March/ April 2023 Chamber Current

SPEAKER REVIEW: JOE FRAZIER p. 59

SLEET’S EYES FESTIVAL: EVERYONE WANTS TO TELL HIS STORY p. 62

CHAMBER CELEBRATION WRAP UP p. 64

From the CHAMBER

We always hear that in order to succeed, it is necessary to embrace change and to innovate/adapt over time. Like any successful business or organization, we thrive on creative energy and can-do attitudes. Those two characteristics are perfect adjectives to describe Jason Tanner and his team. Since we started our partnership with Tanner+West, we have always welcomed the “what’s next” in our relationship.

This publication is “what’s next.” Owensboro Living is one of those publications you cannot wait to get your hands on. The covers always make us proud to live here and they draw us in to read the latest… whether it be human interest stories or the hottest ideas/things going on in the region, there is always good information.

Moving our quarterly GOChamber to have our dedicated space in Owensboro Living helps us reach a larger audience. And that is good for our members.

Our Chamber membership is one of the strongest anywhere. Each and every day, our team works with that in mind. We serve the people in our community making things happen and building our economy. And the Chamber membership is proof that they are at the top of the profession and that they sincerely care about where the community is headed.

As we enter into Spring and look forward to longer days and more chances to connect, we are delighted to add this partnership to our things to celebrate.

To the Owensboro Living Team, thank you for this opportunity. And to the Chamber members we will be featuring in these pages, thank you for your investment in our work. It is an honor of a lifetime to serve you.

CANDANCE CASTLEN BRAKE President & CEO, Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

New Members

A Monogram Boutique

Advanced Investment Management

Alcoa Warrick Operations

American Legion Post #9 - James

L. Yates

Amvets Post # 75

Aquatic Resource Center

B & B Extermination Inc

Berry Home Solutions, LLC

Briarpatch

CJ Kassinger Properties, LLC

Commonwealth Concrete Coatings

LLC

Enterprise Truck Rental

Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Louisville Branch

Owensboro-Daviess County Veterans Organization

Progressive Sports Therapy, Inc.

Veterans Empowered Together

VFW Post #696

Warren Farms-Dustin Warren

Wethington Family Practice

RENEWALS

Affordable Care Health Insurance, LLC

Aflac Keller & Associates, LLC

Alzheimer’s Association

American Engineers, Inc.

Ashley Furniture

Barron Commercial Group

Beef O’Brady’s

Big Rivers Electric Corporation

Blue Bridge Homes, LLC

Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum

Boardwalk Pipelines

Briarpatch

Carmel Home

Catholic Diocese of Owensboro

Century Property Management

Champion Ford Lincoln Mazda

Chick-fil-A

Clemens, Guthrie & Wurth

Cliff Hagan Boys & Girls Club, Inc.

Coke Farms

Commonwealth Title and Mortgage Services, Inc.

Dismas Charities of Owensboro

Domtar Converting & Distribution

E M Ford

Ebelhar Whitehead PLLC

Edward Jones - Financial Advisor:

Kevin Young

Enterprise Rent-A-Car of Owensboro Goodfellows Club

H & R Agri-Power

Haley-McGinnis Funeral Home & Crematory

Hayden Farms

Homes by Benny Clark, Inc.

J.J. Fosters

Kamuf Brothers Farms

KB’s Kid Zone

Kenergy Corp.

Kentucky Farm Bureau Insurance -

Mandie Hicks

Key Heating and Cooling, Inc.

Kuegel Farms

L. Steve Castlen Realtors, Tyler Shookman

Lawrence & Augusta Hager

Educational Foundation

Legends

Limos By Knight

Malco Theatres

McCoy Construction and Forestry

Metalsa Structural Products

Oddball Creative

Old National Bank

Opportunity Center of Owensboro

Owensboro Career Development Assoc., Inc.

Owensboro Family Eye Care

Owensboro Surgery Center

Peacocks and Pearls Boutique

RiverPark EyeCare, PLLC

Rotary Club of Owensboro

Smith & Butterfield Office Products

Standard Sales of Owensboro

Storm Insurance LLC - Scott Stoermer

Sullivan Mountjoy, PSC

Thompson Benefits & Enrollment Group, LLC

Trunnell’s Market & Gourmet Deli on 54

Volunteer Owensboro

WBKR/WOMI

Western Kentucky Botanical Garden

Western Kentucky University

- Continuing and Professional Development

Wills Animal Hospital

WKU Owensboro Alumni Chapter

Wright Implement

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

JOE FRAZIER

The Public Life Foundation sponsored February’s Rooster Booster, which brought Joe Frazier to speak to our community’s business leaders.

