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Julie Thomas is the community education and PR director for Ballard County Schools, currently serves as President of the Ballard Chamber board of directors, is on the marketing committee of the West Kentucky Regional Chamber Alliance board of directors, and the board of the Kentucky School Public Relations Association. She was the first executive director of the Ballard Chamber, and served as membership and marketing director of the Paducah Area Chamber. Thomas won 10 Kentucky Press Association awards while at the Mayfield Messenger from 1988-1995.
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Jeff McDaniels is the CEO of United Bancorp, and was elected president and CEO of Farmers Bank in Princeton, Kentucky, in 2008. He also chairs the Lakes Area Partnership for Economic Development and serves on the Bluegrass Bankers Association board of directors. Born and raised in Lyon County, McDaniels graduated from Lyon County High School and earned a BS in economics from Yale University in 1991. He is also a graduate of the Graduate School of Banking in Madison, Wisconsin.
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Scott Swalls is the general manager of Forever Communications in Murray, Kentucky. He oversees the day-to-day operations of three radio stations, including Froggy 103. Mr. Swalls assumed control of the Murray operations in 2007. Prior to his current position, Mr. Swalls worked 20 years in the radio business in St. Louis, Missouri, Lexington, Kentucky, and the Illinois cities of Peoria, Bloomington, and Carbondale. A 1987 graduate of the University of Tulsa, with a major in radio/television, Mr. Swalls also holds a Master’s Degree from Illinois State in Business Management.
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Kevin O’Neill is president and owner of Preferred Professionals, Inc. He grew up in Arlington, Kentucky and is a 1976 graduate of Murray State University. Kevin is chairman of the Carlisle County Board of Education, a member of the Carlisle County Senior Citizens Board, an active member of Bardwell Baptist Church where he serves as chairman of deacons, and is a youth Sunday School teacher.
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Diane Croney-Turner has served as finance director with Pennyrile Allied Community Services for 35 years. She is President of the Kentucky Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, a board member and treasurer of the Hopkinsville/Christian County Crime Stoppers, Pennyroyal Area Museum, and the Focus 21st Century Minority Leadership. Ms. Croney-Turner is also a member of the Christian County Revolving Loan Fund Committee and BB&T Hopkinsville Advisory Board.
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Hollis White III is the co-owner of Propulsys, Inc., in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. He works as Director of Global Supply Chain and Quality in the company and has held executive positions in Engineering and Operations over the past 20 years. He currently serves on the Pennyroyal Hospice Board of Directors and has served on the board of University Heights Private School and the Hopkinsville YMCA. He graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Manufacturing Engineering. He also holds a Master's in Business Administration from Vanderbilt University.
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Ryan McDaniel is Vice President of Operations for Tyler Manufacturing in Marion, Kentucky - a Par 4 Plastics business in which he is co-owner. Ryan has served with the Par 4 Plastics team for the last 12 years in the custom injection molding and value added assembly work business. He has also served on various boards in Crittenden County, along with being a Past-President of the Crittenden County Chamber of Commerce. He attended Murray State University and is the proud father of three children.
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Eddie Crittendon was born and raised in Fulton, Kentucky. Eddie is the executive director of the Fulton County-Hickman County Economic Development Partnership. This is a two-county partnership that was formed in 2007. Previously Eddie served as administrator of the Park Terrace Assisted Living facility in South Fulton, Tennessee. Eddie served two years as vice mayor of the City of Fulton before being elected to his first term as mayor in 2000 and was re-elected in 2004. Eddie also served as constable of the First District in Fulton County. Eddie is very involved in the community through youth activities and currently serves as president of the Twin City Youth League.
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Renee Buckingham is the service region administrator for the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Renee was licensed by the State Board of Examiners of Social Work of Kentucky in 1986 and has served as a social worker in Graves County since 1985. She graduated from Murray State University in 1981 with a Bachelor of Social Work degree and recently completed a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Western Kentucky University. In 1996 she was selected to participate in the Empower Kentucky Initiative conducted by Governor Paul Patton. She was recognized in 1997 as the “Social Worker of the Year” by the Kentucky Foster Care Review Board for outstanding service to foster children.
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Besty Wells-Jones is coordinator for education and workforce development for Northwest Kentucky Forward in Henderson, Kentucky. She is from Glasgow, Kentucky, and moved to Henderson in 1987. Wells-Jones worked at Big Rivers Electric Corporation in economic development for many years. Over the years she has served on many boards, committees and organizations in the Henderson area. Since she joined Northwest Kentucky Forward, Wells-Jones coordinated the 2010 Rally 4 Education, and is currently working with numerous education advocacy teams in the Northwest Kentucky region as well as the school districts.
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Casey Henderson is the Assistant
Superintendent for the Hickman County School District. He has been in
education for 15 years - serving as teacher for seven years and an
administrator for the last eight years. He
grew up in Carlisle County and graduated from Murray State University
with a BA in History and a minor in Ag Business. Casey began his
career at Carlisle County Schools serving as a middle/high school World
Civilization teacher and basketball/baseball
coach. He continued his education at MSU receiving a Masters in
Administration in 2002 and later served as the Assistant Superintendent at Carlisle County. He has served on many different advisory committees within
Hickman County over the last three years.
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Deborah Cox has served as the Chief Academic Officer at Madisonville Community College for the past seven years. Prior this position, she served in a variety of roles at the College since her initial employment in 1982. Deborah received her B.S. degree in Psychology from Murray State University in 1975, her M.A. in Counseling from Eastern Kentucky University in 1976, and her Ed.D. in Policy Studies and Analysis from the University of Kentucky in 1996. Over the years, she has served on numerous boards and committees in the region working to improve community services and economic opportunities.
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Brenda Glover is the Madisonville District Director of Leadership and Discipleship Fromation for the United Methodist Church. As a retired educator, she spect 15 years teaching vocational home economics, nice years in the Kentucky Department of Education as director of certified personnel evaluation, and another nine years as the professional development director of the Badgett Regional Cooperative for Educational Enhancement.
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Darrell Jones is a field representative with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture and has been with the company for 22 years. He is a 1985 graduate of Murray State University where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture. He currently works in 17 counties in west Kentucky. He serves as president of the Livingston County Farm Bureau and is on the board of the Livingston County Conservation District. He lives near Smithland and enjoys working on the farm.
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Chris Sutton is the executive director of Pennyrile Area Development District (PADD), a nine-county planning and development agency headquartered in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. He has worked at the PADD for nearly 20 years previously serving as Economic Development Specialist and Projects Coordinator. He is a graduate of Murray State University, holding both a BS and MBA degrees. He served on the Eddyville City Council from 1994-2000 and on various other community boards. He is currently serving on the Boards of the Hopkinsville-Christian County Chamber of Commerce and the Lyon County Water District.
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Dr. Gene Gilliland is Assistant Vice President of Strategic Planning and Public Relations at Community Financial Services Bank (CFSB) where he has been employed since 2004. He represents Marshall County on the regional chamber and is the Immediate Past Chairman of the Marshall County Chamber of Commerce. Prior to coming to the bank 8 years ago, he preached for over 30 years in AL, TN, OH, CA, and KY. He has four degrees from three universities including one doctorate (in Church Growth). Since joining the bank he has also completed 3 banking schools graduating magna cum laude last May at the Barret School of Banking in Memphis, TN. Gene believes strongly in community involvement as he is an active member of the McCracken, Calloway, and Marshall Chambers as well as being on the board of the West Kentucky Regional Chamber Alliance. He is a shepherd/elder at the Reidland Church of Christ. He has been a member of the Benton Lions Club since 1990 and served in a variety of leadership positions (Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, & Treasurer) as well as serving as a Zone Chairman for the district. He is Vice Chairman for Marshall County Needline. He is founder and president of Character Counts in Marshall County since 2001. He is president of the Society for the Preservation of Southern Harmony Singing which in 2012 hosted their 130th annual Big Singing at the old courthouse in Benton. He also publishes a Quick Reference Directory of Community Resources for Marshall and McCracken counties. Gene has been happily married to his wife Ella for 38 years. Ella is a speech-language pathologist for the Marshall County School System. They have three grown children. Bradley & his wife Anna live in Oklahoma City where he is a middle school teacher. Bethany & her husband Ryan live in central California where she is a deputy district attorney. Cindy & her husband Jesse live in Draffenville where she is a server at Patti’s Restaurant and subs for the Marshall County School System. Gene and Ella recently became grandparents as their first grandchild, Paige Rylee Willcutt was born Friday, November 9th in Visalia, CA.
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Dona Rains, of Paducah, is director of marketing and planning at Western
Baptist Hospital. A native of Mayfield, she is a journalism graduate of
the University of Kentucky. She is a former editor and reporter at The
Paducah Sun and public relations coordinator at Paducah Public Schools.
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Ashley Wright has served as the executive director of the United Way of Paducah-McCracken county since 2008. She earned a bachelor's degree from Berea College and a master's degree from Washington Univeristy in St. Louis. Before joining in the United Way, Wright worked in areas of domestic violence and children in the juvenile justice system. She has one son, Henry. Wright's term of service is 2011-13.
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John Rufli is the Executive Director of the Land Between The Lakes Association, “Friends of LBL.” He is responsible for general oversight of the daily operations, membership development, funds development, budget oversight, and staff supervision. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of Illinois in 1971 and a Master of Science degree in Biology from Murray State University in 1975. He worked as an Interpretive Naturalist for the Kentucky Department of Parks at Lake Barkley State Resort Park for eight years. He was business manager for Lake Barkley State Resort Park for ten years and resort park manager for twelve years.
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Drew Wells is an insurance agent for J. Craig Riddle Company in Madisonville, KY where he holds a license for life, health, property and casualty insurance. He has been with the company since 2006. After graduating from Union County High School, Drew attended Kentucky Wesleyan College where he was a member of the 2001 National Basketball Team. Drew resides in Union County with his wife and daughter where he assists in managing the family farm.
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As an affiliate of Dixon, Kentucky, Michael K. Farris is the father of two girls, grandfather of two, and husband to Janet Farris. He received his Bachelor's degree in physical education and a minor in history from Oakland City College (Indiana), and his Master's degree in counselor education and Rank I in school administration from Murray State University. Michael served 35 years in education as teacher, principal, supervisor of instruction, assistant superintendent and superintendent in Hopkins County and Webster County. Since retiring Michael has served on the boards for NorthWest Kentucky Forward, Green River Economic Development, Four Star Industry Park Authority, and Webster County Economic Development, and served as director of Madisonville Community College. Michael has been a team lead and member for School Scholastic Review and Audits Teams for the Kentucky Department of Education as well as a coach for Pilot School Scholastic Reviews Teams in Arkansas. He has also worked on two teams in Arkansas in the selection process for the Master Principal Program. He presently serves as teacher and deacon at Dixon General Baptist Church. He enjoys traveling with family.