Business Lexington, June 2026

Kentucky American Water Company

President Rob Burton

Lynn Imaging: An Eighty-Year Evolution

Railbird's Economic Impact

Engineering Growth

Brown + Kubican’s 25-year rise to Kentucky’s largest structural engineering firm

KENTUCKY’S ULTIMATE SUMMER CELEBRATION OF LOCAL FOOD MAKERS, REGIONAL MUSIC ACTS, BOURBON, AND CULTURE RETURNS TO DOWNTOWN LEXINGTON.

FEATURING CELEBRITY CHEF JASON SMITH, THE OUITA MICHEL HOECAKE HOEDOWN, TWO DAYS OF

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Business Briefs PAGE 6

Local business news in brief

Real Estate PAGE 10

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

Write Stuff PAGE 11

Helpful Tips for Overcoming That First-Draft Dread

Crave Worthy PAGE 12

Locally Grown: FoodChain’s Neighborhood Green Grocery expands access to fresh, affordable food

Quick Bites PAGE 14

Hellenic Kitchen to Bring Quick-Service Greek Dining Downtown

Independent Business PAGE 16

An Eighty-Year Evolution: From blueprint printing to digital solutions, Lynn Imaging adapts alongside its clients

BizLists

Construction Companies PAGE 26

Commercial Real Estate

Management Companies PAGE 30

Residential Real Estate Companies PAGE 32

Who’s Who PAGE 34

Local employment news and awards

BizLex Q&A

Kentucky American Water Company President Rob Burton on water rates, replacing aging infrastructure, and anticipating growth

PAGE 18

Railbird's Economic Impact

With tens of thousands of visitors and hotels near capacity, Lexington’s largest music festival has become a powerful driver of the city’s tourism economy

PAGE 20

Engineering Growth

Brown + Kubican’s 25-year rise to Kentucky’s largest structural engineering firm

PAGE 22

Shifts in Commercial Development

Retail, industrial, and health care projects gain momentum as multifamily and office developments slow

PAGE 24

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At Denham-Blythe, we cover all the steps in the construction process. Our company was created with a focus on fulfilling the needs of customers throughout the construction process including assistance with initial concept development to final design and cost development and then through construction and commissioning services. Because of this total customer service-oriented approach and the commitment to surpassing customer expectations, Denham-Blythe has grown dramatically in its history, and our repeat customers and longterm partner clients are continuing to increase every year.

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PHILANTHROPY

UK receives $1 million gift to expand equine veterinary pipeline

The University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment has received a $1 million private gift to launch Pathfinder, a new initiative aimed at addressing the national shortage of equine veterinarians by strengthening the pipeline into veterinary education and practice.

The MGCAFE Pathfinder: Equine Pre–Veterinary Support Fund will expand recruitment, outreach and training opportunities for high school, undergraduate and graduate students interested in equine veterinary careers. The program is designed to guide students from early exposure through veterinary school preparation, with a focus on Kentucky’s horse industry.

“Pathfinder reflects our land-grant mission — bringing people together to address real challenges facing our communities and industries,” said Laura Stephenson, vice president for land-grant engagement and dean of the college. She said the investment will expand hands-on learning and industry connections critical to preparing future veterinary professionals.

MCF Advisors acquires Northern Kentucky firm

MCF Advisors, LLC, a Kentucky-based registered investment adviser serving families, business owners and retirement plan sponsors, has acquired Hoff Bujnoch & Associates (HBA), a Newport, Kentucky wealth management firm with approximately $250 million in assets under management.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, more than 500 counties across 46 states face large-animal veterinary shortages, including 86 of Kentucky’s 120 counties.

Pathfinder will take a three-pronged approach: building early interest through 4-H and FFA partnerships, expanding horse-handling instruction and support-

ing student retention through career-focused experiences. It will also align with UK’s veterinary training facilities and statewide industry partnerships.

The funding will support teaching staff, program management and a population of horses used in instruction at UK facilities, strengthening applied learning opportunities for students entering the field. n

The deal expands MCF’s presence in Northern Kentucky and enhances its financial planning, tax and estate planning, retirement planning and business-owner advisory capabilities.

HBA, led by Digger Bujnoch, operates a planning-led, relationship-focused model. Bujnoch joins MCF as senior financial advisor and partner, along with his full team, which will continue serving existing clients.

MCF CEO and Managing Partner Dave

Harris said the firm’s client-first culture and collaborative planning approach align with MCF’s values and support its disciplined growth strategy in the region.

Bujnoch said MCF’s platform and resources will allow the team to deliver additional value to clients while maintaining its relationship-driven service model.

The transaction marked MCF’s third acquisition since partnering with Wealth Partners Capital Group and HGGC’s Aspire Holdings platform in March 2025. n

INDUSTRY

Central Kentucky leaders break ground on regional industrial park

Leaders from Fayette, Madison and Scott counties, along with the City of Berea, have broken ground on the 300-acre Triple Crown Business Park, marking what officials describe as the first public multi-county economic development project of its kind in Central Kentucky.

Located in the Menelaus Industrial Park area near Interstate 75, the site is designed to attract new industries, create high-quality jobs and strengthen the region’s long-term economic competitiveness. The development will include shovel-ready industrial lots with utilities and transportation infrastructure in place.

The project is structured around a regional collaboration model in which local governments share costs and future tax revenue. Under the agreement, Berea will receive a hosting fee, while Fayette, Madison and Scott counties will split remaining revenues through the Central Kentucky Business Park Authority.

Officials say the approach is intended to help Central Kentucky compete more effectively with larger regional hubs such as Nashville, Columbus and Raleigh-Durham.

The project includes $2 million in federal funding to help support infrastructure and site development, including transportation access and utilities.

Economic development leaders estimate the project could generate 700 to 1,200 jobs over the next decade as it reaches full buildout. n

HEALTH CARE

UK Infrastructure Project to Support Hospital Growth

UK HealthCare announced it is moving forward with a $580 million utilities infrastructure project designed to support the future expansion of the University of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Hospital and other major campus facilities.

The university recently received approval from the Kentucky Legislature’s Capital Projects and Bonds Oversight Committee for the Utilities Infrastructure Public-Private Partnership project, which includes construction of a new central utility plant, expanded distribution systems, and upgrades to existing heating and cooling infrastructure.

University officials said the project is necessary to address growing demand at Chandler Hospital, where patient capacity

limits currently force thousands of patients to be turned away annually.

“To serve the people across our Commonwealth, we must continue to grow,” said UK President Eli Capilouto. “The expansion of Chandler Hospital is essential to meeting the healthcare needs of our state. This project ensures we have the infrastructure in place to make that growth possible and to keep advancing Kentucky.”

The infrastructure upgrades will also support several other major campus projects, including the UK Markey Cancer Center, the Advanced Ambulatory Building, and the Michael D. Rankin MD Health Education Building.

“This is foundational work that often happens behind the scenes,” said Eric Monday, executive vice president for finance and administration and co-executive vice president for health affairs. “But it is critical to everything we do. Without it, we cannot expand Chandler Hospital or support the growth in care, education and

The estimated $580 million infrastructure project includes a new central utility plant, a connected distribution system and equipment upgrades to provide heating and cooling for the growing campus. Rendering furnished

research that serves communities across Kentucky.”

UK selected Kentucky Infrastructure Partners following a competitive process to design, build and operate the utility systems. Planned improvements include modernization of chilled water systems, additional utility piping and backup generators for Chandler Hospital.

“This partnership helps us move faster and more effectively on a project of this scale,” said Craig Collins. “It allows us to focus on our mission of advancing Kentucky while building the right partnerships to ensure these systems perform for decades to come — for the future of health care in Kentucky.”

Construction will occur in phases, with initial distribution piping work expected to begin as early as mid-June along University Drive between Cooper and Complex Drives. Additional parking and traffic impacts near University Drive Garage are expected beginning in mid-July, according to university officials. 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 April 2026

4/28/26935 Red Mile Road

4/17/261077 Eastland Drive

4/17/261077 Eastland Drive

4/24/26125 Mt. Tabor Road

4/22/262425 Regency Road

4/17/26948 National Avenue

4/17/263804 Duffy Court

4/17/263800 Duffy Court

$34,212,500Multifamily Lexington Campus Court LLC

$7,128,759**Warehouse DMCGL LLC

$7,128,759**Lumber Storage DMCGL LLC

$5,500,000Retail NGLexington LLC

$1,100,000Office Building EEA Investment Group LLC

$1,060,000Office/warehouse Wise Builders Rentals LLC

$990,000*Multifamily Rohan Realty LLC

$990,000*Multifamily Rohan Realty LLC

4/6/26141-151 Southland Drive$900,000 Retail Greer Land Co. Smyrna #2 LLC

4/14/26102 W. High Street

4/1/261417 Leestown Road

4/1/261415 Leestown Road

4/3/26357 Southland Drive

$825,000 Retail 102 High LLC

$725,000*Retail Dopeworks LLC

$725,000*Retail Dopeworks LLC

$280,000 Retail Risner, James

4/14/26634-636 Ballard Street $220,000 Office/warehouse Koch Holdings LLC

4/17/26742 N. Broadway

$190,000 Multifamily Lexington Land and Realty LLC

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

Residential Sales Data for April 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.

WRITE STUFF

Helpful Tips for Overcoming That First-Draft Dread

BY JENNIFER MATTOX

t doesn’t matter if you’re a seasoned writer or someone who only occasionally writes for work or personal reasons — writing a first draft is hard. Even if you move past the dread of a blank page, you might find yourself writing and rewriting the same first paragraph over and over. I think I’ve stopped, started, and completely rewritten this one at least six times myself.

So how do you write a first draft?

I find it easier to type GREAT FIRST SENTENCE and then write the sentence that comes after it. You might type FIRST PARAGRAPH and start from there. It takes the pressure off having to craft the perfect beginning for whatever it is you’re writing — and since you haven’t written the piece yet, you may not even know how to introduce your topic or story. Besides, you’ve left this note for yourself in all caps, so you’ll see it and make changes before you submit the piece. And because this is a draft — a first draft — you should fully review and rewrite sections of the piece at least once, if not multiple times, until it says all you want it to say in a way that clearly communicates your message to the reader.

As you write beyond the opening, there may be places where you don’t know what to say or what happens next. Here’s where you can turn on your caps lock again and type MORE HERE. Then keep going. The purpose of a first draft is to write down as much as you know. You can always fill in the blanks later. Some writers think of a first draft as the framework on which they’ll eventually build a fully finished piece.

These strategies work for me, and you’ll find plenty of other tips online. I’ll end with a quote so often shared that its true author has been lost: First drafts don’t have to be perfect; they just have to be written. n

Jennifer Mattox is the Executive Director of the Carnegie Center for Literacy & Learning and a professional writer. The Carnegie Center, 251 W. Second St., is a nonprofit educational center offering seasonal writing, publishing, and language classes, among other community programming. For more information, visit CarnegieCenterLex.org.

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Locally Grown

FoodChain’s Neighborhood Green Grocery expands access to fresh, affordable food

BY SHANNON CLINTON

FoodChain’s mission is to cultivate strong community ties, educate about sustainable food systems and healthier food choices, and provide the area with healthy, local food. A new way that vision is manifesting in the community can be found in the aisles of its 2,000-squarefoot FoodChain Neighborhood Green Grocery, which opened in May at 501 W. Sixth St.

Leandra Forman, FoodChain’s co-executive director, said the grocery will be open year-round, offering both conventional and specialty grocery items, locally sourced food, grab-andgo items prepared by FoodChain staff, and products from other local businesses.

Forman said opening a neighborhood grocery has long been a goal of the organization, and a team effort made it a reality after a process that included strategic planning and community listening sessions “to ensure that the grocery was still in alignment with what people felt would best serve the needs of the community,” Forman said.

Continued community input will also be crucial moving forward, as the grocery is meant to grow and evolve, she said.

A few fun freebies can be expected as part of the grocery experience.

“We’ll always have some samples,” she said. “We’ll always have some popcorn and fruit slushies and things like that that people can taste.”

FoodChain officials were working toward approvals to accept SNAP payments and Kentucky Double Dollars. Shoppers are also encouraged to bring reusable shopping bags.

Partnering farmers are excited about the possibilities at the new grocery, including Ella Beatty Wilson, owner and operator of Great EggSpectations Chicken Run, which supplies the store with fresh chicken and duck eggs, homegrown tomatoes, garlic scapes, garlic, and fresh and dried herbs from an urban farmstead in downtown Lexington.

Wilson said she and her sisters are third-generation chicken farmers.

“We applaud FoodChain for its continued commitment to feeding and educating Lexington’s inner-city families,” she said. “As a small-scale, holistic farming entity, we are happy to offer our fresh, locally grown food items to their grocery shelves.”

For the past 12 years, Bree Pearsall and her husband, Ben Abell, have co-owned Rootbound Farm in Crestwood, a mid-sized certified organic farm that raises produce, eggs and meat.

Though its main program is Community Supported Agriculture, or CSA, Pearsall said they also offer products through farmers markets and small wholesale partners, including FoodChain’s new grocery.

“In the springtime, our first items will be the leafy greens like kale, lettuce, collards, broccolini, and green onions,” she said. “As we turn the corner into summertime in early June, you'll start to see more summer favorites like cucumber, summer squash, and by late June there will be tomatoes and green beans and so much more. We grow over 50 different fresh produce crops over the course of the year, and we imagine most of them will end up on the shelves at FoodChain.”

Noting her farm also seeks to remove barriers to consumer access to fresh local food, Pearsall said she has partnered with FoodChain in the past with food access initiatives like the Food Box program in 2021 and prepared foods and meals programs, and now is excited to also be a part of the green grocery space.

“Whatever FoodChain is doing, we want to be a part of it!” Pearsall said. “We are delivering product to FoodChain most weeks of the year.”

The grocery includes an area for people to sit and hang out for a while, and an outdoor patio is coming soon with expanded seating, Forman said.

“We’ve intentionally created this space to be welcoming for everyone and for people of all ages, and we’re trying to make sure that local food is not just accessible, it’s also exciting,” Forman said.

FoodChain Neighborhood Green Grocery is closed Sundays and Mondays and open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. A grand opening celebration is being planned for later this summer. n

QUICK BITES

Hellenic Kitchen to Bring Quick-Service Greek Dining Downtown

BY SHANNON CLINTON

Inspired advice from a friend is helping write a new culinary chapter for a popular and expanding Greek restaurant brand.

Ilias Pappas, owner of Athenian Grill, is launching Hellenic Kitchen by Ilias Pappas in the soon-to-be renovated downtown Athenian Grill location at 120 E. Main St. in Park Plaza.

Pappas said a close friend and frequent Athenian Grill customer suggested that downtown Lexington lacked a restaurant equally focused on quality and speed of service.

Pappas and his team soon realized Athenian Grill’s downtown location, next to the Central Public Library and near numerous businesses, was well suited for the concept.

Pappas plans to close the downtown Athenian Grill on July 6, spend several weeks preparing the space, and reopen later that month as Hellenic Kitchen. He said a goal was to create a concept that complements Athenian Grill’s remaining locations without directly competing with them.

“It bears my name so of course we’re taking it seriously,” Pappas said of the new venture.

The restaurant will focus on customization. Its Build Your Own Bowl menu will offer six greens, including arugula and spring mix; starches such as rice, couscous and farro; proteins including chicken gyro, pork gyro and falafel; toppings ranging from cucumber and tomato to roasted corn, Greek slaw and pita chips; and a dozen dressings, including two hummus varieties and tzatziki made from traditional Greek recipes.

to work and sell their product. We will have a case filled with delicious offerings from multiple bakeries in one place,” the post said, adding that the business will also include a coffee shop and commissary kitchen.

Carson’s Back Porch opened in May at 321 E. Vine St. Menu items include pimento cheese fritters, baked garlic butter oysters, chicken and waffles, sweet-andspicy ribs, and low-country pasta.

Firebirds Wood Fired Grill is expected to open in mid-June at 2400 Polo Club Blvd., according to a social media announcement.

An eight-story student housing complex near the University of Kentucky called VERVE Lexington is scheduled to break ground this summer and will include a public coffee shop.

Doc Crow’s Social has replaced the former Goodwood location at 200 Lexington Green Circle, serving a menu that includes burgers and wings.

Many of those ingredients will also appear on the Build Your Own Gyro menu, served in hand-stretched pita imported from Greece.

For diners who prefer a ready-made option, the menu will feature three signature bowls, three signature gyros, and a spanakopita specialty plate.

Sides will include roasted vegetables, oregano fries, dips, and small plates. Dessert offerings will include orange cake and frozen Greek yogurt topped with ingredients such as honey and berries.

Proteins are Halal-certified, and the menu includes gluten- and dairy-free items as well as vegan and vegetarian options. Beverage selections include lemonade, berry lemonade and Greek Mountain iced tea.

In other local food and beverage news: Futile Bakery is leaving Greyline Station and relocating to the Southland area as part of the new Lexington Baking Collective, expected to open later this year alongside Dahlhaus Fudge and Hound and Horse Bakery, according to a social media post.

“Our goal is to offer a space for bakers

In Frankfort, Buffalo Trace Distillery has opened its new John G. Carlisle Cafe, serving made-to-order sandwiches, salads and desserts.

The Fish Fry has relocated to 833 Georgetown St. Birdies Chicken is now open behind Bluegrass Tavern.

The Sage Rabbit closed in mid-May after 11 years in Chevy Chase, according to its website.

Tilted Kilt on South Broadway also closed in May.

Athens Lunchroom, Chocolate Holler, and Chocomania Georgetown also recently announced plans to close.

A new Aldi is under construction near Ky. 169 and Nicholasville Road, according to signage at the site.

Dovas has moved inside Old North Bar at Greyline Station, and Son of a Burger has relocated to 833 Georgetown St.

Good Reception Records and Jawn Coffee are partnering on a record store and coffee shop at 500 Southland Drive, according to an Instagram post.

Coffee and dirty soda shop Muggles Traveling Cafe has joined forces with Backroads Bakery Cheesecakes at 109 W. Sixth St. n

An Eighty-Year Evolution From

blueprints to digital solutions, Lynn Imaging adapts alongside its clients

BY LIZ CAREY

Founded in 1946 as Lynn Blue Print, Lexington-based Lynn Imaging began as a small blueprint supply company serving builders and surveyors from a 1,000-square-foot storefront on Short Street downtown.

At the time, reproducing architectural drawings meant using the diazo printing process, which involved placing a translucent original over light-sensitive paper, exposing it to ultraviolet light and developing it with ammonia fumes to create a positive print.

Today, architectural plans are produced digitally using CAD software and large-format inkjet printers, a transformation that mirrors the company’s own evolution over the past 80 years.

Through decades of technological change, Lynn Imaging has continually adapted its business to meet the changing needs of its customers, partic-

ularly in the architecture, engineering and construction industry.

“We don’t want to become irrelevant — we don’t want to be Blackberry or some of these other companies where they stick their heads in the sand and say, ‘This is going to last forever,’” said Jeff Presley, Lynn Imaging’s chief revenue officer. “People still print reams of blueprints, but we’re always asking ourselves, what could be the next thing that might make that go away?”

That willingness to evolve has shaped the company’s growth from a traditional blueprint shop into a full-service construction information management and printing company. Over the years, Lynn Imaging expanded into copy services, printer and copier sales and maintenance, signage and graphics, digital document management and construction workflow software.

Today, its clients include the University of Kentucky, Buffalo Trace Distillery, Sherman Carter Barnhart and Keeneland. Some customers, including JRA Architects, have worked with the company since its earliest years. The architecture, engineering and construction sector remains central to Lynn’s business.

“Wherever the industry goes, we want to be right in the middle of it. That’s what we’ve done for 80 years,” Presley said. “Whatever helps our customers succeed, that’s going to be our business.”

Lynn Imaging has supported thousands of projects across Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, West Virginia and Southern Indiana, helping firms collaborate and manage increasingly complex construction projects.

One of the company’s major digital tools is its Online Planroom, which centralizes project information and bid documents for owners, architects, contractors and subcontractors. Lynn Imaging also developed eComm, an in-house construction information management platform designed to streamline project communication, workflows, document tracking and closeout processes.

The company expanded further in 2007 with the launch of Monster Color, its large-format graphics and signage division. Monster Color produces oversized graphics and installations for clients ranging from sports venues, including the Lexington Legends baseball stadium, to distilleries and corporate spaces.

Now, as the company explores ways to integrate AI and continue modernizing its digital services, Lynn Imaging is celebrating a milestone few Kentucky businesses achieve.

“Sustaining a business across eight decades wouldn’t be possible without an exceptional team and the trust of our customers,” CEO Shelby Marshall said. “Founded by my grandfather, later led by my father and his partner, and now under my direction, the company has continued to evolve alongside the construction community we’re proud to serve.”

Marshall said the accelerating pace of technological change requires constant reinvestment and adaptation.

