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The Covington Business Council will hold its Annual Dinner, slated for Thursday evening, November 7, at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center, 1 W. RiverCenter Blvd., Covington.

Fresh off its record-setting attendance of 475 guests at its 2023 Annual Dinner, CBC Executive Director Pat Frew said he expects that this year’s event will be even more memorable with a projected audience upwards of 600.

“This year’s theme is Growing Together, which seems appropriate with all the growth Covington is experiencing right now -- from the Covington Central Riverfront development project and the soon-to-be-completed One NKY Center to huge upcoming infrastructure projects like the new Brent Spence Bridge and Fourth Street Bridge that will significantly improve our connections with both Cincinnati and Newport,” Frew said. “This theme also ties in well with CBC’s strength of attracting and engaging members and their businesses in a way that builds a unique, supportive Covington community.”

A central feature of the CBC Annual Dinner is bestowing the Founder Award, which can be characterized as a lifetime achievement award for promoting Covington’s economic development. This year’s honoree is Orleans Development Founder Tony Kreutzjans.

Kreutzjans formed Orleans Development in 2005 after spending eight years in construction and project management with Ashley Development, Inc., a Northern Kentucky residential and commercial builder. Since founding Orleans Development, Kreutzjans has created a niche as a developer, owner, property manager, and contractor of historic and newly constructed properties in Northern Kentucky. Over the past nine years, Kreutzjans has developed more 250 residential units and roughly 80,000 square feet of commercial space.

Orleans Development has invested tremendous time and resources into developing residential and mixed-use buildings in the Northern Kentucky river cities. The company’s projects include The Bradford Building, Boone Block, Market Lofts, Pike Street Lofts, Pike Star, and biologic in Covington; the Kent Lofts in Bellevue; and the Burton Building in Dayton. Driven by a passion for architecture and historical restoration, Kreutzjans and his team continue to develop and maintain quality residential and commercial products in the urban core.

“The criterion for the Founder Award is fairly straightforward,” Frew said of the award that is voted upon by the CBC Board of Directors.  “It is presented to the person who best demonstrates meritorious service in improving the economic well-being of Covington. Tony is more than deserving of this award for all his hard work helping to grow Covington’s commercial and residential spaces.”

The Annual Dinner program will begin at the Convention Center with drinks and networking at 5 p.m., then a program and dinner running from 6:30-8 p.m.