Richard Nelson
Executive Director
Richard Nelson is the founder and Executive Director of the Commonwealth Policy Center. He’s served on numerous boards including the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education Hopkinsville Community College Board (chair 2020-2021), Kentucky Council on Environmental Education, Pennyrile Christian Community Board (chair 2018-2021), and Trigg County Hospital Corporation Board. Richard was elected to the Trigg County Fiscal Court as magistrate in 2010 and served until 2014. He’s an active member of Buck Run Baptist Church in Frankfort.
Richard’s previous employment includes: Field biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Jamestown, ND; Research Assistant in the Wisconsin State Capitol; Policy Analyst for Family Research Institute of Wisconsin; Field Representative and Policy Analyst with the Family Foundation. He graduated with a triple major BS in biology, wildlife management and resource management from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in 1992 and earned a Master of Arts in public policy from Regent University in 1995.
He is certified by the Wildlife Society as a wildlife biologist and certified by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction as a secondary education teacher in environmental science.
Richard is an outdoors enthusiast and formerly ran an award-winning taxidermy studio in Cadiz, KY. In his free time, he enjoys hunting, fishing and camping. Father of three girls and a boy, he resides in Franklin County with his wife Bobby Jo on Dry Ridge Farm.
Mike Harmon
State Outreach Director
Mike Harmon
State Outreach Director
Mike Harmon currently serves as State Outreach Director for the Commonwealth Policy Center and is the author of the book PaPaw’s POV.
In 2023, Mike ran as a Republican Candidate for Governor but came up short in the Primary. Mike was elected to Kentucky Auditor of Public Accounts in 2015 and served for 8 years where he “Followed the Data” to make sure government was efficient, effective and ethical.
Prior to his time as Auditor, Mike served in the Kentucky House of Representatives for 13 years, representing the citizens of Boyle, Casey, and Washington counties.
Mike is blessed to be married to his wife, Lynn (Peaches to their grandchildren) for more than 34 years (as of 2024), and they have two daughters, Lizzie and Tori as well as son-in-law (Mah). Mike is also a proud grandfather (PaPaw) to his grandsons, Aiden and HaMoody.
Mike’s Mission Statement since he was first elected has always been:
“I HAVE NO DESIRE TO LEAVE A LEGACY, EXCEPT, THAT I SERVED MY LORD, I SERVED MY FAMILY, AND I SERVED MY COUNTRY, WELL.”
Jenny Bennett
Administrative Assistant
Jenny Bennett is the Administrative Assistant of the Commonwealth Policy Center. She graduated with a BS in Graphic Communications Management from Murray State University in 2003.
Jenny resides in Lawrenceburg, KY with her husband Jonathan and two children, Bree and Owen Bennett. Outside of work, her favorite way to spend her time is drinking coffee, spending time with her her family and church, developing her skill in photography, and learning American Sign Language.
Jacob Ogan
Executive Assistant
Jacob is the executive assistant for the Commonwealth Policy Center and is pursuing degrees at Boyce College and the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Alongside his work at CPC, he serves in the President’s Office at Southern Seminary and has previously interned with members of both the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate.
Outside of his work and studies, Jacob enjoys reading, writing, and playing the banjo. He lives in Louisville and is a member of Kosmosdale Baptist Church.