use it, will be the topic of conversation at the South Ohio Society of Women Engineers Spring conference."The world is changing fast. Consumers want more from companies, but want to spend less. It's through innovation that we can provide superior products to consumers," explained Margaret Adriatico, South Ohio SWE social chair. "Innovation is about changing and improving lives by bringing new and better things to consumers."The third annual spring conference is quickly becoming SWE's signature event. Last year it attracted 100 attendees from Greater Cincinnati and Dayton. This year's goal is to bring in 150. This year's keynote speaker is Brett Bonner, Kroger's resident chief of R&D. He'll speak on why innovation is imperative to a successful business. Doug Brownstone, of Eureka Ranch, and Jim Sinclair and Tom Hortel of Zenovate will also present."We'll be talking about the difference between breakthrough innovations and step change innovations. We can go along step by step in innovation, but what most companies are looking for is breakthrough. So we'll talk about what kind of culture you need, and the kind of people that it takes to cultivate those breakthrough innovation," Adriatico said.The conference is eligible for continuing education credits, and will include a course outline and certificate of completion. It starts at 8 a.m. at Cincinnati Marriott North, 6189 Muhlhauser Rd, in West Chester. The cost is $75 for SWE members, $100 for non-members and $55 for students. It's open to both men and women and to non-engineers.You can register here for the conference before April 1. Afterward, registrations will incur a $20 surcharge.Writer: Feoshia HendersonSource: Margaret Adriatico, South Ohio SWE social chair

PB&J promotes the good life in Cincinnati

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Entrepreneurship

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March 9, 2010

When thinking about the kind of places that make life good in Cincinnati, you might picture your favorite locally owned restaurant, salon or clothing store. They're places you visit over and over again, where workers know your name, your favorite food or give you the perfect hair cut.One local man is making a living by ensuring you know about these types of places, as a Lifestyle publicist with his own startup PB&J Public Relations, Branding and Jabber (Social Media). Micah Paldino launched PB&J last fall, a few short months after returning to Cincinnati from New York City. He'd worked in NYC in publication relations, but the job market there tanked, compelling his move. "I saw so many publications go out of business. It was a scary time," Paldino, a UC graduate, said. "I couldn't find a full-time position."Like many an entrepreneurial-minded Cincinnatian, Paldino decided not to wait for an agency to hire him after coming back to the area. About seven months after moving back to Cincinnati, Paldino started PB&J, focusing on PR consulting for lifestyle-focused businesses. His first client was Vito's Café in Fort Thomas."Before I knew it, I had eight clients and I needed an office. It was very a kinetic and natural transition," Paldino said.Paldino is a one-man show, with an office downtown. He helps his clients cement their brand, reach out to area media and connect with potential customers. His clients include Café De Wheels, Venue 222, Worldwide Graphics & Sign Co., Hair and Body Works and Cincinnati Fashion Week."These are the kind of things that make our city shine. And promoting them is important in changing the image of Cincinnati," Paldino said.Writer: Feoshia HendersonSource: Micah Paldino, owner PB&J Public Relations

Cincinnati Digital Effects Designer make Alice in Wonderland movie pop

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Entrepreneurship

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March 9, 2010

Tim Burton's take on the Alice in Wonderland movie is making a killing at the box office. And the movie, starring Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, and Anne Hathaway has a Cincinnati connection.Northsider David Lombardi recently spent a couple of months out in LA, as the movie's Lead Compositor. He supervised the movie's 3D effects work, in a new post-production technique. The reemerging 3D movie market is still experimenting on the best, most cost efficient way to do 3D, Lombardi said."It was a big task, and was the hardest project I've ever worked on," he said.Lombardi's work on Alice in Wonderland is one of a string of well-known projects he's worked on including Sin City, The Terminal, Beowulf, and commercials for Target, United Airlines and Lexus.Lombardi is a Pittsburgh native who studied industrial design at the University of Cincinnati. He'd left the area and had worked in digital effects industry for about a decade in L.A. But after establishing himself, Lombardi decided to return to the Cincinnati area with his wife, Erin, to runs his own digital effects business. Why did he come back to Cincinnati? One simple reason."Quality of life. L.A. is a really neat place, and it's where you should be if you're in film or television. But if you're good at it people make sure they work you to death to the detriment of family and personal life," Lombardi said.Lombardi has lived Northside for five years; he owns and operates Lombardi VFX from his home. Though he occasionally travels for work like he did during Alice In Wonderland, he can usually work from Cincinnati."It's just me. Visual effects work for the most part is a freelance-based industry. In Alice in Wonderland you would be hard-pressed to find people who are staff. Seventy-five percent of people are freelancers who go from job to job," he said. He's maintained his L.A. relationships and still has an agent out west. But living in Cincinnati allows him to better manage his business and life."People out in L.A. ask me, 'Isn't Cincinnati boring? But we go out three or four times a week with friends. I ask them 'When was the last time you went out with friends?'Writer: Feoshia HendersonSource: David Lombardi, owner Lombardi VFX

