The KAED Economic Forum and Annual Meeting is just around the corner. This year’s meeting is being held December 9th-11th at the Hyatt Regency in Louisville.
Online elections will be held October 1st-30th, 2024 to fill 4 board positions.
Here is a word from the candidates:
Andy Games – (Andy is the President & COO of the Elizabethtown/Hardin County Industrial Foundation (EHCIF) located in Elizabethtown, KY. He started there in October 2021 and served as Vice President until being named President in April of 2024. He joined KAED in 2022 and has been a member of the Sponsorship Committee since 2023 and is currently serving on the 2024 Economic Forum Committee and is Chair of the Golf Event Committee.)
“First, I would like to say it is my honor to run for the KAED Board of Directors. Many thanks to those that have encouraged me to run and continue to serve KAED. Over the years I have served on many boards here locally, including Elizabethtown Community & Technical College, Elizabethtown Education Foundation and Down Syndrome Association of the Heartland. I enjoy collaborating with individuals who have similar interests in the well-being and growth of our communities. Thanks again for this opportunity and I look forward to serving you in the future.”
Carter Hendricks – (Carter is the Executive Director for the South Western Kentucky Economic Development Council. He currently serves on the KAED Board of Directors and as Co-Chair of the Membership Committee.)
“I’m a native Kentuckian and a 1995 graduate of Western Kentucky University. After marrying my wife, Faye, I lived in Minnesota from 1998-2004 returning to my hometown, Hopkinsville, in 2004. I’ve spent the last twenty years in community and economic development as a college instructor, Chamber of Commerce executive, elected official, and for the past 4 ½ years as the executive director for the South Western Kentucky Economic Development Council. Since 2020, I’ve enjoyed helping our team secure several new industry announcements and expansions totaling nearly $2B in capital investment and 2000 jobs. I’ve also experienced closes calls and losses.
Among a variety of volunteer commitments, I am currently serving as the Co-Chair of You Decide KY!, board member for KAED, board member of the Hopkinsville YMCA, and as head coach for the University Heights Academy Cross Country and Track and Field Teams.
If provided with the opportunity to continue serving KAED, I pledge to utilize my experience assisting KAED in its various endeavors with specific interest in membership and public policy. I pledge to serve the board and memberships with a positive attitude, passion for serving members, and a persistent will to succeed.”
Danny Isaacs – (Danny is a Regional Economic Development Consultant for TVA and has served on the KAED Board for the past 3 years. He is also the chair of the KAED Marketing Committee and serves on the Finance Committee.)
“I’m Danny Isaacs, a regional economic development consultant for TVA, and I’ve had the privilege of being on the KAED board for the last three years. KAED is the most significant resource we have in the state to promote economic development issues that impact every single community across all 120 counties. This organization also has the flexibility to adjust quickly as needs and opportunities change over time, but KAED will always be the starting point for new economic developers who are seeking access to resources, education, and networking that lead to prosperous local communities.
I’ve enjoyed my time on the Board of Directors working alongside fellow KAED members on initiatives like Kentucky United, public policy, and fostering relationships with economic development stakeholders. I believe we are at the beginning of a new era of economic development and KAED will have a great role to play in continuing to open doors for Kentucky economic developers.
I started my career in a regional capacity before transitioning to a local community. I saw how important regional partnerships are and understood the expectations to produce on a local level. I believe KAED’s programming will continue to address those key items while also looking at ways to push the Commonwealth to provide more tools to make economic developers more successful. I look forward to continuing to serve on the KAED board as we continue to invest in programs like PDI and brainstorm ways to better serve our membership and the communities they represent.”
Jim Moore – (Jim is the Director of Business Development at Greater Paducah Economic Development. He currently serves on the KAED 2025 Spring Conference and Sponsorship committees.)
“A proud Kentuckian, I am excited and honored to be a nominee for KAED’s Board of Directors. Kentucky is in an economically special place right now because of the hard-working members of one of the top economic development organizations in the country and I want to be a part of helping KAED keep moving forward during very competitive times.
