Business Lexington October 2023

BusinessLexington

IndependentBusiness

Spotlight on ‘Kentucky After Dark’: New passport-style campaign taps into “dark tourism” to promote spooky locales throughout the state

PAGE 8

Robot-Assisted Retail: Nicholasville-based Badger Technologies aims to revolutionize the future of shopping aisles

PAGE 10

Funai Microfluidic Solutions Relocates to Lexington: Acquisition of Lexmark’s inkjet assets in 2013 sets stage for move of global headquarters

PAGE 11

Q&A with Laura Freeman: The founder of Mt. Folly Enterprises on e orts to share climate-smart practices with farms throughout the Ohio Valley PAGE 17

IMAGE FURNISHED

An illustration depicting ghosts of Oldham County.

Experienced attorneys helping families find peace of mind.

PVAStatistics

These statistics on local residential and commercial property are compiled by the o ce of the Fayette County Property Valuation Administrator. The data reflect the most up-todate 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 August 2023

Residential Sales Data for August 2023

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 o ce of the Fayette County Property Valuation Administrator and are subject to change.

Katherine E. Finnell Amy E. Dougherty Mary Ellis Patton

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

Aug. 2023

Payroll emp. MSA****

Manufacturing Employment Durable Goods (KY) ****

Manufacturing: Lexington-Fayette

MSA Total Employees****

Unemployment Rate MSA****

Payroll Employment, US

Manufacturing Payroll Employment US

Unemployment Rate, US

Consumer Price Index, Southern Region

Consumer Price Index, US

Producer Price Index, US

Index of Leading Indicators**

Fed’s Index of Industrial Production**

3-Month Treasury Yield***

10-Year Treasury Yield***

Real GDP (millions $)

Note: In some cases 1 mo. And 1 yr. changes are based on revised data from previous mo./yr/

* Source: The Conference Board Research Group; http://www.conference-board.org/

** Source: Federal Reserve Statistical Release, http://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/G17/

*** Source: Federal Reserve Statistical Release; https://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/h15/

**** Source: St. Louis Federal Reserve; https://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/

***** GDP is reported as Real Gross Domestic Product, Chained Dollars [Millions of chained (2012) dollars]

Seasonally adjusted at annual rates (Updated numbers as of Jan. 27, 2023); https://apps.bea.gov/histdata/histChildLevels.cfm?HMI=7

WriteStu

By Beaux Hardin

Communicating with Younger Adults

Frequently, 18- to 24-year-olds are overlooked or intentionally avoided when companies develop their marketing strategy. However, by not tailoring communications and marketing strategies towards younger adults, companies are missing out on current and future customers. I say this as someone of that demographic.

Other businesses and markets may not be investing in this group as there’s the misunderstanding that to market to younger audiences, additional e ort is required for marketing copy and packaging. But most of the time, one simply needs to adjust the language and the medium for that message.

Invest less in televised ads. Televised ads can be too quick and often don’t provide su cient information. Televised ads are also more expensive than newsletters, direct-mail marketing, or even radio. Also, fewer young adults regularly tune into television. Marketing on social media is a given in business these days, but even advertising on college radio stations like WRFL can be e ective. Newsletters provide space to be more substantive — and readers don’t have to scan a URL or visit a website for information. Direct mail also is more personal and can strengthen your relationship with consumers.

Don’t rely on social media brand ambassadors. Third-party social media brand ambassadors can be expensive to utilize. A social media brand ambassador can also

distance the consumer from or inaccurately portray your business, causing a decline in credibility. Instead, appeal to the demographic by creating a personality — an image of your company through Instagram, Tiktok, or Facebook. For instance, if you are a family owned bakery, you might create an emotional, familial image of your bakery through a skit on TikTok. Communicate via colleges. One of the easiest ways to reach younger audiences is through schools and universities. The majority of younger adults in Kentucky are currently enrolled in college and receive flyers, mail, advertisements, etc., from their school. That was how I came to know about a local investment company. It was via university mail — not the company advertisements that popped up on the television.

By investing in communicating with younger generations, you are investing in the longevity and credibility of your business. Appealing to younger generations can be as simple as tailoring your message for specific channels and meeting young adults where they are. BL

Beaux Hardin is a University of Kentucky student and an intern at the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning. The Carnegie Center is a nonprofit educational center o ering seasonal writing, publishing, language classes, and community programming. For more, visit carnegiecenterlex.org.

73% of our students live in rural or underserved areas

8,000+ alumni

82 years of experience

2,500 current students in all 50 states

CraveWorthy

Tuk Tuk Snack Shop Opens with a Social Twist

BY SHANNON CLINTON CONTRIBUTING WRITER

After seven years of operating her popular pop-up restaurant, Tuk Tuk Sri Lankan Bites, Lexington chef Sam Fore has ventured into her first brick-and-mortar restaurant. Beyond serving delicious food, Fore aims to promote a positive social impact through her new establishment, Tuk Tuk Snack Shop, which opened in late September at 124 Malabu Dr.

Despite this being the first permanent location for her cooking, Fore’s culinary acclaim has only grown over the years. She has been featured in magazines such as “Food & Wine,” “Plate Magazine” (Chefs to Watch, 2018), “Southern Living” (Cooks of the Year, 2020), “Taste of the South” (Taste50, 2022), and “Garden & Gun” (2022). She has also made appearances on the national PBS cooking show Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street. Earlier this year, she was named a finalist for a James Beard Foundation Award in the Best Chef: Southeast category.

“This was one of those situations where the right space came up and I jumped on it,” she said of the decision to plant roots with Tuk Tuk Snack Shop. “I’ve had a lot of opportunities over the years, but this was the first one that felt right.”

The debut menu includes buttermilk fried chicken thighs with fried chicken spice, curry leaf salt, pol sambol (a Sri Lankan coconut relish), and kiri hodi (a fragrant Sri Lankan coconut milk gravy). Additionally, there are options like “The Duke,” a grilled cheese sandwich with a house blend of cheeses and slow-cooked caramelized tamarind onions, and “The Sterling” sandwich, featuring Sri Lankan curry-spiced pulled pork topped with shallot lunu miris (a Sri Lankan condiment) and black mustard pickled carrots on a house-made hoagie bun.

Fore emphasizes that the food will remain approachable, o ering a blend of

familiar and perhaps less familiar flavors. “It’s definitely going to be something where people have opportunities to try new things,” she said.

There will also be a bakery program with some sweet treats.

Despite a relatively smooth process in preparing the restaurant for opening, Fore faced a personal challenge when she injured her MCL and ACL in July, requiring a leg brace.

“I’m limping around, but we’re still getting it done,” she said.

Always a do-it-herself kind of person, Fore said she’s using the experience as a lesson in delegating certain tasks to her team of experienced managers as she recuperates.

“It’s been really a nice sort of change for me to relinquish a bit of the control to folks who are very capable to be taking it on,” she said.

Fore’s new restaurant will also host special events, with guest chefs like Top Chef’s Karen Akunowicz making appearances. In December, Fore’s restaurant will participate in the worldwide Miracle Christmas-themed nighttime pop-up cocktail bar event.

In October, the snack shop’s private event space, Snackeasy, will debut. The room will be available for private parties and special events with a minimum $1,000 donation to a nonprofit in Tuk Tuk’s network. Fore said her ambition for the Snackeasy space and the restaurant in general is to contribute to the community in a meaningful way. BL

Chef Sam Fore says new restaurant will serve great food and nourish community e orts

Chef Sam Fore opened her new restaurant, Tuk Tuk Snack Shop, in late September at 124 Malabu Dr.

PHOTOS FURNISHED

The Duke sandwich, top, elevates a traditional grilled cheese with caramelized tamarind onions. The Sterling, above, features curryspiced pulled pork topped with Sri Lankan condiments on a house-made hoagie.

“This was one of those situations where the right space came up and I jumped on it. I’ve had a lot of opportunities over the years, but this was the first one that felt right.”

Texasbased donut chain Shipley Do-nuts is eyeing an expansion into the Lexington market.

PHOTO FURNISHED

Java Jukebox mixes it up; Spice & Tea Merchants open in Chevy Chase

BY SHANNON CLINTON CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Many restaurants start as food trucks, and now Java Jukebox on Maxwell Street is doing the opposite by adding a food truck to its established business.

Tucker Lewis, also known as Lane Allen, the owner of Java Jukebox, announced the launch of Java Jukebox Mobile. This food truck will make regular appearances at locations and events locally, including Bryan Station High School every other Monday and Beaumont Middle School home games. “We’re hoping to expand that schedule for other consistent weekly locations as well,” Lewis said.

Java Jukebox is known for its co ee and breakfast o erings, featuring cold brew, hot brew co ee, and iced chai. Breakfast options include breakfast burritos, breakfast plates, avocado toast, bagels, and pancakes. The food truck’s menu will remain fairly consistent with a few minor adjustments.

Lewis says he opened the food truck for several reasons: To pave the way for Java Jukebox to become a national co ee brand; to enhance interaction with the public; and to participate in music festivals, aligning with the brand’s music-centered theme. Lewis believes that this move will benefit them in the long run, especially as they plan to open more storefronts and strengthen their connection with the music community.

In other local food and beverage news:

Spice & Tea Merchants has opened at 807 Euclid Avenue, o ering over 200 spices and spice blends, gourmet salts and sugars, loose-leaf teas, infused olive oils, balsamic vinegars, and more.

Big Kahuna is expanding its dining area to include an upstairs space.

Ethereal Slice House has opened at 405 South Limestone at Cornerstone Exchange, o ering whole pizzas, pizza by the slice, salads, bar snacks, desserts, and more.

Bella Cafe & Grille has opened its newest location at 3901 Fountain Blue Lane, in the Fountains at Palomar.

Biscuit Belly is opening a second Lexington location at 112 Lucille Dr., #150, with plans for a third at 4325 Harrodsburg Rd., at Ethington Shops.

La Bonne Vie Personal Chef + Catering held a grand opening and open house at 1060 Chinoe Rd. in mid-September.

Squires Corner Kitchen has opened at 468 Squires Rd., featuring subs, burgers, wraps, salads, and sandwiches.

Okome Asian Grill was set to open soon at 341 S. Limestone, o ering customizable bowls with various bases, proteins, and toppings.

Damiano Pizza & Sushi was set to open soon at 503 S. Upper Street.

Wildside Winery’s Midway location was expected to open in September, o ering a variety of wine flavors, live performances, and interactive shows.

Bear’s Chicken Shack food truck has launched, serving hand-breaded fried chicken tenders, wa e fries, homemade biscuits, mac and cheese, and milkshakes.

Ryu Hibachi Express, a food trailer, has recently opened on Nicholasville Rd. It o ers a variety of hibachi dishes, including vegetables, chicken, filet mignon, lobster, steak, shrimp, salmon, and scallops. Sides such as egg rolls, coconut shrimp, and spring rolls, as well as desserts like tiramisu and cheesecake, are also available.

Holy Crepe, initially popular at music festivals in the 1990s, is now permanently located in the courtyard behind Backroads Bakery since early September. The menu includes a range of crepes, grilled cheeses, and soups.

Shipley Do-nuts, a Texas-based donut chain, is planning to enter the local market, with potential locations in Lexington and surrounding areas. Known for its unique hexagon-shaped hot glazed donuts, Shipley Do-nuts o ers a wide variety of donut flavors, along with co ee and kolaches.

Casey’s convenience stores have agreed to acquire 63 convenience stores from EG Group. Approximately one-third of these stores are in and around the Lexington market. Casey’s is known for its pizzas, made with scratch dough, real mozzarella, and fresh toppings.

Sweet Wally’s has opened at Fayette Mall, o ering specialty caramel apples with various toppings.

Hyderabad House Lexington was scheduled to open in the Zandale Shopping Center on September 20.

Southland Taco Tico has closed, while the Pimlico and Boardwalk locations remain open. BL

Have a food- or beverage-related update to share? Please email info@smileypete.com.

IndependentBusiness

Spotlight on ‘Kentucky After Dark’

Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, features 12 locations associated with unexplained phenomena and paranormal activity. From the Dogman of the Land Between the Lakes to the Battletown Witch Festival in Brandenburg, visitors can grab a passport and check out all the creepy crawlies in the commonwealth.

