BusinessLexington
Chris
Contents
PVAStatistics
The latest statistics on local residential properties PAGE 4
EconomicAnalysis
A monthly look at economic indicators compiled by the Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER) at the University of Kentucky PAGE 5
WriteStu
Boost engagement with these click-worthy strategies PAGE 5
CraveWorthy
A taste of home: Entrepreneur MK Hennigan overcame adversity to launch In the Curious Kitchen, a growing food and lifestyle brand PAGE 6
QuickBites
Athenian Grill revamps plans, set to open new location PAGE 7
IndependentBusiness
Bikes, cameras, action: From vintage vehicles to chandeliers and more, Kentucky Top Props specializes in helping film productions create an authentic look PAGE 8
SMILEY PETE PUBLISHING
BizLists
Law Firms PAGE 12
Insurance Companies PAGE 14 Regional Employers PAGE 15
Third Spaces:
Three new social clubs aim to deliver refined spaces for work, entertainment and dining
PAGE 9
Lock, Stock and Barrel:
BizLex Q&A with Remy Simpson: The founder and president of Paws 4 the Cause on rescuing, caring for and rehoming animals in need PAGE 18 (859)
Who’s Who Employment updates and notable achievements from around the Bluegrass PAGE 16
With its $1.2 billion expansion complete and capacity doubled, Bu alo Trace is all-in on growing its global footprint PAGE 10
Outside the Courtroom: From advising on cybersecurity to eldercare, non-litigation services are on the rise as law firms adapt to changing client needs PAGE 11
Race In
THE MELROY ON N. BROADWAY PHOTO FURNISHED
PVAStatistics
These statistics on local residential and commercial property are compiled by the o ce of the Fayette County Property Valuation Administrator. The data reflects 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 February 2025
2/5/25 4070 Victoria Way $12,750,000 August Multifamily Partners LLC
2/14/25 368 Rose St. $4,982,518 Alpha Omicron Pi Properties Inc.
2/14/25 368 Rose St. $3,032,518 Pkpp Eta Tau LLC
2/3/25 2017-2025 Cambridge Drive $2,900,000 2021 Cambridge Drive LLC
2/7/25 1314 Russell Cave Road $1,025,000 Arvin Properties LLC
2/27/25 332 Romany Road $915,000 Luxury Services Re LLC
2/7/25 1405 Mercer Road $700,000 Diversified Property Group LLC
2/13/25 2501 Sandersville Road, Unit 110 $525,000 Beatty Properties LLC
2/6/25 3229 Summit Square Pl., Ste. 250 $335,000 Triad Group LLC
2/14/25 403 E. Third St. $250,000 Deboer, Jonathan J. TTEE
2/21/25 1760 N. Broadway $223,000* Mt. Laurel Lands Company LLC
2/28/25 1795 Alysheba Way, Unit 4204 $170,000 Shelton, Billy Ray TTEE
2/27/25 131 Prosperous Pl., Unit 19B $142,500 Adams Family Properties LLC
MARY ELLIS PATTON AMY E. DOUGHERTY KATHERINE E. FINNELL
EconomicAnalysis
A monthly look at economic indicators compiled by the Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER) at the University of Kentucky. For more on CBER, visit www.cber.uky.edu.
Payroll emp. MSA****
Manufacturing Employment Durable Goods (KY) **** Manufacturing: Lexington-Fayette MSA Total Employees**** Unemployment Rate MSA****
Payroll Employment, US
Manufacturing Payroll Employment US Unemployment Rate, US
Consumer Price Index, Southern Region Consumer Price Index, US Producer Price Index, US
Index of Leading Indicators** Fed’s Index of Industrial Production**
3-Month Treasury Yield*** 10-Year Treasury Yield***
Real GDP (millions $)
Note: In some cases 1 mo. And 1 yr. changes are based on revised data from previous mo./yr/
* Source: The Conference Board Research Group; http://www.conference-board.org/
** Source: Federal Reserve Statistical Release, http://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/G17/
*** Source: Federal Reserve Statistical Release; https://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/h15/
**** Source: St. Louis Federal Reserve; https://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/
***** GDP is reported as Real Gross Domestic Product, Chained Dollars [Millions of chained (2012) dollars] Seasonally adjusted at annual rates (Updated numbers as of Jan. 27, 2023); https://apps.bea.gov/histdata/histChildLevels.cfm?HMI=7
WriteStuff
Boost Engagement with These Click-Worthy Strategies
Whether it’s a website donation button, an email registration link, or a social media share, every business benefits from more clicks. Here are some quick, easy ways to increase audience engagement with your web-based communications.
Forced perspective
Incremental design shifts
By Jonathan Hall
Whenever possible, adopt the perspective of your audience. Think about how they will read your message rather than how you would say it. For example, “Begin Your Free Trial” sounds like a sales pitch, but changing it to “Begin My Free Trial” makes it feel like a decision, instantly improving results. Focusing on the consumer’s viewpoint is key to increasing engagement. Call to action
Verb choice plays a crucial role in guiding customer behavior. Strong call-to-action verbs help motivate customers to make decisions, but be mindful of their connotations. Words like “order,” “sign up,” and “buy” suggest a transaction, which can create hesitation. Instead, using “get,” “start,” or “begin” encourages action without triggering concerns about cost or commitment.
Keep it simple, big, and bold. Sometimes, customers miss the button entirely. No matter how persuasive the wording, if they don’t see it, they won’t click. However, avoid overhauling everything all at once. Make one shift (say a 10% increase in size) and track the results. Then, change the color and check again. There are no proven colors to avoid or use, but you can test the ones that work for you and your site.
Before launching your website, email, or mailer, review it from your client’s perspective. Ask yourself: What’s in it for them? What might make them pause? Then, start experimenting. BL
Jonathan Hall is Youth Programs and Volunteer Director with the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning, a nonprofit educational center offering seasonal writing, publishing, and language classes, among other community programming. For more information, visit CarnegieCenterLex.org.
CraveWorthy
A Taste of Home
Entrepreneur MK Hennigan overcame adversity to launch In the Curious Kitchen, a growing food and lifestyle brand
BY SHANNON CLINTON CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Turning occupational lemons into lemonade after being laid off during the pandemic, MK Hennigan turned adversity into opportunity, drawing inspiration from her grandmothers and her entrepreneurial ambition to create In the Curious Kitchen.
“We all thought 2020 was going to be a magical year, right? And then the bottom dropped out,” she said.
Hennigan, a Frankfort native and University of Kentucky graduate in interior design, built a career in visual merchandising and management for Lazarus (later Macy’s), Waterford Crystal, and other corporations. She credits her father’s advice for helping her remain focused during the transition.
“You’ve got to be an independent thinker, doer, and self-starter,” she said.
A lifelong foodie with a keen eye for glassware and home accessories, Hennigan also thought of her North Carolina grandmother, who taught her to cook.
“One of the things we made together often was her pimento cheese, so I knew I had a product to introduce — something that could be the foundation of my company,” she said. She started small, launching a blog focused on family recipes, food, and lifestyle, and created an Instagram account under the name In
the Curious Kitchen — a phrase she came up with while brainstorming aloud.
After trademarking the name, she tested her pimento cheese and beer cheese at a farmers’ market in Fort Thomas, where she had moved as an adult. The enthusiastic response led her to launch a retail website.
She soon expanded her offerings to include Boozy Cherries and bitters — both nods to her childhood in bourbon country, where she loved the scent of mash from local distilleries, which she says reminded her of fresh-baked cinnamon rolls.
She later added bourbon-infused jams, mustards, snack crackers, cocktail gift sets, and candles, all designed to complement cheeses and charcuterie. Her background in interior design and merchandising is evident in her website’s carefully curated aesthetic, complete with recipes and entertaining tips.
“I’ve always been a merchant at heart, someone who looks at products as a whole unit rather than selling single-mindedly,” she said.
In the Curious Kitchen has been featured by Southern Living, Bon Appétit, and the Food Network, boosting its visibility. A growing social media presence and newsletter help keep customers engaged.
Now working out of a commercial kitchen in Newport, the business has expanded from just Hennigan to include three employees, plus her husband and daughter.
Perishable items like pimento cheese and
beer cheese are shipped second-day air by UPS in coolers with frozen packs, after careful research into the best packaging solutions.
“That was quite a journey to figure out,” Hennigan said.
Her products are also available at select Lexington-area retailers, including Liquor Barn, Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Poppy & Pomelo, and Dry Branch Farm Market.
“The biggest way we stand out is the taste. We hand-make everything,” Hennigan said. “It’s not made by machines; it’s made by human beings.”
Looking ahead, Hennigan is developing a spicy pimento cheese and planning a website refresh and packaging updates.
And her grandmother’s spirit is in every batch.
“Her goodness shines through,” she said.
Whether it’s securing the right packaging partners, handling logistics, or addressing customer service issues, challenges arise daily. Hennigan and her small team tackle them head-on.
“We have to be agile and able to move quickly to solve them and make sure our customers — whether consumers or wholesalers — get what they need,” she said.
Now a Kentucky Proud brand, In the Curious Kitchen is deeply rooted in its home state.
“It’s woven throughout the brand,” Hennigan said. BL
PHOTOS FURNISHED BY JAMA FINNEY BRAND
MK Hennigan combined her Kentucky roots and merchandising expertise to launch In the Curious Kitchen, a growing food and lifestyle brand.
Athenian Grill Revamps Plans, Set to Open New Location QuickBites
BY SHANNON CLINTON CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Responding to customer feedback, refreshed plans for a new Athenian Grill location are materializing. As owner Ilias Pappas explained, the restaurant will be a sit-down establishment with expanded menu offerings for Greek food lovers and soon-to-be converts.
Plans were originally to create a higher-end concept called Santorini, but Pappas said that project encountered design issues with a planned wood-fired grill and hood construction, which limited the project and ultimately led to its cancellation.
Instead, a new Athenian Grill will be located at 3801 Mall Rd. Since the closing of the restaurant group’s Locust Hill Road location, customers have clamored for a venue with a similar vibe.
Pappas said there will be “plenty of tables for dine-in, Greek wines and Greek beers, along with plenty of parking for the guests and easy access, along with expanded menu offerings like Saganaki (Greek flaming cheese), grilled octopus, calamari, grilled skewers, souvlaki (pork, chicken or lamb)” and more. Daily specials will highlight authentic Greek dishes such as Gemista and lamb shank, and the dessert menu will also be expanded.
A departure from existing locations at Chevy Chase and Park Plaza, the new restaurant will offer full table service, although counter service will remain an option.
The restaurant will be open seven days a week for lunch and dinner, with both carryout and dine-in options available. Construction started in early March, and Pappas anticipates opening by early May.
In other local food and beverage industry news:
West Sixth Brewing has announced a new offering, Rosé Crusher, a 5% ABV drink inspired by rosé but technically a cider, brewed with apple, grape, peach and elderberry juices. Set to hit shelves and taps from March through the end of July as a limited seasonal release, it was described by creative director Kelly Hierony-
mous: “We crafted Rose’ Crusher for those craving a fruit-forward beverage who don’t necessarily reach for beer or a traditional drier cider.”
A Cup of Commonwealth has reacquired Chocolate Holler, located on Old Vine Street, and plans a grand reopening.
A Cup of Commonwealth closed Chocolate Holler in December 2023, and it reopened under new ownership soon after.
Battle Axes is partnering with Quarles Farm to bring farmers market goods to sell at its 164 Turner Commons Way location, along with other produce stands.
Girls Girls Girls Burritos now offers frozen burritos in their signature varieties, available for sale at select area retailers.
Sai Super Bazar Lexington has opened at 3146 Mapleleaf Dr. According to its Facebook page, the menu includes butter chicken, biryani, paneer tikka, naan, roti, and more.
Purple Yum Bakery Café has opened at 1555 E. New Circle Rd.
Crust Pizzeria is expected to open in late March at 3195 Beaumont Cir.
Announced in 2023, The Quarter is shaping up as a new dining and entertainment district along Water Street in Richmond. This collaboration between Apollo Pizza, Blue Stallion Taproom, White Rabbit Record and Skate Shop (which opened about a year ago), Holler Burger, and House of Cue will share an outdoor space. As of March 8, Holler Burger was still listed as “coming soon” on Blue Stallion Richmond’s Facebook page, promising burgers and fresh-cut fries.
Miyako Sushi and Steak House is closed indefinitely after sustaining fire damage in late February.
L8NITE announced in mid-February that it had served its last fast food offering from 401 S. Limestone and was “on to new beginnings.”
After 22 years in business, Jean Farris Winery officials announced their imminent closure and going-out-of-business sale on social media in March. The winery was located at 6825 Old Richmond Rd. BL
Have a food and beverage-related update to share with readers?
new Athenian Grill location at 3801 Mall Rd. will feature an expanded menu of Greek favorites as well as table service.
FURNISHED
IndependentBusiness
Bikes, Cameras, Action
From vintage vehicles to chandeliers and more, Kentucky Top Props specializes in helping film productions create an authentic look
BY LIZ CAREY
WRITER
Achance encounter led Ben Re and Michael Tyree to launch a business supporting the film industry. Re and Tyree are the owners of Kentucky Top Props, a company that provides locally based film and television projects with cars, motorcycles and other props they need to make authentic looking productions.
Started in 2024, the idea for the business came to Re when he overhead a conversation at a bar.
“I was sitting at the Break Room in the Distillery district and a production manager was at that bar talking to the owner about trying to rent the bar for a week,” Re said. “I overheard them talking about needing cars and motorcycles, so I emailed the production manager, and I said 'I own a car shop and motorcycle shop here in town. If you need cars and motorcycles, you can call me and I'll get you what you need.”
His direct approach worked. Re supplied vehicles for a TV pilot called The Revengers and quickly realized he had the foundation for a business. He brought the idea to his friend Tyree.
“I said, ‘We need to do this together,’” Re said.
Since launching, Kentucky Top Props has provided vehicles and props for multiple films, a TV pilot, and several music videos. With a combined inventory of nearly 20 cars and motorcycles, they specialize in ensuring productions have era-accurate vehicles.
“If someone approaches us with an idea — whether it's a movie or a music video — and they say, ‘I'm looking to do something like this,’ we focus on finding vehicles that are eraspecific,” Tyree said. “We've provided some stock-looking motorcycles and some choppers. We've provided vehicles from the mid- to late-'60s all the way up into the early 2000s. We want everything to look as accurate to the time as possible.”
If they don’t have a requested item, their extensive connections within Lexington’s car and motorcycle community allow them to track it down.
