Dan Tobergte
President/CEO
Northern Kentucky Tri-ED
www.NorthernKentuckyUSA.com
www.facebook.com/NorthernKentuckyUSA
www.twitter.com/NKYTriED
"Vision 2015 provides the focal point for positive change for our region. While not pretty, the Regional Indicators Report that Vision 2015 and Agenda 360 compiled was necessary to establish our place among our competitors and to spur us on to get better. Northern Kentucky Tri-ED relishes the opportunity to carry out the goals and objectives of the Economic Competitiveness facet of Vision 2015."
Dr. James C. Votruba
President
Northern Kentucky University
www.nku.edu
www.facebook.com/nku.edu
www.youtube.com/nku
www.twitter.com/nku_News
"Leadership matters. It matters in business, it matters in education and it certainly matters in the future of a community. Having the Vision 2015 CEO roundtable is critical to setting the right direction for not just Northern Kentucky but the entire region."
Amy L. Neal
Manager
Success by 6 Northern Kentucky
United Way of Greater Cincinnati
www.uwgc.org
www.sb6uwgc.org
"There is real power in collective voices and shared resources. And there is real accountability and change and learning that comes from measuring progress and reporting results. Vision 2015 provides the framework and backing to help make Northern Kentucky the best place to work, live, play and stay. United Way of Greater Cincinnati Success By 6 is proud to be leading our region's early childhood efforts toward the Bold Goal of 85% prepared for kindergarten by 2020."
Natalie Gardner
Recreation Director
City of Covington
www.covingtonky.gov
"In my role, Vision 2015 has symbolized empowerment. In the implementation of the Licking River Greenway Master Plan, they have served as a catalyst to build partnerships, a vehicle to find funds and a support for the ground work. Covington has been motivated to see progress on this regional effort and our successes would not have been possible without their involvement."
Bennie Doggett
President
Covington’s Eastside Neighborhood Association
www.oasis-inc.org
"The Eastside Neighborhood Association has partnered with Vision 2015 since its inception to collaborate on our shared goals. Vision 2015 has been a valuable partner and resource of information. We are excited to endorse the Licking River Greenway and Trails that will allow residents and visitors to enjoy the beauty of our community.”
Brewster Rhoads
Executive Director
Green Umbrella
www.greenumbrella.org
"There is no question Vision 2015’s involvement was critical in jumpstarting Green Umbrella to becoming the regional sustainability network, especially in their role connecting the group with key Northern Kentucky leadership, in this effort to make our region one of the most green and sustainable metro areas in the U.S. by 2020."
Daniel A. Molina
Global Enterprise Architect
Accenture
www.accenture.com
"The ‘Story Project’ was a critical effort that sought to uncover our distinctive regional qualities. By capturing and communicating the “DNA” of our region, we can better inform public policy-making and target investments that support our greatest assets and capabilities. At the same time, the themes from the ‘Story Project’ arm the citizens of our region to better understand and articulate those qualities that make Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky distinctive to friends, family and visitors.”
Lawrence W. James
Sr. Director
Community Relations & Local Programs
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
www.cincinnatichildrens.org
"Vision 2015 was instrumental in bringing the right players to the table to launch an exciting new initiative that can help us change the outcome on childhood obesity. Together we are building a healthier community for today and tomorrow!"
Mary Stagaman
Executive Director
Agenda 360
www.agenda360.org
"Agenda 360's partnership with Vision 2015 continues to develop and will yield greater impact for our region as a whole over time. In order to compete successfully for talent and jobs, we must work cooperatively, overcoming boundaries set by city or state lines, rivers or hills. One great example of how we are pulling together across the region is our investment in the development of Green Umbrella, a new alliance of more than 150 organizations working together to achieve significant shared outcomes around our environment. Without the support of Vision 2015 and Agenda 360, this emerging alliance would not have come so far, so fast."
Martha C.
Johnson
Volunteer
Northern Kentucky Forum
www.nkyforum.org
"I've been asked why I volunteer my time to such organizations as the Northern Kentucky Forum, Vision 2015 and Gateway Community and Technical College. It is simple. Jim and I want our grandsons to grow up in a community where people are thoughtful, engaged and open to new ideas. Fostering this kind of community spirit means people must have access to life-long learning opportunities. I'm just trying to do my small part to support education and all the benefits that flow from that - like economic development, jobs, a higher standard of living, and of course, an enlightened citizenry."
Alan Vicory
Chairman
Confluence
Water Technology Innovation Cluster
www.watercluster.org
"Confluence, Water Technology Innovation Cluster, was established in early 2011 as an organization that synergizes the water technology development assets of the Northern KY, Cincinnati, Dayton and Southeast IN Region to meet global technology imperatives while creating economic growth, locally. Vision 2015 has provided instrumentally important support and leadership in Confluence’s formation and rapid growth. Vision 2015 is truly a “vision” organization which grasps the possibilities that can be achieved through Confluence’s precedent setting partnership of Dayton, Cincinnati, SE Indiana and Northern KY to tap the trillion dollar global water technologies marketplace."
Antoinette
Graham
Intern
Vision 2015
www.informatics.nku.edu
"As a Northern Kentucky University student my internship with Vision 2015 is an opportunity for practical application of the skills learned in class. Vision 2015 and partners’ efforts to strengthen the area’s economic competitiveness create a win-win situation for students and businesses. Internships and employment after graduation provides talent to businesses and students and graduates avenues to enhance their skills and realize their dreams."
