As president and CEO of the Northern Kentucky Regional Alliance, a group of leaders pushing initiatives to improve the region, Karen Finan knows all about influence. Started in 2017, the Alliance focuses on education, job growth, health and community vibrancy initiatives that will produce tangible results for Northern Kentucky in the coming years. “They’re a CEO group that’s pushing initiatives forward in a big kind of transformative way. They look at things through the lens of a one Northern Kentucky,” Finan says. “How can we use influence, funding, time, talent and treasures, if you will, to push things forward that make sense for the community?” With a background in real estate, economic development and private sector experience, Finan was an ideal choice to lead the Alliance. Her three-person office is in charge of initiative support, implementation and due diligence in researching ideas, but also brings initiatives to the board of directors to push things forward. “My role is to really make sure things are running on all cylinders,” she says. While the Alliance assists in short-term community goals, its focus is on major transformational initiatives that will improve the long-term future of Northern Kentucky. The Alliance helps fund projects through its corporate board of directors, manages fundraising efforts and partners with other organizations to get big things done. For job growth, the Alliance partnered with the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and several other groups to roll out Grow NKY, a comprehensive strategy growing the talent pipeline, attracting future business and maintaining a strong economy. A goal in community vibrancy is to build a vibrant front door for Northern Kentucky and that has been helped by the development of Riverfront Commons, an 11.5-mile uninterrupted walking, running and biking trail that links six river cities to Cincinnati and other local trail systems. Project partner Southbank secured an infrastructure grant from the Army Corps of Engineers for the project and the Alliance is driving financial and community support to provide matching funds for the grant. Much of the public may not have heard of the work the Alliance is involved in and that is just fine with Finan. “We’re not after headlines, we’re not after big splashy websites. This is about leading by doing,” she says. She describes the group’s work as a shot of adrenaline for many ideas and projects that have long been discussed but have come up short on implementation. “We’re really trying to push things a lot more, we’re trying to move things at a faster speed than what we have been seeing,” Finan says. “When you see our membership, you see companies that have a social conscious. I think these leaders understand that we cannot stand still.” The interim president of economic development agency Tri-ED, Finan knows a thing or two about not standing still. – SCOTT UNGER
Karen Finan
THE SUPPORTER
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