Samantha Taylor-Kaai 

Samantha Taylor-Kaai has dedicated her career and civic leadership to advancing equity, dignity, and opportunity for women and families experiencing poverty. A mission-driven nonprofit executive, she leads with both strategic vision and deep compassion, working to create systems-level change that strengthens communities and expands access to critical resources. 

Since joining the Junior League of Owensboro, KY, Samantha has distinguished herself as a collaborative and action-oriented leader. Recognized as Provisional Member of the Year in 2023, she went on to serve as Membership Chair, where she strengthened recruitment, mentorship, and leadership pipelines for women. She now serves as President-Elect, helping guide the League’s long-term strategy, expand its community impact, and advance its commitment to advocacy and sustainable change. 

Beyond the League, Samantha serves as Vice Chair of Crossroads Emergency Shelter for Women and Children, where her leadership helped stabilize the organization during a critical period and secure transformative funding to enhance safety and food access for women and families fleeing crisis. She also serves as a Board Member of Girls Inc. of Owensboro-Daviess County, supporting programs that empower girls through confidence-building, wellness education, and leadership development. 

Professionally, Samantha is the Chief Operations Officer of Audubon Area Community Services, a multi-program community action agency serving 39 counties in Kentucky. She provides executive oversight for enterprise-wide operations, compliance, and modernization efforts for a workforce of more than 750 employees. Previously, as Project Director of the Audubon Area Community Care Clinic, she led the expansion of one clinic into three standalone sites, ten school-based health centers, and two mobile units—dramatically increasing healthcare access for women and children in underserved communities. 

Samantha holds an MBA and a bachelor’s degree in accounting and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Business Administration. Her leadership has been recognized with honors including Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce 40 Under 40, Kentucky Colonel, a 2025 ATHENA Award nomination, and selection for the Leadership Owensboro Class of 2026.