Business Lexington June 2020 by Smiley Pete Publishing

IN THIS ISSUE BizLists Family Law Firms |

PAGE 16

SBA Lenders | PAGE 18 Commercial Lenders | PAGE 19

BusinessLexington JUNE 2020 VOL. 16 ISSUE 6

CraveWorthy: As restaurants reopen, will enough customers and staﬀ return? PAGE 8

BizIQ: A signature idea for infusing your marketing eﬀorts with purpose and vigor PAGE 9

Customer Care How small-business owners have risen to the challenge of serving the community amid uncertainty PAGE 10

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Chevy Chase Hardware owners John and Lisa Justice PHOTO BY BILL STRAUS

Q&A: Father jim Sichko on random acts of kindness, neighbor helping neighbor and giving thanks to frontline heroes PAGE 21

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BusinessLexington Chuck Creacy PUBLISHER

chuck@bizlex.com Chris Eddie PUBLISHER

chris@bizlex.com Tom Wilmes EDITOR

tomw@bizlex.com Susan Baniak FEATURES EDITOR

susan@bizlex.com Drew Purcell ART DIRECTOR

drew@bizlex.com Sharon Metz

CONTENTS BusinessBriefs

News to know from around the region PAGE 4

PVAStatistics

The latest statistics on local commercial and residential properties PAGE 6

EconomicAnalysis

A monthly look at economic indicators compiled by the Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER) at the University of Kentucky PAGE 7

BIZLISTS EDITOR

sharon@bizlex.com Donna Hodsdon ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

GrammarGourment

During a pandemic, write short PAGE 7

donna@smileypete.com Theresa Stanley DIRECTOR OF EVENTS AND PROMOTIONS

theresa@smileypete.com ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Amy Eddie

amy@bizlex.com Steve O’Bryan

steve@bizlex.com Ann Staton

ann@bizlex.com

CraveWorthy

As restaurants reopen, will enough customers and staff return? PAGE 8

BizIQ

Let your work be your signature PAGE 9

IndependentBusiness

Customer Care: How small-business owners have risen to the challenge of serving the community amid uncertainty

IS HI

Y ILE PE

PAGE 10

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BizList

Family Law Firms PAGE 16 SBA Lenders PAGE 18 Commercial Lenders PAGE 19

Who’sWho

Employment news from around the Bluegrass PAGE 22

Wish You Were Here:

Virtual tours help keep Lexington attractions in the public eye, but the future of local tourism remains hazy as Americans stick close to home. PAGE 14 PHOTO FURNISHED

Guarding Against Cybersecurity Risks: With employees working remotely and the threat of hackers and scams on the rise, local experts weigh in on protecting your data over a dispersed network PAGE 13

A Clean Bill of Health: Detailed protocols and adjusted business models are the new norm as area businesses start to reopen PAGE 15

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BusinessBriefs

PHOTO furnished

Luther Deaton, of Central Bank, presents details from Lexington’s Blueprint for Economic Recovery during a press conference releasing the report.

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City releases Blueprint for Economic Recovery, sends to Governor for approval

tancing; and requiring prior approval from designated personnel before workers are permitted to travel to travel-restricted areas of COVID-19 hotspots.

An Economic Recovery Task Force cochaired by Mayor Linda Gorton and Luther Deaton, chairman, president and CEO of Central Bank, released a 50-plus page report detailing Lexington’s Blueprint for Economic Recovery and has sent the report to Governor Andy Beshear’s office for approval.

Download the full report at https://smileypete.com/downloads/14643/download/ Mayor Gorton’s COVID-19 Economic Response Report.pdf

The report, compiled over a two-week period, includes 330 recommendations for reopening the economy, with specific recommendations and guidelines across various sectors, including agriculture and equine, education, small business and technology, houses of worship, healthcare, nonprofits, arts and culture, distilleries and craft breweries, hotels and convention centers, and more. The guidelines were compiled by 132 committee members working in subcommittees and representing the city’s major economic sectors. Prior to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Kentucky, Lexington’s jobless rate was at 3.1 percent. Since the beginning of March, more than 44,000 Lexington residents, over 25 percent of the civilian workforce, have filed initial unemployment insurance claims. “Our economy was strong before this pandemic struck, and today we are taking the first to recover that strength,” Gorton said. “We have outlined a gradual, responsible path back to the workplace.” Specific guidance from the Business Industry and Services Subcommittee includes evaluating which positions in the workplace need to be on-site and positions that could continue to work from home; using common areas only when necessary; spacing out employees or rotating workers with block scheduling to facilitate social dis-

Mayor Gorton details austere budget update Mayor Linda Gorton announced dramatic changes to the Lexington—Fayette Urban County Government budget in light of the COVID-19 epidemic and its local economic impact. “With fixed costs increasing, and shortfalls in tax receipts, there must be cutbacks elsewhere in government to keep our basic services functioning well, and our budget balanced, as required by law,” Gorton said. “Before I get into the details I want to be clear, this is not the kind of budget I want to propose. It does not fund many of the programs I think our community needs, like land preservation or neighborhood initiatives or infrastructure improvements. It is not the kind of budget we want, but it is the kind of budget the times demand.” The $372,643,779 million General Fund budget is focused on the “nuts and bolts” of government—including public safety, garbage pickup, sewers and roads—and is designed to balance the budget in the face of realized and projected costs of the COVID-19 crisis, including a loss of $9 million in FY20 (current year) and $40 million in FY21 (July 20-June 21). Details include: • Internal reductions that include $7.5 million in personnel savings with no lay-offs of permanent employees, and a freeze on pay raises except where required by contract. The city will not fund 47 vacant permanent positions.

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BusinessBriefs • Internal targeted reductions of $12.6 million throughout government.

challenges, a decrease in gross receipts or customers, or a closure.

• A reduction of $6 million to external agencies, including extended social resource grants to social service agencies.

Kristina Joyce, KSBDC state director, said the majority of the grant will be used to hire 18 new staff members to help as many small businesses as possible during this time of economic upheaval and in the future.

• Public safety, 57 percent of the general fund budget, remains the same as last year. • A $1.8 million reduction in funding to the affordable housing program. • The city will suspend direct funding of LexArts. Instead, the mayor announced a challenge grant of up to $200,000 from the city that will match funds raised by LexArts, dollar-for-dollar, after July 1. • The city will also issue a request for proposals to fund economic development partners, including Commerce Lexington, the Downtown Lexington Partnership, the World Trade Center and the Urban League. The city will maintain workforce development funds. • The use of one-time money to balance the budget, including $13.6 million from a rainy day fund. This is the first time the fund has been used since it was established in the 1990s. • Debt service for a $7.6 million bond, the smallest bond in 10 years, including $5 million for paving, $1.7 million to replace police vehicles and $343,000 for fire turnout gear. The mayor also announced the formation of a COVID-19 Economic Response Committee, made up of leaders from across various sectors of the economy and councilmembers, to formulate recommendations to move the economy forward. Gorton will co-chair the committee, along with Luther Deaton, chairman/president and CEO of Central Bank & Trust Company. Bob Quick, president and CEO of Commerce Lexington, will serve as vice chair of economic development. Mary Quinn Ramer, president of VisitLEX, will lead the visitor industry as vice chair. “We are taking a broad look at our economy—everything from small business to health care to manufacturing to education to agriculture to tourism, and beyond,” Gorton said. Mayor Gorton also said work has begun to set up a “one-stop shop” inside local government to make the interaction between business and government as fast and efficient as possible. The mayor also announced that 600 to 700 new, good-paying jobs would soon be coming to the city. “I remain optimistic about our future, and so do our citizens,” she said. “We believe in our city, and we’re ready to put in the hard work it will take to stand up our economy.”

