Downtown and Montgomery companies collaborate to help companies keep their stars | Business

CINCINNATI (FOX19) - Blackbook EMG, a Downtown-based high-tech human resources services company, and Montgomery-based corporate concierge firm Best Upon Request have formed a strategic relationship that will expand product and service offerings for their respective customers. 

“We see Blackbook’s employee attraction and retention products as a natural extension of our current service offering,” said Tillie Hidalgo Lima, president and CEO of Best Upon Request.  “And our concierge services will bring additional value to Blackbook’s proposition.” 

Myrita Craig, president of Blackbook, said the presence of Best Upon Request in 30 markets nationwide will help Blackbook as it expands beyond Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.  Best Upon Request clients also may be interested in Blackbook’s Talent Smoke Detector, a revolutionary risk-assessment technology that helps companies measure employees’ connection to their jobs and the community and provides a sightline to those at risk of flight. 

“By leveraging the distinct strengths of Blackbook and Best Upon Request, this relationship allows us to obtain synergies among client needs and to strategically grow both companies.  We look forward to working with Tillie’s team,” said Craig. 

Blackbook founder and CEO Chris Ostoich said the Best Upon Request deal includes an undisclosed amount of investment. Combined with $400,000 from lead investor CincyTech and investments from three individual investors, the deal closes out a $700,000 seed-stage funding round that allows the company to complete technology enhancements and move into additional markets. 

Among the individual investors is Cincinnati attorney Robert W. Buechner, president of Buechner, Haffer, Meyers & Koenig Co, LPA. 

“I know the success of Blackbook will help the region address the challenge of attracting, retaining and engaging the best and brightest people,” he said. 

Blackbook’s products are designed to dive deep into the lives of people and families, in order to create deeper roots and increase the likelihood they will stay in the area – and in the job, Ostoich said. 

The company has seen strong momentum in 2011, increasing staff, tripling revenue and building key clients including Procter & Gamble, Macy’s, KAO Brands, Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Tri-Health and more. 

“This has been an exciting year of growth for Blackbook, and this alliance with Best Upon Request supports that in a very strategic way,” Ostoich added.  “This sets the stage for taking Blackbook to the next level.” 

“For Best Upon Request, this is an opportunity to differentiate ourselves in the marketplace by reinforcing and adding depth to the value we provide,” said Hidalgo Lima. “In addition to stress management, wellness, recruitment and retention, and satisfaction, this elevates our impact to talent management as well.” 

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