OUTREACH
Deeply rooted in Cincinnati's long history of community growth and city planning, Steve Kunkemoeller has served on several development boards committed to protecting and promoting Cincinnati history, enrichment, and economic growth. This involvement and engagement has fostered a community-driven approach to his work, his investments, and his charitable outreach.
Established in 2007, the Cincy Music Series, was a non-profit performing arts series hosting mid-level, Grammy-nominated and award winning acts throughout Cincinnati. As a vested board member of CMS, Steve ensured that proceeds from these events supported 60+ schools within the Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati.
Bridging Broadway
Learn about this community advocacy effort to create a booming entertainment district in the heart of the Queen City. Steve served on this board during a time when downtown Cincinnati was faced with introducing a brand new casino in the heart of Cincinnati's Central Business District.
Steve and his wife, Susan, have been loyal supporters of the Sea Turtle Conservancy for over a decade now. In addition to their generous annual monetary donations, Steve has donated several thousands of charitable items from his businesses to their organization in an effort to aid in continuously successful fundraisers.
Sea Turtle Conservancy
Solo products recycling
Cincy music series
"Steve helped me tremendously with getting my son Gabe a wheelchair.
I have truly been blessed to work for such a kind and understanding man.
If he can help, he will, and you don't find many people like him in today's society."
Tiffany Taylor, Solo Products QA Manager
CINCY MUSIC SERIES
Established in 2007, the Greater Cincinnati Performing Arts Society, also known as the Cincy Music Series, was a 100% volunteer organization, and a registered 501c3 non-profit charity. CMS had the goal of establishing a mid-level (1200-1600 seats), performing arts series featuring Grammy-nominated and award-winning performers that previously may not had the chance to perform in Cincinnati.
The proceeds from these events supported 60+ schools within the Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati in terms of tuition assistance programs, and establishing scholarships for families in need. These concerts have been generously hosted around the city by several high schools and college facilities.
Steve volunteered on the CMS board of directors for 4 years prior to the organization dissolution, assisting in securing some fantastic, award winning acts like Poco, Ambrosia, Tommy Emmanuel, Marc Broussard, and ELO.
Unfortunately, as a volunteer-based, non-profit,
CMS faced many challenges sustaining their goal beyond their 10-year anniversary. As Cincinnati's urban development grew, so did the Cincinnati entertainment and music scene, even establishing the recent Bunbury Festival. With that much advancement, there was too much competition with music promoters.
Hear an interview CMS president, Peter Ellerhorst on WVXU's "Around Cincinnati".
"Steve is a caring individual and puts others first. Steve didn't just help Gabe (a child of Steve's employee with Spina Bifida), Steve helped change his life."
Brandon Bailey, Friend and retired Marine Gunnery Sergeant/USMC
BRIDGING BROADWAY
In 2009, Ohio voters approved a constitutional amendment (Issue 3) to allow a casino to be built on the Broadway Commons site in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio, which abuts the Central Business District and the neighborhoods of Pendleton, Mount Adams, Over-the-Rhine, and Mount Auburn. Because of the Cincinnati casino's central, urban location, residents, business owners, and local stakeholders were asking:
How can the investment and energy of the casino development create a positive, synergistic relationship with the residential neighborhoods and business districts that surround it, promoting economic development, improving quality of life, and enhancing a sense of place?
In response to questions like this, Bridging Broadway was established in 2010 as a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization whose mission was to maximize the new casino's positive effect on Greater Cincinnati. Bridging Broadway then partnered with the University of Cincinnati's Community Design Center in June to conduct the Broadway Commons District Study, commissioned by the City of Cincinnati's Department of City Planning and Buildings.
They launched a 1-year investigation into this development, focusing geographically on the impact areas that surround the casino site, rather than the design of the site itself. The study also identified key corridors that link the casino development to other downtown destinations and amenities. Steve served on this organization's board in an effort to provide insight as a local downtown business owner.
Learn more from these article links:
"Upon establishing my first startup business, Steve offered seasoned consultations,
as well as donated several fabrication goods and services for my process.
Steve always wants to see people succeed, and he takes the measures to foster that ambition."
Amy Devine, family friend and Solo Products Project Manager
The Sea Turtle Conservancy is the oldest and most accomplished sea turtle organization in the world! STC is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) membership organization based in Gainesville, Florida.
STC was founded in 1959 by Mr. Joshua B. Powers in response to renowned ecologist Dr. Archie Carr’s award-winning book, The Windward Road, which first alerted the world to the plight of sea turtles. Dr. Carr served as Scientific Director of STC from 1959 until his death in 1987.
Since their founding, STC’s research and conservation initiatives have been instrumental in saving the Caribbean green turtle from immediate extinction, as well as raising awareness and protection for sea turtles across the globe with nearly 60 years of experience in national and international sea turtle conservation, research and educational endeavors. The organization began its work in Costa Rica, but has expanded its research and conservation efforts throughout Central America and the Wider Caribbean.
Steve and Susan Kunkemoeller have been loyal donors to this foundation for 15 years. In addition to annual monetary donations, Steve has contributed thousands of commercial products and services to the Conservancy to assist in fruitful fundraising campaigns.
Sea Turtle Conservancy
I am truly blessed and grateful to have Steve in my life. I have developed a keen love and respect for him.
- Neal Sullivan, Son-in-Law
Oftentimes, plastics and fabrication manufacturing renders an excess of scrap and unusable leftover materials. Instead of contributing to this Global Plastic Waste Crisis, Solo Products has adopted this sustainable stewardship as a way of life, by recycling all of their scrap, by introducing a container repair program, and by providing sustainable, reusable packaging solutions across the globe!
The type of plastic that Solo uses in their fabrication business and recycles is a high density polyethylene (HDPE). With a high strength-to-density ratio, HDPE is used in the production of plastic bottles, corrosion-resistant piping, geo-membranes, and plastic lumber. Other examples used in our everyday life would include milk and juice bottles, detergent bottles, protective helmets, and grocery bags. You might cringe at that, understandably. These unsustainable, single-use plastics are devastating our environment and wildlife, which is why Steve has adopted this detrimental recycling program. Just since 2017, Solo Products has recycled over 315,000lbs of HDPE scrap, and his team is also researching more ways to reuse Solo's scrap materials.
"In the last few months, the effects upon wildlife that come from eating, or becoming entangled in, plastic debris have been reported more widely and more often than ever before, leading to public outcry and protests... there are an estimated 270,000 tons of plastic floating through the world’s seas where it threatens 700 marine species with its presence. Further, there is growing evidence that plastics play a role in rising rates of species extinctions."
Solo has even introduced a container repair program as well, in an additional effort to fight waste. This program repairs large plastic bulk and steel containers for a wide array of industry clients. Our vast stock of doors, latches, and runners, as well as welding services, ensures a quick and seamless repair process. Solo also recycles broken containers.
Steve is determined to do what he can to eliminate his company's carbon footprint, and these initiatives have provided some fantastic results thus far. Great work, Solo Products!