BY LIZ CAREY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Anew tourism project in Kentucky aims to highlight some of the state’s spookier, more spirited locations. You won’t see any bourbon, horses, or barbecue on this trail — but you may see a few ghosts, Bigfoot, and a little green man or two.

Kentucky After Dark, a new tourism campaign funded through the Kentucky

Organizers said the campaign is thought to be the first state-sponsored program focusing on “dark tourism,” where tourists are encouraged to visit places that focus on the supernatural and spooky tales of old.

“Kentucky has so much rich history — some of which you won’t find on a monument or printed on a plaque,” Robbie Morgan, director of the Lawrenceburg/Anderson County Tourism Commission, said. “There are also travelers eager to get out and explore places they haven’t been before, and a strong interest in thrill-seeking adventures.”

Lawrenceburg and Anderson County are home to the haunted Anderson Hotel and the Wildman Festival, which celebrates

the many purported sightings of Bigfoot in the area. Morgan said the haunted house and festival have long attracted visitors to Anderson County, but this is the first time state tourism dollars will promote the otherworldly attractions.

But, during September and October, it makes sense. According to the National Retail Association, Americans spend an estimated $10 billion annually on Halloween. From the rise of paranormal shows on channels like the Discovery Channel and the Travel Channel to movies like “It” and “The Sixth Sense” reeling in big box o ce grosses ($700 million and $600 million), American’s taste for all things creepy is growing.

“To capture some of this audience for Kentucky, we decided to combine all those insights into a campaign that showcases a di erent side of Kentucky,” Morgan said.

The $220,000 campaign will use passports to draw visitors to Lawrenceburg, as well as to other Central Kentucky paranor-

mal hot spots like Georgetown, where they can find out about the Ghosts and Goblins of Dead Man’s Hollow, and to Richmond to investigate the White Hall Hauntings. Another nine stops along the trail will focus on small and large locations, such as the Trigg Terror Haunted Seed Mill in Cadiz in Western Kentucky, and the Waverly Hills Sanitorium in Louisville.

Morgan said the initial response to the campaign has been well-received. She said people from all over the country have called to get passports.

“I expected the campaign to gain some traction,” she said. “I didn’t expect it to gain traction seven hours after we launched it.”

The campaign plans to run fifteen-second clips on Hulu and YouTube and previewstyle shorts before horror and suspense films screened in movie theaters in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and Tennessee. The campaign will run through November 30, with plans to pick it up again during the same time next year.

Morgan said the passports and trail will be available throughout the year. And if this introduces people to new cities around the state, that’s a good thing, she said.

“I’m super excited about people being interested in this area, whatever their touch point is,” she said. “If [Kentucky After Dark] is the access point that people have to come to Lawrenceburg … and they go find another 10 things to do there, that’s awesome!” BL

New passport-style campaign taps into “dark tourism” to promote spooky locales throughout the state

Built in 1847, Octagon Hall in Franklin, Kentucky, is known for its Civil War history and as a site for paranormal activity.

A movieposter-style illustration from the Kentucky After Dark campaign depicts the Waverly Hills Sanatorium in Louisville.

“Kentucky has so much rich history — some of which you won’t find on a monument or printed on a plaque.”

ROBBIE MORGAN, DIRECTOR OF THE LAWRENCEBURG/ANDERSON COUNTY TOURISM COMMISSION

•Author meet and greets

•Main Stage conversations

•Children’s Tent activities – story times, illustration workshops, face painting, arts and crafts, magician, and more

•Writer’s Room workshops

• All kids ages 12 and under receive a FREE BOOK*

A Badger Technologies robot at work. The average grocery store contains between 65,000 and 85,000 unique product codes. The robots can check shelves for correct codes, prices, and placement in a matter of hours, as well as scan store floors for spills and hazards.

Robot-Assisted Retail

Nicholasville-based

BY DAN DICKSON CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The day is not too far o when Kentuckians will have company in the aisles of their favorite grocery or home improvement stores. Gliding along gracefully, while avoiding bumping into customers, will be slender six-and-a-half-foottall, 135-pound robots with about nine cameras continuously scanning shelves and floors. The robots are a product of Badger Technologies,

which is currently building a new headquarters in Nicholasville. They have already been put to work in stores in the Northeast, California, Portugal, Panama, Australia, and New Zealand. Kentucky’s turn may be coming because these robots are hailed as the wave of the future.

The wheeled robots assist in evaluating shelf conditions by looking for empty product space, incorrect prices, and out-of-place stock. The average grocery store has between 65,000 and 85,000 product codes. “Typically, it takes a store’s employees 50 to 70 hours a week of

tedious shelf checking to get things into some kind of order,” said William “B.J.” Santiago, Badger Technologies CEO. “The robots can do the job in two hours per day — and it reports back to store employees 15 minutes after an aisle is completed. Information goes to handheld devices, and people act on it.”

Even “top stock” — products on pallets way above a customer’s reach — can be scanned. The robot’s cameras see it all in 3D, high-resolution detail.

E ciencies and Impact

Of course, a store’s bottom line is at the heart of all this. Robots allow retailers to boost profits by being more e cient at getting products back onto shelves, in the right places, and at the correct prices.

Santiago says shoppers are fickle, and brand loyalty is essentially a thing of the past. He says statistics show that if a customer comes into a store twice to buy an item and it’s not there, out the door they go — perhaps never to return. Maybe the item was in the store’s back room or the wrong spot on the shelf. It doesn’t matter; that customer is lost.

Santiago believes humans often lack the attention and time to carefully check every single product line on every shelf every day the way a robot can. “This robotics system also helps address the labor shortage we now see in many stores. The workforce is aging. Stores are not hiring as many young people,” he said.

Brian Lee, Badger’s senior director of product management, says the company currently has about 650 robots in service around the world. Stores can decide when and how it would like the robots to run, then store workers “get the to-do lists the robots created, and begin to stock shelves and adjust prices,” he said.

At right, a rendering of the Badger Technologies headquarters under construction in Nicholasville.

Badger Technologies aims to revolutionize the future of shopping aisles

PHOTO FURNISHED

PHOTOS FURNISHED

The robots can also scan an aisle’s floors for things like fallen merchandise and spills and quickly report the hazards. Injuries that occur in their stores often result in litigation which retailers would prefer to avoid. When it completes its tasks, the robot returns automatically to its charging station. These data-collecting bots can work continuously for as many as 12 hours when fully charged.

