Dillonvale IGA given five-star grade

DILLONVALE - The IGA store here has again garnered top honors for its operations.

The Steritech Group, a company hired by IGA headquarters to appraise its member stores, awarded the Dillonvale IGA the best possible rating: five stars.

"This is the fourth consecutive year that Dillonvale has received a five-star grade for its operations," said John Dietrich, the store's general manager.

Dietrich said IGA stores are required to undergo this evaluation annually.

Mark Ossege has owned and operated the store since 1981.

Information: (513) 984-5249.

Business coach joins successes in book

LOVELAND - Local business coach Randy Paulson has just been published in a book that includes articles by the likes of Bill Gates, Donald Trump and Dr. Laura Schlessinger.

Walking With The Wise II (Mentors Publishing House Inc.) includes an article by Paulson: "Weight, Pulse and Business KPIs." The article defines key performance indicators and focuses on the importance of establishing, tracking and measuring them in a business.

"When one goes to the doctor ... the patient's weight, heart rate and blood pressure are checked," Paulson said. "Why? Because the physician needs to assess the fundamental health of the patient before taking any action. KPIs are the same for a business."

In 2001, Paulson launched an Action International franchise and has started two other businesses in the past two years. In 2003, he founded the Cincinnati Strategic Business Alliance, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the success of local business.

Information: (513) 677-9683 or randypaulson@action-international.com.

New textbooks tap into multimedia files

DOWNTOWN - A company has developed a book that provides a multimedia experience for its readers.

The new textbooks are published using infrared technology to combine traditional books with digital content that, its inventor says, might ultimately decrease the cost of textbooks, make them much more interactive for users, and remove barriers for students who have difficulty understanding traditional texts.

"The book becomes a remote control, so to speak," said Jason Barkeloo, president of TouchSmart Publishing LLC.

The book sits inside a "cradle" that contains touch-sensitive panels. When a panel is touched, the book calls up video, audio or other content by sending an infrared signal to a nearby Internet-connected computer or DVD player.

TouchSmart expects its first product to be an early reading book for special-needs children written by reading and special-needs experts.

Information: (513) 225-8765.

Rockin' Robins serves food, '50s theme

MAINEVILLE - A new coffee spot at the Shoppes at Riversbend serves up a taste of the past along with its java.

Rockin' Robins Coffee follows a '50s theme, with retro decor and entertainment such as classic car cruise-ins and movies from the 1950s. The menu includes doughnuts, coffee drinks, salads and sandwiches and desserts.

"We are family friendly, especially with our Tot Diner in the back that gives moms, grandmas, or anyone with children a chance to relax and know their children are in a safe zone for play and nutritious food," said owner Robin Fine.

The coffee shop is at 5765 S. Ohio 48, Suite 103.

Information: (513) 494-WILD or www.rockinrobinscoffee.com.

Video, audio services offered by team-up

HAMILTON - McRoberts Video Services has forged an agreement with Quick Silver Photo Lab.

The agreement enables Quick Silver to become an authorized dealer for McRoberts Video, offering full video and audio services, said Jerry McRoberts, owner of McRoberts Video Services.

Products include photo keepsake videos, video-to-DVD transfer, home movie transfer to video and DVD, and video duplication.

McRoberts Video is part of Home Video Studio Inc., a network of audio/video companies.

Quick Silver is at 22 N. F St. Information: (513) 895-4141 or (513) 863-1072 or www.mcrobertsvideo.com.

Ad firm moves HQ, launches Web site

DOWNTOWN - A young advertising firm now has two new addresses.

Burke/Weltner Advertising Inc. has moved its headquarters to 632 Vine St. It also has launched a new Web site.

The agency was founded in 2002 by advertising veterans Brian Burke and Eric Weltner. It has since created advertising materials for companies and organizations such as Trico Belting, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Atlas Dowel, LRP Plastics and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Information: (513) 579-1222 or www.burke-weltner.com.

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