Our Leadership

YPAL is a membership-based organization governed by a volunteer board of directors. It is through volunteer committee involvement and leadership opportunities that YPAL members can make the most of their experience and develop themselves professionally. Because YPAL is mostly volunteer, the organization also relies on strategic partnerships with the business community.

YPAL Board of Directors

Aimee Jewell

President

Organization that actually pays you: Leadership Louisville Center

YPAL event you can’t miss: Our Engage Series is my favorite!

Favorite thing to do (other than YPAL): Going to a live show at the Louisville Palace or Mercury Ballroom

One thing you love about Louisville: It’s big enough to stay interesting and small enough to make an impact

#WhyIYPAL: To meet new people, engage with my local community, and attend unique events. This is my sixth year being involved and I’m still learning new things, meeting new people, and visiting new places.

Nathan Shanks

President-Elect

Organization that actually pays you: Logan Lavelle Hunt

YPAL event you can’t miss: YP Day at the Capital

Favorite thing to do (other than YPAL): Play golf or travel

One thing you love about Louisville: I love our food/restaurant scene.

#WhyIYPAL: I joined YPAL to grow my network, and for the professional development. The relationships I’ve made through YPAL have been a game changer for my career. There is no better way for young professionals to be involved in our community.

Drew Eckman

Immediate Past President

Organization that actually pays you: Frost Brown Todd

YPAL event you can’t miss: 5:48

Favorite thing to do (other than YPAL): Fantasy football

One thing you love about Louisville: I love the food, the people and the Louisville Cardinals

#WhyIYPAL: I built a deep network of young professionals and developed leadership skills

Wesley Vance

Treasurer

Organization that actually pays you: MCM CPAs & Advisors

YPAL event you can’t miss: Quarterly Lunches and exclusive events.

Favorite thing to do (other than YPAL): Golf and help my clients.

One thing you love about Louisville: Derby and the seasons.

#WhyIYPAL: Even though I’m older than a lot of my fellow YPAL members, I am still relatively young in my professional career. So YPAL has been a perfect fit for me.

Kellie Money

Secretary

Organization that actually pays you: Frost Brown Todd LLC

YPAL event you can’t miss: Coffee with the Candidate Series

Favorite thing to do (other than YPAL): Trying new restaurants!

One thing you love about Louisville: Its thriving local businesses and neighborhoods

#WhyIYPAL: Even though I grew up in Louisville and attended the Brandeis School of Law, I wanted a better way to connect with Louisville’s young professional community. YPAL has given me so many opportunities to engage with other young professionals and to develop my own professional skills.

Sally George

Vice President of Public Relations

Organization that actually pays you: Doe-Anderson

YPAL event you can’t miss: Quarterly Lunch- all the yummy food

Favorite thing to do (other than YPAL): Travel and spend time outdoors

One thing you love about Louisville: All the great places to eat

#WhyIYPAL: It is easy to get caught up in your own field, so it is wonderful to branch out of that niche and network with people your own age from a variety of industries. Plus- free food, fun venues, and networking with interesting people.

Jenna Haugen

VP of Community

Organization that actually pays you: University of Louisville

YPAL event you can’t miss: YP Day at the Capital

Favorite thing to do (other than YPAL): Travel! I promised myself early in college that if I got the chance to travel, I would make every effort to do so.

One thing you love about Louisville: The people and how welcoming they are!

#WhyIYPAL: I YPAL for the opportunity to connect with leaders in our community. YPAL affords me the opportunity to pick the brains of the best and brightest Louisville has to offer. Not only that, but I get to surround myself with the future leaders of this community.

Rudy Ellis

VP of Programming

Organization that actually pays you: Dinsmore & Shohl

YPAL event you can’t miss: Excelerate

Favorite thing to do (other than YPAL): Watch UofL, IU and other awesome sports teams

One thing you love about Louisville: The Parks System

#WhyIYPAL: I joined YPAL because I wanted an opportunity to work with like-minded and driven young professionals.

Gary Spence

VP of Engagement

Organization that actually pays you: Republic Bank

YPAL event you can’t miss: 5:48 Networking

Favorite thing to do (other than YPAL): UofL sporting events and traveling

One thing you love about Louisville: Small town feel in a big city

#WhyIYPAL: The opportunity to work alongside some amazing board members as well as interact with community leaders has been invaluable. Being on the board of YPAL has made me a better employee for my company today and the skills I have learned will benefit me throughout my career.

Kristina Johns

Director of Communications

Organization that actually pays you: Atria Senior Living

YPAL event you can’t miss: 5:48 or YPAL 101

Favorite thing to do (other than YPAL): Hang out with my grandma

One thing you love about Louisville: the friendly people

#WhyIYPAL: I wanted to network and I also love free food and drinks.

