GO Chamber - Winter 2023

FROM THE CHAMBER

Welcome to the latest edition of GO Chamber! We are often told that we do not tell our story often enough. So we are using the pages of GO Chamber to let you know of all the amazing things that are going on inside our walls and outside with our members.

From small businesses to non-profits and from churches to large corporations we have a diverse membership who make up the best of what Greater Owensboro has to offer. We like to say that our Chamber represents the fabric of Owensboro. We do not take that lightly. We understand the challenges that each of our members face and we know what an honor it is to be on the journey with them.

CANDANCE

CASTLEN BRAKE President & CEO

These pages are filled with story after story of great things happening in our community. Thank you for doing your part in moving Greater Owensboro forward.

- Candance

Our mission is to provide leadership, advocacy and member services that foster growth and economic prosperity for our region.

PUBLISHER

Jason Tanner jason@tannerwest.com

MANAGING EDITOR

Ashley Wedding ashley@tannerpublishing.com

ADVERTISING SALES

Brock Quinton brock@tannerpublishing.com

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Andrea Roberson

Monica Tapp PHOTOGRAPHER

Jamie Alexander

Greenwell Chisholm Owensboro, Kentucky CONTACT INFORMATION

Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce 200 East Third Street Owensboro, KY 42303 (270) 926-1860 chamber.owensboro.com @GOchamber

EXECUTIVE ANSWERS

REV. RHONDALYN RANDOLPH

PASTOR AT PLEASANT POINT MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH

PRESIDENT - OWENSBORO BRANCH 3107 OF NAACP

J. ADAM HANCOCK, CPA, CVA, CFE

PRESIDENT, RINEY HANCOCK CPAS PSC

It’s crucial for employees to have access to quality and affordable childcare in order to be able to focus and be productive at work. It’s not just a parent problem but a national problem affecting the workforce. Without access to affordable childcare you will continue to see a rise in individuals taking breaks from their careers without any other options.

I think that Kentucky House Bill 499 is a great start, creating an incentive for employers to offer a childcare benefit, but employers have to be willing to offer childcare benefits to take advantage of the program. This is a national problem that more than likely requires public policies at the national level to fix. Greater incentives should be provided to childcare facilities and on the parent side as well. More money, over time, should help expand daycare offerings and create affordable options in the future.

KEITH

COTTONER

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR H.L. NEBLETT COMMUNITY CENTER

It’s incredibly vital to everyone. Childcare is an essential need for the economy. Parents often need open childcare due to the demands of their companies. Manufacturing jobs have multiple shifts, and childcare facilities have difficulty providing care for third-shift jobs. Partnerships between childcare facilities and private businesses would be beneficial to the community. The cost of paying employees is where most facilities struggle. If the private companies could help cover the cost or some of the price, the teachers and the whole community would benefit.

Data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey provides Labor Force Participation Rates broken down by demographics. According to the data, there were more women in the potential labor pool than men, but they had a lower Labor Participation Rate by women with school-age children between the ages of 6 and 17. The driving force behind the lower labor participation rates for this demographic are the issues surrounding affordable quality childcare. Sometimes there is a disconnection and understanding of the challenges everyday people face. Providing opportunities out of the problem of limited affordable quality childcare, creates a chance for community to unite and work together toward a solution rather than emphasizing the problem. We can provide subsidies to employers who provide onsite or company sponsored childcare. So, the focus is not on making a profit but the focus is on contributing toward community solutions; this provides companies an opportunity to pool resources together to address the need through possible partnerships. We can expand our Early HeadStart and HeadStart Program through Audubon Area by widening the income requirements that qualify additional children. Creating community or neighborhood daycare centers like we have community recreation centers is another option. We can provide an option for graduating seniors who attend college locally and college students to work the centers as a work study program. Expanding the Child Care Assistance Program by not just providing vouchers to clients but also providing incentives to child care providers who participate. Through bonuses, stipends and rewards encouraging quality and safety can be the gage that determines what the child care provider receives. On the one hand there’s limited availability of child care centers and on the other hand there are valid issues of quality. Communities that work together by producing common sense solutions, can turn the problems into unifiers.

We are seeing a growing need for affordable childcare in our workforce community. As an employer, what does it mean to you and your employees to have access to affordable childcare? What steps do you believe should be taken to solve this problem?

