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The city of Mason and Top Gun Sales Performance launched the opening of the new Mason Tech Center on May 22, 2013. From left are Mason Mayor David Nichols and Top Gun owners Becky and Steven Osborne. The Enquirer/Rachel Richardson

Top Gun Sales Performance owner Steven Osborne needed a larger space to grow his global sales training and operational support business.

Mason city officials wanted to woo high-tech jobs to vacant office space in the heart of the city.

The solution: A unique public-private partnership Mason Mayor David Nichols describes as a “win-win-win” for attracting and nurturing high-tech job growth in Mason.

On Wednesday, city and business officials celebrated the culmination of that collaboration with the opening of the Mason Tech Center.

The partnership launched in late 2011 after Osborne scouted for larger office space to accommodate his fast-growing company of 90 employees.

After considering locations in West Chester and Blue Ash, Osborne approached the city about the former CNG Financial building at 5155 Financial Way, off Mason-Montgomery Road.

With 68,000 square feet, the building offered more than double the space needed by Top Gun — but at a considerable extra cost.

And so, an agreement was reached: The City of Mason and the Mason Port Authority each provided $200,000 loans to support Top Gun’s $4-million relocation.

In return, Top Gun will provide discounted second-floor office space for start-up digital information technology and bio-health IT companies.

Not only are the lease rates “ridiculously low,” said Osborne, but they also include a variety of amenities including utilities, security, internet and janitorial services. Rents are set to gradually increase with lease renews, typically every three years, he said.

“Class A office space goes for about $16 a square foot and that doesn’t include a lot of those amenities. Many of the tenants are in here at $8 and $10 a square foot, some of them at 50 percent market rate. That’s how we’re paying the city back,” said Osborne.

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Posted in: Business, News |

Tags: Tags: biohealth, city of mason, david nichols, mason, mason tech center, mayor, start-ups, steven osborne, tech, top gun sales force

Cindi Andrews reports:

Local home prices prices rose last month as sales continued to show strong growth and inventory continued to lag.

Median prices increased 6.6 percent in April in Southwest Ohio vs. April 2012 and 4 percent in Northern Kentucky, according to local Realtors groups.

Southwest Ohio sales saw a 24.1 percent increase in sales from April 2012, with 1,919 closings, according to the Cincinnati Area Board of Realtors. That’s in spite of the fact that the number of homes for sale was down 15.3 percent, with 10,148 listings as of April 30.

In Northern Kentucky, 469 homes sold, a 17.25 percent increase over year-ago numbers, the Northern Kentucky Association of Realtors reported.

Low inventory continues to limit sales in Northern Kentucky, according to the association, with listings down 5.9 percent vs. April 2012 even though 914 homes were listed in April — the most in a single month since March 2011.

Nationwide, April home sales were up 9.7  percent from April 2012, and on a seasonally adjusted basis were up 0.6 percent from March.

Posted in: Business, News |

Tags: Tags: business, cincinnati area board of realtors, home sales, real estate, southwest ohio

Sue Kiesewetter reports:

Thirty-six teams from throughout the nation will gather at the National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting to cook up their special recipe for the Barbecue Bash.

This year’s bash, which will take place Friday and Saturday, serves as the first ever Buckeye State BBQ Championship. It is a qualifying event for the Ohio Triple Crown and Jack Daniels’s World BBQ Championship.

“We’re really excited. This is a huge fundraiser,’’ said Sandy Likes, who is co-chairing the bash with Bill Zerkle. “The guys really get into it with decorating their trailers and booths.”

Hosted by the Rotary Club of West Chester and Liberty, the bash will be held on the front lawn of the museum. Guests are asked to use the VOA Park Dr. entrance off Cox Road, not the Tylersville Road entrance.

Hours are 6 p.m. to midnight Friday, and 11 a.m. to midnight Saturday. Parking and admission is $5 per car load or $2 per person who walks in.

There will also be live music provided by nine groups in the non-profit Cincy Blues Society, museum tours, food from a dozen vendors including barbecue, beer, beverages, and a Kids Zone with activities for children that include inflatable rides, face-painting and a petting zoo open from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturday.

