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2008 Board of Directors

 
  

Jeff Jobe
Chair

Jeff Jobe, a native Kentuckian, has been blessed with a newspaper career that afforded him the opportunity to live and work in several diverse communities, including New York, Ohio, West Virginia, Florida, and even short stays in Canada. These experiences gained in building a career were invaluable for Jeff not only outside Kentucky but in establishing and marketing his own newspaper company here at home. In 1998, he chose to leave the corporate life of the world’s largest newspaper company and hang out his own shingle. He created Jobe Publishing, Inc. (JPI). The new company was formed with the single purchase of the first newspaper, The Butler County Banner, and since then JPI has managed to create a marketing package for readers and advertisers to include South-Central Kentucky’s largest printing company, nine weekly newspapers, a full-service marketing agency, and the region’s first business and industry news source, The South-Central Business Journal.
 

Rep. Reginald Meeks
Vice Chair

Representative Reginald Meeks has represented the 42nd House District (Jefferson County) since 2001. He is the Associate Director of Development at the University of Louisville and Adjunct Professor at  McKendree College. Representative Meeks received his B.A. from Wabash College and his J.D. from the University of Iowa College of Law. He also has pending a Ph.D. from the University of Louisville. Representative Meeks is a member of the National Conference of State Legislatures; National Black Caucus of State Legislators; Kentucky Association of Blacks in Higher Education; Leadership Kentucky, Charter Class Member; Honorary Member, Sunshine Seniors; Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels; National Association of Black Scuba Divers; Kentucky Association of Black Scuba Divers, Founding Member; Kentucky Native American Heritage Commission; and Kentucky Polar Bear Club. In addition, Representative Meeks has been named to Who's Who Among Emerging Leaders In America; Outstanding Young Men of America; Who's Who Among Black Americans; and Who's Who in the South. He has also received the Y.M.C.A. Adult Achiever Award and been named by Ebony Magazine one of their Fifty Young Future Leaders; and by Louisville Magazine one of their People to Watch.

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Executive Branch

Lindy Casebier

Lindy Casebier currently serves as the Deputy Secretary of the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet. He is a former member of the Kentucky General Assembly, having served in both the House of Representatives from 1987-1993 and the Senate from 1993-2005. While a Senator, Mr. Casebier chaired the Senate Education Committee from 1997-2005 and served as the Commissioner of the Education Commission of the States from 1998-2005. Mr. Casebier was a Music Educator and Band Director at Valley High School, a Music Specialist/Supervisor at Gheens Academy, and Community Development Specialist for Jefferson County Public Schools. He later served as Assistant to the Superintendent of Oldham County Public Schools. Prior to being appointed Deputy Secretary, Mr. Casebier served as the Executive Director of the Office of Arts & Cultural Heritage in the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet. He also previously served on the Board of Directors of the Kentucky Long-Term Policy Research Center while a legislator. Mr. Casebier is a member of Crescent Hill Baptist Church, the University of Louisville Board of Overseers, and the University of Kentucky Martin School Board of Visitors. He served as a Delegate to Hungary and Poland in 2001 with the American Council of Young Political Leaders, and was named an Alumni Fellow at the University of Louisville in 2003. Mr. Casebier holds both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Louisville.

 

Delquan Dorsey

Delquan Dorsey is the Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Minority Empowerment. Mr. Dorsey is the former Director of Network Organizing for Making Connections in Louisville, a previous Policy Advisor for former Jefferson County Commissioner Darryl T. Owens, and the Assistant State Coordinator for the NAACP Voter Empowerment Program. He provides leadership to the African-American community and worships at the Bates Memorial Baptist Church. Some of Mr. Dorsey’s involvement includes the Board of Directors of Kentuckiana Minority Business Council and as a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Mr. Dorsey has a BS degree in Business Administration from Central State University, Wilberforce, OH. He is married to Shealonda Dorsey and they have 2 sons Delquan, Jr. and Destin and reside in Louisville.

 

Mary E. Lassiter

Mary E. Lassiter currently serves as the State Budget Director. From November 2004 until November 2007, she served as Deputy Executive Director of the Governor’s Office for Policy Research. From November 2003 through November 2004, Ms. Lassiter served as the Acting State Budget Director. She served as a financial analyst in the Office for Financial Management and Economic Analysis for 15 years which operates the Commonwealth’s investment and debt management programs. Ms. Lassiter has served as a special assistant to Governors Wilkinson and Patton on economic development and workers’ compensation issues. She holds both a BBA and MBA from the University of Kentucky. Ms. Lassiter lives in Woodford County with her husband Frank and two children, Mary Beth and Ben.
 

