Our Team

Shay McAlister is an Emmy-award winning investigative journalist and anchor at WHAS11 TV in Louisville, KY. Her steadfast and relentless approach to journalism led to a high-profile investigation featured in the NETFLIX documentary series "Tiger King" and a chart-topping true crime podcast called 'Bardstown'. But she is most proud of her work with the ACE Project.

In 2015, she met grieving mother Rose Smith, at her son’s vigil. Smith’s son had been murdered the year before and Shay was sent to cover the story. Shay and Rose kept in touch for years, as Smith started a non-profit in her son’s honor. In 2017, Rose told Shay about her dream to build a community center on the property where her son was killed. With help from WHAS11's parent company TEGNA, Shay and Rose officially opened the neighborhood center called 'The ACE Place' in May of 2019.

She was born in Dallas, TX, but moved often while growing up- living in Miami, FL, Munich, Germany, Breckinridge, CO and Columbia, MO before moving to Kentucky. Shay is a graduate of the University of Missouri and now lives in Louisville with her rescues- Juniper the dog and Monday the cat.

Kristal is a native of Louisville and proud graduate of JCPS schools and attended the University of Louisville receiving a BA in Political Science and BFA in Interior Architecture. She met Rose through Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America where they are both volunteer leaders for the survivor network. She is a wife and mother, lead interior designer for a top locally-owned construction company, former PTA president, and a strong advocate for survivors of domestic and gun violence. She enjoys camping with her husband & daughter, playing piano, and gardening when she’s not fighting for common sense gun laws!

I grew up in Hartford, CT with a big extended family. Played football and basketball my whole life, and I always wanted to be an entrepreneur. I went to Niagara University on a basketball scholarship and then transferred to Bellarmine to play basketball with my best friend. Graduated Bellarmine in 2010 with a degree in Business administration.

Kristal is a native of Louisville and proud graduate of JCPS schools and attended the University of Louisville receiving a BA in Political Science and BFA in Interior Architecture. She met Rose through Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America where they are both volunteer leaders for the survivor network. She is a wife and mother, lead interior designer for a top locally-owned construction company, former PTA president, and a strong advocate for survivors of domestic and gun violence. She enjoys camping with her husband & daughter, playing piano, and gardening when she’s not fighting for common sense gun laws!