After 45 years of dedicated service to the Western Kentucky Regional Blood Center (WKRBC), CEO Janet Howard is retiring, leaving behind a legacy of growth, innovation, and servant leadership. Carrie Wimsatt, who has served alongside Howard for the past year as executive director in training, will officially step into the role on January 1.
Howard’s journey began in 1981 as a part-time medical technologist — a job she took because she lived close to the center. Within six months, she was full-time, and by 1983, she had been promoted to laboratory supervisor. In 1988, just five years after earning her bachelor’s degree from Brescia University, Howard became CEO at age 31. Over the next four decades, she built WKRBC into a pillar of healthcare in the region.
“I never imagined this job would become a lifelong career, but it has never once been boring,” Howard said. “I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished — growing from renting space to owning and expanding this facility, and being the only blood center in Kentucky that still performs its own testing.”
Under her leadership, WKRBC expanded from serving five to 11 medical facilities, implemented cutting-edge infectious disease testing protocols, and remained one of the few independent blood centers in the country with fully internal capabilities — from collection to processing and testing. Howard also oversaw major infrastructure growth, the development of scholarship programs, and introduced automated records and labeling systems.
The Center’s Board Chair, Russ Ranallo, praised Howard’s dedication and legacy.
“She is the definition of a true servant leader,” Ranallo said. “Her hard work, loyalty, and unwavering resilience allowed our community to have a successful blood center in a time when independent centers have become rare. Janet has truly been the heart of WKRBC.”
Beyond her administrative duties, Howard remained deeply involved, continuing to work as a lab technologist and participating in the center’s 24-hour on-call rotation. Her connection with the community ran deep, often recognizing regular donors by name and blood type, and making it a point for the Center to support the local communities it serves.
“I’ll miss the donors and the staff more than I can say,” she said through tears. “We’ve got people here who are amazing, some of whom I’ve worked with for decades. And our donors, I’ve seen generations of families come through. It’s incredibly meaningful.”
In her retirement, Howard plans to volunteer more in the community while continuing to work PRN when needed at WKRBC.
Wimsatt brings an equally impressive background to the role. A 2007 graduate of Western Kentucky University with a degree in medical laboratory science, she has worked in hospital transfusion services and led the medical laboratory science program at Owensboro Health. She holds a master’s degree in public health and a specialized certificate in blood banking.
“Blood banking has always been a passion of mine,” Wimsatt said. “It’s fascinating to me — one person gives blood, and it can be life-saving for someone else. That whole science behind compatibility, genetics, and transfusion has always drawn me in.”
Wimsatt said her initial focus will be on maintaining WKRBC’s strong foundation.
“This blood center is so important to our community. Janet built something incredibly special, and my goal is to continue that momentum,” she said. “We have a great staff and a strong reputation. I want to make sure we remain a vital and lasting part of this region.”
The WKRBC, founded in 1978, is the exclusive provider of blood products and services to 11 hospitals across western Kentucky. It remains the only blood center in the state with fully internal capabilities, offering a comprehensive range of services from mobile blood drives to FDA-compliant testing and distribution.
