Fulton County Transit Authority’s Deputy Director graduates from Leadership West Kentucky class

July 15, 2025

Since January, Kristin Grooms has been learning more about the region where she lives.

Grooms, a Fulton resident and Fulton County Transit Authority’s Deputy Director, was chosen along with 31 other leaders from across Western Kentucky to participate in Leadership West Kentucky’s third class. The immersive regional experience, designed to build stronger communities through in-person learning and connections, is a program of the West Kentucky Chamber Alliance. The annual program is facilitated by the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce Leadership Center. TVA was one of the program’s main sponsors.

For the past six months, the class has visited various businesses, governmental agencies, industrial sites, educational campuses, and civic organizations within a city and/or county in the region. The plan was to give class members an opportunity to see firsthand the opportunities, strengths, and challenges found throughout the region.

Gaining personal knowledge of the region and securing networking opportunities were two of the reasons Grooms joined the program.

“I joined to learn more about the region and meet other people and make connections,” Grooms said. “I honestly didn’t know what to expect!”

Some of the places Grooms noted the group visited were Kayser in Fulton, Ky., the National Quilt Museum in Paducah, Ky., Adsmore Museum in Princeton, Ky., Krusteaz in Hopkinsville, Ky., TVA in Marshall County, Ky., Murray State University, Kentucky State Penitentiary in Lyon County, Ky,, and the Ben E. Clement Mineral Museum in Marion.

“The prison was the most interesting because I wasn’t sure what to expect but the Adsmore House was my favorite because it was neat to see all of the antique family heirlooms there,” Grooms recalled.

Perhaps the representatives from each of the areas where the groups visited, though, were the best part of the experience for Grooms.

“I loved that each of the counties were represented by people who had a lot of pride in their communities,” Grooms said. “When we toured each county the leaders and officials were all excited and eager to tell us about their part of Western Kentucky.”

The size and scope of industries within the region made an impression on Grooms as well.

“I didn’t realize all of the large industries that came out of Western Kentucky like Par4 plastics, Kayser, Krusteaz, and others.”

Grooms would like others in the Fulton area to join a future leadership group.

“I would encourage anyone to join just for the connections that can be made within the region,” she explained.

On Thurs., June 26, the 32 members of the Leadership West Kentucky Class #3 graduated from the program. Photos were taken at the historic Alhambra Theatre in Hopkinsville. Each participant also received a nice plaque commemorating their participation in the program.

Other members of the group included: Brian Benedict, Tiffany Blazina, Hannah Bowels, Tab Brockman, Chasta Champion, Jennifer Cline, Arianne Dillon, Cy Dossett, Kenneth Duffy, Lee Emmons, Raychel Farmer, Taylor Hancock, Mykala Jewell, Daniel Kimbell, Glen Kinder, Katie Beth McCord, Kay McGlothlin, Uppinder Mehan, Jared Nelson, Lori Noel, Britne Parker, Olivia Petter, Katelyn Rice, Tiffany Scott, Brittney Stinnett, Teris Swanson, Michael Venable, Jessie Watson, Nathan Whipple, Matt Workman, and Whitney York.