Business Lexington July 2020 by Smiley Pete Publishing

IN THIS ISSUE

BusinessLexington J U LY 2 0 2 0 VOL. 16 ISSUE 7

Meant to be Savored: Brevedé Coffee Co. brings gourmet coffee, European-style treats to Distillery District PAGE 8

Getting Back to Bourbon: As Kentucky’s distilleries reopen to visitors, many will feature smaller tours and more personalized experiences PAGE 12

Alfalfa Restaurant’s new owners Wali and Tiffany Bellfield Al-Amin

New Beginning for an Old Favorite Alfalfa Restaurant’s new owners plan to expand the reach of beloved Lexington eatery and community cultural hub PAGE 9

PHOTO BY DREW PURCELL

BizLists Intellectual Property Law Firms |

www.bizlex.com

VISIT BIZLEX.COM TODAY TO SUBSCRIBE.

GET WEEKLY WIRE EMAIL UPDATES AT BIZLEX.COM FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION CALL 859.266.6537 OR EMAIL ADVERTISE@BIZLEX.COM BUSINESS LEXINGTON IS PROUDLY PRODUCED BY SMILEY PETE PUBLISHING

PAGE 18

Manufacturing Employers | PAGE 19 Hospitals | PAGE 20

Cornerstone of Community: Landscaper’s Corner celebrates 15 years of serving those who help make Central Kentucky a prettier place PAGE 17

YOU KNOW WHAT IT TAKES TO RUN A BUSINESS.

And we’re here to help make it happen. Whether you’re a company of one or a large scale operation, running a business is no small task. It takes passion, drive and dedication. As your business evolves, we’re here to offer experienced guidance and dedicated support to help you. 53.com/CommercialBank

Fifth Third Means Business

Fifth Third Bank, National Association. Member FDIC.

JULY 2020

WWW.BUSINESSLEXINGTON.COM

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 BIZLISTS EDITOR

sharon@bizlex.com Donna Hodsdon ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

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

theresa@smileypete.com ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Amy Eddie

amy@bizlex.com Linda Hinchcliffe

linda@bizlex.com Steve O’Bryan

steve@bizlex.com Ann Staton

IS HI

Y ILE PE

ann@bizlex.com

434 Old Vine Street or P.O. Box 22731 Lexington, KY 40522 P: (859) 266-6537 F: (859) 255-0672 www.smileypete.com

CONTENTS BusinessBriefs

News to know from around the region PAGE 4

On Tap: Local music venue The Burl emerges from COVID-mandated hibernation with a new culinary concept, and socially distanced summer concerts coming soon PAGE 10

EconomicAnalysis

A monthly look at economic indicators compiled by the Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER) at the University of Kentucky PAGE 5

GrammarGourment

The language of anti-racism PAGE 5

PVAStatistics

The latest statistics on local commercial and residential properties PAGE 6

BizIQ

Guidance on PPP loan forgiveness PAGE 7

CraveWorthy

Meant to be Savored: Brevedé Coffee Co. brings gourmet coffee, European-style treats to Distillery District PAGE 8 PHOTO BY ESTILL ROBINSON

IndependentBusiness

Cornerstone of Community: Landscaper’s Corner celebrates 15 years of serving those who help make Central Kentucky a prettier place PAGE 17

BizList

Intellectual Property Law Firms PAGE 18 Manufacturing Employers PAGE 19 Hospitals PAGE 20

Who’sWho

Employment news from around the Bluegrass PAGE 22

New Beginning for an Old Favorite: Alfalfa Restaurant’s new owners plan to expand the reach of beloved Lexington eatery and community cultural hub PAGE 9

Reimagining Office Spaces for a Post-Pandemic World: Local interior designers recommend easy-to-install solutions for social distancing, and a wait-and-see approach for major renovations PAGE 14

Getting Back to Bourbon: As Kentucky’s distilleries reopen to visitors, many will feature smaller tours and more personalized experiences PAGE 12

Q&A with P.G. Peeples, Sr.: The longtime CEO of the Urban League of LexingtonFayette on working toward meaningful change PAGE 21

CARRYDINE-IN DINEOUTSIDE OUT

BRUNCH & DINNER | OBC KITCHEN

PATIO DINING | HARRY’S | DRAKE’S

bluegrasshospitality.com

MALONE’S | HARRY’S | DRAKES

JULY 2020

WWW.BUSINESSLEXINGTON.COM

BusinessBriefs

MARK YATES Market President NMLS# 755016

HOMEGROWN BANKING DECISIONS MADE NEXT DOOR 4097 Nichols Park Drive • Lexington (859) 721-0100

GREAT. BIG. GRAPHICS. Creating larger-than-life graphics specifically crafted to support your marketing campaigns is what SpeedPro® is all about. We’re a locally owned and operated print studio with the support of a national brand, and we’re known as a leader in the wide format printing industry. From banners, posters and trade show displays, to wall murals and window graphics — we create the graphics that will get you the attention you want from potential clients. Schedule an appointment with us today.

PHOTO FURNISHED

Baptist Health has announced details for a new billion-dollar medical campus planned for the Hamburg area. Construction is expected to begin this year.

New medical campus, jobs announced for Hamburg area

Mayor sets city’s priorities for federal relief fund application

Baptist Health Lexington announced details of its new medical campus planned for the Hamburg area. The Baptist Health Hamburg campus, construction of which is budgeted at $1 billion, will bring 600 to 700 new jobs to Lexington. Long-term plans call for a multi-story hospital, a surgery center, 12 other buildings containing a combination of retail and medical office space, and two parking garages. Construction is expected to begin later this year.

Following Governor Andy Beshear’s announcement that Kentucky cities will receive federal coronavirus relief funds for COVID-related expenses, Mayor Linda Gorton announced Lexington’s priorities for how those funds should be allocated.

In addition to the new jobs, Baptist Health is giving the city three acres of land for the construction of a fire station. The land is valued at approximately $2 million. Baptist Health will also provide annual flu shots to city employees for 20 years. Flu shots for city employees cost about $40,000 a year. For a 20-year period beginning in 2023, the city is providing incentives for the new Baptist Health jobs, which are expected to pay about $89,000 a year. The total annual payroll is about $55 million a year. In the first five years of the 20-year agreement, the City will rebate 1.25 percent of the new payroll taxes created by the new jobs. In years six to 20, the city will rebate 1.125 percent of the new payroll tax created. “These are tax rebates on new jobs — jobs and tax money we would not have without this project,” Mayor Linda Gorton said in announcing the partnership. “Even with the rebate, the new jobs will create approximately over $500,000 a year in new payroll taxes for the city.”

1022 Nandino Boulevard • Lexington, KY 40511 • 859.721.1832

www.speedpro.coom

Said Baptist Health Lexington President William Sisson: “Our goal in the development of this ambulatory campus is to envision the healthcare delivery system of the future, while maintaining the caring and quality Baptist Health Lexington is known for. We are proud to be able to re-invest back into this community and region to support health and wellness.”

Although the city does not know exactly which expenses will qualify as virus-related expenses, “I felt it was clear to establish priorities now,” Gorton said in outlining the plan. Gorton said the revised city budget she proposed in April necessarily made cuts that “hurt people who are in need of our help” because of plummeting city revenue, and mounting COVID-related expenses. Because of the fallout from COVID-19, Lexington’s revised budget, which goes into effect July 1, lost $40 million from fiscal year 2020. “It was not the kind of budget I wanted to present; it was the kind of budget the times demanded,” she said. “With some federal assistance, we can do better.” Priorities for the federal coronavirus relief funds include: • Funding for the social service agencies the city has supported in the past. Gorton also continues to raise private dollars for these agencies through her “Mayor’s Fund for the Greater Good” initiative. • Providing funds for affordable housing and those who are experiencing homelessness. • Replenishing the city’s rainy day fund. BL

“It was not the kind of budget I wanted to present; it was the kind of budget the times demanded.” LEXINGTON MAYOR LINDA GORTON

JULY 2020

WWW.BUSINESSLEXINGTON.COM

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.

Recent Data June 2020

1-Month 1-Year Change Change

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

239,900 April 113,300 April

-12.70% -29.98%

-13.74% -31.04%

26,330 April 15.40% April

-10.11% 11.10%

-13.18% 12.00%

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

132,912,000 May 11,707,000 May 13.30% May

1.92% 1.96% -1.40%

-11.73% -8.75% 9.90%

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

245.696 May 256.394 May 201.20 May

-0.20% 0.00% 2.34%

-0.40% 0.10% -2.52%

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

98.8 April 92.6 April

-4.40% -11.22%

N/A -15.20%

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

0.17% June 11 0.75% June 11

0.04% 0.11%

-2.10% -1.40%

Real GDP (millions $)

1st qtr. 1-Month 2020 Change $21,537,940.00 April 30 -0.88%

1-Year Change 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.

GrammarGourmet The Language of Anti-Racism Three years ago, the University of Washington sparked controversy with a bold proclamation: Language is one of the pillars of racism, and university employees are using it in hurtful ways. In a statement entitled “Putting Writing at the Center of Inclusivity,” the university said that “the racist conditions of our society are not simply a matter of bias or prejudice that some people hold…. Racism is pervasive. It is in the systems, structures, rules, languages, expectations and guidelines that make up our classes, school and society.” The university called on its employees to examine how they “unintentionally perpetuate racism or social injustice” in their verbal and written statements and correspondence. The anti-racism statement was initiated by UW’s writing center, which students visit when they’re struggling with writing. In recent years, instructors there became aware that non-white students often didn’t employ Standard English, but that their work was high quality. Should their grades be lower, and careers curtailed, because they weren’t experts in using Standard English? The university’s statement declared, “There is no inherent ‘standard’ of English.” As nations evolve, so does their language. The backlash was swift and biting. “American English Declared a Racist Language!” one website blared. “Is Grammar Racist?”

