[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 53 (Monday, March 24, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Page S1799]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO CANDACE McGRAW

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I want to take a moment today to 
congratulate Candace McGraw, CEO of Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky 
International Airport (CVG), on her upcoming retirement. Candace has 
been a friend and a leader in northern Kentucky for many years, and I 
would like to join her family, friends, and colleagues in celebrating 
her great success.
  Over the last decade, CVG has undergone a complete transformation, 
today a national leader in aviation and e-commerce. Taking the helm in 
2011, Candace brought a big vision to the airport, setting it on an 
upward trajectory right from the start. At a time when technology was 
rapidly becoming a part of our daily lives, Candace reimagined CVG as a 
powerhouse for e-commerce, expanding its cargo operations and forging 
historic partnerships with major shipping companies across the country. 
Under her leadership, CVG has not only become Kentucky's busiest 
airport--serving more than 9 million passengers annually--but also one 
of the fastest growing cargo hubs in the Nation. Candace's leadership 
proved invaluable during the pandemic when our airports and their 
workers found themselves right at the center of this unprecedented 
crisis. As passenger travel ground to a halt, CVG's robust cargo 
operations kept essential goods on the move all across the Nation. Even 
amid the challenges of the pandemic, CVG rose to become a vital e-
commerce hub, setting records for air cargo and demonstrating the 
strength and foresight of Candace's vision.
  The growth Candace worked so hard to forge at CVG has been a huge 
source of strength for communities in northern Kentucky. Under her 
leadership, the airport has nearly tripled its economic impact, today 
bringing in over $10 billion for the local economy. That has meant more 
jobs, more commerce, and more prosperity for thousands of families 
across this growing region. Over the years, I have enjoyed partnering 
with her on my work in the Senate, teaming up to overhaul airport 
infrastructure and aviation operations in the Commonwealth.
  Because of the efforts of Candace and the airport's many dedicated 
staff, CVG consistently receives national recognition. Skytrax named 
CVG the Best Regional Airport in North America now eight times under 
Candace's leadership, and just this year, it earned the title of Best 
Airport in North America for customer experience by Airports Council 
International (ACI) World. Today, CVG ranks among the fastest growing 
airports in the United States. It should also come as no surprise that 
Candace herself has been widely recognized for her impact on the 
aviation industry. In 2019, Airport Experience News named her Director 
of the Year, and last year, she received the Excellence in Visionary 
Leadership Award from ACI North America.
  Beyond her work at CVG, Candace also served her community as 
chairwoman on the board of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, our 
State's largest business association. Here, Candace worked hard to 
improve the business landscape for workers and job creators in the 
Commonwealth. Fortunately, even as she steps down from this role and 
her responsibilities at CVG, Candace's experience and leadership will 
continue to be invaluable assets to the aviation industry at the World 
Governing Board of Airports Council International, where she serves as 
the first female chair in the organization's history.
  In her retirement, I know that Candace looks forward to spending more 
time with her husband Joe and their children, time she has certainly 
earned. I want to thank my friend for her leadership and dedication to 
CVG and northern Kentucky. Her steady hand has guided the airport 
through some of its most consequential years, leaving it stronger than 
ever. When she steps down at the end of June, Candace will leave behind 
a legacy of innovation, achievement, and extraordinary growth. So I 
urge my Senate colleagues to join me in celebrating Candace's 
remarkable career and wishing her the very best in the years ahead.

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