Northern Kentucky Buzz

Surgical Energetics Moves Headquarters to Covington, KY

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January 28, 2011

bioLOGIC Corp, a Covington, KY based life science accelerator, announced today that Surgical Energetics LLC (SE) has moved its headquarters to the bioLOGIC facility in Covington, KY.Founded in 1998 by the late Dr. David Melvin, previously known for performing the region's first heart transplants, SE has developed technology for the coupling of tissues never before reliably closable. This new coupling technology utilizes force-transfer surface dynamics to join living tissue to either a prosthetic device or other living tissue. SE's first product, FiberSecure, has been shown pre-clinically to connect tissue more strongly than existing sutures or staples, and holds durably where they cannot. The Company is pursuing FDA compliance through 510K process during Q4 2011, which will result in a commercially marketed product.bioLOGIC and SE have been in close collaboration since early 2007. "We are extremely pleased that Surgical Energetics has now chosen to move its operations to bioLOGIC," stated Dr. Charlie LeCroix, COO and partner at bioLOGIC. "The addition of SE and their patented wound closing technology to the current life science companies already located at bioLOGIC continues to expand the emerging life science corridor in Northern Kentucky.""Moving our headquarters to bioLOGIC in Northern Kentucky provides our company access to additional programs and support that will accelerate our path towards the 510K filing with the FDA," Dr. Natalia Juncosa-Melvin, Scientific Director at SE, commented.

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Northern Kentucky Tri-ED Announces New Board Members

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General

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January 28, 2011

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."

Nominate your favorite NKY company for Tech Day 2011!

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January 28, 2011

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.

Turning Water Into Jobs

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January 28, 2011

Using water research to create businesses, jobs, and new technologies throughout Greater Cincinnati will be the focus of a new cluster of federal agencies, colleges and small companies.The top national officials at the Environmental Protection Agency and the Small Business Administration came to the EPA's research labs off Martin Luther King Drive Tuesday to unveil a Water Technology Innovation Cluster.They hope it can leverage as much as $11.5 million in federal money by creating clean-water technologies."We're taking the first step toward meeting our 21st-century water needs," EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said.Read the full story here.

Northern Kentucky web entrepreneur launches Bailmeoutofmyhouse.com

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January 28, 2011

In a sign of the times, a Northern Kentucky-based website is tapping into the needs of homeowners looking for a new way to attract buyers in a depressed market.Holly Wall, of Park Hills, launched bailmeoutofmyhouse.com, a web site where homeowners can list their own houses. The site is a twist on the traditional For Sale by Owner property, because sellers will offer a five- to seven-percent discount on the home, which equals the amount normally paid to a real estate agent."Right now homeowners are facing reduced equity, competition and short sales. On top of that they are paying a real estate agent a commission. This is a recipe for failure. We thought if we could eliminate one of those obstacles for traditional sellers, we could create a formula for success. I hope this gives those traditional sellers a voice," Wall said.The site is Wall's first foray into web entrepreneurism, but she has plenty of personal experience selling properties. She's lived in four states, moving along with her husband's job transfers. The couple has also bought and sold several investment properties, she said. Wall formerly was a teacher who left the profession to work at Fidelity Investments for three years. She's currently a stay-at-home mom. The couple's most recent move from Cleveland to Northern Kentucky gave Wall the idea for the site."When we relocated, I learned that we'd have to pay $17,000 toward commission right off the bat," she said. "That huge number sort of astounded me. I thought it would be better to sell the house at a reduced price."Through Bailmeoutofmyhouse.com, sellers can create a password protected profile where they can post a simple text advertisement with pictures of their home. In the ad, sellers are asked to post the home's market value, and its sale price. Wall is offering homeowners an incentive to list their homes until Jan. 31; sellers can list their homes for free until they sell. After Jan. 31, the cost is $50.Homes are listed by county. Current listings are generally in the Cincinnati-area but the site is setup for nationwide sales."We just had someone from Chicago sign up, so people are finding out about it," Wall said.Wall currently is working to promote the site, and plans to soon offer sellers yard signs bearing the bailmeoutofmyhouse.com site."The signs will tell buyers not just, 'My home is for sale, but my house is on sale'," she said.Writer: Feoshia HendersonSource: Holly Wall, founder bailmeoutofmyhouse.com

