Kelley Dearing Smith has been committed to reminding the public of the value and necessity of a product that is often taken for granted: water. As the Vice President of Marketing and Communications, she has helped Louisville Water Company create its own brand and connect more deeply with the nearly one million people it serves in the Louisville and surrounding areas.

Dearing Smith has been helping Louisville Water tell their story since joining the company in 1999 as a communications specialist. Before that, she worked as the assistant news director for WHAS-TV. She has authored a book highlighting Louisville Water’s history and oversaw the development of the WaterWorks Museum at the company’s 1860 original pumping station. Dearing Smith is Chair of the American Water Works Association’s Public Affairs Council and frequently speaks to utilities on best practices for branding and communication. 

Louisville Water was the first (and to date, the only) utility to trademark tap water, Louisville Pure Tap™, and has been committed to creating some of the best tap water in the country. Along with telling their story, Dearing Smith has been instrumental in clarifying and promoting not only the health benefits of water, but its economic importance and historical significance to the community as well.

Dearing Smith lives in Louisville with her husband and two children. She holds a B.A. in broadcast journalism from Eastern Kentucky University.

For more information about Dearing Smith and her work at Louisville Water, visit www.LouisvilleWater.com.