Join the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce (NKY Chamber) for Eggs ‘N Issues: Beyond Jobs – Understanding the New Drivers of Northern Kentucky’s Economy taking place on Tuesday, April 21, from 7:30-9 a.m. at Receptions Banquet and Conference Center – South, located at 1379 Donaldson Road in Erlanger.
In collaboration with BE NKY Growth Partnership, this special Eggs ‘N Issues program will bring together industry, economic development, and education leaders to explore why traditional job count metrics may no longer tell the full story and how communities can remain competitive. BE NKY’s President and CEO Lee Crume will moderate this discussion. Crume was first appointed CEO in April 2019, and under his leadership, the organization has expanded its regional economic development efforts across Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties. In 2025, BE NKY won 15 projects, announced more than 1,900 jobs, and brought in more than $425 million in capital investment.
“We look forward to releasing and sharing key findings about the region’s productivity from a new report by BE NKY, ‘Northern Kentucky Economy in Review 2025’, at Eggs ‘N Issues,” shared Crume. “Advances in technology and AI will lead to changes in employer hiring and workforce development and we want to start a dialogue on how together we can continue our region’s strong record of success and prosperity.”
Scheduled panelists include:
• Dr. Abdullah Al Bahrani, Associate Dean and Professor, at Northern Kentucky University, has a master’s degree in economic theory from American University, and a bachelor’s degree in business economics from the University of Louisville. Dr. Al Bahrani is known for being an innovative teacher, finding ways to make economics more accessible to today’s students. He’s passionate about economic education, and focused his research on financial literacy education as well as financial behavior.
• Dr. Fernando Figueroa, President of Gateway Community & Technical College, has served students in higher education for more than 25 years. He’s held various roles over that time ranging from classroom instruction to administrative titles. He has helped champion the college’s role in K-12 partnerships as well as been an advocate for workforce development initiatives.
• Dan Janka, President of Mazak Corporation, has been leading the machine tool company for nearly a decade, and was introduced to the industry by his father. He started his higher education path by attending Illinois Valley Community College and completed his industrial engineering degree at Southern Illinois University. He previously worked for Milacron and MAG Industrial Automation Systems (formerly Cincinnati Machine). Janka is an advocate for alternatives to higher education, working to let young adults know that there are sustainable jobs in the trades.
“BE NKY is doing important work to help our region understand how demographic shifts, today’s fast-moving technology and evolving workplace trends are shaping our economy,” said Brent Cooper, President and CEO of the NKY Chamber. “This is a great opportunity to hear how they’re interpreting this data, where businesses are headed and what investments in people and talent will help drive the next chapter of growth in Northern Kentucky.”
Eggs ‘N Issues: Beyond Jobs – Understanding the New Drivers of Northern Kentucky’s Economy will begin with attendee check-in, breakfast and networking from 7:30 to 7:55 a.m. The keynote presentation and audience Q&A session will follow until 9 a.m. Registration is $35 for NKY Chamber members and $45 for future members and walk-ins. The NKYP rate is $30; free with NKYP Event Pass. Pre-register for the event online at NKYChamber.com/events.
Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce