Business Lexington, July 2026

A Bold Next Course

Mileta team to open upscale Mediterranean restaurant in former Lockbox space, marking the launch of its new restaurant group

BizLex Q&A

Outgoing CEO and president of Commerce Lexington Bob Quick

Constructing a Legacy

Denham-Blythe marks 50 years of construction, collaboration, and relationship-driven expansion across Kentucky and beyond

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Contents

Business Briefs PAGE 4

Local business news in brief

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

Crave Worthy PAGE 10

A Bold Next Course: Mileta team to open upscale Mediterranean restaurant in former Lockbox space, marking the launch of its new restaurant group

Quick Bites PAGE 12

A Leap of Faith Leads to Serendipity Public House in Midway

Independent Business PAGE 20

Built to Last: Four decades after getting its start alongside Toyota in Georgetown, Thoroughbred Engineering is helping shape projects across Kentucky and beyond

BizLex Q&A PAGE 22

Outgoing president and CEO of Commerce Lexington Bob Quick, reflects on regional collaboration, economic growth, and the evolution of Central Kentucky’s business community

BizLists

Engineering Firms PAGE 30 Staffing Agencies PAGE 32

Who’s Who PAGE 34

Local employment news and awards

JULY 2026 VOL 22 ISSUE 7

The Secret to Ale-8’s Success

As Kentucky’s iconic soft drink celebrates its 100th anniversary, its greatest asset may not be its secret recipe, but its determination to remain independent

PAGE 14

A Taste of History

Kentucky’s new Historic Dining Guide helps locals and travelers discover memorable meals, local character, and the stories hidden inside historic buildings

PAGE 16

Bolstering Your Brand

Local experts meet for a roundtable conversation on working with creative consultants, honing your message, and the value of authenticity

PAGE 24

Constructing a Legacy

Denham-Blythe marks 50 years of construction, collaboration, and relationship-driven expansion across Kentucky and beyond

PAGE 26

AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Development Board Approves Central Kentucky Projects

Agricultural producers and rural communities across Central Kentucky are set to receive a share of nearly $3.7 million in funding approved by the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board at its June meeting.

Among the projects receiving support is Woodford County's Bull & Honey Farm to Table Market LLC, which was approved for up to $12,295 to purchase materials and equipment for an on-farm market. Central Kentucky Feed LLC was awarded up to $65,000 in multi-county funding to construct a commodity shed with a stationary mixer and storage bays.

The board also approved more than $597,000 in County Agricultural Incentives Program funding for Central Kentucky counties, including $185,461 for Bourbon County, $131,555 for Franklin County, and $280,315 for Harrison County. Additional funding was approved for programs supporting young farmers, youth agricultural initiatives, and farm infrastructure improvements.

“The Kentucky Agricultural Development Board is committed to supporting a wide variety of farming and agricultural projects across Kentucky,” Commissioner of Agriculture and Board Chair Jonathan Shell said. “The projects funded today show our goal of strengthening agriculture in many different ways to benefit the Commonwealth and the people who live and work here.”

The investments are intended to help producers diversify operations, expand markets, and strengthen the long-term competitiveness of state agriculture. n

Tourism generated $1.7 billion economic impact in Fayette County in 2025

Travel and tourism generated a $1.71 billion economic impact in Fayette County in 2025, according to a study released recently for the Kentucky Department of Tourism.

The industry generated more than $133.7 million in state and local tax revenue and employed 11,813 people in the county.

“Tourism has a significant impact on our local economy, improves our quality of life and generates tax revenues that benefit residents by helping fund basic services,” said Mary Quinn Ramer, president of VisitLEX. “These strong results help our local businesses and attrac-

tions as well as serve as the gateway for people thinking about relocating to Lexington."

“VisitLEX is a proud partner with the state and the local hospitality industry. We market all the assets of our community and help people maximize and personalize their visit here. Our hospitality, a variety of amenities, and signature industries help us close the deal on attracting conventions and events. Numerous national rankings and these strong tourism results are proof that, together, we have built a recipe for success.”

Lexington accounted for 16.4 percent of the state’s tourism impact.

Statewide, 81.1 million travelers visited Kentucky in 2025, according to Tourism Economics, spending $10.4 billion, up $300 million from 2024. Spending included $2.7 billion on food and beverages, $2.4 billion on lodging, $2 billion on transportation, $1.9 billion on retail, and $1.4 billion on recreation and entertainment. n

KSR, Walk-On's team up on new sports bar with familiar Lexington names

Less than a month after KSBar & Grille closed its doors, the Lexington sports bar founded by Kentucky Sports Radio's Matt Jones has found new life through a partnership with growing national chain Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux.

Walk-On's announced it will open a new location at 1030 S. Broadway, in the former Tilted Kilt location and adjacent to the former KSBar space. The restaurant is expected to open ahead of the University of Kentucky football season this fall.

The venture is a partnership between Walk-On's, Jones, and local businessman Jamie Daniel, owner of the former Tilted Kilt property. Under the arrangement, Walk-On's will operate the restaurant year-round, while the former KSBar space will reopen as an event venue for Kentucky game days and select special events, including live broadcasts of the Kentucky Sports Radio program.

“KSBar has always been about bringing Kentucky fans together,” Jones said in a statement. “This partnership allows us to preserve that spirit while giving fans access to a bigger experience, a larger menu and the resources of one of the most successful sports bar brands in the country.”

Founded in Baton Rouge in 2003 by former Louisiana State University basketball walk-ons Brandon Landry and Jack Warner, Walk-On's has grown to nearly 80 locations nationwide. The Lexington restaurant will be the second of three Walk-On's franchises planned by Daniel Hospitality Group.

Daniel, who will co-own the Lexington Walk-On's with Jones, said the partnership combines the national brand's sports bar concept with the passionate fan base surrounding UK athletics.

“As a Kentucky native and die-hard Kentucky fan, opening a Walk-On's here was a long time coming,” Daniel said. “By partnering with Matt and the KSR community, we're serving a fan base that lives and breathes Kentucky sports.”

The new restaurant will feature more than 50 televisions and serve Walk-On's scratch-made, traditional Louisianainspired menu. n

INDUSTRY

Lexington Hits Pause on Data Centers as AI Infrastructure Expands

DartPoints, a regional provider of colocation, cloud and interconnection solutions, has acquired a 29.5-acre data center campus at 745 W. New Circle Rd. for $29 million.

The sale was brokered by Lexingtonbased Haymaker Company and closed roughly six and a half months after the property was brought to market.

The company says it plans to transform the property into a next-generation data center campus designed to support AI, hyperscale, neo-cloud and enterprise computing demand. Current plans call for an initial capacity of approximately 20 to 30 megawatts, with long-term expansion potential reaching 70 megawatts.

At a June 9 meeting, the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council voted to institute a moratorium on approvals and zone changes for data centers in the county through October 31 in order to more fully consider the issues and regulations at hand.

Mayor Linda Gorton issued a statement in support of the moratorium, saying: “We need to think very carefully about data centers. They do not produce many jobs and have the potential to increase utility costs for local residents, among other concerns. I support very tight controls.”

The Mayor has also declined to support public incentives for the data center proposed for the property. “We have informed them that we will not support public incentives for this project,” she said.

The transaction represents one of the larger commercial real estate sales in Lexington in recent years and reflects growing demand nationwide for data centers and digital infrastructure facilities driven by

An initial rendering of the data center campus that DartPoints plans to develop at 745 W. New Circle Rd. The company acquired the property in June for $29 million. Rendering furnished

cloud computing and artificial intelligence.

The future campus is expected to support high-density computing environments with up to 200 kilowatts per rack, along with infrastructure for both traditional aircooled systems and direct-to-chip liquid cooling technology.

“Lexington gives us a rare combination of existing infrastructure, a supportive power environment and the ability to scale in a meaningful way,” said Scott Willis, president and CEO of DartPoints. “As AI, neo-cloud and hyperscale demand continue to reshape the market, customers need sites that can support larger power footprints, denser deployments and long-term growth.”

