Charlie has never had a dull or quiet day in his hometown with all of the food, sports, and social atmosphere Louisville has going on, especially in the Highlands and Nulu, which are his favorite neighborhoods. He spends his free time working with professional development groups like YPAL and the UofL Graduate Business Alumni Council and non-profits such as Make-A-Wish and Metro United Way.

Matt moved to Louisville for career opportunities in 1991 and the city has shaped his career and community involvement ever since! Matt is a member of many professional organizations that include the Kentucky American Planning Association, American Public Works Association, Jeffersontown Chamber of Commerce, and the Kentuckiana Regional Planning and Development Agency, to name a few. Matt is heavily involved in the workings of Jeffersontown, helping to establish the neighborhood through the popular Gaslight Festival, farmer’s market, and Jtown Beerfest.

From Louisville originally, Ashley has tried moving away multiple times, but found herself drawn back again and again. She loves sharing with her friends and family the unique experiences Louisville has to offer when they come to stay in town, especially anything that has to do with the many festivals and performances all throughout the year.

Demetrius fell in love with the city 13 years ago when he moved here to open all of the local Roosters restaurant locations, met his wife, and decided to make his life here permanently! With his background as a chef, he and his wife love to try new places to eat and check out the local breweries, farmers markets, and the many festivals, from art to food trucks, that come through town.

After returning to the city in 2020, Kathryn now is heavily involved in programs in the area, including Associate AIA, NCARB, Associate IIDA, and YPAL. One of her favorite aspects of her job as a designer and project manager of an architectural firm here is getting to know the different people involved in the development and enrichment of the city – from developers and contractors to musicians and artists.

Born and raised here, Rebecca moved away for 17 years but came back to stay for good in 2013. A self-proclaimed “park person”, she is a part of the Association of Nature Center Administrators and several organizations that plant trees in urban areas. She also is a bluegrass musician and volunteers with Bluegrass Anonymous and the Louisville Folk School. She and her husband live in Germantown and often find themselves biking to the Speed Art Museum, Waterfront Park, and Cherokee Park, where she jogs the trails with her dog. She also loves to hike at Jefferson Memorial Forest!

As the Tourism Sales Manager for Niche and Affinity Markets with Louisville Tourism, Rose is responsible for responsible for growing our Black and African American and LGBTQ+ visitation. Rose is a true guru for all things Louisville, whether it’s wanting to learn more about attractions, restaurants, shopping, or Kentuckiana’s hidden gems, she’s your go-to person! Rose enjoys spending her free time running through Louisville’s many parks, checking out local breweries, and spending time on both sides of the Ohio River.

Growing up as an army brat, Stephen always was told “home is where the heart is” and his heart is definitely in Louisville! He is involved in YPAL, Louisville Adult Hockey Players Association, UofL Alumni Association, and is Friends of the Zoo. His family are season ticket holders at Lou City, and you can often find them at concerts, Racing FC, and UofL games. In the summer and fall, you can find them kayaking in Floyds Fork and Harrods Creek.

A native Louisvillian that found herself back in town after leaving for graduate school, Devyn is excited to be here and explore new places now that she is back, especially after learning more about Frankfort Avenue, Highview, and Nulu neighborhoods. Her new routine includes exploring local boutiques, bookstores, and each of the unique libraries around town and checking out the parks with her dog.

Randy has been in Louisville his whole life. He gives credit for keeping him engaged in his hometown to the low cost of living, central location, incredible arts and foodie communities, and the opportunities to be involved in so many wonderful organizations. He In his spare time, Ricky enjoys hot yoga, Orange Theory, hiking, cooking, and drinking bourbon.

Tonya has traveled quite a bit, but says that there's nowhere she'd rather live than her hometown of Louisville! She joined City Champs to engage with folks new to the city to make their first experiences good ones, and to learn from others, as she enjoys any interaction with people from different backgrounds, experiences and cultures. Tonya likes to go to sporting and arts events and discovering new places to eat. She also volunteers with various community organizations, Russell initiatives, and Dare to Care food bank.

A proud Louisville native, Graham spends much of his time with his membership in the Louisville Hash House Harriers, the Louisville Magic Club, and the Governor’s Commission to Support People with Intellectual and Development Disabilities. His favorite neighborhood is Schnitzelburg, where he attends weekly trivia nights at Merryweather, going to shows at the Louisville Comedy Club and Planet of the Tapes.

Aaron was born and raised in Elizabethtown, KY but moved to Louisville for college in August 2013 and has been here ever since! He truly loves living in Louisville and feels it has something to offer for everyone, with both feelings of the big city or suburb lifestyles without substituting great restaurants, entertainment, and hospitality. Aaron is very involved with the community, and passionate about addressing issues the city faces. He’s a member of Young Professionals Association of Louisville (YPAL) and serves as an ambassador, Metro United Way LINC, and Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) in addition to being a Certified Tourism Ambassador. Aaron enjoys spending Twilight Thursdays and Saturdays at Churchill Downs for live races and live music, trying our diverse food scene, attending neighborhood fests in NuLu and the Highlands, and grabbing a drink at any of our many bourbon bars.

Robyn moved to Louisville in 2002 and quickly fell in love with the city and the robust culture. In her spare time, Robyn enjoys writing, hiking and time with her three daughters. Her favorite things to do in Louisville include walking the Big Four Bridge, visiting the Frazier History Museum and the Parklands at Floyds Fork.

