The Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, known locally as the NKY Chamber, has announced its 2022-2023 Board of Directors and officers, including new Board Chair John Hawkins.
Under Hawkins’ leadership, the NKY Chamber Board will continue to focus on three strategic imperatives intended to enhance the vitality of the region, the Chamber said in a release:
- Growing, attracting and ratining world-class talent
- Continue to unite the Northern Kentucky region to advocate for improved economy
- Build an inclusive business community
Hawkins will also work to attract talent to the region, as well as retaining the talent that currently exists here.
A small business owner himself, Hawkins would also like to focus on small businesses and entrepreneurs, which constitute 85% of the NKY Chamber’s membership, according to the Chamber.
“This year you will hear us talking about all things workforce. Topics like removing barriers to employment, increasing access to quality childcare, increased work-based learning, affordable/attainable housing, legal immigration policies that make sense, and transportation for our employees,” Hawkins said. “The stronger we make the entirety of our business community, the better the benefit for all. We need to make our region as competitive, attractive and inclusive as possible. These are the elements that lead to business growth and an improved economy.”
Members of the 2022/2023 NKY Chamber Board of Directors include:
Executive Committee:
- John Hawkins, MPI Consulting, chair
- Garren Colvin, St. Elizabeth Healthcare, immediate past chair
- Jason Payne, Republic Bank, treasurer
- Geralyn Isler, Business Benefits Insurance Solutions, secretary
- Barb Johnson, Wells Fargo Advisors
- Brady Jolly, Jolly Enterprises
- Ray Takigiku, Bexion Pharmaceuticals
- Jay Wuest, PNC Bank
Program Chairs
- Patrick Hughes, DBL Law vice-chair, Public Affairs
- Melissa Lutz, Champlin Architecture – vice-chair, Membership and Events
- Claire Parsons, Wood + Lamping Attorneys at Law – vice-chair, Leadership Advisory Council
- Kristen Smitherman-Voltaire, Turner Construction – vice-chair Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
- Francisco (Paco) Tell, Perfetti VanMelle – vice-chair, Workforce
Board Members
- Chip Bach, Turfway Park Racing & Gaming
- Gaby Batshoun, Global Business Solutions
- Catrena Bowman, Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission
- Julie Brazil, Gravity Diagnostics
- Cara Brooks, Duke Energy
- Dr. Joseph Chillo, Thomas More University
- Allyson Cook, Erigo Employer Solutions
- Lee Crume, Northern Kentucky Tri-ED
- Norm Desmarais, TiER 1 Performance Solutions
- John Enzweiler, First Financial Bank
- Richard Field, Post Glover Resistors, Inc.
- Fernando Figueroa, Gateway Community & Technical College
- Karen Finan, One NKY Alliance
- Shelley Funke-Frommeyer, FFR Wealth Team
- Michael Hall, CITI
- Paul Hemmer, Paul Hemmer Company
- Dan Janka, Mazak
- Julie Kirkpatrick, meetNKY, Northern Kentucky CVB
- Judge Executive Kris Knochelmann, Kenton County Fiscal Court
- Jim Lokesak, Skyline Chili
- Laura Lyons, ATech Automotive Tech
- Candace McGraw, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport
- Mayor Paul Meier, City of Crestview Hills
- Misty Middleton, Bellevue Independent School District
- Judge Executive Gary Moore, Boone County Fiscal Court
- Chris Owens, Taylor Oswald
- Judge Executive Steve Pendery, Campbell County Fiscal Court
- Eric Pozarycki, DHL
- Erin Rolfes, Kroger
- Billy Santos, Truist
- John Sieg, Fifth Third Bank
- Lacy Starling, Link Media
- Julie Tapke, Robert W. Baird & Co. Inc.
- Brian Todd, Clark Schaefer Hackett
- Dr. Ashish Vaidya, Northern Kentucky University
- Caroline Weltzer, Viox & Viox
- Wonda Winkler, Brighton Center
- Anna Wolf, TiER1 Performance Solutions
