Lexington’s first-ever weeklong Bourbon cocktail celebration. Taste unique creations from the city’s most creative drink makers. Visit www.lexingtonbourbonweek.com to see all of the cocktails.
December Chevy Chaser & Southsider: The Holiday Issue
Ad deadline: Nov. 13 Issue drops: Nov. 29
Our annual preview of local holiday events. Email advertise@smileypete.com for advertising details.
Smiley Pete’s Holiday Gift Guide
Inside the Dec. and Mid-Dec. Chevy Chaser & Southsider magazines.
Show our readers what gifts are hot this year with placement in our Holiday Gift Guide. Email advertise@smileypete.com for advertising details.
Business Lexington December Issue
Ad deadline: Nov. 22 Issue drops: Dec. 2
Focus: Education and economic development.
BizLists: College and Universities, MBA Programs, Private Schools
Email advertise@bizlex.com for more info.
Book of Lists 2025
March, 2025
A year’s worth of Business Lexington’s most statistically informative feature in one glossy-cover publication.
Email advertise@bizlex.com for advertising details and sponsorship info.
Business Lexington Mid-December/ January Issue
Ad deadline: Dec. 12 Issue drops: Dec. 23
Focus: Banking and wealth management.
BizLists: Wealth Management Firms, Accounting Firms, Advertising and Creative Agencies. Email advertise@bizlex.com for more info.
PVAStatistics
The latest statistics on local residential properties PAGE 4
EconomicAnalysis
A monthly look at economic indicators compiled by the Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER) at the University of Kentucky PAGE 5
WriteStu
The importance of authenticity in connecting with readers PAGE 5
CraveWorthy Spirit of Abundance: Local friends’ annual post-Thanksgiving meal distribution has grown into a community e ort PAGE 6
BizLists
Who’s Who Employment updates and notable achievements from around the Bluegrass PAGE 18
Forging a Legacy: Link-Belt Cranes celebrates 150 years of its industrychanging technology PAGE 8
PACE Helps Participants Age in Place: Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly “one of the best-kept secrets in healthcare” PAGE 10
BizLex Q&A with Drew Curtis: The founder of Fark.com on online communities and the challenges of digital publishing PAGE 17
PVAStatistics
These statistics on local residential and commercial property are compiled by the office of the Fayette County Property Valuation Administrator. The data reflects the most up-to-date information available at the time of printing for this publication, but monthly figures may be revised as additional public records of property transactions are submitted and become available.
Top Commercial Transactions for September 2024
9/9/24 106 W. Vine St. Unit 509 $695,000 Willis Beasley & Susan Lee 9/17/24 530 N. Martin Luther King Blvd. $669,900 Qureshi Development Group LLC 9/2/24 114 E. Reynolds Road $645,000 Haddad, Ron & Deniz 9/13/24 141 Prosperous Pl. Unit 21A $360,000* Adams Family Properties LLC 9/13/24 141 Prosperous Pl. Unit 21B $360,000* Adams Family Properties LLC 9/30/24 940-942
Residential Sales Data for September 2024
The
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 Oct. 2024
Payroll emp. MSA****
Manufacturing Employment Durable Goods (KY) ****
Manufacturing: Lexington-Fayette MSA Total Employees**** Unemployment Rate MSA****
Payroll Employment, US
Manufacturing Payroll Employment US Unemployment Rate, US
Consumer Price Index, Southern Region
Consumer Price Index, US Producer Price Index, US
Index of Leading Indicators** Fed’s Index of Industrial Production**
Note: In some cases 1 mo. And 1 yr. changes are based on revised data from previous mo./yr/
* Source: The Conference Board Research Group; http://www.conference-board.org/
** Source: Federal Reserve Statistical Release, http://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/G17/
*** Source: Federal Reserve Statistical Release; https://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/h15/
**** Source: St. Louis Federal Reserve; https://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/
***** GDP is reported as Real Gross Domestic Product, Chained Dollars [Millions of chained (2012) dollars] Seasonally adjusted at annual rates (Updated numbers as of Jan. 27, 2023); https://apps.bea.gov/histdata/histChildLevels.cfm?HMI=7
WriteStu
The Importance of Authenticity in Connecting with Readers
When we communicate authentically, we present ourselves honestly and genuinely. This openness allows others to connect with us on a deeper level, establishing a foundation of trust.
By being authentic, we communicate more e ectively, avoid misunderstandings, and convey our intended message clearly.
Authenticity also demonstrates respect for others, acknowledging their perspectives and valuing their input. In essence, authentic communication is the cornerstone of meaningful interactions, leading to stronger relationships and better outcomes.
Authenticity in writing means being genuine, sincere, and true to oneself. It’s about sharing your unique voice, experiences, and perspectives without fear of judgment or criticism. It’s about being transparent and honest, even when it’s di cult.
When readers perceive you as authentic, they are more likely to trust your words and believe in your message. Trust is the foundation of any strong relationship, and it’s essential in building a loyal readership.
Authenticity allows you to connect with your readers on a deeper level. When you share your personal experiences and vulnerabilities, readers feel seen, heard, and understood. This creates a sense of community and belonging.
