Issuu

O F F I C I A L M AG A Z I N E O F

W K U AT H L E T I C S

OCTOBER 2026

Leading LADIES

40 UNDER 40 REVEAL DINNER HOSPICE LOTUS AWARDS WKU FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME CEREMONY OCTOBER 2026 • I

Cancer may feel lonely. But you’re not alone. A cancer diagnosis can feel isolating. Overwhelming. Uncertain. But at The Medical Center at Bowling Green, you’re surrounded by an entire team dedicated to you — medical oncology, hematology, breast and lung specialists, imaging, infusion and more — all working together under one roof. As an affiliate of the UK Markey Cancer Center, we bring advanced cancer care closer to home, with a personal approach designed around you. Because getting back to what you love starts with getting the right care. Learn more at medcenterhealth.org/cancer. II • VIP BOWLING GREEN

Take Steps to Reduce Your Breast Cancer Risk Each year, the rate of new breast cancer diagnoses • increases. The American Cancer Society estimates there will be more than 320,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer in women and about 42,000 breast cancer deaths in 2026. Some breast cancer risk factors, such as age and family history, are beyond your control. But healthy lifestyle choices • may help lower your risk, and recommended screening can help ﬁnd breast cancer earlier, when it may be easier to treat. Lower Your Risk • Talk to your doctor - Know what’s normal for you and talk to your doctor about changes. “You should be aware of any changes to the breast,” said Dr. Benjamin Banasiewicz, OB/GYN at Med Center Health’s Women’s Health Specialists. “The thing everyone thinks about is new lumps and bumps. But you should also look for changes in the skin, discolorations, and changes in the nipple such as indentations or nipple discharge that can also be a sign of breast cancer.” • Limit alcohol - There is a clear link between alcohol and an increased risk of developing breast cancer. Those who have 2 to 5 drinks daily have about 1 ½ times the risk of women who don’t drink at all.

Maintain healthy weight, especially after menopause - After menopause, most of a woman’s estrogen comes from fat tissue. Having more fat tissue can increase your chance of getting breast cancer by raising estrogen levels. Keep moving - As with many other illnesses, breast cancer risk is reduced by regular exercise. As little as 1.25 to 2.5 hours per week of brisk walking may reduce a woman’s risk by as much as 18%.

What can you do to identify breast cancer at an early stage? One of the single most important things a woman can do for herself is annual screening mammograms. Mammography, especially 3D mammography, is still the best exam for breast cancer screening.

Research shows up to a 40% decrease in breast cancer death rates in women who undergo annual mammograms. Recommendations on when to start screening varies between age 40 and 45 for most women without signiﬁcant family history. Talk to your doctor to see what is right for you based on your personal and family health histories.

To schedule an appointment with a doctor at Med Center Health’s Women’s Health Specialists, call (270) 781-0075 or visit: MedCenterHealth.org/Womens-HealthSpecialists

“A screening mammogram can detect small changes in the breast that may not be found during a physical exam or noticed at home,” said Dr. Banasiewicz. “The earlier we ﬁnd breast cancer, the easier it is to treat. Detecting it at an early stage can lead to better outcomes and a less invasive course of treatment.” OCTOBER 2026 • 1

EDITOR’S LETTER

Who run the world? Girls! This month, we’re celebrating the women who make Bowling Green a better place to live, work and call home with our annual Leading Ladies issue! Inside, you’ll meet an incredible group of women representing businesses and organizations across our community. Their paths may look different, but each brings something special to the table. We also wanted you to get to know the women behind the titles. From the songs that keep them moving in Soundtrack to Success to the women they’d save A Seat at the Table for, we loved discovering another side of our Leading Ladies. That celebration continues with our VIP Profile on Dr. Tracey Young, whose career in education, grant writing and community service has created opportunities for local children and families. We also introduce Women Who Shaped Bowling Green, a new series beginning with Ruth Rabold’s influence on our city. We’re also introducing VIP Player, spotlighting local student-athletes on and off the field. We kick things off with WKU Men’s Basketball’s Teagan Moore, who shares his journey on the Hill, a season away from the court and the people who keep him grounded. Our VIP at Home Special Feature takes us inside the 2026 St. Jude Dream Home, brought to life by local builders, designers and community partners supporting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. We’re looking back on 10 years of VIP Bowling Green and the people, businesses and community that have filled our pages. We hope you enjoy meeting our 2026 Leading Ladies and the people and stories filling our October pages. Thank you, as always, for supporting VIP Bowling Green!

Photography by Bowen Haney

2 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

Here’s to the women making their mark, Amelia Bowen

OCTOBER 2026 • 3

CONTENTS

OCTOBER 2026 Volume 10 Number 9

events Over the Edge for Child Advocacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 WKU Football Hall of Fame Ceremony . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Annual Law Day Luncheon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Kiwanis: Service Starts Here . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 BG Fiestaval . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Lost River Cave’s New Nature Discovery Pavilion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 40 Under 40 Reveal Dinner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Hard Hats for Hope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Birdies for Brittney . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Mahjong in the Morning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 SpeakOUT Through the Decades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 Hospice Lotus Awards Gala . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 Med Center Health 10K Classic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 Jay Leno at SKYPAC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 Pars with Patriots Invitational . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94 Race for Junior Achievement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

editorial October Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 November Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 VIP Proﬁle: Dr. Tracey Young . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 #GoTops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 VIP Player: Teagan Moore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

VIP at Home - Special Feature: The 2026 St. Jude Dream Home . . . 25 Teacher Spotlight: Hannah Ogden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 VIP TURNS 10: Our First 10 Years in Covers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 VIP TURNS 10: Behind the Pages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Leading Ladies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Soundtrack to Success . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Women Who Shaped Bowling Green: Ruth Rabold’s Mark on the Map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 A Seat at the Table . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 Local Happenings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

on the cover Hannah Robinson, Katie Zimmerman and Sierra Kruse of Zimmerman Interiors Photo by Morgan Marie Photography

86 4 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

VIP Bowling Green is a publication of VIP Bowling Green, LLC, with all rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form, in part or in whole, without express written consent from the publisher. The opinions expressed in articles and advertisements do not necessarily reﬂect those of VIP Bowling Green, its employees, or its representatives. While information is gathered from sources deemed reliable, VIP Bowling Green and its agents assume no responsibility or liability for the accuracy of claims made in advertisements or editorial content, nor for any information submitted by third parties.

MANAGING EDITOR Amelia Bowen 270.403.1134 amelia@vipbowlinggreen.com BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Hillary Rickel 270.938.7378 hillary@vipbowlinggreen.com SALES EXECUTIVE Aubrey Reynolds 270.779.2065 aubrey@vipbowlinggreen.com SALES EXECUTIVE Rachel Kirby 270.790.1793 rachel@vipbowlinggreen.com SALES EXECUTIVE Amber Blair 270.991.6040 amber@vipbowlinggreen.com DISTRIBUTION TEAM Kat McDonald Sebastian Tingle Lainie Milner WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS Reina Johnson Shelley Lowe Lainie Milner Magen Estep Siegrist Allison Razic Zerina Razic Becky Smith Chad White Sebastian Tingle DESIGN & LAYOUT Matt Wagner Emily Nofsinger Josh Creek VIP BOWLING GREEN www.vipbowlinggreen.com events@vipbowlinggreen.com photos available at www.vipbowlinggreen.com

Let Us Help You Find Something Special. Whether you’re celebrating a milestone, choosing the perfect gift, or simply treating yourself, our team is here to make the experience easy, comfortable, and personal. We’d love to help you ﬁnd something special.

Come see Ben, Megan, Grace, and Jonathan at the Jewelry Barn Not Your Average Pawn Shop 2910 Scottsville Road | (270) 781-1194 | JewelryBarnPromise.com

“Twice the Jewelry, Half the Price” JewelryBarnPromise

the_jewelry_barn OCTOBER 2026 • 5

OCTOBER “Listen! The wind is rising, and the air is wild with leaves. We have had our summer evenings; now for October eves!” -Humbert Wolfe S

TH 1 JESSE MCCARTNEY SKYPAC

SAT, OCTOBER 24 CASPER 4

Clocks of the Ancients August 30th - October 11th Hardin Planetarium @ WKU Western Kentucky University

F 2

WKU VOLLEYBALL E.A. Diddle Arena

October 1-31 SCARECROW TRAIL Lost River Cave

PUMPKIN FESTIVAL Jackson’s Orchard

PUMPKIN FESTIVAL Jackson’s Orchard SPOOKY TALES ON THE HILL: A KIDFRIENDLY GHOST ADVENTURE Gordon Wilson Hall

THE ART OF RIVERVIEW TWILIGHT TOURS Riverview At Hobson Grove

SUPER BOWL CHAMPION AND AUTHOR MALCOLM MITCHELL The Capitol

WKU FOOTBALL Houchens-Smith Stadium

HALLOWEEN (1978) SCREENING The Capitol

OPEN COCKPIT DAY Aviation Heritage Park PUMPKIN FESTIVAL Jackson’s Orchard SPOOKY TALES ON THE HILL: A KIDFRIENDLY GHOST ADVENTURE Gordon Wilson Hall Steps for Safety 5K Brass Inc.

PUMPKIN FESTIVAL Jackson’s Orchard

BIKEWALKBG: YOUNG AT HEART GROUP BIKE RIDE Nat’s Outdoor Sports

ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW SPOOKTACULAR TOUR SKYPAC

WKU VOLLEYBALL E.A. Diddle Arena

DOWNTOWN BGKY: HARVEST FEST Downtown Bowling Green

SKY ARTS FILM FESTIVAL 2026 The Capitol

RELAY FOR LIFE Bowling Green Ballpark RAILPARK RENDEZVOUS: SINGIN’ ON THE RAILS Historic RailPark & Train Museum WKU VOLLEYBALL E.A. Diddle Arena PUMPKIN FESTIVAL Jackson’s Orchard

WKU MEN’S BASKETBALL

WALK TO END ALZHEIMER’S Circus Square Park

E.A. Diddle Arena

PUMPKIN FESTIVAL Jackson’s Orchard

BG ONSTAGE: CHARLOTTE’S WEB SKYPAC

SPIRIT OF RIVERVIEW COSTUME GALA National Corvette Museum

BOURBON & BREWFEST Bowling Green Ballpark

SKY KICK OR TREAT TOURNAMENT Lovers Lane Soccer Complex

BOWLING GREEN PRIDE FESTIVAL Circus Square Park

WKU VOLLEYBALL E.A. Diddle Arena

THE LITTLE MERMAID BALLET

BGPD TRUNK OR TREAT Bowling Green Police Department

The Capitol

SKY KICK OR TREAT TOURNAMENT Lovers Lane Soccer Complex

BIKEWALKBG: FAMILY FUN BIKE RIDE Buchanon Park

WKU FOOTBALL Houchens-Smith Stadium

PUMPKIN FESTIVAL Jackson’s Orchard

6 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

The Women’s Fund of South Central Kentucky Annual Dinner & Meeting threeTHIRTYone Wedding & Event Venue

SCARE ON THE SQUARE Downtown Bowling Green WKU VOLLEYBALL E.A. Diddle Arena

31 BG26.2 & HALF MARATHON Downtown Bowling Green WKU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL E.A. Diddle Arena PUMPKIN FESTIVAL Jackson’s Orchard SPOOKY TALES ON THE HILL: A KIDFRIENDLY GHOST ADVENTURE Gordon Wilson Hall

OCTOBER 2026 • 7

NOVEMBER “Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a ﬂower.” — Albert Camus S

BG26.2 & HALF MARATHON Bowling Green Ballpark

WKU MEN’S BASKETBALL E.A. Diddle Arena

T 3

WKU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL E.A. Diddle Arena

WKU MEN’S BASKETBALL E.A. Diddle Arena

TWILIGHT TOURS Riverview at Hobson Grove

BOWLING GREEN-WARREN COUNTY ANNUAL VETERANS PARADE Downtown Bowling Green

WKU VOLLEYBALL E.A. Diddle Arena

WKU SPORTS SCHOOLS CLASSIC 2026 Buchanon Park WKU VOLLEYBALL E.A. Diddle Arena WKU & CAPITOL TEEN THEATRE PRESENTS: SHE KILLS MONSTERS The Capitol

WKU & CAPITOL TEEN THEATRE PRESENTS: SHE KILLS MONSTERS The Capitol

VETERANS DAY

WKU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL E.A. Diddle Arena

14 WKU FOOTBALL Houchens-Smith Stadium

MED CENTER HEALTH FOUNDATION CHARITY BALL Sloan Convention Center

GIRLS DAY OUT! Knicely Conference Center

WKU MEN’S BASKETBALL E.A. Diddle Arena

POKEKON-FEST National Corvette Museum

WKU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL E.A. Diddle Arena

21 7TH ANNUAL COMMUNITY THANKSGIVING DINNER The Event Room HENRY CHO: THE EMPTY NEST TOUR SKYPAC

BOWLING GREEN KENTUCKY REPTILE AND EXOTICS SHOW Sloan Convention Center

DOWNTOWN DUCK DROP The Fringe

WKU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL E.A. Diddle Arena

40TH ANNUAL GREAT TURKEY 5K RUN & GOBBLER WALK Spero Kereiakes Park

28 WKU FOOTBALL Houchens-Smith Stadium

Small Business Saturday Downtown Bowling Green

WKU

GYPSYMOON MARKETPLACE N O V E M B E R

8 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

5 - 7

VO L L EYB A L L

CONFERENCE USA TOURNAMENT NOVEMBER 20-22 | E.A. DIDDLE ARENA

COMING THIS

Bowling Green’s new luxury design studio & curated home store.

ZIMMERMAN INTERIORS

B OL DY DE S IG N E D.

OPENING FALL 2026

B E A U T I F U L LY L I V E D I N .

ZIMMERMANINTERIORS.COM

Lo Lower ow ow we er Contact us today!

TASHINA ASHLEY

MORTGAGE LOAN ORIGINATOR

tashley@libertyfcu.org

office (270) 906-1142

NMLS #1570397

cell (270) 779-8615

APPLY NOW tashley.libertymortgage.org Loans are subject to credit review and approval. A sample principal and interest payment on a (30)-year $200,000 fixed rate loan amount with a 7.125% interest rate (7.205% APR) is $1,629 including taxes, insurance, and PMI. This sample is based on a credit score of 760 and a LTV of 95% (5% down payment) and includes our loan rate discount. Actual interest rate may vary based on credit history, loan purpose, loan to value, etc. Visit www.libertyfcu.org/mortgagecalculator to calculate payments with other terms, balances, or rate. Liberty FCU mortgage lending product availability may vary based on property location. Federally Insured by NCUA Equal Housing Lender NMLS# 518136

OCTOBER 2026 • 9

Loving

Others First “When you live outside of

your own needs and your focus is no longer on you, you bless others. And then they bless others. And then you transform an entire community.”

10 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

TRACEY YOUNG

VIPROFILE

S T O RY B Y A M E L I A B O W E N

VIPROFILE

Dr. Tracey Young built her career on a simple premise: no student reaches their potential alone. She knows this because she was once the student who needed someone else to see it first. Mr. David Crowe was Tracey’s principal at Warren Central High School. While she was still discovering who she might become, he saw abilities in her that she could not yet recognize. “He saw things in me and potential in me that I did not see in myself at that time,” Tracey says. “As soon as he let me know I had that ability, I started trying to really work on those skills.” Years passed. Tracey went to college, built a career, raised a family with her husband, Bob, and earned her doctorate. Mr. Crowe remained in her thoughts, though she never quite found the right moment to tell him how much his belief had mattered. Then she learned he was battling a terminal illness. By then, he was receiving inpatient care and no longer accepting visitors, so Tracey wrote him a letter. She told him about the difference he had made in her life and how much of what she had accomplished could be traced back to leaders like him who took the time to see something in a student. About a week later, a letter arrived in return. Mr. Crowe told Tracey how proud he was of her. He wrote that he had always known she would become a community leader, then charged her with doing for others what he had once done for her: mentor them, love them and help them recognize their potential. “By the way, I knew you earned your doctorate,” Tracey recalls him writing. “I came to your ceremony.”

He had been there when she was hooded, quietly watching without approaching because he did not want to interrupt the celebration with her family. Tracey still has the letter. Decades later, she is still carrying out his challenge.

The Power of Words Education was not Tracey’s original career plan. She began in healthcare with Med Center Health, eventually serving as administrator of the urgent care and Bluegrass Outpatient Center. There, an opportunity to write a grant changed the trajectory of her life. At the time, local military veterans often had to travel to Nashville for basic primary healthcare. Tracey collaborated on a grant that allowed veterans to receive primary care locally through urgent care facilities in Bowling Green. “I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, writing has such power,’” she says. Her mother, an English language arts teacher who spent 27 years at Warren Elementary, had taught her that if she could speak and write well, she could succeed in nearly any profession. But that first grant showed Tracey something deeper. “I realized the power behind writing and how it could move the needle forward for vulnerable populations,” she says. Tracey earned her doctorate and began teaching at Western Kentucky University, where she helped secure a grant for the Institute for Rural Health. It funded mobile health units that brought care into high-need communities while offering WKU nursing and dental hygiene students real-world experience. She loved teaching and her students. But one

day, watching commuters arrive on campus, Tracey began reflecting on who had access to opportunity and who did not. “I just really felt drawn to go help those who don’t start off on the 50-yard line,” she says. She launched an independent grant-writing business focused on children and vulnerable populations. Warren County Public Schools soon became one of her most frequent partners. Eventually, Tracey approached district leadership. “Let me change lives through my writing,” she remembers saying. “I promise I will succeed because I’ll be driven by the passion to help them.” They said yes. She has been writing for the district ever since.

