Who We Are

Judith G. Clabes, Editor and Publisher

Judy grew up in Henderson, graduated from the University of Kentucky with majors in English, journalism and education, got her MPA from Indiana State University, and has four honorary doctorates, the latest from the University of Kentucky in 2010. She had a distinguished career in journalism and philanthropy. During 37 years with the E.W. Scripps Company she served as Scripps’ first woman editor, beginning with the Sunday Courier & Press in Evansville and then with The Kentucky Post. She was named president and CEO of Scripps Howard Foundation in 1996. On retirement from Scripps, she and her family moved to the Bluegrass region where they have a family horse-farming operation and she founded the Kentucky Philanthropy Initiative and her own consulting business. She has won numerous national, regional and state awards in journalism, philanthropy and community service. She is a member of the Kentucky Journalism Hall of Fame, the UK Hall of Distinguished Alumni, and the Kentucky Civil Rights Hall of Fame.

Gene Clabes, Executive Editor

Lending his expertise in community journalism as a senior advisor to KyForward’s reporting, editing and marketing staff is Gene Clabes, a UK School of Journalism graduate, award-winning reporter, and former owner/publisher of a group of award-winning community weeklies in Northern Kentucky. Gene’s other consuming interest is horses. A thoroughbred owner, trainer and breeder, he was equine director for the Kentucky Equine Education Project for five years. He has also been a college-level teacher of journalism and served as president of the Kentucky Press Association. A native of Henderson, he started in journalism in high school as a sports reporter for The Gleaner, was managing editor of The Kernel as a student at UK, was an award-winning education reporter for The Evansville Courier and government reporter for The Evansville Press. He was inducted into the Kentucky Journalism Hall of Fame in 2004 and was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award by the University of Kentucky College of Communications in 2005.

Jacob A. Clabes, Sr. V.P, Business Development
Jacob was born in Western Kentucky, grew up in Northern Kentucky and now makes his home on a horse farm in Bourbon County with his wife, Tera, and three children. He attended the University of Kentucky in journalism, had internships at several major newspapers, including the Commercial Appeal in Memphis, started his own sign and engraving business and raises and trains Thoroughbred racehorses. For KyForward, he manages the advertising department and the company’s marketing efforts, developing cutting-edge social media and digital marketing and developing strategic partnerships for the enterprise.

Carolyn C. Richardson, V.P, Advertising
Carolyn is a graduate of the University of Kentucky with a BA in Radio, Television and Films. She has owned her own public relations consulting firm, been director of communications for the Kentucky League of Cities, served as consultant and interim executive director for the Commonwealth Fund of KET, as consultant to the Shakertown Roundtable and as executive director of the Kentucky Center for Public Issues. Her extensive civic activities include: Chair of the Planning and Zoning Commission of LFUCG, chair of the host committee for Spotlight Lexington, serving on the committee for the Governor’s Alltech World Equestrian Games and on the executive committee of the Kentucky Film Commission, as director for the Center for Women, Children and Families, the Women’s Center for Central Kentucky, and the community advisory board for the Junior League of Lexington. She is a member of the Greater Lexington Chamber of Commerce. In 1999 she received the YWCA’s Woman of Achievement Award. In the late ‘60s Richardson was one of the group of original owners of WKDZ AM FM in Cadiz, which has since been sold. And in the early ‘70s she was chair of the Trigg County Board of Education, the first and only woman in the state at that time to hold such a position. She has an abiding interest in education, having been chair of the community relations clinic for the National School Boards Association, as a member of the Commission on Elementary Education for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the Kentucky State Commission on the Gifted and Talented and on the board of Hopkinsville Community College as well as numerous state commissions.

Joseph A. Clabes, V.P. External Affairs

Joe was born in Western Kentucky, spent his formative years in Northern Kentucky and now lives in Lexington with his wife Chris and two children. He graduated from American University with a BA in Liberal Studies while serving as press secretary and senior legislative assistant for Congressman Ken Lucas, D-Ky. He assisted Rep. Lucas with his work on the House Financial Services Committee, served as lead staff person for the Blue Dog Campaign Finance Reform Task Force and was the lead Democratic staff person during the 108th Congress for the Congressional Horse Caucus. He was recognized as a member of the inaugural class of the John C. Stennis Senior Congressional Fellows Emerging Leaders Program. Coming back to Kentucky in 2006, he served as director of Industry Relations for the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, then was founder and president of Alliand Equine, and is managing partner of Block Clabes LLC, a consulting firm.

