Rick Flynn spent three decades building Flynn & Company into one of Cincinnati's most respected CPA firms — then sold it. On this episode of What Gives, Erin Satzger sits down with Rick Flynn, now a partner at UHY, the 26th-largest accounting firm in the country, to unpack the whole arc: caddying at Kenwood Country Club, ten years cutting his teeth at EY, the itch to go out on his own in 1994, and the leadership pivot that turned Flynn & Company from a revolving door into a place people built careers.

Rick also gets into his other big bet: Warsaw Federal, the Price Hill savings bank he helped pull out of regulatory trouble and turn into Cincinnati's first Minority Depository Institution — funding the Warsaw Federal Incline Theater along the way.

And because Rick was a founding business behind what's now the Northern Cincinnati Foundation, the conversation turns to community, philanthropy, AI's role in accounting and giving, and why more choices — in banking, in CPA firms, in everything — make communities stronger.

Topics covered:

• Growing up in the region and learning the ropes under mentor Bob Foppe at Kenwood Country Club
• Ten years at EY and the decision to go out on his own
• Building a firm that keeps people instead of burning them out
• The Warsaw Federal turnaround and becoming a Minority Depository Institution
• Selling Flynn & Company to UHY — and why "choice" mattered more than the paycheck
• AI's impact on accounting, philanthropy, and small business
• What's in Rick's bug-out bag (it's not what you'd guess)

What Gives is a production of the Northern Cincinnati Foundation, telling the stories of the business and civic leaders driving economic development across the region.

Hashtags

#WhatGivesPodcast #NorthernCincinnatiFoundation #CincinnatiBusiness #Philanthropy #Accounting #CPAFirm #Leadership #SmallBusiness #Cincinnati #CommunityFoundation #MergersAndAcquisitions #PriceHill #WarsawFederal #EconomicDevelopment #WestChesterOH

What does it actually take to transform a vacant building into a thriving neighborhood? Erin Satzger, President & CEO of the Northern Cincinnati Foundation, sits down with Jason Woodard, Founder and Principal of Woodard Development, to talk about what drives intentional, community-centered real estate development across the Ohio region.

With over 20 years of experience and more than a half-billion dollars in real estate transactions, Jason has helped reshape downtown Dayton through projects like the Water Street District — turning underutilized spaces into mixed-use destinations that attract jobs, residents, and investment. In this conversation, Erin and Jason dig into the intersection of real estate, philanthropy, and economic development — and why the built environment matters more than most people think.

#RealEstateDevelopment #CommercialRealEstate #UrbanDevelopment #AdaptiveReuse #MixedUseDevelopment #RealEstateInvesting #CREIndustry #UrbanInfill #PropertyDevelopment #RealEstateDeveloper

#Philanthropy #EconomicDevelopment #PhilanthropyDrivenDevelopment #NorthernCincinnatIFoundation #CommunityInvestment #ImpactInvesting #CharitableGiving #PurposeDrivenBusiness

#Entrepreneurship #FounderStory #BusinessLeadership #SmallBusiness #VisionaryLeader #BuildingBusiness #GrowthMindset #Innovation #JasonWoodard #WoodardDevelopment #ErinSatzger

When most people think about economic development, the arts aren't usually the first thing that comes to mind. They should be.

On this episode of the What Gives Podcast, Erin Satzger, President and CEO of the Northern Cincinnati Foundation, sits down with Alecia Kintner, President & CEO of ArtsWave — the nation's first and largest community campaign for the arts. Alecia has spent her career making the case that creativity isn't a nice-to-have, it's a must-have for any region that wants to attract talent, build community, and actually be a place people want to live.

They get into the real numbers behind arts funding, what it takes to rally an entire region around a shared vision, and why Cincinnati is quietly becoming a model for how cities show up for their artists and neighborhoods.

If you've ever wondered whether the arts really matter — this conversation will change how you think about it.

Key Takeaways:

• How ArtsWave supports hundreds of arts organizations across Greater Cincinnati.
• Why the arts are a serious driver of economic growth and talent retention.
• What it looks like when a whole community invests in creativity together.

Stay tuned for the full episode!

#ArtsWave #CincinnatiArts #WhatGivesPodcast #ArtsMatter #CommunityImpact #CreativeEconomy #NonprofitLeadership #GreaterCincinnati

The aviation industry is facing a critical workforce gap, and right here in Middletown, Ohio, we are building the solution.

On this episode of the What Gives Podcast, we’re filming on-location at the brand-new Butler Tech Aviation Center. Joining me is Dr. William Sprankles, CEO of Butler Tech and a powerhouse in educational innovation.

William is the architect of the Fifth Day Experience and is now overseeing one of the most advanced career tech facilities in the country. We’re diving deep into how this $15M investment at the Middletown Regional Airport is transforming lives and fueling the regional economy.

Key Takeaways:

How Butler Tech is tackling the Aviation Workforce Shortage.

The impact of the Aviation Education Hangar on Southwest Ohio students.

Why "Student Agency" is the secret sauce to modern education.

Stay tuned for the full episode!

#ButlerTech #AviationCareers #EducationInnovation #MiddletownOhio #CareerTech #PilotShortage #WhatGivesPodcast #WorkforceDevelopment

What is the ultimate Return on Investment? For Larry Connor, it isn’t just found in luxury real estate portfolios or expeditions to outer space—it’s found in the future of the next generation.