Opportunity by Design Today, Tracey serves as Director of Grants and Community Outreach for Warren County Public Schools, connecting schools with businesses, nonprofits and community leaders to create opportunities students might not otherwise encounter. “We are locking arms and working together to find every opportunity to cast a wider net and provide more students with transformational learning opportunities.” Through partnerships with organizations like United Way of Southern Kentucky and the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, students gain access to career shadowing, campus visits and trade school tours, while grants help eliminate barriers like transportation. “A lot of times, if a family doesn’t own a car, how are they supposed to get to a college campus?” Tracey asks. “We take for granted that kids have that capacity.” OCTOBER 2026 • 11

VIPROFILE

Last year alone, WCPS students participated in approximately 10,000 college and career exploration experiences. Over six years, the district has increased the percentage of students graduating college or career ready by 31 percent, with more than 95 percent now graduating prepared for postsecondary education or workforce entry. “That is transformational,” Tracey says. “Our community prospers when our kids prosper.” Tracey also advocated for a district education foundation giving local businesses a direct avenue to invest in students. What began as an idea has raised more than half a million dollars for local education. To Tracey, those figures represent lives altered. “Even your most vulnerable kid who nobody would think would have a shot at success has a shot at success,” she says. “You raise expectations, and those kids meet them and exceed them every time. You just have to pour into them.”

Starting Early Some of Tracey’s strongest advocacy centers on early childhood education and the reality that access in the first five years of life shapes long-term outcomes. Through district and community partnerships, that work includes preschool programming, a kindergarten-readiness summer academy, a mobile “Little Learners” classroom traveling into highneed neighborhoods and training for local 12 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

childcare providers. “How can we partner to train parents and guardians how to be their kids’ best teacher in the home before they ever get to kindergarten?” Tracey asks. WCPS allocates approximately $2 million annually from its general fund to support full-time preschool, serving more than 800 children who qualify through economic disadvantage or diagnosed disabilities. Over the last four years, the district has seen a 14 percent increase in children entering kindergarten designated as school-ready. “It takes our business community. It takes our community leaders. All of us,” she says. “It can’t just be legislators funding preschool education. Until we have that fully funded, it is going to take all of us.”

A Culture of Caring Tracey’s commitment to children extends beyond the school day. Her board service has included the Family Enrichment Center, The Foundry Christian Community Center, WKU’s Campus Child Care and the SKYCTC Foundation. More than 30 years ago, a 3 a.m. idea led her to establish the Family Enrichment Center’s Run & Walk for Children, now a longstanding community event supporting local families. She has also spent a decade on the board of the Barren River Area Child Advocacy Center, which serves children who have experienced trauma and sexual abuse. Last year, the center served nearly 1,000 children across the region through mental health

VIPROFILE

therapy, advocacy and trauma-informed exams alongside law enforcement and medical partners. “If it weren’t for the center and the staff who are heroes working with those kids every day, if it weren’t for board members and volunteers, all those people collectively give those children hope,” she says. “If not us, then who?” That responsibility was modeled early. After teaching at Warren Elementary, Tracey’s mother worked nights at the local spouse abuse shelter, raising three daughters while giving back to families in need. Now 84, she still works at WKU in the athletic ticket office, greeting visitors and brightening days. “She exudes joy,” Tracey says. Tracey and her husband raised four daughters: their oldest became a special education teacher, their second works for Children’s Advocacy Centers of Kentucky, their third works for Med Center Health and their youngest attends WKU. “Do not spend your life focusing on yourself,” Tracey tells them. “Focus on those around you, and you will be blessed.”

The Ripple Effect That philosophy shapes the way Tracey mentors young professionals and students. When a student recently approached her wanting to learn about grant writing, Tracey pulled a chair around her desk despite running late for another commitment. “I was 45 minutes late for another meeting,” she says. “I thought, I’m going to

sit and face that student and say, ‘All right, let’s talk about it.’” When the student shared a dream of moving to Washington, D.C., Tracey offered to connect her with a grant-writing firm there once she demonstrated the work. It is Mr. Crowe’s challenge continuing decades later. It is her mother’s legacy continuing through her. “I’m a real believer in trying to mentor others and helping guide them to see that when you live outside of your own needs, you bless others,” Tracey says. “And then they bless others. And then they bless others. And then you transform an entire community.” For Tracey, leadership has never been about standing at the center of the story. It is about recognizing who has been left outside of it, making room and calling others to join. “Loving others is easy,” she says. “We just get caught up in the social media, the negativity and the barriers. Just plow through them, because really, if you just love others first, everything else comes so much easier.” That is the legacy Dr. Tracey Young builds every day: not simply grants written or programs funded, but a community of leaders learning to look beyond themselves. One person sees potential in another. That person reaches back. Then another does the same. Until eventually, the entire community moves forward together.

OCTOBER 2026 • 13

DOWNTOWN BOWLING GREEN | BARREN RIVER AREA CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER

Jesse Kiper, Colby Norris, Jeff Davin, Dylan Horne and Swade Constant

Mylinda and Tyler Brown

Logan Kass, Carson Pillow and Vria Garvin

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMELIA BOWEN

The Barren River Area Child Advocacy Center took fundraising to new heights with its ninth annual Over the Edge event in downtown Bowling Green. Supporters accepted the challenge of rappelling five stories while raising funds for the center and the children and families it serves throughout the region. This year’s event raised more than $170,000, adding to more than $1.2 million raised through Over the Edge since the event began. The annual event continues to bring the community together in support of the center’s work to advocate for children and families across South Central Kentucky.

Brandon Duran

Max Scharlow and Heather Stockstill

Briarwood Hoppin’ Huskies

Tracey Young

Melissa Towery, Bri LaRussa and Mason Towery

Greenwood Choir 14 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

Izzy Orr, Reese McWhorter and Maysen Gibson

#GoTOPS

OCTOBER 2026 • 15

#GoTOPS #GoTOPS

16 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

#GoTOPS

OCTOBER 2026 • 17

#GoTOPS

18 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

TIM AND SARAH FORD FIELDHOUSE | WKU ATHLETICS

Dalyn Coffey, Darrell Coffey, Nick Coffey and Alexis Coffey

Baylee Thompson and Jack Thompson

Jencie Taylor, Julien Lewis, Julien Lewes II and Shatausa Edwards

Rebecca and Todd Stewart

Football

Hall of Fame Recognition Linda Cornell, Toryn Cornell, Wanda Schafer, Belle Hunt and David Graves

Isis Destiny, TJ McCollum, Sandra McCollum and Kourtney McCollum

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY SEBASTIAN TINGLE On September 26, members of WKU’s 2015 Hilltopper Football Team gathered at the Tim and Sarah Ford Fieldhouse to celebrate the team’s formal induction into the WKU Athletics Hall of Fame. Eleven years after making program history, the 2015 Hilltoppers reunited to reflect on a season that included a 12-2 record, a Conference USA Championship and a No. 24 finish in the final AP rankings. Players and their families reunited over lunch before hearing from speakers including “Voice of WKU” Randy Lee and Hilltopper Head Coach Tyson Helton. A player panel featuring Taywan Taylor, Brandon Doughty, Forrest Lamp and TJ McCollum reflected on the team’s time at WKU and memorable moments from the season. Following the ceremony, the celebration continued at Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium, where the team was recognized during halftime.

Nick Holt VI, Julien Lewis, Martavius Mims and TJ McCollum

Shayne Hix, Adrian Davis, Mikaela Hix, Colton Hix and Elizabeth Hix

Jamie and Quentin Miller

Gary Ransdell and Belle Hunt OCTOBER 2026 • 19

#GoTOPS

V I P P L AY E R Story by Amelia Bowen Photographs provided by WKU Athletics

ALL EYES ON

TEAGAN

MOORE

“You just have to tune it out and keep doing what you need to do to get to the level you want to get to.”

20 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

asketball entered Teagan Moore’s life so early that he cannot remember a time without it. “My mom has a picture. I think I was probably two months old when I first picked up a basketball,” he says. “It’s just always been a part of my life.” More than two decades later, Teagan is entering his fourth year at Western Kentucky University as one of Conference USA’s most recognized returning players. The redshirt junior guard is coming off one of the most productive individual seasons in recent Hilltopper Basketball history. In 2025–26, Teagan averaged 18.7 points and 5.6 rebounds per game while shooting 52.9 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from beyond the arc. He finished second in CUSA in scoring, earned All-CUSA First Team and NABC All-District Second Team honors and recorded 13 games with 20 or more points. His 18.7 points per game marked WKU’s highest single-season scoring average since Courtney Lee averaged 20.4 in 2007–08. Now, as WKU prepares for 2026–27, Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook has named Teagan its Conference USA Preseason Player of the Year. But when Teagan talks about the years that brought him here, the numbers are only one part of it.

KENTUCKY ROOTS

Growing up in Dry Ridge, Kentucky, Teagan was surrounded by athletics. Both parents played basketball in high school, his mother also played volleyball and his father competed in shot put. Kevin Durant and Derrick Rose were childhood favorites, and a Chicago Bulls Derrick Rose jersey was the first basketball jersey Teagan ever owned. He graduated from a small high school with roughly 100 classmates. While players at larger programs attracted attention from colleges across the country, Teagan learned not to measure his progress against anyone else’s. “You just have to keep going and not worry about what anybody else is doing and any attention that anybody else is getting,” he says. “You just have to tune it out and keep doing what you need to do to get to the level you want to get to.” WKU entered the picture the summer before his senior year. For a Kentucky kid who had always dreamed of playing college basketball in his home state, the opportunity felt right. “It was always a dream to play at an in-state school,” Teagan says. Three years later, he can see how much has changed. “I’ve just grown so much as a person, as a friend, as a basketball player,” he says. “Just growth all around.”

BLUE RIBBON COLLEGE BASKETBALL YEARBOOK

CUSA PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR

A NEW APPRECIATION Part of that growth came during a season when Teagan could not compete. After medically redshirting in 2024–25, he found himself watching the game that had occupied so much of his life from the sideline. “I think it was just being grateful to be on the court,” he says. “That year, you sit out and that’s all you want to do. You just want to participate in practice, sweat, just get a sweat in.” The experience also challenged him to consider who he was beyond basketball. “You spend so much time on your sport, on your sport, on your sport that your personal life kind of gets pushed to the side,” Teagan says. “It was just finding your identity in something other than your sport.” He returned with a new appreciation for the game and delivered the strongest season of his college career. Teagan reached double figures in 23 of 27 appearances and scored at least 15 points 22 times. Following a fivegame midseason absence, he helped lead WKU on a five-game winning streak, averaging 24.6 points and five rebounds during that stretch. WKU opens its 2026–27 campaign at home against Morehead State on Nov. 2 following exhibition contests against Bowling Green and Indiana. “We’re just excited to play another team,” Teagan says.

He enters the season with plenty of attention surrounding No. 30, but also a greater appreciation for every opportunity he has to step onto the court.

LIFE ON THE HILL

Teagan’s years at WKU have become about much more than time inside Diddle Arena. Between the friendships he has made, the community he has found and the life he is building with his fiancée, Alli, Bowling Green has given him plenty to value away from basketball. “It’s a close-knit, family-type relationship,” Teagan says of his teammates. Through Fellowship of Christian Athletes, his circle expanded to other student-athletes who understood the demands of balancing competition, academics and everyday life. It is also where his story with Alli began. Teagan was a freshman and Alli a junior when mutual friends through FCA began plotting an introduction. One night after FCA, the group headed to Cook Out and conveniently left the two sitting together while everyone else went through the drive-thru. Exactly who was interested first remains a point of playful disagreement, but their shared experience as college athletes has become an important part of their relationship. “Some days you come home from a hard practice and you just want to lay in bed and do nothing,” Teagan says. “There’s just an understanding of what each other is going through on a day-to-day basis.” When asked what keeps him grounded amid practices, games, travel and the attention that comes with college basketball, Teagan immediately points to Alli. Their life together includes Goose, a black Lab puppy affectionately described as a “terror,” and plans for an April wedding. In his downtime, Teagan enjoys golfing, cooking homemade alfredo and exploring Bowling Green, with Mr. B’s, Shogun and, fittingly, Cook Out among their local favorites. Teagan hopes to continue playing basketball for as long as he can, so the couple does not yet know where the next chapter will take them. For now, there is still plenty ahead on the Hill. Basketball has been part of Teagan Moore’s life for nearly as long as he can remember. Along the way, the game has given him more than points and accolades. It has given him teammates who became family, relationships that will last beyond college and a place that has helped shape who he is becoming. As another season begins, all eyes are on Teagan Moore. And he is ready to make it count. OCTOBER 2026 • 21

Story

EVERY NUMBER HAS A

THE HUBER FAMILY’S STORY When Marcus and Leah Grace Huber’s son Sterling arrived 71 days early, weighing just 2 pounds, 7 ounces, their world changed overnight. Sterling was placed on a ventilator in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at The Medical Center at Bowling Green, more than 50 miles from the family’s home. With weeks of uncertainty ahead, Med Center Health’s Hospitality House became their home away from home. Located just steps from the hospital, it allowed Marcus and Leah Grace to stay close to Sterling while their other five children could visit on weekends and share family meals together.

22 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

Just as importantly, it relieved the financial burden of paying for weeks in a hotel. After seven weeks in the NICU, Sterling was finally strong enough to go home—and today, he continues to grow and thrive. For the Hubers, the Hospitality House was more than a place to stay. It meant being together when being together mattered most.

THE HUBERS ARE ONE FAMILY.

Their story is part of something much bigger. Med Center Health Foundation helps patients and families across Southcentral Kentucky access care, find hope and build healthier tomorrows. And with your support, there can be many more stories like the Hubers.

TOGETHER, THOSE STORIES MAKE AN EXTRAORDINARY IMPACT. Through the generosity of our community, here is what was made possible in 2025.

429 children served

1,034

12,200

Medical Encounters

Dental Services provided

at The Community Clinic

1,893

through

Robert & Mary Tincher Guardian Angel Children’s Services

at The Dental Clinic

CHARIT Y BALL

nights of stay experienced by patients and families at the

Hospitality House

Continue the Legacy

BE PART OF THE NEXT

RESERVE YOUR SEAT Join us for an unforgettable evening as we celebrate 100 years of Med Center Health and support a healthier tomorrow. Seating is limited!

100%

of proceeds benefits Med Center Health Foundation

ALOHA FOR TWO Four nights of adventure, tropical luxury & the spirit of Aloha with this customizable island escape.

NOV. 7, 2026

story

COSTA RICA OCEANFRONT LUXURY FOR TWO Experience rooftop pool bliss and coastal elegance.

FEATURED ONLINE AUCTION EXPERIENCES Online auction opens October 30.

LOUIS VUITTON RAFFLE $25 PER TICKET Drawing Nov. 7, 2026 Need not be present to win. The raffle supports The Community Clinic and The Dental Clinic.

Learn more, reserve your seats, or buy raffle tickets.

BGCHARITYBALL.ORG

OCTOBER 2026 • 23

THE CHARLESTON | THE WARREN COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION

Katie Embry and Carrie Jolly

Chris Cohron and Stone Begley

Beth Sigler and Amy Hale Chandler

James Simpson and Rebecca Adams Simpson

LAW DAY LUNCHEON STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY REINA JOHNSON Rebecca Adams Simpson and Catherine Holderﬁeld

Carson Hall and Nickolas Harris

The Warren County Bar Association gathered at The Charleston for its annual Law Day luncheon, bringing together members of the local legal community for recognition, connection and celebration. The luncheon honored those who continue to make a meaningful impact through their work and service to others.

Kayla Fugate and Heather Wade

This year’s event recognized recipients of the Gwyneth Davis Award for outstanding contributions to the public and legal profession, the Pro Bono Publico Award for service to those in need of legal assistance and the William H. Natcher Award for lifetime achievement. Law Day offered a special opportunity to recognize local attorneys and the many ways they continue to serve Bowling Green and Warren County.

