DERBY FESTIVAL NAMES 2012 CHAIR

2011-06-23

The Kentucky Derby Festival, Inc., Board of Directors elected Wendy Jacob as Chair of the 2012 Derby Festival at its annual meeting on June 22 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Jacob is a Vice President with BB&T and a regional employment manager. She follows the successful leadership of James A. "Ja"Hillebrand, President of Stock Yards Bank, who will continue serving as Immediate Past Chair of the Derby Festival.

"I am honored and excited to be Chair of the Kentucky Derby Festival," said Jacob. "The Derby Festival touches the very fabric of our community and it's not just about fireworks and floats. I've been very fortunate to work with some wonderful people at the Derby Festival and am looking forward to another great Festival in 2012."

Jacob was first elected to the Derby Festival Board in 2001 and has been a member of the KDF Executive Board since 2005. She has served on the Festival's event committee for Thunder Over Louisville, U.S. Bank Great BalloonFest, Basketball Classic, Spring Fashion Show, Student Art Contest, Poster Premiere, Celebrity Luncheon, Republic Bank Pegasus Parade and Spelling Bee. She is also a board member of the Kentucky Derby Festival Foundation, the Derby Festival's charitable arm.

Michael E. Berry continues as President and CEO of the Festival. Chris Whelan, Director of Communications and Brand Management, LG&E, was elected Chair-Elect and David Nett, Customer Communications Manager, The Kroger Company, was elected Vice Chair. Trish Osborn, Senior Vice President, American Founders Bank, was elected Treasurer; Wes Rutledge, Vice President of Investments, Hilliard Lyons, was elected Secretary.

Elected to the Festival's Executive Board were: Jim King, King Southern Bank; Jim Lacy, Zirmed; and Scott Watkins, Norton Healthcare.

Joining the 75-member board as newly elected directors were: Patsy Allen, The Fillies Inc.; Gail Becker, Louisville Metro Government; Helen Davis, Jefferson Community and Technical College; Bill Fisher, I.E. DuPont de Nemours & Co.; Terry Jenks, Galt House Hotel & Suites; and Julie Pogue, Julie Pogue Properties.