Kentucky Derby Museum welcomes three new Board members with local ties to banking, UofL Athletics
Museum Board also thanks outgoing Board members, approves FY25 budget
Louisville, Ky. (October 1, 2024) – The Kentucky Derby Museum is excited to launch into its 2025 fiscal year with a unanimously approved budget and three new Board members. With the Board’s support, the museum will execute several large projects during this new fiscal year, which runs from October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2025, highlighting the museum’s 40th anniversary.
During the quarterly Kentucky Derby Museum Board of Directors meeting on September 12, 2024, the Board voted to add the following distinguished professionals, each with strong ties to the local community:
- Michael (Mike) Guenthner, Senior Vice President and Senior Market Lender at the Louisville Branch of Central Bank
- Josh Heird, Director of Athletics at the University of Louisville
- Seema Sheth, Senior Vice President and Regional Executive at the Louisville Branch of Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
The Board also recognized and thanked outgoing members Cleo Battle, Steve Estepp, and immediate past Chair Glenn Haygood for their dedicated service and contributions to the museum’s growth and success.
Additionally, the Board approved the FY25 budget and confirmed the following leadership roles: David Nett as Chair, Ja Hillebrand as Vice Chair, Briana Lathon Bluford, J.D. as Secretary, and Todd Spencer as Treasurer. A complete directory of all 22 Board members is available on the museum’s website.
“We are deeply grateful for the wisdom and commitment that our outgoing Board members have brought to the museum,” said David Nett, Chair of the Kentucky Derby Museum Board. “As we prepare to celebrate the museum’s 40th anniversary, we look forward to the fresh perspectives and expertise our new Board members will bring to further elevate our mission.”
The Board has worked closely with the museum's Leadership Team over the past year, successfully advancing the strategic initiatives outlined in the five-year plan established in 2022. These efforts have driven significant enhancements to the visitor experience, leading to record years in attendance and revenue.
"I am incredibly thankful for the unwavering support of our Board of Directors," said Patrick Armstrong, President and CEO of the Kentucky Derby Museum. "Their guidance and vision have been instrumental in channeling the passion and creativity of our staff, and we are excited to continue this journey of success as we approach our 40th anniversary in 2025."
The Kentucky Derby Museum, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is governed by a 22-member Board of Directors committed to maintaining the highest standards of business ethics. The Board provides financial oversight and steers the strategic growth of the museum. The newly elected Board members will begin their three-year terms in December 2024.
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Incoming Board Members
Michael (Mike) Guenthner
Senior Vice President and Senior Market Lender at the Louisville Branch of Central Bank
Mike is a lifelong Louisvillian with over 30 years of experience in banking, having worked for several Louisville banks, and over 10 years as the top commercial executive in Kentucky. He is currently the head of commercial banking in Louisville for Central Bank, headquartered in Lexington. Additionally, Mike founded, served as CEO of, and later divested from a successful fabricating business, Dant-Guenthner, LLC.
Mike has served on the Louisville Orchestra Board, the Kentucky Harvest Board as Chairman and Vice Chairman, and the Kentucky World Trade Center Board, where he was a member of the executive committee for six years.
He was a member of Audubon Country Club for 28 years and has been a member of Valhalla Golf Club since 2020.
Mike is also a member of Holy Spirit Parish, where he has served on the Parish Council and as Treasurer of the Parent Teacher Organization.
Josh Heird
Director of Athletics at the University of Louisville
Josh Heird, who has over 15 years of experience in athletics administration at the University of Louisville and Villanova University, was named the Cardinals’ Director of Athletics on June 3, 2022. Prior to that appointment, following a comprehensive national search, he had been serving as the Cardinals’ Interim Athletic Director since December 2021.
Under Heird’s leadership, the department has thrived. He played a pivotal role in bringing hometown hero Jeff Brohm back to Louisville to lead the football program in December 2022 and hiring Pat Kelsey to take the reins of the men's basketball program in March 2024.
Louisville continued its strong performance on the playing field in 2023-24. Eight teams earned a national ranking during the season, and nine programs reached the NCAA postseason. The football team reached its first-ever ACC Championship game in Jeff Brohm's first season, while the All-Girl cheer squad captured its 10th consecutive national title.
In the classroom, 10 programs received a perfect 1,000 APR score, and the department achieved a 93 percent graduation rate. UofL student-athletes combined to produce a 3.311 GPA for the 2024 spring semester, extending Louisville's streak to 27 consecutive semesters with a department-wide GPA of 3.0 or better.
Guided by Heird’s vision, he spearheaded the department’s fundraising efforts, securing a new naming rights deal and completing several key capital projects.
Heird is a 2002 graduate of Mississippi College, where he was a member of the cross country, track & field, and football teams. He earned an MBA from Louisville in 2009. Heird and his wife are the parents of two children.
Seema Sheth Senior
Vice President and Regional Executive at the Louisville Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Seema Sheth is the Senior Vice President and Regional Executive of the Louisville Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. She became head of the Louisville branch in December 2021, overseeing service to Southern Indiana and Western Kentucky.
Ms. Sheth joined the Federal Reserve Bank from PNC Private Bank in Louisville, where she served as Vice President and Relationship Strategist. In that role, she specialized in financial planning and stewardship for high-net-worth clients. Passionate about financial capability, Ms. Sheth founded the Adulting Academy in 2017, which teaches the basics of finance to young adults. She continues to speak frequently on the topic and its importance.
Among her honors, Ms. Sheth has been recognized as a MOSAIC Award recipient by the Jewish Career and Family Services Foundation for her work in the nonprofit sector. She was also honored by the Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana as the “Tough Cookie” recipient in 2018 for her work in the Louisville community, particularly in uplifting and supporting girls. Additionally, she has been recognized by Louisville Business First as one of the 20 People to Know in Finance and has been featured in TOPS Louisville, StyleBlueprint, and Today’s Woman magazines as a leader in business.
Ms. Sheth serves as co-chair of Canopy Kentucky, a social enterprise nonprofit. She is also a board member of Louisville Public Media, the Jefferson County Public Education Foundation, the University of Louisville College of Business Board of Advisors, and the Speed Art Museum Board of Trustees.
Ms. Sheth earned a master’s degree in business administration from the University of California, Irvine, and an undergraduate degree in theater from the College of William and Mary. She and her husband are the parents of three children.