Mallory Baker and Ansley McLellan Susan Minton, John D. Minton Jr. and Paul Lawless

Ashley Gerughty and Stephanie McGehee-Shackleton 24 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

Doug Gorman, Carrie Jolly and Todd Alcott

Macy Ward and Kellie Crawford

STORY BY AMELIA BOWEN • PHOTOGRAPHY BY HARRIS VISUAL MEDIA

OCTOBER 2026 • 25

26 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

Before the wood and tile flooring was laid, before the furniture was arranged and the final details were placed, the 2026 St. Jude Dream Home held something that visitors would never see. Beneath its finished floors are signatures, names and handwritten well wishes left by the people who helped bring the home to life. Each year during construction, community members, volunteers and subcontractors gather inside the unfinished framing for a dedicated floorsigning day. Armed with permanent markers, they leave personal messages across the exposed subflooring, a quiet archive eventually covered as the house is completed. Among those names are St. Jude patient families whom builder Darrell Sweets has come to know throughout nearly two decades with the project. Some belong to children currently in treatment; others belong to children who have since passed away, leaving their names as permanent monuments inside the structure. “At some point in time, those homeowners are going to pull that up and they’re going to see some of that,” Darrell says. “Unless you participated, you had no idea those things were there.” It is a detail hidden beneath an otherwise very visible project, but perhaps one that best explains what the St. Jude Dream Home represents. The finished house may ultimately belong to one family, but its story began with many. Each year, the St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway brings builders, suppliers, tradespeople, designers and community partners together to construct a residence in support of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The completed home serves as the centerpiece of a local fundraising campaign, where supporters purchase tickets for a chance to win the house while directly funding the hospital’s research and care. For nearly 20 years, Darrell and Sweets Design Build, Inc. have helped bring that mission to life in Bowling Green. When the opportunity first arose, he says it felt like a natural extension of the company’s core values. “We thought it would really fit with kind of what our mission is for the community and to be able to help and give back,” Darrell says. “We love to be able to showcase things we do and at the same time help the community and help those that really need our help.” That balance is part of what makes the Dream Home “People really take a lot unique. It is a fundraiser with a far-reaching purpose, but it is of pride in the project,” also a showcase of what local Darrell notes. “When trade talent can create when given total creative freedom. partners walk onto this job For the 2026 home, that collaboration resulted in a site, they know it’s for St. three-bedroom, two-bath residence with an openJude. They want the quality concept floor plan, spacious to be exceptional, and it’s a bonus room and unexpected details woven throughout. genuine source of pride for An olive green exterior offers the first indication that this what they can accomplish is a house with a distinct for the community.” personality. Darrell says his team has experimented with different exterior finishes over the years. The deep green had appeared on a previous project, and this year felt like the right moment to bring it back. “It kind of really fit that subdivision and fit the style of what we were doing,” he says. Inside, that willingness to make bold choices continues. Unlike building for a private client, the Dream Home begins without knowing the tastes or routines of the future homeowner. For Darrell, that blank slate offers rare artistic freedom. “It really allows us to be creative in what we do, and we’re not necessarily confined to someone else’s vision,” he says. OCTOBER 2026 • 27

Instead, the team combines proven concepts, client favorites and new ideas to inspire visitors. “Each year, we try to put a unique stamp on it,” Darrell says. That custom touch is apparent immediately in the entryway, where wood flooring seamlessly integrates with stone in an intricate mixed-material foyer. “It is a little more time consuming to do, but it pops,” Darrell says. “It’s a great first impression.” The natural elements extend into the main living space, anchoring the fireplace where cedar boards were installed in a sharp herringbone pattern. Darrell views the fireplace as the architectural focal point of the room, using natural variations in the wood grain to create depth and warmth. “You can repeat exactly that design again, but because of just the natural characteristics of the wood, each one would be unique,” he says. “It’s just like a fingerprint.” Building a home of this caliber at low cost to the charity requires an extraordinary network of support. From foundation crews and framers to electricians, plumbers, tile setters and painters, dozens of local trade partners donate labor and materials year after year. Local suppliers step up to provide roofing, drywall, trim and cabinetry, ensuring every square foot reflects exceptional craftsmanship. “People really take a lot of pride in the project,” Darrell notes. “When trade partners walk onto this job site, they know it’s for St. Jude. They want the quality to be exceptional, and it’s a genuine source of pride for what they can accomplish for the community.” While Darrell’s team crafted the physical structure, Bowling Green Home Furnishings transformed the interior into a welcoming home. Though the business has sponsored the Dream Home for eight years, 2026 marked designer Lexi Hammond’s first year leading the staging. Lexi focused on the furniture, artwork and decorative accents without seeing the completed house until installation day. “The St. Jude Home is essentially free rein for us,” Lexi says. “I was really allowed to just pick pieces, colors and styles that I like and gravitate to.” Rather than relying on safe neutrals, Lexi leaned into subtle color and layered textures. “I wanted it to be something different for people to see, but I also wanted it to be a space that people could envision themselves and their families in,” she says. “Our homes are our safe spaces and often our escape. My goal was to create that calming space that anyone can envision themselves in.” The resulting design mixes transitional styles, blending modern elements with timeless pieces. Soft greens and blues flow through warm neutrals, anchored by careful styling.

28 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

In the living room, Lexi selected a single piece of original art as the foundation, building the room’s palette and furniture around its tones. That fluid color scheme moves effortlessly into the kitchen and dining spaces, as well as the primary suite, where Lexi designed the retreat around an | original lily pad painting donated by local artist Heather James Morrison. Soft seafoam and olive linens echo the canvas, while warm wood furnishings ground the room. Lighting also plays a major role in defining each space. National sponsor Kichler Lighting provided fixtures throughout the home, giving the design team access to their catalog without typical budget constraints, adding scale and polish throughout. “Everyone involved shares the same goal,” Lexi says. “To support our community and local business, but more importantly we all come together to support and shed light on St. Jude and their amazing mission.” For Darrell, that mission is grounded in the local families he has met throughout his years with the campaign. “Getting to know a lot of the patients and patient families over the years has been very special,” he says. “What we’re doing here in Bowling Green is helping people all over, but it really does go to families right here in this community.” That deeper purpose is felt in every corner of the house. A builder draws on decades of experience. A designer crafts a room around a piece of art. A national sponsor opens its entire lighting catalog. An artist donates an original canvas. Trade partners return year after year. Patient families leave their signatures across an unfinished floor. “The Dream Home is just one of many examples of what is possible when a community comes together,” Lexi says. Eventually, the house will be won, furniture will be moved and a new family will fill these rooms with memories. But beneath the wood, tile and stone, those initial signatures will remain, a permanent foundation of community support built into the very bones of the home.

VENDOR & SPONSOR LIST General Contractor: Sweets Design Build, Inc. (Darrell Sweets) Interior Staging & Design: Bowling Green Home Furnishings (Lexi Hammond) Featured Artwork: Heather James Morrison National Sponsors: Brizo, Shaw Industries, Trane, Bosch, Kichler Lighting Local Sponsors: WBKO, Sweets Design Build, Inc., WBVR, BG Home Furnishings, Stor-Mor Portable Buildings, Houchens Food Group, The J.M. Smucker Company, Badgett Business Center Insulation: 31-W Insulation Glass & Mirrors: B&P Glass Framing & Construction: Benny Tichnor Construction, Travis Werry Construction, Toby Sweets Roofing & Building Materials: Bergquest, Cole Lumber, Kentucky Wholesale, Nashville Plywood, Youngs Manufacturing Site Services & Sanitation: BG Dumpster, BG Portables, Build Clean Solutions, Virge Pest Control Plumbing & Fixtures: C&C Plumbing, Ferguson Landscaping & Dirtwork: Cain Solutions, Greenwood Dirt & Excavation, Greg Gary Trucking, Sweets Design Build Excavation Electrical & Supplies: CED, J & J Electric, Rexel, Square D Flooring, Tile & Trim: Coffman Home Décor, Lee Brick & Block, Shop at Home Carpets, Tile Trends, Valley Interiors Windows & Metalwork: Franklin Aluminum, Overhead Door, Window World Engineering & Foundation: Heritage Excavation & Masonry, IMI Concrete, Landmark Engineering Insurance & Corporate Partners: Houchens Industries, Lawton Insurance Painting: Joel Reyes Painting, PPG Paints HVAC: Perdue Heating & Cooling Custom Storage: Top Shelf Shelving Signage: Signs Express Lead Volunteers: Tina Updegraff, Lora Fisher, Sherry Suggs OCTOBER 2026 • 29

SKYPAC DONOR LOUNGE | KIWANIS CLUB OF BOWLING GREEN

Mandi Barnum, Jessica Warren, Mariah Hughes-Ortega and Rod Hutcheson

Jason Musser and David Holland

Nihad Ferhatovic, Jason Musser, Ahmo Becic, Semir Nailovic and Kenan Jusufovic

Justin Ortega and Chris Walker

Kayla Goodman, Whitney Kinslow and Tucker Middleton

SERVICE STARTS HERE STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY SHELLEY LOWE

Brian Bodenhamer and Greg Seaton

Janese Cleary and John Heinze

The Bowling Green Kiwanis Club welcomed community members to its “Service Starts Here” event on September 15 at the SKYPAC Donor Lounge. The evening offered guests an opportunity to connect with local leaders, learn more about Kiwanis and discover ways to get involved through service in Bowling Green. Throughout the event, attendees learned about the club’s work with local families, children and organizations as well as opportunities to contribute their own time and talents. “Service Starts Here” brought current members and prospective volunteers together while highlighting the many ways Kiwanis works to serve the Bowling Green community.

30 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

Shannon Grounds and Whitney Kinslow

Josh Smith, Dale Wiley, Janie Hurt, Maegan Hance and Sam Kinslow

Stephanie Wade and April Flora

Kevin Laughlin and Tony Witty

Teresa Brand and Janese Cleary

Shelley Safford, Rod Hutcheson, Jennifer Gibson and Rob Hankins

Nihad Ferhatovic, Ahmo Becic and Kenan Jusufovic

FULL SERVICE DESIGN CENTER AND SHOWROOM 901 LEHMAN AVE, BOWLING GREEN • 270.779.2565 @embellishhomebgky • www.embellish-home.com OCTOBER 2026 • 31

CLAY STREET | BG FIESTAVAL

Hilda Lucero and Maria Manor

Angela Vallejo and Claudia Rodriguez

Sarita Belén García, Abigel Villalobos, Antonela Espino and Kacey Favela

Celebrating

Years of

Rolando Rodriguez and Lilith McCoy

Tasha Morrow and Binasa Sasic

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY REINA JOHNSON

Cesar Vergara and Anita Parra

Gabriela Escudero and Daniel Reyes

The Bowling Green community came alive with culture, music and community during BG Fiestaval, a celebration highlighting the vibrant spirit of the region’s Hispanic and Latino community. Families and friends gathered on Clay Street to enjoy live entertainment, authentic food, local vendors and activities that brought people together for a weekend ﬁlled with connection and celebration. This year’s festival also marked 10 years of BG Fiestaval, adding another reason to celebrate as longtime supporters and new attendees gathered for the milestone. Traditional dance performances, music and local vendors ﬁlled the weekend, offering opportunities to experience and share the cultures and traditions that have remained at the heart of the festival throughout its history. For a decade, BG Fiestaval has provided a space for people to come together, share traditions and celebrate the Hispanic and Latino community that continues to enrich Bowling Green.

Noah and Caroline Thornberry

Rachel Lun, Mary Kim and Maria Mora

Hilda Lucero and Andrew Castillo

Jeremias Rodríguez and Rael Valdivia 32 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

Lizbeth Mendoza and Kimberly Mendoza

Jomar, Melissa and Adelisa

Giancarlo Garcia and Shelby Atilano

Up 2 D to ays

OCTOBER 2026 • 33

VIP Teacher

Spotlight F

or Hannah Ogden, the library has always felt like home. The daughter of a teacher, she grew up helping set up her mom’s preschool classroom before spending her college years working at a public library, a path that led seamlessly to her own career as an elementary school librarian. Now in her 19th year in education, Hannah has spent the past 13 years at W.R. McNeill Elementary School, blending books, literacy, and technology as the K–5 library media specialist. Her favorite part of the job is standard setting continuity: watching kindergartners discover new stories, then guiding those same students into ﬁfth graders with distinct tastes and literary passions. A National Board Certiﬁed Teacher (renewed in 2024), Hannah’s creative approach has earned national attention. She was recently featured on KET’s Kentucky Edition for her teacher trading card initiative, which rewards reading milestones with collectible cards featuring school staff. The program’s popularity has opened doors for her to present at state conferences and help schools nationwide launch their own versions.

H OGDEN HANNA RY MEDIA SPECIALIST K–5 LIBRA ARY SCHOOL W.R. MCNEILL ELEMENT

“Great books help you understand, and they help you to feel understood.” — John Green

Off the clock, Hannah is a professional harpist who has performed at events since the eighth grade. She and her husband, Stephen, celebrate 20 years of marriage this December and have two daughters. Together, they love hiking, kayaking, and retreating to a fall cabin for board games, home cooking, and Johnny Cash.

FAVORITE BOOK?

“It’s impossible to choose just one! My favorite children’s author is Roald Dahl, and I also love the work of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, P.G. Wodehouse and Barbara Kingsolver. This summer, I read the entire Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion series, and I can’t wait for the next book to be published!”

WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST REWARDING PART OF YOUR JOB?

“Knowing that I’m making a positive difference in the lives of students from many different cultures and backgrounds. I love hearing how much a student enjoyed a book I recommended and seeing their excitement during a book fair or reading event. Every year, our entire school reads the same novel, and we decorate the library and plan activities around the book. It has really helped build a culture of reading at our school, and I look forward to it every year!”

Thank you for all you do for our youth and our community, Hannah! 34 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

ROOTED HERE

GROWING TOGETHER. For more than 25 years, we have proudly supported the people, families, and businesses that make Bowling Green feel like home. Six Bowling Green, KY locations to serve you.

ambanking.com OCTOBER 2026 • 35

LOST RIVER CAVE

Raphael Kijerijeri and Sanaullah Zadran

Chloe Milliken and Emily Hays

A New Chapter for Nature Education Emma Martin, Miy’ahanna Hudson and Kealee Gidcomb

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY BECKY SMITH

Seth Brown and Justin Jennings

Lost River Cave and Valley is expected to welcome 200,000 visitors this year, including 5,600 area students. On September 14, the park celebrated the opening of its much-anticipated Nature Discovery Pavilion, made possible through a generous gift from longtime supporters Valerie Brown and Ken Kuehn. The new pavilion provides a flexible outdoor classroom and gathering space designed to expand the park’s educational and community programming. With the addition, Lost River Cave can double its capacity for school field trips, offer more immersive learning experiences and provide a dedicated space for community activities, rain or shine.

Ellie Jurgens, Feleicia Murphy, Emma Hagans and Presley Scott

Nicole Coomer, Averi Reed and Corey Boisseau

Fletcher Johnson and Maya Gore 36 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

Olivia Orange, Gladys Perdomo, Demesha Tamang and Nyla Wells

Justin Jennings, Ken Kuehn, Valerie Brown, Alli Hardin and Rho Lansden

Julia Forsythe, Crystal Townsend, Veronica Withey and Ashley Martin

OCTOBER 2026 • 37

C E L E B R A T I N G

Y E AR S

o f t e l l i n g B o w l i n g G r e e n’ s s t o r i e s

O F F I C I A L M AG A Z I N E O F

W K U AT H L E T I C S

EATS AND BEATS FEST CONCERTS IN THE PARK HANGAR PARTY

O F F I C I A L M AG A Z I N E O F

W K U AT H L E T I C S

38 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

SPEAKOUT SPEAKEASY HOSPICE LOTUS AWARDS MASQUERADE FOR MITOCHONDRIA

O F F I C I A L M AG A Z I N E O F

OCTOBER 2025

W K U AT H L E T I C S

FEBRUARY 2026

AUGUST 2025

RACHEL KIRBY

MORGAN MOYERS

Sales Executive

Owner

AMELIA BOWEN Managing Editor

KAT MCDONALD

AUBREY REYNOLDS

Intern

Sales Executive

AMBER BLAIR Sales Executive

HILLARY RICKEL Business Development Director

BEHIND THE PAGES

For 10 years, VIP Bowling Green has celebrated the people, places and stories that make our community what it is. Each issue comes together through our owners, sales team, editor, designers, photographers, writers and distributors who believe those stories are worth telling. Here, members of today’s team reflect on what VIP and Bowling Green mean to them.

I love that VIP can help connect people to things they may not have known were here. It’s not just about the magazine itself. It’s about helping people find each other, find ideas, find opportunities and see a little more of what is happening in their own backyard.

I love that we can take something that isn’t tangible, like a thought, idea or story, and make it into something tangible. There is so much thought, care and effort that goes into every issue, especially making sure people’s stories are portrayed accurately and as intended.

HILLARY RICKEL Business Development Director

AUBREY REYNOLDS Sales Executive

With every person I meet and every story I learn, I’m reminded just how much there is worth celebrating here and how many stories deserve to be shared. Getting to help tell those stories and give people another reason to be proud of the place they call home is truly a privilege.

I think what I appreciate most about VIP is that it makes a community feel a little smaller. There are so many interesting people doing meaningful things locally, and I love being part of something that helps tell those stories and celebrates the place we all call home.

AMELIA BOWEN Managing Editor

AMBER BLAIR Sales Executive

OCTOBER 2026 • 39

THREE THIRTY ONE | VIP BOWLING GREEN MAGAZINE

Ashlee Wilson Quinn, Amelia Bowen and Julie Milam

40 UNDER 40 REVEAL DINNER STORY BY AMELIA BOWEN PHOTOGRAPHY BY REED WILKINSON VIP Bowling Green debuted its 2026 40 Under 40 class during the magazine’s first-ever Reveal Dinner at threeTHIRTYone. Honorees gathered alongside friends, family and colleagues for an evening built around the highly anticipated reveal. Before the names were announced, guests enjoyed dinner, signature cocktails, a photo booth and time to connect. Then, everyone opened the September issue together, seeing the 2026 class in print for the first time. Each of the 40 honorees was announced and recognized with a commemorative plaque and pin. The evening also coincided with VIP Bowling Green’s 10th anniversary, giving the team another reason to celebrate as the magazine entered its next decade.

40 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

Andrew Stewart

THREE THIRTY ONE | VIP BOWLING GREEN MAGAZINE

Jeffrey and Jewel Jordan

Olivia Howard

Tyler, Kip and Jill Jaggers

Whitnee Mosley

Kristi and Andrew Hayes

Joey Gorman, Jeff and Christina Ranger and Michelle and Doug Gorman

Morgan and Molly Moyers

OCTOBER 2026 • 41

42 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

FULL EVENT DESIGN CUSTOM DRAPERY MARQUEE + CUSTOM INSERTS PRINT PHOTOBOOTH CUSTOM BRANDED COCKTAIL PRINTS BRANDED BALLOON DECOR

PREMIUM MOBILE BARTENDING SERVICE

BBGEVENTS.CO

@BBGEVENTS.CO

HIGHBARINDUSTRY.COM

@HIGHBAR_INDUSTRY OCTOBER 2026 • 43

LOST RIVER CAVE | SUNBELT CONSTRUCTION & THE MICHAEL J. FOX FOUNDATION

John and Kim Kleis

Hard Hats and Hope: Sunbelt Construction Turns 40

Jeremy and Ashley Jones

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY BECKY SMITH

Kim and Jason Gumm

For 40 years, Sunbelt Construction has served the Southeast in commercial, retail and restaurant construction. The longtime Bowling Green company also holds General Contractor License No. 1 with the Bowling Green/Warren County Contractors Licensing Board. To celebrate four decades in business, company president Quintin Littrell gathered the Sunbelt team, along with friends and business associates, at Lost River Cave for Hard Hats and Hope: Sunbelt Construction Turns 40. The milestone celebration also served a meaningful purpose, benefiting a cause close to the heart of the company: The Michael J. Fox Foundation. Guests enjoyed an evening of fellowship and connection in the unique setting of Lost River Cave while supporting the foundation’s work to accelerate the development of the next generation of Parkinson’s disease treatments. The evening also marked a first for the organization as The Michael J. Fox Foundation’s first-ever fundraiser held in a cave. Contributions from the celebration supported continued Parkinson’s research and the pursuit of a cure.

