In the Heart of Cincinnati

Downtown Cincinnati, Incorporated (DCI) was established 20 years ago to aid in the revitalization and restructuring of an ailing downtown district within Cincinnati. At that time, there was a significant decline in Cincinnati’s downtown districts, with vacancy rates on the rise and rent prices on the decline. 

"Now it is alive in a way it hardly dreamed of being 20 years ago," says Charlotte Otto, former DCI board chair and retired Global External Relations Officer for Procter & Gamble.

To learn more about the organization and some of the businesses helping the downtown district thrive, click on the 'play' button top right and begin the slideshow. 

Since its founding 20 years ago, Downtown Cincinnati Incorporated (DCI) has played a leading role in the revitalization of downtown. The work of DCI, along with the endeavors of civic and business partners during the past two decades has created a solid foundation for continued success.

In 1994, downtown leaders recognized the importance of developing a vibrant urban core where workers, visitors, and residents could enjoy a great place to live, work, shop, eat and play. DCI was established as a non-profit organization with a mission to build downtown Cincinnati into a clean, safe and welcoming metropolitan center.

To fund the efforts of DCI, the Downtown Cincinnati Improvement District was developed in 1997. The Improvement District is a designated zone where property owners determine the kind and level of enhanced services they need. These services, provided by DCI, are funded by a special assessment, with support and participation from both the City of Cincinnati and Hamilton County.

In the early years, DCI concentrated its efforts on marketing and retail recruitment. After the events of 2001 including the local civil unrest, DCI’s board and the City’s leadership decided the time was right to reevaluate its mission.

By benchmarking successful cities to determine best practices, DCI shifted its focus to four key areas: safe and clean services; marketing and communications; stakeholder services; and leadership and advocacy. The DCI Ambassador Program, which administers the enhanced clean and safe initiatives, is a team of 30 men and women that work to keep downtown clean, act as partners with the police to enhance safety, and provide a friendly face for visitors to downtown.

Charlotte Otto, DCI board chair from 2002 to 2006, says once the organization made headway on creating a clean and safe downtown, members could get down to business.

"This was the point where DCI focused on what they do best and what is most needed," says Otto. "They were clear on where they needed to add the most value, and everyone was absolutely passionate about making downtown Cincinnati the best place on the planet. Now it is alive in a way it hardly dreamed of being 20 years ago."

DCI works with partners to ensure that downtown is diverse, welcoming, and inclusive. "DCI is working to at- tract a wide array of restaurants and businesses that will allow minorities to feel more welcome, participate in the downtown economy and provide a richer experience for the downtown visitor," says Sean Rugless, president and CEO of the African American Chamber. "They also implement perceptions surveys that reach a broad audience so their programs can meet the needs of everyone."

Through the years, DCI has worked with Cincinnati’s mayors and city managers, along with county, business, and community leaders to work together to make "downtown the best place on the planet" in the 21st century.

For more information, call 513.421.4440 or visit www.downtowncincinnati.com. 

Time Warner Cable Business Class brings impactful changes to local merchants with its new WiFi Hotspot Solution. 

If you build it, they will come. We all know the oft-quoted movie line, but when applied to business, that mantra of investment is often a risky one. Yet that’s exactly what Time Warner Cable Business Class (TWCBC) is doing in Cincinnati. From the boardroom to the classroom, TWCBC is providing Cincinnati with cutting-edge infrastructure, services, customer support and more.

Working with city managers and leaders at Downtown Cincinnati Incorporated (DCI) and within the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber of Commerce, TWCBC is focused on bringing the latest and greatest in fiber optic networks to the business community.

"We understand the business needs of companies in the greater Cincinnati-area, and also realize many businesses don’t have access to the services they need," says Dan Hearl, director of sales at Time Warner Cable Business Class. "We’ve pinpointed these areas and want to focus on bringing fiber optic networks to them. It’s the ‘Field of Dreams’ scenario: We want to figure out how to build a powerful fiber optic network so we can help attract new businesses to Cincinnati."

