business focus december 2015

www.CommerceLexington.com

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

2016 International Trip: Sicily, ItalySeptember 17-23, 2016

Ashland Breaks Ground on NewValvoline Building

@330 Series: Workplace SafetyPrecautions & Best Practices

Winner’s Circle Volunteers NearFinish Line for 2015 Campaign

BUSINESS FOCUSOFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF COMMERCE LEXINGTON INC. DECEMBER 2015 VOLUME XXIII, ISSUE XII

Leadership VisitCharleston, South CarolinaJune 8-10, 2016 | SEE PAGE 11

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

WHAT 2 WATCH 4

Business Focus is published once a month for atotal of 12 issues per year by CommerceLexington Inc., 330 East Main Street, Suite 100,Lexington, KY 40507. Phone: (859) 226-1600

2015 Chairman of the Board:Herb Miller, PresidentColumbia Gas of Kentucky

Publisher:Robert L. Quick, CCE, President & CEOCommerce Lexington Inc.

Editor: Mark E. TurnerCommunications Specialist: Elizabeth BennettPrinting: Post PrintingMail Service: Lexington Herald-Leader

Subscriptions are available for $12 and areincluded as a direct benefit of CommerceLexington Inc. membership. Business Focus(USPS 012-337) periodical postage paid atLexington, Kentucky.

POSTMASTER: Send address corrections toBusiness Focus, Commerce Lexington Inc.,P.O. Box 1968, Lexington, KY 40588-1968.

Display RatesFor DISPLAY RATES in Business Focus, con-tact Dana Zinger at (859) 226-1607 [email protected], and anaccount executive will contact you.

Personnel UpdatesSubmit your company’s awards and mile-stones or personnel changes and additionsto [email protected] news might include promotions,additions, awards and milestones, recogni-tions and certifications and/or appoint-ments. Information is published only asspace permits.

December 2015: Volume XXIII, Issue XII

2 BUSINESS FOCUS DECEMBER 2015

BUSINESS FOCUS

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:Lexington, Keeneland Hit Grand Slam With The Breeders’ CupAshland, Inc. Breaks Ground on New Valvoline BuildingSTAT: Equine Industry Leading Sector of Ky.’s EconomyEconomic Development Division On The Road

PUBLIC POLICY:Minimum Wage Update; Proposed Updates to FLSA Regulations

EVENTS:@330 Series: Workplace Safety Best PracticesKentucky Eagle, Inc. Hosts Holiday Business LinkKEMI Presents CLX Annual Dinner January 28, 2016Registration Open for Charleston, S.C. Leadership Visit2016 International Trip is to Sicily, Italy - Sept. 17-23

GET CONNECTED:Winner’s Circle Volunteers Nearing Finish LineLeadership Development Program RecapsAmbassador Spotlight: Sarah Mattingly, DinsmoreWelcome New Commerce Lexington Inc. MembersMember Personnel Announcements & Awards

December 8th @330 SeriesFocuses on Workplace SafetyPrecautions, Best Practices

Kentucky Employers’ MutualInsurance Presents CLX Annual

Dinner on January 28, 2016

Kentucky Eagle, Inc.Hosts Next Business Link

on Thursday, December 10th

Coming in January:Commerce Lexington’sLegislative FOCUS andPublic Policy Statements

SEE “CHAIRMAN” ON PAGE 12

DECEMBER 2015 BUSINESS FOCUS 3

Year-End Message From2015 CLX Board Chair

It’s hard to believe, butwe are nearing the end of2015, and I wanted to giveyou some parting thoughtsas my time as CommerceLexington Inc. Board Chaircomes to a close.

I began the year talkingabout how our communityand region have beenshaped by so many peoplewho have come before us.This year was truly remark-able both for CommerceLexington Inc. and Central Kentucky again due tothe efforts of so many people across our com-munity.

Despite being postponed because of a Marchsnowstorm, the second annual Emerge confer-ence for young professionals went off without ahitch in April. Some 300 people enjoyed a vari-ety of speakers and panel discussions. The ideafor the Emerge conference came fromCommerce Lexington’s recent Leadership Visitto Omaha, Nebraska, where trip participantssaw a very active young professionals’ organiza-tion.

Speaking of the Leadership Visit, I was proudto lead Commerce Lexington’s intercity visit inMay, during which some 175 people from theBluegrass Region travelled to Kansas City tostudy that city’s successes and challenges. Weidentified four core concepts to study there,including Entrepreneurism and Education;Regionalism; Diversity and Inclusion; and GoalSetting/Visioning. So many great programs andinitiatives in our city have come from pastLeadership Visits, and I can’t wait to see whatthe Kansas City trip yields for the future ofLexington. I encourage you to review ourKANSAS CITY Deconstructed summary report,as well as video of many of the sessions, on-lineat www.commercelexington.com/leadership-visit.html.

One of the cornerstones of a chamber ofcommerce is the fact that it represents the inter-ests of business at all levels of government. Ourstaff is constantly monitoring and reviewing leg-islation for its impact on business, and theCommerce Lexington Inc. Policy Council devel-ops the policy agenda for the organization and isasked to weigh in on key issues throughout theyear after hearing from all sides of an issue anddiscussing its ramifications.

A delegation of regional leaders visitedWashington, D.C., in July to meet with members

HERB MILLERPRESIDENT

COLUMBIA GASOF KENTUCKY

A Collaborative Effort of the Bluegrass Business Development Partnership (BBDP):

SUBMITTED BY: Gina Greathouse, Hannah Huggins, Kimberly Rossetti & Allison Boyd | CLX Economic Development Division

www.LocateinLexington.com | www.twitter.com/locateinlex | www.facebook.com/locateinlex


ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

As an official partner of The Breeders’ CupWorld Championships and a sponsor of TheBreeders’ Cup festival, Commerce LexingtonInc. participated in a variety of eventsthroughout the week of Thoroughbred rac-ing’s most prestigious event offeringconcierge services to business personnel and

international guests. This was a great oppor-tunity to showcase Central Kentucky as agreat place to live and to do business. Oureconomic development team is excited to seethe economic impact of Breeders’ Cup and tocontinue to develop leads from the week’sevents.

KAED Annual Conference: Hopkinsville ->The economic development team traveled to Hopkinsville inmid-November for the annual conference for the KentuckyAssociation for Economic Developers (KAED) (pictured at right).KAED is a membership organization for economic developmentgroups, utilities and service providers in the state. The confer-ence serves as great professional development as well as anopportunity to network with several site selection consultants.

KentuckyUnited Travels to CincinnatiIn mid-November, Commerce Lexington Inc. staff traveled as a partof KentuckyUnited on a marketing trip to Cincinnati. KentuckyUnitedis a public-private partnership of state, regional and local economicdevelopment organizations formed to market Kentucky. This tripentailed a breakfast with existing businesses who have operations inour region and a luncheon with site selection consultants.

CLX E.D. Team Travels to ChicagoIn mid-November, Commerce Lexington traveled on a marketing tripto Chicago. In partnership with the University of Kentucky, our teamparticipated in an alumni luncheon as a part of our “come backhome” initiative. We also hosted a site selection consultant lunch-eon and event at the UK vs. Duke basketball game.