Alex and Jennifer Nottmeier

Troy and Bethany Richerson

Stuart and Erin Iverson

Patrick and Caroline Stewart

Terri and Steve Sheldon

44 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

LOST RIVER CAVE | SUNBELT CONSTRUCTION & THE MICHAEL J. FOX FOUNDATION

Matea Mills and Gus Farmer

Lindsay Hinton and Jonathan Bryant

Marcus Wilson, Cody Harmon and Jason Gumm

Lindsey and Todd Elrod with Luke Littrell

Brent and Greyson Billingsley with Quintin Littrell

Zack Littrell, Lily Malloy, Autumn Upright and Malachi Humble

Daniel, Brittany, Lacey and Kyle Hickey

Cindy and Randy Dillard

Carrie West and Brad McKinney

Donald and Jennifer Smith

Davina and Derek Gidcumb OCTOBER 2026 • 45

INDIAN HILLS COUNTRY CLUB | BIRDIES FOR BRITTNEY

Maegan Hance and Sue Parrigin

Michelle Gorman and Lindsey Sanson

Drew Lawrence, Chris Brown, Adam Whitt, Bret Ray and Michael Doyle

Terris Parrish and Bryan Buchanan

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY MAGEN ESTEP SIEGRIST Michelle and Doug Gorman

Emily Goforth and Amanda Farmer

Golfers gathered at Indian Hills Country Club for the ninth annual Birdies for Brittney Golf Scramble, enjoying a beautiful day of friendly competition, fellowship and community spirit. Established in memory of Brittney Gorman Parrish, the annual event celebrates Brittney’s contagious smile, generous heart and lasting love for the Bowling Green community. Proceeds from the tournament help continue her legacy through meaningful donations, scholarships and local initiatives that make a difference throughout the region. Teams, volunteers and supporters came together for another memorable day on the course while supporting a cause that remains close to the hearts of many in the community. Title sponsors Pinnacle Financial Partners and Murphy Construction Group joined corporate sponsors, hole sponsors, donors, volunteers and participants in making this year’s scramble possible. Their continued generosity allows Birdies for Brittney to honor Brittney’s memory while giving back to the community she proudly called home.

Jeff and Christina Ranger

Michael Allen, Nick Lannert, Travis Johnson and Corey Vincent

Austin Disney and Bella McCall

Megan and Joey Gorman 46 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

Kyler Morgan, Bella McCall and Blair Haines

Greg Ferrell and Doug Gorman

OCTOBER 2026 • 47

HOLY SPIRIT CATHOLIC CHURCH | ST. GIANNA CRISIS PREGNANCY HOME

Jen Davis, Paula Huggins, Amanda Shimanek and Jessica Kinkade

Debbie Conway, Ginny French and Teri Bybee Alex Harris, Brianne Simpson, Emily Buser and Lindsey Carter

Mahjong in the

♥

♥♥

MORNING

Catherine Suriano

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY SEBASTIAN TINGLE On Saturday, September 19, guests of all ages gathered at Holy Spirit Catholic Church for the first-ever, sold-out Mahjong in the Morning, a fundraiser benefiting the St. Gianna Crisis Pregnancy Home. Participants registered in advance for open play or Mahjong 101, a beginner-friendly tutorial for those new to the game. Volunteer instructors guided newcomers through the basics while experienced players enjoyed open play throughout the morning. The event also featured raffle prizes ranging from yoga sessions to custom oil paintings. Winners received flower crowns to wear throughout the event, while guests enjoyed an assortment of food and beverages between rounds. The inaugural gathering brought experienced players and newcomers together for a morning of mahjong while raising support for the St. Gianna Crisis Pregnancy Home.

Katie Whitney, Jeannie Rampenthal, Sarah Baker Cochran and Elaine Mason 48 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

Mike Noland, Dena Tyler, Sylann Smith and Catherine Suriano

Leading

LADIES MEET THE WOMEN SHAPING BOWLING GREEN WRITTEN BY AMELIA BOWEN

“If your actions create a legacy that inspires others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, then you are an excellent leader.” — DOLLY PARTON There is no single way to be a Leading Lady. Some build businesses from the ground up. Others step into family legacies and make them their own. They lead teams, care for patients, advocate for clients, create beautiful spaces, manage millions, mentor the next generation and find ways to make Bowling Green a little better along the way. VIP Bowling Green’s 2026 Leading Ladies celebrates the women behind that work. This year, we wanted to know more than what appears on a résumé. The women featured in this issue represent industries ranging from law, finance and hospitality to healthcare, design, beauty and wellness. Their paths and professions may look different, but common threads run throughout their stories: ambition, resilience, a willingness to keep growing and a genuine desire to invest in the people and community around them. Throughout this section, you’ll hear about the chal-

lenges that shaped them, the advice they still carry and the people who helped them along the way. You’ll also get to know another side of our Leading Ladies through Soundtrack to Success, featuring the songs that keep them moving, and A Seat at the Table, where they share the women they’d most love to sit down with, from their younger selves to cultural icons and trailblazers. These pages are filled with stories of unexpected pivots, big ideas, hard earned lessons, family, friendship, creativity and plenty of personality. Leadership is about more than a title or accomplishment. It is shaped by the experiences we carry, the people we learn from and the ways we choose to show up for others. We invite you to get to know the women behind some of the businesses and organizations that help make our community what it is today and celebrate the Leading Ladies helping shape where Bowling Green goes next.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MORGAN MARIE PHOTOGRAPHY ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY THE LEADING LADIES

OCTOBER 2026 • 49

Dillon

KIRBY

Owner, Hairstylist and Color Analyst | Salon Dalon

1725 Ashley Circle, Suite 217, Bowling Green, KY dillondidmyhair@gmail.com • 270.535.1807 • salondalon.comb.works True beauty begins with an intentional, holistic mindset at Salon Dalon, a private studio suite in Bowling Green. Owner Dillon Kirby combines custom haircutting and color analysis with low-tox beauty options, helping women embrace their natural features while prioritizing everyday wellness. Growing up in Bowling Green, Dillon discovered her passion through her childhood hairstylist, Amanda Cheek, whose tragic passing in 2016 revealed just how deeply a stylist can touch a client’s life. Choosing beauty school over a traditional degree felt like a leap of faith, but embracing the learning process allowed Dillon to build a business grounded in intentional care and healthy salon practices. “My mission is to leave people better than I found them through a holistic approach to beauty, wellness and personal style,” Dillon says. “I want to help women feel confident, cared for and inspired to take care of themselves.” Adopting a balanced 80/20 lifestyle, Dillon actively reduces unnecessary chemicals behind the chair by researching cleaner color choices and products. She expanded her practice by traveling to Texas for specialized color analysis training, giving clients a clear roadmap to the shades, makeup and styles that naturally highlight their skin tone and eye color. Beyond cut and color, Dillon treats her studio as a place of genuine connection. Whether offering a quiet refuge during a tough week or gifting services to clients navigating loss, divorce or illness, she believes taking care of others is the most fulfilling part of her work. “When you look and feel your best, that confidence carries into how you serve everyone around you,” Dillon says. “Beauty brings people through my door, but the relationships we build are what matter most.” At home, Dillon recharges alongside her high school sweetheart and husband, Clayton Kirby, and their two dogs, Birdie and Bronny. Her ideal off-days include quiet mornings, long walks downtown and grabbing a healthy lunch at local spots like The 30Bird. “Be very mindful of what you consume,” Dillon says. “Intentionally surround yourself with people, habits and environments that are life-giving. Stay in your lane, do right by others and keep faith at the center.”

50 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

Stacy

WALL

Clinical Manager | Atalla Plastic Surgery | Skin + Laser

1048 Ashley Street, Suite 303, Bowling Green, KY info@atallamd.com • 270.796.2500 • atallamd.com On Friday afternoons at 3:00 PM, you will likely find Stacy Wall unwinding with her clinic crew at Toro. After 26 years as Clinical Manager at Atalla Plastic Surgery | Skin + Laser, that camaraderie is not just a perk of the job; it is the foundation of her entire career. Stacy joined Dr. Fouad Atalla and his wife, Peggy, in the early days of medical aesthetics, back when treatments like laser hair removal and Botox Cosmetic were brand-new concepts in South Central Kentucky. Coming in with a Bachelor of Science degree and a background in massage therapy, she stepped into an evolving industry and helped build the practice into what it is today. Today, Stacy directs the aesthetician team, manages medical inventory, evaluates cutting-edge laser technologies and guides patient care. Yet, despite her executive reach, her leadership philosophy remains distinctly hands-on. “Strong leadership is about setting the standard through your own actions,” Stacy says. “It means believing in your team, recognizing their strengths and never asking someone to do something you would not do yourself.” Balancing a high-volume clinical career with a busy home life required a masterclass in time management. With her husband, Kyle, coaching year-round and their sons, Koby and Kade, competing in travel sports, Stacy learned early on how to prioritize and remain fully present in high-pressure seasons. Early mentorship from Peggy Atalla proved pivotal, showing Stacy firsthand that professional ambition and family devotion can thrive together. Now living in Russellville, Stacy pays that perspective forward, encouraging younger women entering healthcare while supporting regional causes like CASA and the Community Health Foundation. When stepping away from clinical operations, Stacy recharges by traveling to watch her son play college baseball, singing or spending sunny days on the beach. “Surround yourself with people who encourage your growth and stand right next to you,” Stacy says. “Never underestimate the value of simply showing up for the people who count on you.”

OCTOBER 2026 • 51

“I want younger women to know they do not have to choose between being strong and feminine, ambitious and nurturing, successful and present,” Catherine says. “Most of all, I want my daughters to grow up with the conﬁdence to walk into any room and know they belong.”

52 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

Catherine

VAUGHN

Owner & President | Hill-Motley Lumber Company, Inc. 121 W. Main Avenue, Bowling Green, KY cvaughn@hillmotleylumber.com • 270.842.2436 • hillmotleylumber.com

The drive that deﬁnes Catherine Vaughn’s executive leadership was forged in quiet, early-morning training sessions years before she purchased Hill-Motley Lumber Company in 2004, continuing a family legacy that now spans over 80 years. An NCAA All-American competitive swimmer whose high school and collegiate records stood untouched for over two decades, Catherine learned early that true success requires discipline, perseverance and putting in the work when no one is watching. “I did not walk into the business knowing every answer,” Catherine says. “I learned by asking questions, listening to people who knew more than I did, leaning on mentors and experienced employees and being willing to do the work. No one builds anything meaningful alone.” Today, as owner and president, Catherine oversees every facet of the business: from ﬁnancial performance and purchasing to sales, daily operations and long-term strategy. Before much of the community wakes up each morning, Hill-Motley trucks roll out of the yard, delivering materials that construct local

homes, commercial developments and infrastructure. Yet for Catherine, the ultimate goal of executive leadership is not to manage every task, but to empower a talented team and preserve a legacy of stability that has provided jobs for area families for generations.

causes that strengthen families, education and youth development. Hill-Motley has also long supported Habitat for Humanity, aligning with Catherine’s passion for helping local families build a strong foundation for their future.

Her leadership journey has been heavily inﬂuenced by her parents. Her father instilled a deep respect for business leadership and carrying on a legacy, while her mother provided an enduring model of grace, faith and unshakeable encouragement.

Above all, Catherine deﬁnes her ultimate success by the example she sets for her daughters, Charlee and Madeline. Whether playing a round of golf, cheering on her girls from the sidelines or supporting local community initiatives, she remains grounded in faith, gratitude and wholehearted living.

“My mother was my greatest inﬂuence,” Catherine says. “Whenever I faced an obstacle, she reminded me that ‘this too shall pass.’ Those simple words remind me that difﬁcult seasons are just that: seasons. You keep going, learn from them and emerge stronger on the other side.”

Catherine’s commitment to community extends far beyond the lumberyard. A 2005 Leadership Bowling Green graduate, ten-year Chamber Ambassador, former Operation PRIDE board member and active member of First Baptist Church, she consistently invests in local OCTOBER 2026 • 53

Hannah

ROBINSON Lead Designer

Katie

ZIMMERMAN

Founder and Principal Designer

Sierra KRUSE

Lead Interior Designer

Zimmerman Interiors 8595 Nashville Road, Unit 2, Bowling Green, KY katie@zimmermaninteriors.com • 513.371.0206 • zimmermaninteriors.com At Zimmerman Interiors, design goes far beyond aesthetics. Serving South Central Kentucky, Northern Tennessee and clients nationwide, the full-service studio crafts deeply personal spaces centered around hospitality, function and care. Led by Founder and Principal Designer Katie Zimmerman, the firm offers an integrated approach to new construction, renovations, furnishings and commercial projects alongside Zimmerman Construction, led by her husband, Drew.

talent,” Katie says. “Creativity sparks the vision, but strategy is what allows you to build something lasting.”

After two decades as a corporate fashion executive, Katie transitioned her side business into a full-time design firm in 2024. Today, she leads a talented team while preparing to open a new showroom and retail space on Nashville Road near Chaney’s Dairy Barn and South Warren.

“My mission is to use creativity and design to create spaces that feel meaningful, functional and personal,” Sierra says. “Strong leadership means being someone others can rely on while creating an environment where everyone feels supported and heard.”

“My mission is to help people live better by creating beautiful, deeply personal spaces while building a business that supports my community and develops emerging

Rounding out the creative team is Lead Designer Hannah Robinson. A London, Kentucky native and fellow WKU Interior Design alumna, Hannah specializes in new

54 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

Collaborating closely on residential projects is Lead Interior Designer Sierra Kruse. A Defiance, Ohio native and Western Kentucky University Interior Design graduate, Sierra brings creative vision and hands-on expertise to every stage of the process, taking projects from initial floor plans and 3D renderings to final installations.

construction and remodeling. She works directly with clients to develop mood boards, construction documents and tailored finish selections, turning initial concepts into cherished homes. “Our goal is to lead with purpose, grow with intention and make a lasting impact through the work we do,” Hannah says. “Leadership is about listening, learning and bringing out the best in those around you.” Together, Katie, Sierra and Hannah bring a rich blend of corporate strategy, technical precision and genuine passion to Bowling Green, creating beautiful spaces where families gather, linger and make lasting memories.

Nora

BRYANT

Co-Founder & Digital Communications Director

Lauren GUESS

Co-Founder & Public Relations Director

State & Tell 911 College Street, Suite 203, Bowling Green, KY nora@stateandtell.com • lauren@stateandtell.com • 270.577.2618 • stateandtell.com Communication is equal parts strategy, connection and story. At State & Tell, an integrated strategic communications and public relations agency in Bowling Green, co-founders Nora Bryant and Lauren Guess help clients show up as their best selves, both digitally and in person. Rather than managing client rosters as transactional business, Nora and Lauren operate with deliberate intention, taking on partnerships on purpose to build long-term visibility, authority and brand trust. For Digital Communications Director Nora Bryant, a Henderson native and Western Kentucky University graduate, launching State & Tell was the ultimate leap of faith. “My mission is to create a hospitable world where ideas, causes and businesses can thrive,” Nora says. “Success to me is the freedom to be fully present for my family while pursuing my own ambitions, showing them they can chase after whatever they want.”

Nora credits her career journey to the encouragement of her parents, who taught her passion, hard work and empathy. That grounded foundation inspires Nora’s approach to client work, where daily routines span media pitching, social strategy and active community advocacy through the Landmark Association, Donate Life Kentucky Trust and CREATE. Public Relations Director Lauren Guess brought an extensive background in established agencies and in-house communications to State & Tell. A Bowling Green native holding degrees in Psychology and Communication from the University of Louisville, Lauren originally envisioned a career in counseling before discovering her passion for PR.

Living in Bowling Green near her parents, Lauren balances client meetings, media shoots and strategy with raising her two young children alongside her husband, Logan. Supported by early mentor Jenny Howard, Lauren hopes to create new PR opportunities for emerging women in South Central Kentucky. Together, Nora and Lauren combine creative instinct with high-level strategy, proving that authentic stories serve as powerful catalysts for community progress. “Just do it and dive in,” Nora says. “Work ethic will always put you ahead, and you are far more capable than you realize.”

“To help people be seen in the right way, by the right people, with the right message is what drives our work,” Lauren says. “Strong leadership looks like someone who gets in the trenches alongside their team and trusts them with real responsibility.” OCTOBER 2026 • 55

Lisa

MARSHALL

Owner | Embellish Home

Natalie

HUGHES

Founder and Principal Designer

Embellish Home 901 Lehman Avenue, Suite 11, Bowling Green, KY info@embellish-home.com • 270.779.2565 • embellish-home.com

Embellish Home is a full-service home furnishing and decor showroom offering everything needed to style a house from top to bottom. Co-owners Lisa Marshall and Natalie Hughes personally hand-select every piece, curating a collected, welcoming aesthetic that sets their showroom apart. “Not only do we provide unique items, but also a personal experience where customers feel right at home in our showroom,” Natalie says. “They can gather ideas, shop and talk with us about the complexities of making a house the home of their dreams.” Celebrating their 10-year anniversary this year, Lisa and Natalie first opened Embellish Home in September 2016 after collaborating on a local retail design project. Realizing they shared a mutual vision—

56 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

Lisa dreaming of owning a home decor boutique and Natalie wanting to open a unique retail shop in Bowling Green—they combined their distinct talents to bring something fresh to the area. From new custom builds and large-scale remodels to single-room makeovers, Embellish Home works closely with clients from initial concept to the final finishing touches. Their showroom carries extensive lines of furniture, rugs, art, lighting and accessories. For those searching for a thoughtful gift or seasonal update, the boutique also stocks unique home goods, luxury gifts and holiday decor. Over the past decade, their complimentary design perspectives and personal approach have made Embellish Home a

trusted staple for South Central Kentucky homeowners. “Considering the growth of Bowling Green and the number of families building and buying homes in the area, it remains essential to encourage people to shop locally and invest in our local economy,” Lisa says. Whether visiting for an in-home consultation or browsing showroom vignettes, clients continue to rely on Lisa and Natalie for expert guidance, quality pieces and enduring style.

