Fayette Alliance Welcomes Board Member Mary Catherine Jones; Announces Retiring Board Member Gay Haggin VanMeter
January 10, 2019 (Lexington, Ky.)- Lexington-Fayette County land use advocacy non-profit Fayette Alliance has named Mary Catherine Jones, Director of Marketing & Special Events at Red Mile, to their board. In addition to her role as a board member, Jones will also chair the Bluegrass International Cup, an annual high-goal polo match which benefits the Fayette Alliance Foundation and the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Foundation. Long-time board member and BGIC Chair Gay Haggin VanMeter has retired from the board after twelve years of outstanding service.
“With her expertise, energy, and commitment to the Bluegrass, Mary Catherine is an important addition to our board,” said Fayette Alliance Board Chairperson Don Robinson. “We are so grateful for all Gay’s hard work and contribution. She has left an incredible legacy and will be sorely missed. But, we are so excited to welcome Mary Catherine and look forward to working together to advance our critical mission of growing our city and promoting our farms.”
As Director of Marketing & Special Events at Red Mile, Jones oversees promotion of Red Mile gaming initiatives and the strategic growth and promotion of events at the venue. In addition to her work at Red Mile, Jones is partner and co-founder of Rent The Races, an online hat and fascinator rental company and is a cycle instructor at CycleYou Lexington. In her spare time, Mary Catherine volunteers with Bluegrass Land Conservancy and as a recruitment interviewer for the Tulane Alumni Association. She is a native Houstonian and holds a BS and Masters in Public Health from Tulane University.
“I am thrilled to be joining the board at Fayette Alliance,” said Jones. “I was born and raised in Houston—a city with few zoning laws and extensive sprawl in the last few decades. So, upon my relocation to Lexington, I was ecstatic to see a city that has chosen to strategically and responsibly grow and also preserve the heart of the Bluegrass—the farmland. Fayette Alliance encompasses my hope that Lexington-Fayette County remains an economic and cultural stronghold by promoting responsible development and growth.”
Fayette Alliance is a coalition of citizens dedicated to achieving sustainable growth in Lexington-Fayette County through land use advocacy, education, and promotion. Through their efforts at government and beyond, Fayette Alliance positively impacts countywide planning and zoning laws and policies – which are the building blocks of a better quality of life, economy, and environment for Lexington.
Since 2007, Bluegrass International Cup has featured exciting high-goal polo, delicious food and live music. Beginning in 2012, Evening in the Gardens is held the night before the Bluegrass International Cup, featuring gourmet food and signature cocktails in an unparalleled and elegant setting. More than 600 people attend these events to support our world-class city, farms, and healthcare. The 7th Annual Evening in the Gardens will be held on September 5, 2019 and the 13th Annual Bluegrass International Cup will be held the following evening, September 6, 2019, at Mt. Brilliant Farm.
“This is a pivotal time in Lexington’s growth and history,” said Fayette Alliance Executive Director, Susan Speckert “We thank Gay for her dedicated service, contribution and commitment to our community. And, we are so proud to welcome Mary Catherine and excited to learn from her expertise and experience.
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