Greg Landsman
Executive Director
The Strive Partnership
www.strivetogether.org
"For years now, Vision 2015 has been successfully bringing people together to drive meaningful change in Northern Kentucky around the priorities that matter most, particularly education and economic development. They are the standard bearers for what we hope to achieve in Northern Kentucky, and they have an incredibly talented staff – with an enormous web of partners – all working together to get big things done on behalf of the region. This year we’ve worked with Vision on two major initiatives: organizing a multi-year, early grade-level reading campaign to improve 3rd grade reading rates throughout the region and a skills gap and jobs study to better inform how we and our partners are preparing students and adults for careers in fields that are growing and pay a good, meaningful wage. We’ve had a wonderful partner in Vision 2015, and I couldn’t imagine our work being successful without them."
Polly Lusk Page
Executive Director
Northern KY Education Council
www.nkyec.org
"Vision 2015 is a symbol of our region’s long standing commitment to excellence in education. As a result of their commitment and investment, key stakeholders have played a pivotal role in supporting and transforming the Northern Kentucky Education Council into the backbone organization and catalyst for the region’s educational goals. Vision 2015 has been a partner in Ready by 21, a national initiative that helps communities improve the odds that all children, youth and young adults will be ready for college, work and life. By partnering and leveraging our resources for excellence in education we gain a competitive advantage and boost both the economy and quality of life in Northern Kentucky."
Jeanne Schroer
Executive Director
The Catalytic Fund
www.thecatalyticfund.org
www.facebook.com/thecatalyticfund
"Vision 2015 is actually the “parent” of The Catalytic Fund. The organization was formed by Vision 2015 to implement its Urban Renaissance initiative, one of the Vision 2015’s “Power of Six” focus areas critical to regional economic competitiveness. The excellent Vision 2015 staff has provided amazing support to the Catalytic Fund in many ways but most notably in creating a sophisticated “Urban Scorecard” which will allow us to measure and quantify the impact of its investments. It would not have been possible to put together the $10,000,000 investment Fund without the physical, financial, and moral support of the Vision 2015 Staff and Board through the long process of securing these commitments."
Karen Collins
Volunteer
One to One
www.nkyec.org/one-to-one-reading
"One to One: Practicing Reading with Students pairs community volunteers with elementary students to improve reading proficiency. Since its inception, 1500 students have benefited from the program, with 33 participating schools. Vision 2015 has provided financial support for One to One and they continuously advocate for increased community involvement. As we continue to expand One to One and positively impact academic achievement in our region, we value our partnership with Vision 2015 and their recognition of the importance of reading proficiency in achieving community goals."
Adam Caswell
President
Campbell County
Economic Progress Authority
www.campbellcountyky.org
"Northern Kentucky is a region overflowing with talent and the ability to be a hub of innovation in the 21st century, thanks to the creation of Griffin Hall, the near $60 million home of NKU’s College of Informatics. It has been an honor to partner with Vision 2015 to create UpTech, a business accelerator focused on investing in and growing early-stage Informatics companies. Through this nationally renowned program, collaboratively we are building the backbone for our future economy and ensuring our greatest export is not our best talent and brightest ideas."
Lisa S. Cooper
Executive Director
Northern Kentucky Area Development District
www.nkadd.org
"Vision 2015 is a great asset to Northern Kentucky. As a member of the Economic Competitiveness Working Group, I find great value in their efforts to bring community leaders together to discuss, debate and develop opportunities for regional growth and development. Vision 2015 serves as a catalyst for ongoing reflection and analysis of important issues facing our region."
Mary Kay
Connolly
Director
Children, Inc.’s Mayerson Service Learning Initiative
www.servicelearningnky.org
"More than eight years ago Vision 2015 imagined a community in which all its citizens, indeed every adult and every child, were invited to participate in the region’s dream. That commitment to believing in the creativity and innovation of youth has lead to a program in which over 22,000 students yearly use service learning to develop their leadership skills, apply their school subjects to address real world issues, and recognize their own generation’s vast potential to give. Many organizations focus upon the adults in the community to lead the charge and transform a community’s future. Vision 2015 has collaborated with schools throughout this region and Children, Inc.’s Mayerson Service Learning Initiative to realize a community where every child can be great, because they have something to give."
Janet Harrah
Senior Director
Center for Economic Analysis and Development
Northern Kentucky University
www.NKYbytheNumbers.nku.edu
"The Center for Economic Analysis and Development works in partnership with Vision 2015 to provide a comprehensive statistical picture of Northern Kentucky. These data support data driven decision making on a variety of topics including those related to Vision 2015’s focus areas such as creating a competitive environment for economic growth and development. By partnering with Vision 2015, CEAD ensures that its work on building and maintaining the statistical infrastructure for Northern Kentucky meets the needs of business, government and other community leaders."
Wonda Winkler
Vice President
Brighton Center, Inc.
www.brightoncenter.com
www.facebook.com/brightoncenter
"Vision 2015 is a driving force to ensure that Northern Kentucky is capable of competing in a global economy and that all our residents benefit from the prosperity this creates. None of us can accomplish this alone, so Vision 2015 has played the role of a key convener of partners such as Brighton Center to align resources and efforts in strategic ways to advance the community’s vision. This supports our work to strengthen the vitality of our community and engage families as they work to achieve their hopes and dreams. Vision 2015 understands that for Northern Kentucky to be strong, so must our region – so great effort is given to align with regional initiatives such as Agenda 360, United Way’s Bold Goals, and community based agencies serving as Financial Opportunity Centers."