Vol 21/Issue 4
greater owensboro chamber of commerce
APRIL
CHAMBER MATTERS 2023
Rooster Booster to feature Dee Robinson, CEO of Robinson Hill Inc., founder of Good Trouble bourbon, and author of Courage by Design The Chamber will host its Rooster Booster breakfast this Thursday, March 30 at 7:30 a.m. at the Owensboro Convention Center (501 West Second Street). The program is sponsored by Green River Distilling Company. Featured speaker will be Dee
Robinson, CEO of Robinson Hill Inc., founder of Good Trouble bourbon, and author of Courage by Design. Reserve your spot now at www.chamber. owensboro.com or by calling the Chamber office at
A legacy revived, Green River has brought a rich Kentucky Bourbon tradition back to Owensboro. Originally founded in 1885, Green River (DSP-KY-10) is the 10th oldest distillery in Kentucky. Prior to prohibition, Owensboro, Ky. was one of the richest contributors to the bourbon industry with more than 20 distilleries. Green River, known as “the Whiskey Without Regrets,” was the official medicinal whiskey of the U.S. Marine Hospital and has been referenced as the most expensive whiskey ever sold - 20 barrels were once traded for an interest in a Colorado gold mine. Fire and prohibition relegated the brand to history before being reestablished in 2022. Today, the “Whiskey Without Regrets” is bringing Owensboro’s rich bourbon heritage to life as the westernmost outpost of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. A gateway to east-bound visitors, it’s a short drive from St. Louis, Nashville and Evansville, Ind. The distillery welcomed nearly 10,000 visitors last year. But beyond the distillery experience, Green River is about
(270) 926-1860 by noon on Wednesday, March 29. 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.
sharing high-quality, delicious Kentucky Bourbon. Following a highly successful four-state launch in 2022, Green River Distilling Co is expanding in 2023 with the release of Green River Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon, in complement to their flagship high rye bourbon, in 25 markets across the United States. The bourbon’s unique packaging - a horseshoe shaped bottle honoring the original labeling from 1885 - tells the story of the brand through glass - with 10 notches on the brands horseshoe referencing DSP-KY-10, an ornate tax trip with the original tagline “The Whiskey Without Regrets,” and “The Pride of Owensboro” prominently displayed. “We’re energized by how the bourbon community has embraced Green River,” said Head Distiller Aaron Harris who joined Green River in Fall 2022. “Green River is a brand with a distinct and storied history and we embrace it fully while remaining future-looking to create delicious new whiskies that delight bourbon enthusiasts and casual consumers across the U.S.”
Speaker’s Bio
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n acclaimed speaker, Dee Robinson is an oft-recognized of Pennsylvania and the Kellogg School of Management, worked award-winning entrepreneur who works with individuals in two large banks, consumer goods company Johnson & Johnson, and organizations to overcome the fear that holds them and top advertising agency Leo Burnett before taking the brave back and instead amplify their communications, have the leap into entrepreneurship. It would have been easy to stay in her confidence to discuss difficult topics, and pursue their dreams, stable and well-paying career, but she always longed to move the n acclaimed speaker, Dee award-winning entrepreneur who works with in discovering their true purpose along the way. Robinson Her goal is to is an oft-recognized needle of her work experience to something bigger that would help clients live a bold life of ser vice and contribute meaningfully to our world, and organizations to overcome the fear that holds them back and instead amplify their communications, hav significance. She leads and speaks with she speaks compellingly about the decision passion, guiding herdifficult audience totopics, effectively to become entrepreneur. In that process, discuss and pursue their dreams, discovering theirantrue purpose along the way. Her goal strengthen and elevate their vision to new she formulated and cultivated a scalable and heights. What through both her teachable strategy to help embraceto effectively stre a bold life of shines service andinsignificance. She leads and speaks with passion, guiding herothers audience work and her public speaking is her uncanny change and forge their own unique path. their vision tocourage new heights. What shines through in both her work and public speaking iswins her uncanny ability ability to instill and build courage Dee’s her candid recounting of her own circles to maximize ROP3—return on people, and losses in running her own business— 3 build courage circlesleave to maximize purpose—and audiences intrigued an profit, and purpose—and audiences ROP —return on people, profit, and and lessons learned from leave each—consistently intrigued and wanting to hear more. resonate with audiences Dee’s refreshing more. Dee ideated, founded, and successfully honesty entertains audiences even as they scaled Robinson Hill, Inc., building a learn. She engages people from the moment powerful reputation as an outstanding she steps in front of them and leaves them operator in driving sales, efficiency, with ideas that linger and techniques Dee ideated, founded, and successfully scaled Robinson Hill, Inc., building a powerful reputation as an outstandin innovation, and employee performance along they will use even long after the speaking sales, efficiency, way. Leveraging the way. Leveraginginnovation, comprehensive and and employee performance along the engagement is over. Shecomprehensive is inspired to help and integrated integrated marketing strategies customized people take their careers—and themselves— customized for to key audiences tospearheaded drive expansion, spearheaded multiple capital efforts and forg for key audiences drive expansion, she multiple she to unprecedented levels. We all deser ve to be development wherever our capital development efforts and forged successful joint ventures dreams take us! ventures and partnerships that further spurred growth. Robinson Hill subsequently grew to encompass over 60 a and partnerships that further spurred growth. Robinson Hill When not working, advocating, ser ving on boards, or playing subsequentlyand grew retail to encompass overBrands 60 airportand and tourist-site (at) in golf, Deecompany enjoys cooking, a passion include she sharednotable with her names like Hudso restaurants stores. partnerships the portfolio restaurants and retail stores. Brands and partnerships in the beloved mom, who was a consummate host and a courageous company include notable names like Hudson Group,and Lettuce soul. Her dinners were nothing shortsubject of legendar y. It was expertise also her Grill, Ben portfolio & Jerry’s, Farmer’s Fridge, Potbelly, Entertain You. Her matter in successf Frontera Grill, Ben & Jerr y’s, Farmer’s Fridge, Potbelly, mom who taught her to always leave people and places better than ledand her to counsel do the same.she found them—something that has now become her unofficial Lettuce Entertain other You. Herbusinesses subject matter to expertise in successfully scaling companies led her to counsel other mission. Dee is a bourbon maker, proud mom and grandma to businesses to do the same. her daughter’s cat. Living in Chicago makes juggling her love for Prior to starting her own company, Dee attended the University power boating and golf difficult to balance.
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“Courage fuels the power to chase after things that are important to you. It also bolsters self-confidence and allows for belief in one’s abilities.”
Prior to starting her own company, Dee attended the
University of Pennsylvania and the Kellogg School of
Courage fuels the p