After taking a couple years off for the pandemic, NKY Magazine, in partnership with the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, brought back the Northern Kentucky Business Hall of Fame in 2023. This award recognizes the rich tradition of success and civic involvement in the region’s business community and honors men and women who have made a lasting contribution to the community in economic, cultural and civic endeavors.
Inductees were honored at the Northern Kentucky Business Hall of Fame luncheon event April 5 at Turfway Park Racing & Gaming. The awards are sponsored by PNC Bank and the Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport.
In the following pages, you’ll meet this year’s winners and hear their stories. Northern Kentucky is an amazing place to do business, and this year’s winners are evidence of that.
Frank Sommerkamp, Jr.
Posthumous Inductee
According to Daria Nantista, Frank Sommerkamp, Jr.’s daughter, Sommerkamp was Mr. Northern Kentucky. He would spend much of his career at Cincinnati Bell, retiring there as vice president of Government Affairs. But he was much more than that to his family and community.
“I just remember growing up, he was always raising money. Whether it be the cathedral in Covington, whether it was the diocese, whether it was the St. Elizabeth Foundation, Thomas More College back then, now Thomas More University. And then, after retirement, he served over 20 years as a councilman on Crestview Hills City Council. He wanted to make his community better than it was,” says Nantista.
William P. Butler, chairman of Corporex Companies, also values the impact Sommerkamp had on his life. “What began as neighbors grew into our 53 years of mentorship partnership and onto deep bonds of respect and friendship. We partied together, we worked together, we prayed together and we served together,” says Butler. “Our bond was centered in one word that above all others persist in my mind. When reflecting on Frank Sommerkamp, the word is community. Frank understood the value inherent in that word better than most. He understood its deeper meaning. Community is about people, not places. And people comprised community.”
The many organizations he was involved with included Thomas More College, the Greater Cincinnati Convention and Visitors Bureau, Northern Kentucky Convention and Visitors Bureau, Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, Covington Rotary Club, Forward Quest, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport and St. Elizabeth Hospital Foundation Board of Directors.
“He manifested his commitment to building community, moving forward, bringing movers and shakers together for the good of the whole and every sector where he was involved. To that end, he was a model for collaboration on the boards he served. All with an eye to advancing this population center we’ve come to call Northern Kentucky. He was a force for progress, economic growth, more importantly for quality of life, growth for unity and for service to others. Our one northern Kentucky community is a beneficiary of … change at the behest to this devoted executive,” says Butler.
Kevin Canafax
Vice President of Regional Public Affairs
Fidelity Investments
“[Kevin Canafax] is a true renaissance man here in Kentucky,” says Candace McGraw, CEO of the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, and it’s easy to see why she thinks that. Canafax has been with Fidelity Investments since 1994 and is now vice president of Regional Public Affairs, but he’s also served on a number of boards (including CVG and the Kentucky Chamber), is one of the founders of Brandemonium and helped start and performs in the annual fundraiser Suits That Rock.
“He is a shining example of what’s wonderful about Northern Kentucky. Born here, raised here, dedicated, raised his family here, believes in the Northern Kentucky future. He doesn’t look outside of our region for the hope and joy. He does it right here,” says D. Lynn Meyers, producing artistic director of the Ensemble Theatre.
Canafax, who is a native of Newport and has lived in Northern Kentucky for most of his life, says having access to big-city amenities while living in a small-town atmosphere has shaped his view of the community and region.
“[What I’ve enjoyed] in the 29 years that I’ve worked for Fidelity—and previously I worked for the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and the Northern Kentucky Convention and Visitors Bureau, so all told 35 years—has been my ability to give back to the community through my role and that’s been in building relationships to make this a better place to live, work and play,” he says.
One the most celebrated of those accomplishments is Suits That Rock. The annual fundraiser has raised $1.5 million for arts education programming in Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati over 17 years.
“He always thinks outside the box. He’s incredibly creative,” says John S. Domaschko, co-founder of Suits That Rock. “[Suits That Rock] was a concept that none of us had really thought of before and it all coalesced into an event that’s now raised $1.5 million for arts education for The Carnegie. It’s just a perfect example of the kind of thing that Kevin does outside the normal.”
Kay Geiger
Former Regional President
PNC Bank
Over the years, Kay Geiger, who was regional president of PNC Bank from 2008 to 2022, has dedicated much of her time and energy to the Northern Kentucky community.
“Kay has either led or served on every board or every meaningful initiative in our community, bringing her keen intellect and gracious spirit to every endeavor,” says Candace McGraw, CEO of the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. Those boards have included CVG and the OneNKY Alliance.
“What is so important, and I love about Northern Kentucky, is its momentum. It’s had momentum for over 150 years, but one of the things that I have had the greatest joy in is being part of the opportunities that we have seen recently,” says Geiger. “The Catalytic Fund, for instance, transforming our neighborhoods. The airport. It’s the epicenter of commerce. It is and it will be for the next hundred years what changes our region. The formation of the OneNKY, the mission of leaders that want to strategically help transform our region for the next decades. And then think about health care and the bio sciences and the many things that we have that are startups that will change our lives and our health. Northern Kentucky is where all of these things are possible because the momentum.”
“If I was to use one word to describe Kay, I would say it’s generous,” says Chuck Scheper, chairman of the board of Bexion Pharmaceuticals. “She gives her time, talent and treasures to things that are important to her, but also to the community. And we’re a much better place as a result of having her living and working and contributing in Northern Kentucky.”
Geiger left PNC in 2022 for what she called a “rewirement,” not a retirement. She has no plans to end her time working for or being involved in the Northern Kentucky community.
“My career has been so fortunate in that I chose it because it was a people business. The joy that I have for connecting people and allowing people to find their own way, their own path, their own growth, their own future, is really what my career availed me to,” says Geiger.
Eric Haas
Co-owner
Hofbräuhaus Newport, Pittsburgh and Columbus
Mayor of Fort Thomas
Eric Haas is one individual who may have done it all in Northern Kentucky.
Today he is the co-owner of Hofbräuhaus Newport, Pittsburgh and Columbus and mayor of Fort Thomas, but he also serves on the boards of the Cincinnati US Bank Board of Advisors, the River City’s Government Coalition, the Campbell Leadership Action Group and the Hanover College Board of Trustees. He’s a member of the Fort Thomas Lions Club, worked for his family’s business—National Band & Tag—and has served on the boards of the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and Kentucky Chamber.
“In general, I love Northern Kentucky,” says Haas. “This is a great place to live, great place to work and great place to have businesses. And I have a few of them here, and it’s been a lot of fun.”
After years of running businesses, Haas moved into politics, first as a member of the Fort Thomas City Council in 1997 and then as mayor in 2014. He enjoys serving the residents of the city and helping the city succeed.
“We are so blessed in Fort Thomas. We have a great school system, and, because of that, we’re filled with parents that care about their kids and care about education. And that means they care about everything. They care about the entire community. A lot of people are involved in Fort Thomas, and they all contribute to the success of the city. What’s not to like?” he says.
Matt Kremer, administrator of the city of Fort Thomas, says that this passion is passed onto other city employees.
“There’s a lot of successful business owners in Northern Kentucky. The difference for him is he’s a great leader. He’s caring about his employees, he respects them. He provides high-level guidance, and he allows us to do our job, which is incredible for a leader. He’s a visionary. He’s not afraid to make changes. He’s not afraid to try new things. And that’s not something you see all the time out of leaders,” says Kremer.
Debbie Simpson
Former President,
Multi-Craft
Debbie Simpson’s dedication to her family’s company, Multi-Craft, reflects her dedication to the Northern Kentucky community.
She started as a receptionist in 1969, working her way up to president in 1990. “She led the transformation of Multi-Craft from a mid-size printing company to a full-service marketing services organization serving both local and national accounts,” says Brent Cooper, president and CEO of the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce.
In 2001, she moved to Northern Kentucky and her involvement in the region grew exponentially. “Throughout her career, she’s been involved in many local, state and national organizations, including the co-founder of the Women’s Initiative at the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. She was past chair of the Northern Kentucky Chamber, past board member of the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, chair of the St. Elizabeth Board. The list goes on. Her involvement, her passion, for the community are unmatched,” adds Cooper.
Through her work, Simpson gained not only the respect of the community, but also the respect of her family.
“Debbie, my brother and myself, we ran the company. She was president and we sold it about five years ago. And it was a great experience for our family. She was the president and she was greatly suited for that because she is very driven. She works well with people, very calm, very decisive, very smart. And besides being someone great to work with, she’s my sister and my best friend,” says Pam Lasita, former treasurer and secretary of Multi-Craft and Simpson’s sister.
Simpson retired in 2018, but she continues to value the people she’s worked with and alongside throughout the years.
“The thing that gave me the most joy in my career were the people. First of all, I got to work with my brother and sister every day. And working with my family was very special to me. And then there’s the people. The team that we had at Multi-Craft, they were wonderful there. Smart, intelligent, funny. Knew how to have fun but they also know how to take care of the customer. In business you can copy somebody’s products and services, but you can’t copy the team that made that happen every day,” she says.
