Business Lexington, April 2026

Lighting the Way

Red Oak Outdoor Lighting celebrates two decades of bringing landscapes to life at night

… Kentucky’s horizon

What is next for Kentucky? Our cooperatives will be ready.

We are planning and building power plants and power lines to ensure Kentucky has reliable, competitive, sustainable energy to power homes, businesses and industries.

Reliable 24/7 power plants and power lines, alongside sustainable low-carbon resources, at prices to keep Kentucky competitive in the global marketplace.

We are committed to a bright future for Kentucky.

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Business Briefs PAGE 4

Local business news in brief

Write Stuff PAGE 7

Pause before you hit “send”

Real Estate PAGE 8

A monthly look at economic indicators compiled by the Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER) at the University of Kentucky

Business Lesson PAGE 9

Lead with people, not products

Crave Worthy PAGE 10

Saving food while saving money: Local businesses turn to Too Good To Go app to cut waste and offer customers’ deep discounts

Quick Bites PAGE 12

Chocomania expands with house-made gelato shop

Independent Business PAGE 14

Lighting the way: Red Oak Outdoor Lighting celebrates two decades of bringing landscapes to life at night

BizLex Q&A PAGE 20

Visit Horse Country's Executive Director Hallie Hardy

BizLists

Law Firms PAGE 26

Insurance Companies PAGE 28 Regional Employers PAGE 30

Who’s Who PAGE 32

Local employment news and awards

Storied & Stylish

Mulberry & Lime home furnishing shop, boutique and design center is celebrating its 25th anniversary

PAGE 16

Growing With Purpose

The Klausing Group’s recent B Corp certification underscores a business model long rooted in sustainability and social impact

PAGE 22

The Business of Law

Local legal firms balance change and continuity through succession planning, mentorship, and a long view of talent development

PAGE 24

New Report Underscores Bourbon’s Impactful Role in Kentucky’s Economy

The Kentucky Distillers’ Association released its latest biennial economic impact report, reaffirming Kentucky bourbon as a major driver of the state’s economy even as the industry faces mounting challenges.

The report shows bourbon remains a $10.6 billion signature industry in Kentucky, supporting nearly 24,000 jobs statewide despite ongoing uncertainty tied to global trade volatility, shifting generational consumer tastes, rising barrel taxes, and broader market and geopolitical pressures that have slowed alcohol sales and reduced exports.

Now in its eighth edition, the study, conducted using the latest available data, also found that the distilling industry generates a record $372 million annually in state and local tax revenue. Kentucky distillers purchase 27.3 million bushels of corn each year, with 84% sourced from Kentucky farm families, up from 70% in the previous report.

The industry currently supports 23,935 jobs, delivering $2 billion in salaries, wages and benefits — an increase of more than 800 jobs over the past two years despite recent cutbacks.

The report notes that Kentucky’s distilling industry plans to invest an additional $1.45 billion over the next five years and now operates more licensed distilleries than ever, with 125 locations owned by 104 companies across 45 counties. Distillers are also storing a record 17.1 million barrels of spirits, including 16.1 million barrels of bourbon, while paying sharply higher taxes on aging barrels — $75 million in 2025 alone, a 163% increase over the past five years.

The study further highlights bourbon’s economic ripple effect, noting that the industry provides the second-highest job multiplier in Kentucky, trailing only the automobile sector, and supports a wide network of farm families, cooperages, truckers and other suppliers. Nationally, Kentucky continues to dominate the distilling landscape, accounting for 27% of U.S. spirits production and employment, far ahead of second-place Tennessee at 8.4%.

“This comprehensive analysis demonstrates the economic impact of Kentucky’s homegrown and historic bourbon industry, which remains significantly ahead in jobs,

Kentucky’s distilling landscape is expanding, with a record 125 licensed distilleries across 45 counties, including Old Forester in Louisville (pictured).

investment and stature from over a decade ago,” said Eric Gregory, president of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association.

He cautioned, however, that the data represents a snapshot in time and that the industry’s long-term future is not guaranteed without a stable and competitive policy environment.

The association also recently announced the addition of 10 new stops on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, including Dark Arts Whiskey House in Lexington, LF Heritage Distilling in Georgetown and J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery in Frankfort, further expanding bourbon tourism across the state. ■

Stock Yards Bancorp to acquire Field & Main in all-stock deal

Stock Yards Bancorp Inc., parent company of Stock Yards Bank & Trust Co., announced it will acquire Field & Main Bancorp Inc. in an all-stock transaction expected to close during the second quarter of 2026, subject to approval by Field & Main shareholders and regulatory approvals.

Stock Yards Bank & Trust Co. operates offices in Louisville and central, eastern and northern Kentucky, as well as in Indianapolis and Cincinnati. Field & Main, headquartered in Henderson, Kentucky, operates six retail branches in Henderson, Lexington and Cynthiana, as well as in Evansville, Indiana.

The combined franchise will serve customers through 81 branches, with approximately $10.4 billion in total assets, $7.9 billion in gross loans, $8.6 billion in deposits and $8.4 billion in trust assets under management. The partnership also represents an opportunity to accelerate Stock Yards’ strategic expansion across western Kentucky.

The recent addition of a Bowling Green market president underscores the company’s long-term growth plans in western Kentucky.

Under the terms of the merger agreement, Field & Main shareholders will receive 0.6550 shares of Stock Yards common stock for each share of Field & Main common stock. Total consideration will consist entirely of stock. Based on the closing price of Stock Yards common stock of $68.01 on Jan. 26, the implied per-share purchase price is $44.55, with an aggregate transaction value of approximately $105.7 million. ■

MCF Advisors expands into Cincinnati with acquisition

MCF Advisors, a Lexington-based RIA, has expanded into the Greater Cincinnati market through the acquisition of Wealth Planning Corporation, a Cincinnati-based wealth management firm overseeing approximately $617 million in assets.

The transaction closed Feb. 27 and increases MCF’s total assets under management to $4.7 billion. This marks MCF’s second acquisition since partnering with Wealth Partners Capital Group and HGGC in March 2025, reflecting the firm’s continued focus on disciplined, culture-driven growth.

The deal brings nine team members to MCF, including WPC President Todd Steinbrink, who joins as regional director and partner, and Angela Dietrich, who joins as partner and director of client service. ■

MEDIA

Scripps to acquire WTVQ in $15.8 million deal

Cincinnati-based The E.W. Scripps Company has reached an agreement to purchase WTVQ-TV, Lexington’s ABC affiliate, from Morris Network for $15.8 million, a move that could reshape the local television landscape.

If approved, the deal would create a duopoly in the Lexington market, with Scripps owning both WTVQ-TV (ABC 36) and WLEX-TV (NBC 18). Gray Media currently owns WKYT-TV (CBS 27).

Scripps President and CEO Adam Symson said the acquisition fits the company’s

strategy of strengthening its local television portfolio and expanding its reporting presence in communities.

The transaction is subject to federal regulatory approval and other closing conditions. During the review process, Scripps will provide certain programming and marketing services to WTVQ through a local programming and marketing agreement.

The purchase is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026.

The price is $44.55, with an aggregate transaction value of approximately $105.7 million. ■

MANUFACTURING

Toyota marks 40 years in Kentucky with $1 billion investment

Forty years after breaking ground on its first wholly owned U.S. manufacturing plant, Toyota is doubling down on its Kentucky roots with a large investment aimed at expanding production and preparing for the next generation of vehicles.

The company recently marked the 40th anniversary of Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky — now its largest plant in the world — by announcing a $1 billion investment across its Kentucky and Indiana operations. The move underscores Toyota’s long-term commitment to U.S. manufacturing and comes as part of a broader pledge, announced in November 2025, to invest up to $10 billion in its U.S. plants over the next five years.

Toyota first established its Kentucky footprint in 1986, a pivotal moment that helped anchor its American production strategy. The Georgetown plant would go on to produce millions of vehicles, beginning with the Toyota Camry, and remains a cornerstone of the company’s North American operations.

“Toyota’s investment in the U.S. is for the long term, tied to our philosophy of building where we sell and buying where we build,” said Mark Templin, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Toyota Motor North America. “Our teams have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of more than 35 million vehicles for customers in the U.S.”

The largest share of the new investment — $800 million — will go to the Kentucky plant. The funding will support Toyota’s “multi-pathway” approach to electrification, including preparations to produce a second battery electric vehicle at the facility. It will also expand capacity for two of the company’s top-selling models, the Camry and RAV4.

An additional $200 million will be invested in Toyota’s Indiana plant to boost production of the Grand Highlander SUV. The vehicle will be assembled alongside the Sienna minivan in the plant’s East facility, while production continues in the West Plant with the Lexus TX.

For Kentucky leaders, the anniversary and investment highlight the plant’s continued role as both an economic engine and a workforce hub.

In addition to capital investments, Toyota announced new funding aimed at workforce development and education across the Commonwealth.

The company will contribute $4 million to its Driving Possibilities initiative, a STEM-focused program designed to expand access to science, technology, engineering, and math education in Scott and Fayette county schools. With the new funding, total investment in the program in Kentucky exceeds $11 million.

Toyota also committed $400,000 to support the Manufacturing Engineering program at Eastern Kentucky University, part of a broader effort to strengthen the pipeline of skilled workers for advanced manufacturing careers. ■

Lead with people, not products

BY JENNIFER MATTOX

Many of us work in businesses that provide products, programs, or services for other people. Our minds may be focused on doing our jobs and what we’re offering — instead of who benefits and how it impacts them. To make a stronger connection with your reader and keep their interest, focus on people first in your written communications.

If I told you about the 200 seasonal classes the Carnegie Center offers each year in writing, languages, special interest topics, and children’s literacy needs, you might find it informative. The same is true if I mention our K-12 tutoring program serving children in need of reading and math help, but you’ll better hook your reader by leading with a person your organization has impacted.

Write something like this instead: Using the information learned through Carnegie Center writing classes, a woman recently landed a New York literary agent and now has a contract with a major publisher for her debut novel. She is one of many people who take classes at the Carnegie Center each year … [insert info about classes].

Or this: A boy struggling with upper-level math in high school was worried he’d fail the class and not be accepted into college. Through the help of our tutoring program’s Math Specialist, he not only passed the class, but also became the first person in his family to go to college. Our tutoring program serves children in grades … [insert info about the tutoring program].

These are real stories, and they demonstrate impact.

What about products, you may ask? Ever notice how commercials on TV show you an individual who needs a certain product — like laundry detergent for a stain — then show that product solving the problem? It’s designed to help you feel connected to the person, because you might need that product, too.

People are swayed more by other people than they are by descriptions of products, services, and program designs. Try putting people first in your communications and see if it makes a difference. ■

Jennifer Mattox is the Executive Director of the Carnegie Center for Literacy & Learning and a professional writer.

For more information, visit CarnegieCenterLex.org.

PVA REPORTS

Statistics on local residential and commercial property are compiled by the office of the Fayette County Property Valuation Administrator. The data reflect the most up-to-date information available at the time of printing for this publication, but monthly figures may be revised as additional public records of property transactions are submitted and become available.

Top Commercial Transactions for Feb. 2026

2/2/261275 Industry Road $581,500 Retail Seiler Lexington Building LLC

2/3/261031 Wellington Way Unit 230 $120,000 Office Condo Apex Rentals LLC

2/4/263301 Morhan Way $460,000 Multifamily GQ Realty LLC

2/6/26531 Darby Creek Road Unit 48 $145,000 Office Condo DNM LLC

2/9/26101 Malabu Drive Unit 2 $320,000*Office Condo 40 Acres and The Mule LLC

2/9/26101 Malabu Drive Unit 1 $320,000*Office Condo 40 Acres and The Mule LLC

2/10/26377 E. New Circle Rd $510,000 Retail Paper Route Partners LLC

2/12/26444 Lewis Hargett Cir. Ste. 260 $636,000 Office Condo DK Property Holdings LLC

2/17/261669 Jaggie Fox Way

$1,175,000Office/warehouseCS Properties LLC

2/17/26101 W. Short St. $1,030,000Retail Short & Lime LLC

2/20/26150 Deweese St. $980,000 Multifamily C & M Holdings of Lex LLC

2/23/261206 N. Broadway $237,000 Office Building Wade Holdings LLC

2/27/26122-124 N. Upper St. $3,150,000Retail BC Investors Real Estate LLC

*Sale Price Based on a Multiple-Parcel Transaction ** Parcel includes multiple improvements, see property record for details

Residential Sales Data for Feb. 2026

The chart below shows the monthly residential sales activity in Fayette County for the previous 24 months. The data for the most recent month reflects a projected estimate from the office of the Fayette County Property Valuation Administrator and is subject to change.

Pause before you hit “send”

BY TOM WILMES

E

arlier this year, Jaron P. Blandford stepped into the role of managing member at McBrayer PLLC as part of a planned leadership transition that moved longtime managing member James H. Frazier III into a CEO role focused on firmwide strategy, growth and innovation.

Blandford brings nearly three decades of experience with McBrayer, having grown from litigation and trial work into advising clients on complex business and operational issues, and now as the firm’s top executive leader. Like most long careers, it has included a few lessons learned along the way. One of the most memorable came early in his career — and it involved a simple but costly mistake.

“I still remember an incident when I was a young lawyer,” Blandford says. “I reacted too quickly to an ongoing issue and sent an email inadvertently to — and about — the very person involved, rather than to the colleague I intended.”

The experience left a lasting impression.

“Today I never send an email or text without reading it multiple times to ensure it’s addressed to the correct person and says exactly what I intend,” he says. “And I never respond immediately when emotions are high. Take time to think about your message before hitting ‘send.’”

The lesson: In a world of instant communication, a moment of patience can prevent a lasting mistake. ■

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Saving Food While Saving Money

Local businesses turn to Too Good To Go app to cut waste and offer customers’ deep discounts

BY SHANNON CLINTON

Between inflation and shrinkflation — when packaged foods get smaller while prices stay the same or increase — many consumers are looking for ways to save.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Price Outlook offers little relief this year. Overall food prices are expected to rise 3.1 percent, with food-at-home prices increasing 2.5 percent and food-away-from-home prices climbing 3.7 percent.

As budgets tighten and consumer buying habits shift, perishables such as baked goods, produce and meat are more likely to remain on shelves. That, in turn, contributes to food waste as items approach their expiration dates.

A growing number of Lexington-area groceries, bakeries and convenience stores are turning to a solution: Too Good To Go, an app designed to connect consumers with food nearing its sell-by date — still safe to eat — at steep discounts.

Local participants include Whole Foods Market at The Summit, Good Foods Co-op, several Circle K locations, European Market & Deli and Dunkin' on Richmond Road.

Using the app, customers receive notifications when a limited number of “surprise bags” become available near the end of the day. After reserving a bag, customers pay online and pick it up within a designated time window.

p Through the Too Good To Go app, customers can purchase bags of products nearing their sell-by date at steep discounts.

Shoppers typically know the category — baked goods, flowers and potted plants, meat, prepared foods or produce — but not the exact contents until pickup.

Pricing varies, but the savings can be significant.

At Whole Foods, bags of meat or prepared foods valued at $30 recently sold for $9.99. A floral bag valued at $24 sold for $7.99, while produce and bakery bags valued at $21 sold for $6.99 each.

At Good Foods Co-op, a grocery surprise bag valued at $21 sells for $6.99, while a prepared foods bag valued at $15 is priced at $4.99. A dozen Krispy Kreme doughnuts, typically $17.49, are offered for $5.83 through the app. At European Market & Deli, a baked goods bag valued at $12 sells for $3.99.

To help expand participation and reduce food waste, Bluegrass Greensource and VisitLEX have partnered to encourage more food-focused busi-

nesses to adopt the app, said BG Outreach Director Rachel Skinner.

“Bluegrass Greensource serves as the sustainability consultant for VisitLEX,” Skinner said. “While developing additional initiatives with them — such as our SustainabLEX Business Certification — food rescue and recovery frequently came up as an important opportunity for the Lexington community.”

After seeing positive results in other markets, Skinner said the organization began encouraging existing partners to participate while recruiting new businesses.

In doing so, Lexington can further establish itself as a “green destination” while reducing food waste, she said.

Good Foods Co-op was the first grocery store Bluegrass Greensource worked with directly to establish a presence on the app. Other local participants joined independently, Skinner said, and more are being sought.

Good Foods Co-op Marketing Manager Kara Shepherd said the store began offering surprise bags in early March. The response has been strong, with about five bags offered most days, typically selling out within 10 minutes.

“It will differ day-to-day amd week-to-week based on what products we have readily available,” she said, but some examples might be meat, a box of macaroni and cheese, protein powder, body care, prepped food and general merchandise.

Local participants include Whole Foods Market at The Summit, Good Foods Co-op, several Circle K locations, European Market & Deli, and Dunkin'.

She said being environmentally responsible is “part of who we are at our core — we’re always looking at ways to be more sustainable.”

Loving a good bargain, I decided to try the app. After a successful trial run at a Circle K in Mt. Washington, I recently reserved two surprise bags at Whole Foods — one produce and one bakery.

Pickup was straightforward, scheduled between 8 and 9 p.m. the same day. The freshness, quality, quantity and variety of items exceeded expectations. The produce bag included a mix of mushrooms and two prepackaged vegetable kits with sauces. The bakery bag contained half a loaf of sliced bread, a cinnamon roll, mini cupcakes, butterscotch pretzel cookies, muffins and chocolate-filled pastries.

Items I didn’t use immediately or share were prepped and frozen for later. The experience offered a practical way to save money while trying new products.

Skinner said the program ultimately benefits businesses, consumers and the environment.

“By selling soon-to-expire food at a discounted price, businesses can recover a little revenue from items that might otherwise go to waste,” she said. “At the same time, customers get great products, often discover something new, and pay a fraction of the usual price.” ■

Chocomania expands with house-made gelato shop

BY SHANNON CLINTON

Chocomania’s sister location is just as sweet as its sibling.

Meltease, a new concept from sisters and co-owners Christine, Sharline, Iris and Vanda Sawalha, along with their mother, Sahar, has opened alongside Chocomania at Fayette Mall.

“Meltease is a new concept we created as an extension of our dessert brand, Chocomania,” Sharline Sawalha said. “After years of working with desserts and seeing the growing interest in high-quality frozen desserts, we wanted to introduce something refreshing and different to the Lexington market.”

At Meltease, premium gelato is made fresh in-store using high-quality ingredients and offered in a variety of unique flavors.

“We also wanted to reflect part of our background and creativity, so many of the gelato options include Middle Eastern–inspired flavors and twists, alongside classic favorites,” Sharline Sawalha said. Popular varieties include baklava and banana pudding.

Meltease also offers wholesale gelato, meaning it may soon appear on menus at area restaurants and dessert shops.

In other local food and beverage news:

Closures of Lexington-area restaurants reached double digits in recent weeks, including Joella’s Hot Chicken in Hamburg, Big City Pizza in Hamburg, and two Fazoli’s locations at 2195 Richmond Rd. (Idle Hour Shopping Center) and 2200 Nicholasville Rd. (Zandale Shopping Center).

Also closing were The Goose, 170 Jefferson St., and nearby Dingbats Pizza, 471 Jefferson St. Moving into the former Dingbats Pizza location is Rise Up! Pizza, which previously operated at Greyline Station and as a food truck.

Favor, 574 N. Limestone, announced it will close at the end of April. The space will soon become home to Mulberry Street Bar and Kitchen, an adjacent kitchen for the bar and arcade Arcadium.

Rotisserie chicken restaurant Pollo Azul, 503 South Upper St., has closed, but the space is expected to house a revived Two Keys Tavern, which has operated in several Lexington locations over the decades.

Sam’s Hot Dog Stand, 192 Lexington Green Circle, closed in midFebruary, and Wok N Go, 426 Lexington Rd. in Versailles, will close April 26 as its owner retires, according to an announcement.

Parisa International Supermarket, 2626 Richmond Rd., has been renamed Lexington International Market. The store continues to sell many of the same items — including halal meats, produce and specialty groceries — along with some new additions.

In the space most recently occupied by Bad Wolf Burgers, 1401 North Forbes Rd., a Colombian restaurant has opened: Rico & Casero, serving arepas, obleas, empanadas and more.

As of early March, land was being cleared for a new Publix in Georgetown at Elkhorn Village Center, at the intersection of Frankfort Road and McClelland Circle.

Caffiends Coffee House has opened at 3801 Nicholasville Centre Dr., with the motto “Come for the Coffee, Stay for the Vibes.” The locally owned shop offers a variety of coffee drinks, other beverages and food items.

A new Jaggers location is set to open April 22 at 3029 Richmond Rd., according to an announcement.

Modern Pantry has opened a second location at 519 W. Main St. in Lexington.

Offering seafood boils to go, Drippin Claw Seafood is a new addition to the shared kitchen at Southland Bagel, 428 Southland Dr ■

Cookies & Cream gelato from Meltease.

LIGHTING THE WAY

Red Oak Outdoor Lighting celebrates two decades of bringing landscapes to life at night

BY LIZ CAREY

The best client meetings for Kyle Adamson happen after the sun goes down.

Adamson is owner of Red Oak Outdoor Lighting, the Lexington-based company he founded 20 years ago this year. Once night falls, Adamson can walk prospective clients through a portfolio of lighted landscapes — spaces transformed by his company’s carefully placed illumination — and also highlight changes in technology that’s happened over the past two decades.

Red Oak designs and installs outdoor lighting that brings homes and landscapes to life. From bistro lights over patios to

subtle fixtures highlighting pathways and trees, the work adds drama, depth, and security.

A Lexington native, Adamson earned a degree in landscape architecture from the University of Kentucky and spent time with design-build firms in Dallas, Atlanta, and Charleston, South Carolina. When he returned home in 2001, he launched his own firm, initially offering both landscape architecture and lighting design before shifting his focus to lighting within a few years.

“I loved the landscaping and design side of it, but lighting makes such a difference,” he said. “People invest in their properties and landscaping, and then they lose those details at night. Lighting enhances the property, and it’s a fantastic investment.”

That background in landscape architecture remains central to his approach. Adamson considers how plantings will mature and how lighting will interact with them across seasons.

“I know what the plants and trees are going to do and how they’ll look throughout the year,” he said. “In the spring, a tree might bloom white and really pop. In the fall, it might turn yellow and feel completely different. The lighting captures all of that.”

Technology has also reshaped the business. The shift from incandescent and halogen bulbs to LED lighting has improved energy efficiency while reducing maintenance.

“When I started, it was still incandescent and halogen,” he said. “LED changed everything. It’s more efficient and cuts down on maintenance.”

While no system is entirely maintenance-free, Red Oak offers service plans to keep installations performing as intended, including adjustments as plantings grow and change. The company also advises clients on proper pruning and upkeep to preserve the integrity of the design.

“We stay in touch with clients to make sure everything still looks the way it should,” Adamson said. “We’re always adjusting as needed.”

Design trends have evolved as well. Where outdoor lighting systems were once primarily concentrated in backyards, they’re now just as common in front-facing spaces, where they enhance curb appeal and improve safety. Well-lit properties can also serve as a deterrent to crime.

Advances in technology have introduced new possibilities, from lighting sequences that activate as a car approaches to fixtures that gradually brighten along a walkway, adding both convenience and a sense of arrival.

As Red Oak looks to its next chapter, Adamson points to clients who embrace creativity as some of his favorites.

“We did a project this fall at a beautiful modern house, and the client said, ‘I have two things I want you to light,’” he said. “They were these seven-and-a-half-foot metal cutouts of Bigfoot. As you drive up, you see them right as you make the turn.”

For Adamson, the goal is simple: to elevate the exterior of a home with the same intentionality as the interior.

“I’m still surprised how many neighborhoods have so little lighting,” he said. “People used to think lighting your house was like bragging. But when it’s done well, it’s a real asset. Just like inside your home, you need good lighting. We believe the same should be true outside.” ■

Storied & Stylish

Mulberry & Lime home furnishing shop, boutique and design center is celebrating its 25th anniversary

BY BRENT OWENS

In 1909, Italian immigrant Hannibal Buchignani owned a neighborhood meat market on North Limestone while raising six kids in a tiny upstairs apartment. One afternoon he strolled across the street to the Matthew Kennedy House, which was being auctioned off. Upon his return to the shop, his wife asked who bought the old place. “We did!” he told her.

More than a century and five generations later, the home remains in the family. It was eventually passed down to Mary Ginocchio, who opened the boutique Mulberry & Lime in 2001.

Twenty-five years later, Mulberry & Lime is still a favorite destination for home furnishings that blend timeless elegance with modern sensibility. For owner Mary Ginocchio and her daughter, lead designer Annie Marcum, the quarter-century celebration is as much about family and history as it is about interior design. They will mark the milestone with a series of celebrations in the months to come.

Mulberry & Lime occupies the historic Matthew Kennedy House, a stately structure built around 1815. Kennedy, known best for his classical-style buildings, designed the house as his primary residence. Today, the building not only provides an exceptionally homey backdrop for the store’s varied displays but also acts as Ginocchio's home.

“I grew up in this house,” Annie Marcum says, from the newly remodeled design room of Mulberry & Lime. “I’m the fifth generation in our family to have lived here. My mother and I both really did grow up with this building around us, and we get to share it with our customers every day.”

With bed linens, furniture, tabletop items, gifts, jewelry, bath products and even a section of curated children’s toys forming the backbone of the store’s offerings, Mulberry & Lime has offered more than home furnishings since its inception. Recently, the shop expanded its services to include full-scale interior design consultations.

“We do everything from window treatments and space optimization to lighting, floors and tile,” Marcum said. “It’s almost a full-service design experience now. And of course, we still do wedding registries and curated tabletop collections.”

Marcum’s design aesthetic leans toward a maximalist English style with modern twists, often blending new furnishings with vintage and even some antique pieces. This approach has drawn a diverse clientele, balancing the tastes of younger and older generations alike.

“People sometimes come to us specifically for my opinion, sometimes for my mom’s,” Marcum said. “It’s an interesting dynamic, and it works really well for our team approach.”

Reflecting on her own path to the family business, Marcum said she initially resisted the idea of working in the store, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis on entrepreneurship. But after working elsewhere for a year, she came on full-time in 2020, embracing the opportunity to blend her business skills with her passion for design. “Every class I took in college, I kept relating it back to the store,” she said. “It was like I couldn’t escape the fact that this is where I needed to be.”

“I don’t think a lot of people get to spend this much time with their child, once they’re of a certain age and independent,” Ginocchio said of working with her daughter. “I really feel fortunate that I get to see her most days. I’m not going to say it’s always a smooth ride, but we work through it. It’s really rewarding, for sure.”

Mulberry & Lime also regularly participates in Lexington’s Gallery Hop, exhibiting work from local or locally affiliated artists like Kim Comstock, Debbie Gravis, Nori Hall and Lori Larusso on the shop walls as well as in a small gallery space upstairs. The store also offers workshops and design consultations, further cementing its role as a cultural and creative hub for the community.

The shop’s inventory features a variety of beautifully designed textiles, linens and home furnishings. Interior design services are also available.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

Kitchen items, leather purses and journals, textiles, fine silver and pottery are among the wide variety of items carried at the shop.

Mulberry & Lime will celebrate its 25th anniversary with a series of tours at various locations in the region designed by Matthew Kennedy, who designed the historic building that houses the shop.

This is essential, because like Ginocchio, many of the business owners in the area don’t just work in the neighborhood, they also live there — which is not the case everywhere. The business has become less about building an economy and more about building a community, Ginocchio said.

“Three different families [of neighborhood business owners] have kids under the age of 2,” she added. “It’s so nice to see another generation coming along.”

As Mulberry & Lime marks a quarter-century, the store embodies the enduring appeal of blending history, design and family legacy.

For visitors, the anniversary is an invitation not just to explore home furnishings but to step into a living piece of Lexington’s past.

Mulberry & Lime is hosting a series of four tour dates spotlighting Matthew Kennedy’s architectural contributions to the region. Led by Kennedy expert Wes Francis, the tours will visit multiple Kennedy-designed sites in the area, where

Francis will educate attendees about the architect’s work and highlight the features that make these buildings remarkable.

All tours are ticketed events. The tour schedule currently includes the following locations, with the full schedule to be announced soon:

• April 12: Mulberry & Lime, with tea provided by Lexington Tea & Brie

• May 17: Richland (often referred to as the “Kinkead House”)

• Date TBD: Bluegrass Distillery at Elkwood Farm

Beyond architecture, the anniversary underscores a broader mission: promoting the preservation and health of historic homes.

“Living in a historic home comes with responsibilities,” said Marcum. “Part of what we want to do is show people how important it is to maintain these structures not just for history, but for community.” ■

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Hallie Hardy

Visit Horse Country’s executive director on growing equine tourism, promoting member experiences and connecting visitors to Kentucky’s signature industry

BY MATT WICKSTROM

With an annual economic impact of $6.5 billion and supporting more than 80,000 jobs, Kentucky’s equine industry stands alongside bourbon as one of the state’s defining economic pillars. But while the bourbon industry has long benefited from a unified, consumer-facing voice through the Kentucky Distillers’ Association and especially its Kentucky Bourbon Trail, the horse industry historically lacked a comparable way to invite the public in.

For decades, much of what makes Thoroughbred racing possible — the breeding, foaling, training and daily care of these equine athletes — remained largely out of view, tucked behind the gates of Central Kentucky’s horse farms. Fans might spend a few minutes watching a race, but rarely saw the years of work required to get a horse to that moment, or sustain it through a racing career and beyond.

That began to change in 2015 with the launch of Visit Horse Country, a nonprofit created to connect visitors directly to the people and places that define the industry. Through coordinated tours and experiences across more than two dozen member farms and

facilities, the organization offers behind-thescenes access to operations like those that have produced the past three Derby winners — Runnymede Farm (Mage in 2023), Magdalena Farm (Mystik Dan in 2024), and Godolphin (Sovereignty in 2025).

Aside from horse farms, Visit Horse Country’s members also include the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute — the world’s oldest and largest private equine veterinary practice — along with Keeneland racecourse, food manufacturer Hallway Feeds, the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, and New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program.

Increasingly, through partnerships with venues like Keeneland and Churchill Downs, Visit Horse Country is also working to expand that access into the race-day experience itself.

Following a recent Horses & Hospitality event at Keeneland highlighting the track’s new Paddock Building ahead of this fall’s Breeders’ Cup, Business Lexington spoke with

Hallie Hardy is executive director of Visit Horse Country, a nonprofit organization that connects people to the horse industry through behind-the-scenes tours at farms and other equine facilities throughout the state.

BizLex Q&A

Visit Horse Country Executive Director Hallie Hardy about how the organization is growing equine tourism, promoting its member experiences, and offering the public a deeper connection to Kentucky’s signature industry.

What are the origins of Visit Horse Country and its mission?

The equine industry is one of Kentucky’s pillars, but a little over ten years ago our member farms began looking around and realized that we weren’t making the most of this asset we have here. Between that, the beautiful scenery here and all the people working to care for the horses every day, we saw an opportunity to leverage our farms for tourism experiences, similar to what distilleries have been doing with tours, tastings and more with the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.

Also, when you attend the races, you may only see the horses while they’re being saddled, walking through the paddock and, of course, on the track — but there’s so much more that goes into preparing them. That creates an opportunity for greater fan engagement and access to the sport, especially by giving people more chances to get up close to the horses. Keeneland has done a great job of that with its latest upgrades.

How is Visit Horse Country funded?

It comes through as a portion of ticket proceeds, which varies since some farms offer tours more frequently than others. We then reinvest those funds into customer service and marketing — similar to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail — because Horse Country isn’t one place, it’s a collection of experiences.

How do you promote the farm tours?

Our goal is to always have some sort of ongoing digital marketing spend, and to make sure we’re always among the top results when people search “Horse Farm Tours.” But our strongest asset is relationship building.

When we look at some of our local partners who spend significantly more on marketing, we see a lot of iconic imagery — horses, fences, rolling fields. Knowing that imagery is prominent, it's our goal to make sure that when places like VisitLEX are promoting Central Kentucky, we also make it easy for visitors to book a horse farm tour.

We’re also heavily invested in word-ofmouth marketing. We’ve seen it work for us, and the Bourbon Trail recently shared that nearly 20% of its visitors come from wordof-mouth referrals. Events like Horses & Hospitality at Keeneland also help drive that kind of awareness.

What visitation trends have you noticed during your time at Visit Horse Country?

Equestrian events — races at Keeneland, the Kentucky Derby, the Kentucky ThreeDay Event — are essentially our “bottle of bourbon.” That’s what ultimately draws people in, so we see significant spikes around those moments.

Beyond that, visitation largely follows Central Kentucky’s broader tourism patterns. Things ramp up in April leading into the Derby, but October is actually our busiest month — and this year should be even stronger with the Breeders’ Cup returning to Keeneland.

How do you plan to continue growing equine tourism?

The challenge is balancing access with the primary mission of these farms, which is to raise and care for healthy horses. What we’ve learned over the past decade is that those goals can coexist.

Most people don’t see what happens on a farm day to day, so we want to create more opportunities for that kind of access — experiences that are intimate, authentic and rooted in storytelling. That includes highlighting past Derby winners and giving visitors the chance to see horses long before they reach that stage.

Our inventory may be more limited than a distillery, but that doesn’t mean we can’t create experiences that go above and beyond. ■

Getting to know Hallie Hardy

How did you get interested in horses and the racing industry?

Many of us who work in the racing industry say, "We got 'bit by the bug' at an early age," which means we fell in love with the horse first and foremost. I started riding at a small farm in Frankfort at age 5, and then fell in love with racing attending Keeneland over the years. Racing is the truest form of equestrian sport — horses are born to run— and here in the Horse Capital of the World, I get to work in an industry that I am truly passionate about.

Where do like to go for a post-Keeneland meal?

It depends, did I have a winning day? In all sincerity, one thing I love about the Keeneland meet is showing off Lexington to my friends and family who come into town for the races. So, I often try new places. On a nice day, after all that Keeneland burgoo, one of my favorites is Kentucky Native Cafe, where we can have a drink and share some small plates outside.

What is your most memorable racing moment?

This is tough. I’ve been lucky to experience many good ones, but I think being at Belmont Park for American Pharoah's Triple Crown win in the Belmont Stakes takes the top prize. It was an atmosphere that I don't think I'll ever experience again.

p The Klausing Group provides commercial landscaping services across roughly 175 properties per week, including corporate campuses, bourbon distilleries, hospitals and universities.

GROWING WITH PURPOSE

The Klausing Group’s recent B Corp certification underscores a business model long rooted in sustainability and social impact

BY DAN DICKSON

For more than three decades, The Klausing Group has reshaped how commercial businesses and corporate campuses across Lexington and Louisville think about their outdoor spaces. Now, the company has added a distinction that formalizes its people- and environmentally centered approach: Certified B Corporation status.

Awarded by the nonprofit B Lab, the designation recognizes companies that meet rigorous standards for social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. The certification evaluates operations across governance, workers, customers, community, and environment, and requires companies to codify in their governing documents that decision-making considers the interests of employees, communities, and the environment, not just owners or shareholders.

For The Klausing Group, the certification reflects years of work already embedded in how the company operates.

“Our work was always about the environment and educating the community,” said Roscoe Klausing, co-founder and president. “That led me to what the ‘B’ stands for in B Corporation, which is ‘benefit.’”

The company provides commercial landscaping services across roughly 175 properties per week, working exclusively in the business-to-business space. Clients include corporate campuses, bourbon distilleries, hospitals, universities such as the

University of Kentucky, Kentucky State University, and Bluegrass Community and Technical College, as well as major manufacturers like Toyota.

Its services range from routine maintenance — mowing, pruning, irrigation — to large-scale landscape design, green infrastructure installation, and winter snow and ice removal.

But central to its growth has been what Klausing calls “smart landscaping,” an approach that prioritizes environmental performance alongside aesthetics. That includes planting native species, expanding tree canopy, managing stormwater runoff, and designing landscapes that support biodiversity.

“Our goal was to demonstrate how landscape can be used as a tool to do the work of Mother Nature,” Klausing said.

That philosophy took shape over time. Klausing Group began in 1992 when Roscoe and his brother, Brook, started a neighborhood lawn mowing business with the goal of earning enough money to buy a car. Their slogan? “We’ll cut class, to cut your grass.” What started as a side hustle grew into a regional operation, with a Lexington headquarters near McConnell Springs.

After Brook left the business in 2001 to start his own landscaping company in New York City — focused on rooftop gardens and urban courtyards — Roscoe became more involved in the National Association of Landscape Professionals, which helped shape the company’s longterm direction.

At the same time, external pressures were also reshaping the industry. In 2011, Lexington entered into a consent decree with the EPA following Clean Water Act violations tied to sewer overflows. The agreement led to infrastructure improvements and grant opportunities aimed at better stormwater management.

Klausing Group, which also opened a Louisville branch in 2013, was the first to secure one of those grants, using it — along with private investment — to transform its own headquarters into a model of sustainable design. The site now includes one of Fayette County’s first vegetative “green roofs,” rainwater harvesting systems, bioswales, permeable

pavement, and infrastructure capable of capturing tens of thousands of gallons of stormwater.

Those investments, along with internal policies and workforce development efforts, laid the groundwork for B Corp certification.

The company also operates as a Public Benefit Corporation, a legal structure that formalizes its commitment to balancing profit with social and environmental impact. Through its “10% For the Community” initiative, which began in 2000 and is managed by Blue Grass Community Foundation, the company has long donated a portion of its profits to local causes.

Klausing notes that much of the landscape industry remains highly fragmented, with a low barrier to entry and increasing consolidation by private equity-backed firms.

“Most of our competitors are owned by private equity, where the goal is to sell in three to four years,” he said. “Our model of reinvesting in the community, the environment, and our employees is a stark contrast.”

While achieving B Corp certification solidifies and reinforces the social and environmental values that have long been central to the Klausing Group’s mission, the process was extremely rigorous and “one of the most challenging things we’ve done,” Klausing said. Still, he sees B Corp status as a significant milestone in the ongoing journey of a firm that started with two teenagers and a lawn mower and has grown to become a regional leader in sustainable landscaping.

