"Information is the oil of the 21st century, and analytics is the combustion engine." — Peter Sondergaard
Today’s issue:
November 10, 2020
A CHAT WITH INNOVATORS 
Using data to improve employee performance and engagement 
Chris Powell, CEO; Jason Ruebel, COO
Talmetrix is a Cincy-based employee research feedback and insights company. Cincinnati Future had the opportunity to speak to its CEO, Chris Powell, and its COO, Jason Ruebel, about the company.
What does Talmetrix do?
Chris: We help companies capture, aggregate, and transform employee and organizational data into insights and intelligence. This helps to improve retention, engagement, culture, inclusion, and performance. As a consulting services firm, we’ve worked with some big companies in Cincinnati, such as Procter & Gamble, Macy’s, and Kroger.
We help them develop engagement and retention strategies for their college new hires they recruited to Cincy. We help those employees get embedded into work with their companies but also help them get embedded in their community.
What’s the background of the company?
Chris: The company has gone through a couple of iterations since it launched in 2009. Chris Ostoich, who started the business, was really big on engaging employees who were new to the city because he himself was a transplant to Cincinnati. He wanted to help others do that as well so he launched the company as Black Book HR.
He got his first capital investment from CincyTech and that allowed the company to start developing cloud-based solutions to help drive that engagement. In 2016, the company name was changed to Talmetrix to better reflect our market offering (Talent+Metrics). CincyTech is still an investor in the current-day company and has a representative seat on the board of directors.
Chris, how did you come to be the company’s CEO? And Jason, what’s your background?
Chris: Prior to joining the company in 2014, I spent 20+ years as an HR leader and executive at companies like Deloitte, Marriott, and Scripps Network Interactive.
Jason: I have 20+ years of experience scaling high-growth organizations in pharma/biotech, manufacturing, consumer packaged goods, durable goods, QSR, retail, and healthcare.
What advantages and disadvantages do you see having the company here as opposed to areas like Silicon Valley and New York City?
Jason: The advantages are that we have a really strong startup community and startup network. There are a lot of resources available for support. Everybody is trying to help everybody succeed vs. trying to undercut each other.
Another advantage is access to talent at a much-reduced cost vs. the coasts. A disadvantage is that the talent pool isn’t as deep as you’d find in Silicon Valley.
How has COVID affected your operations and how have you pivoted?
Chris: We took a hit as our clients took a hit. We had to step up our game even more on innovation. With COVID and the social justice movement, there are a whole lot of new factors influencing work. We had to adjust what we sell and how we market it. It helps us think innovatively about product and how to deliver it. We’re not putting our head in the sand. Share this story!
INNOVATORS PODCAST
Data, kidney donors, puppies, and logistics 
Two international scholars land in Flyover Country to be at the forefront of data and logistics. Hear their insights on how data could possibly find willing kidney donors on Facebook, improve logistics, and even identify the most adoptable puppies.
Dr. Lihui Bai and Dr. Monica Gentili join host Ben Reno-Weber, from Louisville's Future of Work Initiative, to talk about the work they are doing inside the University of Louisville Logistics and Distribution Institute. You will come to appreciate that regardless of industry sector, the efficiency, effectiveness, and power of data are deep in the details. You can also listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, or wherever else you get your podcasts.
Share this podcast!
HOT TAKES 
Module to enable pharmacists to manage services Cincinnati’s AssureCare, which develops technology solutions to improve patient outcomes and lower costs associated with population health management, has developed its Medication Management Module to help pharmacists manage and bill for services that include comprehensive medication reviews and targeted medication reviews, as well as others identified by AssureCare’s algorithms. Keeping the planes on time In an effort to improve aircraft engine performance, a team at GE Aviation is performing around-the-clock data analysis. The team is trying to identify maintenance and repair trends having to do with oil usage, exhaust gas temperatures, vibration, rotor speed, and fuel flow. By spotting these trends early, the airline can be alerted to perform maintenance before the issue can lead to an unscheduled delay. AddUp headquarters coming to Blue Ash AddUp Inc., a global manufacturer of metal 3D printing equipment and supplier of 3D printed parts, will establish its North American headquarters in Blue Ash. AddUp president Ken Wright said Southwest Ohio was chosen for AddUp’s North American headquarters because of its strong history of manufacturing, proximity to industrial and government partners in metal 3D printing, a great talent pool and support provided by the state of Ohio. New factory comes to Clermont Nestle Purina PetCare plans to build a new factory in Clermont County. The factory, which is the first new American factory built by Nestle Purina in 45 years, will employ 300 workers. Ohio won the project over competing bids from North Carolina and Kentucky. Protech acquires Sleepwellt Northern Kentucky home medical equipment provider Protech Home Medical Corp., has acquired Sleepwell LLC, a supplier of sleep-related products and services located in Georgia. Protech acquired Sleepwell for cash ($9.3 million) and share consideration ($5.1 million). According to the Cincinnati Business Courier, the acquisition will increase Protech’s annual revenue by approximately $13 million. Share these stories!
ON OUR RADAR 
Gain insight into the Cincinnati innovation ecosystem Learn more about the people and organizations shaping the economic future of our city with Cincinnati Future's innovation radar. There are over 283 company profiles. Is your company one of them? Explore the innovation radar to find out.
Learn more about...
Don't see your organization on our radar? Add it here. Share the Innovation Radar!
KNOW YOUR CITY! 
Have you checked your "Cincy-Q" recently?
This week we zero in on the Clifton neighborhood!
Here's are the questions:
Click here for the answers!
AROUND THE REGION With 
We hope you enjoy these headlines from the latest issue of Flyover Future, chronicling innovation throughout the Midwest. If you'd like to subscribe to Flyover Future, click here.
TELL US ABOUT IT! Share stories, offer suggestions, or comment.
|