Commerce Lexington Inc. Economic Development Division On The Road

Ashland, Inc. Breaks Groundon New Valvoline Building

Lexington, Keeneland Hit Grand Slam as Host of 2015 Breeders’ Cup

On November 15, Ashland, Inc. broke ground on a new162,400-square-foot office building on its Lexingtoncampus with Mayor Jim Gray and Commerce LexingtonInc. President & CEO Bob Quick. The new building willserve as the global headquarters for Valvoline, a busi-ness unit of Ashland that has been based in Lexingtonfor more than 30 years. The $35 million development isslated to be completed by February 2017. We are veryproud that Valvoline calls Lexington home!

KAED Conference


ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Stat of the Month: Equine Industry isLeading Sector of Kentucky’s Economy

Economic Development DivisionPresents to Horse Park Organization

The equine industry is a leading sector of Kentucky’s economy supporting over72,000 jobs. In 2014, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that horses were amongthe state’s top 25 exports totaling $175 million. The 2012 Kentucky EquineSurvey estimated 24,600 horses are in Fayette County and 67,500 are in theBluegrass Region. Lexington recently hosted The Breeders’ Cup WorldChampionships with a week of events drawing 24,000 to 40,000 visitors eachday. The economic impact is expected to be at least $65 million. Our region wasthe ideal location for the Breeders’ Cup. Five of the twelve Triple Crown winnerswere born in Fayette County, including American Pharoah, and four others wereborn elsewhere in the Bluegrass Region. Beyond attending the races atKeeneland, visitors truly experienced every aspect of the horse industry by visit-ing horse farms, attending farm events and touring the Kentucky Horse Park.

The Kentucky Horse Park is home to 32 national organizations withheadquarters in Lexington, including the United States EquestrianFederation and the American Association of Equine Practitioners.These organizations fall into our strategic targets of organizationswe strive to recruit. On October 21, our team presented to theseorganizations about the services available to them through our eco-nomic development team. This presentation was in partnershipwith VisitLEX. Over 25 individuals from these organizations attend-ed the luncheon. The attendees also provided excellent feedback toour team of how we can partner with them in the future. Our teamis excited to continue to build on our partnership with VisitLEX andthe organizations at the Kentucky Horse Park.

By The Numbers:In 2015, Commerce Lexington Inc.’s Economic DevelopmentDivision has responded to calls from the following:

New Business: 96 new prospects interested in finding a newlocation or expanding operationsExisting Clients & Local Entrepreneurial Companies:38 companies with potential expansions in LexingtonClient Visits: 25Existing Business Visits: 125

On Thursday, November 19, the Lexington-FayetteUrban County Council passed an ordinance (9-6) toincrease Lexington's minimum wage from $7.25 perhour to $10.10 per hour over a three-year period.

The ordinance will go into effect on July 1, 2016 ($8.10in 2016; $9.25 in 2017; and $10.10 in 2018).

Unlike previous draft proposals, this ordinance doesnot include provisions to increase hourly wages fortipped worker or to tie future wage increases to theConsumer Price Index.

Council members listened to business concerns andremoved the particularly troubling CPI provision becauseof the lack of wage certainty this creates especially duringrecessionary time periods.

By raising the local minimum wage to $10.10 perhour, Lexington will have the highest minimum wage ofany of our border-states or competitor cities - includingLouisville which recently passed an increase to $9 perhour.

The Kentucky Supreme Court is currently consideringa lawsuit filed against Louisville Metro Government chal-lenging a similar ordinance. Questions remain about whether or not local gov-ernments have the authority to enact local wage mandates since wage lawsalready exists at the state level. It is unclear at this time when a decision willbe made but the hope is before July 2016.

Commerce Lexington Inc. has had a long-standing position of opposinglocal wage mandates that exceed state or federal guidelines because of thecompetitive disadvantage it would place on Lexington’s economy and abilityto create jobs. With relatively little existing research on local minimum wages,even some poverty experts are wary of this approach.

With an estimated price tag of $92 million annually on businesses, ourorganization asked the Council not to act on the proposed ordinance beforestudying all the intended and unintended consequences of the proposal.Commerce Lexington Inc. recommended a focused study that would betterclarify who would be impacted and how, and whether more effective ways exist

to lift working citizens out of poverty. Some of our con-cerns included:

rCompetitive disadvantages for local businesses.r An estimated 2,200 jobs lost, and reduced workershours - particularly among the lowest-skilled employees.r Increased prices for goods and services, which willdisproportionately impact low-income families.

Commerce Lexington Inc. also urged Council mem-bers to consider other policy alternatives – such as work-force and education training efforts – to help lift up low-income workers into careers with wages that will trulyallow them to become homeowners, invest in post-sec-ondary education, and save for retirement - without hurt-ing local job providers and placing Lexington at a com-petitive disadvantage.

For example, several cities offer training for low-income workers that leads to community college or uni-versity credentials for jobs in growing sectors. Theseefforts align support services to aid with education navi-

gation, housing, child-care, transportation and other barriers to employmentto help workers achieve maximum wages.

We would like to thank the businesses and other organizations who tookthe time to communicate concerns to Council on this issue, and thoseCouncil members who supported the business community throughout theprocess.

Going forward, Commerce Lexington Inc. will continue to closely monitorthe Supreme Court case, make recommendations for a future study of theimpact of the local ordinance on businesses and workers, and continue towork with Council members to find alternative policy solutions that will helplift families out of poverty.

If you have questions or concerns about how this ordinance willimpact your business, contact Andi Johnson at (859) 226-1614 or [email protected].


PUBLIC POLICY

LFUCG Council Passes Ordinance to Increase Lexington’s Minimum Wage

Proposed Overtime Rule Change Could Significantly Impact Businesses

SUBMITTED BY: Written By Andi Johnson, Vice President of Public Policy | [email protected]

Lexington’sMinimum Wageto Increase to:

2016$8.10 per hour

2017$9.25 per hour

2018$10.10 per hour

Congressional Contacts:U.S. Senator Mitch McConnellLexington: (859) 224-8286

Washington, D.C.: (202) 224-2541Web: www.mcconnell.senate.gov

U.S. Senator Rand PaulLexington: (859) 219-2239

Washington, D.C.: (202) 224-4343Web: www.paul.senate.gov

Congressman Andy BarrLexington: (859) 219-1366

Washington, D.C.: (202) 225-4706Web: http://barr.house.gov

The U.S. Department of Labor has issueda proposed rule change to the overtime paythreshold for "white collar" workers. Thisproposed rule raises the salary threshold forexecutive, administrative, and professionalemployees from the current annual level of$23,660 to $50,440.

There is concern about the cost impact ofthis proposed rule on employers inLexington. If adopted, employers may beforced to reclassify employees, pay more inovertime costs or increases salaries to ensureworker exemptions. Employees who arereclassified may be required to track hoursleading to additional administrative burdensfor employers.