By Jennifer Mattox
Authentic content is more engaging than generic or inauthentic content. When readers feel a genuine connection with you, they are more likely to share your work, leave comments, and return for more.
In a crowded marketplace, authenticity can help you stand out from the competition. By sharing your unique perspective, you can create a niche for yourself and attract readers who appreciate your individuality.
When you share your authentic self, you inspire others to do the same. Your vulnerability can empower others to be more honest and open about their own experiences. To be more authentic in your writing, remember to be yourself, share your story, be vulnerable, be honest, and be consistent.
Authenticity is essential for connecting with readers in today’s digital age. By being genuine, sincere, and true to yourself, you can build trust, create connections, enhance engagement, di erentiate yourself, and inspire others.
Remember, authenticity is not about perfection; it’s about being real. BL
Jennifer Mattox is the Executive Director of the Carnegie Center for Literacy & Learning and a professional writer. The Carnegie Center, 251 W. Second St., is a nonprofit educational center o ering seasonal writing, publishing and language classes, among other community programming. For more information, visit CarnegieCenterLex.org.
CraveWorthy
Spirit of Abundance
Local friends’ annual post-Thanksgiving meal distribution has grown into a community effort
BY SHANNON CLINTON CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Wow, you must have a large family,” a woman in Sam’s Club told Zach and Heather Smith a few years ago as the couple navigated a shopping cart overflowing with Thanksgiving dinner essentials into a checkout line.
Zach explained that he enjoys giving back to the community by providing Thanksgiving dinners for the less fortunate. Touched by his efforts, the stranger offered him $20 to help with costs.
“We were blown away that a complete stranger was willing to help us out with what we do,” he said.
The size of the “family” of community groups and individuals being served each Thanksgiving, as well as the number of friends and relatives assisting with meal prep and deliveries, has grown significantly each year since Zach, Heather, and Hoang Duong Jr., owner of The Wok restaurant, began organizing their own Thanksgiving meal distribution in Lexington.
Their efforts have expanded from serving a few hundred people in 2021 to serving about 1,000 meals last year.
Duong and Zach Smith have been friends since high school. Zach went into the IT field and works for the University of Kentucky, though he says he considers cooking to be his “love language.” Duong’s restaurant, The Wok, recently celebrated its fifth anniversary.
“(Zach) started it. He would make a Thanksgiving dinner and then he would give the leftovers out to friends or whomever needed them,” Duong said. “The following year, he started making a little extra. He has
a heart for service, for community and for giving, and so do I. He wanted to be more intentional about giving food out to those in need and he contacted me … and we brainstormed.”
They decided the big distribution day would be the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
The Wok serves as the preparation hub and primary meal pickup site for individuals in need, and groups like Lighthouse Ministries, Hope Center and a few others also help distribute meals to their clients.
Friends and family pitch in to help, and others who hear about the effort have donated money and time as well.
“Demand has gone up every year,” Duong said. “We were a little nervous last year because we weren’t getting as many donations, but then people just started pouring in to help.”
While Heather Smith oversees logistics for meal planning and delivery, Zach said he’s
mainly tasked with cooking and purchasing.
“As people donate, I make more and more trips to Sam’s Club and GFS [Gordon Food Service Store] … and the more people we’re able to feed,” he said.
Duong plans and prepares an assortment of side dishes at his restaurant. Along with sliced turkey, the meals typically include mashed potatoes with gravy, green beans, baked beans, seasoned corn, bread or a roll, and, occasionally, cranberry sauce.
“We discussed doing something different even, like turkey chili,” he said. “It all depends on the help we get, the need, and what’s going on.”
If the trend continues with even more people in need of a hot meal on the postThanksgiving Saturday, there are ways the community can help, Duong said.
“They’re always welcome to volunteer or donate, or let us know if there’s a particular
foundation or someone in need,” he said, adding that Lighthouse Ministries and Hope Center are just a few of the many local organizations with year-round needs that people can support.
For Duong, meal distribution day is a whirlwind of cooking and cleaning, without much face-to-face interaction with those receiving the meals. Still, it’s a blessing to know he’s made a difference.
“When you see so many people willing to help, it gives you a little more hope in humanity,” he said.
Zach echoed his friend’s sentiments.
“I’m just thankful for all of our friends and family who come together to help us do this,” he said. “There’s no way we could accomplish all that we have without the support of the community.”
For more information, visit the Facebook group Wok with Friends to Fight Hunger. BL
PHOTO FURNISHED
The Wok restaurant serves as a base of operations where volunteers pitch in to prepare and serve more than 1,000 Thanksgiving meals to those in need.
IndependentBusiness
Setting the Standard
Central Kentucky lab receives state’s first license for medical cannabis program
BY MATT WICKSTROM CONTRIBUTING WRITER
In late September, the state of Kentucky announced that KCA Labs would be the first recipient of a business license under its startup medical cannabis program, which goes into effect on January 1.
The Nicholasville-based company, which launched in 2019, initially tested THC levels in hemp following the passage of the Farm Bill the previous year. Led by co-founder and Scientific Director Dr. Richard A. Sams, KCA Labs has since expanded its services to include testing food products for metals and pesticides, as well as a variety of hemp-derived products like edibles, before they reach the marketplace.
