LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Kentucky Derby Museum has named Katie Fussenegger as its new vice president.
Fussenegger served as president & CEO of ShelbyKY Tourism since 2010. Prior to that role, she worked at Louisville Tourism. She is involved in the tourism industry at the state level, currently serving as the board treasurer of the Kentucky Tourism Industry Association, and is past president of the Kentucky Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus.
As VP, Fussenegger will oversee various aspects of daily operations at the museum, provide leadership oversight and work to increase revenue for various departments, including visitor services, retail and membership. She will also oversee proper execution of the museum’s overall budget, while maintaining and tracking financial records of multiple department budgets. She will also be key in hiring, developing and appraising staff.
“Katie comes with a very impressive track record and strong endorsements from trusted leaders in the Kentucky tourism industry,” said Patrick Armstrong, president and CEO of Kentucky Derby Museum. “We are excited to have Katie’s expertise in a leadership position at the museum as we continue to grow.”
During Fussenegger’s time with ShelbyKY, it became recognized as one of Kentucky’s top destinations. Under her leadership, visitor spending rose to more than $24 million in 2019, and the county brought in numerous attractions, including the Outlet Shoppes of the Bluegrass, Bulleit Distilling Co. and Jeptha Creed Distillery. She was instrumental in moving the ShelbyKY headquarters to a more prominent location in Shelbyville, which boosted visitation by more than 200%.
Fussenegger has a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Louisville and has won several awards for tourism leadership in-state. She officially joins Kentucky Derby Museum Feb. 10.
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