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Chapter One Marketing grows from solo venture to full-service agency with a creative edge

Chapter One Marketing may have started as a one-man operation in a bedroom, but it has quickly grown into a five-person agency helping businesses across Owensboro find their voice — and their customers.

Founded in late 2022 by Tyler Mayfield, Chapter One Marketing has evolved through key partnerships and an expanding service list. Mayfield, who spent years working in and out of the marketing industry, said he saw a gap in how agencies connected with clients.

“I had a vision to build something different in comparison to traditional marketing companies,” Mayfield said.

In 2024, that vision took its next step when David Hillard, owner of Hosiva Solutions, merged his web and IT company into Chapter One. The expansion continued in early 2025 with the addition of Monica Montgomery, owner of M2 Productions, as a partner and media director.

The agency now operates from its own office with a small but growing team focused on supporting small to medium-sized businesses through branding, digital content, and strategy.

“We break our services down into four pillars: Foundation, Content, Growth and Upkeep,” Mayfield said. “Our focus areas include logo design and branding, website development, photo and video production, social media management, and digital advertising — but we do a lot more.”

That includes print materials, SEO, event planning, customer outreach, and web maintenance. The team’s goal is to be a single point of contact for all marketing needs.

“What sets us apart is that we’re not just a group of contractors hired to do a job,” Mayfield said. “We’re a marketing partner that gets invested in your company’s growth. Your success is our success.”

Mayfield said the company is deeply rooted in Owensboro, where he was born and raised.

“We try to take part in any aspects that we can, especially working with several non-profits to give back to the city we all love,” he said. “As we’ve grown, it’s allowed me more time to get involved in the Chamber of Commerce, Chamber of Young Professionals, and other community events.”

Chapter One Marketing also collaborates with other local businesses like Wonder Boy Media and The Scrub Shoppe to support client needs.

To learn more about Chapter One Marketing, visit chapteronemarketing.com, call 270-903-8451, or email Tyler@chapteronemarketing.com. The company offers free consultations — no strings attached.

“Even if they don’t become a customer, they’ll walk away with something valuable,” Mayfield said. “At the end of the day, if we’re not making you more money, why the heck are we doing it?”

The Chamber Member of the Week program is a Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce membership benefit. Founded in 1913, the Chamber has worked to provide valuable benefits and services to member businesses and individuals for over a century.

Today, with nearly 1,000 members, the Chamber is a guiding force in community and business development initiatives and serves as the center of business advocacy for the Greater Owensboro region. 

To learn more about becoming the Chamber Member of the Week or inquire about Chamber membership, contact Kitty Jones, director of membership, at 270-926-1860 or kjones@owensboro.com.

By John Kirkpatrick The Owensboro Times

City, county show population growth

A new report from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that Owensboro, Daviess County and the local metropolitan area are still growing slowly in the first half of the decade.

Bowling Green is seeing rapid growth.

And Henderson, Madisonville and Paducah are all losing people.

“We are thrilled to see that we are experiencing incremental population growth, when communities like ours around the U.S. are losing population,” Candance Castlen Brake, president of the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce, said about the report. “So this reversal of trend is a success for Greater Owensboro.”

She said, “Young people around the region enjoy the big city amenities that Owensboro offers. And our four-year colleges have students every year who graduate and want to build their homes and careers here. These young people have trailing parents who find that Owensboro is a place where they can retire with a quality of life and lower cost of living that other areas in the Commonwealth and our nation.”

Brake said, “This is overall positive news and shows us we need to continue to create opportunities for people to live, work and play. If we keep up the work, then we will keep succeeding.”

Claude Bacon, president of the Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corp., said, “In economic development, how we grow is just as important as how fast we grow.”

He said, “Every new resident is a vote of confidence in our community and a positive economic indicator. It means more talent for our workforce, more support for our local businesses, and a stronger foundation for the future.”

Bacon said, “We’re grateful for the new and lifelong residents who choose to make Greater Owensboro their home.”

The report found that Owensboro grew from 60,249 in 2024 to 60,394 last year.

Daviess County grew from 103,315 five years ago to 104,457.

And the Owensboro metropolitan area — Daviess, McLean and Hancock counties — grew from 112,465 to 113,583.

At the same time, Bowling Green grew from 72,313 in 2020 to 79,076 last year.

Warren County grew from 134,561 to 147,936.

And the Bowling Green metro grew from 179,638 to 195,159.

But at the same time, Henderson dropped from 28,200 in 2020 to 27,734 last year.

And Henderson County went from 44,792 to 44,175.

Madisonville had 19,647 people at the start of the decade and 19,497 last year.

Hopkins County went from 45,415 people to 45,218 during that period.

And Paducah fell from 27,130 to 26,712.

McCracken County saw its population decline from 67,877 to 67,550 during those years.

The state’s largest cities continued their growth.

Louisville grew from 631,890 to 640,796 and Lexington from 322,566 to 324,624.

By Keith Lawrence Messenger Inquirer

Hand Therapy Plus celebrates growth, community roots as it nears six-year milestone

This story is sponsored by the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce. 

Since taking over an established therapy clinic in 2019, Kelsey Carrico has been steadily expanding both the services and impact of Hand Therapy Plus Total Body Rehab. Now nearing the six-year mark, the locally owned outpatient therapy center continues to thrive, serving a wide range of patients while preparing to host a Client Appreciation Day on June 6.

Carrico, an occupational therapist and certified hand therapist, opened the clinic at 122 E. 18th Street after purchasing the business from Rob and Kate Abney, whom she worked with since 2016. She had also been a student of Rob’s and a tech at the clinic before pursuing graduate studies.

“I have always wanted to own my own business and follow in my father’s footsteps, who owned his own dental practice for over 20 years,” Carrico said. “Once I became the owner, I was able to make my own decisions on the services we offered, treatment approaches, and how the business could impact the community.”

Hand Therapy Plus offers outpatient occupational and physical therapy services for patients ranging from children to seniors. The clinic specializes in orthopedics, neurological conditions, certified hand therapy, pelvic floor therapy, chronic pain, vertigo, lymphedema, and more. The facility is also equipped with advanced tools such as an anti-gravity treadmill and offers various manual therapy techniques including myofascial release, dry needling, cupping, and kinesiotaping.

“We treat our patients like family and try to get to the root cause of their conditions, versus treating just a body part,” Carrico said. “Many of our patients tell their doctors they want to come to therapy with us and refuse to go other places, which makes me feel like we’ve been doing things right.”

That community support has helped the clinic grow largely through word of mouth, Carrico said.

Carrico has been an occupational therapist for nearly nine years and a certified hand therapist for more than four. She earned her master’s degree from Spalding University after completing a bachelor’s in exercise science at Western Kentucky University. A graduate of Daviess County High School, Carrico now specializes in shoulder-to-hand conditions and pelvic floor therapy—a field she entered after being introduced by fellow therapist Ashlee Hicks.

In addition to running her business, Carrico is a mother of three and remains active in the community, recently coaching her daughter’s elementary volleyball team and preparing to coach middle school volleyball at Mary Carrico Catholic School this fall.

Hand Therapy Plus will host a Client Appreciation Day on Thursday, June 6, from noon to 3 p.m. The event will include a food truck, local vendors, giveaways, a yoga session with Lou Schultz from 12:30-1 p.m., and inflatables for kids.

“This is a chance to say thank you to the community that’s supported us,” Carrico said. “All are welcome to come.”

Carrico said the most rewarding part of her job is building relationships with patients and helping them avoid unnecessary surgeries while improving their quality of life.

“We don’t treat just ‘hands,’ we treat the whole body holistically,” she said. “We provide one-to-one, hands-on treatments, accept most insurances including Medicaid, and offer self-pay options.”

For more information, visit www.handtherapyplustotalbodyrehab.com, find the clinic on Facebook at @HTPlusOwensboro or Instagram at @HandTherapyPlusTotalBodyRehab, or call (270) 926-2212. 

The Chamber Member of the Week program is a Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce membership benefit. Founded in 1913, the Chamber has worked to provide valuable benefits and services to member businesses and individuals for over a century.

Today, with nearly 1,000 members, the Chamber is a guiding force in community and business development initiatives and serves as the center of business advocacy for the Greater Owensboro region. 

To learn more about becoming the Chamber Member of the Week or inquire about Chamber membership, contact Kitty Jones, director of membership, at 270-926-1860 or kjones@owensboro.com.

By John Kirkpatrick The Owensboro Times

Bluegrass mural unveiled downtown, first six panels celebrate music and art

A new mural honoring bluegrass music is now part of the downtown Owensboro landscape, with the first six panels of the rotating display unveiled Saturday morning across from the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum.

