More than 1,100 guests are expected to gather at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center tomorrow night to help the Northern Kentucky Chamber ring in a new year, welcome a new chairman and celebrate an anniversary milestone. “There is No Place Like Northern Kentucky” is the theme for the event emceed by Clyde Gray of WCPO
TV who will welcome incoming Chairman of the Board Gary Beatrice of Business Benefits/Hammerlein Garner (pictured at left) and congratulate Immediate Past-Chair Rob Hudson from Frost Brown Todd, LLC.
“I am looking forward to carrying on the Chamber’s mission,” Beatrice said. “We have a wealth of talented volunteers, Chamber staff and the support of local businesses and communities. Our goal is to be problem solvers and the area’s thought leader in developing solutions that create jobs and drive the economic growth of the Northern Kentucky region.”
The Chamber is placing an emphasis on its advocacy efforts during its 2009-2010 year and will actively grow member participation in grassroots programs to raise the Chamber’s profile in Frankfort and Washington, D.C. Beatrice commented the Chamber changed its advocacy communication to make it clearer, stronger and multi-faceted, and as a result will enhance its effectiveness. “These enhancements are occurring now because state and federal legislators tell us they most want to hear from our region’s
businesses about how legislation affects their ability to grow their business and move the economy forward,” he said.
The Chamber Board developed a program of work based on regional needs that included objectives that the Chamber will accomplish this year. The objectives include working with other regional partners to be a prime resource for entrepreneurs, developing and hosting a Business Innovation Summit, modeled after the Education Summit from a few years ago, and working with other regional partners to become a resource for women in business. Other objectives are expected to take a little longer than a year to accomplish.
These include continuing to work with the airport to create strategies and solutions to offset the reduction in flights through CVG; and assisting local governments to find ways to create efficiencies through sharing services.
Beatrice is a 1994 graduate of Leadership Northern Kentucky and has served as an advisor and educator to the business community and Kentucky elected officials on the subject of healthcare reform and health insurance for 15 years. Gary has been actively involved in the community, including serving on the Board of Directors of the Steinford Foundation, the HealthPoint Foundation, Rosedale Manor and serves in various capacities at Saint Anthony Church and School in Taylor Mill, Kentucky. Gary and his wife Margie
live in Independence with their four children, Anthony, Jessica, Jacob and Nicholas.
The Title sponsors of the 2009 Annual Dinner are The Bank of Kentucky, Business Benefits, Duke Energy, Frost Brown Todd LLC, The Kentucky Enquirer, Masterpiece Creations at Northern Kentucky Convention Center and PNC/National City. Presenting sponsors are Department of Catholic Schools-Diocese of Covington and Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America. Wine sponsors are Corporex, Fifth Third Bank, Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP and Turner Construction.
The evening includes a celebration of Chamber volunteers of four special awards. The winners are:
Helen Carroll, Toyota - Walter R. Dunlevy/Frontiersman Award
Lindsey Eger, Turfway Park and Park Avenue Catering - Walter L. Pieschel Award
Donna Salyers, Donna Salyers' Fabulous-Furs - Northern Kentucky Imagemaker Award
Dr. Ed Hughes, Gateway Community & Technical College - Northern Kentucky Unity Award