By Mark Hansel
NKyTribune managing editor
The Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce 2017 Business Impact Awards Wednesday recognized companies and organizations of all sizes that have made a difference in the region.
(L to R) Doug Bolton of Cushman Wakefield, Andy VonLehman of VonLehman CPA & Advisory Firm, NKY Chamber President Trey Grayson and Kevin Jones of Huntington Bank. VonLehman accepted a NKY Chamber Business Impact Award on behalf of the company (photos by Mark Hansel).
NKY Chamber President Trey Grayson said the event, which took place at the Drees Pavilion at Devou Park in Covington, was started last year to honor some of the outstanding businesses in the region that deserve a little recognition.
“We were looking at some of the programs we’ve done over the years and at our annual dinner, for example, we honor individuals, for the most part,” Grayson said. “We thought there was kind of a hole, especially for businesses that are not necessarily located in Northern Kentucky, but do business here. It’s been fun.”
There were the expected categories for micro (1-10 employees), small (11-50) and large (more than 50) businesses, but there were also a few curveballs, including Cool Place to Work, Bon Apetit and Community Champion.
“Many of our volunteers came together and decided what they wanted to honor, so they put together the categories, solicited nominations and identified some winners,” Grayson said. “We want to tell some stories, and now we get to see things such as why are we inspired by a cool place to work.”
The committee solicited feedback from the community and the list in each category was narrowed to three finalists, with the winners announced Wednesday evening.
The nominees, with the winner in each category in italics, included:
Bolton, Grayson and Jones with Ken Lewis of New Riff Distilling, who accepted the “Cool Place to Work” Business Impact Award
Micro Business:
Bexion Pharmaceuticals
Spotted Yeti Media
Valet Coffee
Small Business:
Jolly Enterprises
Omega Processing Solutions
Perfect Landscaping and Design Inc.
Large Business:
HORAN
LPK (Libby Perzyk Kathman)
Von Lehman CPA and Advisory Firm
Marshall Dosker with Strauss Troy presented Tom DiBello of the Center for Great Neighborhoods with the NKY Chamber Business Impact Vision award. Trey Grayson and Kevin Jones are at right.
Manufacturing and Logistics:
AquiSense Technologies
Darling Ingredients
Tyson Foods Inc.
Bon Apetit:
Bouquet Restaurants
Pompilio’s Restaurant
The Metropolitan Club
Community Champions:
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport
Nexigen
Rudler PSC
Cool Place to Work:
Divisions Maintenance Group
Ethos Laboratories
New Riff Distilling LLC
Vision:
Beacon Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine
NKU Center for Applied Informatics
The Center for Great Neighborhoods
The competition was strong, and as with any awards night, some winners were no surprise (can there really be anything cooler than working in a distillery), but there were a few that might be classified as upsets.
Rudler PSC prevailing in the Community Champions category, demonstrating that there are many Northern Kentucky companies that don’t have the highest profile, but are still great community partners.
The company delivers strategic public accounting, tax compliance and business advisory services to individuals and companies. Rudler shareholder Michael Lenihan said company employees sit on 15 boards, volunteers at 10 to 12 organizations and participate in a similar number of charitable drives each year.
“Those may be, for some people, small numbers, but when you look at it, for a group of 35 people, it’s a lot,” Rudler said. “We’ve kicked off a program called Rudler Lends a Helping Hand. Everyone on staff will be able to pick a group, a charity, an organization that they want to get involved in, go volunteer for the day and we’ll pay you for the day. We’re more about…find what interests you, and get involved.”
Grayson said he was also happy to see Tom DiBello and the Center for Great Neighborhoods get recognition in a category that included three exceptional nominees.
“The Center for Great Neighborhoods is extraordinary,” Grayson said. “They are a national leader in creative placemaking and they are one of the few centers like that in all of America. So, it’s a chance for them to tell their story and get in front of some more people.”
The Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce promotes and supports the development of strong businesses and a vibrant economy in the Northern Kentucky region, through leadership and advocacy. Its goal is to be the premier membership organization driving Northern Kentucky’s pursuit to be a world-class region in which to start, develop and grow thriving businesses.
For more information on the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, click here .
Contact Mark Hansel at mark.hansel@nkytrib.com
