[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 131 (Wednesday, July 30, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Page S4898]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO CANDANCE CASTLEN BRAKE

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, today I would like to pay tribute to my 
friend Candance Castlen Brake, president and CEO of the Greater 
Owensboro Chamber of Commerce. Candance is retiring this year after a 
decade leading the chamber, and I ask my colleagues to please join me 
in recognizing Candance for her devotion to serving the public and 
making her community a better place.
  Candance graduated from Brescia College in Owensboro in 1993 with a 
bachelors in history and went to work in her first job for the Greater 
Owensboro Chamber of Commerce as community program manager. The 
experience she gained in this role ignited her love for the chamber's 
work and continues to drive her to this day.
  While completing her master's in public administration from Western 
Kentucky University, Candance began her next career step that involved 
a 5-and-a-half-year period helping run the Daviess County Fiscal Court 
as chief of staff to county judge executive W.M ``Buzz'' Norris. There, 
she assisted in the management of a $35 million budget and 200 full-
time employees. This was only the beginning of her robust service in 
local and county government that built a foundation for her tremendous 
success as a leader.
  Candance's affinity for the chamber brought her back in 2000 as vice 
president of workforce development and education. She worked with local 
businesses addressing workforce issues and helping workers transition 
into new jobs. Candance quickly rose to the rank of executive vice 
president overseeing a broad swath of operations which focused on 
economic development in Owensboro.
  In November of 2004, Candance was elected city commissioner, where 
she began the first of three consecutive terms advocating on behalf of 
Owensboro and facilitating one of the most important developments in 
city history in the riverfront revitalization project. I was proud to 
help secure $50 million in Federal funds to renovate Owensboro's 
riverfront, turning this space into a magnet for economic development. 
Candance played an integral role in this project, encouraging community 
and business leaders to think big. What started as just an idea was 
made into reality through the persistence and tenacity of public 
servants like Candance.
  In 2015, she returned to the Owensboro Chamber as president and led 
the organization through some of its most pivotal moments with a laser 
focus on bettering the lives of small business owners. Advocacy efforts 
under Candance led to the widening of highway 54, lighting of the 
William H. Natcher Bridge, and countywide broadband. In addition to 
these infrastructure accomplishments, Candance has worked tirelessly on 
talent building and retention through the chamber's young professionals 
group and by founding the Greater Owensboro Leadership Institute. She 
believes in young talent and has seen firsthand how valuable it can be 
to a city.
  In addition to her career accomplishments, Candance has served on 
numerous boards such as Kentuckians for Better Transportation, the 
American Chamber of Commerce Executives Board, and the Brescia 
University Board of Trustees. She has also received status as a 
distinguished alumnus from her alma mater for making a difference.
  While Candance's career accomplishments are beyond impressive, there 
is much more to her life. Inspired by her grandfather and motivated by 
current and past local entrepreneurs, Candance leads with selflessness, 
always striving to give back. She frequently attributes her successes 
to the team and ensures those around her feel valued for their work. 
Candance gives it her all and inspires others to get involved too. I 
know that she will succeed in the next chapter of her life and is 
looking forward to spending more time with her husband Nick and adult 
children Nicholas and Caroline. Once again, I ask my colleagues to 
please join me in applauding Candance's career of service to the public 
and to the business community in Owensboro.

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