DartPoints said Lexington’s location between major connectivity markets including Chicago, Atlanta, and Ashburn, Virginia, also factored into the acquisition. Haymaker Company’s Andy Haymaker, Mike Wilder and Jack Hamilton represented the seller in the transaction. n

Council Seeks Public Input on Data Center Regulations

As Lexington weighs the future of data center development, the Urban County Council has launched an online forum and information hub to gather public feedback on the issue.

The new portal, available through the city's Engage Lexington platform, follows the Council's unanimous vote to impose a moratorium on approvals and zoning changes for data center developments through October 31. The pause is intended to give city officials time to review local zoning rules and consider regulations governing future projects.

“Lexington residents have been clear: hyperscale data centers require, at the bare minimum, thorough and deliberate scrutiny to determine how we can best protect our community's signature industries and safeguard the well-being and health of our neighbors,” said Fifth District Council Member Liz Sheehan, chair of the General Government & Planning Committee and sponsor of the regulatory review.

The online hub will provide updates on the Council's review process, draft ordinance language and information about future public meetings. Feedback submitted through the platform will be shared with council members as they consider how data centers fit into Lexington's long-term economic development and land-use plans. Learn more at Engage.LexingtonKY.Gov/DataCenters. n

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 May 2026

5/15/26745 W. New Circle Road$29,000,000 Office Building Dartpoints Operating Company

5/13/26100 Lakeshore Drive

5/13/26125

5/14/263361

5/14/263353

5/14/263369

5/14/263355

5/14/263357

5/14/263359 Cove Lake Drive

5/14/263363

5/14/263365

5/14/263371

5/14/263375

5/14/263373

5/14/263475 Pimlico Pkwy.

5/14/263475 Pimlico Pkw.y $1,573,000*

Kentucky Real Estate Buyers LLC

5/8/262395 Nicholasville Road$1,300,000* Retail Regency Holdings Three LLC

5/5/26239 N. Broadway $1,250,000

Building 239 N Broadway LLC

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

Residential Sales Data for May 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.

A Bold Next Course

Mileta team to open upscale Mediterranean restaurant in former Lockbox space, marking the launch of its new restaurant group

BY SHANNON CLINTON

The culinary team behind Mileta is bringing an upscale Mediterranean concept to one of downtown Lexington’s most prominent restaurant spaces.

Charis, a new restaurant from Mileta Founder Dallas Rose and Chef/Partner Alex Green, will occupy the former Lockbox space inside the 21c Museum Hotel at 167 W. Main St. The restaurant is expected to open later this year and will also serve as the launch of the pair’s newly formalized restaurant group, Relentless Hospitality.

The move comes after the hotel property was purchased last fall by Thoroughbred Hospitality Group for a reported $14 million. Lockbox, the hotel’s longtime signature restaurant, closed in mid-May.

Rose said discussions with Thoroughbred Hospitality Group began about seven months ago and included extensive conversations — and sample meals — before the two sides agreed to move forward with the concept. The hotel and restaurant are both located in the former Fayette National Bank building, built circa 1914.

“I’ve always loved that room and the building is spectacular,

with cool old architecture you couldn’t replicate today even if you wanted to,” Rose said.

Charis will offer an upscale Mediterranean menu influenced by Greek, Turkish, Serbian, and Croatian cuisines. A pita bread oven will sit in view of diners, with a variety of proteins cooked on skewers over coals, while versions of hummus, baba ganoush, and house-made sauces will anchor a menu designed for sharing.

“We’re pulling flavors and ingredients and dishes from those places that we love,” Rose said. “It will be order as you go, fire it when ready and at your own pace,” Rose said.

Mileta Chef/Partner Alex Green, left, and Founder Dallas Rose will open the upscale Mediterranean restaurant Charis in the former Lockbox location, a project that also launches their new restaurant group, Relentless Hospitality. Photo by Killian Rose Photography

The concept also has personal roots. Rose, who is half Serbian, said he grew up eating meals with Greek family members and has long envisioned opening a restaurant centered on Mediterranean cuisine.

“It’s my favorite kind of food to eat, and I’ve been passionate about that kind of food for a long time,” he said. “It’s near and dear to my heart.”

The restaurant’s name reflects that warm and welcoming philosophy. “Charis” is the Greek word for “grace,” while “Mileta” is Serbian for “gracious.” Rose said gracious hospitality is the guiding principle behind both restaurants.

Chef Alex Green also brings Mediterranean experience to the project. Earlier in his career, he worked in New Orleans under renowned Israeli-Mediterranean chef Alon Shaya, experience Rose said will influence Charis’ approach as the pair work together to develop its opening menu. He also anticipates incorporating locally grown ingredients.

Design plans call for preserving the building’s historic architecture while creating a warmer, more energetic atmosphere. The restaurant’s bar will move to the center of the dining room, becoming a focal point of the space while expanding significantly in size.

Charis will seat about 150 guests across the dining room, bar, and private dining areas. Initially, it will offer dinner service seven days a week, with lunch to be added later. The restaurant will also be available for private events and will offer catering for parties, banquets, and wedding receptions held at the hotel.

Rose said the team took possession of the former Lockbox space in late May, with demolition work beginning in midJune. While an exact opening date has not been announced, he expects Charis to debut later this year. Thoroughbred Hospitality Group, which purchased the Cincinnati 21c Museum Hotel location at the same time it acquired the brand’s Lexington property, has not yet announced additional details for either hotel.

A planner at heart, Rose said he begins each calendar year by writing down his goals for one, five, and 10 years out. In past installments, he sought to open his own restaurant and eventually lead his own restaurant group, which is coming to fruition in the form of Relentless Hospitality.

“This new restaurant was the catalyst to formalize it,” Rose said. “We’re certainly not stopping with two!” n

A Leap of Faith Leads to Serendipity Public House in Midway

BY SHANNON CLINTON

The owners of a new Midway coffee shop say their journey to opening feels a bit like a Hallmark movie: a return home, a leap of faith, and a cozy smalltown setting.

Caitlin Battaglia and Henry Zahn, both Kentucky natives, left careers in Chicago — she as a registered nurse and he as a writer — to pursue a longtime dream of opening a coffee shop. That dream became reality with Serendipity Public House, now open in a renovated circa-1850 building at 137 E. Main St. in Midway.

The couple moved back to Kentucky last year and undertook extensive renovations to the building, even living upstairs during the process.

Our entire networks are here, and we truly love Midway and its charm,” Battaglia said.

“It’s the perfect spot with a wonderful community.”

Avid travelers, the couple drew inspiration from European cafés, creating an intimate gathering place where guests can linger, connect, and enjoy coffee, cocktails and conversation. The shop eventually plans to host live music, art exhibits, poetry readings and theatrical performances.

Serendipity Public House, a coffee shop and café featuring craft cocktails, opened in May in a downtown Midway 1850s-era building. Photo furnished

“Our menu features many local partners, from Drinklings Coffee House based in Wilmore, Elmwood Inn Fine Teas in Danville, and The Midway Bakery and Cafe just down the road,” Battaglia said. “We were very intentional with our offerings and chosen ingredients.”

The couple makes its syrups in-house for coffee drinks, teas, and craft cocktails, including a signature Old Fashioned featuring a bourbon black tea-infused ice cube.

The menu features European-inspired fare such as olives, bread and butter, charcuterie, sandwiches, and Ouita’s Balls, a ham, cheddar, and chive scone.

“Everything about this process has been serendipitous in the best way, from the initial possibility to everyone we have had the pleasure of meeting and working with to get up and running,” Battaglia said. “The name actually chose itself.”

p Known as a Master “Distchiller,” Operations Manager Scott Berryman has crafted a line of alcohol-infused ice cream for Winchester-based Joe Brett’s Ice Cream. The creamery is preparing to open a new location in downtown Lexington’s Victorian Square. Photo furnished

Pat Gerhard, the longtime owner of downtown coffee shop Third Street Stuff, recently retired. The shop is temporarily closed during an ownership transition. Photo by Mick Jeffries

In other local food and beverage news:

More coffee-related news in Lexington is brewing, including the announced retirement of Third Street Stuff and Coffee owner Pat Gerhard, resulting in the indefinite closure of the 257 N. Limestone location until a change in ownership is finalized.

A 7Brew coffee location has opened at the corner of Citation and Georgetown Rd., and Old School Coffee has opened at 2304 Sir Barton Way, its fourth location.

After some delays, Shibam Coffee has opened at 535 S. Upper St., offering a variety of tea and Yemeni coffee-based drinks like pistachio and lotus lattes and milkshakes.

Bluegrass Hospitality Group has announced significant expansion plans. These include the opening of a new Malone’s in Crestview Hills, its first in northern Kentucky; a Harry’s American Bar & Grill in Richmond, the company’s debut standalone eatery for its Harry’s brand; and the relocation/expansion of OBC Kitchen to The Commons development in Lexington.

Publix has announced its newest area location in Nicholasville in the Stonedale development. Also in Nicholasville, a new Aldi and Cattlemen’s Roadhouse will open this summer, and Kroger is relocating from Brannon Crossing to the 3000 block of Lexington Rd.

Summer is the time for enjoying tasty frozen treats, and Lexington has some new spots opening, including Winchester-based Joe Brett’s Ice Cream, which is opening at 113 N. Broadway, in the former Vinaigrette Salad Kitchen location.

Announced via press release in early June, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams is opening at 111 Summit at Fritz Farm. The growing franchise is known for signature flavors including Salted Peanut Butter with Chocolate Flecks and Brown Butter Almond Brittle.

A Graeter’s location has opened at the Fountains at Palomar, 3957 Fountainblue Ln., and Sweet Scoops has opened at 978 S. Main St. in Nicholasville, offering flavors including Fat Elvis and Me Want Cookie.

Nothing But Noodles has opened at 4257 Harrodsburg Rd.; Firebirds Wood Fired Grill opened in mid-June at 2400 Polo Club Blvd. in Hamburg; and a Smashing Tomato location has opened at 112 Lucille Dr. n

The Secret to Ale-8’s Success

As Kentucky's iconic soft drink celebrates its 100th anniversary, its greatest asset may not be its secret recipe, but its determination to remain independent

BY MATT WICKSTROM

Most folks are familiar with the Ale-8-One origin story.

In 1926, Kentucky soda bottler George Lee Wainscott introduced a new ginger-and-citrus soft drink inspired by ginger beer recipes he encountered during his travels in Europe. He held a naming contest at the Clark County Fair, selecting “A Late One” — 1920s slang for “the latest thing” — which eventually became Ale-8-One.

But the secret to the brand’s century-long staying power isn’t just its secret recipe.

As Ale-8-One Bottling Co. celebrates the 100th anniversary of its flagship soft drink, the Winchester-based company stands as a rarity in American beverages: a fiercely independent, family-owned bottler that has not only survived but grown in an industry dominated by multinational giants with enormous marketing budgets, widespread distribution networks, and control of shelf space.

The company itself predates its signature drink by decades. Founded in 1902 as Wainscott Flavors, the business originally sold syrups and seltzers. After Fielding introduced Ale8-One in 1926, the drink eventually eclipsed everything else the company made, becoming both its flagship product and a Kentucky icon.

In the century since, Ale-8 has developed a cult-like following due to its signature flavor profile that’s equal parts citrus-lime soda and ginger ale, as well as its locally centered distribution platform, the latter of which has significantly expanded in recent years.

According to Ellen McGeeney, who joined the company as president and COO in 2013 and has served as CEO since 2022, consumer devotion was immediately apparent.

“When I began leading the company I went out and spent a lot of time with fans trying to understand the way they felt about the brand, and I quickly realized it was much more than a beverage — it’s part of their identity,” McGeeney said. “I had people showing me Ale-8 tattoos and telling me how one way they decide if they like somebody or not is by asking them what they think of Ale-8. There’s no doubt they’re a huge part of why we still exist.”

Still, McGeeney is quick to note that fan loyalty alone isn’t what keeps the company’s lights on.

Now led by fourth-generation owner Fielding Rogers, the company has maintained a fiscally conservative approach while investing heavily in vertical integration as an independent bottler — a strategy that has allowed it to remain independent as many regional bottlers have either disappeared or been absorbed by beverage giants.

This includes owning its own trucks and direct-store distribution system across Central Kentucky, giving it access to more than 7,000 stores in Kentucky and neighboring states. That system, McGeeney said, gives the company more control over its future in a highly competitive marketplace.

“It makes the business a little more complicated than it would be otherwise, but it’s also a key part of why we’ve been able to remain independent,” McGeeney said. “It allows us to have better service and relationships. In the beverage industry, there’s the bigs and there’s the folks who are trying to get bought by the bigs, but we’re a unicorn that’s not in either of those categories.

“Because of that, the primary focus of our distribution expansion has been in concentric circles outward from where our trucks are in Central Kentucky. Our first goal was to make sure we were available in all of Kentucky and the contiguous states. Beyond that, it’s been Kentuckians who have moved out of the state who have driven much of the demand in other territories.”

The company has also looked to innovation to fuel growth. Over the past decade, Ale-8 has expanded beyond its traditional formula with flavors including Cherry, Orange Cream, and Blackberry, along with limited releases such as Straw-Melon and Paw Paw. Its also introduced zero-sugar versions of most of those varieties.

In 2023, the company also revived a version of Roxa Cola, which Wainscott first introduced in 1906 and named after his wife, Roxanne. Coca-Cola filed a trademark infringement lawsuit over the soda shortly after its initial release. Although Wainscott ultimately prevailed, the legal challenge prompted him to

diversify his product line to better prepare for future legal and consumer pressures, eventually leading to the development of Ale-8.

For McGeeney, the foray into new flavors is consistent with the innovative spirit that defined the company's founder.

“It led to us asking ourselves, ‘why are we here’?” McGeeney said. “There’s no doubt that Wainscott had a gift in product development, so it felt very important for us to rebuild that capability and level of excellence with any new flavors we launched. We’ve talked about how every flavor we introduce has to be ‘Wainscott Worthy’ and have even pulled the launch of multiple products because of it. We knew our longtime fans would try anything we made, and we also want to keep the quality high for those who may not be a fan of our traditional flavor in the hopes that these new ones would bring more folks into favor with the brand.”

To honor its 100-year anniversary, Ale-8 is planning employee celebrations, commemorative packaging and retail displays, as well as a public celebration in downtown Winchester on August 1 — “8-One Day” — featuring giveaways, games, and live music.

For vice president of marketing Sean Wachsman, the centennial is about more than looking back.

“Over the coming 100 years we’re looking to build the next generation of fans for the brand and continue that multigenerational love for Ale-8 that has already been connecting friends and families for a century,” he said. n

A TASTE OF HISTORY

Kentucky’s new Historic Dining Guide helps locals and travelers discover memorable meals, local character, and the stories hidden inside historic buildings

BY LIZ CAREY

No one travels because they want to experience the same old thing, and that goes for food as well as the culture and scenery. If fast food and chain restaurants are what you crave, don’t even bother packing a bag. It’s everywhere, all around you, all of the time. But so, also, are some hidden gems.

This is one of the ideas behind the Historic Kentucky Dining Guide, a new initiative from the Kentucky Heritage Council that highlights unique restaurants that have opened in historically significant buildings across the state. The project highlights two things Kentuckians are passionate about: food and history, presenting them in a way that feels less like homework and more like an adventure.

The flagship restaurant of restaurateur Ouita Michel, Midway's Holly Hill Inn, is located in a building that was built in the 1840s. Photo furnished

The guide arrives at a moment when travelers are increasingly seeking authentic and unique culinary experiences over familiar chain restaurants. According to Craig Potts, executive director of the Kentucky Heritage Council and Kentucky’s State Historic Preservation Officer, the project aims to offer guidance in that quest, both for Kentuckians and visitors to the Commonwealth, with a guide that can be viewed online or downloaded at the Kentucky Tourism website.

“If I go to a new city, I don’t want to eat where I eat in my hometown,” Potts said. “I want to go to a place that has great local food and that’s going to be a unique experience that I’m going to take away a memory from.”