“The pace of change is accelerating — what once took decades now happens in years,” she said. “Our focus is not just to keep up, but to stay ahead through continued investment in e-communication solutions and digital print technologies.”

Like many long-running companies, Lynn Imaging is also navigating generational transitions within its workforce. Presley said succession planning and preserving institutional knowledge have become critical priorities as longtime employees approach retirement.

“We have people who’ve been here 20, 30, 40 years,” Presley said. “It’s really finding who’s next and getting them in position before the person leaves.”

For Marshall, who represents the third generation of family leadership, reaching the company’s 80th anniversary is both a business accomplishment and a personal one.

“We are incredibly proud to celebrate 80 years as a Kentucky business,” she said. “Each change has been driven by one goal: helping our customers do their work better. That commitment to adapt, improve and serve is what has sustained us for 80 years — and it is what will carry us into the future.” n

oversaw water and wastewater operations for some 610,000 residents across more than 310 communities.

Earlier in his career, Burton served as senior director of operations for Pennsylvania American Water and worked in American Water’s Military Services Operations, managing water and wastewater services for the Department of Defense on 18 military installations across the country and supervising more than 200 employees. Later, he was director of operations for its entire footprint.

Kentucky American Water is dealing with several overlapping challenges that are common to many U.S. water utility companies, but especially visible these days in Kentucky. Burton spoke to Business Lexington about some of those challenges.

Kentucky American Water has requested rate increases to cover more than $212 million in recent system upgrades, including replacing aging infrastructure. What do you say to customers who feel they are being asked to pay more every year?

Kentucky American Water Company President

Rob Burton on water rates, replacing aging infrastructure, and anticipating growth

BY DAN DICKSON

W Rob Burton

hile Rob Burton is relatively new to his position as Kentucky American Water Company president, having assumed the role in March 2025, he brings deep industry experience. Burton, a Madisonville, Kentucky native, has more than a three-decade career in the water and wastewater industry, nearly half of which he spent in various capacities with American Water, the parent company of Kentucky American Water.

American Water is a wholly owned company listed on the New York Stock Exchange and is headquartered in Camden, New Jersey.

Before coming to Lexington, Burton served as president of West Virginia American Water, where he

Kentucky is like a lot of the country now, meaning the water and wastewater infrastructure are not in the best shape. The report card from the American Society of Civil Engineers gives water systems around the country a C-minus grade and wastewater systems a D grade. The systems we own and operate are in

BizLex Q&A

much better shape but still require continuous investment or they will degrade and not provide safe, reliable service.

We must also upgrade after new government regulations are in place. We must recover those costs, and the only way to do that is to file rate cases with the Public Service Commission.

Meanwhile, we are extremely focused on affordability. We do not have the lowest water rates in the state but by no means do we have the highest. We fall into the middle. We offer help to customers who need assistance, or more time to pay their bills. On our website and through social media, we inform customers about these grant programs and budget billing plans.

How do you mitigate issues such as water leaks and emergency repairs?

Any time an individual has a problem at their own residence, and they call us for help or there is a leak on a nearby main street, we have crews either working or on call 24/7 to respond. We are resilient, and proud of that.

We can draw from multiple water sources and treatment facilities to make sure our entire system maintains service to our customers. We collaborate with customers who may have had a hidden leak that they were responsible for but were not aware of until they got a bill and they wonder why it is so high. We can make a leak adjustment on their bill and be fair about it.

How do you manage regulatory and environmental compliance brought on by stronger federal EPA drinking water standards, especially when contaminants like lead and forever chemicals are involved?

We are absolutely committed to safe drinking water. In Kentucky, we have nearly 200 professionals whose daily job is to monitor our water systems and treatment facilities, take samples, and evaluate them for safety in real time.

We have in-line instruments that check the water continuously. We upgrade facilities to meet stricter regulatory requirements. There is a major push across the country for a plan and pathway to remove lead service lines from drinking water systems. Every system nationwide is having to do this.

Kentucky American is checking daily to see where there might still be service lines that are either lead or a galvanized pipe material. We also collaborate directly with customers to identify problems like that in their service lines.

Central Kentucky’s population is growing and putting greater demand on your water systems. How does Kentucky American plan for and manage these future needs?

We are monitoring day-to-day water usage and collabo-

rating with our local communities to plan for their growth. We frequently create comprehensive planning studies that include population projections and the needs of residential, commercial, and industrial sectors. We use this information to develop capital plans, and that rolls into our rate cases with the PSC.

Soon after taking over last year, you ordered Kentucky American Water Company to provide emergency-response efforts during severe flooding in Eastern Kentucky. Some of those areas are not in the company's normal service area. How did that go?

We partnered with our charitable foundation to make some direct donations and investments in the hardest hit areas. We also sent crews to assist water utilities in Pike and Letcher counties.

We helped with storm recovery and water system support and to make repairs and get people back their service. We went to help, but normally, we do not go that far into Eastern Kentucky. Most of the systems there are operated by municipalities or are water service districts, set up by counties.

Natural disasters hit our state and seem to occur more frequently. Planning helps us to oversee localized flooding that affects water plants or even when we have droughts, like we have had this year. n

Railbird’s Economic Impact

With tens of thousands of visitors and hotels near capacity, Lexington’s largest music festival has become a powerful driver of the city’s tourism economy

BY MATT WICKSTROM

Since launching in 2019, Railbird Festival has not only brought topshelf musical talent to Lexington, but millions of dollars in economic impact as well.

It’s also the city’s biggest event next to race meets at Keeneland and the recently concluded Kentucky Three Day Event at the Horse Park, drawing in upward of 40,000 people daily since its move from Keeneland to The Red Mile in 2023. Railbird returns to the venue June 6-7, featuring acts including The Lumineers, Mountain Grass Unit, Zach Top, Ella Langley, and Kentucky’s own Tyler Childers.

According to VisitLex President Mary Quinn Ramer, the initial vision for Railbird was to lean into what makes Kentucky unique, attracting out-of-staters while also appealing to locals.

“We noticed an abundance of nearby festivals that were successful with mostly hyperlocal audiences,” Ramer said. “The goal with Railbird was to build on that interest by tapping into Kentucky music and culture in a way that would draw people in from around the country to see what the city has to offer.”

This aim has been successful, with the economic impact felt everywhere from nearby hotels to restaurants, bourbon distilleries, and more.

In 2024, Railbird Festival contributed $130.3 million to the economy, according to C3 Presents, including more than $8.8 million in tax revenue. Its activities supported the equivalent of 1,097 full-time jobs.

Per Ramer, hotel room occupancy across the city’s 9,500 hotel rooms averaged 91 percent during Railbird weekend in 2024, compared to about 61 percent average occupancy the rest of the year. Similarly, room rates during festival weekend ballooned to an average of $218.60 per night from $125, with most stays lasting three nights.

Those numbers dipped slightly in 2025 to 86 percent occupancy and $178 per room. Railbird 2026, however, is on track to be its biggest year yet.

In addition to ticket sales already well over 40,000 per day and approaching capacity, Ramer says Lexington’s hotel capacity is already filling up too.

