The Northern Kentucky ezone, part of the Northern Kentucky Tri-County Economic Development Corp., has been helping local companies start and grow since 2001. The ezone has aided more than 189 companies, and it has brought in more than $74 million in investments to Northern Kentucky. Cincy Magazine spoke to Casey Barach, vice president of entrepreneurship at ezone, to find out more about this successful program.Read the entire interview here.
On Feb. 12, the Council on Postsecondary Education approved a five-year strategic plan that could change the way public colleges receive state funding. The plan would subsidize colleges based not only on how many students enroll, but on how many graduate.The plan is expected to benefit high-growth colleges, including Northern Kentucky University. It also emphasizes the benefits of using community colleges as a stepping stone to entering a university system, which could boost graduation rates and save money for families.Read the full story here.
Northern Kentucky University's Institute for Talent Development and Gifted Studies will be hosting up to 400 Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati male high schoolers for a day designed to prepare them for college and careers.This year's Man Up! Young Men's Leadership Conference is a follow up to the one NKU hosted for females-only last year. The Institute plans to alternate each conference, geared toward juniors and seniors, every year.During the daylong event, set for March 11 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., students will attend workshops and discussion panels that outline the nuts and bolts of preparing for college and for a career path. Sessions will be led by professors, and community and business leaders. Cincinnati Vice Mayor Roxanne Qualls spoke last year, and University President James Votruba is among this year's speakers. Topics that will be discussed include resume writing, etiquette and linking passions and skills to a career. Many students who will attend will be first-generation college students, or those who are considering NKU but may not have made up their mind, said program co-director Dr. Kevin D. Besnoy."What we are trying to do is show what it takes to get into college, that it is accessible to anybody. We'll teach them about resume writing, the college application process and financing college through loans and scholarships, Besnoy said. "We'll also talk how to position yourself for graduation as you get ready to enter a profession."The conference is meant to supplement what students are learning in high school, but from a different point of authority that can tie the high school and college worlds together, Besnoy added."It supports the message that high schools are sending to the kids, but it provides a different voice. Sometimes getting a message from a completely different source makes students more apt to hear it," he said.The conference cost is $10 and covers the cost of lunch and supplemental materials. To register a student or for more information, call (859) 859-572-1957 or email gifted@nku.edu.Writer: Feoshia HendersonSource: Dr. Kevin D. Besnoy, co-director Institute for Talent Development and Gifted Studies
Newport's Hofbrauhaus poured its 3 millionth beer last month, but the bar's co-owner Eric Haas is even more excited about the $1 million he estimates his business has raised for the city of Newport in tax revenue, KYPost.com reports. Excerpt:"We've generated probably over $1million for the City of Newport in tax revenue, taxes to the state and alcohol tax," Haas said. "Everybody has benefited by us being here, and the fun part is this is a great place to be."Read the full story here.
WNKU-FM, based in Highland Heights, was once notorious for its "twilight zones," listening dead spaces where static garbled up the station's always-eclectic mix of rock'n'roll, blues, folk and alternative music and news. In the weeks leading up to the college radio station's signal expansion beginning Feb. 1, listeners might have heard an in-house ad like this:"Right now you may be driving through one of those places where WNKU (89.7) just kind of fades away. Or maybe that's what happens at your home or office. Well, take heart fellow traveler, when you reach one of those radio 'twilight zones, all you have to do is switch to 105.9 or 104.1 FM et voilà! WNKU will be there, too."For 25 years since its founding, WNKU-FM was handicapped by a single radio tower that could barely penetrate nearby downtown Cincinnati and parts of Ohio and Kentucky. Now the station's signal reaches as far north as Dayton, Ohio, and all the way out east to Huntington, West Virginia, providing it the sonic muscles to match some of the area's big commercial competition and better serve downtown Cincinnati listeners. The new WNKU could serve upwards of 2.2 million new listeners, including some as close as downtown Cincinnati. Read the full story here.
For the past five years, Life's Eyes Media has been a one-woman show that relied on the expertise and hard work of founder Kristen Getsy, a former news reporter and anchor.Getsy has managed the video production and media training company's "concept to completion" vision for clients including The Newport Aquarium, Kroger and NASA. Life's Eye Media's client base has grown so much over the past few years that Getsy just hired two full-time employees to help manage the load and grow the company even more.Joyce Looby and Michelle Howard have joined the Northern Kentucky-based company. Both are experienced businesswomen. Looby, now the company's creative director, has more than 10 years of video experience including in-studio productions and live and pre-produced events. She's also produced and edited videos for corporations and for retail distribution.Howard has been named business development manager. She brings more than 20 years of experience in media, non-profits and local government. She's well versed in writing and editing, public relations, fundraising and event planning."We are really growing," Getsy said. "I've created a really strong brand and developed some key partnerships. Some of our clients have come back year after year and that loyalty means the world to me."Gesty said she's planning to hire two more employees by the end of the year if growth continues.Life's Eyes Media, based in Independence, offers a wide variety of video production services including steaming video, online PR, video news releases, PSAs and website design. The company also offers writing and other communications and promotional services, based on the art of storytelling. The company works with a team of seasoned professionals- including producers, journalists, photojournalists, writers, editors, videographers and lighting specialists - who serve a variety of corporate and private clients."The expansion of the Life's Eyes Media team comes at a pivotal time in our company's history," Getsy said in a release announcing the hires. "We are poised for tremendous growth, and Joyce and Michelle will help to propel Life's Eyes Media to even greater success."Writer: Feoshia HendersonSource: Kristen Getsy, founder and president Life's Eyes Media
Travelers at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) have two new food choices in Concourse B. The new restaurants that opened earlier this month include Subway and Great American Bagel. With the opening of these new restaurants, CVG will now offer passengers more than 25 restaurant choices from its extensive Sky Shop Program.Read the full story here.
