Parent Profile: Clay Gillham

Tell us a little about yourself.

I moved back to Henderson at the end of 2019 and live Downtown with my husband, Jesse, our dog Tuck (11), and daughter, Jett. She’ll be a year old in December.  Our house was built in 1910, and we have really enjoyed the process of making it our own. 

What do you do for a living, and how long have you been in that position? 

I’m the Executive Director of the Henderson Chamber of Commerce. I began in this role about 6 months ago, around the first of May. Before that, I was the Downtown Events & Communications Coordinator, so I’ve been with the Chamber for nearly three years total.  

What do you enjoy most about your role with the Henderson, KY Chamber of Commerce? What are some challenges? 

The public service element has been one of the most fulfilling aspects.  Seeing our community come together and enjoy events like Porchfest or Market on Main really reminds you why the work we do matters. My favorite part of the day-to-day, though, is the amazing women I work with. They are all so gifted in different ways and genuinely kind people. It makes the hard days easier and the good days great.

There are lots of things that can be tough about the job, but honestly, I think one of the most challenging for me has been the vulnerability. In a public-facing role with nearly 500 members and a Board of Directors, you’re responsible to a lot of people. It’s definitely taught me to surround myself with positive, honest people and stay rooted in the mission of the organization. I’m constantly learning, and I hope that never stops.

Outside of bringing local businesses together, what hobbies do you and your family enjoy? 

Our two favorite things are enjoying time outdoors and live music. We also have a small business hand-making candles out of our home – The Henderson Hygge Co. With a new role and baby in the last year, we haven’t done much of any of these things! But we’re finally gaining a little bit of routine and excited to get back to them this next year.

How do you find balance between work and family? 

It’s definitely not easy, and I’m always working on this. One thing I love about the Chamber is the flexibility we offer. When I’m home with my family in the evenings, I really try to put my phone away and be fully present. With today’s technology, it’s so easy to get pulled away. When we have a week with lots of early mornings and late nights or a weekend event, we really try to make sure everyone gets that time off during the next week to recover.  

What are the benefits of being a member of the Henderson, KY Chamber of Commerce? For businesses interested in joining, what steps do they need to take?  

When it comes to what you can gain from joining the Chamber – the limit does not exist! Yes of course we offer networking opportunities and business resources, but there’s so much more behind the scenes work that you are supporting with your membership. We work closely with the City and partner organizations like the Tourist Commission, Economic Development, and the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce to be a voice for our business community at all of the tables where decisions are being made. We have an excellent Director of Marketing and Membership, Madison Krampe, and I recommend anyone who’s considered Chamber membership to reach out and talk to her about your goals and see how we can help. We have an online membership application as well.