Video of SOAR Summit Proceedings

The Shaping Our Appalachian Region initiative held its second summit in Pikeville on Monday, May 11, 2015. KET’s coverage of the 2015 Shaping Our Appalachian Region Summit included the following presentations. Read blog notes from the event.

9 – 9:30 a.m.: SOAR Summit Kickoff
Bill Goodman of KET moderates a discussion with Gov. Steve Beshear, Congressman Hal Rogers, and SOAR Executive Director Jared Arnett.

9:30 – 10 a.m.: Working with our Federal Partners
Neil Middleton of WYMT-TV moderates a discussion with Earl F. Gohl, Federal Co-Chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission; Lillian Salerno, Administrator for Rural Business-Cooperative Service at the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture; Wendy Spencer, CEO, Corporation for National and Community Service; and Jay Williams, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development at the Economic Development Administration.

10 – 11 a.m.: Translating Broadband into Economic Growth
Center for Rural Development CEO Lonnie Lawson moderates a discussion with Virginia Combs, Deputy Director of the Kentucky Consular Center in Williamsburg; Corey Jones, CIO, Troll and Toad in Corbin; Ray Shears, Co-Owner, Information Capture Solutions in London; and Russ Hensley, CEO of Hensley-Elam and Associates, Shatterbox LLC, and The Computer Place.

11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.: Engaging the Next Generation of Leaders
Kentucky Innovation Network Director Johnathan Gay moderates a discussion with Delaney Stevens, Rogers Scholars; Jen Carter, Space Trek; and Kevin Smith, YPEK and Rural Up!

1 – 2 p.m.: Building a Culture of Innovative Entrepreneurship
MACED Enterprise Development Director Paul Wright moderates a discussion with Denise Thomas, Community and Economic Development Associate for the Big Sandy ADD; Luke Ramsay of the Assistant Director of the Kentucky Innovation Center in London; Laurie Daugherty, Executive Director of the Governor’s School for Entrepreneurs; Becky Naugle, State Director of the Small Business Development Center; and Benjamin Malphrus, Director of Space Science Center at Morehead State University.

2:15 – 2:45 p.m.: Thomas E. Perez, U.S. Secretary of Labor

2:45 – 3:30 p.m.: Legislative Panel
Neil Middleton of WYMT-TV moderates a discussion with Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers and state Senators Chris Girdler, Ray Jones, Johnny Ray Turner, and Jared Carpenter (or Albert Robinson). Also Kentucky House Speaker Greg Stumbo and state Representatives Rocky Adkins, Leslie Combs, Marie Rader (or Jill York), and Ken Upchurch (or Jeff Hoover).

3:45 – 4:15 p.m.:  Youngstown: A Story of Growth Through Change
Jay Williams, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, Economic Development Administration

4:15 – 4:50 p.m.: Who is SOAR? – Commitments from Partners
SOAR Executive Director Jared Arnett.

4:50 – 5 p.m.: Closing Comments

Watch coverage of the inaugural SOAR Summit on December 9, 2013.