By Neil Chethik

The university survived the assault, and the statement still stands. Now, it’s getting renewed interest as other schools try to understand the energy behind Black Lives Matter. Is there something in the language of their university that feels racist to African Americans? In the end, this is what UW suggested to its staff in its statement on inclusive language: Be sensitive in our language practices. Emphasize the importance of rhetorical situations over grammatical “correctness.” Discuss racism and social justice issues openly in productive ways.

HELPING YOU GET BACK TO

BUSINESS Traditional Bank’s digital online banking tools DQG ORZ IHHV JLYH \RX WKH ƛQDQFLDO SHDFH RI PLQG WR UXQ D VXFFHVVIXO EXVLQHVV IURP KRPH QR PDWWHU ZKDW ODQGV LQ \RXU ODS

Advocate for the things that will make the university safe, welcoming, productive and proactive. Challenge conventional word choices and writing explanations. Conduct ongoing assessments of your own choices of words. The university’s statement summed it up this way: “Just avoiding racism is not enough because it means we are doing nothing to stop racism at large. It amounts to allowing racism to continue.” 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.

traditionalbank.com

JULY 2020

WWW.BUSINESSLEXINGTON.COM

PVAStatistics Top Commercial Transactions for June 2020

Residential Sales Data for June 2020

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.

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.

SALE DATE ADDRESS

PRICE

PURCHASED BY

5/15/2020 2398 Chauvin Drive

$8,150,000*

Mt. Tabor Ky LLC

5/15/2020 2398 Sterlington Road

$8,150,000*

Mt. Tabor Ky LLC

5/15/2020 2378 Chauvin Drive

$8,150,000*

Mt. Tabor Ky LLC

5/15/2020 2374 Chauvin Drive

$8,150,000*

Mt. Tabor Ky LLC

5/15/2020 2370 Chauvin Drive

$8,150,000*

Mt. Tabor Ky LLC

5/15/2020 2366 Sterlington Road

$8,150,000*

Mt. Tabor Ky LLC

5/15/2020 2362 Chauvin Drive

$8,150,000*

Mt. Tabor Ky LLC

5/15/2020 2378 Sterlington Road

$8,150,000*

Mt. Tabor Ky LLC

5/15/2020 2394 Sterlington Road

$8,150,000*

Mt. Tabor Ky LLC

5/15/2020 2390 Sterlington Road

$8,150,000*

Mt. Tabor Ky LLC

5/15/2020 2386 Sterlington Road

$8,150,000*

Mt. Tabor Ky LLC

5/15/2020 2382 Sterlington Road

$8,150,000*

Mt. Tabor Ky LLC

5/15/2020 2366 Chauvin Drive

$8,150,000*

Mt. Tabor Ky LLC

5/18/2020 1323 Camden Avenue

$65,000

Lewis Properties of Kentucky Inc.

5/22/2020 1118 Cooper Drive

$900,000

Mashni Elias and Kevin

5/26/2020 247 Kentucky Avenue

$220,000

McBride, William Matthew

5/27/2020 704 Tremont Avenue

$215,000

Pahl, Eric S.

5/28/2020 446 Oldham Avenue

$198,000

Phillips, Jason

5/29/2020 426 Park Avenue

$208,000

Barker, Roy

* Sale price based on a multiple-parcel transaction

2018 RESIDENTIAL SALES

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

-10%

-24%

-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.

JULY 2020

WWW.BUSINESSLEXINGTON.COM

BizIQ

A MONTHLY COLUMN OF BUSINESS INSIGHTS FROM CENTRAL KENTUCKY PROFESSIONALS

Guidance on PPP Loan Forgiveness BY TODD ZIEGLER REPUBLIC BANK

s Republic Bank’s Central Kentucky Market President, I am proud and thankful that we have been able to secure nearly $50 million in loans for over 475 Central Kentucky businesses through the Small Business Administration (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). I am very proud of the dedication of Republic Bank’s associates who worked long hours to help businesses in our community obtain these needed loans, and thankful for the opportunity to help current bank clients and new customers that came to us for PPP assistance. At this time, we have been heavily involved working with Kentucky and other state SBA offices, as well as National Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders (NAGGL) to implement the forgiveness phase of the PPP to assist our clients. The PPP requires that borrowers apply for forgiveness through the bank that gave them the PPP loan. It is important for Republic Bank and other lenders to have a strong working knowledge of the program and its ongoing changes as they happen. Currently, the forgiveness process shall begin on July 1. An initial form of forgiveness application was developed by the SBA and there have been recent changes to simplify that appli-

cation, as well as changes in the covered period for use of the loan proceeds, and changes to the forgiveness percentages for approved payroll and non-payroll expenses, from 75 percent payroll/25 percent non-payroll to 60 percent/40 percent, respectively. In addition, certain members of Congress are considering the creation of a “PPP Forgiveness EZ form” and a scaled-back process for PPP loans under $250,000. That has not been approved or finalized, but Republic believes it is possible and would be welcome relief for smaller businesses and individual borrowers. That and other changes may be forthcoming before final implementation of the overall forgiveness process. Ultimately, Republic believes that since the SBA and Congress have more time to plan, the PPP forgiveness process will be simpler and logical in its final format, but know that many businesses will still require assistance from banks and/or similar professional organizations to fully complete the process. There are many CPA firms and some IT companies building programs to aid banks and borrowers with the process. While all of the final pieces are worked out between Congress, Treasury and the SBA, PPP borrowers should be prepared with the following: • Documentation of payroll expenses (gross wages and benefits similar to informa-

PHOTO FURNISHED

tion submitted in the application). Using payroll software to provide this information might be the easiest method, but documentation from government payroll forms (IRS Form 941) will work. Please discuss with your accounting or bookkeeper professional. • Documentation of allowable non-payroll expenses such as rent or lease expense, utilities, and interest on allowable loans. • Documentation of the number of employees based on the full-time equivalency factors required by the SBA, with the actual amount paid during the covered period, during the time period the borrowed funds were fully disbursed. This preparedness will make things smoother once the process is finalized.

SPECIAL EVENT SITE SERVICES

PORTABLE RESTROOMS HAND WASH FACILITIES

A1 PORTABLES HAS PROVIDED PORTABLE RESTROOMS AND OTHER SERVICES IN LEXINGTON FOR OVER 60 YEARS, WE ALWAYS TAKE GREAT CARE OF OUR CUSTOMERS!

Todd Ziegler is the Central Kentucky Market President for Republic Bank.

CLOG-FREE GUT TERS CLOG-FREE GUT TERS OR YOUR MONEY BACK

OR YOUR MONEY BACK

GUARANTEED! GUARANTEED! ter fFililter a e L ER eafF AFTTER L AF

A/C RESTROOM TRAILERS

ter fFililter a e L fF ORE Lea BEEFFORE B FENCE & BARRICADE RENTAL

We are proud to serve our communities in this time of need to make this process easier, and we look forward to partnering with Kentucky businesses in the future to restart our economy and help many people get back to work. BL

SPECIAL EVENT SITE SERVICES

15% 15% OFF OFF YOUR ENTIRE LEAFFILTER PURCHASE* * YOUR ENTIRE PURCHASE Exclusive Oﬀer –LEAFFILTER Redeem By Phone Today! Exclusive Oﬀer – Redeem By Phone Today!

ADDITIONALLY ADDITIONALLY

10% 10% OFF OFF SENIOR SENIOR & & MILITARY DISCOUNTS

CHEVY CHASER MAGAZINE & SOUTHSIDER MAGAZINE

MILITARY DISCOUNTS

MAY 2020 COMBINED EDITION

&ss

BORN & READ CHEVY CHASER AND SOUTHSIDER MAGAZINES

Arts and entertainment, local people and businesses, cocktails and recipes, real estate and more in every issue!

MAY ‘20

the show must go on

ChARtIng new teRRItoRY

A LOOK AT HOW THE LOCAL MUSIC INDUSTRY HAS ADAPTED DURING THE PANDEMIC

TIPS FOR NAVIGATING NEW EMOTIONAL TERRAIN DURING A UNIVERSAL CRISIS

TO ADVERTISE, CALL (859) 266-6537 OR EMAIL US AT ADVERTISE@SMILEYPETE.COM

CALL CALL US US TODAY TODAY FOR FOR

A A FREE FREE ESTIMATE ESTIMATE

1-877-594-0698 1-877-594-0698 Promo Promo Code: Code: 285 285 Mon-Thurs: 8am-11pm, Fri-Sat: 8am-5pm,

Mon-Thurs: 8am-11pm, Fri-Sat: 8am-5pm, Sun: Sun:2pm-8pm 2pm-8pmEST EST

PLUS! PLUS!

THE FIRST 50 THE FIRST 50 CALLERS WILL CALLERS WILL RECEIVE AN ADDITIONAL

RECEIVE AN ADDITIONAL

5% 5% OFF OFF

YOUR ENTIRE INSTALL! YOURvalid ENTIRE INSTALL! **Offer at estimate only **Offer valid at estimate only

FINANCING FINANCING THAT FITS THAT FITS 11 YOUR BUDGET! YOUR BUDGET! Subject to credit Subject to credit approval. approval. Call for details. Call for details.

