Local Inspiration

Tierra Kavanaugh Turner, CEO

Tierra Kavanaugh Turner, a native of Danville, Kentucky, is a graduate from the University of Louisville, with a bachelor of arts in Economics. She has held various management positions with corporations such as: BellSouth Mobility, now known as AT&T, American Express and BellSouth Corporation as a Loaned Executive to the Metro United Way. She is the founder and previous owner of Executive Courier Express LLC, a small package express delivery business.

In March, 2004, Tierra was appointed by Governor Ernie Fletcher to serve as the first Executive Director for the newly created Governor’s Office of Minority Empowerment. The Office serves in an advisory capacity to the Governor, the General Assembly, the Kentucky Congressional Delegation and other appropriate government officials. She had the responsibility of researching and participating in the development of policies affecting Kentucky’s minority community in the specific areas of economic development, education, healthcare, housing, government services and criminal justice matters.

In 2006, Tierra founded TKT & Associates, Inc., which has become a leader in both supplier and workplace diversity management and professional staffing for the public and private sectors. TKT & Associates, Inc. also provides clients over 100 combined years of expertise in small, disadvantaged, minority- and women-owned business growth development.

In 2008, Tierra was appointed by Governor Steven L. Beshear as a member of the Judicial Nominating Committee, 30th Judicial Circuit and District.

Tierra currently serves on the board of Greater Louisville Inc. (GLI) as an Executive Committee member and serves as the Chair of GLI’s Public Policy Committee. She serves on the board of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and is the Chair of the Kentucky Chamber’s Small BusinessCommittee. Additionally, she serves as a member of the Louisville Local Advisory Board for BB&T, a Board Advisory member of the Ohio River Valley Women’s Business Council and is a member of the Board of Directors at the Norton Healthcare Foundation.