CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky. (Nov. 29, 2023) — In an exciting collaboration that brought together tradition and innovation, Knox Joseph Distillery at the OTR Stillhouse founder Michele Hobbs spoke at Thomas More University’s Evening of Innovation on Nov. 16, 2023. Held at the Stillhouse, the event featured Jeni Al Bahrani ’05, director of Thomas More’s Dr. Anthony ’65 and Geraldine ’66 Zembrodt Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (ZCEI) interviewing Hobbs in exploration of the innovation and entrepreneurship witnessed by the success of the Stillhouse under Hobbs’ direction. “What an amazing opportunity it has been to collaborate and grow with Thomas More University,” says Hobbs. “Working with great minds of a growing University is like having extra talent in my back pocket. It’s a fortunate gift.”

This event is part of the Evening of Innovation series that provides a unique opportunity to foster and strengthen relationships with entrepreneurs and innovators who shape the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region. “Events like these are essential to helping Thomas More University secure its place as the innovation destination of the region,” says Thomas More University President Joseph L. Chillo, LP.D. “We gather to celebrate not only the achievements of our partners and professors but also the boundless potential of innovation itself. I have no doubt that the conversations and connections forged at these events will lead to groundbreaking ideas, collaborations, and solutions that will propel our region forward.”

Event photography was captured by photographer and current Thomas More student Alana Hinton. Find more of her work HERE.

The Stillhouse has a long-running partnership with the University which includes cutting-edge bourbon research performed by two Thomas More professors who are experts in the field: Jyoti Saraswat, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Mathematics and William Wetzel, Ph.D., professor and chairperson for the Department of Chemistry. “Just as a bourbon is transformed as it ages in the barrel, it is exciting to witness the journey and see the successes of the OTR Stillhouse under Michelle’s leadership over the past five years,” says Wetzel. “We are blessed to have an opportunity to partner with Michelle and the Knox Joseph Distillery on our research into the chemical fingerprint associated with bourbon. In addition to having the chance to peer into the chemistry of this complex spirit, this research has proven to be a wonderful opportunity for our undergraduate chemistry and mathematics students to explore both interdisciplinary collaborations and entrepreneurship.”

For more information about Thomas More University, visit www.thomasmore.edu.

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About Thomas More University

Founded in 1921, Thomas More University stands as a beacon of academic excellence and innovation, challenging students to Make It More. Deeply rooted in the Catholic Intellectual Tradition, this timeless foundation supports a transformative educational experience as students looking to Be More are guided in the pursuit of knowledge, ethical leadership, and the integration of faith and reason. Through the high-quality, liberal arts education provided at Thomas More, students examine the ultimate meaning of life, their place in the world, and their responsibility to others which leads to the ability to think critically and contribute meaningfully to the world. Serving more than 2,000 students, Thomas More takes its place as the premier Catholic university in the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region, being named one of the 2024 Best Colleges in the U.S. by the Wall Street Journal. To find out more, visit thomasmore.edu.

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