A few dozen people gathered at 214 Frederica Street for the unveiling, where the Chamber Young Professionals (CYP) revealed the bluegrass-themed designs in partnership with the Bluegrass Music Capital Initiative, the Bluegrass Hall of Fame & Museum, the City of Owensboro, and OWB Downtown LLC.

The mural builds on CYP’s “Amped Up Artistry” initiative, which launched in 2024 by transforming traffic light electrical boxes along 2nd Street into colorful urban art.

The new artwork has been digitally reproduced and printed on removable panels rather than painted directly on the wall, allowing for seasonal updates and future rotations.

In total, eight works were selected for the project. Six are now on display, with the remaining two to be rotated in at a later date. Each of the featured artists brings a unique interpretation of bluegrass heritage.

The first rotation includes:

Paula Gieseke, of Cerulean, Kentucky

  • Title of artwork: Billy Strings
  • Artist’s description of artwork: An acrylic painting of Billy Strings on canvas playing bluegrass guitar.

Brittany Samsil, of Owensboro

  • Title of artwork: Bluegrass Legends
  • Artist’s description of artwork: This Bluegrass Legends painting is originally done in acrylic paint, charcoal pencil, and modeling paste for texture. The top starts with Bill Monroe’s house then to the Bluegrass Boys. It then goes to Doc Eatson and Arnold Shultz. The Bluegrass Museum is behind Flatt and Scruggs and Ricky Skaggs. The background then fades into an old map of Kentucky with Del McCoury at the bottom. Bluegrass instruments then fill in random spaces.

Emrys Cunningham, of Richmond, Kentucky

  • Title of artwork: Blue Moon Monroe
  • Artist’s description of artwork: A digital portrait of the “Father of Bluegrass” Bill Monroe. His visage hangs over a view all too familiar to native Kentuckians, the foggy blue mountains with a full moon in the clear night sky, an homage to one of his most famous songs, “Blue Moon of Kentucky.”

Rex Robinson, of Evansville, Indiana

  • Title of artwork: River of Music Party
  • Artist’s description of artwork: One of many festive moments featuring early ROMP performers Reeltime Travelers at English Rark in Owensboro by the Ohio River, where it all started!

Amy Burgan, of Owensboro, Kentucky

  • Title of artwork: Bridging Traditions
  • Artist’s description of artwork: Acrylic painting of culturally diverse children representative of our population in Owensboro. Children are playing various Bluegrass instruments. Allusion to the Blue Bridge in the background. Inspired by the great experience my own children had with bluegrass lessons when they were young.

Adalynn Opal Leach, of Hartford, Kentucky

  • Title of artwork: Golden Harmony: The Pillar of Bluegrass
  • Artist’s description of artwork: This stained-glass-style mural of Alison Krauss glows with vibrant hues, capturing her timeless grace and deep musical legacy. She stands as a radiant pillar of bluegrass, her flowing hair illuminated by golden light. Surrounding her, intricate sunflowers bloom, symbolizing warmth and growth. The stained-glass effect casts a luminous aura, blending tradition with elegance. Deep in concentration while fiddling, displaying her mastery, while ethereal blues and greens evoke the soul of bluegrass.

The two remaining artists whose work will be rotated in later are Andrea Butler, of Seattle, Washington, and Bethany Prevette, of Wilkesboro, North Carolina.

The project was originally announced last fall with the goal of combining visual art and Owensboro’s musical heritage through a rotating mural. The location — directly across from the Hall of Fame — was chosen to tie the installation to the city’s bluegrass identity and encourage continued investment in public art downtown.

By Ryan Richardson The Owensboro Times

Bluegrass mural unveiling set for May 17 in downtown Owensboro

Eight artists have been selected to contribute original work to a new public art project in downtown Owensboro that aims to celebrate the city’s identity as the self-proclaimed Bluegrass Music Capital of the World. The mural’s grand reveal is slated for May 17. 

The selected pieces will be featured on a rotating mural display outside 214 Frederica Street, directly across from the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum. The project, spearheaded by the Owensboro Bluegrass Initiative the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Young Professionals (CYP), will launch with six of the eight chosen works installed in the initial phase.

The mural will feature eight panels in total, with six pieces displayed initially and two rotating in at a later date. Instead of being painted directly onto the wall, the artwork will be printed on removable panels — similar to movie posters at a theater — which allows for easy updates and future rotation.

“We had about 39 submissions to choose from, and we didn’t know who the artists were during the selection process, which made it even more exciting,” said Jared Revlett, a member of CYP. “It was really neat to see all the different artwork that came in from across the country.”

