For those interested in starting or expanding
their business.
Get to Know the Speakers
Sherry Stewart Deutschmann
Sherry Stewart Deutschmann is a serial entrepreneur, author, and passionate advocate for entrepreneurship. In 2019, Sherry founded BrainTrust, a company dedicated to helping women entrepreneurs grow their businesses to $1Million in annual revenue…and beyond.
Prior to founding BrainTrust, Sherry was also founder and CEO of LetterLogic, Inc., a company she grew to $40 Million and sold in 2016. LetterLogic was named an Inc. 5000 company (fastest growing privately held businesses in the US) for ten consecutive years.
Sherry attributes the success of LetterLogic to its unique culture in which the needs of the employees came before those of the customer or shareholder. Featured in The New York Times, Forbes Magazine, Business Leaders, Inc. Magazine, Fast Company, and more for her unconventional work culture and success, Sherry was also honored by President Barack Obama as a White House Champion of Change in 2016.
Sherry’s book, Lunch with Lucy: Maximize Profits by Investing in your People, is out now!
Frank Bennett
Chris Wooldridge
Jared and Kylee Thatcher
Jared and Kylee Thatcher are owners/operators of BootHill Blades, Three Daughters Farm & Vineyard and TDF Kennels.
They picked this area off a map and moved from Arizona back in 2012 to enjoy a slower life and raise more kids. Jared was a financial advisor and they quickly realized they had a passion for other things. After starting BootHill Blades, their main business of making knives and wooden kitchenware in 2013, they cute ties with the corporate world and went full time on their own. Fast forward to 2018, they purchased a small farm and seem to keep finding more passions and monetary outlets. BootHill Blades is still their main business, but their farm and dogs are close behind. Jared is the Mayor of their small town and Kylee is the Treasurer for their volunteer Fire Department. They have 3 daughters and stay very busy!
Sarah Whitaker
Sarah Whitaker is the owner of Williams Advertising, a full-service marketing agency that also specializes in creating branded merchandise, promotional products and apparel.
Sarah and her team help small businesses and organizations grow by creating and implementing marketing strategies that align with business goals. The Branded division of Williams Advertising designs and produces branded merchandise for businesses nationwide.
In addition to leading Williams Advertising, Sarah is currently the Chair of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Small Business Policy Council. Sarah's previous volunteer roles include serving as President of the Pennyroyal Arts Council, Founding Chair of Hopkinsville Young Professionals Engage, President of Junior Auxiliary of Hopkinsville, and as a board member for the Hopkinsville Convention & Visitors Bureau. In 2019, Sarah was named a top promotional products professional under 40 by Print + Promo Magazine.
Sarah is a Murray State Racer, earning an undergraduate degree in marketing and a master’s in business administration from Murray State University. Sarah’s favorite titles include mom to daughter Ellery and wife to husband Phillip.
Paige Craft
Paige Craft is the proud new owner of Hopkinsville’s favorite local one stop shop, Gracious Me!
After graduating Murray State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and a Minor in Marketing, she began working at Gracious Me! to gain experience in retail in hopes she would have a store of her own one day. Little did she know, God had plans for her to stay right where she was.
She is a small-town girl who values faith above all else, and enjoys spending free time with family.
Owning Gracious Me! Is a dream come true for Paige, and she is dedicated to making a positive impact in the community by continuing its legacy.
Danielle Renshaw
Danielle Renshaw is the owner and creative director at Ruffled Willow Floral Company. With over a decade of experience in the wedding industry, Danielle chased her dream of owning her own business and opened Ruffled Willow.
Ruffled Willow started as an event and wedding florist specializing in bringing unique flowers that tell the story of the individuals who purchased them and bring a unique experience for each event. Since opening in 2019 she has since expanded into a modern florist, house plant and gift shop located at 3026 Fort Campbell Blvd in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Specializing in fresh florals with a plant shop, a DIY terrarium bar, workshops and weddings, Ruffled Willow floral company has something for everyone.
Ruffled Willow has been published both on a state and national level for work in the floral industry. Ruffled Willow took home first place in the pennyriles best for florist on 2022 & 2023. The best of Western Kentucky also awarded Ruffled Willow the best
florist for 2023.
Danielle uses her love of fresh flower to bless the community and non-profits with flowers. She regularly donates flowers to the Christian County School System and the local private schools, Sanctuary INC, Joy Closet and more. She partners with JOY closet for fundraising events in the community. Pre-Covid Danielle urged her wedding clients to donate their flowers after their event to the Sanctuary, INC. were Danielle and her staff would teach floral design classes to the women and children staying at the Sanctuary House.
Danielle served on the 2022-2023 Parent Superintendent Advisory Council. Ruffled Willow also partnered with Indian Hills Elementary School to provided arrangements for the front office to brighten the students, staff, and visitors’ day.
