About Us

Empowering businesses for a thriving region

Commerce Lexington fosters economic development, job creation, and business growth in Lexington and Central Kentucky by leveraging community collaboration and strategic partnerships.

Business Attraction

Attract and support new industries to invest in the Greater Lexington Region.

Business Retention & Expansion

Support and encourage expansion opportunities by coordinating needs of business and industry.

Business Creation

Foster an environment that encourages new business ventures and entrepreneurial growth.

Our Story

Empowering Economic Growth and Innovation

Commerce Lexington drives economic development, job creation, and business growth in Lexington and Central Kentucky. We leverage the collective power of our business community to influence public policy, support entrepreneurs, and cultivate leaders. Our Economic Development Division offers comprehensive services, including business recruitment, community and minority business development, and workforce initiatives through The Business & Education Network (BEN). Based in Lexington, we collaborate closely with city and state governments, workforce development organizations, and key industries, ensuring Greater Lexington remains a prime destination for living, working, and thriving.

Our Team

Commerce Lexington Economic Development Staff

Betsy Dexter

Executive Director, Business & Education Network

Niki Goldey

Director of New Business Development, Economic Development

Gina Greathouse

Executive Vice President, Economic Development

Cheryl Klever

Director of Business Retention & Expansion, Economic Development

Falon McFarland

Project Manager

Robert L. Quick, CCE

President & CEO

Tyrone Tyra

Senior Vice President, Community & Minority Business Development

Katie Vandegrift

Director of Marketing and Research

Commerce Lexington Inc. Board of Directors

2024 Executive Board

*Executive Board Members also serve on the Full Board of Directors.

Steve Byars
2024 Board Chair
Vice President & Chief Investment Officer
Moneywatch Advisors, Inc.

Kevin Atkins
City Representative
Chief Development Officer
City of Lexington

Tucker Ballinger
Vice Chair, The Business & Education Network
President & CEO
Forcht Bank

Stephanie Bell
At-Large Member
Vice President, Government Affairs
Kinetic by Windstream

Carla Blanton
Board Chair-Elect
Owner
Carla Blanton Consulting

Keeana Boarman
General Counsel
Member
McBrayer, PLLC

Jonathan Caldwell
Vice Chair, Communications
Senior Vice President, Chief People Officer
Valvoline

Luther Deaton
Vice Chair, Economic Development
Chairman, President & CEO
Central Bank & Trust Co.

Larry Forester
Vice Chair, Community & Minority Business Development
Senior Vice President, Commercial Banking Officer
Forcht Bank

Toa Green
Vice Chair, Leadership Development
Owner/Master Ice Cream Crafter
Crank & Boom Craft Ice Cream

Branden Gross
At-Large Member
Partner
Dentons

John Mahan
Regional Representative
Owner
Sodworks

Danny Murphy
Vice Chair, Membership & Engagement
Senior Assistant Dean of Community Engagement & Operations/Chief Diversity Officer
University of Kentucky College of Law

Nick Nicholson
Vice Chair, Public Policy & Regional Engagement
Member
Stoll Keenon Ogden PLLC

Robert L. Quick, IOM, CCE
Board Secretary
President & CEO
Commerce Lexington Inc.

Cassidy Rosenthal
Immediate Past Chair
Lexington Office Executive Member
Stites & Harbison, PLLC

Daryl Smith
At-Large Member
Ombudsman, Advanced Metering Infrastructure
LG&E and KU Energy

Debbie Smith
Treasurer
Director
Cherry Bekaert LLP

2024 Full Board of Directors

Dennis Anderson
President
Anderson Communities

Wallace Barber
Owner
Wallace Barber State Farm Insurance

Dr. Stephen Behnke
CEO
Lexington Clinic

Dr. Eli Capilouto
President
University of Kentucky

Bishop Carter IV
Owner
Elaine Allen LLC

Kimra Cole
President & COO
Columbia Gas

Ray Daniels
President
Equity Solutions Group

Sheri Evans Depp
Director, Talent Management, Diversity, and Corporate Citizenship
Lexmark International, Inc.

