A new initiative from the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce aims to assist employers in retaining top talent and growing the next generation of leaders.
Encounter NKY announced its first 25 participants to take part in the inaugural fall cohort.
Developed out of the Leadership NKY Class of 2019 in an effort the help address the region’s workforce issues, Encounter NKY rounds out the NKY Chamber’s leadership programming alongside Leadership Northern Kentucky and Regional Youth Leadership, the organization said.
Laura Menge of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation is the Encounter NKY Chair.
“I’m eager to bring our fall cohort together so they can begin exploring and building a deeper understanding of everything the Greater Cincinnati region has to offer while forming a meaningful network of professional and personal relationships,” said Menge, in an announcement. “Each of these leaders will bring unique experiences and perspectives to this program. One of the NKY Chamber’s strategic imperatives is growing, attracting and retaining world-class talent. Encounter NKY is just one of the ways that the NKY Chamber is investing in talent attraction and retention within the Northern Kentucky Metro region.”
The following individuals have been named to the Encounter NKY fall cohort:
- Jolene Almendarez, The Cincinnati Enquirer
- Stephen Amend, First Financial Bank
- Paula Barnes, Gateway Community and Technical College
- Annabelle Bautista, Thomas More University
- Sheena Brooks, Northern Kentucky University
- Rachael Chamberlain, Frost Brown Todd LLC
- Jessica Cleek, St. Elizabeth Physicians
- Moly Diamon, Northern Kentucky University – Institute for Health Innovation
- Courtney Donovan, Redwood
- Kaitlin Gebby, LINK Media LLC (LINK nky)
- Gina Genco, Scooter Media Co.
- Cassandra Hurst, meetNKY
- D’Juan James, St. Elizabeth Healthcare
- Courtney Kleier, NKY Chamber of Commerce
- Nicholas Lyktey, Gravity Diagnostics
- Robbie Marye, Payroll Partners
- Jessica Newman, The Kroger Co.
- Rebekah Null, Gravity Diagnostics
- Alison Peoples, St. Elizabeth Healthcare
- Lindsey Rechtin, Northern Kentucky Water District
- Carlos Ruiz, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport
- Joy Schug, St. Elizabeth Physicians
- Samuel Shelton, City of Fort Thomas
- Matt Tarka, HORAN
- Ryan Wilkins, Duke Energy
The Encounter NKY program will kick off in September.
“New talent is vital to the future growth of Northern Kentucky,” said Dawn Denham, Director of Leadership at the NKY Chamber. “To support businesses, we must find a way to attract and retain new talent to our region. Encounter NKY is a program that will do just that. While we’re excited to kick off our inaugural Encounter NKY cohort, this program is unique and offers a fall and spring cohort each year. Applications for the spring cohort will be available in early 2023.”
