In strategic partnership with then Kentucky State Senator and House Transportation Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie, along with U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell and Owensboro Mayor Tom Watson, developed and executed successful legislative strategy to secure funding on a state 6-year road plan to accelerate the release of funding for the final piece of what is a seamless, 100-mile, four-lane corridor between I-65 at Bowling Green and I-64 at Dale, Indiana. Leverage to accelerate the project was exerted to support construction of a new state-of-the-art $340M hospital.
In strategic partnership with Kentucky House of Representatives Majority Caucus Chair Suzanne Miles, Kentucky State Senator Matt Castlen, and executive leadership from Owensboro Health (a multi-billion-dollar, three-hospital multi-specialty health care system serving western Kentucky and southern Indiana) developed and executed successful legislative strategy to secure $38M in state funding for establishment of the Commonwealth West Healthcare Workforce Innovation Center (CWHWIC). The first of its kind in Kentucky, the purpose of the center is to address the health workforce shortage. The Innovation Center will offer classes and programs in a wide range of healthcare career fields, including nursing, respiratory, radiology, behavioral health, and community health.
Oversaw strategy and local negotiations for securing 150-acres for building a new $340M replacement healthcare campus to meet the growing needs of patients in an eleven county area surrounding the city of Owensboro in western Kentucky. Efforts included negotiations with federal, state, and local elected leaders, along with permitting and zoning officials. Also oversaw numerous hospital groundbreaking events featuring Congressional, Kentucky General Assembly, and local elected officials along with health system leadership. The campus includes a 477-bed hospital and a Medical Office Building.
In strategic partnership with the University of Louisville, then Kentucky State Senator Joe Bowen, Kentucky Representative Tommy Thompson and Commonwealth Alliances contract lobbyist, developed and executed successful legislative strategy to secure $500,000 in start-up funding for the Owensboro Health Family Medicine Residency Program. Family medicine physicians remain among the greatest shortage in the healthcare industry. The successful program now educates 18 family medicine students annually and graduates six new family medicine physicians annually.
In strategic partnership with the University of Louisville, former Congressman Ron Lewis and sitting Congressman Brett Guthrie, secured and managed over $7M in Congressional funds from U.S. Defense Appropriations legislation to establish the Owensboro Cancer Research Program utilized to support new cancer treatment drugs using tobacco plant proteins. Ongoing oversight interaction with the U.S. Department of the Army Telemedicine & Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC).
In partnership with Daviess County Fiscal Court, oversaw the development and execution of the legislative and grassroots strategy that resulted in $2M in Congressionally directed funding under the purview of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that resulted in construction of the largest soccer complex in western Kentucky with nine fields. The successful legislative strategy involved conveying to Congress and the EPA that the primary purpose was to alleviate flooding of a combined sewer system with surplus land not used for alleviating storm water flooding to be repurposed for soccer fields. The park remains a jewel in the crown of Daviess County parks.
Working with Daviess County Fiscal Court, the legislative arm of Daviess County Kentucky, used $20,000 in seed money to develop, plan and execute the first of its kind, seven-day festival celebrating the rich motorsports heritage of Owensboro, KY. The project required establishment of a new non-profit organization and board of directors. The greatest challenges and accomplishments were working persuasively to build a coalition of drivers, venues, motorsports team operators, community, business and elected leaders into a cohesive and supportive group to advance the festival. Having provided direct oversight of a successful start-up run of four years, the festival was transitioned to oversight by the motorsport’s community.
In partnership with Daviess County Fiscal Court, oversaw the development and execution of the legislative and grassroots strategy that resulted in $2M in Congressionally directed funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for development of a model healthcare coordination project to low-income individuals in western Kentucky. Provide soup-to-nuts oversight of project from inception to funding to implementation. The award-winning project continues to provide coordinated healthcare services including prescription assistance to its regional residents.
Provided oversight and fund development strategy for the largest Political Action Committee (TourPac) of the group and motorcoach travel industry. NTA is the leading business association for companies and organizations that serve customers traveling to, from and within North America. The 700 buyer members are tour operators and travel planners who package travel products domestically and around the world with 500 seller members and 1,100 tour suppliers that represent products in all 50 U.S. states, each Canadian province and more than 40 other countries. TourPac funds supported candidates and issues of importance to the North American motorcoach industry.
Built and branded a grassroots legislative action network for 2,000 healthcare professionals employed by a multi-billion dollars health system allowing for one-click online access to take action on legislation and regulations of key interest. Background and content on issues of key interest is provided to individuals with a call to action to contact targeted legislators at federal, state and/or local levels to support or oppose the issues. The network provides easy engagement for team members to make their voices heard on behalf of the larger entity.
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