Retailers have the option of buying robots outright, or they can lease them. Technology changes rapidly, so the robots can be easily updated with new software. Every Badger robot across the globe is monitored from what is dubbed the “Sky Box,” a technology center located in Lexington.

When asked if Kentucky stores will soon be getting Badger robots, Santiago gets a gleam in his eyes and acknowledges that the day is coming, but just not yet. Landing a massive chain like Kroger, based in nearby Cincinnati, would be a prime get. In addition to grocery items, the robots also scan merchandise in home improvement and clothing aisles and stores.

Origins and Future Plans

Several years ago, this concept was considered a bit ahead of its time. But then COVID struck, and the world changed. Santiago thinks robots are needed now. “We grew by 500 percent last year,” he said. “This will soon become common. We are pioneers in having this kind of robot do this kind of activity in a retail setting.”

The robotics idea began as a project for a group of engineers working at Lexmark in Lexington. In 2016, Lexmark was acquired by a consortium led by Apex Technology. The creator of the robots was due to retire and asked if he could take the

William “B.J.” Santiago, CEO of Badger Technologies.

Funai Microfluidic Solutions Relocates to Lexington

Acquisition of Lexmark’s inkjet assets in 2013 set stage for move of global headquarters

BY LIZ CAREY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

intellectual property for the design for himself and possibly start a business. Apex said it had no plans for the robotics idea and let it go. A year later, Badger Technologies was born.

“They looked for contract manufacturers to make the robots and met people at Jabil, a $33 billion worldwide manufacturing solutions provider,” Santiago said. “Now, Badger Technologies is a product division of Jabil. The robots are primarily built in Chihuahua, Mexico.”

Badger Technologies is located in a shopping center on Brannon Road in Nicholasville. The headquarters is in one building, and a test lab run by electrical and mechanical engineers is nearby. Last May, Badger broke ground on a new headquarters located a mile away and scheduled to be completed by summer 2024.

The new structure will have twice the floor space of the two current buildings. Additional land was acquired behind the building under construction for further expansion. “We wanted to stay in Nicholasville because Nicholasville has been good to us,” Santiago said.

Badger’s leaders are proud of the graduates coming out of Kentucky’s engineering schools. Jabil, Badger’s parent company, wants to make the new Badger building an engineering Center of Excellence. “That will grow new employees on the engineering side for all business units of Jabil,” Santiago said. “They will use our engineers to help in other parts of their business, such as design work.” The company has also established relationships with the University of Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky University, Transylvania University, and the University of the Cumberlands to o er student internships and help nurture future engineers. BL

In August, Funai Microfluidic Solutions (FMS) announced it had relocated its headquarters from Osaka, Japan, to Lexington.

“The relocation of our headquarters to Lexington was a natural progression as our facility transitioned from a [research and development] center to the driver of our global strategy,” said Mike Marra, FMS’s chief technology o cer. “The unique blend of pioneering technology and exceptional skill sets within this facility fuels our vision, and headquartering the company in Lexington makes sense.”

In 2013, Osaka-based Funai Electric Co. LTD purchased Lexmark International Inc.’s inkjet technology. Later that year, Funai established Funai Lexington Technology Company as a wholly owned subsidiary to handle research and development for inkjet and microfluidic technology. Funai Microfluidic Solutions is itself a wholly owned subsidiary of Funai Electric Co., a consumer electronics company that, in the United States, supplies electronics to Walmart and Sam’s Club stores.

Since then, the company has generated 170 patent filings in the United States and introduced 15 new products in the commercial and industrial printing markets, as well as cosmetic and fragrance delivery. Further research is looking into microfluidic technology applications related to drug delivery, discovery, and diagnostic applications.

Marra said that the number of engineers and technicians who were part of Lexmark’s inkjet business and already located here, as well as the location of its physical assets, keyed into the decision to relocate Funai’s headquarters to Lexington.

The company will continue to focus on microfluidic products, which include printing, as well as products like pure dispensers and Life Science-related applications.

“When Funai formed Funai Lexington Technology Corporation 10 years ago, that was the first Funai R&D facility outside of Japan, which is significant,” he said. “With the move of the business headquarters to Lexington, that’s the first time they’ve had a business headquarters outside of Osaka. I would say that decision was due to a combination of new leadership in Osaka as well as the leadership that they’ve recognized in Lexington.”

In 2022, the company announced a $3.8 million expansion in Fayette County that grew its facility on Setzer Way and its workforce. The investment was targeted at upgrading the company’s Micro Electro Mechanical System (MEMS) processing and manufacturing equipment, which is used to create microfluidic channels on a

semiconductor wafer that are critical in the accuracy of precise liquid handling devices. The expansion created six new jobs. Since 2020, Funai has grown its local workforce from 34 to 50.

Marra said the company expects to continue growing through its association with related businesses and suppliers in Central Kentucky.

“If we grow our business as planned, then [more jobs] would be a natural progression,” he said. “A big advantage we’ve had being in Central Kentucky is that we’ve been able to capture a lot of top-notch talent from the local universities who wanted to stay in Kentucky.”

Gov. Andy Beshear said Funai’s decision to stay in Lexington indicates the area’s strength in the technology sector.

“The commonwealth’s technology sector has been expanding, and Funai’s decision to move its headquarters here shows it’s only growing stronger,” Beshear said in a statement. “It’s truly exciting that Funai’s leadership has chosen Lexington as the company’s business headquarters, and it shows that we’re building an economy here that works for all our people.”

Marra said the Central Kentucky location also helps from a supply chain standpoint.

“It’s such a global supply chain these days,” Marra said. “There are always challenges. I don’t see that we’ve quite fully recovered from the pandemic. Honestly, it just takes a little more forethought and planning to ensure business continuity. But I’d say we have no major challenges being located in the Central Kentucky area. If anything, I’d say we’ve had advantages by being here.”

Several Kentucky business investment programs also supported the transition.

“The support of programs such as the Kentucky Business Investment Program and Kentucky Enterprise Initiative Act has made Lexington a welcoming ecosystem for our endeavors,” said Koji Yamanaka, CEO of Funai Microfluidics business unit.

