greater owensboro chamber of commerce
Vol 19/Issue 1
CHAMBER MATTERS 2021 JAN.
Chamber offering more cost-saving programs for businesses
STATE OF THE COMMUNITY Watson, Mattingly to present addresses at January Remote Rooster Booster City of Owensboro Mayor Tom Watson and Judge/Executive Al Mattingly will make their “State of the Community” addresses at the upcoming Rooster Booster this Thursday, January 7. The City of Owensboro and Daviess County Fiscal Court are co-sponsors of the virtual event, which is free to attend and will be streamed on Facebook Live and Zoom.
Re-elected in November 2020, Tom Watson is serving his third term as Owensboro Kentucky’s 42nd Mayor. A pro-growth conservative, Mayor Watson has been a champion for small business owners, entrepreneurs, artists, and main street, while ensuring the continued success of the largest employers and Tom Watson staff development. Mayor of Owensboro In his first term (20052008), Mayor Watson’s commitment to economic development and fiscal responsibility paid off. Under his leadership, the City secured much of the state and federal funding that sparked and fueled Owensboro’s economic growth in the 8 years to follow. In fact, the growth in federal dollars awarded to Owensboro in part is attributed to Mayor Watson’s leadership and skill in collaborating with local, state, and federal officials to invest in Owensboro’s ideas and vision. As an example, Owensboro was awarded a $40M federal grant for the Downtown Revitalization Project which became the catalyst for the Downtown Tax Increment Financing (TIF). Then followed funding for capital projects like the Owensboro Technical Center (1st phase), VA Clinic, bypass improvement, and airport runway extension. As a bonus, most projects were state and federally funded, thus the General Operating Fund grew to an $11.4M net gain, wiping out a deficit and creating a surplus. During Mayor Watson’s second term, he continued his effectiveness in working with the local, state, and federal leaders to help secure a $15.5M grant to upgrade road connections to a commercial riverport and expedite reclassifying a local parkway as an Interstate spur I-165 (a move that could persuade private businesses to locate in Owensboro). He also continues his successful track record of shoring up Owensboro’s financial future. Owensboro’s recent credit rating upgrade to A1 by Moody’s Investor Services is evidence he has moved Owensboro to a financially sustainable future and a thriving competitive community. Today,
Join us! Join us via Facebook Live @gochamber To register for the event via Zoom, fill out a registration form on www. chamber.owensboro.com.
Mayor Watson’s top priority is preparing Owensboro for the future by providing more opportunity for residents through training, employment, higher wages, grants, and second chances. As such, he is a governor-appointed member of the Kentucky Workforce Innovation Board (KWIB) which serves as an advisor to the Governor on workforce training and development Issues. Concurrently with his terms as Mayor of Owensboro, Watson continues as the president and co-owner, with his wife, Barbara, of Tom Watson's Prosthetic and Orthotics Labs, Inc., with offices in Owensboro and Evansville. Tom entered the field of prosthetics and orthotics in 1972 after a construction accident left him in need of a new prosthesis but without resources to procure one. Subsequently, he studied at the Northwestern University Medical School at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago and became a boardcertified prosthetist. He continues to this day to provide prosthetic care to his many patients. Watson was honored by the American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association as a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award for excellence in prosthetic care for people with limb loss. Tom Watson has served on multiple local, state, and national boards. As a pastime, he has also spent many years as a paraprofessional football and baseball coach at the local high school and collegiate level. He was a founding member of the newly formed youth football league called the KFL, as player safety coach where he was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his work with youth sports. He is on the Foundation Board for the Owensboro Community and Technical College. He recently served on Governor Matt Bevin's transition team for Economic Development and currently serves on the transition team for Attorney General Daniel Cameron and the Veterans Committee for prosthetic technology. He has served veterans with limb loss from the Spanish-American War, WWI, WWII, Korean, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan Wars. Mayor Watson is a life-long resident of Owensboro. He is married to the former Barbara Aull. They have two sons, David and Jeff Phelps, two daughters-in-law, Trisha and Krystal, and seven grandchildren.
The Judge/Executive is the highest elected office in county government. Al Mattingly was elected in 2010 and sworn into office on January 3, 2011. In 1971, Al Mattingly Daviess County he married Judge/Executive Ms. Judy Wolfe, and together they have one son: Will Mattingly. Judge Mattingly, born to Alfred and Commie Marie Mattingly on May 23, 1947, is the eldest of twelve siblings. He graduated from Owensboro Catholic High School in 1965 and received his bachelor’s degree in biology from Brescia College in 1969. Following graduation, Judge Mattingly served in the United States Army from 1969 until 1972. In 2003 and 2007, Judge Mattingly was elected and served as an Owensboro City Commissioner. In 2007, he served the Owensboro City Commission as Mayor Pro Tem. He has always been active in the community and his church, Our Lady of Lourdes. In addition to being a member of various civic and professional organizations, he is also President of Acme Plumbing and Heating, Inc., a family-owned plumbing, heating, and cooling business.
2021 GREATER OWENSBORO CHAMBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Tom Ed Booth, U.S. Bank Jacob Call, Green River Distilling Co. Mark Castlen, City of Owensboro Brenda Clayton, Brenda Clayton CPA Bart Darrell, Foreman Watson Holtrey, LLP Sarah Murphy Ford, Hartz Contracting, LLC Matt Hayden, Gulfstream Commercial Services, LLC Father Larry Hostetter, Brescia University Steve Johnson, Owensboro Health Terra W. Knight, Thacker, Hodskins & Knight, LLP
Mike Koger, Daviess County Fiscal Court Rod Kuegel, Kuegel Farms John Marshall Moore, Marshall Ventures, LLC, Legend Team Sports, Don Moore Automotive Dave Roberts, UniFirst Corporation Rick Searcy, Wendell Foster Joanna Shake, Green River Area Development District Jimmy Staton, Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline, Inc. Sara Williams, Chamber Young Professionals, Riney Hancock CPAs PSC
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am back! I am so excited to be back working at the Chamber in my new role as vice president. During the four years I was gone, the Chamber has added so many programs. From workforce Shelly Nichols development Greater and education Owensboro Chamber vice initiatives to president community engagement programs to actual cash saving benefits for our small businesses and largest employers, it seems so much has changed for the better. And they have done all of this without increasing staff numbers or increasing membership dues. This level of output translates into a fact that anyone close to the organization knows — the Chamber’s dedication is to its members. Prospective members will usually start off our conversation with the simple questions, “Why Chamber membership?” My first response is always the same ... it is an investment in your community — the community that you love. The Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce’s mission is to provide leadership, advocacy and member services that foster growth and economic prosperity for our region. The bottom line is that we couldn’t do this very important work without our members. The best part of my job is to be able to watch our members grow and succeed — and to feel that we were a small part of their success. We do offer members great promotions, but we also offer great cost-saving programs that are offered exclusively to them. The Chamber offers discounted credit/debit processing, discounted background checks for employees, and many other savings. At the Chamber, we realize that insurance costs can be a difference maker for businesses. We are proud to have the ability to provide Chamber members with several great health insurance plans and a worker’s compensation insurance. Being a Chamber member is a win-win. Chamber members know that each and every day there is someone out there thinking of new ideas and innovative ways to improve their businesses and organizations. Yes, I am proud to be back. And I am ready to serve. If you would like to hear more about our programs including our health or workers’ comp policies, you can email me at shelly@owensboro.com. Shelly Nichols is the vice president of the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce.