Kentucky Horse Park Executive Director Receives Ninth Annual Equine Industry Vision Award

On June 18, 2010, Pfizer Animal Health and American Horse Publications (AHP) presented John Nicholson with the ninth annual Equine Industry Vision Award at a ceremonial breakfast held during the AHP 2010 40th Anniversary Seminar in Lexington, Ky. Established in 2002, the Equine Industry Vision Award was the first of its kind to showcase innovation and recognize ingenuity and service across the entire equine market.

Nicholson has earned this honor for his vision and determination to make unimaginable dreams a reality. Best known for his work as the Executive Director of the Kentucky Horse Park and the President of the World Games 2010 Foundation, Nicholson's leadership has been pivotal in bringing the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games to the United States.

“John Nicholson is an outstanding example of the innovation, leadership and vision that the Equine Industry Vision Award serves to recognize,” said Kathy Miranowic, equine marketing manager at Pfizer Animal Health. “His fortitude to bring the Kentucky Horse Park to greatness through the World Equestrian Games and other exceptional exhibits has inspired horse enthusiasts from around the world.” Read more. (PDF - 188 KB)

Troopers Receive Governor's Medal of Valor

Kentucky State Police Commissioner Rodney Brewer (left) and Justice and Public Safety Cabinet Secretary J. Michael Brown (right) presented Tpr. Timothy Mullins (second from left), of KSP Post 13 in Hazard, and retired Tpr. Richard Miller (second from right), of Hazard, with the Governor’s Medal of Valor in Louisville on May 5. They received the award for their actions in June 2006 while responding to an explosion that completely destroyed a two-story house in Perry County.

The troopers entered the burning rubble to free an individual trapped under a collapsed roof and braved live electrical wires that were arcing as they performed the rescue.

The Governor’s Medal of Valor is the highest honor that can be bestowed upon an officer of the agency for conspicuous heroism in the line of duty under circumstances of extreme personal hazard. It is awarded only by order of the Governor.

Troopers Russell and Simpson Receive KSP Honors

Kentucky State Police Commissioner Rodney Brewer (left) and Justice and Public Safety Cabinet Secretary J. Michael Brown (right) presented Kenneth B. Russell, of Stamping Ground (second from left) with the 2009 Trooper of the Year award and Michael Simpson, of Richmond (second from right) with the 2009 Jason Cammack Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Officer of the Year award in Louisville on May 5.

A 27-year veteran of the Kentucky State Police, Russell is assigned to KSP Post 12 in Frankfort. In 2009, Russell issued a total of 1,923 citations, including 1,668 for speed violations. He opened 23 criminal cases resulting in 81 arrests. Sixteen of the arrests were fugitives from justice he encountered during traffic stops. He also recovered 12 stolen vehicles.

A six-year veteran of the KSP Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division, Simpson serves as a CVE Officer I in Region 3 based in Georgetown. In 2009, Simpson carried out 2,020 vehicle safety inspections and wrote 1,905 commercial citations. His vehicle out-of-service rate was 59.7 percent and his driver out-of-service rate was 8.8 percent.
 

Gardner and Gillis Elected to the Personnel Board

                                       
                                     Susan Gardner                                     Larry Gillis

Susan Gardner and Larry Gillis were recently elected as the two classified members of the Kentucky Personnel Board. Gardner is a 40-year veteran of state government and currently works in the Department of Financial Institutions. Gillis has nearly 18 years in state government and currently works in the Personnel Cabinet.

The Kentucky Personnel Board promotes merit principles in government service and the improvement of personnel standards in the state service. The Kentucky Personnel Board hears the appeals of classified employees and other employees who believe they have been penalized without cause. The Kentucky Personnel Board has the authority to conduct investigations of merit system violations and to promulgate administrative regulations concerning the state personnel system.

For more information about the Personnel Board, click here.

Holman Receives 2010 Carrington Williams Battlefield Preservationist of the Year Award

Kurt Holman, manager of Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site, was given the 2010 Carrington Williams Battlefield Preservationist of the Year Award by the Civil War Preservation Trust during the group’s annual meeting in June in Lexington.

Head and Richardson Chosen as Business First’s Forty Under 40

Chris Head, manager of E.P. “Tom” Sawyer State Park in Louisville and Kerri Richardson of the Office of the Governor were recently chosen as Business First’s Forty Under 40 winners for 2010. For more information and a complete list of winners, click here.

Couch Receives Visionary Award

Left to right, David Couch, Lisa Gross and Larry Taylor.
Photo by Amy Wallot

The 2010 Best of Kentucky Visionary Award was recently given to the Kentucky Department of Education’s Office of Education Technology Associate Commissioner David Couch by Government Technology Magazine during this year’s Digital Summit. The award recognizes a government manager or official who has demonstrated vision, leadership and support of technology initiatives in his/her organization.

The recipient possesses a clear record of driving the use of technology, a demonstrated ability to identify future needs and a passion for serving the public. Couch and the Office of Education Technology have led Kentucky to a top 10 ranking nationwide in this area, and Kentucky is the first state to have high-speed Internet access in every school and district office.

Communications Director Named to National Policy Task Force

Lisa Gross, (pictured above.) director of KDE’s Division of Communications, has been named to the National Assessment Governing Board (NAGB) Policy Task Force, which is a 12-member group that provides state-level input on policy areas related to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).

The task force is a joint project between the Council of Chief State School Officers and the NAGB. Members include chief state school officers, deputy and associate superintendents, and public information officers. Members are chosen based on expertise, interest in assessment and geographic representation.