For Potts, the guide isn’t simply about finding a good meal. It’s about helping visitors and locals connect with places that tell Kentucky’s story, which is central to the Kentucky Heritage Council’s mission. The organization traces its roots to 1966, when Congress passed the National Historic Preservation Act. Originally founded as the Kentucky Heritage Commission, the agency’s responsibilities range from archaeology and architectural history to administering Kentucky’s portion of the National Register of Historic Places.

But preserving history is only part of the challenge. Making people aware of it is another.

“We’re always, as an agency, looking for ways to make the work that we do and the places we’re trying to preserve approachable to Kentuckians,” Potts said. “There are great stories associated with these historic places that sometimes people don’t know about, because that information isn’t made as readily available as we would like.”

The dining guide represents an attempt to bridge that gap.

The idea that history becomes more meaningful when experienced rather than observed runs throughout the Historic Dining Guide project. Potts notes that restaurants engage all of the senses in ways museums and interpretive signs often cannot.

“It’s taste, it’s what you hear, it’s what you smell, it’s what you see,” he said. “And so all those things come together."

Especially, when it comes to craftsmanship that hails from another time, Potts notes.

“The architecture becomes part of the meal. The pressed-tin ceilings, worn floor tiles, grand staircases, exposed brick walls, and century-old storefront windows aren’t simply decorations,” he said. “They’re pieces of living history that remain part of everyday life.”

Many of the buildings featured in the guide have been adaptively reused. Former homes, retail stores, pharmacies and commercial buildings have all found new life as dining destinations. The result is a dining experience layered with stories from multiple eras.

“When you know what the history of the building is, as you’re sitting there, you can start looking around and see that history come alive,” Potts said.

That appreciation for historic places wasn’t always common.

Both Potts and the guide’s creators point to the decades following World War II as a period when America became obsessed with modernization.

In the 1960s, when the National Historic Preservation Act was brought in, Potts admits that the era was defined by a belief that progress meant replacing the old with the new.

“We were on this trajectory of getting rid of anything that was old,” he said. “If it seemed old, we don’t really need it anymore. Let’s demolish it. Let’s build something new.”

Today, the pendulum has swung in the opposite direction. Historic downtowns have become destinations rather than places to avoid.

The guide’s first edition includes 18 restaurants, with two selected from each of Kentucky’s nine tourism regions. Notable participants include Holly Hill Inn, Kirchoff’s Bakery in Paducah, and the legendary Old Talbott Tavern in Bardstown, which famously claims to still have a bullet hole put there by Jesse James.

Future editions are expected to grow through an open application process, with new selections likely added twice a year.

Ultimately, Potts sees the guide as a way to sustain more than buildings. It’s about preserving experiences.

“We really care about preserving significant historic properties throughout the state, promoting our culinary heritage, and helping connect great experiences for travelers and for locals where you can get a great meal and a great story,” he said.

In Kentucky, it turns out history isn’t confined to museums. Sometimes it’s waiting at a corner table, with a glass of wine and dessert.

The Kentucky Historic Dining Guide can be found online at www.kentuckytourism.com/things-to-do/food/kentuckyhistoric-dining-guide. n

Louisville's Old Seelbach Bar, Bardstown's Old Talbott Tavern, and Covington's Lisse Steakhuis (pictured top to bottom) are among the spots included in Kentucky's Historic Dining Guide. Photos furnished

Barton T. Rogers, welcome to the team.

Central Bancshares is proud to announce the addition of Barton T. Rogers as our newest board member.

A veteran trusts and estates attorney with 38 years of experience and a former partner at Frost Brown Todd LLP (now FBT Gibbons LLP), Bart has long supported Central Bancshares as a trusted legal advisor. He is a graduate of Freed-Hardeman University and Vanderbilt University Law School and has also served in leadership roles with the Bluegrass Estate Planning Council and the Lexington Philharmonic Foundation. We are thrilled to welcome Bart to our team and look forward to his insight and experience.

BUILT TO LAST

Four decades after

getting

its start alongside Toyota in Georgetown, Thoroughbred Engineering is helping shape projects across Kentucky and beyond

BY LIZ CAREY

From bourbon distilleries and health care facilities to entertainment venues and airport expansion projects, Thoroughbred Engineering has become a behind-the-scenes force in many of Central Kentucky's most prominent developments.

The firm traces its roots to 1986, when founder Brent Combs launched the company in Georgetown as Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky was establishing its operations nearby. Early work with Toyota developed into a long-term relationship with the automotive manufacturer, and helped Thoroughbred develop a full-service design-build model and a client base that today extends across multiple industries and with projects in 22 states over the past year. This year, Thoroughbred continues its growth as it also celebrates its 40th anniversary.

“The goal was never to pad our wallets,” said Principal/CEO Darrin Croucher, who purchased the company from Combs in 2016 after years of working alongside him. “It is to meet the objective to the [project] owner.”

Today, Thoroughbred offers structural and civil engineering, architecture, site and special inspections, construction

management, geotechnical engineering, and site survey, allowing the firm to remain involved throughout a project’s life cycle and across multiple disciplines.

Its portfolio spans commercial, health care, infrastructure, industrial and residential sectors. Recent work includes continued projects for Toyota, East Kentucky Power Cooperative, area hotels, large-scale indoor agriculture facilities, as well as bourbon distillery projects including Wilderness Trail in Danville, numerous Wild Turkey warehouse structural design projects, and the Horse Soldier Bourbon campus in Somerset.

The firm is also involved in several high-profile Central Kentucky projects, including a new downtown location for the Lexington Children’s Museum, the 265,000-square-foot University of Kentucky Medical Office Building in Hamburg, and the recently announced Blue Grass Airport expansion.

Thoroughbred’s broad range of services is on full display at The Commons development on Forbes Road. The mixeduse development combines light industrial, office, retail, entertainment, and hospitality near downtown Lexington. Thoroughbred’s involvement includes work on RD1 Spirits headquarters and The Rail, a 47,000-square-foot music venue and event space expected to open this fall.

The company also has a personal stake in the development, having relocated its own offices to The Commons last year.

“Experience in multiple discipline areas is our competitive advantage. Basically, the client sets the objective and we understand the problems,” Croucher said. “For owners it’s getting harder to find professionals or a business model that will deliver on time, on budget, efficiently, and most importantly

Thoroughbred Engineering helped develop Horse Soldier Bourbon’s new distillery and destination campus in Somerset. Rendering furnished

Meet Jordan Haney, 2026 New Professional Engineer of the Year

Earlier this year, the National Society of Professional Engineers honored Thoroughbred Engineering Principal/ President Jordan Haney with its 2026 New Professional Engineer of the Year Award, recognizing his professional achievement, leadership, commitment to the profession, and to public service, both at the local chapter level and nationally.

Haney joined Thoroughbred in 2016 and rose from staff engineer to president in less than a decade. Today, he provides executive leadership for a team of approximately 60 employees.

We spoke with Haney about the award, his career and the firm’s collaborative approach.

completes initial site due diligence and survey work.”

That expertise often means Thoroughbred becomes involved even before a project formally begins.

“We are often brought in on a job before we even receive the actual bid to complete the work to help define the scope and structure of the project,” Croucher said. “We want to guide our clients in the right direction from the very beginning. This approach helps then save time and money.”

Croucher said the firm's collaborative, multidisciplinary approach remains central to its growth. Thoroughbred also partners with other engineering, architectural, and construction firms in a multi-dimensional design-build capacity, complementing and supporting their work throughout the life of a project.

“We work to follow what best fits the project and safety requirements. Many times, the scope could be reduced to lower the bid, but we do not do that. Rather, we’ll combine a solution or deliverable to be on time and on budget,” Croucher said.

“At the end of the day it is about the owners’ objectives and is the project being built safely,” he said. “Our model and method set us apart and are our advantage in this industry.” n

What does this national professional recognition mean to you?

It’s very humbling — I know it has my name on it, but I attribute it to so many people who have helped pave the way.

