Last year was a stellar one for economic growth in Northern Kentucky. Some 21 businesses announced new locations or expansions in Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties in 2013, creating 1,181 new jobs according to Northern Kentucky Tri-County Economic Development Corp. (Tri-ED).
Fueling Northern Kentucky’s growth is its central location and transportation access to U.S. markets, availability of a skilled workforce and favorable business climate.
In addition, the creation of the College of Informatics at Northern Kentucky University is having an impact, says Dan Tobergte, Tri-ED president and CEO.
“With the location of Clear Measures and Xcelerated Learning Dynamics in Covington in 2013, Northern Kentucky is building a high-tech, informatics-based corridor,” he says. “We are seeing dividends, with e-commerce logistics companies like Groupon Goods and food manufacturer Newly Weds Foods locating near the airport and many existing advanced manufacturing businesses, like Lyons Magnus and Mubea, expanding.”
NKY Magazine, with the help of Tri-Ed, has compiled the NKY 200 list of the largest employers in the region. The businesses are divided by category, but the rankings represent where each company falls on the total 200. Several companies may have the same ranking because the companies’ have the same number of employees. This database was compiled by NKY Magazine based on information from Tri-County Economic Development Inc., Hoovers.com and the magazine’s own research. Missing data was not publicly available. Questions should be addressed to President and Publisher Eric Harmon at 513-297-6205 or eharmon@bestofnky.com.
IT » NOR-COM Inc.
Keeping a company afloat while growing in a field of rapid change is a daunting task.
Nor-Com Inc. has not only met the demands, but has continued to grow and transform in the digital age.
“You can’t stay complacent in this industry, and we’ve been able to avoid that trap,” says Dan Van Meter, Nor-Com CEO and founder, who took the company from five employees to a team of 50. “It’s all about keeping up with your customer’s needs.”
After an enlistment in the Air Force, where he learned to repair electronics in Vietnam, Van Meter started a television repair store in 1971 and called it Northern Kentucky Communications. He realized he could grow his company if he expanded into the commercial industry and changed the name. After working with local school districts and companies, he changed the name to Nor-Com.
“I was getting a lot of business in Northern Kentucky, but companies across the river didn’t want to spend their money in Kentucky,” says Van Meter. “It all changed after switching to Nor-Com.”
Forty-three years later, Nor-Com has grown into a leading technology integrator with clients like Procter & Gamble, dunnhumby USA and the Cincinnati Reds.
Whether it’s security and surveillance, acoustic technology or digital signage at Great American Ball Park, Nor-Com covers a broad scope of tech needs.
“Our clients and customers are what really drive our business,” says Van Meter, who admits it’s a challenge keeping up with today’s latest gadgets. “Their needs keep us constantly evolving.” -Danny Restivo
Logistics » Groupon Goods
Every day, between 30,000 and 50,000 packages leave Groupon Goods’ new fulfillment center on Aviation Boulevard in Hebron.
The operation, which employed 50 initially but expects to grow to 115 within a year, is the lynchpin of Groupon Goods, the fast-growing online retail business of e-commerce company Groupon.
Launched just two years ago, Groupon Goods supplements the thousands of local discount deals on its website with limited time discounts on an array of merchandise from electronics to bed pillows. When the time runs out, the deal is over.
“We’ve been on a tear ever since we began,” says Groupon’s CEO Eric Lefkofsky at the November opening of the $12 million, 123,000-square-foot distribution center.
Groupon Goods racked up $1.7 billion in sales in the last year, nearly a third of Chicago-based Groupon’s $6 billion in total revenues.
Groupon Goods is similar to larger rival Amazon.com, which also has fulfillment centers in Northern Kentucky. Groupon had relied on third party logistics companies to deliver items ordered by its customers but opted to open its first distribution center in Northern Kentucky to get merchandise into customers’ hands quicker.
Lefkofsky says Northern Kentucky is ideal for that because it is within 600 miles of more than half the U.S. population. In logistics, as in real estate, location is important.
It’s one of Northern Kentucky’s strengths. The Tri-County Economic Development estimates some 117 logistics companies have operations in Boone, Kenton and Campbell counties, employing more than 12,000. -Mike Boyer
Health Care » St. Elizabeth Healthcare
Changes in health care have already begun to create ripple effects throughout the industry and the top employer in the region has taken note.
“There is potential to see negative effects on our employment,” says John Dubis, St. Elizabeth Healthcare CEO. “But obviously, our primary concern is still providing the best care for our patients.”
