This week included a fender bender and a rental car shuffle. The upside? I found a local body shop with an innovative model that could expand beyond Louisville. More once I get my car back. 😀
Last week I said things could get more interesting if our teams were still playing. The men are out, but the women are still rolling.… good luck to UofL & UK’s women’s teams tomorrow.
I emceed ACG Kentucky’s luncheon where Matt Yarger from Griffin Renewable Energy shared about their $65M facility turning distillery waste into energy.
And finally, I had coffee with Bobby Bailey today where we spotted a dog in one of the wildest outfits I’ve ever seen. The ever-humorous Bobby leaned over and whispered, “You know that dog has to be embarrassed.” 🤣
Hot job 💼: Manager of Marketing & Business Development at C&I Engineering ($150K–$175K). Lead growth strategy, shape brand positioning, and drive business development across engineering markets for a nationally recognized firm.
📈 Number: 65 is the number of days until I-65 closes through downtown Louisville for a summer detour, plan your alternate routes before construction.
As always, I appreciate you reading. 👊
-Todd
Better Stories Mean More People Supporting Our Causes
Story Fest returns April 2 at the Muhammad Ali Center to spotlight five local nonprofits and connect them with new supporters.
After one of Louisville’s hardest days, something new began taking shape.
In the months following the Old National Bank shooting, Maryanne Elliot helped launch Story Fest through the Tommy Elliot Fund...creating a new way to support Louisville’s nonprofit community by helping leaders tell their stories more clearly and more confidently.
Story Fest is helping nonprofits turn their stories into support.
Now the event returns April 2 at the Muhammad Ali Center, and its impact is becoming easier to measure. Last year alone, participating organizations reported 87 new donors, 10 new board members, and more than $82,000 in additional funding connections tied directly to the preparation and visibility that came through the program. If you want a quick look at what Story Fest is and why it exists, watch this short WHAS11 video here.
Story Fest isn’t just a one-night stage. Five nonprofit leaders spend 10 weeks preparing their stories, working with coaches to sharpen how they explain their mission before presenting live to the community. This year’s presenters represent Gilda’s Club Kentuckiana, The Center for Women and Families, Family & Children’s Place, Hip Hop Into Learning, and the Louisville Metro Police Foundation... organizations doing important work that many people simply haven’t encountered yet.
How to Get Involved
• Attend Story Fest on April 2
• Donate to featured nonprofits
• Connect nonprofits with supporters
• Donate to featured nonprofits
• Connect nonprofits with supporters
Spark Take ⚡ Louisville doesn’t lack strong nonprofits... it often lacks connection between the people doing the work and the people ready to support them. Story Fest is helping close that gap by turning stories into donors, board members, and momentum.
Presented by: Osteria Italian Seafood
Bourbon meets the sea for a one-night guided pairing dinner at Osteria. Chef Andrew’s seafood-driven four-course menu is matched with selections from Maker’s Mark, including pours from the Wood Finishing Series.
The evening includes a welcome cocktail, oysters “Loretto,” seared scallops with bourbon sorghum, smoked salmon pastrami, and a bourbon honeycomb crème brûlée finale. A Maker’s Mark guide will walk guests through each pairing along the way. Reserve your seat here.
🗓 Monday, March 30 | Welcome cocktail: 6:00 PM | Dinner: 6:30 PM
📍 Osteria Italian Seafood
💵 $100 per guest | Seating is limited
📍 Osteria Italian Seafood
💵 $100 per guest | Seating is limited
⚡️ Spark Take: Seafood and Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series in a guided format is not something you see every week.
👀 The Louisville You’re Missing
The local gems that deserve more attention.
Bowman Field has more history than most people realize. During WWII it was the busiest airport in the country, scenes from Goldfinger were filmed there in 1963, and it’s still home to the oldest working tetrahedron in the United States. YouTuber @Sarahnautics pairs those stories with a stop at Le Relais and makes a strong case for spending an afternoon at one of Louisville’s overlooked landmarks.
🎉 Birthday Cheers
Birthday love for some local standouts.
Chelsea Boyle
Director at The Primrose School
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Erin Churchman
Director of Development at Assumption High School
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Gerald Joiner
Franchise Consultant
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Ann Marie Maldini
Vice President at J.P. Morgan Chase
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Shane Stuber
Executive Director at New Albany Floyd County Education Foundation
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Brad White
CEO at Rockerbuilt
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🏢 Louisville Spark Job Board
Who’s hiring in Louisville? 5 trending jobs.
Director of Food Safety, Quality & Sanitation
Stellar Snacks | $90K–$120K
Lead food safety, quality systems, and sanitation programs for a fast-growing better-for-you snack brand.
Stellar Snacks | $90K–$120K
Lead food safety, quality systems, and sanitation programs for a fast-growing better-for-you snack brand.
