Brenda McDaniel is Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation. From 1978 to present, she has held many positions at Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation, serving in her current capacity since 1989. She is responsible for the financial, accounting, compliance and legal functions of KHIC and its subsidiaries and affiliate companies. She serves as liaison with outside attorneys, accountants, financial institutions, tax professionals and other consultants as well as state and federal government officials. Ms. McDaniel is involved in developing strategy for Kentucky Highlands and compliance with agreements. She is involved in setting policy and establishing and achieving the goals of Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation. Brenda serves as treasurer for Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation and its related companies. Brenda is Treasurer and Investment Committee Member of The Southern Appalachian Fund, a New Markets Venture Capital Company, and Meritus Ventures, a Rural Business Investment Company.
Ms. McDaniel serves as a member of the Rural Local Initiative Support Corporation Advisory Committee and the Stand Up for Rural America Advisory Committee. Under Ms. McDaniel’s financial leadership, Kentucky Highlands has become one of the largest rural community development corporations in the United States. Kentucky Highlands was awarded designation as Lead Entity of a Rural Empowerment Zone–one of only three in the United States. Additional designations include one of the first Community Development Financial Institutions, a tax credit community development corporation, a New Markets Tax Credit Allocatee, a nonbank lender under the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Business and Industry Loan Guaranty Program, an Small Business Administration (SBA) Community Advantage Lender, SBA Micro Lender and participant in the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program.
Brenda has participated in several study groups analyzing the need for investment and economic development in rural areas and she has been involved in the development of new programs which serve the need for capital in rural areas. She provides technical assistance to other development groups and speaks and conducts training sessions at various conferences and meetings. Ms. McDaniel also serves as a member of several regional and national development agencies.
Ms. McDaniel has a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Eastern Kentucky University, an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Accounting from Union College in Barbourville, Kentucky and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting from University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Kentucky.