Troy J. Broussard, State Director, AARP Kentucky
Troy J. Broussard is the State Director with AARP Kentucky.  Troy leads the AARP Kentucky staff and volunteer teams working to enhance the lives of the 50+ community throughout the state.  Troy, who assumed this role on September 3, 2023, has the responsibility of setting priorities, executing programs, and aligning advocacy tactics to ensure health security, financial security, and personal fulfillment for members in Kentucky.  In his most recent role as Senior Advisor in the AARP’s Office of Community Engagement (OCE), he played a pivotal role in leading AARP’s National Veterans & Military Families Initiative (VMF).  Troy has extensive experience recruiting, training, and collaborating with AARP Volunteers. He is committed to communication, collaboration, and consultation as AARP expands and deepens it’s work in targeted communities and throughout the state of Kentucky. As a Proud Desert Storm Army Veteran and native of Louisiana, he holds a BA degree in Political Science from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and an MBA from Southeastern Louisiana University.

Johnny Collett, Deputy Director, University of Kentucky Human Development Institute, RETAIN
Johnny Collett is deputy director at the University of Kentucky’s Human Development Institute (HDI). Before joining HDI, Collett served as Assistant U.S. Education Secretary for the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services in Washington, D.C. Prior to that, Collett served as program director for special education outcomes at the Council of Chief State School Officers in Washington, D.C. Collett has also previously served as a division director and state special education director at the Kentucky Department of Education, and as a high school special education teacher.

John Crockett, President, LG&E and KU Energy LLC
John R. Crockett III was named to his current position in October 2021. As president he is responsible for all matters of LG&E and KU Energy and serves as a key leader in the PPL organization. Crockett joined LG&E and KU in January 2018, serving as the company’s General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Corporate Secretary. In addition to his responsibilities for the company’s Legal and Corporate Compliance departments, he also oversaw local, state, and federal External Affairs, and Federal Regulatory and Policy. Prior to joining LG&E and KU, he served nine years as the chairman of Frost Brown Todd, a regional firm with more than 500 lawyers in mid-America. At Frost Brown Todd, Crockett was responsible for driving the firm’s growth and strategic planning, merger opportunities, and ancillary and new business ventures. During his 27-year tenure at the firm, Crockett focused primarily in the areas of commercial litigation, products liability and mass tort litigation, and has been honored by his peers in “The Best Lawyers in America®” for his work on commercial litigation and mass tort litigation/class actions from 2008 to 2018. In private practice, he represented LG&E and KU for many years in claims associated with the company’s electric and gas operations. Crockett is highly involved in the community having served on a number of civic and charitable boards. He is the former chair of Greater Louisville, Inc., Louisville’s chamber of commerce, and past president of Family and Children’s Place, and the Kentucky Bar Foundation. He formerly served on the boards of the Leadership Louisville Center, the Jefferson Community and Technical College Foundation, and the Bingham Child Guidance Center, and currently he is a trustee of the Gheens Foundation, a board member of the Speed Art Museum, Baptist Hospital Foundation, Greater Louisville Foundation and a member of the Board and Executive Committee of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce.  Crockett earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Kentucky.

Condrad Daniels, President, HJI Supply Chain Solutions
Condrad M. Daniels is the president of HJI Supply Chain Solutions, a single source provider of outsourced manufacturing, contract warehousing and 3PL supply chain solutions. Condrad currently serves on the executive board of directors for the Kentucky Chamber, GLI and the Leadership Louisville Center.  He is currently the Board Chair for the Kentucky Chamber Foundation and also sits on the Advisory Board of the University of Louisville School of Business and is on the Transportation Industry Council of the 8th District Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Condrad played college football and earned a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Georgia Tech and an MBA from the University of Louisville.

Raymond Daniels, Co-Founder, President & CEO, Equity Solutions Group, LLC and Community & Minority Business Development Accelerator, Commerce Lexington
Raymond Daniels is the former Owner and President of LexiDan Foods LLC, a franchise of Waffle House, Inc. In this role, he owned and operated and oversees 13 Waffle Houses in Lexington Kentucky. Raymond recently created a new venture, Equity Solutions Group (ESG) – a company that Supplies Quality Goods and Services at a reduced price using proven strategic sourcing techniques. ESG also partners with corporations to ensure minority, female and veteran opportunities and inclusivity. ESG also helps companies identify areas to improve efficiencies and to reduce costs. Prior to founding LexiDan, Raymond spent twenty-six years in the fast food industry, beginning his career in 1992 as Unit Manager for Waffle House, Inc. He served the company in several management roles over the next fifteen years as Disaster Relief Manager for Operations, Director of Diversity and Minority Affairs, and later culminated as Senior Vice President of Operations responsible for 105 stores, 3500 employees, and more than $200 million in annual sales. He departed the company in 2008 to pursue his entrepreneurial spirit, purchasing a Waffle House Franchise (LexiDan) in Lexington, KY. He graciously serves on multiple boards to include: the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber of Commerce of Lexington, Kentucky (Chairman Elect), the Community Ventures Corporation, the Urban League of Lexington, Kentucky, the Fayette County School Board (Vice Chairman), and the Kentucky Community Technical College System – Foundation Board. Born in New York City, Raymond holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Management from Catawba College where he was a collegiate athlete on the football team.