Barbecue teams will be competing in chicken, ribs, pork and brisket categories for cash prizes totaling $7,000.

Performance Schedule

Friday

• 6 p.m.: Blue Sacrifice
• 7:30 p.m.: Brad Hatfield Band
• 9 p.m.: Leroy Ellington Blues Band
• 10:30 p.m.: Chuck Brisbin and the Tuna Project

Saturday

• 4 p.m.: John Redell and Blues in The School Students
• 6 p.m.: Them Bones
• 7:30 p.m.: Ri and the Ramblers
• 9 p.m.: Tempted Souls
• 10:30 p.m.: G Miles and The Hitmen

Local barbecue team competitors

• Qubed, Loveland
• Retired and Rubbin’ It, New Richmond
• Blue Dog BBQ, Mason
• Something Serious BBQ, Cincinnati
• Historic BBQ, Lebanon
• Weq4u, Florence
• Velvet Smoke BBQ, Cincinnati
• Fumo Comedo, Cincinnati

Posted in: Business, Community, Events, News |

Tags: Tags: BBQ Bash, BBQ Bash VOA Museum, VOA Museum, Voice of America Museum, West Chester Rotary Club

Carol Silver Elliott of Deerfield Township will speak this month at the China Aging Industry Summit Forum in Shanghai, China.

Elliott, president and CEO of Cedar Village Retirement Community in Mason, will speak on best practices in the retirement industry and independent living at the May 19 conference, which addresses China’s challenges in caring for its fast-growing senior population.

She will represent LeadingAge, an association of 6,000 U.S. non-profit organizations focused on improving quality of life for aging Americans.

More than 500 people representing 300 organizations in China are expected to attend the conference.

“Each time we have the opportunity to share and to learn from others, our perspectives grow,” said Elliott. “I’m looking forward to some lively dialogue with my colleagues in China about the state-of-the-art in older adult services in the United States.”

Elliott is a board member of the Association of Jewish Aging Services and has previously held senior management positions at Conn.-based Stamford Health System and the Jewish Home of Rochester in New York.

Posted in: Business, News |

Tags: Tags: carol silver elliott, cedar village, china, deerfield township, mason

One of Deerfield Township’s largest vacant industrial facilities has new tenants.

On Friday, EPIC Technologies celebrated the grand opening of its new location at 4240 Irwin Simpson Road in the Governor’s Pointe office park.

Employees of EPIC Technologies celebrated the company’s move to Deerfield Township’s Governor’s Pointe office park on Friday, May 3, 2013. The Enquirer/Rachel Richardson

Company officials say the 74,000 square foot building, formerly occupied by L-3 Nova Engineering, is both larger and more energy-efficient than the business’ previous 56,000 square foot plant in Lebanon.

“The other site was really dragging us and our business down and didn’t show well. This facility is 30 years newer and much more economical,” said John Smith, plant manager.

Filling such a large space won’t be a challenge for the specialty electronics manufacturer, said Smith. The company has 130 employees in Deerfield and hopes to add more positions in the future, he said.

“Our performance has allowed us to move and expand,” said Smith. ” Our customers continue to expand and we have leads on new customers.”

Company officials settled on the Deerfield Township location for its close proximity to “business-friendly” restaurants, hotels and shops, said CEO Bhawnesh Mathur.

“It’s amazing what an eight-mile distance makes. This area is much more vibrant and employees like it better,” he said.

The company’s move comes as an economic boon to Deerfield Township, said Chris Romano, president of Deerfield’s board of trustees.

“When one of the largest buildings in town goes vacant, it makes your heart flutter,” he said. “When somebody finally comes and backfills, it lets you breathe again and know that, at least locally, the economy is starting to churn again.”

EPIC’s ownership includes Chicago-based CIVC Partners. The company, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, has manufacturing plants in Norwalk, Ohio and Juarez, Mexico.