1 1

*The leading consumer reporting agency conducted a 16 month outdoor test of gutter guards in 2010 and recognized LeafFilter as the “#1 rated *The leading consumer reporting agency conducted a 16 month outdoor test of gutter guards in 2010 and recognized LeafFilter as the “#1 rated professionally installed gutter guard system in America.” CSLB# 1035795 DOPL #10783658-5501 License# 7656 License# 50145 License# professionally installed gutter guard system in America.” CSLB# 1035795 DOPL #10783658-5501 License# 7656 License# 50145 License# 41354 License# 99338 License# 128344 License# 218294 License# 603 233 977 License# 2102212986 License# 2106212946 License# 41354 License# 99338 License# 128344 License# 218294 License# 603 233 977 License# 2102212986 License# 2106212946 License# 2705132153A License# LEAFFNW822JZ License# WV056912 License# WC-29998-H17 Nassau HIC License# H01067000 Registration# 2705132153A License# LEAFFNW822JZ License# WV056912 License# WC-29998-H17 Nassau HIC License# H01067000 Registration# 176447 Registration# HIC.0649905 Registration# C127229 Registration# C127230 Registration# 366920918 Registration# PC6475 176447 Registration# HIC.0649905 Registration# C127229 Registration# C127230 Registration# 366920918 Registration# PC6475 Registration# IR731804 Registration# 13VH09953900 Registration# PA069383 Suffolk HIC License# 52229-H Registration# IR731804 Registration# 13VH09953900 Registration# PA069383 Suffolk HIC License# 52229-H

JULY 2020

WWW.BUSINESSLEXINGTON.COM

CraveWorthy Meant to be Savored Brevedé Coffee Co. brings gourmet coffee, European-style treats to Distillery District BY SHANNON CLINTON CONTRIBUTING WRITER

or years, Viorika Kopets heard her father speak about his desire to visit Lexington, Kentucky, after seeing photos of the city in a travel brochure. “It reminded him of his homeland … the rolling hills,” she said. In 1991, when Viorika was 10, her family had moved to Seattle from Moldova, an independent republic located between Romania and Ukraine. Years later, after she met and married Belarus native Nik Kopets and left home, her parents realized their dream and relocated to Lexington, where they’ve lived for more than 13 years. Viorika, Nik and their three children moved to Lexington about three years ago, and are now preparing to open a high-end coffee and tea shop called Brevedé Coffee Company (brevedecoffee.com), at 1170 Manchester Ave., Suite 110, in the Distillery District. The name Brevedé, Kopets said, is a riff off the phonetic spelling of “brevity,” meaning shortness of time, and referenced in Psalm 90:12 of the Bible, which reads: “Teach us to realize the brevity of life so that we may grow in wisdom.” As people come and spend part of their day in the café, Kopets wants it to be an enjoyable, elegant respite. “We hope to encourage people to savor this gift called life one cup at a time,” she said. The couple started their venture in September 2019 with a mobile, custom-built coffee bar they brought to weddings and other events. Even then, their seriousness about bringing out the intricate flavors of coffee was on full display. Their equipment includes a Japanese Yama cold brew tower, in which coffee is cold-brewed for nearly 12 hours to near freezing temperatures before being poured over ice or infused with nitrogen, as well as Chemex pour-over style, Aeropress and Kalita brewing techniques. Their brick-and-mortar café will seat about 100 guests between its inside and outside tables. The journey to opening its doors hasn’t been without challenges, as the cafe was originally scheduled to open in spring 2020 but was delayed until July or August by the COVID-19 pandemic. The way she sees it, Kopets said realizing a shared dream with her husband in less-than-ideal circumstances makes seeing it near completion even sweeter. By using all their talents and encouraging others to do the same, she hopes the café will be an extension of who they are as a couple. “My husband and I both grew up around a mentality where giving up was not an op-

Above: Manager Matt Martin (left), with Brevedé Coffee Co. owners Viorika and Nik Kopets. The Kopetses are opening a gourmet coffee shop, bakery and workshop space in Lexington’s Distillery District. PHOTOS FURNISHED

tion and you just persevere no matter the circumstance,” she said. “The coffee shop was a dream born early in our marriage as we lived our lives with an open door into our home that so many were blessed by. We dreamed of expanding that through a place such as this.” Kopets said they’ve purchased a top-ofthe-line Slayer espresso machine to create the finest coffee-based beverages, like her personal favorite, mochas. She’s also been working with roasters such as Portlandbased Cova and Honest Coffee in Franklin, Tennessee, to source quality coffee beans to brew until the Kopetses have the ability to roast their own beans in-house. With that goal in mind, coffee industry veteran Matt Martin, one of seven employees thus far, has been hired as the roasting and operational manager. With a background not only in catering but also in design and art, Kopets said she’s

very passionate about fostering creativity and plans to provide opportunities for others to expand their skills and artistic horizons to the café, as well. Workshops for all ages will be held at Brevedè, in arts and crafts, entrepreneurial topics, flower arranging and baking. The workshop area has large glass windows so parents can enjoy coffee and baked goods while watching their children busily creating, Kopets added. The space will be available to be rented for business meetings, weddings and other events as well. Bakery items will include cakes to order, macarons and other European-style sweet treats she said will be new culinary experiences for most Americans. There will also be a small menu of lunch specials featuring sandwiches, crepes, French toast and Belgian waffles. Kopets will be running the bakery and workshop areas, while her husband and Martin operate the coffee side, she said. All

employees will be cross-trained to pitch in wherever there’s a need. “I have vast experience in European baked goods and specialty gourmet European desserts, so I’d like to bring that into the Lexington scene,” Kopets said. Though she didn’t know years ago that her father’s Lexington travel brochure would one day begin her own journey to a new home and place of business, Kopets is ready to start this new chapter of her life. She said, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the couple wants people to know they’re undaunted and ready to open, offering people a place to relax and enjoy the moment. “People still want to get out and live and experience things together as a community,” she said. Nik added his thoughts as final preparations continue to welcome the café’s first guests. “We’ve just been so blessed and want to bless others through all that we do,” he said. BL

JULY 2020

WWW.BUSINESSLEXINGTON.COM

Wali and Tiffany Bellfield Al-Amin have purchased Alfalfa Restaurant, a Lexington mainstay since 1973. The couple, who dined at the restaurant early in their dating relationship and considered it a favorite, took over the lease in July.

Quick Bites: Lexington’s restaurant landscape expanding In other local restaurant developments, the well-known Louisvillebased seafood restaurant Seafood Lady, operated by chef Nichelle Thurston, has expanded to Lexington. The restaurant, which also operates a food truck and has been featured on Food Network, is located at 833 Georgetown Street. The restaurant’s website has posted a Lexington menu that includes seafood combo platters, po’ boys and shrimp, oyster, fish, lobster and crab-based dishes and sides.

PHOTO BY DREW PURCELL

Bazaar Eatery, located in Ethereal Brewing Public House at 102 W. Vine St., has expanded its carryoutonly service to include dine-in and patio seating, following several weeks of delays due to the pandemic. “It feels like we got a super extended soft open,” executive chef Mitch Boggs said. The restaurant began as a food truck that operated summer 2017 through 2019 serving nachos, tacos, burritos and more. Now, along with carryout, Bazaar Eatery offers reservations for sit-down service during lunch and dinner. Elixir Downtown, 249 West Short Street, has opened with amended weekly hours, including for weekend brunch service and dinner and drinks, as well as live entertainment. Papi’s Mexican Restaurant & Bar announced on social media that a second location, Papi’s Rapido, is coming soon at 1214 South Broadway. The restaurant will offer patio seating and drive-through service, as well as a menu offering tacos, burritos, quesadillas and other items. In these challenging times, some restaurants have announced that they have closed their doors for good. Gather On Main announced its closure in late May, and the TGI Friday’s on Pavilion Way is also no more. Denny’s on Nicholasville Road has closed, and a number of restaurants are looking for new venues after the Summit at Fritz Farm announced in May that The Barn food hall at the Summit was closing. Nick Ryan’s on Jefferson Street is listed as “closed until further notice” on Facebook, and the Cheddar’s restaurant in Hamburg closed after sustaining heavy damage in a fire in mid-May. Logan’s Roadhouse near Fayette Mall was listed in June on Facebook as “temporarily closed,” and the Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe in Hamburg closed, though the Southland Drive location remains open. BL

New Beginning for an Old Favorite Alfalfa Restaurant’s new owners plan to expand the reach of beloved Lexington eatery and community cultural hub

BY SHANNON CLINTON CONTRIBUTING WRITER

hough she was wide awake, a dream surfaced in Tiffany Bellfield Al-Amin when she was lying in bed one night in late March. She was browsing social media and saw that Alfalfa restaurant had closed and was for sale. As her mind began to race with new possibilities, she turned to her husband, Wali Al-Amin. “I said, ‘We’ve got to buy it!’ and he’s like, ‘What?’ and I’m like, ‘We’ve got to buy it!’” she said.

Alfalfa (alfalfarestaurant.com), a Lexington mainstay known for its vegetarian- and vegan-oriented cuisine, had undergone several changes in ownership since its founding in 1973, as well as a move from its original location on South Limestone Street to 141 E. Main Street. It was most recently owned by Amy and Jeb Messer, who also own Lynagh’s Irish Pub. The Al-Amins had dined at Alfalfa early on in their dating relationship, and the restaurant continued to be a favorite spot for them in the years that followed. Tiffany, who lives in Waco in Madison County, said she emailed Jeb Messer right away after seeing the post about deciding not to reopen Alfalfa and seeking a new owner. She expressed interest in purchasing the business, and said the process has progressed smoothly from there. The lease on the property will be official in July, and a soft opening will take place mid-month, Al-Amin said, starting with small baked goods, coffees, teas and light lunch items, then gradually adding on heartier entrees. Eventually her goal is for Alfalfa to become a popular, full-service dinnertime and nightlife destination in downtown Lexington.

Tiffany has experience working in restaurants, and currently works with Berea’s Community Farm Alliance nonprofit. Wali formerly operated a food truck. “We feel like we know food,” she said. The Al-Amins have hired a manager, and plan to rehire available staff and new hires in anticipation of being fully staffed and operational by August or September. With a focus on locally sourced and Kentucky Proud ingredients, old favorites like Hoppin’ John, red beans and rice, grits, buckwheat pancakes, omelets and hummus will remain, along with a few new chicken dishes. The Al-Amins would also like to hear from Alfalfa’s patrons about dishes they’d like to see on the menu. Drinks will include mimosas, wine, sodas, smoothies, juices and Nate’s coffee, and the restaurant will offer indoor and outdoor seating options. A retail shop will be part of the offerings, and the restaurant will also become a community supported agriculture pickup site. Alfalfa will also have its own food truck, expanding its role in the local food scene. “We’re not just a restaurant,” Tiffany said. BL

JULY 2020

WWW.BUSINESSLEXINGTON.COM

On Tap Now featuring a new culinary concept, with socially distanced summer concerts coming soon, local music venue The Burl emerges from COVID-mandated hibernation BY MATT WICKSTROM CONTRIBUTING WRITER

ith many local businesses eager to reopen after months of pandemic-related shutdowns, some area bars have reconfigured their business models to meet Governor Andy Beshear’s “Healthy at Work” criteria for phased reopenings. Since businesses that serve food were allowed to open to in-person service in May — albeit to limited capacity — adding food to the menu has been one common way for establishments that typically only serve drinks to open their doors weeks earlier than Beshear’s prescribed opening date for bars (June 29). But when Distillery District music venue and bar The Burl reopened its doors on June 10 with a new food concept in place, it wasn’t following a hastily thrown-together plan to skirt around red tape; rather, it was in pursuance of the business’s long-planned “third phase” evolution, which was originally slated to open in April before the pandemic hit. Aptly named The Burl Food, the casual

dining concept is housed in the building that also houses The Burl Arcade, a vintage arcade and bar that opened in June 2018, two years after the June 2016 opening of the business’s music venue and original concept. For at least the next three years, The Burl Food space will be leased to Tonya Mays-Cronin and husband Philip Cronin, who operate a culinary pop-up business together under the name Kismet. The Cronins have notable culinary experience: Tonya is the pastry chef at Great Bagel and was a member of the competitive and intensive six-month training program The Women Chefs Initiative, which provides opportunity for training under some of the most renowned female chefs in the country, and Philip is a chef de cuisine at Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse, with former local experience as a sous chef at Dudley’s and chef de cuisine at Apiary Fine Catering and Events. He also worked alongside James Beard-nominated chef Edward Lee in his Louisville restaurant Milkwood and Washington, D.C.-based Succotash. They have hosted pop-up events under the Kismet umbrella throughout the

PHOTOS BY ESTILL ROBINSON

The Burl Food represents the “third phase” of plans for The Burl music venue and arcade. Above, an outdoor dining area has been set up in the parking lot to allow for outdoor dining.

past several years. The menu looks a bit like what you might expect from a culinary pop-up event or gourmet food truck: steam buns with crispy fried chicken, dan dan noodles with pork or tofu, burger, home fries and a crispy fried sweet potato donut with ice cream, berries and caramel sauce. Originally planned as carryout only, the concept has since been altered to allow for in-person dining, venue co-owner Cannon Armstrong said, with a fenced-off outdoor dining area established in the parking lot between the arcade and music venue. With AstroTurf and neon signage, the aesthetic of the new seating area holds true

to the pre-established vibe of the complex: kitschy but comfortable. Picnic tables around the venue’s fire pit, located across the parking lot, provide additional seating, and if needed, overflow indoor seating could eventually be set up inside The Burl’s music venue and arcade, which both feature multiple retractable doors to allow for open air flow. The eatery is set up to allow patrons to place carryout orders from a new window or from the arcade bar; carryout or delivery orders can also be placed online, with deliveries to be managed by regular Burl bar staff and other employees who have largely been out of work throughout the pandemic.

JULY 2020

WWW.BUSINESSLEXINGTON.COM

Though the COVID-related shutdowns have been tough on the business, Armstrong says he is grateful that the concept is opening now, rather than just prior to the shutdowns. â&#x20AC;&#x153;While the shutdown has brought along its own set of concerns, the extra time provided has allowed us to refine our processes and to observe the developments with COVID-19,â&#x20AC;? he said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;to ensure that when the time comes to open, that we do so efficiently and safely.â&#x20AC;? Armstrong said that the venueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s staple of live music would be returning later this summer, though it will look decidedly different than what patrons are used to for the foreseeable future. Armstrong and the venueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s other owners have been in communication with Gov. Beshearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office about safely holding socially distanced, outdoor concerts this summer. Bands will be set up either on a rented stage or on the venueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s long outdoor patio, with attendees spaced at safe distances in the parking lot, he said, adding that the venue has many planned shows for the fall that have not yet been announced. Venue owners are also working to reschedule dates for shows that were previously slated for spring and postponed due to COVID-19. The Burl Arcade, painstakingly rearranged to allow for proper socially distancing, also reopened on June 10 in conjunction with the new culinary concept. â&#x20AC;&#x153;After shuttering our doors for over two months, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re thrilled to open back up, even if it is at a reduced capacity,â&#x20AC;? said Armstrong. â&#x20AC;&#x153;While itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be a bit longer until weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got music back again, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re excited to welcome Philip and Tonya with Kismet as our headliners until we get back to full strength.â&#x20AC;? BL

Tonya MaysCronin, top left, uses a megaphone to call out food orders at The Burl Food. MaysCronin and her husband, Philip Cronin, operate the new eatery, which serves burgers, steam buns with crispy chicken, home fries and other items. PHOTOS BY ESTILL ROBINSON

Bank left? Bank right. Move to the bank with Lexingtonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best free business account.

If your bank is closing up we invite you to discover City National Bank â&#x20AC;&#x201D; DQG RXU PDQ\ EXVLQHVV EDQNLQJ EHQHČ´WV â&#x20AC;˘ 500 free transactions per month* â&#x20AC;˘ No monthly fee and no minimum balance â&#x20AC;˘ Three convenient Lexington locations: ( 0DLQ 6W :DOGHQ 'U 3DORPDU &HQWUH 'ULYH Č? RÎ? \RXU Č´UVW RUGHU RI FKHFNV :HČ&#x2021;UH LQYHVWHG IRU WKH ORQJ UXQ *LYH XV D FDOO DW 859-367-3700 or visit bankatcity.com *Includes electronic transactions, checks paid, deposit items and deposit tickets. $0.50 per item fee if exceed transaction allowance. 'LVFRXQWHG FKHFNV PXVW EH RUGHUHG DW DFFRXQW RSHQLQJ 2Î?HU DYDLODEOH to businesses located in KY. New business customer must mention this RÎ?HU DW WKH WLPH RI DFFRXQW RSHQLQJ 2Î?HU YDOLG IRU D OLPLWHG WLPH IRU QHZ business customers with funds not presently on deposit at City who open DQ\ EXVLQHVV FKHFNLQJ DFFRXQW /LPLW RQH RÎ?HU SHU EXVLQHVV

citybk_38528_Lexington_Disruption_Print_Ad.indd 1

5/12/20 1:27 PM

JULY 2020

WWW.BUSINESSLEXINGTON.COM

PHOTO FURNISHED

A flight of bourbon at Bardstown Bourbon Company. The distillery recently opened a large visitor’s center and broke ground on a new bottling facility.

Getting Back to Bourbon As Kentucky’s distilleries reopen to visitors, many will feature smaller tours and more personalized experiences BY SHANNON CLINTON CONTRIBUTING WRITER

isitors made more than two million stops along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail in 2019, with 2020 gearing up to be another record year — until the COVID-19 pandemic hit and distillery tours stopped cold in mid-March. Now that distilleries are gradually reopening, what can visitors expect on tours that are known for fun, authentic and informative group experiences like sampling bourbon straight from a barrel, tasting various labels at a bar or watching the production and bottling processes? In early June, Team Kentucky Healthy at Work issued guidance for distillery tours, including strict cleaning protocols, employee health and safety training and distancing guidelines, posting of signs promoting social distancing and forbidding patrons to touch exhibits. Individual facilities can decide whether patrons must wear masks and whether those who won’t can enter. Though opening dates and site policies will vary, some area distillery industry and tour officials provided a glimpse at what tour-goers will and won’t be able to do during future visits. Production has continued with additional safety protocols at Woodford Reserve and

Old Forester Distilling Co., both Kentuckybased Brown-Forman brands in Woodford County and Louisville, respectively. Last fiscal year, Woodford Reserve’s visitors center welcomed around 155,000 guests, and this year was on pace to welcome 160,000 to 165,000, Brown-Forman Home Place senior manager Erik Brown said. Of course, those projections have changed with COVID-19, and tours at all properties were closed to the public in midMarch. Brown said upon reopening, a date not determined by press time, smaller tour group sizes will be the norm, and there may also be disposable glasses used in tastings, or traditional glass vessels that are sanitized two or even three times. Guests will be shown around the grounds outside, Brown said, but likely won’t be allowed into production areas for safety reasons. Visitors may also request private, personalized tours within their own comfort zones, he said. “We’re kind of creating different experiences, so if you want more of a private experience and you want that safety, I think we’ll be able to meet everyone where they’re at,” and accommodate special requests, he said. Brown said he’s been impressed by the willingness among fellow Kentucky Bourbon Trail member distilleries to collaborate and talk through the new and unforeseen chal-

PHOTO FURNISHED

lenges the pandemic brought to the industry. Talks began early among Brown-Forman officials about how to move forward, he added. “We really started to look at, ‘How do we continue to communicate with consumers and make sure that we’re top of mind so people will want to come visit once we reopen,’” he said. In Frankfort, Buffalo Trace Distillery plans to reopen for tours beginning July 1, public relations and events manager Amy Preske said. All tours and tastings will require advance registration, and new gift shop policies will be announced. “As you can imagine, we will have to re-

duce the number of visitors per tour, tasting and within our buildings,” the company said in a statement. “The great news is we have a 35,000-square-foot expanded visitor center and will be able to spread out to comply with CDC social distancing recommendations.” On a typical Saturday pre-pandemic, Bardstown Bourbon Company might welcome up to 500 guests for tours, dining and other experiences, vice president of hospitality and product development Dan Callaway said. A new visitor’s center recently opened, and work continues on a 47,000-squarefoot bottling facility set for completion next spring.

