Southeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce’s
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CHAMBER WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS Chamber President Shares Thoughts on 2015
December 2015
December 2015 - Volume IX, Issue VI
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Inside the Chamber PLI Visits Kellogg’s Factory.......................................................................... 3 Chamber President Shares Thoughts on 2015........................................... 4 Chamber Hosts Eggs and Issues Membership Breakfast........................... 6 Membership Spotlight: Faith Electrical LLC.............................................. 11
Chamber Connections Welcome New Chamber Members.............................................................. 7 Pine Mountain Gifts................................................................................. 7 Fourteen Foods Dairy Queen.................................................................. 8 Global Enterprise International (GEI)..................................................... 8 High Standards HVAC & Supply.............................................................. 9 Mickey’s Menagerie............................................................................... 10 Rustic Roots on Second........................................................................ 10 Goodwill Industries - Inez Location...................................................... 11
Events Calendar.............................................................................................. 12
2015-2016 Executive Committee
Chairman: Shadd Walters US Bank Chairman Elect: Rick Newsom Community Trust Bank Vice Chairman: Brad Hall Kentucky Power Treasurer: Lynette Schindler Lynette Schindler, CPA Secretary: James D. England Peoples Insurance Immediate Past Chairman: John Blackburn First Commonwealth Bank Jennifer Brown Day Redd, Brown, & Williams Joel Thornbury Nova Pharmacy Howard Roberts University of Pikeville Sam Carter Cambrian Coal Group
Board of Directors
Mike Alexander Hilton Garden Inn - Pikeville David Baird Baird & Baird Russ Barker Appalachian Regional Healthcare Barry Clark Transamerica Agency Network Laura Damron Pikeville Medical Center Kevin Elam Food City Philip Elswick Summit Engineering W. Allen Gillum Appalachian Wireless Mike Harris Pepsi Jim Hobbs Citizens National Bank Neil Middleton WYMT-TV Tony Mullins BT Media Group, LLC Paul David Slater SNF-Flomin Coal G. Devin Stephenson Big Sandy Community and Technical College David Stratton Stratton Law Firm Tracy Syck Shred-All Documents Jeff Vanderbeck Appalachian News-Express Randy Walters Walters Auto Group Jim Workman Community Trust Bank Shannon Wright Wright Concrete
Chamber Staff
Jacob Colley: President/CEO Pam Mullins: Accounting Manager Kelly Rowe: Events & Programs Manager Abigail Gibson: Communications Manager
PLI Visits Kellogg’s Factory
The Patton Leadership Institute class met for their third session on Thursday, December 3 at the Kellogg Company Pikeville Plant in Kimper. The focus of the session was on economic development in Eastern Kentucky. The session kicked off with Shaping Our Appalachian Region’s (SOAR) Executive Director, Jared Arnett. Arnett gave an update on SOAR’s progress and what they will be doing in the upcoming year. In 2016, SOAR plans to implement strategies to enhance education, health, job training, and tourism in the region. SOAR is working with regional communities to develop employment opportunities around the SOAR-led Kentucky
Wired project announced earlier in the year. Arnett also touched on the new grant program called, Kentucky Appalachian Regional Development (KARD). The grants provide Eastern Kentucky communities with an opportunity to apply for grants of up to $250,000 each to support work on job creation, broadband expansion, entrepreneurship initiatives and more. Following Arnett, Pikeville City Manager, Donovan Blackburn discussed the significant progress that Pikeville has made over the past decade to advance the city as one of the regional leaders for healthcare, retail, finance, education, legal service, tourism, and other industries. He
INSIDE THE CHAMBER explained that all the work in the last ten years had positioned Pikeville to begin recruiting industry to Marion Branch Industrial Park that will help diversify the local and regional economy. Also, AEP Kentucky Power Plant’s External Affairs Manager, Brad Hall gave an update on the efforts and investments of Kentucky Power toward creating jobs in the region as well as an overview of how regional economic development can positively impact our region and what the class can do to be an advocate. The PLI class ended their day with a tour of the Kellogg Company Pikeville Plant with Continuous Improvement Manager, Phillip Johnson. The factory has grown rapidly over the years to employ over 400 people and produces over 3.2 million pop tarts per day. The Kellogg Company Pikeville Plant showed the PLI class an example of how recruiting new industry would begin to help diversify the economy of region’s communities. PLI’s next session will be on January 14, 2016, at Pikeville Medical Center where the class will be discussing healthcare.