George Davis IV, Program Director, LouCity & Racing Foundation
George is the inaugural Program Director of the LouCity & Racing Foundation. The foundation aims to create opportunities for young people, using soccer as a tool to break down barriers and provide access. He is also a co-founder of the West Louisville Soccer Initiative, serving students and schools without soccer teams and providing access to students who want to continue playing at competitive levels. In addition, he played a significant role in the development of the Black Players Association for the USL and served as a founding member and chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee for Soccer Holdings, LLC.  

The Lima, OH native previously played eleven seasons as a professional soccer player, most recently with Louisville City FC since 2016.  In 2018, George served as an Interim Co-Head Coach for Louisville City FC.  During this time, the team continued a successful run of form before winning their second USL Championship in consecutive years. In his last year of playing, George served as Team Administrator for the team, managing all operations for the players and staff. Upon retiring from playing, George joined the coaching staff for Louisville City FC and accepted the role with the Foundation in 2022.

George was a 3-time All-League selection for his performances in 2011, 2013, and 2014, and a leading member of the 2017 and 2018 USL Champions, Louisville City FC.  He served as an Assistant coach for the University of Northwestern Ohio (2012-2015) and Hanover University (2016-2017), Academy Coach for Louisville City and Racing Academy, and currently holds his U.S. Soccer “B” License.  George continues to serve in multiple roles that support and mentor players who have a passion for the game of soccer.  

Additionally, Davis has a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management from the University of Kentucky and is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

Beth Davisson, Senior Vice President, Kentucky Chamber Foundation
Beth Davisson is a Senior Vice President with the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. She leads the Kentucky Chamber Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, the state’s largest association advocating on behalf of business. Beth joined the Chamber in 2017 to begin building the Workforce Center as the Foundation’s only fully dedicated employee.  Since then, the Foundation has grown to a team of fifteen and continues to expand its support to employers and efforts in building a stronger workforce. Beth is a lifelong resident of Kentucky, earning her undergraduate degree from the University of Kentucky and MBA from Sullivan University. She has spent the last 10+ years advocating for the workforce in Kentucky and the nation’s capital and aligning talent to the strategic plans of business. Beth was honored as a “Top 40 under 40” and named a “Top 20 People to Know in Human Resources” by Business First Louisville. She serves on the boards of KYSHRM and Goodwill Industries. Beth was appointed by Governor Andy Beshear to the Executive Committee for the Kentucky Workforce Innovation Board, leading the state’s education attainment and employer engagement efforts, and is a Workforce Fellow for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Stephanie Dillon, Account Executive, MetLife
Stephanie Dillon is currently a senior member of MetLife Regional Group Benefits sales team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. As an account executive at MetLife, Stephanie is responsible for supporting a diverse set of clients focused on delivering strategic employee benefit solutions through MetLife’s network of products and services. Stephanie has been with MetLife for the last 7 years and is focused on working with her clients to understand their specific needs and provide thought leadership in relation to industry and market. She is dedicated to delivering results to help foster an employee focused culture for her employer partners. Before joining MetLife, Stephanie received a Bachelor of Science in Business from Miami University and has held different positions in Marketing Analytics and Communications around the MidAtlantic.

Colonel (Ret.) Blaine Hedges, CEO/President, Government Solutions and Services
Retired Colonel Hedges and his wife, Alison, founded GS2 in 2018 after 28 years of service in the military.Previously, Blaine served as Director and Sales Performance Executive with Bank of America’s Merrill Lynch Wealth Management and as Executive Director of the Kentucky Commission on Military Affairs for Kentucky Governor, Matt Bevin. In his position as the Executive Director, he strived to maximize Kentucky’s relationship with the Department of Defense, spur economic growth across the State, promote military veterans as a viable workforce solution, and improve the quality of life for servicemembers, veterans, and their families. With unparalleled dedication to goal attainment, Blaine’s expertise lies in recruiting, fostering collaboration, critical thinking/problem solving, oral and written communication, promoting brand recognition, time management, sales, and determining innovative solutions to challenging problem sets.

