By Gabe Bullard, Kentucky Public Radio
Frankfort, KY – The economic partnership between Louisville and Lexington will be led by a 21-member board of business executives, university presidents and economic development officials.
Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer and Lexington Mayor Jim Gray named the board of the Bluegrass Economic Advancement Movement, or BEAM, Monday afternoon.
BEAM is meant to foster a regional economic partnership around manufacturing. The board includes executives from GE, Ford, UPS, Toyota and other companies with local interests.
In addition to the two mayors the panel, headed up by Louisville Arena Authority Chair, Jim Host, includes:
* Jim Campbell, President & CEO, GE Appliances & Lighting
* Dr. Eli Capilouto, President, University of Kentucky
* Scott C. Casey, Vice President, UPS Air Group Legal and Public Affairs
* W. James Host, Chairman
* Wilbert W. (Wil) James, President, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc.
* Jim Lancaster, CEO and Owner, Lantech.com
* Stephen C. Lewis, Director Strategic Planning, Ford Motor Company
* Porter G. Peeples, Sr., President & CEO, Urban League of Lexington-Fayette County
* Robert L. Quick, CCE, President & CEO, Commerce Lexington Inc. (ex officio member).
* Dr. James R. Ramsey, President, University of Louisville
* Joe Reagan, President & CEO, Greater Louisville Inc.
* Mary Pat Regan, President, AT&T Kentucky
* Paul Rooke, Chairman & CEO, Lexmark International, Inc.
* Vivek K. Sarin, President & CEO, Shelby Industries, LLC
* Mark A. Sarvary, Chief Executive Officer and President, Tempur-Pedic International
* Rena L. Sharpe, Vice President of North American Operations, Westport Axle Corp.
* Al Smith, Journalist, Retired Host of KET's Comment on Kentucky
* Keith Stewart, Director of Operations/Site Manager of the Raytheon Missile Systems
* Jody Wassmer, President and CEO, One Southern Indiana (ex officio member).
Currently, there are no representatives from labor organizations on the panel.
The group hopes to have a preliminary report completed by October 2012.