One of those is the Marriott City Center, which had 95 percent occupancy in 2025 and an average room rate of $380 per night. General Manager Rich Byrd says this year’s rate

and 45,000 attendees per

has increased to $450 per night, partly due to the strong draw of a top Kentucky-born headlining artist.

“Last year we were fighting to the very end to fill rooms,” Byrd said. “But with Tyler [Childers] returning this year, the demand has been high — so much so that all of our 337 rooms available were booked for Railbird weekend more than two months ago.”

Another hotel feeling the Railbird bump is Springhill Suites, which sits directly across from festival host site The Red Mile. Although she couldn’t provide specific numbers, General Manager Kathy Artiles says that the establishment’s 108 rooms typically go fast, with most visitors staying three nights and, in some cases, longer, arriving early in the week or staying later to experience other things to do close by.

“We see a lot of our guests going on distillery tours and exploring the restaurant scene. We’ve also crafted a list of local favorites that includes everything from coffee shops to historic homes,” Artiles said. “The economic impact Railbird has on Lexington is huge, and we

“As a business owner, we love it. It’s not only good for business, but it’s also good for our souls.”

ROB PEREZ CO-FOUNDER OF DV8 KITCHEN

want to make sure as many businesses nearby can benefit from it as possible.”

One of those eateries receiving more business and exposure from the festival is DV8 Kitchen. Opened in August 2017 by Rob and Diane Perez as a second-chance employer, the kitchen has seen an 83 percent uptick in business during Railbird weekend across both its Broadway and Third Street locations.

Railbird performers have also visited and shouted out DV8 in the past, including Tyler Childers, who ate at the restaurant prior to his previous festival appearances in 2019 and 2023.

Jelly Roll, last year’s headliner, also stopped in at DV8. Formerly incarcerated himself, the singer first known as Jason DeFord found out about the business’ altruistic mission and sent the staff there a heap of merch as a way of saying “thanks.” It’s moments like that, Perez says, that stick with him most, even more than the revenue the weekend brings in.

“As a business owner, we love it,” Rob Perez said. “It’s not only good for business, but it’s also good for our souls.” n

Brown + Kubican's projects include the Offices at City Center in downtown Lexington.

ENGINEERING GROWTH

Brown + Kubican’s 25-year rise to Kentucky’s largest structural engineering firm

BY MATT WICKSTROM

What started as a dream to build on their own terms has grown into the largest structural engineering firm in Kentucky, with no signs of slowing down.

Founded in 2000 by Dan Kubican and Craig Brown, Brown + Kubican began with church construction and renovation projects before landing larger, high-profile work, including the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville, the James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits, the Gray Design Building and University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington, and the state Capitol renovation project in Frankfort.

Kubican said he and Brown were working together at another large engineering firm when Brown peered over their shared cubicle wall and asked if he wanted to “go out and do our own thing.”

After consulting with their wives, it was full steam ahead.

“We didn’t want to be beholden to anyone one how we did our engineering,” Kubican said. “There was this dream that we’d make the same amount of money and work a little less, because our hours were long at the time, but it didn’t work out that way because we’re now the biggest firm in the entire state. As you do good work, more people want to collaborate with you, and things just took over from there.”

A key factor in Brown + Kubican’s growth has been its investment in young engineering talent. Since its early days, the

DEVELOPMENT

firm has focused on recruiting University of Kentucky graduates and other early-career professionals.

As the company has taken on larger projects, it has empowered those employees to grow more confident and decisive, helping drive expansion into Louisville and Chattanooga, Tennessee.

“As we got big jobs and executed them successfully, some of these folks stuck around and are now partners, like Andy [Barger], who moved to Louisville and started an office there when we landed the convention center project. He’s now Vice President and the second largest stockholder in the company,” Kubican said.

Kubican said much of the firm’s success stems from a highly detailed planning process and consistent communication with stakeholders at every stage of a project.

That includes learning everything possible about each job and stepping outside traditional roles to support the broader team. But the firm’s most significant contribution to contractors is its intensive pre-planning. What once involved a handful of standard questions has evolved into documentation that can span hundreds of pages, improving efficiency and cost projections.

“Today that job would have not 15 sheets of drawing, but 500,” Kubican said. “That’s dozens of engineers and architects planning out every detail, every little connection, every little screw. Then the contractor takes that information, and the more thorough and thoughtful it is, the more accurate they can be in their pricing and construction planning. The state agencies and universities want

as few unknowns as possible, which is why they’re willing to pay a little bit more for hyper-detailed planning, because they know it saves them money in the long run.”

The combination of youthful innovation and experienced leadership across the firm’s 55 employees is especially evident in its largest and most complex projects, including the recent $241 million renovation of Rupp Arena and Central Bank Center, the more than $3 billion UK HealthCare Patient Care Facility expansion, and the ongoing state Capitol renovations.

Each presents unique challenges. The Capitol project, which Kubican calls “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” required extraordinary measures to preserve the building’s historic integrity. His team installed more than a million pounds of scaffolding to protect the structure and even sent an engineer to England to study the construction of the terra cotta tiles used in its dome.

“This project is one we hope will be there for 300 years,” Kubican said. “Because of that we’ve had to take a different approach to building, because things that are 50- to 60-year fixes most places are more like a Band-Aid on historical structures like this and can wind up doing more damage in the long run. It’s a totally different philosophy, but when you embrace it, you learn, and there’s been a lot of learning with this project.”

Looking ahead, Kubican said he is most excited to see the firm’s next generation of engineers continue to grow as demand increases and project timelines compress.

“As a business owner, everywhere I look I see opportunity,” Kubican said. “At the end of the day, it all comes down to people. We currently employ 55, but I could use 55 more — there’s that much of a need. At the same time, it takes time to do things well. The goal is perfection, which is hard to do all the time, but striving for it has helped us land some of the biggest and most complicated buildings the state has ever done.” n

Shifts in Commercial Development

Retail, industrial, and health care projects gain momentum as multifamily and office

developments slow

BY LIZ CAREY

Commercial real estate lending rebounded sharply in 2025, and in Central Kentucky the growth is increasingly being driven by retail, industrial, and health care projects. Multifamily lending, however, has seen limited growth in the region as compared to national benchmarks.

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, commercial real estate borrowing and lending nationwide reached $706 billion in 2025, up 40 percent from 2024 and 65 percent from 2023. Multifamily lending accounted for roughly $413 billion of the total.

“As capital markets conditions stabilized in 2025, there was a meaningful rebound in commercial real estate lending activity,” said Reggie Booker, the MBA’s associate vice president of commercial research. “The strength in multifamily originations, combined with increased lending from depositories and a return of capital from other lender groups, reflects growing confidence across the commercial real estate finance market.”

While multifamily lending remains a major driver nationally — accounting for about 60 percent of total lending — Central Kentucky’s market has shifted in a different direction, said Jason Heflin, president of the Mortgage Bankers Association of Kentucky.

“We've seen an increase certainly when it comes to retail and business,” Heflin said. “Publix is a great example. I think they've opened their third store in the Lexington area now. It had been a lot of multifamily, but that has seemed to shift now towards retail and shopping centers.”

