Allen Joins SKED General Membership
SOMERSET, Ky. – A University of the Cumberlands (UC) staff member is one of four people elected to the Southeast Kentucky Economic Development (SKED) Corporation’s General Membership Board in April.
UC Director of Human Resources Steve Allen joined the board at SKED’s annual meeting at the Center for Rural Development in Somerset, Ky.
“I am excited to join this board and learn more about the opportunities SKED brings to our region,” Allen said. “Southeast Kentucky is full of intelligent and ambitious people who may need a little help and guidance in getting their business ideas to the next level. I’m humbled that I can possibly play a part in helping those individuals achieve their goals and thus help our region develop to its full potential.” STEVE ALLEN
The 25-member General Membership Board is composed of some of the region’s best and brightest leaders from the banking, education, business, utility and economic development industries. Members serve as at-large liaisons for the nonprofit economic development organization at home in their respective communities.
Allen is a 22-year UC veteran. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration there and worked in banking, before returning to his alma mater to work in admissions then human resources. In addition to his career, Allen is active in the Williamsburg community. He’s a board member for the Bell-Whitley Community Action Agency, a member of several human resources related organizations, on the Corbin Little League board and a member of Main Street Baptist Church.
In this its 32nd year of service to a 45-county service region in Southeast Kentucky, the SKED Board of Directors has installed four new members to its General Membership Board. They include: Allen, Scott Roush, Summit Aviation director of manufacturing; Dr. Jennifer Lindon, president and CEO of Hazard Community & Technical College and Terry Spears, with Community Bank & Trust.
SKED Executive Director Brett Traver says Allen was recommended to the board, based on his higher education experience and community involvement.
“We are glad to have Steve represent and promote SKED and its services in the Whitley County area,” Traver said. “Higher education is an important component of economic development, and we believe Steve can keep us abreast of developing trends.” The four new members join 21 other local leaders on the board. They include Corey Craig, president of Citizens Bank of Mt. Vernon; Ben Sams, account executive with Cisco Systems; Praetorian Standard Inc. Project Manager David Blakeman; Somerset CPA Shirley Gifford; Lake Cumberland Area Development District Director Darryl McGaha as at-large director; Charlene Harris, president and CEO of First National Bank of Russell Springs; Virginia Flanagan, special assistant to the President of Campbellsville University; Tim Barnes, president and CEO of Hometown Bank; Daryl Smith, economic development project manager with Kentucky Utilities; Tim Gibbs, president and CEO of Ashland Alliance and Carol Wright, president and CEO of Jackson Energy Cooperative and Bruce Carpenter, Corbin Economic Development Agency executive director;
Rodney Hitch, East Kentucky Power economic development manager; Josh Branscum, Branscum Construction Co. executive vice-president; David Ledford, Boneal, Inc., Executive VP; Billy Hough, Kentucky Bank market President; Tim Dalton, Monticello Banking Company commercial lender; Denise Thomas, Big Sandy ADD Community & Economic Development Associate; Bob Helton, Morehead Rowan County Economic Development Corp. executive director; Ron McMahan, Team Taylor County executive director; Mike Trosper, London-Laurel County Industrial Development Authority member.
SKED is a non-profit economic development organization and a Certified Development
Corporation (CDC). The organization was formed 32 years ago by
Fifth District Congressman
Hal Rogers to create jobs in Southeast Kentucky.
SKED’s offices are based in Somerset, serving a 45-county service region. A staff of nine professionals works with business owners, small and large, to identify financing solutions to fund their location, expansion and working capital needs, and provide them the technical assistance and training they need to succeed. For more information about SKED, visit our website: www.southeastkentucky.com or call (606) 677-6100
