Chris Girdler receives the Chamber’s highest recognition for a lifetime of service and leadership

Somerset-Pulaski Economic Development Authority (SPEDA) President & CEO Chris Girdler received the Somerset-Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Community Service Award Thursday evening, the Chamber’s highest recognition for a lifetime of service and leadership.

The award was presented during the Chamber’s annual banquet and recognizes individuals whose professional careers and civic commitment have made a lasting impact on Somerset and Pulaski County.

“Chris Girdler represents the very best of what this award is meant to honor,” said Bobby Clue, executive director of the Somerset-Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce. “His leadership and deep-rooted commitment to this community have shaped Somerset and Pulaski County in meaningful ways. Chris has given so much of himself to see his hometown thrive, and it was truly special to recognize him in a room filled with people whose lives and work have been touched by his efforts.”

The Distinguished Community Service Award honors individuals who inspire the community through their profession and efforts to make the region a better place to live, work, and play. In giving the award, Clue noted Girdler’s decades-long commitment to economic development, civic leadership, and community service as defining qualities of his career.

“I am incredibly humbled by this honor,” Girdler said. “There is no place in the world I would rather live, work, and raise a family. All of my work has been rooted in a deep love for this community and the people who call it home. I’m grateful beyond words.”

A seventh-generation Pulaski Countian, Girdler’s roots in the Lake Cumberland region run deep. After graduating from Southwestern High School and earning a degree in business administration from Eastern Kentucky University, he began his career as an executive in the houseboat industry. There, he learned the values of hard work, innovation, humility, and integrity that would shape his professional life.

Girdler later entered public service in the office of longtime U.S. Congressman Hal Rogers, where he ultimately served as District Chief of Staff. He went on to represent Kentucky’s 15th District in the State Senate, chairing the Tourism Development Subcommittee and Capital Projects and Bond Oversight Committee, while serving in leadership roles on additional committees focused on economic development, tourism, and labor.

During his time in the General Assembly, Girdler received numerous statewide honors, including Legislator of the Year recognition from the Kentucky Retail Federation, Kentucky Marina Association, and Kentucky Chiropractors Association, as well as the American Conservative Union’s Conservative Excellence Award.

In 2019, Girdler became the founding president and CEO of SPEDA, guiding the community through a period of historic growth and investment. Under his leadership, Somerset-Pulaski County secured transformative projects, including the Horse Soldier Bourbon distillery experience, which will officially open in July of this year; ag-tech innovators Bosch Berries; and the announcement of a future Publix location along U.S. 27. Girdler announced in 2025 that he would transition out of the SPEDA role, citing the need for the organization to welcome “new energy, new ideas and new people to carry the torch.”

“I’ve always believed that strong communities are built when people are willing to serve something bigger than themselves,” Girdler said. “I leave this chapter grateful, hopeful, and confident that Somerset and Pulaski County’s best days are still ahead.”

Beyond his professional roles, Girdler has served on numerous local and statewide boards, including the Kentucky Community & Technical College System Board of Regents, Somerset Community College Foundation, Mill Springs Battlefield Association, and the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Policy Board of Advisors. He also previously served as president of the Chamber, helping stabilize and strengthen the organization during a critical period.

State Sen. Rick Girdler, who now serves the district that Chris Girdler was elected to serve in 2015, presented Chris with a citation from his office after the award presentation.

Girdler lives in Somerset with his wife, Courtney, and their two daughters, Charleston and Channing.