WELCOME TO THE CHAMBER CHAMBER ADVOCACY IN ACTION

We take our role as an advocate for our Members very seriously. Whether it be at the local, state, or federal level, our Chamber looks out for individual Members and for the community at large. Along with a professional lobbyist, our Chamber ensures that we are in the mix so that Owensboro is heard. We work with Members, government and community leaders, and our lobbyist to advocate for legislation and policies that will benefit our businesses and entire community.

Red, White and Blue provides local constituents and media the opportunity to hear from incumbents and challengers in national, state, and local races. Held on election years, it provides a non-partisan platform and a spirit of learning more about elected officials and their positions.

Each election year the Chamber’s GO Vote campaign is organized to get voters to the polls in order to garner influence for our members and our community on state and national levels.

We offer the opportunity for Chamber Members and the community to hear from the candidates and what they stand for through our Local Issues Forums as local government has such an impact on everyday life and on the local business community.

Alisa Nicole Dance Wear Alvey’s Sign Co Inc Auto Truck and Trailer, LLC

Best Insured by Elizabeth Beverly’s Hearty Slice Bluegrass Home Inspections, LLC Computer Dave Sales and Service Donatos Pizza Elevate Insurance Agency, Inc.

F. C. Tucker Emge Realtors Gateway Urgent Care LLC GEL Engineering, LLC Granted

Green River Area Down syndrome Association- GRADSA Hawkins Carpet Cleaning

Hometown Mortgage Lenders, LLC

IES Kentucky LLC

Jamaican Yard Vibes

Jeff Sanford Kahawa Java

Lizzie’s Diner

McEnaney Family McDonald’s - Hwy 54

McEnaney Family McDonald’s -2750 Frederica Street

McEnaney Family McDonald’s -4800 Frederica Street

McEnaney Family McDonalds - Parrish Avenue

Meadow House Flowers and Gifts

Moonbow Apothecary & Emporium

N&G Legacy Estates

Owensboro Toastmasters

Pearle Vision-Family First Vision Care

Red Swing Coffee

S&S Earthscapes, LLC

Sassafras

Sleep Well Mattress LLC

Spectrum Business

Sprout and Sing Support Systems, LLC

The Frozen Lounge

The Honey Do Service, Inc

The Skin Lab

Tropical Smoothie Café- 3250 Hayden Road

Tropical Smoothie Café- 2804 Frederica Street

Vibe Church

Wesleyan Urgent Care

THE READING LIST

LARK ASCENDING

WRITTEN BY KENTUCKY AUTHOR, SILAS HOUSE

Sometimes it is necessary to read something very hard, something unsettling, something that makes you question and feel. Often… we need a reminder to be still in order to listen.

In Silas House’s latest novel, Lark Ascending, the story is narrated by Lark, now an old man looking back to share his story of pain and survival. Lark stated, “I’ve burned, and that’s what I wish for all of you. To burn with anger, desire, joy, sorrow. All of it.”

In a vision of what a possible future could look like, House writes of wildfires which consumed the United States; fighting, famine, destruction everywhere which swept across the country. Those in power had taken away America; they took away human rights and dignity. This thinking swept across the world.

Lark was just a boy when America was changing and didn’t remember the “Before”. He and his parents, his mother’s best friend and her children were forced to hide and eventually flee the United States to cross the Atlantic Ocean to Ireland where American refugees were thought to be accepted and safe. What they endured is difficult to read, particularly because you must realize and wrestle with what is happening- this isn’t about someone fleeing to the U.S. but from it…and why. Lark describes his darkest

REVIEWED BY DEBBIE ZUERNER DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, OWENSBORO HEALTH

points in his life, losing those he loved and seeing such persecution, starvation and death yet striving to never give up as his mother had told him. The story will make you pause, think, and it will disturb you. His words draw you in so you can feel and perhaps hear like never before what so many others describe when forced to leave a home, a community, or country they love and why.

Lark comes of age and understands his differences aren’t accepted by others and he and his family could be killed because of those differences just as his Aunts were, and other differences not accepted nor tolerated by those in power. It will make you think of wars past, wars present, and the threats of evil and violence to society.

Some may say or write that this is not a story about hope. I disagree. It is a story of hatred, power, pain, mistrust, hunger, death, and grief. It is also a story of deep loyalty, love, trust, endurance, mystery, and the deep need to connect with someone or something, something like a dog, a tree, the rain. It is a story of community and family and how they might be defined. It is a story how we overlook atrocities happening right in front of our faces of and what we take for granted. But in the end, Lark speaks of balance, of joy and of sorrow, of friends and family and shares his most important realization of all.

BEHIND THE SCENES

Educators in the Workplace is the Chamber’s way of bringing Greater Owensboro’s workforce to the classroom. This program is designed to benefit students through their educator’s experience through their immersion into the workplace. This provides a unique perspective outside the typical classroom setting to ultimately give their students a better understanding about workforce programs and opportunities available in the Greater Owensboro region. By gaining exposure to the workforce opportunities available, going on-site to speak with employers about their operations and expectations, and engaging in discussions with other teaching professionals, educators who participate in this program link the classroom to the workplace.

Relaunched by the Chamber this fall, Educators in the Workplace features four sessions that focus on a variety of professional fields: Manufacturing, IT and STEM, Healthcare, and Transportation/Logistics.

The Manufacturing session took educators to Sun Windows, Mizkan, and Owensboro Community and Technical College for a firsthand view of the college’s Workforce Solutions programs GOFAME and GOCAREERS.

The IT and STEM session covered relevant technology career options for today’s workforce; Fastek Services, LLC and Southern Star Central Gas and Pipelines gave educators a glimpse of the professional application of IT and STEM in both small business and large corporation. February’s session will focus on our community’s transportation system and its role in our economy. The Healthcare sessions will take place in March 2023 with the intention of immersing participants in relevant healthcare careers within our regional hospital, local nursing homes, doctors’ offices, etc.

The tours provided by host employers allow educators to learn about the industry, levels of proficiency required for employees, and any other topics employers wish to cover. Businesses who host can demonstrate their specific needs for well-educated, welltrained, and employees to build a stronger workforce for tomorrow. Connecting high school, middle school and post-secondary educators with area business leaders builds a much-needed bridge between education and profession.

DR. STACY EDDS-ELLIS

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR GREATER OWENSBORO LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE

Dr. Stacy Edds-Ellis grew-up in Calhoun, Kentucky. She credits watching her parents operate their pharmacy and being involved in community as cultivating her desire to serve others and contribute to the greater good. Stacy attended college at Western Kentucky University where she earned bachelor and master’s degrees in Organizational Communication. After graduating from college, she returned to her hometown where she served three terms on the Calhoun City Council. She went on to complete a Ph.D. from the University of Louisville in Administration and Organizational Development.

Before joining the Leadership Institute, she was employed for twenty years at Owensboro Community and Technical College (OCTC). The last six years of her tenure at OCTC, she served as Dean of Academic Affairs where she led the Division of Professional and Technical Studies and oversaw accreditation, college in high school programming, and managed various federal, state, and local grants.

Edds-Ellis is a 2021 graduate of Leadership Owensboro. She is current President of the Goodfellows Club of Owensboro and has been on the organization’s board since 2014. She enjoys cultivating leaders through her work as a part-time instructor at Western Kentucky University’s Organizational Leadership graduate program.

Stacy, and her husband Clay, along with their son Cooper, made Owensboro home over a decade ago. They love to spend time with their family, travel, cheer on their son and teammates on the soccer field (Go OMS Red Devils!) and enjoy spending time in the city and county’s parks with their dog, Cash.

Stacy is excited that she gets to work with the community to build the Leadership Institute from the ground up.

Greater Owensboro LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE

Community challenges are too complex and diverse for traditional top-down leadership to be effective. The Institute was formed to develop a diverse network of leaders who accept responsibility for our community’s shared concerns. Developing leaders, embracing civility, and working together around issues that matter preserves the common and enduring enterprise we all share…our community. From school age to post-retirement, the Institute’s work will create a can-do narrative in our community to tackle challenges and fulfill our community’s aspirations.

The Greater Owensboro Leadership Institute is a nonpartisan, non-profit organization established in the Fall 2022 through the support of local philanthropic organizations and the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce. The Institute’s mission is to equip people, organizations, communities, and networks with the tools to bridge divides, build capacity, and tackle shared challenges to become a collective force for change. Training and programming are underway within the Institute that fosters a deliberative approach to civic engagement, community challenges, and leadership development.

The Institute was created to:

›› Develop Civic Leaders. The Institute develops leadership capacity in our citizens by encouraging and training all walks of life to share their talents, skills, and ideas in a collaborative manner.

