SOMERSET, KY – Citizens National Bank President & CEO Shawn Daugherty is one of the newest representatives on the Southeast Kentucky Economic Development Corporation’s (SKED) General Membership.
The Somerset resident was nominated to fill the position and elected by the SKED Board of Directors at its May 2024 meeting.
“I am honored to serve on SKED’s General Membership board,” Daugherty said. “SKED’s mission to improve the quality of life and vitality of our area by promoting sustainable economic development and employment opportunities aligns perfectly with my passion to help make our region a better place to live, work, and play. I am thankful for the opportunity.”
The 25-member General Membership comprises some of the region’s best and brightest leaders from the banking, education, business, utility and economic development sectors. Members serve as At-Large liaisons for the Somerset, Ky.-based nonprofit economic development organization at home in their respective communities.
The McCreary County native has been in banking since 1996. He has worked at Citizens National Bank since 2014 and was promoted to president and CEO earlier this year following the retirement of longtime president/CEO Don Bloomer.
At Citizen’s National Bank, Daugherty acts on behalf of the bank’s stockholders for the community bank’s active management, supervises the financial institution’s business and financial affairs and presides at meetings of several committees at the institution.
Daugherty graduated from the School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin, where he received an executive leadership certificate in 2018. He graduated from Louisiana State University School of Banking in 2009 and earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration from Eastern Kentucky University.
He is active in several community-based organizations, including serving as a board member on the Somerset Community College Foundation Board, treasurer for the Lake Cumberland Regional Airport Board, past president of the Somerset-Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce and treasurer of Lake Cumberland Runners.
SKED Executive Director Brett Traver says Daugherty joins an elite group of community bankers on SKED’s General Membership.
“As SKED works to grow and benefit the region, we need advocates like Shawn to spread the word about our work. We look forward to working together.”
Brett Traver, SKED executive director
Daugherty joins an experienced group of individuals as part of SKED’s General Membership including SKED’s 12-member Board of Directors: Carol Wright, president and CEO of Jackson Energy Cooperative, as president; Hometown Bank President and 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; Virginia Flanagan, special assistant to the President of Campbellsville University; Daryl Smith, ombudsman, advanced metering infrastructure at LG&E and KU Energy LLC; Dr. Jennifer Lindon, president and CEO of Hazard Community and Technical College; Darryl McGaha, retired executive director of the Lake Cumberland Area Development District; Steve Allen, director of human resources at the University of the Cumberlands and newest director Amanda Clark, Kentucky Power External Affairs Manager.
Other members of the General Membership include Rodney Hitch, East Kentucky Power Cooperative economic development manager; Josh Branscum, Branscum Construction executive vice president; Mack Johnson, a financial advisor at Private Wealth Management; David Ledford, Executive Vice President for Boneal, Inc.; Terry Spears, SBA Banking Officer at Community Trust Bank in Pikeville; Ben Caudill, senior vice president at Stock Yards Bank & Trust; Tim Dalton, Monticello Banking Company commercial lender; Bob Helton of Morehead; Ron McMahan, executive director for Team Taylor County Economic Development Authority, Mike Trosper, London-Laurel County Industrial Development Authority member; Denise Thomas, University of Pikeville grant writer and Colby Kirk, president and CEO for One East Kentucky Corporation.
In its 38th year of service to a 45-county service region in Southern and Eastern Kentucky, the SKED Board of Directors has installed four new members to its General Membership: Daugherty, Kirk, Caudill, and Clark.
Traver says the corporation is honored to be represented by a distinguished and experienced general membership.
“The time our volunteer directors and general membership give to guide our organization’s programs and growth is immeasurable,” Traver said. “Without their leadership, SKED’s future successes would not be as bright.”
To learn how SKED helps small business owners do business better, visit www.skedcorp.com or call (606) 677-6100.