Retail expansion is especially visible in Lexington developments such as The Summit at Fritz Farm, where Hendricks Commercial Properties recently announced a $14.1 million expansion that will add three new buildings ranging from 8,000 square feet to more than 12,000 square feet.

Heflin said the shift toward retail development marks a dramatic change from just a few years ago.

“The landscape, especially around Lexington, is really shifting towards commercial retail development, and that is a complete 180 from where we were two or three years ago,” he said. “My understanding is it’s probably due to a lot of the regional and local mid-size banks pulling back on commercial lending due to the regulatory constraints.”

That pullback has created opportunities for larger institutional investors, including hedge funds and insurance companies, which tend to focus on larger commercial projects, Heflin said.

Commercial lending activity is also expanding in the health care sector, particularly for medical offices and hospital-related development.

Retail developments such as Fritz Farm are among the sectors seeing growth across Central Kentucky.

Despite the recent slowdown in multifamily projects, Heflin said he expects housing development to eventually rebound as population growth increases and continues to create pressure across the region.

“It's great that this commercial development is coming in,” he said. “It's opening up some areas, but at the end of the day we still need more residential.”

Industrial real estate remains another bright spot for the Lexington market.

According to a recent report from TenantBase, Lexington’s industrial sector is operating near maximum capacity, with vacancy rates around 6.8 percent. Demand for large warehouse space remains especially tight, with limited speculative construction over the past two years creating intense competition for properties larger than 50,000 square feet.

The report also noted continued demand for Class A office and research space near the University of Kentucky from biotech and fintech companies.

While industrial and retail properties remain strong, traditional office space could face increasing pressure in the coming years as remote and hybrid work continue to reshape the market.

Matt Stone, managing director with SVN Stone Commercial Real Estate, said he is also seeing lending to build retail development outpace lending for office space in the area. Lenders like to be involved with grocery-anchored developments that generate high traffic, he said. Demand for office space has been flat or slightly decreased, a trend that had been in process but accelerated during the COVID pandemic.

“In Lexington, what we've seen is very little new product [in terms of office space] coming on the market that isn't specific to its use,” Stone said. “And lenders are giving preference to owner-occupied projects because of their stability. We haven't had much office space built because there's enough current inventory for the demand. A lender is going to struggle to finance a speculative office building given current occupancy rates.”

And Stone said he expects to see some office space converted to other uses.

“I think you will see some conversion of office space to multi-unit housing or mixed-use downtown,” he said. “We are already seeing it in a few projects, but it won't be quite as prevalent as it will be in larger metropolitan markets across the country.”

Heflin said broader economic and geopolitical uncertainty could eventually slow commercial lending nationwide, but he believes Central Kentucky is better positioned than many markets because of its employment base and population growth.

“As far as commercial lending, I think if things don't turn around quickly with certain things going on in the world, by 2027 we're going to hit a slowdown,” he said. “But Central Kentucky has always been somewhat insulated somewhat from what the national scene looks like as far as real estate goes. ... Because of the demographics and the employment base here, this area always seems to hold steady.” n

Construction Companies

COMMERCIAL COMPANIES RANKED ALPHABETICALLY MAY 2026

Company Name Address Phone Website

Abel Construction 362 South Broadway Lexington, KY 40508 (859) 410-7600 abelconstruct.com

Amteck 1387 E. New Circle Road, Ste. 130 Lexington, KY 40505 (859) 255-9546 amteck.com

Anderson & Rodgers Commercial 170 Prosperous Place Lexington, KY 40509 (859) 636-1394 andersonrodgers.com

Brett Construction Co. 354 Waller Ave. Lexington, KY 40504 (859) 255-7901 brettcon.com

Calhoun Construction 1708 Jaggie Fox Way Lexington, KY 40511 (859) 618-3482 calhounconstructs.com

Churchill McGee, LLC 1315 W. Main St., Ste. C Lexington, KY 40508 (859) 389-6976 churchillmcgee.com

Codell Construction Management 4475 Rockwell Road Winchester, KY 40391 (859) 744-2222 codellconstruction.com

Congleton-Hacker Co. 872 Floyd Dr. Lexington, KY 40505 (859) 254-6481 congleton-hacker.com

DB General Contracting, LLC 212 Industry Pkwy., Unit 4 Nicholasville, KY 40356 (859) 536-4352 dbgencontracting.com

Dean Builds, Inc. 109 Mercer Court Lexington, KY 40511 (859) 269-1385 deanbuilds.com

Denham-Blythe Co., Inc. 100 Trade St. Lexington, KY 40511 (859) 608-3950 denhamblythe.com

Location/ Year Established Area of Focus

General contracting, design/build services, construction management, facilities management, real estate development and sale/lease-back services, preconstruction/estimating, electric vehicles and battery manufacturing plants, sustainability and green building

Electrical design and build services, engineering, virtual design and construction, prefabrication services, infrastructure cabling and other technology services, life safety systems

Commercial/residential design/build new construction; remodeling and additions; outdoor spaces; restoration

Full-service contracting for industrial, institutional, office, retail, manufacturing, and commercial companies; design/build construction projects; structural steel capabilities; pre-engineered buildings

Construction management; facility maintenance; pre-construction services; self-perform services; trade contracting; design/build services; renewable energy

Institution/commercial design/build services; concrete projects; interior projects; construction management; general contracting

Construction management; design/build services; general contractor; resident observer; construction monitor

Institution/commercial project management; budgeting; constructability review; value engineering; MEP coordination; self-performed work

Institution/commercial building, specialized industrial construction

Institution/commercial design/build services; construction management; general contracting

Institution/commercial design/build services; 3D scanning services

Top Local Official(s)

Bill Abel (Owner/CEO)/ Amy Abel (Chairwoman)

Daren Turner (CEO)/ Corey Bard (President)

Teddy Rodger (Owner and President)/ Brent Anderson (Owner and CFO)/ Bruce McGaughey (Owner and VP)

Brett Setzer (CEO)/ Banks Hudson (CFO)/ Seth Smith (VP)

John Hinshaw (President)

J. Patrick McGee (Owner)

Jim Codell (President/CEO)

Jim Hacker (President and CEO)

Dave Bush (Owner)

David Dean (Founder and President)/ Jeff England (VP of Operations)

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

Louisville, KY/ 1938

Lexington, KY/ 1977

Lexington, KY/ 2006

Lexington, KY/ 1982

Louisville, KY/ 2012/ Lexington, KY/ 2023

Lexington, KY/ 2003

Winchester, KY/ 1914

Lexington, KY/ 1961

Nicholasville, KY/ 2016

Lexington, KY/ 2010

Lexington, KY/ 1976

Construction Companies

COMMERCIAL COMPANIES RANKED ALPHABETICALLY MAY 2026

Company Name Address Phone Website

Elaine Allen, LLC 1591 Winchester Road, Ste. 203 Lexington, KY 40505 (859) 368-7790 elaineallenllc.com

Hargett Construction (a Thoroughbred Company) 1409 N. Forbes Road Lexington, KY 40511 (859) 421-6021 hargettconstruction.com