“We know just about anyone in town with a cool car or motorcycle,” Re said. “If we need something, we just pick up the phone and say, ‘Hey, want to make some money?’”
Kentucky Top Props handles vehicle sourcing, negotiates with owners, and transports vehicles to and from sets. In return, the vehicle owner is paid for its use, and Top Props keeps a small commission.
Kentucky Top Props founders Michael Tyree and Ben
And it’s not just cars they provide. With a warehouse in downtown Lexington, they have a wide selection of items film production crews may find useful, Re said.
“We're both collectors of intricacies, if you will, so we've got vintage glass, crystal, light fixtures, a fountain, flower urns, old cell phones, computers, lamps, pirate chests — pretty much if you name it, we either have it or can find it,” he said.
Their industrial backgrounds — Tyree as a pipefitter and Re as a former mechanic — also play a role.
“If someone wants something that we don’t have, we can make it for them,” Re said.
And if they can’t, their network of skilled artisans, from blacksmiths to metal fabricators, ensures they can source it.
So far, startup costs and business setup have posed few challenges. Kentucky Top Props is registered with the Kentucky Film Commission and film commissions in Lexington and Louisville, helping them gain industry recognition and word-of-mouth recomendations.
However, adapting to film and television production timelines has been an adjustment. In some cases, production needs can change overnight, causing them to have to re-source cars and other props on the fly.
“That's really been our biggest struggle,” Re said. “Other than that, it's going smoothly. We've had a good time and met a bunch of good people and that's what we want to continue to do.”
Beyond the film industry, the duo envisions expanding into weddings, events, and other productions needing specialized props.
“We want to be one of the biggest picture car and props companies around,” Re said. “Most of the specialty movie suppliers only do cars, and the motorcycle suppliers might only do motorcycles. We’re doing everything.” BL
PHOTO BY MICK JEFFRIES
Re outside the Break Room bar.
From vintage equipment to pinball machines and more, Kentucky Top Props aim to offer authentic, period-correct props for productions shooting in the area.
PHOTO BY MICK JEFFRIES
Third Spaces
Three new social clubs aim to deliver refined spaces for work, dining and entertainment
Membership is available in two formats, with the same joining fee and no minimum monthly spend requirement, but with varying monthly fees for full access and for entertainment-only membership (which offers access to the club’s facilities after 4 p.m. daily).
Membership is capped at 500, and Allen said the roster is already about 60 percent filled as of mid-March.
BY SHANNON CLINTON CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Atrio of private social clubs are debuting in Lexington, offering exclusive access and perks for subscribing members. Long popular in larger cities like Chicago, New York, and London, these membership-based clubs are designed to serve as a “third space” where professional adults can work, entertain, dine and socialize.
The Melroy
One such club, The Melroy, 144 N. Broadway, is slated for a mid-April opening, according to owner Ieasha Allen.
Allen, who Lexingtonians may know from her ownership of Creaux cocktail bar, said the idea for The Melroy stems from her experiences as an “avid indulger of our community and cultural landscape” — as well as a longstanding need for more refined, communityfocused spaces that blend comfort, fine dining, and diverse activities.
“It was a void that was deeply felt amongst professional adults in a college town,” she said. “Although I was aware of social clubs in larger cities, The Melroy wasn't an attempt to bring big city to Lexington. It came out of a desire to complement Lexington's deep value for community and growth towards bridging the gaps between social circles.”
Membership benefits at the 6,000-squarefoot private social club include comfortable work and entertaining spaces, travel club offers, concierge services, and early access to bookings at onsite luxury condos. The social space is also scheduled to expand to include a 5,000-square-foot, open-air, rooftop bar.
Focusing on artisan-quality, tapas-style food rather than full-service restaurant fare, The Melroy will offer rotating culinary selections alongside weekly happy hours and tastings, as well as live bands and other curated events. “This is a place where at any given night, you will get to indulge in something new. We never want to be stagnant in our offerings,” Allen said.
“Once we reach our capacity, we will open the waiting list and reopen to memberships when the rooftop bar opens at a later date,” she said.
Camel Club
Camel Club, located at 509 E. Main St., is set to open on April 7 following a series of preview events in March.
Founder and managing partner Tyler Bromagen said the concept originated several years ago when Field Ladd approached him about selling the historic building, the longtime home of his family’s Cross Gate Art Gallery, after the gallery relocated. They decided to instead purchase the property and envisioned a membership-based social club.
Brian Babbage and William Ryan joined the ownership team in 2022, partnering with New York City-based hotel developer Hank Morris of Morris & Atlas, the developer behind The Manchester hotel and its restaurants, Granddam and Lost Palm.
Bromagen described Camel Club as a true “third place” where members can socialize, work, dine, and relax. The 14,000-square-foot facility offers various themed spaces — a hi-fi listening lounge, garden terrace, theater, and versatile event areas suitable for cocktail parties, charity fundraisers, or casual gatherings. Scheduled classes include cocktail making, oil painting, chef series, speaker events, and art exhibitions.
Members can use spaces here as a “home away from home,” Bromagen said. Fullservice concierge perks also include help with access to area events like horse racing and bourbon tours.
Chef Nathan Voorhees, formerly of Coles 735 on Main and Epping's on Eastside, oversees the club’s culinary program. Breakfast, lunch and dinner service will be offered Wednesdays through Sundays, along with a snacks and drinks menu available Mondays and Tuesdays.
Food will be offered in the main bar, dining rooms, garden/terrace, theater, and coworking spaces, complemented by an inhouse sommelier-curated wine program.
Voorhees’ first chef series in April will
celebrate Kentucky cuisine with a five-course dinner and beverage pairings. Other planned events include cooking demos, classes, and events spotlighting local farmers.
Camel Club is designed for 300 to 350 members for now, Bromagen said. The club offers a tiered membership structure, with increasing numbers of amenities available for each level.
The Solo Camel Member tier is $2,950 initiation and $250/month, and couples can join for a $4,450 initiation and $350/month.
“Expansion beyond this level will depend on how active our membership base is, and will only occur if we feel the club can accommodate additional members without negatively impacting the quality of service we commit to providing our current members,” Bromagen said.
The Vine
The Vine, a new social club coming to 106 W. Vine St., is touted as a “Social Escape Designed for You.”
Cofounders Jacquie Meriwether, Maggie Delk, and her husband, Jeremy Delk, envision a multi-purpose venue where members can dine, exercise, socialize and be entertained.
Other spaces in the building, formerly the law offices of Landrum & Shouse, are being renovated into residential condominiums.
The club will feature condo and meeting spaces, a spa, and a rooftop pool with cabanas, with additional amenities rolling out by late summer.
An onsite fine dining restaurant, The V, is expected to open in June. The restaurant will be open for members and to the public Wednesdays through Sundays, serving seafood, premium steaks, and a curated wine selection, while The Bar at the Vine Club will offer small plates, a continental breakfast, and weekend brunches.
Other activities include tasting events, themed international cuisine nights, a concierge service for VIP members for help with restaurant reservations, special wine and flower services, and more.
Membership options include two levels: Social (with an $895 initiation fee and $1,500 annual fee) and VIP (with an $895 initiation fee and $3,900 annual fee), with quarterly payment options available.
Guests, partners, and children can accompany members for meals and events.
“It’s a way for the entire family to be together,” Meriwether said. BL
PHOTO FURNISHED
Camel Club, a new private social club at 509 E. Main St., offers multiple bars, lounges, co-working spaces, and more for its members and guests.
