Co-founder and Main Operations Officer at SetSchedule. Resident tech expert.
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Request anybody who has worked in small business very long adequate and they will tell you the worth of networking. It really is crucial for any specific hunting to progress their profession, and it is even much more crucial for entrepreneurs on the lookout to get their companies off the ground.
Prioritize quality above amount.
In today’s electronic age, it is straightforward to merely add people today to the plethora of social networking choices readily available. But how important are these connections? How quite a few of them have you in fact talked to one particular-on-one, even at the time? Would you have faith in your connections to give you audio guidance or feed-back on your company? If they referred a mate to you for a company, would you give the suggestion any body weight?
Some of the strongest connections we have are cast in our formative a long time. I co-established SetSchedule with my pal, Roy Dekel, soon after being aware of him for a decade. A person of the principal factors the company relationship will work is because it is created on trust and mutual regard. He trustworthy me because when he would invite me to appear on board with matters, the reaction was normally “How can I do a little something?” and not “Why should really I do this?”
The moral of the tale, which seems straightforward, is to create relationships with the sorts of people today you want to be linked to, even outdoors of a strictly enterprise context. By getting a particular person of excellent that genuinely enjoys the company of other excellent persons, you are confident to mature relationships that will serve your enterprise, even if that is not the intention at the outset.
Be a “mensch.”
In accordance to Leo Rosten, the author of The Joys of Yiddish, a mensch is “someone to admire and emulate”and it is a thing that I always aspire to be. I definitely feel that by keeping myself to a bigger normal and by remaining superior to other men and women, irrespective of whether they be opportunity investors, employees or company partners, that it attracts high quality persons to me.
An acquaintance of mine moved to Los Angeles. With no query, I offered for him to continue to be with me as he was finding established. One working day he turned to me and requested, “Why are you letting me stay with you?”
So quite a few men and women expend psychological power coming up with techniques to say “no.” As a substitute, opt for to think of causes to say “yes.” Even if a connection starts out with to some degree unclear anticipations, be open to the likelihood of a real, legitimate relationship. I check out to go into interactions with no agenda other than to have pleasurable and make a mate.
Deliver these identical rules to your enterprise.
As business leaders, we speak all the time about the need to constantly coach our staff. Some steps to this are evident, these kinds of as leading by example. But take the time to truly get to know your employees, and not in a superficial “once a thirty day period we have pizza in the breakroom” kind of way. Get to know them. Any individual can “thrust pencils,” but in my experience, when the persons doing work for you truly want to be there, they are far more possible to give every little thing they’ve obtained.
Routinely, I’ll make rounds in the office environment in the night telling staff members to end performing for the evening and go property. A lot of of them have been with us for decades, a miracle in the speedy-paced earth of startups wherever burnout is substantial and retention is reduced. I treatment about whether or not my staff devote time with their family members.
All over again, my actions are not calculated with the purpose of growing productiveness, but that is the consequence of offering on your own as a chief and business individual and doing the right point each time the chance offers alone.
From time to time my workforce has to get the job done very long and hard to complete a task, and I have staff members who do so with out problem. Mainly because they know that I have a vested curiosity in observing them be successful and they have a vested fascination in aiding the firm for the reason that they know that, rather simply just, “I treatment.”
A round-up of openings, closings, and other news about West Hartford businesses.
By Ronni Newton
I’m writing this on Sunday, hoping I’m going to get interrupted by some cute (or scary) costumed kids ringing my bell!
Until I saw my Facebook memory from 2020, I had forgotten that last year on Halloween it had snowed, and also that we stood on our front stoop, wearing masks, dropping candy down a chute we had created every time a trick-or-treater approached. I’m glad things are a bit more back to normal – and very glad there isn’t any snow on the ground!
Thanks to the sports fans in the community who have helped supplement the great coverage that Paul Palmer has been providing of the Conard and Hall teams – which this week includes the Hall vs. Conard swim meet and Hall girls soccer. We’ve also been able to have a story about Conard boys soccer, and the 7-0 Hall football team thanks to contributors. There are a number of Conard vs. Hall contests coming up this week, so look for those stories!
