Lee Crume

President and CEO
BE NKY

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Lee Crume is the President & CEO of BE NKY Growth Partnership (BE NKY), the economic development organization serving Boone, Campbell, and Kenton counties. Since his appointment in April 2019, Lee has leveraged his extensive private sector expertise to drive business attraction, retention, and expansion in Northern Kentucky. Under his leadership, BE NKY has consistently exceeded capital investment targets, securing $383 million in investment and 1,419 new jobs in 2023 alone.

Lee spearheaded the launch of Build + Elevate NKY, a five-year investor campaign focused on data-driven economic development, workforce initiatives, business attraction, and the Northern Kentucky Port Authority. Key achievements include the NKY Atlas community data dashboard, LinkedIn digital marketing campaigns, direct engagement with regional HR leaders, and the groundbreaking of the OneNKY Center. BE NKY’s success has also been recognized with multiple Best Places to Work finalist nominations from the Cincinnati Business Courier.

A Leadership Kentucky Class of 2023 graduate and a 2021 NewsMaker honoree by Northern Kentucky Tribune, Lee brings a wealth of global business development experience, having led multi-million-dollar initiatives for Fortune 1000 companies, Big 4 consulting firms, and both public and private organizations. He began his career in leadership roles at UPS, Pitney Bowes, IKON, and DMA, where he developed a strong foundation in business processes, leadership, and team-building.

Why LifeSciKY Matters to Me
The LifeSciKY board gives me the opportunity to help launch a critical and previously missing piece of Northern Kentucky’s entrepreneurship and economic development ecosystem. By supporting this initiative, we are strengthening our region’s life sciences industry and expanding its long-term growth potential.

Northern Kentucky offers the perfect balance of resources, amenities, and affordability for both businesses and individuals. It’s a place where people can achieve personal and professional success in a welcoming and supportive environment.