The announcement garnered praise from Gov. Andy Beshear, who commended KCA’s commitment to quality control, which will ensure product consistency when the medical cannabis program begins.
“Our mission is to ensure Kentuckians with serious medical conditions have access to safe and high-quality, tested medical cannabis products,” the governor said. “That’s exactly what KCA is going to help us do.”
To support this mission, the program has placed no cap on testing licenses, unlike other categories — such as dispensary,
“Over the past five years we’ve been testing all these novel cannabinoids being introduced to the market to help people understand what these products are and if they’re safe to consume or not.”
processor, and cultivator — which have limits to ensure testing capacity can meet demand. With contracts already in place to test hemp products for states like Massachusetts and North Dakota, KCA has the capacity to meet the program’s requirements.
Additionally, the lab has found far more demand for testing processed hemp products rather than raw plant materials, said Chief Commercial Officer Ryan Bellone, which makes it well-positioned to test cannabisderived products for potency and contaminants. Kenucky’s medical marijuana law prohibits the sale of cannabis flower.
“We thought we’d be doing a bunch of testing for the flower material, but by 2019 the floor had fallen out of the [hemp] market and the industry’s never fully recovered,” Bellone said. “It led to us pivoting to test more of these hemp-derived materials, specifically Delta-8 THC, which goes handin-hand with the new program the state is getting ready to launch.”
KCA’s focus on hemp-derived materials has been further strengthened by its industry-leading discoveries of new cannabinoids, which allow for more precise analysis of chemical compounds and THC levels in products. While previous tests monitored just eight or nine cannabinoids, KCA’s tests can now detect nearly 70, offering an unmatched level of accuracy.
“You can’t just test everything like it’s a plant, which is what a lot of these other labs are doing [that don’t test for as many cannabinoids],” clarifies Bellone. “Over the past five years we’ve been testing all these novel cannabinoids being introduced to the market to help people understand what these products are and if they’re safe to consume or not.”
Unlike the testing licenses, which were not subject to a lottery, licenses for cultivators and processors are limited and were assigned through a lottery system held on October 28.
Cultivator licenses are restricted to three lower tiers: small (5,000 square feet or less), medium (5,001 to 20,000 square feet), and large (20,001 to 50,000 square feet). Industrial licenses, for facilities over 50,000 square feet — often operated by multi-state companies referred to by Bellone as the “Walmarts of hemp” — were excluded from this lottery. A separate lottery for dispensary licenses is expected to follow in November. BL
Nicholasville-based company KCA Labs received the state’s first license to test medical marijuana products for quality and potency.
Forging a Legacy
Link-Belt Cranes celebrates 150 years of its industry-changing technology
BY LIZ CAREY CONTRIBUTING WRITER
While Link-Belt Cranes has had its headquarters in Lexington since the 1980s, the company has a much longer history.
Link-Belt recently celebrated the 150th anniversary of the patent that eventually led to the founding of the Link-Belt Company. On September 1, 1874, William Dana Ewart received U.S. patent no. 154,594 for a square detachable “link” for a chain belt that allowed machinery users to repair broken
chains in the field. His invention would later lead the farm implement dealer from Belle Plaine, Iowa, to establish Link-Belt the following year.
Since then, the company has evolved into one of the nation’s foremost crane manufacturers. Ewart’s company, the Link-Belt Engineering Company, developed the first wide-gauge, steam-powered, coal-handling clamshell crane using the patented linkbelt at the core of its design. The company went on to drive innovations in excavators, material handling equipment, and forestry machines.
In the 1980s, during the economic challenges of President Jimmy Carter’s administration, Link-Belt consolidated its facilities and opened its world headquarters at a new location in Lexington.
The Central Kentucky location proved mutually beneficial for the growing company and the local economy, including local farmers.
The Link-Belt 300 AT is an all-terrain crane with a telescoping main boom that extends more than 238 feet and a maximum lifting capacity of about 300 tons.
2024 — a week of on-site festivities highlighting the company’s products for distributors, customers and employees.
“When we first moved our business here, we hired farmers with good mechanical knowledge from working on farms,” said Bill Stramer, Link-Belt’s Senior Vice President of Marketing, Sales, and Customer Support. “A lot of them took jobs here for the insurance benefits. We’ve certainly helped many people pay for college educations, homes, and raise families.”
The company has since been acquired by Sumitomo Heavy Equipment, a Japanese company with a long-standing relationship with Link-Belt. Stramer said Sumitomo’s long-term focus has allowed Link-Belt to flourish through continued support and investment.
This year, the company kicked-off its anniversary celebration with CraneFest
More than 1,000 people visited the facility to view Link-Belt’s range of products, including its new 65-ton rough terrain crane, the 65|RT, and its 225-ton all-terrain crane, the 225|AT. The event raised over $61,000 for various nonprofits and allowed attendees to tour the plant and see live product demonstrations.
“CraneFest is an opportunity for everyone in the company to celebrate what we do. It’s for our worldwide customers, but it’s also important for our employees,” said Mike Clevenger, Director of Production. “The live demo really stands out to me, and everyone I talk to. Seeing so many completed products on display instills a lot of pride in everyone at Link-Belt.”