Regional Project Engineer
Mt. Carmel Stabilization Group, Inc. | $100K–$120K
Oversee regional geotechnical stabilization projects from planning through execution for complex infrastructure sites.
Mt. Carmel Stabilization Group, Inc. | $100K–$120K
Oversee regional geotechnical stabilization projects from planning through execution for complex infrastructure sites.
Outside Sales Representative
Ember Tile | $90K–$110K
Drive contractor and builder relationships while expanding territory sales for a design-forward tile supplier.
Ember Tile | $90K–$110K
Drive contractor and builder relationships while expanding territory sales for a design-forward tile supplier.
Quality Engineer
DSJ Global | $95K–$120K
Improve manufacturing quality systems and support continuous improvement across high-performance production environments.
DSJ Global | $95K–$120K
Improve manufacturing quality systems and support continuous improvement across high-performance production environments.
Senior Mechanical Project Engineer
XFactorConsulting | $115K–$175K
Lead mechanical design and project delivery across complex engineering programs with strong client-facing responsibility.
XFactorConsulting | $115K–$175K
Lead mechanical design and project delivery across complex engineering programs with strong client-facing responsibility.
⚡ Spark Highlights
Partnership Call - John Flodder looking to partner with entrepreneurs
Acquisition - V-Soft acquires Minnesota IT firm Logisolve
Added Show - Jack Harlow adds second Louisville tour stop 🎥
New Facility - AXN Automotive unveils South Louisville facility 🔒
🎉 Holiday Plans
Where to Go for Easter Brunch 🐰
Still deciding on Easter Sunday plans? More than 25 Louisville-area restaurants are offering brunch, lunch, dinner, or take-home meals this year.
Buffet-style brunch ($45–$90): The Brown Hotel, Walker’s Exchange, High Stakes Rooftop Grill, Osteria, Captain’s Quarters, Bristol Bar & Grille
Chef-driven brunch ($30–$65): Volare, LouVino, Morning Fork, Village Anchor, House of Marigold, Lou Lou Middletown, Brasserie Provence
Lunch or dinner options: River House, Joe Huber’s, Franco’s, Carrabba’s, Mike Linnig’s
Take-home meals: City Barbeque, Cracker Barrel, Metro Diner, Home Cuisine
The Courier Journal roundup is here if you want menus, reservation details, and more restaurants. 🔒
📆 What’s Sparking This Weekend
We found the fun, so you don’t have to.
Saturday, March 28
🍺 NuLu Bock Fest
12:00 PM @ East Market District | Free
Celebrate spring the Louisville way with live music, local brews, and neighborhood energy throughout NuLu’s annual Bock Fest tradition.
12:00 PM @ East Market District | Free
Celebrate spring the Louisville way with live music, local brews, and neighborhood energy throughout NuLu’s annual Bock Fest tradition.
👗 KMAC Couture: ANCESTOR
7:15 PM @ KMAC Museum | $180
Louisville’s signature wearable-art runway returns with bold designs and a powerful theme celebrating heritage and creative storytelling.
7:15 PM @ KMAC Museum | $180
Louisville’s signature wearable-art runway returns with bold designs and a powerful theme celebrating heritage and creative storytelling.
😂 Matt Rife Comedy
8:00 PM @ KFC Yum Center | $84
One of comedy’s fastest-rising stars brings his high-energy stand-up tour to a packed Yum Center performance.
8:00 PM @ KFC Yum Center | $84
One of comedy’s fastest-rising stars brings his high-energy stand-up tour to a packed Yum Center performance.
Sunday, March 29
🐰 Bunny Hop
10:00 AM @ The Zoo | Zoo Pass required
A family-friendly spring favorite with themed activities, animal encounters, and Easter fun throughout the Zoo.
10:00 AM @ The Zoo | Zoo Pass required
A family-friendly spring favorite with themed activities, animal encounters, and Easter fun throughout the Zoo.
🎭 Prayer for the French Republic
7:00 PM @ Kentucky Center for the Arts | $40
A powerful and timely stage production exploring family, identity, and history through multiple generations of a Parisian Jewish family.
7:00 PM @ Kentucky Center for the Arts | $40
A powerful and timely stage production exploring family, identity, and history through multiple generations of a Parisian Jewish family.
🎶 Sweet Honey in the Rock
7:00 PM @ Kentucky Center for the Arts | $39
The legendary Grammy-winning vocal ensemble blends gospel, folk, and global rhythms in a moving live performance.
7:00 PM @ Kentucky Center for the Arts | $39
The legendary Grammy-winning vocal ensemble blends gospel, folk, and global rhythms in a moving live performance.
🥃 Final Sip
Sunday is National Mom & Pop Business Day… a good excuse to choose local if there’s something you need this week. The LIBA directory makes it easy to find independent spots worth supporting.
I couldn’t pass up the “what you were like in the 90’s” trend… and our main airport delivered. ✈️
