United Way of Western Kentucky's Chief Executive Officer, Kelly Channell, has been with the organization since 2021. Kelly served as the Chief Operations Officer for 4 1/2 years prior to being named CEO in July 2025. Before joining United Way she was the Member Services Director for the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce. Kelly is a native of Ballard County, Kentucky and a graduate of Murray State University.
She says, "Serving as CEO of United Way of Western Kentucky is an incredible honor and a responsibility I don’t take lightly. I’m proud to lead a mission-driven team focused on creating lasting, local impact and building stronger communities across our region."