Ryan Drane, a partner with locally-based Momentum Group, has been hired as RecoverMayfieldGraves’ executive director. His focus will be managing the tornado recovery group’s efforts, along with collaborating with national organizations such as Catholic Charities, FEMA and Red Cross.
Drane has worked in Mayfield and Graves County in both banking and economic development. Along with working with RecoverMayfieldGraves Long Term Recovery Group (LTRG) and fellow organizations, Drane’s connections to national disaster recovery experts will help assist in the community’s overall recovery process.
“Ryan Drane understands recovery work,” said RecoverMayfieldGraves LTRG co-chair and Mayfield First United Methodist Church Pastor, the Rev. Joey Reed. “He has impressed me with how quickly he picked up the intricate details of complex applications and appeals processes. And we will need his deep understanding of the big picture of how local teams can best work together alongside national groups.
“The extent of his connections throughout the Commonwealth and across the country is rivaled only by his deep desire to see good things happening here in Mayfield,” Reed added. “I think we’ll soon begin to see a new structure and organization to the great work that is already being accomplished.”
Drane said the local LTRG was a perfect fit to help move the community forward from the EF-4 tornado that struck Mayfield and Graves County on December 10.
“Since the tornado, we knew we wanted to become involved in assisting with the community’s recovery but we were not sure how we could help to make the biggest impact. After learning more about the local Long Term Recovery Group and the organizations involved, we quickly determined that it was a good match and the perfect way to assist the community,” he said. “We look forward to working with the dozens of organizations in the group as well as the city, county, emergency management, chamber of commerce, economic development, and the multiple other agencies to assist in rebuilding our community.”
Drane will serve for an initial six-month period. Grants and funds dedicated to pay for disaster group administrative expenses will be used exclusively to compensate Momentum Group for their services. No funds designated to survivors or the community will be utilized to fund this contract.
RecoverMayfieldGraves will strive to help those impacted by the tornado through the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual recovery process. Their aim is to also serve as a unified community contact for resources and information.