Hon. Nima Kulkarni, State Representative, Commonwealth of Kentucky
In 2010, I founded Indus Law Firm, which specializes in immigration and employment law. I am a Member of both the Georgia and Kentucky Bar Associations, as well as the American Immigration Lawyers Association. As an attorney, I have regularly provided trainings, information sessions, and seminars to attorneys and organizations throughout Kentucky, as well as the community at large. I have been recognized for my advocacy work, and believe that our immigration and employment laws must be updated through rational policies that reflect our country’s economic goals and ensure a strong and diverse workforce. I have also served on numerous nonprofit boards, including the Community Foundation of Louisville, Louisville Public Media, the Kentucky Science Center, and Fund for the Arts. In 2013, I founded the New Americans Initiative, dedicated to educating, engaging, and building awareness of immigrants and immigration-related issues in our community.

LaToi Mayo, Shareholder, Littler Mendelson P.C.
LaToi D. Mayo has advised, counseled and defended employers in regard to labor and employment matters for over 20 years. Most recently, LaToi has developed extensive skills in enforcing employment related arbitration agreements, defending and managing wage and hour class actions and advising employers on state and federal wage and hour compliance issues. She also routinely assists employers with respect to diversity, discrimination, and leave issues. She works frequently with hospitality and service related groups, manufacturers, health care facilities, financial institutions and local city governments.

Carlos Sanchez, President, AT&T Kentucky
Carlos E. Sanchez was named President AT&T Kentucky in April 2022. Carlos has been with AT&T for 20 years. In his current role, he leads and executes the overall strategic direction of AT&T’s corporate initiatives across the commonwealth, as well as the company's local and state government relations efforts. He works closely with community and business leaders, elected officials and others at AT&T to bring fiber and 5G wireless broadband services to consumers and businesses.Carlos E. Sanchez lived in Charlotte for twenty years and formerly worked as AT&T’s Government Affairs Director for AT&T North Carolina. Before joining AT&T, he was Regional Sales Director for BTI, a competitive local exchange carrier. Prior to moving to Charlotte, Carlos was Executive Vice President of Kisa Internacional S.A., a telecommunications technology integrator in Bogotá, Colombia. He also lived in New York City where he operated a local cable television station. Before moving to New York, he worked with his family producing a weekly travel television program that aired in The Travel Channel and the Telemundo Network.

Kate Shanks, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs, Kentucky Chamber
Kate Shanks is Senior Vice President of Public Affairs for the Kentucky Chamber. She has been with the Chamber for more than six years and focuses her work on energy, environment, small business, and competitiveness issues. She is a lifelong resident of Kentucky and earned both a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resource Conservation and Management and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Kentucky. Prior to joining the Chamber, Kate spent nearly 12 years working for state agencies focused on energy and environmental policy and regulation and has held multiple positions relating to communications, outreach, policy analysis and design, and legislative affairs.

Amy B. Spiller, President, Ohio & Kentucky, Duke Energy
Amy Spiller is president of Duke Energy's utility operations in Ohio and Kentucky, which serves approximately 850,000 electric customers and 533,000 natural gas customers. She is accountable for advancing the company's rate and regulatory initiatives, and managing the government relations, economic development and community affairs functions throughout the region.

Carolyn Tandy, SVP, Chief Diversity Equity and Inclusion Office, Humana
Carolyn Tandy leads our inclusion, diversity and equity efforts as the SVP, Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer at Humana. She is responsible for elevating our inclusion and diversity focus and infusing cultural competency across all corners of our company and in the communities where we live and work. Additionally, Carolyn oversees Humana’s enterprise culture initiatives to continue to strengthen our culture and engagement across the company.

Previously, Carolyn served as the Director of Diversity and Inclusion for Texas Roadhouse where she led the company’s national diversity and inclusion strategy for more than 70,000 employees across 58 markets. She was responsible for leading the company’s culture-shaping strategies for corporate culture, workforce development, minority and women's business development and driving forward community relations. By partnering with several external organizations to develop key relationships for community support and pathway initiatives for recruitment, hiring and retention, Carolyn was instrumental in helping Texas Roadhouse earn recognition as top employer for diversity and for women.

Additionally, Carolyn brings a wealth of experience in strategic initiatives and leadership development, serving for more than 10 years as the Director of Congressman John Yarmuth’s District Office and constituent outreach efforts. Earlier in her career she was the Director of African American Outreach for the Democratic National Committee and Senior Advisor, Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs at the U.S. Department of Energy.Carolyn earned her BA degree at Gordon College and is a certified Diversity and Inclusion professional from Cornell University. She received her master’s degree in Management and Leadership from Webster University. When not leading the way at work and in her community, she can be found spending time with her husband, David, and three wonderful children.