Stramer said the company has between 650 and 700 employees. Like many companies these days, finding new employees is an ongoing challenge.
“The workforce has shrunk dramatically since COVID,” Clevenger said. “One of the issues in our industry is the education system. Schools have stopped offering shop classes where students could learn mechanical skills.
“Another issue is the availability of workers,” he added. “With all the college employment here and Toyota just up the
Link-Belt Cranes recently held CraneFest 2024 at its world headquarters in Lexington in September. The week-long event, attended by distributors, customers, and employees, featured product demonstrations highlighting the latest advancements in crane technology and innovation.
PHOTO FURNISHED
STRAMER
PHOTO FURNISHED
road, unemployment is always low, and it’s a challenge to find people.”
To help address this, the company partners with local school districts and trade schools, providing equipment for students to train on. While automation has helped streamline heavy equipment manufacturing, skilled employees are still essential, he said.
While automation helps with some tasks, welders at Link-Belt Cranes still perform intricate and critical welds by hand.
PHOTO FURNISHED
“Infrastructure funding will have a big impact going forward. It’s been positive for us over the past five years with state highway programs, but the federal funding gives equipment buyers confidence that they’ll have projects next year, the year after, and beyond.”
BILL STRAMER, LINK-BELT SENIOR VP OF MARKETING, SALES, AND CUSTOMER SUPPORT
Regarding automation, “we’re a long way from where we were 15 years ago… The benefit is that it allows our welders to focus on more intricate work,” Clevenger said. Lasers and robots are efficient and consistent, “but we still need all of our welders for the creative and delicate tasks.”
The company also prioritizes being a lean organization, which has resulted in both environmental and efficiency improvements.
“We’ve had programs focused on waste elimination for a long time. And I don’t just mean waste like garbage, but also being more efficient with water usage and electricity consumption,” Stramer said.
Looking ahead, Stramer said the company will continue focusing on the North American, Central American, and Caribbean markets. With the recent passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provides federal funding for numerous infrastructure projects across the country, Link-Belt expects to play a significant role in these developments.
“Infrastructure funding will have a big impact going forward,” Stramer said.
“It’s been positive for us over the past five years with state highway programs, but the federal funding gives equipment buyers confidence that they’ll have projects next year, the year after, and beyond.” BL
Heavy equipment manufactured by Link-Belt Cranes is used on construction sites around the world.
PHOTO FURNISHED
MARY ELLIS PATTON AMY
KATHERINE E. FINNELL
PACE Helps Participants Age in Place
Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly “one of the best-kept secrets in healthcare”
BY DAN DICKSON CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Dr. James Borders, a long-time Lexington internist, has often viewed his career in medicine as “a calling” or “a ministry” — never just a job. “I think our greatest calling in life is to take care of each other,” Borders said. He says that no matter how well-intended primary care physicians are in their practices, “they encounter people who can’t come to appointments, or don’t have social support, the right economics, or so many other things that make it difficult for a physician to care for them.”
That is why Borders was attracted to a healthcare program called Bluegrass PACE, or Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly. He even came out of retirement to become its medical director in 2023. PACE’s primary goal is to keep older Kentucky patients who are candidates for skilled nursing facilities out of nursing homes. PACE managers coordinate all aspects of the patient’s care and support, working to help them manage everyday tasks and chronic medical conditions. A PACE physician becomes the patient’s primary care doctor.
The healthcare team develops an individualized plan for each participant. An interdisciplinary team meets daily and consists of a physician, two nurse practitioners, a nurse liaison, a dietician, a social worker, home care coordinator, and an activities coordinator to help fill the days of the patients who come to
the day center. Borders emphasizes that the center is not an adult day care facility that warehouses these elderly patients all day, but a busy medical and activity-filled place.
The program is available to Medicare or Medicaid recipients aged 55 or older who qualify for a nursing home level of care who live in the service area of the PACE organization. The patients must demonstrate that they are able, with strong support from the PACE healthcare community, to live at home and be safe while managing their daily essential activities.
If a PACE patient’s health deteriorates to the point where they need a nursing home, then the patient’s family will receive help in locating an appropriate one. “But PACE does not disappear,” Borders said. “We are still committed to them.”
The Bluegrass PACE day center includes a gym for physical and occupational therapy, as well as a full-service pharmacy.
PHOTO FURNISHED
Bluegrass PACE Care opened in July of 2022 as the first Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly in Kentucky. PACE programs have since expanded to counties throughout the state, each administered by a qualified provider, with Mountain View PACE most recently opening new facilities in Pikeville and Corbin.
Bluegrass PACE also provides an important element of elderly care, namely transportation to and from its center off Harrodsburg Road on Lexington’s west side, and to any authorized medical appointments. There is also an attractive day center where patients spend about two to three days per week, with available activities to keep them engaged and socializing. Breakfast or lunch is provided. There is also a gym for physical and occupational therapy and a full-service pharmacy.
“We try to keep them as independent as possible,” Borders said. “PACE fills in the gaps. When I started practicing medicine in the 1980s, I never thought there would be a model of care that would allow for all of that. Now there is.”
Borders says that on average, a PACE participant is in a hospital roughly half as many days as a comparably aged patient. He says they tend to live longer and have greater satisfaction. “It is a win-win,” he said.
