Page 862 – Soapbox

Know Cincinnati? Newport’s Global Business Solutions uses social media to find out

By Newsroom

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November 16, 2010

Often, social media isn't all that social. In fact, while Facebookers and Tweeters interact online, those interactions don't usually connect to the outside world.The same holds true for businesses using Social Media to connect with customers. And the interaction can be boring and generic. One local company, Global Business Solutions in Newport, is using social media in a different to raise company awareness and engage potential clients in a fresh way.GBS is an IT consulting, support and managed services firm that since 1994 has worked with small- to medium-sized businesses and municipalities. The company was founded by President Gaby Batshoun and CEO Nael Mabjish and employs about two dozen people. This year it was awarded the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Small Business Success Award for Professional Services.The company is one of many across Greater Cincinnati tapping into social networking sites to generate buzz. Starting in late October, the company began a quirky, four-week contest on Facebook. Each day for the first three weeks, GBS posted a photo of the company mascot - an inflatable globe - somewhere in Cincinnati. People who "like" the Facebook page guess where the photo was taken; the first person who answers correctly wins a Flip camera that week. It's the first time the company has used its Facebook page this way."The city has such a large social media footprint, and we're able to connect to a lot of our clients that way. We wanted to use this space to reward the people who have already been communicating with us there, and draw some more attention to our company," said Joe Robb, GBS Head of Marketing.Since beginning the contest the company's Facebook followers have grown from 99 to 156. The page has been up about seven months."For us it's not really about the numbers," Robb said. "It's about getting to know people. Plus it's fun. This kind of work isn't really thought of as fun, but people who work here are fun and they enjoy what they do."The contest wraps up this week (Nov. 19) with a big prize, an iPad. To win this prize, however, the winner has to get off the computer and into Cincinnati. This week GBS is posting pictures at four different locations, one picture per day through Thursday. On Friday, the globe will be left somewhere in Cincinnati. The first person to upload a picture or video of him/herself with the globe, who also correctly guesses the locations of the pictures from earlier in the week will win the iPad. Think you know Cincinnati? You can go for the iPad at Global Business Solutions Facebook page.Writer: Feoshia HendersonSource: Joe Robb, GBS Head of MarketingYou can follow Feoshia on twitter @feoshiawrites

NanoDetection Technology moving to Cincinnati from Tennessee

By Newsroom

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Entrepreneurship

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November 16, 2010

An Oak Ridge, Tenn. medical device company that specializes in detecting biological hazards and diseases is moving to Cincinnati, and will be lead by former Union Springs Pharmaceuticals' President Joel Ivers.NanoDectection Technology is a startup that's making its way to Cincinnati to grow. The company's first product, the patented Biosensor Detection System, finds genes, antibodies or pathogens within a biological or environmental sample. It could be used in emergency rooms, doctor's offices or by food safety or law enforcement organizations. It works quickly, taking just minutes instead of days to detect infections or bio threats. The system is about two years from hitting the market.At least $1 million will be invested in the company, including $250,000 from CincyTech. Southern Ohio Creates Companies is investing $100,000, and an unnamed private investor is putting in a sizeable stake. The U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded NanoDetection a $175,000 grant to research food-safety applications. NanoDetection was founded by Knoxville physician Charles Barnett, whose relationship with Ivers was a factor in bringing the company to Cincinnati. Ivers has worked in biomedical fields in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky for more than 30 years, most recently as president of Union Springs."The funds raised now will allow the company to complete clinical trials and obtain regulatory approval to launch the system in the health-care market in early 2013," said Ivers, now company CEO.A lab technician will be joining Ivers here in Cincinnati; company founder Barnett will remain in Tennessee. This is CincyTech's 18th portfolio company, and marks the first time the nonprofit venture development investor has attracted a company from out of state."We were impressed by the platform potential and performance of the NDT biosensor as an in-vitro diagnostic device in the clinical environment, coupled with the data collection and transmission capabilities, in a low-cost, simple-to-use, portable format,” said CincyTech executive-in-residence Dr. Jan Rosenbaum.Writer: Feoshia HendersonSource: CincyTechYou can follow Feoshia on twitter @feoshiawrites

