Kenton County library exec earns community award from NKY Chamber

The Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce presented Natalie Ruppert of the Kenton County Public Library with its NKY Community Award. 

Sponsored by First National Bank of Kentucky, the award recognizes individuals, businesses or organizations in the Northern Kentucky Metro region for their positive impact on the community.

Under Ruppert’s leadership, the Kenton County Public Library offers over 40 monthly educational and job search skills classes. Its signature program, the Northern Kentucky Accountability Group, has helped more than 700 professionals transition careers and secure jobs in the last six years.

Her work as career and job services division helped the library system earn recognition as one of the 10 key public library workforce programs in 2022.

“Natalie Ruppert’s work in launching the Career Navigator Program and leading the library’s workforce development services has elevated the Kenton County Public Library to a national stage,” Brent Cooper, president and CEO of the NKY Chamber, said during the organization’s recent Eggs ‘N Issues event. “These services have helped hundreds of people to search and secure jobs of all types ensuring a stronger Northern Kentucky workforce for everyone. We’re proud to honor her with the NKY Community Award.”

A champion for Northern Kentucky

Ruppert earned her Bachelor of Arts in political science from Allegheny College in Pennsylvania and her master’s degree in library and information science from the University of Kentucky in 2005. She began her career in the paper, printing and recruiting industries before becoming a Reference Librarian at the Covington Library. She later worked as circulation manager for the Erlanger Library and then as workforce development manager for the library system before taking on her current role.

For her work, Ruppert received the Kentucky State Librarian Award for Community Service in 2014 and two Blue Chip Community Media Awards in 2023.

Beyond her professional efforts, Ruppert serves on the NKY Investment Board, the Diocese of Covington School Board, the Kentucky Career Center Leadership Team and has been a member of the NKY Chamber’s Eggs ‘N Issues Committee for years.