The Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce (NKY Chamber) announced the 48th class of Leadership Northern Kentucky (Leadership NKY). The 2027 class includes 52 professionals representing a diverse cross-section of businesses and organizations throughout Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati.
Leadership NKY, powered by Citi, is a 10-month community-based leadership program that brings together professionals from business, government, nonprofit, and other sectors, immersing them directly in the issues shaping the NKY Metro and Greater Cincinnati region. These experiences equip class members with the skills to address these challenges and to make a positive impact now and into the future. Past sessions have covered economic development, government, human services, community health, and more.
More than 1,700 alumni have participated in Leadership NKY since the program’s inception in 1979.
“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 LNK 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, emphasized the immersive nature of the program and the impact on its participants and the community.
What makes Leadership NKY so unique is that it takes leaders out of the office and drops them directly into the community,” said Ann Marie Whelan, NKY Chamber Director of Leadership. “Through this immersive experience, our class members gain a profound understanding of our region’s unique strengths and complex challenges firsthand. True leadership requires this kind of deep connection, and I can’t wait to see how they transform these insights into lasting, positive impacts for Northern Kentucky.
The following individuals have been named to the 2027 Class of Leadership NKY:
• 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
• 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 (ATC)
• 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 (KCTCS)
• 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
The Leadership NKY Class of 2027 program will begin in August.
To learn more about Leadership NKY, visit NKYChamber.com/LeadershipNKY. Questions about the program can be directed to NKY Chamber Director of Leadership, Ann Marie Whelan, at amwhelan@nkychamber.com.
Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce