Berge & Co. joins up with BKD, LLP

Public accounting firms Berge & Company Ltd. and BKD, LLP merged Dec. 1. The resulting company maintains the BKD name.

Richard L. Berge has joined BKD as a partner. His staff has transferred to comparable positions within BKD.

"We're excited about the merger and the experience Rick and his staff bring to our Cincinnati practice," said Timothy T. Wilson, BKD partner in charge.

Mr. Berge formed his own company in 1991 after 21 years in audit, entrepreneurial services and recruiting with Ernst & Young. BKD entered the Cincinnati market in 2001 through the merger of Olive LLP and Baird, Kurtz & Dobson. The firm has 26 offices in 11 states, including Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. It is ranked seventh in size nationally, according to Public Accounting Report and posts revenues of about $211 million.

The Cincinnati office is at 312 Walnut St.

Information: 621-8300 or www.bkd.com.

SCORE to offer advice for novices

An intensive, four-hour workshop for aspiring small business owners is offered periodically by the Senior Corps of Retired Executives.

"The workshop is a general overview of the things you should think about before you forge out on your own," said SCORE volunteer Joe Neri..

Topics covered include marketing tools, pricing, naming the business, forms of organization, management and operations, financing and financial record-keeping.

Each workshop speaker is available for individual counseling after the session at no additional cost.

Sessions are scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 1, March 1, March 15, April 5, April 26 and May 17. They are held at the Scarlet Oaks/Great Oaks Instructional Resources Center, 3524 E. Kemper Road, beginning at 8:30 a.m. Cost is $35 in advance or $40 at the door.

SCORE is a nonprofit organization sponsored by the Small Business Administration.

Information: 612-3636 or 745-0107.

Hornung opens new dental office

In November, Dr. Gregory L. Hornung celebrated the grand opening of his new dental office at 4834 Socialville-Foster Road (the Professional Center at White Blossom) in Mason.

After selling his practice of almost 20 years in Fairfield, Dr. Hornung taught for the past three years at the University of Louisville, where he helped develop the school's implant curriculum. He remains an adjunct faculty member there and also operates a free dental clinic in Eastern Kentucky.

The office is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and Tuesday and 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday. Those interested in hearing about the latest in dentistry can attend free informal seminars.

Information: 229-7801.

Forest Park Maaco has new owners

Hank and Susan Bucklin are the new owners of Maaco Auto Painting and Bodyworks center at 552 Northland Blvd. in Forest Park.

The center specializes in repairing and repainting vehicles and uses more than 10,000 customized color blends.

It also offers tips to individuals wanting to trade in a car or return a leased vehicle.

Information: 825-5100.

Franchisee offers portable ramps

Keith Rielag has found a second career in an "accessibility" business he runs from his Bridgetown home. Mr. Rielag is the first franchisee of American Ramp Systems, a portable ramp venture headquartered in Boston.

The 25-year veteran of Cincinnati Bell decided to start his own business after accepting early retirement from the company.

Family concerns led him to look at the health care industry.

"My son has special needs, and his situation opened my eyes to a whole different world out there revolving around health care," he said.

The modular metal ramps are designed for interior and exterior use in residential and commercial settings that do not have built-in ramps. They are available for sale or rental. Weekly rental prices begin at $3.50 per foot; purchase prices start at $65 per foot plus labor. The ramps meet accessibility requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Information: 574-5444.

E-mail jcallison@cinci.rr.com, or fax 564-6991 with openings, expansions and other news about neighborhood businesses.