My initial COVID-19 vaccine was a J&J shot, which makes me eligible for a booster – which I got on Friday afternoon. I received the Moderna booster, and was very glad I didn’t get the major side effects that so many people I know got from their initial Moderna shots. My arm is still a bit sore, and I had a headache Saturday morning and some slight achiness, but even if I had felt awful I would think it was a very small price to pay for the extra boost to my immune system.
For more information about vaccination clinics that are being organized by the West Hartford-Bloomfield Health District, and a guideline for who is eligible for boosters, click here.
I did feel well enough to go out for dinner Saturday night, and on a wet and dreary evening Zaytoon’s Bistro on Park Road provided the perfect meal. Ted and I started off with the spicy hummus platter (a favorite that we order every time), and I had the Lamb Mushroom while Ted had the Lamb Tomato Qalayeh. We couldn’t resist the delicious Halawa for dessert – but I forgot to take a photo of that before we started eating it!
Spicy hummus from Zaytoon’s Bistro. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Lamb Tomato Qalayeh from Zaytoon’s Bistro. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Lamb Mushroom from Zaytoon’s Bistro. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
I’m looking ahead to a busy start of the week with Election Day. I put together a complete guide, with information about polling places, last minute absentee ballot voting and Election Day registration, and links to all of the candidate profiles that you can find here. And tune in to WHCi (via cable, YouTube, or Facebook Live on the We-Ha.com page) on Tuesday night when John Lyons and Sandy Holland will be in studio and I will be bringing you up-to-date coverage, along with the team of Rocky Holland and Pat Kazakoff, at party headquarters. We did a tech run last week and are ready to go!
Tech run for Election Day coverage at Ocho Cafe.
We’ve gotten a ton of letters to the editor supporting various candidates (the deadline for submitting them was last Friday), and if you want to easily find them all just click this link.
And speaking of elections, I was very excited to learn earlier this week that We-Ha.com has been named among the “Top 15 Connecticut Politics Blogs and News Websites” by Feedspot. We are in some very esteemed company!
Please continue to support our local businesses, wear your masks indoors if you are not vaccinated – and stay safe and healthy.
If you have information to share about local businesses, please provide details in the comments or email Ronni Newton at [email protected].
Crowe Accounting has moved into the former Burgess office space at 62 Memorial Rd. in Blue Back Square. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
We don’t often hear about large-scale new offices moving into West Hartford, but it’s great news that Crowe, an accounting, consulting, and technology firm, has moved into West Hartford (from Simsbury, where they have been since 2015), taking over the roughly 8,000 square foot space in Blue Back Square at 62 Memorial Rd. (above The Place 2 Be) formerly occupied by Burgess Group. “Crowe Hartford personnel provide a range of services to clients that include property and casualty insurance carriers, captive insurance companies, various healthcare entities, and employee benefit plan clients,” the website states. The company has more than 4,000 employees in offices throughout the world, and West Hartford is their only Connecticut location. While not everyone may be physically back in the office full-time yet, there are 65 employees working out of the West Hartford space, according to West Hartford Economic Development Coordinator Kristen Gorski. “In a nationally slow office market, this is a really good relocation to town,” she said. The company is very forward-thinking, Gorski said, and “will be a great addition to the West Hartford community.” The “Crowe” sign is now in place in that prominent location at the corner of Memorial Road and Raymond Road, replacing the former Burgess sign. Burgess, a medical billing firm, was acquired by Blackstone Group in 2020, according to the Hartford Business Journal.
