Southbank Awards Dinner is September 21 | Business

COVINGTON, KY (FOX19) - An influential former state legislator and an energetic volunteer will be honored during Southbank Partners’ Second Annual Awards Celebration.  Southbank Partners, the coalition of Northern Kentucky’s River Cities, is hosting the Second Annual Southbank Awards Celebration at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept, 21, 2011, at the Drees Pavilion in Covington’s Devou Park.

Former Kentucky State Rep. Jim Callahan of Southgate will receive the coveted Southbank Award.

Laura Cook Kroeger, Vice President of Resource Development and External Affairs at Gateway Community and Technical College, will receive the Volunteer of the Year Award.

Jim Callahan, a Southgate Democrat, served Campbell County's 67th House District for 17 years, including four terms as House Majority Caucus Chairman.

Often hailed as Northern Kentucky's "go to guy,”  Jim Callahan's legacy includes the landmark House Bill 1, the Kentucky Post Secondary Education Improvement Act that led to the founding of Gateway Community and Technical College and the 15 other Kentucky Community and Technical College System colleges.

Jim Callahan's imprint can be seen throughout the Southbank communities. With a gracious yet tenacious spirit, he played a role in projects that include The Purple People Bridge, Newport on the Levee, The Newport Aquarium, The Hofbrauhaus, Northern Kentucky Convention Center and more.

"Jim Callahan was a true gentleman who reached across party lines to get things done, be it a contentious and complicated piece of legislation or a badly needed investment of funding for a Southbank-backed project," said Southbank President Jack Moreland. "He was an advocate for our entire region who cared little about getting credit but much about getting things done."

Laura Cook Kroeger, one of Northern Kentucky's most successful public relations, fundraising and government affairs professionals, has been active with Southbank for more than a decade.

She has chaired Southbank's Public Relations Committee, co-chaired the opening events and first anniversary for the Purple People Bridge, began the Southbank Newsletter and managed public relations and planning for numerous Southbank events, from the Harbor Greene groundbreaking to Developers Day to the Southbank Awards. Through it all she has served as a volunteer spokesperson for Southbank and worked behind the scenes, writing, planning and consulting on Southbank events, issues and milestones.

"Laura Cook Kroeger is the sort of volunteer organizations like Southbank must have to survive and thrive," Jack Moreland said. "She works tirelessly, is the consummate professional, has vast knowledge of public and government relations and doesn't stop until the work is done. She has helped make Southbank the success it is today."

The event will start with a 6 p.m. reception followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. The Southbank Award and Volunteer of the Year Award will be presented during a ceremony following dinner.

Tickets are $25 per person, which includes dinner. A cash bar will be available.

This memorable event is possible thanks to the generosity of the following sponsors: City of Covington, EGC Construction, Gateway Community & Technical College, MAC Productions and Strategic Advisers LLC.

For tickets and additional information, please phone Southbank at (859) 655-7700.

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