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

SEPTEMBER 2026

HEALTHIER, SAFER BEGINNINGS START HERE Every family deserves confidence. Every baby deserves the very best start. At The Medical Center at Bowling Green, our new High Street Tower features two dedicated floors for Women’s and Children’s Services, designed to provide exceptional care for every stage of pregnancy, birth, and beyond. Why families across Southcentral Kentucky choose Med Center Health: • Kentucky’s 4th Largest Obstetrics Program,

delivering nearly 3,000 babies each year

• The region’s only Level III Neonatal Intensive

Care Unit (NICU)

• The region’s only Obstetric Emergency

Department (OBED) for pregnancy-related emergencies

• State-of-the-art Labor & Delivery, Cesarean,

Birth, Postpartum, Nursery, and NICU suites designed with families in mind • A unique partnership with Kosair for Kids,

Womb to World Program, expanding education, access, and support before, during, and after pregnancy

• Comprehensive obstetric care at Women’s Health

Specialists and Fairview Community Health Center • Human Milk Depot and Milk Express sites to

support families through donor human milk • Onsite Lactation Clinic • Pediatric-ready care at all six Med Center

Health hospitals • Childbirth education, prenatal, postpartum

and breastfeeding classes • Hospitality House respite lodging for

NICU families • Onsite WIC support for Warren County families • Professional newborn photographer

• 24-hour OB/GYN hospitalist coverage

From your first prenatal visit to your baby’s first milestones, we’re here to provide expert care, advanced technology, and compassionate support — every step of the way. Learn more at MedCenterHealth.org

2 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

Med Center Health’s High Street Tower is officially OPEN! Every family deserves confidence. Every baby deserves the best possible start. That’s why The Medical Center at Bowling Green has invested in High Street Tower, a brand new, state-of-the-art facility thoughtfully designed with women, babies, and families at its heart. With two dedicated floors for Women’s and Children’s Services, Med Center Health is bringing advanced care, leading specialists, and compassionate support together under one roof so families can focus on what matters most.

personalized, high-quality care as Bowling Green supply, latching, pumping, and other concerns. and the surrounding region grow.” Med Center Health also serves as a donor Human Milk Bank and Depot, helping patients access Why families across Southcentral Kentucky donor breast milk when it is medically needed. choose Med Center Health: This is especially meaningful for premature, •Kentucky’s 4th Largest Obstetrics Program: medically fragile, or high-risk newborns who may Welcoming nearly 3,000 babies each year while need additional nutritional support. serving families across a 12-county region. •The region’s only Level III Neonatal Intensive “This tower was designed with you and your Care Unit (NICU): Providing the highest level of baby at the center,” said Kim Dethridge. “Our specialized care for our smallest patients. patients will find a family-focused environment, •The region’s only Obstetric Emergency along with an experienced team that understands The concept of High Street Tower came from Department (OBED): For pregnancy-related how meaningful, and sometimes overwhelming, listening to families and watching the area’s emergencies when every moment matters. the journey into parenthood can be. Whether population growth. As a provider of obstetrical This department is staffed by an in-house, pregnancy and delivery are completely routine or services and the region’s only Level III NICU, board-certified OBGYN 24/7. mom and her baby need a higher level of support, Med Center Health has a unique responsibility to •Labor & Delivery, Cesarean Birth, Postpartum, families can feel confident knowing that advanced ensure women and newborns receive advanced, Antepartum/GYN, Nursery, and services: care is available here, close to home.” compassionate care close to home. Designed for comfort, healing, and familycentered care. To learn more about High Street Tower, visit “Bowling Green is growing and thriving, and MedCenterHealth.Org/Women that is incredibly exciting,” said Kim Dethridge, Families will experience updated, welcoming Director of Women’s Services at Med Center spaces that support comfort, privacy, bonding, Health. “We are welcoming new families, new and family involvement. The High Street Tower employers, and people from all over the region. will also offer top-of-the-line lactation support. With that growth comes a responsibility to make The lactation team meets with every mother sure healthcare capacity grows right alongside the during her hospital stay to provide education, community. Births in our region are projected to encouragement, and hands-on support, helping increase 18% over the next decade, and we want her and her baby get the best possible start to be ready for families in years to come. High with breastfeeding or pumping. That support Street Tower gives us additional space, greater continues after families go home through our flexibility, and dedicated areas for Women’s and outpatient Lactation Clinic, where mothers can Children’s Services so we can continue delivering receive additional assistance with feeding, milk SEPTEMBER 2026 • 1

EDITOR’S LETTER

That spirit of leadership and community is at the heart of one of our favorite issues of the year: 40 Under 40. Inside, we’re proud to introduce 40 outstanding young leaders making an impact across a wide range of industries throughout South Central Kentucky. From business and healthcare to education, nonprofit work and beyond, this year’s class represents the talent, ambition and heart helping shape the future of our community. We’re also excited to share our VIP Profile on WKU Volleyball Head Coach Travis Hudson. Known as the architect of WKU Volleyball, Coach Hudson has built an incredible legacy on the Hill while leaving an impact that reaches far beyond the court. This issue also takes us inside a remarkable 100-year-old historic garden on property that sits within the former encampment of Civil War-era Fort C.F. Smith. It’s a beautiful reminder of the history tucked throughout Bowling Green and the stories that can be found right in our own backyards. Continuing our focus on leadership, you’ll also find editorial features highlighting some of Bowling Green’s influential voices, including Jim Page and Dan Harbison, and the ways they are helping guide our community into its next chapter. Of course, no issue of VIP would be complete without a look at the celebrations bringing people together. From exciting local events to familiar faces out and about, these pages capture another fun and busy season in Bowling Green. I hope you enjoy getting to know this year’s 40 Under 40 class and all of the people, places and stories filling this issue. As the weather begins to cool, football season gets underway and our calendars fill with community events, there’s something special about welcoming fall in Bowling Green and looking forward to all the season has in store. Thank you, as always, for supporting VIP Bowling Green.

Happy fall, Amelia Bowen Photography by Bowen Haney

September Checklist: Moxi/BBL Halo Tattoo Removal Laser Hair Removal

Book an appointment. Laser season is here! AtallaMD.com / 270-796-8960 2 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

SEPTEMBER 2026 • 3

CONTENTS

SEPTEMBER 2026 Volume 10 Number 8

events Hilltopper Athletic Foundation Annual Dinner WKU Meijer Topper Fest

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� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 20

Pearls of Wisdom Luncheon

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Possabilities Expo � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 36 Peach Tastin’ Days

� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 38 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 40

Pinnacle Financial Partners Luncheon

Day for Danny � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 44 Business After Hours � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 64

Sorella Celebrates One Year

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7th Annual Shake Rag Festival

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BG Chamber Area of Commerce Open House � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 78 Cocktails & Trails � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 84 Liverpool Legends

� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 86

Bluegrass Fantasy Football Championship

� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 90

High Street Tower Ribbon Cutting and 100-Year Celebration

� � � � � � � 94

editorial September Calendar

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 WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS Reina Johnson Shelley Lowe

Lainie Milner Magen Estep Siegrist Allison Razic Zerina Razic Becky Smith Chad White

�� 6

October Calendar � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 8 VIP Profile: Travis Hudson — The Architect of WKU Volleyball � � � � � � � 10 #GoTops

� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 15

VIP at Home: A Living Legacy

DESIGN & LAYOUT Matthew Taylor Wilson Matt Wagner

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Teacher Spotlight: Adara Hammer

� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 34

Investing in People First: Dan Harbison

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40 Under 40 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 50 Right Place, Right Time: A New Voice for South Central Kentucky

� � � 79

Marty Scott: A Little Help From His Friends � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 87

40 40 under 40

2026 High School Football Schedules

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VIP BOWLING GREEN www.vipbowlinggreen.com events@vipbowlinggreen.com photos available at www.vipbowlinggreen.com

Local Happenings � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 102

4 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

Darryl Jackson � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 52

Kate Payton � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 60

Nathan Williams

� � � � � � � � � � � � � 66

MaKayla Meredith

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Diego Cabrera

� � � � � � � � � � � � � � 60

Olivia Howard

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Hilarie Spalding

� � � � � � � � � � � � � 54

Zachary French

� � � � � � � � � � � � � � 61

Tyler Jaggers � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 67

� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 61

Maggie Tidwell � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 67

Jessica Mann � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 54

Cassie True

Clayton Lilla � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 55

Christina Ranger � � � � � � � � � � � � � 62

Julia Rivas

Chad Winston � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 56

Andrew Stewart � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 63

Kristen Robinette

Ally Higdon

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Erin Barber

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Alex McCubbin � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 69

Jewel Jordan � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 56

Jenna Settle

� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 64

Shelby McIntyre

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Lindsey McCarty � � � � � � � � � � � � � 56

Lashlee Anthony � � � � � � � � � � � � � 64

Addeline Hernandez

Colton Givens � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 57

Andrew Hayes � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 64

Nicole Swaby

Kayla Bitner � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 58

Barrett Metzger � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 64

Jake Larkin � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 70

Gentiana Shabani � � � � � � � � � � � � 58

Brittany Bennett

Chloe Stewart

Harlan Holmes

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Zac Ross � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 65

Whitnee Mosley

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Courtney Ingram � � � � � � � � � � � � � 66

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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.

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SEPTEMBER “September days have the warmth of summer in their briefer hours, but in their lengthening evenings a prophetic breath of autumn.” - Rowland E. Robinson S

BG HOT RODS BG Ballpark

NCM 32ND ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION National Corvette Museum

NCM 32ND ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

BG HOT RODS BG Ballpark

40 UNDER 40 REVEAL DINNER

HOW THE OTHER HALF LOVES Public Theatre of Kentucky

National Corvette Museum

BG HOT RODS BG Ballpark

HOW THE OTHER HALF LOVES Public Theatre of Kentucky

MASQUERADE FOR MITOCHONDRIA The Venue at 939 Adams Street

V I P MAGAZ I N E ’S 1 0 Y EAR C ELEBRATION

Thursday, September 3, 2026

331 Event Venue

BG HOT RODS BG Ballpark

WKU VOLLEYBALL E.A. Diddle Arena

HOW THE OTHER HALF LOVES Public Theatre of Kentucky

WE WILL NEVER FORGET

9/11

HOW THE OTHER HALF LOVES Public Theatre of Kentucky RUN FOR SIGHT 5K Covington Woods Park

ORCHESTRA KENTUCKY: EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE – THE MUSIC OF THE POLICE SKYPAC HOW THE OTHER HALF LOVES Public Theatre of Kentucky

WKU VOLLEYBALL E.A. Diddle Arena

BG HOT RODS BG Ballpark

WKU VOLLEYBALL E.A. Diddle Arena

HOW THE OTHER HALF LOVES Public Theatre of Kentucky

BIKEWALK BG: YOUNG AT HEARTT GROUP BIKE RIDE Nat’s Outdoor Sports

SERVICE STARTS HERE – BOWLING GREEN KIWANIS CLUB SKYPAC Donor Lounge

WKU VOLLEYBALL E.A. Diddle Arena

WKU SOCCER WKU Soccer Complex

BG FIESTAVAL

MED CENTER HEALTH 10K BG Ballpark

1200 Clay St.

6TH ANNUAL HOSPICE OF SOKY LOTUS AWARD GALA Knicely Conference Center MAHJONG IN THE MORNING Holy Spirit Catholic Church SPEAK OUT THROUGH THE DECADES The Charleston

WKU SOCCER WKU Soccer Complex

FINAL BOW: JEFF REED’S FAREWELL CONCERT SKYPAC

RACE FOR JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT NCM Motorsports Park

MUUVWELL HOT ROD 24 HOUR ULTRA BG Ballpark

BG FIESTAVAL 1200 Clay St.

BG INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL Circus Square Park THE OLD GET TOGETHER Potter Farm WKU FOOTBALL Houchens-Smith Stadium

PUMPKIN FESTIVAL Jackson’s Orchard

BIKEWALK BG: FAMILY FUN BIKE RIDE Buchanon Park

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

6 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

September 4th - 5th: Smurfs September 11th - 12th: The Super Mario Galaxy Movie

September 25th - 26th: Encanto

SEPTEMBER 2026 • 7

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

SAT, OCTOBER 24 CASPER 4

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

October 1-31 SCARECROW TRAIL Lost River Cave

PUMPKIN FESTIVAL Jackson’s Orchard

F 2

S 3

JESSE MCCARTNEY SKYPAC

WKU VOLLEYBALL E.A. Diddle Arena

PUMPKIN FESTIVAL Jackson’s Orchard

THE ART OF RIVERVIEW TWILIGHT TOURS Riverview At Hobson Grove

SPOOKY TALES ON THE HILL: A KID-FRIENDLY GHOST ADVENTURE

Gordon Wilson Hall

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 KID-FRIENDLY GHOST ADVENTURE

Gordon Wilson Hall

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 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

WALK TO END ALZHEIMER’S Circus Square Park 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 BGPD TRUNK OR TREAT Bowling Green Police Department

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

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

31 BG26.2 & HALF MARATHON Downtown Bowling Green FLEA LAND’S ANNUAL BOO BASH! Flea Land of Bowling Green PUMPKIN FESTIVAL Jackson’s Orchard SPOOKY TALES ON THE HILL: A KID-FRIENDLY GHOST ADVENTURE

Gordon Wilson Hall

8 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

SEPTEMBER 2026 • 9

TRAVIS HUDSON

VIPROFILE

THE ARCHITECT OF WKU VOLLEYBALL

S T O RY B Y A M E L I A B O W EN P H O T O G R A P H S P R O V I D ED B Y W KU AT H L E TI C S

10 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

VIPROFILE

hen Travis Hudson arrived at saying was, ‘Come be a manager.’” Western Kentucky University in the Whatever the official title was, Travis was fall of 1988, volleyball was nowhere willing to do whatever was needed. He swept in his plans. the gym floors, washed dirty laundry, chased In fact, he had never touched one. down drifting volleyballs, helped run drills at As a first-generation college student, the practice and absorbed every ounce of tactical very first in his family to earn a college degree, knowledge he could about the sport. Travis came to WKU after graduating from “I always thought I might coach, but I Edmonson County High School with one main goal firmly in mind: getting an education. Raised in South Central Kentucky, he grew up playing football and basketball, sports where physical grit and strategic execution were second nature. Once he arrived on the Hill, he quickly realized how much he missed the thrill of competition. One afternoon, while playing pickup basketball at a local park, Travis noticed a group playing volleyball nearby. Tired

They knew he was young. They knew he was inexperienced. But above all, they knew how deeply he cared about the team. Their support helped Travis land an official interview for the head coaching position. “I had no business being a Division I head coach,” he admits candidly. “I wasn’t ready, but I was here.” At just 24 years old, Travis was named the youngest head coach in

“I don’t feel like I was put on earth to be a coach,” he says. “I feel like I was given this job to be put in a position where, when those kids fly through my life, I’m that person to pay it forward, like so many people did for me.”

Division I volleyball history. More than three decades later, he’s still here. Under his leadership, WKU Volleyball has grown into a nationally recognized powerhouse, amassing conference championships, regular NCAA Tournament appearances, and national top-25 rankings. Yet when Travis talks about what makes him

of waiting through another argument proudest, those trophy cases aren’t the over a foul call on the court, he walked over, sat thought it would probably end up being first things he mentions. He points instead to down on the grass, and watched them pay.

football or basketball,” he says. “This was like a two other numbers that define his life’s work.

Eventually, he asked if he could join in. He little window that opened.” In 31 years as head coach, every single player was instantly hooked. That little window would soon become the who has come through his program has walked Travis began showing up regularly, soaking up opportunity of a lifetime. away with a college degree. During that same the game, and eventually joined a competitive local league. It was there that his life took an unexpected turn: he met Jeff Hulsmeyer, then

multi-decade period, only three players have A Leap of Faith on the Hill ever transferred away from his program. After a series of coaching changes left the In an era of college athletics defined by head coach of the WKU women’s volleyball WKU volleyball program facing the possibility constant roster turnover and immediate program. Jeff didn’t have an assistant coach at of hiring its third head coach in four years, gratification, those numbers represent the time and, noticing Travis’s work ethic and something unexpected happened. The players something much bigger than volleyball wins. passion for the game, asked if he would come and their parents, impressed by the young “I’ve coached All-Americans. I’ve coached assistant’s dedication and authenticity, began kids that have played from the time they were help out at practice. “What I heard was, ‘Come be my assistant reaching out to WKU administrators on Travis’s freshmen, but I’ve also coached kids that didn’t coach,’” Travis jokes. “What he was probably behalf.

play as much as they wanted,” he says. “They still SEPTEMBER 2026 • 11

VIPROFILE

felt like this was a place that they were loved and cared about and respected and developed as humans.” That philosophy goes directly back to what Travis believes true leadership is about. “I don’t believe that coaching is necessarily about the X’s and O’s,” he says. “I think it’s more about relationships and teaching and trust and respect.”

Choosing Home Over the Spotlight As WKU consistently transformed into a volleyball powerhouse under his guidance, national recognition followed. That success brought lucrative opportunities elsewhere, including chances to take over high-profile programs in the SEC and Big Ten. At one point, close friends within the coaching profession couldn’t understand why Travis wasn’t jumping at the opportunity to move up to a power conference. But Travis never viewed another university as the next logical rung on a career ladder. “I don’t necessarily feel like a college volleyball coach,” he says. “I feel like the Western Kentucky volleyball coach.” Staying in Bowling Green allowed him to give his sons stability while continuing to build something enduring in a town that had become his true home. 12 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

Years later, Travis sees the wisdom of that decision in moments that have nothing to do with statistics or conference titles. His office walls and desk hold prized photographs from the weddings of former players who have asked him to remain a central part of their lives long after their final match point. He has served as an usher, given wedding readings and even become an ordained minister to officiate a former player’s ceremony. “At the end of my coaching career, if I’m only known for the number of wins I had, I’ll be really disappointed,” he says.

Building Culture and Gratitude For Travis, the four years he gets with a student-athlete represent a critical window of development. He remembers arriving on campus without knowing exactly who he was or what he wanted to become, and he sees that same uncertain feeling in the young women who walk through his office doors today. “They’re just a high school kid that needed to clean their room,” he chuckles. Four years later, they leave with a meaningful degree, ready to enter the workforce, lead organizations, and build families of their own. “I refuse to let them just be volleyball players.”

VIPROFILE

Sometimes, that developmental philosophy takes shape in small, intentional habits. Inside each player’s locker sits a stack of blank note cards. Once a week, Travis asks his players to take a moment and reflect on someone who has been on their heart—a parent, professor, teammate, custodian, athletic trainer or campus employee who served them lunch. Then, they sit down and write that person a handwritten note of gratitude. Travis collects the envelopes afterward and becomes, as he puts it, “the mailman,” stamping and mailing them himself or walking across campus to deliver them by hand. It is a tradition born from a question he posed after a heartbreaking NCAA Tournament loss: “How many good things have to happen in your life before you’re just grateful?” That perspective extends far beyond the court. Through the program’s longstanding relationship with the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation, the team adopted Harlie, a young girl battling pediatric brain cancer, integrating her fully into the Hilltopper family. Travis encourages his players to recognize the immense impact they can have on others. Often, he notes, players enter these community partnerships thinking they are giving back, only to discover how much personal growth they receive in return.

Paying It Forward After more than three decades on the sidelines, that human connection remains his driving force. There are days when the grind of modern college athletics leaves Travis feeling weary. But then another 18-yearold walks into his office. She may appear confident and self-assured on the outside, until one day she sits down, drops her guard, and opens up about what is really happening in her life. “And then I’m like, ‘Oh, okay. Now I know why I’m still here,’” he says. He vividly remembers being that vulnerable age himself. “When I was 18, I just needed somebody that would, no matter how confident I presented myself, tell me it was okay and I was going to make it.” More than three decades ago, the community at Western Kentucky University did exactly that for a kid from Edmonson County. Today, each new student who steps onto campus gives him another opportunity to return the favor. “I don’t feel like I was put on earth to be a coach,” Travis reflects. “I feel like I was given this job to be put in a position where, when those kids fly through my life, I’m that person to pay it forward, like so many people did for me.” SEPTEMBER 2026 • 13

JACK AND JACKIE HARBAUGH STADIUM CLUB | HILLTOPPER ATHLETIC FOUNDATION

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY REINA JOHNSON

Patty and Curtis Lucas

Western Kentucky University supporters gathered at the Harbaugh Club on August 19 for the Hilltopper Athletic Foundation Annual Dinner. The evening brought together Hilltopper fans, alumni, donors and friends of WKU Athletics to celebrate the people and traditions that make the Hilltopper community special. Guests enjoyed an evening of fellowship and connection while showing their continued support for WKU student-athletes and the future of Hilltopper Athletics.

Cal Cannestra, Landon Pugh, Parker Vick and Nick Walters

Taylor Manning and Benji Stewart

Angie and Steve Basham

Kat Smith and Randy Lee

Allen and Patti Cross

Griffin Lamb, Colby Alexander and Jonathan Carothers

Joye Beth Spinks, Chandler Flynt, Lindsay Porter and J.A. Sowell

Darell Law and Dewayne Cothron

Kristie and Chase Carpenter

WKU Softball Team

Martha and Earl Winn

14 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

#GoTOPS

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#GoTOPS

SEPTEMBER 2026 • 17

#GoTOPS

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SEPTEMBER 2026 • 19

WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY SOUTH LAWN | MEIJER TOPPER FEST

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY BECKY SMITH To kick off the fall semester, the WKU community gathered on South Lawn for the sixth annual Topper Fest, presented by PNC Bank. The evening featured live music, yard games, inflatables and student-athlete autograph sessions, with plenty of activities for Hilltoppers of all ages. Open to WKU students, faculty, staff and the surrounding community, Topper Fest also featured food trucks, local vendor tents and an appearance by Big Red. A fireworks show capped off the evening, bringing another Topper Fest celebration to a memorable close. Leah Riggs, Avery Robinson, Madison Moore and Keegan Dore

Miller Cole and Demarcus Brown

Garrett Payne, Sydney Higdon and Sydney Scott

WKU Cheerleaders Quincy Burroughs, Arlando Crafton Jr., Jordan Curll and Asa Holbert

Elizabeth Thorn and Maggie McClain

Alex Holland, Matt Doyle, Aiden Fleck and Kassius Berry

Katelyn Ivy and Kenzie Houston 20 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

Brooke Napolitano, Cooper Skiva, Libby Carter and Gabby Fleischer

Andrea Duart with Victoria and Lindsey Velazquez

Nina, Will and Ramona McNamara

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STORY BY AMELIA BOWEN • PHOTOGRAPHY BY HARRIS VISUAL MEDIA SEPTEMBER 2026 • 25

ucked behind the Rabold family home, surrounded by the steady pull of downtown Bowling Green, nearly 150 years of garden history continues to grow. Tall hemlocks create green walls around winding stone pathways. Terraced beds overflow with lilies, native plants and mature trees. Water moves through a pond carved into the shape of Kentucky while birds, butterflies and the occasional rabbit have made a home among the leaves. Yet much of what appears so effortless today is the result of years of research, restoration and an understanding that preserving a historic garden requires far more than just putting plants in the ground. For Mitchell, bringing the Rabold Garden back to life has meant learning what once grew here, studying how the landscape was originally intended to function and figuring out how to honor that history within a garden that is still very much alive. “The first time I saw it, it was very overwhelming,” Mitchell recalls. He had good reason to feel that way. The garden dates back to the 1870s and, according to the Rabold family’s research, stands as the oldest continuously maintained private garden in Warren County. The property itself carries an even earlier history. The property sits within the former encampment of Civil War era Fort C.F. Smith, where thousands of Union soldiers were stationed. Portions of the stone walls behind the home are connected to the fortifications that once occupied the land. Generations later, the landscape became closely tied to Ruth Rabold, whose influence on gardening in Bowling Green extended far beyond her own backyard. Fortunately for Mitchell, Ruth left behind something invaluable to anyone attempting an authentic restoration: documentation. Historic photographs capture the garden through every decade. Receipts, records and family journals provide further clues, creating an unusually detailed archive that allows Mitchell and Nick Rabold, Ruth’s great grandson, to look back before deciding how the landscape should move forward. “There was always photography of it throughout the years,” Mitchell says. “You could see as it transitioned.” That visual paper trail has become an essential guide as Mitchell works to reestablish the garden’s plantings with historical intention.

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Rooted in the Past

Long before Mitchell found himself responsible for a garden of this scale, plants were already a big part of his life. Raised on a Kentucky farm, he grew up surrounded by vegetable gardens, tobacco fields and dairy goats. His mother shared an interest in flowers, while stories about his grandmother, a gifted gardener herself, further sparked his curiosity. As a student, Mitchell joined FFA and competed in floriculture, discovering early on that working with plants came naturally to him. Though he never pursued horticulture professionally, he intentionally kept gardening as something personal. “I didn’t ever pursue that for the reason that I wanted it to always be my passion,” he says. “I don’t ever want to feel like I’m going to work.” At the Rabold home, that passion found a deeply meaningful outlet. Nick and his parents, Bobby and Lisa Rabold, had already tackled significant work to restore the garden’s structure, including hardscapes, trees and shrubs. Privacy was particularly important. Hemlocks had once towered around the property, creating the dense, enclosed landscape Nick remembered from childhood, but a severe drought around 2002 killed many of them. Replanting those hemlocks helped restore more than privacy. It brought back the Rabold Garden’s original sense of place. From there, Mitchell could focus on bringing its floral landscape back into bloom. Rather than choosing plants simply because they are popular, Mitchell considers the garden’s historic records, existing conditions and the way each selection contributes to the space as a whole. Lilies were particularly important. They were among Ruth’s favorite flowers, and an old portrait inside the home depicts her with a rubrum lily. Today, Mitchell has incorporated that exact same variety back into the beds. “There are several of those you’ll be able to see blooming right now,” he says. “You can see why they were her favorite because they are just magnificent.” Some plants offer an even more direct connection to Ruth. Several specimens survive from her time, while others have been replaced with the same varieties whenever possible. But recreating the past is rarely as simple as planting whatever appears in an old photograph.

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A Garden That Changes

A garden is not a room that can be restored and left untouched. Trees grow. Light changes. Plants spread. Weather reshapes the land. What thrived in one location decades ago may no longer survive there today. Mitchell has learned to adapt to all of it. In one portion of the garden, more than a century of erosion had slowly washed away so much soil that established boxwoods were left without enough ground to support them. Restoring the area required rebuilding the terrain itself. Elsewhere, plants have been moved as trees matured and shade patterns shifted. Some varieties that initially worked well eventually had to give way to something better suited to the garden’s changing conditions. “It’s fun watching it as it transitions over the years,” Mitchell says. That process has also given him room to introduce his own touch while respecting what came before. Kentucky native plants are mixed among historic varieties, creating habitats and food sources for local wildlife. Coneflowers attract goldfinches. Serviceberries feed birds. Native blooms welcome butterflies, honeybees and other pollinators. Even local rabbits have made themselves comfortable, occasionally at the expense of one of Mitchell’s plants. “The goal is for it to be beautiful, but also part of a little ecosystem itself,” he says. The result is not a static recreation of the Rabold Garden at one specific moment in time. Instead, Mitchell is preserving its original character while allowing it to function as a healthy, living landscape today. That distinction matters. Modern landscaping is typically driven by whatever plant trend is popular at the nursery. Mitchell approaches this property differently. For a landscape that has already survived for generations, longevity is everything. The question is not simply what looks good right now, but what belongs here and what has the strength to endure.

Through the Seasons

There is no single best time to experience the Rabold Garden. “There is interest in this garden each season,” Mitchell says. “Even in winter.” Spring is his personal favorite, when irises and peonies begin emerging across the beds. Summer brings the lilies Ruth loved along with a wave of rich color and texture. Later blooms, berries and fall foliage carry the landscape through autumn. By winter, the experience shifts entirely. Without heavy foliage and flowers softening the space, its architecture takes center stage. Stone walls, urns, pathways and mature trees step forward, revealing the bones beneath the garden. In warmer months, the overall effect is completely immersive. The landscape drops nearly 40 feet from its upper entrance, a dramatic change in elevation that the garden uses to its full advantage. Tall trees draw the eye upward before pathways narrow into green corridors, curve around corners and open into wide, surprising views. “It is possible to engineer an intense sense of space,” Nick explains. Fragrance, sound and movement are just as intentional. Flowers perfume the air. Birds move through the branches. Water provides a constant, calming sound. From certain spots within the garden, the surrounding city nearly disappears despite having several neighboring homes close by. For Mitchell, those sensory details are simply what a real garden should be. 28 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

Earl D. Rabold admires garden walls built with stones salvaged from the former Lehman/Rabold/ Collet farm, circa 1935.

Spring 1939, showcasing a garden scheme inspired by the rock gardens surrounding the Round Tower at Windsor Castle.

“When you see it across the nation, these parks call them sensory gardens,” he says. “You can see it, you can smell it, you can taste it. I’m like, that’s gardening.” Over time, some areas have become so well established that the garden essentially helps design itself. Annuals reseed on their own. Plants migrate into unexpected spaces. When one variety fades, another often fills the opening naturally. For the first time in recent years, Mitchell found himself needing to plant very little. “It’s just established,” he says. “If something didn’t make it, something else replaced it.” After years spent actively rebuilding the land, watching it begin to sustain itself brings its own kind of satisfaction.

The Rabold Legacy

To understand why preserving this garden matters so deeply, it is impossible to separate it from Ruth Rabold. Ruth was among the founders of the Garden Club of Kentucky and played a major role in Bowling Green’s local garden club. Her influence extended across the broader community, including her work shaping the landscape at Fountain Square. For Ruth, gardening was never just about creating beauty for herself. Nick still keeps bylaws from the Bowling Green Garden Club dating back to 1936 that reflect a strong emphasis on civic engagement and sharing gardens with the community. That philosophy mirrored the exact way Ruth approached her own property. “She was intent that gardens of this ilk, if you can, should be open to the public,” Nick says. That belief had roots in Ruth’s own childhood. According to family history, Ruth remembered her grandmother’s rose garden outside Memphis and spoke about standing on her tiptoes as a little girl just to see it. That impression stayed with her for life. “She had a natural gift,” Nick says. “She would say that a talent is born in you, and she believed that she had it. She was intent that her gift should be shared.” Ruth also had a unique advantage when it came to documenting her work. Her husband, Earl Rabold, was an early investor in Kodak and operated a successful photography business in Bowling Green. Historic photographs bearing his name can still be found in local archives today. That access to photography left the family with a rich visual record, not only of their lives, but of the landscape Ruth continually shaped. The garden was never static during her lifetime either. One of its most recognizable features, a pond carved into the shape of Kentucky, was created by dynamiting the limestone to outline the state. A small waterfall marks Eastern Kentucky while the pond extends westward across the lawn. Today, koi swim through the water as soft plantings line its edges. Another favorite feature came from a sudden accident. After a large tree fell in the early 1970s and destroyed an octagonal gazebo, Ruth built what she called a summer house. Nick believes she drew inspiration from the lattice structure constructed in the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden at the White House around that time. These additions are quiet reminders that Ruth herself continually evolved the landscape. Preserving her garden does not mean pretending change never happened. It means understanding how she approached change in the first place. One of two koi ponds in the Rabold Garden, pictured shortly after its creation, circa 1940.

A young Kim Rabold Ferguson, left, with Ruth Rabold, center and Katherine Rabold of Memphis, right, circa 1960.

SEPTEMBER 2026 • 29

Meant to Be Shared

That mindset lives on through the family members caring for the property today. The Rabold family regularly opens the garden to the public for tours, charitable events and community gatherings. Family celebrations have unfolded here for generations, including several weddings. Nick and Mitchell were married in the garden themselves, right in front of one of its signature boxwoods. “We firmly believe that having things means, if you have them, you must share them,” Nick says. “Sharing is the point.” For Nick, sharing the garden is inseparable from protecting it. To the family’s knowledge, the property is also the only historic home in downtown Bowling Green that remains in the hands of its original family. That uninterrupted line has allowed stories, photographs and firsthand memories to stay tied directly to the property. It also gives Mitchell’s work a rare level of context. He is not restoring an anonymous historic landscape based on guesswork. He can look at actual photographs of Ruth standing in the garden. He can identify plants she favored, study how beds developed over decades and listen to family members describe how the landscape looked when they were growing up. Then he gets to decide what those clues mean for a garden growing today. It is painstaking work, even when the finished product looks completely natural. “This all looks very glamorous, but it is hard work,” Mitchell says. Perhaps that is what makes the garden’s current state so rewarding. Nearly 150 years after its beginnings, it has reached a point where Mitchell can step back from constant planting and simply watch what happens next. Plants spread. Birds drop seeds. Flowers return. The landscape responds. It has become, once again, a garden capable of growing into itself.

Living History

A historic garden cannot be preserved by standing still. Plants grow, trees fall, seasons shift and landscapes adapt. What remains is the responsibility to understand what came before and care for it thoughtfully enough that another generation can enjoy it. In the Rabold Garden, that responsibility has passed smoothly from one generation to the next. Ruth’s vision remains clear, Nick has protected its structure and history while Mitchell has helped its landscape bloom again. Most importantly, it remains a place meant to be experienced. The same philosophy that inspired Ruth to share her garden with others continues through the family today. Its gates still open. Visitors still walk the stone paths. Birds still gather among the branches and the lilies Ruth loved continue to bloom each summer. Nearly 150 years after the garden first began taking shape, it is not simply surviving. It is thriving.

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SEPTEMBER 2026 • 31

THREE THIRTY ONE VENUE | BOWLING GREEN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Pearls of Wisdom STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY MAGEN ESTEP SIEGRIST Lisa Grimes, Bella Delgado and Emily Leeper

Kayla Goodman and Cassie True

The Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce welcomed more than 200 women leaders, entrepreneurs and professionals to the 2026 Pearls of Wisdom Luncheon, presented by Atalla Plastic Surgery, on Thursday, July 30, at Three Thirty One Venue in downtown Bowling Green. Centered around the theme Ambition Without Apology, the annual luncheon encouraged attendees to embrace bold leadership, authentic confidence and meaningful personal and professional growth. Guests enjoyed networking opportunities, meaningful conversations and an inspiring keynote presentation from Tiffany Kelley Jenkins, President of Kelly Construction’s GCCM Division, who encouraged attendees to lead with confidence and purpose. Throughout the afternoon, the event celebrated the achievements of women across South Central Kentucky while fostering new relationships and reinforcing the Chamber’s commitment to supporting women in business. Hosted in the elegant setting of Three Thirty One Venue, the 2026 Pearls of Wisdom Luncheon once again served as a meaningful opportunity to invest in leadership, mentorship and community, inspiring attendees to pursue ambition without apology.

Jennifer Wethington and Katherine Sikorsky

Emily Cosby and Tia Geter

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Katie Hudson and Jen De Ridder

Jennifer Gibson, Kay Nerland and Ashlee Quinn

Camryn Moore and Mills Clark

Tiffany Kelley Jenkins and Julie Milam

Amy Pardue and Michelle Gorman

THREE THIRTY ONE VENUE | BOWLING GREEN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Amy Murrie and Kim Fillingham

Emily Barnard, Hannah Stevenson, Julie Milam, Peggy Atalla, Isabel Atalla and Kate Buser

Carla Anderson and Crystal Savannah

Taylor Madon, Olivia Maulden, Sydney Wells and Gina Cowan

Jen Van Buren and Jessica Mann

Kelly Miller, Stacy Wall and Amy McGill

Kathy Kemp and M’Rae Montville

SEPTEMBER 2026 • 33

VIP Teacher

Spotlight A

dara Hammer is entering her 17th year in education and her fifth at Alvaton Elementary School, where she is taking on a new role teaching sixth grade reading after four years in the sixth grade math classroom. A graduate of the University of Kentucky with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, Adara also earned her master’s as a Literacy Specialist from Georgetown College and Rank I in Administration from Western Kentucky University. Before making Bowling Green home, Adara spent the first 12 years of her career teaching in the Lexington area. Throughout her time in education, she has remained committed to growing as an educator and finding new ways to serve her students and school community. In 2025, she was nominated for Kentucky Teacher of the Year and previously served on her school’s SBDM Council after being elected by her fellow teachers.

MMER ADARAADE REHADA ING TEACHER 6TH GR SCHOOL ALVATON ELEMENTARY

A Piece of Advice Do the right thing, even when no one is watching.

For Adara, some of the most meaningful parts of teaching extend well beyond the classroom. She loves reconnecting with former students and seeing where life has taken them. “It’s pretty special knowing that even though they were only in my classroom for a short time, those relationships can last for years,” she says. Outside of school, Adara volunteers with the Children’s Ministry Welcome Team at Living Hope Baptist Church and enjoys spending time with her husband, Josh, their daughter, Elodie and their three cats.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE A CAREER IN EDUCATION?

My dad was a teacher at Hart County High School, so I grew up spending a lot of time there with him and going to sporting events. I even used to take his old materials home and play school. He was really well liked, and I remember former students stopping him when we were out just to say hello and catch up. I saw how much that meant to him. I think growing up watching him and seeing the connections he made with his students is what made teaching feel like a natural choice for me.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST REWARDING PART OF YOUR JOB?

The most rewarding part is seeing kids really learn and understand what we’re doing, not just memorize something for a test. I love helping them make connections to the real world and see how they can actually use what they’re learning. When you see that moment when it finally clicks for them, that’s hard to beat.

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

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KNICELY CONFERENCE CENTER | POSSABILITIES EXPO

Eric and Stacey Hurt

Megan Sternberg, Taylor Brice and Lou Ann Randall

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY MAGEN ESTEP SIEGRIST Maddie Garrett and Tena Alexander

The 2026 PossAbilities Expo brought the community together on Saturday, July 18, at the Knicely Conference Center in Bowling Green for a day celebrating ability, inclusion and opportunity. Families, caregivers, advocates, service providers and individuals with disabilities connected with dozens of organizations offering valuable resources, support services and educational opportunities. Interactive exhibits, Touch-A-Truck, live entertainment, a fashion show, therapeutic horse demonstrations and family-friendly activities created an engaging atmosphere for attendees of all ages. The annual event continues to raise awareness, strengthen community connections and celebrate the unique abilities and contributions of every individual.

Laura Doty and Michelle Antle

Mallory Clark and Courtney Thomas

Emily Cosby and Savannah Mills

Cameron Scharlow, Makaio Smith and Laura Reynolds

Amy Dickerson and Michele Wheat

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Ace Hubbard and Stephanie Trenaman

SEPTEMBER 2026 • 37

JACKSON’S ORCHARD & NURSERY

Tyler, Jamie and Austin Jackson

Lorri Smith and Lonell Rennirt Rhonda, Miriam, Brett and Quinn Powell

Peach Tastin’ Days at Jackson’s Orchard River Flowers with Yinkou Hsiao

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY BECKY SMITH Summer is a great time to visit Jackson’s Orchard & Nursery, and July marks the return of the orchard’s annual Peach Tastin’ Days. Held July 17–18, the family-friendly event invited guests to sample a variety of peach-inspired favorites, including fresh peaches, preserves, salsa, fried peach pies and homemade peach ice cream. Visitors also enjoyed summer apples, sweet corn, watermelon and a variety of fresh, locally grown produce while taking in the orchard’s scenic setting. Children spent the day on the playground and enjoying lawn games as families gathered to celebrate one of the orchard’s favorite summer traditions. For information on upcoming events at Jackson’s Orchard, visit their social media pages.

Logan Ours and Emakate Atkinson

Lyra and Julie Meggs

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Rich and Christy Howard

Savannah Pratt with Tanya and Ezra Puleo

Charlotte White with Connie and Joe Daniel

Zachary and Tracy Lile

SEPTEMBER 2026 • 39

EMBASSY SUITES | PINNACLE FINANCIAL PARTNERS

Sanela Salcinovic and Fahira Nuhanovic

Kenan Mujkanovic and GeMonee Brown

Bryan Bean, State Head of TN & KY of Pinnacle Financial Partners and Dan Harbison, Regional President of Pinnacle Financial Partners

Harris Pepper, Rob Clayton and Michelle Trawick

Lisa Basham and Amy Pardue

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY MAGEN ESTEP SIEGRIST

Bryan Downing and Jason Rose

Pinnacle Financial Partners welcomed community members to a luncheon at Embassy Suites in Bowling Green on Wednesday, August 5. Guests enjoyed lunch by Tony’s while meeting members of the local Pinnacle team and learning more about the financial services available to individuals and businesses throughout the area. The gathering offered an opportunity to connect with Pinnacle’s financial professionals and learn more about the company’s relationship-focused approach to personal banking, business banking, mortgage lending and wealth management.

Mary Propes Reynolds, Doug Gorman and Amy Chandler

Jim Lee and Matt Guam

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GeMonee Brown, Michelle Gorman and Michelle Fisher

Emily Hopkins, Michelle Fisher, Katie Tabor and Triston Wheeler

Kevin Blair, CEO of Pinnacle Financial Partners, and Michelle Gorman, Area Manager of Pinnacle Bowling Green

Denise Lubey and Allison Mefford

Investing in People First:

DAN

HARBISON

Leads Pinnacle’s Next Era in Bowling Green “I knew I was joining a team with tremendous talent.” Photo by Carmon Imaging

ong before Dan Harbison helped shape downtown Bowling

Joining Pinnacle also meant teaming up with a lineup of top tier local

Green, he was a local kid taking it all in, holding his mother’s

bankers Dan had worked alongside and competed against for decades.

hand at the Capitol Theatre, visiting Pushin’s department store,

and guarding every tennis ball on the Reservoir Hill courts like gold. Today, Dan lives on the exact ground where those childhood tennis

“I knew I was joining a team with tremendous talent,” Dan joked. “I’ve been beat by those guys many times over the years. I told them on my first day, ‘You aren’t going to beat me anymore because I’m one of you.’”

courts once stood, but his connection to Bowling Green goes far deeper

For Dan, Pinnacle’s client centric culture mirrors the personal

than memories. Over his 40 year career, he has actively invested in the

principles that have guided his life: treat people with respect,

city's expansion through civic leadership and projects like the Bowling

communicate honestly, celebrate success, and take responsibility when

Green Ballpark and Stadium Park Plaza. Now, after 35 years with his

things don’t go as planned.

previous institution, Dan is stepping into a pivotal new role as Regional President at Pinnacle Financial Partners. It was a decision he did not make lightly, but Pinnacle offered something truly distinct built around a clear, simple philosophy: prioritize team members first.

Those values stem back to his grandmother, who taught him that simple kindness carries the greatest return. “She used to tell me that opening a door for someone and seeing the look on their face is a ‘psychological paycheck,’” Dan recalled. As Bowling Green continues its rapid growth, Pinnacle Financial

“Pinnacle’s approach is clear: if you hire seasoned veterans who

Partners is building its presence on that exact foundation. By combining

have been in the business a long time and reward them well, they will

deep local expertise with an authentic commitment to culture, Dan and

overwhelm clients with financial advice and extraordinary service,”

the Pinnacle team are proving that the best way to serve a community

Dan explained. “That makes the client happy, which in turn makes the

is by investing in the relationships within it.

shareholder happy.”

SEPTEMBER 2026 • 41

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Care that feels like family Downtown Chiropractic was founded by Dr. Brad and Dr. Amanda Greenwell—dedicated chiropractors with deep Kentucky roots who established the practice out of a shared passion for helping local families thrive. Joined by Dr. Christy Glass, their mission is to serve the health needs of Bowling Green and beyond with advanced chiropractic care and a warm, family-owned atmosphere where every patient is greeted by name and truly listened to. Caring for multiple generations under one roof, we offer comprehensive care for families, athletes, expectant mothers, and children at every stage of life. Our patient-focused approach incorporates the MaxLiving 5 Essentials to target the root causes of pain, stress, and sleep issues.

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INDIAN HILLS COUNTRY CLUB

Murray and Andy Jacobs with Justin Raque and Will Porter

Ryan Hinkley and Nelson Glass

Bradley Grider, Ben Bledsoe, Nat McCracken and Grant Baumgartner

Justin and Amanda Manship with Bryan and Britt Hanlon

DAY FOR DANNY GOLF BENEFIT

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY MAGEN ESTEP SIEGRIST The 20th Annual A Day for Danny Golf Benefit brought golfers, sponsors and community supporters together on Monday, July 13, at Indian Hills Country Club in Bowling Green to honor Danny Harrison’s life and legacy while raising funds for a meaningful cause. Participants enjoyed lunch before a shotgun start, followed by friendly competition, on-course contests and fellowship throughout the afternoon. More than a golf tournament, the annual event raises awareness of pancreatic cancer while supporting individuals and families facing cancer-related hardships. This year’s beneficiary was Kimberly Adams. Thanks to the generosity of participants, sponsors, volunteers and donors, another memorable A Day for Danny made a meaningful difference.

Troy Coleman and Tyler Crowder

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Ricky Houchins and Billy Moody with Matt and Luke Idlett

Emily Hilliard and Amanda Manship

Lauren Hilliard and Breona Shanklin

Compassion When You Need It Most. In life’s most difficult moments, compassionate guidance makes all the difference. For generations, J.C. Kirby & Son Funeral Chapels and Crematory has been honored to serve Bowling Green families with dignity, respect, and personalized care. Whether planning ahead or honoring a loved one’s life, we’re here when you need us most.

Broadway Chapel 832 Broadway Ave. Bowling Green, KY • 270.843.3111

Lovers Lane Chapel 820 Lovers Ln. Bowling Green, KY • 270.842.0303 SEPTEMBER 2026 • 45

KEREIAKES PARK | KENTUCKY KIDS ON THE BLOCK

Evie Wray and Mae Belle

Pathfinder and Brian Packard

David, Lily and Julie Mantlo

Allison Lyman with Jay Phelps and Nick Phelps

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHAD WHITE

Piper, Sofia and Zoey

It was an exciting morning at Kereiakes Park as nearly 400 young runners gathered for Scotty’s Pound the Pavement, benefiting Kentucky Kids on the Block. The annual event helped kick off the new school year with three races for children ages 14 and under, while family members and friends lined the course to cheer on the participants. Every runner received a medal for crossing the finish line, making the morning a celebration for kids of all ages and abilities. The free community event also raised awareness for Kentucky Kids on the Block and the educational programs the organization provides to students throughout South Central Kentucky.

Jessica, Luke and Drew

Elizabeth, Barb and Eloise Hankins

46 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

Adeline, Lila, Anderson and Alana

Sabrina and Logan Farris

Cole, Emma, Caroline, Karsyn and Kristen

Wilder and Vivienne

SEPTEMBER 2026 • 47

BOWLING GREEN BALLPARK | BG AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY REINA JOHNSON

Katie Dykes and Averi Reed

The Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce welcomed Chamber partners and local business leaders to its July Business After Hours on Thursday, July 16, at Bowling Green Ballpark. The monthly gathering offered a relaxed setting for members of the local business community to connect, catch up and build new relationships outside of the traditional workday. Guests enjoyed refreshments and conversation throughout the evening while networking with fellow Chamber partners and making connections across Bowling Green’s business community.

Ashlee Wilson Quinn and Shawn Quinn

Calvin Sadler and Daniel Yoder

Amber Wood and Tiana Post

48 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

Corey Boisseau and Eli Anderson

April Suiters, Jack and Susanne Blackstock

Alison Hutchinson, Derek Olive and Luke McCoy

Tammy Duperrieu and Alyssa Conner

Shawn and Kristen Borne

Congratulations to

Olivia Howard We’re so proud of you!

710 College Street Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 781-3200 www.bgchamber.com

FULL SERVICE DESIGN CENTER AND SHOWROOM 901 LEHMAN AVE, BOWLING GREEN • 270.779.2565 @embellishhomebgky • www.embellish-home.com SEPTEMBER 2026 • 49

BOWLING GREEN'S ADDILENE HERNANDEZ

CASSIE TRUE

DARRYL JACKSON

UK COLLEGE OF MEDICINE

HOSPICE OF SOUTHERN KENTUCKY

WKU ATHLETICS

ALEX MCCUBBIN

CHAD WINSTON

DIEGO CABRERA, M.D.

THE WIN CREW

WKU | KINGDOM BOYS LEADERSHIP ACADEMY

MED CENTER HEALTH

ALLY HIGDON

CHLOE STEWART

ERIN BARBER

KOBELCO ALUMINUM AUTOMOTIVE PRODUCTS

IMPACT CENTER FOR LEADERSHIP AND

GRAY DIGITAL MEDIA | WBKO

INNOVATION ANDREW HAYES HAYES AGENCY WITH SHELTER INSURANCE

GENTIANA SHABANI CHRISTINA RANGER

LP BUILDING SOLUTIONS

BLUECOTTON ANDREW STEWART SUNBELT CONSTRUCTION

HARLAN HOLMES CLAYTON LILLA

GRAVES GILBERT CLINIC | TIME TEAM

STOCK YARDS BANK & TRUST BARRETT METZGER BAIRD PRIVATE WEALTH MANAGEMENT

HILARIE SPALDING COLTON GIVENS

BLUEGRASS SUPPLY CHAIN

KERRICK BACHERT, PSC BRITTANY BENNETT TRISTAR GREENVIEW REGIONAL HOSPITAL

JAKE LARKIN COURTNEY INGRAM BOWLING GREEN MUNICIPAL UTILITIES

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BOWEN HANEY 50 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

BOWLING GREEN WINSUPPLY

2026 40 UNDER 40 JENNA SETTLE

LASHLEE ANTHONY

LIFEGUARD PRESS

FIFTH THIRD BANK

PATRICK TYLER JAGGERS LEACHMAN BUICK GMC CADILLAC

JESSICA MANN

LINDSEY MCCARTY

FOREMAN WATSON LAND TITLE

AMERICAN BANK AND TRUST

SHELBY MCINTYRE TJ REGIONAL HEALTH

JEWEL JORDAN

MAGGIE TIDWELL

EDMONTON STATE BANK | BRAIDS BY JEWEL

MED CENTER HEALTH

WHITNEE MOSLEY HIGHLAND STABLES | GYPSYMOON MARKETPLACE

JULIA RIVAS

MAKAYLA MEREDITH

CHESTNUT PARK PROFESSIONALS | WKU | BRIGHT

HOUCHENS INDUSTRIES, INC.

VIDA COUNSELING & WELLNESS

ZAC ROSS ROSS WEALTH ADVISORY

NATHAN WILLIAMS KATE PAYTON

WILLIAMS ASSOCIATES ARCHITECTS

ELPO LAW

ZACHARY FRENCH MILLS REAL ESTATE & AUCTION COMPANY

NICOLE SWABY KAYLA BITNER

THE MILIARE GROUP

SUBLIME MEDIA GROUP OLIVIA HOWARD KRISTEN ROBINETTE

BOWLING GREEN AREA

BACK DOWN SOUTH

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

LOCATION: WHITE NOISE STUDIO SEPTEMBER 2026 • 51

DARRYL JACKSON

ASSISTANT COACH, WKU MEN’S BASKETBALL

asketball did not just happen to gym taught me something. Every mentor Darryl Jackson; it educated him, sharpened me. Coaching itself became one of tested him and took him the long my greatest teachers.” Those grueling years way around. Raised in Detroit, Darryl grew were a masterclass in raw player development up in two very different but equally powerful and proof that the hardest work happens when classrooms. His mother spent thirty years as nobody is watching, laying the groundwork for a guidance counselor, teaching him how to sit him to develop standout athletes like WKU with young people, listen closely and help them graduate Brandon Newman. That deeply rooted desire to serve started unlock their future. His father built a career as a community barber, demonstrating how to long before coaching. At just eight years old, stand in a room full of strangers, find common Darryl served the less fortunate at a Detroit ground with anyone and make them feel church, an early memory of giving back that seen. Add in his younger brother, Blake, who remains permanently etched in his mind. Today, he brings watched his every move that exact same and eventually followed relentless energy to him into collegiate “Every gym taught me Bowling Green. When coaching, and Darryl had something. Every mentor Darryl talks about his foundation. He learned early that sharpened me. Coaching itself community, he backs it up with constant leadership is not became one of my greatest action. He is the a title. It is the teachers.” coach showing up ripple effect you for High Five Fridays leave on other at local elementary people. Long before he wore schools, running drills with kids at the Kummer WKU red on the sidelines at Little Recreation Center and supporting local E.A. Diddle Arena, Darryl lifelines like Med Center Health and Hospice built his reputation “Brick of Southern Kentucky. He also stays spiritually X Brick” across the junior grounded through his involvement with Loving college circuit. He earned Springs Baptist Church and Pleasant Union a bachelor’s degree in Baptist Church. As Darryl puts it, “Basketball communication from is a language, and the importance of bridging Valparaiso University human connection and competence through and began his coaching the game is just as important domestically as career in Canada with the it is globally.” Faith driven and anchored by the belief that Windsor Express, followed by Navarro College before a rising tide raises all ships, Darryl approaches earning a master’s degree every situation fearlessly. He believes deeply in business administration that everything is ordained, provided you act from the University with righteous intent. Always looking for of Detroit Mercy as a ways to grow, he is even considering pursuing graduate assistant. He another advanced degree to further his then continued building perspective. Yet his true measure of success on the sidelines of Garden is never his own accolades. For Darryl, the City Community College ultimate victory is found in the quiet work of and Weatherford College lifting people up, celebrating the milestones of before making his way to the young men he mentors and knowing that WKU. “I came up the long when you invest deeply in human beings, the way,” Darryl reflects. “Every winning takes care of itself.

52 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

MAKAYLA MEREDITH F

CONTROLLER, HOUCHENS FOOD GROUP, INC.

“My father is the hardest working or MaKayla Meredith, accounting is about much more than and most honorable employee I know,” balancing spreadsheets. It is MaKayla says. “He showed up to work about untangling tricky problems, building with no complaints day in and day out. trust and helping the people around her He demonstrated what it means to be a succeed. As Controller for Houchens Food respectful employee. I wouldn’t be the Group, she brings a calm, practical approach person I am today had he not displayed his to managing finances while focusing on integrity every day of his life.” That same spirit of service shows up in clear communication and real teamwork. A Bowling Green native and Greenwood her community work across South Central High School graduate, MaKayla originally Kentucky. MaKayla supports Relay for Life, thought about a career in the sciences when the Family Enrichment Center, Community she started at Western Kentucky University. Action of Southern Kentucky, the Boys & She quickly realized lab classes were not for Girls Club of Bowling Green and United Way of Southern her, but a high school Kentucky. One of her accounting course “A lot of stress comes from favorite memories she had enjoyed kept coming back imagined timelines. Most things was a United Way volunteer day spent to mind. Returning that truly matter, like career, painting local youth to business classes relationships and stability, take facilities alongside proved to be the right move, and her future longer than you think, and that’s her neighbors. Outside the normal, not failure.” career path clicked office, MaKayla into place. centers her life “After taking an accounting class in high school, it sparked around family, spontaneous travel and my interest,” MaKayla says. “Once I got into making memories. She and her husband, my college accounting courses, I realized I Kevin, have been married for 17 years and are raising two daughters, Charlsie, 8 and enjoyed the challenge they brought.” Today, that knack for problem solving Ellarie, 1½. The family spends much of their guides her work inside one of the region’s free time camping, taking road trips and largest companies. Rather than staying exploring new state parks. Slowing down on the trail has given her behind a desk staring at numbers all day, MaKayla makes it a point to be an a healthier perspective on work and time. “You don’t need to rush your life,” accessible, helpful resource for colleagues MaKayla says. “A lot of stress comes in every department. “As a Controller, it’s easy to get stuck from imagined timelines. Most things that being seen as ‘the numbers person’ instead truly matter, like career, relationships and of a leader,” MaKayla says. “I try to be seen stability, take longer than you think, and as someone who helps them win, not just that’s normal, not failure.” Looking ahead, MaKayla is focused controls them.” She believes effective leadership simply on letting go of unnecessary pressure and comes down to listening and speaking simply enjoying each season as it comes. clearly. Learning to communicate directly without over-explaining has been one of her most valuable professional skills. She credits her strong work ethic to her father, whose daily example formed her foundation.

SEPTEMBER 2026 • 53

JHILARIE ESSICA SPALDING MANN

ACCOUNTVPEXECUTIVE, OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, FOREMANBLUEGRASS WATSON LAND SUPPLY TITLECHAIN

or Hilarie work comes Outside the office, Hilarie centers her life around “Life will get Spalding, tough,doing butgood you are tougher.”

down to understanding people. As Vice her family. She and her husband, Will, stay busy raising hat guiding truth defines Jessica civic involvement, serving as BNI President and President of Business Development for their two daughters, Anderson, 8 and Campbell, 5 while Mann’sChain, perspective growth, her home time to boardstheir andfavorite committees Bluegrass Supply she handles on everything fromdedicating making sure remains place for to be. resilience and community leadership. at Hobson Grove, Mason’s the the high-level growth strategy to the creative details,Riverview Hilarie also invests her timeMission, back into Originally from thecompany East Coast proudly rooted Bowling GreenasWarren County Humane SocietyDelta helping a growing buildbut strong relationships community Vice President of the Kappa in Kentucky for ofnearly two decades, Jessica and earn the trust its clients.

Furball andAdvisory HabitatBoard, for Humanity. Each volunteer Chapter a Girl Scout troop leader and a

A Glasgow native Louisvilleexperience volunteer with Meals Supported humble by a company stepped into her roleand as University Account of Executive keeps herInc.grounded, and that alumna, Hilarie discovered her natural for marketing values on giving back, she frequently brings her daughters at Foreman Watson Land Title fitthrough a focused giving back. and business strategy while studying communication. along to serve. serendipitous career shift that quickly became To fuel her own continuous evolution,

“I’m fascinated by why some messages land “Watching my girlssurrounds respond toherself peoplewith in need a natural calling centered on relationships andandJessica intentionally others don’t,” Hilarie says. “The strategy keeps me has shifted something in them,” Hilarie says. “Seeing trust. influential women, learning from their journeys engaged, and the creative side keeps it interesting.” gratitude take root in your kids in real time is something A Western Kentucky University graduate, and celebrating their wins. Off the clock, she Her disciplined approach to leadership was shaped I can’t put a price on.” Jessica approaches leadership with a clear focus finds simple joy in books, an iced coffee in hand, early on by watching her father build his own business. For Hilarie, success isn’t about trying to do it all at on empathy, grace and intentional purpose. Her a great Taylor Swift song and a sweet treat. Today, she applies those same lessons of hard work once. It is about bringing focus and heart to everything passion lies in lifting up the Bowling Green Looking toward the future, Jessica remains eager and clear goal setting to her career, keeping her sights she touches, from her executive role to the Bowling area without judgment or prejudice, ensuring to travel, pursue a master’s degree and continue set on building something meaningful of her own down Green community her family calls home. everyone the road. has the support to succeed on their building a community where everyone has a seat own terms. That commitment drives her deep

at the table.

JESSICA MANN HILARIE SPALDING

VP OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE, BLUEGRASS FOREMAN SUPPLY WATSON CHAIN LAND TITLE

or Hilarie Spalding, doing good work comeswill get Outside the office, Hilarie life around “Life tough, but youcenters are her tougher.”

down to understanding people. As Vice her family. She and her husband, Will, stay busy raising hat guiding truth defines Jessica civic involvement, serving as BNI President and President of Business Development for their two daughters, Anderson, 8 and Campbell, 5 while perspective on growth, dedicating her time to boards and committees for Bluegrass SupplyMann’s Chain, she handles everything from making sure home remains their favorite place to be. resilience Riverview at Hobson Mission, high-level growth strategyand to community the creativeleadership. details, Hilarie also investsGrove, her Mason’s time back into the the Originally from the Eastbuild Coast but proudly rooted community Bowling Green Warren County Society helping a growing company strong relationships as Vice President of Humane the Kappa Delta

in Kentucky FurballAdvisory and Habitat Humanity. Eachleader volunteer and earn the trust offor its nearly clients. two decades, Jessica Chapter Board,for a Girl Scout troop and a Astepped Glasgowinto native of Louisville with Meals by a humble company and that her and role University as Account Executive volunteer experience keepsInc. herSupported grounded, alumna, discovered naturalTitle fit for marketing giving sheback. frequently brings her daughters at Hilarie Foreman Watsonher Land through a values focused onback, giving and business strategy while studying communication. along to serve. serendipitous career shift that quickly became To fuel her own continuous evolution,

“I’m fascinated by why some on messages land and “Watching my girls respond to people need a natural calling centered relationships and Jessica intentionally surrounds herselfin with others don’t,” Hilarie says. “The strategy keeps me has shifted something in them,” Hilarie says. “Seeing trust. influential women, learning from their journeys engaged, and the creative side keeps it interesting.” gratitude take root in your kids in real time is something A Western Kentucky University graduate, and celebrating their wins. Off the clock, she Her disciplined approach to leadership was shaped I can’t put a price on.” Jessica approaches leadership with a clear focus finds simple joy in books, an iced coffee in hand, early on by watching her father build his own business. For Hilarie, success isn’t about trying to do it all at on empathy, grace and intentional purpose. Her a great Taylor Swift song and a sweet treat. Today, she applies those same lessons of hard work once. It is about bringing focus and heart to everything passion lies in lifting up the Bowling Green Looking toward the future, Jessica remains eager and clear goal setting to her career, keeping her sights she touches, from her executive role to the Bowling area without judgment or prejudice, ensuring to travel, pursue a master’s degree and continue set on building something meaningful of her own down Green community her family calls home. everyone has the support to succeed on their building a community where everyone has a seat the road. own terms. That commitment drives her deep

54 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

at the table.

CLAYTON LILLA

COMMERCIAL RELATIONSHIP MANAGER, STOCK YARDS BANK & TRUST

sk Clayton Lilla what gets him by serving on the alumni board for his out of bed in the morning, former college fraternity, mentoring young and he will tell you it comes men through formative years, and guiding down to solving puzzles and helping emerging leaders through Bowling Green people build things that last. Long before Young Professionals. Whether he is serving he was structuring complex commercial with the Rotary Club, Kiwanis Club or the loans or managing high-stakes banking Center for Courageous Kids Advocacy relationships, he was a kid growing up in Committee, Clayton approaches community Bowling Green, watching local businesses service with the same hands-on energy he shape the town he loved. That deep local brings to his clients. “I grew up seeing how much this connection is why Clayton does not view commercial lending as just balancing community has to offer, especially after spreadsheets or analyzing data. To him, going through Leadership Bowling Green every business loan represents a local two years ago and witnessing the sheer number of people family’s dream, a new working to facility breaking uplift this area,” ground, or a “My goal is simple. I want to Clayton says. neighborhood “My goal is business expanding remain confident, put myself its footprint. out there as much as possible simple. I want to remain Since entering and leave things better than I c o n f i d e n t , the banking industry found them.” put myself in 2020, Clayton has out there as built a reputation at much as Stock Yards Bank & possible Trust as the kind of relationship manager who digs into the and leave things better than I details. His path to commercial banking found them.” Away from work, Clayton took off during his time in the Mahurin Honors College at Western Kentucky keeps his focus rooted close University, where a college internship to home. Clayton and his wife, opened his eyes to the fast-paced world Margaret, love filling their of finance. Combining a background in weekends with lively game nights business administration and business for friends, spending time outdoors data analytics, he realized his real strength and keeping up with their three dogs. was digging into business operations As he looks ahead to the next decade, and turning tricky financial questions into Clayton is eager to continue building Stock Yards Bank & Trust’s local presence while opportunities for growth. That problem-solving mindset extends starting a family of his own in the town that beyond the banking floor. Driven by a built him. passion for education that stems from his mother’s career as a teacher, Clayton believes the strength of a community depends on how well it prepares its young people. He puts that belief into practice

SEPTEMBER 2026 • 55

ALLY HIGDON

LINDSEY MCCARTY

HUMAN RESOURCES SUPERVISOR, KOBELCO ALUMINUM AUTOMOTIVE PRODUCTS

JEWEL JORDAN

BRANCH MANAGER & CONSUMER LENDER, AMERICAN BANK AND TRUST

LOAN PROCESSOR, EDMONTON STATE BANK Michigan native and WKU alumna, Ally Higdon y day, Lindsey McCarty leads into board brings empathy and active listening to herthe role native, Lindsey has poured her time OWNER, BRAIDS BY JEWEL as Nashville Human Resources Supervisor at Kobelco Road branch of American service with BRASS (Barren River Area Safe Aluminum Automotive Products. Her leadership is rom helping clients navigate financial Bank and Trust;shaping by night, she is an Space) and House on the Hill, using her artistic deeply inspired by motherhood, her commitment milestones to boosting their confidence to creatingartist a positive workplace andstructure making a background to chair community initiatives inand her salon chair, Jewel Jordan leads abstract and writer. Thatculture blend of meaningful impact in her community. Outside the office, with heart and unwavering determination. As a and creative intuition defines moves Ally and her husband Brandon stayhow busyshe raising their support local families in crisis. loan processor at Edmonton State Bank and the three children, Addison, Hunter and Booker, alongside owner of Braids by Jewel, Jewel balances two through the world. A chance encounter in 2011 At the heart of everything are her two young their lab Rosie, finding their greatest joy in making distinct careers anchored by her passion for brought from retail into banking, where she daughters, Willow and Rain, who keep life vibrant memoriesher together. helping others thrive.

Adopted discovered that guiding people through financial with concert outings, creative projects and sharedas a baby and losing her adoptive mother at age 13, Jewel developed an early decisions requires the same empathy, active adventures. Whether painting at homeresilience or grabbing that shapes her inspiring story. She listening and perspective as creating a piece coffee before a busy day at the branch, pours Lindseythat same strength back into her community, serving on her church of art. Fifteen years later, Lindsey leads her measures success by the genuine praise connections team, donating school supplies FINANCIAL ADVISOR, WKU organizing disaster relief team with that human-first approach, balancing she builds and the creative world sheand creates for CO-FOUNDER, KINGDOM BOYS LEADERSHIP ACADEMY efforts. Outside of her consumer lending with a supportive environment her girls. business ventures, Jewel Bowling Green native and Warren Central and her husband, Jeffrey, graduate, Chadtell Winston devotesself his to career for her staff. “I would my younger not focus on creating wonderful and volunteer work to empowering others. worry what others think,” Lindsey reflects. “Be adventures for their young As a WKU Financial Advisor and co-founder of Kingdom daughter, Jenesis. Boys Leadership Chad strategic unique, be weirdAcademy, and enjoy life combines one day at a time.”

CHAD WINSTON

guidance with youth mentorship to help community Her community impact flows from that same members reach their goals. At home, Chad and his wife enjoy trips and movie with their core belieffamily in lifting others up.nights A Bowling Green four sons. "I’m driven by setting others up for long-term success," Chad says.

“Everything I do is rooted in growth, service and building a better future,” Jewel says.

BRANCH MANAGER & CONSUMER LENDER, AMERICAN BANK AND TRUST

LINDSEY MCCARTY

y day, Lindsey McCarty leads the

native, Lindsey has poured her time into board

Nashville Road branch of American

service with BRASS (Barren River Area Safe

Bank and Trust; by night, she is an

Space) and House on the Hill, using her artistic

abstract artist and writer. That blend of structure

background to chair community initiatives and

and creative intuition defines how she moves support local families in crisis. through the world. A chance encounter in 2011

At the heart of everything are her two young

brought her from retail into banking, where she daughters, Willow and Rain, who keep life vibrant discovered that guiding people through financial with concert outings, creative projects and shared decisions requires the same empathy, active

adventures. Whether painting at home or grabbing

listening and perspective as creating a piece

coffee before a busy day at the branch, Lindsey

of art. Fifteen years later, Lindsey leads her

measures success by the genuine connections

team with that human-first approach, balancing she builds and the creative world she creates for consumer lending with a supportive environment for her staff. “I would tell my younger self to not worry what others think,” Lindsey reflects. “Be unique, be weird and enjoy life one day at a time.” Her community impact flows from that same core belief in lifting others up. A Bowling Green 56 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

her girls.

COLTON GIVENS W

SHAREHOLDER, KERRICK BACHERT, PSC

hen Colton Givens describes associates, ensuring the next generation his legal practice, he often of attorneys has the guidance they need to likens himself to a family succeed. He is also a strong proponent of doctor. Just as a general practitioner maintaining civility in the courtroom, believing cares for patients through every season of firmly that attorneys can advocate fiercely life, Colton handles a broad range of civil and disagree without being disagreeable. “I cherish the opportunity to teach and litigation, federal criminal defense and transactional work, guiding clients through encourage young lawyers,” Colton says. “We whatever legal challenges come their way. should never pull the ladder up behind us.” For Colton, moving back home also Raised in Morgantown, Kentucky, Colton was the first in his family to graduate from college, meant reconnecting with the community earning his undergraduate degree from that shaped him. His parents, Chris and Murray State University before completing Gina, still reside in Butler County, where his father works his legal education for WRECC and his at the University of mother works at Kentucky College of the high school. Law. “I cherish the opportunity to Being close to After law school, teach and encourage family has been Colton honed his skills one of the greatest young lawyers,” Colton says. through prestigious blessings of his clerkships with two “We should never pull return. federal judges, U.S. the ladder up behind us.” That local Senior District Judge connection shines Thomas B. Russell through in his and U.S. Senior Circuit extensive community Judge Eugene E. Siler. Working closely with both jurists instilled service. Colton serves as District in him a foundational standard for his own Board Treasurer for the Butler County career. He saw firsthand how crucial it was to Extension Office, an organization he grew prioritize fairness over favoritism, focusing up participating in through 4-H youth on reaching the correct result rather than development programs. Through Kerrick the popular one. Today, even as a dedicated Bachert, he regularly hosts an annual advocate fighting for his clients, Colton Chamber of Commerce luncheon to constantly strives to achieve outcomes that educate local business owners on new Kentucky state laws. Colton are both legally sound and morally right. Returning home to Butler County in even finds time to compete in the 2018, Colton joined Kerrick Bachert PSC. firm-sponsored Green River Catfish His commitment to the profession and his Festival fishing tournament each clients culminated in January 2026, when year. Reflecting on his journey over his colleagues named him a Shareholder in the firm. Beyond his daily caseload, the past decade, Colton encourages Colton is deeply invested in strengthening others to stay open to new experiences, the legal community. He actively serves in embrace every opportunity and leadership roles across several professional make time for life outside the office. organizations, including the Bowling Green- Looking ahead, he remains focused Warren County Bar Association, the Kentucky on serving his hometown, supporting Defense Counsel and the Kentucky Bar his colleagues and helping clients successfully navigate their most Association CLE Committee. Through these roles, Colton focuses important moments. heavily on mentoring law students and young

SEPTEMBER 2026 • 57

KAYLA BITNER K

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, SUBLIME MEDIA GROUP ayla Bitner leads with a core philosophy: we rise by lifting others. As Chief Operating Officer at Sublime Media Group, Kayla helps creative teams thrive and build a lasting legacy. "What matters most to me is building things, teams, organizations and communities, that help other people thrive," Kayla says. When she isn't leading the Professional Marketing Association of Southern Kentucky, Kayla enjoys gardening, playing Dungeons & Dragons and exploring local parks with her husband, Matt, and son, Elton.

GENTIANA SHABANI

HARLAN HOLMES N SYSTEM ADMINISTRATOR, GRAVES GILBERT CLINIC FOUNDER, TIME TEAM

ew Orleans native turned Bowling Green local Harlan Holmes combines tech and athletics as System Administrator

at Graves Gilbert Clinic and founder of Time Team, offering race timing systems for local events. Harlan discovered a vibrant community when he moved to Bowling Green, evolving from a beginner runner into president of the Bowling Green Running Club. Guided by mentorship from local leaders, he learned to

INTERNAL AUDITOR II, LP BUILDING SOLUTIONS

use running as a tool to bring people

lifelong Bowling Green resident and two time WKU graduate, Gentiana Shabani serves as Internal Auditor II at LP Building Solutions CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, and board treasurer for Habitat for Humanity. Drawing inspiration from her parents, who came to Bowling Green SUBLIME MEDIA GROUP as refugees from Kosovo, she brings a strong work ethic and empathy to her role and community. Outside the office, Gentiana and her husband Sage enjoy national park travel, half marathon training, hosting friends and gardening with her mother.

together.

Through Time Team

and

his

volunteer work with bg26.2 Marathon and Glory Baby Ministry, Harlan dedicates his time to supporting meaningful causes. Inspired encouragement he received early on, on being namedbyinthethis year’s he remains passionate about stepping up to VIP Bowling Greennew 40 Under 40! challenges, paying it forward and growing alongside Bowling Green.

COMMUNITY

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT THE BOWLING GREEN COMMUNITY? “The welcoming and accepting people. I have been

“It has always been inviting and warm. It’s filled with

“By far, the people. The will the people have to

fortunate to meet some of the most welcoming and

people who are willing to lend a listening ear or a

help each other. I remember especially after the

accepting people I have ever known in Bowling Green.

helping hand without expecting anything in return.

devastating tornado hit our community a few years

The strong sense of community involvement and

People around you genuinely desire to make our

back, the outpouring of help and support from the

the genuine willingness of residents to support one

community a better place!”

community to each other was truly humbling.”

another make Bowling Green a place where people

– CHRISTINA RANGER

– DIEGO CABRERA

“The way it genuinely punches above its weight.

“That it’s a mid-size city with a lot of diversity. It’s

“How welcoming our community is to others, and

Good people are doing great work here, and the

still small enough to feel warm and friendly, but rich

the culture and diversity that creates.”

community keeps growing without losing

with culture.”

– CLATON LILLA

that close-knit feel.”

– ADDELINE HERNANDEZ

truly care about and invest in each other’s success.” – DARRYL JACKSON

– HILARIE SPALDING 58 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

WHITNEE MOSLEY

COO, HIGHLAND STABLES EVENT VENUE & CO-FOUNDER OF GYPSYMOON MARKETPLACE

lthough Whitnee Mosley was not GypsyMoon Marketplace. Watching small born in Bowling Green, she proudly business owners flourish, vendor connections considers herself a Bowling Green form and couples celebrate their milestone girl through and through. As an entrepreneur, days gives her a deep sense of purpose. wife and mother, Whitnee has spent her “Creating opportunities for others to career creating vibrant spaces that foster succeed and watching their confidence grow community, support small businesses and is one of the most rewarding parts of what I bring people together in deeply meaningful do,” Whitnee says. “Leadership is really about ways. lifting others up along the way.” Her journey into hospitality and event Her desire to lift others up extends management actually started with an naturally into community outreach. Through unexpected proposition. After planning her GypsyMoon Marketplace, Whitnee partners own wedding, Whitnee swore she would with Life’s Better Together, an organization never enter the event industry. Shortly after, dedicated to helping families navigating however, her mothersevere illness. in-law, Angie Mosley, Being able to “Creating opportunities asked if she would leverage her for others to succeed and help transform their business watching their confidence family horse stables platforms into a local wedding to provide grow is one of the most venue. Taking a leap rewarding parts of what I do,” d i r e c t , of faith, Whitnee Whitnee says. “Leadership said yes, sparking a is really about lifting others passion for creating spaces where families up along the way.” could gather and celebrate life. That single decision laid the foundation for tangible relief to local Highland Stables, where Whitnee serves as families in need has Chief Operating Officer, and later inspired the deeply enriched her creation of GypsyMoon Marketplace. perspective as a business Whitnee credits much of her leadership leader. philosophy to lessons learned early in life. At home, life revolves around Growing up in a close-knit softball family, family and shared experiences. her parents, Alane and Greg Lee, made Whitnee and her husband, Justin, have sure she learned every position on the been married for fifteen years and stay field. That approach taught her the value busy keeping up with their three children, of understanding everyone’s unique role, Hadlee, Jagger and Gryff. Between sports fostering a spirit of teamwork that she practices and school activities, they cherish carries into her executive work today. She their quieter moments together, from also draws constant inspiration from her in- hosting friends and family to enjoying game laws, Angie and Chris Mosley, whose work nights and relaxing on the farm with their ethic, dedication to family and commitment animals. to lifelong learning continue to shape her Reflecting on her growth, Whitnee approach to business. reminds herself that maintaining balance For Whitnee, leadership is not about and leaning on others for support are managing every detail alone, but rather key ingredients to sustainable success. about building trust and empowering her Looking toward the future, she remains team to lead alongside her. She thrives on energized by the prospect of continuing helping others succeed, whether she is to learn, evolve and build experiences that encouraging employees at Highland Stables enrich the Bowling Green community she or championing regional artisans through loves calling home. SEPTEMBER 2026 • 59

DIEGOPAYTON KATE CABRERA, M.D.

F R

SENIOR COUNSEL, ELPO LAW

PHYSICIAN & MEDICAL ONCOLOGIST, MED CENTER HEALTH

rom aised Lima, in Horse Peru Cave, to Southern Kentucky, Kentucky, Achievement, showing by young peoplevolunteer that home. Grounded a humbling experience Dr.Kate Diego wanted Cabrera to be hasandedicated attorney histhere life are many free different paths into mountains the delivering medicine in the of Peru, toever serving sinceothers watching with her excellence, father legal deep field. Dr. Cabrera actively supports local efforts with the

work compassion in law andenforcement, an unwavering work seeing ethic. early Dr. Cabrera Her American experience with Leadership Cancer Society andBowling Hospice of Southern on knewhow by age meaningful 13 that he it wanted is totohelp become people a physician, Green and local organizations like Refuge Kentucky. navigate inspired bythe family legalmembers system. in medicine and a natural BG continues to shape her commitment Outside the clinic, Dr. Cabreratotreasures time talent After for science. earningHedegrees earned his from medical Western degree the from region, sheofnow as a their board withwhere his wife nineserves years and two young sons. Kentucky Cayetano Heredia University University and in the Peru University before completing memberWhether for the traveling, Family Enrichment Center. playing soccer or enjoying quiet of his residency Louisville and Brandeis fellowship School trainingofat Law, Henry At Ford home, Kate and her husband Ray akeep moments at home, he balances demanding career Kate Hospitalbuilt through herWayne practice State University around in quiet, Detroit.busy cheering their two children, Payton with richon personal passions. intentional Today, Dr. Cabrera service.serves She as credits a medical her oncologist and Eliza, at various andI try activities. “Life movessports fast, so to stop and smell the parents at Med Center for modeling Health, where leadership he works without tirelessly to roses,” Whether hosting friends or “Being traveling to to my family, Dr. Cabrera says. dedicated seeking expand high-caliber recognition, cancer a lesson care across she puts the region. bucket my listcareer destinations, Kate focuses onfulfillment every and my patients brings true into His leadership practice daily. spans Beyond patient care, her legal medical work, education, stepping forward single day.” with confidence and Kate clinical mentors trial accessibility area students and through building ELPO’s specialized showing up fully for her family. Legal care hubs Diversity like the Pipeline dedicated project breast and clinic. JuniorHe also collaborates with the national Commission on Cancer to ensure local patients receive top tier care close to

PHYSICIAN & MEDICAL ONCOLOGIST, MED CENTER HEALTH

DIEGO CABRERA, KATE PAYTON M.D. SENIOR COUNSEL, ELPO LAW

in Horse Kentucky, Cave, Kentucky, Achievement, showing volunteer young people that rom Lima, Peru aised to Southern home. Grounded by a humbling experience to be there many in different paths into the Dr. Diego CabreraKate haswanted dedicated hisanlifeattorney delivering freeare medicine the mountains of Peru, watchingdeep her father legalactively field. supports local efforts with the to serving othersever withsince excellence, Dr. Cabrera

in law work enforcement, seeing American early Her experience withHospice Leadership Bowling compassion andwork an unwavering ethic. Dr. Cabrera Cancer Society and of Southern meaningful it is to help people Green and local organizations like Refuge knew by age 13 on thathow he wanted to become a physician, Kentucky. navigate theinlegal system. inspired by family members medicine and a natural

BG continues shape her commitment to Outside the clinic,toDr. Cabrera treasures time

After earning degrees from as a board talent for science. He earned his medical degree fromWestern with histhe wiferegion, of ninewhere yearsshe andnow theirserves two young sons. Kentucky andcompleting the University the Family Enrichment Center. Cayetano Heredia UniversityUniversity in Peru before Whethermember traveling,forplaying soccer or enjoying quiet of fellowship Louisville training Brandeis School Law, At athome, and her ahusband Raycareer keep his residency and at Henry Fordof moments home,Kate he balances demanding practice around quiet, cheering on their two children, Payton Hospital throughKate Waynebuilt State her University in Detroit. with richbusy personal passions. intentional service. She credits Today, Dr. Cabrera serves as a medical oncologist

her Eliza, at various “Lifeand moves fast, so I try sports to stopand andactivities. smell the

for modeling Whether friends or traveling to at Med Center parents Health, where he works leadership tirelessly towithout roses,” Dr. Cabrera hosting says. “Being dedicated to my family, seeking recognition, a lesson she putsmy into bucket destinations, Kate focuses expand high-caliber cancer care across the region. career and mylist patients brings true fulfillment every practice daily. Beyond hereducation, legal work, single Kate day.” on stepping forward with confidence and His leadership spans patient care, medical mentors area through ELPO’s showing up fully for her family. clinical trial accessibility and students building specialized Diversitybreast Pipeline project and Junior care hubs like Legal the dedicated clinic. He also collaborates with the national Commission on Cancer to ensure local patients receive top tier care close to

60 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

CASSIE TRUE ZACHARY FRENCH

M S

DIRECTOR OFREALTOR HUMAN&RESOURCES, AUCTIONEER, HOSPICE OF MILLS SOUTHERN REAL KENTUCKY ESTATE & AUCTION COMPANY LLC

ometimes anaging a setback human isresources just a quiet sharpens her of approach to community during times grief, retirement or sudden change. “I redirection in end-of-life toward a care true calling. requires Afterleadership a am not justthrough the and Community selling a home stuff,” Zach says. “I am workplace a rare injury balance derailed his of construction quiet Foundation’s Nonprofit Leadership Series, helping honor a lifetime of memories.”

career, empathy Zachary and structural French found grit. For himself Cassie stuck True, on the SKY SHRM Green Zach and has Bowling also donated timeBusiness to fundraising for couch, that foundation unable to was reachbuilt the TV on remote. the competitive YouTube auto Women. Butmembers her dailyof work at the hospice several the community as an auctioneer. played tennis the court, Worldwhere Livestock herAuctioneer long-timeChampionship, coach offersAt aone constant, grounding checkgirl battling memorable fundraiserreality for a young and taught within her minutes, that resilience the rapidand bidleading calling and withsheer aboutleukemia, time. That awareness how over and he auctioned twodictates bubble wands rhythm heart outweigh had him completely any tactical hooked. playbook. Encouraged Atby she his spends liferepeatedly outside the office with over as her buyers handed them back, raising wife, Hospice Savanna, of Zach Southern eventually Kentucky, attended the Cassie Kentucky her husband, and their two toddlers, thousands Will, of dollars. Auction applies Academy that mindset and later to support earned his theCAI doctors, designation Tommy Outside and Anna. Rather thanSavanna chasinglive on over of work, Zach and at nurses Indianaand University. staff guiding families through grand100 plans, prioritizes the raising chaotic, acresCassie near Barren River Lake, livestock and theirToday, hardest Zach days. oversees She views the Mills her work Real not Estate as and beautiful simplicity of raising young kids keeping up with their three children, Colter,inBlakely and Auction corporate Bowling administration, Green office, but helping as families protecting navigate her hometown, whether Beau. A leader for localthrough 4H youthimpromptu programs, Zach finds major the caregivers life transitions so they through can deliver real estate dignified, and estate ice cream runs, local or busy his greatest daily playground inspiration intrips his faith, his family and liquidations. compassionate For care to the region.

familythe mornings. opportunity to serve others.

Zach, Holding the work degrees goes far from deeper WKUthanand closing the sales or University clearing properties. of Louisville, Having Cassie managed continually estates within his own family, he brings deep empathy to clients

ZACHARY CASSIEFRENCH TRUE

REALTOR DIRECTOR & AUCTIONEER, OF HUMAN RESOURCES, MILLS REAL ESTATE & AUCTION HOSPICECOMPANY OF SOUTHERN LLC KENTUCKY

ometimes a setback anaging is human just a resources quiet duringsharpens her retirement approach to community times of grief, or sudden change. “I redirection toward in end-of-life a true calling. care Afterrequires a am not leadership through the ZachCommunity just selling a home and stuff,” says. “I am workplace injuryaderailed rare his balance construction of quiet Foundation’s Nonprofit Leadership Series, helping honor a lifetime of memories.”

career, Zachary empathy French and found structural himself grit.stuck For Cassie on the True, Zach SKY has SHRM Bowling Business also and donated time toGreen fundraising for couch, unable thattofoundation reach the TV wasremote. built on YouTube the competitive auto several Women. Butof her daily work as at anthe hospice members the community auctioneer. played the tennis World Livestock court, where Auctioneer her Championship, long-time coach a constant, grounding reality check At oneoffers memorable fundraiser for a young girl battling and within taught minutes,herthethat rapid resilience bid calling andand leading sheer with abouthe time. Thattwo awareness dictates leukemia, auctioned bubble wands over how and rhythm hadheart him completely outweighhooked. any tactical Encouraged playbook. by his over At as shebuyers spends her lifehanded outsidethem the back, officeraising with repeatedly wife, Savanna, Hospice Zach eventually of Southern attendedKentucky, the Kentucky Cassie her husband, thousands of dollars. Will, and their two toddlers, Auction Academy appliesand that later mindset earned to hissupport CAI designation the doctors, Outside Tommyof and Rather than work, Anna. Zach and Savanna live chasing on over at Indiana University. nurses and staff guiding families through grandnear plans, Cassie prioritizes chaotic, 100 acres Barren River Lake, raising the livestock and Today, their Zach hardest overseesdays. the Mills She views Real Estate her work andnot keeping as beautiful of raising young kidsand in up with simplicity their three children, Colter, Blakely Auction Bowling corporate Green administration, office, helping families but as navigate protecting hometown, Beau.her A leader for localwhether 4H youth through programs,impromptu Zach finds major life transitions the caregivers through so they real estate can deliver and estate dignified, ice cream local playground trips or busy his greatest dailyruns, inspiration in his faith, his family and liquidations.compassionate For care to the region.

family mornings. the opportunity to serve others.

Zach, the work Holding goes far degrees deeper than fromclosing WKU sales and the or clearing University properties. Having of Louisville, managedCassie estates continually within his own family, he brings deep empathy to clients

SEPTEMBER 2026 • 61

CHRISTINAHIDDENTALENT RANGER CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, BLUECOTTON

LWHAT’S A HIDDEN TALENT OR HOBBY MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW ABOUT? ong before running daily operations take smart risks, living by her own motto to at BlueCotton, Christina Ranger

“fail faster, because waiting for something to

received a masterclass in business

be perfect before you make an attempt leaves

around her family’s kitchen table. Watching

you waiting forever.” For Christina, business

her dad run a small business taught her that

success is meaningless if it isn’t paired with

true leadership isn’t about sitting in a college, corner lifting people up, whether means offering “I was a dancer from age 3 through “I am anthat abstract artist!”

“Cooking and grilling out! There’s something

office,practicing it is about a coworker or pouring ballet,servant jazz, andleadership, tap at Dancecaring Images.” an encouraging word– to LINDSEY MCCARTY

rewarding about bringing people together around great

– CHLOEyour STEWART for people and getting hands dirty to

food and creating memorable experiences.”

seven years into mentoring young women “I play a variety of musical through Crossland’s Fortify Youthinstruments Ministry. and

– ANDREW STEWART

solve hard problems. Now, as Chief Operating MostGreen peoplenative didn’t know that Supported take advantage ofJeff everyas opportunity to make Officer,“Braiding! the Bowling and about Western by her husband they prepare

talent until Igraduate opened mychannels business.” that for their first music with Christina others—including trumpet in the Kentucky University child, remains deeply – JEWEL JORDAN WKU Campus Community Band and mandolin same quiet grit into keeping the company rooted in Bowling Green, driven to leave her in local bluegrass jams.” moving forward while creating room for others company and her hometown better than she “Cooking! I love trying new recipes and preparing – COLTON GIVENS to step into their own potential. found them. meals for family and friends. Food brings people Christina thrives on momentum, leading together, and some of my favorite memories are made “I play the clarinet!” the executive team and running weekly around the dinner table.” – LASHLEE ANTHONY leadership classes for managers across the – SHELBY MCINTYRE

“Golf! Many people know I play, but they may not realize how much I enjoy the mental side. The discipline, patience, and challenge translate directly into leadership, business, and life.” – TYLER JAGGERS “I can say the ABCs backwards!” – JAKE LARKIN

company. She constantly pushes her team to

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, BLUECOTTON

CHRISTINA RANGER

ong before running daily operations take smart risks, living by her own motto to at BlueCotton, Christina Ranger

“fail faster, because waiting for something to

received a masterclass in business

be perfect before you make an attempt leaves

around her family’s kitchen table. Watching

you waiting forever.” For Christina, business

her dad run a small business taught her that

success is meaningless if it isn’t paired with

true leadership isn’t about sitting in a corner

lifting people up, whether that means offering

office, it is about servant leadership, caring

an encouraging word to a coworker or pouring

for people and getting your hands dirty to

seven years into mentoring young women

solve hard problems. Now, as Chief Operating

through Crossland’s Fortify Youth Ministry.

Officer, the Bowling Green native and Western

Supported by her husband Jeff as they prepare

Kentucky University graduate channels that for their first child, Christina remains deeply same quiet grit into keeping the company

rooted in Bowling Green, driven to leave her

moving forward while creating room for others

company and her hometown better than she

to step into their own potential.

found them.

Christina thrives on momentum, leading the executive team and running weekly leadership classes for managers across the company. She constantly pushes her team to

62 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

ERIN BARBER ANDREW STEWART

G S

MULTIMEDIA EXECUTIVE, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, GRAY DIGITAL MEDIA SUNBELT & WBKO CONSTRUCTION

tructures rowing up areinbuilt Bowling with concrete Green, Erin and

His investment in the region carries directly service. A past president of Bowling Green

steel, Barberbutalways community had an projects eye are for

into his volunteer with Habitat for of Humanity Business Womenefforts and active member Ladies

built creativity on trust. and aFor knack Andrew for connecting Stewart, and prior Whohis Lead, shevolunteer takes on service the role through of BoardCrossland President

business with people. development After studying manager design at at Western Sunbelt Community Church, he continues to attend. for Hope Harbor thiswhere fall after years of dedicated Construction, Kentucky University, bringing she meaningful began developments working with Andrew believes a thriving city depends on people board service. to clients life in aBowling showroom Green setting, has far quickly less discovering to do with willing to lend their has time deepened and hands,my andsense he takes “Hope Harbor of blueprints that her real andpassion everything lay in to building do with people. relationships

genuine helping youngerme leaders build the purpose,”joy Erininsays. “It reminds how important

and Having solving grown problems. up in Bowling Green, Andrew confidence networks to do the same. it is to useand your time and talents to serve grounds Today,hisaswork a Multimedia in a simpleExecutive philosophy with passed Gray others.” “Success is rarely about one massive down DigitalbyMedia mentors andand WBKO, faithErin leaders combines in his life: that true eye opportunity,” says. “It is built through Back home,Andrew life is just as collaborative. leadership for design with is about strategic serving advertising others to andhelp earning local small, actions and the people Erin andconsistent her husband, Clint Barber, owner of you trust businesses through tell their steady, stories daily andconsistency. grow. That

choose to surround with.”weekends Clint Barber Customs,yourself spend their

mindset “I lovedshapes helpingevery peopleconnection make decisions he that makes, felt

At home, life istending anchored by his wife,and Kristi, restoring spaces, their garden

whether right for them,” helpingErin local says. decision “Marketing makers allowed launch me and theiruptwo young Whether keeping with their children. three dogs, Paxton,exploring Edward ato new blendbuild creativity or helping with strategy emerging whileprofessionals helping local the or simply enjoyingshe the is quiet rhythm and outdoors Amora. For Erin, whether crafting a find businesses their footing succeed.” through Bowling Green Young

of dailycampaign family life,or Andrew keeps faith,success family and media hosting friends, is

Professionals. That same desire to build up the people around community the veryup heart his world. simply aboutatshowing withofintention. her drives Erin’s deep commitment to community

ANDREW ERINSTEWART BARBER

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MULTIMEDIA MANAGER, EXECUTIVE, SUNBELT CONSTRUCTION GRAY DIGITAL MEDIA & WBKO

G S

rowing up Bowling Green, Erin tructures areinbuilt with concrete and

service. A past president of Bowling Green His investment in the region carries directly

Barberbutalways had an eye are for steel, community projects

Business Womenefforts and active member Ladies into his volunteer with Habitat for of Humanity

creativity and aFor knack for connecting Whohis Lead, shevolunteer takes on service the role through of BoardCrossland President built on trust. Andrew Stewart, and prior

with people. After studying design at at Western for Hope Harbor thiswhere fall after years of dedicated business development manager Sunbelt Community Church, he continues to attend. Kentucky University, began developments working with Andrew board service. Construction, bringing she meaningful believes a thriving city depends on people clients showroom setting, quickly “Hope Harbor of to life in aBowling Green has far less discovering to do with willing to lend their has time deepened and hands,my andsense he takes that her real lay in relationships blueprints andpassion everything to building do with people.

purpose,”joy Erininsays. “It reminds how important genuine helping youngerme leaders build the

and Having solving grown problems. it is to use your and talents to serve up in Bowling Green, Andrew confidence and time networks to do the same.others.” Today,hisaswork a Multimedia with Gray grounds in a simpleExecutive philosophy passed

Back home,isliferarely is just about as collaborative. Erin “Success one massive

DigitalbyMedia andand WBKO, combines that true eye opportunity,” and her husband, Clint Barber, Clint down mentors faithErin leaders in his life: Andrew says. “It isowner built of through for design with strategic advertising local small, Barber consistent Customs, spend theirand weekends restoring leadership is about serving others to andhelp earning actions the people you businesses tell their stories andconsistency. grow. trust through steady, daily That

spaces, to tending theiryourself garden with.” and keeping up with choose surround

“I lovedshapes helpingevery peopleconnection make decisions felt mindset he that makes,

theirAtthree dogs, Edward Amora. For home, life Paxton, is anchored by and his wife, Kristi,

right for them,” says. “Marketing allowed me and Erin, their whether is crafting a media campaign or whether helpingErin local decision makers launch twoshe young children. Whether exploring blendbuild creativity with strategy whileprofessionals helping local the hosting friends, is simplytheabout ato new or helping emerging outdoors or success simply enjoying quietshowing rhythm businesses succeed.” find their footing through Bowling Green Young

up daily with intention. of family life, Andrew keeps faith, family and

That same desire to build up the people around community at the very heart of his world. Professionals. her drives Erin’s deep commitment to community

SEPTEMBER 2026 • 63

JENNA SETTLE

BARRETT METZGER

SR. BRAND DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, LIFEGUARD PRESS

A G

s Senior Development at rowingBrand up immersed in Manager the wealth Lifeguard Press, Jenna leads brand strategy, management world, Barrett product development, and growth, combining Metzger understood early on that creative direction with business strategy to bring brands from concept to market. She also applies that expertise to true financial leadership is built on trust, integrity social impact, supporting food equity initiatives through and deep personal connection. Watching his Community Farmers Market and Need More Acres Farm. father navigate decades of gardening, industry Off the clock, Jennaover stays four grounded by hiking, and exploring natureBarrett with her an husband and seat two dogs. shifts provided insider to what

genuine stewardship looks like. Today, as

LASHLEE ANTHONY

Senior Vice President with Baird Private Wealth Management and a key leader within The Foutch Metzger Group, the Louisville native and Colgate

FINANCIAL CENTER MANAGER, FIFTH THIRD BANK

University graduate has dedicated his career or Lashlee Anthony, banking is really

to helping business owners, and about families, people. She is passionate

about organizations helping others build community buildconfidence and preserve through financial literacy and enjoys sharing

generational that knowledgewealth. with local students through her

involvement with the JAG Program.taught Guided by her That early foundation Barrett that belief in prioritizing persistence over perfection, serving requires keeping client interests at Lashlee ispeople dedicated to developing both her team and her community. Outside of work, she enjoys the forefront of every decision. It is a philosophy spending quality time with her husband, Derek, and their four children, making the most of every opportunity to create lasting memories together.

ANDREW HAYES

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, THE FOUTCH METZGER GROUP BAIRD PRIVATE WEALTH MANAGEMENT

OWNER &Advisory AGENCY PRINCIPAL, he brings to Baird’s Next Generation

HAYES WITH SHELTER INSURANCE Council, where he collaborates withAGENCY advisors

nationwide to elevate industry standards.rom Barrett serving in the Army National to selling cars at Gary Force approaches long term growth with Guard a clear Honda, Auburn native Andrew

perspective, living by the principle that Hayes built“success his career around hard work and

has a snowball effect, wherehuman good connection. outcomes Today, as owner and

agency principal of the Hayes Agency with

start small and compound in a fast way.” Shelter Insurance, he uses that background

protect local families while building a Driven to see his regionto thrive, Barrett

lasting legacy for his wife, Haylee, and their two young daughters. leadership through board roles with the Barren A pivotal lesson from his military service to guide his leadership: “People County Family YMCA and thecontinues TJ Community don’t need to be pushed down to get in line,” Mission Foundation, where supporting the Shanti Andrew reflects. “They need to be lifted up and given sense of purpose.” Niketan Hospice Home holds deep apersonal Andrew brings that empowering spirit meaning. Outside the office, Barrett his wife directlyand to South Central Kentucky. Whether serving as vice president of his BNI chapter, Rachel, an emergency medicine physician, stay sponsoring local youth sports or purchasing grounded through family life with their two young Christmas gifts for foster children, he remains children, Quinn and Reid, building a life dedicated rooted in to strengthening the region his family calls home.

channels that same commitment into civic

service and community impact.

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, THE FOUTCH METZGER GROUP BAIRD PRIVATE WEALTH MANAGEMENT

BARRETT METZGER

rowing up immersed in the wealth

he brings to Baird’s Next Generation Advisory

management

Barrett

Council, where he collaborates with advisors

Metzger understood early on that

nationwide to elevate industry standards. Barrett

true financial leadership is built on trust, integrity

approaches long term growth with a clear

world,

and deep personal connection. Watching his perspective, living by the principle that “success

64 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

father navigate over four decades of industry

has a snowball effect, where good outcomes

shifts provided Barrett an insider seat to what

start small and compound in a fast way.”

genuine stewardship looks like. Today, as

Driven to see his region thrive, Barrett

Senior Vice President with Baird Private Wealth

channels that same commitment into civic

Management and a key leader within The Foutch

leadership through board roles with the Barren

Metzger Group, the Louisville native and Colgate

County Family YMCA and the TJ Community

University graduate has dedicated his career

Mission Foundation, where supporting the Shanti

to helping families, business owners, and

Niketan Hospice Home holds deep personal

community organizations build and preserve

meaning. Outside the office, Barrett and his wife

generational wealth.

Rachel, an emergency medicine physician, stay

That early foundation taught Barrett that

grounded through family life with their two young

serving people requires keeping client interests at

children, Quinn and Reid, building a life rooted in

the forefront of every decision. It is a philosophy

service and community impact.

BRITTANY BENNETT ZAC ROSS

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS, TRISTAR GREENVIEW FINANCIAL ADVISOR AND OWNER, REGIONAL HOSPITAL ROSSBennett, WEALTH ADVISORY sk anyone who knows Brittany families and community well-being.

A Z

and they built will tell gift is he opened “At myacore, I am passionate relationships,” ac Ross hisyou life her andgreatest career right practice. Today, Zacabout honors that making people feel instantly welcome Brittany says. “Whether I am planning an event, where his heart has always been, standard by pouring time into the community that

and valued. That natural Raised warmth, with paired with a raised supporting a colleague or on creating moments in Glasgow. a deep him. Through his work the board for that

quick sense offor humor, work as closedirector thebring together, is about appreciation Southdrives CentralherKentucky’s Boyspeople and Girls Club ofleadership Glasgow and Barrenhelping of knit communications at TriStar Greenview Regional others become best selves.” with Barren spirit, Zac founded Ross Wealth Advisory to County and his roletheir as an ambassador Hospital. Driven by aa lifelong love forinstorytelling, same devotion defines her give local families trusted partner planning Inc., heThat actively champions the to nextpeople generation of Brittany uses her creative energy to champion personal life. Brittany treasures time with her partner their futures. With a finance degree from WKU local families. healthcare workers, uplift planning caregivers and connect 13 outside years, her her sister, her two nephews, and advanced financial credentials fromthe ofLife theparents, office remains entirely familyregion to vital health resources. BennettZac andand Garrett, andEmily, her close friends. Whether the University of Texas at Austin, he combines centered. his wife, are raising two Her passion for communications blossomed cheering her and nephews their latest activities or analytical problem solving with a warm, personal at young sons, on James Griffin,atamidst the familiar Lindsey Wilson College, where a mentor challenged hosting gatherings, Brittany keeps relationships approach. “Financial success is not just about comforts of their hometown. Between mornings at the heraccumulating to step boldlywealth,” into herZac talent. Today,“Ittheis Glasgow center of everything she does. rounds of golf explains. about spent hunting or fishing, weekend native channels that same spirit of encouragement creating the freedom and flexibility to pursue the and family trips, Zac measures success not by into her leadership. She actively sharpens her skills portfolios, but by the strength of the relationships things that truly matter.” through Bowling Greenperspective Young Professionals and the he builds and the home he is helping create for That grounded stems directly Bowling Green Area Chamber Commerce, from his grandfather, GeneofRoss, whosefocusing quiet his boys. herlessons outreach on initiativeshonor that and strengthen on selflessness, standing local by your word shaped Zac’s character long before

ROSS BRITTANY ZAC BENNETT

FINANCIAL ADVISOR AND OWNER, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS, TRISTAR ROSS WEALTH ADVISORY GREENVIEW REGIONAL HOSPITAL

Z A

ac Ross built his life and career right he opened a practice. Today, Zac honors that sk anyone who knows Brittany Bennett, families and community well-being. where his heart has always been, standard by pouring time into the community that and they will tell you her greatest gift is “At my core, I am passionate about relationships,” in Glasgow. Raised with a deep raised him. Through his work on the board for making people feel instantly welcome Brittany says. “Whether I am planning an event, appreciation for South Central Kentucky’s close- the Boys and Girls Club of Glasgow and Barren and valued. That natural warmth, paired with a supporting a colleague or creating moments that knit spirit, Zac founded Ross Wealth Advisory to County and his role as an ambassador with Barren quick sense of humor, drives her work as director bring people together, leadership is about helping give local families a trusted partner in planning Inc., he actively champions the next generation of of communications at TriStar Greenview Regional others become their best selves.” their futures. With a finance degree from WKU local families. Hospital. Driven by a lifelong love for storytelling, That same devotion to people defines her and advanced financial planning credentials from Life outside the office remains entirely familyBrittanytheuses her creative energy to champion personal life.Zac Brittany treasures timeare with her partner University of Texas at Austin, he combines centered. and his wife, Emily, raising two

healthcare workers, uplift solving caregivers connect the ofyoung 13 years, parents, sister, her the twofamiliar nephews, analytical problem withand a warm, personal sons,her James and her Griffin, amidst region approach. to vital health resources. Bennett and Garrett, and her close friends. Whether “Financial success is not just about comforts of their hometown. Between mornings Heraccumulating passion for wealth,” communications blossomed at cheering on her or nephews their latest activities Zac explains. “It is about spent hunting fishing, at weekend rounds of golf or Lindseycreating Wilson the College, where mentor to challenged gatherings, keeps relationships freedom and aflexibility pursue the hosting and family trips, Brittany Zac measures success not at bythe her to step boldly into her talent. Today, the Glasgow things that truly matter.”

center of everything shestrength does. of the relationships portfolios, but by the native channels that same spirit of encouragement That grounded perspective stems directly he builds and the home he is helping create for into herfrom leadership. She actively her skills his grandfather, Genesharpens Ross, whose quiet his boys. throughlessons BowlingonGreen Young Professionals and theby selflessness, honor and standing Bowlingyour Green Area Chamber of Commerce, focusing word shaped Zac’s character long before her outreach on initiatives that strengthen local

SEPTEMBER 2026 • 65

COURTNEY INGRAM OLIVIA HOWARD

H W

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT, BGMU

NATHAN WILLIAMS

DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION & TALENT, BOWLING GREEN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PARTNER & PROJECT MANAGER, WILLIAMS ASSOCIATES ARCHITECTS

hen Olivia Howard came to Bowling taught her the art of bridging generational perspectives,

opkinsville native Courtney GreentoinBowling 2014 Green to attend Western Ingram came as a WKUKentucky HilltopperUniversity, and quicklyshe was taking made the community her permanent home. her firstshe steps toward a career Courtney she had been curious Though studied criminology, discovered a passion for business leadership about since childhood. Growing up in Evansville, at Bowling Green Municipal Utilities, where Indiana, sheas often wondered what her she thrives executive assistant aftermother’s work taking leap chamber of faith to grow within the That lifelong at the alocal actually entailed. organization. curiosity came full her circle when drive Olivia landed an Courtney balances professional with vibrant atlocal involvement, internship thecommunity Bowling Green Area Chamber of serving as a Bowling Green Area Chamber Commerce. the past nine years, the corporate and of CommerceOver Ambassador, active member of Bowling Greencommunication Young Professionals and transformed organizational graduate sister of Gamma Sigma Sigma National that college position into a thriving career, advancing Service Sorority. Outside ofofEducation work, Courtney to Director & Talent. enjoys traveling, hosting and nurturing her Today, collection Olivia manages impressive of 60 high houseimpact plants initiatives like alongside her beloved Yorkie, SCK LAUNCH, Bowling 12-year-old Green Young Professionals and Cinnamon. Guided by her grandmother’s Leadership retain and attract wisdom andBowling deep Green faith, to shegrow, remains passionate about encouraging small much of her top talent across the region. local She credits businesses and creating creative outlets for leadership local youth. style to her mentor Sandra Baker, who

slowing down to coach others intentionally and building

orking alongside family comes with a unique kind of Olivia’s passion for youth development extends trust, and Nathan Williams deep into the community throughwouldn’t her active involvement trade it for anything. As partner project manager at Williams Associates with Refuge Bowling Green, and Warren County Public Architects, he builds on the legacy started Schools and the Bowling Green Independent School by his father, pairing sharp design expertise with regional a deep commitment District. When she is not driving growth orto South Central Kentucky. A University of Kentucky cheering for her beloved Indianapolis Colts, Olivia College of Design graduate, Nathan stays on the go enjoying downtown community events,projects from guides local commercial initialdiving concept drawings spending time outdoors, traveling, into a goodthrough final construction, ensuring every space book and connecting with loved ones. Looking ahead, genuinely serves the community. she remains energized by theOutside opportunity to Nathan keep focuses the office, on fatherhood and passing down evolving alongside the vibrant community she calls those same strong values to his home. two boys, Wyatt and Colt. Life with his wife, Morgan, stays delightfully active, filled with golf rounds, creek explorations, family walks and quiet weekends at home.

trust in fast paced environments.

DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION & TALENT, BOWLING GREEN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

OLIVIA HOWARD

hen Olivia Howard came to Bowling taught her the art of bridging generational perspectives,

Green in 2014 to attend Western slowing down to coach others intentionally and building Kentucky University, she was taking

her first steps toward a career she had been curious

trust in fast paced environments. Olivia’s passion for youth development extends

about since childhood. Growing up in Evansville, deep into the community through her active involvement Indiana, she often wondered what her mother’s work with Refuge Bowling Green, Warren County Public at the local chamber actually entailed. That lifelong

Schools and the Bowling Green Independent School

curiosity came full circle when Olivia landed an

District. When she is not driving regional growth or

internship at the Bowling Green Area Chamber of

cheering for her beloved Indianapolis Colts, Olivia

Commerce. Over the past nine years, the corporate and stays on the go enjoying downtown community events, organizational communication graduate transformed

spending time outdoors, traveling, diving into a good

that college position into a thriving career, advancing book and connecting with loved ones. Looking ahead, to Director of Education & Talent.

she remains energized by the opportunity to keep

Today, Olivia manages high impact initiatives like evolving alongside the vibrant community she calls SCK LAUNCH, Bowling Green Young Professionals and Leadership Bowling Green to grow, retain and attract top talent across the region. She credits much of her leadership style to her mentor Sandra Baker, who

66 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

home.

PATRICK TIDWELL MAGGIE TYLER JAGGERS

MARKETING STRATEGIST, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, MED CENTER HEALTH LEACHMAN BUICK GMC CADILLAC

T W

yler Jaggers hether she has isspent crafting nearly campaigns two agopursue reshaped his worldview, instilling a profound their ambitions. decades on building the ground a career or taking rootedto inthesense Beyond of perspective and strategy accountability. That is a her corporate work, Maggie hard work, skies, Bowling continuous Greenlearning native Maggie and experience taught pilot him to “glass licensed private whodistinguish owns and life’s operates a local

strong Tidwelllocal brings connections. creativity Aand Greenwood purpose High to everything School balls” its alongside plastic ones, prioritizingThey his love family, flightfrom school her husband. sharing graduate she does.who As attended a Marketing Western Strategist Kentucky for University, Med Centerfaith core of relationships above all with else.EAA Today, theand freedom aviation by partnering Chapter Tyler Health, started Maggie in thecombines wash bay 20strategic years ago thinking and worked withhe 1165 channels that grounded mindset into mentoring to provide free flights for children and donating his social waymedia up toexpertise Director of to Operations promote key at service Leachman lines,hisdiscovery team, leading examplecharities. and coaching youth flightsby to regional Buick strengthen GMC audience Cadillac. engagement There, he works and alongside elevate regional his basketball, where he enjoys investing the next “The sky is not the limit,” Maggiein says, recalling father, healthcare a 50initiatives. year industry Sheveteran earnedwho her bachelor’s taught himdegree the generation. the advice she would give her younger self. “There is value from Western of integrity Kentucky and trust University in business. before A graduate completing

Outside the you office, findsif his joyto in push always more canTyler achieve yougreatest are willing

of a master’s the National degree Automobile in management Dealers and Association leadershipfamily Jill, and their two sons, Kip pastlife fearwith andhis selfwife, doubt.” (NADA) through Dealer Western Academy Governors andUniversity. an active member of an and Miller. Whether golfing, spending time outdoors Maggie also stays actively involved in community Automotive Maggie 20 credits Group,her Tyler leadership continuously philosophy seeks ways to heror safety stayingand involved in local initiatives, philanthropy through herTyler workremains with South to mother, innovate whoinled a fast by example paced industry in theirwhile family-owned staying dedicated making Crime a lasting, positiveand impact on the Central to Kentucky Stoppers the Med Center true business to thewith dealership’s integrity, community hard work and roots. a genuine spiritBowling community he calls HealthGreen Foundation, ensuring herhome. hometown remains a for Tyler’s helpingjourney neighbors as a in leader need.is deeply Maggieshaped brings by that

supportive place to thrive.

personal same grounded resilience. approach A leukemia to every diagnosis project, focusing ten yearson empowering her colleagues and encouraging others to

JAGGERS PATRICKMAGGIE TYLER TIDWELL

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, MARKETING STRATEGIST, LEACHMAN BUICK GMC CADILLAC MED CENTER HEALTH

T W

yler Jaggers spent campaigns nearly twopursue ago their reshaped his worldview, instilling a profound hether she ishas crafting ambitions.

decades a career and accountability. on the building ground or taking rooted to the in sense Beyondofherperspective corporate strategy work, Maggie That is a hard continuous learning experience taught distinguish life’s a“glass skies,work, Bowling Green native Maggieandlicensed private pilot him who to owns and operates local

strong localcreativity connections. Greenwood High Schoolflight balls” fromalongside its plastic prioritizing his sharing family, Tidwell brings and Apurpose to everything school herones, husband. They love graduate attended Strategist Western Kentucky and of core relationships abovewith all EAA else.Chapter Today, she does. As who a Marketing for MedUniversity, Center thefaith freedom aviation by partnering TylerMaggie started in the wash bay 20 yearsthinking ago and worked he channels Health, combines strategic with 1165 to providethat freegrounded flights formindset childreninto andmentoring donating way up to Director of Operations at Leachman his team, leading by example and coaching youth socialhismedia expertise to promote key service lines, discovery flights to regional charities. Buick GMC Cadillac. There, he alongside he limit,” enjoysMaggie investing in the next strengthen audience engagement andworks elevate regionalhis basketball, “The sky iswhere not the says, recalling father,initiatives. a 50 year industry veteran who taught him thethegeneration. healthcare She earned her bachelor’s degree advice she would give her younger self. “There is of integrity trust in business. A graduatealwaysOutside thecan office, Tyleriffinds his willing greatest in from value Western Kentuckyand University before completing more you achieve you are to joy push of the degree Nationalin Automobile Associationpast family his wife, Jill, and their two sons, Kip a master’s managementDealers and leadership fear life andwith self doubt.” (NADA) Dealer Academy and an active member of an and Miller.also Whether outdoors through Western Governors University. Maggie stays golfing, activelyspending involved time in community Automotive 20 Group, Tyler continuously seeks wayssafety or staying involved in local initiatives, Tyler remains Maggie credits her leadership philosophy to her and philanthropy through her work with South to innovate fast paced while stayingCentral dedicated to making lasting, positive on the mother, who led inbya example in industry their family-owned Kentucky Crimea Stoppers and theimpact Med Center true to theintegrity, dealership’s business with hardcommunity work and aroots. genuine spirit

Bowling Green community home. remains a Health Foundation, ensuring he hercalls hometown

Tyler’s journey in as need. a leader is deeply shaped for helping neighbors Maggie brings that bysupportive place to thrive. diagnosis ten years samepersonal groundedresilience. approachAtoleukemia every project, focusing on empowering her colleagues and encouraging others to

SEPTEMBER 2026 • 67

JULIA RIVAS

KRISTEN ROBINETTE B OWNER, BACK DOWN SOUTH

INSTRUCTOR, WKU | MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR AT CHESTNUT PARK PROFESSIONALS | FOUNDER OF BRIGHT VIDA COUNSELING & WELLNESS

uilding a business around

style and human connection was never just about retail for

orn in El Salvador and moving to the United

Kristen Robinette. As owner of Back Down

States at age 13, Julia Rivas is a proud

South, the Cave City native and Western

first generation college graduate,

Kentucky University graduate turned a

Latina, educator, mental health professional

passion for people into a boutique dedicated

and author. As an Instructor at WKU, founder

to helping women feel confident.

of Bright Vida Counseling & Wellness and

Her approach to leadership is grounded

counselor at Chestnut Park Professionals, she

in personal resilience and her mother’s

blends mental health counseling, mindfulness

strength after losing her father at a young

and mind body practices. Julia serves the

age. Now raising a family with her husband

community through For A Real Change Inc.,

Ben, Kristen leads her team with empathy

H.O.P.E. and leads Spanish language yoga and

and patience, living by the advice she gives

Latin dance classes at the SOKY Center. Through her

others: “You do not have to choose between

book, I Am / Yo Soy, she celebrates bilingualism, cultural

a fulfilling family life and a successful career,

identity and family. “My goal is to create spaces where

you can build both.” That mindset fuels her

people feel safe, seen, and capable of building the life

work with BG50, the Women’s Fund of

they envision,” Julia says. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, cooking and making memories with her husband Carlos and their three children.

South Central Kentucky and Crossland

on being namedCommunity in this year’s Church as she continues VIP Bowling Greengrowing 40 Under 40!alongside the her business community she holds dear.

LOCALSPOTS

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE LOCAL BUSINESSES IN BOWLING GREEN? "We love the restaurant, Los Vasquez! They have the second-best pupusas

"Do I have to choose just one? Bike "BT Leigh's Sauces & Rubs, The

Rack Bistro for the burgers, Scooter’s

"Chaney's Dairy Barn, Jackson's

(the most popular dish from our home

Paddock Golf Complex, 440 Main,

Coffee for supporting every local

Orchard, 3H Farms, Westbrook

country, El Salvador)—of course, my

Meltdown, Hickory & Oak and Candle

5K, Q Coffee Emporium for the best

Farms, and several others. These are

mom’s are still number one."

Makers on the Square."

croissants in town, and Pelican’s

businesses that were started with

– JULIA RIVAS

– JESSICA MANN

SnoBalls because it reminds

a dream, understand legacy, and

me of Louisiana."

provide our community with service,

– HARLAN HOLMES

entertainment, and a place to go for

"JD's Kitchen & Bakery! They are

"Back Down South for gifts, and finding

right down the road from our office

any excuse I can to eat a meal at Toro.

on Scottsville Road, and their lunch

– KATE PAYTON

offerings never disappoint." – COLTON GIVENS

“Every one of our 1,300 Chamber partners!” – OLIVIA HOWARD

68 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

many years to come—true role models "Cabell’s Iron Nutrition, Nat’s, Burger &

within our community."

Bowl, RedPoint and D1 Sports."

– ZACHARY FRENCH

– ALEX MCCUBBIN

SHELBYMCCUBBIN MCINTYRE ALEX

M T

CEO, HOSPICE SOCIAL WORKER, TJ REGIONAL THE WIN CREW HEALTH

in their most children’s ministry at Highland Hills Church. “Life is 10%eeting whatpeople happens to you and 90% how you react.”

vulnerable moments requires a Her spirit of service is a family affair. Every his israre more thanof just advice Alex growth, and a willingness blend strength, listening Thanksgiving, Shelby and to herserve familyothers. partnerWhether with her McCubbin received from his father as mentoring real estate agents, volunteering at and profound empathy, qualities Glasgow native sister’s catering business to prepare and serve warm

a kid—it is the mindset that has shaped Crossland Community Church, coaching Little Shelby McIntyre brings to work every single day. As meals to local neighbors in need. how he leads. He understands that life and business League Baseball, or supporting the Hybrid Learning a hospice social worker, bereavement coordinator “I believe some of life’s most meaningful rarely unfold exactly as planned, but believes Center, Alex strives to create opportunities for and volunteer coordinator at TJ Regional Health, moments happen when we show up for people people can always choose to respond with purpose, people to feel valued, recognize their potential, and Shelby guides patients and families through end- during difficult seasons,” Shelby says. resilience, and integrity. As CEO of The Win Crew, achieve more than they thought possible. of-life transitions with steady care and dignity. Her At home, Shelby and her husband, Nic, focus on Alex brings that philosophy to real estate by helping At home, Alex’s greatest role is being a husband career evolved fromnavigate foster care case raising theirHetwo andtwin Garrison. clients confidently major lifemanagement decisions, and father. andchildren, his wife Gracelyn are raising boys and children’sagents therapy into medical work, alongside Whether they exploring the outdoors or simply empowering to grow through social challenges, theirare recent newborn, filling their time where she discovered her true calling. relaxing at home, family remains the heart and working to leave every person and situation with trips to Disney, movie nights, baseball cardof Shelby earned her bachelor’s degree from collecting, everythingand shecountless does. better than he found it. hours playing in the pool. RaisedKentucky in Franklin, Kentucky, earned Grounded in deep personal faith and committed Western University and Alex her master’s both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from degreehisfrom Campbellsville University. Outside her to continuous growth, Alex measures success not Western Kentucky and families has remained professional duties,University she connects to vital only by the organization he builds or the people he connected to the community that helped local resources through the Community Reliefshape Fund, helps, but by his ability to remain fully present for him. He believes leadership is and not defined a the family and community that give his work its supports local animal welfare serves inby the title, but demonstrated through humility, consistent

purpose.

SHELBY MCINTYRE ALEX MCCUBBIN

HOSPICE SOCIAL WORKER, CEO, TJ REGIONALTHE HEALTH WIN CREW

M T

people in their most children’s ministry at Highland Hills Church. “Lifeeeting is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react.”

vulnerable moments requires a his is just advice Alex raremore blendthan of strength, listening McCubbin received from his father and profound empathy, qualities Glasgow native as a kid—it is the mindset that has Shelby McIntyre brings to work every single day. As shaped how he leads. He understands that life a hospice social worker, bereavement coordinator and business rarely unfold exactly as planned, but and volunteer coordinator at TJ Regional Health, believes people can always choose to respond Shelby guides patients and families through endwith purpose, resilience, and integrity. As CEO of of-life transitions withbrings steadythat carephilosophy and dignity. The Win Crew, Alex to Her real

Her spirit of service is a family affair. Every growth, and a Shelby willingness to family serve others. Thanksgiving, and her partnerWhether with her mentoring real estate agents, volunteering at sister’s catering business to prepare and serve warm Crossland Community Church, coaching Little meals to local neighbors in need. League Baseball, or supporting the Hybrid Learning “I believe some of life’s most meaningful Center, Alex strives to create opportunities for moments happen when we show up for people people to feel valued, recognize their potential, and during difficult seasons,” Shelby says. achieve more than they thought possible. At and her role husband, Nic,a focus on At home, home, Shelby Alex’s greatest is being husband

situation thanher he found it. Shelby better earned bachelor’s degree from

collecting, she anddoes. countless hours playing in the pool. everything

Raised in Franklin, Kentucky, Alexmaster’s earned Western Kentucky University and her both his and master’s degree frombachelor’s Campbellsville University.degrees Outsidefrom her

Grounded in deep personal faith and committed

career from fosterconfidently care casenavigate management their He twoand children, and twin Garrison. estateevolved by helping clients major raising and father. his wifeGracelyn are raising boys and children’s therapy into medical social work, Whether they are exploring the outdoors or simply life decisions, empowering agents to grow through alongside their recent newborn, filling their time where she discovered her true calling. the heartcard of challenges, and working to leave every person and relaxing with tripsattohome, Disney,family movieremains nights, baseball

to continuous growth, Alex measures success not

Western Kentucky University andfamilies has remained professional duties, she connects to vital only by the organization he builds or the people he connected to through the community that helped local resources the Community Relief shape Fund, helps, but by his ability to remain fully present for him. He believes leadership is not defined by a the family and community that give his work its supports local animal welfare and serves in the title, but demonstrated through humility, consistent purpose.

SEPTEMBER 2026 • 69

ADDILENE HERNANDEZ

CHLOE STEWART A CURRICULUM COORDINATOR, UK COLLEGE OF MEDICINE

first generation college graduate born in Michoacan, Mexico, Addilene Hernandez channels her passion higherChloe education or Smiths Grove for native Stewart, into advocating for underserved communities. As returning attothe herUKroots in ofWarren County curriculum coordinator College Medicine, she supportsmeans medicalbringing students through pivotal clinical to a lifelong dedication training years. Beyond her professional role, Addilene education circle. Coming from a family of educators, champions full youth mentorship through initiatives like For a Real Change an andearly serves on The Foundry board and Chloe developed appreciation for history of directors. At home in Bowling Green, she and her the power of inspired learning. After spending 12 years husband Yerald are raising three daughters.

as a high school social studies teacher, she now serves as Curriculum Coordinator at the IMPACT Center for

NICOLE SWABY

Leadership and Innovation in Warren County Public Schools.

Chloe holds two master’s degrees and an

FINANCIAL STRATEGIST, MILIARE embodying GROUP educational specialistTHEdegree,

the

riven to by continuous her faith, family, and athat passion for servingin commitment growth she inspires others, Nicole Swaby is dedicated to transforming

her students. Beyond financial curriculum design,As shea is deeply lives through education. Financial Strategist with Theempowering Miliare Group, shewomen, is dedicated passionate about young aimingtoto empowering families to protect what matters most, build

expand opportunities for legacy girls inforengineering, aviation, wealth, and create a lasting generations to come. A proud Latina and Western Kentucky University alumna, Nicole actively supports local initiatives through Bowling Green Young Professionals and youth soccer organizations. When she is not helping families achieve financial growth, Nicole enjoys life as a dedicated soccer mom alongside her husband, Dwayne, and their three wonderful children.

and other STEM fields.

JAKE LARKIN

CURRICULUM COORDINATOR, IMPACT CENTER FOR LEADERSHIP & INNOVATION

PRESIDENT, BOWLING GREEN WINSUPPLY

Her heart for service extends into meaningful

rowing up cleaning warehouses and loading delivery trucks for the UK DanceBlue Clinic and Mending for hisPoint father’s wholesale company, Larkin initially went to college Behavioral Health services for teens,Jake is registered to carve out his own path. He quickly realized with the National Marrow Donor Program, and has the industry was in his blood, transforming spearheaded other efforts tothose support early student hard lessons into dynamic leadership. Today, the Elizabethtown native health needs. and Western Kentucky University graduate After living in Lexington for aserves decade, as President of Bowling Green Winsupply, bringing a big personality, Chloe and her husband, Alex, moved deep faith and infectious energy to his back to Bowling Green to raise their work every single day. son, Sammy. They enjoy spendingDriven by a desire to uplift others, time with family and friends, Jake beingmeasures his success by the people he helps succeed, living in nature, and traveling together. by the belief that “hard times are Chloe models her leadership onnothing a favorite more than moments on the long lineisof life, so look for Stephen Covey concept: “Leadership the lessons in strife.” Whether communicating people’s worth coaching and potential youth baseball, mentoring so clearly that they are inspired it in at Eastwood Baptist stafftoorsee serving Church, Jake focuses on building up the themselves.” family and community surrounding his wife Lori and their three sons.

community initiatives. Chloe has organized fundraisers

CURRICULUM COORDINATOR, IMPACT CENTER FOR LEADERSHIP & INNOVATION

CHLOE STEWART

or Smiths Grove native Chloe Stewart,

Her heart for service extends into meaningful

returning to her roots in Warren County

community initiatives. Chloe has organized fundraisers

means bringing a lifelong dedication to

for the UK DanceBlue Clinic and Mending Point

education full circle. Coming from a family of educators,

Behavioral Health services for teens, is registered

Chloe developed an early appreciation for history and

with the National Marrow Donor Program, and has

the power of inspired learning. After spending 12 years

spearheaded other efforts to support student health

as a high school social studies teacher, she now serves as Curriculum Coordinator at the IMPACT

After living in Lexington for a decade, Chloe and her

Center for Leadership and Innovation in Warren

husband, Alex, moved back to Bowling Green to raise

County Public Schools.

their son, Sammy. They enjoy spending time with family

Chloe holds two master’s degrees and

and friends, being in nature, and traveling together.

an educational specialist degree, embodying

Chloe models her leadership on a favorite Stephen

the commitment to continuous growth that

Covey concept: “Leadership is communicating people’s

she inspires in her students. Beyond curriculum

worth and potential so clearly that they are inspired to

design,

see it in themselves.”

she

deeply

passionate

about

empowering young women, aiming to expand opportunities for girls in engineering, aviation, and other STEM fields. 70 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

needs.

SEPTEMBER 2026 • 71

SORELLA - CURATED FOR YOU

CELEBR ATES ONE Y EA R STORY BY AMELIA BOWEN

PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHENOA ESTRADA On August 1, Sorella - Curated for You welcomed the Bowling Green community, along with friends and family, to celebrate the boutique’s one-year anniversary. Founded by two sisters, Sorella was created around the values of family, connection and helping women feel confident and celebrated. The anniversary marked a year of milestones for the boutique and gave the Sorella team an opportunity to celebrate alongside people who have supported them from the beginning. The celebration also included the launch of Sorella’s new rewards program, Club Bella, giving loyal shoppers another reason to join in the festivities. As Sorella begins its second year, the milestone celebrated not only how far the boutique has come, but the relationships and community that have become an important part of its story.

Neill Caudill and Rebecca Heflin

Lindsay Beliles and Jeanette Dabit

Rebecca Heflin and Robann Cunningham Peggy Atalla, Rebecca Heflin, Saundra Andersen and Robann Cunningham

Rebecca Heflin, Chenoa Estrada and Robann Cunningham

Bob Pitts, Robann Cunningham, Rebecca Heflin, Nanci Pitts and Rory Heflin 72 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

SEPTEMBER 2026 • 73

CONGRATULATIONS,

CASSIE TRUE! Honored as one of VIP's 40 Under 40

5872 SCOTTSVILLE RD. BOWLING GREEN, KY • 270.746.9300 • HOSPICE@HOSPICESOKY.ORG

74 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

CONGRATULATIONS

BRITTANY

On being named VIP Bowling Green’s 40 Under 40!

SEPTEMBER 2026 • 75

HISTORIC SHAKE RAG DISTRICT

Shalana Page and Casey Hammons

Keeleigh Houchens and Jessica Curry

Allison Murray, Cortez Murray and Shawn Hampton

Tara Porter and Clara Pegues

SHAKE RAG

Rob Dye, LaTyson Woods and Joseph Haskins

FESTIVAL

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHAD SMITH

Stacy Gurley

The 7th annual Shake Rag Festival brought East Third Street to life on Saturday, August 8, as neighbors, families and friends came together for an evening celebrating one of Bowling Green’s historic communities. The free festival had everything from live music and food trucks to local vendors, crafts and activities for kids. With the rain holding off, community members across generations gathered to enjoy the festivities and celebrate the history and spirit of the downtown Shake Rag District.

Veronica Mendez, Juan Paul, Cece Paul, April Taylor and Olivia Hager

Zoey Troy, Markette Troy and Marion Beasley

Hovie Gurley and Montez Horn 76 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

LJ Halcomb, Lily Ortiz, LaTrell Halcomb and Londyn Halcomb

Symazi Gatewood, Dominique Gatewood and Nickie Burnett

Sequoia Martin and Whitney Kinslow

Rising Leader Congratulations to Clayton Lilla on being named a nominee for VIP Bowling Green Magazine's 40 Under 40. Recognized as a rising leader, Clayton personiﬁes our core values through dedication, integrity, and a commitment to making a positive impact in our community.

Clayton Lilla

RELATIONSHIP MANAGER COMMERCIAL LENDING

(270) 392-9014 Clayton.Lilla@syb.com

syb.com | Member FDIC | Equal Housing Lender SEPTEMBER 2026 • 77

BOWLING GREEN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Julie Milam and Michelle Trawick

Sandra Baker and Ami Gullett

Sara and Jim Page

John Heinze, Janese Cleary and Michelle Cole

Logan Locke, Trent Edmunds and Michael Huff

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY SHELLEY LOWE

Corey Boisseau, April Suiters, Aymen Mandil, Eli Anderson and Kendall Roper

The Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce welcomed local business and community leaders for an open house on August 12, showcasing recent updates to the Chamber building and welcoming new President and CEO Jim Page to the community. Guests toured the updated space, learned more about upcoming Chamber events and enjoyed an afternoon of conversation and connection with fellow members. The open house offered an opportunity to celebrate a new chapter for the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce while bringing together the partners and community leaders who continue to support its work throughout the region.

Josh Crews, Paul Wherry, Steve Roche and Chris Bell

Christina Ranger and Jennifer Smith 78 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

Jim Martens, Ataullah Tahiri, David Gray and Tony Witty

Kathy Kemp and Jennifer Wethington

Steve Roche, Kendall Roper, Semir Nailovic, Claudia Sweeney and Nicole Johnson

Averi Reed and Katie Dykes

Story by Amelia Bowen • Photograph provided by BG Area Chamber of Commerce

RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME: A NEW VOICE FOR SOUTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY

or Jim Page, the decision to lead the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce came down to timing and a long held admiration for South Central Kentucky. Jim has watched Bowling Green from afar for years, drawn to both its physical beauty and the Chamber’s reputation as an economic engine for the region. When the opportunity opened to step into the role of President and CEO, the personal and professional fit was immediate. “Life is all about timing and opportunity, and when those are aligned, something special can happen,” Jim says. “The timing and opportunity to lead this great organization and live in this amazing community have lined up perfectly for me.” Since stepping into the role, what has impressed him most is the way local leaders work together. Before moving, he was told that Bowling Green and Warren County’s “secret sauce” was the harmony between its public, private and nonprofit sectors. Seeing that dynamic play out every day confirmed it was real. “Many communities can try to make such a claim, but I have already witnessed firsthand that it’s genuinely part of this area’s DNA,” Jim notes. “Community leaders truly are rowing in the same direction, and I feel blessed to be another oar in the water.” Looking ahead, Jim sees clear opportunities to expand the region’s economic footprint. While advanced manufacturing has supported local families for generations and will remain a core focus, he wants to build out the area’s growing technology and innovation sectors. With Western Kentucky University delivering a steady stream of skilled

talent and Bowling Green sitting in an ideal geographic location, he believes the region can grow on multiple fronts at once. “This is an ‘and’ approach to economic development, not an ‘or,’” he explains. “We have the right leadership and capacity to aggressively pursue job creation on multiple fronts.” Protecting and expanding the region’s quality of life is another top priority. For Jim, keeping Bowling Green a great place to live is directly connected to attracting and keeping the talent local businesses need to thrive.

“Community leaders truly are rowing in the same direction, and I feel blessed to be another oar in the water.” His approach to doing that relies heavily on collaboration. A self described people person, Jim builds his leadership around bringing people together and finding common ground. “I take great pride in being a community convener and consensus builder,” he says. “That’s the leadership role I have held throughout my career and the one I hope brings long term value to this region.” Off the clock, Jim and his wife, Sara, are eager to dive into local life with their family. From church events and WKU games to shows at SKYPAC, the Page family plans to be front and center in the community. And coming from Alabama, Jim is ready for one more thing: his first real Kentucky winter.

With Jim Page Favorite way to spend a day off: “What’s that?!” Just being with his wife, girls and dogs. Coffee order: Black, medium roast — or a caramel latte when he needs a boost. A Bowling Green spot discovered so far: White Squirrel Brewery. “Terrific atmosphere!” Currently listening to and watching: The SmartLess podcast (“always a hoot”) and Big Brother, a summer family tradition. Looking forward to experiencing: Snow! As a fan of cold weather, he is ready for a bit more of it than he saw down south. SEPTEMBER 2026 • 79

80 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

Congratulations,

Christina Ranger Chief Operating Officer, BlueCotton

Mark the moment.

www.bluecotton.com | @bluecotton

CONGRATULATIONS,

ALEX!

We’re so proud of this much deserved accomplishment.

SEPTEMBER 2026 • 81

CONGRATULATIONS

LINDSEY MCCARTY! on being selected as one of VIP Magazine's 40 Under 40! This well-deserved recognition reflects your hard work, leadership, and the positive impact you make every day. We're proud to celebrate this incredible achievement with you!

82 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

CONGRATULATIONS TO

MAKAYLA MEREDITH on being named in this year’s VIP Bowling Green 40 Under 40!

SEPTEMBER 2026 • 83

LOST RIVER CAVE

Patricia and Alan Reynolds

Jamie and Michael Steele

Cash Turner and Gwen Wiley with Sara and James Nickerson

Cara and Pam Dickerson

Cocktails & Trails

Maegan Williams and Hadleigh Evans

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY ZERINA RAZIC Lost River Cave welcomed guests for its annual Cocktails & Trails fundraiser on July 31, an evening of food, drinks, games and community support. Guests enjoyed bites from local vendors, participated in a silent auction and gathered to support one of Bowling Green’s most treasured natural attractions. Proceeds from the event support Lost River Cave’s mission through environmental education, maintenance of the park’s scenic trails and conservation of the seven natural ecosystems found throughout the property.

Morgan Hicks and Emily Oden

Katie Slugg and Deandra Perez 84 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

Lisa Proctor and Kevin Steen

Ashley Smith, Robin Holmes and Kristin Jewell

Kent McBrayer and Judy Shelton

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THE CAPITOL | LIVERPOOL LEGENDS

Amber Hatton and Amy Stephens

Eric and Debbie Smith

All You Need Is Love

Liverpool Legends at The Capitol STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHAD SMITH

Sandra Beasley and Shannon North

On August 13, Beatles fans from across South Central Kentucky gathered at The Capitol for an evening with the Liverpool Legends, the Grammy-nominated Beatles tribute band hand-picked by Louise Harrison, sister of the late George Harrison. The group brought the music of the Fab Four to life, taking the audience through some of The Beatles’ most beloved songs and memorable eras. The crowd included longtime Beatles fans, families and even VIP Bowling Green x Liverpool Legends giveaway winner Aubin Jefferson, who joined in for an evening celebrating the music and legacy that continues to connect generations.

John and Debra Patterson 86 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

Aubin Jefferson, VIP Bowling Green x Liverpool Legends Giveaway Winner

A Little Help From His Friends

Story by Amelia Bowen Photography by Amelia Bowen and Courtesy of Liverpool Legends Long before Marty was selling out 18,000-seat arenas in Mexico or walking the red carpet at the Grammy Awards, he was just a kid cutting through a neighbor’s yard. Stopped in his tracks by the sound of a local band playing “Come Together,” he peered over to watch. The musician playing guitar was an older friend who bore a striking resemblance to John Lennon and carried an obsession with The Beatles. That chance encounter introduced Marty to The Beatles and set him on a path to forming his very first band. “I don’t know what I would be doing besides this without him,” Marty said. Looking back, it is fitting that so much of Marty’s career as a professional musician was shaped by unpredictable moments and extraordinary people. Marty began portraying George Harrison around 2001. Shortly after, while performing at a Chicago Beatles festival, he met Harrison’s older sister, Louise. For a lifelong Beatles fan, meeting her was surreal. “You could look at her and kind of see George’s eyes,” Marty recalled. What started as a week of shared conversations and Italian dinners—including a night where Marty found himself sitting on a couch alongside Paul McCartney—turned into a deep, 20-year bond. Over time, Louise became far more than a connection to rock history; she became family. “She kind of turned into my grandmother at some point,” Marty said. Together, they launched Liverpool Legends, an internationally acclaimed production that journeys through the full Beatles timeline— from the Cavern Club and The Ed Sullivan Show through Beatlemania, the psychedelic era and final studio albums. Louise toured with the band, made public appearances, and even helped load equipment trucks. “Her whole life was sort of, ‘Well, she’s George’s sister,’” Marty said. “With us, she got to actually be a part of something.” That partnership opened doors across the globe. After a promoter spotted Marty and Louise during an El Paso television interview, Liverpool Legends received an invitation to perform in Mexico. Expecting a modest theater gig, Marty logged online shortly before the show to check ticket sales, only to discover they had sold 16,000 seats. Today, Liverpool Legends

performs annual sold-out shows with full symphony orchestras at Mexico City’s prestigious Auditorio Nacional. Then came a Grammy nomination for a spoken-word album narrated by Louise. Marty recorded his parts from his home studio and sent them off without a second thought. Six months later, the project was nominated alongside works by Betty White, Tina Fey and Val Kilmer. The band has even climbed as high as #57 on the global Pollstar Live75 touring chart, sharing rankings with major worldwide acts. “Everything’s sort of been a stepping stone from things that didn’t seem important at the time,” Marty said. Though Louise passed away in 2023, her voice remains an essential thread of every performance. Her recorded narration guides the audience through the story, paired with a special tribute honoring the woman who helped build the show. Sixty years after Beatlemania first swept the globe, Marty does not pretend to fully understand why four musicians from Liverpool still captivate generations of listeners, but he feels honored to carry the torch. “It’s like a wonder of the world,” Marty said. “They looked cool, they sounded cool, and they were influencing the whole world. The world is still listening.”

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The Foutch Metzger Group

at Baird Private Wealth Management

CONGRATULATES,

BARRETT on being named to

VIP’s 40 Under 40!

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KNICELY CONFERENCE CENTER | SOUTHERN BLUEGRASS FANTASY FOOTBALL

Dr. Brian Harwood, Southern Bluegrass Fantasy Football League Organizer

Campbellsville University Dance Team Volunteers

Brian Harwood, Event Organizer, with Team Captains

Connor Desselle and Frank Desselle

Kobey Desselle, Landon Desselle & Sean Desselle

Dustin Kirk and Karlie Neal

Lonnie Mason and Christopher Hines

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY LAINIE MILNER Fantasy football fans from across the region gathered for the Southern Bluegrass Fantasy Football Championship live event on August 22 at the Knicely Conference Center, organized by Dr. Brian Harwood. Participants traveled from Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, Illinois, North Carolina, Mississippi, New Jersey and beyond to take part in the event and connect with fellow fantasy football enthusiasts. Throughout the day, guests participated in a 50/50 raffle, signed jersey giveaways and other prize drawings while enjoying food from Hog Wild BBQ and drinks from Clark Distributing. Members of the Campbellsville University Dance Team and WKU Spirit Masters also volunteered throughout the event. One of the highlights recognized 2025 SBFFC World Champion Kristopher Irwin with a $10,000 check, adding to a day centered around competition, community and a shared love of fantasy football. Sponsored by Studle Financial Services and Overtime Sports Bar and Grill.

Lindsey Scott and Presley Scott

Steve Rannacher, Christy Ellis and Chuck Ellis

Andrew, Yanni and Taso Samios Kevin Epley and Sam Harman

Patrick Baker 90 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

Tom Bugg and Dan Baker

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HIGH STREET TOWER | MED CENTER HEALTH

Kyle Cassady, Julie Milam and Sarah Johnson

Harper Kate

HIGH STREET TOWER

RIBBON CUTTING

Doug Gorman and Cheri Natcher

& 100TH BIRTHDAY BASH STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHAD WHITE

Paul Edwards and Lee Carroll

Tiffany Miller and Hannah Lamb 94 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

It was a hot August morning, but that didn’t stop hundreds of employees, families and community members from gathering at The Medical Center at Bowling Green to celebrate two major milestones. The ribbon cutting for the new High Street Tower coincided with the hospital’s 100th anniversary celebration, featuring live music, food trucks, games and activities throughout the morning. Following the ceremony, guests toured the new High Street Tower and got a first look at expanded spaces designed to serve mothers, babies and families throughout the region. Two floors are dedicated to women’s and children’s services, bringing high-risk pregnancy care, labor and delivery, postpartum care, lactation services and intensive care for infants together under one roof. The expansion comes as The Medical Center continues to welcome nearly 3,000 babies each year, making it one of Kentucky’s largest labor and delivery programs. Three years in the making, the High Street Tower marks another chapter in Med Center Health’s continued growth. As the organization celebrates 100 years of serving the community, the new facility represents both a milestone in its history and an investment in generations of South Central Kentucky families to come.

Mark Yurchison, Jake Barrick, Angela Barrick and Traci Duff

Amy Chandler and Michele Lawless

Jordan and Tracy Cross

HIGH STREET TOWER | MED CENTER HEALTH

Richard Wan, Mike Collins, Gul Sahetya, Ronak Chaudhari, Kal Sahetya and Melissa Stone

Paul Cook and Mohammed Kazimuddin

Marsha Nauman, Deanna Critchelow and Emily Jernigan

Trent Kelley, Joe Kelley and Tiffany Kelley Jenkins

Doris Donohoe and Connie Smith

Paul Lawless and Sam Hardcastle

William Moss and Ros Wanner SEPTEMBER 2026 • 95

CONGRATULATIONS,

ANDREW on being named VIP’s 40 Under 40!

96 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

CONGRATULATIONS,

Courtney

on your well deserved recognition as part of this year's 40 Under 40. Your professional excellence, leadership and commitment to community engagement have been instrumental in increasing overall morale and fostering a more connected wo r k p l a c e culture.

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on being named in this year’s VIP Bowling Green 40 Under 40!

CONGRATULATIONS,

ZAC!

Named one of VIP’s 40 Under 40.

104 • VIP BOWLING GREEN

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