Haymaker Company, LLC 3120 Wall St., Ste. 200 Lexington, KY 40513 (859) 685-3032 haymakercompany.com

Koller Warner Construction 801 Winchester Road, Ste. 100 Lexington, KY 40505 (859) 263-1500 kollerwarner.com

Long Construction Management 200 Big Run Road Lexington, KY 40503 (859) 523-9407 longconstructionmgt.com

Marrillia Design & Construction 794 Manchester St. Lexington, KY 40508 (859) 685-0414 marrillia.com

Messer Construction Co 854 W. Main St. Lexington, KY 40508 (859) 231-8199 messer.com

Prajna Design & Construction 775 Pauls Mill Road Versailles, KY 40383 (859) 873-6477 prajnadesign.com

Turner Construction Company 510 Race St. Cincinnati, OH 45202 (513) 721-4224 turnerconstruction.com

Wehr Constructors, Inc. 868 Nandino Blvd. Lexington, KY 40511 (859) 899-9408 wehrconstructors.com

The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company 824 Bull Lea Run, Ste. 201 Lexington, KY 40511 (859) 436-6800 whiting-turner.com

Area of Focus

Institution/commercial design/build services; construction management; general contracting

Institution/commercial new construction, renovation, and remodeling; design/build services; construction management

Commercial construction general contracting services

Commercial/residential new construction and renovation; equine facilities

Institution/commercial design/build services; construction management; general contracting; architectural design services; pre-engineered structural, roof, and wall systems

Institution/commercial design/build services; construction management; general contracting ; self-performed work

Institution/commercial large-scale construction projects; building systems/MEP; cost planning and estimating; self-performed work; equipment rental; preconstruction services; prefabrication; risk management; virtual design and construction

Commercial/residential design/build new construction; remodeling and additions; garden and farm structures

Institution/commercial preconstruction and construction management services in aviation and transportation, biotech and pharmaceutidal, healthcare, sports, advanced manufacturing, and global critical facilities

Institution/commercial construction; preconstruction planning; constructability review; value engineering; project phasing; critical path scheduling

Construction management; general contracting; design-build; integrated project delivery services

Top Local Official(s)

Bishop E. Carter, IV (Owner)

Darrin Croucher (Principal/CEO)/ Jeff Garrison (Principal/COO)/ Jonathan Hale (Principal/Executive VP)

Tim Haymaker (President and Principal Broker)

DeWayne Koller (President, Koller Construction)/ Chris Warner (VP, Warner Companies)

Linden Long (Owner)

Josh Marrillia (President)

Mark Hill (VP, Lexington Region Leader) Messer Construction is a 100% employee-owned ESOP

David Wittmer (Partner)/ Garry Murphy (Partner)

Brian Mooney (Senior VP, Regional GM)/ Erin Mignano (VP, GM)/ Timothy Allison (VP, Operations Manager)

Dale Berry, Sr. (Owner)/ Brandon Berry (CEO)/ Dale Berry, Jr. (COO)

Tim Regan (President and CEO)

Location/ Year Established

Lexington, KY/ 2017

Lexington, KY/ 1937

Lexington, KY/ 1989

Lexington, KY/ 1956

Lexington, KY/ 2003

Lexington, KY/ 2008

Cincinnati, OH/ 1932/ Lexington, KY/ 1990

Lexington, KY/ 1984

New York, NY/ 1902/ Cincinnati, OH/ 1903

Louisville, KY/ 1945

Baltimore, MD/ 1909

Commercial Real Estate Management Companies

FISCAL YEAR LENDERS RANKED BY RENTABLE SQUARE FOOTAGE MANAGED LOCALLY MAY 2026

The Webb Companies

205 W. Main St., Ste. 3000 Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 253-0000 thewebbcompanies.com

NAI Isaac 771 Corporate Drive, Ste. 500 Lexington, KY 40503 (859) 224-2000 naiisaac.com

Anderson Communities 1255 Providence Place Pkwy. Lexington, KY 40511 (859) 231-0099 andersoncommunities.com

SVN Stone Commercial Real Estate

270 S. Limestone St. Lexington, KY 40508 (859) 264-0888 svnstone.com

Turner Development 2464 Fortune Drive, Ste. 100 Lexington, KY 40509 (859) 977-0820

The Gibson Company 1050 Monarch St., Ste. 200 Lexington, KY 40513 (859) 224-8833 thegibsoncompany.com

Red Draw 1560 Delaware Ave. Lexington, KY 40505 (859) 225-3680 reddrawdev.com

CBRE, Inc. 6060 Dutchman's Lane, Ste. 100 Louisville, KY 40205 (502) 492-6700 cbre.com

Switzer Development 811 Corporate Drive, Ste. 303 Lexington, KY 40503 (859) 223-5353 switzerdev.com

Eden Companies 541 Euclid Avenue Lexington, KY 40502 (859) 229-4991 edencompanies.com

Grant Owen, Jonathan Smittle, Clay Sizemore, Luke Norris

Isaac

Goodman

Cook

Davis

Kevin Verhoven

Megan Walsen

Bruce Wibbels (Director, Property Management)

Ben Hammack

Greer Companies

100 W. Main St., Ste. 600 Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 269-1966 greercompanies.com

Haymaker Company, LLC 3120 Wall St., Ste. 200 Lexington, KY 40513 (859) 685-3032 haymakercompany.com

Coleman Group, LLC 710 E. Main St., Ste. 130 Lexington, KT 40507 (859) 255-8855 colemangroup.net

Langley Properties Company

300 W. Vine St., Ste. 2200 Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 253-2255 langleyproperty.com

Schrader Commercial Properties

444 E. Main St. Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 288-5008 schradercommercial.com

BC Wood Properties 321 Henry St. Lexington, KY 40508 (859) 335-9663 bcwoodproperties.com

Silvestri Real Estate 444 E. Main St., Ste. 102 Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 263-2300 kensilvestri.com

AreaLex Commercial Real Estate 207 E. Reynolds Road, Ste. 260 Lexington, KY 40503 arealex.com

CMI Properties 1795 Alysheba Way, Ste. 5101 Lexington, KY 40509 (859) 273-7389 cmiproperties.com

Anthony Humphress, Bill Eyster, Kelly Mason, Connor Evanoff

Marlene Hollen

Leah Robey

Sydney Momeyer

Michael Johnston, Scott Davidson

Jamie Schrader (Property Manager)

Lee Cowden (Property Manager)

Ken Silvestri

David Allen

Cheryl Johnston

Source: Information obtained from Business Lexington questionnaires and company websites. Other firms may have been eligible but did not respond to requests for information.

