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Strictly Business 5

2018 StArtiNG OFF AS A yEAr

OF GrEAt POSSiBilitiES

BRUCE CaRPENTER
executive director, Southern KY Chamber of Commerce

et me start by wishing everyone a Hap- their barbourville facility. ProSphere special-
py New Year and best wishes for 2018. izes in the planning, software development
We’ve been fortunate to welcome sev- and it solutions and services for the federal
Leral new businesses to our region in government. they will be bringing 70 new,
2017 and we will work diligently to keep that good-paying jobs to our region.
if the past few months are an indica-
trend going in 2018. tion of the 2018 economic growth forecast
i’d like to take a moment and wish tom for Southern Kentucky, we have cause to be
blair well on his retirement. tom blair’s State optimistic!
Farm office is a long-standing Chamber mem- Lastly, approximately one year ago i be-
ber, tom is a past Chamber board member came a member of the Williamsburg- Whitley
and he’s been a friend for 30-plus years. i County Airport board of directors. i feel very
hope he and his wife Charlene enjoy retire- fortunate to serve on the board at a time
ment to the fullest. when board chairman Jeff Shelly and Man-
i would like to welcome new Chamber ager don Stricklin are making great strides for
members Mallory davis and Michael Jones, growth and advancement of the airport.
with their new State Farm Insurance offices. All the things i’ve discussed with you
As well as the new State Farm offices, I here are featured in this edition of Striclty
would like to welcome ProSphere to our re- business, a magazine created to highlight the
gion of Southern Kentucky. ProSphere, based activities of our chamber and its members.
in Alexandria, VA, is a contractor for CSrA at i hope you enjoy the magazine!