Charter Members, thank you for your continuous support! CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE
FOUNDER’S CIRCLE AAA Real Estate Busy Bee Septic Systems Economy Drug
Pamela C. Howard, PT Lynette Schindler CPA, PSC Shred-All Documents
Vantage Point, Inc. Peoples Insurance BUSINESS CALL | 3
INSIDE THE CHAMBER
Chamber President Shares Thoughts on 2015 By: Jacob S. Colley As we are set to embark on the New Year in a few short weeks, it is important to step back and reflect on the steady progress that Eastern Kentucky has made over the past 12 months. 2015 brought progress to the mountains and set the stage for economic growth to begin for our region and its businesses. The region knows that we have continued to be challenged due to overreaching regulation in the energy industry and the impact this has on Eastern Kentucky, but we must push forward. We must meet every day with a positive mindset that we can and will overcome the current trials as a community and a region. We must progress, keeping regional economic prosperity always at the forefront. And, 2015 was not short of progressions for Eastern Kentucky. The projects and initiatives over the last year represent active and confident steps toward our simple focus – economic prosperity for Eastern Kentucky. Below are just a few headlining projects and events for 2015: • The Chamber-led launch of One East Kentucky – the region’s first professionally staffed, privately funded economic development organization. One East Kentucky’s primary focus is recruiting jobs to their 9-county service territory. • KentuckyWired was announced and made Eastern Kentucky its first priority for accessible and affordable high-speed broadband. The broadband project will be the key catalyst for profound and sweeping growth for entrepreneurship, job creation, healthcare access and education. • The beginning of one of the region’s newest and most innovative startups, Bit Source LLC. Bit Source is a technology firm that hired laid off coal miners and industry workers and taught them to computer-code. They are a full development house designing applications, games, and websites. • The Chamber’s Work Ethic Award program recognized over 120 high school seniors throughout Eastern Kentucky 4 | BUSINESS CALL
with 4 seniors receiving $500 scholarships. The Work Ethic Award program challenges seniors to develop an understanding of true work ethic through rigorous criteria of attendance, punctuality, discipline, achievement, community service, dependability, respectfulness and cooperation. • The first class of the Chamber’s Patton Leadership Institute graduated 22 community and business leaders from the program. PLI is designed to find, develop and educate emerging talent from throughout the region about regional differences, opportunities and challenges. • Alltech’s $15 million Dueling Barrels Brewery and Distillery broke ground and is under construction in downtown Pikeville. The $1 billion global company has plans for more investment and expansion into Eastern Kentucky. • The SOAR Executive Board approved funding criteria and an application process for the Kentucky Appalachian Regional
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Development (KARD) fund allowing Eastern Kentucky communities an opportunity to apply for grants of up to $250,000 each to support work on job creation, broadband expansion, entrepreneurship initiatives and more. The announcement of “East Kentucky Works,” a workforce study, which will identify the workforce readiness of residents in 27 Eastern Kentucky counties with a goal of using the data to lure in companies, create new jobs and bring investment into the region. Pikeville Medical Center became Kentucky’s only Level 2 Trauma Center, creating access to a level of care that’s critical to attracting industry. Big Sandy Community and Technical College launched Eastern Kentucky’s first certified Fiber Optic Training program endorsed by the Fiber Optic Association. The program attracted national attention and students enrolled from multiple states. The Louisa Chapter of the
INSIDE THE CHAMBER
