For the first time, Leadership Lexington has recognized seven community members for their impact on the state’s second-largest city.
This inaugural event honored individuals from several professions including health care, education, and homelessness assistance. Named as the overall unsung hero was Martin Ashford with the Lexington Fire Department. He said public service is in line with customer service.
“You want to treat people with respect and be welcoming and know that you’re there to help and not to make whatever a situation you are in….worse,” said Ashford.
Ashford said he approaches his job in firefighting very seriously and realizes he may be interacting with people on one of their worse days. The Lexington native has been a part of the fire department for nine years.
The 36-year-old said many other people in the community are making a major impact in Lexington.
“A lot of people are doing the work. I’m just one of the ones that got recognized this time. There’s a lot of people out there doing great things that I know personally and some that I haven’t heard of. They just haven’t gotten the recognition yet,” said Ashford.
The award program, sponsored by Leadership Lexington, was a first-time event. CivicLex will be stewarding the program in the future.
Award Winners:
Dr. Christina Howard, Kentucky Children's Hospital (Community Hero Award) Carla Guthrie, Memory Care Concierge, LLC (Dedicated Hero Award) Michael Price, Fayette County Public Schools (Distinguished Hero Award) Jeff Herron, Lexington Fayette Urban County Government (Emerging Hero Award) Dr. Mark Dougherty, Baptist Health (Lifeline Hero Award) Paul Garces, Lexington Public Library (Administrative Hero Award) Martin Ashford, Lexington Fire Department (Lexington's Unsung Hero Award)
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