North America’s largest franchise expo making its first stop in Cincinnati

By Newsroom

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Entrepreneurship

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November 16, 2010

The Mayor's office has worked to bring North America's largest franchise fair to the Queen City to support job creation and the city's entrepreneurial spirit. It's the first time Toronto-based National Event Management has brought The Franchise & Business Opportunities Expo to Cincinnati.The city took a proactive approach to bringing the expo here, said show director Leslie Lawrence."This is something we normally produce on our own, but we're putting on this show with the Mayor's office, which wanted to bring it to the city," Lawrence said. National Event Management each year holds 27 annual business ownership events across North America, showcasing over 1,700 businesses to 65,000 prospective businesses. PNC Bank is also sponsoring the event, which is part of Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory's Shop 52 economic development initiative to encourage investment in the city's 52 neighborhoods."Buying a franchise is a great way for individuals to go into business for themselves because they are buying into a proven business concept and the franchising company will have many resources to help them succeed," Mayor Mallory said. "This is another part of my Shop 52 initiative to create opportunities for Cincinnatians to open their own businesses and be successful."The expo is set for Nov. 20 and 21 at the Duke Energy Center downtown. The expo will be 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. - 4p.m. There are full-time and part-time opportunities, and about 50 businesses will be on hand including Firehouse Subs, Allstate, Jack of All Trades Handyman, Griffin Waste Services, Re-Bath and Budget Blinds. Admission is free and tickets are available online. Lawrence described the expo as a "low pressure" event where people can talk directly to franchise representatives at a variety of investment levels. Those interested can also learn more about sources of financing, and how to begin the process of owning a franchise. "There are seminars that provide a free education before you start a business. There is free financing and free legal advice and people talking about the core competencies you need so you chose the right business for you," said Lawrence.Writer: Feoshia HendersonSources: Mayor's Office and National Event Management show director Leslie Lawrence You can follow Feoshia on twitter @feoshiawrites

Gateway Community awarded $8.5 million grant for Allied Health student support

By Newsroom

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Health + Wellness

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November 14, 2010

Students looking for a career in allied health, who often have an uphill climb getting through college, soon will get some support thanks to an $8.5 million federal grant awarded to Gateway Community and Technical College.The grant, awarded by the Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families, will be paid out over five years to the College's Department of Nursing and Allied Health. The allied health field includes a broad variety of healthcare jobs like medical IT, medical assisting, fitness or athletic trainer, health information technician and message therapy.The grant is geared toward low-income students, including those who qualify for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or who meet the income eligibility guidelines for Pell grants. These students often face a barrage of challenges, including finding transportation and childcare."This is designed to offer a continuum of service for students from hearing about the program, to graduation and getting a job," said Gateway Director of Grants Amber Decker.New support services will be offered starting in January at Gateway's urban campus in Covington, and in the Nursing and Allied Health building at the Edgewood campus. Among planned service offerings are academic mentoring, English as a Second Language classes, and child care and transportation services. Dollars also will go into recruiting more students for Allied Health programs, said Dr. Gail Wise, associate provost for nursing and allied health."Low-income students have a lot of other issues to deal with besides academics. This grant will help us support those needs, and academics," Wise said. "Some of them aren't ready (for college) with their reading, writing and math skills and we'll get them help in selected programs."The grant will pay out approximately $1.8 million each year over its lifetime, and the college expects to hire 20 new people, including a project director, to help carry out the support mission. The competitive, federal grant is the single largest one ever awarded to Gateway. "This grant will have a huge impact on our students, the college and the region's healthcare industry," said G. Edward Hughes, Gateway president and CEO. "It will enable us to improve career education opportunities for low-income students, expand Gateway programs and services and provide well-qualified workers in a broader range of occupations to healthcare providers.The grant application was developed by Gateway faculty and staff in cooperation with the Kentucky Workforce Investment Board.Writer: Feoshia HendersonSources: Gateway College communications, Gateway Director of Grants Amber Decker and Dr. Gail Wise Gateway Associate Provost for Nursing and Allied Health Gail Wise You can follow Feoshia on twitter @feoshiawrites

How top employers leverage social media

By Newsroom

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Cincy In The News

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November 9, 2010

Companies across the nation use social media, such as Linkedln, Facebook, and Twitter, to leverage and strengthen the workforce. Bridge Worldwide, a digital and relationship marketing company, promotes exchanging ideas through several avenues such as posting them on the company's internal sites and on the organization's Facebook group. This allows the people to learn about the company and to contribute to an ongoing conversation. Read the full story here.