Earthineer.com social networking site brings sustainable-living minded people together

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January 28, 2011

Covington software consultant Dan Adams' interest in sustainable living practices was stoked by his home garden. The self-satisfaction that came from growing some of his own food led Adams to learn how to can, preserve and pickle."I started reading a lot and getting into general sustainable living practices," he said. "The more I did this, the more I realized the sense of fulfillment that came with it."At the same time, Adams was running his own software constancy ItalkTech. In a sustainable practice of another type, he'd started the business in 2006 after being laid off from a tech company he'd worked at for nine years.It wasn't long before his two passions merged resulting in Earthineer.com. It's an online social networking community for people interested in green living practices. He'd been working on the site as a side project, but this year decided to devote his full-time efforts to getting the site off the ground."I decided that I was never going to get this done in my spare time, so I dedicated all of my time to finishing it," Adams said.He developed Earthineer.com, which is just coming out of beta, as an independent study course at Northern Kentucky University."This is meant to be a social network for sustainable living, eating locally and seasonally, and talking about renewable energy," Adams said.The site has a spot for blog posts for sustainable living "experiments" like different composting, canning or wine making methods. It also has typical social networking features including personal profiles, news feeds and status updates. There's also a members' recommended books section. Though the intention is to create a national network, Adams is developing a trading section where members who live near each other can also share tools and goods."You'll be able to configure a list of things you want and can trade people for them. If one person has eggs and another has milk, they could meet up to trade," he said.The site is designed not just for individuals but for like minded nonprofits, farmers and small businesses."I hope there is going to be enough information on the site on a national level that it will encourage local groups to meet and consume locally," he said.Writer: Feoshia HendersonSource: Dan Adams, creator Earthineer.com

Gov. Beshear announces major expansion by ZF Steering Systems will create hundreds of jobs

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Business + Innovation

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October 29, 2010

Company to invest $95.8 million, expand manufacturing footprint Governor Steve Steve Beshear announced that ZF Steering Systems LLC will undergo a major expansion in Northern Kentucky, investing $95.8 million over the next three years. The growth is a result of increased demand for the company's new and existing products and involves constructing two new buildings and creating 374 new full-time jobs over the next three years at its facility in Florence, Ky.

Bexion Pharmaceuticals receives another National Cancer Institute grant already

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October 29, 2010

Bexion Pharmaceuticals has been awarded a $1.5M Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The grant, titled "SapC-DOPS Nanovesicles for Treating Glioblastoma Multiforme," was awarded Sept. 28, 2010, and covers a two-year period. This announcement from NCI follows their Sept. 20, 2010, announcement selecting Bexion for a notable research collaboration with NCI's Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory (NCL), part of a major program, the Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer, to advance the medical applications of nanotechnology.

Gateway holds first Green Energy Showcase, to expand industry training courses

By Feoshia Henderson

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October 29, 2010

Gateway Community and Technical College in Northern Kentucky showed off the region's green goods with its first-ever Green Energy Showcase.The event was held Oct. 1 in Florence at Gateway's Boone Campus. The Green Energy Showcase included exhibits by local and regional energy providers and industry including Bowlin Group LLC, Duke Energy, Touchstone Energy Cooperatives (East Kentucky Power and Owen Electric) and General Cable.The free event was funded, in part, by a $393,000 three-year grant that the college received from the U.S. Department of Labor. High school and college students, energy industry workers and college faculty were among the groups the showcase was geared toward.

The Circuit raises $7,000 to fund scholarships for local students seeking IT degrees

By Alyce Vilines

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October 29, 2010

Celebrating its 16th year of service to the community with a day on the links, a local association of information technology (IT) professionals accomplished far more than the polishing of their strokes. Through the efforts of The Circuit —a regional nonprofit composed of IT professionals and organizations — a record $7,000 was raised this year in the association's annual Scholarship Golf Outing.The proceeds from this popular event, now in its 10th year, are used to provide scholarships to local students pursuing IT-related degrees at area universities, a mission the nonprofit believes to have far-reaching impact.