Rotary clubs started off the meeting with prayer and followed by the guest speaker, Chuck Sexton, President/CEO of the Department Economic Development.
Chuck Sexton is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute. In January of 2017, Sexton was named a Top 40 Under 40 Economic Development Professional by DCI at the International Economic Development Council Leadership Summit.
As President/CEO of One East Kentucky he is charged with championing the OEK region for business recruitment purposes and working closely with partners throughout the nine-county service territory. Prior to taking this leadership role, he spent 5 years as Director of Economic Development in Paducah, KY.
As part of Team Paducah, Chuck worked in recruitment, marketing, existing industry, and entrepreneurship development. The organization successfully recruited 1200 new jobs and over $90 Million in new investment during his time there. Chuck is extremely active in the Economic Development industry as well. Chuck spoke on 2020 and adjustments he has had to make. With typically having meetings as far as Europe and travel being restricted due to Covid he stated he has $80,000 in new technology to accommodate virtual meetings. He also spoke he is able to provide a 360-degree virtual tour of Eastern, Ky.
He can send 3D goggles to a CEO he is going to meet with and it looks essentially like they are in a board room just like if they were in person. Chuck stated as far as he knew that he was the first to use technology to produce virtual tours.
