The Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce (NKY Chamber) is pleased to announce Diane E. Whalen, mayor of Florence, Kentucky, has been awarded the NKY Community Award. The award is sponsored by First National Bank of Kentucky and is given out to individuals, businesses or organizations throughout the Northern Kentucky Metro that have made a positive impact in the community.
Mayor Whalen is serving her sixth term as mayor with plans to retire at the end of this year. She was first elected to city council in 1997, serving two years as vice mayor before being elected to the position of mayor in 1999. She follows in the footsteps of her father, C. M. “Hop” Ewing who served as the mayor from 1961 to 1981.
Lytle Thomas and Mayor Diane Whelan
Mayor Whalen has been involved with many civic groups, serving on the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Task Force on Transforming Education in Kentucky and the Kentucky Workforce Investment Board. She has served on the Executive Committee for the Kentucky League of Cities, the Northern Kentucky Area Development District, the Municipal Government League of Northern Kentucky and the OKI Board of Directors. She also served on the Presidential Search and Screening Committee for Northern Kentucky University. She has been named Outstanding Local Elected Official of Northern Kentucky (2012) and one of the NKY Chamber’s Outstanding Women of Northern Kentucky (2005).
Under the mayor’s leadership, Florence has been able to sustain and thrive during the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. Thousands of jobs have been created and more than three billion dollars in new capital investment has taken place throughout Mayor Whalen’s tenure, making Florence one of the fastest growing cities in Kentucky. She has also led efforts to anticipate and plan for growth, focusing on the key areas of transportation, infrastructure and community safety.
She and her husband, Wallace, have been married for 46 years and have two grown children, four grandchildren and a rescue dog named Ziva.
“You’d be hard pressed to name any mayor in Kentucky’s history that could match Mayor Whalen’s accomplishments. We are grateful for her dedication and service to Florence, the NKY Metro region and our Commonwealth over the past 26 years,” said Brent Cooper, President & CEO of the NKY Chamber. “With retirement on the horizon, the mayor has secured her legacy of leadership as Florence has flourished under her tenure with new businesses and redevelopment, including the Florence Y’Alls and the new Turfway Park Racing and Gaming. These efforts have contributed to a better quality of life for residents and have helped attract and retain a strong talent base for the local workforce. It is with gratitude and admiration for these efforts to improve the NKY Metro region that we present Mayor Whalen with the NKY Community Award.”
Mayor Whalen received her NKY Community Award from First National Bank CEO Lytle Thomas at the NKY Chamber’s Eggs ‘N Issues event this week.
Individuals interested in learning more about the NKY Chamber Community Award, sponsored by First National Bank of Kentucky, or in submitting a nomination, should contact Lynn Abeln at labeln@nkychamber.com.
