LABOR & MANAGEMENT
AWARDS
For nearly four decades, the Kentucky Labor-Management Conference has honored individuals who demonstrate outstanding leadership, cooperation, and commitment to building productive labor-management relationships.
First presented in 1987, the Labor and Management Awards recognize those who actively promote communication, fairness, and partnership in Kentucky workplaces. These honorees embody KLMC’s mission and inspire others across the Commonwealth.
Congratulations to our
2026 Award Recipients!
Mr. Bob Blair
KLMC 2026 Labor Award Winner
UFCW Local 227 President, Bob Blair, was a leader who was fully committed to the Local's 19,000 members and workers everywhere. Bob first joined UFCW in 1977 when he went to work for The Kroger Company. For twenty-six years, Bob served fellow union members as a Chief Steward. He joined the staff of UFCW Local 227 as a Union Representative in 2003 fighting for our members day to day. In 2013, he became Secretary-Treasurer and in 2015 Bob became President of Local 227. Bob Blair spent his career improving the lives of fellow union members and their families.
Bob also devoted much time and effort to serving the community and the labor movement through his leadership of the UFCW 227 Foundation, service as a Trustee on Pension and Health & Welfare boards that protected access to good healthcare and retirement benefits for union workers, and through his work as an International Vice President of UFCW International Union, furthering the cause of working people everywhere.
Bob always led the UFCW 227 family with a zealous dedication to members, hard work, friendship, and an unparalleled sense of humor. He was also a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend and is deeply missed by all whose lives he touched.
Mr. Hank Mangeot
KLMC 2026 Management Award Winner
Hank Mangeot is AT&T Kentucky’s regional director for the Louisville metro area, as well as northern
and eastern Kentucky. In this capacity, he is responsible for AT&T external outreach and community
activities across 60 Kentucky counties.
Hank began his telecommunications career in October 1987 as a management assistant in the Corporate
& Community Affairs department with South Central Bell, one of the operating companies of AT&T’s
predecessor company, BellSouth. He subsequently worked in corporate public relations, business
communications, government relations, special event management and civic involvement.
Hank’s long tenure with AT&T gives him an extensive network of Kentucky business and civic contacts,
as well as a broad perspective on wireline and wireless technologies in urban and rural areas alike. He
enjoys continuing to push forward on newer and newer strategies to serve and connect AT&T Kentucky
customers.
Hank represents AT&T on the One Louisville Inc. Business Competitiveness Committee, the
Jeffersontown Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and the Kentucky Derby Festival Board of
Directors. Hank is a 2016 Leadership Louisville graduate and a 2025 Leadership Kentucky graduate.
Based in Louisville, Hank is a graduate of Bellarmine College (now Bellarmine University). He and his
wife, Courtney, have one teenage daughter.
Mr. Mike Sturgeon
KLMC 2026 Lifetime Acheivement Award Winner
Mike Sturgeon was born in Louisville Kentucky where he still resides with his
wife, Karen. Mike and Karen have been married for 45 years and have three
children and six wonderful grandchildren.
Mike is a graduate of DeSales High School and the University of Louisville. He
started his career with Louisville Water in 1980 as a member of AFSCME
Local 1683, serving as a Laborer, Truck Driver and Heavy Equipment
Operator. In 1985 he transitioned to management beginning a career in
numerous leadership positions including Manager of Labor Relations and
Director of Human Resources and Employee/Labor Relations that spanned
more than four decades.
Mike played a central role in developing and maintaining the strong labor
management relationship between Local 1683 and Louisville Water. A
relationship built on open honest communication, mutual respect and the
understanding that both sides are stronger when they work together.
He served as lead negotiator for four contract negotiations and numerous
contract addendums and memorandums of understanding. He also
participated in multiple Kentucky Labor Management conferences from 1989
through 2022.
The most meaningful achievement of Mike's career is the enduring
partnership between Louisville Water and Local 1683. That relationship
served as the foundation for an award-winning labor management partnership
that is emblematic of what can be achieved when management and
employees recognize their common interests are best achieved through
mutual respect and a focused vision as they work together to achieve shared
goals.
Mike said he is both "honored and humbled" by receiving the Lifetime
Achievement Award. He views the award as a reflection of the leadership
provided by Local 1683, Louisville Water and the many employees who
contributed to the successful partnership forged throughout the years.
About the Awards
Each year, KLMC’s Board of Directors selects one recipient from labor and one from management who exemplify:
Outstanding
leadership
Constructive labor-management
cooperation
Commitment to communication and fairness
Dedication to improving Kentucky’s workplace environment
Active engagement in collaboration and problem-solving
The awards have grown to represent some of the strongest examples of partnership in Kentucky’s workforce. KLMC encourages nominations each year from across the state.
Nominate a 2027 Award Recipient
The KLMC Board of Directors accepts nominations for the Labor and Management Awards throughout the year.
To submit a nomination, please complete the form linked below.