The Melroy, left, and the The Vine, at right, will both feature rooftop bars overlooking downtown Lexington. PHOTOS FURNISHED
Lock, Stock and Barrel
With its $1.2 billion expansion complete and capacity doubled, Buffalo Trace is all-in on growing its global footprint
BY CAMPBELL WOOD CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Buffalo Trace Distillery, producer of some of Kentucky’s finest whiskeys — including Buffalo Trace bourbon, Eagle Rare, and Sazerac Rye — has completed a $1.2 billion expansion at its historic facility along the Kentucky River in Frankfort. The final phase of the decade-long project was finished at the end of January.
While other major Kentucky bourbon distilleries are reporting financial headwinds and slowing production or downsizing, Buffalo Trace continues to find market strength, said Master Distiller Harlan Wheatley.
“We’re watching the market closely, and our production and sales plans remain solid,” Wheatley said. “Sales are strong. None of our plans have slowed down as of yet.”
Regarding potential impacts from tariffs and trade disputes, Wheatley noted that while Buffalo Trace operates in global markets, its international expansion is still in the early stages. “We do anticipate challenges, but it’s still too early to tell,” he said.
The company’s global growth was underscored by the 2024 opening of Buffalo Trace Distillery London — an upscale tasting room and retail space in the heart of London’s bustling Convent Garden district.
Doubling Down on Growth
Since the multi-phase expansion project began in 2015, the distillery’s production capacity has increased by 150 percent, from 200,000 barrels annually to nearly 500,000 barrels. Over the same period, the company’s workforce has also doubled, from 400 to over 800 employees, making Buffalo Trace the largest private employer in Franklin County.
The project included upgrades to the visitors’ center, distribution center, bottling operation, boiler house, still house, dry house, mill house, and cistern room. The distillery added three new 75,000-gallon cistern tanks, 20 additional fermenters, three more steam boilers, four new cookers, and 19 additional barrel-aging warehouses. A new cooling system and wastewater treatment facility were also introduced.
Records of bourbon distillation on the site date back to 1773, Wheatley said. The large red brick buildings on the property, constructed in 1850 before the Civil War, contribute to the distillery’s designation as a National Historic Landmark.
“Everything had to be complementary to the history of the distillery,” Wheatley said of the expansion.
While production doubled in capacity, only two new buildings were added: a still
shutting down production and committing to a minimum batch of 35 barrels.”
Now, with a full-time experimental distiller, Buffalo Trace can test new recipes in batches as small as a single barrel. The distillery currently has around 5,000 experimental barrels in inventory.
One experiment that successfully scaled into full production is the Four Grain Bourbon — made from corn, rye, wheat, and malted barley — which was released under the Colonel E.H. Taylor label. In 2018, Whisky Bible author Jim Murray named Four Grain his World Whiskey of the Year.
Well-Earned Recognition
The distillery has won more than 500 awards for its wide range of whiskeys. In 2024 alone, William Larue Weller and Stagg Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey earned Best of Show at the Denver International Spirits Competition, while Traveller Whiskey, a partnership with musician Chris Stapleton, became the most awarded super-premium release of the year. The distillery has received more than 40 top titles from leading spirits publications, including Whisky Magazine’s 2024 Visitor Attraction of the Year.
On the subject of awards, Harlan Wheatley was the first to be named Master Distiller of the Year when Whiskey Magazine established the award category in 2016. He is also a four-time James Beard Award nominee. In 2019, Northern Kentucky University, where he studied chemical engineering and chemistry, honored him with its Outstanding Alumni Award.
house and a mill house. “The new still house is basically a replica of our old still houses, with a few modern changes,” Wheatley said. The mill house was similarly reconstructed on the original site, using historically appropriate materials, colors, and scale.
Buffalo Trace offers a variety of tours, all concluding with tastings in the visitors’ center. The Hard Hat Tour offers an upclose look at the expansion and takes guests through the distillery’s operations, including the towering 93,000-gallon fermenter vats that rise three stories.
The building’s roof was raised to accommodate the new fermenters — an upgrade that blends seamlessly into the existing structure. Visitors can peer inside the bubbling fermenters through portal windows before moving on to the experimental distillery, a smaller-scale operation where new products are developed.
“We built that system in 2007,” Wheatley said. “Before that, if we wanted to experiment, we had to use our main system, which meant
After graduating from NKU in 1995, Wheatley began his career at Buffalo Trace, then known as the George T. Stagg Distillery. He trained for a decade under then-Master Distiller Gary Gaylord.
“I was born and raised in Kentucky, and I wanted to stay in Kentucky,” Wheatley said. “The door was open, and I walked through it. I trained under him for ten years. When he retired, I took over. I’m the sixth distiller here since the Civil War.”
The distillery was rebranded as Buffalo Trace Distillery in 1999.
“We brought on a new brand from scratch, and started with one bottle at a time and one case at a time, creating the brand of Buffalo Trace,” Wheatley said. “In 1999, we didn’t really think that we would ever get to the point where we would have to expand. It was a pretty full-size industrial site with a capacity so big that it wasn’t fully utilized.”
The distillery followed a methodical marketing strategy, beginning with a focus on Kentucky before expanding across all 50 states and, eventually, into global markets. Today, with its massive expansion complete, Buffalo Trace is poised for continued growth both at home and around the world. BL
“We’re watching the market closely, and our production and sales plans remain solid,” said Buffalo Trace Master Distiller Harlan Wheatley regarding impending tariffs on American whiskey.
PHOTO FURNISHED BY BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY
A recently completed decade-long expansion at Buffalo Trace Distillery has doubled its production capacity and added 19 newly constructed barrel-aging warehouses (top left).
PHOTO FURNISHED BY BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY
Outside the Courtroom
From advising on cybersecurity to eldercare, non-litigation services are on the rise as law firms adapt to changing client needs
BY LIZ CAREY CONTRIBUTING WRITER
While representation in court cases is a major part of the business of law firms, non-litigation services are becoming a larger part of the slate of services firms offer.
Over the years, non-litigation services have become an important part of representing clients' legal needs, a number of Lexington attorneys said. While law firms continue to offer traditional litigation services, the trend of settling cases outside of court — and helping protect clients before litigation ever arises — is growing.
“As a full-service firm, we certainly offer a wide variety of non-litigation services,” said W. Craig Robertson, with Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs. “We have done that for as long as the firm has been around. That being said, our litigation service team has been, and remains, our largest service team.”
While businesses and individuals continue to look to the legal profession to resolve disputes, the number of those disputes going to court is declining, he said.
“While I haven’t seen a decline in the demand for litigation attorneys over the years, I can say that fewer cases are going to trial,” Robertson said. “There has definitely been an uptick in alternative dispute resolution — particularly mediation. More litigation cases are settling short of trial than ever before. Trials are simply too unpredictable and costly.”
Non-litigation services — like advising clients on business practices or helping with real estate transactions — are the reality of attorney practices, said Keeana Sajadi Boarman, chair of corporate practice at McBrayer PLLC.
“There’s a perception, based on what is shown in movies and on TV, that attorneys live for the courtroom,” she said. “The reality is that most of our attorneys’ time is spent advising clients on the front end of issues and transactions. We structure deals, draft, review, and negotiate
contracts, close real estate transactions, and advise businesses on compliance issues in areas such as healthcare, employment, and [Alcoholic Beverage Control] laws.”