My family’s roots in Kentucky go back to the 1850’s and were involved with stonemasonry, textiles and coalmining – my 30 years of economic development experience in individual communities, regional and utility work has spanned manufacturing, food, and many more. I’ve worked passionately in rural settings of 5,000 people as well as regional settings that served over 200,000 people. I am eager to use the experience and knowledge I’ve gathered from working in Kentucky, Georgia and South Carolina to keep us in a position to seize those growth opportunities while addressing current challenges that may impede us.
My family and I love being back in Kentucky and are so excited about the future in Paducah. When I’m not working, I like to travel, hunt, play golf, cook for my family and enjoy Kentucky bourbon. I tend to root for the underdog and have been known to sing a little karaoke.
KAED’s mission has always been about a unified voice for local and state professionals, utilities and all the allies that support us – that strong grassroots community is the key to our success, and I hope you’ll let me be a part of it.”
Elizabeth Griffith Mudd – (Elizabeth is President of the Kentucky Lake Economic Development Authority and prior to that served as the Director of Existing Industry and Workforce Development in Owensboro. She currently serves on the KAED Public Policy Committee.)
“My name is Elizabeth Griffith Mudd, and I am honored to have been nominated for a potential seat on the KAED Board of Directors. I have a deep passion for economic development, and I am grateful to work in a profession where I get to make a positive impact in my community every day.
With my background in workforce development, existing industry, and public policy, I have a comprehensive understanding of the economic landscape in our commonwealth, as well as the challenges and opportunities we face. Kentucky has a bright future, and I know KAED will play an important role.
I am eager to contribute my strategic insights, innovative ideas, and collaborative spirit to the KAED board. As a board member, I would bring excitement, energy and forward-thinking to the organization. I plan to work closely with our membership to provide initiatives and programming that best serves them as well as working together to advocate for policies that support practitioners at the local level. I am committed to promoting inclusivity and equitable development practices that ensure every region of our state can thrive.
Thank you for considering my candidacy. I am excited about the opportunity to serve alongside like-minded professionals dedicated to shaping Kentucky’s economic future.”
Jeff Vanhook – (Jeff VanHook currently serves as Executive Director for the following industrial development authorities: RGL, Rockcastle, and Lancaster-Garrard County. He is a graduate of Transylvania University and cherishes traveling with his wife Sonya and their two children Courtlyn & Jackson.)
“I value the opportunity and responsibility of working in economic development and strive every day to place communities in the best position to compete for opportunities with potential to create “Generational and Transformative” change.
33 years of experience in construction and economic development have honed my collaborative leadership style. Work experiences include Cost Accountant, Controller, Vice President, Business Owner/Founder and Executive Director while also having served my communities as a member of the school board, tourist commission, varsity tennis coach, and Chairman of Cumberland’s workforce development board.
An ARC grant of $500,000 for a regional gas tap secured in 2019 eventually evolved into a $36.5 million ($20M state legislature, $16M private corporation) investment for Lincoln and Rockcastle counties.
As a continuation of the infrastructure success, I implemented strategies to bring a larger vision to life by utilizing the Kentucky Product Development Initiative to create an unprecedented partnership between Rockcastle, Garrard and Lincoln counties. This leadership secured a $62 million appropriation to purchase a resilient 1400+ acre mega-site in Rockcastle County to compete for transformative change opportunities.”
You won’t want to miss the 2024 Kentucky Association for Economic Development (KAED) Economic Forum and Annual Meeting December 9th-11th at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Louisville.
Early registration ends November 22, 2024.
Deadline to reserve a discounted room is November 22, 2024.
Sponsoring this event will present your company as a supporter of growth, development, and job creation in the Commonwealth and provide increased visibility and numerous networking opportunities. If you are interested in a sponsorship opportunity, contact Terri Bradshaw at terri@kaedonline.org.