JULY 2020

WWW.BUSINESSLEXINGTON.COM

Old Forester Distilling Co., on Louisville’s Whiskey Row, is built around the visitor experience. PHOTOS FURNISHED

After closing to the public in mid-March, tours reopened June 10 and the distillery’s onsite restaurant is slated for a July 10 opening. In the interim, virtual tours and cocktail classes online replaced in-person visits, and will continue, Callaway said. Visitors can expect smaller tour sizes, masks will be encouraged and tasting glasses will be double-washed in an industrial hightemperature machine. Though production areas are off-limits, Callaway said guests can enjoy the beautiful outdoors at the distillery while guides give presentations, and will still have a great time,

whether tasting from a barrel, a variety of bourbons, or pairing bourbon with different food, depending on the selected experience. “It’s the people that make it happen here, and our team is ready to go and engage and tell you our story,” he said. “The people will be right here; the bourbon is right here … the whole experience is going to be happening and you really can engage with it.” Along with his wife, Hope, Jerry Daniels is co-owner of Lexington-based Stone Fences Tours, now in its third year. Many of his tours are bourbon-centric, pairing tours and history, horses, bourbon barons of yesteryear and more.

With distilleries closed, he’s been spending his free time during the pandemic creating a historical video podcast, “Behind the Label,” and says the research he’s done will better inform his traditional bourbon tours. He’s also been keeping in touch with distillery officials across the region to stay abreast of opening dates and new procedures. Daniels operates one tour van and was eyeing purchasing another, but COVID-19 put that on hold for now. He said he’s already scoured his van top to bottom and will again between each use, limiting guests to 10 per tour with only people of the same household and/or who have

already been traveling together. “Right now, we just want to make it through this year,” he said. “We just love doing it.” At Woodford Reserve, Old Forester and affiliated locations, Brown said consumers will know that when it’s deemed safe to open again, they can feel confident that officials there have done their due diligence to make sure that employees and guests are protected. That may mean starting slowly with opening retail areas first, then adding on other events and tours gradually. “We’re going to crawl before we walk, and walk before we run,” he said. BL

helping a revolutionary bourbon brand change the game. again.

Recognized worldwide for its award-winning taste and signature red wax seal, Maker’s Mark now has another distinguishing mark: becoming the ﬁrst distillery in Kentucky to participate in our Business Solar Program. With this program, businesses of all sizes can tap into the power of solar energy without worrying about upfront costs or long-term maintenance. We’re proud to empower Kentucky businesses to meet their sustainability goals. We’d love to help your business, too. Let’s get started at lge-ku.com/business-solar.

JULY 2020

WWW.BUSINESSLEXINGTON.COM

PHOTO FURNISHED

Partitions and dividers, like these from Enwork, will be a common feature as employees return to working in offices.

Reimagining Office Spaces for a Post-Pandemic World Local interior designers recommend easy-to-install solutions for social distancing, and a wait-and-see approach for major renovations BY LIZ CAREY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

s Central Kentucky begins to reopen, many businesses are determining how to make their workplaces safe spaces for employees to come back to. New protocols announced as part of Gov. Andy Beshear’s Healthy at Work initiative include holding meeting over the phone or video conference whenever possible, ensuring the office is at 50 percent capacity at any given time and maintaining social-distancing guidelines whenever possible. Designers say there are steps businesses can take, even inexpensive ones, that can help them meet the state’s requirements and open safely. Continue to work from home Do we bring people back into the office, or do we continue to let people work from home? That’s a primary question, says Tonie Webb, principal designer at Dovetail Design Studio in Lexington.

“A lot of people that I know are actually still having their employees work from home,” Webb said. “But I feel like the conversation is changing to ‘Okay, when do we bring these people back, how do we do that, logistically?’” But working from home also has its challenges, said Kyle Doezma, president of Office Resources, Inc. (ORI) in Lexington. “A lot of the organizations are saying that working from home is going pretty well, so we’re no real rush to bring everybody back. But when you think of an employer’s ability to create great workspaces for the people in the office, they have little control over what environment their employees are working in from home,” Doezma said. He notes that only about 29 percent of employees who are working at home have an ergonomic chair, for example, “which arguably is one of the most important pieces of equipment when you’re seated and focused and working for a long period of time.” In May, Google told its employees to plan on working from home for the rest of the year. As part of that agreement, the company pro-

vided its employees with $1,000 to purchase home office equipment. Doezema said some of ORI’s clients have similarly worked with employees to buy equipment or to split the purchase of home office equipment with employees or, in some cases, to help employees purchase equipment and then take a percentage out of their paychecks to reimburse the company. Moving desks and installing walls Providing adequate space to keep employees a minimum of six feet from one another is key for safety in the COVID-19 era, designers say. “Most people don’t have the luxury of adding square footage to spread people out. There’s a reason why all the people are that close together [in office settings],” Webb said. “Right now, it’s more been about leaving the desks where they are and seating people at every other desk.” Some clients have even converted conference room space into office space for multiple employees, she said. Other solutions for social distancing include split shifts and floor stickers. “I know some offices are splitting shifts, where half the office comes in half the week and the other half comes in the second half of the week,” Webb said. “Companies like Lynn Imaging are designing and printing floor stickers so that people are more aware

of social distancing and what six feet really looks like.” Doezema said sometimes it’s a matter of rethinking the office layout to provide more room for space between desks. Social distancing also means closing down or limiting access to areas where people gather in offices. Water coolers, breakrooms, office kitchens — in many offices those common areas are being limited, or eliminated altogether, the designers say. Many workplaces are taking the return to the office slowly. For example, Dan Smaldone, director of communications for Kentucky Farm Bureau, said the company will be taking its time in bringing people back into the workplace. As most of their 700 employees continue to work from home, some will return to their office sites the first week of July. Initially, those with private offices will return to work, followed some time later by about 10 to 15 percent of the remaining staff, he said. In order to accommodate social distancing, desks will be rearranged or moved, and some hallways and stairways will become one-way only. Break rooms, he said, will have some furniture removed to prevent people from congregating, and conference rooms won’t be used, as meetings will continue to be held online. But eventually, he says, there will be a return to the buildings where work happens. “Our buildings are an investment on our

JULY 2020

WWW.BUSINESSLEXINGTON.COM

part and we want our people to come there to work,” he said. “But how they will look in the new world post-Covid is still to be seen.” Divided but together Open-office arrangements, a popular concept over the past decade, are likely to remain, the designers say, although physical barriers between desks will be a common feature. Caitlin Neal, director of sales with ORI, says installing dividers of any number of materials can help offices increase safety, with minimal cost and inconvenience. “I think the biggest considerations are ‘how you bring people back?’ and ‘how do you alleviate the fear around people coming back and actually bring them back safely?’” Neal said. “People need to feel safe. They need to legitimately be able to say they feel safe. And you can get a variety of different screens of different types from $100 to several hundreds of dollars per screen, depending on the material.” Webb says different vendors provide different divider materials — from plexiglass to corrugated cardboard. “Believe it or not, corrugated cardboard is one of the more popular ones right now,” she said. “They’re finished on the outside, so they look really nice, but it’s an inexpensive way to put dividers between people’s workspaces… At the beginning of this, we were all really worried about cardboard and leaving our packages on the porch, but there are new studies that have shown that the virus starts to decay after about 24 hours on cardboard, so it’s actually proving to be a healthy way to divide those spaces.” Webb says one company, Enwork, can set up a U-shaped divider to go around desk for about $50 for a 48-inch wide desk. Both designers recommend offices remain flexible now though. Information about COVID-19 is changing rapidly, as are processes and requirements, they say. “One of the things we’ve advocated to our clients is not to have too big of a knee-jerk reaction to changing space right now, but to see how this plays out,” Doezema said, knowing that social distancing and enhanced sanitation protocols are likely to remain with us for some time. BL

Enwork offers an array of office furniture and dividers designed to help protect employee’s health while working. PHOTOS FURNISHED

“People need to feel safe. They need to legitimately be able to say they feel safe. And you can get a variety of different screens of different types from $100 to several hundreds of dollars per screen, depending on the material.” CAITLIN NEAL ORI DIRECTOR OF SALES

BusinessLexington

READ IT. PROFIT.

Subscribe online at bizlex.com or call 859.266.6537 today!