Artists selected for the project include:

• Adalynn Opal Leach (Hartford, KY) – Golden Harmony: The Pillar of Bluegrass

• Brittany Samsil (Owensboro, KY) – Bluegrass Legends

• Paula Gieseke (Cerulean, KY) – Billy Strings

• Emrys Cunningham (Richmond, KY) – Blue Moon Monroe

• Rex Robinson (Evansville, IN) – River of Music Party

• Amy Burgan (Owensboro, KY) – Bridging Traditions

• Andrea Butler (Seattle, WA) – Rooted in Tradition

• Bethany Prevette (North Wilkesboro, NC) – Ode to Owensboro

Robinson painted the former mural, which paid homage to the town’s barbecue and the prominence of the Ohio River. 

The Bluegrass Mural Committee was formed to highlight the city’s musical heritage while incorporating public art into the downtown landscape. The project was first announced last fall, with organizers saying they hoped to create a rotating display to celebrate bluegrass music and the local community.

By John Kirkpatrick The Owensboro Times

Churchill Park celebrates completion of renovations

Local officials and stakeholders celebrated the completion of the $53 million renovation of the housing units in Churchill Park — formerly Rolling Heights — with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday morning at the complex.

All 248 apartments received a complete makeover during the project, which began in 2022.

“We pretty much took them down to the studs,” said Shauna Boom, Housing Authority of Owensboro executive director and CEO, in noting that the apartments have new flooring, paint and cabinets, among other amenities.

The project also included building 20 accessible units ranging from one bedroom to four bedrooms, installing new playground equipment, fixing sidewalks and repaving parking lots.

“The folks that live up here, who lived here before it was renovated and after it was renovated, have greatly positive comments about the renovations,” Boom said.

The buildings were originally built in 1954, when Rolling Heights became the third complex of public housing in Owensboro.

In 2018, the Housing Authority of Owensboro began converting all the public housing units into Section 8 subsidized apartments to provide more stability of funding and flexibility for public housing expansion.

“The change means that public housing will be around for years to come,” Boom said. “Public Housing’s funding structure changed in such a way that it was decreasing, so we chose to convert to Section 8 project-based vouchers. So with the funds that come from any of our proceeds go directly back into the units to improve them or to expand affordable housing in the city of Owensboro.”

Boom said the biggest benefit derived from converting to Section 8 housing is the Housing Authority will have quicker access to money.

“It costs no more or no less (for tenants), but the funds come in quicker; we don’t have to wait 12 months,” Boom said. “So with that, when the roof needs to be replaced, wiring redone, we have the funds and can go do that. It gives us more control so these units can be here (for a long time).”

Section 8 tenants pay approximately 30% of their gross income for rent.

Boom said there are 601 family members who live in Churchill Park, and it has 100% occupancy.

The project also included renovations to Girls Inc, Wightman Unit and the HAO’s administrative offices.

By Scott Hagerman Messenger Inquirer

Churchill Park Apartments reopens with renovations, long-term affordability in mind

The Housing Authority of Owensboro (HAO) celebrated a major milestone Wednesday with a ribbon-cutting at Churchill Park Apartments, marking the completion of a $52 million renovation and conversion project that ensures long-term affordability and sustainability for one of the city’s largest housing communities.

The project fully renovated 248 units across 58 buildings at what was formerly known as Rolling Heights, located at 2161 East 19th Street. All units are now part of the Section 8 subsidized housing program following a conversion from public housing that began in 2021 and wrapped up in September 2024. The complex is now operating under the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program.

“This change means public housing will be around for years to come,” said Shauna Boom, Executive Director and CEO of HAO. “Under the public housing model, funding was decreasing, and it limited our ability to maintain and invest in these units. Converting to Section 8 gives us more flexibility, quicker access to funds, and long-term sustainability.”

She added, “Section 8 still means tenants pay approximately 30% of their gross income toward rent, but the big difference is in how the remaining portion is funded and how quickly that funding comes in. That allows us to handle things like roof repairs or electrical upgrades immediately instead of waiting a year. These are cinder block buildings that can last another 100 years if properly maintained.”

Churchill Park now includes 20 fully accessible units — ranging from one to four bedrooms — built specifically for residents with mobility needs. Extensive renovations included updated flooring, paint, kitchen cabinets, plumbing, and new ventilation systems. Old windows in bathrooms were replaced with vent fans, and many buildings were stripped to the studs before being rebuilt.