On this episode of the What Gives Podcast, host Erin Satzger sits down with billionaire Larry Connor (Founder of The Connor Group) to discuss how high-stakes business acumen translates to high-impact philanthropy. Larry is known for his extreme adventures—piloting to the International Space Station and diving to the deepest parts of the ocean—but his most ambitious mission is right here on Earth: revolutionizing education for under-resourced students.

We discuss:

The Business of Giving: How Larry applies private equity standards and "Connor Group discipline" to non-profit work.

Calculated Risk: Why the mindset required for space travel is essential for solving systemic education issues.

The Greater Dayton School: A look inside the philosophy and model of Ohio’s first private, non-religious school for under-resourced students.

Whether you are an entrepreneur, an investor, or a community leader, this conversation challenges the traditional definition of ROI.

Hosted by: Erin Satzger (Northern Cincinnati Foundation) Guest: Larry Connor (The Connor Group)

#LarryConnor #RealEstateInvesting #SpaceTravel #Philanthropy #EducationReform #TheConnorGroup #WhatGivesPodcast #BusinessLeadership #ROI #NorthernCincinnatiFoundation #ErinSatzger #NorthernCincinnatiFoundation #Dayton #PhilanthropyPodcast #spacex #elonmusk

In this deeply personal and inspiring episode of What Gives, host Erin Satzger sits down with Logan Hines, Owner and President of Mitchell’s Salon & Day Spa, to talk about legacy, leadership, and love — both for people and for a family business that’s been serving Greater Cincinnati since 1983.

Logan shares the moving story of how her mother founded Mitchell’s over 35 years ago, building it into a trusted, family-like community that celebrates beauty in every form. Following her mother’s recent passing, Logan reflects on stepping into leadership and carrying forward her mother’s mission — giving clients time to lighten their spirits and empowering employees to embrace their creativity.

Now leading five locations and two brands, Logan is guiding Mitchell’s into a new era while preserving its heart and heritage. Her story is one of resilience, gratitude, and the beauty of honoring the past while shaping the future.

🎧 Episode Description:
In this forward-thinking episode of What Gives, Erin Satzger sits down with the Northern Cincinnati Foundation’s own Chief Marketing Officer, Matt King, for a deep dive into the transformative power of AI in philanthropy.

From building AI tools that recommend charitable funds based on a donor's passions, to exploring crypto giving, and even creating a knowledge base powered by veterans’ voices for the USS Cincinnati Submarine Memorial Park — Matt shares how the world of community foundations is being reimagined through the lens of emerging technology.

🚀 Topics include:

• How AI can personalize donor engagement
• Using crypto and digital tools to modernize giving
• Preserving local history through AI-driven storytelling
• Why community foundations should think more like tech startups

This episode will challenge your thinking and inspire you to see how mission and innovation can work hand-in-hand.

The future of giving is here — and it’s smarter than ever.

In this episode of What Gives, Erin Satzger, CEO of the Northern Cincinnati Foundation sits down with father-son duo Ron Rosenbeck, Founder of Republic Wire, and Jeremy Rosenbeck, the company’s President. Together, they’ve grown Republic Wire into one of the nation’s premier wire and cable manufacturers — proudly headquartered right here in the Cincinnati region.

Ron shares the story of Republic Wire’s humble beginnings and the values that guided the company through decades of innovation and growth. Jeremy brings the next-gen perspective, sharing how the company has evolved under his leadership while staying rooted in the same principles of integrity, hard work, and commitment to community.

From building a national business to giving back locally, the Rosenbecks reveal how Republic Wire remains wired into the heart of the region — supporting jobs, families, and local causes.

This is a powerful conversation about legacy, leadership, and the kind of business that makes a community stronger.

Tune in to hear how Republic Wire is more than just a manufacturer — it’s a force for good.

In this special year-end episode of "What Gives", host Erin Satzger is joined by Jamie Smith, Market President & Publisher of the Cincinnati Business Courier, and Jesy Heron, VP of Client Partnership at RESLV, Cincinnati’s premier video agency.

Together, they reflect on the highlights and challenges of 2024, sharing their unique perspectives on business growth, storytelling, and community engagement in Cincinnati. Jamie offers an insider’s look at the city’s business landscape and trends shaping the year ahead, while Jesy explores how impactful storytelling and creative partnerships have become essential tools for local businesses and nonprofits.

This episode is brought to you by the Northern Cincinnati Foundation, where we’re building thriving communities through philanthropy, leadership, and collaboration.

#WhatGivesPodcast #CincinnatiBusiness #CommunityImpact #Leadership #Storytelling #CreativePartnerships #NorthernCincinnatiFoundation #QueenCityInnovation #Philanthropy #CincinnatiGrowth

In this episode of "What Gives", host Erin Satzger engages in a compelling conversation with Jennifer Damiano, the Cincinnati Market President of KeyBank. With a unique background that spans 17 years in the philanthropic sector before transitioning to banking, Jennifer brings a distinctive perspective to her leadership role. She discusses her journey from nonprofit work to leading KeyBank's private banking unit in Cincinnati and Dayton, and now stepping into the market president position. Jennifer shares her vision for deepening KeyBank's community impact, building upon the $384 million in local investments since 2017, and how her philanthropic roots continue to influence her approach to banking. Tune in to explore how Jennifer plans to blend community engagement with financial services to foster economic growth and support for local initiatives.