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Melissa Coulston is Partnership Coordinator at Kentucky Refugee Ministries Lexington, where she has worked since 2022. Her role at KRM involves wearing many different hats depending on the day, but she primarily works to engage central Kentucky communities to support KRM's work to welcome forcibly displaced newcomers. Prior to her work in refugee resettlement and newcomer welcome, Melissa served in various positions in academic, public, and government libraries in Kentucky and South Carolina.

Wendi Keene retired from a thirty year career with the YMCA of Central Kentucky. She held many positions from early education teacher, camp director, and after-school site director until she worked her way to outreach programing. When she left the Y she had become the Executive Director of Community Initiatives for the total Y association with her focus on the arts, literacy and volunteers.

Stephanie has been in the financial industry since 1993 and has a bachelor’s degree in finance is from the University of Kentucky.  She is passionate about community involvement and that includes current board positions on the Lexington Public Library and a member of the finance council of the Diocese of Lexington. She is a past board member of Surgery on Sunday, Bluegrass Rape Crisis Center, the Lexington Chapter of the American Red Cross and a past Trustee for Lexington Catholic High School, which she chaired for several years.

Ralph Coldiron has been instrumental in building and developing major commercial projects in downtown Lexington and around the country while working for Wilkinson Enterprises, Gray Construction, Centex Engineering & Construction, and The Webb Companies.  Additionally, Ralph served in the Carter/Mondale White House as Director of Advance for the Southeast US.   Also, Ralph has served in administrative positions in the administrations of Governor Julian Carroll, Governor John Y.

Chief of Staff and Executive Vice President Membership & Engagement, Commerce Lexington

Louetta (Lou) Hurst is a Lexington native who has a longstanding interest in community development and social services. She currently works in research grant development at the University of Kentucky and has extensive experience in grant writing for nonprofit organizations. She holds a BA in Biology and Classics and an MA in English Literature, as well as a Master’s of Public Administration.

Yajaira Aich West is a Vice President at PNC Bank and serves as the Director of Client and Community Relations for central, eastern and southeast Kentucky.