NKY resources abound for entrepreneurs

 

They were ready. Or so they thought. Castellini -- CEO of the Castellini Group of Companies and owner of the Cincinnati Reds -- turned the tables.

 

"They walk in, they're shaking his hand," says Eileen Weisenbach Keller, Director of the Entrepreneurship Institute. "And as I'm leaving I hear him say: So, tell me about yourselves. Why do you think you'll be good entrepreneurs?"

 

"That's what applied education means," she says. "Getting walloped by a tough question from the master right out of the gate."

 

Castellini is Northern Kentucky / Greater Cincinnati's 2013 Master Entrepreneur -- an honor bestowed by students of Northern Kentucky University's Entrepreneurship Institute and vetted by the Institute's advisory board.

 

In selecting a Master Entrepreneur, students acknowledge the grit, resilience, and drive that brings entrepreneurs success in business -- and celebrate the impact of that entrepreneurial spirit in the community. The students then have an invaluable opportunity to learn from one of the region's most influential entrepreneurs -- and mingle with like-minded doers, thinkers, and bootstrappers at a black tie gala for the Master Entrepreneur honoree.

 

A 2011 Gallup Survey indicated that 45 percent of students grades 5 through 12 planned to start their own business. Forty-two percent of those polled said they felt they would invent something that would change the world.

 

But how -- and why -- to do it in Northern Kentucky? Programs at NKY's higher educational institutions, including the nationally-recognized Entrepreneurship Institute and the College of Informatics at NKU, give those dreamers the practical, real-world experience they need to bring business ideas to life. And with resources in abundance and a supportive network of leaders that want to help out, Northern Kentucky could offer the perfect environment for those businesses to grow and thrive. 

 

"We have land. We're hungry. We're not as dominated by some of the major players," Weisenbach Keller says. "Support companies have room to grow in Northern Kentucky."

 

 

Castellini joined his family's small fruit and vegetable business after he finished school, when he was 25 years old. Under his leadership, the company expanded from a mom-and-pop shop (established in 1896) to one of the largest fresh produce distributors in the country and integrated logistics and transportation services into the business. 

 

Only about 15 percent of students who graduate from the Entrepreneurship Institute at NKU will start their own businesses immediately. (That's still slightly higher than the national average of 12.6 percent.) Most will do what Bob Castellini did: they'll find work at a small company or in the family business and begin to gain experience and insight.  

 

"What we give them through Entrepreneurship Institute and the curriculum at NKU is the tools, so that when they time is right they'll be more capable of becoming an entrepreneur," Weisenbach Keller says.

 

So what happens when the stars align for a budding entrepreneur? In Northern Kentucky, you'll have no problem finding the support you need -- as long as you know how to ask for it. 

 

You could apply to the UpTech business super-accelerator, which provides $100,000 in equity investment plus mentorship, office space, legal services, and applied research support. (This program is sponsored through Northern Kentucky University and Northern Kentucky Tri-ED.)

 

Or you could join forces with the Northern Kentucky ezone, the entrepreneurial support division of Northern Kentucky Tri-ED and a member of the statewide Kentucky Innovation Network. Since 2001, ezone has served more than 260 local entrepreneurial projects to the tune of $132 million in investments. Could yours be next? 

 

Ultimately, the most important thing you can do is ask for help, says Weisenbach Keller.

 

"Entrepreneurs are sometimes afraid to ask questions," she says. "They're afraid someone will steal their idea, or they think they need to know it all. But if people are inquisitive enough, there are incredible resources and very, very generous people in Northern Kentucky that will assist them. From UpTech to Tri-ED to the Northern Kentucky Chamber, and in every town, from Covington to Newport to Burlington, there is someone whose mission it is to help entrepreneurs."

 

Just don't forget to give back to the region when you've made your fortune. There's no doubt that Bob Castellini's leadership as primary owner and CEO of the Cincinnati Reds is what he's most known for and the best testament to his commitment and love for his home -- especially with the 2015 All Star Game headed to Great American Ballpark.

 

"The Reds, they want to win, and they want to do great, and they want to go to the playoffs. But Bob says: Even if we break even, if people feel pride and enjoyment and community and strength from the Reds, then we're happy," she says. "The civic responsibility he feels really is spectacular for the Greater Cincinnati region."

 

And what does Castellini think of the students he met at NKU? 

 

"Bob is a hard-driving guy," says Weisenbach Keller. "You don't do what he's done without being that way -- his expectations are very high. But when the students walked out, he said to me: Now, these are some good kids. They made me work hard."