Lyle Hanna, President & CEO of Hanna

Resource Group (HRG), operates a profes-sional human resources consulting firm inLexington. His firm is closely monitoring thisrule and potential impacts on businesses.

“This potential change could have aHUGE impact on the bottom line.Organizations will be required to pay moreemployees overtime or increase their salariesto the new threshold. Increasing payroll costsalso increases mandatory expenses includingtaxes and workers compensation. Additionaltime and record-keeping duties will also benecessary during this transition,” saidHanna.

Hanna noted the estimated costs to busi-

SEE “OVERTIME” ON PAGE 14

With the recent tragedyin Roanoke, Virginia, theattention of employers andemployees nationwide isfocused once again on vio-lence, and more specifical-ly, workplace-related vio-lence. Employers have alegal and ethical obligationto provide an environmentfree from threats and vio-lence.

During the nextCommerce Lexington Inc. @330 Series eventpresented by Manpower of Central Kentucky onTuesday, December 8, from 3:30-5:00 p.m. atCommerce Lexington’s first floor conferenceroom, Walter Skiba, a senior human resourcesadvisor with CMI Consulting, will share bestpractices for employers, as well as his personalexperience with a hostage situation at theUniversity of Kentucky. Come and learn whatyou should be doing to protect your businessand your employees, and provide a safe work-ing environment.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER:Walter (Wally) Skiba, a senior human resourcesadvisor with CMI Consulting, has 40-plus yearsof diversified experience in the humanresources field. Wally served as pilot, personnelofficer, and equal opportunity and treatmentofficer in the U.S. Air Force. He has held a vari-ety of human resources positions while inHawaii and later at the University of Kentucky,the Lexington-Fayette Urban CountyGovernment, and Eastern Kentucky University,from which he retired in July 2013. He holds alife-time certification as Senior Professional inHuman Resources (SPHR) and has heldnumerous leadership positions.

ABOUT THE @330 SERIES:The @330 events provide a topical presenta-tion that is relevant to the success of entrepre-neurs, business owners and business profes-sionals. They also allow members the opportu-nity to discuss ideas, share best practices, andwork through challenges.

TO REGISTER:The @330 events are open to CommerceLexington Inc. members at no charge.However, please register for the events bycontacting Liz Bennett at (859) 226-1615 [email protected].

EVENTS


Tuesday, December 8, 3:30-5:00 p.m.Where: Commerce Lexington Inc. (330 EastMain St., First Floor conference room)

TO RSVP: @330 events are open toCommerce Lexington members at no charge.However, please register prior to the event bycontacting Liz Bennett at (859) 226-1615 [email protected].

@330 SERIES

PRESENTED BY:

GOLD SPONSORS

Dickinson Wright PLLCLexiDan Foods, LLC/Waffle HouseTravelHost of the BluegrassUniversity of Kentucky's Gatton

College of Business & Economics Windstream Communications

@330 Series: Workplace Safety Precautions, Best Practices for BusinessesTUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2015 | 3:30 - 5:00 P.M. | COMMERCE LEXINGTON INC. (330 E. MAIN ST. - FIRST FLOOR CONFERENCE ROOM)

WALTER SKIBA, JR.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year,and Kentucky Eagle, Inc. will help you get themost out of your holiday networking experiencewhen it hosts the next Commerce Lexington Inc.Business Link event on Thursday, December 10,from 4:30-6:30 p.m., at Kentucky Eagle’s locationat 2440 Innovation Drive.

Bring plenty of business cards, and be readyto wrap up some new leads as you prepare tohead into 2015. And, of course, you won’t wantto miss the wonderful hospitality and the holidayspirit of Kentucky Eagle, while networking withother business professionals and colleagues.

TO ATTEND:The cost to attend the Business Link event is $5for Commerce Lexington members, $10 for non-members (payable at the door).

ON-LINE REGISTRATION:You can also pre-register for Business Linkevents on-line at www.CommerceLexington.com.Online registration closes the day before theevent. As always, you may still pay at the door. Ifregistering online, pick up your beverage ticket atthe registration table on the evening of the event.PLEASE NOTE: NO REFUNDS WILL BE GIVENFOR ONLINE REGISTRATIONS.

EXHIBIT SPACE:Limited exhibit space is available at this BusinessLink for Commerce Lexington Inc. members only.The cost to exhibit is $175. Contact Liz Bennettat [email protected] toreserve your exhibit space.


EVENTS

Spotlight Organization at Next Business Link isBluegrass GreensourceThe next Commerce Lexington Inc. BusinessLink event on Thursday, December 10, atKentucky Eagle, Inc. (2440 InnovationDrive), will spotlight Bluegrass Greensource,which is THE source for all things green incentral Kentucky, encouraging small stepstoward a sustainable future for our commu-nities. Formerly known as Bluegrass PRIDE,Bluegrass Greensource is a non-profit organ-ization that provides education andresources on how we affect our environ-ment. Since 2001, it has provided outreachto schools, community groups, businesses,local governments, and citizens throughoutCentral Kentucky. Find out more on-line atwww.bggreensource.org.

Kentucky Eagle, Inc. Hosts Holiday Business Link Event December 10thTHURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2015 | 4:30 - 6:30 P.M. | KENTUCKY EAGLE, INC. (2440 INNOVATION DRIVE)

SPONSORED BY:

EVENTS


Commerce Lexington Inc.’s 2016 AnnualDinner presented by Kentucky Employers’ MutualInsurance will be held on Thursday, January 28, atLexington Center’s Bluegrass Ballroom. The pre-dinner reception is scheduled from 5:30-7:00p.m., while dinner and the program will run from7:00-8:30 p.m.

Join us for great networking, good food, and alittle business, as we take a look back at 2015 and

highlight the organization’s focus for 2016. We’llalso present several awards, including theAmbassador of the Year, Volunteer of the Year,Public Policy Advocate of the Year, and ourDistinguished Leader Awards from ourLeadership Lexington youth and adult programs.

TO REGISTER:The cost to attend the 2016 Commerce LexingtonInc. Annual Dinner is $95 per person, or $950 pertable of ten. To register, e-mail [email protected].

KEMI Presents Commerce Lexington Inc. Annual Dinner on January 28th

®

PRESENTED BY:

THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016 | 5:30 - 8:30 P.M. | LEXINGTON CENTER’S BLUEGRASS BALLROOM

PLATINUM SPONSORS

Community Trust BankKeeneland Association, Inc.Kentucky Utilities Co.PNC BankEVENT DESIGN SPONSOR: Saint Joseph Hospital, a part ofKentuckyOne Health

RECEPTION SPONSOR: Bingham Greenebaum Doll LLPVIDEO SPONSOR: Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc.