Along with her professional career, Danielle is a wife to Joey Renshaw of 15 years and Mother to Logan (12) and Addison (14). She was born in Russellville KY but has called Hookinsville her hometown since she was three years old.
Danielle is invested in building upon the foundation to make Hopkinsville a wonderful place to work and live. She serves on the newly formed Small Business committee for Hopkinsville and believes in small businesses and re-investing into Hopkinsville.
Philip Welker
Philip started his real estate career in 2000 working for a firm developing a $500 million public-private redevelopment plan for downtown Knoxville, TN. Philip also ran a development partnership focused on buying and redeveloping historic buildings, where he spearheaded all facets of the process including acquisition, financing, construction, and property management.
He attended the Master’s in Real Estate Program at New York University, then spent three years as a Development Associate in New York City working on various commercial development projects, including the $750 million Flushing Town Center. In 2009, he co-founded BNA Associates LLC in Nashville, TN to acquire and rehab REO multifamily properties around the Southeast. In 2010, BNA segued into boutique hotels with the development of The Oliver Hotel in Knoxville, TN which laid the groundwork for Oliver Hospitality LLC. He has gone on developing more boutique hotels including Fairlane Hotel in Nashville, TN, Hotel Clermont in Atlanta, GA, and the Station House Inn in South Lake Tahoe, CA.
BNA is currently underway with four projects, including an $80 million mixed-use project called Riverview Square in Clarksville, TN that entails 156-room hotel, 55,000 square feet of bars & restaurants, and a Public-Private-Partnership for a 726-car parking garage and redevelopment of the historic Andrew Johnson Building as the 169-room Hotel Americana in Knoxville, TN.
Philip holds a Bachelors in Finance from the University of Tennessee and a Masters in Real Estate Development from New York University.
Lisa Hussey
Lisa Hussey is from Virginia Beach, VA and attended James Madison University for her undergraduate degree.
After graduation, she moved to NYC where she started her career in the fashion industry. She moved for work from NYC, to Nashville, to Atlanta, finally settling in Kentucky with her family. Lisa, along with her husband Peter, own and run 2 restaurants, The Local Irish Pub + Kitchen and Black Patch Grille in Hopkinsville, KY and Princeton, KY, respectively. When she is not working, she is busy in her most favorite role, as mom to 2 very active boys, Dylan and Aidan.
Mallory Lawrence
Mallory Lawrence began working in her family’s grocery business in Princeton, KY while still in high school. She attended Western Kentucky University where she earned a B.S. in Textiles and Clothing Merchandising. In December of 1991, she opened a location of the family business in Cadiz, which she managed for her parents until purchasing the business in 2009.
Mallory has grown Hancock’s Neighborhood Market, since opening in 1991, from 16 employees to 50 through building the business and expanding the services offered. Hancock’s expanded by adding a deli department in 2007. They now cater for as little as 20 people and as many as 350. Catering has now become an integral part of their operation.
Mallory believes that owning a business comes with a responsibility to serve the community. She has twice served as President of the Cadiz/Trigg County Chamber of Commerce, President of the Cadiz Rotary Club, Trigg County Hospital Board of Directors, Cadiz/Trigg County Chamber Board of Directors, Cadiz/Trigg County Tourism Commission, and currently is a member of the Trigg County Hospital Foundation.
In May 2023 she become the co-owner of the The Persnickety Pig, a gift shop and boutique located at the intersection of Highway 68 and Interstate 24 in Cadiz. Since college, Mallory had always had the desire to open a gift shop and use the degree she earned at WKU. She felt there had been a void in the community since the closing of Broadbent’s Food and Gifts and decided to expand her business portfolio.
Mallory, along with 2 partners, will open The Crusty Pig in the summer of 2024 in Hopkinsville. They will serve brick oven style pizza along with salads and sandwiches. She and her partners are very excited to be a part of the downtown Hopkinsville community.
Laurel Judd
Laurel Judd is the owner/operator of the Clarksville area Pure Sweat + Float Studios, offering infrared sauna, contrast therapy (cold plunge + infrared sauna) and float therapy.
Prior to opening this studio, Ms. Judd enjoyed a successful career as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor/Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor at Fort Campbell, home of the 101st Airborne. Ms. Judd worked for the Army Substance Abuse Program (ASAP), and Embedded Behavioral health, specializing in chemical dependency and other issues that soldiers face, such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, etc. She dedicated her time to helping soldiers get back on their feet and mission ready. Laurel’s husband is an active-duty soldier stationed at Fort Campbell, with the 5th Special Forces Group. Laurel & her husband Evan have one daughter and reside in the Sango are. They are excited to open their second studio in February 2024.
Ashley Jackson
Planters Bank
AVP Marketing
