Foundation Board

2025 Board Members

Lauralee Samples, Board Chair: Board Member since 2017 is an Elementary Teacher and Stone’s Throw Farm consultant.  She has been a Parks enthusiast since planting the Sycamore tree in the Jim Fegenbush Arboretum (Clear Creek Park), circa 1990.

Kylee Palmer, Vice Chair and Board Member since 2021 is a Program Manager with the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development.  She and her husband, Eric, are active members of our Parks community through camps and athletic programs for their daughters.

Belinda Nicholas, Board Treasurer and member since 2025, Senior VP of Business Development at Traditional Bank.  Belinda Nichols is a longtime Shelby County resident and career banker who is deeply involved in community service. She is active on several other local boards and was honored as a Distinguished Citizen by the Boy Scouts in 2022. Belinda and her husband, Les, have been married for over 35 years. They enjoy spending time with their daughter Lynsey, son-in-law Josh, and new grandson, Baker Wayne.

Jeanne Burnett, Board Secretary and board member since 2021, is an Administrator for Associates in Pediatric Therapy and has called Shelby County home since 2005. Her park enthusiasm started as a young child with sports involvement. Now a busy mom of 4, her love for the outdoors and recreational activities has grown deeper.  

Jake Meeks, Board Member since 2021 is retired but not retiring.   He spends countless volunteer hours at Shelby Trails Horse Park.   

Mark Stivers, Board Member since 2019 and previous Board Chair is a Financial Planner with Money Concepts Capital Corp. and Benefit Planning, Inc.    Mark enjoys hunting and mowing on his rural Shelby County farm.

Josh Berkley, Board Member since 2024, is a partner at the law offices of Berkley Oliver, PLLC and active member of the Shelby County Community. You can find Josh and his family enjoying the parks from swim lessons, tball field and all the walking trails. Growing up on a family farm in Western Kentucky began his love and passion for all things in nature. 

Rob Rothenburger, Board Member since 2024 is a long time active member of the Shelby County community. Paramedic, Firefighter, Fire Captain, County Judge Executive, State Representative and currently Fire Chief, is passionate about enhancing and promoting recreational opportunities in the Shelbyville/Shelby County community.

Kate Hinkle, Board Member since 2024, has lived on her family farm in Shelby County for the past 35 years, moving here from California with her husband Sam and 4 children. Kate is an avid walker and uses the Parks trails almost daily. Kate knows the value of the parks being the heart of Shelbyville and critical part of what makes this wonderful place to live and raise a family.

Jerry Scrogham, Born a military brat in Nuremberg, Germany and has been a Shelby County resident for nearly fifty years.  A member of the Shelby County Class of 1990 and followed that with a very nontraditional path to become a 2003 University of Louisville graduate.   He was the leader of the Clear Creek Trailblazer volunteer group for many years which led to the creation of several park events still held today such as “Bunny Day” and “Trick or Treat Trail”.  Nowadays, you will often see him running around the Parks and Greenway Trails or providing Adult Learn to Swim lessons alongside his Clear Creek Masters teammates.  He is a passionate outdoors lover that believes the availability and free access to green space plays a vital role in maintaining a healthy community.

Clay Cottongim, Retired Parks Director, presently serves as volunteer Parks Consultant/Foundation Executive Director.  Clay provides oversight, guidance and Grant Writing for Greenway Trail and all other Park projects. He was inducted into the Kentucky Recreation & Parks Society Hall of Fame in 2012.

Dee Maynard, Volunteer and Board Member 2015 – 2023, Retired, known as “The Tennis Lady” around the Park. Dee has helped the Foundation secure funding for just about everything you see at the park: tennis, pickleball and basketball courts, swimming pool, playgrounds, Shelby Trail and now the equestrian Trails. Dee’s passion for all things park and her community is contagious.