Members of the Leadership Kentucky class of 2019 — a group of more than 50 leaders from across the state who represent a variety of career accomplishments and volunteer activities — met in Somerset this week as part of the program’s monthly class curriculum.

SPEDA joined the group for a houseboat cruise Thursday afternoon to introduce members to the great work and collaboration happening in Somerset-Pulaski County and share its leading tourism destination, Lake Cumberland.

“SPEDA will always do its best to ensure the community is putting its best foot forward by welcoming such influential organizations with open arms,” said Chris Girdler, SPEDA president and CEO.

Leadership Kentucky consists of monthly two-day programs beginning in July and ending in December that take place in various communities across the state. Participants meet and talk with Kentucky’s current leaders and explore the state’s opportunities, needs and resources. Kentucky’s cultural heritage and diversity are woven throughout the curriculum that features the state’s economy, education, health and human services, law and justice, and environment.

Somerset resident and business leader Teresa Hail is the chairwoman of Leadership Kentucky’s board of directors, and Somerset City Attorney John Adams is a member of the 2019 class.

While in Somerset, group members toured the Mill Springs Battlefield Visitor Center and Museum and Haney’s Appledale Farm. They spent much of Thursday learning about tourism in the region, first hearing from local tourism leaders Michelle Allen, Leslie Ikerd and Frank Crabtree, and then touring Trifecta Houseboats. The group set sail on a houseboat cruise Thursday afternoon to experience Lake Cumberland and hear from Girdler and Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet Deputy Secretary Regina Stivers.

The City of Somerset hosted the group for a downtown reception with food and entertainment Thursday evening. Friday was spent touring Somerset Community College’s campus and hearing about its diverse programs.

“Leadership Kentucky is a tremendous program and organization that is doing great work for the Commonwealth of Kentucky as a whole,” Girdler said. “We are proud not only to have John Adams as a member of this year’s class, but that our own Teresa Hail is leading this organization’s board. Somerset and Pulaski County truly shined this week for this outstanding group of Kentucky leaders.”