Kentucky Small Business Development Center receives $2.4 million CARES Act grant The Kentucky Small Business Development has been awarded a $2.4 million CARES Act funding grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration. The funds will provide KSBDC with resources to furnish education, training and business advising to small businesses that have experienced COVID19-related supply chain disruptions, staffing

“We would never conceive of a COVID-19 pandemic, and we pray that it never happens again, but we are here to assist Kentucky’s small businesses to not only survive but to thrive,” Joyce said. “Small business is the backbone of this country’s economic health. Everyone benefits from their success.” The grant will also be used to increase marketing efforts to ensure small businesses are aware of the resources and programs KSBDC offers and to provide educational information to protect businesses from falling victim to scams and predatory lenders. About 14 percent of the funding will be used to expand technology services, as KSBDC personnel mobilize to meet the changing needs of the small business community. Plans for the budget are in keeping with KSBDC’s strategic goals, which are to add value to its service delivery to clientele; to diversify funding to increase federal and state investment and establish results-driven partnerships and investments; to enhance awareness of the organization; and to strengthen ties, collaboration and communication with Kentucky’s academic institutions and economic development partners. “With any great challenge comes opportunity to innovate and to create a new and improved KSBDC,” Joyce said. “Much like our small businesses, the KSBDC wants not only to survive but to thrive. We want to be the ‘go-to’ resource for Kentucky’s entrepreneurs.” The Kentucky Small Business Development Center is a network of 12 offices located throughout the state. The center advises existing and start-up businesses with business plans, financial forecasts, research on a particular industry and the community where owners plan to start their business. KSBDC is an accredited partner program with the U.S. Small Business Administration and is housed in the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment.

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For more information about the Kentucky Small Business Development Center or to arrange for a meeting, visit www.ksbdc. org/coronavirus.

Local COVID-19 Resources The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government has built a one-stop website for local information related to the novel coronavirus, including details about local testing options, links to unemployment support, benchmarks for reopening the economy and more. www.lexingtonky.gov/ coronavirus-response. The local organization CivicLex has also created a helpful information hub for local COVID-19-related links, including basic needs, community needs, facts vs. myths, and more. www.covid19lexington.org. BL

traditionalbank.com

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PVAStatistics The latest statistics on local residential and commercial property 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.

Residential Sales Data for May 2019 The chart below shows the monthly residential sales activity in Fayette County for the previous 24 months. The data for the most recent month reflect a projected estimate from the office of the Fayette County Property Valuation Administrator and are subject to change.

Top Commercial Transactions for May 2019 2018 RESIDENTIAL SALES

SALE DATE ADDRESS

PRICE

PURCHASED BY

04-03-20

2121 Nicholasville Rd., Unit 101

$135,000

Robinson Steve and Lisa

04-22-20

1212 Fontaine Rd.

$375,000

Chin High Properties LLC

04-10-20

1301 S. Broadway

$5,050,000

1301 Lexington LLC

04-09-20

728 N. Broadway

$130,000

Lex Opp LLC

04-22-20

832 Porter Pl.

$230,000

Flagship Land LLC

04-22-20

149 Woodland Ave.

$340,000

Chin High Properties LLC

04-14-20

771 Newtown Pike

$1,100,000

Areesha Properties LLC

04-07-20

1465-1469 Leestown Rd.

$465,000

Next Generation Investments LLC

04-30-20

162 N. Hanover Ave.

$505,000

Victory Property Group LLC

04-29-20

421 United Ct.

$1,560,000

EMT LX LLC

04-29-20

431 United Ct.

$1,560,000

EMT LX LLC

04-20-20

226 Waller Ave.

$350,000

226 Waller Ave. LLC

04-22-20

705 Addison Ave.

$170,000

Pappas Scott and Lindsay

04-24-20

3717 Hacker Ct.

$260,000

Nolin, Ryan Daniel

04-01-20

917 Georgetown St.

$400,000

Positive Growth LLC

04-08-20

449 Lewis Hargett Cir., Ste. 190

$342,500

BLT 449 LLC

04-07-20

1461-1463 Leestown Rd.

$465,000

Next Generation Investments LLC

2019 RESIDENTIAL SALES

2020 RESIDENTIAL SALES

800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100

JAN

FEB

MAR

APR

MAY

JUN

JUL

AUG

SEP

OCT

NOV

DEC

-1%

-10%

-20%

-7%

-2%

14%

19%

MONTHLY PERCENTAGE CHANGE OVER PREVIOUS YEAR For more local residential and commercial real estate information, check the website of the Fayette County Property Valuation Administrator at www.fayettepva.com.

*Sale price based on a multiple-parcel transaction **Parcel includes multiple improvements

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EconomicAnalysis

GrammarGourmet

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.

During a Pandemic, Write Short

Recent Data May 2020

1-Month Change

1-Year Change

Payroll emp. MSA**** Manufacturing Employment Durable Goods (KY) **** Manufacturing: Lexington-Fayette MSA Total Employees**** Unemployment Rate MSA****

277,500 March 162,200 March

-0.18% -0.61%

-0.11% -1.52%

23,339 March 4.20% March

-21.11% 0.80%

-23.63% 0.80%

Payroll Employment, US Manufacturing Payroll Employment US Unemployment Rate, US

131,045,000 April 11,488,000 April 14.70% April

-13.55% -10.38% 10.30%

-12.92% -10.45% 11.40%

Consumer Price Index, Southern Region Consumer Price Index, US Producer Price Index, US

246.254 April 258.389 April 195.60 April

-0.80% -0.07% -3.98%

-0.20% 0.30% -5.37%

Index of Leading Indicators** Fed’s Index of Industrial Production**

104.2 March 92.6 April

-6.70% -11.22%

N/A -15.20%

3-Month Treasury Yield*** 10-Year Treasury Yield***

0.13% May 14 0.64% May 14

4th qtr. 2019 Real GDP (millions $)

$21,537,940.00

-0.01% -0.12%

-2.28% -1.76%

1-Month Change

1-Year Change

-0.88%

3.06%

MSA: Lexington-Fayette Metropolitan Statistical Area; (p)=preliminary; NA=not available * Source: http://www.conference-board.org ** Source: Federal Reserve Statistical Release — http://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/G17/ *** Source: Federal Reserve Statistical Release — http://www.federalreserve.gov/Releases/H15/data.htm **** Source: St. Louis Federal Reserve — https://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/ Note: In some cases 1 mo. and 1 yr. changes are based on revised data from previous mo./yr. GDP is reported in Current Dollars.