Frazier is the founding Executive Director of the Kentucky Chamber Foundation’s Center for Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion. Prior to his role at the Chamber, Frazier served in Diversity and Inclusion related roles at different institutions including Bellarmine University as the Director of the Dr. Patricia Carver Office of Identity and Inclusion, and at Virginia Tech where he served as the Assistant Director for the Asian Cultural Engagement Center. Frazier also started his own DE&I consulting practice, Education to Action LLC.

Frazier serves on a number of boards and taskforces for Kentuckians, including the Board of Directors for Volunteers of America Mid States and the Louisville Association for Community Economics (LACE), the Kentucky Non-Profit Network’s Racial Equality Taskforce, and the President’s Advisory Council for the Noir Black Chamber of Commerce. He is also recognized among Louisville’s 2021 40 Under 40.

Special thanks to the the Public Life Foundation for sponsoring February’s event. The Public Life Foundation was founded nearly two decades ago to engage and empower citizens to take meaningful action in community decision-making and public policy. In recent years, the Foundation has expanded its scope by committing over $4 million of its assets to enhance early childhood education opportunities in our community. In 2020, the Foundation announced a multi-year partnership with the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence to help make this vision a reality.

After several months of research, analysis, and deliberation, PLFO announced the formation of the Greater Owensboro Partnership for Early Development. This coalition of community leaders—representing the business, early and K-12 education, nonprofit, higher education, faith-based, healthcare, and government sectors—is dedicated to developing bold and innovative solutions to improve early learning outcomes.

ROOSTER BOOSTER SPEAKER REVIEW

SUSAN HIGH

After over 30 years of service to the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce and the people of our community, Susan High is retiring. Susan came to the Chamber in 1991 when she moved from Louisville with her husband, Joel.

Over the past three decades, Susan has gone above the call of duty. Her dedication to the Chamber membership and her deep commitment to give her all every day are hallmarks of her work ethic. Her passion for her work and her fierce loyalty to the organization will be missed deeply.

JULIA KIMBRELL

In her role with the Chamber, Kimbrell will be responsible for the coordination and implementation of all printed, electronic, and social media communications and the coordination of all Chamber events.

“We are thrilled that Julia Kimbrell has joined our team,” said Candance Castlen Brake, President and CEO of the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce. “She is a success story of our community’s talent recruitment effort – the young people that go off to college and then come back to give back. We are so fortunate that she cares so deeply about Greater Owensboro and the future and we cannot wait to watch her gifts take flight in our work.”

Kimbrell was born and raised in Owensboro and her family has called Owensboro home for generations. As a graduate of Owensboro High School, she was involved in many community organizations such as the Wendell H. Ford Statesmanship Academy and Impact 100 Next Gen. Julia went on to earn her bachelor’s degree from the University of Kentucky, where she majored in Integrated Strategic Communication with a minor in Community Leadership Development. Julia brings a breadth of experience in creative advertising, strategic communication, and digital marketing to the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce. Her background includes roles in strategic advertising campaigns, branding, web design, email marketing, social media marketing, SEO, content creation and advertising strategy.

“It is an honor to be stepping into the role of Communications and Events Coordinator with the Chamber of Commerce. I am looking forward to using my skills and talents to serve our community.” said Kimbrell. “My family has deep roots in Owensboro, and I have always been passionate about the initiative to promote growth and success within the Owensboro area. The Chamber is an outstanding advocate for our community, and I am delighted to join a team that is recognized for their leadership, empowerment, and growth.”

Julia Kimbrell has joined the staff of the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce as its Communications and Events Coordinator.

Owensboro DAY IN Frankfort

BEHIND THE SCENES

Greater Owensboro Chamber Day in Frankfort was held on February 15. Community leaders and elected officials came together to demonstrate Owensboro’s strength and collaborative spirit.

