2026 KFMO/B104 Kelly Valle Sweat Equity Award: Zach Franklin

The Kelly Valle Sweat Equity Award-Presented by: Jase Odle

Good evening everyone,

For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Jase Odle with Odle Media Group, KFMO and B104 Radio Stations located, right here in Park Hills.

Tonight, I have the honor of presenting one of our most meaningful recognitions — The Kelly Valle Sweat Equity Award.

Now, the name of this award says a lot.
“Sweat equity” isn’t about titles or recognition. It’s about the work people do when no one is watching. It’s about the long hours, the problem-solving, the relationship-building, and the determination it takes to make a community stronger.

And the truth is, communities don’t grow by accident.
They grow because people roll up their sleeves and decide to make things happen.

Tonight’s recipient is someone who has been doing exactly that for Park Hills.

Zach Franklin became the City Administrator for Park Hills in 2023 after returning to the area from Columbia, where he worked with the City of Columbia following his time at Mizzou. But what stands out about Zach isn’t just his résumé — it’s his passion for economic development and his ability to bring people together.

Zach understands something really important about communities like ours.
Progress doesn’t happen alone. It happens through relationships, partnerships, and persistence.

And we’ve seen that firsthand.

One of Zach’s early successes was helping facilitate the purchase of the former Primal Glass building, which had closed in 2022. Through collaboration and determination, Phoenix Investments stepped in to purchase the building and lease space to ReWorld, bringing 21 new jobs to the area.

That’s sweat equity.

But Zach didn’t stop there.

Most recently, his efforts helped bring Amazon to Park Hills — becoming the first major
investment in the Fairgrounds Project, an area that had been stagnant for many years.

That project alone is expected to bring more than 100 jobs to the region, and Zach believes it will open the door for even more investment in the future.

Luke Herder with Phoenix Investments said it best:
“Zach’s efforts have been instrumental in enhancing Park Hills’ attractiveness to potential tenants and investors.”

In other words — he’s helping put Park Hills on the map.

But beyond the projects, the jobs, and the development... what really stands out about Zach is his commitment to this community.

He believes in Park Hills.
He believes in its future.
And he’s willing to put in the work to help it grow.

Zach is supported by his wife Kiersten and their daughter Harper, who is about a year and a half old. And like many of us in this room, he’s building not just a career here — but a life and a future for his family in this community.

And that’s really what sweat equity is all about.

So tonight, on behalf of Odle Media Group, it’s our honor to recognize someone who is helping move Park Hills forward.

Please join me in congratulating the recipient of the Kelly Valle Sweat Equity Award...Zach Franklin.