Board of Directors and Staff
John Bevington
ChairJohn Bevington serves as Director of Business & Economic Development at LG&E and KU.
Bob Helton
Vice-ChairBob Helton serves as a Development Specialist at AppHarvest.
Brett Traver
Secretary TreasurerBrett Traver serves as Executive Director of the Southeast Kentucky Economic Development Corporation.
Tim Gibbs
Past-ChairTim Gibbs serves as the President & CEO of the Ashland Alliance.
Kimberly Rossetti
DirectorKimberly Rossetti serves as the Vice President of Economic Development at Northern Kentucky Tri-ED.
Sierra J. Enlow
DirectorSierra J. Enlow joined the economic development team at Louisville Forward in February of 2017 as an economic development manager focusing on Business Services.
Sierra grew up on a multiple-generation family farm in LaRue County and attended the University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture where she received undergraduate degrees in Community & Leadership Development and Agriculture Economics. Sierra completed her Master’s Degree in Agricultural Economics in 2012, also at the University of Kentucky.
Sierra is looking forward to continuing to strengthening Louisville Forward’s economic development success through KAED and Kentucky United.
Amanda Davenport
DirectorAmanda Davenport serves as the Executive Director of the Lake Barkley Partnership for Economic Development.
Gina Greathouse
DirectorGina Greathouse serves as the Senior Vice President of Economic Development for Commerce Lexington Inc. (also known as the Greater Lexington Chamber of Commerce). Ms. Greathouse manages a team of super stars who work to make Lexington a great place to locate, expand or grow a business. As an economic development professional, her goal is to encourage new job growth and better opportunities for the citizens living in the Bluegrass.
Ivy Stanley
DirectorIvy Stanley serves as Project Manager at One East Kentucky.
Josh Tubbs
DirectorJosh Tubbs serves as President & CEO of Kentucky Lake Economic Development.
Brittaney Johnson
DirectorBrittaney Johnson serves as President & CEO of the Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation.
Lucas Witt
DirectorLucas Witt serves as Co-Founder and Partner at MWM Consulting.
Commissioner Jeff Taylor
Ex-Officio DirectorKentucky Cabinet for Economic Development
Matthew Tackett
President/CEOMatt Tackett, a native of Prestonsburg, Kentucky, serves as President and CEO of the Kentucky Association for Economic Development (KAED), a multi-business economic development membership organization. Appointed in October 2017, Matt is leading KAED through an administrative and programmatic reimagination as the Association creates strategic platforms designed to enhance professional capacity and to assist, analyze, and accelerate economic development in the Commonwealth. Within the KAED portfolio, Matt has spearheaded a multi-million dollar grant-making program, a global marketing platform, research and legislative initiatives, and a COVID recovery and resilience project designed to amplify economic success in the Commonwealth. Prior to KAED, Matt served as Executive Director of the Kentucky Gas Association, where he created a holistic membership service portfolio which included legislative affairs, workforce development initiatives, and legal services. Matt has served in federal grant programs, the Office of the Governor of Kentucky, and is the owner of a consulting firm which has focused on economic advocacy and governmental affairs. Matt holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration.
Matthew Tackett
President/CEOMatt Tackett, a native of Prestonsburg, Kentucky, serves as President and CEO of the Kentucky Association for Economic Development (KAED), a multi-business economic development membership organization. Appointed in October 2017, Matt is leading KAED through an administrative and programmatic reimagination as the Association creates strategic platforms designed to enhance professional capacity and to assist, analyze, and accelerate economic development in the Commonwealth. Within the KAED portfolio, Matt has spearheaded a multi-million dollar grant-making program, a global marketing platform, research and legislative initiatives, and a COVID recovery and resilience project designed to amplify economic success in the Commonwealth. Prior to KAED, Matt served as Executive Director of the Kentucky Gas Association, where he created a holistic membership service portfolio which included legislative affairs, workforce development initiatives, and legal services. Matt has served in federal grant programs, the Office of the Governor of Kentucky, and is the owner of a consulting firm which has focused on economic advocacy and governmental affairs. Matt holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration.