Kate Shanks named VP of Public Affairs at the Kentucky Chamber

On Monday, Kentucky Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Ashli Watts announced that Kate Shanks has been promoted to the position of Vice President of Public Affairs.

Shanks joined the staff of the Kentucky Chamber in November 2015 as a Director of Public Affairs specializing in energy policy.  In October 2018, she was promoted to the position of Vice President of Policy Development. In her new role, she will lead the Chamber’s lobbying team and direct the organization’s public policy efforts.

“I am so pleased to have Kate lead Public Affairs and continue advocating for the business community,” Kentucky Chamber President Watts said. “With her strong work ethic and knowledge of policy, Kate has earned the respect of her peers, legislators, and Chamber members. I know the advocacy of the Chamber will achieve new heights with Kate at the helm.”

Prior to joining the Chamber, Shanks spent nearly 12 years working for state agencies and held multiple positions relating to communications, policy analysis and design, and legislative affairs.  She is a lifelong resident of Kentucky and earned both a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resource Conservation and Management and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Kentucky. Shanks is originally from Louisville and is the daughter of a small business owner.

The Kentucky Chamber, the largest business organization in the state, advocates for thousands of companies of all sizes across the Commonwealth. The Chamber is routinely ranked as the top organization in the state for its investment in advocacy and monitors hundreds of bills each year for its members. To learn more about the Chamber and its mission, visit kychamber.com.