Children enjoy the soft playground equipment from Waddle & Climb. Courtesy photo
West Hartford resident Devin Shea is “moving full speed ahead” to focus on the business she recently launched. Waddle & Climb provides soft playground equipment for rent, and Shea, a former director of marketing and event and wedding planner, started the company after realizing a need when she was trying to plan a 1st birthday party last year for her daughter amid the COVID-19 pandemic. “We wanted to celebrate with our pod, but didn’t want to go anywhere,” she said. That’s when she started looking into renting equipment. “There was nothing. Everything was catered to bigger kids.” She bought a few items for her own yard and playroom that would be appropriate for kids from the crawling age through 5-year-olds, saw how engaged her daughter was, and that led to the launch of the Waddle & Climb business. “We go to any event – birthday, bridal, corporate events, fairs,” she said, anywhere there is a need for babies, toddlers, and other young children to have a safe place to play. The pandemic has really been really tough for parents of young children to make connections with others, and Shea said she’s very grateful to have found the Moms & More Club of West Hartford. “They have been so welcoming and supporting. Everyone has been truly wonderful,” Shea said. Club member Bobbi Castiglione has graciously offered to host a Moms & More event featuring Waddle & Climb at the business she owns with her husband, Eric, Viking Athletics in West Hartford. Events over the summer have been primarily outdoors, but as the weather is cooling, Shea is gearing up for more indoor events, and also has a new neutral palette package that will soon be available. She said after use she cleans everything “above and beyond” the standards set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Safety is our no. 1 priority,” she said. For more information about Waddle & Climb, visit their website or Facebook page. The photos were so cute that more can be found at the end of the column!
Children enjoy the soft playground equipment from Waddle & Climb. Courtesy photo
West Hartford Center and Blue Back Square businesses are gearing up for their annual “We Care Card” giving event where participants can “SHOP, DINE, STROLL and GIVE.” The We Care Card, now in its fourth year, will be available from Nov. 4-14. Donations start at $50 – all of which benefit Harc, an organization which supports individuals of all ages who have intellectual and related disabilities and their families so that they may enjoy lives of quality, inclusion, and dignity. We Care Card supporters also get up to 20{ac23b82de22bd478cde2a3afa9e55fd5f696f5668b46466ac4c8be2ee1b69550} off at all participating businesses for the entire duration of the event. Ken Cabral, president and CEO of Harc, hopes this is the start of a long partnership. “Harc is honored to be selected as the nonprofit to receive the proceeds from the We Care Card program. We are excited to further our connection with the businesses and shoppers of West Hartford beyond our LaSalle Road social enterprise, SockStarz. With this extended reach, we hope to educate a broader audience on Harc’s mission, and how we support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.” Kimberly Moster of Kimberly Boutique said, “This is a great way for all of us to give back. Everyone feels good about supporting Harc, and then to get 20{ac23b82de22bd478cde2a3afa9e55fd5f696f5668b46466ac4c8be2ee1b69550} off for 10 days in The Center – it’s a win-win!” We Care Cards are available for purchase starting Nov. 4 at SockStarz (18 LaSalle Rd.) and other participating locations – or you can text-to-purchase by texting WeCareCard to 41444. For any further information please contact Kimberly Moster of the West Hartford Center Business Association at 860-523-4894. See the poster below for more details!
Bluemoon Smoke Shop will soon be opening in the former Sprint store at 39 South Main St. The sign is now on the building and the business, based in the Boston area, “is very excited to join the West Hartford community,” West Hartford Economic Development Coordinator Kristen Gorski said.
The sign is now up, and Bluemoon Smoke Shop will soon be opening in the former Sprint store space on South Main Street. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Ivy Rehab, a physical and occupational therapy business, has leased the final remaining vacant space in the Corbin Collection building where Shake Shack is located. They will be opening in the end space (closest to REI), next to Tavern in the Square, which is next to Hot Table – which we reported in this column last week is preparing to open at by the end of this year. Ivy Rehab has six other locations in Connecticut, with the closest in Southington. More information can be found on their website.
0 Degree Thai Ice Cream will be opening at 276 Park Rd. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
The sign is now in place, and 0 Degree Thai Ice Cream has applied for additional permits and continues work on the build-out of the space at 276 Park Rd. No word on an opening date.
AJ Shoham of Jerry’s Artarama helps unveil the Elmwood Business Association’s bear. It was painted by muralist Corey Pane, whose mother (at left) also assisted in the unveiling. West Hartford Center and Blue Back Square. Aug. 31, 2021. Photo credit: Ronni Newton (we-ha.com file photo)
Jessica Rosenworcel (we-ha.com file photo)
Congratulations to West Hartford native and Hall High School graduate Jessica Rosenworcel. In January she was named acting chairwoman of the Federal Communications Commission, and last week she was officially nominated by President Joe Biden to chair the FCC. “Jessica Rosenworcel is a star – supremely expert and experienced, steadfast and committed as an advocate for consumers and competitors,” U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who along with 24 of his Senate colleagues urged the president to nominate her for a full term as chair, said in a statement. “Having worked with her over many years, I know first-hand her energetic dedication to cracking down on robocalls and other abuses, and expanding broadband access. She knows better than anyone else the vital role the Commission plays in protecting consumers and closing the digital divide by connecting Americans to essential services. I am especially proud of her deep Connecticut roots as a native of West Hartford and graduate of Wesleyan University. I look forward to working with soon-to-be Chair Rosenworcel as she continues her bold leadership of the FCC.”