Marra agreed: “We’ve definitely benefited from those programs,” he said. “We’re still fairly small — especially if you look at the size of the organization Lexmark used to have driving some other projects. We’ve had to make very targeted investments, and these programs have helped us save money to direct towards some of our more strategic investments.

“That’s all played into our ability to grow here,” Marra continued. “When Funai Lexington was originally formed in 2013, besides it being the location of the Lexmark-related assets, I think that that financial piece was always something our Japanese owners took into account.”

Commerce Lexington president and CEO Bob Quick said the company’s decision indicates Lexington’s global impact on business.

“Funai joins a growing group of international companies with headquarters in the greater Lexington region,” Quick said. “We look forward to continuing our work with the team at Funai as they continue to provide quality high-tech jobs to our community and find innovative solutions in the field of life sciences.” BL

PHOTO FURNISHED

MARRA YAMANAKA

Manufacturing Employers

Ranked by number of employees 2023

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

www.toyotageorgetown.com

Lockheed Martin 5749 Briar Hill Road Lexington, KY 40516

(859) 566-4778

www.lockheedmartin.com

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

www.lexmark.com

Hitachi Automotive System Americas, Inc. 1150 Mayde Road Berea, KY 40403 859-734-6630

www.hitachi.us

Adient USA, LCC 824 Lemons Mill Road Georgetown, KY 40324 (502) 863-0400

www.adient.com

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

www.montaplast.com

Hyster-Yale Group, Inc. 220 Menelaus Road Berea, KY 40403 (859) 986-9304

www.hyster-yale.com

Alltech Inc. 3031 Catnip Hill Pike Nicholasville, KY 40356

(859) 885-9613

www.alltech.com

Schneider Electric 1601 Mercer Road Lexington, KY 40511

(859) 243-8000

www.schneider-electric.com

Webasto Sunroofs Inc.

2200 Innovation Road Lexington, KY 40511

(859) 389-6100

www.webastosunroofs.com

Catalent Pharma Solutions

1100 Enterprise Drive Winchester, KY 40391

(859) 745-2200

www.catalent.com

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

Contractor logistics support –DOD contract

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

Electric motor components and suspension systems, machining, plating, welcing, painting, and assembly. Shocks, struts, compressors. Electric motor components.

Automotive seats and interior compoments; foam pads for automotive industry

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

Kerry Creech (President)/ 1988

Bu alo Trace Distillery

113 Great Bu alo Trace Frankfort, KY 40601 (502) 696-5903

www.bu alotrace.com

Link-Belt Construction Equipment Co.

2651 Palumbo Drive Lexington, KY 40509 (859) 263-5200

James D. Taiclet (Chairman, President/ CEO)/1995

Allen Waugerman (CEO)/ 1991

Billy Combs (Production Engineer Manager)/ WND

Brad Harrison (Plant Manager)/ 1993

Christian A. Stulz (President)/ 1992

Russ Asher (Plant Manager)/ 1973

Mark Lyons (President)/ 1980

Jennifer Dautremont (Plant Manager)/ 1955

Je Cruse (Logistics Group Leader)/ 1998

Chris Rosenbaum (GM)/ 1992

www.linkbelt.com

TOPY America Inc.

980 Chenault Road Frankfort, KY 40601 (502) 695-6163

www.topyamerica.com

EnerSys 761 Eastern Bypass Richmond, KY 40475 (859) 624-7358

www.enersys.com

Toyota Tsusho America Inc.

700 Triport Road Georgetown, KY 40324 (502) 868-3355

www.taiamerica.com

Lexington Dixie Plant (Georgia-Pacific Corp.)

451 Harbison Rd. Lexington, KY 40511 (859) 259-9126

www.gp.com

Big Ass Fans 2348 Innovation Road Lexington, KY 40511, (877) 233-1271

www.bigassfans.com

Leggett & Platt, Inc. 101 New Street Winchester, KY 40391 (859) 744-4626

www.leggett.com

Yokohama Industries America, Inc.

105 Industry Drive Versailles, KY 40383 (859) 873-2188

www.yokohama.com

McKechnie Vehicle Components

801 John C. Watts Drive Nicholasville, KY 40356 (859) 887-6246

www.mvcusa.com

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

Distiller of world class and award winning bourbons and American whiskies

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

Steel road wheels for passenger cars and light trucks

Lead acid industrial batteries

Mark Brown (President)/ 1775

Richard Schultz (VP of MFG.)/ 1974

Randall

Steel processing

Plastic lids, plates, bowls, and paper cups

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

Innersprings, foundations, specialty foam, and individual bedding components and finished mattresses

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

Plastic injection molded parts with chrome and stainless steel plating

Custom precision steel forgings

Information Technology Firms

Ranked by total number of Lexington market employees 2023

NetGain Technologies 2031 Georgetown Road Lexington, KY 40511 (859) 255-0155

www.netgainit.com

46Solutions 657 Blue Sky Parkway Lexington, KY 40509 (859) 788-4600

www.46Solutions.com

The AME Group 3080 Harrodsburg Road, Ste. 104 Lexington, KY 40503 (859) 253-4284

www.theamegroup.com

Volta, Inc. 112 E. Main St. Frankfort, KY 40601 (859) 296-5780

www.voltainc.com

eLink Design, Inc. 400 E. Vine St., Ste. 301 Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 422-9165

www.elink.com

PhishingBox, LLC 400 E Vine Street, Ste. 301 Lexington, KY 40507 (877) 634-6847

www.phishingbox.com

Box Lake Networks 400 Shoppers Drive Winchester, KY 40391 (859) 335-1390

www.boxlake.com

Hensley/Elam, LLC 163 E. Main St. Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 389-8182

www.HEA.biz

Tactical IT Group 201 E. Main St., Ste. 760 Lexington, KY 40507 (888) 223-6781

www.tactical-it.com

Next Century Technologies 1795 Alysheba Way, Ste. 5104, Lexington, KY 40509 (859) 245-0582

www.nextcenturytechnologies.com

SimplifIT 101 Enterprise Drive, Ste. B Frankfort, KY 40601 (502) 783-6630

www.wesimplifit.com

Managed IT services, IT security services/cybersecurity, infrastructure & cloud services, IT projects and consulting