Posted in: Business, News |

Tags: Tags: business, bwawnesh mathur, chris romano, deerfield township, electronics, epic technologies, governor's pointe, grand opening, john w. smith, l-3 cincinnati electronics, ribbon cutting

Dave Anderson, a 2012 Sam Adams Longshot contest winner, at a brunch in Denver, Colo. Friday, Oct. 12, 2012. (Jack Dempsey for Sam Adams)

Talk about a long shot.

Dave Anderson had only brewed one batch of beer in his life. But that didn’t stop the ambitious Mason man from entering — and winning — the Samuel Adams’ annual Longshot American Homebrew contest.

Anderson’s Strawberry Lager brew hit shelves nationwide in late April as part of a special Samuel Adams’ six-pack that includes two other winning brews. What’s more, the bottles’ label features an artist’s rendering of Anderson’s mug.

“I’m still shocked. I can’t believe it,” said Anderson. “I consider myself a rookie. I didn’t expect it to go this far at all.”

Each year the Boston-based brewery selects beers made by two homebrewers and one employee homebrewer. Anderson’s entry beat out more than 300 other submissions in the contest’s employee category.

His beer will be packaged along with two other winning brews, Magnificent Seven, an imperial India pale ale by Zack Adams of Connecticut, and Beerflower Wheat, a brew made with hibiscus by James Schirmer of California.

Anderson says he had no experience brewing beer until he began working at Samuel Adams’ downtown-packaging operations plant five years ago. Although Samuel Adams encourages employees to enter the contest, Anderson is the first person from the 120-employee plant to win, he said.

“My coworkers asked me if I had any left,” he said with a laugh.

Anderson brewed up his first batch two years ago in his home kitchen, a chocolate bock.

“It didn’t come out very chocolatey at all,” he said. “It was a good beer, it just didn’t taste the way I wanted it.”

In his second batch, Anderson used three pounds of strawberries in his five gallon concoction.

Photo provided

The entire process took more than a month during which the carboy (a fermentation container) took up half of the refrigerator. Anderson says wife Sarah wasn’t a big fan of his new hobby — at first.

“She hated it. She wanted to throw it out,” he said with a laugh. “After I started winning different rounds in the competition, she was okay with it.”

Anderson said he was shocked by his second attempt. The light and fresh wheat beer has a strong strawberry aroma, but not too overpowering berry flavor, he said.

A panel of industry judges and Samuel Adams’ founder Jim Koch selected three finalists in each contest division for a final showdown at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver, Colo. last fall, where crowds crowned the craft champion.

Anderson says he and his wife received a “once in a lifetime” trip to Oktoberfest in Germany as his prize.

Entries for this year’s contest are accepted May 10-24 at www.samueladams.com/longshot. Anderson hopes to retain his title with a new brew, a Belgian chocolate quad with bananas.

His advice to aspiring homebrewers? “Try to make whatever you think will taste good and make it. You’ll be surprised,” he said.

You can find the 2013 Samuel Adams LongShot American Homebrew Contest six-pack at local stores, including Party Source in Bellevue.

Posted in: Business, Community, News |

Tags: Tags: beer, dave anderson, great american beer festival, jim koch, longshot american homebrew contest, sam adams, samuel adams, strawberry lager

Steve Bruce / Provided

Steve Bruce has been named chief executive officer of Hyperquake, a downtown-based advertising agency.

Bruce, of Mason, founded Hyperquake’s predecessor, Bruce Design, in 1986 and served as its president and CEO for 18 years.

He oversaw the companies merger with Hyperquake in 2004.  The agency has since become a well-known brand design agency that specializes in narrow branding, reaching a targeted group of consumers, and in helping companies create brands to fit their customer audience.

The company boasts such national clients as GE Healthcare, Welch’s, Warner Brothers Pictures, Food Network, HGTV and Procter & Gamble.

Posted in: Business, News |

Tags: Tags: Advertising, ceo, chief executive officer, cincinnati, hyperquake, mason, steve bruce

The newly-renamed The Beach at Adventure Landing is hoping professional beach volleyball and $5 million in park upgrades will be enough to lure back patrons when the park reopens May 18.

