By Andy Furman
NKyTribune staff writer
Happy Ama-versary!
It was – and the celebration at the Hebron-hub may still be going strong. Perhaps as strong as Amazon has been in this region, for now, five years.
“Five years ago,” said Mike Berg, Director of Operations at the Amazon Air Hub to the throngs of people, “we opened the doors to this facility with a bold vision – to build Amazon’s largest field operations in the world, right here in Northern Kentucky. Today, I’m proud to say we’ve not only met that vision – we’ve exceeded it.
“Since landing operations in August, 2021, this facility has become the jewel of Amazon Air – our flagship hub and the gold standard for operational excellence across our global network.”
Berg is a Hebron resident with six years of Amazon experience.
Here is what five years of growth looks like:
• Created 4,000 jobs locally – good-paying jobs with benefits starting Day 1,
• Processed more than 1.5 billion packages through the facility,
• Operates more than three-dozen daily flights, connecting customers across the country to the products they need, when they need them.
“I’m not at all surprised with our growth and success,” Berg told the Northern Kentucky Tribune. “The location is perfect and it has always been a great way to serve our customers.”
The numbers, according to Berg, represent more than operational milestones. “They represent the dedication of the thousands of employees who come to work here every day – your neighbors, your friends, your family members – who make this operation run with precision and pride.”
And a first – the five-year anniversary marked the first-time Amazon shared county specific numbers. Thirty-billion dollars, has been invested since 2020, including infrastructure and employee compensation – and another 20 billion dollars has been contributed to the Commonwealth’s GDP, driving economic growth.
Berg was quick to recognize those who have been with Amazon since the very beginning – five years ago.
“Two hundred thirty-four associates are also celebrating their own five-year anniversary at KCVG,” he said. “These are the men and women who helped launch this facility – who were here for our first flight, our first package, and every milestone since.”
Amazon partners with dozens of educational institutions across Kentucky and Ohio to help their employees gain in-demand skills and propel them into new careers.
“More than 1,340 KCVG employees are actively enrolled in Amazon’s Career Choice,” said Berg, “over thirty percent of our workforce.”
Career Choice is Amazon’s fully-funded education benefit – 100 percent of tuition, no student loans, no debt, just opportunity.
The early-afternoon party-celebration under the sun consisted of a dunking booth, cornhole, the DV8 live band on stage, skeeball and food for the associates and staff.
A tent for Adopt a Class, a nonprofit which provides career exposure for Northern Kentucky students, was part of the event.
And what would a party be without gifts?
Amazon donated a $50,000 check to the Life Learning Center, and another $50,000 to organizations across Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. They are:
• Ion Center
• DCCH Center for Children and Families
• Go Pantry
• Crayons and Beyond
• Northern Kentucky Harvest
• Adopt a Class
• Alliance of Therapy Dogs
• Kentucky Homeland Heroes
• Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky, and
• Mental Health America of Northern Kentucky
Happy five-year Ama-versary.