Director, Integrated Strategies, Partners for Rural Impact

Kelli is known across rural areas as a champion for school and community improvement, the whole-child approach, creative initiatives to improve school climate, and for developing strong teams using the collective impact model. With certifications in Results Based Accountability and Results Based Facilitation, Kelli drives educational, economic development, and community development through cradle-to-career initiatives involving student engagement, academic innovation, attendance, the arts, social/emotional learning, and physical and mental wellness.

Kelli has led large-scale initiatives, such as PRI’s first Full-Service Community Schools grant and a Promise Neighborhood grant in rural Knox County, Ky., with these efforts culminating in better school attendance, higher academic outcomes and early childhood literacy, improved nutrition & exercise rates for children, increased kindergarten readiness, heightened family engagement, and strengthened post-secondary persistence.

With undergraduate and graduate work in public relations and project management, Kelli worked in the public relations profession for much of her career before moving into the education and community engagement arenas to help communities build bridges to their biggest dreams.

Kay Hammond holds degrees from the University of Pikeville, Morehead State University and Eastern Kentucky University. She was a high school librarian in the Letcher County school system until retirement and assistant librarian at the University of Pikeville where she continues as President of the University’s Alumni Association. Kay is a 2011 and 2018 recipient of the Paul Harris Fellow presented by the Pikeville Rotary Foundation of Rotary International. She is a 2010 graduate of East Leadership Kentucky.

Kay is a member of the Southeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, former board member of the Pikeville Woman’s Club and member of Pikeville-Pike County Ministerial Association. She is also a former member (3 terms) of the Fleming-Neon City Council, former president of the Pikeville Rotary Club, member of the NU chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma International, Commissioned Kentucky Colonel and board member of the highly acclaimed East Kentucky Strong program, vice-chair of the East Kentucky Leadership Foundation Board, and Big Sandy/Retired Teacher volunteer of the year for 2018-2019.

Kay also serves as director of the Appalachian Pregnancy Care Center in Pikeville, which received the 2009 Service Organization Award from the Southeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, the 2009 Student Government Association award from the University of Pikeville and the 2013 Organization of the Year Award from the East Kentucky Leadership Foundation.

Kay resides in Pikeville, Kentucky and is married to Pastor Dave Hammond (Faith Baptist Church of Myra); they have two daughters, Stephanie Watko Dicks (Steve Dicks) and Heather Birchfield (Phillip Birchfield), and two grandchildren, Jordan Ilic and Bailey Birchfield. She has hosted “Kay’s Korner,” a Christian TV talk show and, along with her husband, Pastor Dave Hammond, has conducted a radio ministry. She is in demand as a conference speaker on women’s issues, has conducted workshops and lectured at Kentucky Baptist Convention events and spoken to non-denominational groups throughout Kentucky. Kay is passionate in her service to the community, especially its youth, and is tireless in her efforts to help people in need.

Henria Bailey-Lewis has served as a District Court Judge for the 41^st Judicial Circuit since 2008. In addition to her regular work duties, she also oversees a Recovery Court Program in the counties she serves, which are Clay, Jackson & Leslie Counties.

Judge Bailey-Lewis lives in Manchester, Kentucky and is married to Brian K. Lewis, a commercial building contractor. They have one son, Corbin. Her favorite thing to do is to watch her son do one of his favorite things, which includes playing basketball, golfing, and boating.

Judge Bailey-Lewis volunteers her time to numerous organizations and is passionate about her love for Eastern Kentucky and its people.

Paul D. Dole is in his forty-sixth year as President/CEO of KCEOC Community Action Partnership and 52nd overall. KCEOC is a Community Action Agency that works with low-income families in southeastern Kentucky, to help them change their lives by becoming self-sufficient. Paul has also served as Treasurer and President of the Southeastern Association of Community Action Agencies, 1^st Vice President of the National Community Action Partnership, and two terms as National Chair. He presently serves as the Region IV representative on the National Community Action Partnership Board. Paul serves as Chair of the Certified Community Action Professional Commission and as a Commissioner of the Award for Excellence Commission. He has been a board member of the East Kentucky Leadership Foundation for 35 years.

Paul received his Bachelor’s Degree from Union College and was elected to the College’s Hall of Fame in 2003. In 2005 Paul was awarded the William Hacker Leader of the Year Honor from Leadership Tri-County. In 2009 he was recognized by the East Kentucky Leadership Foundation as the Outstanding Public Individual of the Year. In 2013 he received the Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award for a non-profit. In 2017 he received the Community Action Kentucky Jesse Amburgy Award for Excellence in Community Action. He also received the National Community Action Partnership Robert M. Coard Innovation Award in 2017. Paul holds various certifications, including the Certified Community Action Professional and Certified Community Action Manager.