One such attraction is TWCBC’s innovative WiFi Hotspot Solution, a complimentary WiFi access point installed and managed by the company. The service enables the location to offer free wireless as a simple way for consumers to access the Internet. These business hotspots also become part of the growing CableWiFi network, which offers more than 250,000 hotspots operated by TWC and other Internet service providers nationwide.

In addition, the WiFi access point comes with its own Internet connection to ensure the business’s private Internet traffic is kept secure and completely separate.

"It’s a way for our customers to tap into the need of their customers," says Hearl.

Award-winning customer service and local support teams enhance TWCBC’s business communication tools. "One of the things that sets us apart from other ISPs is that all of our technicians, all of our support, all of our infrastructure and equipment is owned by us," says Hearl. "Our customers receive a 100 percent Time Warner Cable solution."

TWCBC is also tapping into the needs of the community. Inspiring today’s youth, TWC’s Connect a Million Minds campaign has connected more than one million students nationwide with hands-on learning opportunities.

Hearl points out Connect A Million Minds’ focus on STEM: science, technology, engineering and mathematics, which is empowering students throughout the country to excel in these very important areas.

"The program helps students by providing them with fun, after-school learning opportunities," says Hearl. "It’s a great way to help pave the way for future generations."

For more information, call 855.580.8427 or visit business.timewarnercable.com. 

For more than 175 years, the energy company’s presence has lit the way for economic, industrial and residential growth. Today, the organization is a leader in the fight for responsible energy and environmental policy in Cincinnati and beyond. 

The front porch. It’s the entrance to your home; the first visual people see when visiting. There might be flower- pots and a flag or a doormat and a pair of Adirondack chairs. For Cincinnati’s Smale Riverfront Park, dubbed "the front porch of the city" by Duke Energy’s President Jim Henning, there’s the Duke Energy Garden.

"We take a lot of pride in our home and we want to keep enhancing it," says Tim L. Abbott, government and community relations manager at Duke Energy.

Cincinnati, indeed, is Duke Energy’s home. For more than 175 years, the energy company’s presence has lit the way for economic, industrial and residential growth.

Today, the organization is a leader in the fight for responsible energy and environmental policy in Cincinnati and beyond. As a member of Downtown Cincinnati, Inc. since the organization’s inception 20 years ago, Duke Energy has worked to help create a clean, safe and vibrant downtown that’s attractive to the hundreds of thousands of Cincinnatians working in its throes as well as the outlying region.

"It’s really exciting to see the activity in downtown," says Sally Thelen, senior communications consultant. "Ten years ago the area just went to sleep after the work day was over. Now you see people walking their dogs and running at all hours of the day."

As Duke Energy has done since its first gas light illuminated the downtown corner of 4th and Main streets – home of its completely renovated, LEED Silver certified headquarters – the company’s energy-efficient technology and commitment to environmental stability are sup- porting the explosive downtown growth.

"We have modernized our natural gas and electric systems to state-of-the-art equipment," Abbott says.

That new equipment includes technology for low- and zero-emission renewable energy, expanding use of energy efficiency as a ‘fifth fuel,’ providing customers with low carbon options, and emissions control equipment installed on power plants. The company also provides cost-reduction incentives to organizations dedicated to conserving energy.

"These improvements and this dedication means reliability and safety for our customers; two key ingredients for businesses to thrive," Abbott says.

In addition to improving energy efficiency to retain and attract new businesses to the area, Duke Energy is also heavily invested in improving the cityscapes of the surrounding areas.

During the past four years, the Duke Energy Urban Revitalization program has granted more than $1 million in funds dedicated to bettering the area.

"We’ve helped communities including Covington, Price Hill, Walnut Hills and Middletown remove impediments and unsightly areas," Abbott says. "It’s just another way we’re invested in the community and our home."

For more information about Duke Energy, call 800.544.6900 or visit www.duke-energy.com. 

Pure Romance’s Patty Brisben and Chris Cicchinelli have taken their idea from the back of a U-Haul into a global business of $110 million in annual sales. But it’s not all about the money for this mother and son team. ​

Ingrained in Cincinnati’s prolific business community is the understanding that to succeed and prosper, a company must have active, innovative and industrious leadership at its core. This is especially true of the mother and son team of Pure Romance: Chris Cicchinelli, president and CEO; and, Patty Brisben, founder and chairwoman of the board.