The Mason water park today signed a three-year contract with the National Volleyball League to host its Midwest Championships and Junior Festival.

The agreement marks the first multi-year contract the NVL has signed with a venue.  The Los Angeles-based organization selected The Beach due to its location and amenities, said NVL CEO and founder, Albert “Al-B” Hannemann.

Photo provided

The Ohio Valley Region of USA Volleyball boasts more than 20,00 junior volleyball members, making it the largest region for junior volleyball, he said.

“The Beach has been very accommodating and we’re looking at long-term growth here,” said Hannemann.  “You can’t find a better place than this.  I’m kind of like a kid running around right now because it’s so exciting.”

The tournaments, which take place July 19-21 this year, are expected to bring thousands of nationally-recognized beach volleyball players and fans to the area.

The Beach is renovating five regulation-size sand volleyball courts with combined stadium seating for 2,500, said Ralph Vilardo, Jr., the park’s general manager.

Ticketholders can watch preliminary matches at no charge; there’s an extra $10 fee to watch final matches, he said.  Volleyball-only tickets will also be available for purchase.

The courts will be available for use by patrons at no additional charge on non-game days.  The park will also host league play five nights a week, with an OVR junior elite league playing Monday through Thursday and a recreational co-ed league on Friday nights.

The announcement comes months after new owners of The Beach announced the park will undergo $5 million in upgrades this year — the first in a series of improvements to one of the region’s top tourist attractions.

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Posted in: Arts & Entertainment, Business, News, The Beach Waterpark |

Tags: Tags: contract, mason, national volleyball league, nvl, professional volleyball, sand volleyball, the beach at adventure landing, the beach waterpark, upgrades, volleyball, water park, waterpark

P&G’s Mason Business Center employs about 2,600. The Enquirer/Rachel Richardson

Alexander Coolidge reports:

Procter & Gamble Co. reported a $2.6 billion profit for the quarter ended March 31 – an increase of 6 percent.

Sales rose 2 percent to $20.6 billion during the quarter. Analysts had expected P&G’s overall sales to climb 2.6 percent to $20.7 billion.

P&G said it grew organic sales – excluding impact of foreign exchange or acquisitions and divestitures – by 3 percent, in line with the company’s guidance.

“We delivered another quarter of steady progress,” said chief executive Bob McDonald, in a statement. “Top-line growth was in line with our expectations. Market shares improved broadly. Strong cost savings enabled us to exceed our outlook on the bottom line. We increased our dividend earlier this month, and we are now projecting to repurchase $6 billion in stock, which is at the high end of our estimated range. We expect further top-line improvement in the fourth quarter, driven by innovation and portfolio expansion, enabled by continued productivity improvement.”

The company, which makes Tide detergent and Olay moisturizer, reported a $2.4 billion profit in the same period a year ago. Core earnings per share, excluding one-time items, were 99 cents per share, compared with 96 cents per share forecast by Wall Street analysts.

Posted in: Business, News |

Tags: Tags: bob mcdonald, increase, organic sales, P&G, procter & gamble, profits, sales

Professional volleyball is coming to Mason.

The National Volleyball League is expected to sign a three-year contract with The Beach Waterpark Wednesday to host its Midwest Championships and Junior Festival.

The event, which takes place July 19-21 this year, is expected to bring nationally-recognized beach volleyball players and fans to the area.

The agreement marks the first multi-year contract the organization has signed with a venue, according to NVL  officials.

NVL founder Albert “Al-B” Hanneman founded the Los Angeles-based organization in 2010.  The organization hosts a series of professional, pro-am and open beach volleyball tournaments each year nationwide.

The Beach Waterpark, which has been closed since September 2011, will reopen May 18 with $5 million worth of upgrades.  Adventure Holdings LLC, parent company of Jacksonville Beach, Fla.-based Adventure Landing, purchased the park earlier this year.

Posted in: Arts & Entertainment, Business, News, The Beach Waterpark |

Tags: Tags: contract, junior festival, midwest championships, national volleyball league, nvl, the beach, the beach waterpark