Goering Center opens voting for ‘Rising Leader’

Nine up-and-coming leaders from the Cincinnati region are in the running for the Larry Grypp Rising Leader Award, to be given by the University of Cincinnati Goering Center this fall. All of the semi-finalists are employees of Goering Center Core Member companies — each of whom are in line to assume ownership or leadership at their respective companies — and are recognized for advancing one of the Goering Center’s 10 Best Practices of Family and Private Business.

Help honor the region’s future generation of leaders by casting your vote online. Voting is open through August 15.

The Larry Grypp Rising Leader Award, named after the previous president of the Goering Center, will be announced at the annual Family & Private Business Awards celebration on Tuesday, Sept. 10, at Jack Casino in Downtown Cincinnati. Here are the semi-finalists for the 2019 Rising Leader Award:

• Eric Arling, Director of Operations, Integrity Express Logistics, best practice: dynamic business strategy. "Eric is passionate about envisioning the future and uses every day functionality and opportunity to create and develop strategic plans to move the business model forward in an appropriate, but growth assertive manner," says Matthew Ventura, founding partner of Integrity Express Logistics. Arling also works to enhance the risk management strategy and helps develop all levels of leadership at IEL.
•  Paul Carrier, Operations Manager, KC Robotics, best practice: dynamic business strategy. “Paul worked tirelessly to create a business strategy that would improve three major business areas: company culture, customer satisfaction and increased sales," says KC Robotics CFO Connie Carrier. Paul Carrier has also helped to improve recruiting, performance reviews, employee development and communication at the company.
• Rachel Fyffe, Customer Experience Manager, CME Services, best practice: giving back. “Rachel is our culture champion. She is the one who recognizes the opportunities to demonstrate how much we really do care – through recognition activities for our employees and cards for special family occasions, among other things," says Nicole Menkhaus, COO at CME Services. The company started giving back ten percent of any project done for a religious or non-profit organization to that organization.
• Lori Hallmark, Partner, Private Company Services Audit Strategy Driver Leader, PwC, best practice: dynamic business strategy. With Hallmark's outstanding leadership, “the firm was able to customize the audit methodology applicable to privately-held and family owned businesses,” says PwC Partner, Joe Walker.
• Krista Mahon, President, Riverside Electric, best practice: business charter. Mahon collaborated with key staff and the rest of the Riverside team to create a set of new core values for the company. "Krista spearheaded the effort to define and adopt a set of core values for Riverside Electric that encompass the culture and desired behaviors of the company," said Brent Carter, executive coach with Leadership Excelleration. 
  
• Rachel Mason-Mendelsohn, Managing Partner and Secretary-Treasurer, Mason, Schilling and Mason Co., LPA, best practice: business strategy. Mason-Mendelsohn has served as the managing partner for the law firm for more than six years, and is being honored for her work on the company’s business strategy. “She handles a significant client case load and services the needs of the law firm creditor-client base, which has grown by over 30 percent during her tenure,” said Jonathan Mason, MSM’s senior counsel.
  
• Janice Scheid, Controller, Melink Corporation, best practice: business growth. Scheid's efforts as controller enabled CEO Steve Melink to sell the company to the employees through an ESOP. "Improved output from our administrative and finance team through individual performance and improved processes have enabled the business to grow by double-digits in 2017 and 2018, we project," says Melink President Craig Davis.
• Heather Vanzant, Design Manager, Office Furniture Source, best practice: giving back. “Heather has combined her giving nature with her innate leadership skills to push forward a meaningful community involvement for all team members at Office Furniture Source,” says Peter Ellington, president of OFS. Vanzant's leadership has allowed the company to get involved with several outreach opportunities, which has allowed team members to identify and contribute to causes that are meaningful to them.
• Tim Williams, Regional Sales Consultant for Batesville Products, Inc., best practice: business growth. Williams is being recognized for his work on the company's business strategy. "Tim has excelled in the business development arena since taking on this role, consistently growing revenues year over year while at the same time providing the company detailed analytical forecasts greatly assisting our operational planning and logistics efforts," says Rock Robinson, VP of sales at Batesville.
  

Cast your vote for a Rising Leader today!