Louisville Water VP Inducted into Hall of Fame

Louisville Water Vice President of Communications Kelley Dearing Smith can now add “Hall of Fame” to her growing list of accolades. Smith recently accepted the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Bluegrass Chapter’s 2025 Hall of Fame Award at a ceremony honoring communications professionals from a wide variety of industries.

Smith started her career in broadcast journalism, and in 1999, she embarked on a new chapter to use her communications background to help Louisville Water build its brand.

“I had no idea where my drinking water came from; but I took a chance, took the job, and I like to say I drank the water because I never looked back,” Smith told guests attending the PRSA Awards on October 23 at the Kentucky Derby Museum.

Not only did Smith “drink the water”, she championed efforts to elevate Louisville Water’s presence in the community and highlight its trademarked drinking water, Louisville Pure Tap®. In her 26 years with the company, Smith’s work has helped transform the way the water sector views the role of communications.

She has undoubtedly given communications a seat at the table and a valuable voice in the room not just within Louisville Water but also in our community through strategic partnerships and also across the country at other drinking water utilities.

You likely recognize Smith as “the face of Louisville Water”, the spokeswoman on television touting its award-winning water, explaining an infrastructure project, talking about crews repairing a water main break, sharing tips on how to protect your pipes during the winter months, or highlighting a treasured National Historic Landmark, the Louisville Water Tower. What you may not be aware of is Smith’s tireless efforts behind the scenes. She has worked with local, state, and federal leaders to strengthen public trust, to emphasize the importance of clean drinking water, and to continually advocate for affordability and accessibility. She has worked with local, regional, and state officials to expand Louisville Water’s footprint in providing a vital resource in counties beyond Louisville, fueling economic growth for the region.

“There is nothing that anchors this city more than high-quality and safe drinking water. I hope you never take for granted the high-quality, reliability of safe drinking water. And I hope that you always drink tap water!” Smith said.

Some of Smith’s accomplishments include:

• Oversaw the development of the WaterWorks Museum at the company’s Original Pumping Station No. 1
• Authored a book to highlight Louisville Water’s history of innovation to celebrate the company’s 150^th anniversary
• Helped launch and grow Louisville Water’s education and outreach program
• Served as Chair of the American Water Works Association’s (AWWA) Public Affairs Council

As a testament to her dedication and commitment, Smith received the AWWA’s Abel Wolman Award in June 2025 for her work to bring communications into a larger role in the water sector. She is the first woman and the first communicator to join a distinguished group of engineers and scientists awarded the same honor.