Kim Halbauer, the regional president of Fifth Third Bank in Kentucky, has been elected chair of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce for the 2026-27 term. The announcement, first detailed on October 28, 2026, places a veteran of the financial sector at the helm of the state’s business advocacy organization.
For the business owners and working families across Kentucky, this means the state’s advocacy voice is now led by someone who spent three decades climbing the corporate ladder from a college-student customer service rep to a regional president.
A career built on the climb
Before taking the regional presidency, Halbauer operated as the managing director of Fifth Third Private Bank in Cincinnati. The scale of that role was significant: she managed approximately $12 billion in assets and oversaw services for more than 3,000 clients. That level of fiduciary responsibility is exactly what Ashli Watts, the Kentucky Chamber’s president and CEO, pointed to when welcoming Halbauer to the role. Watts noted that Halbauer’s experience and passion for helping businesses and working families succeed will be “invaluable” to the organization’s mission to advance Kentucky.
“The Chamber has an important role in bringing employers together, addressing the challenges facing our businesses, and advancing opportunities for Kentucky’s future,” Halbauer said.
Halbauer is a Northern Kentucky native and a graduate of Thomas More University, where she earned a degree in finance and business. Her influence already extends across several high-profile boards, including the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), One Louisville, and the Kentucky Chamber Foundation.
Halbauer succeeds Daniels as chair with Fugate slated for 2027
The transition involves a structured handoff. Halbauer succeeds Condrad Daniels, president of HJI Supply Chain Solutions, who chaired the organization for the 2025-26 term. Daniels isn’t leaving the room entirely; he will remain on the executive committee as the immediate past chair.
Looking further ahead, the Chamber has already locked in its next successor. Les Fugate of Brown-Forman Corp. has been selected as the chair-elect for 2027.
The broader executive committee reflects a cross-section of Kentucky’s industrial and utility powerhouses. The team supporting Halbauer includes:
- Treasurer: John Crockett of LG&E and KU Energy
- Administration: Patrick Coleman of Houchens Industries
- Communications & Marketing: Brian Cromer of Stites & Harbison
- Membership & Business Services: Steven Lee of CRH Americas Materials
- Public Affairs: Carlos Sanchez of AT&T Kentucky
Beyond the executive core, the Chamber has refreshed its board of directors. New additions include representatives from diverse sectors, such as Jill Wilcox of JPMorgan Chase Bank and Todd Ziegler of Republic Bank. To ensure the voice of smaller enterprises isn’t drowned out by corporate giants, Ray Daniels of Equity Solutions Group will serve as the small-business at-large member.
The tension between corporate interests and small business
The Chamber’s success under Halbauer will be measured by how well she can translate her leadership into wins for the small-business at-large members and the ex officio directors representing regional chambers in places like Murray and Bowling Green.
With a board that now includes the logistical networks of HJI Supply Chain Solutions, the Kentucky Chamber is led by Halbauer, who brings a finance background to the organization.