Kimberly Albright serves as Chief Program Officer at Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR) and Executive Officer of the SOAR EDA EKY Runway initiative. With more than 30 years of leadership experience, including overseeing a $10B operation supporting 125,000 associates, she brings deep expertise in workforce and economic development. Kimberly is passionate about removing barriers to employment, strengthening workforce pathways, and reducing outmigration by connecting Eastern Kentuckians to meaningful careers. She also serves on the East Kentucky Leadership Foundation (EKLF) Board. Grounded in her faith, love for family, and commitment to service, she leads with purpose and an unwavering belief in the potential of Appalachia.

Kathy King Allen is the Chief Community Officer at the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky, and she holds a B.S. in Marketing from the University of Louisville – College of Business. Kathy has spent her entire career focused on making positive contributions to the community and working to create opportunities for many in our region. She believes the best days lie ahead for eastern Kentucky and promotes positive attributes of our region throughout her travels and through networking.

In her role at the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky, Kathy has been instrumental in the development of geographic affiliate community foundations created to support local causes that improve the health and well-being of residents and the communities. Kathy serves on various boards and committees including the Floyd County Chamber of Commerce, One East Kentucky, East Kentucky Chapter of the American Red Cross, Appalachian Early Childcare Network, Baptist Learning Center Committee, East Kentucky Leadership Foundation and is a past chair of the Southeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. Kathy and her husband Robert live in Prestonsburg and have two grown sons.

Rachel Chambers is the Acting Single Family Housing Program Director for USDA Rural Development Kentucky. She has served USDA Rural Development for the past 11 years in the Single-Family Housing and Rural Partners Network programs. Rachel holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in public administration from Eastern Kentucky University. Prior to her service with USDA-RD, her career focused on non-profit housing in rural east Kentucky, serving as a program manager for two community-based housing non-profit entities. She is a recipient of a USDA Rural Development Undersecretary’s Honor Award in 2023 and 2024 and the USDA Secretary’s Honor Award in 2023 for her work with the Rural Partners Network program.

Paul R. Collins is currently retired but was formerly a practicing attorney in Hazard, Kentucky. He is a graduate of Eastern Kentucky University and Harvard Law School. He was City Attorney for the City of Hazard from 1986 through 2018.

Dr. Sandi Curd developed her interest in leadership through participation in Leadership Tri-County, a regional leadership development initiative serving three Southeastern Appalachian Kentucky counties. That experience informed her doctoral research, Collaborative Leadership’s Role in Appalachia, which examined the importance of cross-sector collaboration in rural communities.

Dr. Curd serves as Engagement Director for Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation, a position created following her work with America’s first Rural Promise Zone, which concluded in 2024. In this role, she works closely with local governments and leaders across 22 counties, spanning education, healthcare, economic development, broadband, substance-use recovery, agriculture, housing, and downtown revitalization.

She is also an adjunct professor at the University of the Cumberlands, where she teaches Introduction to Nonprofit Management (LEAD 531). Her experience with nonprofits includes hospital administration, her current work with Kentucky Highlands and board membership with several regional and statewide nonprofits.

A member of First Baptist Church for more than 30 years, Dr. Curd currently serves as an adult Sunday School teacher. She and her husband, Bryan, a physician and faculty member in the Physician Assistant program at the University of the Cumberlands, reside on a farm in Whitley County, Kentucky.

Dee Davis is the founder and President of the Center for Rural Strategies. Dee began his media career in 1973 as a trainee at Appalshop, an arts and cultural center devoted to exploring Appalachian life and social issues in Whitesburg, Kentucky. Dee went on to serve as executive producer of Appalshop Films and Headwaters Television. Dee serves on the board of directors of the Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation, Fund for Innovative Television, and Feral Arts of Brisbane, Australia. He is also a member of the national advisory boards of the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues and the Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI), and is the Steering Committee Chair of the National Rural Assembly.

Robin Gabbard serves as President of the Mountain Association, a 50-year-old nonprofit and Community Development Financial Institution committed to building a more diverse and resilient economy in Eastern Kentucky. With more than three decades of nonprofit leadership experience, she has dedicated her career to strengthening communities through community development, capacity building, and regional collaboration. Before stepping into the role in 2024, Robin held key leadership roles at LKLP Community Action and the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky.