It's important for transactional attorneys to work with litigators before cases ever go to trial, she said. For example, attorneys drafting contracts often work with litigators to ensure a contract can be enforced through litigation. Attorneys offering advice on business law, taxes, real estate, economic development, equine, and gaming law need to work with litigation attorneys to ensure all of a client’s needs are met, she said.
11,000 people in this country turn 65 every day, so we've got a growing elder population. It definitely is a newer service we offer within the past six or seven years.”
Non-litigation services make up about a third of his practice, he said. Over the past 10 years, he said, the different silos of practice have all contributed equally to the firm’s overall income, though that can fluctuate based on the number and size of cases.
Services like bankruptcy representation can sometimes head to court, he said. But even then, most of the resolution happens outside of litigation.
“Bankruptcy is all about equity and re-shifting debtor and creditor rights,” he said. “That's where another blurring of the lines of practice is. Yes, we're going to court and we're getting the court's assistance on various issues, but mainly there will be a lot of deal-making going on in the hallways.”
Using non-litigation services properly, he said, can help prevent litigation.
Brian Johnson with Dickinson-Wright and the firm’s South Region Litigation Practice Group Co-Chair, said non-litigation services have grown at his firm over the past few years. He attributes the trend to changes in the law in other markets. Generally speaking, he said, the volume of nonlitigation services has been consistent, but the types of services have evolved as new business sectors have emerged.
“We, like most firms, have seen an uptick in data privacy and data security matters over the past few years,” he said. “We have consistently been doing a tremendous amount of intellectual property work both firm-wide and in Lexington, specifically.”
Other areas of growth for non-litigation services include cybersecurity, cryptocurrency and blockchain issues, as well as renewable energy.
Jon Gay, partner at Walther, Gay and Mack, said his firm has seen growth in some non-litigation areas, like elder care.
“Estate planning and elder care planning, in particular, has had very strong growth,” he said. “Around
“I always tell my clients that the best decisions are made in the boardroom and not the courtroom,” he said. “If there’s litigation involved, we’ve got to resolve it in the boardroom. If we resolve it in the courtroom, all of the clients take a risk of higher legal fees and more risk in the final resolution.”
For the future of law firms, McBrayer’s Boarman said what services to offer will be driven by what clients need.
“The practice of law and the needs of clients have always been multifaceted,” she said. “For over 60 years, our firm has handled whatever our clients needed us to handle, whether it was litigation, an estate plan, real estate transaction, or lobbying through our affiliate, MML&K Government Solutions. As new technologies, industries, and laws emerge, we will continue to adapt to meet the needs of our clients.” BL
“I always tell my clients that the best decisions are made in the boardroom and not the courtroom. If there’s litigation involved, we’ve got to resolve it in the boardroom. If we resolve it in the courtroom, all of the clients take a risk of higher legal fees and more risk in the final resolution.”
JOHN GAY, PARTNER AT WALTHER, GAY AND MACK
ROBERTSON
BOARMAN
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Law Firms
Ranked by number of lawyers in local office March 2025
Firm
Stites & Harbison, PLLC
250 W. Main St., Ste. 2300 Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 266-2300 stites.com
Dinsmore & Shohl LLP
100 W. Main St., Ste. 900 Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 425-1000 dinsmore.com
Stoll Keenon Ogden PLLC
300 W. Vine St., Ste. 2100 Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 231-3000 skofirm.com
Frost Brown Todd
250 W. Main St., Ste. 2800 Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 231-0000 frostbrowntodd.com
Sturgill, Turner, Barker & Moloney PLLC
333 W. Vine St., Ste. 1500 Lexington, KY (859) 255-8581 sturgillturner.com
McBrayer, PLLC
201 E. Main St., Ste. 900 Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 231-8780 mcbrayerfirm.com
Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs, LLP
250 W. Main St., Ste. 1600 Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 233-2012 wyattfirm.com
Embry Merritt Womack Nance, PLLC Chase Tower
201 E. Main St., Ste. 1402 Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 543-0453 emwnlaw.com
Jackson Kelly PLLC* Lexington City Center
100 W. Main St., Ste. 700 Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 255-9500 jacksonkelly.com
Kinkead & Stilz, PLLC PNC Tower
301 E. Main St., Ste. 800 (859) 296-2300 ksattorneys.com
Ward, Hocker & Thornton PLLC*
333 W. Vine St., Ste. 1100 Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 422-6000 whtlaw.com
Dentons
300 W. Vine St., Ste. 1300 Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 231-8500 dentons.com
Landrum & Shouse LLP*
106 W. Vine St., Ste. 800 Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 255-2424 landrumshouse.com
Lawyers in Local Office1/ All Offices Local Partners/ Associates/ Of Counsel/ Paralegals
defense; trusts and estate planning; government and municipal law; utilities and energy law; sustainable energy; torts and insurance defense; education law; workers' compensation defense; arbitration and mediation; constitutional law and civil rights
Adminstrative law; agriculture (equine law, hemp production); bankruptcy (creditors' rights and foreclosures); business and corporate law (formation, mergers and acquisitions); commmercial and business litigation; construction law; criminal defense and government investigations; employment and labor law; employee benefits; energy/utilities law; estate planning and administration; family law; gaming law; government solutions; healthcare law; insurance defense; intellectual property (trademark, copyright, infringement litigation); land use and zoning law; professional liability defense (medcial malpractice, healthcare professional licensure defense, hospital representation, legal malpractive defense); real estate law (residential and commercial); taxation (tax compliance, tax controversy, tax planning, transaction tax); telecommunications; politics, elections, and campaigh finance
Bank regulatory; bankruptcy and creditors' rights; commercial lending; corporate and securities; data privacy and security; employee benefits and executive compensation; environmental, equine and gaming; general business; governmental affairs and regulated industries; healthcare; immigration; intellectual property protection and litigation; labor and employment; labor union relations; land use and zoning; litigation and dispute resolution; natural resources and energy; nonprofit institutions; public finance and economic development; real estate and lending; real estate development; taxation; title insurance; trusts; estates and personal planning Litigation; real estate; estate planning and probate; corporate; mergers and acquisitions; tax; healthcare; compacts; intellectual property; family; criminal
Commercial litigation; tax; healthcare; finance; federal black lung and workers' compensation; construction; occupational safety and health; employment, environmental; equine
