NKY Chamber announces 2024-2025 executive committee, board of directors

The Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce (NKY Chamber) on Tuesday announced its 2024-2025 board of directors, officers, and board chair, Jason Payne of Republic Bank.

Serving as SVP, managing director of the Northern Kentucky/Cincinnati Market of Republic Bank, Payne succeeds John Hawkins, president and CEO of MPI Consulting.

“The NKY Chamber has done a phenomenal job under John’s leadership leading, advocating, and engaging the business community. Being part of the next chapter to continue the legacy as a key stakeholder organization in the community is a remarkable responsibility and opportunity,” said Payne. “I look forward to my term as board chair and working alongside my fellow board of directors and talented team at the NKY Chamber to execute on initiatives that drive the business community forward.”

A long-time NKY Chamber volunteer, Payne has held several volunteer roles with the NKY Chamber including that of Board Member (2015 to present), Board Treasurer (2019 to 2023), Executive Committee (2019 to present), Finance Committee (2015 to present), Business Referral Network Chair (2007 to 2011) and Vice Chair, Leadership Development (2016). He is a graduate of the NKY Chamber’s Leadership Northern Kentucky program (2012) of which he was elected class president.

Under Payne’s leadership, the NKY Chamber Board will focus on the NKY Chamber’s three strategic imperatives, set by the board of directors, which include:

• Prioritizing member value and optimize member engagement,
• Focus on growing, attracting and retaining world-class talent in NKY, and
• Advocating for policies and practices which support business competitiveness, growth, and inclusion in NKY.

Members of the 2024-2025 NKY Chamber Board of Directors include:

Executive Committee

• Jason Payne , Republic Bank, chair
• John Hawkins , MPI Consulting, past chair
• Geralyn Isler , Business Benefits Insurance Solutions, treasurer
• Jay Wuest , PNC Bank, secretary
• Allyson Cook , ERIGO Employer Solutions, vice chair, Women’s Initiative
• Michael Hall , Citi, vice chair, Talent Strategies
• David Kay , Fifth Third Bank, vice chair, Leadership Advisory Council
• Kristen Smitherman-Voltaire , Turner Construction, vice chair, Inclusive Business Strategies
• Jimmy Beatrice , Business Benefits, vice chair, NKYP
• John Muller , Carespring Health Care Management, vice chair, Advocacy
• Gina Douthat , Transit Authority of NKY (TANK), vice chair, Membership & Special Events
• Garren Colvin , St. Elizabeth Healthcare
• Brady Jolly , Jolly Enterprises
• Barb Johnson , Wells Fargo Advisors
• Ray Takigiku , Bexion Pharmaceuticals

Board Members

• Chip Bach , Turfway Park Racing & Gaming
• Gaby Batshoun , Global Business Solutions, Inc.
• Angel Beets , Gilman Partners
• Catrena Bowman , Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission
• Adam Caswell , Gravity Diagnostics
• Joseph Chillo , Thomas More University
• Lee Crume , BE NKY Growth Partnership
• Brent Degenhardt , City Wide Facility Solutions
• Normand Desmarais , TiER1 Performance Solutions
• Josh Duckworth , altafiber
• Fernando Figueroa , Gateway Community and Technical College
• Karen Finan , OneNKY Alliance
• Paul Furtado , Prysmian Group
• Pam Goetting , Goering Center for Family & Private Business
• Patrick Hughes , DBL Law
• Dan Janka , Mazak Corporation
• Tony Johnson , Huntington Bank
• Julie Kirkpatrick , meetNKY and Northern Kentucky CVB
• Kris Knochelmann , Kenton County Judge-Executive
• Laura Lyons , ATech Training, Inc.
• Candace McGraw , Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)
• Paul Meier , City of Crestview Hills
• Gary Moore , Boone County Judge-Executive
• Ken Muth , Duke Energy
• Shannon Oldfield , Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)
• Steve Pendery , Campbell County Judge-Executive
• Billy Santos , Truist
• W. Lee Scheben , Heritage Bank
• Reshamar Short , The Kroger Company
• Dr. Cady Short-Thompson , Northern Kentucky University
• John Sieg , Fifth Third Bank
• Mike Sipple Jr. , Centennial, Inc
• Lacy Starling , LINK Media
• Julie Tapke , Robert W. Baird & Co., Inc.
• Francisco (Paco) Tello , Perfetti Van Melle
• Kenneth Webb , Republic Bank
• Wonda Winkler , Brighton Center, Inc.
• Anna Wolf , TiER1 Performance Solutions

NKY Chamber President and CEO Brent Cooper said he looks forward to working with the new board and Payne in the coming year.

“Jason is an exceptional business and community leader, driven by a spirit of service,” Cooper said. “His background both as a community leader and longstanding volunteer with the NKY Chamber, combined with his professional experience, provides him with a solid foundation and wealth of knowledge as he begins his term as NKY Chamber Chair. I’m looking forward to working with him.”

Payne began his term as NKY Chamber board chair on September 1.

Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce

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