Louisville attorney Bob Heleringer, who served in the Kentucky House of Representatives from 1980- 2002, has been named the executive director of the Kentucky Equine Education Project.
He replaces Patrick Neely, who left to take a job in Michigan.
"I believe that Bob is the perfect fit for the needs of KEEP," said chairman Corey Johnsen in a Nov. 15 release. "He has a lifelong appreciation of the horse industry and has a sterling record of public service in the Kentucky General Assembly. His unique set of experiences will help us advance the interests of Kentucky's signature industry."
Heleringer is the author of Equine Regulatory Law, teaches equine regulatory law at the Louis D. Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville, and is a former racing official at Thoroughbred racetracks in Kentucky and other states. Heleringer currently writes a regular op-ed column in the Louisville Courier-Journal newspaper.
"I'm looking forward to working for KEEP, a true grassroots organization that represents every facet of Kentucky's horse industry," Heleringer said.
KEEP was formed to "educate, inform and increase awareness of the benefits of Kentucky's horse economy to all citizens of the Commonwealth with a goal of promoting and preserving jobs as well as creating more economic opportunities within the equine industry in Kentucky."