Owensboro Community and Technical College

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Mason Lanham Named Director of Operations for Workforce Solutions at OCTC

by Bernie Hale

Owensboro, KY (02/19/2026) — Owensboro Community & Technical College (OCTC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mason Lanham as Director of Operations for Workforce Solutions. Lanham assumed the role following the retirement of longtime Director Kim Free.

A Knottsville native and graduate of Daviess County High School, Lanham brings strong academic credentials and extensive institutional knowledge to the position. He is a 2016 graduate of OCTC, earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Western Kentucky University in 2018, and later completed his Master of Business Administration at Morehead State University.

Lanham began his professional career as a part-time Office Manager for the Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation before joining OCTC more than seven years ago as Assistant Director of Operations under Free. During that time, he played an integral role in managing Workforce Solutions' complex $4 million budget, overseeing both grant and non-grant funding, supporting new program development, and ensuring operational efficiency across the department. He has been instrumental in the launch and sustainability of key initiatives, including the Tech X and CDL programs.

Kim Free praised Lanham's leadership and professionalism. "Mason is an exceptional colleague whose professionalism, organizational skills, and commitment set him apart," Free said. "He approaches his work with a high level of precision, ensuring projects are completed efficiently and on time. He consistently anticipates needs, solves problems, and supports his team members. As Director of Operations, he will be a tremendous asset to Workforce Solutions and to OCTC."

Sheri Plain, Vice President of Workforce Solutions, echoed those sentiments. "Mason Lanham is an exceptional Director of Operations because he combines skill and experience with a genuine commitment to helping people," Plain said. "He brings organization, strong problem-solving ability, and attention to detail that keep the department running smoothly. Our team respects him and can always count on him. His dedication to Workforce Solutions and OCTC is evident in the professionalism and care he demonstrates every day. Mason is making a meaningful difference and leaving a lasting impact on the college."

Lanham credits his strong work ethic and values to his parents, who instilled in him the importance of hard work, kindness, and respect. "I really love this college," Lanham said. "It is such a blessing to work with so many outstanding co-workers who are committed to impacting the lives of those we serve and guiding them through the next step in their journey."

OCTC is confident that Lanham's leadership, experience, and commitment to excellence will continue to strengthen Workforce Solutions and support the college's mission of serving students, employers, and the broader community.

For more information about Workforce Solutions at OCTC, contact bernie.hale@kctcs.edu.

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Owensboro Community & Technical College is one of the sixteen community and technical colleges that make up the Kentucky Community & Technical College System. OCTC serves the KY counties of Daviess, Hancock, Ohio and McLean. OCTC has three campuses in Daviess County and a Center and Annex in Hancock County. OCTC strives to serve the communities in the service area by providing associate degree education for transfer, state of the art technical education for students focusing on entering the workforce, customized business and industry solutions through the Workforce Solutions division, and adult education and business and industry testing through the SkillTrain unit.

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The Kentucky Community and Technical College System is the Commonwealth's largest postsecondary institution with 16 colleges and more than 70 campuses. We also are Kentucky's largest provider of workforce training and online education. Through partnerships with business and industry, we align our programs to meet the needs of local employers. We help students fulfill their dreams of creating a better life through programs that lead directly to jobs or help them transfer to one of our four-year partners.

Connect with OCTC: Owensboro.kctcs | Facebook.com/owensboroctc | Twitter@OCTC_Tweets | Instagram OwensboroCTC

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