With over 30 years in the entertainment industry, Merry-Kay Poe has established herself with a diverse background that has allowed her to put Kentucky on the map as a production destination. 

Her early role as a casting director and agent launched many local talents into successful careers in an era before the revolution that was the Internet.

In 2007, she launched the legislative campaign that resulted in Kentucky having among the strongest production incentive programs in the country.  She has served as the Chair of the Kentucky Film Commission throughout its history and has steered its evolution that brought production to over 80% of Kentucky’s counties.

Always seeking to learn new skills, Mrs. Poe expanded her title in 2019 to Producer by producing two feature films that gained worldwide distribution and critical audience acclaim. Producer credits include DON’T TELL A SOUL, written and directed by Alex McAulay and starring Jack Dylan Grazer (It, Shazam, Luca), Fionn Whitehead (Dunkirk, Bandersnatch), Mena Suvari (American Beauty), and Rainn Wilson (The Office). This dramatic thriller premiered at the 2020 Tribeca Film Festival and internationally at the 2020 Deauville Film Festival and is in worldwide release. WHAT WE DO NEXT portrays a local New York City politician forced to navigate a complicated past as she climbs the political ladder. Written and directed by Stephen Belber (The Laramie Project) and starring Corey Stoll (Billions) and Karen Pittman (The Morning Show). Both enjoyed theatrical releases and are now available on VOD.

Her current projects include CORNBREAD MAFIA, a scripted series BASED ON THE TRUE STORY OF KENTUCKY FARMERS WHO BUILT THE LARGEST MARIJUANA ENTERPRISE in NORTH AMERICAN HISTORY. She owns exclusive life story rights and books by the Cornbread Mafia founder and kingpin Joe Keith Bickett and three other original members of the Cornbread Mafia, including “The Godfather of Grass”, and Johnny Boone.

Poe continues to grow the industry in her home state. Her passion for seeing her local entertainment community flourish has brought her to work on building infrastructure and working with state workforce development to include education and training programs for crew and ancillary occupations.Additionally, she is excited to be partnering with Sylmar Studios in building a soundstage in the heart of downtown Louisville.