Pure Romance was born out of a dream and a necessity. Brisben sought to build a business from her home that would allow her financial security while keeping her number one priority, her four children, at the forefront of her life.

Her mission was to empower women by giving them a safe environment to learn about sexual health, to give them permission to know their bodies, strengthen their romantic relationships and to encourage open communication with their healthcare providers.

It’s these experiences that have made Pure Romance not just a company but a movement that enhances the lives of women everywhere.

Brisben’s dream was becoming reality and her identity was beginning to be synonymous with Pure Romance. As the company continued to grow within the Cincinnati market, Brisben’s vision for Pure Romance also grew. In 2000, Brisben’s oldest son, Chris Cicchinelli, joined his mother and for three years the two grew the business out of the back of a U-Haul.

For Cicchinelli, entering a business of this nature was foreign territory. And though the journey of course had challenges and obstacles, Cicchinelli substantiated himself as a resilient leader who took a local company with $3 million in sales and developed it into an international business with an astounding $110 million in annual sales.

Even through one of the worst economies in decades, how does one lead a company into such a substantial financial growth? Cicchinelli explains, "I did one important thing. God gave us two ears and one mouth and one really crucial thing I did in my career was to listen. For three years my mom and I traveled from city to city and I listened to what she said about women and what they were looking for. I listened to what their needs and wants were and to what they were saying, not only about just our product line but also about how they wanted to support their kids. I remember my mom telling me, ‘Chris, if you just listen and open yourself up, that is the sign of a great leader.’ I have worked to follow that advice ever since." 

The Pure Romance sales force is comprised 100 percent of women, an interesting dynamic that Cicchinelli embraced and has helped to shape him as a leader. "At first I was very intimidated," he says. "I was talking about products I couldn’t reference. The one lesson my mom stressed was that no matter what the business is, you are out there to serve and take care of your clients. It is an unbelievable honor that these women entrust me to help build their business and to help lead them in a good direction. I have had to earn their trust. I have never lost sight of the fact that I am a Consultant’s child. I know how important it is that they get their orders and are paid on time. I know how important it is that we constantly market for them because if my mom did not get her paycheck, I didn’t get my basketball shoes. I understand what these women are going through and it is an honor to help them realize their dreams and be able to accomplish them."

When Cicchinelli describes his leadership style, one word that comes to his mind is intense. "With everything I do, it is intense. Whether that is to grow the company or listen to the employees, my day is jam packed. But I believe it is equally important to be compassionate. I have a lot of compassion toward our staff and the Consultants. As a leader you have to show compassion and have a side of yourself that is vulnerable and open so people can see the real you."

Actively immersed on the ground floor, Cicchinelli spends 200 days a year on the road. "We go out and teach them how to run a business, control their finances, set goals, and to lead and not follow," Cicchinelli says.

"A lot of these women have never done anything like this before. These women are taking care of their inventory, are in charge of their finances and in charge of picking up the phone to set up parties. We are constantly out there to motivate and educate them on how to run a successful business. Once they start building a team or

organization, then we start working with them on building leadership skills. We do this to help women become better business women."

This level of passionate commitment to the company and a drive to bring opportunity and knowledge to more women ignited a determination to expand the business not only just nationally, but around the world.

In 2010 Pure Romance launched in Puerto Rico and in 2011 moved into South Africa and Australia and expand- ed into New Zealand in January 2014. These locations were chosen for several reasons. They were smaller markets and English speaking with a low entry cost.

"South America had a strong middle-class movement that was going on and that helped to make it an ideal location, but ultimately we wanted to make the move because at that time, they were so far behind in sexual health information that we felt it would be an honor to help these women and go out there to get them this information," he says. "It was also a way to help them earn a living. Our expansion strategy is to hit the market at the right time and find women who want this business opportunity. We get calls all of the time from people in different countries such as China and Switzerland wanting to be a part of this business. Over time, we will continue to expand."

