(Editor’s note: This is the first of six stories honoring the NKyTribune’s ’26 NewsMakers of the year.)
By Laura Kroger
NKyTribune staff writer
John Cain has been described as a Renaissance man: a leader who has wide knowledge, deep skills, and high achievements in many different fields. He has an unassuming demeanor that cloaks a huge life-long effort to give back to the Northern Kentucky community through dozens of leadership roles.
Cain is a philanthropist, long-time business owner, former chair of the NKY Chamber of Commerce, a lawyer, 1985-1986 student body president of the University of Kentucky, a one-time finance manager at Procter & Gamble, magician, dad to four daughters, husband of 38 years to Carla, and grandfather to twin boys born in January 2026 followed by a baby girl in February.
That’s just a sampling of the countless accomplishments that make John Cain a hands-down 2026 NKyTribune Newsmaker Award winner.
He is best known as the President and CEO of Wiseway Supply from 1988 to 2024. In this capacity Cain served as the strategic leader of the plumbing, electrical and lighting supply company as it established branches in Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio, ultimately also serving the region from Missouri to the East Coast and Florida to Michigan.
He began working at Wiseway on weekends and during summers beginning when he was in fourth grade.
“After graduating from the University of Kentucky with a triple major in finance, accounting and German I wanted to work for an outstanding company and see the world; P&G offered that. It took me to Connecticut for a year, but it was just too big for me,” recalls Cain.
“My dad, Rodney “Biz” Cain, founded Wiseway in 1972. I had a front row seat to view his leadership and community involvement. He asked me three times over three years if I would join Wiseway with him. I finally said yes and never regretted it for a minute – all 36½ years. There is nothing like working for a family business and being involved in your community.”
Cain honed his leadership skills by watching his father and other Northern Kentucky family businesses. He particularly admires the group that founded the Bank of Kentucky in 1990. That included his dad Biz Cain, R.C. Durr and Bob Zapp.
“I also admire the leaders who run family businesses that give back to the community like the Drees, Toebben, Griffin, and Fischer families — and so many others. All have run successful businesses and done so much more to support their community than larger companies with no roots here. They have placed their fingerprints all over Northern Kentucky.”
Of course, the Cain family is included in this illustrious listing of families what have made a huge impact on Northern Kentucky.
Cain clings to two mantras that have shaped his service. The first is the Bible verse Proverbs 27:17. “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” He sees this through his leadership lens that no one person grows to be their best alone. You need wise people around you to help and guide your character. You sharpen yourself so you can assist others.
His second guide is the famous Mark Twain quote, “It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.”
He has used this to motivate improvement and change at Wiseway and while serving in community and industry leadership roles.
While Biz Cain served as Judge-Executive of Kenton County, John decided politics was not for him. He had other noble pursuits. One is education. Few know that John and Carla endowed a professorship at the Gatton College of Business at the University of Kentucky where he has served in various leadership roles for years and was inducted into the Business School’s Hall of Fame in 2025. He has served in leadership on the board and several committees of the university’s alumni association. An alumnus of Covington Latin School, Cain was a member of the Board of Directors from 2006-2012.
Amy Darpel is the Director of Advancement for Covington Latin. She has known Cain and his wife Carla since the Cain daughters and Amy’s son attended school there.
“He’s brilliant,” she says of John. “He’s truly a servant leader who I can go to for good, sound advice at any time. His insight is always practical. At the same time, he is always on the lookout for how he can help others and also remain a life-long learner. He’s pretty awesome. As a long-time advocate of Covington Latin and education in general, I can’t think of a better person to be honored with this award.”
There are plenty of industry professionals who feel the same as Amy.
Cain has served on a dozen boards and committees in the plumbing and electrical industries, winning countless awards for his service. It includes the prestigious National Association of Electrical Distributors Arthur W. Hooper Award in May 2026 and the Building Industry Association of Northern Kentucky Wiedeman Lifetime Achievement Award in December 2025.
Locally, he was an active board member of the Northern Kentucky Bar Association, the Bank of Kentucky, the Tri-County Economic Development Corporation (Tri-ED) which is now Be NKY, the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and Greater Cincinnati Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF). John and Biz Cain are the only father and son duo to both chair the NKY Chamber in 1990 and 2006, respectively.
With all of his under-the-radar activities, Cain has always treasured his time with Carla and their four daughters. They have visited 49 counties. John and Carla have plans to soon visit Spain, Jordan and Egypt (especially the pyramids), and take a cruise down the Nile River.
“I’m a huge fan of the Cain family, especially John,” gushes Boone County Judge Executive Gary Moore. “I have known John since he was nine years old and watched him grow into the wonderful gentleman that he is. I was the General Manager and VP of Wiseway while in my twenties. I was amazed that he was the University of Kentucky Student Body President which automatically placed him on the University’s Board of Directors. John excelled in everything he did. He’s extremely modest, but anything he touches is successful.”
Cain practically blushes at the accolades.
“It’s such a truly great honor to win this award,” he said. “Beyond the honor it provides some introspection into my role in the community and what I’ve been so fortunate to be able to do, and what the community’s done for me. Through it I’ve learned a lot. It’s funny how you look back over your life and think about all the things you experience and the people you get to meet. I am so very blessed.”
Of course, the community is much better off having John Cain at the helm of so many initiatives over the years.
(Celebrate John Cain and other NewsMakers at free breakfast-by-the bite (with coffee) reception and awards presentation on October 7, 8-10 a.m., at Wenzel Distillery Event Center, 412 Madison Ave., Covington. All welcome.)
