Mitch McConnell

Madam President, I rise today to honor County Judge-Executive Albey Brock for his 19 years of service to the people of Bell County, KY. Since 2007, Albey has presided over Bell County's Fiscal Court, working closely with constituents on local initiatives while creating and administering the county budget. He is a proud eastern Kentuckian whose longtime dedication and service to the region warrants recognition.

Over the years, I have worked with Albey on numerous initiatives to ensure eastern Kentuckians have access to critical infrastructure. During the pandemic, I partnered with Albey to secure Federal funding for the Middlesboro-Bell County Airport which sustained the airport's daily operations, protected jobs, and offset additional costs. We also worked together on conservation efforts to secure Fern Lake so the people of Middlesboro and residents throughout the county have access to a significant water source and attraction at Cumberland Gap National Park.

Our work didn't stop there. Albey and I also worked together to secure Pineville Hospital's future when it threatened to be closed. Through all these partnerships and collaborative efforts, Albey repeatedly demonstrated his commitment to the future of his community and its economic interests.

In the time I have known him, Albey has been a fierce advocate for eastern Kentucky. From his advocacy efforts at the national level on behalf of coal miners to making sure his constituents benefit from local economic development, he has a keen eye for the human impact of policy decisions. As a county judge-executive, this skill is one of the most important, and I applaud his impressive dedication to his neighbors.

At the same time, he has worked to promote eastern Kentucky economic development, showing up when it matters. This includes the Mountain Laurel Festival--Kentucky's oldest, continuous festival--held every year in Bell County. I have been able to attend on several occasions, and it is always good to see Albey out in the community. Not only does he show up, but Albey also knows how to deliver results for the people he represents, and I am grateful for his hard work.

Through it all, Albey has made decisions with consideration for his immediate community and worked to improve not just his county, but the region at large as well. As his time leading Bell County comes to an end, I want to take a moment today to honor his service. I wish him the best in this next chapter of his life, and I am sure he looks forward to spending more time with his wife Bitha as they enjoy time with their children and grandchildren.

Madam President, I rise today to pay tribute to a friend who has led the Kentucky Bankers Association for more than 40 years, president and CEO Ballard Cassady. Ballard stepped down at the end of July, and his career and leadership at the helm of this organization deserve significant praise. I ask my colleagues to please join me in honoring Ballard and applauding his four decades of service to KBA and to the people of Kentucky.

Growing up in Pikeville, Ballard learned the value and importance of hard work from his first jobs picking strawberries and bailing hay. He also learned from his father that acquiring a good education could help him make a living. So he went off to Transylvania University and got his bachelor's degree in business administration. With a solidified interest in business, Ballard then decided to go straight through and earn his master's in business administration from Vanderbilt. After several years leading Citizens Bank of Pikeville and a stint in public service, Ballard took on the role of president at KBA. To those who know him, it is no surprise that Ballard assumed such a prestigious role so early in his career. Since he started in 1986, he has represented Kentucky's banks exceptionally well.

Ballard's steadfast leadership has been marked by his comprehensive understanding of KBA's member banks and communicating their priorities to others. As a former banker himself, he recognizes how much these organizations do for their region, especially in rural counties. There is no doubt he shows up to work every day ready to fight for their concerns. And I am so glad he has been there representing them along the way.

Ballard often says that local banks are the backbone of their communities. I couldn't agree more. From the pandemic to historic flooding and devastating tornadoes, Kentucky has seen more than its fair share of natural disasters in the last several years. When these misfortunes strike, banks are part of the frontline of recovery, immediately working to distribute loans and Federal funds to help businesses get back up on their feet. If it weren't for these institutions, recovery would take much longer--time that hard-working Kentuckians can't waste. Thanks to Ballard's community-oriented leadership, the Commonwealth's banks have stepped up to the plate time and again to take care of their communities during difficult times. And Ballard is vocal and proud of the work they have done.

While his advocacy work at KBA has been top notch, Ballard is also a great person and a fixture throughout the Commonwealth. His involvement includes service on the board of trustees for the Wisconsin Graduate School of Banking and the Louisiana State University Banking School of the South, where he focuses his efforts in education.

I have enjoyed visiting with him over the years in Washington, DC, and also back home in Kentucky. We share a firm belief in the power of free enterprise, and Ballard knows that communities flourish when capital has less restrictions. I am so glad KBA has had Ballard on their side for the last four decades. There is no doubt they are better off thanks to his tireless efforts and his resounding support for the services they provide to Kentuckians.

Ballard, while the KBA will be in good hands upon your departure, know that your service and devotion to the community leaves a lasting legacy. I know that your wife Marcia, children Molly, Cash, and Jacob, and all of your grandchildren are so proud of you. Thank you for your dedication to businesses throughout the Commonwealth,

and I wish you well in this next chapter of your life.

Madam President, I rise today to pay tribute to a true leader of business in central Kentucky, president and CEO of Commerce Lexington, Bob Quick. Bob marked 25 years of service to the organization earlier this year and retired at the end of July. Bob deserves significant recognition for the positive change he has implemented in the Lexington business community, so I ask my colleagues to please join me in honoring and celebrating his more than 25 years of dedicated service.

Before coming to Lexington in 2001, Bob had previously served as executive vice president of the Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce and also president of the Evansville, Indiana Chamber of Commerce. Already a seasoned chamber veteran, he was impressed by what Lexington offered him and his family, and he knew he could find a way to make a difference as well.

Bob immediately got to work. Under his leadership, he oversaw the 2004 merger of Lexington's economic and workforce development organizations, streamlining the process for promoting business development in the region. Commerce Lexington, Inc., was the chamber's new name, and its founding ushered in a new age for the city and its future success in economic development and growth. Since then, Bob has successfully led nearly 2,000 members of the Lexington chamber in its efforts to shape business policy. His accomplishments have not gone unnoticed.

Commerce Lex has received numerous awards during Bob's leadership. These include being named the Chamber of the Year and Economic Development Organization of the Year. Bob's work has also led to the Greater Lexington Region being named a top place for business and industry. His leadership in promoting greater regional collaboration through trust and relationship building is one of his lasting legacies. His involvement in those efforts led to the creation of the regional public policy group, improvements in regional infrastructure in central Kentucky, elevated regional marketing efforts and events like the Greater Lexington Washington, DC, Fly-In and the Regional Summit--all integral to advancing the region's economic success over the years.

Bob is a driven professional, and his impact continues to put Lexington in a better position, but it is clear that where Bob distinguishes himself most is through his character. He is a positive force in the lives of so many and all those around him benefit from his presence and steady leadership. Often quick to credit others, Bob's peers praise him for leading with grace and dignity. They have seen how well he connects with people and always seeks to collaborate with local leaders on important projects.

I have had the pleasure of visiting with Bob during numerous occasions back home in the Commonwealth and in Washington, DC. It is evident that he cares deeply for the Lexington community and has dedicated a lot of effort to making sure the city punches above its weight, which supports the Commonwealth as a whole. There is no doubt Bob has succeeded in this goal, and the greater Lexington community continues to grow thanks to his work.

In addition to his role at Commerce Lexington, Bob has served central Kentucky as a board member for several other organizations, including the Lexington Industrial Foundation, Bluegrass Sports Commission, and Downtown Lexington Partnership Board. He has also helped represent Lexington's interests on a wider scale through regional organizations focused on sustainability, business competition, and policy groups. There are few areas where Bob is not actively involved in making positive change.

I know Bob's wife Julie and his entire family are so proud of him for his hard work and dedicated service, and I am glad they are a staple of the Lexington community.

There are two types of leaders: those who seek to make a point and those who actively make a difference. I am certain Bob is a difference- maker. Lexington is better off thanks to Bob Quick and his hard work in the community. Once again, I would ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating him on a successful career and thanking him for his 25 years of service to Commerce Lexington.