Tell us a little bit about your family and why you have continued to call Owensboro home.
My husband Chris and I have four amazing children—Mallary, who is attending Georgetown College. She is studying biology and plays soccer, and our three boys, Andrew, Lucas, and Jay, who are all at Owensboro Catholic Middle School and also play soccer. Owensboro has a strong sense of community and offers a great environment for raising a family. We’ve stayed here because it’s home—it’s a place where we’re deeply connected, both personally and professionally.
You recently joined the Chamber Board. Since being on the Board of Directors how have your fellow Board Members inspired you to make an impact in our community?
Joining the Board has been an incredible experience. The dedication and vision of my fellow Board Members have truly inspired me. Their
CHAMBER BOARD MEMBER SPOTLIGHT:
KERRY BAILEY
HUMAN RESOURCES STRATEGIC BUSINESS PARTNER - SUPPLY CHAIN
commitment to making Owensboro a thriving community motivates me to continue to find ways to contribute, both within my role at UniFirst and in our broader community. It’s inspiring to see how everyone works toward common goals for the benefit of Owensboro.
You recently have made an initiative in your role at Unifirst to fill employment needs for a diverse population in Greater Owensboro. Tell us about how that initiative began and where it stands today.
At UniFirst we saw a need in our Owensboro Distribution Center to connect more diverse groups to employment opportunities, particularly within industries like ours. The initiative began with outreach to various local community organizations like the International Center, Employment Opportunities a division of Puzzle Pieces and various rehabilitation/reentry programs to build partnerships and tap into underrepresented talent pipelines. Today, we’re actively working to create an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and can provide for themselves and families, and we’re making strides in offering opportunities to those who may not have had them before. We’re
proud of where the initiative is heading, and I’m confident it will continue to have a lasting impact and result in a stronger Owensboro.
How do you prioritize work-life balance while managing your responsibilities as a leader and being present as a wife and mom while ensuring you take time for yourself?
It’s all about work life integration and knowing when to prioritize different aspects of life. With four kids—Mallary in college and the boys all playing soccer—I’ve learned to be very intentional with my time. I make sure that my family knows they’re a priority while also carving out moments for self-care and reflection. I rely on a strong support system at home and my incredible team at work, which helps me stay grounded and present.
What’s your go-to fun escape? Any favorite hobbies or adventures?
I love spending time outdoors, especially near water. Whether it’s at the pool, lake or by the river, being near water brings me peace. I also enjoy live music—it’s the perfect way to relax and recharge. These moments with family or just enjoying a good concert are my go-to escapes.
Save the date for Shop Owensboro, Powered by Independence Bank on Shop Small Saturday, November 30 through Saturday, December 7. For a full list of Chamber Member Shop Owensboro Participants check out the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce Facebook or Instagram page. Keep your money where your heart is this holiday season and #ShopOwensboro.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY: DIA DE LOS MUERTOS EVENT
11:00 a.m.
Old National Bank - 123 West Fourth Street
For a list of voting centers and more information
BOOSTER, SPONSORED BY DAVIESS COUNTY COOPERATIVE EXTENSION
OWENSBORO ALUMNI SOCIAL LUNCH
Lure Seafood & Grille
DECEMBER
EDUCATOR’S IN THE WORKPLACE
ROOSTER BOOSTER RECAP
September’s Rooster Booster featured Jamie Buskill, Boardwalk Pipelines Retired Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Buskill retired from Boardwalk Pipelines in 2022 after 35 years of service. During his tenure as CFO, he was responsible for raising approximately $20 billion in both the equity and bond markets, primarily to finance acquisitions and growth projects.
At September’s Rooster Booster, the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce announced the Leadership Owensboro Class of 2025 and following the event, the Chamber Young Professionals unveiled the Amped Up Artistry Project in partnership with Owensboro Municipal Utilities, City of Owensboro and community sponsors.
The program was sponsored by Brescia University, the longest-standing provider of higher education in Daviess County. Brescia University is firmly rooted in its student-centered mission to provide transformational education that meets the individual needs of each student in pursuit of higher education. Since 1925, when it first formed as the Mount Saint Joseph College for Women, to 1948 when it moved to the heart of downtown Owensboro in order to be most accessible to the needs of Veterans returning from WWII, to present day where it serves as the “Gateway to Downtown,” Brescia University has been a cornerstone in the foundation of the Greater Owensboro Community as well as the global population it serves.
