Jerry Summers

Jerral L. “Jerry” Summers was born in 1953 to his parents, Elwood and Helen Summers. In 2018, Jerry retired after 39 years as Director of Community Relations at Beam-Suntory. In his role at Beam, Jerry was once described as “Mister Tourism,” who has worked tirelessly for decades to make the entire bourbon industry better through his actions.

Always connected to his home community of Bullitt County, Jerry has collaborated with the Bullitt County Tourism and Economic Development Authority, Leadership Bullitt, the YMCA of Bullitt County, and Bullitt County School for Excellence. A bit further from home, Jerry has served on the boards of the Kentucky Distillers Association, Kentucky Bourbon Festival, Kentucky Tourism Commission, Kentucky Bourbon Trail, and Commerce Lexington. He has also been heavily involved in the Moore-Mayfield Foundation, as well as the local Ronald McDonald House.

A longtime supporter of the Boy Scouts, the Lincoln Heritage Council of Boy Scouts of America honored Jerry Summers with the 2017 Bullitt County Distinguished Citizen Award. The  Award celebrates leaders in the community who have consistent values with Scouting: good citizenship and selfless service to others. In honor of Summers, the community raised over $40,000 for Bullitt County scouts.

Throughout his career, Jerry worked tirelessly to raise the stature of the bourbon industry so that it remains recognized as one of Kentucky’s prominent industries. As Chairman of the Kentucky Bourbon Festival Board of Directors, Jerry strove to promote the festival through the implementation of new events, guiding it through a phase of unprecedented growth. Through his involvement with the Kentucky Tourism Industry Association, Jerry actively aspired to increase partnerships, strengthening the all-important relationship between tourism and the bourbon industry.

In working for Bullitt County Tourism, Jerry was instrumental in the efforts to enhance and beautify a major traffic corridor into the heart of Bourbon Country and has been what was described as an “indispensable partner” to the Shepherdsville-Bullitt County Tourism Commission.

Jerry, a 2017 Bourbon Hall-of-Fame inductee, recalls a time early in his career when bourbon was thought of as a ‘bottom shelf’ spirit. “With the advent of small-batch products, bourbon became fashionable,” says Summers, citing the Distilled Spirits Council, which states that American whiskey revenues have now reached $5.1 billion. Of note, during the same period, the ‘super-premium bourbon’ segment rose more than 20-fold to $1.3 billion.

Ever-active with pursuits that help his fellow Bullitt Countians, one year after retiring from Beam-Suntory, Jerry tossed his hat in the political ring and, in 2019, became Bullitt County Judge-Executive. The job is an elected position that allows Summers to remain active and positively influence local affairs. He is now tasked with working with county department directors and elected magistrates to devise agency budgets, as well as monitoring and reporting expenditures. He works closely with economic development, tourism, and local city municipalities to attract and maintain residential, industrial, and social economic projects which provide job opportunities, community development opportunities, and long-term growth potential.

A role model for youth in the community, a promoter of the industry he still loves, and a tireless advocate for the people of his state, Jerry Summers has been married to his wife, Trina, for over 50 years. They have two adult sons and are more proud than ever to call Bullitt County, Kentucky, their home.