Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin has appointed Somerset-Pulaski Economic Development Authority (SPEDA) President and CEO Chris Girdler to the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) Board of Regents. His term will expire July 21, 2025.
The KCTCS Board of Regents oversees the state’s community and technical college system, which includes 16 colleges across the state serving 875,000 Kentuckians. Somerset Community College in Pulaski County is part of this system. The board of regents consists of eight members appointed by the governor and six additional members, including two members each of the teaching faculty, non-teacher personnel and student body, representing the respective KCTCS community and technical colleges.
“I appreciate Governor Bevin’s trust to appoint me to the KCTCS Board of Regents. I’m honored to serve in this capacity and will work to help continue to improve our educational opportunities for our citizens and ensuring we are being good stewards of taxpayer money,” Girdler said.
Girdler has particular interest in KCTCS’s workforce development opportunities, as this has been a primary area of focus for SPEDA.
“The workforce development opportunities that KCTCS presents are phenomenal and through SPEDA and serving on the organization’s board, I believe we will be able to bring about further improvements and raise awareness of these great training and educational opportunities for everyone,” Girdler said.
Girdler earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Eastern Kentucky University. He has vast experience in public and private sectors — including serving as former state senator for the 15th District of Kentucky and working as a CEO in the houseboat manufacturing industry.
Girdler serves or has served boards for many organizations, including The Center for Rural Development, Somerset-Pulaski Chamber of Commerce, Somerset Community College Foundation Inc., the Mill Springs Battlefield Association, the Pulaski County Educational Consortium and various bank advisory boards.
In addition to his service on the Somerset-Pulaski Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, he was elected president of the organization in 2014. Prior to his service in Frankfort, Girdler was honored by his alma mater as EKU’s Alumni of the Year.
Girdler and his wife, Courtney live in Somerset with their two daughters Charleston (10) and Channing (4).