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Yesterday, I spent more than half a day taking 100+ leaders from the YPO Bluegrass chapter through an AI workshop. I asked everyone to respond with an emoji describing how they feel about AI personally. 50% chose ♥️. Then I asked how their team is using it. The most common answer? "Underutilized."

That gap between excitement and adoption is the real AI problem no one is talking about. I'll be sharing more on that soon. I'm not letting Louisville fall behind.

I also had lunch at Osteria Italian Seafood for the first time. You must try their lobster bisque. I'm still thinking about it.

And if you haven't heard yet, the HBO documentary "Murder In Glitterball City" about an Old Louisville murder is getting a lot of chatter this week. Worth adding to your watch list.

Hot job 💼: Mechanical Subject Matter Expert at Meta ($114K–$168K). Serve as the technical authority driving engineering standards, process development, and cross-functional problem solving. High-impact role for a deep specialist.

📈 Number: 16 is the number of days until Daylight Saving Time arrives and Louisville gets its evenings back. After the stretch of snow and ice we've had, that extra hour of sunlight can't come soon enough.

As always, I appreciate you reading. 👊

-Todd

Last week I was in Sundance, Utah for the HoldCo Conference (you’ll see me in the green here) for the second time, sitting in a room with about 100 people you've probably never heard of. That's exactly the point. No keynote celebrities. No panels about disruption. Just operators and investors who own multiple businesses and are building in a way most people aren't paying attention to yet.

They're starting to change that.

🏔️ Who Was in the Room: Multi-business owners across every industry. Some run roll-ups. Some are vertically integrating companies. Some own completely disparate businesses tied together by nothing except a shared owner or a syndicate of partners. What they all have in common is a mindset shift from "I'm building a company" to "I'm building a portfolio."

📚 The Movement Has a Name: Some call it ETA, Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition. People are bypassing the hardest part of building a business, getting from zero to one, and instead starting with something that already has cash flow, customers, and a team in place. It's showing up in business schools, private communities, and right here in our backyard.

⏰ Why Right Now: There are more businesses available than qualified buyers in most markets. Retiring Baby Boomers without succession plans are a tailwind, but the bigger shift is a generation of operators who've decided acquisition is simply a different path than starting from scratch.

🏙️ Why Louisville: The business community is tight-knit enough that deal flow happens through relationships, not marketplaces. Sellers know buyers. Buyers know operators. The people paying attention are already moving.

🏷️ It's Already Happening Here: Doug Grissom, Justin Delaney, and Brook Smith are building Louisville Brands, a house of brands in food and beverage products. Their acquisitions include Louisville Jerky and others while incubating new ideas under one creative umbrella. They're also a great follow on social.

🔄 Expanding My Portfolio: I've spent most of my career founding and funding businesses, with 100+ tech investments along the way. A few years ago I bought a company outright and a new path opened up. Today I'm helping two groups build a portfolio of companies, we close on our next one in less than a month, and we have 8+ capital partners participating in local deals.

⚡ Spark Take: Louisville has so many great companies and operators. If you're thinking about buying a business or selling one, let's talk. The best opportunities rarely announce themselves. Join our group that is already in the market.

NuLu Bock Fest returns for its ninth year on Saturday, March 28, taking over four blocks of the NuLu neighborhood with locally brewed bock beers, live music, and the main event: goat races on Market Street. Louisville news anchors and meteorologists go head-to-head in the News Flash Dash Baby Goat Race, with a $500 donation to the winner's charity of choice on the line.

Before the main event, kick things off with The NuLu 502, a completely unserious 502-foot fun run/walk/strut down Clay Street between Nanny Goat Strut and Billy Goat Strut. Registration includes chip timing, a goat medal, a commemorative cup, and your first bock beer. If you missed the baby goat pre-party at Whiskey Thief, catch the highlights here. Tickets are on sale now.

⚡️ Spark Take: Only in Louisville do you get goat races, craft beer, and a bratwurst competition on the same block. This one's worth putting on the calendar.

Birthday love for some local standouts.

Real Estate Controller (Development) at LHH ($120K–$150K). Oversee financial reporting, budgeting, and accounting operations for real estate development projects. Requires a strong background in property accounting and development finance.

Senior HR Shared Services Specialist at Hawkins HR Consulting ($90K–$105K). Support HR operations including employee relations, compliance, and HR systems administration. Ideal for experienced HR professionals comfortable in a shared services environment.

Senior Buyer at Louisville MSD ($74K–$115K). Manage procurement processes, vendor relationships, and contract negotiations for the Metropolitan Sewer District. Public sector purchasing experience preferred.

Senior Accountant – Record to Report at Koch Filter ($95K–$105K). Own general ledger activities, month-end close, and financial reporting within a manufacturing environment. Strong ERP and reconciliation skills required.

Restaurant Manager at Hillstone Restaurant Group ($100K–$200K). Lead front-of-house operations and team development at one of the country's most respected upscale casual dining groups. High earning potential tied to performance.

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

📅 Elmer Lucille Allen Conference on African American Studies
10:00 AM @ Kentucky Center for African American Heritage
The eighth annual conference wraps its three-day run with a deep dive into African American scholarship, culture, and community. Free and right here in Louisville.

🎻 Sounds of a New Nation | 7:30 PM @ Whitney Hall
The Louisville Orchestra celebrates America's 250th anniversary with music that fueled a revolution. Pianist Jonathan Biss joins conductor Teddy Abrams for a program featuring Mozart, Schuman, Billings, and Ives.

🎵 The Simon & Garfunkel Story | 8:00 PM @ Brown Theatre
Fresh off a sold-out run across the UK and Europe, this theatrical concert experience brings the full story of America's greatest pop duo to life with video projections and a full live band.

🏀 UofL vs. Virginia Women's Basketball | 12:00 PM @ KFC Yum! Center
The Cards women's team hosts Virginia in an ACC matchup. An affordable afternoon of basketball at a world-class arena.

😂 John Crist Live | 7:00 PM @ Whitney Hall
One of today's fastest-rising stand-up comedians brings his live tour to Louisville. Known for sharp, relatable humor on family, social media, and church life.

🎧 INZO: Mirrorverse Tour | 8:00 PM @ Mercury Ballroom
Electronic producer INZO blends bass, house, and techno into an immersive audiovisual experience. All-ages, general admission with support from Blookah and Zen Selekta.

Bourbon & Beyond just dropped its biggest lineup ever for September 24-27. Foo Fighters, Mumford & Sons, Chris Stapleton, Dave Matthews Band, Kacey Musgraves, and Hootie & the Blowfish are among 100+ artists across five stages. The world's largest bourbon and music festival drew 200k people in 2025 with a $40 million local economic impact.