Nicholas moved back to Louisville from a rural part of the state to be back in a city with art, culture, diversity, entertainment, people to meet, and opportunities to get involved. His favorite thing about the city is it’s big small-town or small big-city size, as he never runs out of things to do (from music and art festivals to street fests and outdoor recreation) without becoming overwhelming with traffic or long commutes. This is especially true for his neighborhood of Saint Joseph where he is just a few minutes away from major amenities, UoL campus, and all the bars, coffee shops, and entertainment venues in Schnitzelberg, Germantown, and Shelby Park!

Moving from India in 2015, Sachin now explores local eateries in Nulu and Germantown and enjoys participating in volunteer work to give back, which includes supporting people interested in moving to our beautiful city!

Louisville’s big city amenities that sit beautifully alongside its rich and historic charm drew London in from her time living in Chicago and hometown in Charlotte, NC and she hasn’t looked back after living here for 15 years. London spends her time outside of work as an advocate in her community by serving on the Board of Directors for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kentuckiana, Co-Chair of Metro United Way’s Emerging Tocqueville Philanthropic Circle, and project work for Whitney/Strong and participating in professional development programs such as the Leadership Louisville Center’s Ignite Louisville, Leadership Louisville programs, and Leadership Kentucky.

As VP of the Schnitzelburg Area Community Council and a board member of the Shelby Park Neighborhood Association and Greater Germantown Business Association, Michelle knows her stuff about all the events and festivals that are hosted in her area. It’s just a short walk to many local bars and breweries, restaurants, parks, and local shops and markets. She loves going to the Logan Street Market and catching a concert at the Waterfront Park and Paristown!

Originally from Owensboro, Joe works in banking as Payment Solutions Market Manager for U.S. Bank/Elavon, specializing in small business banking. Joe is also on the Board of Directors for Second Chances Wildlife Center. He really enjoys soccer, and is a season ticket holder for the Racing Louisville FC team! This year, his mission is to complete the Ale Trail this year to try all the awesome breweries.

Ethan is originally from Huntingburg, IN, and loves that Louisville has provided him with so much opportunity and other unforgettable experiences! In addition to his career at Waystar, he has worked with the city’s large music festivals and recently joined an LGBTQIA+ Affinity Group, which is a part of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee at his company. He enjoys trying new restaurants around town, and going to live shows. On the city of Louisville, Ethan says “I think Louisville is often overlooked city by people looking for a change, and I think that has to do with Louisville being filled with hidden gems that a lot of locals know about!”

Tiffany arrived in Louisville back in 2000 after attending school in Chicago. As a mother of two, Tiffany enjoys volunteering with various non-profits, playing sand volleyball a few times a week and staying involved in the community. In her spare time, she enjoys live music and the Louisville Arts scene. Some of her favorite restaurants include Mussel & Burger, El Taco Luchador, Volare, Proof and many more.

Settling into their new home in the Beechmont neighborhood, Garrett returned to their hometown to be close to friends and family. Coming back to the city has renewed their interest in exploring places in the city they haven’t ever been to before and taking classes to expand their many artistic hobbies, like weaving at the Little Loomhouse.

Erica was born and raised in Louisville and has loved watching the city evolve from a sleepy southern town to a blossoming center of art and commerce. She enjoys all forms of art including visual, performing, and literary. In her spare time, Erica enjoys writing, doing yoga, sipping on good bourbon and exploring Louisville’s local ethnic food scene.

Moving from Maine to Louisville for family and to start her business, McKenzie now takes full advantage of the city’s Waterfront Wednesdays, Shakespeare in the Park, and enjoying the many public parks dotted across the area. She volunteers her time at a behavioral health and criminal justice-related nonprofit and serves as a board member for a business looking to provide housing to formerly incarcerated individuals.

Kate has called Louisville home since 2019 when she relocated from Denver, CO with her partner and daughter. The three live with their two dogs in a historic home in Old Louisville. Kate is the director of strategic initiatives at Fund for the Arts where she works with communities, artists, and arts organizations to ensure that arts are amplified in neighborhoods across the region. In addition to a career in non-proft and arts leadership, she is a theatre-maker and educator. Kate enjoys the thriving Louisville arts landscape, local restaurants, and breweries, and exploring the many gorgeous green spaces across the region.

Alex is the Assistant Director of Admissions for UofL's Brandeis School of Law and is a board member at the Louisville German American Club. She was born in Louisville, grew up in Southern KY and moved back to Lou in 2003 for college. She has deep roots in Louisville and has always considered it the “hometown of her heart” from visiting often as a child. She is great at making connections and enjoys sharing the things she loves about Louisville such as the music scene ranging from the orchestra to the local bands like My Morning Jacket and Jack Harlow. Alex enjoys volunteering at local events, often as a bartender. Her favorite neighborhood is where she calls home, Germantown, and she especially enjoys hanging around Goss Avenue, the Barrett Corridor, Logan Street Market, and Paristown Pointe.

Merry-Reid never had been to Louisville before her job interview here in 2019, yet now never plans to leave because of how much love she has for the city! She is an active member in the Black Market garden, Leadership Louisville’s Ignite Challenge, and the Governor’s Employment First Council. With her experiences, she is excited to connect with prospective young professionals looking to learn more about the city.

Tosha is originally from a small town in Indiana but moved here for college in 2010, and has found her favorite parts of the city to be the food options, the parks, and the performing arts scene. She coaches the dance team at Butler Traditional High School, and frequently attends shows at the Kentucky Center & Actor's Theater along with many of the local music venues. She volunteers with Junior Achievement teaching about entrepreneurship and coaches other young professionals on career building, professional development opportunities, and resume design. She wants to help others realize the unique opportunities and offerings that Louisville has to offer, and show them what she loves most about the city.