Her professional and volunteer work has consistently centered on expanding opportunity, improving quality of life, and supporting local leaders in shaping the future of their communities. Based in the Mountain Association’s Hazard office, Robin remains actively invested in the growth and redevelopment happening in Perry County. The Mountain Association serves all 54 Eastern Kentucky counties with offices in Hazard, Prestonsburg, and Berea. Robin and her family are deeply rooted in Gays Creek, near Buckhorn Lake (one of the most beautiful manmade mountain lakes in Kentucky) and the historic community of Buckhorn, both of which continue to be sources of constant inspiration for her work.

Terry Gray is a seasoned higher education leader dedicated to empowering students and strengthening communities across Eastern Kentucky. A native of Clay County, Terry is a graduate of Clay County High School and a member of the 1987 State Champion basketball team. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Centre College and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Eastern Kentucky University.

During his time at Centre College, Terry was actively involved in campus life, serving in Residence Life, Student Judiciary, and as a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity, while also lettering in varsity basketball. Following graduation, he began his professional career in higher education at Centre College, serving as an Admissions Counselor and later Assistant Director of Admissions, where he developed a strong foundation in student recruitment and support.

Terry currently serves as the Senior Director of Regional Programming and Regional Stewardship at Eastern Kentucky University, a role he has held since 2003. Based in Manchester, Kentucky, he oversees EKU’s Corbin and Manchester Regional Campuses and leads initiatives that expand access to education while supporting regional economic and workforce development. His work focuses on building partnerships, increasing enrollment opportunities, and aligning academic programs with community needs.

A committed community leader, Terry serves as Chair of One Clay County and Co-Chair of the Manchester–Clay County Chamber of Commerce. He is also actively involved with several organizations, including Volunteers of America, the Clay County Tourism Board, the Elk Mountain Industrial Board, and the Upper Cumberland Community Foundation, among others. Through these roles, he works to advance economic development, tourism, and quality-of-life initiatives across the region.

Terry’s dedication to service and engagement has been widely recognized. He received Eastern Kentucky University’s inaugural Distinguished Service Award in 2021 and was honored with the 2023 President’s Excellence in Engagement Award, becoming the first off-campus employee to receive this distinction.

Grounded in the belief that education is a lifelong journey, Terry is committed to continuous growth and to creating opportunities that improve lives throughout his region. Above all, he values his roles as a husband and father and strives to lead with integrity, purpose, and a deep commitment to others.

Chair, Public Service Commission

Angie Hatton was appointed to the Public Service Commission by Governor Andy Beshear in 2023, designated as Chair of the Commission in 2024 and confirmed by the Kentucky Senate for a second term expiring in 2029.

Prior to her appointment, in addition to her private law practice, she was elected to three terms representing Letcher, Pike and Harlan Counties in the Kentucky House of Representatives, and served the General Assembly as House Minority Whip.

She was named to the Kentucky Gazette’s 50 Most Notable Women in 2019, named a KACO Outstanding County Advocate, awarded a Legislative Champion Award at the 2022 Senior Hunger Summit, given a Warrior for Working Families Award from the Working Families PAC, SOAR EKY Hero 2023, the Kentucky Valley Education Cooperative Henry Clay Award, Cumberland Valley ADD Outstanding Advocate Award, KCTC Outstanding Higher Education Advocate and numerous other awards. She served as Co-Chair of the Kentucky General Assembly’s Nonprofit Caucus, past President of the Letcher County Bar Association, Letcher County Trial Commissioner, and City Attorney for the Cities of Fleming-Neon and Whitesburg. She serves on the Board of Trustees for Appalachian Regional Healthcare, Board of Directors for ARH Foundation for Healthier Communities, Board of Directors for Kentucky Youth Advocates, Kentucky Habitat for Humanity, Eastern Kentucky Red Cross, EKY Heritage Foundation, Cowan Community Center, and Dreams Delivered Daily among other nonprofit boards.

After graduating from Eastern Kentucky University in 1994 with a degree in journalism, she worked as a newspaper reporter before earning her law degree at the University of Kentucky College of Law in 1999. She and her family reside in Whitesburg.

Peter Hille retired in 2025 after 35 years of nonprofit leadership focused on community economic development in Appalachia. He led the Mountain Association as President and CEO from 2015-2025 after joining Mountain Association’s staff in 2012 as Executive Vice President. During his tenure, Peter helped expand Mountain Association’s work in many ways, doubling the size of the loan portfolio, increasing support for entrepreneurs and expanding programs to make clean energy more accessible to businesses and organizations serving low-income communities. He also served on the Just Transition Fund’s National Economic Transition Working Group, helping to shape JTF’s Seven Pillars policy platform which informed federal policies and programs in support of energy communities.

Prior to Mountain Association, Peter was Director of the Brushy Fork Institute of Berea College, working in leadership and community development throughout Central Appalachia for 22 years. He also served as a consultant to regional and national organizations and implemented community development projects internationally in Russia and Slovakia. Peter serves on the board of the East Kentucky Leadership Foundation and previously served on the Berea Human Rights Commission. A graduate of Swarthmore College, he lives with his wife in a solar home they designed and built in the midst of fifty acres of forest near Berea, Kentucky.

Geoff Marietta is an entrepreneur, educator, and transformational leader working and living in the Appalachian Mountains of Eastern Kentucky. He currently is running for Mayor of Harlan, KY. Geoff previously served as Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the University of the Cumberlands, Director of the Appalachian Impact Fund, and founded Invest 606, Eastern Kentucky’s first and only business accelerator and pitch contest. He was named 2024 Kentucky Investor of the Year by the Kentucky Inno Fire Awards. Geoff is also Co-Founder of Harlan County Beer Company, an award winning full service restaurant and brewery in Harlan. His real estate company, Trillium Ventures, invests in and restores historic main street buildings like 2nd & Main in Corbin and Moonbow Tipple in Harlan.

During his career, Geoff also founded two technology firms, Mountain Tech Media, a diversified front-end digital media company in Eastern Kentucky, and Giant Otter Technologies, acquired by Drift.com. He is also the former Executive Director of Pine Mountain Settlement School. Geoff was born and raised in Hibbing, Minnesota on the Mesabi Iron Range and attended University of Montana where he studied forestry. He graduated summa cum laude and joined Teach For America’s Charter Corps on the Navajo Nation, advancing in leadership from teacher and department head, to assistant principal, to district-level coordinator. He then went on to earn his MBA from Harvard Business School and a doctorate from Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Geoff has written three books, most recently Rural Education in America, published by Harvard Ed Press. Geoff currently is a Board member of One Harlan, the Kentucky Commission on Small Business Innovation and Advocacy, and the East Kentucky Leadership Foundation. He is the past Board Chair of the Harlan County Industrial Development Authority and Harlan County Chamber of Commerce. He currently lives in Harlan County, Kentucky with his wife, Sky, and their sons, Harlan and Perry.

Neil Middleton is President and CEO of Forcht Broadcasting, Kentucky’s largest small-market radio group, operating 26 stations across nine markets in Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois. He joined Forcht Broadcasting in December 2024, returning to his radio roots after nearly five decades in broadcasting.

A native of Harlan County, Neil developed a passion for journalism early in his life through the time he spent in local newsrooms and radio studios. He began his professional career in radio while still in high school and later worked his way through multiple on-air and leadership roles. In 1987, he transitioned to television, joining WYMT-TV, where he rose from bureau reporter to News Director and ultimately Vice President and General Manager, a position he held until 2024.

Under his leadership, WYMT earned two Emmy Awards, two Telly Awards, and multiple Associated Press awards for reporting excellence and community service, among other recognitions.

Throughout his career, Neil has earned numerous honors, including the East Kentucky Leadership Foundation’s Tony Turner Award and the National Federation of State High School Associations State Award for Outstanding Service. Neil was named the Media Person of the Year in 2021 by the Kentucky Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). He was inducted into the Cawood Ledford League in 2018 for his support of the Cawood Ledford Boys and Girls Club in Harlan County.

Neil has received numerous Associated Press Awards, including Best Reporter, as well as awards for investigative reporting and breaking news coverage. He is a past president of the Kentucky Associated Press Broadcasters and remains deeply involved in regional economic development and leadership initiatives.

His community involvement includes serving on the Board of Trustees for Alice Lloyd College, the One Harlan County Board, and the East Kentucky Leadership Foundation. He has also served on the boards of One East Kentucky, the Center for Rural Development, the Challenger Center, and PRIDE (Personal Responsibility in a Desirable Environment).

Neil lives in Laurel County with his wife, Stephanie.

Mark 8:34-36

Director of Public Health, Martin County Health Department; CEO, Thrive Community Coalition, Inc.
BA in Biology, Transylvania University, 1998 · Juris Doctorate, University of Kentucky College of Law, 2003

Mr. Mills is married to his bride of 20 years, Carolea, and they have 4 children, including two teenagers, Erickson and Caroline, and two adult children, Blake and Brooke.