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Southeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce was awarded $90,300 through Kentucky Power’s KEAP grant program. The grant allowed for renovation of an existing 86,000 square-foot building adjacent to Browns Food Service in Louisa and marketing it as a site-ready business location. The University of Pikeville-Kentucky College of Optometry (KYCO) was granted accreditation. The approval allows KYCO to begin recruiting its inaugural class for the fall of 2016. The University of Pikeville began construction on its new $55 million, 103,000 square-foot Health Professions Education Building. The building will house KYCO, a food court, and other student facilities. $5000 was awarded through the Chamber’s Foundation for Education to fund projects in areas within the regional school systems where there are insufficient funds to meet student needs. 2015 winners were Letcher County Central, Blaine Elementary (Lawrence), Cowen Elementary (Letcher), and Mullins Elementary (Pike). Chambers of Commerce throughout the region partnered to host a Town Hall Legislative Forum in Prestonsburg connecting the public and businesses to state elected officials. The Chamber welcomed Senate Majority Leader
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Mitch McConnell to the region for his first trip back to Kentucky after becoming the U.S. Senate’s highest ranking member. SOAR held yet another successful Strategy Summit with special guests including Thomas Perez, United States Secretary of Labor and Jay Williams, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for EDA. The $44 million Pikeville Commons continues to hum with more and more national retailers opening their doors, with more slated to open in early to mid-2016. The groundbreaking of the future Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant in Pikeville by the Schmidt Family Restaurant Group will add yet another national restaurant chain to the region. The continued development of the region’s industrial parks including, the new 40,000 square-foot speculative building at Martin County’s Eastern Kentucky Business Park and nearly $15 million of new investment for a new bridge and access road at Marion Branch in Pikeville. The federal Bureau of Prisons announced plans to move forward to build a new maximum-security prison on former mountaintop removal coal mine in Letcher County. The prison will create 300 jobs plus additional jobs from construction and site preparation.
The list could go on, but the book is about to close on this year as we are set to begin a new chapter in 2016. 2016 will be year of opportunity and we will continue to build on the groundwork that has been laid. The region’s elected, community, and business leaders have worked tirelessly to create the infrastructure needed for the region to diversify the economy. Through the work of the Chamber, One East Kentucky (OEK) is launched, operational, and ready to recruit industry to Eastern Kentucky. The business community must continue to support the efforts of OEK and provide the resources necessary to have strong marketing and recruiting efforts for our region. Although OEK is ready – we must not stop. The Chamber will continue to be integrally involved in the projects and initiatives that are positioning the region to move beyond the current economic times. We will stay focused on meeting the needs and demands of our membership and the region’s business community. We will continue to build on our reputation as the “voice for business” in Eastern Kentucky because the region’s business concerns must have quality representation in the political discussions of 2016. We will continue to work closely with SOAR to ensure the implementation of initiatives that will grow jobs and the economy. We will work every day to advance our mission of improving the local economy, promoting regional unity, fostering economic development, and being the leading regional voice for business in local and state politics. In short, the Southeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce will continue to be a leader and a partner in confidently and actively shaping the future of our region because as Abraham Lincoln famously said, “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” Thank you in advance for your continued support, and let’s make 2016 a year of growth, opportunity and prosperity for all citizens and businesses in Eastern Kentucky.
