Description

Covington’s Place in the Regional Economy

Join us for a forward-looking conversation with regional economic development leaders as we explore Covington’s expanding role in the Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati economies.

Together, we’ll examine the key assets that position Covington as a regional leader, identify where the city is primed for growth, and discuss the major wins we anticipate over the next 5–10 years. We’ll also highlight the opportunities available to businesses both inside and outside the city — and what will continue to attract new investment, talent, and innovation to Covington.

Tom Demeropolis, Cincinnati Business Courier Editor will moderate the discussion with a panel consisting of Lee Crume, BE NKY Growth Partnership President and CEO, Kimm Lauterbauch, President and CEO of the Cincinnati Metropolitan area Regional Economic Development Initiative or REDI and Covington Economic Development Director Tom West.

Moderator: Tom Demeropolis

Tom Demeropolis serves as editor of the Business Courier, leading the award-winning team in both print and online. Prior to becoming editor, he spent more than a decade covering commercial real estate for the Courier. He is a University of Cincinnati graduate and has a master’s in journalism from Ball State University. Before joining the Courier in 2010, he was a reporter with the Dayton Business Journal, a sister outlet. He is a three-time American City Business Journals Eagle award winner. 

 Lee Crume - BE NKY  

Lee Crume is President & CEO of BE NKY Growth Partnership (BE NKY), the economic development company that works to attract, retain, and grow businesses and the economy in Boone, Campbell, and Kenton counties. Since Lee was appointed CEO in April 2019, he has led the growth of the BE NKY team, with a new position added in 2026, and the number of employees growing to 16. The company was named a Best Places to Work finalist by the Cincinnati Business Courier in 2023 and 2021. 

Kimm Lauterbach - REDI

As President and CEO of REDI Cincinnati since 2018 and a founding leader, Kimm drives economic strategies to boost the three-state, 15-county region’s global competitiveness. After five years as VP of business development, she led all aspects of projects for companies locating or expanding in the region. In May of 2024, she was recognized as a YWCA Career Woman of Achievement. 

Tom West - City of Covington

Tom West is Director of Economic Development for the City of Covington, where he leads a team that’s responsible for growing an innovative and successful economy for all Covington residents through business attraction, retention and expansion programs, commercial real estate development deals, and administering the City’s zoning and historic preservation regulations. Under his leadership, the Department created a citywide economic development strategy, rewrote the City’s zoning code to make it easier and friendlier for businesses and residents, and implemented policies designed to assure a return on incentive investment for taxpayers.