In celebration of Northern Kentucky’s heritage of business accomplishments, NKY Magazine, in partnership with the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, has created the Northern Kentucky Business Hall of Fame to recognize the rich tradition of success and civic involvement in the region’s business community. The Northern Kentucky Business Hall of Fame honors men and women who have made a lasting contribution to the community in economic, cultural and civic endeavors. Inductees will be honored at the sixth annual Northern Kentucky Business Hall of Fame luncheon event May 2 at the Newport Syndicate. This event is sponsored by Northern Kentucky University’s Haile/U.S. Bank College of Business and St. Elizabeth Healthcare. Registration and networking begins at 11:30 a.m., with the program and lunch starting at noon. Tickets can be purchased at cincy.live. BY THE EDITORS
POSTHUMOUS
Rodney “Biz” Cain FOUNDER, WISEWAY SUPPLY, BANK OF KENTUCKY Rodney Cain—known as “Biz” to many— was instrumental in raising the profile of Kenton County and Northern Kentucky through his decades of work in both the public and private sectors. Coming from humble stock in Independence, Cain established deep roots in Kenton County from his family farm, Caintuckee Acres. He grew up raising livestock, tending to tobacco crops and selling fertilizer, which led to an early career building houses and installing electric, plumbing and septic systems. In 1972, Cain started Wiseway Supply, which still operates today under the leadership of his son, John. “He was always very resourceful and quite the entrepreneur,” recalls John Cain. But Rodney Cain’s roots kept him intimately connected to the people of Northern Kentucky. “Whether he was talking to the governor or the guy digging ditches with him, he was comfortable with everybody. He
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cared about people and I think that showed in his business.” Rodney Cain would serve as director of Boone State Bank in the 1970s before founding the Bank of Kentucky in 1990. Even while shepherding these local banks and running Wiseway, Cain found the time and energy to be a faithful public servant of the region. He served as chairman of the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, sat on the board of the region’s visitor’s bureau, served as secretary of Kentucky’s Workforce Development Cabinet and also filled in as Kenton County judge-executive when the seat was vacated in 1998. Throughout his life, Cain was selfless and tireless in developing the area he always called home. “One thing that was noteworthy about Dad,” John Cain says, “whenever he made a deal with somebody he enjoyed their success as much as he did his own.” – KEVIN MICHELL