Ken Greger is a partner in August Leadership, one of the top executive search firms in the world.
He represents clients in the hospitality, gaming and travel technology fields across North America and in the Middle East.
And he lives in Owensboro.
“Happy wife, happy life,” he explains. “I love this woman and she wanted to come back home.”
Cindy Richards Greger, a Cloverport native, says, “I was on the West Coast from 1989 to 2020. My mother was secretary at First Baptist Church in Owensboro. And I always wanted to move back to Owensboro.”
So, in 2020, during the pandemic, the couple made the move.
“I like Owensboro,” Ken Greger said. “I was pleasantly surprised.”
Owensboro might not seem like a good fit for a partner in a Madison Avenue firm.
But Greger said, “I can work all over the world from here with ZOOM. I use the Nashville airport when I have to travel.”
In January, he was Dubai speaking at a meeting of Global Partners, an investment and financial firm.
“By 2033, the hospitality industry will be worth $15.5 trillion, a growth of 50% from now,” Greger said.
He’s been to Saudi Arabia four times and finds it much different from most people’s image.
“They’re transforming their country economically and socially,” he said. “That helps them get the talent they need.”
Plans there include The Line project, a planned glass-walled city meant to stretch for 105 miles across the Saudi desert by 2030.
AL helps firms find executive talent from all over the world.
Earlier in his career, Greger said AOL was a client during its growth years.
“I saw hospitality as an opportunity,” he said. “It grew so fast I didn’t have time for my video game clients.”
Greger said, “You have to have a heart for hospitality.”
He said, “Labor has been challenging for the hospitality industry after COVID. They lost a lot of frontline people. A lot of people were very afraid of dying.”
Greger said, “I’m interested in learning more about Owensboro. It has more potential than some people may think.”
The former rock drummer said it’s always challenging for a city like Owensboro to draw enough attractions to justify more hotels and continue to grow.
But it’s possible.
He said many of the smaller conferences he works with would be a good fit for Owensboro.
Greger is a member of the International Society of Hospitality Consultants and has spoken at the American Lodging Investment Summit, The Lodging Conference, The Global Spa & Wellness Summit and other major conferences.
Now back to what brought him to Owensboro.
Greger said he met his future wife in Pasadena, California, at an event he didn’t want to attend.