CEAD - Key Persons
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- Founder
- Member of the Advisory Board
- Owner
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- Title Associate University Registrar
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- Member of the Advisory Board
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- Coordinator of Admin. Operations
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- Title Coordinator, Document Imaging and Curriculum
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- Member of the Board
- Partner / RSM US LLP
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- Member of the Advisory Board
- Owner
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- Regional Sales Director / CBTS Enterprise Accounts
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- CEO
- Member of the Board
- President
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- Director of the Small Business Development Center / College of Business Revamps Executive Leadership Program
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- Retired President / U.S. Bank
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- Vice President of the Advisory Board
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- Executive Director
- Member of the Advisory Board
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- Executive Director
- Member of the Advisory Board
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- Title Assistant Registrar, Systems
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- Title Assistant Registrar, Service and VA Certifying Official
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- VP Sales and Marketing / Rehrig Pacific Company
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- Director
- Member of the Advisory Board
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- Associate Dean, Graduate Programs
- Named Next Center Representative for the National Association of Economic Educators ( NAEE )
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- Professor Emeritus and ACS Fellow
BIO
Dr. Bill Oliver joined NKU in 1972. He earned his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry at Iowa State University in 1969 and worked at Procter and Gamble three years before moving to NKU. He taught Organic Chemistry, General Chemistry, Biochemistry, Physical Organic Chemistry, Physiological Chemistry, and Chemistry and Society. He became the first Chair of the Chemistry Department when it was formed in 1988, and served 16 years in that position. He retired in 2007.
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- Dr. David Schneider As the Director of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
- Entrepreneur in Residence
Dr. Schneider served as the CEO of Rem Brands, Inc., a technology incubator of high performance patented chemistries and proprietary formulas before joining NKU as the CIE Director. Spanning a 30-year career, he brings a wide variety of business experience to the CIE, from launching startups as an entrepreneur to guiding established public and private companies as the president/CEO. He has extensive experience negotiating and executing contracts in multinational environments including North America, Asia and Europe. Dr. Schneider is also the inventor on 29 granted patents as well as several pending patents and has leveraged this technical expertise to help other entrepreneurs pursuing intellectual-based businesses in the region.
NKU Announces Dr. David Schneider as the Director of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
BIO
Dr. Jim Niewahner began his career at NKU in 1970 as an Academic Counselor and Financial Aid Officer after receiving his Ph.D. from Colorado State University. He taught mostly General Chemistry in addition to Organic Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Physiological Chemistry, and Chemistry and Society.
Job Titles:
- Department Chair
- Professor & Chair
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- Regents Professor Emeritus
BIO
Following two years as a postdoctoral student at University of Illinois, Dr. Robert Kempton started teaching Organic Chemistry at NKU in 1976. He received his Ph.D. from Fordham University in 1975, M.S. from Auburn in 1969, and B.S. from St. Peter's College in 1966. Kempton has been the leader in establishing undergraduate research on campus and still works with students. He taught Organic Chemistry, Spectroscopy, and Advanced Organic Synthesis, and received the honor of Regents Professor in 1993.
BIO
Dr. Vinay Kumar began teaching General Chemistry in the fall 1970 and holds the distinction of being the first chemistry faculty hired by NKU (then Northern Kentucky State College). Kumar received his M.S. from State University of New York at Oswego in 1967 and his Ph.D. from the University of Cincinnati in 1970. Kumar taught Analytical Chemistry, Instrumental Analysis, Chemistry and Society, and Introduction to Chemistry.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Board
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- Member of the Advisory Board
- Senior Product Manager
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- CEO
- Founder
- Member of the Advisory Board
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- Market President / First Financial Bank
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- Retired Global Director / Procter & Gamble Company
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- Senior Director of Global Communications / Proctor & Gamble
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- Assistant Director
- Assistant Director for the Center for Innovation
Jeff Varrone is the Assistant Director for the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and serves as a faculty member in Entrepreneurship. He also works with students on various events and academic programs to prepare them for business opportunities and to help create awareness of entrepreneurship across campus and in the community. He joined the Entrepreneurship Program while completing his Master's Degree with a focus on Entrepreneurship at NKU.