Ultimately, it’s the impact, focus, and ability to give back throughout my career with Thoroughbred that has helped me stand out in my field. I got into this career to make a difference.

For business owners and decision-makers, what are some best-practice tips for communication and collaboration on complex projects?

At Thoroughbred, we’re fortunate to have each line of service in-house. Even if a client is only working with us on one specific line of service, I can still walk across the hallway and ask our subject-matter expert their perspective on each step of the project if I have any questions or concerns.

We also work well with other firms, because we are already collaborating on a daily basis with other disciplines in-house. This allows us to better understand other firms’ and other professionals’ methodology, approach, and language. Multidisciplinary expertise is increasingly rare, especially with the level of experience each of our divisions bring to each job.

What aspects of Thoroughbred's culture have contributed most to your success?

I’m honored to work here for 10 years and counting, and to be with a company that gives people opportunities that reflect their effort. We are a mission-oriented group, and it is exciting to be able to do what you are best at and be supported. n

Thoroughbred Engineering Principal/ President Jordan Haney. Photo furnished

BizLex Q&A

B Bob Quick

The outgoing president and CEO of Commerce

Lexington reflects on regional collaboration, economic growth, and the evolution of Central Kentucky’s business community

BY DAN DICKSON

ob Quick began as president and CEO of what was then the Greater Lexington Chamber of Commerce in February 2001. During his tenure, he would help reshape the organization and the region’s approach to economic development, including guiding the 2004 merger of the Greater Lexington Chamber of Commerce, Lexington United, and the Lexington Partnership for Workforce Development to form Commerce Lexington.

Now, after 25 years leading the organization, Quick will retire at the end of July. Commerce Lexington has launched a national search for its next president and chief executive officer, retaining executive search company Waverly Partners to lead the process.

Among Quick’s most significant recent initiatives was overseeing the launch of a Regional Competitiveness Plan, a five-year strategy that brought Lexington together with Bourbon, Clark, Franklin, Jessamine, Madison, Montgomery, Scott, and Woodford counties in a collaborative regional economic development effort. The initiative markets Central Kentucky as a larger, more competitive region to site selectors and outside businesses.

Business Lexington recently spoke with Quick about regional collaboration, economic growth, leadership, and the evolution of Lexington’s business community during his time leading Commerce Lexington.

Collaboration has been a key strategy for improving the local economy. Over these past 25 years, have you learned that Lexington cannot go it alone?

We are better when we work together. The major reason is because our competition — the big metros, the million-plus population centers that we compete with — have an advantage in size unless we pull our nine counties together and compete. Together, we are now up to about 700,000 in population. That is important to site consultants and project owners.

We are much more competitive now. The results are astounding, and we are just getting started. We also have a workforce that is both smart and talented, a comparatively low cost of living, and an overall high quality of life.

Please elaborate on the results you have seen so far from the Regional Competitiveness Initiative.

We are making good progress in improving the region’s economic performance. Our goals were to increase the number of regional jobs, which are up 21 percent; wages, which grew by 28 percent; and GDP growth rates, which rose about 7 percent. We want to get them up to the national average.

We also wanted to increase the regional labor force, which we did, with an increase of 20,000 workers between 2019 and 2024. We are seeing notable gains in target sectors like manufacturing, automotive manufacturing, pharmaceutical and medical manufacturing, aerospace, business and professional services, and logistics.

BizLex Q&A

We also sought to attract and retain young professionals, which we measure as a gain of 7,000 since 2023.

Another goal was securing more state and federal funding, and we have done that as well. We think we are accomplishing what we hoped we could do. The more success we have in growing new businesses, the more we help existing companies. We want them to stay here and grow. When we market to potential new businesses, it helps to show the success stories we already have.

Have there been missed opportunities or continuing challenges that the region is still addressing?

I know of very few communities around the country that are perfectly happy with their talent recruitment and retention efforts. That will always be an opportunity for us.

Companies seeking new locations require a welcoming business climate, good infrastructure, a skilled workforce, abundant power, fast and predictable regulations, and ready-to-occupy buildings, or at least ready-to-build sites.

We also need to do an even better job reaching college graduates so they understand the job opportunities here, along with our quality of place and amenities.

Housing remains a challenge. During the 2008 recession, we were affected by how few housing units could be built, and everyone is still trying to make up for that shortage.

About 25 years ago, we conducted a study to measure how people perceived Lexington. They knew about horses, bourbon, and Big Blue Nation, but to many people we were still largely an unknown community. They did not know about the amenities, services, and opportunities here. Through technology and social media, we have changed that for the better. People learn about the region now and say they like what they see. Tourism is up.

You mentioned that marketing strategies today are very different from when you arrived in 2001. How so?

I think we are much better organized.

I go back to the 2004 merger of Lexington United, the Lexington Partnership for Workforce Development, and the Greater Lexington Chamber of Commerce into Commerce Lexington. That merger had a significant impact on our later success and brought all of our efforts into one laser focus.

Another major step was forming the nine-county initiative so we could present a united region to site selection firms and companies looking to relocate or expand. All the counties have learned how to help one another overcome challenges and turn them into opportunities.

During my time, we also developed one of the best Chamber staffs around. We won Chamber of the Year back in 2016.

What has been your leadership philosophy as president and CEO?

I believe in taking any shortcomings we might have and turning them into opportunities. When we bring the right people to the table, we can accomplish great things.

We have strong public- and private-sector leaders in Lexington and the surrounding counties, and over time we have gotten to know and trust each other.

I also like to empower my team to take ownership of their programs and events. Employees tend to perform better when they have the freedom to be creative. I just need to get out of their way and let them perform.

We also encourage staff to push back during debates on key issues instead of looking to me or our board chair and asking, “What do you want us to do?” We try to challenge ourselves through thoughtful dialogue.

What would you like your legacy to be from your years at Commerce Lexington?

I do not think much about legacy. I can honestly say I gave 110 percent of my life to this region for the benefit of future generations.

That gives me the best feeling of all — knowing we helped this region grow stronger. We did not do that by ourselves, but we were able to convene the right people and get things done. We helped make this a better place. n

Bolstering Your Brand

Local experts meet for a roundtable conversation on working with creative consultants, honing your message, and the value of authenticity

BY ABBY PIPER

More businesses are hiring creative consultants and fractional marketing directors to bolster internal teams and help define — or rediscover — the voice of their brand. At the same time, an expanding ecosystem of independent consultants and small agencies is reshaping how branding, design, and marketing strategy are developed and delivered.

Those themes framed a recent roundtable discussion on creative brand work, marketing, and promotion hosted in June by Bolt Marketing. The panel brought together three industry experts: Molly Green, founder of Onefold Creative; Brad Flowers, partner at Bullhorn Creative; and Austin Dunbar, principal at Durham Brand & Co. The panel was moderated by Bolt Marketing CEO and Founder Chase Fairchild.

Topics ranged from brand naming strategy and pricing models to authenticity, client management, and the role of AI in creative work. Here are some collected takeaways from the conversation.

Mine what’s real.

Even among branding experts, defining branding itself proved difficult to distill into a single framework.

For Dunbar, it comes down to “finding where aspiration meets application.” Green described it as a Venn diagram, where a company’s raison d’être intersects with the human experience. Flowers offered another perspective, saying “it’s primarily the culture they’re selling,” or rather the intersection of how people identify their own experience through your brand.

Overall, they agreed, branding is rooted in the human experience. “Mine what’s real,” Dunbar said. “Because there’s so much fake out there.”

He emphasized authenticity as a critical differentiator, particularly as artificial intelligence becomes more embedded in creative workflows. Over time, he suggested, brands may swing back toward more human-centric expression as part of a cultural shift away from AI-driven output.

Green stressed that while visuals are important, they can’t carry all of the emotional weight. “It’s how the brand makes you feel,” she said. Flowers added that visuals outside a brand’s established logos and artwork can help bring a human component — particularly photos, videos, and language that helps customers identify with the brand in a meaningful way.

Without that emotional connection, panelists agreed, brand messaging is diminished.

Don't overthink the name.

