René True
Executive Director
Connect Kentucky
Since October 2007, René has served as the Executive Director for the nonprofit organization ConnectKentucky, Kentucky’s technology-based public-private partnership supporting statewide broadband expansion and adoption. He started at ConnectKentucky on August 1, 2007 as the Director of Operations. He is responsible for public policy, organizational strategy, new business development and stakeholder relationships. ConnectKentucky is affiliated with the national nonprofit organization Connected Nation, where René serves as Project Manager on selected projects.
René served from July 2004 to May 2007 as the Executive Director of the Office of Research and Information Technology in the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development (KCED). His responsibilities included coordinating strategic planning efforts, overseeing the Cabinet’s IT functions and serving as the main contact for tax and workers’ compensation issues. René served nine years as the Director of the Division of Research for the KCED, prior to the Executive Director position. René served over three years as Deputy Secretary of the Kentucky Revenue Cabinet, where he helped develop and implement the Cabinet’s first strategic plan and coordinated a statewide re-assessment program. Twice elected Fayette County Property Valuation Administrator (PVA) serving six years, René implemented one of the first Geographic Information Systems for a PVA office. René graduated from the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in December 1984 and a Master of Business Administration degree in December 1995. He graduated from the Economic Development Institute, University of Oklahoma in April 2000.
René is a Kentucky licensed real estate broker, licensed principal auctioneer, has owned and managed rental properties, co-owned a commercial real estate firm, and operated his own seminar and auction businesses. He has presented real estate, appraisal, auction, strategic planning, property tax, finance, economic development, and management seminars and courses, facilitated strategic planning sessions, and given numerous presentations at local, state and national conferences.
