The Covington Business Council (CBC) will hold its annual dinner on Thursday, November 30 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center. Over 500 people are expected to attend the event.
This year’s dinner will focus on “Helping You Find Your Way,” which recognizes recent developments along Northern Kentucky’s Riverfront.
The Covington Central Riverfront Project has officially kicked off in the area formerly occupied by the IRS. Twenty-three acres will be developed as a result of this project. The start of this project also coincides with a joint wayfinding project between CBC, meetNKY, and the City of Covington to improve signage from the Central Business District and riverfront area to Madison Avenue.
In addition to new developments on the horizon, the CBC has also grown and will also be celebrating great attendance for their event.
“After years of substantial attendance growth at this, the CBC’s largest fundraising event, we are pleased to work with the convention center in staging what we hope will be our largest and most memorable Annual Dinner, with attendance expected to eclipse 500 people,” Pat Frew, Executive Director of the Covington Business Council, said.
The CBC will also present its annual award, the Founder Award, to recipient Patrick Hughes of DBL Law.
The Founder Award Recipient, Patrick Hughes
Patrick Hughes, Partner of DBL Law, will be recognized for his contributions, which include a long history of dedication to the community of Covington. From assisting with DBL Law’s relocation to the urban core of Covington to his philanthropic endeavors, Hughes is a humble and immensely devoted Covingtonian.
LINK nky sat down with Patrick Hughes to learn more about his dedication to Covington.
“Where a lot of my focus has been, beyond what I do professionally and personally, is trying to do some small part to contribute to the renaissance of the urban core, principally Covington. I believe the urban core is the heart of the community. This is where commerce occurs, where culture is born, and where the arts are focused,” Hughes said. “The opportunities for these things to exist in Covington have arisen as a part of being a part of a law firm that has relocated 80 jobs here, volunteering in the community with riverbank clean up, park clean up, and the Baker Hunt board. My residence is here. I also serve on the Life Learning Center board which focuses on advancing people’s lives.”
Hughes explains that what he is doing is just a small part of what others in the community have been doing over the years for Covington.
“I want to emphasize that my overall contribution is a tiny fraction of what is going on in Covington. I’m not a bashful person, but it’s humbling and mildly embarrassing to get an award like this because no one person does all this alone. If you look back at people in the community, in Covington, who have been working for decades, I’m just one small part of that.”
One notable, trailblazing community member that Hughes mentioned was Virginia Kerst, who is now battling cancer and has been a catalyst for change in Covington for decades.
“Virginia has, sometimes, been out in front…but she’s usually quietly contributing a large amount of talent and a very generous amount of her time. She’s blunt and direct, and what she’s focused on now, as she completes her battle with cancer, is continuing her contribution to the Covington community. My Dad was a city engineer for Covington who worked with her, so Virginia’s influence spans generations. She has spent decades contributing. She’s worked with officials for the city and the county,” Hughes said. “So, I’m grateful…and it’s a combo of humility, mild embarrassment, and pride. But I’m just contributing to what other folks before me have contributed. The award shouldn’t be about any individual, but it does provide individuals a chance to talk about ways to contribute to Covington.”
Although Hughes’ family has been in Covington for generations, Hughes said that Covington has a sense of pride that draws outsiders in.
“I grew up in the Covington area. I most recently lived in the suburbs, but I spent a lot of time in Covington. I went to school on 12th Street, so moving back here was fine for me…but my wife Michelle moved here from Loveland,” Hughes said. “She loves it and says that she can’t believe she didn’t know about it before we met. From my perspective, I’ve been here my whole life and seen it, but it says a lot that my wife didn’t grow up here yet understands the value of contributing to Covington–that is a testament to our community.”
To learn more about the CBC’s Annual Dinner and buy tickets, please visit www.cbcky.com.
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The Annual Dinner is sponsored by the following organizations: Event host sponsor St.Elizabeth Healthcare, co-presenting sponsors The BMW Store Cincinnati and Corporex, cocktail hour sponsor Huntington Bank, Founder Award co-sponsors DBL Law and Current HR, parking co-sponsors Revival Vintage Bottle Shop and the Law Offices of Shannon Smith, entertainment sponsor meetNKY, media sponsor LINK nky, photography sponsor Jennifer Lynn Pictures, spirit sponsor the Milburn Group, video sponsor Spotted Yeti Media, and wine sponsor Manning Contracting.