Leadership Kentucky Announces 2025 BRIGHT Kentucky Class
FRANKFORT, Ky. (July 7, 2025) – Leadership Kentucky is proud to announce members of the BRIGHT Kentucky Class of 2025.
BRIGHT Kentucky, which began in 2019, empowers today’s emerging leaders (ages 21–40) in the Appalachian region to drive innovation, collaboration, and community and economic development — while honoring the vision and values of the foundational leaders who came before them. The program builds on a strong legacy by equipping a new generation with non-partisan, ethical leadership training, and expanded networks designed especially for residents of the 54 Kentucky counties of the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). The program is made possible by an Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) grant and private funding from the Whitaker Foundation,AEP Foundation/Kentucky Power, and other generous donors.
BRIGHT Kentucky consists of five, three-day sessions where the primary goal is to help participants fully understand the local economic context and to build robust skill sets in communication, collaboration, consensus building, visioning, and community engagement. The program, which runs from July through November, will take participants across Eastern Kentucky: Hazard in July, Somerset/Monticello in August, Frankfort/Berea in September, London/Corbin in October, and Ashland/Morehead in November. The program is set to kick off on July 9 with an engaging session on understanding and maximizing the participants’ leadership style.
This year’s class includes 38 participants from 21 ARC counties representing a variety of public and private sectors. Leadership Kentucky congratulates the following members:
- 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
- Paul Dengel, Whitley County, USDA Rural Development
- Ford Edwards, Knox County, Union Commonwealth University
- 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)
- Mike McLaughlin, Rockcastle County, PMR Companies
- Shawn Miller, Laurel County, Pineville Community Health Center
- Chris Partin, Knox County, Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR)
- Katie Ray, Pike County, University of Pikeville
- Shandi Ridner, Pulaski County, Baptist Health
- Brittany Rogers, Powell County, Whitaker Bank
- 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
- Chris Wagers, Laurel County, CHI – Saint Joseph Health, Saint Joseph London
About Leadership Kentucky
Leadership Kentucky, created in 1984 as a non-profit educational organization, brings together a diverse group of people who possess a broad variety of leadership abilities, career accomplishments, and volunteer activities to gain insight into complex issues facing the state. By fostering understanding of how the state’s issues are interconnected, and by forging new relationships among community and regional leaders, Leadership Kentucky graduates bring a fresh and informed perspective to their communities and companies, serving as important participants in the unified effort to shape Kentucky’s future. The Leadership Kentucky Foundation offers four unique programs: Leadership Kentucky, ELEVATE Kentucky (for young professionals), BRIGHT Kentucky (for next generation Eastern Kentucky leaders) and New Executives to Kentucky (for senior level executives who have lived in the state for less than two years). For more information, please visit leadershipky.org or emaillky@leadershipky.org.
