Former HR executive turns passion into purpose with Louisville decorating business ‘Yokie’

By Chris James – When the world shut down and shifted into virtual spaces in 2020 due to the COVID-19 outbreak, Yolanda Reed noticed something happening in the small talk between colleagues. While navigating her role as a C-suite human resources executive, her colleagues often whispered – thinking she couldn’t hear – about the beautifully designed spaces behind her on camera. What they didn’t know was they were getting a first glimpse of a passion that had been quietly blooming since childhood. That passion has a name – Yokie, a décor and design company built [...]

Who’s That Girl? Amanda Dare

In the vibrant community of Louisville, a trailblazer is reshaping the landscape for women entrepreneurs, and her name is Amanda Dare. As the founder and visionary behind Woman-Owned Wallet (WOW), Amanda is on a mission to amplify the voices and successes of women-owned businesses, driving economic empowerment and community transformation. Amanda’s journey is one of passion, creativity, and a relentless commitment to uplifting women. With over 15 years of experience as an entrepreneur, Amanda has built six successful businesses and mentored more than 75 women into leadership roles. Her flagship initiative, WOW, serves as [...]

Who’s That Girl? Lori Holt

Lori Holt is an executive-level general manager and operational excellence leader. She is a natural problem solver with more than twenty years of experience in finance, accounting, information technology, and business/customer integrations. She has led multi-disciplinary teams to build solutions that integrate diverse perspectives. Lori has been routinely tapped to stabilize and manage large-scale transformations, guide complex restructurings, and lead teams through change. Lori transitioned from The Executive Leadership Council (ELC) in Q4 of 2023, where she served as Chief Operating Officer. In this role, she was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the [...]

By |2024-12-05T10:58:28-05:00December 5, 2024|Community, Digital Exclusives, Who's That Girl|

Who’s That Girl? Emma Hutchens, Chief of People, Impossible Foods

  Emma Hutchens serves as Chief People Officer at Impossible Foods, and is uniquely skilled in driving business results through team member engagement. Emma joined Impossible Foods in February 2024, bringing over fifteen years of human resources experience. She is a recognized leader in organizational design, change management, developing innovative people strategies, and designing frameworks and programs that engage people and drive business growth. Prior to Impossible Foods she held Chief Human Resources Officer positions at Heaven Hill in Louisville, KY and Stoli Group in New York, NY. She started her career at Brown-Forman, [...]

By |2024-11-12T15:43:32-05:00November 12, 2024|Community, Digital Exclusives, Who's That Girl|

Who’s That Girl? Kathy Knotts

Kathy Knotts serves as the Grants Officer for the Gheens Foundation, one of Kentucky’s largest independent private foundations.  Kathy helps to oversee approximately $8 million in grants annually in the greater Louisville area, supporting public urban education, human and social services, quality of place, and the arts.  The Foundation has distributed over $165,000,000 in charitable grants since its inception.  This role provides a unique opportunity to get to know hundreds of people who are working daily, and with heart, to improve lives in Louisville. Kathy came to The Gheens Foundation in 2014 after serving [...]

By |2024-11-12T12:32:59-05:00October 8, 2024|Community, Digital Exclusives, Who's That Girl|

Who’s That Girl? Carly Johnson

Carly Johnson After earning her bachelor’s degree in music from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia in 2007, Carly Johnson returned to her hometown of Louisville, where her career as a jazz musician quickly took root. Teaming up with the renowned guitarist Craig Wagner, the pair formed a jazz vocalguitar duo that would go on to release their debut album, It’s Pretty Standard, a record that brought them immediate recognition. By 2014, they had clinched the Louisville Music Award for Jazz Artist of the Year, solidifying Carly’s position in the local music scene. [...]

By |2024-09-12T10:03:41-04:00September 11, 2024|Community, Digital Exclusives, Who's That Girl|
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