Berea, “The Folk Arts and Crafts Capital” of Kentucky welcomed the participants of the 2026 East Kentucky Leadership Foundation Conference. Mayor Bruce Fraley and Dr. Cheryl Nixon, the President of Berea College, welcomed those in attendance to the reception and awards banquet which was held at Churchill’s this past Thursday. Both Fraley and President Nixon thanked the Eastern Kentucky Leadership for bringing the meeting to Berea for the first time. Mayor Fraley talked about the importance of collaboration.
Guest speaker the honorable Rocky Adkins and Senior Advisor to Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear was the guest speaker at the banquet. Rocky who hails from Sandy Hook in eastern Kentucky spoke of the team work that the Governor and his team has accomplished with the Kentucky Legislature. Rocky said “great things” are taking place in Kentucky after the multiple disasters have ravaged Kentucky during the six years Governor Andy Beshear has been in office. Rocky challenged the Eastern Kentucky Leadership to keep working together with the Governor’s office.
Peter Hille, the retired President and CEO of the Mountain Association, opened the banquet with Pledge of Allegiance and reminded the membership that the future of the region is serving together across county lines. Hille also used the Pledge of Allegiance to remind everyone serving was about “liberty and justice” as well the words “to the republic’ was about the founding fathers did not want to serve a king. He closed his speech reminding everyone the Pledge was made “under God.”
The Thursday sessions included “Rooted & Rising: Women Leading Where They’re Planted,” a “Youth Panel: Why We Would Stay,” and “A Tale of Two Futures: Creating Places Where People Want to Live.”
The following 2026 Award Winners were presented at the banquet.
Public Individual Award – Dreama Gentry
Private Individual Award – Keith Gabbard
Youth Leadership Award – Kayden Turner & Callie Smallwood
Media & Technology Award – Tom Martin
Culture & Arts Award – Tim Deaton-Conway
Organization Award – Berea College
Caroly Sundy Award – Hasan Davis
Tony Turner Award – Peter Hille
Neil Middleton was the host for the banquet, and the Berea College Bluegrass Ensemble provided the music. Casebolt Marketing filmed the awards banquet and will be played back on CMH23 TV.