Managed IT services, cybersecurity, cloud services, network consulting, VoIP, corporate AV/conference room design, compliance consulting, network cable installation, VCID services, vendor management

Information security, network security, backup and disaster recovery, managed IT, managed security, healthcare IT, cloud consulting, software development, ERP, strategic planning, IT support, IT sta ng

Managed IT services, cybersecurity services and solutions, data center infrastructure solutions (cloud, compute, network, and storage)

App development, website development, search engine optimization

Security awareness training, phishing simulation

Managed IT services, cybersecurity, local help desk network services and support, cloud services, back up and disaster recovery, structured cabling; small and medium businesses

Managed IT services, managed cybersecurity, IT support by the hour, network support, hardware sales, hosted VOIP telephone solutions and consulting in all of these areas with a focus on IT security

Managed IT and support, cybersecurity protection, business continuity and disaster recovery, infrastructure implementation and support, information security services for financial institutions, vCIO services, VoIP platform installation and support, supplemental IT services

Managed IT and support, network evaluations and cybersecurity services including pentesting and vulnerability scanning, HIPAA/bank compliance, VoIP phones, and backups

No-contract managed IT services, cybersecurity-as-aservice, co-managed IT, vCIO, compliance consulting (CMMC, HIPAA, FTC), cloud services, IT projects and consulting for construction, engineering, CPA, financial, healthcare, non-profit and startup organizations

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 graphics that will get you the attention you want from potential clients.

Schedule an appointment with us today.

For questions regarding the BizLists email bizlists@smileypete.com

Banking, finance, healthcare, manufacturing, engineering, construction, government, legal, nonprofit, utilities, small and medium business

Accounting, banking, finance, health care, manufacturing, engineering, legal services, small business

Triton Airways, Commonwealth Pediatrics, Bluegrass Contracting Corporation, Bluegrass Care Navigator

State and local government, K-12, higher education, manufacturing, health care, public utilities, finance and retail

Nikon, Lexington Clinic, LexArts

NATO, United Rentals, NCR, ZipRecruiter, SANS Institute

Community banks and financial services, manufacturing, engineering, professional services, health care

Banking, health care, manufacturing, legal, small to medium businesses of all sizes

Banking/finance, healthcare, dental, legal, service organizations of all sizes

Century Bank, American Health Management, Meridian Wealth Management, WLJC-TV, Lextran, Everburn Mfg.

Grayhawk, Denham-Blythe, Davis & Plomin

Mechanical; Associated General Contractors of Kentucky, Blue Grass Community Action Partnership, Members Heritage Credit Union, Expree Credit Union, Harrod and Associates PSC, Sizemore Tucker PLLC

Hank Dallam (CEO)

Bob Fronk (Vice President)

Phil Miller (Regional Manger), Daniel Terrell (Service Manager)

Marshall Butler (President)

Andrew Chiles (CEO)

Thomas Chase Gullett (CEO)

Kevin Hale (President and CEO)

Russ Hensley, CISSP (CEO)

Je Propps (CEO)

Tracy Hardin (President)

Craig Willard (COO)

BizTechnology

Maximizing Efficiency & Security: The Benefits of Outsourced IT Support

INtoday’s fast-paced business landscape, the question of whether to hire external IT support is increasingly relevant. Managed IT Services providers (MSPs) offer valuable solutions to organizations of all sizes, helping them streamline operations and enhance cybersecurity while allowing in-house teams to concentrate on core tasks.

Enhanced Cybersecurity

One of the primary advantages of partnering with an MSP is gaining access to a team of IT experts without the need for in-house hires. This not only bolsters a company’s customer support capabilities but also shields it from IT downtime and cyber threats. With an MSP, there’s no need to maintain a full-time cybersecurity expert on staff.

Efficient Maintenance

Proper hardware and software maintenance is essential for keeping technology systems up-to-date. However, this task can be daunting for smaller organizations without dedicated IT staff or larger ones with understaffed in-house teams. An MSP ensures that routine maintenance, patch management, log analysis, and issue resolution are handled promptly, preventing minor glitches from escalating into major crises.

Streamlined Employee Onboarding

For small and medium-sized enterprises, MSPs can take charge of new employee onboarding, providing and con guring the necessary technical equipment. This frees up internal teams to focus exclusively on training newcomers, ensuring a smoother transi tion. Even larger businesses bene t by outsourcing onboarding responsibilities, allowing their in-house IT teams to tackle more strategic initiatives.

Regardless of a company’s size, part nering with an MSP like 46Solutions offers a strategic advantage. By reduc ing operational workload, mitigating long-term risks, and enhancing overall efficiency, external IT support empow ers internal teams to concentrate on their core strengths, ultimately driving business growth and success.

859.788.4600

Regardless of a company’s size, partnering with an MSP like 46Solutions offers a strategic advantage.

Intellectual Property Law Firms

Ranked by number of IP lawyers in central o ce 2023

Stites & Harbison PLLC

W. Main St., Ste. 2300 Lexington, KY 40507

(859) 226-2300

www.stites.com

Dinsmore & Shohl LLP

100 W. Main St., Ste. 900 Lexington, KY 40507

(859) 425-1000

www.dinslaw.com

Stoll Keenon Ogden PLLC

300 W. Vine St., Ste. 2100

Lexington, KY 40507

(859) 231-3033

www.skofirm.com

Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs LLP

250 W. Main St., Ste. 1600

Lexington, KY 40507

(859) 233-2012

www.wyattfirm.com

Dentons

300 W. Vine St., Ste. 1300

Lexington, KY 40507

(859) 231-8500

www.dentons.com

McBrayer PLLC

201 E. Main St., Ste. 900

Lexington, KY 40507

(859) 231-8780

www.mcbrayerfirm.com

Frost Brown Todd LLC

250 W. Main St., Ste. 2800

Lexington, KY 40507

(859) 231-0000

www.frostbrowntodd.com

Dickinson Wright PLLC

300 W. Vine St., Ste. 1700

Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 899-8700

www.dickinson-wright.com

Stockwell and Smedley PSC

861 Corporate Drive, Ste. 200

Lexington, KY, 40503 (859) 223-3400

www.stockwell.us

Francis Law Firm PLLC

4071 Tates Creek Centre Drive, Ste. 304

Lexington, KY 40517 (859) 286-4500

www.francis-law.com

Montague Law PLLC 110 W. Vine St., Ste. 300 Lexington, KY 40507

(859) 423-1100

www.wmlex.com

Michael Coblenz 4071 Tates Creek Centre Drive, Ste. 304

Lexington, KY 40517, (859) 321-6206

www.coblenzlaw.com

Wolfe & Houlehan PLLC 226 N. Upper St. Lexington, KY 40507

(859) 444-4695

lexingtonkylaw.com

Landrum & Shouse LLP 106 W. Vine St., Ste. 800

www.landrumshouse.com

For questions regarding the BizLists email bizlists@smileypete.com

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 o erings, franchise litigation, name image likeness (NIL)

