It’s Friday the 13th (again)… but so far the week has been pretty lucky.
I caught the Family Business Center's Talent Trends event where Ben Smock and Angela Beets from Gilman Partners shared sharp insights on where hiring is headed. Thanks to Lee Weyland for the invite.
I also made it to TagSwag's grand opening, and their new facility genuinely blew me away (see 🎥 here). Multiple national vendors told me it ranks in the top 5% in the country. Congrats to the Horne family on building something special.
And I spoke to Todd Spencer’s Advancing Leaders Vistage Group on AI adoption. After running these workshops for hundreds of leaders, the pattern is consistent: individually they’re excited about AI… organizationally they haven’t caught up yet. That gap is the opportunity.
Hot job 💼: Senior Account Executive at Apex Order Pickup Solutions ($120K–$160K). Drive enterprise sales at a company redefining retail order pickup technology, working directly for the great Holly Lun.
📈 Number: 34 is the number of years Video Kitchen has been a Louisville staple. Congrats on a great run as the beloved local institution closes its doors for good.
As always, I appreciate you reading. 👊
-Todd
Billions of dollars exist specifically to help employers hire and retain frontline workers. Almost none of it reaches small businesses. The barrier isn't eligibility. It's friction. Essential Innovations is building the infrastructure to remove it.
Employers are already hiring people who've faced serious adversity: veterans, recent immigrants, people in recovery, foster care alumni, people with felony records. What they aren't doing is accessing the resources designed to support those hires.
They represent nearly half the economy, and the untapped talent pools they're sitting on represent 10-15% of the workforce. For the first time, AI makes it possible to serve employers that were previously too scattered to reach.
Essential Innovations was selected as one of eight companies from more than 800 applicants for the Techstars Workforce Development Accelerator. Last week, we mentioned they were also named by Kentucky Inno as a startup to watch.
They need one thing right now: introductions. They’re looking to connect with employers under 1,000 employees with high-turnover frontline positions. If that's you or someone you know, reach out to Ben directly here.
Essential Innovations is early. But the problem is real, the funding already exists, and the team is solving this with AI. Not to mention, having a Louisville company in a tier-one accelerator is worth celebrating. 👏 👏 👏
📍 The Last Refuge | 600 East Market St, Louisville, KY
🔞 21+ only | Seating is limited
Tom Cannady
Artist at The Art of Tom Cannady
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Jason Hahn
CEO of DDSO Alliance
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Vidya Ravichandran
Founder & CEO, UnifyCX
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Ashley Sokoler
National Sales Director at American Heart Association
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Ellen Yonts Suetholz
Lobbyist at Working Strategies 2
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Misty Clark Vantrease
Partner at Kentucky ElderLaw
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CFW ASSOCIATED ENGINEERS, INC. | $95K–$135K
Design and optimize chemical processes for a well-established engineering firm.
Mt. Carmel Stabilization Group, Inc. | $148K–$165K
Lead HR strategy and operations for a specialized environmental services organization.
Korn Ferry | $100K–$120K
Drive HR programs and talent initiatives at a global organizational consulting firm.
Quicksilver Scientific | $120K–$150K
Own NetSuite configuration and support finance and order operations at a growing health sciences company.
Absolute Services | $80K–$110K
Lead field service operations and technician teams at a growing home services company.
3:00 PM @ Broadway and Baxter to Bardstown Road and Windsor Place
Louisville's beloved St. Patrick's Day tradition takes over the streets with floats, live music, and plenty of Irish spirit. Free to attend.
7:30 PM @ Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest | $20
A guided after-dark exploration of Bernheim's amphibian residents led by naturalists. A unique and memorable night in nature.
8:00 PM @ Mercury Ballroom | $18
An electrifying MJ tribute bringing the King of Pop's iconic moves and hits to life. From Thriller to Billie Jean, expect a high-energy night of nostalgia.
1:45 PM @ Yum Center | $80
World-class bull riders take on 1,800-pound bulls in one of the most thrilling live sports experiences around.
8:00 PM @ Paristown Hall | $61
Soul powerhouse Leela James brings her gospel-drenched voice and old-school R&B feel to an intimate Paristown Hall performance.
9:00 PM @ Kaiju | Free
Cap off your weekend with local and touring comedians at Kaiju's late-night comedy showcase.
🥃 Final Sip
Saturday is Pi Day (3/14). If you need a rec, Hometown Pizza has surprised me lately as a new favorite.
But Sunday is the main event. Selection Sunday means our basketball teams (both men’s and women’s) find out if March gets maddening or magical. A kind draw goes a long way.
And if you need something to watch while you wait, Sports Illustrated dropped "Marching Into Madness" today. It's a five-part docuseries following Pat Kelsey and the Cardinals, produced with Jay Bilas and Donovan Mitchell. Three years in the making, and the final episode covers Selection Sunday as it happens. Good timing.
