THREE KENTUCKIANS RECEIVE THE 2003 GOVERNOR’S
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LEADERSHIP AWARDS

FRANKFORT, KY - Tonight three distinguished Kentuckians received the Governor's Economic Development Leadership Awards. The awards were presented during the Eighth Annual Governor's Economic Development Leadership Conference and Awards Dinner held in conjunction with the Kentucky Industrial Development Council’s annual meeting at the Hurstbourne Holiday Inn in Jeffersontown, Kentucky.

These awards are intended to recognize those individuals in Kentucky who volunteer their time and resources for economic development and are designed to honor those whose vision and leadership have been instrumental in improving Kentucky's local, regional and statewide economy. The purpose is to create benchmarks to inspire others throughout the Commonwealth to become effective leaders.

"Successful economic development depends upon effective business and government leaders who not only communicate but implement ideas," stated Governor Paul E. Patton. "Strong leadership characteristics are essential for Kentucky’s communities to grow and succeed in the next century.”

"My congratulations to the 2003 recipients of the Governor’s Economic Development Leadership Awards. With recognition of these outstanding leaders we continue a program that instills high values to Kentucky’s leadership development efforts,” said Gene Strong, Secretary of the Cabinet for Economic Development and emcee of the awards dinner. “I am confident that with our support, these recipients will further build on a tradition that provides inspiration for tomorrow’s leaders to use their talent and vision to create economic growth and success.”

The recipients of the 2003 Governor's Economic Development Leadership Awards are:

• Dennis B. Griffin - Raised in Falmouth in Pendleton County, Dennis leads his family firm, Griffin Industries, Inc. as Chairman. His leadership and dedication have been instrumental in the economic development of Northern Kentucky and in all the communities where Griffin Industries has facilities. Dennis joined his family firm after attending the University of Kentucky. He was named President in 1979, and became Chairman in 2000. Under his leadership, the company has become a major agri-business employer in Kentucky, and has facilities in twenty-two states. With Dennis’ encouragement, Griffin Industries and the Griffin family demonstrate commitment to the Commonwealth through a wide variety of projects, including strong support for education. The company sponsors the Griffin Memorial Scholarship Program and the “Griffin Centre”, along with several other local school projects.
  
  Other community projects for Griffin Industries include the restoration of the Kincaid Regional Theater in Falmouth, and the "Henry Hosea House", an inter-church organization that provides nutritional meals for the homeless.
  
  His influence and vision have led to Griffin Industries being named Exporter of the Year by the Kentucky World Trade Center and Industry of the Year by the Associated Industries of Kentucky (AIK).
  
  Dennis currently serves on the board of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, is Chairman of AIK, and participates in agricultural trade and business associations including the Kentucky Council of Agriculture, and the National Biodiesel Board.
  
  Dennis and his wife Joyce reside in Cold Spring and have three children and five grandchildren.
  
  
• David W. Holland - David Holland, Chairman of The Citizens Bank of Hickman, Kentucky, has been a driving force in economic development in Fulton County and for the state. His efforts have been key in helping bring industry to the area and his leadership of a recruitment team was a determining factor in the location of an expansion project employing 200 in Hickman.
  
  He graduated from Fulton High, attended North Greenville Junior College and Murray State University, and went on to serve in the Untied States Army. He graduated from LSU Banking School of the South and Kentucky Banking School at the University of Kentucky.
  
  Economic development has been a prime focus throughout David's career. He is Chairman of the Hickman Industrial Development Association and Authority, Secretary/Treasurer of the Fulton County Economic Development Partnership, Treasurer of the Hickman Industrial Development Corporation, is past Chairman and currently serves on the Board of the Bankers Bank of Kentucky. He is also Past Chairman of the Hickman-Fulton County Riverport, Past President of the Hickman Chamber of Commerce, past board member of West Kentucky Private Industry Council, and was one of the founding members of the Hickman Rotary Club.
  
  His community involvement extends to First Baptist Church in Hickman, where David is a long-standing deacon. He is President of the Fulton County High School Quarterback Club, and Past President of the Fulton County High School Booster Club. He is credited with being instrumental in bringing over 500 jobs to his community of less than 5000. David and his wife Sandra reside in Hickman.
  
  
• William A. Stinnett, III - A native of Owensboro, William A. Stinnett, III has been described by those in his community as a visionary leader for economic development and strategy in the Ashland area.
  
  He is a graduate of Indiana University with a BS in Management, and also graduated from the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin. He has been a banker in Ashland since 1979 and is Chairman of Fifth Third Bank Ohio Valley.
  
  Recognizing that economic development and business recruitment are extremely competitive, Bill served as a founding director and is currently chair of the Development Committee of the Ashland Alliance which was formed by the merger of the chamber of commerce and the economic development corporation. The Alliance honored Bill with its President's Award in 2000. He is Chairman of the Woodlands Foundation, Inc.; an organization dedicated to economic development and the improvement of quality of life issues in Boyd and Greenup Counties.
  
  Additionally, he is a director and past president of the Ashland Area YMCA, and has served as a trustee of the Huntington Museum of Art and of the Kentucky Independent College Foundation. He has also served as president and a director for Junior Achievement of the Ohio Valley and the King's Daughters' Medical Center. Other leadership roles include trustee of the Foundation for the Tri-State Community and member of the Boyd and Greenup Counties Chamber of Commerce/FIVCO Small Business Advisory Council.
  
  Bill's peers honored him by electing him president of the Kentucky Bankers Association in 1996. He was inducted into the Business Hall of Fame of Junior Achievement of the Ohio Valley in 1998. And in 2000, he was named the Small Business Advocate of the Year for Boyd and Greenup Counties.
  
  Bill and his wife Myra reside in Bellefonte and have three sons and one granddaughter.
  
  

The recipients of these awards were chosen from nominations received from throughout the state. Since 1996, thirty Kentuckians have received the Governor's Economic Development Leadership awards.

Also during the program, the Kentucky Industrial Development Council (KIDC) presented several awards including:

• 2003 Founders' Award for Service to KIDC
• The James Norris Gray Award for Professional Development
• East Kentucky Power Community Professional of the Year; and
• Delta Air Lines Allied Professional of the Year

The Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development is the primary state agency in Kentucky responsible for creating new jobs and new investment in the state. New business investment in Kentucky in 2002 totaled more than $3.2 billion with the creation of nearly 13,000 new jobs. Information on available development sites, workforce training, incentive programs, community profiles, small business development and other resources is available at www.thinkkentucky.com.

(NOTE: KIDC is now the Kentucky Association for Economic Development (KAED), and can be reached at www.kaedonline.org --webmaster, 04/20/05)