fourth quarter business magazine

greater owensboro

Fourth Quarter 2012

businessPRST STD.

U.S. POSTAGEP

AID

OWENSBORO, KY

PERMIT #412

Welding industry strong in Owensboro

2 GreaterOwensboroBusiness FourthQuarter2012

In This Issue

Amy JacksonPresidentGreater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce

From

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Cham

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f Com

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Our members say it best … the Greater Owensboro region is a place to build a business and raise a family, now and in the future. In my first three months with the Chamber, I’ve spent a lot of time talking to members, whether at their business, at our Chamber events, or while attending activities throughout Owensboro. I continue to be inspired by what I learn from our members and this community.

Owensboro is a place of collaboration. I’ve seen the joint effort between schools and businesses to create a work-ready community. We’ve begun to enjoy the results of the collaboration of city and county officials, businesses and private investors for our downtown revitalization. As your Chamber, we hope to facilitate even more collaboration to keep Owensboro moving forward.

Owensboro is a place of creativity. We are a community blessed with the arts, such as the East Bridge Arts Festival that was partnered with Bridge Day this September or the RiverPark Center Broadway series. The creative process in business is an art and a science, and we continue to see our Chamber member’s creativity daily. We see it in our feature of Castlen Manufacturing and Welding, whose creativity has grown their business to new levels.

Owensboro is a place of innovation. Business requires innovation – we’ve seen early adapters to technology for efficiency, like Eat @ Bills. We’ve seen businesses built on how to help others leverage technology – that’s what VE Creative is for. And, we’ve seen long-standing companies, like Modern Welding, apply innovation to their ever-expanding marketplace.

Our members say it best … Owensboro is the place to be. I’m so honored to be here, serving our nearly 1,000 members as we collaborate, communicate, innovate and create opportunities and strategies for the Greater Owensboro area.

Amy JacksonPresident and CEO

Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce

Business Fourth Quarter 2012

Vol. 9 • Number 4

greater owensboro

Getting creative 4VE Creative comes to Owensboro

Expanding 6Castlen Welding and Manufacturing adds

new distribution center

80 Years 10Modern Welding celebrates 80 years as a

family business

Tasty Technology 16Bills Restaurant goes high-tech

Sloan Award 20Riney Hancock CPAs PSC receives honor

Connected 23Chamber Young Professionals provide wi-fi

at Smothers Park.

Young Professional 24Brandon Gentry and Laura Armstrong

discuss being a young professional in

Owensboro

Member Referrals 28Missy Gant elaborates on the

Chamber’s member referral program

On the Move 29Local business leaders on the move

in their industry and in the community

FourthQuarter2012 GreaterOwensboroBusiness 3

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Getting creative :VE Creative comes to Owensboro

Nick Knapp and Nathan Cruse


Entrepreneur Nathan Cruse, owner of VE Creative Online Agency, has selected Owensboro for the company’s second loca-tion. Cruse, 27, decided on Owensboro after visiting the city several times and was continually welcomed by of ficials at the

Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce, churches and others in the community.

“I’ve been involved with several chambers and yet to see one as united as Owensboro’s,” Cruse said. “VE Creative wants to set trends in interactive media and we see no better place than Owensboro to do it.”

VE Creative specializes in mobile app development, strategic social media marketing and custom website design. The company is now operating in downtown Owensboro at 100 W. 3rd St., suite 304.

“The city is entrepreneur friendly and is getting new business downtown,” he said. “That’s why we chose an of fice suite downtown.”

Bir thed in Champaign, Ill., the company is now in its fifth year of providing online media services to more than 70 clients in multiple states and Canada. Business has doubled for VE Creative each year for the last two years, Cruse said. He expects it to double again in the next 12 months and is making plans to accommodate the growth.

VE Creative employs a staf f of six that includes account managers, graphic designers, project manag-ers and web app developers. The company is seeking

to add its seventh position—a full time web app de-veloper. That person will work with account manager Nick Knapp, 24, who Cruse selected to lead the Owens-boro’s of fice.

“Nick has done a great job obtaining new clients in Owensboro, and leading up their interactive market-ing,” Cruse said. “He has fresh ideas and has a great mind for social media marketing. His passion and drive for VE has contributed greatly to our success.”

