Board & Staff
Staff
Lance O’Bryan
President / CEO
“I am passionate about Fort Knox. I know first-hand how important it is to our national defense and this region. There is no better installation and our community’s support is second to none.”
Beth Avey
Vice President
“I’m privileged to serve on the KRDA team to ensure our community does all it can to support Fort Knox and set the conditions for growth.”
Board
Brian Kerr
Chair
“When Fort Knox and the local defense sector companies grow small businesses in our region grow and prosper, too. Promoting and protecting Fort Knox is in all of our best interests.”
Bill Betson
Vice-Chair/Military
“Having a dedicated, proactive community effort like KRDA to ensure our community is doing all it can to support the installation is invaluable. It reflects positively with Senior Army and Department of Defense leaders.”
Robert Ramey
Vice Chair/Chair Elect
“Since 1954, it has been our privilege to help care for military families at Baptist Health Hardin. Our support to KRDA is an extension of our commitment to Fort Knox and the physical and economic health of our region.”
Mary Young
Secretary
“The importance of Fort Knox to our economy cannot be overstated. It deserves our attention and support, and KRDA leads that community effort.”
Selena Hudson
Treasurer
“I came here because my dad was stationed at Fort Knox and retired here. It is an amazing, close-knit community that supports military families. I’m proud to call it home and proud to give my time and service in support of Fort Knox.”
Dustin Humphrey
Counsel
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Brigadier General (Ret.) Steven P. Bullard
“At KCMA, we are proud to partner with KRDA to promote Fort Knox’s importance to our national defense and its positive impact on Kentucky’s economy. Doing all we can to support military service members, retirees and veterans who call Kentucky home is paramount.”
J.J Duvall
“Radcliff Mayor, J.J Duvall is a lifelong resident of the community he serves. His city sits adjacent to the installation with direct access to the main post gate. A staunch advocate for Fort Knox, Mayor Duvall actively works to improve quality of life amenities for the thousands of military families who have called Radcliff home over the years, many of whom choosing to make it their permanent residence following their military service.”
Marilyn Ford
“You will not find a more welcoming and supportive community than in the Greater Fort Knox Region. We consider it our patriotic duty to support soldiers and their families.”
Jenny Geist
“Having a strong understanding of the installation and sharing that knowledge with my fellow real estate colleagues allows us to provide the highest quality of support to military families.”
Elizabethtown Mayor Jeff Gregory
“Communities that proactively tell their story and plan for growth are the most competitive for opportunities. We’re seeing that firsthand in Elizabethtown, and that’s why we know the work KRDA is doing is so incredibly important.”
Phillip Kemp
” Quality infrastructure contributes greatly to the quality of life our region offers Soldiers and their families who are stationed at Fort Knox. I’m proud to play a role in that and am proud to further my support to Fort Knox through service on the KRDA board.”
MG (Ret) Troy Kok
“Like many other military retirees, my family and I chose to call the Greater Fort Knox Region home. There are countless reasons – an unmatched quality of life, low cost of living, and the welcoming, caring people are just a few examples. It truly is a special place.”
Darin Logsdon
“We are proud to call military families our friends and neighbors. It’s imperative that we do all we can to support them. KRDA helps us integrate and facilitate stronger community support for our military families.”
Daniel London
“In my role in the LTADD, I’m proud to partner with KRDA to help promote and protect our most vital economic asset for our region. We work closely with KRDA to make sure our elected leaders and our region understand its importance for our national defense and our regional economy.”
Vine Grove Mayor Pam Ogden
“We pride ourselves on working together, and KRDA is a great example of that – the public and private sector pooling their resources so that we have a community-based organization dedicated to Fort Knox.”
Corey Salsman
“Fort Knox and its workforce is such an integral part of our community. We are proud to serve those who serve our country. I see being a part of this board as an extension of my service to our military families.”
Brandon Simpson
“We are so proud to have this premier military installation in our backyard and are committed to doing all we can to support it.”
Luke Schmidt
“When it comes to where the Army places new missions, community support matters. KRDA works to make sure we are as supportive as possible; it’s not only the right thing to do, it’s the smart thing to do.”
Kerri Anne Smialek
“We’ve grown to really love the Greater Fort Knox Region. That’s why we chose to call it home when my husband retired. We enjoy being a part of a welcoming and vibrant community.”
Ray Springsteen
“So many people here are connected to Fort Knox, including the countless veterans and military spouses who make up our local workforce. Fort Knox makes us stronger and we are committed to protecting it.”
Kendra Stewart
“The Soldiers and families who serve at Fort Knox are part of the fabric of this community. They not only serve our nation but also bring an unmatched spending power to our community.”
Krista Stevens
“We chose to call this region home and grow our defense-related business here. There is no place we’d rather be. Fort Knox is a gem and this community is incredibly business friendly. The support we’ve received from KRDA has been invaluable.”
Bullitt County Judge/Executive Jerry Summers
“In Bullitt County, we support our military and do all we can to keep Fort Knox strong and growing. The work of KRDA is critical, and we are proud to be a part of this important regional partnership.”
Jennifer Swope
“Fort Knox and defense-related business growth are key components to our region’s continued economic prosperity. KRDA is singularly focused on promoting, protecting and growing this important sector of our economy.”
Judge Keith Taul
“Fort Knox is an economic cornerstone of Hardin County and the surrounding region. Having an organization like KRDA focused on protecting and growing it is critically important.”
Allison Willoughby
“For more than a century, Fort Knox has been an anchor for our regional economy. It is an unmatched source of spending power and talent.”
Emeritus Members
MG (Ret) Bill Barron
“For more than a century, Fort Knox has been a part of the fabric of our community. We have an unmatched love and appreciation for soldiers and their families that you won’t find anywhere else.”
Jim Fugitte
“Fort Knox contributes greatly to our region’s spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship. Military veterans have founded and continue to lead countless businesses in our region, including several defense-sector companies.”
BG (Ret) Jim Iacocca
“Fort Knox injects more than $5.6 billion into our regional economy each year and there is tremendous potential for it to have an even greater economic impact.”
Brad Richardson
“A coordinated and proactive approach to economic development, like KRDA, has always been a best practice. I’m proud to have played a role in establishing KRDA and am even more proud to see the valuable support it provides.”
Carl Swope
“Fort Knox offers a multitude of possibilities for economic growth to our region. From small businesses to large contractors, the opportunities are endless.”
MG (Ret) John Tindall
“World class training areas and ranges, a DOD leader in energy resilience, capacity for new missions and a supportive community makes Fort Knox well positioned for growth. KRDA is dedicated to promoting all that makes Fort Knox a premier military installation.”