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This week I led two groups through my new AI fluency workshop. The first brought together police leaders from Louisville, Nashville, and Knoxville to explore practical uses of AI. The second was with First Class Cleaning, one of Louisville’s fastest-growing companies. I’m more convinced than ever that AI fluency is the top skill business leaders need to move forward.

👀 In today's edition:

Hot job 💼: Business Strategist at Crowe ($87K–$179K). Align client goals with data insights, shape analytics strategy, and deliver measurable impact. Ideal for 8+ years in consulting or data strategy. Hybrid with 30% travel.

📈 Number: 2976 was the UPS flight number in this week’s tragic accident. Our prayers and condolences go out to the crew, their families, and everyone affected by this disaster.

Birthday Cheers 🎉: Cheers to Neil Wilding, COO at Stonewood Financial and co-author of The No-Compromise Retirement Plan, The New Rules of Retirement Saving, and The New Holistic Retirement.

-Todd

It's not about envy. It's about having a scoreboard.

Most people like to compare Louisville to other cities in a way of envy or scarcity. Our new Economic Development Leader Trevor Pawl has a different framework.

Pawl is CEO of the newly formed Louisville Economic Development Alliance (LEDA), and he brings fresh perspective and strong energy to our city. I got to spend a little time with him on this year's GLIDE trip to Milwaukee, and I think his article on peer cities is worth diving into.

⚙️ Why Peer Cities Matter: Pawl calls peer cities our scoreboard, playbook, and sparring partner all in one. They give us context on what's possible and hand us proven playbooks. When Chattanooga grows faster or Cincinnati attracts another major employer, that pressure should sharpen our game.

I've always thought comparing to peer cities can be fool's gold as so much of "what's working" has many intricate steps that are unseen before success is found. That said... Pawl makes some good arguments on how to think about where Louisville fits and what we should be tracking.

🧭 How the Benchmarks Are Picked: Pawl's team compares fundamentals like population, GDP mix, workforce growth, capital flows, and execution strength. The goal is to study cities that share Louisville's legacy infrastructure but are now modernizing their economies.

Louisville's most relevant peers right now: Indianapolis, St. Louis, Birmingham, Memphis, Richmond, Chattanooga, Greenville, Kansas City, Milwaukee, and Cincinnati.

📈 Trajectory Beats Size: Pawl goes on to say “Peer cities aren't tattoos… they're snapshots.” The smarter play is to study momentum… who's growing, who's solving similar challenges, and who's building the kind of future we want.

⚡ Spark Take: Louisville doesn't need to win every category. We need to know which races matter, who's winning them, and what moves they made to get there. Pawl's peer framework gives us that scoreboard… now we need to use it.

👉 Read Trevor Pawl's full post here: Who Are Louisville's Peer Cities?

Super cool group of business folks chatting it up about the amazing things we have in Louisville. These great folks knew some of the best places, the most interesting people and several spots I’m positive you haven’t heard of.

Sierra Enlow – Managing Partner of Economic Development at Cornerstone Strategies
Todd Goldberg – Advertising Technology Consultant
Grace Huneck – Executive Director at Young Professionals Association of Louisville (YPAL)
Jeremy Jarvi – Chief Development Officer at Metro United Way
Alyssa Murphy – Assistant Athletic Director at the University of Louisville
Shane Stuber – Executive Director at New Albany Floyd County Education Foundation
John Williamson – Founder and CEO at Lockbox AI

Cave Hill Cemetery, Evan Williams Bourbon Experience, Louisville Thoroughbred Society, Big Four Bridge, Foxhollow Farm, and the NuLu District.

Backside Learning Center (Churchill Downs community), Blessings in a Backpack, Dare to Care, Foxhollow Farm Education Fund, New Albany Floyd County Education Foundation, and Metro United Way’s SNAP Emergency Fund.

Barn8, Kashmir, Locals, Malone’s, Mesh, Mojitos, Pizza Lupo, Safir, and Wheated.

DKD miso soup, Gulab Jamin at Kashmir, Joella’s Fried Chicken, Smoked Salmon Dip at Mesh, and Togo Sushi.

🌲 NuLu Jingle Fest is set for Saturday, November 15, 2025 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., turning Shelby St. and the NuLu corridor into a holiday block party with live music, maker pop-ups, and neighborhood shop specials. Expect festive drinks, treats, and plenty of photo-worthy moments as you stroll and shop.