Boom said the property never closed during the process, and a relocation-on-site plan allowed residents to move between units during construction.

“We strategically left units vacant through attrition so we could rotate residents into renovated units as they became available,” she said.

Originally built in 1954, the site was the third public housing complex constructed in Owensboro. The conversion was part of a long-term effort by HAO to shift all its public housing units into the Section 8 model through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s RAD/Section 18 Blend program.

The Churchill Park project included funding and support from a number of key partners, including TCG Development Advisors, R4 Capital LLC, Aetna, Kentucky Housing Corporation, Piper Sandler & Company, REB Architects, and Clayton Watkins Construction.

Additional improvements included new playgrounds, administrative office renovations, and updates to on-site partner Girls Inc., including the gymnasium used by the organization.

Boom said the complex now houses approximately 601 people and is at full occupancy. HAO is already planning to reinvest proceeds from Churchill Park into five other Section 8 properties across Owensboro, further expanding access to quality, affordable housing.

Candance Brake, President and CEO of the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce, said the project is a shining example of what can happen when a community invests in its people.

“This is what community is all about,” Brake said. “This project not only provides a safe, modern place to live — it changes lives and strengthens our entire city.” 

By John Kirkpatrick The Owensboro Times

Owensboro Graceland Portable Buildings expanding presence, seeks new salesperson

Graceland Portable Buildings and Metal Structures is growing its footprint in Owensboro and currently looking to hire a new salesperson to lead the local location.

The business, which specializes in customizable wood and metal portable buildings, officially opened its Owensboro site in December 2024.

“Owensboro is a great market, and somewhere we knew we could be successful,” said Micah Mills, business growth manager.

The company offers a wide range of wood buildings and metal structures through Eagle Carports. Mills said customers can choose from available lot inventory or build their own using a 3D configurator on the company’s website. The tool allows clients to select paint and trim colors, window and door options, and building sizes and styles.

“All Graceland buildings come with free delivery and setup within 50 miles,” Mills said. “Whether it’s a workshop, shed, or space for a small business, we’re offering long-lasting solutions.”

Graceland has been in the portable building industry for 20 years, though its Owensboro location is a recent addition. Mills said the most rewarding part of his job is knowing they’re making a difference in people’s daily lives.

“Each sale is about more than just a building — it’s about helping someone improve their quality of life,” he said.

The company’s long-term goal is to become Owensboro’s top choice for portable buildings.

“We are committed to delivering high-quality, customizable portable buildings that meet the specific needs of each customer,” Mills said. “We prioritize craftsmanship, product quality, and customer satisfaction.”

Graceland is located at 3030 KY 144 in Owensboro. 

To learn more, visit gracelandportablebuildings.com or follow Owensboro Graceland Portable Buildings & Metal Structures on Facebook.

The Chamber Member of the Week program is a Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce membership benefit. Founded in 1913, the Chamber has worked to provide valuable benefits and services to member businesses and individuals for over a century.

Today, with nearly 1,000 members, the Chamber is a guiding force in community and business development initiatives and serves as the center of business advocacy for the Greater Owensboro region. 

To learn more about becoming the Chamber Member of the Week or inquire about Chamber membership, contact Kitty Jones, director of membership, at 270-926-1860 or kjones@owensboro.com.

By John Kirkpatrick The Owensboro Times

Owensboro bluegrass mural unveiling May 17

The Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce’s Chamber Young Professionals of Owensboro, KY, a city which has adopted a specific Bluegrass Music Initiative to entice bluegrass lovers to visit their community, will unveil their large-format, six-panel bluegrass mural project on May 17.

Owensboro is already the home of the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum, and the Kentucky Guitar Works @ the Center for Lutherie, where Faris Guitars is sited, and a new Bluegrass and Traditional Music program at the Owensboro Community and Technical College, headed up by Scott Napier. It had also been the initial location of the International Bluegrass Music Association, and hosted the first several IBMA conventions before it was moved to Louisville in 1997.

City leaders feel confident that they have a legitimate claim to officially declaring Owensboro as the Bluegrass Music Capital of the World, as they did in 2021, assisted by the fact the Bill Monroe’s birthplace in Rosine is less than 40 miles away.

It was as a part of this overall initiative that the Chamber Young Professionals issued a call for artists to submit ideas for an eight-panel, large-format installation downtown, opposite the Hall of Fame. Each of the six foot by eight foot panels will be original works of art reflecting the history and roots of bluegrass music, with each selected artist receiving a $1,000 commission.