By Neil Chethik

Back in high school and college, our teachers often directed us to write papers of a specific length. “Give me 10 pages comparing and contrasting ‘The Three Musketeers’ to ‘The Three Stooges,’” an English teacher might have said. Only now — in the midst of pandemic that requires office-survival skills — are we learning how wrong that training really was. Don’t fluff your stuff. Don’t fill 10 pages. Instead, more than ever, write short. Short is not the same as shallow. Writing short takes more care than writing long. You still must make your point; you just have to do it more efficiently. You may have to compose those 10 meandering pages — then hack, trim and compress them down to size. You learn to shorten while also dialing in on your message. Professional writers all live with word limits. For this column, mine is 350. I usually write a draft that runs 600 to 700 words, replete with bloated arguments and clichés galore. After that first draft, I start the whittling. I might ask myself: Did I really need the first two paragraphs of this piece, the whole excursion into high school English class? Maybe I should have just started this way: First rule of writing during a pandemic: Keep it short.

PHOTO FURNISHED

After trying to cut out entire paragraphs, I’ll eventually get down to cutting words and phrases. Do I need both “hack” and “trim” in paragraph four? Do I need the “also” in the last sentence of the same paragraph? And then I find myself here in the second to last paragraph, going on longer than expected. Gradually, revising multiple times, I will continue to axe the excess prepositions, the distracting phrases, the torturous ramblings. I will write short, and be understood. BL Neil Chethik, aka the Grammar Gourmet, is executive director of the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning (www. carnegiecenterlex.org) and author of “FatherLoss” and “VoiceMale.” The Carnegie Center offers writing classes and seminars for businesses and individuals. Contact Chethik at neil@carnegiecenterlex.org or 859-254-4175.

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CraveWorthy As restaurants reopen, will enough customers and staff return? BY SHANNON CLINTON CONTRIBUTING WRITER

uring a typical Kentucky spring, diners flock to restaurant patios to enjoy open-air dining, and inside tables are also full of hungry patrons, particularly during horse racing season, local festivals and events. All that has changed this year, as COVID-19 mandated a temporary halt to large gatherings and in-person dining, allowing restaurants to only operate on a takeout or delivery basis. Staffing has always been a challenge for restaurants, as 2019 figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show a 78.6 percent annual turnover rate nationwide for the accommodation and food service industry. The pandemic has left restaurant owners scrambling to adapt, utilizing pared down staff and increased safety protocols while also wondering what the future holds for staffing when restrictions ease. When dine-in customers return, will their staff return as well? John Foster is chef/owner at The Sage Rabbit, which opened in July 2015 on South Ashland Avenue in the Chevy Chase area. Foster said in warmer months, when his patio was open, his restaurant could serve 130 patrons with a crew of 15 employees, including he and his wife. Foster’s waitstaff numbers had already shrunk during the winter, and when the ability to offer dine-in service ceased Foster lost a bartender, two servers, a hostess, a busser and a cook to layoffs. Foster said he’s applied for federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds to rehire people, but hasn’t received anything so far. He is instead relying on revenues from patio pickup for meals Wednesday through Saturday nights, with entrees including gnocchi, fettuccine, salmon and ribeye. Foster has kept in touch with employees to see how they’re faring, and is hopeful that most will choose to return to work. “It’s going to be a leap of faith on their part,” he said, for employees to come back, feel safe and not think this cycle won’t repeat

PHOTO BY Octane Design Studios & Cre8tive Visions

Ranada’s Bistro owner and chef, Ranada Riley

if a surge in COVID-19 cases occurs as some predict this fall. Coleman Guyon, a co-owner of Pearl’s and County Club, said both of his restaurants have been closed since early April, but when anticipated PPP funds arrive, he’ll reopen them for takeout, likely around early June. Located on North Limestone, Pearl’s has wood-fired pizzas, salads and shellfish while County Club, on Jefferson Street, is known for its smoked meats. The restaurants had about 20 employees each, he said, and laying them off was a “super difficult decision.” “It’s essentially a furlough, because we’re planning on hiring all our employees back if we can,” he said. Guyon said his turnover at the two restaurants has been historically low, and so he’s not terribly worried that employees won’t return, especially when government directives on health and safety are followed to allow for proper distancing, and with staff and takeout customers wearing masks. Restaurants statewide are allowed to reopen at 33 percent capacity for dine-in service beginning May 22. The city will also work with local restaurants to allow increased outdoor seating options, such as expanding dining areas into parking lots and partially closed streets. County Club may offer only outside seating at first, he said, and overall, “I think what will end up happening for the foreseeable future, the next year or two, a diminished capacity of sit-down but keeping up with a large amount of takeout orders.” Ranada’s Bistro & Bar has been offering entrees like pasta, stroganoff and hot browns for delivery and curbside takeout at its upscale casual establishment on Old Vine Street. Executive chef/owner Ranada Riley had 36 employees before the pandemic hit. “We had to let everybody go,” she said. “I had myself, one of the co-owners and one other employee helping.” She received a partial PPP loan and is working to hire some staff back but says it’s been difficult, as some chose to remain on unemployment. Even so, some newcomers have asked her for a job, and she’s making it work. She’s revamping employee uniforms to all black attire with matching black face masks so they’ll look consistent and professional. Riley said she strives to see the possibilities instead of the drawbacks, appealing to a new demographic with larger-portion family size meals offered to-go. A Mother’s Day takeout meal included a special code to view a live concert via Zoom, and on other days, special guests accompany delivery drivers to surprise customers at the door. Upon reopening for dine-in, Riley knows she’ll need to have a lower customer capacity for distancing purposes, but doesn’t want to make up for the decreased volume by raising prices. Foster still has hope that he’ll be able to open his dining room and patio back by fall and salvage some of his busy season. The restaurant community here is strong, and have come to each other’s aid, he adds. “I hope and wish and pray for everybody to come out of this OK, and if we continue to band together like we have been, helping each other out, feeding each other, shifting resources back and forth between restaurants, I think we can make it through,” he said. BL

Increased options for outdoor dining may help restaurants such as Pearl’s (top) and The Sage Rabbit (left) serve more patrons and hire back more staff. Pearl’s photo furnished sage rabbit photo by theresa stanley