Residential Real Estate Companies

RANKED BY TOTAL SALES VOLUME MAY 2026

Company

Bluegrass Sotheby's International Realty

1999 Richmond Road, Ste. 400 Lexington, KY 40502 (859) 268-0099 bgsir.com

The Brokerage 505 Wellington Way Lexington, KY 40503 (859) 230-4597 thebrokerageky.com

Christie's International Real Estate Bluegrass 3609 Walden Dr. Lexington, KY 40517 (859) 245-1179 cirebg.com

Keller Williams Legacy Group 2700 Rosebud Road, Ste. 250 Lexington, KY 40509 (859) 533-9427 kwlegacygroup.kw.com

Lifstyl Real Estate 114 Pasadena Dr. Lexington, KY 40503 (859) 278-7501 lifstyl.com

Keller Williams Commonwealth in Lexington 1908 Bryant Road., Ste. 250 Lexington, KY 40509 (859) 721-2121 thecommonwealthteam.kw.com

United Real Estate

424 Lewis Hargett Circle, Ste. 120 Lexington, KY 40503 (859) 206-0790 unitedrealestatelexingtonky.com

Rector Hayden Realty 1099 Duval St. #250 Lexington, KT 40515 (859) 276-4811 rhr.com

Keller WIlliams Bluegrass Realty 2424 Harrodsburg Road #101 Lexington, KY 40503 (859) 321-8999 lexington.kw.com

ERA Select Real Estate

from Jan. to Dec. 2025/ Avg. Sale Price

$437,514,732/ $597,698

$436,038,36/ $440,888

$353,200,214/ $441,512

Principal Broker-inCharge/ Top Official

Becky Reinhold Greg Back

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

444 Lewis Hargett Circle #275 Lexington, KY 40503 (859) 296-1525 eraselect.com

$351,208,971/ $333,776

$270,277,868/ $367,475

$249,860,936/ $328,548

Rachel Underwood, Rusty Underwood

Yvette Kelly

Jenny Jackson

Donna Sullivan

$232,825,578/ $380,690

$214,443,409/ $351,547

$206,446,850/ $361,563

$190,806,503/ $327,003

LisaPeel

Stacy Durbin

Myrna Downing

Greg Buchanan

Company

RE/MAX Creative Realty 2808 Palumbo Dr. Lexington, KY 40509 (859) 422-2000 remax.com

The Agency 523 Wellington Way, Ste. 375 Lexington, KY 40503 (859) 285-0614 theagencyky.com

New Home Collective Brokered by eXp Realty 3101 Clays Mill Road Lexington, KY 40503 (859) 721-2200 nhcnow.com

RE/MAX Elite Lexington 203 Ruccio Way Lexington, KY 40503 (859) 245-1165 eliterealtylexington.com

Century 21 Advantage Realty 2121 Nicholasville Road, Ste. 101 Lexington, KY 40503 (855) 730-2649 century21advantage.com

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices de Movellan Properties 171 Prosperous Place Lexington, KY 40509 (859) 266-0451 demovellan.com

Bluegrass Properties Group 120 Prosperous Place, Ste. 205 Lexington, KY 40509 (859) 619-8888 bluegrasspropertiesgroup.com

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

Foster Realtors 2629 Lexington Road Richmond, KY 40475 (859) 484-8867 bhhsfoster.com

Turf Town Properties 124 Kentucky Ave. Lexington, KY 40502 (859) 268-4663 turftown.com

from Jan. to Dec. 2025/ Avg. Sale Price

$171,490,512/ $382,791

$151,143,119/ $358,150

Principal Broker-inCharge/ Top Official

$148,742,377/ $360,303

$139,904,528/ $335,101

$102,830,618/ $265,798 $101,042,078/ $419,262 $96,013,449/ $389,507

$89,052,173/ $298,833 $88,936,695/ $579,392

Source: LBAR Ranking Report by Offices, Listing or Selling Offices by Sales Volume, January - December 2025 and individual agency websites. Cut off in volume = $60,000,000.

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Fayette Mall 3517 Nicholasville Rd. 859-281-5455

Hamburg Place 2235 War Admiral Wy. 859-514-4943

Harrodsburg Road 2452 Harrodsburg Rd. 859-281-5460

New Circle Road 280 West New Circle Rd. 859-281-5435

Richmond Road 3001 Richmond Rd. 859-281-5489

Tates Creek Center 4080 Tates Creek Centre Dr. 859-281-5378

Chevy Chase 720 Euclid Ave. 859-281-5405

University of Kentucky 160 Avenue of Champions 859-551-4490

COMING IN JULY

The upcoming July edition of Business Lexington will focus on trends and innovations in local economic development while featuring the following BizLists: Engineering Firms, Audio/Visual Companies, and Staffing Agencies.

Ad space deadline: JUNE 17

Ad materials deadline: JUNE 19

For more advertising info contact Smiley Pete Publishing at 859.266.6537 or email advertise@smileypete.com.

NEW HIRES & PROMOTIONS

SITEK Inc. has welcomed Jennifer Erena as custom software sales & marketing manager.

Phillip Morgan, president of Always Best Care of Greater Lexington, has been elected president of the Navy League of the United States, Central Kentucky Council.

The University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment has named Gary Munkvold as the new chair of the Department of Plant Pathology.

Colby Blair has joined McBrayer PLLC as diirector of operations.

Brandee R. Johnson has been named vice president, manager of training and development at Community Trust Bank Inc.

Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorney Bailey Browning has been selected to participate in the ELEVATE Kentucky Class of 2026.

Keeneland has welcomed Reed Ringler to its sales team. Ignacio Correas IV

and Ezequiel Valle were also welcomed as South American sales representatives.

Paige Harrod has earned her insurance license from The Professional Insurance Agents of Kentucky.

The Nest – Center for Women, Children & Families has named Kristen Martin, LMFT, as its next executive director.

Frontier Nursing University announced the appointment of Anne Z. Cockerham PhD, CNM, WHNP-BC, CNE, FACNM as the inaugural associate dean for Teaching Excellence and Innovation.

KUDOS

More than five dozen Kentucky high school seniors were just awarded a collective $173,026 in scholarships from Independence Bank – bringing the insitution's 25-year cumulative total to

more than $2 million spanning the program’s history.

Republic Bank & Trust Company has been named to the Forbes list of the World’s Best Banks, the only Kentucky-based bank to receive this recognition in 2026.

Kimberly Tackett, secretary at Highland Elementary School in Johnson County, was named the 2026 recipient of the Kentucky Association of School Administrator's Wanda Luttrell Office Professional Award.

Richard W. Newsom, executive vice president of Community Trust Bancorp, Inc. announced his planned retirement effective as of February 5, 2027.

Centerpoint Health –Georgetown has expanded its advanced spinal surgery capabilities with the acquisition of ExcelsiusGPS Robotic Navigation Spine and interbody solutions. The hospital also successfully performed its first

procedures utilizing the MaxMoreSpine endoscopic system, becoming the first in Kentucky to use the proprietary technology platform for minimally invasive spine procedures.

Stites & Harbison, PLLC has been named to The Patent Lawyer Magazine’s 2026 Top 10 Patent Firms and IP Practices in North America – South list. This is the firm’s fifth year being honored.

Saint Joseph Health announced that its hospitals, clinics and care sites throughout Kentucky will begin using the CommonSpirit Health name in July 2026.

GALLS has been honored with three Best Dressed Public Safety Department Awards at the annual Network Association of Uniform Manufacturers and Distributors conference for its outifitting of the Atlanta Police Department, the Philadelphia Police Department, and the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office. n

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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!