Hartford Baking Company, which has its roots in West Hartford, is getting set to open their new location in the next week or so in Farmington, in the former Truffles space on Route 4 (767 Farmington Ave.). Follow their Facebook page for the announcement of the opening date.
We don’t typically post open jobs, but this one is for a position that will be closely connected to this column! The Town of West Hartford is hiring a part-time economic development specialist to work under the direction of Economic Development Coordinator Kristen Gorski. Details about the job can be found here.
ICYMI, Celebrate! West Hartford will be making a full return in June 2022, and newly-opened PeoplesBank has signed on as presenting sponsor. Click here for the details.
Remember, if you have any business news to share, add it in the comments section below or email Ronni Newton at [email protected].
Children enjoy the soft playground equipment from Waddle & Climb. Courtesy photo
Children enjoy the soft playground equipment from Waddle & Climb. Courtesy photo
Soft playground equipment from Waddle & Climb. Courtesy photo
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MIAMI, Nov. 1, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Raines Intercontinental, a single of the major talent consulting and government look for companies in the Americas, declared right now that fintech field advisor Vrinda Johnson has joined as Running Director dependent in Chicago, Illinois. Johnson, beforehand an Government Director with Russell Reynolds Associates’ financial providers apply, will direct Raines’ FinTech and Company Providers tactics.
“Owning an surroundings with a people 1st frame of mind, a culture of coaching, and a dedication to just about every other’s success that alongside one another drive worth for our purchasers and marketplaces – that is what will get me heading. And which is what I noticed at Raines,” Johnson said. “Raines’ verified lookup processes and outstanding staff, blended with its DEI & Unconscious Bias choices, are game-changers for shoppers. FinTech and Small business Products and services sectors are undergoing more transformation now than at any place in historical past, and I am honored to help customers build the suitable cultures and management teams.”
Johnson has put in more than a 10 years advising C-suite and board leaders and companies in the financial services sector as they make and develop their businesses. Prior to Russell Reynolds, Johnson was a director at PricewaterhouseCoopers, in which she specialised in FinTech, InsurTech, and Consumer Money Solutions and Engineering. She also co-founded and served as Chief Working Officer for social networking application ChekMarc. Johnson earned a Grasp of Small business Administration from the College of Chicago’s Booth University of Enterprise and a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and Accounting from Trinity College.
“Vrinda’s colleagues describe her as one of the most outstanding individuals they’ve ever labored with,” claimed Dan Smith, Main Government Officer of Raines. “She embodies the combination of deep sector skills, influencing abilities, and enjoyable-to-get the job done-with execution type that is a trademark of Raines. There is no a single superior to carry our platform to the fintech, organization solutions, and adjacent sectors.”
About Raines Worldwide:
Raines International is an advisory business fully commited to creating a distinction with executive look for, organizational consulting, and talent management alternatives. Raines is headquartered in Miami with ten workplaces throughout the Americas. Raines specializes in senior-degree management placements across industries and functions.
Media Make contact with
Sydney Kirchner, Raines Worldwide Inc., +1 212-997-1100, ssmith@rainesinternational.com
A excellent group can be a highly effective asset for any company. But great teams are not developed by accident. It normally takes watchful arranging and set programs to transform new employees into productive employees and passionate brand ambassadors. These ideas from users of the online modest enterprise neighborhood can assist you increase an best team for your tiny business.
Improve Functionality with Intra-Workforce Coaching
Coaching is a effective way to make improvements to your overall performance as an entrepreneur. And it can support your workforce become much more successful and effective much too. The good thing is, you could not have to search considerably to come across helpful insights. Rachel Strella explores the possible of intra-group coaching in this Strella Social Media submit.
Learn to Plan Events for Introverted Coworkers
Each staff has their have persona traits. Some could be introverted or shy. So they are unlikely to recognize the exact same pursuits or loud recognition as people who are additional extroverted. In this Aha!NOW, Claire Ward offers ideas for setting up get-togethers for introverted group customers.
Motivate Your Workforce to Enhance Productivity
Most entrepreneurs are determined by a drive to increase their enterprise. But your team doesn’t have the identical stake in your company’s destiny. So you require to keep them enthusiastic if you want to get their best feasible energy. Ivan Widjaya shares 5 means to do so in this Biz Epic post.
Persuade Personalized Mobile Telephone Use
Cell telephones can be impressive business instruments. Everybody on your workforce most likely previously has 1. But some businesses also supply them for company use. New information indicates that applying private telephones for business enterprise may possibly reward organizations and staff associates. Study much more in this GrowMap submit by Deborah Anderson.
Master Spanish on YouTube
Now, numerous offices are bilingual. And you are possible to function with global clientele at some position. So mastering Spanish — even just the fundamentals on YouTube — may well be effective. See illustrations in this GMR Transcription article by Beth Worthy. Then head in excess of to BizSugar to browse commentary from group members.
Enable Your Crew Triumph with a Thorough Education System
All organizations with groups want some sort of personnel schooling. But a established process is even additional significant in franchises with several areas and professionals. Joel Libava provides thoughts on this vital to achievements in this Franchise Direct post.
Maintain a Good Mind-set on Your Crew
Fostering a effective group is not just about teaching and preserving efficiency. A content workforce is more most likely to function hard to assist your business accomplish its ambitions. This Startup Experts Musings publish by Martin Zwilling features guidelines for sustaining a positive staff mind-set.
Build Methods for Welcoming New Group Associates
New workforce members can broaden your capabilities and assist your business enterprise expand. But onboarding also signifies a big time motivation. The good news is, there are different ways to welcome new staff and systemize the approach. Read this InvoiceBerry article by Daniel Wilson for more.
Select a Best Payment Processor
Having to pay your employees reliably and on time is a person of the most significant variables in keeping them content. So you need to have a high-quality payment processor. Lisa Sicard delivers 15 options in this Little Biz Tipster put up. And customers of the BizSugar group shared their ideas right here.
Produce Actionable Typical Functioning Methods
Common operating treatments give your team a specific set of systems for doing numerous jobs. This assists them have an understanding of what is envisioned of them. And it allows your business scale with out your regular involvement. Study how in this MYOB submit by Bryan Christensen.
If you’d like to recommend your preferred tiny enterprise information to be considered for an impending community roundup, make sure you send out your news recommendations to: sbtips@gmail.com.
Kentucky Occupation Middle-Lincoln Trail introduced the employing of Noah Villanueva as the organization answers workforce lead.
In this new purpose, Villanueva will do the job closely with nearby companies to join them with qualified job seekers and supply oversight of business expert services and routines at the center.
“The workforce wants of businesses in the Lincoln Path area are much more crucial than at any time appropriate now,” explained A person End Director Carter Dyson. “We are fortunate and fired up to have Dr. Villanueva in this new job at the Kentucky Vocation Centre-Lincoln Path and look forward to expanding our outreach to companies.”
The group presents a framework and system to combine and streamline enterprise options provided by the heart. This is achieved by bringing organization engagement into the workforce partnership approach and developing and utilizing business enterprise remedies that meet the expectations of the Lincoln Path Workforce Improvement Board.
Villanueva joins the Lincoln Trail Just one Cease Operations group that features Dyson and is led by Andy Hightower and Lori Strumpf. The Lincoln Trail Workforce Progress Board employed Hightower and Strumpf in July to be certain a target on supplying products and services to employers in the Lincoln Trail location.
“Dr. Villanueva will be an asset to financial advancement, helping Lincoln Trail corporations come across the talent they require for good results,” Hightower stated.
The heart delivers a range of expert services to businesses of all dimensions and industries, which include support with recruiting and selecting new employees, on-the-career coaching and do the job-dependent discovering chances.