St. Elizabeth consists of more than 290 doctors and 7,400 associates at more than 70 primary care and specialty office locations. According to a 2012 study by Northern Kentucky University College of Business, the hospital contributed $1.8 billion of total economic impact to the local market. “We know we’re a community asset and we want to grow bigger and stronger,” says Dubis.
With the full extent of health care changes still a mystery, St. Elizabeth continues to plan for its patient needs. In November, the hospital broke ground on a new $30 million heart and vascular institute at its Edgewood campus. The 39,000-square-foot addition will offer the most up-to-date and comprehensive health care services and is projected to open in spring 2015.
“Our goal is to reduce heart-related deaths or heart attacks in the Northern Kentucky region by 25 percent within 10 years of the institute’s opening,” says Dubis. -DR
Law » DBL Law
The Crestview Hills-based firm of DBL Law has what Managing Partner James A. Dressman calls “quiet muscle.”
Although not as large as some bigger firms, he says, “We are community oriented. Our market niche is being able to go head-to-head with lawyers at larger firms and yet be significantly lower cost.”
Dressman Benzinger Lavelle, started in 1955 by Dressman’s father, has 41 attorneys, including 23 partners, with offices in downtown Cincinnati and Louisville.
“In Cincinnati, we’re considered a Kentucky firm, but in Louisville, we’re considered a Cincinnati firm,” Dressman says.
The Louisville office, now up to four attorneys, was added with DBL’s merger last year with that city’s Reed Wicker law firm. Dressman says the two firms have worked together for years and shared similar values. The merger also brought DBL new expertise in white-collar crime.
Over the years, DBL has developed particular expertise in the areas of human resources and health-care law, which has fueled the firm’s growth, Dressman says.
The firm represented two of Northern Kentucky’s largest banks, which merged with Huntington Bank, and it has represented St. Elizabeth Healthcare, now Northern Kentucky’s largest health-care provider, since it consisted of a single hospital in Covington. It also does work for Baptist Health in Louisville, the state’s second largest hospital system. -MB
Law » DBL Law
The Crestview Hills-based firm of DBL Law has what Managing Partner James A. Dressman calls “quiet muscle.”
Although not as large as some bigger firms, he says, “We are community oriented. Our market niche is being able to go head-to-head with lawyers at larger firms and yet be significantly lower cost.”
Dressman Benzinger Lavelle, started in 1955 by Dressman’s father, has 41 attorneys, including 23 partners, with offices in downtown Cincinnati and Louisville.
“In Cincinnati, we’re considered a Kentucky firm, but in Louisville, we’re considered a Cincinnati firm,” Dressman says.
The Louisville office, now up to four attorneys, was added with DBL’s merger last year with that city’s Reed Wicker law firm. Dressman says the two firms have worked together for years and shared similar values. The merger also brought DBL new expertise in white-collar crime.
Over the years, DBL has developed particular expertise in the areas of human resources and health-care law, which has fueled the firm’s growth, Dressman says.
The firm represented two of Northern Kentucky’s largest banks, which merged with Huntington Bank, and it has represented St. Elizabeth Healthcare, now Northern Kentucky’s largest health-care provider, since it consisted of a single hospital in Covington. It also does work for Baptist Health in Louisville, the state’s second largest hospital system. -MB
Aviation » Messier-Bugatti USA
Next to propulsion for lift, one of the most critical aircraft components is brakes for stopping.
Northern Kentucky is home to the U.S. manufacturing arm of the world’s leading supplier of aircraft carbon brakes, Messier-Bugatti.
In fact, Messier-Bugatti, now part of French-based Safran Group, introduced the first aircraft carbon brakes on the Airbus A310 in 1986.
Carbon brakes are lighter weight, more durable and capable of absorbing more heat from stopping than traditional steel brakes.
Since opening in 1999 in Walton, Messier-Bugatti USA has expanded six times to meet the growing demand from next generation aircraft such as the Boeing 737, Boeing 777 and the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
The most recent, a $50 million expansion last year, took employment to about 200.
Patrick Haywood, Messier-Bugatti USA CEO, says Walton was chosen as home for U.S. production because of international access through the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, the availability of skilled workers, favorable energy costs and state and local tax incentives.
The Walton plant produces about 5,000 wheels and 4,000 carbon brakes annually.
Haywood says production is increasing about 15 percent annually. The plant also supplies wheels and carbon brakes for the Air Force KC-135 and C-17 cargo aircraft. -MB