NAEP, also known as the Nation’s Report Card, administers tests in subjects such as reading and mathematics to students in each state. The results of these tests provide comparable information on student performance. Kentucky has participated in NAEP testing since 1990. (See http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/ for more information.)

The work of this task force will center on the process for reporting NAEP data; inclusion and accommodations for students with special needs; trends in reading scores; and the use and interpretation of the data. 

Taylor Earns National Award

Larry Taylor, (See photo above.) acting associate commissioner for the Kentucky Department of Education’s Office of Special Instructional Services, has been selected as the Council of Administrators of Special Education (CASE) Outstanding Special Education Administrator.

Taylor was recognized in April at the 2010 Council for Exceptional Children Convention in Nashville, Tenn. The award was instituted to recognize individuals making significant professional contributions to leadership behavior and field practice in the administration of programs for students with disabilities and/or who are gifted. Nominees for the award must have had at least 10 years experience in the field of special education.

The selection committee was reportedly wowed by Taylor’s many accomplishments and his lifelong service to the students of Kentucky. 

Froelich Named Tree Farm Inspector of the Year

Kentucky Tree Farm Committee Chair Robert L. Volk presents KDF Service Forester Michael Froelich with Inspector of the Year award.

Michael Froelich was recently honored as the 2009 Kentucky Tree Farm Inspector of the Year at the Kentucky Forest Industries Association (KFIA) 45th Annual Meeting in Bowling Green, Ky. Froelich is a service forester for the Kentucky Division of Forestry and has helped advance forest management through his work with private landowners and the Kentucky Tree Farm Program since 2007. Read more. (PDF - 12 KB)

Morris Receives Outstanding Service Forester Award

KWOA Vice President Henry Duncan presents the Outstanding Service Forester Award to Service Forester James Morris.

Kentucky Division of Forestry (KDF) employee James Morris recently received the Outstanding Service Forester Award from the Kentucky Woodland Owners Association (KWOA).  Morris, who works in the Green River District, has advanced forest management through his work with private landowners since 1995.  He was selected by KWOA as the first recipient of the annual award based on his accomplishments over the past few years. Read more. (PDF - 13 KB)

Kentucky Ecologist Chosen for International Leadership Program

Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission (KSNPC) Ecologist Martina Hines has been selected to participate in the first leadership program sponsored by NatureServe. NatureServe is a non-profit umbrella organization of natural heritage programs throughout the Americas. Read more. (PDF - 12 KB)

GOAP Staff Recognized for Leadership, Communication Development

Most of us wish we could feel more confident when speaking before a group of people – large or small.  An organization right here in Frankfort has been doing just that for many years. Capital City Toastmasters offers a proven way to strengthen communications skills, gain confidence and improve leadership abilities. They are a local chapter of Toastmasters International, a non-profit organization established in 1924 that now includes more than 11,500 clubs in 92 countries.

The Governor’s Office of Agricultural Policy is proud to announce that two staff members have been recognized by Toastmasters International for their achievements in leadership development through Capital City Toastmasters. 

Timothy Hughes (left in photo above) successfully completed the requirements for the Competent Leader award through Toastmasters International’s leadership program. To achieve this status, participants must complete a series of rigorous assignments, which include serving in various club meeting roles, planning special events and mentoring new members. Hughes currently serves as senior policy analyst at GOAP and has been with the agency since 2004.

William B. “Bill” McCloskey (right in photo above) has earned the status of Advanced Communicator Bronze through the organization’s communications program. The program is self paced and enables participants to learn effective speaking in a club environment. To achieve the bronze status, participants must complete a series of challenging projects designed to enhance their speaking skills, which requires several years of study and active participation in the club. McCloskey currently serves as director of financial services for GOAP, leading the staff for the Kentucky Agricultural Finance Corporation.

Congratulations to both Tim and Bill on their achievements and for their continuing efforts to improve their leadership and communications skills to better serve the constituents of the Governor’s Office of Agricultural Policy.

Visit http://capitalcitytmc.freetoasthost.com/ for more information about Capital City Toastmasters.

Inaugural ESAC Safety Awards Presented to Agencies 

The Executive Safety Advisory Committee (ESAC) recently celebrated National Safety Month in June by presenting the first-ever ESAC Safety Awards. Recipients were recognized for achieving 12 months of work without experiencing a lost-time injury in accordance with the record keeping requirements of the Kentucky Occupational Safety and Health Program. Six cabinets received plaques and 27 departments/divisions across state government received certificates. Click here to see the list of winners and click here to view photos from the award presentation.

State Park Receives National Award

John James Audubon State Park in Henderson received the National Parks and Recreation 2010 Dorothy Mullen Arts and Humanities Award, Class V. It was awarded for the Audubon Music and Arts Festival, a free festival for children with disabilities. It was organized by Kim McGrew-Ligget, the park’s art educator. Many schools from the area participate. The festival is sponsored by the Raymond B. Preston Foundation and the Friends of Audubon.

To recognize state employees’ significant contributions to their workplaces and/or their communities, the Personnel Cabinet launched an enterprise-wide storytelling initiative designed to encourage, support, acknowledge and reward employees who embody the principles of Kentucky’s Unbridled Spirit.

The Kentucky Governor’s Ambassador Awards highlights stories of employees who have significantly and positively impacted the lives and experiences of their co-workers, customers, and community at large in the area of customer service, courage, leadership, professional achievement, teamwork or community service and volunteerism. 

The Personnel Cabinet is accepting nominations for the 2010 Governor’s Ambassador Awards through Aug. 31, 2010. Nominations may be made by an employee or by a private citizen. For more information, please call (502) 564-5954 or visit http://personnel.ky.gov/emprel/GovernorsAmbassadorAward/  to complete the nomination form on-line.