Adam H. Edelen was sworn in as Kentucky’s 46th Auditor of Public Accounts on Jan. 2, 2012. After successful careers as a high-ranking public official and business executive, Adam takes on one of the most important jobs in the Commonwealth – taxpayer watchdog. Born to a farm family in rural Kentucky, he learned the values of integrity, hard work and common sense – and he has never forgotten them. Adam also is part of a new generation of leaders who are more focused on outcomes and honest and effective government than partisan politics.
Adam has a wife, Melissa, and has two young twin sons. In addition to being a proud father, he is also an avid sportsman who loves Kentucky’s one-of-a-kind natural beauty.
A LEADER IN GOVERNMENT
After bringing strong strategic and financial management to the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security, Governor Beshear promoted Adam to serve as his Chief of Staff. In this role he made major contributions to the administration’s acclaimed efforts in the areas of children’s health insurance, education policy and the sound fiscal management of the state in a time of historic economic difficulty.
A LEADER IN BUSINESS
Adam credits his successes in government to the leadership skills he learned in the private sector as an entrepreneur and executive. As a senior executive with both Commerce Lexington and Thomas & King, Inc., Adam became an expert in making businesses and organizations more efficient, profitable and accountable.
A COMMUNITY LEADER
A former Chairman of the Board of Kentucky Educational Television, Adam was the driving force behind KET’s “Be Well Kentucky” initiative—an acclaimed effort to address Kentucky’s public health challenges. He also chaired the board of the Lexington Urban League, as well as the United Way of the Bluegrass’ Annual Giving Campaign. Adam was the executive force behind New Century Lexington’s nationally recognized reports on community livability, which used private sector-inspired metrics to assess Lexington’s quality of life. Additionally, he was a member of the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence, an advocacy organization working to improve education for all Kentuckians.
A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED LEADER
A nationally recognized leader and public servant, Adam was named the “Outstanding Young Kentuckian” by the Kentucky Jr. Chamber of Commerce in 2008 and one of the “Ten Outstanding Young Americans” by the U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce later that year. The latter is arguably the oldest and most prestigious service award in the nation, and previous honorees include presidents Kennedy, Nixon, Ford and Clinton.
Adam was also the recipient of the 2002 Lexington Young Professionals Association’s “Rising Star” award and has represented America abroad as both a “Young Leader” with the American-Swiss Foundation and as a United States Marshall Fund fellow.
