LEXINGTON, KY (December 12, 2024) – The Opportunity for Work & Learning (OWL) Board of Directors has appointed William Bacon as interim Chief Executive Officer, effective December 12, 2024. Bacon will lead the organization as OWL searches for a successor to former CEO Tony Higgins, who recently stepped down after 22 years of dedicated service.
“The board has great confidence in William and the rest of the OWL team,” said Nancy Brown, Chair of the OWL Board of Directors. “We are grateful for his willingness to step into this role and ensure the impactful work of OWL continues smoothly during this transition.”
Bacon has served as OWL’s Skilled Trade Academy Director since 2022. Skilled Trade Academy, OWL’s pre-apprenticeship program, provides a pathway into construction trades, helping people from all walks of life achieve employment and addressing the critical need for trade workers in our community.
With over 20 years of leadership experience and a degree in Business Administration and Marketing from the University of Kentucky, Bacon has been instrumental in advancing OWL’s skills training and certification programs as well as their strategic planning efforts.
A lifelong Kentuckian, Bacon began his career in the construction trades as a carpenter in 1991. In 1996, he founded Baconstruction, Inc., a residential construction company in Central Kentucky, where he served as owner and president for nearly 23 years. From 2018 to 2021, Bacon held a leadership role with a Lexington-based biotech startup, where he was responsible for building out a production laboratory and overseeing operations and facilities.
“For the past three years, OWL has given me the opportunity to serve and support those who want to build a career in an industry I’m deeply passionate about,” said Bacon. “I am honored to be entrusted with this role and proud to be part of such a powerful mission.”
Pictured: William Bacon, Opportunity for Work & Learning (OWL)