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BizIQ

A MONTHLY COLUMN OF BUSINESS INSIGHTS FROM CENTRAL KENTUCKY PROFESSIONALS

Let your work be your signature BY Marc C. Whitt CONTRIBUTING WRITER

he importance of everyone’s role recently struck me as I watched from my office window at the University of Kentucky as a stonemason skillfully and artfully cut and chiseled stones that have since become part of several new, handsomely designed stone walls in a plaza on campus. As I watched, I was captivated by the stonemason’s unfailing devotion to the project’s final achievement. I marveled from a distance at his attention to detail. He seemed to know where each stone should instinctively go as he placed the gray limestone blocks with expert care and confidence. Even though his signature will never appear chiseled on any of the stones or engraved on a bronze plaque recognizing his name, this craftsman’s passion for the work will stand the test of time. For him, his work is his signature — his calling. Others who casually pass by these walls or sit on them while conversing with friends and colleagues will never know this man’s name or appreciate the hours of sweat, muscle, skill, eye for detail and patience it took for him to accomplish his masterpiece. But he will. Watching this stonemason perform his duties was a beautiful reminder that no job is too big or too small and that all of us, no matter our title or responsibilities, can help build and shape an affirming, can-do work environment that is purposeful, meaningful and electric, and that, like these stone walls, is built to withstand whatever form of weather that comes that day. Your signature on the work you execute represents, like that stonemason’s, your reputation and credibility as a public relations and marketing professional. And that is true any time you craft messages in response to crises; strategically position thought leadership before targeted audiences; execute and manage your brand; purposefully place op-eds; cultivate honest and productive relations with members of the media; create ads, photographs or publications; write news releases or pitch stories; organize and manage a speakers bureau; stand before audiences while representing your institution or

organization; thoughtfully post social media content; attend any meeting; host and record podcasts; lay out magazine pages; coordinate special events and news conferences; or perform “all other duties as assigned.” Few will ever know or appreciate the hours it took to accomplish those successful efforts — but you will. After all, genuine efforts in our profession are not about the “me,” but on the “we.” Never allow yourself to slip into giving just the minimal effort. Give it your all! Your signature work should always strive to be your finest masterpieces. Everyone has an important role to play — including you. Our profession needs you. We need your heart, your passion and your desire to make a difference. I know you will succeed! BL

Marc Whitt is Director of Media & Strategic Relations at the University of Kentucky’s Office of Public Relations and Strategic Communications. He also serves as a part-time instructor in UK’s Department of Integrated Strategic Communication. He is also the author of “PR Lessons Learned Along the Way: Strategies, Tips & Advice for the Higher Ed and Nonprofit Public Relations Professional” (Cherrymoon Media), from which this article is excerpted. He may be contacted at on Twitter (@marcwhitt) and LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com/in/marcwhitt).

FIND SOMETHING TADOO. .com

PHOTO BY MARK CORNEliSON

Marc Whitt’s new book, “PR Lessons Learned Along the Way: Strategies, Tips & Advice for the Higher Ed and Nonprofit Public Relations Professional,” was recently endorsed as “recommended reading” by The Public Relations and Communications Association, the world’s largest PR professional body.

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IndependentBusiness

Customer Care

How the owners of three small businesses have risen to the challenge of serving the community amid unprecedented uncertainty Chevy Chase Hardware 883 E. High St. www.chevychasehardware.com

PHOTO by bill straus

Chevy Chase Hardware owners Lisa and John Justice purchased the store from its previous owners in December.

ohn and Lisa Justice purchased Chevy Chase Hardware from its previous owners, Bill and Carol Edwards, in December. The Justices have lived in Chevy Chase for the past decade and, with their two daughters attending the University of Kentucky, had recently moved into a condominium in Chevy Chase Plaza. “We love the neighborhood and we love this store, and we didn’t want to see anything happen to it. So, we made the decision to purchase it, with plans for expanding,” John Justice said. Construction had begun to expand Chevy Chase Hardware into the storefronts of recently shuttered High Street Fly and Le Matin Cellar when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. The Justices charged ahead with the project, quickly adjusting store inventory to include a steady supply of disinfectants and personal protective equipment, including spray bleach, gloves, face masks, and hand sanitizer made by Bluegrass Distillers. “It was a bit scary at first — you know when you just buy a store and then everything happened — but my wife and I sat down and we put together a strategy so we can make sure the store continues to exist,” Justice said. “It’s been challenging to find everything, but we’ve been fortunate to get it done.”

Green light bulbs have also been in high demand, as customers light their homes green in a show of compassion for families who have lost loved ones to COVID-19. Chevy Chase Hardware also partnered with the Fayette County Sheriff’s office to supply green light bulbs for a giveaway program. The program started with 1,000 light bulbs, and the sheriff’s office recently purchased an additional 2,600 bulbs, Justice said. “We’ve cleaned out pretty much the entire east coast of green light bulbs,” he said. “The last shipment came from Denver, and I drove up to Columbus to pick up light bulbs there to support the sheriff’s initiative.” The Justices have also contracted with wholesaler True Value hardware to greatly increase its inventory. When the expansion project is finished in late May, the store will include a full paint department, as well as hot water heaters, wheelbarrows, a large array of electrical equipment and other items. “Every section has been expanded,” Justice said. “We’ll have a re-grand opening and make it fun, but we may delay that a little big just to make sure we keep everyone safe.” The store also recently began servicing and repairing lawn mowers, and the Justices plan on adding handyman services to Chevy Chase Hardware’s offerings later this year. “That’s been a big request,” Justice said. He tells a story about a recent customer who wanted to install a dusk-to-dawn security light at her home. “We tried a couple of things and, when those didn’t work, we went as far as to purchase a light fixture that we didn’t carry at the time somewhere else and went to her house and replaced it for her,” he said. It’s just one example of the store’s serviceoriented approach. “A hardware store has to be a store that supports the community and makes sure that people have everything they need,” Justice said. “And, in order to compete against the big box stores, we have to go the extra mile to make sure that we’re taking care of our customers.” BL – BY TOM WILMES

PHOTOs by bill straus

Chevy Chase Hardware has been a steady source for cleaning products, personal protective equipment, green light bulbs and other supplies throughout the pandemic.

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or sitting back just was not an option.” Peggy’s Gifts & Accessories is a lifestyle 112 Clay Avenue boutique with clothing, personal accessories, peggysgifts.com home accessories and gifts for all occasions. Little Classics on Clay is a children’s clothing boutique and the first signature store for eggy Queen opened her first shop, Lexington-based Beaufort Bonnet Company. Peggy’s Gifts & Accessories, in 1990 by Queen has kept her five full-time employees renting half of the downstairs of a house on the payroll and seven part-timers are coming on Clay Avenue. Today she owns the in to work as needed. Curbside pickup and intwo-story building, which houses her eponytown delivery, as well as shipping, have become mous boutique and a shop she opened last year, business standards. “My marketing manager is Little Classics on Clay. “If you had told me even working overtime trying to add content to all three months ago that face masks would become social media outlets, sending biweekly emails THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT our best-selling item, I would have thought you and continuing our print advertising,” Queen were crazy, but here we are,” Queen said. said. “We had reworked the back end of our Puzzles have also been popular, as are website before the Christmas season, but had self-care items such as moisturizing masks and never taken the time to add products because pedicure sets. “This is my 30th year in business we had been so busy. When the coronavirus hit, and the coronavirus has been the biggest chalthat was the first thing I did.” lenge I have faced, by far,” Queen said. “The way She plans to keep the website updated and I dealt with it was to work harder than ever to continue participating in videos, even though try my best to keep things going for everybody it means stepping out of her own comfort zone concerned and to distract myself, too. Giving up as she showcases new merchandise arriving at the store. “I think many people will come out of this with improved technology skills, a renewed “I think many people will appreciation of human interaction, friends come out of this with improved and family, and hopefully a sense of accomtechnology skills, a renewed plishment for persevering and navigating an appreciation of human unimaginably difficult period in time,” she said. interaction, friends and Queen is appreciative of her customers and 201 East Main Street, Suite 900 Lexingtonians in general who have made the family, and hopefully a sense Lexington, Kentucky 40507 conscious effort to support locally owned busiof accomplishment for nesses. “Lexington is so supportive of small persevering navigating (859)and 231-8780 | www.mcbrayerfirm.com business,” she said. “We are so thankful and I an unimaginably difficult know the restaurants doing carryout and other period in time.” businesses are too.” BL

Peggy’s Gifts & Accessories

Business Law Government Affairs Healthcare Regulation Real Estate Litigation

GOOD LAW FIRMS IDENTIFY HURDLES. GREAT ONES GET THEM OUT OF YOUR WAY.

