Kentucky Lake Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors Vice Chair and Chair-Elect, Marshall County Caring Needline Board of Directors, Leadership West Kentucky Class #4 Graduate, Young Professionals of Murray Member, Baptist Health Medical Group Safety Committee & Compliance Committee, American Marketing Association Member Describe a challenge in your career and how you overcame it. One of the most defining challenges of my career came in 2019 while opening Baptist Health Medical Group Primary Care Benton. As a new manager, I led our preparation for Rural Health Clinic Certification. During our initial inspection, we failed due to a minor quality control process on a glucose machine that did not exactly match the manufacturer’s instructions, even though the results were accurate. I was devastated, but a mentor reminded me that true leadership is measured not by avoiding challenges but by how you respond to them. I immediately implemented new workflows, staff education, competency checkoffs, video training, and routine audits to ensure complete compliance. I confidently appealed the decision, and our clinic was ultimately awarded Rural Health Clinic Certification. That experience taught me resilience, accountability, and the importance of turning setbacks into opportunities for growth. These are lessons that continue to shape my leadership style today, and I am forever grateful. What kind of legacy do you hope to leave in your career or community? I hope my legacy is not defined by the clinics I opened, the campaigns I led, or the titles I held, but by the people whose lives I impacted along the way. I want to be remembered as someone who made others feel seen, heard, valued, and genuinely cared for. Whether it was encouraging an employee, comforting a patient, supporting a coworker, or serving my community, I hope people experienced compassion and kindness through every interaction. My faith has taught me that true leadership is rooted in serving others, and I strive to reflect the love of Jesus in both my personal and professional life. If, years from now, the people I’ve worked alongside lead with greater compassion because of the example I set and my community is stronger because I chose to serve with integrity, then I will consider my career a success. Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce Member, Kentucky Lake Chamber of Commerce Member, Murray- Calloway Chamber of Commerce Member, Murray State University Alumni Association, Benton Partnership Describe a challenge in your career and how you overcame it. Leaving a stable executive career to purchase a small business was the biggest professional risk I’ve ever taken. This required us to uproot our lives, move, quit our jobs, and more. It was a lot going on. Additionally, opening a second location 2.5 years later required significant financial investment, careful planning, and confidence in our vision. What makes you stand out in your industry or field? Prior to business ownership, I spent more than a decade working for a company where I served as Vice President of Product. That experience taught me how to build teams, lead strategic initiatives, and make data-driven decisions that have been invaluable as an entrepreneur. My background allows me to approach a family-owned jewelry store with a modern mindset while never losing sight of what matters most: relationships, experience, and quality products. Who inspires you, and how has that influenced your professional journey? I am inspired by entrepreneurs who invest in the communities they call home and are committed to making them better. They see opportunities not only to build successful businesses but also to create jobs, support local organizations, and improve the lives of the people around them. Their willingness to invest in others has shaped my own approach to leadership. It motivated me to leave my corporate career, become a small business owner, and invest in the future of Western Kentucky. I hope to lead in the same way by building a business that serves our customers well, creates opportunities for our team, and leaves our community stronger than we found it. What advice would you give to other young professionals striving for success? Don’t wait until you feel completely ready. Some of the best opportunities require faith before certainty. Continue learning, seek mentors, work hard, and don’t be afraid to take calculated risks when the right opportunity comes along. I also live by the phrase, “Consistency compounds.” Not every day is going to be full of wins, but if you show up and give it your absolute all, over time, that effort will pay off. Bailey Myers Sponsored by Owner, Puckett’s Fine Jewelry Director of Marketing, Public Relations, & Foundation, Marshall County Hospital Bart Lewis 10 SEPTEMBER 2026