Hon. Reggie Thomas, State Senator, Commonwealth of Kentucky
Reginald L. Thomas was elected to the Kentucky State Senate to represent the 13th District of Fayette County in a special election in 2013. He took his oath of office and began service in January 2014. He was elected to Senate Democratic Leadership as Caucus Chair by his democratic colleagues in 2020. An attorney, he serves as an assistant professor at Kentucky State University. He was general counsel for KSU from 1984-1995. He also served as an assistant professor of law at the University of Kentucky Law School from 1980-84 and was with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from 1978-80. An active member of his community, Senator Thomas serves or has served on the board of the Lexington Actors Guild since (2009-2014), the Lexington Convention and Visitors Bureau (2007-12), the Kentucky Conference of Community and Justice (now the Plantory) since 2003, Bluegrass Community and Technical College (2002-07), and Commerce Lexington (2001-03). He was elected to the Fayette County Superintendent Search Committee in 2003. He is a member of the 1985 Inaugural Class of Leadership Kentucky. Senator Thomas resides in Lexington with his wife, Vela Thomas. He and his late wife, Lynda Morris Thomas, have a daughter, Johanna; two sons, Leonard and William Phillip, and three grandchildren. He remarried in 2019 to Velma Thomas. He is a member of St. Paul A.M.E. Church, where he serves on the board of trustees.

Hon. Killian Timoney, State Representative, Commonwealth of Kentucky
State Representative Killian Timoney represents the 45th House District, which consists of portions of Fayette and Jessamine counties. Timoney graduated from Lexington Catholic High School and went on to pursue his undergraduate degree at the University of Kentucky, where he majored in History. He also completed his Masters of Education at the University of Kentucky. Timoney earned an Education Administration Certificate at Eastern Kentucky University. He continued his educational pursuits by completing the Harvard University School Turnaround program. In addition to his role as State Representative, Timoney works for the Fayette County Public School system as the Director of Physical Plants Support Services. He previously worked as an Associate Principle at Dunbar Middle School. He was a former Assistant Principal at Waterson Elementary in Jefferson County. He is a 22-year veteran at Fayette County Board of Education and worked as a teacher and coach at Dunbar High School. Representative Timoney is an active member of his local community. He is a member of the Bluegrass Sportsman’s League and South Lexington baseball. Together, Representative Timoney and his wife Lyndsey have three children, Jordan, James, and John William. He and his wife attend Mary Queen of the Holy Rosary and Southland Christian Church. In Frankfort, Timoney serves on the House Education Committee; the House Licensing, Occupations, and Administrative Regulation Committee; and the House Tourism and Outdoor Recreation Committee.

Purna Veer, Founder and President, V-Soft Consulting
Purna Veer is the co-founder and president of V-Soft Consulting, an advanced technology solutions company specializing in staffing, digital transformation, and technology infrastructure. He also co-owns Tandoori Fusion, an Indian Fusion Restaurant; Veering Creek Farms; and Pravasa Vineyard and Winery all located in Louisville, Ky. He is the Immediate Past Chair for Greater Louisville Inc. and current Board Chair for the Hindu Temple of Kentucky. He serves on the Boards of Home of the Innocents and Louisville Urban League and is Chair of TechFirst. Purna graduated from Shivaji University in India with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. He continued his studies in the United States, pursuing a master’s degree in Environmental Engineering at Texas A&M University and in Business Administration and Management at Northwestern University – Kellogg School of Management.

Rick Wade, Senior Vice President of Strategic Alliances and Outreach, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Rick C. Wade is senior vice president of Strategic Alliances and Outreach at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Wade develops and implements programs and initiatives to help the Chamber create new business relationships and partnerships across diverse audiences. He also provides counsel on policy issues and leads special projects. Wade’s wealth of knowledge and experience in both the public and private sectors enable him to give a megaphone to the voice of business across the country and share the positive impacts of the free enterprise system. A former Senior Adviser and Deputy Chief of Staff to Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke, Wade has held executive roles in both the public and private sectors. He received his B.S. from the University of South Carolina and an M.P.A. from Harvard University.

Ashli Watts, President & CEO, Kentucky Chamber
Ashli Watts was named the President and CEO for the Kentucky Chamber, the state’s largest business association, in November 2019. Ashli joined the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce in November of 2012, and during her tenure as Senior Vice President of Public Affairs at the Chamber, she has led efforts in passing significant pieces of legislation such as felony expungement in 2016, right to work legislation in 2017, workers’ compensation reform in 2018 and reinstating arbitration agreements in 2019. As part of the Chamber’s leadership team, the Kentucky Chamber was named National State Chamber of the Year in 2017. Prior to joining the Chamber, she worked at the Kentucky Bar Association and the Legislative Research Commission.