“I’ve long believed that running a good business is about more than just having a giving program,” Klausing said. “After reading Conscious Capitalism by John Mackey, I was introduced to a broader way of thinking — that a business should exist to serve all of its stakeholders, not just shareholders.

“For me, certification has never been about sales or marketing,” he continues. “It’s about structure and standards. The process has pushed us to adopt better practices and has given us a clear roadmap to become a more impactful, purpose-driven business.” ■

THE BUSINESS OF LAW

Local legal firms balance change and continuity through succession planning, mentorship,

and a long view of talent development

BY LIZ CAREY

While law firms routinely advise clients on managing growth and transition, they must also navigate those same challenges internally in their own business.

From succession planning to hiring and retaining talent to adapting to workplace technology, firms often find themselves putting their own counsel into practice.

Recently, McBrayer PLLC announced a leadership transition. At the beginning of the year, James H. Frazier III transitioned from managing member to chief executive officer, while Jaron Blandford assumed the managing member role.

As CEO, Frazier will advise the firm’s overall strategy and growth, while Blandford will manage day-to-day operations and attorney development. The new structure reflects McBrayer’s evolution into a larger, multidisciplinary organization.

“For over 30 years, it has been my honor to serve as managing member,” Frazier said. “We have grown from a small team of seven attorneys into a respected, full-service firm with more than 120 professionals and offices in Lexington, Louisville, and Frankfort and a government relations office also in Frankfort, MML&K Government Solutions. Leadership at McBrayer has never been about titles, it’s about people, values, and service. I’m proud of the legacy we’ve built together and confident that this transition positions us for even greater success.”

The firm’s expanded management structure now includes a chief executive officer, chief financial officer, chief human resources officer, and chief marketing officer, reflecting its increased scale.

The transition itself was carefully planned, mirroring the guidance the firm provides its clients.

“For us, succession planning was really about protecting what our clients value most about McBrayer — the relationships they trust, the continuity of service they rely on, and the culture that defines our firm,” Blandford said. “As we approached this transition, we were very focused on preserving that stability. Many of our clients have worked with the firm for years, sometimes decades. They rely on the continuity of the teams around them, and we wanted to make sure there was no disruption.”

That emphasis extended to both clients and employees.

“From a client perspective, very little changed. The same attorneys, the same teams, and the same commitment to service are still there,” he said. “What changed internally is that we now have a leadership structure that allows the firm to continue growing while staying true to the culture that built the firm.”

"When leadership transitions happen without that kind of preparation, clients can sometimes feel the disruption. Our goal was the opposite. We wanted clients to experience continuity while the firm continued to evolve.”

JARON BLANDFORD MCBRAYER, PLLC MANAGING

MEMBER

their careers and leadership skills while continuing to deliver great service to our clients.”

Retaining that talent requires sustained investment.

“Stites & Harbison is one of the oldest law practices in the country and among the largest firms in the region, so candidates tend to know who we are by the time they’re in law school,” Rosenthal said. “New hires are supported through thoughtful onboarding, mentoring, and hands-on experience, followed by ongoing professional development through Stites University, our internal training platform focused on legal skills, leadership, and client service.”

Evolving workplace expectations have also reshaped how firms operate.

Blandford said succession planning should begin earlier than many organizations expect. At McBrayer, mentorship and leadership development took years, helping younger attorneys understand how the firm operates and how decisions are made.

“That kind of preparation matters because it protects the culture of the firm and the relationships that clients rely upon,” Blandford said. “When leadership transitions happen without that kind of preparation, clients can sometimes feel the disruption. Our goal was the opposite. We wanted clients to experience continuity while the firm continued to evolve.”

Without that level of planning, businesses risk instability that can affect both employees and clients, potentially leading to lost relationships and increased turnover.

“When leadership transitions are not planned thoughtfully, the biggest risk is uncertainty. That uncertainty can affect employees internally and it can affect client relationships externally,” Blandford said. “In a professional services firm like ours, relationships and institutional knowledge are incredibly important.”

A successful transition also depends on building a strong talent pipeline.

At Stites & Harbison, talent development begins early and continues throughout an attorney’s career, said Cassidy Rosenthal, a partner and executive member of the firm’s Lexington office. The firm engages students through career-focused programs such as Junior Achievement of the Bluegrass’s Inspire Curiosity Career Fair, maintains relationships with universities, and provides ongoing professional development after hiring.

“We take a long view when it comes to talent. It starts with early outreach and strong relationships with law schools, then flows through our summer associate program, which is our primary recruiting pipeline,” Rosenthal said. “From there, new hires are supported with mentoring, hands-on experience, and ongoing training through Stites University, so they can grow

“The pandemic changed how many industries operate, and the legal profession was no exception,” Rosenthal said. “Rather than asking people to simply ‘do it the way it’s always been done,’ we focused on understanding generational differences and adapting how we work while staying true to our culture, maintaining productivity, and continuing to deliver top-level service to our clients. Attorneys and staff have the option to work remotely one or two days a week, and we’ve implemented a strong wellness program that’s been widely embraced across the firm.”

Even with increased flexibility, Rosenthal emphasized that mentorship remains essential. Ongoing collaboration between senior attorneys and junior colleagues ensures professional development and long-term engagement.

Both firms emphasized that thoughtful, forward-looking leadership — particularly with an eye on developing the next generation — is critical to maintaining stability, culture, and long-term success. ■

Law Firms

RANKED BY NUMBER OF LAWYERS IN LOCAL OFFICE MARCH 2026

Main Practice Areas

1 2 3 4 5 5 7

Dinsmore & Shohl LLP

100 W. Main St., Ste. 900 Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 425-1000 dinsmore.com

Stites & Harbison, PLLC

250 W. Main St., Ste. 2300 Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 266-2300 stites.com

Stoll Keenon Ogden PLLC

300 W. Vine St., Ste. 2100 Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 231-3000 skofirm.com

Ward, Hocker, Thornton & Brown

333 W. Vine St., Ste. 1100 Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 422-6000 whtblaw.com

McBrayer, PLLC

201 E. Main St., Ste. 900 Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 231-8780 mcbrayerfirm.com

Sturgill, Turner, Barker & Moloney PLLC

333 W. Vine St., Ste. 1500 Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 255-8581 sturgillturner.com

Kinkead & Stilz, PLLC PNC Tower

301 E. Main St., Ste. 800 Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 296-2300 ksattorneys.com

Corporate and transactional; commercial litigation; intellectual property; real estate; tax benefits and wealth; tort; bankruptcy and restructuring; employment; healthcare; mergers and acquisitions; natural resources; beer, wine, and spirits; equine; financial services industry; government relations; immigration; insurance; public finance

Banking; business and finance; business litigation; business services; construction; creditors’ rights; data privacy and security; employment; employee benefits and executive compensation; environmental, energy and sustainability; equine; healthcare; insurance regulatory; intellectual property and technology; manufacturing; mergers and acquisitions; mining; real estate; taxation; tax-exempt organizations; torts and insurance; trusts and estates

Commercial litigation; corporate mergers and acquisitions; utility, energy, mineral & environmental; securities; corporate finance/lending; labor, employment & employee benefits; intellectual property; alcohol & hospitality; corporate governance; state & local tax; bankruptcy; real estate; healthcare; equine

Insurance defense and coverage; workers' compensation defense and coverage; appellate practice; automobile litigation; bad faith defense and extra contractual; bankruptcy; commercial transatcions and contracts; construction law; employment law; family and probate matters; fire and casualty; government and municipal liability; mass torts; medical negligence defense; premises liability; products liability; surety and fidelity; trucking; transportation and freight Adminstrative law; agriculture (equine law, hemp production); bankruptcy (creditors' rights and foreclosures); business and corporate law (formation, mergers and acquisitions); commmercial and business litigation; construction law; criminal defense and government investigations; employment and labor law; employee benefits; energy/utilities law; estate planning and administration; family law; gaming law; government solutions; healthcare law; insurance defense; intellectual property (trademark, copyright, infringement litigation); land use and zoning law; professional liability defense (medcial malpractice, healthcare professional licensure defense, hospital representation, legal malpractive defense); real estate law (residential and commercial); taxation (tax compliance, tax controversy, tax planning, transaction tax); telecommunications; politics, elections, and campaign finance

Commercial litigation; business law; bankruptcy; employment law; healthcare law; medical malpractice defense; trusts and estate planning; government and municipal law; utilities and energy law; sustainable energy; torts and insurance defense; education law; workers' compensation defense; arbitration and mediation; constitutional law and civil rights

Commercial, employment, real estate, construction, trust and estate, and natural resource litigation; medical malpractice, civil rights, and professional negligence and legal ethics defense; commercial real estate transactions, financing, leasing, zoning, and development; 1031 exchange qualified intermediary; estate and tax planning; probate, estate, and trust administration

Managing Member(s) in Local Office/ Year Founded Locally/ Total Number of Offices

Grahmn Morgan (Lexington Managing Partner)/ 1997/ 30

Cassidy Rosenthal (Lexington Office Executive Member)/ 1832/ 12

P. Douglas Barr (Managing Director)/ 1897/ 7

Walter A. Ward, George B. Hocker, Gregg E. Thornton/ 1984/ 3

James H. Frazier, III (CEO)/ 1978/ 3

Bryan H. Beauman/ 1957/ 1

Barry Stilz, Michael Reynolds, Tonya Rager, David Trevey (Executive Members)/ 1997/ 3

Law Firms

RANKED BY NUMBER OF LAWYERS IN LOCAL OFFICE MARCH 2026

Managing Member(s) in Local Office/ Year Founded Locally/ Total Number of Offices

8 9 10 11 12

Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs, LLP

250 W. Main St., Ste. 1600 Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 233-2012 wyattfirm.com

FBT Gibbons

325 W. Main St., Ste. 301 Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 231-0000 fbtgibbons.com

Jackson Kelly PLLC* Lexington City Center 100 W. Main St., Ste. 700 Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 255-9500 jacksonkelly.com

Dentons

Bank regulatory; bankruptcy and creditors' rights; commercial lending; corporate and securities; data privacy and security; employee benefits and executive compensation; environmental, equine and gaming; general business; governmental affairs and regulated industries; healthcare; immigration; intellectual property protection and litigation; labor and employment; labor union relations; land use and zoning; litigation and dispute resolution; natural resources and energy; nonprofit institutions; public finance and economic development; real estate and lending; real estate development; taxation; title insurance; trusts; estates and personal planning

Appellate; bankruptcy and restructuring; business and commercial litigation; CMBS lending and servicing transactions; construction; corporate law; employee benefits and ERISA; environmental; estate planning and administration; finance; government contracting; government services; insurance coverage and bad faith; insurance regulation and risk management; intellectual property; international services; labor and employment litigation; product liability and tort litigation; public affairs; real estate; tax

business news when

300 W. Vine St., Ste. 1300 Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 231-8500 dentons.com

Embry Merritt Womack Nance, PLLC Chase Tower

201 E. Main St., Ste. 1402 Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 543-0453 emwnlaw.com

Emily H. Cowles (Partner)/ 1977/ 5

Commercial litigation; tax; healthcare; finance; federal black lung and workers' compensation; construction; occupational safety and health; employment, environmental; equine

Business litigation; corporate/transactional; energy, environmental, and natural resources; intellectual property; estate planning; economic development; labor and employment; bankruptcy/restructuring; real estate and construction; wealth management and family law; employment benefits; government services, beverage-alcohol; equine and manufacturing; healthcare; public finance

Litigation; real estate; estate planning and probate; corporate; mergers and acquisitions; tax; healthcare; compacts; intellectual property; family; criminal

Jan de Beer (Office Partner-inCharge)/ 1919/ 25

Clifton B. Clark (Managing Member)/ 1985/ 9

Kimberly O'Donnell (Managing Partner)/ 1978/ 168 (81 countries)

Darren L. Embry, Samantha T. Nance (Managing Partners)/ 2011/ 3 Attorneys in

Insurance Agencies

Agency Name

1 2 2 2 5 6 7 8

Gallagher Insurance 1792 Alysheba Way, Ste. 300 Lexington, KY 40509 (859) 543-1716 assuredpartners.com

Acrisure, LLC (GCH Insurance Group) 780 Winchester Road Lexington, KY 40505 (859) 254-1836 acrisure.com/southeast

Houchens Insurance Group

505 Wellington Way, Ste. 350 Lexington, KY 40503 (800) 960-3560 higusa.com

Marsh McLennan Agency

360 Vine St., Ste. 200 Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 254-8023 marshmma.com

Energy Insurance Agency

3008 Atkinson Ave. Lexington, KY 40509 (859) 273-1549 energyinsagency.com

McGriff Insurance Services 440 Finn Way, Ste. 360 Lexington, KY 40517 (859) 224-8899 mcgriff.com

Cambridge Insurance 2300 Regency Road Lexington, KY 40503 (859) 252-0381 cambridgeinsurance.net

Trucordia Insurance Services 2365 Harrodsburg Road, Ste. B325 Lexington, KY 40504 (859) 309-5033 trucordiakentucky.com

Al Torstrick Insurance Agency 343 Waller Ave., Ste. 101 Lexington, KY 40504 (859) 233-1461 altorstrick.com

Top Local Official Headquarters/ Year Founded Locally

Bryan D. Raisor, CIC, CWCC (Branch President)

John Hampton (Owner) Andy Barker (CEO)

Chris Barnett (Managing Director)

Mark Kelder (President)

John Couch (Senior VP/ Managing Executive)

Carson Evans (President)

Pete Alberti (Chairman/President)

Allison Torstrick Johnson (President)

Chicago, IL/ 1927

Grand Rapids, MI/ 2006

Bowling Green, KY/ 1990

New York, NY/ 1852

Lexington, KY/ 1982

Charlotte, NC/ 2003

Lexington, KY/ 1989

Lexington, KY/ 2010

Lexington, KY/ 1962

Insurance Agencies

Lexington Insurance Agency, Inc.

465 E. High St., Ste. 101 Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 224-8899 lexingtoninsuranceagency.com

Neely & Wade Insurance Agency, LLC 31 W. Hickman St. Winchester, KY 40391 (859) 2323-7855 neelyandwade.com

Greater Lexington Insurance Agency 1066 Wellington Way Lexington, KY 40513 (859) 224-2477 greaterlexins.com

Source: Information obtained from Business Lexington questionnaire and company websites.