“Incurable to Incredible” shares tale of young mother

By Newsroom

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Arts + Culture

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November 9, 2010

Tami Boehmer, a Cincinnati author and metastatic breast cancer survivor wrote ''From Incurable to Incredible: Cancer Survivors Who Beat the Odds." This book features stories about cancer survivors, including one about a woman in Indianapolis who found out she had ovarian cancer while pregnant with her son. Boehmer learned through these powerful stores that cancer "was the beginning of a new way of life filled with appreciation, hope, and discovering [her] potential." Read the full story here.

Procter & Gamble enters Nigeria

By Newsroom

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Cincy In The News

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November 9, 2010

Unlike other major companies that flee from African countries, Procter & Gamble plans to stay in Nigeria and build a new plant. They are focused on long-term investment in Nigeria by working in partnership with the Nigerian government. Nigeria will be the business and manufacturing hub for P&G in West Africa and beyond. Read the full story here.

Hofbrauhaus developers still looking for a Milwaukee restaurant site

By Newsroom

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Cincy In The News

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November 9, 2010

Cincinnati Restaurant Group Inc., the operators of Newport's Hofbrauhaus, continue to look for a Milwaukee restaurant site to expand the Hofbrauhaus business. Another brewery restaurant recently opened in Milwaukee, making developers worried about investing money in the new project. Plans have not yet been established, but Cincinnati Restaurant Group is still interested in the Milwaukee location.Read the full story here.

Video A Casino Meets a Neighborhood

By Seven/Seventy Nine

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Architecture + Design

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November 9, 2010

Soapbox and Seven/Seventy-Nine take a closer look at an effort to gather community input to ensure the casino being built at Broadway Commons drives development that reflects positively on the neighborhoods surrounding it.

Local father brings Balance Center to Cincinnati

By Newsroom

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Education + Learning

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November 9, 2010

Greg Marischen knows first-hand how fragile yet resilient the brain can be. More than 20 years ago he suffered a traumatic brain injury during a water skiing accident. After hours in surgery, Marischen could only move one side of his body and doctors told him he'd never walk again.But through months of intensive physical therapy that doctors were sure would never work, he eventually regained the ability to move and today he can walk and play sports with his sons. "I was told I couldn't walk again, and I was only in a wheel chair for six or seven months," said Marischen, a tax attorney. "That was something that really changed my views and I knew one day I wanted to help other people."Now Marischen is getting a chance to help his own son as well as other parents whose children suffer from neurobehavioral disorders including ADD, Dyslexia, Autism and other learning disabilities. He's opening The Brain Balance Achievement Center in Symmes Township to help treat those disorders without using drugs. A grand opening is being planned later in the year. This non-medical approach focuses on nutrition, sensory motor work and cognitive work to reconnect the brain's right and left hemispheres. The therapy known as Hemispheric Integration Therapy, or HIT, has been shown to improve student educational outcomes, according to a study in the International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health.There are dozens of Brain Balance centers across the county. Marischen began to research the center when his son was diagnosed with ADHD. "I was looking for alternatives to drugs for my son, and found Brain Balance. The more I found out about it, the more interested I was," he said.It took him about a year to bring a franchise to Cincinnati, which included training by New-York based program founder Dr. Robert Melillo, an internationally known brain researcher, professor, author and functional neurologist.Marischen is the Center director, but doesn't have a medical background. He has brought on a six-person team of special education teachers, motor skills coaches and a nutritionist. Initially the Center will work with youth ages 3 to 19 years old. Children will undergo a 12-week program, with three sessions a week. The work could later expand to adults, Marischen said.The Brain Balance center is currently offering evaluations and Parent Lectures to answer questions about the center and its techniques. Call (513) 376-3085 or email Greg Marischen at gmarischen@brainbalancecenters.com for more information.Writer: Feoshia HendersonSource: Greg Marischen, Brain Balance of Cincinnati