IP acquisitions, including technology transfer and licensing, government contracts, software and IT outsourcing agreements, and settlement negotiations; IP litigation, including patent litigation, Patent Trial and Appeal board (PTAB) proceedings, trademark litigation, Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) proceedings, copyright litigation, trade secret litigation, and international trade commission (ITC) litigation; patent procurement and management, including opinions and related counseling, IP due diligence, portfolio management, patent mining and mapping, post grant proceedings, and international patent matters; Privacy, data protection, and internet technologies, including technology and data management, data privacy, social media, open source consultations, and export control; and trademark and copyright procurement and management, including global trademark prosecution and portfolio maintenance, trademark and copyright licensing, false advertising, counterfeit products, diverted goods, and unauthorized sales, entertainment law, NIL, and trade secret consultations.

Copyright, trade secrets, domain names, entertainment law, licensing law, patents, trademark and copyright, Name Image Likeness (NIL)

Copyright, trade secrets, domain names, entertainment law, licensing law

Copyright, trade secrets, domain names, entertainment law, licensing law, patents, post grant trademark, Name Image Likeness (NIL), due diligence, IP litigation, privacy and data security

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

Copyright, trade secret, domain names, entertainment law, licensing law, patents, IP ligation, advertising, technology and IP transactions, media and First Amendment, social media and internet

Patents, copyrights, trade secrets, domain names, entertainment law, licensing law, IP Litigation, copyright/patent/trademark/trade secrets litigation, ITC section 337 enforcement proceedings, post-grant proceedings

Copyright, trade secrets, domain names, licensing law, patents

Copyright, trade secrets, domain names, entertainment law, licensing law, patents, trademark, rights of publicity

Copyright, patents, trademark

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

Copyright, trade secrets, domain names, entertainment law, licensing law, trademark law

Copyright, patents, IP litigation

Terry L. Wright/ 3 o ces – Lexington, Louisville, Frankfort

Brian Tent/ 4 o ces – Lexington, Louisville, Covington, Frankfort

P. Douglas Barr (Managing Director)/ 2 o ces

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

Brian W. Chellgren, Ph.D./ 2 o ces – Lexington, Louisville

Jack A. Wheat/ 1 o ce

Barry M. Visconte (Practice Group Leader)/ 2 o ces

Andrew D. Dorisio/ 1 o ce – Lexington/ Phil Rettig (Firm IP Director) Ann Arbor, MI o ce

Christopher Smedley/ 1 o ce – Lexington

Jim Francis/ 1 o ce – Lexington

Will Montague/ 1 o ce – Lexington

Michael Coblenz/ 1 o ce – Lexington

Ted Houlehan/ 1 o ce – Lexington

Elizabeth A. Deener/ 1 o ce – Lexington

BizLexQ&A

Laura Freeman

The founder of Mt. Folly Enterprises on e orts to share climate-smart practices with farms throughout the Ohio Valley

BY DAN DICKSON CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Many people know of Laura Freeman from her brand-name beef products in grocery stores nationwide, but few may know of her 40-plus-year history of promoting healthy food and smart farm management practices.

Let’s begin at the beginning: Raised in Winchester, Freeman graduated from Duke University. Her mom inherited a family farm in Winchester called Mt. Folly that went back generations. The trouble was the farm was losing money. Just as Laura was about to attend graduate school her mother called and said they couldn’t a ord to keep losing money and would Laura return to Winchester and manage the farm. “I said ‘Sure, Mom,’ thinking I was coming back to run a little organic garden,” said Freeman in a recent interview. “Boy, was I shocked at what I was facing!”

The early 1980s was a tough time for the farming industry in the United States. There was a drought, low farm prices, and dairy herd buyouts. People drove tractors into Washington D.C. to protest farm conditions, and little Midwest family farms closed by the thousands. Small-town economies were crippled. John Deere laid o thousands of workers. There were many bankruptcies.

Freeman thought of ways to save her own family’s farm. She began reading all the diet advice at the time. Everyone was pushing low-fat foods, it seemd, so she decided to create a low-fat beef product. Cattle would be raised grass-fed and without any antibiotics and growth hormones, an alternative to traditional beef high in cholesterol and fat.

“So, in 1984, I started Laura’s Natural Beef,” said Freeman. “We tried to sell it o the farm. We kept the beef in coolers in the dairy barn. Nobody would come to buy it, period. I couldn’t sell one pound!” But she and her family didn’t give up.

“That’s when I changed the name to Laura’s Lean Beef,” she continued. “My brother drew the first label and the first store we got it into was Thompson’s IGA in Winchester. There was no Kroger or Winn Dixie nearby.” Before long, the products went nationwide.

In 2007, Freeman was seriously injured in a horse-riding accident. “That was my life’s turning point. I hit the back of my head right at my spine. I came so close to becoming a quadriplegic. It left me with nagging, chronic full-body pain. I also broke my pelvis and spent time at Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital in Lexington. It took me about five years to recover.”

Freeman sold Laura’s Lean Beef, retired, and moved to Massachusetts. The environment didn’t suit her, and she moved back to Kentucky. Her daughter was by then running the family farm and, in 2015, started raising hemp. “A fellow hemp producer told me aboutfull-spectrum CBDand suggested I try

a dose. I did, and it worked,” Freeman said. “My full-body pain from the horseback riding accident disappeared, and my osteoarthritis was much improved. I knew Mt. Folly needed to growthis,and so we did.”

