Patton Leadership Institute Class of 2024 Holds Third Session in Martin County

PIKEVILLE, KY (December 12, 2023) – The Southeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce hosted the Patton Leadership Institute’s (PLI) third session in Martin County on Thursday, December 7, 2023. The cohort visits a different county each session.  PLI will visit Floyd County on January 4, 2024.

The PLI Class of 2024 met at United States Penitentiary Big Sandy in Inez, KY where they met with the warden to learn about how the prison operates.  The group also took a tour of the prison. Lunch was held at Cloud 9 Café, a short drive from the prison. They then travelled to TEK Center where they met with founder Angie Reynolds to learn about how the proprietary school provides skilled trades training to help meet workforce needs in the region. Ms. Reynolds took the group on a tour of the facilities, and some even got to try out a state-of-the-art simulator designed to train students in how to operate heavy machinery.

To finish the day, Chairman of the Martin County Economic Development Authority, James Ayers, spoke to the group on the War on Poverty that was declared in the 1960’s under the Johnson Administration and how it has impacted the region in the decades since.

Patton Leadership Institute is a leadership development program of the Southeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. PLI is made up of leaders from across the Chamber’s eight-county region. Participants attend nine sessions over a nine-month period, and the curriculum weaves together topics crucial to the development of community such as education, economic development, healthcare, energy, tourism, and government. Leadership skills are integrated into each session.
 
For more information about the Chamber or PLI visit them online at www.sekchamber.com or call 606.432.5504.
 
The Southeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce is located at 178 College Street in Pikeville and serves more than 500 businesses in eight Eastern Kentucky Counties: Floyd, Johnson, Knott, Lawrence, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin, and Pike. The Chamber’s mission is to serve the businesses of Southeastern Kentucky through a commitment to networking, advocacy, education, and collaboration as we partner together to enhance the business climate in our region.