PEGGY’S GIFTS & ACCESSORIES OWNER PEGGY QUEEN

– BY KATHIE STAMPS

PHOTO BY KATHIE STAMPS

Peggy Queen opened Peggy’s Gifts & Accessories on Clay Avenue in 1990, and Little Classics on Clay last year.

Bringing the Bluegrass region to you Y YO OU UR R B BU U SS II N NE E SS SS C CA AN N R RE EA AC CH H O OV VE ER R 9 90 0 ,, 0 00 00 0 C CE EN NT TR RA A LL K KE EN NT TU UC CK K II A AN N SS W W II T TH H SS M M II LL E EY Y P PE ET TE E P PU UB B LL II SS H H II N NG G ..

F O R A D V E R T I S I N G O R E V E N T S P O N S O R S H I P I N F O R M AT I O N , E M A I L A D V E R T I S E @ S M I L E Y P E T E . C O M O R P H O N E 8 5 9 . 2 6 6 . 6 5 3 7.

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Lauren Higdon (pictured at left and below) opened Centered in 2013 as “a physical space to bring community together.” Hidgon says Centered will continue to offer virtual classes after the studio reopens for in-person instruction. PHOTo BY KINGA MNICH

Centered 309 N. Ashland Ave. centeredlex.org

PHOTO by joshua sexton

n the Warehouse Block business district of Lexington on North Ashland Avenue, Centered represents three different industries under one roof: A small café, massage therapy and counseling, and a yoga and movement studio that also includes a boutique offering yoga and wellness supplies. Owner and director Lauren Higdon opened the holistic community center in 2013 as “a physical space to bring community together.” The brick-and-mortar business transitioned to online retail sales and curbside delivery of products in March. Offering virtual classes through Zoom brought in new customers from other cities and states. “We’ve also seen a rise in our senior clients and those in the special needs population,” Higdon said, adding that Zoom classes will remain even as the building opens back up. “We intend to create a library of online offerings and eventually full programs for students who are unable or uncomfortable joining us in person,” she said. She is elevating Centered’s sanitation standards and safety practices because they represent another way of “meeting our clients with kindness and compassion and an understanding that we have all been deeply affected and traumatized by this worldwide pandemic,” she said. “Whether our small business is a healing center or a print company, it’s important to remember that we are all extra sensitive right now and will need be extra patient and present with each other.” Herself a licensed massage therapist, birth doula and a trauma-informed certified yoga teacher, Higdon’s business model of

operating Centered as a collective of independent contractors has worked well over the years because it has helped practitioners and teachers maintain autonomy. But because the 20 team members of Centered aren’t employees, they haven’t been eligible for many of the government grants and loans in response to the coronavirus crisis. “This has certainly caused me to rethink our structure moving forward and investigate ways to maintain our free-flowing model while safeguarding Centered and our awesome team,” Higdon said.

“I feel it is so very important to highlight our values of honoring people over product as we step into this new age.” centered owner and director lauren higdon

She learned during quarantine that productivity is possible without the stress and pressure typically associated with work and business systems, and she has come to view small biz owners as pioneers, “ushering in a new era of commerce and business models,” she said. “Our worldwide systems and practices are rapidly changing and the decisions and steps we are taking now will very well define the business practices, economy and public engagements for future generations. I feel it is so very important to highlight our values of honoring people over product as we step into this new age.” BL – BY KATHIE STAMPS

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Guarding Against Cybersecurity Risks With employees working remotely and the threat of hackers and scams on the rise, local experts weigh in on protecting your data over a dispersed network BY KATHIE STAMPS BUSINESS LEXINGTON

ust when we think the digital Wild West couldn’t get any wilder, along comes a pandemic to send employees packing up their laptops and working from home. Working remotely isn’t a new concept for certain professions, but in droves? Very new. Once called telecommuting, working from home has its own initialism now, WFH, and cybersecurity experts recommend VPN and 2FA as best practices for the safety of every company’s employees and data against hackers. VPN is a virtual private network, a system designed to provide a secure connection from physical computer to online sites and apps. Multifactor authentication, or two-factor authentication (2FA), is a layered process for logging in that goes beyond username and password to include answering security questions or being sent a code to enter within a few minutes. “If we were to make one technical recommendation for your readers, it would be to institute multifactor-authentication for mobile workers if they haven’t already. This is the best thing they can do to defend against credential theft and harden remote access,” said Mark Macumber, security practice

manager for Volta. “Assume every email is malicious. Never use the same credentials on two different systems.” Headquartered in Frankfort, Volta (www.voltainc. com) is a technology solutions company with offices in Louisville and in Ashburn, Virginia. “Systems administrators and cybersecurity analysts manage systems remotely from all over the MACUMBER world as part of their daily duties, so they are working virtually even when they are in the office,” Macumber said. “Volta is fortunate in that we moved our systems and back office to cloud services years ago.” As for cyber bad guys, Volta has seen an increase in hostile scanning activity, advanced phishing lures and software vulnerability exploitation attempts at all of the company’s customers, including in health care. Macumber reminds us that “no one person speaks for the hacking community,” so diligence is paramount. The COVID-19 crisis led to a sharp rise in fake websites and phishing attacks, malwareladen websites and fake GoFundMe schemes. “The week of March 23 alone saw more than 5,000 new domains with ‘COVID-19’ or ‘corona’ in the name,” said Joe Danaher, senior

security analyst at the AME Group, noting that some were legitimate website addresses but most were likely being registered for use in cybercrime. AME Group (www.theamegroup.com), formerly Integrity IT, is a managed security and managed services technology company providing services to multiple industries and businesses across Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Louisiana and Texas. “I believe we must remain diligent to emerging threats from a security perspective as the phased-in return to work begins,” Danaher said. “I see companies taking a closer look at making work from home an option and also a critical part of their business continuity plans for the future.” Danaher recommends putting some thought into selecting professional software for virtual meetings. AME Group uses Microsoft Teams “to help facilitate communication across the company and to allow us to continue to meet virtually with our customers.” What is the best defense against cyberattacks? A well-educated user base, according to Andrew Nuxoll, director of information security at SIS. “Companies should invest in preparing their teams to identify and react to security threats,” he said. As a coverage technolNUXOLL ogy solutions company headquartered in Lexington, SIS (www.thinksis.com) serves industries such as state and local government, higher education, health care and manufacturing. “Employees have a responsibility, as well,” Nuxoll said. “They should make sure