However, Borders believes the American healthcare system is fragmented, expensive, unwieldy and difficult to navigate with too much emphasis on specialty care. What’s needed, he says, is more of the human touch. “It’s not so much about which medicine you prescribe, or which tests you perform. God put us on earth to look after each other, not just ourselves. This is such a luxurious opportunity for a physician who sees their work this way to have our kind of support to offer that kind of care.”
Dr. Borders is a graduate of the University of Kentucky School of Medicine. He then went to Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas to serve a three-year residency. “I returned to Lexington in 1988 to join my
identical twin brother, John, also an internist, in a practice, which we ran for 27 years.”
James Borders then joined Baptist Health Lexington as chief medical officer and did that from 2015 to 2022. While there he was heavily involved in patient care management and co-led the hospital’s ethics committee. Even then, Borders came to realize that the challenging circumstances facing many patients could be improved with the right services and clinicians. Borders retired from Baptist Health only to return to the profession in a leadership role at Bluegrass PACE.
“Dr. Borders brings many years of experience and expertise to the team,” said Liz Fowler, president and CEO of Bluegrass Care Navigators, which operated in the region for 45 years and until 2017 was known as Hospice of the Bluegrass. The new name better describes the agency’s development of nonhospice service lines. BGCN serves Fayette, Jessamine, Franklin, Anderson and Woodford Counties. Fowler went on to say that Borders “embraces the mission of Bluegrass Care Navigators to deliver comforting care to all at the right time.”
Turner West, vice president of health policy and strategy for BCNW, agrees. “PACE is a terrific program,” he said. “We are proud that it is available to frail older adults in our community.” West added that it was logical for Hospice of the Bluegrass to go from being an end-of-life resource to supporting the Bluegrass community by becoming the first PACE provider in the state. “When the PACE model is used, we see tremendous improvement in clinical outcomes for the PACE participant so they are more likely to stay independent much longer, have a higher quality of life and can delay or avoid nursing home placement,” West said.
PACE leaders know about the social factors that exacerbate poor health outcomes. Things like lack of transportation, access to healthy foods, support from a caregiver or just isolation and loneliness. “I think this is the ultimate concierge medicine,” said Borders, “and one of the best kept secrets in healthcare.” BL
BORDERS
The Bluegrass PACE program includes a staffed activity center off Harrodsburg Road in Lexington.
Baptist Health Lexington 1740 Nicholasville Road Lexington, KY 40503 (859) 260-6100 baptisthealth.com/lexington
Saint Joseph Hospital
1 Saint Joseph Dr. Lexington, KY 40504 (859) 313-1000
chisaintjosephhealth.org/saint-joseph-hospital
UK HealthCare
Good Samaritan Hospital 310 S. Limestone St. Lexington, KY 40508 (859) 323-7000 ukhealthcare.uky.edu/good-samaritan-hospital
Encompass Health
Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital 2050 Versailles Road Lexington, KY 40504 (859) 254-5701
encompasshealth.com/locations/cardinalhillrehab
Ephriam McDowell Regional Medical Center
21 S. Third St. Danville, KY 40422 (859) 239-1000 emrmc.org
Frankfort Regional Medical Center 299 Kings Daughters Dr. Frankfort, KY 40601 (502) 875-5240 frankfortregional.com
Ridge Behavioral Health Center 3050 Rio Dosa Dr. Lexington, KY 40509 (859) 269-2325 ridgebhs.com
Saint Joseph East 150 N. Eagle Creek Dr. Lexington, KY 40509 (859) 967-5000 chisaintjosephhealth.org/saint-joseph-east
Clark Regional Medical Center 175 Hospital Dr. Winchester, KY 40391 (859) 745-3500 clarkregional.org
Baptist Health Richmond 801 Eastern Bypass Richmond, KY 40475 (859) 333-4415 baptisthealth.com/locations/baptist-health-richmond
Bourbon Community Hospital 9 Linville Dr. Paris, KY 40361 (859) 987-3600 bourbonhospital.com
Georgetown Community Hospital 1140 Lexington Road Georgetown, KY 40324 (859) 868-1100 georgetowncommunityhospital.com
Harrison Memorial Hospital 1210 KY Highway 36E Cynthiana, KY 41031 (859) 234-2300 harrisonmemhosp.com
Serving the hearts of Kentuckians for nearly 150 years.
From prevention to the latest in cardiovascular treatments and procedures, we’re committed to providing the best heart care, right here in our own community. Years of experience and training in advanced techniques and technology assures your best interests are at the heart of every recommendation we make.
CHISaintJosephHealth.org
For More Than 100 Years ...
Lexington Clinic has been at the forefront of keeping your family healthy. It’s our mission to provide excellent care to as many people possible. That’s why we continue to grow across the Bluegrass region. With multiple partner practices, Lexington Clinic offers the best in personalized care for our patients with more than 350 providers and 30+ specialties in many convenient locations.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 859.258.4000 or visit lexingtonclinic.com for easy online scheduling.