Jay Brown

Director of Technology

Organization that actually pays you: Smart Data

YPAL event you can’t miss: Day at the Capitol

Favorite thing to do (other than YPAL): Fantasy Sports

One thing you love about Louisville: Diversity

#WhyIYPAL: YPAL has given me the ability to be a part of a large networking group, leadership roles, and opportunities to give back to the community all at my own pace.

Mandy Jackson

Director of Community Outreach

Organization that actually pays you: Guardian Owl Digital Boutique

YPAL event you can’t miss: Community connections

Favorite thing to do (other than YPAL): Walking in Beckley Creek Park

One thing you love about Louisville: Diversity in people and events

#WhyIYPAL: YPAL has given me many opportunities for connections, growth, education and fun that I doubt I could get from any other network. I made the decision to join YPAL’s board of directors and am blessed to now be a face of YPAL and leader in the young professional community of Louisville.

Emma Gimbel

Director of Entertainment

Organization that actually pays you: ADP

YPAL event you can’t miss: 5:48 Networking

Favorite thing to do (other than YPAL): Orange Theory, Fall Festivals and Churchill Downs

One thing you love about Louisville: Horse Racing

#WhyIYPAL: I joined to be involved, volunteer, help make decisions within the community, develop new skills and get to know others who are working towards similar goals!

Hunter T Ellington

Director of Public Issues

Organization that actually pays you: Fifth Third Private Bank

YPAL event you can’t miss: YP Day at the Capitol

Favorite thing to do (other than YPAL): Go on a father/daughter date with my 3 year old daughter

One thing you love about Louisville: we are not so secretly one of the best foodie cities in the U.S

#WhyIYPAL: Once I learned YPAL was more than just a networking event (yes, I thought that once too), I knew it was an organization I wanted, and needed, to be a part of. I have had the opportunity to connect with other young professionals, I have become more engaged with local community leaders, and I have developed both personally and professionally.

Sarah Humphrey

Director of Professional Development

Organization that actually pays you: Home of the Innocents

YPAL event you can’t miss: Excelerate & 5:48

Favorite thing to do (other than YPAL): Spend time with my family and friends

One thing you love about Louisville: Craft beer- there is always something new!

#WhyIYPAL: YPAL has become my top platform for reaching my professional goals: connect with other young professionals and make new friends across various industries. Grow my skills through professional development opportunities. Develop my understanding and awareness of organizations and businesses in our region. Engage comprehensively with people, ideas, public issues, programs, strategies, brands, and more.

Laura Nunnelley

Director of Leadership

Organization that actually pays you: University of Louisville

YPAL event you can’t miss: ELP Summit and YPAL101

Favorite thing to do (other than YPAL): Golfing, abstract painting, brunching

One thing you love about Louisville: local restaurants

#WhyIYPAL: I have been a YPAL ambassador, Director of Membership, and Director of Leadership. Not only has YPAL given me a network of lifelong friends, but also an unplanned set of leadership skills!

Kasen Meek

Director of Diversity & Inclusion

Organization that actually pays you: Centerstone: Social Media Specialist

YPAL event you can’t miss: YP Day at the Capitol, 5:48’s and Quarterly Luncheons

Favorite thing to do (other than YPAL): Attend Yelp events, Creative Mornings, & Connecting Things. I also volunteer with Uspiritus/Centerstone, MUW’s LINC, Pandora Productions, UofL’s LGBT Center, the Fairness Campaign, Louisville Transmen and other worthwhile organizations!

One thing you love about Louisville: We are jam-packed with really amazing and authentic people, businesses, and organization. You can’t spell “LOuisVillE” without “love”.. and we have it in abundance!

#WhyIYPAL: I YPAL for the great people, great connections, and great opportunities. YPAL has given me the platform to connect with other young professionals, engage with community leaders and organizations and develop not only as a professional, but as a person. YPALing is so fetch – find me at an event – I’ve got a high-five with your name on it.

Cassidy Hyde

Director of Recruitment

Organization that actually pays you: Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana

YPAL event you can’t miss: YPAL101- DUH! Love introducing people to our mission!

One thing you love about Louisville: The passion! So many people are motivated by being a part of something bigger than themselves

#WhyIYPAL: I YPAL to surround myself with incredibly diverse people who have a similar drive and goals and to maximize our impact as Young Professionals. I YPAL to make Louisville a better place!

Christian Bowles

Director of Membership

Organization that actually pays you: Q2 Business Capital

YPAL event you can’t miss: Any panel discussion because of the great speakers

Favorite thing to do (other than YPAL): UofL Sports and being outdoors

One thing you love about Louisville: Big Small Town

#WhyIYPAL: I wanted to start meeting like-minded young professionals that I knew I could connect with. I also enjoyed learning about what was going on in the city through YPAL’s events. YPAL is also able to connect me with community leaders and allow access to people I would otherwise not have access to.