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INSIDE THE CHAMBER
CHAMBER HOSTS
EGGS & ISSUES
MEMBERSHIP
BREAKFAST On December 9, the Chamber hosted their membership breakfast, Eggs & Issues, at the Landmark in downtown Pikeville. A crowd of Chamber and community members gathered to hear the state Chamber’s 2016 legislative priorities and the details of their Four Pillars for Prosperity report, which was released in July. The July report suggests a new emphasis on issues that influence the state’s economy and on the actions that will chart a path toward success. A number of the report details a number of topics but rests on four pillars: • A healthy, skilled workforce to create a globally competitive talent development system • A sustainable state government that is financially stable and creates a competitive environment for economic growth • A 21st century infrastructure to capitalize on the state’s strategic advantages and to advance its energy agenda • Aggressive job creation through the implementation of an economic 6 | BUSINESS CALL
development program that recognizes the potential of Kentucky’s distinct regions and industry sectors and encourages entrepreneurship and innovation The focus of the morning revolved around the pillar of sustainable government and public pension reform. The unfunded liability of Kentucky’s pension system may be the largest black cloud over the Commonwealth. The issue will receive significant attention in the upcoming legislative session as the General Assembly must pass a biennial budget that addresses the pension crisis. Adkisson stated that the KERS is underfunded by over $10 billion dollars meaning only 19 cents of every dollar of commitment is in the bank. The level of unfunded pension liability is the worst in the nation. According to the study by George Mason University, Kentucky ranks 45th in fiscal solvency. The study used measures that include cash on hand, budgeting, long-term planning and trust funds. Adkisson also touched on the state Chamber’s legislative agenda. The agenda
is a comprehensive approach to creating a competitive business climate for the future of the Commonwealth. The visit to Pikeville is part of a 12-city tour across the state aimed for familiarizing members of local chambers with the priorities of the Kentucky Chamber. “Our goal with this tour is to ensure our members and local chamber members are not only educated on these issues, but stay looped in as issues continue to evolve during the session.” The Kentucky Chamber’s Four Pillars for Prosperity is available at kychamber. com/4pillars. Keep up with legislative news at the Kentucky Chamber’s News Site, kychamberbottomline.com. December’s Eggs & Issues was presented by U.S. Bank.
Presented By:
WELCOME NEW CHAMBER MEMBERS Pine Mountain Gifts Join the Chamber The Chamber welcomed one of their newest members, Pine Mountain Gifts by hosting a grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony at their new location in Pikeville. Trena Rasnick, owner of Pine Mountain Gifts, was joined by chamber members, community members and Pine Mountain Gift employees: Lauren McGuire, Telisha Morton and Kelsie Fuller. After 14 years of success at their location in downtown Elkhorn City, Owner Trena Rasnick decided to expand to Pikeville in the late summer, “we were seeing more and more of our customer base coming from the Pikeville area, so we realized the opportunity.” Pine Mountain Gifts specializes in monogramming and features a large collection of national brands including Lilly Pulitzer, Mud Pie, Simply Southern, Jadelynn Brooke, and Candleberry Candles as well as being the exclusive retailer of Vera Bradley in Pikeville. “Being the exclusive local retailer of Vera Bradley is very
important for the business. It’s one of the largest product lines and our top seller,” said Rasnick. Pine Mountain Gifts located at 101 Hibbard Street, Suite 200 in Pikeville and 135 W. Russell Street in Elkhorn City. They are open M-F 11-6 and Saturday 10-4. For more information regarding products and monogramming please call (606) 253-3020 (Pikeville), (606) 7545006 (Elkhorn City) or follow them on facebook.com/pinemountaingifts or Instagram (@pinemtngifts). The ribbon cutting ceremony was presented by Kentucky Innovation Network – Pikeville Office, the official sponsor of all Chamber open houses and ribbon cuttings. Ribbon cuttings are a great way to promote and showcase your business. If your business is interested in hosting a ribbon cutting, please contact Kelly Rowe with the Southeast Kentucky Chamber at (606) 432-5504 or by emailing kelly.
[email protected].
Pine Mountain Gifts
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Chamber Hosts Ribbon Cutting at Coal Run’s New Dairy Queen On December 21, the Southeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, community leaders, and City of Coal Run Village Officials joined executives and local staff of Fourteen Foods to celebrate the grand opening of their fifth Dairy Queen in Eastern Kentucky. It was an exciting day for Fourteen Foods, opening the new Dairy Queen created 70 new jobs in the area, including both full-time and parttime positions. Their grand opening event featured free biscuits and gravy, samples of Orange Julius® fruit smoothies and Blizzards® and the ribbon cutting ceremony. With the expansion of Pike County, the generosity of the citizens and the dedication of the Chamber, Dairy Queen will prosper. “The hard part is where we are a bigger franchise – I don’t live in every town we have a Dairy Queen, so we love being part of the Chamber for informa-
tion, partnerships and guidance with what’s going on in the community,” said Jill Walz, Chief Operating Officer for Fourteen Foods. Fourteen Foods is a multi-unit owner and operator of 158 DQ Grill & Chill restaurants and Dairy Queen Braziers in Alabama, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. Fourteen Foods owns Dairy Queen locations
in the cities of Martin, Pikeville, Prestonsburg, Whitesburg, and now Coal Run. The expansion to Coal Run is a result of the noticeable growth happening in Pike County. “We have the other Pikeville Dairy Queen store and this area has just grown and expanded,” said Walz. “We felt there was a need for two because of the amount of growth you guys are seeing is just amazing.” .