Cincy’s first gelato company expands with “Dipping Stand”

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Entrepreneurship

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March 9, 2010

Matt Madison launched Madisono's, Cincinnati's first gelato company, in 2006. And now the entrepreneur has plans to open a gelato "dipping stand" at Madison's, his parents' Findlay Market store. The name "Madisono" reflects the spirit of the product - an authentic Italian frozen dessert with Madison's earthy commitment to quality. The "earth" came naturally for Madison, working on Madisons Ridgeview Farm with his parents, Bryan and Carolyn, in Adams County. The certified-organic facility specialized in exotic mushrooms, which opened doors for Matt in Cincinnati's culinary community. For five years, Madison and his wife, Margot, lived at Ridgeview Farm. But raising a family brought them back to city life. Gelato originally drew Matt in during a stint at a specialty food store his parents owned in Glendale. "Cincinnati has a strong ice cream tradition, of which I've always been a big fan. But I wanted to bring a frozen dessert concept that had lower butterfat than the super-premium ice creams." In 2006, Matt launched Madisono's Gelato; a year later, he closed the specialty-food store to focus on frozen confections. Madison is proud of the artisan-style gelatos and sorbets he produces. "I love the ability to constantly be creative, and do something, flavor-wise, that wasn't already being done." The company’s offerings include black raspberry, lemon basil, and dark chocolate orange. Madison makes all bases from scratch and freezes the gelatos and sorbets in small batches. Madisono's maximizes distribution opportunities by selling under three labels: Madisono's Gelato; Sustain Brand, which specializes in distribution of locally-produced foods; and La Vida Italiana, the private label of the Dayton, Ohio-based Dorothy Lane Markets chain. "It’s a win-win," says Madison of his partnerships. "I don't lose my brand identity, but I get to be part of a larger brand concept." Two employees staff the Glendale production facility and make deliveries to an expanding list of local restaurants, caterers, and vendors. Madison plans to hire one more for his latest venture, the dipping stand at Findlay Market, that will open in April. Rapid business growth and family life have packed the carton of Madison’s life to the brim. But he's enjoying the growth of a unique Cincinnati brand, and credits the relationships he built in his family's farm and store. "I've had a great education." Writer: Elena Stevenson Source: Matt Madison, owner, Madisono’s Gelato

Northern Kentucky kicks off Start-up Slam for region’s entrepreneurs

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Entrepreneurship

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March 9, 2010

Entrepreneurs looking for some guidance in getting a new company off the ground can head to Northern Kentucky University on March 19th for the first ever Start-Up Slam.Northern Kentucky Tri-Ed, the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development and the NKU Enterprise Institute are sponsoring the one-day event aimed at giving entrepreneurs some serious tools and feedback on their business ideas.The Slam is a new effort by the Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation, and the Northern Kentucky event is just one of several scheduled across the state."The goal of the Start-Up Slam is to provide valuable information on what it takes to start a business, and to make it last," said Keith Schneider, Commercialization Director of the Northern Kentucky ezone and an organizer for the event. "People who attend will get that information from business leaders who have been there and done that." The panel of experts assembled for this program includes business leaders who have served with some of the nation's most respected companies: IBM, Intel, Ford Motor Co., Home Depot, Sears, BoschPower Tools, Union Carbide, Dow Chemicals and more.The event will be at NKU's Student Union Center, in Highland Heights, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Most sessions are free, but for $65 participants can meet with an onsite attorney for an individual consultation and create a single-member LLC."With the depth of knowledge and experience these individuals provide, this one-on-one time is probably the most valuable part of the Slam," Schneider said.Find answers to questions from how to market and sell products, forecasting revenue and expenses and pitching ideas to investors.Interested? RSVP for the slam here.Writers: Feoshia Henderson and Dave Malaska SOURCES: Keith Schneider, Commercialization Director, ezoneEntrepreneurs looking for some guidance in getting a new company off the ground can head to Northern Kentucky University on March 19th for the first ever Start-Up Slam.Northern Kentucky Tri-Ed, the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development and the NKU Enterprise Institute are sponsoring the one-day event aimed at giving entrepreneurs some serious tools and feedback on their business ideas.The Slam is a new effort by the Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation, and the Northern Kentucky event is just one of several scheduled across the state."The goal of the Start-Up Slam is to provide valuable information on what it takes to start a business, and to make it last," said Keith Schneider, Commercialization Director of the Northern Kentucky ezone and an organizer for the event. "People who attend will get that information from business leaders who have been there and done that." The panel of experts assembled for this program includes business leaders who have served with some of the nation's most respected companies: IBM, Intel, Ford Motor Co., Home Depot, Sears, BoschPower Tools, Union Carbide, Dow Chemicals and more.The event will be at NKU's Student Union Center, in Highland Heights, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Most sessions are free, but for $65 participants can meet with an onsite attorney for an individual consultation and create a single-member LLC."With the depth of knowledge and experience these individuals provide, this one-on-one time is probably the most valuable part of the Slam," Schneider said.Find answers to questions from how to market and sell products, forecasting revenue and expenses and pitching ideas to investors.Interested? RSVP for the slam here.Writers: Feoshia Henderson and Dave Malaska SOURCES: Keith Schneider, Commercialization Director, ezone