Dr. Robert DiPaolo
Provost & Co-Executive VP for Health Affairs
UK HealthCare

Billie Dollins
Executive Vice President, Central Region President
Community Trust Bank

Dr. Greg Feeney
President & CEO
Bluegrass Community & Technical College

Eric Frankl
President & CEO
Blue Grass Airport

Annissa Franklin
Vice President
Urban League of Lexington – Fayette County

John Gohmann
Regional President
PNC Bank

Linda Gorton
Mayor
City of Lexington

Tom Harris
Vice President, University Relations
University of Kentucky

Dr. Tony Houston
CEO
CHI Saint Joseph Health

Brien Lewis
President
Transylvania University

Demetrus Liggins
Superintendent
Fayette County Public Schools

Mark Manuel
Vice President, Advancement
Bluegrass Community & Technical College

LaToi Mayo
Shareholder
Littler Mendelson, PSC

Jennifer Miloszewski
Director-in-Charge, Lexington Office
Blue & Co., LLC

Abdul Muhammad
Central Kentucky Market President
WesBanco

Kathryn Nash
President
Kentucky American Water

Caitlin Neal
Vice President of Sales & Development
Office Resources, Inc. (ORI)

Randy Newsome
President
Bluegrass REALTORS®

Kim Ogle
Manager, Corporate Communications
Toyota Motor North America EA

Kaelyn Query
Founder & President
Lexington Event Company

Felicia Quigg
Vice President of Family Pride
More Than a Bakery

Ed Quinn
President/CEO
R. J. Corman Railroad Group, LLC

Mary Quinn Ramer
President
VisitLEX

Brian Raney
Co-Founder
Awesome, Inc.

Becky Reinhold
Brokerage Manager
Bluegrass Sotheby’s International Realty

Chris Roty
President
Baptist Health Lexington

Sarah Rowe
Chief Financial Officer
Gray Construction

Robert Ryan
Partner
Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs, LLP

Rob Shear
General Manager
SRC of Lexington Inc.

Adam Smith
Director, Electric Distribution Operations
LG&E and KU Energy

Hunter Stout
Chief Financial Officer
Keeneland Association Inc.

Jana Syrcle
Partner
Frost Brown Todd LLP

Mary Ann Vimont
Associate Professor & Director of Alumni
University of Kentucky

Mary-Alicha Weldon
City President
Fifth Third Bank

Elizabeth Woodward
Forensic Accounting Director & Lexington Market Leader
Dean Dorton

Dan Wu
Vice Mayor
City of Lexington

Todd Ziegler
Central Kentucky Market President
Republic Bank & Trust Co.

Investors

Generously supported by its investors

Commerce Lexington’s investors support the local business community through various programs, sponsorships, and campaigns.

Top Investors

The Top Investor Program at Commerce Lexington includes community leaders who recognize the direct connection between their business success and the economic prosperity of the region. These leaders reinvest in the local business community through Commerce Lexington, believing in its mission to improve the local business climate and quality of life. Top Investors receive enhanced relationship-building and recognition opportunities beyond standard membership benefits. Their support is essential to the organization’s success and the community as a whole.

Contact Lynda Bebrowsky at 859-226-1611 to learn more about participating in the Top Investor Program.

Full Stride Investors

In 1997, the Greater Lexington business community took a leap forward in our economic development efforts by creating and funding Lexington Strides Ahead. Lexington Strides Ahead funds important initiatives of Commerce Lexington’s Economic Development Division and the Business and Education Network. Since the initial campaign in 1997, multiple sequel campaigns have been great successes.

The goal of Lexington Full Stride will always be to focus on enhancing our business climate and competitive position in the region. Commerce Lexington’s Economic Development Division focuses on three ways to create primary jobs and increase the amount of income coming into our community: business attraction, business retention and expansion, and business creation. Today, Full Stride supports these overall economic development efforts including the Community and Minority Business Program and the Business and Education Network.