GOLD SPONSORS: Central Bank & Trust Co. | Dickinson Wright PLLCIngersoll Rand | Kentucky American Water Lexmark International | Stites & Harbison, PLLCUniversity of Kentucky

SILVER SPONSORS: Ashland, Inc.Congleton-Hacker Co.Kentucky Community & Technical College SystemYour Community Bank

BRONZE SPONSORS: Blue Grass Airport | Fifth Third BankGRW, Inc. | Hanna Resource GroupHurst Business Supply & Furniture SolutionsLexington Clinic | Rose Camenisch Mains PLLCUBS Financial Services

AWARD SPONSORS: Frost Brown Todd LLC Manpower of Central KentuckyMcBrayer, McGinnis, Leslie & Kirkland, PLLCSam’s ClubStoll Keenon Ogden PLLC

INVITATION & PROGRAM DESIGN SPONSOR: Stablemate Creative LLC

INVITATION & PROGRAM PRINT SPONSOR: PrintLEX

EVENTS


PRESENTED BY:

Commerce Lexington to Visit Charleston, S.C. During 2016 Leadership Visit2016 LEADERSHIP VISIT | JUNE 8 - 10, 2016 | CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA

Commerce Lexington Inc. is pleased to announcethat the 2016 Leadership Visit presented byMcBrayer, McGinnis, Leslie & Kirkland, PLLC, willtake us to Charleston, South Carolina, June 8-10,2016. Comprised of three counties – Berkeley,Charleston and Dorchester – the Charleston regionis a highly diverse market, strategically located onthe Atlantic coast, combining a thriving economywith rich history, and an outstanding business cli-mate and quality of life.

If you’ve traveled to Charleston with CommerceLexington Inc. in the past, you’ll see that a lot oftransformation has taken place, such as the NorthKing Street development – similar to Lexington’sNorth Limestone initiative. And, after 40 years ofleadership under Mayor Joe Riley, we’ll be excited tosee the vision and direction of new CharlestonMayor John Tecklenburg, who was elected inNovember.

The Greater Charleston region has experiencedunprecedented business growth over the past sever-al years, with both multinational corporations andfast-growing startups taking advantage of its global-ly competitive business environment.

Charleston's success in attracting corporateinvestment - by both new and existing companies -is due to a number of factors, including a pro-busi-ness tax and incentive structure, a highly-skilledworkforce, world-class infrastructure and of courseits location. One of the area’s largest employers isBoeing with over 8,000 employees and still growing.Earlier this year, Mercedes-Benz Vans, a division ofDaimler AG, announced plans to build an assemblyplant in North Charleston, creating 1,300 jobs.South Carolina as a state is currently #3 in automo-tive manufacturing strength.

During the closing session of this year’sLeadership Visit to Kansas City, a large majority ofthe participants named education and workforcedevelopment as important focus areas for Lexingtongoing forward. More specifically, they wanted toknow what business can do to better assist our pub-lic schools in preparing students for the jobs of thefuture.

Betsy Dexter, Executive Director of the Businessand Education Network, said, “The CharlestonMetro Chamber of Commerce has worked to accel-erate the region’s talent pipeline by providing pro-grams and services to ensure they have a highlycompetitive workforce that meets the needs of busi-ness and industry. The development of CareerAcademies in local schools is a perfect example ofhow engaging business partners in education canincrease graduation rates, lower dropout rates, andensure that what is being taught in the classroom isrelevant to current job demands. I look forward tolearning more about their career academy modeland other community efforts that are helping toclose the skills gap.”

Charleston’s efforts in the area of workforcedevelopment have been nationally recognizedthanks to a variety of programs available throughTrident Technical College, readySC, PersonalPathways to Success, and Apprenticeship Carolina.

PLATINUM SPONSORS

Central Bank & Trust Co.CHASE / J.P. MorganKentucky Community & Technical

College SystemKentucky Utilities Co.Stites & Harbison, PLLCUnified Trust CompanyYour Community Bank

OPENING NIGHT RECEPTION SPONSOR

Saint Joseph Hospital, a Part ofKentuckyOne Health

BRIEFING BOOK SPONSOR

J.J.B. Hilliard, W. L. Lyons, LLC

NAME BADGE SPONSOR

Wyatt Tarrant & Combs, LLP

King Street Boeing

“The historic, beautiful and excit-ing city of Charleston, S.C. is the

perfect place for our annualLeadership Visit. Since our last

trip to the ‘Holy City,’ Charlestonhas been a national leader in edu-cation initiatives, attracting newbusinesses and integrating won-

derful workforce development pro-grams to successful outcomes.Oh, and did I mention the fun

and interesting sites we’ll visit? Ihope you can join us for this not-

to-be-missed opportunity.”- Alan Stein

President & CEO, SteinGroup, LLCCommerce Lexington Inc. Board Chair-Elect

TO REGISTER:Registration is now open for the2016 Leadership Visit toCharleston, South Carolina. Formore details and to download aregistration form, visitwww.commercelexington.com/leadership-visit.html. If youhave any questions, contactKatie Hardwick at [email protected].

Croatia: November 2015


EVENTS

As our group of 51 travelers arrived back homefrom Croatia in mid-November, Commerce LexingtonInc. is already busy preparing for its 2016International Trip to Sicily, Italy. Next year’s trip willtake place from September 17-23, with an optionaltrip extension to Malta until September 25th. Thisnine-day, seven-night trip includes stops in Palermo,Taormina along the Sicilian coast, Agrigento, withoptional tours to Cefalu, Marsala, Mount Etna(Europe’s largest active volcano), Syracuse, andMessina, with an optional extension to Malta and itscapital city of Valletta.

Some of the sights you’ll see on this once-in-a-life-time opportunity include such picturesque attrac-tions as Cappella Palatina, the Benedictine Abbey,Sicily’s colorful markets, Monreale and its cathedralcomplex dedicated to Santa Maria Nuova, the Valleyof the Temples in Agrigento, a visit to the GreekTheater built in the 3rd Centry B.C., and much more.

TO REGISTER:The early-bird cost of this nine-day, seven-night trip is$3,899 per person for Commerce Lexington Inc.members, or $3,999 per person for non-members,and includes hotels, some meals, day trips and air-fare from Cincinnati. This early-bird pricing is avail-able until April 29, 2016, after which time, the rateincreases by $100. For a more detailed trip itineraryand registration information, visit www.CommerceLexington.com or contact Katie Hardwick at [email protected].

Commerce Lexington Inc. 2016 International Trip to Take Travelers to Italy

CHAIRMAN Continued from Page 3

of our Congressional delegation, including our two U.S. Senators, topresent our priorities and get an update on key issues. The group alsomet with White House administration officials led by former KentuckyLieutenant Governor Jerry Abramson, who currently serves as The WhiteHouse Director of Intergovernmental Affairs.

In August, Commerce Lexington Inc. was honored to be recognizedamong the Top Chambers of Commerce for the second consecutive yearat the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives’ (ACCE) annualconvention in Montreal, Canada. To put this in perspective, there aremore than 7,000 chambers of commerce in the U.S., and about 1,400 aremembers of ACCE. I am proud to say that in the chamber industry, BobQuick and team are seen as extremely effective, always keeping in mindthe end goal, which is to support our member businesses and createnew wealth for our city.