OCTOBER
OSpeaker: Jamie Buskill
Sponsor:
ctober’s Rooster Booster featured a Mayoral Forum featuring both of the Owensboro Mayoral Candidates for the upcoming General Election on Tuesday, November 5, which was moderated by Jared Revlett, Owensboro Public Schools Public Information Officer.
“A primary goal of our Chamber is to be a catalyst for economic growth. Civic engagement is a key component of strong and bustling communities,” says Candance Castlen Brake, President and CEO of the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce. “We are proud to host the Mayoral Forum at our Rooster Booster.”
The program was sponsored by Owensboro Community & Technical College, which serves 4,000 students every fall from Daviess, Ohio, Hancock, and McLean Counties and the surrounding region. For immediate employment after graduation, students are attracted to industry-relevant technical programs and innovative “work and learn” model programs such as GO FAME, GO Careers, and entry-level healthcare career packages. Additional programs tailored to the adult learner include a Life Skills Certificate, TechX, iTEC, and the CDL Academy.
Sponsor:
NEW MEMBERS
Aerek Automation
Blitz Boutique Salon and Spa
H&R Block 17730
Hammer & Stain Owensboro
O’Bryan’s Bar & Grill
Only Empire Creations, LLC
Owensboro Garage Door
Riverside Construction and Maintenance, LLC
Snyder ITC
The Chad Lake Foundation (CLF)
The Event Kode
The Skin Lab
Trident Painting, LLC
VGU-Jelda Hostetler
RENEWALS
AEG Kentucky, LLC - formally Owensboro Family Eye Care
Associated Engineers, Inc
Barnhart Crane and Rigging
Behavior Associates, LLC
Beverly’s Hearty Slice
Big River Rubber & Gasket Co., Inc.
Brenda Clayton, CPA
Cecil Farms Produce
Chicken Salad Chick, EMs Chick, LLC
Christian Family Radio
Daviess County Fiscal Court
de AM-RON Building Systems
Donatos Pizza, New Hartford Road
Donatos Pizza, West Parrish Avenue Drake’s
Ebelhar Farms
Elevate Insurance Agency, Inc.
Federal Fire and Security
First Baptist Church
First Class Services, Inc.
Flat Lick Grain Farms, LLC
Fraternal Order of Eagles 4168
Friends of the Library
GEL Engineering, LLC
Goodwood Owensboro
Goodywn Mills Cawood
Green River Area Down syndrome AssociationGRADSA
H & R Block
Happy House Cleaning Service, LLC
Hill View Farms Meats, LLC
Honor Home Loans
IES Kentucky, LLC
Jeremy Bradley MD, PSC
Junior Achievement of West Kentucky, Inc.
Kentucky Bioprocessing, LLC
Kentucky Career Center
Kentucky Wesleyan College Athletics Department
Kroger Co.
Lance & Co. Jewelers
Lawton Insurance
Liquor Barn
LTM Farm, LLC
Maria Clark Photography, LLC
Marty G. Jacobs, Attorney
McEnaney Family McDonalds - Hwy. 60 East
Mitchell Premier Wholesale Safety Supply, LLC
Niko’s Bakery
Norton Children’s Hospital
Ohio Valley Nephrology Associates, P.S.C.
Old Hickory Bar-B-Q, Inc.
OnSite Images
Orangetheory Fitness
Owensboro Christian Church
Owensboro Community and Technical College
Owensboro Health HealthPark
Owensboro NAACP Branch 3107
Owensboro Public Schools
Owensboro Riverport Authority
Owensboro-Daviess County Industrial Foundation
Poole’s Pharmacy Care
RE/MAX Professional Realty Group
RE/MAX Professional Realty Group, Glenn Ashby
Riney Farms
Riverfront Appraisals
Riverside Transport, Inc
Sam’s Club
Schrecker Supply Co., Inc.
Scott Baird Plumbing & Heating Co. Inc.
SKY Engineering
Southwire Company
Special Inspection Services, LLC
St. Mary of the Woods Catholic School
State Farm Insurance, Branden Haines
State Farm Insurance, Daniel Dick
Steinkamp Home Center
Supreme Dream Realty
Tally’s Towing & Service
The Earle
The Pub On Second, LLC
Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Frederica Street
Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Hayden Road
US Lawns - Owensboro
Valor Oil
Wesleyan Medical Complex
Wilson Family Pharmacy
Zaxby’s
CHAMBER MEMBERS OF THE WEEK
The Chamber Member of the Week program is a Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce membership benefit. Founded in 1913, the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce has worked to provide valuable benefits and services to member businesses and individuals for over a century.