Health care regulatory compliance; fraud, waste, and abuse claims; Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements; pharmacy law; transactional health care and transactional agreements; health care professional liability; health care professional licensure defense; hospital representation; nursing home negligence; HIPAA; Stark Law; Anti-Kickback Law; physician’s agreements; ACOs; integrated delivery systems
Health care regulatory compliance; Certificate of Need; fraud, waste, and abuse claims; Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements; pharmacy law; transactional health care and transactional agreements; health care professional liability; health care professional licensure defense; hospital representation; nursing home negligence; litigation; internal investigations; telehealth; life sciences; clinical trials; medical devices; HIPAA; FDA regulatory; False Claims Act; bankruptcy and restructuring; immigration; mergers and acquisitions; finance; employment; real estate tax
Health care regulatory compliance; Certificate of Need; fraud, waste, and abuse claims; Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements; pharmacy law; transactional health care and transactional agreements; health care professional liability; medical malpractice; health care professional licensure defense; hospital representation;nursing home negligence; health care institutions; telehealth; HIPAA/privacy law; behavioral health care; health care enforcement and investigation; health care design and manufacture of medical equipment; health care antitrust; health care providers and suppliers; physician health law; health care technology; health care research and academic institutions; health care litigation
Health care regulatory compliance; Certificate of Need; fraud, waste, and abuse claims; Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements; pharmacy law; transactional health care and transactional agreements; health care professional liability; medical malpractice; health care professional licensure defense; hospital representation; nursing home negligence; Stark Law; Anti-Kickback Statute; anti-trust; life sciences technology and commercialization; clinical trials and medical devices; risk management; HIPAA; privacy and data security; medical staff governance and peer review; medical managed care; insurance regulatory; FDA regulatory; provider contracting; bankruptcy and restructuring; mergers and acquisitions; finance; construction; employment; environmental; litigation, real estate, and tax for all health care related facilities to include hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living, etc., and their physicians
Health care regulatory compliance; Certificate of Need; fraud, waste, and abuse claims; Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements; pharmacy law; transactional health care and transactional agreements; health care professional liability; medical malpractice; health care professional licensure defense; hospital representation; nursing home negligence; anti-trust; breach of contract; clinical research; contract negotiations; False Claims Act; health benefit claims; independent contractor agreements; insurance coverage; intellectual property; life sciences; credentialing and peer review actions; medical devices; Medicare and Medicaid audits; mergers and acquisitions; physician employment agreements; physician-owned devices; product liability; Qui Tam; RICO
Health care regulatory compliance; Certificate of Need; fraud, waste, and abuse claims; Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements; pharmacy law; transactional health care and transactional agreements; health care professional liability; medical malpractice; health care professional licensure defense; hospital representation; nursing home negligence; HIPAA compliance
Health care regulatory compliance; fraud, waste, and abuse claims; Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements; health care professional liability; medical malpractice; health care professional licensure defense; hospital representation; nursing home negligence; physician employment agreements; health care mergers and acquisitions; health care real estate
Health care regulatory compliance; fraud, waste, and abuse claims; Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements; transactional health care and transactional agreements; health care professional liability; medical malpractice; health care professional licensure defense; nursing home negligence; managed care organization representation
Health care regulatory compliance; Certificate of Need; fraud, waste, and abuse claims; pharmacy law; transactional health care and transactional agreements; health care professional liability; medical malpractice; health care professional licensure defense; hospital representation; nursing home negligence
Health care regulatory compliance; Certificate of Need; fraud, waste, and abuse claims; Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements; pharmacy law; transactional health care and transactional agreements; health care professional liability; medical malpractice; health care professional licensure defense; hospital representation; nursing home negligence
BizLexQ&A
Drew Curtis
The founder of Fark.com on online communities and the challenges of digital publishing
BY CAMPBELL WOOD CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Drew Curtis hosted the 25th anniversary celebration of Fark in mid-October at the Lyric Theater in Lexington. He noted that many attendees traveled from out of town, with some coming from as far away as Alaska and Australia.
Fark (fark.com), founded and owned by Curtis, is an early news aggregator website known for its humor and irreverence, which has attracted a wide audience and evolved into an online community. Members post links to news stories, comment, and interact in forums.
During the COVID pandemic, Curtis started a weekly live video stream, which he continues to this day. Of the stream, he said, “I pull stories that I think are funny or flew under the radar.” He and friends then “ri ” on the stories. The anniversary celebration followed a similar format, but with live audience interaction.
Curtis was born and raised in Lexington, where he attended Lafayette High School. He discovered a passion for computer programming while attending Luther College in Iowa. After graduating in 1995, he owned and operated DCR. NET, an internet service provider based in Frankfort. In 1999, he founded Fark. He later earned an Executive MBA from the BerkeleyColumbia program, a joint venture between Columbia University and the University of California, Berkeley. Curtis lives in the Lexington area with his wife, Heather, and their three children.
Did Fark start as a lark or did you begin it with a business plan? It absolutely started as a lark. I was just going to put some links on a page, and that was done with editing by hand in Notepad and Windows. Then, as these things usually go, two things happened. One was that it became obvious that there were better ways to do it, so you build the tools to do it better. At the same time, it started to gain traction with readership, so there became a compelling reason to keep doing it.
