The Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce will hold its 2026 Annual Dinner on September 17, at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center in Covington, honoring seven regional business and civic leaders and marking a board leadership change that touches the chamber's Florence, Fort Thomas, Newport and Erlanger business councils.

The dinner, presented by Fifth Third Bank, also formally transitions the board chair role from outgoing chair Jason Payne, president, CEO and chairman of First National Bank of Williamson, to incoming chair Geralyn Isler, vice president and employee benefits producer for Business Benefits, a Houchens Insurance Group company.

Leadership transition

Isler said in a chamber statement that under Payne's two years as chair, the organization moved to the OneNKY Center in Covington and expanded its Business Councils into Erlanger, joining Florence, Fort Thomas and Newport. She said she plans to focus on elevating member benefits, advancing workforce initiatives and serving as a voice for the business community.

The chamber represents more than 1,750 member companies, according to the Lane Report. Eighty-five percent of those members are small businesses with 10 employees or fewer, per the chamber's website.

Award recipients

Seven awards will be presented:

  • Walter R. Dunlevy/Frontiersman Award: Steve Pendery, judge-executive, Campbell County, for lifelong community service. The award dates to 1968.
  • Walter L. Pieschel MVP Award: Dave Schroeder, executive director, Kenton County Public Library, for outstanding chamber volunteer service over the past 12 months.
  • Northern Kentucky Unity Award: OKI Regional Council of Governments.
  • ImageMaker Award: LINK nky.
  • Devou Cup (presented by Greater Cincinnati Foundation): Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation, which partnered with GCF in January 2026 to invest more than $1 million in Northern Kentucky jobs, housing and literacy programs.
  • Wm. T. Robinson III Northern Kentucky Economic Development Award: Rhonda Whitaker Hurtt, retired vice president of community relations and local government affairs at Duke Energy Ohio and Kentucky.
  • Horizon Award (presented by Horizon Community Foundation of Northern Kentucky): Jason and Amy Jackman.

Registration and details

The evening runs 5 to 8:30 p.m. A networking cocktail reception opens at 5 p.m., followed by a buffet dinner and awards program at 6:30 p.m. An after-party follows at the same venue, One West RiverCenter Blvd.

Individual registration costs $175 for chamber members, $200 for non-members and $150 at the Northern Kentucky Young Professionals rate. A table sponsorship is $1,850. Cocktail-reception-only tickets are $100.

The Florence Business Council moved its September meeting to September 10, to avoid a conflict with the dinner. Registration for the annual dinner is open at NKYChamber.com.