Office of the Secretary

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Mike Hancock, a native of Princeton, enjoyed a 40-year career at the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, where his responsibilities included the preparation of the cabinet’s biennial road plan from 1990 to 2016. His background is in rural and urban transportation planning and transportation program management, and he held multiple executive and leadership roles during his previous tenure with the Transportation Cabinet. Hancock graduated from the University of Kentucky with a degree in civil engineering.

Jamie grew up in London and Richmond, Kentucky. He joins the Secretary’s team and has spent the past ten years in leadership roles, including six years as Chief of Staff for former Mayor Gray, a management role in Gray Construction, and as Secretary Gray’s campaign manager.

During his time at City Hall, he drove an aggressive plan to tackle problems and get things done. The team secured local, state, and federal support and delivered dozens of successful initiatives and projects – including structural financial and management reforms, value-added initiatives and bricks and mortar projects like the multi-modal Town Branch Commons project, the Lexington Center and Rupp Arena redevelopment, the Historic Courthouse renovation and the 21c Hotel and Museum.

Emmons is a graduate of the University of Kentucky with a degree in Agricultural Economics, a Business minor, and a specialization in Public Policy and Leadership.

Sarah, a Frankfort attorney, is a graduate of the University of Kentucky College of Law. She also received a B.A. in English at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. In 1982, she was appointed an assistant attorney general, providing legal counsel to various boards and agencies and to the Governor on criminal extradition matters. She represented the Commonwealth in criminal and civil litigation before state and federal trial and appellate courts. Jackson had a post at the private law firm of McBrayer, McGinnis, Leslie, and Kirkland in the Frankfort office from 1986-1994. She has held high-level positions in state government, including director of the Division of Charitable Gaming in the Kentucky Justice Cabinet, general counsel for Kentucky’s Cabinet for Workforce Development, and executive director of the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance. While at the Registry, Jackson was elected President of the Council on Governmental Ethics Laws. After 15 years of service with the Registry, she received the COGEL Outstanding Service Award and was selected by the University of Kentucky Martin School of Public Policy & Administration and the United States Department of State to participate in a three-week exchange program in Indonesia in 2013.  Jackson is a member of the Kentucky Bar Association and has been admitted to practice before all federal and state trial and appellate courts in Kentucky. She’s also a proud graduate of Leadership Kentucky.

Kenny grew up in Richmond but has lived in Lexington for the past 20 years. Before his career in government, he was a professional singer/songwriter and record producer. He is also a successful event producer. His government career started in 2003 as the Executive Director of the Kentucky Governor's Mansion, followed by eight years at the Legislative Research Commission. He spent four years in the Lexington Mayor's office as Deputy Communications Director, Council Liaison, and LGBTQ Community Liaison before serving as Legislative Aide to Lexington Councilmember Susan Lamb. He studied Biblical Studies & Christian Theology, Old/New Testament Studies, and Pastoral Care at Lee College and Seminary in Cleveland, TN. He's the proud father of two and grandfather of four. He and his husband, Mason, live in a historic neighborhood on Lexington's west side.