Yvette Monique Smith

Yvette M. Smith is the Executive Director of the Finance Cabinet’s Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and Contract Compliance. Ms. Smith, who previously held posts as executive director of the Office of Management and Budget and division director of the Division of Human Resources, has been with the Finance and Administration Cabinet since 1997. Prior to joining the cabinet, she was project director for the Louisville Minority Business Development Center and principal assistant with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Ms. Smith obtained her bachelors degree in organizational management from Midway College, graduating summa cum laude, in May 2000. She currently sits on the Martin Luther King Jr. State Commission and the Governor’s Minority Employment, Business Affairs and Economic Development Council. She serves as proxy member of the Kentucky Youth Development Coordinating Council and the Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Prevention Board. Ms. Smith, who resides in Frankfort, is a member of Main Post Chapel in Fort Knox, Kentucky.

 

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Legislative Branch

Sen. Walter Blevins

Senator Walter Blevins has represented the 27th Senate District (Boyd, Elliott, Fleming, Lawrence, and Rowan Counties) since 1992. Prior to that he served in the House of Representatives from 1982-1992. Senator Blevins attained his BS from Morehead State University and his DMD from the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry. He served in the US Army and is a past President of the Morehead Jaycees. Senator Blevins is a member of the Morehead State University Young Democrats, Morehead Optimist Club, Scabbard and Blade, Masons, Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities, and OKU, an Honorary Dental Fraternity. He served as Senate President Pro-Tempore 1997-98.
 

Sen. Tom Buford

Senator Tom Buford has represented the 22nd Senate District (Boyle, Fayette, Garrett, and Jessamine counties) since 1991. He served as Minority Caucus Chair from 1993-96 and Minority Whip 1991-92 and currently serves on the Mental Retardation and Development Disabilities Task Force. He was selected by Common Cause, a public interest lobbying group, as the 1992 Most Ethical Legislator and by the National Republican Legislators' Association as Legislator of the Year, 1992. He is a past member of the President's Advisory Council on Excellence for Asbury College. He is a current member of the University of Kentucky Alumni Association, Rotary, Arts Council, Humane Society, Jessamine County Chamber of Commerce, Jessamine Co. Educational Foundation, and United Way. Senator Buford is a 4-H Adult Leader and Advisory Board member for the Kentucky School for the Deaf. He is in Property Management and is a Member and Elder in the Nicholasville Christian Church. Senator Buford graduated from the American Institute of Banking and received his BS from the University of Kentucky. He and his wife, Carol, have two children.
 

Sen. Alice Forgy Kerr

Senator Alice Forgy Kerr has represented the 12th Senate District (Fayette) since 1999. She is a member of P.E.O. Educational Sorority and the Board of Directors of the Kentucky Baptist Homes for Children. Senator Kerr has a B.S. in Elementary Education and Music and an MA in Higher Education from Western Kentucky University. She is a Sunday School teacher and a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Lexington.
  

Rep. Adam Koenig

Representative Adam Koenig represents the 69th House District (parts of Boone, Campbell, and Kenton Counties). He serves on the Banking and Insurance, Economic Development and Tourism, Labor and Industry, and Local Government Committees for the Kentucky General Assembly, as well as the Economic Development Task Force. Representative Koenig is the owner of MAK Consulting, LLC. He received his B.A. in Political Science from Miami University. Representative Koenig is currently a member of the Covington Salvation Army, Legacy, and Vision 2015, and is a Past President of the Northern KY Area Planning Council. He is a former member of the Telecommunications Board of Northern KY.
  

Rep. Carl Rollins

Representative Carl Rollins represents the 56th House District (Woodford County and parts of Fayette and Franklin Counties). He serves on the Education, Licensing and Occupations, and State Government Interim Committees for the Kentucky General Assembly. Representative Rollins is the Marketing Manager for The Student Loan People. He received his B.B.A. from Morehead State University, and his M.B.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Kentucky. Representative Rollins served in the United States Air Force and is a Vietnam veteran. He is currently a member of the Midway Lions Club, KASFAA, and Midway Nursing Home Task Force. He is a former member of KCEA, NCEA, Woodford County Board of Health, and the Midway City Council. Representative Rollins is a former Mayor of Midway, Kentucky, and a past member of the Woodford Fiscal Court.

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At-Large Members

Matthew Barzun

Mr. Barzun is the president of BrickPath, an Internet media company devoted to lifelong learning. He is the former executive vice president and chief strategy officer of CNET Networks, a publicly traded Internet media company. Mr. Barzun joined CNET in 1993 as its fourth employee, spending eight years at its San Francisco headquarters. While there, he launched and managed many of CNET’s websites, including Download.com. Mr. Barzun graduated Magna cum Laude from Harvard College. Among his other charitable activities, he has volunteered with Public Radio Partnership and has served on the Cathedral Heritage Foundation (aka Festival of Faiths) board and the policy board of the Greater Louisville Project.
 

John Chowning

John Chowning serves as Vice President for Church and External Relations and Executive Assistant to the President at Campbellsville University. He is the founding director of CU’s Kentucky Heartland Institute on Public Policy and teaches part-time in the institution’s political science program. He has served on a number of boards, including serving as Chair of the University’s Board of Trustees, Kentucky State Board of Elections, The Center for Rural Development, Campbellsville-Taylor County Industrial Development Authority, Southern Kentucky Economic Development Corporation, the Heartland Parkway Foundation board, the Heartland regional heritage tourism advisory committee, and Greater Campbellsville United which works to promote racial and ethnic harmony in the community and region. He is an ordained Baptist minister having served as senior pastor for several years of Saloma Baptist. He is active in Kentucky Baptist Convention life and has been recognized for his leadership in racial and ethnic reconciliation ministry. He has a masters of public administration (planning emphasis) from Eastern Kentucky University; a bachelor of arts in political science from Transylvania University; and an associate of arts from Lindsey Wilson College. He has completed several courses in the program of alternate studies at Memphis Theological Seminary and has completed additional graduate hours in education at EKU. His professional career has included serving as a public school teacher, public sector grant writing and planning, vice president and partner in a Lexington-based consulting firm, and former director of economic development for U.S. Representative Ron Lewis. Mr. Chowning is a member of several professional and civic organizations and has received a number of awards, including Governor’s Economic Development Leadership Award in 1999; local Citizen of the Year in 1998 and 2001; local Man of the Year by the local BPW Club in 1999; CU’s Faculty Challenger Award two years; and the 2007 Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award by the Taylor County Civic League. His wife, Cathy, is a licensed physical therapist, and they are the parents of four children and have three grandchildren. Mr. Chowning is the head of a family farm operation in his native Cumberland County, Kentucky. The Chowning’s have lived in Campbellsville for the past 30 years.
 

Shawn M. Crouch

Shawn M. Crouch is the Chief of Staff for the Office of the Vice President for HealthCare Operations at UK HealthCare. Prior to that appointment he served as Director of New Business Development there. Mr. Crouch has over twelve years of experience in healthcare management. He most recently served as Kentucky’s Commissioner of the Department for Medicaid Services. Prior to being Commissioner, Mr. Crouch was the Deputy Secretary and Chief of Staff for Kentucky’s Cabinet for Health and Family Services. His responsibilities included the management of programs and policy for Cabinet agencies including Medicaid, Public Health, Community Based Services, Certificate of Need, and Mental Health. Mr. Crouch was instrumental in the development of Kentucky’s Medicaid Modernization effort and the redesign of the State Employee Health Insurance program. Mr. Crouch also served as the Executive Director for the Office of Health Policy at the Cabinet. Before serving the Commonwealth, he was the Director of Government Relations for a regional health insurer and has experience working in hospitals and physician practices. Mr. Crouch is a graduate of the University of Kentucky with a BHS in Health Administration. A Kentucky native, Mr. Crouch currently resides in Lexington.
 

Paul B. Cook

Dr. Paul B. Cook is a retired Executive Vice President for Administration and Technology at Western Kentucky University. he served as the Interim President of WKU in 1985. Since retiring from Western, Dr. Cook has worked with community groups and engaged in consulting activities. He received both his BA and MA from Western Kentucky University and his Ph.D. from the University of Kentucky. Dr. Cook serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Medical Center at Bowling Green. He is a member of boards of the American National Bank, the Commonwealth Health Corporation, the Kentucky World Trade Center, and the Tourism and Economic Development Council, Inc. He and his wife, Rose, have two children and two grandchildren.
 

Betty Griffin

Dr. Betty Griffin is a former Director of the Kentucky Beginning Teacher Internship Program. Honored as Who’s Who Among Black Americans, Outstanding Young Woman of America, Danford Fellow, and African-American Adult Achiever of the year by the Lexington YMCA, Dr. Griffin is a former President of the National Forum Black Public Administrators, Bluegrass Chapter. She is a former Member of the Governor’s Commission of Vocational Education and Governor’s Commission on Black Affairs, State of Oregon. Her volunteer service includes the Governor Scholars Program; Urban League, Lexington; Girl Scouts Program, Louisville; and the National Council on Negro Women. Dr. Griffin completed the following postgraduate training: Executive Leadership Training, Harvard University, The Wharton School at Penn, and The University of Texas at Austin and Stanford University. She received her BS from Fisk University, and both her MS and Ph.D. from Oregon State University.
 

Dan Hall

Daniel Hall is Vice President of External Affairs at the University of Louisville.  He oversees the Office of External Affairs that facilitates and coordinates university/community partnerships.  Mr. Hall manages the UofL Signature Partnership Initiative with West Louisville.  For eighteen years he served as the university’s chief federal and state governmental relations officer.  Mr. Hall formerly served as Chief of Staff to Congressman Ron Mazzoli in Washington, D.C. Mr. Hall currently is Chair of the American Heart Association Kentuckiana Metro Board of Directors.  He serves on the Board of Directors of the Council on Legal Education Opportunities.  Mr. Hall was instrumental in the creation of the Louisville Public Radio Partnership and has served as its Chair of the Board of Directors.  He has served on numerous civic boards throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Mr. Hall is a graduate of Louisville Central High School, Dartmouth College, and Harvard Law School.
          

J. Brent Legg

Brent Legg currently serves as Director of State & Local Initiatives for Connected Nation, the parent organization of ConnectKentucky. In that role, Mr. Legg provides primary management of Connected Nation’s national (state-by-state) strategy. Brent coordinates the work of Connected Nation as the organization expands its engagements in and to other states, particularly focusing on those states lacking a statewide technology private-public partnership. Previously, Mr. Legg has served as Field Director for United States Congressman Geoff Davis (KY-4), senior legislative liaison to former Kentucky Education Cabinet Secretary Virginia Fox, and assistant policy advisor to Governor Ernie Fletcher during his 2003 gubernatorial campaign. Mr. Legg graduated Magna Cum Laude from Transylvania University in 2003 with a degree in political science and is a 2002 graduate of the Hansard Scholars Programme for Parliamentary Government at the London School of Economics in London, England. While completing his undergraduate degree, Mr. Legg interned in the offices of United States Senator Mitch McConnell and The Right Honorable Michael Howard, QC MP, former Conservative Party Leader of the United Kingdom. A native of Johnson and Greenup Counties, Mr. Legg and his wife currently reside in Georgetown.
          

Bernard Lovely, Jr.

Bernard Lovely is a partner with the firm of Bowles Rice McDavid Graff & Love, practicing from their Lexington office. He is also the Chairman of the Bluegrass Airport Board of Directors, and a member of the Commerce Lexington Board of Directors and Board of Trustees. He is a former professor of British and Modern Literature at the University of Kentucky, Centre College, Weber College, and Warner Southern College. Mr. Lovely is also a former professor of equine law at the University of Kentucky College of Law and Midway College and a former professor of legal writing at the University of Kentucky. He serves as a mediator for equine disputes and is the owner of AZUR, one of Lexington’s finest restaurants. Mr. Lovely is affiliated with the Fayette County, Kentucky State, and American Bar Associations and has been admitted to the bar of the Kentucky Supreme Court, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth District. He received his B.A. and M.A. from Morehead State University and his J.D. from the University of Kentucky College of Law. Mr. Lovely and his wife Sylvia have two sons, Ross and David.
  

Robert Sexton

Dr. Robert Sexton has been the Executive Director of the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence since 1983. He is a former Deputy Director of the Council on Higher Education, administrator at the University of Kentucky, and teacher. Dr. Sexton received his BA from Yale University, his Ph.D. from the University of Washington, an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Berea College, and was a Visiting Scholar in the Graduate School of Education at Harvard University. He was a founder of Kentucky’s Governor’s Scholars Program and the Commonwealth Institute for Teachers. Dr. Sexton has served as President of the Kentucky Center for Public Issues, publisher of the Kentucky Journal, and as co-chair of the Carnegie Literacy Center in Lexington. He has been president and board member of the American Association for Higher Education and the Coalition for Alternatives in Postsecondary Education. Dr. Sexton was appointed to the Governor’s Task Force on Health Care Access and Affordability by Governor Jones. He and his wife, Pam, live in Lexington. He has two children and three stepchildren.
  

Brian Van Horn

Dr. Brian Van Horn is the Assistant Dean of Continuing Education at Murray State University. He has served in numerous educational capacities which include Director of Extended Campus, Director of volunteer programs, elementary school administrator, and third grade teacher. He is active in the Assoc. Continuing Higher Education (ACHE) International Organization and serves as the International Membership Chair and Secretary for the Southeast Region encompassing 10 states. In addition, Dr. Van Horn serves his community and region as a Board Member for the Paducah Chamber of Commerce, Executive Committee Paducah Area Community Reuse Organization (PACRO), Greater Paducah Economic Development Council (GPEDC), Chair of the West Kentucky A1C Project, Jackson Purchase P16 Council, and Purchase Area Diabetes Coalition.  He resides in Benton along with his wife, Laurel, and son, Will.