Thoroughbred Companies Win, Place, Show in Northern Kentucky

Sometimes the corn top's ripe and the meadow's in bloom. The birds make music all day. And sometimes – by and by – hard times come a knockin' at the door. Like in 2008-09 when the U.S. economy imploded. It was tough for businesses to survive, and rare for them to grow. But some beat the odds. And some of them did so in Northern Kentucky.

During a special luncheon at the METS Center for Corporate Learning recently, the Northern Kentucky Tri-County Economic Development Corp. (Tri-ED) recognized nine businesses which announced new, start-up or expanded operations here in 2009. The recipients of the Northern Kentucky Thoroughbreds award were:

• ACS, a Xerox company, opened its 36,000-square-foot electronic document sorting and consolidation facility in Boone County in 2009. Through ACS, Xerox offers extensive business process outsourcing and information technology outsourcing services, including data processing, HR benefits management, finance support, and customer relationship management services for commercial and government organizations worldwide.

• Andrews Electronics, a division of MTI-Andrews headquartered in Hillsboro, Oregon, established its consumer electronics parts and accessories processing center in 73,500 square feet at a facility in Hebron. This Northern Kentucky operation enables the electronics parts distribution/reverse logistics company to economically ship products to any location in the country in two days or less.

• ASTAR Air Cargo provides services for customers such as DHL Express, the U.S. military and the U.S Postal Service and participates in the U.S. Civil Reserve Air Fleet program. The operational headquarters, including flight dispatch, engineering, employee relations and operations management, is in Florence. Pilots and mechanics are based at the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport operations hub, and flight training is conducted in Hebron.

• Convergys Corporation provides companies with solutions that drive more value from relationships with their customers and employees. The Cincinnati-based company has approximately 70,000 employees in 82 customer contact centers and other facilities in the United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. In 2009, Convergys added 200 jobs to its location in Erlanger.

• DEFENDER Direct is an Indianapolis-based authorized dealer for ADT Security Services and Dish Network. It has been recognized as the #1 ADT dealer in the country and ranks among Dish Network's top five dealers in the country. Last year it opened a 14,000-square-foot call center in Newport. The company plans to employ 100 people as part of this operation.

• DHL is known for its international express, air and ocean freight, road and rail transportation, contract logistics and international mail services. A 2009 reconfiguration included setting up an enhanced, fully automated international hub at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport in Boone County, Kentucky. That hub has a Quality Control Center to monitor world events and spot situations that might delay shipments.

• Emerson Industrial Automation's Power Transmission Solutions business is located at the Northern Kentucky Industrial Park in Kenton County. Its global product brands supply a variety of power transmission components for multiple industries. System Plast, its most recent acquisition, provides state of the art design, materials and construction of conveying chains, components and modular plastic belts for food and beverage production.

• PHD Diagnostics in Covington provides genetic information to assist doctors in making personalized care decisions for patients. Last year the company introduced a genetic profile that provides smokers and ex-smokers their personal risk score of developing lung cancer. Molecular genetic tests for clotting disorders, Coumadin dosing and cancer drug toxicity are also offered by PHD.

• Steinert US, which specializes in separation equipment for the North American scrap metal market, moved its North American headquarters, including its entire parts warehouse and administrative activities, to Northern Kentucky from Clearwater, Florida in November 2009. It occupies 7,500 square feet of space at 1830 Airport Exchange Blvd, in Boone County.

Northern Kentucky University's Center for Economic Analysis and Development, led by Janet Harrah, determined that new and expanding businesses like these in Northern Kentucky were projected to invest more than $63.9 million in land, buildings and equipment in 2009. Tri-ED reports the nine Thoroughbred recipients accounted for 2,760 new jobs within the Cincinnati Metropolitan Statistical Area.

"Given the nationwide economic downturn, we are especially grateful to the companies who have placed confidence and substantial investment in Northern Kentucky in 2009. We will continue to work aggressively to maintain a successful business environment for these Thoroughbred companies and the local business community," said Boone County Judge-Executive Gary Moore, Tri-ED chairman.

Keynote speaker William T. Robinson III praised these "progressive" and "successful" firms, saying they "set the standard for Northern Kentucky."

And on behalf of Tri-ED and the region, "Thank you for being in and coming to our community" Robinson, Tri-ED Secretary-Treasurer, said.

Rick Mills, senior vice president for healthcare, finance and insurance solutions at ACS, said his company tallied up several reasons for being here. "One of the key components is that ACS has experienced great success in Kentucky with the great work ethic and available workforce. The location that we chose is close to our current client and to the airport, which allows for easy access for prospective clients to fly in and visit. The third item being the availability and affordability of facilities in the area," Mills said.

He also praised Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties' dedication to cooperation for regional economic development. "…It is refreshing to see the three counties working together to bring business into the area…."

Jason Looman, president of Steinert US, also specified Northern Kentucky's strategic location and airport as reasons for locating here.

"We felt staying in Florida would not be central to our customers throughout North America for the new markets we have entered: municipal waste recycling and mining and minerals. …We want to expand our operations and client base in North America," Looman said. "When looking for a new headquarters, Northern Kentucky was very centrally located."

"We looked at several criteria, though, for a new location: taxes for the business, taxes for employees, available employee base, commercial real estate costs; central location to our new and existing customer base. When looking at this criteria and weighting the availability to our customers, Northern Kentucky came out ahead of the other cities we considered. Only Chicago was a close second."

Looman is convinced the selection was right. His advice to a company considering this area: "You get all the benefits of a major metropolitan area without all the hassles. Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati do not have traffic and higher costs like a Chicago or New York. However, you have all the same services. Because some major companies are headquartered in the area, and some great universities, you have a very diversified and well-educated workforce available to you."