Vol 22/Issue 7
greater owensboro chamber of commerce
JULY
CHAMBER MATTERS 2024
Rooster Booster, sponsored by Visit Owensboro, to feature Renee Shaw and Owensboro’s own Kelsey Kirkpatrick Starks with Kentucky Educational Television The Chamber will host its Rooster Booster breakfast this Thursday, July 11 at 7:30 a.m. at the Owensboro Convention Center (501 West Second Street). The program is sponsored by Visit Owensboro, and will feature a special presentation from Owensboro’s own Kelsey Kirkpatrick Starks interviewing Renee Shaw, both with KET.
Reserve your spot now at www.chamber.owensboro.com or by calling the Chamber office at (270) 926-1860 by 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 10. COST IN ADVANCE: $15 for Chamber Members and $25 for non-members. COST AT THE DOOR: $20 for Chamber Members and $25 for non-members.
Renee Shaw
Tourism is driving an incredibly positive momentum in our community! Daviess County reported over $250 million in tourism spending, with 2,017 jobs generating over $19 million in state and local taxes for 2023. This success stems from a collaborative team effort involving city and county officials, as well as our dedicated hotels and tourism stakeholders. Our tourism and economic development strategy focuses on attracting “good money” – funds brought into the community by visitors spending in our hotels, restaurants, and local businesses. This approach ensures that money from outside sources circulates within our economy, driving growth and improving the quality of life for all residents. Communities that effectively leverage “good money” are more successful and sustainable in the long run. We have achieved major accomplishments that enhance the value and quality of life for everyone living here. • The former Barbecue Festival has transformed into a major new event that the entire community can take pride in. • Burger Week excites everyone, it’s something people look forward to. • We established the Larry Maglinger Award to honor Larry’s invaluable service to the community and recognize individuals giving outstanding customer service. • Our hotels have set an all-time occupancy record! • The Owensboro Convention Center is breaking records and bringing more people than ever before to town! • Partnering with Daviess County Parks and Recreation to attract and create exciting new events like Pups In The Park. • We’ve collaborated with the city during the Christmas season lighting downtown, and the county is brainstorming even more ideas for this year, bringing the whole community together. Visit Owensboro has a strategic plan, and none of these achievements happened by accident. We’ve established clear priorities and focused on what’s important. With our highperforming, dedicated team and board of directors, we are committed to using tourism to bring immense value to our community.
elevating important issues across Kentucky. Shaw was inducted into the Kentucky Civil Rights Hall of Fame in 2017. She has been Renee Shaw is the Director of Public Affairs honored by the and Moderator at KET, currently serving as AKA Beta Gamma host of KET’s weeknight public affairs program Omega Chapter Kentucky Edition, the signature public policy with a Coretta discussion series Kentucky Tonight, the Scott King Spirit of weekly interview series Connections, Election Ivy Award; earned coverage and KET Forums. Since 2001, Renee the state media has been the producing force behind KET’s award from the legislative coverage that has been recognized Kentucky Society by the Kentucky Associated Press and the of the Daughters National Educational Telecommunications of the American Association. Under her leadership, KET has Revolution in expanded its portfolio of public affairs content 2019; named to include a daily news and information a Charles W. Anderson Laureate by the program, Kentucky Supreme Court coverage, Kentucky Personnel Cabinet in 2019 honoring townhall-style forums, and multi-platform her significant contributions in addressing program initiatives around issues such as socio-economic issues; and was recognized opioid addiction and youth mental health. as a “Kentucky Trailblazer” by the University As an award-winning journalist, Renee of Kentucky Martin School of Public Policy has earned top awards from the Ohio Valley and Administration during the Wendell H. Chapter of the National Academy of Television Ford Lecture Series in 2019. That same year, Arts and Sciences, with three regional Emmy Shaw was named by The Kentucky Gazette’s awards, and Kentucky Associated Press inaugural recognition of the 50 most notable honors for public affairs programming. She women in Kentucky politics and government. has also earned numerous awards from civic, Renee was bestowed the 2021 Berea education and community organizations. College Service Award and was named Recently, Renee was awarded a national “Unapologetic Woman of the Year” in 2021 by media award from Mental Health America that the Community Action Council. honors individuals making a difference in the In 2015, she received the Green Dot Award mental health field, particularly in prevention for her coverage of domestic violence, sexual and early intervention. Shaw was recognized assault & human trafficking. In 2014, Renee for her decades-long dedication to examining was awarded the Anthony Lewis Media Award issues of mental health and opioid addiction. from the KY Department of Public Advocacy In 2018, KET earned a national media award for her work on criminal justice reform. from Mental Health America for its multiTwo Kentucky governors, Republican Ernie dimensional content on the opioid epidemic Fletcher and Democrat Andy Beshear, have shepherded by Shaw. That same year, she commissioned Renee as a Kentucky Colonel co-produced and moderated a 6-part series for noteworthy accomplishments and service on youth mental health that was awarded to community, state, and nation. first place in educational content by NETA, the A former adjunct media writing professor National Educational Telecommunications at Georgetown College, Renee traveled to Association. Cambodia in 2003 to help train emerging In July of 2023, Renee will be inducted in journalists on reporting on critical health the Silver Circle Society of the Ohio Valley issues as part of an exchange program at Chapter of the National Academy of Television Western Kentucky University. And, she has Arts & Sciences. One of highest honors enterprised stories for national media outlets, given by NATAS, the Ohio Valley Silver Circle the PBS NewsHour and Public News Service. recognizes television professionals who have Shaw is a 2007 graduate of Leadership performed distinguished service within the Kentucky, and a longtime member of the television industry for 25 years or more. Frankfort/Lexington Chapter of The Links In November of 2023, Renee will be Incorporated, an international, not-for-profit inducted into Western Kentucky University’s organization of women of color committed Hall of Distinguished Alumni. to volunteer service. She has served on the In February of 2023, Renee graced the front boards of the Kentucky Historical Society, cover of Kentucky Living magazine with a Lexington Minority Business Expo, and centerfold story on her 25 years of service at the Board of Governors for the Ohio Valley KET and even longer commitment to public Chapter of the National Academy of Television media journalism. Arts and Sciences. In 2022, she was honored with Women Renee is a sought-after speaker on media, Leading Kentucky’s Governor Martha Layne public policy, and political issues. She Collins Leadership Award recognizing her travels the state moderating and emceeing trailblazing path and inspiring dedication to community events.
Kelsey Kirkpatrick Starks
Kelsey earned a journalism degree from the University of Kentucky and a master’s degree from Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism. She spent several years in New York City as a producer for cable networks CourtTV and MSNBC before moving into a reporter position. Her on-camera career Kelsey Starks is a native of Owensboro, Kentucky who now considers took her to Chicago, Washington, D.C. and Charleston, S.C. before landing in herself a proud Louisvillian. Before joining KET as a host and producer, she was best known for her nine Louisville in 2008. During her time at WHAS, she was voted “Best Kentucky TV Personality” by years as anchor of Good Morning Kentuckiana on WHAS (ABC) in Louisville. In addition to her duties as host of the educational current events show News Kentucky Living Magazine and chosen as “Most Admired Woman” in Media Quiz, she will host and produce a lifestyle conversation show, Inside Louisville, by Today’s Woman magazine. Her favorite job, by far, is being ‘mom’ to three premiering July 9. children.