Press Release

“As we transition to a partnership investment strategy, it’s imperative to have a strong leadership team in place to help our organization continue to navigate through constant change,” said Nick Heekin, Chief Operating Officer of Corporex Companies. “Brett has an impressive track record of success that will help our team create a roadmap for continued achievements in the future and strengthen our ability to deliver outstanding community investments.”

Blackwell comes from Guardian Savings Bank, where he held the position of President. He also served as Senior Vice President of Central Bank, where he led direct calling efforts that resulted in more than $1 billion in new commitments. He also oversaw the growth in NKY market loan portfolio that went from $124 million in 2015 to $550 million in 2021 at Central Bank. In addition, Blackwell served as the Vice President of Commercial Banking for The Bank of Kentucky for more than seven years.

Blackwell is a graduate of Northern Kentucky University. He serves on the board of the Freestore Foodbank, which he has done since 2014.

“Corporex’s commitment to enriching the lives of the communities they touch is very much aligned with my personal beliefs and values,” said Blackwell. “I look forward to being a part of such a legacy organization’s growth strategy. They have a portfolio of businesses and developments across 22+ states nationally with more than $1 billion in assets, which includes Ovation, one of the largest mixed-use development projects in Greater Cincinnati.”

To support the ongoing construction and sales of Ovation, the 25-acre mixed-use development along the Ohio River in Newport, Ky, Corporex has hired Amy Middendorf Kennedy as Sales Director and Anthony Zalants as Interior Design Manager for Ovation.

Kennedy comes to Corporex with more than 28 years of sales experience as a real estate manager and licensed real estate agent in Kentucky and Ohio. She most recently served as manager of Sibcy Cline Realtors in Florence, Ky., where she managed and motivated 100 agents in Sibcy Cline’s third-largest office.

Zalants will join Kennedy at Ovation as the project’s newly named Interior Design Manager. Zalants spent more than eight years as president of Hanover House Interiors & Antiques, Ltd., a full-service design firm and antique shop located in the Cincinnati neighborhood of Hyde Park. In his new role, Zalants will lead the interior design efforts on the Ovation development, with an initial focus on the Boardwalk Residences. He will also create initial design sketches, color themes and ideas based on client requirements and space availability at Ovation.

“Bringing such a large-scale development like Ovation to life requires incredible talent,” said Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Corporex, Heather Harris. “Amy has spent years helping individuals find an ideal place to call home based on their unique wants and needs. Additionally, Anthony is excellent at bringing a creative vision to life and will help to translate the interior design ideas of those looking to join the Ovation community from a dream into a reality.”

To learn more about Corporex and the organization’s portfolio of businesses and investments, visit corporex.com.

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About Corporex

Corporex Companies is a national, privately held investment and development firm based in Covington, Kentucky. Corporex has a nearly 60-year history of developing world-class hotels, offices, residential and mixed-use developments in 22+ states across the U.S. The company has more than $1B in assets under management, has built over 25M square feet, and generously invested in communities with more than $4.6M in corporate and foundation giving in 2021.  Learn more at corporex.com.