Beth Robinson, President and CEO, Uptown Consortium, discussing the Uptown Innovation Corridor.
A sold-out crowd enjoyed stories from innovation to celebration as the Uptown Consortium presented the sixth annual Uptown Business Celebration recognizing business excellence and commitment to the Uptown community. Local businesses and community members from the five Uptown neighborhoods and beyond gathered at the Kingsgate Marriott to celebrate the growth and success of Uptown over the past year.
“This past year, the continued work of the Uptown Consortium, local businesses and the community has further established Uptown Cincinnati as a hub of innovation,” said Beth Robinson, President and CEO of Uptown Consortium. “As we continue to shape Uptown and the Innovation Corridor, collaboration with our partners and the community will be the key to our future success.”
Uptown Consortium also debuted a video featuring the Uptown Innovation Corridor near the new MLK I-71 interchange. Robinson and Peter Horton, principal and co-founder of Terrex Development & Construction, introduced the video speaking to the importance of inclusion for the Corridor’s success.
During the keynote address, Thane Maynard, executive director of the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, highlighted the value of partnership in Uptown Cincinnati. He shared how Fiona, Cincinnati’s new baby hippo, survived against all odds with the help of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, unprecedented community support and the extraordinary experts on Fiona’s care team, Team Fiona. Through collaboration, the Cincinnati Zoo became the first team in the world to care for a premature hippo that survived.
After the address, the Consortium distributed awards to nominees that shared a strong commitment to the Uptown community, success in meeting the organization’s mission and a demonstration of sustainable business practices in the five Uptown neighborhoods: Avondale, Clifton, Corryville, CUF and Mt. Auburn. The following were named winners:
Joyce Powdrill, Thane Maynard, Sandra Jones Mitchell and Beth Robinson (left to right) pose for the Avondale Community Champion Award.
- Uptown Community Champions (one from each neighborhood)
- Avondale Community Champion: Sandra Jones Mitchell
- Clifton Community Champion: Eric Urbas
- Clifton Heights Community Champion: Jack Martin
- Corryville Community Champion: Dan Luther
- Mount Auburn Community Champion: Carol Gibbs
- Uptown Small Business – Conscious Living Center
- Uptown New Business – Gaslight Gourmet Cookies
- Uptown Nonprofit – Crossroads Uptown Church
- Uptown Large Business – Kroger, University Plaza
The May 31st event’s premier sponsors were Terrex Development & Construction and Messer Construction, while Neyer Properties, Ross, Sinclair & Associates, LLC, University of Cincinnati, UC Health, TriHealth and Uptown Rental Properties served as silver sponsors.
Joyce Powdrill, Ron Esposito, Thane Maynard and Beth Robinson (left to right) pose for the Uptown Small Business Award.
Joyce Powdrill, Thane Maynard, Lena Schuler and Beth Robinson (left to right) pose for the Uptown Nonprofit Award.