FRANKFORT, Ky. – Commerce Secretary Marcheta Sparrow announced today several appointments to leadership positions within the cabinet. They include:

Laurie Googe has been named the director of personnel in the Department of Parks. Googe was the assistant director and had recently been serving as acting director. She is a career state employee, with over 12 years experience in human resources management.  She began her career with the Department of Parks in 1989 as an accountant and later worked as a payroll officer with the Department of Corrections. She  most recently returned to parks in 2006 as an assistant director.

Kevin Nuss is the new executive director of the Kentucky Sports Authority. Nuss most recently was a marketing consulting leader for Humana Inc. in Louisville and prior to that held several positions at Churchill Downs, including vice president for marketing and promotions. Nuss also worked as the director of marketing and advertising for the Department of Travel Development and was executive director of the Kentucky Show.

Tim Pollard has been named the financial officer for the Commerce Cabinet.

Pollard and has over 17 years of experience in state government with the Transportation Cabinet.  This experience includes eight years in management positions with service in internal auditing, accounting, budgeting and purchasing. 

Carey Tichenor is the new director of the Division of Recreation and Interpretation in the Department of Parks. Tichenor began with parks in 1980 as a seasonal recreation employee at Rough River and Greenbo Lake State Resort Parks and later served as the naturalist at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park in 1985. In 1987, Tichenor was promoted to State Naturalist.

Larry Totten has been appointed a deputy commissioner in the Department of Parks. Totten is a 32-year veteran of the Kentucky Department of Parks, most recently serving as park manager at Lake Cumberland State Resort Park at Jamestown. He has served in various capacities at Fort Boonesborough State Park, the Kentucky Horse Park, Jenny Wiley, Kentucky Dam Village, and Rough River Dam State Resort Parks. 

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