Commercial, employment, real estate, construction, trust and estate, and natural resource litigation; medical malpractice, civil rights, and professional negligence and legal ethics defense; commercial real estate transactions, financing, leasing, zoning, and development; 1031 exchange qualified intermediary;
Managing Partner(s)1 in Local Office/ Year Founded Locally/ Total Number of Offices
Cassidy Rosenthal (Lexington Office Executive Member)/ 1832/ 11 (6 states)
Grahmn Morgan (Lexington Managing Partner)/ 1997/ 31
P. Douglas Barr (Managing Director)/ 1897/ 5
Jan de Beer (Office Partnerin-Charge)/ 1919/ 16
Bryan H. Beauman/ 1957/ 1
James H. Frazier, III/ 1978/ 3 Emily H. Cowles (Partner)/ 1977/ 5
Walter A. Ward, George B. Hocker, Gregg E. Thornton/ 1984/ 2
Darren L. Embry, Samantha T. Nance (Managing Partners)/ 2011/ 3 nationally
Clifton B. Clark (Managing Member)/ 1985/ 10
Barry Stilz, Michael Reynolds, Tonya Rager, David Trevey (Executive Members)/ 1997/ 2
Kimberly O’Donnell (Managing Partner)/ 1978/ 168 (81 countries)
Michael Hammond (Managing Partner)/ 1956/ 2
Firms with fewer than 20 lawyers
March 2025
Richardson Law Group PLLC 771 Corporate Drive, Ste. 900 Lexington, KY 40503 (859) 219-9090 waltersrichardson.com
Gess Mattingly & Atchison, PSC 201 W. Short St., Ste. 102 Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 252-9000 gmalaw.com
Dickinson Wright, PLLC
300 W. Vine St., Ste. 1700 Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 899-8700 dickinson-wright.com
Fogle Keller Walker, PLLC**
300 E. Main St., Ste. 400 (859) 253-4700 fkw-law.com
Rose Camenisch Stewart Mains PLLC 326 S. Broadway Lexington, KY 40508 (859) 721-2100 rcsmlaw.com
Littler Mendelson, PSC 333 W. Vine St., STE. 1720 Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 317-7970 littler.com
Fowler Bell PLLC
300W. Vine St. Ste. 600 Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 252-6700 fowlerlaw.com
Steptoe & Johnson PLLC 2525 Harrodsburg Road, Ste. 300 Lexington, KY 40504 (859) 255-7080 steptoe-johnson.com
DelCotto Law Group PLLC 200 N. Upper St. Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 231-5800 dlgfirm.com
The Getty Law Group, PLLC The Offices at City Center 100 W. Main St., Ste. 200 Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 259-1900 gettylawgroup.com
Mehr Fairbanks Trial Lawyers 201 W. Short St., Ste. 800 Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 225-3731 mehrfairbanks.com
Morgan Pottinger McGarvey 175 E. Main St., Ste. 200 Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 253-1900 mpmfirm.com
Brown & Thompson, PLLC One Alumni Plaza 2393 Alumni Drive Lexington, KY 40517 (859) 296-9229 kytitlelaw.com
Wallingford Law, PSC 1050 Monarch St., Ste. 100 Lexington, KY 40517 (859) 219-0066 wallingfordlaw.com
Boehl Stopher & Graves, LLP 444 W. Second St. Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 252-6721 bsg-law.com
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Insurance Agencies
Independent agencies ranked by full-time licensed agents March 2025
AssuredPartners
1792 Alysheba Way, Ste. 300 Lexington, KY 40509 (859) 543-1716
assuredpartners.com
Acrisure, LLC (GCH Insurance Group)
780 Winchester Road Lexington, KY 40505 (859) 254-1836 acrisure.com/southeast
Houchens Insurance Group
505 Wellington Way, Ste. 350 Lexington, KY 40503 (800) 960-3560 higusa.com
Marsh McLennan Agency
360 Vine St., Ste. 200 Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 254-8023 marshmma.com
Energy Insurance Agency
3008 Atkinson Ave. Lexington, KY 40509 (859) 273-1549 energyinsagency.com
McGri Insurance Services
440 Finn Way, Ste. 360 Lexington, KY 40517 (859) 224-8899 mcgri .com
Cambridge Insurance 2300 Regency Road Lexington, KY 40503 (859) 252-0381
cambridgeinsurance.net
Al Torstrick Insurance Agency
343 Waller Ave., Ste. 101 Lexington, KY 40504 (859) 233-1461 altorstrick.com
Lexington Insurance Agency, Inc.
465 E. High St., Ste. 101 Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 224-8899 lexingtoninsuranceagency.com
Neely & Wade Insurance Agency, LLC 31 W. Hickman St. Winchester, KY 40391 (859) 2323-7855
neelyandwade.com
Greater Lexington
Agency 1066 Wellington Way Lexington, KY 40513 (859) 224-2477
greaterlexins.com
Kentucky Health Solutions
2365 Harrodsburg Road, Ste. B-235 Lexington, KY 40504 (859) 309-5033 kentuckyhealthsolutions.com
Kelder (President)
Couch (Senior VP/Managing Executive)
(President)
Torstrick Johnson (President) Kevin O. Stinnett (President/Owner) Danny S. Neely, II (Agent/Owner)
(President)
(Chairman/President)
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Regional Employers
Ranked by number of employees March 2025
University of Kentucky
10 Funkhouser Bldg. Lexington, KY 40506 (859) 257-9000 uky.edu
Kentucky State Government Frankfort, KY 40601 (502) 564-2611 kentucky.gov
Toyota Kentucky 4114 Cherry Blossom Way Geoorgetown, KY 40324 (502) 570-6572 tour.toyota.com/kentucky
Fayette County Public Schools
701 E. Main St. Lexington, KY 40502 (859) 381-4100 fcps.net
Baptist Health 1740 Nicholasville Road Lexington, KY 40503 (859) 260-1600 baptisthealth.com
Amazon.com
1850 Mercer Road Lexington, KY 40511 (859) 381-0818 amazon.com
Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government
200 E. Main St. Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 425-2255 lexingtonky.gov
Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI) 1 St. Joseph Drive Lexington, KY 40504 (859) 313-1000 chistjosephhealth.org
Madison County Schools
301 Highland Park Drive Richmond, KY 40475 (859) 624-4500 madison.kyschools.us
Veterans Medical Center 1101 Veterans Drive Lexington, KY 4052 (859) 233-4511 va.gov/lexington-health-care/
Eastern Kentucky University 521 Lancaster Ave. Richmond, KY 40475 (859) 622-1000 eku.edu
Blue Grass Chemical Agent
Destruction Pilot Plant 431 Battlefield Memorial Hwy. Richmond, KY 40475 (859) 779-6934 bluegrass.army.mil
Hyster-Yale Group, Inc. 2200 Menelaus Drive Berea, KY 40403 (859) 986-9304 hyster-yale.com
Scott County Schools 168 Frankfort Pike Georgetown, KY 40324 (502) 863-3663 scott.kyschools.us 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Jessamine County Schools 871 Wilmore Road Nicholasville, KY 40356 (859) 885-4179 jessamine.kyschools.us
Lexington Clinic 1221 South Broadway Lexington, KY 40504 (859) 258-4000 lexingtonclinic.com
Hitachi Automotive Systems Americas, Inc. 301 Mayde Road Berea, KY 40403 (859) 734-6630 hitachi.us
Lockheed Martin 5749 Briar Hill Road Lexington, KY 40516 (859) 566-4778 lockheedmartin.com
Novelis Corporation 302 Mayde Road Berea, KY 40403 (859) 985-6800 novelis.com
Nestle Prepared Foods 150 Oak Grove Drive Mt. Sterling, KY 40353 (859) 498-4300 nestleusa.com
Berea College 101 Chestnut St. Berea, KY 40404 (859) 985-3000 berea.edu
Franklin County Schools 190 Kings Daughters Drive #300 Frankfort, KY 40601 (502) 695-6700 franklin.kyschools.us
Lexmark International, Inc. 740 W. New Circle Road Lexington, KY 40550 (859) 232-2000 lexmark.com
Toyota Production Engineering & Manufacturing Center 1001 Cherry BlossomWay Georgetown, KY 40324 (502) 863-3630 tour.toyota.com/kentucky
UPS 1800 Mercer Road Lexington, KY 40511 (800) 742-5877 ups.com
Frankfort Regional Medical Center 299 Kinds Daughters Drive Frankfort, KY 40601 (502) 875-5240 frankfortregional.com
Galls LLC 1300 Russell Cave Road Lexington, KY 40505 (859) 787-0420 galls.com
40601 (502) 695-7766
New Hires & Board Selections
Kristi Martin has joined UK HealthCare as philanthropy executive director, cancer programs.