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- Director, Center for Student Excellence
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- Director, Academic Advising
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- President / Cutter Construction
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- Title Coordinator, Systems
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- Member of the Advisory Board
- President and CEO / Skilcraft LLC
Job Titles:
- CEO
- Founder
- Member of the Advisory Board
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- Title Coordinator, Service and VA Certifying Official
BIO
In 1992, Julia Yang Bedell joined the department as a lecturer. She earned her M.S. from Duke University in 1987. Julia taught various classes including Discovering Chemistry with laboratory, Introduction to Chemistry, and General Chemistry labs. In addition to teaching, Julia served as the master advisor and retention specialist for the department starting in 2014. She received NKU's Outstanding Academic Advising Award in 2019.
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- Member of the Advisory Board
- Cincinnati Market General Manager / La Mega Media, Inc.
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- Vice President, Surgical Svs, Operations / Cincinnati Children 's Hospital
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- Member of the Advisory Board
- Partner / Connetic Ventures
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- CEO / Triton Services Inc.
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- Named Exec. Dir. of KY Financial Empowerment Commission / Governor 's School for Entrepreneurs Increases Program Participation
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- Senior Vice President, Finance / Convergys Corporation
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- President & CEO / Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce
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- Governor 's School for Entrepreneurs Demo Day
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- Director, Recruitment & Retention
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- President and CEO / Leadership & Change Consulting
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- Co - Founder
- Member of the Advisory Board
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- Associate Dean, Undergraduate Program
Job Titles:
- Title Coordinator, Scheduling / Catalog
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- Member of the Advisory Board
- Co - Founder / CHN Analytics, LLC
Job Titles:
- Chief
- Coach
- Member of the Advisory Board
BIO
In 1972, Vern Hicks began his career as NKU's first and only Physical Chemist and remained as such until his retirement in 2010. In addition to Physical Chemistry, Vern also taught General Chemistry, Chemistry and Society, Introduction to Chemistry, and his beloved Quantum Mechanics. He received his B.S. in 1965 from Emory and Henry College, and his Ph.D. from Vanderbilt in 1974. Hicks was named 2008 Cincinnati Chemist of the Year by the Cincinnati section of the American Chemical Society. His other honors include: NKU Outstanding Professor Award in 1993, the KSTA Outstanding Science Teacher Award for Post-Secondary Teachers in 2000, and the prestigious Acorn Award in 2010.
Job Titles:
- Title University Registrar
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- Member of the Advisory Board
- President and CEO / Southbank Partners
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- Investment Specialist / Lifetime Financial Growth, LLC
Bill Hoover is a 16 year professional with a focus on our closely held business market. He specializes in succession planning, exit strategies for business owners, customized pension plans, executive benefits, golden handcuffs, and is our investment specialist. Bill started his career as an infantryman in the Marine Corps, and was fortunate enough to obtain an appointment to the United States Naval Academy. While at the academy, Bill obtained his Bachelor of Science in mathematics. From the Naval Academy Bill started flight training for the Navy, and was promptly offered a career change to the supply corps of the Navy due to deteriorating eyesight. Bill finished his tour in the Navy as a supply officer on the U.S.S John A. Moore conducting counter-narcotics in South and Central America. From there Bill transitioned to the civilian world by obtaining his Masters of Business Administration with a focus in finance from the University of Cincinnati on scholarship Bill started his practice here in the Cincinnati market after graduating from the program and has built a career helping our clients plan and utilize sophisticated solutions to save taxes, grow wealth, and achieve financial independence. Bill currently manages $100 million in assets and is actively involved in the professional community in regards to serving business owners.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Director of Northern Kentucky University 's Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Zac Strobl is the Director of Northern Kentucky University's Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship and an Entrepreneurship professor. Zac has played a major role in the success and growth of a multitude of university programs, businesses, and community initiatives. He co-founded and grew the INKUBATOR, a pre-seed stage accelerator, into one of the top five university business accelerators in North America. Under his leadership, teams have raised $7.3 million in outside funds, created 64 jobs, and launched 37 businesses. Zac's background also includes launching multiple ventures, working at a start-up company, running/selling a family business, and consulting with start-ups/small businesses through the Small Business Development Center.