Workshop helps evaluate training

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS - Executive Education at the University of Cincinnati is offering a session to enable managers to evaluate the impact of their organization's investment in training.

A free workshop, "Making Your Way to ROI: How to Measure Training Effectiveness," will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday. The session will help business leaders and HR managers learn how to select and develop training that produces a bottom-line impact.

Information and registration: (513) 556-7186.

Riedmiller named president of CDBA

BLUE ASH - Dennis Riedmiller, president and CEO of Riedmiller & Associates Inc., has been named president of the Consumer Directed Benefits Association.

CDBA is a group of third-party administrators, brokers, consultants, dentists and state dental organizations that promotes freedom-of-choice, fee-for-service dental plans.

Riedmiller & Associates is an employee benefits consulting firm that represents consumer direct reimbursement plans to employers. It is at 10945 Reed Hartman Highway, Suite 307.

Information: (513) 792-0450.

Social worker opens new practice

SHARONVILLE - A licensed independent social worker has opened a practice at 10948 Reading Road, Suite 208.

Joanie R.F. Gruber is director of Life Transitions Counseling and Enrichment Center. The center offers counseling for individuals, couples and families; it also offers therapy, support and education groups. Specialists in grief and loss, abuse survival, adolescent issues and drug and alcohol recovery are available.

Special sessions will be offered on topics such as natural nutrition, skin care and makeup, exercise and energy building.

Sliding-scale fees and payment plans can be arranged, as can in-home visits. Hours are flexible, with baby-sitting available.

Information: (513) 310-3238.

Basket boutique moves to new store

GREEN TOWNSHIP - A specialty gift boutique has a new address.

After 15 years at 5268 Crookshank Road, Baskets For All Occasions has moved a mile away to 3664 Muddy Creek Road. The store offers corporate and personal gift baskets, gourmet foods and gift items such as Yankee Candle and Camille Beckman bath products, purses and amusing hand towels. Owner is Libby Lansaw.

Information: (513) 451-5900 or www.basketsforall.com.

Coffee house offers alternatives, desserts

LANDEN - Something new is brewing behind the old 20-Mile House.

Todd and Joanna McNally have opened McNally's Coffee House Inc., 8944 Columbia Road, serving a variety of coffee drinks, non-coffee alternatives, pastries, soups, sandwiches and desserts.

The cafe is open Monday-Saturday and offers WiFi Internet access. On Friday and Saturday nights there is live entertainment. The McNallys' goal is to make the eatery a gathering place.

Information: (513) 774-7080 or www.mcnallyscoffee.com.

Gallery artist puts clients in artwork

MADEIRA - Marquette Gallery's addition of artist Brent Benger's work allows its clientele to put themselves in the picture.

Benger, a realistic painter who studied with Norman Rockwell's protege, creates Rockwell-like scenes of golfers, attorneys, rained-out Little Leaguers and poker players. Using digital technology, he can replace any of the figures with a rendering of a client, change other details to personalize the image, and produce a fine-art print.

The result is a portrait that costs less than traditional ones, said gallery owner Peggy Marquette. The gallery is at 7894 Camargo Road.

Marquette also represents painter Frederic Bonin-Pissarro, who has just introduced a line of four limited-edition prints that he signs and hand-enhances. Bonin-Pissarro is known for his colorful European harbor and street scenes.

Information: (513) 561-2400.

L&B Management kicks off Web site

DOWNTOWN - L&B Management hopes its new Web site will introduce customers to its range of services.

The company offers landlord services, and rental residential and commercial properties throughout Greater Cincinnati. It can handle property management from tenant screening to snow removal.

Information: (513) 471-7222 or www.lbmanagement.net.

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