The day featured a lunch with other West Kentucky Chambers where Governor Beshear addressed the group; meetings and discussions with our delegation; opportunities to visit legislative session and a reception at the end of the day.

The Chamber continues to lead advocacy efforts to foster economic growth and competitiveness for our region. We are happy to welcome advocacy chair Shawn Patterson, CEO of Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline as this year’s advocacy chair.

Everyone wants to tell his story

HOW A FESTIVAL HONORS OWENSBORO’S BIGGEST HISTORIAN

WRITTEN BY JOSH KELLY

Owensboro hosted the first step in honoring Moneta Sleet Jr. with the Through Sleet’s Eyes Festival geared at providing a focus on the first Black man to win a Pulitzer Prize and the first Black winner of a Journalism Pulitzer.

What started as an idea in Festival Chair Emmy Woosley’s mind, eventually grew into a weekend-long celebration, a documentary and a few more things in the works, she said.

“We want to as a community lift up our heroes and lift up the good stories and just shout them out so that they drown out any negativity,” she said.

Woosley told her Leadership Owensboro class that by creating an event or art display, people will come together to enjoy history and take pride in Sleet’s successes by educating everyone on them.

Immediately after hearing about it, NAACP President and fellow classmate Rhondalyn Randolph said that immediately she knew it was a fantastic idea and opportunity to share with the community.

“This was something that should have been done a long time ago and we just went on and on and on about how great of an idea it was,” Randolph said.

And the community agreed.

Over 40 local businesses and organizations — and even more outside of Owensboro — came together to help the festival tell the accomplishments of Sleet

PHOTO BY KEVIN BROWN OF TRICK CARD PRODUCTIONS

and shine a light on his story.

“There’s a lot of people outside Owensboro that already know the magnitude that is Moneta,” Woosley said. “Everybody just wants to be a part of telling his story.”

And his story is that of Owensboro origins. Born in Baptist Town in 1926 — just across the street from the newly named Moneta Sleet Jr. Park — he graduated from the segregated Western High School and enrolled in Kentucky State University.

After graduating with his degree in business, he went on to New York University to obtain his master’s in Journalism and from there, he stayed in the Big Apple, eventually reporting for Johnson Publishing.

Through working with Johnson Publishing, Sleet spent lots of time flying overseas to document scenes in Norway, Ethiopia, South America and more.

But he is most known for his many photos of Martin Luther King, Jr. as a leader of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s, Sleet is also widely recognized for his Pulitzer Prize-winning photo of Coretta Scott King and her daughter at the late King’s funeral.

Throughout his journey documenting the last

- Candance Castlen Brake

half of the 1900s, he had many colleagues and peers join him along the way. Many of whom, still to this day, want to talk about the impact Sleet had on them.

Owner of Wonder Boy Media Drew Hardesty traveled across the nation interviewing Sleet’s peers and documenting the stories they had to tell in a documentary titled ‘A Fine Remembrance.’

“I’ve noticed that as time has gone on, I’ve fallen more in love with the man that I’ve never met, and because the people we interview just exude this great joy and happiness and love for him as well, you can’t help buy into it,” he said.

News of the documentary and the festival traveled quickly throughout the state and some parts of the nation as people wanted to know how they can also celebrate Sleet’s legacy.

“I think the support we’ve received is a testament to him as an individual and the character he embodies as a person. Also, the imprint that he left on individuals that he worked with that talk about his work ethic or his dedication, or the heart behind the work,” Randolph said.

Now as the festival is in the rearview, Woosley said she knows this isn’t where the shutter closes on Sleet’s story.

A painting of Sleet has traveled through the community over the past year and is now heading to its home at H.L. Neblett Community Center. After traveling for so long, Woosley said it will finally land among young students who are able to daily admire Sleet’s story.

“That painting allowed thousands of people in the Owensboro-Daviess County area to not only know who Moneta Sleet is but also to know who K.O. Lewis is as a painter,” she said. “I was told a little girl at Girls’ Inc heard Moneta’s name and she said ‘Oh I know him, he was the guy in the picture at my school.’ Stuff like that shows how meaningful what we’re doing is.”

In addition, Hardesty said that oftentimes, photography is an unheralded industry as they work to instead tell the story of their subject. So Hardesty and Woosley set out to tell Sleet’s story by adorning downtown with a bronze sculpture of Sleet to forever commemorate his contributions to American history.

