Miss Ann, Capital
Former executive director of the Kentucky Governor’s Mansion, Ann Evans. Photo by Theresa Stanley
As executive director of the Kentucky Governor’s Mansion from 2007 until this past December, Ann Evans has been the face of Kentucky hospitality for eight years. Throughout her tenure with the governor’s mansion, “Miss Ann,” as many call her, has been an ambassador for the state, hosting dignitaries, celebrities and citizens of the commonwealth.
“I felt like I was groomed for this job,” said Evans, during her final month on the job. Born in Louisville, she was raised in her mother’s catering and special events company, where she had her hand in virtually every aspect of event planning, from culinary standards to managing a staff. After attending the University of Kentucky, where she earned a degree in journalism and also fine-tuned her public speaking skills, she ended up staying in Lexington. Further refining her place in the public spotlight, Evans served as regional director of the American Lung Association for 20 years while raising her children (Dean Renaud and Hampton Fisher) in Chevy Chase, before accepting the position of executive director of the Kentucky Governor’s Mansion.
The position – which involved directing many of the state’s grandest projects, including the 2009 renovation of the Old Governor’s Mansion and the 2014 centennial of the Kentucky Governor’s Mansion – required a skill set Evans accumulated throughout her upbringing and career. Management of staff, budgeting, protocol, knowledge of food business, etiquette and event management were among the skills necessary to conduct business, all while making it look as effortless as the choreographed movement of a ballet.
According to Evans, reaching out and making people feel welcome were at the forefront of her position.
“Coming to this house should never be political,” said Evans, whose workplace perks included being able to bring her dog Annie Roux for long shifts at the mansion. (Known for being the unofficial ambassador of the mansion and a companion to Kentucky’s former first dog, Annie Roux passed away in November.)
The sheer beauty of the grounds was another perk of the job, of course, and Evans’ reverence for the Capitol grounds was apparent throughout her tenure at the mansion.
“The mansion has been voted most beautiful in the nation, truly a crown jewel of Kentucky,” she said. “I would lock the door and gaze at the Capitol with Annie Roux.”
Last month, Evans began her next chapter as director of historic sites for Kentucky State Parks. Reflecting on her time at the mansion, she said “I am most thankful for the trust the governor and first lady had in me. The staff has been so dedicated; this is Southern hospitality at its best.”