Michelle Oxley has joined Central Bank as senior vice president, liquidity funds manager.
Republic Bank & Trust Company announced the new additions of Cheryl Van Allen as executive vice president, chief people o cer; and Courtney Eder as senior vice president, chief marketing o cer.
Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs, LLP has named Alexander Mulhall as senior associate.
Lawren McCoy has joined Central Bank as community reinvestment act o cer; Zach Je erson has been promoted to client services o cer; and Will Barry has joined Central Bank as vice president, commercial lending o cer.
Stephanie DeRossette has been named director of human resources at Baptist Health Lexington.
Revive Ministries recently named the following to its 2025 board of directors: Luke Embree, Commer-
cial Cleaning with Commonwealth, board chair; Tim Brown (High Knoll Wealth Advisors), treasurer; Britt Moses (SIM Publications and SIM Radio Network Corporation), secretary; Adam Norsworthy (Minuteman Press), member; Tyler Reliford (Vincent Fister Moving and Storage), member; and John E. Reynolds (John E. Reynolds Law O ces), member.
CHI Saint Joseph Medical Group –Surgery of Lexington has welcomed Andrei Cocieru, MD, to its team.
CHI Saint Joseph Health – Cancer Care in Lexington has welcomed Malia Dimeling, FNP-C.
CHI Saint Joseph Health recently held an investiture ceremony to formally install Matt Grimshaw as its market president.
Lexington Clinic announced the addition of Lauren Ridderikho to its team of family medicine physicians at the clinic’s Beaumont location.
Jordan Parker has been promoted to business development director at Traditional Bank.
Jordan Artrip has joined PNC Private Bank's Lexington team as vice president and senior fiduciary advisor.
Commonwealth Credit Union announced the promotions of Jaynel Christensen to executive vice president, and Kim Durrum to chief member experience o cer. Kristie Jones will also become branch manager at Commonwealth Credit Union’s Hamburg location.
Kentucky Humanities announced the appointment of Kay Madrick as its new development director.
The Lexington Ballet is pleased to announce the appointment of Charlize O’Dell as its new principal.
Attorney Ellen Gish has joined Stites & Harbison, PLLC's Lexington o ce as counsel in its construction services group.
NAI Isaac has welcomed new property manager Natalie Hicks to its team.
GreenHouse17 has elected Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorney Robin E. McGu n as president of its board of directors for a two-year term.
Hannah Hutchison has joined Bank of the Bluegrass & Trust Company's Southland Drive financial center as a universal banker II.
BRW, an industry leader in freight carriers and supply chain man-
agement, has appointed Brandy Pennington, CPA, as executive vice president of finance.
Independence Bank has elected retired WinStar Farm CFO Jack Mullikin to its board of directors.
Lexington Christian Academy has named Oakley Watkins as its new head varsity football coach.
Next Century Technologies has named Ronnie Goodpaster as a new partner.
Valvoline Inc. has named Brian Tabb its new chief development o cer.
RE/MAX Elite Realty has welcomed Brad Turner and Claudia Padgett to its brokerage.
Amy Gregory, longtime director of communications at Keeneland, announced her retirement from the track e ective June 1.
Kudos
Commerce Lexington announced its annual awards for community impact and volunteerism. Jordan Parker of Traditional Bank was named Volunteer of the Year Award; and Lexington’s Transformational Housing A ordability
Partnership was given the Community Impact Award. Those making up the partnership and honored individually included: Central Bank (Luther Deaton), Traditional Bank (Dan Mason), Community Trust Bank (Billie Dollins), Republic Bank (Todd Zeigler), Stock Yards Bank & Trust (Louis Prichard), Urban League of Lexington (PG Peeples), AU Associates (Johan Graham), Winterwood (Zach Worsham), Lexington Habitat for Humanity (Darryl Neher), and Lexington Housing Authority (Austin Simms). Kentucky State Supreme Court Justice Pamela R. Goodwine was recently honored as the 2025 recipient of the William E. McAnulty Jr. Award at the state court system’s fifth annual Black History Month Celebration.
The YMCA of Central Kentucky recently appointed o cers and board members for 2025. New officers of the board of director are: Chair – Steve Byars, vice president and chief investment o cer, Moneywatch Advisors Inc.; chair-elect – Annissa Franklin, vice president, Urban League of Lexington-Fayette County; treasurer – Hunter Stout chief financial o cer, Keeneland; and secretary – Latarika Young director, Americas product delivery, Lexmark International, Inc. New
VAN ALLEN EDER OXLEY MARTIN
ARTRIP CHRISTENSEN PARKER
RIDDERIKHOFF
JEFFERSON BARRY
MCCOY MULHALL
MADRICK O'DELL JONES DURRUM
DIMELING
GRIMSHAW
COCIERU
MCGUFFIN GISH
DEROSSETTE
Who’sWho
members of the board of directors are: Greg Wilson, Whitaker Bank; Meg Sutton, Baird Private Wealth Management; and Shane Anderson, Central Bank & Trust Co. New advisory board members for the High Street YMCA include: Haley Lawson; Langdon Worley, Hicks & Funfsinn, PLLC; Marty Mills Fayette County Public Schools; and Trace Carnahan, UK HealthCare. New advisory board members for the C.M. Gatton Beaumont YMCA include: Jackie Alexander, Kentucky Department of Corrections; Jeannine Petell, Community Trust Bank; and Mike Heath, US Army (retired). New advisory board members for the Frankfort YMCA include: Brad Wands, Frankfort Regional Medical; Chad Carpenter Stewart Home & School; Cody Davis, Norton Healthcare; and Larry Murphy, Franklin County Schools.
The Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with the Kentucky Society for Human Resource Management, has recognized McBrayer PLLC as one of the Best Places to Work in Kentucky, specifically in the small-sized employer category.
The Kentucky Bourbon Trail® Bourbon tourism program was awarded the Best of Business: Mar-
keting Campaign at the 2024 World Beverage Innovation Awards for its modern brand refresh launched last year to celebrate the Kentucky Bourbon Trail’s 25th anniversary.
For the third consecutive year Saint Joseph Hospital has been named one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for 2025, based on research released by Healthgrades. It is the only hospital in the state to achieve this honor three years in a row.
Saint Joseph Hospital and CHI Saint Joseph Health Partners in Lexington, along with Saint Joseph Jessamine in Nicholasville, have each earned a spot on the “Best Places to Work in Kentucky” list. This annual list honors top employers across the state. Saint Joseph London also made the list.
CHI Saint Joseph Health announced the creation of 14 scholarships totaling more than $34,000 to support aspiring health care professionals across their Kentucky communities, including Bardstown, Berea, Lexington, London, Nicholasville and Mount Sterling.
Saint Joseph East was recently named the 2025 Kentucky Hospital Association (KHA) Quality Award winner in the Acute Care Hospital (100-250 Beds) category. This is the
first time the facility has received a KHA Quality Award.
Blue Grass Airport president and CEO Eric J. Frankl, A.A.E., recently received the Distinguished Service Award from the American Association of Airport Executives.
Pizza pioneer Joe Bologna was recently honored with the lifetime achievement award from the Kentucky Restaurant Association.
