Brad Hughes

Brad Hughes has made a career out of getting other people’s messages out. Radio and TV reporter. Magazine writer and columnist. Media spokesman for the largest agency in Kentucky state government and the largest organization of elected officials. Communications trainer for public officials and employees in 29 states and Canada.

Brad began his career in 1973 as a reporter/announcer for WFKN Radio in his hometown of Franklin, KY. Through 1983, he worked as a reporter, newscaster and news director in radio and television in western and southern Kentucky.

In 1983, Brad was named director of communications for the Kentucky Cabinet for Human Resources. During his 10-year tenure in that post, he averaged better than 250 media interviews a month. In 1991, his office was named the best state government public affairs unit by the National Association of Government Communicators.

From 1993 through 2017, Brad served as director of communications services for the Kentucky School Boards Association, where he served as media spokesperson as well as consultant to association leaders and school district officials across the state. His responsibilities included media relations, social media, website content and writing for the association’s award-winning Kentucky School Advocate magazine. His regular column on public communications issues, “Get Your Message Out,” was often reprinted in other publications.

During his career, Brad developed numerous seminars for government officials and staff members in areas of media interviews, public engagement, marketing, crisis communications, social media usage and ethics. After retiring from full-time work with KSBA in 2017, Brad continues to be sought-after as a trainer in communications skills in Kentucky and elsewhere.

For his work, Brad has been honored by the Bluegrass chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, the National School Boards Association, the Kentucky School Public Relations Association, the National Association for Year-Round Education, the Council of School Boards Association Communicators, the Kentucky Association of Government Communicators and the Kentucky Broadcasters Association.

A 1975 graduate of Western Kentucky University, Brad served three years on the university’s national alumni association board of directors and continues as a special advisor on communications.

Maxmum Impact, co-written with Dr. Brian K. Creasman, is Brad's first book.