›› Create and Build Civic Trust. The Institute leverages citizens, develops leaders, and facilitates healthy processes for solving complex community challenges.

›› Facilitate Community Engagement. The Institute provides training, programming, and initiatives that fosters discourse, partnerships, and innovation toward a more equitable, fair, just, inclusive, and hopeful path forward.

›› Serve as a convener. The institute serves non-partisan conduit for the common good of our community.

Membership BENEFITS

GO Chamber FREE Marketing Opportunities

›› Business Directory Listing: Online and in print. The full directory is also available by request for direct mail efforts

›› Member of the Week: Featured article in Owensboro Times with a social media blast, a customized post on the Chamber Facebook, Twitter and Instagram page and a featured graphic in the Chamber Weekly email and monthly Chamber Matters in the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer.

›› Engage Owensboro: A community tool to focus efforts on nurturing existing talent programs, developing new ways to connect current and future leaders and creating solutions to regional workforce issues

›› Member Corner: Ability to post job opportunities, Member discounts and upcoming events on the Chamber website and in the monthly Member Memo

›› New Membership Listing: Featured in Chamber Matters and throughout Chamber communications

›› Rooster Booster Announcement: Introduced to 300+ people in attendance, also broadcast live on WOMI 1490, replayed on Channel 71 public access television, and posted on the Chamber YouTube channel and all Chamber social media

GO Chamber Member Cost-Savings Programs

›› Chamber Advantage Health Plans: A comprehensive and affordable healthcare solution

›› ClearPath Mutual: Workers’ compensation insurance program

›› Infintech: Credit card processing company that gives Chamber Members a discount (30-40% off traditional fees)

›› Office Depot: 200+ items discounted for Chamber Members (can access online, in-store and with customized offerings)

›› Constant Contact: 60 days free for this email management and marketing company

›› Owensboro Health Healthpark: Offers a discount on all annual memberships to Chamber Members

›› Laborchex: Discounted background checks

GO Chamber Networking Opportunities

After Hours

Young Professionals

Golf Classic

White and Blue

GO Chamber Professional Development Opportunities

Ambassadors

Young Professionals

Owensboro

in the Workplace

Business Development Center

For more information about your Chamber Member benefits, contact Shelly Nichols, Chamber Vice President, at shelly@owensboro.com or 270-926-1860.

CHAMBER YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

Chamber Young Professionals is an opportunity for young professionals coming from different walks of life (age, families, locations, perspectives) to get together to network and serve the community. Members learn about different career paths, ways to better the community and also build professional and personal relationships with their fellow YPs.

CYP members have always been active in the community, but the last few months have been an especially busy time for the group. Members came together to support local organizations and nonprofits while also gathering to learn from mentors and build relationships.

“Service is the rent we pay for being. It is the very purpose of life, and not something you do in your spare time.” – Marian Wright

Edelman

I believe in this statement. Being the philanthropy chair allows me to give back to the community and meet individuals I wouldn’t have met otherwise. I have a passion for seeing others succeed and philanthropy is a way of doing that.

CYP is great way to meet other young professionals who want to see the City of Owensboro reach its full potential. It allows us to build relationships and collaborate on many projects.

KEITH COTTONER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR H.L. NEBLETT COMMUNITY CENTER

CYP is a great asset for local young professionals to get involved. Networking can open doors to business opportunities and contributes to the growth of Owensboro. This provides the opportunity to come together, make connections and generate ideas to better serve our community. The future development of Owensboro lies in the hands of the young professionals.

We host monthly events such as Coffee & Conversations, happy hours, volunteer opportunities, and luncheons with an excellent group of guest speakers to help educate, motivate and encourage members.

MALLORY SACRE MARKETING/ ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE REGIONAL LAND TITLE COMPANY WILSON, HUTCHINSON & LITTLEPAGE

Over the last few months, CYP members have been active in the community, coming together to support local organizations, nonprofits while also coming together to learn more about being young professionals.

›› In July, they served dinner at New Life Church.

›› In August, CYP members helped build beds with Sleep in Heavenly Peace.

›› CYP members came together to help out at the Chamber Golf Classic in August as well.

›› In the September Lunch and Learn sponsored by Owensboro Health, CYP members learned from Bart Darrell.

›› In September, they served a meal with Beverly’s Hearty Slice.

›› In October, Owensboro Catholic Schools sponsored the meeting, where Tom Lilly spoke.