The board is seeking funding to commission the sculpture, but even if they do not receive funding, they don’t plan to stop until they are able to permanently tribute Sleet.

“The Moneta Sleet Festival is a story of community, partnership, and collaboration. Created by Leadership Owensboro class of 2020, the concept grew quickly and demonstrates how our community can come together and make phenomenal things happen. This festival will be a story we use for decades to inspire generations of community members to ask the question “Why not?” And then go make goodness happen. That is what Leadership Owensboro is all about.“

Chamber Celebration WRAP UP

In January, the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce held their annual Celebration, to highlight members within the community and people who have achieved excellence over the last year.

“This is a small businesses celebration,” said Chamber President and CEO Candance Castlen Brake. “We celebrate every thing from people’s specific contributions to our community to people and their businesses and how well they’re doing.”

The Celebration also included an address from presenting sponsor, Owensboro Health, and the “passing of the gavel” from 2022 Chamber Board Chair Brenda Clayton, Brenda Clayton CPA to 2023 Chamber Board Chair Sarah Ford.

2022 Director of the Year

BART DARRELL & BRIAN WRIGHT

This award is selected by the members of the Chamber Board of Directors and all board members, except the board chair, are eligible to receive this honor. These Directors have dedicated many years to our Board and have greatly contributed to the success of the Chamber and its programs.

2022 Ambassador of the Year

JUSTIN MERRITT

This Ambassador exemplifies volunteerism as he has been an active Ambassador for over 3 years. You can catch him all around town thanking members for their investment in the Chamber as well as greeting at the monthly Rooster Booster with his young son right beside him! He won Ambassador of the Month 4 times in 2022. He is dedicated to the Chamber and its mission, advocating for every member.

Pictured: outgoing 2022 Chamber Board Chair Brenda Clayton, Board Member Mario Vizuet accepting on behalf of Brian Wright and Bart Darrell

2022 CYP Member of the Year

KEITH COTTONER

This year’s member of the year is the epitome of a servant leader. His optimism and compassion continue to inspire others to better our community through CYP philanthropy events and community service projects. In addition to serving as the Executive Director of our H.L. Neblett Center, he serves on the Executive Committee as the Philanthropy Chair and is in this year’s Leadership Owensboro class.

2022 Member of the Year

MARILYN AND WILLIAM YOUNG FOUNDATION

The Marilyn and William Young Foundation is in the business of making good things happen all around them. Greater Owensboro has their mark all over, but you won’t see them taking credit for the real change they make. Launching a new strategic plan that is addressing so many important issues, the Marilyn and William Young Foundation has risen to the occasion to assist nonprofits when they need it the most and to build real civic engagement in our community.

2022 Minority Business Leader of the Year

ALLYSON SANDERS

A woman with a voice is by definition a strong woman. But the search to find that voice can be remarkably difficult. Allyson Sanders personifies this year’s minority business leader of the year. After her year in Leadership Owensboro, she decided that she was going to open a business that she felt was needed here locally. And wouldn’t you know, she opened weeks before COVID. But she never gave up. She continued to invest in her business and add more components. And she did all of this while working her day job serving our community in the workforce solutions at Owensboro Community & Technical College.

2022 Leadership Owensboro Class Member of the Year BLAINE MATHEW

Leadership Owensboro Class Member of the Year Award recipients are selected by their fellow classmates. Blaine is constantly finding ways to serve Greater Owensboro. His love for this community is unmatched and his kind and selfless disposition inspires us all. He will be serving on the executive committee for Leadership Owensboro Alumni during its relaunch this year.

2023 Business of the Year 1-10 Employees

RED WING SHOES

Red Wing Shoes opened its doors in Owensboro in 2017 and boasts over four generations of shoe expertise. Their passionate team is always looking for ways to get involved in the community and recently announced they will be providing scholarships to higher-education students in Owensboro!

2023 Emerging Business of the Year

GRAMPS COFFEE AND DONUTS

For years, Gramps Coffee and Donuts dreamed of owning a company where they could provide a place where all kinds of people could experience genuine community over a meal—That’s where the idea of their coffee and donut shop was born. Located downtown as a hub for all coffee-lovers, this small business is fashioned with a friendly face who has become a community icon.

