STATEMENT OF TIM BRAY

BOARD CHAIRMAN MEETNKY | NORTHERN KENTUCKY

CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU

In addition to continuing to work closely with Kenton County

Commonwealth’s Attorney Rob Sanders and local and national law-
enforcement agencies into their investigations and criminal prosecution of
Bridget Johnson and alleged accomplices, meetNKY|Northern Kentucky
Convention and Visitors Bureau (the CVB) has taken proactive steps to
conduct an internal investigation into the crime, recover missing funds, and
implement new policies and procedures for handling the organization’s
finances.

To lead a funds-recovery effort and provide overall legal guidance, the

CVB has hired attorney Jeff Mando, a partner in the Covington law firm
Adams, Stepner, Woltermann & Dusing, PLLC. Mando is a highly
respected lawyer with more than 35 years of experience handling complex
civil cases, including those involving financial crimes committed against
government agencies and other organizations.

To assist in these efforts, Mando has engaged Barnes Dennig, a Cincinnati

accounting firm with experience in fraud and forensic accounting,
including cases involving embezzlement and misappropriation of assets.
Barnes Dennig is conducting a comprehensive forensic investigation, will
recommend policies and procedures to improve CVB accounting practices,
functions and systems and will also provide litigation support to Mando in
his efforts to recover the missing funds from third parties.

We recognize that the financial losses incurred by the CVB because of this
criminal activity are considerable; we are firmly focused on restoring
public trust in our organization while continuing to support our important
mission of attracting conventions, meetings, and visitors to our region.

Despite this regrettable incident, the CVB and our hospitality partners
continue to bring record-number visitors to the Northern Kentucky region.
Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties account for more than 20 percent of
all visitor expenditures in Kentucky and more than 10 percent of all
hospitality jobs in the state.

Our destination continues to thrive and prosper thanks to the collective

efforts of the CVB, our hospitality partners, and our community.

Jan. 14, 2019

Contact
Patrick Crowley
Strategic Advisers, LLC
859-462-4245
pcrowley@strategicadvisersllc.com