Terri Darr McLean, News Editor

With 30-plus years of writing and editing experience, Terri Darr McLean brings to KyForward a keen ability to recognize and tell a good story. Much of her experience is at newspapers – a weekly, a small daily and, most recently, the Lexington Herald-Leader. She has been a reporter, copy editor, special section writer, free-lance writer and an award-winning, syndicated writer for the national Newspaper in Education program. She also worked at the University of Kentucky’s College of Agriculture, where she wrote stories for the college news service and magazine, and was the student media adviser at Transylvania University for four years, advising students on the student-run newspaper and yearbook. Terri grew up in Henderson and studied journalism at Western Kentucky University.

T.G. Shuck, Editor/Chief Meteorologist
Weather Wizard

T.G. Shuck, Lexington native and graduate of Lafayette High School, has had a life-long fascination with the weather. As KyForward’s “Weather Wizard,” he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience and caring to his 24/7 eyes on our weather. T.G. began his television career at WKYT-TV as a videographer while a student at Georgetown College in 1990. He worked for a time in Charlotte, N.C., then returned to WKYT as a videographer while working toward a meteorology degree. Winner of numerous honors throughout his career. The Associated Press named him best television weather anchor in Kentucky for five consecutive years, from 2006 to 2010. He also won four regional Emmy Awards, including three for his work after the crash of Comair Flight 5191 in 2006. He was chief meteorologist for WKYT-TV for 11 years before leaving in February 2012 to spend more time with his young family. He and his wife, Angie, have three daughters – Sydney, Brooklyn and Raleigh. “His girls” are spending a lot of their time in New York City these days as they pursue careers in the performing arts. His daughter, Brooklyn, is a cast member of Annie the Musical.

Jon Hale, Sports Editor

A Presidential Scholar at the University of Kentucky, Jon earned his graduate degree in communication while serving as a graduate assistant for the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues. An Eastern Kentucky native, he has been an active freelancer for numerous news organizations, including The Montgomery Advertiser, The Cincinnati Enquirer, and The Associated Press. An avid sports fan (and reporter), he interned for the Lexington Legends, was sports feature writer and columnist for The Kentucky Kernel and founded BluGrassBaseball.com, a website devoted to covering baseball in Kentucky, now a part of KyForward.com. At UK, he was also a student assistant for the Kentucky Digital Newspaper Program and for UK Libraries Preservation and Digital programs.

Sarah Berry, Editor
GetMovingKy

As a lifelong resident of Danville, Sarah grew up in an active household and enjoyed playing any sport that she could. She attended Rhodes College in Memphis, TN and graduated from the University of Kentucky in 2003 with a BA in Marketing. She currently lives in Danville with her high-school-sweetheart turned husband and 3-year old-son. In 2011, Sarah fell in love with every aspect of running. Less than a year later she had completed her first Marathon. One marathon and six half marathons later, Sarah has now turned her focus to Triathlons and one day hopes to finish an Ironman. Sarah created Get Moving Kentucky in an effort to connect the running, cycling and fitness communities across the state and to help more people pursue an active lifestyle. She is partnering with KyForward to advance Kentucky’s health and fitness and to organize and promote runs throughout the region.

Lesley Cissell, Associate News Editor

Born in Louisville on Derby Day, Lesley Cissell (formerly Abukhater) grew up at the Courier-Journal and her first job was as newsroom receptionist. She helped her father with his weekly shopper and printing business run from their Louisville home. Her bachelors and first masters in English and Journalism were obtained from the University of Kentucky while on an orchestra scholarship. Her second masters in Management is from the McGregor School of Business at Antioch University in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Lesley and her former husband moved to his native Jerusalem in 1983. There they edited the only Palestinian weekly in English. Lesley created the Jerusalem Visitors Information Bureau, the first public relations agency for the Palestinian community of East Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. In Jerusalem, her two daughters – Jeannine and Nadia – were born. She has has written for numerous publications in the U.S. and abroad, including The Kentucky Post. She taught English as a Second Language at UK and English and Drama at Jackson County High School and created the Academy for the Creative Arts while in Southeast Kentucky. A Lexington resident, she spends her free time playing violin in the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra and teaching English via Skype to students in Haiti’s Tabarre Biblical Institute. She is a member of Faith Fellowship in Lexington. Her daughter, Nadia, was killed in an automobile accident in August, 2006. Jeannine, now a lawyer, is married and living in Cincinnati.

