Kentucky Derby Museum welcomes familiar face as Director of Communications
Rachel Collier’s TV news background elevates exposure for non-profit
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (May 28, 2019) – Kentucky Derby Museum is proud to welcome former television news anchor, Rachel Collier, as its Director of Communications. Collier came on board as Interim Communications Officer at the end of March and has decided to stay full-time.
“I remember coming to Kentucky Derby Museum on field trips as a little girl. I was captivated then, and am hooked now. I feel extremely fortunate to have the job of sharing the history of the Kentucky Derby with the world through communications,” said Collier.
Kentucky Derby Museum created the new Director of Communications position where Collier will serve as the primary media spokesperson for the Museum, coordinate press conferences, handle media requests, assist in public relations strategies, and prepare content for Museum communications; from social media to newsletters.
As a TV news anchor and reporter for a decade, Collier won nearly 20 awards including three prestigious Emmy awards for her storytelling and was honored as Best TV Reporter by the Kentucky Associated Press in 2017. “Rachel knows how to gain media coverage, because she understands firsthand what newsrooms are looking for. She brings an excitement, passion and work ethic that’s already drawn in extensive print, radio, magazine and television coverage, including on the network level. As a non-profit, it is important to bring awareness to our mission, and that’s exactly what she’s doing,” said Pat Armstrong, President & CEO of Kentucky Derby Museum.
Collier graduated with honors from Western Kentucky University with a degree in broadcast journalism. She started her TV career in Bowling Green, KY at WBKO-TV before heading back home to work at WDRB-TV in Louisville for nearly nine years. Collier left WDRB in December 2018 to pursue freelance work before landing at Kentucky Derby Museum.