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I’ve been lucky to attend some great events recently with Amplify’s, Venture Connectors, and ACG Kentucky. Each were packed and definitely were worth showing up for. I shared more on why I liked them here.

This week, I spent time talking with employers and smart, talented job seekers, and I’m also hiring for a couple roles myself. Being on both sides of those conversations has made the job market very top of mind for me right now. I pulled together some research below and I’m asking one simple question at the end. Take a look and tell me what you think.

Hot job 💼: Director Materials / Logistics Management at Packsize ($115K–$130K). Oversee supply chain, materials planning, and logistics operations for a global leader in packaging automation and right-sized box solutions.

📈 Number: 118 is the number of years Aebersold Florist was family-operated before being passed to another local family. Congrats to my friends, Brian and Caitlin Yost on the acquisition.

As always, I appreciate you reading. 👊

-Todd

AI, HR jargon, and a system built to filter, not match.

👋 The Disconnect: For six months, I've been posting six-figure jobs in Louisville. People are always surprised these roles exist here. And I know I'm missing many because HR departments won't post salary ranges, which I think is a mistake. Meanwhile, qualified candidates tell me they can't get in the door, and employers tell me they can't find good people. Both sides are frustrated. Both sides are losing.

📊 The Broken Process: An estimated 75% of resumes get rejected by applicant tracking systems before a human sees them. When one does get through, it's screened for 7.4 seconds. And 44% of applicants say their biggest frustration is never hearing back at all.

🎯 Why It's Broken: AI filters screen for keywords, not fit. HR writes job descriptions for legal protection, not clarity. Up to 70% of roles never hit public job boards. Candidates apply into the void. Employers post and pray. Nobody wins.

🤝 The Referral Advantage: Referrals convert at 40% versus 7% from job boards. Referred candidates get hired 47% faster (29 vs. 55 days). And 46% of referral hires stay past one year, compared to just 14% of job board hires after three years.

💡 What's Worked for Me: I flip the typical process. First, I write the job description for the candidate, not HR. What's in it for them, why this role matters, why they'd want it. Then I privately ask my network who they know before posting anything publicly. Then I push to the top job boards. Then I go back to my network to help vet applicants based on who knows who. This approach drives more applicants than most job postings I see, and better quality. I'm not dependent on algorithms to find talent because I'm leaning on relationships first.

🏠 The Louisville Advantage: This isn't brain drain. We have a matching problem. And Louisville is actually wired to solve it. Our business community is tight enough to vet candidates through connections in ways larger markets can't. We can build systems around relationships instead of algorithms. That's an edge we're not using.

⚡️ Spark Take: Louisville doesn't need more talent or more jobs. It needs a better way to connect the two. I'm ruminating on ideas to help solve this.

MegaBITE takes over the Kentucky Science Center on Friday, January 30, for a 21+ evening of local eats, drinks, and hands-on science fun. Think date night meets food festival meets interactive exhibits, all without a single kid in sight.

Six local vendors will be serving up everything from Creative Queen baked goods to Goodwood hot sauces to Sweet Colada treats. Tickets are limited, so grab yours now.

⚡️ Spark Take: Finally, a science experiment we can all get behind: testing how many local bites pair best with curiosity (and cocktails).

Birthday love for some local standouts

Looking for your next Louisville home? Carrie King has two beautifully crafted new construction homes in the heart of St. Matthews. Click the photos to explore.

909 S Sherrin Ave, Louisville 40207 | 2,441 sq ft | 3 bed, 2.5 bath | $875,000

"The Godfrey" by Twin Spires is the crown jewel of this year's Homearama in St. Matthews. Every finish has been hand-selected in this custom build featuring engineered hardwood throughout, sun-filled living spaces, and a chef's kitchen with custom cabinetry and oversized island. The spa-inspired primary suite feels like a private retreat. An unfinished basement with egress window offers room to expand, and the outdoor living space is ready for entertaining.

Listed by: Carrie King, Homepage Realty

907 S Sherrin Ave, Louisville 40207 | 2,442 sq ft | 3 bed, 2.5 bath | $875,000

"The Vaughn" by Twin Spires blends timeless design with modern luxury in the heart of St. Matthews. The floor plan flows beautifully with engineered hardwood and sun-filled living areas made for entertaining. The gourmet kitchen showcases custom cabinetry, an oversized island, and an inviting eat-in space. Upstairs, the primary suite is a serene retreat with spa-like finishes. Unfinished basement with egress window offers flexibility to expand.

Listed by: Carrie King, Homepage Realty

Commissioning Engineer at Pixel Technologies ($100K–$120K). Lead AV system commissioning, acceptance testing, and end-user training for integrated audiovisual, unified communications, and IT systems.

Lead Controls Subject Matter Expert at Meta ($143K–$198K). Manage a team of controls experts responsible for Building Management System reliability at Meta data centers. Requires expertise in building automation systems and infrastructure.

Project Engineer at DSJ Global ($100K–$120K). Manage capital and manufacturing projects for a piping solutions organization in Louisville. Support company growth through project execution and vendor coordination.

Business Development Manager at STRUCTURAL ($100K–$120K). Drive growth for this specialty infrastructure repair and maintenance firm serving commercial, transportation, industrial, and power customers.

Healthcare Operations Manager at Precision Diagnostics ($100K–$110K). Collaborate with clinical teams and train multi-site Patient Navigators to successfully educate patients on diagnostic services.

We found the fun, so you don’t have to.

🚀 Humans in Space
7:00–10:00 PM @ Bernheim Forest ($20, members $15)
When will we return to the moon? Are we going to Mars? NASA JPL Solar System Ambassador Dan Price explores these questions and more during a lively discussion, followed by laser-guided stargazing and insights from Bernheim's Volunteer Naturalists. Registration required.

💃 Radio Micho
6:00 PM @ Bomhard Theater ($46)
A vibrant multicultural production featuring 45+ artists from Miami blending bilingual music, contemporary and Afro-Latin dance, theater, and high-energy choreography. This family-driven show celebrates culture, community, and connection across generations.

🏠 Louisville Build, Renovate & Landscape Expo
January 16–18 @ Kentucky International Convention Center ($4, kids free)
Explore thousands of ideas for your next home project with experts in cabinetry, flooring, sunrooms, smart home tech, windows, and landscaping. Feature gardens built inside the exhibit hall offer a welcome preview of spring.

✊ Keepers of the Dream: Beyond the Dream
5:00–7:00 PM @ Whitney Hall, Kentucky Center (Free)
A powerful MLK Day celebration featuring a short play interwoven with music, dance, and spoken word. Arrive early for the community festival in the lobby (3:00–5:00 PM) with local vendors, visual art, and live performances. Free parking.

“I should be a postage stamp, because that’s the only way I’ll ever get licked.”

This Muhammad Ali quote from 1964 just turned literal. The United States Postal Service unveiled the Muhammad Ali Forever Stamp yesterday in Louisville, making him the first Louisvillian ever honored on a U.S. stamp. Pretty cool that a kid from the West End became a global icon and now he’ll be delivering mail across America.