The much-anticipated Breeders’ Cup came home to historicKeeneland in late October. In what included more than a year of prepa-ration for community leaders, Lexington put its best foot forward andput to rest any doubt that may have existed from those outside our areathat we could pull off yet another successful international event. Somany people came together to ensure that the weeks leading up to theevent itself ran smoothly, and the folks at Keeneland did an outstandingjob as usual making sure that the experience was like nothing seen

before at The Breeders’ Cup.It was another banner year for economic investment in our region.

As of mid-November, Commerce Lexington’s economic developmentdivision has worked on new and expanding projects totaling 820 jobsand nearly $112.3 million in investment. None of this success happens,however, without partnerships. Through the Bluegrass BusinessDevelopment Partnership, which includes Commerce Lexington Inc., theCity of Lexington, and the University of Kentucky, we are able to ensurethat the client experience is a good one from start to finish.

We were also honored to be asked by the National Safety Council tobe the catalyst in bringing its Safe Communities Program to Lexington.I would like to offer my sincere appreciation to the leaders of the UrbanCounty Government, the University of Kentucky, and the Fayette CountyHealth Department for collaborating in an effort to help Lexingtonbecome accredited as a “Safe Community.” This joint effort is now seenas an international model for this program by the National SafetyCouncil.

It’s been a great experience to serve as Chair of the CommerceLexington Inc. Board, and I look forward to working with many of youwithin our membership in the future. I am so proud of what this organ-ization represents, and the way businesses here support one another.Central Kentucky truly is a wonderful place to live and work.

2016 INTERNATIONAL TRIP | SICILY, ITALY | SEPTEMBER 17 - 23, 2016 (THROUGH SEPT. 25 FOR MALTA EXTENSION)

Photo by David Goodnight

Photo by Doug Stephan

Photos by Dou

g Step

han

Photo Cou

rtesy of Shirie Haw

kins


CONNECT

At nearly 94-percent of the total productiongoal, Winner’s Circle volunteers are nearingthe finish line of the 2015 campaign. The annu-al total resource development for CommerceLexington Inc. enlists the assistance of about100 volunteers who seek to bring in new mem-bers, renewals and membership upgrades,while informing members of the services andmarketing opportunities available throughCommerce Lexington Inc.

2015 Campaign Chairman Bill Lear of StollKeenon Ogden said, “We are making greatprogress this year. I am so proud of what ourvolunteers do year in and year out for thisorganization. They are not only fantasticambassadors for Commerce Lexington, butalso for our community. Please welcome theminto your business.”

Volunteers enjoyed recent recognitionevents at JDI Grill & Tavern and the Hilton

Lexington Downtown’s Big Blue Martini. Atpress time, the top teams in terms of total pro-duction included Central Bank & Trust Co.,Kentucky American Water/WindstreamCommunications, University of Kentucky, andthe Griffin Gate Marriott Resort & Spa.To find out more about sponsorship oppor-

tunities that are available for 2016, call (859)254-4447 or visit www.clxwinnerscircle.com.

Winner’s Circle Update: Volunteers Nearing Finish Line of 2015 Campaign

Winner’s Circle volunteers Melia Hord (KellerWilliams Greater Lexington), left, and Ashley Tabb(University of Kentucky) enjoyed one of the recentevents at JDI Grill & Tavern on October 28th.

Left to right: Lisa Parke (ADVERTISING SPECIAL-TIES...LLC), Jeannine Petell (Community TrustBank), and Curtis Warren (Kentucky Utilities Co.)played Winner’s Circle Bingo at the Big Blue Martinion November 11th.

CONNECT


The 27th annual Economic OutlookConference, which is co-presented byCommerce Lexington Inc., The Lane Report,the University of Kentucky’s Gatton Collegeof Business & Economics, and the Center forBusiness & Economics Research, along withPartner Sponsor Lexington-BluegrassAssociation of Realtors (LBAR), will be heldon Tuesday, February 2, from 8 a.m. to noon

at the Lexington Convention Center. Thisevent explores the key economic issues fac-ing Kentuckians today, and experts willspeak on significant issues designed toinform attendees about notable economictrends throughout the state and nation.

Some of the scheduled speakers includeDr. Mark E. Schweitzer from the FederalReserve Bank of Cleveland, Dr. Christopher

R. Bollinger and Dr. Jenny A. Minier from theGatton College of Business & Economics,and David O’Neill, Fayette County PropertyValuation Administrator.

Early registration is recommended forthis event. Register on-line atwww.gatton.uky.edu/eec. For more informa-tion about the event, call (859) 257-8746 or(800) 284-6407.

27th Annual Economic Outlook Conference is Tuesday, February 2, 2016

nesses will vary depending on size and indus-try.

“An example of a potential cost to aLexington-based client with 2,500 employeeswould be $6.2 million, while another client withapproximately 450 employees may have a costof about $950,000, and a client with 50 employ-ees may be faced with a $50,000 impact,”added Hanna. Although a final rule has not been approved,

it is recommended businesses that will beimpacted begin now to access potential costsand communicate those impacts to ourCongressional delegation.

“Small businesses would be especially ben-efited by investigating the cost of the proposedchanges, because their resources are muchmore limited,” added Hanna. “Our company isworking closely with many organizations to cal-culate how a change in ruling may directlyaffect their business to help with planning.”

If your business will be negatively impactedby the proposed overtime rule change, pleasecontact the offices of Congressman Andy Barr,U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell and U.S.Senator Rand Paul and share your concerns.Although public comment period on this rule isclosed, Members of Congress are able to com-municate on behalf of their constituents withthe U.S. Department of Labor.

More information about the proposed over-time rule change is available on-line atwww.dol.gov or www.uschamber.com. If youhave questions about how this rule may impactyour business, contact Andi Johnson, VicePresident for Public Policy, at (859) 226-1614.Hanna Resources Group has also developed

an online tool to help businesses with costanalysis related to regulation changes. If youwould like to reach out to HRG for more infor-mation, e-mail to [email protected].

OVERTIME From Page 6

Excerpts of Article by Julie Goodpaster,Special Olympics KentuckyOur day in Scott County to talk about Workforce

Development and Education was far more valuablethan any of us expected. The day started atGeorgetown College with a panel discussion aboutthe challenges and solutions for our local workforcedevelopment. Thepanel included KimMenke from TEMA,David Boggs fromOWL, and DianneLeveridge from KCTCS.Our next stop was toG e o r g e t o w nCommunity Hospitalwhere we met WilliamHaugh, the Presidentand CEO. Next we traveled to

Elkhorn CommunitySchool and took tourswith current studentsand briefly spoke withthe principal, MichelleNichols. The tour wasvery impressive andmany of us did notknow that ECS was inGeorgetown. It wasgreat to see all of thedifferent villages (Law,Engineering, HealthSciences, media arts,and biomedical sci-ences) and talk to current students about how ful-filled they are with the school and the environment. Our next stop of the day included a great tour of

the Toyota Motor Manufacturing Plant. It was veryimpressive to ride throughout the plant and see allthat goes into making one car. Many times Toyotaemployees would refer to the plant as a “mini city.”After our tour we spoke with Mark Manuel and CarolCrawford about the Advanced ManufacturingTechnician program offered by BCTC.

