First Kentucky TVA Leadership Academy Class Begins Journey

May 5, 2026

Contact: Adam May

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Release Summary

TVA Leadership Academy fosters collaborative leadership on energy and infrastructure challenges.
Initiative encourages transparent communication between TVA, local officials, and regional stakeholders.
TVA and participants hope to build long-term partnerships to support regional resilience and economic development.

Group photo of Kentucky Leadership Academy participants at TVA’s River Operations System Center.

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BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Ten leaders from across the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Kentucky service territory recently came together as the inaugural class of the Kentucky TVA Leadership Academy.

The class will travel to sites across the region through the summer to learn about how TVA serves the region with reliable, affordable and resilient power; how TVA supports economic development in Kentucky communities; and how TVA manages the Tennessee River system for flood control, navigation and recreation.

“The goal of our Leadership Academy is to provide a more in-depth look at TVA and our mission to serve 10 million people of the Tennessee Valley,” said Virginia Gray, TVA government and community relations director for Kentucky. “Energy, economic development, and environmental stewardship are the three fundamental principles that drive TVA and the Kentucky leaders in this class will get to experience some of what we do first-hand. Participants will build networks and connectivity to new peers in south central and western Kentucky.”

The academy fosters collaborative leadership in addressing energy and infrastructure challenges and encourages transparent communication among TVA, local officials, and regional stakeholders.

The class will hear from TVA experts in their fields, who will share insights on energy policy, grid modernization, sustainability, and community impact.

Class No. 1 of Kentucky TVA Leadership Academy:

Wendy Baxter, Kentucky Lake Chamber of Commerce

Brent Childers, City of Bowling Green

Kenneth “Pete” Galloway, West Kentucky RECC and Purchase Area Development District

Kelly Gates, Christian County Public Schools

Scott Lindsey, Edmonson County Fiscal Court

Keith Martin, Houchens Food Group

Margaret Prim, Pennyroyal Arts Council

Jessica Scillian, Kentucky Lake Chamber of Commerce

Jaime Smith, Lyon County Fiscal Court

Walker Thomas, District 8 Kentucky State Representative

About TVA

The Tennessee Valley Authority is the nation’s largest public power supplier, delivering energy to more than 10 million people across seven southeastern states. TVA has one of the most diverse energy systems – including nuclear, hydro, coal, gas, and advanced technologies. TVA is making significant investments in its power system toward new generation and transmission. 

TVA is a corporate agency of the United States, receiving no taxpayer funding and deriving virtually all of its revenue from electricity sales. TVA maintains some of the lowest energy costs and highest reliability in the nation. TVA’s residential rates are lower than those paid by almost 80% of customers of the top 100 U.S. utilities, and its industrial rates are lower than those paid by over 90% of customers of the top 100 U.S. utilities. In addition, TVA provides flood control, navigation, and land management for the Tennessee River system, and assists local power companies and state and local governments with economic development and job creation. Learn more at tva.com.

Contact

Adam May
TVA Media Relations
[email protected]
865-632-6000

TVA Media Line

Our media staff is available 24 hours a day. If you cannot reach the contact above, please call our media line at 865-632-6000.