FRANKFORT, Ky. – Leadership Kentucky is proud to announce the members of the BRIGHT Kentucky Class of 2020.

BRIGHT Kentucky, which began in 2019, engages bright, entrepreneurial minds from various occupational sectors to offer non-partisan, ethical leadership training, expanded networks, and mentors designed especially for residents of the 54 Kentucky counties of the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). The program is made possible by a $500,000 ARC grant and private funding from the Whitaker Foundation, SOAR, and others. 

BRIGHT Kentucky is made up of five, three-day sessions where the major focal point is to help participants fully understand the local economic context and to build robust skill sets in communication, collaboration, consensus building, visioning, and community engagement. The program, which runs July through November, will take participants across Eastern Kentucky: Somerset in July, Ashland in August, Berea/Frankfort in September, Pikeville in October, and Hazard in November. The program began last week in Somerset where the class heard from business leaders, visited Lake Cumberland, and networked with other participants.

Shaping Our Appalachian Region, Inc. (SOAR) Digital Media Coordinator Hanna Gabbard is a member of the BRIGHT Kentucky Class of 2020.

This year’s class includes 41 participants from 30 different ARC counties representing a variety of public and private sectors. Leadership Kentucky congratulates the following members:

1. Sarah Adkins – Whitley County – University of the Cumberlands

2. Frank Baker – Leslie County – Hyden Citizens Bank

3. Chelsea Ballard – Hart County – American Cave Conservation Association

4. Adam Bowling – Bell County – Self-Employed – Small Business Owner

5. Ben Carr – Montgomery County – Kentucky 4-H Foundation

6. Crystal Cox – Pulaski County – United Way of South Central Kentucky

7. Tyler Curran – Nicholas County – Kentucky Army National Guard

8. Gene Detherage Jr. – Rowan County – The Fletcher Group

9. Aaron Dockery – Pulaski County – City of Somerset

10. Hanna Gabbard – Johnson County – Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR)

11. Courtney Gillette – Boyd County – Boyd County Tourism and Convention Bureau

12. Laura Gregory – Wolfe County – Kentucky Waterways Alliance

13. Sara Hacker – Rowan County – Morehead State University

14. Megan Haile – Monroe County – TJ Samson Community Hospital

15. Jennifer Hall – Knott County -Alice Lloyd College

16. Jenni Hampton – Pike County – Kentucky Career Center

17. Tena Hunley – Magoffin County – McDonald’s Of East Kentucky

18. Summer Jackson – Whitley County – University of the Cumberlands

19. Mindy R. Johnson – Edmonson County – Western Kentucky University

20. Kayla Jude – Martin County – Kentucky Career Center

21. Patrick Lager – Montgomery County – Whitaker Bank Corp.

22. Zach Lawrence – Perry County – Hazard-Perry County Economic Development Alliance

23. Zachary Leftwich – Green County – Green County Board of Education

24. Josh Little – Pike County – Southeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce

25. Caitlin Mason – Laurel County – Cumberland Valley Area Development District

26. Aaron Montgomery – Greenup County – Addiction Recovery Care & Rise Above

27. Courtney Oliver – Laurel County – Reppin2Recovery INC

28. Andrew Owens – Bath County – Michael R. Gray Funeral Home, Owingsville

29. Justin Pruitt – Boyd County – Boyd County Fiscal Court

30. Jessica Ritchie – Breathitt County – Juniper Health, Inc.

31. Jacob Roan – Bell County – City of Pineville

32. Jonathan Shell – Garrard County – State Solutions LLC

33. Dustin Stephens – McCreary County – East Ky Power Cooperative

34. Jacob Taylor – Rockcastle County – Rockcastle Regional Hospital and Respiratory Care Center

35. Erica Trammell – Harlan County – Appalachian Challenge Academy

36. Gavin Tussey – Boyd County – Plumbers & Steamfitters Local Union 248

37. JoAnn Vanzant – Lee County – Operation UNITE

38. Tyler Ward – Letcher County – Jacobs+Ward

39. J. Wilson – Hart County – Hart County Fiscal Court

40. Elijah Wilson – Cumberland County – University of Kentucky

41. Jennifer Wilson – Johnson County – Kentucky Cancer Program