Current Members
Don P. Barger of McCracken County retired in 2002 after 32 years with Mason Public Schools in Mason, Michigan. In his retirement, Mr. Barger has baked for Kirchhoff’s Bakery and provided pastoral services to Presbyterian churches. He is a board member of Market House Theatre and Paducah Cooperative Ministry, where he has served both groups as chair/president. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and a Master of Arts in Education Administration, both from Michigan State University. A resident of West Paducah, Mr. Barger is interested in educational and environmental issues.
Cheryl “Gaye” Brewer (McCracken County) retired in 2018 after serving 19 years at the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection. She graduated from Murray State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology. Ms. Brewer grew up close to the Paducah plant site and spent nearly 20 years as a state regulator helping to ensure safe cleanup and remains interested in the progress of the cleanup. She feels it is essential for community members to be involved in cleanup and future site use decisions.
Eric Butterbaugh was born and raised in McCracken County, and returned home with his high school sweetheart after receiving his Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of Kentucky in Lexington. Mr. Butterbaugh works as a Business Intelligence Analyst at CSI in Paducah, and has been there since 2013. He earned his Master of Business Administration degree from Murray State University in 2017. Mr. Butterbaugh is a 2nd Degree Knight for the Knights of Columbus, and is a member of the Housing Corporation Board for the Epsilon Omicron Chapter of Beta Theta Pi at the University of Kentucky. He and his family attend St. Thomas More Catholic Church. Mr. Butterbaugh is concerned about environmental impacts and economic development Issues resulting from the closure of the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant.
William Robert Clark (McCracken County) is a member of the United Steel Workers Union and has been chosen as its representative to the Paducah Citizens Advisory Board. Mr. Clark is an operator with Four Rivers Nuclear Partnership. He is also a Health and Safety Officer with the USW Local 550. His responsibilities include teaching Hazwoper, OSHA, and RCRA waste classes. He is a former pipefitter and is still a member of the Plumbers and Steamfitters Union Local 184. Mr. Clark is a high school graduate and a resident of Paducah.
Clinton F. Combs of McCracken County is an insurance agent with Peel & Holland Insurance in Benton. He is manager of the Public Entity Division. Mr. Combs holds a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Safety and Health and a Master of Science in Economic Development, both from Murray State University. He is founder and president of the Murray State Young Alumni Council, a member of Leadership Paducah, and a director for the Market House Theatre. Mr. Combs has an interest in seeing a thoughtful and deliberate approach to economic development as the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant goes through remediation. Mr. Combs is a resident of Paducah.
Gaylon Grubbs (McCracken County) retired in 2021 from the Paxton Media Group, working at the local television station, WPSD, for over 20 years as a camera and studio operator. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Mid-Continent University in May 2001. Mr. Grubbs is interested in the possible reuse of reclaimed property from the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant cleanup and the minority opportunities and impacts this cleanup provides.
Reese Henderson (Carlisle County) is a University of Kentucky College of Engineering, Paducah Campus student. He is a 2022 graduate of Calloway County High School and served as Student Class Vice President in his junior and senior years. Mr. Henderson was active in Calloway County athletics, playing football and running track & field. He was a member of Future Business Leaders of America, Kentucky state champion in impromptu speaking, Leadership Tomorrow, and Murray Rotary’s Student of the Month. A current member of AIChE Chemical Engineering Club at UK, Mr. Henderson is interested in the educational and business opportunities as the cleanup continues at the Paducah site.
Rodney Hill (McCracken County) is the pastor at Fairview Baptist Church in La Center, Kentucky. Mr. Hill graduated from Louisiana Tech University with a Bachelor of Science degree. He has served in the Ballard County Chamber of Commerce since 2012 and is the vice-president of the Board of Directors of the Ballard County Economic & Industrial Board. Mr. Hill is interested in the civic and minority ramifications of the closing and cleanup of the Paducah site.
Frances L. Johnson of Graves County serves as vice president of governmental affairs for the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce. She is also the executive director of the West Kentucky Regional Chamber Alliance, an alliance of Chambers in 14 counties in western Kentucky from Fulton County to Christian County. She serves on the Board of Trustees of Temple Israel and is past president. In addition, Ms. Johnson serves on the Board of Directors of Heartland Cares, Inc. and is the board secretary. She serves as a mentor to young professional women through the Women’s Mentoring Network. A high school graduate, Ms. Johnson is also a graduate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute of Organizational Management at the University of Notre Dame. Her educational background is in journalism with a public relations emphasis. She is a resident of Mayfield.
Andrew Paul (McCracken County) is a student at West Kentucky Community and Technical College and the University of Kentucky College of Engineering studying Aerospace Engineering. He has been on the Dean’s list of both colleges since beginning his academic career. He serves as vice-president of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, UK Chapter. Mr. Paul is interested in the environmental impact and economic development issues resulting from the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PGDP) cleanup.
Benjamin Stinnett (Calloway County) oversees recruitment, scholarships, and career services for the University of Kentucky Paducah Campus. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Safety and Health and a Master of Science in Human Development and Leadership from Murray State University. He is also a Working Genius Assessment (created by Table Group) Certified Facilitator. He serves on the McCracken County Work Ready Certification Narrative Committee and is active on the Advisory Board of Alpha Sigma Phi. Mr. Stinnett is keenly aware of the driving economic impact of the PDGP and is interested in the current and future employment opportunities available to engineering graduates in the area.
Myron Wessel (Massac County) is a senior process engineer working at the Honeywell facility in Metropolis, IL. Mr. Wessel is a lifelong resident of Metropolis. After getting a Chemical Engineering degree from Purdue, he started his professional career at the Honeywell facility when it was still Allied Signal. Myron’s work experience also includes time at Calvert City and Wickliffe plants. As a third-generation employee at the Honeywell plant, Mr. Wessel is interested in the future of the PGDP site and area industry.
Riley B. Willett (Graves County) is the Public Health Director of Graves County. She started at the health department as a Health Educator in January of 2016 and was hired as the new Director in August of 2021. Mrs. Willett obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Integrated Studies in 2015 from Murray State University and a Masters of Business Administration in 2017 from the University of the Cumberlands. She also holds her Realtor License for the state of Kentucky and has been a Realtor since 2015. Mrs. Willett is a board member of the Graves County Agency for Substance Abuse Policy and Prevention, a graduate of the Kentucky Public Health Leadership Institute class of 2017, and a graduate of the Mayfield Graves County Leadership class of 2018.
Elizabeth M. Wilson (Marshall County) is employed at Paducah Bank as the Loans Servicing Relief Specialist. Ms. Wilson volunteers with Lotus, Kentucky’s regional children’s advocacy and sexual violence resource center for the Purchase Area. She holds a bachelor of science degree in business and a master of science degree in organizational communication from Murray State University. Ms. Wilson has an interest in seeing a thoughtful and deliberate approach to community impact and economic development as the PGDP goes through remediation. She supports community level education, informing the community both on the impact that EM is making towards remediation and awareness of what the end-state vision will mean for the community’s economic growth. She is a resident of Calvert City.