The company’s growth is limitless but no matter the extent of its growth, Cicchinelli explains that its heart will remain in the city where both he and the company were born. "I am very happy that Pure Romance is in Cincinnati. The community has embraced our company and Consultants. That is a true sign of growth in our city. It has always been important for me to keep the company in Cincinnati because this is where I was born and raised and I am proud to be a part of the Cincinnati business community."

For more information about Pure Romance, call 866-Romance or visit www.pureromance.com. 

With offices in the downtown business center, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL works with its clients across the country to find solutions for problems and develop strategies for the future. ​

Looking at the Queen City, it’s hard to deny the majestic skyline painted across the horizon. Most of us gape in wonderment at the stories of offices stacked upon one another in each building that plumes into the sky. We don’t typically think of the organizations holding those buildings in place.

Yet, those organizations – especially attorneys like the team at Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL (KMK Law) – are vital to Cincinnati’s strong and tall infrastructure.

The largest first-generation law firm in Greater Cincinnati, KMK celebrates its 60th anniversary of serving the legal and business needs of its clients, some of which have been with the firm since it was founded in 1954.

As a long-time member of Downtown Cincinnati Inc. (DCI), KMK is dedicated to improving the city’s downtown area. The law firm holds a board seat and has worked closely with the improvement organization and its members, representing them and paving the way for many who call downtown home.

"We have been intimately involved in both the creation and implementation of strategy related to the economic development process in the city," says KMK Corporate Partner James J. McGraw, Jr. "We parallel and complement the work of DCI to make downtown more competitive and growth oriented."

Since its inception, DCI has worked to make downtown a hub for activity, both in the residential and business arenas.

"DCI does a great job of promoting awareness and opportunities in downtown," says KMK Real Estate Partner Daniel P. Utt.

Adds McGraw, "That’s why companies are interested in downtown...because DCI is working to keep it clean and safe. Their great work makes us even more excited to be involved in the strategic building and growth of downtown."

"Downtown is the hub of the region; it’s the core, and everything emanates from the core," says KMK Bond and Public Finance Partner Richard D. Spoor.

KMK and its real estate development clients have been integral to much of the area’s growth. From The Banks to OTR, KMK represents many businesses that are thriving in downtown Cincinnati.

"The more businesses that establish themselves here, the better the ripple effect will be within the city and beyond to the entire region," Utt says. "It’s great to be a part of that."

For more information about KMK, call 513.579.6400 or visit www.kmklaw.com. 

Metro has increased services to better connect commuters with communities. 

When you see a bus, what do you think? For the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA), a bus means opportunity and growth. "Whenever there’s conversation about growth in this city," says SORTA Board Chair Jason Dunn, "transportation has to be part of it."

According to Dunn, public transportation in Cincinnati is a vital component to the city’s growth and connectivity.

"There’s growing interest in public transportation because there’s a need, especially from the outlying com- muter population," says Dunn. "That’s why honing in on the economic impact of public transportation is critical."

Serving the city and its many communities has been one of Metro’s main focuses the last few years. The creation of the Glenway Crossing Transit Center and the Uptown Transit District are two such examples. With enhanced shelters at UC Jefferson, Vine and Calhoun, UC’s Medical Center and Clifton Heights, the new Uptown District boasts the newest and most high-tech bus shelters along Metro routes.

Amenities such as real-time information kiosks and safety lighting are just a few of the features that make transportation easier for riders.

New fare options include the stored-value card and soon Metro will offer a day pass. Also soon, new mobile technology will enable riders to look up bus routes and precise arrival times. Metro is also working closely with

TANK to create a seamless public transportation system spanning from Northern Kentucky through the outlying counties surrounding Cincinnati.

"We’re asking ourselves how we can make it easy for people to use transit...to seamlessly connect to jobs, education and all the community has to offer," says Dunn. "It takes funding and any funding we find we’ll contribute it to making service better."

Dunn says he believes the agency is headed in the right direction, especially compared to other transportation organizations around the country.

After all, Metro’s service is an economic generator with nearly nine million rides a year related to employment.

"We’re keeping up with the times and asking the community what they want," says Dunn. "We’re fulfilling those needs head on and will continue to do so."

For riding information, call 513.621.4455; for customer relations, call 513.632.7575; or, visit www.go-metro.com.