SOMERSET, Ky. – An Adair County native and workforce development leader will guide the Southeast Kentucky Economic Development Corporation’s (SKED) Board of Directors in the coming years.
Darryl McGaha was installed as the nonprofit economic development organization’s president at the May Board meeting. McGaha takes the reins of the 39-year-old organization from Carol Wright, who had served as the board’s president since 2022.
McGaha has served on the SKED board since 2008, having previously served as the organization’s president from 2015 to 2017.
“I am honored and look forward to working with board members and staff to continue moving SKED forward. The number of businesses we are working with has grown tremendously over the last few years, and we look forward to meeting and working with new companies to help them expand or create a new business that will become an essential part of their communities.”
Darryl McGaha, SKED BOD President
McGaha retired as executive director of the Lake Cumberland Area Development District (LCADD) in 2021, after working 21½ years for the organization. He worked his entire tenure at the LCADD to build and enhance the workforce development industry in the Lake Cumberland region. McGaha was instrumental in the development of the Lake Cumberland Area Technology Center. He received the Adair County Schools Meritorious Service Award in 2016. McGaha currently lives in Columbia, Ky.
“Darryl has been a leader in workforce, community and economic development for decades,” said SKED Executive Director Brett Traver. “The insight and advice he has provided to SKED during that time has helped make us better.”
Assisting McGaha in SKED’s oversight during the next two years are the remaining members of the SKED Executive Committee: Hometown Bank CEO Tim Barnes as vice president; 4 Arrows Consulting, LLC owner David Blakeman as secretary; Southern Kentucky Economic Development Agency Executive Director Bruce Carpenter as treasurer and Corey Craig, president and CEO of Citizens Bank of Mount Vernon, as at-large director.
Other directors currently serving on the SKED board include Charlene Harris, president and CEO of First National Bank of Russell Springs; Dr. Jennifer Lindon, president and CEO of Hazard Community and Technical College; Steve Allen, executive vice president of human resources at the University of the Cumberlands; Amanda Clark, Kentucky Power economic and business development manager; Keith Gabbard, CEO for Peoples Rural Telephone Cooperative and Colby Kirk, One East Kentucky president and CEO and Brittany Cox, East Kentucky Power Cooperative’s associate economic development manager.
SKED Executive Director Brett Traver says the corporation is honored to be represented by such distinguished and experienced directors, as it begins its 39th year of service in the region.
“Our volunteer board members take time from their busy schedules each month to help lead the organization’s programs and make important financial decisions,” Traver said. “Their volunteer efforts are invaluable to SKED’s future success. We look forward to working with Darryl during the next two years.”