››

For the first time in 3 years, Guys and Ties returned to Burns Middle School The first monthly meeting focused on appropriate dress for specific occasions and how to properly tie a tie. Next, they will be talking to the kids about finance.

›› And this group knows how to have fun and create community, scheduling coffee meet ups and even throwing a fun costume party for Halloween.

HANNAH ADAMS

US Bank

ASHLEY AGADA

Girls Inc.

CARLIE BROWN

Owensboro Public Schools

CHERYL BURKS-MCCARTHY

Daviess County Cooperative Extension Service

JACOB BURTON Independence Bank MEGAN CARTER Owensboro Health

HANNAH CECIL

LEADERSHIP OWENSBORO Class of 2023

Hospice and Palliative Care of Western Kentucky

KEITH COTTONER H.L. Neblett Community Center

ISAAC DUNCAN Brescia University

ASHLEY EVANS-SMITH CASA of Ohio Valley, Inc

AUSTIN HAMILTON

Owensboro Grain

OLIVIA HARDY Puzzle Pieces

MELISSA HOFFER

Owensboro Health

KARA HOWARD

Wendell Foster

RONDA HOWARD

New Beginnings Sexual Assault Support Services

SARAH HOWARD

German American Bank

BRAD HOWTON

Owensboro Municipal Utilities TONY JONES US Bank

ERIN KAMUF

Southern Star Central Gas Pipelines, Inc. JOSH KELLY Owensboro Times

CHYNA KELTON Yager Materials

MARK LUCKETT

Southern Star Central Gas Pipelines, Inc

MARY-KATHERINE

DR. SHANNA MCGINNIS

Blue Bridge Homes, LLC

ANTHONY MORROW Boardwalk Pipelines

PHYTOS NEOPHYTOU

Owensboro Municipal Utilities

JARED RAMSEY

Daviess County Public Schools Police Department

JENNIFER RICHARDSON

RiverPark Center

TRISTAN RUSSELBURG

Owensboro Police Department

CRYSTAL SAPP

St. Joseph Peace Mission

MADDOX

The Malcolm Bryant Corporation

WILL WATHEN

Southern Star Central Gas Pipelines, Inc.

WITH

Five Questions SHAWN PATTERSON

Shawn Patterson is the President & Chief Executive Officer of Southern Star. He joined the company in 2017 and has over 27 years of experience in the natural gas Industry. He and his wife, Renee, have one son, Cameron and two daughters, Emma and Lillian. They moved to Owensboro in 2018 and fell in love with the community.

BY ASHLEY WEDDING

INTERVIEWED

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST LESSON YOU HAVE LEARNED IN YOUR PROFESSIONAL CAREER?

Great leadership will lead to more success than any strategy ever will. Relationships are essential to everything you and your companies want to accomplish. Hard work, pays off. Be inclusive and listen.

ONE FOUR

WHAT DO YOU SEE AS OWENSBORO’S BIGGEST CHALLENGE/GREATEST POTENTIAL FOR GROWTH?

Owensboro has a strong foundation for future success. Elected officials, the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce, Owensboro-Daviess County Industrial Foundation, our school systems, business, and industry partners must continue to encourage and grow diversity in our community. A proactive collaborative approach will foster a diverse community where all citizens are fully involved and feel their voices are heard.

THREE TWO FIVE

WHAT ROLE DO YOU SEE SOUTHERN STAR PLAYING IN OWENSBORO AND HOW DO YOU HOPE TO CONTRIBUTE TO OUR COMMUNITY?

Southern Star is committed to being an innovative corporate partner in our community. We love giving back to local nonprofits and collaborating with business and industry to move our city forward. I am personally on multiple local boards and have a child in our public school system. Giving back in all these areas is my passion. Together, we are building today for tomorrow’s future.

Southern Star is always looking for ways to partner with the community for the promotion of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR YOUNG PROFESSIONALS NEW IN THEIR CAREERS?

I encourage young professionals to get involved, listen, learn, and have passion for all that they do. Be open and inclusive in your thought process. Don’t be afraid of trying something new and making mistakes. Bloom where you are planted…you will get noticed.

HOW CAN PROFESSIONALS BECOME MORE INVOLVED AND BETTER SERVE THE COMMUNITY?

Find something you are passionate about and be proactive in seeking out opportunities. Volunteer your time and always know that you can make a difference every day!