Flowers, who authored “The Naming Book,” has a hot take on developing company names: “It doesn’t matter,” he said.

He pointed to successful companies with so-called “bad names” — citing Microsoft as an example — as evidence that execution outweighs nomenclature.

Still, he identified two common pitfalls: overly generic names and treating naming like a test with a single correct answer.

“The name should be a foundational piece of intellectual property,” he said. Without that, he said, the rest of the brand system is weakened.

Set expectations early.

Across the panel, misaligned expectations emerged as one of the most common sources of project failure.

Green emphasized the importance of establishing clear expectations early, ideally in the first meeting(s), so that scope and outcomes are aligned from the outset.

Dunbar encouraged creatives to establish trust by clearly defining roles. Clients, he noted, engage consultants precisely because they bring outside expertise.

Flowers also agreed, and urged listeners not to die on a creative hill.

“We’re consultants — we’re not artists — and the job of a consultant is to give your best advice, and when they ignore your best advice, it is to tell them what the likely consequences of their choices are,” he said.

Price for value, not time.

Pricing strategy was another focal point, and the panelists were united in advising creatives to avoid hourly billing whenever possible. “It’s like renting you,” Dunbar said.

Instead, the panel advocated for project-based pricing and early budget discussions. If the client says they don’t have a budget in mind, press a little deeper, Dunbar said. Someone in the organization has that spending range in mind.

Green and Flowers both emphasized the concept of value-based pricing, or the idea that “we make a little so the client can make a lot.” Fees, they argued, should reflect the value created, not just time invested.

And, don’t be afraid to shoot for the fences to get what you’re worth, Green said. Over time, through trial and error, you'll find the pricing sweet spot that aligns with your market and expertise.

One word of warning from Flowers, though: “The biggest trap we fall into is treating ourselves like a commodity,” he said, explaining that undercutting your own value “creates a race to the bottom.”

The solution, he said, is differentiation and excellence in execution — build services and creative output that cannot easily be reduced to price comparisons.

Value authenticity over automation.

The discussion closed with a shared emphasis on authenticity, experimentation, and confidence in creative value.

Panelists encouraged creatives to stay grounded in human experience, seek inspiration from outside their immediate field, and work for clients who understand your value. Above all, they said, don’t use AI as a creative crutch in lieu of original thinking and ideas.

Finally, if there is one thing you can do this week to improve your business, Dunbar offered this advice: “Launch it — it won’t be perfect, but the market will tell you if it works.” n

Constructing a Legacy

Denham-Blythe marks 50 years of construction, collaboration, and relationship-driven expansion across Kentucky and beyond

BY DAN DICKSON

From a modest startup founded by two young engineers in Lexington to a nationally recognized design-build construction firm, Denham-Blythe has spent the past five decades helping shape Kentucky’s industrial, commercial, and institutional landscape.

The Lexington-based company is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, marking a milestone that reflects sustained growth, thousands of completed projects, and a business model built on long-term client relationships.

Founded in 1976 by engineering graduates Charlie Denham and Dale Blythe, the company began with a vision that differed from the traditional construction approach. The founders wanted a process centered on collaboration and customer advocacy. Rather than separating design, engineering, and construction into different entities, they promoted a team-oriented approach in which all project stakeholders worked together from the very beginning. That philosophy would eventually become known as the design-build model that defines Denham-Blythe today.

“They would take a customer’s ideas and develop a full complement of designs, and then they would build it,” said Casey Dunn, Denham-Blythe’s CEO and a 27-year veteran of the company. “You get a more complete and thorough facility that meets the client’s needs. The approach also reduces timelines and costs.”

Denham-Blythe’s organizational structure includes a commitment to performing a portion of construction work using inter-

nal teams, while also maintaining in-house architecture and engineering services. The company’s departments include design, construction, and craft divisions that work together throughout a project’s life cycle. Dunn and company leaders describe the approach as true design-build, allowing clients to work with a single team from planning and permitting through construction and occupancy.

The company completes about 400 projects annually and emphasizes early planning and project assessment to reduce budget overruns and delays.

“We deliver a high-quality construction project,” Dunn said. “We care about the client and our employees. What makes a project successful is keeping a client’s budget and timeline on schedule. We always strive for a long-term business relationship with each finished product.”

While many contractors specialize in a narrow sector, Denham-Blythe has diversified across industrial manufacturing, food processing, pharmaceuticals, health care, commercial office, automotive, institutional construction, and more. Its portfolio includes projects for Fortune 500 corporations as well as regional businesses and community organizations.

The company has done work for Keeneland and Buffalo Trace Distillery, and will renovate the terminal at Blue Grass Airport. It has built the headquarters building for the University of Kentucky Federal Credit Union, the Stantec Engineering office building, and completed major renovations at what was then Lexmark’s global headquarters.

The company has also been involved in logistics and distribution projects, including a LEED-certified facility for health care distributor Henry Schein in Lexington. The facility incorporated sustainable design elements including a green roof, rainwater management systems, and provisions for future expansion.

Denham-Blythe completes about 400 projects annually and emphasizes early planning, a collaborative approach, and realistic project assessments to help reduce budget overruns and delays. Photo furnished

Beyond Lexington, Denham-Blythe has contributed to major projects throughout Central Kentucky and across the state. Recent examples include a cafeteria project at Toyota’s Georgetown manufacturing facility, a cleanroom build-out for Catalent Pharma Solutions in Winchester, industrial expansions for manufacturers in western Kentucky, and renovations for educational institutions such as Hutchins Library at Berea College.

Denham-Blythe states that approximately 90 percent of its projects come from repeat clients, a figure that underscores the relationship-based business model established by its founders.

“Relationships are not built overnight,” said Dunn. “The strongest relationships are built with trust that is earned over time.”

Regional development organizations have highlighted Denham-Blythe as the type of hometown success story that demonstrates the strength of Kentucky’s emerging engineering and construction sectors.

Denham-Blythe has its main office on Trade Street in Lexington and operates additional offices in Tennessee, South Carolina, and Florida, with plans to open offices in several more states. The company is licensed to operate in 35 states.

“We go wherever our customers take us,” Dunn said.

Denham-Blythe’s job postings and recruiting materials emphasize mentorship, collaboration, and internal career advancement. That culture has helped the company attract and retain employees during a period when skilled construction labor remains in high demand nationwide. The company was recently recognized as one of Kentucky’s Best Places to Work.

Recent projects include Lexhold Technology Center Building A, left, which is intended to be the first of two sister buildings at the University of Kentucky’s Coldstream technology park, and the University of Kentucky’s McAdam Student Observatory, below. Photos furnished

“Our founders were very instrumental in the culture and trajectory of the company,” Dunn said. “They had high integrity and a high level of customer service from which they built true relationships and therefore created repeat business.”

The economy fluctuates wildly at times and develops challenges such as recessions, labor and material shortages, inflation, higher interest rates, and supply chain disruptions.

“We have been able to weather tough economic times by diversifying the types of projects we take on. If one sector of our industry is down at a particular moment, we shift to one that is not, and we keep going,” Dunn said.

For now, the company appears positioned for continued growth. Demand remains strong for advanced manufacturing plants, industrial facilities, food-production operations, and health care-related construction projects across Kentucky and the Southeast. Denham-Blythe’s established expertise in these sectors also appears to align with economic development projects being planned across the region.

Dunn said future opportunities for Denham-Blythe may also include distribution centers, pharmaceutical operations, and sustainable building projects.

Fifty years after Charlie Denham and Dale Blythe created a more collaborative construction experience for their clients, the company they built is leaving its mark on Lexington’s skyline, Central Kentucky’s economy, and projects across the nation. n

Engineering Firms

LOCAL FIRMS LISTED ALPHABETICALLY JULY 2026

Firm Name Address Phone Website

Bell Engineering

2480 Fortune Drive, Ste. 350 Lexington, KY 40509 (859) 278-5412 hkbell.com

Bowman Consulting 127 W Main St., Ste. 200 Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 309-6501 bowman.com

Brown + Kubican, PSC 546 E. Main St., Ste. 300 Lexington, KY 40508 (859) 543-0933 brownkubican.com

CMTA, Inc.

