Bowling Green Chamber holds 91st Celebration, reflects on 2025 and loss of Mike Murphy

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce celebrated 91 years of growth in Warren County by looking back at a successful 2025.

Interim CEO and President Meredith Wilson says it’s an opportunity to reflect on an amazing year of growth in our area.

“We get to talk about all of our economic development achievements. 13 new projects announced this year, 350 million in capital investment, 430 jobs. The list goes on and on,” she says.

Outgoing chairman Andy Barker of Houchens Insurance Group says the main reason for that success is simple:

“Everybody pulls the same direction. The university, the school systems, the city, the county. I mean, that’s unusual… and that’s something special that separates Bowling Green for everybody else, and it’s going to make for an unbelievable platform going forward… and we have some incredible things going on the next level,” he says.

While it’s a night to reflect on all the positives 2025 brought, it’s also a chance to honor a historic figure in the Bowling Green community: longtime Chamber supporter Mike Murphy.

His legacy will continue to live on through the Chamber as well.

“It’s hard to put into words what he has meant to this community and particularly to our organization. Long time Chamber supporter, he was our 2001 chair, 1997 Small Business of the Year and the 2020 Herb Smith Award recipient. His legacy will live on for generations,” Wilson says.

“Mike added so much to our community and gave back and really set a whole new bar for us and what we need and the way we all carry ourselves… and he’s raised the bar for us, and then we’ll set the precedent for a lot of other people to come because of all he was able to do… and what a special person, not only in his business and success he had there, but all the successes he brought to our community in so many different ways,” Barker says.

Congratulations to the Chamber Volunteer Award winners:

• Ambassador of the Year – Derek Olive, Continuing and Professional Development at Western Kentucky University
• Board Volunteer of the Year – Chris Higgins, Scotty’s Contracting + Stone, LLC
• Chamber Volunteer of the Year – Justin Gearlds, RENEW by Optimum Rejuvenation
• Young Professional of the Year – Brittany Bennett, TriStar Greenview Regional Hospital

Barker also passed the gavel to Stewart Richey Construction Group’s Roddy Grimes, who will be taking over as the 2026 Chairman of the Board of Directors.