Rocky Adkins has devoted four decades to public service, standing up for Democratic values and delivering results for people across the commonwealth. As Democratic leader in both the House majority and minority, he built relationships, knew the issues and the legislative process, and used that experience to protect Kentuckians. As senior advisor to Gov. Andy Beshear, Rocky brought that same commitment to the executive branch, working with community leaders in every corner of the state to solve problems, strengthen infrastructure, create jobs and move communities forward. Now, he is running for governor to lower costs, protect public schools and hospitals, defend personal freedoms and stand against policies that make life harder for Kentuckians.

Kenny Brooks is the head coach of the University of Kentucky women’s basketball program, entering his third season with the Wildcats and his 25th season overall as a head coach. Named the 2025 Sporting News National Coach of the Year after his first season at Kentucky, Brooks has built an impressive career that includes more than 560 victories, 12 NCAA Tournament appearances and a Final Four.

He is coming off a season that produced two top-five nationally ranked wins, the program’s first Sweet Sixteen in a decade and four WNBA Draft selections in 2025-26. This upcoming season, his team features the No. 6 freshmen class, which includes three McDonald’s All-Americans, the nation’s No. 6 transfer portal class and a No. 9 preseason ranking.

Before coming to Kentucky, Brooks spent eight seasons at Virginia Tech, where he led the Hokies to four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, an ACC regular-season championship, an ACC Tournament title and the program’s first Final Four. He previously spent 14 seasons as head coach at James Madison University, becoming the winningest coach in program history.

A Waynesboro, Virginia, native and 1992 graduate of James Madison, Brooks has developed numerous standout student-athletes throughout his career, including multiple WNBA Draft selections.

Mike Buckentin retired as President and CEO of Logan Aluminum in October 2024, having led North America’s largest aluminum manufacturing facility in Russellville, Kentucky for 7 years. In December, he joined MI2 as CEO, building on his previous experience as a board member and metals leadership council member. Previous to Logan, Mike worked at BlueScope Steel in Kalama, WA, where he served as VP of Operations for the Coated Products division, a joint venture between BlueScope and Nippon/Sumitomo. Prior to BlueScope, Mike held the position of Chief Operations Officer at SOLB Steel in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He has also held various senior-level executive positions throughout his career in the steel and metals industry. Mike serves, or has served, on the board of the Governor’s Scholars Program, Secat, Kentucky Chamber, Kentucky Workforce Innovation Board, and the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce. He continues to be active in various areas and activities across the state. Mike is a graduate of Montana Tech with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Metallurgical Engineering, and the University of Illinois with a Master of Science degree in Materials Engineering. He and his wife, Mary, have five children. His interests include golf, hiking, boating, and traveling.

Wells Bullard is the President and CEO of Bullard, a 126-year-old, fifth-generation, family-owned company that designs, develops, manufactures, markets, and sells high-quality personal protective equipment (PPE) that protects people working in the most demanding environments around the world.

Founded in 1898 and recognized as the inventor of the hard hat in 1919, Bullard manufactures purpose-built fire and rescue helmets, thermal imaging cameras, hard hats and safety helmets, and respiratory protection in Cynthiana, Kentucky. Bullard takes a long-term view of safety, innovation, and the responsibility it has to serve the people who protect and build our communities.

Bullard has proudly called Central Kentucky home for more than 50 years, with manufacturing operations in Cynthiana and an office in Lexington.

Wells joined Bullard in 2008 and held leadership roles in manufacturing, marketing, product development, and business development before becoming CEO in 2017. She holds degrees in International Relations and Spanish from Stanford University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Wells is Chair of the International Safety Equipment Association Board of Trustees, serves on the Associated General Contractors of Kentucky Board, and serves on the Dean’s Advisory Council for the University of Kentucky College of Engineering.

She lives in Lexington with her husband and two children.

Jacqueline Coleman is the fifty-eighth lieutenant governor of Kentucky. She was raised on a farm in the small Kentucky town of Burgin. Her family owned a lumberyard for five generations. It was there she was taught to help her neighbors. As a result, Jacqueline has devoted her life to public service.

Jacqueline is a passionate advocate for public education. She entered public office after serving as a teacher, assistant principal and basketball coach. She believes education is the key to providing Kentuckians opportunities for transformational change that can create new cycles of success.

Through the Team Kentucky Student Mental Health Initiative, she worked to secure more than $40 million in federal funding to increase student mental health resources in schools. She led the charge to waive the testing fee for adults earning their GED. Since then, more than 25,000 Kentuckians have taken advantage of the program. She revived the Kentucky Commission on Women after its office was shuttered and funding was removed during the previous administration.

As a rural Kentuckian, Jacqueline aims to ensure Kentucky's booming economy reaches people in every zip code. In the first six years of the Beshear-Coleman administration they have announced a record $50 billion in economic investments. More importantly, this will change the lives of thousands of families with the creation of nearly 70,000 new full-time jobs.

Lt. Governor Coleman is wife to Chris, mom to Evelynne, adopted mom to Emma and a bonus mom to Will and Nate.

Congressman James Comer represents Kentucky’s 1st Congressional District, serving 35 counties from the Mississippi River to Central Kentucky. A Monroe County native and graduate of Western Kentucky University, Comer began his career in agriculture and remains a farmer and small business owner.

Before being elected to Congress in 2016, Comer served six terms in the Kentucky House of Representatives and as Kentucky’s Commissioner of Agriculture. During his public service career, he has focused on agriculture, infrastructure, rural economic development, broadband access, workforce development, education and reducing regulatory burdens.

Congressman Comer currently serves as Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and as a member of the House Committee on Education and Workforce, where his work includes issues affecting education, workforce development and opportunities for the next generation.

Elisabeth Galvin is a visionary entrepreneur who has been shaping the transportation food industry for more than three decades. After moving to the United States from France, she founded Delyse Inc. in 1992 and later co-founded Stellar Snacks, expanding her impact into the national food industry. Elisabeth makes the impossible possible, embodies the power of hard work and leads from the front lines with passion and heart.

Mr. Gary is Chief Executive Officer of Century Aluminum Company. Prior to taking the helm as CEO, Jesse served in a variety of senior leadership roles over his 15-year career at Century, including as Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel. Previously, Mr. Gary practiced law at Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz in New York. Mr. Gary received his B.A. from the University of California at Berkeley and his J.D. from Cornell Law School.

Greg Keown is Senior Vice President of Wieland Group and President of Rolling & Recycling North America, where he leads the company’s North American copper rolling and recycling businesses.

With more than 25 years of leadership experience in metals and manufacturing, Greg has led large-scale business transformations, strategic growth initiatives, acquisitions, and major capital investments across North American and global operations.

He also serves as Chairman of the Copper Development Association. Greg is a graduate of the University of Southern Indiana and completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School, along with executive education at Columbia Business School.

Mollie Lewis is President and a second-generation leader of New Riff Distilling, the independent, family-owned Northern Kentucky distillery founded by her father, Ken Lewis. After a decade helping grow the business, she became President in 2024.

A Louisville native and Parsons School of Design graduate, Mollie worked in the international wine industry before returning home to Kentucky and Bourbon. Today, she helps lead New Riff’s next chapter while championing women in leadership, mentorship and the continued growth of Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati.

Chris Lyons serves as Vice President of Commercial at North American Stainless (NAS), one of North America’s leading stainless steel producers. Chris has spent more than two decades with NAS, beginning his career with the company in 2002 in the Sales Department and progressing through a number of commercial leadership positions to his current role.

A graduate of the University of Kentucky, Chris has built his career around the stainless steel industry, developing extensive experience in commercial strategy, customer relationships, market development, and the North American metals marketplace.

As Vice President of Commercial, Chris provides strategic leadership for NAS's commercial organization and plays a key role in the company's relationships with customers and partners throughout North America. He brings a broad perspective on market conditions,

competitiveness, manufacturing, sustainability, and the future of the stainless steel industry.

Chris is a recognized voice within the stainless steel industry and has been a featured speaker and panelist at major industry conferences, addressing topics including market trends, digitalization, sustainability, geopolitics, and the future direction of stainless steel.

Outside of his professional career, Chris is a husband and father of three.

Chris is based in the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region and remains deeply connected to the people, communities, and manufacturing heritage of the region where NAS has built its North American operations.

Laura Lyons is President and Owner of ATech Training, a manufacturer serving the automotive and diesel technology training market. She brings more than 40 years of manufacturing experience, with the majority of her career spent in management roles. Prior to ATech Training, Laura worked for packaging machinery manufacturer R.A. Jones and served in the U.S. Army in Hawaii.

Laura is actively involved in industry and community organizations, including the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, Automotive Training Manager’s Council (ATMC), North American Council of Automotive Teachers (NACAT), California Automotive Teachers (CAT), and Automotive Service Association (ASA). She currently serves on the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

Throughout her career, Laura has also served with the NACAT Education Foundation, Raise The Floor as Chair and Founding Member, Northern Kentucky University MBA Advisory Committee, and Gateway Community and Technical College Foundation Board of Directors. She has supported STEM initiatives and volunteered with youth diversion projects in Kenton County.

Laura holds an MBA from Northern Kentucky University, a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Hawaii Pacific University, and an Associate of Applied Science from the University of Cincinnati.

A Northern Kentucky native, Laura resides in Florence and enjoys home improvement projects, hiking, traveling, gardening, and reading.

Cliff Nance is the owner and CEO of Tungco, a global tungsten carbide reclamation and raw material supply business. A second-generation leader, he grew up in Madisonville, Kentucky, and built his industry experience from the plant floor upward, ultimately serving as Vice President of Operations before becoming CEO.

Since assuming the CEO role in 2014, Nance has led Tungco's continued growth as a relationship-driven, globally active recycler and supplier in the tungsten industry. His leadership emphasizes operational discipline, customer service, innovation, and a long-term commitment to sustainability in critical-material supply chains.

Nance also founded Project 74, an initiative to reshore the American industrial base.

Beyond Tungco, Nance hosts Cliff's Notes, a podcast featuring conversations on manufacturing, metals, leadership, technology, and building lasting relationships. He remains guided by his enduring priorities of family, adventure, and community.

Mr. Perkins has served as President of Packaging and Automotive Rolled Products business unit since May 2025.

Prior to this role, he was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at EVRAZ North America. Before joining EVRAZ in 2019, Mr. Perkins served as President and CEO of SKW North America, a New York-based producer of specialty chemicals, alloys, and powder metallurgy products. Earlier in his career, he spent more than a decade at U.S. Steel, where he held operational leadership roles in Indiana, Michigan, Serbia, and Slovakia. He began his career at LTV Steel Company in 1991, working in operations, customer technical service, and quality.

Mr. Perkins holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Metallurgical Engineering from The Ohio State University and an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh’s Katz Graduate School of Business.

Joe Quinn leads the SAFE Center for Strategic Industrial Materials, a Washington, D.C.-based policy initiative designed to advance supply chain resiliency for metals production critical to the United States and its allies’ national and economic security.

Joe is the co-director of the Sustainable Aluminum Network, a coalition of NGOs working with industry and government to revitalize domestic production. He has been cited as an expert in Financial Times, the Wall Street Journal, and other major publications, and has testified before the U.S. International Trade Commission and Treasury Department. He is a frequent speaker at national and international conferences promoting industrial competitiveness.

Joe previously served as vice president of external affairs and industry relations at the Aluminum Association, where he led advocacy efforts on behalf of producers for a variety of trade and energy policy issues. He also worked at leading public relations firms positioning organizations favorably with key opinion leaders to achieve policy outcomes.

Joe serves on the Board of Directors of the Public Affairs Council. A Cincinnati native, he received his B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communications from the University of South Carolina. He lives in Jim Morrison’s childhood home in Arlington, Virginia with his wife and two sons.

