Tammie Wilson will serve as the interim President/Chief Executive Officer of Eastern Kentucky PRIDE, Inc., the nonprofit organization dedicated to environmental cleanup and education in 42 counties of southern and eastern Kentucky.

The Board of Directors of Eastern Kentucky PRIDE, Inc., has named Tammie Wilson as its interim President/Chief Executive Officer until May, when the board will meet to make her selection permanent.

Wilson, who is currently the PRIDE Vice President/Chief Operating Officer, replaces Karen Kelly at the helm of PRIDE. Kelly is leaving PRIDE to become District Administrator for Congressman Harold Rogers (KY-5). Kelly had been directing both PRIDE and the anti-drug initiative Operation UNITE since 2008.

“It was my privilege to help establish PRIDE when I was a Field Representative for Congressman Rogers in 1997, when he and General James Bickford joined forces to provide the resources that citizens and local leaders needed to restore their region’s natural beauty,” Kelly said. “From those early days through my years as PRIDE director, I watched in awe as tens of thousands of volunteers turned out every year to transform their environment.”

“It is with great confidence that I pass the torch of leadership to Tammie Wilson,” Kelly said. “With her education and experience, she is well qualified to steward PRIDE into a new era of success. She has managed day-to-day operations at PRIDE for several years now, so I expect there will be a seamless transition as I move on.”

“Karen has helped build PRIDE into the well-respected, effective organization it is today, and she will be missed,” Wilson said.

“I appreciate the Board of Directors for entrusting me to lead PRIDE forward,” Wilson said. “We have an excellent staff and thousands of dedicated supporters across our 42 counties, including elected officials, business leaders, teachers, students and volunteers. I look forward to building new partnerships as we find ways to make our region look its best.”

Wilson has been the second in command at PRIDE since 2005. Prior to that, she administered grants for PRIDE and other nonprofit organizations in her position at The Center for Rural Development, where she began working in 2001.

Wilson earned her Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Management from Midway College in 2007. She also has an Associate’s degree in Business Administration from Somerset Community College. Through Management Concepts, she has completed Grants Management Certifications for grant recipients and for entities that pass-through grant funds to other recipients. Wilson is a 2006 graduate of Leadership East Kentucky and a 2008 Graduate of Leadership Kentucky.

Wilson is a native of McCreary County and graduate of McCreary Central High School. She and her son, Codi Duncan, have resided in Pulaski County for 12 years.

Eastern Kentucky PRIDE is a grassroots initiative that promotes “Personal Responsibility In a Desirable Environment” in 42 counties of southern and eastern Kentucky. Citizens, local officials, schools, businesses and other groups cooperate to achieve the PRIDE goals of cleaning waterways, reducing trash problems and promoting environmental education. Volunteers are the heart, hands and feet of PRIDE in their community. Since inception in 1997, more than 387,000 people have volunteered with PRIDE.

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