Contact
The Center for Rural DevelopmentThe Center for Rural Development
606-677-6000
aellis@centertech.com
Transforming Crisis to Opportunity
This year's EKL Conference will be one that you won't want to miss. The conference will focus on topics that were presented at the SOAR conference.
Agenda for the conference:
Thursday, April 24 at The Center for Rural Development
8:00 am—5:00 pm Registration
10:00 am—12:00 pm Early Bird Sessions
- Applying for ARC Flex-E-Grants
- Work Ready Communities
11:00 am—12:00 pm Early Bird Sessions
- East Kentucky Women in Leadership: Romance vs. Reality
- Resources for East Kentucky Entrepreneurs
12:00 pm—1:00 pm Networking Lunch
1:00 pm—4:00 pm Intensive Session
From Crisis to Opportunity: SOAR Takes Off
5:30 pm—6:00 pm Reception
6:00 pm Dinner
6:30 pm Welcome & Special Recognitions
Peter Hille, EKLF Board Chair
Lonnie Lawson, President and CEO, The Center for Rural Development
Keynote Speaker
Governor Steve Beshear (invited)
6:55 pm Awards Ceremony
John Rosenberg
Dee Davis
7:00 pm EKLF Awards Showcase
Hosted by Neil Middleton, WYMT
Friday, April 25
The Center for Rural Development
7:30 am—8:30 am Registration and Breakfast
8:15 am—8:30 am Welcome
Eddie Girdler, Mayor of Somerset
Barty Bullock, Pulaski County Judge Executive
8:30 am—9:15 am Opening Session
Inspiring a Shared Vision: Youth Engagement
9:30 am—10:45 am Concurrent Sessions 1
10:45 am—11:00 am Break
11:00 am—12:15 pm Concurrent Sessions 2
12:30 pm—1:30 pm Luncheon
Special Guest: Congressman Hal Rogers
Keynote —Appalachian Capitalism
David C. Wilhelm, Chief Strategy Officer, Hecate Energy
Door Prizes—must be present to win!
CONCURRENT SESSION TOPICS
Keeping SOAR Flying: Federal & State Initiatives
Entrepreneurship—Helping Small Businesses Soar
Next Generation Technology: Super I-Way
Race to the Top: The Changing Face of K12 Education in Eastern KY
Tourism and the Arts: Marketing our Mountain Wonderland