Chris Rice serves as the Vice President & General Manager of Nucor Steel Brandenburg, a role he assumed on September 17, 2023. Chris began his career with Nucor in 2004 as a Shift Electrician at Nucor Steel Arkansas. He quickly progressed through leadership roles, including Melt Shop Electrical Supervisor and Cold Mill Electrical Supervisor.

In 2017, Chris was named Maintenance and Engineering Manager at Nucor Steel South Carolina, later taking on the same role at Nucor Steel Hertford County. His leadership journey continued in 2021 when he became General Manager at Vulcraft Texas. In 2023, he was elected Vice President & General Manager.

As Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations for the Port of Louisville, Jim Adams’ focus is growing business at Louisville’s largest barge and rail transloading operation. The 300-acre intermodal facility enjoys daily rail service with the CSX and Norfolk Southern railroads and on-demand service with the Paducah and Louisville Railroad. With a thirty-ton river dock, the Port is heavy industry’s regional connector between barge, rail, and truck transportation.

Jim has served in transportation industry leadership roles in public policy development and implementation throughout his career. Beginning as a United States Coast Guard commissioned officer, he’s served as a congressional committee professional staff member, and in leadership positions with ACBL, CSX, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, and the Offshore Marine Services Association. Jim holds a degree in economics from James Madison University and a master’s from George Washington University.

Dr. Kevin Berkopes is Co-Founder and CEO of Intangled Learning, where he helps manufacturers turn senior technical expertise into a learning system that develops apprentices on the production floor. He holds Ph.D. in Mathematics from Purdue University and spent two decades in mathematics education and institution-building before bringing that work to industry. His current focus is how expert judgment and tacit knowledge transfers between people, and what organizations need to do to promote scaled learning and production.

Trevor Blondeel is an author, professional speaker, and executive coach who spent twenty-five years in manufacturing, eighteen of them at Magna International, leading plants and teams. He is the author of the forthcoming book Manufacturing Greatness (Page Two, May 2027), grounded in the 2026 North American Manufacturing Workforce Study, which he commissioned and the Center for Generational Kinetics conducted, surveying 1,250 working-age adults across the United States and Canada willing to work in manufacturing. The study asked what would make them join, what would make them stay, and what would make them walk. His podcast of the same name ranks in the top one percent globally.

Trevor is a Certified Speaking Professional, the speaking profession's highest earned designation, a Professional Certified Coach through the International Coaching Federation, and a past president of the Kentucky chapter of the National Speakers Association. Canadian born and raised, he is a dual citizen now living in Kentucky. He works with manufacturing leaders to build teams that work together, get results, and stick around.

Brian is the Chief Innovation Officer at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), overseeing the Innovation, IT, and Customer Experience divisions. His three-decade career spans airline and airport executive roles, grounded in a Bachelor's in Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Under Brian's stewardship, CVG's 7,700-acre campus has become a living lab of advanced research—testing, refining, and monetizing technologies that create efficiencies, upskill the workforce, and generate new revenue. His work has made CVG the first airport in the world or U.S. to trial a range of cutting-edge technologies, delivering lasting value for the region and industry.

Brian serves as a Board Member of the Aviation ISAC, the international community protecting aviation from cyber threats, as well as Cintrifuse and Blue North, both advancing startup growth and entrepreneurship across the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky region. He also holds advisory roles with Northern Kentucky University's Haile College of Business, the Kentucky Science & Technology Corporation, and the Kentucky Chamber's Energy & Environment and Kentucky Competitiveness policy councils. Collectively and across a deep body of work, these roles position CVG as an industry resource for evolving technologies and the regulatory frameworks necessary for their success, engaging aircraft and vehicle OEMs, FAA and UK’s CAA, NASA, and Transportation Research Board (TRB) studies.

Kalle Cole serves as Strategic Partnerships Manager at CBT Company developing partnerships with organizations and customers by leveraging the company’s broad capabilities to create value and foster collaboration. She actively cultivates industry relationships, raising her company’s visibility and strengthening the region’s manufacturing ecosystem. As a natural connector and people-first leader, she finds both professional purpose and personal joy in aligning resources for the benefit of all parties.

Drawing on her in-depth industry knowledge and more than a decade of experience in manufacturing, Kalle helps organizations identify opportunities, navigate market trends, and drive sustainable growth throughout Kentucky and beyond. She plays an instrumental role in expanding CBT’s regional presence, connecting manufacturers to modernization initiatives that enhance efficiency and enable long-term digital transformation.

Kalle is passionate about championing diversity in manufacturing—emphasizing that a thriving industry is built on teams that reflect a wide array of genders, races, backgrounds, and family situations. She believes everyone has something unique to contribute, and that manufacturing can be even more flexible and inclusive than we often imagine. By working together across the manufacturing community, Kalle aims to ensure the industry welcomes, supports, and elevates people from all walks of life.

Her commitment to advancing the industry is evident in her leadership as Chair of Women in Manufacturing Kentucky and involvement with Women in Manufacturing on a national level. She serves on Board of the Kentucky Manufacturing Extension Partnership (KY-MEP) at the University of Louisville, the Great Events & Marketing Committee for the Advanced Manufacturing Industry Partnership (AMIP) and has previously served on the Government Relations Committee of the Dayton Region Manufacturers Association (DRMA). In recent years, Kalle has led the successful expansion of the More Than MFG Expo, including the launch of the More Than MFG Student Experience. In its inaugural year, more than 200 students from local schools received a hands-on introduction to the opportunities and innovations in modern manufacturing.

Lee Crume is President & CEO of BE NKY Growth Partnership (BE NKY), the economic development company that works to attract, retain, and grow businesses and the economy in Boone, Campbell, and Kenton counties.

In 2025, BE NKY won 15 projects, announcing 1,914 new jobs and $425.5M in capital investment, with the advanced manufacturing sector leading each of these metrics. In alignment with BE NKY’s efforts to develop a comprehensive roadmap for workforce development, the organization announced significant funding for three local Northern Kentucky education non-profit organizations.

Since Lee was appointed CEO in April 2019, the BE NKY team has grown from 10 to 16 employees. The company was named a Best Places to Work finalist by the Cincinnati Business Courier twice in the last 5 years and Lee has been named a Top 50 North America Economic Developer by Consultant Connect three times since 2017.

Kelly Embry sells software for a living, which is a nice way of saying he spends his days

convincing frontline teams (manufacturing, logistics, food processing, healthcare, retail,

hospitality, and field services) that there is, in fact, a better way to run a shift than sticky

notes and a group text with 40 unread messages. As a Sales and Account Expansion

Representative at UnDesked, his entire job is talking already-happy customers into being

even happier, upgrading them from "we use UnDesked for this" to "we use UnDesked for

dang near everything," including visitor management, initial onboarding and daily

workflows, AI translation, and document digitization.

He works out of the WKU Innovation Campus, where he and UnDesked co-founder Jeremy

Jacobs have also led outreach around events like the New American Workforce Employer

Summit and lunch and learn opportunities for local businesses.

Off the clock, Kelly is a south central Kentucky lifer and two-time WKU grad who looked at

the rest of the world and said "No thanks, I'm good here." He lives with his wife, Samantha,

their three kids, three dogs, and, begrudgingly, one cat.

Kaleb England is the Co-Founder and leader of Mural Industrial, an industrial-only recruiting firm built on one principle: solve the business problem behind the hire. Kaleb leads direct placement, contract and EOR staffing, and embedded recruiting consulting for manufacturers, construction companies, and adjacent industrial operators.

A Glasgow, Kentucky native and first-generation University of Kentucky graduate, Kaleb spent seven years at Aerotek placing hundreds of skilled professionals across complex manufacturing and construction environments before co-founding Mural Industrial.

A faithful Christian, Kaleb serves as President of the Greater Nashville UK Alumni Association and coaches AAU basketball with Stars Basketball Club, a Christian faith-based organization.

Sierra J. Enlow serves as Managing Partner of Economic Development at Cornerstone, where she advises communities and companies on growth, expansion, redevelopment, and new economic opportunities. She has worked across both the public and private sectors and has helped facilitate nearly $1 billion in new economic investment in Kentucky.

A native of LaRue County, Sierra grew up on a multi-generation family farm and earned undergraduate degrees in Community & Leadership Development and Agricultural Economics, as well as a master’s degree in Agricultural Economics, from the University of Kentucky. Her experience includes work with manufacturers, family-owned businesses, tech startups, Louisville Forward, and Greater Louisville Inc. In 2023, Sierra was the Democratic nominee for Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture.

Jamin Ferner is an executive healthcare solutions strategist focused on mental health access and reducing large medical spend for employers. As Co-Founder and Chief People Officer of Wire Health, he builds and leads the company’s team, oversees client communications, and drives team programs and operations. Wire Health partners with employers, unions, and health plans to quickly get members into outpatient mental and behavioral healthcare, often within a week, even for complex cases, at a fraction of the cost of hospital-based care.

Jamin brings more than 25 years of experience in people management, HR, retail, and marketing, with leadership roles at ADT, Blockbuster, CVS and Apple. He has also advised healthcare startups on HR, operations, and team retention. Jamin holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications and a master’s degree from Drexel University.

Louisville native Rob Givens graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1986 and retired as a Brigadier General after 27 years of distinguished military service.

A command pilot with more than 3,700 flight hours in the F-16 and A-10, he flew over 100 combat sorties during Operations Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom, earning two Distinguished Flying Crosses for heroism in combat. He also served as a member of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and commanded the 35th Fighter Squadron, the 56th Operations Group, and the historic 8th Fighter Wing (Wolfpack).

Following his military career, Rob served as National Security Advisor for Rand Paul's Senate campaign, Executive Director of the Henry Clay Center for Statesmanship, and since 2019 has served as State Director for U.S. Senator Rand Paul, overseeing the Senator's official operations throughout Kentucky.

Gina is a highly experienced and respected community and economic development professional with over 40 years of expertise, 30 of which have been dedicated to Lexington and the Bluegrass Region. Currently serving as the Executive Vice President for Economic Development at Commerce Lexington, Gina is known for her dedication, creativity, and proven leadership skills. She oversees the strategy and implementation of Commerce Lexington’s economic development mission, including managing the goals of the Lexington Economic Partnership. In her role, Gina has expanded Commerce Lexington’s focus to include supporting existing businesses, fostering industry ecosystems, engaging with minority businesses, marketing Lexington's assets, and building relationships with senior business leaders. She excels in managing the economic development process, attracting major companies to Lexington, and facilitating business relocations.

Kent Guthrie is the Vice President of Facilities for Trace Die Cast, Inc. in Bowling Green, KY. Kent started working for Trace Die Cast in 1994 after receiving his BS in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Kentucky. As a Sloan Fellow at Stanford University, Kent completed his Master of Science in Business at the Stanford Graduate School of Business class of 2001. Trace Die Cast, started in 1988, manufactures high pressure aluminum die castings for the automotive industry. Kent is a 2nd generation owner of this family company along with his three brothers.

CAPT Bill Hamblet, USN (Ret.) is Executive Vice President for Periodicals and Editor-in-Chief of Proceedings, the flagship publication of the U.S. Naval Institute. He joined the Institute in 2016 following nearly 30 years of service as a Navy intelligence officer.

A 1987 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Hamblet served with an FA-18 squadron, Navy SEAL Team, Carrier Air Wing, and Carrier Strike Group. His assignments also included the Joint Staff at the Pentagon, Naval Attaché to Russia, head of the China Division at the Joint Intelligence Operations Center in the Pacific, and deputy division chief for Middle East strategy at the National Counterterrorism Center. He was in the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, and helped lead the initial intelligence response following the attacks.

