There are two things that Ben Skiadas is tired of hearing: “There is nothing to do in Owensboro” and “If I had known that, I would have gone there”.
There’s more to do in Owensboro every year, he says, and no place to find a comprehensive list of things to do.
So Skiadas and Roxanne Tromly are launching DO Inc – a one-stop source for everything happening in the community – on Sunday, July 24.
It will be live at WhatAreYouDoInc.com, on Facebook at DO Inc and on Instagram and Tik Tok at WhatAreYou DOinc.
Skiadas said he and Tromly started working on the project in March and had been teasing it on social media for several weeks.
Tromly said: “Everyone has their own schedule, but there is no schedule that covers everything.”
She said: “We hope to stay four to six months ahead. But most small businesses plan no more than three to four weeks in advance.
The calendar will be divided into 10 categories, they say – arts and entertainment, food and drink, shopping, health and leisure, families, children and pets, service and community, home and living, education and business and commerce.
This will make it easier for people to find what interests them, they said.
Tromly said: “I went to Brescia. Then I lived in Louisville for 10 years before moving back to Owensboro. The things that interested me in college and the things that interest me now are different.
Today, she says, “Owensboro is rich with activity.”
Tromly said the schedule will expand as more people start participating.
Skiadas said the calendar will have a staff of seven with about five interns working to keep it up to date.
There is no charge to list events and no charge to view them.
Skiadas said, “It’s being paid for with support from Jagoe Homes, Green River Distilling, Sun Windows, The Harris Jarboe Group and Jerry Ray Davis Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram. We are in negotiation with several others. Without them, it falls flat.
He said: “We hope the community will engage. We want to promote any event.
Tromly said, “We can help people who don’t know how to start with an idea.”
Skiadas said, “We want to foster collaboration and connection. We will participate in some events to add value.
The site, he said, “will be very easy to use”.
Tromly said: “People will be able to spend less time finding something to do and more time doing it.”
It wasn’t as if Skiadas needed to do more.
His business card already lists ASBC Management, Lure Seafood and Grille, Famous Bistro, Lure Smoke Shack BARbq, Gasper Brewing, Green Tape Customs, The Beer Share and On A Good Note.
But DO Inc is something Owensboro needs, he said.
“We want feedback,” Skiadas said. “We want people to let us know what more they want.”
