CEO talks re-connecting with Louisville roots

We talk strategy with the CEO of a popular Louisville attraction on this week's Access Louisville podcast.DeVone Holt has been at the helm of the Muhammad Ali Center, as president and CEO since September. He's the first in the organization’s history to hail from Louisville. On the show he talks about how he plans to both foster local relationships and expand the organization's reach. “It really has been a whirlwind of activity,” Holt said on the podcast, which was recorded with LBF Editor-in-Chief Shea Van Hoy in late December. Holt spoke about the immense honor of spreading Muhammad Ali’s legacy around the world, calling it “literally one of the greatest honors of my professional career.” Ali is revered by people from all walks of life and continues to inspire the center’s mission, he said.Holt worked for Goodwill Industries of Kentucky prior to his CEO appointment and helped shepherd the organization's $50 million Opportunity Campus development in West Louisville. He speaks about his roots growing up in West Louisville before attending Doss High School. That's something we reported in our recent holiday feature on where several local executives went to high school.The Muhammad Ali Center welcomed about 150,000 guest in 2023, ranking it among the area's largest tourist attractions. Access Louisville is a weekly podcast from Louisville Business First. It's available on popular podcast services, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.