Rooster Booster, sponsored by Visit Owensboro, to feature Renee Shaw and Owensboro’s own Kelsey Kirkpatrick Starks with Kentucky Educational Television
Tourism is driving an incredibly positive momentum in our community!
Daviess County reported over $250 million in tourism spending, with 2,017 jobs generating over $19 million in state and local taxes for 2023. This success stems from a collaborative team effort involving city and county officials, as well as our dedicated hotels and tourism stakeholders.
Our tourism and economic development strategy focuses on attracting “good money” – funds brought into the community by visitors spending in our hotels, restaurants, and local businesses. This approach ensures that money from outside sources circulates within our economy, driving growth and improving the quality of life for all residents. Communities that effectively leverage “good money” are more successful and sustainable in the long run.
We have achieved major accomplishments that enhance the value and quality of life for everyone living here.
• The former Barbecue Festival has transformed into a major new event that the entire community can take pride in.
• Burger Week excites everyone, it’s something people look forward to.
• We established the Larry Maglinger Award to honor Larry’s invaluable service to the community and recognize individuals giving outstanding customer service.
• Our hotels have set an all-time occupancy record!
• The Owensboro Convention Center is breaking records and bringing more people than ever before to town!
• Partnering with Daviess County Parks and Recreation to attract and create exciting new events like Pups In The Park.
• We’ve collaborated with the city during the Christmas season lighting downtown, and the county is brainstorming even more ideas for this year, bringing the whole community together.
Visit Owensboro has a strategic plan, and none of these achievements happened by accident. We’ve established clear priorities and focused on what’s important. With our highperforming, dedicated team and board of directors, we are committed to using tourism to bring immense value to our community.
Renee Shaw
Renee Shaw is the Director of Public Affairs and Moderator at KET, currently serving as host of KET’s weeknight public affairs program Kentucky Edition, the signature public policy discussion series Kentucky Tonight, the weekly interview series Connections, Election coverage and KET Forums. Since 2001, Renee has been the producing force behind KET’s legislative coverage that has been recognized by the Kentucky Associated Press and the National Educational Telecommunications Association. Under her leadership, KET has expanded its portfolio of public affairs content to include a daily news and information program, Kentucky Supreme Court coverage, townhall-style forums, and multi-platform program initiatives around issues such as opioid addiction and youth mental health.
As an award-winning journalist, Renee has earned top awards from the Ohio Valley Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, with three regional Emmy awards, and Kentucky Associated Press honors for public affairs programming. She has also earned numerous awards from civic, education and community organizations.
Recently, Renee was awarded a national media award from Mental Health America that honors individuals making a difference in the mental health field, particularly in prevention and early intervention. Shaw was recognized for her decades-long dedication to examining issues of mental health and opioid addiction.
In 2018, KET earned a national media award from Mental Health America for its multidimensional content on the opioid epidemic shepherded by Shaw. That same year, she co-produced and moderated a 6-part series on youth mental health that was awarded first place in educational content by NETA, the National Educational Telecommunications Association.
In July of 2023, Renee will be inducted in the Silver Circle Society of the Ohio Valley Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. One of highest honors given by NATAS, the Ohio Valley Silver Circle recognizes television professionals who have performed distinguished service within the television industry for 25 years or more.
In November of 2023, Renee will be inducted into Western Kentucky University’s Hall of Distinguished Alumni.
In February of 2023, Renee graced the front cover of Kentucky Living magazine with a centerfold story on her 25 years of service at KET and even longer commitment to public media journalism.
In 2022, she was honored with Women Leading Kentucky’s Governor Martha Layne Collins Leadership Award recognizing her trailblazing path and inspiring dedication to