Mills currently serves as the Director of Public Health at the Martin County Health Department. In his early tenure, Mr. Mills advanced the health department’s programmatic scope by adding over a dozen new programs as well as dramatically expanding community outreach and engagement. Mills also managed substantial strategic investments in the facilities including a $500k solar installation. During this time, MCHD was also selected by NACCHO for a grant-funded public health study which was presented at their national conference in 2024.

Mr. Mills currently also serves as Founder & CEO of the Thrive Community Coalition. Arising out of a decade of Mr. Mills’ volunteer community leadership and healthcare services leadership experience, Thrive Community Coalition represents a regional collaborative of those offering services to vulnerable populations in transition, ranging from NGOs, social services, child protective services, the justice system, local SUD treatment, providers, public health, and many, many others. Thrive facilitates synergy among social service providers to ensure maximum impact in parallel with providing its own services to fill gaps in local social support ecosystems.

Mr. Mills began his career as a practicing attorney where he worked 15 years as owner-practitioner at Mills Law Firm in Inez. His scope of practice ranged from personal injury, family, real estate and mineral law. He has argued cases before the Kentucky Supreme Court and Court of Appeals. Among Mills’ clients was Connected Nation (a national technology leadership non-profit) where Mr. Mills served as General Counsel and Senior Strategy Advisor, supporting data informed, local broadband technology investments across the country.

Prior to his current work, Mr. Mills served as the Senior Operations Executive (SVP, COO) at Addiction Recovery Care from 2014 to 2022. He developed and managed rapid, self-funded expansion of the organization to 4x locations and 8x revenue, including management of 600 employees, all while increasing the quality of care. Eric also maintains a very active role in his community’s leadership serving as Chair of Martin County Housing Authority and supporting various tourism and downtown redevelopment projects.

John M. Rosenberg is Director-Emeritus of Appalachian Research and Defense Fund of Ky., Inc. (Appalred), a legal services program serving low income clients in 37 counties in eastern and south central Kentucky. He held the position of Director for thirty-one years from its founding in 1970. From 1962 to 1970, he served as a Trial Attorney, Deputy Section Chief, and Trial Section Chief in the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice, where he litigated racial discrimination cases primarily in the South.

He is a past member of the Board of Governors of the Kentucky Bar Association and chaired various Sections of the Association. He has been a member of the Board of Regents of Morehead State University, and the Visiting Committee of the University of Kentucky College of Law.

He has served on the boards of various nonprofit organizations, and he is presently on the Boards of the East Kentucky Leadership Foundation, the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky and the Appalachian Citizens Law Center. He was a founder and past chair of the Board of the East Kentucky Science Center. He has received a number of awards for his public service work, including the Kentucky Bar Association’s Distinguished Attorney Award. He is a graduate of Duke University with an A.B. Degree in Chemistry. He earned his L.L.B. degree from the University of North Carolina School of Law. He holds honorary Doctorates from Morehead State University, the William Mitchell School of Law, and Berea College.

Scott Surber is currently the Broadband Technology Liaison at The Center for Rural Development in Somerset, serving The Center’s 45 county territory. He works with city and county governments, area development districts, fiber boards and other groups in an effort to see broadband made available to all of Eastern Kentucky. He and his wife Tina have two grown daughters and two wonderful grandchildren.

Bill is Chairman of Community Exchange Bancshares, Inc, a bank holding company and is President of Clean Gas, Inc., an Eastern Kentucky natural gas exploration and management company. He is a board member of the East Kentucky Leadership Foundation, the Hazard Community and Technical College, the Appalachian Artisan Center and the Bank of Hindman. He served as Vice-Chairman of the Kentucky Appalachian Commission from 1996, when Governor Paul Patton restructured the Commission after being elected Eastern Kentucky’s first Governor since Bert Combs, until 2001.

He holds a B.A. from Randolph-Macon College, a JD from Tulane Law School and a M.A. degree from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in international affairs. In 1996 he was a Visiting Fellow in Creative Writing at Harvard University. His wife, Lois Combs Weinberg, was the Democratic nominee for the United States Senate in 2002. He and his wife Lois have 3 sons; Jed, Zach and Tomas.

Paul Patton served as the 59th governor of Kentucky from 1995-2003 and as lieutenant governor from 1991-1995. His many accomplishments, awards and years of service include Kentucky higher education reform, Kentucky Association of Economic Development Hall of Fame inductee, and service on the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education, chair of the Southern Regional Education Board, the Southern Growth Policies Board, the Education Commission of the States, the Appalachian Regional Commission, the President’s Commission on the High School Senior Year, and the National Education Goals Panel. Governor Patton continues his service at the local and regional levels as the current Chancellor of the University of Pikeville and a member of the East Kentucky Leadership Foundation.