Natalie Taylor (Herrington) Gentry came to Bowling Green seeking a bachelor’s degree in early childhood development at Western Kentucky University. She quickly began what would progress into a long-lasting relationship with Community Education.
Her first position at Community Education was as a student group leader at the Cumberland Trace Elementary after-school program. After spending a few semesters as a group leader, she was promoted to site supervisor and continued in that role throughout college.
After graduating in 1992, she managed a private daycare center provided for employees of a local business.
Several years later, she returned to Community Education as director of School-age programs from 1998 through 2008. Part of what brought her back to the agency was the chance to work closely with families and their children on a larger scope than she could in the private sector. Gentry left after purchasing the Creative Learning Child Development Center in Bowling Green.
She credits her combined experiences at our agency and then Executive Director Debi Wade Jordan’s support as helping her take on that and other challenges.
“The Community Education staff, we were all a big family,” Gentry said. “That family helped me through my father’s passing, my becoming a single parent, and ultimately my decision to explore actually owning a childcare center.”
After six years, Gentry sold her business to embark on a different journey, allowing her to continue her passion of working with young people, including those outside her new community of Tell City, Ind.
She and her spouse Bryan Gentry acquired Taylor Tours, a company founded by her late father. Natalie serves as co-owner, vice-president, and hands-on tour escort for young adult school trips to destinations such as New York, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.
When Gentry is not traveling around the country with her Taylor Tours groups, she spends time with family, including her daughter, Taylor, who grew up in the midst of Community Education programs and also worked here while in college. Gentry enjoys her horses and dogs and is an avid golfer.