Paul W. Thompson Elected Chairman of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce
Nick Rowe Chosen as Chair-Elect
FRANKFORT, Ky. – Paul W. Thompson, Chairman, CEO and President of LG&E and KU Energy in Louisville, has been elected to serve as Chairman of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce for the 2019 term. Thompson succeeds Joe Craft, President, CEO and Director of Alliance Resource Partners L.P., whose term expired September 30.
In his role at LG&E and KU, a regulated utilities company serving nearly 1.3 million customers in Kentucky and the United States, Thompson is responsible for all matters of LG&E and KU Energy and serves as a key leader in the PPL organization. Thompson joined the company in 1991 as the Director of Business Development, and over his 27 years at the company, he has held several upper-management positions such as Senior Vice President of Energy Services before becoming Chairman, CEO and President in March 2018.
Prior to LG&E and KU, Thompson worked in the oil and gas industry with Northwest Industries and Koch Industries. Thompson is a graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, earned his master’s degree from the University of Chicago in finance and accounting, and went to Harvard University E.ON Academy to complete the Executive Program on Leading Corporate Transformation.
Thompson currently serves on the board of directors for Electric Energy Inc., Ohio Valley Electric Corporation, and the advisory board for the University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research. He previously served as a board member and chairman of the board of the FutureGen Industrial Alliance.
Aside from his civic engagement with the Kentucky Chamber, Thompson serves on the board of directors for TreesLouisville and Fund for the Arts. He also served as chairman of the Louisville Free Public Library and Louisville Downtown Development Corporation, is a past board member of Greater Louisville Inc., and is a Leadership Louisville Graduate.
“It’s a tremendous honor to be chosen to serve as chairman of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, and it’s a privilege to work with visionary and results-oriented members and staff. The Chamber has had great success advancing the business climate and economy here in Kentucky,” said Kentucky Chamber Chairman Paul W. Thompson. “I am excited to lead the Chamber with raised expectations and deliver to all businesses in the Commonwealth — whether they are small, medium or large — the advocacy, tools and service they need and deserve.”
Nick Rowe, President of Kentucky American Water, will serve as Chairman-Elect for 2020. Serving with Thompson and Rowe on the Chamber’s Executive Committee will be:
· Immediate Past Chair, Joe Craft, Alliance Coal, Lexington
· Treasurer, Winston Griffin, Laurel Grocery Company, London
· Vice Chair, Administration, Candace McGraw, Cincinnati / Northern Kentucky International Airport, Hebron
· Vice Chair, Business Education, Hood Harris, AT&T Kentucky, Louisville
· Vice Chair, Membership and Marketing, Rusty Cheuvront, Brown-Forman, Louisville
· Vice Chair, Public Affairs, Nick D’Andrea, UPS, Louisville
· Small Business Representative, Don Bloomer, Citizens National Bank, Somerset
· Chair, Kentucky Chamber Foundation, Janet Jakubowicz, Bingham Greenebaum Doll, LLP Lexington
· At-Large Member, Mike Castle, Alltech, Inc., Nicholasville
· At-Large Member, Diane Medley, MCM CPAs & Advisors LLP, Louisville
· At-Large Member, Helen Sims, Superior Care Home, Inc., Paducah
· At-Large Member, Kevin Smith, Beam Suntory, Clermont
Newly-Elected Directors:
· P. Douglas Barr, Stoll Keenon Ogden PLLC, Lexington
· Spencer A. Coates, Houchens Industries, Bowling Green
· Gerard Colman, Baptist Health, Louisville
· Paul T. Costel, JP Morgan Chase, Louisville
· Jonathan E. Copley, Esq., Aetna Better Health of Kentucky, Louisville
· Deanna K. Herrmann, London Laurel County Chamber of Commerce, London *KCCE President
· LaJuana S. Wilcher, English Lucas Priest & Owsley (ELPO) Law, Bowling Green
· Kelley C. Workman, Planters Bank, Hopkinsville
A full board listing, including members continuing their terms, can be found online at kychamber.com.
“We have assembled a brilliant and dedicated leadership team to guide the Chamber through the next year. We are grateful for the time and energy all of these business leaders bring to our organization, and we look forward to a terrific year together,” said David Adkisson, President and CEO of the Kentucky Chamber. “You won’t find better Chamber leaders than Paul and Nick anywhere in the country.”
About the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce
From its beginnings in 1946 as a bipartisan voice for business at the state Capitol, the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce has evolved into the premier business association in the state. Today, the Kentucky Chamber represents over 3,800 businesses as members– from family-owned shops to Fortune 500 companies – that employ over half of the Commonwealth’s workforce. Kentucky Chamber members benefit from a broad range of services: year-round lobbying, timely communications on business issues, publications and seminars on evolving regulations and policies and a variety of other member benefits.