The unveiling ceremony begins at 8:30 a.m. on May 17, with music from Scott Napier, Rick Faris, and the Capital Bluegrass Band, featuring students of Napier’s at the college. Then at 9:00, all in attendance will be among the first to see the public exposition of the new art exhibition.

The Bluegrass Hall of Fame & Museum is located at 214 Frederica Street in Owensboro, with the installation and unveiling across the street.

By John Lawless Bluegrass Today

Brake stepping down as Chamber CEO

Candance Castlen Brake, president and CEO of the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce, announced Wednesday that she will be stepping down from the role later this year.

Brake, who has led the Chamber since March 2015, said she and her husband, Nick, will soon be relocating to be closer to their adult children. She will remain in her role until a successor is chosen.

“One of the most important aspects of leadership is recognizing when it is time to move on and make way for others with fresh perspectives to step forward,” Brake said. “My extensive work with younger people — including past and current staff members — leaves me confident that our community has many aspiring leaders who can take the helm and move our Chamber to the next level.

“Our board of directors is comprised of doers — people who make great things happen. They will be a great support to the next leader of this organization.”

The Chamber has nearly 1,000 members, with around 85% of those being small businesses.

“From day one, it has been about our small businesses,” Brake said. “Chambers were formed in our country before the Declaration of Independence was written by business people who believed joining together gave them a stronger voice and was good for business growth. Our staff understands the deep importance of this history and how the work truly matters. We are stewards for a short time, so we want to be sure to give it all we have.

“Small business owners put everything they have — their financial resources, health, time … their lives — into their business. We come to work every day with this in mind. We want to work as hard as they do to deserve their support. Small businesses truly make communities strong, interesting and unique. They give us our character and promote our quality of life. And they put food on the table of their employees. Working for them has been an honor I will never forget.”

The Chamber’s membership also includes large corporations, nonprofits, financial institutions, public sector organizations and healthcare.

“Our membership represents every sector in our community,” Brake said. “It truly is a tapestry of so many different walks of life coming together to make Owensboro stronger and better.”

During Brake’s tenure, the Chamber has yielded positive results through its legislative and governmental affairs work, with highlights including the 165 Interstate shields on the former Natcher Parkway, Highway 54 widening, advance work on the Interstate corridor with Indiana, two Family Court judges, lighting the bridge, county-wide broadband and lowering the state income tax.

Brake also led the Chamber to have a greater presence in Frankfort and in Washington, D.C.

“Speaking with one voice is incredibly important in getting things accomplished,” she said. “The Chamber’s role as a convener for community priorities has been very effective, and I hope that continues in the future.”

Under the direction of the Chamber Board of Directors since 2015, Brake focused significantly on creating and reinvigorating leadership and talent programs. Leadership Owensboro, Chamber Young Professionals and Educators in the Workplace were reignited, and the Greater Owensboro Leadership Institute was created in 2022; Leadership Owensboro Alumni and Engage Owensboro have been created to connect people with opportunities to volunteer and serve, and another program for executive level professionals is set to launch later this year.

“Talent development and retention efforts make a deep impact on communities our size,” Brake said. “They create environments for small business growth and entrepreneurship. They assist corporate partners in recruiting and retaining professional jobs, and they improve the overall quality of life.”

Brake worked at the Chamber in her first job out of college in 1993; returned in 2000 to lead education and workforce programs and then served as executive vice-president of the Chamber and Economic Development Corporation. Brake served three terms as an Owensboro city commissioner, where she played an integral role in the transformative downtown project and was deputy county judge-executive, where she was chief of staff for the Daviess County Fiscal Court.

“I always came back to the Chamber,” she said. “There is no other work like this.”

Chamber Board Chair Olga McKissic said Brake was an inspiration for her getting involved with the Chamber.

“Upon returning to Owensboro in 2015, I intended to live a simple life — substitute teaching and doing community service. Little did I know that meeting Candance Brake would elevate that service to new heights. What began as tending my church’s landscape and walking the halls of the Daviess County Judicial Center to pray with others evolved into becoming a board member — and eventually board chair — of the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce.

“Candance brings out the best in others, and I will truly miss her beautiful smile, laughter and uplifting words of encouragement. Wishing her all the best in this next chapter — Godspeed.”

By Scott Hagerman Messenger-Inquirer