Staff report
This is the first in a series on the NKyTribune’s NEWSMAKER award winners who will be recognized and celebrated at the Community Celebration annual event on Sept. 25 at 5:30 p.m. at RECEPTIONS in Erlanger. The award honors those who have commanded headlines throughout the year and brought positive attention to Northern Kentucky. Tickets are available here.
Candace McGraw is a woman on the move — and she’s moving hundreds of thousands of people in the process, having made perpetual headlines about the growth of the airport, new airlines and new fights and the terrific gains in locals traveling from CVG.
Candace McGraw
Since becoming CEO in 2011, McGraw has focused on positioning the airport for the future by completing a 2035 Master Plan Study; attracting both domestic and international low-cost air carriers; consolidating operations into a renovated terminal facility; and diversifying revenues through targeted cargo, land and concessions improvements.
On her watch, landing fee expenses paid by carriers have been reduced; local passenger growth has increased; CVG’s annual economic impact has grown from $3.4 billion to $4.4 billion, and approximately 200 acres of land has been developed for commercial and non-aviation use.
CVG will also become the home to Amazon’s new Prime Air Cargo hub and is currently home to the North American superhub for DHL — its second largest global operation.
McGraw leads a team – total staff is 460 – that has been recognized as the Best Regional Airport in North America for seven of the last eight consecutive years. CVG was also recognized as the World’s Best Airport serving 5-10 million passengers by Sky Trax World Airport Awards.
Today, she is chair of Airports Council International-North, a duty that takes her on a lot of international fights – and adds to a significant list of industry and community involvements. She also serves the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce (Member, Executive Committee); Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber; Northern Kentucky Chamber; Cincinnati Convention and Visitors Bureau; Regional Alliance of Northern Kentucky (Secretary); ArtsWave (Member, Executive Committee).
And she does it all with an easy grace, disarming charm, professional acumen – and the highest standards.
Before joining CVG, McGraw served in a number of positions at the Cleveland Airport System, including Deputy Director, and served as General Counsel for Cleveland City Council and Legal Counsel and Deputy Director of Charitable Gaming for the Ohio Lottery Commission.
She earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s at Duquesne University; a Juris Doctor from the University of Pittsburgh; and International Aviation Professional (IAP) certification from International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and ACI World.
Among her honors are YWCA Career Woman of Achievement; Outstanding Woman of Northern Kentucky; C-Suite Award-CEO of Year; Lincoln Award from Northern Kentucky University; Nelson Schwab Jr. Distinguished Leadership Cincinnati Award; Best Boss of Northern Kentucky and Kentucky Airport Manager of the Year.
She and her husband, Joe, an attorney, live in Union with their son Sean and daughter Madeline.
