Civic Engagement

Morris & team led a $2 billion IPO of Rubicon to the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), with it named “1 of the World’s Most Innovative Cos.” by Fast Co, an “Industry Disruptor” by Inc. Mag, & a Great Place to Work™ for 5 consecutive years! Rubicon is ONLY 1 of 9 KY. cos. to EVER go public in the 230+ year New York Stock Exchange history!

Glade is an environmental scientist, speaker, & filmmaker dedicated to promoting environmental education & awareness, particularly concerning wetlands & water conservation.

Steve is a prominent American entrepreneur & art collector, best known as co-founder of 21c Museum Hotels-a unique boutique hotel chain that seamlessly integrates contemporary art into their design & visitor experience.
Steve Wilson
American Entrepreneur & Art Collector & Co-Founder of 21c Museum Hotels
Interviewed: 05-04-2024

Mallory is an American singer, beauty queen, & model who gained prominence after being crowned Miss KY. 2023.

In 2019, she was selected as the running mate for gubernatorial candidate Andy Beshear. The Beshear-Coleman ticket won the election, & she was inaugurated as LT. GOV, on Dec. 10, 2019. She was re-elected alongside Governor Beshear in November 2023, and their current term will end on December 7, 2027.
KY. LT. Governor Jacqueline Coleman
58th Kentucky Lieutenant Governor(2019-2027)
Interviewed: 05-04-2024

Prior to LULeague, Lyndon was a Student Development Specialist at TX A&M, where he assisted students in their personal growth & building their professional competencies & leadership skills.

Edelen is no stranger to being on stage. While juggling teaching & competing in several local & regional pageants, she earned her ticket to the Miss Kentucky competition.

Robert is a Canadian-born American board game inventor who created the popular word-guessing game Pictionary in 1985. Since selling Pictionary, he has invented other board games & products.

Born in Pakistan & raised in Southern California, & after only 9 months as Metro United Way's Dir. of Major & Legacy Gifts, she rose to this position!

As Mayor of the City of Jeffersontown, KY. Bill has overseen a police department, public works, an economic development authority, parks & recreation, & all other city services.

Impassioned after surviving a Sept. 6, 2018, mass shooting in Cincinnati, OH., Whitney cofounded Whitney/Strong-a non-profit focused on responsible gun ownership & ending gun violence by taking a non-partisan approach to legislation, with her husband, Waller.

Gant founded Gant Hill & Associates in 2002, which specializes in enhancing the best interests & outcomes of its clients that own, invest, lease &/or operate real estate.
Gant Hill, CCIM
President & Principal Broker of Gant Hill & Associates (formerly Venterra Realty)
Interviewed: 11-12-2021

Adria embodies hope, integrity, humanity & has focused her career on lifting some of society’s most vulnerable populations & being of service to others.

Tom was instrumental in having a marker dedicated to Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech at the Lincoln memorial. He also advanced a similar resolution naming Thomas Merton Square in Louisville where Merton had his famous epiphany.

Diagnosed, WEEKS before her daughter’s 1st birthday, with a rare blood cancer called Blastic Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Neoplasm, (BPDCN)-an acute form of Leukemia. This disease is SO RARE & SO AGGRESSIVE; the survival rate is very low! Listen to her story of courage!

A veteran with an Entrepreneur's heart. Jeremy founded the Veteran’s Club & has assisted countless veterans with their nationally recognized Equine Therapy Program, Career Transition, Family Outreach Program, & the Camp Restoration Community to house & heal homeless veterans.
Jeremy Harrell
Founder/CEO of The Veteran’s Club-a non-profit veteran service organization
Interviewed: 07-10-2020

He talks about his Sept. 2018 major stroke, & how it taught him Attitude is Everything-no matter what your challenge you need to believe with all your heart & soul you can overcome it. So many people come to their adversity already defeated. I took my recovery 1 day at a time & always had daily goals.
🚑 Steve Cunanan🚑
Past Regional Chief Executive Officer, American Red Cross - Kentucky Region (2019-2024)
Interviewed: 12-06-2019

Take Me Home is a not for profit, volunteer-based foundation that has been saving the lives of homeless animals since 2001.

Phil was a very close friend with Founder Brandon McGuinness, who sadly died at age 27 in 2007. Fuck Cancer - F C Cancer Foundation, a 501c3 nonprofit organization. Visit the Fuck Cancer homepage to show your support at www.fuckcancer.org/

Since the age of 11, Alex has been leading a bipartisan effort in the Kentucky legislature to end the use of corporal punishment in schools. Alex's MoxieTalk was conducted @ the age of 15, making Alex BY FAR, the youngest guest ever featured on MoxieTalk with Kirt Jacobs.

Josh celebrates the brilliance & strength of marginalized people including LGBTQ+ & Black communities through photography & collaborative storytelling.

She collects, curates exhibitions, writes, lectures, & appraises fine quilts. Zegart has curated many exhibits in the U.S. & abroad, & lectures on all aspects of quilt history & aesthetics.

Today the Healing Place campus is expanding & has several thousand alumni with a 75% recovery rate.

Under Barker, TARC was designated as the nation’s Urban System of the Yr by the Community Transportation Association of America.
J. Barry Barker (1951-2024)
(Retired) Executive Director of TARC-(The Transit Authority of River City)
Interviewed: 03-29-2019

Ferdinand serves as the Executive Director for (TARC), the largest public transit agency in the Commonwealth of KY. Carrying 15 million annual passengers & is responsible for the ldrshp. & direction for all operations in the system.
Ferdinand L. Risco, Jr.
Former Executive Director-(TARC)-The Transit Authority of River City
Interviewed: 03-10-2019

Prior to Dick’s philanthropic efforts, he served in the Vietnam War as a combat photographer & graduated from the University of Louisville.

Today the Healing Place campus is expanding & has several thousand alumni with a 75% recovery rate.

Learn the underpinnings of why Kirt walked away from a commercial real estate career, and is now solely focused on finding the humanity behind some of today’s most inspiring individuals.

Prior to serving as KY.’s 61st Governor overseeing a$10 billion enterprise 30,000+ employees, Steve served as Attny. Genl. from 1979-83 & LT. Gov. from 1983-87, as well as a KY. House of Reps from 1973-79. In 1987, before his 1st term as Governor in 2007, he joined Stites & Harbison law firm & supervised their Lexington, KY. office.
Governor Steven L. Beshear
61st Governor, Commonwealth of Kentucky (2007-2015)
Interviewed: 12-08-2017

Learn how Dr. Allan Parnell rose from a rural one-room schoolhouse to create a trucking empire.
Dr. Allan Parnell
Chairman of the Board, Mister “P” Express Trucking Company
Interviewed: 11-05-2017

Lukas Dwelly is a social entrepreneur who has worked with some of the largest organizations in our community.

Her handprint & influence has been instrumental for decades in the “Behind-the-Scenes” work as a consultant or volunteer on such notable Louisville festivals as the Ethnic Heritage weekends in the 1970’s under her company’s banner Visionworks, LLC.

Emily Dreyfuss is a Senior Writer at WIRED, one of the top 10 technology news websites in the world.
Kinsey Morrison
Political Activist, Cancer Survivor, and National Merit Scholar
Interviewed: 08-27-2017

For 20 years, Mike Berry has been at the helm of the Kentucky Derby Festival (KDF), one of the nation’s largest and most notable civic celebrations.
Jerry E. Abramson
Former Mayor of Louisville Metro (2003-2011) & (1986-1999), and Former Director of Intergovernmental Affairs in the White House for President Barack Obama
Interviewed: 03-24-2017

Tom Cottingham is a serial entrepreneur who builds successful publishing companies in the digital age.

Abby Drane leads Uspiritus, whose mission is healing the hearts and minds of vulnerable youth and their families.
Abby Drane
Past President/CEO, Bellewood & Brooklawn (formerly Uspiritus, Inc.)
Interviewed: 12-02-2016

Terry Forcht is a leading Kentucky entrepreneur and investor and the founder of Forcht Group of Kentucky.

Ian leads the Dallas Opera & formerly led the Kentucky Opera, all fueled by a lifelong love of opera.

Donald E. Lassere leads the Muhammad Ali Center and fosters its mission of building and expanding on the Center’s educational programs, partnerships, and other outreach initiatives.

Ingrid Hernandez delivers high quality design while building personalized client relationships.

Mitzi Friedlander has spent much of her career bringing stories to life for the blind. After 50 years of recording books, Friedlander holds the record for most talking book titles narrated for the National Library Service.
Mitzi Friedlander (1930-2021)
Narrator & Storyteller, American Printing House for the Blind-(1930-2021)
Interviewed: 04-01-2016
Dr. Barry Denton
Past Executive Director, Louisville Metro Police Foundation (2013-2016)
Interviewed: 12-04-2015

Ankur Gopal’s desire to make an impact has fueled his success building a technology application company.

Heather Howell’s desire to inspire her children and fear of failure power her in selecting her projects and in growing beverage brands.
Heather Howell
Director of Global Innovation & Trademark, Jack Daniel’s Family of Brands
Interviewed: 10-23-2015

Vickie Yates Brown brings passion to all of her projects – from shaping health care policy to the Nucleus project.
Vickie Yates Brown
Former-KY. Sec. of the Cabinet for Health & Human Services (2015-2018)
Interviewed: 10-23-2015

Terri Foster knew from a young age she had musical gifts, and now seeks to use her gifts to help other young people develop theirs.

The 1993 tragic murder of their daughter, Mary, thrust Pat Byron and her husband, John, into advocacy work for domestic violence victims.

Robin Miller grew up in a family active in politics and the community, spurring her to serve in the public sector.

Diane Medley and her business partner founded their CPA firm to treat people in a way that they can achieve their dreams.

Major General (retired) Robert S. Silverthorn Jr. credits growing up in a military family as his inspiration and drive to achieve excellence.
Robert S. Silverthorn, Jr
United States Army, Attorney, and Counselor at Law
Interviewed: 03-27-2015

Karen Morrison sees her job as president and CEO of Gilda’s Club as winning the job lottery.

A commitment to environmental responsibility as a principle of her faith powers everything Heather Warman does.

Summer Auerbach is committed to local independent businesses and leads Rainbow Blossom Natural Foods.
Jim Allen
Vice Chairman at Baird & Former, President and CEO, Hilliard Lyons
Interviewed: 10-10-2014

Marty Storch’s competitive nature and commitment to continual improvement shape his contributions at the Louisville Metro Parks department.
Jennifer Adrio-(1961-2024)
Former CEO of KY. Region of American Red Cross (2015-2019)
Interviewed: 04-11-2014

The mantra “You are pure potential,” from his improv mentor, Dr. Martin de Maat, motivates Chris Hartman in his work against discrimination.

Gill Holland’s curiosity has led to careers as an independent film producer, building developer, and former lawyer.

Lynnie Meyer, a well-known civic leader and fundraising executive in Louisville, is fueled by her commitment to the community.

Lora Tucker loves leadership responsibility – and making a difference – and has used that love from childhood through her military career and as CEO of the Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana.

A passion for the arts and to make things better by introducing new generations to the art drives Stephen Klein in his career.
Stephen Klein
Former President of The Kentucky Center for the Arts (2005-2013)
Interviewed: 03-25-2011

Over the years, Kent Oyler has started 19 different business ventures and created over 1,000 jobs.
Kent Oyler
Former President and CEO, Greater Louisville, Inc. (2014-2020), OPM Services & Entrepreneur (1992-2015)
Interviewed: 03-25-2011

Madeline Abramson served as Louisville’s first lady for 21 years and is a tireless community volunteer.
Madeline Abramson
Former First Lady of Louisville Metro (1986-1999) & (2003-2011)
Interviewed: 03-25-2011

Living with a core of gratitude and an attitude of caring and sharing, Bernard Trager founded and built Republic Bank, always with a heart to serve.

David Jones Sr. co-founded Humana Inc. and considers the good job opportunities and chance for success that the company ultimately provided as his greatest achievement.
David A. Jones Sr. (1931-2019)
Co-Founder & Chairman Emeritus, Humana, Inc. (1931-2019)
Interviewed: 07-16-2010

Matt Bevin’s intellectual curiosity and love of learning have led him through several career opportunities in his lifetime.
Matt Bevin
Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky (2015-2019) and Past CEO & Principal, Integrity Asset Management
Interviewed: 12-04-2009

A Louisville native and self-proclaimed life-long student, Dan Jones has a vision for the future Louisville landscape. And his vision is coming to life.

A custom builder and remodeler, Joe Pusateri thrives on challenge and using his talents to the best of his ability.