Bring the family (and your holiday spirit) to stroll, sip, and shop your way through this winter wonderland. Many shops have in-store giveaways and themed drinks, so come ready to explore.

🗓 Saturday, Nov 15, 2025 | 11 a.m.–5 p.m.
📍 Shelby St. between Market & Nanny Goat Strut… plus participating NuLu shops
💵 Cost: Free to attend
🎁 Bonus: Holiday activations, music, and in-store promos

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Director of Environmental Health and Safety at Movement Search & Delivery ($140K–$175K). Lead safety programs, audits, and compliance across manufacturing sites. Ideal for leaders with OSHA expertise and a track record in plant safety.

Control Engineer at Sterling Engineering ($100K–$130K). Design and program automation systems for high-speed production. Requires PLC/HMI experience and 3–5 years in industrial controls.

Infrastructure Architect at Akkodis ($135K–$160K). Build and optimize enterprise cloud and network systems. 10+ years in IT infrastructure design with strong Azure or AWS skills.

Engineering Controls Manager at FORTNA ($150K–$185K). Manage automation and robotics projects for large warehouses. Oversee system design, testing, and commissioning.

Epic Revenue Cycle Manager at CSI Companies ($120K–$145K). Lead Epic revenue operations and process improvements. Must have Epic certification and 5+ years in healthcare billing or finance.

🇺🇸 The 2025 Kentucky Veterans Parade & Celebration marches into NuLu on Saturday, November 8, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., marking its 15th Anniversary with a powerful tribute to service and sacrifice. The parade features vintage military vehicles dating back to WWII, and this year’s move to NuLu brings even more community spirit to the heart of Louisville.

After the parade, families can head to Touch a Tank—a hands-on experience where kids and adults can explore Jeeps, tanks, and other military vehicles up close. With patriotic ceremonies, live music, and dozens of local business activations, it’s a day designed to connect generations and honor Kentucky’s heroes.

🗓 Saturday, November 8, 2025 | 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
📍 Market St. (Campbell to Hancock) & surrounding NuLu area
🎖 Grand Marshal: Col. (Ret.) Timothy “Tim” McDonald
🎺 Highlights: Parade, 21-Gun Salute, Touch a Tank experience, Veterans discounts & activations throughout NuLu
💵 Cost: Free to attend
🎁 Bonus: Family-friendly displays, flag giveaways, and local business specials for veterans

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

🔪 The Dinner Detective Interactive Murder Mystery Dinner Show
6:00 PM @ Hilton Garden Inn Downtown
A night of mystery, comedy, and fine dining. Solve a hilarious whodunit while enjoying a four-course meal and interactive fun with actors hidden among the guests.

🎤 Walker Hayes: Unplugged
6:00 PM @ Louisville Palace
Country hitmaker Walker Hayes brings an intimate, stripped-down set to the Palace. Expect fan favorites like “Fancy Like” and heartfelt new tracks in a laid-back, acoustic atmosphere. Doors open at 5:00 PM.

🎸 Sixteen Candles: The Ultimate ‘80s Tribute
8:00 PM @ Mercury Ballroom
Relive the neon decade with this high-energy tribute to the best hits of the ’80s. Sing, dance, and rock out to classics from Prince, Journey, and Madonna in an unforgettable throwback night of fun.

🎶 Bright Star
2:00 PM @ Bellarmine’s Clarksville Little Theatre
From Grammy, Emmy, and Academy Award winner Steve Martin and songwriter Edie Brickell, Bright Star is a sweeping tale of love and redemption set in the American South. Filled with bluegrass rhythms and heartfelt storytelling, this uplifting musical will leave you smiling long after the final note.

💧 Louisville Water Tower – Fall Open House
12:00–5:00 PM @ Louisville Water Tower | 3005 River Road
Celebrate science, history, and community at Louisville’s most iconic landmark. Explore hands-on exhibits, enjoy touch-a-truck experiences, giveaways, and free snacks. It’s a fun, family-friendly afternoon where you’ll learn how Louisville’s drinking water story began. Free Admission & parking.

🎤 Talib Kweli
8:00 PM @ Mercury Ballroom
Hip-hop legend and lyrical powerhouse Talib Kweli brings his sharp rhymes and soulful beats to Louisville. Expect an electric night of conscious rap, crowd energy, and hits that defined an era of true hip-hop artistry.