If you ask anyone in Gallatin who knows how to show up for a community, Kim Baker’s name comes up fast—and always with a smile. As President & CEO of the Gallatin Area Chamber of Commerce, Kim has spent more than a decade pouring energy, heart, and an unwavering belief in people into the city she chose as home. Now, with the opening of her bright pink party supply storefront and creative space, Kimfetti + Co., she’s celebrating Gallatin in a brand-new way—one sprinkle at a time.
Kim’s path to leadership wasn’t mapped out with titles or trophies in mind. After moving frequently as a child, she arrived in Gallatin in 2000 from South Florida with a simple desire: to belong somewhere. “I was hungry to call somewhere home,” she says, “I decided Gallatin would be it.”
That decision came with commitment. When Kim joined the Chamber in November 2013 as a part-time office administrator, she went all in—long before she ever held the CEO title. “I didn’t really mean to do any of this,” she laughs, “I just got in here and did my best, asking questions along the way. Showing up where I thought I was supposed to.”
By February 2015, after a nationwide search, Kim was named President & CEO. She didn’t pretend to have every tool in the leadership toolbox. Instead, she brought passion, energy, and a promise to give 110 percent. A friend once told her, “Passion is powerful—don’t forget that,” and Kim has carried that reminder into every room she enters. “Why leave home without it?” she says, “It’s more fun being all in, all the time.”
That passion hasn’t gone unnoticed. Over the years, Kim has been recognized as 2019 Leadership Sumner’s Alumni of the Year, 2021 Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives’ Top 40 Under 40, 2023 Pope John Paul II Preparatory School’s Mentor of the Year, and in 2024 alone earned honors including Tennessee Chamber of Commerce Executives’ Executive of the Year, Vol State Community College’s Distinguished Alumnus, and United Way’s Advocate of the Year. Under her leadership, Gallatin has earned statewide recognition for standout events and publications, reinforcing its reputation as a welcoming, creative, and connected community.
Yet even while championing for hundreds of local businesses, Kim quietly carried a dream of her own.
Entrepreneurship has always been in her DNA—from selling Girl Scout cookies on the streets of South Florida – including one memorable sale to Dan Marino – to inventing crafts and sketching ideas into journals. “Opening a business has been a lifelong dream,” she says, “Helping others realize theirs was inspiring—but I wanted to live more of my personal dreams, too.”
The spark reignited during a summer trip to Bonnaroo with close friends, where conversations about goals and why not now? moments lingered. Soon after, Kim stumbled upon a vacant downtown storefront that just felt right. By July, the lease was signed. In October, Kimfetti + Co. officially opened its doors.
The concept itself had been quietly waiting for nearly 15 years—born from Kim’s love of hosting, event styling, and creating memorable guest experiences. Raised by exceptional hosts and shaped by years in the service industry, Kim sees celebration as more than decor. “How will it make guests feel? What will they remember?” she asks.
That philosophy is woven into Kimfetti’s mission: to help people feel seen and celebrated by elevating life’s sweetest moments with intentional design and hands-on support. The shop’s core values—Celebrate Everyone, Lead with Kindness, Create with Joy, Grow Together—aren’t just words on the wall; they’re lived daily.
Family plays a central role, too. Kim and her husband Ryan’s eight-year-old daughter, Annlyn, has become both muse and teammate. From paint colors to products that sparkle just enough, Annlyn’s influence is everywhere. “She’s learning the joy of owning something,” Kim says, “Building from the ground up. Seeing the fruits of hard work.” For a generation that will own less and less, that lesson feels especially meaningful.
Opening Kimfetti has also given Kim fresh perspective on the very work she’s championed for years. Experiencing Chamber events like Tinsel and Treasures as a business owner was, she says, “full circle.” Hearing customers say, “I’m here because of the Chamber event,” reaffirmed why community infrastructure matters—and why Gallatin works.
Her advice for aspiring business owners is heartfelt and practical: get involved, write that Chamber check, ask questions, lean on neighbors, and give yourself grace. “Gallatin is true to itself—come as you are,” she says, “Once this community knows and trusts you, they show up loud and proud.”
At the heart of it all is the same guiding belief Kim has carried since her earliest days at the Chamber: passion changes things.
“Here at Kimfetti,” she says, “we craft moments with sparkle and fun, because everyone deserves to feel special, loved, and celebrated.”
In Gallatin, that’s not just a business motto—it’s a way of life Kim Baker has been building for years.
Working with so many businesses and helping many realize their dreams has been so inspiring to witness and walk through, but has often left me wishing I was living more of my personal dreams, too.