Laura Haury is a Senior Environmental Engineer at Logan Aluminum, Inc. with over 35 years of manufacturing and consulting experience in process engineering and environmental, health and safety compliance. Over the past 18 years at Logan Aluminum, she has specifically focused on water quality, waste management, and recycling/sustainability efforts. Laura has provided environmental compliance leadership to the manufacturing operations over the course of three major expansions. Laura now concentrates on recycling efforts, environmental education, and community outreach. The focus of her work now is to raise awareness about aluminum recycling and develop programs to move the dial to increase the current recycling rates.

Shawn Herbig is the President and Founder of IQS Research. As an industry leader in scientifically based opinion research, IQS Research provides the critical link between market perception and company strategy. During his tenure, he has overseen hundreds of projects, ranging from qualitative studies involving select high-value respondents to projects interviewing several thousand respondents, conducted in multiple languages and across multiple continents.

Recently, Shawn achieved the designation of Insights Professional Certification Master (IPC-Master). This title is held by fewer than two dozen people and is one of the highest designations in the Insights profession. In addition to his work at IQS Research, Shawn is an adjunct professor in UofL’s Master of Business Analytics program. Further, Shawn and his team have overseen the KAM Wage and Benefits Study since 2007.

Matt Herridge is a lifelong West Virginia resident and business owner currently serving as the West Virginia Secretary of Commerce. His background includes a ten-year career in Clinical Psychology at the Charleston Area Medical Center and member of the WVU School of Medicine clinical faculty.

Since then, he has managed an extensive restaurant portfolio, including 24 Burger King units and three Qdoba Mexican Eats locations, and founded a software development company providing solutions for the restaurant industry. Following the sale of the Burger King portfolio, he now operates three Qdoba locations and manages several leased properties.

Throughout his career, he has been deeply involved in the political arena. In addition to his previous role as GOP State Chairman, he chaired the Government Relations Committee for the Burger King brand and its associated PAC.

Tyler Huff is the Technical Director at STEINERT US, a global leader in sensor sorting and magnetic separation technology. With a robust engineering background, Tyler specializes in optimizing material recovery and efficiency across the metals, mining and waste recycling industries. Throughout his career at STEINERT, including his previous role as Lead Application Engineer, he has focused on delivering innovative technical solutions to complex sorting challenges. Tyler holds a bachelor’s degree in mining engineering from the University of Kentucky and brings years of hands-on application expertise to the resource recovery industry.

Senator Glenn Jeffries represents West Virginia’s 8th Senatorial District and chairs the Senate Economic Development Committee. A businessman and entrepreneur, he brings a private-sector perspective to public service, championing economic growth, job creation, energy development, advanced manufacturing, and infrastructure while working to bring new investment and opportunities to West Virginia.

Frank Jemley joined the Kentucky Association of Manufacturers in 2021 after serving in leadership roles across the private, public, and nonprofit sectors.

He previously served as an investor and advisor to a Louisville technology startup and held appointments in Kentucky state government under Governors Matt Bevin and Andy Beshear.

Throughout his career, Frank has advised businesses and institutions on public policy issues in Washington, D.C., and state capitols across the country. He also led public affairs for Churchill Downs Incorporated and managed the successful privatization-in-place of a Navy weapons and engineering base in Louisville, preserving more than 1,000 STEM and manufacturing jobs.

Frank earned a Bachelor of Arts with honors in Political Science from the University of Louisville, where he served two terms as Student Government President. He later served two tours as a U.S. Navy intelligence officer.

Dr. Kyle Keeney is an internationally recognized leader in personal transformation, life sciences, and organizational leadership. As CEO of the Kentucky Life Sciences Council (KLSC), he leads efforts to strengthen Kentucky’s life sciences and biotechnology industries while advancing policies that promote innovation, economic growth, and access to care.

Over the course of his more than 30-year career, Dr. Keeney has worked with science organizations, Fortune 500 companies, disease research initiatives, schools, leaders, and corporations in the United States and around the world. His work has consistently focused on helping organizations and individuals navigate complexity, embrace innovation, and create meaningful change.

Dr. Keeney’s approach is grounded in curiosity, creativity, systems thinking, and a deep respect for the unfolding stories of individuals and communities. Whether working in the boardroom, the classroom, or through his work as an artist and adventurer, he brings a commitment to understanding complex human systems and helping people discover new possibilities.

He holds a Ph.D. in Epistemology and Complexity Modeling, a Master’s degree in Philosophy with a focus on Systems Theory, and a Clinical Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling.

Troy Lincomfelt is director of Kentucky operations for Schupan, a Kalamazoo, Michigan-based company that has led in aluminum and plastics recycling, metals manufacturing and distribution, and global materials trading since 1968. In more than three decades with the company, Troy has worked at nearly every level of the business, from maintenance technician to plant manager to divisional vice president of Michigan operations, along with cross-functional roles supporting divisions across the organization.

Today, Troy leads the launch of Schupan's first location in Kentucky, home to the nation's largest aluminum production capacity. He brings a practical, ground-up view of what makes recycling operations run well: reliable equipment, strong teams, and clear links between plant performance and financial results.

Patrick Malcor, CEO and Founder of Ajax Defense, has over 30 years of leadership experience in global defense and national security. A former U.S. Army officer, he transitioned to KBR, where he managed logistics in the Balkans and Middle East, notably supporting the 4th Infantry Division’s deployment into Iraq in 2003.

Patrick then spent a decade as CEO of TWI, an integrated supply chain solutions provider to DoD, growing the team from approximately 40 employees to over 400. After TWI he co-founded Precision Talent Solutions, a leading staffing & recruiting firm serving US Government contractors.

In 2022, Patrick founded Ajax Defense to invest private capital to rebuild the U.S. aerospace and defense industrial base. He also serves as President of Ajax subsidiaries Whelan Machine & Tool (Louisville, KY) and Bitec-SMI (Dayton, OH).

He holds a bachelor’s degree from Davidson College, an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and is a member of AUSA, NDIA, and YPO.