Private Health News offers timely service, creates relationships with healthcare providers

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Education + Learning

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March 9, 2010

Like any business, hospitals look for ways to engage people, promote their own brand and forge relationships with the public. And a local company has found an innovative, and effective way to do that through specialty e-mail newsletters. Dan Ansel has built a thriving business around the concept that has caught the eye of healthcare providers across the country.Ansel, Private Health News' co-founder, developed the idea of offering hospitals a health-focused news service in 2002 after working for three decades in hospital communication and administration. He launched the company in 2003, and now is linked with more than 150 healthcare related web sites in 30 states, including Tri-Health locally."I saw data that a large number of people are going to the internet for health information and (hospital web sites) were one of the most trusted places to get that information," Ansel said.Private Health News vets information and articles from hundreds of sources. It provides the most current, round up of that information by email to subscribers who opt-in. Each user can design a custom newsletter based on medical topics that interest them. Newsletters are tailored toward the general public or healthcare providers."We medically review the information, make sure it's current, and through email we push that information to people," Ansel said.Private Health News is located in the HCBC incubator in Norwood and has 12 Cincinnati employees and three based in India. The vast majority of Private Health News clients are hospitals, but include other health providers like pharmaceutical companies.Hospitals like the service because it's a quick, trustworthy and effective way to connect with the public."We are web-based, and we are branded as (the hospital). So it's their brand, their relationship. What we allow a hospital to do is to create ongoing targeted relationships with people."Writer: Feoshia HendersonSource: Dan Ansel, Private Health News cofounder

New Renaissance Covington Director returns to hometown with vision

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Arts + Culture

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March 2, 2010

Renaissance Covington Director Katie Meyer came back to her hometown from Frankfort after leaving the region seven years ago. Just as she'd planned."I was really looking to get back to Covington, and specifically downtown. In the past I'd looked for public administration jobs here and what I wanted wasn't available. But this job opened up and it was a great opportunity," she said. "There is a uniqueness about Covington; there is character here you can't find elsewhere. There's a lot of civic participation that makes is a great place to live. Your neighbors care about what's going on in the city."Meyer started the job Feb. 17, replacing former Director Kathie Hickey. Renaissance Covington is a non-profit initiative aimed at revitalizing the city's urban core. Among Meyer's plans are expanding green and public spaces, making the city more bike and pedestrian friendly and working closely with the city's emerging Arts District."I'm working on building a strong partnership with the arts district, really developing our local arts. We have so much potential here for a great arts community," she said.Meyer grew up in the Old Seminary Square neighborhood and attended Covington Latin School. She has a bachelor's from the University of Kentucky in political science and journalism and a Master's from The New School in New York City in urban policy analysis and management.She also held public administration jobs in New Delhi, India and Vancouver, B.C. before working at the Kentucky Housing Corporation in Frankfort as Performance Analyst.Writer: Feoshia HendersonSource: Katie Meyer, Renaissance Covington Director

Get your Ecosculpt on this Earth Day on Fountain Square

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Arts + Culture

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March 2, 2010

This Earth Day two dozen creative types will make new creations out of old stuff during the first-ever Ecosculpt event on Fountain Square.Fountain Square Management Group, a subsidiary of 3CDC, and Duke Energy are partners in the event that will showcase 24 original sculptures made out of recycled materials. Installation begins April 9 and sculptures will be on display through April 29. Winners will be announced and money prizes awarded during an event on Fountain Square on Earth Day, April 22.Ecosculpt will mark the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day, and could be an annual happening. "It's a wonderful way to celebrate spring and gives people a reason to come downtown and visit something interesting and fun on the square," said Kelly Leon, 3CDC, vice president for communications.Anyone can submit a sculpture concept online, and organizers will pick the top 24 for display. Sculptures dimensions should be big, around 10 ft. by 10 ft. and be made from recycled or recyclable materials. Submissions must be postmarked by March 10, or sent by fax or email by 5 p.m. March 12. "The art will mostly be judged for creativity, detail, use of recyclable material and public appeal. A people's choice award will be given out for the sculpture that the public chooses as its favorite," Leon said.Find complete Ecosculpt information and an entry form here. Writer: Feoshia HendersonSource: Kelly Leon, 3CDC Vice President of Communications