Kentucky REALTORS® proudly presented the 2024 Jess Kinman Award to Kentucky State Senator Robby Mills in recognition of his commitment to housing policy and advocacy in February 2025.
Kentucky State University's (KSU) Travis Haskins was chosen among 16 higher education professionals to take part in The Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education's Academic Leadership Development Institute. Haskins is the interim director of student support services at KSU.
Whitney Heet, executive director of Inpatient Nursing, and Amanda Davis, a nursing director at Baptist Health Lexington, recently received a 2024 Lighthouse Award from the American Excess Insurance Exchange for the project “Turning the
Tide of Pressure Injury Prevention Using a Team-Based Approach.
To help address Kentucky’s critical nursing shortage, Asbury University announced the launching of its Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program to begin this fall.
Madisonville Community College recently won the 2025 Bellwether Award competition in the workforce category, sponsored by the Bellwether College Consortium. Along with community partners, the college converted an administrative building at the former Dotiki Mine Portal in Webster County into the Lisman Workforce Complex, a training center for in-demand technical careers.
Republic Bank & Trust Company announced that it has secured the number nine position nationally in Forbes 2025 America’s Best Banks list. In its second consecutive year on the list, Republic is the highest ranked Kentucky-based bank in both 2024 and 2025, and the only one to break the top 10.
For their efforts to invest in the region's severely distressed communities, Field & Main Bank, in collaboration with Community Ventures Corporation, has been awarded $167,877 from the U.S.
Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund.
Lexington Habitat for Humanity announced a partnership with Gray Construction for the building of a new townhome at Seventh Street and Maple Avenue in downtown Lexington.
Eight 2024 Breeders’ Cup World Championships Winners received top honors in their respective Divisions at the 54th Annual Eclipse Awards, with Thorpedo Anna being named Horse of the Year.
The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council voted to rejoin the National League of Cities (NLC), renewing Lexington’s membership for the first time in 14 years. Lexington had previously been a member of NLC for 28 years beginning in 1983. 2025 will be the first year of membership since 2011.
In baseball news, The Lexington Legends recently named its new coaching staff. Paul Fletcher will lead the Legends as manager for 2025. Mike Reynolds will return as hitting coach; Tommy Thompson was named bench coach; and Jason Stowers, new bullpen coach. Michael Koltak has aslso been added as a consultant in analytics. BL
PENNINGTON MULLIKIN
HASKINS
PEEPLES
GRAHAM
PRICHARD ZEIGLER TURNER PADGETT
SIMMS GOODWINE
NEHER WORSHAM
MASON DEATON
BOLOGNA FRANKL
DOLLINS
BizLexQ&A
Remy Simpson
The founder and president of Paws 4 the Cause on rescuing, caring for and rehoming animals in need
BY CAMPBELL WOOD CONTRIBUTING WRITER
In February, Remy Simpson, founder and president of Lexington-based Paws 4 the Cause, a volunteer-driven, no-kill animal rescue nonprofit, received the Unsung Hero Award from the Humane Society of the United States. A month earlier, he was honored with the Lexington Unsung Hero Award from CivicLex.
Paws 4 the Cause also recently received attention — and a significant donation — when Kentucky-based priest Jim Sichko contributed a portion of funds raised by auctioning two bottles of Kentucky bourbon signed by Pope Francis and one signed by former Super Bowl-winning quarterback Tom Brady. Simpson has loved animals since childhood. Growing up in Lexington, he took in and cared for countless stray cats and dogs, many malnourished and in poor condition. When he couldn’t find their owners, he worked to rehome them.
Encouraged by friends, he founded Paws 4 the Cause in 2008 and purchased a warehouse along Newtown Pike, which serves as the organization’s headquarters. Focused on Central Kentucky, Paws 4 the Cause has rescued many thousands of dogs and cats, along with pet pigs, ducks, and even wildlife when needed.
What are the primary needs that Paws 4 the Cause addresses? We address several critical issues, including animal abuse, overpopulation, homelessness, feeding, and veterinary care. Many people surrender pets because they can’t a ord medical costs. We do our best to address all of these as best we can, but the most pressing issue is spaying and neutering — if overpopulation weren’t a problem, many of these other challenges wouldn’t exist.
How is Paws 4 the Cause funded? We’re entirely volunteer-run and rely on donations. For the first several years, I funded it myself, but eventually that well ran dry and I started looking to the public to help. Fortunately, the community stepped up, and it made me realize that the community feels a real need for this. Today, we’re fully supported through donations.
Our annual budget is about $250,000, with roughly $10,000 a month dedicated to spaying and neutering. We also cover emergency medical cases, food for rescued animals, and support for pet owners in financial distress.
We also have some administrative costs. About ten years ago, Anita Spreitzer joined us. We’ve worked very well together, and she understands the importance of organization, fundraising, and getting things done. She’s now our VP and general manager.
What were the early days of Paws like? There was a lot to be done. I did a lot of networking with other rescue organizations and a lot of transportation. We would visit high-kill shelters in Kentucky, where animals were euthanized weekly, and take as many as possible to safer locations. I'd go in and gather as many as I could, get them taken care of as best as I could, and then drive them north to places like Ohio, Michigan, and even Canada, where they were actually low on animals because they had better spaying and neutering awareness.
At the time, Kentucky ranked last in animal welfare. We’ve since improved slightly, moving up to 46th in 2024 [according to an Animal Legal Defense ranking], but there’s still a long way to go.
How does your intake process work? We take in about 1,000 animals a year that we find homes for directly, and another 2,000 to 3,000 that we transport to other rescue organizations.
Every incoming animal gets a full veterinary check-up. Cats are tested for feline leukemia, dogs for heartworm, and all receive rabies and parvovirus vaccinations — parvovirus is a big problem in Kentucky. We do everything we can to make sure the animal is in tip-top shape.
We try to foster them right away with our growing network of carefully screened foster homes. We have about 50 dogs in our program at any given time, and about 40 or so cats. We’ll do some research and interviews to match animals with homes — Anita is a good match maker. We also recently partnered with Feeder Supply to place adoptable cats in their stores.
What’s next for Paws 4 the Cause? We’re working to hire an in-house veterinarian to operate out of our building. We have a surgery room ready to go, and we plan to launch a spay/neuter clinic by summer — the first of its kind in this area. We also want to involve the community more in what we do. To that end, we're establishing a community section within our building where seniors and people with disabilities can help care for and interact with our gentler animals. BL
PHOTO FURNISHED
Remy Simpson, founder and president of Lexington-based Paws 4 the Cause, a no-kill animal rescue nonprofit, received the Unsung Hero Award from the Humane Society of the United States in February.
REGIONAL MARKET REVIEW 2025
Introducing Business Lexington’s Regional Market Review
Business Lexington and Smiley Pete
Publishing are thrilled to announce the inaugural Business Lexington Regional Market Review—a premier annual publication covering the economic landscape of Central Kentucky.
The NEW Regional Market Review will spotlight key market trends and analysis across Fayette, Clark, Scott, Bourbon, Woodford, Montgomery, Madison, and Jessamine counties, delivering essential information for business leaders, investors, and policymakers.
Launching in October 2025, this glossy, table-top edition will provide in-depth insights into the region’s economic developments, challenges, and successes. For more
Stay ahead with expert reporting, datadriven insights, and a comprehensive look at Central Kentucky’s evolving market.
email advertise@smileypete.com
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