April Message from EACC Board President

Over the past year, the President’s Message has served as a forum to discuss Greater Cincinnati’s ability to remain competitive in relation to larger metropolitan areas, as well as to its peers. We have focused on the need for improving education in our workforce, diversifying investment to enhance global presence and improving quality of life to retain recent graduates and young professionals. Our community possesses copious resources, but has not had the opportunity to employ them in a unified manner. Some of the key reasons that make this area unique and viable also present challenges for growth.

Cincinnati faces a geographic challenge in satisfying the needs of multiple counties across three states. This structure can make it extremely difficult to develop and implement initiatives for economic growth. In addition, with many stakeholders from local agencies, foundations and non-profits, inconclusive decision making can often be an outcome.

The key to overcoming these difficulties is to rely upon those who unselfishly advocate for the benefit of the community. The EACC’s flexibility enables one-on-one support that is customized for each specific member, while also focusing more broadly. For example, the EACC spends months planning seminars or events such as the upcoming Skilled Labor Workforce Conference on May 16, 2012, both of which resonate with numerous area groups. And there are a number of other organizations that share this motivation for local unity. Partners for a Competitive Workforce is one such organization. This collaborative group attempts to meet employers’ demands for workforce skills and development. Janice Urbanik, Industry Partnership Director, has taken an active role in the EACC and will be presenting at the annual conference about Skilled Labor Workforce. Not only does she understand the challenges of collaboration, but also the power that stems from unity.

While similar issues exist outside of our community, this disconnect cannot be rectified by one person or group. We must enable our community to operate as a united front to allow individuals to strive for success. With our diverse resources and strong regional groups – like Partners for a Competitive Workforce – we will easily progress towards integration.

We hope you will join us. We encourage any interested members to contact Anne Cappel directly about using the EACC’s resources in this area.

Welcome to new members: Meridian Bioscience, Inc., Aon Risk Services Northeast, Inc., U.S. Bank, TKM United States, Inc. and Ventilix USA, Inc.

Sincerely,

John Baines

EACC Board President