Cory Meadows is the incoming Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of the Kentucky Medical Association (KMA). He joined KMA in 2011 and has served as Deputy Executive Vice President and Director of Advocacy, overseeing the Association’s legislative advocacy and legal activities.

Meadows serves on the American Medical Association’s Litigation Center Executive Committee and Advocacy Resource Center Executive Committee, as well as the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Health Policy Council. He is also a past Board Chair of the Partnership for Commonsense Justice.

Prior to joining KMA, Meadows practiced law in both the public and private sectors and served in leadership positions in Kentucky state government. He holds degrees from the University of Kentucky and the Louis D. Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville.

Kim Menke is a manufacturing, workforce, and public policy leader with more than 40 years of experience connecting business, education, community, and government. After retiring from Toyota Motor North America in 2024 following 37 years of service, he founded ProVision Partners to help businesses, nonprofits, and communities advance economic development, workforce readiness, strategic planning, and public-private partnerships. Throughout his career, Menke has built a strong reputation for turning complex operational and regulatory challenges into practical, mutually beneficial solutions. He has consistently championed manufacturing excellence, workforce development, and long-term community growth through initiatives that have become national models for public-private collaboration.

Menke has held numerous civic and statewide leadership roles, including Past Chairman of the following: Kentucky Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Board (KWIB), Kentucky Chamber Workforce Center, KY FAME, Commerce Lexington, GeorgetownScott County Chamber of Commerce, Lanes Run Business Park Authority, and Western Kentucky University Foundation.

In addition to his private-sector leadership, Menke was elected at-large to the Georgetown, Kentucky, City Council in 2024. He is currently focused on the Kim Menke campaign for Georgetown Mayor in the November 2026 general election.

A native of Evansville, Indiana, Menke is a firstgeneration college graduate of Western Kentucky University as an Environmental Engineer. He and his wife, Dr. Kristy Menke, a pediatrician in Georgetown, are the parents of two adult children living in Indiana and New York.

Kim Moser, a resident of Taylor Mill KY, is a registered nurse with many years of experience in Neonatal ICU and as a flight nurse for the UK Neonatal Transport Team. Her graduate work in Architecture lead to hospital design work and other construction projects.

Kim is the Past-President of the American Medical Association Alliance, leading advocacy on health care and medical legislative issues nationally. She was elected Chair of the Kentucky Physicians’ PAC as the first non-physician to lead a Physicians’ PAC in the nation. She is the founding director of the Northern KY Office of Drug Control Policy, working to eliminate the scourge of Substance Abuse, and currently serves on the NKY Drug Policy Board.

Kim is passionate about health care and medical legislative issues and has been an effective leader on local, state and national levels. She was elected to the State Legislature in 2016 and serves the 64th House District in the Kentucky General Assembly. Kim chairs the Health Services Committee and serves on the Judiciary and Elections and Constitutional Amendments Committees. She has passed numerous pieces of legislation and is a leader on health care, addiction, mental health and criminal justice policy. Kim has received many awards for her work and leadership.

Kim and her husband Neal have been married for 41 years and have five grown sons and five grandchildren. They love traveling, boating and family adventures. They are avid hikers, having climbed to Mt. Everest Base Camp and Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

After nearly 26 years of service to the nation, Lance O’Bryan retired from the US Army in 2024 and was selected to be KRDA’s President/Chief Executive Officer. O’Bryan’s Army career included multiple assignments at Fort Knox. He is the former Fort Knox Garrison Commander and also served at the US Army Human Resources Command and 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division.

In addition to his assignments at Fort Knox, O’Bryan has served in the Pacific and European theaters, and the Pentagon. He also deployed in support of combat operations to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Lorraine O’Moore serves as the first Executive Director of TradesNKY, bringing more than 30 years of experience in workforce development, education partnerships, and talent pipeline strategy. Prior to joining TradesNKY, she served as Workforce Development Manager at BE NKY Growth Partnership and Director of Work-Based Learning at NaviGo, where she built strong connections between employers, educators, and students. A graduate of Leadership Northern Kentucky, Lorraine is passionate about creating meaningful career opportunities and strengthening the region’s workforce pipeline. At TradesNKY, she leads the organization’s growth and partnerships to expand hands-on career exploration and exposure to the essential workforce.

Andrew Parker is the Director of Governmental Affairs for the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce & Associated Industries of Arkansas, the leading voice on promoting and advocating for a constructive business climate for Arkansas businesses.

In 2015, Andrew became the Executive Director of the Associated Industries of Arkansas Foundation and founded Be Pro Be Proud. The effort, active in eight states and positioned to add five more in 2026, is a grassroots awareness initiative designed to address the Skills Gap by changing the narrative about high-wage, high-demand technical professions across many state-specific priority industry sectors. To date, it has directly engaged over 600,000 students and continues to draw interest across the United States.

Before joining the State Chamber/AIA, Andrew served as Regulatory Counsel at the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission and spent over ten years with the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office and the Arkansas Governor’s Office. In 2021, Andrew completed a seven-year term on the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, spending much of that time focusing on cold-water fisheries management and increasing funding for the state’s natural resource infrastructure needs.

Parker received a law degree from the UALR Bowen School of Law and a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Arkansas State University. Parker sits on the Natural State Council Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America and is actively involved with other community and professional organizations. He is a scuba diving instructor and is married with one son.

Aron Patrick is Vice President of Research and Development at PPL Corporation, where he is responsible for accelerating the deployment and commercialization of emerging energy and decarbonization technologies across PPL’s operating companies and business lines, including generation, electric and gas delivery, and behind-the-meter opportunities. He manages the company’s external research partnerships with universities, national laboratories, and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), where he serves on the EPRI Research Advisory Committee. He also coordinates PPL’s strategic venture capital investments through PPL Technology Ventures LLC, including partnerships with Energy Impact Partners and The Westly Group. In addition, he leads PPL’s strategy for advanced generation technologies, including nuclear, carbon capture, and energy storage.

