Nationwide search will begin in January for a new President & CEO; Girdler says it’s time for ‘new energy, new ideas’
SOMERSET, KENTUCKY (August 13, 2025) – Since its inception, Chris Girdler has been at the helm of the Somerset-Pulaski Economic Development Authority as its President & CEO, executing the organization’s mission and vision to be a leader in community growth. Now, he says it is time to pass the torch.
Hired in February 2019 to lead this new city-county partnership, Girdler shared his decision to step down with SPEDA’s board of directors on Aug. 7 — exactly six years and one day after he first unveiled the organization’s mission, brand and website to a packed crowd attending the monthly Chamber luncheon at The Center for Rural Development.
“I look back on that defining moment for our organization and community with a tremendous amount of pride,” Girdler said. “The excitement and energy in Somerset-Pulaski County was palpable. That day, in front of our community’s business leaders, we laid out our vision for this new entity — one in which we would boldly lead the way in Kentucky by redefining economic development, changing the narrative from simply chasing smokestacks to improving our community’s quality of life. We were convinced that if we built a place people wanted to live, we would reap the benefits of attracting visitors and business. I am proud to say that our approach is now viewed as a model across the region and state. It has been an incredible honor and experience to be a part of that movement.”
Launched with the symbolic contribution of a $1 bill from the City of Somerset and Pulaski County Government, SPEDA was born from a shared vision to reignite a stagnant local economy. In the years since, that vision has become reality: more than $500 million in new and existing business development, over 1,000 new jobs, and record-setting tourism spending in Somerset-Pulaski County — all the result of a movement that has reshaped the community’s economic landscape.
After Somerset Mayor Alan Keck was elected in November 2018, he recalls being asked by members of the former development foundation about creating SPEDA, which had been a topic of discussion for some time.
“I said, ‘Start it yesterday,’” Keck recalled, “and that set about a series of events that have revolutionized this community. We had big dreams and we set big expectations. We knew Chris was born for this role, and we were grateful he would consider it. The last six-and-a-half years have been transformative for Somerset and Pulaski County. SPEDA has been at the forefront of that effort every step of the way. I am thankful for Chris’s hard work and dedication to the organization and the community, and I wish him the very best in his next endeavor.”
Though the organization has achieved great success in its first six years, in a letter to the board of directors, Girdler said he believes positions of this nature have a “shelf life,” and “it is in the community’s and our people’s best interest to have new energy, new ideas and new people to carry the torch.”
“I view this not as a resignation, but a transition,” Girdler wrote.
While he does not know where the next chapter of his career will take him, Girdler said he felt it was important to the organization’s stability and longevity to give SPEDA’s board a long runway for finding the right person for the position.
Selecting the next President & CEO will be nearly a year-long process. The first five months, from now until January, will include discovery to adequately prepare the job description, advertisements, and the overall transition process.
From that point, the transition timeline is as follows:
January 2026 — Nationwide search and job advertisements begin. A panel of SPEDA board members is selected to assist in the recruitment process and narrow the candidate field.
Spring 2026 — The panel will interview the first pool of candidates, narrowing it down to a specified number before presenting a smaller candidate pool to the board of directors. The full board will interview finalists.
Summer 2026 — Announcement of SPEDA’s new President & CEO. A transition process will begin, with its length determined by the new leader’s familiarity with the community and region, as well as his or her experience in economic development.
SPEDA Board Chair Seth Atwell, who is an inaugural board member, said Girdler’s legacy is in the reputation for excellence he has helped build for this young organization. The board will look for capable candidates who are eager to continue that legacy, he said.
“Chris’s leadership has been nothing short of dynamic,” Atwell said. “From day one, he has been passionate about executing a bold vision for what economic development should look like — one rooted in collaboration, unity, and transparency. The results speak for themselves. On behalf of the board, I want to thank Chris for his tireless dedication and for building an organization that will continue to thrive well into the future.”
Though the city’s representation has remained constant through the years, SPEDA welcomed a new county representative when Judge-Executive Marshall Todd took office in 2023. Todd said he wasn’t sure what to expect from the organization in the beginning.
“As soon as I got here, Chris Girdler was crucial in helping me navigate this city and county initiative,” Todd said. “I appreciate Chris’s dedication to this community, and though it will be difficult to replace his enthusiasm and vision for economic development, I look forward to working with the SPEDA board in finding an enthusiastic and effective cheerleader to follow in the outgoing president’s footsteps, leading Pulaski County into the next phase of its story.”
In reflecting on his decision, Girdler said stepping away was not an easy choice, but one made with the best interest of the organization and community in mind.
“SPEDA is more than a job to me. It’s my life,” Girdler said. “But the true definition of leadership is knowing when it is time for new energy to carry the torch. We have reached that time. I am extremely proud of the success our community has had since the founding of SPEDA, and I will always be grateful for the opportunity to have led the charge.”