Today, with a membership base of nearly 1,000, the Chamber is a guiding force in community and business development initiatives, serving as the center of business advocacy for the Greater Owensboro region.
PAINT HEADQUARTERS
Paint Headquarters has been a mainstay in the Owensboro community since David Baker opened its doors in 1995. Now approaching 30 years in business, the locally owned paint store offers everything from architectural coatings to window treatments.
SEPTEMBER
TOP NOTCH EVENTS, LLC
Amanda Wilson – the owner of Top Notch Events, LLC – is on a mission to make a difference in Western Kentucky through her event planning business. She created the company as a passion project after promoting skincare products at vendor events, growing it into a community-focused venture that supports local nonprofits.
TRUENORTH TREATMENT CENTER
TrueNorth Treatment Center, a locally owned and operated mental health and substance use facility, has been serving the Owensboro community since April 2019. Founded by Lauren Morrison and her husband, Dr. Travis Morrison, the couple said the center aims to challenge and redefine traditional mental health services while providing comprehensive care for individuals in the region.
CHEETAH CLEAN
Cheetah Clean is known for its customer-focused approach whose mission is to make a positive impact on the communities it serves. Most recently, Cheetah Clean opened a second location on Frederica Street, which began operations in April.
CRAZY ME GIFTS & APPAREL
Crazy Me Gifts & Apparel has been a staple in the Owensboro community since Donna Southard launched the business from her home in 2013. What started as a small operation has since grown into a full-fledged storefront on 235 East 20th Street.
SEPTEMBER
KEVIN GIBSON
Kevin Gibson is Vice President/Commercial Lending at South Central Bank. He has been a Chamber Ambassador since 2010 and earned the Ambassador of the Year award in 2013 and 2016. Kevin currently serves as Board President for the Opportunity Center of Owensboro. He is past Chairman of the Board of Hospice of Western Kentucky and previously served on the Board of Directors for Kiwanis. He is a graduate of Kentucky Wesleyan College, The Kentucky Bank Management Institute, Stonier Graduate School of Banking and Leadership Owensboro.
OCTOBER
GREEN RIVER AREA DOWN SYNDROME ASSOCIATION
GRADSA’s mission is to empower individuals with Down syndrome to reach their full potential through education, support services, and community activities. The organization offers a variety of programs, including skills clubs as well as a Medical Outreach Committee that connects families with essential medical resources, and provides doctors with information on delivering a Down syndrome diagnosis.
BLITZ BOUTIQUE
CORNERSTONE INFORMATION SYSTEMS, INC.
Cornerstone Information Systems, Inc., a staple in the technology services sector, is celebrating four decades of business. Originally founded as Pennyrile Computer Services in 1984, the company began with just four employees and a focus on programming. Today, it is a leading technology consulting firm with 45 employees and a presence spanning more than 20 states and 10 countries.
GRANTED
GRANTED is a community–based nonprofit located in Evansville, Indiana. Two local residents, Carl Wallace and Carolyn Pfaffmann, founded the organization with a mission to grant once in a lifetime Wishes for local children aged 3 to 18 who have been diagnosed with life-threatening or terminal conditions. Serving a population of over one million people, we work to make Wishes come true for children residing in the areas of Southern Indiana, Southern Illinois, and Western Kentucky.
DONATOS
Blitz Boutique, founded in 2018 in Owensboro, Kentucky, has grown from a partner of a salon and spa into a standalone boutique with its own website. Offering a handpicked collection of trendy fashion in sizes from small to 3X, Blitz Boutique aims to be every fashionista’s go-to destination for an unforgettable shopping experience.
Donatos is a family-owned pizza chain known for its thincrust pizzas loaded “Edge to Edge” with premium toppings. Founded in 1963 in Columbus, Ohio, Donatos has grown to over 150 locations, offering a menu that includes subs, salads, and desserts alongside their signature pizzas.
To learn more about becoming the Chamber Member of the Week or inquire about Chamber membership, contact Shelly Nichols, Chamber Vice President, at 270-926-1860 or shelly@owensboro.com.
OCTOBER
JAN GOLDMAN
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.
Sponsored by:
RED, WHITE & BLUE PICNIC
The Chamber’s annual Red, White & Blue sponsored by Big Rivers is a nonpartisan political event that spans back decades when it started as Red’s Picnic in Sorgho. When the Saltsman Family could no longer host the event, our Chamber continued the tradition.
The 2024 Red White and Blue election event was held in October on the Daviess County Courthouse Lawn. This event is in a “stump speech” format where each candidate is allotted time to speak. This event is available to view on the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce YouTube Channel.
Thank you to the Fraternal Order of Police for supporting this event each year by donating hamburgers and hotdogs for all event attendees.
ENGAGING LOCAL VOICES:
CHAMBER’S CITY COMMISSION FORUM
The Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce hosted a City Commission Forum at City Hall in September which included all candidates on the ballot for the November 5, General Election.
The event was moderated by Chamber Young Professional Vice Chair and Chamber Advocacy Committee member Jared Revlett.
“As the community’s business advocacy organization, we know it is important for us to offer the opportunity for Chamber Members and the community to connect with the candidates and understand their platforms,” said Chamber President and CEO Candance Castlen Brake, “Local government has such an impact on everyday life and on the local business community.
The forum is available on the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce YouTube Channel.
MOVING OWENSBORO FORWARD
The Leadership Owensboro Class of 2025 began their program year with a local retreat. This year’s class includes a record number of individuals who exhibit leadership potential and community volunteer experience with a desire to improve the quality of life in the Greater Owensboro region. During their retreat, several community leaders addressed the class, laying the foundation for gaining deeper understanding and broader perspective of our community. Incoming class members entertained each other through unique team-building activities and enjoyed a Welcome Reception with Leadership Owensboro Alumni.
The Leadership Owensboro class meets monthly September through June with full day sessions on topics which include Economy and Innovation, Education, Healthcare, Local Government, Justice, Philanthropy, Arts and Culture, and Human Needs and Services. Class members are immersed in community activities and exercises that provide a new and sometimes transformed point of view of Greater Owensboro. “The sessions offer unique perspectives of the inner workings of our community while encouraging diversity of thought, leadership development, and community engagement” stated Ashtin Warren, Chamber of Commerce Director of Talent Programs. “Leadership Owensboro allows class members to learn from each other, gain knowledge about relevant community issues, and even form lifelong friendships and connections.” The program also provides the opportunity to enhance leadership skills and develop professionally through civic engagement and true collaborative leadership to overcome challenges within our community.
LEADERSHIP OWENSBORO CLASS OF 2025
OWENSBORO
TAKES ON DC
GREATER OWENSBORO LEADERS CONNECT IN WASHINGTON AT ANNUAL DC FLY-IN
T
he Greater Owensboro hosted a group of business and community leaders and elected officials in late September for the annual DC Fly-in. Highlights of the trip were connecting with various elected officials and professional staffs of our Kentucky Congressional Delegation, the Department of Transportation and the White House.
The Greater Owensboro Reception at The Capitol, sponsored by River Valley Behavioral Health, featured a bourbon tasting with our areas bourbons and also our own Bluegrass stars Rick Faris and Scott Napier.
Our delegation was led by John Marshall Moore, Chamber Board Chair, Mayor Tom Watson and Daviess County Commissioner Chris Castlen.
LEADERSHIP & LEGACY
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HOSTS LUNCHEON HONORING SENATOR MITCH MCCONNELL'S IMPACT
The Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce had the privilege of hosting a luncheon honoring United States Senator Republican Party Leader Mitch McConnell in Owensboro on August 28. The luncheon, sponsored by Owensboro Health, featured a fireside chat with Senator McConnell and Joe Arnold, Vice-President of Strategic Communications for Kentucky Living. The conversation afforded our community the opportunity to reminisce about key moments in Senator McConnell’s career and also to hear about the many important issues facing our country. A signature example of Leader McConnell’s transformational leadership for our region was the allocation of federal dollars that jump started the entire downtown project – a near $45 million allocation. That project has resulted in nearly 5:1 private – public investment dollars which has been the driving force in our economic development and talent retention/recruitment efforts. Thank you Senator McConnell for your continued service to our Commonwealth and our nation!
RIBBON CUTTINGS
A TIME-HONORED TRADITION
Ribbon Cuttings are so special to local businesses and organizations. The tradition of a Ribbon Cutting is most commonly known to celebrate a grand opening, but Chamber Members also use a Ribbon Cutting to celebrate renovations, anniversaries, new locations and joining the Chamber.
THE SKIN LAB
AUDUBON AREA - GRITS
MOORE AUTOMOTIVE - HONDA
AUDUBON AREA – COMMUNITY CARE CLINIC, INC. AT DANIEL PITINO SHELTER