Driven by a desire to give back drives Cathe Dykstra to lead the Family Scholar House and help families thrive.
Cathe Dykstra
Chief Possibility Officer, President & CEO at Family Scholar House
Interviewed: 12-04-2009
Dale Orem
Former Mayor of Jeffersonville, Indiana (1984-1991) & NFL Referee (1980-1998)
Interviewed: 07-24-2009
Chef Dean Corbett (1962-2018)
Proprietor & Chef of Jack’s, Equus, & Corbett’s Restaurants
Interviewed: 05-30-2008
Georgia Davis Powers (1923-2016)
Former Kentucky State Senator (1968-1989) & Civil Rights Activist
Interviewed: 05-30-2008

Michael Dalby is passionate about business and believes a strong and growing economy lead to a strong community.

Ed Glasscock is motivated by three main priorities, love of family, dedication to clients, and commitment to the community.

Dr. Kevin Cosby is driven to see people grow and see their mind, life, and relationships transformed.
Dr. Kevin W. Cosby
⛪Senior Pastor, St. Stephen Baptist Church & President, Simmons College of Kentucky ⛪
Interviewed: 03-21-2008

Terry Blackwell has devoted her life to helping people realize their potential and inner abilities.

Steve Trager gets to make a positive impact every day in the lives of his associates and customers.

Dr. James Ramsey has a passion for public service and a vision for education and economic growth in Kentucky.

Owsley Brown Frazier has dedicated his life and fortune to improve his hometown for future generations.
Owsley Brown Frazier (1935-2012)
Philanthropist & Founder/Chairman, Frazier International History Museum
Interviewed: 09-25-2007

Christine Johnson likes to make things happen and connect people who see opportunities to move things forward.
Christine D. Johnson
Past President, Leadership Louisville Center (1991-2011)
Interviewed: 05-24-2007

Ben Richmond fills a responsibility to steward his parent’s work in the civil rights movement and to further the principles and values taught by Dr. Martin Luther King.
Ben Richmond (1943-2024)
Past President & CEO, Louisville Urban League (1987-2015)
Interviewed: 05-24-2007
Maria G. Hampton
Past VP & Sr. Branch Executive, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (2005-2014)
Interviewed: 05-24-2007

Sandra Frazier starts each day thinking about how she can contribute something that will make a difference.

Cynthia Knapek has a tremendous amount of civic pride in her hometown of Louisville and loves doing work that will impact and improve her community.

For Chuck Denny, continuous self-improvement is a driving force that motivates him every day.
Chuck Denny
Former President and C.E.O., National City Kentucky/Tennessee Banking
Interviewed: 03-07-2007

Omar Ayyash sees himself as an ambassador and is passionate about helping people understand that the world is a global village.
Omar N. Ayyash
President, World Trade Center of KY. & Frmr. Exec. Dir., Office for Intnl. Affairs, Lou. Metro Govt.
Interviewed: 03-07-2007

Tyler Allen began life with a great foundation and believes that he has a responsibility to give back to the community.
Tyler Allen
President, USA Image Technologies, Inc. & Co-Founder of 8664.org
Interviewed: 03-07-2007

Steve Higdon orients his life and career around his family, striving to be the best husband and father he can be.
Steve Higdon
Past President & CEO of (GLI)-Greater Louisville, Inc. (1997-2005)
Interviewed: 03-07-2007

Bill Samuels, Jr., is wired to achieve and seeks opportunities that have a beginning, end, and outcome.
Ed Manassah
Former Executive in Residence, Bellarmine University & Former Publisher of C.J.
Interviewed: 12-06-2006

Heather French Henry is inspired by hard work and dedication and believes that everyone can choose to make a difference with the time they have.
Heather French Henry
Founder, H.F. Foundation for Veterans & Miss America 2000
Interviewed: 12-06-2006

Joe Regan is motivated by seeing lives changed through improved education and expanded employment opportunities.
Joe Reagan
Former President & CEO, “GLI” Greater Louisville Chamber of Commerce (2005-2012)
Interviewed: 05-24-2006
Debbie Scoppechio (1949-2017)
Founder, Scoppechio (formerly Creative Alliance) Ad Agency
Interviewed: 10-20-2005

Christopher 2X is driven by the plight of the poor and wants to help them transform their mindset.