American Sign Museum hopes to move into renovated Camp Washington building by 2012

TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT.  TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT.  TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT.  TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT.  TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT.  TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT.  TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT.  TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT. TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT.  TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT.  TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT.  TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT.  TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT.  TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT.  TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT.  TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT. TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT.  TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT.  TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT.  TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT.  TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT.  TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT.  TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT.  TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT. TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT.  TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT.  TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT.  TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT.  TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT.  TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT.  TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT.  TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT. TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT.  TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT.  TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT.  TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT.  TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT.  TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT.  TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT.  TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT. Writer: Randy A. Simes Photography by Scott Beseler Stay connected by following Randy on Twitter @UrbanCincy

PB&J promotes the good life in Cincinnati

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

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”

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

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

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

Northern Kentucky University constructing buildings with smart technologies

NKU is practicing what it preaches in classroom by constructing buildings with intelligent building systems that generate and collect information on the structure's electrical, mechanical, security, and other systems. The smart technologies were most recently incorporated into the design of the new $55 million College of Informatics building that was also designed to grown with future advances in technology.  The technologies will help improve energy efficiency in the building that is expected to qualify for LEED Silver certification. Read full article here.

Cincinnati ranks among top 10 cities for corporate real estate projects

Cincinnati has ranked among America's top 10 cities for the second year in a row for corporate real estate projects.  Cincinnati ranked fourth in the nation in 2008, and sixth in the nation in 2009 according to Site Selection Magazine. In 2009, the Cincinnati metropolitan area recorded 89 corporate real estate projects which was the sixth best for metropolitan areas over 1 million people.  Meanwhile Dayton took home the top spot for the second year in a row for metropolitan areas between 200,000 to 1 million peoplewith 46 total projects. Read full article here.

Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport touted for its free Wi-Fi network

The Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport was one of the first airports nationally to offer Wi-Fi and is one of the few to this day that offers it as a free service thanks to a local young professional movement called Project Lily Pad. While many airports have yet to catch up to Cincinnati's international airport in terms of Wi-Fi service, Project Lily Pad continues to push forward by establishing free Wi-Fi networks all over the city in public places where visitors and residents alike might be interested in hopping on a network. Read full article here.

An impressed Bud Selig believes Cincinnati deserves an upcoming All-Star Game

Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig said that he was impressed with Cincinnati when he visited during last year's inaugural Civil Rights Game, and that Cincinnati deserves an upcoming All-Star Game. The 150th anniversary of professional baseball will take place in 2019 and would seem to make Cincinnati a perfect fit for the game since it was the nation's first professional baseball team.  Local leaders also look forward to a future event that will be able to showcase a completed Central Riverfront Park, The Banks development, and the city's proposed modern streetcar system that will service Great American Ball Park and the potential All-Star Game festivities. Read full article here.

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