Leadership Kentucky is proudly congratulating the BRIGHT Kentucky Class of 2025 on its November graduation, held recently in Ashland. The Class of 2025 is the seventh cohort to participate in and graduate from BRIGHT Kentucky, and it included participants from Whitley, Knox and Laurel counties.
BRIGHT Kentucky is designed to build the capacity of next-generation leaders (average age 21-40) in the Appalachian region of Kentucky to innovate, collaborate, and advance community and economic development. BRIGHT Kentucky engages bright, entrepreneurial minds from all sectors and regions to offer non-partisan, ethical leadership training, and expanded networks designed especially for residents of the 54 Kentucky counties of the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC).
BRIGHT Kentucky is funded through a grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) and private funding from the Whitaker Foundation, Kentucky Power/AEP Foundation, and others. BRIGHT Kentucky focuses on understanding the local economic context and working to build a robust skill set in communication, collaboration, consensus building, visioning, and community engagement. This year’s program took participants across Eastern Kentucky, visiting Hazard in July, Somerset and Monticello in August, Berea and Richmond in September, London and Corbin in October, and Ashland and Morehead in November.
This year’s class included 37 participants from 20 different ARC counties representing a variety of public and private sectors. Leadership Kentucky congratulates the following members from the tri-county area:
• Paul Dengel, Whitley County, USDA Rural Development
• Ford Edwards, Knox County, Union Commonwealth University
• Chris Partin, Knox County, Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR)
• Shawn Miller, Laurel County, Pineville Community Health Center
• Chris Wagers, Laurel County, CHI – Saint Joseph Health, Saint Joseph London
Members from other parts of the state included:
• Jordan Abrams, Boyd County, UK St. Claire
• Shane Allen, Floyd County, Kentucky Power
• Dylon Baker, Perry County, Appalachian Regional Healthcare
• Danna Barnett , Lawrence County, Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR)
• Gabrielle Boyd, Greenup County, People’s Bank
• Jessica Buckley, Floyd County, Pikeville Medical Center
• Kelli Callihan, Perry County, Bluegrass Care Navigators
• Rob Collins, Greenup County, Kentucky Department of Education
• Destiny Conner, Carter County, South Central Workforce Development Board
• Amber Decker, Wayne County, The Center for Rural Development
• Dominique Ellis, Greenup County, Pathways Inc.
• Stacey Fields, Pike County, Pikeville Medical Center
• IsaBella Freeman, Madison County, Alice Lloyd College
• Stacie Fugate, Perry County, Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky/City of Hazard
• Kristen Gleason, Greenup County, City National Bank
• Eric Griffith, Boyd County, Local 248 Education and Training
• Marvin Guerrero, Pulaski County, Forcht Bank
• Patrick Hall, Perry County, Hazard High School
• Callie Hathaway, Johnson County, Operation UNITE
• Zack Highley, Rowan County, Teall Properties Group
• Jordan Hill, Magoffin County, Citizens Bank of Kentucky
• Mariana Hinojosa, Floyd County, Big Sandy Area Development District
• Amanda Kelly, Clark County, Kentucky Chamber of Commerce
• Luke King, Cumberland County, Cumberland County Fiscal Court
• Madison Little, Pike County, City of Pikeville (AWA)
• Katie Ray, Pike County, University of Pikeville
• Shandi Ridner, Pulaski County, Baptist Health
• Brittany Rogers, Powell County, Whitaker Bankc
• Devon Skeens, Knott County, Appalachian Research and Defense Fund of KY, Inc.
• Kaitlin Smith, Boyd County, UK King’s Daughters
• Bryce Stephens, Clark County , Christian Appalachian Project, Inc.
• Christian Turner, Boyd County, WSAZ
Applications for the BRIGHT Class of ‘26 will be available in the spring at www.leadershipky.org.