At its current rate of growth, VE Creative has the potential to employ a staf f of ten at its Owensboro of-fice in the next five years. Jobs at the company pay well in excess of $50,000 annually.

“The demand for online services is booming and will only continue to grow and change,” Cruse said. “We feel like we’re on the edge of what the web and mobile technology of fers and want to tailor it to what Owensboro businesses want.”

Cruse has enlisted interior designer Laura Ruth Edge to renovate VE Creative’s of fice with a Google look and feel: Bright and modern open spaces with bold colors. He wants the suite to represent the compa-ny’s vision to grow and specialize in the latest interac-tive marketing solutions for its customers.

“I have talked with several interior designers and they’ve all said there’s nothing that comes close to what we’re planning for our space,” Cruse said. “We want to of fer Owensboro the same type of fun, innova-tive organization found in Silicon Valley.”

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Matt and Laura Castlen, owners of Castlen Welding.


Expanding :Castlen Welding and Manufacturing adding new warehouse, distribution center

Matt Castlen knew as he was growing up on his family’s farm in the Thruston area that he wanted to own his own business one day.

So, he prepared for that.And at age 19, Castlen started his own

company, Castlen Welding and Manufac-turing.

Today, at age 26, he and his wife, Laura, have grown their Maceo business to in-clude three divisions with 14 employees.

The growth also includes a new office and warehousing facility nearing comple-tion on U.S. 60 and Iceland Road across from the Kinder-Morgan river terminal. That building -- about a $1 million invest-ment -- will serve as a warehouse and dis-tribution center for the three divisions.

As a high school student, Castlen took night and summer classes at Owensboro Community & Technical College. When he graduated from high school, he also received certifications in welding and blueprinting from OCTC.

“I always had a desire to design and build things,” Castlen said. “The way we got our start was that at age 19, I designed a grapple for a front-end loader and imple-mented the idea. We sold them all over the country including to the military.”

Castlen has continued to nurture that ingenuity he learned early in his life.

“We’re a company that never says no,” he said. “If someone needs something, we’ll try to build it for them.”

The company continues to provide ser-

vice welding and has added two new divi-sions -- mechanical erection to service the commercial agriculture industry within a 150 to 200-mile radius -- and manufactur-ing of material handling equipment for fertilizer and grain handling.

Examples of Castlen Welding and Manufacturing’s of ferings are grain systems, agriculture buildings, crane services, mechanical contracting, re-

pairs and sandblasting.“Our niche is customer service,”

Castlen said. “We love what we do and take pride in what we do, and we work 70 hours a week to please our customers. We get people up and go-ing.”

Farming also is still in Castlen’s blood, he said. He farms about 450 acres of row crops -- corn and soybeans.

As a member of the “Offi ce Plus” buying group of over 700 dealers, WE CAN BUY CHEAPER AND SELL CHEAPER!

Owensboro’s Locally Owned Offi ce Supplier1701 Breckenridge St. • 926-2222

Thank You forYour Business!

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FREEDELIVERY!

By Joy Campbell


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Matt Castlen and an employee examine soffit.

Matt and Laura Castlen walk inside their business.


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Employees assess the building.


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80 years:Modern Welding celebrates 80 years as a family business


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When John G. “Pete” Barnard and his wife returned to the Owensboro area in 1932, they were looking for a way to make a living. Since “Mr. Pete” had previously worked as a general superintendent at a steel mill in Indiana, he decided to go

with a business he knew, and set up a small welding job shop in Owensboro. That company, now known as Modern Weld-ing, is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year, and his fam-ily is as dedicated as ever to carrying on his dream.

Tony Honey, Modern Welding’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing, said the company’s success can be traced to one simple fact: Employee loyalty.

“Mr. Barnard wanted his company to feel like a family,” noted Honey, who has been with the company for 31 years in varying capacities. “We have a special quality that creates longevity in our employees; they want to stay with us. That all revolves around creating a family-like atmosphere.”

Modern Welding began when Barnard built steel tanks for oil fields, at a time when there was a lot of oil drilling taking

place in the Owensboro area. “The business began to grow when the demand for tanks

became greater,” said Honey. “Growth has continued in a steady fashion, and Modern Welding is now the largest steel tank manufacturer in the country.”

With its corporate office based in Owensboro, Modern Welding has eleven manufacturing plants in varying loca-tions across the U.S. The company has nine steel tank and vessel fabrication subsidiaries, as well as five welding sup-ply stores. Its products include ASME pressure vessels, fuel dispensing systems, and above-ground horizontal tanks. Modern Welding has continued to diversify its products and services over the years, and plans to continue that trend in the future.

Although Modern Welding has faced many changes over the years—including the acquisitions of several other compa-nies—one thing has not changed: It is still a family-run busi-ness.

Barnard’s grandson, Jim Jones, currently serves as Presi-dent/CEO of Modern Welding, and says the company is his family’s heritage.

“It’s the only thing we’ve ever known,” remarked Jones.

By Kristi McCabe

A Modern Welding employee removes cables.


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A Modern Welding employee works in the shop.


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“My mother was involved with the busi-ness, and so were my brothers and I. I grew up working in the plant and at Modern Supply and am proud to still be a part of my grandfather’s legacy.”

Looking to the future, Modern Welding will continue to evolve to meet the demands of a tough economy.

“We always try to take advantage of innovative techniques and products, and diversify when we can,” said Tony Honey. “We will continue to foster lon-gevity by maintaining a quality prod-uct, and just keep doing what we’re doing.”

One innovation Modern Welding has undertaken is supplying AV (avia-tion) gas tanks at the Owensboro air-port. This allows pilots to fly in and fill their tanks using a credit card, like a gas station.

“A lot of small airports are doing that,” Jones noted.

Jones said the company is also con-sidering expanding the business to the service sector, by forming a divi-sion to deal with tank maintenance. This is important at this time due to the changes in gasoline and diesel fuel formulation. The new fuels re-

quire that a tank be properly main-tained.

As Modern Welding celebrates 80 years of doing business, one thing re-mains clear: its success hinges on the dedication of its employees.

“My grandfather’s vision was to run a company that operates like a family, and I think we have been suc-cessful in doing that,” said Jim Jones. “We have employees who have been here for 30 or 40 years, and that says a lot about their loyalty. Our employees make us who we are, and we look for-ward to another 80 years in business.”

The Modern Welding plant is shown from above.


“My mother was involved with the business, and so were my brothers and I. I grew up working in the plant and at Modern Supply and am proud to still be a part of my grandfather’s legacy.”

Jim Johnson

A Modern Welding employee operates a lift.

A Modern Welding employee moves a piece of metal.


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A Modern Welding employee spot welds.


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Bill’s Restaurant server, Krissy Curtis of Owensboro, checks her order for Bill Collins of Owensboro, center, and DeAnna Adamson of Sumner, Ill.


Walking into a local restaurant, you wouldn’t expect to see a server holding an iPad would you? That’s

what you will find now in Owensboro. Bill Hughes, owner of Bill’s Restau-rant, described his establishment as a place that serves handcrafted food from the best possible ingredients.

The restaurant is located in Owens-boro’s historic downtown area and offers a unique dining experience in a warm atmosphere.

Bill’s Restaurant, located at 420 Frederica Street, boasts a wine list of over 30 dif ferent red and white wines with daily lunch and dinner specials.

One of Bill’s Restaurant’s most unique qualities is how they process food orders. Servers use a technolo-gy that allows them to take your food order as well as pay your bill using an iPad.

“It keeps that particular table open until they close it out,” said Hughes. Done with your meal but decide last minute you want dessert? Just reopen your ticket. When you’re done, sim-ply cash out. You can either swipe your card on the iPad or use cash.

Bill Hughes grew up in Leitch-field, and is a 1985 Centre College graduate. He also has a culinary arts degree from Johnson & Wales located in Charleston, South Caro-lina. While in South Carolina, Hughes acquired a wealth of food knowledge

Tasty tech:Bill’s Restaurant uses high-tech tools in everyday business

By Tina Forrest


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by working with an organization known as the Symposium of

American Cuisine. Hughes later moved to Owensboro and worked as a general manager and chef at the Campbell Club. He switched gears and worked as a financial advisor for Edward Jones for 14 years before go-ing back to into the food industry. Hughes bought the Callas Building in June, 2011 which would later become the home of his own restaurant. He renovated the building and opened Bill’s Restaurant on December 13, 2011.

Working closely with Information technician, Casey Clark of Clark Res-taurant Service/CRS One Source, Hughes looked at several different programs to figure out which one would work best for his restaurant.

The program used at the restaurant allows the server to take your order using an iPad, which is a line of tab-let computers designed and marketed by Apple Inc. The order then prints in one of two kitchens in the estab-lishment. The cook gets your order and prepares your meal. The server brings it out to you and — voila! — dinner is served.

“Most people think it’s really in-teresting,” said Hughes. “Most peo-ple really like it.” But not all are hip to the technology. “The only complaint we have is when people don’t know how to use it [iPad],” said Hughes. “Some people also perceive that the server is “hovering” over them to see how much of a tip they are getting, when in reality the servers are just there to make sure you’re using it

properly,” he added. Typically when it’s a patron’s first time at Bill’s Res-taurant, the servers are standing by to help you get through the bill pay process. Hughes said he has a tre-mendous amount of repeat custom-ers. “We also have people that eat here four to five times a week,” said Hughes. But he is always seeing new people walking in.

For the future, Hughes hopes to con-tinue to evolve with the market. And now that the riverfront has reopened with great success, Hughes has high hopes for his restaurant.

“I want to continue to grow organi-cally with our new facility.”

Reservations are accepted for lunch and dinner and are encouraged for parties of five or more, but walk-ins are also welcome.

Taylor Niles holds the iPad shes uses to take food orders at Bill’s Restaurant in Owensboro. The device allows the kitchen to have instantaneous access to orders for food.


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Bill Hughes, owner/chef at Bill’s Restaurant, 420 Frederica St., left and server Krissy Curtis share a light moment Tuesday while looking over one of the iPads used to take orders.

Taylor Niles, left, a server at Bill's Restaurant, shares a laugh Thursday with Mark Starnes of Owensboro and his mother, Marsha Starnes of Lexington, after taking the pair's order using and iPad. "It's pretty easy. It's accurate and you can add notes to each order," said Niles, who owns her own iPad.


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Riney Hancock CPAs PSC has been honored with the 2012 Alfred P. Sloan Award for Excellence in Work-place Effectiveness and Flexibility for its use of flexibility as an effective workplace strategy to increase busi-ness and employee success. This is the second time that the firm has re-

ceived this award. This prestigious award, part of the

national When Work Works project administered by the Families and Work Institute and the Society for Human Resource Management, rec-ognizes employers of all sizes and types in the Kentucky and across the

country.“It’s an honor to receive this award.

We are proud of the firm that we have built and the family atmosphere that we have created here,” says Joseph A. Hancock, president and manag-ing shareholder of Riney Hancock CPAs. “Our team members are what

Sloan Award:Riney Hancock CPAs recognized for exemplary workplace practices

Riney Hancock employees Scott Clay,Edna Barnes, Joe Hancock, Terry Walker, Greg Moore and Steve Mudd.


truly make our firm the success it is. Flexibility in the workplace enables our team members to have a bal-anced life, in turn; our firm has been rewarded with loyal and dedicated team members that have made us a successful firm for over 39 years.”

Workplace flexibility — such as flextime, part-time work and com-pressed work weeks — has been demonstrated to help businesses re-main competitive while also benefit-ing employees.

“Our research consistently finds that employees in ef fective and flex-ible workplaces have greater engage-ment on the job and greater desire to stay with their organization. In addi-tion, they report lower stress levels and better overall health,” said Ellen Galinsky, president of Families and Work Institute.

The Sloan Awards are unique for their rigorous, two-step selection process, which involves an evaluation of employers’ flexibility programs and practices, and a confidential em-ployee survey. All applicants are mea-sured against national norms from the National Study of Employers.

“As a recipient of the 2012 Sloan Award, Riney Hancock CPAs ranks in the top 20% of employers nation-ally in terms of its programs, policies and culture for creating an effective and flexible workplace,” Galinsky said. “In addition, what makes this honor so special is that their employ-ees have corroborated this, af firming that it is indeed an effective and flex-ible workplace.”

When Work Works is a national project to educate the business com-munity on the value of workplace flex-ibility by sharing research and prom-ising practices, and conducting the annual Sloan Awards. It is an ongoing initiative of the Families and Work Institute and the Society for Human Resource Management.

For more information about the When Work Works project and the Alfred P. Sloan Awards for Excellence in Workplace Effectiveness and Flex-ibility, visit www.whenworkworks.org

About Riney Hancock CPAS PSC

Riney Hancock CPAs has been suc-cessfully serving the financial needs

Greg Moore, Edna Barnes, Pam Hagan at a networking event.

Joe Hancock participates in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5K.

Greg Moore, John Perkins and Michele Perkins participate in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5k.


of the tri-state area since 1973, and takes great pride in helping individu-al and business clients succeed. With offices in Owensboro, Kentucky and Evansville, Indiana, Riney Hancock CPAs offers more than just tradition-al accounting services; they also pro-vide financial advisory services for businesses, wealth and investment management services, personal fi-nancial planning, comprehensive tax planning and consulting, litigation support and valuations, and medical/dental practice management consult-ing.

Riney Hancock CPAs is also a member of PKF North America, a membership association comprised of independent accounting and con-sulting firms in North America that are dedicated to serving small to mid-dle-market businesses and individual clients. Through membership with PKF North America, Riney Hancock CPAs can provide clients with na-tional resources while maintaining a home-town, local firm identity.

About When Work Works

When Work Works is a national initiative, led by the partnership of Families and Work Institute and the Society for Human Resource Manage-ment (SHRM), to help businesses of all sizes and types become more suc-cessful by transforming the way they view and adopt effective and flexible workplaces. When Work Works is one of the foremost providers of re-sources, rigorous research and best practices on workplace effectiveness and flexibility in the nation. The ini-tiative administers the prestigious Al-fred P. Sloan Awards for Excellence in Workplace Effectiveness and Flex-ibility annually, which recognize ex-emplary employers for using flexibil-ity as an effective workplace strategy to increase business and employee success. Visit www.whenworkworks.org and follow them on Twitter @FWINews and @SHRMPress.

Stan Syra, John David Sandefur and Terry Butler participate in the Dash for Cash 5k.

Adam and Daile Hancock participated in the BBQ Festival 5k.


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Free public Wi-Fi internet is now available throughout Smothers Park, courtesy of the Greater Owensboro Chamber Young Professionals. The free Wi-Fi is accessible from the RiverPark Center to the west end of Smother’s Park.

“It is a great time to be a young professional in Owensboro, and the Chamber Young Professionals are ex-cited to have the opportunity to con-tribute to the downtown experience,” said Laura Alexander, past-chair of CYP and Director of Sales for the Owensboro Convention Center. “It was our goal to get the free Wi-Fi in-stalled prior to this weekend’s grand

opening. We are grateful to our part-ners in this project to get it complete in time for the celebration.”

The fundraising for this commu-nity service project, and other phil-anthropic efforts by the Chamber Young Professionals (CYP), is done at their annual event, Lady in Red. The annual event was held August 25 at the RiverPark Center’s newly reno-vated Woodward’s Plaza.

“Lady in Red is the Chamber Young Professional’s biggest event of the year, we raise money to fund all our philanthropic projects, and everyone has a great time. This year, we are so excited to be involved in the opening

of Smothers Park, and it’s a perfect fit with our effort to provide free Wi-Fi throughout the year in the park,” said Robynn Clark, chair of the Lady in Red planning committee and Fi-nancial Center Leader at BB&T.

CYP, organized by the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce, provides networking opportunities for professionals ages 40 and under. Through community service projects, social events, corporate tours and educational programs, CYP members develop strong ties in the Owensboro community. For more information on how to join CYP, or the Chamber of Commerce, call 926-1860.

Connected:Chamber Young Professionals provide Wi-Fi Internet at park

Laptops and smart phone in hand, Allen Street neighbors, Jody Bratcher, left, and Pam Oldham, retreat to the shade of one of the covered pavillions in Smothers Park on Tuesday to surf the net using the free wifi service now available all over the park. "It's a whole lot easier to see in the shade. It would be nice to have some plugs under here," Bratcher said.


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Brandon GentryAge: 30

Banking Center Manager, Republic Bank & Trust

Young Professional


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Hometown Owensboro, KY

Civic or Volunteer Activities Chamber of Young Professionals, Social ChairFriday After 5, 2012 ChairmanHospice of Western KY, Board Member

How long have you served in your current position?I have been in my current position for 2 ½ years

What does your position entail?

I manage the day to day activities inside my banking center. My goals include facilitating the growth of our core customers, and conjointly directing the banking center staff. I strive to sell and promote our great commercial, residen-tial, and consumer loans as well as deposit products. I make outside calls and solicit existing customers. Another great aspect of my position revolves around community involve-ment. Republic Bank encourages and supports participation in our community.

What’s the best part about your position?

The best part of my position is the reward of assisting the personal and professional achievements of others. I work hard with my clients whether it’s their first home pur-chase, or it’s a small business loan that helps their business get off the ground. Having a hands-on approach transforms these first time clients into lifelong relationships.

Why do you choose to live and work in the greater Owensboro area?

I choose to live in Owensboro because of the opportu-nity for young professionals. For years local leaders have pushed for progress in Owensboro to create better stan-dards of education and sustain more desirable jobs. Now it appears that these goals are starting to come to fruition. WKU-O, Brescia University, KWC, and Owensboro Com-munity College are providing top notch education, recent

construction and city planning is revitalizing downtown, and constant private economic development is expanding job opportunities. In short these new developments are creating an atmosphere that is buzzing with excitement for our generation.

What are other young professionals saying about the Owensboro area?

A lot of young professionals are excited about what’s going on in Owensboro. Young professionals have a lot to look forward to due to the changes making our city bet-ter without renouncing our “small town” demeanor. We as young professionals are always looking to better ourselves, to have exciting opportunities, and to have a wide variety of entertainment within our community. Now we can say that Owensboro is on the leading edge of progress in our region.

“The best part of my position is the reward of assisting the personal and professional achievements of others. I work hard with my clients whether it’s their first home purchase, or it’s a small business loan that helps their business get off the ground. Having a hands-on approach transforms these first time clients into lifelong relationships.”


Laura AlexanderAge: 31

Director of Sales, Owensboro Convention Center

Young Professional


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HometownOwensboro, KY

Civic or Volunteer Activities Immediate Past Chair, CYPGO Chamber Board of DirectorsWe The People Town Meeting, participant and volunteer

How long have you served in your current position?

Since this past March. Other than the GM, I was the first person hired to work at the convention center.

What does your position entail?

As Director of Sales, I am responsible for managing, supervising and assisting the sales staff in coordinating all bookings and functions for the facility. Basically, I am in charge of making sure that the convention center stays busy from the time they open the doors. Currently, I am working on getting information out to various groups across the nation about our opening date and sending proposals/bids to those groups for their events beginning in December 2013.

What’s the best part about your position?

Working with everyone in the community as well as visi-tors and selling Owensboro as a destination. It is also very exciting to be a part of the downtown revitalization.

Why do you choose to live and work in the greater Owensboro area?

I grew up in Owensboro and never really appreciated it until I came back from college. Owensboro is a great place for many reasons. It is a great place to start your career and grow within that organization as well as a great place to raise a family. Sometimes, I think people take the small-town-feeling for granted, but it provides a much better place

to grow as an individual and much easier to get involved in the community.

What are other young professionals saying about the Owensboro area?

Most of the young professionals agree that downtown is a great place to work. I see many young professionals walking around to business meetings or grabbing lunch at one of the local restaurants. It provides a great “big city” atmosphere without the hassles of living in a big city. I have also seen a big push for young professionals who grew up in Owensboro and are currently living someone else to return to Owensboro. I think that says a lot.

“Basically, I am in charge of making sure that the convention center stays busy from the time they open the doors. Currently, I am working on getting information out to various groups across the nation about our opening date and sending proposals/bids to those groups for their events beginning in December 2013.”


Your Chamber of Commerce draws its strength from the mem-ber to member relationships that make up our organization. In an effort to build stronger connec-tions among the members in the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce, we are introducing an exciting program designed to showcase and give back to our members that are actively working towards this common goal.

New for 2012 is the Member Referral Program. Any current member who recruits a business to invest in a new Chamber mem-bership will be awarded $100.00 off their membership dues for the next year. The new business that

joins and the current member who serves as the recruiter will both receive the opportunity to show-case their products and services at an exclusive business expo. This expo, the Members Choice Awards, will take place November 8th at the Hines Center in Philpot.

If you know a business that you would like to refer to take advantage of the new program or if you have any questions, please call me at the Chamber office at 926-1860. I would love the oppor-tunity to share with you how your business can take advantage of all the programs we offer at your Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce.

Chamber offers Member Referral Program

By Missy Gant

Owensboro’s LeadingLimousine Company

Since 1998


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On the Move


Jay Knight, an Owensboro native, has joined Bass, Berry & Sims PLC’s Nash-ville office as an associate in the firm’s corporate and securities practice. He will counsel clients in matters related to secu-rities, mergers and acquisitions, real estate capital markets and structured finance.

Knight was formerly an attorney in the Division of Corporation Finance at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commis-sion. In that post, he served as special counsel in the Office of Structured Finance, where he led a team of attor-neys, economists, and accountants charged with implementing an inter-agen-cy joint rulemaking project under the Dodd-Frank Act. He also served in the Office of Rulemaking, where he was a member of the Dodd-Frank Implementa-tion Team, and as an attorney-adviser in Disclosure Operations.

Knight is a Daviess County High School graduate and earned his law degree from the Northern Kentucky Uni-versity, Salmon P. Chase College of Law.

Rick D. Thompson has been promot-ed to President of Ken-tron Mfg., Inc.

Thompson joined the company in 1987 as quality control manager. He has held various management positions within the company with his latest being executive vice president.

Bob Hudson is the company’s owner and chairman of the board.

Lee Bruner has been hired as cus-tomer service support manager at Cus-tom Audio-Video.

Bruner has worked in the technical field since 1996 providing end-user com-puter technical support.

Jacob Reid, vice president, market development with Independence Bank, graduated from the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado.

The graduate banking school is a three-year program held each summer on the campus of the University of Colorado in Boulder. The community banking school includes a 25-month program pro-viding senior management and leadership training for the next generation of com-munity banking professionals.

Reid completed six weeks of classroom training focusing on four key areas of gen-eral management: lending, leadership, human resource management and finan-cial management. Requirements also included comprehensive examinations, intersession research projects and partici-pation in a bank management simulation course designed to provide the banker/

student with experience in managing a bank. Reid won one of only four distin-guished performance awards leading his community bank in the bank simulation project as CEO to a record performance, surpassing his peer group in nearly every category, said Chris Reid, president and CEO of Independence Bank.

Reid was among 119 graduates of the 62nd annual school session July 15- 27.

Curtis A. Hamilton, a financial advi-sor in the Wells Fargo Advisors’ Owensboro office, has been named asso-ciate vice president (investments).

Wells Fargo Advisors is a national bro-kerage firm based in St. Louis.

Hamilton, a graduate of Brescia Uni-versity, has been a financial advisor for 11 years. He joined Wells Fargo Advisors in 2001.

Glenn Taylor, president of Glenn Funeral Home and Cremator y in Owensboro, was one of three funeral directors selected to serve as a mentor for the National Funeral Director Associa-tion’s (NFDA) Meet the Mentors pro-gram, an event supported by the Funeral Service Foundation.

Meet the Mentors, which took place March 26-27 at Emory University in Atlan-ta, brought 50 young funeral professionals together to learn from three leading funeral directors and to network with like-minded peers.

During the program, each mentor gave a presentation in which they shared les-sons about how to build a successful and fulfilling career in funeral service.

During his presentation, Taylor dis-cussed goal setting and cultivation, the development of “To Be Lists,” and the importance of a balanced career.

Following the presentations and a panel discussion, the young professionals broke into groups to personally interact with each mentor.

Taylor also is secretary-treasurer of Owensboro Memorial Gardens, president of Owensboro PreArrangement Center, past president of Selected Independent Funeral Homes and the International Order of the Golden Rule, and former chair of The Funeral Directors Sympo-sium.

More information about the Meet the Mentors program can be found on the NFDA website, www.nfda.org/mentors.

For more information about NFDA, visit www.nfda.org.

Ryan M. Howard, CPA, has joined the accounting firm of Ebelhar White-head, PLLC, CPAs & Advisors as audit

supervisor.He has more than five years of experi-

ence supervising internal and external audits, attestation engagements and lead-ing consulting projects to review compli-ance with laws and regulations.

Howard, a Brescia University graduate with a bachelor of science degree in accounting, is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accounts and the Kentucky Society of Certified Public Accounts.

Shannon Raines recently completed the Risk Management Program, a three-month program on family wealth planning of fered through J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons.

John Obermeier, store manager of Obermeier Do it Best Hardware and Rent-al in Rockport, Ind., has been named a 2012 national Young Retailer of the Year by the North American Retail Hardware Association.

Obermeier was one of eight selected by the national recognition program that honors the outstanding achievement of home improvement retailers age 35 or younger in the U.S. and Canada.

The 28-year-old Obermeier serves as manager of the store that’s been in his family since 1959, handling both daily operations and long-term strategy.

Since taking over as store manager in June 2009, he’s grown sales while increas-ing merchandise selection at the store.

In recognizing Obermeier, the NRHA highlighted several of his accomplish-ments and initiatives, including improving the store’s merchandising standards and inventory management, increasing staff and store productivity through more effi-cient operating processes, expanding the store’s rental center and growing the store’s e-commerce online presence.

Obermeier uses the store’s partner-ship with Do it Best Corp. — an interna-tional hardware, home center and lum-beryard co-op — to leverage numerous learning and development opportunities.

Obermeier also has a record of com-munity involvement, including serving on the board of a grassroots community development organization. Other areas judges considered in making the award were career advancement, professional accomplishments, education and goals for the future.

Obermeier will be honored at a special event at the National Hardware Show in Las Vegas during the first week of May.

The North American Retail Hardware Association is a 109-year-old not-for-profit trade association.


Neel Ford, commercial lines insur-ance producer at E.M. Ford & Co., recent-ly received his AFIS designation by pass-ing the final portion of the three-part pro-gram. This certifies him as an Agribusi-ness and Farm Insurance Specialist (AFIS).

The designation is a professional cre-dential that deals with unique issues in the farm and agribusiness industries. Along with the AFIS designation, Ford holds AU, Associate Underwriter and CPIA, Certified Professional Insurance Agent, designations.

Ford is part of E.M. Ford & Compa-ny’s expanding agribusiness unit.

The company has been appointed by ProAg, a national crop insurance provider, as its only local representative.

Ford has been certified to sell their federal crop insurance policies as well as their other agricultural insurance prod-ucts.

Robert A. Edge was honored by Ken-tucky Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company as the Agent of the Year for the company’s District One.

Gavin C. Roberts also was honored as Kentucky Farm Bureau Mutual Insur-ance Company’s Agency Manager of the Year for District One.

Edge and Roberts work from the insur-ance company’s Frederica Street office.

Agent of the Year and Manager of the Year selections are based on overall per-formance.

Consideration is given to new busi-ness, life insurance and property and casualty insurance production, loss ratio, retention of business, attitude and cooper-ation with claims and underwriting.

Edge is in his fourth year, and Roberts is serving his 11th year with Kentucky Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Compa-ny.

The awards were presented on April 26 in Hopkinsville.

Don Stroud was elected chairman of the board for Audubon Federal Credit Union at its 56th membership annual meeting on April 24.

Other board members elected were: Robert Kirk, vice-chairman; Edward C. Ricke, Jr., secretary; Tim Goff, treasurer; Susie Imel, Dora Hulsey, Eddy McFar-land, members.

Arthur Schwartz was appointed chairman of the Supervisory Committee.

Member Tim Goff also was appointed to the committee.

Beverly Knott is the CEO.

Carol Bordes of Owensboro has joined Mark Schmidt Remodeling Inc as office manager for the company.

She has more than 20 years of book-keeping and accounting experience and will be responsible for the day to day of fice operations for Mark Schmidt Remodeling.

Roy Roberts, formerly of Owensboro and currently a member of Brescia Uni-versity’s Board of Trustees, was selected as the 2012 Triangle Business Leader of the Year by Business Leader magazine on Wednesday evening.

Roberts was chosen because of his business’ significant number of perfor-mance awards, support of the business community, and significant involvement in the community’s social needs, accord-ing to the news release.

He was chosen as the 2009 Triangle Business Leader of the Year as well.

Roberts, of North Carolina, is presi-dent, CEO and owner of Alliance of Pro-fessionals & Consultants Inc. (APC) head-quartered in Raleigh, N.C.

The company, with more than 850 employees, provides business and techni-cal profes

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