Sherry

MURPHY

Executive Director | Bowling Green Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

352 Three Springs Road, Bowling Green, KY sherry@visitbgky.com • 270.782.0800 • visitbgky.com Tourism is far more than travel and recreation; it is the front door to a community and a primary economic engine that fuels local pride. At the helm of the Bowling Green Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, Executive Director Sherry Murphy leads a small but mighty team of staff members working daily to position Bowling Green and Warren County as a premier destination for leisure travelers, sports tournaments and regional events. A Russellville native and graduate of Western Kentucky University’s hospitality program, Sherry brought over two decades of industry experience back home when she took over the CVB in 2018. The Bureau promotes signature local assets including motorsports at Beech Bend, the National Corvette Museum, Lost River Cave and historic sites while producing regional visitor guides, managing lodging tax distribution and hosting guests at their official visitor centers. “Our office serves as the front door to our community, which means creating a welcoming, positive experience from the moment someone arrives,” Sherry says. “Tourism transforms communities, supports our local small businesses and builds a deep sense of shared pride in where we live.” Behind Visit BGKY’s momentum is a collaborative office culture where Sherry prioritizes mentoring the next generation of hospitality leaders. Having stepped into her first executive role at age 26, she relies on a balanced leadership style rooted in integrity, open communication and teamwork. In 2023, Governor Andy Beshear appointed her to the Kentucky Tourism Development Finance Authority, where she helps evaluate major development projects across the commonwealth. Whether problem-solving alongside her staff or representing Bowling Green on statewide and national stages, her approach remains focused on empowering others. “Strong leadership is about finding a balance between head and heart, listening and empowering your team to execute a shared vision,” Sherry says. “Success is seeing our local restaurants, hotels and attractions thrive because people chose to visit Bowling Green.” Through dedicated destination marketing, community outreach and a passionate team, Sherry and her staff ensure that Bowling Green continues to roll out a warm welcome for every guest who walks through the door.

OCTOBER 2026 • 57

Sara

JONES

Aesthetician and Makeup Artist | Select Health 2530 Scottsville Road, Suite 112, Bowling Green, KY

sara@selecthealthbg.com • 270.904.9120 • selecthealthbg.com For Sara Jones, beauty has always been about more than what you see in the mirror. As an Aesthetician at Select Health, her passion is helping others feel conﬁdent in their own skin, with or without makeup. A Bowling Green native and WKU graduate, Sara spent 13 years in Nashville, where her career brought opportunities with Nashville Fashion Week, Carolina Herrera, Jason Wu and Zac Posen, alongside features in Kentucky Bride and an appearance on Breaking Amish. Eventually, home called her back. Today, Sara provides advanced aesthetic treatments, customized skincare routines, and bridal and event makeup. She also works closely with BG Cotillion and volunteers at the Boyce Community Center. Her deﬁnition of success has evolved from professional milestones to being close to family, loving her work and pouring into others. Sara’s nurturing side extends beyond the clinic. At home, she shares life with four rescue cats, Izzy, Bella, Charlotte and Oliver, while caring for backyard wildlife like deer, birds, raccoons, possums and groundhogs. Cultivate Kindness, in honor of Mckenzi Loid, holds a special place in her heart, alongside the Bowling Green-Warren County Humane Society. “When you do the right thing, everyone wins,” Sara says.

R ylee

PETERSON

Owner | Curated Closet Consignment 1608 US-31W Bypass, Bowling Green, KY

rylee@curatedclosetbg.com • 270.495.1953 • curatedclosetbg.com A part-time college job at Beverly Hills Bargain Boutique unexpectedly set the trajectory for Rylee Peterson’s career. While earning her advertising degree at Western Kentucky University, she discovered a passion for sourcing high-end secondhand clothing. Rylee later launched a successful digital marketing career at Sublime Media Group while reselling apparel on the side. Once the owners of Beverly Hills announced their retirement, Rylee knew it was time to take a leap. Supported by her husband Ben and stepdad Michael, she opened Curated Closet Consignment in that very same location, making luxury fashion accessible to South Central Kentucky. “It was a risk to leave my marketing career, but I knew I would always wonder what if,” Rylee says. “My mission is to give high quality clothing another life while building genuine connections with our consignors and customers.” Active in Bowling Green Young Professionals and the Professional Marketing Association of SOKY, Rylee leads her team with empathy inspired by mentor Kayla Bitner. Outside the store, she supports the Potter Children’s Home, St. Teresa’s, BGWC Humane Society and BRASS, enjoying quiet downtime reading or spending time with Ben and their dogs, Wally and Jude.

58 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

Lena

GOKEY, APRN Select Health

Founder, Aesthetic Injector and Family Nurse Practitioner

2530 Scottsville Road, Suite 112, Bowling Green, KY info@selecthealthbg.com • 270.535.8879 • selecthealthbg.com For more than two decades, Lena Gokey has dedicated her career to caring for others, though nursing was not the path she originally expected to take. While living in Arizona and working in banking, Lena was pregnant and under the care of a nurse practitioner. The experience made such an impression that she began viewing healthcare in a whole new way. She returned to school, earned her RN, BSN and MSN degrees from Western Kentucky University and became a Family Nurse Practitioner. Western Kentucky University has remained a vital part of her journey. In addition to clinical practice, Lena has spent many years working part-time as a clinical instructor in WKU’s nursing department, helping prepare future nurses for their own careers. In May 2020, she opened Select Health in Bowling Green to create a practice where patients never felt rushed and taking care of the whole person mattered. The practice now offers primary care, weight management, hormone optimization, IV hydration, aesthetics and advanced skin and laser treatments. “My mission is to care for others with compassion and purpose, helping people feel seen, supported, confident and empowered to live healthier, happier lives,” Lena says. The years since opening brought some of the hardest experiences of her life. In July 2021, Lena lost her 24-year-old son AJ in a car accident. Only months later, the December tornado devastated her practice, leaving her to rebuild while navigating the unimaginable loss of her son. Those experiences changed how she views life, relationships and patient care, instilling an awareness that everyone carries unseen stories. “Success is having meaningful relationships, cherishing time with the people I love, making memories with my family and knowing that the work I do has made a positive difference in someone else’s life,” Lena says. Family is at the center of Lena’s world. She and her husband, Dorian Almendarez, share three children, Zachary, AJ and Anna-Catherine along with five grandchildren and cherished bonus children. Select Health actively supports local causes, including the Warren County Humane Society, the American Cancer Society, St. Joseph Catholic School and Lost River Cave’s Cocktails on the Trail event, while proudly serving as title sponsor for BG Girls Cotillion. “Don’t give up,” Lena says. “Hard seasons will come, but they will pass. Keep your faith, give yourself grace and trust that even the hardest chapters can lead to growth, purpose and something meaningful.”

OCTOBER 2026 • 59

Sherri

NEWMAN

APRN | R+ Med Spa

Michelle

SMITH

Acupuncturist | R+ Med Spa

R+ Med Spa 210 Shane Drive, Glasgow, KY rplusmedspa@outlook.com • 270.651.4772 • rplusmedspa.com At R+ Med Spa, caring for the whole person means recognizing that wellness rarely comes from a single approach. For Nurse Practitioner Sherri Newman and Acupuncturist Michelle Smith, that philosophy takes different forms, but their work is connected by a shared desire to help people feel better physically, mentally and emotionally. For Sherri, healthcare was the plan from an early age. When her father underwent open heart surgery when she was 14, watching what he experienced inspired her to pursue nursing. A Bowling Green native, she earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Western Kentucky University. Today, she sees leadership as advocacy, listening to clients and giving voice to needs that can too easily go unheard. Her own experience with menopause has deepened that commitment, particularly her focus on women’s health and hormone replacement therapy. A breast cancer survi60 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

vor herself, Sherri brings personal perspective to conversations about health, change and perseverance. She credits her sister, also a nurse, with helping shape her path and hopes to offer that same support to women coming behind her. Michelle’s path to acupuncture grew from both professional experience and personal success with the practice. While working in an operating room with the military, primarily in orthopedics, she saw a need for greater support before and after procedures. After experiencing the beneﬁts of acupuncture herself, she pursued a master’s degree in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, building on bachelor’s degrees in psychology and health science. What Michelle loves most is acupuncture’s adaptability. No two days or visits are exactly alike, requiring her to ebb and ﬂow with each person and what they need in that moment. Earning her master’s while living away from family and friends challenged

her, but mentors including acupuncturist Larissa Stewart and her mother taught her about balance, support and knowing that not every path is the right one. That individuality is also central to how both women deﬁne success. For Michelle, a small win can be every bit as meaningful as a big one because success looks different for each person. For Sherri, meaningful care begins with asking the right questions and making people feel seen and heard. Together at R+ Med Spa, they bring two distinct journeys to one shared purpose: meeting people where they are, advocating for their well being and caring for more than a condition.

Julie Rose

MILLER

Financial Advisor | Monticello Wealth Management

1050 Wilkinson Trace, Bowling Green, KY julierose.miller@ampf.com • 502.913.3391 • ameripriseadvisors.com A summer job on a golf course in Aspen, Colorado, hardly seemed like the launchpad for a career in wealth management, but it turned out to be the start of an unexpected path. After graduating from college, the Louisville native headed west to teach skiing in the winters and work at a local golf course during the summers. Between holes and tee times, Julie struck up conversations with people from all walks of life. One of those casual chats led to an introduction at Bernstein Private Wealth Management in Los Angeles, opening up a financial world she had never considered. Today, Julie serves as a Financial Advisor for Monticello Wealth Management a financial practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC located at Monticello Bank branches. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst®, she provides comprehensive wealth planning and specialized advisory services. “I love using both sides of my brain, the social side and the analytical numbers side,” Julie says. “Every client comes in with a totally different story, and my favorite part of the job is taking their big goals and building a simple, real-world plan to get them there.” Getting established meant grinding through licensing exams and overcoming imposter syndrome. The turning point came when Julie realized just how much her guidance was helping families secure their financial future. Having navigated her early career without many female mentors, she is now passionate about teaching financial literacy and encouraging young women to step up in fields where they might still be outnumbered. “Don’t be afraid to try something even if you are the only woman doing it,” Julie says. “There are several times that I have been the only woman in the room.” That belief drives how she lives every day, proving that warmth and sharp business skills go hand in hand. Outside of work, Julie stays balanced with her husband Anthony and their two dogs, whether playing tennis, catching up over espresso martinis or hosting weekend brunch. Ameriprise Financial cannot guarantee future financial results. Investment products are not insured by the FDIC, NCUA or any federal agency, are not deposits or obligations of, or guaranteed by any financial institution, and involve investment risks including possible loss of principal and fluctuation in value. Investment advisory products and services are made available through Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC, a registered investment adviser. Securities offered by Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC. Member FINRA and SIPC. © 2026 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved.

OCTOBER 2026 • 61

Clarissa SMITH

Buyer and Designer

Alli

RICE

Interior Designer and Sales Associate

Rachel WATERS

Ofﬁce Manager

Ford’s Furniture 1701 Scottsville Road, Bowling Green, KY fordsfurniture@fordsfurniture.com • 270.842.0188 • fordsfurniture.com For decades, Ford’s Furniture has served as a cornerstone of comfort and timeless style in South Central Kentucky. Behind the showroom doors, a dynamic team of women combines deep design heritage, creative innovation and dedicated operational care to make every client’s home feel complete. At the heart of the design team is Buyer and Designer Clarissa Smith, who brings 22 years of experience to Ford’s. Educated at David Lipscomb University and Western Kentucky University, Clarissa discovered her passion for interior decorating at a young age. Her extensive portfolio includes decorating Parade Homes in Fountain Trace and Covington Grove alongside major commercial projects like Chandler Park, Chandler Assisted Living, Hospice, banks and medical ofﬁces. “To make a customer’s nesting area everything they want it to be or I have not done 62 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

my job,” Clarissa says. “Success comes from building strong relationships, leading by example and showing kindness at the end of the day.” Building on that rich foundation is Interior Designer and Sales Associate Alli Rice. After initially starting in nursing, she earned her degree in Interior Design from Western Kentucky University in 2025. She transitioned from design intern under Clarrissa to a full-time role, where she helps clients select furnishings, custom fabrics and room layouts while managing Ford’s social media platforms. Inspired by her mentor and mom to lead with kindness, Alli focuses on making genuine connections. “My mission is to make a positive difference by leading with kindness and building real connections,” Alli says. “Strong leadership comes from listening to your team so real growth can take place.”

Ensuring every visitor experiences the store’s signature warmth is Office Manager Rachel Waters. A Butler County native who moved to Bowling Green in 2017, Rachel has spent five and a half years cultivating the welcoming, family-first atmosphere that defines Ford’s. She manages daily office operations and ensures every client feels the same warm welcome she received. Together, Clarissa, Alli and Rachel bring heart, talent and mentorship to one of Bowling Green’s most cherished local businesses, helping clients create beautiful, functional spaces for every season of life.

Jenny Van

BUREN

Client Care Coordinator | Timesavers Caregiving & Concierge

720 State Street, Bowling Green, KY jenny@mytimesaversky.com • 270.792.5703 • MyTimesaversKY.com When Jenny Van Buren felt stuck in a career that no longer fulfilled her, she decided to take matters into her own hands. Guided by a favorite Dolly Parton principle to pave a new road when you do not like the one you are walking, the Lebanon, Tennessee native made a complete change. Armed with a biology degree from Middle Tennessee State University and a lifelong passion for healthcare, she reached out directly to the leadership at Timesavers Caregiving & Concierge. That proactive phone call opened the door to a career that aligned perfectly with her values. Stepping into senior care meant entering an entirely new industry, but Jenny threw herself into learning every detail of client care and community outreach. Today, as Client Care Coordinator, she meets with families to navigate home care options, matches clients with dedicated caregivers and maintains key community partnerships across Bowling Green. “What I love most about my job is the chance to educate our community on the options older adults have available,” Jenny says. “Getting to see how caregiving can drastically change an older adult’s physical and mental health makes every hour worth it.” Her approach to leadership comes straight from her mother, whose unmatched work ethic and commitment to integrity set the standard for how Jenny handles business today. She learned early on that commercial success should never come at the expense of personal morals or doing what is right. To Jenny, strong leadership comes down to supporting your team while keeping company goals on track. That focus on people extends to her extensive community involvement in Bowling Green, a city she fell in love with because of its willingness to step up whenever neighbors are in need. Jenny actively supports the Rotary Club of Bowling Green, the Walk to End Alzheimer’s with the Alzheimer’s Association and the Homecare Association of America. Through Timesavers, she coordinates Stockings 4 Seniors to provide essentials to older adults through the Salvation Army each holiday season. She also works closely with the Bowling Green Firefighters Association to support their annual Fireman’s Ball, raising funds for initiatives like Shop with a Firefighter and Thanksgiving delivery baskets. To handle a busy career centered on community care, Jenny makes time to recharge. While she loves connecting with people throughout her workday, the self described introverted extrovert relies on quiet downtime at home with her dogs and a good book. Whether she is hosting a game night with friends or enjoying cocktails on the patio at Hickory & Oak, she stays focused on honest service and meaningful relationships. “No matter what you do in life, do it honestly,” Jenny says. “People can tend to put their ambitions above their morals and integrity, but you do not have to. It may not always be easy, but it is honest.”

OCTOBER 2026 • 63

Julie Rose Miller

9 to 5

DOLLY PARTON

Dr. Sara Oh

Training Season DUA LIPA

Sierra Kruse

Stronger

KELLY CLARKSON

Maneater

Hannah Robinson

NELLY FURTADO

Rose Hines

Greedy

TATE MCRAE

Dr. Robertha Jones

I Wanna Dance With Somebody LISTEN ALONG

Scan the QR code to add these picks by our Leading Ladies playlist directly to your Spotify account. 64 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

WHITNEY HOUSTON

Lena Gokey

Wide Open Spaces THE CHICKS

Olivia Kirn

A New Day Has Come CÉLINE DION

Dr. Nazanin Ghazisharif

Lady Lady

OLIVIA DEAN

Jennifer Martin

Comeback Kid THE BAND PERRY

Jenny Van Buren

Shadows Of The Night PAT BENATAR

Alli Rice

Dandelion

ELLA LANGLEY

Leslie Stark

Bejeweled

TAYLOR SWIFT

Heather Heck

Girl On Fire ALICIA KEYS

Expectations

Rylee Peterson

OLIVIA RODRIGO

Connie Smith

One Moment In Time CÉLINE DION

Flowers

MILEY CYRUS

Dillon Kirby

Music is the ultimate fuel. It wakes up your soul, changes your state of mind, and reminds you that you can handle whatever comes next. SHANIA TWAIN

The Man

Brittany Murphy

TAYLOR SWIFT

Tammy Hammers

Man! I Feel Like A Woman! SHANIA TWAIN

Meghan S. White

Dancing Queen ABBA

Golden

Dr. Sara Oh

HUNTR/X

Clarissa Smith

It’s All Coming Back to Me Now CÉLINE DION

Jennifer Martin

Mama’s Broken Heart MIRANDA LAMBERT

Fancy

Amanda Farmer

REBA

OCTOBER 2026 • 65

Michelle W.

TRAWICK, PH.D.

Chancellor | Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College

1845 Loop Drive, Bowling Green, KY sky-marketing@kctcs.edu • 270.901.1000 • southcentral.kctcs.edu Michelle W. Trawick, Ph.D., has built a career around education, leadership and a dedication to helping students. When she is not focused on her work as Chancellor at Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College, Trawick enjoys traveling, reading, gardening and relaxing with her husband and son. An ideal evening might feature leftovers and an episode of the original “Law & Order,” “M*A*S*H” or a British detective show. Her appreciation for family runs deep. Trawick grew up in Logan County and says her earliest lessons in leadership came from her parents, though she admits she didn’t recognize them as lessons at the time. “My parents taught me about hard work. I watched them work until the job was finished, face uncertainty and difficult decisions and wake each morning determined to do better than the day before,” she says. Today, Trawick serves as the first female Chancellor of Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College. It is not her first time breaking that barrier: She was also the first female business school dean at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. She hopes her career shows younger women that anything is possible. In her role at SKYCTC, Trawick is focused on students and making an impact across the region. “I love knowing that what we do creates opportunities and makes a difference to our students and their families,” she says. More families are experiencing that impact. Since fall 2022, SKYCTC enrollment has increased by more than 35%, with nearly 6,500 students taking classes this fall. Trawick is especially proud that more students are reaching the finish line. The number of students earning degrees and credentials has grown 27% over four years. Trawick is also eager to challenge stereotypes about community colleges and technical colleges such as the idea that they are a fallback for someone who doesn’t want to go to college. “SKYCTC is a college, and more students are finding that SKYCTC is a great place to start whether they want to go straight into the workforce or want to continue their education at a university.” Trawick explains that the college meets the same institutional accreditation standards as Kentucky’s public universities, and many SKYCTC programs hold specialized accreditations. “We don’t assume we offer a high-quality education,” Trawick says. “We are hyper-focused on ensuring that we do.”

66 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

Jennifer

MARTIN

VP of Marketing & Community Development | Service One Credit Union

103 State St. Bowling Green, KY 42101

jmartin@socu.com • (270) 796-8500 • socu.com Before she was running marketing strategy, Jennifer Martin was figuring things out by hand. Initially setting out to become an art teacher, she quickly realized traditional classrooms could not keep up with the way her creative mind worked. Bypassing a conventional degree, Jennifer traded lecture halls for the trenches of real world business, teaching herself marketing, operations and visual storytelling on the fly. That willingness to learn through direct action ultimately shaped her entire career. “Like most good things in life, my journey hasn’t followed a straight line,” Jennifer says. “It’s been full of unexpected turns, meaningful challenges and divine timing.” One of those defining turns was stepping into entrepreneurship. After serving as a regional director for a national B2B expo company, Jennifer bought the entire organization outright. For five intense years, she logged cross-country miles, steered large scale events, navigated complex regulations and even weathered massive operational evolution. Managing every aspect of the company gave her something invaluable: an operator’s resilience, a sharp eye for problem solving and a bone-deep respect for the daily realities facing local business owners. Following the sale of her business, Jennifer returned to Bowling Green. She brought a versatile background and an operator’s edge with her when she later joined the team at Service One Credit Union. Today, as Vice President of Marketing & Community Development, Jennifer contributes to strategic growth while ensuring the brand remains deeply rooted in genuine human empathy and local support. She oversees everything from brand expansion and financial education initiatives to local outreach programs, ensuring the credit union functions as a true community partner. Her approach to leadership and service was profoundly influenced by Service One’s recently retired CEO, Rebecca Stone. Having worked alongside her during local community initiatives, Jennifer saw firsthand how visionary boldness and grounded poise could transform an organization. Rebecca challenged her team to think bigger, disrupt the status quo and expand their reach to serve more families across the region, all while maintaining high standards and authentic human connection. “As a leader, being able to pair strategic marketing with that level of authentic human compassion is what makes my work truly rewarding,” she says. That focus on human connection shapes how Jennifer leads her team and serves her community across Bowling Green. Whether supporting the Professional Marketing Association of Southern Kentucky, Kiwanis Club, Prosper Foundation or SKYCTC, her approach centers on lifting others up. She actively mentors emerging female leaders, advocating for non-traditional career paths and encouraging women to embrace their unique strengths in executive spaces. “True leadership is servant-hearted,” Jennifer says. “It’s the ability to see potential in people before they see it in themselves, to listen far more than you speak and to build an environment where your team feels safe enough to take bold creative risks and supported enough to learn when things do not go as planned.” For Jennifer, that means using her platform to actively open doors for others. “At this stage of my life, success isn’t about being the smartest person in the room,” she says. “It’s about using my seat at the table to lift others up.”

OCTOBER 2026 • 67

Leslie

STARK

Realtor | Keller Williams First Choice Realty 1550 Westen Street, Bowling Green, KY lesliedstark1991@gmail.com • 270.779.2185 • southernkentuckyhomes.com Pivoting careers during the early days of the pandemic was a daunting leap, but for Leslie Stark, taking that chance transformed her life. A proud first-generation Bowling Green native, High School graduate and WKU alumna, Leslie stepped into real estate at Keller Williams First Choice Realty seeking professional growth and the flexibility to put her family first. Drawing on fond childhood memories of attending home showings alongside her grandmother, a retired local realtor, she quickly established herself as a trusted advocate for area buyers and sellers. Today, Leslie serves on the KW Associate Leadership Council. Her busiest hours come late in the day after traditional work shifts end, balancing client negotiations, home tours and lender approvals with raising her son and daughter alongside her husband. “Real estate allowed me to build a thriving career without sacrificing my family,” Leslie says. “I built my business around serving others with dedication, integrity and purpose.” Deeply invested in her hometown, Leslie serves on the Promise Walk for Preeclampsia Board and supports local organizations including BRASS, the Warren County Humane Society and Glory Baby Ministry. When taking a break from pilates or planning her next family vacation, she finds genuine energy in empowering other women. “You can be a mother, wife, leader and successful business woman,” Leslie says. “You can truly have it all if you believe you can.”

Janna Me gan Grace GOODNIGHT

General Manager

CHERRY

Sales Associates and Notary

PARKS

Sales Associate

The Jewelry Barn 2910 B Scottsville Road, Bowling Green, KY

info@jewelrybarnpromise.com • 270-535-8462 • jewelrybarnpromise.com For over three decades, General Manager Janna Goodnight has been a mainstay at The Jewelry Barn, guiding the business with a focus on trust and customer satisfaction. While she manages operations behind the scenes today, her core philosophy remains unchanged: support her team and ensure every customer leaves delighted. “I want our employees to feel appreciated and our clients to know they can trust us with their most cherished pieces,” Janna says. Working alongside her, sales associate and notary Megan Cherry thrives on the variety each day brings. A Greenwood High graduate and mother of three, Megan loves helping couples choose engagement rings or helping families breathe new life into inherited heirlooms. “I genuinely love helping people create forever memories,” Megan says. “It is about making every person who walks through our door feel valued.” Completing the trio, sales associate Grace Parks joined six years ago after a chance meeting with the owners. Today, she specializes in guiding clients through custom design experiences. “The Bowling Green community is so welcoming,” Grace says. “We strive to deliver a positive, helpful experience that shines through every custom piece we craft.” Through personal service and shared passion, the team ensures every guest leaves with a story and a piece to treasure for years to come. 68 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

Mamie Clark

WILLIAMS

Corporate Accounts Payable Specialist | Clark Beverage Group

300 Oakland-Flatrock Road, Oakland, KY mwilliams@ccclark.com • 270.796-7283 • CCClark.com Mamie Clark Williams represents the fifth generation of the Clark family business, a story that began in 1903 with Carsie C. Clark and a small soda water operation. More than 120 years later, Clark Beverage Group has grown into one of the largest privately held beverage distributors in the United States, employing over 1,200 associates across Kentucky and Mississippi. “My great-great-grandfather C. C. Clark wrote to his children to diligently apply themselves to ensure the continued success and growth of the business,” Mamie says. “That letter remains a lasting source of direction and inspiration for our family.” Although Mamie always hoped to join the business, she gained valuable experience outside Clark through roles in ministry, sales and administration before bringing her skills home. Today, as Corporate Accounts Payable Specialist, she manages financial operations while collaborating across teams. She also assists with interior design for Clark’s new $100 million automated corporate headquarters opening in Bowling Green in late 2027, incorporating elements of iconic brands like Coca-Cola, Dr Pepper, Monster Energy, BODYARMOR and Molson Coors into the space. “My mission is to glorify God in all I do by serving others and my organization with excellence, integrity and a fully invested heart,” Mamie says. Her approach to leadership was shaped during a two-year college ministry fellowship at Virginia Tech in 2020, where relocating and fundraising taught her resilience, trust and adaptability. Strong leadership, to Mamie, means balancing confidence with humility, continuous learning and genuine investment in people. She credits much of her growth to her former manager, Susan, who demonstrated how to lead with high expectations and deep care. “Confidence is built by doing things that stretch you,” Mamie says. “Growth rarely happens inside your comfort zone, and some of life’s greatest opportunities are found on the other side of discomfort.” In her personal life, the University of Alabama graduate lives in Bowling Green with her husband, Peter. She recharges through travel, reading, baking sourdough bread and enjoying happy hours at Hickory & Oak. Clark Beverage Group proudly supports the Family Enrichment Center, Kids on the Block, House on the Hill, Toys for Tots and the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, carrying forward a multi-generational commitment to serving the region.

OCTOBER 2026 • 69

Heather

HECK, APRN

Founder and Injector | Alora Aesthetics + Skincare

941 College Street, Bowling Green, KY info@aloraaesthetics.com • 270.906.9349 • aloraaesthetics.com Aesthetic medicine was not where Glasgow native Heather Heck initially envisioned her nursing career taking her. After earning her nursing degree from Western Kentucky University and her Master’s as an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner from Vanderbilt University, she spent years in acute care hospital settings. Ready for a new direction, she discovered a field blending clinical experience with precision and artistry, leading her to establish Alora Aesthetics + Skincare in downtown Bowling Green. Taking the leap to build a boutique medical aesthetics practice from the ground up was one of the biggest risks of her career. Today, Heather leads her team in providing personalized treatments, including injectables, light therapies, microneedling, chemical peels, facials and regenerative care. As the practice continues to grow, Heather is expanding Alora into a brand-new downtown facility, marking an exciting milestone for her business and the community. “My mission is to help people feel confident, cared for and comfortable investing in themselves,” Heather says. “I want to build a life and career that feels meaningful, stays true to who I am and leaves room for the people who matter most.” Balancing her role as owner and nurse practitioner with being a mother of two, Heather’s daily routine spans patient care, business decisions and preparing for Alora’s expansion. Over time, her definition of success has evolved from external accomplishments to cultivating a balanced life. Her leadership approach centers on leading by example, treating people well and fostering a supportive environment where her team feels valued. “Never be afraid to bet on yourself,” Heather says. “Work hard, stay grounded in your faith and trust that the right doors will open at the right time. Every season has a purpose, and expanding into this new space is a reflection of that trust.” Outside the practice, Heather recharges by exercising, working in her flower garden and spending time with her family. Deeply rooted in Bowling Green, she supports local causes like The Medical Center Charity Ball, The Fur Ball and area school fundraisers, while enjoying girls’ nights out on the patio at Gerard’s 1907 Tavern. “Bowling Green is where we are raising our family and where so many people have supported my business,” Heather says. “I love knowing the people I serve and giving back to the community that has given so much to us.”

70 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

Ali

RAYMER

Founder & Lead Travel Advisor | Peace & Pearl Travel Co.

ali@peaceandpearltravel.com • 859-229-5686 peaceandpearltravel.com

“I want people to feel conﬁdent saying yes to seeing the world, even if they have never traveled internationally or feel completely overwhelmed by all the details,” Ali Raymer says. “My mission is to be the ultimate travel hype girl.” As the founder and lead travel advisor at Peace & Pearl Travel Co., Ali turns stressful details into seamless adventures for clients dreaming of European getaways or unforgettable honeymoons. Yet, stepping into the travel industry was anything but a straight line. Armed with a journalism degree from Western Kentucky University and a master’s in English education from the University of Kentucky, Ali spent a decade teaching high school English. It was her role sponsoring the school travel club that sparked a new direction. Encouraged by her husband’s aunt, a travel agency owner, Ali spent summers and late nights at a kitchen table learning the trade. When the pandemic temporarily halted global travel just as her business took off, Ali pivoted back to teaching to support her family before going all-in on her agency in 2022. Today, she uses her educator’s heart to guide clients through every step of their journeys. “Getting a photo from a client mid-trip and knowing they are actually doing it never gets old,” Ali says. “The world feels a whole lot more accessible when you have someone in your corner cheering you on.” That passion for encouragement carries directly into her leadership approach and community involvement in Bowling Green. Active at Woodburn Baptist Church, Ali leads a weekly Bible study for young moms and connects with local female entrepreneurs through Made for Mothers and IF:Gathering. Guided by mentors like Sheri Clarke, who gave Ali her start at Picture This Travel, her deﬁnition of success centers on elevating others. “I want younger women to see that ambition, motherhood, faith and a full life do not have to compete with one another,” Ali says. “Bet on yourself and do not wait until you feel completely ready.” When she is not helping clients or recording her podcast, The Travel Advisor Show, Ali recharges alongside her husband Josh and their children, Paxton and McClane. Whether enjoying tapas at Toro, walking on WKU’s campus or relaxing at home with The Great British Bake Off, Ali approaches every adventure wholeheartedly.

OCTOBER 2026 • 71

Rose

HINES

Sales and Marketing Executive | Print Media 813 College Street, Suite 301, Bowling Green, KY

roseh@printmediapress.com • 270.781.2536 • printmediapress.com Her mission is simple: grow a 36-year family legacy and lead it into the future. As sales and marketing executive for Print Media, Rose Hines represents the third generation of a Bowling Green business rooted in commercial paper printing. Today, she is focused on expanding into new print technologies, bringing in new clients and strengthening relationships with existing ones alongside her father, Print Media owner Jason Hines. Her transition into the family business was far from linear. After graduating from Greenwood High School unsure of her career path, Rose took a sales role at a local jewelry store selling diamonds. That experience revealed a natural gift for customer connection, eventually drawing her home to Print Media four years ago. Her leadership approach relies heavily on mutual respect. “The business only works and thrives if we are all on the same team supporting one another every day,” Rose says. Outside the ofﬁce, she prioritizes morning workouts and supports community efforts like United Way and Handbags for Hope. When it comes to career growth, her perspective remains grounded: stop feeling rushed, keep perspective and celebrate the goals you have already achieved.

Olivia

KIRN

Cash Management Ofﬁcer | Farmers Bank & Trust 2009 Scottsville Road, Bowling Green, KY

olivia.kirn@farmers247.com • 270.323.7032 • farmers247.com “Handle all things with grace.” That advice from her mother shapes how Olivia Kirn approaches both life and leadership. Staying true to core values like kindness, courage and integrity has guided her path through more than two decades in financial settings. After graduating from Western Kentucky University in 2003, the Columbia native took a job behind a teller counter. What began as a first step out of college grew into a 20year career across banking and accounting, including time spent in accounting while her daughters were young to maintain family flexibility. Today, as Cash Management Officer at Farmers Bank & Trust, Olivia works directly with local businesses to streamline daily operations. “It’s not about the size of the business but the client relationships,” Olivia says. “Building meaningful relationships is the type of banker I have always strived to be.” Her commitment to Bowling Green, her home for 28 years, reaches far beyond the bank. Married to her husband Kevin for 18 years, Olivia stays active alongside their daughters, Piper and Meadow. She serves on the board of Life’s Better Together, easing financial burdens for families navigating childhood illness, and volunteers with Stuff the Bus and Salvation Army. Off the clock, the outdoor enthusiast recharges with family board games, kayaking and new adventures.

72 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

Nazanin

Dr.

GHAZISHARIF, DDS

Owner & Dentist

Robertha

Dr.

JONES, DMD

Associate Dentist

Sara

Dr.

OH, DDS

Associate Dentist

Precision Dental 2625 Nashville Road #103, Bowling Green, KY | 1042 Fairview Avenue Bowling Green, KY nashvillerd@precisiondentalbg.com | fairviewave@precisiondentalbg.com • 270.843.1188 • precisiondentalbg.com At Precision Dental, exceptional patient care is shaped by a large team, including three exceptional women whose distinct experiences bring unique perspectives to the practice. Owner Dr. Nazanin Ghazisharif and associate dentists Dr. Roberta Jones and Dr. Sara Oh have each taken a different path to dentistry, yet share a commitment to compassionate care, lifelong learning and serving the Bowling Green community. Dr. Nazanin Ghazisharif, known to her patients as Dr. Naz, brings a strong foundation of leadership and service to Precision Dental. Before entering private practice, she served as a Captain in the U.S. Army at Fort Stewart and in South Korea. Today, she serves as an owner and dentist at Precision Dental, working alongside her team to grow the practice across two Bowling Green locations. Balancing patient care with the responsibilities of leading a growing organization, Dr. Naz be-

lieves leadership is about creating an environment where team members feel challenged, supported and empowered to grow. That same spirit of perseverance is reﬂected in Dr. Roberta Jones’ journey as an associate dentist with the practice. After practicing dentistry in Brazil, Dr. Jones moved to the United States and earned her dental degree a second time at the University of Louisville. Balancing rigorous coursework with family life required determination and resilience, ultimately allowing her to continue pursuing the profession she loved. Today, she continues to grow professionally while making time for her family.

about giving back and serving her community, Dr. Oh has volunteered with Remote Area Medical, providing free dental services to individuals and families in need. She is dedicated to making a positive impact through compassionate, patient-centered care and service to others. Though their journeys are different, Dr. Naz, Dr. Jones and Dr. Oh share a common belief: great leadership begins with caring for people. Together with the entire Precision Dental team, they are helping create a practice where patients feel seen, heard and cared for.

As an associate dentist, Dr. Oh brings a background in dental education to Precision Dental. She takes pride in contributing to the development and education of the next generation of dental professionals. Passionate OCTOBER 2026 • 73

Connie

SMITH

President & CEO | Med Center Health

Bowling Green, KY 270.745.1000 • medcenterhealth.org Connie Smith serves as President and CEO of Med Center Health, a six-hospital, not-for-profit premier healthcare system headquartered in Bowling Green. Her role is to lead and support over 4,500 team members who work together to fulfill the mission of caring for people and improving the quality of life in the communities they serve. Her career at Med Center Health began in 1981 while completing her nursing studies at Western Kentucky University, evolving over three decades into her appointment as President and CEO in 2011. While her career has taken many unexpected turns, she is incredibly grateful for each one and for the people who encouraged and supported her along the way. “Leadership is not about holding a title or having all the answers,” Connie says. “It is about listening, surrounding yourself with talented people and having the courage to pursue a vision larger than yourself.” That vision has helped drive expansion across the region, including partnerships like the UK College of Medicine Bowling Green Campus and The Medical Center WKU Health Sciences Complex. Yet for Connie, progress is measured as much by personal compassion as by institutional growth. Guided by the enduring example of Florence Nightingale, Connie combines a focus on quality with an unwavering dedication to patient advocacy and expanded access to care across the region. Away from work, Connie brings that same discipline to her personal well-being. She finds balance by logging miles as a runner and completing more than 2,700 hot yoga classes. For Connie, caring for her own health allows her to be present for her family, including her husband of more than 40 years, Rick; their daughter Melanie; son-in-law Jeremy; and grandchildren Lincoln and Lillie. Through her service on the Kentucky Health Collaborative Executive Committee and the UK Joint Executive Oversight Committee, Connie remains dedicated to opening doors for emerging female executives and expanding care for underserved communities. “Earlier in my career, I viewed success through the lens of doing my job well,” Connie says. “Today, I measure success by the difference we make for our patients and whether we are preparing capable leaders to carry our mission forward. My goal is to live a life of purpose, serving with compassion and making a meaningful difference in the lives of others.”

74 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

Sarah

JARBOE

Partner | English, Lucas, Priest & Owsley, LLP

1101 College Street, Bowling Green, KY sjarboe@elpolaw.com • 270.781.6500 • elpolaw.com For English, Lucas, Priest & Owsley partner Sarah Jarboe, the most rewarding aspect of practicing law is helping clients achieve their objectives while navigating increasingly complex environmental and regulatory challenges. Whether working collaboratively with regulators and stakeholders to find common ground or advocating for clients in contested matters, she focuses on practical solutions that protect her clients’ interests and position them for long-term success. “I believe economic development and environmental protection go hand in hand,” Sarah says. “My mission is to help clients achieve both, creating lasting benefits for the communities they serve.” Although Sarah always knew she wanted to pursue a legal career focused on problem solving, her time at Vanderbilt Law School revealed the importance of connecting her work to a purpose she deeply cared about. Having grown up in rural Daviess County, she developed an early appreciation for the natural world, making environmental law a natural path. Today, she assists businesses, local governments and a wide range of industries with permitting, compliance, litigation and long-term regulatory strategy. Her approach to leadership was shaped through close mentorship with her law partner, LaJuana Wilcher, who demonstrated that true professional success is built on meaningful relationships and supporting those around you. Inspired by Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s ability to disagree respectfully while remaining firm in her convictions, Sarah brings civility, respect and purpose to her work. “Strong leadership means having the confidence to chart a course forward while bringing people along with you,” Sarah says. “The best leaders help others understand decisions, listen respectfully and create an environment where people feel empowered.” The values that drew Sarah to environmental law also shape her community involvement as Board Chair of Friends of Mammoth Cave National Park. She and her family also actively support St. Joseph Catholic Church and School, where her faith serves as a steady foundation. At home in Bowling Green, Sarah and her husband, David, spend their free time enjoying life with their three young children. To recharge, Sarah enjoys diving into novels and escaping to Reid’s Livery Winery with friends for horseback riding and a glass of wine. “Choose work that aligns with your values, not just your talents,” Sarah says. “The greatest fulfillment comes from using your skills in a way that reflects what you truly care about.”

OCTOBER 2026 • 75

T ammy HAMMERS

AVP, Lead Customer Service Representative | American Bank & Trust 531 Lovers Lane, Bowling Green, KY thammers@ambanking.com • 270.783.3958 • ambanking.com

When Tammy Hammers first entered banking as a teller right out of high school, she planned on becoming an elementary school teacher. While pursuing a marketing degree at Western Kentucky University, she fell in love with the financial industry. After gaining experience in account opening and loan processing, she joined American Bank & Trust to focus on deposits and client relations. Today, Tammy assists clients with personal and business accounts, guides them through online banking and supports her team in delivering exceptional care. “My mission is to show up for people with kindness, honesty and support, helping them feel understood, confident and taken care of,” Tammy says. Through industry shifts and changing interest rates, Tammy has learned that banking is about far more than numbers. Her leadership philosophy centers on supporting her team and building lasting relationships. “Strong leadership is about showing up for your team, sharing the workload and learning from each other,” Tammy says. “Helping your team grow, keeping them learning and making sure they feel appreciated every single day, that is what real success looks like.” Outside work, the Ekron native and United Way volunteer enjoys time with her husband John and their sons, Jacob and James. “All you can do is your best every day,” Tammy says. “Be happy for others, keep going and trust that you are capable of anything.”

Taylor BOSWELL-TEDDER

Chief Operating Ofﬁcer | Overhead Door Company of Bowling Green 2717 Nashville Road, Bowling Green, KY taylor@overheaddoorbg.com • 270.781.3290 • overheaddoorbg.com

Though Taylor Boswell-Tedder spent time acting and modeling in New York City and Los Angeles, Bowling Green has always been home. Today, she serves as Chief Operating Officer at Overhead Door Company of Bowling Green, a family business owned by her mother, Jana Boswell, since 1980. Watching her mother excel in construction while raising a family inspired Taylor to step into executive leadership and build a career her children could look up to. In her role, Taylor oversees daily operations, coordinates service schedules and leads her team through industry challenges. Navigating a male-dominated field required developing resilience while staying true to her core values of fairness, kindness and professionalism. “My personal mission is to use my role at Overhead Door to show the love of Jesus to both employees and customers,” Taylor says. Her approach to leadership centers on empathy, mutual respect and leading by example. Guided by her faith and her mother’s mentorship, Taylor works to build a supportive work environment where team members feel valued. “Strong leadership comes from being able to step away from your own presumptions and view life from another’s perspective,” Taylor says. “If I expect others to do what I am asking, they need to know I am willing to do the same.” Outside the office, the WKU and Liberty University graduate prioritizes time with her husband and their two children, Jesse and Daisy. “My advice for younger women is to define yourself first,” Taylor says. “After you answer who you are and what kind of leader you want to be, charting a path to success becomes much easier.” 76 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

Amanda

FARMER

Owner | Magnolia Rack | Dean of Academics | St. Joseph School

1600 Campbell Lane Suite 103, Bowling Green, KY afarmer@magnoliarack.com • 270.715.3303 • magnoliarack.com Look closely at the Magnolia Rack logo and you will see a flower and a hummingbird. For owner Amanda Farmer, those symbols represent her grandmothers: Mamaw Hamilton, who built a florist business while overcoming immense loss, and Grandma Zoll, who taught her kindness on the family farm. Those twin values of resilience and grace guide Amanda every day as she balances two distinct roles as Owner of Magnolia Rack and Dean of Academics at St. Joseph School. “I knew I wanted to teach from the time I was a young girl, but I also dreamed of opening a boutique,” Amanda says. “When the timing presented itself, I decided I did not have to choose between education and retail. I could do both.” Bridging those two worlds meant taking a risk on herself. Navigating space delays during the shop’s initial launch gave Amanda time to shape a unique concept that combines new and consigned fashion, offering accessible style grounded in genuine hospitality. At St. Joseph School, where she attended from preschool through eighth grade, she leads the Academic Team and BETA Organization. At Magnolia Rack, she curates collections while fostering a warm, connection-driven shopping experience. Her commitment to service carries directly into the Bowling Green community. Amanda actively supports St. Gianna’s Pregnancy Home, foster care advocacy group Springs of Love and Meals on Wheels. She also serves on the board for Birdies for Brittney, an annual golf tournament honoring her late friend Brittney that funds WKU scholarships and regional charities. At home, Amanda balances her busy schedule with her husband David, her daughter Kaylee, a WKU graduate student, and middle schooler Addy. To recharge, she enjoys traveling, reading and cheering on UK basketball. “Leadership is rooted in service and leading by example,” Amanda says. “You do not have to have everything figured out before you begin. Sometimes the biggest growth comes from being willing to take that first step.”

OCTOBER 2026 • 77

Women Who Shaped

Bowling Green VOLUME ONE

Ruth Rabold’s Mark on the Map WRITTEN BY AMELIA BOWEN

There are pieces of Ruth Rabold’s story all over Bowling Green. They are in the flowers surrounding Fountain Square, the preservation of historic places and the organizations that continue caring for the city today. More than a century after Ruth first made Bowling Green her home, many of the places residents pass every day still carry the influence of a woman who saw tremendous value in caring for the community around her. Ruth’s enduring legacy is due in large part to her determination to speak up when she knew the community deserved better. In her 20s, Ruth walked into the sheriff’s headquarters with a message for the sheriff himself: the landscaping outside was a “public disgrace,” and she wanted something done about it “and soon.” The moment offers a glimpse of the determination that would follow her throughout decades of civic work. Born Ruth Evelyne Fuller in Tennessee in 1901, Ruth moved to Bowling Green around 1918. Her interest in gardens and landscape design would eventually grow into a lifetime of civic involvement spanning beautification, preservation and public service. She helped found the Garden Club of Kentucky in 1931 and later served as president of the Bowling Green Garden Club, helping federate the local organization in 1935. Her influence became especially visible in the center of downtown. During the 1930s, Ruth turned her attention to Fountain Square Park. Through the Bowling Green Garden Club, she worked with landscape architect R.S. Sturtevant on a more formal approach to the park’s landscaping and seasonal plantings. What could have been a single beautification project instead became a decades-long commitment, with Ruth remaining involved in the care of Fountain Square for approximately 50 years. But Ruth’s vision extended well beyond the Square. Her work can also be traced through the development of Bowling Green itself. Surviving plans and records 78 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

document her and the Rabold-Collet family’s development of the former Lehman’s Garden property, where streets including Magnolia and Laurel were named for plants, while Josephine, Collet and Lehman carried family connections. These familiar names remain on Bowling Green’s map today, making Ruth’s mark on the city more literal than many residents may realize. In 1969, decades of Ruth’s efforts culminated in the creation of the Bowling Green Beautification Commission. The organization gave a more formal structure to the care of public landscapes throughout the city. Its mission continues today through Operation PRIDE and Bowling Green Parks and Recreation. Ruth’s commitment to Bowling Green also touched historic preservation. She was instrumental in establishing Riverview at Hobson Grove as the city’s first house museum. She was a founding benefactor of the Landmark Association of Bowling Green and Warren County and later contributed to the restoration of the Capitol Arts Center. Ruth’s own home and garden were another part of that story, explored in last month’s VIP at Home feature through the Rabold family’s continued stewardship of the property. But her influence was never limited to what she cultivated at home. Her work continually moved outward, from her garden to her neighborhood and ultimately across the community. Bowling Green eventually found its own ways to recognize her contributions. Ruth became the first woman honored by the Bowling Green-Warren County Chamber of Commerce and in 1982, Mayor Harold A. Miller proclaimed September 2 “Ruth Rabold Day.” Today, a plaque at Fountain Square commemorates her decades of service. Ruth died in 1986, but her legacy is still present. It can be found in the places Bowling Green residents gather, streets they travel and historic spaces preserved for generations still to come. Ruth Rabold helped shape Bowling Green not only by imagining what it could become, but by spending a lifetime caring enough to make it a reality.

Today, a plaque at Fountain Square honors Ruth Rabold for her dedicated service to the beautiﬁcation of Bowling Green.

LEFT: A young Ruth Rabold, pictured in the early years of her life in Bowling Green. RIGHT: Ruth Rabold poses for a photograph in her garden.

A Seat at the Table LEADING LADIES SHARE THE WOMEN THEY’D SAVE A SEAT FOR. If you could sit down with one woman, past or present, who would it be? Our Leading Ladies share the women they’d love to have across the table and why.

Dolly Parton

“A woman I admire for her business savvy, charitable works and ability to be herself no matter what.” JULIE ROSE MILLER “She was beautiful inside and out, and deeply invested in acts of kindness toward others!” HEATHER FORD “She built an incredible career while staying true to herself, giving back to others and never losing her sense of humor or style. I think I could have learned so much from the way she balanced success, generosity and authenticity.” AMANDA FARMER “I admire her strength, authenticity, generosity and the way she has remained true to herself while building an incredible career and giving back to others.” LENA GOKEY

Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Brené Brown

“Her research on vulnerability, courageous leadership and empathy fundamentally changed the way modern leaders operate. I’d love to trade stories about navigating the tension between high standards and deep compassion, and talk through the messy, rewarding reality of building cultures of trust in business.” JENNIFER MARTIN

Sarah McLachlan

“Her songwriting, creativity and the way she has supported and empowered women in the music industry is admirable. I would love to hear about her journey and more about her career.” OLIVIA KIRN

Jane Austen

“Her wit was legendary, and her observations about people remain surprisingly relevant more than 200 years later. I would love to hear her thoughts on modern life, and I suspect she would have plenty to say about lady lawyers.”

Judy Faulkner

“CEO and founder of Epic Systems, a healthcare software company. She is 83 years old and still going strong in her career!” CONNIE SMITH

Ina Garten

“I think we could talk for hours about food, entertaining and the joy of bringing people together around a table.” SARA OH

Kelly Wearstler

“I have followed her work for years and have always admired the way she moves so naturally between fashion, art, interiors and business. At this stage of building my own business, I would love to ask how she developed such a distinctive point of view, maintained it as her brand grew and learned to trust her instincts even when her ideas challenged convention.” KATIE ZIMMERMAN

SARAH JARBOE

“She was an extraordinary role model who challenged the limitations placed on women and never accepted that certain opportunities weren’t meant for us. What inspires me most is that she used her strength and determination not just to create change for herself, but for generations of women after her. I’d love to sit across from her and hear, in her own words, what gave her the courage to keep pushing forward.” DR. NAZANIN GHAZISHARIF

OCTOBER 2026 • 79

Madison

Dr.

GALLOWAY

Mandy

Dr.

Founder and Pediatric Dentist

ASHLEY

Founder and Pediatric Dentist

SKY Pediatric Dentistry 234 Natchez Trace Avenue, Bowling Green, KY info@skypediatricdentistry.com • 270-715-5437 • skypediatricdentistry.com Thirteen years ago, Dr. Mandy Ashley started SKY Pediatric Dentistry from her kitchen table. Today, what began as a vision has grown into a premier regional practice with ofﬁces in Bowling Green, Glasgow, Hopkinsville and Goodlettsville, led by Dr. Mandy alongside Dr. Madison Galloway. Together, the two pediatric dentists have built SKY around a shared goal: providing high-quality dental care in an environment where children and adults with special healthcare needs can feel comfortable, understood and even excited to visit the dentist. “SKY Pediatric Dentistry strives to serve children and families in the most gentle and fun way possible,” Dr. Madison says. “We have multiple kid-driven areas where we can examine children’s teeth, as well as dedicated sensory rooms to decrease stimulation for our patients with special healthcare needs.” That individualized approach extends throughout every corner of the practice. Dr. Mandy is especially proud that SKY’s culturally diverse staff reﬂects the vibrant communities it serves, allowing the team to communicate with many young patients in their native languages.

80 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

“I love being able to provide dental care in a child’s own language,” Dr. Mandy says. “We love that many kids laugh and feel genuinely happy during their dental appointments.” Making dentistry fun is also an opportunity to build healthy habits that last a lifetime. “I want kids to get excited about brushing and ﬂossing so they can have the absolute best chance at a lifetime of healthy smiles,” Dr. Mandy says. As SKY has expanded, Dr. Mandy and Dr. Madison have built a supportive workplace behind the scenes. Leading a team made up largely of women and working mothers adds a deeply meaningful dimension to their business success. Both doctors draw their drive from the remarkable women in their own lives: Dr. Mandy credits her youngest sister, Paige Schmidt, for showing her what it means to be a true go-getter, while Dr. Madison points to her mother, Debbie Myers, as her ultimate example of hard work, compassion and integrity. “One of the accomplishments I’m most proud of as a woman in business is our ability to create stable, fulﬁlling jobs for other women and mothers,” Dr. Madison says. “Family is

incredibly important to us, and it brings me great pride that many of our staff members are moms as well.” Beyond clinic doors, both doctors remain deeply invested in community leadership. Dr. Mandy mentors emerging dental professionals, while Dr. Madison prioritizes local outreach. SKY routinely provides free school dental screenings at Lovers Lane Soccer Complex and visits local classrooms and community facilities to teach early oral health prevention. At its core, SKY Pediatric Dentistry is about caring for people, whether that means easing a nervous child in the dental chair, supporting a working mother on staff or making dental education accessible across Southern Kentucky and Northern Tennessee.

Heather

FORD, DNP, APRN

Injector and Wellness Provider | Renew Aesthetics & Wellness

2020 Scottsville Road, Suite 101, Bowling Green, KY heather@renewbyor.com • 270.282.1907 • renewbyor.com On any given day at Renew Aesthetics & Wellness, Dr. Heather Ford might shift from reviewing complex lab panels and designing hormone optimization plans to administering precision injectable treatments. Rather than treating internal health and external aesthetics as separate worlds, she brings both under one roof to focus on the entire person. A Scottsville native and Western Kentucky University graduate, Heather spent years working in bedside nursing before earning her doctorate as a nurse practitioner. That clinical foundation taught her that healthcare works best when provider and patient sit down and talk through real solutions together. “My mission is to meet people where they are, listen closely and provide thoughtful, personalized care that helps them feel healthier, more confident and more like themselves,” Heather says. Earning her Doctor of Nursing Practice while managing her career and raising a family required sharp discipline and long hours. That grueling season reshaped how she views both leadership and her practice today. “Leadership is not about having every answer,” Heather says. “It is about creating an environment where people feel respected, supported and motivated to grow. Success means delivering excellent care, being someone patients can rely on and staying present for my family.” At home, Heather and her husband, Brandon Ford, the Allen County Sheriff, focus on family life with their daughter, Gracyn, and attend Victory Hill Church. She is passionate about local initiatives supporting women, children and health literacy across South Central Kentucky. When stepping away from the clinic, Heather recharges through everyday routines with her family, grabbing a 7 Brew coffee, relaxing by the pool or stopping into local downtown spots like Back Down South. “Do not wait until you feel completely ready,” Heather says. “Most meaningful opportunities require us to step forward while we are still learning. Trust the work you have put in, ask questions and remember that your path does not have to look like anyone else’s to be worthwhile.”

OCTOBER 2026 • 81

Brittany

MURPHY

Manager, Bowling Green Tasting Room | Purple Toad Winery

6245 Cemetery Road, Bowling Green, KY brittany.murphy@purpletoadwinery.com • 270.554.0010 purpletoadwinery.com Brittany Murphy does not subscribe to the idea that real leadership requires a corporate title or a traditional classroom textbook. A Warren East High School graduate raised in Smiths Grove, her true education came straight from years on the floor in customer service. Through hands-on experience, she learned how to read a room, manage personnel and handle high-pressure situations with steady confidence. Today, as manager of Purple Toad Winery’s Bowling Green tasting room, she sets the operational standard from the moment doors open. Before guests arrive to relax by the stone fireplace, Brittany is already managing fine details behind the scenes. She ensures the main floor looks crisp and welcoming, coordinates daily staffing and prepares the space for afternoon visits and busy evening gatherings. Once the room fills, her favorite place to be remains right on the floor, guiding visitors through the winery’s extensive selection of local wines and spirits. “Both personal and professional missions for my life are centered around being intentional, grounded and staying true to my authentic self,” Brittany says. “Accountability is going to either make you or break you. Always remain open to learning and stay humble. If you do these things, I see no reason why you shouldn’t flourish.” That drive for self-reliance was forged through real-life experience. Raising her two children, Layla and Ryder, as a single mother while maintaining a demanding full-time management career required thick skin, fierce independence and an unrelenting work ethic. Providing for her family independently remains her greatest personal victory. She credits much of her professional growth to her mentor, Cassie Saltsman, whose high standards pushed Brittany to step boldly into larger roles. In a fast-paced hospitality environment, Brittany defines true leadership by a single benchmark: remaining calm, focused and composed no matter how chaotic a situation becomes. “Never allow yourself to have to depend on anyone else in this life,” Brittany says. “Find your purpose and let that be the driving force in your life.” Outside the tasting room, the passionate animal advocate actively supports local pet adoption efforts, the Bowling Green/Warren County Humane Society and St. Vincent de Paul while prioritizing quality time with her children. “Don’t be sorry, just do better,” Brittany says. “Actions always prove why words mean nothing.”

82 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

Meghan Julie WHITE

Regional Manager

KEITH

Commercial Lender III

Banterra Bank 760 Lovers Lane, Suite 102, Bowling Green, KY

jdkeith@banterra.bank • mswhite@banterra.bank • 270.975.1806 • banterra.bank Banterra Bank brings a tailored, relationship-driven approach to Bowling Green, led by dynamic financial professionals Julie Keith and Meghan White. Edmonson County native and LSU Graduate School of Banking alumna Julie Keith transitioned from legal title work to commercial lending, finding her true passion in turning business visions into reality. As Commercial Lender, she builds lasting client relationships and guides local businesses toward growth. “My passion is working with a customer who has a vision and seeing that product come to life,” Julie says. Regional Manager Meghan White came to finance from retail management, driven by a desire to help others reach their goals. As a Certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and United Way committee member, she focuses on coaching her team, supporting local nonprofits and leading by example. “Our mission is to build meaningful relationships, create lasting connections and help our community reach its financial goals,” Meghan says. Outside the bank, Julie recharges with her husband Shawn, children, grandson and outdoor hobbies. Meghan stays active cheering on her daughter Farrah at Greenwood High School volleyball games and enjoying local coffee spots. Together, Julie and Meghan embody Banterra’s commitment to service, community and growth.

OCTOBER 2026 • 83

THE CHARLESTON | HOPE HARBOR

Mary and James Jessie

Erin and Clint Barber

Christy Spear with Kim and Eddie Wilson

Hallie Williams and Alexander Wilds

Dale Root and Janelle Williams

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY REINA JOHNSON

Mark and Melissa Whitley

Alan and Heidi Fortenberry

Hope Harbor celebrated decades of hope, healing and courageous voices during its annual SpeakOUT Speakeasy fundraiser at The Charleston. This year’s theme, “SpeakOUT Through the Decades,” expanded beyond the event’s traditional Roaring Twenties inspiration to recognize the survivors, advocates and community members who have helped shape Hope Harbor’s mission throughout the years. Guests embraced the decades-inspired theme while enjoying an evening of entertainment, games, food and fellowship. The annual fundraiser brought supporters together to celebrate Hope Harbor’s impact throughout the region while raising funds to help the organization continue providing advocacy, education and support for survivors across its 10-county service area.

Jamie and Quentin Miller

Julie Dillow and Neeley Fields 84 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

Eric Elpers and Carrie Jolly

Mindy Waldrop and Roger Dennis

Joe Lamothe and Kelsey Crowe

Billy Sweeney and Jimmy Allen

Eddie and Kim Wilson

Schedule your mammogram. 270-745-1199 MedCenterHealth.org/Mammo

OCTOBER 2026 • 85

KNICELY CONFERENCE CENTER | HOSPICE OF SOUTHERN KENTUCKY

Steve Jantz and Heath Holloman

Jim and Rita Scott Jackie Bretz, Ashley Reynolds and Brian Packard

6th Annual

Eric Maxey and Arnai Maxey

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHAD WHITE Hospice of Southern Kentucky welcomed guests to the Knicely Conference Center for the 6th Annual Lotus Awards Gala, an evening recognizing the people whose generosity and service help further the organization’s mission. Guests enjoyed a cocktail hour, silent and live auctions and an awards presentation highlighting the impact of Hospice of Southern Kentucky throughout the region. This year, the Wedge Family, Denny, Carol, Paul and Julie, received the 2026 Romanza Johnson Lotus Award in recognition of their support and lasting impact. The annual gala brought community members together to celebrate the honorees while supporting Hospice of Southern Kentucky and the compassionate end of life care it provides to patients and families.

Emily and Ayden Priddy with Julie Wedge

Nisar Fathima and Mohammed Kazimuddin 86 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

Conley and Chasity Moore

Caroline Wedge, Paul David Spencer and Julie Wedge

WKU Spirit Masters

JuaWanda Coleman and LaKeeshia Price

KNICELY CONFERENCE CENTER | HOSPICE OF SOUTHERN KENTUCKY

Steve and Angie Basham

Lora Patton and Angie Basham

Darryl Jackson, Dixie Mahurin and LaKeeshia Price

Chris and Nicole Hajdas

Willie Cornelius and Linda Hill

Armelo Boone, Hank Plona and LJ Hackman

Jim and Eva Martens

Jim and Annette Richards

Ruth Hudson-Fuqua, Linda Rush and Amy Gillon

Brittney Patrick, Stepheni White and Sandra Jean

OCTOBER 2026 • 87

BOWLING GREEN BALLPARK | MED CENTER HEALTH

Allison Merideth, Lucas Franklin and Tara Cauley

Finley, Clarke, Justin and Jaimie Dyer

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHAD WHITE

Brady and Michelle McFerson

The Med Center Health 10K Classic returned to Bowling Green for its 47th year, bringing runners, walkers, families and supporters together at Bowling Green Ballpark for one of the community’s most recognizable traditions. The event featured the 10K Classic, 5K run/walk, wheelchair race and Children’s Classic, offering opportunities for participants of all ages and abilities to take part. The weekend began with the Health & Fitness Expo and Pasta Party before participants took to the course for race day. Following the races, runners and their supporters gathered for the awards presentation, rounding out another year of an event that has remained part of Bowling Green’s fall calendar for nearly five decades.

Aiden and Tessa Hunemuller

Elliott Pratt with Dave and Sonnet Johnston

Blake Bishop, Nicholas Tanner and Cayden Estes

Houchens Industries

Aaron Russell and Rebecca Sales

Ava Tuck and Peyton Weedman

Hope Hensley, Hannah Hash, Veronica Butler, Alexa Garcia, Luke Phelps and Charlie Preston Olivia and Lindell Berg

Joe Tinius and Tommy Loving 88 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

Robbie Jarboe and Amanda Jaggers

Travis Norton, Robert Evans and Tony Rose

Sarah Widener and Marie Noall

OCTOBER 2026 • 89

LOCAL HAPPENINGS PHOTOGRAPHY SUBMITTED BY CLIENT WNKY NEWS 40 / MAGGIE DALRYMPLE

ANNUAL LIP SYNC BATTLE SUPPORTS MEGAN’S MOBILE GROCERY

BOWLING GREEN HEADS TO THE BIG SCREEN IN UPCOMING FILM HYSTORIA

The Capitol recently hosted Bowling Green’s sixth annual Lip Sync Battle, bringing local organizations together to raise funds for Megan’s Mobile Grocery.

Bowling Green recently served as a filming location for the upcoming movie Hystoria, bringing the film’s cast and crew to the community in partnership with the West Kentucky Film Commission.

The program provides affordable groceries, personal care products and household essentials to Bowling Green neighborhoods with limited access to food. The annual fundraiser also honors the legacy of local civic leader Megan Davidson.

The film stars Oscar-winning actress Marcia Gay Harden and Mamoudou Athie. The production also brought cast and crew into local hotels, restaurants and businesses throughout their stay, providing an economic boost while showcasing Bowling Green on the big screen.

FIRST WATCH OPENS FIRST BOWLING GREEN LOCATION

FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE’S TYLER HUBBARD TO PERFORM FREE PREGAME CONCERT AT WKU

First Watch officially opened its first Bowling Green restaurant on Scottsville Road on Labor Day, bringing its popular breakfast, brunch and lunch concept to the community. The restaurant seats more than 150 guests and features Bowling Green-inspired touches throughout, including artwork celebrating the city’s Corvette culture. Guests can visit daily for a variety of daytime breakfast and lunch offerings.

90 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

Country music artist Tyler Hubbard will perform a free pregame concert on WKU’s South Lawn on Tuesday, Oct. 27 ahead of the Hilltoppers’ home football game against Delaware. The one-hour concert begins at 4:30 p.m., with kickoff set for 6 p.m. at Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium. South Lawn will open at 1:30 p.m., with concert space available on a first-come basis.

LOCAL HAPPENINGS PHOTOGRAPHY SUBMITTED BY CLIENT

SKY SOCCER CLUB CELEBRATES OPENING OF NEW INDOOR FACILITY

LEADERSHIP BOWLING GREEN WELCOMES CLASS OF 2027

SKY Soccer Club recently celebrated the opening of its new 35,000-squarefoot indoor facility, giving local athletes a dedicated space to train and participate in sports year-round.

The Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce recently announced the 35 participants selected for the Leadership Bowling Green Class of 2027. The class officially kicked off on August 20 with an orientation and public introduction during the Chamber’s Rise and Shine event.

The facility allows SKY Soccer to expand its camps, training and other programs regardless of weather. Founded in 1979, the club now serves more than 3,000 participants through its recreational, academy and select soccer programs.

Launched in 1985, Leadership Bowling Green has developed more than 1,100 alumni through hands-on experiences designed to build connections, strengthen leadership skills and deepen participants’ understanding of the Bowling Green and Warren County community.

BOWLING GREEN RESIDENT RECEIVES NATIONAL CANCER ADVOCACY AWARD

CHANEY’S DAIRY BARN NOW SERVING BREAKFAST

Bowling Green resident Kim Lindgren recently received the State Lead Ambassador of the Year Award from the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network during its national awards dinner in Washington, D.C.

Chaney’s Dairy Barn is now serving breakfast daily from 6 to 10:30 a.m., giving guests a new way to enjoy the longtime Bowling Green favorite.

Kim joined ACS CAN in 2012 after losing her mother to breast cancer. She was recognized for her leadership in cancer advocacy and her work advancing policies that support patients and families in Kentucky and beyond.

The breakfast menu features Broadbent ham, biscuits and gravy, French toast, pancakes, loaded omelets, breakfast burritos and more. Guests can also enjoy Chaney’s award-winning ice cream during their visit.

OCTOBER 2026 • 91

SOUTHERN KENTUCKY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER AN EVENING WITH

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHAD WHITE Sheila and David Zumbach

Taylor Thomas and Katie Fielding

SKYPAC welcomed Jay Leno to Bowling Green for an evening of comedy at the Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center. Best known for his longtime role as host of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Leno has remained a familiar presence in entertainment through stand-up comedy, television and writing, along with his well-known passion for automobiles. Guests filled SKYPAC for the opportunity to see the legendary comedian live, as Leno brought decades of experience and his signature observational humor to the Bowling Green stage. The performance added another nationally recognized entertainer to SKYPAC’s season of programming and gave local audiences a chance to experience one of comedy’s most familiar names close to home.

Cindy Scott and Jahna Fulkerson

Ryan and Stephanie Wiesemann with Dan Davis

Lydia and Kristy Miller

Jeff and Sherry Reed with Faith and Sheldon Ballou

Mark Maag, Cathy Signorello, Aric Polston and Patty Polston Wilma Smith, Pat Mercer, Debbie Diamond and Pippa Pinckley-Stewart

Sherry Tilley, Mike Castlen, Glenda Babcock-Thomason and Robin Cantor 92 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

Tracie Wilson, Deanna May, Jessica Spears and Deanna Wilson

Debbra Wolfe and John Osborne

Don’t let your cords reach spooky status. Stay safe this holiday season! • Only use lights labeled by a testing facility such as Underwriters Laboratory. • Don’t overload electrical outlets. • Unplug decorative lights before leaving your home or going to bed. 270.782.1200 bgmu.com

OCTOBER 2026 • 93

INDIAN HILLS COUNTRY CLUB | PARS WITH PATRIOTS

Clay Nohel, Todd Wiles, Dylan Goad and Lance Upright

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY MAGEN ESTEP SIEGRIST Miki Padgett and Brett Hightower

Adam Yates and Dan Padgett

The inaugural Pars with Patriots Invitational brought golfers, business leaders and community supporters together at Indian Hills Country Club on August 31 for a memorable day of competition, camaraderie and giving. Hosted by the Vigilant Torch Foundation, the scramble raised awareness and support for the organization’s mission of serving members of the Special Operations community and their families.

Kyle Wolz and Jacob Arms

Participants enjoyed a beautiful day on the course, friendly competition and opportunities to connect while supporting an important cause. Title sponsor Bizzell Corporation joined corporate sponsors, hole sponsors, donors, volunteers and participants in making the inaugural event possible. Support from the tournament helps Vigilant Torch provide wellness programs, emergency relief, educational opportunities and other resources for those who have sacriﬁced in service to our nation.

Miki, Tina, Tres and Ascher Padgett

Steve Basham, Brent Wimpee and Mitch Wright

Ted Bowlds and Todd Wiles 94 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

Ian Tisdale, Colin Frizzell, McKenzie Meyer and Michael Hendrix

Dan and Joel Padgett

CAREGIVING & CONCIERGE

Learn More

Warm Care. Trusted Service. Local Hearts.

Visit our website: www.mytimesaversky.com.com

Give us a call: 270-792-5703

Visit our office: 720 State Street Bowling Green, KY

OCTOBER 2026 • 95

NCM MOTORSPORTS PARK | JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF SOKY

Makayla Wood and Monica Wardlow

Allison Edwards and Buck Wilder

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY SEBASTIAN TINGLE

Lauren Griffing and Kalyn Vick

On September 25, the National Corvette Museum Motorsports Park welcomed teams and supporters for the annual M&L Electrical Race for Junior Achievement of South Central Kentucky. Presented this year by The J.M. Smucker Company, the event brought together teams from area businesses and organizations for a morning of friendly competition on the go-kart track. Teams competed in a series of heat races as family, friends and fellow participants cheered from the sidelines. Beyond the track, guests enjoyed cornhole, lawn games and sponsored giveaways throughout the morning. The annual event combined friendly competition and community support while bringing local organizations together for Junior Achievement of South Central Kentucky.

Joe Aiken, Steven Pennington, Lizzy Bowles, Parker Maner and Landon Erik

Jennifer O’Connor and Bethany Smith 96 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

Hunter Moncrief and James Jessie

Kyler Weatherford, Beth Miller, Cassie Litton and Drew Rickabaugh

Samuel Allgeier, Wade Weisbrodt and Micheal Miller

Ellen Henderson, Kailee Fitzgerald, Addison Pruitt and Kaysten Thomas

LIVE MUSIC AT THE MINT KENTUCKY DOWNS AARON TIPPIN SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10 Doors 7PM | Show 8PM

Outdoor Concert with General Admission at The Mint Event Center Lawn TICKETS STARTING AT $59.99

KENTUCKY’S PREMIER ENTERTAINMENT DESTINATIONS

TheMintGaming.com

5629 NASHV IL L E R OAD FRA NK L IN, KY 4 2 1 3 4

@TheMintGaming

@MintGamingHall

OCTOBER 2026 • 97

VOTED BEST 35+ Years of Experience

Flexible Scheduling

Packing Services

Licensed and Insured

MOVING COMPANY OUR SERVICES Residential Moving

Long Distance Moving

Commercial Moving

Labor Only Services

Packing Services

Pick Up/Delivery

270-996-7450 98 • VIP BOWLING GREEN