In 2024, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear appointed Aron to the Kentucky Nuclear Authority, where he will serve through 2028. Aron is a graduate of the University of Kentucky, where he serves on the Advisory Board of the Center for Applied Energy Research (CAER) and as Chairman of both the Carbon Management Research Group (CMRG) and the Institute for Decarbonization and Energy Advancement (IDEA).

Prior to joining PPL nearly a decade ago, Aron held leadership roles with the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s Energy and Environment Cabinet, including serving as Assistant Director of Energy Policy.

Ben Peterson has over 25 years’ experience in local government with a career focusing on Planning and Geographic Information Systems and has spent the last decade as Executive Director of the City-County Planning Commission of Warren County, KY. He is responsible for the operations and oversight of all planning, zoning, and GIS for Warren County, KY and its 5 incorporated Cities. Most recent efforts include leading the effort to develop the BG 2050 Comprehensive Plan, and helping Warren County navigate the tsunami of anti-data center sentiment prevalent throughout the US. Bowling Green’s navigation of the data center issue and subsequent zoning ordinance was featured in a policy brief authored by Stanford-based data center research firm WaterOne.ai.

Jennifer Piercy is a native of Elkview, West Virginia and currently serves as Vice President of the West Virginia Manufacturers Association. Her professional experience includes a number of government positions and non-profit roles – including the City of Charleston, WV Division of Tourism, previous Executive Director of the County Commissioners’ Association of West Virginia and served as Economic Development Director for U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito. Piercy earned her bachelor’s and two master’s degrees from Marshall University.

Gene Price has substantial real-world experience in cybersecurity and data management. As leader of Frost Brown Todd’s Data Security and Privacy team, his practice includes helping clients cope with their cyber risks. This includes incident response planning and management, supply-chain concerns, and assessments of strategic data governance, privacy-focused frameworks, and business continuity development. He also works with clients on cybersecurity audits and certifications.

Gene also represents clients regarding a variety of maritime matters, recently retired from the U.S. Navy as a Rear Admiral after 36 years of service, Gene served as Commander of the Office of Naval Intelligence, Commander of Naval Information Forces Reserve, and Director of the National Maritime Intelligence Integration Office. He also served as Deputy Commander of Fleet Cyber Command/U.S. Tenth Fleet, where he supported U.S. Cyber Command, the National Security Agency, and U.S. global cyber interests. He returned to full-time work as a civilian in October 2022.

Ed Ryan is the founder of the National Reshoring Center, a nonprofit organization helping states grow domestic manufacturing by turning import demand into local production opportunities. With more than two decades of public- and private-sector experience in international trade, customs, supply chains, and global sourcing, Ryan founded NRC and its first state chapter, ReshoreWV, to help states understand why companies source products abroad, identify what local manufacturers can produce or grow into, and connect in-state supply with buyer demand. At KYIC 2026, Ryan joins the Kentucky Association of Manufacturers for the launch of ReshoreKY, the next step in building a nationwide network of state-led reshoring initiatives united by one mission: bring manufacturing home.

Anikaa Sharma is a junior at Pikeville High School and the founder of Future Forward, a student nonprofit bringing recycling and sustainability work to Eastern Kentucky. Through its Green Future program, she has helped bring recycling to six high schools and is building partnerships to make aluminum recycling easier for schools across the state. She has also started other initiatives, such as turning plastic bottles into 3D printer filament, and drafted a school waste bill that she is now presenting to Kentucky legislators.

Anikaa is an International Science and Engineering Fair finalist and a member of the Kentucky Commissioner's Student Advisory Council. She plans to study materials science and engineering. Through that work, she hopes to connect students with industry so that waste recovery can help build new jobs in Appalachia's coal region.

Scott Steuer is Vice President of Projects at Global Laser Enrichment (GLE), where he leads the design, construction, and startup of the company’s proposed Laser Enrichment Facility in Paducah, Kentucky. With 30 years of experience, he brings broad expertise in engineering, procurement, construction management, direct-hire execution, and validation services across a range of project and contract types.

His experience spans mission-critical, high-tech, industrial manufacturing, and nuclear industries. He has successfully delivered numerous large-scale capital projects in the nuclear sector, including uranium enrichment, uranium deconversion, and nuclear waste facilities. Scott is passionate about building high-performing teams, mentoring professionals, and successfully delivering complex capital projects.

A true collaborator at heart, H. Toney Stroud serves as Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Corporate Relations. His department encompasses more than 80+ employees and converges external affairs with policy and economic development to maximize Marshall's efforts to grow Appalachia.

An accomplished attorney with more than 28 years of experience, Toney also serves as Marshall University's Chief Legal Officer and manages the institution’s legal department.

Prior to joining Marshall University, Stroud was an assistant vice president at Encova Insurance, managing outside counsel in 28 states, providing legal support for the company's human resources team and advising on legislative and government relations matters. Prior to Encova, he was a member at Steptoe & Johnson PLLC from 1998

2013.

Toney is truly passionate about West Virginia and is always giving back. He is involved in leadership posts across West Virginia, including currently serving on the boards of the Education Alliance (Chair), Advantage Valley (Chair), Leadership West Virginia (Chair), River Cities United Way, Huntington Municipal Development Authority (Chair), Huntington Tri-State Airport, West Virginia-Ireland Commission (Chair). Toney was recently named CEO/President of the Huntington Area Development Council (HADCO).

Stroud earned his law degree from the West Virginia University College of Law and a bachelor's degree in business administration from Marshall.

He is an avid runner, having completed 30+ marathons. He and his wife, Cassie, are active in their church, enjoy attending Marshall events and live in Ona, WV. Toney and Cassie have two children, Christina and Kaylie.