“I am thrilled to be part of KCC-LT at this pivotal time and will do all that I can to assistance companies and be certain they have the experienced workforce they want to succeed,” Villanueva said. “I also seem ahead to doing work with our partners to meet developing workforce desires as new corporations make investments in the area.”
Villanueva, a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army, joins the heart soon after a lot more than 26 years of working experience in sector and assistance. Most a short while ago, he served as the main of marketing and advertising at Fort Knox wherever he oversaw outreach and activities, recruitment and retention.
Villanueva obtained his Ph.D. in business business and administration with a specialization in human useful resource administration from Capella College. Villanueva also holds a master’s of education from the College of Louisville, a master’s of organization administration with a specialization in details engineering from American Community University, and a master’s in strategic leadership from St. Bonaventure University. He acquired a bachelor of science in biology and was commissioned in the U.S. Army through ROTC at Campbell College.
The University of Kentucky, Coastal Cloud and Commerce Lexington in September announced the creation of a new UK Salesforce Consultancy Incubator Program. Coastal Cloud is a Salesforce multi-cloud expert partner based in Palm Coast, Fla., with offices in Lexington.
(CENTRAL KY. MARKET REVIEW) — From marketing, accounting and IT services to back-office support, Central Kentucky is stocked with business and professional services talent to help meet the needs of the region’s industry leaders.
The region’s business and professional services industry provides services and support for other businesses in various key industries—legal, architectural, engineering, and consulting services—and basic services that support daily activities, such as back-office support operations, accounting, shared services and processing facilities.
Lexington is home to more than 70 headquarters operations, many of which require business services firms to help them operate. A strong professional services sector is crucial to the region’s economy: The business and professional services industry accounts for 13.3{ac23b82de22bd478cde2a3afa9e55fd5f696f5668b46466ac4c8be2ee1b69550} of jobs in the Lexington Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA).
Central Kentucky is an ideal location for business services firms. It has an educated workforce, the infrastructure to support businesses of all sizes, and it is one of the lowest cost-of-business locations in the United States. More than 41{ac23b82de22bd478cde2a3afa9e55fd5f696f5668b46466ac4c8be2ee1b69550} of Lexington residents older than 25 have a bachelor’s degree or higher, making the city the 14th most highly educated city in the country.
Lexington has consistently been ranked as one of the best places to live and work. In 2021, Wallet Hub named it the No. 5 Best Run City in America and No. 15 on its list of Cities Whose Unemployment Rates are Bouncing Back the Most. SmartAsset named it No. 11 on its list of Best Cities for First-Time Homebuyers and No. 10 on its list of Cities with the Best Work-Life Balance.
Business services firms choose Lexington because of its productive workforce and central location, according to Commerce Lexington.
Kentucky Employers’ Mutual Insurance, the largest provider of workers’ compensation insurance in Kentucky, is located in Lexington. KEMI provides coverage to more than 20,000 policyholders in all 120 counties of the state, educates Kentucky businesses about workplace safety and invests in building community partnerships. It also offers free workplace safety resources.
Over the past year, KEMI has seen growth in its education sector, said Ryan Worthen, director of marketing and customer experience. It now insures 84{ac23b82de22bd478cde2a3afa9e55fd5f696f5668b46466ac4c8be2ee1b69550} of public school districts in the state and more than a third of Kentucky colleges and universities.
KEMI has paid over $16 million in policyholder dividends since November 2020.
“We also refunded an additional $16 million to Kentucky schools and are anticipating a return of $20 million to eligible coal operators as a result of KEMI’s proactive management with the Kentucky Coal Workers’ Pneumoconiosis Fund,” Worthen said.
The KEMI team, comprised of about 200 employees in and around Central Kentucky, quickly adapted to the challenges of COVID-19. In March 2020, KEMI employees switched to remote working and collaboration with technology that allowed them to ensure business continuity and service to thousands of agents, policyholders and injured, Worthen said.
Global firm Rubicon working to reinvent recycling
Rubicon’s global headquarters is located in City Center in downtown Lexington.
