The Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce has selected 53 professionals for the Leadership Northern Kentucky Class of 2027, a 10-month leadership development program focused on regional issues and community engagement. The class begins in August, according to a community announcement.
Leadership Northern Kentucky, powered by Citi, brings together participants from business, government, nonprofit and community organizations across Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati.
Founded in 1979, the program has graduated more than 1,700 alumni. Participants take part in immersive sessions designed to provide firsthand exposure to issues affecting the region, including economic development, government, community health and human services.
"Leadership NKY
has a way of moving people in ways they do not expect. Participants begin to see our community with new eyes, discovering how curiosity can lead to deeper understanding and connection," said Kimberley Krugel, occupational tax administrator at Boone County Fiscal Court and Class of 2027 chair. "This year's theme, Leading with Curiosity, Acting with Purpose, reflects the heart of what this class is stepping into, and I'm eager to see how this group puts that purpose into practice."
Ann Marie Whelan, NKY Chamber director of leadership, said the program provides participants with direct experience in communities across the region.
"What makes Leadership NKY so unique is that it takes leaders out of the office and drops them directly into the community," Whelan said. "Through this immersive experience, our class members gain a profound understanding of our region’s unique strengths and complex challenges firsthand."
Leadership NKY Class of 2027 announced
The following professionals were named to the Leadership NKY Class of 2027:
- Tyler Arnzen, Strauss Troy Co., LPA
- Nathan Bailey, Opus Capital Management
- Kaitlin Barber, Boone County Public Library
- Jennifer Barry, The Christ Hospital
- Benjamin Bessler, Prestige Services Inc.
- Patrick Bitters, C-Forward Inc.
- Stephanie Burnside, Thomas More University
- Matthew Crowe, Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky (TANK)
- Cameron Davis, Citi
- Dylan Dietrich, Amazon Air
- Ashby Drummond, BE NKY Growth Partnership
- Cierra Earl, Kenton County Public Library
- Andrea Enders, REDI Cincinnati
- Kyle Flower, Amazon
- Katie Floyd, Transitions Inc.
- Isaiah Fry, St. Elizabeth Physicians
- Tim Furbush, Dean Dorton
- Tyler Gabbard, The Carnegie
- Michelle Gibbs, PNC Bank
- Leigh Ann Gundrum, St. Elizabeth Healthcare
- Bert Hehman, Corporex Companies Inc.
- Cassie Hitch, Brighton Center Inc.
- Tasha Johnson, Verst Logistics
- George Kavalauskas, Lifetime Financial Growth
- Casey Kroger, Perfetti Van Melle USA
- Jason Lewis, City of Florence
- Ashleigh Luebbers, Horizon Community Foundation of Northern Kentucky
- Nicholas Lyktey, Gravity Diagnostics
- Matt Martin, Duke Energy
- Julie Nesbitt, Forvis Mazars
- Eric Neufarth, Fifth Third Bank
- Holly Nibert Harrison, Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce
- Allison Owens, Designs Direct
- Carissa Parnitzke, The Ion Center for Violence Prevention
- Jordan Perez, Advanced Technology Consulting
- Kristin Rice, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport
- Josh Ruth, Huntington Bank
- John Sadosky, City of Covington
- Meghan Savercool, Dinsmore & Shohl LLP
- Emily Sayers, Kentucky Community and Technical College System
- Beth Settlemoir, Gateway Community and Technical College
- Eric Severson, Fifth Third Bank
- Matthew Shehadi, Turfway Park Racing & Gaming
- Sam Shelton, City of Bellevue
- Cullen Simpson, Trade31
- April Sterling, Emerge IT Solutions
- Gannon Tagher, Northern Kentucky University
- Lauren Thomas, Jabil
- Amanda Villines, First National Bank of Kentucky
- Lauren Vogel, Scooter Media Company
- Remi Walz, Life Learning Center
- Brian Weis, Duke Energy
- Jared Weitzel, Prysmian
More information about Leadership NKY is available at nkychamber.com. Questions can be directed to Ann Marie Whelan at amwhelan@nkychamber.com.
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This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Leadership Northern Kentucky unveils 2027 class
