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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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(Bio is forthcoming)
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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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(Bio is forthcoming)
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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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(Bio is forthcoming)
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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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Betsy Flynn is the president & vice-chairman of Community Financial Services Bank (formally Bank of Benton). She has been with the company for over 30 years. Betsy holds many leadership positions with the Marshall County Tourist Commission, Purchase Regional Industrial Park Board & Executive Committee, Regional Marketing Committee; PACRO Finance & Executive Committee Member, chairing the Economic Development Committee, and City of Benton / Marshall County Industrial Development Authority. She is an active member of PADD Loan Committee, Action, Inc. Economic Development, KY Bankers Association Legislative Committee; Independent Community Bankers of America Legislative Committee; KY P-16 Council on Education, and Purchase Area Workforce Development Committee.
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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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(Bio is forthcoming)
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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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Tommy Chandler is a retired circuit judge serving 13 years for the fifth Judicial District of Webster, Union and Crittenden counties. He also served 16 years as Commonwealth Attorney for the fifth District as well as eight years as Webster County attorney. Tommy earned his Bachelor’s degree in Pre-law from Murray State University and his law degree from the University of Kentucky.