Rubicon, a software platform that provides smart waste and recycling solutions to businesses and governments worldwide, in 2021 located its global headquarters at Lexington’s City Center. It is a leader in providing cloud-based waste and recycling solutions.
Rubicon was founded in 2008 in Kentucky by Nate Morris and Marc Spiegel. The company’s mission is to end waste and move cities and businesses of all kinds away from the reliance on environmentally destructive landfills. Using technology to drive environmental innovation, the company helps turn businesses into more sustainable enterprises, and neighborhoods into greener and smarter places to live and work.
With more than 4.9 million service locations, Rubicon focuses on developing software solutions that bring new transparency to the waste and recycling industry—encouraging customers to make data-driven decisions that lead to more efficient and effective operations as well as more sustainable outcomes.
Rubicon manages all waste and recycling services through an extensive network of more than 7,000 vendor and hauler partners. Its programs span cardboard, plastic, paper, metal, glass, electronics recycling, construction and demolition, organics recycling (including food waste and composting services), and single-stream recycling. Rubicon’s subject matter experts manage commodity markets, zero-waste programs and other sustainability offerings.
Accounting and business solutions
The Bluegrass region is home to large accounting firms that specialize in offering business solutions that reach beyond traditional tax and assurance services. Two of those are Dean Dorton and MCM CPAs & Advisors.
Dean Dorton is headquartered in Lexington, where it has 151 employees, and offers accounting, tax and business consulting services from its locations in Lexington, Louisville and Raleigh, N.C. The firm helps clients strategize, adapt and change in every stage of business, from startup to growth and proper succession planning.
Dean Dorton, ranked No. 111 on Inside Public Accounting’s 2021 top firms list, offers audit and assurance, accounting and financial outsourcing, tax, business consulting and advisory services, cybersecurity and technology services to companies in all sectors and of all sizes. In July 2021, Dean Dorton acquired data analytics company Breakpoint Technology, a full-service IT consulting firm in Louisville. Data analytics is something all businesses should be utilizing, said Dean Dorton president and CEO David Bundy.
“You hear ‘big data’ but what you’re really looking at is taking your data and making it work for you—being able to make business decisions a lot faster because you can actually see what’s happening in a more real-time manner,” he said.
In addition to being a recognized leader in IT business management and collaboration solutions, Dean Dorton’s team has experience in integrated portal solutions, workflow automation, data and analysis solutions, enterprise budgeting for academic medical centers, custom development solutions and more.
Over the past year, Dean Dorton has seen tremendous growth in its business advisory and consulting services, as well as its accounting and financial outsourcing business, Bundy said.
Technology has made a big impact on the services Dean Dorton offers to its clients, he said.
“Technology makes doing our business easier and allows us to provide services to businesses anytime, anywhere throughout the world. For example, with accounting and financial outsourcing, businesses have access to their financial data 24/7 via mobile phone connection or app,” he said. “Technology has always been an integral piece of providing services to clients.”
Barney Miller’s is a staple in downtown Lexington.
MCM CPAs & Advisors, one of the largest CPA firms in Kentucky, has five offices in Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana. The firm has 27 employees in its Lexington office.
From accounting to business management, MCM has transformed over the years from a CPA firm to a business solutions and advising firm with a full range of services for businesses and organizations large and small. MCM offers expertise in accounting, audit and tax-related services, as well as risk advisory, tax services and technology solutions. Its expanded services include business valuation, litigation support, fraud examination, and business start-up and advisory services. MCM’s brand lines also include MCM Capital Markets Group, MCM HR Solutions and MCM Technology Solutions.
The firm has helped its clients navigate the pandemic.
“With employees going remote and now returning back to the office for at least some of the time, cybersecurity has become a significant challenge as the threats continue to evolve with our changing workplaces,” said Brad Smith, MCM managing partner. “The MCM Technology Solutions team has been working with teams in assessing vulnerabilities and proactively helping mitigate the identified risks.”
MCM was recently ranked by Inside Public Accounting’s Top 100 list as the 72nd largest accounting firm in the United States (based on net revenue), and has been awarded Best Places to Work distinctions in multiple states and cities.
Marketing, IT and other business services
Central Kentucky has a unique mix of software and technology companies, marketing agencies and other solutions providers that serve companies of all specialties and sizes.
