The Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce will honor four alumni from its flagship leadership programs — Leadership Northern Kentucky and Regional Youth Leadership — who have made a significant impact in the Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati region.
The honorees will be celebrated during the 2026 Leadership Alumni Awards Luncheon, taking place on Thursday, Aug. 27 at Receptions Banquet and Conference Center in Erlanger. The event will celebrate the recipients of four awards: The Ruth A. Eger Leader of Distinction Award, The R. Casey Barach Leadership Award for Entrepreneurship, The Leadership Volunteer Impact Award, and The Gary Beatrice RYL Leadership Award.
“It is a privilege to recognize these four exceptional alumni for their meaningful contributions to our programs and community,” said NKY Chamber Director of Leadership, Ann Marie Whelan. “Their achievements highlight the vital role leadership plays in elevating our businesses and region. As proud representatives of our programs, they truly deserve this recognition, and we are excited to celebrate them.”
This year’s Leadership Alumni Awards honorees are:
• Nancy Grayson, president and CEO of Horizon Community Foundation (Leadership NKY Class of 2009), is the recipient of this year’s Ruth A. Eger Leader of Distinction Award. Nominated by fellow Leadership NKY alumni, this award recognizes an individual who has made significant, lifelong contributions to the region.
Grayson serves as president and CEO of Horizon Community Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening Northern Kentucky through collective philanthropy. She is active on numerous boards of organizations working to improve education, promote healthy family relationships, and preserve the natural resources and history of Kentucky. She currently serves on the Endow Kentucky Commission and the LINK Media Board of Directors. Grayson also is a vocalist with Suits that Rock, a group of local business leaders who perform an annual benefit concert for The Carnegie.
• Tom Prewitt (Leadership NKY Class of 1999), retired partner at Bricker Graydon Wyatt, is the recipient of the R. Casey Barach Leadership Award for Entrepreneurship. This award honors individuals who have made a lasting impact on our region’s entrepreneurial spirit.
Prior to his retirement in December of 2025, Prewitt served business clients in a variety of ways at Bricker Graydon (now Bricker Graydon Wyatt) for 37 years. His extensive experience enabled him to effectively and efficiently advise clients on matters ranging from business startup and entity formation to contract development and deal structuring. As the former Managing Partner at Graydon, Prewitt is an avid consumer of information about the practice of law in the future and routinely consults with peer leaders at other law firms in the region and around the country. He drove the Bricker Graydon merger in 2023 and championed the Bricker Graydon Wyatt merger in 2026.
Prewitt has been active in regional entrepreneurship and economic development, founding and leading Northern Kentucky’s original Innovation Network office, and chairing the boards at E-Zone and UpTech, Greater Cincinnati’s business accelerators for data-driven tech startups.
• Nicole Trimpe, advancement director for St. Vincent de Paul Northern Kentucky (Leadership NKY Class of 2012), is the recipient of this year’s Leadership Volunteer Impact Award. This award is given to an alumnus of Leadership NKY who generously shares their time and is accessible to others.
In her role as advancement director, Trimpe leads fundraising, communications, and volunteer engagement efforts that support St. Vincent de Paul Northern Kentucky’s mission of serving neighbors in need. She joined St. Vincent de Paul in April 2025 after serving as Vice President of Development for LINK nky.
Trimpe has remained actively involved with Leadership NKY for more than a decade. She has served on the Steering Committee, served five years as co-chair of the economic development session, and currently serves on the Community Vibrancy committee.
• Lindsey Eger Armstrong, executive assistant to the CEO at Chemed Corporation (Regional Youth Leadership Class of 1999 and Leadership NKY Class of 2008), is the recipient of this year’s Gary Beatrice RYL Leadership Award. This award recognizes a volunteer or graduate of RYL and is named in honor of Gary Beatrice, a friend and champion of the program.
Armstrong has more than a decade of experience driving executive alignment, strategic clarity, and operational excellence. She has built her career supporting CEOs and senior leaders through high‑impact initiatives, executive communications, cross‑functional coordination, and corporate event strategy.
A proud Northern Kentucky leader, Armstrong has spent many years coaching youth, high school, and club soccer, and she continues to invest in the region through volunteer work with Operation Give Back, People Working Cooperatively, and other community organizations. She also serves on the She+ Board, supporting women’s leadership and empowerment. Lindsey’s commitment to developing others, creating opportunity, and strengthening community reflects the values at the heart of RYL and LNK.
Tickets for the Leadership Alumni Awards Luncheon are $40 per person, with a discounted NKYP rate of $35. Tables of ten are available for $400. To register or for more information, visit nkychamber.com/events. Proceeds from the event support scholarships for future participants in the NKY Chamber’s leadership programs.
To learn more about the NKY Chamber’s leadership programs, visit nkychamber.com/leadership.
Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce