Editor’s Note: This is a new monthly column called Chamber Chat by Dave Kirk, president & CEO of the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce. The column is scheduled to run the first Saturday of every month.
On October 24, 2025, the day before my 38th birthday, I got a call to come in and receive the best career news of my lifetime.
I had been selected to be the new president & CEO of the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce. This wasn’t just an early birthday present. This was a dream come true for a guy from Habit, KY.
My first interaction with the Chamber was when my wife Jessica started working for Chamber President Amy Jackson.
Jessica, a Lexington native, will tell you working for the Chamber is what made her fall in love with Owensboro, and what made her want to call this community home.
When Candance Castlen Brake took the Chamber reins, she put a lot of well thought out effort into building the talent programs at the Chamber specifically Chamber Young Professionals.
I was fortunate to get to join this wonderful organization and eventually serve as Chair. My time in CYP helped me understand the impact the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce has on the community.
When you’ve been involved with the Chamber as long as I have as a CYP member and Chamber husband, you think you know everything the Chamber does.
Here’s the reality. You don’t.
I can’t tell you how many times during these first 90 days I’ve learned something new the Chamber touches.
Whether it be the daily phone calls and texts I have with our lobbyist in Frankfort to ensure legislation protects our members business interests, or small businesses reaching out asking for the Chamber’s help in starting or growing their dream.
It’s an incredible responsibility.
What we do affects people’s lives. Our membership has grown well over 1,000 members representing nearly 50,000 employees.
That’s credit to the tireless work of our staff.
The time they put into creating events to network, talent programs to develop employees and overall effort to ensure our business community is set up to thrive is a beautiful thing to witness.
I’m grateful.
Grateful to get to work with my team.
Grateful to get to work with and for our board.
Grateful to get to call business owners friends.
And grateful to get to serve this community.
By Dave Kirk For the Messenger-Inquirer