Regional Employers

RANKED BY TOTAL NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES MARCH 2026

University of Kentucky 10 Funkhouser Bldg. Lexington, KY 40506 (859) 257-9000 uky.edu

Kentucky State Government Frankfort, KY 40601 (502) 564-2611 kentucky.gov

Toyota Kentucky 4114 Cherry Blossom Way Georgetown, KY 40324 (502) 570-6572 tour.toyota.com/kentucky

Fayette County Public Schools

701 E. Main St. Lexington, KY 40502 (859) 381-4100 fcps.net

Baptist Health 1740 Nicholasville Road Lexington, KY 40503 (859) 260-1600 baptisthealth.com

Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government 200 E. Main St. Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 425-2255 lexingtonky.gov

Amazon.com 1850 Mercer Road Lexington, KY 40511 (859) 381-0818 amazon.com

Veterans Medical Center 1101 Veterans Drive Lexington, KY 4052 (859) 233-4511 va.gov/lexington-health-care/

Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI) 1 St. Joseph Drive Lexington, KY 40504 (859) 313-1000 commonspirit.org

Madison County Schools

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 11 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

301 Highland Park Drive Richmond, KY 40475 (859) 624-4500 madison.kyschools.us

Blue Grass Chemical AgentDestruction Pilot Plant 431 Battlefield Memorial Hwy. Richmond, KY 40475 (859) 779-6934 bluegrass.army.mil

Eastern Kentucky University 521 Lancaster Ave. Richmond, KY 40475 (859) 622-1000 eku.edu

Hyster-Yale Group, Inc. 2200 Menelaus Drive Berea, KY 40403 (859) 986-9304 hyster-yale.com

Scott County Schools 168 Frankfort Pike Georgetown, KY 40324 (502) 863-3663 scott.kyschools.us

Jessamine County Schools 871 Wilmore Road Nicholasville, KY 40356 (859) 885-4179 jessamine.kyschools.us

Lexington Clinic 1221 South Broadway Lexington, KY 40504 (859) 258-4000 lexingtonclinic.com

Hitachi Automotive Systems Americas, Inc. 301 Mayde Road Berea, KY 40403 (859) 734-6630 hitachi.us

Lockheed Martin 5749 Briar Hill Road Lexington, KY 40516 (859) 566-4778 lockheedmartin.com

Novelis Corporation 302 Mayde Road Berea, KY 40403 (859) 985-6800 novelis.com

Regional Employers

RANKED BY TOTAL NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES MARCH 2026

Nestle Prepared Foods 150 Oak Grove Drive

Mt. Sterling, KY 40353 (859) 498-4300 nestleusa.com

Berea College 101 Chestnut St. Berea, KY 40404 (859) 985-3000 berea.edu

Franklin County Schools 190 Kings Daughters Drive #300 Frankfort, KY 40601 (502) 695-6700 franklin.kyschools.us

Galls LLC

1300 Russell Cave Road Lexington, KY 40505 (859) 787-0420 galls.com

Source: Commerce Lexington GreaterLex Data Dashboard (March 2026) Note: Employers with 1,000 employees minimum listed due to space limitations.

NEW HIRES & PROMOTIONS

Wendy Blair Harrod, DNP has joined SUN Behavioral Health’s intensive outpatient center in Lexington as a psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner.

The University of Kentucky Office of the Provost has appointed Steven Price as chair of the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment.

Republic Bank has promoted Brad Comer to chief investment officer, and Kenya Lacy to associate vice president, inclusion and diversity manager.

Saint Joseph Health recently welcomed: Melissa “Missy” Stipp, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, FNP-BC, to Saint Joseph Medical Group – Gastroenterology; Cameron Scheitzach, PA-C to Saint Joseph Medical Group – Maternal-Fetal Med-

icine; Deana Underwood, APRN, to Saint Joseph Medical Group – Neurology; and Kacie Heichelbech, PA, to Saint Joseph Medical Group – Primary Care in Lexington.

Financial advisors Grant Truax and Jim Reitenbach have joined the Lexington office of Keystone Financial Group.

WesBanco has named John Gohmann Lexington market president and senior commercial banker.

Attorney David L. Kinsella has joined Stites & Harbison, PLLC Lexington's office.

Ron McMahan has joined Kentucky’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives’ economic development team as associate economic development manager.

Paula Elder, current Bluegrass Realtors president-elect, has joined Christie’s International Real Estate Bluegrass.

Asbury University has named Stephen Sizemore as vice president for strategic finance and chief financial officer.

KUDOS

Jonathan Feddock, MD, a radiation oncologist at Baptist Health Lexington, has been honored with the Jack Trevey Award for Community Service, the highest distinction presented by the Lexington Medical Society.

Coldwell Banker McMahan realtor Mike Inman has been installed as the 2026 president of Bluegrass Realtors.

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Airport Board has welcomed Tony Bonner as a new board member.

The Junior League of Lexington recently named the following as its 2026 board of directors: President: Opa Owiye Johnson, Margins Studio; President-Elect:

Michelle Oberto DePaolo; State Farm Agent; Secretary: Katherine Jackson, RO&CO Real Estate, Bluegrass Rental Management; Vice President of Finance: Claire Honican, Valvoline Global Operations; Vice President of Fund Development: Laura Combs, Deloitte; Vice President of Marketing & Communication: Tamara Davis, PriceWeber Marketing; Vice President of Membership: Tressa Neal, University of Kentucky; Vice President of Community: Ayanna Parker, University of Kentucky; Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEIB) Director: Tanzi Merritt, Freelance Writer; Nominating Director: Melissa Hammer, Kappa Delta Foundation; and Sustainer Representative: Kimberly Baird, Fayette County Commonwealth’s Attorney Office.

The American College of Construction Lawyers has elected Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorney Cassidy R. Rosenthal to its board of governors.

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Lawdragon has named Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorney Chrisandrea L. Turner to the 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyers. Turner has been recognized six times by Lawdragon, and is this year's only Kentuckian honored.

Austin Simms has retired after more than 50 years of service to the Lexington Housing Authority.

Dark Arts Whiskey House in Lexington, and LF Heritage Distilling in Georgetown were recently added as destinations to The Kentucky Bourbon Trail.

The Board of Trustees for Georgetown College has elected five alumni members to begin their terms in 2026. New members include Dave Adkisson, Dave Baker, Christin Wood Calaway, Harold Dean Jessie, and Robert L. Mills.

The Kentucky chapter of the National Society of Professional Engineers recently named Jordan Haney, P.E., president of Thoroughbred Architects and Engineers, as its 2026 New Professional Engineer of the Year.

The American Bar Association Health Law Section has ranked Stites & Harbison, PLLC in its 13th Annual Regional Top 10 Law Firm

Recognition List. The firm ranked 5th on the South Top 10 list for 2025. Stites & Harbison has been honored 12 consecutive times on the South list.

Frontier Nursing University President Brooke A. Flinders, DNP, RN, APRNCNM, FACNM, was recently named a recipient of Insight Into Academia magazine’s 2026 Trailblazer in Higher Education Award.

Republic Bank recently earned a spot on Forbes’ 2026 America’s Best Banks List for the third straight year. The bank was also recognized as one of Kentucky’s Best Places to Work by the Kentucky Society for Human Resource Management and the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. This is the bank's 10th consecutive year receiving this honor, and its 11th overall.

Saint Joseph Hospital, Saint Joseph East and Continuing Care Hospital awarded $307,000 in grant funding to eight local nonprofit organizations to improve the well-being and health equity of the Lexington area. The grant recipients are Catholic Action Center, Catholic Charities, Community Inspired Lexington, Lexington Rescue Mission, Mission Health Lexington, Northside

Common Market, Refuge for Women, and YMCA of Central Kentucky.

Saint Joseph Jessamine in Nicholasville has been recognized on the “Best Places to Work in Kentucky” list for the second consecutive year and the fourth time since the list’s inception.

Lexington Clinic and Licking Valley Internal

Medicine & Pediatrics announced a new strategic partnership aimed at enhancing patient access to care across central Kentucky.

Bluegrass Realtors® recently presented its Realtor of the Year award to Randy Newsome; The Good Neighbor award to Rachel Underwood; and The President's Award to Rusty Underwood ■

Do Good. LEAVE A LEGACY.

Turn your values into lasting support for your community.

Planning your will or estate? Make it personal and powerful.

Include a charitable gift with Blue Grass Community Foundation that carries your name and your values forward for generations.

Bernice and Pete Pederson did exactly that. Through their estate, they created an endowed fund at BGCF that provides annual support for the grounds at Ashland, The Henry Clay Estate, helping keep the space beautiful long after their lifetime.

Start planning your charitable legacy today. bgcf.org/legacy-giving