220 Lexington Green Circle, Ste. 600 Lexington, KY 40503 (859) 253-0892 cmta.com

Denham-Blythe Company, Inc. 100 Trade St. Lexington, KY 40511 (859) 255-7405 denhamblythe.com

EA Partners, PLC 3111 Wall St. Lexington, KY 40513 (859) 296-9889 eapartners.com

Elliot Engineering, Inc. 673 Blue Sky Parkway Lexington, KY 40509 (859) 600-6216 elliotengineeringinc.com

GRW 801 Corporate Drive Lexington, KY 40503 (859) 223-3999 grwinc.com

Type(s) of Engineering

Civil, Mechanical, Structural, Environmental, Electrical

Civil & Site Engineering, Landscape Architecture, Power and Utilities, Renewable Energy, Right-of-Way and Land Services, Structural Engineering, Survey/Geospatial

Structural

Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing Engineering Design, Commissioning Design Services, Zero Energy Design, Performance Contracting Services

Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Structural

Civil, Environmental, Transportation, Water Resources, Development Planning and Site Design

ARC Flash Analysis, Design Engineering & EPC, Application and Consulting Engineering, NERC Compliance, Power System Planning and Studies, Power System Protection & Control, Project and Construction Management, Power System Testing and Commissioning

Water Resources, Mechanical, Electrical, Structural, Srchitecture, Civil/ Site Development,Transportation, Surveying, Geospatial

Notable Projects or Clients

Kelly G. Gillespie (President)/ James K. Roberts, PE, PLS (Executive VP)/ John D. Prince (VP)/ Stephen H. Caudill, PE (VP)/ David S. Schrader, PE (VP)/ Robert L. Pickerill (VP)

William Hodges, PLA (Regional Leader)

Dan Kubican, PE (President)/ Jeff Alexy, PE, SE (Principal)/ Brian McMillan, PE (Principal)/ Adam Ray, PE, SE (Principal)/ Jay Wang, PE (Principal)

Kevin Mussler, PE (Vice President)

Michael Patterson (President, Lexington Office)/ Casey Dunn (CEO)

Albert W. Gross, PE, PLS (Managing Partner)/ Leslie M. Haney, PE, PLS (Managing Partner)/ Tom Hatfield, PE, PLS (Partner)/ Rick Nunnery, PE, PLS (Partner)/ Eric Hackworth, PE, PTOE, RSP1, LSIT (Partner)/ Clive Weller, PE, PTOE (Partner)/ Marc Wirtzberger, PE (Partner)

Patrick Wells (President)

Chris Hammer, PE (President)/ Eric Fister, PE (Principal)/ Rob Hench, GISP (Principal)/ Mike Jacobs, PE (Principal)/ Monty Maynard, PE (Principal)/ Aaron Nickerson, AIA (Principal)/ Wayne Roberts, PE (Principal)/ Roderick Saylor, PE (Principal)

Engineering Firms

LOCAL FIRMS LISTED ALPHABETICALLY JULY 2026

HDR, Inc.

333 W. Vine St., Ste. 1400 Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 629-4800 hdrinc.com

KPFF Consulting Engineers

250 W. Main St., Ste. 1910 Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 657-1770 kpff.com

Shrout Tate Wilson Consulting Engineers, PLLC 628 Winchester Road Lexington, KY 40505 (859) 277-8177 stweng.com

Stantec

3052 Beaumont Centre Circle Lexington, KY 40511 (859) 422-3000 stantec.com

Civil, Electrical, Structural, Mechanical, Environmental, Water Resources, Geotechnical, Transportation

Bridge, Civil, Environmental, Mechanical, Structural, Transportation, Waterfront, Project Management, Land Surveying, Fish Passage, Marine Transit Planning, Protective Design

Mechanical, Electrical, Distillation, Commissioning

Civil, Geotechnical, Transportation, Water Resources, Environmental, Structural

Ben Edelen, PE (Senior VP, Department Manager)

R. Larry Anderson, PE (VP)

Brent A. Tippey. PE (VP)

Greg Buccola, PE, SE (Managing Principal)

Summit Architects + Engineers 3205 Summit Square Place Lexington, KY 40509 (859) 264-9860 summit-ae.com

SynTerra

170 Turner Commons Way, Ste. 120 Lexington, KY 40511 (859) 233-2103 synterracorp.com

THOROUGHBRED

1409 N. Forbes Road, Ste. 110 Lexington, KY 40511 (859) 785-0383 thoroughbredfirm.com

Architecture, Civil Engineering, Interior Design, Surveying, Laboratory, Mine Permitting

Civil, Environmental, Mining, Litigation and Expert Witness, Surveying, Drone Geothermal, Health, Safety and Risk Management

Civil, Structural, Environmental, Geotechnical, Construction

Source: Information obtained from company websites and individual company contacts.

E. Tyler Wilson, PE (Principal)

Ralph Whitley, PE (Principal)

Whitley Casey, PE (Principal)

James Troutman, PE (Principal)

Robbie Bottoms, PE (Principal)

Nick Morgan, PE (Principal)

Jason Maxwell, PE (Principal/Office Leader)

Glenn Hardin, PE (VP)

Bret Lavey, PE, ENV SP (Senior Principal, Operations Leader)

Adam Grace, PE (Senior Principal)

Daniel Gilbert, PE (VP)

John Montgomery, PE (Senior VP)

Tony Hunley, Phd, PE (VP)

Richard Sutherland, PE (VP)

D. Scott Noel, Assoc. AIA (President/CEO)

Mike Hill, PE (Director/VP)

Steven Maggard, PE (VP)

Karen Rose (Industrial Compliance Engineering Manager)

Charles Bishop, PE (Consulting Engineer)

Jack W. Griffin, PE (Senior Engineer)

Doug Mynear, PE (Consulting Engineer)

Darren Croucher, PE (CEO)

Jon Hale, PE (Executive VP)

Jeff Garrison, PE (COO)

Jordan Haney, PE (GPM)

Ron Hargett (Principal)

Aaron Bivens (Principal)

Staffing Agencies

LOCAL AGENCIES LISTED ALPHABETICALLY JULY 2026

Agency Name Address Phone Website

ACE

608 Keene Center Dr. Nicholasville, KY 40356 (859) 305-0895 ace-consulting.net

Alliance Medical & Home Care 3716 Willow Ridge Road Lexington, KY 40514 (859) 296-9525 alliancelexington.com

BJM Staffing and BRM Medical Staffing 190 W. Lowry Lane Lexington, KY 40503 (859) 223-3000 bjmstaffing.com bjm-medical.com

Express Employment Professionals 154 Patchen Drive, Ste. 89 Lexington, KY 40517 (859) 971-1011 expresspros.com/lexingtonky

Kelly Services 2358 Nicholasville Road, Ste. 165 Lexington, KY 40503 (859) 373-0422 kellyservices.com

Manpower of Central Kentucky 162 Old Todds Road, Ste. 280 Lexington, KY 40509 (859) 268-1331 manpowerlexington.com

Metro Staffing Services 851 Corporate Drive, Ste. 122 Lexington, KY 40503 (859) 296-0181

People Plus, Inc. 2551 Richmond Road, Ste. 8 Lexington, KY 40509 (859) 246-1400 peopleplusinc.com

Precision Staffing, Inc. 2350 Sterlington Road Lexington, KY 40517 (859) 272-2030 precisionstaffing.net

Disciplines, Skills Placed

Construction field staff, including project managers, quality control managers, superintendents, safety officers, site safety health offices, owners and construction management representatives, and industrial hygenists

NP, PA, CNA, KMA, LPN, SRNA, RN, Specialty RN, Private Duty Caregivers

Medical (office and clinical) and professional office staff (legal, administrative, accounting, financial/ banking, customer service, technical and IT)

Light industrial, office, skilled trades, professional

Office, professional, call center, finance, light industrial, warehouse, manufacturing, customer service, forklift, material handling, production

Manufacturing, picking/packing, call center, forklift, warehouse

Services Provided

Construction field and safety staff for private, public, and GSA construction projects

Medical staffing

Direct-hire, temp-to-hire, and temporary (short-term and long-term)

Locally Owned/ Franchised

Yes/No

Skilled, semi-skilled, management, engineers

Administrative, accounting, human resources, legal, manufacturing, skilled labor, light industrial, warehouse, drivers

Light industrial including manufacturing, warhouse, administrative office staff, skilled industrial, IT, professional

Temporary placement, evaluation hire, direct hire

Direct hire, temp-to-hire, temporary, seasonal, projectbased direct hire, payroll services, RPO, BPO, medical, industrial, seasonal, etc.

