SPEDA Chief Accounting Officer Jessica Carlton has been selected as a member of the 2020 class of Leadership Lake Cumberland, a nine-month program dedicated to developing a diverse group of leaders who serve as catalysts for a stronger community. After being postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the program kicked off with a retreat July 14.

Carlton is no stranger to the leadership program, having helped organize it for five years in her role as finance director for the Somerset-Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce. As SPEDA’s chief accounting officer and executive assistant, she now gets to see the program from a participant’s lens — gaining valuable information and networking opportunities that will help her grow in her position. Carlton is a board member of United Way and also serves as co-chair of Lake Cumberland Area Heart Walk.

Sponsored by the Chamber, Leadership Lake Cumberland brings together a selected group of people that possess a broad variety of leadership abilities, career accomplishments, and volunteer activities to gain insight into complex issues facing the region. They meet and talk with the region’s current leaders, and explore the community’s various business sectors. Topics will include education, health and human services, law and justice, business and technology, industry, tourism and much more.

“I am thrilled Jessica is participating in Leadership Lake Cumberland and look forward to seeing the many ways she’ll use this experience for the betterment of economic development in our community,” SPEDA President and CEO Chris Girdler said. “Jessica is truly an outstanding leader and public servant, and will bring so much to the 2020 class of this esteemed program.”