US Board of Directors

Alan Keck

Chairman

Alan Keck was elected mayor of his hometown of Somerset in November 2018, after running a dynamic campaign to unify this southeastern Kentucky city and light it up through tourism, economic development, and community spirit. In his short time in office, he and his team have led a period of unprecedented change in Somerset — leading boldly and unapologetically to build a Somerset for all generations, charging forward with a vision to reignite the community’s economy. As a business owner himself, Mayor Keck is a tireless advocate for Main Street and a champion for local government. Alan also serves on the Kentucky Baptist Convention Public Affairs Committee, the Kentucky League of Cities Board of Directors, and he served on the AIPAC (a bipartisan American organization that advocates for a strong U.S.-Israel relationship) national council from 2017-2019. The most salient and visionary of his undertakings, Alan is among the founders behind the University of Somerset, where he currently serves as Chairman of The Board. As a lifelong resident of Somerset, Mayor Keck has been greatly involved in local business and civic activities. Prior to being elected mayor, he served as president of Somerset Recycling. He is the founder and principal agent of Keck Sports Management, a professional baseball agency that represents professional athletes. He is one of the youngest ever independently certified agents through the Major League Baseball Players Association. Mayor Keck serves as a deacon at First Baptist Church where he also teaches Sunday School. He was a member of the 2017 class of Leadership Kentucky, and now serves on the Leadership Kentucky Board of Directors. He is a 2003 graduate of Somerset High School, a 2007 graduate of Western Kentucky University and a 2014 MBA graduate of the University of the Cumberlands. Mayor Keck has been married to his lovely wife Tiffany for 11 years, and they have three beautiful daughters, Olyvia (9), Oaklee (6) and Olsen (3).

Demetrios Haseotes

Vice-Chairman

Demetrios Haseotes is President and CEO of Hemisphere Limited LLC, a management company that oversees his extensive business portfolio. He graduated from Bryant University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 1990. Since then, he has worked in an array of fields ranging from Oil and Gas to Food and Beverage and Real Estate. A recent acquisition included Continental Refining Company, a 5500 BPD Oil Refinery that is currently being repurposed in to a state of the art Agritech Soybean Crushing and Bio Diesel Facility. The acquisition of Continental Refining Company brought Demetrios to Southern Kentucky. He fell in love with the area and now calls Kentucky his official home.

Chris Girdler

Member

President & CEO - Somerset Pulaski Economic Development Authority (SPEDA) As a 7th generation Kentuckian, Chris Girdler’s roots run strong and deep throughout his hometown of Somerset and the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Having an extensive background in both the public and private sector, Chris is the President & CEO of Somerset Pulaski Economic Development Authority, also known as “SPEDA”. SPEDA is a groundbreaking and innovative economic development organization that oversees and focuses on a well rounded and collaborative approach to bettering the community and region. It’s focus is business creation, expansion, retention and attraction. With his background as a former State Senator as well as a CEO in the houseboat manufacturing industry, Chris Girdler brings a wealth of experience, knowledge and a vast network to lead the economic development efforts of the Somerset and Pulaski County community and the entire Lake Cumberland region. Girdler is an avid outdoorsman and family man. He and his wife, Courtney reside in Somerset, Kentucky with their two daughters Charleston and Channing.

Jeffrey Edwards

Member

Jeffrey Edwards has dedicated his career to public service and community development in south central Kentucky. Now the City of Somerset’s chief of staff, Edwards’s tenure in government began in 2004 when he was elected to the city council in his hometown of Monticello. He served three terms as a council member before being elected the youngest mayor in Monticello’s history in 2010 at the age of 31. During his two terms as mayor, Edwards became deeply involved with the Kentucky League of Cities, a membership organization for cities that supports community innovation, effective leadership and quality governance. He currently serves as a member of the organization’s executive board and its legislative board of directors. He has also served as a member of the National League of Cities Community and Economic Development Committee. During his public service career Edwards has either led or played a significant role in countless community development and infrastructure projects helping to improve the quality of life for those living in his communities. Edwards is a 1998 graduate of Monticello High School, where he later served as a substitute teacher and basketball coach while attending college. He earned an associate of arts degree from Somerset Community College, a bachelor of arts degree from Eastern Kentucky University, and is a licensed real estate broker in the state of Kentucky — dedicating almost two decades as a property management consultant, principal broker and president of three investment and real estate groups. He is a graduate of the Leadership Kentucky Class of 2015 and received a certification in community and economic development from the Kentucky Institute for Economic Development in 2018. As a member of Monticello First Baptist Church, Edwards has been a part of 12 mission teams serving in the Andes Mountains of Peru.

Alton Blakley

Member

Teresa Trimble Hail

Member

President of D. C. Trimble, Inc. Teresa Trimble Hail is president and co-owner of D. C. Trimble, Inc., a commercial construction company in Somerset, KY. Before joining her family's business, she was vice president of business development and online banking at a local bank. A graduate of Somerset High School, Teresa holds both a bachelors and masters degree in education from the University of Kentucky. She was an educator for 21 years and began her career teaching mathematics at Henry Clay High School in the Fayette County Public School System. After returning to her hometown, she taught mathematics and computer science in the Somerset Independent School System and worked ten years at the Pulaski County Board of Education as the District Technology Coordinator. In addition to secondary experience, she has worked in numerous capacities at the post-secondary level including teaching for the Somerset Community College and Kentucky Tech, volunteering on advisory committees at the Pulaski County Area Technology Center and serving as Vice-Chair of the Somerset Community College Foundation Board. Teresa is a former president of the Kentucky Association of Technology Coordinators, former president of the Somerset-Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce and former chair of Leadership Kentucky. She is a current board and executive committee member of Leadership Kentucky and of the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority/Kentucky Higher Education Student Loan Corporation.

William A. Wilburn

Member