Mike Farrell, Columnist, Adviser
Mike Farrell is KyForward’s First Amendment columnist and senior advisor to the reporting staff. He is an associate professor in the School of Journalism and Telecommunications and director of the Scripps Howard First Amendment Center at the University of Kentucky. He was a journalist for nearly 20 years at The Kentucky Post, serving as city editor and managing editor. He earned his Ph.D from the University of Kentucky. He and his wife Marsha live in Covington and are the parents of two grown sons – and proud grandparents to five young grandchildren. Contact him at columnist@kyforward.com.

Wayne Stacy, Photographer

Wayne Stacy says he’s the “consummate vagabond” which may be what makes him a great photographer. A former military man himself, he is third generation child of a family dedicated to military service. He has traveled the world as a military dependent and in his own service to his country. In total he is one of eight generations of his family to serve his country, all the way back to the Civil War – and including his mother.

 Born in California, he was raised primarily between Kentucky and Texas, and he has traveled all over the United States. He calls Frankfort his home. He lives in the state Capital with his wife (also a military veteran), their six dogs, and two cats. He has two sons, a grandson, and two granddaughters. Both of his sons are following in the family heritage of military service, and are on active duty in the U.S. Military.

Wayne has always been an artisan. He has been a sketch artist, and painter as a youngster. A Master Electrician by trade, he was injured on the job in 2002 and could not use his hand for more than three years. His wife, knowing he had studied photography in school and in the military, purchased his first SLR for his birthday as a therapeutic tool and artistic release. A “monster was unleashed,” as his wife puts it. Little did she know she would be the catalyst for an insatiable passion.

In 2007 he entered his image “Cumberland Falls Bridge” into the Kentucky State Parks photo-essay competition and won. The next year that print was included in a collaborative coffee table book. Wayne is also a twice published poet and writer of short stories. Wayne is an on-call photographer for KyForward, is helping build KyForward’s photo archives, and writes travel pieces – that include great photos. Email him at wayne@kyforward.com and see his web site at photographic-magic.com
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Our regular contributors

Gena Bigler is passionate about public service and credits her time serving nonprofits in AmeriCorps and Volunteers in Service to America (V.I.S.T.A.) with teaching her extreme budgeting and bargain shopping. Gena is now CFO of a Kentucky business and serves on the board of the Kentucky RiverKeeper. Gena would be happy to hear from you at lgbigler@gmail.com.

Tom Block is a public policy consultant who had a 21-year career with JP Morgan Chase where he served as head of government relations in D.C. and created a Washington research product. A native Kentuckian, he also created the bank’s EU Government Relations program and developed a new position as U.S. Government Policy Strategist focusing on how U.S. government policy impacts capital markets. He has an extensive government and banking background, has worked on political campaigns and as a speech writer. He is a trustee of Bernheim Aboretum in Louisville and holds a B.A. degree in political science from American University. He and his wife make their home in Kentucky. Contact him at tomblockct@aol.com.

Peter Brackney has combined a love of Kentucky with an interest in history in www.kaintuckeean.com, where he shares his photos and stories about some of the unique places around the Commonwealth. Born in Ohio, he came to Kentucky at an early age and grew up in Lexington. A double alumnus of the University of Kentucky with a B.S. in accounting and his juris doctorate, he lives in Nicholasville with his wife and son. He practices law in Lexington. He contributes two features to KyForward: WalkLex and No Destination, both explore the region’s rich history and culture. Reach him at peter@kaintuckeean.com.

Lewis Donohew, columnist, retired from the University of Kentucky College of Communications in 1999 after nearly 35 years of service and having earned a national reputation as a communications scholar and researcher. Now down on his farm growing grapes and living close to the earth, he contemplates issues of the day from a lifetime of experience and a love of the land. Reach him at columnist@kyforward.com.

John Foster, Food and Fun columnist, is a New York native, has been active in the Lexington culinary scene for more than 20 years. The French Culinary Institute-trained chef has been an executive chef, including at the popular Dudley’s Restaurant, a restaurant owner, and a college instructor. Currently, he heads the culinary program at Sullivan University’s Lexington campus. He writes a weekly column for KyForward.

Christina Harrison and Judy Howell, H2 Investments, are affiliated with First Kentucky Securities Corporation (member FINRA, SIPC). They have over 25 years of experience assisting individuals in meeting their investment and retirement goals.

