Murray native Stacy Thomas, 29, is a familiar fabulous face to local business and education leaders. As Business/Education & Leadership Director for the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce, Thomas oversees several Chamber programs. But she’s definitely not all work and no play. She’s got a great smile and a great laugh – both of which she dispenses liberally. Throw in a karaoke machine, and she’ll get the party started!
iList Paducah: Stacy Thomas, you are just cute, cute, cute, no doubt about it! Happy Birthday, by the way!
Stacy Thomas: Thank you, thank you – that’s the look I was going for. HA! I’m 29 and still lookin’ fine!
Editor’s Note: She’s already dispensing her great smile and great laugh.
IL: You most definitely are still lookin’ fine. You work out, don’t you? I love your arms.
ST: Shh, don’t say that.
IL: Why not?
ST: I just don’t want to scare anyone off. Just trying to stay fit and healthy. I go to Energy in the evening. I’m a night owl.
IL: Then those Chamber Power in Partnership breakfasts each month at 7:30 a.m. must be awfully early for you!
ST: Yes, they are. But I get a lot of energy knowing that immediately following the breakfast, I get to experience some of Paducah’s finest community leaders in the Leadership Paducah program. The new class (#21) will gear up soon!
IL: So what’s up with the Alpha Project?
ST: It’s a free 12-week class to help low- to moderate-income individuals start or expand their own businesses. We hold it here at the Chamber. You come away with a sound business plan. We plan to start it back up soon.
IL: And you coordinate the Business Education Partnership?
ST: Yes, it’s a great committee of educators and business leaders who develop partnerships with one another. Their main goal is to develop a better-qualified workforce in our area.
IL: Stacy, you’re so awesome at running the Leadership Paducah program.
ST: That’s one of my favorite parts of this job. I like helping to develop people’s leadership potential. Anyone interested in it should definitely apply.
IL: Did you always know you wanted to end up in the business world?
ST: We grew up poor. The only reason I went to college is because I didn’t want to make minimum wage for the rest of my life. I knew I had to do something. I went straight through the program, including during the summers, to get my master’s degree in organizational communication. I just thank God for the opportunity to go to college and finish!
IL: Congratulations! That’s such a great program.
ST: Thanks. So many kids grow up in poor households with their parents never going to college. My dad didn’t graduate from high school, so I know what that’s like. I like to advise kids on college or let them know there are alternatives. You can go to a trade school and have a great career making great money. I love to help people.
IL: What do you do when you’re not working?
ST: I work with the youth at my church, Word of Faith Christian Center in Madisonville. I enjoy the family-like atmosphere, and I have really great pastors.
IL: And you do prison ministry work.
ST: Yes. We go to the Green River Correctional Center every second and fourth Thursday of the month. And we also go to The Farm Correctional Center in Eddyville and a women’s correctional center in Owensboro.
IL: What do you do there?
ST: We offer the inmates hope through scripture, sing songs and we allow them to display their talents, as well. Some of them are in there for life. And you know, it could have been any of us at any point in time of our lives – we are just one “choice” away from sitting in the same seat.
IL: Really? You think so?
ST: Yeah, I do. It’s sad sometimes when you see people you grew up with in there. You look at the men and think, “I have family and friends who should be sitting where you are.”
Prison ministry is one of my favorite things to do with the church. I feel like I’m here on Earth to help other people. I feel like my helping people find their purpose in life is where I am most fulfilled. That’s what life is all about! So many people came alongside me to help, invest in and point me in the right direction. I just have this passion to “pay it forward,” so to speak.
IL: Have you seen Prison Break?ST: He’s sexy. I love him.
IL: Michael Scofield or Lincoln Burrows?
ST: Michael Scofield.
IL: Totally. I love that show. Do you ever see prisoners as cute as he is?
ST: No, no, no. Well, sometimes you may see someone cute, but that’s about it. But what can you do, slip him your number? HA!
IL: Well, if he’s as smart as Michael Scofield and has the prison blueprint tattoo’d all over himself, he might break out!
ST: No thanks!
IL: What do you do that’s just for you? Girl needs her “me” time, you know!
ST: I like to go to jazz and blues restaurants. I’m so glad that the Renaissance is here. They have good food with a grown-up atmosphere. You can listen to live jazz all night. I don’t drink, but I do enjoy going out and having a great time.
IL: Where else do you like to go?ST: I like to go to BB King’s on Second Avenue. They have live music and you can dance. And if you don’t drink, it’s OK. You can still have a good time. It’s a great night out for the girls or for couples.
I also like Memphis, but I don’t go very often. I love BB King’s on Beale Street. It’s the street where all the blues places are. Isaac Hayes has a restaurant there as well.
IL: What kind of a fella are you looking for?
ST: I like a guy who loves humor, who has great character and integrity and who is into me. I love to laugh. Laughter is good like medicine! I like to have fun and go out and do things. Let’s take a walk along the river, go out for dinner where the music is live and the night is still young, maybe a game night at Dave & Busters or a little karaoking might hit the spot!
I also like an evening in, just watching movies and enjoying each other – but not staying in all the time. And I date all races. I love the Hispanic culture. Here in Paducah, you don’t find a lot of mixing of races. But to me, it doesn’t matter. I just need to know first and foremost that he is a Christian. That’s the most important thing.
IL: What kinds of thing do you like to do on a date?
ST: I like to bowl. I don’t bowl a turkey or a 300 or anything like that, but I do OK. And I love karaoke! You can karaoke at Doodles on the south side, and I also do it in Nashville and Clarksville.
IL: What’s your favorite karaoke song?
ST: Brick House! Come on now!
IL: Brick House is my favorite song!
ST: Yeah, whenever I do it, I get lots of offers for free drinks. But I don’t drink!
IL: Ah, well, Ms. Stacy, you no doubt make an old man wish for younger days! Shake it down, shake it down now – and let’s put your next karaoke performance on the iList!
