Meet The Waterfront Park Team: Kelley Runyon
Kelley Runyon
Director of Operations
Meet Kelley Runyon, Director of Operations for Waterfront Park. Kelley is an 18-year veteran of the Waterfront Park Staff but her journey with Waterfront Park began more than 23 years ago. Kelley has been a fixture through this time doing important work all while putting herself through undergraduate school and eventually receiving a Masters in Business Administration from Indiana University in the process. Kelley is a native of Southern Indiana and helps to elevate Waterfront Park’s interests for the entire Kentuckiana Region. As Director of Operations, Kelley is the heart and soul of Waterfront Park, always helping to ensure things are on track and running smoothly.
Q&A for Waterfront Park Staffers
You have such an interesting history with Waterfront Park. Can you tell us how you were introduced to the park and how you got to where you are now?
In 1999, I worked for Louisville Diversified Services supervising a landscape maintenance crew that helped with trash pickup at the park and worked on the flower beds at the Belle of Louisville. LDS, now Zoom Group, is a non-profit organization that provides vocational work and services for adults with intellectual disabilities. In the summer of 2000, I was approached by the Belle of Louisville staff and offered a job as a deckhand for the last few weeks of the season. They had seen my work with the crew (who we remember fondly) and asked if I could join their team. I stayed with the Belle until being drawn back to work for Waterfront Park as a landscape supervisor in 2004. That was a fun and challenging job. I didn’t have experience as a landscaper but I was a hard worker and a fast learner. I learned how to do everything from riding a lawn mower, fixing irrigation lines, welding and horticulture. The most challenging thing I learned was how to back a trailer – which took me about a year to do confidently.
I worked outside in the park until November 2007 when I was offered a job as the Waterfront Park receptionist. I quickly assumed a lot of additional responsibilities and I feel like I have dabbled in so many different things: HR, payroll and accounting. I was essentially the executive assistant for David Karem and helped manage his schedule, board meetings and minutes for the Waterfront Development Corporation. I’ve managed regulatory permits and federal grants like the FEMA grant we received in 2018 after a significant flood. I regrettably have been the COVID Queen helping to guide us through all the winding turns of COVID Compliance.
All of this experience has led me to my favorite role yet for the park, Director of Operations. My brother gave me a colorful plaque that sits on my desk with perhaps the most accurate title for this role, Chaos Coordinator. I work on all of the things that don’t fit neatly into a category here at the park and I tend to catch it all, which is why the title of Chaos Coordinator seems so fitting. Working for a public park, there are a lot of new and interesting challenges that present themselves throughout the day, so there is a lot to keep me busy!
What is your favorite feature of the park?
The quiet areas east of the Big Four Bridge. I love being able to get away from the noise of downtown and watch the river.
What is your favorite event in the park?
The Fleur de Flea Vintage Urban Market for record shopping.
What is your favorite way to spend a day in the park with your family and friends?
Taking my friends’ kids to the Venardos Circus!
What do you love most about your job?
Solving problems and finding efficiencies gives me the most satisfaction. With my breadth of experience, I’m uniquely positioned to understand all the issues at Waterfront Park. From working outside to working alongside the Executive Director, I really understand all the aspects of the Waterfront Park operation and can resolve issues easily.
In your time with Waterfront Park, how have you seen the park grow?
The park has grown in every way – we had just opened the Brown-Forman Amphitheater when I started. Beyond the physical space, the staff has grown and changed so much. Staff responsibilities have changed and what we are responsible for as an organization has changed. For example, over the years we’ve been asked to oversee the renovation of RiverView Park, the Belvedere, and the Belle of Louisville. We’ve taken on a lot more responsibilities than those within the confines of Waterfront Park.
What is one thing you want people to know about Waterfront Park?
Waterfront Park is a living, breathing thing. It’s always changing. As the park is used and as park use changes, we adapt. We move things, we change things and adapt according to what is needed. Having our own park staff allows us to do all these things. And because we are here every day, we can adapt and change.