Our final bus trip returned our group toGeorgetown College where we debriefed about theday. Everyone was very impressed with each locationwe visited. The main reflection is that sometimeschange can be the biggest setback for a company andalso in the education system. At ECS, we saw justhow important it is to create an environment thatallows students to put real life skills in use to learnabout the career path that they want to go into.

Read This Full Article On-Line atwww.LeadershipCentralKentucky.com


CONNECT

Leadership Central Ky.Class Visits Scott County

Leadership Youth Program Studies Public Safety

Article by Hye Jee Kim, Henry Clay High SchoolGovernment and Public Safety Day provided the Leadership

Lexington Youth class with unique insight into the Lexington localgovernment. The first part of the day included a mock council ses-sion. I personally acted as the clerk, which was an amazing experi-ence. From my seat, I could see how every person seated aroundthe horseshoe was engaged. The environment was light-hearted,with people pretending to be “a concerned parent” or a “smallbusiness owner,” yet filled with diverse opinions. I think that everyone of us got to leave the government building with more knowl-edge. I know I did.

Visiting the courthouse was also eye opening, as Judge Steinshowed us how she impacts families every single day at work. Wegot the special opportunity to watch some court cases in action,which was incredibly interesting. Court in real life isn’t nearly asintimidating as court on television.

My favorite part of the day was the luncheon. Many fantasticpeople who work in LFUCG came to talk with us about their livesand jobs. I got to talk with Councilperson Jennifer Scutchfield. Wetalked about school, her work , and about what we wanted to do inthe future. This showed me how personal the local government is,as the people who make it up are our neighbors.In the afternoon, we got to visit the Lexington Police Department

Headquarters and a firehouse. Meeting the people who wear theuniforms changed my perspective. Policemen and firemen aren’tnameless faces that the media show. Instead, they’re fathers, sis-ters and friends. Overall, this day taught me so much about the Lexington com-

munity, including how it’s governed and how it’s kept safe. All theamazing people that I met prove that Lexington is one of the bestcities in the world.

PRESENTED BY:

BRONZE SPONSORS:

Target

Toyota MotorManufacturing,Kentucky, Inc.

PRESENTED BY:

PLATINUM SPONSOR:

GOLD SPONSOR:

Keeneland

SILVER SPONSORS:

BREAKFAST/LUNCH BY:

Ale-8-OneKentucky Bank

Georgetown/Scott Co.Chamber of Commerce

John W. Gilbert, M.D.3256 Loch Ness DriveLexington, KY 40517

859.971.0014www.sbncmd.com

One of the Most Technologically Advanced,Positional Open MRI Units

in Kentucky is in LEXINGTON.

Sarah S. Mattingly, AssociateDinsmore & Shohl LLP250 W. Main St., Suite 1400, Lexington 40507Phone (859) 425-1000Email: [email protected]

About Sarah Mattingly: Sarah moved to Lexington in 2008to attend law school at the University of Kentucky, and fell inlove with Lexington’s small-city feel and successful, vibranteconomy. She was named a “Kentucky Rising Star” bySuper Lawyers® in 2015.

About Her Role With Dinsmore: Dinsmore & Shohl is com-prised of 625 attorneys with locations in 21 cities. Sarah isan associate attorney in Dinsmore’s Corporate Department.Her practice is concentrated in the areas of commercial liti-gation and banking and finance law, including bankruptcy,foreclosure, workouts and secured transactions.

Why is it Important to be Involved With CommerceLexington Inc.: “As part of the business community, I believeit is important to understand the people and businessesinvolved in supporting and making Lexington a success andpersonally contributing to that success,” said Mattingly.

SARAHMATTINGLY

Read More About Our Ambassadors at www.CommerceLexington.com > Connect > Volunteer Opportunities

Excerpts of Article by Lisa Deaton Greer,UK HealthCare

Public Safety Day for the Leadership Lexingtonclass was surrounded with a lot of emotion. The dayfell during a time when two Central Kentucky com-munities were saying goodbye to first responderswho lost their lives in the line of duty. I am certaineach of us came into this day with a very different per-spective due to the events that had just transpired.The objective of the day was set to provide anoverview of the criminal justice system and highlightareas of concern. The day chairs (Ray Larson, KimSweazy and Warren Rogers) did a wonderful job help-ing to meet this objective, as well as giving us truehands on experience as to what our criminal justicesystem embodies.

While the actual day was on Nov. 12th, many ofthe class started our public safety journey by partici-pating in the much anticipated Officer Ride-Alongprogram. This opportunity took us to the front linesof our law enforcement community and allowed us tosee what a day in the life of an officer is really like. Allwho participated would agree this was an eye open-ing experience and one not soon to be forgotten.

We kicked off our day touring the Fayette RegionalDetention Center. This set the tone for our day. Welearned a great deal about the center itself and moreimportantly the “residents.” Our next stop led us tothe Fayette County Adult Detention Center where wewere greeted by Mr. Rodney Ballard and severalmembers of his team. We learned that the detentioncenter books over 24,000 in a given year.

After a busy morning, the class arrived at theLexington Police Department Headquarters forlunch. We were welcomed by Police Chief MarkBarnard. Chief Barnard did a wonderful job address-ing some of the recent media reports surroundinglaw enforcement and invited NAACP president

William Saunders to join him. A panel discussion moderated by Kim Sweazy

included Chief Barnard and Mr. Saunders, DistrictAttorney Ray Larson, Criminal Defense Attorney RussBaldani and Lexington Assistant Fire Chief ChrisSweat. While each of these gentleman have an indi-vidual role in the criminal system, it was interestingto see how they all overlap and work with each otherto keep our streets and families safe, but also makecertain the law is being upheld on all sides. Thegroup fielded questions from our class for a littleover an hour; they were honest with their responsesand very generous with their time. Each addressedvery tough issues facing our first responders today.

The day wrapped up with an interactive tour of thepolice department and equipment used on the frontlines. On behalf our entire class, we are all very grate-ful for the time each individual took to be with us.There is no doubt we have some of the finest firstresponders in the nation here in Lexington, KY.

Leadership Lexington Class Members Explore Local Public Safety Efforts

Ambassador Spotlight: Sarah S. Mattingly, Dinsmore & Shohl LLP

2015-16 CLASS PRESENTED BY:

BRONZE SPONSORS:

PLATINUM SPONSOR:

Kentucky Utilities Co.Sleep Outfitters

Toyota Motor Manufacturing,Kentucky, Inc.

TravelHost of the Bluegrass

CONNECT


Leadership Lexington class member Allison Huck(Baptist Health Lexington) tried out a Lexington policeofficer’s motorcycle during Public Safety Day.

