MEET OUR BOARD

Leigh Ann Ballegeer, Chair
Leigh Ann is the Director of Community Health at Mercy Health – Lourdes Hospital and a Paducah native. Her recent board experience includes the United Way of Western Kentucky, Family Service Society, Charity League of Paducah, Easterseals West Kentucky, and Paducah Young Professionals. She’s a graduate of Leadership Paducah. Leigh Ann and her husband Paul have two children.

Matt Cahen, Vice Chair

Matt is an Assistant Vice President and Loan Officer at Independence Bank and manages the location in Lone Oak. Matt has lived in Paducah for 15 years and graduated from Murray State. Matt first became acquainted with the Foundation at a 2020 fundraiser and joined the board in 2022. Matt has volunteered for many charitable originations and recently served on the board for the McCracken County Humane Society. 

Tyler Kennady, Treasurer
Tyler is the CFO of Stor-Mor Portable Buildings and was born in Paducah.  Tyler lives here with his wife, Kelsey, and their daughter, Hattie.  Tyler joined the Foundation in 2019 after becoming familiar with the mission through a former board member. 

David Riley, Secretary
David is an attorney at Bradley, Freed & Grumley, P.S.C., where he primarily practices in the area of civil defense litigation. He’s a native of western Kentucky and became involved in the Foundation in 2019 after getting to know several officers participating in Leadership Paducah.

Jason Agee, Director

Jason, Vice President and Assistant Risk Officer in Paducah Bank’s Risk Management Department, has been employed in the financial services sector for the past 18 years. Over his tenure at Paducah Bank, he’s held positions in Retail Operations, Deposit Services, and Risk Management. He is a graduate of Leadership Paducah Class #36 and has also earned the bank’s Dedicated Financial Counselor designation after completing extensive in-house coursework. Agee earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Western Kentucky University with a concentration in Financial Planning. He regularly volunteers with numerous local charitable organizations, including Cassidy’s Cause Therapeutic Riding Academy and the United Way of Paducah-McCracken County. He lives in Lone Oak with his wife, Amanda and stepson, Connor.  

Penrod Cappock, Director
Penrod is a Paducah native and manages several properties in our community.  He is an active member of several boards and joined the Police Foundation in 2019 after helping with several former fundraisers.  

Josh Esper, Director

Josh is an Executive Vice President at Marquette Transportation.  He has lived in Paducah for 21 years and joined the Foundation in 2020 to help support the Department’s mission of providing innovative training and tools that keep our officers and community safe. Josh is also an Executive Board Member for Living Lands and Waters, a nonprofit organization that hosts river clean ups, watershed conservation initiatives, workshops, tree plantings and other key conservation efforts.  Josh and his wife, Amanda, have three children.  

Patrice Hoffman, Director

Patrice is the Editor of Posh Magazine and a Senior Marking Consultant with Paxton Media Group. She has also worked with the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce as a consultant for events, and The Carson Center as their first sales person in the Booking and Rental department, facilitating events such as the Wine Tasting and Auction and the Vintner’s Dinner.  She currently volunteers on the Chamber Golf Tournament and is the founder of the “Wine & Nine for Type 1 Diabetes” golf tournament in honor of her daughter, Sophia.  Patrice was introduced to the Police Foundation by a friend. She was so impressed with the work being done that when asked to join the board, she considered it a true honor.  In her free time, Patrice likes to travel, play golf, and spend time on the lake.

Phillip Hudson, Director

Phillip graduated from Murray State with a BS in Non-Profit Leadership. He works at Paducah Bank and is currently pursuing his Master of Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance at Murray State as well. He serves as the Chapter President of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Sigma Xi Lambda Chapter, which prides itself on being of service to Paducah/McCracken County and surrounding communities. He also serves in the music department at Harrison Street Missionary Baptist Church. 

Tony Milliano, Director
Tony is a Doctor of Audiology and owner of Audiology & Hearing Center with offices in Paducah and Murray. He has been practicing in Western Kentucky in 1991. He has held numerous volunteer and other service organization positions including Red Cross of Graves County, Charles L. Shedd Academy and St. Mary School System where he served as Chair for four years. He was drawn to the Police Foundation of Paducah-McCracken County due to the divide between the citizens and law enforcement in Ferguson, MO very close to where he grew up in St. Louis. Dr. Milliano and his wife, Lucy have three children. Tony joined the Police Foundation Board in 2018.

Amina Watkins, Director

Amina is a dedicated professional with a strong background in organizational development and management. With experience in various roles, including Group Travel Sales Manager and Assistant General Manager, she has demonstrated her ability to deliver exceptional results and maintain high standards of integrity and service. What truly sets Amina apart is her commitment to community work. She actively volunteers and engages in various community organizations, such as the NAACP, United Way of Western Kentucky, and the Paducah Diversity Advocacy Board, where she is a founding member. Amina's involvement in the community includes mentoring, facilitating diversity workshops, and a community liaison to the city. In addition to her professional accomplishments, Amina is a graduate of Reidland High School in Paducah. She also attended Murray State University, where she studied CRJ (Criminal Justice) and Vocal Music. Amina's passion for making a positive impact in her community, combined with her strong organizational skills, make her a valuable asset in implementing programs within community-based organizations.

Warner Wheat, Director

Warner is a partner with the law firm of McMurry & Livingston where he represents clients in the areas of family law and general civil litigation matters. Warner graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2004. After Vanderbilt he attended the Louis D. Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville where he graduated cum laude in 2008. Warner moved to Paducah in 2016. Warner and his wife, Caroline, have three children.