The Fort Mitchell-based Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce will honor five regional organizations and leaders at its annual dinner Thursday, September 17, at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center in Covington.

Retired Duke Energy executive Rhonda Whitaker Hurtt will receive the Wm. T. (Bill) Robinson III Northern Kentucky Economic Development Award, the chamber's top honor for advancing the region's economy. Whitaker Hurtt spent 33 years at Duke Energy as vice president of community relations and local government affairs for Ohio and Kentucky before retiring in June 2025. In that role she served as the utility's primary liaison to local officials across northern Kentucky, according to REDI Cincinnati, which honored her with its own Robinson-named award in March 2025.

Jason and Amy Jackman will receive the Horizon Award for community leadership.

Three organizations round out the 2026 honorees. The OKI Regional Council of Governments, the federally mandated metropolitan planning organization serving Kenton, Boone, and Campbell counties along with five other counties in Ohio and Indiana, will receive the Northern Kentucky Unity Award. LINK nky, the regional news outlet, takes the ImageMaker Award for bringing national and international attention to the area. The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile Jr. Foundation, a Covington-based philanthropy that gave approximately $11.8 million in grants in its most recent reported year, earns the Devou Cup for its lasting impact on quality of life in the region.

The dinner also marks a board leadership transition. Jason Payne, president, CEO, and chairman of First National Bank of Williamson, will hand the board chair role to Geralyn Isler, vice president and employee benefits producer at Business Benefits, a Houchens Insurance Group company.

This year's theme marks the nation's 250th anniversary year. The event runs from 5 to 8:30 p.m., presented by Fifth Third Bank, according to the chamber's event page.

Individual tickets cost $175 for chamber members and $200 for non-members. NKYP members pay $150. Table sponsorships run $1,850, and cocktail reception-only tickets are $100. Registration is open at NKYChamber.com/Events; last year's dinner sold out.