Welcome Global Enterprise International (GEI) The Southeast Kentucky Chamber would like to welcome one of its newest members, Global Enterprise International. Global Enterprise International (GEI) is a developer of coal mines and supplier and exporter of thermal, anthracite, pulverized coal injection (PCI), and metallurgical coking coal. The company has reserves and resources located in Kentucky, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Colorado. Since opening GEI in 2006, Anna Marie Domm, President & Founder of GEI, was inspired to increase USA export of coal, support mining industries, and create employment and training opportunities in mining communities. “I love the opportunity to educate people on new clean coal technology and the challenge of exporting coal from the USA,” she said. “I enjoy the thrill of negotiating contracts and the acquisition of coal resources and 8 | BUSINESS CALL
reserves.” Domm decided to expand GEI to the region because Eastern Kentucky has an abundance of coal reserves, resources, and inactive mines. “It is a rich environment for GEI to develop mining interest and the export of coal,” she said. “There are many business opportunities and [Pikeville] is open to new companies bringing their business to the community.” Outside of their business operations, Global Enterprise International plans to create an Energy & Fuel Think Tank project. Through the project, GEI will ask individuals from inside and outside the region to take part and participate. “We will develop energy projects, create employment and training opportunities, and invite local, international agencies and individuals interested in being a member and participant in our Energy & Fuel Think Tank,” she said. “This think tank will bring together forward thinking
minds that are interested in promoting Clean Coal Technology in the power and fuel production area.” GEI is excited to join the Chamber and become more involved in the region and the local community. Domm said, “The Chamber is a great way to be introduced to the community and to learn more about what we want to become a part of.” In January 2016, GEI plans to open an office in downtown Pikeville. Global Enterprise International will be located at 237 Second Street, Suite 5 in Pikeville. For more information in the meantime, please visit geicoalexport.com or call (303) 928-3225.
High Standards HVAC & Supply High Standards HVAC & Supply Join the Chamber On Saturday, December 5, the Chamber welcomed one of their newest members, High Standards HVAC & Supply by hosting a grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony. High Standards HVAC & Supply is a local company that is focused on quality and workmanship. They specialize in heating and cooling for commercial and residential properties; refrigeration and plumbing; installations and estimates; provide 24 hour service calls at no extra charge, as well as, sell HVAC systems and parts over the counter. High Standards HVAC & Supply is a team of certified and trained professionals who work to provide tailored and professional care. “At the end of the day, I just want to make sure my
customers are happy,” said Calib Ball, Owner, Master HVAC Contractor. High Standards HVAC & Supply is located at 27678 Highway 119 in Belfry, but serve customers throughout Eastern Kentucky. For more information regarding services, please call (606) 353-1917. The ribbon cutting ceremony was presented by Kentucky Innovation Network – Pikeville Office, the official sponsor of all Chamber open houses and ribbon cuttings.
Thank you to the official sponsor of all Chamber open houses and ribbon cuttings, Kentucky Innovation Network - Pikeville Office. BUSINESS CALL | 9
Mickey’s Menagerie
The Chamber, City of Pikeville and Pikeville Main Street helped celebrate the new facade at Mickey’s Menagerie on Second Street in downtown Pikeville on Tuesday, December 8.
