Tom Watson is the former president and co-owner, along with his wife Barbara, of Tom Watson’s Prosthetic and Orthotics Labs, Inc. He recently retired after fifty years in the prosthetics industry. Tom studied at the Northwestern University Medical School at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. He entered the field of prosthetics and orthotics in 1972 after a construction accident left him in need of a prosthesis but without resources to procure one.
Tom has served on numerous local, state, and national boards, and spent many years as a paraprofessional football and baseball coach at both the high school and collegiate levels. He was a founding member of the KFL youth football league, for which he was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his work with youth sports. Watson is also a recipient of the Owensboro Public School Hall of Achievement Award and the American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his excellence in prosthetic care for individuals with limb loss. Currently, he serves on the You Decide, Kentucky! Board, as well as the Kentucky League of Cities, Inc. Board of Directors.
Watson first served as Mayor of Owensboro from 2005 to 2008. He was re-elected in 2017 and again in 2021. Following his recent re-election, he is now serving his fourth term, holding the distinction of being the longest-serving mayor in Owensboro’s history. Tom and Barbara have two sons, David and Jeff Phelps, two daughters-in-law, Trisha and Krystal, seven grandchildren, and are eagerly awaiting the arrival of two great-grandchildren.
Judge/Executive Charlie Castlen
In 2022, Charlie was elected to serve the citizens of Daviess County as their County Judge/Executive.
He served for 12 years (three terms) as the Central Division County Commissioner and prior to that, served 10 years (five terms) over a 12-year period as an Owensboro City Commissioner, four of which were as Mayor Pro Tem.
He is a graduate of Brescia University and was a self-employed CPA with more than 40 years of experience in banking, public accounting, and government.
Charlie has been married to his wife, Lisa, for 39 years and together they have three children, Sarah, Theresa, and Daniel and enjoy their three grandchildren – Maddie, Griffin, & Owen.
As a social and fiscal conservative, Charlie is a committed friend of the taxpayer and humbled to be your County Judge/Executive.
Circle C Contracting, Inc. 4028 Hwy 144 E (270) 691-9142 circleccontracting.com
Mancave for Men 234 Frederica Street, Suite 102 (270) 695-7791 mancaveformen.com
LYDIE BOONE
Executive Assistant
Chamber Matters is published monthly in the Messenger-Inquirer for the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 825, Owensboro, KY 42302-0825 (270) 926-1860 • chamber.owensboro.com BOARD CHAIR
Jan Goldman MEMBERS OF
Ambassador of the Month
Born and raised in the military, Jan found a professional home in education as it was readily transferable with new duty stations. Previously as a high school teacher, she taught Literature, Composition, Language Arts, and AP English classes in multiple schools before moving into higher education. She brings a variety of Student Affairs’ experience from a large, public university, a small private college, and the community college level where she currently leads the department for Experiential Learning & Career Services and teaches Experiential Learning and First-Year seminar classes at Owensboro Community & Technical College. Jan is a proud, first-generation, graduate of Virginia Tech and Western Kentucky University. She has worked with experiential education, orientation, student conduct, residence life, career services, campus activities, Greek life, student organizations, as well as counseling and advising services. Jan is active in regional, state, and national professional organizations and is the incoming President of the College Personnel Association of Kentucky (CPAK). Jan was just named the Outstanding New Professional in Two-Year Colleges by the ACPA. Jan is passionate about helping students attain access and success in their personal, professional, and academic endeavors.