Seasonal, industrial, office

Manufacturing services, temp-to-hire, direct placement

Seasonal, temp-to-hire, direct hire, payrolling, pre-screening services, PEO services

Direct hire placement, temp-tohire, temporary, seasonal, payrioll services, pre-employment services, strategic workforce analysis, remote work

Yes/No Yes/No

Top Local Executive/ Headquarters/ Year Established

Matt Ellis (CEO)/ Louisville, KY/ 2008

Jackie Arnett Howard (CEO & Owner)/ Lexington, KY/ 2007

Barbara Jane Moores (President and CEO/ Lexington, KY/ 52+ years

Laura Mobley (Owner)/ Oklahoma City, OK/ 2003

Wes Bradley (Market Director)/ Troy, MI/ 1959

Lynn Rothermund (Branch Manager), Tom Maher (President)/ Dayton, OH/ 1975

Gregory S. Pierson (Manager)/ Atlanta, GA/2013

Amanda Huddleston, SHRM-CP, CSP (President/Owner)/ Madisonville, KY/ 2004

Kathy O’Daniel/ Lexington, KY/ 1981

Staffing Agencies

LOCAL AGENCIES LISTED

ALPHABETICALLY

JULY 2026

Remedy Intelligent Staffing 1030 Monarch St., Ste. 300 Lexington, KY 40513 (859) 224-4455 remedystaff.com

Snelling Staffing Services 1025 Dove Run Road, Ste. 310 Lexington, KY 40502 (859) 233-0583 snelling.com

Staffmark 1510 Newtown Pike, Ste. 134 Lexington, KY 40511 (859) 254-4011 staffmarkgroup.com

TEKsystems - Lexington 1792 Alysheba Way, Ste. 370 Lexington, KY 40509 (859) 519-2300 TEKsystems.com

Disciplines,

Accounting, administrative, warehouse, forklift, assembly, machine operation, maintenance, engineering, management, information technology

Administrative, warehouse, production

Locally Owned/ Franchised

Clerical, warehouse, industrial, professional

Industrial and professional

Vaco

201 E. Main St., Suite 720 Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 296-4021 vaco.com

Light industrial, manufacturing, skilled labor, administrative, professional placement, direct hire placement, drivers

Information technology jobs, Applications: application architects and developers, business intelligence analysts, reporting analysts, data architects, ERO analysts and developers, project managers, business analysts, QA testers, etc. Network: cloud engineers, virtualization engineers, cabling technicians, network architects, network engineers and administrators, system/server engineers and administrators, network and security monitors, storage administrators, etc. IT support: desktop and helpdesk support, IT technician, asset inventory specialists, IT trainers, technical writers, etc.

Accounting, finance, supply chain, HR/operations, manufacturing, media and entertainment, retail, education, healthcare and life sciences, energy and utilities, transportation and logistics, and general administration, technology and digital solutions

Source: Information obtained from company websites and individual company contacts.

It’s that

Short-term, long-term, part-time, seasonal, direct hire

IT staffing, managed/ co-managed services and complete outsourced solutions across all industries, including state/local government, health care, financial services, higher education, retail, technology

Direct hire, contract Yes/Yes Yes/Yes

Operated

Lynn and Tom Braker (Owner)/ Atlanta, GA/ 1994

Leela Von Behren (President)/ Dallas, TX/ 1964

Jaime Shutt, CSP (Regional Vice President)/ Cincinnati, OH/ 1995

Morgan Newton, Lexington; Travis Rickards, Louisville/ Baltimore, MD/ 2013

Brandi Fister (Managing Director)/ Brentwood, TN/ 2013 Top Local Executive/ Headquarters/ Year Established

contractor

ZIMDAHLBOZARTH

NEW HIRES & PROMOTIONS

McBrayer PLLC announced that Stephanie Zimdahl has joined the firm in its Lexington office.

God’s Pantry Food Bank has appointed Danielle Bozarth, the organization’s current chief operating officer, as Interim president and CEO.

Centerpoint Health has named Katherine “Kathy” Leigh, RN, BSN, MBA, CPHQ, as chief nursing officer for Centerpoint Health – Winchester.

Jennifer Mueller recently joined Thoroughbred Engineering as director of business development.

Traditional Bank announced the promotion of Jonathan Kosier to the role of mortgage lender.

Truist Bank recently promoted Luke Summe to assistant vice president, commercial banker.

Mitchell West, PA-C, has joined Saint Joseph Medical Group – Cardiology at Harrodsburg Road in Lexington.

Equity Management Group, Inc., announced the pro-

motion of Jason J. Taylor to president. Lev Orlov has joined the firm as chief operating officer; and Bret Caller will assume the role of chief executive officer.

Shield Environmental Associates Inc. welcomed new employees John Eisiminger and Kyler Jones to its Lexington office.

KUDOS

Leadership Kentucky announced the members of its 2026 class. The class comprises 52 participants from across the State representing public and private sectors. New Lexington members incude: Aaron Bivens, Thoroughbred Engineering; Angela Evans, the Fayette County Attorney’s Office; Cam Freeman, Truist; Lindsay Jasinski, the University of Kentucky; Mel Kimmel, Kentucky American Water;

Daryl Love, Everent Health; Allen McDaniel, Downtown Lexington Partnership; Katherine Paisley, Exacta Systems LLC; and Terry Wooten, CHI Saint Joseph Hospital.

Kentucky Society of Professional Engineers announcing that Jordan Haney, PE, of Lexington, has been selected by the National Society of Professional Engineers as the recipient of the 2026 National New Professional Engineer of the Year Award. Haney is president and principal engineer of Lexington-based Thoroughbred Engineering.

Baptist Health Lexington has received the American Heart Association’s Hypertension Practice Center Certification, recognizing the hospital’s commitment to delivering evidence-based care for patients with complex or difficult-to-treat hypertension, also known as high blood pressure.

Republic Bank & Trust Company has once again been named a winner of the Raymond James Community Bankers Cup.

Keeneland Library has received the prestigious Thomas D. Clark Award of Excellence from the Kentucky Historical Society to recognize outstanding achievement in preserving, sharing and promoting Kentucky’s rich heritage.

The Kentucky Community and Technical College System celebrated a historic year for student achievement, surpassing 25,000 graduates in a single academic year for the first time in system history.

VisitLEX announced that John Pohl, director of sports and equine sales, will retire July 31. Pohl spent 31 years helping establish Lexington as a premier destination for sports and equine events. n

CRAVE FOOD + MUSIC FESTIVAL

JULY 31 - AUGUST 1

GATTON PARK ON THE TOWN BRANCH

CRAVE begins an exciting new chapter as Lexington’s signature food-and-music festival moves to the heart of the city at Gatton Park on the Town Branch. Enjoy long-time food favorites, while celebrating our city’s increasingly diverse culinary identidy. Signature foods. Signature chefs. All local. Plus: culinary demos, chef interviews, cocktail spotlights, and more!

DO GOOD. BUILD LOCAL IMPACT.

Your corporate giving can do more. We can help!

For decades, Vulcan Materials has helped build the Bluegrass region. Now they’re helping build its future through strategic charitable giving.

Supporting endowments held at BGCF, like the Fund for Greater Lexington, gives Vulcan smart tax advantages through the Endow Kentucky Tax Credit that are good for its bottom line and its community. Scan the QR code below to hear Vulcan’s interview on our podcast, the Do Good Radio Hour.

We’d love to help your business do the same. Give us a call!