Alycia Tidrick is the Director of Strategic Partnerships at Goodwill Kentucky, where she leads statewide efforts to build employer partnerships that create pathways out of poverty for Kentuckians facing barriers to employment. With more than a decade of experience in higher education, workforce development, and program leadership, she focuses on designing innovative workforce strategies, fostering impactful collaborations, and connecting job seekers to meaningful careers that lead to self-sufficiency. Alycia is passionate about removing barriers to employment and believes deeply in the power of education, work, and second chances to transform lives. She brings a strong understanding of adult learning and a data-informed approach to her work, advancing initiatives that improve workforce readiness, retention, and long-term success. Above all, she is dedicated to building systems and partnerships that empower individuals, transform lives, and strengthen the workforce across Kentucky.

Richard Vincent has served Kentucky’s commercial construction industry for nearly three decades through his leadership with the Associated General Contractors of Kentucky (AGC of Kentucky), the Commonwealth’s leading commercial construction association. For the past 20 years, Vincent has served as Executive Vice President, leading the 550-member-company organization and its efforts in advocacy, workforce development, safety, education, and industry advancement. At the time of his appointment, he was the youngest AGC chapter executive in the nation.

Prior to assuming the organization’s chief staff role, Vincent led AGC of Kentucky’s governmental affairs efforts, representing the commercial construction industry before the Kentucky General Assembly and state government. His extensive experience in association management, public policy, and construction industry advocacy has allowed him to work closely with business leaders, policymakers, educators, and industry partners throughout Kentucky and nationally.

Vincent currently serves on numerous industry, education, and business advisory boards, including the Morehead State University School of Engineering & Computer Science Advisory Committee; Eastern Kentucky University Construction Management Advisory Committee; University of Kentucky College of Engineering Construction Industry Advisory Committee; Kentucky Construction Industry Trust Board of Trustees; Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland Eastern Kentucky Business Advisory Committee; Kentucky Society of Association Executives Board of Directors; Kentucky AGC Self-Insured Fund Board of Trustees; and AGC of America Executive Leadership Council Board of Directors.

A native of Glasgow, Kentucky, Vincent resides in Lexington.

Wade Weatherholt is Chief Operating Officer of MuuvWell and earned his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Western Kentucky University, with a focus on athletic and industrial care. Raised in rural Kentucky, he witnessed the physical toll of industrial work on his father and community, shaping his commitment to helping employees stay healthy and perform at their best.

Together with Kevin Winn, Wade built MuuvWell to bring the coordinated, team-based approach of professional sports into the workplace. MuuvWell’s onsite physical therapists engage employees on the floor, address musculoskeletal discomfort early, and provide ergonomic coaching and support for work and non-work-related concerns. His mission is to improve employee health, reduce injuries, and sustain workforce performance and productivity.

Rob Wilson is the Principal Consultant for the Southeast US Region with Keller Schroeder — a tech advisory services firm founded in 1978. Rob currently leads the Bowling Green, Kentucky office and has worked on Digital Transformation projects for the firm's clients since 1993 with a primary focus on manufacturing. As a certified DISC consultant classically trained in Lean Management, Rob views Digital Transformation as a human-centered, Continuous Improvement endeavor through a technology lens. His consulting work has ranged from local, privately held manufacturers to global, Fortune 500 manufacturers.

From streamlining front office functions (payables, internal and B2B communication hubs, order entry, project management, purchasing, supply chain) to shop floor functions (production scheduling, material handling, scrap management, formulation, test lab, quality control, shipping and receiving, inventory management, PLC integration), Rob has technology experience in virtually every aspect of the manufacturing life cycle.

Rob's most recent projects have been centered around AI, IIoT/sensor technologies, and advanced analytics. As a thought leader, Rob authored the Digital Transformation Framework, AI Decision Tree, Automation Maturity Model, and Pathfinder AI Opportunity Assessment for his firm. He speaks regularly on Digital Transformation and AI in manufacturing, contributes monthly to the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce's newsletter, and is the founding president of the Regional Technology Council headquartered in Bowling Green.

Amy Wombwell is Co-Founder of BlackBox Motor Systems, Inc. (formerly BlackBox Energy Systems), developer of the TruVolt Motor—a highly efficient BLDC axial-flux motor designed for versatile applications including drones, robotic actuators, and other aerospace and industrial systems. The innovative design reduces copper usage while delivering exceptional performance across a wide range of loads and speeds.

As Chair of the Defense and Aerospace Council for KAM, Amy has advocated for Kentucky manufacturers with state and federal representatives and contributed to an Aerospace Workforce study group at NASA. Amy and BlackBox were selected as one of 83 companies (from 3,000 applicants) for the Air Force’s SigmaBlox emerging technology-search program and secured a NAVSEA SBIR award to develop a motor for a small autonomous underwater vehicle.

Lauren Wood is a Talent and Recruiting Specialist in the scrap metal recycling industry, focused on building strong teams and connecting people with opportunities where they can grow and succeed. She supports recruiting across 26 sites, including nine locations throughout Kentucky, giving her a unique perspective on attracting talent across diverse communities and labor markets.

With a background in psychology from the University of Cincinnati, Lauren brings a people-focused approach to talent acquisition, balancing business needs with an understanding of what motivates individuals to join, grow within, and contribute to an organization. Guided by Nucor’s Assemble, Unlock, and Win philosophy, she works to assemble strong teams, unlock the potential of each teammate through development, and help drive success in an evolving and competitive industry.

Graduating from West Virginia University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, Marvin Woodie began his career with Conn-Weld Industries in 1986. During his tenure, he has worked as a project engineer, including product development; he served as Vice President of Field Operations playing an instrumental role in developing Conn-Weld’s global footprint. He now currently serves as President of Conn-Weld Industries, LLC.

Marvin has a passion for education, community, and manufacturing- serving on several boards contributing to the advancement of West Virginia’s future including Bluefield State University’s Board of Accreditation for the Mechanical Engineering Department, Bluefield State University’s Foundation Board, The Wade Center, WVU’s Visiting Committee for the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department, The Graham High School Foundation, the West Virginia Manufacturing Association Board, Bluefield Baseball Board and the Central Appalachian Highway Economic Development Authority.

Marvin has two daughters, Lauren and Jessica, that are incredibly talented in their professions that both reside in Washington, D.C.