Hundreds of millions of people use social networking sites to connect in the online world. Facebook is about friends. LinkedIn is for business. YouTube is all about videos, and Flickr is a place to share photos. So why and how do folks in Greater Cincinnati use Twitter? There's really no one way to use Twitter, and different businesses have developed various techniques. Still, there are a few basic rules that businesses seem to agree on. Tweet often, updates shouldn't always be about business, respond to questions and request and be yourself.Soapbox Cincinnati is passing on some top tips from some Cincinnati businesses and organizations that give good Tweet. These Tweeps were chosen based on a decidedly unscientific method, recommendations from local Twitter users and staff.Read the whole story here.
The Northern Kentucky Tri-County Economic Development Corporation (Tri-ED), the primary economic development marketing agency for Boone, Kenton and Campbell counties in Northern Kentucky, recently welcomed one new board member, four ex-officio members and a new foundation board member to its team.As an organization, Tri-ED's mission is to build a world-class economy in Northern Kentucky through the expansion of existing businesses and the creation and attraction of high quality, primary industry employers. Northern Kentucky Tri-ED strives to promote the region as a prime location for new and expanding industries to conduct business.Board members provide strategic leadership and active participation in Business Retention & Expansion, Entrepreneurship and Marketing efforts for Northern Kentucky Tri-ED.The following professionals were appointed to the board on Tuesday, January 11, 2011:Tri-County Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors• Steve Arlinghaus, newly-elected Kenton County Judge-Executive will serve through term of officeTri-County Economic Development Foundation• Dee Ellingwood, Senior Vice President of Planning & Business Development, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center for a three-year term from January, 2011Tri-County Economic Development Corporation Ex-Officio Members• John Mok, CEO Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport• Dr. James Votruba, President Northern Kentucky University• Dr. G. Edward Hughes, President & CEO Gateway Community & Technical College• Sr. Margaret Stallmeyer, President Thomas More College"Each of our new board members brings with them unique specialties that will serve as a benefit to the Northern Kentucky/Cincinnati region as a whole," said Steve Pendery, Campbell County Judge-Executive and Northern Kentucky Tri-ED Chairman of the Board. "This high-level expertise across a variety of industries will strengthen our community and advance economic development initiatives ensuring that Northern Kentucky is focused on its future success."
ConnectKentucky will again honor the Commonwealth's technology leaders at its 2011 Tech Day on April 29, 2011.The 5th annual awards will be presented at a new venue – Great American Ball Park before the Cincinnati Reds host the Florida Marlins. The event is sponsored this year by CBTS. ConnectKentucky is soliciting nominations for awards in the following categories:• Small Business Technology Award goes to a small business that has successfully used broadband technology to broaden its customer reach and provide a positive example of technology use and capabilities in the Commonwealth.• Large Business Technology Award goes to a large business that has successfully used broadband technology to broaden its customer reach and act as a leader in technology use in the Commonwealth.• New and Emerging Business Technology Award goes to a start-up business that has successfully used broadband technology as a vehicle for growth and has acted as a model for other emerging Kentucky businesses.• Secondary Student Technology Award goes to a Kentucky high school student who has recognized the benefits of using broadband technology and promotes and implements its use in creative and inspiring ways.• Postsecondary Student Technology Award goes to a Kentucky college student who has recognized the benefits of using broadband technology and promotes and implements its use in creative and inspiring ways.• School District Technology Award goes to a Kentucky school district that has successfully used broadband technology to enhance the educational capacity of its institutions as well as inform students and parents of the value of broadband adoption.• Postsecondary Institution Technology Award goes to a Kentucky postsecondary institution that has successfully used broadband technology to enhance its educational capacity as well as provide students with an improved educational experience using broadband technology.• Government Leadership in Technology Award goes to a state or local government that has utilized broadband technology to improve effectiveness and efficiency in areas such as budgeting and service delivery.Nominations are due by April 1, 2011. For more information about the nominations or to receive a nomination form, contact ConnectKentucky Executive Director René True at rtrue@connectky.org.
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