Fort Thomas Schools Superintendent Gene Kirchner has been named Sr. Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce.
He will join the Chamber upon his retirement from Fort Thomas Schools this June.
“I’m thrilled to have Gene on board. I have known him for about 30 years, and it will be fun to work with him,” said Trey Grayson, president & CEO of the Northern Kentucky Chamber. “His commitment to excellence, innovative leadership experiences, and his passion for our community and the Chamber make him a tremendous addition to our team.”
Gene Kirchner
Kirchner served as superintendent of Fort Thomas Schools since 2012. In addition to his work with public school districts across Northern Kentucky, Kirchner has served as a member of the NKY Chamber Board of Directors, and as a member of its Business Advocacy Committee.
During his tenure with Fort Thomas Schools, Kirchner spent hours in Frankfort lobbying for public education, and successfully lobbied for more than $20 million in state funding for Fort Thomas. Also during his time with Fort Thomas, Kirchner implemented an innovative five-year plan to incorporate emerging technologies into the classroom.
“Gene is an amazing hire for the NKY Chamber,” said Brent Cooper, President of C-Forward. “He has key relationships with legislators and business leaders, and is beloved by educators all around the state. He also brings extensive management experience. His quality achievements leading Walton-Verona and Fort Thomas Schools are unparalleled.”
Before his time with Fort Thomas Schools, Kirchner served as deputy superintendent for Walton-Verona Schools, as well as principal of Walton-Verona High School.
“I am extremely excited for the opportunity to join the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce in representing the business community and our region as a whole,” said Kirchner. “I believe that Northern Kentucky is well positioned for success in a very competitive global marketplace, and look forward to collaboratively achieving world-class results.”
As Sr. Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Kirchner will have a focus on advocacy, operations, and strategic initiatives all aimed at helping the Chamber achieve its mission of promoting and supporting the development of strong businesses and a vibrant economy in the Northern Kentucky region, through leadership and advocacy, resulting in a better quality of life overall.
Kirchner earned a Master’s Degree in Education from Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, KY.
