LOUISVILLE, Ky. — City and community leaders filled the room at the Muhammad Ali Center Tuesday night to formally welcome its new CEO, DeVone Holt.
"What he says about this being his passion job, it's not just words," Lonnie Ali said. She is Muhammad Ali's widow. "He feels it here and he represents this city, this center, Muhammad, in such an exquisite way and I am so proud that he is our CEO."
Lonnie played a part in choosing Holt for the job, and said he's already hit the ground running.
Holt is the first Louisville native to lead the center. He spoke about the need to build its relationship with the community.
"There's work that we're going to do to open the doors and invite the community into the Muhammad Ali Center, but just as importantly, we're going to take the Muhammad Ali Center out into the community," he said. "There's so many relationships that we need to build and strengthen to be part of the great work that's happening through our community."
Before taking over the job in July, Holt previously worked for Goodwill Industries of Kentucky, and played a significant role in the plan to create the Opportunity Campus in west Louisville.
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