Leader Videos

Gordon K. Davies

Dr. Gordon K. Davies is the president of the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education. The Council was created by the Kentucky General Assembly in 1997 as part of a higher education reform effort initiated by Governor Paul Patton. Davies joined the Council in 1998 as its first president. He came to Kentucky with extensive experience in state higher education system coordination, having served from 1977 until 1997 as director of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. Before coming to Kentucky, Davies was a visiting professor in the Department of Organization and Leadership at the Teachers College of Columbia University. Davies’ lengthy tenure in Virginia was marked by substantial enrollment growth in the state-supported colleges and universities, and by innovative program and funding initiatives that helped place Virginia in the forefront of American higher education. He was principal author of "The Case for Change," the report issued by Virginia’s Commission on the University of the 21st Century (1989). The report drew national and international attention, with presentations to representatives of several foreign countries and more than half the American states and territories. Davies served as an officer in the U.S. Navy, has held marketing positions in the computing industry, was a founding dean of a new public college, and taught Religious Studies at Yale. He has been a strong advocate for equal educational opportunity for 30 years, having directed the Harvard-Yale-Columbia Intensive Summer Studies Program from 1968 to 1971, which offered educational enrichment to students from the nation’s historically black colleges and universities, helping them prepare for graduate and professional study. His degrees are from Yale in English (B.A.) and Philosophy of Religion (M.A. and Ph.D.) and he has been awarded six honorary degrees. Dr. Davies has competed in more than two dozen marathons, including five at Boston, and has done rock climbing and mountaineering on four continents.

Mike Duncan

Mike Duncan is Chairman and CEO of Inez Deposit Bank. His professional career as attorney and banker has coincided with more than 30 years’ work for Republican candidates for local, state, and national office. Mr. Duncan has been a delegate to four Republican National Conventions, and chaired the RNC Committee on Contests for the 2000 convention. He has worked in various campaign positions for Senators Jim Bunning and Mitch McConnell; and for Presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, and George Bush; and served as Regional Chairman for Kentucky and nearby states for President George W. Bush’s campaign. Mr. Duncan and his wife Joanne are the principal owners of two community banks with six offices in eastern Kentucky, and their bank monitoring program has received national media attention. His civic activities have included Chairmanship of the Governor’s Scholars, Morehead State University, and Alice Lloyd College; and Presidency of the Kentucky Bankers Association. Mr. Duncan holds degrees from Cumberland College and the University of Kentucky.

John David Dyche

John David Dyche is a native of London, Kentucky who has lived in Louisville since 1987. He graduated from Centre College with distinction and was named the outstanding student of government in his class. After a stint as a court administrator for the Kentucky court system, Dyche attended Harvard Law School where he was elected marshal of his class and was a winner of the Williston competition for negotiation and contract drafting. He has written and spoken widely on Kentucky constitutional law and was named one of Louisville’s "Forty Under Forty" future business leaders in 1997. Dyche writes regular political columns, "The Political Wilderness" for the Kentucky Gazette and "Whigging Out" for the Louisville Eccentric Observer. He is married to his Centre sweetheart, Laura Harbolt, and is a father of three children who attend public schools, a member of Beargrass Christian Church, and a big fan of the Atlanta Braves.

Representative Danny Ford

Rep. Danny Ford is a member of the Kentucky General Assembly House of Representatives, representing Kentucky's 80th House District comprised of Lincoln, Pulaski, and Rockcastle Counties. He served as the Republican Whip from 1993-1994. Rep. Ford serves on the Interim Joint Committee on Appropriations and Revenue, Economic Development and Tourism, Seniors, and Military Affairs and Public Safety. He is an auctioneer and realtor and is a member of the Dix River, Somerset Board of Realtors and both the National and the Kentucky Auctioneers Associations. Rep. Ford is a member of the Rockcastle County Young Republican Club. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from Eastern Kentucky University.

