The Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce will begin searching for a new leader after president and CEO Brent Cooper announced Aug. 13 that he plans to step down after completing his 10th year in the role, LINK nky reported.

Cooper, who took the helm in 2017, will remain through the coming year while the Chamber's executive committee retains an executive search firm to find his successor. Larry Krauter, CEO of the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, will head the search effort.

The transition carries direct weight for Kenton County. The Chamber is headquartered at 300 Buttermilk Pike, Suite 330, in Fort Mitchell, and Crestview Hills Mayor Paul Meier sits on its board of directors. Roughly 85% of the organization's 1,750 members are small businesses with 10 employees or fewer, according to the Chamber's website.

During Cooper's tenure, membership grew 22% to that 1,750-member mark. He established business councils across the region that hold monthly meetings open to any business or community member, and he positioned the Chamber as a lobbying force in Frankfort on infrastructure, housing and workforce development.

"I've found Brent to be a truly tireless advocate for the business community in Northern Kentucky," Krauter said. "He went after and established the business councils across Northern Kentucky and those have been incredibly successful in helping enroll more small businesses into the Chamber."

Cooper, who also founded Covington-based IT company C-Forward, said his small-business background shaped his approach. He focused on explaining to members why regional issues affect their bottom line, connecting local shops to big-picture projects like the Brent Spence Bridge and airport expansion.

The Chamber also organized restaurant relief funds and connected businesses with Paycheck Protection Program loans during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Boone County Judge/Executive Gary Moore credited Cooper with strengthening Northern Kentucky's collective voice in Frankfort on road and capital projects.

Cooper plans to return to C-Forward after his departure.

The Chamber said it will share details about the search committee and application process in the coming weeks. The organization's Annual Dinner is scheduled for Sept. 17, the first major Chamber event held during the leadership transition.

Disclosure: Cooper is a member of LINK nky's managing board, as noted in the original reporting.