Published: October 21, 2009 08:35 am      

Children’s home honored for entrepreneurial excellence

By Carl Keith Greene / Staff Writer

The Appalachian Children’s Home (ACH) in Barbourville was honored for its entrepreneurial spirit at a luncheon Tuesday.

The Center for Rural Development named the home among its four winners in its 2009 Excellence in Entrepreneurship Awards.

The award for non-profit groups notes how eight years ago ACH’s executive director, Steve Yeary brought the struggling facility from facing a mountain of debt and a threat of foreclosure to the success story it became.

The home, developed 60 years ago as a home for mountain orphans, has become a place of residential care for youths between 12 and 18 sent there by the court.

Since Yeary took over the reins the home has become financially sound and debt free with an annual income of about $3 million.

It has stood for its six decades on a campus of about 160 acres a couple of miles south of Barbourville.

Stephen Taylor, of Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation, one of the groups sponsoring the award along with the Eastern Kentucky University College of Business, acting as master of ceremonies at Tuesday’s luncheon said, “In the reality of today’s economy, entrepreneurial businesses, both nimble and innovative, are best able to adapt to rapid market changes and be successful.”

He added, “Appalachian Children’s Home is a great example for us to celebrate with today.”

Upon acceptance of the award, Yeary described his view of leadership. He said, use fewer words, less is always better; focus on the process, instead of the accomplishments; get your priorities straight and quit looking for secrets of success.”

Responding to the presentation of the award, the board’s chairman of the board, Dr. Tom Renfro, thanked the groups for honoring Yeary and the home.

“There are people out there in southern Kentucky of excellence. That’s what represents Steve and the Appalachian Children’s Home, is excellence. Excellence in ability and character, excellence in innovation, excellence in leadership and results in excellence accomplishments. That’s what’s occurred here over the last decade.”

Yeary is a Lincoln Memorial University alumnus who earned a bachelor’s degree in social sciences and a minor in history and social work.

He was formerly a U.S. Army Drill Sergeant, hospital director of administration and a state employee in a residential juvenile facility.

Also awarded by the group for their entrepreneurship were Chef on the Run in London as a startup business, Nesbitt Engineering of Lexington and Prestonsburg as a small business with more than 25 employees and Charles Pinson Insurance as a small bueiness with less than 25 employees.