Hargis awarded Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Young Professional of the Year
Henderson native Kelsey Davis Hargis has been awarded the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Young Professional of the Year.
The award was presented on Sept. 21 in Louisville at the Kentucky Chamber’s third-annual Young Professionals Summit. There were five finalists for the award.
Hargis is community enrichment officer at Independence Bank and mayor pro tem of the Henderson City Commission.
“I couldn’t be more grateful for this honor, or more thankful to my community for all of their support along the way,” Hargis said in a Facebook post that included a group photo of several Hendersonians who attended the summit to support Hargis.
“One of the coolest take-away moments was a representative from the Kentucky Chamber saying ‘Henderson always shows out.’ Yes, we do!,” she added.
Independence Bank’s Facebook page offered their congratulations.
“She serves with a passion, creating meaningful growth and connection, not only impacting Independence Bank, but Henderson as a whole,” it read. “We are incredibly proud of her continued service and leadership to Henderson and the Commonwealth.”
Hargis’ community engagement includes Board Chair of the Henderson Chamber of Commerce, Treasurer for Bluegrass in the Park, a Rotary member and a longtime Bank On instructor. Her previous service includes leadership with Henderson Tourism, Habitat for Humanity, Henderson Vision, GRADD’s Feed Seniors Now program, and other community initiatives.
A graduate of the University of Southern Indiana, Hargis was previously honored the Henderson Chamber’s Ambassador of the Year, a 20 Under 40 recipient and the 2025 HCHS Outstanding Young Alumnus.
Beyond her public and civic roles, Hargis helps with the family bourbon business. Her husband Zeb and brother-in-law Zach co-founded Silk Velvet Whiskey, a revival of the historic Henderson bourbon originally crafted in 1880.
Chris Dunaway’s hotel’s wine list honored again
The Little Nell luxury hotel in Aspen, Colorado, whose wine director is Henderson native Chris Dunaway, has been named to The World of Fine Wine’s World’s Best Wine List for the fourth year in a row.
The Little Nell was named Best Hotel Wine List in the World 2026. It won Wine List of the Year, the top award, last year.
Dunaway joined the hotel in 2015 as head sommelier and was honored as the 2024 Colorado Sommelier of the Year by Michelin Guide when he was just 36.
“The World of Fine Wine” is a quarterly British publication that created the global awards program in 2014. It is judged according to a rigorous protocol by independent, international panels of leading professionals including World Champion Sommeliers, Master Sommeliers, Masters of Wine and highly respected wine writers to recognize and celebrate the world’s very best wine lists.