they maintain their own systems and devices at home. It is likely that they will be using a combination of their own equipment as well as company-provided devices.” Cybersecurity involves staying on top of security patches and antivirus software, and using multifactor authentication for logins. “Companies should be doing what they can to ensure their employees’ equipment and the infrastructure used to support it is patched regularly,” Nuxoll said. “Most importantly, employers need to educate their user base on security best practices and how to react if they have concerns.” There are also legal implications to WFH cybersecurity. “First, employers need to emphasize to employees the importance of only using firm-approved and, preferably, vetted devices and software to conduct company business,” said Bruce Paul, a member at the law firm McBrayer (www.mcbrayerfirm.com). If employees are using personal computers and other equipment “to transmit information about the company or its customers or employees, it is possible that those employees are not protecting that information in a manner that the company and law require,” he said. Paperwork is sometimes on actual paper, so employees who are working from home need to protect that information too. “Data contained in physical files are just as deserving of confidentiality as electronic data, and employees need to protect those files and not leave them out and around for others in the home to view,” Paul said. “Employers should use this opportunity to evaluate cybersecurity preparedness and areas for improvement with the goal of developing a comprehensive work-from-home policy to be used under any circumstance.” BL

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Tourism officials say Lexington’s marketing strategy will shift toward in-state visitors and those driving from surrounding states. PHOTo BY VISITLEX

Wish You Were Here Virtual tours help keep Lexington attractions in the public eye, but the future of local tourism remains hazy as Americans stick close to home BY NATALIE VOSS NEVILLS CONTRIBUTING WRITER

fter weeks of halted or altered service models, local businesses have been busy preparing for the state’s phased reopening plan. For Lexington’s tourism industry, however, challenges will likely persist for some time. Predictably, restrictions on travel from out-of-state, along with the cancellations of Keeneland’s spring meet and the delay of the Kentucky Derby, have already had significant impact on Lexington’s economy. According to the Kentucky Travel Industry Association, 71.6 million people spent nearly $7.6 billion in the state in 2018. Those visitors generated $787 million in state and local tax revenue that year. “There has been sort of an outsized impact on the tourism industry,” said Mary Quinn Ramer, president of VisitLEX. “It seems like, with having just eight weeks’ of data at this point, that April was the bottom of the bottom.” Ramer said that a number of planned conventions and conferences have also cancelled, though most of those cancellations run through July — perhaps a sign that many organizers are holding out hope that they can conduct events later this summer. In the Lexington area, two of the biggest attractions for tourists are Thoroughbreds and bourbon. Horse farms and distilleries

have suspended their tours and other inperson experiences, but are making plans for how to proceed once they get the governor’s go ahead. At James E. Pepper Distillery, tours have halted and the consumer-facing retail store at the company’s Manchester Street base is closed. “It was a very tough blow for us to have to close our retail and tour operation,” said James E. Pepper owner/operator Amir Peay. “Our company will survive without the retail and tour side of the business. We are pretty well-established in the national and even international business, so our products are in high demand, but it was still a painful loss of revenue.” Peay said Beshear’s phased reopening plan could allow James E. Pepper to open the retail store in May, but would not allow tours or tastings. Social distancing, face masks and temperature checks would all likely be part of the plan for retail. “I think we’ll wait to reopen until it makes sense from a dollars and cents point of view and to have it be safe for our employees,” Peay said. “I think there’s still a lot of uncertainty, and while we’re optimistic I think it is cautiously so. The term ‘opening back up’ sounds a little more all-encompassing than it actually may be. We’re not overly anticipating anything or counting on anything.” Horse Country, which is a nonprofit serving as a central booking outlet for

Thoroughbred farms and equine clinics, has taken a significant hit since the shutdown. Whenever those members are permitted to resume tours, they will probably look different — smaller groups are a given, and it seems unlikely that people from different households would be loaded into vans or buses for tours. Some parts of some tour locations may be inaccessible as a result. “We’re working with one of the local task forces to review best practices for reopening and we will reopen tours as soon as those guidelines are put in place and as soon as our members feel confident about reopening,” said Anne Sabatino Hardy, executive director for Horse Country, who notes that the individual horse farms have always determined for themselves when and how to participate in the tour program. In the meantime, Horse Country has had unexpected success with virtual tours. Farms have begun streaming weekly tours on Facebook Live, giving viewers the chance to go even beyond what an in-person tour could offer, like the chance to check in with a retired horse on a far-flung part of a farm property. Hardy said she has been surprised at the reach those virtual tours have had. One tour from Claiborne Farm in Paris had 200,000 views — more virtual tours from one video than Horse Country has had in its six-year existence so far. “The opportunity for our members to share a bit of peace and fun and tell our stories through the virtual tours is our bright spot in all this,” Hardy said. “Healthcare and frontline workers have reached out thanking us, classrooms have watched together, parents and kids have watched together — and these are folks we likely never would have reached through traditional marketing methods, and who were unaware of the organization prior to COVID-19.” Hardy said she’s hopeful that surprise marketing boost could translate to a bigger audience when the time is right.

But what will tourism in the bluegrass look like “when the time is right”? So far, Ramer says that travel industry surveys indicate people will be hesitant to travel too far afield — even when they’re permitted to. Additionally, Gathan Borden, vice president of marketing with VisitLEX, believes significant unemployment numbers will shrink many people’s budgets. Instead of a week in another country, they may be looking to take a long weekend or a day trip in-state. Ramer said where VisitLEX would previously be trying to attract people from neighboring states, it may now redirect its limited marketing dollars to more nearby population centers, like the Cincinnati area. “One thing we’ve talked about is that in Lexington, a lot of the attractions are things you can do without crowds,” said Borden. “You can socially distance at McConnell Springs, go down to hike at Red River Gorge. There’s the mural challenge; you could even have a good weekend exploring different parts of the city, getting some takeout and go enjoy that in a park.” Borden is hopeful local travelers can be convinced to stay at least one night in Lexington; VisitLEX gets its operating revenue from a portion of the tax collected on hotel bills, so the organization is watching with particular anxiety. There is one thing Lexington does have going for it — the people who live in Lexington love it. The #ShareTheLex hashtag that appeared on social media a few years ago could now help deliver the message VisitLEX needs people to hear more than ever: This is a great place to visit. “The number one reason people come to visit places is to visit friends or relatives,” said Borden. “We talk about that a lot because locals are really key in helping us talk about how great the city is as a destination. It is their community; at the end of the day we’re marketing the community on behalf of the locals.” BL While product sales will help sustain the distillery’s business, James E. Pepper owner Amir Peay says closing to tours and on-site retail is “still a painful loss of revenue.” PHOToS furnished

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A Clean Bill of Health Detailed protocols and adjusted business models are the new norm as area businesses start to reopen

