The Kenton County Public Library’s Erlanger Branch is excited to host Entrepreneur & Small Business Day on Wednesday, September 17, 2025. This full-day event is designed to inspire, educate, and support local entrepreneurs and small business owners.
Morning Session: Inspiration from Local Entrepreneurs
The day kicks off with a panel discussion, “Tired of Looking for a Job? Start Your Own Business!” Attendees will hear firsthand from local business founders who turned their ideas into successful ventures. The panelists will share their stories, challenges, and lessons learned, providing practical advice for anyone considering launching their own business.
📅 Session Time: 9:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Afternoon Session: Protecting Your Ideas
In the afternoon, participants can join an interactive workshop, “From Idea to Asset—Navigating Intellectual Property for Your Business.” Presented in partnership with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, this workshop will cover how to safeguard your ideas and creations, helping entrepreneurs protect their businesses as they grow.
📅 Session Time: 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Why You Should Attend
Whether you are dreaming of starting your first business or looking for resources to grow your current venture, Entrepreneur & Small Business Day offers valuable knowledge, networking opportunities, and guidance. Free lunch will be provided for those who preregister for the in-person afternoon session. Register at: Register at: https://kentonlibrary.bibliocommons.com/events/6852a92116b091280033560c
Event Details
📍 Location: Kenton County Public Library – Erlanger Branch, Bronte Room
401 Kenton Lands Road, Erlanger, KY 41018
✅ Free
✅ Registration encouraged
For more information, contact Career Navigator Librarian John Schlipp at john.schlipp@kentonlibrary.org.
Day of Schedule:
Entrepreneur and Small Business Day
Wednesday, September 17, 2025
Erlanger Library, Bronte Room
NKYAG: Founders Panel – Morning Session
9:30-10:30 a.m.
Founders Panel –John Schlipp, KCPL, Career Navigator Librarian, with co-moderator Patricia Borne, CEO Resources, Executive Principal
Christine Bell, Fractional Chief Operating Officer
Jessica Morris, RYTT Solutions, Workplace Mental Health Fractional Consulting
Nick Kowalski, Kowalski Law, PLLC
Jasmine Lewis, Organizational Change Management Consulting
10:30-11:30 a.m.
NKYAG Career Networking Tables, including Entrepreneur/Small Business
11:30-12 p.m.
FLEX BREAK transition to afternoon session lunch
From Idea to Asset – Afternoon Session
12-1 p.m.
FREE lunch for pre-registered attendees (during Regional Innovators History Display)
1-2 p.m.
Regional entrepreneur panel discussion –
John Schlipp of KCPL with co-moderator Jill Morenz, Aviatra Accelerators, President & CEO
Ashley Barrow, Founder of RE-Assist App
Christin Godale, Executive Director, LifeSciKY
April Coffee, Business Coach, SBDC Covington
2-3 p.m.
U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, Regional Outreach Officer – Marilyn C. Nash
3-4 p.m.
Wood Herron & Evans – Sean K. Owens, Partner, Practice: Branding & Content
Guest Speakers’ Biographies
Ashley Barrow is the Founder and CEO of RE-Assist, a Cincinnati-based digital health platform she co-founded with her son to tackle fragmented care coordination in healthcare. With over 20 years of experience as a care coordinator, she developed RE-Assist to streamline referral tracking and care planning using AI-powered Human-in-the-Loop technology integrated with electronic health records. Ashley’s work has earned national recognition, including honors from MIT Solve, CUNY’s Public Health Innovation Accelerator, and Aspen Ideas Health.
Christine Bell of Christine Bell Consulting, LLC is a Fractional Integrator who helps companies running EOS bridge the gap between visionary thinking and disciplined execution. As both an experienced Integrator and former business owner of a company, she specializes in helping leadership teams experiencing growth ceilings, accountability gaps, or M&A integration complexities.
Patricia Borne is an executive coach and principal of CEO Resources, Inc., where she helps clients enhance performance through active engagement and targeted skill development. With over 25 years of coaching experience in corporate and nonprofit settings, she specializes in developmental and intervention coaching models. Her approach uses assessments to identify growth areas and guide personalized coaching strategies.
April Coffee of Covington’s SBDC has a strong track record in banking, driving branch growth, profitability, staff development, and customer satisfaction through structured financial support. She is deeply involved in her community, serving in leadership roles with the Latonia Business Association, Northern KY Chamber of Commerce, Latonia Uptown, and the Catalytic Fund.
Dr. Christin Godale is the Executive Director of LifeSciKY, where she leads efforts to grow Kentucky’s life sciences ecosystem through research, education, entrepreneurship, and job creation. With a PhD in Neuroscience and prior leadership at CincyTech, she brings deep expertise in biotech investment, strategic planning, and business development.
Nick Kowalski graduated from the University of Cincinnati College of Law in 2011 and founded Kowalski Law, PLLC in April 2025. He acts as a fractional general counsel for small businesses to address their day-to-day legal needs, including business formation, contracts, employment, and compliance issues, and offers estate planning.
Jasmine Lewis helps overwhelmed leaders fix what’s stuck and build businesses that actually run. As Founder of J. Lewis Consulting and a partner with TransformCXO, she delivers EOS® and Fractional CXO services that give visionaries clarity, traction, and time back.
Jill Morenz is the President and CEO of Aviatra Accelerators, where she empowers women entrepreneurs by drawing on her experience founding two businesses and leading nonprofit initiatives. Jill has helped over 100 women launch and grow their businesses and is known for her creativity and strategic communication skills. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Interior Design from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and actively volunteers in her local community.
Jessica Morris founded RYTT Solutions™ in 2025 to provide small businesses with customized mental health support strategies for their workforce. Driven by her passion for creating environments where employees feel seen, heard, and valued, she transforms workplace cultures into thriving communities. Jessica is a proud alumna of Thomas More University, Northern Kentucky University,
Marilyn C. Nash is the Regional Outreach Officer for the USPTO’s Elijah J. McCoy Midwest Regional Office in Detroit, Michigan, where she delivers intellectual property resources and programming. She engages with a wide range of audiences, including inventors, entrepreneurs, students, legal professionals, and government agencies. Before joining the USPTO in 2021, Marilyn held key roles in the Department of Defense and Small Business Administration. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Industrial Management from Lawrence Technological University.
Sean K. Owens is a Partner at Wood Herron & Evans LLP in Cincinnati, where he specializes in trademark and copyright law within the firm’s Branding & Content Practice Group. Since joining the firm in 2010, he has worked on media, advertising, privacy, and internet-related issues. Sean earned his bachelor’s degree in finance and marketing and his J.D. from the University of Cincinnati and has served as an adjunct professor at both UC’s College of Law and NKU’s Chase College of Law.
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