In today’s business world, rapidly changing technology—and circumstances—requires IT experts to help companies stay on top of their game.
Central Kentucky’s IT managed service providers include SIS, The AME Group (formerly called Integrity IT), NetGain Technologies, Intelligent IT, SimplifIT, Unified Technologies, Next Century Technologies and TeamLogic IT, among others. MCM and Dean Dorton also offer a full range of cybersecurity services.
Coastal Cloud, an IT service management company headquartered in Florida, operates a regional headquarters in Louisville and has offices in Lexington. The Louisville location houses the company’s first domestic solution center, where almost a quarter of Coastal Cloud’s team is stationed.
Coastal Cloud offers expertise in program management, project execution, business analysis, data modeling, data migration, user training and the skills necessary for a successful migration to next-generation technologies.
In September 2021, Coastal Cloud entered into a partnership with the City of Lexington, University of Kentucky and Commerce Lexington to create a new UK Salesforce Consultancy Incubator Program. Through the partnership, Coastal Cloud will train students, recent college graduates and new or aspiring Salesforce administrators to become effective Salesforce consultants.
Marketing firms help Central Kentucky businesses tell their stories via multiple platforms.
Bringing In The Green is a specialty firm located in Lexington that helps small- to medium-sized businesses generate revenue, offering customizable marketing and sales solutions. Owned by marketing and sales veteran Debbie Green, the company offers media planning and buying, promotional planning, targeted creative messaging strategies, event planning, media sales training and public relations services.
“We provide strategic marketing consulting that drives results. We create customized marketing plans based on client goals,” Green said.
“We help business owners who need marketing direction but are not ready to hire full-time, overloaded marketing and communication directors needing guidance with special projects, and marketing directors who do not have traditional or digital media buying experience.”
Bringing In The Green’s goal is to make marketing easier by making data-driven decisions and utilizing increased sales as the ultimate success benchmark.
Over the past year, Bringing in The Green has added several new clients who no longer have time to coordinate marketing efforts, meet with vendors, and direct website updates and social media strategies.
“They hire my company to reduce stress and make growing their business fun again,” Green said.
On the move
An eco-friendly furniture and junk recycling and removal service for residences and businesses opened in Central Kentucky in September 2021.
Junkluggers is on a mission to make Kentucky a little greener and eliminate 100{ac23b82de22bd478cde2a3afa9e55fd5f696f5668b46466ac4c8be2ee1b69550} of re-usable waste from landfills by the year 2025. Franchise owners Christine and her son, Cooper Van Tatenhove, have always been passionate about the community and environment in the Bluegrass.
Junkluggers hauls away unwanted clothing, furniture, appliances and e-waste. Their expert luggers handle all the heavy lifting and transportation, recycling as many items as possible.
The owners also hope to make a positive impact on local nonprofits, with which they will share some of the gently used items they recover that need a second home.
“It’s all about helping community and working hand-in-hand with our philanthropic partners, taking away items and then giving back to those who need it,” said Chris Van Tatenhove. “This is all while reducing waste by recycling and keeping items out of landfills.”
Technology partners
Barney Miller’s has been a staple in downtown Lexington for nearly 100 years. It started as an auto parts store and transitioned to selling radios and record players. In the 1940s, Barney and second-generation Harry Miller sold the first TV in Kentucky. Over the years, third-generation Barney Miller guided the company away from a purely retail format into an installation company. Barney Miller’s is continually evolving. Today the company designs, installs, programs and services electronic systems for homes and businesses, including home theater, stereo systems, smart homes, networks, security, camera systems, AV furniture and seating, conference rooms, training rooms, huddle spaces and motorized shades.
“Over the past year, we have experienced unprecedented growth in custom electronic system upgrades for existing homes and new construction installations,” said owner Barney Miller, whose grandfather started the business. “Additionally, we’ve installed numerous easy-to-operate conference rooms and huddle spaces for businesses.”
Lexington firm 46 Solutions offers managed IT services, cybersecurity and audio/video integration. It also specializes in home entertainment technology and operates a large showroom—featuring home theater, outdoor audio/visual options, smart home and automation products, and TVs and projectors—in Lexington Green.
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