Virginia G. Fox

Virginia Gaines Fox joined Kentucky Educational Television in 1968 and became its deputy executive director in 1975. In 1980, Fox left KET to become president of the Southern Educational Communications Association (SECA). While at SECA, Fox became the founding director of the Satellite Educational Resources Consortium, a provider of distance learning courses whose members include the KET Star Channels. She returned to KET in 1988 as chief operating officer and was named executive director and chief executive officer in 1991. Fox has also been active in many civic, professional and educational organizations—at the state, regional and national levels—serving as a consultant, advisor and volunteer, including Leadership Kentucky, Public Broadcasting Service, United Way of Kentucky , Kentucky Science and Technology Council, Kentucky Center for Public Issues, and the Lexington Junior League, among many others. Her many awards and acknowledgements include Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities, Woman of the Year Award in progressive education presented by the Lexington Business and Professional Women's Club, the Edgar Dale Award, Who's Who of American Women, Who's Who of Finance and Industry, 1995 Appalachian Woman of the Year by Morehead State University, and an Honorary Doctorate from Morehead State University in 1999. Ms. Fox earned a Bachelor's Degree with distinction in elementary education from Morehead State University and a Master's Degree in Library Science from the University of Kentucky.

James H. Glenn, III

James H. "Jimmy" Glenn, III is the son of Jim and Cornelia Glenn of Owensboro, KY. A Civil Engineering senior, Jimmy is in the joint BS/MBA program at the University of Kentucky. His successes during his two terms as Student Body President include improving student seating at basketball games, increasing student participation on the teaching assistant selection committee and giving more scholarships to deserving students. This past year Jimmy served as the Chairperson for the Kentucky Board of Student Body Presidents, representing over 100,000 of Kentucky's students in higher education. In addition to his involvement in student government, Jimmy served for two and one-half years as a University Ambassador and for one year as the Vice President of the Student Activities Board. During his time at the University of Kentucky, Jimmy has received numerous accolades. He has been named the University's Freshman of the Year and Outstanding Junior in Civil Engineering; and in 1999, he was honored with the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Distinguished Citizen Award. In his spare time Jimmy participates in fundraising for the United Way, ringing bells for the Salvation Army, and donating food for God's Pantry.

Craig Greenberg

Craig Greenberg is the Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel of iVisionary Ventures, a business dedicated to the development of privately held technology companies. The iVisionary team is managed by successful entrepreneurs with recent experience building and operating public and private technology companies. They currently operate two businesses: iVisionary Services and iVisionary Fund Management. iVisionary Services is a strategic services firm that helps technology company executives plan and execute their business development and financial strategies to rapidly grow and increase the value of their companies. iVisionary Fund Management manages a venture capital fund that primarily invests in revenue generating technology companies. Prior to joining iVisionary, Mr. Greenberg was an attorney at Brown, Todd & Heyburn PLLC, one of the largest law firms in the Midwest. At Brown, Todd, Mr. Greenberg was a founder and co-chair of the firm’s eLaw Group. Mr. Greenberg’s practice focused on advising companies on the legal and business issues which affect their e-commerce strategies, particularly with respect to venture capital financing, corporate structures, securities and intellectual property. Mr. Greenberg graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School, where he was an editor of the Journal of Law and Technology, and he is a graduate of the University of Michigan, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. While at the University of Michigan, Mr. Greenberg was President of the Student Government. Mr. Greenberg is currently a Director of the Kentucky eLearning Foundation.

C. Mike Harris

Mr. Harris currently works as President/CEO of Logan Aluminum, Inc., with more than 30 years of management experience in the manufacturing industry. He began at Logan Aluminum, Inc. in 1981 as Manager, Human Resources and was promoted to President in 1995.  Mike is a native of Simpson County and graduated from Western Kentucky University with a B.S. in Business Administration. He is a 1996 graduate of Leadership Kentucky and is also active in a Kentucky Certified Community project. He is Chairman of the Board for Kentucky Advanced Technology Institute and serves on the regional board for Firstar Bank. He is a member of Western Kentucky University's Presidential Board of Advisors, Past President Chamber of Commerce, Board Member for the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and member of Main Streeet Russellville. He is also active in United Way and has served as Logan County campaign co-chairman. Mike and his wife, Brenda, have three children: Leslie, a graduate of Lipscomb University; Ben, a student at WKU; and Justin, also a student at WKU.