Rustic Roots on Second
On Monday, December 15, the Chamber, City of Pikeville and Pikeville Main Street jointly hosted an open house and ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of Rustic Roots on in downtown Pikeville. 10 |Second BUSINESS CALL
Membership Spotlight: Faith Electrical LLC
Goodwill Industries - Inez Location
Faith Electrical, LLC is a small company that has been providing quality electrician services to residential and commercial customers for 12 ½ years. Faith Electrical provides complete wiring of homes, cabling/terminations for TV, satellite and telephone service, network cabling/testing for home offices, home automation, installation and maintenance of standby generators, complete wiring of businesses and churches, plus much more. For more information about services provided, please contact Mike Adkins at Faith Electrical, LLC at (606) 478-3392 or (606) 477-0081. Faith Electrical, LLC is located at 100 Rose Street in Pikeville.
Chamber Hosts Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Goodwill Industries - Inez Location The Chamber hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of Goodwill Industries of KYOWVA Area, Inc. newest retail store in Inez. The new Martin county location is the 3rd retail store in Eastern Kentucky for Goodwill Industries of KYOWVA Area, Inc. The other locations are in Coal Run and Louisa. “We were inspired to open up a store in Inez, KY, so that we could continue our mission of serving in every county within our territory. We were able to create five new jobs in the community, and as the store grows, we will be able to help even more people,” said Amy Coleman, Sales Manager for Goodwill Industries. Goodwill retail stores offer merchandise at a reasonable price and, in turn, know that their purchases help fund Goodwill’s mission of empowering peo-
ple to overcome employment barriers and help strengthen individuals, families and communities. “Goodwill is so much more than just a retail store, we have several missions that are supported through every purchase that is made,” said Amy Coleman, Sales Manager for Goodwill Industries. Goodwill Industries – Inez Location is located at 296 E. Main Street in Inez. For more information regarding locations and hours please visit goodwillhunting. org or call (606) 534-4015. Ribbon Cutting events are a great way to promote and showcase Chamber member businesses. If your business is interested in hosting a Ribbon Cutting ceremony, please contact Kelly Rowe with the Southeast Kentucky Chamber at (606) 432-5504 or by emailing
[email protected]. The ribbon cutting ceremony was presented by Kentucky Innovation Network – Pikeville Office, the official sponsor of all Chamber open houses and ribbon cuttings.
To get your copy of the Chamber’s publication, Experience Southeast Kentucky, contact the Chamber at 606.432.5504.
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PRST STD US Postage Paid Pikeville, KY Permit No. 20
Southeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Calendar of Events January 2016 01 CHAMBER OFFICE CLOSED 05 Links for Learning Meeting, Chamber Office - 10:00 a.m.
12 Membership 101, Chamber Office - 9a.m. 14 Patton Leadership Institute Healthcare Session, Pikeville Medical Center
15 Education Committee Meeting, Chamber Office - 8:30 a.m.
15 Enterprise Rent-A-Car Ribbon Cutting - 12 p.m., 4559 N. Mayo Trail, Pikeville, Ky. 41501
19 Chamber Membership Luncheon, Eastern Kentucky Expo Center - 12p.m., 126 Main St., Pikeville, Ky. 41501
22 United Helping Hands Open House - 12 p.m., 5279 N. Mayo Trail, Pikeville, Ky. 41501
26 Chamber Executive Committee Meeting, Chamber Office - 11:30 a.m.
28 Chamber Board Meeting, Hampton Inn - 11:30 a.m.
February 2016
CHAMBER EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES Vice President of Operations For more information concerning Chamber employment, please visit www.business.sekchamber.com/ jobs
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS Charro Energy LC Daffodils Enterprise Rent-A-Car Fourteen Foods Dairy Queen Harkins Mineral Association High Standards HVAC & Supply Robinette’s Gun & Archery Rustic Roots on Second
11 Patton Leadership Institute Government Session, Frankfort
23 Chamber Executive Committee Meeting, Chamber Office - 11:30 a.m.
25 Chamber Board Meeting - 11:30 a.m.
178 College Street | Pikeville, KY 41501 www.sekchamber.com Phone: (606) 432-5504 FAX: (606) 432-7295