1-year (12 issues)

$29

2-years

$57

3-years

$8500

(24 issues)

(36 issues)

Includes FREE 2019 Book of Lists (a $19.95 value) Includes FREE 2019/20 Book of Lists (a $39.90 value)

Includes FREE 2019/20/21 Book of Lists (a $59.85 value)

• Thousands of quality sales leads, including three monthly BizLists, with contact information • People on the move and dozens of opportunities to network and grow your business • FREE unlimited access to full online content 24/7 • FREE access to the Weekly Wire, Business Lexington’s e-mail newsletter

SPECIAL OFFER! Order today and receive a FREE 2020 Book of Lists!

JUNE 2020

WWW.BUSINESSLEXINGTON.COM

IndependentBusiness

Elaine Pence, pictured at left, is owner of Landscaper’s Corner along with her busband, Bill Pence. The company is celebrating 15 years in business. PHOTOS FURNISHED

Cornerstone of Community Landscaper’s Corner celebrates 15 years of serving those who help make Central Kentucky a prettier place BY KATHIE STAMPS COLUMNIST: INDEPENDENT BUSINESS

f you know a landscape architect or designer anywhere in Central Kentucky, they know Elaine Pence. She is the owner of Landscaper’s Corner (landscaperscorner.com), a landscape supply company on Old Frankfort Pike located on just over an acre of land. “We service most of the high-end landscape companies in our area,” Pence said. “We carry only the best quality products here at Landscaper’s Corner. That sets us apart and our customers expect quality products at affordable pricing.” Open year-round and open to the public, Landscaper’s Corner has seven full-time employees and four part-time seasonal employees. The clientele base is typically 85 percent contractors and 15 percent residential custom-

ers, Pence said. March through October is the high season for landscaping services, when the business will serve about 250 customers and make about 30 deliveries a day. “We have had an awesome spring,” Pence said, noting that the business has remained open throughout the pandemic and as landscape professionals and homeowners continue to work on their properties. “We have learned to adapt to the changing of times. We hope to continue a strong season.” Landscaper’s Corner is known for having large selections of natural stone, mulches, soil and soil amendments, baled pine straw, grass seeds, fertilizers, tools, wheat straw and decorative gravels. “We’ve hired extra people to answer the phone and take deliveries,” Pence said. “We’re doing the social distancing, meeting everybody at their vehicle.”

Landscaper’s Corner continues to offer curbside service, phone-in orders and delivery for customers within Central Kentucky. Pence is typically in the middle of the action, answering the phones, taking orders, loading customers’ trucks and directing traffic. For big mulch loads, stone and other large orders, Pence is able to estimate how material the customer will need by using a cubic yard bucket instead of a scoop. “The cubic yard bucket is a unit of measurement, so we are able to calculate with accuracy how much material you will need for your application,” she said. A Lexington native, Pence is a graduate of Bryan Station High School and has a

“We have had an awesome spring. We have learned to adapt to the changing of times. We hope to continue a strong season.” ELAINE PENCE OWNER, LANDSCAPER’S CORNER

background in accounting and business. She worked at Paul Miller Ford in the business office, and then in the finance department with commercial truck sales. “That experience has helped me,” she said. “However, I knew nothing about mulches when I started this business. A weekend project was the spearhead for the conception of Landscaper’s Corner.” She started the company with her husband, Bill Pence, in 2005 at the Old Frankfort Pike property that has been in the Pence family since 1956. “We started small, and by the grace of God we have grown each year,” she said. “A lot of doors were opened, a lot of prayers answered, and a lot of hard work and sacrifice has brought us to this point. We feel very blessed to have earned the business and respect of Central Kentucky.” The Pences built the business on honesty and integrity, treating customers as they would want to be treated. “I have learned that I cannot please everyone, but I try my best to resolve any conflict that may arise,” she said. “I never thought that this business would be this successful for 15 years and still going strong.” She credits her clientele, many of whom have done business with Landscaper’s Corner for many years, for their continued support of the local, family-owned business. As Pence says in the radio commercials she records for Landscaper’s Corner: “We look forward to seeing you soon and we truly appreciate your business.” BL

JULY 2020

WWW.BUSINESSLEXINGTON.COM

BizList

Please email questions regarding our BizLists to Sharon Metz at sharon.metz66@gmail.com.

Intellectual Property Law Firms Ranked by number of IP lawyers in central office Rank

Firm Name Address, Phone Website

2020

IP Lawyers in Central Office

IP Lawyers in Lexington Office

Total IP Lawyers in Other States

Intellectual Property Law Main Practice Areas

Intellectual Property Top Official/ No. of Local Offices

Stites & Harbison, PLLC 250 W. Main St., Ste. 2300 Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 226-2300 www.stites.com

12 – Tennessee, Virginia and District of Columbia

Copyright, trade secrets, domain names, entertainment law, licensing law, patents, patent/trademark/copyright registration service, IP litigation, software/information technology agreements and litigation, privacy and data security agreements and litigation, biotechnology/life sciences, clinical research/trials, franchise offerings, franchise litigation

Terry L. Wright/ 2 offices – Lexington, Louisville

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

9 – Alabama, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, multiple other U.S. District and Circuit Courts and the U.S. Supreme Court

Copyright, trade secrets, domain names, entertainment law, licensing law; patents: non-infringement and freedom to practice opinions; domain names, website privacy policies and terms of use, publishing disputes, IP litigation, technology agreements, including software license and agreements regarding maintenance, consulting, data protection and source code escrow; and, trademark prosecution, including federal, state and international registration

Steven B. Loy (Lexington), Laura H. Pulliam (Louisville)/3 offices, Lousiville, Lexington, Frankfort

Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs, LLP 250 W. Main St., Ste. 1600 Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 233-2012 www.wyattfirm.com

4 – Tennessee

Copyright, trade secrets, domain names, entertainment law, licensing law, patents, intellectual property protection & litigation; protection of names and likeness, domain names, privacy and data security, trademarks

Stephen C. Hall (Louisville)/ 2 offices – Lexington, Louisville

King & Schickli, PLLC 3800 Corporate Drive, Ste. 200 Lexington, KY 40503 (859) 252-0889 www.iplaw1.net

Patents, copyrights, trade secrets, licensig law, domain names, entertainment law (all 8 attorneys are licensed to practice before the USPTO and reside in Lexington)

Warren Schickli, Michael Hargis, Andrew Dorisio/ 1 office – Lexington

Dickinson Wright, PLLC 300 W. Vine St., Ste. 1700 Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 899-8700 www.dickinson-wright.com

96 – Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee, Florida, Texas, Arizona, Nevada, California, Washington, DC, Toronto

Copyright, trade secret, domain names, entertainment law, licensing law, patents, trademarks, post-grant proceedings (inter parfes review), IP ligation

Philip E. Rettig (Division Director)/ 1 office – Lexington

Dinsmore & Shohl, LLP City Center 100 W. Main St., Ste. 900 Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 425-1000 www.dinslaw.com

99 – California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Washington D.C., West Virginia

Copyright, trade secrets, domain names, entertainment law, licensing law, patents, trademarks, import/export control, IP litigation, privacy, data protection, internal technologies

Josh Lorentz/ 2 offices

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

Licensing law, copyrights, trade secrets, domain names, entertainment law. trademark clearance, trademark registration, trademark infringement, copyright and patent infringement and other IP litigation

Jack A. Wheat/ 1 office

Stockwell and Smedley, PSC 861 Corporate Drive, Ste. 200 Lexington, KY, 40503 (859) 223-3400 www.stockwell.us

Todd Stockwell/ 1 office – Lexington

Dentons Bingham Greenebaum 300 W. Vine St., Ste. 1200 Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 231-8500 www.dentons.com

5 – Indiana

Brian W. Chellgren, J.D., Ph.D/ 2 office – Lexington and Louisville

Francis Law Firm, PLLC 4071 Tates Creek Centre Drive, Ste. 304 Lexington ,KY 40517 (859) 286-4500 www.francis-law.com

1 – West Virginia

Jim Francis/ 1 office – Lexington

Frost Brown Todd, LLC 250 W. Main St., Ste. 2800 Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 231-0000 www.frostbrowntodd.com

38 – Ohio, Indiana, Texas

Ann G. Schoen (Chairperson of Intellectual Property Practice Group/ 1 office – Lexington

Michael Coblenz 4071 Tates Creek Centre Drive, Ste. 304 Lexington, KY 40517, (859) 321-6206 www.coblenzlaw.com

Patent, trademarks, trade secrets, licensing, entertainment law, copyright law

Michael Coblenz/ 1 office – Lexington

Wolfe & Houlehan, PLLC 226 N. Upper St. Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 444-4695 lexingtonkylaw.com

Ted Houlehan/ 1 office – Lexington

Landrum & Shouse LLP 106 W. Vine St., Ste. 800 Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 255-2424 www.landrumshouse.com

Elizabeth A. Deener/ 1 office – Lexington

TIE

Source: Business Lexington questionnaire. More firms were eligible for this list, but did not respond by deadline. Key: NA=Not Available

JULY 2020

WWW.BUSINESSLEXINGTON.COM

BizList

Please email questions regarding our BizLists to Sharon Metz at sharon.metz66@gmail.com.

Manufacturing Employers Ranked by number of employees

Rank

Company Name Address, Phone Website

Total Number of Local Employees

Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky 1001 Cherry Blossom Way Georgetown, KY 40324 (502) 863-3630 www.toyotageorgetown.com

7,700

Lexmark International Inc. 740 W. New Circle Road Lexington, KY 40550 (859) 232-2000 www.lexmark.com

1,600*

Hitachi Automotive System Americas 955 Warlick Road Harrodsburg, KY 40330 (859) 734-5309 www.hiams-am.com

1,275

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

1,100*

Hitachi Automotive Systems USA, Inc. 301 Mayde Road Berea, KY 40403 (859) 986-2359 www.hitachi-automotive.us

963

Trane Co. 1515 Mercer Road Lexington, KY 40511 (859) 259-2500 www.trane.com

800

Montaplast of North America 2011 Hoover Blvd. Frankfort, KY 40601 (502) 695-7766 www.montaplasat.com

800

Big Ass Solutions 2348 Innovation Road Lexington, KY 40511, (877) 233-1271 www.bigasssolutions.com

770

Adient US, LCC (Georgetown Plant) 824 Lemons Mill Road Georgetown, KY 40324 (502) 863-0400 www.adient.com

739

Link-Belt Construction Equipment Co. 2651 Palumbo Drive Lexington, KY 40509 (859) 263-5200 www.linkbelt.com

725

Quad Graphics 100 US 60 Bypass Versailles, KY 40384 (859) 879-4100 www.qg.com

710

Webasto Sunroofs Inc. 2200 Innovation Road Lexington, KY 40511 (859) 389-6100 www.webastosunroofs.com

656

TIE

9 10 11 12

Jan. 2020 Kentucky Directory Manufacturers Report

Business

Top Local Executive/ Year Est. Locally

Company Name Address, Phone Website

Total Number of Local Employees

Business

Hyster-Yale Group, Inc. 2200 Menelaus Pk. Berea, KY 40403 (859) 986-5718 www.hyster-yale.com

653

Manufacturing of lift trucks

Rodney Wilson (Plant Mgr.)/ 1973

EnerSys 761 Eastern Bypass Richmond, KY 40475 (859) 624-7358 www.enersys.com

520

Lead acid industrial batteries

Troy Baxter (Plant Mgr.)/ 1976

Schneider Electric 1601 Mercer Road Lexington, KY 40511 (859) 243-8000 www.schneider-electric.com

515

Electrical safety switches and load centers

Joe Blackburn (Plant Mgr.)/ 1955

Catalent Pharma Solutions 1100 Enterprise Drive Winchester, KY 40391 (859) 745-2200 www.catalent.com

494

Pharmaceutical processing

Dennis Johnson (GM)/ 1992

Rank

Top Local Executive/ Year Est. Locally

Automobiles: Avalon, Avalonhybrid, Camry, Camry-hybrid, and the Lexus ES350; engines, axles, steering components, blocks/cylinder heads/ crankshafts, dies and North American Production Support Center (NAPSC) Training Facility

Susan Elkington (President)/ 1988

Development, marketing and sales of printers and related supplies and software; corporate headquarters

Allen Waugerman (CEO)/ 1991

Automotive electric control units, warehouse and distribution sensors, actuators, fuel systems & components, lithium ion battery, machinery warehouse distribution

Philip Dadisman (VP)/ NA

Contractor logistics support DOD contract

Marilyn A. Hewson (Chairman, President and CEO)/1885

CMWA 125 Wheat Drive Paris, KY 40361 (859) 987-0500 www.cmwa.com

480

Automotive wheels - steel and aluminum

Koichi Hayashi (CEO, President)/ 1986

Brake systems (booster, master cylinder); electronic motors

Philip Dadisman (VP)/ 1987

Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co. 559 S. Forbes Road Lexington, KY 40504 (859) 255-3375 www.gjpepsicom

460

Carbonate soft drink bottling

John Dougherty, (Sr. VP and Field Sales)/ 1941

Manufacture of commercial and industrial air handling equipment, custom, catalog and specialized air handlers, including integrated controls

Gregg Krick (Plant Mgr.)/ 1963

Alltech Inc. 3031 Catnip Hill Pike Nicholasville, KY 40356 (859) 885-9613 www.alltech.com

450

Natural animal feed additives; corporate headquarters

Mark Lyons, (President)/ 1980

Plastic injection molding automotive supplier of exterior trim parts, center caps, cloth interior trim parts, and air intake manifolds

Christian A. Stulz (President)/ 1992

Toyota Tsusho America Inc. 700 Triport Road Georgetown, KY 40324 (502) 868-3355 www.taiamerica.com

450

Steel processing

Mike Lavender, (Senior VP)/ 1986

Ceiling fans and lights for large industrial agriculture, commercial and residential settings

Lindsey Goldberg (President)/ 1999

Corning Display Technologies 680 E. Office St. Harrodsburg, KY 40330 (859) 605-2200 www.corning.com

400

AMLCD glass substrate, thin, durable, highly scratch resistant cover glass used in portable/handheld electronic devices

Amy Porter (Plant Mgr.)/ 1952

Automotive seats and interior components; foam pads for automotive industry

Todd Bruno (Plant Manager)/ 1993

Yokohama Industries America, Inc. 105 Industry Drive Versailles, KY 40383 (859) 873-2188 www.yokohama.com

400

Automobile air conditioning and power steering hoses, fittings and assemblies; fluid conveying products

Walt Williams (Plant Mgr.)/ 1989

Design, manufacture, market, sell and service of telescopic mobile and cable cranes

Melvin Potter, (President/ CEO)/ 1974

McKechnie Vehicle Components 801 John C. Watts Drive Nicholasville, KY 40356 (859) 887-6246 www.mvcusa.com

353

Plastic injection molded parts with chrome and stainless steel plating

Randy Sorensen (GM)/ 1979

William Jalbert (Plant Mgr.)/ 1962

Buffalo Trace Distillery 113 Great Buffalo Trace Frankfort, KY 40601 (502) 696-5903 www.buffalotrace.com

353

Distiller of world class and award winning bourbons and American whiskeys

Mark Brown (President)/ 1775

John Wilder (GM); Daniel Klug (Engr. Mgr.)/ 1998

Aichi Forge USA Inc. 596 Triport Road Georgetown, KY 40324 (502) 863-7575 www.aichiforge.com

350

Steel forgings and powder metal sinter forgings for application in automotive/ aircraft engine and suspension components

Naohide Goto (President)/ 1985

Book printing, binding and distribution

Automotive sunroofs

TIE

Y ILE PE

B L I HI S

A neighborhood’s best friend...

Source: Cabinet for Economic Development – January, 2020, Kentucky Directory of Manufacturers Report (*some employers numbers were not updated to 2020); Commerce Lexington Economic Development data for 2019 (utilized the Chambers based on 2019 numbers; Company websites and representatives. Note: Lexington Area Manufacturers – Ranking by total number of local employees minimum of 350, including the following counties: Bourbon, Clark, Fayette, Jessamine, Madison, Mercer, Scott, Woodford. Due to limited spacing for this list, other manufacturing employers with 350 local employees were omitted. Key: NA=Not Available.

SMILEYPETE.COM

chevy chaser magazine | Southsider Magazine | BusinessLexington

JULY 2020

WWW.BUSINESSLEXINGTON.COM

BizList

Please email questions regarding our BizLists to Sharon Metz at sharon.metz66@gmail.com.

Hospitals Ranked by total number of inpatient days

Rank

Hospital Name Address Phone Website

Aug. 2019

Based on the 2018 Administrative Claims Data Report - Inpatient Hospitalization in Days, Facility and Payor

Total Inpatient Days

Medicare Inpatient Days

Medicaid Inpatient Days

Commercial Inpatient Days

Charity/ Self Pay Inpatient Days

Other

Top Local Official(s)

UK HealthCare Albert B. Chandler Hospital 800 Rose St., N. 100 Lexington, KY 40536 (859) 323-5126 www.ukhealthcare.uky.edu

245,515

88,373

93,225

53,114

2,845

7,958

Dr. Mark F. Newman

Baptist Health Lexington 1740 Nicholasville Road Lexington, KY 40503 (859) 260-6100 www.baptisthealth.com/lexington

104,713

52,469

21,108

29,897

240

999

Gerard “Ger” Colman (CEO)

Saint Joseph Hospital 1 Saint Joseph Drive Lexington, KY 40504 (859) 313-1000 www.chistjosephhealth.org/saint-joseph-hospital-lexington

61,012

25,911

10,184

24,091

505

322

Jason Adams (CEO, CHI Saint Joseph Health)

Cardinal Hill Rehab Hospital 2050 Versailles Road Lexington, KY 40504 (859) 254-5701 www.cardinalhill.org

47,637

29,358

7,937

7,995

2,330

Tara Diebling (CEO)

UK HealthCare Good Samaritan Hospital 310 S. Limestone St. Lexington, KY 40508 (859) 226-7000 www.samaritanhospital.com

37,215

15,060

15,302

5,649

852

352

Dr. Mark F. Newman

Saint Joseph East 150 N. Eagle Creek Drive Lexington, KY 40509 (859) 967-5000 www.chisaintjosephhealth.org/saint-joseph-east-lexington

32,313

6774

10,058

14,402

771

308

Jason Adams (CEO, CHI Saint Joseph Health)

Frankfort Regional Medical Center 299 Kings Daughters Drive Frankfort, KY 40601 (502) 875-5240 www.frankfortregional.com

29,756

18,393

5,650

4,507

948

258

Chip Peal

Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center 21 S. Third St. Danville, KY 40422 (859) 239-1000 www.emrmc.org

27,838

14,782

5,135

7,330

283

308

Daniel E. McKay (CEO)

Ridge Behavioral Health System 3050 Rio Dosa Drive Lexington, KY 40509 (859) 269-2325 www.ridgebhs.com

23,925

5,315

13,170

4,651

700

Nina Eisner

Baptist Health Richmond 801 Eastern Bypass Richmond, KY 40475 (859) 333-4415 www.baptisthealthrichmond.com

12,162

6,888

3,466

1,686

913

Greg Gerard (CEO)

