James Spellos is the President of Meeting U. whose mission for over 20 years is to help people become more productive and comfortable with technology.

In 2022, Meeting Professionals International included Jim on their most influential list in the hospitality industry in honor of their 50th anniversary celebration. In 2021, Glisser named Jim one of the most influential people in virtual events.

He was a faculty member at New York University for 25 years receiving both their Award for Teaching Excellence and their Outstanding Service Award. In 2015, Jim was named one of the Meeting Industry’s trendsetters by Meetings Today magazine.
 

Rich has been in the Health and Safety Management field for over 30 years. He has provided safety consulting services for many companies on a global scale. Rich has presented and worked in Australia, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Panama, and Africa.

He received his B.S. in Occupational Safety and Health Management from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania in 1992. He has also earned his M.S. in Safety Science from West Virginia University in 2011. His professional designations include, Certified Safety Professional (CSP) and Construction Risk Insurance Professional (CRIS).

Dan Henn is the Safety Operations Manager of Products at LJB Engineering. Dan first realized his fear of heights at the age of 17 when an Army drill instructor forced him to rappel off an 80-foot tower, which looked like it was in imminent danger of collapse. His involvement in the fall protection industry was inevitable.

Since 2003, Dan has been manufacturing, developing, and testing fall protection products.  As a result of this experience, utilization of the Z359 code and interactions with end-user clients, Dan has developed a strong understanding of the fall protection subject matter and is committed to solving problems. 

Jeff England, serves as vice president of operations for Lexington-based commercial contractor Dean Builds. In this role, he manages the operations of the company including contracts, insurance, and subcontractor coordination along with business development and project executive roles with clients.

Jeff holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Kentucky with emphasis in Construction Management. In addition to his longstanding service on AGC of Kentucky’s Board of Directors, he is a director and former president of the Commercial Property Association of Lexington. He is also a member of the Kentucky Society of Professional Engineers, a longtime LexArts Corporate Giving Committee member, and has served on the board for the Boys and Girls Club of the Bluegrass.

As vice president, strategic projects, Rebekah plays a pivotal role in identifying unique project opportunities aimed at expanding Gray’s network and sustaining the company’s future. In her nearly 15 years with Gray, Rebekah has touched almost every facet of the business, working in operations, accounting, project services, and most recently, business unit leadership, successfully leading opportunities in Gray’s Food & Beverage and Advanced Technology markets.

Rebekah’s vast experience across the business makes her a critical asset to the strategic projects team—employing her diverse expertise in the pursuit of distinctive partnerships. Committed to bolstering Gray’s Constitution, Rebekah fosters an environment conducive for future growth and innovation across the organization.

An Internationally recognized expert in the ‘powered access’ industry, with 40 years experience in rental, manufacturing, safety and training, a representative of three ‘not for profit’ organizations, member of numerous industry design committees , and the recipient of a number of industry awards including International Safety Champion (Powered Access Industry Awards) and the D. Victor Saleeby Award (Scaffold Industry Awards).

Greg Parsons is a Member of the law firm, Stites & Harbison, PLLC  in its Lexington, KY office. As a member of the firm’s Construction Service Group, Greg has represented construction and business clients for thirty-nine years. The construction clients he has represented include general contractors, owners, subcontractors and steel fabricators. He has also handled matters for various businesses, financial institutions, municipalities and universities. He regularly reviews, drafts and advises clients regarding construction contracts and other related agreements. Greg also counsels project participants on risk allocation, claim avoidance and resolution. He mediates disputes both as an advocate and neutral. He has litigated and arbitrated disputes involving various construction issues such as construction defects, design errors, delays, changes in scope and code compliances.

John W. Hays is a Member in the Construction industry group, focusing primarily on litigation. He practices out of the Firm’s office in Lexington, Kentucky.

John’s a problem solver – his main goal in his practice is to help people solve problems, whether in his role as an attorney, a mediator, or an arbitrator. His practice is primarily focused on construction litigation, contracts, and commercial litigation, but his years of experience mean he can help clients at any stage of a construction project or dispute. John represents owners, design professionals, contractors, construction managers, subcontractors, and suppliers. He’s also the co-chair of the Firm’s construction and development industry group, helping to grow the Firm’s practice in the construction area.

Elkins is a Kentucky National Guard Veteran and successful businessman. He was until recently the Chief Executive Officer of Waste Services of the Bluegrass, INC. Elkins served as a Clark County Magistrate for two terms. He attended Morehead State University.

Elkins represents the 28th Senate District, including Bath, Clark, Menifee, and Montgomery Counties and an eastern portion of Fayette County. He was elected in the May special election to fill the vacancy left by former state Senator Ralph Alvarado. 

Elkins is a member of the Senate Standing Committees on Health Service, Families and Children Committee and State and Local Government. He is a Workforce Attraction and Retention Task Force Member. 

State Representative Randy Bridges serves the state’s 3rd House District, which includes all of Livingston County and a portion of McCracken County. He is currently in his third term in office.

Bridges chairs the House Local Government Committee, leading the House Majority Caucus’s efforts to improve policies impacting cities, counties, and other local government entities across the commonwealth. In addition, he is on the Transportation and Natural Resources and Energy committees.

Bridges is a local businessman and has been self-employed since 1986. He has owned and operated several local businesses, including convenience stores and a pool store with retail and installation operations. Currently, he owns Randy Bridges Property Management Inc. and is a Broker and Managing Partner with ReMax Realty Group of Paducah.

David Kelly, CEO of Growth Solutions Team, is a proven resource and advisor to businesses that want to achieve new levels of greatness with their firms. GST provides businesses the advisory, consulting, leadership development, professional sales training, coaching and accountability services to support clients in their development. Growth Solutions Team under the direction of Kelly, has worked with thousands of businesses, leaders, owners, sales professionals, and managers to improve results, strategic focus, and to establish well-defined corporate visions that all stakeholders can support. 

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In 2012, David retired from corporate America and started Growth Solutions.  He served his country in the Marine Corps, has been active in the community through Rotary, serving on the Steering Committee for Kentucky Kids Belong and is on the Foundation Board of BCTC

Dean C. Durbin, PE is a seasoned entrepreneur and business advisor with a lifelong commitment to leadership and growth. With a B.S. in Civil Engineering and an MBA from the University of Kentucky, Dean’s early career as a U.S. Army Armor Officer helped him build the leadership and strategic skills that would fuel his entrepreneurial journey. 

He has dedicated the majority of his professional life to the construction and engineering industry, growing his Engineering and Construction Services company to 85 employees before successfully exiting in 2017. Today, as an EOS Implementer, Dean leverages his extensive experience to help other entrepreneurs achieve their business goals—whether they’re preparing for a sale or building for the long term.