April is here, which means Derby season. I made my first trip to the track this week thanks to Tommy Wallace’s invite to Old National Bank’s Louisville Economic Forum at the Derby Museum, where One Louisville CEO Trevor Pawl and the bank’s economist shared where the region stands right now.
Trevor described Louisville as a place where ideas and courage collide and a city positioned to help lead the next chapter of the American economy. He also shared that one in four major companies eventually move their headquarters, which puts recent headlines into a different perspective.
He outlined why Louisville can win with four advantages: workforce, innovation, speed, and proximity. Building on those strengths, he said the pipeline of future projects being considered here is the strongest it has been in years.
That same local momentum showed up again this week at Spark ⚡️ Live… more on that below.
Hot job 💼: Vice President Operations at zTrip ($90K–$100K). Lead operations for a major transportation company and help drive performance across the business.
📈 Number: $364 million has already been invested in upgrades at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, with plans for $1B+ in total improvements.
As always, I appreciate you reading. 👊
-Todd
⚡️ Another strong leadership move inside one of Louisville’s legacy brands.
⚡️ Big turnover coming in three longtime county leadership roles.
⚡️ This would reshape how large projects get financed across the state.
⚡️ One of the more underrated local spring events if the skies cooperate.
⚡️ Love seeing inclusive programming expand in Louisville’s fastest-growing sport.
⚡️ Startup humor hits differently when exits are on everyone’s mind.
⚡️ Still not over Churchill’s post-time change either.
📍 Big Four Lawn at Waterfront Park
🎟 Free and open to the public
Faith Miller – Founder at Four Today Productivity
Nikki Grizzle – Former CMO at Blessings in a Backpack
Lincoln Crum – Professional Santa Claus at My Local Santa
Paul Bolton – Director Of Business Development at Leadership Louisville Center
Ian Pugh – Banking at JPMorgan Chase
Anne Gardner Darku
Director of Learning & Development at Norton Healthcare
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Nick Fenton
Founder at Fenton Enterprises
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Eric Gunderson
CEO at High10 Digital
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Tim Newton
Chief Technology Officer at Long John Silver's
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John Receveur
Artificial Intelligence Practice Lead at 10k
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Lea Stammerman
Clinical Sales Account Manager at Baxter International
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FBT Gibbons | $170K–$190K
Handle complex commercial litigation matters at a leading regional law firm.
Xinquan | $100K–$120K
Lead HR operations and workforce initiatives at a growing automotive supplier.
MDVIP | $200K–$500K
Provide personalized primary care within a concierge-style physician network.
Deloitte | $120K–$140K
Lead audit engagements and manage client relationships at a global professional services firm.
University of Louisville | $107K–$115K
Drive major planned giving strategy supporting long-term university philanthropy efforts.
10:00 AM @ Louisville Zoo | Louisville Zoo membership
A morning playtime experience designed for younger children to explore, learn, and enjoy hands-on activities inside the Zoo’s Cub House.
4:30 PM @ Kentucky Expo Center | $60
Engines rev and metal crashes at Freedom Hall as drivers compete in a high-energy demolition derby packed with crowd-pleasing action.
8:00 PM @ Headliners Music Hall | $26
A polished tribute performance celebrating Steely Dan’s signature sound with faithful renditions of their most iconic tracks.
2:00 PM @ Bernheim Forest | $20
A guided seasonal hike highlighting early spring wildflowers and native plants across Bernheim’s scenic trails.
8:00 PM @ Headliners Music Hall | $35
Indie favorite Indigo de Souza brings an emotionally charged live set blending alternative rock energy with intimate songwriting.
9:30 PM @ Louisville Comedy Club | $60
Stand-up comedian Stavros Halkias delivers a late-night set packed with sharp observations and crowd-favorite material.
🥃 Final Sip
Happy Easter this weekend and Passover to everyone observing.
And one quick follow-up from last week’s lead story on StoryFest: the momentum kept building. The event sold out even after moving to a larger venue, and continues honoring Tommy Elliott’s legacy while helping nonprofits tell their stories more clearly.
Feels like a good note to head into the weekend on.
