Bevin Names Heiner To Cabinet

Yesterday, Governor-Elect Matt Bevin announced Hal Heiner as Kentucky’s  Secretary of the Education and Workforce Development Cabinet. Heiner is a highly-respected businessman with a passion for education and public service.

“I am pleased to have Hal Heiner join our administration as the Secretary of the Education and Workforce Development Cabinet,” said Governor-Elect Bevin. “Modernizing our education system is essential to the future success of our Commonwealth. Hal has the proven experience and commitment to ensure that we make meaningful progress for students at all levels.”

“Kentucky’s most important responsibility is to recognize the gifts, abilities and promise of each of its citizens and then develop educational options assisting them in achieving their most fulfilled life,”Heiner said. “I am honored to have the opportunity to work towards improvement of those options and broadening their availability. I look forward to the day that every Kentuckian has the specialized educational options available in so many other states.”

Heiner is a longtime Kentucky resident and has been an active participant in helping to shape civic policy. His community activities have included serving as a Vice Chair of Greater Louisville, Inc. and being elected in 2002 to the Louisville Metro Council.  On the Council he spent eight years focusing on finding efficiencies in services, government transparency and innovative ways for the community to grow and prosper.

Heiner’s greatest civic passion has been involvement in numerous educational organizations. These have included serving as Founding Chairman of Kentuckians Advocating for Reform in Education and Kentucky Charter Schools Association and as Chairman of the Christian Academy of Louisville School System. He also served on the Asbury University Board of Trustees, University of Louisville Board of Overseers and Summit Academy Board of Trustees. Currently Hal serves on the Metro Leadership Foundation Board; which is focused on after-school instruction for elementary school children.

Heiner’s private sector career began after receiving a master’s degree in engineering. He then became a partner in a civil engineering firm; which worked across Kentucky. His interest in real estate led him to the position of President of the commercial division of a multi-state development company. In 1997, Heiner founded Capstone Realty which has developed over five million square feet of new office and industrial buildings and helped to bring and keep more than 5,000 jobs to the region.

Hal and his wife, Sheila, reside on a producing farm in Jefferson County. They have four grown children.