Seven local notables will compete in BreakAway Dancing 2018 May 15 at Kye’s. The event benefits The BreakAway, a nonprofit residential facility for women in recovery from addiction.
BreakAway Dancing 2018 pairs each community member with a professional dancing partner. Judges include Angie and Mark Maxwell, Valerie Canon and Kye Hoehn. Dinner will be prepared by Stumlers Catering. Sounds Unlimited Productions will provide the music.
The public is invited to “vote” for the dancers via donations that can be made at www.breakawaydancing.com.
Located at 1514 E. Spring Street in New Albany, The BreakAway currently houses 14 women from Southern Indiana counties. The facility opened its doors to women who need support in their recovery because of the vision of Lisa Long-Livingston, who has struggled with addiction herself. Inspired by her own foundation in recovery, and in memory of her friend Nicole, Lisa moved forward with assistance from many community hands, developed a plan, located a suitable building, and created a program to serve women in Floyd and surrounding counties.
Melissa Scully is the finance/insurance manager and sales administrator for Kentucky Truck Sales, Inc. in Jeffersonville. She also assists in overseeing operations of her brother Michael Gibson’s nonprofit Warrior’s Path, Inc., which organizes events for veterans who struggle with transitioning from military life to civilian life using three fundamentals: nature, art and community service. Her love for children is displayed in her volunteer work at the local Greater Clark County Schools, serving as PTO President, as well as creating and volunteering for events to help raise funds for the educators, students and schools. When asked, she believes her greatest accomplishments are her children and grandchildren, Sid (27) and Presley (21), Logan (6), Tegan (2) and Remington (newborn). Her love for them and their significant others, Emily and Brandon, as well as Patrick, Grayson and Khaki’s, is what inspires her to keep looking up. As a lifelong member of the Southern Indiana community, Melissa has seen firsthand the struggle of addiction not only through the eyes of acquaintances and friends but also her family. Her belief in that “it takes a village” is what makes her participation in this event so important to her.
W. ERIC HEDRICK graduate d from Jeffersonville High School in 1987. Eric enlisted in the U.S. Army as a military counter intelligence agent. As a MI agent and Army paratrooper, he participated in two combat situations: Operation “Just Cause,” Panama 1989 and Operation “Desert Storm,” Persian Gulf, 1990. While in the military and stationed at Fort Bragg, North Caarolina, Eric married his high school friend, Toni. Eric and Toni will celebrate their 28th wedding anniversary this year. They have one child, Haylee, who will start her senior year of high school this year. After completing his military service in 1992, Eric enrolled at IUS. In 1994, he took a position as a Jeffersonville Police Officer. Eric acted as a patrol officer, K-9 officer and a member of the Emergency Response SWAT Team. In 2001, he transferred to the city fire department and was appointed the Jeffersonville Fire Chief in 2012. In 2012, Eric became a member of the Indiana Deptartment of Homeland Security District 9 Task Force and was appointed by former Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels to lead the team as the task force commander. Eric is the Principal Owner of HamHed, LLC, where he supervises the management of government and commercial operations. HamHed currently has contracts in 42 States and is the proud home to over 85 employees.
PAUL KIGER, the team leader of Paul Kiger Group at RE/MAX Advantage, has served his community on both sides of the river ever since he joined the real estate industry in 2007. Paul is from New Middletown and moved to New Albany in 2007. Paul’s previous accolades include REALTOR Magazine “30 under 30” in 2010, REALTOR of The Year 2011 for the Southern Indiana Realtors Association, and, most recently, he was featured in Louisville Business First’s “20 People To Know in Real Estate.” Paul served on the Develop New Albany board of directors for five years and is currently the vice president of Southern Indiana Tourism Bureau (also known as SoIN). He is a member of the Vestry at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in New Albany and is now stepping into politics for the first time as the treasurer for Jason Applegate’s run for Floyd County commissioner. Paul has found many ways to serve his community while building his network. “One day at a time and love wins,” his personal philosophy, is rooted in his own success story. He is committed to continuing his journey by supporting others on their road to well-being in sobriety.
ASHLYN WEBER is a 16-year old junior at Jeffersonville High School. She is a member of the National Honor Society, was named Student of the Month in January 2017 and is a captain on both the Jeffersonville color guard and winter guard teams. Ashlyn also sings in the school chamber choir. She wants to help raise money for The BreakAway because she is all too familiar with the heartbreak of losing a loved one to drug addiction. Ashlyn’s mother, Nicole, lost her battle with addiction in February of 2016. Nicole’s passing helped inspire Lisa Livingston to create The BreakAway so other women battling addiction might find a way out and other daughter’s wouldn’t have to experience the senseless loss that Ashlyn, her younger sister Kailyn and so many in our community have.
MAJOR JOE HUBBARD was born and raised in Clark County. After graduating from Jeffersonville High School, he served in the United States Marine Corps until 1994. He attended Indiana University Southeast studying business management, and in 1996 was hired as a full-time officer of the Jeffersonville Police Department. Joe has held several leadership capacities within the department, including patrol officer, K-9 officer, certified firearms instructor, SWAT team operator, sniper team leader, entry team leader, SWAT team commander, river patrol operator, and currently serves as the uniform patrol commander where he oversees the officers who encompass the uniform patrol division and special units. Joe served was the president of the FOP Jeffersonville Lodge #100 for seven years. He served as a county councilman and currently serves on the 911 Central Alarm Fiscal Board and the Clark County Emergency Management Board. He is married to Amanda and they have two children, Joey (6) and James (3). Joe has spent his career serving our country and protecting our community.
JULIE GRANNAN is a family nurse practitioner with a practice in New Albany, focusing on family medicine. Julie graduated from Providence High School in Clarksville in 1994 and earned her bachelor of science in nursing, with honors, from Indiana University Southeast in 1999. She worked as a nurse in emergency medicine while pursuing a master of science in nursing from Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, graduating in 2004. She is a certified nurse practitioner through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. She serves as a clinical instructor for students pursuing a career as a nurse practitioner and is also active in the Jeffersonville chapter of Tri Kappa, a philanthropic sorority in Indiana dedicated to service in the community, where she has held the office of vice president. Julie resides in Jeffersonville with her devoted husband John, a local attorney, and their son, Leo.
ANNA MURRAY is a local attorney with a general law practice in Jeffersonville. She is currently running for state senate on the Democratic ticket, with one of her platform issues being Practical Solutions to the Opioid Crisis with a focus on long-term rehabilitation, mental health treatment, counseling and medically-assisted treatment instead of trying to simply arrest the problem away. She has served the community by providing pro bono legal work for the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence and with Indiana Legal Services. She is serving her third term as president of the Clark County Bar Association and previously served as chair of the Solo and Small Firm Section of the Louisville Bar Association. She is a past member of the board of directors of Best Buddies of Kentucky and has also done volunteer work with the Clark County Youth Shelter and Family Services. Anna earned her undergraduate degree in international studies on the environment in Seattle, Washington, and her law degree from Willamette College of Law in Salem, Oregon. She is married to Phil Murray, and they have two children, Coral and Iris.
BreakAway Dancing 2018
5:30 p.m. May 15
Kye’s, 500 Missouri Ave. in Jeffersonville
$50
