Speaking of coal...
After reading our cover story and commentaries in this edition about coal mining and mountain top removal (MTR), you may want to dig a little deeper into this critical Kentucky issue.
Beginning with the monthly breakfast meeting of the Lexington forum on November 5, there will be a full day of discussions about the role and future of coal in the Kentucky economy and environment.
The Forum discussion, taking place at Franky & Annette's on Lansdowne Drive at 7:30 a.m., will feature Nick Carter, president and chief operating officer of Natural Resource Partners L.P., and a representative of Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, which opposes MTR.
Non-members are welcome with a $15 admission. Additional information about the discussion and the Lexington Forum is available online at lexingtonforum.org.
Also on November 5, the UK College of Engineering will present a daylong "Forum on Coal in Kentucky." According to www.coalinkentucky.com, the "purpose of the event is to create a balanced discussion regarding the past, present and future impacts of coal in our state's economy and environment."
Featured speakers include, among others, veteran journalist Jeff Goodell, a contributing editor at Rolling Stone whose articles appear regularly in Wired, New Republic and The New York Times Magazine; Fred Palmer, senior vice president of government relations of Peabody Energy; Tom FitzGerald, director of the Kentucky Resources Council; Joe Craft, president, chief executive officer and a director of Alliance Resource Partners, L.P.; former Kentucky Governor Paul Patton; and Rocky Adkins, Majority Floor Leader in the Kentucky House of Representatives.
Moderating throughout the day will be former Courier-Journal columnist Al Cross, now director of the University of Kentucky's Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues. Bill Goodman, host of KET's One to One and Kentucky Tonight, will moderate an evening session at Memorial Hall from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. entitled "Impact of Coal, Today and Tomorrow."
Other scheduled speakers offer expertise in surface mining, reforestation, Kentucky history, economics and public policy. The day's events will take place on campus at the Hilary J. Boone Center beginning at 10 a.m. A registration form is available from the event Web site.
A little optimism for a change
Kentucky employers are beginning to allow themselves a little optimism concerning the state of the economy in coming months.
A survey of Kentucky Chamber of Commerce members finds a gradual increase in positive perspectives about the growth of employment and revenues. Of the more than 200 companies responding to the chamber survey, 52 percent predict that their firms will increase employment within the next 12 months. Only 39 percent held that view back in April.
Those predicting job losses dropped from 18 percent six months ago to 12 percent today. And a smaller proportion, 36 percent versus 43 percent, expect no change.
A significant majority of the companies, 69 percent, now feel comfortable about predicting increases in revenues in the coming year. That's up from 55 percent in April.
Utilities positioning to meet new energy policy
The Kentucky Public Service Commission is reviewing wind energy contracts by Kentucky Utilities (KU) and Louisville Gas & Electric (LG&E) to buy power from a pair of Illinois wind farms producing a combined capacity of 110 megawatts.
The utilities are preparing to meet any future requirements for a portion of the energy they produce to be derived from renewable sources.
The PSC denied the utilities' request to add a wind power surcharge to customers' bills. LG&E had estimated that the surcharge would add 71 cents to the bill of its average residential customer. KU estimated an additional 92 cents.
Women Leading Kentucky to offer training on board service
Women Leading Kentucky will sponsor a board training seminar on November 18 to train new and existing members of nonprofit boards in Kentucky on best practices.
The training is intended to ensure that community volunteers and staff are equipped with all the tools they need to be responsible, effective board members, according to Janet Holloway, executive director of Women Leading Kentucky.
The training will be held from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Central Baptist Education Center at 1720 Nicholasville Road in Lexington. It is open to men and women who are executive directors, board members and staff of nonprofit agencies, as well as those who wish to serve in those roles in the future.
ACS creating 300 new jobs in Lexington
Affiliated Computer Services (ACS) is hiring 300 customer care agents to accommodate increased business activity in Lexington.
ACS has had success in Lexington with the existing labor pool and needs to hire people quickly in order to handle the company's growth. Approximately 50 of the positions are permanent, while the remaining 250 positions will be temporary to fulfill a project expected to last until February 2010.
ACS is seeking to hire and train customer care agents immediately. Training classes start in November. Applicants are encouraged to apply online at www.acs-inc.com, but walk-in applications will also be accepted at 2432 Fortune Drive.
ACS is the third largest private employer in Lexington with approximately 2,000 employees and is the sixth largest private employer in Kentucky with approximately 4,000 employees.
Shearer to retire as Transy president
President Charles L. Shearer announced his retirement to the Transylvania University Board of Trustees at their annual fall meeting. Upon his retirement, effective June 30, 2010, after 27 years in office, he will be the longest-serving president in Transylvania's 230-year history.
Board chair William T. Young Jr. reluctantly accepted Shearer's resignation and said that a committee will be appointed immediately to oversee a national search for his successor. He also spoke on behalf of the board in tribute to Shearer's many years of dedicated service to the university.
"During Charles Shearer's tenure, Transylvania has been transformed," Young said. "When he became president in 1983, the university had a enrollment of fewer than 700 students, a minimal endowment and an aging physical plant. Today, Transylvania's enrollment is at our comfortable capacity of about 1,100, the endowment stands at $115 million, the campus has been essentially rebuilt, and the university is ranked among the leading liberal arts colleges in the nation. This transformation has been driven by Charles's leadership, attention to detail, dedication and incredible enthusiasm."
Young noted that Shearer's 27-year tenure is remarkable in comparison with other college and university presidents across the country, whose average tenure is 8.5 years in office, according to the American Council on Education. He also said that Shearer has graciously agreed to stay on as president beyond June 30, if necessary, until the right candidate is identified and appointed. He will also continue to play a supportive role for the college.
Shearer told the board that he is proud of how the university has progressed under his leadership, but will always be mindful of the dedication of others that made it possible.
"Transylvania today enjoys historically high enrollments, academically talented and dedicated faculty members and students, an outstanding administration and staff, the best group of board members I have ever had the privilege to work with, and widespread support from alumni, parents, and friends," Shearer said.
"While I have taken a leadership role, it's an obvious truth that credit for our accomplishments goes to everyone who has been a part of Transylvania over these years. Time and again, the Transylvania community has shown an uncommon devotion to furthering the interests of this historic institution. I am so grateful for all of that hard work and support, without which my presidency would not have been possible."
Shearer was named to the presidency in July 1983 at the age of 40, after serving four years as the university's vice president for finance. One of his first priorities was to increase enrollment, which stood at 655. By the next fall, the entering class had climbed 46 percent over the previous year, to 312, and overall enrollment climbed 19 percent to 785. By 2008, an all-time high of 1,153 students were enrolled, a 76 percent increase.
UK Psychology is looking for a few good - kids?
The University of Kentucky Psychology Department needs 8- to 12-year-old boys and girls for participation in research on childrens' inhibition and working memory.
Children who take part in the 90-minute session will be asked to complete "kid-friendly" computer tasks. They will be compensated for their time. For more information, call (859) 257-4977.
Editor's note: Rob Morris' commentary in the Oct. 2 edition of Business Lexington concerning the Centerpointe project in downtown Lexington drew an immediate response from principals of the project's developer, The Webb Companies. After a series of discussions with Dudley and Woodford Webb concerning the points raised and assertions made by Mr. Morris, we concluded the need for an in-depth look at the project and an update on its status. Look for that report to appear in our pages in the near future.