David Hawpe

David Hawpe, Vice President and Editorial Director of The Courier-Journal, won the 1999 national Walker Stone Prize for Editorial Writing, as well as the Anthony Lewis Media Award for Public Advocacy given by the state Department of Public Advocacy and an “Apple” recognition from the Jefferson County Teachers Association. During 1999 he served as a member of the steering committee for the United Nations Conference on the Image of Africa in Mali, and was chosen by the American Committees on Foreign Relations to lecture in other cities on media coverage of international news. He is a 20-year member of the Associated Press Managing Editors Association, serving as national president in 1996-97, president of the APME Foundation in 1997-98 and currently as treasurer of the foundation. David’s primary industry-wide work has been fostering diversity in American journalism. As chairman of the APME Ethics Committee in 1993 and 1994, he led a two-year national project to rewrite the APME Statement of Ethical Principles. The existing APME Code of Ethics made no mention of diversity. The re-write, approved at the national convention in 1994, added the mandate that a newspaper staff “should reasonably reflect, in staffing and coverage, its diverse constituencies.” From 1979 until 1996, Hawpe was in charge of all news coverage for The Courier-Journal, as managing editor and editor of the newspaper. In 1996 he became Vice President and Editorial Director, with responsibility for all opinion functions of the publication, including the editorial and op-ed pages and the Sunday Forum section. In management positions, and as columnist and editorial writer, he has worked to maintain The Courier-Journal's statewide newsgathering system, and to emphasize state policy issues. David has been active in numerous industry groups. He served as president of the Kentucky Press Association and currently is a member of the board of the KPA Legal Defense Fund, as well as the KPA Committee of Past Presidents. He is a founding member of the University of North Carolina School of Journalism Board of Visitors, which he chaired from 1993 until 1996. He also is a long-time member of the Indiana University student publications board, and the board of visitors at the University of Kentucky School of Journalism. David is married to Linda Shadoin Hawpe and is the father of two sons, Christopher and Jonathan.

Jeanne Hibberd

Jeanne Hibberd is Cofounder and President of Communities by Choice. She is former director of the Mountain Association for Community Economic Development’s Sustainable Communities program, which works with sustainable community action teams in Appalachian KY. She has worked for local and regional community development organizations for 17 years as an organizer, researcher, fundraiser and program manager. She has also published several studies and articles and is an active volunteer with state and local civic organizations. She has a B.A. in philosophy from Berea College. Communities by Choice is a national network of communities, organizations and individuals committed to learning and practicing sustainable development. Its mission is to share knowledge and resources in order to advance the practice of sustainable community development. Communities by Choice maintains an extensive collection of online resources for sustainable community development at www.CommunitiesbyChoice.org.

Martha C. Johnson

Martha C. Johnson lives in Covington, where she is Director of Contributions and Community Relations for Ashland Inc. She graduated from Raceland-Worthington High School. She received an associate degree in journalism from Ashland Community College and a bachelor’s degree in public relations from Western Kentucky University. Ms. Johnson is also a graduate of the School of Bank Marketing at the University of Colorado, and she attended both the Louisiana State University Graduate School of Banking and the executive development program at Indiana University. She is a former member of the Ashland Community College Advisory Board and currently serves on the KCTCS Board.

Joseph W. Kelly

Joseph W. Kelly served as chairman of the Kentucky Board of Education from 1991 until April of 1998, a period of far-reaching change for education in Kentucky. Mr. Kelly is the Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Columbia Gas of Kentucky, Inc., in Lexington. He began his career with Columbia Gas in 1986, as an economic development and governmental affairs consultant. In his various positions with Columbia Gas throughout the years, he has worked with local and state level economic development organizations to facilitate the retention, expansion and recruitment of business and industry. Mr. Kelly also held positions in the Kentucky Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Cabinet and the Transportation Cabinet from 1981 to 1986. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Sciences from Campbellsville College and a Masters of Public Affairs from Kentucky State University. Joe Kelly’s professional and civic memberships demonstrate his untiring commitment to his community and state. His current and past memberships include, but are not limited to, the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence, the Lexington Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the Lexington Industrial Foundation, the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce’s Economic Development Committee, the Kentucky Industrial Development Council, and the Governor’s Commission on Corrections and Community Service. He has received many awards as a result of his years of hard work in the public and private arenas. He has received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Campbellsville University, the William T. Nallia Education Leadership Award from the Kentucky Association of School Administration, and The Commonwealth Award from the Kentucky Cabinet for Education, Arts and Humanities. He was the 1998 recipient of the Vic Hellard, Jr. Award in recognition of service in the interest of Kentucky's future.

Reverend Nancy Jo Kemper

The Rev. Ms. Nancy Jo Kemper became the Executive Director of the Kentucky Council of Churches (KCC) in June 1991. Since then, Ms. Kemper has brought the KCC’s public policy to the forefront of media attention. She is frequently cited for work on such issues as gun control, church-state separation, the role and place of religion in public education, death penalty abolition, justice for the poor and gambling expansion. She currently serves as moderator of CAGE, Citizens Against Gambling Expansion, a broad-based coalition of individuals, organization and church groups. Ms. Kemper has appeared on CBS This Morning, The Today Show, and is a regular panelist on Kentucky Tonight (KET). A native of Lexington, Kentucky, she was educated at Transylvania University (B.A., in 1964, with distinction) and Yale Divinity School (Master of Divinity, 1967). The author of numerous articles, she participated in the Marshall Lectures on Social Change at Transylvania in 1978, and presented the Halford Luccock Lectures (on the work of parish ministry) at the Yale Divinity School in that same year. Ordained by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), she has served congregations of the United Church of Christ denomination during her 30+-year ministry. Her first churches were in New Haven, Connecticut, and Richmond, Virginia. Her pastorates include: Pilgrim Congregational Church, Oak Park, Illinois; Senior Minister of Calvary United Church of Christ in St. Louis, Missouri; and Senior Minister of Park Congregational Church in Toledo, Ohio.  Since 1996 she has also served as pastor of New Union Christian Church in Woodford County, Kentucky. Ms. Kemper is the mother of two daughters. The Kentucky Council of Churches represents eleven member communions, with nearly 2,800 churches and 800,000 members. Its purposes include work on the visible unity of the church and serving as the churches’ advocate on public policy.

Kris W. Kimel

Kris W. Kimel is a founder and President of the Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation (KSTC). KSTC has been responsible for the development and implementation of a variety of innovative projects in entrepreneurship, manufacturing modernization, R&D and education. KSTC also has two subsidiary companies: Intelligent Change Initiatives, Inc., a nonprofit enterprise, and E¹⁰, Inc.; a for-profit firm focusing on helping entrepreneurs start and grow innovative companies. Prior to coming to KSTC, Mr. Kimel spent time as a private consultant, serving both public and private sector clients. He also spent twelve years in government, eight as Executive Assistant to Kentucky’s Attorney General and four as the Chief Administrative Assistant to the Lieutenant Governor, where he concentrated on science/technology policy and economic development. Kris Kimel holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Kentucky and is the 1974 male recipient of the school’s Sullivan Medallion.

James C. Klotter

A native Kentuckian, Dr. James C. Klotter received his Ph.D. in history from the University of Kentucky, and has honorary degrees from Eastern Kentucky University and Union College. He is the author, co-author, or editor of a dozen books including A New History of Kentucky; Kentucky: Decades of Discord, 1865-1900; Kentucky: Portrait in Paradox, 1900-1950; William Goeble: The Politics of Wrath; The Breckinridges of Kentucky; Our Kentucky: A Study of the Bluegrass State; and History Mysteries. Dr. Klotter was also an associate editor of the Kentucky Encyclopedia and was Executive Director of the Kentucky Historical Society for many years, until his retirement. He is the State Historian and Professor of History at Georgetown College, and he and his wife Freda live in Lexington.

Sylvia L. Lovely

Sylvia L. Lovely has served as the Kentucky League of Cities (KLC) Executive Director/CEO since 1990. Prior to that, Ms. Lovely served as Director of Intergovernmental Services, staff attorney, and lobbyist for the KLC for two years. Ms. Lovely advocates on behalf of local leaders and oversees the activities of 50 staff members who perform a variety of services designed to improve the quality of life and governance in Kentucky’s growing communities. In her capacity at KLC, Ms. Lovely serves on a variety of boards and commissions in an effort to enhance and maintain the leadership role of Kentucky cities. She also makes numerous appearances throughout the state on behalf of cities speaking on a variety of topics. Ms. Lovely was recently appointed to the Morehead State University Board of Regents. She is a member and past chair of the Kentucky Center for Public Issues, a nonprofit group established to foster public discussion on a variety of vital topics; and served on the Kentucky Tax Policy Commission, established to review and recommend change to Kentucky tax policy. She is excited about a new program to revitalize Kentucky downtowns called Renaissance Kentucky, established as a joint venture with KLC, Kentucky Housing Corporation, and the Kentucky Heritage Council. She also serves as a member of the Board of the Greater Lexington Chamber of Commerce, Southern Municipal Conference, National League of Cities Advisory Board, Bluegrass Area Development District, and the Downtown Lexington Corporation. Ms. Lovely serves on the Executive Committee of Partners for Family Farms, and as Treasurer of Kentuckians for Better Transportation. In 1999, Ms. Lovely was honored as the Appalachian Woman of the Year by Morehead State University. She is a graduate of the University of Kentucky College of Law and is licensed to practice in Florida and Kentucky. She resides in Lexington with her husband, Bernie, and two sons, Ross and David.

Pam Luecke

Pam Luecke has been editor and vice president of the Lexington Herald-Leader since December 1996. She had been the newspaper’s editorial page editor since October 1995. Pam came to Lexington from Hartford, Connecticut., where she had worked for six years at the Hartford Courant, most recently as deputy managing editor. Before that, she worked for the Courier-Journal and Louisville Times for 10 years in a variety of reporting and editing positions. Pam has a B.A. from Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, a masters in journalism from Northwestern University and an MBA from the University of Hartford. She was a Bagehot Fellow in economic journalism at Columbia University in 1986-87. Ms. Luecke is a native of Cincinnati and lives in Lexington with her husband, George Graves, who is a senior associate with the state Council on Postsecondary Education.

Mary Helen Miller

Mary Helen Miller is a retired state government executive whose career began in the classroom and went on to include high-level posts in both the legislative and executive branches under two governors. She continues to add to a long list of contributions as a volunteer, working in both Shelbyville and Louisville to advance economic development, enhance the performing arts, and improve quality of life, and serving on a number of boards.  Prior to her retirement in 1995, Ms. Miller served as Chief Executive Officer for Administration for the administration of Gov. Brereton Jones, directing the operations of the governor’s office, and as Legislative Liaison, coordinating the legislative agenda. During Gov. Martha Layne Collin’s administration, Ms. Miller served first as Chief Executive Assistant for Internal Affairs, directing operations in the governor’s office and acting as a liaison to national organizations of government officials. As Secretary of the Cabinet for Natural Resources and Environmental Protection during the Collins’ administration, Ms. Miller was instrumental in negotiating the settlement of a lawsuit against the Cabinet that ultimately brought millions of dollars into the Commonwealth for the enforcement of strip mining laws. From 1979 to 1983, Ms. Miller served as Assistant Director of the Legislative Research Commission. She was the 1999 recipient of the Vic Hellard, Jr. Award in recognition of service in the interest of Kentucky's future.

Governor Louie Nunn

Governor Louie Nunn graduated from Hiseville High in 1941. Upon graduation, he entered Bowling Green Business University, but left when the United States entered World War II. Following the war, Nunn enrolled in the University of Cincinnati, then moved to a small college in Charleston, West Virginia. Eventually, Nunn entered the University of Louisville Law School and graduated in 1950. After graduation, Governor Nunn moved to Glasgow. According to legend, Louie Nunn was the first Republican attorney in Glasgow. In 1953, only three years after coming home to Barren County, he was elected County Judge, making him the first Republican ever elected in the county. During the 1950's, Governor Nunn managed many campaigns on both the national and state level. Such campaigns included Senator Thruston B. Morton, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, and President Richard M. Nixon. One of his greatest achievements in the 1950's came in 1956, when he was awarded the Outstanding Young Kentuckian Award. Finally, in 1963, Louie Nunn made his first bid for the highest office in the state, the Governor. At that time, the Republican party was weak in Kentucky, and he lost by roughly 13,000 votes. Four years later, though, Governor Nunn beat Henry Ward, from Paducah, in the General Election. Louie B. Nunn was the fifty-second Governor of Kentucky, serving from 1967-1971. Governor Nunn has the distinction of being the last Republican Governor to date. As Governor, Louie Nunn built over 254 miles of four lane highway, surfaced more than 1,500 miles of rural roads, founded Northern Kentucky University in 1968 and brought the University of Louisville into the state system. Governor Nunn also made great strides in the area of mental health, destroying the so-called "feeble minded institute" and replacing it with a home near Somerset, Kentucky, called Oakwood. At that time, Oakwood was the finest mental health facility in the United States. Locally, the roads that Governor Nunn built throughout Kentucky had an enormous impact on the area. Through Governor Nunn's leadership, R. R. Donnelly & Sons and Dana Corporation (formerly Eaton Corp.) came to Glasgow. Also during his term, Nunn worked with Senators Cooper and Morton to make the Barren River Lake and State Resort. The lodge there is named in his honor. In addition to founding Northern Kentucky University, Nunn funded a community college for Madisonville. After his term had expired, Governor Nunn was asked how he viewed his administration. He responded: "Twenty years after it has ended, and after my critics have died or forgotten, if some person will make a true evaluation of it, and say that what I did helped the people of this state, then I'll be pleased." Twenty eight years later, Nunn says he is pleased.

Nikki Patton

Ms. Nicki Patton combines her two passions by serving both as Chairwoman of the Kentucky Democratic Party (KDP) and Chairwoman of the Governor's Early Childhood Task Force. Nicki got involved in politics in 1987 by working on her father Governor Paul Patton's statewide campaign for lieutenant governor. In 1995, she served as a Deputy Campaign Manager for the Patton/Henry slate. Ms. Patton’s rise to KDP Chair in 1999 followed successful stints as KDP’s Executive Director (1998-1999) and Organizational Director (1996-1997). She is now developing a comprehensive training program for Democrats. Her expertise has led to her involvement in training for the Democratic Governor's Association and her appointment as a founding Board Member of the Ron Brown/Paul Tully Political Action Institute in Washington, DC. Campaigns and Elections magazine last year named Nicki a "Rising Star of Politics," and she recently was honored by Kentucky Monthly magazine as one of "12 Women of Influence" in the state. Nicki first began her career in early childhood education working for the U.S. Army in Germany. An esteemed and sought after trainer, she is a recognized leader in the field of early childhood staff training and development, specializing in the training of trainers. Most recently, as Chair of the Governor’s Early Childhood Task Force, Nicki helped develop "KIDS (Kentucky Invests in Developing Success) Now"–a 20-year comprehensive early childhood plan for Kentucky. Nicki has a bachelors and masters degree from the University of Kentucky (which explains her rabid support of the Wildcats basketball team) and is working towards her doctorate from the University of New Orleans.

Governor Paul E. Patton

Paul Patton is earning national recognition for his devotion to education and his leadership abilities. He has been named Chairman-elect of the Education Commission of the States, Chairman of the Southern Regional Education Board, and the Southern Growth Policies Board. He is one of only eight governors serving on the National Education Goals Panel. Governor Patton graduated from the University of Kentucky with a degree in mechanical engineering in 1959. In 1991, Patton became Kentucky’s Lt. Governor and made history by also serving as Secretary of the Economic Development Cabinet, where he wrote a jobs program that is successfully attracting new industry to the state and helping existing companies to expand. In December of 1995, Paul Patton began his term as governor.

Jody Richards

Representative Jody Richards has served in the Kentucky General Assembly House of Representatives since 1976. He currently serves as Speaker of the House. Speaker Richards is the owner of Superior Books. He earned a Bachelor Arts Degree from Kentucky Wesleyan College, and a Master of Arts from the University of Missouri. Speaker Richards also attended the Indiana University and served in the US Army Reserve. He is a past president of the Bowling Green/Warren County Jaycees and a past National Director and State Secretary of the Kentucky Jaycees. He is a past President and Vice President of Kentucky Young Democrats and a past President of the Southern Kentucky Fair Board. Speaker Richards was a Jaycees Representative for the Girls Club of Bowling Green. He served on the United Way Board in 1983 and was named as one of the Outstanding Young Men of America in 1972. Speaker Richards has served or is currently serving on the Steering Committee of the Governor’s Task Force on Education, the Executive Committee of the National Conference of State Legislatures, the Southern Region Education Board, and is Chair-elect of the Southern Legislative Conference.  Speakers Richards also served as Democratic Caucus Chair 1987-94.

Brigadier General (Ret.) James Shane

Brigadier General (Ret) James E. Shane, Jr. is currently serving as Executive Director, Kentucky Commission on Military Affairs. He was appointed by the Governor and serves as the CEO and Administrative Officer to the commission. BG Shane served 28 years in the U.S. Army in a progression of Command and Personnel assignments. His higher level staff assignments included service at HQDA and Joint Chiefs. He served as Director of Management for the Army Chief of Staff and was responsible for developing the Army’s implementation strategy for the 1995 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC). He was Deputy Commanding General (East) of the United States Army Recruiting Command when he retired. Brigadier General James E. Shane, Jr. was born in Louisville, Kentucky on April 2, 1946. He was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry from the University of Louisville and a Master of Arts degree in Personnel Management/Administration from Central Michigan University. His military education includes graduation from the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course, the Armor Officer Advanced Course, the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and the National War College. He also is a graduate of the Senior Officials National Security Program at Harvard University. He and his wife Georgene live in Frankfort.

Al Smith

A former newspaper publisher, editor, and reporter, Al Smith is host of Kentucky Educational Television's longest-running program, Comment on Kentucky, now in its 26th year on the air. Most recently, he was instrumental in forming Kentucky Leaders for the New Century, an effort to identify some of the state's most promising young leaders and engage them in actively working for the betterment of the state. In addition to his many contributions to the civic life of the state, Mr. Smith served in Washington as federal cochairman of the Appalachian Regional Commission under Presidents Carter and Reagan. For 25 years, he served as chairman or vice chairman of the Shakertown Roundtable, a public policy forum held annually at historic Pleasant Hill in central Kentucky. He is a past chairman of the Kentucky Arts Commission, a former president of the Kentucky Press Association, one of the founding directors and a chairman of Leadership Kentucky, and a cofounder and first chairman of the Kentucky Oral History Commission, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this month. As a member of the Prichard Committee for Educational Excellence, he chaired a Governor's Council on Educational Reform and was vice chair of the Council on Higher Education in the 1980s. He was on the founding board of the Governor's Scholars program and of Forward in the Fifth, a program for better schools in eastern Kentucky. He is a former trustee of Berea College, a former member of the University of Kentucky (UK) Hospital Council of Supervisors, and has served as an adjunct instructor at UK in the political science department and the Appalachian Studies Center. He holds honorary degrees from three Kentucky schools. In addition to his work in television and radio, Mr. Smith was in the news business for over 50 years as reporter, editor, and owner of newspapers. As an editor and publisher of weekly newspapers, Mr. Smith was active in community and state educational and economic development programs. Most recently, his elegant prose appears in Our Kentucky, a history of the state published by the University of Kentucky Press. Mr. Smith lived in Russellville for 22 years and in London, Kentucky, for six years. A native of Florida, he grew up in Tennessee, served in World War II, attended Vanderbilt and Tulane universities and worked on New Orleans daily papers for 10 years before coming to Kentucky in 1958. He and his wife Martha Helen, formerly of Hopkinsville, have three grown children and reside in Lexington. Mr. Smith was the 2000 recipient of the Vic Hellard, Jr. Award in recognition of service in the interest of Kentucky's future.