“Compromise is the oxygen of democracy.” -Tom Daschle
HONORARY CO-CHAIRS
Tom Daschle
Former U.S. Senator South Dakota and Senate Majority Leader
Trent Lott
Former U.S. Senator Mississippi and Senate Majority Leader
CO-CHAIRS
Robert N. Clay
Founder of Three Chimneys Farm
Bill Giles
CEO, Yonder Interactivists
BOARD MEMBERS
David Adkins
Executive Director, CEO, The Council of State Governments
Bob Babbage
Managing Partner, Babbage Cofounder
Alex Boone
Sterling Ventures
Bill Chapman
President at Clay Ingels Company, LLC
Rob Givens
State Director Office of U.S. Senator Rand Paul
Jim Gray
Chairman and CEO of Gray Construction<br /> Former Mayor of Lexington, KY<br /> Secretary of Transportation
Merl Hackbart
Professor of Finance and Public Administration<br /> UKY Martin School of Public Policy
Tom Harris
Vice President of University Relations<br /> University of Kentucky
Douglas Kiker
Partner, Indelable LLC
David Kloiber
President of the Kloiber Foundation
Sannie Overly
Former Kentucky State Representative, 72nd District<br /> Attorney at Overly & Johnson
Terzah Tippin Poe
Lecturer at Harvard University<br /> Principal Consultant ICS|TRIO Global Solutions
Ian McDowell Ralby
Founder and CEO, I.R. Consilium<br /> Maritime Law and Security, Washington, D.C.
H. McGuire “Mac” Riley
President of BAHR Associates, Inc.<br /> CEO, United Building Services, Inc.<br /> Board of Directors and Past President,<br /> Kentucky Society of Washington
Matthew “Matt” Shank
President Emeritus, Marymount University
David Tandy
Of Counsel at Dentons Bingham Greenebaum LLP<br /> Served as the 7th and 10th President of the Louisville Metro Council
Derek Vaughan
G.F. Vaughan Tobacco Co.<br /> Chairman, CTA Continental, Brazil
HENRY CLAY CENTER STAFF
Dr. Merl Hackbart is Emeritus Professor of Finance and Public Policy at the University of Kentucky. At UK, he was honored as Provosts Distinguished Service Professor of Finance and Public Administration. He also served in several administrative capacities at UK including Special Assistant to the Chancellor, Associate Dean and Interim Dean of the Gatton College of Business and Economics and as Director of the Martin School of Public Policy & Administration.
In addition to his administrative positions at the University of Kentucky, Merl has served on the Kentucky Council for Postsecondary Education and he served twice as Kentucky’s State Budget Director. His numerous publications have focused on public budgeting and financial management, municipal securities, and public debt management among other policy issues.
He has been recognized as a Kentucky Distinguished Economist and has been inducted into the National Academy of Public Administration and the Kentucky Public Service Hall of Fame among other recognitions. He has also been honored as a Distinguished Alumnus of South Dakota State University where he received his undergraduate degree. Dr. Hackbart has also been a member of the Clay Center’s Board of Directors.
Abby Didawick, a 2020 graduate from the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Arts Administration and a minor in Digital Media and Design, has been appointed as the Director of Operations and Programs at the Henry Clay Center. Hailing from Arlington, Virginia, Abby has been an integral part of the Henry Clay Center since her graduation from UK, starting as a Staff Assistant and progressing to the role of Program Manager before assuming her current position in 2024.
With a background in nonprofit management and operations, event planning, marketing, and fundraising, Abby brings a depth of experience to her role. Prior to joining the Henry Clay Center, she served as a Congressional intern on Capitol Hill and held an events internship at the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts.
In her capacity as Director of Operations and Programs, Abby holds a pivotal role in the planning, development, implementation, and execution of all current and forthcoming initiatives and programs at the Henry Clay Center, including the annual Student Congresses.