Leadership West Kentucky has announced its fourth class, which includes 36 participants representing all 15 counties in the West Kentucky Regional Chamber Alliance, including Caldwell, Crittenden, Livingston, and Lyon counties.
According to program officials, the leadership development program aims to build a network of engaged citizens with the knowledge and networks to collaborate across county lines. The curriculum offers a deep dive into the region’s unique and diverse culture, business, and economic environments while building leadership skills and connections to drive meaningful change and a lasting positive impact for all West Kentucky counties.
Class #4 includes members from Ballard, Caldwell, Calloway, Carlisle, Christian, Crittenden, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Hopkins, Livingston, Lyon, Marshall, McCracken, and Trigg counties.
Class members will participate in six sessions, from January to June 2026, which began with an overnight orientation in Paducah on January 21 and 22 to kick off the program. From February through June, class members will attend one-day sessions in different communities, focusing on regional topics like transportation, education, economic development, and more through expert speakers, tours, and discussions. Graduation will take place in Hopkinsville on June 25.
Officials note that TVA is the presenting sponsor of the program, which is administered by the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce for WKRCA in coordination with The Chamber’s Leadership Center.
2026 Leadership West Kentucky Class 4 by County
Representing Multiple Counties
• Sara-Elizabeth Bush, UK HealthCare
• Adam May, TVA
• Mattea Mitchell, Purchase Area Development District
• Katie Walker, Kentucky Chamber Foundation
Ballard County
• Samantha Hargrove, First Community Bank of the Heartland
• Brock Kirk, Ballard Telephone Cooperative
Caldwell County
• Chloe King, Caldwell County Chamber of Commerce, Marketing Coordinator at Farmers Bank
• Jake Pepper, Planters Bank
Calloway County
• Shannon Waltmon, Kentucky Farm Bureau
• Jeremy York, Syngenta Digital
Carlisle County
• Katina Todd, Kentucky Farm Bureau
Christian County
• Michael Felts, Hopkinsville Police Department
• Kristen Middlebrooks, Elevance Health
• Melissa Spurr, Hopkinsville Water Environment Authority
• Eric White, Atmos Energy
Crittenden County
• Layten Croft, City of Marion
• Whitney Williams, Siemens
Fulton County
• Adam Prehoda, Hickman Electric System
Graves County
• Kacie Daugherty, West Kentucky Community & Technical College
• Kane McCord, Community Financial Services Bank
• Elizabeth Riley, Riley Architect Services, PLLC
Hickman County
• Chuck Murphy, The Citizens Bank
Hopkins County
• Hannah Mallett, Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development
• Mandy Todd, City of Madisonville
Livingston County
• Garrett Clark, Lake Barkley Partnership
• Braden Locke, Cumberland River Homes
Lyon County
• Zach Thomas, Lyon County High School
Marshall County
• Sean Jones, Atmos Energy
• Bailey Myers, Baptist Health Paducah
• Crystal Price, Community Financial Services Bank
• Travis Spiceland, Jackson Purchase Energy Corporation
McCracken County
• Michelle Campbell, Paducah McCracken County Convention Center
• Nikki Gregory, Bacon Farmer Workman Engineering & Testing, Inc
• Marra McMillan, Paducah Bank
• Ike Nichols, FNB Bank Inc.
Trigg County
• Ryan Milauskas, United Community Bank
