Paul Pratt

Paul L. Pratt is a career business professional, professional engineer and professional land surveyor, who recently retired from the position of Dean of Community and Economic Development at Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College in Cumberland, KY. His responsibilities there included oversight of several departments including the Rural Community College Initiative, Adult Basic Education and Literacy, the Ready-To-Work Program, Continuing Education, the Small Business Development Center, the Kentucky Coal Academy, the Southeast Scholars Program, and an Aquaculture Pilot Project.

Paul holds a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Kentucky. Prior to beginning his employment at Southeast Community College in October of 1995, he had a long association with the coal industry including serving as President of New Horizon Coal, Inc., and General Manager of Benham Coal, Inc., a subsidiary of International Harvester. Paul and his wife Roberta, who recently retired as a Professor at Southeast Community College, reside at Benham, Kentucky, and are active in church, community, business, and civic affairs. Paul also serves as President of Pine Mountain Community Development Corporation, and is responsible for all aspects of the management of the corporation, including, strategic visioning, board relations, marketing, loan approval and monitoring, and establishing relationships with other entities. Under his direction PMCDC has provided loan capital to 126 businesses in Harlan, Bell, and Letcher Counties, creating or enhancing more than 500 jobs. He is a past president and a founding director of the Appalachian Development Alliance, an organization of six development organizations who provide investment capital to all of the Kentucky Appalachian Counties.

Paul has been a member of the Lewis Creek Pentecostal Church at Partridge, KY for more than 34years, where he serves as the Adult Sunday School Teacher, Secretary/Treasurer, and Chairman of the Board of Deacons. He and his wife were active in youth ministries for over 35 years. He also serves on the Board of Directors of GoodNews Outreach in London, KY, and is a member of the Accountability Board for World Missions to Asia.