2023 Business of the Year 50-249 Employees

INDEPENDENCE BANK

Independence Bank lives the mantra “local love.” A force behind so many businesses, Independence Bank’s iconic corporate headquarters is located in the heart of the City of Owensboro. The team at Independence Bank is always eyeing the future but also celebrating the core of who we are as a community.

2023 Business of the Year 11-49 Employees

FASTEK SERVICES, LLC

Fastek Services demonstrates their dedication to helping other local businesses succeed each and every day by exceeding customer expectations and thus ultimately improving our community’s business environment and competitiveness of Greater Owensboro. Fastek Services was founded in 2014 by Chris Murphy.

2023 Business of the Year Over 250 Employees

BIG RIVERS ELECTRIC CORPORATION

Big Rivers Electric Corporation has embarked upon a journey to the heart of downtown Owensboro. Relocating its corporate headquarters downtown is just the beginning of their growth here.

2023 Non-Profit of the Year Fine Arts RIVERPARK CENTER

RiverPark Center seeks to improve the quality of life by hosting and presenting diverse arts and civic events, focusing on arts and education. As a regional performing arts and civic center, RiverPark Center entertains and educates nearly 200,000 people – including 25,000 children –through 800 annual events.

2023 Education & Workforce Development Institution of the Year

PUZZLE PIECES

Puzzle Pieces’ division Employment Opportunities is changing lives by addressing our community’s workforce needs in an innovative and inspirational way. They have helped 68 individuals with disabilities find jobs in the local workforce. Through strategic workforce partnerships, this team is building a more inclusive Owensboro.

2023 Non-Profit of the Year Human Services

DIOCESE OF OWENSBORO CATHOLIC CHARITIES

Diocese of Owensboro Catholic Charities is known for not only seeing a need but responding to the need. Not only do they work tirelessly with our refugee community, they were also the first on the ground helping with tornado relief. They are dedicated and strong group of individuals, serving the societal needs of our community.

2023 Manufacturer of the Year

DOMTAR OWENSBORO CONVERTING AND DISTRIBUTION

Owensboro has been ranked one of the best cities in the country to work in manufacturing. Domtar Owensboro Converting and Distribution exports its products globally and continues to grow. They are a part of what makes Owensboro great!

2023 Rick Kamuf Agri-Business of the Year

MACK ESTES FARMS

This award was created after the untimely passing of Chamber Board Member and Community Leader Rick Kamuf. Rick lived a life built around the values of faith, family and hard work. Mack Estes is a farmer who demonstrates love of community, passion for his work, and dedication to serving others. We are grateful for the example of hard work, leadership, and commitment to farming he has shown throughout the years.

2023 Legacy Award KEITH LAWRENCE

The Legacy Award was presented to Keith Lawrence, a journalist who dedicated his career to delivering news to our community. Keith began his career at the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer in January of 1972. His commitment to journalism and his community earned him a much-deserved induction to the Kentucky Journalism Hall of Fame.

2023 Bill Young Leadership Award

The Bill Young Leadership Award was established by his widow, Marilyn, in 1984, and is presented annually to an outstanding Leadership Owensboro graduate. The award is presented by the Marilyn and William Young Charitable Foundation to honor Bill Young and his commitment to Field Packing and his extensive community leadership.

Together Bill and Susie Tyler operated the Weatherberry Bed and Breakfast for years. They donated 8 acres to start the Western Kentucky Botanical Garden in 1993. Under their guidance, the Garden has gone from a soybean field to a valued part of our community, with more than 13 themed gardens, a thriving education program, and a destination for people from 47 states and 4 foreign countries in 2022. They continue to donate countless hours to ensure that everything is running smoothly and operating efficiently. The foundation they laid with their dedication and unlimited enthusiasm for the Western Kentucky Botanical Garden ensures that the Garden will be here for many future generations to enjoy and experience the beauty of nature.

(Pictured is 2022 Chamber Board Chair Brenda Clayton; Carol Bothwell, Board Chair of the Young Foundation; Marcia Carpenter who received the award on behalf of the Tylers; and Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Candance Castlen Brake)

Ribbon Cuttings THE CHAMBER REPORT

SPIRIT SPA

FAST LANE

BEVERLY’S HEARTY SLICE

FRESH START FOR WOMEN

CRAVENS