Prominent Kentucky businesswoman Tierra Kavanaugh Wayne passes unexpectedly

Tierra Kavanaugh Wayne, founder and CEO of TKT & Associates and prominent member of Kentucky’s business community, has died unexpectedly.

Wayne, a 45-year-old native of Danville, Kentucky, founded TKT & Associates Inc. in 2006. The company, based in Louisville, specializes in workforce diversity management and professional talent attraction, recruitment and development in the public and private sectors and employs more than 250 people.

In addition to establishing TKT & Associates, Wayne launched TKT-nectir Global Staffing LLC in 2012, a temporary staffing firm now known as ASTUTE Sourcing, and co-founded TKTKonnect LLC, a majority-owned subsidiary workforce-management service provider in 2013, according to Louisville Business First.

Wayne served on the executive committee and board of directors for the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce from 2011-2017 and was chair of the Chamber’s public affairs division. Wayne also served on the boards and committees of many other notable Kentucky organizations.

On Friday, Kentucky Chamber leaders expressed their deep sadness over Wayne’s unexpected passing.

“I am devastated by the loss of my Chamber teammate and my friend. She was a consummate professional and a self- made success story. She was an inspiration to so many with her positive energy, her beautiful smile, her mental toughness to succeed, and her love for family. God got an Angel and we lost a loved friend and peer. I am praying for her daughter, husband and her family,” said Kentucky Chamber Board Chair and President of Kentucky American Water Nick Rowe.

“My heart is broken hearing the news of our friend Tierra. Tierra was the perfect combination of intellect, hard work, grace, beauty and someone I deeply admired and feel fortunate to have known.  Our prayers go out to her family and especially her daughter, who anyone who knew her, knew was her whole world,” said Kentucky Chamber President and CEO Ashli Watts.

Wayne is survived by her husband, Fredrick Wayne; daughter, Tristan Turner; stepdaughter, Faryn Wayne; parents, Chester and Sheila Kavanaugh; and brother, Chester Kavanaugh II.