Leadership Kentucky 2019 in Somerset
During the month of September, Leadership Kentucky 2019 visited the Somerset region. The session had a three-part theme: tourism, manufacturing and workforce development. The tourism site visits included Mill Springs Battlefield and Museum; Haney’s Appledale Farm; Lee’s Ford Marina; and a houseboat tour on Lake Cumberland. These experiences were punctuated by a panel of experts, who discussed tourism issues in the region, but also the tourism industry, writ large. In addition, the group heard from Kentucky’s Deputy Secretary of Tourism, Regina Stivers.
The manufacturing portion of the session centered on touring Trifecta Houseboats, wherein the group learned about the houseboat industry and witnessed through a “plant” tour the construction stages and market of the houseboat industry.
The workforce development portion of the September session was a tour of Somerset Community College, wherein the group learned of a set of curricular programs developed to help local businesses and industries find trained employees. Highlighted programs included: Culinary training, airplane maintenance, physical therapy assistants, 3-D printing, and more.