Rabbi Marc Klein, Faith and Values columnist, serves the Temple Adath Israel. Ordained in 1995 from Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion, he earned a B.A. from Tulane University, a J.D. from the University of Arkansas, and a Masters from Hebrew Union College. He has taught ethics, philosophy, religion and government in high schools, college and graduate schools and regularly runs a diverse adult education program. He has served as chair of the LFCUG Human Rights Commission and is very active in the greater community.

Seth Kochera is a graduate of Georgetown College, working in the horse industry. He studies bloodlines and racing performance and shares his knowledge with KyForward readers. He’ll be following the road to the Triple Crown and keeping an informed eye on bloodlines. His email is skochera@gmail.com.

Don McNay, columnist, CLU, ChFC, MSFS, CSSC of Richmond Kentucky is an award-winning financial columnist known for his practical, down-to-earth advice. He is the author of the best-selling book, Wealth Without Wall Street: A Main Street Guide to Making Money. He founded McNay Settlement Group, a structured settlement and financial consulting firm, in 1983, and Kentucky Guardianship Administrators LLC in 2000. McNay has master’s degrees from Vanderbilt and the American College and is in the Hall of Distinguished Alumni of Eastern Kentucky University. He is a Quarter Century member of the Million Dollar Round Table and has four professional designations in the financial services.

Keven Moore is director of Risk Management Services for Roeding Insurance (www.roedinginsurance.com). He has a bachelor’s degree from University of Kentucky, a master’s from Eastern Kentucky University and 25-plus years of experience in the safety and insurance profession. He lives in Lexington with his family and works out of both the Lexington and Northern Kentucky offices. Keven can be reached at kmoore@roeding.com.

Kevin Patterson and Tres Watson write the “Full Pint” column for Food and Fun. They are our beer experts! (Somebody has to do it!) Kevin is the resident beer guide and manager at the Beer Trappe on Euclid Avenue. He is an Army veteran and formerly worked in the architecture profession before taking his love of craft beer into the occupation ranks. Patterson also is a nationally ranked Beer Judge Certification Program beer judge and a Cicerone Certified Beer Server (Cicerones are to beer what sommeliers are to wine.) Throughout the course of his career, he has reviewed 2,800 different beers, judged in more than 100 competitions and festivals, and co-written many articles on the beer culture. He has lived in Lexington for 17 years. Tres, a graduate of Centre College, is a senior account representative at Peritus, a public relations firm.  Before moving to Lexington, he created and directed the 2004 Border Beer Bust in Augusta, Ga., which featured nearly 200 beers and drew 5,000 attendees over two days.  Watson is an avid beer drinker and a particular fan of IPAs.  He and his wife Laura live in Lexington, are members of the Lexington Beer Aficionados, and can frequently be found at Pazzo’s or the Beer Trappe.

Mike Rosenberg, Food and Fun columnist, just loves to cook – and he is always in search of the right wine (or at least something fun!).  He is a “Sommelier for the Common Man,” a regular guy with fifteen bucks worth of savoir faire and a nose for tasty food and wine.  Learn about wine at his blog, The Naked Vine, and follow his culinary adventures at The Man Who Cooks – and at Food and Fun at KyForward. Both columns appear weekly. Email Mike at thenakedvine@gmail.com.

Amy Sohner, is executive director of Bluegrass PRIDE and a graduate of the University of Kentucky in Natural Resource Conservation and Management. Sohner has worked with PRIDE since its inception in 2002 and is a Certified Environmental Educator. She is involved with the Kentucky Environmental Literacy Alliance, the Bluegrass Rain Garden Alliance, the Licking and Kentucky River Basin Teams, and serves as Vice-Chair of the Keep Lexington Beautiful Commission. Sohner lives near the Kentucky River palisades with her husband, 5-year-old daughter and a multitude of pets.

Robert Treadway is senior policy analyst at Kentucky First Strategies, LLC, a full-service political consulting, lobbying, and governmental relations firm. In his role as a legal consultant, he also provides legal research and writing services to attorneys and law firms throughout Kentucky. Bob has a life long interest in Kentucky history, which he pursued as a student at Transylvania University, where he graduated with a major in history and minor in political science, and was an award winning editor of Transy’s student newspaper, The Rambler. He is a graduate of Harvard Law School, where his media activities included scriptwriting for Harvard Law Professor Arthur Miller’s TV series, and for Prof. Miller’s role as Legal Editor on ABC TV’s Good Morning, America. He writes, posts, and Tweets about Kentucky history. Look him up on Facebook; his Twitter feed is @rltreadway.

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