I started it in 1999. That was the last year of the dot-com boom, which had nothing to do with why I got into it. There was no digital
advertising industry at that time — that didn’t get moving until 2005. There was no playbook for starting a digital media company then. Nobody knew how that would work, so I basically winged it. It turns out that I’m a good guesser.
I was running a small ISP at the time, so I’ve always been an entrepreneur. My ISP started to go under, because DSL and cable appeared on the scene, and people started unsubscribing and going to those other technologies. I’m sitting there with a website [Fark] that at the time had about 100,000 readers and was growing. It had no path to making any money whatsoever, but I had nothing else to do, so I was like, all right, let’s see what happens.
In 2002, literally nobody knew what to tell me. Legacy media was not entirely sure this whole digital thing was going to keep going. I was invited to speak for a national newspaper association in Tampa. It was interesting to discover in talking with dozens of people who worked for newspapers on the digital media side that really nobody knew how to do it. That was kind of reassuring in a bizarre way, because I felt that if I made a mistake, at least nobody else knew better.
Again, it was 2002, we had a million readers at that point. It was massive, cracking the top 1,000 [in website engagement] in the United States. How can this not make money? When I looked around the landscape, I couldn’t find anybody doing anything [monetizing] either. So if advertising was not a thing I could have access to, maybe we should add subscribers. I thought of the idea in November, and it took me until February to code it. We launched an online subscription o ering on Fark in 2003, which wasn’t the first online subscription o ering, but it was close to the first.
What did the subscription o er? The subscriber got a little tag by their name, which didn’t seem like a big deal, but it turned out people loved that. That was a surprise. We get about 2,000 articles submitted every day, and I pull from them the ones I like and post them on the main site. The rest of the articles aren’t seen. If you want to see all that gets submitted, that’s what you get with a subscription. Eventually, we finally got advertising, but it was pretty clear that
having no ads for subscribers was the way to go.
Is it true that late-night and other comedy shows found material on Fark? Pretty much everybody in radio and TV uses it to find ideas for their shows. They still do. We can see their IP addresses. A lot of people wouldn’t believe me, but we used to float fake articles just to see if we could catch everybody. We stopped because we caught everybody. It wasn’t exactly endearing me to people. I get it. I wasn’t trying to cause problems for them. It’d be nice if they mentioned that they use Fark once in a while. The only guys who do mention that they use this a lot — and I love them to death for it — are the guys from Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me.
Can you talk about the TED talk you gave on patent trolling?
That was a weird thing that happened, where I got sued by a patent troll. I got mad about it, and I did everything the opposite way that you’re supposed to do it. I ended up winning a $0 settlement and getting the NDA (non-disclosure agreement) struck, so I could actually talk to people about it, and then I flipped that into getting a TED talk. They [TED producers] helped me out a lot with it. They said, you need to memorize this, because TED Talks are performances. It’s not speaking from an outline. So, I rewrote the whole thing.
One thing about giving a TED Talk is you become an expert in whatever that subject is. Lawyers are not allowed to give legal advice, but I am, because I’m not a lawyer. A lot of attorneys actually had their clients call me because
they knew I was going to tell them to fight and tell them how to fight.
How is Fark currently doing?
We peaked in 2012 and then started to lose audience size. Pretty much everybody else on the web was also, unless you were Facebook or Twitter. It was because of the social networks and partly because of the App Store being a kind of walled garden. Around 2019 we leveled o at about 1 million people in the audience. We’ve been kind of treading water ever since.
Our demographics are bizarre. Half of the audience is 50 and older, and the other half is 35 and younger. We hardly have anyone between the age of 35 and 50 reading the site, which is the Facebook generation. What’s happening is that GenZ folks are finding Fark, and it’s very similar humor to what they like. They’re bringing a lot of ideas. I plan to keep on doing it, especially as the tra c is not going down. It’s leveling o , but I could fly forever at this level. BL
Drew Curtis founded Fark. com, an early online news aggregation site, in 1999. There was no playbook for starting a digital media company then,” he said. “Nobody knew how that would work, so I basically winged it.
PHOTO FURNISHED
Who’sWho
New Hires & Board Selections
CHI Saint Joseph Health has welcomed new physician Emhemmid Karem to its Pulmonology & Critical Care team. CHI Saint Joseph Health also announced that Matt Grimshaw MBA, has been selected as the market president for the health system following a comprehensive national search of outstanding candidates.
Valvoline Inc. announced two new leaders: Russ Backus, senior director, tax; and Charlie Veers, senior director customer insights and strategy.
J. Tyler Shockey has been promoted to the position of central region operations manager at Community Trust Bank, Inc.
The Hope Center announced that Chris Peck has been named chief advancement officer. He will oversee fund-raising as well as community, public and corporate relations.
Central Bank announced Christopher Schnelle has joined the bank as vice president, assistant director of financial intelligence and security unit.
Amanda Sarratore, an accomplished leader in educational IT, recently joined Transylvania University as vice president for information technology and chief information officer.
McBrayer PLLC announced that member Mari-Elise Paul has been selected to lead the firm’s intellectual property practice.
Keeneland announced the appointment of David O’Farrell, general manager of Ocala Stud, to its advisory board of directors.
