Create excitement about a prospective employee’s new city. Train them for promotions. Invest in a mentoring program. This is a recipe for success for companies seeking to attract and retain talent. The City of Blue Ash understands this and is taking strong strides to draw and keep lucrative life science industries to the growing city North of Cincinnati.

Already a leader in the emerging life science field, Blue Ash provides a home to powerhouse employers such as Procter & Gamble, Ethicon Endo-Surgery and Mercy Health Systems among the city’s thriving corporate community.

Blue Ash recently held its first ever Life Sciences Collaborative work session last November in November of this year. The event involved networking, and sharing ideas about keeping and retaining young, talented professionals in this growing sector of the economy. But these ideas weren’t limited to helping employers just in the life sciences arena. Many easily could translate to a number of professional sectors looking to attract - and more importantly keep - new talent.

“We believe people left the event with several ideas they can easily implement in their efforts to attract and retain life science talent. The attendees also had the opportunity to hear examples of successful collaborations between education and business,” explained Blue Ash Economic and Community Development Director Judy Clark. “We know people were energized by the diverse group of business, education and government professional assembled because it provided for great networking opportunities.”

The session was an outgrowth of the Blue Ash Life Science Collaborative, a new regional organization that promotes idea sharing among the life sciences community. The collaborative includes stakeholders from the governmental, corporate and educational worlds. It includes representatives from the areas of biotechnology, medical and pharmaceutical companies as well as research and development institutions and regional universities.

Blue Ash’s effort also fits with the state’s new economic development strategic plan. Among the state’s goals is to grow Ohioan’s incomes, create and retain jobs and expand productivity through innovation.

Pandy Pridemore, of Camargo Pharmaceutical Services, LLC, said the networking event allowed her to meet a greater variety of people outside her usual circle of colleagues.

“I felt the event had added significance due to the diversity of participants. I had an architect, a director for a lab based in Kentucky, two educators from a local college and an executive recruiter sitting at my table. It was fascinating to hear how the growth and expansion of the Life Science industry would affect the economy and professions of each of these participants,” she said.

Jillian Sigalos, of ClinForce, agreed.

“I did find value in the Life Science networking event. I thought it was a great place for the community to come together to learn about the challenges and successes in hiring and retaining talent in the Cincinnati area. The panel was diverse and knowledgeable, providing insight into the changing ways of business and the challenges we find in hiring,” she said.