BY LIZ CAREY

PHOTO FURNISHED

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

fter weeks of halted or altered service models, local businesses have been busy preparing for the state’s phased reopening plan. Governor Andy Beshear’s Healthy at Work timeline included provisions for the phased reopening of manufacturing and construction, government offices and retail by May 20. Restaurants are allowed to reopen at 33 percent capacity for dine-in service on May 22 and must meet certain public safety requirements, with services such as hair and nail salons allowed to reopen on May 25. Fitness and movie theaters can reopen June 1, with campgrounds and childcare services following on June 11 and June 15, respectively. Bars will be allowed to reopen as early as July 1. Locally, Mayor Linda Gorton has tapped dozens of community leaders to serve on the city’s COVID-19 Economic Response Committee, which is broken into a number of subcommittees focusing on providing guidance and insight on reopening education, healthcare, restaurants and bars, professional services, retailers and more. “We have been pleased to serve on the Mayor’s Economic Response Committee, and plan to continue working closely with tourismrelated businesses to provide additional guidance as we move through phases two and three of the Governor’s recovery timeline,” said Mary Quinn Ramer, president of VisitLEX. As restaurants pivot toward reopening in-person dining, Bluegrass Hospitality Group operating owner Brian McCarty feels optimistic about the coming weeks, even at reduced capacity. BHG’s four locations in Tennessee were able to successfully open at 50 percent dine-in capacity in late April, per Governor Bill Lee’s recommendations, allowing McCarty and his team to feel confident about plans for serving at 33 percent capacity in Kentucky, he said. Already, BHG has a detailed plan in place to keep both employees and customers safe, including placing hosting stands outside to allow for greater social distancing; limiting table party size; conducting staff temperature checks and health screenings daily; sanitizing high-touch areas within the restaurants frequently; having staff wear masks and gloves; and using single-use, disposable menus or ones that are printed on polyester, allowing them to be sanitized after each use, McCarty said.

Drs. Cady and Ryan Brown, the husband-and-wife primary care team at Downtown Drs. Brown, say telehealth will continue to be offered for patients when appropriate.

PHOTOS FURNISHED

Above, Bluegrass Hospitality Group says increased carry-out business should help offset a limited capacity on in-person dining. The Kentucky Castle, left, has crafted a detailed plan for public-health practices.

BHG has seen such an uptick in its carryout business — up 300 to 400 percent over last year — that McCarty feels its restaurants will be able to make reduced in-person dining capacity work. “Carry-out is going to stay strong for the near term,” he said. “The trick is, we’ve never done in-person service and carry-out at these inflated volumes at the same time. But we’re excited about being able to reopen and making it work.” The brisk pace of carry-out means that BHG anticipates offering every one of its furloughed employees their jobs back soon, McCarty said. “Based on what’s happened so far in Tennessee [in terms of the response of in-person dining to date], we are going to offer everyone their job back,” he said. “I think the volumes are there to support it.” In Versailles, The Kentucky Castle opened its in-house restaurant, Castle Farms, on May 22 using guidance from the state government as well as its owners, a team of local doctors, to “create the best practices to keep our guests and staff safe,” said Abby Morrell, the venue’s director of events. The farm-to-table restaurant will be open to groups of 10 or fewer, and the facility has

expanded to three dining rooms, while at the same time lowering its overall seating capacity, in order to provide socially distanced seating, Morrell said. Staff will wear face masks and gloves and undergo brief health screenings upon arrival. Additionally, housekeeping protocols have been augmented to “ensure the cleanliness of all spaces,” Morrell said. A detailed document released by The Kentucky Castle and available on its website outlines the venue’s extensive restaurant, hotel, spa and event space COVID-19 safety protocols. “Our team can’t wait to provide once-in-alifetime experiences to the community again, even though it might look a little different now,” Morrell said. While most physicians’ offices and health providers never fully closed, many providers like Dr. Cady Brown, half of the husbandand-wife primary care team at Downtown Drs. Brown, have pivoted toward telehealth calls in recent weeks, in order to reduce the potential risk of COVID-19 exposure for their patients and staff. “We changed how we are evaluating patients,” Brown said. “We transitioned almost completely to telehealth, except for patients

who had symptoms we found concerning for COVID-19, and those folks we’ve been testing in our parking lot.” In the coming weeks, Brown expects to still prioritize telehealth calls whenever possible. “I like to see my patients in person,” she said. “But the video conferences and talking over the phone and sending pictures has really worked well for us. In the near term, we plan to continue focusing on telehealth, particularly for patients who wouldn’t benefit from an in-person exam.” As the office moves gradually toward opening more in-person services, Brown plans to carefully coordinate flow into and out of the office, so that patients do not overlap in the waiting room. In general, she plans to continue focusing on social distancing, use of PPE, and hand washing in her practice — much like she hopes her patients continue to do in their daily interactions as more businesses and destinations begin to reopen. “My big picture view of this, not just for our clinic, but for all of our daily living, is that keeping a distance of six-feet or further from others and using hand hygiene and PPE just increase in importance as we’re out more,” she said. BL

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BizList

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Family Law Firms Ranked by total number of Lawyers in office/or Family Law divisions Firm Name Address, Phone Website

# Lawyers in Office/or Family Law Divisions

Stoll Keenon Ogden, PLLC 300 W. Vine St., Ste. 2100 Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 231-3000 www.skofirm.com

32/ 12

Britton Johnson, PLLC 200 W. Vine St., Ste. 800 Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 963-2241 www.brittonjohnsonlaw.com

Kershaw & Baumgardner 250 W. Main St., Ste. 1850 Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 381-1145 www.kbfamilylaw.com

2020 Managing Partner(s) in Office

Year Founded Locally/Number of Offices

Divorce, property division, prenuptial agreements, child support, spousal support, post-divorce modification, paternity actions, grandparents’ rights, child custody and visitation, post-nuptial agreements, post-dissolution planning

P. Douglas Barr

1897/ 6

4/ 0

Divorce, property division, prenuptial agreements, child support, spousal support, post-divorce modification, paternity actions, grandparents’ rights, child custody and visitation.

Anita M. Britton

2011/ 1

3/ 1

Divorce, custody and visitation, post-divorce modification, child support, spousal support, grandparents’ rights, paternity actions, prenuptial agreements, mediation, collaborative divorce, property division, arbitration

Valerie S. Kershaw

2003/ 1

Osborne Fletcher, PLLC 302 W. High St. Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 287-0949 www.osbornefletcher.com

NA/ NA

Divorce, property division, prenuptial agreement, spousal support, post-divorce modification, grandparents’ visitation, child support, adoption, domestic violence, estate planning, legal separation and more

Crystal Osborne, Kate Green Fletcher

2016/ 1

Oeltgen & Yavelak, PLLC 120 N. Mill St., Ste. 300 Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 523-1606 www.familylawky.com

2/ 2

Divorce, annulment, child custody, timesharing/visitation, child support, domestic violence, maintenance/alimony, adoption, paternity, assisted reproductive technology, family law work inclusive of LGBTQ

Lisa J. Oeltgen, Esq., Rachel Yavelak, Esq.

NA/ 1

Gess Mattingly & Atchison, PSC 201 W. Short St. Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 252-9000 www.gmalaw.com

1/ 1

Divorce, property division, prenuptial agreements, child support, spousal support, post-divorce modification, grandparents’ rights, child custody and visitation

Guy M. Graves

1954/ 1

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

1/ 1

Divorce, property division, prenuptial agreements, child support, spousal support, post-divorce modification, paternity actions, grandparents’ rights, child custody and visitation

James H. Frazier, III

1963/ 3

Thompson Law Office 219 N. Upper St. Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 280-2222 www.ethompsonlaw.com

2/ 2

Divorce, property division, prenuptial agreements, child support, spousal support, post-divorce modification, paternity actions, grandparents’ rights, child custody and visitation. Other: child abuse/neglect, adoptions, grandparents and third party custody, domestic violence.