Mt. Folly Farm has been in Freeman’s

family since the 1830s. It has been an environmental farm since 1982. Recently, Mt. Folly Farm was awarded a Climate-Smart Commodities Project Grant by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which will assist the farm in sharing its climate-smart farming

practices with other operations throughout the Ohio Valley, including in Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, and Tennessee. We spoke with Freeman about what might come next.

What are some of the climate-smart initiatives you’ll promote with the USDA grant? When you properly manage cattle, they become allies in the fight against climate change. We implement things like silvopasture, the use of trees in livestock pastures. Summers are hot in Kentucky. When you see a herd of cattle crowded under two trees in a huge pasture, that’s bad. It’s healthier for them to have more trees and to spread out. Also, prescribed grazing involves rotating cows to di erent pastures every two to four days to maintain the health and vigor of the plants they eat.

What else helps? Conservation crop rotation. Most farmers grow like this: soybeans, corn, soybeans, corn. Year after year. We introduce diverse crops into the rotation, like rye and sunflowers. They’re ‘weird’ things to some people, but they improve the soil. Also, reducing tillage and using cover crops. This is an organic practice. We reduce tillage by never, ever plowing — no bare soil. We use a roller-crimper to help plant cover crops, even radishes, Australian winter peas, or grains, to increase the health of the soil over the winter. Biomass left over from a healthy canopy of cover crops suppresses weeds.

What is Mt. Folly Enterprises? Mt. Folly Enterprises is a system with the farm as the center of it. I funded it, and we built local companies out of the farm. That includes two buildings in Winchester where we started businesses like a liquor company called Regeneration Distilling, a craft farm-to-bottle distillery, and a mail-order company called Laura’s Mercantile, which mostly sells CBD products because hemp is legal and beneficial. Then I hired people who live around and east of Winchester. The companies issue shares of stock. The young people who work hard and make good profits are granted more shares until they eventually own it, and I become a minority owner. It is one way to help build wealth in Eastern Kentucky.

You’re also in the accommodations business, aren’t you? Yes, we are. We have The Homestead at Mt. Folly Farm, which is on VRBO and Airbnb. The original farm log cabin has been painstakingly renovated and has an old/new feel to it with all the amenities guests expect. This is also a working farm. Guests can hike or bike [two mountain bikes are provided] on the farm’s two-anda-half-mile road, save their table scraps if they want to feed them to the chickens and goats, or pick fresh vegetables and sunflowers from the garden. Basically, you have the run of the farm. BL

PHOTO FURNISHED

Laura Freeman at Mt. Folly Farm in Winchester. In August, the farm was awarded a USDA Climate-Smart Commodities Project Grant to promote sustainable farming practices through the Ohio River Valley.

Who’sWho

New Hires & Promotions

Jacob “Jake” Massman has been named district service representative of the upper mid-west United States, and central and western Canada, for Link-Belt Cranes field service department.

Mediocre Creative has announced Stevie Morrison as its new creative director, and has welcomed Paris Triantafilou to its design team.

RE/MAX Elite Realty has welcomed Tyler Perry as a new agent at the brokerage.

Deanbuilds, a Lexington based construction company, announced the addition of Shawn Rankin as a director of the company.

The Bluegrass Area Chapter of the American Red Cross has elected Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorney

Brady W. Dunnigan to its board of directors for an initial two-year term.

Cobalt Credit Union has appointment Jennifer McIntyre as the organization’s new vice president of business intelligence, and promoted John Taylor to the position of vice president of information technology technical services.

The Lexington Philharmonic board of directors has appointed board member Brooke Raby as interim executive director.

LexArts recently elected Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorney Rebecca M.W. Sherman to its board of directors. Sherman previously served on the organization’s Corporate Giving and Horse Mania committees.

Elder Law Guidance, The Elder Law Practice of Scott E. Collins, PLLC,

announced that Tressa Root Hamilton has joined the practice as an associate attorney.

CHI Saint Joseph Medical Care – Obstetrics and Gynecology in Lexington announced the addition of Katherine Foster, MD.

German American Bancorp, Inc. announced that Bradley C. Arnett will assume the role of senior vice president, chief legal o cer and corporate secretary.

Omni Architects announce that Darrell Douglas has assumed the role of director of construction administration.

Savannah Worley has been appointed as a new agent with Kentucky Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company at the Fayette County Farm Bureau – Tates Creek o ce.

Lexington Christian Academy has named Brooke Otto as its new board chair, and Mandy Ebel and Ashley Harris Gish as new board members.

Kudos

Davis H. Elliot Company, professional construction services providers headquartered in Lexington, announced the acquisition of Northern Kentucky Power Systems Engineering firm, Wells Engineering.

For the third consecutive year, Frontier Nursing University (FNU) has been named one of the best colleges in the nation to work for, according to the Great Colleges to Work For® program.

The Trademark Lawyer Magazine has named Stites & Harbison, PLLC to the 2023 Top 10 Trademark Firms and IP Practices in North America –

South list. This is the firm’s first year being honored.

The Woodford County Extension O ce and Woodford County Chamber of Commerce congratulate the following individuals who recently completed the 2023-24 Leadership Woodford County Program: Keifer Adkins, Paola Roe, Tandy Pryor, Jackie Anthony, Vivian Temple Richmond Ross

Alyssa Vitali Meagan Pinkston

Megan Cadwell Kathy Hogg Sofia Guadagni, Eileen J. Frazier, Erica Schroeder, Heidi Wilcox, Suzanne H. Conrad, Cody Foster, Brittany Bachman, Ramsey Watson, and Minerva deJesus Maristany BL

Who’s who for you? Submit your company’s recent hirings, promotions, and awards for listing in the Who’s Who section of Business Lexington. Email a press release and photo to info@bizlex.com.

PERRY RANKIN RABY SHERMAN TAYLOR DUNNIGAN HAMILTON

MASSMAN MORRISON TRIANTAFILOU

OTTO ADKINS

TEMPLE VITALI PRYOR ROE ARNETT DOUGLAS

K. FOSTER WORLEY

MCINTYRE

PINKSTON

WILCOX C. FOSTER WATSON BACHMAN FRAZIER GUADAGNI SCHROEDER

President and CEO, Taylor