God’s Pantry Food Bank announces officers and new members of the God’s Pantry Food Bank Board of Directors. The new officers are Andrew Henderson, president; Sarah Jefferson, first vice president; Melissa Wilson, second vice president; Gregory Kasten,
EMPLOYMENT NEWS AND AWARDS IN OUR COMMUNITY
treasurer; and Nancy Barnett, secretary. The new members are David Blake, Merinda Brown Michelle Cummins Phillip Hoffman Ryan Quarles, Barry Stumbo, and Daniel Ware
Scott Davis, chairman and chief executive officer of Field & Main Bank, has been elected to serve as chair of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce for the 2025 term. In addition to Davis, two Lexington business leaders were elected to the board: LaToi Mayo, shareholder, Littler Mendelson; and Eric Monday executive vice president, UK HealthCare.
RE/MAX Elite Realty welcomed agents Nina Vanetten Natalie Nohel Crystal Curry Denny Patterson, Joy Watson, Wendy Allen, Juanita Allen to its brokerage.
Kudos
Mighty Lex, the Lexington Legends’ energetic and beloved mascot, has won the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball Mascot of the Year award for his exceptional fan engagement and community involvement.
The Air & Space Forces Association of Kentucky has named Nathan Hoskins as its Teacher of the Year. Hoskins, an instructor at Eastside Technical Center, was honored for exhibiting exceptional classroom performance, industry partnership, and his impact on the school and community.
The Sazerac Company, one of the world’s largest distilled spirits companies, has been named the American Whiskey Producer of the Year at the 2024 International Spirits Challenge for the fifth consecutive year.
Lexington Clinic announced that board-certified orthopedic surgeon Peter Hester, MD, will moderate a presentation at the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority’s (HISA) prestigious International Jockey Concussion, Safety and Wellness Conference. HISA creates and regulates integrity and safety rules for
Thoroughbred racing across the United States and is overseen by the Federal Trade Commission.
Lexington Parks & Recreation was a finalist for the prestigious National Gold Medal Award governed and managed by the American Academy for Parks and Recreation Administration (AAPRA) in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA). Lexington was a finalist in the Class II category, which includes cities with a population of 150,001 – 400,000.
Bourbon & Beyond was recently named the 2024 Festival of the Year by leading live entertainment organization IBEA. The festival welcomed a record-setting 210,000 fans Sept. 19-22 at Highland Festival Grounds at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville.
VisitLEX has announced the launch of Film Lexington (FilmLEX), a one-stop resource to market Kentucky’s competitive entertainment incentive program.
The Kentucky African American Heritage Commission (KAAHC) is proud to announce the recipients of its 2024 grant program, which aims to support projects that promote and preserve the rich cultural heritage of African Americans in Kentucky. This year, the commission awarded a total of $47,280 to six diverse projects across the state. Grant recipients included: National Underground Railroad Museum, Maysville, Ky. – $12,780 – roof repair; Save the Grand, Frankfort, Ky. – $12,000 – Black Experience Documentary; New Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Shelbyville, Ky. – $7,000 – building repair; Paducah Historical Preservation Group – $8,500 – Helen LaFrance Art Exhibit; The East Second Christian Church, Lexington, Ky. – $5,500 – preservation efforts; Kentucky Educational Television – $1,500 –Be My Neighbor Day, Louisville, Ky.; Kentucky Sports Alliance (KSA), a consortium of 14 Kentucky tourism-based organizations, announced that it has completed a major rebranding. Founded in 2003 as TEAM Kentucky
with a mission of cities working together to bring sporting events to Kentucky, the KSA rebrand eliminates confusion with the state’s economic development efforts. Additionally, the KSA rebrand reflects the partner organizations’ commitment to promote Kentucky as a destination for regional, national and international sporting events.
The 2025 edition of Benchmark Litigation names 11 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys as “Litigation Stars” and three as “Future Stars” in Kentucky. Those honored as Litigation Stars were: Thad Barnes, Matthew Breetz, Carol Dan Browning Charles “Mike” Cronan IV Daniel Danford, Douglass Farnsley, William Gorton III Joseph Hamilton Gregory Parsons, John Tate, and Ashley Ward. Future Stars were as follows: Chadwick McTighe David Owsley II, and Cassidy Rosenthal In other news, The Trademark Lawyer Magazine has named Stites & Harbison, PLLC to the 2024 Top 10 Trademark Firms and IP Practices in North America – South list. This is the firm’s second year being honored. The firm also announced that it recently achieved 2023-24 Mansfield Certification. Mansfield is a year-long structured certification process designed for law firms to ensure all lawyers have an opportunity to advance into leadership.
Spectrum has made a donation of $1,000 to Woodford Habitat for Humanity through the company’s employee-driven grants program that recognizes the value of community service, Spectrum Employee Community Grants. The grant is part of a commitment to support 500 nonprofits nationally with $2.5 million through the program.
McDonald’s fans across Kentucky and Kentuckiana have rallied in support of local high school athletic programs, raising an impressive $53,301.66 during the inaugural High School Sports Digital Fundraiser Day. This initiative allowed McDonald’s owner/operators to contribute 10 percent of all sales made through the McDonald’s app to designated high schools, benefiting 107 athletic programs statewide. BL