Alliance Financial Planning, LLCFinancial Planning ConsultantsDiane Verhalen, Owner/CertifiedFinancial Planner525 Darby Creek Road #29Lexington, KY 40509Phone: (859) 977-6006Web: www.alliancefp.net

ASEAHealth & WellnessKathy M. Howell, Owner3312 Buckhorn DriveLexington, KY 40515Phone: (859) 494-4802Web: www.kathymhowell.com

Bayou Bluegrass Catering &Copper RouxCaterersShanna Combs, Owner/Manager861 South BroadwayLexington, KY 40504Phone: (859) 523-7915Web: www.bayoubluegrass.com

Blue Grass Auto Body, Inc.Auto Body Repair & PaintLeAnne Lancaster Brooks1040 West High StreetLexington, KY 40508-3189Phone: (859) 255-4040Web: www.bgautobody.com

Harry D. Callicotte, PLLCAttorneysHarry D. Callicotte, Attorney at Law1795 Alysheba Way, Suite 2204Lexington, KY 40509Phone: (859) 550-7146

Darby Dan FarmHorse FarmsTracie Willis, Controller3225 Old Frankfort PikeLexington, KY 40510Phone: (859) 254-0424Web: www.darbydan.com

Elite BPOInformation TechnologyChristy Henry, Account Executive500 Horton CourtLexington, KY 40511Phone: (859) 514-2671Web: www.elitebpo.com

Fairfield Inn by Marriott - BeaumontHotels/MotelsAdela Yohe, General Manager3050 Lakecrest CircleLexington, KY 40513Phone: (859) 224-3338Web: www.marriott.com/lexsw

Fayette County Sheriff's OfficeGovernment OfficesKathy Witt, Sheriff150 N. Limestone, Suite 265Lexington, KY 40507Phone: (859) 252-1771Web: www.fayettesheriff.com

Fitzpatrick's FurnitureFurniture DealersMontoy S. Garvin, Store Manager1620 Old Paris RoadLexington, KY 40505Phone: (859) 299-7808Web: www.fitzpatricksfurniture.com

Frank Shoop Chevy, Chrysler, Jeep,Dodge, Inc.Auto Dealers-New CarsFrank Shoop, CEO - Dealer Principal1470 Cherry Blossom WayGeorgetown, KY 40324Phone: (502) 863-3727Web: www.frankshoop.com

Hampton Inn by Hilton - MedicalCenter/UKHotels/MotelsPatrick Easley, Director of Sales1953 Nicholasville RoadLexington, KY 40503Phone: (859) 313-9000Web: www.hamptoninn.com

Kentucky Home TeamRealtorsMiranda Hinchman, Realtor1019 Majestic Drive #170Lexington, KY 40513Phone: (859) 621-8073Web: www.kentuckyhometeam.com

LockNetLocks & LocksmithsChad Miller, CEO800 John C. Watts DriveNicholasville, KY 40356Phone: (859) 887-9119Web: www.locknet.com

Marshall Lifestyle MedicinePhysicians & Surgeons, AgeManagementMichael Kitchen, COO2251 War Admiral WayLexington, KY 40509Phone: (859) 608-4841www.marshalllifestylemedicine.com

Omveria, LLCInformation TechnologyJoe Montgomery, CEO325 W. Main Street, Suite 300Lexington, KY 40507Phone: (844) 688-3742Web: www.omveria.com

Pine Tree ApartmentsApartmentsLin Foley, Property Manager134 North BroadwayGeorgetown, KY 40324Phone: (502) 863-0930

rmLexington ApartmentsApartmentsApril Foreman, Property Manager3600 Winthrop DriveLexington, KY 40514-1968Phone: (859) 223-3600Web: www.rmlexington.com

Scout & Molly'sRetailersAmi Bertrand, Director of Operations1452 Copper Glen DriveLexington, KY 40514Phone: (859) 619-5929

Seniors Helping SeniorsHealthcareLynn Phillips, Owner/Manager710 East Main StreetLexington, KY 40502Phone: (859) 408-1145www.seniorshelpingseniors.com/lexington

Sitek Solutions Inc.IT Consulting/Technical StaffingErin Jernigan, Business Develop.Manager841 Corporate Drive, Suite 203Lexington, KY 40503Phone: (859) 327-3331Web: www.siteksolutions.com

SQS-USAConsultantsLance Radebaugh, Dir., SQS-USA108 Esplanade, Suite 210Lexington, KY 40507Phone: 859-317-9504Web: www.sqs.com

Sunbelt RentalsConstruction EquipmentTim Robinette, Senior Vice Pres.1160 East New Circle RoadLexington, KY 40505Phone: (859) 233-9531Web: www.sunbeltrentals.com

SYNERGY Home LLCAir Conditioning & Heating SystemsJamie Clark, President1336 Prather RoadLexington, KY 40502Phone: (859) 806-4069Web: www.mysynergyhome.com

The Bourbon ReviewAdvertising-MagazineRobert K. Eidson, Founder117 Cheapside #201Lexington, KY 40507-1377Phone: (770) 289-9021Web: www.gobourbon.com

Thomas P. Miller & Associates(TPMA)ConsultantsTom West, Senior Vice President331 East Short StreetLexington, KY 40507Phone: (317) 894-5508Web: www.tpma-inc.com

Thompson Catering & Special EventsCaterersKimminee Costello, PR, Marketing& Event Manager121 Hud RoadWinchester, KY 40391Phone: (859) 745-2019Web: www.partyky.com

TrusT LoungeBarAndy Shea, President/Owner123 W. Main StreetLexington, KY 40507Phone: (859) 317-9399Web: www.trustonmain.com

Welcome New Commerce Lexington Inc. members for the period of October 19, through November 18, 2015


NEW MEMBERS

Steptoe & Johnson PLLC has been ranked national-ly in Mining Law in the 2016 edition of U.S. News &World Report’s “Best Law Firms.” The firm is alsotop ranked in more than 30 practice areas coveringfour metropolitan areas. Firms included in “BestLaw Firms” are recognized for professional excel-lence by leading lawyers and clients.

Stites & Harbison, PLLC recently welcomed attor-ney Elizabeth Esty Darby to its Lexington office ascounsel with the firm in the Business ServicesGroup.

The 2016 edition of Benchmark Litigation, whichhonors the firms and attorneys who have demon-strated the ability to consistently handle complex,high-stakes cases in multiple jurisdictions, named14 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys as “LitigationStars” and two as “Future Stars” in Kentucky.Lexington attorneys named to the list of LitigationStars included Daniel Danford, Anne Gorham,William Gorton III, Buckner Hinkle, Jr., GregoryParsons, and Ashley Ward.

U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers havereleased their 2016 “Best Law Firms” rankings.Stites & Harbison, PLLC’s overall results included86 metropolitan rankings, from clients in Atlanta,Lexington, Louisville, Nashville, and Washington,D.C. The firm’s three National Tier 1 rankings camein the areas of Litigation - Construction, Litigation-Real Estate, and Trademark Law.

Sturgill, Turner, Barker & Moloney, PLLC has beenranked in the 2016 U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “BestLaw Firms” list regionally in 11 practice areas. Firmslisted among the 2016 “Best Law Firms” are recog-nized for professional excellence with persistentlyimpressive ratings from clients and peers.

Traditional Bank recently welcomed Dave Ransdellas a commercial loan officer, serving the bank’sLexington market at the Palomar Banking Center.

The Urban League of Lexington-Fayette Countyrecently announced its 2015 award winners, includ-ing Merlene Davis (Community Service Award),PNC Financial Services Group (CorporateChampion of Diversity Award), Charlene Walker(Individual Champion of Diversity Award), andLexiDan Foods/Waffle House (Ambassador ofDiversity Award).

SUBMIT PERSONNEL NEWS:Submit your company’s awards, personnel changes,additions, or promotions for Business Focus [email protected]. Information ispublished in the order received and only as spacepermits.

Assured Neace Lukens recently hired PatrickGarvey as a marketing manager in its Lexingtonoffice.

Billings Law Firm, PLLC: Stephen F. Wilson hasjoined the firm as an associate attorney.

Bingham Greenebaum Doll LLP announced thatattorney Young-Eun Park has joined the firm as anassociate and in its Litigation Practice Group.Additionally, Bingham Greenebaum Doll LLP hasbeen named to the 2016 “Best Law Firms” list byU.S. News – Best Lawyers®. The firm received Tier1 recognition in three metropolitan areas -Indianapolis, Louisville and Lexington. Tier 1Rankings were determined through a combinationof feedback from the firm’s clients and peers, aswell as information provided in a survey.

boice.net has been honored with the prestigiousCRN Triple Crown Award. Only select solutionproviders receive this recognition, which went tothose companies who had the revenue, growthand technical expertise to be recognized on CRN’s2015 Solution Provider 500, Fast Growth 150 andTech Elite 250 lists.

Bowles Rice LLP received a national ranking inMining Law, as well as 41 metropolitan area FirstTier rankings in the 2016 edition of U.S. News &World Report’s Best Law Firms. Bowles Ricereceived regional recognition at the highest level,Tier 1, in the Lexington area in Employment Law –Management.

Central Bank & Trust Co. announced the promotionof Tammy Carroll to vice president, retail banking.

Creative Lodging Solutions recently announced theinternal promotions of Sandra Stokley to vice pres-ident of travel services and Jackie Ellis, SPHR,SHRM-CP, to vice president of human resources.

Dean Dorton Allen Ford, PLLC announced the fol-lowing additions to its Lexington office, includingBill Cox as senior technology consultant, JasonAmburgey as a tax specialist, and Brandi Clark,CPA, as ASG manager.

Hospice of the Bluegrass was recently recognizedfor extraordinary investment, commitment andachievement in providing quality end-of-life care toveterans and their families. Hospice of theBluegrass is a We Honor Veterans Level 4 partner,which is the highest distinction a hospice providercan receive. The recognition was part of the fifthanniversary celebration of the We Honor Veteransprogram, an initiative of the National Hospice andPalliative Care Organization in collaboration withthe Department of Veterans Affairs.

Shay Spradlin is the new agency director forImages Model and Talent Agency in Lexington.

Keller Williams Greater Lexington announced thefollowing new agents: father & son team Fred B.Copeland and Fred Copeland Sr., Mary Ann Morris,Benjamin Lawwill, Mercedez Ramos, JenniferDivine, Kathy Marshall, Jeff Green, Josh Shepler,Jessica Hayes, Owen Cooper, and Anne FisherSmith.

Nick Rowe has returned as president of KentuckyAmerican Water. Rowe previously served as presi-dent of Kentucky American Water from 2004 to2011. Since 2011, he has led American Water’sCentral Division, which includes Kentucky,Michigan, Tennessee and Indiana. Rowe will bereplacing Cheryl Norton, who was named presi-dent of Missouri American Water. In addition,Kevin Rogers was recently named vice president ofoperations for the company.

The Kentucky Horse Park Foundation recentlyelected Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorney Walter S.Robertson, II, to its board of directors.

Jesse Scaglion has joined the Lexington Legendsas a senior corporate sales executive.

Lexington Mayor Jim Gray recognized LexingtonTheological Seminary’s (LTS) 150th anniversaryduring the month of October, presenting LTS witha plaque to commemorate the occasion. LTS is thepioneer theological school of the Christian Church(Disciples of Christ). The Seminary has played avital role in that church’s development, while alsoplaying a key role in the history of higher educationin Kentucky.

Lextran, the Transit Authority of Lexington,appointed the following new members to its boardof directors: George Ward (University of KentuckyColdstream Research Campus); Christian Motley(Kentucky Education Association); and MarcieKrueger-Sidebottom (VisitLEX).

Over the last several months, Midway Universityhas earned recognition from several regional andnational publications for its strong academic pro-grams and affordability. Most notably, the univer-sity jumped from 65th to 54th on U.S. News &World Report’s list of top colleges in the South.Midway received the ranking based on a numberof factors, including an 83-percent freshman reten-tion rate and a 15:1 student/faculty ratio. Othernational publications also recognizing Midwayincluded College Factual, sponsored by USA Today,which ranked the university tenth of 26 inKentucky, BestColleges.com, which namedMidway tenth on the website’s list of BestWomen’s Colleges, and Washington Monthly mag-azine, which placed it among its top 2016 BestBang for the Buck Colleges in the South.

Sayre Christian Village welcomed Tyler Green asChaplain.


PERSONNEL ANNOUNCEMENTS

COMMERCE LEXINGTON INC. UPCOMING EVENTS

Commerce Lexington Inc.330 East Main Street, Suite 100P.O. Box 1968Lexington, KY 40588-1968

PeriodicalPostage PAIDat Lexington,

Kentucky

DECEMBER 2015:Leadership Lexington Youth Program presented by UKHealthCare: Arts & Media Day.

@330 Series presented by Manpower of Central Kentucky,3:30 - 5:00 p.m., at CLX 1st floor conference room.

- SEE PAGE 8

5 Across pitch contest, begins 5:00 p.m. at Awesome Inc.(348 East Main Street). Admission: $5 per person.

Leadership Lexington presented by KentuckyOne Health:Education Day Session.

Business Link sponsored and hosted by Kentucky Eagle, Inc.(2440 Innovation Dr.), 4:30-6:30 p.m. - SEE PAGE 9

Leadership Central Kentucky presented by KU - a PPLCompany at Franklin County.

New Member Luncheon presented by Park Community CreditUnion, 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., at CLX 1st Floor conferenceroom.

JANUARY 2016:Leadership Lexington Youth Program presented by UKHealthCare: Mid-Year Development Day.

@330 Series presented by Manpower of Central Kentucky, 3:30- 5:00 p.m., at CLX 1st floor conference room.

Leadership Lexington presented by KentuckyOne Health:Health & Human Services Day Session.

Leadership Central Kentucky presented by KU - a PPL Companyat Fayette County.

Commerce Lexington Inc. Annual Dinner presented by KentuckyEmployers’ Mutual Insurance, 5:30 - 8:30 p.m., at LexingtonCenter’s Bluegrass Ballroom. - SEE PAGE 10

FEBRUARY 2016:27th annual Economic Outlook Conference, 8:00 a.m. to noon,at Lexington Convention Center.

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