Clark Regional Medical Center 1107 W. Lexington Ave. Winchester, KY 40397 (859) 745-3500 www.clarkregional.org

10,978

4,976

4,073

1,643

176

110

Aphreihan DuHaney-West (CEO)

Bourbon Community Hospital 9 Linville Drive Paris, KY 40361 (859) 987-3600 www.bourbonhospital.com

10,059

2,457

6,242

1,268

Matt Smith (CEO)

Georgetown Community Hospital 1140 Lexington Road Georgetown, KY 40324 (502) 868-1100 www.georgetowncommunityhospital.com

6,614

3,051

2,107

1,297

William Haugh

Harrison Memorial Hospital 1210 Kentucky Highway 36 East Cynthiana, KY 41031 (859) 234-2300 www.harrisonmemhosp.com

4,377

2,191

1,254

777

113

Sheila Currans

Source: 2018 Kentucky Annual Administrative Claims Data Report, Inpatient Hospitalization January to December 2018, published August 2019. Hospital websites and individual hospital representatives.

bizlex.combizlex.combizlex.combizlex.combizlex.combizlex.combizlex.com

JULY 2020

WWW.BUSINESSLEXINGTON.COM

BizLexQ&A

P.G. Peeples, Sr. The longtime CEO of the Urban League of Lexington–Fayette on working toward meaningful change BY TOM WILMES BUSINESS LEXINGTON

.G. Peeples, Sr., joined the Urban League of Lexington in 1968 as education director, just a year after the local chapter was founded and shortly after Peeples, an Eastern Kentucky native, graduated from the University of Kentucky. In 1971, Peeples became president and CEO of what is now called the Urban League of Lexington–Fayette County (ullex.org), and has led the organization in that capacity for more than 50 years. With a mission of working to “provide economic empowerment, educational opportunities and the guarantee of civil rights for the underserved in America,” the National Urban League was founded in 1910 and has since grown to include chapters in 90 cities across the country. As the longtime leader of Lexington’s chapter, Peeples has guided efforts to bridge gaps in equality locally, and particularly to increase affordable housing within the city. Here he shares his insight and experience on the recent movement to bring about reforms in law enforcement and related topics.

in Lexington, when we were marching down at the school board about the academic achievement gap and everybody was in denial about it existing. And then finally we got the Chamber of Commerce to come on board and advocate along with us that we needed to change and we needed to identify that gap and work on it. And it’s getting better. Diversity in employment in the schools is better. There’s a black superintendent. That’s also when we created the Fayette County School Equity Council, which is still in existence. [Peeples served as chairman of the Equity Council for its first eight years.] We’re the only equity council run

by a district, I think, in the state, and it continues to have impact. And those areas are what the National Urban League focuses on as well, correct? It’s in our DNA. That’s what we do. We just have different approaches to getting it done. I’m one of the few agencies that really has a focus on affordable housing. There’s two of us, Miami and Lexington. Since 1984, when my organization made housing a priority, we’ve done right at about $28 million worth of affordable housing projects in Lexington. When we first started, we were building houses to sell to first-time homebuyers and

“It’s been very inspiring watching these young people grab this bull by the horns and say, ‘We’re going to walk until we get some change.’”

It really seems that both the national protests and the COVID-19 pandemic have laid bare many systemic inequalities for all to see. The scab has been pulled back again. Again. That scab has been pulled back many times. I’ve been doing this Urban League job for 52 years, so I’ve seen a lot. What frustrates me is when we go through these times everybody becomes highly sensitized, and then we go back to business as usual. But, I’ll tell you what I really like about the unrest now, is it’s young people. All colors of young people. And they seem to be hell-bent on not being turned around, and that creates the kind of leverage for those of us who do what we do to get it done. In the civil rights vernacular, we refer to it as the ‘tree shakers and the jelly makers’. The marches and all gets their attention, and then somebody has got to come along and start putting together programs and plans and negotiating and raising money to change things. Now we’ve got to do some concrete things that gives these young people something that they can really see and believe. Do you have an idea of what that looks like? Not yet, but we know what the issues are. The issues are affordable housing, policing, economic disparity and closing our achievement gap. Let’s go back 15 years here

we were training ex-inmates [in construction]. I think we did about 175 houses, and most of those were sold to single females raising families. Fast forward to 2008 or ’09, when the economy did a flip on us, and we changed our model to start building units that we hold and rent. We now have about 65 units in downtown that we own and rent, plus two apartment complexes. So, we are a small business ourselves. I was glad to see that the city found some more money in the rainy day fund to begin to support the affordable housing program again. That’s sorely needed, but a big issue right now in our community — the 500-pound gorilla in Lexington — is gentrification. I’m hell-bent on making this community have some conversations about it. There is a task force that’s been at work for almost two years, and we’re about at the point of releasing some recommendations on our gentrification issues and what we have to do if we want to fix it. Councilmen James Brown and [Vice Mayor Steve Kay] have chaired that. You have people, because of rising taxes, who may have to get out of their own homes. I’ll give you a hypothetical case of a gentleman who’s maybe 60 or 70 years old and may have worked at UK as a janitor all his life, and who bought a nice home by his standards in the urban core and raised his family, and he’s getting to the point where now, because of taxes escalating, he can’t stay in his own house. The other thing is, you have speculators who are coming in with deep pockets and buying up everything and when they flip [the properties], they’re not affordable. Let me by crystal-clear: I am not against free enterprise, but we owe it to make sure that when the tide rises, all boats get lifted.

PHOTO FURNISHED

What keeps you inspired? It’s been very inspiring watching these young people grab this bull by the horns and say, ‘We’re going to walk until we get some change.’ What has kept me inspired over the years with the Urban League job is that it has never been boring, because we always do something different. We started the first African– American radio station [in Lexington]. We started doing the housing thing. We’ve done so many firsts. Rising to the challenge to learn how to do those firsts — that’s what keeps you going. And then when it works out and you can see the results — like the housing on Chestnut Street when we first started building houses and sold them to first-time homebuyers — it’s heartwarming. BL

JULY 2020

WWW.BUSINESSLEXINGTON.COM

Who’sWho New Hires & Promotions Kentucky American Water has announced the appointments of Adam Caswell as director of government affairs and Justin Lane as operations project manager Deidra Dennie, chief diversity officer at Anne Arundel Community College in Maryland, has been named Transylvania University’s new vice president for diversity and inclusion. William Ben Kibler, MD, FACSM has retired from Lexington Clinic Orthopedics – Sports Medicine after 43 years of dedicated service. Wrigley Media Group has named Jay Hall as senior vice president, business development. Katherine Lindsay Gabbard has been appointed as a new agent with Kentucky Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company at Scott County Farm Bureau. United Way of the Bluegrass recently announced the appointments of two new vice presidents to its executive man-

EMPLOYMENT NEWS AND AWARDS IN OUR COMMUNITY

agement team. The nonprofit hired Sean Ross as vice president, resource development, and promoted Jonathan Kohn to vice president, community impact. 46Solutions, a division of Davis H. Elliot, providing managed services, audio/video installation and services, cybersecurity and network consulting, announced the hiring of Eric Del Valle as business development manager and Crystal Newton as marketing manager. Wyatt Terrell has joined investment advisors Ballast, Inc. as paraplanner and director of communications. Fayette County Public Schools Superintendent Manny Caulk, has announced the naming of Eric Hale as new principal of Bryan Station High School, and Twanjua Jones as new principal of Morton Middle School.

Kudos Catherine Collins-Fulea, DNP, CNM, FACNM, and assistant professor at Frontier Nursing University has been officially

CASWELL

DENNIE

KIBLER

HALL

GABBARD

ROSS

KOHN

DEL VALLE

NEWTON

TERRELL

HALE

JONES

COLLINS-FULEA

INMAN

inducted as the new president of the American College of NurseMidwives (ACNM). Buffalo Trace has been named Tasting Panel Magazine’s Distillery of the Year at the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The prestigious award recognizes the single distiller earning the most points, measured by the number and level of awards won in a given

year. Spirits entered into the San Francisco World Spirits Competition are judged over four days of highly controlled blind tastings by a panel of more than 40 judges made up of respected, experienced industry experts. Points of Light and Serve Kentucky recently certified CASA of Lexington as a “Service Enterprise.” CASA of Lexington is part of the very first Service En-

terprise cohort that certified in Kentucky. With this certification, CASA joins the top 11 percent of nonprofits nationwide in volunteer management and organizational performance. The Lexington-Bluegrass Association of Realtors® announced that Mike Inman has been inducted into the National Association of Realtors® Hall of Fame. BL

Downtown Lexington Partnership (DLP) would like to thank the following companies for their continued support and stakeholder membership in DLP. These members make a significant investment in downtown and their commitment ensures that DLP is able to provide quality programming for everyone to enjoy.

www.downtownlex.com

BGCF_BizLex_July2020.qxp_Layout 1 6/3/20 11:16 AM Page 1

Ray Daniels, local Waffle House proprietor Dr. Tiffany Daniels, D.C., MCS-P

MAXIMIZE YOUR GIVING. BE READY TO GIVE WHEN NEEDS ARE HIGHEST Ray and Tiffany Daniels know that during this time of the coronavirus pandemic, maximizing the impact of your charitable giving is more important than ever. Organizing your charitable giving at the Community Foundation is smart, effective and simple. Establish your own charitable fund at the Community Foundation today. And it’s not too late to join us in supporting COVID-19 relief efforts. Donate now at bgcf.org/coronavirus. Call us at 859.225.3343 to get your fund started.

bgcf.org

499 East High Street • Suite 112 • Lexington, KY 40507 / 859.225.3343