PLI CONCLUDED PROGRAM WITH SESSION ON NATURAL GAS AND ENERGY

 Patton Leadership class tours new Ky. Power and Brown’s Foodservice in Louisa

by Abigail Gibson

PIKEVILLE, KY – The Patton Leadership Institute class met on July 14th at Kentucky Power’s Big Sandy Power Plant in Louisa, Kentucky for their final session in the Chamber’s professional development and leadership program. The day was filled with discussions and presentations on the state of energy and natural gas in the region.

The PLI class heard from Morgan Colvin-Shaw, Outreach Professional with AEP Kentucky Power Commercial Incentive Program. The class learned how Kentucky Power’s Commercial Incentive Program can benefit businesses by a convenient way to receive funding for common energy efficiency projects.  The program currently includes incentives for lighting, heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC), food service and refrigeration in existing buildings and new constructions projects.

Next, Big Sandy Plant Manager, Aaron Sink led the group on a tour of the facility and gave an overview of Kentucky Power’s sole generation facility in the region. The group was able to see how energy is produced through natural gas and how the plant has changed in the past few years. Kentucky Power’s Big Sandy Power Plant had two units that burned coal to create electricity for their customers. Due to new EPA regulations, one of the units was shut down and the other has been converted to natural gas. With the rising concern for the region’s economy due to the downturn of coal, the group discussed what the future holds for our region.

The day concluded with a tour at Brown Food Service, Inc. led by President, Wayne Brown. Brown Foodservice, Inc. carries a family name and a family tradition. In 1939, the company began by George and Mary Jane Brown providing produce to mining company communities in the Big Sandy coalfields. The business has grown rapidly throughout the years and in 1942 the family founders moved the business to Prestonsburg and changed the company name to Brown Produce Company.

In 1982 the company name was changed to Brown Foodservice to better reflect the increased scope of their product lines. Forty-two years after moving to Prestonsburg (1942-1984) they outgrew the plant facilities and the company moved to their present location in Louisa, Kentucky. Brown Foodservice, Inc. currently operates a 101,000 square foot facility and stock over 8,000 items.

In August, the class will graduate and be recognized for completing the program at the Chamber’s 59th Annual Awards Banquet. Applications will be available in August for next year’s Patton Leadership Institute class. For more information contact the Chamber office at (606) 432-5504.

The Patton Leadership Institute is the Southeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce’s flagship professional development program that seeks to strengthen the future leadership in regional organizations by developing emerging talent into quality leaders. PLI is presented by AEP Kentucky Power, Appalachian Wireless and Food City. For more information on the Patton Leadership Institute, visit www.pattonli.org.