Eddy Thompson

2007/ 1

Fowler Bell, PLLC 300 W. Vine St, Ste. 600 Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 252-6700 www.fowlerlaw.com

NA/ NA

Divorce, property division, prenuptial agreements, child support, spousal support, post-divorce modification, paternity actions, grandparents’ rights, child custody.

Taft McKinstry

1950/ 1

The Cornett Law Firm, PSC 155 E. Main St., Ste. 101 Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 255-2889 www.thecornettlawfirm.com

1/ 0

Divorce, property division, child support, spousal support, post-divorce modification, grandparents’ rights, child custody, depencency, neglect, abuse and guardianship

Crafton Cornett

2010/ 1

Rank

TIE

6 TIE

TIE

Local Partners/ Paralegals

Family Law Practices Area Focus within Family Law

Source: Business Lexington questionnaire, firm websites, firm representatives and legal directories. Other firms may have qualified but did not respond by deadlines. Key: NA=Not available.

Get business news when it breaks.

BusinessLexington’s WeeklyWire

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Ms. Kennedy is committed to treating each of her clients with dignity and respect through the emotional challenges which often accompany family law matters.

300 W. Vine St. | Ste. 600 | Lexington, KY 40507

859.252.6700

FowlerLaw.com

*This is an advertisement.

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SBA Lenders Fiscal year lenders ranked by number of loans in Kentucky Bank Address Phone Website

Total # of Loans as of 04/20/20

Total Loan Amount/ Avg. Loan for 2020 ($)

Top Official and/or SBA Loan Officer

U.S. Bank, National Association 2020 Nicholasville Road Lexington, KY 40503 (859) 232-8181 www.usbank.com

144

$102,601/ 8.8

Perry Allen (Regional President)

The Huntington National Bank 710 E. Main Street, Ste. 110 Lexington KY 40502 (859) 514-6022 www.huntington.com

$194,806/ 7.2

Perry Dunn (SBA Specialist)

Community Trust Bank, Inc. 100 E. Vine St. Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 389-5350 www.tbi.com

Republic Bank & Trust Company 641 E. Euclid Ave. Lexington, KY 40502 (859) 255-6267 www.republicbank.com

Hancock Bank & Trust Company 8289 US Highway 60 W Lewisport, KY 42351, (270) 295-3713 www.hancockbankonline.com

PNC Bank National Association 301 E. Main St. Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 281-5383 www.pnc.com

United Midwest Saving Bank 4848 Reed Rd. Columbus, OH 43220 (859) 538-9400 www.wmwsb.com

Branch Banking and Trust Company (BB&T) 200 W. Vine St. Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 281-2120 www.bbt.com

First Financial Bank 201 Limestone Drive Frankfort, KY 40601 (502) 875-4500 www.bankatfirst.com

$240,375/ 6.1

Archie M. Brown, Jr. (President & CEO)

Stock Yards Bank & Trust Company 12900 Factory Land Louisville, KY 40245 502-222-8424 www.syb.com

$455,283/ 6.1

James A. Hillebrand (CEO)

Rank

4 5 6 TIE

6 TIE

8 9 10

April 20, 2020 Bank Address Phone Website

Total # of Loans as of 04/20/20

Total Loan Amount/ Avg. Loan for 2020 ($)

Top Official and/or SBA Loan Officer

First Home Bank 700 Central Ave. St. Petersburg, FL 33701 (727) 440-6848 www.firsthomebank.com

$185,556/ 8

Anthony N. Leo (President)

JPMorgan Chase Bank National Association 201 E. Main St. Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 231-2122 www.chase.com

$110,617/ 10

Paul Costel (President of Kentucky Market)

Live Oak Banking Company 1741 Tiburon Drive Wilmington, NC 28403 (910) 790-5867 www.liveoakbank.com

$2,181,667/ 6.7

Huntley Garriott (President)

German American 2352 Sir Barton Way Lexington, KY 40509 (859) 899-8880 www.firstsecurity.net

$255,333/ 5.8

Mark A. Schroeder (Chairman & CEO)

Newtek Small Business Finance, Inc. 1440 Broadway New York, NY 11042 (212) 356-950 www.newtek.com

$1,523,750/ 7.9

Peter Downs (President)

Stearns Bank National Association 4191 Second St. S St. Cloud, MN 56303 www.stearnsbank.com

$256,417/ 8.4

Kelly Skalicky (CEO)

Five Star Bank 3100 Zinfandel Dr. Rancho Cordova, CA 95670 (859) 851-5440 www.five-star-bank.com

$220,000/ 8

James Beckwith (President & CEO)

Fifth Third Bank 250 W. Main St. Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 455-5353 www.53.com

$41,980/ 8.4

Greg Carmichael (President & CEO)

First Savings Bank 501 E. Lewis and Clark Pkwy. Clarksville, IN 47129 (812) 282-0724 www.fsbbank.net

$720,250/ 7.3

Larry W. Myers (President & CEO)

Celtic Bank Corporation 268 S. State St. Ste. 300 Salt Lake City, UT 84111 (801) 363-6500 celticbank.com

$1,518,867/ 7.5

Amy Miksis (AVP of Business Developent SBA)

Rank

TIE

87,854/ 6.1

$279,546/ 5.8

Larry Jones (Central Regional President), Andrew Jarvis (SBA Specialist) Todd Ziegler (Market President)

12 TIE

$399,464/ 6.8

Keith Williams (President)

12 TIE

$85,844/ 8.3

John Gohmann (Regional President of Central and Southeast Kentucky)

12 TIE

$166,444/ 8.1

Bob Strouse (COO)

17 TIE

$176,418/ 6.9

Laura Boison (Market President)

17 TIE

Source: www.sbalenders.com/top-lenders-kentucky. Last annual update: April 20, 2020. Note: Few Kentucky-based banks were among the largest lenders to “The Bluegrass State” businesses through the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 7 (a) program.

JUNE 2020

WWW.BUSINESSLEXINGTON.COM

BizList

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Commercial Lenders Lexington area lenders ranked by dollar amount of commercial loans

Dec. 31, 2019 UBPR Report Fayette County Offices/ Branches

Bank Address Phone Website

Dollar Amount Commercial Loans as of 12/31/2019 (thousands)

Total Earnings Assets as of 12/31/2019 (thousands)

New Peer Group # Insured Commercial Bank

Community Trust Bank, Inc. 100 E. Vine St. Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 389-5350 www.ctbi.com

$321,728

$3,985,425

3 - assets between $3 billion and $10 billion

Larry Jones (Central Region President)

Community Trust Bancorp, Inc./ Pikeville, KY

Central Bank & Trust Company 300 W. Vine St. Lexington, KY 40507 (800) 637-6884 www.centralbank.com

$257,746

$2,627,441