Julie Kirkpatrick

Julie Kirkpatrick serves as the President & CEO of meetNKY | Northern Kentucky Tourism, where she leads the region’s tourism strategy with a focus on enhancing quality of life and driving economic development through destination marketing and tourism growth. Under her leadership, meetNKY has become a vital force in positioning Northern Kentucky as a dynamic and essential component of the greater Cincinnati travel experience. A visionary in destination development, Julie spearheaded one of the region’s first tourism development initiatives—The B-Line—a bourbon-centric trail that firmly established Northern Kentucky as the Gateway to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® and elevated the region’s visibility within the state’s signature industry. A Lexington, KY native, Julie brings deep Kentucky roots and extensive professional credentials to her role. She is a Certified Destination Management Executive (CDME), an Executive Bourbon Steward, and a Certified Tourism Ambassador for the Cincinnati region. She holds a degree in Organizational Leadership from Northern Kentucky University, where she was honored in 2025 with the prestigious Alumni Distinguished Service Award. Julie’s commitment to community and industry is reflected in her active leadership across numerous regional and statewide boards, including the Cincinnati Music Festival, the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and the Kentucky Tourism Industry Association. Her work has earned wide recognition, including the 2022 Unity Award from the Northern Kentucky Chamber, the 2024 CEO Communicator of the Year from the Cincinnati Chapter of PRSA, and the 2024 Women Who Mean Business honor from the Cincinnati Business Courier.